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DNA advances aiding Abilene police in cases

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Advances in DNA technology are helping police catch criminals and prosecutors see that justice is served, an Abilene Police Department official says.

A state combined DNA index system, or CODIS, is helping police solve crimes with DNA evidence left behind at crime scenes.

DNA is traced through blood evidence, fibers and touch DNA, such as latent fingerprints said Abilene Police Department Sgt. Mike Moschetto, who works in the criminal investigation division.

Blood, he said, usually is left behind at burglary crime scenes, often when broken glass is involved in the entry of homes or vehicles.

"Criminals are shedding skin and leaving it behind on the scene, and we're using science to piece it together," Moschetto said. "It's catching our criminals. All of this is done outside Abilene and it's not the quickest process, but it has helped us solve cases tremendously."

Whenever DNA is collected, the evidence is sent to a Texas Department of Public Safety lab in Austin that is responsible for keeping a computerized database of DNA.

If a DNA match occurs, the results then are sent back to the agency that requested the evidence. As of December 2011, the lab has aided in 9,413 investigations in Texas and holds offender profiles on 591,816 people since its program launch in 1998.

Although statewide statistics are accessible through the programs website, local numbers are not available, said Rebecca Vieh, CODIS program liaison.

The latest match, Moschetto said, might lead to a man already in prison being charged in an unsolved Abilene burglary. All leads in the case had been exhausted until this year when Moschetto was told blood left at the scene of the crime returned a hit against a man now behind bars in Arizona.

"It initially didn't hit because he had never been arrested before," Moschetto said. "He's now locked up in Arizona and when they updated the database, it flagged that there was a possible match."

The next step, said Moschetto, is to secure a warrant against the man to run a subsequent DNA test for verification.

"It always depends on the circumstance, but it's always right," he said. "I haven't seen an instance where the DNA was wrong if it points to the individual. ... It's an interesting process. This technology will continue to grow as time goes on."

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DNA advances aiding Abilene police in cases

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Biology, health departments concerned with university collaboration over CMED

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Concerns about collaboration efforts with the developing College of Medicine are growing within the university’s Physician Assistant Program and Department of Biology.

As CMED faces a decision based on an evaluation from the Liason Committee on Medical Education for preliminary accreditation, the related academic departments hope to be better incorporated in the university’s decision-making process in the future.

Ahmad Hakemi, director of the Physician Assistant Program, said he will meet to provide input with CMED officials Thursday, the first time in more than two years.

“Recently, there has been an effort for us to be included to see what’s happening and closely collaborate,” Hakemi said. “But we were not included at all in the past two years.”

Hakemi said he was once involved in CMED discussions when former University President Michael Rao’s administration presided over the university.

“Initially, two and a half years ago, we were included and I attended all the meetings and was very involved,” Hakemi said. “I was one of the first people involved that the university and ex-president Rao talked to.”

Hakemi said his department is looking forward to collaborating with CMED programs and faculty, and the shared facilities, simulation labs and standardized patients will help strengthen the PA program.

“LCME’s standards are very high and if they’re going to allow a medical school to proceed, expectations are very high,” Hakemi said. “So this means that you’re going to have top people here, the best resources here, the best minds here and the best researchers here, and I really look forward to collaborating, because we have very limited resources in the PA program.”

CMED Dean Ernest Yoder said he expects collaboration efforts to increase after LCME’s evaluation next week. Recently, Yoder said, a significant amount of work has been dedicated to ensuring CMED will meet the required criteria for accreditation.

“There’s a fair amount of work that was going in regard to LCME which did not invite in folks from other departments,” Yoder said.

As the school continues to develop, Yoder said, he envisions CMED collaborating with the university’s relevant departments, along with the Mount Pleasant community.

“We view ourselves as a community-engaged medical school and we think there’s going to be very substantial collaboration involving all of the departments at CMU, as well as the community we hope to serve,” Yoder said.

Stephen Roberts, chairman of the Biology Department, said the department’s recent endorsement of the Academic Senate’s vote of no confidence against University President George Ross and Provost Gary Shapiro stemmed from issues with CMED, a lack of shared governance and perceived devaluation of faculty during contract negotiations.

“In the deliberations of the motion to endorse the Academic Senate’s vote of no confidence, some Biology faculty members expressed concerns about perceived communication lapses from the administration during the conception and planning of the College of Medicine,” Roberts said in an email.

However, Roberts said development of CMED has already started to make a positive impact on the Department of Biology, including the number of students majoring in biology and biomedical sciences.

“There is little doubt that the creation of the College of Medicine has played a significant role in the growth of the biology and biomedical sciences majors, which combined have grown from 450 students to 725 students in the past three years,” Roberts said. “Historically, the Biology Department has had strengths in field and aquatic biology, but in the past decade or so, has also grown and developed strength in cell biology and molecular genetics.”

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Essex Angel Capital Inc. Announces: Wellness Indicators, Inc. Founder Is Guest Speaker at National Labor Management …

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WINDSOR, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 3, 2012) - Essex Angel Capital Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EXC.V - News) (the "Corporation" or "Essex") is pleased to announce that Denis Callewaert, Founder and Chief Science Officer of Wellness Indicators, Inc. ("Wellness Indicators"), one of the companies in the Essex portfolio, will be a guest speaker at the National Labor Management Conference in Hollywood, FL, February 16-21, 2012. Dr. Callewaert, who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry, will be addressing the attendees about the unique aspects of Wellness Indicators' new wellness screening test, the Health Equater(TM) Assessment Profile.

One thousand attendees at the National Labor Management Conference will be offered the opportunity to participate in field trials of the Health Equater Assessment Profile, which is a quick and inexpensive urine test that screens for biomarkers indicating levels of wellness. The National Labor Management Conference is only one of the sites where the Health Equater Assessment Profile will be field-tested. Further field trials during the first quarter of 2012 will take place at a number of large insurance companies, large employers and organized labor unions. Wellness Indicators has field trial commitment letters from eight organizations, representing over 1,000,000 potential users, of whom 2,000 will be participating in field trials in the first quarter of 2012.

"Wellness Indicators is a game-changer in the Labor space," said Ed Hanley, former Chief Legal Counsel of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union and current CEO of A&E Group Health Solutions LLC, "which brings a non-invasive, portable, affordable method for funds and their members to manage their own personal health. I am excited to share this new solution next week at the National Labor Conference, where some 1,000 different funds will be represented."

An international expert in biochemistry and immunology, with a focus on biomarkers for oxidative stress and inflammation, Dr. Callewaert has founded four biotechnology companies, including Wellness Indicators. The company plans to introduce the Health Equater Assessment Profile commercially, after field tests are completed.

The Health Equater Assessment Profile is a first-to-market test screening for such biomarkers as oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation and total antioxidant capacity, which indicate levels of wellness. Thousands of studies have shown that the biomarkers detected by the assessment profile are leading indicators for a variety of future health risks, including stroke, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The value of the Health Equater Assessment Profile is that it is non-invasive, results are ready in five minutes and it gives an indication at the individual level of how a person is functioning metabolically before the onset of chronic disease, when intervention is less expensive and more effective. Results are available in approximately five minutes, instead of the week that traditional lab tests require. Other advantages include ease of use, portability, and low cost, being approximately $30 per test, rather than around $100 for most current diagnostic tests.

"The field trials at the National Labor Management Conference, is a significant step forward for Wellness Indicators," said Rick Galdi, President and CEO of Essex. "The invitation for Dr. Callewaert to speak on the subject and the immediate availability to participate in the trial lays a strong foundation for future test sales."

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about the future plans and intentions of companies in the Corporation's portfolio. Wherever possible, words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," or "potential," or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect Management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to Management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this press release include statements with respect to completion of Wellness Indicators' field trials in the first quarter of 2012, successful commercial launch of the Health Equator Assessment Profile later this year and the future business activity of Wellness Indicators.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Corporation cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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The Science of Soccer Deaths and Football Bets

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Economists know that what happens in the game doesn't stay in the game. Image: Muhammad/Flickr

As you may know, 74 people were killed this Wednesday when Egyptian soccer fans stampeded into a bottleneck after a 3-1 hometown upset win. While certainly tragic, it was far from irrational: it turns out the behavioral economics were stacked against them.

Take the link between football and domestic violence. In 2011 economists Gordon Dahl and David Card showed that when a home team loses, domestic violence in the home city increases by 10 percent. On police reports, you can see reports start to rise in the final quarter as a loss looks likely. Then reports peak an hour after the game and return to normal a couple hours later.

Actually, there’s one more important element of this domestic violence spike: it only happens after an unexpected loss. If a home team is supposed to lose and then loses, nothing happens. But when a favored home team loses, husbands and boyfriends turn violent. If the unexpected loss is against a traditional rival, the spike in domestic violence is 15 percent instead of 10. If the losing home team is in playoff contention, the spike can be as high as 20 percent.

Dahl and Card found that the flip side isn’t equally true: a home team’s unexpected win does nothing to lower domestic violence. But what about other crime?

University of Denver economist Dan Rees took a look inside the National Incident-Based Reporting System on Division 1A college football game days to see what happens when a home team wins. Of course, rowdy crime goes up across the board as would be expected when the young, male demographic drinks too much Pabst. But when the home team beats a team ranked higher in the BCS standings, crime skyrockets.

Imagine an expected versus an unexpected home team win – which of the following crime statistics do you think is the most different between the two: assault, vandalism, DUIs, disorderly conduct or liquor law violations? You probably guessed it: it’s DUIs, which are 12 times higher if the win was an upset than if the winning home team was favored.

In fact, an exciting game increases the emotional salience of everything – including the commercials shown in timeouts. A study forthcoming in the Journal of Advertising by Oregon State researcher Colleen Bee showed that people rate ads more favorably when watching a close, exciting game than they do when watching a blowout. In her study, it didn’t even matter who won or lost – “Games with high excitement levels result in a transfer of that emotion to the ads,” she said in a university press release. This was especially true of ads shown later in the game – when the result came down to the wire.

But what happened in Egypt is beyond driving around a college town honking your horn with a few too many Blue Ribbons in you, or getting caught up in the action of a kiddie Darth Vader starting a Passat, or, perhaps, even beyond a 10 percent increase in a city’s domestic violence rate.

In Egypt, fans rushed the field, and by the time cooler heads prevailed, 74 people were dead.

To explain the complete loss of self in the moment of sports ecstasy, let’s turn to one more economist: U.C. Berkeley’s George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, who I recently interviewed for my book, Brain Trust. Economics had long wondered why, in identical circumstances, one person might act one way while another person might act oppositely. And according to Akerlof, the thumb on the scale is that of identity. In short, if you have the identity of “host” you maximize your utility (to put it economically) by serving drinks. And if you have the identity of “life of the party,” you maximize your utility by consuming them.

“You act according to your identity or you pay a cost in utility,” says Akerlof. The stronger the identity, the higher the cost of acting contrary to it. For example, once the Army builds into recruits the identity of soldier, any soldier refusing to charge a machine gun nest would pay a dear price in identity –- in fact, a dear enough cost to outweigh the physical danger of charging. (Good schools and businesses do similar, Akerlof says.)

Now imagine Egypt, in which unrest and uncertainty have stripped away the identities of work or school or security in many young men. This identity vacuum leaves plenty of room for identity takeover by that of “soccer fan.” Perhaps when hometown underdog Al-Masry beat rival Al-Ahry, there were no competing identities to keep “soccer fan” in check.

And without this weight on the other side of the scale, perhaps it suddenly became economically rational to act according to this identity and rush the field, rather than paying an identity cost for abstaining. Perhaps the benefit outweighed the risk.

And in that tragic but rational balance, 74 lives were lost.

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The Science of Soccer Deaths and Football Bets

How To Achieve Super Health – Nutrition Expert KC Craichy Will Answer Your Health Questions Saturday On IRN USA Radio …

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Join Living Fuel Founder & CEO KC Craichy and Dr. Don Colbert Saturday, February 4th, beginning at 12pm ET, online at IRNUSA Radio.

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) February 03, 2012

Living Fuel Founder & CEO KC Craichy will share expert insights from his best-selling books, "The Super Health Diet - The Last Diet You Will Ever Need!" and "Super Health Seven Golden Keys to Lifelong Vitality," during a live interview on Dr. Colbert's Health Report this Saturday at Noon.

Don Colbert, MD, is an internationally known expert and speaker on Integrative Medicine. He is board certified in Family Practice and Anti-Aging medicine. Dr. Colbert's Health Report is heard every Saturday from 12-1pm on IRN-USA Radio.

KC Craichy is a health advocate, researcher, and recognized expert on natural health and performance nutrition. KC’s extensive study of leading-edge health research and collaborative work with top medical and nutritional practitioners and researchers to solve his wife Monica’s health problems – anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts - led him to answers for Monica’s healing and to the founding of Living Fuel, Inc. As a result of overcoming this health crisis, KC and Monica have helped many people become overcomers in their own health situations. They are now co-hosts of the popular Internet TV program Living Fuel TV.

Craichy's latest book, "The Super Health Diet," has been called “the most remarkable nutrition book of the twenty-first century” by Dr. Richard Lippman, a 1996 Nominee for the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in anti-aging.

KC Craichy is committed to changing lives through multimedia, super health lifestyle education combined with super healthy, high impact superfoods. He also serves on the nutrition Advisory Board for Titleist Performance Institute as well as on the Clinical Nutrition Review Board (the certifying body of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutrition). KC is a frequent natural health and performance nutrition guest on radio and television programs as well as a frequent contributor to national magazines and blogs. KC lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife, Monica, and their five children.

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Mark McGee
Living Fuel
813-375-9895
Email Information

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New RNA-based therapeutic strategies for controlling gene expression

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Public release date: 2-Feb-2012
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Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, February 2, 2012?Small RNA-based nucleic acid drugs represent a promising new class of therapeutic agents for silencing abnormal or overactive disease-causing genes, and researchers have discovered new mechanisms by which RNA drugs can control gene activity. A comprehensive review article in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., details these advances.

Short strands of nucleic acids, called small RNAs, can be used for targeted gene silencing, making them attractive drug candidates. These small RNAs block gene expression through multiple RNA interference (RNAi) pathways, including two newly discovered pathways in which small RNAs bind to Argonaute proteins or other forms of RNA present in the cell nucleus, such as long non-coding RNAs and pre-mRNA.

Keith T. Gagnon, PhD, and David R. Corey, PhD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, review common features shared by RNAi pathways for controlling gene expression and focus in detail on the potential for Argonaute-RNA complexes in gene regulation and other exciting new options for targeting emerging forms of non-coding RNAs and pre-mRNAs in the article "Argonaute and the Nuclear RNAs: New Pathways for RNA Mediated Control of Gene Expression."

"The field of RNA mediated control of gene expression is rapidly evolving and the article by Gagnon and Corey provides a highly informative and up to date review of this exciting and often surprising area of biomedical research. We are delighted to publish this important review for the field," says Co-Editor-in-Chief Bruce A. Sullenger, PhD, Duke Translational Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

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Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is under the editorial leadership of Co-Editors-in-Chief Bruce A. Sullenger, PhD, and C.A. Stein, MD, PhD, Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein-Montefiore Cancer Center, Montefiore Medical Center; and Executive Editor Fintan Steele, PhD (SomaLogic, Boulder, CO).

Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is an authoritative, peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly in print and online that focuses on cutting-edge basic research, therapeutic applications, and drug development using nucleic acids or related compounds to alter gene expression. Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is the official journal of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society. A complete table of contents and free sample issue may be viewed online at http://www.liebertpub.com/nat.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 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 Human Gene Therapy and Human Gene Therapy Methods, Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, Assay and Drug Development Technologies, and DNA and Cell Biology. 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 at http://www.liebertpub.com

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215
Phone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax: (914) 740-2101
http://www.liebertpub.com

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New RNA-based therapeutic strategies for controlling gene expression

DNA Activation

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31-01-2012 04:31 CAUTION: IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THIS ACTIVATION AND ALIGNMENT DO NOT WATCH! EVERYONE MAY REACT DIFFERENTLY AND MAY FEEL LIGHT HEADED AFTERWARD. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND. In this video, the Goddess Inanna brings to you her message and a divine activation of your DNA through her representative on earth, Helen Demetriou. Please visit Helen's website at: http://www.angeltouchcyprus.com Join her FB page http://www.facebook.com Music by: http://www.zero-project.gr

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DNA Activation

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GeneTree.com Unveils New Family Consultation Service in Interpreting Genealogical DNA Data

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SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GeneTree.com today unveiled the Family Consultation Service, an in-depth examination of genealogical and DNA data that is designed to assist avid genealogists with established family groups and those trying to identify ancestors in specific family lines.

To accent the Family Consultation service, GeneTree.com is offering a new DNA test, known as Y-19. The Y-19 test provides testing of additional DNA markers beyond the 46 markers typically used for ancestral testing, and brings an added layer of knowledge in identifying whether distant ancestors were siblings, cousins or even second cousins.

“We call the Y-19 test ‘the differentiator,’” said Scott Woodward, president of GeneTree.com. “We often recommend the test after a Family Consultation because it can provide so much additional detail about the relationship between a person’s ancestors and help narrow down research to specific genealogical lines.”

The Family Consultation Service comes at a point as more people turn to DNA testing in establishing their family lines. Yet understanding DNA data and how it fits in family history research can present a challenge even to the most experienced genealogists.

“GeneTree’s Family Consultation Service combines genetic data and genealogy work and shows how the two come together,” Woodward said. “Genetics are a relatively new science that can be extremely useful to genealogists, yet so many people get DNA tests and don’t know how to apply it to their family history research. This Family Consultation Service helps remove much of that mystery.”

Angela Taylor, a Utah resident, recently used the Family Consultation Service in interpreting her genealogical DNA data.

“Before the consultation, my data was just a bunch of numbers,” Taylor said. “GeneTree was able to able to walk me through the information and give me understanding of things that I didn’t know. This has opened up an entirely new world.”

After the consultation, Taylor elected to have the Y-19 test identify specific relationships between three of her ancestors who, in the mid-1800s, together migrated from Ireland to America. Taylor already knew that one of the men was her great-great grandfather. With GeneTree.com’s Y-19 test, she learned that her great-great grandfather traveled to America with his brother and a cousin.

The Family Consultation Service will be showcased at this year’s RootsTech family history conference in Salt Lake City Feb. 2-4 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. At the conference, GeneTree.com will offer free 10-minute consultations.

“People put a lot of money into DNA testing and into genealogy, but they are not doing a good job of combining the two,” Woodward added. “Many genealogists don’t know how to get the most out of the interpretation. For instance, there is a lot you can learn by one single little mutation that two people share. There are a lot of people who need someone to look at their genealogical DNA data and tell them what it means. GeneTree.com can help people design the right DNA test, interpret the results and point you in the right directions.”

Pricing and Availability

The Family Consultation Service starts at $49.99 and the Y-19 test is available for $94.99. To order a test or consultation, contact 866-740-6362.

About GeneTree.com

GeneTree.com (www.genetree.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, is a leading provider of genetic and family history services that unlock peoples' ancestral legacy. Powered by the world's largest, most comprehensive repository of genetic and genealogical information, GeneTree.com's best-in-class genetic testing, genetic genealogy consulting and family history research enables individuals and extended families alike to dramatically extend their families.

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GeneTree.com Unveils New Family Consultation Service in Interpreting Genealogical DNA Data

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SLC police seek DNA match in 1995 cold case death

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SALT LAKE CITY—Salt Lake City homicide detectives are seeking a DNA sample from a Colorado man in hopes they can thaw out the 17-year-old cold case of a man shot dead at a party.

A warrant seeks DNA from a Fort Collins man who had been interviewed in the months after John Wollshleger, 30, of Sandy was found shot in the head and lying in the bed of a pickup truck in July 1995.

In an interview in Wyoming, the man told detectives Wollshleger was shot at a party before another man dragged him by the feet and tossed him in a truck. Wollshleger was later found by two ambulance workers.

Detectives followed up in March with the man, who had moved to Colorado. He initially said he didn't remember the event, but later said he knew some details. After the interview, he refused to give a DNA sample.

Police interviewed another witness in April who said she believed Wollshleger had come to the party to buy cocaine. She said her boyfriend and another man dragged the body to a truck, and her boyfriend drove off to discard it.

Police collected a DNA sample from the woman's boyfriend, but it didn't match the DNA they'd found on Wollshleger's socks and shoes.

A warrant filed in December in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court seeks samples from three men thought to be at the party.

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SLC police seek DNA match in 1995 cold case death

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Sharon Phillips named Oklahoma Outstanding Biology Teacher 2011

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February 2, 2012 Sharon Phillips named Oklahoma Outstanding Biology Teacher 2011

Anonymous The Ada News The Ada Evening News Thu Feb 02, 2012, 07:47 AM CST

Vanoss —  

Sharon Phillips, Vanoss High School biology teacher and science supervisor, is the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Oklahoma.

The OBTA is given each year by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) to a life science teacher in each state who demonstrates exemplary practice in the teaching of life science.  Phillips has been a science teacher and coach at Vanoss since 2002 and presently teaches anatomy, zoology, and Biology II.  She began her teaching career at Cashion Public Schools in 1984 and has taught at Kellyville and Lexington Public Schools and loves science education.  Her job, she says is to create the interest that will help students learn to think critically and biological science holds the key. Whether in the lab discussing what error was made during an experiment, or discussing the hottest topic in the world, problem solving is critical.

Phillips' enthusiasm and dedication to teaching biology is demonstrated in her following quote: “I believe biological science education is of the greatest importance. Teaching students to connect concepts, compare and contrast areas, and infer on subjects discussed is critical in the life science world.”

“Discussing subjects that arise in our rural community, state or national level, or at home on the personal level can bring out the best conversations and thinking skills in my classes.”  Her essay’s concluding paragraph sums up Sharon’s upbeat teaching philosophy and work ethic, “I love teaching, and I love the life sciences.  The influence I have on my students will affect the outcome of their lives.  Whether I make a difference in one student or a hundred students, it is worth every effort I put forth in the teaching profession,  With all the negativity surrounding the teaching field, each teacher must make a conscience choice to be positive.  I believe in my profession, I believe in my students, and I believe that a positive influence can make a difference.”

While she was Vanoss Teacher of the year for 2008-2009,  Phillips does not actively seek recognition for her enthusiasm and dedication to science education.  She simply believes her role is to bring the best she can to her classroom and be there for her students.   

Phillips credits her success to the support of her colleagues and friends. “Susie Stevens Edens has been a tremendous mentor and go-to person. She has been very supportive and helpful during times I have struggled learning new concepts” said phillips.

“Much of the credit needs to be given to my former superintendent Cheryl Melton, she encouraged me to start a program in the biotechnology field and we haven’t slowed down."

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Sharon Phillips named Oklahoma Outstanding Biology Teacher 2011

'Grey's Anatomy' Preview: Who's Doing What in the Alternate Universe?

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"Grey's Anatomy's" Kate Walsh and Patrick Dempsey

"It's a great fantasy and device for the writers to turn characters on their head and for fans to be amused," guest star Kate Walsh says of Thursday's big "alternate universe" episode of Grey's Anatomy. In the hour, Meredith ponders what life could have been like had she grown up with a normal mother and made a series of different choices.

"As things start to unfold, we in the writers' room kept coming up with more and more things if Meredith had been a shiny, happy person," Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes tells The Hollywood Reporter, noting that Derek would have remained unhappily married to Addison (Kate Walsh).

Here's a character-by-character breakdown of who's up to what in the bizarro world.

Ellis (Kate Burton): She's happy, Alzheimer's free and chief at Seattle Grace and married -- to Richard! -- and runs a very tight ship while still being in control of Meredith, who still lives at home. "She's pushing her daughter to be better, to be more," Sara Ramirez tells THR. Talk about too much family time.

Richard (James Pickens Jr.): He's the nice guy to Ellis' fierce hand at the helm of the hospital, often the quiet confidant to others at the hospital, including Bailey. He also seems quiet content to be the family man and let Ellis take center stage at the hospital, despite not always agreeing with her choices.

STORY: 'Grey's Anatomy': Watch the First 10 Minutes of the Alt Universe Episode, 'If/Then' (Video)

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo): She's happy, peppy, perky and clad in pink. Plus engaged to Alex, who after some initial grousing has Ellis' blessing. Oh, and she's no longer Dr. Grey, instead going by Dr. Webber. "To me a happy Meredith, a chirpy girl who wears pink is a horror story to me. That girl is sort of horrifying," Rhimes says.

Derek (Patrick Dempsey): Kate Walsh tells THR that Derek "isn't at his best" in this world and isn't the top doc at Seattle Grace, with Ellis often picking on him. "I call him McDreary but he's not the happiest on the planet," the Private Practice star says with a laugh. And there's clearly no Mer-Der. Says Rhimes: "[In this world, Meredith] never would have been a girl in a bar, meeting a boy in a bar and that never would have happened. So if she'd never been in the bar, she never would have ended up with him. Which means when Addison showed up to get her husband back, she would have just gotten him back."

Addison (Kate Walsh): Walsh says Addison is pregnant with her and husband Derek's first child and that on the surface they seem to be the hospital's power couple. "Addison is pretty established in her career at this point and she's seven months pregnant and probably thinking more about family and her personal life more at this point," she says. In addition, she's very tight with Ellis and is sort of like a "class pet" for her. "It's great thing for fans who have fantasized about Addison and Derek staying together and what would have happened. It's a great fantasy and device for the writers to turn characters on their head and for fans to be amused."

STORY: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Shonda Rhimes and Sara Ramirez Ponder Destiny in 'If/Then'

Alex (Justin Chambers): Rhimes says Alex is "both horrifying and hilarious" in the alternate universe -- have you seen those glasses and that happy-go-lucky attitude? Understatement! Despite slipping a ring on Meredith's finger, the couple keeps their relationship private at the hospital even though Ellis has signed off on the union.

Callie (Sara Ramirez): Married. Three kids. Owen. And have you seen her kiss him? Ramirez says there are no matter what page you turn to, "at some point in your life, your destiny catches up with you and finds you no matter what." Without having ever met Erica Hahn, Rhimes says Callie never discovered she might have feelings for a woman. "She's pining for a woman and doesn't know why and she's sort of wistful but she's trapped," the showrunner says. "It's this really lovely moment. The part of the episode that I think is really magical is, can they all find their way back to who they should really be. That's sort of what you're watching. I think it's really delightful." Beyond her marriage and motherhood, Ramirez says Ellis has taken a particular interest the cardio surgeon and serves as a mentor to her.

Arizona (Jessica Capshaw): Capshaw tells THR that Arizona's sexuality "is not discussed" in the hour and that her relationship with Callie starts off on the wrong foot and progresses from there. "There is a growth -- there's the beginning where they lock heads over a medical situation and then there's the growth to an understanding and an affinity," she says. "But I don't think it's clear that there's something between them that's outside of that." Beyond Callie, Capshaw says viewers will see a different, "sexier, more sophisticated" Arizona in this world, who doesn't have a partner and is really just on her own.

STORY: 'Grey's Anatomy': Who's Kissing Whom in the Alt Universe? (Exclusive Video)

Owen (Kevin McKidd): He finally has the family that he's always wanted -- Ramirez says Owen is a "great dad" -- but he's still not happy. "[Callie and Owen] have no business being together: he's pining for somebody else, she's having all these unexplained feelings for Arizona," Rhimes says.

Teddy (Kim Raver): With Owen still suffering from PTSD, still Skypes with his "buddies" in Iraq -- including, as Callie believes, a guy named Teddy.

Bailey (Chandra Wilson): "Without Richard to spend the time mentoring her, Mandy Bailey might have stayed Mandy Bailey and never gotten to be the Nazi," Rhimes says. Indeed: She's incredibly timid and allows Ellis to snake a high-profile surgery right out from under her.

Cristina (Sandra Oh): In this world, Cristina is completely ostracized, with Callie never really getting her. "You're going to see Cristina struggle with a few things," Ramirez warns. "She's smart through and through but maybe her personality has been a little bit affected by making different choices."

April (Sarah Drew): Still single and, apparently accepting that her "person" -- Meredith -- is now engaged to her former crush, Alex, April now carries a torch for Charles (Robert Baker) who is still alive since the hospital shooting that claimed his life in the typical Grey's world never happened.

Jackson (Jesse Williams): So far, little has been revealed about Jackson's alternate universe persona, other than that he winds up treating a very different Lexie.

Lexie (Chyler Leigh): Little Grey, it turns out, appears to be the dark and twisty one, having come into Seattle Grace covered in tattoos and piercings as a patient suffering from an overdose of cocaine.            

Mark (Eric Dane): Mark never winds up coming to Seattle Grace, Rhimes says.

Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and George (T.R. Knight): Ramirez says the duo are mentioned briefly, while Rhimes teases that viewers will "understand where they went in this new world." Don't bet on seeing either.

Hit the comments wi
th whose story line are you most excited to see in the alternate universe. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

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'Grey's Anatomy' Preview: Who's Doing What in the Alternate Universe?

TWU’s Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching Certification Program Begins Today

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COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- It’s official. Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ: MTEX), the provider of nutritional supplements and skin care products based on Real Food Technology® solutions, and the Texas Woman’s University (TWU) announced that the very first online classes for “Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching” will start today.

Taught by highly qualified TWU faculty, including Dr. Chandan Prasad, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at TWU, this 45-hour self-paced course will be available to both health professionals and members of the general public who want to know more about health and nutrition. There are three classes beginning today—made up of 77 students, representing eight different countries that include USA, Canada, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, Singapore and the Netherlands.

As part of TWU’s curriculum, Dr. Rob Sinnott, CEO and Chief Science Officer at Mannatech, will be guest lecturing on the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Check out the TWU video on Mannatech’s YouTube page to hear a little bit about the course directly from Dr. Prasad and Dr. Sinnott.

Dr. Rolando L. Maddela, Mannatech Manager of Clinical Research Administration, who has been working with Dr. Prasad on the startup of the program says, “As a consequence of acquiring more knowledge on nutrition and wellness and a training certificate, especially one provided by an established institution of learning, you’ll gain credibility and perhaps a stronger sense of professionalism. You will also likely gain confidence as you discover what it takes to stay compliant within the specific regulatory environment for supplements.”

Upon successful completion of this 45-hour, university-level program, participants will not only gain confidence and credibility, but they will earn a Certificate of Completion of Training as well as continuing education credit hours. Plus, they can feel good about making a difference in the lives of other students, as, in the spirit of social entrepreneurism, Dr. Prasad has stated that 80% of the proceeds from this class will be used to fund scholarships for the needy and deserving students in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences. The rest will support special classes, seminars and material development. It’s a real win for all involved.

For more details on this course and to sign up for future “Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching” classes, go to TWU.edu. The next official enrollment will begin February 10; new classes will be created as enrolled students reach 25 members.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated, develops high-quality health, weight and fitness, and skin care products that are based on the solid foundation of nutritional science and development standards. Mannatech is dedicated to its platform of Social Entrepreneurship based on the foundation of promoting, aiding and optimizing nutrition where it is needed most around the world. Mannatech’s proprietary products are available through independent sales Associates around the globe including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Estonia, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea and Mexico. Individuals interested in Mannatech’s products or exploring its business opportunity are encouraged to learn more at Mannatech.com.

Please note: This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as “believe,” “intend” or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Mannatech’s objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Mannatech believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Mannatech’s inability to attract and retain Associates and Members, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes and its planned growth into new international markets. Although Mannatech believes that the expectations, statements and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.

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TWU’s Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching Certification Program Begins Today

Study of Alzheimer's-related protein in healthy adults may shed light on earliest signs of disease

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The findings, published in the February 1, 2012 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, mark a crucial step toward being able to predict who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear.

Relatively few studies have looked at levels of beta-amyloid in healthy living adults, as until recently, beta-amyloid levels could only be measured at autopsy. Few, if any, studies have looked at beta-amyloid levels in middle-aged and younger adults. Many investigators now believe that the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease can precede symptoms of dementia by a decade or more, so data on middle-aged adults is critically important to understanding the transition from a healthy brain to a diseased brain.

In the new study, researchers measured levels of beta-amyloid protein in the brains of 137 cognitively healthy adults between the ages of 30 and 89 using an amyloid imaging agent. The researchers found that beta-amyloid levels increased with age across the entire age span and that about 20% of adults aged 60 and older had particularly high levels of beta-amyloid.

"We found that this high-amyloid group showed deficits in cognitive performance even though the individuals were well educated and scored normally on our standard tests of cognition," said Dr. Karen Rodrigue, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Vital Longevity and lead author of the study. On tests of processing speed, working memory, and reasoning ability—three major aspects of cognition—higher levels of beta-amyloid correlated with lower test scores.

That beta-amyloid burden has detectable effects on cognitive function even in adults with apparently good cognitive health underscores the need to better understand the recently proposed preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease, which suggests that beta-amyloid deposits in healthy adults do not exert a strong effect on cognition for some time.

"Our findings suggest that subtle effects on cognition occur early," said principal investigator Dr. Denise Park, co-director of the Center for Vital Longevity and Distinguished University Chair in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at UT Dallas. "These are important findings because imaging patients when they first show signs of very mild cognitive impairment could be essential to determining their risk of future disease."

Long-term follow-up studies led by Dr. Park as part of the Dallas Lifespan Brain Study, one of the nation's largest projects examining neural and cognitive aging across the entire adult lifespan, are already underway to help researchers determine whether high beta-amyloid burden in healthy people necessarily predetermines occurrence of Alzheimer's disease later in life.

"Knowing this information will help us determine at what stage potential interventions, once available, may be most critical and most effective," said Park. Many researchers believe that interventions to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's will be most effective during middle age, before irreparable damage to the brain is done. "Just as many adults take aspirin to lower their risk of heart disease or stroke, one day we may be able to help protect our brains and cognitive health by starting a treatment in our 40s or 50s," Park said.

Another of the study's interesting findings was that some people well into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s, had beta-amyloid levels as low or lower than people at middle age or younger.

"Another avenue of our future work will be to investigate what factors enable these individuals to maintain cognitive health well into old age, whether they be genetic factors, lifestyle factors, or environmental issues," said Park.

"Understanding how the brain and mind stay healthy and vital over the long term will help guide our efforts to delay or even prevent the devastation caused by diseases like Alzheimer's."

Provided by University of Texas at Dallas (news : web)

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Study of Alzheimer's-related protein in healthy adults may shed light on earliest signs of disease

Longevity is one of the keys to 'NCIS' success

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Richard Foreman

Gibbs (Mark Harmon) finds himself talking to his late friend Mike Franks (Muse Watson) on Tuesday's "NCIS," the series' 200th episode.

PASADENA, Calif. -- CBS's "NCIS" remains the No. 1 scripted drama this season and next week it hits the 200-episode mark, quite an achievement for a series that didn't become an indisputable hit until about five years into its current nine-season run.

Generally, TV shows are either successful out of the gate or grow into hits over the course of a season or two. Five years to become a hit? That's not the norm.

At a CBS press conference last month, "NCIS" star Mark Harmon attributed the show's ratings improvement so late in life to multiple factors.

'NCIS'

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, CBS.

"From the very beginning, we were a show that wasn't good enough to get all that noticed and wasn't bad enough to get canceled," he said. "And we had a lot of time just to get to know each other and just to do this show and just to work on the foundation of what this show started as. And we've had changes along the way that have, in my opinion, greatly influenced us."

He points to the additions of cast members Sean Murray (in season one), Carnegie Mellon University alum Cote de Pablo (in season three) and Rocky Carroll (in season six) as significant in the life of the show and audience appreciation of it.

Actress Pauley Perrette said another factor in the show's longevity is the cast's attitude toward "NCIS."

"Part of what keeps it so alive and so fresh all the time is that we all love our show. That's such a big deal," she said. "When I tell [fans] we're having so much fun, they're, like, 'No. Everyone can tell.' That's huge because just bringing a sense of not only gratefulness, but joy to your workplace every single day [is important and] it's not just us; it's also our crew. We have the best crew on the planet who have been together so long. Everybody is excited when we come back from hiatus. We're excited when we start our first day of the season. It's like the first day of school. We're excited to see new scripts. And part of that is not only do we love each other, but we're all huge fans of our own show."

CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler credits the show's success to the "NCIS" writers.

"We've added new cast members over the years, and that brings a tremendous amount of vitality," she said. "The writing staff is constantly challenging themselves, challenging the cast. They have really achieved a great balance in tone, style. So having a show that is mature and continues to build audience, even in its later years, I think it's a testament again to the writing of the show. They give the fans what they want."

The series' 200th episode (8 p.m. Tuesday, KDKA-TV) also will seek to treat longtime fans with past guest stars returning as Gibbs (Mr. Harmon) sees his life flash before his eyes when a gunman shows up at a diner while Gibbs has his morning coffee.

"There's a certain element to the season that's been about decisions that our characters have faced and decisions moving forward and decisions looking back," said "NCIS" executive producer Gary Glasberg. "As far back as last summer, I sort of had a sense of what I wanted the episode to be. And it starts with a pivotal moment for Gibbs that he faces. ... It literally looks back at key moments throughout nine years of 'NCIS' where decisions have had to be made and, had people gone one direction instead of another, how the world would have ended up. And it brings back familiar faces, old faces, faces fans don't think that they'd see again."

After the press conference, Mr. Glasberg, who wrote Tuesday's episode, said Lauren Holly, who played NCIS director Jenny Shepard for several years, won't be back. But he wouldn't answer a direct question about the possible return of actress Sasha Alexander, whose Caitlin Todd was gunned down at the end of the show's second season. (IMDB.com suggests she provides her voice, but she's not listed in credits CBS provides for the episode.)

"There are surprises to be had," he said. "There are all kinds of tricks up our sleeve for this episode."

A version of this story first appeared in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/tv. TV writer Rob Owen: rowen@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2582. Follow RobOwenTV on Twitter or Facebook.

First published on February 2, 2012 at 12:00 am

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Longevity is one of the keys to 'NCIS' success

DNA rules out Cotswolds 'big cat'

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1 February 2012 Last updated at 20:07 ET

Scientists have failed to find any evidence that "big cats" killed two roe deer found dead in Gloucestershire.

The National Trust commissioned DNA tests after finding one deer on its land at Woodchester Park, in Stroud, and one a few miles away last month.

Warwick University experts said they had only found DNA relating to foxes and deer on the bodies of the animals.

Forty-five samples were tested for the saliva of any dog or cat-related species.

The National Trust had initially said the carcasses, which were found within a week of each other, had been eaten in a way "thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity".

'Local curiosity'

Tests found fox DNA on both carcasses.

David Armstrong, head ranger for the National Trust in Gloucestershire, said: "The story of the investigation of the dead deer has really sparked local curiosity with a lot of people coming out to Woodchester Park to explore.

"People love a mystery like this and although we haven't found a wild cat, many of our visitors clearly believe there might be something interesting living quietly hidden in Woodchester."

Rick Minter, a big cat researcher in Gloucestershire, said he still believed something could be out there, despite what the tests had revealed.

However, he said the latest research had been a "valuable input to this exercise".

He added: "The strong media interest suggests an appetite to look into this subject further, and recent community surveys in Gloucestershire have indicated a strong desire for big cat evidence to be researched carefully."

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DNA-collection bill addresses civil-liberties concerns

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It took Richard Nixon to go to China, Bill Clinton to reform welfare and state Rep. Jeannie Darneille to push House Bill 2588.

That legislation, which passed out of the Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee Tuesday, would require DNA samples to be collected from everyone booked for major felonies and two gross misdemeanors (stalking and violating a protection order).

Currently in this state, DNA samples are only taken upon conviction of major crimes. But in about half the other states, DNA is taken when a suspect is booked and then is entered into state and federal databases to see if it gets any matching “hits.” That system has led to solving numerous cold cases and even clearing the names of people wrongly convicted of crimes.

Darneille, a Tacoma Democrat and card-carrying member of the ACLU, has long been a champion of the underdog. She worked for years to make it easier for ex-cons to get back their voting rights, and she’s quick to challenge any proposed legislation that she thinks might have racist undertones or raise privacy concerns.

Back when she was chair of the House General Government Appropriations Committee, she shot down a previous version of the DNA sample bill she is now prime-sponsoring. After attending a seminar on the topic and doing more research, she says she had an “epiphany.” Now she understands how important taking DNA samples upon booking could be in solving cold cases, preventing new crimes, cutting law enforcement and judicial system costs, and eliminating innocent people from suspicion and even incarceration.

But what about privacy concerns? Because Washington’s constitution has been interpreted to offer greater privacy protection than the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, Darneille says HB 2588 does something most other states don’t: It stipulates that the collected DNA can only be entered into state and federal databases after judicial review. At arraignment, a judge determines if there is probable cause for charging the suspect. If that happens, the DNA sample can be processed.

Suspects who are found not guilty or whose charges are reduced to a misdemeanor can ask that their DNA sample be destroyed and expunged from the DNA identification system.

The added cost of swabbing suspects’ cheeks for DNA and processing samples would be paid for by diverting 50 cents out of the $10 from every traffic ticket that goes to the Auto Theft Prevention Authority Account. That account is administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, which supports HB 2588.

This legislation would be an important tool for law enforcement, helping ensure that those who have committed crimes will answer for them and those who have been wrongly accused will be exonerated. It deserves passage this session.

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DNA-collection bill addresses civil-liberties concerns

Posted in DNA

Bogus biology teacher faked qualifications and worked as chief examiner for an A-Level board

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By Emma Reynolds

Last updated at 10:11 AM on 2nd February 2012

A bogus biology teacher forged her qualifications to work as a chief examiner for an A-level exam board.

Julia Rawlinson, 44, duped her bosses by using a computer to forge a degree, doctorate and teaching certificates.

She then got a job at examination board Edexcel - marking thousands of A-level papers for students across Britain - before becoming a teacher at Westlands School in Torquay, Devon.

Cheating her way in: Julia Rawlinson duped education sector bosses but was caught after she started working at Westlands School in Torquay, pictured

She is now facing jail after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and three forgery charges.

Rawlinson, from Brixham, Devon, admitted the charges relating to her work at the school, from February to September last year, at Torbay Magistrates' Court.

She told Westlands School she had a masters degree and doctorate in science psychology.

 

Prosecutor Alison Jordan said: 'On October 5, Westlands School contacted police to say one of their teachers, Julia Rawlinson, had provided false degrees in order to obtain a teaching position.

'The school contacted the university and was told those bore no resemblance to their certificates and were poor forgeries.'

Police arrested her and found the forged degrees at her home - a biochemistry degree from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, a fake doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University and a fake teacher certificate from the General Teaching Council for England.

Giving out grades: Unqualified Ms Rawlinson marked thousands of A-Level papers for students across Britain when she worked for exam board Edexcel

She admitted to forging them using graphics from the Internet and said she had never completed a degree.

Her defence lawyer Jolyon Tuck said she had mental health issues but she has been sent to the Crown Court in Exeter later this month.

A spokesman for Edexcel said Ms Rawlinson had started work for them in 2007.

'We are appalled,' he said. 'She would have marked exam papers. She may have marked one or a small number or a larger number, we don’t know.

'She was getting away with it for a while.'

Westlands School headteacher Dr Colin Kirkman said: 'Julia was chief examiner for A level biology with the Edexcel exam board.

We are appalled. She would have marked exam papers. She may have marked one or a small number or a larger number, we don’t know. She was getting away with it for a while.
 

'The board offered us her help and support prior to the summer with A-level biology project work, which we accepted.

'We understand she also worked in at least two other schools in this area in this capacity.

'Julia was offered a temporary part-time contract to work at Westlands from September 1 teaching A-level science.

'The normal CRB checks were undertaken and references received prior to employment

'However we noticed that her exam certificates were photocopies. As a result, we immediately contacted the universities where she "gained" her qualifications to validate her certificates.

'We found they were forgeries and reported this to the police.

'Torbay children’s services commended us for the extensive checks that we made - the depth of the checks that exam boards and other organisations failed to make.'

 

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Bogus biology teacher faked qualifications and worked as chief examiner for an A-Level board