Music review: Lowly’s chemistry goes awry on ‘Heba’ – Knoxville News Sentinel

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Lowly's "Heba"(Photo: Bella Union)

If there can be too many cooks in the kitchen, it stands to reason there can be too many musicians in the studio.

Danish quintet Lowly has a little too much going with the new Heba, the young bands debut since coming together in 2014 after meeting at a music academy in Aarhus, Denmark.

The five members Nanna Schannong (vocals, guitar), Soffie Viemose (vocals, laptop), Kasper Staub (synthesizers), Thomas Lund (bass, Moog) and Steffen Lundtoft (drums, percussion) obviously take themselves seriously as they indulge in their soundscapes, and their electronic-based arrangements often result in beguiling atmosphere.

But the formlessness can be irritating with continuity in short supply, and too often Lowly sounds more like a collection of five one-person acts than a congruous five-person band. As a result, the track Word feels like a theatrical jumble, the group seems both frenetic and bored on Prepare the Lake, and the fractured Mornings sounds like someone is playing an old-school video game during a sci-fi movie while an irregular beat rumbles in the background.

Yet Schannong and Viemose are alluringly poised and disconnected vocalists, and the layered instrumentation often dovetails into something both offbeat and special. Obscure lines such as, Could someone save the baby? (Deer Eyes) pop out on a foundation of vibrating bass and, Im the only one to witness your downfall (Still Life) bend around rubbery electronic nuance.

Also, aimlessness periodically suits Lowly, whether its the jazz-flavored Pommerate suspended in space, Look at the Sun adrift on a sea of gurgling electro-pop or Cait #2 simply floating in focused ambience.

So ultimately Heba is even more dreamlike than most music labeled as dreamy: Its surreal and alternately comforting and confusing and much of it is hard to remember, which might be just as well.

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Music review: Lowly's chemistry goes awry on 'Heba' - Knoxville News Sentinel

What’s in a bowling ball, and how does its chemistry help topple pins? – Chemical & Engineering News (subscription)

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Even if you havent seen the 1996 cult comedy Kingpin about bowling and redemption, you can probably imagine Bill Murrays indelible character Ernie (Big Ern) McCracken: With sweat on his brow and a comb-over flapping comically in the breeze, Murray stands at the top of the lane, gripping his beloved ball. He whips the crowd into a frenzy as he holds it alofta transparent ball with a single red rose encapsulated in the centerthen hooks it down the lane, scoring a crucial strike in the tournament final.

Although many pro bowlers cherish Murrays over-the-top performance, they might have a few bones to pick about the technical aspects of this scene. It would have to be extreme conditions on the lane for a ball like that to come into play, says professional bowler Kelly Kulick. Typically, pro bowlers use this type of smooth-surfaced ball when they just want to pick off one or two pins remaining at the end of the lane to score a spare. To knock all 10 pins down and secure a strike as Murray did, savvy bowlers typically use something else entirely: balls that have an asymmetric weight block in the center and that are coated with a porous polyurethane shell.

Ancient Egyptians, who invented a crude form of the game, would certainly be impressed by todays bowling balls, which are a big improvement over their stone predecessors. In fact, the sophisticated materials science slipped into modern balls has helped improve player performance, says Danny Speranza, senior director of equipment specifications and certifications at the U.S. Bowling Congress, the sports national governing organization. Between 1910 and 1980, only one out of about 3,000 bowlers registered with USBC could score a perfect gamethats getting a strike 12 times in a row. By 2007, that figure had increased to one out of about 30.

Costing anywhere from around $50 to $250 depending on its design, a modern bowling ball typically contains three parts: an inner core, an outer filler core, and a shell, which is called the coverstock in bowling lingo.

The exact materials that go into making each part of the ball are considered proprietary technologies that are closely guarded, says Victor Marion, director of R&D for Utah-based manufacturer Storm Products. In general, though, the inner core is made of powdered metal oxides such as calcium or iron oxide mixed with a resin and catalyst to harden the mixture. This is the heaviest part of the ball, and its shapewhether symmetric like a sphere or asymmetric like a lightbulbinfluences how the ball rotates down the lane.

The outer core is light, yet rigid, containing substances such as polyester or glass beads, also mixed with a resin. Manufacturers use this part of the bowling ball to fine-tune its final weight. Heavy 7-kg bowling balls are quite dense, but balls weighing 4.5 kg or less have such a low density that they can float in water.

And dont let the outer layer of the ball fool you with its bright, swirled colorsand sometimes delightful smell (Storm Products impregnates its coverstock with fragrances such as birthday cake). The outer shell of the ball is not ornamental; it seriously influences the balls motion as it hurtles down the lane, Speranza says.

The shell is all about generating friction with the lane, Storms Marion explains. Thats where a lot of the magic happens.

When a bowler releases a ball, it skids down the lane through a thin layer of mineral oil. About two-thirds of the way down an 18-meter lane, the ball enters a nonlubricated zone. There, it gains traction like tire treads on a road. At this point, depending on what type of spin the bowler applied to the ball during its release, the ball can really begin to curve, or hook, across the lane to make the pins scatter.

Lane conditionsthe amount and pattern of the oil applied to the lanecan vary widely from bowling alley to bowling alley. And the conditions can change over the course of a game or tournament as balls soak up or spread around the oil on the lane. Recalling the tire tread analogy, Marion explains that some days youre driving in California and its a sunny day, and some days youve got six feet of snow and you need every bit of traction you can get. On those so-called sunny days, when lane conditions are fair, bowlers dont need a ball that creates a lot of friction with the lane, but on the snowy days, they might want something with a more porous, and therefore rougher, outer shella ball with some studded snow tires, so to speak. Good bowlers know which ball matches up best for a particular game, Speranza says. If theyre going to a tournament, pros can take six to eight different balls with them.

Kulick says that for professionals who bowl full-time, that number can even go higher. Shes been known to ship 10 balls and carry five others with her when traveling to tournaments.

Usually, bowlers will start out with the most aggressive ball in their bagthe one with the highest friction, Kulick adds. Then theyll keep adjusting which ball they use depending on where the ball starts to hook as it rolls down the lane.

The most basic of outer shells on a bowling ball is made of polyester. This type of plastic covering is rigid and has low friction, and you use it when you want to throw straight, like when you need to topple just one or two pins to pick up a spare, Speranza says. Balls with a polyurethane shell, on the other hand, experience higher friction with the lane. To make these rough yet pliant shells, which are useful for knocking down many pins at once, manufacturers mix isocyanates and polyols. If they want to make an even higher friction ball with a so-called reactive resin shell, they add proprietary ingredients such as plasticizers to a urethane base layer to create a multitude of cross-links in the polymer strands, giving the balls coating more porosity and roughness.

These high-friction reactive resin balls were favorites among pro bowlers for nailing strikesat least until recently. According to Speranza, one of the biggest changes in the sport in the past 10 years is that some pro bowlers now throw the ball with a two-handed release rather than a one-handed release. One celebrity bowler, Jason (Belmo) Belmonte had great success with the technique in tournaments and popularized it.

When you throw a ball with two hands, you can put more spin on it and therefore get more hook, Speranza explains. Two-handed bowlers have discovered that they dont often need super high-friction balls. They dont want to over-hook the ball on the lane and send it into the gutter, so theyre increasingly taking a step backward to balls with a less sophisticated urethane shell.

If all this strategizing among pro bowlers sounds complicated, for ball manufacturers, its even more so. Theyre subject to the rules and regulations of USBC. To level the playing field and make sure that none of the nearly 46 million bowling participants in the U.S. has an unfair advantage because of overly engineered equipment, the organization sets limitations on parameters such as the coefficient of friction and surface roughness of a bowling balls outer layer.

Its amazing how complicated it is to get the right level of performance in a ball and still be within specifications, says Marion, who formulates new ball designs for Storm each year. To get the chemistry just right, he adds, its like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

Whats even more complicated? Bowling a tournament-winning strike with an ostentatious rose-decorated ball not really designed for the task. Big Ern was even more of a phenom than the crowd suspected.

UPDATE: This article was modified on February 21, 2017 to refresh its information and data.

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What's in a bowling ball, and how does its chemistry help topple pins? - Chemical & Engineering News (subscription)

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Moves Lower on Volume Spike for February 21 – Equities.com

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Market Summary Follow

Puma Biotechnology Inc is a A biopharmaceutical company

PBYI - Market Data & News

PBYI - Stock Valuation Report

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) traded on unusually high volume on Feb. 21, as the stock lost 4.72% to close at $38.35. On the day, Puma Biotechnology Inc saw 1.1 million shares trade hands on 8,009 trades. Considering that the stock averages only a daily volume of 715,433 shares a day over the last month, this represents a pretty significant bump in volume over the norm.

Generally speaking, when a stock experiences a sudden spike in trading volume, it may be seen as a bullish signal for investors. An increase in volume means more market awareness for the company, potentially setting up a more meaningful move in stock price. The added volume also provides a level of support and stability for price advances.

The stock has traded between $73.27 and $19.74 over the last 52-weeks, its 50-day SMA is now $34.44, and its 200-day SMA $41.65. Puma Biotechnology Inc has a P/B ratio of 15.46.

Puma Biotechnology Inc is a biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the acquisition, development and commercialization of products to enhance cancer care.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, Puma Biotechnology Inc has 156 employees and is currently under the leadership of CEO Alan H. Auerbach.

For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of Puma Biotechnology Inc, check out Equities.coms Stock Valuation Analysis report for PBYI.

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To get more information on Puma Biotechnology Inc and to follow the companys latest updates, you can visit the companys profile page here: PBYIs Profile. For more news on the financial markets and emerging growth companies, be sure to visit Equities.coms Newsdesk. Also, dont forget to sign-up for our daily email newsletter to ensure you dont miss out on any of our best stories.

All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.

DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer

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Global Biofuel Enzymes – Biotechnology – PR Newswire – PR Newswire (press release)

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Biofuel Enzymes in US$ Thousand by the following Product Types: Xylanase, Amylase, Cellulase, and Others. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04707128-summary/view-report.html

Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2015 through 2022. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based on public domain information including company URLs.

The report profiles 24 companies including many key and niche players such as: - AB Enzymes GmbH - Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd. - Agrivida, Inc. - BASF SE - CLEA Technologies B.V

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04707128-summary/view-report.html

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS

Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1 Disclaimers.............. I-2 Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-2 Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3 Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-3 Xylanase.............. I-3 Amylase.............. I-4 Cellulase.............. I-4 Others.............. I-4

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW.............. II-1 Biofuel Enzymes: Delivering Productivity, Performance, and Environment Benefits in Biofuels Production II-1 Focus on Biofuels as the Future Energy Security Solution Drives Strong Demand for Biofuel Enzymes II-2 Factors Driving the Shift towards Bio-Fuels II-3 Table 1: Global Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Region/Country (2016 & 2020): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-4

Table 2: Global Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Consumption for Biodiesel and Fuel Ethanol (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............II-5 Expanding Role of Renewable Fuels in the Global Energy Mix II-5 Key Pollutants Present in Petroleum-based Fuel Emissions II-6 Hydrocarbons (HCs)..............II-6 Carbon Monoxide (CO)..............II-6 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)..............II-6 Particulate Matter (PM)..............II-6 Table 3: Global Energy Sector by Source (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Consumption for Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear Energy, Petroleum and Renewables (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. II-7

Table 4: Global Renewable Energy Sector by Source (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Supply for Biofuels (Liquid and Solid), Biogases, Geothermal, Hydro, Municipal Waste, Solar and Wind (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-7

Table 5: Global Primary Energy Sector by Region (2016): Percentage Breakdown for Energy Consumption for North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, The Middle East and Africa (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-7 Superiority of Enzyme-based Production over Conventional Method Drives Widespread Adoption II-8 Global Market Outlook..............II-9 Developed Markets: Key Revenue Contributors II-9 Despite Slower Growth, Developing Countries Offer Huge Market Potential.............. II-10 Improving Economic Growth Encourage Optimistic Market Outlook II-10 Table 6: Global Real Per Capita GDP by Region (2015, 2020, 2025, and 2030): Projected Annual Growth Rate (%) for North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-11 Competitive Landscape..............II-12 Leading Players in the Biofuel Enzymes Market II-12 Vendors Focus on Partnerships to Improve Prospects II-12

2. MARKET TRENDS, ISSUES & DRIVERS II-13 Growing Use of Biofuel Enzymes in Second Generation Bioethanol and Advanced Biodiesel Production Drive Market Growth II-13 Table 7: Global Second Generation Ethanol Production Capacity by Country/Region (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Installed Capacity for Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, US and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-13 Expanding Footprint of Second-Generation Biofuels: An Important Opportunity Indicator II-14 First Generation Vs Second Generation Biofuels: A Snapshot II-14 Table 8: Global Advanced Biofuels Capacity by Type (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Installed Capacity for Advanced Biodiesel, Advanced Ethanol, and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............II-15 Projected Growth in Cellulosic Biofuels Demand to Underpin Enzymes Sales.............. II-15 Cellulosic Biofuels Vs Conventional Biofuels and Petroleum II-15 Improving Economics of Cellulosic Biofuel Production Augur Well II-16 Switchgrass: Potential Feedstock in Advanced Biofuel Production II-16 Myriad Benefits Continue to Sustain Demand for Amylases in Fuel Ethanol Production..............II-16 New Enzyme Compounds to Drive Growth of Amylase Biofuel Enzyme Market.............. II-17 Bright Prospects for Cellulase Enzymes in Cellulosic Ethanol Production.............. II-17 Favorable Biofuel Blend Mandates & Blend Targets Offer Opportunities on a Platter..............II-17 Biofuel Blend Mandates & Blend Targets for Major Countries II-18 Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel from Low Quality Oils Gathers Steam.............. II-19 Increase in Algae-based Biofuel Production to Benefit Market Expansion.............. II-19 Innovative Technologies and Strategies Fuel Demand for Algal Fuel.............. II-19 Ongoing R&D Efforts to Strengthen Future Growth Prospects II-20 IBRL's Researchers Aim to Develop Cost-Effective Ethanol Production Process..............II-20 University of California Irvine to Develop Enzyme Processing VFD Technology.............. II-21 Fungal Species Exude Enzymes with Similar Functional Characteristics.............. II-21 Copenhagen Chemists Evaluate Role of LPMO Enzymes in Cellulose Breakdown..............II-21 Bioforsk Aims to Use Genetically Engineered Tobacco for Biofuels Production..............II-22 Researchers Exploit Mutated Fungus to Boost Production of Biofuel Enzymes.............. II-22 DOE-Funded Researchers Produce Structure & Functional Characterization of GH55 Enzyme Family II-22 NREL Researchers Develop Cellulase Enzyme from Bacterium II-23 Tokyo Researchers Study CBAP Enzyme Mechanism in Biofuel Production.............. II-23 Key Issues & Challenges Hampering Market Prospects for Biofuel & Biofuel Enzymes..............II-23 Growing Sales of Electric Vehicles II-24 Decline in Crude Oil Prices..............II-24 Widening Share of Natural Gas in the Energy Mix II-25

3. PRODUCT OVERVIEW.............. II-26 Biofuel Enzymes: An Introduction II-26 Biofuel Enzymes Vs Chemical Catalysts II-26 Benefits of Biofuel Enzymes..............II-26 Limitations of Biofuel Enzymes II-27 Limited Reproducibility..............II-27 Thermal Instability..............II-27 Low Catalytic Activity in Process Conditions II-27 Types of Biofuel Enzymes..............II-27 Xylanase.............. II-27 Amylase.............. II-28 Cellulase.............. II-28 Others.............. II-28 Proteases.............. II-28 Lipases.............. II-29

4. PRODUCT INNOVATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS II-30 DuPont Rolls Out OPTIMASH AD-100 II-30 Novozymes Introduces Fermax Enzyme Protease II-30 Novozymes Launches Avantec Amp II-30 Novozymes Introduces Liquozyme LpH II-30 TransBiodiesel Develops New Enzymatic Biodiesel Production Process.............. II-30 Novozymes Unveils Eversa..............II-30

5. RECENT INDUSTRY ACTIVITY..............II-31 Aemetis Signs License Agreement with Edeniq II-31 DuPont Industrial Biosciences Signs Supply Agreement with MIAVIT II-31 Novozymes to Establish New Enzyme Production Facility in India II-31 SRS International Teams Up with Biodiesel Experts International II-31 DuPont to Acquire Enzyme Technologies Business of Dyadic International.............. II-31 Du Pont to Supply Biofuel Enzymes to Quad County Corn Processors II-31 Novozymes Inks Supply Deal with St1 Biofuels II-32 Novozymes and Tactical Fabrication Collaborate with Viesel Fuel II-32 Iogen Develops New Drop-In Cellulosic Biofuels II-32 Compagnie des Levures Acquires Xylose Isomerase Technology from Butalco.............. II-32 Iogen Collaborates with Razen II-32

6. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS..............II-33 AB Enzymes GmbH (Germany)..............II-33 Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd. (India) II-33 Agrivida, Inc. (USA)..............II-33 BASF SE (Germany).............. II-34 Verenium Corporation (Germany)..............II-34 CLEA Technologies B.V. (Netherlands) II-34 E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (USA) II-35 Enzyme Supplies Limited (UK)..............II-35 Iogen Corporation (Canada)..............II-35 Metgen Oy (Finland).............. II-36 NextCAT, Inc. (USA).............. II-36 Noor Enzymes Pvt. Ltd. (India) II-36 Novozymes A/S (Denmark)..............II-37 Royal DSM NV (Netherlands)..............II-37 TransBiodiesel Ltd. (Israel)..............II-37

7. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE..............II-38 Table 9: World Recent Past, Present and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes By Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. II-38

Table 10: World Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region - US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-39

Table 11: World 14-Year Perspective for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World Markets for the Years 2009, 2016 and 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............II-40

Table 12: World Recent Past, Present and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes by Enzyme Type - Xylanase, Amylase, Cellulase and Others Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............II-41

Table 13: World Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes by Enzyme Type - Xylanase, Amylase, Cellulase and Others Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. II-42

Table 14: World 14-Year Perspective for Biofuel Enzymes by Enzyme Type - Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for Xylanase, Amylase, Cellulase and Others Markets for the Years 2009, 2016 and 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-43

III. MARKET

1. THE UNITED STATES.............. III-1 A.Market Analysis.............. III-1 Focus on Reducing Carbon Emissions Drive Strong Demand for Biofuel Enzymes in Biofuel Production III-1 Surging Demand for Biofuels Create Parallel Opportunities for Biofuel Enzymes..............III-1 Table 15: US Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-2 Rising Investments in Next Generation Biofuels Spurs Market Demand.............. III-2 Table 16: The US Biofuel Production by Source (2013, 2016 & 2020): Percentage Share Estimates of Conventional and Advanced (Biomass, Cellulose & Sugarcane) Sources in Biofuel Production (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-4 Increasing Fuel Ethanol Production Drives the Need for Biofuel Enzymes..............III-4 Table 17: Fuel Ethanol Production (Million Gallons) in the US: 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015E (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-5 Favorable Government Mandates Sets the Perfect Platform for Market Penetration..............III-5 Biofuel Blend Mandates & Targets in the US for Major States III-6 Product Launches..............III-6 Strategic Corporate Developments III-7 Select Key Players..............III-8 B.Market Analytics..............III-9 Table 18: US Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-9

Table 19: US Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-10

2. CANADA.............. III-11 A.Market Analysis.............. III-11 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Offers Market Opportunities III-11 Table 20: Canadian Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-11 Corporate Development..............III-12 Iogen Corporation - A Major Canada-Based Company III-12 B.Market Analytics..............III-13 Table 21: Canadian Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-13

Table 22: Canadian Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-14

3. JAPAN.............. III-15 Market Analysis.............. III-15 Table 23: Japanese Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-15

Table 24: Japanese Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-16

4. EUROPE.............. III-17 A.Market Analysis.............. III-17 Outlook.............. III-17 Biofuels Market in Europe: A Macro Perspective III-17 Table 25: European Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Region/Country (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption in Thousand Gallons for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Poland, and Rest of Europe (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-18

Table 26: European Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Type (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Consumption for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-18

Table 27: European Biodiesel Production Capacity by Country (2014): Percentage Breakdown of Capacity for Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, The Netherlands and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-19 Biofuel Mandates in Europe..............III-19 Demand for Cellulosic Ethanol Gain Momentum, Bodes Well for the Market.............. III-20 B.Market Analytics..............III-21 Table 28: European Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region- France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-21

Table 29: European Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-22

Table 30: European 14-Year Perspective for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets for the Years 2009, 2016 and 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-23

4a. FRANCE.............. III-24 A.Market Analysis.............. III-24 French Biofuels Market Overview III-24 Table 31: French Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-24 Corporate Development..............III-25 B.Market Analytics..............III-25 Table 32: French Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-25

Table 33: French Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-26

4b. GERMANY.............. III-27 A.Market Analysis.............. III-27 German Biofuel Market: An Overview III-27 Table 34: German Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-28 Germany Mandates Comprehensive Certification and Documentation for BioFuel Sales III-28 Demand for Cellulosic Ethanol Witness Upward Momentum III-28 Corporate Development..............III-29 Select Key Players..............III-29 B.Market Analytics..............III-31 Table 35: German Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-31

Table 36: German Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-32

4c. ITALY.............. III-33 Market Analysis.............. III-33 Table 37: Italian Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-33

Table 38: Italian Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-34

4d. THE UNITED KINGDOM..............III-35 A.Market Analysis.............. III-35 The UK Biomass Energy Sector: An Overview III-35 Table 39: UK Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-35 Enzyme Supplies Limited - A Major UK-Based Company III-36 B.Market Analytics..............III-36 Table 40: UK Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-36

Table 41: UK Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-37

4e. SPAIN.............. III-38 Market Analysis.............. III-38 Table 42: Spanish Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-38

Table 43: Spanish Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-39

4f. RUSSIA.............. III-40 Market Analysis.............. III-40 Table 44: Russia Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-40

Table 45: Russia Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-41

4g. REST OF EUROPE.............. III-42 A.Market Analysis.............. III-42 'Biofuels Obligation Scheme' Boosts Market Prospects in Ireland III-42 Expanding Market for Biofuels in Sweden Augurs Well III-42 Product Launches..............III-42 Corporate Development..............III-43 Select Key Players..............III-43 B.Market Analytics..............III-45 Table 46: Rest of Europe Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-45

Table 47: Rest of Europe Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-46

5. ASIA-PACIFIC.............. III-47 A.Market Analysis.............. III-47 Demand for Biofuel Enzymes Grow Steadily in Asia III-47 Asia-Pacific Biofuels Market: An Overview III-47 Key Trends in a Nutshell..............III-47 Table 48: Asia-Pacific Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Region/Country (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption in Thousand Gallons for Australia, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-48

Table 49: Asia-Pacific Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Type (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Consumption for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-48 Favorable Policies Support Biofuels Market Growth III-49 Maintaining Agricultural Sustainability: A Key Challenge III-49 Long Pay-Back Period: Another Major Impediment III-49 B.Market Analytics..............III-50 Table 50: Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographical Region - China, India and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-50

Table 51: Asia-Pacific Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market by Geographical Region - China, India and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-51

Table 52: Asia-Pacific 14-Year Perspective for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for China, India and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets for the Years 2009, 2016 and 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-52

5a. CHINA.............. III-53 A.Market Analysis.............. III-53 Chinese Biofuel Market on a Growth Trajectory III-53 China Aims to Emerge as Major Provider of Second Generation Biofuels.............. III-53 China Promotes Non-Food Sources for Producing Biofuel III-53 Table 53: China Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-54 B.Market Analytics..............III-55 Table 54: China Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-55

Table 55: China Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-56

5b. INDIA.............. III-57 A.Market Analysis.............. III-57 Indian Biofuel Market Driven by the Need to Achieve Energy Security.............. III-57 The National Policy on Biofuels: Goals and Vision III-57 Second-Generation Biofuels Offer High Potential III-59 Table 56: India Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-60 Corporate Development..............III-60 Select Key Players..............III-60 B.Market Analytics..............III-61 Table 57: India Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-61

Table 58: India Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-62

5c. REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC..............III-63 A.Market Analysis.............. III-63 Select Regional Markets..............III-63 Australia: Growing Prominence of Green Fuel III-63 Indonesia: Biofuel Usage Mandates and Production III-63 Market Challenges..............III-64 South Korea: Government Mandates Biodiesel Blending III-64 Philippines: Coconut being Popularized as a Feedstock for Biodiesel.............. III-64 B.Market Analytics..............III-65 Table 59: Rest of Asia-Pacific Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-65

Table 60: Rest of Asia-Pacific Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-66

6. LATIN AMERICA.............. III-67 A.Market Analysis.............. III-67 Latin American Biofuels Market Overview III-67 BioDiesel Production Gathers Steam III-67 Biofuel Blending Mandates in Latin America III-68 Table 61: Latin America Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Region/ Country (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption In Thousand Gallons for Brazil and Rest of Latin America (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-68

Table 62: Latin America Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Type (2016): Percentage Breakdown of Volume Consumption for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-69 B.Market Analytics..............III-69 Table 63: Latin America Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographical Region- Brazil and Rest of Latin America Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-69

Table 64: Latin America Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market by Geographical Region - Brazil and Rest of Latin America Markets Analyzed with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-70

Table 65: Latin America 14-Year Perspective for Biofuel Enzymes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for Brazil and Rest of Latin America Markets for the Years 2009, 2016 and 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart).............. III-71

6a. BRAZIL.............. III-72 A.Market Analysis.............. III-72 Brazil: A Major Producer of Biofuels III-72 Table 66: Brazil Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel) Market by Product Type (2016 & 2020): Breakdown of Volume Consumption (in '000 Gallons) for Fuel Ethanol and Biodiesel (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-73 US Mandate to Increase Biofuel Utilization Helps Brazilian Ethanol Producers..............III-73 Corporate Development..............III-74 B.Market Analytics..............III-74 Table 67: Brazil Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-74

Table 68: Brazil Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-75

6b. REST OF LATIN AMERICA..............III-76 Market Analysis.............. III-76 Table 69: Rest of Latin America Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-76

Table 70: Rest of Latin America Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-77

7. REST OF WORLD.............. III-78 A.Market Analysis.............. III-78 Product Launch.............. III-78 TransBiodiesel Ltd. - A Key Israel-based Company III-78 B.Market Analytics..............III-79 Table 71: Rest of World Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2015 through 2022 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)..............III-79

Table 72: Rest of World Historic Review for Biofuel Enzymes Market with Annual Revenues in US$ Thousand for the Years 2009 through 2014 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) III-80

IV. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Total Companies Profiled: 24 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries - 25)

The United States (11) Canada (1) Europe (9) - Germany (4) - The United Kingdom (1) - Rest of Europe (4) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (3) Middle East (1) Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04707128-summary/view-report.html

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Expanding biomedical engineering programs could boost state’s life … – MiBiz

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Expanding biomedical engineering programs could boost state's life ...
MiBiz
As Michigan life sciences companies grow and seek to commercialize their innovations, the firms often face key constraints when it comes to access to capital in ...

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Expanding biomedical engineering programs could boost state's life ... - MiBiz

Grey’s Anatomy’s Camilla Luddington Mindlessly Rubs Her Baby Bump During Scenes! – Just Jared

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Camilla Luddington is currently pregnant with her first child and shes opening up to Fit Pregnancy about filming her series Greys Anatomy while expecting!

Heres what the 33-year-old actress had to share with the mag for its March 2017 issue:

On rubbing a bump in scrubs: My character on the show, as of right now, is not pregnant, so I have to make sure I dont rub my belly on camera. When I start rubbing, which I do mindlessly, the director points to her belly, and I know to stop. On Scandal, Kerry Washington is able to block her own belly with elaborate outfits and gorgeous bags. For me, theres only so much you can do in scrubs, aside from carry an iPad. At some point, theyre going to need computer-generated imagery to fake things, and if they do, Ive already asked them to give me amazing six-pack abs!

On blasting Beyonc: I know the baby can hear at this point, so we have jam sessions during my commute. I think she really loves Beyoncand I love her even more for that. Whenever Beyonc plays, I feel her kick. I just cant tell if its a Yes! I love Beyonc! kick or a Please, God, stop singing along kick.

On remembering mom: My mother passed away when I was 19. She always made me feel confident, and Ive carried that feeling with me my entire life. Its helped me in this industry, where people are sizing up your looks. Because of my mom, I dont need to be validated by anybody else, and I want my daughter to have that too.

For more from Camilla, visit FitPregnancy.com/Camilla!

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Alzheimer’s Disease May be Triggered by Calcium Imbalance – Anti Aging News

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Scientific research shows that an imbalance of calcium within brain cells has the potential to cause Alzheimer's disease. It appears as though this imbalance catalyzes the neurodegenerative process. Of particular importance are the mitochondria within brain cells. Mitochondria, often called the "powerhouse of the cell" are tiny structures that turn energy derived from food into fuel for cells. The mitochondria of brain cells have calcium ions that control the amount of energy produced for brain functionality.

About the Research

Pooja Jadiya led the research. He is a postdoctoral fellow that Temple University. The study was performed by Jadiya and a team of researchers at Temple's Center for Translational Medicine. Their findings were publicized in New Orleans, Louisiana at the 61st Meeting of the Biophysical Society.

How the Research was Performed

Jadiya and his team analyzed brain samples taken from Alzheimer's patients as well as a mouse model that was genetically altered to simulate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. A mutant cell line with Alzheimer's was also included in the study. Jadiya's team studied mitochondrial changes in the context of calcium processing along with the generation of reactive oxygen species, cell death, membrane potential and the metabolism of an active amyloid protein.

Healthy brains have calcium ions that depart neuron mitochondria to avoid an excessive buildup. The protein transporter known as the mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger makes this process possible. Jadiya's research team found that sodium-calcium exchanger levels were egregiously low in tissue affected by Alzheimer's disease. The protein was so low that it proved quite challenging to pinpoint. Jadiya hypothesized this phenomenon would spur an abundance of reactive oxygen species, which would result in a hastening of neurodegeneration. Also known as ROS, reactive oxygen species are molecules that can harm proteins, DNA and lipids when present in high levels. The result is oxidative stress.

Alzheimer's Progression Partially Hinges on the Sodium-Calcium Protein Exchanger

Jadiya's research team found a correlation between heightened neuronal death and minimized sodium-calcium exchanger activity. Mouse model data shows that the gene responsible for encoding the exchanger was much less active ahead of the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Reduced activity in this gene's expression is additional evidence that the protein exchanger plays a vital role in the disease's advancement.

The team of scientists studied this mechanism in a cell culture model affected by Alzheimer's disease by forcing heightened exchanger levels. As predicted, the affected cells recovered to the extent that they were almost indistinguishable from healthy cells. It is also worth noting that as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels heightened, ROS levels fell and fewer neurons died. Biologists view ATP as the energy currency for life, as the body requires it for every single activity it performs.

Why the Research Matters

Previous studies showed that an abundance of calcium spurs the death of neurons. This means there is a link between an imbalance of calcium and the neurodegenerative process that occurs when Alzheimer's disease sets in. The study outlined above is the first evidence of an exact mechanism linking mitochondrial calcium imbalance to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This research was the first to use the array of model systems described above.

The research might set the stage for additional treatment options. The research team is now working to reverse the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease by working on mouse models. They are stimulating the gene expression responsible for encoding the sodium-calcium exhanger. Such a stimulation could be accomplished with gene therapy or new drugs. The hope is that an alteration in the exchanger's activity or expression level will serve as an effective therapy that prevents the onset of Alzheimer's.

Matt LeBlanc says Top Gear chemistry could "take a while" – Digital Spy

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

Top Gear's Matt LeBlanc has admitted that the chemistry between the presenters could "take a while" to reach the heights of their predecessors.

Following the departure of Chris Evans after just one series, LeBlanc will host the revamped BBC show with Chris Harris and Rory Reid.

However, reflecting on Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May's run on the show, the host said (via SNAP.PA): "What people forget is for the three guys that were on the show before us, it took them a while to build up a rapport.

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"This is now the first season for the three of us and it does take a little while.

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He added: "You take the three people, put them together in a room and say, 'It's in your interest to get along', and everyone is open to getting along but it takes a little while to speed up the shorthand.

"But what's great is we are now getting to a point where we are really starting to click. We are having so much fun together!"

LeBlanc and co are set to return to the show in a few weeks' time, and the BBC has already given us a trailer showing the three hosts' sitting uncomfortably through a car insurance interview.

While LeBlanc decided to stick with the show for two new series as he had "such a great time" filming the first series, it was not the case for Evans.

The Friends star previously told Digital Spy that he found out that Evans had quit through the news in the paper like everyone else.

He added of expectations for Top Gear: "I'm excited [for the new series] but the show seems to be surrounded by huge controversy, and I don't really know why. Maybe it's because of the history of the show but boy, being on that show is like being in a fishbowl. Everybody is after you.

BBC Top Gear - everything you need to know

"Everybody is waiting for you to put a foot wrong and that's tough but, you know, I like cars. I know a little bit about cars. I can say some funny things about cars. Hopefully people will watch it."

Top Gear returns on Sunday, March 5 at 8pm on BBC Two.

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The anatomy of an energy crisis a pictorial guide, Part 2 – The Conversation AU

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

In the second in my series on the crisis besetting the National Electricity Market (NEM) in eastern Australia, I look at the tightening balance of supply and demand.

Australias NEM is witnessing an unprecedented rise in spot, or wholesale, prices as market conditions tighten in response to a range of factors.

As shown above, spot prices are typically highest in summer, due in large part to the way extreme heat waves stretch demand. The historical summer average across the NEM is around $50/MWhour. As recently as 2012, summer prices were as low as $30/MWhour. With only a few days to go in the 2017 summer, prices are averaging a staggering $120/MWhour on a volume-weighted basis. Many factors have played a role, including hot weather, and the drivers vary from state to state.

In South Australia, the high prices have been accompanied by a series of rolling black-outs culminating on 8th February. Spot prices are more than twice last summer, on a volume-weighted basis, and three times the summer before that. Volatility has increased markedly, as evidenced by the way the volume-weighted price has diverged from the averaged spot price.

But the price rises and security issues have not been restricted to South Australia, with Queensland and New South Wales experiencing steeper rises in percentage terms. Current Queensland volume-weighted prices are averaging $200/MWhour, some 300% above the long-term summer average.

On the 12th February new demand records were set in Queensland, with prices averaging $700/MWhour across the day. New South Wales narrowly averted load shedding on 10th February as temperatures and spot prices soared. So far, the exception has been Victoria, where summer prices have remain relatively subdued, at levels not far above the recent average.

Demand for electrical power varies over a range of time-scales, from daily, weekly to seasonal, as well as with longer-term economic trends. A key determinant in how much power is needed on any given day is the maximum daily temperature. As shown below, the maximum daily demand marks out a characteristic boomerang shape when plotted against maximum daily temperature. The boomerang bottoms out at temperatures of around 25C when air conditioning loads are at a minimum.

As illustrated above, demand increases significantly in response to heating loads as the weather cools below 20C and cooling loads as the weather warms above 30C. The difference in demand across the weather cycles can be substantial. For example, in South Australia the maximum daily demand varies from around 1500 megawatts on a day with a maximum temperature of 25C to around 3000 megawatts during heatwaves when the temperatures exceed 40C. With minimum daily loads under 1000 megawatts, this implies well over half the generation capacity in South Australia is for peaking demand, with much of it sitting idle most of the time waiting for extreme hot weather events. In an energy-only market like the NEM, such peaking capacity demands extreme pricing accompany its dispatch in order to recoup costs. In reality, to manage risks such capacity is normally hedged at a cap-contract of around $300/MWhour.

Similar patterns apply in other states, although in percentage terms the range is less severe. In Queensland the increase between 25 and extreme degree days, which top out at about 37C in Brisbane, is about 2000 megawatts or approx 30%.

A comparison of the figures above show some subtle but important differences in the South Australia and Queensland markets. Notably, the diagrams show that annual demand in Queensland has been rising progressively over the last four years, while it has been static in South Australia. The extreme weather of Sunday 12th February set a new demand record in Queensland, and well above any previous weekend day. In contrast, the 8th February peak in South Australia was lower than previous peaks. To understand why spot prices spiked to similar levels in the different regions requires a deeper dive into the local market conditions.

One reason for seasonal variability in prices is the natural variability in weather conditions, and particularly the frequency and intensity of heat waves. As illustrated below, the 2017 summer in Adelaide has been rather normal in terms of weather extremes, so far with only six days above 40C compared to seven last summer and thirteen in the 2014 summer. To date, the mean maximum is around 29.7C , more-or-less spot on the average over the last five years. As such weather variability would not seem to be the key factor driving the recent dramatic rise in spot prices.

The most significant change in the South Australian market last year was the closure in May of its last coal fired-power plant - Alintas 520 megawatt capacity Northern Power Station. Along with questions about long-term coal supply, Alintas decision to close had a lot to do with the low spot prices back in 2015.

Back then, spot prices were suppressed on the back of a fall in both domestic and industrial demand as well as the addition of new wind farms into the supply mix. As shown below, the rapid uptake of solar PV in South Australia had impacted the demand for grid based services, especially during summer, limiting price volatility, and affecting generator revenue streams via a lowering of forward contract prices. In combination, the conditions made for a significant excess in generating capacity, or capacity overhang.

Despite the falling average demand, and a changing load distribution, the peak demand during the recent heat wave reached above 3045 megawatts in the early evening of 8th February (at 6 pm Eastern Australian Standard Time). That was 340 megawatts lower than the all time South Australian peak of 3385 megawatts for South Australia on the 31st January 2011. The peak on February 8th was accompanied by a spot price of $13160/MWhour.

With the closure of Northern, any comparison with previous peak demand events should factor in any demand previously served by Northern Power Station. Before its closure Northern contributed around 420 megawatts power on average over the summer months. Without that supply available this year, the February 8th peak effectively exceeded the previous peak by around 80 megawatts in adjusted terms.

Queensland has experienced a hot summer with the maximum daily temperature in Brisbane reaching 37C for the first time since 2014, and an average daily maximum of 31.2C (at the time of writing). That is about one degree above the average of recent years. However, with only four days with a maximum temperature above 35C, compared to five in the summer of 2015, weather effects seem unlikely to fully account for the extraordinary rise in spot prices this summer.

In detail the Queensland market differs from other regions in the NEM in as much as it is the only region to have experienced significant demand growth in recent years. Mapping the change of demand growth over the years, by time of day, helps reveal the drivers for market tightening, as shown below firstly in absolute terms, and then in relative terms normalised against 2014.

Between 2009 and 2014, summer demand fell by about 400 megawatts (or 6%), with the greatest change occurring in the middle of day. This pattern is akin to the signal in South Australia shown above, and reflects how the growing deployment of domestic rooftop PV was revealed to the market as a demand reduction.

Since, 2014 summer demand has grown appreciably across all times of day, skewed somewhat towards the evening. Relative to 2014, demand is up by almost 800 megawatts across the board, and by as much as 1200 megawatts at 8 pm. The ~800 megawatt base increase in demand can be attributed in large part to new industrial loads associated with the commissioning of the LNG export gas processing facilities at Curtis Island.

In terms of extreme events, it is notable that February 12th this year set a new Queensland demand record at 5.30 pm of 9368 megawatts (at the half hour settlement
period) with a spot price of $9005. This is extraordinary given it was a Sunday, a day which normally sees demand down several percentage points on corresponding weekdays with similar temperature conditions.

Victoria is the exception to the trend of rising spot prices, with the summer prices of 2017 not much above long term average. In part, the relatively subdued prices can be attributed to the absence of extreme heat in southern Victoria so far this summer. The mean maximum daily summer temperature in Melbourne stands at about 27C, slightly below average of the previous five years. So far there have been no days with temperatures above 40C, compared to eight in 2014 and four in 2016.

The dominant factor in subduing the Victorian markets prices is likely to be the ongoing fall in demand. In the year to 18th February, demand in Victoria fell by 200 MW. This follows a persistent reduction in demand that has seen a fall of almost 500 megawatts over the last three years, equivalent to 9% of average demand. As shown below, the contrast with Queensland is stark, and reflects significant reductions in industrial demand stemming from the closure of the Point Henry aluminium smelter in August 2014 (Point Henry consumed up to 360 megawatts) and more recently the reduced demand from the Portland smelter on the back of damage caused by an unscheduled power outage on December 1st, 2016. While power capacity in Victoria was reduced by the closure of the 150 megawatt Anglesea coal-fired power plant in August 2015, the cumulative demand reduction over the last decade has led to substantial capacity overhang. All that is set to change with the closure of the 1600 megawatt Hazelwood power station, slated for the end of March.

The figures shown in the previous sections reveal that peak demand events are stretching the power capacity of the NEM in unprecedented ways, for a variety of reasons. The tightening in the demand-supply balance is driving steep price rises that, if sustained, will have widespread repercussions. For example, a $20/MWhour rise in the Queensland spot price translates to a notional annual market value of $1 billion, that must eventually flow through the contract markets. With summer prices already more than $100/MWhour above last year, the additional costs to be passed onto energy consumers may well tally in the many billions of dollars.

In South Australia, the market tightening follows substantially the reduced supply stemming from the closure of the Northern Power Station.

In Queensland, the market tightening is being driven substantially by industrial loads such as the new LNG gas processing facilities. To the extent that the LNG industry is a significant driver, it is a heavy excise to pay for the privilege of exporting our gas resource. The makings for a policy nightmare, should the royalties from our LNG export be outweighed by the cumulative cost impacts passed on via our electricity markets.

It is important to note that the electricity market is designed so that prices fluctuate significantly in response to the normal capacity cycle, as capacity is added to or removed from the market following rises and falls in demand. In small markets, such as South Australia, the spot price fluctuations over the capacity cycle can be extreme, because the capacity of an individual large power plants can represent a large proportion of the native demand.

Although not large in terms of total capacity by Australian standards, Northerns 520 megawatt power rating represented around 40% of the South Australias median demand. That made Northern one of the Australias most significant power stations in terms of its regional basis size. Its withdrawal has dramatically and abruptly reduced the capacity overhang in South Australia. Spot prices were always going to rise as a consequence, because that is the way the market was designed. In addition, Northerns closure has also increased South Australias reliance on gas generation, and it has concentrated market power in the hands of remaining generators, both of which have had additional price impacts beyond the normal market tightening.

In both Queensland and South Australia, the rises in spot prices is signalling the growing tightness in the market. Under normal circumstances that should serve to drive investment in new capacity. The lessons of Northern show that any new capacity in South Australia will need to be responsive to the changing pattern of demand, unless the market rules are changed.

Further, both regions have questions about the adequacy of competition. Both are sensitive to the impacts of parallel developments in the gas markets, which have made gas-fired power production much more expensive in recent times. In the case of Queensland this is greatly exacerbated by the extra demand from the LNG gas production facilities. Finally, these insights have importance for predicting how the markets the will react to the impending close of the 1600 megawatt Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria, all topics I hope to consider in following posts in this series.

Link:
The anatomy of an energy crisis a pictorial guide, Part 2 - The Conversation AU

Saitama clinic ordered to halt unauthorized stem cell ‘anti-aging’ therapy using umbilical cord blood – The Japan Times

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Fredricko

SAITAMA The health ministry on Monday ordered a Saitama clinic to stop injecting stem cells of human umbilical cord blood into patients as an anti-aging treatment.

Saitama Medical Clinic in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, was found to have been engaged in such therapy without getting permission from the ministry. The regenerative medicine safety law mandates that all hospitals and clinics submit plans for stem cell therapy and get permission from the ministry beforehand.

The ministry conducted an on-site inspection of the clinic on Friday, based on tips from an outsider, and confirmed the clinic offered the unauthorized therapy, boasting that umbilical cord cell shots would boost health and help with anti-aging.

Several men and women are believed to have undergone treatment there. The ministry has asked the clinic to report the number of cases, any health damage and the kind of stem cells used and how they were obtained.

For clinics to receive approval for medical procedures using cells of others, they need to submit a detailed plan and have it screened by a panel of experts under the health ministry. The clinic had not submitted such a plan.

Link:
Saitama clinic ordered to halt unauthorized stem cell 'anti-aging' therapy using umbilical cord blood - The Japan Times

Students frustrated trying to get into UW’s strict engineering program – The Seattle Times

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Fredricko

It gets harder every year to get into some of the University of Washingtons most in-demand majors, creating a cutthroat system of competition at the flagship university.

By the end of his freshman year at the University of Washington, Jack Kussick believed there was no point in even applying to get into the UWs bioengineering program.

Kussick had sailed through Seattles Roosevelt High with top grades. When he entered the UW, the Seattle native was thinking about a career designing cutting-edge rehabilitation tools that could help wounded veterans get back on their feet, or athletes devastated by injury return to their sports.

But college required an entirely different type of studying. As a freshman, Kussick stumbled in a few classes before he figured out a system that worked for him.

By then, he believed, it was already too late.

In order to be competitive for bioengineering, a counselor told him, hed need to begin making As in nearly every class. Even then, his chances of being admitted were slim.

At a time when students are encouraged to go into careers in science and technology, as well as business, its becoming harder and harder to do so in some majors at the states largest flagship university.

Of the roughly 2,000 students in each class who say they want to major in one of the engineering disciplines, fewer than half will get in. And for the business administration major at the Foster School of Business, the admission rate is 40 percent.

Some faculty say thats created a cutthroat system that forces students to compete against one another at a time when they should be learning how to work together.

In high-demand majors, the university is having to select from a group of students who are amazing, and bright, and capable, and could do well, said Patricia Kramer, an anthropology professor who heads a faculty committee trying to solve the problem.

This isnt weeding out students who are not good, she added.

The pressure to build a perfect transcript also means students sacrifice many other experiences that make up the fabric of a good college experience, said Brian Fabien, the associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Engineering.

Theyre not participating in student organizations, in clubs theyre not doing the things wed like them to do, Fabien said. This is not a good environment for learning.

Theres no easy solution. But the UW will be asking more questions about a students area of interest on its freshman and transfer admissions applications. At some point, that information might be used to decide who becomes a Husky, and who does not.

On the third floor of Loew Hall one day last week, a half-dozen pre-engineering students waited in line for appointments with academic counselors to fine-tune their schedules, or ask for advice. Most were upbeat about their chances of being accepted into engineerings disciplines mechanical, civil and computer engineering, to name a few.

But the reality is that fewer than half will be admitted, Fabien said. Students get several chances to apply, but in the meantime they are in limbo about their major, and some wont know for certain until their third year, which is actually pretty cruel, he said.

Taylor Ishida, a sophomore who wants to major in bioengineering, stays in the library studying until 10 or 11 p.m. every night. Its definitely stressful, knowing the level of competition, she said.

Ishida, who grew up in Oregon, says her academic record is strong, but shes an anxious test-taker, and often wakes up at night worrying about how she did on her last exam. If she doesnt get into the program, shell transfer to another university.

Allen Putich, a first-quarter transfer student who earned his associate degree from Skagit Valley College, knows its hard to get into his intended major, computer science; he spent an entire week studying for his first midterm. He thinks his chances are good, but hes got a backup plan: electrical engineering.

Khanh Le, a sophomore, has been turned down once already trying to get into either industrial or civil engineering, and says shes under a lot of pressure now to get in. Le, who graduated from Mariner High School in Everett, said if she doesnt get in on her second attempt, she may take a year off or transfer elsewhere.

No major is more competitive than computer science only about a third of the students who apply get in. For those students, some help is on the way; the UW has gotten millions from private industry and the state Legislature to construct a new computer science building, which will allow it to double the number of students it can handle in the coming years.

Students who cant get into engineering often choose math, chemistry or physics and that puts stress on those majors, too, Fabien said. Those who dont get into the Foster School, for example, often choose economics as a backup. That major is no shoo-in, either it only admits about two-thirds of applicants.

Engineers are trained to be collaborative, so they can solve problems together. But the hypercompetitive environment at the UW means students are in a race to beat one another. Its exactly the opposite of the skills theyll need in the workplace, Fabien said.

Why cant the UW simply eliminate majors that are falling out of favor, and use the money to hire more engineering professors?

Its not that easy.

Engineers need to learn on expensive and space-consuming equipment, Fabien said. For example, mechanical engineers at the UW work with machining equipment similar to whats used in a Boeing facility.

The engineering college also needs students who can write, and have an understanding of history, political science and the humanities not just good grades in math and science. You cant be a good engineer if you cant communicate, he said.

Kramer said the slowness with which the university builds up, or cuts back, on majors is an important check on chasing the latest fad.

Ten years ago, for example, the university resisted pressure to reduce instruction in Eastern European languages. Now, because of unrest in Ukraine, an understanding of those languages and cultures is in demand, she said.

Before the university starts considering a students area of academic interest in deciding who is admitted, all three campuses would have to approve that change. Kramer expects there will be changes in the way the university makes its choice on offering admission to out-of-state and international students.

For in-state students, in contrast, she thinks the changes will be minor.

Our obligation to Washington state students is really different from the universitys commitment to out-of-state and international students, she said.

But she emphasized that no decisions have been made yet, and that the intent is not to decrease overall chances of admission into the UW for any student, but rather to give students the best chances of being able to gain entry into, and to complete, majors in the field of their interest.

For transfer students, an applicants intended major already has a bearing on whether he or she is admitted. A transfer student who selects only one major on the application, and is not admitted into that major, also is not admitted into the university, she said.

Meanwhile, the College of Engineering has proposed a system in which about 50 percent of engineering-major prospects would be directly admitted to the college at the same time they are admitted to the UW as freshmen or transfer students, although they would still need to apply for their specific major. No decision has been made, but Fabien noted that its a practice already in use at most other major engineering schools. And last year, the UW Student Senate passed a resolution calling for that change.

The trouble with direct admission, Kramer said, is that it can deprive students of the chance to explore different subjects, or pursue careers they might never have heard of in high school.

That can be especially hard on those who come from rural or low-income schools students who may have never met an engineer, or explored a great science lab, she said.

Computer science professor Ed Lazowska said theres no right way to handle the overcrowded-majors issue.

Elite private universities allow students to choose any major they want, Lazowska said, but getting admitted to those universities in the first place is like winning the lottery.

On the other hand, some major public universities give students a relatively free choice of their major, but use weed-out courses extremely difficult prerequisites to reduce the number of students going into certain majors, he said.

Meanwhile, just up the road in Everett, Washington State Universitys new North Puget Sound campus is adding more slots in electrical, mechanical and software engineering. The mechanical engineering program, which can accommodate 40 new students each year, had twice that number of applicants this January.

Kussick, the UW student who thought he would never get into bioengineering, solved his dilemma by transferring to Oregon State University at the start of his sophomore year. He is making As in all his classes Im doing better than Ive ever done at school and was admitted to the pre-bioengineering program. His interests have expanded into robotics, and hes also thinking about medical school or earning a Ph.D.

Kussick is 250 miles from home, and because hes an out-of-state-student, his familys paying about $13,000 more a year in tuition and living expenses than they did while he was at the UW.

But hes happy with his decision to move to Corvallis. Im loving it down here, he said.

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Students frustrated trying to get into UW's strict engineering program - The Seattle Times

A way forward in gene editing – Washington Post

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

THE 1997 FILM Gattaca predicted a near future in which cities are powered by vast solar thermal arrays, humans launch manned missions to Saturns moons, and doctors design super smart and strong babies. A generation later, it is the gene editing that is proving most prescient.

Over the past decade, huge advances in gene-editing techniques have enabled researchers to slice up and rewrite DNA with incredible precision. At the forefront of the ensuing revolution is the CRISPR-Cas9, a technology derived from bacteria that enables scientists to snip and repair DNA, nucleotide by nucleotide, quickly and cheaply. The potential uses are vast. And so are the ethical quandaries.

The National Academies of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine convened a panel to recommend guidelines for the use of powerful gene-editing tools. The results, released this week, are thoughtful and should for the moment, anyway channel research and testing in unambiguously positive directions.

CRISPR can be used in basic laboratory research, revealing how disease works on the molecular level. This is similar enough to other types of lab research that it requires no novel scientific or ethical standards. Researchers can also treat live humans with gene editing technologies, for example by taking immune cells out of the body, altering them and re-inserting them to fight an advanced cancer. Therapies such as these are already under development, and although researchers have to be cautious about off-target gene slicing, existing rules governing the development of medical treatments should suffice.

The ethics get much trickier when researchers want to change the DNA in reproductive cells, which would alter the genes that parents pass to children, forever. Doing so could prevent vast amounts of human suffering. But there is a problem of consent: Future generations have no say in their alteration. Disability communities would no doubt feel threatened and stigmatized, because gene editing could be used to essentially remove their type from the gene pool. Changes made to enhance human offspring, rather than simply to combat disease and disability, could redefine what it means to be human, while those to whom these techniques are unavailable would risk becoming a genetic underclass. A line would have to be drawn between heritable changes that are clearly valuable and those that risk unnecessarily humiliating people, destabilizing society and changing the nature of humanity.

The panel attempted to draw a preliminary line and put it in the right place. Heritable changes should be attempted only when scientists are convinced that specific genes cause or strongly predispose people to getting a serious disease or a condition, and when they know what normal genetic code should look like. They should only intervene when there are no reasonable alternatives available to families, and when real-world evidence shows that the benefits outweigh the risks.

The debate will not and should not end there. But before society has a full chance to process these questions, the panels approach is the right one. The goal should be to stop crippling diseases, not to build designer babies.

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A way forward in gene editing - Washington Post

Gene therapy treats muscle-wasting disease in dogs – Science Daily

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

FierceBiotech

Gene therapy treats muscle-wasting disease in dogs
Science Daily
Work on gene therapy is showing significant progress for restoring muscle strength and prolonging lives in dogs with a previously incurable, inherited neuromuscular disease. UW Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine scientists are ...
Gene therapy tried in dogs with muscle disease could prove useful for peopleFierceBiotech

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Gene therapy treats muscle-wasting disease in dogs - Science Daily

How humans bond: The brain chemistry revealed – Science Daily

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

Science Daily

How humans bond: The brain chemistry revealed
Science Daily
PET uses a small amount of radioactive chemical plus dye (called a tracer) injected into the bloodstream along with a camera and a computer to produce multidimensional images to show the distribution of a specific neurotransmitter, such as dopamine or ...

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How humans bond: The brain chemistry revealed - Science Daily

National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute celebrates seventh foundation day – The Indian Express

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

The Indian Express

National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute celebrates seventh foundation day
The Indian Express
The National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, on Saturday observed its 7th foundation day at the NABI premises at Phase 8 in Mohali. The NABI is an autonomous institute aided by the department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and ...

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National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute celebrates seventh foundation day - The Indian Express

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Soars 7.76% on February 17 … – Equities.com

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

Market Summary Follow

Puma Biotechnology Inc is a A biopharmaceutical company

PBYI - Market Data & News

PBYI - Stock Valuation Report

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) had a good day on the market for Friday February 17 as shares jumped 7.76% to close at $40.25. About 1.37 million shares traded hands on 9,969 trades for the day, compared with an average daily volume of 928,303 shares out of a total float of 36.82 million. After opening the trading day at $37.25, shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc stayed within a range of $40.50 to $36.70.

With today's gains, Puma Biotechnology Inc now has a market cap of $1.48 billion. Shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc have been trading within a range of $73.27 and $19.74 over the last year, and it had a 50-day SMA of $34.47 and a 200-day SMA of $41.58.

Puma Biotechnology Inc is a biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the acquisition, development and commercialization of products to enhance cancer care.

Puma Biotechnology Inc is based out of Los Angeles, CA and has some 156 employees. Its CEO is Alan H. Auerbach.

For a complete fundamental analysis of Puma Biotechnology Inc, check out Equities.coms Stock Valuation Analysis report for PBYI.

Puma Biotechnology Inc is also a component of the Russell 2000. The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.

Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.

All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.

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Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Soars 7.76% on February 17 ... - Equities.com

How fat could lead to more effective anti-aging treatments – PhillyVoice.com

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Fredricko

Human fat could be the answer to more effective anti-aging treatments, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say.

The researchers at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine said Friday they discovered adult stem cells from fat are more stable than other stem cells, such as those taken from skin, that are currently used in a variety of anti-aging treatments.

The cells from fat, called adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), have the ability to make more protein that originally thought, therefore allowing them to replicate and maintain their stability.

Our study shows these cells are very robust, even when they are collected from older patients, said lead author Ivona Percec, MD.

The discovery "can potentially open the door" for new treatments and therapies to address aging-related diseases.

The researchers noted that ASCs are not currently approved for direct use by the Food and Drug Administration. They said more research is needed before potential implementation of their finding.

The finding was published in the February edition of the "Stem Cells" medical journal.

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How fat could lead to more effective anti-aging treatments - PhillyVoice.com

Gene therapy tried in dogs with muscle disease could prove useful for people – FierceBiotech

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Fredricko

Theres a rare disorder that occurs when a gene mutation halts the production of myotubularina protein that facilitates normal muscle function. The disease, called myotubular myopathy (MTM), only affects males, and its ultimately fatal because it causes breathing difficulties.

Dogs get MTM, tooand that spelled opportunity for scientists at the University of Washington Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. In collaboration with five other academic institutions, they found a way to replace the faulty MTM gene with a functioning gene in dogs with the disease, they reported in the journal Molecular Therapy.

It worked: After a single infusion of genes, muscle strength was restored in the dogs, according to a press release. One year later, the dogs were indistinguishable from healthy animals, they said. "This regenerative technology allowed dogs that otherwise would have perished to complete restoration of normal health," said Dr. Martin K. "Casey" Childers, UW Medicine researcher and physician.

The researchers used a viral vector called adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8) to deliver a healthy canine version of the MTM gene in dogs that were 10 weeks old and already showing symptoms. They believe a similar trial could be designed in people.

Gene therapy is under investigation for a wide range of disorders, though much of the progress to date has occurred outside the realm of muscular disorders. BioMarin Pharmaceutical, for example, is in mid-stage trials of a gene therapy treatment for hemophilia A. UniQure is working on several gene therapy products to treat diseases including Huntingtons and congestive heart failure. Its most advanced project, a gene therapy product to treat hemophilia B, received breakthrough designation status from the FDA in January.

One company that has achieved some success with gene therapy in inherited muscle disorders is AveXis, which is gearing up for a pivotal trial of its treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. AveXis won breakthrough therapy designation for its gene product last year, and high hopes for the product have prompted its stock to more than triple since the company went public early last year.

UW Medicine-led team that worked on the canine MTM trial observed that as they increased the dosage of genes, survival rates improved, they reported. They believe the study proves the potential utility of gene therapy in a wide range of diseases that are linked to mutated genes.

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Gene therapy tried in dogs with muscle disease could prove useful for people - FierceBiotech

Minnesota Wild Finding Success Through Chemistry – Gone Puck Wild – Gone Puck Wild

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Fredricko

Feb 7, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Minnesota Wild right wing Jason Pominville (29) celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Wild: Staal Needs to Pull Out of Second Half Stall by Danny Lambert

The Minnesota Wild have finally developed into the team that everyone thought that they could be this season. They sit atop the Western Conference with 80 points, reflected by a record of 37-13-6. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is the Wilds +57 goal differential.

One could add together the Wilds end of season goal differentials from the last four years and it would still fall abysmally short of +57. Many hockey minds argue a team needs a Top 15 Point Producer to be successful and have that high goal differential, but the Wild are defying that statement.

Minnesota has eight players with 30 or more points (Granlund-50, Staal-44, Coyle-44, Niederreiter-42, Koivu-40, Zucker-38, Pominville-35, and Suter-30). Of those eight, seven have scored ten or more goals. Zach Parise, Chris Stewart, and Erik Haula also contribute to that 10 or more goals crowd giving the Wild 10 players with 10 or more goalsan insane statistic.

Feb 12, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) celebrates his goal in front of Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou (72) during the third period at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Red Wings 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

So what exactly does that mean? It means that the Wild are perhaps the deepest offensive team in the NHL. This creates a problem for opposing teams because they have to focus on four lines that are a threat to score as opposed to a usual one or two lines.

A reason the Wild may be finding so much success offensively is because of line chemistry. That chemistry can be attributed to the lines remaining consistent, which is something that didnt happen often under Mike Yeo. Players are getting the chance to develop chemistry with each other and its showing in vibrant colors.

The most notable chemistry is in the Granlund-Koivu-Zucker line which has been together since Thanksgiving. There arent many second lines in the NHL with three forwards that have produced a combined 48 goals, 80 assists, 128 points, and a +86 rating.

Feb 8, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) takes a shot on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the third period at Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks win 4-3 over the Wild in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Granlund and Zucker are in the midst of career seasons, and Mikko Koivu looks like he did in the 2009-2010 season when he put up 71 points. Koivu needs just seven goals in the Wilds final 26 games to eclipse his career high of 22 (2009-2010).

Another line finding some chemistry is the newly formed Zach Parise-Charlie Coyle-Jason Pominville line. Pominville is red hotlately accumulating 8 points (2 goals and 6 assists) in his last five games. The Wild made it evident Coyle and company would stay together by placing Tyler Graovac on waivers on Monday.

This move was significant because it indicated Bruce Boudreau wants Coyle, who has a goal and 5 assists since moving from the wing, to stay at center instead of wing where hes spent much of the season.The movewas also a statement to the Wilds other fourth-liners, Christ Stewart and Jordan Schroeder, that they need to shape and start playing better. Alex Tuch and fresh-off-injury Zach Dalpe are getting looks in the line up as well making a good pressure to produce to earn playing time.

Obviously the Wild cant be fortunate enough to have all four lines clicking every game; however, all four lines do pose a threat night in and night out. A four-line offensive threat coupled withwhen healthyone of the leagues best defensive cores , and an All-Star goalie in Devan Dubnyk, make the Wild one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL. The depth in the State of Hockey could be just the right formula needed to finally bring Lord Stanley to Minnesota.

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Minnesota Wild Finding Success Through Chemistry - Gone Puck Wild - Gone Puck Wild

Dr. Richard McCann Appointed Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development – Mercer News

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Fredricko

MACON Dr. Jean R. Sumner, dean of Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), recently announced the appointment of Dr. Richard McCann as assistant dean of faculty affairs and professional development.

Working with Dr. Marie Dent, associate dean of faculty affairs and professional development, Dr. McCann will continue providing guidance and professional development opportunities for faculty, said Dr. Sumner. Dr. McCann is a proven leader, scientist and outstanding teacher who embodies a commitment to students, colleagues and the mission of Mercer University School of Medicine.

Dr. McCann, a native of Brunswick, graduated from Glynn Academy and earned his B.S. in biochemistry and Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Georgia. He was an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Biological Chemistry.

Prior to joining Mercers faculty in 2008, Dr. McCann was an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington.

He currently serves MUSM as an associate professor of biochemistry.

Throughout his career, Dr. McCann has combined a research program on cell adhesion withteaching. He advised three Ph.D. students and one M.D./Ph.D. student at the University of Kentucky. He also taught cell biology, genetics and biochemistry in the Master of Science in Biotechnology Program at Johns Hopkins and in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program at Kentucky.

At Mercer, Dr. McCann has served as a tutor in the first-year medical curriculum, and from 2011-2015, he was phase coordinator for the cellular basis of medicine in the Biomedical Problems Program curriculum. He is currently Block 1 co-chair for the Macon Campus in the revised Patient Based Learning curriculum.

Dr. McCann is the founding director of MUSMs Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and for the next three years, he will chair the Cell Structure and Survival Review Panel for the American Heart Association.

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Dr. Richard McCann Appointed Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development - Mercer News

Futurist Transhuman News Blog

Author Archives: Fredricko

Music review: Lowly’s chemistry goes awry on ‘Heba’ – Knoxville News Sentinel

What’s in a bowling ball, and how does its chemistry help topple pins? – Chemical & Engineering News (subscription)

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Moves Lower on Volume Spike for February 21 – Equities.com

Global Biofuel Enzymes – Biotechnology – PR Newswire – PR Newswire (press release)

Expanding biomedical engineering programs could boost state’s life … – MiBiz

Grey’s Anatomy’s Camilla Luddington Mindlessly Rubs Her Baby Bump During Scenes! – Just Jared

Alzheimer’s Disease May be Triggered by Calcium Imbalance – Anti Aging News

Matt LeBlanc says Top Gear chemistry could "take a while" – Digital Spy

The anatomy of an energy crisis a pictorial guide, Part 2 – The Conversation AU

Saitama clinic ordered to halt unauthorized stem cell ‘anti-aging’ therapy using umbilical cord blood – The Japan Times

Students frustrated trying to get into UW’s strict engineering program – The Seattle Times

A way forward in gene editing – Washington Post

Gene therapy treats muscle-wasting disease in dogs – Science Daily

How humans bond: The brain chemistry revealed – Science Daily

National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute celebrates seventh foundation day – The Indian Express

Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Soars 7.76% on February 17 … – Equities.com

How fat could lead to more effective anti-aging treatments – PhillyVoice.com

Gene therapy tried in dogs with muscle disease could prove useful for people – FierceBiotech

Minnesota Wild Finding Success Through Chemistry – Gone Puck Wild – Gone Puck Wild

Dr. Richard McCann Appointed Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development – Mercer News