Interested in boating Tempe Town Lake? Take a survey

Technorati Tags: Boating, Tempe Town Lake

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.

*

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: mercury, Tempe Public Library

GPEC delegation met with top executives from software and solar energy firms

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Apache Junction Mayor John Insalaco and leadership from Avondale returned from a job-recruitment trip to California, having met with companies interested in expanding into the Valley.

Source : Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The delegation met with executives from two software companies and a solar energy firm. One of the software companies is looking to expand testing in the U.S. and is considering one of two states for their project.

“They’re looking at Greater Phoenix because of the talent base,” said Brad Smidt, vice president of business development at GPEC. “They’re attracted to this area because of the close proximity to California where their U.S. anchor company is located, and because of the lower cost of operating.”

The solar company, too, is interested in expanding into the Phoenix area, particularly because of the Renewable Energy Tax Incentive program passed this summer. The company is looking to expand its manufacturing operation and may be eligible for the tax credit, Smidt said.

The delegation traveled to California as part of a joint economic partnership with Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff. The group, which included Avondale Director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries Dan Davis, made the trip to call on opportunities that will advance the Arizona Sun Corridor. This megapolitan stretch uniting Phoenix and Tucson will be one of 10 U.S. markets expected to see most of the nation’s growth in the next 35 years. Insalaco is the eighth mayor to take part in this effort since March.

Insalaco said the meetings with the companies went well and he was glad to represent Greater Phoenix during the Sept. 29 trip. He also said he gained valuable insight into his own city.

“We still have a ways to go to be truly competitive in terms of facility and building availability,” he said. “But having seen the L.A. market and the visual upkeep, or lack thereof, I feel very good about the level of services we are sustaining here in Apache Junction.”

###

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) A true public/private partnership, GPEC is the regional economic development organization for Greater Phoenix. Working with its 18 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 140 private investors, GPEC attracts quality businesses to this dynamic region. By creating a high-performance economy through capital investments and jobs, Greater Phoenix companies enjoy a business climate where they can compete and thrive in today’s global economy. Since 1989, GPEC has worked to achieve an economically sound and sustainable region. For more information, visit www.gpec.org.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Technology

Mesa, Arizona October 1, 2009 – Living Word Bible Church is hosting Harvest Night 2009, one of the largest Halloween events in the valley on October 31, 2009 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Harvest Night is free for all to attend.

Harvest Night will have tons of rides and games for every age in the family. From large slides and moon bouncers to skill games there is going to be fun and candy for all. There will also be a custom contest with the winners walking away with great prizes.

Anyone who attends the 5:00pm – 6:00pm Service will be able to enter the “park” an hour early before the general public. This is the perfect time to ride the rides and play all the games and pillage the candy without the lines.

Living Word Bible Church is located on the corner of Brown Rd. and Val Vista Rd. 3520 E. Brown Rd. Mesa, AZ 85213. For more information you can visit www.LivingWordOnline.org or call 480.964.4463.

Source: Living Word Bible Church

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Please visit http://halloween.cir.org and Halloween for additional information

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Family, Family Fun, Hall, Halloween, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona

From haunted houses to scary mazes, to family-friendly fun, Community Information & Referral brings you Halloween activities throughout Arizona.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Please visit us at: http://halloween.cir.org

Remember, we’re also the place to find flu shot clinics near you.

http://flu.cir.org

Halloween Quotes

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Halloween, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona

Source:  Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce 4725 N. Scottsdale Rd. #210 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 480.355.2700 www.scottsdalechamber.com

Technorati Tags: Harry Mitchell

Source: The Go Daddy Group

Leading Edge Agents Scoring Unparalleled Success by way of Domain Names & Web sites

Sell a house in 43 days — in this market? A statistic like that stuns many home sellers and real estate agents. It’s being done across the country, including in the hardest hit U.S. real estate markets, through the power of Internet, specifically by naming Web sites after the property’s actual street address.

Go Daddy is the world’s largest domain name registrar, by far… and is also a leading Web hosting provider worldwide. The company recently discovered new statistics revealing a huge surge in the registration of domains named after street addresses.

In fact, comparing 2005, around the time the housing bubble “burst,” to last year, Go Daddy recorded a more than 320 percent increase in “home address” domain name registrations. States and cities with the most registrations include California, Florida, New York, Phoenix, Ariz., Atlanta, Ga. and Chicago, Ill. — all struggling real estate markets.

“We noticed an uptick on domain names containing words like ’street,’ ‘avenue and ‘road,’” said GoDaddy.com CEO and Founder Bob Parsons. “When we ran the numbers, the trend line was undeniable. More people are registering domain names matching their physical addresses.”

According to the Cromford Report, which tracks Arizona estate trends, the average time to sell a home in June ranged from 120 to 180 days, depending on the city. One Arizona realtor leveraging domain names and Web sites to sell properties averaged a remarkable 43 days during that period.

The strategy, used by leading edge realtors like Bloodhound Reality, involves registering the domain name that is the physical address of the home. From there, a single Web site is built for that home, or domain name. The sites are simple, but showcase a home’s photos, floor plans and relevant neighborhood information.

“Buyers typically want all the answers to their questions before they talk to me,” said Gregg Swann owner of Bloodhound Realty, who registers street address domain names with GoDaddy.com. “By making the exact address clients are considering available online, all they have to do is type the street address online and presto, the individual Web site pops up and buyers get all the relevant info.”

Web sites like 1946EastVistaDr.com and 7813WestBerylAve.com are promoted using on-site signage, posted flyers and other conventional tactics, but the domain name and Web site have given many agents an edge.

“The longer potential buyers spend on the site, the more they know about the home, the more they fall in love with it and the more apt they are to make an offer,” Swann said.

“We’ve always believed domain names are 21st century real estate,” said Parsons. “It makes absolute sense real estate agents are successfully selling homes through domains named for street addresses.”

Realtors, like Swann, also point out how the domain names boost search results, typically a result that requires big money and lots of time. “For less than four dollars a month each, my home sale sites not only promote home sales, but also help me with better placements though search engine optimization. It’s a win, win!”

To register a domain name and set up your Web site without spending a lot of money, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

About The Go Daddy Group, Inc.
Go Daddy is a leading provider of services that enable individuals and businesses to establish, maintain and evolve an online presence. Go Daddy provides a variety of domain name registration plans and Web site design and hosting packages, as well as a broad array of on-demand services. These include products such as SSL Certificates, Domains by Proxy private registration, ecommerce Web site hosting, blog templates and blog software, podcast packages and online photo hosting. The Go Daddy Group, Inc. has more than 36 million domain names under management. Go Daddy registers, renews or transfers a domain name every second. GoDaddy.com is the world’s No. 1 domain name registrar according to Name Intelligence, Inc. GoDaddy.com is also rated the world’s largest hostname provider according to Netcraft Ltd. During 2008, The Go Daddy Group registered more than one-third of all new domain names created in the top six generic top-level domains, or gTLDs, including .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz and .mobi.

- The Go Daddy Group -
Copyright © 2009 GoDaddy.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Find Phoenix  Real Estate Agents

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Phoenix Arizona, Technology

GARY DIRKS JOINS ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TO LEAD LIGHTWORKS RESEARCH INITIATIVE

TEMPE, Ariz. “ Arizona State University has selected Gary Dirks as director of LightWorks, a new initiative to position ASU as a leader in solar-based energy and other light-inspired research. Dirks is the former president of BP Asia-Pacific and BP China.

LightWorks will capitalize on ASU™s unique strengths in renewable energy fields including artificial photosynthesis, biofuels and next-generation photovoltaics. LightWorks will eventually broaden to include other light-based projects, such as lasers for biomedical applications and energy efficient lighting.

Gary Dirks will help position Arizona nationally and globally as a leader in renewable energy and light-based research, said ASU President Michael Crow. Gary™s broad range of experience will help us meet President Obama™s challenge to lead a green revolution and develop clean sources of energy.

Dirks received a Ph.D. in chemistry from ASU in 1980. He was the first doctoral student to work with Devens Gust, Thomas Moore and Ana Moore in ASU™s Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis (now the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis).

Dirks went on to work in the energy industry as a researcher, strategic planner and ultimately president of BP China and BP Asia-Pacific. In China, Dirks grew BP from an operation with fewer than 30 employees and no revenue to more than 1,300 employees and revenues of about $4 billion in 2008.

What does that mean for ASU? It means we have somebody who respects and understands the academic enterprise, but also somebody who is very practically grounded in what works in the energy world. We have somebody who knows the energy environment not just nationally, but globally, said R. F. Rick Shangraw, ASU Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs.

I feel privileged to have been selected, said Dirks. As I explored the opportunity to direct LightWorks, I was struck by the depth and breadth of capability at ASU to apply light to big social challenges. When you combine the capability that ASU has, the social need and the very strong support from President Crow and his team, it makes a very attractive opportunity for my next career.

Dirks will provide the enhanced strategic focus needed to pursue major funding opportunities, including those in the competitive arena of federal stimulus grants. He will also facilitate collaborations with other universities, industry and government agencies.
He said his initial focus is to communicate ASU™s strengths and capabilities through the vehicle of LightWorks and to connect ASU with major sponsors and partners.

Dirks already is fully engaged. I am working on two large energy projects now, he said.
The first is a Department of Energy proposal to identify pathways to commercial production of liquid fuels from algae. We have more than 20 partners from across the country, and ASU is leading. The second project is in anticipation of Congressional support for the Department of Energy Hubs program, he said.

It is incredibly important to bring resources into Arizona that will fund jobs and create an environment for growing new companies, said Shangraw.

However, Shangraw added that Dirks will not neglect the importance of basic research.
We do not have all the answers, particularly in terms of renewable energy. We can™t simply take our existing science and convert it magically into commercial products. We still have a lot of basic research to do in this area to be successful in the long run, he said.

In addition to directing LightWorks, Dirks has been appointed the Julie Wrigley Chair of Sustainable Practices and a professor of practice in the School of Sustainability. He is also a member of the Global Institute of Sustainability board of trustees.

####

About LightWorks
LightWorks is an ASU initiative that builds on the depth and breadth of research advanced by natural or human-made light. The initiative is a multidisciplinary effort designed to provide solutions to societal challenges, such as providing clean, renewable energy.
LightWorks provides a framework for fostering collaboration, pursuing novel approaches and forming strong partnerships with industry, government agencies and other universities.

About Arizona State University
At once the youngest and the largest of the roughly 150 public and private research-grade universities in the nation, Arizona State University enrolls more than 69,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students on four campuses of equally high aspiration configured across metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, a region negotiating societal and environmental challenges that anticipate coming trends worldwide. For the last seven years, ASU has served as America™s largest effort at institutional transformation in higher education, building a solution-focused institution that combines the highest level of academic excellence, inclusiveness to a broad demographic and maximum societal impact. Although the university is first and foremost committed to educating the students of Arizona, it is equally a discovery organization, focused on contributing to regional economic development through enhanced research and academic programs, including major interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on innovative solutions to the world™s greatest challenges. Through its educational and discovery missions, Arizona State University is producing the nation™s newest national assets.

Source: Arizona State University

Technorati Tags: Arizona State University