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Applied DNA Sciences to Present at SAE Event

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STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire - Oct 4, 2012) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. ( OTCBB : APDN ) (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today it has been invited to present at the important SAE International 2012 Counterfeit Parts Avoidance Symposium. The Symposium will take place on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. APDN will present an important white paper which Dr. James A. Hayward, APDN CEO and President, calls "a significant contribution to an urgent conversation and a call to action."

The speakers line-up for the Symposium includes thought leaders from throughout the industries impacted. SAE International (SAE) is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries.

SAE has played a key role in the development of industry and government standards in the effort to stem counterfeits in electronics and aerospace. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense officially adopted SAE International's standard SAE AS5553-Counterfeit Electronic Parts; Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition.

SAE's G-19 Counterfeit Electronic Parts Committee continues to develop and refine the widely-followed anti-counterfeiting standards.

The Symposium takes place at a critical time in the effort against counterfeits. Electronics and aerospace continue to come to grips with new anti-counterfeiting requirements expressed in Section 818 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2012. Section 818 directs the Office of the Secretary of Defense to update the procurement rules and guidelines to account for the new anti-counterfeiting requirements. These updates may come in early October. The rules and guidelines are found in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

APDN technology, which uses an engineered botanical DNA marker to assure authenticity of parts, is the centerpiece of a pilot program supported by the Defense Logistics Agency, managed by the LMI consultancy. As of August 7, 2012, the technology is required by DLA for defense contractors providing microcircuits in FSC 5962 to that Agency.

Janice Meraglia, APDN Vice President for Government and Military Programs, commented: "We are honored to present at an event which includes leaders who have made a real difference in the fight against counterfeits, going back many years. We believe our technology platform is poised to become a key tool in this effort, and something which will work well with and contribute to ongoing standards initiatives."

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 8, 2011 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Applied DNA Sciences to Present at SAE Event

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Ember Therapeutics Broadens Brown Fat Small Molecule Drug Discovery Portfolio, Secures Exclusive License Options to …

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ember Therapeutics, Inc., a company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease, today announced that it has secured exclusive option rights to intellectual property for three key small molecule targets retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (Aldh1a1), thioesterase superfamily member 1 (Them1), and TRPV4.

Previously, Ember announced the licensing of technology to several biologics including irisin and BMP7, and has secured licensing to several functional/pathway screens that are key to its brown fat pipeline, including PRDM16 and Foxc2. Ember now has expanded its brown fat portfolio to include the licensing of options to three exciting direct biochemical drug targets in brown fat biology. Last week, Ember announced that it has secured an exclusive option to license a TRPV4 program that was recently the subject of a Cell publication that highlights the importance of this specific channel in brown fat biology. Today, Ember has added exclusive options for innovative programs targeting Aldh1a1 and Them1. This further illustrates Embers aggressive strategy to secure a broad intellectual property portfolio, spanning all aspects of brown fat biology, particularly those components related to pharmaceuticals.

In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, Jorge Plutzky, M.D., director of The Vascular Disease Prevention Program at Brigham and Womens Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and fellow researchers, including C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., one of Embers scientific co-founders, found that inhibition of Aldh1a1 induced classic brown fat characteristics, including increased energy expenditure, protection against cold exposure, lowered glucose levels and reduced weight gain. Aldh1a1 is an enzyme involved in the retinoid metabolism process that is abundant in white fat cells, including in depots of visceral fat, which is often referred to as abdominal fat. The effects of Aldh1a1 inhibition were evident in both a genetic knockout model as well as through anti-sense targeting of Aldh1a1 in obese mice, with the induction of brown fat-like attributes in white adipose tissue, including visceral fat.

In a separate study, recent work published by David Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., and his laboratory at Brigham and Womens Hospital, demonstrated that Them1, a long chain fatty acyl-CoA thioesterase that is highly enriched in brown fat, plays an important role in regulating energy homeostasis. The research, reported in the journal Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences earlier this year, found that preclinical models deficient in Them1 have increased rates of fatty acid oxidation in brown fat and are highly resistant to diet-induced obesity, diabetes, inflammation and hepatic steatosis.

These recent findings on Aldh1a1, Them1 and TRPV4 provide a deeper understanding of the pathways and mechanisms that relate to brown fat, said Louis Tartaglia, Ph.D., president and interim chief executive officer of Ember Therapeutics. Aldh1a1, Them1 and TRPV4 all present significant, potential therapeutic opportunities for obesity and diabetes. By securing these exclusive license options, Ember is strategically expanding our portfolio of small molecule drug discovery programs for brown fat approaches to the treatment of metabolic disorders.

Ember is also pleased to announce that Dr. Plutzky, lead researcher in the Aldh1a1 discovery, has joined Embers Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Plutzky is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise across both basic science and clinical issues relevant to cardiovascular disease and metabolic abnormalities related to diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity. He is a former member of the Food and Drug Administrations Endocrine and Metabolism Physicians Advisory Panel. He has received numerous awards for his work and has published extensively in the highest level of peer-reviewed journals.

About Ember Therapeutics, Inc.

Ember Therapeutics is a product-focused company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease. Todays rising epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes coupled with the lack of innovation in the industrys metabolic disorder treatment pipeline underscores the need for novel, peripherally-acting treatments with improved safety profiles. Embers unique approach leverages recent research breakthroughs in brown fat biology to develop a pipeline of proprietary large and small molecules designed to amplify the bodys innate ability to efficiently burn fuels like glucose. Embers expertise is also driving the development of the next generation of highly selective insulin sensitizers that have robust anti-diabetic effects, but lack the serious side effects of currently approved insulin sensitizers. Ember is a private company launched in 2011 by renowned scientific founders, an experienced leadership team and Third Rock Ventures. For more information, please visit http://www.embertx.com.

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Biology professor named Vision & Change Leadership Fellow

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Biology professor April Hill has been recognized as one of 40 Vision and Change Leadership Fellows to help improve undergraduate science education.

A lot of people, when they think about biology, think that you just march through facts and that its not interesting, Hill said. But thats not what it is. We need to make education for biology more like real biology, so you get excited early on.

After recognizing the need for biology education reform, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institutes of Health have worked together to form the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education, or PULSE, Hill said. This organization chooses one to two people from each state to serve as fellows for one year.

In order to revise the current curriculum, these fellows need to focus on biology departments throughout the country and the ways in which they respond to student needs, Hill said.

One main problem in the curriculum right now is the old fashioned notion of teaching, she said, which is learning everything from the textbook before students are able to participate in more hands-on activities, applying what they have learned to real world situations.

Instead, these strategies must be used simultaneously, she said. Hills students agree that her unique way of teaching has been effective.

Contact reporter Jamie Edelen at jamie.edelen@richmond.edu

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Research and Markets: The Book 'Molecular Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Vol 107' Reviews the Latest Research …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/h2lxs2/molecular_biology) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new book "Molecular Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Vol 107" to their offering.

Neurodegenerative diseases result in progressive degeneration and / or death of nerve cells which leads to problems with movement and mental functioning. Examples include Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. Much research is taking place to try to identify ways to prevent or lessen the impact of these diseases.

This volume reviews the latest research and developments in the molecular biology of neurodegenerative diseases.

* Discusses new discoveries, approaches, and ideas * Contributions from leading scholars and industry experts * Reference guide for researchers involved in molecular biology and related fields

Key Topics Covered:

Neuropathology and imaging Harry Vinters

Neuropathology and imaging Thompson, Paul

Age-dependence of neurodegenerative diseases (organismal genetics) Tanzi, Rudolph

AD Dominic Walsh

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Research and Markets: The Book 'Molecular Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Vol 107' Reviews the Latest Research ...

Biology students present NASA HUNCH projects to school board

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Billings Central High biology students presented their research projects Wednesday to the Billings Catholic Schools board as they prepare for an April flight on a zero-gravity plane at Houston's Johnson Space Center.

A group of 10 advanced-biology students will take two research projects to Ellington Field in Houston, where they will be tested on the same zero-gravity airplane the astronauts use. From there, NASA will determine which experiments are worthy of testing on the International Space Station.

This is a phenomenal opportunity for our school, Central High principal Shel Hanser said. This started just as an extracurricular after-school program last spring, but we realized in a hurry that it had to be in the curriculum.

Led by advanced-placement biology teacher Dr. Debora Wines and NASA HUNCH reduced-gravity experiments project manager Dr. Florence Gold, the students have been researching how basic biological systems, specifically enzyme activity and photosynthesis, operate without gravity.

HUNCH High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware is a school-based program through NASA that promotes student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Its really incredible that we can offer a STEM course here at Central, Wines told board members. This is a cutting-edge program that we can integrate all of these areas together.

The results of the experiments are aimed to demonstrate the dependence of biological processes under microgravity environments and on the ability of biological cells to adapt to zero-gravity.

One team of four students will observe whether chlorella algae can grow in microgravity, and in turn be used to transform wasted carbon dioxide into oxygen while in space. Chlorella algae is also considered a superfood.

The second team of six will examine fruit fly embryos and the impact of microgravity on the flies' enzyme activity to determine if changes could alter the ability of astronauts to metabolize common pharmaceuticals. The flies are used as a model, students said, because of the biology traits similar to those of humans.

The team is also observing whether alcohol is more or less toxic to cell development when in a microgravity environment using the fruit flies.

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Economy Prompts Military Families To Reduce Financial Risks, First Command Reports

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FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Active-duty servicemembers are responding to the ongoing economic turmoil by shifting to a less risky approach to family finances.

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveals that 52 percent of middle-class military families (senior NCOs and commissioned officers in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) are taking a more conservative attitude toward money as a result of the economy. Top fiscal strategies reported by middle-class military families include:

This more conservative approach to spending and investing comes at a time with many middle-class military families are reporting strong feelings of financial security month to month. The Index reveals that 52 percent of survey respondents do not feel financially stretched and 41 percent feel extremely or very secure financially.

Amid continuing news reports of a global economic crisis and defense downsizing, military families are taking control of their own financial well-being, said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command. We are seeing a focus on the kinds of conservative spending, saving and investing behaviors that can help active-duty families lower their monetary risks. And as a result they are feeling better about their monthly finances.

About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index

Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial Behaviors Index assesses trends among the American publics financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. http://www.firstcommand.com/research

About Sentient Decision Science, Inc.

Sentient Decision Science was commissioned by First Command to compile the Financial Behaviors Index. SDS is a behavioral science and consumer psychology consulting firm with special vertical expertise within the financial services industry. SDS specializes in advanced research methods and statistical analysis of behavioral and attitudinal data.

About First Command

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Trimcare™ Weight Loss and Anti-Aging, in association with Safe Laser Centers, Launches Innovative Body Makeover Contest

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The contest is being run to celebrate the new partnership between Trimcare and the growing new Las Vegas weight loss and spa services company Safe Laser Centers.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) October 04, 2012

The "WinShare" contest is called that way because it is based upon an innovative system that rewards social sharing in a way that allows participants to continuously increase their odds of winning during the course of the contest. What happens is that after entering the contest, a very simple one click process, participants are taken to special sharing page form which they can easily share the contest on social media and via email. At this point, for every person who enters the contest through this shared link, the sharer will automatically be awarded 10 additional entries that will be added to their total. Since there are no limits on extra entries or on the sharing timeframe (as long as the contest hasn't finished), prolific sharers can easily amass hundreds of entries to tilt the odds in their favor by having more tickets in the virtual raffle box.

Trimcare has been a pioneer in medically supervised weight loss treatment programs in Las Vegas for over 20 years. Founded by Dr. Ivan L. Goldsmith (triple board certified in the areas of Internal Medicine, Obesity, and Anti-aging),Trimcare is a leader in providing medically supervised weight loss programs. Trimcare has successfully treated over 20,000 patients in the past dozen years with novel obesity regimens designed to curb hunger, promote food avoidance, and extinguish binge or nighttime eating. Its program has successfully incorporated a proprietary brand of supplements, skin care products, food, weight loss programs, and hormone replacement therapies. As a leader in the integrated disciplines of weight loss and anti-aging therapies, Trimcare has been at the forefront of expanding awareness of the nation's Obesity Epidemic.

Safe Laser Centers sees the association with Dr. Goldsmith as a great opportunity to bring new weight programs to the people of Las Vegas. Spearheaded by Kristine Castro, a newcomer to the area who brings to the table expertise with the i-Lipo system and her extensive experience as a massage therapist. "I-Lipo works by delivering low level laser therapy to induce a chemical signal in fat cells that causes them to break down stored triglycerides or fats into free fatty acids and glycerol, which are released through the cell membranes," explains Castro. "Fat content is then released into the blood and transported around the body to tissues where it will be burned off during a period of post-treatment."

By targeting different areas in the body, patients can decide their own priorities such as choosing, for example, to focus on treating their love handles and/or saddle-bag regions. The low level lasers used in the i-Lipo treatment induce the target area to release fat even before exercise is begun. Designed to be used in tandem, the novel medical regimens used at Trimcare, consisting of Phentermine and Topamax, enable patients to make the lifestyle modifications needed to not only promote weight loss, but aid in the difficulties associated with weight maintenance. According to Dr. Goldsmith, Our patients notice the effects almost immediately. The combined therapies successfully cause a decreasing waist circumference, declines in % body fat, and lost pounds. When thus combined, it is not unusual for Trimcare patients to achieve a greater-than-10% weight loss in 90 days which far exceeds what is seen with diet and exercise alone.

Goldsmith and Castro envision expanding the association into other medical facilities and also stand alone clinics both within and outside Las Vegas and hope that this "WinShare" contest will help them show off the amazing non-invasive weight loss and body makeover capabilities of the partnership. The two businesses are passionate about their philosophy of promoting lifestyle style changes, including diet and exercise, as the cornerstone of any successful weight-loss attempt along with the notion of truly minimally invasive therapies or treatment; avoiding procedures like bariatric and plastic surgeries where the attendant risks are much greater for post-op complications and problems. The two companies also seek to facilitate access, offering financing though CareCredit.com

Both companies stress that weight loss needs to be tailored to individual patient needs. According to Kristine Castro, "i-Lipo combined with the Trimcare weight loss regimen allows most patients to take advantage of this treatment with minimum difficulties and provides safe, long term reproducible results as well as immediate effects that achieve a dramatic reshaping of body and reduction of cellulite." Significant results from Trimcare combined with i-Lipo commonly become apparent in as little as 30 days and the system is far less costly than liposuction while involving no pain, needles or downtime. "This is truly remarkable in its simplicity and we can't wait for more people to experience it for themselves," adds Castro. The "WinShare" contest runs from October 1st through October 31st .

Kristine Castro Safe Laser Center (702) 994-8814 Email Information

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Trimcare™ Weight Loss and Anti-Aging, in association with Safe Laser Centers, Launches Innovative Body Makeover Contest

Weekend TV: 'Grey's Anatomy' plane crash changes everything

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Be prepared for lots of changes in this weekend's TV shows. "Grey's Anatomy," "Blue Bloods" and "Upstairs Downstairs" are all about moving forward, "Person of Interest" gets closer to resolving its mystery, and there are far-reaching consequences on "Boardwalk Empire." Moving on The plane crash changed everything on "Grey's Anatomy."

Thursday's episode flashes back to the site of the crash and lets viewers watch as each doctor tries to cope with the heartache and injuries it caused.

Back at Seattle Grace Hospital, everyone is still struggling to find some normalcy in the middle of the chaos. The series airs at 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC, channel 8.

Emmy Award-winner Margo Martindale ("Justified") guest stars as a woman from Root's past.

Nick (David Giuntoli) asks Hank (Russell Hornsby) for help to keep Monroe safe, and Hank uses this time to get caught up with his knowledge of the "Wesen world." Also, an old European acquaintance pays Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz) a visit.

FYI: Claire Coffee has been promoted to series regular. She plays Adalind, a Hexenbiest and Nick's enemy.

Turns out she is involved in a secret relationship with a high-powered councilman who just happens to be a friend of Frank's. Richard Burgi ("Desperate Housewives") guest stars as Councilman Mancini.

Mickey makes a decision that has far-reaching consequences when he overrules Eli on a routing call. Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) meets a familiar face while promoting Dr. Mason's classes at the new women's clinic at St. Theresa's.

Back in New York, Lucky (Vincent Piazza) haggles over heroin splits, while in Chicago, Capone's (Stephen Graham) feud with O'Banion (Arron Shiver) heats up when one of his collectors gets roughed up.

Life goes on at 165 Eaton Place with Pritchard taking the rap for Johnnie in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that has the staff regarding the butler with disdain. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Lady Holland's dangerously defiant sister Persie, who has taken a Nazi lover.

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StrataDx appoints Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, New Board Member

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LEXINGTON, Mass., Oct.3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --StrataDx, a leader in anatomic pathology services, announced today the appointments of Jim Agnello as Chief Financial Officer, Greg Richard as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and Steve Casper to its Board of Directors.StrataDx provides clinicians with high-quality pathology services in the fields of dermatology, urology, podiatry, oral pathology, gastroenterology and gynecology.

Jim Agnello, CPA, joins StrataDx as the Chief Financial Officer and brings over two decades of financial & laboratory operational expertise. Mr. Agnello served as the Chief Financial Officer of Clarient and Nodality and most recently, as the Vice President of Operations for Healthtronics, Inc. He also spent 18 years with SmithKline Beecham in a variety of senior financial positions. Jim has a a Master's Degree in Accounting from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Greg Richard joins the company as the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing and brings extensive senior sales leadership expertise in not only the laboratory industry, but in Managed Care, Biotech, and Clinical Trials as well. Most recently, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at Signal Genetics, a specialty molecular testing Company, and served previously as the Sales Officer for LabCorp's Northeast Division and the Vice President of Managed Care and Global Sales and Marketing for Clinical Trials at Quest Diagnostics. Greg received a B.A. from Westminster College.

Steven E. Casper has been named to the board of StrataDx. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of National Dentex Corporation. Mr. Casper has significant experience developing successful health care organizations. Prior to National Dentex, Mr. Casper was involved the founding and development of AmeriPath and Dermpath Diagnostics, both leading providers of pathology services. Mr. Casper served as the President of Dermpath Diagnostics, a division of Quest Diagnostics, Inc. and previously held senior executive roles at AmeriPath and Summit Partners. Steven received a B.A from Boston College.

"These appointments represent a significant milestone for StrataDx. Greg and Jim both have stellar track records of driving growth and generating value in their respective organizations," said Pat Noland, Chief Executive Officer, StrataDx.

Richard Novak, Chairman of the StrataDx Board of Directors adds, "We are pleased to welcome Steven to the Board. His breadth of knowledge and expertise will contribute to the ongoing evolution of StrataDx as a best in class pathology services organization."

About StrataDx

(www.strataDx.com)

StrataDx is a full service anatomic pathology laboratory that offers services in all areas of surgical pathology and cytology as well as molecular diagnostics and immunoflorescence. The pathology team is comprised of members with subspecialty board certification in dermatopathology, hematopathogy, cytopathology, nuclear medicine, clinical pathology, and the majority of the pathologists have more than two decades of medical experience. Many also have teaching appointments at some of the nation's most prestigious academic medical centers including Harvard, Tufts, and the Univ. of Pennsylvania. StrataDx services customers ranging from major regional hospitals to small, independent physician practices in more than 40 states. Headquartered in Lexington, MA, with additional locations in Cambridge, MA, the company has more than 120 employees.

About Linden Capital Partners

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StrataDx appoints Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, New Board Member

WHO Calls For Expanded Nutrition Interventions

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WHO News Release

WHO Calls For Expanded Nutrition Interventions To Avert Child Deaths

HANOI, 25 September 2012With solid evidence pointing to proper nutrition as essential for survival, health and development, the World Health Organization raised malnutrition high on the agenda of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.

The Regional Committee, WHO's governing body in the Region, is meeting in Hanoi from 24 to 28 September to review WHO's work in the Region and to set future directions to improve the health of the Regions people.

Addressing the Regional Committee, Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said that despite a drop in undernutrition rates in the Region, "there is no room for complacency as the levels of maternal and young child undernutrition continue to be too high. At the same time, the rising rates of obesity and noncommunicable disease represent an epidemicone that is growing fast in our Region. This double burden of malnutrition leads to long-term negative impacts on the health and development of the people and for the economies of Member States."

Adequate provision of nutrients, beginning at the earliest stages of life, is essential to ensure good physical and mental development and long-term health and productivity.

Dr Shin warned that many countries in the Region now tend to focus on the problem of overnutrition even as undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to be a problem.

In an effort to address malnutrition, the Regional Committee, composed of 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific, pledged to scale up and sustain cost-effective nutrition interventions aiming to prevent more than 100 000 under five-year-old child deaths per year in the Region. This means saving more than 270 lives of children under five years every dayor 11 lives per hour.

Dr Shin urged the Regional Committee to expand areas for action, to identify targets and priority actions in health and other sectors, and to adopt a time frame and indicators for monitoring.

The Regional Committee is set to endorse a resolution to scale up nutrition, based on the WHO Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition. It called for increased investment in 20122025 to expand nutrition interventions, with targets to reduce substantially the double burden of malnutrition and related mortality and morbidity, including stunting and wasting, anaemia in women and low birth weight. At the same time, the plan seeks to increase exclusive breast-feeding and to stop the rapid increase in obesity among children.

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WHO Calls For Expanded Nutrition Interventions

Spokesperson/Resource Availability Alert – Looking for a health and nutrition, lifestyle or culinary resource? Loblaw …

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BRAMPTON, ON, Oct. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - (TSX:L) - Healthy living is something many Canadians strive for, but between eating the right foods, exercising and being mindful of health risks, it can feel like a daunting endeavor. Loblaw banner stores offer one of Canada's leading assortments of fresh offerings* along with a broad range of services to empower Canadians to make healthier choices including the presence of 21 dietitians in 44 Loblaws store locations across Ontario. If you're looking for new ideas or need a trusted opinion, Loblaw has a panel of media-savvy specialists for print or broadcast opportunities across the province to help support your audience in their journey towards achieving healthier lifestyles.

Dietitians

Alexis Williams , Registered Dietitian, Health and Wellness Director, Loblaw Companies Limited Alexis develops health and wellness services and programs for Loblaw banner stores including the in-store dietitians program offered at selected Loblaws store locations that offers personalized grocery store tours and more to customers. Alexis also has experience as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, and nutrition counsellor.

Tina Stewart , Registered Dietitian, President's Choice Product Development, Loblaw Companies Limited Toronto-based Tina works with the President's Choice product development team. As a busy mom of two, including one child with food allergies, Tina has great tips to offer for choosing healthier foods and filling your grocery cart with them.

Susan MacFarlane, In-store Registered Dietitian, Loblaws store in Kanata, Ottawa , Ontario Ottawa-based dietitian Susan MacFarlane leads grocery store tours, food demonstrations, cooking classes, educational seminars and 1:1 nutrition consultations, specializing in vegan/vegetarian diets. In addition, Susan consults on nutrition-related chronic disease management such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome and has facilitated numerous talks relating to infant feeding and picky eaters.

The Loblaw team of dietitians have a wealth of advice to offer on healthy living such as:

Chefs

Tom Filippou, Executive Chef and National Director, President's Choice Cooking Schools, Loblaw Companies Limited You may know Chef Tom from many of the commercials featuring President's Choice products, serving up great food alongside Galen G. Weston. Chef Tom is also responsible formore than 200 President's Choice Cooking Schools across Canada . He can provide a variety of recipe ideas and inspiration for entertaining that's sure to make an impression on your guests.

Dana Speers , Executive Chef, President's Choice Test Kitchen, Loblaw Companies Limited A mom, Gemini award winner and a chef in the President's Choice Test Kitchen, Dana is always eager to share simple, healthy and kid-friendly recipes and cooking tips that are perfect for busy Canadian families.

Pharmacists

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Australian healthcare company Rapid Nutrition to invest $20 mn in India

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New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) Australia's Rapid Nutrition, one of the world's largest natural healthcare companies, is to invest $20 million in India for rolling out its globally successful scientific and holistic weight loss programme Leisa's Secret and also setting up a manufacturing facility in this country.

"Rapid Nutrition brings out India's only scientific weight loss programme built around 12 years of extensive research in Australia. It is Rapid Nutrition's serious objective to deliver sustainable results to consumers and demonstrate it by commitment," said Simon St Ledger, Rapid Nutrition's founder and chairman, at a news conference here.

"This is coupled with cutting-edge technology and endorsement from medical professionals."

Rapid Nutrition will initially invest $10.6 million by March 31. It plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad and also acquire a healthcare marketing firm in India soon, St Ledger said.

The roll out of Leisa's Secret aims to cover south India first, followed by west, north and later east and central India.

"Leisa's Secret weight loss programme offers the combined benefit of four products which will be supplied directly to the customer. The individual is entitled to nutritional support by a team of qualified nutritionist and motivational support to be provided by trained para-medical team to improve compliance," a company statement said.

"We wish to grab 50 percent of our business through type 2 and smaller cities so that this programme reaches a larger base. We would do this by continuous empanelment of doctors and nutritionists in our programme across the country. We are starting with metro cities, but soon we will be there across the nation," said St Ledger.

In the pipeline are premium weight-loss snacks to address the between-meal snacking pattern among Indians.

India is reeling under a huge nutrition debt as nearly 570 million consume sufficient or excess calories but lack adequate intake of nutrients. In fact, 60 percent of this section consumes higher than normal calories, with a disproportionately high fat intake making hypertension and diabetes as the India's crowning glory.

"Middle-aged housewives and working women are the target for many debilitating lifestyle disorders. Current weight loss patterns are not sustainable, resulting into yo-yoing of weight. With growing awareness, people display a prophylactic intent rather than curative. Leisa's Secret caters to this growing need with scientifically proven holistic weight loss programme," said Amit Srivastava, CEO, India and APAC, Rapid Nutrition.

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Australian healthcare company Rapid Nutrition to invest $20 mn in India

Comparing Food Safety Testing Practices in the US and Europe: How Fast Is Fast Enough?

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According to Food Micro7, a new market research report from Strategic Consulting, Inc., US food producers are moving more quickly to new, rapid technologies for their food safety testing programs, while their European counterparts remain more faithful to traditional microbiology test methods.

Woodstock, VT (PRWEB) October 03, 2012

Food Micro, Seventh Edition: Comparison of the Food Microbiology Testing Markets in the US and EU (Food Micro7) from Strategic Consulting, Inc. (SCI), compares total test volume, market value and growth in food microbiology testing, including the organisms tested and the technologies used for food safety testing in each region.

According to Tom Weschler, president of Strategic Consulting and lead author of Food Micro7, an important difference between the US and European markets is the test methods used, particularly for pathogen testing. In general, US food producers have embraced rapid test methods that are touted as easier to use and delivering faster results. European food producers have been slower to adopt these newer technologies, and have continued to use a higher percentage of traditional, culture-based test methods.

European food producers are adopting rapid test methods but at a slower rate than their US counterparts, Weschler says. Nearly 89% of pathogen tests conducted in the US in 2010 used rapid methods, compared to just over 42% of the pathogen tests conducted in the EU in 2011. There appears to be less urgency for pathogen test results in Europe when compared to the US, where faster test results are a key driver in the conversion from traditional to newer microbiology tests methods, Weschler says.

The United States and Europe are substantial markets for food safety microbiology testing. Food producers in the two regions draw on an increasingly global food supply to provide consumers access to a broad array of foods year-round. At the same time, consumers are more concerned about the safety of their food, due to increasing food recalls and heightened press coverage of pathogen outbreaks that sicken people in multiple states and countries.

With a population of more than 500 million, the 27 countries of the EU conducted an estimated 275.3 million food safety microbiology tests in 2011. US food producers conducted 213.2 million tests in 2010, for an estimated population of 310 million.

Routine microbiology tests are used to determine the presence and levels of microorganisms in the food plant or the food product. Routine tests accounted for 78% of all food microbiology tests performed in the US. The remaining 22% were pathogen tests, which look for specific organisms that have the potential to cause human disease, such as Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter and E. coli O157.

In Europe, routine tests accounted for 82% of all food microbiology tests conducted in 2011, while pathogen tests accounts for just 18%. Thus, while Europe conducts more pathogen tests by volume (49.9 million in the EU versus 46.2 million in the US), pathogen testing in the US represents a greater percentage of overall food microbiology testing and is growing at a faster rate.

Strategic Consulting has published seven market reports to date reviewing microbiology testing practices and technology in the food industry. The food sector represents almost 50% of the total industrial microbiology testing market, and is more than double the size of any other industrial segment including pharmaceutical, personal care products, beverage, environmental, and industrial processes.

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Comparing Food Safety Testing Practices in the US and Europe: How Fast Is Fast Enough?

Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers

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NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers

http://www.reportlinker.com/p01006423/Analysis-of-Emerging-Microbiology-Tests-and-Strategic-Profiles-of-Leading-Suppliers.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic

This 760-page report presents a comprehensive marketing and technological assessment, as well as medical rationale and diagnostic prospects for nearly 100 infectious diseases and viruses, including their scientific background, clinical significance and market needs for new tests, vaccines, drugs and extensive listings of companies developing or marketing innovative technologies and products.

The report also presents strategic assessments of leading market players and emerging suppliers with innovative technologies and products, including their sales, product portfolios, distribution tactics, technological know-how, new products in R&D, collaborative arrangements, and business strategies.

Contains 760 pages and 31 tables

Table of Contents

1. AIDS

a. Background

b. Diagnostic Tests

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Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers

For longevity, it's the survival of the nicest Save

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Oct. 4, 2012, 3 a.m.

Baboons, like people, really do get by with a little help from their friends. Humans with strong social ties live longer, healthier lives, whereas hostility and ''loner'' tendencies can set the stage for disease and early death.

In animals, too, strong social networks contribute to longer lives and healthier offspring - and now it seems that personality may be just as big a factor in other primates' longevity status. A study has found that female baboons that had the most stable relationships with other females weren't always the highest up in the hierarchy or those with close family around - but they were the nicest.

Scientists are increasingly seeing personality as a key factor in an animal's ability to survive, adapt and thrive in its environment. But this topic isn't an easy one to study scientifically, says primatologist Dorothy Cheney, of the University of Pennsylvania.

''Research in mammals, birds, fish and insects shows individual patterns of behaviour that can't be easily explained. But the many studies of personality are based on human traits like conscientiousness, agreeableness, or neuroticism. It isn't clear how to apply those traits to animals,'' she says.

Along with a group of scientists, including co-authors Robert Seyfarth, also at the University of Pennsylvania, and primatologist Joan Silk of Arizona State University, Professor Cheney has studied wild baboons at the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana for almost 20 years.

Besides providing detailed observations of behaviour in several generations of baboons, the research has yielded a wealth of biological and genetic data.

In previously published research, Professor Cheney and co-workers showed that females lived longer, had lower stress hormone levels and had more surviving offspring when they had close, long-lasting relationships with other females (characterised chiefly by spending time together and grooming).

Although dominance rank was significant for male baboons - alpha male baboons may live longer than lower-ranking males - this wasn't true for the females. Nor was an abundance of family the key to longevity. Not all of the longer-lived, less-stressed females had large families.

To find out more about how female baboons forge bonds, Professor Cheney and co-authors focused on detailed records of observations of 45 female baboons from 2001 to 2007. As a personality gauge, the researchers used specific behaviours, including how often the females were alone, how often they touched other females, how often they behaved aggressively, how often they were approached by others and how often they grunted when approaching other females of various ranks. Among female baboons, grunting is a sign of good will, Professor Cheney says. Using these criteria, the researchers characterised the baboons as ''nice'', ''aloof'' or ''loner''. The team also tested the baboons for levels of stress hormones known as glucocorticoids.

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For longevity, it's the survival of the nicest Save

Free Engine

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According to UC Berkeley professor Ignacio Chapela, the passage of Proposition 37 will not only restore the right to choose what foods we put in our bodies, but it may restore scientific process to its rightful placesomething the bioengineering industry, with full assistance from the White House, removed.

"The promises made by genetic engineering have not been fulfilled," explains Chapela, a microbial biologist who was first to exposed the fact that genetically engineered corn was contaminating ancient strains of Mexican maize via cross-pollinating. "Genetic engineering has proven to be wishful thinking, a dream that has failed."

Chapela considers himself fortunate to be able to speak out freely about GMO failings, since so many other scientists have been attacked or threatened or have lost employment for approaching genetic engineering with a critical eye. "I would like to speak for those scientists," says Chapela, "because they cannot." When the first Bush administration instructed federal regulatory bodies to step aside and give the GE industry free reign, Chapela explains, there was no scientific scrutiny allowed.

"It has been very hard to survive as a scientist who is a critical thinker now," Chapela says. "The central dogma embedded in K-12 science textbooks indoctrinates young people to accept that genetic engineering is an inevitable part of life. It says all living things are driven by genes encoded in DNA, and that by manipulating that DNA we can create life, and mix, match and alter it the way we want it." But this isn't the way it actually plays out, says Chapela. "The reality is that genetic engineering is not working, any way you look at it."

What Proposition 37 offers consumers is the promise that all GMO foods will be labeled in California. What it offers scientists is a chance to scrutinize an industry that has intimidated themsometimes to the point of ruining their careersfor questioning the validity of genetic engineering. "The Bush administration decided in the 1980s that genetic engineering was the next wave of economic development for the U.S. and for the world," says Chapela. "We were instructed to look the other way."

Labeling GE foods may help science, which at present cannot investigate whether GE food consumption is related to rises in disease. "We have been sitting here in the dark, forbidden from looking," says Chapela, who believes a GMO-labeling law will give us "the simple capacity to know and to do the science for the first time. I think we deserve it."

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Free Engine

The GM Barnyard

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Allergen-free cows milk and pigs with hardened arteries illustrate how the accuracy of genetic engineering has improved.

Two unsuspecting farm animals have helped to demonstrate the increasing accuracy of genetic engineering techniques. The first is a cow that produced hypoallergenic milk after researchers used RNA interference to block the production of an allergy-inducing protein, as reported this week (October 2) in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The second, reported in another paper in the same issue, is a pig that could be a model for atherosclerosis after researchers used an enzyme called a TALEN to silence a gene that helps to remove cholesterol.

Researchers have long struggled to remove cow milks allergy-inducing protein, beta-lactoglobulin, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting in children. They were previously unable to introduce foreign genes precisely enough, however, so they could never quite successfully replace the gene that codes for beta-lactoglobulin with a defective form.

But scientists at AgResearch in Hamilton, New Zealand, worked with molecules that interfere with messenger RNA (mRNA), which helps translate genes into proteins. They found microRNA (miRNA) in mice that targeted beta-lactoglobulin mRNA, so they inserted DNA encoding a version of this miRNA into the genomes of cow embryos. Out of 100 embryos, one calf produced beta-globulin-free milk. This isnt a quick process, Stefan Wagner, a molecular biologist at AgResearch, told Nature. One problem is that RNA interference cant eliminate the protein completely because some mRNA slips through.

Another technique could speed up the process. TALENs are enzymes that target and cut out a specific DNA sequence from the genome. As the break is repaired, mutations are introduced that scramble the targeted gene, leaving it unable to function.

The TALEN technology is staggeringly easy, quick, and leaves no mark in the genome, researcher Bruce Whitelaw, told Nature. Whitelaw, a molecular biologist at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, United Kingdom, used TALENs to disrupt genes encoding low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in pigs. Without those receptors, which remove LDL from the blood, Whitelaws pigs develop atherosclerotic arteries. Such pigs could be reliable models for biomedical researchers studying human atherosclerosis.

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The GM Barnyard

Does moral decision-making in video games mirror the real world?

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Public release date: 3-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, October 3, 2012Making moral judgments is increasingly a central element of the plots of popular video games. Do players of online video games perceive the content and characters as real and thus make moral judgments to avoid feeling guilty? Or does immoral behavior such as violence and theft make the game any more or less enjoyable? The article "Mirrored Morality: An Exploration of Moral Choice in Video Games" published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers examines these types of questions. The article is available free online on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

Andrew Weaver and Nicky Lewis, Indiana University, Bloomington, studied how players make moral choices in video games and what effects those choices have on their emotional responses to the games. In general, players tended to make "moral" decisions and to treat game characters as though they were actual people. Although behaving in antisocial ways was associated with greater guilt, it did not affect player enjoyment.

"Although preliminary, these results point to the utility of games as teaching and educational tools, as well as important tools for the assessment of behavior," says Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA. "These findings indicate how real the virtual world can become when one suspends disbelief and immerses oneself in the scenario."

###

About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print and online that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

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Does moral decision-making in video games mirror the real world?

DNA Helps Locate Cold Case Murder Suspect

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October 3, 2012 Updated Oct 3, 2012 at 5:41 PM EDT

Miami County, Ind. (Indianas NewsCenter) DNA evidence plays a key role in helping authorities make an arrest in a 20-year-old murder case.

The Miami County Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday Timothy J. Jimerson of Biloxi, Mississippi was arrested in connection to the cold case murder of Toni Spicer, who was found murdered in her mobile home in the southern part of Miami County, all thanks to DNA evidence collected 20 years ago.

Prosecutor Bruce Embrey says that due to the very detailed and thorough crime scene investigation performed by Sgt. Dean Marks and State Trooper Gary Boyles in 1992, police agencies at any time could help in the murder investigation.

The evidence collected from the scene was sent off for DNA examination and cataloging, awaiting a DNA hit so that a suspects name could be issued. But it wasnt until recently that a DNA match was found.

Since a DNA match in most cases isnt enough to identify a suspect, the help of the Biloxi, Mississippi Police Department was enlisted and after extensive investigation Jimerson was arrested and is now awaiting extradition back to Peru.

Copyright 2012 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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DNA Helps Locate Cold Case Murder Suspect

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DNA Scans Help Pinpoint Causes of Mental Retardation

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Sequencing the genomes of 100 individuals with mental retardation with no known cause yielded genetic answers for 16 of them, a study found, suggesting the technique may help diagnose and aid in treatment.

While more than 400 genetic mutations are known to cause intellectual disability, they are responsible for less than half of the cases, said Han Brunner, a study author and head of human genetics at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands. The research is published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study shows how gene sequencing can improve diagnosis in patients with mental disabilities, many of whom never learn the cause. Knowing the genetic origin can help patients and families understand the prognoses and may lead to specific treatment options, the authors said in the study.

Half of the children and adults with intellectual disability never have an explanation of why they are retarded -- thats a big problem, leading many parents on a quest to numerous doctors looking for answers, Brunner said in a telephone interview. This is what people call the diagnostic odyssey, and people can put that to rest, by using genetic sequencing, he said.

Researchers scanned the DNA of children with mental retardation, defined as having an IQ of less than 50, as well as their parents, and looked for differences. While all children have some mutations, few lead to intellectual disability, Brunner said. Once the culprits are known, it can help direct some therapies or dietary changes.

We had two cases where the type of mutation would suggest that you might try a treatment for a metabolic disorder, and another with epilepsy, he said.

For instance, patients with a mutation in the PDHA1 gene would benefit from a ketogenic diet, which is high in fat, and those with SCN2A mutation should avoid sodium-channel blockers to better control their epileptic episodes and improve cognitive function, according to the study.

The research, funded in part by the European Union, demonstrates how the quickening pace of gene sequencing technology may lead to wider use in the clinic to help patients, said Heather Mefford, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The technology used in the study is called exome sequencing and looks at the 1 percent of the DNA containing genes that create proteins. The researchers used equipment from Carlsbad, California-based Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) to perform the sequencing.

Previously, you might test one or two genes. Or more recently, a panel of genes, Mefford, who wrote an accompanying editorial to the study, said in a telephone interview. That approach could take weeks or months and not lead to any answers, she said. This test allows us to look at all the genes at once.

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DNA Scans Help Pinpoint Causes of Mental Retardation

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