Liberty Property Sheds Office Asset

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Liberty Property Trust (LRY) a real estate investment trust (:REIT) divested a Philadelphia-based office property to an affiliate of Cole Real Estate Investments for roughly $74.7 million. The transaction is in line with the companys ongoing portfolio repositioning program.

The sold facility, which spans 441,000 square foot, is located at 8800 Tinicum Boulevard. The property is occupied by PNC Bank of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC). Notably, Liberty Property constructed the office facility for PNC Bank in two stages, completed in 1997 and 2000, respectively.

The abovementioned transaction was represented by CBRE Group Inc. (CBG). We expect the divesture to facilitate Liberty Property to focus on higher growth markets characterized by better job and rent growth prospects. Also, this is expected to boost the companys portfolio and strengthen its top line.

Liberty Property specifically focuses on metro office, multi-tenant industrial, and flex properties and markets that have strong demographic and economic fundamentals, which ensure a steady revenue stream. In Feb, in order to boost its portfolio restructuring initiative, Liberty Property unveiled its plan to construct an office building for The Vanguard Group in Malvern, Pa.

Last month, Liberty Property reported fourth-quarter 2012 results with FFO (funds from operations) of 63 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate as well as the prior-year quarter. The result was attributable to the strong acquisitions and development activities, slightly impacted by uncertain economic conditions.

Liberty Property currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN), another REIT, is performing better than Liberty and holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Note: Funds from operations, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, are obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income.

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Liberty Property Sheds Office Asset

Maya Rupert: The Myth of Libertarianism and the Fight for LGBT Equality

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Conservative leaders are changing their opinions on marriage equality.

Between Sen. Rob Portman's (R-Ohio) recent announcement that he supports marriage equality and the spate of similar sentiments being voiced at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), it seems that every day the media is highlighting another powerful conservative figure speaking out in favor of marriage equality, and this is undeniably a victory for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement. However, even as we savor the welcome impact of this bipartisan support, a note of caution is advised: Much of this trend can be credited to an increasingly prominent libertarian strand in the conservative movement, and it would be unwise to mistake this philosophical shift as a victory for LGBT equality. Libertarianism will not lead us to victories on behalf of the LGBT community, because it is based on a premise that is fundamentally at odds with equality for the LGBT community.

Libertarianism can be praised for its consistency. While liberals and conservatives both vacillate between favoring big government in some situations and decrying government intrusion in others, libertarians call for limited government across the line. But its value of being a completely pure ideological position is dwarfed by the weakness of it being completely untenable.

Libertarianism tells us that freedom is the ultimate good and that it should be maximized, so in order to accomplish that, we must limit government intervention, which restricts free action. Here's the problem with that premise: Freedom isn't simply the absence of government. It's the absence of any force stopping people from doing what they have a right to do. If we take away government, we aren't left with freedom; we're left with anarchy.

Put another way, freedom isn't my right to live unless someone stronger wants to kill me; it is my right to live even if someone stronger wants to kill me.

The concept of freedom is based on the ability to exercise rights, and that ability doesn't exist without some mechanism in place to ensure that all people can actually do so. Freedom needs the existence of government. The argument that more government means less room in our lives for freedom is logically no different from the argument that more cookie dough leaves less room in the oven for cookies.

Achieving LGBT equality will require ensuring the freedom to exercise equal rights, which includes the right to get married, but also the right to work, access fair and affordable housing, make use of public accommodations and live in communities and go to school free from fear of violence, harassment and intimidation. The libertarian premise that without government intervention everyone would be free to do what they want is simply a myth for marginalized communities. True equality for the LGBT community will require government intervention.

The newly anointed standard bearer of the libertarian movement, Rand Paul, has all but announced that he will be running for president in 2016. Before Paul became the darling of some civil libertarians for staging a 13-hour-long filibuster on the use of drone strikes and becoming the Solomon of the marriage equality fight (spoiler alert: The government doesn't have to recognize marriage equality if it stops recognizing marriage!), he was best known for criticizing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as an example of government overreach.

To be fair, that controversial position is not, as many incorrectly claimed, an endorsement of discrimination. Instead, it is based on the view that private enterprises and organizations should have a "right" to decide for themselves whether to discriminate, and, presumably, that the rest of us have a right to withhold support from businesses that choose to discriminate, thus making it financially unattractive for them to continue doing so. However, without government protection, the freedom of vulnerable communities to engage in all aspects of public life becomes contingent upon whether the majority so abhors the notion of discrimination that it bands together and makes it financially untenable for businesses to discriminate.

Though Paul is (fortunately) not in a position to jeopardize the Civil Rights Act, the no-government philosophy he champions poses a real threat to the legislative priorities of the LGBT community. The LGBT community needs laws that would offer protections similar to the Civil Rights Act, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act (HOME) and other federal legislation that will guard against discrimination. The unrealistic notion that equality can be achieved without government enforcement and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms is not a workable solution to LGBT discrimination. In the fight for LGBT equality, the notion that libertarianism can sustain us is a dangerous myth.

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Maya Rupert: The Myth of Libertarianism and the Fight for LGBT Equality

Libertarian leader Ron Paul to address UF audience

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Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 4:59 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Ron Paul, whose campaigns for president on the Libertarian and Republican tickets galvanized voters seeking limited government and individual freedoms, will be speaking at the University of Florida on April 15.

Paul, a physician and former congressman, will be at the O'Connell Center as part of the ACCENT Speaker's Bureau, it was announced on Monday.

Long known for his strong support for a limited role of government and protection of personal freedoms, Paul will speak to the UF audience about how his ideologies have developed over the years.

Paul, 77, served in the House representing Texas districts from 1976 to 1977, from 1979 to 1985 and from 1997 until January 2013.

In 2011, Paul announced that he would not seek re-election to his House seat in order to focus on his presidential bid. His campaign never gained sufficient traction during the Republican primary season and he went to the convention with 190 delegates.

Paul previously ran for president in 1988 as the Libertarian Party candidate and again in 2008.

The program will include a question-and-answer session.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public.

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Libertarian leader Ron Paul to address UF audience

Libertarian Party to hold state convention in Bellingham

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BELLINGHAM - The city will host the 2013 convention of the Libertarian Party of Washington State, and attendance is free during the speeches of nationally prominent party figures.

Speakers include national vice presidential candidate Jim Gray, national party Executive Director Carla Howell, former state Supreme Court Judge Richard Sanders and Sumas Mayor Bob Bromley.

Rob Stratton, a member of the county Libertarian Party and the gun rights group Open Carry, will speak on the Second Amendment, according to Jason Del Wraa, county party chairman.

Also scheduled to speak is Robin Koerner, Huffington Post blogger and the person who launched the Blue Republican campaign, which recruited liberals to join the GOP in 2012 to nominate Ron Paul.

The campaign reached Whatcom County, Del Wraa noted, as dozens of Paul supporters filed for Republican Party officer elections in May 2012.

The party's business meeting is also free, although participants must be approved members to vote. The state Libertarians will elect its officers at the convention, which takes place Saturday, April 20, in Fox Hall at Hampton Inn, 1661 W. Bakerview Road.

Leaders at the convention will consider whether to allow the party to endorse candidates from other parties whose views align with the principles of libertarianism - limited government and personal and economic freedom.

Fees must be paid for lunch and the evening banquet. Early registration is encouraged, as rates will increase on Monday, April 1. Registration is also required for the free sessions. People can register and get more information at lpwa.org/convention-2.

Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com. Read his politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldpolitics.

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Beverly Libertarian Daniel Fishman withdraws from Senate race

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Beverly Libertarian Daniel Fishman has suspended all campaign activity and will not be submitting signatures to the Secretary of State for placement on the ballot in advance of the April 3 deadline, said the Fishman for Senate campaign Sunday.

When I first entered this campaign there were no Republicans officially announced and the three most prominently mentioned Republicans had all removed their names as potential candidates, said Fishman in a press release. I was concerned that given the short period of time to gather signatures no Republican would be able to get on the ballot, and the Senator for Massachusetts would be chosen via the closed Democratic primary.

Fortunately in support of the democratic process, three Republicans did stand up to run and successfully made it onto the ballot. I would like to thank Dan Winslow, Gabriel Gomez and Michael Sullivan for undertaking this largely thankless task, Fishman continued.

The support that my campaign has received has been buoying. In particular as my awareness grew of the burgeoning liberty movement in Massachusetts, I felt a tie back to the proud heritage of our state in leading on issues of Liberty. On the campaign trail, whether at a GOAL rally in Boxborough or gathering signatures on the street at Faneuil Hall, I was constantly approached by people in Massachusetts who thanked me for stating the obvious: Congress is completely broken. And it will not be fixed by electing the same sort of politicians to office, he said.

In the past I have run because I did not perceive a significant difference between the Republican and Democrat in their concern for the civil liberties of private citizens. I have however recently become satisfied that there is a candidate in the race who will give voice to those who fear a tyranny of the majority, said Fishman.

In his final remarks he said, With the conclusion of this campaign I will return to my day job and consider options for 2014.

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Beverly Libertarian Daniel Fishman withdraws from Senate race

China, Vietnam Clash Over Disputed Islands

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Aerial view of the city of Sansha on an island in the disputed Paracel chain, which China considers part of its territory.

Aerial view of the city of Sansha on an island in the disputed Paracel chain, which China considers part of its territory.

China is once again at odds with a maritime neighbor over disputed islands, this time as often leading to a little shooting and a lot of posturing.

The latest confrontation is with Vietnam over the mostly uninhabited Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Hanoi has accused Beijing's forces of firing on a Vietnamese vessel engaged in fishing near the islands, which both sides claim.

Vietnam did not say if anyone was hurt in the incident that occurred last Wednesday, but it described the matter as "very serious."

"Vietnam strongly protests, urging China to investigate and seriously deal with the wrongful and inhumane act, and compensate Vietnamese fishermen for their loss," Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi was quoted by the BBC as saying.

China's response: "It is necessary and legitimate for China to take action against a Vietnamese shipping boat that has entered China's waters for illegal activity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. "No damage was caused to the fishing boat from Vietnam at the time," he added, without saying what action the Chinese vessel had taken.

Both countries claim the islands, which are rich fishing grounds and also sit above undersea oil and gas fields. China and Vietnam fought a one-day naval battle over the low-lying archipelago in 1974, solidifying Beijing's control.

Besides Vietnam, China has had similar island disputes with Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia, frequently resulting in tense standoffs at sea.

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Top Islands in the US

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While Spring may have not exactly "sprung" up yet across the nation, it's never too early to get excited about surf and sun. Today TripAdvisor, the worlds largest travel site, announced this year's winners for the best islands in America.

The surprise champion was a tiny string of islands off the coast of Seattle called the San Juan Islands.

Were delighted that San Juan Island is honored as the top island in the U.S., said Deborah Hopkins, executive director for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. "We'd like to thank the travelers who have made this win possible, simply by sharing their love of the sparkling waters, abundant wildlife, outdoor recreation and vibrant arts scene that San Juan Island offers."

Whether you're craving white sand beaches or rustic wild seascapes, this list will inspire the traveler in all of us.

TripAdvisor

When envisioning an island vacation, probably the last place to cross your mind is the rainy, fog-laden coast of Washington State. Maybe that is why San Juan has been under the radar for so many years. While it's not your typical tropical island retreat, San Juan provides vistas of breaching orca whales and the countrys largest lavender farms. This quaint island underdog has definitely earned its top spot.

TripAdvisor

Kauai is the least commercially developed of the Hawaiian islands. The island is known for its wide array of outdoor attractions. A trip to Kauai may include snorkeling, tide pooling, hiking the Kalalau Trail or swimming in waterfalls.

TripAdvisor

Marco Island what every vacationer hopes for, white sands and sparkling sea. While in Marco Island make sure to take a day off from beaching top explore the Everglades in a swamp buggy.

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Top Islands in the US

3 Hawaii islands make best island list

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Travel website TripAdvisor announced Tuesday the winners of its inaugural Travelers' Choice Islands awards.

Based on millions of valuable traveler reviews and opinions on the site, the awards recognize more than 100 islands across the globe, including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the U.S.

In the list for best U.S. islands, Kauai came in second place, Maui, came in fifth place and the Big Island came in eighth place.

The top island in the U.S. was San Juan Island in Washington.

Whether youre looking for idyllic palm-lined islands, or islands that offer a more cultural experience, youll find inspiration in these lists, said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. From the world famous to the hidden gems, what unifies every award winner is the fantastic feedback from travelers across the globe.

Were delighted that San Juan Island is honored as both the top island in the U.S. and as a top four world pick in the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Islands awards, said Deborah Hopkins, executive director for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. We'd like to thank the travelers who have made this win possible, simply by sharing their love of the sparkling waters, abundant wildlife, outdoor recreation and vibrant arts scene that San Juan Island offers on TripAdvisor.

PHOTOS: Best islands in the world

TripAdvisor

Travel website TripAdvisor announced the winners of its inaugural Travelers' Choice Islands awards.

#10. Key West, Florida. Key West has great nightlife and a perfect cover story for someone who wants to enjoy it. A Hemingway fan simply must toss back a few at their heros favorite bar!

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3 Hawaii islands make best island list

TripAdvisor Unveils Travelers’ Choice Islands

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NEWTON, Mass., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its inaugural Travelers' Choice Islands awards. Based on millions of valuable traveler reviews and opinions on the site, the awards recognize more than 100 islands across the globe, including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the U.S.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57953-tripadvisor-unveils-travelers-choice-islands

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130326/MM82389)

(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO)

"Whether you're looking for idyllic palm-lined islands, or islands that offer a more cultural experience, you'll find inspiration in these lists," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "From the world famous to the hidden gems, what unifies every award winner is the fantastic feedback from travelers across the globe."

Top 10 Islands in the U.S.:

Top 10 Islands in the World:

"We're delighted that San Juan Island is honored as both the top island in the U.S. and as a top four world pick in the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Islands awards," said Deborah Hopkins, executive director for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. "We'd like to thank the travelers who have made this win possible, simply by sharing their love of the sparkling waters, abundant wildlife, outdoor recreation and vibrant arts scene that San Juan Island offers on TripAdvisor."

For the complete list of winners from the 2013 Travelers' Choice Islands, as well as reviews and candid traveler photos, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Islands.

To see the best hotels for luxury, service and more, as honored in TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards for Hotels from January, go tohttp://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels.

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TripAdvisor Unveils Travelers' Choice Islands

TripAdvisor Unveils Travellers’ Choice Islands

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Top Islands Worldwide Recognised Based on Opinions of Millions of Travellers Across the Globe

SINGAPORE, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg )(TM), the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its inaugural Travellers' Choice Islands awards. Based on millions of valuable traveller reviews and opinions on the site, the awards recognise more than 100 islands across the globe, including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the U.S.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/01/26/20120126134542864980-l.jpg )

"Whether you're looking for idyllic palm-lined islands, or islands that offer a more cultural experience, you'll find inspiration in these lists," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "From the world famous to the hidden gems, what unifies every award winner is the fantastic feedback from travellers across the globe."

Top 10 Islands in Asia:

1. Koh Tao( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g303910-Koh_Tao_Surat_Thani_Province-Vacations.html ), Surat Thani, Thailand

2. Nusa Lembongan( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g1137831-Nusa_Lembongan_Bali-Vacations.html ), Bali, Indonesia

3. Ko Lanta( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g303905-Ko_Lanta_Krabi_Province-Vacations.html ), Krabi, Thailand

4. Gili Trawangan( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g664666-Gili_Trawangan_Gili_Islands_Lombok_West_Nusa_Tenggara-Vacations.html ), Gili Islands, Indonesia

5. Boracay( http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Tourism-g294260-Boracay_Visayas-Vacations.html ), Visayas, Philippines

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High Point Regional Merges With UNC Health Care

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High Point, NC -- It's a done deal as High Point Regional has completed its merger with UNC Health Care System effective April 1, 2013.

The merger means UNC Health Care will take over management and daily operations of the hospital. It will also provide $150 million for capital improvements along with $50 million to create a Community Health Fund. High Point Regional will keep its name, but it will get a new logo to reflect its new relationship with UNC Health Care to be unveiled April 1.

Jeffrey Miller, President of High Point Regional says the merger puts the hospital in a better position.

"UNC Health Care will ensure High Point Regional continues to advance in clinical care and remain competitive while also positioning us for a strong future."

Gary Park, President of UNC Hospitals says the merger will provide quality health care.

"We proudly welcome High Point Regional's trustees, physicians, staff and volunteers to the UNC Health Care team. With our shared mission and values, this partnership will further a comprehensive approach to health care that connects communities with the health care resources they need, provided by the local hospitals and doctors they trust."

Celebrations will take place over the next several weeks to mark the merger.

WFMY News 2/High Point Regional Health System

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High Point Regional Merges With UNC Health Care

Final vote expected in Maryland Senate on health care bill

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By Scott Dance and Erin Cox, The Baltimore Sun

6:52 p.m. EDT, March 26, 2013

The House of Delegates approved an identical bill Monday, clearing the way for the legislation to make its way to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.

Among its proposals are:

Adding children ages 6 through 18 and adults younger than 65 with household incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level to those eligible for Medicaid, the joint state-federal program that provides health care to the poor.

Dedicating an existing 2 percent tax on health insurance premiums, paid by health insurers and for-profit HMOs, to pay for operation of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. The exchange would open by Jan. 1 as a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to shop for health insurance.

Planning the transition for those now covered under the Maryland Health Insurance Plan, which covers many with pre-existing conditions who are denied health insurance coverage. The plan is being canceled and its enrollees sent to the exchange for health coverage.

Establishing guidelines to determine how much small businesses would contribute to employees' health care, if they choose to do so, but also ensuring that no employers would be required to pay for employees' health insurance.

Outlining requirements for what types of plans and what levels of coverage insurance carriers would be required to offer in the insurance exchange.

sdance@baltsun.com

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Gene therapy cures leukaemia in eight days

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WITHIN just eight days of starting a novel gene therapy, David Aponte's "incurable" leukaemia had vanished. For four other patients, the same happened within eight weeks, although one later died from a blood clot unrelated to the treatment, and another after relapsing.

The cured trio, who were all previously diagnosed with usually fatal relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, have now been in remission for between 5 months and 2 years. Michel Sadelain of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, co-leader of the group that designed the trial, says that a second trial of 50 patients is being readied, and the team is looking into using the technique to treat other cancers.

The key to the new therapy is identifying a molecule unique to the surface of cancer cells, then genetically engineering a patient's immune cells to attack it.

In acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, immune cells called B-cells become malignant. The team were able to target a surface molecule known as CD19 that is only present on B-cells. Doctors extracted other immune cells called T-cells from the patients. These were treated with a harmless virus, which installed a new gene redirecting them to attack all cells bearing CD19. When the engineered T-cells were reinfused into the patients, they rapidly killed all B-cells, cancerous or otherwise.

"The stunning finding was that in all five patients, tumours were undetectable after the treatment," says Sadelain.

He reckons that the body should replenish the immune system with regular T-cells and healthy B-cells after a couple of months. However, the patients received donated bone marrow to ensure they could regrow a healthy immune system (Science Translational Medicine, doi.org/kwz).

The treatment is not the first to re-engineer T-cells to attack a form of leukaemia. Last year, an international company called Adaptimmune used the approach to treat 13 people with multiple myeloma it left 10 in remission.

"Although it's early days for these trials, the approach of modifying a patient's T-cells to attack their cancer is looking increasingly like one that will, in time, have a place alongside more traditional treatments," says Paul Moss of Cancer Research UK.

Sadelain's team is now investigating the scope for attacking other cancers. Where no single surface molecule is unique to a cancer, he is seeking to target pairs of molecules that only occur together on cancer cells. In January, he demonstrated this approach by wiping out human prostate tumours implanted in mice, using T-cells engineered to target two surface molecules (Nature Biotechnology, doi.org/kw2).

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

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Gene therapy may aid failing hearts

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Mar. 25, 2013 In an animal study, researchers at the University of Washington show that it was possible to use gene therapy to boost heart muscle function. The finding suggests that it might be possible to use this approach to treat patients whose hearts have been weakened by heart attacks and other heart conditions.

Led by University of Washington (UW) Professor and Vice Chair of Bioengineering Michael Regnier and Dr. Chuck Murry, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Biology and co-director of the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at UW, the study appears online today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Normally, muscle contraction is powered by a molecule, the nucleotide called Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP). Other naturally occurring nucleotides can also power muscle contraction, but, in most cases, they have proven to be less effective than ATP.

In an earlier study of isolated muscle, however, Regnier, Murry and colleagues had found that one naturally occurring molecule, called 2 deoxy-ATP (dATP), was actually more effective than ATP in powering muscle contraction, increasing both the speed and force of the contraction, at least over the short-term.

In the new PNAS study, the researchers wanted to see whether this effect could be sustained. To do this, they used genetic engineering to create a strain of mice whose cells produced higher-than-normal levels of an enzyme called Ribonucleotide Reductase, which converts the precursor of ATP, adenosine-5'-diphosphate or ADP, to dADP, which, in turn, is rapidly converted to dATP.

"This fundamental discovery, that dATP can act as a 'super-fuel' for the contractile machinery of the heart, or myofilaments, opens up the possibility to treat a variety of heart failure conditions," Regnier said. "An exciting aspect of this study and our ongoing work is that a relatively small increase in dATP in the heart cells has a big effect on heart performance."

The researchers found that increased production of the enzyme Ribonucleotide Reductase increased the concentration of dATP within heart cells approximately tenfold, and even though this level was still less than one to two percent of the cell's total pool of ATP, the increase led to a sustained improvement in heart muscle function, with the genetically engineered hearts contracting more quickly and with greater force.

"It looks as though we may have stumbled on an important pathway that nature uses to regulate heart contractility," Murry added. "The same pathway that heart cells use to make the building blocks for DNA during embryonic growth makes dATP to supercharge contraction when the adult heart is mechanically stressed."

Importantly, the elevated dATP effect was achieved without imposing additional metabolic demands on the cells, suggesting the modification would not harm the cell's functioning over the long-term.

The finding, the authors write, suggest that treatments that elevate dATP levels in heart cells may prove to be an effective treatment for heart failure.

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Advantest to Feature Keynote Address by Futurist , Glen Hiemstra, at VOICE 2013 User’s Group and Partners Conference

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TOKYO--(Marketwire - Mar 26, 2013) - VOICE 2013, a user's group meeting and partners conference organized by Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) (NYSE: ATE), will feature a keynote presentation by Glen Hiemstra, founder of Futurist.com. An internationally acclaimed expert on long-range trends and creating the preferred future, Hiemstra has advised professional, business, and governmental organizations for two decades and served as a technical advisor for futuristic television programs.He is the author of Turning the Future into Revenue: What Businesses and Individuals Need to Know to Shape Their Future and co-author of Strategic Leadership.His next book, Millennial City: How a New Generation Can Save the Future will be published in 2013.Futurist.com is regularly visited by people from more than 120 nations.

Hiemstra's keynote, titled "Beyond 2020 - Creating True Value in the Future," will kick off Day 2 of Advantest's VOICE conference, taking place April 23-24 in San Jose, California.Hiemstra's keynote will explore future trends as they impact the future of technology and the industry related to semiconductors and integrated circuits.

"This year's keynote brings the VOICE 2013 theme of Creating True Value into reality with actual examples of how future innovations can bring value to customers today," said Advantest's Don Blair, chairperson of the VOICE 2013 program committee. "VOICE's rich technical program, combined with this future-focused presentation, will deliver an informative and stimulating event for our attendees."

In addition to the keynote address, VOICE 2013 will feature technical presentations by customers, strategic partners and in-house experts; a robust kiosk program staffed by product experts; and a one-day, hands-on workshop for test engineers. For complete program details, visit http://www.advantest.com/VOICE2013.

This year's conference is expected to attract more than 300 test engineering and management professionals from more than 50 companies around the world, including foundries, fabless semiconductor companies and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) as well as strategic partners of Advantest.

About Advantest VOICE 2013Managed by a steering committee of volunteer representatives from Advantest and its customers, VOICE is the leading conference for the growing international community of users and strategic partners involved with Advantest's T2000 and V93000 test platforms. The conference offers a unique opportunity to take part in making semiconductor testing operations as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Attendees gain and share valuable insights, build long-lasting relationships and learn what's new about Advantest SOC test equipment, handlers and applications.

About Advantest CorporationA world-class technology company, Advantest is the leading producer of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the semiconductor industry and a premier manufacturer of measuring instruments used in the design and production of electronic instruments and systems. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world.The company also focuses on R&D for emerging markets that benefit from advancements in nanotech and terahertz technologies, and multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, as well as a groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tool.Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its first subsidiary in 1982, in the USA, and now has subsidiaries worldwide.More information is available at http://www.advantest.com.

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Advantest to Feature Keynote Address by Futurist , Glen Hiemstra, at VOICE 2013 User's Group and Partners Conference