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Video of the daylight California fireball | Bad Astronomy

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

On April 22, 2012, a chunk of asteroid one or two meters across burned up in Earths atmosphere. It came in over California and was seen by a lot of people, despite it occurring at about 8:00 a.m. local time and in broad daylight.

I just became aware that some footage was taken of the event, and as far as I know is the only video we have of it. It was taken by Shon Bollock, who was making a time-lapse kayaking video just outside Kernville, California as part of his Shasta Boyz adventuring website:

Pretty cool! It looks like he caught the very beginning of it burning up in the upper atmosphere. Not long after this, the meteoroid broke apart, raining down small meteorites onto the ground which were later found spread over the countryside.

The video is being studied by astronomers and meteoriticists to try to calculate the trajectory, speed, and possible orbit of the object. This is difficult with just one video, so if you have pictures you took or, better yet, more video, please let me know!

Tip o the Whipple Shield to Aaron Johnson on Twitter.

- A meteors lingering tale - Meteor, Crater - Best video of Soyuz rocket burning up so far - Fireball over Germany

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Video of the daylight California fireball | Bad Astronomy

Astronomy buffs eye Tuesday's transit of Venus with anticipation

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

By Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Astronomer David Dundee has an out-of-this world offer for anyone who ventures to Cartersville's Tellus Science Museum next Tuesday evening to witness the ultra-rare phenomenon called the transit of Venus.

"We are promising that everyone who comes to watch, if they save their receipts, can get in free to the museum for the next Venus transit," he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek, knowing that there will not be another sighting of the planet's passage between the Earth and sun until 2117. "You know, we know no bounds of generosity."

Actually, astronomy aficionados know no bounds of enthusiasm when it comes to the transit of Venus. Most mortals think of the appearance of Halley's Comet as the rarest of celestial events, visible from Earth every 76 years, give or take. But that is rather commonplace in comparison to the quirky transit of Venus, which won't be spotted from this mortal coil for another 105 years after Tuesday.

People who "collect" astronomical phenomena the way bird watchers check rare winged creatures of their lifetime lists consider the Venus transit, in which the planet appears like a black coin passing right to left across the face of the sun, a holy grail of sorts. That's why they are helping organize viewings across the metro area, from Grant Park to Grayson.

Stone Mountain Park is expecting the largest crowd, easily in the hundreds, who will hike up the mountainside or take the Summit Skyride to the top of "the Rock" before or during sunset. There, members of the Atlanta Astronomy Club will have some 20 solar-filtered telescopes set up for the public to gaze into and 50 pairs of eclipse glasses to lend. (Remember, kids, it's extremely dangerous to stare at the sun without protective filters.)

Atop the outcropping, 1,683 feet above sea level, they will be able to experience a viewing unobstructed by trees or buildings. That means a longer possible viewing -- for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, starting around 6 p.m. -- than anywhere else for miles around, if the skies are not covered by clouds.

"It's going to be great," said Daniel Herron, the club's board chairman and observing chairman. "If the weather is clear, you're raised up higher than anything in the area so you're going to get that extra time. ... We may see 30 or 40 more minutes of the transit because we're a little higher than the horizon.

"I'm really excited," he added, "just extremely excited."

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Astronomy buffs eye Tuesday's transit of Venus with anticipation

Timeline for the fall of the Dragon | Bad Astronomy

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

Tomorrow morning, Thursday May 31, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will undock from the International Space Station, perform a series of maneuvers, and then come back home to Earth. Over at The Planetary Society Blog, Jason Davis has a great writeup giving the times of the key events.

The preliminary stuff happens in the middle of the night for me in Colorado, but the actual descent to Earth happens at a much more palatable time. At 14:51 UTC (10:51 a.m. Eastern US time) the Dragon will begin the deorbit burn, dropping it lower in orbit. Less than an hour later, at 15:44 UTC it is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific ocean about 900 km (540 miles) off the coast of Los Angeles in California.

This will all be covered by various live webstreams, including NASA TV. Ill be on Twitter as early as I can and Ill update this post with more video streams as I hear of them.

- SpaceX Dragon on its way to the ISS! - Dragon is approaching the space station UPDATED: CAPTURED! - When a Dragon mated the space station - Dragon hunting above, dragon hunting below

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Timeline for the fall of the Dragon | Bad Astronomy

8 astronomy mysteries scientists can't explain

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

The vastness of space and the puzzling nature of the cosmic objects that occupy it provides no shortage of material for astronomers to ponder.

To round up some of the most enduring mysteries in the field of astronomy, the journal Science enlisted help from science writers and members of the Board of Reviewing Editors to choose eight puzzling questions being asked by leading astronomers today.

As Robert Coontz, deputy news editor at Science, writes in his introduction to the series, the participants decided that, "true mysteries must have staying power," rather than being questions that might be resolved by research in the near future. In fact, while some of the topics discussed may one day be solved through astronomical observations, others may never be solved, he added.

In no particular order, here are eight of the most compelling mysteries of astronomy, as presented by the journal Science:

What is dark energy? In the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is not static, but rather is expanding. In 1998, the Hubble Space Telescope, named for the astronomer, studied distant supernovas and found that the universe was expanding more slowly a long time ago compared with the pace of its expansion today.

This groundbreaking discovery puzzled scientists, who long thought that the gravity of matter would gradually slow the universe's expansion, or even cause it to contract. Explanations of the universe's accelerated expansion led to the bizarre and hotly debated concept of dark energy, which is thought to be the enigmatic force that is pulling the cosmos apart at ever-increasing speeds.

While dark energy is thought to make up approximately 73 percent of the universe, the force remains elusive and has yet to be directly detected.

"Dark energy might never reveal its nature," Science staff writer Adrian Cho wrote. "Still, scientists remain optimistic that nature will cooperate and that they can determine the origins of dark energy."

How hot is dark matter? In the 1960s and 1970s, astronomers hypothesized that there might be more mass in the universe than what is visible. Vera Rubin, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, studied the speeds of stars at various locations in galaxies. [ Top 10 Strangest Things in Space ]

Rubin observed that there was virtually no difference in the velocities of stars at the center of a galaxy compared to those farther out. These results seemed to go against basic Newtonian physics, which implies that stars on the outskirts of a galaxy would orbit more slowly.

8 astronomy mysteries scientists can't explain

8 Modern Astronomy Mysteries Scientists Still Can't Explain

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

The vastness of space and the puzzling nature of the cosmic objects that occupy it provides no shortage of material for astronomers to ponder.

8 Modern Astronomy Mysteries Scientists Still Can't Explain

Antioxidant Beta-Carotene Use Safe During Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

Newswise Despite past safety concerns, the antioxidant supplement beta-carotene, is safe to use during radiation therapy treatments for prostate cancer and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer death or metastases, according to a study in the May issue of the International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics, the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

The use of vitamin supplements and antioxidants is common, but the safety of using antioxidant supplements during radiation treatments for prostate cancer is controversial. Radiation therapy relies on the pro-oxidant effects of DNA, which involves damaging tumor cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. However, some scientists have suggested that supplemental antioxidants may weaken the oxidizing effects of radiation and potentially lead to cancer recurrence.

In the largest study to date of its kind, researchers followed 383 prostate cancer patients who were randomized to receive beta-carotene or placebo to determine if antioxidants could potentially counteract the pro-oxidant effects of radiation therapy and increase a patients risk of death or metastases. The primary endpoint was prostate cancer death or bone metastases.

Researchers found no significant differences in lethal outcomes among the patients who took the antioxidant beta-carotene versus those who did not.

This study shows that antioxidant supplementation with beta-carotene during radiation therapy does not appear to detract from the benefit of radiation therapy. Danielle Margalit, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said. It also suggests that patients may continue to eat a well-balanced diet that contains foods with natural sources of antioxidants at the recommended daily amount.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit http://www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit http://www.astro.org. ###

Newsbyte: SAP Broadens Industry Reach With New Analytic Application for Aerospace and Defense

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Danzig

WALLDORF, Germany, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --SAP NEWSBYTE Extending the industry reach of its analytics portfolio, SAP AG (SAP) today announced a new analytic application for aerospace and defense (A&D). The SAP Program Performance Analysis for A&D analytic application lets A&D program managers and business executives quickly uncover deep insights into their portfolio of programs, including the development of new commercial aircraft, weapon systems, spacecraft and ships. The announcement was made at the EVM World 2012 conference, being held May 30 June 1 in Naples, Florida.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110126/AQ34470LOGO)

In the highly competitive A&D industry, program managers must identify the relevant issues of projects throughout their lifecycle by analyzing data collected from many diverse sources. They must gain visibility into key performance indicators (KPIs) such as requirements stability, production quality, or supplier risks, and be able to take quick corrective actions to keep programs on track. The analytic application provides program managers a scorecard view of the performance of multiple programs at once. Additionally, it enables users to drill down through layers of increasing detail to root causes without the delays and manual efforts that plague today's program assessment efforts.

Enabling organizations and individuals to gain real-time, actionable insights, analytic applications from SAP are tailored for specific industries and lines of business to help users overcome the challenges of their unique business climates. SAP Program Performance Analysis for A&D enables program managers to work proactively and avoid commonly experienced setbacks such as cost overruns and schedule delays that cause organizations to lose millions of dollars to annually. It also enables them to clearly visualize all relevant data to help stakeholders improve overall decision-making and ensure program goals are achieved.

Since the analytic application is powered by the SAP HANA platform, it can process large volumes of data from any data source in memory, meaning the results of complex analyses and transactions are produced immediately. With this information, program managers can base reports and tactics on comprehensive business intelligence (BI) from the entire value chain. They can also easily determine the status of tasks and run ad-hoc queries to drill down on granular metrics.

To learn more, watch a product demo: "SAP Program Performance Analysis for Aerospace & Defense Sharpening Operational Insight and Boosting Program Performance." For more information, visit the SAP Newsroom. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews and @businessobjects.

Media Contacts: Susan Miller, SAP, +1 (610) 661-9225, susan.miller@sap.com, EDT Atle Erlingsson, SAP, +1 (415) 858-8149, atle.erlingsson@sap.com, PDT Jeff Shadid, Burson-Marsteller, +1 (214) 224-8419, jeff.shadid@bm.com, CDT

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Newsbyte: SAP Broadens Industry Reach With New Analytic Application for Aerospace and Defense

ECCC Summer class schedule announced

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

East Central Community College in Decatur will offer two, four-week summer terms as well as a 10-week summer evening schedule, announced David Case, dean of admissions, records and research. Courses include:

SUMMER SESSION I The first four-week, four-day (Monday Thursday) term on the Decatur campus begins Monday, June 4 and ends Thursday, June 28.

Course offerings include General Biology I and Lab, General Biology II and Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab, Computer Concepts, Computer Applications I, Beginning English, English Composition I, English Composition II, American (U.S.) History I, American History II, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Spanish I, Spanish II, Music Appreciation, Physical Science Survey II and Lab, Intermediate Reading and Public Speaking I. The deadline to register for the first four-week term is Tuesday, June 5.

SUMMER SESSION II The second four-week, four-day (Monday Thursday) term on the Decatur campus begins Monday, July 9 and ends Thursday, August 2.

Classes scheduled include General Biology I and Lab, General Biology II and Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab, Keyboarding, Computer Concepts, Intermediate English, English Composition I, English Composition II, Football Theory, Baseball Theory, Coaching Major Sports I, American (U.S.) History I, American History II, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Guitar for Music Education Major I, Music Appreciation and Intermediate Reading.

The deadline to register for the second four-week term is Tuesday, July 10.

SUMMER SCHEDULE Evening classes are offered throughout the Colleges five-county district and begin Tuesday, May 29 and conclude Monday, August 6 at all locations. The last day to register is Monday, June 4.

LOUISVILLE CAREER ADVANCEMENT CENTER Evening classes offered at the Louisville Career Advancement Center include Computer Concepts and Trigonometry.

WINSTON/LOUISVILLE Evening classes offered at the Winston/Louisville Career-Technical Complex include Human Growth and Development, English Composition I, Personal and Community Health, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra and Public Speaking I.

DECATUR Classes included in the campus evening schedule are Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab, Word Processing Applications, Computer Applications I, Guiding Social and Emotional Behavior, Atypical Child Development, Social Studies/Math/Science for Young Children, Administration of Preschool Program, Principles of Macroeconomics, English Composition I, English Composition II, American Literature I, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra and Public Speaking I.

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ECCC Summer class schedule announced

This Week in Pathology

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

Researchers led by Helenice Gobbi from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil report in Pathology that ALDH1 is frequently expressed in triple-negative breast cancer, and that its expression is linked to better outcome. The researchers examined the expression in ALDH1 as well as EZH2 both of which are cancer stem cell-related markers in 140 cases of triple negative breast cancer, and correlated it to clinicopathological features and disease outcome. "Our results showed that tumour cell expression of ALDH1 did not correlate with nodal status, outcome, or expression of basal markers," the researchers write. "Nonetheless, stromal expression of ALDH1 was significantly associated with better overall survival in our triple negative cohort."

Also in Pathology, the University of Western Australia's Benhur Amanuel and his colleagues examine the prevalence of BRAF p.Val600Glu and p.Val600Lys mutations in metastatic melanoma patients from an area with a high incidence of the disease. They performed dideoxy sequencing and fluorescent single-strand conformation analysis and found that the overall incidence of BRAF mutation in their cohort was similar to other studies, but that the frequency of p.Val600Lys mutations was higher. "The broad range of reported frequencies of BRAF p.Val600Glu and p.Val600Lys mutations and the observation that patients with the p.Val600Lys mutation were significantly older than those with p.Val600Glu mutation is intriguing," the researchers add. "These genetic aberrations may be linked to different tumour phenotypes, including possible association of the primary tumours with distinct precursor lesions."

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This Week in Pathology

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Present at the Jefferies 2012 Global Healthcare Conference

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (WNI), is scheduled to present at the Jefferies 2012 Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, June 6th at 3:30 p.m. ET in New York City. Presenting from management will be Tarang Amin, chief executive officer and president; and Joseph Baty, chief financial officer and executive vice president.

A live webcast will be available at the following link and available for a period of 90 days. http://www.schiffnutrition.com/press_webcasts.asp

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 International, Inc. to Present at the Jefferies 2012 Global Healthcare Conference

F3™ Nutrition Announces Sponsorship Of New World Record Holder Of 2012 CrossFit Games Central East Regionals Dan …

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

Deerfield Beach, Fla., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Mark Post, President, F3 Nutrition, LLC today proudly announced the sponsorship signing of the "2012 CrossFit Games Central East Regionals" new world record holder Dan Bailey. A world-renowned CrossFit athlete, on day one Bailey completed the "Diane" exercise, a 225-pound dead-lift and handstand pushup rotation in 1:35, shattering the previous record by nearly 20 seconds. On day two Bailey completed 4 rounds of One Arm 100lb Dumbbell Snatches in 3:22, breaking the previous record of 3:40. That record though was beaten only weeks later by Neal Maddox at the time of 3:18. Dan had a tremendous Regional weekend finishing 2nd overall in the Men's competition.

"We are very proud to have Dan Bailey as one of our elite athletes on Team F3 Nutrition," said Mark Post, President of F3 Nutrition. "As a new world record holder from the 'CrossFit Games Central East Regionals' in just his second year of competition, Dan exemplifies everything that F3 stands for in its Fit, Form and Function formulations. Dan's level of commitment and his success in so many aspects of fitness make him the ideal athlete to represent the F3 Nutrition brand."

Bailey said, "I'm excited to be sponsored by F3 Nutrition for the performance and health benefits their products have to offer, as well as the commitment of their management team to providing the best nutritional supplements on the market."

CrossFit, which has been defined as "The Sport of Fitness," puts its athletes through a wide variety of athletic challenges that may include Olympic lifts, gymnastics movements, running, powerlifting, rowing, rope climbs, swimming, kettle bell swings, obstacle courses, and much more. Only the most well rounded athletes succeed as CrossFit Games competitors.

Dan is currently a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Tennessee Tech University. He competed in Track & Field and Cross Country at Ohio University. In addition to competing in CrossFit, he also is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys skiing, backpacking and white water rafting. He is highly selective about the foods he eats and as a result, he chooses to follow the Paleo Diet for 80 percent of his meal choices.

Post said, "The goal in launching F3 Nutrition is to offer premium performance products for every facet of training and competition. CrossFit is among the fastest growing sports in the world and I'm looking forward to continue working with Dan's nutritional supplement program as he trains for The CrossFit Games July 13-15. We are supporting him 100% as he strives to win the title as "The Fittest Man in The World."

"I am looking for F3 Nutritional products to supplement my healthy diet in order to allow my body to perform at the highest possible level," Bailey said. "I choose to work with F3 Nutrition because of the proven scientific research done with each product, and also because they taste wonderfully," said Bailey."

For more information on F3 Nutrition, email info@f3nutrition.com. Please visit us online at http://www.F3Nutrition.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/f3nutrition or twitter @f3nutrition.

For more information on Dan Bailey, please follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bailey9.

About CrossFit, Inc. CrossFit, Inc. is a fitness company founded by Greg Glassman in 2000. The sport of CrossFit is exploding, and as of 2012, there were approximately 3,400 CrossFit-affiliated gyms worldwide. The 2012 season kicked off with the Open, with nearly 70,000 competitors participating online and at CrossFit affiliated gyms worldwide. The top athletes and teams from the Open will move onto the 17 worldwide Regionals. The best athletes and teams at Regionals will compete at the finals of the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, where a male and female champion are named and awarded $250,000 each.

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F3™ Nutrition Announces Sponsorship Of New World Record Holder Of 2012 CrossFit Games Central East Regionals Dan ...

New chief of medicine for PRHC

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

Select a Publication: N E W S P A P E R S ---------------------------------------------- ---Alberta--- Airdrie - Airdrie Echo Banff - Banff Crag and Canyon Beaumont - Beaumont News Calgary - The Calgary Sun Camrose - Camrose Canadian Canmore - Canmore Leader Central Alberta - County Market Cochrane - Cochrane Times Cold Lake - Cold Lake Sun Crowsnest Pass - Crowsnest Pass Promoter Devon - Dispatch News Drayton - Drayton Valley Western Review Edmonton - Edmonton Examiner Edmonton - The Edmonton Sun Edson - Edson Leader Fairview - Fairview Post Fort McMurray - Fort McMurray Today Fort Saskatchewan - Fort Saskatchewan Record Grande Prairie - Daily Herald Tribune Hanna - Hanna Herald High River - High River Times Hinton - Hinton Parklander Lacombe - Lacombe Globe Leduc - Leduc Representative Lloydminster - Meridian Booster Mayerthorpe - Mayerthorpe Freelancer Nanton - Nanton News Peace Country - Peace Country Sun Peace River - Peace River Record Gazette Pincher Creek - Pincher Creek Echo Sherwood Park - Sherwood Park News Spruce Grove - Spruce Grove Examiner Stony Plain - Stony Plain Reporter Strathmore - Strathmore Standard Vermilion - Vermilion Standard Vulcan - Vulcan Advocate Wetaskiwin - Wetaskiwin Times Whitecourt - Whitecourt Star ---Manitoba--- Altona - Alton Red River Valley Echo Beausejour - Beausejour Review Carman - Carman Valley Leader Gimli - Interlake Spectator Lac Du Bonnet - Lac Du Bonnet Leader Morden - Morden Times Portage la Prairie - Portage Daily Graphic Selkirk - Selkirk Journal Stonewall - Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times Winkler - Winkler Times Winnipeg - The Winnipeg Sun ---Ontario--- Amherstburg - Amherstburg Echo Bancroft - Bancroft this Week Barrie - Barrie Examiner Barry's Bay - Barry's Bay this Week Belleville - Intelligencer Bradford - Bradford Times Brantford - Expositor Brockville - The Recorder & Times Chatham - Chatham Daily News Chatham - Chatham This Week Chatham - Today's Farmer Clinton - Clinton News-Record Cobourg - Northumberland Today Cochrane - Cochrane Times Post Collingwood - Enterprise Bulletin Cornwall - Standard Freeholder Delhi - Delhi News-Record Dresden - Leader Spirit Dunnville - Dunnville Chronicle Elliot Lake - Standard Espanola - Mid-North Monitor Fort Erie - Times Gananoque - Gananoque Reporter Goderich - Goderich Signal-Star Grand Bend - Lakeshore Advance Haliburton - Haliburton Echo Hanover - The Post Ingersoll - Ingersoll Times Innisfil - Innisfil Examiner Kapuskasing - Kapuskasing Northern Times Kenora - Kenora Daily Miner and News Kenora - Lake of the Woods Enterprise Kincardine - Kincardine News Kingston - Frontenac This Week Kingston - Kingston This Week Kingston - Kingston Whig Standard Kirkland Lake - Northern News Leamington - Leamington Post Lindsay - The Lindsay Post London - The London Free Press London - The Londoner Lucknow - Lucknow Sentinel Midland - Free Press Minden - Minden Times Mitchell - Mitchell Advocate Napanee - Napanee Guide Niagara-on-the-Lake - Niagara Advance Niagara Falls - Review Niagara Falls - Niagara Shopping News Niagara Falls - W. Niagara Community Newspapers North Bay - North Bay Nugget Northumberland - Northumberland Today Norwich - Norwich Gazette Orillia - Packet and Times Ottawa - The Ottawa Sun Owen Sound - Sun Times Oxford - Oxford Review Paris - Paris Star Online Pelham - Pelham News Pembroke - Daily Observer Peterborough - Peterborough Examiner Petrolia - Petrolia Topic Picton - County Weekly News Port Colborne - Inport News Port Hope - Northumberland Today Port Elgin - Shoreline Beacon Sarnia - Observer Sarnia - Sarnia This Week Sault Ste Marie - Sault Star Sault Ste Marie - Sault This Week Seaforth - Seaforth Huron Expositor Simcoe - Simcoe Reformer St. Catharines - St. Catharines Shopping News St. Catharines - Standard St. Thomas - St. Thomas Times-Journal Stirling - Community Press Stratford - The Beacon Herald Strathroy - Strathroy Age Dispatch Sudbury - Sudbury Star Thorold - Thorold News Tillsonburg - Tillsonburg News Timmins - Daily Press Timmins - Timmins Times Toronto - The Toronto Sun Trenton - Trentonian Wallaceburg - Wallaceburg Courier Press Welland - Tribune Welland - Welland News West Lorne - The Chronicle Wiarton - Wiarton Echo Woodstock - Sentinel Review ---Saskatchewan--- Meadow Lake - Meadow Lake Progress Melfort - Melfort Journal Nipawin - Nipawin Journal MAGAZINES & SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS --------- Biz Magazine Business London Cottage Home and Property Showcase Food and Wine Show Hamilton Halton Weddings Hamilton Magazine InterVin International Wine Awards Kingston Life London Citylife Muskoka Magazine Muskoka Trails Niagara Food and Wine Expo Niagara Magazine Ontario Farmer Ontario Golf Sault Good Life Simcoe Life The Home Show Vines Magazine What's Up Muskoka

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New chief of medicine for PRHC

Boston Scientific Increases Longevity Projections for Its U.S. Defibrillators

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

NATICK, Mass., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved revised product labeling for the Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) INCEPTA, ENERGEN, PUNCTUA, COGNIS and TELIGEN implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds), to reflect increased longevity projections for these devices. The longevity projections are based on data submitted to the FDA and vary for each device dependent on the model type and settings.

Projected device longevity exceeds 10 years for some models of Boston Scientific ICDs, and approaches eight years for its CRT-D devices, and nearly double that of comparable competitive device models (1,2,3). The company backs these devices with warranties of up to 10 years* in the U.S. and many other international markets. Depending on the model, the device warranties are also up to twice as long as other currently-marketed comparable devices.

"We're pleased with the new labeling for our U.S. defibrillator products which provides doctors and patients with additional assurance about the longevity and reliability of these devices," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., chief medical officer of Boston Scientific's Cardiac Rhythm Management Group. "Boston Scientific ICDs and CRT-Ds benefit from our proprietary advanced battery technology. The new battery was first introduced in the COGNIS and TELIGEN devices in 2008 and has now been incorporated into our newest devices with up to a 10-year warranty."

"The Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) long-term follow-up study results, which were recently presented at the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting in Boston, demonstrates that ICD therapy continues to benefit patients for a median follow-up of 11 years. Particularly in New York Heart Association Class II patients, it appears that an ICD may prolong a patient's life for at least a decade by rescuing the patient from sudden cardiac death," said Jeanne Poole, M.D., director, Arrhythmia Service and Electrophysiology Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. "By helping to mitigate the frequency of replacing an ICD or CRT-D device, this technology provides us with the potential to reduce the complications associated with replacement procedures and to reduce healthcare costs. Not only does the patient benefit from fewer surgeries, but the financial benefit can be significant."

*INCEPTA & ENERGEN VR ICD: 10 years; INCEPTA & ENERGEN DR ICD: 8 years; PUNCTUA & TELIGEN ICD: 7 years; INCEPTA & ENERGEN CRT-D: 6 years; and PUNCTUA & COGNIS CRT-D: 5 years.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: http://www.bostonscientific.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding, regulatory approvals, clinical trials, clinical outcomes, financial savings associated with the use of our products, product performance and competitive offerings. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

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Boston Scientific Increases Longevity Projections for Its U.S. Defibrillators

UCLA Longevity Center To Honor Sidney Poitier, Jane & Terry Semel, Dr. Peter Whybrow, Shlomo Rechnitz & Steve Rechnitz …

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The UCLA Longevity Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and extending productive and healthy lives through research and education, honors Sidney Poitier, Jane and Terry Semel, Peter Whybrow, MD, Shlomo Rechnitz and Steve Rechnitz at the 2012 ICON Awards gala, June 6 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Quincy Jones presents; author and former "first daughter" Patti Davis is guest speaker.Natalie Cole performs and Lisa Ann Walter hosts.

The ICON Award for Artistic Excellence will be presented to Sidney Poitier. In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. Most recently, President Barack Obama awarded Poitier the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America's highest civilian honor.

Jane and Terry Semel receive the ICON Award for Visionary Leadership in Science and Medicine. Chairman and CEO of Windsor Media, Semel previously served as Chairman and CEO of Yahoo! Inc. and Chairman and Co-CEO of Warner Bros. Jane Bovingdon Semel is the founder of ijane inc., the nonprofit production company that produced the Face The Issue PSA campaign. The Semels endowed the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior at UCLA, one of the largest and most distinguished institutes engaged in the study of the brain.

The ICON Award for Visionary Leadership in Science and Medicine will also be presented to Dr. Peter Whybrow, Director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

Shlomo Rechnitz and Steve Rechnitz receive the ICON Award for Visionary Leadership in Business and Philanthropy. In 2004, Shlomo Rechnitz founded Brius Healthcare Company. He is the co-founder and CEO of Twin Med, LLC.

In 1998, Steve Rechnitz formed Twin Med with his twin brother, Shlomo. They have utilized their success in the healthcare field to give back to the field of medicine and have contributed millions of dollars to cancer research.

The UCLA Longevity Center, directed by aging and memory expert Dr. Gary Small, is an essential component of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and represents the best of UCLA. Through cutting-edge research and innovative programs, the Center's endeavors are improving lives every day.

http://www.longevity.ucla.edu

The ICON gala is produced by Scott Mauro Entertainment.

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UCLA Longevity Center To Honor Sidney Poitier, Jane & Terry Semel, Dr. Peter Whybrow, Shlomo Rechnitz & Steve Rechnitz ...

DNA Dynamics Announces Release Of THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P.® For iOS® Devices — In Glorious 2-D

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

LEAMINGTON SPA, United Kingdom, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --DNA Dynamics, Inc. (OTC Pink: DNAD), a global developer and publisher of mobile videogames is delighted to announced that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary DNA Interactive Ltd, and in collaboration with Appbackr, Inc. and Bad Neighbors, Inc., THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P. is at long last now available for download on iOS devices.

Named as one of the most anticipated mobile games of 2012 by Pocket Gamer, THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P. was designed by DNA and Bad Neighbors as an uproarious adventure game that introduces a fresh twist to the venerable Paramount Pictures film franchise. Spoofing modern crime dramas and popular video gaming culture, THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P. features classic 2-D adventure gaming updated for today's modern audiences. Gameplay features include finger-numbing mini-games, collectible objects, upgradeable environments, completely arbitrary unlockable outfits and surprise cameos by some of the gaming world's most notoriously obnoxious characters.

Bob LoCash, the original film series writer/producer who penned the game's all-new storyline, stated, "Bringing this new chapter to life with the amazing and talented crew at DNA (I was held hostage for three days with a sack over my head until I agreed to the preceding statement) was a total pleasure. This game is something special - a funny and engaging piece of entertainment that will hopefully win the hearts of Naked Gun fans, gaming fans, and comedy fans alike. If not, there's always dinner theatre."

Channelling the hard-nosed, but dumb-witted characters brought to life in the film series, THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P tasks mobile gamers to follow Lt. Frank Drebin's son, Frank Drebin, Jr. along with his brand-new crime-fighting team to dispense justice on evil-doers which, let's face it, should be easier than finding morbidly obese people at a Renaissance Fair!

THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P. is available for $4.99 or about the same price as a gallon of milk for your needy family - from the App Store for iPad and iPhone.

About Bad Neighbors, Inc.Bad Neighbors Inc. is a multimedia company dedicated to returning the lost arts of narrative and twisted humor into video games, feature films, and television. THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P. is their first title. Other projects in development include the feature-film comedies THE NOBODY and STUDS, currently in pre-production with Stove Village Pictures.

About Appbackr Inc.Appbackr Inc. is a privately funded startup based in Palo Alto, CA. The first wholesale marketplace for apps, appbackr's approach revolutionizes the mobile industry by solving common funding and distribution problems. Appbackr enables app developers to raise cash without giving up equity in the company or product. Winner of the PayPal X Developer Challenge and SVASE/Cambridge West Ventures Seed Fund Award, the Company was also selected as an AlwaysOn Global 250 Company.

About DNA Interactive LtdEstablished in 2010, DNA Interactive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DNA Dynamics, is a publisher of games and apps for mobile and tablet devices including iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. At the present time, DNA Interactive's IP portfolio is comprised of proprietary game titles which include Quest of Legends, Jigsawium, Legacy: Mystery Mansion, Chess Crusade and Sudokium. Its licensed titles include The Naked Gunand Warheads: Medieval Tales. For more information, please visit http://www.dna-interactive.com.

About DNA Dynamics, Inc.Headquartered in Leamington Spa in the United Kingdom, DNA Dynamics is a worldwide developer and publisher of graphically rich, highly experiential interactive entertainment currently delivered on iOS, Android, Nintendo DS and Sony PSP platforms. Through its operating subsidiaries, DNA Studios and DNA Interactive, the Company has created, acquired or licensed a portfolio of highly recognizable or emerging brands that broadly appeal to its consumer demographics, ranging from children to adults and casual gamers to serious enthusiasts. For more information, please go to http://www.dnadynamics.net. You can also follow the Company on Facebook and Twitter.

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DNA Dynamics Announces Release Of THE NAKED GUN: I.C.U.P.® For iOS® Devices -- In Glorious 2-D

Rewriting DNA to understand what it says

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 31-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Yivsam Azgad news@weizmann.ac.il 972-893-43856 Weizmann Institute of Science

Our ability to "read" DNA has made tremendous progress in the past few decades, but the ability to understand and alter the genetic code, that is, to "rewrite" the DNA-encoded instructions, has lagged behind. A new Weizmann Institute study advances our understanding of the genetic code: It proposes a way of effectively introducing numerous carefully planned DNA segments into genomes of living cells and of testing the effects of these changes. The study is being reported in the June issues of Nature Biotechnology and Nature Genetics.

Until now, changing the DNA sequence has been a slow and labor-intensive process. It took several weeks to alter just one DNA region at a time; testing the effects of each of these changes took even longer. In the new study, Weizmann Institute scientists have developed a technology that makes it possible to simultaneously introduce tens of thousands of DNA regions into tens of thousands of living cells each region in a separate cell in a planned and systematic manner, and to measure the results of each such change with great precision and within a single experiment.

"This fast method will significantly advance our ability to understand the 'language' of DNA," says research team leader Prof. Eran Segal, of the Weizmann Institute's Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Molecular Cell Biology Departments. "Reading out a person's entire genome is already a manageable task, but what exactly is written in that genome? After all, a genome looks like a lengthy string of letters whose meaning is for the most part obscure. Just deciphering the DNA letters is like trying to understand a foreign language by listening to it being spoken. Our method will help us identify DNA 'words' and understand their meaning."

Understanding what's written in the DNA might help us interpret, among other things, how genotypic differences among people generate observable differences among them, from the way we look to the way our cells function. Thus, for example, it might be possible to clarify which genetic differences are responsible for the development of various diseases in certain individuals. The Weizmann Institute technology can also lead to improved genetic therapies based on introducing new genes or improved regulatory sequences into cells in order to repair genetic defects.

In the present study, the scientists investigated a vital aspect of the DNA language: How the control of gene expression is encoded in the DNA that is, the instructions determining the level of activity of each gene in the genetic code. Since gene activity levels have crucial effects on cell function, this question, considered one of the central in molecular biology, has been studied for decades. The new technology has enabled the scientists to isolate and test the effects of various parameters on gene activity levels: For example, how a gene's activity level is affected by the gene's distance from its regulatory sequence. The researchers have managed to elucidate how various parameters define the regulatory "language" and to demonstrate how deliberate changes in the genetic sequence affect these parameters in a way that alters the level of a gene's activity in a predictable manner.

The new method consists of four steps that combine existing technologies in an innovative manner. The steps are: creation of 50,000 different genetic sequences on DNA chips; massive insertion of these sequences into cells at the same time; sorting the cells with the help of a sorting machine that senses the expression levels of a "reporter" gene; and high-throughput parallel DNA sequencing.

Taking part in the study were Weizmann Institute's graduate students Eilon Sharon, Tali Raveh-Sadka and Michal Levo, research assistant Dr. Yael Kalma and research associate Dr. Adina Weinberger, as well as Dr. Zohar Yakhini from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and Agilent Laboratories, Santa Clara, California.

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Rewriting DNA to understand what it says

Illumina Introduces Nextera® XT DNA Sample Preparation Kits

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Illumina (ILMN) today introduced the Nextera XT DNA Sample Preparation Kit, the easiest way for researchers to prepare and sequence small genomes, PCR amplicons, and plasmids. When paired with Illuminas MiSeq system, Nextera XT provides the fastest time to result of any next-generation sequencing technology currently available, enabling researchers to go from genomic DNA to analyzed data in less than 8 hours.

Nextera is the industrys fastest sequencing sample preparation technology, with a simple assay that fragments DNA and inserts sequencing adapters and barcodes, all in a single tube. Nextera XT builds on this foundation with its cost-effective and improved workflow. The kits innovative sample normalization procedure eliminates the need for library quantitation prior to sample pooling and sequencing.

Whether you are sequencing bacterial or viral genomes, plasmids, or PCR amplicons, the Nextera XT DNA Sample Preparation kit delivers the fastest time to answer, said Christian Henry, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Illuminas Genomic Solutions Business. Researchers will easily and cost-effectively be able to prepare a large number of amplicons by simultaneously pooling and preparing them with Nextera XT. Up to 96 samples can then be combined and rapidly sequenced to enable flexible and scalable study design.

Additionally, Nextera XT DNA Sample Preparation Kits offer unique benefits to researchers including:

Nextera XT made transitioning our targeted HIV amplicon sequencing experiments to the MiSeq system extremely easy, said Dr. Jacques Corbeil from the Infectious Disease Research Center in Quebec and Canada Research Chair in Medical Genomics. The output of the MiSeq system helps us screen many more samples rapidly, and its high-quality data enables us to detect low-frequency HIV variants.

Illuminas Nextera XT DNA Sample Preparation Kits are now shipping. For more information, visit http://www.illumina.com/xt.

About Illumina

Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and function. We provide innovative sequencing and array-based solutions for genotyping, copy number variation analysis, methylation studies, gene expression profiling, and low-multiplex analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein. We also provide tools and services that are fueling advances in consumer genomics and diagnostics. Our technology and products accelerate genetic analysis research and its application, paving the way for molecular medicine and ultimately transforming healthcare.

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Illumina Introduces Nextera® XT DNA Sample Preparation Kits

Sunshine vitamin may offer protection from winter viruses, suggest researchers

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

Supplementation with vitamin D could help to protect against viral infections during the winter, according to new research.

The study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology reports that intake of vitamin D supplements during autumn and winter months could help to protect against viral infections, especially in older people.

Led by Dr Victor Manuel Martinez-Taboada from the Unversidad de Cantabria, Spain, the research team explained that levels of vitamin D otherwise known as the sunshine vitamin decrease during autumn and winter when days are shorter and sunlight is relatively weak. They suggest this could explain why people are more prone to viral infection during these times, arguing that supplementation, especially in older populations, could strengthen people's innate immunity against viral infections.

"There are numerous studies showing the benefits of maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels. As more and more research into Vitamin D is conducted, we are learning that it is extremely important for human health, said Martinez-Taboada.

"Our study is no different, and vitamin D supplements should be considered one of many tools that might help when conventional therapies are not enough," he added.

Commenting on the research, Dr John Wherry, deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology noted:"There have been numerous studies showing several environmental factors during winter months may allow viruses to spread easier ... This study shows that sunlight, or more precisely the lack of vitamin D, could have a role in the seasonally higher rates of infection.

Wherry added that further and more extensive studies must be conducted before any association can conclusively be shown. However he conceded that because vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and generally safe: this is a really exciting discovery."

Sunshine vitamin

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2 precursors are transformed in the liver and kidneys into 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D).

While our bodies do manufacture vitamin D on exposure to sunshine, the levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that our body makes no vitamin D at all, meaning that dietary supplements and fortified foods are seen by many as the best way to boost intakes of vitamin D.

Silicon Biosystems Opens San Diego Laboratory to Support Expansion in US Market

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ev1

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Silicon Biosystems, Inc., a provider of specialized molecular and cellular biology technology, has opened laboratory facilities in San Diego on the La Jolla Torrey Pines mesa, amidst San Diegos pharmaceutical and nonprofit biology research centers.

Having laboratory and office space in San Diego, one of the top global biotechnology hubs, gives us the ability to showcase the unique benefits of our DEPArray system and offer specialized services to our customers in the U.S., said Bob Proulx, president and general manager of Silicon Biosystems U.S. operations. Being on the ground in the U.S. supports our marketing and sales strategy and will allow us to better serve our rapidly expanding pharmaceutical and clinical research customer base.

The combined offices and laboratories will serve as a demonstration and training facility for Silicon Biosystems customers and will allow the company to leverage the unique capabilities of the DEPArray system in the recovery of single pure cells by offering rare cell sample processing as a fee-for-service. Clients interested in collecting specific cell populations, such as CTCs, for clinical studies or biomarker discovery will be able to send samples to Silicon Biosystems lab and get single pure cells or cellular content returned for downstream analyses, such as sequencing or expression profiling.

The new facility is located at 3210 Merryfield Row, San Diego, CA 92121.

About Silicon Biosystems

Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A., based in Bologna, Italy is a medical device manufacturer leading the field in the detection and recovery of single cells for cancer research and prenatal testing. The company manufactures and sells the DEPArray platform, which is a lab-on-a-chip technology to isolate and manipulate cells in suspension with a microelectronic array. The approach, patented by Silicon Biosystems, offers the unique ability to control individual cells and micro-particles inside a disposable cartridge. The DEPArray platform makes it possible to find, sort, select and separate individual cells for further analysis or culturing. For more information on Silicon Biosystems visit http://www.siliconbiosystems.com.

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Silicon Biosystems Opens San Diego Laboratory to Support Expansion in US Market