Life Sciences Ontario and BioTalent Canada Forge Partnership

Life Sciences Ontario and BioTalent Canada today announced the creation of a new partnership providing access to new and valuable services for bio-economy businesses throughout Ontario.

The newly forged alliance allows Life Sciences Ontario members to access BioTalent Canada's many products and services, in particular, the country's only national, bilingual biotechnology job board, "The PetriDishTM." ™

"Human resources are directly linked to funding and capital," says Rob Henderson, Executive Director of BioTalent Canada. "Business tells us attracting and retaining top-notch talent poses a real challenge for growth. This partnership with Life Sciences Ontario helps them face those challenges."

Life Sciences Ontario sees great advantages in the partnership. "By providing easy access to BioTalent Canada's HR tools and services, Life Sciences Ontario can provide additional value for our member companies and positively impact their commercial success, "says Jason Field, Executive Director of Life Sciences Ontario. "LSO also represents a large number of individual members, many of whom are recent graduates or professionals seeking career opportunities. Through this partnership, we can now strengthen the connection between our highly- skilled talent and employers within the life sciences community."

The partnership coincides with the launch of BioTalent Canada's new website - biotalent.ca. With over 250,000 downloads of products and services annually, the website provides critical HR tools to biotech companies, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, strengthening Canada as a bio-economy leader. Life Sciences Ontario will launch a new website - www.lifesciencesontario.ca - on January 1st, 2013 that will include new direct links to The PetriDish job board.

About Life Sciences Ontario
LSO works in concert with life science companies and organizations to grow the life sciences sector in Ontario and maintain its position on the global arena. As companies and stakeholders look for a definitive voice in the Life Science arena in Ontario, they look to LSO not only for the directions and resolutions to public policy issues, but also to be the conduit between the many organizations in Ontario and the many governments that serve them.

About BioTalent Canada
BioTalent Canada is the HR hub of Canada's bio-economy. A national non-profit organization, BioTalent Canada connects employers with job seekers, delivers human resource information and skills development tools to the bio-economy to ensure the industry has access to job-ready people.

Life-threatening germ tied to antibiotic overuse and poor infection control in health care facilities

A life-threatening germ that causes diarrhea and spreads easily from doctors’ offices to hospitals and nursing homes has climbed to historic highs nationally, federal disease trackers warned Tuesday, as they pointed to efforts in Massachusetts that have helped slow the rate of infections here.

The clostridium difficile bacteria, known as C. difficile, is linked to about 14,000 deaths every year.

Those most at risk are people who have taken antibiotics and also receive care in any medical setting, health officials said during a conference call with reporters.

“C. difficile is a formidable opponent, but one that we can stop,” said Dr. Clifford McDonald, an epidemiologist with the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventionand lead author of a study that has tracked the rise of the lethal bug.

Antibiotics are life-saving medicines that stop infections, but they also destroy the body’s good bacteria for several months. During this time, patients can get sick from C. difficile picked up from contaminated surfaces or spread from a health care provider’s hands.

Almost half of infections occur in people younger than 65, officials said, but more than 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 and older.

Health officials said a campaign by 71 hospitals in three states, including 27 facilities in Massachusetts, 33 in New York and 11 in Illinois, collectively drove down infections from C. difficile by 20 percent in less than two years.

The project focused primarily on careful monitoring of infections coming into the hospitals and attention to prevention strategies, such as careful hand-washing by health care providers and cleaning of contaminated surfaces.

Officials said the Massachusetts program also included attention to prescribing habits to ensure that antibiotics were not given to patients who didn’t need them.

Life Cycle Engineering Tops the List of Best Places to Work in South Carolina

Life Cycle Engineering Inc., a professional engineering services firm, today announced that it has been named the Best Place to Work in South Carolina among large employers in the state. The company attributes the award to its continued dedication to employee engagement and corporate culture, where ethics and respect is incorporated into all aspects of the business.

Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) has ranked in the top ten on the coveted list for six consecutive years prior to the 2012 number one ranking. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, SC Biz magazine and the Best Companies Group partnered to host the state’s seventh annual competition. The program’s goal is to raise the bar among employers to drive excellence and employee satisfaction in the workplace.

“This award is a testament to what we strive to achieve every day - lifting up our employees, which proliferates out to our clients,” said President Bob Fei. “The company’s greatest assets are our talented employees, and as we grow, we will continue to make concerted efforts to evaluate employee needs and introduce benefits and programs that provide individuals with rewarding opportunities, work life balance and long-term career fulfillment, while creating exceptional value for our clients.”

Indiana Republican: When life begins from rape, "God intended" it

Richard Mourdock, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Indiana, said in a debate on Tuesday that "even when life begins with that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen."

The remark drew criticism from his Democratic opponent, congressman Joe Donnelly, as well as from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's camp - even as Mourdock defended his words.

During the debate in New Albany, Indiana, Mourdock, Donnelly and Libertarian candidate Andrew Horning were asked about their views on abortion.

"The only exception I have to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother," Mourdock said. "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something God intended to happen."

Mourdock, the state treasurer who is a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, ousted longtime Senator Richard Lugar in the Republican primary earlier this year. He is locked in a tight race with Donnelly ahead of the November 6 election.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz called Mourdock's comments "outrageous and demeaning to women."

Donnelly said that rape "is a heinous and violent crime in every instance."

"The God I believe in and the God I know most Hoosiers believe in, does not intend for rape to happen — ever," Donnelly said in a statement after the debate, using the nickname for Indiana residents. "What Mr. Mourdock said is shocking, and it is stunning that he would be so disrespectful to survivors of rape."
Romney, who on Monday launched statewide ads endorsing Mourdock, distanced himself on Tuesday from the remark by his fellow Republican. "Governor Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock's comments, and they do not reflect his views," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

Republicans need a net gain of four seats to gain control of the U.S. Senate from the Democrats, or three if Romney wins the White House. Republicans began 2012 in a strong position, but have suffered some self-inflicted wounds.

In Missouri, Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin prompted an uproar by saying women's bodies have defenses against pregnancy after "legitimate rape," and now trails in his race.

Mourdock issued a statement after the debate that said: "God creates life, and that was my point. God does not want rape, and by no means was I suggesting that He does. Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick."

A September Howey-DePauw poll put Donnelly up by 2 percentage points over Mourdock, 40 to 38 percent, with 7 percent for Horning.

Complete Your Mobile Life: Antec Debuts New Line of Mobile Accessories

Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets, today debuted their new complete line of mobile accessory products in North America while at the same time announcing the foundation of Antec Mobile Products (a.m.p) -- a wholly-owned subsidiary created to manage this new product line.

This new a.m.p line represents an entirely innovative approach to technology. Colloquially referred to as "Fashion Technology," Antec is seeking to reach out to the younger iGeneration by providing attractive products that complement and complete their mobile lifestyles. By placing an emphasis on mobility, sharing and independence, Antec seeks to engage a wider audience that includes travelers, business commuters and casual users.

The a.m.p line consists of two families, a line of mobile charging devices and an accompanying audio line. The charging line consists of a variety of USB battery packs and chargers for USB-powered devices like the iPhone, iPad or tablet PCs. One example is the PowerUp 6000, a slim and sleek, portable USB battery pack that uses high-capacity Japanese cells to quickly charge up a mobile device while on the go. The products in this line are:

Power Banks
PowerUp Slim 2200
PowerUp 3000
PowerUp 6000
Portable Chargers
Hub Charger: four-port USB charger
Tour Charger: super-slim wall charger
Go Charger: dual-port, USB charger for cars

The other Antec Mobile Products line includes a full range of audio accessories designed to offer new capabilities to mobile users. With a focus on mobility, sharing and community, these products maximize the potential of Bluetooth wireless technology to provide users the opportunity to experience their music in new ways. One particular product is the SP1, a fully-portable, Bluetooth-enabled speaker that supports mobile phone functions. Available in three different, vivid color combinations, the SP1 allows users to wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device to the SP1.

Antec Mobile Products' array of audio devices includes
gain: wireless Bluetooth receiver available in five different color combinations
dBs: Sound-isolating in-ear earbuds available in five color combinations

iso: Wireless Bluetooth receiver paired with active noise canceling in-ear headphones available in two color combinations

When asked about the significance of Antec's new venture into the mobile device market, Director of the Antec Mobile Products (a.m.p) line, Frank Lee, said, "We see many of our competitors expanding their product portfolio into already crowded spaces. What seems most logical is moving into computer peripherals and accessories to complement the current product line. However, Antec wanted to take a new direction and take the approach of improving the lives of our current customer segment in new ways. As technology takes on an increasingly greater role in our lives, the relationship between user and device is changing. With the advancements in wireless technology and a shift in how people access media, we felt there was a space where we could offer products that would complete our current and future customers' mobile lifestyles. Quite simply, we just wanted to provide products that make lives more enjoyable. This is the market where Antec believes it can make the most significant impact while helping us continue our long and established belief in offering only the best products to our customers."

Life Time Fitness 3Q profit up on new members

Life Time Fitness Inc. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit rose 19 percent as more people joined its gyms and spent more money at them.

For the quarter ended Sept. 30, the Chanhassen, Minn.-based company earned $32.1 million, or 77 cents per share, up from $27 million, or 66 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.

Revenue increased 11 percent to $294.9 million.
Analysts, on average, expected a profit of 77 cents per share on $296.9 million in revenue, according to FactSet.

Life Time's revenue from membership dues increased 9.4 percent to $187.6 million, while revenue spent in its centers rose 12 percent to $90.5 million.

The company's total number of memberships grew 6.4 percent to 695,271 as of Sept. 30. Excluding memberships acquired as part of its purchase of Lifestyle Family Fitness, the company's total number of memberships increased 3 percent.

Revenue at Life Time's centers open at least 13 months increased 4.1 percent. The metric is a key measure of a company's health, because it excludes revenue at locations that recently opened or closed.
Life Time also narrowed its previously predicted full-year earnings and revenue estimates.

The company now expects to post a profit of $2.73 to $2.76 per share. The forecast was $2.70 to $2.76 per share. Analysts expect a profit of $2.77 per share.

Revenue is now expected to be between $1.13 billion to $1.14 billion. The company previously estimated $1.12 billion to $1.14 billion, and analysts expect $1.13 billion.

Human Life Span Took Huge Jump in Past Century

Humans are living longer than ever, a life-span extension that occurred more rapidly than expected and almost solely from environmental improvements as opposed to genetics, researchers said today (Oct. 15).

Four generations ago, the average Swede had the same probability of dying as a hunter-gatherer, but improvements in our living conditions through medicine, better sanitation and clean drinking water (considered "environmental" changes) decreased mortality rates to modern levels in just 100 years, researchers found.

In Japan, 72 has become the new 30, as the likelihood of a 72-year-old modern-day person dying is the same as a 30-year-old hunter-gatherer ancestor who lived 1.3 million years ago. Though the researchers didn't specifically look at the United States, they say the trends are not country-specific and not based in genetics.

Quick jump in life span
The same progress of decreasing average probability of dying at a certain age in hunters-gatherers that took 1.3 million years to achieve was made in 30 years during the 21st century.
"I pictured a more gradual transition from a hunter-gatherer mortality profile to something like we have today, rather than this big jump, most of which occurred in the last four generations, to me that was surprise," lead author Oskar Burger, postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany, told LiveScience.

Biologists have lengthened life spans of worms, fruit flies and mice in labs by selectively breeding for old-age survivorship or tweaking their endocrine system, a network of glands that affects every cell in the body. However, the longevity gained in humans over the past four generations is even greater than can be created in labs, researchers concluded. [Extending Life: 7 Ways to Live Past 100]

Genetics vs. environment
In the new work, Burger and colleagues analyzed previously published mortality data from Sweden, France and Japan, from present-day hunter-gatherers and from wild chimpanzees, the closet living relative to humans.
Humans have lived for an estimated 8,000 generations, but only in the past four have mortalities decreased to modern-day levels. Hunter-gatherers today have average life spans on par with wild chimpanzees.

The research suggests that while genetics plays a small role in shaping human mortality, the key in driving up our collective age lies with the advent of medical technologies, improved nutrition, higher education, better housing and several other improvements to the overall standards of living.

"This recent progress has been just astronomically fast compared to what we made since the split from chimpanzees," Burger said.

Most of the brunt of decreased mortality comes in youth: By age 15, hunters and gatherers have more than 100 times the chance of dying as modern-day people.

What's next?
"In terms of what's going on in the next four generations, I want to be very clear that I don't make any forecasts," Burger said. "We're in a period of transition and we don't know what the new stable point will be."

However, some researchers say that humans may have maxed out their old age.
"These mortality curves (that show the probability of dying by a certain age), they are now currently at their lowest possible value, which makes a very strong prediction that life span cannot increase much more," Caleb Finch, a neurogerontology professor at the University of Southern California who studies the biological mechanisms of aging, told LiveScience in an email.

Further, Finch, who was not involved in the current study, argues that environmental degradation, including climate change and ozone pollution, combined with increased obesity "are working to throw us back to an earlier phase of our improvements, they're regressive."

"It's impossible to make any reasonable predictions, but you can look, for example, in local environments in Los Angeles where the density of particles in the air predict the rate of heart disease and cancer," Finch said, illustrating the link between the environment and health.

The study is detailed today (Oct. 15) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

AIA Confirms Deal for Malaysian Life Insurer

Asian insurer AIA Group Ltd. 1299.HK -0.17% confirmed plans to buyING Groep NV's INGA.AE +0.05% fast-growing Malaysian life-insurance operations for $1.73 billion in cash.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that a deal for the Malaysian insurer, considered the crown jewel of ING's Asia business, could be announced as soon as Thursday, citing people familiar with the deal.

AIA, which was sold by its parent, American International Group Inc., AIG +0.11% two years ago, beat out several of the world's biggest insurers, such as Canada's Manulife Financial Corp. MFC.T -0.92% and the two biggest U.S. life insurers, MetLife Inc.MET -1.28% and Prudential Financial Inc. PRU -1.01%

North American insurers found it hard to compete against AIA's financial strength. Investors have embraced AIA's business since it went public in Hong Kong in October 2010 partly because of the insurer's exposure to some of the fastest-expanding markets in the world, with a presence in 16 markets across Asia.

AIA's forward earnings multiple is 18.3 times, compared with Manulife, at 13.8 times; MetLife, at about 6.6 times; and Prudential PRU.LN 0.00% Financial, at about nine times.

AIA's shares have risen 50% since its initial public offering and climbed 0.3% to HK$29.70 on Thursday after the announcement.

AIA also has built up a formidable war chest, with billions of dollars in excess capital above the required buffer stipulated by regulators. AIA said it would finance the purchase using its own cash and external debt financing.

The deal is AIA's first major acquisition since its IPO, dwarfing its purchase of a small Sri Lankan insurer for $109 million in September.

Insurers from around the world have called Southeast Asia a sweet spot and have been trying to bulk up in the region. ING's sale represented a rare opportunity to buy a large life-insurance business in Malaysia, with 9,200 sales agents, and establish a valuable banking partnership with Malaysia's Public Bank through which an insurer could sell its policies.

AIA said the deal would create Malaysia's largest life insurer in terms of premiums sold, leapfrogging Malaysia's Great Eastern Life Assurance and Britain's Prudential PLC. AIA said the deal would have an immediate positive financial impact for itself.

AIA is already has the fourth-biggest life insurer in Malaysia in terms of premiums; AIA expects to cut $24 million in costs annually by eliminating overlap between the two businesses.

Some challenges remain. AIA's management now has to spend resources integrating its new purchase a process which AIA estimated would cost $55 million spread over three years. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.

For ING, the sale is the first fruits in a dismantling of its Asian insurance operations. Of its broad Asian franchise, bidders fought most fiercely over its Malaysian business. The company expects to record a net gain of around EUR780 million after the deal closes.

ING had hoped to announce the sale of other businesses in the region in tandem with the Malaysian sale; however, people with knowledge of the matter said negotiations regarding ING's Japanese business had stalled after the local regulator voiced concerns.

Schulfer column: When permanent life insurance makes sense

You probably have heard the saying, “Buy term and invest the rest.” This slogan encourages people to buy inexpensive term life insurance instead of permanent life insurance, and then take the money saved and invest it.

This isn’t always sound advice. That’s why it is important to understand the differences between term and permanent insurance, and the circumstances in which one or the other might be a better choice.

Term life insurance

When you purchase term life insurance, you pay a low premium and receive insurance coverage for a specific period of time. If you die during that time, then the policy’s benefits go to your beneficiary. Most term policies can be renewed until you reach a certain age, and then coverage ends. If the policy expires before you do, your heirs receive no benefits. Term insurance makes sense in two situations. It might be a good choice when:

Cost is an issue: For example, a young family on a budget might not be able to afford permanent life insurance. In that case, term life might make sense.

Insurance needs are temporary: Term might be a good choice when the period for which life insurance is needed is defined and exact. For example, if a bank wants a business owner to have life insurance before it will make a loan to his or her company.

Permanent life insurance

Permanent life insurance, generally, is owned for life. You pay higher premiums and part of your premium payments goes into a cash value savings account. If you want to have insurance coverage until you die, then permanent life insurance might be a good choice. Permanent insurance also might make sense when:

Taxes are an estate planning issue: Life insurance proceeds are income tax free and, if owned by an irrevocable trust, can be estate tax free, as well.

Planning for the unknown: Term premiums increase as you age and might provide significantly lower benefits later on. Permanent life insurance offers coverage for life. If you’re not sure what the future will hold, permanent life insurance might be a better choice.

There are many types of term and permanent life insurance. Our goal is to manage your insurance as we manage your other assets — in the most efficient manner possible. If you have any questions about life insurance, please give us a call. We will be happy to help.

Abortion debate demands definition of life beginning

Maria Miller, Culture Secretary at Westminster, who is also the Minister for Women, has stated she would like a 20-week limit.

At the weekend Home Secretary Theresa May said she also believed there was scope to reduce the limit on when a termination can take place, to 20 weeks into a pregnancy.

The new Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, went even further, saying he believed the limit should be cut to 12 weeks – half the present maximum.

The most interesting comment came from Mr Hunt. According to reports, he favours the 12-week limit as it is "... about that incredibly difficult question about the moment we should deem life to start" and "... my view is that 12 weeks is the right point for it".

I certainly claim no professional expertise in either field. What I know is that only that which is alive is capable of organic growth.

This leads me to ask what has been happening in the womb during the first 12 weeks of gestation?

The answer, surely, is that a process of growth has been taking place.

Indeed, that process commences as soon as the sperm penetrates the egg, and mitosis takes place. The only difference between that moment and 40 weeks later is development.

Many of us agree with Mr Hunt that abortion ought not to take place once life has begun.

We seem to differ with him, however, in our understanding of when that happens.

A so-called "woman's choice" is actually whether to murder the most indefensible in the very place in which it should be safest.

Rev C Brian Ross,

253 Shields Road,

Motherwell.

Some of Sandusky's jurors hoping for life sentence

Jerry Sandusky should be sent to prison for life when a judge sentences him Tuesday, according to several of the jurors who convicted the former Penn State assistant coach of molesting several boys over a period of years.

None of the jurors interviewed by The Associated Press said they have had second thoughts about their June verdict, and several plan to attend the sentencing.

"There isn't a sentence that I believe is harsh enough for what he has done and how it has affected the university," said Joan Andrews, a juror who has worked for Penn State for 41 years and held football season tickets since 1969. "I don't think there's been one individual in this entire campus that has not been affected by this."

Four jurors said they plan to be in the courtroom when Sandusky, 68, learns the penalty for sexually abusing boys he met through a charity for at-risk children. Sandusky's own attorney expects his client to be handed a long sentence from Judge John Cleland after conviction on 45 counts.

Although a list of jurors has not been released by Cleland, the AP was able to contact five of them. They said they recently received a letter from the court informing them about the sentencing and offering to have a court official meet them outside the courthouse.

A court system spokesman said the jurors are guaranteed a seat but won't necessarily be sitting together.
Only one of the five, retired Penn State soil sciences professor Daniel D. Fritton, said he would not attend.

"I'd just like to stay out of the limelight, for one thing," Fritton said. "I figure I could read in the paper what happens."

Gayle Barnes, a homemaker and former school district employee, said she thinks a lot about the victims, particularly the eight who testified against Sandusky and provided what she considers the critical evidence of guilt. She said he deserves life in prison.

"I do still feel good, what we as jurors did," Barnes said. "I didn't go there saying off the bat he's guilty. I needed to listen to every single thing that was said."

Barnes said she has been in touch with a fifth juror and an alternate juror who also plan to attend the sentencing.

High school science teacher Joshua Harper, who has bachelor's and master's degrees from Penn State, said that he takes pride in having served on the jury, and that the guilty verdict was not a close call. He wants Sandusky "put away for the rest of his life, really."

"This is what prisons are for, you know," Harper said. "I mean, I don't think you let a guy loose like that."

He also felt the victim testimony was pivotal.
"It was such a consistent pattern of behavior," Harper said. "It was just so solid. The defense was just so thin. There was no evidence that these kids were lying. Even the minor inconsistencies that the defense tried to bring up — and did bring up — that made it more convincing."

Through a relative, juror Ann T. Van Kuren said she also plans to attend.
Barnes and Harper both said they hoped to learn more about what Penn State officials did or did not do in 1998 and 2001 after getting complaints about Sandusky showering with boys. That was a major theme of the report issued to Penn State this summer by Louis Freeh, the former FBI director, and is likely also to arise during civil litigation by Sandusky's victims against the university.

"We don't know the whole story to this whole thing yet," said Barnes, a Nittany Lions fan who felt so strongly that Joe Paterno's statue should remain in place that she went to the scene outside Beaver Stadium the day it was removed in July, about a month after the verdict. "I just felt like they jumped ship, they didn't do the right thing, that they needed more information. What's going to happen if Curley and Schultz are found not guilty?"

Tim Curley, the school's athletic director on leave, and Gary Schultz, a retired vice president, are awaiting trial on charges they did not properly report suspected abuse and lied to the grand jury that investigated Sandusky. Paterno, the school's Hall of Fame coach, was fired after Sandusky was arrested in November and died of lung cancer in January.

The names of Curley, Schultz and even Paterno did not come up in deliberations, Andrews said.
"I don't know what to think about Curley and Schultz," she said. "I think Joe Paterno was and is and has been falsely accused of many things. I don't think the man was informed of the detail for him to understand how serious this was."

Sandusky's sentencing on Tuesday will begin with Cleland determining whether he qualifies as a sexually violent predator, a status that would require lifetime registration if he is ever paroled.