TRENTON—A former research chemist with global pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis (sanofi) was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing sanofi’s trade secrets and making them available for sale through Abby Pharmatech Inc. (Abby), the U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese chemicals company, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Yuan Li, 30, of Somerset, New Jersey, a Chinese national, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging her with one count of theft of trade secrets. Li entered her guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano, who also imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Sanofi is a global healthcare company with U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Among other things, sanofi is engaged in the development, manufacture, and marketing of health care products including the prescription drugs Allegra, Plavix, Copaxone, and Ambien.

Li worked as a research scientist at sanofi’s Bridgewater headquarters from October 2006 through June 2011, where she directly assisted in the development of a number of compounds that sanofi viewed as potential building blocks for future drugs. These compounds were sanofi’s trade secrets and had not been disclosed outside sanofi in any manner, including by means of a patent application.

While employed at sanofi, Li was also a 50 percent partner in Abby, which is engaged in the sale and distribution of pharmaceuticals.

Li admitted that between January 2010 and June 2011, she accessed an internal sanofi database and downloaded information related to a number of sanofi compounds, including their chemical structures, onto her sanofi-issued laptop computer. She also admitted she then transferred the information to her personal home computer by sending it to her personal e-mail address or via a USB thumb drive.

Li acknowledged that she made the stolen compounds available for sale on Abby’s website.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Pisano sentenced Li to serve two years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $131,000 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gurbir S. Grewal of the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

Former Research Chemist at Global Pharmaceutical Company Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Theft of Trade Secrets | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 4, 2012

An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, according to a new paper from researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, is a compound isolated from honeybee hive propolis, the resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives. Propolis has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for conditions ranging from sore throats and allergies to burns and cancer. But the compound has not gained acceptance in the clinic due to scientific questions about its effect on cells.

In a paper published in Cancer Prevention Research, researchers combined traditional cancer research methods with cutting-edge proteomics to find that CAPE arrests early-stage prostate cancer by shutting down the tumor cells’ system for detecting sources of nutrition.

“If you feed CAPE to mice daily, their tumors will stop growing. After several weeks, if you stop the treatment, the tumors will begin to grow again at their original pace,” said Richard B. Jones, PhD, assistant professor in the Ben May Department for Cancer Research and Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology and senior author of the study. “So it doesn’t kill the cancer, but it basically will indefinitely stop prostate cancer proliferation.”

Natural remedies isolated from plant and animal products are often marketed as cure-alls for a variety of maladies, usually based on vague antioxidant and anti-inflammatory claims. While substances such as ginseng or green tea have been occasionally tested in laboratories for their medicinal properties, scientific evidence is commonly lacking on the full biological effects of these over-the-counter compounds.

“It’s only recently that people have examined the mechanism by which some of these herbal remedies work,” Jones said. “Our knowledge about what these things are actually doing is a bit of a disconnected hodge-podge of tests and labs and conditions. In the end, you’re left with a broad, disconnected story about what exactly these things are doing and whether or not they would be useful for treating disease.”

To study the purported anti-cancer properties of CAPE, first author Chih-Pin Chuu (now at the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan) tested the compound on a series of cancer cell lines. Even at the low concentrations expected after oral administration, CAPE successfully slowed the proliferation of cultured cells isolated from human prostate tumors.

CAPE was also effective at slowing the growth of human prostate tumors grafted into mice. Six weeks of treatment with the compound decreased tumor volume growth rate by half, but when CAPE treatment was stopped, tumor growth resumed its prior rate. The results suggested that CAPE stopped cell division rather than killing cancerous cells.

To determine the cellular changes that mediated this effect, the researchers then used an innovative proteomics technique invented by Jones and colleagues called the “micro-western array.” Western blots are a common laboratory tool used to measure the changes in protein levels and activity under different conditions. But whereas only one or a few proteins at a time can be monitored with Western blots, micro-western arrays allow researchers to survey hundreds of proteins at once from many samples.

Chuu, Jones and their colleagues ran micro-western arrays to assess the impact of CAPE treatment on the proteins of cellular pathways involved in cell growth — experiments that would have been prohibitively expensive without the new technique.

“What this allowed us to do is screen about a hundred different proteins across a broad spectrum of signaling pathways that are associated with all sorts of different outcomes. You can pick up all the pathways that are affected and get a global landscape view, and that’s never been possible before,” Jones said. “It would have taken hundreds of Westerns, hundreds of technicians, and a very large amount of money for antibodies.”

The micro-western array results allowed researchers to quickly build a new model of CAPE’s cellular effects, significantly expanding on previous work that studied the compound’s mechanisms. Treatment with CAPE at the concentrations that arrested cancer cell growth suppressed the activity of proteins in the p70S6 kinase and Akt pathways, which are important sensors of sufficient nutrition that can trigger cell proliferation.

“It appears that CAPE basically stops the ability of prostate cancer cells to sense that there’s nutrition available,” Jones said. “They stop all of the molecular signatures that would suggest that nutrition exists, and the cells no longer have that proliferative response to nutrition.”

The ability of CAPE to freeze cancer cell proliferation could make it a promising co-treatment alongside chemotherapies intended to kill tumor cells. Jones cautioned that clinical trials would be necessary before CAPE could be proven effective and safe for this purpose in humans. But the CAPE experiments offer a precedent to unlock the biological mechanisms of other natural remedies as well, perhaps allowing these compounds to cross over to the clinic.

“A typical problem in bringing some of these herbal remedies into the clinic is that nobody knows how they act, nobody knows the mechanism, and therefore researchers are typically very hesitant to add them to any pharmaceutical treatment strategy,” Jones said. “Now we’ll actually be able to systematically demonstrate the parts of cell physiology that are affected by these compounds.”

The paper, “Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells through inhibition of p70S6K and Akt signaling networks,” will be published online May 4 by Cancer Prevention Research. In addition to Chuu and Jones, authors include Mark F. Ciaccio, John M. Kokontis, Ronald J. Hause, Jr., Richard A. Hiipakka and Shutsung Liao of the University of Chicago; and Hui-Ping Lin of the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan.

Research was supported by grants from the Cancer Research Foundation, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health, and National Science Council.

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The ranking of a monkey within her social environment and the stress accompanying that status dramatically alters the expression of nearly 1,000 genes, a new scientific study reports. The research is the first to demonstrate a link between social status and genetic regulation in primates on a genome-wide scale, revealing a strong, plastic link between social environment and biology.

In a comparison of high-ranking rhesus macaque females with their low-ranking companions, researchers discovered significant differences in the expression of genes involved in the immune response and other functions. When a female’s rank improved, her gene expression also changed within a few weeks, suggesting that social forces can rapidly influence genetic regulation.

“We were able to use gene expression to classify individuals based on their rank,” said Yoav Gilad, PhD, associate professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago Biological Sciences and senior author of the study in PNAS. “Demonstrating these very plastic and temporal changes was novel and quite interesting.”

The research, led by University of Chicago postdoctoral researcher Jenny Tung, was conducted with rhesus macaques housed in groups of five at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta. As in the wild, each group self-organizes into a dominance hierarchy, defined by which individual yields first during competition over food, water and grooming partners. In captivity, dominance is determined by the order of introduction into the group, giving researchers an opportunity to study how changes in rank lead to biological effect.

“In the wild, females would not ordinarily leave the social group they were born into,” said Tung, PhD, now an assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. “They inherit their social rank from their mothers. But in this unnatural situation, order of introduction determines rank — the newcomer is generally lower status.”

Previous research on rhesus macaques discovered that social rank influenced components of the stress response, brain, and immune system. With gene chip technology for measuring the expression of over 6,000 different genes, Tung, Gilad and colleagues at Yerkes, Emory University, and Johns Hopkins looked for the first time in primates at the effects of social rank on genetic function.

Comparing 49 different female monkeys of different rank revealed significant changes in the expression of 987 genes, including 112 genes associated with immune system function. The result fits with data in monkeys where low rank and chronic stress lead to compromised immune function, and, more loosely, with human studies linking low socioeconomic status and high social stress to elevated disease risk.

The overall genetic “signature” of expression changes was robust enough that researchers could predict an individual monkey’s social rank with high accuracy from their gene expression profile alone. That predictive power also enabled an unanticipated second test of whether gene expression would reflect unplanned changes in dominance rank.

“It was a fortunate event in the experiment,” Gilad said. “When a couple of animals were removed from cages for various reasons and new ones were introduced to the groups, it turned out to improve the rank of a few monkeys. We could take advantage of this switch and see if our classifier still works.”

By analyzing blood samples from these monkeys before and after their move, the researchers were able to use gene expression signatures to correctly predict the change in rank for six of seven monkeys. The result demonstrates that socially-induced gene expression changes are not stable, but can change rapidly in response to changes in social environment.

“There’s a spooky side to this kind of research, in that an individual’s social rank is partially determining health status,” Tung said. “But there’s also a hopeful side. For the seven females that changed ranks, their gene status changed with them. They’re not stuck in place, and I think that says something more broadly about the capacity for change.”

The researchers also investigated the mechanisms by which social status could influence gene expression. Dominance rank affected signaling of the glucocorticoid “stress hormone” system and the cell composition of blood samples, both of which contributed to changes in gene expression.

Experiments also demonstrated for the first time that social rank influenced the DNA methylation status of many genes, an epigenetic mechanism of transiently turning genes on and off. Genes that changed expression with rank status were more likely to be methylated than unaffected genes, suggesting that this mechanism also plays a role in the social influence on genetic regulation.

“That’s a novel mechanism that people haven’t considered in primates,” Gilad said. “I know that some have been resistant to the possibility of methylation changes on this timescale, but this is a demonstration that this mechanism also matters.”

The authors caution that the experiments used monkeys in captivity, and stressed that the relationship between stress and gene regulation in the wild might not look the same. The influence of social factors on human genetics also remains to be tested, and measuring status while controlling for confounding factors in people would be a difficult endeavor, Gilad said. But if social stress does in fact influence human health, the current research provides some optimism.

“An encouraging message to humans is the fact that the effects are plastic, reversible and change on a really large scale when rank changes,” Gilad said. “Whatever it is that causes stress through social environment, you might be able to fix.”

The study, “Social environment is associated with gene regulatory variation in the rhesus macaque immune system,” will be published online in PNAS Early Edition the week of April 9th, 2012. In addition to Tung and Gilad, authors include Luis Barreiro and Kateyln Michelini of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences, Zachary Johnson, Vasiliki Michopoulos, Donna Toufexis and Mark Wilson of Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and Kasper Hansen of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Funding for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health.

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Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Janice K. Fedarcyk, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced conspiracy and securities fraud charges against JOHN KINNUCAN, the President of Broadband Research, LLC, an investment research firm located in Portland, Oregon, for his alleged involvement in an insider trading scheme. KINNUCAN allegedly obtained material, non-public information (“Inside Information”) about publicly traded companies and sold that information to Broadband’s clients, including hedge funds and money managers (the “BBR Clients”). KINNUCAN understood that the Clients used such Inside Information to execute profitable securities trades. KINNUCAN was arrested late yesterday at his residence in Portland, Oregon, and is expected to be presented before Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta in the District of Oregon at 1:30 p.m. PST.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As described in the complaint, John Kinnucan used financial incentives, fancy meals and other inducements to curry favor with public company insiders so they would serve up their employers’ secrets. He allegedly made a business model out of passing off those secrets to his hedge fund clients as legitimate research. If convicted, Kinnucan will join the scores of privileged professionals whose purported success has been unmasked as nothing more than a fraud.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk said: “Kinnucan’s company, Broadband Research, was a misnomer. As the complaint alleges, the information he obtained and passed along to clients was not the result of research. It was inside information Kinnucan bought from company insiders. That kind of information beats research every time. The only problem is it isn’t legal.”

The following allegations are based on the complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

From 2008 through 2010, KINNUCAN obtained Inside Information, such as quarterly revenue numbers, from co-conspirators who were employed at publicly traded companies (the “Public Company Sources”), such as F5 Networks, Inc. (“F5”), Sandisk Corporation (“Sandisk”) and Flextronics International, Ltd. (“Flextronics”).

In order to develop and maintain a network of Public Company Sources, KINNUCAN befriended public company employees and offered to provide certain Public Company Sources with consulting fees and/or other non-monetary consideration. As outlined in the complaint, Kinnucan paid one of his sources approximately $27,500 for Inside Information, and invested $25,000 in the business of another source.

After he obtained Inside Information from Public Company Sources, KINNUCAN provided that Inside Information to BBR Clients understanding that they would use the information to execute securities transactions. For example, in June 2010 and early July 2010, KINNUCAN repeatedly sought information about F5’s quarterly financial results for the quarter ending on June 30, 2010 from an F5 employee. In a telephone call on July 2, 2010, at approximately 9:46 a.m., KINNUCAN informed the F5 employee that the revenue guidance F5 previously provided was $220 million. The F5 employee then told KINNUCAN that the unadjusted revenue number was “$232 million,” confirming that F5 would beat Wall Street’s consensus estimates. Within minutes of the July 2, 2010 conversation with the F5 employee, KINNUCAN called numerous BBR Clients to provide them with the F5 Inside Information. After receiving the F5 Inside Information from KINNUCAN, at least two BBR Clients executed securities transactions in F5 based, in whole or in part, on KINNUCAN’s Inside Information, earning profits and avoiding losses of more than $1.5 million.

In order to attract and retain BBR Clients, and in an effort to hide the true identity of his Public Company Sources, KINNUCAN lied to existing and prospective BBR Clients about the sources of his Inside Information, including by falsely stating that none of his sources was employed at a public company and that he did not pay his sources.

* * *

KINNUCAN, 54, of Portland, Oregon, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud (count one), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (count two) and two counts of securities fraud (counts three and four). Count one carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense; count two carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense; and counts three and four each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI. He also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Bharara noted that the investigation is continuing.

This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, on which Mr. Bharara serves as a co-chair of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Working Group. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Weitzman and Katherine R. Goldstein are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Announce Insider Trading Charges Against Oregon-Based Research Consultant | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

A medication commonly used to help people stop smoking may have an unanticipated positive side effect for an entirely different vice: drinking alcohol. A new study by University of Chicago researchers finds that varenicline, sold as Chantix, increases the negative effects of alcohol and therefore could hold promise as a treatment for alcoholism.

A group of heavy-to-moderate social drinkers given a single dose varenicline three hours before an alcoholic beverage reported increased dysphoria and reduced “liking,” even when researchers controlled for the effects of nausea from the drug. Those effects upon the subjective response to alcohol could reduce drinking in people prone to bingeing and other forms of abuse.

“We found that varenicline increased the unpleasant effects of alcohol and decreased drug liking,” said Emma Childs, PhD, research associate at the University of Chicago Medicine and first author of the study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. “Thus, we think that varenicline may reduce drinking by altering the effects of alcohol.”

Some patients prescribed Chantix to quit smoking have anecdotally reported a reduction in consumption of alcohol as well, and controlled studies in animals and humans have supported the effect. Researchers are now looking for neurobiological mechanisms that connect varenicline, a partial agonist of the brain’s nicotinic receptors, with reduced alcohol craving or consumption.

“Smokers who use varenicline are approximately two to three times more likely to remain abstinent six months or more after their quit date,” said Childs. “After it was approved, several patients treated with varenicline also reported reductions in their drinking, so investigators began to assess if this was an actual effect and how it might be produced.”

The new experiment is the first to look at the acute effects of a single dose of varenicline on the subjective response to a subsequent alcoholic drink. Subjects were recruited based on heavy drinking behavior, not smoking behavior — though the recruits did smoke 4 cigarettes a day on average.

15 subjects (8 men and 7 women) were brought to the laboratory for six different sessions. On each day, the subject received either a varenicline or placebo capsule, and then three hours later was given a drink containing 0, 0.4, or 0.8 mg/kg alcohol. Researchers monitored the effects of the drink on cardiovascular and eye movement measures, and subjects filled out questionnaires to report the subjective effects of the drink.

Compared to sessions where the subjects received a placebo pill, varenicline increased nausea, heart rate, blood pressure. After an alcoholic drink, self-reported dysphoria was increased while alcohol effects on subconscious eye movements (a measure of the drugs’ objective effects) were reduced. Even after controlling for the effect of nausea upon the subsequent response to a drink, the increased dysphoria and reduced “drug liking” after drinking alcohol remained significant.

By increasing the negative effects of alcohol, varenicline might be most effective in people who are unable to stop consuming alcohol after only one drink, Childs said.

“Our findings shed light on the mechanism underlying why people consume less alcohol when they have taken varenicline,” said Childs. “The pleasurable effects of alcohol, for example feeling ‘buzzed’ and talkative, are associated with greater consumption and binge drinking. Some people lose control of their alcohol consumption during a drinking episode, for example they may aim to only have one or two drinks but end up drinking say four or five. If varenicline counteracts these positive effects by producing unpleasant effects, then as a result people may consume less alcohol during a drinking episode.”

The authors cautioned that their study only examined the acute effect of a single dose of varenicline, rather than the sustained exposure experienced with regular use of the drug. But because the effectiveness of varenicline has already been proven as a smoking cessation drug, the unanticipated effects on drinking may make people struggling with both behaviors a logical first target.

“Varenicline may find a nice niche in those individuals who are both nicotine and alcohol dependent, who we know represent a large portion of alcohol-dependent individuals,” added Hugh Myrick, associate professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, who was not involved in the study. “Since there is a high comorbidity between nicotine and alcohol dependence, a single medication that could decrease the use of both substances would be ideal.”

The paper, “Varenicline potentiates alcohol-induced negative subjective responses and offsets impaired eye movements,” will be published online by Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research on February 15^th. In addition to Childs, authors include Daniel J. O. Roche, Andrea C. King, and Harriet de Wit of the University of Chicago Medicine.

Funding for the research was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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Much to be Done in Illinois: Solutions Identified but Response Inadequate

CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Poverty, worse in Illinois today than during the recession, grew from pre-to post-recession by 16 percent, according to the 2011 Report on Illinois Poverty released today. In fact, poverty is at its highest point in decades. Visit www.heartlandalliance.org/research to download the report and access county-level data.

Post recession has seen no gains for struggling families. In the report, the Social IMPACT Research Center at Heartland Alliance documents hardship across a variety of indicators including income, employment, housing and assets. Together these indicators document the conditions faced by struggling families across Illinois.

Nearly 1 in 3 Illinoisans are now considered poor or low-income. Continuing the disturbing trend of the past decade, median household income has steadily declined in Illinois; it is currently $52,972, down 3.4 percent from the recession and 6.9 percent from before the recession. For families at the bottom of the income spectrum, having limited resources results in families having to balance their budgets through short term trade-offs with long-term consequences such as deferring needed medical care or dipping into retirement savings. Byron Dickens, a Chicago resident, illustrates the pressure of trying to make ends meet on a low income: “Working 40 hours a week in a minimum wage job I don’t earn enough to cover my housing, food, transportation, and all my medical expenses. And I don’t even have a family.”

Employment trends are particularly bleak. Unemployment in Illinois skyrocketed 82.3 percent during the recession, and since then unemployment has held steady around 10 percent. The average length of time Illinois workers are unemployed has nearly doubled since 2007, with unemployed workers spending an average of nearly 37 weeks unemployed in 2010. It is going to be a long uphill climb to renewed economic vitality: Illinois must add 528,844 new jobs to fill its job gap (number of jobs lost during the recession and the number of jobs needed for new entrants to the workforce).

These conditions of declining incomes and rising poverty and unemployment are ripe for growth in homelessness. Housing costs have long eaten up large portions of family budgets and now families have even less income to devote to housing. The number of people, 241,093, living doubled up increased by 15 percent from 2008 to 2009, and 1 out of every 4 households in Illinois is now considered to be severely rent burdened with housing costs comprising more than half their income. “These living arrangements are unsustainable in the long run and are the last step before homelessness for many,” according to Amy Rynell, Director of the Social IMPACT Research Center.

These conditions have also led to a considerable erosion of assets and mounting debts, increasing the economic vulnerability of families across Illinois for many years to come. In 2011, the average debt of Illinoisans increased 37 percent over 2003 to $13,416, and the average amount of student loan debt among graduating seniors from 4-year Illinois colleges is $23,885. Low credit scores are also on the rise, which can greatly limit prime borrowing opportunities for car loans, credit cards, and home loans: since 2007, the rate of Illinois consumers with credit scores below 620 has increased 22 percent.

Without government assistance, nearly twice as many people nationally would have experienced poverty. Unfortunately, not all of Illinois’ safety net assistance programs responded quickly and effectively to growing hardship. And even the most responsive programs have not grown commensurate with need.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) continues to respond to growing need: the number of households receiving assistance has steadily grown as incomes have declined, growing 64 percent from before the recession to the post-recession period, with 874,109 households now receiving assistance.

The Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable federal income tax credit, has steadily reached more households in Illinois, growing almost 10 percent from pre- to post-recession. Over one million Illinois tax filers now receive the EITC.

The response of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides cash assistance to very low-income families with children, was undetectable during the recession. There was essentially no increase in the caseload from the year before the recession to the recession period. Since the recession ended, however, the caseload has grown 64 percent to 46,694 families.

The Unemployment Insurance program was by far the most responsive during the recession, growing over 75 percent. Since then, however, while unemployment has stayed at the same level, the number of recipients has plummeted almost 30 percent.

“Personal, social, and economic costs of low family incomes are far too great, compromising Illinois’ economic strength, human capital, and future well-being,” said Sid Mohn, President of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. “State policies and investments need to support an economy that works for everyone, promote work that pays a living wage, ensure that all have access to a quality education, and that families are able to access adequate income supports to help make ends meet.”

VISIT www.heartlandalliance.org/research TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT AND OBTAIN DATA ON EACH OF ILLINOIS’ 102 COUNTIES.

The Social IMPACT Research Center (IMPACT), the research arm of Heartland Alliance, provides dynamic research and analysis on today’s most pressing social issues and solutions to inform and equip those working toward a just global society. Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights believes that all of us deserve the opportunity to improve our lives. Each year, we help ensure this opportunity for more than one million people around the world who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety. Our policy efforts strengthen communities; our comprehensive services empower those we serve to rebuild and transform their lives.
For more information: 312.870.4949 | research@heartlandalliance.org | www.heartlandalliance.org/research

SOURCE Social IMPACT Research Center

http://www.heartlandalliance.org/research

New Report: Hardship in Illinois was High Before the Recession, Skyrocketed During, Zero Progress Seen Since | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Dec. 6, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM-iReach/ — Jeff Kerr, formerly Vice President – Consumer Research at Peryam & Kroll Research has been promoted to Senior Vice President – Consumer Research at the firm effective immediately.  Jeff joined P&K in March of 2010 bringing with him more than 25 years of marketing research experience. 

(Photo:  http://photos.CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.com/prnh/20111206/CG18191)

Having spent more than 20 years at Research International, Jeff has expertise in all areas of consumer research.  Prior to joining P&K, Jeff was a Vice President at Socratic Technologies, an internet research company.  ”This promotion recognizes Jeff’s contributions to P&K, he is a strategic partner with our clients and contributes to the ability of our organization to meet client needs,” states James Ondyak, P&K President and CEO. 

Jeff will continue to offer innovative research solutions, outstanding service and trusted consulting support to the P&K clients that comprise his account responsibilities from the firm’s Chicago headquarters.   Jeff holds both a BS in Mathematics and an MBA from Penn State University. 

Founded over 50 years ago, Peryam & Kroll is a full service marketing research firm dedicated to helping consumer products companies design and implement research to uncover consumer attitudes on which to make reliable marketing decisions. For more information about P&K, visit www.pk-research.com or call 800-747-5522.

Media Contact: Tom Dutt Peryam & Kroll Research, 773-357-3009, duttt@pk-research.com

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Jeff Kerr Promoted to Senior Vice President – Consumer Research at Peryam & Kroll Research | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 15, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Serta and City of Hope have teamed up to bring the public a new and unique way to support cancer research, treatment and education.   The Adopt-a-Sheep for the Fight Against Cancer Event is going on now and offers people the opportunity to “adopt” a limited edition #60 Counting Sheep plush toy designed by Serta and City of Hope.  This new Counting Sheep will help raise funds for City of Hope through distribution at participating Serta retailers and sales made directly to the public online.  Serta will donate a minimum of $1.50 for each sale or distribution of the #60 plush toy to City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research, treatment and education centers. The event runs until March 31st, 2012.

Serta Counting Sheep plush toys have been collected by fans since 2000, when Serta first introduced the herd as the reluctant brand icons.  The campaign has been very successful for Serta, earning a Gold Effie and the Counting Sheep a spot on the Advertising Walk of Fame.  The Adopt-a-Sheep Event allows Serta to introduce a new, limited edition plush toy to collectors and the general public while also raising funds for City of Hope and getting people involved in the fight against cancer.

“Serta has a long-standing partnership with City of Hope, and we believe in their innovative approach in fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses” says Bob Sherman, president of Serta.  ”That is why our Adopt-a-Sheep Event is so important to our company, and we are excited to give people a fun and engaging way to get involved in supporting City of Hope.”

There are two simple ways to bring home a limited edition #60 Counting Sheep plush toy:

1. Visit a participating Serta retailer to receive a #60 Sheep for free with either a qualified purchase or “test rest” of the iComfort® Sleep System, Serta’s latest breakthrough in memory foam technology featuring Cool Action™ material.  The offer will vary by participating retailer; see store for details.   Serta has made a minimum donation of $1.50 to City of Hope for each #60 plush toy distributed to participating retailers.  
2. Purchase a #60 Sheep from Serta online by visiting Serta.Com/Adopt and selecting “Buy Your Sheep Online”.   Serta will make a minimum donation of $1.50, up to $9, for each #60 plush toy sold online.  

“Serta has been a terrific supporter of City of Hope and we’re delighted to partner with the company to offer consumers a unique way to join the fight against cancer,” said Steve Martin, vice president of marketing, City of Hope. “This year, more than one million people will be diagnosed with cancer. This partnership will enable City of Hope to advance research and improve treatments for patients while giving people a creative way to honor friends and family who have been personally affected by cancer.”

Officially “Adopt” Your Counting Sheep and Honor Loved Ones

Each #60 Counting Sheep comes with an enclosure card, carrying a unique registration code and instructions on how to officially “adopt” your Counting Sheep online at Serta’s Adoption Registration Center.  From here, adoptive families can select a unique name for their Counting Sheep and dedicate the adoption to a loved one touched by cancer.  Once the registration is complete, adopters will have access to exclusive Adopt-a-Sheep content, including a keepsake Adoption Certificate and wallpaper customized with the Sheep’s name and date of adoption.  Serta will make an additional $1.50 donation to City of Hope for each adoption registered online, up to the first 25,000 registrations.

Serta will also recognize each adoption registered online with its Herd for Hope™ Honor Wall and Virtual Pasture.  The Honor Wall will be a living scroll of all adoptions registered online, where adopters can return to find their information and share with friends and family.  A “virtual” #60 sheep will also be placed in Serta’s Virtual Pasture, coming in late November, creating a visual representation of all those joining Serta and City of Hope in the fight against cancer.

The Adopt-a-Sheep for the Fight Against Cancer Event is going on now through March 31st, 2012.  Visit Serta.Com/Adopt to find a participating retailer or to purchase a #60 Counting Sheep online.

To learn more about City of Hope, visit www.cityofhope.org.

About Serta

Serta is a bedding brand leader and the manufacturer of the best-selling premium mattress in America, The Serta Perfect Sleeper®, as well as the revolutionary new iComfort® Sleep System, the upscale Perfect Day® collection, the elegant Vera Wang by Serta® Collection and the luxurious Trump Home™ Mattress Collection. For more information, visit, www.serta.com.  As the leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Bellagio Hotel, Wyndham Hotels, Omni Hotels, Choice Hotels, Accor Hotels and many more.

Serta has 23 U.S. and four Canadian manufacturing plants.  In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in 60 other countries.  With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers’ needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest-quality products. Like us facebook.com/sertamattress or follow us @sertamattresses.

About City of Hope 

City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope’s research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org or follow City of Hope on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Flickr. Learn more >>

SOURCE Serta

http://www.cityofhope.org
http://www.serta.com

Serta Mattress and City of Hope Join Forces in the Adopt-a-Sheep™ for the Fight Against Cancer Event | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Globus Connect Multi-User” is Part of Comprehensive Partner Program for Research Institutions

CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — The Globus Online team today announced the launch of Globus Connect Multi-User (GCMU), a tool that makes it simple for system administrators to connect shared resources, such as file servers or HPC clusters, to Globus Online for fast, reliable file transfer. GCMU represents the first offering under a comprehensive new partner program that aims to simplify integration and management of campus clusters, lab servers and other shared computing systems connected to Globus Online.

GCMU helps system administrators simplify file transfer for users who need to move data to or from a shared resource. With GCMU,
administrators can set up a Globus Online transfer endpoint on their resources, which users can access with their existing resource logins. GCMU packages a GridFTP server and a MyProxy Certificate Authority pre-configured for use with Globus Online – and only requires a few steps to install and use.

“As a resource administrator responsible for helping scientists move data among various systems and across organizations, I’ve found GCMU an exceedingly useful tool,” said Pete Eby, Linux System Administrator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “The Globus team has done a great job with this product.”

“At University of Michigan we used GCMU to form a campus-wide grid security infrastructure (GSI) authentication service, spanning multiple servers that are accessed regularly by remote users,” said Brock Palen, HPC system administrator and user consultant at the University of Michigan’s Center for Advanced Computing. “Now my users have a fast, easy way to get their data wherever it needs to go, and the setup process was trivial.”

Globus Online is software-as-a-service designed to simplify file transfer. Globus Online makes it easy to move datasets of any size,
whether between supercomputing facilities or from a facility to a local server or personal computer, without requiring custom end-to-end
systems.

“We have been extremely impressed with Globus Online and how easy it is to use,” added Eby. “Now with Globus Connect Multi-User, setting up a GridFTP server and handling authentication for multiple users is equally easy. The way it ties in seamlessly with Globus Online and allows for simple user administration is fantastic.”

Globus Online launched Globus Connect earlier this year in response to broad user demand for a simple system to enable file transfer to and from local machines. GCMU builds on this capability by allowing resource administrators to easily setup new endpoints on multi-user machines without complex GridFTP installation and configuration.

To download GCMU, visit https://www.globusonline.org/gcmu.

GCMU is part of a broader Globus Online initiative to support resource owners who want to enhance the data movement experience for their users. The Globus Online Partner Program, which will roll out over the coming months, offers a series of products and services designed for administrators and managers of shared resources, whether at campuses, supercomputing facilities, labs or other research facilities.

Additional capabilities available under the Globus Online Partner Program are listed here:

Flight Control will provide an operations console for monitoring transfers on a set of Globus Online endpoints managed by the resource
administrator.Campus Single Sign-On will allow users to sign in to Globus Online using their standard campus login, e.g. their InCommon username and password.Help Desk Integration will automate the flow of support requests between Globus Online and the resource owner’s support team.

The Globus Online team is soliciting feedback from resource owners regarding services and tools they would prefer to have available in the Program. Potential partners can submit input via partners@globusonline.org or by visiting Globus Online in booth 5012 at the Supercomputing 2011 (SC11) conference, Nov. 14-18 in Seattle, WA, where forums are being held for partners at 5:00 p.m.  Tuesday and
Wednesday. For more information, visit https://www.globusonline.org/events/sc11/.

About Globus Online

Globus Online is a fast, reliable file transfer service that simplifies the process of secure data movement. Recommended by HPC Centers and user communities of all kinds, Globus Online automates the mundane (but error-prone and time-consuming) activity of managing file transfers, whether between supercomputing facilities or from a facility to your laptop. With Globus Online, robust transfer capabilities that were previously available only on expensive, special-purpose systems are now accessible to virtually anyone with an Internet connection and a laptop. Globus Online significantly reduces transfer time, with some users reporting movement of terabytes of data in hours. Globus Online is an initiative by the Computation Institute at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, and is supported by funding from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. To get started or find out more, visit https://www.globusonline.org/.

Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com

Media Contacts:
Mary Bass
512-299-2945
marybass@ci.uchicago.edu

SOURCE Computation Institute

http://ci.uchicago.edu
https://www.globusonline.org/

New Globus Online Product Simplifies File Transfer On Campus Servers and Clusters | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

SKOKIE, Ill., Nov. 3, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Rand McNally and Navistar, Inc. have reached an agreement to make Rand McNally’s award-winning IntelliRoute® TND™ truck GPS units available as an in-dash option in International® trucks starting next year.  

Navistar manufactures International Truck and will begin offering an in-dash version of the high-definition, 7-inch, IntelliRoute® TND™ 710 navigation unit for new truck production in January 2012. The in-dash units will include several customized screens as well as a listing of International Truck dealers and locations.

“Market research and direct feedback from our Customer Advisor Boards has consistently indicated that customers wanted a GPS option that was easy to use, durable, affordable, and which provided essential truck route specific mapping,” said Steve Gilligan, Vice President, Product and Vocational Marketing, Navistar.  ”The Rand McNally unit met these requirements better than any of the other units that we have reviewed.”

The custom version of the TND™ 710 will be available for new International trucks, Class 6 through 8: ProStar®+, LoneStar®, WorkStar®, and DuraStar®. The device also will be available for aftermarket installation at all International Truck dealer locations.

“We are very excited that International will offer the IntelliRoute® TND™ in-dash option in its trucks,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. “Their decision is validation of the quality of our product. We have a long history with International and are looking forward to working with them on this new initiative.”

Pana-Pacific, an established preferred integrator and engineering partner in the commercial vehicle market, worked with Navistar to integrate the TND™ 710 into International trucks. This engineering collaboration involved incorporating the navigation unit into the instrument panel, providing a seamless factory install, as well as an aftermarket installation kit for vehicles already in the field.

“We are pleased that Navistar has helped bring this in-dash navigation system to market,” said John Trenberth, President of Pana-Pacific. “We believe this is a great benefit for Navistar’s customers, improving safety and efficiency.”

Rand McNally’s IntelliRoute® TND™ device, which debuted two years ago, was the first navigation device built from the ground up for professional drivers. Today’s IntelliRoute® TND line of truck GPS products provide:

• Truck-specific routing enhanced by Rand McNally’s proprietary Truck Data.
• Driver-set timers to easily understand how many hours are left in the drivers’ day or week.  When the driver is nearing the end of day, he or she can search for the nearest truck stop, choosing from over 70 amenities available – making the overnight stop as efficient as possible.  
• Maintenance reminders that can be set to remind drivers to service their trucks on a timely basis.  A driver can search for the closest service areas along their route for planned or emergency service.
• Recording of miles by state or province.  The driver can retain up to two years of data for fuel tax reporting and export the data to a spreadsheet on a personal computer.
• Commercial-grade address book, with the ability to organize thousands of addresses in user-defined groupings.

About Rand McNally – Rand McNally is the most trusted source for maps, directions, and travel content.  Rand McNally’s products and services include: Road travel review site  www.BestoftheRoad.com; Interactive travel referral service, www.Tripology.com; America’s #1 Road Atlas; and TripMaker® RVND™ GPS for RVers; IntelliRoute® truck routing software and navigation devices; TruckPC and the TND™ 760 Fleet Edition mobile communication solutions for the transportation industry; and the leading geography-based educational resources for the classroom.  Consumers, businesses, truckers, and educators depend upon Rand McNally to help navigate today’s world. www.RandMcNally.com

IntelliRoute, TripMaker and Rand McNally are registered trademarks and RVND and TND are trademarks of RM Acquisition, LLC d/b/a Rand McNally.  

Follow us –
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/randmcnally
http://twitter.com/randtrucking

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/randmcnally
http://www.facebook.com/randtrucking

Travel Blog:
http://ontheroad.randmcnally.com

Provide your Trucker Story at:
www.randmcnally.com/truckerstories

About Navistar  – Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus™ brand school and commercial buses, Monaco® RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.

About Pana-Pacific – Our dedicated sales and engineering experts have worked side-by-side with Commercial Vehicle (CV) manufacturers for over 38 years, to develop and implement quality products for vehicles that live up to the required standards.  Our customers have come to rely on us as the expert in the areas of mobile audio and entertainment, satellite radio, safety, navigation, video systems, communications, mobile appliances and more.  Pana-Pacific has a systems-integration approach, which has positioned the company to offer world class products from global companies to the CV manufacturers as well as their dealers and other valued customers.   With 14 original equipment (OE) manufacturers as customers Pana-Pacific provides services to approximately 2,200 OE dealers, over 35 OE part distribution centers and thousands of CV fleet companies.  At any given time, you will find over 2,000 unique OEM part numbers in stock and available for shipment from our warehouse facility in Fresno, California. For more information, please visit www.panapacific.com.

All marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Rand McNally

http://www.randmcnally.com

Navistar, Inc. to Install Rand McNally IntelliRoute® TND™ GPS Devices in International® Trucks | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The two five-year studies at UIC’s Institute for Health Research and Policy build on previous tobacco research conducted by the institute to better understand what factors influence smoking behaviors.

In one study, senior research scientist Sherry Emery and colleagues will measure the extent to which people are exposed to, search for, and exchange both pro- and anti-tobacco information in mass media, how these activities are related to one another, and ultimately, how these actions are related to smoking behavior, beliefs and attitudes.

In evaluating pro- and anti-tobacco information the researchers will use existing data to assess passive exposure to television advertisements, banner ads that pop up on the internet, and sponsored text messaging; what people actively search for on the internet; and what people exchange via social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

“The hypothesis is that if you’re exposed to, for example, an ad that says you should quit smoking your level of engagement with that information will be substantially lower than if you actively search the Internet for ways to quit smoking; in turn, engagement will be even greater if you share your experience with quitting via social media. These different levels of engagement may be associated in important ways to tobacco-related attitudes, beliefs and behavior,” says Emery, principal investigator of the $7.2 million NCI-funded grant.

Emery’s study will also collect new data from an online survey of 15,000 people in the country’s top 75 media markets to obtain media market estimates of people’s behavior and their consumption of pro- and anti-tobacco information from a variety of mass media, as well as smoking behavior information and demographics.

The tobacco industry is prohibited from advertising on television, but they are not prohibited from providing information about their products that can be actively searched for on the internet, says Emery, whose previous research has examined the impact of tobacco-related television advertising on youth and adult smoking attitudes and behaviors.

Watching television, while still the dominant source of information for many people, is a different behavior than it was five years ago, Emery said.

In the other study, Frank Chaloupka, distinguished professor of economics and director of the Health Policy Center at UIC, and colleagues will assess policies affecting retail tobacco prices over a 10-year period; evaluate the impact of price-reducing promotions on tobacco purchasing behaviors, such as choice of product and brand; and determine to what extent consumers will avoid paying tax on tobacco products by crossing county or state borders, or by purchasing online or by phone or mail order.

The study will also investigate how pricing and tax policies impact tobacco behaviors, including prevalence, frequency and intensity of use, youth uptake, cessation, and substitution among products.

“Tobacco tax increases are widely recognized as the most effective policy governments have for reducing the death, disease and economic costs imposed by tobacco use,” said Chaloupka. “Findings from this project will help to ensure that these policies are designed and implemented in a way that maximizes their effectiveness in reducing tobacco use and its consequences.”

Chaloupka has conducted extensive research on the economics of tobacco use and found that increases in cigarette prices — including tax hikes — lead to significant reductions in smoking. This research has led to many substance-abuse policy initiatives and has been cited by the U.S. surgeon general’s office.

Co-investigators on Chaloupka’s $6.9 million NCI grant are Emery, Jamie Chriqui, Jidong Huang, David Merriman, Sandy Slater, and John Tauras, all from UIC; Andrew Hyland, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Chuck Alexander, Burness Communications; and Dianne Barker, Barker Bi-Coastal Health Consultants.

Co-investigators on Emery’s grant are Chaloupka, Jidong Huang, and Robin Mermelstein, all from UIC; Joseph Cappella, University of Pennsylvania; and Kurt Ribisl, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The results of the research will be disseminated to policy makers, advocates, public health practitioners, researchers, and the general public.

UIC’s Institute for Health Research and Policy has been recognized by the country’s foremost research funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for leadership and expertise in conducting ongoing tobacco research.

UIC Awarded $14 Million to Study Tobacco Pricing and Media | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

LONDON, Sept. 29, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Chiltern International (Chiltern), a global clinical contract research organization (CRO) announced that it has opened a new office in the Chicago area, specifically in Bannockburn, IL.

Mr. Barry Simms, Chiltern’s Country Manager, North America, commented, “Chiltern continues to look for opportunities to increase our strategic footprint and we are very excited about our expansion to the greater Chicago area. Our new office is well situated to support our efforts to recruit top-notch staff and be strategically near our clients.”

“We are extremely pleased by the success we have had attracting high-qualified staff to our Bannockburn office, and we welcome our new colleagues to the team,” Dr. Jim Esinhart, Sr. Executive VP, Global Scientific Services, Chiltern, stated. “Our new office supports Chiltern’s mission to deliver high quality services around the world, while demonstrating our commitment to clients’ needs.”

Company profile

About Chiltern:

Established in 1982, Chiltern is a leading global clinical CRO with extensive experience in the management of Phase I-IV clinical trials across a broad range of therapeutic areas, functional service provision and contract staffing solutions. Chiltern has conducted trials in more than 40 countries, employs nearly 1,300 people globally and offers services in Early Phase, Global Clinical Development, Late Phase, Biometrics, Medical and Regulatory Affairs and Resourcing Solutions. Chiltern prides itself as a development partner that offers flexibility, responsiveness and quality delivery. Further information is available at www.chiltern.com.

SOURCE Chiltern

http://www.chiltern.com

Chiltern Expands North American Operations With a New Office in Illinois | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

SAN FRANCISCO—Today the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California charged Kurt S. Hovan, of Belvedere, Calif., with mail fraud and obstruction, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. The charges result from Hovan’s alleged fraudulent use of “soft dollars” and his subsequent obstruction of an investigation being conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to the information filed today, Hovan, 43, is alleged to have created a scheme to defraud brokerage firms into paying “soft dollars” to Hovan’s brother, who then funneled the money back to benefit Hovan’s company, Hovan Capital Management, LLC (HCM). “Soft dollars” are credits from a brokerage firm on commissions generated by client trades in brokerage firm accounts. Brokerage firm clients, such as a registered investment adviser firm like HCM, are allowed to use those credits to pay for research services to benefit the investment adviser’s clients. The investment adviser, however, must disclose its use of these “soft dollar” credits, and the investment adviser is prohibited from using these credits to pay for its own benefit instead of its clients’ benefit.

According to the information, Hovan allegedly caused the creation of Bolton Research, LLC, in Connecticut. Hovan then submitted invoices to brokerage firms to support requests that those firms pay Bolton using HCM’s accumulated soft dollars. Hovan falsely claimed to the brokerage firms that Bolton’s invoices reflected charges for independent research Bolton had conducted to benefit HCM’s clients. The brokerage firms paid the invoices to Bolton, which was, in fact, simply Hovan’s brother. Hovan’s brother then funneled a substantial amount of the payments back to HCM to pay HCM’s rent.

In January 2010, the SEC asked Hovan to provide documentation of the purported independent research Bolton had conducted. In response, Hovan allegedly created false and misleading documents to falsely reflect that Bolton had conducted significant independent research, that Bolton had prepared reports summarizing the research, and that Bolton had done so on a schedule coinciding with the monthly soft dollar payments to Bolton. Hovan then produced these false documents to the SEC, and later falsely stated to the SEC that He did not create them.

Hovan’s initial appearance in federal court has not been scheduled. The maximum statutory penalty for mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341, is 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. The maximum statutory penalty for obstruction is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Any sentence following conviction, however, would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Doug Sprague is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rayneisha Booth. The prosecution is the result of a five-month investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Please note, an information contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Hovan must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Further Information:

Case #: CR 11-0699 RS

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.

Former President of Registered Investment Adviser Firm Charged with Mail Fraud and Obstruction | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, September 20, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ –

Reportstack.com http://www.reportstack.com, the fastest growing market research provider today announced its partnership with MarketLine, a world renowned publisher of premium market research products. This global alliance between the two companies is for online distribution of market research reports published by MarketLine.

This partnership will help distribute market intelligence and business information to a wider world audience and cover industry segments including Food and Beverage, Consumer Goods and Retail, Construction, Pharma and Healthcare and Automotive and Transportation.

Headquartered in London, with offices in the US, Hong Kong, India and Australia, Marketline is one of the largest publisher of Company profiles, Country and industry reports. With 50,000 companies in 215 countries and a coverage which spans more than 2000 industry verticals MarketLine will provide Reportstack.com members a greater bandwidth of product offerings.

Reportstack with their commitment to bring unrivalled user interface and online buying experience is one of the fastest growing market research libraries which hosts more than 100,000 strategic market reports from 40 leading publishers. An aggressive marketing company, Reportstack.com has a keen eye on the emerging markets in the developing countries and provides granular insights into the worldwide market via thousands of industry specific country and company profiles.

View Reportstack.com’s coverage of more than 30,000 company profiles: http://www.reportstack.com/company/company_profiles/ALL  

“MarketLine is recognized as one of the top publishers of market research reports  and has a comprehensive and unique collection of company, industry and country information extending across all continents and every major industry vertical,” said Salil Modak, head of marketing for Reportstack.  ”The addition of MarketLine reports will greatly assist sales and marketing teams, operational planners, researchers, analysts, strategic planners, business development managers, students, library users and senior managers.”

Reportstack.com  provides unparallel business insights into the following industry verticals :

Banking and Finance http://www.reportstack.com/category/2/banking-finance.html

Computer and IT Services http://www.reportstack.com/category/5/computer-it.html

Consumer Retail http://www.reportstack.com/category/6/consumer-retail.html

Manufacturing and Industry http://www.reportstack.com/category/10/manufacturing-industry.html

Telecom Market

Energy, Utility and Renewable  http://www.reportstack.com/category/7/energy-utility-and-renewable.html

Electronics and Security, Internet, Pharma and Healthcare, Sustainable Technology, Travel and Lifestyle

Register on Reportstack.com for strategic reports, country and Industry profiles, free reports, company profiles, opinions, briefs, articles and industry news.

To get the latest updates on market research reports subscribe to : http://reportstack.wordpress.com.

SOURCE Reportstack

Reportstack Announces Strategic Partnership With MarketLine | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 15, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today was named one of the top 20 employers in Science magazine’s 2011 Top Biopharma Employers survey. The annual survey polls employees at innovation-based companies and determines the best employers based on 23 characteristics.  According to the survey, Abbott’s top three characteristics are: conducting important, quality research; being socially responsible; and treating employees with respect. The complete rankings are available online and in the Oct. 7, 2011 issue of Science.

“Abbott’s success begins with our scientists and we are honored to be included on Science magazine’s list of top employers,” said John Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, pharmaceuticals, research and development, Abbott and chair of Abbott’s scientific governing board. “Abbott has worked hard to create a diverse and creative scientific organization that encourages and rewards innovative thinking to find meaningful solutions for patients around the world.”

Abbott was also recognized today as one of the 100 Best Companies by Working Mother magazine (please click here for press release: http://www.abbott.com/news-media/press-releases/2011-sept15.htm.)

At Abbott, employees are given opportunities to succeed, lead and grow in their careers through training, mentoring, networking groups and development programs.  Abbott scientists are rewarded through the Chairman’s awards, President’s awards, patent/inventor awards and induction into the prestigious Volwiler Society, which was established in 1985 to recognize the company’s most distinguished scientists and engineers.  

Named for the late Ernest H. Volwiler, Ph.D., an internationally recognized scientist and former Abbott president and chairman of the board, the society encourages professional growth, and is meant to spur, recognize and showcase scientific innovation at Abbott.  Each year, the Volwiler Society issues “Outstanding Research” awards to the Abbott scientists and teams who have made significant contributions to their scientific fields.

About the Science Survey

Science‘s annual survey of Top Employers polls employees in the biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and related industries to determine the driving characteristics of the best employers and to determine the 20 best employers in these industries. Respondents to the web-based survey were asked to rate companies based on 23 characteristics, including financial strength, easy adaptation to change, and a research-driven environment. The study was conducted and rankings were determined by an independent research firm commissioned by the business office of the journal.

Abbott Recognized as a Premier Employer  

In addition to being recognized by Scientist magazine, Abbott has been included on Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies for 11 years, recognized by DiversityInc magazine as a top company for diversity for eight years and named to Hispanic Business magazine’s list of the Top 60 Diversity Elite for five years.  The company also has been recognized by The Scientist magazine as a top employer for scientists for seven years, and has been named a great place to work in more than 25 countries around the world.  

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s Web site at http://www.abbott.com.

SOURCE Abbott

http://www.abbott.com

Abbott Again Recognized as One of the "Top Employers" in the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industry by Science Magazine | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Research Report to educate national policymakers as they prioritize research funding initiatives in women’s health during a time of Federal funding constraints

CHICAGO, Sept. 8, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — In conjunction with September’s designation as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) has released a comprehensive research report entitled, “Pathways to Progress in Women’s Cancer: A Research Agenda Proposed by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.” The collaborative document was written by the entire spectrum of women’s cancer care specialists to assess the landscape of gynecologic cancer research and recommend specific ‘requests for action’ for each gynecologic cancer disease site. The report’s overarching goal is to advance the women’s gynecologic cancer research agenda for the next 10 years, even during these times of constrained levels of funding.

“This report will be a crucial stepping stone in creating specific national research programs that can leverage existing resources and use new resources wisely, all leading toward research discoveries that will help women,” says SGO’s Government Relations Committee Chair Monique Spillman, M.D. “Pathways to Progress will not only help us educate national policymakers as to progress made and future needs in women’s cancer research. It will also help us to protect and continue support for the Department of Defense (DoD) Ovarian Cancer Research program.”    

Specifically, the report notes the increasing needs for further collaboration and increased funding for bench and translational research, clinical trials, training and survivorship for each of the key cancers of the gynecologic tract, including ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers.

“The underlying implications of this report are far-reaching and pertinent for a host of audiences in the cancer care community,” says Dr. John P. Curtin, President of the SGO. “We strongly believe in advocating for our patients and their families so that one day we can realize our vision of eradicating gynecologic cancers for women around the world.”

For more information on the “Pathways to Progress” report, please contact SGO’s Communications Department at 312/676-3904 or visit SGO’s website at http://www.sgo.org/.

Susan Morris
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Phone: 312-235-4060 ext. 244
Fax: 312-235-4059
susanmorris@sgo.com

SOURCE Society of Gynecologic Oncology

http://www.sgo.org/

With Federal Funding for Cancer Research on the Chopping Block, SGO Releases Report on Women’s Cancer Research Priorities for Next Decade | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The total, up 1 percent from the 27,309 enrolled of a year ago, includes 16,911 undergraduates, 8,012 graduate students and 2,657 professional students. These figures represent the highest undergraduate headcount since 1985 and record numbers of graduate and professional students.

“We’re very gratified that more and more students are coming to UIC to learn from our outstanding faculty and take advantage of our wide range of excellent academic programs,” said UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares.

A slight decline in the number of new freshmen, to 3,115 from 3,204 a year earlier, was offset by increases in continuing student enrollment at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and in new graduate and professional students.

For many years there has been no racial or ethnic majority among UIC students, and that remains the case for fall 2011, with 42.4 percent of undergraduate students white, 21.9 percent Hispanic/Latino, 21.3 percent Asian, and 8 percent African American. Figures for the total campus include 45.8 percent white, 18.1 percent Asian, 16.7 percent Hispanic/Latino, and 8.2 percent African American.

UIC ranks among the nation’s leading research universities and is Chicago’s largest university with 15 colleges. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world. For more information about UIC, please visit www.uic.edu.

The University of Illinois has campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield, and total enrollment, including on-campus and online, is approximately 79,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

Record Number of Students Enrolled at UIC | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Will Join Quality Social Science Research with Powerful Analysis and Journalism on Newsworthy Issues

CHICAGO, Aug. 31, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ – The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago announced today the formation of The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The Center will combine the expertise of NORC, one of the world’s premier social science research organizations, with AP, the essential global news network whose news is seen every day over all media platforms and formats by more than half of the world’s population.

Leading the Center are Daniel S. Gaylin, executive vice president of NORC at the University of Chicago and Trevor Tompson, global director of polling for The Associated Press.  In addition, the Center will have an independent advisory committee chaired by Paul J. Lavrakas, an industry leader with deep expertise in survey research for academic, media and commercial institutions. The Center’s headquarters will be at NORC in Chicago.  

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research will conduct, analyze, and distribute social research in the public interest on newsworthy topics.  The initiative is designed to create high-impact journalism and meaningful contributions to public discussion on important national and international issues.  The Center will commission original survey research, collect and analyze other types of data and produce insightful analysis on various topics.  The Center’s work will be sponsored by philanthropic foundations and other individuals and organizations interested in deepening understanding of key issues.  

The Center will issue its inaugural report the first week in September detailing the results of a survey entitled “Civil Liberties and Security: 10 Years After 9/11″ which seeks to determine where people draw the line between civil liberties and security.  The survey also looks back at the impact of the events of 9/11 and how they have affected the way Americans live their lives today.

“For seven decades, NORC’s high-quality, objective social research has been of great value to academicians, researchers, and policy-makers,” said John Thompson, President and CEO of NORC. “We are excited to partner with The Associated Press and its world-class team of journalists to bring insightful data and analysis to the broader public that will assist them in making decisions and assessing the world around them.” Thompson added that the work of the new center will “benefit from the input of a superb group of scientific advisors.”

“AP is committed to being an industry leader in high-quality opinion research. We see independent research into the public’s views and opinions as a core part of our journalism,” said AP Senior Managing Editor for U.S. News Michael Oreskes.  “We are proud to partner with NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the finest institutions in the research world, to bring our audiences unique insights into the important social and political questions of our time.”  

The Center will also:

• Track selected social, political, and cultural trends over time.
• Explore the relationships among public opinion research and ongoing public policy discussions.
• Bring together subject-matter experts from AP and NORC—and leading experts from other institutions—to collaborate on research projects.
• Conduct methodological research that will advance the field of public opinion research.
• Create an education program about public opinion polling to help journalists and the public make judgments about the quality of the survey research they read in the media.
• Sponsor conferences, seminars, and other public forums where experts from AP and NORC at the University of Chicago, and other institutions, can discuss and debate important issues.

For more information, visit http://www.apnorc.org.

NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent research organization headquartered in downtown Chicago with additional offices on the University of Chicago’s campus and in the D.C. Metro area. NORC also supports a nationwide field staff as well as international research operations. With clients throughout the world, NORC collaborates with government agencies, foundations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide data and analysis that support informed decision making in key areas including health, education, economics, crime, justice, energy, security, and the environment. NORC’s 70 years of leadership and experience in data collection, analysis, and dissemination—coupled with deep subject matter expertise—provides the foundation for effective solutions.

The Associated Press (“AP”) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP. Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text, photos, graphics, audio and video.

SOURCE Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

http://www.apnorc.org

The Associated Press, NORC at the University of Chicago, Establish New Center for Public Affairs Research | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ – Critically-acclaimed guitarist and composer Billy McLaughlin is the newest member to join the board of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF), a non-profit organization that serves individuals impacted by dystonia, a neurological disease.

“The DMRF is an organization that’s making great progress in research to better understand and cure this disorder—and to bring visibility to the devastating impact of dystonia on those of us who are diagnosed,” says McLaughlin. “I’m thrilled to continue being a part of this work.”

McLaughlin, a Minneapolis native, began developing his signature sound at the University of Southern California. Employing his unique style of placing both hands on the fretboard, he began composing for his first release by creating a harp-like effect on the acoustic guitar.  This unusual approach led McLaughlin to extensive national touring and multiple NACA Campus Entertainer awards.  In 1995 McLaughlin signed a multi-album, international contract with the Virgin Records label Narada whose first release, Fingerdance, peaked at #7 on the Billboard charts.  Hundreds of shows a year and deep into his contract, he began struggling with his hands.

For two years, McLaughlin grappled with mysterious and unrelenting muscle spasms in his left hand. As symptoms grew worse he could no longer perform most of his own repertoire.  In 2001, McLaughlin was diagnosed with focal hand dystonia. Against doctors’ recommendations, McLaughlin began the daunting journey of teaching himself to play in his signature style, left-handed.  In 2004 a film crew began following McLaughlin’s desperate attempt to regain his career. In 2007, Billy published a limited release of Into the Light, a concert recording of compositions for acoustic guitar with string orchestra, and his first recording as a left-handed guitarist.  

“Billy is as energetic and enthusiastic about making life better for people with dystonia as he is about his music, which is truly inspiring. It’s an honor for the DMRF to have him be a part of our team,” says Executive Director Janet Hieshetter.

McLaughlin was appointed DMRF’s Ambassador of Awareness in 2009 for his efforts to educate the public about dystonia. The documentary about his journey, Changing Keys, began airing on PBS stations across the country in 2010.  That same year, he received the American Academy of Neurology Leadership in Public Neurology Award. McLaughlin is a frequent speaker at DMRF events, founded a support group, and has been an active legislative advocate on behalf of the dystonia community for the past two years.  

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily resulting in twisting, repetitive movements and abnormal postures. Dystonia may be generalized, affecting multiple muscle groups, or focal, affecting a specific part of the body. There is no known cure.

Founded in 1976, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to advance research toward improved treatments and a cure, promoting education and awareness, and providing support resources to affected individuals and families. The organization can be reached at http://www.dystonia-foundation.org or 800-377-DYST (3978).

Contact: Jessica Feeley, Ph: 912-510-0337, jfeeley@dystonia-foundation.org

SOURCE Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

http://www.dystonia-foundation.org

Billy McLaughlin Elected to Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Board of Directors | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, 9 de agosto de 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — VerveLife (www.VerveLife.com), un líder en soluciones de marketing musical potenciado con tecnología, anunció hoy el lanzamiento de RhymbaLatino, la primera tienda musical de promoción personalizable que contiene cerca de 170,000 canciones prelicenciadas para la audiencia latina.

Según Forrester Research, el gasto total del mercado latino llegará a $1.4 billones el 2013, lo que obligará a las marcas a concentrarse en esta audiencia. La oferta musical de RhymbaLatino presenta a los publicistas una solución llave en mano para conectarse con esta población diversa y enganchada con la música.  

Elegidas según la dirección musical de Thom Russo -ganador de 11 Grammy Latinos por su trabajo como autor de canciones, ingeniero y productor de música latina, las melodías de RhymbaLatino reflejan los gustos y estilos de vida de la audiencia. El catálogo de RhymbaLatino abarca música que va desde las más actuales melodías hasta clásicos populares de Latinoamérica, España y la comunidad hispanoestadounidense. La librería musical contiene artistas como Shakira, Maná, Pit Bull, Juanes y Enrique Iglesias. Una combinación de estilos musicales ofrece algo para todos: salsa, boleros, hip-hop, calypso, Latin jazz, norteño, rock latino, reggaeton y bachata.

“VerveLife obtuvo una respuesta tan positiva de clientes actuales y prospectivos en el lanzamiento de nuestras primeras dos tiendas musicales de promoción, RhymbaKid y RhymbaTween, que era apenas natural trabajar sobre ese éxito”, comentó Víctor Siegel, presidente y Gerente General de VerveLife. “Con la escena musical latina en ebullición, esta librería personalizable permite a las marcas potenciar nuestro conocimiento especializado en marketing para satisfacer una necesidad no cubierta en la industria publicitaria”.

RhymbaLatino brinda una gama de singulares funciones para afianzar el compromiso del cliente:

• Navegación bilingüe que permite a los consumidores elegir entre español o inglés
• Una plataforma única para manejar la transmisión por internet (streaming) o la descarga, entrega, rescate, seguimiento y generación de informes
• Transmisión de radio de marca por internet con cinco estaciones preconfiguradas o estaciones que se pueden personalizar por género, ritmo u actividad
• Mensajes de marca entre pistas, y carga del carro de compras con un solo clic
• Interfaz personalizada que permite a las marcas utilizar sus logos, colores e iconos de marca
• Poderoso sistema de datos y analítica para hacer seguimiento de la música, administrar códigos e informar sobre el uso

“Con el crecimiento en oleadas de las audiencias hispanas y el aumento en su gasto, no podemos pensar en un mejor producto para lanzar en este momento. Esperamos trabajar en estrecha colaboración con comercializadores de EE.UU. y sus agencias para personalizar RhymbaLatino para satisfacer sus necesidades de mercado”, declaró Siegel. “Es evidente que RhymbaLatino de VerveLife responde a la demanda industrial”.

Disponibilidad de Experto(s) en el Tema: Para obtener información sobre el (los) experto(s) mencionados, haga clic en el enlace correspondiente.

Víctor Siegel

https://profnet.CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=104021

Colleen Fahey

https://profnet.CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=104028

FUENTE VerveLife

FUENTE VerveLife

http://www.VerveLife.com

VerveLife lanza tienda de promoción de música: RhymbaLatino | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.