Fisker Atlantic concept unveiling before New York Auto Show, April 2012
Enlarge Photo
We haven't heard much about Fisker Automotive in the last few months.
The company still hasn't declared bankruptcy, it hasn't yet been bought, and it is still apparently in default on its Department of Energy loans.
But now there's a new suitor who's at least kicking the tires.
According to China Daily, the Beijing Automotive group (BAIC) visited Fisker's headquarters in southern California last weekend.
Earlier Chinese suitors who've assessed Fisker--but not closed acquisition deals--include Volvo owner Geely Automotive, and the owner of A123 Systems, Wanxiang, which is China's largest auto-parts maker.
BAIC has little in-house experience with plug-in electric cars, and while electrics are still not selling to cost-conscious Chinese car buyers in any appreciable numbers yet, BAIC sees the writing on the wall.
A BAIC executive said recently that the company would introduce an electric car that would compete with the Tesla Model S in 2015.
That prospect seems like something of a stretch.
Even BYD, which has five years' experience building plug-in vehicles of various sorts, has not yet been able to build a vehicle that could be certified for sale in North America and meet U.S. customer expectations for quality, performance, and safety.
According to the report, BAIC is interested not in the Fisker Karma range-extended electric luxury sedan--of which 2,000 or more were built before production halted a year ago--but Fisker's next model, the smaller Atlantic sport sedan.
The Fisker Atlantic debuted at the 2012 New York Auto Show, but its development almost surely remains to be completed after two years of cash crises, recalls, bad news, and dealer defections for Fisker.
Last fall, the Atlantic was delayed at least to late 2014--and little if anyprogress has likely been made since then.
We may hear more on this in due course.
Or we may not.
At some point Fisker will either get adopted or fade away altogether.
By then, will it matter either way?
Leave us your thoughts in the Comments below.
_______________________________________________
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BAGHDAD (AP) ? A bomb hidden in an air conditioner that ripped through a Sunni mosque during midday prayers and other attacks killed at least 26 in Iraq on Friday, extending a wave of violence targeting worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Suicide attacks, car bombings and other violence have killed more than 200 people since the Islamic holy month of daytime fasting and charity began last week, according to an Associated Press count.
The violence is an extension of a surge of attacks that has roiled Iraq for months, reviving fears of a return to the widespread sectarian bloodshed that pushed the country to the brink of civil war after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
Most of those killed Friday were slain while performing midday prayers in the packed Abu Bakir al-Sideeq mosque in the town of Wijaihiya, which is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Baghdad.
Worshippers and other eyewitnesses said the bomb apparently was planted inside a wall-mounted air conditioning unit to the left of the pulpit. AP television footage of the aftermath showed the interior of the mosque near the bomb site charred black and shrapnel damage peppering the walls. Glass, shoes and other debris littered the blood-soaked red prayer rugs lining the floor.
One of those praying inside, 30-year-old Mohammed Faleh, said the blast struck as male worshippers, including children, were kneeling during communal prayers.
"I stood up to find blood-stained bodies lying on the ground. The Friday prayer turned into a disaster. Whoever left these bombs has no religion," he said.
Faleh said security forces found a second bomb left near the mosque that they rendered safe with a controlled detonation.
Between 250 to 300 people were inside the mosque when the bombing happened, said Sami Dawoud Salman, a member of the local Sahwa, a group of anti-al-Qaida Sunni militiaman that work alongside government security forces. He said the mosque was unguarded and that the local imam had been unsuccessful in getting increased protection.
"I'm asking the government for a solution. There's no security," survivor Jassim Dawoud said. "It's a disastrous situation."
Diyala province, where the attack occurred, was once the site of some of the fiercest fighting between U.S. forces and insurgents in Iraq. It remains a hotbed for terrorist attacks. The area is religiously mixed and witnessed some of the worst atrocities as Shiite militias battled Sunni insurgents for control in the years after the invasion.
"Terrorism is targeting all sects in Diyala mainly by attacking Sunni and Shiite mosques, funerals and football fields to draw the province into a sectarian conflict. All the victims were civilians," said Diyala provincial councilman Sadiq al-Husseini, appealing for calm. "I call on all Diyala residents to show self-restraint."
Police and hospital officials said that at least 22 people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in the mosque blast.
The U.S. Embassy condemned the mosque attack, saying that the fact it struck a place of worship during Ramadan "is especially despicable and cowardly and exposes the nature of those perpetrating these attacks."
Attacks outside the restive city of Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, claimed four more lives. Two women died when mortar shells landed outside their house in nearby village, and a roadside bomb killed a father and son when it struck their car, authorities said.
The officials provided details of the attacks on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information to media.
The attacks struck as Iran's outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wrapped up a two-day trip to Iraq with visits to Shiite Muslim holy cities of Najaf and Karbala south of Baghdad. There was no indication the attacks were related to his trip.
Violence across Iraq has risen sharply since a heavy-handed crackdown by security forces on a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawija on April 23. That raid followed months of rallies by Iraq's minority Sunnis against the Shiite-led government over what they contend is second-class treatment and the unfair use of tough anti-terrorism measures against their sect.
The surge in bloodshed has left more than 2,800 people dead and many more wounded since the start of April.
Attacks on Sunni mosques, for years a relatively rare target in Iraq, have picked up significantly in recent months.
There has been no claim of responsibility for Friday's bombing or many of the other recent attacks.
Sunni extremists such as al-Qaida's Iraq arm that seek to undermine the Shiite-led government are frequently blamed for bombing attacks targeting civilians. They could be behind the Sunni mosque bombings too, hoping to incite a sectarian backlash against Shiites. So could Shiite militias that have been remobilizing following years of relative quiet.
___
Associated Press writers Adam Schreck, Sinan Salaheddin and Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report.
Photos from the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013.
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Tiger Woods of the United States reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 9th hole during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts after a bad tee shot from the third during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images
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Phil Mickelson of the U.S. lines up his putt on the second green during the second round of the British Open golf championship at Muirfield in Scotland July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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A marshal holds up the "Quiet" sign during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
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A spectator sits in the sun during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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US golfer Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the fifth green during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
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Skier Lindsey Vonn leaves the 18th hole after watching her boyfriend, Tiger Woods of the U.S., during the second round of the British Open golf Championship at Muirfield in Scotland July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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Tom Watson of the United States tees off on the 3rd hole during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Spectators wearing colorful hats watch the play on the 14th hole during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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Jordan Spieth of the United States prepares to play a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Spectators watch Tiger Woods of the United States and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland on the 11th hole from a grandstand during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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Rickie Fowler of the United States tees off on the 5th hole during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods of the United States looks on during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Scorers update the leader board in the media centre during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
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D A Points of the United States hits his second shot on the 6th hole during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Vijay Singh of Fiji tees off on the 17th hole during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
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Ian Poulter of England reacts from the second green during the second round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 19, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Henrik Stenson of Sweden chips out of a bunker onto the fifth green during the second round of the British Open golf Championship at Muirfield in Scotland July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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Spectators wearing colourful trousers watch the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot off the 10th tee during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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US golfer Tiger Woods tees off on the 14th during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
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US golfer Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 16th green during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
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Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez chips onto fourth green during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
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US golfer Phil Mickelson plays a shot out of a bunker on the second fairway during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images
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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy plays the third tee during the second round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 19, 2013 . PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images
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Tiger Woods of the United States walks onto the 18th green during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Friday July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Contact: Jos? Mariano Ruiz de Almod?var jmrdar@ugr.es 34-958-241-000-20013 University of Granada
Granada-based researchers patent a new biomaterial based on an activated carbon cloth support that acts as scaffolding for the construction of cells capable of bone regeneration
Scientists in Granada, Spain, have patented a new biomaterial that facilitates generating bone tissueartificial bones in other wordsfrom umbilical cord stem cells . The material, consisting of an activated carbon cloth support for cells that differentiate giving rise to a product that can promote bone growth, has recently been presented at a press conference at the Biomedical Research Centre, Granada.
Although the method has not yet been applied with 'in vivo' models, laboratory results are highly promising. In the future, they could help manufacture medicines for the repair of bone or osteochondrial, tumour or traumatic lesions and to replace lost cartilage in limbs. After obtaining artificial bones in the laboratory, the researchers' next step is to implant this biomaterial in experimental animal modelslike rats or rabbitsto see if it can regenerate bone in them.
The scientists, from the Biomedical Research Centre and the Faculties of Sciences of the Universities of Granada and Jan, and the Spanish National Research Council Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "Lpez Neyra", have made this important scientific breakthrough after years of research in cell biology [1], radiobiology [2] and materials studies [3, 4].
Ground-breaking, worldwide scientific advance
As the authors of the patent explain, no alternative materials are currently available on the market, nor have any been described in the literature. Precedents exist in the development of materials that fulfil the basic function of stimulating cell differentiation but a biologically complex material similar to bone tissue has never before been produced "ex vivo".
What's more, the method of stem cell differentiation developed in Granada uses a three-dimensional support and facilitates obtaining cell types implicated in bone regeneration in cell culture conditions not requiring additional differentiation factors or factors that differ from those present in the cell culture serum. In other words, thanks to this invention, a biomaterial consisting of stem cells supported on activated carbon cloth and capable of generating a product in which osteochondrial and mineralized extracellular organic matrix lineage cells exist, can be obtained.
The patent developed in Granada could have numerous applications in stem cell use in regenerative medicine, as well as in treating bone tissue and cartilage lesion problems.
Following this important scientific finding, the researchers are confident of obtaining the finance needed to be able to continue this work and achieve the ultimate objective of their invention: to regenerate bones by implanting biomaterial in patients with pathologies affecting the osseous system.
###
References:
[1] Farias VA, Linares-Fernandez JL, Penalver JL, Paya Colmenero JA, Ferron GO, Duran EL, Muoz Fernndez R, Garca Olivares E, O'Valle F, Puertas A, Oliver FJ, Ruz de Almodovar JM. Human umbilical cord stromal stem cell express CD10 and exert contractile properties. Placenta. 2011;32:86-95.
[2] Gmez-Milln J Katz ISS. de Arajo Farias V, Linares Fernndez JL, Lpez Pealver J, Ortiz Ferrn, G, Ruiz-Ruiz C, Oliver FJ, Ruz de Almodovar JM. The importance of bystander effects in radiation therapy in melanoma skin-cancer cells and umbilical-cord stromal stem cells. Radiother Oncol. 2012;102:450-8.
[3] Lpez Pealver J, Linares-Fernndez JL, de Araujo Faras V, Lpez-RamnMV, Tassi M, Oliver FJ Moreno-Castilla C, Ruiz de Almodvar JM. Activated carbon cloth as support for mesenchymal stem cell growth and differentiation to osteocytes. Carbon. 2009;47:3574-7.
[4] Farias V de A, Lopez-Pealver J, Sirs-Campos J, Lpez-Ramn MV, Moreno-Castilla C, Oliver FJ, Ruiz de Almodvar JM. The growth and spontaneous differentiation of umbilical-cord stromal stem cells on an activated carbon cloth. J Mater Chem B. 2013; 1; 3359-3368
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Jos? Mariano Ruiz de Almod?var jmrdar@ugr.es 34-958-241-000-20013 University of Granada
Granada-based researchers patent a new biomaterial based on an activated carbon cloth support that acts as scaffolding for the construction of cells capable of bone regeneration
Scientists in Granada, Spain, have patented a new biomaterial that facilitates generating bone tissueartificial bones in other wordsfrom umbilical cord stem cells . The material, consisting of an activated carbon cloth support for cells that differentiate giving rise to a product that can promote bone growth, has recently been presented at a press conference at the Biomedical Research Centre, Granada.
Although the method has not yet been applied with 'in vivo' models, laboratory results are highly promising. In the future, they could help manufacture medicines for the repair of bone or osteochondrial, tumour or traumatic lesions and to replace lost cartilage in limbs. After obtaining artificial bones in the laboratory, the researchers' next step is to implant this biomaterial in experimental animal modelslike rats or rabbitsto see if it can regenerate bone in them.
The scientists, from the Biomedical Research Centre and the Faculties of Sciences of the Universities of Granada and Jan, and the Spanish National Research Council Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "Lpez Neyra", have made this important scientific breakthrough after years of research in cell biology [1], radiobiology [2] and materials studies [3, 4].
Ground-breaking, worldwide scientific advance
As the authors of the patent explain, no alternative materials are currently available on the market, nor have any been described in the literature. Precedents exist in the development of materials that fulfil the basic function of stimulating cell differentiation but a biologically complex material similar to bone tissue has never before been produced "ex vivo".
What's more, the method of stem cell differentiation developed in Granada uses a three-dimensional support and facilitates obtaining cell types implicated in bone regeneration in cell culture conditions not requiring additional differentiation factors or factors that differ from those present in the cell culture serum. In other words, thanks to this invention, a biomaterial consisting of stem cells supported on activated carbon cloth and capable of generating a product in which osteochondrial and mineralized extracellular organic matrix lineage cells exist, can be obtained.
The patent developed in Granada could have numerous applications in stem cell use in regenerative medicine, as well as in treating bone tissue and cartilage lesion problems.
Following this important scientific finding, the researchers are confident of obtaining the finance needed to be able to continue this work and achieve the ultimate objective of their invention: to regenerate bones by implanting biomaterial in patients with pathologies affecting the osseous system.
###
References:
[1] Farias VA, Linares-Fernandez JL, Penalver JL, Paya Colmenero JA, Ferron GO, Duran EL, Muoz Fernndez R, Garca Olivares E, O'Valle F, Puertas A, Oliver FJ, Ruz de Almodovar JM. Human umbilical cord stromal stem cell express CD10 and exert contractile properties. Placenta. 2011;32:86-95.
[2] Gmez-Milln J Katz ISS. de Arajo Farias V, Linares Fernndez JL, Lpez Pealver J, Ortiz Ferrn, G, Ruiz-Ruiz C, Oliver FJ, Ruz de Almodovar JM. The importance of bystander effects in radiation therapy in melanoma skin-cancer cells and umbilical-cord stromal stem cells. Radiother Oncol. 2012;102:450-8.
[3] Lpez Pealver J, Linares-Fernndez JL, de Araujo Faras V, Lpez-RamnMV, Tassi M, Oliver FJ Moreno-Castilla C, Ruiz de Almodvar JM. Activated carbon cloth as support for mesenchymal stem cell growth and differentiation to osteocytes. Carbon. 2009;47:3574-7.
[4] Farias V de A, Lopez-Pealver J, Sirs-Campos J, Lpez-Ramn MV, Moreno-Castilla C, Oliver FJ, Ruiz de Almodvar JM. The growth and spontaneous differentiation of umbilical-cord stromal stem cells on an activated carbon cloth. J Mater Chem B. 2013; 1; 3359-3368
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Life is a beach. The Miami Heat clinched their second consecutive NBA championship in June and things couldn't be better in Miami Heat world. Lebron, Wade and Bosh will bask in the glory of this acheivment for a few months before retturning to the hardwood to defend their crown for another season. This?NEW ERA?59Fifty fitted cap features a Brown crown with an earthy colored all over floral pattern. The front panel sports the Heat logo and the back panel sports the NBA HWC logo. Available now at?http://www.amazingstore.jp/.
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Public release date: 18-Jul-2013
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