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Germany’s Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen and University of Regensburg have inked exclusive licenses with the U.K.’s Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT) to develop a therapy for inflammatory and immune diseases based on the depletion of inflammatory monocytes. The first targets will be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). MBM ScienceBridge GmbH, the TTO of the Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, negotiated the license agreement, which covers technology developed by scientists at the Universities of Regensburg and Gottingen. The collaboration will enable MBM ScienceBridge GmbH to access the antibody humanization expertise of MRCT’s Centre for Therapeutics Discovery and the work of its Therapeutic Antibody Group. MRCT plans to take the lab compounds and turn them into clinical candidates, which will then be licensed to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

“This licensing deal is just one example of the innovative ways that MRCT is now exploiting both its antibody humanization and drug discovery capabilities,” says Dave Tapolczay, PhD, CEO of MRCT. “We can collaborate with other technology transfer organizations, on a shared risk basis, to develop novel antibodies and targets with therapeutic potential. When the resulting clinical candidate is subsequently licensed, both parties will not only accomplish their translational research aims but also share in its commercial success going forward.” MRCT receives an exclusive worldwide license to the related IP rights of the universities. MRCT and both universities will receive downstream payments dependent on successful development and out-licensing of the antibody.

Source: Healthcare Industry Today

When candidate Barack Obama was campaigning for president across the country, no one used social networking better than his camp. Now, after conquering Facebook and YouTube, POTUS wants you to keep in touch with a new iPhone app.

The iPhone app, dubbed The White House app, is free, and President Obama’s PR team hopes it will keep audiences connected to what’s going on in Washington. It’s available on iTunes.

The Washington Post reports:

The application comes packed with content, including the latest news items, videos, photos and blog posts from The White House. One feature that stands out is live video streaming, which enables iPhone and iPod Touch owners to watch the President’s public events at the White House as well as other events like key speeches and press briefings in real-time.

The app has been released just ahead of the President’s State of the Union address–so people can watch the address on their iPhone in real time.

The White House Blog writes:

The White House app also lets users stay up to date with the White House Blog and the latest from the Briefing Room. Browse behind-the-scenes photos and watch on-demand videos. The app provides instant access to full videos from recent speeches, press briefings, and special events.

The Huffington Post reports this is the first step in the White House’s mobile strategy, led by Macon Phillips, a veteran of the Obama campaign. The White House is expected to launch mobile.WhiteHouse.gov, a mobile-ready version of the White House’s virtual headquarters that is optimized for any Web-enabled mobile device.

For now, if you’re downloading the White House app, make sure you get the right one–it’s the one that says “free.”

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DISCOVER: Your Digital Privacy? It May Already Be An Illusion

Image Credit: iTunes

Our Distance Learning Division has lined up four practical audioconference events over the coming weeks, each one filled with real-world strategies and take-aways. Click on the titles below for complete faculty and program details or to register, and CLICK HERE for information on getting discounted rates using our customized Distance Learning Subscription program.

• “Shrink Wrap” Your University’s Technologies for Industry: Packaging Your Innovations to Minimize Corporate Risk and Extract Optimum Licensing Value – Wednesday, January 27, 2010
• Patent Prosecution: Best Practices for Reducing Costs While Improving Patent Quality – Tuesday, February 9, 2010
• Performing Market Research Studies: Testing the Waters to De-Risk Your IP Investments – Wednesday, February 24, 2010
• Tech Transfer Marketing on a Shoestring: Guerilla Tactics in a Budget-Cut World – Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Auction house Bonhams recently announced that an original circa 1895 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller motorcycle, considered to be one of the first ever motorbikes, will be offered for sale in Stafford on April 25, 2010.The Hildebrand brothers, Henry and Wilhelm, developed their motorcycle in partnership with Alois Wolfmüller and his mechanic, Hans Geisenhof.

Their design was powered by a twin-cylinder, water-cooled, four-stroke engine displacing 1,488cc, which until recently was the largest power un… (read more)

Censorship’s been an ongoing issue in China for decades, but in the last week Google’s really opened a can of worms. Now, the massive carrier China Mobile has been found snooping on people’s messages, looking for “illegal or unhealthy content.”

The Chinese government has supplied a list of keywords for China Mobile to search for, targeting those engaged in piracy, pornography and anything else they deem as being unsavory. Get this—if they find someone who’s using the specific keywords, they’ll lock the phones so that they’re no longer able to send text messages. Makes you feel a whole lot happier with your current network provider, doesn’t it. [NY Times]

Image Credit: Madhatrik

A runner-up at Ireland’s 2009 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition has evolved into a web-based company that is a corporate exhibitor at this year’s show. The Sound of Silence project, developed by students and a physics professor at Ursuline College Sligo, investigated a therapy for people suffering from temporary tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. After the project won the Health Research Board’s prize for innovation, the four-person team developed the technology into the company Restored Hearing (www.restoredhearing.ie), which was launched in August 2009.

Temporary tinnitus is caused by exposure to loud environments, such as listening to loud music or operating loud machinery. This noise can damage the sound receptor cells in the cochlea — the part of the ear that converts wave-vibrations into electric signals before sending these signals to the brain. When these receptor cells, or tiny hairs, are bent during exposure to loud noise, they continue to send signals to the brain even after exposure to the noise has ceased.

Restored Hearing offers web-based therapy based on sound and wave theory, using a low hum to stimulate the cochlear hairs of the ear that may have been damaged. The therapy helps the hairs return to an upright position. The online therapy, which takes one minute, simply requires a broadband connection and a pair of external earphones. Trials have shown a 99% success rate, and the company has received sales and interest in the U.K., Europe, and North America. Restored Hearing now is a client company of NovaUCD, the TTO of University College Dublin, and next plans to investigate the therapy’s effect on permanent tinnitus.

Source: The Irish Times and PRLog

Back in 2008, a San Francisco breeder of Shiba Inu dogs hooked up a webcam that was pointed at a pen of six adorable Shiba Inu puppies that had just been born. The original intent was to keep an eye on the playful pups while the humans were at work, but it quickly turned into an Internet phenomenon.

Now, a new litter of puppies has been born to Kika, the same mom who birthed the litter in 2008, and though there are only five puppies compared to 2008’s litter of six, there is still just as much cuteness to be had with the new live streaming Internet video feed.

This year’s litter, born on January 16th, contains two males and three males. Two of the males are buff colored, and the rest of the pups have red coats.

This year’s video stream is live during West Coast daylight hours, so get your fix while you can!

Post from: Blisstree

The Shiba Inu Puppy Cam Is Back

Although most university TTOs acknowledge their mission of advancing academic research to benefit society and ensuring public access to university innovations, there is currently no effective measure of licensing success that gauges this central aspect of research effectiveness. The Access Metrics Initiative, developed by Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) in Berkeley, CA, seeks to change that. The Access Metrics Index has been designed to measure the dissemination of university innovation and to provide research institutions with a mechanism to monitor and evaluate their progress towards this strategic goal.

In collaboration with TTO directors and experts in IP law, UAEM has composed a Pilot Survey for Technology Transfer Offices 2009 to gather input from TTOs on the successful implementation of policies and licensing provisions that ensure broad access to university-derived technologies. The pilot survey is focused on technologies that affect human health — particularly those classified as diagnostics, prophylactics, therapeutics, and medical devices. In the future, the Access Metrics Initiative survey will expand to include information regarding access policies and practices. The deadline to submit survey data is January 29, 2010.

Source: Universities Allied for Essential Medicines

Nueva edición limitada para la archiconocida Renault Kangoo. Esta vez se trata de una alianza con TomTom, que integra el sistema de navegación Carminat TomTom, que incluye inteligencia artificial para calcular las rutas. El pack también tiene Climatizador, techo panorámico delantero y trasero, barras en el techo y ciertas mejoras en el estilo, para darle un look más dinámico.

Los precios en los que se va a mover arrancan en 19.750 € para el 1.6 de 105 cv de bioetanol hasta los 21.600 € del 1.5 dCi de 105 cv. Este equipamiento se añade al rango de equipamientos para la Renault Kangoo, que dispone de cuatro versiones. Esta última se encuadra entre las más lujosas, evidentemente.

El navegador Carminat TomTom dispone de una pantalla de 6 pulgadas a todo color insertada en el centro del salpicadero, teniendo el mando para controlarlo en la consola central, delante del reposabrazos. El sistema de inteligencia artificial para calcular las rutas óptimas está basado en datos procedentes de las carreteras y del tráfico en tiempo real para ahorrarnos atascos innecesarios. Si una ruta es la más rápida pero hay retenciones, otra que sea un poco más larga pero que esté libre resulta entonces ser la más rápida.

Además las representaciones gráficas cada vez son más realistas y las vistas 3D de las rotondas están cada vez más trabajadas y hasta las más complicadas resultan más sencillas de entender. Aquí en España no tenemos tantos problemas con eso, pero en América los pulpos de varios niveles y rotondas superpuestas son muy frecuentes.

Fuente | Renault

Berkshire Hathaway
Annual Shareholders Meeting
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Qwest Center Omaha
455 North 10th Street
Downtown Omaha
www.qwestcenter.com

Shareholder activities will begin on Friday evening, April 30, with a cocktail reception at Borsheims and conclude with dinner at two local steakhouses, Gorat’s and Piccolo’s on Sunday evening, May 2.

The 2009 Annual Report will be mailed to shareholders mid to late March. Attached to the proxy statement, which accompanies the annual report, is a postcard that shareholders will need to complete and mail back to the company to obtain annual meeting credentials.

American Express Travel has been assisting with hotel reservations:

[email protected]
1-800-799-6634
Or
402-697-5314 (outside the U.S.)

There are a limited number of commemorative stamps still available from the
2007 Annual Meeting. The special edition 20-stamp collection may be purchased for
$20 per sheet.

Send your check payable to:
BerkshireHathaway
1440 Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131

EWB will have full coverage of the Berkshire stockholders meeting.

Share Investor Links

Share Investor Blog – Stockmarket & Business commentary
Share Investor New Zealand Business News– Get more business news
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Recommended Amazon Reading

	The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder Buy new: $13.60 / Used from: $11.85 Usually ships in 24 hours
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As countries all over the world begin pivoting towards renewable energy sources in order to reduce carbon emissions, more of investors’ attention is being paid to the solar industry.

Some of the biggest bets in this sector are Chinese solar companies.

Why?

One reason: Solar itself is getting cheaper, which could lead to industry growth. Roughly a year and a half ago, photovoltaic panels cost about $3.50 a watt. Today they’re less than $2 a watt, and by sometime in 2012 they’re predicted to be less than $1 a watt.

But why China specifically?

See why investors are going crazy for Chinese solar companies >

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• The 10 Most Expensive Environmental Disasters Of The Decade
• The 10 Smallest Cars In The World
• The 10 Countries With The Most Dwindling Oil Production

It’s wintertime — so, why is ice cream on the table? Well, so many winter desserts just beg for ice cream. Apple cobbler, warm pumpkin pie, dark chocolate cake. So I was really happy to find this extra-quick ice cream recipe that is nearly as simple as making whipped cream.

Read Full Post

Filed under: Crossover, Mini

Following yesterday’s leaked images and teaser video, Mini has today officially opened the floodgates of pictures and information on its new Countryman crossover. According to parent company BMW, the Countryman is “a new dimension” and “genuine crossover [that] bridges the gap between the classic concept of the Mini and a modern Sports Activity Vehicle.” Judging from the images, it’s hard to argue with that assessment.

As you can see, the Countryman gets four regularly hinged doors plus one conventional tailgate. We can also see that the CUV sits a bit higher off the ground than other Mini models and the company says it’s raised the seating position a smidge. The other big alteration from Mini’s previous models is the addition of all-wheel drive that can send up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels.

Speaking of torque, the Countryman seems likely to get the full suite of available Mini engines both here in the United States and abroad. That means we’ll see both a normally aspirated 1.6-liter as well as a turbocharged 1.6 that will come with fully variable valve timing for the first time, bumping power to 184 horsepower. Unfortunately we can’t say for sure if the U.S. model will get that power increase, or the Brake Energy Regeneration and Auto Start Stop features that Europeans enjoy.

Inside, the Countryman gets a typically Mini-esque dash, door panels and seat designs and is available with the brand’s first-ever three-across rear bench. That back seat is a split-folding design, and cargo capacity jumps from 350 to 1,170 liters (12.2-41.0 cu ft) when it’s down. There’s plenty more to glean from the official press release – so typical of Mini (read it all the way through for a good morning laugh) – after the break, and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below. We’ll know more details, like pricing and availability, when the Countryman makes its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Officially Official: Mini unleashes the floodgates on Countryman crossover

Officially Official: Mini unleashes the floodgates on Countryman crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Berkshire Hathaway shareholders have approved the company’s proposed 50-for-one stock split of its Class B shares.

About 150 people gathered in Omaha for the special shareholders meeting, with most holders voting by proxy.

The outcome was never in doubt.

CNBC producer Lacy O’Toole is in the auditorium. She reports Buffett took some questions while sitting at a table on stage.

Charlie Munger is not present, but there is a paper cutout with his photo. Buffett also has a recording of Charlie saying, “I have nothing to add” that’s been played a few times after Buffett answers a question.

Buffett concedes that Berkshire’s acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe is “not cheap.” And while the stock split is designed to faciliatate that deal, Buffett says even if it doesn’t go through (which is very unlikely) Berkshire would still split its stock now for “the next time.”

Current Berkshire stock prices:

Class A: [BRK.A 101150.00 1120.00 (+1.12%) ]

Class B: [BRK.B 3374.70 42.70 (+1.28%) ]

Share Investor Links

Share Investor Blog – Stockmarket & Business commentary
Share Investor New Zealand Business News– Get more business news
Discuss this topic @ Share Investor Forum – Register free
Share Investor’s Daily Forex Updates

Recommended Amazon Reading

	The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder Buy new: $13.60 / Used from: $11.85 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Ten years ago the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre burst onto the world stage giving social movements and civil society the space to challenge the orthodoxies symbolised by the World Economic Forum. IPS global news agency was there, and now in 2010 is launching a year of coverage as World Social Forum 2010 promotes more than 35 global, regional and thematic events during the year, on every continent.

The “IPS TerraViva World Social Forum 2010” online site will provide independent, professional reporting in many languages from as many of the events as possible, along with comment and analysis on the challenges that drive social movements. Will the WSF stay relevant and innovative? Read IPS TerraViva to find out.

Prominent civil society activists like Walden Bello, Kumi Naidoo, Kerry Kennedy and Candido Grzybowski are already contributing op-eds you can read at the IPS TerraViva site.

Coverage of the events will gather momentum at the Greater Porto Alegre 10 Years Social Forum, 25 – 29 January, in Porto Alegre, that meets to debate on the theme: “10 years later: challenges and proposals for another possible world”. Continuing coverage will come from the Bahia Thematic Social Forum, 29 – 31 January, in Salvador, Bahia, which has as its main theme: “Dialogue, cultural diversity and civilizational crisis”.

Teaming up with multi-media partners AMARC, WSF TV and the Ciranda news pool will increase audio, video and independent reporting linked to the site.

IPS TerraViva has been involved and has reported on the WSF process from the 2001 outset in Porto Alegre. The complete online IPS TerraViva newspaper archive available at IPS TerraViva WSF 2010 provides a unique contribution to understanding the history and achievements of this hugely influential global social process.

Inter Press Service (IPS) is a communications institution with a global news agency at its core. IPS raises the voices of the South and civil society and brings a fresh perspective on globalisation and development.

For more information visit our website or write to [email protected]

In the past, we’ve asked you guys which supercar you would buy if your had $300,000. We then decided to get a little more realistic and ask you which car you would by for under $40,000. Today, we decided to get as realistic as possible and are asking you what car you would buy if you only had $25,000.

Check out our picks below and then let us know your answer in the comments section.

Omar Rana (Editor in Chief): 2010 Volkswagen GTI.
Stephen Calogera (Senior Editor): 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT.
Kap Shah (Senior Editor – West Coast): 2011 Ford Mustang V6 w/Track Package.
Anna Tarasova (Editor): 2010 Dodge Ram 1500.

– By: Omar Rana

The stars are dropping like flies in TV’s hottest zip code.

After two seasons, Rob Estes is departing his role as West Beverly Principal Harry Wilson on The CW’s 90210. Estes’ exit comes down to money and airtime, network infomants tattled to RadarOnline.com on Wednesday.

“The producers, the studio and Rob came to the conclusion together that his role had ran its course. There just wasn’t enough for Rob to do because the show is more about the kids,” says a source. “Rob’s an expensive actor and wants to be challenged and it became increasingly clear that most of the penny lifting was going to the younger cast members of the show, who Rob adores. He’s absolutely leaving the show on good terms.”

A second snitch, however, paints quite a different pic of the split, saying:

“Rob’s not happy about it all. Basically they couldn’t agree on money and that’s all it comes down to. Rob’s an experienced actor and feels he deserves to be compensated accordingly, but the CW just want to cut costs and they want to reward all these young, hot, up and coming, and therefore cheaper, actors and actresses instead……To be frank, he needs the money, this is going to hit him hard.”

Earlier this week, Jennie Garth, a cast of the original series in the ’90s, announced that she was leaving the revamped version to spend more time with her three daughters.