Indian arrested for alleged investment fraud

New York, Sep 17 - An Indian businessman was arrested in the US today for allegedly defrauding investors of about USD 2.4 million and could face up to 20 years in prison.

 Janamjot Singh Sodhi, 35 of California was arrested on a warrant issued earlier this week for the investment fraud scheme, US Attorney Benjamin Wagner said.

 According to the complaint, Sodhi owned Elite Financial Inc and enticed investors into giving him money for investment opportunities, but used the money instead to pay off previous investors and for his own personal use.

 Since 2005, Sodhi's license to sell investments had been revoked and in January 2009, California issued a cease and desist order against him and Elite Financial from selling securities to investors.

 It is alleged that Sodhi defrauded investors of USD 2.4 million.

 If convicted, Sodhi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine.

Chicago checks in for Foursquare city 'badge'

 Chicago, Sep 17 - Chicago will become the first major city with its own Foursquare city ÒbadgeÓ, earned after Òchecking inÓ at five of 20 designated neighbourhood attractions under a tech-savvy plan unveiled to coincide with Social Media Week.

 Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked off Social Media Week here by announcing Chicago as the world's first city to have its own foursquare City Badge, in partnership with New York-based Foursquare, the social location-based service .

 The city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events selected 20 spots around Chicago. Foursquare users that check in to five of these locations will earn the ÒWindy City BadgeÓ.

 Emanuel while highlighting the innovative efforts in social media, said Chicago got its own first foursquare City badge, the ÒWindy CityÓ badge, in advance of Social Media Week (SMW) which kicks-off on Monday.

 ÒI am pleased that Chicago can be the first city to offer a foursquare City badge and participate in this innovative programme,Ó Emanuel was quoted as saying.

 ÒThis badge and partnership with foursquare will allow Chicagoans and our visitors to discover and share the City s neighborhood gems and diverse cultural attractions in a new way,Ó he added.

 Emanuel was joined by foursquare co-founder Naveen Selvadurai to make the announcement about Chicago's foursquare City badge.

 ÒFoursquare was built to help people explore the world around them,Ó Selvadurai said adding, Chicago, with its rich diversity in culture and business is the ideal environment for that exploration.

 New York-based Foursqaure is a location-based social networking website that allows users with GPS-enabled mobile devices to Òcheck inÓ at venues and earn badges.

 Emanuel has advocated and promoted exploring the neighbourhoods of Chicago and we're excited to help Chicagoans and visitors check in to new places and enjoy the city.

 Foursquare users who Òcheck-inÓ at five of 20 designated cultural and small business attractions will receive the Windy City badge.

 These locations include The Oriental Institute Museum in Hyde Park, Garfield Park Conservatory in Garfield Park, Du Sable Museum in Washington Park, Chicago Velodrome in South Chicago, and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum in Little Italy.

 Social Media Week's mission is to find and discover how cultural, local and regional economies are becoming stronger through global communication networks.

New Hope for Treatment of Lupus on the Rise

GERMAN TOWN, Md., Sept. 17, 2011 - With a patient's own adult stem cells, there is new hope for the intractable autoimmune disease lupus - systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - which is difficult to cure.

RNL BIO's research team led by Dr. Jeong-Chan Ra collaborated with a research institute led by Dr. Eun-Hwa Choi from Samsung Bioscience Research Institute of Samsung Medical Center on a study on lupus using fat-derived stem cells. Through this study, it was confirmed that intravenous administration of adult stem cells restores lupus to normal bodily functions. The findings of this study were publicized in the famous global research journal, Arthritis and Rheumatism (Impact factor: 8.435) on September 15, 2011.

Model mice were injected with human fat stem cells intravenously in this study. These model mice demonstrated increased survival as well as improvement in clinical symptoms. Furthermore, a decrease in antinuclear antibodies were exhibited in these mice.

Stem cell treatment is more effective in early detection of lupus symptoms. These model mice were administered with stem cells repeatedly throughout the course of one year. Although human stem cells were given to these animals to suppress the immune system, no side effects appeared.

Lupus occurs in every 75 per 1 million people. There is no cure for SLE and symptoms can be controlled only temporarily through steroids or immunosuppressive drugs. This debilitating disease is painful and unbearable. Some patients with lupus have suicidal thoughts due to its life-threatening symptoms. Recently, a female patient with lupus who was known as the "joyful evangelist" committed suicide from the immense pain.

Dr. Jeong Chan Ra stated, "Based on this study, diseases that are difficult to treat, such as lupus have much potential to be treated through stem cell injection. We will further our research to find ways to cure chronic diseases."

Additional information regarding this study on stem cell treatment for lupus is available online (Arthritis & Rheumatism).

Tommrow is Aging Awareness Day (NHAAAD)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2011 - The AIDS Institute (TAI) is proud to announce that the 4th annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAAD) will take place on September 18th. The campaign theme is "Aging is a part of life; HIV doesn't have to be."

In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report published that persons aged 50 and older accounted for approximately: 17% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses, 36% of persons living with AIDS, 24% of all AIDS diagnoses and 45% of all deaths of persons with AIDS. As a society we need to dispel myths and stereotypes and acknowledge that the older population might be engaging in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection, such as being sexually active and/or using drugs.

Since the beginning, NHAAAD has highlighted the complex issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment for aging populations in the United States. The day consists of different educational, awareness and HIV testing activities or events programmed all around the nation to take place on or around September 18th.
 
"NHAAAD is a comprehensive campaign. The AIDS Institute ensures that organizations and collaborators have all of the necessary tools and information to not only design Awareness day events or activities, but also be able to implement and evaluate them," comments Marylin Merida, President of The AIDS Institute's Board of Directors.


On September 15th, in recognition of the NHAAAD, three major health organizations expressed their continued commitment to advancing the care and treatment of older adults with HIV.  The American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) and the America Geriatrics Society (AGS) have worked together to create the HIV & Aging Consensus Project. Key objectives include the assessment of how the presence of both HIV and common age-associated diseases alter the optimal treatment of HIV as well as treatment for co-morbidities.

A report titled, The HIV and Aging Consensus Project: Recommended Treatment Strategies for Clinicians Managing Older Patients with HIV is slated to be released in early October. The report will be used to guide HIV practitioners and other medical professionals who treat older patients with HIV disease on best practices for diagnosing, treating, and referring older adults with HIV.  

"It is exciting to see collaborations like ACRIA, AAHIVM and AGS come together and recognize the importance of developing guidelines in treating older adults with HIV. With older adults living with the disease longer and individuals getting infected over the age of 50, we know there are many other age-associated factors in which to consider. We are happy to see that NHAAAD has helped enhance the issue of addressing the medical aspect of older adults and HIV," states Michael Ruppal, Executive Director at The AIDS Institute.

GM and UAW Reach Tentative Agreement

DETROIT, Sept. 17, 2011 - General Motors and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative four-year agreement at approximately 11 p.m. EDT Friday.

"We used a creative problem solving approach to reach an agreement that addresses the needs of employees and positions our business for long-term success," said Cathy Clegg, GM vice president, Labor Relations.  "We worked hard for a contract that recognizes the realities of today's marketplace, enabling GM to continue to invest in U.S. manufacturing and provide good jobs to thousands of Americans."

Since August 2009, GM has announced investments of more than $5.1 billion and created or retained almost 13,000 jobs in its U.S. manufacturing plants.

Terms of the four-year agreement are not being shared publicly to allow the UAW International to educate its membership about the agreement and conduct a ratification vote. The vote is expected to take place within the next seven to 10 days.

If ratified, the agreement would cover approximately 48,500 GM employees in the United States, who are represented by the UAW.

General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 208,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries.  GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. The global Chevrolet brand celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy.  GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.