Monthly Archives: September 2012

IMP Aerospace Announces Rebranding

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HALIFAX, Sept. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - The Atlantic Defence and Security Exhibition (DEFSEC Atlantic) is the second largest defence and security exhibition in Canada. As a prominent member of the Canadian aerospace and defence sector and a major sponsor of DEFSEC, IMP Aerospace believes this is the perfect venue to make a significant announcement regarding its future plans and recent rebranding.

"Over a period of many years, IMP Aerospace has developed a broad range of world-class capabilities, which have application beyond the aerospace sector and is, in fact, already providing substantial amounts of both products and services to naval and land customers. To better recognize this growing diversity of customers and product applications, and to bring a stronger focus to the naval and land activities, IMP Aerospace has been rebranded with the creation of 'IMP Aerospace & Defence.' This change comes at a time that fits well with current trends, given the recent announcements by the federal government to commit significant resources to recapitalizing the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Army. Thus, we have reorganized to better focus on the broader sectors," stated David Gossen, President, IMP Aerospace & Defence.

"The recapitalization projects outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy and the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy include significant In-Service Support (ISS) activities, as well as manufacturing requirements for which IMP Aerospace & Defence has significant strengths and competencies. Its presence across Canada, and particularly in Halifax, provides a geographic benefit of being close to both the naval and land communities. To strengthen our ability to provide effective service and support to these sectors, I'm pleased to announce that a Naval & Land Services office has been established."

IMP Naval & Land Services will coordinate integrated solutions utilizing our expertise in Integrated Logistics Support, Systems Engineering, Materials Management, high quality manufacturing and In-Service Support for customers active in the Navy and Land system sectors.

IMP Aerospace & Defence will be exhibiting at the Atlantic Defence and Security Exhibition in Halifax, September 5 - 7, 2012, at Booth 301, and looks forward to discussing its broader capabilities.

About IMP Aerospace & Defence

IMP Aerospace & Defence comprises three divisions which offer a diversified line of products and services to support both military and commercial customers:

All divisions are fully ISO 9001:2008 registered. These divisions possess a broad depth of experience, technical expertise and engineering and manufacturing capabilities which, combined with the parent company's corporate flexibility, provide aerospace and defence clients with comprehensive and timely solutions.

IMP Aerospace & Defence is a dynamic and competitive organization in the Canadian, as well as international aerospace and defence sectors and employs over 1,800 people, including managers, engineers, technicians, and specialists trades.

IMP Aerospace & Defence is a division of IMP Group Limited which is focused on global sustainable growth, with over 3,700 experienced people delivering service, quality and value to customers across diverse sectors, such as aerospace, aviation, airline, healthcare, information technology, hospitality, and property development.

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IMP Aerospace Announces Rebranding

3M Aerospace Introduces Removable Gel Tape

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ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

3M Aerospace introduces 3M Removable Gel Tape, an easy-to-apply solution to help protect substrate corrosion in-aircraft. Removable gel tapes are installed under an aircrafts floorboards on top of the floor beams, providing exceptional sealing and corrosion protection and helping avoid expensive repairs and days out of service.

3Ms removable gel tapes are available in both one-side and two-sided adhesive options. Lighter than current gel tapes, these new tapes can be easily removed and repositioned. The tapes do not pill or ball and leave behind little to no residue, reducing the labor required for beam cleaning after tape removal. Aging studies have demonstrated that the tapes peel away cleanly after nine to 12 months in use, results that are superior to competitive products.

To use, the tape is simply applied to the beam, after which the floor panel can be applied. 3Ms gel tapes offer convenient handling characteristics, including easy cutting, low roll unwind tension, and simple application. Additionally, screws press easily through the 2mm polyester.

3M Removable Gel Tapes meet the FAAs recently released new policy statement for 14CFR 25.853 that provides standardized testing and established acceptable methods of compliance for fire resistance.

Together with 3Ms wet area protection tapes, 3M Removable Gel Tapes help provide a comprehensive solution to protect against aircraft corrosion. Find more information about removable gel tapes at 3M.com/WetArea.

About 3M Aerospace The 3M Aerospace and Aircraft Maintenance Division is a leading supplier to the global aerospace industry, providing innovative products and solutions to OEMs and MROs in the commercial, business, general, and military aviation industries. For information about the 3M Aerospace and Aircraft Maintenance Division visit http://www.3M.com/Aerospace.

3M is a trademark of 3M Company.

About 3M 3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit http://www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

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3M Aerospace Introduces Removable Gel Tape

Pinnaclife To Sponsor The Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 'Fuel Up With Color' 5K And 1 Mile Fun Run

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CORALVILLE, Iowa, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, September 8th at Holmes Park and Lake in Lincoln, NE, the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NAND) will host its first annual 5K race and 1 mile kids fun run and fitness challenge. The event will be both competitive, for those runners who are actively involved in races, as well as family-focused to promote fitness and healthy eating in Nebraskan families while having fun.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111107/CG00376LOGO)

Pinnaclife founder and CEO Dr. Darlene McCord commented, "We take pride in sponsoring events like this and organizations like the NAND, which are truly dedicated to improving the Quality of Life for the people in their communities and in their state."

Pinnaclife is a healthcare and nutrition company that researches and develops health products for people and pets. The current human topical line, Remedy with Olivamine is #1 in North America, its Pinnaclife nutritional supplement line is available at most area Hy-Vee stores and its pet care line launched on August 25th, 2012, to a very receptive audience at the CVC Kansas City Veterinary Conference.

Dr. McCord added, "We are committed to helping people reach their health goals. Enjoying a healthy diet and being physically active are so important to reaching these goals. We support the leadership and the efforts of Hy-Vee dietitians Susan Coe and Amanda Jochum and the entire NAND. We are honored to be a part of their first annual event."

Day of race registration begins at 7:00 AM. The 5K race begins at 8:30 AM and the 1 mile fun run starts at 9:30 AM. For more information visit http://www.eatrightnebraska.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Pinnaclife, Inc. (319) 351-3201 inquire@pinnaclife.com http://www.pinnaclifeanimalhealth.com http://www.pinnaclife.com

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Pinnaclife To Sponsor The Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 'Fuel Up With Color' 5K And 1 Mile Fun Run

Life Extension Nutrition Center Healthy Living Fair celebrates first-year anniversary September 7-15

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Spinal-pelvic stabilizer testing, bone density testing, body composition analysis and more will be offered free as part of the Life Extension Nutrition Center one-year anniversary Healthy Living Fair beginning Friday, September 7 and running until Saturday, September 15 at the Life Extension Nutrition Center. The Nutrition Center is located at 5990 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120223/FL58611LOGO-b )

The entire week offers a wide-range of free health lectures, interactive forums, panel discussions and health screenings designed to make the South Florida community aware of how to live healthier longer. The health fair gets started Friday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. with an exhibition of sports nutrition manufacturers featuring the latest products for weekend sports enthusiasts and serious athletes. Jaime Mass, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., will discuss nutrition to fuel your inner athlete.

Saturday, September 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., features health screenings, health exhibits and a focus on dietary supplements with plenty of product samplings. Kimmi Le, Life Extension pharmacist, will present a lecture on the ABC's of hormone replacement therapy.

Pets will be included too. Monday, September 10, at 6:30 p.m. brings a healthy pet forum and a lecture about natural health for pets by Bill Piechock of the Pet Deli.

Tuesday, September 11, 6:30 p.m. features Dave Walker, N.D. discussing how to de-stress from cellular inflammation and combatting inflammation through diet.

Wednesday, September 12 brings Life Extension's Michael A. Smith, M.D. talking about gut health and the link between gut health and age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease and chronic inflammation, and foods and supplements to help maintain a healthy gut.

Thursday, September 13, at 6:30 p.m. is the stress management forum featuring free exhibits , focusing on yoga, meditation, massage holistic health and a free lecture by Judith Thompson, N.D. discussing the latest buzz about stress.

On Friday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. it's ballroom dancing night with free merengue dance demos and lessons, plus a lecture on how you can dance your way to a longer life.

Saturday, September 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers an array of South Florida health services with over 20 health and fitness organizations providing wellness information and demonstrations. A few featured services are chiropractic, skin fitness and yoga.

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Life Extension Nutrition Center Healthy Living Fair celebrates first-year anniversary September 7-15

Biofuel waste product recycled for electricity

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A lab-scale microbial fuel cell, used to study the generation of electricity from waste products. Credit: Lisa Buddrus

A by-product of biofuel manufacture can power microbial fuel cells to generate electricity cheaply and efficiently, according to scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference. The work could help develop self-powered devices that would depollute waste water and be used to survey weather in extreme environments.

Distillers Dried Grain with Solubles (DDGS) is a waste product from bioethanol production that is commonly used as a low-cost animal feed. Researchers from the University of Surrey incorporated DDGS together with bacteria-inoculated sludge from a waste water treatment plant in their microbial fuel cell. The design of the fuel cell meant that the bacteria, which used the DDGS for growth, were physically separated from their oxygen supply. This meant that the bacteria were forced into sending electrons around a circuit leading to a supply of oxygen. By tapping into this electron flow, electricity could be generated from the waste.

Microbial fuel cells offer the ability to convert a wide range of complex organic waste products into electrical energy, making it an attractive target technology for renewable energy. Finding cost-efficient starting products is necessary to help commercialize the process, explained Lisa Buddrus who is carrying out the research. "DDGS is potentially one of the most abundant waste products in the UK. As the biofuel industry expands the supply of DDGS will become more abundant," she said. "The next step for us is to identify the electrogenic bacterial species that grow on DDGS. Furthermore, by looking at genetics across this microbial community, we will be able to better understand the metabolic processes and essential genes involved in electron liberation and transfer." she said.

As well as being low-cost, microbial fuel cells that use DDGS are very environmentally friendly. The waste that is left following electricity extraction is of greater value, as it is less reactive with oxygen, making it less polluting. "We've found something really useful from a waste product without affecting its value as animal feed and at the same time improving its environmental status. This is something we place great importance on and within our group we have a team solely dedicated to reducing polluting potential," said Professor Mike Bushell who is leading the group.

A lot of microbial fuel cell research focuses on developing environmental sensors in remote locations. "Self-powered sensors in remote places such as deserts or oceans can be used to provide important data for monitoring weather or pollution. Other applications in focus for microbial fuel cells include treating waste water to produce green electricity and clean up the water at the same time," explained Professor Bushell.

More information: Ms Buddrus' presentation "Electricity generation in MFCs using distillers' dried grains with solubles" will take place on Wednesday 5 September in session WA058 at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference 2012.

Provided by Society for General Microbiology

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Biofuel waste product recycled for electricity

Why does Alzheimer’s disease affect twice as many women as men?

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Public release date: 5-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Cathia Falvey cfalvey@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, September 5, 2012A group of experts has developed consensus recommendations for future research directions to determine why nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are women. The recommendations are published in a Roundtable discussion in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jwh.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans are affected by AD and related dementias, and that number will likely rise to 11-16 million people by the year 2050 if no effective cures or preventive measures are developed. The main risk factors for AD are age and sex, with affected women outnumbering men 2 to 1. This may be due at least in part to the fact that women tend to live longer.

An interdisciplinary roundtable of experts convened by the Society for Women's Health Research (Washington, DC) led to a set of recommendations to help guide future AD research and make the evaluation of sex and gender differences a component of future studies. The consensus recommendations encompass seven themes, including the need to assess the link between sex and AD incidence, raise awareness of sex differences among the research community, and to take into account sex-based differences in the experimental design and data analysis of studies on disease risk, early diagnosis, and drug discovery.

"There are still major gaps in our knowledge of the role of sex and gender in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, and these recommendations will provide a useful guide for future research in this area," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health.

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About the Journal

Journal of Women's Health, published monthly, is a core multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the diseases and conditions that hold greater risk for or are more prevalent among women, as well as diseases that present differently in women. The Journal covers the latest advances and clinical applications of new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols for the prevention and management of women's healthcare issues. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Women's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jwh. Journal of Women's Health is the Official Journal of the Academy of Women's Health.

About the Academy

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DNA sequences need quality time too – guidelines for quality control published

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Public release date: 5-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Henrik Nilsson henrik.nilsson@bioenv.gu.se 46-317-862-623 Pensoft Publishers

Like all sources of information, DNA sequences come in various degrees of quality and reliability. To identify, proof, and discard compromised molecular data has thus become a critical component of the scientific endeavor - one that everyone generating sequence data is assumed to carry out before using the sequences for research purposes.

"Many researchers find sequence quality control difficult, though", says Dr. Henrik Nilsson of the University of Gothenburg and the lead author of a new article on sequence reliability, published in the Open Access journal MycoKeys. "There just isn't any straightforward document to put in their hands to give them a flying start. As a result, scientists differ in the degree to which they are aware of the need to exercise sequence quality control and in what measures they take." Previous studies have highlighted several shortcomings of publicly available DNA sequences - more than ten percent of the fungal DNA sequences may be misidentified at the species level, for example.

"A second complication", adds co-author Prof. Urmas Koljalg of the University of Tartu, "is that the software available for sequence quality management tend to be very complex and resource intensive. It borders on the unfair to expect everyone to have access to, and to master, such computer environments. Fortunately, a whole lot can be done towards quality control of DNA sequences using just manual means and a web browser. The current MycoKeys paper describes these means to help those biologists who do not have a strong background in computer science."

The article - "Five simple guidelines for establishing basic authenticity and reliability of newly generated fungal ITS sequences" - compiles principles and observations to assist the reader in the quality management of sequence data. Although focusing on fungi, the guidelines are general and apply to most groups of organisms and genes. The guidelines target traditional DNA sequencing and are broadly applicable to datasets used in systematics, taxonomy, and ecology.

Co-author Dr. Martin Hartmann of the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL concludes, "We hope that our guidelines will assist the readers in sharpening their datasets so that, eventually, the trend of increasing noise in the public sequence databases can be arrested. Molecular data offer so much promise that we simply cannot afford to lose accuracy to bias and artifacts."

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Original source:

Nilsson RH, Tedersoo L, Abarenkov K, Ryberg M, Kristiansson E, Hartmann M, Schoch CL, Nylander JAA, Bergsten J, Porter TM, Jumpponen A, Vaishampayan P, Ovaskainen O, Hallenberg N, Bengtsson-Palme J, Eriksson KM, Larsson K-H, Larsson E, Kljalg U (2012) Five simple guidelines for establishing basic authenticity and reliability of newly generated fungal ITS sequences. MycoKeys 4: 37-62. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.4.3606

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DNA sequences need quality time too - guidelines for quality control published

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Moving Towards Commercialization, Desktop DNA Sequencing Company GnuBIO Announces Relocation To Expanded Facilities

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

GnuBIO, Inc. (www.gnubio.com) is expanding its operations and relocating to a newly constructed facility dedicated to the research and development, as well as the near term commercial activities of the growing company. The new 11,000 sq. ft. facility, located at One Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will have enhanced office and laboratory space to provide additional infrastructure that will enable the companys continued growth and transition from R&D to commercialization of its desktop DNA sequencing technology. The building will be equipped with manufacturing and fabrication facilities in addition to general laboratory and office space to house the growing team. Additional hires in product development, software, development,sales and marketing staff will be housed in the new space as GnuBIO prepares for the launch of its first commercial product.

This move to a larger and more sophisticated facility marks an important milestone for GnuBIO, as it will afford us the space to transition into the commercial phase of the company, said John Boyce, President and CEO of GnuBIO, http://www.gnubio.com. The additional space will allow us to bring all initial manufacturing capabilities, from the consumables to the instrumentation, in house. The new facility will also provide the necessary space for the first critical hires for our commercial team.

GnuBIOs platform technology is a fully integrated next-generation desktop DNA sequencing platform, based on established microfluidics and emulsion technology licensed from the laboratory of Professor David Weitz at Harvard University. The emulsion and microfluidic technology, combined with novel molecular biology assays, has led to the development of a scalable, accurate DNA sequencing platform that encompasses all of the steps required for DNA sequencing into a single platform. It is designed to run complete and customized sequencing workflow more efficiently and at a lower cost than currently available systems, with a list price of only $50,000 per system with no extra equipment or servers needed. The company is currently working with leading institutions and molecular diagnostic companies, both in the US and abroad, to develop customized and standard panels that will be run on the GnuBIO system http://www.gnubio.com.

About GnuBIO: GnuBIO, http://www.gnubio.com, is a privately-held company developing next-generation desktop DNA sequencing technology that will compartmentalize the entire DNA sequencing process, combining all of the steps required for sequencing in a single system, and providing the only fully integrated next-generation sequencing workflow.The GnuBIO sequencingtechnology is based on an emulsion based microfluidic technology which also provides a scalable sequencing solution that allows for interrogation of single genes, gene panels or whole genomes. The user of his GnuBIO system simply injects the patient sample into the GnuBIO cartridge, the appropriate panel is run inclusive of gene capture, PCR, sequencing, and informatics analysis and the results are ready within hours. Unlike any other DNA sequencing system, the entire process is all on the chip the user simply injects genomic DNA, simplifying the complex sample preparation process and breaking the barrier of a an obstacle that has prevented the widespread adoption of DNA sequencing.

New address: One Kendall Square, Building 1400, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

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Moving Towards Commercialization, Desktop DNA Sequencing Company GnuBIO Announces Relocation To Expanded Facilities

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DNA in Finland embarks on the journey to multiscreen with Conax and partners

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DNA enters pilot for Conax Xtend Multiscreen(TM) pre-integrated partner solution

IBC Expo, Amsterdam, September 5th:Conax,a leading provider of solutions for protecting multi-device content distribution, announced today that Finnish Cable and Terrestrial operator,DNA, has entered a multiscreen pilot with partners Conax,Cubiware,MPS BroadbandandEnvivio. The pilot will include end-user testing with various multiscreen services and devices. It will also address the operational processes and procedures required for DNA to support advanced multiscreen services, and to prepare DNA on the path to the emerging over-the-top market. Together with DNA, the partners will explore the features and functionality of the Conax Xtend Multiscreen(TM) solution.

-"Conax is very excited to be chosen by long-time customer DNA to participate in this very exciting multiscreen pilot project, says Tom Jahr, EVP Products and Partners, Conax. Conax is already providing DNA with best-in-class security and is looking forward to working closely with DNA, and partners Cubiware, MPS Broadband and Envivio to assess feasibility, functionality and price/performance for positioning DNA in the evolving market within OTT content distribution."

Multiscreen background The Conax partnering strategy includes combining complementary technologies in a pre-integrated solution to remove operator risk of untested product combinations for reduced cost, time-to-market and smooth transition to new advanced services for connected devices. Conax Xtend Multiscreen(TM) combinesCubiware's flexible middleware for advanced user interface technologies,MPS Broadband'sMPS Publishing Platform(TM) for publishing and managing video content and Peer2View for distribution acceleration,Envivio's encoder technology and Conax' proven record within security.

- Mikko Saarentaus, Business Director (TV&VAS), DNA, "DNA sees the future of TV to be about multiscreen service. This pilot gives us a great opportunity to learn about the end users' impression on multiscreen services and to better understand the customers' needs and how they like to use the services. The DNA team will work closely with the pilot partners to address the operational processes and procedures required for DNA to offer integrated support for delivering advanced services to connected devices such as hybrid client devices, tablets and smart phones and position our operations for growth within over-the-top content distribution."

Conax' benchmark pre-integrated Conax Xtend Multiscreen(TM) partner solution has the potential to set a new standard in terms of price/performance for multiscreen solutions in the industry - dramatically reducing operational complexity and cost and time-to-market for the delivery of content through advanced services to connected devices, compared to costly competitor solutions with lengthy conformity testing and implementation times.

About DNA (www.dna.fi) DNA Ltd is a Finnish telecommunications company offering high-quality voice, data and digital television services using the latest technology. DNA's customers include private customers, corporations and other organizations. In 2011, DNA recorded a turnover of EUR 728 million and an operating profit of EUR 51 million. DNA has more than 3 million mobile and fixed-line network customers.

About Conax (www.conax.com)

Conax provides future-oriented security solutions that empower multi-screen digital TV content providers around the globe to deliver premium content over the combined Over-The-Top scenario of broadcast, broadband and connected devices, securely and eliminating potential revenue threats. Conax technology secures content for operators representing 125 million pay TV consumers in over 80 countries around the globe.

ISO 9001 & 27001 certified, Conax is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and represented in Russia, Germany, Brazil, USA, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, China, Singapore, with 24/7 Global Support operations in India. Follow Conax onTwitter

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DNA in Finland embarks on the journey to multiscreen with Conax and partners

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Global Medical Laboratories Industry

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NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Medical Laboratories Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0960414/Global-Medical-Laboratories-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Medical Laboratories in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Hospital-Based Medical Laboratories, and Others. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2010 through 2018. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 162 companies including many key and niche players such as Adeona Clinical Laboratory, Alverno Clinical Laboratories, LLC, ARUP Laboratories, Asuragen, Inc., Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc., Creative Testing Solutions, Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories, Genoptix, Inc., Healthscope Ltd., Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Metametrix Clinical Laboratory, Mayo Medical Laboratories, Medtox Scientific, Inc., The National Health Laboratory Service, Pathology, Inc., Quest Diagnostics, Inc., Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, Sonic Healthcare Ltd., American Esoteric Labs, Clinical Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Sonora Quest Laboratories, STAR Metropolis Clinical Laboratories & Health Services, and Thyrocare Technologies Limited. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS

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Global Medical Laboratories Industry

Sara International Travel: Tourism Associated With Hajj and Umrah Expanding Saudi Travel Resources

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SOURCE: Sara International Travel

Pilgrims From All Over the World Travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah -- and Tourism Organizations Are Following Close Behind; Sara International Travel Explains How This Tourism Is Boosting the Saudi Economy

OZONE PARK, NY--(Marketwire - Sep 5, 2012) - GulfNews.com reports that tourism organizations, from booking agents to hotel management companies, are increasing operations in Saudi Arabia in reaction to the surge in pilgrims making their way to the country for Hajj and Umrah. Sara International Travel explains that this boost in tourism is, ultimately, improving the Saudi economy and enhancing the travel options from which visitors can choose.

According to the article, a great deal of demand for improved travel accommodations has been sparked by increased wealth within Islamic countries. The individuals who are making the pilgrimages are able to afford luxury accommodations -- and travel companies are creating supply to meet the demand. According to the article: "The pilgrimage starts with a private jet to an exclusive airport in Saudi Arabia, where passengers are treated to a buffet while travel-company employees process their immigration documents. The visitors are then taken in luxury cars and buses to the InterContinental Hotel overlooking the Grand Mosque in Makkah."

The article asserts that 3 million pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj in October. This increased tourism has created a spike in hotel investment. One of the companies that has invested in property in this region, Blackstone Group's Hilton Worldwide, is looking to more than double its hotel operations in Saudi Arabia. InterContinental will also enhance its presence by increasing its available rooms by an approximate 50 percent. Within the next five years, Hyatt hopes to grow its presence from one hotel to nine.

Ultimately, the article states, "the number of branded hotel beds available [will increase] by 58 per cent in the next few years." For travel booking companies, like Sara International Travel, this will open up new hotels and other accommodations.

"The increase in tourism has proven beneficial for many reasons," asserts Sara International Travel in a recent press statement. "First and foremost, the increased competition allows us to offer better rates to our clients, which they certainly appreciate. Second, it has sparked growth in the Saudi economy. A growing economic landscape will be better able to continue to keep up with not only the needs of pilgrims, but the luxuries that they would like to experience while making their journey."

Sara International Travel is looking forward to this year's Hajj and encourages individuals who are interested in traveling to Saudi Arabia for the event to secure accommodations as soon as possible.

ABOUT:

Sara International Travel offers transportation and accommodation solutions to individuals who are looking to make the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, among other trips. A booking agency, Sara International Travel was founded in 1994 and has provided convenient travel options, superior customer service, and well-developed, comprehensive travel packages to clients in the United Sates, Canada, South America, and the Caribbean. The professionals at Sara International Travel are dedicated to constantly integrating the latest technological resources into their operational procedures, streamlining the booking process and boosting the convenience experienced by clients.

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Sara International Travel: Tourism Associated With Hajj and Umrah Expanding Saudi Travel Resources

Astronauts to repair power unit on International Space Station

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INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION --

Its try, try again for astronauts on board the International Space Station today.

Two astronauts are making another attempt to boost power to the space station during a spacewalk this morning. They began the spacewalk just after 7 a.m.

They tools the astronauts are using are unusual -- a tooth brush and some wire cleaners, along with other equipment. Their goal is to clean stuck bolts that prevented them from installing a new power unit to the exterior of the space station.

Suni Williams of NASA and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will try to complete installation of a spare Main Bus Switching Unit. Its one of four boxes thats on the outside of the space station that helps route power from solar arrays to different parts of the station.

It is key to making sure the space station has the power it needs. In last weeks attempt, a stuck bolt prevented astronauts from properly installing the power unit. Last weeks attempt clocked in at eight hours, 17 minutes, the third longest spacewalk in history.

Todays spacewalk is only supposed to last six and a half hours. At the four hour mark, if the astronauts cant get the unit installed, they will start to bring it inside the quest airlock and work on the box inside the space station.

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Astronauts to repair power unit on International Space Station

Astronauts try, try again to fix space station

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Two astronauts floated outside the International Space Station on Wednesday for the second time in six days to try to fix a power unit that was not properly installed during an earlier spacewalk last week.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Japan's Akihiko Hoshide switched on the batteries on their spacesuits at 7:06 a.m. ET, signaling the official start of today's spacewalk.

The spacewalkers were expected to spend six and a half hours working in the vacuum of space to troubleshoot a pair of stuck bolts on a new replacement power unit that was to be attached to the space station's exterior. Wednesday's extra spacewalk was added after the troublesome bolts prevented the component from being properly installed on Aug. 30.

During Wednesday's outing, Williams and Hoshide were trying again to install the replacement power box called a main bus switching unit, or MBSU on the space station's backbone-like truss.

Last week, Williams and Hoshide removed a faulty MBSU and tried to install a new spare, but they were unable to drive in one of the bolts that fastens the unit to the station's truss. After repeated attempts failed, the astronauts used a tether to temporarily tie the MBSU down, and were forced to wrap up their marathon spacewalk. [Photos: Spacewalking Astronauts Fix Up Space Station]

The outing lasted 8 hours and 17 minutes, making it the third longest spacewalk in history and the longest ever performed by a space station crew.

The International Space Station has four MBSUs that harness power from the outpost's solar arrays and distribute it throughout the orbiting complex. Without the use of one unit, the station is unable to relay power from two of the eight solar arrays on the massive orbiting complex.

In an unrelated mishap, a component that ensures power is distributed at the proper amperage and voltage suffered a glitch late Saturday, NASA officials said. As a result, the station is able to use only five of its eight available power channels.

With three power channels unavailable, flight controllers reallocated available resources aboard the outpost for critical systems and to keep the crew safe. Despite the outages, space station operations have suffered only minimal impact, and the crew was not be affected during preparations for Wednesday's spacewalk, agency officials said.

Mission managers opted to proceed with the extra spacewalk after working around the clock to analyze the problem.

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Astronauts try, try again to fix space station

NASA announces asteroid naming contest for students

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Students worldwide have an opportunity to name an asteroid from which an upcoming NASA mission will return the first samples to Earth.

Scheduled to launch in 2016, the mission is called the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx). Samples returned from the primitive surface of the near-Earth asteroid currently called (101955) 1999 RQ36 could hold clues to the origin of the solar system and organic molecules that may have seeded life on Earth. NASA also is planning a crewed mission to an asteroid by 2025. A closer scientific study of asteroids will provide context and help inform this mission.

"Because the samples returned by the mission will be available for study for future generations, it is possible the person who names the asteroid will grow up to study the regolith we return to Earth," said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

The competition is open to students under age 18 from anywhere in the world. Each contestant can submit one name, up to 16 characters long. Entries must include a short explanation and rationale for the name. Submissions must be made by an adult on behalf of the student. The contest deadline is Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012.

The contest is a partnership with The Planetary Society in Pasadena, Calif.; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington; and the University of Arizona in Tucson.

A panel will review proposed asteroid names. First prize will be awarded to the student who recommends a name that is approved by the International Astronomical Union Committee for Small-Body Nomenclature.

"Our mission will be focused on this asteroid for more than a decade," said Dante Lauretta, principal investigator for the mission at the University of Arizona. "We look forward to having a name that is easier to say than (101955) 1999 RQ36."

The asteroid was discovered in 1999 by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. LINEAR is part of NASA's Near Earth Observation Program in Washington, which detects and catalogs near-Earth asteroids and comets. The asteroid has an average diameter of approximately one-third of a mile (500 meters).

"We are excited to have discovered the minor planet that will be visited by the OSIRIS-REx mission and to be able to engage students around the world to suggest a name for 1999 RQ36," said Grant Stokes, head of the Aerospace Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and principal investigator for the LINEAR program.

The asteroid received its designation of (101955) 1999 RQ36 from the Minor Planet Center, operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass. The center assigns an initial alphanumeric designation to any newly discovered asteroid once certain criteria are met to determine its orbit.

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NASA announces asteroid naming contest for students

NASA To Launch Sounding Rocket From Virginia

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Updated: Wednesday, September 5 2012 7:19 AM EDT2012-09-05 11:19:19 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, September 5 2012 7:11 AM EDT2012-09-05 11:11:16 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, September 5 2012 7:05 AM EDT2012-09-05 11:05:25 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, September 5 2012 6:50 AM EDT2012-09-05 10:50:00 GMT

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA. (AP) - NASA is planning a test flight of a suborbital sounding rocket from its Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

The space agency says the test flight was set for Wednesday morning, but was postponed until Thursday morning to allow additional testing of the payload.

It will be the first flight of the Talos-Terrier-Oriole launch vehicle meant to support high-altitude space science research.

Officials say the three-stage vehicle is expected to lift its 1,664-pound payload to about 175 miles above Earth. The payload is expected to land in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 miles off Wallops Island after a 10 minute flight. The payload will not be recovered.

The launch may be visible to observers on parts of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland, and southern Delaware.

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NASA To Launch Sounding Rocket From Virginia

Why did NASA delay its Jupiter-bound craft's maneuver?

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NASA engineers are delaying a second engine firing in its Jupiter-bound spacecraft in order to check out the propulsion system. The craft, Juno, is on a mission tomap Jupiter's magnetic and gravity fields.

NASA says it has postponed a maneuver planned for the Jupiter-bound spacecraft Juno.

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The decision comes a week after Juno successfully fired its main engine. The second engine firing was slated for Tuesday but was delayed to Sept. 14.

After the last maneuver, engineers noticed higher-than-expected pressure in the propulsion system and wanted time to check it out.

The back-to-back burns are needed to put the spacecraft on course to fly by Earth next year and use the planet's gravity to accelerate to the outer solar system.

The space agency says the delay will not affect Juno's arrival atJupiter, scheduled for 2016.

Juno was launched last year. It's on a mission to peer throughJupiter'scloud cover and map its magnetic and gravity fields.

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Why did NASA delay its Jupiter-bound craft's maneuver?

American Journal of Medicine Publishes Hypertension Study Comparing the Fixed-Dose Combination of Azilsartan Medoxomil …

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DEERFIELD, Ill., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of a 10-week, phase 3 study published online in the American Journal of Medicine found the clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) reductions of a fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone were significantly greater at six and ten weeks than those of azilsartan medoxomil co-administered with hydrochlorothiazide. Data also showed that more patients achieved their target blood pressure levels at the end of six and 10 weeks (secondary endpoints) when taking the azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone fixed-dose combination.

"Hypertension management can be complex, and the use of combination therapy with a diuretic is a common treatment approach," said study co-author William C. Cushman, M.D., professor of preventive medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, Tenn. "While hydrochlorothiazide is more commonly used in clinical practice, this study provides further support for the use of chlorthalidone in fixed-dose combination for patients with hypertension."

About the Study The 10-week, randomized, double-blind, titrate-to-target study compared blood pressure reductions of the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone to azilsartan medoxomil co-administered with hydrochlorothiazide among 609 patients with stage 2 hypertension. The average age of patients in the study was 56.4 years and the average baseline clinic blood pressure was 164.6/95.4 mm Hg. After two weeks of treatment with azilsartan medoxomil (40 mg) alone, patients received 12.5 mg of either diuretic for four weeks (up to week 6) and were then titrated to 25 mg for another four weeks (up to week 10) if they had not achieved their target blood pressure; otherwise, patients continued their initial dose.

Primary endpoint data showed that at week 6, the clinic SBP reductions of the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone were -35.1 mm Hg. These data were statistically significantly (P<0.001) greater than those of azilsartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide (-29.5 mm Hg) with a mean difference of -5.6 mm Hg. At the end of 10 weeks, greater clinic SBP reductions were maintained in patients taking the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone (-37.8 mm Hg) versus those taking azilsartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide (-32.8 mm Hg) with a mean difference of -5.0 mm Hg.

Additionally, secondary endpoint data showed that a greater proportion of patients taking the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone achieved their target blood pressure versus those taking azilsartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide at the end of both six weeks (64.1 percent vs. 45.9 percent) and 10 weeks (71.5 percent vs. 62.3 percent).

Adverse events leading to permanent drug discontinuation occurred in 9.3 percent of patients taking the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone and 7.3 percent of patients taking azilsartan medoxomil co-administered with hydrochlorothiazide. The most common adverse events accounting for study drug discontinuation were dizziness (1.0 percent versus 1.7 percent) and increased serum creatinine (4.0 percent versus 2.0 percent) in the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone and azilsartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide groups, respectively. The most common adverse events (greater or equal to five percent in either group) were increased blood creatinine, dizziness and headache. Serum potassium levels below 3.4 mmol/L were observed in 1.7 percent and 0.3 percent of patients in the fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone and azilsartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide groups, respectively.

Edarbyclor (azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2011 for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure in adults. It is the first and only hypertension medication to combine an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with the diuretic chlorthalidone in a once-daily, single tablet.

About Hypertension Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition in which blood pressure is elevated to levels of 140 mm Hg or greater systolic and/or 90 mm Hg or greater diastolic. Hypertension impacts approximately 76 million Americans, or nearly one in three adults. It is estimated that nearly one billion people are affected by hypertension worldwide, and this figure is predicted to increase to 1.5 billion by 2025. Hypertension typically has no symptoms. Adults of all ages and backgrounds can develop hypertension; however, the risk of developing the condition increases with age, with more than half of people over age 60 affected in the U.S.

Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure increases cardiovascular risk, and lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and heart attacks. The absolute risk increase per mm Hg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit.

Hypertension is also costly to the nation's health care system. The American Heart Association recently estimated that direct and indirect expenses associated with hypertension cost the nation more than $73 billion in 2009.

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American Journal of Medicine Publishes Hypertension Study Comparing the Fixed-Dose Combination of Azilsartan Medoxomil ...

Roche looks to personalized medicine for growth

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LONDON (Reuters) - Roche Holding AG, the world's biggest maker of cancer drugs, said it would build on its drive into personalized medicine to hold onto its long-term growth momentum and said it would keep up spending on research and development. In a statement ahead of a presentation to investors in London on Wednesday, the Swiss drugmaker said it expected 19 late stage trials to read out over ...

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Roche looks to personalized medicine for growth