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DNA evidence clears Robert Dewey, who has served 18 years for murder

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Robert Dewey listens to Rich Tuttle, the original prosecutor during Dewey's trial in the mid-1990s in Grand Junction, Colo., Monday, April 30, 2012. (William Woody, Special to The Denver Post)

GRAND JUNCTIONRobert Dewey, imprisoned for nearly 18 years for a crime he did not commit, has been ordered released, cleared by DNA evidence that points the finger at a new suspect in the rape and murder of a Palisade woman in 1994.

"I find that Mr. Dewey is factually innocent of the crimes of which he was accused of in this case," the judge said, noting Dewey had spent more the 6,000 days behind bars. "Mr. Dewey is now again a free man."

Seated at a table in a blue shirt, his hair in long braids, Dewey declined to speak during the crowded hearing.

"It takes real character to stand up and say we made a mistake 17 years ago," Dewey's post-conviction lawyer Danyel Joffe said as she asked a Mesa County

Robert Dewey mug shot (Colorado Dept. of Corrections)

Prosecutors re-examined evidence found in 19-year-old Jacie Taylor's apartment after her death and with new technology, lifted a full DNA profile from semen found on a blanket.

They believe it matches that of Douglas Thames, who is currently serving life for the high-profile 1989 rape and strangulation of Susan Doll in Fort Collins.

Dewey, who has served nearly 18 years of a life sentence in state prison, is expected to walk free today after a 3:30 p.m. court hearing.

Defense attorney Steve Laiche described Dewey as "serene and insightful."

New DNA evidence clears Dewey in 1994 Grand Junction murder

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

GRAND JUNCTIONThe sweet smell of burning sage from a smudge stick wafted around Robert Dewey outside the Mesa County District Courthouse on Monday afternoon as he performed a Native American cleansing ceremony.

Behind him: nearly 18 years in a tiny prison cell and a wrongful conviction on a 1994 rape and murder.

What lies ahead of him is less clear.

A judge granted a joint motion to exonerate Dewey after a re-examination of DNA evidence pointed to a new suspect: Douglas Thames, who is already incarcerated for a similar crime in Fort Collins.

Dewey, 51, now faces the challenge of finding work with a prison record and fixing a back problem that worsened in prison. Then, he joked, there's the

"Coming out of a shoebox into this," Dewey said after his court hearing, "there's a lot for me to catch up on."

Freeing Dewey after more than 6,000 days behind bars was a historic occasion, said District Judge Brian Flynn.

"It's really a pretty humbling day for a lot of people involved in the criminal-justice system," Flynn said.

Dewey's post-conviction attorney, Danyel Joffe, credited Mesa County prosecutor Rich Tuttle, the attorney general's office and law enforcement for re-investigating her client's case after all these years.

"It takes real character to stand up and say we made a mistake 17 years ago," Joffe said as she asked for her client's exoneration in court.

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New DNA evidence clears Dewey in 1994 Grand Junction murder

Gansler asks Maryland high court to overturn or suspend DNA swab ruling

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler asked the states highest court to overturn or at least suspend last weeks ruling that prohibits DNA collection from suspects charged but not yet convicted in violent crimes, saying he plans to challenge the decision with the U.S. Supreme Court if the state judges do not reverse themselves.

On Tuesday, Gansler (D) filed a motion asking the Court of Appeals to reconsider its Alonzo Jay King Jr. v. State of Maryland decision, which found that swabbing criminal suspects for DNA samples after they are charged is a violation of their constitutional rights. That means the same judges who said investigators violated Kings Fourth Amendment rights in taking his genetic material and comparing it with old crime scene samples must decide whether to change their minds.

We live in the 21st century. We have DNA evidence, Gansler said in an interview. Practically every other court thats looked at this has upheld it as not violative of the Fourth Amendment.

King was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on assault charges. Prosecutors used a DNA swab stemming from that case to connect him to a 2003 rape. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the rape.

In a 5 to 2 ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals sent Kings rape case back to the circuit court and threw out the DNA evidence.

Police chiefs and prosecutors criticized the ruling, saying it would hamper their ability to solve cold cases and could jeopardize the convictions of 34 robbers, burglars and rapists whose genetic samples were taken after they were charged in separate cases.

Stephen Mercer, the chief attorney for the Office of the Maryland Public Defenders Forensics Division, said those criticisms overstate the usefulness of the database of DNA samples from charged criminals, which has produced dozens of convictions based on thousands of samples.

Law enforcement officials across the state said they planned to stop collecting DNA from charged suspects while they awaited further court action, and they would evaluate cases that stemmed from DNA in the charged offender database.

In his motion, Gansler argues that the Court of Appeals decision runs counter to what other courts nationwide have held. The motion urges judges not to forget that DNA helped win a conviction against King in a heinous crime against a real, life-and-blood victim.

Mercer said the emotional plea ignores that investigators are placing presumably innocent people under genetic surveillance and using their DNA to investigate them for past and future crimes without evidence linking them to those crimes.

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Gansler asks Maryland high court to overturn or suspend DNA swab ruling

Maryland AG appeals DNA ruling

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler has asked the states highest court to overturn or at least temporarily suspend last weeks ruling that prohibits DNA collection from suspects charged but not yet convicted in violent crimes, saying he plans to challenge the decision with the U.S. Supreme Court if the state judges do not reverse themselves.

Gansler on Tuesday filed a motion asking the Court of Appeals to stay and reconsider its Alonzo Jay King Jr. v. State of Maryland decision, which found that swabbing criminal suspects for DNA samples after they are charged is a violation of the suspects constitutional rights. That means the same judges who said investigators violated Kings Fourth Amendment rights in taking his genetic material and comparing it with old crime scene samples must now decide whether to change their minds, or at least put their decision on hold while Gansler prepares to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

We live in the 21st century. We have DNA evidence, Gansler said in an interview. Practically every other court thats looked at this has upheld it as not violative of the Fourth Amendment.

King was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on first- and second-degree assault charges. Prosecutors used a DNA swab stemming from that case to connect him to a 2003 rape. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the rape.

But in a 5 to 2 ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals sent Kings case back to the Wicomico County Circuit Court and threw out the DNA evidence against him, saying investigators violated his Fourth Amendment rights.

Solving cold cases is a legitimate government interest, a warrantless, suspicionless search can not be upheld by a generalized interest in solving crimes, the court found.

Police chiefs and prosecutors had widely criticized the ruling when it was issued last week, saying it would hamper detectives ability to solve cold cases, and it could jeopardize the convictions of 34 robbers, burglars and rapists whose genetic samples were taken after they were charged in separate cases. State authorities and officials in Prince Georges, Montgomery and Baltimore counties said they planned to stop collecting DNA from charged suspects while they awaited further court action, and they would evaluate individually cases that stemmed from DNA in the so-called charged offender database.

Gansler said he has advised police chiefs to continue abiding by the Court of Appeals decision unless a stay is issued. He said the motion to reconsider at the state level is largely a procedural step because he cannot challenge the case with the Supreme Court until he has done so at the lower level.

If the state judges stay their decision, though, Gansler said that police could collect DNA while he prepares a Supreme Court challenge. And if the judges decline to do so, Gansler said that he will ask the Supreme Court to stay the decision while he fights to have it overturned.

Gansler said he has 90 days to file a writ with the Supreme Court challenging the decision. He said that he thinks the Court of Appeals will make a decision by mid-May.

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Maryland AG appeals DNA ruling

Vitamin D supplements may protect against viral infections during the winter

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Cody Mooneyhan cmooneyhan@faseb.org 301-634-7104 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Vitamin D may be known as the sunshine vitamin, but a new research report appearing in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that it is more than that. According to the report, insufficient levels of vitamin D are related to a deficiency in our innate immune defenses that protect us from infections, neoplasias or autoimmune diseases. Since vitamin D levels decrease during autumn and winter when days are shorter and sunlight is relatively weak, this may explain why people are more prone to viral infection during these times. It also suggests that vitamin D 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. 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," said Victor Manuel Martinez-Taboada, M.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital Universitario "Marque's de Valdecilla," Facultad de Medicina at the Unversidad de Cantabria, in Santander, Spain.

To make this discovery, the researchers compared the changes in the blood levels of vitamin D among three groups of healthy subjects: young (age range: 20-30), middle (age range: 31-59), and elderly (age range: 60-86). They found decreased levels of vitamin D with aging, prompting researchers to compare whether such changes kept any relationship with toll-like receptor (TLR) expression measured on lymphocytes and monocytes and function after in vitro stimulation with specific ligands for each of the nine human TLRs and measurement of effector molecules, such as proinflammatory cytokines. Specifically, they found that the TRL most affected by a vitamin D insufficiency is TLR7, which regulates the immune response against viruses. Finally, scientists studied whether there was any difference in the three age groups depending on the season of the year since it is well known that a limited sun exposure during darker winter months is related with vitamin D deficiency.

"Any school teacher will tell you that people tend to be sicker during the winter than any other time of the year," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "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. More extensive studies must be conducted for this link to be conclusive, but since vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and generally safe, this is a really exciting discovery."

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The Journal of Leukocyte Biology publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigatins focusing on the cellular and molecular biology of leukocytes and on the origins, the developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense and inflammation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology is published by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.

Details: Lorena Alvarez-Rodriguez, Marcos Lopez-Hoyos, Maite Garcia-Unzueta, Jose Antonio Amado, Pedro Muoz Cacho, and Victor Manuel Martinez-Taboada. Age and low levels of circulating vitamin D are associated with impaired innate immune function. J Leukoc Biol May 2012 91:829-838; doi:10.1189/jlb.1011523 ; http://www.jleukbio.org/content/91/5/829.abstract

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Vitamin D supplements may protect against viral infections during the winter

Protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Leanne Yohemas lmyohema@ucalgary.ca 403-220-7722 University of Calgary

Hans Vogel, a professor in the biological sciences department, is the guest editor of a special issue of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology that focuses on lactoferrin, an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits.

"Some people describe this protein as the 'Swiss army knife' of the human host defense system," says Vogel. "We now know that lactoferrin has many functions in innate immunity and that it plays a role in protecting us from bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. It can even protect us from some forms of cancer."

Lactoferrinwhich is secreted into human milk, blood and other biofluidshas attracted a lot of interest from academics and industry. Furthermore, Vogel says it's likely the only protein that garners its own regular scientific conference. Researchers are starting to use lactoferrin as a potential therapeutic protein, one that can be taken orally instead of injected like other proteins.

"Lactoferrin is quite an unusual protein that has many effects on health," Vogel says. "It is also used as a general health-promoting substance, and in Japan it is added to infant formula."

The June issue of the journal includes 27 peer reviewed papers from leading international researchers on topics including the role of lactoferrin on small intestinal growth and development during early life, use of bovine lactoferrin to inhibit influenza and how the protein may prevent some preterm deliveries.

The protein may also have an important role in wound healing, says Vogel. "We've been working in this area for about 15 years and it's cool to see how the whole field slowly progresses, and you start to see more and more interesting applications. It is particularly exiting to see that clinical trials are now going on in the infectious disease area and in cancer."

Vogel says being a guest editor was a lot of work and a lot of fun. He also wrote an introductory article for the special issue that provides an overview of the current status of research into the protein. Read the open access article: http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/o2012-016

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Protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Hans Vogel vogel@ucalgary.ca Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)

Ottawa, Ontario (April 30, 2012)Lactoferrin is an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits. The major form of this powerful protein, is secreted into human biofluids (e.g. milk, blood, tears, saliva), and is responsible for most of the host-defense properties. Because of the many beneficial activities associated with it, researchers are starting to use lactoferrin as a potential therapeutic protein. And, in contrast to many other therapeutic proteins, which need to be injected into patients, lactoferrin can be orally active. Lactoferrin is the subject of the upcoming June issue of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

"We now know that lactoferrin is a protein that has many functions in innate immunity and that it plays a role in protecting us from bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. It can even protect us from some forms of cancer," says special issue guest editor Dr. Hans Vogel, a professor at the University of Calgary. "Some people describe this protein as the 'Swiss army knife' of the human host defense system. In part it does all this by binding iron, but many other properties of the protein contribute to its function."

This special issue comprises 27 articles and review papers contributed by leading international researchers. The role of lactoferrin on skin wound healing; impacts of lactoferrin on small intestinal growth and development during early life; and use of bovine lactoferrin on the inhibition of influenza and in the prevention of preterm delivery associated with sterile inflammation are among the studies presented.

One important contribution, already published online, is from a Chinese research group led by Professor Ning Li in Beijing. It shows that consumption of milk containing increased levels of the lactoferrin protein modulates the composition of the gut microflora, which in turn promotes health. This research relies on extensive biochemistry and molecular biology to produce the protein and to analyze the changes in the composition of the gut flora. While the article describes an animal model study, the results can probably be extended to humans. The research article titled Transgenic milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin modulates the intestinal flora in piglets is now available open access on the NRC Research Press website.

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The Lactoferrin special issue (coming soon) in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Vol. 90, Issue 3, published by the NRC Research Press at http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/journal/bcb

The introduction to the special issue by Dr. Hans Vogel is available open access at http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/o2012-016

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Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Biochemistry complex blends old with new

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

Contrasting modern and historic architecture details are pictured in this view of the newly constructed Biochemical Sciences Building, at left, and the renovated Biochemistry Buildings brick exterior. Photo: Jeff Miller

The Biochemistry complex located next to Henry Mall looks a lot different than decades ago. But you wouldnt necessarily know that at first glance.

While the outside of the buildings looks similar to when they were first constructed, the interiors have been given state-of-the-art makeovers.

Theyve done a beautiful job in restoring the older parts and integrating the newer parts. I really think its remarkable, says Betty Craig, Biochemistry chair.

Planning started long ago on the $112 million project, and it had once been discussed that some of the old historical buildings would become history, torn down to make way for new structures.

A glass panel, at right, reflects a mirror view of a man descending a sunlight-filled staircase at the Biochemical Sciences Building. The graphic design featured on the exterior glass of the foyer, created by artist Norie Sato as part of Wisconsins Percent for Art program, incorporates a pattern abstracted from biochemical language that describes parts of DNA structure.

Photo: Jeff Miller

That didnt happen.

Editor-in-Chief on the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science – Video

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

30-04-2012 05:08 Editor-in-Chief, Joseph Ciarrochi, University of Western Sydney, talks about the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. More information about this journal can be found at You may also be interested in watching the video from Steve Hayes, Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Nevada - see

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Editor-in-Chief on the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science - Video

Insight Psychological Centers Announces a New Treatment Program for Adolescents with Eating Disorders in Downtown …

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

CHICAGO, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Insight Psychological Centers, treatment center for eating, mood and anxiety disorders, announced today the opening of a new eating disorders program designed specifically for adolescents and their families.

Using a clinically innovative approach of Multi-Family Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Insight is at the cutting edge of behavioral science. Led by Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Insight's Adolescent Program uses the latest techniques developed in academia to treat teens.

Dr. Astrachan-Fletcher, founder of the eating disorders clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago and co-author of The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bulimia: Using DBT to Break the Cycle and Regain Control of Your Life, is a prominent figure in the science of DBT. The DBT program is one of the most effective treatment methods for helping people recover from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.[1] Helping patients view and interact with the world in a different way, DBT is a holistic, safe approach to imparting life skills. "Treating adolescents involves treating the whole family when possible," says Astrachan-Fletcher. "Multi-family DBT harnesses the power of peer families. We are seeing excellent results when the whole family learns to replace emotion-minded behaviors with more useful ways of interacting with the world."

Insight's adolescent family programs are currently offered in its loop location and are planned for launch in Northbrook, Evanston and west suburbs later in the year.

Delivering awareness and recovery 7 days a week, Insight Psychological Centers is managed by Northwestern University faculty, Drs. Susan McClanahan and Jenny Conviser. Insight's specialty is using intensive programs to improve health in people who suffer from depression, mood, anxiety and eating disorders. For more information visit http://www.insightforeating.com or call 312-540-9955.

Contact Laura Adams, Director of Business Development, 773-546-8447

[1] Varchol, L & Cooper, H. Psychotherapy approaches for adolescents with eating disorders, Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 2009;21:457-464.

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Insight Psychological Centers Announces a New Treatment Program for Adolescents with Eating Disorders in Downtown ...

Murad Introduces Resurgence® Age-Diffusing Firming Mask That Instantly Tightens, Firms and Rehydrates Skin

Posted on May 2, 2012 by ev1

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Murad Introduces Resurgence® Age-Diffusing Firming Mask That Instantly Tightens, Firms and Rehydrates Skin

Grey's Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey Rescues Teen From Car Accident

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Danzig

Patrick Dempsey, who saves lives on a weekly basis as Dr. "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy, got a chance to rescue someone in real life.

On Tuesday, the actor pulled a teen from an overturned car after an accident, according to a tweet from The Shield creator Shawn Ryan.

Grey's Anatomy exclusive finale scoop: A Seattle Grace exodus and a "dark and twisty" event

The post reads, "True Story: Grey's Anatomy actor Patrick Dempsey pulled my friend's son out of overturned car after bad accident on Tuesday. #GoodDude."

Dempsey recently tweeted that there were "lots of tears," reading the Season 8 finale for Grey's Anatomy. He has yet to sign a new contract to return to the ABC medical drama next season.

View original Grey's Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey Rescues Teen From Car Accident at TVGuide.com

LOWE: Anatomy of a comeback — and collapse

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Danzig

What made the Clippers massive comeback Sunday night in Memphis even more amazing was how slowly it came at first, how impossible it seemed with about four minutes to go, and then how fast it actually happened. The Clippers were still down by 24 with eight minutes remaining, and they turned the ball over three straight times between the 4:20 mark and the 3:16 mark of the fourth quarter, seemingly blowing whatever chance they had of completing the rally against the Grizzlies in Game 1.

To pull off a comeback while playing such imperfect ball requires just about everything else to go exactly right, pretty darn quickly. A dozen little things added up to one historic rally. The Grizzlies offense collapsed, in part because coach Lionel Hollins sat Zach Randolph for nearly four minutes down the stretch, an understandable move (Randolph is still trying to get back into game condition and he looked shaky for much of the night) that nonetheless allowed Blake Griffin to guard Marreese Speights while Reggie Evans battled Marc Gasol for every inch of territory. Speights, never a plus defender, couldnt handle Griffin down low on the other end. Tony Allen missed a put-back and was improbably exposed on defense when finally given the go-ahead to take Chris Paul. Other horrible things happened for Memphis.

But if you had to pick one factor that made the game winnable, it was this: The Clippers made a bunch of three-pointers in a really small span of time. Two-point buckets simply wouldnt do; they needed threes, and they got them, thanks to a complicated mix of factors. Lets take a look at the Clippers last four three-pointers, starting with Eric Bledsoes seventh three of the entire season:

Its fashionable to mock Griffins unrefined post game, but doing so ignores how effective he is, and how much attention that unrefined post game draws from defenses. Here, Griffin catches on the right block, with the capable Gasol defending him. And yet, look at how fascinated the rest of the Grizzlies are:

Every Memphis player is paying attention to Griffin. Look especially at Mike Conley and Rudy Gay on the weak side, sagging off Bledsoe and Nick Young, respectively, in order to clog up the middle. You can see Bledsoe (right in front of the dot in Grizzles.com along the sideline) beginning his cut from the left side to the right corner. Heres what the world looks like when Bledsoe is halfway through that cut, under the rim:

Whoops. Both Conley and Gay have rotated out to Young on the left wing, leaving Bledsoe uncovered. Young is the more threatening shooter, of course, but no defensive coach would recommend what happens here. Bledsoe made just six three-pointers all season, but this is a practice shot, and nearly every NBA player looks like a shooting genius in practice.

Three minutes later, Youngs barrage begins with this play out of a timeout:

This is a nice play from maligned coach Vinny Del Negro. The Clippers have been good all season at using back screens away from the ball to free shooters, and Griffin here nails Youngs guy (Gay) with one at the left elbow while Gay has his eyes on the Paul pick-and-roll on the right side of the floor (Paul is driving by Gasol in this still):

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LOWE: Anatomy of a comeback -- and collapse

Anatomy of a comeback — and collapse

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Danzig

Three minutes later, Youngs barrage begins with this play out of a timeout:

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Anatomy of a comeback — and collapse

Anatomy of the Conference Call

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Danzig

By Steve Van Tiem - April 30, 2012 | Tickers: CMP, GLW, SRCL | 0 Comments

Steve is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

There were three companies whose earnings conference calls last week promised to address three very different sets of circumstances. Stericycle (NASDAQ: SRCL) was having its first call after naming a CEO-elect in January. At Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW), the weak global economy has caused a severe drop off in demand, which has hurt profitability and share price the past four quarters. And Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) has had to cope with three extreme weather events which, incredibly, all occurred within the past year.

As I listened to these calls, I paid attention to the tone of management (using a scale from extremely cautious to cautious, neutral, positive, and extremely positive), their candor in the question & answer session (using a scale from "not candid" to "uncertain candor", "candid",and "fully candid"), and information gleaned from answers to certain questions about revenue, cash flow drivers, and market conditions. I was also tracking updates to certain metrics, any substantive announcements made during the call, and of course earnings and sales guidance. Before listening to these calls I reviewed the previous call for each company to generate my set of expectations, metrics, and specific questions or issues to monitor.

With Stericycle's CFO, COO, and CEO-elect making brief statements in turn, the opening statements were more quantitative than qualitative, but overall the call was positive in tone. My belief is that management limits their comments so as not to produce artificially high investor expectations. I estimate that there were eight significant, open-ended questions from analysts that were adversarial or probing in nature. Of these eight, three were answered satisfactorily, four were not answered directly, and one was answered satisfactorily but indirectly. My impression is that management is satisfactorily candid with their communication but could improve to the preferred "fully candid" level with more direct answers. There were few, if any, company or industry specific metrics discussed and no substantive announcements.

I am satisfied that management answered all relevant questions and addressed all important business areas but I wanted to hear more from CEO-elect Charlie Alutto, whose only participation was his opening statement concerning guidance. Management guided EPS in the range of $3.24 to $3.28 for full year 2012 and revenue in the range of $1.85 billion to $1.9 billion for the year. This is a raise from EPS of $3.21 to $3.26 and revenue of $1.8 billion to $1.9 billion given as guidance last quarter. I rate this call a solid B and more importantly am confident in management's capability to guide the company forward. Investors bid the share price up from $87.10 before the call to $87.64 by week's end.

Of the three calls I listened to, Corning's was most likely to generate analyst skepticism because of continued economic weakness and share underperformance. As expected, there was a greater number and higher percentage of questions that I consider adversarial and these were much more pointed than either Stericycle's or Compass Mineral's questions. Fifteen of the questions were confrontational or accusatory with management satisfactorily answering ten of these, either directly or indirectly. The remaining five were not answered to my satisfaction so my conclusion is that management falls into my "candid" category. Corning did present a fair number of metrics, most importantly the Q4 supply chain inventory metric for the Display segment, which was essentially flat at 15.2 weeks. The company provided an informative summary of the recent acquisition of the Discovery Labware business from Becton Dickinson including reasons for the transaction and expectations going forward.

Unfortunately, Corning provided guidance for only limited information, by segment, for Q2 2012 rather than earnings and revenue guidance for Q2 2012 or an update for full year 2012. This call earns a B because I am satisfied that no important business areas were neglected and all relevant questions were addressed to an acceptable degree. The market reaction was very positive to this quarter's results and investors bid the share price up from $13.35 before the announcement and subsequent call to $14.45 by week's end.

Compass Minerals, whose primary businesses are de-icing salt and sulfate of potash production, was expected to report weak results due to a tornado that did significant damage to its primary salt mine, the warmest winter period on record and an unusually wet period in the Southwest, all within the past year. The reported results were essentially in line with these lowered expectations but management assumed a fairly positive tone centered on the notion that each of these weather events is exceedingly unlikely to recur in the foreseeable future, thus recent capacity additions and acquisitions should lead to increased growth.

Compass' management provided direct and satisfactory answers to three of the six important questions that were either adversarial or probing. The other three questions were answered in a satisfactory but indirect manner. Like Stericycle and Corning, I consider the responses of Compass' management as acceptably candid, just below "fully candid". Where I am disappointed in the call is the lack of explicit earnings or revenue guidance. These were given in relevant terms like "more", "less", "higher" and "lower" but specific figures were not given.

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Anatomy of the Conference Call

How accurate were Leonardo's anatomy drawings?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Danzig

1 May 2012 Last updated at 08:26 ET By Robin Banerji BBC World Service

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Martin Clayton, senior curator of the Royal Collection, shows Fergus Walsh some of the exhibition highlights

The largest exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of the human body goes on display in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace this week. So how accurate were they?

During his lifetime, Leonardo made thousands of pages of notes and drawings on the human body.

He wanted to understand how the body was composed and how it worked. But at his death in 1519, his great treatise on the body was incomplete and his scientific papers were unpublished.

Based on what survives, clinical anatomists believe that Leonardo's anatomical work was hundreds of years ahead of its time, and in some respects it can still help us understand the body today.

So how do these drawings, sketched more than 500 years ago, compare to what digital imaging technology can tell us today?

From a notebook dated 1489, there is a series of meticulous drawings of the skull.

Leonardo has cut off the front of the face to show what lies beneath. It is difficult to cut these bones without damaging them. And elsewhere in his papers, Leonardo left a drawing of the knives he used.

The Pretty Reckless – My Medicine – Official Music Video – Video

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Danzig

09-03-2012 09:20 Mon. 3/26 1pm EST. Taylor Momsen responds to your comments on the "My Medicine" video. Did she answer your question? Watch and find out. "My Medicine" by the Pretty Reckless: World premiere Directed by Meiert Avis, Taylor Momsen, and Stefan Smith HIT ME LIKE A MAN EP on iTunes myISH: Subscribe NOW to myISH: HIT ME LIKE A MAN EP on iTunes 'THE MEDICINE TOUR' tour dates: Fri-Mar-09 Tucson, AZ Club Congress Sat-Mar-10 Phoenix, AZ Martini Ranch Sun-Mar-11 Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room Wed-Mar-14 Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues Thu-Mar-15 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill Fri-Mar-16 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre Sat-Mar-17 Seattle, WA El Corazon Sun-Mar-18 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre Tue-Mar-20 Calgary, AB The Den Thu-Mar-22 Edmonton, AB Starlite Theatre Fri-Mar-23 Saskatoon, SK Louis Pub Sat-Mar-24 Regina, SK Exchange Mon-Mar-26 Winnipeg, MB West End Cultural Centre Thu-Mar-29 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge Fri-Mar-30 Cleveland, OH HOB Cambridge Sat-Mar-31 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall Sun-Apr-01 Toledo, OH Frankies Tue-Apr-03 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot Wed-Apr-04 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Hall Fri-Apr-06 Quebec City, QC Le Cercle Sat-Apr-07 Montreal, QC Metropolis Club Sun-Apr-08 Burlington, VT Higher Ground Tue-Apr-10 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club Thu-Apr-12 Philadelphia, PA TLA Fri-Apr-13 New York, NY Irving Plaza Sat-Apr-14 Poughkeepsie, NY The Loft Sun-Apr-15 Baltimore, MD Ottobar Tue-Apr-17 Richmond, VA ...

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The Pretty Reckless - My Medicine - Official Music Video - Video

The Pretty Reckless – My Medicine – Video

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Danzig

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The Pretty Reckless - My Medicine - Video

Liz Green – Bad Medicine (OFFICIAL VIDEO) – Video

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Danzig

21-03-2012 11:31 Buy the album 'O, Devotion!' here: CD: Digital: Directed by Joseph Brett & Simon Taffe, End of the Road Films http

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Liz Green - Bad Medicine (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - Video

In Clinic (In Paris medical school parody) – Video

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Danzig

11-02-2012 13:26 Love to all our med school brothers and sisters! DJ Vapor, Sound Engineer: Miles Mueller, Director of Photography: Med students so hard, can't nothing deter us Rotations don't scurr us Finished two years of classes finally we're in the hospital like now it's surrus (Med students so hard) All day rounding Hours we work are astounding Wanna diagnose every patient on the census but we're new to this game and differentials are confounding (Med students so hard) Check the anion gap I'm like a ninja when I do a pap (Med students so hard) Rocking Tdap Everybody wishes they could tap Medicine is happenin', but surgeons get the best toys Bovies, bone saws, babcocks, Ortho boys (Med students so hard) We treat em, where the charts at, we need em Spend all morning writing notes like a boss, but nobody's gonna read em (Med students so hard) Meds immerse us, wash our hands and microbes curse us Our greatest care is patient care Hearts in the right place, no situs inversus (Med students so hard) catching babies, vaccinate against rabies Med mobster, treat zoster, helpin' all of my shingle ladies (Med students so hard) Chug caffeine, titrate Lantus like a machine, They say do a DRE, blushin' like Parvo B-19 Med students so hard, acronyms never end RCA, CVA, DKA Med students so hard, don't know em but we'll pretend tPA, PSA, AMA Patients ask me questions and I spike my cortisol Tachycardic, give us all metoprolol Feelin like C. diff, med ...

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In Clinic (In Paris medical school parody) - Video

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