NASA's last space shuttle to take wing to its retirement home

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By Ben Brumfield, CNN

updated 10:27 AM EDT, Wed September 19, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Share photos of shuttle Endeavour as it flies from Florida to California

(CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour began its final aerial show Wednesday, thrilling spectators across the southern United States.

After a two-day delay because of weather conditions, Endeavour began its cross-country flight Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Los Angeles, where the now-retired spacecraft will be put on display.

NASA had postponed Endeavour's piggyback trek atop a modified 747 airliner to its retirement home after inclement weather Monday and a poor forecast Tuesday.

The journey is divided into three legs that could be described as scenic routes to showcase the shuttle to the public. It will take three days to complete.

Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement

Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement

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NASA's last space shuttle to take wing to its retirement home

Discovery of reprogramming signature may help further stem cell-based regenerative medicine research

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This shows a colony of induced pluripotent stem cells. Blue fluorescence indicates cell nuclei; red and green are markers of pluripotency. Credit: Image: Courtesy of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Salk scientists have identified a unique molecular signature in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), "reprogrammed" cells that show great promise in regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to generate a range of body tissues.

In this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Salk scientists and their collaborators at University of California, San Diego, report that there is a consistent, signature difference between embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. The findings could help overcome hurdles to using the induced stem cells in regenerative medicine.

"We believe that iPSCs hold a great potential for the treatment of human patients," says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a professor in Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory and the senior author on the paper. "Yet we must thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms governing their safety profile in order to be confident of their function in the human body. With the discovery of these small, yet apparent, epigenetic differences, we believe that we are now one step closer to that goal."

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are known for their "pluripotency," the ability to differentiate into nearly any cell in the body. Because of this ability, it has long been thought that ESCs would be ideal to customize for therapeutic uses. However, when ESCs mature into specific cell types, and are then transplanted into a patient, they may elicit immune responses, potentially causing the patient to reject the cells.

In 2006, scientists discovered how to revert mature cells, which had already differentiated into particular cell types, such as skin cells or hair cells, back into a pluripotent state. These "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPSCs), which could be developed from the patient's own cells, would theoretically carry no risk of immune rejection.

However, scientists found that iPSCs had molecular differences from embryonic stem cells. Specifically, there were epigenetic changes, chemical modifications in DNA that might alter genetic activity. At certain points in the iPSC's genome, scientists could see the presence of different patterns of methyl groups when compared to the genomes of ESCs. It seemed these changes occurred randomly.

Izpisua Belmonte and his colleagues wanted to understand more about these differences. Were they truly random, or was there a discernable pattern?

Unlike previous studies, which had primarily analyzed iPSCs derived from only one mature type of cells (mainly connective tissue cells called fibroblasts), the Salk and UCSD researchers examined iPSCs derived from six different mature cell types to see if there were any commonalities. They discovered that while there were hundreds of unpredictable changes, there were some that remained consistent across the cell types: the same nine genes were associated with these common changes in all iPSCs.

"We knew there were differences between iPSCs and ESCs," says Sergio Ruiz, first author of the paper, "We now have an identifying mark for what they are."

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Discovery of reprogramming signature may help further stem cell-based regenerative medicine research

Start of Pivotal Phase III Trial for Lutathera® in Cancer Patients With Progressive Midgut Carcinoid

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SAINT GENIS POUILLY, France, September 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights

Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA), a fast growing international player in Molecular Nuclear Medicine (MNM), announces the initiation of an international Phase III clinical trial evaluating the effect of Lutathera, an investigational peptide, in patients with inoperable progressive midgut carcinoid. The study will be conducted at multiple centres in Europe and North America. The first European patient was enrolled on July 20th 2012 in Madrid, Spain. The FDA approved the trial on September 10th and the first patient is expected to be enrolled in the US during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Stefano Buono, Chief Executive Officer of AAA, commented: "We believe Lutatherarepresents a promising new treatment for patients withthisdisease and other Neuro Endocrine Tumours (NETs). Previous investigator sponsored studies in Europe, Asia and Australia have produced very encouraging data in thousands of patients and as resultLutatherahas been approved, on a named patient basis, for pre-marketing sales in selected European countries."

Study Design

The study, known as NETTER-1, is a Phase III, international, multi-center, randomised, comparator-controlled, parallel-group study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Lutathera compared to Novartis' Sandostatin LAR in patients with inoperable, progressive, somatostatin receptor positive, midgut carcinoid tumors. The primary endpoint is the assessment of Progression-Free Survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include safety, Objective Response Rate (ORR), Time to Tumour Progression (TTP), Overall Survival (OS) and Quality of Life (QoL).

The trial, which is being managed in collaboration with Pierrel Research International, will be conducted at 28 centres across Europe and 14 centres in the USA.

About Lutathera[]

Lutathera, [177]Lutetium-DOTA[0]-Tyr[3]-Octreotate, is a radiolabeled somatostatin analog that selectively targets somatostatin receptors which are over-expressed in some tumor types.

It acts like a Trojan horse, delivering [177]Lu directly into the tumour cell. [177]Lu is an instable particle that releases an electron which, as in radiotherapy, is capable of killing the tumors. It also releases a gamma ray, which exits the body and enables physicians to image and evaluate the progress of the treatment via a SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) camera. Lutathera is a true example of a Theragnostic drug, since its efficacy can be evaluated and monitored using imaging at every therapeutic injection, without additional costs.

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Start of Pivotal Phase III Trial for Lutathera® in Cancer Patients With Progressive Midgut Carcinoid

Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine

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ScienceDaily (Sep. 18, 2012) Salk scientists have identified a unique molecular signature in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), "reprogrammed" cells that show great promise in regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to generate a range of body tissues.

In this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Salk scientists and their collaborators at University of California, San Diego, report that there is a consistent, signature difference between embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. The findings could help overcome hurdles to using the induced stem cells in regenerative medicine.

"We believe that iPSCs hold a great potential for the treatment of human patients," says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a professor in Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory and the senior author on the paper. "Yet we must thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms governing their safety profile in order to be confident of their function in the human body. With the discovery of these small, yet apparent, epigenetic differences, we believe that we are now one step closer to that goal."

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are known for their "pluripotency," the ability to differentiate into nearly any cell in the body. Because of this ability, it has long been thought that ESCs would be ideal to customize for therapeutic uses. However, when ESCs mature into specific cell types, and are then transplanted into a patient, they may elicit immune responses, potentially causing the patient to reject the cells.

In 2006, scientists discovered how to revert mature cells, which had already differentiated into particular cell types, such as skin cells or hair cells, back into a pluripotent state. These "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPSCs), which could be developed from the patient's own cells, would theoretically carry no risk of immune rejection.

However, scientists found that iPSCs had molecular differences from embryonic stem cells. Specifically, there were epigenetic changes, chemical modifications in DNA that might alter genetic activity. At certain points in the iPSC's genome, scientists could see the presence of different patterns of methyl groups when compared to the genomes of ESCs. It seemed these changes occurred randomly.

Izpisua Belmonte and his colleagues wanted to understand more about these differences. Were they truly random, or was there a discernable pattern?

Unlike previous studies, which had primarily analyzed iPSCs derived from only one mature type of cells (mainly connective tissue cells called fibroblasts), the Salk and UCSD researchers examined iPSCs derived from six different mature cell types to see if there were any commonalities. They discovered that while there were hundreds of unpredictable changes, there were some that remained consistent across the cell types: the same nine genes were associated with these common changes in all iPSCs.

"We knew there were differences between iPSCs and ESCs," says Sergio Ruiz, first author of the paper, "We now have an identifying mark for what they are."

The therapeutic significance of these nine genes awaits further research. The importance of the current study is that it gives stem cells researchers a new and more precise understanding of iPSCs.

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Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine

Developments of Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

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Queenstown Regenerative Medicine - http://www.queenstownRM.co.nz

Professor Richard Boyd and Dr Dan Bates Latest developments of Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

Queenstown Regenerative Medicine, in association with Monash University Immunology and Stem Cell Centre (MISCL), has the pleasure of requesting your attendance at an evening lecture by Prof Richard Boyd, Head of MISCL and Dr Dan Bates, Sports Medicine Physician from Melbourne AFL Club.

Professor Richard Boyd is a world leader in the research and development of potential uses of stem cells to treat disease in both human and animal. He is the Director of Australia's largest and most prestigious Stem Cell Laboratory and a recipient of numerous International Awards for unique research into how stem cells and the immune system develop and how they have their effects in the body.

Professor Boyd's talk will give an overall background to stem cells and the work going on around the world to put these cellular therapies and regenerative medicine into the clinic.

Doctor Dan Bates is a Sports Medicine Physician working with Professor Boyd in the development and use of cellular medicine applications in the field of Sports Medicine and musculoskeletal injuries. Dan is the current team doctor of the Melbourne AFL club and will speak on his experiences using Platelet Rich Plasma to treat musculoskeletal injuries and the opening of stem cell treatment centres in conjunction with MISCL in Australia.

This is a unique opportunity to get first- hand knowledge from some of the best people in the field. These talks will be aimed at the practical applications of how you can use these therapies currently, as well as giving an idea of what the near future holds.

Date: Friday 21 September 2012 Time: from 6 pm 7.30 pm Location: Heritage Hotel, 91 Fernhill Road, Queenstown (Icon Conference Room) Cost: Free of charge

Scoop Media

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Developments of Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

USC Center For Applied Molecular Medicine To Honor Sumner Redstone And Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D. At The Inaugural REBELS …

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine honors Sumner M. Redstone and Nobel Laureate Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D. at its REBELS WITH A CAUSE gala, September 19, 2012, at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The evening will raise funds to support the lifesaving research of David B. Agus, M.D., Director, USC Westside Cancer Center and USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., Dean, Keck School of Medicine of USC is Honorary Co-Chair; Beverly and Robert Cohen Co-Chair. The gala will feature performances by Tony Bennett and Neil Young; Tracey Ullman, emcees.

Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom and CBS Corporation has been Chairman of the Board of National Amusements since 1986, and CEO since 1967. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the ATAS Foundation and is on the Board of Trustees for The Paley Center for Media. He also served as COB of the National Association of Theatre Owners, and is currently a member of its Executive Committee. Before that, he was President of the Theatre Owners of America. Mr. Redstone was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Mr. Redstone has devoted himself to a wide variety of civic and community affairs efforts, contributing over $150 million to worthy charities.

Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute as well as the Robert Andrews Millikan Professor Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology. In 2010, he was appointed Presidential Professor of physics and medicine at USC. In 1969 he received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the theory of elementary particles. He is the author of The Quark and the Jaguar.

The goal of the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine is the development of novel treatment strategies for cancer. The Center was implemented to enable multiple disciplines to work on treatment and the care of patients with cancer. The program includes the clinical care of patients at the USC Westside Cancer Center and has team members with expertise spanning cancer biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, computer science, electrical engineering, bioorganic chemistry, physics and applied mathematics. http://camm.usc.edu/.

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USC Center For Applied Molecular Medicine To Honor Sumner Redstone And Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D. At The Inaugural REBELS ...

BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012

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

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX) announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012 in Cambridge, MA on Thursday, September 20, 2012. Dr. West will speak on Second Generation hES Cell-Based Therapies: Achieving Purity and Scalability in the Midst of Diversity in the session Developments in Novel Therapeutics. The presentation will be made available on BioTime's website at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

The Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012, September 20-21, is North Americas leading commercial stem cell event. This years conference will focus on strategies and business models for navigating the stem cell and regenerative medicine marketplace for pharma, biotech, and investors.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is enhanced through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of application. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate cell lines, HyStem hydrogels, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime is developing Renevia (formerly known as HyStem-Rx), a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-Dx currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., markets GeneCards, the leading human gene database, and is developing an integrated database suite to complement GeneCards that will also include the LifeMap database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and MalaCards, the human disease database. LifeMap will also market BioTime research products. BioTime's lead product, Hextend, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corporation under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

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BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012

Penn Translational Medicine Institute to hold 7th Annual Symposium

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Public release date: 18-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen Kreeger karen.kreeger@uphs.upenn.edu 215-349-5658 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' 7th Annual International Symposium (ITMAT) will be held October 16 and 17 at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. This unique gathering brings together international experts to debate opportunities and hazards in systems pharmacology and translational medicine, or how drugs work on specific pathways, variability in patient response and why many treatments fail. Thought leaders from academic medical centers and industry will be speaking on topics including, Global Approaches to Translational Medicine, Translational Therapeutics, The Individualization of Therapy and Systems Pharmacology.

Garret A. FitzGerald, Director of ITMAT, will be hosting the event. He has some great speakers lined up, including:

The full agenda and list of speakers can be found on ITMAT's website. There will also be opportunities to meet and speak with presenters and fellow attendees, which will include academics and industry executives.

Registration is required for attendance, and there is also an option to participate via web. Please contact me to register as a reporter for this event or to view on the web.

###

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

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Penn Translational Medicine Institute to hold 7th Annual Symposium

Medical School to Augustinian Order unanimously

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On Wednesday after noon the National Audit Office Accounts Committee approved unanimously a parliamentary resolution to transfer the Medical School site at Guardamangia to the Augustinian Order to use it as a primary school for 400 children. Both government and Opposition MPs sitting on the committee voted in favour and so there is no need for parliament to debate and pass this motion in a plenary session.

The parliamentary resolution passes the Medical School site to the Augustinian order on lease for 99 years for 1,000 a year as rent. Sports and other educational facilities can be developed on the site and even the 2,177 sq m car park in front of the Medical School building can be made use of by the school.

The Augustinian Order is committing itself to spend at least 1,000,000 on the primary school project and that the work on it will start within 10 weeks of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) issuing the necessary permits.

In exchange for the Medical School site, the Augustinian Order will transfer to government the site on which they were going to build the primary school for a lease of 99 years at 900 per year. Government will pass back this land to the Order on condition that no development is carried out on it and the residents living in the area will not have their view blocked by any building.

After working hard for more than three years on a new primary school for St Augustines College, MEPA last February turned down the application by five votes to four and wanted the extension to have two and not three floors as planned, making the whole project too small and costly to be viable. On 9 February 2012 the Prime Minister was given a petition signed by parents after the students of the school, parents and teachers met near the War Monument in Floriana and walked to Castille.

Neighbours of the college had objecting to the project as the new building would block their view and devalue their property.

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Medical School to Augustinian Order unanimously

Liberty’s win streak snapped

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SAN ANTONIO For a while, it looked like the Liberty were going to pick up their fourth consecutive victory until they were undone by a disastrous fourth quarter.

Danielle Robinson had 21 points and the San Antonio Silver Stars outscored the Liberty 22-9 in the final quarter to earn a 77-66 victory over the Liberty on Tuesday. The loss snapped the Libertys three-game winning streak.

Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points to lead the Liberty (14-18), which maintained their one-game lead over Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Essence Carson had 11 points and Kara Braxton 10.

Shameka Christon added 17 points and Becky Hammon 12 for the playoff-bound San Antonio (20-12).

The Liberty shot 24 percent (4-for-17) from the field in the fourth and were outrebounded 12-5 in the quarter.

The Silver Stars closed the game on a 20-7 run, which included a last-second 3-pointer by Pondexter.

They were hitting shots and clicking on all cylinders, Braxton said. We really could not contain the ball or stop them.

Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said he was happy with his teams defensive intensity during crunch time.

What was exciting to me was the way we played defensively in the second half, and specifically, in the fourth quarter, he said. [It was] some of the best defense we have played all year against a team that is a good basketball team.

Hammons 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 60-59 edge, its first since leading 18-16 with nine minutes left in the first half.

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Liberty’s win streak snapped

Liberty Energy Considers the Effects of the Mexican Natural Gas Shortage

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HOUSTON, Sept. 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Energy Corp. (LBYE) ("Liberty" or "the Company") understands that Mexico is facing a growing shortage of natural gas as production expands at a tepid pace and demand continues to rise dramatically.

The Company understands that Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Mexico's state-sponsored oil and gas monopoly, has begun cutting natural gas supplies to some of its largest customers by as much as 45 percent of their orders to cope with ballooning demand from households to steelmakers such as Ternium SA and ArcelorMittal.

Pemex has largely failed to tap into the country's abundant natural gas reserves, forcing it to quickly increase imports from the well-stocked U.S. in order to meet demand.

Sources confirm that the country's existing gas pipelines are operating around 95 percent, trying to cover the shortfall, but many businesses have been forced to work through outages that can last for hours at a time.

In response, two new gas pipelines are being rushed through planning that would connect central Mexico with Texas and Arizona, where plentiful gas supplies would welcome an outlet.

"The shortage of natural gas is affecting both companies and homeowners. We've heard that in some plants, gas supply has been reduced 40 percent to 45 percent of what was originally agreed. Liberty's decision to build an asset base in Texas, a stable economic and political arena, is set to bear fruit. We have noticed a rising demand for safe onshore projects around our operations sites. We are looking to fully develop our new leases as soon as possible and have plans to expand our acreage further in the not too distant future," commented Ian Spowart, CEO and President of Liberty Energy Corp. For more information on the activities of the Company, please see the Liberty Energy website http://www.energy-liberty.com/

ABOUT LIBERTY: Liberty Energy Corp. (LBYE) is an Independent Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company dedicated to the sourcing and production of fuel supplies in the United States and Europe. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company has leases and royalties in both Texas and Bulgaria, covering several wells with extensive potential for future development. In Texas, Liberty owns twelve leases based around numerous geological pay zones. In North-West Bulgaria, Liberty has royalty rights to a 1,000,000+ acre natural gas property (the A-Lovech exploration block), an area of high quality, low-sulphur natural gas condensate. Through this combined international reach and domestic focus, Liberty Energy is committed to the development of US fuel reserves while seeking out further opportunities for the global energy markets.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Liberty Energy Corp. bases these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events, based on information currently available. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may also include statements relating to Liberty Energy Corp.'s anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, strategies and similar matters. Liberty Energy Corp. disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Liberty Energy Corp Ian Spowart, Chief Executive Officer

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Liberty Energy Considers the Effects of the Mexican Natural Gas Shortage

Libertarian campaigns for liberty

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Wednesday, 19 September 2012 09:20 Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 September 2012 09:50 Written by Yvonne C. Harper

In a crowded campaign for Floridas First District Congressional seat, Calen Fretts is hoping to become the first Libertarian elected to represent the people of Northwest Florida.

Fretts describes himself as a 27-year-old entrepreneur in the web-development field who graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in computer science, a Christian and a newlywed.

Thats it in a nutshell, he said.

Although this is his first run for political office, he believes it is the right thing to do.

For the complete story, see the Sept. 27 issue of Navarre Press orsubscribe online.

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Libertarian campaigns for liberty

Economic stakes high in China-Japan islands dispute

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BEIJING The worst of the anti-Japanese protests that have swept China in recent days may be over. The financial fallout for the world's second- and third-biggest economies may be just beginning.

Japanese-owned factories, restaurants, mini-marts and clothing retailers across China closed en masse Tuesday as protests continued in nearly 100 cities, sparked by a dispute over control of uninhabited islands near Taiwan.

Automakers Nissan, Honda, Toyota and Mazda suspended operations at some plants, as did Sony. Hundreds of 7-Eleven shops run by a Japanese company were shuttered, as were dozens of outlets of the popular Gap-like Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo. Eateries serving Japanese food even those with Chinese owners and staff closed as well, shaken by weekend demonstrations that saw protesters overturning Japanese cars, looting businesses and setting factories on fire.

Though domestic political pressure made it difficult for either side to compromise, neither appeared to be in the mood for an escalation either. China sent hundreds of police to the Japanese Embassy on Tuesday to monitor the crowd that gathered there, and many people received text messages from the police asking them to protest peacefully.

But with the world economy struggling, damage has already been done. One analyst predicted a "short, sharp downturn" in business dealings between two major global players.

The business closures and calls to boycott Japanese goods helped drive down the stock prices of many Japanese companies, including Nissan, which fell 5%; Honda, which dropped 2.5%; and Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing, which plummeted 7%. The shares of some Chinese companies with close ties to Japanese firms also fell.

"This is the worst we have seen," said Tetsuo Kotani, a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo. "This could be a turning point for Japanese companies, making them reconsider the risks in China and leading them to diversify toward Southeast Asia, South America and Africa."

Anti-Japanese sentiment has long existed in China, and authorities often have encouraged it. The recent demonstrations were the largest and most violent since 2005, when Chinese took to the streets over grievances that included a textbook they said downplayed accounts of Japanese brutality in China and elsewhere in Asia during World War II.

The latest protests appeared to peak Tuesday on a date tied to that same period: the 81st anniversary of an event that launched Japan's deadly occupation of large parts of China.

The dispute is over uninhabited islands known by Japan as the Senkaku and China as the Diaoyu. Japanese officials, pushed to action by Tokyo's nationalistic governor, Shintaro Ishihara, announced last week that the government would buy three of the islands from the Japanese family that has controlled them for decades. China argues that they were an integral part of its territory for centuries, and were illegally occupied by Japan.

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Economic stakes high in China-Japan islands dispute

Ownership proposal for Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands

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A proposal to transfer ownership of the Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands to iwi will be consulted on with the public and tangata whenu, says New Plymouth District Council.

At yesterday's (Tuesday) meeting, the Council noted the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) wishes to transfer ownership of the islands from NPDC and Taranaki Regional Council to Te Atiawa and Taranaki iwi as part of the Crowns treaty settlement.

If the proposal went ahead, the islands would remain part of the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA) and continue to be administered by the Department of Conservation. In practice, nothing would change for the general public.

Mayor Harry Duynhoven says the proposal is worth discussing with the wider public.

"The transfer of ownership would acknowledge the great historical and cultural importance of the islands to Te Atiawa and Taranaki while continuing the established conservation work and public access," says the Mayor.

NPDC and TRC will work together on the consultation. Once public submissions have been heard, a final report will go back to both councils for consideration.

In the past Te Atiawa and Taranaki occupied Nga Motu (the islands), and the islands and the adjacent mainland were often the scene of battles. The strategic potential of the islands made them a defensive bastion on several occasions when northern iwi invaded.

Several archaeological sites and two urupa have been identified on the islands and associated reefs.

Captain Cook renamed Nga Motu as the Sugar Loaf Islands in 1770 as they reminded him of how sugar was stored in heaps or loaves in Europe.

When the SLIMPA was established in 1991, Moturoa Island, Motumahanga (Saddleback Island), Waikaranga (Seal Rocks) and Whareumu (Lion Rock), along with the seabed, foreshore and water, became sanctuary areas under the Conservation Act 1987.

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Ownership proposal for Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands

Greek islands not for sale, red tape must go: minister

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ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece needs to cut bureaucracy and push through languishing investment projects, not sell its islands to attract funds crucial for its struggling economy to return to growth, a Deputy Development Minister told Reuters on Wednesday. Seven major investment projects, ranging from tourism to energy and worth half a billion euros in total, have been stuck for months awaiting ...

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Greek islands not for sale, red tape must go: minister

HCSC To Expand Medicare Product Offerings

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CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), have filed applications and have received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans to Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois, New Mexico and Texas, effective January 1, 2013. HCSC has received approval to offer MAPD HMO plans in Illinois and New Mexico, while HISC has been approved to offer MAPD PPO plans in Texas.

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans allow individuals to combine health and prescription drug coverage under one single plan. These plans offer comprehensive medical benefits to help Medicare-eligible individuals save money while providing greater choice and flexibility to access health care options that meet their changing needs.

"For more than 75 years we have offered security and peace of mind to customers by developing products and services that meet their diverse and changing needs," said Jeff Tikkanen, president, retail markets, HCSC. "This is a tremendous opportunity to continue to offer seamless MAPD plans to Medicare-eligible individuals in select counties of Illinois, New Mexico and Texas."

The annual open enrollment period starts October 15, 2012 and ends December 7, 2012. Enrollment in a MAPD plan is not automatic, and eligible beneficiaries must enroll to receive benefits. MAPDplans, generally,offer beneficiaries their choice of physicians through an HMO or PPOnetwork, low monthly plan premiums, low co-payments for doctor visits,annual routine physicals, coverage for most annual screenings and emergency coverage throughout in the United States.

"We listened to Medicare-eligible individuals in our communities and using our experience and expertise designed health benefits to give them more options that fit their health needs," said Scott Sarran, MD, Chief Medical Officer HCSC. "Providing these individuals with more choice in their health care options is important and benefits them by providing greater flexibility."

About Health Care Service CorporationHealth Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 13 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit http://www.HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/HCSC.

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HCSC To Expand Medicare Product Offerings

Krames StayWell Releases new Patient-Focused Health IT Solution Driven by 3M Terminology Content

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YARDLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Krames StayWell, the nations leading health care communication and engagement company, has released a new service designed to ensure health care organizations can fulfill the patient and family engagement pillars of meaningful use. With the release of its new Infobutton solution, Krames StayWell is making it easier for a healthcare organization to use their certified EHR to identify patient education resources (a current Stage 1 requirement) and provide those resources to the patient through that EHR (a Stage 2 requirement removes the if appropriate wording) utilizing the Infobutton Standard (a Stage 2 EHR Certification Criterion). Additionally, the Krames StayWell Infobutton Solution via a patient portal will help an organization to make the suggested patient education information available within 36 hours after a discharge for viewing, downloading, or transmitting (another Stage 2 requirement).

The Infobutton solution uses the 3M Healthcare Data Dictionary (3M HDD) from 3M Health Information Systems to encode and cross-reference Krames StayWells award-winning patient education content with clinical terminologies such as SNOMED, LOINC, and RxNORM, and major code sets including ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. The 3M HDD is a controlled medical vocabulary server that translates and integrates data from diverse systems into a common language. It maps medical terms to give data context and meaning, and is used to standardize data to make it interoperable and computable.

The Infobutton Standard has been around for a while, explained Stephanie Manning, Vice President, Digital Content for Krames StayWell. What weve done by working with 3M is made it possible for healthcare organizations to leverage a wide range of code sets and any health IT system to trigger our content. Now healthcare facilities can capitalize on their IT investment to intelligently deliver Krames StayWells patient education content which has been proven to engage patients, drive behavior change, and deliver better outcomes while improving patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Dr. Lee Min Lau, Chief Medical Informaticist for 3M Health Information Systems noted, The 3M Healthcare Data Dictionary (HDD) provides Krames StayWell the ability to organize its patient education content to leverage standard terminologies. Were excited to work with Krames StayWell to make its patient education content easily accessible and understandable across different health information systems.

For more information about Krames StayWell content integration services, visit their website at http://www.kramesstaywell.com/krames-staywell-content-licensing or call 800-920-0870.

About Krames StayWell

Krames StayWell is the largest provider of patient education, consumer health information, and population health management communications in the country. Combining extensive technology and content assets with vast consumer insights and a strategic approach, Krames StayWell is uniquely qualified to engage consumers across the entire spectrum of their health care experience. Our best-in-class health communication solutions integrate print, interactive, and mobile formats at multiple touch points to attract and retain consumers, improve health outcomes, and lower costs. We deliver measurable results for hospitals, health care professionals, health plans, employers, retail pharmacies, government agencies, and association clients with world-class design, commitment to health literacy principles, and a focus on custom development. For more information, please visit http://www.kramesstaywell.com.

About 3M Health Information Systems

Best known for market-leading coding solutions and ICD-10 expertise, 3M Health Information Systems also delivers innovative software and consulting services that raise the bar for clinical documentation improvement, computer-assisted coding, mobile physician applications, and document management. With a robust healthcare data dictionary and terminology services to support the expansion and accuracy of EHRs and 28 years of healthcare experience, 3M Health Information Systems is the go-to partner for organizations worldwide that want to improve quality and financial performance. For more information, visit http://www.3Mhis.com/meaningfuldata/.

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Krames StayWell Releases new Patient-Focused Health IT Solution Driven by 3M Terminology Content