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Monday, March 31, 2014

MyPlate on Rutgers Campus

USDA Blog Post:

The RU Healthy Dining Team hosted a MyPlate nutrition education booth earlier this year. (Jenna Deinzer, Alexa Essenfeld, Nathalie Corres, Jesse Tannehill, Lindsay Yoakam, Rebecca Tonnessen, Taylor Palm, Mary Tursi, and Miranda Schlitt.)
The RU Healthy Dining Team hosted a MyPlate nutrition education booth earlier this year. (Jenna Deinzer, Alexa Essenfeld, Nathalie Corres, Jesse Tannehill, Lindsay Yoakam, Rebecca Tonnessen, Taylor Palm, Mary Tursi, and Miranda Schlitt.)
The MyPlate On Campus initiative, USDA’s effort to promote healthy eating on college campuses nationwide through peer-to-peer education, launched 1 year ago. In that time, nearly 2,000 students, representing all 50 states, have joined the cause by becoming MyPlate On Campus Ambassadors. It has been exciting to watch it grow and see the creative ways that students are bringing nutrition education to life on their campus. Read below about how one group of passionate students is helping to spread the MyPlate message:
By Rebecca Tonnessen and Alex Essenfeld, MyPlate On Campus Ambassadors at Rutgers University, New Jersey
As nutrition students at Rutgers University, we are all excited and passionate about being MyPlate On Campus Ambassadors. Working with dining services and the nutrition department in a joint effort to educate our peers, the RU Healthy Dining team strives to educate the Rutgers community through nutritional booths, newsletters, and outreach programs. As MyPlate Ambassadors and nutrition leaders, we integrate MyPlate into our activities. Our newsletters incorporate MyPlate tips and are distributed to our student body in the dining halls.
Excited Rutgers student, Rebecca Bissessar, enjoying her prizes after participating in our MyPlate game!
Excited Rutgers student, Rebecca Bissessar, enjoying her prizes after participating in our MyPlate game!
Our recent nutrition education booth focused on MyPlate. Educational materials were made available to the students, including MyPlate tip sheets, a life size MyPlate plate, and our own newsletters. We displayed a poster that featured healthy dining hall eating tips provided by MyPlate’s 10 tips for eating healthy in the dining hall resource. Students coming in and out of the dining halls came up to the booth to participate in our featured game: MyPlate Match up. Students had to flip over MyPlate cards until they found a matching food group. We then tested the participant’s nutritional knowledge by asking the player two questions about that particular food group. We all had a great time sharing and learning nutrition information with our peers. Everyone was excited about the prizes, which were MyPlate erasers.
A challenging aspect of being a MyPlate On Campus Ambassador is getting students involved and excited about nutrition. To overcome this, we have found that social media sites are great tools to communicate and educate. We interact with our students through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WordPress. We hold contests to encourage students to interact with us and eat healthier. Recently we held “Promotion Commotion” in which the more times a student interacted with one of our social media sites the more likely they were to win a prize. Students asked questions and took pictures of their healthy dining hall meals and either tagged us in the pictures or used the hashtag #ruhdt. The lucky winners received Rutgers swag bags filled with nutritious snacks. The enthusiasm of the students who participated in our contest really makes what we do a fulfilling experience.
We plan to continue using MyPlate and incorporate it into our events, newsletters, and social media sites in more creative ways in our efforts to get our students excited about nutrition. Like us on Facebook page (RU Healthy Dining Team) and follow our Twitter (@RUHDT) and Instagram (@ru_hdt) accounts to stay up-to-date on our MyPlate Ambassador adventures!
The RU Healthy Dining Team hosted a MyPlate nutrition education booth earlier this year.
The RU Healthy Dining Team hosted a MyPlate nutrition education booth earlier this year.

National Forest Works with Florida Officials, Off-Highway Vehicle Users, to Build Trailhead

USDA Blog Post:

A trail rider expert from Red Hills Powersports of Tallahassee, Fla., answers questions from a young boy from nearby Crawfordville, Fla., during the grand opening of the Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead.  Forest Service engineers designed the recreational trailhead area to include spacious parking for visitors with trailers to offload motorcycles. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)
A trail rider expert from Red Hills Powersports of Tallahassee, Fla., answers questions from a young boy from nearby Crawfordville, Fla., during the grand opening of the Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead. Forest Service engineers designed the recreational trailhead area to include spacious parking for visitors with trailers to offload motorcycles. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)
For many, the “great” in “the great outdoors” answers the call to hit the open road with body, soul and little else except their motorcycle. That got a little easier on the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida with the opening of a new trailhead beckoning riders with easier trail access and opportunity to ride for recreation.
The grand opening of the new Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead south of Tallahassee, Fla., highlights the U.S. Forest Service policy to develop a system of roads, trails and areas designated for motor vehicle use.
The project includes a new, single-span aluminum bridge to connect the forest’s separate motorized northern and southern trails. The prefabricated 90-foot Fisher Creek Bridge, shipped in two sections, replaces an older, antiquated bridge that stretched across the waterway.
“Introducing a new recreation site to the area is very exciting. It’s a milestone for the forest but one we hope the public will enjoy for years,” said Chandra Roberts, recreation program manager for the forest.
The Apalachicola saw the opportunity to create the new recreation area with a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The program provides financial assistance to develop recreational trails, trailheads and trailside facilities.
“The $933,900 grant, funded by off-road vehicle fuel tax dollars through the Federal Highway Administration, has assisted the Forest Service in developing these facilities,” said Alex Weiss, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “The Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead and Fisher Creek Bridge project, located in Leon County, exemplify the intent of RTP, which was created by Congress in 1991.”
Alex Weiss, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, discussed the benefits of the recently completed Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead on the Apalachicola National Forest to a crowd gathered for its grand opening. The new facility is a short distance from Tallahassee, Fla. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)
Alex Weiss, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, discussed the benefits of the recently completed Springhill Motorcycle Trailhead on the Apalachicola National Forest to a crowd gathered for its grand opening. The new facility is a short distance from Tallahassee, Fla. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)
The Florida Forest Service also provided money through their T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation Act, which is designed to provide the public with more opportunities to ride off-highway vehicles on public lands.
“Some people parked on the side of the highway and entered the trail, but now at this new facility there’s plenty of room to safely offload motorcycles and equipment before heading out on a ride,” said Steve Tomicich of the Tallahassee Trail Riders.
Roberts said the Tallahassee Trail Riders, a local motorcycle club, and the Red Hills Powersports of Tallahassee promoted and participated in the grand opening and provided tips on trail riding.
Local resident Jeff McKenzie was particularly grateful for the new trailhead. “I wanted to get a small motorcycle to ride with my kids, but we really didn’t have a place to ride,” McKenzie said.  “Now we have this new motorcycle trailhead and it’s really easy to get to.”
A local motorcycle enthusiast runs one of the motorized trails on the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee, Fla. The forest features approximately 111 miles of trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other off-highway vehicles. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)
A local motorcycle enthusiast runs one of the motorized trails on the Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee, Fla. The forest features approximately 111 miles of trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other off-highway vehicles. (U.S. Forest Service Photo/Susan Blake)

US ships 300,000 MREs to Ukraine military | TheHill

The United States delivered 300,000 meals ready to eat to the Ukranian military, the first delivery of American aid to the former Soviet republic, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/202135-us-ships-300000-mres-to-ukraine-military#ixzz2xZ0Cqeph
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook




US ships 300,000 MREs to Ukraine military | TheHill

Gregg: Dividing one nation into pieces | TheHill

USA Today proclaimed in a front-page headline last week that Americans are not all that upset the federal government is functioning at a dead slow pace.

Read more: http://thehill.com/opinion/judd-gregg/202131-judd-gregg-dividing-one-nation-into-pieces#ixzz2xYz5OdlB
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook




Gregg: Dividing one nation into pieces | TheHill

First Signs of Spring

Trees budding on the Little Blue Trace Trail, Jackson County, MO. March 29, 2014.




Little Blue River

Little Blue River, Jackson County, MO. March 29, 2014.





Grandparents Help Kids Develop Good Eating Habits

USDA Blog Post:

Grandchildren are a treasure.
Grandchildren are a treasure.
Grandkids are a grandparent’s greatest treasure.  From time to time during grandchildren’s young lives, grandparents may have the pleasure of being their caregiver.  Show them how to be healthy, including how to make healthy food choices–an important way grandparents show how much they love and care about their grandchildren.
As a proud grandmother, I can attest that grandkids learn by example!  They mimic everything you do, so be a healthy role model by taking care of yourself and they will learn to value healthy habits.  Use ChooseMyPlate.gov to guide your food choices and better understand the nutrition needs of young children in your life.  Take your grandchildren shopping at a farmer’s market and the grocery store.  Talk about the choices you are making—choosing the juicier oranges or the fresher vegetables.  Help them learn cooking skills, which will benefit them throughout their lives. Encourage them to be active throughout the day.
Take time to share and listen to your grandchild – the time you spend together offers wonderful opportunities to understand one another.  Discuss likes and dislikes of different foods and talk about what they eat at school or at home.  Involve grandkids in selecting and preparing foods for meals, and offer the same foods to everyone.  Avoid making different dishes to please young, fussy eaters.  Offer snack foods that help meet their daily food group needs such as applesauce, baby carrots, string cheese, or 100% whole grain crackers.  Reward them with your attention.  Hugs are much better than sweet treats.
Spend time walking in the neighborhood, planting a vegetable garden, or shooting a few hoops.  Dance, run, and play hopscotch or soccer with them when they’re full of energy—it’s fun and healthy for both of you!
Show your grandchild games, activity sheets and other fun ways to learn about good nutrition at MyPlate Kids’ Place.  For a bedtime story, read The Two Bite Club
The US Department of Agriculture offers food assistancenutrition education resources, and nutrition guidance for older adults and their grandkids.  Use the following resources to learn more:

Flipping the switch on magnetism in strontium titanate

Researchers have found a way to magnetize this material using light, an effect that persists for hours at a time.



Flipping the switch on magnetism in strontium titanate

ATHENA desktop human “body” could reduce need for animal drug tests

ATHENA project team is developing four human organ constructs that are based on a significantly miniaturized platform.



ATHENA desktop human “body” could reduce need for animal drug tests

Idaho National Laboratory contractor will operate lab for five more years

INL News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2014
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Misty Benjamin (INL), 208-351-9900, misty.benjamin@inl.gov
Tim Jackson (DOE-ID), 208-526-8484, jacksotb@id.doe.gov
Idaho National Laboratory contractor will operate lab for five more years
IDAHO FALLS — The U.S. Department of Energy has exercised an option in Battelle Energy Alliance’s original 10-year contract to operate Idaho National Laboratory for an additional five years. This provides INL and its employees with the continuity required to continue building on the achievements of the past 10 years.
"This action is significant for all INL employees, and their hard work and dedication made it possible," said Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher. "They grew the capabilities of the lab, improved the infrastructure, strengthened our intellectual leadership, and accomplished world-class technology research, development, demonstration and deployment."

The contract that created INL was awarded to BEA in November 2004. It began on Feb. 1, 2005, and the current period of performance ends Sept. 30, 2014. BEA now will operate INL through Sept. 30, 2019.
The basis for exercising the option to extend the current contract is BEA’s consistently strong annual performance and success in managing INL.
One significant success outlined in the BEA contract is the creation of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. BEA partnered with the State of Idaho to establish CAES, which has generated nearly $60 million in competitive research opportunities for Idaho's universities and INL since 2008.

The services required under the extended contract are similar to the current services provided. BEA is responsible for managing and operating INL. DOE's vision is for INL to enhance the nation’s energy security as the preeminent, internationally recognized nuclear energy research, development and demonstration laboratory. As a multiprogram national laboratory, INL also is a major center for national security technology development and demonstration. INL fosters new academic, industry, government and international collaborations to produce the investment and expertise that assure this vision is realized.

BEA partners include: Battelle, URS Corporation, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Electric Power Research Institute, the National University Consortium (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, North Carolina State University, University of New Mexico and Oregon State University) and the Idaho University Consortium (University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University).
INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE's strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance. See more INL news at www.inl.gov. Follow @INL on Twitter or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IdahoNationalLaboratory.

Brooklyn Man Admits Traveling to New Jersey to Violently Extort Divorce Consent from Reluctant Husband

FBI Newark Division Press Release:

Brooklyn Man Admits Traveling to New Jersey to Violently Extort Divorce Consent from Reluctant Husband

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeMarch 25, 2014
  • District of New Jersey(973) 645-2888
TRENTON—A Brooklyn, New York man admitted today in Trenton federal court to traveling to New Jersey in order to coerce a Jewish man to give his wife a religious divorce—referred to as a “get”—through threats of violence, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Simcha Bulmash, 30, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an information charging him with traveling in interstate commerce to commit extortion. His bail conditions include a $500,000 bond and GPS monitoring.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 9, 2013, Bulmash and a group of conspirators—including Jay Goldstein, 59; Moshe Goldstein, 31; Avrohom Goldstein, 34; David Hellman, 31; Ariel Potash, 40; Binyamin Stimler, 38; and Sholom Shuchat, 29—traveled from New York to a warehouse in Edison, New Jersey, with the intent of forcing a Jewish man to give his wife a “get,” a divorce document which, according to Jewish Law, must be presented by a husband to his wife to effect their divorce.
Bulmash admitted that when he arrived at the warehouse, the group met with an individual who, unbeknownst to them, was an undercover FBI agent posing as the husband’s brother in law. Bulmash admitted that they discussed a plan and prepared to confine, restrain, and threaten the victim.
The group was then arrested by a team of FBI agents and charged by criminal complaint—along with rabbis Mendel Epstein, 68, and Martin Wolmark, 55—in connection with the scheme. Hellman pleaded guilty to an information charging him with traveling in interstate commerce to commit extortion on March 6, 2014. Moshe and Avrohom Goldstein pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 11, 2014. The charges against the remaining alleged conspirators remain pending. All the defendants reside in Brooklyn, except Potash and Wolmark, who live in Monsey, New York.
During his guilty plea proceeding, Bulmash also admitted that on August 22, 2011, he and others went to a residence in Brooklyn where they restrained, assaulted, and injured a man in an attempt to extort a divorce from him. That conduct will be considered by the court during sentencing, currently scheduled for July 10, 2014.
Bulmash faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Lakewood, New Jersey Police Department for their role.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Joseph Gribko and Sarah Wolfe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton.
The pending charges and allegations against related defendants are merely allegations, and they are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

SNL Makes Fun Of Obamacare’s Horrible Social Media Marketing Campaigns! | The Federalist Papers

SNL Makes Fun Of Obamacare’s Horrible Social Media Marketing Campaigns! | The Federalist Papers

Little Blue Trace Trail

Little Blue Trace Trail, Jackson County, Missouri.




Free Shipping!

Little Blue River

Little Blue River, Jackson County, Missouri. March 29, 2014





My Arabian Night: How an Obama pool stop went viral - Carrie Budoff Brown - POLITICO.com

My Arabian Night: How an Obama pool stop went viral - Carrie Budoff Brown - POLITICO.com

Chuck Schumer seeks better World Trade Center security - Associated Press - POLITICO.com

NEW YORK — Sen. Charles Schumer stood by the World Trade Center on Sunday, demanding that federal officials review security after daredevils twice sneaked to the top of the site’s signature, 104-story skyscraper.

Schumer’s request comes after a teenager was charged with climbing to the top of the 1,776-foot spire of 1 World Trade Center, three skydiving enthusiasts turned themselves in to face charges in a September jump off the building, and a newspaper published a photo of a guard apparently sleeping on the job.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/chuck-schumer-world-trade-center-security-105175.html#ixzz2xUoYwIl3




Chuck Schumer seeks better World Trade Center security - Associated Press - POLITICO.com

Man arrested for scaling White House fence

WASHINGTON — The Secret Service said Sunday a man has been arrested after he climbed over a fence at the White House.

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said the man climbed over the fence around 4 p.m. Sunday and was immediately arrested. The White House briefly went into lockdown after the incident, which is standard procedure.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/man-arrested-for-scaling-white-house-fence-105191.html#ixzz2xUnZptWq




Man arrested for scaling White House fence

New Technique for Identifying Gene-Enhancers

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Release:

Berkeley Lab-Led Research Team Unveils Powerful New Tool for Studying DNA Elements that Regulate Genes

MARCH 24, 2014
Lynn Yarris (510) 486-5375  lcyarris@lbl.gov
 25 
 
 
   
News Release
With the new SIF-seq technique, mouse embryonic stem cells can be used to identify human embryonic stem cell enhancers even when the human enhancers are not present in the mouse genome.
With the new SIF-seq technique, mouse embryonic stem cells can be used to identify human embryonic stem cell enhancers even when the human enhancers are not present in the mouse genome.
An international team led by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has developed a new technique for identifying gene enhancers – sequences of DNA that act to amplify the expression of a specific gene – in the genomes of humans and other mammals. Called SIF-seq, for site-specific integration fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by sequencing, this new technique complements existing genomic tools, such as ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing), and offers some additional benefits.
“While ChIP-seq is very powerful in that it can query an entire genome for characteristics associated with enhancer activity in a single experiment, it can fail to identify some enhancers and identify some sites as being enhancers when they really aren’t,” says Diane Dickel, a geneticist with Berkeley Lab’s Genomics Division and member of the SIF-seq development team. “SIF-seq is currently capable of testing only hundreds to a few thousand sites for enhancer activity in a single experiment, but can determine enhancer activity more accurately than ChIP-seq and is therefore a very good validation assay for assessing ChIP-seq results.”
Dickel is the lead author of a paper in Nature Methods describing this new technique. The paper is titled “Function-based identification of mammalian enhancers using site-specific integration.” The corresponding authors are Axel Visel and Len Pennacchio, also geneticists with Berkeley Lab’s Genomics Division. (See below for a complete list of authors.)
With the increasing awareness of the important role that gene enhancers play in normal cell development as well as in disease, there is strong scientific interest in identifying and characterizing these enhancers. This is a challenging task because an enhancer does not have to be located directly adjacent to the gene whose expression it regulates, but can instead be located hundreds of thousands of DNA base pairs away. The challenge is made even more difficult because the activity of many enhancers is restricted to specific tissues or cell types.
Diane Dickel is the lead author of Nature Methods paper  describing a new technique for identifying gene enhancers in the genomes of humans and other mammals. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
Diane Dickel is the lead author of Nature Methods paper describing a new technique for identifying gene enhancers in the genomes of humans and other mammals. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
“For example, brain enhancers will not typically work in heart cells, which means that you must test your enhancer sequence in the correct cell type,” Dickel says.
Currently, enhancers can be identified through chroma­tin-based assays, such as ChIP-seq, which predict enhancer elements indirectly based on the enhancer’s association with specific epigenomic marks, such as transcription factors or molecular tags on DNA-associated histone proteins. Visel, Pennacchio, Dickel and their colleagues developed SIF-seq in response to the need for a higher-throughput functional enhancer assay that can be used in a wide variety of cell types and devel­opmental contexts.
“We’ve shown that SIF-seq can be used to identify enhancers active in cardiomyocytes, neural progenitor cells, and embryonic stem cells, and we think that it has the potential to be expanded for use in a much wider variety of cell types,” Dickel says. “This means that many more types of enhancers could potentially be tested in vitro in cell culture.”
In SIF-seq, hundreds or thousands of DNA fragments to be tested for enhancer activity are coupled to a reporter gene and targeted into a single, reproducible site in embryonic cell genomes. Every embryonic cell will have exactly one potential enhancer-reporter. Fluorescence-activated sorting is then used to identify and retrieve from this mix only those cells that display strong reporter gene expression, which represent the cells with the most active enhancers.
“Unlike previous enhancer assays for mammals, SIF-seq includes the integration of putative enhancers into a single genomic locus,” says Visel. “Therefore, the activity of enhancers is assessed in a reproducible chromosomal context rather than from a transiently expressed plasmid. Furthermore, by making use of embryonic stem cells and in vitro differentia­tion, SIF-seq can be used to assess enhancer activity in a wide variety of disease-relevant cell types.”
Berkeley Lab's Len Pennacchio (left) and Axel Visel led the development of a new technique for identifying gene enhancers called SIF-seq, for site-specific integration fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by sequencing. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
Berkeley Lab's Len Pennacchio (left) and Axel Visel led the development of a new technique for identifying gene enhancers called SIF-seq, for site-specific integration fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by sequencing. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
Adds Pennacchio, “The range of biologically or disease-relevant enhancers that SIF-seq can be used to identify is limited only by currently available stem cell differentiation methods. Although we did not explicitly test the activity of species-specific enhancers, such as those derived from certain classes of repetitive elements, our results strongly suggest that SIF-seq can be used to identify enhancers from other mammalian genomes where desired cell types are difficult or impossible to obtain.”
The ability of SIF-seq to use reporter assays in mouse embryonic stem cells to identify human embryonic stem cell enhancers that are not present in the mouse genome opens the door to intriguing research possibilities as Dickel explains.
“Human and chimpanzee genes differ very little, so one hypothesis in evolutionary genomics holds that humans and chimpanzees are so phenotypically different because of differences in the way they regulate gene expression. It is very difficult to carry out enhancer identification through ChIP-seq that would be useful in studying this hypothesis,” she says. “However, because SIF-seq only requires DNA sequence from a mammal and can be used in a variety of cell types, it should be possible to compare the neuronal enhancers present in a large genomic region from human to the neuronal enhancers present in the orthologous chimpanzee region. This could potentially tell us interesting things about the genetic differences that differentiate human brain development from that of other primates.”
In addition to Dickel, Pennacchio and Visel, other co-authors of the Nature Methods paper were Yiwen Zhu, Alex Nord, John Wylie, Jennifer Akiyama, Veena Afzal, Ingrid Plajzer-Frick, Aileen Kirkpatrick, Berthold Göttgens and Benoit Bruneau.
This research was primarily supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Additional Information
For more about the research of Axel Visel go here
For more about the research of Len Pennacchio go here
#  #  #
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. For more, visit www.lbl.gov.

Ames Lab researchers show polymer-coated nanocubes form complex structures

The Ames Lab News Release:

Ames Lab researchers show polymer-coated nanocubes form complex structures

Contacts:                                                              For release: March 21, 2014
Alex Travesset, Materials Sciences and Engineering, 515-294-7191
Kerry Gibson, Public Affairs, 515-294-1405
Nanoparticles assembled in new ways hold the promise of a wave of new high-tech materials that could offer high strength, enhanced magnetic properties, light reflectivity or absorption, use as catalysts and much more. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory have developed a theoretical model to explore the effect of polymer coatings, including DNA, for self-assembly of nanocubes into so-called superlattices.
What makes the work by Ames Laboratory physicist Alex Travesset and graduate assistant Chris Knorowski significant is that they have characterized how these nanocubes form crystalline and liquid crystalline structures. Their work was published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society and mentioned in an Editor’s Choice article in the January 31 issue of Science.
Image
Using numerical simulations, Ames Lab researchers found that “hairy” (f-star) or DNA grafted on nanocubes provided a general framework to direct the self-assembly into phases with crystalline, liquid crystalline, rotator, or noncrystalline phases with both long-range positional and orientational order.
“Spherical nanoparticles, are isotropic so they can align in any direction,” Travesset explains. “Nanocubes are different. They are anisotropic, so they display orientational order. They will only stack together if the faces orient in certain ways.”
“From a more applied point of view, cubes can pack together more efficiently than spheres; in configurations that do not leave any gaps,” he adds, “so they are of interest in areas such as catalysis where you want to maximize contact area.”
To date scientists had only considered theoretical systems that consist of hard nanocubes. However, by coating nanocubes with strands of polymer, the structures that form are bound together so that they can be extracted and studied in laboratory environments. The nanocubes can be metallic, gold or silver, or made of semiconducting material.
Travesset’s theoretical model uses both a general polymer and DNA. While both resulted in assembly of nanocubes into complex crystalline structures, the DNA system allows control of self-assembly by hybridization of complementary base pairs.
“With DNA, you can encode information about which cubes are going to assemble with which other cubes,” Travesset said. “It gives you a more precise way to target relevant self-assembled structures.”
“Because the system can be polymerized in water, the assembled structure can be extracted and used in dry environments,” Travesset said. “And these complex structures provide much more opportunity for applications and systems than simple hard cubes allow. We hope these systems will lead to further experimentation.”
The research is funded by the DOE’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit the Office of Science website at science.energy.gov/.
Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.

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Novartis to work with FDA on path forward for RLX030 for acute heart failure following Advisory Committee outcome

Novartis News Release:

March 27, 2014 22:08 CET

Novartis to work with FDA on path forward for RLX030 for acute heart failure following Advisory Committee outcome

  • Advisory Committee members voted against RLX030 for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF)[1]
  • Novartis believes RLX030 has the potential to be an important treatment for AHF, a disease with lower survival rates than many advanced cancers or a heart attack
  • Second phase III study RELAX-AHF-2 started enrolment in September 2013 using mortality as primary endpoint
  • Over 1 million people in the US are hospitalized for AHF each year[2], every episode results in a downward spiral of worsening health and poorer prognosis[3]
Basel, March 27, 2014 Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) voted against approval for RLX030 (serelaxin) for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF).[1]
Data presented at today's Advisory Committee meeting included phase II and III efficacy and safety data from the RLX030 clinical development program, including the pivotal phase III RELAX-AHF study. In this study RLX030 improved the symptoms of acute heart failure (AHF) through reducing the rate of worsening heart failure, a measure of symptom deterioration that requires intensification of therapy.[4]
"Recognizing the urgent patient need, today we presented what we believe to be a persuasive picture of the evidence for RLX030 so far - compelling results from our Phase II and III trials with no significant safety concerns," said Tim Wright, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "The discussion provided important information that we will address with the FDA as it completes its review. In the meantime we'll continue to drive our robust clinical trial program and build upon the already established body of evidence."
RLX030 is under review to improve the symptoms of AHF through reduction of the rate of worsening of heart failure. Its proposed administration is in addition to conventional therapies, as a 48-hour infusion in the hospital during an AHF episode.[5] The recommendation of the Advisory Committee will be considered by the FDA in its review of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for RLX030, but the FDA is not bound to follow them. The FDA makes the final decision on approvals of new treatments.
About RLX030
RLX030, a relaxin receptor agonist,[6] is a recombinant form of a naturally occurring hormone (human relaxin 2) present in both men and women which rises in women during pregnancy to help the body cope with the additional cardiovascular demands.[7],[8] RLX030 has multiple effects including relaxing the blood vessels and reducing fluid buildup. Some evidence also suggests it can reduce damage to heart and vital organs, which may be of particular importance when considering the cascade of damage that occurs during an AHF episode.[5],[9],[10]
RLX030 was granted Breakthrough Therapy (BT) designation status by the FDA in June 2013[11] for the ongoing development program. The BT designation is independent of the BLA currently under review and its corresponding FDA action date. The ongoing development program includes RELAX-AHF-2, a global, phase III outcomes study of more than 6,300 patients, of which approximately 1,000 will be from the US. The study began recruiting in 2013; results are expected in 2016 and will add to the current body of evidence for RLX030.
About acute heart failure (AHF)
Heart failure (HF), when the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body, is a significant and growing public health concern, substantially impacting quality of life for an estimated 5.1 million Americans.[2] AHF can occur in people who have never had HF before or when patients with chronic HF suffer critical episodes where symptoms become worse and urgent hospital treatment is required.[3],[12] As an AHF episode approaches, patients become increasingly more breathless, incapacitated, and may rapidly gain weight due to fluid build-up in the body, which is often compared to the sensation of drowning due to fluid in the lungs.[13] Every episode results in a downward spiral of worsening health and a cascade of damage to vital organs, such as the heart, kidneys and liver, which decreases the chance of the patient surviving another episode.[3]
Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "to work," "path forward," "potential," "goal," "will," "under review," "recommendation," "suggests," "ongoing," "expected," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals for RLX030, or regarding potential future revenues from RLX030. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that RLX030 will be approved for sale in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that RLX030 will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding RLX030 could be affected by, among other things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 136,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world.
For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis.
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Novartis study published in NEJM showed LDK378 demonstrated an overall response rate of 58% in patients with ALK+ NSCLC

Novartis News Release:

March 26, 2014 22:00 CET

Novartis study published in NEJM showed LDK378 demonstrated an overall response rate of 58% in patients with ALK+ NSCLC

  • Data showed investigational treatment LDK378 (ceritinib) also achieved a median progression-free survival of seven months
  • Patients with this type of lung cancer, especially those for whom prior therapies have failed, are in need of new treatment options[1]
  • Data served as the basis for regulatory application to the US Food and Drug Administration with action expected this year
Basel, March 26, 2014 - Novartis today announced that The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published clinical trial results showing the investigational compound LDK378 (ceritinib) achieved an overall response rate (ORR, including complete response [CR] and partial response [PR]) of 58% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of seven months in adults with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received 400 mg or higher of LDK378 per day[1].
The study evaluated 114 ALK+ NSCLC patients treated with LDK378, including patients who had progressed during or following treatment with a commonly prescribed ALK inhibitor called crizotinib and those who had not received prior treatment with an ALK inhibitor[1]. This study is part of the ongoing Novartis clinical trial program in this patient population.
"The majority of patients in the study experienced a clinical response to LDK378. In addition, responses were seen in untreated lesions in the central nervous system in patients who previously received crizotinib[1]," said lead investigator Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston. "These results are important because most patients experience a disease relapse less than a year after starting crizotinib and have limited treatment options."
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 85-90% of all cases, with 2-7% of those patients having the ALK gene rearrangement that increases the growth of cancer cells[2],[3],[4],[5]. Currently, there are limited treatment options for patients with ALK+ NSCLC, who tend to be non-smokers and younger than NSCLC patients who are not ALK+[1],[6].
The study results published in NEJM demonstrated a median PFS of 7.0 months [95% CI; 5.6-9.5 months] in patients with ALK+ NSCLC treated with LDK378 at doses of 400 mg to the maximum tolerated dose of 750 mg per day[1]. The study also reported an ORR of 59% [95% CI; 47-70%] in patients taking LDK378 at 750 mg per day[1]. The responses observed demonstrated LDK378 is active in patients with advanced ALK+ NSCLC, including those who were previously treated with crizotinib, with or without new mutations in the ALK gene[1].
The most frequent adverse events were nausea (82%), diarrhea (75%), vomiting (65%), fatigue (47%) and increased alanine aminotransferase levels (35%)[1]. Preliminary data from this publication were first presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting[4]. The study is ongoing with more data to become available.
"These pivotal data published in NEJM served as the basis for our first regulatory filing for LDK378," said Alessandro Riva, President, Novartis Oncology ad interim and Global Head, Oncology Development and Medical Affairs. "We are pleased that the FDA has accepted our application, and we look forward to working with the FDA and health authorities worldwide to bring this important treatment option to patients in need as swiftly as possible."
The FDA designated LDK378 as a Breakthrough Therapy, which is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs that treat serious or life-threatening conditions if the therapy has demonstrated substantial improvement over an available therapy on at least one clinically significant endpoint[7].
Several major studies evaluating treatment with LDK378 are being conducted in more than 300 study centers across more than 30 countries. Currently, two Phase II clinical trials (www.clinicaltrials.gov identifiers NCT01685060 and NCT01685138) are fully enrolled and ongoing. In addition, two Phase III clinical trials (www.clinicaltrials.gov identifiers NCT01828099 and NCT01828112) are ongoing and are actively recruiting patients worldwide to further evaluate LDK378 in patients with ALK+ NSCLC[8],[9],[10],[11].
About the study 
The Phase I single-arm study investigated the maximum tolerated dose, safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity of LDK378 in 130 patients, including 122 patients with ALK+ NSCLC[1]. Of 114 ALK+ NSCLC patients treated with LDK378 at 400 mg or higher per day, 80 had progressed during or following treatment with crizotinib, and 34 patients with ALK+ NSCLC were crizotinib-naïve[1]. The maximum tolerated dose observed in the study was 750 mg per day[1].
The median duration of response for the 66 responding patients treated at 400 mg or higher per day was 8.2 months [95% CI; 6.9-11.4 months]. In all 114 ALK+ NSCLC patients treated at 400 mg or higher per day, median PFS was 7.0 months [95% CI; 5.6-9.5 months][1].
In the 114 ALK+ NSCLC patients treated with LDK378 at 400 mg or higher per day, the ORR was 58% [95% CI; 48-67%] (1 CR and 65 PRs), which includes those patients who had progressed during or after crizotinib therapy (ORR 56% [95% CI; 45-67%]) and those who were crizotinib-naïve (ORR 62% [95% CI; 44-78%])[1]. In the 78 patients with ALK+ NSCLC who received LDK378 at the maximum tolerated dose of 750 mg per day, the ORR was 59% [95% CI; 47-70%] (46 PRs), which includes those who had progressed during or after crizotinib therapy (ORR 56% [95% CI; 41-70%]) and those who were crizotinib-naïve (ORR 64% [95% CI; 44-81%])[1].
Patients with asymptomatic, untreated or treated central nervous system (CNS) metastases were also eligible for treatment, and responses were seen in untreated lesions in the CNS in patients previously treated with crizotinib[1].
The most frequent adverse events were nausea (82%), diarrhea (75%), vomiting (65%), fatigue (47%) and increased alanine aminotransferase levels (35%). The most common grade 3 or 4 study drug-related adverse events were increased alanine aminotransferase levels (21%), increased aspartate aminotransferase levels (11%), diarrhea (7%) and increased lipase levels (7%), all of which were reversible upon treatment discontinuation. Four cases of interstitial lung disease possibly related to LDK378 were noted; all resolved with discontinuation of LDK378 and standard treatments. One case of asymptomatic grade 3 corrected QT prolongation possibly related to LDK378 was seen[1].
Sixty-six of 130 patients (51%) required at least one dose reduction, and in 8 of 130 patients (6%), the study drug was permanently discontinued due to an adverse event. At the 750 mg dose level, 50 of 81 patients (62%) required at least one dose reduction, of which 32 occurred in cycle 3 or later. No treatment-related deaths occurred[1].
About LDK378 
The safety and efficacy profile of LDK378 has not yet been established because it is an investigational compound. Access to LDK378 is available only through controlled clinical trials. These trials are designed to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of this compound. Because of the uncertainty of clinical trials, there is no guarantee that LDK378 will become commercially available.
Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "investigational," "expected," "ongoing," "potential," "to become," "look forward," "to bring," "Breakthrough Therapy," "intended," "designed," "will," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals for LDK378, or regarding potential future revenues from LDK378. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that LDK378 will be approved for sale in any market, or submitted in any additional markets, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that LDK378 will receive regulatory approval or be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding LDK378 could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 136,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visithttp://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis.
References
[1] Shaw A, et al. Ceritinib in ALK-Rearranged Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(13):1189-97.
[2] American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell Detailed Guide. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LungCancer-Non-SmallCell/DetailedGuide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-what-is-non-small-cell-lung-cancer. Accessed on October 11, 2013.
[3] National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. NCCN 2014 3:1-148.
[4] Shaw A, et al. Clinical Activity of the ALK Inhibitor LDK378 in Advanced, ALK-positive NSCLC. Abstract #8010. 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, USA.
[5] National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: ALK Gene. Available at:http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=721252. Accessed on October 11, 2013.
[6] Shaw A, et al. Targeting Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase in Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2011;17:2081-2086. 
[7] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Frequently Asked Questions: Breakthrough Therapies. Available at: 
http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Legislation/FederalFoodDrugandCosmeticActFDCAct/SignificantAmendmentstotheFDCAct/FDASIA/ucm341027.htm. Accessed on February 27, 2014.
[8] ClinicalTrials.gov. LDK378 in Adult Patients With ALK-activated NSCLC Previously Treated With Chemotherapy and Crizotinib. Available at:http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01685060?term=%22LDK378%22+and+%22Phase+II%22&rank=1. Accessed on October 11, 2013.
[9] ClinicalTrials.gov. LDK378 in Crizotinib naïve Adult Patients With ALK-activated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at:http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01685138?term=%22LDK378%22+and+%22Phase+II%22&rank=2. Accessed on October 11, 2013.
[10] ClinicalTrials.gov. LDK378 Versus Chemotherapy in Previously Untreated Patients With ALK Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at:http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01828099?term=%22LDK378%22+and+%22Phase+III%22&rank=1 Accessed on October 11, 2013.
[11] ClinicalTrials.gov. LDK378 Versus Chemotherapy in ALK Rearranged (ALK Positive) Patients Previously Treated With Chemotherapy (Platinum Doublet) and Crizotinib. Available at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01828112?term=%22LDK378%22+and+%22Phase+III%22&rank=2 
Accessed on October 11, 2013.
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