星期日, 3月 31, 2019

徐翔音樂會 鄧泰山捧場

徐翔(左)應中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵(右)之邀
來波士頓演奏。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 2017年范克萊本(Van Cliburn)國際鋼琴大賽銅牌得主,鋼琴家徐翔(Daniel Hsu),三月三十日應中華表演藝術基金會之邀,首次來到紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳(Jordan Hall)舉辦鋼琴獨奏會,頻頻贏得觀眾熱情歡呼,起立鼓掌
譚嘉陵(左)和鄧泰山(右)。(周菊子攝)
徐翔在喬登廳的首演,彈奏了巴哈,拉赫瑪尼諾夫,柴可夫斯基,李斯特,蕭邦,和穆索爾斯基等人的作品。
音樂會後,許多人在社交媒體上搶發照片​​剪輯的視頻,都非常肯定演出
波士頓經文處處長徐佑典、杜麗雲夫婦(左起)一家人
出席音樂會,會後也向音樂家徐翔(左三)致意。
(周菊子攝)
波士頓音樂雜誌(Boston Musical Intelligencer)的音樂評論家Leon Golub,也寫了一篇名為大師風度的徐翔演出大師的音樂畫作作品,他說出生在舊金山的徐翔這場鋼琴獨奏會,既強而有力又細膩引人深思,依稀展現法國的神秘俄羅斯的圖像。他像一個充滿好奇的藝術家,內心深沉的探索渴望所賦予樂音的偉大新意義,遠遠超出了他對技術難度的驚人掌控。今晚的演奏是中華表演藝術基金會主辦一系列一流音樂會中的又一場令人讚嘆的演出
 Leon Golub 還說簡短的舒曼Traumerei安可曲,溫柔奇妙,讓我們處於一個完全舒適的夢幻狀態。真是一場華麗,令人難忘的演出。
樂評人(右)欣賞徐翔,送給他一張CD。(周菊子攝)
當天觀眾席中,有多位音樂名人,其中包括知名鋼琴家鄧泰山。
徐翔現年21歲,目前是柯蒂斯音樂學院學生。在音樂之外,喜歡寫電腦程式他設計Workflow2015年贏得 Apple設計獎,20173月被Apple收購。今年(2019)421日,他應邀台灣中山堂,和芬蘭廣播交響樂團音樂總監與指揮Hannu Lintu,以及台北交響樂團,攜手演出柴可夫斯基第一號協奏曲(內容資料:中華表演藝術基金會提供)

戴正達(右)和徐翔的父親是好友,演奏會後特地來問候。
(周菊子攝)














星期六, 3月 30, 2019

美中藥協紐英崙分會職業會議(圖片)

外高橋集團(啟東)產業園董事長李建國。(周菊子攝)

美中藥協紐英崙分會會長楊軍(右一),會議主持李柯杰(左一)頒發感謝獎牌給外高橋集團的李建國董事長(右二),高級經理許何燕。(周菊子攝)





遡源公所慶已亥豬年新春 宗親、嘉賓歡唱忘我

宗親與嘉賓合影。(遡源公所提供)
波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(左一)和波士頓僑教中心主任
歐宏偉(右一),頒發感謝狀給遡源公所主席鄺炎彬(左
二起),方汝沐,雷展灝。(遡源公所提供)
(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)由雷、方、鄺三姓組成的紐英崙遡源公所,日前在喜臨門大酒樓慶祝已亥豬年新春,奉利是敬老,發獎金勸學,看運氣抽獎的,共300餘宗親在進門見錦簇花籃,入座有佳餚美酒的歡樂氣氛中,大快朵頤,高歌熱舞,酒不醉人人自醉。
紐英崙遡源公所的主席慣例是每姓氏各一人,今年仍為鄺炎彬,方汝沐,雷展灝。當晚慶祝新春,由在中華公所任職的朱沛國堂主席夫人鄺坤珍擔任司儀。
遡源公所主席鄺炎彬(左二),顧問雷國輝(左三),主席雷展灝
(右一)等人奉上敬老紅包給鄺源傑(左四起),鄺坤燦,方汝沐
等耆英。(遡源公所提供)
慶祝會開場先由美東國術會醒獅團表演舞獅,依照傳統的採青獻桔,再來全體嘉賓大合照。
主席鄺炎彬致歡迎詞時,頌詩一首,期許宗親和氣生財,聚則成事。詩曰:本是同源生,相聚何須疏,今朝把酒歡,何日君再來。他強調,遡源一家親,盼宗親不要疏於往來相聚,當晚難得一聚要盡興,以酒相敬,期盼再聚。
紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊,波士頓經文處處長徐佑典,僑教中心主任歐宏偉,以及波士頓市第二區市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)等到會嘉賓,以及遡源公所自己的宗親,遠道而來的總堂主席鄺兆彭,紐約遡源主席方彥華接著一一應邀致詞,向波士頓雷方鄺三姓宗親表達新年祝賀之意。
頒發獎學金。(遡源公所提供)
期間,經文處處長徐佑典特地頒發感謝狀,由三名主席代表接受。波士頓市議員愛德華費林也在助理盧善柔協助下,頒發表揚狀,稱許遡源公所致力和睦社區,服務宗親。
紐英崙遡源公所當晚奉上紅包利是給鄺元傑,鄺坤燦,方汝沐等十八名年紀80歲以上耆英,以示敬老,發出獎學金3000元給17名宗親子弟,鼓勵他們努力向學,為會場增添不少喜慶氣氛。
遡源公所顧問雷國輝(左一),主席雷展灝(右一)兩父子
和紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊,波士頓市議員愛德華費林
(Ed Flynn)。(遡源公所提供)
這些獎學金,有2000元是由宗親鄺佩康捐贈,1000元是由遡源公所的獎學金戶頭提撥。
宴席間的文娛表演由摩頓市的華夏文協歌舞團做主力,表演愛蓮的舞,朝鮮族的春雨手鼓,藏族的吉祥謠,另外有康樂舞蹈團的扇子舞太湖美等,還有許多人展示歌喉,唱卡拉OK,個人獨唱或聚眾高歌,都唱得非常投入,忘我。
慶祝會在播放友誼之光的歌聲中落幕。
鄺炎彬表示,紐英崙遡源公所座落在波士頓華埠內的哈佛街61號(61 Harvard Street),電話(617482-3353,歡迎雷、方、鄺三姓宗親,加入公所,與宗親交流。(4月7日更新版)
遡源公所慶新春,有支持者非常傳統的送花籃祝賀。
(遡源公所提供)
遡源公所顧問雷國輝(右起)和公所的兩名年輕主席,
雷展灝,鄺炎彬。(遡源公所提供)
波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn,後右)特地和他父親,
波士頓前任市長雷夫連(Ray Flynn)的好友,波士頓資深
僑領陳毓璇,陳黃景佩(前)夫婦合影留念。(遡源公所提供)
(遡源公所提供)
(遡源公所提供)
波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn,右二)在助理盧善柔
(右三)協助下,頒發表揚狀給遡源公所,由主席雷展灝
(右一),方汝沐(左三),鄺炎彬(左一),以及顧問雷國輝
(右四),鄺坤燦(左二)代表接受。(遡源公所提供)
左起,雷國輝,波士頓市議員愛德華費林,鄺炎彬,
鄺坤燦,方汝沐,雷展灝。(遡源公所提供)
波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(前中),波士頓僑教中心主任
歐宏偉(前左二),紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊(前右三)
等嘉賓和遡源公所宗親合影。(周菊子攝)
遡源公所主席鄺炎彬(右六)和嘉賓合唱卡拉OK,一眾人
唱到忘我。左起,徐佑典,陳國航,梅少彬,陳家驊,
黃立輝,鄺炎彬,以及歐宏偉(右四),梅少華(右三)。
(周菊子攝)

哈佛大學更難進了 今年錄取率4.5%


      (Boston Orange 整理報導) 哈佛大學的歧視亞裔學生訟案,餘聲仍在迴盪,哈佛校報”the Harvard Crimson”就登出,哈佛今年更難進了,錄取率降到4.5%
            哈佛校報指出,將於2023年畢業的這一年級,哈佛收到43,300份申請書,比去年已打破紀錄的42,742份還多,其中只有4.5%,大約1950名學生會被錄取。在2018年時,哈佛收了1962名學生,約為申請人數的4.6%
            哈佛校報指4.5%是該校錄取率的最新低點。
            哈佛入學許可及財務援助院長William R. Fitzsimmons在一份校方聲明中表示,2023這一年級學生,以任何標準來看都超有成就,極具潛質。
            根據哈佛校方資訊,今年錄取的男女學生比例相當,約有50.1%為女性。超過一半獲錄取的學生會獲得以需要為基礎的獎助金,他們的家人只需每年付大約12,000元。
            獲錄取學生中,約有20%其家庭年收入低於65,000元。這些學生將不需要付費,還會獲得2000元補助款,以協助他們支付搬遷入校的相關費用。
            沒有拿到以需要為基礎財務補助的學生,在20192020這學年上學時,得付69,607元。那些已獲錄取者,可在五月一日前考慮是否進哈佛。

星期五, 3月 29, 2019

MassBio年會展望數位健康 談藥價需控制

MassBio執行長Robert K. Coughlin(右)和董事會主席David
Lucchino (左)徵求會員同意,通過2019新董事名單。
(周菊子攝)
             (Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導) 麻州生物協會(MassBio)32728日,在劍橋市的皇家索尼斯塔酒店(Royal Sonesta Hotel)舉行年會,總結過去一年概況,指FDA批准新藥數量破紀錄,創投交易數量高達1308宗,金額逾233億美元,整體行業前景大好,藥價調整將是考驗,未來會以數位健康為重點工作方向。
”Ovid療法執行長Jeremy Levin做主題演講。
(周菊子攝)
             麻州生物協會是創辦於1985年,約有1000多名企業及學術機構會員的非牟利組織,和麻州生命科學界密切合作,致力增加醫療體系的價值,改善病患生活。今年以可能狀態(State of Possible)”為年會主題,並由執行長Robert K. Coughlin和董事會主席,Frequency療法執行長David Lucchino藉簡短的徵詢同意方式,通過了新年度的董事名單。
生物醫藥領域2018年獲得233億元創業投資。(周菊子攝)
”Ovid療法執行長Jeremy Levin在題目為"生物科技今日何在,前方何有(Where is Biotech Today and What Lies Ahead)”的主題演講中直言,生物科技業現在處於最棒的年代,醫藥創新正給人類社會帶來各種好處,但美國醫療健保業的體系複雜,醫院併購造成的壟斷,導致藥價高掛如天,例如一般的癌症藥,醫院標價比平均售價高10100倍,人民負擔不起等,卻也讓醫藥界飽受批評。
他認為,生物科技及醫療界的核心價值是治病救人,相關醫院及醫療人員在制定營運策略時,恐怕必須重新思考這些核心價值,聽取病患及家屬的聲音,也清楚明晰的為自己表態,生物醫藥業才可能繼續繁榮。
Jeremy Levin指出,醫藥創新已帶來人類壽命延長66%,患癌5年者存活率提高39%,新丙肝療法治癒率超過90%等好處。
        此外,FDA的新藥審批態度由嚴峻轉為支持,流進醫藥創新的資金額度大漲,醫療方式正百花齊鳴,進入臨床實驗的治療腫瘤癌症新藥,數量呈爆發性增長等,都佐證著生物科技業的整體環境處於最佳時代。例如FDA2016年只批准22個新藥,2017年跳升到462018再升到59,打破紀錄,證明了FDA在審批新藥上的態度改變。
Editas醫藥前執行長Katrine Bosley(中)
Alnylam執行長John Maraganore(右)是
爐邊談話嘉賓。(周菊子攝)
資金的更為豐沛,是生物醫藥業的另一榮景象徵。僅只一年之隔,就漲了近一倍,從2017年的166億元跳到2018年的233億元,其中60%一拿就是5000萬元。
疾病的醫療方法也層出不窮,十分多元化,有基因療法,RNAi CAR-T, 系統性寡核苷酸,鞘內寡核苷酸等等,甚至治療丙肝,也有了5種新藥獲批准。研發治療腫瘤癌症新藥的進入臨床實驗階段數量,更是驚人,從2014年僅只50宗,增加到2018年的高達2500宗。
已經有突破性並獲得批准,或正在出研究成果的細胞療法,基因療法,也大爆炸,多達300宗,包括2017年批准的首個體內基因療法,2018年批准的首個RNAi療法Onpattro等,其中一半以上是治療腫瘤癌症。
哈佛大學基因教授George Church出席MassBio年會。
(周菊子攝)
Jeremy Levin認為,生物醫藥業將看到更多的創新研發成果,更多的併購整合,更大的藥價壓力,更廣泛的公眾監督,短期內還將有導致長期後果的行政動作出現。
會期第一天,麻州生物協會請到近年備受矚目的兩大企業高管,Editas醫藥前執行長Katrine BosleyAlnylam執行長John Maraganore做爐邊談話,從CRISPER的基因剪輯談到RNAi療法。再由Beam療法的DNA剪輯平台主管Nicole Gaudelli談基因剪輯的轉型和醫療應用。
嘉賓座談人類生物學未來。(周菊子攝)
會議的第二天,重頭戲有哈佛醫學院基因教授George M. ChurchExcel創投常務董事Juan EnriquezLifeMine執行長Greg Verdine討論人類生物學的未來:我們已經怎麼衍化了自己。其中的Juan Enriquez直言,基因療法的不斷進步,將來勢必引發比基因編輯嬰兒更多的倫理道德爭議。因參與發起人類基因圖譜計畫,與學生,朋友合作創辦了至少14家公司,2018年才又聯合創辦Nebula,強調免費DNA檢測,健康數據共享的George Church認為能夠更全面掌握個人基因數據,就更有機會防治疾病發生。他也覺得藥價問題應該進一步研究,解決。
麻州生物協會這場年會,以在醫療保健價值鏈中啟動數位醫療(Enabling Digital Health in the Healthcare Value Chain)”座談做壓軸,請來Concerto Health AI執行長Jeff EltonVerily策略企業發展及企業創投的Luba GreenwoodPear 療法聯盟管理副總裁Brooke Paige, 賽默飛世爾科技(Thermo Fisher Scientific)數位科學研發副總裁Anthony Uzzo交流看法。其中一名講者強調,數位健康是未來不可避免的發展趨勢,重點之一還在數據,如何取得並分享更是關鍵議題。

CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST YOUTH JOB & RESOURCE FAIR IN ROXBURY

CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST YOUTH JOB & RESOURCE FAIR IN ROXBURY
BOSTON - Friday, March 29, 2019 - The City of Boston is inviting young Bostonians to participate in a youth job and resource fair tomorrow, March 30 in Roxbury. This year's theme, "Success Awaits, Come Find It," aspires to connect Boston's youth with onsite summer workforce development opportunities through engaging with employers, job placement opportunities, career development workshops, and access to youth-serving organizations.


WHEN:          Saturday, March 30, 2019
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Mayor Walsh to attend at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:        Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center
1350 Tremont St, Roxbury

WHO:            826 Boston
Aashka Company
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)
African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE)
All Dorchester Sports & Leadership
American Chinese Christian Educational and Social Services, Inc.
Appalachian Mountain Club
Apprentice Learning
Artists For Humanity
Asian Community Development Corporation
Boch Center
Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF)
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)
Boston Common Frog Pond/Skating Club of Boston
Boston Explorers - An Urban Camp for Kids
Boston Parks and Recreation Department
Boston Police B-2 Community Service Office
Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC)
Boston Public Schools (BPS)
Boston Scores
Boston Student Advisory Council
Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Mattapan Teen Center
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester
Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester: Walter Denney Youth Center
Castle Square Tenants Organization
Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter's
Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc.
Center to Support Immigrant Organizing
Charlestown Boys & Girls Club
City of Boston
Courageous Sailing
Dorchester YMCA
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI)
Franklin Hill Boys & Girls Club
Fresh Truck
Garrett Pressley Autism Resource Center
Girls LEAP
Hyde Square Task Force
Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI-USA)
Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)
Lena Park CDC
Let's Get Ready
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly
Love Your Block
Madison Park Development Corporation
MassCOSH
Mattapan / Greater Boston Technology Learning Center, Inc.
Mayor's Mural Crew
MissionSAFE
New England Aquarium
New England Culinary Institute
NUBIA, INC.
OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center
Phillips Brooks House Association
Roslindale Community Center
Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Tenants of Harvard
South Boston Neighborhood House
South End Technology Center @ Tent City
Southwest Boston CDC
Speak for the Trees
St. Stephen's Youth Programs
StreetWorker
Tenacity
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FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AGREES TO PAY $231 MILLION TO RESOLVE FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT CHARGES

FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AGREES TO PAY $231 MILLION
TO RESOLVE FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT CHARGES

BOSTON – Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Fresenius), a German-based provider of medical products and services, has agreed to pay approximately $231 million to resolve the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with Fresenius’s participation in various corrupt schemes to obtain business in multiple countries.

            “Bribery, in all forms, is corrosive and illegal,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling of the District of Massachusetts. “As today’s announcement makes clear, this Office will continue its long tradition of aggressively investigating companies and individuals who use bribes and kickbacks to gain an unfair and illicit business advantage, or who deliberately turn a blind eye to that conduct.”

“Fresenius doled out millions of dollars in bribes across the globe to gain a competitive advantage in the medical services industry, profiting to the tune of over $140 million,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “Today’s resolution, under which Fresenius has agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for at least two years, reflects the Department’s firm commitment to both rooting out bribery and promoting the kind of effective corporate compliance programs that will prevent misconduct going forward.”

“This case shows the continued commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate bribery and corruption worldwide,” said FBI Assistant Director Robert Johnson.  “The FBI's dedicated International Corruption Squads across the United States will continue to combat foreign corruption that reaches our shores and send a strong message that, no matter how long it takes, we will not wane in our efforts to uphold the law.”

“This case shows the FBI will hold accountable those who treat corruption as the cost of doing business,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Fresenius’s admissions are incredibly concerning because no company should break the law by paying-off international partners to obtain or retain business.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corrupt schemes and ensure they do not become common practice at the expense of other hard-working businesses.” 

According to Fresenius’s admissions, between 2007 and 2016, the company paid bribes to publicly-employed health and/or government officials to obtain or retain business in Angola and Saudi Arabia.  In Angola and Saudi Arabia, as well as in Morocco, Spain, Turkey, and countries in West Africa, Fresenius knowingly failed to implement reasonable internal accounting controls over financial transactions, and failed to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflected the transactions.

In Angola, Fresenius offered or provided bribes to an Angolan military health officer and his family, as well as prominent Angolan government-employed nephrologists.  Specifically, Fresenius offered these individuals shares in a joint venture, storage contracts, and consultancy agreements, all for the purpose of securing an improper advantage and assisting Fresenius with obtaining and retaining business in Angola.

In Saudi Arabia, Fresenius employed a check cashing scheme, entered into sham consulting and commission agreements for which no services were ever performed, entered into fake collection commission agreements, made payments to a government charity, gave gifts, and made payments for travel with no business or educational justification, the company admitted.

In Morocco, Fresenius paid bribes to a Moroccan state official for the purpose of obtaining contracts to develop kidney dialysis centers at Moroccan state-owned military hospitals.

In Spain, Fresenius entered into fake consulting agreements with publicly-employed doctors or professionals who could influence or provide information about public tenders, gave gifts or provided other benefits such as travel to medical conferences, and made donations to fund projects for the doctors.

In Turkey, Fresenius entered into joint ventures with publicly-employed doctors in exchange for those doctors directing business from their public employer to Fresenius Turkey clinics.

In West Africa, Fresenius paid bribes to publicly-employed health officials in various countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Niger, Gabon, Chad, and Senegal. Fresenius paid these bribes through a combination of direct payments, payments made through third parties, and payments through a third-party distributorship, all to obtain and retain business in those countries. 

In total, Fresenius earned more than $140 million in profits from the corrupt schemes.

To resolve the case, Fresenius entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with DOJ and agreed to pay a total criminal penalty of $84,715,273. As part of the NPA, Fresenius also agreed to continue to cooperate with DOJ’s investigation, enhance its compliance program, implement rigorous internal controls, and retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for at least two years.

DOJ reached this resolution based on a number of factors. Notably, although Fresenius voluntarily self-disclosed the misconduct in April 2012, the company did not timely respond to certain requests by the DOJ and, at times, did not provide fulsome responses to requests for information. In addition, misconduct occurred in 13 countries, yielded profits of more than $140 million, and continued in certain countries until 2016, and the company has not yet had the opportunity to test the effectiveness of its compliance enhancements. Therefore, the company did not qualify for a declination under the Corporate Enforcement Policy, and instead received a discount of 40 percent below the low end of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines fine range, and an independent compliance monitor for a term of two years, followed by an additional year of self-reporting to the DOJ.

Fresenius settled a related FCPA matter with the SEC today and will pay $147 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest to the SEC, which the DOJ credited in its resolution, bringing the total monetary amount to over $231 million.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano of the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorneys Paul A. Hayden and Sonali D. Patel of the Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting this matter. The Department appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in this matter.