Even during the winter months, it’s a perfect time for visitors to learn more about birds and how we can work to help their survival.

RESTON, Va. (PRWEB)
February 16, 2022

Roer’s Zoofari, a petting zoo and safari experience in Reston, Virginia, is welcoming the local community to the zoo to celebrate National Bird Feeding Month throughout February. National Bird Feeding Month was established in 1994 to encourage people to give food, water, and shelter to wild birds and shine a light on the different species found across the country.

This February, visitors can come to Roer’s Zoofari to learn about the twelve different species that call the zoofari home, including the blue & yellow macaw, budgerigars’ parakeet, and laughing kookaburra, and feed some of the hundreds of birds in the aviary. Throughout the month, visitors can download bird coloring pages from the Roer’s Zoofari website and submit their completed designs in person or on social media for a chance to win a membership to the zoo.

“We are excited to welcome people to the zoo to participate in all of our fun bird-related events,” said Roer’s Zoofari CEO Vanessa Roer. “Even during the winter months, it’s a perfect time for visitors to learn more about birds and how we can work to help their survival.”

In conjunction with their other conservation efforts, Roer’s Zoofari will also be donating to The Peregrine Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to conserving birds of prey worldwide, to raise money for bird preservation efforts.

Roer’s Zoofari is home to hundreds of birds, ranging from chickens to the vibrant peacock. On February 1st, the aviary was reopened after a recent remodel that created a new habitat for the colorful parakeets and a new place for visitors to feed the birds. Most of the birds at Roer’s Zoofari are omnivores, eating a diet that ranges from seeds to berries and small insects.

Roer’s Zoofari’s lead keeper Crystal Troutman added: “Our birds aren’t picky about who holds their favorite food, especially during the winter. This month is the perfect time to get an up-close feeding experience with our animals and see some birds locals won’t typically see in their backyard.”

To learn more about Roer’s Zoofari’s National Bird Feeding Month initiatives and events, visit http://www.roerszoofari.com or visit the zoo at 1228 Hunter Mill Rd, Vienna, VA 22182.

About Roer’s Zoofari

Roer’s Zoofari is a Zoological Association of America and American Humane accredited petting zoo and safari experience located in Reston, Virginia that provides opportunities for visitors to discover and connect with animals through education and hands-on interactions. Roer’s Zoofari is home to around 500 animals across 73 species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, arachnid, and butterfly. For more information on how to visit the zoo, visit http://www.roerszoofari.com.

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Yousef Benhamida

You are and become who you hang around with most often. I am grateful to be accepted into the Forbes Council organization and look forward to being around more people who are successful leaders in business.

SAN DIEGO (PRWEB)
February 15, 2022

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Yousef Benhamida of HS Supplies, one of the major plant nutrient manufacturers and suppliers to hydroponic and agricultural distributors in the United States, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.

Yousef was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

“We are honored to welcome Yousef into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Business Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.”

As an accepted member of the Council, Yousef has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum and at members-only events. Yousef will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Yousef will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

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“Curating the entire genome for meaning and actionability at scale is the next step in the evolution of using [genomic] information to improve patient care.” –Mike Klein, CEO, Genomenon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (PRWEB)
February 15, 2022

Genomenon, Inc., an AI-driven genomics company, today announced that it was awarded a $1.7 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The grant is to accelerate development of the Mastermind® Genomic Search Engine, the company’s AI-driven variant interpretation engine, with a vision of curating the entire human genome. The grant enables Genomenon to increase the expertly curated evidence needed for clinicians to make a genetic diagnosis, extending Mastermind beyond its current function as the most complete source of genomic information for medical research.

The NIH’s SBIR program focuses on a variety of high-impact technologies spanning research tools, diagnostics, digital health, drugs, and medical devices. It provides funding needed to bring scientific innovations from bench to bedside. Awarded by the NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute, this grant will fund the continued evolution of Genomenon’s AI-driven genomic engine, as well as the incorporation of collaborative features for community-based variant interpretation¹.

“Having already curated more than 250 genes for rare diseases and cancer, this NIH funding allows us to accelerate the pace of genetic interpretation for our AI-driven curation engine, which is a crucial first step in a process that enables targeted and efficient use of expert human curators,” said Mike Klein, CEO of Genomenon. “Next-generation sequencing gives us the ability to quickly and efficiently create a large amount of genomic data. Curating the entire genome for meaning and actionability at scale is the next step in the evolution of using this information to improve patient care.”

Mastermind is the world’s most comprehensive source for genomic literature in the variant interpretation space. Used by more than 1,000 diagnostic labs and integrated into 18 clinical-grade decision support platforms and reference databases across the globe, Mastermind connects patient genetic data with critical evidence from scientific literature needed to diagnose rare genetic diseases and cancer.

About Genomenon

Genomenon is an AI-driven genomics company that organizes the world’s genomic knowledge to connect patient DNA to scientific research in the diagnosis and development of treatments for patients with rare genetic diseases and cancer.

For more information, visit Genomenon.com

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1. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43HG010446. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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As the diagnostic utility of salivary bioscience expands to new heights, our ability to harness and implement better methods will continue to be a vital cornerstone in the growth of the salivary bioscience community and the people it serves.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (PRWEB)
February 02, 2022

Over the last two years, researchers have successfully translated the science of saliva into groundbreaking diagnostic tools. Alongside them, Salimetrics has expanded their CLIA certification for the Salimetrics Laboratory. “Partnering with Salimetrics ensures that the science of saliva is always operating within the methods that maintain the highest scientific credibility and standards,” says Steve Granger, Ph.D., Salimetrics Chief Scientific Officer. “Not only does Salimetrics operate the most qualified saliva testing laboratory, we also offer comprehensive scientific advice and a range of laboratory-based analysis to industry partners.”

The expansion of Salimetrics’ CLIA certification enables the Salimetrics Laboratory to receive samples from every state in the USA for high complexity testing, except for New York. However, Salimetrics also maintains partnerships with testing labs in New York that can further enable saliva-based CLIA-certified testing when needed. This expansion also provides a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) mechanism, where Salimetrics can rapidly respond to industry needs for saliva testing in regulatory environments.

With the Saliva Laboratory’s CLIA certification expansion, Salimetrics also welcomes a new Laboratory Director, Benjamin Gerson, M.D., to the team. Dr. Gerson specializes in Epidemiology, Medical Devices, Oncology, Toxicology, Sleep Disorders, Biotechnology, and Health Services & Research. Dr. Gerson attributes a broad array of expertise to the Salimetrics Laboratory team due to his extensive background, and as an experienced medical professional, shares a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. He is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, and is involved with the National Sleep Foundation, the Medical Review Officers Certification Council (MROCC), Sleep Inc., the Opioid Advisory Committee of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the National Safety Council. He has been an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, full professor at Boston University School of Medicine, and adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson Medical College. Dr. Gerson is certified by and is a member of the Board of Directors of MROCC, which certifies MROs.

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) were passed by Congress in 1988, establishing quality standards for all laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was performed. While Salimetrics has maintained a CLIA certified lab since 2001, the recent increase in clinically focused saliva testing has driven Salimetrics to increase the ability to support this need. Saliva has always maintained the diagnostic viability to enable complex sampling schedules and home collection via contactless healthcare, such as telehealth or remote office visits while employing a level of flexibility that supports successful solutions for precision medicine. Salimetrics continues to support these efforts by focusing on better methods for the proper collection, handling, transport, and testing of quality samples. This includes implementing the infrastructure necessary to support current and future saliva-based diagnostics and requires sufficient groundwork to leverage easy, safe, and economical sampling. “The Salimetrics team has been hard at work designing a workflow that provides end-to-end solutions for patient saliva collection and transport to the Salimetrics Laboratory. This workflow includes a complete, pre-designed sample collection kit, easy-to-use sample collection devices, cold-chain managed return shipping to the Salimetrics Saliva Laboratory, and a complete, HIPAA compliant results reporting system,” says Dr. Granger.

Experts at Salimetrics Laboratory have years of experience and specialized training in the proper liquid handling, storage, and assay techniques necessary to process saliva as a biological sample. The clinical-level quality standard at the Salimetrics Saliva Laboratory will continue to complement clinical and research studies that require precise and accurate characterizing of salivary biomarker concentrations and analyte activity. Saliva assays can also provide the critical, non-invasive feedback necessary to ensure clinical significance and efficacy in cost-effective doses. “We are happy to provide investigators access to expanded analytical testing services both in the USA and this same level of quality control and testing to investigators around the world,” said Dr. Granger. “As the diagnostic utility of salivary bioscience expands to new heights, our ability to harness and implement better methods will continue to be a vital cornerstone in the growth of the salivary bioscience community and the people it serves.”

To discuss your project or learn more about Salimetrics Laboratory Services, visit the Salimetrics Website, or Ask An Expert.

About Salimetrics

Salimetrics’ assay kits and CLIA-certified testing services are used to measure salivary analytes related to stress, behavior and development, inflammation, sleep, reproduction, health, and immune function. Founded in 1998 by Douglas A. Granger, Ph.D., Salimetrics, LLC support CROs, pharmaceuticals, academic researchers, and the immunodiagnostic industry around the world with innovative immunoassay products, non-invasive saliva collection methods, and laboratory testing services.

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Cryo-EXLO of specimen to an EM grid manipulated performed in just minutes.

“We anticipate cryo-EXLO manipulation of FIB specimens to contribute to transformational cryo-EM research in the fields of structural/cell biology and energy materials such as bacteria, virus infected cells and novel battery materials.” – Dr. Lucille Giannuzzi.

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (PRWEB)
February 01, 2022

EXpressLO LLC is the most comprehensive provider of focused ion beam (FIB) ex situ lift out (EXLO) specimen preparation solutions for transmission electron microscopy (EM) and other analytical techniques. As of January 27, 2022, EXpressLO LLC submitted a patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describing highly innovative methods and apparatus for cryo-EXLO manipulation of biological and beam sensitive materials.

The novel methods and apparatus described in this US patent filing were invented by EXpressLO LLC founder and President, Dr. Lucille A. Giannuzzi. The research and development underpinning the inventions in this patent filing was funded by DOE BER SBIR award DE-SC0020511. EXpressLO LLC holds several other key U.S. patents related to FIB specimen preparation and manipulation processes (ie. US 8,740,209; US 8,789,826; US 10,522,324; US 10,801,926). This latest cryo-EXLO patent filing builds upon the solid foundation established by these prior EXLO-related patents.

The patent-pending cryo-EXLO methods and instrumentation will assist cryo-EM researchers in both the life sciences and physical sciences. “This is a unique specimen manipulation method that extends the ease of use, reproducibility, and throughput of ambient FIB ex situ lift out techniques for applications with vitreous and cryogenic specimens,” stated Dr. Giannuzzi. “We anticipate cryo-EXLO manipulation of FIB specimens to contribute to transformational cryo-EM research in the fields of structural/cell biology and energy materials such as bacteria, virus infected cells and novel battery materials.”

EXpressLO LLC will showcase these methods and results at the following upcoming conferences/exhibits: 14thAnnual FIB SEM Meeting at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD USA, May 4-5, 2022; 18th World Congress on Structural Biology July 11-12, 2022, Paris, France; Microscopy & Microanalysis 2022 in Portland, OR USA, July 31 – August 4, 2022.

For more information, please visit http://www.EXpressLO.com or contact Dr. Giannuzzi directly at info(at)EXpressLO(dot)com. Videos may be viewed at http://www.YouTube.com/LAGiannuzzi/videos.

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York Ag Promotes Kender Bio Tech Ruminant Ingredients

“Adding Kender Bio Tech to our natural ingredients portfolio was an easy choice. Our commitment to finding natural alternatives to help producers improve their animal production performance while considering animal well-being is palpable”, said Bill Achor, President and CEO of York Ag.

YORK, Pa. (PRWEB)
January 24, 2022

York Ag, a dynamic supplier of holistic ingredient solutions that optimize animal well-being, has launched a new website section to announce the addition of Kender Bio Tech ruminant ingredients to its portfolio (http://www.yorkag.com/kender). In today’s world, an increasing number of consumers want to know how their food is produced and often question the use of antibiotics in animal production. Kender Bio Tech offers natural solutions to the ruminant animal nutrition space assisting producers in gaining better performance while reducing the use of ionophores and antibiotics. These natural solutions help ensure the delivery of safe and wholesome beef and dairy products to the end consumer.

York Ag is an authorized U.S. distributor of Kender Bio Tech products. Kender Bio Tech is a U.S. company, based out of Colorado whose founders have over 30 years of experience in ruminant feed additives and formulation. Kender Bio Tech currently collaborates with nutritionists and vets in the United States, Canada, and South Africa and has a well-rounded portfolio of ingredients specifically designed for beef and dairy applications.

On the new website section, the Kender Bio Tech portfolio includes information about multiple products available in the U.S. For example, KENDER® BEEF 101 and KENDER® DAIRY 201 are botanical-based additives, available in conventional or organic formulations, made of botanical extracts and essential oils that help increase beef cattle and dairy cows’ capacity to overcome stress. This natural approach uses selected botanical extracts with calming properties which allows animals to spend more time eating, ruminating, and socializing. Data indicates that anxiolytic botanical extracts can have a positive impact on feeding behavior. “Adding Kender Bio Tech to our natural ingredients portfolio was an easy choice. Our commitment to finding natural alternatives to help producers improve their animal production performance while considering animal well-being is palpable”, said Bill Achor, President and CEO of York Ag.

KENDER® BEEF 102 and KENDER® DAIRY 202 are also botanical-based additives that blend essential oils and spices, but they are used as a natural alternative to Na-Monensin. Na-Monensin is a polyether antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces cinnamonensis and it is used in ruminant animal feeds. Na-Monensin and KENDER additives have a fairly similar mode of action in the rumen. However, the difference is KENDER natural additives help improve fiber digestion while Na-Monensin tends to decrease fiber digestion and cellulolytic bacteria.

KENDER® FLY SHIELD, available in conventional or organic formulations, is a natural alternative that helps repel flies and protect dairy and grazing cattle. This botanical-based formulation helps prevent concentration of flies that can cause infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), commonly known as pinkeye in dairy and grazing cattle. Pink eye is a disease of the cornea (eye surface) and the conjunctiva (eyelids) and is reported as the most common cause of eye disease.

“We are delighted to bring Kender Bio Tech natural ingredients to the beef cattle and dairy industries, and we’ll continue to search for innovative, dependable, and effective feed ingredient solutions that support feed manufacturers, livestock consultants, and animal producers”, said Achor.

To learn more about Kender Bio Tech ingredients, visit http://www.yorkag.com/kender

About York Ag

York Ag is a dynamic supplier of holistic ingredient solutions that optimize animal well-being. Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, York Ag commercializes its proprietary products YORK CALCIUM CHIPS®, BOVAZYME®, and BOVAZYME® Organic, and carries a wholesome portfolio of national and international brands from diverse feed ingredient manufacturers.

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In this webinar, Advanced Instruments in partnership with Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing will discuss the evaluation of the impact of monitoring osmolality during an ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) step prior to CEX capture of monoclonal antibodies from mammalian cell cultures.

TORONTO, Ontario (PRWEB)
January 25, 2022

Over the years, alternatives to Protein A chromatography capture column in the monoclonal antibody platform process have been explored with varying degrees of success. Among those alternatives, cation exchange chromatography (CEX) has been widely reported as an alternative to protein A as a capture column.

Conventional CEX resins; however, have low selectivity for antibodies in clarified cell culture media under typical media conductivities. Therefore, achieving reasonable binding to the CEX capture column requires either dilution of the feed, a concentration/diafiltration step or pH adjustment prior to loading. Careful control of feed concentration, buffer composition and pH prior to CEX capture can help optimize performance of the resins under these conditions.

In this webinar, Advanced Instruments in partnership with Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing will discuss the evaluation of the impact of monitoring osmolality during an ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) step prior to CEX capture of monoclonal antibodies from mammalian cell cultures. This was compared with conductivity monitoring to build a model based on osmolality measurements.

Join Thiago Millen, Lead Scientist, Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB), for the live webinar on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 11am EST (4pm GMT/UK).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Osmolality as a Tool for UF/DF Monitoring Before Cation Exchange Chromatography Capture of Monoclonal Antibodies.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

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The CloneSelect Imager FL is a next-generation fluorescent imaging solution for the assurance of monoclonality and automated confluence across diverse cell types.

The CloneSelect® Imager FL joins a robust product portfolio designed to help organizations move forward in their drug discovery journey with speed, accuracy, and confidence.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB)
January 24, 2022

Molecular Devices, LLC., a leading provider of high-performance life science solutions, has officially launched its CloneSelect® Imager FL platform (CSI FL). The CSI FL is capable of imaging and reporting on label-free and multiplexed gene-edited single cells with automated monoclonal verification reporting.

“Label-free, gene-edited monoclonal imaging techniques can be a time-consuming and highly-subjective process,” said Dan O’Connor, Vice President, Drug Discovery, Molecular Devices. “By using multi-channel fluorescence, the CSI FL provides complete assurance that clonal cell lines for mAb production, drug screening, and cell and gene therapies came from a single gene-edited progenitor. The CSI FL offers high-speed imaging of banked cell lines with CRISPR-confirmed edits, helping to expedite the therapeutic discovery process while providing full audit trail regulatory reporting.”

By leveraging Molecular Devices’ existing label-free, best-in-class, clone imaging technology, the CSI FL adds the capability of imaging sensitive green and red fluorescent proteins to deliver:

• Publication-ready, high-resolution imaging and analysis due to accurate cell detection regardless of cell type and condition, providing automatic confluence analysis and monoclonality assurance
• Industry-leading acquisition times for rapid single cell confirmation, verifying and tracking monoclonality from day zero
• Demonstrated IND success with an automated and customizable Monoclonality Report feature that streamlines creation of supporting documentation for regulatory agencies

“Our customers are as diverse as their scientific research, ranging from cell line development, to 3D biology, to drug screening – yet they’re united in a desire to work more efficiently, and with technologies that uncover answers, faster,” said Susan Murphy, President of Molecular Devices. “The CSI FL joins a robust product portfolio designed to help organizations move forward in their drug discovery journey with speed, accuracy, and confidence.”

To learn more about the automation-compatible CloneSelect Imager FL, visit the product page here.

About Molecular Devices, LLC.

Molecular Devices is one of the world’s leading providers of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems, software and consumables for life science research, pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic development. Included within a broad product portfolio are platforms for high-throughput screening, genomic and cellular analysis, colony selection and microplate detection. These leading-edge products enable scientists to improve productivity and effectiveness, ultimately accelerating research and the discovery of new therapeutics. Molecular Devices is committed to the continual development of innovative solutions for life science applications. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California with offices around the globe. To learn more about Molecular Devices, visit http://www.moleculardevices.com.

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