Germany aims to curb joblessness

Juha V. Mentu, I’m reading The Global Edition of  The New York Times and reflecting about your concept for a national / global KNOWLEDGE BANK ( tutkijapankki)… Researchers’ Bank.

The article is written by Melissa EDDY, New York Times – Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Germany aims to curb joblessness in youths. Government to establish training programs to aid Spanish and Portuguese.

Political leaders, heeding economists’ warnings that the younger generation may be disillusioned with the European project, are counting on a series of bilateral agreements to help curb stubbornly high youth unemployment in the European Union.

Germany will seek to help Spain to build  a dual-track vocational system in which young people earn qualifications through a combination of work and study.

- Juha, I think your idea of the RESEARCHERS’ BANK could be an elementary part of the German initiative.

We need to bring “the young and beautiful and old and experienced together” to create a futuristic learning environment to ensure the highest possible employment and talent contribution for the contribution of healthy growth and prosperity of societies around the globe.

We can join the bandwagon of a recent German multipronged effort by Berlin to quickly get more young people into the work force, a move that experts say is crucial if a unified Europe is to survive into the next generation.

- What is decisive is that we must be faster and more definitive in fighting youth unemployment, says German finance minister Mr. Wolfgang Schäuble.

More than 5.6 million people under 25 are out of work across the Union, according to figures  released by Eurostat.

Among the countries with the largest number of  young people out of work are weaker members of the euro zone that are undergoing deep cuts to social services and other structural reforms, part of the efforts to recover from the ongoing debt crisis.

Germany knows. The country has been grappled with its own youth employment problem early last decade.

While the numbers were nowhere near the 60 percent of  young people now out of work in Greece, or the nearly 56 percent in Spain, German leaders say that their experience can be of value to their EU partners.

A crucial element of Germany’s success has been its dual vocational training system, in which young people work three to four days a week in their chosen sector and spend additional 8 to 12 hours per week in the classroom.

At the end of their training, the students must pass  a test to receive a certification of their skills.

Juha, I know that we’ve bee doing the same at the time when the BIOTECHTOUCH was initiated.

The TUTKIJAPANKKI should be an integral part of the German program. It’s time for us to speak with the national political leaders.

PEOPLE can do things together! That’s the main idea of OPEN INNOVATION and GLOBAL COLLABORATION. 

Salon Bois Energie 2012 Report

SOURCE: The Salon Bois Energie returned to Saint-Etienne for the 2nd time at the end of March 2012.

Traversing the outdoor exhibition, the trail was flanked by a large array of foresty and wood fuel production machinery that was not only on show but exhibitors actively demonstrated the efficiency and flexibility of today’s operating environment, cutting, chipping, splitting, pelletising and packaging more than 500 m3 of wood into a range of
different woodfuels over the four days of the Exhibtion.

Continuing along the wood energy chain, two Exhibition Halls presented the brightest and best in wood heating equipment from 19 countries for industrial and local authority users (CHP and district heating plants).

Key Stats for 2012*

• 11 000 visitors (7 000 professionals and 4 000 general public)
• 357 exhibitors and represented companies (exhibitors (282) and represented companies (75))
• 19 countries exhibiting (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America)
• 24 500 m2 gross surface area (indoor and outdoor stands)
• 11 500m2 net surface area (indoor and outdoor stands)
• 700+ wood heating appliances on site (boilers, fireplaces, stoves, ovens etc.)
• 32 wood heating appliances fully operational on site
• 350+ wood fuel production machines
• 30+ wood fuel machines operating
• 500 m3 of wood worked by the exhibitors during the Exhibition
• 4 study tours
• 50+ conference presentations
  
  

Exhibitor or represented trademark 2013

1. BENET OY
2. FARMI FOREST
3. KESLA
4. MAASELAN KONE OY HAKKI PILKE
5. MW POWER OY
6. RENEWA
7. SAALASTI
8. SÄÄTÖTULI OY

Testing the many faces of bio economics

This frightening picture is reminding me about a blog visualizing microbes and bacteria.

I hope to find those representations soon to have a model.

Nevertheless, we’re going to create our own picture and graphics gallery.

We need to invest time in creating cartoons and images.

There’re tons of pictures describing process technology solutions, but the challenge is to create visual effects to show events that aren’t visible to the eye.

Juha Mentu does have pictures from microscopic “body counts”.

We’ve the artistic freedom to show the mystery of microbial activity with inventive graphical effects.

Mr. Gregory Louie's Exploring Biotechnology Website

Here is a short profile of a new KK-Net(worker). The Biotouch movement is getting larger.

Mr. Gregory Louie's Exploring Biotechnology Website: "Mr. Gregory Louie's Exploring Biotechnology Website. Course Description. The word 'bio-technology' merges two words, biology and technology. Biology is the study of life and technology is the practical application of the science. Biotechnology, then, is the practical application of biology for the discovery of cures for diseases and for the production of better varieties of crops and farm animals. Our course is designed to introduce you to some basic concepts of biotechnology. You will gain an understanding of the fundamental science and an appreciation for what it takes to have a deeply interesting, financially rewarding career in this rapidly growing area of North Carolina's high tech economy."

I had a chat with Gregory a few minutes ago and he is now a member of the KK-Net(work).

Guest: Hi Helge, Are you online?

me: Yes

Guest: I am a middle school biotechnology teacher and have a few questions. Do you have 10 minutes or so to talk?

me: Sure

Guest: OK. After the financial crisis resolves in a few years, biofuels processing will undoubtedly expand. Accompanying that expansion will be the need for a trained workforce. Agree? Sent at 4:21 PM on Saturday

me: That's true. Biofuel can be made from many things and there is a need improve the yield of eg. cellulosic biofuel

Guest: In preparation for that future, I'm looking for ways to train middle school students using the latest control technology for bioreactors.

me: Okay. Sent at 4:22 PM on Saturday

Guest: So I'm looking for contacts with people who know which bioprocess control vendors might release a simple bioreactor control package without the bioreactor to be used in schools.

me: I'd like you to come to this open innovation platform to have a long term continuous discussion http://kknetwork.ning.com/
Sent at 4:24 PM on Saturday

me: We've microbiologists, biotechnologists and the Groups are open for all. Our idea is to use Social Media to improve global collaboration on matters that are very new or were experience is thin.

Guest: OK. Should I start a new forum topic?

me: That sounds great. Sent at 4:26 PM on Saturday

me: Ask for Juha Mentu, Elias Hakalehto, Macarena Pallares etc as your friends and me Helge. I also represent KK-Net

Guest: OK Thanks for your time.

me: You're welcome. Are you from Raleigh? Sent at 4:28 PM on Saturday

easternblot.net about BioBarCamp

easternblot.net: "BioBarCamp is full. Posted on Thursday 24 July 2008 by Eva @ 12:18 pm. Filed under: BioBarCamp and Site Updates.

BioBarCamp

"BioBarCamp is officially full as of a few days ago. It had to be capped off at 75 because the IFTF doesn’t actually fit 100 people as well as was initially hoped. I will be there, even though I feel highly incompetent compared to the rest of the guest list. Some people who are going to SciFoo are attending BioBarCamp the day before, which accounts for the high number of talented and awesome people. I’m there in the middle of my California vacation, so I’m probably exhausted by that time (Trips organized by me always strongly resemble The Amazing Race. I would be so good on that show…," writes Eva.

She continues on her blog:

"I’m going to pre-blog a bunch of things before I leave next week, so you won’t even know that I’m gone. It’s not like there has been much action on this blog lately anyway. If you leave a comment during that time and it needs moderating, I might be a bit slower in approving it. (Your comments are auto-approved if you use the same name and e-mail address as you use on a previously approved comment. ) I am staying with friends a couple of times during my trip, but other days I am spending almost entirely on Greyhound buses, so my internet access will be intermittent."

Who is Eva?

Easternblot.net is owned, edited, and mostly written by Eva, a PhD candidate in Biochemistry. Eva writes original articles that bring a scientific twist to topics such as carrots , cats , CSI, fringe theatre, or musicians. She also obsessively surfs the internet to find interesting websites and visits local science/culture events. Eva also writes for other publications, including Hypothesis Journal, for which she is an editor. She volunteers for the outreach programs Let’s Talk Science and Kids Science. She also plays violin and takes photos, but rarely finds the time to write handwritten letters or watch TV anymore.

Helge: I blogged about BioBarCamp to make a note that we could arrange such an event in Finland to discuss the Biotouch themes.

BIOTECHNICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION METHOD AND EQUIPMENT

(WO/2008/081082) BIOTECHNICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION METHOD AND EQUIPMENT: Background for the invention

Helge: I found this information on Internet. Would you Elias like to comment? What are the practical implications?

Pub. No.: WO/2008/081082 International Application No.: PCT/FI2008/000001 Publication Date: 10.07.2008 International Filing Date: 04.01.2008
IPC:	C12M 1/04 (2006.01), C12M 1/12 (2006.01), C12P 1/04 (2006.01), C12P 39/00 (2006.01), C12Q 1/02 (2006.01)
Applicant:	HAKALEHTO, Eino, Elias [FI/FI]; Kasarmikatu 12 C 1, FIN-70110 Kuopio (FI).
Inventor:	HAKALEHTO, Eino, Elias; Kasarmikatu 12 C 1, FIN-70110 Kuopio (FI).
Priority Data:	20070008 04.01.2007 FI

Title:	BIOTECHNICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION METHOD AND EQUIPMENT
Abstract:	A method and an apparatus enabling the simultaneous cultivation and product formation in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions of microbes or other production organisms in the same bioreactor. The used microbes may be facultatively anaerobic bacteria, for example.

In utilizing and studying microbes in industry or medicine or in environmental cleaning, the used microbiological and bacteriological methods in most cases call for the culturing of cells or equivalent in a nutrient substrate before being able to show them, clarifying the effects of their action or getting to a desired production result. This production result may be a cell growth, e.g. for feed or protein, or the formation of one or several desired metabolic products.

LIQUID OR GAS FORM

These products can be in liquid or gas form or they can be separated from a production liquid into solid form by precipitation. The production result of a microbiological reaction can also be the cleaning of environment, like soil or water, or the elimination of a harmful substance from an organism.

NUTRIENT SUBSTRATES

Nutrient substrates contain vital nutrients for microbes and they are designed to be as suitable as possible for the microbes and other organisms to be studied. Plant and animal cells have been started to generally be cultivated with similar methods as microbes.

Conventionally, nutrient substrates are divided into general nutrient substrates and selective nutrient substrates. In the former many different microbes can widely be cultivated whereas selective nutrient substrates choose or enrich selective species or strains. Studied microbes may be for example single cell bacteria or yeasts, or filamentous molds, or algae or protozoa.

MICROBE CULTIVATION

Microbe cultivations and studies may be related to projects for example in medicine, health care, pharmaceutical industry, food, chemistry or cosmetics industries or forestry industry. They may also be part of the control of building mold damage or the follow-up of environmental condition to find out the quality of water, air or other environmental quality.

FINNOFLAG AND ELIAS HAKALEHTO

Normally these cultivations take place in thermostatically controlled cabinets (thermal cabinets or incubators) or rooms, which thermostated cabinets are located in laboratories or equivalent. Often there is need to collect microbe samples or equivalent in the field or as part of field experiments or on site for example in production processes, different locations in hospitals or canteens. Large quantities of microbe cells are generally tried to be cultivated in different kinds of bioreactors, fermentors. Microbiological production reactions often also take place in these. In studies performed by Finnofiag Oy (Kuopio and Siilinjarvi, Finland), it has been shown that microbes can efficiently be cultivated in controlled environments in a cultivation case in a way that air or gas is led into the sampling and cultivation syringes in the case (Finnish patent no FI 106561).

FERMENTATION

In the biotechnical industry fermentation has conventionally been used for cultivating microbes or carrying out a production method by them. Although "fermentation" has originally meant anaerobic fermentation, this concept nowadays includes all microbe action that is carried out in bioreactors. This action may happen just as well in the presence of oxygen, aerobically, or without oxygen, anaerobically. In this application the term "reactor" means bioreactor.

How Biotouch Started and Oil Price $ 600 prediction!

There were rumors today that a barrel of oil might jump to 600 dollars per barrel.

A few weeks ago a Gazprom executive predicted that the oil price might climb to $ 250 per barrel.

But $ 600 per barrel means the real beginning of a bio-based economy.

Biotouch is a conceptual approach with tools and ideas for better handling of the post-oil-period. But changes might happen very soon.

The current news are scaring. How well are we prepared? Read this blog about oil-price!

The YouTube video to the right is representing another extreme: the man is explaining, "there is no peak-oil" in his own words.

"One of the funniest videos in months," comments one YouTube commentator.

The other comment says, "He is right about the oil. First off we have a 100 biliion barrels of untapped reserves in the US that include off shore anwar and shale deposits in Colorado. You people can laugh at this guy but for an idiot he isn't a sheep like most people who laugh at this video are. Our Liberal congress refuses to drill or use these deposits if people would wake up and vote these politicians out we wouldn't be paying 4.00 gas. wake up people the Government is Screwing us."

Anyway, oil is becoming a real big issue. The price of the dollar is anohter. What happens in Iran in the coming months is a determining factor. Let's wait and see...

Biotouch PMEU Conference Call Today

We'd an interesting Biotouch Conference Call Today. The participants:

1. Macarena Pallares
2. Juha Mentu
3. Helge Keitel

I'd a separate discussion with Elias Hakalehto after our online meeting. Elias hopes that the traditional paper forestry industry would understand the deeper meaning of "bio" in future biorefineries.

"The present biorefinery technology is based on one hundred years old inventions. We do have the tools and intellectual property for a radical modernization of how we use and monetize future fiber processing. But we need partners with a deeper understanding about the added values that the Biotouch-approach can deliver," Elias said.

We discussed the Biotouch PMEU biotech service concept and its wide range use on a global scale. Juha informed about a recent problem solving case in southern Europe where PMEU proved its value as a problem solving tool.

The other thing is the combination of Luminometry and PMEU in paper / board machine microbial online activity control with PMEU as an added value "disease determination."

1. Luminometry and ATP as a "thermometer" to indicate what's happening (fever)
   
2. PMEU is the tool for in depth determination of the cause of the "sickness"
3. The Biotouch concept provides a methodology for standardized problem solving

The Porvoo community water supply reported about a problem during our meeting. PMEU would be the tool for fast determination of malicious microbial presence. Let's hope it isn't a new Nokia Water Case.

Macarena told about the the strong food processing industry in Mexico. Another case where the Biotouch approach could be used is in the Mexican world class cement industry.

Financing of a world wide operation to promote Bitouch and PMEU solutions were discussed.

We do have a revolutionary biotechnological solution - comparable with microscopy - for rapid microbe growth determination, but we would need a partner with deeper pockets to support the globalization of Biotouch-operations.

"A company in the USA called QuoNova has started to attack the problem of biofilms as a health problem and they are developing products that allow combating biofilms in wounds and in cystic fibrosis in lungs," writes Macarena in her previous posting.

I'd like to have your comments about this.

Biofilms

A biofilm is a structured community of microorganisms encapsulated within a self-developed polymeric matrix and adherent to a living or inert surface. Biofilms have a large and varied role in human activities from being responsible for a number of diseases in humans and animals to also being invaluable in the treatment of domestic sewage and industrial wastes. (Cambridge Journals) The study of biofilms represents a radical new way of understanding the microbiology of virtually everything around us, from problems that afflict industry to serious public health issues. (Montana State University).

oajsopjqowhndklsjfnhweifjekwjfsjloq Image by http://i.treehugger.com/files/th_images/biofilm.jpg

So the basic questions to ask are: When do biofilms cause problems to humanity? And when are biofilms helpful?

The propensity of biofilms to attach can cause many problems for a wide range of industries. An example of these problems is the contamination that biofilms cause in the pulp and paper manufacturing, and the water and treatment distribution. Biofilms are responsible for billions of dollars in lost industrial productivity, as well as product and capital equipment damage each year. That is why some companies have already started programs of R&D in this area. An example of one of these companies is Finnoflag OY which is developing a product called PMEU that allows the detection of microbes in the wood processing and food industries.

kSHOWHDILKNFEKNEFKN mkw Image by http://www.siblarch.net/images/Storbranna3%202006.JPG

Biofilms can also cause many infections in human beings, and can be really dangerous. Biofilm infections form preferentially on foreign surfaces as well as dead or damaged tissue. These infections develop gradually and may be slow to produce overt symptoms. Once established, however, biofilm infections persist. They are rarely resolved by host defense mechanisms, even in individuals with healthy innate and adaptive immune reactions. (Montana State University). A company in the USA called QuoNova has started to attack the problem of biofilms as a health problem and they are developing products that allow combating biofilms in wounds and in cystic fibrosis in lungs.

Although biofilms sound really harmful, they also have some benefits. For example: they may be used for the self-purification of streams and rivers, in the treatment of waste and pollution and/or the generation of electricity. This is made possible by the protective slimy matrix that prevents attack from the immune system and antibiotics, as well as toxic contaminants while breaking down waste or effluent. (European Research Comission).

It is really good that some companies have already started the R&D of products to combat biofilms, or to enhance their beneficial properties but much more investment should still be done in this area.

Have a great Biotech Midsummer!

Hello, I spoke with Elias today and we try to arrange a Skype conference after the midsummer about the next step in Biotouch.

We'll have a meeting with Seppo, Pekka, a third person and myself in Helsinki June 26. We talk about how to attract financing for Biotouch, and how to build a structure and become more organized.

The Finnish forestry industry is in trouble with excess capacity, high cost of raw materials, energy and the low value of US dollar. We are going to see more closures of mills in the coming months.

Kemira is downscaling and concentrating on WATER. 1 000 employees has to go out of ten thousand globally.

We need a new biotech industrial base. The traditional pulp and paper could benefit from biotech and microbiology based innovative approaches. We've ideas, tools, and concepts but need to get a stronger organization to transfer the promises to real functional processes and services.

Have a great midsummer!

Juha Mentu's blog is getting attention

Congratulations to Juha Mentu. He is also one of the Biotuch co-writers. I got a separate posting to my gmail and decided to post the information here as well. It's true, there isn't many well written blogs about the paper industry. I guess, the same goes for biotechnology and microbiology in general.

Macarena, I see that Yahoo Answers is a very good tool to attract readers to the Biotouch. Thanks for actively promoting the Biotouch blog. The blog already has a growing global readership, although, it's been around since last week of May 2008.

The Industry microbiologist blog is very focused. I think the feedback will motivate Juha to write more.

Anonymous to helge.keitel

show details 10:21 AM (1 hour ago)

Reply

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Microscopy as an analytical tool for paper industr...":

Hi,

It's nice to see a well-written blog on pulp and paper industry technical issues. There are not many blogs in our industry.

We have a popular pulp and paper industry news website (http://news.paperindex.com) where we have started covering blogs too. We have posted headline and snippets of your latest blog post on our website. Hope this will help you generate good traffic to your blog.

If you would like to publicize your blog, you can post your new blog posts on our news website. If you are interested, please send an email to news at paperindex dot com. We will create your account to enable you post your blog headlines and snippets to generate traffic to your blog.

For blogs, we have a dynamic news content display using which blog writers can display pulp and paper industry news headlines on their blogs. Dynamic news headlines make blogs more interesting to users. If you would like to display FREE pulp and paper news headlines on your blog, please click this URL: http://www.paperindex.com/general/freecontent.aspx

Our website pulp and paper marketplace website www.paperindex.com too has some interesting links, which your readers may find useful. For useful links for your blog, please visit this URL: http://www.paperindex.com/general/linktous.aspx

Thank you,
Kannan


Posted by Anonymous to Pulp, Paper, Board and Packaging Microbiologist at June 7, 2008 12:21 AM

Marketing Opportunities for Biotouch

From my point of view, an important way for the enterprise to sell its product and look for potential investors is to participate in events that allow the firm to exhibit its products and make the brand be known and recognized. This way potential investors or customers get to know the product that the brand is offering, and the applications of it. An important event that is coming soon is the EFIB2008, this could be a great opportunity for the enterprise to market itself and demonstrate the organization’s expertise in the field of biotechnology. What a better place to promote the product than these two days where most of the investors and customers will be gathered? I think this is a great opportunity to build networks and market the brand. The EFIB has opportunities for placing exhibition areas or sponsorship, this way the company profile could be raised and market opportunities could be created.

Definiton of Biotouch

Hi Biotouch-bloggers, below is Juha Mentus definition of his blog Industy Microbiologist, but we need a more "generic definition" for BIOTOUCH.

Please, post new ideas that could be used to define the content of the BIOTOUCH blog.

This blog contains novel ideas for the development of paper industry microbiology. Traditional methods, despite their important role in the selection of harmful microbes from process and product samples, does not fulfill the needs of modern HACCP and process stability control. Faults in the process management as well as in the QC of products can cause hazardous situations for the economy of production as well as for the safety of employers, customers and environment.

Helge suggests a small revision, but I guess this isn't complete yet:

This blog contains novel ideas for the development of biotechnology and microbiology. Traditional methods, despite their important role in the selection of harmful microbes from process and product samples, does not fulfill the needs of modern HACCP and process stability control. Faults in the process management as well as in the QC of products can cause hazardous situations for the economy of production as well as for the safety of employers, customers and environment.

We should include aspects of risk management in eg. water treatment and fresh water supply, etc. I also spoke with Elias over the phone about how to present a biorefinery innovation project to investors and sponsors.

I'm happy for your comments. Macarena will make the changes in "settings" when we have a good definition that helps to profile BIOTOUCH. Also, send pictures to Macarena or me to be added to the posts to visualize our messages.

• Personal pictures needed for interviews
• Process pictures
• Product pictures of PMEU and how it's used

Make sure that you are the copyright owners of the pictures.

Best regards,
Helge

Introducing Biotouch

Hello Macarena Pallares, and welcome on board. This is a new communication channel that will cover trends and opportunities in the field of biotechnology and microbiology.

• Blog opens today
• Basic tools are installed
• Macarena starts writing next week
• Information will be personalized next week
  

Elias Hakalehto, Juha Veikko Mentu and myself will be co-writers. The objective is to create an interactive environment where decision makers, students, innovators, investors and the general public can discuss technology and business models.

Here are some general guidelines for the new blog. We might expand it to Wiki and some other social networking applications. Macarena did already mention the use of Yahoo Answers. It might be a good idea to add "Answers to the toolbox" within a week or two when we get more questions about the topics we're covering.

The BIOTOUCH communication channel will be moderated by Macarena. Below are some of the areas this blog is going to cover.

1. Paper and board
2. Biorefineries
3. Water
4. Food
5. Health Care

BIOTOUCH is intended for executives, decision makers and the general public. The style of the communication channel will be:

1. A personal diary based on discussions with specialists
2. Personalized style
   
3. Global point of view
4. Generic presentation

The idea is to take out the complexity from biotech and microbiology. We'll add interesting links to guide Macarena's blogging. Domestic Fuel is an interesting source of information.

Macarena, Elias and Juha, we'll start with a Skype Conference Call in the beginning of next week. We could chat for 30 to 60 minutes to introduce ourself and to outline the goals for the Biotouch communication channel.