“Combined Molecular Study Techniques Reveal More About DNA Proteins”

---

Combined Molecular Study Techniques Reveal More About DNA Proteins Posted: 03 Mar 2011 10:08 AM PST Posted on: Thursday, 3 March 2011, 09:12 CST Liz Ahlberg, University of Illinois Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics – fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively – to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors, who are also affiliated with the U. of I. Institute for Genomic Biology, have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion – sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms – and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. --- Image Caption: Illinois researchers developed a new technique that combines optical traps (red) with fluorescence (green) to study the proteins that regulate DNA. Credit: Matthew Comstock --- On the Net: More News in this Category This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins”

---

Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PST Public release date: 2-Mar-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Liz Ahlberg eahlberg@illinois.edu 217-244-1073 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CHAMPAIGN, Ill. � Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics � fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively � to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion � sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms � and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." ### The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. Editor's note: To contact Yann Chemla, call 217-333-6501; e-mail ychemla@illinois.edu. To reach Taekjip Ha, 217-265-0717; tjha@illinois.edu. "Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Trap With Single-Fluorophore Sensitivity," is available online at www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.1574.html. [ | E-mail | Share ] Public release date: 2-Mar-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Liz Ahlberg eahlberg@illinois.edu 217-244-1073 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CHAMPAIGN, Ill. � Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics � fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively � to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion � sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms � and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." ### The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. Editor's note: To contact Yann Chemla, call 217-333-6501; e-mail ychemla@illinois.edu. To reach Taekjip Ha, 217-265-0717; tjha@illinois.edu. "Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Trap With Single-Fluorophore Sensitivity," is available online at www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.1574.html. [ | E-mail | Share ] This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins”

---

Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins Posted: 02 Mar 2011 03:37 PM PST ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2011) — Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics -- fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively -- to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors, who are also affiliated with the U. of I. Institute for Genomic Biology, have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion -- sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms -- and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. Email or share this story: Story Source: The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Journal Reference: Matthew J Comstock, Taekjip Ha, Yann R Chemla. Ultrahigh-resolution optical trap with single-fluorophore sensitivity. Nature Methods, 2011; DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1574 Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead. Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Combined Molecular Study Techniques Reveal More About DNA Proteins”

---

Combined Molecular Study Techniques Reveal More About DNA Proteins Posted: 03 Mar 2011 10:08 AM PST Posted on: Thursday, 3 March 2011, 09:12 CST Liz Ahlberg, University of Illinois Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics – fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively – to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors, who are also affiliated with the U. of I. Institute for Genomic Biology, have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion – sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms – and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. --- Image Caption: Illinois researchers developed a new technique that combines optical traps (red) with fluorescence (green) to study the proteins that regulate DNA. Credit: Matthew Comstock --- On the Net: More News in this Category This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins”

---

Combined molecular study techniques reveal more about DNA proteins Posted: 02 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PST Public release date: 2-Mar-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Liz Ahlberg eahlberg@illinois.edu 217-244-1073 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CHAMPAIGN, Ill. � Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics � fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively � to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion � sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms � and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." ### The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. Editor's note: To contact Yann Chemla, call 217-333-6501; e-mail ychemla@illinois.edu. To reach Taekjip Ha, 217-265-0717; tjha@illinois.edu. "Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Trap With Single-Fluorophore Sensitivity," is available online at www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.1574.html. [ | E-mail | Share ] Public release date: 2-Mar-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Liz Ahlberg eahlberg@illinois.edu 217-244-1073 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CHAMPAIGN, Ill. � Illinois researchers have combined two molecular imaging technologies to create an instrument with incredible sensitivity that provides new, detailed insight into dynamic molecular processes. Physics professors Taekjip Ha and Yann Chemla and combined their expertise in single-molecule biophysics � fluorescence microscopy and optical traps, respectively � to study binding and unbinding of individual DNA segments to a larger strand. They and their joint postdoctoral researcher Matthew Comstock detail their technique in a paper published in the Feb. 20 online edition of Nature Methods. Both professors have particularly studied proteins and enzymes that regulate DNA, such as the enzyme helicase that unwinds DNA for duplication or transcription to RNA. Fluorescent microscopy techniques allow researchers to observe proteins as they conform and move, but often lack the spatial range to track the protein's motion over distance. Optical traps, meanwhile, enable researchers to study a protein's translocation, but not its conformation. Chemla compares traditional optical traps to fishing. A single molecule of DNA is tethered between two attachment points, and the activity of a protein bound to it is only inferred from how it tugs on the tether, much like a fish at the end of a line. This can reveal a lot about a protein's activity and motion, but the technique has glaring limitations as well. For example, it is difficult to know how many proteins or the types of proteins that are involved. "Also, these proteins may do all sorts of things beyond tugging on our line that we may not be sensitive to," Chemla said. "Fluorescence allows you to have an additional readout to actually see these things, and the key is that we can now measure them simultaneously. This work was a real synthesis of the expertise of two groups at the Center for the Physics of Living Cells at the U. of I." The combination allows Chemla, Ha and their group to measure both a protein's motion � sensitive to translocation as small as one DNA base pair, a distance of only a few angstroms � and also conformational changes as it acts. This can reveal details about its mechanism that would not have been accessible before. "It was a major technical challenge, but the final product is a one-of-a-kind instrument with unique capabilities," Chemla said. "It's like taking a rudimentary, real-time 'movie' of what individual molecules are doing." ### The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported this work. Editor's note: To contact Yann Chemla, call 217-333-6501; e-mail ychemla@illinois.edu. To reach Taekjip Ha, 217-265-0717; tjha@illinois.edu. "Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Trap With Single-Fluorophore Sensitivity," is available online at www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.1574.html. [ | E-mail | Share ] This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Comment Is Free But Freedom Is Slavery - An Exchange With The Guardian's Economics Editor.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“What’s Available From Australian Universities On iTunes U?”

---

What’s Available From Australian Universities On iTunes U? Posted: 22 Feb 2011 07:02 PM PST Work iTunes U — the section of the iTunes store which offers podcasts from universities — is a useful resource for current and intending students alike, letting you catch up on course content or see how a different campus approaches the same topic. Just how much Australian content can you find there? At CNet, Alex Kidman examines what each of the Australian universities which offer content through iTunes U offer. The range varies, and some stuff is only available to registered students, but many institutions have general podcasts about life and study techniques as well as course-specific content. Read the full article for details of what each Australian university has available, and share your favourite university podcast (Australian or otherwise) finds in the comments. iTunes U: what's on offer from Australian universities [CNet] This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Governor taps two Prince George's locals for small business commission”

---

Governor taps two Prince George's locals for small business commission Posted: 09 Feb 2011 01:33 PM PST Photo courtesy of Riche Holmes Grant. Riche Holmes Grant was named to the governor's newly formed small business commission. Published on: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 By Andrew Damstedt Two Prince George's County residents were appointed to Gov. Martin O'Malley's commission on small business recently. Riche Holmes Grant and James A. Dula were named among 17 people to serve on the newly formed commission. "I think it's a great opportunity to provide a voice for other small businesses," Holmes Grant said. Holmes Grant started her business, Innovative Study Techniques in Prince George's County eight years ago and said it means a lot for her to be able to provide a voice for the county on the commission. Dula, who was listed as executive director of Image Consulting Group on the governor's press release, could not be reached for comment. "I'd like to see more opportunities for entrepreneurs in small business, voicing their concerns and needs," Holmes Grant said. Providing a voice for small business is exactly why the commission was set up said Jorge Austrich, the office of business services program director in the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. While Austrich said that mission is very important, the commission mainly will look at issues that impact small business regulations. Commission members will serve two-year terms, but since this is the first year of the commission, some of the members' terms expire in July. The commission was formed after the Small Business Task Force provided it in its recommendations to the governor. The other recommendations are expected to be used as a starting point for the commission to tackle its mission, Austrich said. Those recommendations were to establish a center for small business excellence, rework state financing programs to complement federal and private sector offerings, extend the state's small business reserve program, streamline regulatory review processes and centralize and effectively market workforces. He said this is one of the ways the governor is ensuring the state is responsive to small business owners, as Austrich said the governor repeatedly says that small businesses are the foundation of Maryland's economy. The commission met for the first time at the end of January and is expected to have another meeting this month. The commission will then meet on a quarterly basis and will provide an annual report, with the first one due in July 2012, Austrich said. Holmes Grant said she wants to share her resources and experience in starting up a small business with others. She started her business after she graduated with a law degree from Columbia University. "I come from a family of entrepreneurs; I didn't know I would do it until my last year in law school," she said. "My grandfather said, 'You should come back home and contribute to the world.' It stayed with me. It's the last conversation we had." After taking the bar, she came back to Prince George's County and noticed people were leaving the county for SAT preparation. So, she decided to fill that gap and has grown her business since then to include all the standardized tests. "Owning a small is more than a job for me — it's become a way of life," she said, and she expects to bring that passion to the commission. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Sky View counselor among top 10 in U.S.”

---

Sky View counselor among top 10 in U.S. Posted: 04 Feb 2011 09:10 PM PST Sky View counselor among top 10 in U.S. by Kathryn Malone kmalone@mdjonline.com The Marietta Daily Journal Anthony Pearson, a counselor at Sky View Elementary School in Mableton, right, has been named one of the top 10 school counselors in the U.S. Pearson met with Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) in Washington, D.C. slideshow MABLETON - Anthony Pearson, a counselor at Sky View Elementary School in Mableton, was honored this week as one of the nation's top 10 school counselors by the American School Counselor Association. Pearson, 30, a counselor at Sky View for six years, visited Washington, D.C., this week to be formally recognized, along with school Principal Cynthia Cutler and Gail Smith, the school counseling supervisor for Cobb County School District who nominated him. He learned in early January that he was a finalist, which Pearson said was humbling. "I'm completely honored," Pearson said in a phone interview this week. "This is probably one of my biggest accomplishments." From the top 10 counselors, one was named School Counselor of the Year. That award went to Randy McPherson, of the Trezevant Career and Technology Center in Memphis. Smith said she nominated Pearson for a variety of reasons. "He is running a comprehensive school counseling program," Smith said. "He's great with the children and they love him. He's very creative. His creativity is beyond normal. He's intuitive, understanding what his students need at their grade level and then matching the program with what they need." She said he has done everything from homework help programs to mentoring students who don't have father figures in their lives. Pearson said many of his programs are data-driven, meaning that he measures the impact his involvement has had on students. For example, Pearson said, he did a lesson for fourth- and fifth-grade students on study techniques and using flash cards to help with memory recall. Pearson taught the students how to make the flash cards and then how to drill themselves using the cards. Pearson analyzed student test scores before and following the flash-card activity and found a 13 percent increase in grades in one class and an 18 percent jump in another. While he admits that his study-techniques lesson probably wasn't the only factor in the grade increase, Pearson does believe it had something to do with the improvement. "Even though school counselors are kind of known as touchy, feely and cuddly, the thing I like to focus on is making sure the students are academically prepared," he said. Cutler, who has worked with Pearson for six years, said his use of such data sets him apart. She also praised his ability to address the individual needs of every student at the K-5 school. Sky View is a Title 1 school, reflecting its high proportion of students from low-income families, but the school has recently been honored again by the state of Georgia as a Distinguished Title 1 school, meaning it has made Adequate Yearly Progress for three years in a row. "What impresses me about Anthony is his sincerity and how much he cares about each of the students," Cutler said. "He's always striving to meet all of their needs. He doesn't only impact their academic achievement, but also strives to address social and emotional development. He works closely with students and parents to address specific needs that some students might have, and if they need additional support." Before becoming a school counselor, Pearson was a case manager for adults with developmental disabilities in Suwanee. He switched careers into school counseling, he said, because he was always interested in child psychology. Although Pearson said he enjoys psychological research, he realized that many times in psychology, the more advanced you get professionally, the less interaction you have with patients. "School counseling was really a good fit for me because I get to do the groundwork side and I get to focus on research of what strategies are best for the kids," Pearson said. "It marries both worlds." The author of a counseling workbook entitled "Guidance with Good Measure," Pearson will also debut his first children's book in spring 2012 about a bear who is afraid of the dark. He lives in Marietta with his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Pearson said his favorite thing about school counseling is watching the students grow. "I really enjoy when I get to see the kids make progress," he said. "That is such a huge affirmation for me. When there's something concrete that you're focusing on, it really really energizes me to try even harder or expand even more. When teachers tell me 'Suzie is doing better' or 'things are better with this group of kids,' I feel great because the kids are doing better and it makes me feel like I know what I'm doing." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“‘FlashNotes’ website allows students to purchase class peers’ notes”

---

‘FlashNotes’ website allows students to purchase class peers’ notes Posted: 03 Feb 2011 09:12 PM PST Students who take high-quality notes have a chance to be compensated for their hard work, and students wishing they had the study habits of the straight-A student in class have the opportunity to simulate them — for a fee. FlashNotes.com is a website that allows students at colleges and universities across the United States to sell their lecture notes and other class materials they think are worth more than a pat on the back. Sellers can set their own price for their work based on the quality of the material. FlashNotes, founded in December 2009 by Mike Matousek, a 2010 graduate from Kent State University with a degree in finance and entrepreneurship, makes its apparent goal helping students learn from their peers. "I came up with the idea my junior year of college after I saw a need in one of my classes," Matousek wrote in an e-mail. "Students were just having a hard time understanding the material presented by one of my statistics teachers, and they were constantly asking for my notes." Shortly after the website launched, Matousek partnered with ex-NFL player David Petruziello. Petruziello was a mentor to Matousek throughout the life of the company and together they developed it into a Youngstown Business Incubator Company. Later, they partnered with Hitchcock Fleming & Associates to keep expanding the company. The website is simple to use. Anyone can set up an account. The process involves typing in a username, password and university or college name. Once the information is provided, a user can begin paying to upload and download notes. The website grows daily and sees higher traffic as semesters and quarters progress. "We have more than 5,000 users from 32 universities," said Katie Greenwald, assistant account manager and PR representative at Hitchcock Fleming & Associates. Originally, the website catered only to students at Kent State, but once Matousek saw students' reactions, he made it available to universities nationwide. He was proud of the site's popularity after the launch. "It was exciting to see that within the first weeks of launching the site, we had over 700 transactions," Matousek said. Currently, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is not on the list of universities available, but creating an account will put it on the list. The website hosts anything from class notes to study guides, Greenwald said, although notes for introductory courses are the most common. "The reasons may be because there are more students in those classes, so there are more opportunities to sell, or because those classes tend to have freshmen who have not yet learned college-level study techniques," Greenwald said. A student can make sizable profits from uploaded notes if they are of high quality. Class notes sell for a minimum of $1.99, but the average asking price is $5. "We've had single sellers make hundreds of dollars off of one set of notes that were sold multiple times," Greenwald said. The seller receives 80 percent of the transaction and FlashNotes takes 20 percent for operating costs. Matousek believes the website gives students a different kind of opportunity through their program. "FlashNotes gives students the ability to start their own business within our site," Matousek said. "We have had students request fliers, e-mail their classes and essentially market their notes to make a substantial amount of money while helping their classmates at the same time." FlashNotes may be a great resource for students looking to sell their class materials for a little extra cash, but Tom Larson, a music lecturer at UNL, doesn't understand the concept of purchasing other students' materials. "My only problem with the site is that I don't understand why anyone would want to pay for someone else's notes," Larson said. "You know nothing about the note taker's academic standing, or even whether they are a good note taker." The site allows users searching for notes to see 1/3 of the page, so buyers can have a short preview of the quality before they make their decision to purchase. There is also a rating system that lets users rate the quality of the class materials posted. "We've had some concern from educators who are afraid that students may use the site to cheat," Greenwald said. "However, students won't pass tests or improve grades by simply purchasing notes." Larson said he does not find purchasing the notes unethical, but risky. "Caveat emptor," Larson adds, which in Latin means, "Let the buyer be aware." As for the future of FlashNotes, Matousek said he wants to let the users decide that. "I see FlashNotes as being an amazing resource for college students to learn in new and exciting ways," he said. "We want our users to guide FlashNotes and let us know what else we can do to help them succeed." alexkrzemien@dailynebraskan.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

“Riche Holmes Grant, Esq. Receives Appointment to Maryland Commission on Small Business”

---

Riche Holmes Grant, Esq. Receives Appointment to Maryland Commission on Small Business Posted: 03 Feb 2011 08:11 AM PST Press Release Source: Innovative Study Techniques On Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:11 am EST LARGO, Md., Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Riche Holmes Grant, Esq., President and Chief Academic Officer of Innovative Study Techniques (IST), has been appointed to the Governor's Commission on Small Business.  Riche's appointment was made official by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley on Friday, January 28, 2011.   Riche joins a 26-member Commission that was formed upon recommendation of the Governor's Task Force on Small Business and is charged with providing a forum for small businesses to articulate and address barriers to business growth, recommend economic policy development measures to the Governor and General Assembly, and oversee implementation of the Small Business Task Force recommendations. The Commission will meet at least quarterly and will provide regular review of Maryland Made Easy, a new initiative also unveiled by the Governor and include tangible improvements to specific State processes where business and government intersect. As a leader of a thriving small business in Prince George's County, Riche accepts her appointment with readiness.   "I am honored to serve on Governor O'Malley's Commission on Small Business.  As President and Chief Academic Officer of Innovative Study Techniques for the past eight years, I bring a unique perspective as a businesswoman, progressive educator and attorney.  As a member of the Commission, I hope to be a voice of support for other small business men and women, who bring impressive and substantial resources to our State's economy." Established in 2003, IST provides high-quality, results-based standardized test prep and educational services organizational and private clients.  As President, Riche guides IST's overall direction and strategic visioning.  As Chief Academic Officer, she trains and directs the instructional team, oversees curriculum development and manages custom design projects.   In addition to its main office in Prince George's County, MD, IST has affiliate offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and London.  To learn more about IST visit www.innovativetestprep.com.   To learn more about Riche Holmes Grant, Esq. visit www.richeholmesgrant.com.  To view the full Executive Order visit http://www.governor.maryland.gov.   Follow Yahoo! Finance on ; become a fan on Facebook. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.

You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610