Monthly Archives: May 2017

New plutonium discovery lights way for FSU chemistry professor’s … – Florida State News

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Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt, professor of chemistry.

Plutonium has long been part of many countries nuclear energy strategies, but scientists are still unlocking the mysteries behind this complicated element and seeing how they can use heavier, nuclear elements to clean up nuclear waste.

Now, new research by Florida State University Professor Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt shows that plutonium doesnt exactly work the way scientists thought it did. The findings will contribute to his teams efforts to develop technologies to clean up nuclear waste.

The work was published today in Nature Chemistry.

Albrecht-Schmitt and a team of researchers have been studying plutonium Pu on the Periodic Table of Elements for almost two decades to understand how it behaves chemically, and how it differs from lighter elements like iron or nickel. To Albrecht-Schmitts surprise, a plutonium-organic hybrid compound that his team assembled in the lab behaved much like compounds made with lighter elements.

What makes this discovery so interesting is that the material rather than being really complicated and really exotic is really, really simple, Albrecht-Schmitt said. Your imagination goes wild, and you think Wow, I could make that class of compound with many other types of heavy elements. I could use other heavy elements like uranium or maybe even berkelium.

The team observed that electrons were shuttling back and forth between two different plutonium ions.The movement of electrons between two positive ions is an action that typically happens between ions of lighter elements like iron, which is why lighter elements are often used in biology to accomplish chemical reactions.

Albrecht-Schmitt said his team immediately realized there was something unique about the compound they had engineered in the lab simply because of its color.

Plutonium makes wild, vibrant colors, Albrecht-Schmitt said. It can be purple, it can be these beautiful pinks. It can be this super dark black-blue. This compound was brown, like a beautiful brown chocolate bar. When we saw that color, we knew something was electronically unusual about it.

Albrecht-Schmitts work is part of his labs overall mission to better understand the heavier elements at the very bottom of the periodic table. Last year, he received $10 million from the Department of Energy to form a new Energy Frontier Research Center that will focus on accelerating scientific efforts to clean up nuclear waste.

In order to develop materials that say trap plutonium, you first have to understand at the most basic level, the electronic properties of plutonium, Albrecht-Schmitt said. So that means making very simple compounds, characterizing them in exquisite detail and understanding both experimentally and theoretically all of the properties youre observing.

Albrecht-Schmitt and his research team have conducted similar work on the elements californium and berkelium.

Other authors on the paper are FSU graduate students Samantha Cary, Shane Galley, Matthew Marsh, Justin Cross and Jared Stritzinger; FSU research professor David Hobart; National High Magnetic Field Laboratory researcher Ryan Baumbach; Bloomsburg University Assistant Professor of Chemistry Matthew Polinski; and Laurent Maron of the Institut National des Sciences Appliques in Toulouse, France.

The work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

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New plutonium discovery lights way for FSU chemistry professor's ... - Florida State News

Chaos gives way to better chemistry at Largo – Tampabay.com

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The renovations to Largo High's football stadium are nearly complete. There is a new locker room. Sod also is being installed on the practice field and at the stadium.

The work is part of a complete campus makeover that took nearly three years to complete.

Packers coach Marcus Pascal is confident the reclamation project of the school's football program will take considerably less time.

Last season was a hardship for the players and coaches. They had to drudge equipment for practice while the locker room was being rebuilt. Pascal was teaching at a middle school and there not a coach on campus full-time during school hours.

The results showed. Largo finished 3-6, the first losing record at the school since 1999. In five of those losses, the Packers were leading at halftime.

"It was chaos last year," Paschal said. "Not having coaches constantly around during school hours was a big reason we weren't able to hold on to leads and stay consistent throughout games."

Paschal again is teaching at Largo. The coaching staff also has some continuity.

The players also were able to take solace from last season's struggles in knowing they had a future together. Defensive lineman Bobby Roundtree (Illinois) and receiver Julian Cooney (Garden City Community College) are the only significant starters the Packers lose.

Everyone is back on the offensive line, a unit that averages 265 pounds per starter. That line also will be bolstered by the guidance of former Largo coach Rick Rodriguez, who agreed to return as an assistant this season.

There are elite prospects at other positions, too.

Defensive back/receiver Calvin Lockett, a rising senior, is a three-star recruit who has offers from Oregon, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, among others. Fellow receiver Jaquan Hiers led the team in catches (18), receiving yards (435) and receiving touchdowns (five) last season. Hiers also led the team with 485 yards rushing. Jayion McCluster, a rising sophomore, is poised for a breakout season. The cousin of former Largo standout Dexter McCluster has nine offers, including ones from Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, USF and Oregon.

The defense has just as many prospects.

Lineman Jaquaze Sorrells, a rising junior, is a four-star lineman who has already committed to Florida. Linebacker Logan Doublin is a rising senior who was a first-team, all-county selection last season. He has four offers, the latest ones coming from Marshall and Ohio.

"I feel like we have guys who are among the top prospects in the area in their class for the next three years," Paschal said. "These are guys that I've worked with throughout their careers."

The talent is there, the coaching staff is in place.

The only thing missing is a sense of unity.

"We know in order to really turn things around we have to be less selfish and play more as a team," Lockett said. "We have a couple of new guys that are learning how to do things, but overall I feel like the team is going to be a lot better."

Spring football

Saturday

Dixie Hollins at Bradenton Saint Stephen's, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

Nature Coast at Palm Harbor University, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Clearwater at Clearwater Central Catholic, 7 p.m.

St. Petersburg Catholic at Farragut (controlled scrimmage), 7 p.m.

Thursday

Largo at Pinellas Park, 7 p.m.

Northeast at Palmetto, 7 p.m.

Zephyrhills Christian at

Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.

May 19

Shorecrest at Bayshore Christian, 7 p.m.

Countryside at Tarpon Springs, 7 p.m.

Lakewood at Braden River, 7 p.m.

Dunedin at Bayshore, 7:30 p.m.

Osceola at Seminole, 7:30 p.m.

East Lake at River Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

Calvary Christian vs.

Cambridge Christian

at Skyway Park, 7:30 p.m.

Gibbs at Jesuit, 7 p.m.

Naples at St. Petersburg, 7 p.m.

Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic at Keswick Christian, 7 p.m.

Chaos gives way to better chemistry at Largo 05/10/17 [Last modified: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 5:24pm] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Chaos gives way to better chemistry at Largo - Tampabay.com

Sniffing out a career in chemistry – Royal Society of Chemistry

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While Jonathon has been inspired to try out different training techniques with his own dog, a cocker spaniel called Marley, nothing has stuck so far: My dog is somewhat of a handful I end up getting taken out for walks rather than the other way around.

Around his PhD, Jonathon is also president of the Forensic Science Society at the University of Leicester. He works alongside the committee to organise events for the forensic science students, giving current undergraduates the opportunity to see where their degree might take them.

Through my research, I have a lot of contacts on a range of forensics subjects. We invite guest speakers to the university so that current students can find out whats going on in the wider field.

I think its really important that undergraduates get this opportunity and I think a lot of lecture courses dont always highlight the importance of networking and keeping up to date with current research. The projects that Im working on now are a result of my networking seeing what research is out there and whos doing what. I really wanted to give that back to the community.

We recently took a group of first and third year undergraduate students to a conference and it was fantastic to see how engaged they were talking to people in the field. It was really nice to see them get the chance to network, without our direct help, but as a result of our organisation.

Jonathon is also a member of KENYON International Emergency Services, a crisis management organisation that brings together relevant experts in the case of natural disasters. He can be called out to a disaster, anywhere in the world, as a human identification officer, to help with victim recovery.

Jonathon recently received one of our Researcher Mobility Grants, which give early career researchers funding for a short placement at a different institution to where theyre currently based. They help early stage researchers build links with potential collaborators and enhance the scope of their work. Jonathon spent a month at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), in the centre for forensic science working with the Shari Forbes group. The centre has an associated body farm, so Jonathon can work with human samples. Watch this space for an update on how he got on.

In the future, Jonathon wants to establish his own research group in the area of victim recovery, with different teams of researchers investigating different variables. He sees the Sydney centre as a good model to work towards.

I want to move the UK forward in victim recovery detection. Were quite behind in terms of dog training. We need to spend more time looking at, and understanding, all of the fundamental science were often jumping ahead but we need to pause and test the applications of the science in the field.

Jonathon also feels its incredibly important to continue building links with police taskforces, bridging the gap between academic research and work in the field.

I think the communication between police forces and universities is quite restricted at the moment. Not a lot of researchers get the opportunity to go out there and work with a taskforce. Once I meet a police officer, we always stay in contact and they can talk to me about the project or any problems that theyre facing on a case. Its all about making sure that communication remains open so theyve always got that guidance there to support their work.

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Sniffing out a career in chemistry - Royal Society of Chemistry

Puma Biotechnology Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results – Business Wire (press release)

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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the first quarter 2017 compared to the first quarter 2016.

Based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), Puma reported a net loss applicable to common stock of $72.9 million, or $1.97 per share, for the first quarter of 2017, compared to a net loss applicable to common stock of $71.0 million, or $2.19 per share, for the first quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss was $43.1 million, or $1.16 per share, for the first quarter of 2017, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $41.5 million, or $1.28 per share, for the first quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss excludes stock-based compensation expense, which represents a significant portion of overall expense and has no impact on the cash position of the Company. For a reconciliation of GAAP net loss to non-GAAP adjusted net loss and GAAP net loss per share to non-GAAP adjusted net loss per share, please see the financial tables at the end of this news release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2017 was $36.0 million. At March 31, 2017, Puma had cash and cash equivalents of $105.1 million and marketable securities of $88.9 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $194.5 million and marketable securities of $35.0 million at December 31, 2016.

We made significant progress with our lead investigational drug, neratinib, during the first quarter of 2017, said Alan H. Auerbach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma. We look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) as they review our New Drug Application (NDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA)filings, respectively, and we look forward to presenting the data on neratinib at the upcoming FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee on May 24th.

Data on neratinib was also presented at the 2017 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in April which included data on the use of antidiarrheal prophylaxis to reduce the diarrhea with neratinib in the extended adjuvant treatment of patients with early stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer who have received prior adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy (CONTROL trial). There was also clinical data presented on neratinib in the treatment of patients who have solid tumors with activating HER2 or HER3 mutations (SUMMIT trial). Additional data was also presented on the combination of T-DM1 and neratinib in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that has previously been treated with pertuzumab and trastuzumab. We look forward to continuing to achieve our objectives and believe that Puma is very well-positioned to build value for our shareholders.

Mr. Auerbach added, During 2017, we anticipate the following key milestones with neratinib: (i) reporting data from the Phase III trial in third-line HER2-positive MBC patients in the second quarter of 2017; (ii) reporting data in the second quarter of 2017 from the TBCRC-022 Phase II trial of neratinib plus capecitabine in HER2-positive MBC patients with brain metastases; (iii) reporting final 5-year disease free survival (DFS) data during the second quarter of 2017 from the ExteNET Phase III trial of neratinib as an extended adjuvant treatment in HER2-positive early stage breast cancer; and (iv) announcing regulatory decisions in the United States and European Union on neratinib for the extended adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive early stage breast cancer in the third quarter of 2017.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $73.2 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $71.2 million for the first quarter of 2016.

General and Administrative Expenses:

General and administrative expenses were $18.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $11.0 million for the first quarter of 2016. The approximately $7.4 million increase resulted primarily from increases of approximately $1.4 million for stock-based compensation, $3.9 million for professional fees, $1.3 million for payroll and related costs, and $0.5 million for facility and equipment costs. These increases reflect overall corporate growth.

Research and Development Expenses:

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $54.8 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $60.2 million for the first quarter of 2016. The approximately $5.4 million decrease resulted primarily from decreases of approximately $1.1 million for stock-based compensation and $5.0 million for clinical trial expenses, partially offset by an increase of $0.6 million for consultants and contractors. For our existing clinical trials, we expect R&D expenses to decrease in subsequent quarters as clinical trials wind down.

About Puma Biotechnology

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a focus on the development and commercialization of innovative products to enhance cancer care. The Company in-licenses the global development and commercialization rights to three drug candidatesPB272 (neratinib (oral)), PB272 (neratinib (intravenous)) and PB357. Neratinib is a potent irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks signal transduction through the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2 and HER4. Currently, the Company is primarily focused on the development of the oral version of neratinib, and its most advanced drug candidates are directed at the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. The Company believes that neratinib has clinical application in the treatment of several other cancers as well, including non-small cell lung cancer and other tumor types that over-express or have a mutation in HER2.

Further information about Puma Biotechnology can be found at http://www.pumabiotechnology.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential announcement of regulatory decisions in the United States and European Union on neratinib for the extended adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive early stage breast cancer and the Companys clinical trials and the announcement of data relative to these trials. All forward-looking statements included in this press release involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, the fact that the Company has no product revenue and no products approved for marketing, the Company's dependence on PB272, which is still under development and may never receive regulatory approval, the challenges associated with conducting and enrolling clinical trials, the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support the Company's drug candidate claims, even if approved, the risk that physicians and patients may not accept or use the Company's products, the Company's reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials and to formulate and manufacture its drug candidates, the Company's dependence on licensed intellectual property, and the other risk factors disclosed in the periodic and current reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to operating results as calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures when planning, monitoring, and evaluating operational performance. The following table presents the Companys net loss and net loss per share calculated in accordance with GAAP and as adjusted to remove the impact of employee stock-based compensation. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, stock-based compensation represented approximately 40.9% of net loss. Although net loss is important to measure financial performance, the Company currently places an emphasis on cash burn and, more specifically, cash used in operations. Stock-based compensation appears in GAAP net loss but is removed from net loss to arrive at cash used in operations on the statement of cash flows. Due to its noncash nature, the Company believes these non-GAAP measures enhance understanding of financial performance, are more indicative of operational performance and facilitate a better comparison among fiscal periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for GAAP reporting measures.

(1)

To reflect a non-cash charge to operating expense for General and Administrative stock-based compensation.

(2)

To reflect a non-cash charge to operating expense for Research and Development stock-based compensation.

(3)

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss per share was calculated based on 36,931,167 and 32,478,408 weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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Puma Biotechnology Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results - Business Wire (press release)

Biotechnology dept to set up tissue culture lab – Millennium Post

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The state Biotechnology department has decided to set up a state-of-the-art plant tissue culture laboratory at the Kolkata Biotech Park to enhance production and quality of plants and vegetables.

There will be scientists and research fellows who will carry out various kinds of research on plants and bio-fertilizers and how they can be used to increase the production of vegetables in the state. Various medicinal plants will be conserved in the Biotech Park for research purposes. It has been learnt that the department is in the process of formulating the Biotech Policy for Bengal.

The state government has already taken the initiative to upgrade the infrastructure of Kolkata Biotech Park, apart from setting up new Biotechnology hubs in Burdwan and Kalimpong. The department has been focusing on the modernisation and expansion of the Common Instrument Facility Centre in the Biotech Park in the city. The department of Biotechnology will obtain all the necessary approvals and clearances to secure funding for the augmentation of the 'Bioincubator Facility' in Kolkata.

The department has a plan to conduct research on tissue culture to increase the yield and quality of various products but also to provide germ-free food to the common people. The Biotechnology department will tie up with other departments like Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing to strengthen organisational collaboration.

Better co-ordination with other departments will help the Biotechnology department to successfully implement the schemes. The department will help the Agriculture department to improve the quality of various fertilizers. It is also working to increase the production of fishes for the Fisheries department.

Tissue culture will be of immense help in increasing the productivity of land by enhancing crop quality, developing crops resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, developing bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides.

Bengal is rich in the biodiversity of crops, vegetables, fruits, flowers and other plant resources. The main objectives of the department are to provide better facilities to the common people and to improve the quality of life. It will also promote the overall development of both traditional and modern biotechnology in the state including various livelihood development programmes. It will also strengthen biotechnology-based aspects that will help in the development of the state economy from the grass-root level.

The Biotechnology department is applying specialised knowledge, skills and management to develop a viable and vibrant biotechnology-based industry in the state. It stresses on equitable and inclusive development through scientific means.

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Biotechnology dept to set up tissue culture lab - Millennium Post

Plandai Biotechnology Inc (OTCMKTS:PLPL) Needs A Millennial Boost – The Oracle Dispatch

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Plandai Biotechnology Inc (OTCMKTS:PLPL)is a up and coming micro cap, and part of thehealth and wellness craze thats all around us. Every outlet who sells food from McDonalds to the local 7Eleven has healthy food choices. Nearly every menu is shiftingfrom things that taste good to things that make you feel better.

It seems as though nearly all healthy lifestyle enthusiasts take some sort of powdered form of supplement in the morning to start their day, and Plandai is front and center in this lifestyle change. Itsall about science, chemistry and funding as supplements take a step higher as part of our diet. These are all good things for investors as this health lifestyle sector continues its march to higher levels.

It starting to feellike the big four now are cannabis, blockchain/bitcoin, digital media and healthy lifestyle stocks as these sectors mature and begin to break out.

Plandai Biotechnology Inc (OTCMKTS:PLPL) announced last week that its highly bioavailable PhytofareCatechin Complex would be the active ingredient in Capital Brands reformulated and soon-to-be released SuperFood Fat Burning Boost, which is used with the brand NutriBullet. Plandas signature brand Phytofarewill make its way to the U.S. and Europe in Coyne Healthcares product Origine 8.

Coyne Healthcare placed an order for 1.2 million of Plandas Origine 8capsules, which is a product that uses bioavailable green tea extract, PhytofareCatechin Complex, but further enhances the bioavailability of the extract by using an advanced liposome technology developed and clinically validated to improve the delivery of nutritional substances.

Subscribe below and well keep you on top of whats happening before $PLPL stock makes its next move.

Origine 8is a product that entraps all 8 of the catechins of the tea plant, and according to Planda, it is the only catechin-based capsule on the market backed by human clinical studies.

Coyne Healthcare has already been selling Plandas unique product in South Africa, but it now expects to launch Origine 8this month in both the U.S. and Europe. The good news for Planda is that Coyne Healthcare has forecasted sales of 10.6 million Origine 8capsules in 2017, and Coyne expects sales to further increase to 24 million Origine 8capsules in 2018.

Coyne makes its products available through pharmacies, health food stores and medical practitioners, for both NutriBullet and Coyne Healthcare to bring Plandas signature brand to the U.S.

The company also recently announced that it has executed an agreement with Cambridge Commodities Ltd. to become the exclusive Phytofare distributor for the United Kingdom and all of Europe. Based in England, Cambridge Commodities specializes in supplying nutritional ingredients and finished products to the sports nutrition, health and well-being, pet and equine, and food industries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cambridge Commodities will be required to meet specific quarterly sales goals to retain its exclusive distributor status with the initial quotas being established after a short ramp-up period.

Cambridge Commodities requires all suppliers to complete a verification process consisting of a meticulous questionnaire and thorough sampling of the material before approval. Their technical team, which includes nine professional lead auditors, travel to all parts of the world to ensure products meet all regulatory and quality requirements, and that those products adhere to environmental and social responsibility policies.

Callum Cottrell-Duffield, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Planda Biotechnology, commented, Cambridge Commodities has been a Planda customer for over a year, so they are very familiar with Phytofare. When the opportunity for a new distributor opened up in the European territory, we all agreed that it would be a perfect partnership. Cambridge has excellent contacts throughout Europe, experienced sales reps, and a great training program. Were confident that they will easily meet and exceed their sales quota and we look forward to working with them.

Shares have done little for Planda Biotechnology(OTCMKTS:PLPL) moving sideways with sporadic volume as the news circulates through the markets. This company looks like it is organizing itself well operationally and is establishing a global footprint for sales, they are also hiring market awareness firms to get the word out about the product and the stock itself. These are all good signs, but the real test will be when shareholders come to buy the stock and need to make a decision between having this be a short term trade or a buy and hold.

We like what we see as this is a sneaky huge growth market for the millennial demographic where funding, sales and solid marketers can grab market share with proper branding. We will add this to our universe of stocks to watch as we have our morning coffee and shake!For more news on PLPLand other fast-moving penny stocks, please subscribe to OracleDispatch.com below.

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Plandai Biotechnology Inc (OTCMKTS:PLPL) Needs A Millennial Boost - The Oracle Dispatch

Seniors Present Science Theses – Middlebury Campus (subscription)

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Julie Merchant 17 presents on the role of vesicle pH in neurotransmitter transport.

Julie Merchant 17 presents on the role of vesicle pH in neurotransmitter transport.

Sabina Haque, Contributing Writer May 10, 2017 Filed under Arts & Sciences

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As the 201617 academic year slowly draws to a close, McCardell Bicentennial Hall remains abuzz with activity, as senior thesis presentations are in full swing. Many soon-to-be graduates of the biology, neuroscience, chemistry & biochemistry, molecular biology & biochemistry and conservation biology departments have spent the greater part of the past year in the lab or the field, working diligently to produce independent research with various professors at the College.

While the chemistry & biochemistry department indulges its devoted students in three to four hour-long sessions on Friday afternoons (an extravaganza more fulfilling than binge-watching The Office), the biology-focused departments prefer to sprinkle their presentations across the lunch hour throughout the past week. For this issue, three particular student presentations are featured: Eric Stanton, Julie Merchant and Laura Bashor.

Eric Stanton 17, a biochemistry major working in Professor Jeff Byerss lab, presented his work entitled Synthesis of a Chromium Complexed Poly-(p-phenylene ethynylene) Polymer as a Potential Molecular Wire on Friday, May 5. Using the organic synthesis techniques characteristic of the Byers lab, he described the steps taken that enabled him to construct a complexed p-phenylene ethnylene (PPE) polymer starting from dichlorobenzene.

Stanton then moved into the results of his work. When he assayed the stability of his synthetic polymer with NMR, a common chemical laboratory technique, he was surprised to see that his complex was not as stable as expected. Stanton then performed fluorescent quenching, which involves exposing polymers to UV light and measuring the excited state charge transfer. While Stantons polymer did not display the stability that he had hoped, he found that fluorescent quenching provided a better model to understand this complex.

On Monday, May 8, Julie Merchant 17 and Laura Bashor 17 both presented during the lunch hour, representing the biology department. After a jovial and entertaining introduction from her advisor Professor Glen Ernstrom, Merchant kicked off the session with her dynamic presentation of Optogenetic acidification of synaptic vesicles in C. elegans. She explored how neurons communicate, which led naturally into a brief but thorough review of neurotransmission and a helpful analogy connecting neuronal communication to a water balloon fight.

Merchants research focuses on understanding the importance of vesicle pH in regulating the transport of neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. When these synaptic vesicles are only partially filled, they are less likely to fuse with target cells into which the neurotransmitters are meant to be delivered. This results in pronounced behavioral defects such as deficits in motor coordinates and balance.

Her hypothesis was that the acidification provides a molecular checkpoint that instructs vesicles to fuse properly. Through a variety of experiments, she was able to demonstrate that a proton pump-deficient C. elegans mutant has diminished vesicle fusion. Merchant was also able to restore an acidification-related defect in said C. elegans mutant by expressing a protein on the vesicle surface that acidifies the vesicle in response to light stimulus.

In a brief introduction, Allen mentioned that Bashor would soon be presenting her work to the Ecological Society of America. Bashors thesis project, Lyme disease and elevation: a dynamic ecological relationship, focused on work she had been pursuing in Professor David Allens laboratory since the summer. She opened with an array of statistics depicting the stark increase of Lyme disease cases in the United States, and particularly Vermont. In an effort to untangle the ecology of Lyme disease, Bashor addressed the fact that although the black legged tick is the most infamous of Lyme disease carriers, other small mammals could actually be implicated as the biggest contributors to human infection.

At the heart of Bashors work was the connection between elevation and Lyme disease risk, as the life cycles of the black legged tick and various small mammals are in turn determined by such environmental factors. Along an elevational gradient, Bashor collected ticks, the white footed mouse and deer mouse and tried to identify elevations effect on the distribution of Lyme disease infection rates. She found in her samples that, although the white-footed mouse is thought of as a more common vector for Lyme disease, the deer mouse actually was infected with Lyme disease at a much higher rate. In addition, she observed differences in the activity and densities of the black legged tick along an elevational gradient, implicating that the ecology of Lyme disease is tied inherently to elevation.

While these three presentations represent only a small subset of the talks that have been given over the past few weeks, they provide a brief glance at the diligent work that happens behind closed lab doors.

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Seniors Present Science Theses - Middlebury Campus (subscription)

This Grey’s Anatomy Teaser Hints at [SPOILER]’s Exit – TV Guide (blog)

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Now Playing 9 Things You Didn't Know About Grey's Anatomy

It's been rumored for months that actress Jerrika Hinton might be taking leave of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital sometime this season, and the newest teaser for Grey's Anatomy's upcoming episode certainly paints a grim picture for her very near future on the show.

Hinton, who's played Dr. Stephanie Edwards since the series' ninth season, is the focus of this clip from TVLine, which shows the halls of the hospital swarming with police as Chief Bailey (Chandra Wilson) frantically searches for Edwards while Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) laments his decision to leave Edwards with the apparently dangerous patient she's shown wheeling around.

When it was first reported that Hinton might be leaving Grey's, the news was that she wouldn't return as a series regular, leaving open the possibility of her still coming in as a guest star. However, if this teaser is any indication, her departure might just be more final than anyone expected ... which wouldn't be too much of a surprise, given how murder-happy the Grey's writers have been with their medical staff over the years.

Hinton is expected to star in Wes Ball's new HBO dramedy series, Here, Now later this year.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursday nights at 8/7c on ABC.

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This Grey's Anatomy Teaser Hints at [SPOILER]'s Exit - TV Guide (blog)

New book ‘Anatomy of Innocence’ allows wrongfully convicted to tell their stories – 89.3 KPCC

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People who have made good faith estimates are hoping that our human system of criminal justice gets it right 95% of the time. If we got it right 95% of the time there would still be 110,000 innocent people in jail. -- Laura Caldwell, co-editor, "Anatomy of Innocence"

In recent years, wrongful conviction stories like the ones in Serial and Netflixs Making a Murderer have captivated audiences. The characters in these stories are ordinary people. That's what makes the stories so intriguing this could happen to anyone.

Anatomy of Innocence is a new anthology that tells the stories of over a dozen people who were convicted of crimes they did not commit. What makes it unique is that the stories are told by the actual exonerees, with the help of thriller and mystery writers like Sara Paretsky, Lee Child, Brad Parks, and Laurie King. Laura Caldwell and Leslie Klinger teamed up to co-edit the collection of stories.

Author Laura Caldwell is a professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. In 2008, she founded Life After Innocence at Loyola, which provides resources for innocent people who have been affected by the criminal justice system as they re-enter society. Leslie Klinger is best known for his annotated editions of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

Off-Ramp archive: Leslie Klinger on H.P. Lovecraft ... great writer, horrible man

They worked together on Anatomy of Innocence to examine the real life consequences of wrongful convictions. The idea was to present them almost like a novel to present the arc, to present the typical experience of the exonerees, Klinger says. From the very first moment from the arrest all the way through reentering society and the mental adjustments.

Sales of the book support Life After Innocence, and if it sells well enough, some of the proceeds will go to the exonerees who tell their stories. The book sites statistics from the National Registry of Exonerations, a registry kept by Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, which says there are about 2,000 cases of exonerations that have been publicly recognized.

Klinger says they worked hard to mirror the overall demographics of the wrongfully convicted: almost a third are black, about 10% were first arrested under the age of 18, and half were under the age of 25 when they first became involved in their case and ended up incarcerated.

Its not always about being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

67% of wrongful convictions that involved big level felonies involved prosecutorial or police misconduct, Caldwell says. Now, that is not to say that the majority of police or prosecutors engage in misconduct unfortunately we have seen such egregious things happen on behalf of police and prosecutors.

When we were envisioning this book Making a Murderer wasnt out, but Serial was. The average person wasnt as well versed in wrongful convictions, Caldwell says. By the time we got to actually publishing, the hope is that you understand that this happens. Its a human system it's bound to happen for various reasons so now that its bound to happen for various reasons what does it feel like to be in that person's head? What does it feel like to be in their soul? What does it feel like to be in their eyes?

For the full conversation with Laura Caldwell and Leslie Klingerclick on the audio player above.

With contributions from Jesus Ambrosio

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New book 'Anatomy of Innocence' allows wrongfully convicted to tell their stories - 89.3 KPCC

Anatomy of a Goal: Ola’s Opener – Massive Report

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Welcome to Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal from the previous weeks Columbus Crew SC match.

For Week 10 of the 2017 MLS season, we take a look at Ola Kamaras 13th minute goal that gave Crew SC a 1-0 lead as part of the win over New England Revolution on Saturday.

Heres a look at the finish from the Crew SC striker.

Before Olas early goal, the match had mostly been an even affair. Both teams had opportunities, but were still finding their footing during these early stages.

There is a lot going on in this first image. Notice the Black & Gold defensive positioning. During most of this match, Crew SC defended in their typical 4-4-2 with rigid banks in the midfield and defensive line. The banks are a bit jumbled here, but Columbus has almost every attacking option covered.

Revolution midfielder Xavier Kouassi has just received a pass from attacking teammate Lee Nguyen, and realistically has only one option, dribble forward toward goal and hope that hes able to beat Wil Trapp and Jonathan Mensah.

Trapp and Mensah will easily close him out, and the Crew attacking players (specifically winger Justin Meram and Kamara) begin their runs to the offensive end. Federico Higuain is totally unmarked and will provide an easy pass for the defense once the ball is won from Kouassi.

Trapp, who an excellent match against the Revolution, wins the ball from Kouassi and makes a short, simple pass to Jonathan. Higuain is still totally unmarked while Kamara and Meram begin their offensive runs.

Notice Trapp in the middle of this image. After he makes a pass to Jonathan, he immediately notices Higuain open in the middle of the field. In this image, you can see Trapp pointing directly at Higuain, showing Jonathan, who is still learning the intricacies of the Crew SC system, where to put his pass.

Meanwhile, Meram, unmarked and out of the sight of Nguyen, will provide a simple target for Higuains pass.

Higuain receives the ball, and turns toward an unmarked Meram. Revolution right back Andrew Farrell is just too far behind Meram to catch up. Kamara is just to the left of this image, having moved forward while Trapp won the ball off of Kouassi.

With Farrell trailing behind, Meram can see that he has many yards of space open in front of him. New England only has three defenders back, allowing the Crew SC winger to continue his push forward.

Kamara has returned to the fold in this image, as Ethan Finlay streaks down the right side of the field. Meram angles his run toward the middle of the field, giving himself more space to work with and forcing the Revolution center backs to make a defensive decision, leaving Kamara open or allowing Meram to continue on his path to goal.

Kamara makes a really intelligent run to open himself up for Merams assist. The forward takes his run right toward Revolution center-back Joshua Smith, appearing to look for a pass in the middle of the field slipped into the channel between Smith and fellow center-back Antonio Delamea. In the next images, you will see that once Smith makes the decision to cover Meram, Kamara will angle his run back away from Smith, opening himself up for an easy slipped pass from his teammate.

Now, Smith has to make a decision. Will he cover Kamara in hopes that Delamea and Farrell will cover Meram, or does he cut of Merams drive in hopes that Delamea will cover Kamaras continued run?

Smith opts to focus his attention on Meram, while Delamea runs in behind him, keeping Kamara onside while taking an intelligent angle that will eventually allow him to nearly block Kamaras shot on goal.

The instant that Kamara sees Smith commit his attention to Meram, the Crew SC striker cuts his run back away from the defender, while being kept onside by Delamea.

Here, Meram sees that Smith focuses all attention on him, and slots a very simple pass betweel Farrell and Smith into the path of a goal-bound Kamara. Ola is clearly held onside by Delamea.

In the above video, you can see how brilliant Kamaras run is. By running right at Smith, Kamara freezes the Revolution defender, and makes him choose between marking Meram or the Crew SC striker.

As Smith stops covering, Kamara runs toward goal and easily receives a pass with no defenders in front of him.

Here is another angle of Olas run at Smith. From this angle, you can see Kamara begin his run goal-ward immediately after Smith turns his head toward Meram.

The above image shows Smith totally caught flatfooted between Meram and Kamara. Smith has no angle on the either Crew SC player, and is easily beaten by Merams well-played pass.

Once Kamara is in on goal, he now has two options: a back post shot on his preferred right foot; or a pass to a well-marked Finlay.

Kamara opts for a curling, back post shot as Delamea barrels toward him.

The Crew SC striker is able to get the ball up and over Delamea, though Delamea may have gotten a deflection on the ball, and toward the back post...

...where he perfectly slots the ball, giving Crew SC a 1-0 lead.

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Anatomy of a Goal: Ola's Opener - Massive Report

Why the Science Behind Athletic Performance Enhancement Remains So Controversial – Motherboard

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Scientific efforts to enhance human performance were carried on throughout the 20th century, but most people hear about this work only in the context of criticizing "steroid cheats" in their favorite sports.

Testosterone is an old drug, synthesized in the 1930s by Croatian scientist Leopold Ruzicka and later deployed to considerable effect by the Soviet and East German Olympic teams. Growth hormone research began in the 1950s and was used to treat people with developmental disabilities; later, pioneering amateur steroid researcher Dan Duchaine wrote about the drug's potential for strength gains and bodily rejuvenation. Even stem cell treatments, in the form of bone marrow transplants, have been performed since the 1960s.

Outside of a purely medical context, attempts to utilize these drugs have been met with intense criticism. John Hoberman's book Testosterone Dreams details many of the fallacious claims made about that sex hormone, such as its potential to eradicate impotence and male homosexuality, while also noting that until 1984, the American Academy of Sports Medicine denied that anabolic-androgenic steroids had any impact whatsoever on athletic performance. Steven Ungerleider's Faust's Gold offers a detailed look at East Germany's state-run performance enhancement, offering many reproductions of the precise drug schedules that East German athletes followed, but is deeply critical of the government doctors who oversaw the program and avowedly opposed to performance enhancement.

"What is performance enhancement, exactly?" steroid-using powerlifter Mark Bell asked me when I interviewed him last year. "All exercise, all training, is a kind of performance enhancement. What makes one thing good and another thing bad?"

Confusion about terminology such as "performance enhancement," as well as concerns about drug side effects and public disapprobation for the swollen, hypertrophied bodies of professional bodybuilders, have combined to consign much worthwhile research involving testosterone, growth hormone, and even stem cells to the sidelines, or, in the case of black-market personal usage of steroids, to the shadows.

"We did this work on ourselves," physique athlete and trainer Douglas Alexander told Motherboard. "From Dan Duchaine's Underground Steroid Handbook to today's performance-enhancing drug forums, lifters and bodybuilders have been testing and experimenting with drugs, determining what works and what doesn't. It's part of what makes this such a close-knit community, that knowledge base."

Cass Almendral, a 56-year-old business consultant who discussed his growth hormone usage in a recent New York Post feature, believes that performance enhancement and anti-aging treatments should be normalized rather than stigmatized. "I'm under a doctor's supervision and I've never been in better shape," he said. "What's dangerous, in my opinion, is selling people exercise products or diets that don't work, that make them become discouraged and depressed while chasing results they cannot achieve due to the effects of the aging process."

Cass Almendral, 56, after six months of anti-aging treatment involving physician-supervised injections of HGH. (image: Cass Almendral)

Brian Mehling, an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Blue Horizon International, a charitable foundation focused on regenerative medicine, has conducted extensive stem cell and growth hormone research. Mehling believes public misperceptions and regulatory hurdles have unduly complicated that process. "On the one hand, you have people who think of strengthening and improving the body, and what immediately comes to mind are these huge bodybuilders who are taking dangerous amounts of anabolic drugs, who are quite frankly suffering from some kind of psychosis related to body image," he said. "And then you have drug companies that are very satisfied with the profits from their cholesterol pills and antidepressants and don't want to see these symptoms alleviated, merely treated."

Roughly six months separate each of the images in the photo: top left in early 2015, bottom left in late 2015, right in early 2016 (Image: Douglas Alexander).

Mehling is unsatisfied with the pace of change. "We are on the cusp of breakthroughs in multiple areas related to injury and aging, from CTE to Alzheimer's, and it is unfortunate that much of this work has to be done overseas because of the glacial pace at which the FDA moves."

Almendral, for his part, sees the process of public acceptance of performance enhancement as unavoidable. "Everyone is entitled to experience a high quality of life and athletic performance. It shouldn't be something available only to wealthy people, something kept far out of reach because taking pills and feeling bad as your body weakens with age is a more 'natural' state."

Oliver Bateman in 1992 (left, with donuts) and 2015 (right) (Image: Oliver Bateman).

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Why the Science Behind Athletic Performance Enhancement Remains So Controversial - Motherboard

Biotechnology Summer Courses – Reach Cambridge

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The Reach Cambridge Biotechnology course introduces students to both the academic study of biotechnology and its exciting practical applications in the real world. This fast-growing area of modern science has the potential to fundamentally alter how we produce food, treat disease and create medicines. Topics covered include genetics, drug resistance, pharmaceutical science, biotechnological devices and drug design. Through lectures by experts in the field and hands-on practical sessions, students will be offered a unique insight into both the study of biotechnology at university and the vocational opportunities in the field beyond higher education.

This exciting and dynamic course will be a rewarding program for all those who have a passionate interest in biotechnology and biological sciences. During the Scholar program, the Biotechnology course is academically intensive and intellectually challenging, focused on the complex scientific problems which the discipline is in the process of tackling.

All Reach Cambridge courses are open to students aged between 14-18 years old.

All courses are taught in English. In order to get the most out of the learning experience, students are advised to have a level of English conducive to understanding sophisticated academic language and to converse with other students and staff in English at all times.

We do offer English as Second Language courses if you, or we, feel that this is more appropriate. Your personal statement will help indicate to us your level of English. We will also ask for a copy of your latest school transcript to help us assess the teaching level of the courses.

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Biotechnology Summer Courses - Reach Cambridge

BioTech Jobs in the BioTechnology Pharmaceuticals Industry

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The Assay Development Associate - Vector Shedding/Bio Distribution will: With guidance and supervision from the group leader or supervisor, conduct clinical and preclinical sample analysis per SOPs...

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BioTech Jobs in the BioTechnology Pharmaceuticals Industry

Biotechnology sachet solution launched – Cleaning & Maintenance

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London-based Cleanology is launching what it claims to be the worlds first biotech wipe for tablets and mobile phones, and pre-portioned cleaning fluids and floor cleaners in sachets.

Biotechnology uses enzymes to eat dirt and bacteria. The tiny molecules access even the hardest to reach areas and carry on working for days after application. Enzyme-based solutions are gaining traction in the industry, but to date no firm has focused on mobile device screens, which are often taken out of the office at night, when cleaning takes place.

Cleanology has created a multi-purpose biotech tech wipe which cleans and sanitises mobile phones, tablets and laptops with a moist tissue impregnated with a biotechnology cleaning solution. It has also addressed portioning, with the development of handy-sized sachets which hold a pre-dosed amount of solution. When added to water, this creates a biotechnology cleaning agent.

CEO Dominic Ponniah said: Biotechnology is a fantastic advance which has rightly been embraced by the industry. However, as with all cleaning products that require dilution, people often use too much product - they think that the more they slosh into a bucket, the more effective they will be. Using too much product - especially biotechnology products which are pH-neutral and completely safe - does not cause any harm, but it is wasting valuable resources. An extra cupful of solution every couple of days might not seem disastrous, but multiply that over a year and across the 450,000 people working in the industry, and the impact becomes significant. The cleaning firm ends up buying larger quantities of product and paying more to transport it, not to mention the environmental impact of extra journeys, waste generation and the unnecessary manufacture of products.

To counteract this excess, Cleanology has introduced its own range of pre-portioned biotechnology solutions and wipes. Each sachet of multi-purpose or floor cleaner is sufficient to fill one bucket or spray can, with a pack of 50 sachets able to last a month. The sachets fit easily into the pocket, so a cleaning operative can carry supplies with them from job to job. The wipes are impregnated with biotechnology solution and pre-diluted with water.

Cleanology was one of the first cleaning firms to embrace biotechnology. It has partnered with InnuScience, a leader in the development and manufacture of biotechnology cleaning products. Ponniah continued: InnuScience are experts in their field, supplying all the major FM companies and retail brands. We are experts in cleaning, while InnuScience provides the cutting-edge technology thats inside our Bioclean sachets.

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Biotechnology sachet solution launched - Cleaning & Maintenance

ASME Launching Nerem Medal – Research Horizons

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Posted May 9, 2017 Atlanta, GA

Bob Nerem has won some of the top awards and honors in his field, recognitions for his dedication and accomplishments over a long career as a trailblazing bioengineer. But this summer, hell receive the kind of honor that will outlast him, when the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) commits his likeness to bronze.

ASME has established the Robert M. Nerem Education and Mentorship Medal to recognize individuals who play a role in influencing engineering careers in the growing field of bioengineering, said K. Keith Roe, president of the society. A key criteria is mentoring in the form of activities that are innovative above and beyond what is normally seen.

That would be Nerem, founding director of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineers (NAE) and one of only three bioengineers to receive the Founders Award from that organization. Hes also a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Nerem was instrumental in launching the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), serving as its founding president, and helped establish the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the newest member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also belongs to both the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences, and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Paris, Imperial College of London, and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

More significant than any scholarly or research achievement for Nerem has been his commitment to mentorship. He started the Petit Undergraduate Research Scholars program, to help develop the next generation of bioengineering and bioscience researchers with a full-year research experience. In 17 years, the program has supported more than 250 scholars from area colleges and universities, including Agnes Scott, Emory, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, and Spelman.

Four years ago saw the beginning of what Nerem considers his crowning achievement Project ENGAGES. Nerem spearheaded the establishment of this program, which introduces under-represented minority high school students to careers in science and engineering, bringing these young scholars into Petit Institute labs for a year-round research experience. So far, 85 students have participated, and nearly every graduate so far has gone on to college (one chose to serve in the military first).

The new Nerem Medal will be granted through ASMEs bioengineering division, says Ross Ethier, interim chair of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory.

We already have a medal within our division for research excellence, and theres a young investigators medal, notes Ethier, who will become president of the bioengineering division July 1. Another important part of what we do as researchers and educators is mentoring, and theres no one better who exemplifies this aspect of what we do than Bob Nerem. Who better to name a medal after?

Its kind of a big deal, the medal. Establishing it required approval of the bioengineering division leadership (it was unanimous, Ethier says) and also approval of the ASME Board of Governors.

The bottom line is, this medal is really about Bob and honoring his many contributions to the community, his mentorship of junior researchers, and his leadership over the years, Ethier says.

ASMEs newest major award will be launched this summer at the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference (the annual SB3C), June 21-24, in Tucson, Arizona. The well-traveled Nerem, of course, plans to be there.

It is unusual to be cast in bronze, and what an amazing honor, says Nerem. The medal is nice, of course, but more important, Ive been committed to education and mentorship my entire life, and to have an award named after me in that category is very, very special.

CONTACT:

Jerry Grillo Communications Officer II Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience

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ASME Launching Nerem Medal - Research Horizons

Two companies work to demystify surgical procedures and anatomy … – MobiHealthNews

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Even the tiniest view of a surgical procedure can be too much for non-medical professionals, but for actual surgeons, more visibility is a real asset. But there is only so much to be seen with the naked eye, so medical navigation technology and mixed reality company Scopis has launched a new tool to give surgeons enhanced visibility when performing spinal surgery.

By merging the capabilities of Microsoft HoloLens with their surgical navigation platform, Berlin, Germany and Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Scopis has developed the Holographic Navigation Platform. By donning a pair of the HoloLens glasses, surgeons can see a 3D overlay of the pre-planned positioning of screws, allowing the surgeon to interactively align their instruments with the holographic visualization and find the proper location more quickly. Additionally, surgeons can keep their eye on the operative field, and they can also used gestures to place virtual monitors onto their visual field.

Scopis Holographic Navigation Platform is a universal solution that offers specific advantages for spinal surgeries and can also be applied in the many other areas where the highest levels of precision and speed are critical. In neurosurgery, for example, brain tumors could be located faster and with higher accuracy, Scopis CEO and founder Bartosz Kosmecki, said in a statement. The development of this holographic platform further highlights Scopis leading role in medical mixed and augmented reality.

The holographic platform also seeks to work in the place of fluoroscopy devices, which are used today to determine screw placement positioning but have the negative side effect of radiation exposure to the patients and medical professionals.

In other three-dimensional surgical technology news, Dublin-based 3D4Medical, which makes apps for medical education and fitness, unveiled its new suite of the clinical apps for iPhone and iPad collectively called Compete Consultation. The idea is to facilitate conversation and education between doctors and their patients on a range of areas including orthopedics, cardiology, internal medicine and trauma.

Previously, the company launched a version of the app in 2013, but only to the largest and most familiar hospital chains in the United States. Now, orthopedic surgeons and clinics around the world will have access, and the app is free to the general public.

With 3D technology and animations, Complete Consultation is intended to help healthcare professionals more thoroughly educate their patients, allowing them to give visual pointers on anatomy of the part of the body in question, potential pathologies and treatments (including step-by-step animations).

Maurice Neligan, director of Orthopedic Surgery at Irelands Beacon Hospital and associate clinical professor at University College Dublin School of Medicine, pointed to the technology as a significant advancement in engaging patients.

It dispenses with the need for plastic models and scribbled diagrams, replacing them with top-quality illustrations, animations, and information that are personalized to the patients pathology and treatment, Neligan said in a statement. It is well-known that better-engaged patients have better outcomes and the information generated from patient engagement with Complete Ortho allows a more robust consent process for treatment, lowering the risk of malpractice litigation and the process can be seamlessly incorporated into existing practice models with little or no increase in consultation time.

We last heard from 3D4Medical in mid-2015, when the company raised $16.4 million. 3D4Medical's flagship app, calledEssential Anatomy, is a medical reference application that displays male and female models with 11 systems and8,200 anatomical structures. Essential Anatomy also allows medical students to create customized pins with notes that they canplace anywhere on the model, slice through certain structures using a plane tool, create bookmarks, and take interactive quizzes. The company is also an Apple Mobility Partner, and in 2012, AppleCEO Tim Cookhighlighted3D4Medicalina video playedatWorld Wide Developers Conference that showeda few apps that had made an impact in peoples lives. 3D4Medicaloriginally started off as a medical stock image company, but when the iPad came outthe company started to offer educational content.

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Two companies work to demystify surgical procedures and anatomy ... - MobiHealthNews

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Finale Has ‘Amazing Cliffhanger’ Before ‘Spectacular’ Season 14 – Moviefone

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The "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 finale will be "very on fire." Literally? We'll see.

Episode 24, "Ring of Fire" (hint, hint?) airs Thursday, May 18 with this synopsis: "The doctors' lives are at risk after a dangerous patient escapes the hospital room. Alex must make a hard choice in his relationship with Jo while Meredith has some big news for Nathan that brings things to a turning point."

Executive producer Debbie Allen (Catherine Avery) directed the finale, and she told Entertainment Weekly, "There's actually two events going on at the same time that are pretty big that affect the entire hospital community. You should be worried. There's cause for worry. There's an amazing cliffhanger that will have everybody thinking, 'Wow, where is this going?!'" She added that they'll "plant more seeds that fuel the fire for what is going to happen next season."

Allen added, in a separate EW interview, "I think Season 14 is going to be spectacular. We're planting some seeds that you won't see coming, but you will be waiting to see how it's all going to play out." Show creator Shonda Rhimes is the one who teased, to EW, "Debbie Allen and I like to say that the episode is on fire. That's the only way we're going to describe it. It's a pretty exciting episode that's very on fire."

Kelly McCreary (Maggie Pierce) previously teased the "event" of the finale, telling EW, "It's a great big event that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats. It really is shocking. There were so many gasps of horror and surprise at the table read. It was delicious. It was just so much fun." A while back, Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt) told TVLine the finale would be "pretty dramatic and pretty intense. It's pretty dark and very good."

We're excited to see the cliffhangers, and what they mean for Season 14, but it's the relationship stuff with Mer, Riggs, and Jolex that really has us curious.

Before we get to the finale, we have one more episode to get through, "True Colors," which airs May 11 with this synopsis: "The doctors of Grey Sloan encounter a difficult case involving a dangerous patient. Meanwhile, Owen receives life-changing news that pushes Amelia to step up to support him, and Alex attends a medical conference after making a shocking discovery."

Jo's hubby, comin' in hot? Hmm..."Grey's Anatomy" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Finale Has 'Amazing Cliffhanger' Before 'Spectacular' Season 14 - Moviefone

Edmonton Oilers: The Anatomy of Mark Letestu – Oil On Whyte

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Apr 26, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Mark Letestu (55) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Edmonton won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Edmonton Oilers: Draisaitls Heroics Speak Volumes by Sammi Silber

Letestus first season with the Oilers was plagued with inconsistency and bottom-six struggles, as well as poor possession metrics. Not to mention, his performance plagued that of his teammates, and for a lot of the time, he would not be able to carry his own line.

Through 82 games last season, Letestu posted a -5.6 relative Corsi, as well as just 10 goals and 25 points. Letestu was also a career worse minus-21 with the Oilers in 2015-16. Not to mention, most of his linemates posted better possession metrics when not playing with the 32-year-old.

This year, while he hasnt been much better analytically, Letestu has shown great improvement. There is more drive and effort in his game, and he is an effective skater and wears many hats for Edmonton. He posted 16 goals and 35 points this past year and was only a minus-2 in 2016-17.

Letestu has served as an asset on special teams, and not only adds more edge and physicality to his game but knows his role. He is able to make himself big and get in front of the net, helping him jump on loose pucks and rebounds. On the penalty kill, he can backcheck efficiently and keep the puck out of the zone.

Perhaps one of his biggest assets comes in the faceoff dot. The Elkpoint, Alberta native won over 50 percent of his drawsand comes in clutch when the Oilers have to win a critical faceoff. This has carried over into the playoffsand has benefitted the team greatly.

In the postseason, Letestu has thrived. He is the teams second-leading scorer in the playoffs with five goals and 11 points through 12 playoff games.

Overall, he has proven to grow and improve since a rough debut season with the team. Though a veteran, Letestu brings plenty on and off the ice and will continue to do that with the team moving forward.

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Edmonton Oilers: The Anatomy of Mark Letestu - Oil On Whyte

IPOB: The Anatomy Of A Journey Without Map By Churchill Okonkwo – SaharaReporters.com

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In a treacherous Nigerian political terrain, embarking on a journey without a map is akin to a ram going to a head-fight without a skull. Even with a map, you still need to know the contours and other geophysical attributes of your domain in order to navigate the challenges you will encounter in the course of the journey. Ndigbo have a saying that, if a child is not well prepared and mature enough to seek what killed his father, what killed his father may kill him, too.

Some of the consequences of embarking on a journey without a map are that your trails will be lined with thorns rather than roses; your vision will be blurred rather than clear, all of which could make your journey endless. In the case of IPOB, the interesting outcome of attempting to navigate the complex Nigerian political terrain without a map was getting stuck, only to be rescued by your uncles you once characterized as saboteurs. The first lesson for IPOB: a newborn child does not throw his father up and a boisterous show does not imply knowledge.

Talking about noise, it is an irony that Nnamdi Kanu, who is meant to be Odimegwu Ojukwureincarnate, landed in the tummy of FKK, who in an attempt to belittle Ndigbo once claimed to have slept with Ojukwus wife. What a journey, what an embarrassment. I hope that by now, my IPOB brothers would have admitted that they were heading in the wrong direction after watching the IPOB leader run into the arms of the Yoruba tribe they characterized as betrayers. Second lesson: during a famine, you will be forced to eat what you earlier said you disliked.

So, what should you do when you realize that you are facing the wrong direction in the course of a journey? Keep wallowing in the wilderness? Turnaround? Ask for direction? I guess the Chinese proverb to know the road ahead, you need to ask those who are coming back, is a good start. Where will IPOB find those that are coming back? In history books, oral and written.

The Pan-Africanist writer and historian, Prof. John Henrik Clarke, wrote that even though history is not everything, it is a starting point. He referred to history as a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. This history, he stated, is a compass we should use to find ourselves on the map of human geography.

Using a compass to navigate your way to a destination is not a dumb luck. It is paying attention to a wonderful tool of science. If the brains behind IPOP had paid attention to the history of Biafran Civil War or the history of the last two independent countries in Africa, Eretria, and South Sudan, they would have realized the folly in a headless ram initiating a head-fight. As such, they should have started by drawing a map, even if it is a sketch.

Without a clear map, one will certainly not know where he or she is. To think that an Independent State of Biafra is in the best interest of Ndigbo in Nigeria is still puzzling to me. To imagine that an independent country could be realized by going to an International Court of no consequence even to countries that obey laws was an illusion. It is also laughable and an act of lazy analysis to compare the EU or Scottish referendum to the realization of Biafra. Without any political backing, therefore, it is a big joke to be calling for a referendum on social media.

Here is a fact: no matter how long one travels in the wrong direction, getting to the right destination will remain elusive. The navigation to any destination should truly begin in the hearts of the voyager. This is the most important map of all. Where is the heart of Ndigbo? If we generate a heat map of Ndigbo, what will be the spread of our data matrix on the map of Nigeria?

If those behind this journey without map had measured the footprint of Ndigbo in Nigeria, they would have realized that the fastest way to get to the top of the mountain is to climb down. Because more than 60% of the heat map of the heartbeat of Ndigbo in Nigeria are outside the domain of the enclave of Igbo states, any map of our domain should be boundless.

IPOB should make a heat map of Ndigbo in Nigeria and distribute it to all their followers and sympathizers. The intent is for them to stare at the spatial distribution of the heartbeat of our brothers and sisters anytime they get that strange feeling of destroying the zoo. By so doing, they will realize that destruction of the zoo is like committing suicide.

The struggle to ensure an equitable Nigeria, essential to the vibrancy of Ndigbo should not be about changing the map of Nigeria. Rather, what is needed is mapping a change of the way we assert ourselves in our domains irrespective of whether it is in Lagos or Kano. My duty is to bring Ndigbo out of this lethargy of always seeing themselves as poor victims that are being trampled by every other tribe in Nigeria. Not everyone is trampling on us. We are champs.

This botched journey should be a lesson that an old woman that provokes a fight but is not pushed to the ground, will provoke again. It is hoped that the voyagers have discovered that Biafra is not and should never be all about them. From here, it is hoped that they will learn to be who they are meant to be in the first place - ordinary mortals with no superior powers. When a black ant bites the buttocks, it learns common sense.

Before IPOB, there was MOSSOB. Like Uwazurike, like Nnamdi Kanu? Time will tell. After this distraction from what the focus of Ndigbo should be in Nigeria, there is currently a pause, a space. In that space lies our freedom to choose how to respond. How should Ndigbo respond? Push for restructuring of Nigeria state? Look inwards and develop the Igbo States? Or Both?

I am happy to hear that Ohaneze will attempt to convince Nnamdi Kanu of the need to push for a restructuring of Nigeria rather than acting like a turtle that geared up beside a river that swallowed an elephant as if it will fly over it. To succeed, however, Ohaneze should let the experience from IPOBs journey without map shape their approach in agitating for restructuring.

As the call for restructuring garner momentum, Ohaneze, just like IPOB, should know that some renegades in the zoo that made the most out of the captivity of Nnamdi Kanu, will be key players. They should know that it will take the cooperation of the dissatisfied ethnic nationalities and different interest groups in Nigeria to make headway with restructuring. As such, Ohaneze should be careful in their actions, not to destroy the bridges that will be crucial in crossing the shark infested rivers of a restructuring. A word is enough for the wise.

In the final analysis, the need to have a map before embarking on any checkered political journey in Nigeria, including restructuring is very crucial. The concept of ebule ji isi eje ogu (A ram goes to fight with its head), without a strategy, even with courage, is outdated and folly.

You can email Churchill at[emailprotected] or follow him on Twitter @churchillnnobi.

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IPOB: The Anatomy Of A Journey Without Map By Churchill Okonkwo - SaharaReporters.com

Cannabis Reverses Brain Aging – Anti Aging News

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Most people know the average person's memory dissipates during the aging process. University of Bonn scientists teamed up with academicians at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem to determine the impact of cannabis on the brain's aging process. These researchers determined cannabis reverses aging processes within the brains of mice.

The Findings

The study revealed that older mice reverted back to the state of 2-month old mice after being administerd an extended low-dose cannabis treatment. These findings are important as they show there are additional options for the treatment of dementia in humans. The study results were recently publicized in the Nature Medicine journal.

The Impact of the Aging Process on the Brain

The brain ages just like every other organ in the human body. The result of this aging process is a decrease in cognitive ability. As an example, people tend to find it difficult to pay attention to multiple things at the same time or learn new concepts/skills as they age. Though this is a normal process, it can also lead to dementia. Researchers have been searching for ways to mitigate or completely reverse this process. The scientists referenced above have reversed the processin mice with cannabis treatment. Mice have short life spans and show significant cognitive deficits after a year of life.

About the Study

The researchers provided mice with a small amount of THC. The low dose of cannabis treatment was selected so the mice did not experience a euphoric effect. THC is the active ingredient in cannabis. The treatment was provided to mice that were two months old, a year old and 18 months old. The treatment was applied across four weeks. The scientists then tested the animals' memory performance and learning capacity.

Mice provided with the placebo had the expected age-related memory and learning losses. Mice provided with cannabis exhibited cognitive functions equal to those of of two-month-old mice. The cannabis treatment totally reversed performance loss in mice. The scientists studiedthe gene activity and brain tissue of treated mice to determine exactly what sort of effect cannabis treatment had in particularly old mice.

Following treatment, the molecular signature did not match that of old mice. Instead, it was similar to young mice. Furthermore, the quantity of links in the brain's nerve cells increased. These cells are vital to one's ability to learn. The bottom line is that cannabis treatment turned back the molecular clock in mice and it might be able to do the same in humans.

What led up to the Research

The cannabis treatment success stems from years of intense research. The scientists found the brain ages more rapidly when mice are not equipped with functional THC receptors. Cannabinoid 1 receptors are best defined as proteins where substances halt and stimulate a signal chain. These receptors are the cause of the euphoric effects of THC in marijuana and hashish. THC replicates the effects of the cannabinoids that are naturally created in the body. Cannabinoids perform vital functions within the brain. As one ages, the number of cannabinoids produced in the brain decrease. As the cannabinoid system declines the brain ages quite rapidly.

The Next Step

The next logical step is for researchers to perform clinical trials to determine if cannabis also reverses the aging process in the brains of human beings. Cannabis is widely usedfor medical purposes.It is also possible that cannabis boosts cognitive ability in aging adults. Though mice are not exactly the same as humans, the research team believes cannabis treatment will prove to be an effective means of treating dementia suffered by human beings across the world.

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Cannabis Reverses Brain Aging - Anti Aging News