FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: AMA) Announces Issuance of Stock Options

Posted on by

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire -05/11/12)- FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX-V: AMA) (to be updated to FLY upon TSX approval) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced it has granted incentive stock options to acquire up to 2,168,500 common shares, subject to regulatory approval, to employees, officers and directors under the stock option plan approved at the Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders on Wednesday.

"The stock option plan is an important performance incentive for FLYHT employees," said Bill Tempany, President and CEO of FLYHT. "We feel stock options also motivate employees to increase shareholder value."

The stock options are exercisable at an exercise price of $0.25 per share. They also feature immediate vesting and expire on December 31, 2015. A maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding shares are reserved under the Company's stock option plan. The options, and any common shares issued upon exercise of the stock options are subject to a four-month resale restriction.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides proprietary technological products and services designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in the airline industry. The Company has patented and commercialized three products and associated services currently marketed to airlines, manufacturers and maintenance organizations around the world. Its premier technology, AFIRS UpTime, allows airlines to monitor and manage aircraft operations anywhere, anytime, in real-time. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, FLYHT's triggered data streaming mode, FLYHTStream, automatically streams vital data, normally secured in the black box, to designated sites on the ground in real-time. The Company has been publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange since 2003 and recently changed its trading symbol from AMA to FLY. Shareholders approved a Company name change from AeroMechanical Services Ltd. to FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. in May 2012.

AFIRS, UpTime, FLYHT, FLYHTStream and aeroQ are trademarks of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

Join us on social media!

http://www.facebook.com/flyht

http://www.twitter.com/flyhtcorp

http://www.slideshare.net/flyhtcorp

See original here:

FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: AMA) Announces Issuance of Stock Options

B/E Aerospace to Present at RBC Capital Markets’ Aerospace and Defense Investor Day in New York on Thursday, May 17 …

Posted on by

WELLINGTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

B/E Aerospace (Nasdaq: BEAV - News) will make a presentation to institutional investors at the RBC Capital Markets Aerospace and Defense Investor Day in New York City on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

The presentation will begin at 8:40 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

A live audio broadcast of the presentation will be available by dialing 800.708.3915, no access code is necessary.

About B/E Aerospace

B/E Aerospace is the worlds leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and the worlds leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables. B/E Aerospace designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of products for both commercial aircraft and business jets. B/E Aerospace manufactured products include aircraft cabin seating, lighting, oxygen, and food and beverage preparation and storage equipment. The company also provides cabin interior design, reconfiguration and passenger-to-freighter conversion services. Products for the existing aircraft fleet the aftermarket generate approximately 50 percent of sales. B/E Aerospace sells and supports its products through its own global direct sales and product support organization. For more information, visit the B/E Aerospace website at http://www.beaerospace.com.

Continued here:

B/E Aerospace to Present at RBC Capital Markets’ Aerospace and Defense Investor Day in New York on Thursday, May 17 ...

Magellan Aerospace Announces Contract Award with Boeing

Posted on by

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Magellan Aerospace Corporation announced today that it has been awarded a contract with The Boeing Company for the continuation of the production of complex, hard metal structural assemblies for the Next-Generation 737, 747-8, 767, 777, and the production of such assemblies for the new 787 Dreamliner airplanes. These integrated assemblies will be manufactured and delivered from Magellan's New York, NY and Kitchener, Ontario operating facilities beginning in 2013.

This long term contract will continue Magellan's revenues from work for Boeing Commercial beginning in 2013 and into the next decade and provides a fundamental pillar of support to Magellan's core commercial platform. Direct Boeing Commercial sales in 2011 contributed in excess of $80 Million Cdn. in revenue to Magellan. Magellan's core aerostructures expertise is in the provision of complex, machined components for large commercial platforms. Boeing and Magellan have an established relationship and have benefited from working together to develop improved efficiencies using Boeing lean and value engineering tools as well as the Magellan Operating System (MOS). "We continuously find ways to improve our processes to ensure our customer's needs are fully satisfied," stated James Butyniec, Magellan President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Boeing contract provides a solid base of work for Magellan over the contract term. "We look forward to continuing our strong, long-term "partnership" with one of our most valued customers and are well prepared to support future program requirements as they develop," said Daniel Zanatta, Magellan Vice President, Business Development, Marketing and Contracts.

About Magellan

Magellan Aerospace Corporation is one of the world's most integrated and comprehensive aerospace industry suppliers. Magellan designs, engineers, and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure assemblies and components for aerospace markets, advanced products for military and space markets, and complementary specialty products. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MAL.TO), with operating units throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and India.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains information and statements of a forward-looking nature and is based on assumptions as to the ongoing requirements for this customer and uncertainties as well as on management's reasonable evaluation of future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties relating to the general economic climate that are difficult to predict, and/or are beyond the Corporation's control. The principal risks and uncertainties can be found in the Annual Information Form dated March 25, 2012, filed on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. A number of important factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.

See the rest here:

Magellan Aerospace Announces Contract Award with Boeing

Diagnosing And Treating Diabetes In Asian Patients – Unique Physiology Is Key

Posted on by

Editor's Choice Main Category: Diabetes Article Date: 10 May 2012 - 9:00 PDT

Current Article Ratings:

George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), explained:

In the May 2012 edition of Diabetes Care, Dr. King, together with a team of diabetes specialists, published a report highlighting study findings that were presented in September 2011 at an international symposium held in Honolulu.

The researchers gathered evidence on the Asian American population, those born in the United States, as well as immigrants from several East Asian countries. In addition, they investigated the incidence of diabetes in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Even though immigration patterns and lifestyle adaptations to U.S. culture vary significantly among these groups, common threads and new insights are emerging. According to the researchers, there are considerable differences in how diabetes affects the body's chemistry, how to view body weight, and why standard diabetes tests may not be reliable in people of Asian decent.

Dr. William C. Hsu, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at MHS, who with Dr. King co-directs the Asian American Diabetes Initiative at Joslin, explained:

Dr. Hsu, together with a team of experts, wrote a second report also published in the same edition of Diabetes Care. The team focused on the pathophysiology (disease process) of diabetes.

People of Asian decent are around 5 to 10 times less likely than people of European descent to develop type 1 diabetes. However, genetic markers and blood factors usually associated with type 1 diabetes are only present in 30% of patients of Asian descent, making it more difficult to diagnose the disease.

Therefore, solely relying on standard diabetes tests would result in a large percentage of Asians with the disease being misdiagnosed.

Read more from the original source:
Diagnosing And Treating Diabetes In Asian Patients - Unique Physiology Is Key

Could the ways animals regenerate hair and feathers lead to clues to restore human fingers and toes?

Posted on by

Public release date: 10-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Donna Krupa dkrupa@the-aps.org American Physiological Society

Bethesda, Md. (May 10, 2012)This summer's action film, "The Amazing Spider-Man," is another match-up between the superhero and his nemesis the Lizard. Moviegoers and comic book fans alike will recall that the villain, AKA Dr. Curt Connors, was a surgeon who, after losing an arm, experimented with cell generation and reptilian DNA and was eventually able to grow back his missing limb. The latest issue of the journal Physiology contains a review article that looks at possible routes that unlock cellular regeneration in general, and the principles by which hair and feathers regenerate themselves in particular. The authors apply what is currently known about regenerative biology to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, which is being transformed from fantasy to reality.

The Review is entitled "Physiological Regeneration of Skin Appendages and Implications for Regenerative Medicine" and was written by Cheng-Ming Chuong, Randall B. Widelitz, Ping Wu, and Ting-Xin Jiang of the University of Southern California, and Valerie A. Randall of the University of Bradford. It appears in the current edition of Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.

Review Article

While the concept of regenerative medicine is relatively new, animals are well known to remake their hair and feathers regularly by normal regenerative physiological processes. In their review, the authors focus on (1) how extrafollicular environments can regulate hair and feather stem cell activities and (2) how different configurations of stem cells can shape organ forms in different body regions to fulfill changing physiological needs.

The review outlines previous research on the role of normal regeneration of hair and feathers throughout the lifespan of various birds and mammals. The researchers include what is currently known about the mechanism behind this re-growth, as well as what gaps still exist in the knowledge base and remain ripe for future research.

The review examines dozens of papers on normal "physiological regeneration"the re-growth that happens over the course of an animal's life and not in response to an injury. This regeneration takes place to accommodate different stages in an animal's life (e.g., replacing downy chick feathers with an adult chicken's, or replacing the fine facial hair of a young boy with the budding beard of an adolescent), or in response to various environmental conditions (e.g., cats shedding a thick winter coat in the summer heat but re-growing it when the seasons change again, or snowshoe hares switching from brown in the summer to white in the winter for camouflage). These changes seem to respond both to internal cues such as physiology of the hair follicle itself, or external cues such as the environment, but the mechanisms behind these normal alterations are largely unknown. Stem cells inside the follicle prompt hair and feather regeneration, but researchers are still unsure how to guide those cells to form the shape, size, and orientation of these "skin appendages" so that controlled re-growth is possible. Additionally, scientists are still unsure how to re-grow hair on skin in people after severe injuries that lead to scar tissue.

Importance of the Findings

The reviewed studies suggest that while researchers are making headway in understanding how and why hair and feathers regenerate after normal loss or in response to different life stages, much still remains unknown. This missing knowledge could hold valuable clues to learning how to regenerate much more complicated and valuable structures after loss to injury, such as fingers and toes.

See the article here:
Could the ways animals regenerate hair and feathers lead to clues to restore human fingers and toes?

Could the Ways in Which Animals Regenerate Hair and Feathers Lead to Clues for Restoring Human Fingers and Toes?

Posted on by

Review article about the state of regenerative biology published in current edition of Physiology

Newswise Bethesda, Md. (May 10, 2012)This summers action film, The Amazing Spider-Man, is another match-up between the superhero and his nemesis the Lizard. Moviegoers and comic book fans alike will recall that the villain, AKA Dr. Curt Connors, was a surgeon who, after losing an arm, experimented with cell generation and reptilian DNA and was eventually able to grow back his missing limb. The latest issue of the journal Physiology contains a review article that looks at possible routes that unlock cellular regeneration in general, and the principles by which hair and feathers regenerate themselves in particular. The authors apply what is currently known about regenerative biology to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, which is being transformed from fantasy to reality.

The Review is entitled Physiological Regeneration of Skin Appendages and Implications for Regenerative Medicine (http://bit.ly/IGC6mP) and was written by Cheng-Ming Chuong, Randall B. Widelitz, Ping Wu, and Ting-Xin Jiang of the University of Southern California, and Valerie A. Randall of the University of Bradford. It appears in the current edition of Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.

Review Article While the concept of regenerative medicine is relatively new, animals are well known to remake their hair and feathers regularly by normal regenerative physiological processes. In their review, the authors focus on (1) how extrafollicular environments can regulate hair and feather stem cell activities and (2) how different configurations of stem cells can shape organ forms in different body regions to fulfill changing physiological needs.

The review outlines previous research on the role of normal regeneration of hair and feathers throughout the lifespan of various birds and mammals. The researchers include what is currently known about the mechanism behind this re-growth, as well as what gaps still exist in the knowledge base and remain ripe for future research.

The review examines dozens of papers on normal physiological regenerationthe re-growth that happens over the course of an animals life and not in response to an injury. This regeneration takes place to accommodate different stages in an animals life (e.g., replacing downy chick feathers with an adult chickens, or replacing the fine facial hair of a young boy with the budding beard of an adolescent), or in response to various environmental conditions (e.g., cats shedding a thick winter coat in the summer heat but re-growing it when the seasons change again, or snowshoe hares switching from brown in the summer to white in the winter for camouflage). These changes seem to respond both to internal cues such as physiology of the hair follicle itself, or external cues such as the environment, but the mechanisms behind these normal alterations are largely unknown. Stem cells inside the follicle prompt hair and feather regeneration, but researchers are still unsure how to guide those cells to form the shape, size, and orientation of these skin appendages so that controlled re-growth is possible. Additionally, scientists are still unsure how to re-grow hair on skin in people after severe injuries that lead to scar tissue.

Importance of the Findings The reviewed studies suggest that while researchers are making headway in understanding how and why hair and feathers regenerate after normal loss or in response to different life stages, much still remains unknown. This missing knowledge could hold valuable clues to learning how to regenerate much more complicated and valuable structures after loss to injury, such as fingers and toes.

Using the episodic regeneration of skin appendages as a clear readout, we have the opportunity to understand and modulate the behavior or adult stem cells and organ regeneration at a level heretofore unknown, the authors say.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The study is available online at http://bit.ly/IGC6mP To request an interview with a member of the research team please contact Donna Krupa at dkrupa@the-aps.org, @Phyziochick, or 301.634.7209.

***

Go here to read the rest:
Could the Ways in Which Animals Regenerate Hair and Feathers Lead to Clues for Restoring Human Fingers and Toes?

Pathology Lab at Noble’s Hospital to open to limited number of the public

Posted on by

by Jonathan Davies

2012 marks 100 years since the formation of Institute of Biomedical Science and this is being celebrated across the UK, in addition it is also National Pathology Year. To mark the occasion in the Isle of Man, the Pathology Department at Nobles Hospital is opening the doors to the Pathology Lab for a limited number of the public on Wednesday, 16th May. The pathology team consists of pathologists, biomedical scientists, medical lab assistants, anatomical pathology technicians and a small number of admin staff; all of whom work with both primary and secondary care doctors and nurses to diagnose, treat and prevent illness. The Islands only Pathology lab is based at Nobles Hospital and its here that most specimens, from basic blood tests to biopsies (removal and examination of tissue from the body) go for analysis. Nationally, pathology is responsible for the successful diagnosis of 70% of all health conditions. Tony McMaster, Pathology Division Manager at Nobles Hospital said: Pathology is a vast and complex subject with a number of sub-specialities. Here in the Isle of Man we have a highly dedicated team of Biomedical scientists who carry out the majority of tests most of us will have had done at one time or another, such as testing a urine sample or blood. We also undertake more complex analysis such as biopsies where we look for cancer, and even genetic testing. Like all fields of medicine, pathology continues to advance at a rapid pace. Last year we carried out over 1.5 million diagnostic tests in clinical chemistry alone and the workload increases year on year. Pathology has evolved to support doctors and nurses on the front line by helping to accurately and effectively determine what might be wrong with people. The results produced by the pathology departments provide a snapshot of the patient in terms of the bodys chemistry, blood and infection status. All of this information is used by the medical staff to manage the patient. Its an exciting profession and we have a key role at the heart of the health service. Part of our aim with the National Pathology Year is to simply raise awareness. To many people, the health service is often the nurse they see on a ward or the GP they see at their local practice; but thats only the tip of the iceberg. Were hoping that by providing an opportunity for people to come and have a look round the lab, the public can get a better understanding of what it is we do; from the safety and quality checks involved to the state of the art equipment we use. We also need to encourage people to think of pathology as a career option, which we currently support through trainee placements where we can sometimes offer students who go off-Island to study biomedical science with a trainee post; ensuring that we can help bring home grown talent back to the Island and recoup the investment Government has made. Pathology is a profession that has a great deal of responsibility, but its also a job thats extremely rewarding and were looking forward to sharing this with the public. The open evening is planned for Wednesday, 16th May starting at 17:30 and lasting until 19:30. Numbers are strictly limited to 40 on a first come, first served basis. Anyone who is interested should call 650634, noting the following: Participants must be able to stand, walk and climb stairs over a 45 - 55 minute period Participants are requested not to bring bags or heavy coats, as no storage is available for these and space in the lab can be tight in places No food or drink is allowed. Tony continued: Its a shame, but we can only accommodate 40 people for the tour. The Pathology Lab is open and working 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, so we have to ensure that we can continue with business as usual whilst hosting our visitors. We also need to be mindful of health and safety and confidentiality, ensuring there are enough staff available to help with the guided tour. If its a success and theres demand, we might look to put on more sessions during the year. The Pathology Department at Nobles Hospital provides Island-wide services with six diagnostic laboratories and is also responsible for the mortuary and the Islands Blood Transfusion Service. Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said: I welcome this initiative by the pathology team at Nobles Hospital. So much of our healthcare system is behind the scenes and although opening it up even for short periods brings with it challenges, it does help the public to lift the lid and gain an understanding of the many specialities involved in providing health services on the Island.

- Ends -

Pathology is a profession that has a great deal of responsibility, but its also a job thats extremely rewarding and were looking forward to sharing this with the public.

Tony McMaster, Pathology Division Manager at Noble's Hospital

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

Manx Telecom Ltd, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM99 1HX Registered in the Isle of Man Reg no.5629V Vat Reg no GB 003-2919-12

Read more:
Pathology Lab at Noble’s Hospital to open to limited number of the public

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Remains Poised to Implement Goals of Institute of Medicine's Report on Obesity

Posted on by

Newswise CHICAGO Echoing a new report by the Institute of Medicine that progress in the United States in addressing the obesity epidemic has been too slow, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) and its members, some of whom served on the IOM committee, are leading community nutrition interventions across the country that are showing a tremendous impact.

The IOM report and its goals agree with several positions and efforts undertaken by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, specifically:

Make physical activity an integral and routine part of life Through our Kids Eat Right and Energy Balance 4 Kids programs and partnerships with Fuel Up to Play 60 and the National Physical Activity Plan campaigns, the Academy is deeply involved at the community level, educating consumers on the importance of physical activity and how it, along with healthful eating, is the key to the prevention and management of diseases like obesity and diabetes, said registered dietitian and Academy President Sylvia Escott-Stump.

Create food and beverage environments that ensure that healthy food and beverage options are the routine, easy choice It is the position of the Academy that access to adequate amounts of safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food at all times is a fundamental human right. Hunger continues to be a worldwide problem of staggering proportions. The Academy supports programs and encourages practices that combat hunger and malnutrition, produce food security, promote self-sufficiency and are environmentally and economically sustainable.

Dietetics professionals are uniquely qualified to develop relationships with elected officials and their staff members and to educate voters about the nutritional impact of policies and programs. There is an urgent need for nutrition professionals to become actively involved in seeing that the food assistance programs that support sustainable development are protected, improved and expanded, Escott-Stump said.

Transform messages about physical activity and nutrition It is the position of the Academy that the total diet or overall pattern of food eaten is the most important focus of a healthful eating style. All foods can fit within this pattern, if consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with regular physical activity. The Academy strives to communicate healthful eating messages to the public that emphasize a balance of foods, rather than any one food or meal.

Expand the roles of health care providers, insurers, and employers For nearly two years, the Academy and its members have been building relationships and implementing tactics surrounding expansion of nutrition services under Medicare. The Academy worked with several members of Congress during the drafting of the Affordable Care Act to propose language that supported the role of the registered dietitian, and continues to hold dialogue with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the expansion of coverage for medical nutrition therapy.

Make schools a national focal point School nutrition is a top priority for the Academy. According to its Comprehensive School Nutrition Services position, one of three official positions on the topic of school and childrens nutrition:

comprehensive, integrated nutrition services in schools, kindergarten through grade 12, are an essential component of coordinated school health programs and will improve the nutritional status, health, and academic performance of our nations childrenby encouraging multidisciplinary wellness teams, composed of school and community members, to work together in identifying local school needs, developing feasible strategies to address priority areas, and integrating comprehensive nutrition services with a coordinated school health program.

"More than 1,200 Academy members belong to our School Nutrition Services practice group," Escott-Stump said. "These dedicated members are employed in child nutrition programs at the local, state and national levels; as researchers and educators; as corporate dietitians supplying products and services to school foodservice operations; as consultants in school nutrition and wellness; and in other fields where they help create healthier school environments."

See the original post:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Remains Poised to Implement Goals of Institute of Medicine's Report on Obesity

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Health Care Conference

Posted on by

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (NYSE: WNI - News), is scheduled to present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Health Care Conference on Wednesday, May 16th at 3:40 p.m. PT in Las Vegas, NV. 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.

The rest is here:
Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. to Present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Health Care Conference

Innovations in Sports Nutrition : 29-30 May 2012 – Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London

Posted on by

LONDON, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

http://www.fi-sportsnutrition.com

Traditionally, sports nutrition products have been focused towards elite level athletes but the market is being transformed by the emergence of regular consumers who are not always interested in sports yet recognise the role that nutrition can play in helping their general health and wellness. With the active and performance nutrition market set to hit 5bn by 2015*, competition in this sector is growing as food and beverage manufacturers look to expand and diversify their product portfolios to profit from the rise in everyday consumers.

In just three weeks time, Fi Conferences' Innovations in Sports Nutrition is bringing together all of those involved in the rapidly expanding market of performance and active nutrition, from manufacturers and ingredient suppliers to consultants and retailers enabling these organisations to understand the direction of the market and the available opportunities.

Attendees from over 15 countries have already registered so far including Heads of R&D, NPD and Product Development from:

Abbott Nutrition -Athletes' Performance -Beneo Bio-Synergy Clinical Nutrition Coca-Cola Cosucra Dairy Crest Danisco DuPont Danone Dextro Energy DSM ESSNA Fayrefield FoodTec FrieslandCampina Gencor Pacific GlaxoSmithKline Huegli -Leatherhead Food Research Linwoods LycoRed MaxiNutrition Natural Sports Nutrition Nizo Food Research Noi Sirius Norrmejerier NSC Pharma Nutrition Works Performance Nutrition/Arsenal FC Optimum Nutrition Osuuskunta Maitomaa PhD Nutrition Roquette Sports Integrated Synergy Unimark Remedies United Bakeries University of Birmingham Volac International

For full programme information and to register please go to http://www.fi-sportsnutrition.com.

About Fi Conferences:

Fi Conferences is an extension of Fi Europe Exhibitions whose food ingredients event, which celebrated its 25th year in 2011, attracts over 20,000 visitors. Fi Conferences, which runs its modular conference alongside this annual exhibition, offers topic-led conferences and workshops that focus on the hottest issues facing ingredient suppliers and manufacturers in the food and beverage ingredients industry. Fi Conferences provide the information and insights needed by R&D, product development, innovation and marketing professionals at both ingredient suppliers and food & beverage manufacturers. http://www.ficonferences.com

*Euromonitor

Read more from the original source:
Innovations in Sports Nutrition : 29-30 May 2012 - Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London

Southern 500s longevity brings big bucks to Pee Dee economy

Posted on by

DARLINGTON, SC (WMBF) - City officials say Darlington is definitely getting a big boost in business from the Southern 500, with people staying in local hotels, eating at the restaurants there and shopping locally.

Local business owners and vendors at the Darlington Racewaygive mixed reactions on how business is really going this week.

"There's been a lot more traffic coming along and well it seems like there's going to be a lot more coming," said Riley Carter who works at one of the shops at Ivana's near the Darlington Raceway.

Tens of thousands of NASCAR fans are expected to flock to Darlington to attend the Southern 500.

Local businesses like the RacewayGrill have had an increase in customers this week.

Some NASCAR fanssay the Southern 500 has turned into more than just a one-day race.

"We come out for a week for two, when before we used to just come for a couple days," said NASCAR fan, Roy Ivey Jr.

Several events featuring the racecar drivers were held across the Pee Dee days before the race, bringing in more fans for a longer period of time.

"The city gets more revenue and more business, more people that's coming in and enjoying the little town of Darlington," said Carter.

Darlington Raceway directors released data from a study, showing state-wide, the raceway brings in about $54 million a year.

See the article here:
Southern 500s longevity brings big bucks to Pee Dee economy

Longevity 101

Posted on by

by Nathan Orme - Tribune editor Sparks Tribune

Tribune/John Byrne - Myrtle Idol, a resident of Hearthstone of Northern Nevada senior living facility, turned 101 on Wednesday. Helping Idol celebrate her birthday were a number of relatives, including Virginia and Gary Dixon helping her blow out the candles, along with other facility residents and staff.

Ill feel OK just as soon as I can be up in my room lying down, Idol said, pondering a piece of birthday cake topped with a scoop of ice cream.

The resident of Hearthstone of Northern Nevada turned 101 on Wednesday, and the staff and residents at the senior living facility at Sparks and Baring boulevards gathered in the early afternoon to celebrate. Surrounding Idol, who is still pretty sharp in the mind despite being mostly confined to a wheelchair, were four family members, including two nieces whom Idol helped raise.

Shes better than all of us put together, said niece Patsy Patterson, 73, about her aunts health. Even now, Idol only takes a little bit of heart medication and was never in the hospital until just a few years ago, Patterson said. One year ago at her 100th birthday, Idol even got up and danced a little.

Whether tripping the light fantastic or tripping across the globe, Idol has always been an active person, her family says. During World War II, she worked in a screw factory in Southern California while her husband, Jim, worked on the docks. He died 40 years ago, after which Idol did a lot of traveling with a new boyfriend. She moved to Reno in the 1960s and owned the Rancho Reno Motel, which used to be in the spot where Meadowood Mall now sits.

If her bones would hold up and her mind would hold up, Im guessing shed go to 120, Patterson said.

Hearthstone activities director Edna Redmond said this is the first time she has thrown a birthday party for a resident with so many candles on her birthday cake. Redmond, who has known Idol for about a year and half, said the centurion likes to get her nails done and likes listening to live music.

As long as its in the groove, shes happy, Redmond said.

There wasnt any live music or dancing on Wednesday, but Idol did receive a few presents a nightgown and a necklace, among others and her family members displayed a few photographs from throughout her many years. One photo showed Idol and Jim in a wedding picture from 1938. Another showed a teenage Idol with her parents and eight siblings. Another showed her with a crown and bouquet at her 100th birthday last year.

See the rest here:
Longevity 101

Center for Productive Longevity Working to Defuse the Ticking Time Bomb

Posted on by

BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire -05/10/12)- The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and the opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, today described "The 3 Important Ways to Defuse the Ticking Time Bomb of our Aging Workforce." With 77 million people in the United States 55 and older, we are at a tipping point: we can either watch them sit on the sidelines, drawing from unsustainable entitlement programs and the general economy, or we can enable this growing population segment to continue working and contribute to the country's economic growth and prosperity.

Recent surveys by AARP indicate that 80 percent of the Baby Boomers intend to continue working after leaving their regular career jobs, more than half on less than a full-time basis. Many need or want the additional income, particularly because of their wealth reduction from the recession in 2001 and the global economic crisis that began in the U.S. in late 2007. Other reasons to continue working include the desire to maintain cognitive skills, continue adding value, and remain socially connected.

"We have been aware of this ticking time bomb for years without taking effective action. Now it's really getting louder with the growing retirement of Baby Boomers at the rate of 4.2 million each year from 2011 through 2029, compounded by high unemployment and low economic growth for the foreseeable future," says William Zinke, 85, founder and president of CPL. "We can defuse this time bomb by creating a wave of entrepreneurship across the country and stimulating employers to take a more flexible approach in providing employment opportunities for older workers."

According to CPL, we can defuse the ticking time bomb of our aging workforce in three important ways:

1. Baby Boomer EntrepreneurshipCreate awareness and understanding among the Baby Boomers about the benefits and opportunities of creating their own businesses. Entrepreneurship remains a critical factor in the country's economic growth and vitality, with a spirit of pioneering and self-reliance still a part of America's DNA.

2. Flexible Workplace OptionsStimulate employers to develop phased retirement programs and other flexible workplace options that will retain and attract Baby Boomers 55 and older who want to continue working but on a part-time basis. A movement is developing in this direction, but a recent survey by Harris Interactive indicates that only 24 percent of Fortune 1000 companies provide such options.

3. Greater Talent Pool UtilizationThe reality is that America has a large and growing talent pool of workers 55 and older with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment and proven performance (EESP). Research shows that older workers have a higher level of commitment, reliability and motivation; have better overall skills and abilities than younger workers; and have much lower absenteeism and turnover. This talent pool must be tapped to a substantially greater degree.

"Economic growth and our standard of living may be reduced if older workers are not provided with opportunities to continue working, yet there is no real recognition of the need to do so," adds Zinke. "It is CPL's purpose to change the national mindset about aging and retirement."

One way CPL is highlighting the benefits of senior entrepreneurship is by organizing a series of four meetings titled "Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers." The first meeting was held at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO, the focal point for entrepreneurship in America, on March 27 with almost 100 participants and excellent feedback. The next three meetings will be held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14, Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Business in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver on November 15. To register, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/entrepreneurship-meeting/overview.

About the Center for Productive LongevityThe mission of CPL is to be the bridge between people 55 and older and their engagement in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value. It is imperative that we recognize the value added by an aging workforce. Visit ctrpl.org for more information. Follow the Center for Productive Longevity on Facebook at facebook.com/CTRPL.

View original post here:
Center for Productive Longevity Working to Defuse the Ticking Time Bomb

Convict's story prompted Virginia budget amendment on DNA

Posted on by

A Virginia budget amendment lifting some of the secrecy surrounding the state's post-conviction DNA project was prompted by the tale of a cancer victim who was recently cleared of a 34-year-old rape.

Articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this year outlined the case of Bennett S. Barbour, convicted of a 1978 assault in Williamsburg. Testing failed to find his DNA in old evidence and instead implicated a convicted rapist in the crime.

Police and prosecutors had the test results since June 2010, but Barbour, 56, who lives in James City County near Williamsburg, did not find out until this January, when a volunteer lawyer contacted him. That delay prompted concern among some legislators.

"I asked for the budget amendment totally based on (The Times-Dispatch's) article about Barbour and what happened," said state Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, vice chairman of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

State Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, also read about Barbour's case. "If there was any reasonable way to either eliminate or at least minimize miscarriages of justice, then I was prepared to be an advocate for it," he said.

"I appreciate the balancing and the concerns of forensic scientists and prosecutors about certain identifying information," he said. But Norment, who helped craft the amendment, said the scales tipped heavily toward more disclosure.

It isn't the first time legislators, concerned with the now-7-year-old effort to clear people wrongly convicted decades ago with DNA testing, have used a budget amendment to order changes in the Department of Forensic Science post-conviction project.

The project began in 2005 after DNA testing of old biological evidence in 31 sample cases cleared two men of rapes. The evidence, primarily blood and semen, was taped inside the case files of forensic serologists from 1973 to 1988.

Since then, testing in hundreds of cases resulted in 78 in which the convicted person's DNA was not found. In the cases of Barbour and at least four others whose DNA was excluded, the results demonstrated innocence.

Initially, the state Board of Forensic Science, which oversees the department, said only prosecutors and police were to learn the test results and that it would be up to authorities to decide the significance of the testing and to take any action.

See the original post:
Convict's story prompted Virginia budget amendment on DNA

Posted in DNA

DNA links skull fragment to Utah Boy Scout missing since 1961 flood; teen's body never found

Posted on by

HOLLADAY, Utah Doralee Freebairn remembers the day well. It was September 1961. Her older brother was on a Boy Scouts trip, hiking in the canyons of Zion National Park.

She was in the yard at home in Salt Lake City watering plants when news crackled over the radio. There had been a massive flash flood in the Narrows.

"I thought, 'Oh, that's where Alvin is,'" Freebairn recalled Friday. "Then it just turned into a nightmare."

Five people were swept away and presumed dead, but searchers never found the bodies of Freebairn's then 17-year-old older brother, Alvin Nelson, or his best friend, Frank Johnson.

This week, some 51 years later, Freebairn finally got the news she had been waiting for.

Authorities matched DNA to a skull fragment found by a man swimming in the Virgin River in 2006. It was Alvin.

"It's kind of a nice birthday present," said Freebairn, who turned 66 last month. "But after so many years, it really doesn't bring closure. It's been a long time."

She sat in her home outside Salt Lake City on Friday flipping through old newspaper clippings about the search for bodies back then. She smiled and told stories about Alvin as she looked at graying photos from an album she pulled from a box in the closet.

"I'll tell you, not finding a body was rough," Freebairn said.

Her father left the family when they were young. It was just her mother and Alvin, the man of the house.

Read the original post:
DNA links skull fragment to Utah Boy Scout missing since 1961 flood; teen's body never found

Posted in DNA

Enzyme corrects more than 1 million faults in DNA replication

Posted on by

Public release date: 10-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Hannah Isom press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk 44-207-395-2345 University of Edinburgh

Scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) at the University of Edinburgh have discovered an enzyme that corrects the most common mistake in mammalian DNA.

The mistake is the inclusion of individual bits of RNA within the DNA sequence, which the researchers found occurs more than a million times in each cell as it divides. The findings, published in Cell, suggest the RNase H2 enzyme is central to an important DNA repair mechanism necessary to protect the human genome.

Each time a cell divides it must first make an identical copy of its entire genetic material, known as the genome. During this process, which is called DNA replication, the integrity of the genetic code is safeguarded by cellular 'proofreading' and error checking mechanisms.

But sometimes mistakes creep into the genetic code, which if not corrected could lead to genetic disease or cancer. Accidental incorporation of RNA is one such mistake. The individual building blocks of RNA (ribonucleotides) are very similar to those that make up DNA, however, they are much less stable and if they remain incorporated in DNA they cause harmful breaks in the double helix. Such breaks are common in cancer cells.

The researchers made the discovery while working on a rare childhood auto-immune disease known as Aicardi-Goutires syndrome, which is caused by mutations in the RNase H2 genes. It leads to inflammation of the brain soon after birth and can be fatal within the first few years of life.

To study this condition in more detail, the scientists knocked out one of the RNase H2 genes in mice. They found that without the enzyme, the developing mouse embryos accumulated more than 1,000,000 single embedded bits of RNA in the genome of every cell, resulting in instability of their DNA.

Dr Andrew Jackson from the MRC IGMM at the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, said:

"The most amazing thing is that by working to understand a rare genetic disease, we've uncovered the most common fault in DNA replication by far, which we didn't even start out looking for! More surprising still is that a single enzyme is so crucial to repairing over a million faults in the DNA of each cell, to protect the integrity of our entire genetic code.

View post:
Enzyme corrects more than 1 million faults in DNA replication

Posted in DNA

DNA tug of war

Posted on by

A mathematical model created by Aalto University (Finland) researcher Timo Ikonen explains for the first time how the DNA chains in our genome are translocated through nanopores that are only a couple of nanometres thick.

A research paper soon to be published in Physical Review E explains the basic physics related to the phenomenon referred to as polymer translocation. Exploring this phenomenon could help to create third generation genome sequencing technologies.

With the help of these technologies, sequencing a patient's genome could become a routine health care procedure.

Full genome sequencing is one of the major accomplishments of humankind. The method for sequencing the millions of base pairs that make up the human DNA molecule chain was revealed in the 1970s, but the entire human genome was not sequenced until 2001.

Sequencing the first human genome cost almost 3 billion dollars. The analysis is still extremely laborious: sequencing the genome of one person costs over 10,000 dollars.

The translocation phenomenon examined by Ikonen enables researchers to use a much simpler method for determining the base sequence of genes. As early as in the 1990s, researchers discovered that when a DNA chain is forced through a small nanopore with the help of an electric current, different types of bases can be identified by monitoring the changes occurring in the current.

Experimental physicists hurried to find out whether the phenomenon could be applied to determining the base sequence of a genome. A small number of theorists began exploring what happened during the actual translocation process. The first translocation theory was presented by Professor Sung's group in 1996. Sung is now Ikonen's research partner.

The first DNA sequencer based on translocation will soon be on the market, but the theory itself has been controversial. Tests have revealed that when an electric current is used to drive a DNA chain through a pore that is only a couple of nanometres thick, the first monomers of the chain go through the pore very rapidly. Then the process slows down, but later on it speeds up again.

"The million dollar question has been why this happens," researcher Timo Ikonen says.

In his article, Ikonen presents a mathematical model that explains the events of the translocation process. The researcher compares the DNA chain to a garden hose curled up on the ground.

The rest is here:
DNA tug of war

Posted in DNA

Applied DNA Sciences Launches digitalDNA, Converging Bio and IT Technologies

Posted on by

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -05/10/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTC.BB: APDN) announces that it has launched a new, DNA-secured form of the QR ("quick read") code. digitalDNA is a new security tool that utilizes the flexibility of mobile communications, the instant accessibility of secure, cloud-based data, and the absolute certainty of DNA to make item tracking and authentication fast, easy and definitive, while providing the opportunity to create a new and exciting customer interface.

The product uses forensic authentication of a botanical DNA marker, sequence-encrypted within a secure QR code, and physically included within the ink used to digitally print the code. The resulting pattern or "rune" can be scanned via an Apple-approved app with an iPhone to assure originality. These mobile scans can be performed anywhere along the supply chain without limit.

The scan checks in wirelessly with a secure database in a "private, secure cloud," and displays the resulting analysis back on the iPhone screen. Tracking information is fed into "tunable algorithms" that use pattern recognition to automatically identify supply-chain risks, for counterfeits or product diversion. Rapid-reading reporters, associated with the DNA marker, are also embedded in the ink, and prevent the secure code from being digitally copied. The uncopyable, botanically-derived DNA markers included in all digitalDNA codes serve as a forensic backstop in legal cases where absolute proof of originality is required. Forensic authentication of the DNA in the ink, must match the sequences and length polymorphism found in the decrypted digitalDNA code.

The technology avoids the risks of phishing scams to which non-secure QR codes are notoriously vulnerable, while providing authentication, geolocation and time-stamping throughout the supply chain. The ubiquity of the iPhone platform allows the consumer to participate in the authentication scheme, quickly and easily. In addition, end-users could confirm freshness and expiration, connect to real-time or video technical support, identify local resources, easily place reorders, and participate in peer-to-peer selling.

The digitalDNA platform is designed to meet compliance specifications defined by the PCI (Payment Card Industry) Security Standards Council, the new and strict standards developed for handling credit card transactions, and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), the stringent requirements for protecting personal health information.

The technology evolved from a partnership agreement signed with secure cloud-computing specialist DivineRune, Inc, on January 25th of this year. The partnership will enhance and extend APDN's core anti-counterfeiting, anti-diversion, and security systems into the digital track-and-trace sphere. The companies jointly described the agreement as "taking APDN's best-in-class anti-counterfeiting and authentication systems and marrying them to the best in secure mobile applications and advanced cloud computing."

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of APDN, commented that he sees "a terrific synergy" in the partnership with DivineRune, whose name derives from a reference to symbology typified by the rise in applications of QR codes. "Our products today uniquely offer our customers proven, uncopyable authentication of virtually any product or asset," he said. "We are now ready to leverage the expertise of DivineRune to offer enhanced authentication systems which are faster, even more accessible and innovative. I believe that you will see some truly imaginative technology emerging from this partnership."

The DivineRune management team specializes in highly secured IT systems for companies looking to send and store information in "private clouds." They boast a track record of success in building computing systems that operate in the most challenging environments. "These are areas which are in need of the highest security available, including advanced encryption of data in transit and at rest," explained John Paul Pennisi, Product Manager at DivineRune. "Without doubt, this partnership will reap the benefits of our core competencies in cloud computing, mobile devices, and logistics," he said.

digitalDNA can be used to track individually packaged items, such as drugs or luxury goods, when the space on the item is available to print the digitalDNA matrix. On items too small for the matrix, such as microchips, digitalDNA can be used on lot shipments.

The combined DNA-IT platform will also aim to satisfy requirements of the California E-Pedigree Law (SB 1307 (Ridley-Thomas, Chapter 713, Statutes of 2008), which requires an electronic record of every sale of prescription drugs in the state. The pedigree must thoroughly document the drug, including its source, identification, and other data. Some features of the law require compliance as early as 2015. The California law is said by many to have wide repercussions for the pharmaceutical industry globally.

Here is the original post:
Applied DNA Sciences Launches digitalDNA, Converging Bio and IT Technologies

Posted in DNA

Is it worth fighting about what's taught in high school biology class?

Posted on by

It is probably no surprise to my regular readers that I get a little exercised about the science wars that play out across the U.S. in various school boards and court actions. Its probably unavoidable, given that I think about science for a living when youve got a horse in the race, you end up spending a lot of time at the track.

From time to time, though, thoughtful people ask whether some of these battles are distractions from more important issues and, specifically, whether the question of what a community decides to include in, or omit from, its high school biology curriculum ought to command so much of our energy and emotional investment.

About seven years ago, the focus was on Dover, Pennsylvania, whose school board required that the biology curriculum must include the idea of an intelligent designer (not necessarily God, but well, not necessarily not-God) as the origin of life on Earth. Parents sued, and U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled that the requirement was unconstitutional. If you missed it as it was happening, theres a very good NOVA documentary on the court case.

As much as the outcome of this trial felt like a victory to supporters of science, some expressed concerns that the battle over the Dover biology curriculum was focusing on one kind of problem but missing many bigger problems in the process for example, this dispatch from Dover, PA by Eyal Press, printed in The Nation in November 2005.

Press describes the Dover area as it unfolded for him in a drive-along with former Dover school board member Casey Brown:

We drove out past some cornfields, a sheep farm, a meadow and a couple of barns, along the back roads of York County, a region where between 1970 and 2000, 11 percent of the manufacturing jobs disappeared, and where in the more rural areas one in five children grows up in a low-income family (in the city of York the figure is one in three). Dover isnt dirt poor, but neither is it wealthy. Its the kind of place where people work hard and save what they can. Looking out at the soy, wheat and dairy farms while Brown explained that lots of older people in the area cant afford to keep up with their mortgages and end up walking away from their homes, I was struck by the thought that this was a part of the country where, a century ago, the populist movement might have made inroads by organizing small farmers against the monopolies and trusts. These days, of course, a different sort of populism prevails, infused by religion and defining itself against outside forces like the ACLU.

Press also went to see what the students in Dover thought of the controversy:

What do the intended beneficiaries of the Dover school boards actions make of the intelligent design debate? A few days before meeting Casey Brown, I drove out to Dover high school to find out. It was late in the afternoon and a couple of kids were milling about outside, waiting for rides. When I asked them what they thought of the controversy, they looked at me with blank stares that suggested I could not have posed a question of less relevance to their lives. I think you should leave us alone, one of them said. Everyone just sleeps through that class anyway, said another. I approached a third kid, who was standing alone. Nobody he knew ever talked about the issue, he told me; it was no big deal.

Press suggests that this is not just a matter of teen ennui. The schools in the area may not be up to the challenge of addressing the real needs of their students:

For the most part, though, kids in Dover seem perplexed that so much attention is being paid to what happens in a single class. It is a sentiment shared by Pat Jennings, an African-American woman who runs the Lighthouse Youth Center, an organization that offers after-school programs, recreational services and parenting and Bible study classes to kids throughout York County. The center, which is privately funded, is located in a brown-brick building in downtown York, next to a church. A deeply religious woman who describes her faith as very important to her, Jennings nonetheless confessed that she hasnt paid much attention to the evolution controversy, since shes too busy thinking about other problems the children she serves facedrugs, gangs, lack of access to opportunity, racism. When we are in this building there are no Latinos, blacks, Caucasian childrenjust children, she explained after giving me a tour of the center. But when I go out thereshe pointed to the streetIm reminded that Im different.

See the article here:
Is it worth fighting about what's taught in high school biology class?

2 Grand Challenges Explorations grants for global health

Posted on by

Public release date: 11-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Megan Fellman fellman@northwestern.edu 847-491-3115 Northwestern University

The innovative research of three Northwestern University professors who are making a big difference in the highly promising area of synthetic biology has been recognized with two early-stage discovery awards from Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The global health projects will focus on creating new compounds to combat malaria and on producing biosensors for low-cost, in-home diagnoses.

The prestigious awards are two of 107 Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) grants announced this week. The funding supports scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs worldwide who are testing unconventional ideas that show great promise to improve the health of people in the developing world.

Northwestern now has received a total of three GCE grants as part of the Gates Foundation's call to "Apply Synthetic Biology to Global Health Challenges." (Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new types of biological systems.) To date, only 30 synthetic biology grants have been awarded as part of this initiative, acknowledging Northwestern as being at the forefront of its use to address global health issues.

"The Gates Foundation support allows us to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that are utilizing cutting-edge techniques to engineer biological systems," said Keith Tyo, an investigator on all three grants. "Success on any one of these projects could result in a dramatic improvement in quality of life for millions of suffering people."

Tyo is an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Andreas Matouschek, professor of molecular biosciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Tyo will develop synthetic compounds that target essential proteins in the Plasmodium parasite for destruction by its own protein degradation mechanisms. This strategy could lead to new treatment modalities as well as small molecule drug development efforts to combat malaria.

In the other project, Tyo and Joshua Leonard, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, will work to engineer yeast-based biosensors that identify protein biomarkers in samples like blood and urine. An array of yeast strains could serve as a low-cost, in-home device providing patients with a panel of diagnostics to improve treatment and diagnosis in resource-poor settings.

Read more from the original source:
2 Grand Challenges Explorations grants for global health