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The Synthetic Biology Pathway to Innovation in Fuels and Chemicals

Posted on October 12, 2012 by ev1

Rob Carlson a principle at Biodesic, an engineering, consulting, and design firm in Seattle moderated a plenary session focused on synthetic biology at BIOs Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. The panel, Status Report: The Synthetic Biology Pathway to Innovation in Fuels and Chemicals, consisted of scientists from both the biotechnology industry and academia expressing their views on the importance of synthetic biology and discussing how the technology has evolved over time.

Todd Peterson, synthetic biology vice president at Life Technologies said, synthetic biology is based on building living systems or rebuilding those that are living. Peterson described synthetic biology as engineering life for useful purposes, based on a rapidly growing field of research and new approaches to life sciences. It impacts a broad range of industrial applications using standardized parts, engineered hosts, assembly tools, computational design tools, and analytical tools in health care, renewable energy, renewable chemicals, agriculture and bio-remediation. Like traditional recombinant DNA technology, synthetic biology further manipulates nature, enhancing, human beings or other organisms.

Carlson said economic demand will serve as a driver for continued proliferation of biotechnology. Today, in the United States, revenues from genetically modified systems contribute the equivalent of almost 2 percent of GDP, and are growing in the range of 15 to 20 percent per year. Our ability to manipulate biology to produce economically useful products is now moving along the road traveled by many other technologies in the 20thcentury.

Plastics, therapeutic drugs, biofuels and industrial chemicals are all being produced in engineered organisms. This transformation is taking place in the context of global communication, and is a push by the educated populations of China, India and other up-and-coming nations to improve their economic influence. Biological engineering, whether home-grown or practiced abroad, will soon be integrated into our society and economy as never before.

Another industrial scientist, Lori Giver, vice president from Codexis said whole genomes, integrated platforms for use with cellulosic sugars, and training enzymes to work in different conditions will lead to novel products. For example, the design of new enzymes from manipulating wild type enzymes for new mutations will lead to fatty alcohols for detergents.

Yizhi Cai, a senior scientist at John Hopkins University School of Medicine spoke aboutsaccharomyces cerevisiae, a species of yeast that has been instrumental to winemaking, baking and brewing since ancient times. He also touched on his work on reengineering the microorganism, which would fortify bread with vitamins, which he envisioned could be easily and cheaply shared among impoverished people in the form of starter dough. This presents just one way that synthetic biology can lead to a sustainable solution to a critical global health problem. As time goes on synthetic biology will continue to evolve leading to further innovation.

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The Synthetic Biology Pathway to Innovation in Fuels and Chemicals

Hail to a scientist

Posted on October 12, 2012 by ev1

The first emotion, for those of us in North Carolina who havent just won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, is pride. We are proud to have Dr. Robert Lefkowitz of Duke University living and working in our midst. We are proud of what his achievements say about this areas intellectual climate and depth of scientific expertise.

Pride verges with respect and gratitude. The award to Lefkowitz which he shares with Stanfords Brian Kobilka, whom he mentored at Duke recognizes a career that reached the apex of achievement in medical research.

Over the years in his lab, he hammered away at riddles of cell biology and biochemistry in search of answers that would make medicines work more effectively. It was a dedication that must have been driven not only by the thrill of discovery but also by the physicians desire to ease peoples suffering.

In the process, Lefkowitz fulfilled the high calling of a professor of medicine training more than 200 other scientists such as Kobilka to make their own discoveries in their own labs. That Duke, where he has worked since 1973, proved to be a fertile and compatible home base is a great credit to the university, which for the first time can point to a Nobel awarded for work done on its campus.

It takes a special kind of environment to foster research at such a high level. North Carolina is fortunate indeed that the region we know as the Research Triangle provides the environment that can support a scientist of Lefkowitz caliber.

He becomes the fifth Triangle-area Nobel winner, following previous laureates associated with UNC-Chapel Hill, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Wellcome Research Laboratories.

This state looks to the life sciences as an economic mainstay, both in the conduct of research that attracts many millions in federal grants and as a focus of industry. The honor to Lefkowitz amounts to putting a fresh shine on the North Carolina brand. And it underscores the appeal of that tried-and-true goal doing well by doing good.

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Hail to a scientist

Grace under pressure: Resilience is a rare but valuable character trait

Posted on October 12, 2012 by ev1

By Kristen Ziman For the Beacon-News October 12, 2012 1:12PM

HEATHER EIDSON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER New, improved mug of Aurora Police Lt. Kristen Ziman, columnist for The Beacon News.

storyidforme: 38341265 tmspicid: 13712563 fileheaderid: 6318206

Updated: October 12, 2012 1:12PM

As a police officer, my job description has changed over the years but the one thing that still fascinates me about policing is human behavior.

I was never a psychology major in college but I have come to believe that those entering law enforcement should, at the very least, minor in behavioral science.

When I worked the street, I was puzzled by the way different people reacted to similar situations. I found myself viewing the world as a laboratory and every human encounter was an experiment in social behavior.

I started to analyze the ways in which some people reacted to a traffic ticket. Some would be extremely argumentative and rude while others would receive it politely and respectfully. Of course, you might say that a police officers demeanor sets the tone for the interaction and I cant disagree, so perhaps that is not the best example.

I noted that when responding to traumatic incidents, some crime victims were emotionally strong while others seemed to break down when faced with a similar scenario. Although I noted that people handle death and trauma quite differently, Ill reserve my commentary because reactions to these situations are at the core of emotion and there are many variables involved.

Rather, Im referring to incidents where there is a notable hardship incurred other than loss of life. For example, in responding to burglary victims, it was fascinating to have a front row seat into the layers of emotion that surface when a person was faced with this type of an invasion. Some saw it as a devastating and debilitating blow to their security and peace of mind. Others put it in perspective and even found a way to be grateful that there was no human life harmed.

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Grace under pressure: Resilience is a rare but valuable character trait

Research and Markets: Anatomy of the Horse, 6th edition

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5m7lcm/anatomy_of_the) has announced the addition of the "Anatomy of the Horse, 6th edition" report to their offering.

The sixth edition of this highly successful book contains updates to functional anatomy which has now been totally revised. There are also new chapters on the eye, abdomen, female reproduction, ultrasonography and orthopaedics. The atlas is superbly illustrated throughout with colour drawings, photographs, and radiographs providing the reader with detailed information on the structure, function, and clinical application of all equine body systems and their interaction in the live animal.

Already acknowledged by students and teachers as an essential resource for learning and revision, the sixth edition is a valuable reference for veterinary practitioners and for those who own and work with horses.

Published by Schluetersche, Germany and distributed by Manson Publishing.

Key Features:

- Fully illustrated with colour drawings based on new dissections plus osteology photographs and radiographs

- Includes topographic anatomy of the entire body; detailed information in tabular form on muscles, lymph nodes, and peripheral nerves; and clinical and functional aspects of selected structures

Reviews:

... The aim of the authors has been admirably achieved. The textbook is already acknowledged as an essential resource for students, teachers and for veterinary practitioners and horse lovers in the English-speaking world.

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Research and Markets: Anatomy of the Horse, 6th edition

Seahorse Bioscience Announces Neuroscience 2012 Travel Award Winners

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

BILLERICA, Mass., Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Seahorse Bioscience, the world leader in manufacturing instrumentation and assay kits for measuring cell metabolism, announces travel award recipients, who will be presenting data generated with the Seahorse XF Analyzer at the Neuroscience 2012 Conference, in New Orleans, Oct 13-17.

Seahorse XF Extracellular Flux Analyzers and stress test kits are the industry Gold Standard for simultaneously measuring the two major energy pathways of the cell - mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis - in a microplate, in real-time.

"Our lab is using the Seahorse XF to help explore the specific mitochondrial electron transport chain deficiencies observed in a novel human Parkinson's Disease cell model. The opportunity to study mitochondrial bioenergetics in adherent cells is unique to the Seahorse XF technology," stated Dr. Patricia A. Trimmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University. "With our cell model, we hope to use the Seahorse to develop therapies that can specifically improve mitochondrial function in Parkinson's Disease."

Seahorse supports the exploration of cell metabolism through travel awards that are offered to graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and young investigators who present a talk or poster citing data generated on the XF platform at scientific meetings and conferences. Through this program, Seahorse seeks to increase the body of knowledge that is enabling new discoveries about the role of cell metabolism in pathophysiology.

"XF technology provides us with a means to investigate the functional significance of mitochondrial dysfunction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)," stated Shannon Rose Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in Autism Research, at the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, in Little Rock, AR. "While poorly understood, mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the most common metabolic abnormalities affecting children with ASD. We believe mitochondrial dysfunction in children with ASD, and our findings, indicate that it may be associated with the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of the disorders. In addition, our studies on the XF have provided us with in vitro support for a clinical trial of N-acetyl-cysteine in children with ASD."

"These young researchers are to be congratulated. They are leading the way in neuroscience research, and by embracing XF technology are reaching new levels of discovery into cell metabolism and disease," stated Cynthia Egan, Director of Marketing at Seahorse Bioscience.

The XF Analyzer and stress test kits standardize the measurement of mitochondrial dysfunction detecting subtle changes in neuronal cell metabolism, before the development of observable neurodegeneration. This knowledge is enabling scientists to better understand the connection of physiological traits of cells with genomic and proteomic data, leading to a greater understanding, and new treatments of neurological disease.

About Seahorse Bioscience

Seahorse Bioscience XF Analyzers and stress test kits are the industry standard in cell metabolism measurements. Over 2,500 scientists worldwide are advancing their research in understanding the role of bioenergetics in Neurodegeneration, Aging, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Cell Physiology, Toxicology & Hepatobiology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Mitochondrial Diseases, Model Organisms, Obesity, Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders, Screening, and Translational Medicine. Founded in 2001, Seahorse Bioscience is headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S., and has regional offices in Copenhagen, Denmark; and Shanghai, China. Learn more about Seahorse Bioscience at http://www.seahorsebio.com.

About the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute

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Seahorse Bioscience Announces Neuroscience 2012 Travel Award Winners

Norwegian Cruise Line defends title at World Travel Awards – Breaking Travel News

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

This is a discussion on Norwegian Cruise Line defends title at World Travel Awards - Breaking Travel News within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Cruise News Reporter Has Just Posted the Following: Breaking Travel News Norwegian Cruise Line defends title at World Travel Awards ...

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Norwegian Cruise Line defends title at World Travel Awards - Breaking Travel News

Avis, Europcar, Europcar UK Limited Recognized in Europe’s World Travel Awards

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

The World Travel Awards recognized Avis and Europcar in this years awards for Europe on Oct. 6.

Avis was honored as Europe's Leading Business Car Rental Company. This is the fourth year in a row Avis has received the award. Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt were the other nominees in the category.

For the 10th consecutive year, Europcar was recognized as the Leading Car Rental in Europe. Other nominees included Auto Europe, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Thrifty.

Europcar UK Limited received the Responsible Tourism Award for the first time. This years nominees in the category included Eagles Palace Hotel Greece, Hotel Omm, NCL Freestyle Cruising - Norwegian Epic, The Alnwick Garden and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Click here to see the full list of winners.

The World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

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Avis, Europcar, Europcar UK Limited Recognized in Europe’s World Travel Awards

Did Super Micro Computer Squander Its Latest Sales Increase?

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Margins matter. The more Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Super Micro Computer's competitive position could be.

Here's the current margin snapshot for Super Micro Computer over the trailing 12 months: Gross margin is 16.3%, while operating margin is 4.8% and net margin is 2.9%.

Unfortunately, a look at the most recent numbers doesn't tell us much about where Super Micro Computer has been, or where it's going. A company with rising gross and operating margins often fuels its growth by increasing demand for its products. If it sells more units while keeping costs in check, its profitability increases. Conversely, a company with gross margins that inch downward over time is often losing out to competition, and possibly engaging in a race to the bottom on prices. If it can't make up for this problem by cutting costs -- and most companies can't -- then both the business and its shares face a decidedly bleak outlook.

Of course, over the short term, the kind of economic shocks we recently experienced can drastically affect a company's profitability. That's why I like to look at five fiscal years' worth of margins, along with the results for the trailing 12 months, the last fiscal year, and last fiscal quarter (LFQ). You can't always reach a hard conclusion about your company's health, but you can better understand what to expect, and what to watch.

Here's the margin picture for Super Micro Computer over the past few years.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Dollar amounts in millions. FY = fiscal year. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Because of seasonality in some businesses, the numbers for the last period on the right -- the TTM figures -- aren't always comparable to the FY results preceding them. To compare quarterly margins to their prior-year levels, consult this chart.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Dollar amounts in millions. FQ = fiscal quarter.

Here's how the stats break down:

With recent TTM operating margins below historical averages, Super Micro Computer has some work to do.

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Did Super Micro Computer Squander Its Latest Sales Increase?

Stem cells from muscle tissue may hold key to cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Public release date: 12-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Marguerite Beck marbeck@wakehealth.edu 336-716-2415 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Oct. 12, 2012 Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have taken the first steps to create neural-like stem cells from muscle tissue in animals. Details of the work are published in two complementary studies published in the September online issues of the journals Experimental Cell Research and Stem Cell Research.

"Reversing brain degeneration and trauma lesions will depend on cell therapy, but we can't harvest neural stem cells from the brain or spinal cord without harming the donor," said Osvaldo Delbono, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the studies.

"Skeletal muscle tissue, which makes up 50 percent of the body, is easily accessible and biopsies of muscle are relatively harmless to the donor, so we think it may be an alternative source of neural-like cells that potentially could be used to treat brain or spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors and other diseases, although more studies are needed."

In an earlier study, the Wake Forest Baptist team isolated neural precursor cells derived from skeletal muscle of adult transgenic mice (PLOS One, Feb.3, 2011).

In the current research, the team isolated neural precursor cells from in vitro adult skeletal muscle of various species including non-human primates and aging mice, and showed that these cells not only survived in the brain, but also migrated to the area of the brain where neural stem cells originate.

Another issue the researchers investigated was whether these neural-like cells would form tumors, a characteristic of many types of stem cells. To test this, the team injected the cells below the skin and in the brains of mice, and after one month, no tumors were found.

"Right now, patients with glioblastomas or other brain tumors have very poor outcomes and relatively few treatment options," said Alexander Birbrair, a doctoral student in Delbono's lab and first author of these studies. "Because our cells survived and migrated in the brain, we may be able to use them as drug-delivery vehicles in the future, not only for brain tumors but also for other central nervous system diseases."

In addition, the Wake Forest Baptist team is now conducting research to determine if these neural-like cells also have the capability to become functioning neurons in the central nervous system.

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Stem cells from muscle tissue may hold key to cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

Regenevéda Opens Flagship Stem Cell Therapy Clinic in Beverly Hills

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2012

Regenevda (http://www.regeneveda.com) recently opened its brand new flagship facility in Beverly Hills. Founded by world renowned surgeon Dr. Thom Lobe, Regenevda specializes in cutting edge anti-aging treatments such as Stem Cell Therapy, IV Vitamin Therapy, and HGH Therapy.

Dr. Thom Lobe is an internationally respected surgeon and has been in practice for over 30 years. Consistently pioneering advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe was one of the first doctors to ever separate conjoined twins. Consistently working to help make advances in medicine, Dr. Lobe also has over 200 publications to his credit.

Overseeing the business aspect of Regenevda is Lindsey Combs. She is responsible for sales, staff, accounting, facility management, and business development. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. Combs has been working in the anti-aging field for over 10 years and has been a California Licensed Esthetician since 2003.

Being one of the very few physicians in the country to hold the most advanced board certification (FAARM), Dr. Lobe is able to offer Stem Cell Therapy at the Regenevda clinic. Inside each persons own body, there are special cells in nearly every organ and tissue that have the ability to help heal damage. These special cells are called Stem Cells and this therapy works by harvesting these cells from a persons own blood, bone marrow, or fat and can help with different conditions. Some examples of procedures that use Stem Cell Therapy are: Stem Cell Facelifts, Stem Cell Breast Augmentation, and Stem Cell Joint Therapy. Stem Cell treatments are safe, non-invasive, and are done under local anesthesia.

Intravenous Nutrition Therapy (or IV Vitamin Therapy) is another anti-aging and rejuvenation treatment that can also help patients prevent migraines, lose weight, fight chronic infections like hepatitis, candida, lyme disease, as well as fight acute infections like the flu and mono. IV Therapy works by using intravenous solutions to deliver vitamins and minerals directly to the body cells. This bypasses the digestive system and provides a more direct method of delivery, which ensures that all of the nutrients required are delivered, allowing the patient to feel an improvement in condition almost immediately.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Therapy is another advanced treatment offered at Regenevda. HGH is secreted by the Pituitary gland and fuels cell growth and reproduction. This production peaks at adolescence. Over time, due to the effect of aging, the production of HGH slows down dramatically. As production declines, it makes it more difficult for the body to recover from physical and mental exertion. HGH Therapy acts as a supplement for HGH deficient adults to lessen body fat, boost lipid lineament, improve memory, promote bone density, as well as decrease risk factors that involve cardio-vascular conditions. If used at the onset of the decrease in HGH production, HGH Therapy can help curtail early aging and even be used as preventive measure against osteoporosis. A complete analysis of the patients sex hormones, evaluation of glucose regulation and functions of the adrenal gland, thyroid gland, and pancreas are performed before the treatment is administered for optimal results.

Combining decades of medical experience with the most cutting edge advances in medical technology, the Regenevda clinic looks to pave the way for the future of anti-aging treatments. The Regenevda Beverly Hills Institute of Cellular Therapy is located at 50 North La Cienega Boulevard. For any inquiries, they can be reached at 855-734-3638, or visit http://www.regeneveda.com.

About Regenevda :

Regeneveda, home of The Beverly Hills Institute of Cellular Therapy, provides state-of-the-art Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Therapy is an effective treatment for chronic conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes, Chronic Sports Injuries, and Chronic Pain, but is also revolutionizing anti-aging treatments such as Breast Enhancement, Erectile Dysfunction, and Facial Aging.

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Regenevéda Opens Flagship Stem Cell Therapy Clinic in Beverly Hills

Woodstock Film Festival highlights local issues, people

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Anti-fracking film big draw on Day 2

People take their seats at the Woodstock Playhouse for the world premiere of the anti-fracking documentary Dear Governor Cuomo ... Thursday in Woodstock at the Woodstock Film Festival.KELLY MARSH/For the Times Herald-Record

Published: 2:00 AM - 10/12/12 Last updated: 9:45 AM - 10/12/12

WOODSTOCK At first glance, the films would seem to have almost nothing in common.

One, "First Winter," is about a bunch of privileged, young city folk stranded at a yoga retreat in a remote area during a blizzard. Another, "One Track Heart," is about a dude from Long Island who gives up his rock 'n' roll dreams and his name to seek spiritual enlightenment in India. The third, "Dear Governor Cuomo ...," chronicles an anti-fracking protest/concert in Albany in May.

But these three films, which were among the highlights of the 14 films that kicked off Thursday's official opening of the Woodstock Film Festival, are typical of what the festival is all about. It's about music in this town that has counted Bob Dylan, The Band and Jimi Hendrix among its residents and recording artists. Both "One Track Heart" which features that former almost-member of Blue Oyster Cult, Jeffrey Kagel/now Krishna Das and "Dear Governor Cuomo ... ," which features Woodstock-area stars like Natalie Merchant, Joan Osborne and John Sebastian, have lots of music.

It's about showcasing the bounty of films and filmmakers the Hudson Valley produces. "First Winter" was shot in Goshen and Campbell Hall. "Dear Governor Cuomo ..." was directed by Stone Ridge's Jon Bowermaster and features local actors Melissa Leo and Mark Ruffalo.

And the Woodstock Film Festival is about the local community a community that gathered in Albany to protest what it says is a grave threat to the Hudson Valley environment, the natural gas extraction method of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Perhaps no festival film typifies what the Woodstock Film Festival is all about more than the official opener, "Dear Governor Cuomo ..." The documentary, which sold out the 300-plus seat Woodstock Playhouse Thursday evening, has everything that makes the festival what it is a locally produced film with national impact and an accent on one of the region's treasures: music.

"It's the perfect Woodstock film," said Bowermaster. "It's about music, the environment and community."

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Woodstock Film Festival highlights local issues, people

SpaceX Commercial Cargo Craft Arrives at International Space Station – Video

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

10-10-2012 09:29 Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 33 Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and station Commander Sunita Williams of NASA used the Canadarm2 robotic arm to grapple the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft October 10 2012, signaling the arrival of the vehicle at the orbital laboratory for the first US commercial resupply service for the complex. Within hours after grappling Dragon following its 2-day transit following launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Williams and Hoshide installed the SpaceX craft to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module. Dragon is scheduled to remain berthed to the station until its departure October 28 for its deorbit and parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.

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SpaceX Commercial Cargo Craft Arrives at International Space Station - Video

Sarah Brightman to fly to space

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

New blastoff for Sarah Brightman: flight to space

MOSCOW -- Sarah Brightman's voice, beloved by audiences and renowned for its three-octave range, rocketed to fame more than two decades ago as the heroine of "The Phantom of the Opera." Now the world's biggest-selling soprano is heading to outer space.

On Wednesday, Brightman told a news conference in Moscow that she has booked a trip to the International Space Station. Brightman, who had a hit in 1978 with "I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper" and has sold more than 30 million records, will become the first recording artist in space.

The British singer said that after touring the world in 2013 for her new album, "Dreamchaser," she will spend six months in Russia's Star City cosmonaut training center.

"I think of myself not just as a dreamer, but as a dream chaser," she said.

Brightman, a UNESCO ambassador, said the trip would also serve as a way to promote the U.N. agency's message, by encouraging women's education in the sciences and environmental awareness. She hinted at the possibility of doing a promotional "space concert."

She wouldn't give a precise time for her mission, but Alexei Krasnov, the head of manned programs at the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said she would likely make it in the fall of 2015.

Krasnov said the price tag for the flight was in "tens of millions of dollars," but refused to name a precise figure.

Brightman teamed up with the private company Space Adventures, which organizes trips for private space explorers. When questioned about the expense of the journey, Eric Anderson, co-founder and chairman of Space Adventures, wouldn't give a figure but joked that "it's a round-trip flight."

Previous flights have cost the adventurous travellers over $20 million each, according to several of the participants.

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Sarah Brightman to fly to space

Rebels players, Red Deer mayor make appearances in WHL Gangnam Style parody

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Last week, our NHL counterparts at Yahoo stumbled across the Columbus Blue Jackets' mascot dancing to Gangnam Style, the latest fad song to hit the FM airwaves thanks to a funny music video. But Stinger is just bouncing around. The boys at the Kraze 101.3 Morning Krew in Red Deer had a better idea.

Enter, Red Deer Rebels Style, presented by Diesel and Rae:

Anybody who has tired of the original video since it debuted about a month ago can take solace in the fact that the production team behind this video appear to get that simply using the singular dance move in different locations can be tired. There's a lot more "parody" that goes into this one rather than just getting a few people in Red Deer jerseys dancing around in front of the arena.

Sample lyrics:

Hit the ice all Rebel boys and Jesse WallinYeah they're slinging pucks and bucksBecause you know our team is ballin'The other guys got their heads downYou best watch out for DumbaGoals, hits, lay the lumba'

The ABACDD rhyming scheme isn't a poetic convention that I learned in any literature classes, and there are some creative liberties rhyming Wild first rounder Mathew Dumba's name with "lumber", but that's all part of the parody. Also not sure about Rebels' coach Jesse Wallin's name rhyming with "ballin". A few creative liberties.

That next scene in the elevator? That would presumably be taking place at Red Deer's City Hall (I imagine one of the few buildings in Red Deer that has an elevator) since that is Red Deer mayor Morris Flewwelling asking the performers if they're "here for the budget."

Despite the political cameo and the Rebels players dancing in supporting roles, the one thing that keeps this from ranking up there with the Spokane Chiefs' Call Me Maybe or the Barrie Colts' Cha Cha Slide is that this isn't so much a performance by hockey players as it is an honest-to-goodness parody. FM stations like to pump out alternative lyrics of popular songs to back the local team, and that's what this is.

It's pretty enjoyable, all things considered.

Red Deer play at home to Medicine Hat tonight and currently sit 3rd place in the WHL's Central Division with a 4-5-0-1 record.

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Rebels players, Red Deer mayor make appearances in WHL Gangnam Style parody

Vettel heads Red Bull 1-2 in second session

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Vettel heads Red Bull 1-2 in second session

12/10/2012

Ahead of today's second session, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees.

Lewis Hamilton led the way this morning, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, in a session which saw plenty of lock-ups and offs as the drivers struggled with the green and excessively dusty track surface.

A number of teams are running updates here, most notably Lotus and Williams, both of whom are trying new exhausts.

The tyres on off this weekend are soft and supersoft, however, the softer option has yet to make an appearance today.

Having handed over their cars to the reserve drivers this morning, this afternoon Nico Hulkenberg, Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov and Narain Karthikeyan get their first taste of Yeongam 2012.

Showing all the eagerness the team displayed this morning, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is first out for this session, followed by Raikkonen and Glock. The German was sidelined for much of this morning's session as his team changed his steering rack.

Within moments of the green light there are eighteen drivers on track.

Drivers are told not to slow in the final corner if entering the pitlane - the warning coming straight from Charlie Whiting.

Vettel heads Red Bull 1-2 in second session

Epiomed and NASA Sign Space Act Agreement

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

IRVINE, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Epiomed Therapeutics, Inc. ("Epiomed") announced today that it has entered into a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (SAA) with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for the development, distribution, manufacture and market release of INSCOP, an intra-nasal scopolamine product. A gel formulation of INSCOP has previously been developed and tested under a SAA between NASA-Johnson Space Center and the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Pensacola, FL (NAMRL). Results from the NAMRL / NASA trial have been published in the journal Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, and suggest that INSCOP is a fast-acting, reliable, operationally suitable, countermeasure for prophylaxis and treatment of motion sickness with a great potential for rescue treatment. In 2010, NAMRL disestablished and became part of the Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, OH (NAMRU-D). NAMRU-D is currently working a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Epiomed to test an aqueous formulation of INSCOP (INSCOP Spray). The aim of INSCOP Spray development is to offer a fast acting formulation with no notable side-effects experienced with currently marketed formulations of the drug. Epiomed will take responsibility for further development and commercialization of INSCOP, assisted by NASA-HH&P (Human Health & Performance Directorate) technology, and assume sponsorship of the IND (Investigational New Drug) from NASA under the SAA. David R. Helton, President and CEO of Epiomed, said "NASA and NAMRL did ground breaking work with INSCOP gel. Now Epiomed is dedicated to complete the required clinical evaluations in collaboration with NASA and NAMRU-D to facilitate market release of INSCOP Spray."

About Epiomed Therapeutics

Epiomed Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, and development of novel central nervous system (CNS) drugs, with a primary focus on anti-emetics (anti-vomiting and anti-nausea), anxiolytics and performance sustainment.

About Human Health & Performance Directorate (HH&P) Houston

HH&P is dedicated to optimize human health and productivity for space exploration by conducting research and developing path changing technologies to assure mission success, optimize human health and productivity in space and on Earth (http://www.nasa.gov/offices/NHHPC/index.html).

For further information, call 1-949-398-7359, or visit http://www.epiomed.com.

Safe Harbor: This press release contains certain forward-looking information about Epiomed Therapeutics, Inc., which is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact: David R. Helton President, CEO and CSO Epiomed Therapeutics, Inc. 949-398-7359

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Epiomed and NASA Sign Space Act Agreement

NASA develops exoskeleton for astronauts, paraplegics

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

NASA has developed a robotic exoskeleton designed to help astronauts walk on other planets and paraplegics walk on Earth.

Called the X1, the suit will be used to help astronauts maintain muscle strength in low-gravity by supplying resistance against leg movement.

For people with disabilities, it could potentially be used in reverse, possibly helping people to walk for the very first time, NASA says.

"Without taking up valuable space or weight during missions, X1 could replicate common crew exercises, which are vital to keeping astronauts healthy in microgravity. In addition, the device has the ability to measure, record and stream back, in real-time, data to flight controllers on Earth, giving doctors better feedback on the impact of the crew's exercise regimen," NASA said in a press release.

The X1, which NASA compares to Iron Man's power suit, is an offshoot of technology developed for the Robonaut 2, a robot astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

"What's extraordinary about space technology and our work with projects like Robonaut are the unexpected possibilities space tech spinoffs may have right here on Earth. It's exciting to see a NASA-developed technology that might one day help people with serious ambulatory needs begin to walk again, or even walk for the first time. That's the sort of return on investment NASA is proud to give back to America and the world."

The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, which developed the suit alongside NASA, will try to apply the technology on Earth.

"We greatly value our collaboration with NASA," director and CEO Ken Ford said. "The X1's high-performance capabilities will enable IHMC to continue performing cutting-edge research in mobility assistance while expanding into the field of rehabilitation."

The device, which is still in the research and development phase, was created with the help of engineers from Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, Texas.

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NASA develops exoskeleton for astronauts, paraplegics

NASA, SpaceX join to investigate launch glitch

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

WASHINGTON A team of experts from NASA and SpaceX will examine what went wrong Sunday when one of nine engines aboard a SpaceX rocket failed during a NASA mission to the International Space Station.

The joint investigative team, announced today by NASA and SpaceX, is expected to piece together data from the Falcon 9 launch, specifically the failure of its Engine 1 about 79 seconds after take-off.

Though the rocket survived the malfunction and ultimately was successful in completing its primary mission getting a capsule filled with NASA supplies to the station it failed in its secondary mission, the delivery of an Orbcomm satellite to orbit.

Heres the full release from SpaceX:

NASA and SpaceX announce that they have jointly formed a CRS-1 Post-Flight Investigation Board. This board will methodically analyze all data in an effort to understand what occurred to engine 1 during liftoff of the CRS-1 mission on Sunday, October 7. While Falcon 9 was designed for engine out capability and the Dragon spacecraft has successfully arrived at the space station, SpaceX is committed to a comprehensive examination and analysis of all launch data, with the goal of understanding what happened and how to correct it prior to future flights. Additional information will be provided as it is available.

NASA, SpaceX join to investigate launch glitch

NASA's Ironman-like exoskeleton could give astronauts, paraplegics improved mobility and strength

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2012) Marvel Comic's fictional superhero, Ironman, uses a powered armor suit that allows him superhuman strength. While NASA's X1 robotic exoskeleton can't do what you see in the movies, the latest robotic, space technology, spinoff derived from NASA's Robonaut 2 project may someday help astronauts stay healthier in space with the added benefit of assisting paraplegics in walking here on Earth.

NASA and The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) of Pensacola, Fla., with the help of engineers from Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, have jointly developed a robotic exoskeleton called X1. The 57-pound device is a robot that a human could wear over his or her body either to assist or inhibit movement in leg joints.

In the inhibit mode, the robotic device would be used as an in-space exercise machine to supply resistance against leg movement. The same technology could be used in reverse on the ground, potentially helping some individuals walk for the first time.

"Robotics is playing a key role aboard the International Space Station and will continue to be critical as we move toward human exploration of deep space," said Michael Gazarik, director of NASA's Space Technology Program. "What's extraordinary about space technology and our work with projects like Robonaut are the unexpected possibilities space tech spinoffs may have right here on Earth. It's exciting to see a NASA-developed technology that might one day help people with serious ambulatory needs begin to walk again, or even walk for the first time. That's the sort of return on investment NASA is proud to give back to America and the world."

Worn over the legs with a harness that reaches up the back and around the shoulders, X1 has 10 degrees of freedom, or joints -- four motorized joints at the hips and the knees, and six passive joints that allow for sidestepping, turning and pointing, and flexing a foot. There also are multiple adjustment points, allowing the X1 to be used in many different ways.

X1 currently is in a research and development phase, where the primary focus is design, evaluation and improvement of the technology. NASA is examining the potential for the X1 as an exercise device to improve crew health both aboard the space station and during future long-duration missions to an asteroid or Mars. Without taking up valuable space or weight during missions, X1 could replicate common crew exercises, which are vital to keeping astronauts healthy in microgravity. In addition, the device has the ability to measure, record and stream back, in real-time, data to flight controllers on Earth, giving doctors better feedback on the impact of the crew's exercise regimen.

As the technology matures, X1 also could provide a robotic power boost to astronauts as they work on the surface of distant planetary bodies. Coupled with a spacesuit, X1 could provide additional force when needed during surface exploration, improving the ability to walk in a reduced gravity environment, providing even more bang for its small bulk.

Here on Earth, IHMC is interested in developing and using X1 as an assistive walking device. By combining NASA technology and walking algorithms developed at IHMC, X1 has the potential to produce high torques to allow for assisted walking over varied terrain, as well as stair climbing. Preliminary studies using X1 for this purpose have already started at IHMC.

"We greatly value our collaboration with NASA," said Ken Ford, IHMC's director and CEO. "The X1's high-performance capabilities will enable IHMC to continue performing cutting-edge research in mobility assistance while expanding into the field of rehabilitation."

The potential of X1 extends to other applications, including rehabilitation, gait modification and offloading large amounts of weight from the wearer. Preliminary studies by IHMC have shown X1 to be more comfortable, easier to adjust, and easier to put on than previous exoskeleton devices. Researchers plan on improving on the X1 design, adding more active joints to areas such as the ankle and hip, which will, in turn, increase the potential uses for the device.

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NASA's Ironman-like exoskeleton could give astronauts, paraplegics improved mobility and strength

NASA's Operation Icebridge Resumes Flights Over Antarctica

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Danzig

Volcano peak near Valdivia, Chile, as seen from the IceBridge DC-8. Credit: NASA / Jim Yungel.

Scientists and flight crew members with Operation IceBridge, NASA's airborne mission to study Earth's changing polar ice, are beginning another campaign over Antarctica. Now in its fourth year, IceBridge's return to the Antarctic comes almost a year after the discovery of a large rift in the continent's Pine Island Glacier.

The first science flight of the campaign began Friday at 8 a.m. EDT when NASA's DC-8 research aircraft left Punta Arenas, Chile, for an 11-hour flight that will take it over the Thwaites Glacier in west Antarctica. This year, IceBridge will survey previously unmeasured areas of land and sea ice and gather further data on rapidly changing areas like Pine Island Glacier. The IceBridge Antarctic campaign will operate out of Punta Arenas through mid-November.

Several of IceBridge's planned flights focus on previously unmeasured ice streams feeding into the Weddell Sea. These flights will gather data on what lies beneath these ice streams, something vital for understanding how changing conditions might affect the flow of ice into the ocean and sea-level rise.

"We have added surveys of ice streams flowing into the Ronne and Filchner ice shelves," said IceBridge project scientist Michael Studinger at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "This is something we haven't done before."

The large crack in Pine Island Glacier's floating ice shelf has been the focus of worldwide attention as it has grown. The ice shelf now threatens to calve, or break off, a large iceberg into Pine Island Bay in the Amundsen Sea. Researchers have been using imagery from NASA's Aqua and Terra spacecraft and synthetic aperture radar data from the German Aerospace Center's TerraSAR-X satellite to monitor the rift since its discovery last year.

IceBridge also will gather data on sea ice in the Weddell and Bellingshausen seas. Because of geographical differences, Antarctic sea ice behaves differently from ice in the Arctic and presents unique challenges.

"Sea ice in the Antarctic is a very different physical system," Goddard sea ice researcher Nathan Kurtz said.

Ocean currents, precipitation patterns and the shape of land masses are just a few of the differences. Instead of compacting ice against land like in the Arctic basin, currents in the Southern Ocean push much of it farther out to sea. Also, the Antarctic averages more snowfall, which weighs sea ice down and allows ocean water into the bottom layer of the snow on top of the sea ice. The Antarctic has more frequent strong wind events and large temperature swings than the Arctic, which causes layers of ice to form in snow cover. Both of these factors make getting accurate readings of snow on top of sea ice challenging.

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NASA's Operation Icebridge Resumes Flights Over Antarctica

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