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DNA experts testify at Main Street shooting trial

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Jurors at the attempted-murder trial of Robert Zlahn got a heavy dose of DNA on Wednesday as scientific experts offered different conclusions about whether another man touched the pistol used in the crime.

The third day of Zlahns trial for the shooting on Main Street on July 1, 2011, was dominated by lengthy testimony from two DNA experts. A state crime lab expert who tested for gunshot residue and the first police officer to interview Zlahn also testified Wednesday.

Zlahn, 26, is accused of shooting a .45-caliber pistol three times at Ryan Grosulak at the intersection of Main Street and Pemberton Lane. The shooting happened after Grosulak, a former star football player and a bodybuilder, tried to confront the men who had allegedly harassed his girlfriend outside the couples apartment.

Zlahn is charged with attempted deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment and tampering. His trial before Judge Mary Jane Knisely began Monday with jury selection and opening statements. Court officials said Wednesday that the trial will continue into next week.

Testimony on Tuesday included the accounts of Grosulak and his girlfriend, Alanna Vincent. She said she was terrified by two black men in a maroon minivan who confronted her outside her apartment and made sexually offensive remarks.

Grosulak told jurors he went looking for the men and found them in the minivan at the busy Heights intersection at about 3 p.m. After exchanging words, the driver of the van whom Grosulak described as a black man with short hair shot at him three times, Grosulak said.

Sean Bowers also testified Tuesday, telling jurors he had stepped out of the van during the verbal exchange with Grosulak and saw his friend, Zlahn, fire the pistol during the confrontation.

Former police officer Joseph Dickerson was the first witness to testify Wednesday, describing how he was called to the shooting scene and interviewed Zlahn after another officer stopped Zlahn, Bowers and a third man, Samuel Bettie, as they were walking on Bench Boulevard shortly after the shooting.

Zlahn denied being involved in a shooting, Dickerson said, and encouraged officers to go try to find the people responsible.

Bahne Klietz, a forensic chemist at the Montana State Crime Lab, also testified Wednesday. She said swabs taken from Zlahn, Bowers and Bettie showed all three men had some amount of gunshot residue on their hands or faces.

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DNA experts testify at Main Street shooting trial

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Supreme Court stays DNA ruling

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The U.S. Supreme Court has put on hold at least for a week a ruling by Marylands highest court that prohibits DNA collection from suspects charged but not yet convicted in violent crimes.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler had asked the nations highest court to intervene in the case of Alonzo Jay King Jr. v. State of Maryland after his bid failed to have the Maryland Court of Appeals reverse its own decision. The order grants a stay until at least July 25.

In a statement, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler said he was encouraged by the order which may indeed result in identifying perpetrators in some of Marylands most horrific unsolved cases where DNA was left at the scene of the crime. David Paulson, a Gansler spokesman, said police agencies certainly may resume DNA collection, though lawyers in the attorney generals office were still weighing how they would advise those agencies on how to proceed.

Stephen Mercer, the chief attorney for the Office of the Maryland Public Defenders Forensics Division, said the public defenders office, which opposes the pre-conviction DNA testing, was preparing to respond immediately.

The case centers on Maryland legislation, which, starting in 2009, allowed police to collect DNA from suspects after they were charged with violent crimes or burglaries. Before then, police had been able to collect DNA only from convicted criminals.

Alonzo Jay King Jr. challenged the law after he was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on first- and second-degree assault charges. Prosecutors used a DNA swab stemming from that case to connect him to a 2003 rape. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the rape.

But in a 5 to 2 ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals sent Kings case back to the Wicomico County Circuit Court and threw out the DNA evidence against him, saying investigators violated his Fourth Amendment rights in taking his genetic material and comparing it with old crime scene samples. The ruling was condemned by prosecutors and police chiefs, who said it would hamper detectives ability to solve cold cases and jeopardize the convictions of 34 robbers, burglars and rapists whose genetic samples were taken after they were charged in separate cases.

Police across the state had stopped collecting DNA from charged suspects in the wake of the Court of Appeals ruling. It remains unclear how they will proceed as the case continues to make its way through the nations court system.

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Supreme Court stays DNA ruling

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CU-Boulder accepting bids to relocate 3 Grandview Terrace houses

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The University of Colorado announced today that it will be accepting proposals from qualified house movers and contractors to relocate three university-owned houses in Grandview Terrace.

The three houses -- 1220, 1243 and 1244 Grandview Avenue -- were all built in the 1920s and cannot be remodeled due to the cost, an estimated $2 million for all three properties. The buildings were vacated when faculty and staff with CU's Institute of Behavioral Science moved into a new building in 2010.

We don't want these buildings to become a neighborhood nuisance, and we want to give the public and members of the community an opportunity to relocate them if that is feasible and people are interested, said CU Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration Jeff Lipton in a statement.

CU originally notified the city in March that it planned to raze five buildings in Grandview Terrace unless someone from the city or residents stepped in to move the structures.

City spokeswoman Jody Jacobson said the city would not be putting in a bid, but is helping to find potential bidders.

"We would like to see these buildings preserved, but the city is not putting in a bid," she said.

The university is not accepting bids on the other two properties in that original memo and are not scheduled to demolish either building. The house at 1232 Grandview Ave. is currently being rented out and CU entered into an agreement with the city to take another look at alternative uses for the property at 1446 Broadway.

CU has no immediate plans to build on the properties, officials say, but instead will use the land for parking in the short term.

The five buildings are all located outside of the "Grandview Preserve," an area defined in a 2001 memorandum of agreement between the city and the university to protect historic buildings.

The university will accept proposals for relocation through Oct. 17. A proposal evaluation and selection period will then be conducted from Oct. 18 through Oct. 25, with contract award notifications going out on Oct. 29.

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CU-Boulder accepting bids to relocate 3 Grandview Terrace houses

Research and Markets: Bladder Pathology

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/wtn2c6/bladder_pathology) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report "Bladder Pathology" to their offering.

The human urinary bladder is subject to a unique and extraordinarily diverse array of congenital, inflammatory, metaplastic, and neoplastic abnormalities. This book provides contemporary, comprehensive, and evidence-based practice information for pathologists, urologists, oncologists, and other medical professionals.

In Bladder Pathology, a full spectrum of pathologic conditions that afflict the bladder and urothelium are described and lavishly illustrated. With its emphasis on diagnostic criteria and differential diagnoses, this book is of particular value to practicing pathologists assisting in the pathologist's recognition, understanding, and accurate interpretation of the light microscopic findings in bladder specimens.

Key Features and Benefits

Features and benefits of this new volume include:

- 1,741 high-quality, color illustrations and 112 tables to illustrate the wide range of pathologic and clinical features in the urinary tract

- An evidence-based approach to diagnosis and patient management for infectious, nonneoplastic, and neoplastic conditions

- Recent advances in the molecular genetics of the urinary bladder with discussion of their current or potential impact on diagnosis and personalized patient care

- With emphasis on the scientific validation of current diagnostic methods and their direct application in clinical practice, Bladder Pathology is a cutting-edge resource that not only offers comprehensive research and clinical information for practicing surgical pathologists, urologists, oncologists, and their clinical colleagues, but also captures a genuine sense of excitement about recent advances in this vital, ever-evolving field.

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Research and Markets: Bladder Pathology

Be Good To Your Body During National Ice Cream Month! THRIVE® Delivers Delicious Taste & Superior Nutrition

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LOS ANGELES, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. celebrates National Ice Cream month, a delicious new brand is taking center stage. Finally, complete and balanced nutrition in a palatable form ice cream! Who doesn't love ice cream? One of the most beloved foods of all ages, Thrive's ice cream format brings back the fun in getting complete nutrition and best of all it is made in the USA.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120717/LA41226LOGO)

Pharmacist developed, Thrive Frozen Nutrition has as much protein as an egg, as much calcium as a cup of milk, and as much potassium as a banana. Each cup is packed with 250 calories, 9g protein (18% dv), 3g fiber (12% dv), 520mg potassium (15% dv), 4 live strains of beneficial probiotics, and 24 vitamins & minerals. Thrive has all the nutrition of Ensure but with added probiotics, which are essential for a healthy gut and immune system, and the delicious taste and appeal of ice cream.

Many people, including children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, and seniors, do not get the right amounts of daily nutritional values which their bodies need. The majority of nutritional supplements available to consumers today do not deliver nutritional value AND great taste. Thrive solves the taste issues that come with standard liquid nutrition boosters: heavy metallic taste & textures, tongue coating, burping, aftertaste, swallowing & flavor fatigue issues.

Thrive Frozen Nutrition has been developed to provide consumers from Kids to Seniors with the right amount of nutrition in a great tasting, convenient, portion controlled product. Whether chronic disease, functional impairment, apathy, inappropriate weight loss, finicky taste buds or just on-the-go, Thrive provides a yummy boost in nutritional intake for all ages. Thrive offers a Premium Ice Cream Taste, Packed with the Nutrition You Need!

After years of research and development, THRIVE is now available in 4 delicious flavors that will not only delight your taste buds, but also nourish your body, allowing you to THRIVE as never before: Homemade Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Fudge, and Strawberry. To learn more about Thrive Frozen Nutrition, visit http://www.thrive4nutrition.com.

About ThriveThe THRIVE Frozen Nutrition concept began almost a decade ago, with the idea of providing an ice cream like product that would "pack" nutrition into a great tasting form. Ice cream and dairy products are a natural carrier of great tasting nutrition such as proteins, calcium, vitamins and minerals. At the same time, ice cream is a favorite food of most Americans. Because of its unique nutritional offerings and broad appeal, ice cream like products are a natural fit for added nutrition lacking in the diets of many consumers today. This concept grew and was intentionally developed over the last several years to not only taste good, but also to provide a source of complete and balanced nutrition for those individuals needing a calorie dense food. Pharmacist developed, Thrive Frozen Nutrition has as much protein as an egg, as much calcium as a cup of milk, and as much potassium as a banana. Each cup is packed with 250 calories, 9g protein (18% dv), 3g fiber (12% dv), 520mg potassium (15% dv), 4 live strains of essential probiotics, and 24 vitamins & minerals. (www.thrive4nutrition.com)

Contact: Rachel Krupa, Krupa Consulting rachel@krupaconsulting.com /323-448-0466

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Be Good To Your Body During National Ice Cream Month! THRIVE® Delivers Delicious Taste & Superior Nutrition

Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. Raw Material Exclusivity Agreement

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MADISON HEIGHTS, MI--(Marketwire -07/17/12)- Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. (FITX), a nutritional supplement company focusing on active lifestyles, announced today that they have signed a supply agreement with Sirovi, LLC. (www.Sirovi.com), one of the world's leading raw material suppliers in cutting edge nutritional ingredients and product formulations. Sirovi sells such ingredients as high potency tribulusterrestris, humanofort, ecdysterone, and NMDA among others. These ingredients appear in the world's leading nutritional brands. Our deal with Sirovi allows us first exclusive access with a significant lead time to new ingredients. Sirovi's ingredients can be found in products that are sold by the world's largest retailers such as GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Bodybuilding.com and Amazon.com. Jay Seddon, the President of Sirovi, has been in the nutrition industry involved in many levels for over 20 years.

Bill Chaaban, President and CEO, stated, "We are excited to have Jay involved in our projects. He is one of the smartest individuals in the industry and by having an exclusive on new ingredients it will allow Creative Edge Nutrition a leg up on the competition. We will continue to aggressively grow and expand our presence in the sports nutrition marketplace through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions."

About Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.Creative Edge Nutrition is a holding company and a Nutritional Supplement Company focused on developing innovative, high quality supplements. The company offers a broad spectrum of capsules, tablets, and powders, as well as science based products in the principal categories of weight management, nutrition challenges, energy and fitness. The Company manufactures under strict GMP guidelines at GMP Certified and/or FDA registered facilities. http://www.CenergyNutrition.com and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Edge-Nutrition-Inc/115224738609211

About Sirovi LLCThe company was formed in 1992, the introduction of creatine into the market created the birth of a whole new category in the industry. They were one of the first stores in the US that offered mainly sports nutrition products. 19 years later we are still offering great products at affordable prices. We continue to update our product line as new ingredients and formulas are discovered.

Safe Harbor Notice This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company's periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. Raw Material Exclusivity Agreement

Research and Markets: Microbiology of Thermally Preserved Foods: Canning and Novel Physical Methods

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jbbwjz/microbiology_of_th) has announced the addition of the "Microbiology of Thermally Preserved Foods: Canning and Novel Physical Methods" book to their offering.

While introducing the principles and processes of industrial-level food canning, the volume clarifies the effects of microorganisms, their ecology, fate, and prevention in canning operations, as well as in other thermal processing techniques, such as aseptic packaging. It covers microbial spoilage and detection for vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and seafood from the raw food materials through individual unit operations, facility sanitation, and packaging. It thus offers a practical introduction to understanding, preventing and destroying microbe-based hazards in food plants that use thermal processes to preserve and package foods. The text surveys major spoilage and pathogenic microbes of interest, explaining their toxicity, product and safety effects, and the conditions of their destruction by heat treatment.

Key Features

- Explains microbiological hazards in food canning, aseptic packaging, MAP

- Covers microbial hazards from raw foods through unit operations and packaging

From the Foreword

""Not only does this volume contain up-to-date information regarding the types of microbes of interest in heat-treated foods, but it also provides, as a complete resource, details of many aspects of the food chain and processing environment that influences the microflora of thermally-processed foods. This is what I find separates this book from (other) treatises on heat-processed foods.""

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

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Research and Markets: Microbiology of Thermally Preserved Foods: Canning and Novel Physical Methods

Longevity is a beautiful thing

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I recently interviewed Micky Dolenz, the singer and drummer for the 1960s pop-rock group The Monkees about longevity.

We spoke specifically about longevity in the music business as hes spent most of his life making and performing music.

This is an artist who has spent 46 years performing the music of The Monkees in concert either solo or with the group.

When I asked him about what people could expect from his recent concert at the California State Fair, he simply stated, All the big, fat, great, Monkees hitsthats what I do.

After our conversation, I took in the fact that Micky has performed those songs for his fans for nearly five decades.

Five decades - and he continues to do so with as much energy and fervor as hed done in the beginning; his July 13 fair performance was nothing less than excellent and full of get-up-and-go.

Our conversation reminded me that longevity - not only in music, but also in other forms of the arts - has seemingly lost its importance to many artists and to the public in general.

Its almost as though it is expected that we only see or hear from our new stars - music, movie, or otherwise - for a maximum of five years, if theyre lucky.

To me, it just doesnt seem like many people are sticking to their craft for very long, even the artists who claim to have a true love for their art.

One minute theyre here; the next theyre gone.

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Longevity is a beautiful thing

New DNA work may offer break in 36-year-old Michigan slayings

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A DNA link may signal a break in a 36-year-old investigation into the slaying of four children, the Oakland County, Michigan, prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

The so-called Oakland County Child Killer is believed to be responsible for the deaths of Mark Stebbins, 12, Jill Robinson, 12, Kristine Mihelich, 10, and Timothy King, 11, who were kidnapped and found dead between 1976 and 1977.

Using technology unavailable to investigators at the time of the crimes, the FBI DNA unit at Quantico tested and analyzed human hairs found on the bodies of Stebbins and King, the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators were able to establish a mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, profile link between the hairs, establishing they came from the same person, essentially proving the two crimes were connected.

"This is the first piece of evidence that actually links any of the victims together. It was always believed that these two killings were linked to the same person, however that was an assumption based on the similarities in the crime," said Jessica R. Cooper, Oakland County Prosecutor.

Armed with proof the boys' death was connected, authorities pulled up more evidence from the 1970s investigation. At the time, police had found a person of interest and were able to search his car. The car was a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville. The investigators took samples from the interior of the car and found small hairs, fibers and fur. They were placed in evidence where they remained for decades, until this material, too, was submitted to the FBI DNA unit for testing and analysis.

According to prosecutors, the testing revealed that the hairs recovered from the Bonneville had the same mtDNA profile as the hairs recovered from the boys' bodies.

The owner of the car, 70-year-old Archibald "Ed" Sloan, is serving a life sentence for two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. Sloan was tested for a DNA match, but it was determined he did not share the same DNA profile: The hairs found on the boys and in the car were not his.

"It is believed that Sloan would allow others to use his 1966 Bonneville, as well as the other described vehicles, so investigators are looking for information concerning any other people who may have used this car, or had access to any of these vehicles. Finding anyone like this who turns out to be the donor of the hair may be the key to solving these two murders," Cooper said.

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New DNA work may offer break in 36-year-old Michigan slayings

Posted in DNA

DNA may offer break in '70s kid slayings

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A DNA link may signal a break in a 36-year-old investigation into the slaying of four children, the Oakland County, Michigan, prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

The so-called Oakland County Child Killer is believed to be responsible for the deaths of Mark Stebbins, 12, Jill Robinson, 12, Kristine Mihelich, 10, and Timothy King, 11, who were kidnapped and found dead between 1976 and 1977.

Using technology unavailable to investigators at the time of the crimes, the FBI DNA unit at Quantico tested and analyzed human hairs found on the bodies of Stebbins and King, the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators were able to establish a mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, profile link between the hairs, establishing they came from the same person, essentially proving the two crimes were connected.

"This is the first piece of evidence that actually links any of the victims together. It was always believed that these two killings were linked to the same person, however that was an assumption based on the similarities in the crime," said Jessica R. Cooper, Oakland County Prosecutor.

Armed with proof the boys' death was connected, authorities pulled up more evidence from the 1970s investigation. At the time, police had found a person of interest and were able to search his car. The car was a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville. The investigators took samples from the interior of the car and found small hairs, fibers and fur. They were placed in evidence where they remained for decades, until this material, too, was submitted to the FBI DNA unit for testing and analysis.

According to prosecutors, the testing revealed that the hairs recovered from the Bonneville had the same mtDNA profile as the hairs recovered from the boys' bodies.

The owner of the car, 70-year-old Archibald "Ed" Sloan, is serving a life sentence for two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. Sloan was tested for a DNA match, but it was determined he did not share the same DNA profile: The hairs found on the boys and in the car were not his.

"It is believed that Sloan would allow others to use his 1966 Bonneville, as well as the other described vehicles, so investigators are looking for information concerning any other people who may have used this car, or had access to any of these vehicles. Finding anyone like this who turns out to be the donor of the hair may be the key to solving these two murders," Cooper said.

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DNA may offer break in '70s kid slayings

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Migration at Gibraltar: Boise State University Raptor Biology Graduate Students Gain International Perspective in Spain

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Newswise Boise State University's one-of-a-kind master's degree program in raptor biology and partnering Idaho Bird Observatory have soared to new heights with the establishment of the Fall Migration Travel Award.

The raptor biology program has long provided students with a unique graduate experience aimed at understanding the science and conservation of birds of prey. The Idaho Bird Observatory now enhances that experience by offering qualified students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of raptor biology in an international setting.

Last summer, graduate students Micah Scholer and Martina Zucchini traveled to Tarifa, Spain, for three months to work with non-profit and sister organization to the Idaho Bird Observatory, Fundacin Migres. The students learned about the population dynamics of migratory birds, the ecology of European raptors and exchanged cultural experiences with the Spanish people.

For a raptor biologist such as myself, the chance to participate in monitoring one of the worlds greatest avian migrations presented an extraordinary opportunity for me to develop as a professional, in addition to gaining a new cultural perspective, Scholer said.

Scholer is returning to Spain later this month to spend another three months as a volunteer coordinator and work on research collaborations with Fundacin Migres preparing manuscripts for publication.

Fundacin Migres mission is to monitor population changes of migratory birds in Spain and the rest of Western Europe. Their migration observatories are situated on the coast of Spain looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar. Each year, hundreds of thousands of soaring birds and an estimated 20-40 million songbirds pass through this area as they cross the Strait at its narrowest point on their voyage between Europe and Africa. This makes the Strait an excellent place to study the phenomenon of avian migration.

Scholer and Zucchini helped count 29 different species of nearly 400,000 birds. More information about the project is available at the Fundacin Migres web site.

For more information on the travel award or program, contact Idaho Bird Observatory Director Greg Kaltenecker at 426-4354 or gregorykaltenecker@boisestate.edu, or biology professor Marc Bechard at 426-3530 or mbechard@boisestate.edu.

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Migration at Gibraltar: Boise State University Raptor Biology Graduate Students Gain International Perspective in Spain

Lewisham NHS Trust Adopts CSC’s NextGen Pathology Solution

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FALLS CHURCH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust has become one of the first trusts to adopt CSCs (CSC) next-generation laboratory solution under a project to overhaul cellular pathology services across the new organization, formed by the merger of acute and community services in Lewisham.

Under a three-year contract won in open tender during the first quarter of CSC fiscal year 2013, CSCs Healthcare Group will replace a Radius system for cellular pathology with its current laboratory solution. The agreement will immediately allow doctors to request cellular pathology tests and view all results online.

As an early adopter, Lewisham will also use current NextGen modules for cellular pathology and mortuary plus tools for vital cancer registry reporting.

The move supports calls for modern, efficient pathology services across the 450-bed University Hospital Lewisham and 10 community health centers.

Following this implementation we will be better placed to support the cellular pathology services now being offered across the trust in a more effective and efficient manner, said Alex Singer, Lewishams pathology manager. CSCs laboratory solution is known for being robust and flexible. Having a solution that is reliable, easy to maintain and easy to customize was vital. It also allows us to develop and test new interfaces without impacting the core system or existing users and migrate gradually to CSCs next-generation solution.

Our NextGen solution is designed to meet demands on modern pathology services to do more for less and is another example of the work we are doing with our customers to develop solutions that meet their exact needs, said Andrea Fiumicelli, chief operating officer of CSCs Healthcare Group. These and other innovations will help cement our position as the UKs largest provider of laboratory information systems.

Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust was formed in August 2010 after the merger of Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust and NHS Lewisham, and is one the first trusts to integrate acute and community services under one organization.

About CSC

CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 98,000 employees and reported revenue of $15.9 billion for the 12 months ended March 30, 2012. For more information, visit the companys website at http://www.csc.com.

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Lewisham NHS Trust Adopts CSC’s NextGen Pathology Solution

Jamba Juice Unveils New Healthy Beverage for Schools

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EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The ongoing effort to improve nutrition and access to good-for-you food and beverage choices for kids in schools just got a healthy boost. Jamba Juice Company (JMBA), with nutrition guidance from National Dairy Council, today announced a new fruit and dairy beverage for K-12 schools. The healthy smoothie, naturally sweetened with fruit and fruit juice, combines the nutrient-rich benefits of fat-free milk with real fruit. The beverage will be unveiled this week at the School Nutrition Association conference in Denver.

School nutrition professionals, the USDA and parent/teacher groups have been working to improve the nutrition in school meals, but also have wrestled with cost considerations and finding options kids will actually consume. This is an important step in the right direction, said Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, a nutrition and food, author and member of the Jamba Healthy Living Council. This project moves us closer towards the goal of providing schools with nutritious food and beverage solutions at a reasonable cost per-serving.

Kids should love the natural sweetness of this healthy smoothie, continued Zelman. Its made with nutrient-rich real fruit and fat-free milk that not only tastes great, but also helps address the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and can be offered as an a la carte item at school meal.

Jamba is entering the second year of its JambaGO initiative, a program aimed at bringing better nutrition to kids with full fruit and vegetable servings in smoothie beverages. We believe the program needed a dairy component to reach its full potential as a relevant healthy option in school foodservice programs, said Julie Washington, chief brand officer, Jamba Juice Company. Jamba reached out to National Dairy Council and Dairy Research Institute, founded by Americas dairy farmers, for help with dairy nutrition expertise and in formulating a new dairy and fruit drink. They responded with a dedicated team of nutrition and product development experts. JambaGO smoothies are being served in about 100 schools around the nation and the company expects that number to grow to between 400-500 installations by year end.

According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, sodas, energy and sports drinks are a top source of added sugars in the American diet. Public health officials are concerned about the steady rise of empty calories consumed by young people and are seeking ways to curb the intake of excess calories to address obesity and the health of the nation. Dairy farmers and dairy companies want to help students get the benefits of essential nutrients found in products made from fat-free milk, such as calcium, potassium and protein, said Jean Ragalie, RD, president, National Dairy Council. Adding dairy to the fruit-based JambaGO smoothie offerings demonstrates our continued commitment to innovation to develop healthy food and beverage choices that children will enjoy.

Schools continue to be a vital link in providing better nutrition for kids. The current JambaGO program has been a huge success for us, said Ken Llewellyn, food service director and nutrition specialist for the Crane School District, Crane, MO. We like it because were offering kids beverages that deliver the nutrient benefits of real fruit, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. The new option coming with real fruit and fat-free milk will be a great addition. The JambaGO program has helped us boost student involvement in our breakfast program by over 10 percent and as a result we are now experiencing 72 percent participation.

The new fat-free dairy and fruit beverage is available in berry and peach flavors and is expected to be available to schools starting in September 2012.

Made with fat-free milk blended with fruit juices and apple, strawberry, and blueberry fruits, the Berry Fruit Smoothie contains one serving of fruit and one-half serving of fat-free dairy per eight fluid ounces, is fat-free, cholesterol free, low sodium food , and is formulated to be a good source of protein, potassium and phosphorus and an excellent source of calcium and vitamin C.

The Peach Fruit Smoothie is made with fat-free dairy blended with fruit juices and peach fruits. It contains one serving of fruit and one-half serving of fat-free dairy per eight fluid ounces and is fat-free, cholesterol free, and low sodium food. It is formulated to be a good source of protein, potassium, vitamin C, and phosphorous and an excellent source of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and calcium.

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Jamba Juice Unveils New Healthy Beverage for Schools

Schiff Nutrition Int'l (): Zacks Rank Buy

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Schiff Nutrition International (SHF) has reported positive earnings surprises in two out of the past three quarters, and is scheduled to deliver fiscal fourth-quarter results on July 23. Earnings estimates for this nutritional supplement company have been trending higher, which made it a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stock on July 13, 2012.

Solid Third Quarter

On March 22, Schiff Nutrition reported adjusted earnings per share of 16 cents for its fiscal third quarter of 2012, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 33.3% and the year-ago result by 14.3%. Net income increased 14.5% year over year to $4.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.3 million, up 25.7% from a year ago.

Net sales climbed 25.0% to $72.2 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.9%. The growth in top-line partly reflects new offerings and progression of key brands. Selling and marketing expense amounted to 25% of revenue in the reported quarter, higher than 14% in the year-ago period.

The company raised its revenue guidance for fiscal 2012 to between 16% and 19% from the earlier projection of 12% to 15%. The gross margin range has been lifted to between 44% and 46% from 43% to 45% earlier. Schiff Nutrition continues to project operating margin in the upper single-digits for the fiscal year.

Earnings Estimates on an Incline

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2012 has risen 4% in the last two months to 52 cents per share, representing an estimated year-over-year growth of 20.9%. For 2013, the Zacks Consensus Estimate moved up 12.5% in three months to 72 cents, reflecting an implied growth of 38.9%.

Stretched Valuation

Schiff Nutrition trades at a premium to its peers by most metrics, such as price-to-earnings and price-to-sales. The stock is currently trading at a forward P/E of 26.3x, an 81.7% premium to the peer group average of 14.5x. Similarly, on a price-to-sales basis, the stock is trading at 1.7x, 36.0% higher than its peer group average of 1.25x. The trailing 12 month return on equity (:ROE) of 14.4% is in line with the peer group average.

Chart Reveals Strength

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Schiff Nutrition Int'l (): Zacks Rank Buy

Novavax will help develop new malaria vaccine

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ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Drug developer Novavax Inc. said Monday that it will work with the government of India to develop a new malaria vaccine.

Novavax said it will work with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and CPL Biologicals. India's Department of Biotechnology will fund the project, which will be managed by the not-for-profit Malaria Vaccine Development Program, based in New Delhi. The company said around 210 million cases of malaria are diagnosed every year and 650,000 people die of the disease.

Novavax, based in Rockville, Md., develops vaccines that are genetically engineered virus-like particles. The particles resemble a virus but do not have the genetic material a virus needs to reproduce itself. The company is conducting clinical trials of vaccines for seasonal and pandemic influenza and for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can cause life-threatening respiratory infections in infants.

CPL Biologicals is a joint venture of Novavax and privately held Cadila Pharmaceuticals, based in Ahmedabad, India.

Shares of Novavax lost 3 cents to $2.04 in afternoon trading.

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Novavax will help develop new malaria vaccine

DNA test request backfires against convicted Flint rapist

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So Ferguson enlisted the help of a national group that works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted and successfully petitioned a Genesee Circuit judge to order DNA tests -- a now-common practice that was not in use by Flint police at the time Ferguson was convicted.

The result? Ferguson was told there was only a 1 in 2.2 quadrillion chance that the DNA found at the crime scene wasn't his.

DNA evidence cuts both ways, said Donna McKneelen, co-director of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Innocence Project, which helped Ferguson with his DNA request.

"We caution them before we move forward: Do you really want to take this chance?" said McKneelen, who said she was not prepared to discuss specifics of Ferguson's case. "That's something I don't understand (cases in which DNA testing confirms a prosecutor's case) because it causes more problems" for the accused. Ferguson, now 47, was sentenced to 60 to 90 years in prison in 1986 after a jury convicted him of robbing and raping the 32-year-old postal worker from Clio on her first day on a new route on Flint's north side.

The late Donald Freeman, a county Circuit Court judge, called Ferguson a "predator" during sentencing, even though the Benton Harbor native protested he was innocent.

Only 21 at the time he was sentenced, Ferguson's criminal record already included two prior adult convictions beginning at age 9, according to Flint Journal files.

Ferguson, aided by The Innocence Project at Cooley, petitioned for a Genesee Circuit Court order to carry out DNA testing on decades-old vaginal swabs, panties and uniform pants that were collected from the victim after the attack.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said some inmates convince themselves they are not guilty in a case, even though all evidence suggests otherwise.

"A lot of folks in prison say (they) didn't do it," Leyton said. "In this case, he did do it. I don't believe there are many innocent people locked up."

Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld, the Innocence Project, was established to assist prisoners who could be proven innocent through DNA testing.

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DNA test request backfires against convicted Flint rapist

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Synthetic Biology Scorecard finds federal agencies responding to bioethics report

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Public release date: 16-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Aaron Lovell aaron.lovell@wilsoncenter.org 202-691-4320 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars/Science and Technology Innovation Program

WASHINGTON Federal agencies have started taking steps to address the recommendations in a 2010 report from the presidential bioethics commission to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development, though the government has not fully addressed any of the report recommendations, according to a scorecard tracking the efforts.

The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars launched the web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard in February to track federal and non-federal efforts to implement the recommendations in New Directions: The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and Emerging Technologies, a December 2010 report from the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. The recommendations seek to minimize risks from the technology while ensuring that social and economic benefits are realized.

Eighteen months after the release of the report, information collected by the Project and submitted by users finds that steps have been taken by the U.S. government over the past four months to continue addressing the report recommendations. These measures include a new White House-led interagency working group looking at government work on the issue; a recent six-party meeting at the National Academy of Sciences (the last in a series of three meetings between the United States, United Kingdom and China); and the development and release of the National Bioeconomy Blueprint.

Still, the Scorecard finds that none of the recommendations have been fully addressed, including six recommendations that called for federal action within 18 months, or by mid-June 2012. Of the six recommendations calling for action within 18 months, five of the recommendations saw some level of government activity.

Of the 17 recommendations tracked by the Scorecard, 13 had some level of federal activity and four had no activity, including a recommendation calling for risk assessments before research organisms or commercial products involving the technology are released into the environment and a recommendation calling for the identification of reliable containment and control mechanisms.

President Obama requested the Commission's report more than two years ago in response to important advancements in the field of synthetic biology. On May 20, 2010, scientists at the J.C. Venter Institute unveiled a bacterial cell controlled by a synthetic genome. The same day, the president asked the Commission to study "the implications of this scientific milestone . . . [and] consider the potential medical, environmental, security, and other benefits of this field of research, as well as any potential health, security, or other risks."

The Scorecard has new features to improve usability. People are encouraged to submit work by agencies, organizations, states and others that fulfill the Commission recommendations. The Project plans to continue to highlight the progress towards implementing the recommendations.

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Synthetic Biology Scorecard finds federal agencies responding to bioethics report

Bank won’t fund my medical course in England

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The Irish Times - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

DOMINIC COYLE

Q&A:Last June I completed a biochemistry degree in Dublin and moved to England to start graduate medicine. When I started to look for ways to finance the degree, I hit about a 100 brick walls. My parents are not in a position to fund me.

I went to the local branch of the bank, where I have always banked, and was told there were no such loans for graduate students but to apply for a student loan with a reduced rate APR. Although a four-year course, I was told to apply for the funds for year one and to review it in year two.

The initial 11,000 interest- only facility proved to be too little. When I went to top up my loan to 20,000, the student officer became involved. She was surprised that a loan for the four years wasnt put in place, but when I tried to get a four-year plan in place for a loan of 80,000, I was told I would need to put up front some sort of security. They released the extra money for first year but are looking for that security before releasing more funds and that they will probably want me to start full repayments on the loan.

The bank said they could look at topping up my parents mortgage on an interest-only basis and they could give me that money, but their mortgage isnt with the AIB. I cannot afford to make full repayments either until I am a qualified doctor in 2015. Essentially, I am making the interest repayments from the loan money.

I need to find a solution as my funds will dry up in August and if I cannot get the financial support I will have to quit college to get a job and pay back this 20,000 the bank has already given me.

Ms S.OB., England

There are two issues here. First, you are in an incredibly difficult position because of the rules covering grant aid across national boundaries; second, your bank appears to have been, at best, unhelpful in the mixed messages it has given on funding options, especially in your original application for financial support.

Desperate to fund your course, you have embarked without a clear four-year funding plan. I dont have a clear answer for you and am running your query as much in the hope that someone may provide an answer to your plight as anything else. If colleges are accepting cross-border students, I would assume there must be some funding options available as not everyone is in a position to fund 80,000 or more from their own, or their parents, resources.

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Bank won't fund my medical course in England

Doping With Muscle-Building Drugs: FAQ

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Latest Exercise & Fitness News

Why Athletes Risk Using Human Growth Hormone, Anabolic Steroids

By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

July 13, 2012 -- As in previous years, the 2012 Olympics likely will be marred by at least one doping scandal, experts predict.

Many athletes abuse human growth hormone and/or steroids to build muscle and strength. While elite athletes are in the spotlight, the problem is much greater in recreational athletes. For example, at least 1 in 16 high school students admits to using performance-enhancing steroids. And users rarely take just one kind of drug.

Why do athletes and young people do this? Are there any benefits? What are the risks? WebMD's FAQ is based on an Endocrine Society webinar featuring two experts on athletic doping:

Human growth hormone, HGH, is produced by the pituitary gland. It's not really a single hormone, Rogol says, but a mixture of several "isoforms" coded by several different genes.

Children do not develop normally if their bodies don't make enough growth hormone. Fortunately, researchers have used recombinant gene technology to produce large amounts of recombinant HGH, or rHGH, to treat them.

More recently, rHGH has been used for other reasons.

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Doping With Muscle-Building Drugs: FAQ

Karma® Wellness Water is a Fresh, New Way to Drink Vitamins

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PITTSFORD, N.Y., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The principle of karma is based on cause and effect. If you do something positive, you'll get something positive in return. Born from this belief is Karma Wellness Water, the delicious line of natural, nutrient-enhanced water introduced nationwide today that has been meticulously formulated to deliver health benefits to your mind, body, spirit, balance, and vitality.

The driving force behind Karma is the fact that water-soluble vitamins lose their potency while sitting in water or when they are exposed to moisture. Additionally, those vitamins suffer degradation when they are subjected to UV rays, oxygen, or heat. The loss of strength is greater when the vitamin contents are spread across the full contents of bottled beverages, causing premixed vitamin drinks to lose their potency over time. The supplemental information printed on most premixed vitamin drinks is based on the ingredients at the time of bottling, not at the time of consumption.

"Many people are trying very hard to take responsibility and make the right choices when it comes to their health," said CJ Rapp, CEO and co-founder, Karma Culture LLC. Citing the recent actions of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address this concern, Rapp said, "Consumers need to know that after just 90 days on a shelf, premixed drinks may have only 30 to 50 percent of their vitamins remaining and Karma's goal is to bring back the freshness of vitamins and truly transform water into wellness."

Introducing KarmaCap TechnologyKarma uses its proprietary KarmaCap Technology to keep vitamins and other essential ingredients protected and separate from water until it's time to drink. By introducing the vitamins only seconds or minutes from actual consumption, it optimizes the effectiveness of the nutrient-rich ingredients in Karma. The cap uses opaque plastic and a UV blocker to limit the vitamins' exposure to the elements and this breakthrough packaging also has a hermetic (airtight) seal between the cap and base, ensuring freshness and delivering maximum vitamin potency. Plus, it's easy to usewith just a push of a button, consumers control their own beverage destiny.

Delivering Nutrition with Substance & StyleKarma Culture is working with three of the country's top nutrition and fitness experts as advisorsDr. Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Dr. Melina B. Jampolis, and Dr. Michael D. Maloney. Dr. Blumberg is a professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. Dr. Jampolis isan internist and board certified physician nutrition specialist and currently serves as the diet and fitness expert forCNNHealth.com. Dr. Maloney is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon, and director of the Orthopaedics' University Sports Medicine and professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"Scientific advances in our understanding of ways to formulate wellness beverages now provide us with the capacity to deliver functional ingredients that contribute to the promotion of health," said Blumberg, who will be involved in directing the formulation of Karma."It is exciting to have this opportunity to help a company committed to this objective."

Each functional variety of Karma has been carefully designed with a mix of seven essential vitamins, superfruits, antioxidants, herbal extracts, amino acids, minerals, and electrolytes to deliver tangible benefits to a consumer's health and wellness. This powerful combination of fresh and natural ingredients provides up to six times more nutrients for people than they would receive from competing brands.

"Karma's commitment to real nutrition science is noteworthy," said Dr. Jampolis. "The strive for excellence is apparent and I chose to play an advisory role for this product because Karma gives equal importance to both substance and style."

Discover Five Natural VarietiesKarma Wellness Water is available in five natural varieties, each containing 110 percent of the recommended daily allowances of vitamins A, B3, B6, B12, Niacin, D, and E:

Karma Wellness Water begins with a gift from Mother Nature in the form of pristine spring water, while many competing brands use filtered municipal water. Karma is naturally sweetened with a blend of stevia and pure cane sugar. Each 18-ounce bottle contains only 20 calories and is free of preservatives, gluten, and lactose.

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Karma® Wellness Water is a Fresh, New Way to Drink Vitamins