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Surreal day with three exams – and a technology embargo

Posted on June 13, 2012 by ev1

The Irish Times - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

IZABELLE BALIKOEVA

EXAM BLOGGER:YESTERDAY WAS Russia Day. I celebrated with a 3-hour Russian exam, after a three-hour biology exam, after a 2-hour Irish exam. Yay!

I dont know if the State Exams Commission thought it would be nice to have the Russian exam on Russia Day, but I could have done without it.

There are days that can be described as character-building. Yesterday was such a day for me. I was born in Russia but have lived in Ireland all my life. As a result I took Russian, Irish and French for the Leaving, and yesterday was the day that two languages landed together, or would have, if a three-hour biology paper hadnt got in the way. Im up for most things, but sitting two papers at the same time is not one of them. So I finished a very long biology paper at 5pm, ate the lunch I didnt have time to eat after Irish, and finally fell out of the exam hall at sunset.

This timetabling quirk had a number of knock-on effects.

Trying to remember not to answer biology questions in Russian, for example. There was also the little matter of my technology embargo as I took Russian hours after everyone else (actually, there are quite a few of us taking Irish and Russian around the country), I was not allowed access to my mobile phone, laptop or anything that might plug me into the mainframe, in case I might find out what came up on the mornings Russian paper. With three exams back to back its hard to see what I could have done with any information it took me until 5pm to find a gap for lunch.

It was a surreal day. In fact, this whole process has been surreal.

Week one was like walking through a dream. It felt strange but I was excited to finally start and get it over with once and for all. The last days before the English exam everyone seems to brush up on their clairvoyance abilities and the predictions for the paper are inescapable. It was a tough paper. If only they gave us eight hours instead of three, the gold we could produce with more time! Writing in Russian is a different story. I have spoken the language at home all my life but over three hours of the Russian alphabet is quite another thing. Yesterday I spent a grand total of nine hours scribbling away on everything from Favellas in El Salvador in Irish to seashore ecology in biology to the past tense in Russian.

If the Leaving Cert is designed to mould us into flesh and blood Wikipedia sites, job done. However, something tells me that as soon as I open Facebook, it will all be forgotten.

The First Day of Development–a Window to Successful Pregnancy

Posted on June 13, 2012 by ev1

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire -06/12/12)- An article published in F1000 Biology Reports (http://f1000.com/reports/b/4/11/) discusses recent important advancements in the development of alternative methods of embryo evaluation and selection that could lead to improvements in the reliability of IVF treatments.

The success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures still remains relatively low, at only around 30%. The high emotional, health and financial costs associated with having to undergo the procedure multiple times has driven the need to develop more efficient methods of assessing the development potential of embryos to ensure that only those with the highest potential are selected for IVF treatment.

In their article Advances in embryo selection methods for F1000 Biology Reports, F1000 Faculty Member in Development Biology Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, and her Associate Faculty Member Anna Ajduk, compare the various methods currently used for assessing embryonic viability and discuss novel procedures based on advanced time-lapse imaging techniques. These new methods show signs of promise for increasing the efficiency and success of IVF treatments.

The authors argue that by developing more reliable methods of assessing embryonic quality, single embryos can be selected for transfer, which could reduce emotional costs, limit the impact on the health of mothers-to-be and improve the overall efficiency of the procedure. The authors say that reliable selection of high quality single embryos can be achieved by combining current screening methods with non-invasive time-lapse imaging techniques.

Commenting on her findings, Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz said: "This is a very effective, rapid and non-invasive way of assessing the health of mammalian embryos. I would be delighted if it can save the lives of human embryos, and I believe it should when applied in the IVF clinic."

Evidence of improvement in live birth outcomes still has to be determined by testing these methods in a clinical environment and subjecting them to randomized controlled trials; however, they offer great hope for more reliable assessment of embryonic quality and more efficient IVF treatments.

For more information, visit http://f1000.com.

About Faculty of 1000

Faculty of 1000 (http://f1000.com) is a post-publication review service in Biology and Medicine that identifies and evaluates the most interesting and important papers published worldwide. The core of our service is our 10,000 Faculty Members and Associates, who cover some 350 defined specialty sections and collectively contribute around 1300-1500 article evaluations per month. These evaluations are published immediately on F1000 and constitute an up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the best of the scientific literature.

Author Information

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The First Day of Development--a Window to Successful Pregnancy

A 'lovely' paper with an exotic surprise

Posted on June 13, 2012 by ev1

The Irish Times - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

LOUISE HOLDEN

LEAVING CERT BIOLOGY HIGHER AND ORDINARY LEVEL:AN EXOTIC question on ecology came as a surprise to Leaving Cert biology students yesterday in what was otherwise regarded as a lovely higher paper.

More than 30,000 students took biology at higher and ordinary level yesterday and the response was very positive.

My students were quite happy with this paper, said Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland subject representative Ciara OShea. There was plenty of choice in the long question section. The experiment section demanded a great depth of knowledge but the students seemed able to handle it. They needed to know seven different experiments to answer just one question in this section.

A graph question in section 12 also demanded a bit of thought, teachers commented. Overall, however, the questions were well-scaffolded, leading students to check their answers as they went along, said Teachers Union of Ireland subject representative Margaret ONeill.

Every aspect of the syllabus was covered, said teachers, and the biology course is famous for its breadth.

Even the brain and nervous system came up, and this is a topic that teachers are stretched to get to within the teaching cycle, said Ms ONeill. Every element of the syllabus was examined, as usual.

Biology is the most popular elective subject on the Leaving Cert curriculum after French. Despite annual complaints about the amount of material that students and teachers have to cover, numbers taking the subject remain high. More than twice as many girls take biology as boys.

The higher paper featured flowering plant reproduction, genetic engineering and the function of motor neurons in the brain. A question on the introduction of exotic species to an ecosystem was considered unusual. The ecology question was a little difficult and might have thrown a few students, said Ms ONeill from Gorey Community School in Wexford.

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A 'lovely' paper with an exotic surprise

'Prometheus' has 'Alien' biology hard-wired by Blade Runner soul

Posted on June 13, 2012 by ev1

June 12, 2012 | 8:00 a.m.

Ridley Scott on the set of Prometheus. (Kerry Brown / 20th Century Fox)

The topic has been making the rounds in cinaste circles, and on Thursday it reached the cafeteria at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Three of the studios directors Oscar winners Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and Oscar nominee Bob Peterson (Up) sat down for lunch and began chewing on a Hollywood mystery: the Ridley Scott Exception.

We started talking about it because Lee mentioned how he had just shown both Blade Runner and Alien to his teenage daughter and that she loved both of them, Stanton recalled later that day. Certainly story and character must be king for a movie to stand the test of time, but typically every [science fiction] movie, no matter how good it looks, is ultimately betrayed in the end by the limitations of whatever current technology was used.

But Alien and Blade Runner are the exceptions to the rule. On every level of aesthetics, they defy Father Time.

The riddle of Ridley is timely again with the release of Prometheus, Scotts 20th feature film but only his third set in a sci-fi universe. Its a somewhat familiar corner of the galaxy this time too: Prometheus is a quasi-prequel to Alien (1979), and both stories follow a human crew (accompanied by an android with an enigmatic agenda) to a planet that holds dark secrets that are coveted by the rapacious Weyland Corp.

Alien was Scotts international breakthrough and he followed it up with the futuristic film noir Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford as a retired L.A. cop hunting down a renegade cell of synthetic humans known as replicants. Blade Runner was a dud upon release, but now, as it reaches its 30th anniversary this month, the movie and its influence are more alive in the pop culture conversation than ever.

That influence can be traced through dozens of films, among them Terminator, The Matrix, Brazil and Inception and the upcoming Looper and a new Total Recall are also candidates for the list. Christopher Nolan cites Blade Runner as his favorite film and Duncan Jones (Source Code, Moon) has described his next movie as a valentine to the 1982 Scott film.

Then there are video games, TV shows and music videos, as well as echoes in fashion, advertising, design and architecture. One other place you can find Blade Runner? Its under the artificial skin and philosophical sinew of Prometheus. The new film is a hybrid of Scotts past sci-fi films, and it appears that he just might keep the laboratory open for business this time he says a Blade Runner sequel is moving forward in development and will again search the souls of creators and creations.

God is in the details, Scott said. Who bothered to create people who look like human beings? Why do that? Its really going into that and answering the big, broad strokes of it.

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'Prometheus' has 'Alien' biology hard-wired by Blade Runner soul

Cameron Diaz writing nutrition book

Posted on June 12, 2012 by ev1

People News

Jun 12, 2012, 10:02 GMT

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz is writing her first book.

The 39-year-old star is penning a tome about the importance of nutrition and staying healthy for young girls after gaining inspiration from her friend Gwyneth Paltrow's weekly lifestyle journal Goop!, which sees the US actress provide wellness tips, recipes and fashion advice.

A publishing source said: 'Cameron has become very close to Gwyneth and it's been very interesting for her to see what Gwyneth is doing with Goop!.

'She's been inspired by Gwyneth and the way she uses her fame to influence and help people. Now Cameron wants to do the same.'

The 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' actress started to think more about living healthily following the death of her father 58-year-old father Emilio Diaz from pneumonia in 2008 - but the blonde beauty is keen to ensure the book - which will feature advice from celebrity pals Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth - is not perceived as a diet guide.

The insider explained to E! Online: 'Everything changed for Cameron after her father died. She realised what is important and started to think more and more about her health.

'This book isn't about her. And it's not a diet of any kind. Of course, it's her own journey that has helped her realise what's important, but she wants the book to appeal to everyone, and not just be about her own food choices.'

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Cameron Diaz writing nutrition book

DNA Methylation Declines with Age

Posted on June 12, 2012 by ev1

Newborns carry more epigenetic markers than nonagenarians, providing clues to the mechanisms underlying aging.

Aging is associated with loss of an epigenetic marker that helps control gene expression, according to new research published today (June 11) in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with a centenarian carrying some 7 percent fewer methylated DNA bases than a newborn. Researchers posit that reductions in methylation may be one of the mechanisms underlying the aging process.

Its one of the first studies to look at aging from an epigenetic point of view, said Willis Li, at the University of California, San Diego, who did not participate in the research. Other research, including Lis own in Drosophila, has shown that the amount of heterochromatinhistone modifications that result in tight chromosome packingalso appears to decline with an organisms age. The new study further supports the idea that epigenetic modifications, in addition to genetic factors, play a critical role in aging, said Li.

Searching for clues to why some people live long healthy lives and some succumb to early to aging, scientists have discovered that genetic factors only contribute about 10 percent to longevity, while environmental factors contribute about 90 percent, said senior author Manel Esteller of the University of Barcelona. Knowing that epigenetic modifications, such as cytosine methylation, are responsive to environmental stimuli, Esteller and his collaborators wondered if they could be a reliable indicator of physiological aging.

The scientists first compared the DNA methylation epigenomethe genome-wide level and location of methylated cytosines located next to guanines (CpG)in circulating T cells from a newborn and a centenarian. The general level of methylation of the centenarians genome (73 percent), they found, was lower than the newborns (80 percent). Looking at a 26-year-olds genome, they found an intermediate level of methylation.

Examining more closely the patterns of methylation in the newborns and centenarians genomes gave hints that Esteller thinks may help explain how loss of methylation affects cellular function and leads to aging. While most areas of the centenarians genome were less methylatedsuch as genes with tissue-specific expression patterns, suggesting the possibility that the centenarians T cells were expressing genes they shouldnt, like neuron- or testes-restricted genesa few regions showed greater methylation. Many promoters of tumor-suppressor genes, for example, showed higher levels of methylation, suggesting a possible connection with age-associated increases in cancer risk, Esteller said.

When Esteller and his colleagues extended the study to 19 more newborns and 19 people in their 90s, they found similar differences in their genomes methylation patterns. Furthermore, explained Esteller, they were able to use the epigenetic patterns to predict the agenewborn or nonagenarianof their samples.

As tantalizing as these differences are, its still not clear how the epigenetic changes factor into the aging process, said Karl Kelsey, a molecular biologist who studies epigenetic biomarkers for cancer at Brown University, who was not involved in the study. We dont yet fully understand the phenotypic consequences of epigenetics, he said, and its unclear whats underlying the loss [of methylation].

It could be that DNA methyltransferases become less active as age progresses, for example, adding fewer methyl groups after each cell division. Alternatively, changes in metabolism and diet could change the intake of folate, the nutrient from which the methyl groups are derived. Understanding the mechanism of these epigenetic changes, as well as their consequences, will be an important next step for understanding how the new findings relate to aging, Kelsey said.

In the meantime, Esteller hopes to discover whether manipulating the epigenome of mice will extend their lifespans. If maintaining methylation really can stave off aging, it may offer therapies for preventing neurodegenerative disorders, he said, and possible aid children suffering from premature aging disorders, who show epigenetic changes similar to the nonagenarians.

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DNA Methylation Declines with Age

Quigley: Expanding the DNA database

Posted on June 12, 2012 by ev1

If you're arrested for even the most minor charge, police will check your fingerprints against the national IAFIS database, where more than 70 million prints are on file. So why shouldn't they be able to check your DNA, too?

That's the question raised by state Sen. Nicholas Sacco, an advocate for greater use of DNA since 1994, years before CSI and DNA became well-known terms. He and I were running mates for the first time in 1993 and after we'd won the primary, we compiled a list of things we intended to do in Trenton. Among them was to get New Jersey into the FBI's CODIS database. New, it was used chiefly to track sex offenders and only a dozen states were participating. We introduced legislation requiring New Jersey to join.

Since we were minority party freshmen, it was easy for leadership to ignore us. And they did. But good friends and good luck were on our side. I inveigled an invitation to visit the FBI lab in Washington, saw DNA evidence being processed, and became a DNA evangelist.

FBI agents in Newark agreed to help us to talk to other legislators, and by sheer coincidence Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, also offered to travel around with us. We drew some pretty funny reactions from our colleagues when we showed up with two men in dark blue suits and a bunch of guys in red berets, but we sure did get their attention.

State Police leaders were a tougher sell. Many felt DNA was pseudo-science and said their old, inadequate laboratory couldn't handle it anyway. That opposition melted, however, when our bill passed as part of the Megan's Law package and NJSP got funding for a new lab. As use of DNA expanded, more lawbreakers were convicted with the help of DNA evidence and some unjustly jailed persons were freed when DNA analysis proved they didn't do it.

In the late '90s, credible studies by experts in the criminal justice field reported few people start out committing major crimes. However, petty offenders are likely to escalate their criminal activities, so the experts said that identifying them early and offering alternatives could prevent that escalation. Sacco then introduced legislation calling for the collection of DNA from all convicted persons for inclusion in an all-crimes database.

That bill sparked another tough legislative battle. The ACLU and defense lawyers fought it every step of the way. Eventually it passed in a watered-down version that required only persons convicted of violent crimes to give DNA samples.

Collecting DNA is not invasive, just a swab of the inner cheek. It is as quick and easy as taking a photograph, an eye scan or a fingerprint. So Sacco feels there's no legitimate reason for anyone to refuse to give a sample. With a reliability factor of almost a billion to one, DNA can identify missing persons, convict guilty persons, and exonerate innocent persons. Sacco sees all good in that. He wonders "What's not to love?"

But some people don't love it at all. They include conspiracy theorists who believe Big Brother will use their DNA for nefarious purposes and privacy-rights folks protesting that recording their DNA is unconstitutional. Sacco politely listens to their arguments and then reminds them he's not giving up on his quest.

He is convinced that maintaining a DNA database of all convicted persons is inexpensive, easy to use, and will go a long way to keep the public safe. Maybe this is the year he'll get the chance to prove he's right.

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Quigley: Expanding the DNA database

Research and Markets: Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy, 2 Volume Set

Posted on June 12, 2012 by ev1

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/psxwcg/comprehensive_chir) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy, 2 Volume Set" to their offering.

This two-volume set provides an introduction to the important methods of chiroptical spectroscopy in general, and circular dichroism (CD) in particular, which are increasingly important in all areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biology.

The set can be used as a text for undergraduate and graduate students and as a reference for researchers in academia and industry, with or without the companion volume in this set.

Experimental methods and instrumentation are described with topics ranging from the most widely used methods (electronic and vibrational CD) to frontier areas such as nonlinear spectroscopy and photoelectron CD, as well as the theory of chiroptical methods and techniques for simulating chiroptical properties.

Each chapter is written by one or more leading authorities with extensive experience in the field.

Key Topics Covered:

PART I INTRODUCTION

1 ON THE INTERACTION OF LIGHT WITH MOLECULES: PATHWAYS TO THE THEORETICAL INTERPRETATION OF CHIROPTICAL PHENOMENA

2 MEASUREMENT OF THE CIRCULAR DICHROISM OF ELECTRONIC TRANSITIONS

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Research and Markets: Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy, 2 Volume Set

iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3: The Anatomy of a Case

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Danzig

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"Basically, we don't know," Lynnette Prigmore, head of product development at Proporta, told IB Times UK. "We sell cases intoApple under the Proporta brand as well as some of the third-party brands we work with and we have as much idea as you do about when a new iPhone, iPad or iPod is going to come out."

Naturally, the delay in matching accessories to the product can have an impact on how many are sold. Prigmore confirms that there is a burst of sales when a new device comes out in the shops.

"The ideal world from a retailer's point of view would be that we would have accessories on the day of the phone going on sale," she said.

"It tends to be electronic retailers who want it quicker because there is a much higher attachment rate for people buying a case at the same time that they buy a device. That is the sweet spot."

She added that the retailers generally understand that if they haven't got the device - which many of the phone shops may not have before day of launch - then the case manufacturers don't have it either.

Incipio approaches the news blackout in a very different way. CEO Andy Fathollahi said the company starts preparing for a new Apple device well in advance.

His staff monitor the rumours closely and begin to work on accessories that match those specifications.

"We start looking at possible designs around six months to a year before," he told IB Times UK.

"We take mills of devices that we carry around with us before we design the cases. We want to get a feel for what the product is going to be like. Then we carry those around with the cases on to see what that feels like because as a user you are going to live with that case for a long time and we want to make sure it is right"

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iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3: The Anatomy of a Case

Q&A with Todd Hagobian: Exercise and the battle of the bulge

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

While Todd Hagobians research through the years has been published in several journals, none of them had an impact like his latest, initially published in the Journal of Applied Physiology and written about in The New York Times.

That study conducted through the Cal Poly kinesiology department focused on the impact exercise has on appetites.

That one article in The New York Times had more readers than all of my publications in all these peer review journals, he said.

Hagobian, who grew up in Fresno, has been an assistant professor at Cal Polys kinesiology department since 2009. Before that, he was a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

An avid bicyclist, Hagobian lives in San Luis Obispo with his wife, Nicole who also teaches kinesiology at Cal Poly and their two children.

We spoke to him at his Cal Poly office about exercise and his latest research.

Q: What got you into this field?

A: Like anyone in this field, I probably started exercising a lot and wanted to learn more about it. And then I realized the field is much bigger than performance. So I moved away from performance and more toward obesity management treatment and chronic disease.

Q: I see where you rode like five hours at a time in college.

A: It was really after college when I started doing it. And it wasnt really five hours a day. On the weekends it was up to five to six hours. And in the week it was anywhere from one to two or three hours.

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Q&A with Todd Hagobian: Exercise and the battle of the bulge

AccelPath, Inc. Announces Dr. Keith J. Kaplan, M.D. Continues Role as Chairman on Company’s Medical Advisory Board

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

AccelPath, Inc. (ACLP) (AccelPath or the Company) announced today that Dr. Keith J. Kaplan, M.D. continues his role as Chairman and active member of the Companys Medical Advisory Board.

Keith J. Kaplan, MD is a pathologist and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Carolinas Pathology Group (CPG), Celligent Diagnostics and Diligent Billing and Management. As CIO, Dr. Kaplan is responsible for all aspects of informatics strategies, operations, and projects and processes that encompass laboratory, healthcare and research information systems for Carolinas Pathology Group. Prior to joining CPG, Dr. Kaplan was a surgical pathologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and also held the academic post of associate professor of pathology of Mayo Medical School.

Dr. Kaplan is a graduate of Michigan State University, a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. While at Walter Reed, Dr. Kaplan was named Resident of the Year and, in conjunction with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Dr. Kaplan founded and directed the Army Telepathology Program. This Program connected 25 hospitals internationally for consultation via telepathology. Dr. Kaplan also served as the Medical Director and Consulting Pathologist of Laboratory Services at Keller Army Hospital in West Point, New York.

Dr. Kaplan is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. His subspecialty interests include gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology, cytopathology and pathology informatics as well as research interests in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology, hyperspectral imaging, image analysis and the use of Web 2.0 tools in pathology. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, editorials and scientific abstracts and frequently lectures at both national and international meetings on topics related to pathology informatics.

Dr. Kaplan currently serves as a member of the College of American Pathologists, American Society of Clinical Pathology and the American Society of Cytopathology as well as the American Pathology Foundation. He is also an executive board member of the Digital Pathology Association. Dr. Kaplan has previously served as a member of the College of American Pathologists Informatics Committee, Standards Committee, and Instrumentation Resource Committee and as co-chair of the American Telemedicine Association Telepathology Special Interest Group.

We are very pleased with our collaborative relationship with Dr. Kaplan, stated Shekhar Wadekar, AccelPaths Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Kaplans expertise in the technical and medical components of digital telepathology (through his experiences at Walter Reed Army Medical Center / the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, founding and directing the Army Telepathology Program, and industry experience as a practicing pathologist) provides us significant insights while we enhance our proprietary digital telepathology solutions. He will also be invaluable as we further apply those to existing pathology laboratories and related service providers.

About AccelPath

AccelPath provides technology solutions that play a key role in delivering information required for diagnosis of diseases and other pathologic conditions with and through its associated institutional pathologists. The medical institutions, with whom the Company partners, prepare comprehensive diagnostic reports of a patients condition and consult with referring physicians to help determine the most appropriate treatment. Such diagnostic reports enable the early detection of disease, allowing referring physicians to make informed and timely treatment decisions that improve their patients health in a cost-effective manner. The Company seeks out referring physicians and histology laboratories in need of high-quality pathology interpretations and manages HIPAA-compliant digital case delivery and reporting while developing comprehensive solutions for managing medical information.

AccelPath is currently focused on the $14 billion anatomic pathology market in the US. The Companys business model builds upon the expertise of experienced pathologists to provide seamless, reliable and comprehensive pathology and special test offerings to referring physicians using conventional and digital technologies.The Company establishes longstanding relationships with the referring physicians as a result of focused delivery of its partners diagnostic services, personalized responses and frequent consultations, and its proprietary flexible information technology, or IT, solutions that are customizable to the referring physicians or laboratories as well as the pathologists needs. Such diagnostic reports often enable the early detection of disease, allowing referring physicians to make informed and timely treatment decisions that improve their patients health in a cost-effective manner. AccelPaths IT and communications platform enables it to efficiently and securely deliver diagnostic reports to referring physicians. In addition, AccelPaths IT platform enables close tracking and monitoring of medical statistics.

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AccelPath, Inc. Announces Dr. Keith J. Kaplan, M.D. Continues Role as Chairman on Company’s Medical Advisory Board

Stomach Issues? Top Nutrition Expert Recommends A Daily, Yeast-Based Probiotic Supplement to Naturally Promote …

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

SAN BRUNO, Calif., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If your tummy is going through tumultuous times, it may be of benefit to find a friend in the form of a yeast-based probiotic dietary supplement. Daily stress, struggles with a poor diet, stomach upsets from travel and illness can leave your digestive system vulnerable and in need of a friend to restore digestive strength.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120611/CG21351-a)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120611/CG21351LOGO-b)

"Health minded people know that the benefits of probiotics come from live microorganisms, and most often associate them with probiotic foods like yogurt, yet there is little awareness that probiotic dietary supplements are also available for those looking for efficient options to help with digestive balance," said Kerry Neville, a registered dietitian in Seattle. "A yeast-based probiotic supplement like Florastor can help to promote digestive balance naturally so it makes good health sense to add one to your daily diet," said Neville.

Why Yeast-Based Over A BacterialBased Probiotic Supplement?

Probiotics help the good organisms in your intestines to grow and get rid of the bad organisms that can disrupt normal intestinal function. Probiotic dietary supplements are grouped into two categories: yeast or bacteria, which interact differently within the body. Probiotic supplements containing bacteria are made up of different strains which are good for different tasks, so their effects may vary.

"The gut holds approximately 70-80% of the body's immune cells, so promoting digestive health has a powerful influence on optimizing overall health," added Neville. "I recommend Florastor, a friendly, yeast-based probiotic supplement, because it can withstand the harsh environment of the stomach, while many bacteria-based probiotics are destroyed by acids in the stomach before they even reach the intestines. Florastor, unlike bacterial probiotics supplements, are not compromised by antibiotic use and are more consistent in increasing the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA), the primary antibody which promotes health and helps defend against infection."

About Florastor Supplements

Florastor is the world's most widely used probiotic and is unique because it is the only yeast-based probiotic available in major retail pharmacies throughout the United States. Florastor contains active Saccharomyces boulardii lyo, a friendly yeast found naturally on the skin of the tropical fruits, lychees and mangosteens. Florastor has versatile options appropriate for adults and children as young as two months. Available in capsule form or dissolvable, kid friendly packets (both 250 mg,) Florastor is an easy way to ensure digestive health for the whole family. Florastor is available in many major retail pharmacies. For more information and for a store locator, visit http://www.florastor.com. Florastor and Florastor Kids are manufactured by Biocodex, a globally recognized and trusted pharmaceutical company. Florastor has been studied and trusted since 1953 and is the number one probiotic worldwide. Florastor is recommended by doctors around the world and has been promoting intestinal health in adults and children for over 50 years.

About Biocodex

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Stomach Issues? Top Nutrition Expert Recommends A Daily, Yeast-Based Probiotic Supplement to Naturally Promote ...

Cargill showcases new ways to overcome formulation challenges associated with childhood nutrition recommendations at IFT

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

MINNEAPOLIS, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Demonstrating how it can help food and beverage manufacturers, restaurant and food service operators and school nutrition experts develop products that address the nutritional needs of children, Cargill will showcase new ingredients and ideas for creating breakthrough products at the 2012 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Food Expo, June 26-28, 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Visitors to the booth (#1721) can learn more about Cargill's solutions and technical expertise which enable the formulation of great tasting kid-friendly products that contain less sodium, calories and fat, and more whole grains, fiber and protein:

Other featured concepts, targeted to mom and dad, include:

Additionally, to help customers better understand the changing regulatory environment as it pertains to childhood nutrition recommendations, Cargill Regulatory Senior Scientist Kristen Dammann, Ph.D. and registered dietitian, will conduct live presentations in the booth on Tues., June 26, at 1:30 p.m. and Wed., June 27, at 11:00 a.m. These sessions will provide an overview of policies, regulations and recommendations such as the new standards for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, Menu Labeling, Guidelines for Food Marketed to Children, and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and how they are impacting the food industry.

Cargill also will host a press conference (exclusively for members of the media) at the booth on Tues., June 26, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss new ingredient innovations, including:

If you are interested in attending, please contact Niki Larson at niki_larson@cargill.com.

About Cargill Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 139,000 people in 65 countries.Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business.For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.

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Cargill showcases new ways to overcome formulation challenges associated with childhood nutrition recommendations at IFT

Einhorn Damage Control at Herbalife With Nutrition Clubs: Retail

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

By Duane D. Stanford - 2012-06-11T17:46:47Z

Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) has an image problem on Wall Street.

Ever since Greenlight Capital Inc.s David Einhorn dialed into a May 1 earnings conference call asking for more disclosure, investors have shunned shares of the nutritional and weight-loss supplement maker. The influential hedge-fund managers query hit right at Herbalifes marketing Achilles heel: how to keep track of inventory when much of it is sold from thousands of distributors homes and car trunks. Einhorn had dredged up skepticism that has long plagued direct sellers from Avon Products Inc. (AVP) to Tupperware Brands Corp.

Herbalife executives say they thought theyd put such concerns behind them, especially since their products increasingly are sold in so-called nutrition clubs -- shopfronts where customers can drop by to sample products and exchange weight-loss tips. These operate more like traditional retail stores, which are easier for investors to understand.

There is enough insecurity in the direct-selling model that the stock reacted significantly with the questions Einhorn raised, Chief Financial Officer John DeSimone said in a telephone interview. Its an indication we need to do a better job of educating Wall Street as to how the model works.

On the call, Einhorn asked why Herbalife stopped giving a breakdown of three groups of distributors it had previously provided. He also asked for an explanation of financial incentives given to supervisors who sign up new distributors. DeSimone, who told Einhorn he stopped providing the data because it didnt seem valuable to investors, agreed on the call to resume the disclosures.

Investors werent assuaged. Herbalife plummeted 20 percent the day of the call, on the way to its largest three-day decline since the shares began trading in December 2004. Before Einhorns query, Herbalifes share price had hit an all-time high on April 23, spurred on by a 26 percent sales surge in 2011. The shares, down 36 percent from April 30 through June 8, rose 0.1 percent to $45.10 at 1:41 p.m. in New York.

Einhorn declined to comment.

Herbalife executives will try to reassure investors by demonstrating the benefits of nutrition clubs, DeSimone said.

That should help because you can go into these nutrition clubs and see the sales channel and measure it, said Scott Van Winkle, a Boston-based analyst with Canaccord Genuity Inc.

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Einhorn Damage Control at Herbalife With Nutrition Clubs: Retail

Study says nutrition makes child tall and more likely to have good career

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

GOOD nutrition in the first three years of a child is crucial to ensuring his health and success in adulthood, according to a study that began in 1980 in Metro Cebu.

Anthropologist Linda Adair of the University of North Carolina, citing the results of the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS), said proper nutrition from infancy to early childhood adoes not only affect the physical growth of a child, but also his performance in school and his career as an adult.

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The CLHNS looked into the pregnancy of 3,327 women in 33 barangays in Metro Cebu between May 1, 1983 and April 30, 1984. The study traced their childbirth and the way they raised their children.

The results of the CLHNS, which was conducted by US and Philippine researchers, were presented during a forum yesterday on childhood and health, organized by the Consortium of Health Orientated Research in Transitioning Societies.

Fr. Dionisio Miranda, University of San Carlos (USC) president, said studies like the CLHNS are good bases for drafting health and nutrition policies. But he said many issues raised in the forum have not been addressed by policy-makers yet.

Format

Dr. Florentino Solon, former Cebu City mayor and Nutrition Center of the Philippines founder, said the results of the study should be presented in a format that policymakers can understand.

He said that in Cebu City, 500 children under the age of five die every year for various reasons.

Labrada Nutrition Teams up with Wal-Mart to Fight Obesity

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

HOUSTON, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Labrada Nutrition, a Houston-based sports supplement and nutrition company, is about to make an even greater impact on fighting America's obesity epidemic. This month mega retailer Wal-Mart will begin offering select Labrada Nutrition Lean Body to Go! 14 oz. Ready-to-Drink Protein Shakes in several flavors, available nationwide. The full rollout of the Lean Body to Go! products will be completed July 3. The national offering of the shakes means approximately 14 million people* will have access to better nutrition at the Wal-Mart value price, daily. And the real buzz, at least from Labrada's perspective, is the opportunity to work with the world's largest retailer in such a powerful way.

Lee Labrada, CEO of Labrada Nutrition and best-selling author of The Lean Body Promise, says having the opportunity to work with Wal-Mart means potentially touching millions of new people every year. As the former Fitness Czar for the City of Houston, credited with helping the city shed its "fattest city" title, he is hopeful it could mean a positive dent in the most recent sobering statistics regarding the nation's rising obesity epidemic.

"Recently, the American Journal of Preventative Medicine released a study predicting a 42 percent obesity rate by 2030," says Labrada. "As a father, husband, businessman and athlete, this is deeply concerning to me, especially when the study only included adults, and the number is likely to increase when children are included. But I hope with larger distribution channels for great nutritious products, the door will open to more people giving a healthier lifestyle a try and that it will stick."

The secret to changing the obesity patterns in America will hinge on people making better lifestyle choices, and part of it is knowing how to read labels properly, researching what is in foods before consuming them, and overall, being better stewards of our own health.

"It's not always easy to make wise food choices when you're on the go," says Labrada. "So Labrada products are a great alternative when whole foods are not available or when someone is looking to boost their protein intake to help support the muscles, weight loss, and metabolism. I'm certainly in favor of anything that helps people learn how to eat, space out their meals, and utilize responsible portion control."

The nutritional breakdown of the Lean Body to Go! 14 oz. Ready-to-Drink Protein Shakes Wal-Mart will carry is superb: 25 grams of high quality protein, zero grams of sugar, lactose-free, and only 190 calories.

Labrada Nutrition products have won numerous taste and quality awards over the years and continues setting higher standards. Labrada continues to be on the forefront of new product development and remains active in community outreach. Currently all lines of Labrada Nutrition products are distributed nationally and internationally in health food stores, fitness centers and gyms and other fine retail outlets. They can be found on the Web at http://www.labrada.com.

About Lee Labrada

Lee Labrada is president and CEO of Labrada Nutrition, a best-selling author and IFBB Hall of Fame athlete. He is also one of the most celebrated bodybuilding legends of all time. Lee is the former Fitness Czar for the City of Houston, credited with helping Houston shed its "fastest city" title. He has appeared on the covers bodybuilding and fitness magazines and has been featured on CNBC, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and ESPN.

*Source: Wal-Mart statistics on Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart#Customer_base]

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Labrada Nutrition Teams up with Wal-Mart to Fight Obesity

COPAN Partners with INPECO to Offer Track System for Continuous Feeding of Specimens into WASP: Walk-Away Specimen …

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

MURRIETA, Calif., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- While attending the 112th American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, COPAN is announcing strategic partnership with INPECO for the connection of its track system FlexLab 3.6 for continuous feeding of standardized tube specimens to COPAN's WASP: Walk-Away Specimen Processor.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120611/LA22322)

With over 500 systems placed worldwide, INPECO's track has been successfully implemented in the main specialties of the clinical laboratory everywhere. INPECO's vision of total lab automation fits perfectly with COPAN's vision for WASPLab, and with this partnership INPECO is looking forward to expanding its track system to the Microbiology lab to achieve full lab automation. Lab automation reduces human manipulation wherever possible to manage workload, avoid safety issues, as well as the risk of mistakes, assuring a full traceability of the biological sample. With this in mind, the ideal solution for the laboratory is to load all the tube specimens in specimen reception or accessioning area, and then use the specimen's barcode to determine which instrument the tubes are carried. In the case of WASP, the INPECO track will automatically manage tube specimens, from loading to storing and disposing. Specimens can be loaded onto the track system in two ways: specimens loaded in a hopper and automatically placed into buckets or specimens manually placed into the bucket holders prior to sending them to WASP.

"Standardization of microbiology specimens to tubes and automatic loading of such tube specimens via a conveyor track system sent from the point of reception limits the number of visits to the WASP to just loading and unloading plates. When used with WASPLab, the only visit to the WASP is to load fresh culture plates," says Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics' Executive VP. "The addition of a track is particularly appealing to large laboratories, as it allows them to greatly improve efficiencies by streamlining specimen handling with less human manipulations and interventions," says Sharples. "The unique open platform of WASP allows this type of modularity, highlighting again that WASP is forward compatible and can converge with other technologies easily," concludes Sharples.

About COPAN Group

With a reputation for innovation in preanalytics, COPAN is the leading manufacturer of collection and transport systems in the world. COPAN offers a complete line of automation and a range of microbial sampling products used for traditional culture analysis and molecular diagnostic assays. For more information, visit http://www.copanusa.com

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COPAN Partners with INPECO to Offer Track System for Continuous Feeding of Specimens into WASP: Walk-Away Specimen ...

Glori Energy Announces Collaboration with the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Glori Energy, a leader in sustainable, enhanced oil recovery and provider of the AEROTM (Activated Environment for Recovery of Oil) System, today announced the signing of a strategic research collaboration with the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The collaboration will focus on the microbiology of carbonate oil reservoirs. Shared knowledge and research will be used to develop effective enhanced oil recovery methods to be used in carbonate reservoirs and complement Gloris AERO System.

The collaboration builds on Gloris strategy of identifying leaders in the field of enhanced oil recovery research around the world and engaging in collaborative ventures to advance Gloris product offerings. Glori has already successfully employed this strategy with Norways Statoil and Indias TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi). The Winogradsky Institute collaboration represents another important step in advancing Gloris mission of sustainably and efficiently recovering billions of barrels of unrecovered oil.

The Winogradsky Institute is pleased to be working in collaboration with Glori Energy to study the microbiology of carbonate oil reservoirs, said Academician Mikhail V. Ivanov of Moscows Winogradsky Institute. Scientists at the Institute have a long history of studying microbes for use in enhanced oil recovery and then applying this knowledge to field programs throughout the world. We are confident that the collaboration with Glori will lead to further successes in extracting more oil from carbonate reservoirs around the world.

Glori Energy is excited to be working in collaboration with the Winogradsky Institute, said Thomas Ishoey, Chief Technology Officer of Glori Energy. We identified their groundbreaking work in enhanced oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs several years ago as they completed numerous successful field deployments in Russia and China. We expect to drive their success to the next level to complement our AERO System, broadening its applicability to encompass nearly 90% of the worlds reservoirs.

About Glori Energy

Glori Energys mission is to sustainably and efficiently recover billions of barrels of oil trapped in reservoirs using existing oil wells. Glori partners with oil producers to significantly increase their oil production through the deployment of its AERO (Activated Environment for Recovery of Oil) System. The system makes use of existing non-potable water sources, optimizing the water quality to activate and sustain the indigenous reservoir microbial life with the desired metabolic activities. The AERO System provides a new, viable option to recover previously trapped oil with minimal new footprint or investment. For more information visit: http://www.GloriEnergy.com.

About the Winogradsky Institute

Since itsfoundation,theInstitute of Microbiologyof the Russian Academy of Scienceshas been the leading scientificinstitution in Russia in the field of general and petroleum microbiology, microbial ecology, and biotechnology of microorganisms. The Institutes researchers are internationally known for their work on microbiological methods for leaching metals from base ores, enhancement of oil recovery, purification of solid waste and sewage, reduction of methane concentrations in coal mines, and production medical products from fungi. The Institute has nearly 120 scientists on staff.

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Glori Energy Announces Collaboration with the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Longevity Pay Still On Books For County Commissioners

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

Posted: Jun. 11, 2012 | 1:59 a.m. Updated: Jun. 11, 2012 | 8:32 a.m.

Do as they say. Not as they do.

The paychecks of some Clark County commissioners include a salary bonus they asked employees to do without in tough economic times.

And even if commissioners wanted to change it, state law says they're entitled to it.

Commissioners are paid an annual salary of $72,488. After four years, they earn longevity pay of 2 percent for each year they have served, capped at 20 percent.

But commissioners have expressed appreciation for unions that agreed to eliminate their longevity pay - an annual raise that rewards employees for their years of service - for new hires in recent contract negotiations.

If re-elected in November, commissioners Steve Sisolak and Larry Brown would be eligible for the pay.

"It clearly sends a message to people," Sisolak said. "It's definitely symbolic. We have to be cognizant of that fact. We're asking everybody else to make concessions. We've asked so much of so many groups, I think it would only be fair to participate in that."

While they have discretion over their base pay, the longevity pay component is written into state law for elected county officials throughout Nevada, meaning Clark County commissioners would have to lobby the Legislature for change or donate to charity to get rid of it.

Some have called the bonus "archaic" because the county isn't hiring as much and should not need to persuade employees to stick around in an economy with few jobs. Others characterize it as a necessity to reward loyal employees who know how county operations run.

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Longevity Pay Still On Books For County Commissioners

Rapist caught by DNA match jailed

Posted on June 11, 2012 by ev1

11 June 2012 Last updated at 10:51 ET

A rapist has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after being convicted of attacking a 15-year-old girl in an Essex woodland almost 15 years ago.

Jon Molt, 34, was traced after his father provided a DNA sample as part of the police inquiry into the rape in Ten Metre Wood, Harlow, in December 1997.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the sample provided a "familial match". Molt, from Rushes Mead, Harlow, had denied rape.

His victim said she was "extremely grateful" to police for catching him.

Prosecutor Carolyn Gardiner said the girl had attended a Christmas concert at her school and became concerned that her boyfriend, who played in the band, was not there and decided to walk to his house.

As she passed through a secluded area of the wood she became aware of somebody running behind her, the court heard.

Ms Gardiner said as the attacker tried to remove the girl's school uniform, she said: "Please don't hurt me, I'm only 15."

The prosecutor said: "She screamed and he struck her and said 'If you scream again I'm going to kill you and I'm going to kill you bad'."

I would like to thank them not only on my behalf, but for any future victims of this man who will now never have to go through the ordeal that I have had to endure

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Rapist caught by DNA match jailed

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