Monthly Archives: October 2012

Kaman and Kineco Sign Agreement to Form a Joint Venture in India

Posted on by

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. & GOA, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Kaman Aerospace Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (KAMN), and Kineco Private Limited today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a manufacturing joint venture (JV) in India.The new company will be named Kineco Kaman Composites India Pvt. Ltd. The venture is based in Goa and will manufacture advanced composite structures for aerospace, imaging/medical and other industries.

Gregory L. Steiner, President of Kaman Aerospace Group, commented, This venture comes together with the strength of a mutually shared vision that will drive and focus the JV to provide outstanding composite structures manufacturing solutions for our customers around the world. This strategic step is in keeping with our vision to provide our customers with a complete aerosystem solution. Our customers will benefit with a Kaman One Stop full complement of seamless services including design, tooling, testing, certification, low rate initial production, through steady state high velocity production. In addition, mature processes with high labor content will serve as key potential opportunities to provide our customers with future step down pricing.

Shekhar Sardessai, Chairman and Managing Director of Kineco Private Limited commented, The partnership between Kineco and Kaman is a unique and special one. This JV formation has the potential to become an extraordinary event for Indian business and the global aerospace industry. This relationship will foster and develop opportunities for both companies from uncharted territories.

The joint venture will conduct its operations out of the existing Kineco composites manufacturing facility in Goa, and is expected to initially employ approximately 50 experienced composite manufacturing employees, who are already producing complex composite structures utilizing the latest carbon material and autoclave curing technology. The business will be further enhanced by Kamans proven manufacturing know-how and decades of aerospace composites fabrication experience.

About Kaman Aerospace Group

Kaman Aerospace Group is a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation (NYSE-KAMN). The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the companys SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. More information is available at http://www.kaman.com.

About Kineco Private Limited

Kineco is a first generation entrepreneurial company founded by Mr. Shekhar Sardessai and was incorporated in 1994 and currently employees more than 150 people. It is one of Indias leading composites manufacturing companies with a strong presence and focus on the aerospace and defense industry. Kineco, as a company, has a legacy of innovation, development and commercialization of composite products. It has two operational facilities with total manufacturing space of 150,000 square feet. The company caters to a wide range of industries such as; railways, aerospace, defense, mass transportation, process, and marine.

The rest is here:

Kaman and Kineco Sign Agreement to Form a Joint Venture in India

PPG Aerospace Special-Effect Coatings Bring Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Livery to Life

Posted on by

SHILDON, England, Oct. 8, 2012 Special-effect coatings by PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) aerospace coatings group enabled Virgin Atlantic Airways to have the unique reflectivity and bright, vibrant color the airlines design and engineering teams wanted for its new livery.

The airline has taken delivery of the first new aircraft an Airbus A330 painted with DESOTHANE(R) topcoats by PPG Aerospace colored with ANDARO(R) special-effect pigment. The proprietary PPG pigment was used in coatings that create the red tail and engines and the aubergine Virgin Atlantic lettering across the aircraft. The fuselage is painted with Desothane topcoats in high-sparkle silver mica.

Traditional mica aircraft coatings have about 30 percent reflectivity, while coatings with Andaro pigment reflect about 90 percent of visible light, according to Alex Reid, PPG Aerospace account manager at the North Europe application support center in Shildon, England.

Virgin Atlantic likes innovative technology, Reid said. Because using Andaro pigment in aerospace coatings was new, we worked closely with Virgins engineering team to get the products approved to apply to their aircraft. We worked alongside their design team to get the unique colors made with Andaro pigment incorporated into their new company identity.

Virgin Atlantics design team came to PPG with a vision for the coloring. Reid and the PPG Aerospace coatings team sought input from color experts in PPGs automotive OEM coatings business, and they adapted the Andaro pigment technology for aerospace coating applications.

Go here to see the original:

PPG Aerospace Special-Effect Coatings Bring Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Livery to Life

Aerospace analyst has high expectations for Canadian airlines and Bombardier

Posted on by

By Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - An aerospace analyst has high earnings expectations for Canada's two largest airlines and the prospects of Bombardier to land new orders.

Walter Spracklin of RBC Capital Markets said Tuesday he expects Air Canada (TSX:AC-B.TO - News) and WestJet Airlines (TSX:WJA.TO - News) will report solid operating results next month as higher traffic and fares compensate for volatile fuel prices during the third quarter.

"We see top-line revenue as being lifted in the Canadian airline segment and we are adjusting our forecasts accordingly," he wrote in a report.

Spracklin increased his price target for WestJet by $1 to $21 after the Calgary-based airline's domestic traffic increased by 7.9 per cent during the quarter. He expects it will report 49 cents per share in adjusted profits, up 18.6 per cent from his earlier forecast of 41 cents per share, when the company releases its results on Nov. 7. Pre-tax operating earnings (EBITDAR) should be $194 million, compared to the $181 million consensus among analysts.

Air Canada's traffic and yield data were relatively in line with his higher expectations. He expects the Montreal-based airline with report 81 cents per share in adjusted profits in the quarter, or $541 million in EBITDAR. That compares to the consensus of $524 million.

"With robust operating metrics and new growth opportunities, WestJet remains well-positioned for further valuation upside," he wrote.

"At the same time, we believe Air Canada shares present a compelling trading opportunity and a cyclical/sector play should macro conditions improve."

Spracklin added that Air Canada will be helped by its operational flexibility and transformation strategy.

He also raised Chorus Aviation's (TSX:CHR-B.TO - News) EBITDA by 9.2 per cent to $40 million, from $37 million as a result of better cost controls.

See the original post:

Aerospace analyst has high expectations for Canadian airlines and Bombardier

Park Electrochemical Corp. Announces Appointment of Jim Krone as Vice President of Aerospace Engineering

Posted on by

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Park Electrochemical Corp. (PKE) announced the appointment of James R. Krone as Vice President of Aerospace Engineering of the Company. In this new position, Mr. Krone will be responsible for the Companys global aerospace engineering activities. Mr. Krone will report to Steve Pittari, Vice President-Aerospace of the Company, and will be based at the Companys Park Aerospace Technologies Corp. aerospace advanced composite materials, parts and assemblies manufacturing and design business unit located in Newton, Kansas.

Prior to joining Park, Mr. Krone held several positions with Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. He had been Director, Structural Integrity of Cessna since 2008, Senior Manager, Material and Process Engineering from 2005 to 2008, Manager, Non-Metallic Materials Group, Material and Process Engineering from 2000 to 2005 and Engineering Specialist, Non-Metallic Materials Group, Material and Process Engineering from 1995 to 2000. From 1992 to 1995, he was a Program Manager with Quadrax Corporation, Advanced Materials Systems, Inc., a supplier of advanced polymer based composite raw materials and finished parts to the aerospace, defense and recreational markets, in Providence, Rhode Island; and from 1980 to 1992 he held several positions with Phillips Petroleum Company, a global petrochemical company, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Mr. Krone is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Innovation and Enterprise Engagement, Wichita State University, an Advisory Board Member of the National Institute for Aviation Research, Wichita State University, and Vice Chairman of the Wichita Chapter of The Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering. Mr. Krone received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University.

Brian Shore, Parks President and CEO, said, I have known Jim Krone for a number of years and have very high regard for him. I am very pleased that Jim has chosen to join Park.

Park Electrochemical Corp. is a global advanced materials company which develops and manufactures high-technology digital and RF/microwave printed circuit materials principally for the telecommunications and internet infrastructure and high-end computing markets and advanced composite materials, parts and assemblies for the aerospace markets. Parks core capabilities are in the areas of polymer chemistry formulation and coating technology. The Companys manufacturing facilities are located in Singapore, France, Kansas, Arizona and California. The Company also maintains R & D facilities in Arizona, Kansas and Singapore.

Additional corporate information is available on the Companys web site at http://www.parkelectro.com.

Read the rest here:

Park Electrochemical Corp. Announces Appointment of Jim Krone as Vice President of Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Product Liability Litigation: Are You Ready?

Posted on by

Jack Harrington, Of Counsel, SmithAmundsen LLC, a legal firm attending the marcus evans Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Summit 2012, on being ready for product liability litigation.

New York, NY, Oct 9, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - The aerospace industry works so hard to build good products, but it needs to work just as hard to protect them for when litigation occurs, says Jack Harrington, Of Counsel, SmithAmundsen LLC.

A masterclass presenter from a legal firm attending the upcoming marcus evans Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Summit 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 25-26, Harrington turns the spotlight on product liability litigation and what role electronic discovery (eDiscovery) can play in the aerospace product manufacturing industry.

- How can the aerospace industry better handle product liability litigation?

In the past, defense lawyers used to deal with product liability litigation by bringing in experts, who would argue that the accident or incident was not caused by the product, while the plaintiff would bring specialists suggesting otherwise. With eDiscovery, there is now an entirely new element to product liability litigation.

Most communication and correspondence today is through emails, and eDiscovery is making available a tremendous amount of information, including poorly written emails between colleagues, when no one thought that years later they would be in a witness stand trying to explain to the jury what they actually meant to say.

- What is the way around this issue?

Many aircraft companies that want to protect the integrity of products are providing product integrity training, telling employees to be careful with emails as they can potentially come up in court decades later.

The second part of the training must focus on document retention, and keeping only the pieces of communication that may be required by the government or for the running of the business. Saving every email just opens up the company to enquiries that could lead to inaccurate theories in a lawsuit. People who are injured by faulty products should be protected and compensated, but at the same time the business should not have to worry that if a crash occurs counsel will present and convince a different case to the jury.

We encourage companies to build the best products they can, make sure everyone realizes they are the best that they can be, but to address product issues that arise.

More here:

Aerospace Product Liability Litigation: Are You Ready?

UTC Aerospace Achieves Milestone

Posted on by

UTC Aerospace Systems, part of the United Technologies Corp. (UTX) has achieved a milestone by delivering its 100th Cabin Air Conditioning and Temperature Control System (:CACTCS) pack for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The CACTCS pack is a part of the Environmental Control System, which primarily facilitates entire airplane thermal management. Its primary functions include control of cabin temperature, free flow of fresh air, pressure control within the cabin, basic heating and cooling, galley cooling along with the management of temperature control of cargo and crew rest compartments.

Based on the achievement of this milestone, management at UTC Aerospace systems said that it is well positioned to fully support Boeings organized and efficient ramp-up rate.

Apart from the Environmental Control Systems, UTC Aerospace Systems also provides multiple critical systems for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The solutions delivered by UTC include; nitrogen generation, electrical power generation and starting, remote power distribution; primary power distribution; ram air turbine; electric motor pumps; fire detection and suppression; electro-mechanical brakes; thrust reversers; proximity sensing; cargo handling; exterior and flight deck lighting; fuel quantity indicators and fuel management software.

UTC Aerospace Systems primarily designs and manufactures integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. Its primarily competes with Precision Castparts Inc. (PCP), which is also one of the primarily suppliers for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Precision is the primary supplier of engines for the jet that are more fuel efficient, provide more power while at the same times less noisy compared to the previous engines. In addition to engines, Precision also supplies engine hot section, fasteners and landing gear parts.

Headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, United Technologies Corp is a high-end technology products and services provider to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. United Technologies currently has a Zacks #4 Rank implying a short-term Sell rating on the stock.

Read the Full Research Report on PCP

Zacks Investment Research

More From Zacks.com

Read the rest here:

UTC Aerospace Achieves Milestone

Tomato compound tied to lower stroke risk: study

Posted on by

(Reuters) - Men who love eating tomatoes may have lower odds of suffering a stroke, according to a Finnish study.

Researchers whose results appeared in the journal Neurology found that of the more than 1,000 older men they followed, those with relatively high blood levels of the antioxidant lycopene were less likely to have a stroke over a dozen years.

Lycopene is a chemical that gives a reddish hue to foods like tomatoes, red peppers, watermelon and papaya. For most people, tomatoes and tomato products are by far the biggest source of lycopene in the diet.

Lycopene is a "potent antioxidant," said lead researcher Jouni Karppi, a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, which means it helps protect body cells from damage that can ultimately lead to disease.

Laboratory research also suggests that lycopene helps fight inflammation and blood clots, and may be better at it than other antioxidants.

But other researchers said the study does not prove that tomatoes alone can cut anyone's stroke risk, noting that there may be other things about men with high lycopene levels that could explain the lower chances of having a stroke.

The study looked at 1,031 men aged 46 to 55 who had their blood levels of lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, and vitamins E and A measured.

Over the next 12 years, there were 11 strokes among the one-quarter of men with the highest lycopene levels, compared to 25 among the one-quarter with the lowest levels.

The researchers also accounted for some major factors that affect stroke risk, like smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes - and the high-lycopene group still had a 55 percent lower risk of suffering a stroke.

"Studies like this are interesting, but they have significant limitations," said Larry Goldstein, director of the Duke Stroke Center and a professor at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Read the original:
Tomato compound tied to lower stroke risk: study

Regenerative Medicine Biotech Company, Eqalix, Names Scientific Advisory Board

Posted on by

Eqalix Inc., an emerging regenerative medicine company, announces its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This SAB gives Eqalix a depth and breadth of experience necessary to take it to the next level.

Reston, VA (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

"We are very pleased to bring together these key thought leaders to establish the Eqalix Scientific Advisory Board," stated Joseph P. Connell, Eqalix CEO and Chairman of the Board. "I have worked with Drs. Gold and Goldman for years and have always admired their abilities. Dr Lelkes technologies will make a profound impact upon aesthetic dermatology, wound healing and regenerating blood vessels, nerve endings and damaged organs with the guidance of this distinguished panel. It is not clich in any manner when I say that we are thrilled to work with this team. We look to their guidance, industry knowledge and network to help deliver these therapies into clinic and prospective patients as soon as possible, as I am confident our technologies will make a difference, said Connell.

The members of the Eqalix Scientific Advisory Board are:

Peter I. Lelkes, PhD: Chief Scientific Advisor; Dr. Lelkes is the Laura H. Carnell Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering at Temple University and the Inaugural Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (TIME) at Temple Universitys School of Medicine. While at Drexel, Prof. Lelkes directed an interdisciplinary program in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, focusing on nanotechnology-based biomaterials and soft tissue engineering, employing developmental biological principles to enhance the tissue-specific differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells. Dr. Lelkes has organized several Keystone conferences and published more than 160 peer-reviewed papers and 45 book chapters and made more than 400 presentations nationally and internationally.

Dr. Lelkes basic and translational research has been support by federal (NIH, NSF, NASA, DOE) and state funding agencies, (NTI and Dept. of Commerce, Tobacco Settlement Funds) and private Foundations, including the Coulter Foundation. Most recently, Dr. Lelkes has been named Director of the Surgical Engineering Enterprise, one of the major initiatives of the strategic plan of Drexel Universitys College of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Lelkes has been the team leader for tissue engineering at the Nanotechnology Institute of Southeastern Pennsylvania (NTI) and is the Co-Director of PATRIC, the Pennsylvania Advanced Textile Research and Innovation Center, focusing on BioNanoTextiles and Stem Cell Biology.

Dr Lelkes stated, "I am delighted and excited to partner with Eqalix to translate our inventions from the bench to the bedside in a timely fashion.

Mitchel P. Goldman, MD, Scientific Advisor, Founder and Medical Director of Goldman Butterwick Fitzpatrick, Groff & Fabi, Cosmetic Laser Dermatology. A graduate of Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, and the Stanford University Medical School, Dr. Goldman is a Volunteer Clinical Professor in Medicine/Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr Goldman is Board Certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Society of Liposuction Surgery. He is former President of the American College of Phlebology and President-Elect of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. He presently serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He also has authored and/or co-authored 21 Textbooks on Dermatology, Sclerotherapy, Ambulatory Phlebectomy, Cutaneous Laser Surgery, Cellulite and Dermatologic Surgery as well as over 300 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters.

Dr Goldman added: I am very interested and excited to work with the Eqalix team to make these technologies a success. I believe that my background lends well to truly shaping the successful commercialization of these products for my patients to improve outcomes.

See original here:
Regenerative Medicine Biotech Company, Eqalix, Names Scientific Advisory Board

Singaporean doctor shares his UK motorsport medical experience

Posted on by

Dr Andy Lim (in red) attending to a driver after a crashBeing on the medical team in motorsports is not something that everyone is familiar with. The two medical specialties that directly provide an applicable skill set are anaesthesia and emergency medicine; however there are roles for various medical specialties of different levels. It is important to get involved early, from a junior doctor level, and volunteer to be on the medical team to gain more experience, as the pre-hospital environment at the track is a lot different from what doctors face in the hospital.

Coming home for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix every year, UK-based Singaporean anaesthetic Dr Andy Lim has been a medical doctor at circuits in the UK for the last 25 years. Currently one of the FIV doctors at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Dr Lim, 50, is listed as one of the contributors for the FIA medical handbook. When he is back in Singapore in September, he spares time to give a lecture to the Singapore GP medical team about dealing with high speed trauma and his other experiences.

Sent to boarding school in 1975 at the age of 13, Dr Lim went to medical school in UK after that. Returning to complete National Service in Singapore, he went back to UK for his first graduate medical training and settled there permanently after that.

Dr Lim dedicates a significant amount of his weekends to volunteer as a medical officer at motor racing events. To get a better understanding of his role in motorsports, Dr Lim shared more about his experiences with me when he was here for the Singapore Grand Prix last month.

Q: What made you want to get involved in motorsports on the medical side? A: I've always liked cars and there is a family history of motor racing. My uncle was an Indonesian karter in the sixties and he unfortunately got killed in practice one day. I have a passion for cars and I learnt to service my own cars. I also watch a lot of motorsports but I didn't do any motorsports until after I qualified as a doctor, when I tried one of those track days with car clubs. I've always wanted to involve motorsports in my life and I knew I was not good enough to be a driver. With my profession, the easiest way for me was to be on the medical side.

Q: How did you go about getting involved then? A: Some consultants at the hospital I work at used to be chief medical officers at the RAC British Rally so they pointed me in the right direction. It was in 1993 when I met up with the chief medical officer of Castle Combe, a local racing track. That was the year I launched my official motorsports medicine career. In 1994 I started going to Silverstone. As volunteers, we are not tied to particular circuits but we are just like the marshals, and can apply to circuits or race organisers to be part of their team.

Q: Why do you like being involved in motorsports? A: I like motorsports and I enjoy teaching. I conduct training on ad hoc basis and I take the young doctors and train them on the job. It's fulfilling to see them start out as medical students and then I work alongside them until they become consultants in their careers.

Q: Describe your journey. A: For the last 25 years, I've been a doctor at Castle Combe, Brands Hatch and now Silverstone. I have been doing the British Grand Prix as a doctor for the last 23 years. I started out standing on the banks with the marshals, where I was assigned a sector to cover. The Clerk-of-Course works out the most dangerous points and places the doctors where crashes are most likely to happen. I stood in the banks for 10 years before progressing to the start-finish line then to the pit-lane and now to one of the FIV vehicles.

Q: How much time do you dedicate to motorsports? A: At my peak, I was spending about 15 weekends a year at the tracks. Now I do about six race meetings a year.

Q: What are some interesting anecdotes? A: Once, I was driving the medical car (a 4WD estate car fully loaded with medical kit) and it was raining very hard. I was going into this 90-degree right-hander off-camber, with excessive loading on the inside and the car slipped. When it rains, a lot of oil and dirt comes up, making the track greasy. I wasn't scared and I was taught very well by professional instructors so I just reacted accordingly.

Follow this link:
Singaporean doctor shares his UK motorsport medical experience

T.R. Heinan's Debut Historical Fiction Novel Explores Lalaurie Legend

Posted on by

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --In "L'immortalite: Madame Lalaurie and the Voodoo Queen" (ISBN 0615634710), author T. R. Heinan shows the lengths people will go to in the quest for immortality. The historical fiction/horror novel combines horror, history and humor to tell the story of New Orleans' "most haunted" house.

Set in a 1830s Creole community in New Orleans, "L'immortalite" takes readers on a journey with Philippe Bertrand, a reclusive lay sacristan who struggles to have compassion for others after the deaths of his wife and mother. He is led to a mansion owned by Madame Delphine Lalaurie, and there, he meets a young slave named Elise. The events that follow result in the slave's escape, the discovery of macabre medical experiments in the mansion's attic and the intervention of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.

Given the cult following of both title characters, Heinan believes it is time for readers to be able to enjoy the entire urban myth of the Lalaurie mansion as historical fiction in book-length form. "During the two years I spent writing this book, two non-fiction history texts have been published attempting to demythologize the Lalaurie legend," Heinan says. "A myriad of websites provide brief accounts, and a few authors have touched on parts of the legend in their books." He acknowledges that history books can provide the documented facts about the Lalaurie legend, but doubts that documentation and historical records alone are what bring daily crowds of visitors to the mansion and the grave of Marie Laveau.

Heinan hopes readers will have a deeper understanding of New Orleans history while enjoying the ride that he takes them on through Philippe's meditative quest for eternal life. "L'immortalite: Madame Lalaurie and the Voodoo Queen" is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author:

T. R. Heinan is a Minnesota native, born and raised in Duluth. Heinan attended Marquette University and worked as a journalist before beginning a career in investment banking specializing in the airline and motion picture industries. After retiring, Heinan spent his time writing and serving orphaned and homeless children at a Mexican orphanage that he helped build. "L'immortalite" is his debut novel.

MEDIA CONTACT T. R. Heinan Email: royalstreethorrorstory@hotmail.com Phone: (218) 310-5110 Website: http://www.l-immortalite-madame-lalaurie-and-the-voodoo-queen.com/Home.html

REVIEW COPIES AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE

This press release was issued through eReleases Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

More:
T.R. Heinan's Debut Historical Fiction Novel Explores Lalaurie Legend

Most complex synthetic biology circuit yet: New sensor could be used to program cells to precisely monitor their …

Posted on by

ScienceDaily (Oct. 9, 2012) Using genes as interchangeable parts, synthetic biologists design cellular circuits that can perform new functions, such as sensing environmental conditions. However, the complexity that can be achieved in such circuits has been limited by a critical bottleneck: the difficulty in assembling genetic components that don't interfere with each other.

Unlike electronic circuits on a silicon chip, biological circuits inside a cell cannot be physically isolated from one another. "The cell is sort of a burrito. It has everything mixed together," says Christopher Voigt, an associate professor of biological engineering at MIT.

Because all the cellular machinery for reading genes and synthesizing proteins is jumbled together, researchers have to be careful that proteins that control one part of their synthetic circuit don't hinder other parts of the circuit.

Voigt and his students have now developed circuit components that don't interfere with one another, allowing them to produce the most complex synthetic circuit ever built. The circuit, described in the Oct. 7 issue of Nature, integrates four sensors for different molecules. Such circuits could be used in cells to precisely monitor their environments and respond appropriately.

"It's incredibly complex, stitching together all these pieces," says Voigt, who is co-director of the Synthetic Biology Center at MIT. Larger circuits would require computer programs that Voigt and his students are now developing, which should allow them to combine hundreds of circuits in new and useful ways.

Lead author of the paper is former MIT postdoc Tae Seok Moon, now an assistant professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Other authors are MIT postdocs Chunbo Lou and Brynne Stanton, and Alvin Tamsir, a graduate student at the University of California at San Francisco.

Expanding the possibilities

Previously, Voigt has designed bacteria that can respond to light and capture photographic images, and others that can detect low oxygen levels and high cell density -- both conditions often found in tumors. However, no matter the end result, most of his projects, and those of other synthetic biologists, use a small handful of known genetic parts. "We were just repackaging the same circuits over and over again," Voigt says.

To expand the number of possible circuits, the researchers needed components that would not interfere with each other. They started out by studying the bacterium that causes salmonella, which has a cellular pathway that controls the injection of proteins into human cells. "It's a very tightly regulated circuit, which is what makes it a good synthetic circuit," Voigt says.

The pathway consists of three components: an activator, a promoter and a chaperone. A promoter is a region of DNA where proteins bind to initiate transcription of a gene. An activator is one such protein. Some activators also require a chaperone protein before they can bind to DNA to initiate transcription.

View post:
Most complex synthetic biology circuit yet: New sensor could be used to program cells to precisely monitor their ...

Research and Markets: Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, 15-Volume Set

Posted on by

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/cfk3w8/comprehensive) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new book "Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, 15-Volume Set" to their offering.

Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III (CHEC-III) is a new 15-volume reference work which provides the first point of entry to the literature for all scientists interested in heterocyclic ring systems. Since publishing in 1984, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry (CHEC) has become the standard work on the subject, indispensable to all serious readers in the interdisciplinary areas where heterocycles are employed. CHEC-III builds on and complements the material in CHEC and CHEC-II and is designed to be used both alone and in conjunction with these two works. Written by leading scientists who have evaluated and summarized the most important data published over the last decade, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III will be an invaluable addition to the reference library of those working with heterocyclic ring systems.

Reviews advances in the properties, structure, synthesis, reactivity and applications of the most important heterocyclic ring systems

Contains over 250 specialist reviews, logically organized by size and heteroatom content of the heterocyclic ring

Saves researchers valuable time and effort through carefully structured critical reviews of the literature by experts.

Key Topics Covered:

CHEC III is organized in 15 Volumes and closely follows the organization used in the previous edition:

Volumes 1 and 2: Cover respectively three- and four-membered heterocycles, together with all fused systems containing a three- or four-membered heterocyclic ring.

Volume 3: Five-membered rings with one heteroatom together with their benzo- and other carbocyclic-fused derivatives.

Visit link:
Research and Markets: Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, 15-Volume Set

ThalesNano Cements Place as Flow Chemistry Market Leader With 700th Reactor

Posted on by

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY--(Marketwire - Oct 9, 2012) - ThalesNano is proud to announce that sales of its novel flow reactors reached 700 complete systems. The number of publications based on these flow reactors has also surpassed 150. First launched in 2005, ThalesNano offers a range of microscale flow based reactors used in chemistry research. The 700th unit, an H-Cube Pro, will be installed in Shanghai at a perfume and flavor manufacturer.

"We have always been focused on enabling chemists to achieve results with their chemistry that they cannot do with standard equipment," said Richard Jones, CEO of ThalesNano Inc. "Whether it's bringing back hazardous chemistry, such as hydrogenation, to the lab or enabling chemists to access a wider parameter space to synthesize novel molecules, ThalesNano has developed reactors to do this safer, faster, and simpler. On behalf of all employees at ThalesNano, let me express our gratitude to our customers who have contributed to our success and presence on 6 continents and in more than 30 countries."

ThalesNano has recently launched the latest version of its best-selling R&D 100 award winner product, the H-Cube Pro. Several upcoming low cost reactor modules will expand the chemistry capabilities still further. Chemists can look forward to utilizing other gases such as carbon monoxide, oxygen, or Syngas on the same instrument they already use for their hydrogenations. The upcoming Phoenix Flow Reactor allows homogeneous reactions to be performed at higher than microwave temperatures and pressures. With the broadest range of flow reactors, ThalesNano is the "go to" company for flow chemistry.

More information about ThalesNano on our website: http://www.thalesnano.com or contact us directly at the following e-mail: info@thalesnano.com

About ThalesNano

ThalesNano is the world leader in bench-top flow chemistry reactors. The company has the widest portfolio of bench-top continuous process instruments for the pharmaceutical, biotech, fine chemical, petroleum/biofuel, and education markets. Its R&D 100 award winning H-Cube and scale-up system H-Cube Midi are used in hundreds of laboratories globally and have become the new industry standard for hydrogenation. Within three years from the original introduction of its flagship H-Cube product, 20 out of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies have introduced and adopted the technology.

Original post:
ThalesNano Cements Place as Flow Chemistry Market Leader With 700th Reactor

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd appoints Dr. Christian Itin as Chief Executive Officer

Posted on by

ZURICH, Oct.9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Cytos Biotechnology Ltd ("Cytos" or "the Company"), a Swiss biotech company focused on the development of CYT003 in allergic asthma, announced today the appointment of Dr. Christian Itin as Chief Executive Officer. As announced on 29 May 2012, the Board will propose to the Company's shareholders that Dr.Itin be elected as member of the Board, and it is intended that he will succeed Dr. Thomas Hecht as Chairman of the Board of Directors as of an extraordinary shareholders meeting scheduled to take place in November 2012. Dr. Hecht will step down from the Cytos Board at this meeting.

Dr. Itin (age 48 yrs.) is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Micromet Inc., a previously Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company, with headquarters in the USA and an R&D center in Germany. Dr. Itin led Micromet as CEO from 2004 until Micromet's acquisition by Amgen for $1.2 billion in cash in March 2012. In total he spent 13 years in senior management roles at Micromet. Prior to joining Micromet in 1999, Dr. Itin co-founded Zyomyx, Inc., a protein chip company based in Hayward, CA, USA.

Dr. Itin received a diploma in biology and a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Basel. In addition, he performed post-doctoral research at the Biocenter of Basel University and at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Thomas Hecht, Chairman of Cytos, said: "Christian is an experienced biotech leader with significant expertise and a proven track record and his appointment completes our restructuring of Cytos. We believe with his experience and skills that he is well positioned to shape Cytos' future."

Christian Itin commented: "Cytos has undergone an important transformation during the last six months. The company is well capitalized by a strong group of new international investors and focused on executing a key clinical Phase 2b study with CYT003, a first in class novel biologic for the treatment of patients with allergic asthma. This is an exciting time to join Cytos, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the team building it into a premier biopharmaceutical company."

Dr. Joseph Anderson, Chairman of the Board's Nomination and Governance Committee and Partner at Abingworth, a major shareholder, added: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Thomas for his leadership during a period that led to the refinancing of Cytos. He leaves the Company in a strong position, and we are pleased that Christian has joined as CEO, where we anticipate his proven leadership will allow the Company to realize the significant potential of CYT003."

Further Board ChangeJakob Schlapbach, a Non-executive member of Cytos' Board of Directors and the Company's former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2000-2010), will also resign from the Board of Directors at the extraordinary shareholders meeting in November.

Thomas Hecht commented: "Jakob has been involved with Cytos for more than 12 years whereby he played a central role in several financing rounds and in the IPO. We are very appreciative of the many contributions he has made during that period. We wish him well in his future endeavours."

For further information please contact:

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd Harry Welten Chief Financial Officer Tel.: +41 44 733 46 46 e-Mail: harry.welten@cytos.com Website: http://www.cytos.com

See the rest here:
Cytos Biotechnology Ltd appoints Dr. Christian Itin as Chief Executive Officer

The Biological Internet That Could One Day Program Artificial Organs

Posted on by

Much like humans use the Internet to communicate, cells have mechanisms to pass on data to each other. Its a system that is being hacked by scientists who realize the value of being able to send custom genetic data from cell to cell. Because when large groups of cells can be commanded by humans to work on complex tasks, the possibilities are endless.

Typically, scientists have spurred on communication by sending sugar molecules from cell to cell--the concentration of sugar either activates something in a receiver cell or doesnt, depending on the command. But this is limiting, says Monica Ortiz, a doctoral candidate in bioengineering at Stanford. "You cant send very much information with these sugar molecules." So Ortiz and Drew Endy, an assistant professor of bioengineering, set out to create a more complex system.

Their solution, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Engineering: a bacteriophage, or virus that infect bacteria. "We recognized that phage are essentially nucleic acids packaged by protein, and we know that genes and other elements in the genome are always encoded into DNA. So we know that we can encode anything we want to in DNA," explains Ortiz. "We can encode genes, activation of transcription in various ways and we dont need to rely on this middleman sugar molecule."

Ortiz and Endy selected M13 as their cell-communicating virus. Its the ideal specimen: It doesnt kill the host cell, scientists can vary the length of DNA that theyre packaging (M13 packages genetic messages), and it has been engineered to get its DNA into mammalian cells.

The M13 communication system is, as Stanford Engineering explains, like a wireless information network for cells to send and receive messages. M13 wraps up strands of DNA (programmed by scientists) and sends them out in proteins that infect cells and release the DNA messages once they have gained entry. Scientists can send whatever they want in the DNA--everything from a sentence in a book to a sequence that encodes fluorescent protein.

The M13 system dramatically increases the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time compared to previous cell-to-cell communication systems--roughly 80,000 bits compared to one bit with the sugar molecule system. M13 can also transmit data over long ranges.

"Practically I think sending DNA between cells has a lot of applications," says Ortiz. "What weve shown is that we can send and receive a message and do something in the receiver cell with that message." In the future--were talking decades down the line--the technology could be used in tissue engineering as well as in creating artificial organs and biomaterials that have no direct analog in nature.

Ortiz emphasizes that the research is just beginning. "People are calling it the biological Internet, and thats a fairly good analogy. I want to make the point that this is a very early stage proof-of-principle paper."

Ariel Schwartz is a Senior Editor at Co.Exist. She has contributed to SF Weekly, Popular Science, Inhabitat, Greenbiz, NBC Bay Area, GOOD Magazine and more. Continued

Read more here:
The Biological Internet That Could One Day Program Artificial Organs

Fellowship list

Posted on by

Election to the Fellowship recognises a career that has significantly advanced the world's store of scientific knowledge. The Academy also elects a small fraction of its Fellows by Special Election, recognising conspicuous service to the cause of science.

Fellows elected to the Academy in 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Adams, Jerry Mckee, PhD, FAA, FRS, NAS Joint Head, Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, and Director, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Specialized Center of Research, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Professor of Molecular Genetics, University of Melbourne. Speciality: The genetics of haemopoietic differentiation and malignancy. Year of election: 1986

Allen, David Grant, PhD, FAA Professor of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney. Website: http://www.physiol.usyd.edu.au/~davida Speciality: Cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology. Year of election: 2006

Alpers, Michael, AO FAA FRS Centre for International Health, Curtin University Year of election: 2012

Anderson, Brian David Outram, AO, PhD, DHC (Louvain), Hon Dr ScTech (Swiss Fed Inst Tech), Hon DEng (Syd, Melb, Newcastle), Hon DSc (UNSW), FAA, FRS, FTSE Professor, Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University. Website: http://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~briandoa/contact.html Speciality: Control systems; signal processing; telecommunications. Year of election: 1974

Anderson, Jan Mary, PhD, FDhc (Ume), FAA, FRS Adjunct Professor, Division of Plant Science Research School of Biology, ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University. Website: http://biology.anu.edu.au/Staff/Profiles/PS/Anderson/index.php Speciality: Thylakoid membranes; photosynthesis; acclimation; photoinactivation; molecular organisation. Year of election: 1987

Anderson, Marilyn FAA, FAICD, FTSE Professor, Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University. Speciality: Plant defence related proteins. Year of election: 2011

Andrews, Thomas John, PhD, FAA Speciality: Biochemistry and molecular biology of photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Year of election: 1998

Visit link:
Fellowship list

Four MU professors awarded Curators’ Professorships

Posted on by

Four MU professors were appointed as Curators Professors, the highest educational honor given by the UM System.

Statistics professor Nancy Flournoy, biochemistry professor Gerald Hazelbauer, fisheries and wildlife professor John Jones and geological sciences professor Mian Liu received the award after the UM Board of Curators approved the nominations at its September meeting.

The Curators Professorship is prestigious, and only outstanding scholars with established reputations are considered for appointment, according to the Office of the Provost's website.

The recipients were notified via mail by letters from Chancellor Brady Deaton, Provost Brian Foster and President Tim Wolfe about their nominations. In addition to the award, the recipients receive a raise and a stipend for scholarly activity.

Nancy Flournoy, statistics professor

Flournoy is the former statistics department chairwoman. She currently teaches one undergraduate class and one graduate class. Flournoy was the only woman of the four recognized.

It was really cool, Flournoy said. I was very pleased. Its a great honor.

Her work with statistical theory has been motivated by problems encountered while working with the Seattle bone marrow transplant team, according to her website. Flournoy received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles before receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Flournoy has spent 10 years at MU.

The students are a joy, Flournoy said.

Gerald Hazelbauer, biochemistry department chairman

Go here to see the original:
Four MU professors awarded Curators’ Professorships

Belize’s Las Terrazas Resort Wins Prestigious 2012 World Travel Award and Is Named “Belize’s Leading Resort” for the …

Posted on by

The Ambergris Caye hotel and resort wins the countrys top award, as voted on by more than 213,000 professionals worldwide.

San Pedro, Belize (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

We are so honored to receive this momentous award from our peers, says David Hesse, General Manager of Las Terrazas Resort. We are grateful to our colleagues that they have again honored us for our hard work and effort in making Las Terrazas Belizes top resort destination.

The World Travel Awards were started in 1994 to encourage the international travel and tourism community to embrace the pursuit of excellence in everything it does from customer relations to creativity, product innovation and business acumen. The awards and judging are strictly controlled to ensure total fairness.

An awards ceremony took place September 14 at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa where World Travel Awards founder Graham E. Cooke underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across the Caribbean and the Americas. He said Our winners are also drawn from the breadth of the Caribbean and the Americas, reflecting the strength and depth of the travel and lodging sector in the region.

Belize, the only English speaking country in Central America, has quickly become one of the premiere tropical vacation destinations for North American vacationers. Each year, tens of thousands of vacationers head south to the popular island of Ambergris Caye in Belize to scuba dive, honeymoon, hike, or just get away for a little while. The nation's warm water oceans, tropical inland forests and ancient Mayan ruins are enough to keep even the most adventurous travelers occupied.

Las Terrazas Resort in Belize prides itself on its alluring combination of luxurious oceanside accommodations and natural tropical adventure. Located on the beaches of the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, Las Terrazas has its own onsite PADI certified dive shop and dive team. Having a luxury resort less than a mile from the northern hemisphere's largest underwater barrier reef, some of the best scuba diving in the world, and an underwater explosion of color including almost 400 species of fish and coral could make most resorts comfortably rest on this advantage alone. However, Las Terrazas continues to strive to improve and offers its guests opportunities to take excursions to ancient Mayan ruins and provides its guests complimentary use of on-site kayaks and Hobie cats. Vacationing at Las Terrazas truly is a natural way of life, says Hesse.

Since spring of 2008, when Las Terrazas first wowed guests with its modern designs, clean architectural lines, and beautiful signature infinity pool, guests have been giving rave reviews to the newest of the Belize resorts on the island of Ambergris Caye. Guests to Las Terrazas continue to enjoy luxurious yet laid-back island living with town home style suites of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. These vacation suites have been fully furnished and handsomely appointed with Egyptian linens, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, flat-panel televisions and everything necessary for guests to enjoy their tropical vacation in style.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit the luxury Belize hotels website at http://www.lasterrazasresort.com or call toll free at 1-800-447-1553.

About Las Terrazas Resort

Read this article:

Belize’s Las Terrazas Resort Wins Prestigious 2012 World Travel Award and Is Named “Belize’s Leading Resort” for the ...

Tauck Named “World’s Best River Cruise Line for Families” by Travel + Leisure

Posted on by

Readers of Travel + Leisure magazine have named Tauck the Worlds Best River Cruise Line for Families. This honor comes just as Tauck begins to announce its exciting 2013 portfolio of Tauck Bridges family travel itineraries. This portfolio of tours includes a new 10-day river cruise itinerary Bon Voyage: France Family River Cruise which is packed with fun and engaging activities for families.

Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

This latest Travel + Leisure honor comes just as Tauck is announcing its 2013 portfolio of Tauck Bridges family travel itineraries. Launched in 2004, the Tauck Bridges collection is comprised entirely of land journeys and cruises designed specifically for families traveling with children. Rather than dividing families with age-specific activities or facilities, Tauck Bridges trips are crafted to deliver shared enrichment through common experiences that allow family members to build strong, intergenerational bonds (or bridges).

New Tauck Bridges River Cruise

Featured prominently in Taucks 2013 Bridges collection is its new river cruise itinerary, Bon Voyage: France Family River Cruise. The 10-day itinerary (from $4,690 per person, plus air) begins with an included two-night hotel stay with guided sightseeing in Paris that highlights the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and a special dinner at Fouquets. Guests and families then travel on the high-speed TGV train to Lyon, where theyll board Taucks MS Swiss Emerald for a seven-night cruise on the Rhone.

Tauck is including a number of fun and engaging activities for families throughout the itinerary, including a scavenger hunt in Paris Louvre, a lesson in petanque (a ball game similar to bocce) in Viviers, a hayride in the Camargue, bicycling in Avignon, and a hands-on French culinary experience in Tournon. Three departures of Bon Voyage: France Family River Cruise, will be offered in 2013, on July 11, July 25 and August 1.

In all, for 2013 Tauck will operate departures of 17 Bridges itineraries highlighting destinations in Europe, North America, Latin America and Africa. Each Bridges trip is fully inclusive, with all accommodations, ground transportation, entertainment, sightseeing, gratuities, most meals, airport transfers, luggage handling and much more built into the price.

Complimentary Hotel Night for Returning Tauck Bridges Travelers

Returning Tauck Bridges travelers can also benefit from the companys Gift of Time offer, which allows them to extend their 2013 journey with a complimentary hotel night. Guests can choose to redeem their free night at either the beginning or end of their Tauck journey, at the hotel normally featured on the first or last night of their itinerary. To qualify for the Gift of Time, returning guests must book their 2013 Tauck Bridges trip and secure it with a deposit no later than December 28, 2012. Other restrictions may apply.

Information on Taucks full 2013 family travel line-up is contained in the companys new 76-page Tauck Bridges brochure, which is currently mailing to travel agents and consumers. Those interested in more information can visit their local travel professional, call Tauck at 1 800 468 2825, or visit Tauck online at http://www.tauck.com

See the article here:

Tauck Named “World’s Best River Cruise Line for Families” by Travel + Leisure

Strong Response to Lesbian and Gay Tourism Market

Posted on by

New display space for LGBT market close to selling out at London World Travel Market. Only three display booths remain. Latest exhibitors announced. One month to go.

LONDON, UK (PRWEB) October 09, 2012

London World Travel Market is the world's leading event for the global travel industry and in 2012 they are hosting their first dedicated trade show space for businesses wanting to tap into the highly sought after LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) tourism market.

'Out Now Business Class at WTM' combines the power of the world's most innovative travel trade show with the market leadership of Out Now Global - the world's most important global LGBT marketing specialists.

This exhibitor space includes 12 months Executive Membership in the global networking membership association Out Now Business Class http://www.OutNowBusinessClass.com for each exhibitor - delivering a powerful suite of ongoing LGBT marketing benefits including research, global online networking and staff training.

The latest exhibitors have just been announced for 'Out Now Business Class at WTM'. These include World Outgames and Antwerp Tourism & Convention.

LGBT Confex http://www.lgbtconfex.com - Latin America's leading producer of events and conferences targeting the LGBT market - is the newest exhibitor and joins other market-leaders including THE OUT NYC, Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau, Pride Tours (Israel), Berlin Tourismus & Kongress and Out Now Global.

Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, said that his company's business decision to exhibit at WTM was a strategic one.

"This is the premier event for the global travel industry and as a business interested in building relationships to help our clients connect with LGBT people, we simply could not afford to miss this opportunity," Sandoval said. "Just having a presence on a mainstream exhibitor stand at WTM would not work anywhere near as effectively. The 'Out Now Business Class at WTM' exhibition space is quite simply going to be the place for businesses to connect and develop LGBT market opportunities at WTM. Not exhibiting in that dedicated trade environment would mean us losing valuable business connections. LGBT Confex is delighted to be exhibiting with 'Out Now Business Class at WTM' in London this November."

Darren Cooper, Out Now Senior Consultant based in London said he is very pleased with the response to exhibiting at this year's LGBT space at WTM.

Continue reading here:

Strong Response to Lesbian and Gay Tourism Market