Gilmore 'high on our board from start'

Offense is Chan Gailey’s thing, but the Buffalo Bills’ coach knew at the end of the 2011 season that his defense needed some major re-tooling.

So the Bills went out and signed the most coveted defensive free agent on the market, defensive end Mario Williams, then added another pass rusher, Mark Anderson, a few days later.

Thursday night, the defensive largesse grew by one when the Bills used the 10th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft to select cornerback Stephon Gilmore out of South Carolina.

“We’ve made a conscious effort to upgrade our defense in the offseason and Buddy (Nix) and the personnel department have done a great job with that,” Gailey said.

Gilmore is a 6-foot, 193-pound speed burner who was one of the best defensive players in the best college football conference, the SEC. He made 40 starts for the Gamecocks and finished his three-year career with eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and 181 tackles.

“It's a great feeling to be a Buffalo Bill,” said Gilmore, a seemingly quiet kid who hails from Rock Hill, S.C. “I’m happy to play for them. I went on a visit to the Bills, visited the city, they believe in my talent and I’m looking forward to helping their defense out.”

And it certainly needed help after a 2011 season where it ranked 30th in points allowed, 26th in yards allowed, and 27th in sacks per pass attempt.

“It wasn’t all the (lack of) rush, we needed some help in the secondary,” Nix said. “We said we’d like to take two corners in this draft, and now we’ve got one of them. He’s got good ball skills, he’s a good tackler. He was high on our draft board from the start.”

So, too, was Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, and Alabama safety Mark Barron, but they were already gone when Buffalo’s turn came up, Barron to Tampa Bay at No. 7, Kuechly to Carolina at No. 9.

Gilmore, who was the second-highest rated cornerback in the draft behind LSU’s Morris Claiborne who went to the Cowboys at No. 6, was the obvious pick for the Bills once those two were gone.

With Terrence McGee in steep decline, Drayton Florence in subtle decline, and Leodis McKelvin still trying to find his niche, Gilmore should be able to come in immediately and join with last year’s second-round pick, cornerback Aaron Williams, to greatly improve the Bills in coverage.

“We’re trying to upgrade our defense where it needs upgrading the most,” said Gailey. “We identified pass rush as our No. 1 need, the one thing we had to address. And were fortunate enough to be able to address that in free agency. That freed us up in the draft to look at a bunch of different positions and pick the player that fit our team quickly.”

Nix has said that the Bills also are desperate for a wide receiver, and it seems plausible that in a draft deep at that position, the Bills may target one in Friday night’s second round. And don’t be surprised if the Bills go after another defender in the third round, perhaps that second cornerback Nix referenced, though linebacker could be a possible option.

Corn researchers develop in-field aflatoxin approach

Scientists at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center are researching new ways to reduce aflatoxin in infected corn.

Corn is one of the state’s leading row crops, but it is susceptible to aflatoxin, a fungus that can reduce profits and hurt marketability.

MSU plant pathologist Gabe Sciumbato and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service plant pathologists Hamed Abbas and Mark Weaver have obtained strains of the fungus that do not produce aflatoxin.

Sciumbato, a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientist, has been conducting research on aflatoxin for more than 10 years. Aflatoxins are naturally occurring chemicals produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. The fungi appear as yellow-green or gray-green molds on corn in the field or in storage.

“We are applying granules of Aspergillus flavus that do not produce aflatoxin but do compete with the native Aspergillus flavus. In essence, we are using a good fungus to fight a bad one,” Sciumbato said.

Aflatoxin levels are not normally high in corn, but Mississippi’s hot, humid climate encourages the growth of the fungus that produces the toxin. Heat, drought, high humidity, insect infestation and anything else that stresses the crop favor fungal growth, he said.

Aflatoxin can build up in crops such as corn, cotton, peanuts and tree nuts. Aspergillus infects corn by invading through corn silks or through insect damage to kernels or ears.

To date, methods of reducing aflatoxin infection have included crop management techniques, such as planting early, irrigating, avoiding infected areas and sanitizing equipment. Despite these techniques, grains of many Mississippi farmers have been rejected at elevators because of high levels of aflatoxin.

Onsite screening is done two ways. Blacklight or ultraviolet light tests and commercial test kits indicate aflatoxin presence. Commercial test kits use chemical analyses to test for specific proteins.

The USDA has set rejection levels for aflatoxin in corn at 20 parts per billion or greater. An individual kernel of corn can contain 400,000 ppb aflatoxin, so one infected kernel in 20,000 could lead to the shipment being rejected. Contaminated corn is sold at much lower prices.

Some rejected corn is used in livestock feed, which the Food and Drug Administration still screens. Corn containing aflatoxin also can be used to make ethanol or to make anhydrous ammonia for agricultural use. However, the aflatoxin is a toxic waste, and its disposal is expensive.

“Because corn is used in so many products for human consumption, we have been working to increase producer profits while maintaining food safety,” Abbas said.

Government guidelines keep aflatoxin contamination a low-level threat for food supplies in the country.

Using non-aflatoxin-producing A. flavus strains has the potential to protect much of the state’s corn harvest, Sciumbato said.

In 2011 corn ranked fifth in agricultural production in Mississippi. Last year the state’s farmers planted about 810,000 acres in corn.

Alpla adds blow molding equipment in Mexico to serve Coca-Cola

Multinational Austrian plastic bottle manufacturer Alpla Holding GmbH has purchased 11 SBO Universal2eco blow molding machines and 1,200 molds from the Sidel Group after winning a major contract from one of Latin America’s newest and largest Coca-Cola bottlers.

Headquartered in the town of Hard, Austria, Alpla placed the order with Sidel in August and took delivery of the machines between November 2011 and February, according to an April 25 Sidel news release.

It has been installing them at six plants across Mexico, and should be operating within a few weeks. Neither Sidel nor Alpla has revealed the value of the contract. But Martin Stark, Alpla’s Austria-based technical and purchasing director, described it in the news release as “big.”

A senior manager at the head office of Mexican subsidiary Alpla México SA de CV referred all inquiries to Alpla in Austria, from where the negotiations for the purchase of the new machinery were conducted, he said. Alpla has 15 plants in Mexico, he added.

According to the news release, Alpla will supply 900 million bottles a year over eight years to Arca Continental SAB de CV, of Monterrey, which claims to be the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America.

Listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange as AC, Arca Continental was formed in 2011 through the amalgamation of Embotelladora Arca and Grupo Continental. Its headquarters is in Monterrey.

The SBO Universal2eco blow-molders have six to 26 cavities and will produce up to 2,200 bottles per hour, Sidel said.

“Alpla will create all the Coca-Cola bottle shapes from 250 milliliters to three liters” on the new machines, it added.

“Some of these machines are able to produce up to 21 different shapes and sizes. There are 1,200 molds equipped with Kohlox, a system made of thermo composite material that helps parts move freely without lubrication and reduces machine downtimes.”

Alpla will produce most of the bottles inline, but small volumes will be produced in an offline production hall.

Sidel was able to install the equipment in several locations simultaneously, a fact that “really made the difference for Alpa in selecting Sidel as its partner for such a big contract,” Stark said.

Alpla and Sidel have worked together for 25 years, Sidel said.

Sidel, which employs 5,000, claims to have 30,000 machines installed in 190 countries.

Alpla’s North American unit, Alpla Inc. in McDonough, Ga., ranked No. 4 in Plastics News’ most recent survey of North American blow molders, with sales of $822.7 million. The Austrian parent company had total estimated sales of $3.39 billion.

Egypt's Search for a Leader Plunges into Chaos

The image of a smiling man with a gray beard hangs on every street corner. He could be mistaken for a member of a folk music group. But the man on the posters is actually Hazem Abu Ismail, and his message is plain: "Al-Islam huwa al-Hall" -- Islam is the solution.

Until recently Abu Ismail, a television imam, was the ultra-conservative Salafists' candidate for one of the most powerful offices in the Arab world, the Egyptian presidency.

But now his candidacy is finished. Even if Islam has an answer to many things, one question remains unanswered: How on earth could the mother of the deeply religious Abu Ismail, now long dead, have applied for a green card, or permission to live and work in the United States? And why did she even obtain US citizenship afterwards, a circumstance that now excludes her son from running in the presidential election at the end of May?

Under the country's election law, both parents of a candidate must be Egyptian. And although the Salafists respect God's law above all and have had little use for earthly elections until now, Abu Ismail's supporters took to the streets and raged against foreign "falsifications" and "conspiracies." Abu Ismail himself even threatened to trigger an "Islamic revolution."

But despite the fact that tens of thousands demonstrated on Tahrir Square for the first time in months on Friday, this revolution hasn't materialized yet. In fact, many Egyptians seem relieved that a politician is out of the running who believes that girls in puberty are old enough for marriage, that a woman should not come into physical contact with a man at work, and that Sharia law should completely replace current civil law.

Some who voted for the Islamists in the parliamentary elections during the winter and helped them achieve victory are secretly breathing a sigh of relief. "Stoning for adultery? That isn't consistent with Egypt at all," says Egypt's best-known playwright, Lenin al-Ramli. "I believe that the Islamists have already passed the height of their popularity." Of course, writers are allowed to exaggerate.

Egypt's Supreme Presidential Election Commission disqualified 10 of the 23 candidates, including three of the most promising ones. They include, in addition to Abu Ismail, the millionaire and leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood Khairat el-Shater, as well as Omar Suleiman, Hosni Mubarak's former intelligence chief who was also vice president for a short time.

El-Shater's downfall was that he had a previous criminal conviction. Under Mubarak, he was imprisoned as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and, most recently, had been sentenced to seven years in prison for alleged money laundering. The election commission decided that this still disqualifies him today. El-Shater's attempt to contest the decision failed.

In Suleiman's case, the problem was that he lacked just 31 notarized statements of endorsements from a single province, from a total of 30,000 endorsements required to enter the race. He had become ensnared in an election law noose that the former regime had once constructed itself. It's no wonder that conspiracy theories are blossoming in Cairo. "Suleiman's candidacy was probably a tactical move by the military from the start," says Ahmed Osama, a well-connected liberal and human rights activist. "They wanted to make people at home and abroad believe that the Egyptians needed a strong man."

At any rate, the Egyptian presidential elections have declined in entertainment value since last week. With the forced exit of the strongest and most polarizing figures, the contest has turned into an ordinary drama.

Feeding a two-wheeled addiction on the beaten path

The muted constant crunch of rubber on gravel is serenely meditative, a white noise massaging the senses like the sun on a silent backyard deck.

On a bike every pedal stroke, every spin of the tire allows the stresses of the mind to melt away, leaving time to tune in to the immediacy of each bump, each rut, each bend and bow of the subtle grade carrying you through an intimate experience with nature.

By bike or foot, or even horse, the wending trails on historical rail corridors of commerce give an experience unparalleled — one well worth attempting, no matter your fitness level.

It wasn’t long ago that a bike ride from the Glenora trailhead to Marie Canyon along the old CN railbed would be an exercise in solitude, where you’d be more likely to trade sideways stares with bears than you would another person.

The majority of paths in Cowichan were like this — over-grown, over-looked and under-used.

Now more than 120 kilometres of pathway stretch throughout Cowichan, and users of all makes and molds are discovering the benefits of walking, running or riding in the fresh air of their own backyard.

From the southern tip of Shawnigan Lake across the Kinsol Trestle to Lake Cowichan and back to Duncan, and from Chemainus to the Nanaimo Regional District, maintained trails are increasing the health and well-being of the community at large.

Perched atop our bike saddles, we’ve witnessed a diversity of people parading along the paths.

With a thick concentration of houses mere steps away, the meandering trail from Sherman Road to Tansor has become a destination for new moms armed with their offroading strollers. North Cowichan’s pipeline trail running parallel to Somenos Road is a haven for families and walkers, too.

Both routes have become thouroughfares for downtown workers looking to stretch their legs with an afternoon run.

Further along, heading out along the old E&N line toward Lake Cowichan we’ve seen every type of cyclist imaginable.

The new hardpacked trail has opened the door for Sahtlam commuters to enjoy the fast downhill into work in the mornings, and get a workout clearing their minds from the day on the way home.

There’s been the weary but smiling first-time-in-a-long-time cyclists pushing their bikes along the path waving hello to the lycra-clad race packs blurring by on their left.

Sunday cruisers in sandals share the trails with tots kicking up rocks with their training wheels. Youth with their backsides hanging out of low-slung jeans rip by on BMX’s while yellow-jacketed touring cyclists trudge along, laden down with camping gear, headed to Stoltz Pools and beyond.

And then there are the horses.

From the skittish riders who ask us to walk our bikes and speak loudly, to the renegade cowboys barreling past on galloping steeds at heart-stopping speeds, the horses are numerous and seem to relish the space.

For downtown Duncan dwellers and Cowichan Common commuters, the newly appointed Friendship Trail has proven popular. The early morning dog walkers proudly packing their sacks of pooch poop and the health conscientious step counters getting in their daily quota of fitness are all awed by the stunning views of Somenos Marsh.

From the multitudes of users we’ve seen on the trails, it’s apparent you don’t need to be a fitness nut to enjoy these paths.

Simplicity is the key to rebranding

LATER THIS YEAR, Microsoft will be releasing Windows 8, a release of the ubiquitous operating system that will be absolutely critical as we shift towards a touch-based computing future. To mark this shift, Microsoft updated its famous Windows logo – for years, it’s been a variation on the multicoloured window theme, but fluttering, almost like a flag. For Windows 8, they went monochrome blue, and the flutter was gone – now we had a slightly angled, four-pane window, echoing the application tiles in the new user interface, while also referencing the window concept.

Beside the icon was the name, Windows 8, in simple, sans serif lettering. If Microsoft was hoping to establish that this was a big break with the past, and a declaration of future intent, it worked. But if they were hoping to generate some goodwill towards the new release, it was less successful. People hated it. When it comes to new logos and rebranding, they often do. The art of rebranding, it seems, lies somewhere between modernising the pre-existing image and not irritating loyal customers.

“It’s not so much that people are attached to a logo,” says designer Armin Vit, who has become one of the web’s most high-profile commentators on logos and branding design with his Brand New blog.

“It’s more that they care about what the logo represents. So when something changes, it’s not so much that the logo’s changing, it’s that something that they’re familiar with, that they’ve been living with or interacting with, when that thing changes, it breaks a certain trust and familiarity with this thing that you kind of never paid attention to anyway.”

On the Windows redesign, Vit was scathing. “This ‘minimal’ approach looks like, well, a window,” he wrote. “A window in a $400-a-month studio apartment rental with beige carpeting and plastic drapes. Moving away from the more flag-like icon seems like abandoning two decades of equity – crappy equity, but equity nonetheless.”

This illustrates the perils of the redesign – the attempt to signal modernity and change can so often clash with the need to maintain the symbols associated with tradition and experience. The inevitable friction between the two can manifest itself in irate customer reaction.

“The best example was Tropicana,” says Vit, referencing the disastrous 2009 logo and packaging redesign of the orange juice titan. “It wasn’t that people necessarily loved the old logo, the orange with the straw sticking out, it’s just that when they took that away, they literally could not find it in the grocery store. It happened to me, and I’m pretty aware of design things. I kept looking at the fridge, I couldn’t find it. For a lot of people, that sort of thing generates a very guttural reaction.”

For Steve Payne, design director at the Dublin studio of global branding firm the Brand Union, that common reaction speaks to how deeply people associate with brands. “It’s interesting to understand how people build bonds or relationships or loyalty with brands,” he says.

“It’s because it comes from a point where it’s actually a statement about themselves, and their own self-perception. That’s where you get this strong emotional connection. About why people sometimes don’t like change, or why people are so vocal about it – it’s because it’s a statement about people’s self-perception, and if you start messing with that it becomes quite difficult if you don’t respect that. The challenge for designers is to be very aware and cognisant of that relationship that the brand has with its customer base.”

Payne has vast experience both building and rebuilding global brands, having worked at Saatchi Saatchi, Interbrand and now Brand Union. Clients have included Lexus, Selfridges, the Sydney Olympics, Ulster Bank and the GAA – the need to be aware of the heritage of a brand while keeping it fresh is tantamount when dealing with such big names.

“Brands need to move, they can’t be static,” he says. “Sometimes people get caught up with identity, ie the physical logo, rather than the communication and manifestation of how that identity talks through different channels. A mistake a lot of people make is ‘We need to change the logo’. But actually it’s not about the logo. It might be about something else, they come back to the logo because we’re now into a different market, and a lot of the time it’s a bit of a red herring, because what they need to do is think about how they communicate, the language, the tone of voice, the images, rather than change something that may have a certain amount of equity already built up.”

Above all, he points out how branding affects far more than the mere visual impression of a company. “A lot of businesses get caught up in the brand word, thinking it’s the logo,” he says, “but another way to think of it is the reputation of an organisation, and the goodwill and loyalty that people have associated with that name or marque. When you start messing with the goodwill, then that gets a little bit more about reputation.”

Summer superhero movies inspired by comic book stories

The highlight of this summer movie season can be summed up in one word: superheroes.

For fans who lack patience or simply want a better understanding of these silver screen characters, the best place to look is in the glossy pages of comic books. In fact, the three superhero films premiering this summer borrow inspiration from specific story arcs.

The following books are essential reading for anyone remotely interested in the grandiose, capes-and-tights spectacles arriving in theaters soon.

Grandiose may be an understatement when describing “The Avengers,” which drops May 4. A culmination of Marvel’s slow plan to bring all their movie heroes together, “The Avengers” sees Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and other heroes establish the ultimate team-up to save Earth from an invading alien force. The plot almost directly mirrors “The Ultimates” by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch.

Marvel established the Ultimate Universe so creators could write modern, edgier versions of popular characters without years of continuity constricting them. As a writer, Millar takes full advantage of this freedom – his characterizations are tough, rude and occasionally downright mean. Underneath his signature writing style though, the cores of the characters remain true to their original molds. Every character is compelling and given ample story time.

The scope of the story is epic, opening at the height of World War II and spanning across the globe. In this regard, Hitch’s art delivers and then some. His cinematic, widescreen approach to paneling and realistic figures make for gorgeous artwork. Every action scene is detailed and visceral.

Expect the clashing personalities and intense action of the book to translate onto the screen as Marvel hopes to pull off a project four years in the making.

It’s been over four years since the last Spider-Man movie and many fans still have a bad taste from the last film. On July 3, “The Amazing Spider-Man” will start fresh with a reboot featuring a new story and a new creative team. After receiving superpowers from a radioactive spider bite, nerdy high-schooler Peter Parker uncovers secrets left by his deceased scientist father, learning something about great power and great responsibility along the way.

The father subplot is a new spin the creators hope to explore on film but the story can be found in “Ultimate Spider-Man” by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley.

Bendis’ writing acts as a respectful homage to the original but he doesn’t hesitate to mess with the status quo. Bendis’ Spidey is an angst-ridden teenager who is slowly maturing into the wisecracking hero readers are familiar with. He also explores Parker’s connection to his father, and much of the action stems from his discoveries.

All this action is wonderfully captured by Bagley’s fluid, dynamic pencils. His smooth shapes and thick lines help the art to pop off the page.

With Bendis hired as a consultant for the reboot, expect this experience to be closely reflected on the big screen as the “wall-crawler” begins a new adventure.

Ending arguably the most successful superhero adventure to date, “The Dark Knight Rises” will conclude Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy on July 20. Batman faces his toughest challenge as the mercenary Bane violently tears down the peace he’s established.

The 1993 story arc “Knightfall” details this same plot over the course of 17 issues and two Batman titles. Handled by multiple writers and artists, Batman is pushed to his limits after Bane stages a massive breakout at Arkham Asylum. His plan is to wear Batman down before crippling him so he can rule Gotham City.

The writing is outdated in many scenes, falling prey to the ridiculous gimmicks common in ’90s comics – remote-controlled attack robots and crammed storytelling being the main offenders. However, Batman’s physical and mental deterioration is handled extremely well, and several minor allies and villains shine in the brief moments they’re given. The art is more consistent, and the stakes and action elevate with the turn of each page.

The brief teasers and spoilers from the film suggest scenes like the prison break and Batman and Bane’s confrontation will transfer from page to celluloid this summer.

While serving as good primers for their respective films, these books also work well as jumping on points for new comic book readers. When moviegoers walk out of the theaters this summer craving more action and adventure, these comics will be ready and waiting.

Airmid Healthgroup Attends 11th World Filtration Congress in Austria

Air Filtration & Biomedical research representatives from airmid healthgroup will be attending the 11th World Filtration Congress in Austria during the week of the 16th-20th April. Key aerobiology topics will undoubtedly be centred on airmid’s innovative techniques that identify, evaluate and address the potential hazardous nature of airborne pathogens, biological aerosols and ultrafine particles.

With core expertise in the area of preventing ill health due to indoor air pollutants, airmid scientists apply their skills to evaluate the complex interactions of biological, chemical and physical properties associated with consumer products, and provide customers with a complete solution for healthy living and label claim validation.

“That the emission of ultrafine particles, even from products with HEPA filtration, results in consumers being exposed to bacterial fragments and other noxious particulate materials is a concern”, says Dr Bruce Mitchell, Chairman at airmid healthgroup. “However, it is of no surprise the composition of household dust and its content of bacteria, viruses, mold and toxins. Of course, exposure has the capacity to induce ill-health”!

Most micro-organisms are of sub-micron particulate size. When dust in a room is disturbed, these particles remain airborne for days at a time. Recirculation of the contaminated air serves to augment exposure and hence potential infectivity. Ultrafine particle exposure may be further increased by microorganism contamination of the unit with growth of viruses, bacteria and molds.

AHG is a unique vertically integrated facility which combines molecular biology with state-of-the-art air sampling and particle counting in a highly sophisticated AC-1 chamber. Availing of such facilities, AHG can follow nominated viruses, bacteria molds and other toxic ultrafine particles as they become airborne and are distributed throughout the chamber. Their clients include the international standards body, Allergy Standards Ltd, who list Dyson, LG and Rabbit Air in their programs.
Data generated in this manner will have a vastly greater degree of sensitivity and specificity than any that relies on conventional culture techniques. Molecular technology also allows for quantification of residual contamination within the dehumidifier and its ability to capture any infective particulate material being shed.

It is inevitable that media attention will continue to draw focus on negative health implications associated with Ultrafine Particles. Airmid healthgroup, through applied research in microbiology, molecular biology, and aerobiology offers companies the opportunity to proactively address these issues.

Sunny Golloway Learns From Past & Molds Damien Magnifico

Sunny Golloway was the Team USA Coach in 2002. With the pitcher selection up to him, Golloway was charged with the challenge of filling ten spots in the bullpen. That same year, Justin Verlander was a freshman at Old Dominion. One thing that set Verldaner apart was the fact the he possessed a 100+ mph fastball. However, there was no solid secondary pitch...at least that was what Golloway thought. Due to this "flaw" Verlander was left out of the selection.

While Verlander would be left out his freshman year, he would make the cut the following season and landed himself as a first round pick as a junior. Now, Sunny is looking back and has found himself in a very similar position with another pitcher, this time on his Sooner Ball Club.

Damien Magnifico has the same skill set that Justin Verlander has in terms of a fastball. But, for the first part of the season, he relied on the ability to blow a toss by the batter and it earned him the nickname "Wild Thing."

Not wanting to make the same mistake he made ten years ago, Sunny Golloway is having study sessions with Magnifico. Through watching tape after tape of Hall of Fame Pitcher, Nolan Ryan, there are noticeable changes Magnifico has adopted while standing on the bump. The most notable come in his wind-up.

However, Magnifico took the challenge upon himself as well. Outside of these "study sessions" with Golloway, Damien began watching Verlander hurl from the mound. Yes, both have the ability to throw the 100+ ball but something stood out to Magnifico about Verlander...the fact that on most pitches, the radar reading was in the low 90s.

This backing off of sorts allows for Verlander to throw deeper into the game and pitching is less laboring.

Last Tuesday saw Magnifico put this into practice while only throwing at the top of his range on "special" pitches. It provides Magnifico with a consistency that can last an entire nine innings. As Oklahoma faced off against Arkansas, Magnifico threw 92 pitches in 8 2/3 innings of work. In that time, he struck-out four while walking three. Understanding will continue to come to Magnifico as he begins to throw low while getting batters to hit grounders rather than striking every batter out he faces.

All in all, Magnifico is not too far off of where Verlander was. If he continues to progress, there is the possibility he could make great strides and land himself as a first rounder. Tuesday will see Damien on the bump again and we will have to chance to see what has stuck in terms of this new philosophy.

Austrian plastics group makes mark at NPE

While visitors to NPE2012 were sure to have seen Austrian giants such as Engel and Greiner, one trade group was highlighting the smaller plastics companies the country has to offer.

The Plastics Cluster of Upper Austria, part of Clusterland Upper Austria, says it took part in NPE to help promote the Austrian plastics industry, as well as encourage dialogue between Austrian and foreign businesses.

“We’re hoping to promote Austria’s industry here in the United States because it’s hard for our companies to internationalize themselves,” said spokeswoman Anke Merkl-Rachbauer. “They work well in Europe but it becomes a lot harder once they cross over to the United States or go the other way towards Asia.”

Merkl-Rachbauer says it is hard to know exactly how much cooperation there is between Austrian and American plastics firms but estimates that most companies will conduct around 5-20 percent of their business in the United States.

Several Austrian companies were exhibiting at an Advantage Austria stand at NPE2012, including mold makers such as Elmet and ifw Group, which makes high-tech molds for plastic pipe fittings; extrusion specialists like SBI of Hollabrunn and Pucking-based Kuag Kunststoff-Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH, which makes downstream equipment; and companies with recycling expertise, such as Lindner-Recyclingtech.

According to the cluster, Austria is a very attractive market for plastics companies because of its central position within Europe as well as governmental tax breaks.

“Austria is an R&D center, which our government recognizes,” said Merkl-Rachbauer. “Some 10 percent of R&D expenses are refunded in cash.”

During an SPI conference, the Austria cluster highlighted several overall trends in the European plastics industry, with bioplastics and recycling being a particular strength.

According to speaker Sandra Koerner, the European Union recovers twice as much plastics waste than the United States. And the EU accounts for 24.9 percent of world’s bottle collection rates, compared to America’s 15.2 percent.

Bioplastics and carbon reduction are also very important in Europe, she added, highlighting sustainable Austrian innovations such as the Trodat Printy 4.0, which the company said is the world’s first carbon-neutral stamp, made with up to 65 percent post-consumer recycled plastics. Austria is also a leader in bioplastics, with 125 companies in the country involved in this area.

In addition, the European region is a hotspot for medical materials, said Koerner. Plastics comprise 50 percent of materials used in this market and the industry’s research and development quota in this area is more than 8 percent.

Cluster Upper Austria was established in 2005 with the aim of improving the competitiveness of businesses in the Upper Austria region. Other clusters in the group include automotive, environmental technology, and design and media.

Polygamy and the presidential race

For a biographer, the emerging matchup in the presidential campaign between Barack Hussein Obama and Willard Mitt Romney is about as American as it can get. Although the candidates are noted for their innate caution, their family histories evoke a kind of exceptionalism that defines the United States — not in some gauzy and false way, but in the reality of a national fabric woven from exotic threads. Where to start? How about polygamy?

Perhaps it is true of most people if you go back far enough, but with Obama and Romney, it can be said with certitude that neither would exist had their ancestors not lived with many wives at once.

The president's most virulent critics have tried for years to portray him as a stranger in our midst, someone outside the comfortable mainstream of American life; a Muslim socialist born elsewhere, probably in Kenya. The mythology is wrong on all three particulars about Obama, a Christian liberal born in Hawaii, and its distortions are antithetical to historical inquiry, a manipulation of facts for ideological purposes. Yet the real story is colorful enough, and odd in a way that is foreign while familiar. Sit down long enough at any American family's table, and some strange history is likely to be served.

The line of polygamists in Obama's family can be traced back generations in western Kenya, where it was an accepted practice within the Luo (pronounced LOO-oh) tribe. His great-grandfather, Obama Opiyo, had five wives, including two who were sisters. His grandfather, Hussein Onyango, had at least four wives, one of whom, Akumu, gave birth to the president's father, Barack Obama, before fleeing her abusive husband. Obama Sr. was already married when he left Kenya to study at the University of Hawaii, where he married again. His American wife-to-be, Stanley Ann Dunham, was not yet 18 and unaware of his marital situation when she became pregnant with his namesake son in 1961.

The line of polygamists in the Romney family traces back generations, when it was an accepted practice in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His paternal great-grandfathers, Miles Park Romney and Helaman Pratt, were born in the United States but lived for decades in Mexico. Pratt was a Mormon missionary there; Miles Park Romney left Utah for Mexico with a tribe of polygamous Mormons after the practice was outlawed in the United States in 1890.

Pratt had five wives. Miles Park Romney had four, and 30 children, one of whom was Gaskell Romney. The polygamy stopped at Gaskell, who had a single wife and seven children. One of the children, George, was born in a Mormon colony in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, although he was nonetheless a U.S. citizen. He was Mitt's father.

For both presidential candidates to have fathers born outside the United States — what could be more American than that? And the lives of both were shaped by evangelizing branches of Christianity — one family doing the proselytizing, the other being proselytized, sort of — again, how American.

All of the Romney men were Mormon missionaries at some point; it comes with the religious territory. Old man Pratt did his missionary work in Mexico. George Romney, before becoming governor of Michigan and a candidate for president himself, took his Mormon outreach assignments in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. His son Mitt went off in search of potential converts in France. It turned out that neither George nor Mitt was particularly good at making converts during their overseas forays. They proved to be much better at making money back home, and were happier doing so.

As a member of the Luo tribe, Hussein Onyango encountered missionaries early in his life; it came with the cultural geography of western Kenya. This was not Mormon meets African, the central conceit of the popular Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon," which takes place in Uganda. The Latter-day Saints arrived in western Kenya long after the Seventh-Day Adventists.

It is an understatement to say that Mormons came late to a lot of things involving people with black skin. The first evangelist to reach the Obama homestead near Kendu Bay was Arthur Asa Carscallen, an Adventist pastor who grew up in Canada and ventured to western Kenya in 1906, tooling around in an elegant suit and necktie as he peddled the gospel. Carscallen learned the Luo language and built a missionary primary school atop a hill in Gendia, where he taught Luo boys, the first generation to become Westernized. Onyango was one of his students, setting the family on its unlikely path to the White House.

Years after learning English and adapting Western ways, Onyango converted to Islam. He added the name Hussein and lived out his days as a Muslim, although he did not follow all of the religion's strictures. This is where the myth of his grandson being a Muslim, which has no factual basis, took hold. Hussein Onyango's son, Barack Obama Sr., was an atheist by the time he reached adulthood. When I die, I will die thoroughly, he would say. Stanley Ann Dunham, the president's mother, was not religious in a church sense but was spiritual and had a deep interest in many of the world's religions.

Hitop Mold's growth plan includes return to U.S.

Automotive mold maker Hitop Mold Industrial Co. Ltd. plans to double the capacity of its factory in Dongguan, China. Managing Director Toni Yuan said the company is ready to grow its U.S. business with some “lessons learned.”

The company, which recorded more than 80 million yuan (about US$13 million) in 2011 sales, is also planning an initial public offering in China.

The expansion will start in August and add machinery to make large molds to help boost the firm’s 2012 sales by 50 percent.

Hitop’s molds are used by its European clients to make parts for premium brands such as Bentley, Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as other brands such as Ford, Toyota and Volvo.

The company has not been able to replicate its European success in the U.S. market, which makes up less than 10 percent of its sales. Yuan reflected on Hitop’s experience two years ago working with a U.S. customer that dropped it for “miscommunication.”  The company concluded that it needs to communicate better with American customers and try to do business in person.

In fact, Yuan planned to visit the above-mentioned customer after NPE to resume their relationship.

“We are looking for auto molders in the U.S. that are ready to take advantage of the opportunity and improve their cost structure,” he said.

He plans to station a technical sales staff in North America.

Despite China’s booming auto market, domestic sales take up less than 30 percent of Hitop’s sales. “It’s a different business model,” he noted.

By different, he means complicated.

“For the export business, all that matters is our competence — the capability to offer quality products, good service and communication. But for domestic business, it’s not the same.”

A precious gift for the giving

A little over 2.7 million New Yorkers are registered organ donors. That sounds like a lot, but it is only 18 percent of potential donors and is dramatically lower than the 42 percent U.S. average.

At 48th in the nation, New York ranks close to the bottom in registered organ donors.

"It is well below where we should be," said Sue Kelly, executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Health.

On Tuesday, state officials from DOH and the Department of Motor Vehicles announced that New Yorkers can now register as organ donors on the DMV website. The process is completely online and does not require residents to print or mail anything.

Since 95 percent of all donors register through the DMV, officials hope the new online system will increase participation. More than 10,000 New Yorkers are waiting for an organ transplant.

Albany Medical Center, the region's trauma center, is the area's largest source of organ donors, but the number is not as high as you would think.

Only 1 percent to 3 percent of deaths at Albany Med qualify for organ donation. By necessity, most donations come after a patient suffers brain death because the patient is considered deceased but their organs are still functioning. Surprisingly, most get to that point from strokes, aneurysms or heart attacks. The share of organ donors from traffic accidents is shrinking because of the use of helmets and seat belts.

Most donors are in their 50s, 60s and 70s, but Albany Med has also had organ donors in their 80s.

Once a patient is declared brain dead, counselors from The Center for Donation and Transplant ask families if they are willing to give up their loved one's body for organ and tissue donation. At Albany Med, the center has a 71 percent success rate in convincing families to donate.

The result is about 15 organ donors a year.

"I am constantly awed by how strong families are in those types of situations," said Lauren Quinn, director of hospital and community services with CDT.

"They are donating to people they don't know and they may never know, and we are asking them to do it at a time that they suffering severe emotional shock, loss and grief. It's humbling."

Still, the number of donors is low. So a team of nurses at the hospital has started an effort to improve the donation process and increase the number of donors.

Nine ICU nurses have volunteered to support families that have made the decision to donate. They stay with the patient, and help families understand the process, which involves keeping the deceased patient's body functioning until the organs are collected.

"We try to make it so everybody has said their goodbyes and has no regrets," said Joshua Malone, a nurse in the medical ICU.

They have provided molds of patients' hands, locks of hair and arranged visits from family pets.

Many families leave the hospital, but Danielle Ruella, a nurse in the neurosciences ICU, has shared her cellphone number with families so they can stay up to date as the transplant process unfolds.

"They are at peace with it," Ruella said of the families.

The team also has run registration drives that signed up 152 new potential donors. On Friday, they are hosting a movie night to celebrate Donate Life Month.

One Albany Med nurse, Gina Picarillo, knows firsthand about organ donation. Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease eight years ago, Picarillo, an assistant manager of the float pool, went on the transplant list in 2009. She received a kidney on Oct. 15 and said she feels healthier than ever.

Cabela's Supplier Mountain Woods Furniture Acquired

Mountain Woods Furniture, a leading producer of American rustic furniture, has been acquired. The company's sustainably built furniture made from local and reclaimed woods is sold at Cabela's Buyers Daryl and Maureen Joy of Peshtigo, WI say they had been seeking to purchase a manufacturing company, and after visiting the Wyoming plant in last year “fell in love with the quality of the product.” Daryl Joy started his career in the family trucking business and worked his way up to president in 2003.

Daryl Joy says he recognizes the importance of rebuilding the United States manufacturing base, and feels growing one of the most respected American brands in the rustic furniture industry is a good way to further that goal. He plans to expand Mountain Wood’s current furniture product lines and “introduce new tooling and additional machinery that will help produce a quality product at the lowest cost possible,”

A Founding Member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, the manufacturer has been in the forefront of the Green movement. Mountain Woods Furniture pieces have always been created by hand in Laramie  of reclaimed wood and sustainably-sourced local hardwoods. Committed to using mostly reclaimed or "dead-standing" wood, where necessary supplementing those wood sources with sustainably sourced, locally harvested aspen trees.

Mountain Woods also uses wood scraps to efficiently heat their facility and utilize low-VOC stain and water-based finishes during construction to minimize indoor air pollution. The pieces in the Wyoming Bedroom Collection sold at Cabela's surpass Built Green standards, the company says.

Dovetail drawers and European hinges and glides are used exclusively. Casegoods are made with skirting on the front and sides, for stability and strength. Visible edges of tabletops and casegoods showcase the natural wained edge curve of the log. Custom work of unique sizes and designs for dining room tables, hutches, entertainment centers and bedroom furniture is also offered.

Tops have three coats of a hand-brushed polyurethane; the rest of the piece is hand-rubbed with a beeswax and linseed oil combination. Furniture can be custom stained or delivered unfinished.

How to make your own marshmallows

Home cooks don’t think twice about making cookies, cakes and candies in their kitchens, but marshmallows? No, they buy them bagged.

“It’s just ingrained in people’s minds that you buy marshmallows from the store, just like you buy Ritz crackers from the store. But once you have the opportunity to make marshmallows, you realize they are heads and tails above store-bought,” said Shauna Sever, author of “Marshmallow Madness! Dozens of Puffalicious Recipes.”

“When you make a basic vanilla marshmallow, not only can you taste the truly lovely vanilla flavor, but you can taste sugar –– not just sweetness. It’s slightly creamy and melts in the mouth,” said Sever.

Mallows made at home can go way beyond the standard white vanilla. They can be flavored with fruit nectar, extracts, spices, maple or chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, root beer, fruit concentrates or purees, caramel or liquors, such as tequila or rum.

The puffy pillows can be filled with ganache, jam or slivers of candy bars, or studded with chocolate chips, cake crumbs, crushed cookies, fresh herbs, salted nuts, dried fruits or bacon bits.

Think beyond the white rounds you’re used to; mallows can be made into any color and shape. Imagine the sticky stuff twisted into ropes, layered into multi-colored squares, piped into ice cream cones, skewered into lollipops, spread onto cupcakes and sandwiched between cookies.

“I like to think about them like I think about a cookie plate,” said Sever, a native of the Chicago suburbs who went to school at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. “A plate of sea-salt caramel marshmallows are great to serve with coffee. And I love to give them as edible party favors. They are perfect for weddings because they are so customizable with flavors and colors.”

For Easter, she suggests piping the marshmallow cream in the shape of chicks, using cookie cutters or candy molds to create holiday shapes, or piping the cream into the shape of nests, which can be coated with shredded coconut and filled with jelly beans.

Although marshmallows come nowhere near being called healthful, the homemade variety is gluten-free, fat-free, has no preservatives and can be made vegan-friendly. A 2-inch cube has about 25 calories.