Vitamins and aminoacids regulate stem cell biology – Phys.Org

February 16, 2017 Credit: National Research Council of Italy

An International Reserach Team coordinated by Igb-Cnr has discovered a key role of vitamins and amino acids in pluripotent stem cells. The research is published in Stem Cell Reports, and may provide new insights in cancer biology and regenerative medicine

Vitamins and amino acids play a key role in the regulation of epigenetic modifications involved in the progression of diseases such as cancer. The research may have future implications in cancer biology. The study was published in Stem Cell Reports.

"We found that two metabolites, vitamin C and the amino acid L-Proline, are important players in the control of stem cell behaviour. This study shows that pluripotent embryonic stem cells present in the earliest phases of development are pushed toward a more immature 'naive' state by vitamin C, while they are forced to acquire a 'primed' state in the presence of L-Proline. Thus, vitamin C and L-Proline exert opposite effects on embryonic stem cells, and this correlates with their ability to modify DNA (DNA methylation) without altering the sequence, but instead, the regulation of gene expression," explained researcher Gabriella Minchiotti.

Stem cells possess the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into other cell types, which makes them extremely interesting in medical and biological research. "Embryonic stem cells are the most 'potent' (defined as pluripotent), meaning that they can give rise to all cell types of an organism, such as cardiomyocytes, neurons, bones, etc. Like normal stem cells, cancer stem cells can also self-renew and differentiate, and are believed to be responsible for tumor growth and therapy resistance."

This study provides an important contribution to the understanding of how metabolites regulate pluripotency and shape the epigenome in embryonic stem cells, which have been largely unexplored and recently gained great interest. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of the biology of normal stem cells but may offer novel insights into cancer stem cell biology, identifying novel potential therapeutic targets.

Explore further: Gene "bookmarking" regulates the fate of stem cells

More information: Stem Cell Reports, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.11.011

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Lab opens doors for an undergrad experience – Harvard Gazette

For most college freshmen, working in a lab typically means following the step-by-step instructions of class assignments with the goal of performing a specific experiment to produce a predetermined result.

But a handful of Harvard freshmen got the chance to experience real lab work by exploring how altering genes in yeast affected the cells functions.

Created by postdoctoral fellow James Martenson and Vlad Denic, a professor of molecular and cellular biology, the Wintersession class was designed to give undergraduates an up-close-and-personal view of the research that takes place in Harvard labs, and the opportunities they have to take part.

Students often arent aware these opportunities exist, so we think of this as a gateway for freshmen interested in doing research, Martenson said. But we also wanted to emphasize some of the critical thinking skills we use every day as scientists, but which may not be emphasized as much in more traditional coursework.

Over the course of the multiday class, each student worked with genetically altered strains of yeast to perform a series of three experiments.

We chose yeast because its a classic model organism in biology, Martenson said. A lot of very important work has been done in yeast. In fact, much of what we know about basic cell biology weve learned from yeast.

Using their various strains, he said, students performed a series of experiments aimed at testing how genetic changes altered organelle function.

A critical part of cell biology, organelles are essentially compartments inside cells, and include everything from mitochondria which act as the cells power plants to nuclei, which contain genetic material.

One key question in cell biology is how organelle quality is maintained, because many organelles house toxic chemical environments, Martenson explained. You also need a way to ensure the organelles are healthy, and if they do get sick, they need to be identified and eliminated before they cause a problem for the rest of the cell.

To probe questions of organelle health, Martenson is focusing on an organelle called the peroxisome and students did the same.

We started with a list of genes we had reason to believe were important for peroxisome function and quality control, but which were uncharacterized, he said. We thought it would be interesting for students to be involved in something that were actually interested in studying, so their work could yield interesting results that could inform our research.

For the students who took part, the experience was invaluable.

I didnt have a lot of lab experience, and I felt this class was a good way to expose myself to it, said Dylan Rice. I feel like Ive learned a lot, and Ive really enjoyed it so far.

Though she had already worked in another lab, Irla Belli said the relaxed atmosphere of the class helped her learn that making mistakes is often a key part of research.

You learn a lot from them, she said. In this four-day span, Ive learned more than from all the labs I had in class. This has solidified my desire to pursue the Ph.D. part of an M.D./Ph.D, and even though its very serious science, its relaxing.

For Amanda DiMartini, the class was a chance for an in-depth look at a field shes considering as a concentration.

I did some research in high school, but it was relatively simple, she said. Im interested in concentrating in some area of biology and this was a chance to see if I want to continue doing research throughout college. I feel like, in this class, were learning to think scientifically, and to think critically, and how to do research at a higher level. I dont regret [this class] at all.

By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Staff Writer | February 16, 2017

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SSCI Expands Biochemistry Services to Meet Growing Industry … – Benzinga

Intended to meet rapidly growing needs of the biopharmaceutical sector

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (PRWEB) February 16, 2017

SSCI, a division of Albany Molecular Research Inc. has further extended its industry leading Biochemistry Services specifically targeting the rapidly growing needs of the biopharmaceutical sector. This service offers state-of-the-art cGMP techniques and methods for the biochemical and biosimilar characterization, product-related impurity characterization, aggregation state characterization, structure elucidation, protein formulation development, comparability, analytical method development and validation, and protein and peptide crystallization. Included in the diverse array of services available, an ultra-high resolution Q-TOF mass spectrometry is the cornerstone a state of the art instrument that significantly enhances SSCI's capabilities in analysis and data interpretation for large molecules, including biologic drugs such as antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, metabolites and polymers to meet the expectations outlined in the ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Biotechnological/ Biological Products.

"Innovative proteins and biopharmaceuticals comprise the fastest growing class of new chemical entities in the industry," commented Patrick Tishmack, PhD, Director Analytical Development , who leads the Biochemistry Services at SSCI. "Many of these therapeutic proteins typically exist in the solid state as lyophilized powders during their manufacture or in a final formulation. Few proteins are produced as crystals or formulated as mixtures of crystalline and amorphous protein. Therefore, SSCI is uniquely positioned to provide an understanding of the properties of biologics in the solid-state or as liquid formulations, which is of critical importance both in the development of the product and for regulatory approval."

About SSCI SSCI, a division of Albany Molecular Research Inc., provides industry leading contract solid-state and analytical testing services and exists to help companies in the pharmaceutical, food, agrochemical, and other chemical industries develop better products and get them to market more quickly. Over the past quarter century, SSCI has provided comprehensive cGMP research and analytical services in the characterization and chemistry of solid materials, with particular expertise in small and large molecules being investigated for pharmaceutical use. As the AMRI's Center of Excellence for Solid State Chemistry, its offerings include early candidate support services (in vitro analysis, stability, solubility, dissolution, excipient compatibility), solid form screening and polymorph, salt and cocrystal screening, form selection, particle engineering (process development, particle size method development), property improvement, crystallization of difficult materials, process control, biochemical analysis, full analytical chemistry support including method development and validation, intellectual property consulting and litigation support, and related research activities.

For more information about SSCI's biochemistry services, please contact 1-800-375-2179 or visit http://www.ssci-inc.com.

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Rowan staff and students mourn loss of chemistry professor Timothy Sheehan – The Whit Online

Adjunct and three-quarter time Rowan professor Timothy Sheehan diedon Feb. 13, according to a Rowan Announcer Extra Edition email sent to facultyTuesdayevening.

Sheehan was a professorin the chemistry and biochemistry department and worked at Rowan since spring 2009, according toGregory Caputo, chemistry and biochemistry department chair.

According to Caputo,Sheehan taught two general chemistry courses as well as an advanced college chemistry series.

One thing that always stood out about Tim was that he was always really positive and really upbeat and energetic and really brought that into the classroom, Caputo said in a phone interview. [His passing] came as a real shock to all of us.

According to his obituary from legacy.com, Sheehan was a father, husband and grandfather from Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. He died age 66 from natural causes.

Assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry Tim Vaden was similarly shocked and saddened by the news of Sheehans death.

Up until last week, he seemed healthy and normal, Vaden said. He was very positive and never complained about anything at all.

Vaden admiresSheehan for his reliability, saying, Whether it was 8 a.m. or evening classes, he was always open to whatever we needed him to do, with a smile on his face.

Along with the faculty, Rowan students shared positive remembrances about Sheehan as an individual.

Sophomore biology major Jenn Hopkins, who had Sheehan for Chemistry 2, appreciated his frequent anecdotes.

He shared a lot of stories and experiences about his work in chemistry throughout the class, which made it really interesting to learn from him, she said.

Freshman biochemistry major Justin Roldan respected Sheehans affability and clarity.

He was always friendly, like a grandpa figure to the class, Roldan said. Even if the lessons would get confusing, professor Sheehan would take time to make the lessons more relatable and talk about his past experiences in pharmaceutical companies.

Roldan added that two grieving counselors were available for his class during lecture period.

Freshman biochemistry major Edward Taggart, paralleled the comments expressed by others, touching on Sheehans helpful nature, extensive experience and the feelings of grief that have come as a result of hisdeath.

He was a kind man with a lot of personality, and it came as a great shock to me and the entire class the morning after he passed. Im just more at a loss for words, and hoping the rest of the semester proceeds as he would have wanted, he said.

Additional reporting by Justin Decker.

For comments/questions about this story, email news@thewhitonline.com or tweet @thewhitonline.

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Grey’s Anatomy’s Civil War Just Took on Collateral Damage & Eliza Will Never Be the Same – E! Online

ABC

If Grey's Anatomy fans didn't like Eliza Minnick before tonight, they probably hate her now.

The brash doctor (played by Marika Dominczyk) brought in to overhaul Grey-Sloan Memorial's teaching program went full throttle with her plans by placing particular surgeries in the unprepared hands of attendings, leaving the residents to simply observe and guide. Because this is Shondaland, the results were calamitous, resulting in Edwards (Jerrika Hinton) accidentally killing one of Arizona's (Jessica Capshaw) pediatric patients when she misses the fact that the kid's bleeding internally. Making matters even worse, when a distraught Edwards looked to her budding mentor for guidance, Eliza just abandoned her in the hallway to go have a meltdown of her own.

In short, it was not her finest moment.

But it just might be the thing needed to change her aloof and abrasive ways, Dominczyk told E! News."It was such a big event for her to reflect on herself and think about, you know, maybe her approach isn't the best," she admitted. "And I think it makes her take a moment to reflect on who she is, what she really wants, the good that she wants to do and how to do that without making things bad. It knocks her down. It definitely knocks her down a lot of pegs and she has to build herself up again and push through it and, in a way, still be confident and not let it ruin her. Because it's such a huge thing that happened that she didn't foreshadow. She didn't see it coming at all."

Another thing she didn't see coming? Just how much her failure to react properly would push Edwardsone of Minnick's biggest supporters among the attendings up until that momentback into Webber's (James Pickens Jr.) arms (literally) as she was looking for guidance.

"I think that after Eliza deals with how it makes her feel as a doctor and how it affects her, so she can get over that huge hurdle, then she can look around at the damage that it's caused around. And I think that sheit's not like she was building momentum in a good way, anyway," Dominczyk added. "It's kind of like maybe starting from ground zero and doing it over, but maybe with kinder hands, maybe gentler. Being more socially aware of how she comes off when she does stuff like that, you know? I think that initially when she blows off Edwards, it doesn't have anything to do with Edwards, which is the main mistake, right? She's supposed to be the teacher and help, but she's so consumed with what happened that she can't even see. She can't even see it yet. I think it hits her when Richard gives her that look. It crushes her because she looks up to Richard and she respects him so much and she wants to be accepted, but still hold her ground and come off as strong. So, it's a balancing act."

ABC

So, could a kinder, gentler Minnick be just the thing to stop this civil war before it consumes the hospital? It couldn't hurt, Dominczyk admitted, but don't expect a miracle."I would say that it makes people take a long hard look at what they're doing and the repercussions of certain actions," she said about how Grey-Sloan moves forward from here. "To slow down a bit and try to do what's best for everybody and not just best for one person. Because at the end of the day, they all want the same thing. They all want the hospital to be the best hospital it could be, and they all want all the attendings to learn everything the proper way and be good doctors. So, it might bring everything together, but not like a 'Kumbaya, we all love Minnick now.' That definitely, unfortunately, doesn't happennot overnight. But it's a step in the right direction."

Despite the disaster of a day, Minnick did find herself in the arms of a sympathetic Arizona out in the parking lot, who reinforces the notion that Eliza could make things easier on herself with everyone if only she'd try. Is romance on the horizon for these two? And how will the other docs respond to Arizona's flirting with the enemy?I think they are drawn to each other and they are cautious, for the right reasons, with how much they let people know because I don't think they know themselves where this is going or what's going to happen," Dominczyk teased."You're just going to have to watch and see this cautious circling. They're only human, so people do slip up sometimes."

This being Grey's Anatomy, expect the slip up sooner rather than later.

Where do you stand on Minnick after her big screw-up? Let us know in the comments below.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

E! Online - Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows!

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Grey's Anatomy's Civil War Just Took on Collateral Damage & Eliza Will Never Be the Same - E! Online

Anatomy of a Cheese Recall – The Atlantic

These are chaotic times for Americans. The nationwide cheese recall, I mean. (What did you think I was talking about?)

Several well-known cheese brandsincluding Sargento, Meijer, Santino, Amish Classics, Country Fresh, and Guggisberghave issued recalls of Colby, pepper jack, shredded taco, and cheddar cheeses among concerns about listeria contamination at a cheese factory in Indiana. No illnesses have yet been reported.

Listeriosis, the foodborne illness that the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria causes, is a particular danger for those with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, listeria can cause premature labor, miscarriages, and stillbirth. Listeria is an especially resilient bacteriaunlike many other germs, it can keep growing in a cool fridge.

The danger of an infection is part of why cheese sellers have voluntarily recalled their products in this case. But, as is often the case, the recalls have trickled out over the course of the past week. The timing raises questions about how food safety is handled and discussed among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and regulatorsand further questions still about how long it takes for consumers to be notified of possible contamination.

For cheese eaters, the questions are straightforward: Where did the contaminated cheese come from? And how do I know if the cheese I have in my refrigerator is safe to eat?

The answers arent always easy to find.

This recall began with Deutsch Kase Haus, a cheesemaker in Indiana that sells cheese to various companies which then package the cheese under different brand names. Deutsch Kase Haus issued a voluntary recall for products made at its factory between September 1, 2016 and January 27, 2017.

But we are a business-to-business provider, so we do not label anything under our brand, Mark Hubbard, a spokesman for Deutsch Kase Haus told me, which means we have a number of customers that fall under that productand each of those customers are the ones that actually initiate their own recalls that are put up on the FDA website.

In other words, its up to Deutsch Kase to notify its customers, like Sargento, of the possible contaminationthen its up to those brands to communicate next steps to the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the public. ( The FDA is inspecting the plant as part of a coordinated effort with the Indiana Board of Animal Health on the investigation, Peter Cassell, a spokesman for the FDA, told me.)

In some cases, brand-name companies will expand the recall to other products of theirs, in case the contamination spreads from, say, compromised cheese, to other products processed or packaged in the same facility. Once a food recall is issued, each company that's been affected has to then look at how contamination may have spread through its own plant. So more and more products may be pulled into the recall over time. And since each company has its own protocols to follow, they end up issuing their recalls on different timelines. Thats why its important for consumers to periodically check back to the FDA website to see how recalls change in scope, Hubbard told me.

All of this becomes more complicated still as supply chains grow longer and longer, and as agriculture and food companies consolidate. The globalization of food supply chains makes widespread outbreaks more likely, and in some ways more difficult to track. Already there are nearly 50 million foodborne infections in the United States each yearand they cause about 250,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths, according to a 2012 paper published by the Institute of Medicine. Changes in the globalization of the food trade have important implications for food safety, the papers authors wrote. Mitigating the increased risks associated with a longer, globalized supply-chain will require robust capacity for public-health surveillance.

Such surveillance could involve cheap sensors, smart labels, real-time database sharing, temperature-reading packaging, and other tools to change the way people are notified of spoiled or recalled food.

The current cheese recall was initiated, Hubbard told me, out of an abundance of caution. Its still possible, officials hope, that no illnesses will occur as a result. For now, operations at Deutsch Kase are suspended entirely, while the FDA investigates, Hubbard said.

You have to be very careful, and you have to go beyond what you think could be happening, Hubbard said. Its good that word is getting out. We want people to be cautious.

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Sara Ramirez Calls Out ABC for ‘Biphobia … – Entertainment Tonight

Sara Ramirez is calling out her old network.

The 41-year-old actress, who starred for 10 years on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, took to Twitter on Thursday to slam the network for a joke about bisexual people that aired during a recent episode of The Real O'Neals.

WATCH: 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Sara Ramirez Comes Out as Bisexual

On the episode in question, which aired on Jan. 17, Noah Galvin's openly gay character, Kenny, compared being bisexual to having "webbed toes" or "money problems."

Ramirez, who played bisexual character Callie Torres on Grey's, and identifies as bisexual herself, said that she was "truly disheartened and disappointed" by the joke, and that she would "invest my brand where I'm respected."

The actress addressed ABC and The Real O'Neals in her tweet, encouraging them to "own" and "address" the mistake, to "empower our #Queer and #Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections." She also asked fans to sign a Change.org petition imploring ABC to "end biphobia and bi-erasure" on the comedy.

WATCH: Shocker! 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Sara Ramirez Exits Show After 10 Seasons

In another tweet, Ramirez reacted to Galvin's response to the joke, saying it "wasn't enough for me."

RELATED: 'Real O'Neals' Star Noah Galvin Slams Colton Haynes, Eric Stonestreet & More, Immediately Apologizes for 'Hurtful' Comments

The Real O'Neals star, who found himself surrounded by controversy last year after slamming Eric Stonestreet's portrayal of a gay man on Modern Family and mocking Colton Haynes' decision to come out as gay, addressed the joke last month on Twitter.

The 22-year-old actor said he "respects and loves the bi community," though defended the joke, saying it represented "a panicky teen expressing his 'deepest fear' which was his boyfriend leaving him for a girl." "I'm sorry if we offended anyone. I hope you know our show fights for visibility and inclusivity and we will do better in the future. BUT, we also have to remember, it's a comedy."

WATCH: 'Greys Anatomy' Boss Addresses Sara Ramirez's Exit: 'I Had a Different Plan'

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'Grey's Anatomy' Star Sara Ramirez Calls Out ABC for 'Biphobia ... - Entertainment Tonight

Anatomy of a sell out: why Isis targets scholars for working with the government – The Guardian

Islamic State (Isis) has ordered its followers to kill three Sydney imams: the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed (pictured); Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman; and Sheikh Ahmed Abdo. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Ive been called many things in my time working for the Muslim community in Sydney, but there is a recurring name that has stuck: sell out. Although often associated with musical acts that move from indie niche to mainstream success, abandoning their fans and values in the meantime, it has come to mean something slightly different to Muslims.

To Muslims, selling out refers to making a compromise on your beliefs and is often associated with engagement with power structures. On the surface, this logic is based on the idea that engagement with these structures, especially in the west, can never be genuine and can never be on Muslim terms.

It is upon this logic that Islamic State (Isis) has ordered its followers to kill three Sydney imams: the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed; Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman; and Sheikh Ahmed Abdo. All three are known for their work in engaging different communities and working with government, policing agencies or with other faith groups.

By trying to excommunicate these sheikhs and essentially branding them as sell outs, Isis is seeking to justify its call to violence against them. The use of such inflammatory rhetoric, as a form of propaganda, is neither new nor exclusive to Isis, and has been used time and again by groups from across the political spectrum. However, it is vital to note that what lies beneath the rhetoric from all sides is an important point on engagement.

Its important to state (although it has been said in a variety of ways, ad infinitum), that the violence of Isis is abhorrent and unacceptable. The best way to thumb our collective nose at their desire to be part of a discussion about faith and engagement would be to have that conversation without their input or presence.

The term sell out is used as a counter to a power imbalance, as a means of expressing distrust in the avenues for engagement between Muslim communities and state power structures. And it is here where the conversation must begin when discussing the reasons for branding such individuals in this way.

Engagement in and of itself must be underscored by a power balance between the participating parties. Without this balance, what will result is a skewed conversation, one that is almost theatre in the way it follows a pre-determined script. What is not to be spoken about is ignored, what is focused upon is the symbolism and platitudes that are used to maintain the status quo.

By taking part in these so-called conversations without the ability to frame the discussion or the ability to have it on our terms, Muslims become complicit in our own silence. Moreover, we are also complicit in the injustices eked out under that silence, having been unable to break the cycle of violence and enforced obliviousness.

The wounds and trauma of the Syrian civil war, the Iraq war, the invasion of Afghanistan, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the Lebanese civil war, and the current violence in Yemen all of these conflicts are partly the result of the interference of western powers, both recent and long-standing. Colonisation continues to deeply affect communities, with the trauma lasting generations as the entire region seeks to reconcile its history with its present, and its people with the interests of foreign powers.

These scars, fresh or deep, are at the forefront of any conversation on power and politics, no matter the level or relevance. Conversations at all levels must be framed by these injustices, by a global, historical, political context that would seek to be guided by a need to recognise and right those injustices.

So, when the Muslim community is in conversation with government agencies or police, on any particular issue, whether it be criminality, socio-economic challenges, obstacles to education and so on, the coordinates of that conversation need to be reset.

Unfortunately, when discussing something apparently irrelevant to international politics or history, respectability politics plays a huge role, with nobody wanting to appear rude or inconsiderate. However, it is essential we shelve such considerations in the face of a growing need to reshape the way we think about engagement with government and police.

And its here where the notion of the sell out remerges, because without its global or historical context these conversations will continue to exclude and alienate any group or party seeking to have their scars recognised and healed.

Without it, genuine progress will be hampered by the notion of the sell out, both in conversations with institutions of power, and with a community continuously sidelined and dismissed.

At the end of the day, its not that I dont want people to call me a sell out, its that I want to see the roots of that notion no longer dismissed as just a rhetorical tool used by fringe groups. There are genuine problems with the way we, as a community and as a nation, see engagement, and until we fix that, the issues we face will never be addressed.

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Anatomy of a sell out: why Isis targets scholars for working with the government - The Guardian

Doctors call for revising syllabus of anatomy – Times of India

NAGPUR: Various issues on revision of anatomy syllabus, including assessment of manpower and duration of teaching, came up for discussion during a conclave organized by the department of anatomy of NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre recently.

The topic of the conclave was 'Challenges in anatomy curriculum and way ahead.' Dr DD Ksheersagar was the organizing secretary. Ninety-two delegates from Central India participated in the continuing medical education (CME) programme and discussed various issues on revision of the syllabus of anatomy that also highlighted modification in theory, practical examination, curricular reforms for histology, embryology, gross anatomy and genetics.

Dr Mangala Kohli, head of the anatomy department, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, was the chief guest. Dr MD Huddar introduced Dr Kohli. Dr Ksheersagar welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries and explained the purpose of holding the CME. Dr Kohli stressed the need for reforms in anatomy curriculum and improving job opportunities for anatomists. Ranjeet Deshmukh, chairman of VSPMAHE, congratulated Dr Ksheersagar for organizing the CME.

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Doctors call for revising syllabus of anatomy - Times of India

Business rates: the anatomy of a tax controversy – Reaction

Even the Daily Mail is splashing business rates on its front page. What has this most unglamorous of taxes done to deserve that?

For many businesses, rates are a bigger headache than corporation tax. After all, they only have to pay the latter if they are profitable. There is no such escape from rates. The trouble is the way they are levied. To figure out how much it owes, a business first needs to know the theoretical amount that someone would pay to rent the premises it occupies. This rateable value is determined during a periodic exercise by the valuation office agency. The business has to pay roughly half of the rateable value as a tax each year. It doesnt matter if the business is doing well or seriously struggling, it still has to cough up.

At the best of times, the tax is unfair in the way that it hits some kinds of trade harder than others. A bookshop in the High Street of a pretty country town might not make much money. But it has to pay business rates that reflect the gentrified area in which it is located. Conversely, a small office in an out-of-town development might contain a few highly paid executives for whom the business rates are not a significant cost.

In short, business rates are oppressive for a retailer which has to locate close to its customers. One result is that charity shops, that get an automatic 80% rebate, have colonised high streets where regular stores are priced out. The Government periodically promises a review of business rates but the chance of serious reform founders on the need to raise the same amount of money after any changes. Nonetheless, there are plenty of exemptions and reliefs, such as those for village shops and pubs, which mean everyone else has to pay even more.

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The current hullabaloo, reflected in the Daily Mail and other papers, is simply the regular revaluation exercise intended to keep rates fair. Although the total amount to be raised isnt increasing much, there are, inevitably, winners and losers. The winners, which allegedly include Amazons warehouses, are quietly satisfied. The losers, comprising popular brands and small shops, are outraged. Numerically, it also looks like the losers may outnumber the winners, further increasing the volume of their complaints. The Government itself has made matters worse. The revaluation was supposed to happen in 2015 but, since it did not want the resulting controversy to hit just before a general election, it postponed the changes until this year. As a result, many ratepayers are seeing much bigger revaluations than they would have done had the exercise taken place two years ago as scheduled.

In some ways, business rates are the commercial equivalent of council tax. Like with council tax, the revenue raised goes to fund local government. A total of 26 billion a year is collected and, through a complicated formula, it is redistributed to local authorities. Unlike council tax, business rates are not automatically spent in the same area in which they are collected. My local authority of Tunbridge Wells, being quite a wealthy borough, keeps a tiny proportion of the rates it collects. Councils dont even get much say on what the level of rates should be. Since the 1980s that has be set by central government. Going forward, local authorities will get to keep increases in the money raised from business rates in their patch, but conversely they are on the hook if they do not manage to collect enough.

The Government will be very keen to face down the current resistance. Assuaging those seeing increases in their rates will cost money that it does not have. David Gauke, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and a politician who radiates seriousness, has been dispatched to calm things down. Number 10 will be hopeful that when Article 50 is debated by the House of Lords next week, public attention will be distracted from business rates (that most people know nothing about) and the Daily Mail will come back onside.

However, all this could merely be a dress rehearsal for what would happen if there was ever a council tax revaluation. Council tax is calculated from the value of our homes in 1991, which is now hopelessly out of date. But given the regular angst caused by business rates changes, it is no surprise that ministers have repeatedly refused to countenance a revamp of residential property taxes. That would just be asking for trouble.

James Hannam is the author of What Everyone Needs to Know about Tax, to be published by Wiley on Budget day.

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