Six Michigan Colleges, Universities Make ‘Best In America’

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Six Michigan universities made the list of the Princeton Review’s 381 Best Colleges in America.

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Index Climbs

DETROIT — Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index increased 1.9 percentage points in June to a level of 129.8, up from 127.9 in May.

The Michigan Economic Activity Index consists of eight variables: nonfarm payrolls, exports, hotel occupancy rates, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, sales tax revenues, home prices, and auto production.

RetroSense Gets Patent On Method for Restoring Vision

ANN ARBOR — The Ann Arbor-based biopharmaceutical startup RetroSense Therapeutics LLC announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. patent Application No. 11,036,629, entitled “Method for Augmenting Vision in Persons Suffering from Photoreceptor Cell Degeneration.”

RetroSense is the exclusive licensee of this intellectual property for augmenting vision from photoreceptor cell degeneration through a license with Massachusetts General Hospital. This patent broadly covers methods for restoring or improving vision using optogenetic approaches. The allowed claims cover the use of a broad range of light-sensitive proteins called opsins and rhodopsins in vision restoration.

HyperWorks Adds Features For Aerospace Design

TROY — The computer-aided design and engineering software HyperWorks, from the Troy engineering technology developer Altair, has added several new features the company says will improve workflows and provide a complete framework of model building and stress analysis for the aerospace industry.

Company officials said the new tools increase efficiency for aerospace engineers in their daily tasks, including concept design, global and detailed finite element model build, post-processing and certification report generation.

Comcast Launches X1 DVR with Cloud Technology in Michigan

PLYMOUTH — Michigan users of Comcast Corp. X1 cable TV service can now download programs they have recorded on their digital video recorder to watch on internet-connected devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones, or stream them using an Internet connection, anytime and anywhere.

The new service, called X1 DVR with Cloud Technology, also provides customers access to virtually their entire TV channel lineup on any connected screen, such as mobile devices and computers, in their home.

M2 TechCast Features New Automation Alley CEO, Internet Pioneer, MichBio CEO, Small Biz Group Chief

ROYAL OAK — The Monday, Aug. 29 edition of the M2 TechCast features an all-star lineup of business and technology leaders.

Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Review Courses At ESD

SOUTHFIELD — Attention engineers! Boost your professional possibilities by passing the state Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination with the help of The Engineering Society of Detroit.

Since 1941, ESD has successfully prepared thousands of candidates for the State licensing exam in a variety of disciplines ranging from civil and environmental to mechanical and electrical engineering. You’ll learn in a small classroom-like setting from instructors who have first-hand knowledge of the course material.

The PE Review Course focuses on problem-solving techniques for candidates planning to take the Professional Engineer Exam. Let ESD’s 70-plus years of experience help prepare you to pass the exam on your first try.

Civil, Environmental and Mechanical engineering courses are taught Saturdays starting Aug. 27, running through Oct. 8. The courses run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for civil engineering and 1 to 5 p.m. for mechanical. There is no class on Sept. 3 due to Labor Day weekend.

The PE designation leads to faster career advancement and the ability to stamp and seal designs and bid for government contracts. The PE also qualifies persons to work as consultants and be the principal of an engineering firm.

Engineers should take these review courses if you are preparing for or planning to take the NCEES exam for PE licensure in the State of Michigan. The review courses presume that you have taken and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam relevant to your discipline but need a “refresher” review of core topics.

In these courses, engineers will learn from instructors who have first-hand knowledge of the course material; be provided with comprehensive binder of course notes to aid you during your exam;  learn from and meet your peers who are also studying for the State Exam; and will receive a certificate of completion from ESD.

Discounts are provided to ESD Members. To receive the discount, a person must become an ESD member prior to or at the time of course registration.

The PE review course is $650 for members and $850 for non-members. Textbook costs are not included. Save money by becoming an ESD Professional Member and attend the course for one low price of $749.

Students who register will receive a binder and the course materials will be provided by the instructors. Textbooks are mandatory for this course. Students receive a 15 percent discount on materials specific to ESD’s courses by ordering direct from Professional Publications. Please contact ESD for a promo code, or visit http://ppi2pass.com/.

If inclement weather or another reason beyond our control causes the cancellation of a class, we will make our best effort to inform students, via e-mail and by phone, and the class will be rescheduled to a later date.

In compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, these courses are Equal Opportunity Programs. If you have special needs, let us know when registering for the class — or no later than two weeks before the scheduled course start date — and we will make reasonable efforts to provide accommodations.

Visit http://www.ncees.org to get information on the dates for the new PE exam and how to register. Registering for the ESD Review Course does not register you for the PE Exam.

For more information, contact Fran Mahoney at (248) 353-0735, ext. 116.

AT&T Boosts Network Speeds In Port Huron Area

DETROIT — AT&T Inc. announced upgrades to two new cell towers on its 4G LTE high-speed data network in St. Clair County, giving customers in that area faster, more reliable wireless service.

The upgraded towers are in Port Huron at 16 h Street, north of Dove Street and in St. Clair at Range Road, east of I-94.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com.

Systems Modeling, Verification Software Added to Altair Partner Alliance

TROY — The Altair Partner Alliance has added the systems engineering software from Brighton-based XLDyn LLC to its lineup of software partnerships. The software is made up of two modules, XLSE and XL1D, which work together to automate the creation of system models and perform one dimensional multi-physics simulations.

EarthTronics Rolls Out New 277-Volt LED Lamp

MUSKEGON — The Muskegon-based LED lighting manufacturer EarthTronics Inc. has introduced a 17-watt PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector) lamp for both 120-volt and 277-volt systems.

The new PAR38 EarthBulb LED floodlight replaces 120-watt incandescent floodlights, saving more than 85 percent on energy. The lamp is capable of operating on 120 or 277 volt circuits.