tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45639251924719492072024-03-13T09:58:21.566+05:30all are kingevery one is special..Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.comBlogger726125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-82940790798878153322017-04-19T19:15:00.001+05:302017-04-19T19:15:35.689+05:30FDA warning letter to Safe Harbour Seafood, Inc<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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New Orleans District</div>
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404 BNA Drive<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Building 200- Suite 500<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Nashville, TN 37217<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Telephone: (615) 366-7801<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />FAX: (615) 366-7802 </div>
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April 10, 2017</div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">WARNING LETTER NO. 2017-NOL-07</b></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">UNITED PARCEL SERVICE</b></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Delivery Signature Requested</b></div>
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James R. Shutt, President</div>
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Safe Harbour Seafood, Inc.</div>
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5822 Heritage Circle</div>
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Bon Secour, Alabama 36511-3401</div>
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Dear Mr. Shutt:</div>
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We inspected your seafood processing facility, located at 5822 Heritage Circle, Bon Secour, Alabama on February 13-16, 2017. We found you have serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Code of Federal Regulations</i>, Part 123, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods, Title 21, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Code of Federal Regulations</i>, Part 110 (21 CFR 123 & 110). In accordance with 21 CFR 123.6(g), failure of a processor of fish or fishery products to have and implement a HACCP plan that complies with this section or otherwise operate in accordance with the requirements of Part 123, renders the fish or fishery products adulterated within the meaning of Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), [21 <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">United States Code</i> (USC) 342(a)(4)]. Accordingly, your fishery products are adulterated, because they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby theymay have been rendered injurious to health. You may find the Act, the seafood HACCP regulation, and the Fish and Fisheries Products Hazards & Controls Guidance through links in FDA's Internet home page at <a href="http://www.fda.gov/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; box-sizing: border-box; color: #005f9f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">www.fda.gov</span></a>.</div>
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We acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated February 24, 2017, responding to the FDA 483, Inspectional Observations (FDA 483), issued to you on February 16, 2017. This letter will become part of our official files. Our evaluation of your response is discussed below. Violations revealed during the inspection include, but are not limited to:</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">1.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span>You must implement the monitoring procedures and frequency which you have listed in your HACCP plan, to comply with 21 CFR 123.6(b). However, your firm did not follow the monitoring procedures included in your HACCP plans as follows:</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span>The monitoring procedures, for each lot of scombrotoxin species fish received, of obtaining harvest vessel records and monitoring the conditions of the fish at the “receiving from harvest vessels” critical control point to control the hazard of “Scombrotoxin formation” listed in your HACCP plan for “Scombrotoxin Species Fish” were not followed.</div>
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Specifically, this monitoring procedure was not being followed in that <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> were not being obtained or maintained to show the conditions included in this HACCP plan were being met (such as the time of death for the fish, when/if ice was used to keep the fish at the acceptable temperature, the date and time of off-loading, whether ice was still present on the fish at off-loading, and the internal temperature of the fish at the time of off-loading). In addition, this HACCP plan calls for the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong> </span>and, there were no records available indicating such <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong></div>
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Your response provides your planned corrective action to this item and includes a <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> however you have not provided evidence to demonstrate the implementation of this correction (which should include completed forms when this process is implemented). Your response also notes that you have purchased new <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4) </strong></span>of the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> and indicates these</span> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> will be calibrated on <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4).</strong> Since your current HACCP plan for scombrotoxin producing fish calls for <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong> you should provide clarification and update your HACCP plan to reflect what your </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> schedule will be for your <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong> and provide your basis for the </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> schedule. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">B.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span>The monitoring procedure, for every lot of shrimp received, of obtaining the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> that sulfites were not used on the lot at the “receiving” critical control point to control the hazard of “sulfites” listed in your HACCP plan for “Fresh Shrimp” was not followed.</span></div>
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Specifically, this monitoring procedure was not followed in that your firm was not obtaining or maintaining <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> documenting sulfites were not used on the lots of shrimp by the suppliers for lots of shrimp received from <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong> through <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong></span> </div>
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Your response provided the corrective action of including the statement <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4) </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">on future fresh shrimp invoices and to obtain a completed <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> from each supplier of fresh shrimp. You should provide evidence showing the full implementation of this corrective action when fresh shrimp are received.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">C.<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span>The monitoring procedure, for every lot of fresh whole fish (parasite carriers) sold to secondary processors, of obtaining <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> from the processors at the “Purchasing” critical control point to control the hazard of “Parasites” listed in your HACCP plan for “Fresh Whole Fish (parasite carriers)” was not followed.</span></div>
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Specifically, this monitoring procedure was not followed in that your firm was not obtaining or maintaining <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> for the secondary processors of these fish. As per this HACCP plan, such forms <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong></span></div>
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Your response indicates that you have supplied the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> to your secondary processers of your fresh whole fish (parasite carriers) and that you have <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4). </strong> In order to verify this correction we would need to see evidence that your secondary processers have</span> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">(b)(4)</strong></div>
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We may take further action if you do not promptly correct these violations. For instance, we may take further action to seize your product and/or enjoin your firm from operating.</div>
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You should respond in writing within 15 working days from your receipt of this letter. Your response should outline the specific things you are doing to correct these violations. You should include in your response documentation such as harvest vessel records, receiving records, supplier guarantees, parasite fish release forms, or other useful information that would assist us in evaluating your corrections. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, you should explain the reason for your delay and state when you will correct any remaining violations.</div>
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This letter may not list all the violations at your facility. You are responsible for ensuring your processing plant operates in compliance with the Act, the seafood HACCP regulation (21 CFR 123), and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation (21 CFR 110). You also have a responsibility to use procedures to prevent further violations of the Act and all applicable regulations.</div>
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Section 743 of the Act, [21 USC 379j-31], authorizes FDA to assess and collect fees to cover FDA’s costs for certain activities, including re-inspection-related costs. A re-inspection is one or more inspections conducted subsequent to an inspection that identified non-compliance materially related to a food safety requirement of the Act, specifically to determine whether compliance has been achieved. Re-inspection-related costs means all expenses, including administrative expenses incurred in connection with FDA’s arranging, conducting, and evaluating the results of the re-inspection and assessing and collecting the re-inspection fees, [21 USC 379j-31(a)(2)(B)]. For a domestic facility, FDA will assess and collect fees for re-inspection-related costs from the responsible party for the domestic facility. The inspection noted in this letter identified non-compliance materially related to a food safety requirement of the Act. Accordingly, FDA may assess fees to cover any re-inspection-related costs.</div>
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Please send your reply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Attention: David Van Houten, Compliance Officer, 404 BNA Drive<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </b>Building 200 – Suite 500<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </b>Nashville, TN 37217. If you have questions, concerning the contents of this letter, you may contact Mr. Van Houten at (615) 366-7813.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">/S/ </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ruth P. Dixon</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">District Director</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">New Orleans District</span></div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-67161814324105288042016-04-28T15:39:00.001+05:302016-04-28T15:39:13.544+05:30Fake university in India 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span id="ctl00_bps_homeCPH_lblDescription"></span><br />
<ol><b>Bihar</b><br /><br />
<li>
Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Delhi</b><br />
</li>
<li>
Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.<br />
</li>
<li>
United Nations University, Delhi.<br />
</li>
<li>
Vocational University, Delhi.<br />
</li>
<li>
ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 008.<br />
</li>
<li>
Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Karnataka</b><br />
</li>
<li>
Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Kerala</b><br />
</li>
<li>
St. John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Maharashtra</b><br />
</li>
<li>
Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Tamil Nadu</b><br />
</li>
<li>
D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>West Bengal</b><br />
</li>
<li>
Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.</li>
<li>
Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research,8-A, Diamond Harbour Road, Builtech inn, 2nd Floor, Thakurpurkur, Kolkatta - 700063<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Uttar Pradesh</b></li>
<br />
<li>
Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.<br />
</li>
<li>
Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women’s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area,Khoda,Makanpur,Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.<br />
</li>
<li>
Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Odisha</b></li>
<br />
<li>
Nababharat Shiksha Parishad, Anupoorna Bhawan, Plot No. 242, Pani Tanki Road,Shaktinagar, Rourkela-769014.<br />
<br />
Published by UGC website<br />
and <span id="ctl00_bps_homeCPH_lblDescription"><b>* Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP - the matter is subjudice before the District Judge - Lucknow</b></span> <br />
</li>
</ol>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-32728483269482296072015-07-11T12:38:00.005+05:302015-07-11T12:38:46.714+05:30‘Jumping genes’ may drive oesophageal cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Cancer Research UK scientists have found that ‘jumping genes’ may add to the genetic chaos behind more than three-quarters of <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/oesophageal-cancer/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">oesophageal cancer </a>cases, according to research published in <a class="external" href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcgenomics" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">BMC Genomics<span class="external" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="element-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important;">(link is external)</span></span></a> today.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The scientists, from the <a class="external" href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">University of Cambridge<span class="external" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="element-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important;">(link is external)</span></span></a>, used cutting-edge technology that can read DNA to study the genes of 43 oesophageal tumour and blood samples to discover how much these mobile genetic sequences travel.</span></div>
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<span class="quote" style="border: 1px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; float: right; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 18.59375px; width: 186px;"><span style="background-color: white;">“These jumping genes play hopscotch across our genetic code in cancer cells more than in normal cells." - Dr Paul Edwards</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">‘Jumping genes’, called L1 elements, can uproot themselves and move to new areas in the DNA, sometimes accidentally moving into genes that control the cell’s growth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">They found evidence that this happened around 100 times in each tumour sample, and in some tumours it happened 700 times.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">If a jumping gene lands in or near an important gene that controls cell growth, it can wreak havoc, changing how the gene works so that it inadvertently tells the cell to grow and divide out of control – which could lead to cancer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Study author Dr Paul Edwards, at the <a class="external" href="http://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute<span class="external" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="element-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important;">(link is external)</span></span></a>, said: “These jumping genes play hopscotch across our genetic code in cancer cells more than in normal cells. When one of these mobile genetic sequences plants itself in the middle of a gene that controls the cell’s growth it radically alters how the cell behaves, which can sometimes cause cancer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">“Research has shown that this might also happen in lung and bowel cancers. So it’s vital we find out more about how the cells do this in a bid to find ways to treat these cancers.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The research is part of the <a class="external" href="https://icgc.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)<span class="external" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="element-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important;">(link is external)</span></span></a> – a global project using the latest gene sequencing technology to reveal the genetic changes behind cancer. The oesophageal cancer project is funded by Cancer Research UK’s <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate/become-a-major-donor/how-you-can-give/the-catalyst-club" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c5c99;">Catalyst Club</a>*.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK’s science information manager, said: “Oesophageal cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat, and we are committed to funding more research to find out its underlying causes. These new findings reveal more about the genetic chaos that underpins oesophageal tumours, and could one day help us develop better ways to diagnose, treat and monitor the disease.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Reference</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.9000015258789px;">Paterson et al. Mobile element insertions are frequent in oesophageal adenocarcinomas and can mislead paired end sequencing analysis. </span><em style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.9000015258789px;">BMC Genomics.</em><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.9000015258789px;"> DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1685-z.</span></div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-19903154174859944982015-05-20T10:24:00.004+05:302015-05-20T10:24:34.375+05:30Data Disclosure Leads Researchers to End Study of Obesity Drug<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A study of an <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/morbid-obesity/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #326891;" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Obesity.">obesity</a> drug has ended after the manufacturer released early and ultimately misleading data, researchers said on Tuesday.</div>
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The company, <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/orexigen-therapeutics-inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #326891;" title="More information about Orexigen Therapeutics Inc">Orexigen Therapeutics</a>, disclosed in March that early results from a clinical trial of its drug Contrave had shown a 41 percent reduction in the risk of heart attacks, strokes and death from cardiovascular causes. Orexigen’s stock shot up, and the information no doubt helped lift sales of Contrave.</div>
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But the academic researchers who oversaw the study said on Tuesday that Orexigen had violated an agreement that the early results were not going to be shared widely, even within the company.</div>
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Moreover, as participants in the trial were followed for a longer period of time, the benefit of the drug in reducing cardiovascular risks vanished.</div>
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The researchers, in a news release issued by the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/c/cleveland_clinic/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #326891;" title="More articles about the Cleveland Clinic.">Cleveland Clinic</a>, said they took the unusual step of terminating the study and releasing the more updated results.</div>
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<a class="visually-hidden skip-to-text-link" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/business/data-disclosure-leads-researchers-to-end-study-of-obesity-drug.html?ref=health#story-continues-2" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); color: #326891; height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; width: 1px;">Continue reading the main story</a><header><h2 class="module-heading" style="color: black; font-family: nyt-franklin, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.6875rem; line-height: 0.6875rem; margin: 0px 0px 1em; text-transform: uppercase;">
RELATED COVERAGE</h2>
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<span class="story-heading-text" style="color: #326891; padding-right: 0.75em;">New Drug to Treat Obesity Gains Approval by F.D.A.</span><time class="dateline" datetime="2014-09-10" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: nyt-franklin, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625rem; line-height: 1.0625rem; white-space: nowrap;">SEPT. 10, 2014</time></h2>
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“We felt it was unacceptable to allow misleading interim data to be in the public domain and be acted upon by patients and providers,” Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and head of the trial’s steering committee, said in an interview.</div>
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He said Orexigen had “acted improperly and unethically in violating the data access agreement” and the premature release of data had made it difficult to continue the study.</div>
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It’s unlikley that patients would want to stay in the trial and risk getting a placebo if they thought the drug, which is already available on the market, could reduce their risk of heart attacks.</div>
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The <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/f/food_and_drug_administration/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #326891;" title="More articles about the U.S. Food And Drug Administration.">Food and Drug Administration</a>, citing similar reasons, has already ordered Orexigen to conduct another large study of the drug to rule out an increase in cardiovascular risk.</div>
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Orexigen <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orexigen-therapeutics-provides-statement-on-termination-of-the-light-study-and-updates-on-contrave-collaboration-with-takeda-pharmaceuticals-300082286.html" style="color: #326891;" title="Orexigen's full statement">said in a statement on Tuesday</a> that it had wanted to shut down the older study in December. It also denied misleading anyone, saying that it had stated “plainly and clearly” that the data it released was preliminary and that the cardiovascular benefits of Contrave had not been established.</div>
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Contrave, which was approved in September, is one of four new prescription weight-loss drugs that have come to market since 2012, following more than a decade in which there were no new medicines.</div>
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Despite the fact that one-third of American adults are obese, the drugs have not sold well for a variety of reasons, including lack of coverage by<a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #326891;" title="Recent and archival health news about Medicare.">Medicare</a> and some insurers, modest weight loss, a history of safety problems with diet drugs, and a feeling among doctors and patients that obesity is not a disease.</div>
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Still, Contrave is off to a stronger start than the others, with United States sales of $11.5 million in the first quarter. The drug is closing in on Belviq, which has been on the market longer, for the lead in prescriptions, according to Simos Simeonidis, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. Belviq was developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals and Eisai.</div>
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The F.D.A. declined to approve Contrave in 2011 because the drug slightly raised <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/blood-pressure/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #326891;" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Blood Pressure.">blood pressure</a> and pulse rates, a sign that it might increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The agency told Orexigen to conduct a large study to rule out that risk.</div>
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Under agreement with the F.D.A., Orexigen looked at the data after 94 cases of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes had occurred — about 25 percent of the expected total in the trial. Those early results effectively ruled out that Contrave doubled the risk of cardiovascular problems, clearing the way for the drug to be approved.</div>
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But in an agreement with the academic steering committee, the data was supposed to be known only by a small group within Orexigen charged with filing the application for F.D.A. approval.</div>
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Dr. Nissen said many more people were told. And when the company found out that those getting Contrave actually had a 41 percent lower risk of a heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular death, the company filed a patent application covering use of the drug to prevent cardiovascular problems.</div>
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When the patent was granted in early March, Orexigen disclosed this in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, apparently viewing it as material to the company. The filing contained the preliminary trial results.</div>
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The company’s action drew an unusual rebuke from a senior F.D.A. official, who said in interviews that data from so early in a trial was very unreliable.</div>
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The steering committee said on Tuesday that as the trial continued, more patients getting the drug began having heart attacks and strokes, or died. After 192 adverse cardiovascular events the trail was halfway completed, and the earlier reported benefit was no longer statistically significant. There were 102 events in the placebo group compared with 90 among those who received Contrave.</div>
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Orexigen also said it was fighting with its marketing partner, Takeda Pharmaceutical in part over which company will have to pay for the new cardiovascular trial. Orexigen said Takeda had initiated a formal dispute process claiming a material breach of the agreement between the companies.</div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-6778804421043083242015-05-20T10:12:00.002+05:302015-05-20T10:12:23.438+05:30Scientists capture video of 'killer' T-Cells fighting cancer cells inside the body<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Researchers used state-of-the-art imaging techniques to capture the ruthless 'killer' T-cells at work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Killer, or cytotoxic, T-cells are white blood cells with the specialised role of destroying tumour cells or cells that have been invaded by viruses.</span></div>
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WHAT IS A T-CELL? </h3>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Cytotoxic T-cells are white blood cells with the specialised role of destroying tumour cells or cells that have been invaded by viruses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">One teaspoon full of blood might contain around five million T-cells, each measuring around 10 micrometres in length, or about a tenth of the width of a human hair. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Professor Gillian Griffiths, director of Cambridge University's Institute for Medical Research, who led the study, said: 'Inside all of us lurks an army of serial killers whose primary function is to kill again and again.</span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'These cells patrol our bodies, identifying and destroying virally infected and cancer cells and they do so with remarkable precision and efficiency.'</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">One teaspoon full of blood might contain around five million T-cells, each measuring around 10 micrometres in length, or about a tenth of the width of a human hair.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">In the video, the T-cells appear as orange or green amorphous blobs that move around rapidly, constantly investigating their environment.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">When a killer T-cell finds a cancer cell (blue in the video), membrane 'fingers' explore its surface to confirm its identity. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The T-cell then binds to the cancer cell and injects toxic proteins (red) down special pathways called microtubules to the interface where the two cells meet</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43&v=ntk8XsxVDi0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43&v=ntk8XsxVDi0</span></a></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The T-cell then punctures the surface of the cancer cell and delivers its deadly cargo. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'In our bodies, where cells are packed together, it's essential that the T-cell focuses the lethal hit on its target, otherwise it will cause collateral damage to neighbouring, healthy cells,' said Prof Griffiths.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'Once the cytotoxins are injected into the cancer cells, its fate is sealed and we can watch as it withers and dies. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'The T-cell then moves on, hungry to find another victim.' </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The researchers captured the footage through high-resolution 3D time-lapse multi-colour imaging, making use of both spinning disk confocal microscopy and lattice light sheet microscopy. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">These techniques involves capturing slices through an object and ‘stitching’ them together to provide the final 3D images across the whole cell. </span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Using these approaches the researchers have managed to elucidate the order the events leading to delivery of the lethal hit from these serial killers.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The study by a joint team of British and US scientists is described in the journal Immunity.</span></div>
<div class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><br /></span></div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-36848587345434904242015-05-08T14:31:00.004+05:302015-05-08T14:31:42.383+05:3019 brilliant people<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thomas Edison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">An inventor known for his many failures long before his
successes, Thomas Edison was even told that he was "too stupid to learn
anything" by one of his teachers early on in life. Yet everyone knows the
name of the man responsible for inventing the lightbulb -- even if it took him
1,001 attempts to get it right. His perseverance with this particular invention
clearly embodies his positive saying, “I have not failed 10,000 times -- I’ve
successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Walt
Disney</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even the head of the world's largest animation empire hit a
rough patch. In 1919 he was fired from the Kansas City Star because he
"lacked imagination and had no good ideas," according to his editor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
Beatles</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records
in 1962, Dick Rowe told their manager Brian Epstein, "Guitar groups are on
their way out." Despite that dismissal, the English rock band went on to
become one of the most influential groups of all time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Herman
Melville</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the author's lifetime, Moby Dick was not considered a
masterpiece. After publishing the novel, Melville struggled financially for the
rest of his life. He used much of his savings to publish his subsequent novel
Pierre, which also was not well-received. At the time of his death in 1891, he
was a customs inspector at a ship dock in New York. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Soichiro
Honda</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When Honda, an engineer for whom the popular car company is
named, first failed to get a job with now-competitor Toyota, he took to making
scooters in his own garage. Little did the world know that this time of
unemployment would lead him to create the billion-dollar business we recognize
today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Vincent
van Gogh</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His paintings may be worth millions today, but
no one really gave them a second thought during van Gogh's lifetime. In fact,
he managed to create almost 900 paintings in a span of 10 years, yet he only
lived to see a single one sold (which went to a friend at a very low price)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Taylor
Swift</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She may have only been 11 years old at the
time, but the young and driven TSwift struggled at first to find a record label
in Nashville, Tennessee, that would sign her. During a middle school spring
break, she took a demo CD of her singing karaoke covers of country stars Dolly
Parton, the Dixie Chicks and LeAnn Rimes to Music Row and handed copies to as
many music label receptionists as she could, but said she wasn't signed because
"everyone in that town wanted to do what I wanted to do." She clearly
found her niche, though -- this musical princess has since learned how to play
quite a few instruments, taken over the country and pop-rock scene, and openly
defied one the most popular music streaming companies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Stephen
King</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This wildly successful American author of all
things horror and suspense almost didn't get his big break -- 30 times! It was
with his wife Tabby's help that he was finally able to convince Doubleday to
publish<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Carrie</em>. He has since
become the 19th best-selling author of all time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Harland
david sanders</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our favorite colonel from Kentucky Fried
Chicken sure had to fight the good fight to get his secret recipe into the
restaurant world. He was rejected a whopping 1,009 times before he finally got
that fried chicken to taste just right. Talk about perseverance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Charles
Schultz</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The famous cartoonist who brought the world the
"Peanuts" comic strip experienced quite a bit of rejection early in
his career. None of the cartoon drawings he designed for his high school
yearbook were ever selected to be published, and later Walt Disney turned him
down for a job. It looks like it's a good thing he believed that "you
can't create humor out of happiness."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Elvis
Presley</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Before the King of Rock 'n' Roll hit it big, he
was told by the Grand Ole Opry manager in Nashville that he would be better off
going back to his job as a truck driver than pursuing a career in music. Elvis
many have never returned to that venue for another concert, but it's obvious he
didn't have to go back to prove Jim Denny wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->J.
K. Rowling</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Before J.K. Rowling hit it big with Harry Potter, she was a
broke, divorced single mother struggling to get by on welfare. In a matter of
five years, the series took off, leading her to become the first billionaire
author. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Akio
morita</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The founder of Sony was considered a major flop at first,
manufacturing a rice cooker that burned way more food than it cooked. But
despite poor early sales that brought the mockery of Sony as a new company by
the business community, Akio Morita found a way to turn the brand into the
multi-billion dollar company the world knows today. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->14.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Stephen
spielberg</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He may now be one of the most successful
filmmakers in the world, but the University of Southern California refused to
give Steven Spielberg a shot in the School of Theater, Film and Television --<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>three
times</em>. He clearly didn't take no for an answer as he went on to
pursue directing, and the school awarded him an honorary degree in 1994.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">15.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lady Gaga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This New York-native, electro-pop diva proved just how badly she
wanted to be in the spotlight throughout the early years of her career. After
dropping out of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to pursue her
music and joining with major label Def Jam Recordings, she was let go only
three months after being signed, forcing her to start all over again.-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">16.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">F.Scott Fitzgerald<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">F. Scott Fitzgerald had extremely high hopes
for his 1925 novel<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>The Great Gatsby</em>, hoping
for "something new—something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and
intricately patterned." Unfortunately, the book received mixed reviews
upon its release, and sales proved even worse. It wasn't until after he died in
1940, considering himself a forgotten failure, that the book struck a chord
with the country to the point of becoming a classic component of every high
schooler's literature education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.05pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 8.05pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #313131; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">17. Albert Einestein</span><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Einstein was a late bloomer, not speaking until age 4 or
reading until age 7. These challenges did not prevent him from winning the
Nobel prize in physics for discovering the photoelectric effect and developing
the relativity theory. There's no doubt that the folks at Zurich Polytechnic
School regret their initial rejection of the man whose name is now synonymous
with "genius."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">18.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Claude Monet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the most well-known artists of the
impressionist movement, Claude Monet was not quite praised for his work when he
was alive. In fact, it was quite the opposite, with the Paris Salon endlessly
mocking and rejecting his art. Yet, today Monet is considered the “prince of
Impressionists.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">19.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Emily Dickinson</span><span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The now-beloved letters and
poetry of Emily Dickinson failed to resonate with their audience at first.
While the author ultimately shared approximately 1,800 complete works with the
world, fewer than a dozen of them were published in her lifetime. </span><br />
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br /></div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-91001074229177932662014-12-16T11:40:00.002+05:302014-12-16T11:40:54.309+05:30Fake brain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A doughnut created in a lab and made of silk on the outside and collagen gel where the jelly ought to be can mimic the basic function of brain tissue, scientists have found.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bioengineers produced a kind of rudimentary grey matter and white matter in a dish, along with rat neurons that signalled one another across the doughnut’s centre. When the scientists dropped weights on the material to simulate traumatic injury, the neurons in the three-dimensional brain model emitted chemical and electrical signals similar to those in the brains of injured animals.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is the first time scientists have been able to so closely imitate brain function in the laboratory, experts said. If researchers can replicate it with human neurons and enhance it to reflect other neurological functions, it could be used for studying how disease, trauma and medical treatments affect the brain —without the expense and ethical challenges of clinical trials on people.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“In terms of mechanical similarity to the brain, it’s a pretty good mimic,” said James J Hickman, a professor of nanoscience technology at the University of Central Florida, who was not involved in the research. “They’ve been able to repeat the highest level of function of neurons. It’s the best model I’ve seen.”</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The research, led by David Kaplan, the chairman of the biomedical engineering department at Tufts University, and published in the journal PNAS, is the latest example of biomedical engineering being used to make realistic models of organs such as the heart, lungs and liver.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most studies of human brain development rely on animals or on slices of brains taken after death; both are useful but have limitations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brain models have been mostly two-dimensional or made with neurons grown in a three-dimensional gel, said Rosemarie Hunziker, programme director of tissue engineering and biomaterial at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which funded Kaplan’s research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">None of those systems replicates the brain’s grey or white matter, or how neurons communicate, Hunziker said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Even if you get cells to live in there, they don’t do much,” she said. “It is spectacularly difficult to do this with the brain.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kaplan’s team found that a spongy silk material coated with a positively charged polymer could culture rat neurons, a stand-in for grey matter. By itself, though, the silk material did not encourage neurons to produce axons, branches that transmit electrical pulses to other neurons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The researchers formed the silk material into a doughnut and added collagen gel to the centre. Axons grew from the ring through the gel — the white matter substitute — and sent signals to neurons across the circle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They got “these neurons talking to each other,” Hunziker said. “No one’s really shown that before.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, a biomedical engineering professor at Columbia who has collaborated with Kaplan on other studies, described the model as a kind of “Lego approach”, a “modular structure” that can be expanded and made more complex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“This is not normal tissue, but it is the first proof of a principle that something like this can be achieved outside of<span style="color: #3e3e3e; line-height: 28px;">the body,” she said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hickman said future experiments would need to study human brain tissue, including other cells and regions in the brain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“There are some limitations, but they seem to have gotten the mechanics right,” he said. “They’ve set up an architecture so some clever person in the future could then do it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kaplan said his team was working on sustaining the brainlike tissue for six months — and with human neurons created from stem cells by other scientists. He plans to add a model of the brain’s vascular system, so researchers can study what happens when drugs cross the blood-brain barrier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ultimately, he hopes the bioengineered model can be used “to study everything from drugs to disease to surgical effects to electrode implants”, he said. “I mean, the list is endless.”</span></div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-62587072464031624802014-12-02T10:22:00.001+05:302014-12-02T10:22:48.006+05:30Molecular Event Mapping Opens Door to More Tests “In Silico”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Scientists report a new method for establishing whether chemical compounds are safe for human use without "in vivo" testing, based on so-called "molecular initiating events" at the boundary between chemistry and biology.</div>
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A new approach to mapping and predicting the impact of chemical compounds in the body, which it is hoped could eventually reduce the need for toxicity tests in animals, has been trialled by scientists.</div>
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Although still at an early stage, the process involves identifying “molecular initiating events” (MIEs) - the term given to the moment at which a molecule that has entered the body starts to interact with it, kick-starting a sequence of events which leads to a toxic outcome.</div>
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By identifying the specific features and properties within individual molecules that cause these events, the researchers argue that it should be possible to make accurate predictions about the effects of new and untested chemical compounds with similar characteristics.</div>
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In principle, that would reduce the need to test some chemicals contained within drugs, pesticides, food additives or other consumer products on animals. Instead, scientists would be able to screen a chemical’s molecular structure using customised computer software - a transition they characterize as one from testing “in vivo” (within the living) to “in silico” (on computers).</div>
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To prove the point, the new research, reported in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, mapped the pathways by which several well-known compounds, such as paracetamol, cause toxic outcomes. By tracing these back to the molecular initiating event, the team were able to identify chemical characteristics, that were present in other molecules exhibiting the same toxicities.</div>
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Tim Allen, a PhD researcher in chemistry at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, and the paper’s first author, said: “We are at the very early stages of building predictive tools for different molecules, and this work provides a proof-of-concept foundation for doing much more.”</div>
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“At the moment, there is sometimes no alternative to testing some new chemicals on animals to establish whether or not they are going to be safe for human use. Computer modelling is now finally starting to catch up. Eventually, if we can map the adverse outcome pathways of numerous molecules in the way that we have here, we will be able to develop models which mean you don’t have to administer products in vivo and then look for a reaction to establish whether or not they are safe.”</div>
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Ultimately, the researchers hope to develop a complete “MIE Atlas”, capturing data about a large number of molecules and their interactions with the body. Existing scientific knowledge of molecular initiating events is patchy and far from complete.</div>
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An initiating event can take on a number of forms. For example, a molecule from an ingested drug may bind to a certain protein within an organ, leading to a series of adverse effects. Equally, it may inhibit the production of a specific enzyme that the body would normally produce.</div>
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What each event has in common is that a link is established between a certain characteristic feature of the molecule in question - such as its size, shape, or acidity level - and a feature of human biology. “In many ways it represents the boundary between chemistry and biology,” Allen said. “If we can understand the chemistry of existing molecules and how they interact with the body, then we will be able to make predictions about new products and their likely toxicity based on similar characteristics.”</div>
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To test the theory, the Cambridge research team examined the pathway by which acetaminophen - better known as paracetamol - causes acute liver failure as a result of an overdose. From a survey of existing scientific literature on this subject, they were able to extrapolate the initiating event, its molecular basis, and accurately identify the likely toxicity of other molecules with a similar characteristic.</div>
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The molecular initiating event which leads to paracetamol becoming toxic is an oxidation process which happens when it enters the liver. This produces a toxic molecule called NAPQI, which is normally detoxified relatively quickly. When a person overdoses, however, too much NAPQI is produced, and this reduces the body’s normal defences and can ultimately result in liver failure.</div>
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The study identified that the key to this oxidation process is a feature of a paracetamol molecule’s structure known as the “para-aminophenol” fragment, a feature at the centre of the molecule without which this toxicity would not be observed.</div>
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Having established this, the researchers looked for similar structures in other substances, to see if they resulted in the same toxicity. The hypothesis proved to be correct in two cases - the compound Phenacetin, a now disused pain relief drug, and Amodiaquine, an anti-malarial agent. Both compounds had the same fragment within their structure, and because of this, both had the same toxic implications for the body when taken in certain quantities.</div>
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The research paper also speculates that better knowledge of Molecular Initiating Events could enable scientists to predict not only adverse, but also positive, outcomes which may emanate from the uptake of certain chemical compounds into the human body. The aim of the work, however, is firmly based in toxicology – to build on current in silico approaches, and increase understanding of what goes on during a toxic response.</div>
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“The approach seems strong and well-rooted in theory, and the aim of this paper is really to gain more feedback on the merits of widening out this type of research,” Allen said. “What we have done so far represents a tiny fraction of toxicological and chemical space. Further work will allow our approach to become a much more widely-used and valuable tool for toxicologists.”</div>
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<em style="color: #dd0055;">Article adapted from a University of Cambridge news release. The original article is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.</em></div>
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<em style="color: #dd0055;">Publication: <strong>Defining Molecular Initiating Events in the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework for Risk Assessment.</strong> Timothy E. H. Allen, Jonathan M. Goodman, Steve Gutsell, and Paul J. Russell. Chemical Research in Toxicology (2014): <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/tx500345j" style="background: transparent; color: #1fa2d6; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here to view.</a></em></div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-90254937140322775622014-11-13T20:31:00.001+05:302014-11-13T20:31:17.788+05:30Ghanashyam Dash Scholarship for Higher Education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-51328009316927150652014-11-13T20:27:00.003+05:302014-11-17T09:11:40.939+05:30FDA clears world's first patient-specific spinal rod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The MEDICREA group, a company that specializes in the development of personalized implants produced for a patient's specific need in the treatment of spinal pathologies, has announced the company has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for UNiDTM, the world's first patient-specific spinal osteosynthesis rod. The technology will be premiered at the 2014 North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting taking place on November 12-15 in San Francisco. The first U.S. patient underwent surgery to have personalized UNiDTM rods implanted earlier today in New York.</div>
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UNiDTM features a user-friendly software tool to help surgeons preoperatively plan their surgery and order customized, industrially-produced rods to fit the specific spinal alignment needed for each individual patient. UNiDTM eliminates the need to manually contour a rod during surgery, providing surgeons with a precisely aligned rod prior to surgery and reducing the amount of time patients spend in the operating room, which directly impacts infection rate and quality of recovery.</div>
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"Understanding and restoring sagittal alignment is key towards providing better patient outcomes and preventing the need for reoperations, a major factor in rising health care costs. By providing rod customization, UNiDTM allows surgeons to precisely execute their preoperative plan and frees them from the antiquated technique of freehand bending, ensuring individual patients receive the most accurate and effective treatment. Having a more precise, personalized rod ready before even stepping foot in the operating room is a game-changer for spine surgery," said Frank J. Schwab, MD, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and spinal deformity expert, who performed the first customized UNiDTM rod surgery in the U.S. today.</div>
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The UNiDTM rod system, which has been successfully implanted in over 100 patients in Europe, offers a real-time support team, the UNiDTM Lab, that provides a seamless process by which surgeons preoperatively analyze, design and order the patient-specific rod. The UNiDTM plug in, proprietary to MEDICREA, is embedded into the Surgimap software, and provides surgeons a quick and efficient option for ordering patient-specific rods. After the planning process is complete, the order is transferred to the UNiDTM Lab, which processes the request and industrially produces and labels the rod specifically for the patient.</div>
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"When we created Surgimap in 2008 our primary goal was to provide a research tool for surgeons to plan, measure and review their results," said Virginie Lafage, PhD, Co-Founder of NEMARIS. "As we collected data we noticed a startling trend: 62 percent of patient remained sagittally malaligned after surgery [i]. This was occurring not because of a lack of skills, but because surgeons have not had the best tools at their disposal. Our collaboration with MEDICREA is an important step forward for spine surgery. Combining our core competency, our software platform, with MEDICREA's hardware solution was necessary to bring a cutting-edge solution to surgeons and the patients they treat. It would not have been possible without such collaboration."</div>
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The UNiDTM customized rod offers numerous benefits to surgeons and patients undergoing spine surgery.</div>
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<li style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The primary benefit of UNiDTM is it allows surgeons to plan and then execute their operating strategy without compromises or approximation errors</strong>. Until now, surgeons had no alternative but to use a bending device, known as a French bender, supplied in all instrument kits to bend the rods manually. This manual rod-contouring process involves estimating the curve in a very empirical manner using pre-operative X-rays displayed on a wall in the operating room. Significant error and variability exist with that approach. With UNiDTM, surgeons can now be certain of implanting spinal fusion rods that are precisely adapted to the patient because UNiDTM rods are personalized and accurately curved using a design established by the surgeon during the pre-operative planning phase with the Surgimap / UNiDTM software.</li>
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Additional advantages of UNiDTM include:</div>
<ul style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; list-style: square outside; margin: 20px 0px 30px 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px;">
<li style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Surgeons can improve their success rate in terms of global sagittal patient alignment.</strong> With the free UNiDTM application in the Surgimap software, spine surgeons have access to the most recent scientific data available on the parameters necessary to determine and restore sagittal alignment for each patient.</li>
<li style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Surgeons can save time and be more efficient in the operating room.</strong> By eliminating the manual bending of rods during surgery, surgeons can significantly reduce operating time. This is an additional benefit, since infection rates and the quality of a patient's recovery are directly linked to the duration of the surgical procedure. As soon as the surgeon validates the rod's design in the UNiDTM application, MEDICREA precisely manufactures the implantable rod and delivers it within 5 working days.</li>
<li style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; line-height: 1.35em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Surgeons can reduce the risk of spinal implant failure.</strong> The UNiDTM rods, customized for each patient, are pre-contoured using a controllable and reproducible industrial process. This eliminates the intraoperative use of a bending device, which creates indentations, or notches, in the rod. Such notches are an acknowledged cause of rods breaking postoperatively, which can occur in patients - especially adults with severe spinal deformities.</li>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-47744326592353114632014-11-13T20:26:00.001+05:302014-11-13T20:26:29.419+05:30Gene turns mosquito into vampire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Out of the millions of species of insects, only about a hundred suck human blood. Now, scientists say they’ve figured out how one mosquito became a vampire: a gene that makes it particularly sensitive to human odor.</div>
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This is one of the few situations in which researchers have pinned down a gene underlying a complex behavior, and their results may point the way to thwarting this potentially deadly insect. “The more we can understand about how mosquitoes sense human odors, the better we will be at designing repellents and baits,” says Carolyn McBride, the evolutionary neurobiologist at Princeton University who led the work.</div>
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Curious about how insects developed a taste for humans, McBride focused her efforts on the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Aedes aegypti</em> mosquito, which has spread worldwide. The insect, which passes on the dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses, lives side by side with a very close relative along the coast of Kenya. The relative—known as <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. aegypti formosus</em>, or “forest form” of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. aegypti</em>—buzzes through forests, doesn’t attack humans, and lays its eggs in water in tree holes and rock pools. The domestic form, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. aegypti aegypti</em>, meanwhile, thrives in homes, laying eggs in water containers. The domestic and forest forms can interbreed, but for the most part they avoid each other.</div>
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McBride confirmed another intriguing difference between the two insects. When she and colleagues brought them back to the lab, they found that the forest mosquito preferred to dine on guinea pigs, whereas its domestic cousin liked humans.</div>
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The team compared the activity of all the genes in the antennae of the two forms. There were many differences and one gene that was much more active in the domestic mosquito:<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Or4</em>, which codes for an odor receptor. The researchers plugged <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Or4</em> into fruit fly nerve cells that lack the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Or4</em> receptor and tested which odors the nerve cell could pick up on that it couldn’t before. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13964" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e4376; text-decoration: none;" target="_self">The strongest response was to an odor molecule called sulcatone</a>, McBride and her colleagues report online today in <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nature</em>. Many organisms release sulcatone, but humans reek of it, producing four times the amount the researchers found in live chickens or in horse, cow, and sheep hair. In guinea pigs, this odor was undetectable.</div>
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When the scientists took at closer look at the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Or4</em> gene, they found that its sequence varied in the two types of Kenyan mosquitoes. The gene comes in seven different versions, three of which predominate in the human-biters. Thus, human-biting mosquitoes have distinct versions of the gene and make a lot more of its odor-sensing protein than do the forest mosquitoes.</div>
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"The paper is well designed, and the experiments lead us nicely from demonstrable behavioral differences right the way through to the identification of a gene which may be associated with such differences,” says James Logan, an entomologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who was not involved with the work.</div>
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“To present such a convincing case for a single gene being the causative factor is rare,” adds Jeffrey Powell, an evolutionary geneticist at Yale University, who was not involved with the work. Although there are likely to be other factors involved in human preference, “it seems the one identified is a, if not <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">the</em>, major factor,” he says.</div>
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According to Logan, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A. aegypti</em> is not controlled by bed nets or insecticides, yet spreads serious diseases such as dengue fever. The work, he says, "could have important implications for mosquito control measures in the future," for example in helping develop new baits or repellents.</div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-28660556540072344222014-11-09T12:04:00.001+05:302014-11-09T12:04:35.202+05:30Earthquake Researchers luckily find Ancient Shipwreck<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A mysterious shipwreck on the floor of Monterey Bay in northern
California has been serendipitously discovered by scientists mapping
earthquake fault lines. Sonar images from research on the San Gregorio, a
major fault system that lies along the outside of the bay Fault, led
the researchers to detect a vessel. <br />
Charlie Paull, a scientist with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research
Institute (MBARI) in a report by local station KSBW, said the discovery
is rare and it is the first time when the scientists have found a
shipwreck that they initially had no idea about.<br />
The researchers found the vessel a mile below the ocean's surface in
Monterey Bay's subterranean canyon. Thanks to Katie Maier, a research
geologist with the U. S. Geological Survey, who first detected the
drowned ship in the soar images.<br />
"One of the things we're interested in is how wrecks like that get
colonized how they decay what happens with time and I think it's an
opportunity for local studies to be launched to understand that in a
place where we going to be operating in those water depths frequently",
said Paul. <br />
The researchers zoomed up the image and looked at the spot to gather
fine details of it. They saw the shape of the barge in those maps. <br />
A remotely operated vehicle equipped with a video camera was then
sent by the team to record the shipwreck. The camera flawlessly captured
an image of the boat, named Umpqua II.<br />
The researchers then went to search more on Google and figured out
shortly that the mysterious wreckage belonged to a barge that ran into
difficulties in Moss Landing harbor back in 1992. The Umpqua II was
laying on the bottom of the ocean floor before researchers luckily found
it after detecting it in sonar images.<br />
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-46878638991722898312014-11-08T11:50:00.001+05:302014-11-08T11:50:24.031+05:304.8 magnitude earthquake hits grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
Athens, Nov 8: A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck about 140
kilometres west of Athens provoking some light damage to buildings but
no reports of injuries, officials have said.
The quake, considered weak by Greece's earthquake observatory, hit at
2242 IST yesterday and was epicentered about five km off the coast of
the town of Aigio in the Gulf of Corinth.
A church and an abandoned building in Aigio were damaged, according to
initial reports from the Greek media. There were no immediate
indications of any injuries. Aigio was the epicentre of a Richter Scale
magnitude 6 earthquake in 1995, which killed over 20 people and caused
major damage to buildings.
Earthquakes are frequent in Greece and just in January several thousand
people found themselves homeless on the island of Cephalonia in the
Ionian Islands after a 5.8 magnitude quake<br /><br /> </div>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-54011913445230745652014-11-08T11:43:00.000+05:302014-11-08T11:43:12.062+05:302015 Student Design Competition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="sub_title"><span style="color: navy;"><strong>Undergraduate Student Design Competition<br />
To Be Presented at<br />
BMES 2015 Annual Meeting</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><strong>October 7-10, 2015</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="normal_font">BMES
Undergraduate Student Members engaged in student design projects are
encouraged to enter. All design team members must be BMES Student
Members. The top 6 proposals will be chosen and those teams will be
given an opportunity to present their work via oral presentations at the
BMES 2015 Annual Meeting. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">OBJECTIVES</span></strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="normal_font"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Showcase the students' undergraduate design work</span></span></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="normal_font"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Provide students an opportunity to present their innovations at BMES 2015 Annual Meeting</span></span></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="normal_font"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduce students to the Biomedical Engineering Society </span></span></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="normal_font"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Provide a chance to network with product development and design professionals in BME</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="normal_font"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Six design teams will attend BMES 2015. The Top 3 will be the selected winning teams.<br />
Awardees will receive (Top 3 teams only) - First place $3000, Second place $1500 and Third place $500.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="normal_font">To Access the Student Design Competition application, click here:<br />
<a href="http://bmes.org/files/BMES%20Design%20Competition%20Application%20Guidelines.pdf" target="_self">http://bmes.org/files/BMES Design Competition Application Guidelines.pdf</a><br />
<br />
To Access the Judging Criteria, click here: <a href="http://bmes.org/files/BMES%20National%20Design%20Competition%202015%20Judging%20Criteria.pdf" target="_self">http://bmes.org/files/BMES National Design Competition 2015 Judging Criteria.pdf</a><br />
<br />
Please direct your inquiries/submit the application to <a href="mailto:liz@bmes.org?subject=Student%20Design%20Competition" target="_self">Elizabeth DaSilva</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Important Information -</span></strong></span></u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: white;">1. The 2015 Design Theme is Bioinstrumentation.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">2. All design team members<strong> MUST </strong>be BMES Student Members.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">3. Top 6 proposals will be chosen and those teams will present via oral presentations at BMES 2015 Annual Meeting. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><u><strong>Application deadline - May 25, 2015</strong></u></span></div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-8840720849553309622014-10-28T18:48:00.001+05:302014-10-28T18:48:02.776+05:30Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Facts and Figures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the nation’s health protection agency:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Children and teens are more likely to get a TBI, including concussion, and take longer to recover than adults. TBI symptoms may appear mild, but the injury can lead to significant life-long impairment affecting an individual’s memory, behavior, learning, and/or emotions. Appropriate diagnosis, management, and education are critical for helping young athletes with a TBI recover quickly and fully.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
IT’S WIDESPREAD</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Each year, U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)<strong>,</strong> including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years</li>
<li>During the last decade, emergency room visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60%</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
WHO’S AT RISK?</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Overall, the activities associated with the greatest number of TBI-related emergency room visits included bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball, and soccer.</li>
<li>Numbers and rates are highest in football and girl’s soccer</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0.5in;">
· Some 71 % of all sports and recreation-related TBI emergency room visits were among males and 70.5% were among persons aged 10-19 years</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Children from birth to 9 years commonly sustained injuries during playground activities or while bicycling</li>
<li>Females aged 10-19 years sustained sports- and recreation-related TBIs most often while playing soccer or basketball or while bicycling</li>
</ul>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-25049110088599138152014-10-28T18:46:00.001+05:302014-10-28T18:46:50.022+05:30Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Facts and Figures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the nation’s health protection agency:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Children and teens are more likely to get a TBI, including concussion, and take longer to recover than adults. TBI symptoms may appear mild, but the injury can lead to significant life-long impairment affecting an individual’s memory, behavior, learning, and/or emotions. Appropriate diagnosis, management, and education are critical for helping young athletes with a TBI recover quickly and fully.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
IT’S WIDESPREAD</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Each year, U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)<strong>,</strong> including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years</li>
<li>During the last decade, emergency room visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60%</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em;">
WHO’S AT RISK?</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Overall, the activities associated with the greatest number of TBI-related emergency room visits included bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball, and soccer.</li>
<li>Numbers and rates are highest in football and girl’s soccer</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0.5in;">
· Some 71 % of all sports and recreation-related TBI emergency room visits were among males and 70.5% were among persons aged 10-19 years</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li>Children from birth to 9 years commonly sustained injuries during playground activities or while bicycling</li>
<li>Females aged 10-19 years sustained sports- and recreation-related TBIs most often while playing soccer or basketball or while bicycling</li>
</ul>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-11401172039153267662014-10-27T20:19:00.001+05:302014-10-27T20:19:09.912+05:30Assistant Professor - The Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison : Madison, WI, United States<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Working Title:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Assistant Professor<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Official Title:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="caps">ASSISTANT</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><acronym style="border-bottom-color: rgb(208, 208, 208); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-variant: normal;" title="C40NN"><span class="caps">PROFESSOR</span></acronym><br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Degree and area of specialization:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ph.D. in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, cell and molecular biology, or related field.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least 2 years of postdoctoral experience.<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Principal duties:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tenure Track Position in Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Academic (9 month) appointment.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
The Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (<a href="http://www.bact.wisc.edu/" style="color: #085878; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.bact.wisc.edu/</a>) invites applications for a faculty position in bacteriology/microbiology at the Assistant Professor level. The Department is seeking candidates whose research is at the forefront of any area of microbiology with an emphasis broadly on molecular mechanism in any domain of life. The University and Department provide an excellent environment for the development of an outstanding research program. The position carries a commitment to the three functions of resident instruction, research, and outreach/service, as appropriate to the position and rank. Thus, the successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous, extramurally-funded, independent research program and to participate in undergraduate and graduate teaching and university service.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Employee Class:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Faculty</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Department(s):</strong> <span class="caps">CALS</span>/<span class="caps">BACTERIOLOGY</span><br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Full Time Salary Rate:</strong> Negotiable<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><span class="caps">ACADEMIC</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(9 months)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Term:</strong> N/A<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Appointment percent:</strong> 100%<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Anticipated begin date:</strong> <span class="caps">AUGUST</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>24, 2015<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Number of Positions:</strong> 1<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">TO<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="caps">ENSURE</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="caps">CONSIDERATION</span></strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Application must be received by:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="caps">OCTOBER</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>31, 2014<br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><span class="caps">HOW</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>TO<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="caps">APPLY</span>:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />All materials should be sent by email to the Bacteriology Faculty Search Committee (<a href="mailto:facultysearch@bact.wisc.edu" style="color: #085878; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">facultysearch@bact.wisc.edu</a>) and received by October 31, 2014 to ensure full consideration.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
Applications should be sent as a single pdf that includes: a cover letter referencing position vacancy listing #80284, a curriculum vitae documenting research and teaching experience, a research plan, teaching interests, and names and contact information for three individuals who will serve as references. Please also ask three referees to submit letters of reference to the same email address (<a href="mailto:facultysearch@bact.wisc.edu" style="color: #085878; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">facultysearch@bact.wisc.edu</a>) with the applicant's name in the header.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">UW-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.</strong><br /><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.</strong></div>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-79528162260153296402014-10-27T20:17:00.003+05:302014-10-27T20:17:47.944+05:30Faculty Position in Computational Biology : Kansas City, MO, United States<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: none; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.3px; margin: 1em 0px 0.75em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research invites innovative young scientists to apply for a faculty position in Computational Biology at the rank of Assistant Investigator.</h1>
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The successful candidate is expected to develop a groundbreaking, innovative and independent research program while complementing the institution’s existing strengths in genetics and epigenetics, cell and chromosome biology, stem cells and regenerative biology, developmental biology and evolution, and biochemistry and neuroscience.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
The position is fully funded throughout the candidate’s appointment. This includes $600,000 per year for full salary support and research funding, in addition to start-up funds and ongoing needs for equipment. The initial appointment is for 6 years and is then subject to renewal every 6 to 7 years. In total, the package for a junior position is more than $3.5 million over the first term and increases significantly after promotion. In addition, investigators may take advantage of exceptional core facilities and technology centers staffed by over 100 scientists. Stowers investigators have multiple opportunities to be involved in the Institute’s Graduate School program.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Qualifications</strong><br />Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and postdoctoral experience demonstrating innovation and excellence in their field. Candidates will be expected to possess a long-term vision of their scientific interests, to establish a vigorous and innovative research program, and to actively contribute to the Institute’s mission and collegiality.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'MS Pゴシック', 'MS ゴシック', Osaka, 'MS PGothic', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Deadline and Application Information</strong><br />Deadline for applications is October 31, 2014. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV, a research plan and vision statement, and arrange for the submission of three letters of reference through our application page at:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.stowers.org/facultysearch" style="color: #085878; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.stowers.org/facultysearch</a>.</div>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-90103258837637878402014-10-27T20:08:00.002+05:302014-10-27T20:08:40.790+05:30Germany : PhD Scholarships in East Asian Studies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Twelve candidates will receive a grant<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.scholarships-links.com/viewdetail/6390/PhD-Scholarships-in-East-Asian-Studies,-GEAS,-Freie-Universit%E4t-Berlin,--2015.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Scholarships-links+%28Scholarships-Links.com%29#" id="_GPLITA_1" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #0240ff; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; text-indent: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by Browser Shop">FUNDED<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; text-indent: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a>through the Graduate School, up to two PhD candidates can be considered for special funding provided by the DAAD (GSSP Program). The Graduate School will also consider to accept up to three candidates who receive funding either from other Freie Universität Berlin programs, from partner institutions in East Asia (CSC, etc.), or through scholarships provided by German or international organizations.</span></div>
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<strong><br /></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Scholarship details:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We offer PhD stipends of € 1365 €/month (plus 103 €/m research allowance). Fellowships will initially be granted for one year, and contingent upon a positive evaluation after each year of study, fellowships will be extended for another year. The fellowship may be granted for a maximum of three years.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Research focus:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Doctoral dissertations at GEAS are expected to analyze the institutional environment of social, political, cultural and economic actors in the East Asian region (China, Japan and/or Korea). All dissertation research at GEAS will be conducted in the context of the three interconnected research lenses of its academic profile: (1) the origin and change of institutions in East Asia, (2) the effects institutions have on processes related to globalization and modernization in East Asia on the side of governments, bureaucracies or business and individual life-styles or related preferences, and, finally, (3) the interdependencies of institutions in East Asia within and beyond its regional boundaries.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Eiligbility:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Successful applicants will have an above average master’s degree in either area studies (Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies) or a discipline represented at the Graduate School (Political Science, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Business, Economics, Law, History, Cultural Studies, Humanities, Theatre Studies, Environmental Policy) with a focus on East Asia. The language of instruction is English. Successful candidates will also show proof of language skills in an East Asian Language (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) at a level of B2 (CEFR) or higher.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Selection criteria:</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Applications should include a CV, a letter of academic interest, a brief outline of the prospective dissertation topic (maximum 6 pages), a schedule for the dissertation, and copies of certificates of your relevant degrees and language skills. Two letters of recommendation shall be sent directly by your referees to GEAS via the online application system. For more information and guidelines as well as for applications, please register online</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Application deadline: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>January 16, 2015.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #000505; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.7600002288818px; margin: 4px 0px 2px; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The screening takes place in January and February 2015. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (via Skype) in April 2015. Candidates accepted for admission into GEAS will receive notice by early to mid-May 2015.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>How to apply:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>Online portal at https://apply.drs.fu-berlin.de/eas<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For additional information, please check our website and feel free to contact us</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. No legal entitlement shall be constituted by applying to the program. Reasons for rejections will not be disclosed.</span></div>
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<strong>Application Deadline : 16 January 2015</strong></div>
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Contact Adress: Graduate School of East Asian Studies,</div>
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Contact Email: application@geas.fu-berlin.de</div>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-89767729688503705062014-10-17T10:34:00.004+05:302014-10-17T10:34:59.787+05:30A Family Battles Over a Disappearing Trove of Chinese Paintings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For
more than a decade, the family of C. C. Wang, a collector whose name
graces a gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has been battling
over a trove of classical Chinese paintings and scrolls that has been
described as among the finest in the world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now,
the feud has escalated. In the past month, two of Mr. Wang’s children,
who have been fighting in Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan since his death in 2003 at 96, filed lawsuits in state and federal courts accusing each other of looting and deceit.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="141" data-total-count="728" itemprop="articleBody">
But
beyond the family strife, a broader issue is dismaying Chinese-art
experts for whom the Wang collection has long been a source of wonder.</div>
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Dozens,
perhaps hundreds, of works from an estate once valued in court papers
at more than $60 million have gone missing, including an 11th-century
scroll, “The Procession of Taoist Immortals,” that is viewed in China as
a national treasure.</div>
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“This
is heartbreaking, and it is happening right here in the city,” said
Laura B. Whitman, a specialist in Chinese art formerly with Sotheby’s
and Christie’s, who used to visit Mr. Wang at his apartment in New York
to view his collection.</div>
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Divining
who rightfully owns these works, and who is to blame for the
disappearance of so many of them, has consumed the family for more than a
decade.</div>
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The
case has become so complex, and so expensive, that the Surrogate’s
Court has suspended discussing matters of inheritance until it can come
up with a reliable inventory of what was initially in the collection to
see if the estate will be able to pay lawyers and other creditors.</div>
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Among
the few certainties at this point is that Mr. Wang demonstrated the
ability to acquire objects of historical importance, objects that since
his death have increased many times in value as the Chinese art market has boomed.</div>
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Born
near Suzhou, China, in 1907, he moved to the United States during
China’s political upheavals in 1949, settling in Manhattan, where he
built a career teaching, consulting at Sotheby’s, and dealing in real
estate and in art. He became the dean of the rarefied market
for Chinese art in New York and was an accomplished artist in his own
right. By the end of the 1990s, the Met had bought some 60 works that
were once part of his collection and named a gallery in his honor.</div>
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Among
the Met acquisitions was a colossal hanging scroll titled “Riverbank,”
attributed to the 10th-century painter Dong Yuan, but which attracted
its own controversy after some scholars declared it a 20th-century forgery.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Maxwell
K. Hearn, chairman of the Met’s Asian art department, said Mr. Wang
acquired much of his important collection early on, when the market for Chinese art didn’t exist.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“He
saw their continued relevance as sources of artistic inspiration,” Mr.
Hearn said. “Now, they have become enormously valuable, because people
are recognizing their cultural significance and acknowledge him as a
source of validation.”</div>
<br />
Before
his death, Mr. Wang left some works to his daughter Yien-Koo Wang King,
now 79, and some to his son, Shou-Kung Wang, now 85, both of whom
served during different periods as confidant and business agent to their
father.<br />
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<br /></div>
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But
they have battled over the legacy, particularly the validity of a 2000
will that listed Mrs. King as executor and of a competing will, drawn up
shortly before Mr. Wang’s death, that named Shou-Kung Wang’s son,
Andrew, as executor, and disinherited Mrs. King.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="154" data-total-count="3656" itemprop="articleBody">
Amid
the fighting, estimates differ widely about how many classical Chinese
paintings were in Mr. Wang’s collection when he died, from about 240 to
438.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Together,
since 2003, the son and daughter have surrendered more than 120
artworks to the estate for sale, but have also accused each other of
hiding many more of the most valuable paintings in the United States, in
China or elsewhere.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The
Internal Revenue Service is seeking more than $20 million in estate
taxes, based on its own inventory of paintings, real estate and other
possessions at the time of death, though that fee is based on a
valuation of some paintings that may well now be missing.</div>
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The
tax bill and claims for lawyers’ fees so outweigh the value of the
handful of remaining classical works held by the estate in a warehouse
in New Jersey that the Surrogate’s Court decided it was not worth
proceeding until a proper accounting can be made.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The
latest legal actions are an effort to break the deadlock. In a filing
in federal court in Manhattan last month, Mrs. King and her husband,
Kenneth, said that her brother and his son had conspired to loot the
estate through sham art sales and had lied about the whereabouts of
works.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="290" data-total-count="4991" itemprop="articleBody">
Mrs.
King said in her filing that Shou-Kung Wang’s son, Andrew Wang, 53, who
shares fiduciary duty for the estate with the public administrator of
Surrogate’s Court, made up bogus addresses of buyers, and even, in one
case, shipped $1.4 million worth of the art to his home in Shanghai.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The
lawsuit also accuses the Wangs of giving conflicting accounts of the
location of one work, “Album of Landscapes” by the 13th-century painter
Ma Yuan. A decade ago, Shou-Kung Wang told the court that his father had
given him the painting and it was in his possession.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But <a href="http://spi-pc.com/profile/timsavitsky@spi-pc.com">lawyers for Mrs. King</a>
have produced a 2011 television interview in China in which a collector
there says he bought the painting from C. C. Wang’s family after his
death, for what the lawyers say was more than $5.5 million.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Asked
recently in court about the discrepancy, Andrew Wang said that his
grandfather had in fact sold the painting shortly before he died. He
said Shou-Kung Wang had believed that he still owned the painting at the
time of his testimony because Andrew and C. C. Wang had concealed the
sale.</div>
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A lawyer for Shou-Kung Wang and Andrew Wang, Carolyn Shields of Liu & Shields in Queens, denied Mrs. King’s allegations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For
their part, they argue in a lawsuit filed last week in State Supreme
Court in Manhattan that it was the Kings who have diverted assets by
hiding works in a warehouse in New York, transferring ownership of them
to foreign corporations and selling them.</div>
<br /><div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="192" data-total-count="6352" id="story-continues-7" itemprop="articleBody">
One
of the few things the two sides agree on is that “The Procession of
Taoist Immortals,” an ink-on-silk hand scroll that is one of the most
important works in the collection, is missing.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="188" data-total-count="6540" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="188" data-total-count="6540" itemprop="articleBody">
Probably
a sketch for a mural painting, it depicts a group of Taoist gods in
intricate detail. Experts say it is an early and rare example from the
Northern Song dynasty of a Taoist theme.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="126" data-total-count="6666" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="126" data-total-count="6666" itemprop="articleBody">
“It is of monumental significance,” said Stephen Little, a curator of Chinese art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="82" data-total-count="6748" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="82" data-total-count="6748" itemprop="articleBody">
Attributed to Wu Zongyuan, it is valued by experts at tens of millions of dollars.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="148" data-total-count="6896" itemprop="articleBody">
In
2005, both sides put “Procession” in a Shanghai bank’s safe-deposit
box. The box was to be opened again only in the presence of both sides.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="240" data-total-count="7136" itemprop="articleBody">
Hearing
reports that “Procession” had been seen outside the bank, Mrs. King
demanded that Andrew Wang open the box to inspect the painting with her,
but, according to her complaint, he defied a Chinese court order and
refused to attend.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="461" data-total-count="7597" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="461" data-total-count="7597" itemprop="articleBody">
When
the box was opened in 2009, the result was disappointing, she said.
Instead of a treasure, the box contained a cheap, discolored print of
the scroll. The theft was reported to the Shanghai police, who declined
to investigate what they called a family matter, said a lawyer for the
Kings, Sam P. Israel of Manhattan. Shou-Kung Wang and Andrew Wang said
they were never told the box was going to be opened and suggest that
Mrs. King somehow stole the scroll.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="50" data-total-count="7647" itemprop="articleBody">
Five years later, its whereabouts remains unknown.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="147" data-total-count="7794" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="147" data-total-count="7794" itemprop="articleBody">
“To
think that something like that is out there and is not being seen and
preserved and appreciated by humanity is just sad,” Ms. Whitman said.</div>
</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-36436012192398629922014-10-17T10:29:00.001+05:302014-10-17T10:29:17.755+05:30IRMAA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-23589475972690542632014-10-14T09:50:00.001+05:302014-10-14T09:50:16.201+05:30Where Is God Located In the Brain? Importance of Religion Is Related To Thickness Of The Cerebral Cortex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Made entirely of gray matter and distinguished by its characteristic
folds, the cerebral cortex is the brain's outermost layer covering the
hemispheres. Now, researchers from New York State Psychiatric Institute
and Columbia University found the importance of religion or spirituality
to individuals may be linked to the thickness of their cerebral
cortices. “Importance of religion or spirituality, but not frequency of
[house of worship] attendance, was associated with thicker cortices in
the left and right parietal and occipital regions, the mesial frontal
lobe of the right hemisphere, and the cuneus and precuneus in the left
hemisphere,” wrote the authors in their <a href="http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1792140#References" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">study</a>, published this month in <em>JAMA Psychology</em>.
Significantly, this relationship between spiritual importance and
cortex thickness was observed to be strongest among those at high risk
of depression.<br />
<h2>
<strong>Depression Related to Importance of Divinity</strong></h2>
In their previous work, the team of researchers reported that among
adults in families at high risk for major depression, those that
expressed a strong interest in their spirituality had a 90 percent
decreased risk of the illness when compared to those who did not find
religion so important. The team of colleagues also showed in a previous
study that high-risk adults showed large expanses of cortical thinning
across the lateral surface of the right hemisphere of the brain. For
their new study, the team returned to this issue of cerebral cortex
thickness. They began by questioning 103 adults between the ages of 18
and 54 about the importance of spirituality in their lives and how often
they attended religious services. Then, they repeated these questions
after five years. Some participants were the children or grandchildren
of participants in an earlier study about depression and so were deemed
at high risk for the illness; others had no family history of this
mental illness and so served as a comparison group. The researchers
imaged the brains of all the participants to determine the thickness of
the cortices. What did they discover?<br />
Those who expressed a stronger spiritual bent also displayed thicker
cortices above both the left and right hemispheres. Trying to explain
their results, the researchers wrote, “A thicker cortex associated with a
high importance of religion or spirituality may confer resilience to
the development of depressive illness in individuals at high familial
risk for major depression, possibly by expanding a cortical reserve that
counters to some extent the vulnerability that cortical thinning poses
for developing familial depressive illness.”<br />
Significantly, the researchers stated that their findings are simply
correlational; importance of religion does not necessarily cause greater
thickness, or vice versa. In an unrelated study, University of Missouri
scientists, who similarly searched the brain for signs of spirituality,
found that transcendence is associated with decreased right parietal
lobe functioning, while other aspects of spiritual functioning are
related to increased activity in the frontal lobe.<br />
<h2>
<strong>Location of Spirituality in the Brain </strong></h2>
"We have found a neuropsychological basis for spirituality, but it's
not isolated to one specific area of the brain," Brick Johnstone,
professor of health psychology, stated in a <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-04/uom-ds041812.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">press release</a>. For the <a href="http://newbuddhist.com/uploads/FileUpload/68/1ee3dbac3dc8687fb3cd4aacdb51bc.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">study</a> published last year in the <em>International Journal for the Psychology of Religion</em>, Johnstone
and his colleagues studied 20 people with traumatic brain injuries that
affected the right parietal lobe, the area of the brain situated a few
inches above the right ear. The team questioned participants about their
spiritual beliefs, asking how close they felt to a higher power, and if
they considered their lives to be part of a divine plan.<br />
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They discovered those participants with more significant injury to
their right parietal lobe expressed a feeling of greater closeness to a
higher power. "Neuropsychology researchers consistently have shown that
impairment on the right side of the brain decreases one's focus on the
self," Johnstone said, noting that previous studies of Buddhist monks
and Franciscan nuns with fully-functioning brains have shown decreased
activation in the right inferior parietal lobe during deep meditation
and prayer. "Since our research shows that people with this impairment
are more spiritual, this suggests spiritual experiences are associated
with a decreased focus on the self."<br />
Johnstone also measured the frequency of participants' religious
practices, such as how often they attended church or listened to
religious programs. He compared these measurements to activity rates in
the frontal lobe and found a connection between increased activity in
this part of the brain and increased participation in religious
practices. "This finding indicates that spiritual experiences are likely
associated with different parts of the brain," Johnstone said. "Certain
parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work
together to facilitate individuals' spiritual experiences."<br />
<br />
Sources: Miller L, Vansal R, Wickramaratne P, et al. Neuroanatomical
Correlates of Religiosity and Spirituality, A Study in Adults at High
and Low Familial Risk for Depression. <em>JAMA Psychiatry.</em> 2013.<br />
Johnstone B, Bodling A, Cohen D, et al. Right Parietal Lobe-Related
“Selflessness” as the Neuropsychological Basis of Spiritual
Transcendence. <em>The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion.</em> 2012</div>
Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-77532097801236876282014-10-13T10:06:00.000+05:302014-10-13T10:06:02.605+05:30லஞ்சம் வாங்கினாலும், கொடுத்தாலும் மரண தண்டனை விதித்த மன்னன்: 700 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முந்தைய கல்வெட்டில் தகவல் <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="body">
தமிழகத்தில் மன்னர்கள் ஆட்சி காலத்தில் லஞ்சம் கொடுத்தாலும், வாங்கினாலும்
மற்றும் அதைத் தடுக்கத் தவறிய அரசு அதிகாரிக்கும் மரண தண்டனை வழங்க மன்னன்
ஆணை பிறப்பித்த கல்வெட்டு கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டம் காவேரிப்பட்டணம் அருகே உள்ளது பென்னேஸ்வரமடம்
கிராமம். இங்குள்ள பென்னேஸ்வரர் கோயில் மிகவும் பழமையானது,
பிரசித்திபெற்றது. இந்தக் கோயில் கல்வெட்டில் லஞ்சம் வாங்கினாலும்,
கொடுத்தாலும் மற்றும் அதை தடுக்கத் தவறிய அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் மரண தண்டணை
விதிக்கும் வகையில் மன்னன் ஆணையிட்ட கல்வெட்டு உள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
இது குறித்து கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்ட வரலாற்று மையத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆய்வாளர் சுகவன முருகன் ‘தி இந்து’விடம் கூறியதாவது:
</div>
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கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டத்தில் ஏழு நிலைகளைக் கொண்ட பெரிய ராஜகோபுரம் இருக்கும்
கோயில்பென்னேஸ்வர மடம் கோயிலாகும். இது பிற்காலச் சோழர் காலக் கோயிலாகும்.
சுமார் ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழமையான இக்கோயிலில் ஏராளமான கல்வெட்டுகள் உள்ளன.
சோழர்கள், போசாளர்கள் மற்றும் விஜயநகரப் பேரரசுகளின் ஆட்சியில்
இக்கோயிலுக்கு பலவிதமான கொடைகள், தானங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டதாக கல்வெட்டில்
குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
இவ்வாறு தானமாகப் பெறப் பட்ட நிலங்கள், ஊர்கள் மற்றும் பொது சொத்துகளை
சிலர் ஏய்த்துஅனுபவித்துள்ளனர். இதனை அறிந்த பேரரசன் வீர ராமநாதன் ஒரு
ஆணையை வெளியிட்டுள்ளார். அந்த ஆணை தொடர்பான கல்வெட்டு தற்போது
கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
<b>போசாள மன்னன் வீர ராமநாதன் கல்வெட்டு</b>
</div>
<div class="body">
"ஸ்ரீ வீரராமந்நாத தேவரீஸர்க்கு யாண்டு நாற்பத்தொன்றாவது உடையார்
பெண்ணையாண்டார் மடத்தி லும் பெண்ணை நாயனார் தேவதானமான ஊர்களிலும் ஒரு
அதிகாரியாதல் கணக்கர் காரியஞ் செய்வார்களாதல் கூசராதல் ஆரேனுமொருவர் வந்து
விட்டது விடாமல் சோறு வேண்டுதல் மற்றேதேனும் நலிவுகள் செய்குதல்
செய்தாருண்டாகில் தாங்களே அவர்களைத் தலையைஅறுத்துவிடவும் அப்படி செய்திலர்
களாதல் தங்கள் தலைகளோடே போமென்னும்படிறெயப்புத்த பண்ணி இதுவே சாதனமாகக்
கொண்டு ஆங்கு வந்து நலிந்தவர் களைத் தாங்களே ஆஞ்ஞை பண்ணிக் கொள்ளவும் சீ
காரியமாகத்தாங்க . . . த. . . போதும் போன அமுதுபடிக் குடலாக ஸர்வ மானிய
மாகக் குடுத்தோம். அனைத் தாயமு விட்டுக்கு . . .கூசர் உள்ளிட்டார்
பையூரிலே இருக்கவும் சொன்னோம். இப்படியாதே இதுக்கு விலங்கனம் பன்னினவன்
கெங்கைக் கரையில் குராற் பசுவைக் கொன்றான் பாவத்தைக் கொள்வான்" என
எழுதப்பட்டுள்ளது.
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இதன் விளக்கம், லஞ்சம் வாங்கினால், கொடுத்தால் சிரச்சேதம் செய்ய அதாவது
தலையை வெட்டும் படியும் அவ்வாறு நிகழாமல் தடுக்கத் தவறினால் அதற்குப்
பொறுப்பான அதிகாரிகளின் தலையை வெட்டும்படியும் ஆணை வெளியிட்டுள்ளார்.
இக்கல்வெட்டு கோயிலின் தெற்கு சுவர் பகுதியில் இருக்கிறது. இக்கல்வெட்டு
கிரந்தம் மற்றும் தமிழில் வடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
லஞ்சமாக உணவு அல்லது சோறு கேட்டால் கூட குற்றம் என்றும் அரசர்
சொல்லியிருக்கிறார். மேற் கண்ட பேரரசர் வீரராமநாதனின் கல்வெட்டைக்
கொண்டும், தலைபலிக் கற்களின் சிற்ப அமைப்பைக் கொண்டும் இவ்வாறு தண்டிக்கப்
பட்டிருக்கக் கூடும் என்பது தெரிகிறது. இது தமிழக வரலாற்றில் மிக
முக்கியமானதாகும். </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
இந்தக் கல்வெட்டை போசாளப் பேரரசன் வீரராமநாதனின் நாற்பத்தி ஒன்றாவது
ஆட்சியாண்டில் இந்த உத்தரவுப் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டிருக் கிறது. கல்வெட்டு
வெட்டப்பட்ட ஆண்டு <b>கி.பி.1295</b> என குறிப்பிடப் பட்டுள்ளது.
</div>
<div class="body">
இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார். தமிழகத்தில் 2 ஆயிரம் ஆண்டு களுக்கு முன்பு,
பொதுமக்களின் நலனுக்காக அல்லது அரசனின் நலனுக்காக பக்தியில் கொற்றவை
என்னும் காளிக்குப் படையலாகவும் தங்கள் தலையைத் தாங்களே அறுத்து பலி
கொடுக்கும் வழக்கம் இருந்துள்ளது. </div>
<div class="body">
<br /></div>
<div class="body">
இதில் நவகண்டம் என்பது, உடலில் ஒன்பது இடங்களில் வெட்டிக்கடைசியாக தன்
தலையை அறுத்துக் கொள்வது. அரிகண்டம் என்பது ஒரே வெட்டில் சிரத்தை அறுத்து
சமர்ப்பிப்பது. இது தொடர்பான கல்வெட்டுகள் கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டத்தில் அதிகம்
உள்ளன. அதுவும் போசாளர்களின் தலை நகரான ஹளேகுந்தாணியிலும், பையூர்
நிலையுடையான் மதுராந்த கன் வீரநுளம்பன் ஆட்சி செய்த பென்னேஸ்வர
மடத்திலும்தான் இருக்கின்றன. </div>
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தலைபலிக் கற்களை நவகண்டம் அல்லது அரிகண்டம் என்றுதான்நினைத்திருந்தனர். </div>
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இந்த தலைபலி கற்களையும் கோயில் கல்வெட்டுகளையும் ஆராய்ந்த கிருஷ்ணகிரி
மாவட்ட வரலாற்று மையத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆய்வாளர் சுகவன முருகன், லஞ்சம் வாங்கிய
ஒரு அதிகாரியின் உயிர்பலி கல்வெட்டு என்பதை கண்டறிந்துள்ளார்.
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-60482411723221362742014-05-28T21:42:00.000+05:302014-05-28T21:42:44.664+05:30Fugitive Profiles in U.S<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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OIG Fugitive: Etienne Allonce</h2>
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<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In December 2007, Etienne Allonce and his wife, Helene Michel, were indicted on charges of health care fraud. Allonce and Michel were owners of Medical Solutions Management, Inc. (MSM), a durable medical equipment (DME) company operating out of Hicksville, NY. Tri-State Surgical Supply (Tri-State) is a DME company that has a contract with numerous nursing homes in Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn, to provide Medicare and Medicaid covered DME supplies to residents.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">According to the indictment, MSM employees allegedly posed as sub-contractors for Tri-State in order to gain access to several nursing homes. Once they entered the nursing homes under false pretenses, MSM employees allegedly accessed medical charts (containing private information protected by The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPAA) for residents who required specialized wound care. MSM then allegedly billed Medicare Part B and/or and Medicaid for wound care supplies that were never ordered or provided.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;"><img alt="Etienne Allonce" src="http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/images/bio_allonce_etienne.png" /></li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">It is also believed that MSM employees stole original documents containing HIPAA information from medical charts in facilities, in order to "manufacture" fraudulent MSM charts in an effort to legitimize their medical billings.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">After Michel and Allonce were indicted on health care fraud charges for their participation in the aforementioned scheme, Allonce fled the United States to avoid prosecution and is believed to be residing in Haiti.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In April 2013, Michel was convicted on charges of health care fraud and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. She was sentenced to 12 years of incarceration and ordered to pay more than $4.4 million in restitution.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Allonce abandoned the young daughter he had with Michel, leaving the girl without any parents while her mother remains incarcerated.</li>
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Poul Thorsen</h2>
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<img alt="Poul Thorsen" src="http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/images/bio-thorsen.png" style="background: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 0px;" /></div>
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<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">From approximately February 2004 until February 2010, Poul Thorsen executed a scheme to steal grant money awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC had awarded grant money to Denmark for research involving infant disabilities, autism, genetic disorders, and fetal alcohol syndrome. CDC awarded the grant to fund studies of the relationship between autism and the exposure to vaccines, the relationship between cerebral palsy and infection during pregnancy, and the relationship between developmental outcomes and fetal alcohol exposure.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Thorsen worked as a visiting scientist at CDC, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, before the grant was awarded.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">The initial grant was awarded to the Danish Medical Research Council. In approximately 2007, a second grant was awarded to the Danish Agency for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Both agencies are governmental agencies in Denmark. The research was done by the Aarhaus University and Odense University Hospital in Denmark.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Thorsen allegedly diverted over $1 million of the CDC grant money to his own personal bank account. Thorsen submitted fraudulent invoices on CDC letterhead to medical facilities assisting in the research for reimbursement of work allegedly covered by the grants. The invoices were addressed to Aarhaus University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The fact that the invoices were on CDC letterhead made it appear that CDC was requesting the money from Aarhaus University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital although the bank account listed on the invoices belonged to Thorsen.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In April 2011, Thorsen was indicted on 22 counts of Wire Fraud and Money Laundering.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">According to bank account records, Thorsen purchased a home in Atlanta, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, an Audi automobile, and a Honda SUV with funds that he received from the CDC grants.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Thorsen is currently in Denmark and is awaiting extradition to the United States.</li>
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Yousef Kurdy</h2>
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<img alt="Yousef Kurdy" src="http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/images/bio-kurdy.png" style="background: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 0px;" /></div>
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<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In January 2012, Yousef Kurdy was indicted on charges of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, receipt of kickbacks for patient referrals, income tax evasion, aiding and abetting, and criminal forfeiture. Investigators believe that Kurdy fraudulently billed Medicare and Medi-Cal over $150,000.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Kurdy is a medical doctor who owned and operated two clinics in the San Diego, California area, collectively called Broadway Medical Center. According to the indictment, he submitted and caused to be submitted claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for medical office visits that never occurred. In fact, investigators believe that Kurdy billed for office visits on dates that he was out of town, was attending continuing medical education classes, the patients were out of town, or the patients were deceased. Kurdy also upcoded office visits (submitted claims in an inappropriately high payment category) and submitted false claims with diagnoses of medical conditions from which the beneficiaries did not suffer.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Investigators also found that Kurdy solicited and received kickbacks and bribes in return for referring patients with false prescriptions to a pharmacy. These prescriptions generated over $1 million in billings to Medicare and Medi-Cal.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In January 2012, an arrest warrant was issued for Kurdy, who indicated that he would self-surrender, but failed to show up for his initial court appearance. Consequently, he is considered a fugitive at large. Investigators believe that he may be residing in Syria.</li>
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Omar Decendario</h2>
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<img alt="Omar Decendario" src="http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/images/bio-decendario.png" style="background: none; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 0px;" /></div>
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<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In September 2007, Omar Decendario and his co-conspirators were indicted on charges of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and false statements. According to the indictment, Decendario was involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $20 million.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Decendario was a licensed vocational nurse employed at both Sunrise Nursing Registry and Provident Home Health Care Services, Inc., both located in Los Angeles, California.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Decendario allegedly paid nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to sign home health care service forms, falsely indicating that they made skilled nursing visits at the patients' homes when, in fact, they did not make the visits.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">In addition, Decendario and his co-conspirators allegedly created false daily route sheets, skilled nursing notes, and other forms to make it appear as if patients were receiving skilled nursing visits. These forms allegedly were then used to bill Medicare for home health services that were never rendered or were not medically necessary.</li>
<li style="background: url(http://oig.hhs.gov/images/buttonArrow.gif) 0px 5px no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 18px;">Decendario fled the United States and is residing in the Philippines. U.S. officials are working with that country to extradite Decendario to the United States to face charges stemming from the indictment.</li>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4563925192471949207.post-66748987905921991692014-05-28T21:22:00.003+05:302014-05-28T21:22:55.672+05:30No water bottle in future only "Blobs"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The convenience of bottled water provides a guaranteed and portable way of carrying drinkable water, but there’s no hiding from the fact that plastic disposable is seriously harmful to our environment. In fact, so much so that in San Francisco there is talk about <a href="http://gizmodo.com/san-francisco-plans-on-banning-plastic-water-bottles-1537893968" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">banning them</a>. So what could be the substitution for plastic bottles? Well it seems that one answer lies in an edible water bottle in the shape of a blob called Ooho.</div>
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<a href="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-3-610x275.jpg" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ooho-3-610x275" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7740" height="338" src="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-3-610x275.jpg" style="border-style: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="750" /></a><em>[Image Courtesy of Ooho/DesignLexusAward]</em></div>
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The Ooho is a water drop shaped container that is able to hold water inside the double membrane created by London based <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3028012/this-edible-blob-is-a-water-bottle-without-the-plastic" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">FastCompany</a>. Three designers got their heads together to develop a membrane that is made from calcium chloride and brown algae to form a gel around water.</div>
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<a href="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-2-610x342.jpg" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ooho-2-610x342" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7739" height="420" src="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-2-610x342.jpg" style="border-style: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="750" /></a><em>[Image Courtesy of Ooho/DesignLexusAward]</em></div>
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The design has been described as an <a href="http://www.psfk.com/2014/03/edible-waterbottle-pod.html#!BvLK3" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">edible water bottle.</a> The team of three students wanted to come up with something that was durable, sustainable and cheap. They improved on a culinary technique that is decades old and which is called “Spherification” which was first made popular by molecular gastronomy fans at <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/10/el-bulli-201010" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">El Bulli</a>. In simple terms, liquid is turned into spheres and then held by a gelatinous membrane, in this case two of them.</div>
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<a href="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-1-610x1085.jpg" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ooho-1-610x1085" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7738" height="750" src="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-1-610x1085.jpg" style="border-style: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="422" /></a><em>[Image Courtesy of Ooho/DesignLexusAward]</em></div>
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The use of a double membrane ensures that it is durable and also offers a way for a label to be placed in between the two membranes when the product is finally ready to hit the shelves.</div>
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<a href="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-4-610x342.jpg" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ooho-4-610x342" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7741" height="420" src="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-4-610x342.jpg" style="border-style: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="750" /></a><em>[Image Courtesy of Ooho/DesignLexusAward]</em></div>
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All you have to do is put the whole Ooho into your mouth, as the container is edible. Alternatively you can poke a hole in the membrane and then just suck out the water. When the <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3028012/this-edible-blob-is-a-water-bottle-without-the-plastic" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">company tested it</a>, they did find that using this method means that water goes everywhere, so it does look like it needs some more work before release, however, the lack of waste is a very promising feature worthy of further development.</div>
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<a href="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-5-610x527.jpg" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="ooho-5-610x527" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7742" height="648" src="http://interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ooho-5-610x527.jpg" style="border-style: none; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" width="750" /></a><em>[Image Courtesy of Ooho/DesignLexusAward]</em></div>
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Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128005280363072471noreply@blogger.com0