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Visiongain Report Offers Transformative Insights on the $3.2bn Protein Expression Market – PRNewswire

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

LONDON, Nov. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The global protein expression market is estimated at $1.8bn in 2018. Visiongain estimated that the prokaryotic expression system accounted for 40.0% of the global protein expression market.

How this report will benefit youRead on to discover how you can exploit the future business opportunities emerging in this sector.

In this brand new 201-page report you will receive 70 tables and 115 figures all unavailable elsewhere.

The 201-page Visiongain report provides clear detailed insight into the global protein expression market. Discover the key drivers and challenges affecting the market.

By ordering and reading our brand-new report today you stay better informed and ready to act.

To request sample pages from this report please contact Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/global-protein-expression-market-forecast-to-2029/#download_sampe_div

Report Scope

Global Protein Expression Market forecaststo 2029

Global Protein Expression Market forecaststo 2029by Expression System: Cell-free Expression System Prokaryotic/ Bacterial Expression System Yeast Cell Expression Systems Algal-based Expression Systems Insect Cell Expression Systems Mammalian Cell Expression Systems

Global Protein Expression Market forecasts to 2029by Product & Services: Reagents Expression Vectors Competent Cells Instruments Services

Global Protein Expression Market forecasts to 2029by Application: Therapeutic Applications Industrial Application Research Application

Global Protein Expression Market forecaststo 2029by End-User: Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Academic Research Institutes Contract Research Organizations (CROs)

Global Protein Expression Market forecaststo 2029by National Market: North America: US, Canada EU: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain Asia: Japan, China, India

Assessment of selectedleading companies that hold major market shares in the protein expression industry: Agilent Technologies Bio-Rad Technologies EMD Milipore New England Biolabs, Inc. Oxford Expression Technologies, Ltd. Promega Corporation Qiagen NV Takara Bio, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Discussions on trends in the industry and assesses strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats (SWOT). It also analyses social, technological, economic and political factors (STEP) that influence the protein expression market. Moreover, this report discussesfactors that drive and restrain the protein expression market.

Key Questions Answered by This Report: What is the current size of the protein expression market? How much will this market be worth from 2019-2029? What will be the main drivers and restraints for this market? What are the different segments of the protein expression market? How much will each of these segments be worth during 2019-2029 and how will their market shares change during this period? What are the largest national protein expression markets? How much will these markets be worth from 2019-2029? How will the emerging markets affect the market shares of the mature markets? What are the most prominent companies in the market? What products and services do they offer, and what are the main features and advantages of them? What are the main trends affecting the market? What technologies will increase in prominence between 2019 and 2029? What are the advantages of these technologies? What are the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the market? What are the social, technological, economic and political factors affecting the market?

To request a report overview of this report please contact Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/global-protein-expression-market-forecast-to-2029/

Did you know that we also offer a report add-on service? Email sara.peerun@visiongain.comto discuss any customized research needs you may have.

Companies covered in the report include:

Abgenex Agilent Technologies Inc.Anthem BiosciencesAstraZenecaBayerBio-Rad TechnologiesBiotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council BioTek InstrumentsBrammer BioBristol-Myers Squibb Cancer Research UK Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clontech Laboratories, Inc. Department of Biotechnology EMD MilliporeGIMDx, Inc. HD Biosciences Co., Ltd.Icagen, Inc. IncellDx, IncInnoCore PharmaceuticalsInSphero AG Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland JanssenLabcyte Inc.LikardaLuxcel Biosciences LtdMerckMerck & Co., IncNew England Biolabs Inc.Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability On Target Co., Ltd. OriGeneOxford Expression Technologies LtdPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Promega CorporationQiagen NVSanofiSciGenomSigma-Aldrich CorporationSino BiologicalsTakara Bio Inc.Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Technical University of Denmark Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.UCBWaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. World Health Organization

To see a report overview please e-mail Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com

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SOURCE Visiongain

Visiongain Report Offers Transformative Insights on the $3.2bn Protein Expression Market - PRNewswire

The nature of salmonella is changing and it’s meaner – MSUToday

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

Salmonella is acting up in Michigan, and it could be a model for whats happening in other states, according to a new Michigan State University study.

The study, appearing in Frontiers in Medicine, documents a substantial uptick in antibiotic resistant strains, and consequently, longer hospital stays as doctors work to treat the increasing virulent pathogens.

If you get a salmonella infection that is resistant to antibiotics today, you are more likely to be hospitalized longer, and it will take you longer to recover, said Shannon Manning, MSU Foundation professor in theDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and senior author of the study. We need better detection methods at the clinical level to identify resistant pathogens earlier so we can treat them with the right drugs the first time.

Losing a day or more to misdiagnosis or improper treatment allows symptoms to get worse. Doctors might kill off a subpopulation of bacteria that are susceptible, but the ones that are resistant grow stronger, she added.

Salmonella is a diverse group of bacterial pathogens that causes foodborne infections. Infected patients often develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, though some infections are more severe and can be life threatening.

When it comes to treatments, each strain reacts differently to the range of antibiotics available for prescription by doctors. So getting it right the first time is crucial.

Specifically in Michigan, doctors are seeing more strains that are resistant to ampicillin, a common antibiotic prescribed to treat salmonella. Multidrug resistance, or resistance to more than three classes of antibiotics, has also increased in Michigan and could further complicate patient treatment plans.

Were still uncertain as to why this is happening; it could be that these antibiotics have been overprescribed in human and veterinary medicine and that possessing genes for resistance has allowed these bacteria to grow and thrive in the presence of antibiotics, Manning said. Each state has its own antibiotic-resistance issues. Its important that the medical profession remains vigilant to ever-changing patterns of resistance in salmonella and other foodborne pathogens, rather than look for a blanket national solution.

Historically, salmonella has affected young children and the elderly, but now theres been a rise in adult cases, suggesting that the epidemiology of the infections has changed in Michigan.

Diving into individual strains of salmonella, the team of scientists found that patients with Typhimurium were more likely to have resistant infections as were patients infected during the fall, winter or spring months.

Another distinction was revealed between the strains affecting people living in rural and urban areas. Enteritis infections tend to be higher in rural areas. This may be attributed to rural residents exposure to farm animals or untreated sources of water.

Each states salmonella population has its own personality; so every states approach to identifying disease drivers and effective treatments should be modified to reflect these traits.

Our results show the importance of surveillance, monitoring resistance frequencies and identifying risk factors specific to each state and region, Manning said. The trends that are revealed can lead to new prevention strategies.

Additional MSU researchers contributing to the study include Sanjana Mukherjee, the lead author, Chase Anderson and Rebekah Mosci. Scientists from Wayne State, Sparrow Hospitals and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also contributed to this research.

(Note for media: Please include a link to the original paper in online coverage: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2019.00250/full)

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The nature of salmonella is changing and it's meaner - MSUToday

New Immune-Boosting Pet Supplement May Add Years to the Life of Your Pet – PRNewswire

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

VENTURA, Calif., Nov. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --A California-based pet wellness company has launched a new natural health supplement formulated to boost your pet's immune system and protect dogs and cats against cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

"Cancer is the number-one killer of dogs and cats," explains VetSmart Formulas founder and CEO, Russ Kamalski. "We wanted to create a product that would help pets stay healthy and active for years to come. That's why we've spent the past few years perfecting the formula and making sure it includes active ingredients that have been proven to promote normal cell growth and support long-term health in pets."

The supplement's main ingredients are four medicinal mushrooms from Asia that have been proven to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors, strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. The product also includes a patented white turmeric extract that contains active ingredients that have been shown to protect against neurodegenerative diseases, arthritis, cardiovascular risks, and liver damage.

Kamalski says that the powerful combination of natural ingredients is one of the most effective antioxidant supplements for pets and is designed to strengthen the immune system for both young pets as a preventative measure, and for those dogs and cats struggling with diseases such as cancer, it helps the pet's natural immune defenses in an extraordinary way.

"It is the responsibility of the pet owner to do everything possible to minimize the risk of cancer in their pets. That includes a sensible lifestyle with sufficient exercise, weight management, drinking clean water, healthy food intake, and avoiding toxins," says Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Shawn Messonnier, founder of Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in Plano, Texas. "Giving your pets a high-quality antioxidant supplement is highly recommended to further reduce the risk of cancer."

Kamalski, who has decades of experience in the natural health supplement industry, decided to develop this all-natural supplement when his 12-year-old dog, Sienna, developed bone cancer. The doctors gave her just a few months to live but Kamalski exhaustively researched alternative cancer treatments and developed an early prototype of the Critical Immune Defense formula to aid in her treatment and recovery. With the support of Sienna's veterinarian and oncologist, he succeeded in extending Sienna's life by almost two years.

"The oncologists who were treating her were amazed," Kamalski says. "Her tumors basically stopped growing and started to shrink. Not only did the product help slow the cancer growth, her quality of life dramatically improved. They'd never seen anything like it."

Critical Immune Defense is not available in retail stores and can be found at the Pet Wellness Direct Website: http://getvsf.com/cid-press

About VetSmart Formulas:VetSmart Formulas is a line of high-quality pet supplements sold directly to consumers by Pet Wellness Direct, an online pet wellness company founded in 2015. The company's all-natural products are made in the USA in FDA audited labs, have no artificial ingredients or flavors, are wheat-free, and are based on scientifically superior formulas that pet professionals demand. The company's board of advisors includes a professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine and four veterinarians who are passionate about protecting our pets from disease and increasing pet health and longevity.

BioDelivery Sciences Appoints Dr. Vanila Singh, Former Chief Medical Officer of Health and Human Services, to its Board of Directors – Yahoo Finance

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

Dr. Singh is renowned for her expertise in molecular science, clinical management and national health policy

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (BDSI), a rapidly growing commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic conditions, today announced that it has named Vanila M. Singh, M.D., MACM, to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Singh is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Pain and Peri-operative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and is a teaching mentor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Singh is the immediate past Chief Medical Officer of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and served as Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Pain Management Best Practices Task Force, chartered by Congress and involving multiple federal health agencies, professional medical organizations, and patient advocacy groups to guide the medical community and key stakeholders in optimal patient care in a growing and complex national health matter.

We are very excited and honored to have Dr. Singh join our organization as a Board member, stated Peter Greenleaf, Chairman of BDSI. Vanilas profound knowledge and experience in the fields of molecular science, clinical care, public health, and matters of national health policy will be wonderful complements to the significant depth of capabilities already on our Board and across the organization. Her passion and national recognition as an ambassador for optimal patient care blends perfectly with our companys patient centric culture and commitment to commercializing clinically differentiated products with meaningful therapeutic value.

Having spent my clinical career and policy-making leadership focused on improving clinical outcomes through best practices and patient-centered recommendations, I am proud to extend my vision by joining BDSIs Board and to further deliver solutions that address unmet patient care and focus on challenges that affect the healthcare system, added Dr. Singh.

Dr. Singh, board-certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine, specializes in treating patients with complex chronic pain issues. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in both molecular and cell biology and economics. She received her Medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Singh completed her internal medicine internship at Yale University School of Medicine and her anesthesiology residency and pain medicine fellowship at Weill-Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital, which included training at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Hospital for Special Surgery. She received a masters degree in academic medicine through the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine in 2016. Dr. Singh has been active in various national medical organizations, having served in the past as the Vice Chair of the National Physicians Council on Health Policy; an editorial board member of the Pain Physician Journal for the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians; and a member of the California Medical Associations (CMA) House of Delegates. She also served on the CMAs Council on Ethical, Legal and Judicial Affairs, and more recently, as a member of its Subcommittee on Health Information Technology, scientific planning committee of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain, and an active member of the American Society of Anesthesiology. In 2018 she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

About BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (BDSI) is a commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic conditions. BDSI has built a portfolio of products that includes utilizing its novel and proprietary BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA) technology to develop and commercialize, either on its own or in partnership with third parties, new applications of proven therapies aimed at addressing important unmet medical needs. BDSI's marketed products and those in development address serious and debilitating conditions such as chronic pain, breakthrough cancer pain, opioid dependence, and opioid-induced constipation.

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Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any statements of employees, representatives, and partners of BDSI related thereto contain, or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the BDSIs plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as projects, may, will, could, would, should, believes, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans, potential or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the BDSIs management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the BDSIs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the BDSIs control) including those set forth in our 2018 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and subsequent filings. BDSI undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future presentations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Contact:

Tirth T. PatelDirector of Investor Relationstpatel@bdsi.com(919) 582-0294

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BioDelivery Sciences Appoints Dr. Vanila Singh, Former Chief Medical Officer of Health and Human Services, to its Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance

Could yoga, tai chi and mindfulness reduce the risk of inflammatory disease? – Epigram

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

By Jade Bruce, Second year, Cellular and Molecular Medicine

The benefits of activities such as yoga, tai chi and quigong may have farther-reaching impacts than we think.

Today, it is well known that psychological stress can have a physical impact, triggering or aggravating conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Yet, the idea that the mind plays a role in physical illness and healing is not new. Recognition of this mind-body phenomenon dates back to Ancient Greek medicine which embraced the healthy mind, healthy body concept. Modern research now suggests that mind-body practices like yoga and tai chi can reduce the risk of inflammatory disease.

Inflammation is a vital part of the bodys response to harm and is characterised by heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Acute inflammation is short term and plays a crucial role in protecting our bodies from infection and healing wounds. Without inflammation wed struggle to heal a cut or fight freshers flu when it inevitably hits. However, not all inflammation is protective. Chronic or abnormal inflammation can be harmful and has been linked to a range of diseases including cancer and Alzheimers disease.

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Research suggests that stress can trigger inflammation. Persistent social and academic pressures mean students tend to be all too familiar with stress, but stress isnt always an enemy; sometimes it can push us to work hard and prepare for challenges. Its when stress becomes chronic or severe that it can negatively impact mental health and increase the risk of developing an inflammation-related disease. But how exactly do our bodies translate this stress into inflammation?

Its all to do with a protein complex called NF-kB, which is key in controlling the expression of inflammatory genes. When we are stressed the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated to produce NF-kB, which then converts this stress into inflammation by switching on genes that code for inflammatory molecules, called cytokines. It follows that stress-reducing activities, which lower the activity of NF-kB, may not only improve mental health but reduce the risk of inflammatory disease as well.

One study looked at the effect of mindfulness in breast cancer survivor patients. After practicing two hours of yoga a week for a total of six weeks, participants showed lower levels of NF-kB and other inflammatory molecules. They reported decreased stress, fatigue and depression. Other studies have shown that activities ranging from mindfulness to Qigong can alleviate the symptoms of a variety of inflammatory diseases including irritable bowel disease as well as reducing blood pressure.

Taoist Tai Chi Society Awareness day, Millenium square Bristol Uk Yesterday pic.twitter.com/sEfeGBJCVO

The extent to which mind-body interventions reduce the risk of inflammatory-related diseases is uncertain, with some studies giving conflicting results. Indeed, its hard to tease apart the effect of activities like yoga from other important lifestyle interventions such as a balanced diet and exercise.

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Scientists are continuing to explore the molecular changes which underpin the benefits of mind-body interventions and the role they have in inflammation. Nonetheless, studies have shown a clear overall pattern that mind-body therapies may reduce the risk of inflammatory disease. So, whether you feel the urge to take up Tai Chi or just want to dust off that yoga mat, it may well be worth it!

Featured image: Epigram / Vilhelmiina Haavisto

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Could yoga, tai chi and mindfulness reduce the risk of inflammatory disease? - Epigram

Is the future of nuclear medicine, radiology heading in the right direction? Experts take a look – Health Imaging

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

Such an abundance of training pathways, in combination with often disjointed publicly available information regarding their differences, has been described as confusing for physicians and medical students alike, Yoo et al. explained.

Online information from (nuclear medicine and nuclear radiology) NM/NR websites may play a significant role in not only clarifying the dynamic changes in the field and its training pathways, but also in attracting prospective applicants to the discipline altogether, they added.

In order to understand workforce trends, the team looked at data from the 2017 American College of Radiology Commission on Human Resources Workforce Survey. They also reviewed board certification training pathway data and accredited nuclear medicine residency or nuclear radiology fellowship training websites to determine their comprehensiveness.

Over the last 10 years, the researchers noted, traditional training pathways for nuclear medicine and radiology programs have declined by 25%, while the number of trainees in the subspecialties has fallen by more than half.

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Is the future of nuclear medicine, radiology heading in the right direction? Experts take a look - Health Imaging

Novo Ventures and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Launch Drug Discovery Greenhouse to Drive Creation of Innovative New Therapies – BioSpace

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Novo Ventures and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard announced today the launch of the Novo Broad Greenhouse, a joint initiative to discover and propel transformative new therapies from academic science into the clinic.

To drive the development of the next generation of molecular medicines, the Novo Broad Greenhouse unites three core ingredients: deep basic science expertise from academia, world class drug-discovery capabilities from the Broad Institutes Center for the Development of Therapeutics (CDoT), and a sustainable funding base and therapeutics development expertise from Novo Holdings.

The Novo Broad Greenhouse seeks to accelerate drug discovery projects led by members of the Broad Institute community, spanning institute faculty and professional scientists, including Broad-affiliated faculty at MIT, Harvard, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals.

Novo Holdings, through its US subsidiary, has committed up to $25 million over a five-year period to fund seed-stage drug discovery projects at Broad, spanning a wide range of indications and therapeutic modalities. Seed projects may include efforts to validate new drug targets, to assess how druggable certain proteins or genes are, or to develop new assays to assess the potential of drug candidates.

As projects progress beyond the seed phase, additional, separate funding is envisioned to fund the sprout phase of continued progress towards a clinical candidate, and ultimately the bloom phase -- graduation from the Greenhouse towards definitive clinical testing in patients, supported either by a new biotech company or by a strategic partner.

Novo Holdings investment approach and long-term view allow us to play a sustained role across all stages of drug development, from the earliest discoveries through to pivotal clinical testing, said Thomas Dyrberg, Managing Partner at Novo Holdings. We are thrilled to actively engage with the Boston academic research community in partnership with the Broad and believe this effort can help to catalyze the translation of exciting discoveries into new drug candidates.

The pace at which we can now discover the biological mechanisms and root causes of disease is staggering, said Todd Golub, Chief Scientific Officer of the Broad Institute and a member of the Greenhouses Joint Steering Committee. But in so many cases, these discoveries aren't yet making it past the lab. The Greenhouse gives us a new opportunity to collaborate across boundaries, combining our expertise with our partners to transform our knowledge into the therapies that will benefit patients.

Faculty and professional scientists at CDoT work closely together to translate curiosity-driven academic research into drug discovery projects. In its structure, partnerships, and capabilities, CDoT functions like a pharma or biotech. Most of the centers leadership comes from industry and has extensive drug discovery experience. CDoTs pipeline of projects incorporates multiple therapeutic areas, including cancer, cardiovascular, psychiatric diseases, and immunoregulation. Project stages span the drug discovery process from target validation to lead optimization.

The Novo Broad Greenhouse is one of several early-stage initiatives within Novo Holdings and exemplifies Novo Holdings interest to fund breakthrough science into new medicines. Novo Ventures is one of several investment teams employed by Novo affiliates that supports the investment activities of Novo Holdings, one of the worlds largest life science focused investment companies. Novo Ventures aims to facilitate the investment of approximately $500 million annually in private and public life science opportunities in the US, Europe, and Asia. Given Novo Holdings evergreen funding structure, multiple investment strategies, and global reach, Novo Holdings is uniquely positioned to invest in and support life science companies from inception through commercialization.

About Novo Holdings A/S and Novo Ventures Novo Holdings A/S is a private limited liability company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It is the holding company of the Novo Group, comprising Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S, and is responsible for managing the Foundations assets.

Novo Holdings is recognized as a world-leading life science investor with a focus on creating long-term value. As a life sciences investor, Novo Holdings provides seed and venture capital to development-stage companies and takes significant ownership positions in growth and well-established companies. Novo Holdings also manages a broad portfolio of diversified financial assets.

For more information: http://www.novoholdings.dk/

Novo Ventures is a global team of investment professionals employed by Novo affiliates that supports Novo Holdings investments in private, public, and structured product opportunities in the life sciences industry.

For more information: https://www.novoholdings.dk/investments/ventures/

About Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard was launched in 2004 to empower this generation of creative scientists to transform medicine. The Broad Institute seeks to describe the molecular components of life and their connections; discover the molecular basis of major human diseases; develop effective new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics; and disseminate discoveries, tools, methods, and data openly to the entire scientific community.

Founded by MIT, Harvard, Harvard-affiliated hospitals, and the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe L. Broad, the Broad Institute includes faculty, professional staff, and students from throughout the MIT and Harvard biomedical research communities and beyond, with collaborations spanning over a hundred private and public institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide.

The Center for the Development of Therapeutics (CDoT) is an organization of professional drug discovery scientists whose mission is to translate the biological insights developed at the Broad into therapeutics. CDoT is deeply embedded within the Broad Institute, but in its structure, capabilities, and leadership experience, CDoT closely resembles the drug discovery group of a pharma/biotech.

For more information: https://www.broadinstitute.org

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191119005186/en/

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Novo Ventures and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Launch Drug Discovery Greenhouse to Drive Creation of Innovative New Therapies - BioSpace

US scientists found PGRMC-2, a protein present in abundance in fat tissues with potential to manage… – Firstpost

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

What if someone told you that the fix for many problems linked with obesity could be hidden away, ironically, in rolls of fat in the body?

Scientists at Scripps Research, US, recently said just this. They have found PGRMC-2, a protein present in abundance in fat tissues, which has the potential to manage metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Representational image. AFP

Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 2 or PGRMC-2 is a protein which acts as a chaperone to an essential molecule called heme. And guess where we have a bunch of heme in the body? Brown fat, also known as good fat, of course. But the Scripps team also found the protein in the liver, in sperm, and even inside the placenta.

Heme is an iron-containing molecule that helps in binding with oxygen thus carrying out crucial life processes such as cellular respiration, cell reproduction, cell death and circadian rhythms (24-hour cycle of the body). It also gives blood its red colour.

PGRMC-2 encapsulates the heme and guides it to travel from the cell's mitochondria, where heme is formed, to the nucleus, where it carries out its functions. Without PGRMC-2 as a protective chaperone, free heme acts as a toxin and causes oxidative stress and inflammation leading to cellular and tissue injury.

Enrique Saez, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, along with his team did further research on PGRMC-2 to find out if it can be effective in reversing some of the serious health effects of obesity.

The research was done on mice who didnt have PGRMC-2 and who were fed a high-fat diet. In due time it became clear that in the absence of the protein PGRMC-2, the mices bodies started becoming glucose intolerant and insulin insensitive.

Glucose intolerance is a prediabetic stage in which the blood glucose levels are above normal but they are not high enough for you to be diagnosed as a diabetic. Normal fasting blood glucose levels are less than 100 mg/dl but if it comes anywhere between 100-125 mg/dl, it is considered to be a prediabetic state.

Insulin insensitivity refers to the inability of insulin to absorb glucose in the body, thus leading to high blood sugar levels. When the scientists treated these mice with a drug that activated the PGRMC-2 protein in their bodies, they noted a substantial improvement in their symptoms: the mice were less glucose intolerant and less resistant to insulin.

The scientists found that in the absence of the protein, the mices body could not generate body heat. The reason, in the absence of the protein, the scientists said, the good brown fat in mices bodies had started looking white! Brown fat is packed with iron-rich mitochondria which burn calories to produce heat in the body.

With this discovery, the scientists believed that activating the heme chaperone in other organs like the liver, which is a reservoir for heme, could help alleviate the effects of other metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is one of the reasons why so many people need a liver transplant today.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. For more information, please read our article on Liver Transplant: Who Needs It, and Why?

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US scientists found PGRMC-2, a protein present in abundance in fat tissues with potential to manage... - Firstpost

Molecular Therapy Family of Journals Welcomes Roland W. Herzog and Gerhard Bauer as Editors-in-Chief – PR Web

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

It is important to understand that the Molecular Therapy family of journals offers unprecedented opportunities to publish high-quality articles in gene and cell therapy, Herzog says.

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB) November 25, 2019

The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) announced today the appointment of Roland W. Herzog, Ph.D. and Gerhard Bauer as editors-in-chief of the Societys field-leading journals, Molecular Therapy and Molecular TherapyMethods & Clinical Development, respectively. Both editors will begin their positions effective January 1, 2020.

Herzog, currently the editor-in-chief of Molecular TherapyMethods & Clinical Development, will assume the same role for a five-year term at Molecular Therapy from Seppo Yl-Herttuala, M.D., Ph.D. at the conclusion of Yl-Herttualas term. Herzog is also a professor of pediatrics, Riley Children's Foundation Professor of Immunology, and director of the gene and cell therapy program at Indiana University.

It is important to understand that the Molecular Therapy family of journals offers unprecedented opportunities to publish high-quality articles in gene and cell therapy, Herzog says. My vision has continued and even further strengthened close coordination and collaboration between the journal editors and partnership with Cell Press and ASGCT.

Bauer replaces Herzog at the helm of Molecular TherapyMethods & Clinical Development after serving as an associate editor of the same journal for more than four years. Bauer is an assistant professor of hematology and oncology and director of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) laboratory at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures.

Over the years that I have been looking at manuscripts submitted to the journal, I have always loved the articles dealing with translational research, getting the products ready for clinical applications, improving their utility and solving problems in the manufacturing of these products, Bauer says. Now, at a time where we have clinical efficacy and also commercially approved cell and gene therapy products that save lives, it is even more important to strengthen the translational research field.

ASGCTs official journal, Molecular Therapy is the leading journal for research in the areas of gene transfer, vector development and design, stem cell manipulation, development of gene-, peptide-, protein-, oligonucleotide-, and cell-based therapeutics to correct genetic and acquired diseases, vaccine development, pre-clinical target validation, safety/efficacy studies, and clinical trials. Molecular Therapy is dedicated to promoting the sciences in genetics, medicine, and biotechnology. Publishing important peer-reviewed research and cutting-edge reviews and commentaries, the journal continues to attract the best material in the field. Molecular Therapy's 2018 impact factor is 8.402.

The aim of Molecular TherapyMethods & Clinical Development is to build upon the success of Molecular Therapy in publishing important peer-reviewed methods and procedures, as well as translational advances in the broad array of fields under the molecular therapy umbrella. Molecular TherapyMethods & Clinical Development's 2018 impact factor is 4.875.

In addition to Molecular Therapy and Molecular Therapy Methods & Clinical Development, ASGCT also owns and operates two other sibling journals, Molecular TherapyNucleic Acids (2018 impact factor 5.919) and Molecular TherapyOncolytics (2018 impact factor 5.710).

About ASGCTThe American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy is the primary professional membership organization for scientists, physicians, patient advocates, and other professionals with interest in gene and cell therapy. Our members work in a wide range of settings including universities, hospitals, government agencies, foundations, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. ASGCT advances knowledge, awareness, and education leading to the discovery and clinical application of gene and cell therapies to alleviate human disease to benefit patients and society.

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Molecular Therapy Family of Journals Welcomes Roland W. Herzog and Gerhard Bauer as Editors-in-Chief - PR Web

Find works by Nam June Paik at the UCSD Stuart Collection Art Walk – San Diego Reader

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

This walk continues exploring the many works of art commissioned by the Stuart Collection in partnership with the University of California, San Diego campus. Part 1 left off at the universitys Media Center, where works by artist Nam June Paik are found. As in the first part, each sculpture described below is numbered in the text next to the mileage.

Continuing the trek, walk past the Communications building and head north past the Thurgood Marshall College. At Sequoyah Hall, turn west and walk toward the grassy knoll where there are student apartments and five large blocks at mile 1.7 (11). Each block spells out UNDA (Latin for wave) by transposing the letters written on top of each block. Artist Ian Hamilton Finlay is relating to the velocity and flow of language. This sculpture is, appropriately, next to the Humanities building.

Retrace steps back to the Thurgood Marshall College. Because there is construction on campus and Scholars Drive North is closed, walk south past the construction and past Muir Lane and the Faculty Club. Turn right (west) toward Muir College and Stewart Commons, walking past the Patrick J. Ledden Auditorium. Just before reaching Johns Place & Market, look left to a large granite Green Table constructed by artist Jenny Holzer at mile 2.1 (12). The picnic or refectory table and benches are inscribed with various texts. This is a place for faculty and students to meet, and some of the politically charged texts create an opportunity for questioning and debate.

Retrace your steps back to the Faculty Club. On the right is a sculpture entitled Sun God by artist Niki de Saint Phalle, at mile 2.3 (13), in a large grassy area. Erected in 1983, this was the first sculpture commissioned by the Stewart Collection. One of the largest annual events on campus is the Sun God Festival, which began in 1984. The Sun God is a stunningly colorful 14-foot bird on top of a 15-foot concrete arch.

Next, walk a short distance northeast to find Robert Irwins Two Running Violet V Forms, also at mile 2.3 (14). You will walk beneath two blue-violet chain-link fence-like structures in a V-form. The artist plays with the manmade eucalyptus forest that was planted in an unnatural grid by introducing industrialized geometry that plays with the same light that is found in the grove.

From here, head right (south) on Mandeville Lane, cross Gilman Drive, and then head southwest along Gilman Drive to a service driveway on the left between the George Palade Laboratories for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior. Pass between the buildings to a grassy area and turn left. Cresting the small knoll, look down to see linear patterns of red, black, green-gray mosaic entitled Terrace by artist Jackie Ferrara at mile 2.7 (15). A series of terraces flowing into each other provides contemplative areas for the scientists who work in the buildings surrounding the terraces.

From the terraces, walk generally around the buildings back to Gilman Drive and go over the bridge to Revelle College and the main plaza. Turn right (north) to view a large pole with a beacon between Urey and Meyer Halls at mile 3.0 (16), entitled What Hath God Wrought by artist Mark Bradford. The pole marks the spot of the universitys founding plaque where a communication tower was to be placed, according to the original university design, but which never was. The structure celebrates the first communication by telegraph and Morse code.

From the pole, walk south to the lawn, south of Galbraith Hall, just before Scholars Drive to find La Jolla Project by artist Richard Fleischner at mile 3.2 (17). It has a Stonehenge-look to it that blends ancient and modern architecture. From here, use the crosswalk and walk west (right) along Scholars Drive, following a dirt path toward La Jolla Playhouse. Follow Revelle College Drive past the playhouse to a dirt path leading into a eucalyptus grove and The Wind Garden designed by John Luther Adams at mile 3.4 (18). As you enter the grove, listen to the musical notes that seem to emanate from the trees and change according to the wind. A bench has a plaque with a name of this landscape sculpture. It is an invitation to listen deeply to the music of this place.

Backtrack to a crosswalk over to another eucalyptus grove to the west where you will see a sign that advertises a trail that leads about 0.7 mile to the ocean. This is called the Ridge Walk Rain Garden, which is a water conservation garden that promotes watershed stewardship and offers an optional hike. If you choose to follow this trail, you will add about 1.5 miles to the trek, but be sure to come back to see the Red Shoe and pick up the remaining miles along the Stewart Collection. Go past the sign and take the path through the trees, looking to the left to see the large Red Shoe sculpture by artist Elizabeth Murray at mile 3.5 (19) that evokes a fairy tale or cartoon, inviting children to play and explore. Continue on the path and veer left to go over the footbridge, swinging right at the university entrance at Revelle College Drive from North Torrey Pines Road.

Then head to the left of the university entrance sign that reads Mandel Weiss Center. Cut through the vegetation heading toward North Torrey Pines Road. There is a faint use-trail that heads to the hillside. As you near the fence separating you from North Torrey Pines Road, look for log steps that climb up the hill along a nature trail that goes behind the La Jolla Playhouse. This short winding dirt trail through beautifully landscaped cultivars is a delight, with occasional seats to stop and contemplate the surrounding beauty of this garden area. The trail continues to loop around and along the backside of buildings until it comes to the final sculpture, which is a view of La Jollas suburban sprawl, at mile 3.7 (20), entitled La Jolla Vista View by artist William Wegman. The artist chose not to feature the scenic ocean view but rather a scenic look at urban development and construction sites to give the university community a fresh new critical look at its surroundings. Points of interest include housing and shopping developments. The site has a telescope and a metal plaque that identifies these key points of interests as of 1988, and viewers can see how development has continued to increase since then.

From the view site, follow Mandell Weiss Drive to its junction with Scholars Drive South, and continue to follow the road to Gilman Drive. Use the crosswalk and head right toward the Information Center to end the loop at about mile 4. Continue walking to your vehicle.

For more information about the Stuart Collection, see this website: stuartcollection.ucsd.edu.

STUART COLLECTION ART WALK (UCSD) Part 2

Continue discovering unusual works of art by leading artists.

Driving directions: From I-5, take exit 28, La Jolla Village Drive west to Villa La Jolla Drive and turn south (left). Drive about 0.25 mile to La Jolla Village and turn left into the parking lot near Nordstrom Rack and park. Street parking on Gilman Drive is difficult to find. Vehicles can park for free for two hours in the shopping center. Hiking length: 4 miles from the trailhead, plus 1-mile roundtrip from the shopping center to the start point. 5 miles total. Difficulty: Easy walkways on campus and a short 0.1-mile dirt nature trail with log steps. Facilities available. Leashed, licensed dogs allowed on campus. NOTE: The route and sculpture descriptions are divided into two parts. This is Part 2, which covers the second set of 10 sculptures. See Part 1, which ran the previous week for a description of the first 10 sculptures.

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Find works by Nam June Paik at the UCSD Stuart Collection Art Walk - San Diego Reader

Meet the Researcher: Riqiang Yan, Neuroscience – UConn Today

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

When he first entered college, Riqiang Yan wanted to be a doctor. But he soon changed paths when he realized how exciting the research tract was.

When I had just graduated high school, I was kind of nave. I didnt know much about the field until I came to college and became more fascinated by the research, Yan says. I wanted to make knowledge in the science part.

Yan began doing research during his undergraduate thesis project, which was trying to develop a new drug formulation for ulcer treatment at Shanghai Medical University. He was so interested in the project that he continued working on it even after his graduated, which was very unusual at that time for a student who otherwise could have enjoyed time off during the summer break. Yan credits Prof. Yuanming Ma () with providing him that opportunity, and guided him toward the research career path he eventually followed. Following this experience, Yan received his masters degree in biochemistry at Shanghai Medical University and went on to earn his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Kentucky.

Yan is now one of the worlds leading Alzheimers disease researchers. He is a professor and chairman of UConn Healths Department of Neuroscience, leading discovery efforts at UConns School of Medicine. Yan came to UConn from the Cleveland Clinic in 2018. He established the first research program focused on studying Alzheimers and other forms of neurodegenerative disease in hopes of potentially discovering effective treatments.

Yans arrival at UConn also ushered in a host of research collaboration opportunities across the School of Medicine and its departments of neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, neurobiology, the Center on Aging, and brain investigators at the University, as well as with the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine on UConn Healths campus.

Cutting-Edge Alzheimers Research

Now a preeminent scholar in the field, Yan didnt start out doing Alzheimers research. At the beginning of his independent research career, Yan was studying inflammation in lung diseases for global pharmaceutical company Pharmacia & Upjohn. When the companys priorities changed, Yan shifted over to Alzheimers research. The neurodegenerative disease that affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans has no known cure.

I ended up in Alzheimers research by accident, Yan says. It was a very exciting time because we had so many unknown questions about Alzheimers disease to explore.

That accident turned out to be extremely productive. One year after making the switch, Yan made a breakthrough discovery.

In 1999, Yan and several other groups of researchers simultaneously discovered that an enzyme known as BACE1 plays a crucial role in the processes that lead to the onset of Alzheimers disease. BACE1 cleaves amyloid precursor proteins which give rise to beta amyloid. This peptide is the main component of plaques on brain cells, one of the culprits for causing Alzheimers disease.

From there, researchers from multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies began developing trials of BACE1 inhibitors in hopes of stopping the effects of BACE1s activity. However, all these trials failed. While these failures were frustrating, they taught scientists an important lesson about this key enzyme; not only does BACE1 activity lead to Alzheimers disease, it is also responsible for ensuring parts of normal neural activity. By blocking it completely, the treatments did more harm than good.

Things Are Not So Simple

We still dont have a drug, Yan says, 20 years after the original discovery. These early trials with BACE1 failed because if you simply inhibit it, it interferes with necessary brain functioning. Its challenging.

Yan reflects that this is one of the most challenging aspects of his research. The human body is not simple, and neither are the diseases that afflict it. Before we can develop an effective treatment for Alzheimers disease, we need to understand how it works at a basic molecular level.

Many times, you will find out things are not so simple, Yan says. We need to understand the biology before we can have an effective drug.

Most recently, Yan published a paper in the Journal of Experimental Medicine about the role of CX3CL1, a transmembrane protein, on Alzheimers disease. Yan found that CX3CL1 is cleaved by BACE1. He also found that an overexpression of the C-terminal fragment of CX3CL1 can reduce amyloid deposition and neuron loss in mice with Alzheimers disease. This is the first time its been shown that the C-terminal CX3CL1 can aid adult neurogenesis which directly combats the neurodegeneration of Alzheimers disease.

This development of knowledge underscores the role of academic researchers in eventual drug discovery, Yan says. Developing knowledge about diseases and the workings of the human body is the foundation for future drugs.

Were in academia. Our main focus is to understand the molecule first before we try to develop a compound, Yan says.

If researchers or pharmaceutical companies go into drug trials without this critical understanding, they could encounter many harmful side effects. With a better understanding of the science behind the disease, such side effects could be better anticipated and even avoided.

Yan says researchers can help pharmaceutical companies develop more effective drugs by working in tandem with industry partners.

We may not be able to compete with the pharmaceutical companies directly in some cases, but we can do something to help the companies develop better drugs, Yan says. And thats whats more important to us.

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Meet the Researcher: Riqiang Yan, Neuroscience - UConn Today

NantHealth (NASDAQ:NH) Stock Price Up 2.6% – Riverton Roll

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

NantHealth Inc (NASDAQ:NH)s stock price rose 2.6% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $1.17 and last traded at $1.20, approximately 1,600 shares changed hands during mid-day trading. A decline of 99% from the average daily volume of 170,258 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.17.

NH has been the topic of several analyst reports. ValuEngine raised shares of NantHealth from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Cowen set a $1.00 target price on shares of NantHealth and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of NantHealth from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th.

The firm has a market cap of $118.36 million, a PE ratio of -0.69 and a beta of 1.21. The companys fifty day moving average price is $0.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.64.

NantHealth (NASDAQ:NH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.15) EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of ($0.07) by ($0.08). NantHealth had a negative net margin of 105.82% and a negative return on equity of 10,106.10%. The company had revenue of $22.36 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.40 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that NantHealth Inc will post -0.46 EPS for the current year.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NH. Paloma Partners Management Co lifted its stake in shares of NantHealth by 436.1% in the second quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co now owns 91,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 74,108 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of NantHealth by 154.2% in the second quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 75,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45,500 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of NantHealth by 778.8% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 45,988 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 40,755 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.27% of the companys stock.

About NantHealth (NASDAQ:NH)

NantHealth, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a healthcare technology company in the United States and internationally. The company engages in converging science and technology through an integrated clinical platform to provide health information at the point of care. It develops NantHealth solutions, including molecular profiling solutions, software, and hardware systems infrastructure, which integrates patient data management, bioinformatics, and molecular medicine to enable value-based care and evidence-based clinical practice.

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NantHealth (NASDAQ:NH) Stock Price Up 2.6% - Riverton Roll

Canadian bishops charity: Jesus came to save the planet … Mother Earth has rights – Lifesite

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

MONTREAL, November 20, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) The Canadian bishops international charitable arm recently released a video highlighting the importance of nature and its protection in which it is claimed that Jesus came to save the planet and that Mother Earth has rights.

Development and Peace (D&P) currently under investigation for partnering with dozens of pro-abortion and pro-homosexual groups in developing countries released the video on October 1, just days prior to the opening of the Amazon Synod in Rome where the pagan idol Pachamama was worshiped in the Vatican Gardens at an event attended by Pope Francis.

Titled Speaking up For our Common Home - Intergenerational, the video showcases various people who lament how the world is affected by climate change.

In one section of the video, popular author Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, asserts that Jesus came not just to save people, Jesus came to save the planet, and Mother Earth itself has rights.

At another point, a woman digs her hands into the earth and calls it sacred.

The video includes a call for Catholics to learn from indigenous peoples who need to teach us how to keep this earth a beautiful place.

However, the message of the video leans in the direction of pantheism and is misleading at best, according to one theologian.

If the claim that Jesus came to save the planet as well as peoples souls is understood in the sense of St. Pauls teaching in Romans 8:19-23, theres nothing wrong with it, said Father Brian Harrison, a priest of the Society of the Oblates of Wisdom, and retired associate professor of theology of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.

The Apostle says there that Christs redeeming work will eventually restore the whole fallen and sin-stricken universe, that has been groaning under a curse since Adams Fall. Both Old and New Testaments also speak of a New Heaven and a New Earth that is to come, he told LifeSiteNews in an email.

However, to say Mother Earth itself has rights is not true, except perhaps understood as a loose figure of speech. Its at best misleading, Harrison added.

For only persons can have rights, and to personify the earth as a real Mother with rights would lean in the direction of pantheism.

Father Harrison pointed out that man has a responsibility toward the earth that derives from his duty to God.

It is true that we human beings have a duty to God not to the Earth itself! to avoid unnecessary harm and contamination to the earth and its resources. Thats part of the stewardship over the earth that God gave us in Genesis 1, he told LifeSiteNews.

Christian concern for the environment, he added, must not become exaggerated or tainted with pantheism, or politicized for purposes of globalist politics.

Thats echoed by Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute, which recently petitioned the U.S. bishops to withdraw support for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the U.S. counterpart of D&P, for persistent funding of organizations that promote abortion, contraception, homosexuality, and Marxism.

He rejected the notion of Mother Earth, observing that in the D&P video, someone actually says that they are part of the earth, and the earth is a part of them, and that it is their mother.

Our Mother is the Mother of God, Blessed Mary Ever Virgin! The entire concept of a mother earth, which is perpetually pregnant and never delivering the child in the womb, is the very image of a fruitless faith, Hichborn said.

But the more insidious and dangerous aspect of this video is its participation in the global environmentalist movement, he told LifeSiteNews.

Leonardo Boff, the laicized priest and theologian of reference for the Amazon Synod, said in 1980 the global environmental movement would be used to promote the revolutionary process, and Boff said of Marxist liberation theology, To the cry of the poor we added the cry of the earth, Hichborn pointed out.

Brazilian Dominican Frei Betto, who spoke of the opportunity to use the (Amazon) synod to promote liberation theology also warned that the phrase liberation theology sets people on edge, so instead, he proposed talking about socio-environmental issues, he added.

While it is true that we all have a duty to be good stewards, the devils ploy is to twist the truth without denying it. Certainly, we can find better ways to handle refuse and toxic chemicals, but the agenda of these socialist environmentalists goes well beyond that, Hichborn said.

The fundamental goal of the socialist-environmentalist agenda is depopulation through abortion, contraception, and even homosexuality.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God willed creation as a gift addressed to man, an inheritance destined for and entrusted to him (154), and that we are to take good care of God's gift to us, noted Steve Mosher, president and founder of Population Research Institute.

However, to suggest that creation is somehow equivalent to the creature us that it was created for, is to misstate its purpose and exaggerate its importance, he said.

Yet that is what the video does in saying that Jesus came not just to save people, Jesus came to save the planet. And Mother Earth itself has rights, he told LifeSiteNews.

We are a fallen race who have sinned before God and require salvation. Inert matter, nerveless plants, and even soulless animals are incapable of sin and therefore do not require salvation, Mosher added.

God did not send his only Son to die on a cross for endangered species, or to combat global warming, but to save fallen mankind. Period.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis said last week that hes thinking of adding ecological sin to the Catechism, and he quoted the Amazon Synod final document, in which the bishops proposed to define ecological sin as an act or omission against God, against neighbor, the community, and the environment, LifeSiteNews reported.

As for the review of the Canadian bishops review of Development and Peace partnering with 52 groups overseas that promoted abortion or homosexuality, its findings have not yet been published.

Contact information for respectful communications:

CCCB President The Most Rev. Richard GagnonArchbishop of WinnipegCatholic Centre 1495 Pembina HighwayWinnipeg (MB) R3T 2C6Tel: (204) 452-2227Email: [emailprotected]CCCB general email: [emailprotected]

Msgr Frank Leo, Jr., C.S.S.CCCB General Secretariat2500 Don Reid Dr.Ottawa, ON K1H 2J2Tel: (613) 241-9461Email: [emailprotected]

Originally posted here:

Canadian bishops charity: Jesus came to save the planet ... Mother Earth has rights - Lifesite

Meet the robotic pioneers that will help humanity colonize Mars – Digital Trends

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

From NASAs upcoming Moon to Mars mission to Elon Musks ambitious plans touse a SpaceX Starship to eventually colonize Mars, the race to populate the Red Planet is already on. But before humans can visit Mars and set up any kind of long-term base there, we need to send out scouts to see the lay of the land and prepare it for manned missions.

The mechanical pioneers well be sending to Mars in the coming years will follow in the tire tracks of explorers like the Curiosity rover and the Insight lander, but the next generation of Martian robotics will use sophisticated AI, novel propulsion methods, and flexible smallsats to meet the challenges of colonizing a new world.

There are distinct difficulties in building machines which can withstand the Martian environment. First, theres the cold, with temperatures averaging around minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit and going down to minus 190 degrees Fahrenheit at the poles. Then theres the thin atmosphere, which is just one percent the density of Earths atmosphere. And then theres the troublesome dust that gets kicked up in any operations on the planets surface, not to mention the intense radiation from the Suns rays.

These environmental conditions create problems for robotics, from temperature variations which cause mechanisms to expand and contract and so wear over time, to dust getting into gears which prevents the use of exposed lubrication.

Its a very unique and extreme environment, even for space robotics, said Al Tadros, VP of Space Infrastructure and Civil Space at Maxar Technologies, which is the company that builds the robotic arms for NASAs Mars rovers. Maxars robotic arms must be able not only to survive this harsh environment, but also perform the tasks like digging and drilling which enable scientific investigations.

Another consideration is weight limitations. When a part has to be delivered to Mars via rocket, every single gram need to be considered and accounted for, and that requires carefully selecting materials. A lot of what we do uses different types of aluminum, Tadros explained. We also use titanium and in some cases we use carbon fiber, depending on the application. Other weight-saving tricks include hollowing out some sections that dont need to be so structurally strong, such as the length of a robotic arm which could be made from honeycomb matrix composite tubes.

When a rover has been delivered to the surface of Mars, it can start exploring. However, due to the distance from Earth, its not feasible for engineers to control rovers directly. Instead, the robots have a degree of autonomy in their explorations, with NASA exercising supervisory command.

They can tell the rover to go five meters in this direction, Tadros says as an example. If theres a problem executing that command, the rover will stop and wait for more instructions. Its rather rudimentary in that sense. But in the future, the desire is to have autonomy on board so the rover recognizes Oh, I was told to go five meters, but theres a boulder here. Ill go around in this direction because I know the terrain is open.

We need communication networks on Mars, both between two points on Mars and from Mars back to Earth.

With a map and local knowledge, rovers will be able to perform self-navigation. They will even eventually be able to perform science autonomously, so scientists would only need to specify a command like find this kind of rock and the rover could locate and analyze a sample. This kind of autonomy is already being planned as part of NASAs upcoming lunar mission with the VIPER rover, Tadros said. Its going to be doing rapid prospecting, looking at and characterizing the regolith and the rocks to look for ice and other materials.

With robotics like VIPER and theMarscopter launching as part of the Mars 2020 project, we can expect machines to scout and explore Mars, finding out about local resources and hazards which will help or impede the survival of humans on the planet.

Knowing where humans can safely land on Mars and where they can locate the resources they need is the first step towards colonization. But the real difference between a visit and a long-term stay on another planet is a matter of infrastructure. From water to communications to building habitats, well need to find a way to provide the basic necessities of life in a sustainable way.

One method for setting up early infrastructure is through the use of small satellites, or smallsats. If youre thinking of colonizing Mars, where the smallsats come in is setting up the infrastructure for the colony, said Brad King, CEO of Orbion, a company creating more efficient propulsion systems for smallsats. We need communication networks on Mars, both between two points on Mars and from Mars back to Earth. On Earth, weve solved many of these problems with orbiting satellites around our planet.

Smallsats could fulfill similar functions on Mars, by setting up a Martian equivalent to GPS we could call it the Mars Positioning System. They can also scout out the surface of the planet, preparing the area for the humans to come.

The issue is getting satellites from Earth to Mars in an affordable manner. Traditionally, craft have been moved through space via chemical propulsion that is, burning fuel to create thrust. This is a great way to create large amounts of thrust, such as the thrust required for a rocket to leave Earths atmosphere and make it into space. But it takes a massive amount of fuel, to such a degree that the biggest part of modern rockets is simply the fuel tank.

A cheaper alternative for moving through space is electric propulsion, which uses solar power to shoot an inert substance like xenon out of the back of the craft. This method is highly fuel-efficient, allowing the traveling of long distances with very little fuel. The downside is that this propulsion method is low thrust, so it takes longer to arrive at a destination. Sending a craft from Earth to Mars using electric propulsion might take a handful of years, compared to chemical propulsion with which the journey would take in the region of six to nine months.

We as humans cant hear something going wrong there, but when you translate that into data over time, AI can spot those subtle changes in deviation from the norm.

However, the principle doesnt only apply to small unmanned craft. A distinct advantage of electric propulsion is that it scales up very efficiently: Electric propulsion technology works better the bigger it gets, King said. In principle, theres nothing limiting the scaling up of electric propulsion to very large, crewed missions. You just start to run into economic hurdles because youre building Battlestar Galactica-sized craft to get there.

Electric propulsion has been used in projects like the Japanese Space Agencys Hayabusa craft, which recently visited the distant asteroid Ryugu. And there are more plans for electricity propelled craft in future projects, such as the power and propulsion element (PPE) module of NASAs Lunar Gateway station which use solar electric propulsion and will be three times more powerful than current capabilities.

Launching and landing on planets will still require chemical propulsion, but the journey in between could be made far more efficient. King suggests that a non-propulsive crew vehicle or cargo vehicle could be put into a cycling orbit that goes past Earth and Mars. Then you can essentially send things up and ride the bus to Mars, requiring no propulsion, he explained. A similar system has already been used for the Kepler Space Telescope, which used very little fuel after its launch into a Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit.

Of course, getting from Earth to Mars is only part of the journey. Once a craft arrives at Mars, it needs to slow down and enter orbit. To slow a craft, there are typically two methods: using reverse thrusters which require fuel, and aerobraking. The latter is where a craft dips into the outer atmosphere of Mars, using the aerodynamic drag to reduce the vehicles energy enough that when it comes out of the atmosphere, it can enter orbit.

The concept of electric propulsion has been somewhat fringe for the past several decades, but with these new projects its moved into the mainstream. Now its being applied on a large scale its like the transition of air travel from propeller driven aircraft to jet aircraft, King said.

So we can send robots to scout the surface and satellites to set up infrastructure. We could even move enormous constructions like habitats through space using minimal fuel through electric propulsion. But the challenges of Mars colonization dont only occur when humans are actually occupying an on-planet habitat. One major issue is how habitats and structures can be maintained for the long periods during which they will be unoccupied. Planned projects like NASAs Lunar Gateway station, for example, will likely only be occupied 20 to 30 percent of the time, and we can expect similar or even lower rates of occupancy for potential Mars habitats.

Off-planet habitats need to be able to monitor themselves and fix themselves, especially when the nearest human is millions of miles away. And for that, AI is required.

I believe that colonizing Mars is not a technological issue, its an economics issue.

A system recently launched to the International Space Station could provide the basis for AI habitat monitoring. BoschsSoundSee system consists of a payload containing 20 microphones, a camera, and an environmental sensor for recording temperature, humidity, and pressure. These sensors collect data about the environment, especially acoustic information, which can be used to flag up problems.

If you imagine there is a leak in the station, not only would there be ultrasonic tones, but also a pressure loss, Bosch research scientist Jonathan Macoskey explained. If we see both a pressure loss and an ultrasonic tone and other factors, thats a concrete way of identifying a problem.

Of course, a leak in the ISS would be loud, obvious, and dramatic. But many machine failures, especially in unmanned environments, are due to a gradual degradation over time. AI can be used to sense these things, SoundSee principal researcher Samarjit Das said, not by adding more or better sensors, but rather by using sensor data more efficiently to search for subtle patterns.

Machines dont just break down immediately from good to bad, Das said. There is gradual wearing down over time. Think of a system you might want to monitor in the ISS like a treadmill. The gears inside slowly degrade over time as its used. We as humans cant hear something going wrong there, but when you translate that into data over time, AI can spot those subtle changes in deviation from the norm.

Dont imagine future ships and habitats controlled entirely by AI though, or even worse a rouge AI like 2001s HAL. Sensors and AI wont replace humans entirely and automate everything, Das said. AI is a line of defense. Macoskey agreed: We see AI as a tool that enables new things in the same way that the microscope enabled humans to look at microscopic organisms.

With all these environment and logistical difficulties, it might seem as if sending humans to Mars at all is a long shot, let alone establishing any kind of permanent or semi-permanent base there. Although these are serious challenges, solutions do exist in the form of AI, robotics, and propulsion methods which are being tested now for use in future space projects.

I believe that colonizing Mars is not a technological issue, its an economics issue, King said. If we had the resources to spend, we know what needs to be built and we know how to build it. But the number of dollars or euros that it takes to do that is daunting.

With sufficient funding, we do have the knowledge to begin setting up communication systems, enabling transportation, and building habitats on Mars. King is confident that it could even happen within our lifetime: Given unlimited resources, we could set this infrastructure up in a decade.

Depression Quest: Bad Brains, Good Friends and Night in the Woods – HeadStuff.org

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

My brain and I have often been at war with each other. At times in the past it was a blitzkrieg of bad decisions. At others it was like constantly shifting alliances mediated by therapists, friends and family. At the moment things are good, better than good but theres a tension there; as if the bullets might start flying again. When I play Night in the Woods I relive all those battles and ceasefires. Mental health and, by extension, mental illness is something that has to be fought and negotiated with. Its a constant push and pull that in a lot of cases never has a definitive victory or defeat, only the constant promise or threat of either. Thats what makes Night in the Woods such a cathartic, warm and often heartbreaking journey.

Mae is a recent college dropout, also a cat but thats not hugely important, who has made her way back to her hometown of Possum Springs. A former mining town Possum Springs is starting its descent towards economic ruin. Mae suffers from some kind of disassociative disorder a symptom of which seems to be depression. The signs are all there from the start: poor diet, heavy drinking, nightmares, a lot of sleeping and fragmenting personal relationships. Maes old friends Bea, Gregg and Angus are in the middle of going about their lives when Mae lands back in Possum Springs. All is not right however as disappearances and shadowy figures haunt the edges of both the town and Maes psyche.

I have a lot of respect for Mae. It takes a lot more strength than a lot of people know to up and quit when things get hard. The phrase When the going gets tough, the tough get going gets thrown around a lot and its true that sometimes the best thing to do in a difficult situation is to persevere. On the other hand it takes a great deal of courage to admit that perseverance can hurt more than giving up. Mae, through previous experience realises this but shes afraid that her loving parents and supportive friends wont see things the same way.

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Locking yourself away behind emotional or even physical barriers is pretty common when the fog descends. Being depressed, whether chronically or only occasionally, can feel like wandering through thick fog or looking at the world through a heavy pane of glass. Being close to people whether physically or emotionally doesnt help. Its a chemical imbalance in the brain. Even though youre in control of your body and all its functions the emotional centers of the brain are misfiring, flooded as they are with the wrong kind of emotional chemical. And so we close ourselves off not content to wallow in misery but incapable of doing anything else.

It all paints a dark, grim picture of life for the people in small town America but Night in the Woods isnt all doom and gloom.

These things are easy to do. To lock the bedroom door, to not talk when someones willing to listen, to stop seeking professional help. Whats hard is opening up. Mae doesnt make it easy on herself though. Shes a headstrong, difficult young woman with severe emotional issues but shes also a loyal friend and a loving daughter with a mischievous fun streak. Night in the Woods is a game after all and although games arent necessarily meant to be fun it really helps when they are.

For as many razor sharp reveals and moments of heartbreaking darkness that Night in the Woods has it also has a great deal of levity. Mae and her fellow Gen Z-ers view the world with the sort of ironic detachment and humour common to those raised on message boards and MySpace. But life in small town America tends to fuck you more often than life in the Big City does.

Bea, Maes chain-smoking childhood crocodile friend, has recently lost her mother and is now in charge of the family hardware store. Gregg, the manic anarchist fox Mae has known since adolescence, can also feel the clouds moving in darkening his view of himself, his relationship with his bear boyfriend bearfriend? Angus and life in general. And thats without mentioning Maes parents financial troubles brought about by recession and bad luck. It all paints a dark, grim picture of life for the people in small town America but Night in the Woods isnt all doom and gloom. It wouldnt be much fun to play otherwise.

Gameplay-wise beyond some short mini-games Night in the Woods pretty much boils down to walking, jumping and talking. Your time in Possum Springs will be spent traversing the town from its bustling but slowly shuttering Main Street to its starkly gorgeous church to the oppressive woods of the title. In Possum Springs youll while away the mornings and afternoons talking to the townsfolk like Pastor Kate, the bad-good poet Selmers and the homeless drifter Bruce.

The evenings is when Night in the Woods truly comes alive as Mae embarks on adventures with either Mae, Gregg or her bird friend Jeremy Warton aka Germ Warfare. This can involve a trip to the mall with Bea, a friendly knife fight with Gregg and several ghost-hunting trips with the gang. Its in these moments as well as those that Mae spends at home in the kitchen talking to her mom Candy, watching TV with her dad Stan or reminiscing on her role model: her Granddad.

As much as Night in the Woods is about finding the light through the fog as provided by friends and family its also about the things we leave behind as life goes on. Whether it be the place we grew up, the friends we left there or the people that passed on along the way Night in the Woods has a great reverence for memory. I relate to Mae in a lot of ways both in her struggles and successes. She and I have fought our bad brains to a standstill time and again. Weve both surrounded ourselves with good friends willing to support us ad be supported by us. And perhaps most important of all to me: we both really miss our granddads.

Losing an older relative hurts. Ive lost both grandfathers in the last dozen years. Losing a grandparent or any older family member, especially when youre close to them, feels like a very special kind of loss. A door to a specific view on and interpretation of history has closed forever. The past is no longer as accessible as it once was but that makes memories shine all the brighter.

I wasnt as close to my granddad as Mae was. He read to her in bed. He left her his old collection of horror stories. He visited her as a ghost in a dream. As people pass on their image grows in our mind. My granddad might not have been much of a talker but what he said may as well have been gold. He always knew what to say and when to say it, a talent that seems to have skipped a generation or two in my family. The images that myself and Mae have are idealised but theyre all we have now and that has to be enough, even when its not.

Despite its distinct focus on mental health and the debilitating effects grief and mental illness can have on it Night in the Woods never feels like a game exclusively about either of these issues like, say Depression Quest or Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice. Instead Night in the Woods with its get-up-and-go attitude to depression and distinct, ironic sense of humour feels like a game about coping as best we can with life and all the things it can throw at us. Even when it descends into an occult nightmare inspired by Algernon Blackwood stories Night in the Woods is quick to return to the themes powering it. Night in the Woods is a game about life in all its fragile beauty and how despite all its hardships and losses it is ultimately worth both living and enjoying.

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Depression Quest: Bad Brains, Good Friends and Night in the Woods - HeadStuff.org

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: This Never Happened to the Other Fellow – Ricochet.com

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

This post will eventually contain a key plot spoiler, some distance down the page from here, so if you want to see this 1969 film with virgin eyes, stop reading. But do come back after youve seen it. The second spoiler is no spoiler at all, no surprise to anyone: Sean Connery is not James Bond in it, and the Bond of On Her Majestys Secret Service, George Lazenby, is most famous for never having played the role again. That set of facts and how they came about is the main subject of this post, although we will also cover the merits and flaws of the film itself, which some Bond snobs consider one of the best, if not the best, of the entire series. But I cant tell you why yet, not here at the top of the post, because it will involve the spoiler. You have been warned.

By the time Thunderball (1965) wrapped, Sean Connery was tired of being Bond. Actually, thats English-style polite understatement that the blunt, Scottish-born Connery would have impatiently penciled out in favor of thoroughly sick of it. He felt his character was becoming overshadowed by ingenious gadgets, Ken Adams enormous sets, one-liner quips and a growing fantasy element. Connery started the series in 1962 as a relatively unknown actor, quickly became a leading international star, and made an astonishing amount of money. Being a practical Scot, adding to that pile was the only reason he reluctantly stayed aboard for You Only Live Twice (1967). Then he was gone, he swore, for good. So EON Productions, producers Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli, conducted an ostentatiously well publicized search for the next Bond. Each new actor in the role of James Bond is a multi, multi-million-dollar box office gamble, and from that standpoint this very first replacement would be by far the most ill-fated.

Established movie stars such as Richard Burton were considered, but Saltzman and Broccoli wanted to repeat what theyd done with Sean Connery, create their own star, who would presumably cost less and be easier to control. Australian actor George Lazenby, whod so far mostly done commercials for British television, seemed to fill the bill. Less slender, more muscular than Connery, he radiated confidence. Even his TV commercials worked in his favor, as they were mostly for luxury products that showed how at home he looked with beautiful women, expensive tailoring, exotic cars, and champagne. True, he had a case of loving-cup ears, but that hadnt stopped Clark Gable, among others. In screen tests, he handled himself well in fight scenes. He was hired.

British film writer (and lifelong conservative) Alexander Walker was one of the few whod treat Lazenbys career arc with some sympathy. Walker points out one critical difference between the way men became stars in Britain and classic-era Hollywood. At that time, most UK actors went to acting school, often RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and learned their profession on stage. By contrast, most American stars didnt; they were truck drivers (James Stewart), worker in a tire factory (Clark Gable), cowhands (Gary Cooper), bodyguards (George Raft), WWI sailor (Humphrey Bogart) or what have you, and got hired primarily for their looks. Sometimes that minimal preparation for the sound stage was a handicap, but frequently it gave our guys a rough, untutored masculine edge. Sean Connery, though he briefly trod the Shakespearean boards, came up the American style. Hed been a boxer in the Royal Navy, and despite his ability to project refinement, he never lost the brusque suggestion of real, not just on-screen toughness, even in extremes a touch of cruelty. Thats a fair part of what made him so good as Bond, a quality that present-day Daniel Craig has, and as it turned out, George Lazenby lacked. But that wasnt evident when production began on On Her Majestys Secret Service.

To accompany the new Bond, the writer and producers tried out a back-to-basics style; far fewer flashy gadgets and tricks, less over-the-top sets, and returning to sticking (mostly) with the original Ian Fleming story, all things they hadnt done since From Russia With Love (not so coincidentally, another film much beloved by Bond purists). OHMSS would be notable for spectacular winter photography and skiing stunts, all of course real and dangerous in that pre-CGI age. Downhill Racer, another skiing picture, this one with Robert Redford right before Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid made him a superstar, filmed in the same location during that season, and the crew of Downhill Racer would enviously tell stories to pals at Paramount Pictures about how elaborate the special camera platforms, cradles and mounts were on the higher budget Bond picture. This time, the flashy gadgets were behind the camera.

There were other differences. Telly Savalas was every bit as bald as Donald Pleasance, the original Ernst Stavro Blofeld (the best of the bunch, IMHO), but he comes across less like Pleasances evil global mastermind and more in the manner of a conventional mob boss, except for one thing: while the main weakness of other Bond villains was an unfortunate desire to take over the world, the Blofeld of OHMSS has a most surprising weaknesssocial status insecurity. It leads him to try to establish an aristocratic family tree, giving British Secret Service a chance to plant Bond in Blofelds inner circle as Sir Hilary Bray, expert in heraldry, arbiter of ancestry. James Bond is a secret agent, but not generally an actual spy, as he is here, working within the enemy camp under a concealed identity.

When housed in a spectacular mountainside hideaway with a bevy of nave beautiful young women, Bond has to pretend to be a stereotype sniffy, diffident English gentleman, asexual if not outright hinted to be homosexual (a point made in the novel.) Of course, this being James Bond, he strategically beds one and then another of the women and begins to unravel Blofelds plot: using the women to unwittingly spread germ warfare. The Sir Hilary Bray cover story falls apart, and Bond makes his last-minute escape in one of the best action sequences of the first decade of the series.

Thats the outline of the main plot, but the subplot is what makes OHMSS special to fansthe character of The Girl. (Dont faint at the term, Ricochet stalwartsits 1969, remember.) Shes Tracy Draco, played by Diana Rigg, the tempestuous, troubled daughter of a mafia superboss. In the pre-credits scene, Bondwho we first see only in glimpsesrescues her from a seaside attack, with a longer fight scene than usual, but she drives away without a word of thanks. This never happened to the other fellow, he grumbles. By coincidence, shes staying at the same posh hotel, and Bond begins to pursue her. At least as gorgeous as any of her (many) predecessors, she doesnt tumble into bed, and it becomes clear that Riggs Tracy Draco is something new for the series, the closest thing to James Bonds equal weve ever seen. Her scary dad actually encourages Bond to pursue his spirited daughter, and with the mobs army at his disposal Draco becomes a key factor in the fight against Blofeld.

Diana Rigg was an excellent choice, not only because of her talent and looks, but because unlike Lazenby, she was already a known quantity to worldwide TV audiences, well liked as Mrs. Peel in The Avengers. (Honor Blackman, Goldfingers Pussy Galore, was her predecessor in the role, but the early years of that UK series never made it overseas.) We cant credit womens lib for Riggs strong role; its pretty much as Fleming wrote it in 1963. Blofeld captures her, giving Bond the motivation to ignore official Britains reluctance to violate Swiss borders, and do a rescue raid on the mountain stronghold with the assistance of Dracosthe mafiasbest killers.

They escape. Bond realizes that this is the woman hes always wanted, after whats been, after all, a pretty thorough search. They get married. On the drive to the honeymoon, Blofeld and his gunwoman ambush them and kill her, with one shot through the windshield. As the film ends, hes holding her in his arms, silently crying. Its largely this stunning ending, straight out of the book, that has earned the film cult status. Thered be no Bond movie finale with this emotional power until Skyfall, 43 years later.

Lazenby fans, and he acquired a few, claim that Sean Connery could never have pulled this off. I dont know about that. Connerys a fine actor. It should be conceded, though, that Lazenby, the smiling Bond, managed to make the saddest ending in the series believable.

But the bottom line cant be denied. Call it the downbeat ending, call it lack of Connery, On Her Majestys Secret Service earned less than half of what You Only Live Twice did, alarming United Artists with what seemed to be a franchise-killing loss. Panic ensued. But they didnt have to get rid of Lazenby; incredibly, hed already quit, relieving UA of paying off his contract options for sequel films. Unlike Sean Connery, who in his early films was (sensibly) grateful for the chance to become rich and famous, George Lazenby was inexplicably spoiled, arrogant on the set, and difficult to work with. He apparently thought he could do better. He thought wrong. Like Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, who quit Mission: Impossible, like Chevy Chase, whod quit Saturday Night Live just as the party was getting started, Lazenby walked away for greater opportunities that proved imaginary.

Thats the OHMSS story, but for United Artists it couldnt end there. UA studio chief David Picker managed to get Sean Connery back for one more film. He did it the old-fashioned way, by offering a deal that was unprecedented at the time, lucrative beyond even the greediest kings ransom, including $2 million up front (roughly $20 million today), 10% of the actual, un-steal-able gross, and the right to produce two independent films of Connerys choice, a come-on to his artistic vanity that sealed the bargain.

So he made Diamonds Are Forever (1971), the weakest of Connerys Bonds, which gave the box office a shot of adrenaline. When it was over, Connery walked away again, as he said he would, with a public vow of Never again that would provide the rueful title of his final Bond film. Fans who associate Roger Moore with the sillier, more lightweight Seventies Bonds (or blame him for them) should give Diamonds a critical eye; Connery cheerfully phones it in, with all the sets, gadgets, and jokes he previously disdained.

This time EON Productions didnt go for an unknown actor, but for Roger Moore. Like Diana Rigg, he was already known worldwide for a British TV show, in his case The Saint, where he played a vaguely Bondish leading man. No, Moore wasnt Connery, but at least he wasnt Lazenby. Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli had learned their lesson, and didnt clutter Moores entrance with OHMSSs too-elaborate attempts to link the new Bond to the earlier films. He just stepped into the part, Live and Let Die was a big success, and that was that.

Much later, in the pre-credit scenes of For Your Eyes Only (1981), the film would begin with Moore in a cemetery, solemnly placing flowers at a tombstone: Teresa Bond, 1943-1969, Beloved Wife of James Bond. We Have All the Time in the World. It was a rare acknowledgment of a unique moment.

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On Her Majesty's Secret Service: This Never Happened to the Other Fellow - Ricochet.com

Five Must-Try Water Activities For Your Next Beach Vacation – Forbes

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

colorful coral reef with many fishes and sea turtle

If you are traveling to an exotic beach for winter vacation these sunny destinations offer wonderful opportunities to get out on the open water and explore the great outdoors with friends or family. Whether you want to snorkel with your older kids in Nassau; take your toddler on a glass bottom boat ride in Cozumel; race your partner on a jet ski in Barbados; join a kayak eco-safari in Turks and Caicos with your bestie; or go scuba diving in Costa Rica, there is a sunny escape for every water lover out there. Here are five ideas to get you started.

Snorkel Nassau, Bahamas

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Every time my son and I visit Nassau, Bahamas we go snorkeling. We love searching for free swimming marine life and exploring the secrets of the ocean. We have snorkeled with Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas several times and they are a reputable family operated company located on the southwest side of New Providence. They are a full service recreational diving centre and round trip transportation is included in the package. Should you want to experience the underwater world via SUB a personal submarine - you can zoom around underwater and visit coral gardens with your professional guide. Although we havent been brave enough for the SUB yet we have been very close to Caribbean reef sharks that left us in awe. You will have the opportunity to swim with schools of colorful fish in the shallows of Nassaus famous reefs and may even visit Hollywood movie sets or old sunken shipwrecks.

Glass Bottom Boat Tours Cozumel, Mexico

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If you are traveling with small children or anyone that doesnt particularly want to get into the actual water but still wants to experience all the wonders of ocean life, then a glass bottom boat tour is the answer. Meet up with Safetours Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen next to the ferry pier and your guide will escort you to the gorgeous Mexican island of Cozumel. While out on the glass bottom boat you will pass by stunning coral reefs and exotic sea life of the Caribbean Sea. Should anyone in your group want to explore off the boat there is the option to snorkel at three shallow reefs. Life vests, water and a Mexican lunch is provided.

Jet Ski - Barbados

jetskies on beach

Crystal clear waters and soft white sandy beaches surround beautiful Barbados and there are a wide variety of exciting ocean activities to choose from. If you feel the need for speed consider renting a jet ski or waverunner. There are several places renting personal watercraft from bays, beaches and coves around Barbados. Get My Boat is a locally owned and operated dive and snorkelling centre and they rent out jet skis in Bridgetown, the capital port city and the largest on the island. As with all reputable operators ensure you are provided with a life vest and instructions before heading out on the water.

Scuba Diving- Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is one of the most bio diverse regions in the world with so many opportunities to get back to nature in the heart of Central America. Scuba lovers have many options to choose from including locations around the Osa Peninsula where you can head below the surface of the Pacific Ocean in search of astounding flora and fauna. Visibility ranges from 30 to 100 feet year round with unhindered views of marine life all around you. There are several exceptional scuba diving spots at the Cao Island Biological Reserve and you may see spotted dolphins and bull sharks and an endless amount of colourful fish. Only ten divers are permitted in the water at once at the five nearby designated diving locations. Take a diving tour with Cao Divers for the adventure of a lifetime.

Clear Kayaking - Turks and Caicos

Woman Kayaking on Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos

If you are traveling to the glorious islands of Turks and Caicos you are already off to a good start. Oasis Divers Grand Turk offers a Clear Kayaking and Eco-Safari tour in a two- person glass bottom kayak so you can see all the beauty of the sea below. A skilled guide will get you set up and then its off to explore the fish swimming all around you, the nearby mangroves and the local birds flying overhead. There are small coves to discover and your guide will point out the plants and birds that you paddle by on your eco-adventure. There will be time to search for abandoned seashells and a sunny walk along the shore of Grand Turk.

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Five Must-Try Water Activities For Your Next Beach Vacation - Forbes

Beach Hazards Statement issued for beaches due to red tide – Fox 4

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

A "Beach Hazards Statement" has been issued by the National Weather Service for the beaches of Charlotte and Lee Counties through Friday afternoon for possible respiratory irritation caused by Red Tide.

The symptoms you might experience if you head out to the beach include coughing, sneezing and tearing eyes. Those of you with respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema and other pulmonary diseases are likely to be more sensitive. Irritation levels may vary beach to beach and throughout the day. If you experience uncomfortable symptoms consider heading or home or at least finding an unaffected beach nearby.

You can find unaffected beaches by checking reports of local observations at https://visitbeaches.org and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commisson (FWC) red tide status at myfwc.com/redtidestatus.

If you need red tide health information consult the Florida Department of Health at http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins/index.html or call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

President Trump to arrive in Palm Beach County on Tuesday – WPTV.com

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump will travel to South Florida on Tueday to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Palm Beach.

According to an advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration, the president will fly into Palm Beach International Airport on Tuesday and leave on Sunday, Dec. 1.

It's unclear what time President Trump will arrive at PBIA.

The president is scheduled to hold a "Keep America Great" rally at the BB&T Center in Sunrise on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

In a statement, a spokesperson for President Trump's campaign said:

Doors will open at 3 p.m. for general admission into the arena, which seats more than 20,000 people. You can register for free tickets by clicking here.

The president recently announced he and First Lady Melania Trump are changing their residency from New York to Palm Beach, Florida.

According to a "declaration of domicile" filed in Palm Beach County court in September, Mar-a-Lago is now President Trump's "predominant and principal home." The document lists his former address as Trump Tower in New York, and his "other places of abode" as the White House and the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Because of the president's visit on Tuesday, there will be road closures around Mar-a-Lago on Palm Beach starting at 5 a.m.

From Tuesday through Sunday, Dec. 1, all forms of travel, including pedestrian travel, are prohibited on S. Ocean Blvd. from the intersection of S. County Rd. to Southern Blvd. The travel restrictions will also extend eastward to the ocean.

Last year, President Trump visited U.S. Coast Guard members on Thanksgiving, and also spoke via teleconference to members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force who were deployed overseas.

Story updated to clarify the President is scheduled to arrive Tuesday

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President Trump to arrive in Palm Beach County on Tuesday - WPTV.com

Man, 20, killed in fiery Newport Beach crash is identified as Stanton resident – Los Angeles Times

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Danzig

A 20-year-old man who was killed when the car he was driving crashed into an Army-Navy surplus store in Newport Beach and burst into flames has been identified as a Stanton resident.

The crash that killed Brandon Vergara occurred around 10:55 p.m. Nov. 17 at West Coast Highway and 61st Street, according to Newport Beach police. Vergara was identifed Sunday by the Orange County coroners office.

The Infiniti G35 was headed west on Coast Highway when it crashed into a corner of the South Coast Army and Navy Surplus store, according to police Sgt. Bryan Gregson.

Vergaras body was found in the twisted remains of the vehicle when firefighters put out the flames, police said.

The building was not badly damaged.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and police said they are investigating the cause.

Gregson described the area as having a dramatic curve.

Daily Pilot staff and the Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

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Man, 20, killed in fiery Newport Beach crash is identified as Stanton resident - Los Angeles Times

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