BGI signs MOU with TTI GG, NLeSC and NBIC for taming flood of genomic data

Public release date: 23-Mar-2012
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Contact: Jia Liu
liujia@genomics.cn
BGI Shenzhen

Open Source and Open Access initiatives to use genomic data more sustainably and effectively

Netherlands, Copenhagen, Denmark and Shenzhen, China BGI, the world's largest genomics organisation, Technological Top Institute of Green Genetics (TTI GG), Netherlands eScience Centre (NLeSC), and Netherlands Institute of Bioinformatics (NBIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the challenge of managing, transporting, integrating and analysing today's tremendous flow of genomic data. The collaborating organisations advocate the adoption and application of Open Source and Open Access initiatives to genomic data to more easily and rapidly explore the mysteries of life science.

Genomic data generation is accelerating at an exponential rate, driven by the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, posing new demands and challenges for data handling, storage and transmission. Under the MOU, researchers from BGI, TTI GG, NLeSC and NBIC have agreed to encourage collaborative initiatives and community building in the areas of data management, infrastructure and analysis within their respective programmes. Such collaboration will encourage the development and sharing of services, infrastructure and facilities with the goal of enabling more sustainable and effective access and understanding of genomic data.

BGI has conducted considerable research to tackle the flood of genomic data. In late 2011, it developed a BGI-BOX cloud computing terminal server for users lacking a bioinformatics background to access genomic data and bioinformatics analyses in their own laboratories. In addition, BGI and open-access publisher BioMed Central launched GigaScience, a new combined database and journal focused on the publication and hosting of large-scale data. The journal makes it possible for the release of large data sets more rapidly to the wider research community.

"Genomics revolutionized the life sciences," said Professor Jian Wang, president of BGI, "but the growing flood of genomic data poses an enormous challenge to optimizing and sustaining the benefit of high-throughput sequencing technologies. BGI has made significant efforts to tackle this challenge to advancing life science research, and this cooperative agreement should provide an example for researchers worldwide on the importance and value of shared, sustainable data management and data manipulation in biological and medical studies."

The signing of MOU provides an opportunity for scientists from China and Netherlands to achieve powerful cooperation for better taming tremendous data. Dr. Bernard de Geus, director of TTI GG, said in brief, "Big data: Big expectation, big challenge, big opportunity." TTI GG has been established jointly by Dutch companies in the area of plant breeding and propagation, universities and knowledge institutions with the mission being to promote research and education and to create continuity in Dutch knowledge and education base.

NLeSC is a joint initiative by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO and SURF, which supports and reinforces multidisciplinary and data-intensive research through eScience, the creative and innovative use of ICT and e-infrastructures in all its manifestations with the aim to change scientific practice by enabling large-scale "Big Data" analysis across multiple disciplines. Professor dr. Jacob de Vlieg, director of NLeSC, said, "This is a very exciting initiative to link minds and eScience concepts between scientists from BGI and the Netherlands, and to promote 'Big Data' driven scientific discoveries in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics."

NBIC, the national networked organization of bioinformatics, pursues innovation in life sciences R&D through seamless integration of life science data, information and models in the quantitative analysis of biological systems. Dr. Barend Mons, Scientific director of NBIC, stated, "As soon as one measures anything in the 'Omics' era, one needs computers even to manage the data. For understanding them and turning them into knowledge, computational methods are indispensable and traditional methods of information sharing are hopelessly out of date. We should work together to face this challenge. "

###

Contact information:

Technological Top Institute Green Genetics
Dr. Bernard de Geus,
Director TTI Green Genetics
31-182-687-716
b.degeus@groenegenetica.nl
http://www.groenegenetica.nl

BGI
Yong Zhang
Deputy Director of National GeneBank (Shenzhen)
zhangy@genomics.cn
http://www.genomics.cn

Bicheng Yang,
Public Communication Officer
86-755-82639701
yangbicheng@genomics.cn
http://www.genomics.cn

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 23-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jia Liu
liujia@genomics.cn
BGI Shenzhen

Open Source and Open Access initiatives to use genomic data more sustainably and effectively

Netherlands, Copenhagen, Denmark and Shenzhen, China BGI, the world's largest genomics organisation, Technological Top Institute of Green Genetics (TTI GG), Netherlands eScience Centre (NLeSC), and Netherlands Institute of Bioinformatics (NBIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the challenge of managing, transporting, integrating and analysing today's tremendous flow of genomic data. The collaborating organisations advocate the adoption and application of Open Source and Open Access initiatives to genomic data to more easily and rapidly explore the mysteries of life science.

Genomic data generation is accelerating at an exponential rate, driven by the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, posing new demands and challenges for data handling, storage and transmission. Under the MOU, researchers from BGI, TTI GG, NLeSC and NBIC have agreed to encourage collaborative initiatives and community building in the areas of data management, infrastructure and analysis within their respective programmes. Such collaboration will encourage the development and sharing of services, infrastructure and facilities with the goal of enabling more sustainable and effective access and understanding of genomic data.

BGI has conducted considerable research to tackle the flood of genomic data. In late 2011, it developed a BGI-BOX cloud computing terminal server for users lacking a bioinformatics background to access genomic data and bioinformatics analyses in their own laboratories. In addition, BGI and open-access publisher BioMed Central launched GigaScience, a new combined database and journal focused on the publication and hosting of large-scale data. The journal makes it possible for the release of large data sets more rapidly to the wider research community.

"Genomics revolutionized the life sciences," said Professor Jian Wang, president of BGI, "but the growing flood of genomic data poses an enormous challenge to optimizing and sustaining the benefit of high-throughput sequencing technologies. BGI has made significant efforts to tackle this challenge to advancing life science research, and this cooperative agreement should provide an example for researchers worldwide on the importance and value of shared, sustainable data management and data manipulation in biological and medical studies."

The signing of MOU provides an opportunity for scientists from China and Netherlands to achieve powerful cooperation for better taming tremendous data. Dr. Bernard de Geus, director of TTI GG, said in brief, "Big data: Big expectation, big challenge, big opportunity." TTI GG has been established jointly by Dutch companies in the area of plant breeding and propagation, universities and knowledge institutions with the mission being to promote research and education and to create continuity in Dutch knowledge and education base.

NLeSC is a joint initiative by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO and SURF, which supports and reinforces multidisciplinary and data-intensive research through eScience, the creative and innovative use of ICT and e-infrastructures in all its manifestations with the aim to change scientific practice by enabling large-scale "Big Data" analysis across multiple disciplines. Professor dr. Jacob de Vlieg, director of NLeSC, said, "This is a very exciting initiative to link minds and eScience concepts between scientists from BGI and the Netherlands, and to promote 'Big Data' driven scientific discoveries in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics."

NBIC, the national networked organization of bioinformatics, pursues innovation in life sciences R&D through seamless integration of life science data, information and models in the quantitative analysis of biological systems. Dr. Barend Mons, Scientific director of NBIC, stated, "As soon as one measures anything in the 'Omics' era, one needs computers even to manage the data. For understanding them and turning them into knowledge, computational methods are indispensable and traditional methods of information sharing are hopelessly out of date. We should work together to face this challenge. "

###

Contact information:

Technological Top Institute Green Genetics
Dr. Bernard de Geus,
Director TTI Green Genetics
31-182-687-716
b.degeus@groenegenetica.nl
http://www.groenegenetica.nl

BGI
Yong Zhang
Deputy Director of National GeneBank (Shenzhen)
zhangy@genomics.cn
http://www.genomics.cn

Bicheng Yang,
Public Communication Officer
86-755-82639701
yangbicheng@genomics.cn
http://www.genomics.cn

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/bs-bsm032312.php

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Does Secret Service protection trump speech rights? Supreme Court hears case.

A Colorado man arrested in 2006 after telling Vice President Cheney what he thought of the Iraq war alleges that Secret Service agents retaliated against him for his opinions.

In June 2006 a man was detained for several hours after an encounter with then Vice President Dick Cheney in which he voiced his sharp disapproval of the war in Iraq and touched the vice president with his open hand.

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After charges against him were dropped, he filed suit against the Secret Service, alleging that he was arrested because of what he had said to the vice president and because of the opinions he expressed to agents.

On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court heard oral argument in an appeal that is asking the justices to enact a special rule exempting US Secret Service agents ? and potentially all law enforcement officials ? from civil liability for arresting someone allegedly in retaliation for the offensive content of their speech.

The case poses a potential major test of the court?s free speech jurisprudence, and is being heard at a time when First Amendment principles are reportedly hindering efforts of federal agents assigned to protect top American leaders from assassination and other attacks.

During an hour-long oral argument, the eight justices hearing the case appeared sharply divided on the issue, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor most skeptical of the proposed rule.

Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito, and Chief Justice John Roberts appeared supportive.

Justice Elena Kagan is not participating in the case.

At issue in Reichle v. Howards (11-262) is whether two Secret Service agents should be put on trial for money damages for allegedly arresting the Colorado man, Steven Howards, after his encounter with Mr. Cheney.

The agents arrested Mr. Howards for allegedly assaulting the vice president. He was taken to a local sheriff?s office and held for several hours before being released on bond. A local prosecutor charged him with harassment, but the charge was later dropped.

Howards filed a lawsuit against the Secret Service agents claiming that they used their authority to retaliate against him because of what he said.

Howards reportedly told Cheney that his policies in Iraq were ?disgusting.? He then reached out and touched the vice president with his open hand.

Howards later characterized the contact as an open-handed pat. Federal agents put a more sinister cast on the encounter. According to the government?s brief, the contact was a push-off, a slap, a forceful touch, or a ?strike that caused the vice president?s shoulder to dip.?

The agents moved to dismiss Howards? lawsuit, but a federal judge and a federal appeals court have allowed it to move forward.

On Wednesday, a lawyer for the agents and a lawyer for the Obama administration both urged the Supreme Court to create a broad exemption from First Amendment liability for federal agents.

Under the new rule, federal agents would be immune from a civil lawsuit charging that they had engaged in a retaliatory arrest related to the content of the arrestee?s speech. The immunity would apply whenever the agent could show he or she acted with probable cause to believe a crime had been committed prior to the arrest.

?The issue before the court today is whether Secret Service agents who are prepared to take a bullet for the vice president must also be prepared to take a retaliatory arrest lawsuit, even when they have probable cause to make an arrest,? Sean Gallagher, a Denver, Col., lawyer for the agents, told the court.

Mr. Gallagher said that protective agents must use the speech of surrounding individuals to gauge potential threats. He said if agents knew they were potentially liable for money damages in First Amendment lawsuits, it might make them hesitate at a critical moment.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/ItwGwf5T3io/Does-Secret-Service-protection-trump-speech-rights-Supreme-Court-hears-case

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Cosmetic Surgery To Treat Cellulite | Fitness and Health Tips Today

Cellulite ? every woman?s nightmare. No matter how much you work out, regardless of what your diet plan is, you may still develop cellulite.

And with summer rapidly approaching, the most effective time to have anti-cellulite treatments is now. But first, what is cellulite, whom does it have an effect on and how can you eliminate it?

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite could be a description for dimpled skin around the thigh, pelvis and different areas of the body. Cellulite is present in 80%-90% of women past puberty. So odds are, even when you don?t have cellulite now, you?ll have it within the near future (read on for info on new cellulite laser technology).

When the majority women begin developing cellulite, they mistakenly consider it has to do with their diet or work out routines. Though both of those may affect the development of cellulite, they?re not the cause or the solution.

Yes, normal work out may help diminish the cellulite ? to some degree. However, also the most active and healthy women would still have some visible remnants. For that reason, if you discover yourself developing cellulite, it still is vital to change your diet and exercise routines, however realize this isn?t the final solution.

Until recently diet, exercise and topical creams and lotions were the most effective solutions we had. However, the revolutionary new cellulite treatment known as Cellulaze has quickly established itself as the one solution that can take away the vast majority of evident cellulite.

Enter Cellulaze

Before Cellulaze, the most effective cosmetic surgeons in New York City had very limited choices for handling cellulite. Sometimes, they?d prescribe lotions or different on-the-surface treatments intended to minimize the looks of cellulite.

But, thanks to breakthrough technology, we now have a far better way to fight cellulite: Cellulaze. It?s the first and only FDA approved simply invasive treatment for cellulite.

What makes this technology different? Well, let?s have a look at what the other ?treatments? do. Such on-the-surface treatments target the precise surface dimples. They do nothing to treat the actual problem ? what?s happening underneath the skin.

This is exactly what Cellulaze does. It targets the inner anatomical problem of cellulite, rather than working on simply the surface irregularities. For this reason, the results of this action are far more preferable last longer than any other presently known treatment. Additionally, the treatment is relatively simple and is pretty harmless, ensuring that no matter who you are or what your condition is, it can work for you.

How to Experience Cellulaze

If you?re ready to experience a revolution in cellulite removal, the first step is to speak to the best cosmetic surgeon in New York City. With his 34 years experience and stellar reputation, that man is none other than Dr. Theodore Diktaban.

Dr. Diktaban is very acquainted with Cellulaze and the principles behind it making him an excellent choice to administer your treatment. He is an experienced researcher and clinician who has performed clinical trials for various companies including Cynosure, the maker of Cellulaze. We all realise the competence of the surgeon makes all the difference in the world of cosmetic surgery and you?ll find none better geared up than Dr. Diktaban.

For more info regarding Cellulaze Treatments, call or go to Dr. Diktaban on the web at http://www.drdiktaban.com. Dr. Theodore Diktaban, a board certified plastic surgeon and certified otolaryngologist, has worked for years pioneering methods of minimally invasive liposuction.

Source: http://fitnesshealthtoday.com/cosmetic-surgery-to-treat-cellulite/

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Perfect Trips Start By Vacation Rentals | Travel and Leisure

They say that the perfect trip starts with perfect accommodations. You might wonder if the perfect getaway comes with a very high price tag. It doesn?t have to. With Hilton Head vacation rentals by owner, you don?t have to settle for less; you just pay less. Right along the Atlantic Ocean is South Carolina?s Hilton Head Island. When you have booked the perfect spot, you can experience firsthand the beauty of the place, right in your own private dwelling. You can rent a condo or a cottage. Or you can rent a villa or a townhouse if you have a big family. Whatever your needs for space are, you can find the most suitable place with Hilton Head vacation rentals.

Solitude and tranquility are qualities that vacation homes pride themselves for. The wide space and bigger rooms are features that cost the earth when you go for hotels. But these things are part of the whole package when you book a Hilton Head. You will also appreciate the architecture and d?cor. The bathroom and kitchen fittings are both modern and convenient.

The beds and furniture show style and give comfort. Your home will surely have its own music system and home theatre; where the family can spend enjoyable moments indoors. Facilities are yours to get much needed relaxation. You can have a pool or a Jacuzzi if you state your preferences upon booking. A Hilton Head vacation will be your home away from home. It will aid you in the renewal you sought for away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

When you made the trip with the beach in mind, you will not be disappointed. When you take your first step on the shore, your vacation would already be soaring high. Your Hilton Head will put you right on the beach and with enchanting views on top of it. You can have oceanfront cottages where you can easily watch the sun rise and set. Even if you choose secluded accommodations, you will still have access to restaurants and shopping. You can enjoy water recreations such as swimming, boating, fishing, sailing and kayaking. You can take a short trip to a golf course, or the tennis courts and the gym. Biking and horseback riding are also perfect ways to enjoy the view and get some physical activities done. With your Hilton Head your vacation can be peaceful and relaxing, or it can be an adventure to remember.

Related posts:

1. The Fine Print Comes To Vacation Rentals
2. Why You Must Choose Vacation Rentals
3. Vacation Rentals Hawaiian Beach
4. Vacation Rentals Offer Tremendous Benefits To Travelers
5. Family Staycation Strategy Trips For Seaside

Tags: Head, Hilton, Owner, Rentals, Vacation

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Source: http://relaxzen.net/perfect-trips-start-by-vacation-rentals.html

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