TEMPE, Ariz. – This New Year, let Tempe Parks and Recreation turn the chore of keeping New Year’s resolutions into a pleasure with brand new fitness and special interest classes. During the upcoming Winter 2010 program session, toddlers, retirees and everybody in between can make the most of the winter months with fun and educational classes that improve mind and body. Hundreds of new and continuing programs are listed in the Winter 2010 Tempe Opportunities brochure at www.tempe.gov/brochure, including these intriguing offerings:

Introduction to Gymnastics – Children 30 months to 12 years will learn the basic skills and positions of all four Olympic events: bars, beam, floor and vault.

Architecture and Design Studio – Children 8-12 will explore the design process of building structures and developing innovative solutions to a variety of design-related problems.

Junior Practice & Play - A 12-week program for junior tennis players to practice their technique in an open-court setting under supervision of a staff teaching pro.

Bad Doggie Habits – This course is designed for dog owners who would like to correct their dog’s behavior by learning to use three easy commands while being exposed to distractions. Designed for dogs of all levels of obedience.

Drop-In Fitness Programs – A new, convenient payment method gives the option of a full fitness course commitment or pay-as-you-go. Choose from Body Sculpt, Building Better Bones, Step and Sculpt, Total Body Workout, Zumba, Multilevel Pilates, Pilates and Stretch or Pilates/Yoga Combo.

Erg Fitness – Try a different approach to cardio fitness by using a rowing machine. Workouts offer low impact, full-body exercise and are ideal for all experience levels.

Interior Decorating Made Easy – A professional interior decorator will teach basic principles and techniques of interior design, including color, texture, scale and balance, and how to apply them to a room or a whole house.

Zumba for 50+ – This class for adults 50+ of all ability levels incorporates Latin dance moves with upbeat Latin music to maximize caloric output.

Adapted Yoga – Students with intellectual disabilities will learn relaxation techniques and basic sitting and standing yoga poses to increase flexibility and improve balance.

Taoist Meditation –This unique meditation uses the energies of body, emotions and mind to resolve difficulties and attain a clear and relaxed spirituality.
Registration began Monday, Dec. 7 for Tempe residents. Non-residents can register starting Monday, Dec. 14. Registration is accepted online with any major credit card, via mail, fax or in person. Classes begin the week of Jan. 11, 2010.

Tempe residents have an added opportunity to register for classes and non-residents can register two days early at the Tempe Town Lake Turns 10 celebration on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 1-5 p.m. at Tempe Beach Park.

For more information on the Winter 2010 program session, visit www.tempe.gov/rec or call 480-350-5200.

Source:  City of Tempe

TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare is world’s first site to test new drug by major Italian firm

NMS-1286937 is designed to halt cancer cells from dividing

12-08-2009

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Dec. 8, 2009 — TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare (TCRS) is the world’s first clinical trials site for a new drug designed to halt cancer cell division.

NMS-1286937 is produced by Nerviano Medical Sciences of Milan, Italy’s largest pharmaceutical research and development facility. NMS-1286937 is designed to stop cancer from spreading by preventing mitosis, the process of cell division.

“Cancer is driven by abnormal cell division and growth. Striking cancer cells at a key mechanism for growth opens up new possibilities, especially for lung and head and neck cancer patients,” said Dr. Glen J. Weiss, Director of Thoracic Oncology at TCRS.

TCRS is a partnership between the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare that enables laboratory discoveries to be quickly turned into targeted therapies that can be tested with patients at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale.

This Phase 1 clinical trial of as many as 40 adults with solid tumors will help determine if NMS-1286937 is safe and effective, and should lead to further clinical assessment.

Dr. Daniel Von Hoff – TGen’s Physician-In-Chief, Chief Scientific Officer at TCRS and principal investigator for the trial – described NMS-1286937 as a potent and selective polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor designed to stop cancer cells from dividing by targeting the process of mitosis. High expression of polo-like kinase 1 is present in a wide range of cancers, including lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, head, neck, thyroid and ovarian cancer.

NMS-1286937 will be administered orally. Preclinical studies demonstrated that NMS-1286937 is effective against even aggressive cancers known to be resistant to the current standard of care.

“We at Nerviano are excited about the prospects of this new drug and are pleased to be partnering in this endeavor with TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare,’’ said Maria Adele Pacciarini, Clinical Programme Director in Clinical Oncology at Nerviano Medical Sciences.

For more information about clinical trials and eligibility, contact TCRS’s patient care coordinator Joyce Ingold, R.N., at 480-323-1339, toll free at 1-877-273-3713 or at clinicaltrials@shc.org.

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About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers diagnosis, treatment, research, prevention and support in its facilities at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, attracting patients from across Arizona and the U.S. Groundbreaking cancer research is conducted through its Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute and TGen Clinical Research Service. Scottsdale Healthcare is the not-for-profit parent organization of the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. For additional information, please visit www.shc.org.

Press Contact:
Keith Jones, Director of Public Relations
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
480-882-4412
kjones@shc.org

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About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, please visit: www.tgen.org.

Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org

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About Nerviano Medical Sciences
Nerviano Medical Sciences is the largest pharmaceutical research and development facility in Italy, and one of the largest oncology-focused, integrated discovery and development companies in Europe. NMS was spun off from Pfizer in May 2004. Since then, NMS Oncology has brought into clinical trials 3 first in class NCEs. NMS Oncology has more than 20 targeted drugs in preclinical phase, along with 5 innovative cancer drugs in Phase I and Phase II clinical studies in cancer. In the last three years, NMS Oncology has successfully generated 2 high quality anti-cancer clinical candidates every year. For more information, please visit: www.nervianoms.com/cont/en/home-page/0705/2500/home-page.asp.

Technorati Tags: cancer

SBA Administrator Karen Mills to Address National Press Club

WASHINGTON, D.C. – SBA Administrator Karen Mills will speak at a National Press Club luncheon, Monday, Dec. 14.  Mills’ speech, “Building Businesses, Creating Jobs, and Strengthening our Economy,” will highlight the Obama administration’s efforts to ensure that small businesses have the resources they need to continue to drive economic growth and create jobs.

The nation’s largest single financial backer of small businesses, the SBA has supported more than $16 billion in lending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  The agency has also taken a lead role in helping small businesses compete for federal government contracts.  As a result, small businesses have been awarded almost $4.8 billion in Recovery Act contracts so far.  Through its affiliated counseling and training programs, the SBA provides technical assistance and advice to more than one million entrepreneurs every year.

WHO: SBA Administrator Karen Mills

WHAT: “Building Businesses, Creating Jobs, and Strengthening our Economy”

WHERE:    The National Press Club
529 14th St, NW, Washington, DC

WHEN: Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, 12:30 p.m.

OF NOTE: Reservations can be made by contacting the National Press Club at
(202) 662-7501 or emailing reservations@press.org.  The luncheon costs $17 for National Press Club members, $28 for their guests, and $35 for general admission.

Credentialed press may cover the luncheon with proper ID.

Technorati Tags: Business News, SBA, small business

Technorati Tags: Christmas

Interested in boating Tempe Town Lake? Take a survey

Technorati Tags: Boating, Tempe Town Lake

Motorola Survey Reveals Media Mobility is Key for the Millennial Generation Survey of 16-27 year olds defines media consumption choices of the future Basingstoke, UK – 10 September 2008 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced further results of its research into the consumer technology decisions and media consumption habits of the ‘Millennial’ generation (16-27 year olds). This new study of over 1,200 Millennials from five countries in Europe and the Middle East found that young adults are passionate about being in control of their rich media content and are heavily influencing older generations. The study was commissioned to further understand the Millennials’ viewing habits and how they move and share their content across devices. It found that not only do Millennials themselves engage with new technologies and services, they actively influence their parents’ adoption habits: The majority of respondents stated that they influence the broadband (83 percent) or TV services (84 percent) purchased by their parents, even if they do not live at home. “Technology is the lifeblood of this generation. Millennials feel that their personal lifestyle would change dramatically without internet access. It is not surprising therefore to see their influence on technology purchasing for the home,” said Joe Cozzolino, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility EMEA. “By understanding the needs and desires of this generation, Motorola is able to design and customize solutions for our customers that enable them to deliver rich media experiences to today’s and tomorrow’s consumer.” Prime Time to My Time TV is unsurprisingly still a favored form of entertainment. However, it is how, where and when we watch that is changing significantly. The traditional TV schedule is becoming a thing of the past: 78 percent of Millennials would prefer a TV programme to restart the moment they switch over to that channel Two-thirds (66 percent) would be interested in pausing TV in one room and restarting it in another. This compares to 86 percent of respondents in the United States when surveyed earlier this year Almost one in three (32 percent) prefer to watch programmes on their PC rather than TV set Media mobility Significant numbers of respondents want to be able to access full-length movies and their favorite shows on the move, yet it is through shorter bursts of content that mobile entertainment comes into its own: Having the option to shift TV programmes from the set-top at home to a mobile device enticed 81 percent of Millennials, demonstrating strong interest in increased media mobility 75 percent indicate that watching movies while traveling is appealing 62 percent would be interested in watching 15 minute mobile versions of 30 minute TV programmes and 61 percent would be interested in a three-minute version of their favorite shows on their mobile device. More from your media Millennials influence older generations because their technology experiences run much deeper, with 63 percent of respondents acknowledging that their demands and expectations for rich media experiences are higher than those of their parents. Millennials do not passively digest content; they are increasingly looking to interact with what is on the screen: Over half of those surveyed would like to be able to interact with their TV and accessing information about the content they are watching 68 percent would be interested in learning about and possibly purchasing items featured in TV shows, with the highest appetite coming from the UAE where 81 percent of the sample expressed interest There are strong signs that Millennials are adopting high definition TV (HDTV), and the figures point to a strong growth potential: HDTV is popular throughout all markets surveyed, especially in Germany and the UAE with 53 percent and 58 percent saying they love HD content 43 percent of respondents have an HDTV set; the UK having the greatest market penetration with 54 percent owning an HDTV set Of the 57 percent of total respondents who didn’t have an HDTV set, only a quarter said they did not want to get one “Understanding how this group wants to engage with their content is crucial to developing intuitive experiences that allow them to interact as they wish,” continued Cozzolino. “In order for technology providers and content developers to stay on top of the media game they must keep up with the behaviors of the Millennials. It is the interests, passions and desires of this generation today that are shaping the landscape of tomorrow.” About Motorola’s Millennial Generation Study Findings are based on an online panel survey among over 1,200 members of the Millennial generation ages 16-27 in France, Germany, Spain, UAE and UK in August 2008. The survey was previously carried out in the United States among 1,000 Millennials. For more information regarding the study, please click here About Motorola Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications. The company develops technologies, products and services that make mobile experiences possible. Our portfolio includes communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility solutions, digital set-tops, cable modems, mobile devices and Bluetooth accessories. Motorola is committed to delivering next generation communication solutions to people, businesses and governments. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.6 billion in 2007. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit http://www.motorola.com # # # Media Contact: Gemma Priscott Motorola Home & Networks Mobility +44 (0) 7970 882994 gemma.priscott@motorola.com MOTOROLA and the stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: tech, Technology

Study examined how to better detect lung cancer that spreads to the brain

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Dec. 2, 2009 – A team of scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) won a $1,000 prize for best scientific paper presented at BIBM09, a premier bioinformatics and biomedicine conference.

The paper, Identifying MiRNA and Imaging Features Associated with Metastasis of Lung Cancer to the Brain, was selected as the best from among 233 scientific submissions at the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) International Conference on Bioinformatics & Biomedicine, held Nov. 1-4 in Washington, D.C.

The paper was selected because of the amount of work done for the study, including laboratory work, and the novelty of the research approach, conference judges said: “We (computational people) often focus too much on the elegance of computational modeling. This is a good paper to reach out to the computational community with a work by a large, collaborative team with a new idea.”

The study – funded in part by the IBIS Foundation of Arizona, Science Foundation Arizona, and the National Institutes of Health – focused on using microRNAs, small molecules that regulate gene expression in cells, to help understand and predict how malignant lung cancer often spreads to the brain.

MicroRNAs and imaging characteristics on scanning devices – CT (computerized axial tomography), and PET (positron emission tomography) – were used as biomarkers that could indicate the presence of metastatic brain tumors, also known as brain metastases.

In addition, investigators used an in-silico conditioning algorithm, based on a mathematical model for contextual genomic regulation, to further identify biomarkers and validate their findings.

“If such markers could be detected by non-invasive means, such as with PET/CT, it could potentially revolutionize personalized healthcare in this country,’’ the paper said.

Nearly 25 percent of lung cancer patients will develop brain metastases, but there are no good measures to identify those at high risk. In certain situations, radiation treatment can reduce this risk, but this treatment can also have negative side effects. In general, clinicians treat brain metastases when these cause symptoms and are visible on scanning devices. Researchers posited that such treatment and its side effects could be avoided among some cancer patients if clinicians were better able to identify those patients who will develop brain metastasis.

Dr. Seungchan Kim, the paper’s senior author who developed the in-silico conditioning algorithm, said the study could have “high impact’’ in predicting lung cancer spreading to the brain. “The results are promising and warrant further evaluation and additional validation,” said Dr. Kim, an Investigator and Head of the Biocomputing Unit in TGen’s Computational Biology Division and an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering.

Other members of the team included: Dr. Sara Nasser, the paper’s lead author and also a member of TGen’s Biocomputing Unit; Dr. Aarati Ranade of TGen’s Cancer and Cell Biology Division; and Dr. Glen Weiss, an Associate Investigator in TGen’s Cancer and Cell Biology Division and the Director of Thoracic Oncology at TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare (TCRS).

TCRS is a partnership of TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare. The partnership allows molecular and genomic discoveries made by TGen and others around the world to reach the patient bedside in the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare as quickly as possible through clinical trials with agents directed at specific cancer targets.

“Results of this research once again demonstrate the value of the collaboration between Scottsdale Healthcare, TGen and our community physicians. Advances in medicine are happening right here in Scottsdale that will help clinicians provide more personalized treatment for their patients,” said Tom Sadvary, President & CEO of Scottsdale Healthcare.

Dr. Nasser praised the teamwork of the many researchers involved in the project: “This is truly a multidisciplinary project involving cancer biology, bioinformatics, radiology, nuclear medicine and medical oncology.”

Dr. Weiss said this unique study could eventually benefit patients: “This work will hopefully lead to new treatment paradigms for lung cancer patients, and we are grateful to the vision of the IBIS Foundation to fund such a novel project.”

TGen’s partners in the study also included Scottsdale Medical Imaging.

The annual IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics & Biomedicine is a multidisciplinary meeting that brings together academic and industrial scientists from computer science, biology, chemistry, medicine, mathematics and statistics. IEEE, which is celebrating 125 years of engineering, is the world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

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About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.

Source: TGen

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Science, Technology

Technorati Tags: Financing, small business

On Friday, Congressman Ron Paul spoke before an overflow crowd at Iowa State University. The enthusiastic crowd of 500 standing-room-only in the auditorium was joined by an additional 500 people who tuned in to Paul’s speech by closed circuit television at a nearby location.

Today, Dr. Paul hosted a fundraiser for State Rep. Kent Sorenson and spoke to a additional crowd of 500 donors at a breakfast event at the Holiday Inn in Des Moines.

This event comes after Congressman Paul’s speech before a crowd of over a thousand listeners at the University of South Carolina earlier this week.

Iowa Campaign for Liberty and the Iowa State University chapter of Young Americans for Liberty sponsored the event.

For more information, visit: www.CampaignForLiberty.com

Source: Campaign for Liberty

Technorati Tags: Politics

WASHINGTON ─ Women who own small businesses will be able to use a new online U.S. Small Business Administration training course to learn how to identify and take advantage of federal contracting opportunities. The new training course, Winning Federal Contracts: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs, is part of an ongoing government-wide initiative to promote opportunities for women-owned businesses in the area of government contracting.

This free online tutorial is a practical and easy to use guide that walks a woman-owned small business through the contracting process. SBA is committed to ensuring that women-owned businesses receive at least 5 percent of federal contracts and believes better training opportunities are central to meeting this government-wide goal.

“Federal contracts can provide unique opportunities for women entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their businesses and create jobs, particularly during these tough economic times,” Administrator Karen Mills said. “It’s also a win for federal agencies, by contracting with women-owned small businesses; they are working with some of the most innovative and dynamic companies in the country.”

The SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership oversees a national network of more than 100 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) that provide education and training to help women start and grow small businesses. In addition, the SBA has 68 district offices and other resource partners throughout the country available to train and counsel women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking government contracts.

“This online training course makes critical information and training available to an even wider array of women entrepreneurs and small business owners,” said Ana Harvey, assistant administrator for SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership. “SBA wants to help ensure they have the tools and resources they need to compete for and win federal contracts.”

The Winning Federal Contracts course is designed to help women entrepreneurs learn about the federal procurement process and to prepare them to compete for contracting opportunities. The self-paced guide uses audio and script to provide information about contract rules, how to sell to the government and where to find contracts.

The Winning Federal Contracts course is available on SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov or directly at www.sba.gov/fedcontractingtraining. It is indexed by subject matter, and includes direct links to additional contracting resources.

Source: SBA

Technorati Tags: SBA, small business, Training