Storage Town USA in Liberty Hill, Texas Adds U-Haul Rentals

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LIBERTY HILL, Texas, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Cece, owner of Storage Town USA, located at 10640 State Hwy. 29 W., recently added UHaul truck and trailer rentals to the storage business he has been operating since 2000.

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Families needing the finest in moving services now will have increased convenience and a shorter distance to travel when moving, which not only will make their move easier but also will have the positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. U-Haul partnering with business owners across North America to increase convenience for customers while helping our environment is just one of the programs that support U-Haul Company's Corporate Sustainability initiatives.

Storage Town USA can now offer its customers a variety of moving equipment and supplies designed specifically for moving household furnishings, including moving vans, open trailers, closed trailers, furniture pads, appliance dollies, furniture dollies, tow dollies and auto transports. Storage Town USA also will offer sales items to protect their customers' belongings and make moving easier, such as heavy-duty boxes, which are made of up to 90 percent recycled content and are available in a variety of sizes.

"As this area continues to expand rapidly, I felt the need to expand our business and services to accommodate the fast-growing population here in Liberty Hill Texas," Cece said. "U-Haul being the leader in moving equipment and supplies was the obvious choice of companies to partner with."

"U-Haul is proud to be partnering with a quality independent business such as Storage Town USA," exclaimed Gary Bouillion, president, U-Haul Company of Austin. "Michael is a great example of the type of successful business relationship UHaul has established in order to build and maintain a strong network of more than 15,000 independent dealers across North America."

Learn more about Texas: http://www.uhaul.com/SuperGraphics/23/Venture-Across-America-and-Canada-Modern/Texas!

For more information, or to rent your moving equipment today, call 512-515-1543 and ask for Bobby Jamerson, manager. He will be happy to assist you with all your moving and storage needs. Visit http://www.storagetownusa.com. Business hours of operation are: Mon. Fri. 9 a.m. 5 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. 3 p.m.

About U-HaulU-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel-efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100% biodegradable.Learn more about these facts and others at uhaul.com/sustainability.

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Storage Town USA in Liberty Hill, Texas Adds U-Haul Rentals

Liberty Silver Announces Offer for Sennen Resources

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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -07/16/12)- Liberty Silver Corp. (LSL.TO)(LBSV) today announced an offer to acquire all the outstanding common shares of Sennen Resources Ltd. (SN.V), a junior mineral exploration company.

Under the offer, Sennen shareholders will receive 0.28 of a Liberty Silver common share for each Sennen common share, being an implied offer price per Sennen common share of $0.20. The offer represents a premium of 47.3% to the 20-day volume weighted average trading price ended July 13, 2012, being $0.135. This is also larger in comparison to the average take-over bid premium paid for mining companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange over the past 12 months of 34.8%. The offer is valued at $13.36 million.

According to Liberty Silver's estimates, the acquisition of Sennen and its financial resources at the offer price is comparable to Liberty Silver completing a private placement of its common shares at approximately $0.71.

Benefits of the offer to Sennen shareholders:

For full details of these benefits, go to the "Question-and-Answer" section of Liberty Silver's take-over-bid circular, filed today on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

"Sennen represents a great opportunity for Liberty Silver at a time of growing consolidation in the global mining industry", Geoff Browne, Liberty Silver's chief executive officer, said. "Depressed valuations for junior mining companies alongside healthy precious metal prices have created an environment ideal for mergers and acquisitions activity."

Mr. Browne added: "Liberty Silver is well-placed to take advantage of these opportunities using our mitigated-risk approach to project evaluation and development. We are confident that the combination of Sennen's cash resources and Liberty Silver's skilled management team and proven risk-mitigation strategy will enable us to advance our promising Trinity Silver project in Nevada and to identify other low-risk projects."

The offer will be made by way of formal take-over-bid circular to be mailed to Sennen shareholders and will be subject to various conditions, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals and not less than 66 2/3% of the Sennen common shares being deposited under the offer and not withdrawn. Further details concerning the offer will be included in the formal offer and take-over-bid circular.

If the transaction is completed, Liberty Silver intends to replace the board and management of Sennen and Sennen's common shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Liberty Silver has an experienced board of directors comprised of sophisticated and highly-accomplished individuals. Their collective experience and expertise sets Liberty Silver apart from its peers. The eight- member board includes Paul Haggis, one of Canada's most prominent and respected business leaders. Mr. Haggis was recently named chairman of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. Mr. Browne, Liberty Silver's chairman and CEO, has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

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Liberty Silver Announces Offer for Sennen Resources

Libertarian candidate mulling write-in campaign

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Libertarian Doug Marks might be pulling out of the race for the 33rd Senate District after informing supporters that his petition might not survive a challenge.

Marks told supporters Monday on his campaign's Facebook page that the "'parties in power'... have used their exclusionary tactics to have sufficient objections against my petitions to exclude me from having ballot access."

Marks, a Carpentersville village trustee, filed his petition June 25 to run against Republican nominee and Kane County Board Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay, who like many General Assembly candidates in the McHenry County area was running unopposed. Two challengers Kenneth Cabay of Lake in the Hills and James Abbott of Geneva filed the objection a week later on July 2.

He wrote that he will decide by month's end whether to mount a write-in campaign.

"I don't blame Karen or any of the GOP for using the system they put into place to exclude candidates that can beat the insider, pay 2 play [sic], big government types, but if Illinois expects to be a prosperous place to live, these antics have to be ended," Marks wrote.

His candidacy is still active on the Illinois State Board of Elections website with a note that an objection is pending. The board is in the process of hearing objections to candidacies to determine their validity.

Marks wrote that he has spent the past week considering running as a write-in candidate. He said he is still undecided, but would need at least $50,000, but that he has received commitments for less than one-third of that.

Under post-census redistricting, the 33rd Senate District covers Huntley, much of Lakewood, Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills and western Algonquin, as well as parts of northern Kane County stretching south to Geneva.

The race is one of two with a objection pending. David McSweeney, Republican candidate for the 52nd House District, filed an objection to the petition of Dee Beaubien, who is seeking to run as an independent. She is the widow of Mark Beaubien, who represented the district from 1996 until his death in June 2011.

Under the new maps, the 52nd House District will cover southeastern McHenry County, including Cary and Fox River Grove, eastern Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake, and parts of Lake, Cook and Kane counties.

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Libertarian candidate mulling write-in campaign

Borders & Southern Petroleum shares plunge 70pc after Falkland Islands well disappoints

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Shares in UK oil explorer Borders & Southern Petroleum (Other OTC: BDRSF.PK - news) have plunged more than 70pc after the company reported disappointing results from its latest Falkland Islands well.

The company revealed in a statement on Monday morning that it had found found evidence of gas in the Stebbing well but not in quantities that were likely to be commercial.

Technical difficulties meant the well did not reach lower targets, a result it called "disappointing".

Borders & Southern's disappointment follows the company's initial success when its first well, also drilled south of the islands, found gas condensate, a liquid which often trades at a premium to crude oil.

Oil exploration by British companies off the Falklands is irritating old wounds with Argentina and tensions between it and Britain have been risen this year, the 30th anniversary of the war the two fought over the islands.

The British government tabled a White Paper last month officially pledging to defend the Falkland Islands and declared there would be "no weakening" in the country's resolve.

The Falklands look set to be transformed into a new oil producing region following an oil discovery made by another British firm, Rockhopper Exploration , two years ago off the north coast of the islands. Rockhopper signed a $1bn deal with Premier Oil (LSE: PMO.L - news) last Thursday to help fund the development of the oil field.

Borders & Southern, which is listed on the AIM index, is leading the charge to find oil off the south coast of the islands. The Stebbing well will now be plugged and abandoned, with the rig being assigned to Falkand Oil & Gas (Euronext: IXSOG.NX - news) .

The shares fell 44.25 - 71.1pc - to 18p in early trading.

Meanwhile, Tullow Oil (Stuttgart: 591219 - news) shares fell 1.3pc after the company revealed drilling operations in the Georgetown Block, Guyana, have ended "and the well will be plugged and abandoned at a depth of 4,876 metres, without reaching the primary objective".

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Borders & Southern Petroleum shares plunge 70pc after Falkland Islands well disappoints

Eastday-Tokyo's islands stance harmful to ties

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Tokyo's sensationalizing of the Diaoyu Islands issue will stir up nationalism within the country and help more right-wing politicians win seats in parliament, which will inevitably cast a long-term shadow over China-Japan ties, analysts warned.

The analysts made the remarks as the local government and cabinet are weighing plans to "buy" or "nationalize" the Diaoyu Islands, which have stood under Chinese sovereignty since ancient times.

Japanese politicians represented by Shintaro Ishihara, governor of Tokyo, have attempted to use the Diaoyu Islands issue as a tool to win support in future elections, said Liu Jiangyong, an expert on Japanese studies from Tsinghua University.

Hawkish right-wing politicians such as Ishihara use the Diaoyu Islands issue to raise nationalism among the Japanese public, Liu said. This will negatively affect Sino-Japanese relations, he added.

Liu's comments came on the heels of Japanese Ambassador Uichiro Niwa's return to Beijing on Monday after being summoned to Japan on Sunday by the country's foreign ministry.

The Japanese embassy in China confirmed Niwa's arrival with China Daily, but refused to say whether or when he will communicate with China.

Diplomatic sources said Niwa will convey the messages with China in an informal way.

Niwa on Sunday discussed "new trends" and countermeasures concerning the Diaoyu Islands with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, according to Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

Gemba instructed Niwa to "properly explain Japan's stance to China" toward the disputed islands when he returned to Beijing.

"The Foreign Ministry claimed Niwa's return to Japan is not a 'recall' aimed at protesting against China. However, a temporary visit home, as a diplomatic convention, is often used as a countermeasure," Kyodo said.

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Eastday-Tokyo's islands stance harmful to ties

Research Validates BioNano Genomics’ Mapping Platform for Complex Human Genome Analysis

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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In a paper published today in Nature Biotechnology, researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Human Genetics and Cardiovascular Research Institute demonstrated the utility of the Irys platform from BioNano Genomics for structural variation analysis and de novo assembly of next generation sequencing (NGS) data. Using Irys, the authors were able to accurately map and comprehensively analyze structural variation in the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, which is associated with autoimmune and infectious diseases.

While the idea of using physical genome maps has been around for some time, the methods available have not been able to accurately address complex regions in humans, said Pui-Yan Kwok, MD, PhD, senior author and Henry Bachrach Distinguished Professor at the UCSF School of Medicine. BioNanos approach brings us one step closer to fully understanding the relevance of genetic variation in studies of new pathogens, complex metagenomics, and cancer genomes, where copy number variation and structural variation are abundant.

Complex genomes contain highly repetitive sequences and prove challenging for whole genome assembly. The MHC region is notoriously difficult to study owing to its large number of genes, repetitive sequences, extreme variation and pseudogenes. While advances have been made to short read sequencing methods attempting to address complex genomes, such methods have not performed well in repetitive regions and do not readily resolve haplotypes or localize structural variants precisely.

Irys is a multiplex-capable, scalable platform that uses a proprietary chip to uncoil and confine long DNA molecules in nanochannels, causing them to spontaneously and uniformly linearize for high-resolution, single-molecule imaging. Irys eliminates the DNA fragmentation and amplification steps typical with NGS, resulting in read lengths of hundreds of kilobases to megabases. These extremely long read lengths preserve the valuable structural information inherent in the sample, making it possible to directly observe structural variants including translocations and inversions. The system automates sample processing and imaging to provide a simple technique for genome mapping by labs of any size or level of expertise.

The BioNano approach to genome mapping achieves uniform DNA stretching in a high throughput format, allowing researchers to directly view genome variation in the full biological context, said Dr. Erik Holmlin, CEO of BioNano Genomics. This paper demonstrates how the Irys system provides a completely new data type that opens the door to more accurate and comprehensive structural variation discovery studies and improves our ability to achieve higher quality sequence assemblies.

Study Findings

Results showed that sequence motif maps generated by the Irys system provide useful scaffolds for de novo assembly of sequencing data generated from structurally complex regions for identifying misassemblies, characterization of structural variants and retention of haplotype phasing.

To demonstrate the utility of this approach, the authors constructed sequence motif maps of 95 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones covering the 4.7 Mb MHC region from two individuals (PDF and COX libraries used by the MHC Haplotype Consortium). Subsequently, they performed de novo sequence assembly using NGS reads. The maps and NGS contigs were then compared to the reference sequences reported by the MHC Haplotype Consortium as confirmation and to uncover potential differences.

Employing this method, the study found and confirmed a number of interesting genomic features, including a 4kb error in one reference sequence, anchoring and gap sizing of four NGS contigs, identification of misassembled NGS contigs, differentiation of the two HLA-DRB1 variants, and definition of numerous structural variants, such as a 5kb insertion and 30kb tandem duplication. The authors further concluded that the Irys is scalable to a variety of genome analyses including large-scale, whole genomes based on throughputs achieved in the study of >300 Mb per scan.

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Research Validates BioNano Genomics’ Mapping Platform for Complex Human Genome Analysis

Repealing Health Law Would Mean More Benefits for Members of Congress – Video

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16-07-2012 07:54 Watch our new video featuring Republican Members of Congress denying that they voted to protect taxpayer funded health care benefits for themselves, while repealing critical patient protections for the middle class and doing nothing to create jobs. Before last week's repeal vote, The Hill newspaper found that repealing the Affordable Care Act would "let members of Congress keep their government-subsidized insurance coverage after they retire -- a benefit they lost under the health law." The Hill found that "a Republican amendment to the Affordable Care Act -- kicked members of Congress and their aides out of the healthcare program for federal employees. Instead, lawmakers and staff have to get coverage through the insurance exchanges created by the healthcare law. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), who championed that provision, said it ensures that lawmakers live under the same rules as their constituents."

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Repealing Health Law Would Mean More Benefits for Members of Congress - Video

Health Care Reform Rebates For Health Insurance Costs Rolling In

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When Laird Le found a check for $70.02 in the mail, he wasn't quite sure why. Turns out, he's one of the estimated 13 million Americans that will receive a rebate on their health insurance premiums as a result of the health care reform law recently upheld by the Supreme Court.

Look inside your mailbox: By the end of the month, you could be getting one of these refunds, which are are expected to total $1.1 billion this year. Health insurance companies have begun sending letters to customers informing them of a new rule requiring them to spend at least 80 percent of the premiums they receive on actual medical care, not on overhead, advertising, profits or other costs. Health insurers must cite the health care reform law, known as the Affordable Care Act, in the letter.

Le, a 35-year-old self-employed information technology consultant in Chicago, didn't know about the new rules until he got the check from UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Golden Rule Insurance Company. "I was pretty surprised," Le said. At first, he was afraid the company was canceling his plan, which costs about $160 a month. Once he realized what it was, getting a check like that was "powerful," he said. "I wouldn't have gotten a penny if it wasn't for the law."

The authors of President Barack Obama's health care reform law aim to pressure health insurance companies to cut down on administrative costs and other expenses and to prevent them from raising premiums to maximize profits. The idea is to eliminate waste by health plans so they charge lower premiums in the future, said Blake Hutson, a health care advocate with Consumers Union in Austin, Texas.

"It's a way to increase value in health insurance," Hutson said. "What the rule does is encourage insurance companies to operate more efficiently."

"Insurance companies that are paying rebates now, they either charged you too much or they didn't spend enough of your money on things that benefit customers," he said, noting that health insurance companies are already reducing expenses or lowering premiums to comply with the rule. In the future, he predicted, more plans will do these things to avoid paying rebates. "We're starting to see some of the tangible benefits of the law," he said.

Health insurance companies selling plans to small-business workers and individuals who buy coverage on their own have to spend at least 80 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care. For health insurance from a larger employer, the standard is 85 percent. Since last year, health insurance companies have been required to publicly disclose what share of premiums actually goes to medical treatments for customers and from now on must refund the difference to individual customers or their employers.

More than 30 percent of people who buy health insurance on their own will be owed rebates this year, according to an analysis conducted by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation of Menlo Park, Calif., in April. The foundation isn't affiliated with the health insurance company Kaiser Permanente.

The health insurance industry protests that capping their profits does nothing to address rising prices for medical services and products. Health insurance companies refer to the difference between premiums collected and claims paid as the "medical loss ratio" and the Obama administration describes its new standard as the "80/20 rule."

Employers and workers who get health benefits from their jobs will see most of money from the rebates, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported. So-called "self-insured" employers that directly pay for workers' medical expenses and contract with a health plan solely for administrative work won't get rebates.

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Repealing Obama's health care law won't be easy

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By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Yes, if Mitt Romney wins the White House and his Republican allies retake the Senate, he could shred most of President Barack Obama's health care law without having to overpower a Democratic filibuster.

But it won't be as easy as some Republicans portend, and it certainly won't be quick.

Why?

Because any realistic effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act - as opposed to last week's quixotic vote in the GOP-controlled House - is sure to get jumbled together with lots of other issues, including Medicare, taxes, food stamps and defense spending.

And that's because Republicans have to first pass a budget. It's the only way than can invoke special Senate rules that allow legislation to pass with just a simple majority vote - instead of the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to beat a filibuster.

Passing a budget requires answering a raft of questions unrelated to the relatively simple idea of repealing "Obamacare." How much to cut the deficit? Should Medicare be overhauled and Medicaid bear sharp cuts? Is it realistic to sharply boost defense programs, as Romney would like, in such an atmosphere?

The first step is to pass a budget resolution - a nonbinding, broad-brush outline of budget goals like cutting or increasing taxes, or slowing increases in Medicare. A budget resolution sets the terms for follow-up legislation that's called a reconciliation bill in Washington argot.

Two years ago, Democrats used a reconciliation bill to finalize the health care law with a 56-43, party-line vote in the Senate.

Republicans have a problem in that there's a lot more on their agenda than just repealing the health care law, and it's all going to have to be crammed into a budget resolution and follow-up reconciliation bill, too.

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GE Free Lake County hosts film screening

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FINLEY -- GE Free Lake County presents a screening of the film "Fed Up! Genetic Engineering, Industrial Agriculture and Sustainable Alternatives" by Angelo Sacerdote, 7 to 9 p.m. July 29 at the Big Valley Grange, located at 1510 Big Valley Road in Finley.

The film addresses the biotechnology industry's opposition to labeling and its claim that only genetically engineered crops and the chemicals they require in order to grow can offer hope to poor Third World farmers and the hungry people in those countries.

Popcorn and light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Thurston Williams at 275-9315 or Haji Warf at 275-9527.

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GE Free Lake County hosts film screening

NOVAVAX, CPL Biologicals and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Announce Collaboration …

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ROCKVILLE, Md., July 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novavax, Inc. (NVAX), CPL Biologicals (CPLB) and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), today announced that they have formed a new collaboration to develop a novel malaria vaccine in India. This unique public-private partnership will combine the advanced vaccine technology of Novavax with the malaria vaccine research capabilities of ICGEB and vaccine manufacturing capability of CPLB, to develop a new and effective malaria vaccine. The project is being funded by India's Department of Biotechnology Vaccine Grand Challenge Program and will be managed by the Malaria Vaccine Development Program, a New Delhi-based not-for-profit organization established to support the development of malaria vaccines.

Novavax's virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine technology platform will be applied to construct malaria vaccine candidates, which CPLB will manufacture for advanced preclinical studies, clinical trials and commercialization. The partners will develop and evaluate VLPs that express Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP), which has been used to develop the only recombinant malaria vaccine that has shown efficacy in field trials. After establishing the feasibility of Novavax's technology, the partners will explore the possibility of producing additional VLPs against antigens from other stages of malaria parasites. The partners believe a multi-stage VLP malaria vaccine has the potential for higher efficacy compared to vaccines based on a single antigen or that target only one stage of the malaria parasite.

Malaria remains a major public health problem in many regions of the tropical world. Forty percent of the world's population lives in malaria endemic regions of Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Despite the widespread use of insecticides, bed nets and other malaria control efforts, there are approximately 210 million cases of malaria each year that lead to around 650,000 deaths, primarily in children less than five years of age. There is an urgent need for malaria vaccines with high efficacy that can be used in conjunction with other control efforts to provide protection against malaria.

Dr. Virander Chauhan, Ph.D., Director of ICGEB, New Delhi, which will provide their extensive experience in pre-clinical and clinical development of vaccines, said, "ICGEB is excited about the possibility of working with Novavax and CPLB to advance malaria vaccine development."

Indravadan A Modi, Chairman of Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd, said, "CPLB will develop manufacturing processes for the vaccine candidates and will provide GMP production capability in support of this initiative." He also stated, "Malaria is a common health problem for tropical countries and efforts have been ongoing for years for its eradication. I am confident that a multi-stage VLP malaria vaccine will prove beneficial in saving precious lives by restricting morbidity and mortality associated with malaria."

Dr. Gale Smith, Novavax's Vice President Vaccine Development, stated: "Novavax is honored to be working with leading malaria experts at ICGEB and with the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India to support the development and production of malaria vaccine candidates by Novavax and CPLB. By combining our knowledge and experience with these partners to pursue the most advanced malaria vaccine concepts, we hope to one day have an effective vaccine against one of the world's most devastating diseases."

About Novavax

Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating novel vaccines to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide. Using innovative virus-like particle (VLP) and recombinant nanoparticle vaccine technology, as well as new and efficient manufacturing approaches, the company produces novel vaccine candidates to combat diseases, with the goal of allowing countries to better prepare for and more effectively respond to rapidly spreading infections. Novavax is committed to using its technology platforms to create geographic-specific vaccine solutions and is therefore involved in several international partnerships, including collaborations with Cadila Pharmaceuticals of India and LG Life Sciences of Korea. Together, these companies have worldwide commercialization capacity and the global reach to create real and lasting change in the biopharmaceutical field. Additional information about Novavax is available on the company's website: http://www.novavax.com.

About CPLB

CPL Biologicals Pvt. Ltd., a joint-venture biotechnology company established by Novavax Inc. and Cadila Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest privately held pharmaceutical companies in India based in Ahmedabad, manufactures VLP-based influenza vaccines developed by Novavax. CPLB has made rapid progress with the completion and validation of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which is now operational and capable of producing a significant volume of novel vaccine doses every year. This facility utilizes the identical single-use vaccine bioprocessing system that Novavax employs at its pilot plant in Rockville, Maryland.

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NOVAVAX, CPL Biologicals and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Announce Collaboration ...

China Genetic Engineering Drug Industry Report, 2011-2012

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NEW YORK, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

China Genetic Engineering Drug Industry Report, 2011-2012

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0934677/China-Genetic-Engineering-Drug-Industry-Report-2011-2012.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Biopharma

China gets a late start in developing genetic engineering drug industry, but has achieved leapfrog advance. At present, China has at least one hundred enterprises involved in genetic engineering drugs. In recent years, the compound growth rate of genetic engineering drug market in China is as high as 49%, with an average gross margin of more than 80%. However, the technology strength and efficacy of locally produced genetic engineering drugs are relatively weak. In particular, the pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) for injection of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited that approved for marketing in March 2012 is the only homemade long-acting protein product. Still, due to the impetus of huge market capacity as well as a package of preferential policies, many domestic enterprises, including GeneScience Pharmaceuticals, Amoytop and Anhui Anke Biotechnology, are accelerating the industrialized research of long-acting protein drugs.

Monoclonal antibody is one of the most promising genetic engineering drugs. As of May 2012, SFDA approved the marketing of a total of 18 monoclonal antibody drugs. Among these drugs, nearly 60% are foreign brands including Roche, Merck and Novartis with the combined sales accounting for three fourths of the Chinese monoclonal antibody drug market. However, with the marketing of monoclonal antibody drugs made by companies such as Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical and Biotech Pharmaceutical, the market share of homemade monoclonal antibody industry is on the rise gradually.

In addition, recombinant human erythropoietin, recombinant human interferon, recombinant human growth hormone, recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and recombinant human insulin are among the important genetic engineering drugs. As of late 2011, China had roughly 20 recombinant EPO manufacturers that approved for marketing of related products. In particular, as former EPO preparation exporters to China, enterprises including America-based Amgen and Germany-based Boehringer Mannheim GmbH have withdrawn from the Chinese market owning to low price competition. Presently, the Chinese EPO market is dominated by domestic manufacturers including 3SBio Inc. and DIAO Group. In 2011, the sales of 3SBio Inc. accounted for 42.7% in China's EPO market. As such, impacted by channel, price competition and other factors, recombinant human growth hormone and recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor markets are also dominated by domestic enterprises.

In the recombinant human interferon market, the high-performance long-acting interferon of Schering-Plough and Roche still maintained huge consumption in Chinese market in spite of the high prices. In recent years, the market share of imported long-acting interferon has remained at 60% or so in China.

Moreover, due to improving economic level and raising awareness of people, foreign-branded recombinant human insulin in Chinese market are predominant, occupying 90% market share in the corresponding period.

Although China lags behind in terms of the overall level of genetic engineering drugs, the industry has accumulated rich R&D and industrialization experience as well as capital reserves. Thus, with a host of genetic engineering drug patents to become due, Chinese enterprises, such as Walvax, are committed to the industrialization research of monoclonal antibody, long-acting recombinant protein drugs and other generic drugs with high technical barriers. On April 26th, 2012, Walvax announced to invest in Shanghai Fengmao in next four years to develop and produce genetic engineering generic drugs including rituximab, bevacizumab, adalimumab, panitumumab, denosumab and long-acting EPO.

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China Genetic Engineering Drug Industry Report, 2011-2012

Graphic novel stars Nicola Tesla, inventor of AC power and an oddball physicist

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(Helios Entertainment) - Cover, The Inventor by Rave Mehta and Erik Williams.

The Inventor, Helios Entertainment

Hey, they say that the truth is stranger. In The Inventor, part-time writer and full-time engineer Rave Mehta and artist Erik Williams have crafted a graphic novel based on the life of Nikola Tesla, the oddball physicist and futurist, born in 1856, who developed modern alternating current (AC power).

While he never possessed super powers, the real-life Tesla was just about as quirky as any fictional mad scientist, particularly in his later years, when he tried to convince Great Britain to fund him in the development of a death ray. (He was unsuccessful.) In fact, Tesla was such a bizarre and compelling person that he has frequently been recruited to be a character in fictional works, including the historical fantasy novel and film The Prestige and the sci-fi TV series Sanctuary.

But even though The Inventor is told through highly dramatic, superhero-worthy artwork, Mehta and Williams stick to the facts, following the inventor from his origins in Serbia through his immigration to the United States and his rivalry with inventor Thomas Edison. Tesla came to this country with a few dollars and a dream, Mehta recently told Wired magazines Underwire blog. The material, emotional and spiritual battles he endured are what The Inventor is about.

Aaron Leitko

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Graphic novel stars Nicola Tesla, inventor of AC power and an oddball physicist

Freedom Singers still performing in Albany

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Sean Streicher

Sean Streicher joined FOX 31 in May 2012 as a reporter for the nightly newscast.

The freedom singers perform at the Civil Rights Institute the second Saturday of every month. /Sean Streicher

People who visited theAlbany Civil Rights Institutethis weekend had the privilegeof listening tothe "Freedom Singers" perform.

Originally formed in 1962 in the City of Albany, the freedom singer preformed at civil rights events both nationally and internationally. They even performed at Martin Luther Kings I have a dream Speech.

A tour guide to the institution, Trenton Andrews said, This is a benevolent way of involving the community as far as a historical aspect of what occurred in the 1960's as well as getting the community involved with it now.

The freedom singers perform at the Civil Rights Institute the second Saturday of every month at 1 o'clock.

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Freedom Singers still performing in Albany

Freedom High School boys capture Stellar basketball tournament title

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Joe Stellato wasn't expecting his Freedom High School team to make a run for the Stellar "Catch A Rising Star" Boys Basketball Tournament title this past weekend.

"We didn't have a good summer and we were in a tough bracket," Stellato said. "It was a surprise we came out of our bracket undefeated (5-0)."

Freedom defeated Parkland in the semifinals, then rallied from an 11-point deficit in the championship game to beat Easton 36-33. Senior Derike Chiclana earned tournament MVP honors. Classmate Nyreef Jackson was chosen to the tournament's second team.

"Derike and Nyreef were the only starters we had coming back," Stellato said. "The newcomers starting were Maceo Connor (senior), (juniors) Nigel Long and David Williams. They really stepped it up. We didn't know what they were capable of doing. We weren't sure what we had.

"Coming off the bench were (seniors) Brian Uliana and Andrew Arner. They played a lot of minutes for us."

Freedom defeated Phillipsburg, Whitehall, Trinity, Berks County and Pocono Mountain West in its bracket. The victory over Trinity was in double overtime and gave Stellato the belief that perhaps his team could win the tournament.

"We were down three with 10 seconds to go and Nyreef hit a huge 3 to send it to overtime," Stellato said. "Then we were down six in the overtime and David Williams hits a 3 to send it to the second overtime and we went on to win. Trinity was one of the better teams in the tournament."

Freedom followed with a last-second win against Berks, then rallied against Pocono Mountain West to capture the B bracket.

"It seemed that we just kept finding ways to win the entire weekend," Stellato said.

Freedom next faced Parkland, which fought its way out of the losers bracket but came into the game at less than 100 percent.

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Freedom High School boys capture Stellar basketball tournament title