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Another Nod for Osiris’ Prochymal – Analyst Blog

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Referenced Stocks: OSIR, SNY

Just a few weeks after gaining approval in Canada, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.'s ( OSIR ) stem cell therapy, Prochymal, gained approval in New Zealand. Prochymal gained approval for the treatment of acute graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) in children.

Osiris had submitted its marketing application to Medsafe, the medical regulatory agency in New Zealand, in May 2011. Prochymal was granted priority review status.

Prochymal is the first manufactured stem cell product to gain approval and the first treatment to gain approval for GvHD.

Besides being approved in Canada and New Zealand, we note that Prochymal is available under an Expanded Access Program (EAP) in seven countries including the US.

Our Take

Prochymal's approval in New Zealand is a boost for Osiris. Shares were up 13.75% on the news. Prochymal is the lead candidate at Osiris and represents significant commercial potential. Prochymal is currently being evaluated for other indications as well including refractory Crohn's disease (phase III), type I diabetes, and myocardial infarction (heart attack - phase II).

We currently have low visibility on the status of Osiris' development and commercialization agreement with Genzyme, a Sanofi ( SNY ) company, for Prochymal. Earlier this year, Sanofi, in its fourth quarter press release, had said that it has discontinued the development of Prochymal for GvHD.

Osiris said that the announcement was made without its knowledge or advice and clarified that Prochymal's development has not been discontinued. Although Osiris had not received any communication from Sanofi regarding the termination of their agreement, Osiris notified Sanofi that it is treating Sanofi's statement as an intention to terminate the agreement.

According to Osiris, all rights to Prochymal will return to Osiris without the company being required to compensate Sanofi. Osiris believes it can now pursue commercialization agreements for Prochymal with other parties.

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Another Nod for Osiris' Prochymal - Analyst Blog

Carbon is key for getting algae to pump out more oil

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Brookhaven researchers Jilian Fan, Changcheng Xu, and Chengshi Yan with cultures of algae that were shown to increase oil production in response to excess carbon.

(Phys.org) -- Overturning two long-held misconceptions about oil production in algae, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energys Brookhaven National Laboratory show that ramping up the microbes overall metabolism by feeding them more carbon increases oil production as the organisms continue to grow. The findings published online in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology on May 28, 2012 may point to new ways to turn photosynthetic green algae into tiny green factories for producing raw materials for alternative fuels.

We are interested in algae because they grow very quickly and can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into carbon-chain molecules like starch and oils, said Brookhaven biologist Changcheng Xu, the papers lead author. With eight times the energy density of starch, algal oil in particular could be an ideal raw material for making biodiesel and other renewable fuels.

But there have been some problems turning microscopic algae into oil producing factories.

For one thing, when the tiny microbes take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, they preferentially convert the carbon into starch rather than oils. Normally, algae produce very little oil, Xu said.

Before the current research, the only way scientists knew to tip the balance in favor of oil production was to starve the algae of certain key nutrients, like nitrogen. Oil output would increase, but the algae would stop growing not ideal conditions for continuous production.

Another issue was that scientists didnt know much about the details of oil biochemistry in algae. Much of what we thought we knew was inferred from studies performed on higher plants, said Brookhaven biochemist John Shanklin, a co-author whos conducted extensive research on plant oil production. Recent studies have hinted at big differences between the microbial algae and their more complex photosynthetic relatives.

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Confocal image of the algae Chlamydomonas showing the accumulation of oil droplets (golden dots). Red represents chlorophyll autofluorescence.

The scientists grew cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii the fruit fly of algae under a variety of nutrient conditions, with and without inhibitors that would limit specific biochemical pathways. They also studied a mutant Chlamydomonas that lacks the capacity to make starch. By comparing how much oil accumulated over time in the two strains across the various conditions, they were able to learn why carbon preferentially partitions into starch rather than oil, and how to affect the process.

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Carbon is key for getting algae to pump out more oil

Egypt: UN Project To Boost Food Security And Nutrition

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

UN Agency Launches Project To Boost Food Security And Nutrition In Egypt

New York, Jun 18 2012 1:10PM

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced a new project designed to boost food security and nutrition of women and young people in Egypt by increasing food production, education and capacity-building.

The $3 million project, financed by the Government of Italy, will establish Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools and Community Model Gardens to give women and young people the opportunity to manage their own food production enterprises, FAO said in a news release.

Through the training, participants will learn how to grow food and to raise small animals, and to improve household incomes through the sale of food products.

Training will be provided on how to produce organic fertilizers so households can avoid purchasing expensive fertilizers, as well as on food processing and preservation techniques, household budgeting, record keeping, and food marketing. Microcredit and savings opportunities, better food preparation and consumption practices, and food safety and hygiene will also be covered.

According to health surveys in Egypt, malnutrition is the root cause of over one third of sicknesses affecting children under the age of five.

To tackle this problem, nutrition education and behaviour change communication plans will be developed to promote food diversification, food hygiene, family planning, breast feeding and complementary feeding practices.

Radio dramas and spots, videos and events will also be used to promote better nutrition education. Community kitchens will offer women the chance to meet regularly and use knowledge acquired to prepare healthy meals using fruits and vegetables they produced.

FAO added that national and local government staff and community workers will be trained in food production and nutrition so that they become familiar with nutrition and health issues, approaches to nutrition improvement and knowledge of household food production methods.

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Egypt: UN Project To Boost Food Security And Nutrition

Schiff Nutrition CFO Joseph W. Baty Named CFO of the Year by Utah Business

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (SHF), announced its Chief Financial Officer Joseph W. Baty has been recognized as CFO of the Year by Utah Business magazine in the large public company category for Utah.

Joes financial stewardship and strategic leadership of Schiff Nutrition make him a deserving recipient of the CFO of the Year honor, stated Tarang Amin, president and chief executive officer. Joe has been a valuable partner in implementing our growth strategy to build premium brands and lead innovation.

Baty will be recognized along with other honorees on June 20, 2012 at a reception held at The Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Additionally, CFO of the Year recipients are featured in the June issue of Utah Business magazine.

The CFO of the Year awards are given to senior financial leaders for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards. The selected CFOs, from small, large, public and private companies and government, have been recognized for providing strong financial leadership, vision, innovation and social responsibility to Utah businesses.

About Schiff Nutrition

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. is a leading nutritional supplement company offering vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and abroad. Schiffs portfolio of well-known brands includes Move Free, MegaRed, Airborne, Tiger's Milk, Sustenex, Digestive Advantage and Schiff Vitamins. Focused on quality for 75 years, Schiffs headquarters and award-winning manufacturing and distribution facility are based in Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn more about Schiff, please visit the web site http://www.schiffnutrition.com.

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Schiff Nutrition CFO Joseph W. Baty Named CFO of the Year by Utah Business

Research and Markets: NBJ 2012 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/p7mj79/nbj_2012_sports_nu) has announced the addition of the "NBJ 2012 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report" report to their offering.

The Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss market has seen its largest growth since 2006, expanding over 11% in 2011. This category has sky-rocketed into a $25.8 billion industry, with growth in certain channels in the double digits, regardless of the controversial DMAA scandals plaguing the market.

Nutrition Business Journal has compiled all pertinent data on the sports nutrition & weight-loss industry, including company profiles, sales, numbers, and upcoming trends. This report includes sales data, market share growth, issues and concerns, and historical data on the sports nutrition & weight-loss industry.

This year's Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report includes:

- In-depth analysis of the major product categories shaping this often controversial market, including weight-loss meal replacement supplements, meal replacement supplements, sports-nutrition supplements, nutrition bars & gels, and sports & energy drinks & shots

- Analysis of performance of these product categories in both retail and direct-to-consumer channels

- Discussion of the key trends affecting each of these markets and the industry as a whole

- 11 years of historical market performance data, including market size, growth, and market share plus forecasts through 2017

- Analysis of the SNWL value chain as it pertains to raw material & ingredient suppliers

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Research and Markets: NBJ 2012 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report

Bruker and JMI Laboratories Announce a Collaboration for Mass Spectrometry-based Microbial Identification of Fungi

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At the 112th General Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) in San Francisco, Bruker announces a new collaboration with JMI Laboratories in the field of fungal identification by proteomics fingerprinting. JMI Laboratories is applying the Bruker MALDI Biotyper to a wide variety of international antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies utilizing the SENTRY Program platform (>300 sites in more than 40 countries and six continents). Among these programs, comprehensive sampling of invasive fungal infections involves nearly 2,000 samples of yeast and moulds, each requiring the highest quality of identifications, and currently requiring gene amplification and sequencing. The Bruker MALDI Biotyper will streamline reference-quality identifications via its rapidly evolving library of clinically important fungi.

Invasive fungal infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality while prompt diagnosis can result in more optimized therapy reducing both mortality and costs of treatment. Current methods for identification of fungi include biochemical, phenotypic, microscopic and molecular methods. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have examined the capabilities of the MALDI Biotyper for fungal identification and Bruker recently launched a separate RUO library of filamentous fungi at ECCMID 2012. MALDI Biotyper testing can be completed in hours and therefore has the potential to produce more rapid results than traditional microbiological testing methods.

The goals of this collaboration include the validation and expansion of the MALDI Biotyper database of protein fingerprint profiles for identification of unusual filamentous fungi, and the expansion of protein fingerprint profiles for identification of unusual yeast species. It therefore will enhance the MALDI Biotyper database as well as determine if the Bruker MALDI Biotyper platform can partially or fully replace the laborious traditional biochemical testing currently used by JMI Laboratories.

Dr. Mariana Castanheira, research scientist at JMI Laboratories and speaking for Professors M.A. Pfaller and R.N. Jones stated: "Contemporary understanding of emerging resistances among antifungal agents requires companion use of reference susceptibility test methods such as CLSI and EUCAST and molecular-level reference-quality organism identifications. The Bruker MALDI Biotyper provides us with an evolving degree of species identification certainty and processing value."

George Goedesky, Executive Director of Microbiology Business Development at Bruker Daltonics commented: We are very excited to establish the collaboration with JMI Laboratories in the field of fungal identification. Compared to classical identification methods, the MALDI Biotyper has been demonstrated to have a superior performance for common yeast representing roughly 95% of the isolates in most clinical microbiology laboratories. With JMIs acknowledged expertise in the field and large collection of sequenced fungal isolates, especially rare and unusual yeast and moulds, we will even further improve the coverage of the MALDI Biotyper reference library for this very challenging organism group.

About the Bruker MALDI Biotyper

Bruker's dedicated MALDI Biotyper solution enables molecular identification, taxonomical classification or dereplication of microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Classification and identification of microorganisms is achieved reliably and fast using proteomic fingerprinting with high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Applications include clinical routine microbial identification, environmental and pharmaceutical analysis, taxonomical research, food and consumer product processing and quality control, as well as in marine microbiology. Bruker's robust MALDI Biotyper method requires minimal sample preparation efforts and offers low cost per sample. The MALDI Biotyper is available in a research-use-only version, as well as in an IVD version according to the EU directive EC/98/79 in various EU countries. For more information, please visit http://www.bruker.com/MALDIBiotyper

About Bruker Corporation

Bruker Corporation (BRKR) is a leading provider of high performance scientific instruments and solutions for molecular and materials research, as well as industrial and applied analysis. For more information: http://www.bruker.com.

Bruker and the CDC Special Bacteriology Reference Laboratory Announce a Collaboration for Mass Spectrometry-based …

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At the 112th General Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) in San Francisco, Bruker announces a new collaboration with the Special Bacteriology Reference Laboratory (SBRL) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The SBRL receives approximately 800 isolates of rare and unusual bacteria from U.S. public health laboratories (PHLs) each year for identification. SBRL maintains a culture collection of over 90,000 isolates that have been received over the past 60 years. Currently, SBRL uses a polyphasic approach to identify unusual bacteria, including both traditional microbiological and molecular testing. Traditional biochemical tests may take weeks to complete. Molecular methods, i.e. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, are more rapid, but the public sequence databases may be incomplete and contain erroneous sequences.

MALDI-TOF testing can be completed in hours and therefore has the potential to produce more rapid results than traditional microbiological testing methods. The goals of this announced collaboration include: validation and expansion of the Bruker MALDI Biotyper database of protein fingerprint profiles for identification of unusual bacterial pathogens; evaluation of the use of the Bruker MALDI Biotyper as a replacement for or in conjunction with traditional biochemical testing in order to decrease the time needed for accurate identification of bacteria.

During the collaboration period of one year, each bacterial isolate received by SBRL will be tested using the MALDI Biotyper, traditional phenotypic and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to validate the results. In addition, type strains of known bacteria will be tested by the three methods. MALDI-TOF will be evaluated for accuracy, reproducibility, and ease of use. Data will be analyzed to determine the value of adding MALDI-TOF to the SBRL testing algorithm.

This research collaboration will enhance the MALDI Biotyper database as well as determine if the MALDI-TOF platform can complement the other testing methods currently used by SBRL and the US PHLs for bacterial identification.

Dr. Gongyi Shi, Director of Scientific Affairs in the Microbiology business of Bruker Daltonics, commented: We are very excited to establish this collaboration with CDCs Special Bacteriology Reference Laboratory. The MALDI Biotyper has been demonstrated to have superior performance, compared to classical identification methods, for common bacteria representing roughly 95% of the isolates in most clinical microbiology laboratories. With SBRLs worldwide acknowledged expertise in the field and large collection of bacteria, especially those rare and unusual bacteria, we will further improve the coverage of the MALDI Biotyper reference library. Over time, this will allow us to provide an even better solution to our customers.

About the Bruker MALDI Biotyper

About Bruker Corporation

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Longevity in Business: Bruce Co. sprouted from 12-year-old's initiative

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

It was the desire of 12-year-old Leland Bruce to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree in California that became the seedling of what is now the Bruce Co.

"Lee wanted to raise enough money to travel to California, so he borrowed a tractor to plow his neighbors' gardens," said Bliss C. Nicholson, president and CEO of the Middleton-based company.

Leland's father, Leonard Bruce, was proud of his son and adamant that this was his son's business and that he was not involved in it. But when the largest sod job to happen in Wisconsin was contracted to then-15-year-old Lee, his father had to sign the contract as Lee was too young. The job was sodding the Eagle Heights development in Madison.

Celebrating 60 years this year, the company is one of the largest landscape contractors in the country. The company has branch offices of its landscape management division in Racine and Milwaukee. The company also has nearly 600 acres of nursery stock grown near Verona.

The business offers design and build landscape services for commercial and residential properties, along with irrigation systems.

The Bruce Co. also does golf course design and maintenance, with projects in 13 states and courses designed by some big names in golf including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

A recently added aquatic division features ponds and water treatments.

"We also do outdoor lighting to highlight the beauty of a landscape after sunset," said Tom Raemisch, manager of the landscape management division.

Lee Bruce, now 72, sold the business to a group of employees including Nicholson three years ago. The company has 450 to 500 employees, depending on the season, many of whom have been with the company for more than 50 years.

During the winter, the company does snow plowing and holiday decor installation.

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Longevity in Business: Bruce Co. sprouted from 12-year-old's initiative

Nonagenarian credits volunteer work for her longevity

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

When her doctor told her she couldn't live alone anymore, Thelma E. Burton didn't listen.

It wasn't up to the doctor, as she saw it, and Thelma, now 91, isn't a woman who lets other people make decisions for her.

Thelma Burton, 91, volunteers at the Metropolitan Better Living Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Burton won a Salute to Senior Service award this year for her volunteerism. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

A year passed. The doctor offered the same grim advice, but Thelma still wasn't ready to yield. She waited one year more before deciding he was right. Then she left everything and everyone she knew in California and moved into her granddaughter's Edmond home in 2007.

I've got four daughters and one son, Thelma said, and they're fine people. But I didn't want to live with them because they're too bossy. I'm independent. I like to take care of myself.

She takes care of others, too. Despite her age, she is vibrant, hardworking and relentlessly positive. Those same qualities earned her recognition earlier this year as Oklahoma's winner of the Home Instead Senior Care network's Salute to Senior Service Award.

Thelma volunteers at the Metropolitan Better Living Center, 702 NE 37, five days a week. She cooks meals at the center on special occasions, makes homemade bread rolls and encourages other seniors to stay involved in life and exercise.

I like to be active. I think that's why I'm still living. I don't like to do like most old people, she said, laughing, and I even try to help old people stay alive.

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Nonagenarian credits volunteer work for her longevity

Study: DNA tests show scale of bad convictions in Va.

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

By Dena Potter and Zinie Chen Sampson The Associated Press June 18, 2012

RICHMOND

New DNA testing in hundreds of old Virginia homicide and sexual assault cases supports the exoneration of at least 38 suspects, according to a study released Monday by a national policy group that examined the test results.

The Urban Institute's study is the first to say how many exonerations are likely from Virginia's stash of archived, decades-old biological samples that so far have cleared at least five men who were convicted of sexual assaults. Officials with the state Department of Forensic Science, which is conducting the testing project, have said their job is not to suggest who should be exonerated, but to test the samples and deliver the results to law enforcement officials who determine whether they believe someone is innocent.

The institute's researchers found that in 5 percent of homicide and sexual assault cases, DNA testing ruled out the convicted person. If the scope is narrowed to just the sexual assault convictions, DNA testing eliminated between 8 percent and 15 percent of convicted offenders. The wrongful conviction rate previously had been estimated at 3 percent or less.

Although all of these tests were done on Virginia cases, a lead researcher said the results likely could be applied elsewhere.

"I believe that there's nothing about the Virginia situation that is much different from what was going on across much of the United States at that time," said John Roman of the Urban Institute. "I think that states have a responsibility to take these findings seriously in other places and investigate other cases that they have where they have retained evidence, because chances are they're going to find far more wrongfully convicted people than they would have anticipated before this study."

Researchers analyzed the results of new testing of DNA samples archived from 635 murder, sexual assault and non-negligent manslaughter cases that led to convictions. The cases stemmed from 715 offenses in Virginia between 1973 and 1987.

Virginia was able to do the testing because a state serologist and those she had trained had retained cotton swabs and clothing swatches. The samples mainly contained semen and blood samples from the cases during an era when DNA analysis wasn't widely used as an investigative tool. After two men were exonerated following the discovery of the old evidence, the state in 2005 ordered each of the samples tested.

The report acknowledged certain limitations. For instance, it said that in two-thirds of the cases the samples didn't have enough DNA for testing. Roman said that may mean the number of false convictions is much higher.

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Study: DNA tests show scale of bad convictions in Va.

DNA match in 2003 Silver Spring rape case

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Its been more than nine years, but a DNA match with a Texas prisoner has led to an arrest in a Montgomery County rape case.

David Martinez (Courtesy of Montgomery County police) David Martinez, 30, is facing rape, kidnapping and other charges in connection with the sexual assault of a 23-year-old woman in the Silver Spring area on March 3, 2003, according to Montgomery police.

The young woman had parked her car in the 700 block of Lowander Lane and was walking home when a man pushed her down, choked her, sexually assaulted her, then drove her in the back seat of a vehicle to Montgomery Knolls Elementary School, where he raped her and fled, Montgomery police said.

Montgomery authorities were told in July 2011 that a national DNA database linked Martinez to evidence from the rape scene, police said. Texas corrections officials said Martinez was serving a three-year sentence for injury to child before being transferred to Montgomery on June 14. A hearing is scheduled for July 13.

Electronic court records do not indicate if Martinez has retained an attorney.

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DNA match in 2003 Silver Spring rape case

Taking DNA samples at home

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Sterile oral swabs are used for DNA testing

DNA testing is often likened to identifying a suspect or victim of a crime a la Crime Scene Investigation, the television hit series. However, apart from using DNA as a tool to solve crime, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of knowing your personal DNA make-up and its implications, applications or relevance to health.

With recent innovations, a person can take his or her DNA samples in the comfort of the home using user-friendly testing kits.

EasyDNA Malaysia director Datin Sharifah Khairiyah Syed Mohamad says that DNA testing, especially using home-based testing kits, is a fairly new development in the country.

In most cases, the awareness comes after unpleasant situations such as infidelity or relationship disputes following wealth or property claims, she says.

Many have yet to realise that DNA testing is more than just about identifying a person or ascertaining relationship links between an alleged father and a child, or between siblings.

There are several types of DNA testing meant for various reasons. Besides the standard paternity tests, there are also procedures which are done for legal purposes such as Legal DNA Testing, DNA Profiles or Immigration DNA Testing.

Sharifah Khairiyah says: Such tests are for insurance claims or immigration reasons. There are cases where people take such tests for religious or marital purposes such as to find a valid wali (a Muslim womans closest adult male relative who has the authority to give her away in marriage).

It is also a trend among the rich and famous to keep their DNA profiles to protect their wealth and identities. There are also individuals who take the Ancestral Origin Testing to trace family roots or ethnicity, she adds.

PREDICTIVE POWER OF DNA

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Taking DNA samples at home

Chemists use nanopores to detect DNA damage

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

ScienceDaily (June 18, 2012) Scientists worldwide are racing to sequence DNA -- decipher genetic blueprints -- faster and cheaper than ever by passing strands of the genetic material through molecule-sized pores. Now, University of Utah scientists have adapted this "nanopore" method to find DNA damage that can lead to mutations and disease.

The chemists report the advance in the week of June 18 online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"We're using this technique and synthetic organic chemistry to be able to see a damage site as it flies through the nanopore," says Henry White, distinguished professor and chair of chemistry at the University of Utah and senior coauthor of the new study.

Strands of DNA are made of "nucleotide bases" known as A, T, G and C. Some stretches of DNA strands are genes.

The new method looks for places where a base is missing, known as an "abasic site," one of the most frequent forms of damage in the 3-billion-base human genome or genetic blueprint. This kind of DNA damage happens 18,000 times a day in a typical cell as we are exposed to everything from sunlight to car exhaust. Most of the damage is repaired, but sometimes it leads to a gene mutation and ultimately disease.

By combining nanopore damage-detection with other chemical ways of altering DNA, the researchers hope to make this new technique capable of detecting other kinds of DNA damage by converting the damage to a missing base, says the study's other senior coauthor, Cynthia Burrows, a distinguished professor of chemistry at the University of Utah.

She adds: "Damage to the bases of DNA contributes to many age-related diseases, including melanoma; lung, colon and breast cancers; Huntington's disease; and atherosclerosis."

A patent is pending on the new method of doing chemistry on DNA that allows damage sites to be found using nanopore technology.

White and Burrows conducted the study with first author, Na An, a doctoral student in chemistry and Aaron Fleming, a postdoctoral research associate in chemistry. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, with equipment and software donations by Electronic BioSciences of San Diego.

Toward Cheaper, Faster DNA Sequencing

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Chemists use nanopores to detect DNA damage

DNA tests could clear more

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

ARLINGTON --

A new study of data from Virginia's DNA testing project estimates that as many as 15 percent of people found guilty in sexual assault cases between 1973 and 1987 were wrongfully convicted.

According to an Urban Institute report released Monday, DNA supports the innocence of 38 people five convicted in murders and 33 in sexual assaults indicating that more people are left to be cleared of wrongful convictions.

The Virginia DNA project began in 2005 after sample testing cleared two men of rapes. Testing in hundreds of cases since then has exonerated three more people.

Also Monday, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science released the DNA reports in 29 of the 38 cases cited by the Urban Institute that have been cleared for release by prosecutors.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly ordered the department to release by July 1 the reports in all 78 cases in which testing failed to identify the convicted person's DNA, except for reports that authorities say are critical to a current investigation.

Reports released Monday to the Richmond Times-Dispatch include those of three men who have been exonerated: Phillip Thurman of Alexandria, Bennett S. Barbour of Charles City County and Victor Burnette of Richmond.

DNA exclusion does not necessarily prove innocence. The lack of DNA may have no bearing on guilt or innocence. Also, more than a dozen of the 78 convicted people are dead, and some of those who are alive have not been found.

The Urban Institute, which conducts research on social, economic and criminal justice issues, had access to the Virginia data for its study under a $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that funded most of the Virginia testing.

The institute estimates a wrongful conviction rate in sexual assault cases of 8 percent to 15 percent, comparable to the results in sample testing that exonerated two people and prompted Gov. Mark R. Warner to order the full Virginia DNA project in 2005.

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DNA tests could clear more

DNA evidence could show slew of VA criminals wrongly convicted

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -

DNA evidence could exonerate 38 offenders convicted of sexual assault and homicide in Virginia decades ago. The findings of Virginia's post-conviction DNA project were released Monday, by the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C..

In 2005, Virginia launched a huge undertaking for forensic labs to DNA test old swabs and threads of evidence that scientists filed away in the 1970's and 1980's.

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science took on the tedious task of sifting through filed-away evidence for nearly 800 rape and homicide cases. Deputy Director Gail Jaspen says in 78 of those conviction cases from 1973 to 1988, the criminal's DNA wasn't discovered in the recently analyzed evidence.

"It is an indication when you make that finding, that further investigation is probably warranted...and indeed, that's what's occurred in many cases," said Jaspen.

Five convicts have already been exonerated through the effort. Now, the Urban Institute says there could be many more. John Roman is leading the study on the new data.

"As much as one in six convicted offenders in Virginia in the 70s and 80s for sexual assault probably wasn't the right person," said Roman.

The Urban Institute's study concludes that for 38 of the criminals (33 sexual assault cases, five homicide cases) whose DNA wasn't found, there is a strong chance that the wrong person was put behind bars. However, Roman points out that only cases in which evidence still existed were examined, and that many other cases lacking evidence will never be rehashed.

"In most cases, evidence wasn't retained, which means that there's lots of other people in Virginia at that time who were wrongfully convicted," concluded Roman.

However, for offenders who have found new hope with the recent DNA testing, the process has only begun. The lab reports must be sent to the investigators and prosecutors who originally dealt with the case. The legal process for exoneration must then be taken on.

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DNA evidence could show slew of VA criminals wrongly convicted

Depth of the Field

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Linda McCormick, a pollution-prevention expert with a biochemistry degree from UC Berkeley, said recycling was not a priority at the University when she first became a resource conservation manager for the UNM Recycling Program in 2003.

McCormick said she is proud to watch the program grow, and that UNM recycled 125,000 tons of material last year. McCormick said the recycling program includes eight staff members who pick up recyclable materials from all over campus every day. She said staff members separate the recyclable materials into different categories to put into bales, which are then sold to a range of recycling companies. She said the program helps the University save a lot of money on trash disposal.

McCormick said the program utilizes a lot of unused items from other departments. She said the program reuses trash bins from Athletics, which adds a great component to the recycling program.

The UNM Recycling Program welcomes students, staff and faculty members to drop off recyclable trash at their location next to Tucker Avenue and Camino del Servicio on North Campus.

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Depth of the Field

Scientists discover how key enzyme involved in aging, cancer assembles

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

A model representing the interaction of the p65 protein with telomerase RNA. The RNA backbone of telomerase (multicolored) is shown interacting with three different parts of the p65 protein (shown in gold, blue, and light green). Credit: Mahavir Singh, Juli Feigon/UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry

(Phys.org) -- UCLA biochemists have mapped the structure of a key proteinRNA complex that is required for the assembly of telomerase, an enzyme important in both cancer and aging.

The researchers found that a region at the end of the p65 protein that includes a flexible tail is responsible for bending telomerase's RNA backbone in order to create a scaffold for the assembly of other protein building blocks. Understanding this protein, which is found in a type of single-celled organism that lives in fresh water ponds, may help researchers predict the function of similar proteins in humans and other organisms.

The study was published June 14 in the online edition of the journal Molecular Cell and is scheduled for publication in the print edition on July 13.

The genetic code of both the single-celled protozoan Tetrahymena and humans is stored within long strands of DNA packaged neatly within chromosomes. The telomerase enzyme helps create telomeres protective caps at the ends of the chromosomes that prevent the degradation of our DNA, said Juli Feigon, a UCLA professor of chemistry and biochemistry and senior author of the study.

Each time the cell divides, the telomeres shorten, acting like the slow-burning fuse of a time bomb. After many divisions, the telomeres become eroded to a point that can trigger cell death.

Cells with abnormally high levels of telomerase activity constantly rebuild their protective chromosomal caps, allowing them to replicate indefinitely and become, essentially, immortal. Yet undying cells generally prove to be more of a curse than a blessing, Feigon said.

"Telomerase is not very active in most of our cells because we don't want them to live forever," said Feigon, who is also a researcher at UCLA's Molecular Biology Institute and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. "After many generations, DNA damage builds up and we wouldn't want to pass those errors on to subsequent cells."

Overactive telomerase has potentially lethal consequences far beyond the propagation of erroneous DNA. The enzyme is particularly lively within cancer cells, which prevents them from dying out naturally. Finding a way to turn off telomerase in cancer cells might help prevent the diseased cells from multiplying.

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Scientists discover how key enzyme involved in aging, cancer assembles

B’ville schools and scholars recognized

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Baldwinsville Bville resident awarded Fleissner German prize

Danielle Crabtree, of Baldwinsville, a class of 2012 biochemistry, molecular biology and mathematics major at Wells College, earned the Fleissner German Prize, awarded to the student who has acquired the greatest knowledge of the German language and literature in at least two years of college work in German. Her recognition was part of the colleges Academic and Student Life awards.

Bville man honored

Matthew Manning, of Baldwinsville, was recently honored at Union College's annual Prize Day celebration. Manning was given the Shankar Gokhale Prize, given to the senior judged to have the greatest potential for community service in the area of mathematical approaches to economic problems. He was also awarded the Ralph W. Stearns (1907) Prize, given to an outstanding student in electrical or computer engineering.

Two named professional engineers

Steven Graff recently passed the New York State mechanical engineering exam and is now a licensed professional engineer. Graff is the son of Alan and Darlene Graff of Baldwinsville.

Al Yager, the Town of Lysanders engineer, recently passed the New York State Professional Engineers Exam.

Deans lists announced

Katherine Andersen, of Baldwinsville, was named to the spring semester deans list at Sacred Heart University.

Torre Holtman, of Baldwinsville, was named to the spring semester deans list at St. John Fisher College. Holtman, a sophomore majoring in biology, is the son of Tim and DeAnna Holtman.

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B'ville schools and scholars recognized

Why (Almost) All of Us Cheat and Steal

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely talks about why everyone's willing to cheat a little, why you'll steal a staple from work but not petty cash and whether punishments for cheating actually work

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, who teaches at Duke University, is known as one of the most original designers of experiments in social science. Not surprisingly, the best-selling authors creativity is evident throughout his latest book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty. A lively tour through the impulses that cause many of us to cheat, the book offers especially keen insights into the ways in which we cut corners while still thinking of ourselves as moral people. Here, in Arielys own words, are seven lessons you didnt learn in school about dishonesty. (Interview edited and condensed by Gary Belsky.)

1. Most of us are 98-percenters.

A student told me a story about a locksmith he met when he locked himself out of the house. This student was amazed at how easily the locksmith picked his lock, but the locksmith explained that locks were really there to keep honest people from stealing. His view was that 1% of people would never steal, another 1% would always try to steal, and the rest of us are honest as long as were not easily tempted. Locks remove temptation for most people. And thats good, because in our research over many years, weve found that everybody has the capacity to be dishonest and almost everybody is at some point or another.

2. Well happily cheat until it hurts.

The Simple Model of Rational Crime suggests that the greater the reward, the greater the likelihood that people will cheat. But weve found that for most of us, the biggest driver of dishonesty is the ability to rationalize our actions so that we dont lose the sense of ourselves as good people. In one of our matrix experiments [a puzzle-solving exercise Ariely uses in his work to measure dishonesty], the level of cheating didnt change as the reward for cheating rose. In fact, the highest payout resulted in a little less cheating, probably because the amount of money got to be big enough that people couldnt rationalize their cheating as harmless. Most people are able to cheat a little because they can maintain the sense of themselves as basically honest people. They wont commit major fraud on their tax returns or insurance claims or expense reports, but theyll cut corners or exaggerate here or there because they dont feel that bad about it.

(MORE: What Matters More to Voters, Gas Prices or Jobs?)

3. Its no wonder people steal from work.

In one matrix experiment, we added a condition where some participants were paid in tokens, which they knew they could quickly exchange for real money. But just having that one step of separation resulted in a significant increase in cheating. Another time, we surveyed golfers and asked which act of moving a ball illegally would make other golfers most uncomfortable: using a club, their foot or their hand. More than twice as many said it would be less of a problem for other golfers, of course to use their club than to pick the ball up. Our willingness to cheat increases as we gain psychological distance from the action. So as we gain distance from money, it becomes easier to see ourselves as doing something other than stealing. Thats why many of us have no problem taking pencils or a stapler home from work when wed never take the equivalent amount of money from petty cash. And thats why Im a little concerned about the direction were taking toward becoming a cashless society. Virtual payments are a great convenience, but our research suggests we should worry that the farther people get from using actual money, the easier it becomes to steal.

4. Beware the altruistic crook.

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Why (Almost) All of Us Cheat and Steal

Clemson biz dean preps for Presbyterian's top post

Posted on June 19, 2012 by ev1

Claude Lilly

CLEMSON Claude Lilly says his next four weeks at Clemson University will be just about the toughest time he's spent there.

The dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science was elected unanimously last week to become Presbyterian College's 17th president.

He leaves Clemson next month.

"It's a bittersweet thing," said Lilly. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my job. It's been fantastic. But this was an opportunity I felt I should take. I can truly say I will miss Clemson."

Lilly has presided over a period of steady growth at the college, Clemson's largest, that has included moving its master's degree programs to downtown Greenville and launching an innovative program in entrepreneurial leadership.

He has served since 2007 as one of five deans who oversee the five colleges at Clemson. With new deans and an interim dean heading up three other colleges at the school, he was also second highest in seniority next to Larry Allen, dean of the College of Health, Education and Human Development for 11 years.

Lilly, an Atlanta native, was trained in finance and insurance at Georgia State University. He said college president is a role he had never envisioned early in his career. That career included 25 years spent as a finance and risk management professor at Florida State, Southern Cal and Texas Tech before becoming dean of the UNC Charlotte business school in 1998.

Still, reached by phone Monday, Lilly said the move to one of South Carolina's top private liberal arts schools makes sense.

An active member of Fort Hill Presbyterian in Clemson, Lilly also recently completed a four-year appointment to the church's national board of pensions.

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Clemson biz dean preps for Presbyterian's top post

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