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Italian Volcano® Blood Orange Juice: Super-Premium Juice that Delivers both Powerful Antioxidants and Vitamin C

2011-06-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

Italian Volcano® Blood Orange Juice: Super-Premium Juice that Delivers both Powerful Antioxidants and Vitamin C

Dream Foods International, LLC (www. dreamfoods. com), a specialized importer of Sicilian not-from-concentrate citrus varietal juices, releases important information about the health benefits and high antioxidants in its Italian Volcano® brand of organic blood orange juice that sets it apart from both other orange and super-premium juices.

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) September 16, 2008

Antioxidants and Vitamin C: A Powerful Combination
Italian Volcano® Blood Orange juice has both powerful antioxidants, which traditional original juice lacks, and equally high amounts of Vitamin C, which beverages like pomegranate and acai juice, do not contain. Recent studies have also shown that antioxidants play an important role of Vitamin C absorption. "This juice offers a healthy union of antioxidants and Vitamin C in one bottle. Along with delicious taste, our Italian Volcano® Blood Orange juice is an excellent way to celebrate good health," declared Kahane.

"Unlike traditional orange, blood oranges are rich in antioxidants, crucial properties that have been shown to aid in the prevention of inflammatory diseases while containing essential vitamins and minerals. Our Italian Volcano® brand of organic blood orange juice also contains components called phytochemicals, which include polyphenol antioxidants: these protective agents insulate the blood oranges from enemies like insects, bacteria, and fungi. Italian blood oranges have especially high levels of antioxidants because of the distinct climate near the Mount Etna Volcano where we harvest our juice," said Adriana Kahane, CEO and Founder of Dream Foods International, LLC. "The vibrant color of blood oranges - the rich redness of each bottle of our Italian Volcano® juice - is the result of anthocyanins (which give it red pigment), which many scientists believe increases wellness and longevity. "

Additional Health Benefits of Italian Volcano® Blood Orange Juice
ο High in antioxidants
ο High in potassium
ο Low sodium
ο Low fat
ο High in vitamin C and iron

This 100% USDA organic juices, which are available in 750ml glass bottles and have a suggested retail of $5.49. Consumers may purchase this line of juices in supermarket produce departments and at select natural food specialty stores.

About Dream Foods International, LLC
Dream Foods International, LLC distributes premium shelf stable not-from-concentrate, organic kosher glass-bottled juices, under the Italian Volcano® Brand. This line includes organic blood orange, tangerine and lemon juices from Sicily. They also sell the best-tasting Volcano Lemon Burst® and Volcano Lime Burst® squeeze bottle consumers can buy Dream Foods International's products at the website www. mybrands. com, searching under the brand name "Volcano," or they can register on the company's website at www. dreamfoods. com to get recipes and help locating retailers in their area.

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ELearners. com Launches a New Guide For People Considering a Career in Medical Transcription

2011-06-08T06:09:00.000-07:00

ELearners. com Launches a New Guide For People Considering a Career in Medical Transcription

Website Offers Tips and Advice on Getting Started in this Booming Industry: The U. S. Department of Labor projects jobs in the medical transcription field will increase by at least 27 percent in the next seven years as the health care industry continues to grow. To help explain this booming profession and answer the numerous questions people have as they consider their career options, eLearners. com has launched a Guide to Medical Transcription (http://www. elearners. com/guide/medical-transcription. asp).

Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) September 7, 2007

The U. S. Department of Labor projects jobs in the medical transcription field will increase by at least 27 percent in the next seven years as the health care industry continues to grow. To help explain this booming profession and answer the numerous questions people have as they consider their career options, eLearners. com has launched a Guide to Medical Transcription (http://www. elearners. com/guide/medical-transcription. asp).

ELearners. com suggests that people interested in a career as a medical transcriptionist take the time to research accredited medical transcription training programs. Enrolling in this type of a program will help people quickly learn about the industry and network with others who are entering this dynamic, high-paying field.

"The demand for medical transcriptionists is on the rise because of the aging population, which requires more medical tests, procedures and treatments," said Andrew Gansler, President of eLearners. com. "This is an industry ripe with opportunity, but qualified entrants to the field must have proper training, and finding the appropriate accredited program is the first step."

Medical transcriptionists listen to dictated recordings made by health care professionals and transcribe that information into medical reports, correspondence and other administrative material. The job of a medical transcriptionist requires the ability to multi-task, a strong work ethic to meet deadlines and a keen eye for detail. A benefit for many medical transcriptionists is that the profession is incredibly well-suited to be a lucrative and manageable home-based business; and it's in demand. The U. S. Department of Labor states that between 2004 and 2014 nearly 43,000 Medical Records and Health Information Technician jobs are expected to become available.

To help answer questions about this profession, the eLearners. com Guide to Medical Transcription (http://www. elearners. com/guide/medical-transcription. asp) covers a variety of topics including:
What is a medical transcriptionist? Why are medical transcriptionists needed? What career opportunities are available for medical transcriptionists? Is it true that medical transcriptionists can work from home? What are the traits of a successful medical transcriptionist? How much do medical transcriptionists earn? How do online medical transcription programs work? …and much more

ELearners. com, an online education resource that connects prospective students with online learning providers, offers medical transcription courses from accredited online colleges and online universities. The site's searchable database allows those interested in the field to compare different programs to find the perfect fit for their individual needs. If you've never taken an online class and not sure if it's the best way for you to learn, take a free self-assessment through the eLearners Advisor (http://www. elearners. com/advisor/) (http://www. elearners. com/advisor/ (http://www. elearners. com/advisor/)). This interactive tool gauges personal success in going to school online.

About eLearners. com
Since 1999, eLearners. com® -- Where Learning Begins -- has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including degree and certificate programs, specialized training, and a variety of courses. For prospective students, eLearners® provides a powerful search engine of online offerings as well as extensive educational resources, available at no cost. For colleges and universities, eLearners® performance-based marketing services offer a low-cost, high quality method to increase enrollment and exposure to their programs. For more information on eLearners. com, an operating division of Halyard Education Partners LLC., visit http://www. elearners. com (http://www. elearners. com).

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PTPA Awards Turnaround its Seal of Approval! Parents Now Have a Treatment Program for Their Anxious Children That They Can Trust

2011-06-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

PTPA Awards Turnaround its Seal of Approval! Parents Now Have a Treatment Program for Their Anxious Children That They Can Trust

With so many products on the market for children, how does a parent know which one to choose? PTPA (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) makes that choice easier! PTPA Media’s mission is to discover and appraise new products designed for children and families. They research new products and coordinate testing with parents. Award winning products are selected based on value, functionality, quality and appeal. Informed Therapy Resources (ITR) is proud to announce that their professional audio program for anxious children, Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom, has earned the PTPA seal of approval.

Charlotte, NC (Vocus) August 31, 2010

The child anxiety treatment program, Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom has earned the PTPA Media seal of approval, becoming a parent tested and parent approved award recipient. PTPA Media is respected for conducting thorough assessments of products for children. Award winning products are selected based upon value, functionality, quality and appeal. The PTPA Winners seal is credible evidence to consumers and retailers that the product has been evaluated by a respected panel of parents and found to be exceptional.

ITR spent two-years creating Turnaround. The program is a professional treatment resource designed for anxious children who struggle with anxiety disorders such as Separation Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Phobia, Panic Attacks, and other childhood fears. Created by Psychologist Dr. David Russ and Licensed Professional Counselor Christopher McCarthy, this program is a major innovation in the treatment of child anxiety. No other treatment solution available today combines the professional, creative, and child friendly designed features found in Turnaround. Visit myanxiouschild. com for further information.

Turnaround is based upon cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has shown conclusive results in the treatment of children with anxiety and depression. The program invites the listening child to join 6 other anxious children on an imagined 10 day hiking trip with two “Docs” Chris and David, and a mentor teen named Emily. Emily acts as the narrator and guide, while the "Docs" lead the children though each day’s adventurous lesson. Along the journey, the children meet imaginary characters that make learning the anxiety reducing techniques easy and fun. The talents of 14 child actors and 6 adult actors were utilized to make Turnaround an audio adventure they'll want to listen to again and again. That's the beauty of Turnaround; the kids are learning scientifically researched anxiety busting techniques in way that feels fun, friendly, and emotionally engaging.

The Turnaround Audio Program includes:
Turnaround Program for kids (10 CDs)
Turnaround Journal, a 74 page workbook for kids
Chill Kit, relaxation guide for kids (1 CD)
Parent Guide, packed full of helpful information and techniques to help parents (2 CDs)

A BONUS CD titled Med FAQs in also included (2 CDs). Med FAQs is an interview with nationally recognized Neuropsychiatrist, Dr. James Lee, offering a comprehensive discussion on the medications used to treat child anxiety is also included.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release or for a demo, contact us at info(at)myanxiouschild(dot)com or call ITR at (704) 208-4304. Please visit http://www. myanxiouschild. com to learn more about Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom™.

About Informed Therapy Resources, LLC. (ITR):
Informed Therapy Resources (ITR) is dedicated to creating mental health treatment programs that are scientifically based, proven clinically effective, and professionally developed - using creative, eye-catching audio visual materials

David Russ, PhD, Psychologist
Dr. David A. Russ is President and a Licensed Practicing Psychologist of Carolinas Counseling Group in Charlotte, NC. He and his partners have built a busy practice with 11 clinicians. His doctoral dissertation was original research about a novel treatment for anxiety. He is co-author of the book, "More Than Me," published by NavPress. Dr. Russ has been an adjunct or visiting professor for four different graduate counseling programs. He has been continuously providing care for over 20 years. He has been happily married since 1983

Christopher T. McCarthy, MEd, Licensed Professional Counselor
Christopher McCarthy, MEd, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in treating child anxiety disorders, teen behavioral issues, parent-child relationship issues, and couple conflict. He co-owns Informed Therapy Resources and co-created Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom™, a professional and creative audio program designed to help kids get free from anxiety and fear (myanxiouschild. com). He has 3 Masters Degrees and is finishing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. He gives lectures on parenting and improving couple relationships. He has been in private practice since 1998 and is married with 3 children.

Contact:
Informed Therapy Resources (ITR)
E-mail: info(at)myanxiouschild(dot)com
Http://www. myanxiouschild. com

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Birmingham Vascular Surgeon, Dr. John Kingsley to Receive Award From VNUS Medical Technologies

2011-06-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

Birmingham Vascular Surgeon, Dr. John Kingsley to Receive Award From VNUS Medical Technologies

John Kingsley, M. D.,F. A.C. S.,R. V.T., will be presented with an award for the completion of 500 VNUS procedures by VNUS Medical Technologies on Friday morning, January 28, 2005 at 8:00 am at the Alabama Vascular & Vein Center.

Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) January 26, 2005

Board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both Vascular and General Surgery, Kingsley has been practicing his specialty for over 20 years, and is an acknowledged expert in vein disorder problems, such as varicose veins and the latest methods to treat vein insufficiency and spider vein problems. He began the study of vascular ultrasound when this technology was invented in the early 1980's. He has written and lectured to peer societies and publications regarding ultrasound of the arteries and veins.

The award to be presented will acknowledge Dr. KingsleyÂs significant contribution in the adoption and use of the VNUS Closure system for the treatment of saphenous vein problems.

Dr. Kingsley grew up in Pensacola, Florida. He was educated in Florida and in the Navy. He moved to Alabama in 1992 and later accepted a teaching position with the Carraway clinic in Birmingham. Dr. Kingsley has a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine Degrees from the University of Florida, He completed his surgery training at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda Maryland.

He is doubly Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery in both General Surgery and Vascular Surgery.

He is one of approximately 3500 surgeons in the U. S. to have achieved Certification in Vascular Surgery, and one of about 1000 to have successfully completed the Vascular re-certification examinations. Dr. Kingsley is also an RVT, having completed the examinations for Registered Vascular Technology by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

Dr. Kingsley is a member of the Medical Staffs of several Birmingham area hospitals. These include Brookwood Medical Center, Carraway Medical Center, and Shelby Baptist Medical Center among others.

Dr. Kingsley was recently selected one of the top surgeons in America, as published in the book "Guide to America's Top Surgeons." The book is published by the Consumers' Research Council of America; a Washington, D. C. based research organization.

About the VNUS Closure Procedure

The VNUS (pronounced venous) ClosureÃ procedure is a minimally invasive technology for treating superficial venous reflux, the underlying cause of many varicose vein problems, which are painful and unattractive.

According to the Handbook of Venous Disorders, 20-25 million Americans are afflicted with varicose veins. A leading cause of this medical condition is venous reflux disease caused by incompetent or ÂleakyÂ valves in the great saphenous vein running from groin to ankle in each leg. When vein valves deteriorate, blood flows backward in the veins (venous reflux) instead of towards the heart. This causes increased pressure in leg veins that often leads to leg pain, swelling, leg fatigue, varicose veins and even skin ulceration. Varicose veins frequently force people to dramatically change their lifestyle, especially when they have a standing profession and can no longer tolerate being on their feet all day. Market research indicates that over 2 million workdays are lost annually in the US and $1.4 billion is spent each year on this common medical condition.

Until the Closure system was developed and received clearance to market in the US in March 1999, physicians who wanted to address venous reflux and the underlying cause of leg swelling, pain and varicose veins, often elected to remove or "strip" the saphenous vein. Doctors would make an incision in the groin and a second incision below the knee or ankle, tie off the vein, then remove it with a long, surgical instrument extending inside the leg to the knee. The resulting postoperative convalescence lasted weeks and entailed significant bruising and discomfort. This procedure is still widely done.

Dr. Kingsley is an experienced Vascular Surgeon who routinely performs the Closure procedure. He is articulate, telegenic and has no financial interest in the Closure technology. He has done more than 500 Closure cases.

Worldwide more than 75,000 cases have been performed. The procedure is widely embraced by vascular surgeons and is reimbursed by most insurance companies.

The Closure procedure has been the subject of numerous studies and journal articles. The results from a peer reviewed, multi-center randomized trial comparing recovery rates and quality of life between patients treated with conventional varicose vein stripping surgery and the Closure procedure (radiofrequency vein ablation), appeared in the August 2003 edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery. This is the third randomized trial showing that the Closure procedure resulted in:

Less post-operative recuperation time Faster return to work and normal activities Less post-operative pain and limitation of physical activity

What has been confirmed again and again is that a physician can now make a single, small puncture near the knee and insert the slender Closure catheter into the saphenous vein running from knee to groin. The catheter is then positioned near the groin, energized with a radiofrequency generator and slowly withdrawn, sealing the vein shut. Swelling, bruising and pain are virtually eliminated in this outpatient procedure. Most patients return to normal activity within a day, as the latest research confirmed.

Best of all, once a defective saphenous vein is sealed shut, blood flow immediately diverts to healthy veins with good valves, and cosmetic issues are much easier to address.

For Further Information including interview opportunities with Dr. Kingsley and patients who have been treated using this procedure, broadcast quality animated video describing the procedures, and further information, please contact John Jenkins at edgemarketing Inc., 205-424-8840

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Alan King Launches New Web Site About Pain Management

2011-06-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Alan King Launches New Web Site About Pain Management

Alan King's books on pain management using acupuncture and TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, are available at http://www. alanking. net.

Saltburn, North Yorkshire, UK (PRWEB) March 24, 2005 -

Â Physiotherapist and pain management specialist Alan King has launched a new Web site at http://www. alanking. net (http://www. alanking. net) on managing pain with acupuncture and TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.

King has written several books and guides about TENS for both health professionals and people with no medical experience and regularly hosts pain management workshops at hospitals and clinics in the United Kingdom.

He is next scheduled to facilitate a ÂStudy Day on Pain Management using TENSÂ April 5 for the staff at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales.

ÂPeople who treat pain as health professionals and those who suffer from pain require different levels of knowledge,Â said King, a chartered physiotherapist with a practice in Saltburn, North Yorkshire. ÂSo I have written separate books for laymen and professionals and offer them on my new Web site.Â

His books include ÂKingÂs Guide to TENS;Â ÂGuide to TENS for Health Professionals;Â ÂNon Invasive Acupuncture for Everyone;Â and ÂPocket Book of Acupuncture Points.Â

The books are useful either as a complete guide or as a reference for specific points of pain and their management. ÂIt makes sense to read the appropriate guide in its entirety and note any precautions before undertaking any of the techniques involved,Â King says.

Western style acupuncturists believe that acupuncture works as a pain management tool by stimulating parts of the nervous system and brain to block pain or to encourage the formation and release of the body's own pain blocking chemicals.

TENS also works to stimulate the bodyÂs natural pain killers. It works with a small, battery-powered TENS unit to produce a small electric current on the skin. It manages pain by 'blocking' the pain messages as they enter the spinal cord or by stimulating nerves which carry messages up the spine to areas of the brain.

ÂTENS is not a cure for pain,Â King adds. Instead, people who use the TENS unit can gain control of their pain and get back to a normal life.

ÂKing's Guide to TENSÂ is the most popular of the books for people with no previous medical knowledge, offering an illustrated and simple step-by-step guide to managing pain using a TENS unit. The second edition, published in 2001, is available at http://www. alanking. net (http://www. alanking. net) and at online bookstores.

About Alan King:

Graduate Diploma in Physiotherapy

Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

State (UK) Registered Physiotherapist

Contact:

Alan King

Http://www. alanking. net (http://www. alanking. net)
Info@alanking. net

Media Contact: Nick Dey

Telephone: +44-131 556 2288

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Reimage Named 'Cool Vendor' by Leading Industry Analyst Firm

2011-06-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Reimage Named 'Cool Vendor' by Leading Industry Analyst Firm

Innovative Technology Company Developing Ground Breaking Products and Services Receives Prestigious Recognition--Companies Listed in the "Cool Vendor" Report are Innovative and Impactful

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 8, 2009

Reimage is included in the list of "Cool Vendors" in the "Cool Vendors in Customer Service Strategies, Michael Maoz and Johan Jacobs, March 3, 2009" report by Gartner, Inc. According to the Gartner report, "Despite a difficult environment in which to raise equity, several companies in customer service and support area of CRM are developing innovative new products and services." It goes on to state, "The fact that Gartner had more than 10 candidates for our cool vendors in customer service strategies research illustrates the criticality of customer service at all points in the economy, but especially when there is a need to lower operational costs without undercutting the level of service." The complete report is available to Gartner clients at www. Gartner. com.

Reimage (www. reimage. com), just one of four companies listed on the most recent 'Cool Vendor' report, offers a complete web-based diagnosis service, for professionals, PC technicians, IT administrators and home users, that automatically repairs dysfunctional PCs leaving user data intact and safe while boosting application performance by tracking and predicting users' actions. Being listed on the 'Cool Vendor' report is a tremendous honor stated Zak Dechovich, CEO of Reimage.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized by Gartner in the Cool Vendors report" said Mr. Dechovich. "We believe it is a testament to the dynamic products and services we provide and our leading edge thinking in developing technology that is not only needed to ensure companies and individuals' PC computers are running effectively and efficiently but that we are an invaluable resource especially during these ever changing economic conditions when time and money is limited."

With Reimage's patent-pending technology, the operating system can be brought back to its most stable and best working condition possible within 30 minutes. The process takes into account all software on the machine--scanning hundreds of thousands of potential causes of disruption--essentially emulating the human brain and automating the way software problems are identified and repaired. Reimage eliminates the need for diagnostic decisions based on superficial symptoms by studying all software object and interlinked dependencies, and comparing that information with a proprietary Reimage repository containing over 20 million components. The technology then surgically pinpoints only faulty objects and dependencies. Throughout the process, user data and preferences remain untouched. According to Nicholas Black, Marketing Director of Reimage, the use of the repository allows to automatically correct any malfunctions, with no need for prior preparation.

"The repository is a fascinating and ever-growing organism that facilitates the repair of applications based on how they look when they are fully functional," said Mr. Black. "Each day, it grows. Each day, the potential for component recognition and restoration improves. The swift restoration of missing parts and the removal of redundant parts is far more efficient than the conventional method of reinstalling."

Mr. Black goes onto say that Reimage never touches a user's data. "The reason that we don't actually handle the user's data, which we all worry about, is because of our technical process. We only bring in select software components that we indentify as missing or isolate software components that shouldn't be in a user's system or different pieces of software that keep clashing. So in essence, we jump around your data and applications and inject healthy files so your data stays perfectly safe and untouched."

Reimage is utilized by hundreds or PC technicians world-wide and hundreds of thousands of home users. The company continues to grow rapidly showing strong and stable future viability as well as continued growth in supporting multiple languages including English, French, Spanish and Hebrew.

"We are in a great position to support all operating system problems even after other companies won't," said Mr. Dechovich. "When those companies stop supporting Windows XP or other operating systems such as Vista and Windows7, we will be the only ones with the know-how and ability to continue keeping PCs working at their best. We are pleased to be having the success that we are achieving and extremely excited about the future and possibilities for expanded global outreach."

About Gartner's Cool Vendor Selection Process
Gartner's listing does not constitute an exhaustive list of vendors in any given technology area, but rather is designed to highlight interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness of a particular purpose. Gartner defines a cool vendor as a company that offers technologies or solutions that are: Innovative, enable users to do things they couldn't do before; Impactful, have, or will have, business impact (not just technology for the sake of technology); Intriguing, have caught Gartner's interest or curiosity in approximately the past six months.

Reimage
Reimage's instant, online, PC repair tool is a revolutionary new concept in PC repair that, for the first time ever, makes an old PC work like new. Reimage provides end user and professional tools, structured around its core technology. This technology increases the PC repair quality, and efficiency, by performing Windows XP repairs, in about 30 minutes requiring no set-up, at the click of a button. Reimage support is available in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew with additional languages being developed. Reimage was founded in 2007 and is based in New York, New York with Research and Development in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Tim Wildmon, President of the American Family Association Invites Dr. Friedman to his Radio Show for a Second Information Packed Interview

2011-06-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Tim Wildmon, President of the American Family Association Invites Dr. Friedman to his Radio Show for a Second Information Packed Interview

On May 3, 2010 at 11:00 a. m. ET, Tim Wildmon and Dr. Friedman will discuss the health benefits of Chews-4-Health International’s two products. The network, well known for it’s Christian and family values, recognizes that Chews-4-Health International offers products that will benefit the health of their listeners.

Wilmington, NC (Vocus) May 2, 2010

Dr. Friedman, CEO and formulator of Chews-4-Health was once again invited to the morning show of the nationally syndicated network American Family Radio. On May 3, 2010 at 11:00 a. m. ET, Tim Wildmon and Dr. Friedman will discuss the health benefits of Chews-4-Health International’s two products, the world’s first chewable nutritional supplement and first chewable weight loss product of their kind. The network, well known for it’s Christian and family values, recognizes that Chews-4-Health International offers products that will benefit their listeners.

Dr. Friedman and Mr. Wildmon will talk about the Chews-4-Health Dietary Supplement, the world’s first chewable super fruit, sea vegetable, antioxidant mix and the brand new weightloss product Trimulean, which has been responsible for thousands of weightloss success stories. The two chewable, all natural products, were developed and formulated by Dr. Friedman as a result of his passion to help people live healthier lives. Mr. Wildmon himself takes the dietary supplement and enjoys the health benefits.

American Family Radio can be heard on over 200 stations nationwide. Dr. Friedman, known for his contreversial and shocking facts on nutrition and health, always brings something new to his interviews and never disappoints the audience.

Dr. Friedman can also be heard on the Sold Out Sports Minute with Roman Gabriel, another show on American Family Radio. Roman is a big believer in Chews-4-Health. Roman states, “Since starting on Chews-4-Health I have noticed a big difference in my overall energy level and stamina. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, everybody needs an edge. I’m Sold Out on Chews-4-Health!”

About Chews-4-Health International -

Launched July of 2008, Chews-4-Health Inc. is headquartered in Wilmington, N. C., and its revolutionary products are now being sold in every major city in the USA and Canada. The company is led by CEO Dr. David Friedman, renowned chiropractic physician and doctor of naturopathy, recently named Health Expert for Lifetime Television’s weekly show “The Balancing Act.” Chews-4-Health, the daily nutritional supplement, helps provide valuable minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that many lack in their diet. Trimulean is an all-natural weight reduction system which combines caloric restriction and expenditure with a supplement to support healthy weight. The advanced combination of ingredients helps to satisfy the appetite, maintain energy and promote a healthy metabolism*. As revolutionary chewable supplements, Please visit: http://www. orderchews. com (Chews-4-Health) or http://www. eatlesscheatless. com (Trimulean) for more information on Chews-4-Health International and its products.

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PennWell Acquires London-Based Sustainable Energy and Technology Magazines

2011-06-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

PennWell Acquires London-Based Sustainable Energy and Technology Magazines

PennWell Corporation, a diversified global media and information company, announced today that it has acquired the sustainable energy and technology magazine group consisting of Renewable Energy World, Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production and Waste Management World from James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd. based in London.

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) April 9, 2006

Renewable Energy World is the leading international magazine for the renewable energy industry. Its subscribers include business professionals, engineers and policy makers around the world who are involved in power generating utilities, government, manufacturing of renewable energy systems, and management of renewable energy sites.

“Renewable Energy World will provide a powerful combination with PennWell’s POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels Conference & Exhibition, our annual trade show for the rapidly-growing renewable energy industry,” said PennWell President and Chief Executive Officer Robert F. Biolchini. “We view Renewable Energy World and the other two magazines as a strong fit with our portfolio of publications, events and information products for the global energy industry.”

Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production focuses on the clean and highly-efficient generation of power through decentralized generation and combined heat and power for an industrial, utility and governmental readership. The magazine is published in association with the World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE).

Waste Management World subscribers are involved in the waste management industry, including equipment suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, health authorities and government. It is also the official magazine of the International Solid Waste Association.

The magazines, which are published bi-monthly, and their related annual business guides will remain in London under the management of David McConnell, Publishing Director, who joins PennWell as Group Publisher of the three titles. The magazines’ Editorial Director Jackie Jones will also join PennWell. Edward Milford, founder of the magazines and James & James Managing Director, noted his confidence in PennWell as the best home for the future growth of the magazines. “PennWell’s combination of industry expertise and worldwide reach in multiple energy markets, together with their reputation for editorial integrity and quality products and events makes them ideally placed to continue the development of these titles,” Milford said.

Biolchini also stated, “PennWell is pleased that Edward Milford has agreed to remain as Publisher Emeritus of the magazines since his dedication to high quality editorial coverage and ethical reporting conforms to PennWell’s strict standards.” Biolchini further added, “We are committed to all facets of energy, to include power and oil and gas, the world’s most critical industries and view these three unique magazines as the foundation for building PennWell’s international sustainable energy and technology presence in areas of increasing importance to our customers and energy producers around the globe.”

In addition to POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels, a growing event which will be held April 10-12, 2006 in Las Vegas, PennWell owns 13 magazines and 26 events for the oil and gas, electric power, water and related energy markets, including Oil & Gas Journal, Offshore, Oil & Gas Financial Journal, Power Engineering and Power Engineering International magazines, and leading events such as Deep Offshore Technology and POWER-GEN, held annually in North America, Europe, Asia, Russia, India, China and the Middle East.

About PennWell

PennWell Corporation is a diversified business-to-business media and information company that provides quality content and integrated marketing solutions for the following industries: Oil and gas, electric power, water, electronics, semiconductor, contamination control, optoelectronics, fiberoptics, enterprise storage, fire, emergency services and dental. Founded in 1910, PennWell publishes 75 print and online magazines and newsletters, conducts 60 conferences and exhibitions on six continents, and has an extensive offering of books, maps, web sites, research and database services. In addition to PennWell's headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma the Company has major offices in Nashua, New Hampshire; Houston, Texas; London, England; Campbell, California; Fairlawn, New Jersey; Moscow, Russia; Schwabisch Gmund, Germany and Hong Kong, China.

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PACIENTES LATINOS SE GRADÃAN DE PROGRAMA CULTURALMENTE RELEVANTE FACULTÃNDOLOS A EFICAZMENTE MANEJAR SU DIABETES

2011-06-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

PACIENTES LATINOS SE GRADÃAN DE PROGRAMA CULTURALMENTE RELEVANTE FACULTÃNDOLOS A EFICAZMENTE MANEJAR SU DIABETES

Resultados de este programa servirÃ¡ de modelo para alcanzar a Latinos e incrementar prospectos para el tratamiento beneficioso centrado en los pacientes

LOS ANGELES, CA (PRWEB) May 19, 2003

16 de mayo de 2003--Hoy, participantes del programa Amigos En Salud unidos con sus familias celebraran un hecho memorable en el auto-manejo de su diabetes. El acontecimiento de graduaciÃ³n, se llevara a cabo en la ClÃnica Familiar QueensCare, da a los pacientes la oportunidad de compartir sus experiencias personales y sus triunfos colectivos durante los Ãºltimos varios meses. Jose Alcantar paciente declara, "yo ahora sÃ© mÃ¡s acerca de cÃ³mo la diabetes afecta mi cuerpo y que cambiando mis hÃ¡bitos creo que verdaderamente puedo vivir con la enfermedad controlÃ¡ndola en lugar de que la diabetes me controle. Tuve mucho miedo cuando primeramente fui diagnosticado. Me preocupaba que mi salud sÃ³lo se empeorarÃa, y que le iba ser masdificultosa la vida a mi familia. Me enterÃ© de que puedo vivir con esta enfermedad pero yo necesito el apoyo de mi familia para seguir el programa de la dieta y el ejercicio a diario

Angela Camilleri, coordinadora del programa Amigos por parte de Pfizer Health Solutions, explica "los promotores de salud ayudan a los pacientes tengan una comprensiÃ³n mÃ¡s profunda de su salud y el comportamiento dentro del contexto de sus vidas. La pura complejidad de la diabetes y las barreras al cuidado que los pacientes deben sobrepasar requiere una estrategia de enfoques mÃºltiples. Este acercamiento de enfoques hacia el paciente les da una oportunidad real y de largo plazo para que manejen exitosamente su diabetes". Ella agregÃ³, " Los resultados de nuestros graduados iniciales demuestran mejoras en los resultados clÃnicos del HbA1c. El A1c comÃºn entre pacientes alistados fue 9.4% al principio del programa, esta suma cayÃ³ dos puntos en el porcentaje a 7.05 % - dentro de un rango normal - despuÃ©s de trabajar con promotores de salud por un perÃodo de seis meses. Los resultados de todos los participantes del programa estarÃ¡n disponibles este otoÃ±o cuando esperamos que la mayorÃa de los pacientes se gradÃºen"

En el Condado de Los Ãngeles, el 16% de hispanos mayor de 40 aÃ±os sufre de diabetes. Para empeorar este problema muchos de ellos no tienen acceso a servicios de salud: se reporta que el 45% de latinos en el Condado de Los Ãngeles no tienen acceso a seguro de salud, 36% no tiene un proveedor regular para el cuidado de sus enfermedades, y se reporta que el 54% son obesos, el cual es factor principal de riesgo para la diabetes. Un reciente estudio por el Centro mÃ©dico de UCLA para InvestigaciÃ³n de la Salud, reportÃ³ que los hispanos tienen tasas "extremadamente altas" de diabetes a comparaciÃ³n de otras razas no-blancas. La situaciÃ³n se complica mÃ¡s ya que los latinos sobre la edad de 65, tienen la incidencia mÃ¡s alta de diabetes (24 %) en proporciÃ³n a los otros grupos.

Por seis meses los graduados participaron en un programa de educaciÃ³n sobre la diabetesenfocado en percepciones culturales esenciales para el manejo exitoso de la diabetes. Los promotores quienes proveen apoyo y educaciÃ³n sobre la salud, trabajan con pacientes reciÃ©n diagnosticados en EspaÃ±ol y enfocan la atenciÃ³n en creencias culturales populares, estrategias de cambio de comportamiento, y el uso de materiales de salud apropiados para ellos. Tomado en conjunto, se espera que esta estrategia incremente el deseo y la habilidad para alcanzar las metas de los pacientes y cambiar su comportamiento y el potencial para mejorla calidad de vida a largo plazo.

Edna Bush, enfermera y coordinadora del program Amigos en las ClÃnica Familiar QueensCare nos dice, "los participantes no siempre entienden que el diagnÃ³stico de una enfermedad que potencialmente amenaza la vida como la diabetes, se puede controlar exitosamente por muchos aÃ±os. La estrategia Amigos en Salud combina la enseÃ±anza sobre la diabetes, cambio del comportamiento de los pacientes, y el auto-manejo de su enfermedad dentro del contexto de la cultura Latina. Los resultados del programa hasta ahora han sido alentadores y resalta el valor de las interacciones positivas que los promotores de salud tienen en la conportamiento de su tratamiento". El programa fue implementado en las ClÃnica Familiar QueensCare en Eagle Rock, y Echo Park, y en el Este de Los Ãngeles. El Programa Amigos en Salud fue desarrollado por Pfizer Health Solutions en conjunto con las ClÃnicas Familiares QueensCare y es parcialmente patrocinado por la FundaciÃ³n Pfizer.

"Es tremendamente edificante ver que nuestros pacientes han assimilado el programa y han hecho cambios en el manejo de su salud y conjuntamente con Pfizer, pudimos contribuir en este esfuerzo", dijo Terry Bonecutter, Presidente Ejecutivo de QueensCare. Bonecutter cree que la educaciÃ³n culturalmente relevante y Ã©l empoderar a los pacientes es un componente importante en el cuidado de la salud que progresivamente se integrara en el cuidado proveÃdo en QueensCare.

Historial

Creado en 1995, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc (PHS) es la sucursal clÃnica de tecnologÃa de informaciÃ³n de Pfizer Inc. que combina aplicaciones de tecnologÃa con el cuidado clÃnico. PHS desarrolla e implementa soluciones que ayudan a lograr mejoras en la calidad de entrega del cuidado de la salud y la eficiencia operativa de grupos mÃ©dicos, planes de salud, hospitales, sistemas integrados de entrega y organizaciones comunitarias.

La fundaciÃ³n Pfizer es una fundaciÃ³n caritativa independiente establecida por Pfizer Inc en 1953. La misiÃ³n de la fundaciÃ³n es promover acceso para el cuidado de la salud de calidad y la educaciÃ³n, nutir la innovaciÃ³n y respaldar el envolvimiento comunitario de los empleados Pfizer.

Las Clinicas Franciscanas, conocidas como QueensCare Family Clinics, cuentan con cinco clinicas en el centro de Los Angeles, ed un organizacion independiente, no-lucrativa, administrada por QueensCare. QueensCare es una organizacion de beneficiensa publica que provee servicios de salud a personas de bajos ingresos o que no cuentan con seguro medico. Conjuntamente QueensCare y QueensCare Health & Faith Partnership mantienen una iniciativa de educacion publica que brinda servicios a mas de 60 escuelas e iglesias. Por medio de estas dos organizaciones, se brindaron mas de 200,000 consultas medicas a residentes de Los Angeles tan solo el aÃ±o pasado.

La Hemoglobina A1c

La hemoglobina A1c (A1c) es una prueba que mide el nivel de glucosa en la sangre de una persona durante los Ãºltimos 2 a 3 meses. Este es el indicador "estÃ¡ndar" para el manejo de la diabetes. El Presidente Bush enfatizo que "los estudios han demostrado que reducir un punto del porcentaje de A1c puede cortar hasta una tercera parte el riesgo de tener complicaciones debilitantes y costosas como retinopatia, nephropathy y neuropatÃa."

--30--

CONTACTOS:

Programa, Dora O. Tovar (817) 467-5759

CelulÃ¡r (817) 690-7671

Nationally Recognized Nutritional Expert Joel Fuhrman, M. D. Now Ads Talk Radio Show Host to His Resume with his Insightful and Information Rich Show "Nutritional Wisdom" with Dr. Fuhrman Debuting on the VoiceAmericaTM Network

2011-06-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

Nationally Recognized Nutritional Expert Joel Fuhrman, M. D. Now Ads Talk Radio Show Host to His Resume with his Insightful and Information Rich Show "Nutritional Wisdom" with Dr. Fuhrman Debuting on the VoiceAmericaTM Network

Nationally Recognized Nutritional Expert Joel Fuhrman, M. D. now ads talk radio show host to his resume with his insightful and information rich show "Nutritional Wisdom" with Dr. Fuhrman debuting on the VoiceAmericaTM Network**

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 11, 2007

Joel Fuhrman, M. D., a board-certified family physician and acclaimed author of Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Plan for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss, has just signed on for a second season of hosting his own live talk radio show, "Nutritional Wisdom".

"Nutritional Wisdom" with Dr. Fuhrman debuted in November 2006 on the VoiceAmericaTM Network, the world's leading live Internet talk radio broadcasting company. His show airs live each Wednesday at 8 AM/PST, 11 AM/ET on the VoiceAmerica Channel (www. voice. voiceamerica. com). Dr. Fuhrman's pilot season was so successful - with more live listeners and archive downloads than most of the more established programs - he was asked to keep the "Nutritional Wisdom" flowing and become a regular staple on VoiceAmerica's format.

Each week, Dr. Fuhrman discusses vital health topics that will put you in control of your own health destiny. He speaks with guests, who include people who have had successful recoveries utilizing his nutritional and natural methods. In this upcoming season, Dr. Fuhrman invites prominent guests, such as T. Colin Campbell, Peter Max, and David Jenkins, M. D. Ph. D, to join him on the show. Dr. Fuhrman also answers questions from listeners during the broadcast and concludes most shows with simply scrumptious nutrient-rich recipes. Every show is archived for on demand listening further allowing followers and new comers to hear "Nutritional Wisdom" when convenient for them. Listeners now listen to Dr. Fuhrman live and on the go with cell casting made available through VoiceAmerica™.

About Joel Fuhrman, M. D.:

Joel Fuhrman M. D. is a board-certified family physician and one of the country's leading experts on nutrition. He speaks to audiences at conferences, seminars, and events throughout the Untied States and Canada. He has lectured in benefits for the American Heart Association and the U. S. Olympic Team. Dr. Fuhrman has appeared in hundreds of magazines, radio, and television shows including: Good Morning America, The Today Show, Good Day New York, TV Food Network, CNN and the Discovery Channel with Mehmet Oz, MD. A nationally recognized nutritional expert, Dr. Fuhrman is also the author of several acclaimed books including; "Eat To Live", "Disease-Proof Your Child", "Cholesterol Protection For Life", and "Fasting and Eating for Health". Dr. Fuhrman's books have helped thousands to lower cholesterol, reverse diabetes, and lose weight. As a former world class athlete and coach, Dr. Fuhrman was a member of the United States World Figure Skating Team, winning medals in pair skating on both the national and world levels. He has dedicated his life career to Sports Medicine, Health and Fitness, Preventative Care and Nutrition. Learn more at http://www. drfuhrman. com (http://www. drfuhrman. com).

For more information about Dr. Fuhrman, please contact Janice McDonnell Marra at 908-237-2195 ext. 233. You can also contact Executive Producer Brandy Jackson at 480-294-6411 for advertising/sponsorship information or other show details.

About VoiceAmerica™Modavox:

(OTC. BB MDVX), Modavox is the leading producer and distributor of online, talk radio content, streaming approximately 250 hours of live programs and scheduled replays weekly on its Modavox VoiceAmerica™ Network (www. voiceamerica. com). Modavox, Inc. (www. modavox. com) is a pioneer in internet broadcasting, producing and syndicating online audio and video, and offering innovative, effective and comprehensive online tools for reaching targeted niche communities worldwide. Through its patented Modavox Central™ technology, Modavox "takes the search out of search," delivering content straight to desktops and internet-enabled devices. Through its proprietary StreamSafe™, WebcastWizard™ and Stream Syndicate™ tools, Modavox provides managed access for live and on-demand internet broadcasting and syndication; content management; and online meeting, event management, enterprise communications and distance learning.

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Zydical Inc. supports 143 B2B Vertical Healthcare Communities

2011-06-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

Zydical Inc. supports 143 B2B Vertical Healthcare Communities

(PRWEB) April 19, 2000

Zydical Inc. Supports 143 B2B VerticalHealthcare Communities

Bethpage, NY: April 2000: www. zydical. com center around procedure and treatment based purchasing, information, marketing and sales channels for physicians, procure-mentprofessionals, healthcare facilities, vendors, and service providers worldwide. Founded in 1999, Zydical is headquartered in Bethpage, New York and privately held. Physicians and healthcare professionals time is stretched thin seeing patients and making hospital rounds. Statistics show that physicians have increasingly less time to understand and learn about new procedures and treatments along with the techniques, products and technologies that are constantly evolving within their field. They don't have access to efficient information to evaluate products and the associated procedures. Vendors, meanwhile, have a difficult time accessing and educating these same physicians and their field personnel. Zydical. com offers a solution to the healthcare provider through an e-commerce platform with comprehensive clinical and product content to clinicians, purchasing professionals and vendors.

Zydical. com enables clinicians, suppliers and providers to exchange information regarding products, procedures and techniques in the market. This is done through communities supported by Zydical's multi-mechanism e-commerce platform. The solution consists of a Shopping Cart, Cataloging, RFP(Request for Products),Z-Agent, Auction, Price seeking functions and a search engine. The company plans on providing commerce combined with content from the latest clinical publications, outcome studies, normalized product information and clinical trial information along with vendor sponsored on-line demos, symposia, user groups and training. Zydical. com also provides tools that enable healthcare providers to efficiently manage product usage and achieve better outcomes. Recently Zydical secured contracts with 4 distributors in the United States (2 supply and 2 refurbished). This will enable Zydical to offer a full line of medical and office supplies to users. There will be over 30,000 products from 200 plus manufacturers available on our site. Vendors are added every day. Our platform is designed to accept products from numerous sources. The products in our site will be associated with over 164 procedures and treatments performed in over 143 specialty communities. We will be addingadditional procedures and treatments as we progress with our roll out. The content is from Procedures for Primary Care, John Pfenninger, MD and GrantFowler, MD and Ambulatory Care Procedures, Colyer and Ehrhardt. Zydical is in the process of formulating an agreement with Mosby Publishers. For more information about Zydical, visit www. Zydical. com Contact: Shane Kilmeyer, CEO & Founder: sk@zydical. comContact: Media Relations: PTMHCM@aol. com/516-5571554

America is Fed Up with Diet -- It's Time for the Anti-Diet Revolution

2011-05-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

America is Fed Up with Diet -- It's Time for the Anti-Diet Revolution

Until now, women have suffered the ups and downs of yo-yo weight gain and loss. Now women can have their cake, eat it too, and still lose weight. Chocolate Cake for the Thighs: The Anti-diet book for women is all about allowing, with a focus on awareness and activity. L. Kae Graniel, a 23 year fitness professional, writer and speaker has provided a 101 honest, helpful and fun health and fitness tips that guide women to the body they desire.

Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) October 12, 2006

Diets, like most things in life are cyclical. As the nation falls off the no-carb band wagon, waistlines are beginning to expand (again). With the holidays at our door the need for a plan of attack to fend off fat is crucial. Everyone knows diets don't work. If they did no one would be over weight. The current national motivation to go on another diet is at an all time low. Now is the time to explore a new concept -- The Anti-Diet. L. Kae Graniel, a 23 year fitness professional, writer and speaker has provided the plan: Chocolate Cake for the Thighs: The Anti-diet book for women (available now through Amazon. com ISBN 1-4259-4203-2 $14.95)

Chocolate Cake for the Thighs – The Anti-diet Book for Women is obviously not another weight loss / diet book. If anything, it is closer to a self help book. True, there is a lot of talk about food, but that's because there is a lot of talk about food in day to day living. The book makes meal suggestions but never offers recipes. It makes reference to meal planning but never offers a meal plan. The goal is not to be thinner. Losing weight will just be the icing on the cake when readers pursue a healthier lifestyle that includes improvements in food choices, physical activity and loving mental support.

L. Kae Graniel, the founder of Truespeak™, is a recognized key-note speaker, writer, and life coach – specializing in the 28 day Mastery Intensive. She has authored many articles for national and international magazines, newspapers and trade publications, as well as producing and hosting a variety of productions and television programs. L. Kae has a B. A. in Communication, is a Reverend, and certified Transformational Meditation™ facilitator. She has been teaching group fitness since 1984, leading over 2,500 classes in a variety of formats and environments. She is also a featured contributor and presenter for IDEA publications and their World conventions. L. Kae Graniel lives in Hawaii with her two daughters and husband of 21 years.

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Corps of Engineers Awards Stimulus-Funded Construction Contract for Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration

2011-05-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Corps of Engineers Awards Stimulus-Funded Construction Contract for Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, awarded an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract Sept. 16 to Performance Systems Inc., a small business based in Fruitland, Idaho, to begin construction of the Upper Springbrook Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project in Renton, Wash. The $649,990 Upper Springbrook Creek project will restore a 900-foot stream currently running through a roadside ditch along the north side of South 55th Street in Renton.

Seattle, WA (Vocus) September 22, 2010

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, awarded an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract Sept. 16 to begin construction of the Upper Springbrook Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project.

The $649,990.00 contract funds the construction phase of the project. The Upper Springbrook Creek project will restore a 900-foot stream currently running through a road side ditch along the north side of South 55th Street in Renton. By building a new channel, the project will maximize the habitat and spawning potential for this section of stream. The project also will include a new culvert under South 55th Street to aid in fish passage. The Upper Springbrook Creek is one of the few remaining spawning areas for coho in the Green/Duwamish River watershed.

Performance Systems Inc., a small business based in Fruitland, Idaho, received the award, announced Sept. 16.

The City of Renton is the local sponsor for the project.

"Springbrook Creek is a wonderful asset winding through Renton and by restoring the upper section of the creek we are protecting our salmon habitat and improving the health of our watershed," said Jay Covington, chief administrative officer, City of Renton.

The project team anticipates starting construction in the spring of 2011.

Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration Project
This project is a comprehensive restoration program for the entire Green/Duwamish ecosystem spanning the tidal estuaries to the spawning and wildlife habitat areas in the upper basin. The Upper Springbrook Creek Park project is one of 45 separate projects that emphasize the restoration of critical habitat within the Green/Duwamish River watershed.

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Kforce Inc. Recognized for Prestigious Interactive Media Award

2011-05-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

Kforce Inc. Recognized for Prestigious Interactive Media Award

Kforce Professional Staffing (Nasdaq:KFRC) (http://www. kforce. com) has received a bronze award for excellence in the business to business category at The 2008 Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition.

Tampa, Fla. (PRWEB) May 14, 2008

Kforce Professional Staffing (Nasdaq:KFRC) (http://www. kforce. com (http://www. kforce. com)) has received a bronze award for excellence in the business to business category at The 2008 Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition.

"We are honored to receive such a prestigious award for our web site and pleased to be in the company of such other winners as IBM, SAP, Nike and Sony," says Chris Hachey, director of eMarketing, Kforce. "Of even more significance to us is that results were a key factor in the judging. Our integrated marketing campaign supporting the launch of our site has resulted in having web traffic triple within a six-month period."

There were more than 1,000 entries for the seventh annual international competition, representing 20 countries and nearly all 50 states. An international panel of judges, consisting of industry professionals with diverse backgrounds, as well as an end user panel, evaluated 18 different categories ranging from online advertising to video games. The 2008 winning entries showcase the industry's best interactive media solutions including web sites, CDs and DVDs, online ads, video and more.

"The 2008 competition was the most competitive to date. The work in this year's competition was at such a high level that the judges really had their work cut out for them," said
Mike Sauce, founder of the Horizon Interactive Awards. "All of the winning entries displayed a high level of sophistication, aesthetic creativity, technical excellence and clear purpose."

About the Horizon Interactive Awards
In its 7th year, the Horizon Interactive Awards was created to recognize excellence in interactive media production worldwide. Since 2001, the competition has received thousands of entries from countries around the world and nearly all 50 U. S. states. Each year, those entries are narrowed down to the best of the best to be recognized and promoted on and international stage for their excellence. The judging process involves a Horizon Interactive Awards advisory panel, end user panel and a worldwide panel of judges consisting of industry professionals. Winning entries are dubbed the "best of the best" in the interactive media industry. For more information, visit www. horizoninteractiveawards. com.

About Kforce
Kforce (Nasdaq:KFRC) is a professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions for commercial and governmental organizations in the skill areas of technology, finance and accounting, and health and life sciences. Backed by more than 2,000 staffing specialists, Kforce operates with 67 offices in 41 markets in North America and one in Manila, Philippines. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www. kforce. com (http://www. kforce. com).

Certain of the above statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: business conditions and growth in the staffing industry and general economy; competitive factors, risks due to shifts in the market demand, including, without limitation, shifts in demand for our Kforce Government Solutions, Health and Life Sciences, Finance and Accounting and Technology groups, as well as the market for search and flexible staffing assignments; changes in the service mix; ability of the Firm to complete acquisitions; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Firm's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. In particular, there can be no assurance that shares will be repurchased pursuant to the Repurchase Program or that Kforce's shares are, or will remain, attractively valued. The words "should," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "foresee," "plan" and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were made. The Firm undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. As a result, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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Pritzker Law Firm Calls for Policy Change to Fight Worsening E. coli Problem

2011-05-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Pritzker Law Firm Calls for Policy Change to Fight Worsening E. coli Problem

Leading food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker calls on U. S. regulators to add non-0157:H7 forms of E. coli to its list of adulterants in ground beef. Currently, only E. coli 0157:H7 is designated as an adulterant in raw ground beef. Other strains of E. coli, such as E. coli 0111, are just as virulent and deserve equally stringent regulation.

Minneapolis, Minn. (PRWEB) November 26, 2008

Fourteen years after the United States designated E. coli O157:H7 as an adulterant in raw ground beef, one of the nation's leading food safety lawyers is calling on regulators to adopt the same zero-tolerance policy against other strains of the potentially deadly bacteria.

Fred Pritzker, a Minneapolis attorney whose firm specializes in major food-borne illness cases, said several other types of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) must be declared adulterants by the U. S. Department of Agriculture to help reverse dangerous upward trends in illnesses and recalls of tainted meat.

Last year alone, E. coli O157:H7 contamination prompted 21 recalls of ground beef totaling 29 million pounds - the highest level in five years. Ten of the recalls were associated with sickness. For a country that purports to have the safest food supply in the world, there's been no progress made since 2004 in wiping out E. coli infection, Pritzker said. In fact, lately the bug has been gaining ground.

"It makes no sense that we are regulating one deadly pathogen and ignoring others," said Pritzker, who noted that one person was killed this summer and more than 300 others were sickened by E. coli 0111 linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Okla. The restaurant reopened Saturday after being shut down for an extended period.

In October 2007, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) co-hosted a public meeting at which non-O157:H7 STECs were a leading topic of concern. More than 100 non-O157:H7 strains exist around the world, but health officials in the U. S. are most concerned with O111, O26, O103, O45 and O145.

Six months after the public meeting, the FSIS said it was considering designating certain non-O157:H7 STECs as adulterants. Pritzker said the major policy change is needed right away. "We need to have the same stringent approach to all pathogens that are capable of causing serious harm or death," Pritzker said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's possible that non-O157 STEC infections are as prevalent in the United States, or more so, than O157:H7 infections. Since 1990, the U. S. has recorded at least 23 outbreaks of infectious disease caused by the non-O157:H7 micro-organisms. And Like E. coli O157:H7, certain non-0157 STECs can lead to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that has killed children, the elderly and persons with weak immune systems.

By designating as adulterants the most virulent non-O157:H7 STECs, Pritzker said, the FSIS will gain the power to effectively shut down plants when meat is contaminated. The scrutiny will force greater responsibility on the beef industry to detect the bacteria and to prevent it from entering the food supply.

When E. coli O157:H7 was legally labeled an adulterant in 1994, the industry improved its testing mechanisms. Likewise, screening would readily improve for non-O157:H7 strains. The zero-tolerance would also apply to beef imports and provide consumers with stronger protection in recall situations

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P. A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli poisoning and other foodborne illnesses, http://foodpoisoning. pritzkerlaw. com (http://foodpoisoning. pritzkerlaw. com). For more information, visit http://www. pritzkerlaw. com (http://www. pritzkerlaw. com) or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker | Ruohonen has offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

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And the Best Breakthrough Performance in the Battle Against Wrinkles Goes to… Bioque®: New Scientific Skincare Line Contributes to the 2007 MTV Movie Awards

2011-05-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

And the Best Breakthrough Performance in the Battle Against Wrinkles Goes to… Bioque®: New Scientific Skincare Line Contributes to the 2007 MTV Movie Awards

Bioque, the results-driven ‘Scientific Skincare that Works™,’ based on Nobel Prize-winning biochemical research, was in the celebrity gift bag at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards.

Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) June 7, 2007

For its leading role in the ‘anti-aging drama,’ Bioque is in the bag—literally. The results-driven ‘Scientific Skincare that Works™,’ based on Nobel Prize-winning biochemical research, was in the much-desired celebrity gift bag at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards this evening — providing presenters, award-winners, and nominees with its best-selling stars.

While MTV lauded Hollywood’s top achievers at its annual Movie Awards, Bioque presented its own award winners. Participants like Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba received Bioque’s Serum XL™ - multi-peptide wrinkle reverser; Formula 9™ - fabulously firming ‘facelift in a jar;’ and Vitamin K1 Intensive Serum — a multipurpose wonder that treats spider veins, bruising, under-eye circles, skin redness, and age spots, and damage caused by the sun (and almost anything under it!). Hosted by Sarah Silverman, the hot ticket evening featured performances by Amy Winehouse, Rihanna and Jay-Z.

Bioque skincare takes the spotlight for its Nobel Prize-winning technology and extraordinary short-term and long-term results. This ' Scientific Skincare that Works ’ immediately helps to repair, rejuvenate and improve the appearance of today’s skin cells; while simultaneously laying the foundation for healthier generations of skin cells to come. Bioque’s groundbreaking ‘signal technology’ delivery system — based on the Nobel Prize-winning biochemistry of Dr. Martin Rodbell - delivers beneficial natural compounds into the interior of skin cells in both the surface layers and deep understructure of skin, where these compounds promote collagen synthesis to repair and rebuild damage. In rival skin care lines, a much smaller percentage of beneficial ingredients penetrates into cells (20% as opposed to Bioque’s over 80%); most are lost on the outside of cells. Bioque’s cruelty-free skincare also contains the highest percentages of beneficial peptides, bio-available vitamins, and botanicals. And, all 2007 profits from Bioque skincare sales go to support anti-cancer research. Celebrity fans include Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, and Halle Berry, among others. Bioque has taken Europe by storm and is currently making its US debut: now playing at Henri Bendel, www. bioque. com, fine department stores worldwide, and coming soon to a store near you!

Press and product photo contact: Isabel Smith at 818-922-5520 or via e-mail.

Visit www. bioque. com

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Microscan to Showcase Extensive Range of Machine Vision and Auto ID Products at VISION 2010

2011-05-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Microscan to Showcase Extensive Range of Machine Vision and Auto ID Products at VISION 2010

Microscan announces it will showcase an extensive range of machine vision and auto ID products at the upcoming VISION 2010 Trade Fair, scheduled to take place November 9 to11, at the Stuttgart New Exhibition Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. Microscan will actively demonstrate multiple products in Hall 6, Booth D43, including machine vision lighting, machine vision hardware and software, and auto ID barcode products.

Renton, WA (PRWEB) November 4, 2010

Microscan, a global technology leader for track and trace solutions, announces it will showcase an extensive range of machine vision and auto ID products at the upcoming VISION 2010 Trade Fair, scheduled to take place November 9 to11, at the Stuttgart New Exhibition Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. Microscan will actively demonstrate multiple products in Hall 6, Booth D43, including machine vision lighting, machine vision hardware and software, and auto ID barcode products.

As a global technology leader for precision data acquisition and control solutions, Microscan manufactures a comprehensive line of products encompassing vision, lighting and auto ID. “It is clear that the technologies required to support auto ID and machine vision applications are merging,” notes Andrew Zosel, Global Vice President of Marketing. “Recent safety and product recalls have emphasized the need for both the traceability provided by auto ID systems, and the inspection and control of machine vision systems. Microscan is one of the few manufacturers which can provide complete solutions encompassing auto ID and machine vision.”

Recent Microscan vision product releases include the VS-1 Track and Trace, NERLITE® HI-BRITE, and Visionscape® 4.1 software with color matching. The VS-1 Track and Trace is a complete vision inspection solution for pharmaceutical, healthcare, and other packaging applications. This label inspection system features a smart camera, integrated lighting and powerful machine vision tools to read barcodes, verify text, and inspect packaging. The new NERLITE® HI-BRITE machine vision lights provide the brightest LED illumination in their class, along with an easy web-based controller. Visionscape® is a scalable, single-software package that can be used for both GigE solutions and smart cameras, and the 4.1 upgrade includes new features such as color matching and color segmentation. Color matching can be used in high-speed applications such as sorting parts, and color segmentation enables other tools to be applied in a specific color plane.

Recent Microscan auto ID product releases include improved solutions for 1D and 2D barcode reading, such as the QX Hawk industrial imager with expanded capabilities and three megapixel resolution available in the MINI Hawk compact imager.

From basic barcode reading up to complex machine vision inspection, identification, and measurement, Microscan remains committed to continuous innovation and development to meet market and customer needs for quality product solutions to track, trace and control applications.

For more information on Microscan’s machine vision, lighting, and auto ID solutions, stop by Hall 6, Booth D43 at the VISION 2010 Trade Fair or visit http://www. microscan. com.

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Optelec's Compact+ Awarded Top Independent Living Design Award

2011-05-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

Optelec's Compact+ Awarded Top Independent Living Design Award

Advanced Video Magnifier Improves Quality of Life with the Portability of an Ultra-slim Design

Vista, CA (PRWEB) December 2, 2007

At their 90th Anniversary, the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) awarded one of the 2007 UK Independent Living Design Awards to Optelec's Compact+. An innovative bed rail, a four wheeled walker that converts to a seat shared the honor of receiving an award. Sue Norris, the head of England's Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing, part of National Health Service - Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) and chair of the judges said, "We felt that the three prizewinners had made subtle but significant improvements to the safety and quality of life for the users of their products."

The Independent Living Design Awards aim to recognize innovative products that assist independent living. Products are judged on innovation; aesthetics; usability and practicality; contribution to lifestyle, enhancement of quality of life and finally clarity of user instructions and literature. Products from all sectors of healthcare are submitted for the award. These awards are organized by the magazine, Assistive Technologies, whose readers vote for the companies they consider have given the best service in the fields of mobility, orthotics, prosthetics and rehabilitation.

The judges said, "(The Compact+) was a very neat, aesthetically pleasing product that demonstrated its ease of use in many different situations for partially sighted people." User Mr. Donald Marks, 80, from Tunbridge Wells - UK, cannot read anything without assistance. He says, "I looked at all the 'toys' on the market and selected the Compact+ and it's become my left hand. It's compact, functional and easy to use."

About Optelec… "Improving the quality of life of visually impaired and dyslexic people, reaching out with simple and effective solutions," Optelec was founded in 1985 and is recognized as the worldwide market leaders in providing innovative solutions for the blind, visually impaired and learning disabled. The company's flagship ClearView+ line has led the industry in high quality, innovative products that effectively improve the daily lives of the visually impaired. In January 2007, Tieman U. S., Holding Company to Optelec U. S. spun off ShopLowVision. com and LowVision. com as a sister companies, providing the one-stop-shop for optical, non-optical and daily living aids products solutions and education for eye care professionals and consumers.

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Sexual/Sensuous/Erotic--Can Adult Fiction Be Hard-Edged For Him...And Romantic For Her?

2011-05-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sexual/Sensuous/Erotic--Can Adult Fiction Be Hard-Edged For Him...And Romantic For Her?

"Absolutely," insists Neale Sourna [neel sore'-nah--www. neale-sourna. com, PIE: Perception Is EverythingÂ], the film & TV screenwriter/adult fiction author of HOBBLE, Infinity Publishing. com, ISBN 0-7414-1284-5, Trade Paperback, 291 pgs, $18.95 US, which includes excerpts of other coming work. Order retail & wholesale [Mon-Fri] at 877-BUY-BOOK [877-289-2665] or online retail at BuyBooksOnTheWeb. com, bbotw. com; BarnesNoble. com, BN. com, Amazon. com, Borders. com, Waldenbooks. com/Brentano's, etc. Order through your LOCAL BOOKSTORES. Listed with Books In Print. Available NOW from Ingrams/Lightning Source.

(PRWEB) April 24, 2003

"Hobble is a book that you must read."--RAWSistaz Reviews

"...the narrative style is rather appealing...an interesting story...I would read again...

it rather intrigued me. The heroine is unique."--Sensual Romance Reviews

"When's your next one coming out?"--Several Cleveland, Ohio Readers to the author

HOBBLE is Sourna's first published novel and is the intensely sexual and insightfully psychological story of hero/antihero BENNET GILLESPIE, a world travelling, Native American medical professional, a man extremely successful in his public life yet painfully dissatisfied with the path of his personal life. A man with "a hero-damsel complex", as his perilously sudden, obsessive, sexual entanglement with a troubled, "knife happy", African American "innocent", and her controlling British "legal guardian" threatens to cost Benn a lot more than his life.

*************She nodded in full conviction. Her use of ÂheroicallyÂ wasnÂt lost on me.

*************I also donÂt care to be praised too highly, even by someone like her. The

*************higher and harder the pat on the back, the more likely it is to eventually

*************break your neck. I almost told her not to underestimate a manÂs innate,

*************complex fears when it comes to amour. Specially, when sharp objects,

*************blood, and the criminally insane were involved.ÂHOBBLE

Many of HOBBLE's readers and reviewers have expressed eagerness to read more from the intriguingly different and never dull, sharp mind of Cleveland, Ohio native Neale Sourna. Sourna is an Advisory Board Member for "Creative Screenwriting Journal" [as S Reynolds], has penned for PLAYGIRL Magazine, and her psi-fantasy/horror-erotic romance FRAMES was chosen as a 5th Annual New Century 2002 Screenplay Contest Finalist.

She believes fiction should entertain us yet reflect our lives; holding it up for us to review our points of view at different angles, causing us to reconsider the world around us with our MOST SENSUOUS ORGAN--our minds. In fact, Sourna's official slogan and new personal publishing company name is, "PIE: Perception Is EverythingÂ" [www. pie-perceptioniseverything. com].

And, in HOBBLE, Benn's personal perception is what we get in her erotic-romantic-hard-edged fiction. Sourna says, "As altruistic as we all can be, selfishly personal drives propel us all; but, we pretend otherwise. Yet, even those dearest to us have no concept of the range, the depth, or genesis of our hidden, driven ambitions and fears. Sometimes, we ourselves don't even know, understand, or accept them."

HOBBLE's outward character agendas are only the surface, as Benn, Day, and senior citizen Hopkins each surreptitiously or blatantly, and sometimes in altruistic selfishness, push their own overlapping, personal needs. This is no "pink cover" romance. This is man-friendly sex with realistic motives and complications, and a strong face-the-real-world core.

*************I was exhausted of making life and death choices for people, who

*************refused to face their own music and make those decisions. I was

*************tired of having to carry extra malpractice insurance because I was

*************making those kinds of decisions, in their lazy stead. IÂd ÂswornÂ,

*************as I left on sabbatical, that the next time I made a life and death

*************anything for someone else, I was gonna get paidÂa hell of lot

*************more than my usual fee or the usual effusively grateful thank yous.

*************And especially more than the I-love-you, BUT Âoh, by the wayÂ,

*************second-guess lawsuits.ÂHOBBLE

HOBBLE is all or nothing, romantic sexual warfare, with bittersweet, tenderly romantic moments facing off with devastating and dangerous emotional clashes, fought with minds and bodies, with legalities and deceptions, and no one of these three nor any interrelationship among them is merely just what it seems, as the unanticipated ending proves. Enjoy.

Order retail/wholesale from 877-BUY-BOOK [877-289-2665], INFINITY PUBLISHING. COM BOOKSTORE, BuyBooksOnTheWeb. com, or BBOTW. COM

Www. neale-sourna. com

Also at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks and more.

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Fiction/subject sorting categories: literary erotic romance, sensual romance, erotica, romance, literary, multi racial, Hispanic, Spanish American, Native American (Mayan, Incan, Peruvian, Mexican), African American, Virginia Beach VA, Cleveland OH, orthopedics, mental health;

Author categories: American, Midwest USA, NE Ohio, Cleveland OH, American University, Lake Erie College, Cuyahoga Community College, JFK H. S., multi racial, African American, Native American, female

Proteins Improve Triathlete's Performance

2011-05-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Proteins Improve Triathlete's Performance

Manchester fireman Martin Cain used sports nutrition supplements from CNP Professional to win his fight with injuries and improve his stamina, fitness and personal bests. Now he's winning races, too.

(Vocus) August 20, 2008

Niggling injuries that flared up just as he was preparing for a major event were the bane of triathlete Martin Cain's life. A regular top ten finisher, in 2007 he won his first competition - the Ripon Triathlon. Then, frustratingly, his training was curtailed once again. But for Martin the win underlined that he was missing out on his full potential.

A year later and Martin's already won two events, at Chester and Horwich, and he hasn't been out of the top five all season. He's had no injuries and he's made significant improvements in his PBs for all three disciplines. So what's changed?

"I was training as hard as I could and, while my diet was healthy, I figured that nutrition might be the key," says Martin, 32, who works as a fireman in Greater Manchester. "So I went to a sports nutrition seminar. Afterwards I collared the speaker, Kerry Kayes, and we chatted about my injuries. He went through my diet and said I wasn't getting enough protein. It made sense, so I started taking protein supplements. That was the turning point."

Kerry Kayes is the sports nutrition specialist who works with several top endurance athletes including boxer Ricky Hatton. He founded his company, CNP Professional, on the belief that athletes need better quality protein supplements in order to repair their body and maximise their performance potential. Competing in three separate disciplines means triathletes need to be fit enough to train all the time - Kayes says that this makes them prime candidates to benefit from his nutritional philosophy.

"The trauma that modern triathletes put their bodies through is immense," Kerry says. "That calls for extra protein to help muscles repair themselves. To get enough extra protein from an ordinary diet would mean eating huge amounts of food and having to deal with subsequent weight issues. A good protein supplement delivers the protein in a low-calorie, easily digested formula that gives the body what it needs, when it needs it."

Martin says his experience confirms that a diet including protein supplements leads to better stamina and fitness - because his muscles are in better shape, so he can keep up with his rigorous training schedule. "I tend to go back to certain races each year, to gauge my level of fitness," Martin says. "At Wetherby in 2007 I came sixth with an overall time of two hours eight minutes. This year, in much worse conditions, I came third in two hours three minutes."

Swimming was always Martin's weakest discipline and he's improved here, too. "Typically in the past I'd take around 25 minutes for a 1500 metre swim. I've shaved at least two minutes off that this year."

You might think working fireman's shifts would play havoc with a triathlete's training and diet, but not a bit of it. "It's the best job I could be doing - I get to train every day, while other people are at work, and I can keep a close eye on my diet, too," he says. "I live nine miles from the fire station, so I run or bike in every day."

A key difference with CNP supplements such as Pro Peptide is that they are made with proteins formulated using a patented low-temperature processing method. This protects the protein’s valuable bioactivity, which is destroyed in the high temperature processing that other protein supplements use. Being a more natural, less processed product also makes Pro Peptide easier for the body to digest.

"There's no doubt that Kerry's protein supplements have made all the difference this year," Martin adds. "My performance has improved and I'm really enjoying competing. They're very easy to drink, too - absolutely spot on."

Visitors to the CNP website can buy the company's Endurance Ultra Stack. This selection of supplements, which includes Pro Peptide, is designed to fulfil maximum energy demands and optimise recovery and repair. It is available at a discounted price of £134 (normal retail price £185.95).

CNP Professional is one of the UK's leading sports nutrition specialist companies. For more information visit http://www. cnpprofessional. co. uk or call +44 (0) 161 320 1212 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 320 8145 for sales.

Triathlete Martin Cain – August 08
Press enquiries: Toni Turner or Alison Haynes at The Publicity Works
Tel: +44 (0) 1263 761000 Email: cnp @ publicityworks. biz
Paul Riley, Marketing Manager, CNP Professional: +44 (0)161 320 8145
Photography is available in a choice of formats on request from cnp @ publicityworks. biz

Martin Cain's Supplements - what he uses and what they do for him
Pro Peptide – an advanced blend of bioactive fast and slow proteins for muscle repair and recovery. Pro Recover – a blend of high glycemic (fast-acting carbohydrates) and fast-acting proteins providing a high concentration of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). Taken immediately after training to restore energy and aid recovery. Pro Slam – ready to drink 86ml vial that delivers 27 grams of protein, zero carbohydrates and zero fats in a pre-workout formulation designed to delay the onset of muscle fatigue. Taken immediately before training to increase endurance. Pro Tect – a blend of Collagen and Glucosamine, which has been scientifically proven to assist in the formation of connective tissue (joints, tendons, ligaments). Strengthens and protects joints. Pro Lipid – healthy fats (Omega 3,6 and 9) plus cholesterol-lowering ingredients. Pro Vital – high strength multi vitamin and mineral formula with anti oxidants. Pro Napalm – herbal energy kick and re hydration formula. Pro MR – a high protein, low fat meal replacement formula combining fast and slow proteins for optimum anabolic (muscle growth) and anti-catabolic (muscle sparing) effect. Probiotic organisms help maintain and promote a healthier digestive system. Glutamine in its more bio-available peptide bonded form rounds off the ideal protein formula. Complex carbohydrates and a balanced vitamin and mineral profile ensure a healthy and effective approach to dietary adjustment. Taken for nighttime protein.

CNP Professional is a leading supplier of sports nutrition supplements ranging from protein shakes, protein bars, creatine supplements, meal replacements, mass gainers, weight loss supplements and post work out shakes all designed for the ultimate in sports nutrition.

Kerry Kayes, the founder of CNP Professional is a former national bodybuilding champion. He has been involved in sports nutrition for many years and his dietary expertise has established him as 'the man in the know' to sportspeople worldwide including boxer Ricky Hatton, Sean Long of St Helen's RLFC and David Dunn of Blackburn Rovers.

CNP Professional supplements are carefully formulated to ensure that the body is able to make best use of the nutrients.

There are several articles explaining protein nutrition supplements on the CNP website - go to the home page and click on 'nutrition' under the articles section.

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2Insure4Less. com Makes Insurance Shopping Process Easier for Insurance Consumers

2011-05-20T02:14:00.000-07:00

2Insure4Less. com Makes Insurance Shopping Process Easier for Insurance Consumers

2Insure4Less. com recently shortened its insurance quote questionnaire to make the insurance shopping process easier for consumers looking to compare insurance quotes.

North Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) July 9, 2007

2Insure4Less. com is a free online service that helps insurance consumers shop for insurance. 2Insure4Less. com has recently shortened its insurance quote questionnaire to make the insurance shopping process easier for insurance consumers who are looking to compare insurance quotes.

More and more people are shopping for insurance online. Some find it frustrating, because many websites require insurance consumers to fill out very long, complicated forms to get an insurance quote. 2Insure4Less. com understands that shopping for insurance should be an easy process; therefore all insurance forms were shortened to the minimum required fields.

2Insure4Less. com allows insurance shoppers in all 50 states to compare quotes on nearly every type of insurance: auto, home, renters, health, life, disability, long term care, cancer, burial, business property & casualty, business benefits, annuity.

Choosing the right insurance policy can be complicated. To help insurance consumers get the information they need before purchasing an insurance policy 2Insure4Less. com has created an insurance learning center (http://www.2insure4less. com/info/) that gets updated every week. This free insurance learning center on the site contains 1000+ useful articles for insurance consumers that can help them save money and learn about insurance coverage they need before buying.

About 2Insure4Less. com
2Insure4Less. com is a website owned and operated by Itsol Inc. 2Insure4Less. com helps insurance shoppers shop for insurance by proving them with auto, home, renters, life, long-term care, disability, cancer, burial, business benefits, health, business insurance quotes (http://www.2insure4less. com/business-insurance. aspx) , and annuity quotes. For more information, please visit http://www.2insure4less. com (http://www.2insure4less. com)

Contact:
Maksym Holovchenko
800-647-2164

# # #

Research and Markets: Key Business And Financial Performance Indicators Of Medical Device Companies Analyzed

2011-05-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

Research and Markets: Key Business And Financial Performance Indicators Of Medical Device Companies Analyzed

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Medical Device Companies Performance Tables 2004 to their offering.

(PRWEB) October 14, 2004

Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com (http://www. researchandmarkets. com)) has announced the addition of Medical Device Companies Performance Tables 2004 to their offering.

This report compares and contrasts the performance and fortunes of more than 110 leading medical device and equipment companies. Each company is ranked against a range of key business and financial performance indicators, using reported figures from 1999 to 2003. Up to five years of key data from the Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow are presented. Furthermore, a comparison of companies within three geographical regions can be carried out: North America, Japan and Europe.

Medical Device Companies Performance Tables 2004 provides a unique opportunity to assess a company's past performance and potential future activity.

Extensive Contents

Key Financial Indicators: Medical Device Sales Total Revenues Operating Income Net Income Earnings per Share R&D Expenditure Capital Expenditure Total Assets Foreign Sales Employees

Companies are also ranked by

Productivity Profitability Research Rates Investment Rates

Performance Indicators: (Using Medical Device Sales as an example)

Companies by Medical Device Sales 2003 (US$ Million) Companies by Yearly Growth (Local Currency) Companies by Five Year Growth (Local Currency) Five Year Movement of Medical Device Sales (1999 US$ Exchange Rate) Five Year Change in Medical Device Sales (Index Numbers)

Individual company results are provided for:

3M Abbott Laboratories Advanced Medical Optics Advanced Neuromodulation Agfa-Gevaert Alaris Medical Systems Alcon Aloka Ambu Analogic Ansell Arrow Int'l Arthrocare AstraZeneca B Braun C R Bard Bausch & Lomb Baxter Int'l Becton Dickinson Bergman & Beving Biomet Boston Scientific Bristol-Myers Squibb Canon Cantel Medical Carl Zeiss Cochlear Coloplast Conmed Cyberonics Datascope Delft Instruments Dentsply Int'l dj Orthopedics Drager Eastman Kodak Edwards Lifesciences Elekta Encore Medical Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Fisher Scientific Fresenius Fuji Photo Film Fukuda Denshi Gambro General Electric Genzyme Getinge Guerbet Guidant Gyrus Haemonetics Hillenbrand Industries Hitachi Hogy Medical Hologic Hoya Huntleigh Technology ICU Medical Inamed Integra Lifesciences Invacare Johnson & Johnson Kimberly-Clark Kinetic Concepts Konica Kuraray Kyphon MDS Medical Action Industries Medtronic Mentor Merit Medical Systems Microtek Medical Molnlycke Health Care Nihon Kohden Nipro Novartis Olympus Optical Omron Orthofix Int'l Paul Hartmann Philips Phonak ResMed Respironics Shimadzu Siemens Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Sonic Innovations Sonosite St Jude Medical Steris Straumann Stryker Sybron Dental Specialities Synthes-Stratec Teleflex Terumo The Cooper Companies Thoratec Toray Toshiba Tyco Int'l Varian Medical Systems VISX Vital Signs William Demant Wright Medical Zimmer Zoll Medical

For more information visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c7259 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c7259)

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

Press@researchandmarkets. com

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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MOVE THE BED - GET AHEAD. STUDENTS GET BETTER GRADES SLEEPING IN THEIR "WISDOM" DIRECTION

2011-05-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

MOVE THE BED - GET AHEAD. STUDENTS GET BETTER GRADES SLEEPING IN THEIR "WISDOM" DIRECTION

It's an age old problem with an ancient solution: how to encourage kids to do better in school. The answer is feng shui and it's as simple as moving your child's bed.

(PRWEB) August 18, 2002

Feng Shui is the 4,000 year-old Chinese practice of arranging our living space to be in harmony with the earth's energy or "chi" so we are in balance with the forces of nature. This energy flows through our homes and when you know a little bit about feng shui, you can take advantage of the good energy and benefit from it.

Why the Sleeping Direction is Important

There are eight compass directions (N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW) Each child has four good compass directions and four bad compass directions, determined by their year of birth and gender. We spend the most amount of time in one spot every day in our bed, and the sleeping direction is very important because energy constantly flows to us as we sleep. The goal is to align the child's bed so that the top or crown of the head is pointed towards one of their good compass directions.

Each of these four good directions has a different kind of beneficial result associated with it: Wisdom, Marriage & Family Harmony, Health, and Wealth. Sleeping your child in their "Wisdom" direction will help them get better grades and improve their attitude about school. They still have to do the work but it will be easier for them to achieve their goals. Room colors and clutter also affect your child, but adjusting the bed for the best sleeping direction is an easy feng shui application that any parent can do. You can find your child's best compass directions at www. fengshuidiva. com in "Best Compass Directions". The information is free so why not give it a try and send them back to school "Feng Shui'ed" for better grades.

Robyn Bentley is a certified Feng Shui Consultant, Author, Teacher, and owner of the tutorial web site fengshuidiva. com. She is proficient in several schools of feng shui including Flying Star, Traditional Compass & Form, and Black Hat Sect. Robyn is a frequent guest on radio stations around the county giving out tips as "Feng Shui Diva!Â"

Lumie Shines the Spot Light On New Acne Treatment

2011-05-16T04:47:00.000-07:00

Lumie Shines the Spot Light On New Acne Treatment

This December, light therapy expert, Lumie, is launching Lumie Clear™ a brand new innovative handheld medical device that uses phototherapy to provide quick, natural, pain free treatment to the common skin condition, acne vulgaris.

Cambridge, UK (PRWeb UK) November 26, 2009

This December, light therapy (http://www. lumie. com) expert, Lumie (http://www. lumie. com), is launching Lumie Clear™ a brand new innovative handheld medical device that uses phototherapy to provide quick, natural, pain free treatment to the common skin condition, acne vulgaris.

Based on published research, Lumie, a company with over 18 years experience in light therapy, is launching Lumie Clear™. The new LED based light provides effective treatment for acne that is both safe and without any known side effects. In published studies where this type of light therapy has been used every day over a six week period, subjects reported noticeable improvements to their acne; after12 weeks continued use, some reported 75 per cent clearance.

Using a combination of blue and red LEDs, Lumie Clear™ emits two wavelengths of light; blue (415nm) to kill the bacteria causing acne and red (660nm) to stimulate healthy tissue growth and decrease inflammation.

Aimed at the mild to moderate sufferer, Lumie Clear (http://www. lumie. com)™ should be used as part of a daily skincare routine over a 12 week period. The built-in timer provides quick 15 minute bursts of light that need to be applied to each area affected by acne. The ergonomic design allows Lumie Clear™ to be used in a number of ways:
By detaching the treatment head away from the base unit, Lumie Clear™ can be used as a handheld device to offer quick, intensive treatment at a close up distance Place the treatment head back onto the base unit and Lumie Clear™ can be used hands-free at an angled position that targets the face – as treatment is less intensive, it will need to be used for longer Keeping the treatment head attached to the base unit, Lumie Clear™ can be angled to a second hands-free position that targets those difficult to reach areas, like the back and shoulders – again because treatment is less intensive, it will need to be used for longer. Acne vulgaris is a widespread skin complaint found in up to 80 per cent of adolescents. It constitutes nearly one fifth of all visits to dermatologists and has a higher female occurrence. The onset of the condition usually starts around puberty and symptoms can last well into adult life.

Lumie Clear™ has the advantage over the vast number of medicinal treatments available which experts like the Bupa Health Team (http://hcd2.bupa. co. uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/acne. html), advise present many challenges to both dermatologists and patients. Topical remedies like creams and gels have a messy application, can produce slow results and can cause painful irritation. Oral drugs such as antibiotics can increase bacterial resistance, and others may cause severe long term side effects.

Dr Rakesh Patalay, BSc MBBS MRCP, Research Fellow in Dermatology at Hammersmith Hospital, said: “Over the last five years there has been increasing evidence that light based therapies using blue and red wavelengths are effective for the treatment of acne - some patients even reporting up to 75 per cent clearance after 12 weeks continued use.”

“Based on research originally carried out by Hammersmith Hospital, further clinical trials have now taken place that demonstrate the efficacy of this type of application for the treatment of acne.”

“I’m sure many acne sufferers will welcome the introduction of home based light therapy treatments as they provide an alternative to creams, gels and antibiotics.”

Lumie Clear™ features include:
Certified as medical device Combined treatment from blue and red LEDs Typically 15 minutes daily treatment at near contact Handheld device Base unit so that light can be used hands free in two angled positions Built-in timer providing 15minute bursts of light Jonathan Cridland, CEO of Lumie, said: “We have been in the light therapy industry for a long time now and have seen the number of applications in which it can be applied grow considerably. It’s no longer just about Seasonal Affective Disorder and the winter blues, as scientific research has also shown that light therapy can be used in other areas to regulate sleep patterns, boost energy and provide pain free treatments to skin conditions, like acne.”

“Light therapy is already a well established treatment in the skincare industry, but has only been readily available from dermatologists at specialist clinics. Lumie Clear™ is completely unique; it offers home based treatment incorporating light from both blue and red wavelengths simultaneously (to speed-up treatment time), is hand held or can be used from a dressing table hands-free.”

“We are all very excited to see the launch of Lumie Clear™ as not only does it offer a natural alternative to medicinal treatments like creams and antibiotics, but it’s safe, effective and has no known side effects.

Notes to Editors:
If you would like any further information, access to scientific research or comments from academic experts, please do not hesitate to contact the Lumie press office on 01954 780 500 or email lindsay (at) lumie (dot) com

The violet light emitted by the LEDs in Lumie Clear™ are very bright, Lumie therefore recommends that users do not stare at the light with the naked eye – Lumie supply users with goggles and recommend they should be worn during treatment.

Research Abstract:

Phototherapy with blue (415 nm) and red (660 nm) light in the treatment of acne vulgaris
P. PAPAGEORGIOU, A. KATSAMBAS* AND A. CHU
Unit of Dermatology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Road, London W12 0NN, U. K.
*Adreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece

"In this study we have evaluated the use of blue light (peak at 415 nm) and a mixed blue and red light (peaks at 415 and 660 nm) in the treatment of acne vulgaris. One hundred and seven patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris were randomized into four treatment groups: blue light, mixed blue and red light, cool white light and 5% benzoyl peroxide cream. Subjects in the phototherapy groups used portable light sources and irradiation was carried out daily for 15 min. Comparative assessment between the three light sources was made in an observer-blinded fashion, but this could not be achieved for the use of benzoyl peroxide. Assessments were performed every 4 weeks. After 12 weeks of active treatment a mean improvement of 76% (95% confidence interval 66±87) in inflammatory lesions was achieved by the combined blue±red light phototherapy; this was significantly superior to that achieved by blue light (at weeks 4 and 8 but not week 12), benzoyl peroxide (at weeks 8 and 12) or white light (at each assessment). The final mean improvement in comedones by using blue±red light was 58% (95% confidence interval 45±71), again better than that achieved by the other active treatments used, although the differences did not reach significant levels. We have found that phototherapy with mixed blue±red light, probably by combining antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, is an effective means of treating acne vulgaris of mild to moderate severity, with no significant short-term adverse effects."

About Lumie:
Lumie is Europe’s market leader in light therapy and produces a range of quality products, including dawn simulators, bright light and visors, all of which are certified as medical devices. Light therapy provides relief to sufferers of mood disorders (such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the winter blues), boosts energy levels, improves sleep patterns and corrects body clock problems such as jet lag.

Lumie is a trademarked brand belonging to Outside In (Cambridge) Ltd, a company with over 18 years experience in light therapy that pioneered the first ever dawn simulator. Lumie quickly grew as a brand, providing a refreshing new look and approach to the market by using scientific expertise, product innovation and customer feedback.

Lumie has earned the respect of the medical profession by constantly evolving its portfolio of products based on new developments in scientific evidence and clinical trials. It is a massive success in the mainstream health and wellbeing arena and the Bodyclock range is fast-becoming the world’s best-selling form of light therapy. As well, Lumie also prides itself on providing the highest level of personalised care to its customers, through its customer care team and with the internet forum.

Lumie (http://www. lumie. com) products are currently available by logging onto http://www. lumie. com (http://www. lumie. com)], by calling 01954 780 500.

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Website Publisher Hires Dan Smith as Web Content Managing Editor

2011-05-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

Website Publisher Hires Dan Smith as Web Content Managing Editor

Tornado Solutions, LLC, an online publisher of niche content, announces the hiring of Dan Smith as Web Content Managing Editor.

(PRWEB) July 22, 2005

Dan Smith is the new Web Content Managing Editor for Tornado Solutions, LLC, a fast growing website publisher.

Tornado Solutions, LLC, an online publisher of niche content, announced that it has hired Dan Smith as Web Content Managing Editor. Mr. Smith will be responsible for developing editorial strategy and content and expanding Tornado's network of writers. Mr. Smith joins Tornado in its southern California office.

"Our top priority is to provide original quality content for people searching for information online," stated Tim Stay, co-founder of Tornado Solutions. "To create in-depth, relevant content, we need world-class, expert authors and journalists from around the world to write for us. With DanÂs background as a writer and with his marketing, management, and business expertise, we feel that he will contribute substantially to our team."

"I am extremely excited to be working with the expert team at Tornado Solutions," said Dan Smith. "Tornado concentrates on nano-publishing and participatory journalism Â the future of online media Â and is positioned to shape the direction of publishing, journalism, and the media. I intend to help Tornado Solutions achieve even greater success in this arena."

"We are thrilled to acquire the talent and experience of someone like Dan," said Hal G. Halladay, President of Tornado Solutions. "His expertise will be critical to our success in scaling our network of writers and thereby broadening and deepening our content."

Mr. Smith continued, "One of my goals is to not only substantially expand the content on TornadoÂs websites, but to continually improve the quality of its content. We endeavor to provide the Internet reader with free, expert, useful information and advice on the topics they care about, whether it be health http://www. be-health-smart. com/ (http://www. be-health-smart. com/), call centers http://www. freecallcenterquotes. com/ (http://www. freecallcenterquotes. com/), or finances http://www. financial-guide-savvy. com/ (http://www. financial-guide-savvy. com/). We will hire expert writers from across the world to supply unique and helpful information for our topic-specific websites."

Previous to joining Tornado Solutions, Dan Smith was a Manager for T-Mobile USA. Prior to that, he was VP - Marketing for Senior Discover, Inc, a provider of online technology and services. Mr. Smith also served as VP - Marketing for Marketing Ally Teleservices, a call center that was ranked in the USA Top 50. Dan Smith has also written and edited a novel.

Mr. Smith possesses expertise in writing, editing, management, operations, and organization. In his career, he has created and developed many training and instructional programs, and has led numerous business teams to profitability, sales, and operational success. He received an MBA from Brigham Young University, and a BA in Economics from Brigham Young University.

About Tornado Solutions, LLC

Tornado Solutions, LLC, http://www. tornadosolutions. net (http://www. tornadosolutions. net), is a rapidly growing online publisher of topic-specific websites, with headquarters in Provo, Utah, and an office in southern California. Tornado SolutionsÂ purpose is to provide expert and detailed information, solutions, and resources on a wide range of subjects. Tornado Solutions' recognize the need and value of presenting expert, information-rich websites to the end consumer-the reader. Led by a team of seasoned managers with many years of website creation and management experience, Tornado Solutions utilizes professional expert writers to supply valuable website content to the online world.

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Herbal Conference in Michigan Hosts International Teacher of the Wise Woman Tradition, Susun Weed

2011-05-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Herbal Conference in Michigan Hosts International Teacher of the Wise Woman Tradition, Susun Weed

(PRWEB) June 21, 2004

The Herbal Alliance of Northern Michigan is proud to have, as keynote speaker of its 3-day herbal conference July 16-18, Susun Weed, herbalist, elder, author, and holder of the "Wise Woman Tradition.Â This will be in addition many other noted speakers and workshops, vendors, and celebrations with fire and music in the evenings.

Susun has traveled the world for almost two decades now in service to the "green nation." She shares the wisdom of wild food, medicine, living; sacred ceremony; the invisible practices of prevention and nourishment as well as the empowerment of taking responsibility for your life, your heath, your creations.

ÂWise and Wild: Healing Gifts from the Plant WorldÂ will be held at Twin Lakes Camp, situated on 175 acres in a beautiful wooded setting located 4.5 miles west of Traverse City, Michigan. Running 3 days, July 16-18, this herbal conference is designed to inspire, educate, and share. For more information, contact Sharon Jones, 231-882-7765, or Joan DÂArgo, 231-228-5470, or visit the website at http://www. herbalalliance. org (http://www. herbalalliance. org). The cost of $200 includes all workshops and activities, vegetarian food and dormitory style lodging.

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at www. susunweed. com or contact the Wise Woman Center at PO Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498.

Datactics Delivers Data Quality Management Across Multinational Domains

2011-05-15T03:04:00.000-07:00

Datactics Delivers Data Quality Management Across Multinational Domains

Exclusive interview featuring Datactics' Sarah Bearder

Denver, CO (PRWEB) May 19, 2008

Sarah Bearder, Cofounder of Datactics, recently participated in an exclusive interview with Ron Powell and the Business Intelligence Network (www. BeyeNETWORK. com). In this interview, Bearder explains why Datactics was acknowledged in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Quality, and how its applications can address the most challenging of data quality projects such as product information management and customer data integration.

"With unicode, data agnostic and grid enabled computing functionality embedded in its technology Datactics can resolve complex data quality issues emerging as a result of the global nature of businesses. "Being an innovator in the data quality management arena, Datactics' applications have evolved to incorporate sophisticated functionality that exceeds the requirements of traditional data cleansing," says Sarah Bearder, Cofounder of Datactics. "Datactics can effectively manage product data in multiple languages and metrics distributed across various computing resources to increase global purchasing leverage and optimize supply chain operations. Foremost the deployment of grid enabled computing means organizations can now manage highly intensive data quality processes by simply adding in-house commodity computers to increase processing speed, which provides a cost effective means of gaining super computing power."

"Datactics is one of the young, agile data quality companies emerging that can address product, customer and finance quality issues across multinational domains," says Ron Powell, Cofounder and Editorial Director of the Business Intelligence Network. "This company provides functionality beyond basic name and address to handle complex data quality projects for instance stock part management and financial information system management."

During 2008 Datactics is focused on ongoing commercial expansion by growing its network of international partners and the identification of new vertical markets. From a product perspective, Datactics is committed to evolving its technology, delivering additional dashboard process management capabilities, in order to simplify the management of increasingly complicated data quality processes.

To listen to the interview, please click here (http://www. b-eye-network. com/spotlights/datactics_0108/propackage_datactics_0108.html).

The Business Intelligence Network Solution Spotlights are intuitive dialogues with innovative solution providers, and these spotlights provide a cutting-edge introduction to the new products and services of interest to the business intelligence community. The Network publishes six newsletters serving more than 115,000 readers across a wide variety of industries, making it the largest newsletter-based information source for business intelligence, performance management, data warehousing, data integration and data quality.

About Datactics
Datactics (http://www. datactics. com/) specializes in data quality management technology, delivering applications to analyze, process and manage volumes of disparate data types distributed across multiple computing resources or located within a centralized location. Its highly scalable and powerful solutions provide tangible benefits such as increased purchasing leverage, supply chain efficiencies, reduction in fraud and increased compliance. Clients worldwide include KPMG, Terex, Philips, Long Islands' Largest Health Care Provider, Bank of Ireland and numerous UK local government authorities.

Datactics products can be utilized in batch or real time environments and deployed as stand alone, embedded with other applications or via web services (SOA). Typical business applications include 'Single View of Truth' (e. g. product, supplier or customer) and data integration applications including web based solutions featuring applications such as Data Quality Firewall, Remote Data Validation and Federated Search. Its diverse applications include product information management, CRM/single view of customer, compliance & governance, fraud detection and direct marketing.

About Business Intelligence Network™:
The Network's flagship site BeyeNETWORK. com (http://www. b-eye-network. com/home/index. php) leads the industry with up-to-the-minute news, newsletters, articles, executive spotlights, podcasts, expert-hosted channels and blogs. Experts include Claudia Imhoff, Bill Inmon, Craig Schiff, Colin White, David Loshin, and others. BeyeRESEARCH. com (http://www. beyeresearch. com/) provides research and case studies from leading authors and experts in business intelligence. BeyeBLOGS. com (http://www. beyeblogs. com/) is a business intelligence-specific community blogging site that provides an open forum about industry issues and challenges. BeyeSEARCH. com (http://www. beyesearch. com/) offers the first and only editor-driven directory and search engine specially built to serve this industry.

Contact:
Business Intelligence Network
Katie Rostermundt
+1-262-780-0202
Krostermundt @ b-eye-network. com

Contact:
Datactics
Mary Cunningham
+1-888-643-9041
Mary. cunningham @ datactics. com

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Franchising Pioneer Lonnie Helgerson to Lead Veteran Franchise Centers; New Firm Will Help Veterans Find Business Opportunities

2011-05-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Franchising Pioneer Lonnie Helgerson to Lead Veteran Franchise Centers; New Firm Will Help Veterans Find Business Opportunities

RecruitMilitary, a military-to-civilian recruiting firm based in Cincinnati, has formed an affiliated company, Veteran Franchise Centers (VFC), and appointed Lonnie Helgerson, an Army veteran and a pioneer in the franchise industry, as its President. VFC will assist veterans in acquiring military-friendly franchised businesses that are members of VetFran, a program of the International Franchise Association (IFA). VFC franchise headquarters will be located in Sarasota, Florida.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) July 6, 2010

"We are delighted to welcome Lonnie into the RecruitMilitary family," said Drew Myers, president and founder of RecruitMilitary and a former captain in the United States Marine Corps. "He is absolutely world class in franchising. He has a great reputation for getting things done; he knows the companies, the associations, all the major players. He understands the industry from top to bottom, because he has worked in all the segments."

VFC is launching nationally this summer with franchised offices throughout the United States. All VFC offices will be veteran-operated; providing veteran-to-veteran business counseling. In addition, VFC is creating strategic partnerships with financial institutions, banks, and other supplier entities that can provide special veteran financing options and business programs.

Having worked in the franchise industry for more than 25 years, Helgerson created the first franchised chain of on-site, full-service computer repair and networking stores by founding Computer Doctor in 1993. In addition, he founded and established two other technology franchise chains--Expetec Technology Services and InstantFX Web Services. Helgerson's background also includes work in franchise operations for Computerland, MicroAge, and Super 8 Motels.

From 2006 to 2009, he was President and Chief Operations Officer of the nation's largest child safety franchise chain, Ident-A-Kid Services of America, and its affiliate, eMed-ID, whose franchisees sell personal health-record products to consumers.

Helgerson is a Certified Franchise Executive and Chairman of the IFA VetFran committee. He also serves on the IFA Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE) Board of Governors; the IFA Franchisor Forum; the Board of Advisors of The International Institute of Franchise Education, a unit of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; the Board of Advisors of the Rosenberg International Center of Franchising at the University of New Hampshire; and the Board of Directors of the Franchisor Association of Florida.

About RecruitMilitary

RecruitMilitary connects employers, franchisors, and educational institutions with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, account executives, and search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. Since 2006, RecruitMilitary has produced Veteran Opportunity Expos throughout the United States. The company also offers subscriptions to its database of more than 450,000 registered candidates who have military backgrounds at www. recruitmilitary. com, retained hiring services, and advertising space in online and print media. RecruitMilitary distributes more than 36,000 copies of each issue of Search & Employ, a bimonthly print magazine, to over 220 military bases throughout the world, National Guard and reserve units, and job seekers who attend the company's expos. Drew Myers founded the company in 1998.

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VHA Inc. Signs Agreement with PNC to Provide Electronic Payments Solutions for Members

2011-05-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

VHA Inc. Signs Agreement with PNC to Provide Electronic Payments Solutions for Members

PNC and VHA Inc., a national health care network, announced today a new agreement to provide VHA members nationwide with treasury management services specifically designed to help health care organizations to both reduce their processing expenses and increase their working capital.

Pittsburgh (PRWEB) November 1, 2010

In addition to traditional commercial card services, VHA members will be able to transform their existing accounts payable (AP) process by integrating PNC’s commercial card as a payment option. By moving from a paper-based to an electronic payments system, member organizations will benefit from lower costs and greater control, visibility and timing of their payments.

“We are committed to providing our members with the resources they need to conduct business cost-effectively,” said David Gillan, vice president of Purchased Services and Strategic Sourcing at VHA. “Our members will be able to reduce their processing costs and time through the use of these electronic payment services, while also gaining increased control over how and where their funds are being spent.”

VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. In 2009, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.47 billion to members.

“VHA is highly regarded and is one of the largest group purchasing organizations in the nation. We look forward to working with an organization of their scope and influence to help their members achieve their financial goals so that they can maintain their focus on the business of patient care,” said Jeffrey Troutman, executive vice president, PNC Healthcare.

Formed in 1977, through its 16 regional offices, VHA serves 1,400 hospitals and more than 30,000 non-acute care providers nationwide. VHA was ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 38th best place to work in health care in 2010.

PNC has accrued industry insight over the past decade, serving the financial services needs of more than 1,600 healthcare industry customers with customized solutions, innovative technology and proprietary research.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (http://www. pnc. com) is one of the nation’s largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. Follow @PNCNews on Twitter for breaking news, updates and announcements from PNC.

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HCG Diet Direct Cites the Sociological Aspect of the Obesity Epidemic

2011-05-13T04:28:00.000-07:00

HCG Diet Direct Cites the Sociological Aspect of the Obesity Epidemic

HCG Diet Direct cites the sociologic aspect of the obesity epidemic. Compulsive behavior and mental issues are no longer the only root causes professionals are blaming for the obesity epidemic. As obesity becomes more of a national (and world) politic issue, the obesity epidemic is being considered from sociologic and biologic perspectives.

Phoenix, AZ (Vocus) January 14, 2010

HCG Diet Direct cites the sociologic and biologic perspectives professionals are beginning to consider as the root cause of the obesity epidemic (http://www. hcgdietdirect. com/hcg-diet-news/hcg-obesity-epidemic. html). In the past the public as well as most professionals laid the blame for the ever increasing trend toward obesity on compulsive eating, and mental issues (i. e. anxiety, depression, extreme stress, unhealthy familial relations, etc). The continued increase of obesity amongst modern society is now being considered a consequence of a general social condition.

Biologic factors exacerbating the obesity epidemic include:

1. The body’s natural weight control system is still active in a society that no longer depends upon unpredictable food supplies.
2. The body's natural attraction to sweet, fatty and salty tastes is still active although they are no longer necessary (theses specific tastes once indicated rare essential nutrients).
3. The human body’s natural signals push people to eat when food is available because it may not be available in the future. In the past this natural survival feature of the body’s system ensured that energy could be stored as fat for future needs.

Modern Societal factors that make the body’s natural weight control system obsolete and often harmful:

1. Food is readily available in mass quantities. It is rare for an individual to need to store energy for the future through fat.
2. Massive variety is available for many in today’s society when it comes to food. Individuals do not reach a point at which they stop eating from sheer monotony. There is always something new and interesting to reach for when tired of one food item.
3. Speed is prized in modern society; the majority of individuals prize fast preparation and fast eating. This makes it difficult for the body’s alert indicating hunger is satisfied to reach the brain in time to stop overeating.
4. Little to no physical activity is required for the large majority of individuals. For instance, walking has been replaced by driving, sitting and watching TV has replaced more active pursuits, etc.

Some scientists are studying the possible similarities between drug addiction and food addiction. Both drug and food addictions are fed by the sheer availability of products. And it has been suggested that both addictions are related to the same brain centers.

HCG (http://www. hcgdietdirect. com/) Diet Direct encourages dieters and prospective dieters to consider their own personal situations in regards to food, physical activity, their family, their work, their social life, etc. The cause of the problem is often bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles. HCG Diet (http://www. hcgdietdirect. com/abouthcgdiet. html) Direct offers oral HCG (https://www. hcgdietdirect. com/secured/) based weight loss products direct to consumers online at: HCGDietDirect. com. Enter the following code at checkout 20off2010 to receive 20% off your order.

References: “Obesity is a mental health issue” Healthline. com. To get further information on HCG Diet Direct or the HCG Diet get in touch with Jenny Boynton at info(at)HcgDietDirect(dot)com or by phone at: 1-602-916-0002. Or you can visit HCG Diet Direct at their website at www. hcgdietdirect. com.

Contact: Jenny Boynton
Company: HCG Diet Direct
Www. hcgdietdirect. com
Phone: 602-916-0002
Email: info(at)HcgDietDirect(dot)com

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PowerSteering Announces Upcoming PPM Webcast: "Measure What Matters Most"

2011-05-12T23:41:00.000-07:00

PowerSteering Announces Upcoming PPM Webcast: "Measure What Matters Most"

February 26 Presentation to Highlight the Most Valuable Portfolio Management Metrics.

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) February 12, 2009

PowerSteering Software, the leading on-demand Project & Portfolio Management (PPM) solution (http://www. powersteeringsoftware. com/ppm-solutions) for managing IT, New Product Development, Lean Six Sigma and other enterprise programs, will host a free thought leadership webcast on Thursday, February 26 at noon (EST) entitled, "Measure What Matters Most: Using Metrics to Improve Portfolio Performance."

Presented by Susan Go, PowerSteering PPM Solution Architect, the webinar will describe the most significant metrics that PMOs, portfolio managers, and program leaders should use to measure portfolio impact, ensure that projects are aligned with the strategic goals of the organization, and improve business decisions. Anyone interested in attending may register online (https://powersteering. webex. com/powersteering/onstage/g. php? d=488815224&t=a&SourceId=prweb).

"Many businesses struggle with how to assess the health and value of their overall portfolio despite having fairly mature project management capabilities," observes David Boghossian, founder of PowerSteering Software. "Our experience with these global organizations has shown that there's a tendency to focus too much attention on the micro-level project metrics, whereas the real business impact is largely determined at the portfolio level."

The session is part of PowerSteering's ongoing Practical Insights webcast series. Previous webcasts have featured clients Ingersoll Rand, Merck, and Brunswick, among others, as well as leading research firms Forrester and Gartner. Recordings from past webcasts are available on the Webcasts page (http://www. powersteeringsoftware. com/knowledge-center/webcasts) of PowerSteering's website.

About PowerSteering Software

PowerSteering Software is the leader in On-Demand Enterprise PPM software for Information Technology, Operational Excellence, New Product Development and other enterprise initiatives. Its easy-to-use software provides executives at the US Army, Raytheon, Ingersoll Rand, Merck, United Health Group, TD Bank, Best Buy and over 120 other customers with executive visibility, strategy alignment, and enhanced team productivity to drive strategy and accelerate results across the enterprise. For additional information, please visit http://www. powersteeringsoftware. com (http://www. powersteeringsoftware. com).

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The Personalized Medicine Market Aims to Match the Most Appropriate Drug to the Right Person

2011-05-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

The Personalized Medicine Market Aims to Match the Most Appropriate Drug to the Right Person

Research and Markets (researchandmarkets. com/reports/c9698) has announced the addition of the Jain PharmaBiotech report: Personalized Medicine - Scientific and Commercial Aspects to their offering.

Dublin (PRWEB) December 19, 2005

Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c9698 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c9698)) has announced the addition of the Jain PharmaBiotech report: Personalized Medicine - Scientific and Commercial Aspects to their offering.

Profiles of 175 companies involved in developing technologies for personalized medicines, along with 325 collaborations are included in the part II of the report. Finally the bibliography contains over 400 selected publications cited in the report. The report is supplemented by 52 tables and 14 figures.

The aim of personalized medicine or individualized treatment is to match the right drug to the right patient and, in some cases, even to design the appropriate treatment for a patient according to his/her genotype. This report describes the latest concepts of development of personalized medicine based on pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenetics and pharmacoproteomics. Basic technologies of molecular diagnostics play an important role, particularly those for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Diagnosis is integrated with therapy for selection of the treatment as well for monitoring the results. Biochip/microarray technologies are also important and finally bioinformatics is needed to analyze the immense amount of data generated by various technologies.

Pharmacogenetics, the study of influence of genetic factors on drug action and metabolism, is used for predicting adverse reactions of drugs. Several enzymes are involved in drug metabolism of which the most important ones are those belonging to the family of cytochrome P450. The knowledge of the effects of polymorphisms of genes for the enzymes is applied in drug discovery and development as well as in clinical use of drugs. Cost-effective methods for genotyping are being developed and it would be desirable to include this information in the patient's record for the guidance of the physician to individualize the treatment. Pharmacogenomics, a term that overlaps with pharmacogenetics but is distinct, deals with the application of genomics to drug discovery and development. It involves the mechanism of action of drugs on cells as revealed by gene expression patterns. Pharmacoproteomics is an important contribution to personalized medicine as it is a more functional representation of patient-to-patient variation than that provided by genotyping

Biological therapies such as those which use patient's own cells are considered to be personalized medicines. Vaccines are prepared from individual patient's tumor cells. Individualized therapeutic strategies using monoclonal bodies can be directed at specific genetic and immunologic targets. Ex vivo gene therapy involves the genetic modification of the patient's cells in vitro, prior to reimplantation of these cells in the patient's body.

Various technologies are integrated to develop personalized therapies for specific therapeutic areas described in the report. Examples of this are genotyping for drug resistance in HIV infection, personalized therapy of cancer, antipsychotics for schizophrenia, antidepressant therapy, antihypertensive therapy and personalized approach to neurological disorders. Although genotyping is not yet a part of clinically accepted routine, it is expected to have this status by the year 2010.

Several players are involved in the development of personalized therapy. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have taken a leading role in this venture in keeping with their future role as healthcare enterprises rather than mere developers of technologies and manufacturers of medicines.

Ethical issues are involved in the development of personalized medicine mainly in the area of genetic testing. These along with social issues and consideration of race in the development of personalized medicine are discussed. Regulatory issues are discussed mainly with reference to the FDA guidelines on pharmacogenomics.

Increase in efficacy and safety of treatment by individualizing it has benefits in financial terms. Information is presented to show that personalized medicine will be cost-effective in healthcare systems. For the pharmaceutical companies, segmentation of the market may not leave room for conventional blockbusters but smaller and exclusive markets for personalized medicines would be profitable. Marketing opportunities for such a system are described with market estimates from 2005-2015.

For more information visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c9698 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c9698)

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

Press@researchandmarkets. com

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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Baylor Alumni Cookbook Serves Up Memories, Too

2011-05-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

Baylor Alumni Cookbook Serves Up Memories, Too

Homecoming, a cookbook by the Baylor University Alumni Association, is a compilation of more than 500 classic and contemporary recipes, plus stories and remembrances, submitted by university alumni. Recipes like Grilled Chicken with Summer Salad, Rich Orange Chocolate Cheesecake, Praline Sweet Potatoes, Green and Gold Mexican Corn and Heart Healthy Oatmeal Cookies reflect both modern and traditional cooking styles. Recipes include cooking and serving tips, Baylor trivia and heartwarming stories from college days. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions characterize this hardcover book, which is comb bound to lie flat when opened. ÂQuick and EasyÂ and ÂReduced FatÂ recipes are specially marked.

(PRWEB) January 4, 2005

Homecoming, a cookbook by the Baylor University Alumni Association, is a compilation of more than 500 classic and contemporary recipes, plus stories and remembrances, submitted by university alumni.

Recipes like Grilled Chicken with Summer Salad, Rich Orange Chocolate Cheesecake, Praline Sweet Potatoes, Green and Gold Mexican Corn and Heart Healthy Oatmeal Cookies reflect both modern and traditional cooking styles. Recipes include cooking and serving tips, Baylor trivia and heartwarming stories from college days.

Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions characterize this hardcover book, which is comb bound to lie flat when opened.

ÂQuick and EasyÂ and ÂReduced FatÂ recipes are specially marked.

Baylor Professor of English and Master Teacher Ann Vardaman Miller provides the forward for Homecoming, and Baylor fans will recognize other famous names and memories throughout. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Homecoming go to the Baylor Alumni Association.

Homecoming is published by Cookbook Resources of Highland Village, Texas, whose president is a Baylor alumna.

Cookbook Resources is recognized for its commitment to classic cooking. The company, which got its start by publishing community cookbooks, now releases about 15 original titles each year. Its popular ÂCooking by the NumbersÂ series features 3, 4 and 5-ingredient recipes designed to fit busy lifestyles.

Homecoming is available in hardcover for $19.95 at www. CookbookResources. com and www. Amazon. com or by calling toll-free (866) 229-2665.

The Cookbook Resources site features printer-friendly recipes, food columns, special offers and more.

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Give a Little, Get a Lot

2011-05-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

Give a Little, Get a Lot

The number of Americans over 60 years of age is 42 million-plus and growing. That's a lot of living, a lot of experience, a lot of love, and a lot of time.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) July 28, 2006

The number of Americans over 60 years of age is 42 million-plus and growing. That's a lot of living, a lot of experience, a lot of love, and a lot of time. As seniors age they typically feel displaced in the work place, In society, and sometimes even in their own families. Seniors are one of this country's greatest natural resources. They have so much to give and your talent and wisdom are needed at every level of American life. Offering your services helps put this much-needed knowledge and experience back into the community. But where does one go when they feel that world they live in has shut down or even abandoned them?

America has a proud tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, and today this volunteer spirit is need more than ever before. If you have finally won the right to pursue relaxation, purpose, and nobility, then considers these reasons for volunteering your services:

It provides a way to be useful, help others, and do good deeds. The work is enjoyable (and it doesn’t feel like work) and makes one feel needed. Volunteerism is good for the heart. It increases your self-esteem, as well as lessens stress and depression. Studies show that people who volunteer live longer, healthier, and happier lives. People are so in need of tender loving care that your volunteering efforts will reap appreciation. After a lifetime of needing to take, retirement can be a time to give back. Some programs, like the Senior Companion Program, respond to the greatest needs of seniors. Some day you may be in need of this aid. You can help somebody not as healthy or fortunate as you.

Volunteering does not have to be an over exacerbating period of time or remanded to some menial task that feels like a job. When choosing a volunteer position, look for an area that you have special interest or hobbies associated with them. Turning the time you donate into a pleasurable period not only benefits your interest but also the ones you are assisting. Whatever you do, wherever you do it, remember always do it with a smile on your lips and love in your heart, and you will change the world (one person at a time). You have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and love to give, so give it away and see what will come back in the end.

Hearts of Joy Senior Care provides an affordable, non-medical, in-home companion care service for seniors, which enables them to maintain their independence, as well as dignity and self-respect. Hearts of Joy Senior Care Inc. can be reached at (480) 948-4655.

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Longmont United Hospital Begins Online Reference Assessment

2011-05-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Longmont United Hospital Begins Online Reference Assessment

Aims to Support Planetree Philosophy through Improved Candidate Screening

Wayne, PA (PRWEB) October 23, 2009

SkillSurvey, Inc. has announced that Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colorado is the latest healthcare facility to take advantage of SkillSurvey Pre‐Hire 360® and Passive Candidate Compiler™ for improving the efficiency of its hiring process and the quality of its employment decisions. The hospital will rely on SkillSurvey's online tool, Pre‐Hire360® to automate its ability to gather telling information on job candidates' behaviors, qualifications, and skills from their bosses, peers, and subordinates. Because the survey's electronic format is easy, confidential, and tailored to the job at hand, the feedback it elicits is a powerful tool for differentiating between job applicants. Employers such as Longmont United Hospital can base their hiring decision not on who "looks good on paper" or who "aces the job interview," but on who has performed well for previous employers.

The Passive Candidate Compiler™ is a database of people participating in the Pre‐Hire360® survey who would like to be kept informed of future openings. It is thus an efficient way for employers to build a network of prospects that can be tapped as the need arises. Longmont United Hospital employs over 1,300 healthcare workers and is distinguished by being a member of Planetree and a recipient of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ and the Cardiac Care Excellence Award™, both from HealthGrades® for 2009. Longmont United Hospital subscribes to the Planetree philosophy of healing the body, mind, and spirit concurrently and so seeks caregivers who exhibit extraordinary compassion with patients and who are able to work cohesively with co‐workers.

"It's incredibly important to find the right people to work in our environment, because a bad hire can sabotage the teamwork and collaboration that is necessary to the kind of care and service that a Planetree organization strives to provide," asserted Warren Laughlin, vice president of Human Resources for Longmont. "We've struggled for some time to find a better way to get useful information from reference checks--and to do it efficiently. Longmont United Hospital is very excited to begin using SkillSurvey; we believe it will help us tremendously in both those areas."

Ray Bixler, CEO, SkillSurvey maintains, "Whenever an organization places a high value on its corporate culture, it needs to tread carefully in the recruitment process, making offers only to those applicants who have demonstrated an affinity with the organization's belief system, given their past behavior and inherent qualities. Gathering candid feedback through Pre‐Hire360® is the most expedient way I know to ensure a good fit within an organization."

About SkillSurvey: SkillSurvey is the leading provider of online reference assessment solutions that increase quality of hire and improve recruiting efficiency. Using SkillSurvey, organizations improve the quantity and quality of information they collect regarding a candidate's past work performance, providing better information to recruiters and hiring managers as they make decisions on new hires. SkillSurvey also significantly reduces time and money spent on reference checking. This breakthrough, patent‐pending approach to reference assessments is based on over 25 years of research in job competency modeling. More information is available at www. skillsurvey. com.

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Louisiana Author Publishes New Book about the Relationship between Sex and Health

2011-05-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

Louisiana Author Publishes New Book about the Relationship between Sex and Health

This thought-provoking book that sexual activity can prevent and heal many common ailments

Pittsburgh, Penn. (PRWEB) March 18, 2010

Symbiotic Sex, a new book by Phoenix Ryder, has been published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

There is more to our sexuality than pleasure and reproduction. Our physical, mental, and spiritual health are greatly tied to our sexual expression. Many kinds of illnesses can occur due to sexual deficiencies, as well as the ones known to occur due to sexual activity. In addition to our individual health, the health of our society is closely associated with the manner in which we allow sexual expression to manifest itself in all members of society.

In Symbiotic Sex, Phoenix Ryder shares with us information that can help us learn more about how the act of sex can actually prevent and actually heal many common ailments that affect men and women.

The idea for his book came years ago when the author received a newsletter in which prostate cancer was the topic. The article indicated that men who seldom have sex throughout their lives are at highest risk for prostate cancer. This brought to mind the possibility that, if men can get diseases from sexual avoidance, then it is possible that women can get some illnesses from sexual avoidance as well. Over time, information was collected that indeed indicated that women can get many kinds of diseases due to sexual deficiencies in their lives.

Some may be offended or otherwise disturbed by the content of this book, and others will dispute what is written here. This book is intended for people with open minds who are searching for answers. It is not all inclusive, and the author invites the reader to use the book as a springboard in the search for answers to some of the mysteries of sex, disease, health, and longevity.

Phoenix Ryder is a native of Louisiana and currently resides there. He enjoys water sports, movies, art, calligraphy, history, current events, and gardening.

Symbiotic Sex is a 58-page paperback with a retail price of $9.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-0340-2. It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information or to request a review copy, please visit our virtual pressroom at www. dorrancepressroom. com or our online bookstore at www. dorrancebookstore. com.

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Baxa Corporation to Bring USP, ASHE and CAHED Together for a Joint Forum on USP 797 Compliance at the STAR Center

2011-05-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

Baxa Corporation to Bring USP, ASHE and CAHED Together for a Joint Forum on USP 797 Compliance at the STAR Center

Baxa Corporation announces plans to launch new course offering with an industry forum on USP 797 compliance and facility design. The forum, held in the STAR (Skills Training, Academics and Resources) Center, will bring together industry leaders to better understand the requirements of USP 797 and their practical application for facility design and environmental control.

Englewood, Colo. (PRWEB) November 14, 2007

Baxa Corporation announces plans to bring together industry thought leaders for a day-long forum on cleanroom compliance and best practice. Active members from the United States Pharmacopeia Council of Experts, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and Colorado Association of Healthcare Engineers and Directors (CAHED) and the Colorado Board of Pharmacy are invited to the session to discuss common goals and challenges in meeting USP "cleanroom" or 797 requirements. The first class, planned for January 25, 2008, is an invitation-only event. Following this forum in January, the course will be open to outside enrollment. Initial program dates are October 24, 2008 and November 14, 2008.

This extension of the Baxa STAR Center course offerings - Facility Design & Engineering Controls for USP 797 - is a new design course intended to provide an in-depth educational resource regarding compliance with USP 797 for facilities managers, engineers and architects. The Facility Design & Engineering course brings the realities of process flow, work flow, and raw material flow together with the cleanroom design requirements set by USP 797.

The goal of the inaugural course is to facilitate understanding on idealism vs. the realities of USP compliance among those who comply with and enforce the regulations. According to Pete Campanella, Baxa Director of Professional Services, "Baxa is excited to be part of this forum. Bringing these groups together promotes open communication and cooperation to further best practices in the hospital pharmacy." The open forum will serve as a catalyst for these organizations to join in helping hospital pharmacies and facilities managers build and maintain the necessary facilities to improve the quality of parenteral care delivered to patients.

Course topics for Facility Design & Engineering Controls for USP 797 include aseptic technique and movement in the cleanroom, engineering controls required for hazardous and non-hazardous drugs and certification procedures. Through these topics, participants will gain a thorough understanding of the scope of USP Chapter 797, the facility requirements defined in USP 797 and the use of smoke studies to validate proper airflow.

Baxa develops products that improve hospital pharmacy operations and support best practice. The company designed and built the STAR Center as a fully USP 797-compliant pharmacy cleanroom to provide professional education on pharmacy practice, cleanroom principles and compliance to regulatory requirements. The STAR Center, the only dedicated facility of its kind, provides facilities managers, engineers and architects a unique opportunity to have hands-on training regarding facility requirements.

Baxa Corporation will feature the STAR Center courses on sterile compounding and facilities design at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Mid-Year Meeting in Las Vegas, December 3 - 5, 2007.

About Baxa Corporation
Baxa, a customer-focused medical device company, provides innovative, solution-based technologies for fluid handling and delivery. Its systems and devices promote the safe and efficient preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of fluid medications. Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada and the United Kingdom; direct representation in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www. baxa. com (http://www. baxa. com).

About the STAR Center
The STAR Center is a state-of-the-art cleanroom, pharmacy and training facility located at the Baxa world headquarters in Englewood, Colorado. The center was purpose-built to support training in aseptic technique, pharmacy workflow and practice, cleanroom design and maintenance and USP < 797 > compliance, among other topics. Classes are taught by industry-recognized subject matter experts. Further information is available at http://www. baxa. com/starcenter (http://www. baxa. com/starcenter).

Contacts:
Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation http://www. baxa. com (http://www. baxa. com) - 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
Absolutely Public Relations http://www. absolutelypr. com (http://www. absolutelypr. com) - 303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558

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Travel Insurance Helps Alleviate Family Holiday Illness Worries

2011-05-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Travel Insurance Helps Alleviate Family Holiday Illness Worries

Post Office Travel Insurance reveals true cost of kids' holiday illnesses

London, UK (PRWeb UK) November 8, 2009

More than 2.6 million UK families worry about their children's health ahead of a holiday according to research from Post Office Travel Insurance (http://www. postoffice. co. uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=63300708&mediaId=19300208).

Post Office Travel Insurance (http://www. postoffice. co. uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=63300708&mediaId=19300208) claims data relating to more than 1,000 children showed that the average claim on travel insurance for medical expenses related to children's injuries or accidents is £666.

With claims for gastroenteritis and injuries such as fractures and deep cuts potentially costing above £1,000, parents are advised to ensure they have comprehensive travel insurance in place for their family before going on holiday.

For children, the most common claims on Post Office Travel Insurance policies are ear infections, followed by flesh wounds and severe stomach complaints. A third of parents reported that as well as taking out travel insurance, they pack medicines from home in case a family member falls ill.

Rachel Croft, Post Office Head of Travel Insurance, said: "The most common claims on our travel insurance policies are really no more exotic than the illnesses that befall our children at home, but when your child is unwell on holiday and you aren't surrounded by home comforts, it can be particularly worrying, and difficult to know what to do.

"Having comprehensive travel insurance is important - during distressing times it's important to know that someone can help with arranging extra accommodation, transport, or repatriation if needed. Parents without travel insurance could also face considerable medical bills if their children fall ill on holiday."

The Post Office was the first travel insurance provider on the market to offer Kids Go Free with all travel insurance policies. An annual Post Office family travel insurance policy for two adults and up to six dependants starts from as little as £80.

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Lori Coleman & Heather Murphy from Life Care Centers of America join Care2LearnÂs Clinical Advisory Team

2011-04-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lori Coleman & Heather Murphy from Life Care Centers of America join Care2LearnÂs Clinical Advisory Team

Bradenton, FL (PRWEB) March 25, 2004

Contact: Vikki Dibble

404.550.2979

Vikki@care2learn. com

Lori Coleman & Heather Murphy from Life Care Centers of America join Care2LearnÂs Clinical Advisory Team

Bradenton, Florida: As a result of a growing and enhanced Learning Management System (LMS), Care2Learn has expanded the depth of its Advisory Board with new members who have a focus of enhancing clinical courses for rehabilitation therapists across the country.

Lori Coleman, RPT offers over 14 years clinical and managerial experience within the long term care industry bringing the knowledge and skills of daily operations. Ms. Coleman has acquired extensive experience in the successful implementation of PPS in Skilled Nursing Facility settings. Her special areas of expertise include NDT certification (neurodevelopmental technique), restraint reduction, therapy for patients with dementia, stroke rehabilitation and wound care. ÂI am pleased to advise Care2Learn on clinical issues and interfacing with the team on continuing education courses via the Learning Management System,Â says Coleman, Regional Rehabilitation Director for Life Care Centers of America.

Heather Murphy, SLP comes to Care2Learn with many years experience in the clinical setting. She has an eclectic professional background developing and implementing Pediatric and Adult programming in a variety of settings including long term care and acute care. She has spoken on the topics of pediatric and adult dysphasia, AlzheimerÂs disease, Sensory Integration and Vital Stim on several television programs, in the university setting and for the AlzheimerÂs Association. Â We very pleased to expand the scope of the advisory board to include HeatherÂs expertise. Presently Heather is the Speech-Language Pathology Supervisor of Life Care Center of Redbank in Chattanooga, TN managing daily the clinical needs of the long term care patient.Â

Says Laura More, CEO, partner of Care2Learn.

About Care2Learn

Care2Learn. com is the website of Bradenton, FL-based OnlineHealthNow. Founded in 2000 by clinical managers from the long-term care rehabilitation industry, Care2Learn provides healthcare professionals with over 1400 coursework hours composed of engaging, affordable, easy-to-use online continuing education. It has accredited continuing education for 15 healthcare disciplines. Care2Learn serves healthcare professionals worldwide. For more information, visit www. care2learn. com.

Report Confirms Liquitabs Poison Risk Alert

2011-04-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

Report Confirms Liquitabs Poison Risk Alert

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) and Macfarlan Smith, manufacturer of bittering agent Bitrex, welcome the publication of the National Poisons Information Service’s (NPIS) Annual Report, which this year highlights the dangers of fabric cleaning liquitabs.

(PRWeb UK) November 18, 2010

Packaging for these products, also known as liquid laundry capsules, is rarely child-resistant and the plastic sachets can easily be punctured by curious children attracted by their bright colour and strange ‘squishy’ texture. However liquid detergent poses a real danger if swallowed, with symptoms that can include severe vomiting and abdominal pain, drowsiness and in some reported cases the depression of the central nervous system.

The NPIS received over 600 calls from health professionals about concentrated laundry capsules in 2009-10, with most cases involving children under 5, and 80% relating to children swallowing some of the contents. In its Annual Report, published last week, the NPIS called for greater awareness of the dangers liquid laundry capsules can present.

Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive, Child Accident Prevention Trust, said:

“Accidents often happen when parents are taken by surprise. This report is helpful because it warns parents that a seemingly harmless household product can pose a risk to children. And it’s easy to see how attractive the colour and texture of a liquitab can be to a young child. Our advice is: it takes just a few seconds to move those squidgy detergent capsules lurking under your sink to a higher cupboard, away from curious little fingers and mouths.”

The addition of a bittering agent, such as Bitrex, can make household products more difficult for children to swallow. Bitrex has been added to many household products, as well as to other potential poisons such as anti-freeze and garden chemicals. However, very few liquitabs contain bittering agents like Bitrex.

Cameron Smith of Macfarlan Smith, added:

‘We would urge parents to look out for products carrying the Bitrex logo, any product displaying the logo has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is almost impossible for children to swallow. We are working closely with the nation’s retailers to help protect as many children as possible from potentially dangerous household products.”

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Intercede Interim Results for the 6 Months Ended 30 September 2010

2011-04-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Intercede Interim Results for the 6 Months Ended 30 September 2010

25% increase in sales to £3,506,000 (2009: £2,811,000); Operating profit before exceptional items of £1,204,000 (2009: £674,000); Profit for the period of £1,225,000 (2009: £85,000)

London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) November 29, 2010

Intercede announces Interim Results for the 6 Months Ended 30 September 2010

Intercede (London Stock Exchange AIM:IGP) is a leading producer of Identity and Credential Management software, called MyID, which manages the secure registration, issuance and life cycle of digital identities for a wide range of uses.

SUMMARY
25% increase in sales to £3,506,000 (2009: £2,811,000).

Operating profit before exceptional items of £1,204,000 (2009: £674,000).

Profit for the period of £1,225,000 (2009: £85,000).

Basic and fully diluted earnings per share of 2.5p (2009: 0.2p).

Cash generated from operations before exceptional items of £630,000 (2009: £762,000).

Cash balances of £4,470,000 at 30 September 2010 (30 September 2009: £3,913,000).

No external borrowings.

Increased investment in international sales and technical capabilities to support growing demand for and use of Intercede's proprietary MyID Identity and Credential Management System.

Continued expansion of Intercede's customer base in the US.

Winning new contracts to supply MyID to government ministries, banks and business corporations around the world.

Richard Parris, Chairman & Chief Executive of Intercede, said today:
"We have made excellent progress this year, both commercially and financially. Intercede MyID is being used by an increasing base of new and existing customers and the pipeline of future orders is stronger than it has ever been. The Company is increasingly profitable, cash generative and financially strong. This year represents a tipping point in the evolution of Intercede's business and is indicative of the strong commercial progress we continue to make. We look forward to a favourable outcome for the current financial year and to achieving further growth thereafter."

Download the full results here (PDF)

Further Information on Intercede MyID

Intercede MyID is the only IDCMS software product that enables organisations to easily and securely manage the identities of people and their associated identity credentials within a single, integrated, workflow driven platform. This includes enabling and managing: secure registration, biometric capture, application vetting and approval through to smart card personalisation, issuance and management.

MyID was the first electronic personalisation product to achieve compliance with the FIPS-201 standard and is widely deployed by Federal Agencies, government contractors and other commercial entities. In particular, it supports the latest standards applicable for all PIV, PIV-Interoperable and PIV-Compatible deployments.

It can issue and manage a wide variety of ID's and credentials, providing customers with a platform that can meet their needs now and in the future. It is a fully supported commercial off-the-shelf product that can be quickly deployed for thousands or millions of users.

About Intercede

Intercede is the producer of the MyID Identity and Credential Management System (IDCMS).

Intercede MyID technology is being used around the world by large corporations, governments and banks to manage millions of identities for employees, citizens and customers. Notable deployments in the US include 14 Federal Agencies, 1.7m smart cards in support of the US Transportation Worker Identity Credential program, two major US financial institutions and 310,000 smart corporate identity badges for Lockheed Martin and another defense contractor. In Europe and the Middle East, Intercede MyID is being deployed in support of government identity, health and corporate employee ID security projects.

For more information visit http://www. intercede. com

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One Year After the Signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Namasté Solar CEO Blake Jones Again Visits White House

2011-04-28T01:38:00.000-07:00

One Year After the Signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Namasté Solar CEO Blake Jones Again Visits White House

Namasté Solar CEO Blake Jones was invited once again to visit the White House one year after the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The economic stimulus package led to initiatives and job creation in green industries.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) February 18, 2010

Namasté Solar Co-Founder and CEO Blake Jones was invited by White House staff to join President Barack Obama in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2010 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In February 2009, Jones was invited to introduce the President at the signing of the Recovery Act at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the entire Namasté Solar staff was featured on stage at the event.

One year later, President Obama again welcomed Jones to the White House to celebrate the progress made since the bill’s signing. According to the first Annual Report to the President on Progress, the Recovery Act is responsible for more than 2 million jobs in 2009, and for “building a new foundation” that includes investment in a smarter electric grid, green industries, and renewable energy. Jones was on stage during the president’s address on 17 February 2010, and Obama referred to Namasté Solar in his speech.

President Obama closed his remarks with:

"And Blake at Namasté Solar – it’s based in Boulder, Colorado. One year ago, Blake gave us a tour of one of his company's solar installations, on top of a museum in Denver, right before I signed the Recovery Act into law. And at the time, Blake was pretty sure that the recession would force him to lay off about half of his staff. One year later, because of the clean energy investments in the Recovery Act, he has instead added about a dozen new workers, and expects to hire about a dozen more by year's end. His company continues to install solar panels all over Colorado, from the Governor's Mansion to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. …"

"…for those skeptics who refuse to believe the Recovery Act has done any good, who continue to insist that the bill didn’t work, I’d ask you to take that up with Blake and his employees. (source: www. whitehouse. gov)"

Instead of financial hardship, Namasté Solar has experienced both business success and community recognition. In 2009 alone, the company received 14 awards including placing 56th on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies, being named by Entrepreneur Magazine in a list of “100 Brilliant Companies,” and winning the Best Places to Work award by the Denver Business Journal.

“The Recovery Act has had a positive impact on small businesses like ours in the United States,” said Jones, “The focus on jobs in clean energy is crucial because it will undoubtedly be one of the most important and fastest growing industries in the global market of the 21st century. Not only will they take us one step closer to being an energy-independent nation, they will help create a healthier natural environment.”

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimated that as a direct result of the stimulus bill, U. S. solar companies are likely to create nearly 140,000 new green jobs in the first two years. Namasté Solar plans to continue its growth, with the goal of increasing its workforce by up to 40% over the same two-year period.

About Namasté Solar
Namasté Solar propagates the responsible use of solar energy, pioneers conscientious business practices, and creates holistic wealth for the company and the community. As the leading solar company in Colorado with more in-state installations than any other company, Namasté Solar has installed more than 950 PV systems totaling over 6 MW since 2005. Its unique values-based business model includes employee ownership, democratic decision-making, community collaboration, an innovative solar grant program, zero-waste initiatives, educational programming, and holistic profit measurement.

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Microsoft MVP Award given to Martin Blackstone of Superior Access

2011-04-27T22:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft MVP Award given to Martin Blackstone of Superior Access

Martin Blackstone, Director of Information Technologies for Superior Access Internet Software and Superior Access Insurance Services, was awarded the prestigious award of Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) on Tuesday October 1st, 2002.

(PRWEB) October 31, 2002

Microsoft MVP Award given to Martin Blackstone of Superior Access

Irvine, CA, October 28, 2002 - Martin Blackstone, Director of Information Technologies for Superior Access Internet Software and Superior Access Insurance Services, was awarded the prestigious award of Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) on Tuesday October 1st, 2002.

Mr. Blackstone earned his award by participating in newsgroups, which provide answers to questions on the Microsoft Exchange Server Product. These newsgroups are subject to the Internet and are available 24 hours a day.

"ItÂs an honor to receive this award as less then 50 people hold the MVP Â Exchange Server designation world-wide,Â stated Mr. Blackstone. ÂIt is a tremendous privilege to receive this recognition from Microsoft, fellow MVPÂs, and thousands of Microsoft Exchange Server administrators. Also, this is great tribute to Microsoft and their continuance to produce quality products."

Each year, Microsoft awards the most outstanding members of its online community. The MVP Award is given in recognition of a recipient's technical expertise, spirit of community leadership and willingness to help their peers and customers. MVPs consistently provide reliable and accurate answers to technical questions about Microsoft products and technology. The MVP Program has continued to grow as Microsoft expands its product line. The entire program covering all Microsoft products has more than 1200 members in more than 54 countries.

"Martin's work in the Exchange Community came with strong recommendations from previous MVP Award recipientsÂ, commented John Eddy, MicrosoftÂs Exchange and Outlook Community Program Manager. ÂI'm very happy to be able to recognize him for his hard work in sharing knowledge with his peers."

"It is my belief that Martin is more than qualified to be part of the MVP program," adds Tim Rush, Chief Operating Officer for Superior Access Internet Software. "As a highly regarded technical expert at Superior Access, Martin has been a valuable asset to this company and I am pleased that others have been able to benefit from his expertise."

About SAIS: Superior Access Internet Software, Inc., (SAIS), is a privately held, business-to-business (B2B) professional services and internet software development company, based in Irvine, California. SAIS has gained extensive real-world experience relating to systems integration, data translation, and e-Business application development, by developing and implementing over 100 unique commercial and personal lines applications that transact business in all 50 US states.

SAIS can be found on the Internet at www. sais. com.

About Superior Access Insurance Services, Inc.: Superior Access is the largest and fastest growing online wholesaler of insurance products and services providing real-time, underwritten quotes (over $50 million each month) to its network of over 9,000 retail insurance agencies. On-line quotes are available for commercial lines, personal lines, and life & health insurance to varying degrees in 48 states.

Superior Access Insurance Services can be found on the Internet at: www. superioraccess. com

For More Information, Contact:

Tim Rush

Chief Operating Officer

800-272-7550 ex 263

Trush@superioraccess. net

Data Mining Group Releases Version 4.0 of the Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML)

2011-04-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

Data Mining Group Releases Version 4.0 of the Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML)

The Data Mining Group, a vendor-led consortium of companies and organizations developing standards for statistical and data mining models, announced the general availability of Version 4.0 of the Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML). PMML Version 4.0 may be obtained from the Data Mining Group's web site: www. dmg. org.

Chicago (PRWEB) September 2, 2009

PMML Version 4.0 may be obtained from the Data Mining Group's web site: www. dmg. org.

PMML is the leading standard for statistical and data mining models and supported by over 20 vendors and organizations. With PMML, it is straightforward to develop a model on one system using one application and deploy the model on another system using another application.

Version 4.0 of PMML adds the following new features:
support for time series models;

support for multiple models, which includes support for both segmented models and ensembles of models;

improved support for preprocessing data, which will help simplify deployment of models;

new models, such as survival models;

support for additional information about models called model explanation, which includes information for visualization, model quality, gains and lift charts, confusion matrix, and related information.

"PMML turns the deployment and practical application of predictive models within any existing IT infrastructure into reality, unleashing the power of those models. Without PMML, it would take months for models to be integrated and deployed via custom code or proprietary processes, and at very high additional cost," says Cris Payne, Senior Analytics Scientist for XO Communications, Inc.

This new version of PMML is a major update of PMML Version 3.2, which was released about two years ago in May, 2007.

"PMML simplifies the deployment of analytic models," says Robert Grossman, Chair of the Data Mining Group. "With PMML, deploying a new model is as easy as reading an XML file."

About DMG. The Data Mining Group (DMG) is an independent, vendor led group that develops data mining standards, such as the Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML). For more information, see www. dmg. org.

About IBM. IBM Corp. is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM software offers the widest range of applications, middleware and operating systems for all types of computing platforms, allowing customers to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. Infopshere Warehouse brings IBM's core data-mining technology to a broader range of users, helping them uncover intelligence from large amounts of enterprise data, including information from transaction and e-commerce applications. For more information, see www. ibm. com.

About MicroStrategy, Inc. Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a global leader in business intelligence (BI) technology. MicroStrategy provides integrated reporting, analysis, and monitoring software that helps leading organizations worldwide make better business decisions every day. Companies choose MicroStrategy for its advanced technical capabilities, sophisticated analytics, and superior data and user scalability. More information about MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is available at www. microstrategy. com.

About the National Center for Data Mining (NCDM). NCDM is a national resource for research, knowledge transfer and standards development in data mining and data intensive computing. It was founded in 1998 and is located at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For more information please see www. ncdm. uic. edu.

About Open Data Group. Open Data provides management consulting, outsourced analytic services, and analytic staffing so that companies and organizations can analyze data and build analytic models that increase revenues, decrease costs, reduce risk, and improve business operations. For more information please visit www. opendatagroup. com.

About Salford Systems. Founded in 1983, Salford Systems specializes in providing new-generation data-mining and choice-modeling software and consultation services. Applications in both software and consulting span market research segmentation, direct marketing, fraud detection, credit scoring, risk management, bio-medical research and manufacturing quality control. Industries using Salford Systems products and consultation services include telecommunications, transportation, banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and catalog sales, and education. Salford Systems software is installed at more than 3,500 sites worldwide, including 300 major Universities. For more information, see www. salford-systems. com.

About SAS. SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. SAS helps customers at more than 45,000 business, government and academic sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. SAS Analytics provides an integrated environment for predictive and descriptive modeling, data mining, text analytics, forecasting, optimization, simulation, experimental design and more. From predictive analytics to model deployment and process optimization, SAS provides a range of techniques and processes for the collection, classification, analysis and interpretation of data to reveal patterns, anomalies, key variables and relationships, ultimately leading to new insights and confident answers. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW®. For more information, see www. sas. com.

About SPSS. SPSS has become a leader in predictive analytics technologies through a combination of commitment to innovation and dedication to customers. Throughout our history, we have produced predictive analytics software that enables our customers - corporations, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies - to better focus their operations. SPSS customers combine predictive analysis with their own organizational business knowledge to gain critical insights into customer acquisition and retention, up-selling and cross-selling, fraud detection, and patient outcome improvement. For more information, see www. spss. com.

About Zementis. Zementis, Inc. is a San Diego/Hong Kong based software company focused on predictive analytics and advanced Enterprise Decision Management (EDM) technology. Its transformative solution ADAPA(r), a fully hosted Software-as-a Service (SaaS) solution on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), is a fast real-time deployment environment for Predictive Analytics Models. With ADAPA(r), which consumes PMML models, deployment is less costly, less complex, with much less time-to-production. For more information please visit www. zementis. com.

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Total expenditure on UK healthcare (public, private and complementary) was worth Â£69.73bn in 2002 and given the current political pressures to improve healthcare in the UK, there are likely to be opportunities and growth in most sectors of the market

2011-04-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

Total expenditure on UK healthcare (public, private and complementary) was worth Â£69.73bn in 2002 and given the current political pressures to improve healthcare in the UK, there are likely to be opportunities and growth in most sectors of the market.

The UK healthcare market continues to be dominated by the National Health Service (NHS). Since its inception in 1948, it has provided comprehensive healthcare services to all UK citizens on the basis of need and not on their ability to pay. The NHS constituted 74.3% of all healthcare spending in the UK in 2002, including private medical insurance. Total expenditure on UK healthcare (public, private and complementary) was worth Â£69.73bn in 2002 but current political pressures to improve healthcare in the UK, means that there are likely to be opportunities and growth in most sectors of the market, public, private and voluntary.

(PRWEB) August 29, 2003

Research and Markets have announced the addition of the "Healthcare Market, - Market Review 2003" report to their offering.

The UK healthcare market continues to be dominated by the National Health Service (NHS), the large and comprehensive public sector, which remains the world-leading public healthcare service, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The NHS is funded by general taxation and National Insurance (NI) contributions. Since its inception in 1948, it has provided comprehensive healthcare services to all UK citizens on the basis of need and not on their ability to pay. Although there is overlap between the different sectors of the healthcare market, the NHS constituted 74.3% of all healthcare spending in the UK in 2002, including private medical insurance. Total expenditure on UK healthcare (public, private and complementary) was worth Â£69.73bn in 2002. Expenditure on UK medical supplies amounted to Â£14.29bn.

Of the two main arms of the NHS, hospital and community health services, which consists of hospital-based care and certain community services, was the largest in 2002, with a 70.3% share of NHS services. The other branch of the NHS, responsible for primary care services (family health services), accounted for the remaining 29.7% of expenditure on public healthcare services.

The UK private healthcare market consists of both commercial and charitable interests, which fund and provide healthcare. The public sector is becoming a major commissioner of services in the private sector. In 2002, private healthcare, including private medical insurance, was estimated to constitute 24.3% of the UK healthcare market. The main market sectors in private healthcare are long-term care, acute hospital care, psychiatric care and primary care services. In 2002, long-term care was the largest individual sector, constituting 67.5% of all expenditure in the private sector (excluding private medical insurance).

The remaining healthcare markets include palliative care, which is organised and provided largely by the voluntary sector, often in partnership with the NHS. Complementary healthcare consists of a wide range of different therapies and treatments provided as an alternative, or in addition to, orthodox medicine. Some of the most popular and well-regulated therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture and osteopathy, as well as reflexology, aromatherapy counselling, hypnotherapy, massage disciplines and other relaxation therapies, are becoming integrated into mainstream medicine and healthcare. Expenditure on palliative care constituted 0.5% of all healthcare spending in the UK in 2002, while complementary healthcare constituted 0.9% of all expenditure.

In the market for healthcare supplies, the single largest sector was that of prescribed pharmaceuticals, which constituted more than half (57.3%) of all expenditure in 2002. Over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals had the highest level of growth, primarily because of new product introductions expanding the market, but constituted only 12.2% of the market. Medical equipment and consumables was the second-largest sector, constituting 17.5% of expenditure, while equipment for the disabled accounted for 13%.

The combination of an ageing population and the expanding scope of treatments, together with a demanding public, is significantly increasing the need for healthcare services. This, and the rising cost of care, has caused healthcare expenditure to rise. Successive governments have introduced a variety of reforms aimed at rationalising care, improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and containing costs, but expenditure continues to grow and the NHS, in spite of unprecedented funding increases, continues to suffer problems, although recent figures indicate improvements in waiting lists.

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is generating capital and resources towards the outdated and ageing infrastructure of the NHS, although such projects are complex, costly and highly bureaucratic. There are concerns that the initiative may mean short-term gain at the cost of the long-term future and cause delays. Chronic staff shortages are fast becoming a point of crisis, particularly as significant numbers of staff are nearing retirement age or planning early retirement as a result of poor staff morale. The Government is attempting to attract former nurses through advertising campaigns and family-friendly policies, increasing training places and improving career structures and salaries. In the short term, agency staff are being employed and healthcare professionals recruited from abroad.

Although high growth is forecast in expenditure on the NHS as a whole and the Government is trying to build up primary care services, improving early cost-effective access to care, hospital expenditure is likely to continue to grow rapidly as the boundaries of care expand and greater numbers of patients enter the system.

The private healthcare market is much smaller than the comprehensive public sector. However, in the face of continuing problems with the NHS, it is beginning to develop and expand into new areas of care. The sector is increasingly operating in partnership with the NHS, or running NHS services, which is likely to continue with the advent of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and the `concordat' agreement. The concordat is an agreement between the NHS and the private sector for the use of private facilities for NHS patients at times of pressure on services. It was signed in October 2000. The NHS is becoming a major commissioner of private healthcare services.

Within the private sector, primary care services are hampered by the `gatekeeper role' taken by the public sector, with general practitioners (GPs) able to refer patients to either the public or private sector and patients able to access a GP within a reasonable time, unlike waiting lists to see NHS hospital consultants. The private acute care and psychiatric services sectors are both developing greater levels of partnership with the NHS to supply services, rather than competing with the public sector. These two sectors are growing significantly.

In the UK, the principal source of funding for private healthcare is private medical insurance, although self-paying schemes are becoming more popular, particularly in fields such as cosmetic surgery. Many providers now offer fixed price agreements and loan schemes for patients. Although insurance is set to show some growth, it is still hampered by the lack of government incentives for people to take out insurance, since taxpayers cannot redirect NHS payments into private schemes and they must also pay insurance premium tax. Funding for long-term residential care remains a significant problem and Scotland agreed to fund care costs in full in January 2001 following the Royal Commission report in March 1999. England announced partial funding in December 1999.

The palliative care sector also has funding problems, particularly as the majority of its finances come from voluntary/charitable sources. The market for complementary medicine is growing steadily as certain established therapies are increasingly integrated into orthodox healthcare. Greater regulation is likely in this area.

In the medical supplies sector of the market, expenditure on prescribed pharmaceuticals is set to continue to rise in spite of generic prescribing and clinical guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The OTC pharmaceutical market is also set to grow as more pharmaceuticals are delisted and broaden the current limited availability. Expenditure on medical equipment is increasing, as hospitals are refurbished and built under PFI schemes and healthcare organisations replace outdated equipment. Expenditure will grow as the number of people with mobility and health problems rise in an ageing population.

Given the political pressures to improve healthcare in the UK, there are likely to be opportunities and growth in most sectors of the market, public, private and voluntary. The boundaries between the public and private sectors are likely to continue falling, as are the boundaries between orthodox medicine and at least some complementary therapies. In the long-term care sector, however, unless funding issues are completely resolved, market growth is likely to be significantly affected in spite of high and increasing demands for services in that area.

For a complete index of this report click on http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/35075 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/35075)

REPORT DATA SUMMARY:

Healthcare Market, - Market Review 2003

Category: Healthcare & Medical Devices

URL: www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/35075 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/35075 )

About Research and Markets Ltd.

Research and Markets Ltd. are Europe's largest resource for market research. R&M distribute thousands of major research publications from the world's leading publishers, consultants and market analysts. R&M provide you with the latest forecasts on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest market trends.

For additional information on ResearchandMarkets. com, their range of reports or their value-added services, visit their web site at http://www. researchandmarkets. com (http://www. researchandmarkets. com) or mailto:press@researchandmarkets. com

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Drexel University Joins Forces with Leading Pharmaceutical Company to Provide Their Employees with Online Education Opportunities

2011-04-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

Drexel University Joins Forces with Leading Pharmaceutical Company to Provide Their Employees with Online Education Opportunities

Drexel University, PhiladelphiaÂs leading technological University, announces the launch of an education partnership with Merck & Co., a global research-driven pharmaceutical company.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) September 9, 2005

Drexel University, PhiladelphiaÂs leading technological University, announces the launch of an education partnership with Merck & Co., a global research-driven pharmaceutical company.

Through this collaboration MerckÂs employees will have the opportunity to take online courses through Drexel and receive special discounted tuition rates. A pioneer in online learning since 1996, Drexel University offers Merck employees a full catalog of online BachelorÂs, MasterÂs and Certificate programs in the areas of Business, Clinical Research, Engineering, Computer Science, Computing Technology, Nursing, Information Science & Technology, Public Health, and Education.

Merck selected Drexel University as an online education provider for their employees because there is no distinction between their online and on-campus degree and certificate programs. DrexelÂs online programs follow the same academic standards (i. e. admissions criteria, curricula, and accreditations), are taught by the same renowned faculty and therefore lead to the same degree as on campus - with no commuting or career interruption.

For the past several years, Drexel eLearning, the online education subsidiary of Drexel University, has been partnering with corporations, health systems and associations alike throughout the United States to provide their employees and members with career advancement opportunities through Quality Education Online at a cost they can afford with the flexibility they need.

"A well-educated workforce is a competitive advantage for companies today," said Dr. Kenneth Hartman, Academic Director of Drexel eLearning. "Corporations have been selecting Drexel as their preferred online education provider because they know that we have designed our online programs to the same high standards of our on-campus programs but take into account the needs of their busy employees. We are looking forward to this new venture with Merck and hope we can assist them in meeting

Their business objectives," added Dr. Hartman.

For more information about partnering with Drexel University, please visit www. drexel-partners. com, email corporate@drexelelearning. com, or call (866) 440-1946.

About Drexel e-Learning

Drexel e-Learning, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Drexel University, specializing in innovative, Internet-based distance education programs for working professionals and corporations in the U. S. and abroad. Drexel University is continually ranked one of the best national doctoral universities by U. S.News & World Report and enjoys regional accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Secondary Schools. For more information about DrexelÂs online degrees, visit www. drexel. com, email info@drexel. com, or call (877) 215-0009.

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LÃCRUM Announces Its Membership in the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program

2011-04-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

LÃCRUM Announces Its Membership in the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Program

(PRWEB) June 19, 2002

Cincinnati, OH Â June 17, 2002 Â LÃCRUM, Inc., a Cincinnati based independent strategic software development and consulting firm, today announced it is a new member in the Microsoft Certified Gold Partner Program for Business Intelligence and e-Commerce.

ÂLÃCRUM is very proud to have achieved the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Status in both e-Commerce and Business Intelligence,Â says Scott Hover, Director of Consulting Services for LÃCRUM. ÂWe have made the Microsoft Technologies one of our core focus areas in 2002 and feel that achieving Gold Partner status shows our commitment to the respective technologies and to our clients to ensure we are continually improving our capabilities and making the needed investments in order to have certified trained professionals in the latest Microsoft technologies including. NET Development Platform. Being a member of the program gives us early access to product information so that when our customers are ready to take advantage of the latest Microsoft technology solution we already have the experience we need. In addition, enhancements such as the new peer-networking opportunities will allow us to expand the types of solutions and services we can offer our customers.Â

The Microsoft Certified Partner Program allows LÃCRUM to utilize the Microsoft Certified Partner logo, which is an easy way for customers to recognize LÃCRUM as certified by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft offers a variety of resources to program members, including training, technical support, early access to Microsoft products and peer-networking opportunities that allow a variety of partners to come together and provide end-to-end customer solutions.

ÂWhen customers are looking to implement a Microsoft technology solution for their business, their best bet is to turn to an expertÂa Microsoft Certified Partner,Â said Rosa Garcia, general manager of the Partner Programs Group at Microsoft. ÂMicrosoft provides its Certified Partners with in-depth access to existing and emerging Microsoft technologies and related training and resources to help ensure that they have the technical intimacy needed to deliver quality solutions. Today, Microsoft recognizes LÃCRUM for demonstrating this level of expertise and welcomes it as a new Microsoft Certified Partner.Â

About LÃCRUM

Founded in 1993 by John Bostick with headquarters in Cincinnati, LÃCRUM is an independent strategic consulting firm that develops eBusiness, analytical and operational solutions for manufacturing, health care, financial services, and general business based on financial impact and return on investment (ROI) maturity. LÃCRUMÂs practice areas include digital strategies for business intelligence, eBusiness, and management consulting.

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Dragonstone Magnetics - Wholesale and Retail Magnetic Therapy Health Jewelry Website Goes Into 2006

2011-04-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Dragonstone Magnetics - Wholesale and Retail Magnetic Therapy Health Jewelry Website Goes Into 2006

With a wider selection of magnetic bracelets, Dragonstone Magnetics now ship to both the US and Canada as well as featuring quality articles for the magnetic jewelry marketplace.

Clifton Heights, PA (PRWEB) December 11, 2005

Always stocking magnetic necklaces, rings, magnetic supports, anklets, magnetic insoles and even high-tech electromagnetic pulsed field devices, the very same ones that are used by many sports medicine doctors, www. dragonstonemagnetics. com launch themselves into 2006.

Dragonstone Magnetics can now be visited directly online 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

With new Wholesale and Retail Magnetic Jewelry & Therapy products always available they now have both a selection of articles about magnetic therapy and the selling of magnetic health products, as well as selling magnetic necklaces, rings, magnetic supports, anklets, magnetic insoles.

The team at www. dragonstonemagnetics. com have set out their internet stall in such a way as to be deemed the first port of call through to 2006 and with advice to magnetic jewlery entrepreneurs through online articles they can be of great assistance to all in the market.

Wholesale magnetic jewelry is now also always available as is magnetic packaging that works for retail, and labeling that works for retail - a must they belive in the wholesale marketplace.

Now servicing the USA and Canada magnetic therapy and retail magnetic jewlery products marketplace the team at www. dragonstonemagnetics. com look to provide a safe, effective & natural pain relief without drugs For Arthritis, Back Pain, Sports Injury and more, with the benefit of magnetic therapy and jewlery, all sold in their online store.

Looking to create a site that is simply not the norm. regards online retail their new Dragon Hoard desktop wallpaper can be downloaded completely free of charge, and with age old attention to detail and notes of wisdom that include:

“Your Mother probably told you to eat your vegetables and fruit. We hate to say it, but she was absolutely right!”

Www. dragonstonemagnetics. com look to teach, advise, provide information and be the new retail outlet online of choice for all products magnetic.

For more information on the new products now offered and to learn more about them, which includes new articles on both magnetic jewelry and wholesale magnetic jewelry for the entrepreneur visit www. dragonstonemagnetics. com.

This news release was brought to you through www. approv. com. A featured advertising re-print can be read at: www. approv. com/prarchive. html (http://www. approv. com/prarchive. html) and www. approv. com/pr_dragonstonemagnetics. html (http://www. approv. com/pr_dragonstonemagnetics. html).

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The Coolest Dog Products Under the Sun FetchDog's Fab Summer Collection Now Available

2011-04-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Coolest Dog Products Under the Sun FetchDog's Fab Summer Collection Now Available

From eco-friendly beds to motion sensing water dispensers, FetchDog has everything the modern dog could possibly want, or need, all deliciously displayed in the new Summer Collection. Shop online or order a catalog at http://www. fetchdog. com.

Portland, ME (PRWEB) June 18, 2008

Up here in Maine everything's finally turning green. You might say the same thing about the brand new FetchDog 2008 Summer Collection, featuring the best-designed finest-made dog products available in one place, anywhere.

Shopping at FetchDog is a unique experience thanks to the blogs, videos and stories on everything from breed selection to tick prevention. Dog lovers love that they can shop with a purpose at FetchDog through our Charitable Shops, sharing a portion of every purchase with programs like Animal Rescue New Orleans, the ASPCA, and Puppies Behind Bars.

The Summer Collection sports an array of eco-friendly products. Start with our expanded collection of beds made from IntelliLoft, amazingly cozy fill material created entirely of recycled plastic bottles. Browse on over to the ingenious Auto-Fresh Fountain that uses motion detection to precisely serve up fresh cold water to your thirsty pooch. Connects right to your existing outside faucet.

Your dog friends will be green with envy when they see your gleaming Contempo Bowls, winner of the Chicago Museum of Architecture and Design "Good Design" award. Crafted from 18/10 surgical steel with built in handles that makes scooping just the right amount of puppy chow a breeze.

And if lean, not green, is your immediate priority, consider the sexiest dog bowl with the grouchiest name: The ever-popular Anti-Bloat Bowl, tested and recommend by vets to promote slower eating, better digestion and a generally less tummy-stressed hound.

Speaking of healthier minds and bodies, don't forget to check out the amazing Triple Chew edible chew toy. It's a workout and dental visit in one. Bye-bye doggie breath.

If you a bit more devout about dazzling denture, go straight to the FetchDog Dental Kit stocked with not one but two different tooth brushes and filet mignon flavored toothpaste.

Summer's about the outdoors, so get out and about in confidence and style with the Just-A-Cinch Leash, a veritable Swiss Army knife of leashes. With an integrated collar that converts from standard to a correction collar, reflective trim woven right into the rope, even an accessory loop that provides hands-off transport of the inevitable doggie bag (you know what we mean).

The entire FetchDog 2008 Summer Collection is now online at http://www. fetchdog. com. Many dog lovers also like our printed catalog, which offers a variety of exclusive catalog-only products and select discounts.

About FetchDog
FetchDog began as the dream of a bunch of dog-crazy friends with a common complaint--why was there no great place online to shop for our dogs or to connect with dog experts and other dog lovers?

We wanted products that were sturdy, practical, yet beautiful to look at; thoughtfully-designed items that would complement our lives and our lifestyles. Naturally healthy food, treats, and health care products free of chemicals and byproducts. Most of all, we wanted all these things in one convenient place.

That's FetchDog. Shop with us, share with us, at http://www. fetchdog. com.

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Inventor of LaFemme Convenience Product Chosen as Exposition Finalist

2011-04-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

Inventor of LaFemme Convenience Product Chosen as Exposition Finalist

Bill Cicio, inventor of the revolutionary female urination device (FUD) has been selected as one of the finalists for Invent Now America Exposition. The exposition was founded by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Sponsors of the event included QVC and Popular Mechanics Magazine.

BAKERSFIELD, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2004

DBS Management Group is pleased to announce that Bill Cicio, inventor of LaFemmeÂ®, the revolutionary female urination device (FUD) has been selected as one of the finalists for the Invent NowÂ® America Exposition held in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios.

LaFemmeÂ® is a patented disposable product that allows females of all ages the ability and convenience to use a public restroom while standing and facing the bowl. The product alleviates the risk of using a germ infested public toilet. Research shows that most women will avoid a public restroom until a more suitable location can be found. However, this can cause additional health risks when women actually Âhold itÂ and forego using the toilet in a timely fashion.

Bill Cicio developed LaFemmeÂ® when his wife was faced with using unsanitary toilets on their family vacations. The product is great for women who travel, hike, camp, attend sporting events, use public transportation, or who suffer from a disability that makes it difficult to sit down.

LaFemmeÂ® was recently featured in COSMOgirl! Magazine in an article titled ÂHow Clean Is That Can?Â and was featured on The Sally Jessy Raphael Show. Comedians Jay Leno of The Tonight Show and Joan Rivers have made reference to LaFemmeÂ® in their monologues.

Invent NowÂ® America was founded by the National Inventors Hall of FameÂ® and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The program was created to encourage and celebrate the creative spirit of invention in everyone. More than 2,000 inventors submitted ideas which were judged by intellectual property and invention experts. Additional sponsors included QVC and Popular Mechanics Magazine.

DBS Management Group is based in Bakersfield, CA and is composed of business professionals who are interested in discovering and promoting nicheÂ products around the world. In 2003, DBS acquired the global rights to manufacture and distribute LaFemmeÂ®. To learn more about LaFemmeÂ® please visit www. lafemmena. com or to discuss business opportunities contact David Higdon at (661)587-2743.

CDC and FDA to Discuss Vaccine Stockpiles and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

2011-04-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

CDC and FDA to Discuss Vaccine Stockpiles and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

Representatives from the U. S. Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control to present at GTCbio's 3rd Annual Vaccines Conference in Arlington, Virginia on November 3-4, 2005.

MONROVIA, CA (PRWEB) September 3, 2005

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 36,000 Americans die each from complications of the flu. Yet this is a fraction compared to the millions of fatalities worldwide that could result from a Pandemic Influenza outbreak. The looming question after last yearÂs unexpected flu vaccine shortage is whether or not the United Stated Government is prepared to face this threat.

On November 3, representatives from the U. S. Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control will be discussing this issue at the 3rd Annual Conference on Vaccines.

The conference is presented by GTCbio and will take place at the Sheraton Pentagon South in Arlington, Virginia on November 3-4, 2005. During the course of this 2 day event, over 25 presenters from industry, academic and government will discuss public acceptance, funding opportunities, as well as the increasing need for vaccines and how they are affecting society in this nation and around the world.

Norman Baylor, Director of the FDAÂs Office of Vaccines Research and Review, will present a talk on the ÂFDA's Approach to Meeting the Challenge of Pandemic Influenza PreparednessÂ. Dr. BaylorÂs presentation will discuss accelerated pathways and new technologies that could increase vaccine manufacturing and capacity.

Susan Gorman of the Centers for Disease Control will discuss Vaccines and the Strategic National Stockpile. Her talk will provide insight on how Government and Industry have been working together to address current public health issues and future threats.

More information including a detailed agenda, exhibitor opportunities and registration information can be found at http://www. gtcbio. com/indexpr1.asp (http://www. gtcbio. com/indexpr1.asp)

ABOUT GTCbio

GTCbio organizes conferences specifically for the biomedical and biopharmaceutical industries. Our goal is to facilitate the exchange of biopharmaceutical and biomedical intelligence between industry leaders, academic and government organizations, and the financial community. GTCbio is a subsidiary of Global Technology Community, LLC, a privately held company founded in 2002.

Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax.

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CEIR Releases Fifth Annual Index

2011-04-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

CEIR Releases Fifth Annual Index

Exhibition Industry Grows 3.2 Percent in 2007

Dallas (PRWEB) April 8, 2008

The exhibition industry grew 3.2% in 2007, according to the fifth annual Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) Index report, which provides exhibition industry performance data for 11 key industry sectors. The 2007 industry growth rate was just below the 4.8% gain posted in 2006, but marked the fifth consecutive year of industry expansion and surpassed the 2.2% growth rate for real U. S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) year-over-year. The gain in 2007 also drove a 2.5% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) increase from 2000-2007, the period covered by this report.

More than 300 events contributed data for this report, and the results show that the exhibition industry is healthy, vibrant and growing. As an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance: Net Square Feet; Attendees; Exhibitors; and Revenue.

Over the course of the period covered by this report (2000-2007), all four exhibition industry metrics rose on a CAGR basis: Net Square Feet (+3.1%); Revenue (+3.1%); Attendees (+2.0%); and Exhibitors (+1.5%). From 2006 to 2007, Revenue increased 6.8%, followed by 4.9%, 0.9% and 0.3% gains in Attendees, Exhibitors and Net Square Feet, respectively.

From 2006 to 2007, exhibition industry growth was led by the Government, Public and Nonprofit Services sector (+12.6%), while the Building, Construction, Home and Repair sector experienced a slight downturn. Several market sectors drove growth for the industry from 2000 to 2007, including Sports, Travel, Entertainment, Art and Consumer Services (+5.3% CAGR); Transportation (+5.0% CAGR); and Building, Construction, Home and Repair (+4.3% CAGR). Only the Consumer Goods and Retail Trade and Communications and Information Technology sectors decreased on a CAGR basis from 2000 to 2007. The attached chart shows the rankings of sectors from 2000 to 2007 and for 2006 versus 2007.

Veris Consulting, a leading exhibition industry research consultancy, collected the data from the more than 300 events and created the CEIR Index results. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center at the University of South Carolina provided economic analysis for the CEIR Index. The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. (JEGI), the leading independent investment banking firm for the media and information industries, provided year-over-year analysis of exhibition performance for the 11 industry sectors covered by this report. Trade Show Executive, an award-winning magazine covering the trade show industry, provided design elements for the final report. Other contributors to the CEIR Index included: American Business Media (ABM); the Exhibition Industry Foundation (EIF); the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE); the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA); and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO).

The full report was presented by CEIR President and CEO Douglas L. Ducate, CEM, CMP at the SISO CEO Summit, which was held April 6-8 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The complete CEIR Index can be purchased through CEIR at www. ceir. org.

About CEIR
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering research-based knowledge tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www. ceir. org.

About JEGI
JEGI of New York, NY is the leading independent investment banking firm for the media and information industries. The firm has represented clients in the sale of nearly 1,000 events since 2000, including B2B trade shows/exhibitions and conferences, consumer and association shows, and custom events. Recently, JEGI represented dmg world media in its acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in George Little Management for $155 million and Gartner in the sale of its Vision Events to CMP (United Business Media). For more information, visit www. jegi. com.

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Chicken Farmers of Canada Clicks with Canadians

2011-04-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Chicken Farmers of Canada Clicks with Canadians

Talking to Canadians about food safety and nutrition has always been a large part of the mandate of Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) and this week, the organization is taking a major step in its online communications with the launch of its new blog, dubbed "Chicken Feeds."

Ottawa (Vocus) June 2, 2009

The goal of the blog is to create a dialogue between the organization and consumers, and to discuss important issues such as animal care and to debunk some of the urban legends, myths and general misunderstandings about chicken.

"Now, more than ever, consumers want information about where their food comes from, how it's raised and how it's handled," said David Fuller, Chair of CFC. "We've always been a very transparent organization, and this blog is another way that we can provide information to consumers, and just as importantly, hear what matters most to them."

While the blog will be focused on chicken, the content will be a mix of informative articles and lighter topics, ranging from how the Canadian chicken industry works to contests and prizes.

"To some, it seems odd that an organization like ours would be getting involved with blogging," said Lisa Bishop-Spencer, CFC's Manager of Communications and one of the contributors to the blog. "But it's given us a completely new way to interact with people, and to keep Canadians informed. It's our commitment to openness, to giving people the information they want and listening to their questions and concerns."

Over the course of the next few months, CFC hopes that Chicken Feeds will become a useful resource for Canadians and an active part of the conversation about food and healthy living.

Chicken Feeds can be found at http://www. chickenfeeds. ca (http://www. chickenfeeds. ca). The Chicken Farmers of Canada website remains at http://www. chicken. ca (http://www. chicken. ca).

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Kirsty MacColl's Brother Launches New Breed of Interactive Record Label

2011-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Kirsty MacColl's Brother Launches New Breed of Interactive Record Label

Renowned musician Calum MacColl and e-commerce pioneer Frank Joshi have launched MVine, an exciting new hybrid of traditional label and Internet music venture.

(PRWEB) October 21, 2005

Renowned musician Calum MacColl and e-commerce pioneer Frank Joshi have launched MVine, an exciting new hybrid of traditional label and Internet music venture.

MVine is a genre-free record label with a new business model, which brings together technological innovation and a passionate belief in new and original music. MVine’s combination of label, venue, community and technology moves away from the traditional ways of running a record company and puts music lovers firmly in the driving seat. MVine is a growing community with the power to shape the future of music.

The Music

MVine’s free service to unsigned or own-label artists enables them to showcase three full songs on the MVine website for community members to hear, comment on and buy as downloads. Audience comments are fed back directly to the artist. MVine provides a central platform on which artists can display biographies, tour dates and live links to their sites; they can use their own website to direct fans to MVine to listen and buy full tracks; and they have full control of their content on MVine at all times. MVine provides these free, non-exclusive services to any original artist or band.

The Innovation

Compare to sites such as MySpace, CD Baby or Magnatunes, MVine adds depth and breadth to the interactive experience. Based on audience feedback, MVine is pioneering a three-tier system that enables artists to progress from being ‘one of many’, through a ‘featured artist’ section (where their current CDs are sold in the on-line shop with profits split 50/50) to possibly becoming a fully signed MVine artist. Signed artists receive all the support and financial backing offered by a traditional independent label, including marketing, promotion and both digital and ‘bricks and mortar’ distribution. Unlike ‘traditional’ labels however, MVine splits profits after recoup on a 50/50 basis with the artist. MVine also uses the data gathered from the on-line audience to identify and access potential new markets for artists.

The Artists

MVine signed their first two acts this summer. Christie Hennessy’s album ‘Stories for Sale’ was released in September, Boo Hewerdine’s album ‘Harmonograph’ will be out in January. MVine signs a third artist this month with an album due out in Spring 06.

The Listener

At www. mvine. com audience members can listen free of charge to high sound quality full tracks from either an artist of their choice, or to a random selection of new music. Through rating & commenting, the audience is encouraged to connect with an artist and can buy individual songs as downloads for 79p each. Of this, half the profit goes to the artist, unlike the 80/20 splits offered by most major labels and many Internet sites.

The Website

MVine has already attracted over 100 artists to the website’s virtual venue. As at any live venue, the participatory element is key: the audience interacts initially by using the sexy voting slider (imagine a very clever ‘clap-o meter’), there are places for people to talk, to compare notes, to get more information on favorite bands, discover new acts and buy new music. A loyalty scheme (MPoints) rewards members for their involvement.

The Technology

Uniquely, MVine delivers music in Ogg Vorbis, which streams higher quality files at lower bandwidth than MP3. Essentially this means that users can still listen and download songs even if they don’t have broadband. All downloads are free of DRM (digital rights management), enabling buyers to listen to the music on any player they want. MVine uses a combination of commodity hardware and Free and Open Source software. Operating in Linux mode means that MVine is platform-free, the website operates with all major browsers, and it is powered by Info Now, a dedicated system that provides flexible and detailed reporting.

The People

Calum MacColl, MVine’s Artistic Director explains, “At the heart of MVine is our passionate belief in creativity and increasing the opportunities for original artists to make a living from their music. As a musician myself, I believe that opening up the channels of communication between artists and their fan base will result in a healthier music scene. And by listening to our audience, we can help musicians discover new markets for their music. We are facilitators.”

Managing Director Frank Joshi says, “We’re utilizing powerful web technologies and exploiting the reach that the Internet provides, to bring artists and music lovers together. We have been refining our business model for nearly two years and are confident that we can provide a revolutionary new service for artists and music lovers. Artists get an opportunity to promote their music to a worldwide audience, music fans have access to a greater diversity of music than ever before.”

Further information on personnel

Calum MacColl, Artistic Director – son of folk legends Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger, and brother of the late, lamented Kirsty MacColl. A songwriter, producer and musician, Calum has worked with many different artists: Ronan Keating, The Backstreet Boys, Natalie Imbruglia, The Corrs, Brian Kennedy, Black, Cathy Dennis and Boyzone.

Frank Joshi, Managing Director – joint founder of Martex Communicators plc, one of the first to recognise the potential of the Internet for business in the mid 1990s. He pioneered the development of ‘business to business’ (B2B) portals and oversaw the successful acquisition and development of Martex by the Tarsus Group.

The full MVine team comprises three men and three women with years of experience in music, media and entertainment, and a further panel of special advisers drawn from a wide variety of related disciplines.

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SMAART-Net™ Data Network Reaches Milestone Over 750,000 Patient Images Transmitted in 2005

2011-04-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

SMAART-Net™ Data Network Reaches Milestone Over 750,000 Patient Images Transmitted in 2005

SMAART Medical Systems Inc. (SMAART) announced today that SMAART-Net™, the first public data network developed exclusively to transmit medical images from imaging centers to physicians has reached a major milestone in its first full year of operation. SMAART’s customers securely and easily transmitted more than three-quarters of a million patient images over SMAART-Net in 2005.

DALLAS, TX (PRWEB) December 21, 2005

SMAART-Net is a managed intelligent data network specifically designed for healthcare. SMAART-Net eliminates the need for multiple VPNs – a SMAART customer only needs a single connection to reach anyone else in the world on SMAART-Net.

SMAART-Net uses advanced technology to transmit medical images up to five times faster than conventional networks without losing any image quality. This technology – SMAART-Acceleration –allows centers to be connected by inexpensive DSL or cable connections instead of traditional T1 lines, saving hundreds of dollars per month. SMAART-Net provides state-of-the-art security and encryption, meeting all HIPAA security requirements for image transmission, and is enhanced for maximum “uptime” with automatic 7X24 fault detection. Customers benefit from SMAART technology and features including time-of-day image routing for custom scheduling, image broadcasting for sending simultaneously to more than one location, and SMAART-Track, an interactive tool for managing images.

SMAART-Net was launched in 2004 as part of SMAART’s strategy to accelerate the conversion to “filmless” (digital) diagnostic imaging. Digital imaging greatly reduces one of the largest operating costs of an imaging center - the costs associated with developing, printing, archiving, and distributing x-ray film. Prior to the introduction of SMAART-Net, imaging centers often had to install complex private data networks to fully realize the full cost savings of digital imaging. This was not just expensive, but a maintenance nightmare causing many centers to delay “going filmless.” With SMAART’s network service, even the smallest imaging centers can now easily and affordably implement the communications necessary for a modern operating environment.

Apex Imaging of Bedford, TX uses SMAART-Net to reach many of the physicians that refer patients to its MRI center. Apex provides superior diagnostic services using modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. Apex opened its comfortable new facility in December 2004.

“I know Apex is superior to other imaging centers in our market thanks to SMAART-Net,” said Chris Motherwell, CEO of Apex Imaging and the first SMAART-Net customer. “With SMAART-Net, Apex offers faster service to patients and referring physicians. We send the patients’ images to their physician moments after they leave the scanner. Often patients are scanned in the morning and schedule a consult that same afternoon. This speeds up diagnosis providing peace of mind and convenience.”

SMAART Medical Systems, Inc. is a Dallas-based, national supplier of PACS (Picture Archive and Communication System), RIS (Radiology Information System), teleradiology, and advanced diagnostic software. PACS and RIS systems are the radiology industry’s way to modernize diagnostic image management and eliminate the costs associated with x-ray film. A PACS system allows physicians and technologists to view, store, and manage images from x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT, PET, and other imaging systems. A RIS automates the workflow of an imaging center. A teleradiology system securely transfers a patient’s images via the Internet from the imaging center to an off-site radiologist or physician. Advanced diagnostic software includes computer-assisted procedures such as the virtual colonoscopy or CT angiography. SMAART specializes in turnkey solutions for small to medium-sized imaging centers. Its competitive differentiator is that it marries its economical medical systems with broad network experience, professional services and outstanding customer support. For additional information, visit our website at www. smaart. net.

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Penguin Releases Scyld ClusterWare 5.2

2011-04-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

Penguin Releases Scyld ClusterWare 5.2

Latest Scyld ClusterWare Release 5.2 expands platform support for its industry leading suite of provisioning, management and performance tools for HPC clusters.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 11, 2009

Penguin Computing today announced the immediate availability of the latest version of its high performance computing (HPC) cluster management solution Scyld ClusterWare 5.2. This release makes the classic Scyld benefits of fast dynamic provisioning, single system style management and guaranteed environment consistency available for RedHat EL5 and CentOS 5 based systems. The latest release also introduces new manageability and monitoring capabilities and support for OFED 1.3.

"Scyld ClusterWare has greatly improved the productivity of our 22-node Altus cluster," said Erich Schraer, Network Manager, Washington University at St. Louis. "We are now able to complete more jobs than we were before using Scyld ClusterWare, giving us much higher utility of our computing resources. We look forward to this newest Scyld ClusterWare release from Penguin Computing."

With ClusterWare 5.2, customers can now take advantage of improvements to the Linux kernel combined with Scyld ClusterWare's ease of use. Significant changes to the kernel include enhanced scalability across multiple cores and an improved I/O scheduler. ClusterWare's new web based management framework features node management capabilities based on Intel's IPMI standard and is seamlessly integrated with Scyld ClusterWare. Information on the health of compute nodes, cluster statistics or status information on Infiniband switches is accessible through any internet browser. Integrating version 1.3 of the Open Fabric Alliance's OFED stack 1.3, ClusterWare supports a wide variety of Infiniband HCA's and provides subnet management capabilities that enable customers to take advantage of the price-performance of lower cost, unmanaged Infiniband switches.

"With Scyld ClusterWare 5.2 Penguin Computing is once more demonstrating its leadership in providing the easiest to use, most integrated cluster management solution in the HPC market today. With support for Redhat 5 computing infrastructures and new management features, this Scyld ClusterWare release makes it even easier for engineers, scientists and researchers to manage a cluster without the requirement of a deep HPC cluster expertise," says Tom Coull, Senior VP of Product Management and Development at Penguin Computing.

About Penguin Computing:
Penguin Computing, headquartered in San Francisco, California, specializes in complete, integrated HPC clustering solutions. Penguin has been a successful innovator for over a decade, providing Linux HPC solutions to a variety of industries. Penguin's staff, including the originator of the Beowulf Cluster architecture, has unsurpassed experience in delivering a powerful combination of fully integrated HPC clusters, comprehensive cluster management software, and services. For more information about Penguin Computing and Penguin products, or to download Scyld ClusterWare 4.2 for the free 45-day evaluation, please go to http://www. penguincomputing. com (http://www. penguincomputing. com).

Penguin Computing is a registered trademark of Penguin Computing, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Evision Worldwide Launches Web Design Company: Five Rivers Interactive Media

2011-04-17T00:16:00.000-07:00

Evision Worldwide Launches Web Design Company: Five Rivers Interactive Media

Evision Worldwide announces the launch of Five Rivers Interactive Media, their newest online business venture. Five Rivers Interactive is a website design and marketing company specializing in intelligent web design, SEO content, branding, print design, and online business consulting.

Chicago, IL (Vocus) September 10, 2009

Evision Worldwide announces the launch of Five Rivers Interactive Media, their newest online business venture.

Five Rivers Interactive (http://www. fiveriversinteractive. com) is a website design and marketing company specializing in intelligent web design, SEO content, branding, print design, and online business consulting. A top-notch team of designers and coders deliver everything from basic websites to complex e-commerce solutions and custom applications. Offices are located in Chicago and Honolulu.

Five Rivers Interactive Media was founded by the three internet marketing experts who head up Evision Worldwide (http://www. evisionworldwide. com). Through their search marketing agency, they worked with a variety of clients, from startups to major brands, in travel and hospitality, health care, retail, and numerous other industries. What every client had in common was the need to improve their website in some way in order to achieve the optimal benefits of their online marketing programs.

Five Rivers Interactive is a company that addresses this need. The Five Rivers strategic design team builds, or rebuilds, websites that are more than beautiful – they also incorporate all of the components needed to achieve successful online results.

Five Rivers Interactive Services
The Five Rivers team includes experts in every phase of interactive marketing. Talented web designers, internet marketing experts, and business consultants are at every client’s disposal to help them integrate their online and offline strategies, content and branding – all of which are vital to overall success.
Five Rivers Interactive Media services include: website design, copywriting, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, online strategy consulting, logo design and corporate branding, print design, online press releases and promotions.
Types of Websites Created by Five Rivers Interactive
Every site is made to order, so that every client’s website will be the perfect solution for their needs and goals. Previous projects have included:
Hospitality and travel sites Sites for online business startups, including beta sites Ecommerce and lead generation sites Destination, news and media sites Brand marketing sites and microsites with unique user experiences Corporate sites Mobile marketing websites B2B and B2C websites

Five Rivers Interactive Media offers web design services in Chicago, Hawaii, and worldwide. If you're interested in finding out more about their web design or internet marketing services, please visit the Services pages on their website or view their online Portfolio. You can contact them directly at 888.354.8883.

Evision Worldwide
At Evision Worldwide, our focus is on successfully planning and marketing online ventures – for our clients and ourselves. If you’re interested in receiving business and marketing advice from entrepreneurs on the front lines of online business development, Evision’s owners and top-level marketers are available for consulting, speaking and on-site training. We’re happy to share our knowledge and experiences so that your business can flourish.

Evisionary Blog
The Evisionary blog (http://www. evisionworldwide. com/blog) is written by the owners and key strategists at Evision Worldwide. This is a place for us to share our observations and strategies from the online business world.

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10 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2009

2011-04-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

10 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2009

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the leading national organization of board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery, offers its predictions for cosmetic surgery in 2009. Predictions are based on interviews with leading plastic surgeons around the country.

New York, NY (Vocus) December 19, 2008

Aesthetic Medicine has seen a dramatic increase in the diversity of the patients treated over the past decade and this trend is expected to continue to grow stronger than ever, with applications that cater to all people. The appeal of both aesthetic surgery and cosmetic medicine will continue to spread across the spectrum of our population, as plastic surgeons further tailor treatments to meet the sometimes unique needs of that expanding population.

The growth and popularity of cosmetic fillers (Evolence, Juvederm, Restylane, etc.) will continue to increase as products continue to evolve and new players enter the market.

As our population increasingly realizes the dangers and health consequences of obesity, the number of patients seeking plastic surgery procedures for body contouring after dramatic weight loss (abdominoplasty, lower body lift, upper arm lift, etc.) will rise in 2009.

Reloxin (an injectable form of Botulinum Toxin Type A) will gain FDA approval and compete with Botox (the most popular cosmetic procedure for the past 5 years) and other similar products may begin to enter pre-market clinical trials.

Consumers looking for a bargain on cosmetic procedures will unfortunately lead to an increase in horror stories about "discount injectables" bought offshore and cosmetic medicine and cosmetic surgical procedures performed by untrained or poorly trained practitioners.

Experimental techniques for non-invasive fat removal (SonoScultpt, UltraShape) as a future alternative or adjunct to liposuction (lipoplasty) surgery, will continue be tested in clinical trials.

Men will represent a growing segment of the aesthetic surgery market. (According to a February 2008 consumer survey commissioned by ASAPS, 57 percent of men approve of cosmetic surgery, and 20 percent would consider having cosmetic surgery. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of American men surveyed said they would not be embarrassed if people in addition to their family and close friends knew they had undergone cosmetic surgery.)

As the popularity of non surgical and minimally invasive procedures continues to grow; surgeons and manufacturers will develop new techniques and products that advance the science, produce even better results and lessen recovery time.

Cosmetic surgery "vacations" will become less popular as educated consumers understand the safety and risk issues associated with surgical procedures and travel. Surgery performed by board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeons, in accredited facilities where follow-up care is available will continue to be the safest option and the best value.

Following the trend in increased consumer sophistication regarding healthcare choices, board certification of practitioners, and accreditation of surgical facilities will play an even more important role in choosing a cosmetic surgeon.

For more information, visit http://www. surgery. org

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Magazines. com Highlights Nursing Magazine Subscriptions for National Nurse Week

2011-04-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Magazines. com Highlights Nursing Magazine Subscriptions for National Nurse Week

Next week May 6-12 is National Nurses Week. Magazines. com is celebrating with a variety of nursing magazines at significant discounts off cover prices.

(Vocus) April 29, 2009

Nurses have many roles and work in emergency rooms, clinics, hospitals, doctor's offices even schools in patient care, education and research in a wide variety of specialties. The nursing profession is often described as part art and part science.

Almost three million people in the United States work as nurses and are responsible for the treatment, safety and healthy recovery of ill and injured people, which takes a high level of commitment, passion, training and hard work.

To honor nurses and celebrate National Nurse Week, Internet retailer Magazines. com is featuring a variety of nursing magazine subscriptions at significant discounts to all of our nursing magazines, newsletters and journals such as Nursing, Nurse Educator, Home Healthcare Nurse, CIN: Computers, Informatics Nursing, The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, The Journal of Nursing Administration and more.

These nursing magazines include professional nursing journals and newsletters that are invaluable resources of current clinical and professional topics highly relevant in today's nursing profession.

Each year National Nurses Week is celebrated from May 6, which is National Nurses Day through May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is credited with founding the modern-day profession of nursing.

About Magazines. com
Magazines. com is the oldest, the largest and the most dependable magazine subscription service on the Internet. We are a privately-held company based in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville.

With more than 2,000 titles available, Magazines. com offers people a fun, easy way to discover new magazines and helps them track subscriptions. Magazines. com is the leading independent agent selling subscriptions, serving customers online at Magazines. com and by telephone at 800-MAGAZINES (800-624-2946.)

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Tri Delta Receives the Elisa Project Star of Hope Award

2011-04-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tri Delta Receives the Elisa Project Star of Hope Award

The Star of Hope Award recognizes an organization making a difference in the field of body image

Arlington, TX (Vocus/PRWEB) December 16, 2010

During the month of November, Delta Delta Delta was recognized as a leader in the body image community at the Elisa Project’s sixth annual Life Lessons Luncheon. Each year, the Elisa Project awards the Star of Hope to an organization or individual who is making great strides in the field of body image and eating disorder awareness.

Tri Delta is the second recipient of the award, received in honor of the progress made by Reflections: Body Image Program and Fat Talk Free Week™.

"It was such an honor for The Center to be recognized by the Elisa Project. It confirms that the Reflection program is having a positive impact on young women, and it is wonderful to see that Tri Delta is having a real influence, even beyond our own members, in promoting a healthy body image for women," said Jeanne Reese, president of the board for The Center for Living, Learning & Leading.

Tri Delta and The Center for Living, Learning & Leading co-developed Reflections with Carolyn Becker, Ph. D, FAED, of Trinity University, and the local sororities on that campus. Reflections not only reduces eating disorder risk factors and improves body image perceptions among participants, it also enables facilitators to gain valuable academic and leadership experience and promotes a more cohesive community of women on campus.

“The goal of Reflections is to provide evidence-based programming aimed at improving body image and preventing eating disorders in collegiate women all over North America,” said Carolyn Becker. “When we launched Reflections we had no idea if this goal was possible, but we know now that we have accomplished it and more. This award is not only a true honor, but it helps us show our communities that Reflections is both valued and respected.”

Since introducing Reflections and Fat Talk Free Week™ in 2008, Tri Delta has reached millions of women internationally through viral videos, social media, campus activism events, media exposure and more. To date, 88 college campuses across the country have participated in Reflections with another 8 campuses scheduled to participate in spring of 2011.

For more information about Reflections: Body Image Program or Fat Talk Free Week™, visit their website at http://www. reflectionsprogram. com or http://www. facebook. com/fattalkfree.

About Tri Delta
Founded in 1888, Tri Delta is a leader among social Greek organizations through its passion for progress and visionary thinking. Through partnerships with nationally recognized organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, award-winning publications like The Trident and innovative collegiate and alumnae initiatives, Tri Delta is committed to leveraging our timeless values to revitalize the sorority experience. For more information, please visit http://www. tridelta. org or call (817) 633-8001

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World's Fittest Man to bring health and fitness awareness to East Africa

2011-04-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

World's Fittest Man to bring health and fitness awareness to East Africa.

Joe Decker, "World's Fittest Man", will be visiting Eastern Africa for three weeks starting July 14th. His objective is to bring health and fitness awareness to an international audience. He is a renowned fitness trainer, syndicated columnist and author of "The World's Fittest You."

(PRWEB) June 25, 2004

The "World's Fittest Man", Joe Decker, of Cabin John, Maryland, USA, will, starting July 14, 2004 visit Kampala, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

He will be in the three capitals to showcase his renowned fitness programmes to orient people towards health consciousness. Mr. Decker is also looking forward to visiting some of the tourist sites in the region during the three weeks he will spend in the region.

Mr. Decker is considered the ÂWorld's Fittest Man.Â He broke an existing record of the Guinness Book of World Records 24-hour physical fitness challenge. He is an ultra-endurance power athlete, renowned fitness trainer, author

And syndicated columnist who has helped thousands of women, men, kids and seniors get into shape and lose weight.

Despite his celebrity status on the international scene, many East Africans don't know him and this will be his first visit to this part of Africa.

To become what he is today, Mr. Decker performed a feat: He cycled 100 miles, ran 10 miles, hiked 10 miles, power-walked five miles, kayaked six miles, skied on a Nordic track 10 miles, rowed 10 miles, swam two miles, did 3,000 abdominal crunches, 1,100 jumping jacks, 1,000 leg lifts, 1,100 push-ups and he weight-lifted, cumulatively, 278,540 pounds, all in 24 hours.

For his efforts (and pains), Mr. Decker, 34, earned a place in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records: the fittest man alive. He makes his living as a fitness trainer and motivational speaker. His mind-boggling feats have been chronicled in world leading newspapers, magazines and have made television documentaries with Discovery Channel as well as television interviews with some of America's big networks.

According to a report in one of America's popular publications, The Philadelphia Inquirer, on a typical Saturday, Mr. Decker will rise at 4.30am and run 40 to 50 miles (This is like running from Kampala to Jinja in Uganda), or bike 50 to 100 miles, or kayak 20 to 30 miles and is back home early in the afternoon. The report said most of what he does routinely would kill most people because for him a marathon is a training run.

ÂI don't mean to sound crazy, but once you get to a certain point, it's just nothing. I run a marathon a month,Â he is quoted in one of the interviews he has done during his career. According to another report in the Washington Post (2001), Mr. Decker jogged 25,000 cumulative miles in training and races - the equivalent of one lap around the globe.

A Guinness World Records certificate, which Procurement News (PN) has seen says the man, achieved the following measurements in a 24 hour/13 activity fitness programme from 1-2 December 2000: 160.93 km (100 miles) cycling, 16.09 km (10 miles) running and 16.09 km (10 miles) hiking.

Others are 8.04 km (5 miles) power walking, 9.65 km (6 miles) kayaking, 16.09 km (10 miles) Nordic track, 16.09 km (10 miles) rowing, 3.21 km (2 miles) swimming, 3,000 ab crunches, 1,100 jumping jacks, 1000 leg lifts, 1,100 push-ups and weight-lifted 126,343.61 kg (278,540lb).

The Observer Newspaper in the United Kingdom quoted Mr. Chris Sheedy of the Guinness World Records saying: ÂHis achievement is momentous, unbelievable, and superhuman.

When his letter arrived I thought, Âto do all this in such a short time isn't physically possible.Â But he sent us videos, eyewitness statements, doctor's reports - more evidence than we needed to validate his claim.

Mr. Decker's miracle year was 2000. According to the report, he received a handsome trophy, topped by a statuette of a bald eagle, for completing the Grand Slam of Ultra-running - four 100 milers.

The fun began in May 2000 with the mother of all endurance contests, the Raid Gauloises, which was a 520-mile adventure race from Tibet to northern India via Nepal and the Himalayas.

He finished in eight days. This adventure race is considered by many to be the most grueling endurance race on earth.

Mr. Decker calls himself Âa country boy at heart.Â He grew up on a farm in central Illinois, near the town of Cuba, about 50 miles southwest of Peoria. His father is a farmer who also worked for Caterpillar. His mother, Diane, was a custodian at the local elementary school.

He was the oldest of four boys who made their own entertainment. ÂI was never inside. I was not a TV kid,Â he says. I was always outside, swimming, climbing, running, playing in the woods. With no money for college, he joined the army, which he credits for toughening him, mentally and physically.

One could already be asking, why does he do it? According to the Observer report, his could be a childhood of extreme poverty or maybe it's his physique, more that of a weightlifter than an athlete, or the memory of being called a 'fat boy'.

ÂI am an average person,Â he insists. ÂWhat I've done is something just about anybody could do if they put their mind to it. Don't just want to do something; if you want to attain something, get off your butt and make it happen. The Observer said that as a teenager, Mr. Decker devoured beer and pizza without exercise and saw his body balloon.

When he joined the US army, his inability to run two miles in 16 minutes meant he had to endure the humiliation of extra training in the 'fat boy programme'.

Federal court prohibits KBR and Halliburton from hiding behind government and allows access to evidence

2011-04-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

Federal court prohibits KBR and Halliburton from hiding behind government and allows access to evidence

Motley Rice LLC and Burke PLLC are pleased to announce that the U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled Wednesday that lawsuits brought by military personnel harmed by the allegedly negligent actions of defendants KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC, Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc., and Halliburton Company may move forward.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 10, 2010

Motley Rice LLC and Burke PLLC are pleased to announce that the U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled Wednesday in In re: KBR, Inc., Burn Pit Litigation (Case No. RWT 09md2083) that lawsuits brought by military personnel (http://www. motleyrice. com/files/occupational-disease/jobes_v._kbr. pdf) harmed by the allegedly negligent actions of defendants KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC, Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc., and Halliburton Company may move forward.

The District Court rejected KBR and Halliburton's attempt to insulate their conduct from judicial scrutiny. Instead, as explained in the 43-page decision (http://www. motleyrice. com/files/occupational-disease/denial_of_dismissal. pdf) released yesterday afternoon, there is a “legitimate concern that the judiciary may prematurely close the doors to soldiers and civilians injured from wartime logistical activities performed by hired hands allegedly acting contrary to military-defined strictures.”

Forty three lawsuits filed in 42 states across the nation were consolidated before the Honorable Roger W. Titus for preliminary proceedings in December 2009 in the U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland. These burn pit lawsuits (http://www. motleyrice. com/occupational-disease/burn-pit-litigation) in In re KBR Inc. Burn Pit Litigation (case number 08-02083) allege that KBR and Halliburton ignored the terms of the government contracts requiring them to provide safe and environmentally-sound waste disposal for the troops based in Iraq and Afghanistan, and instead provided substandard waste disposal services by disposing of waste in open-air burn pits. The lawsuits allege that this improper method of waste disposal caused serious physical injuries including cancer and permanent respiratory damage to soldiers and civilians.

“This victory moves us another step towards justice for the brave men and women who honorably served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan but now are sick and suffering because of KBR’s alleged negligence,” said Susan Burke, court-appointed Lead and Liaison Counsel for the MDL.

“Our clients believed that our civil justice system would provide a fair opportunity for them to share their knowledge, learn more and discover the truth surrounding the horrible toxic exposures from the burn pits. Now we can start proving who was really responsible,” stated Motley Rice co-founder, Joe Rice.

Read more about the injuries alleged to be linked to the burn pits at www. burnpitlawsuit. com/injuries. html (http://www. burnpitlawsuit. com/injuries. html).

About Motley Rice LLC
Motley Rice is recognized for its willingness to litigate complex civil cases and challenging occupational and public health, anti-terrorism and human rights cases, including the landmark 9/11 litigation against terrorist financiers. The firm’s experience taking on large corporations began when asbestos lawyers (http://www. motleyrice. com/asbestos-lawyers), Ron and Joe, began handling asbestos litigation in the 1970s and its subsequent fight against the four largest tobacco manufacturers in the 1990s that resulted in the largest financial resolution of civil litigation in U. S. history. With more than 60 attorneys and hundreds of staff, the firm handles diverse litigation that helps to protect those harmed by wrongdoing and negligence. Motley Rice LLC is headquartered in South Carolina, and has additional offices in Connecticut; New York; Rhode Island; Washington, D. C.; and West Virginia.

About Burke PLLC
Washington, D. C.-based Burke PLLC is known not only for its strong history in complex and civil litigation but also for its commitment to human rights work, strengths that compliment Motley Rice’s experience in human rights and occupational disease and toxic tort litigation. Most recently, Burke served as Lead Counsel in five actions brought on behalf of alleged Abu Ghraib torture victims against CACI and L-3 and as Lead Counsel in the internationally watched action filed against defense contractor Blackwater over alleged civilian shootings in Iraq. Burke’s work on the Blackwater case has been featured in Jeremy Scahill’s best-selling book, “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army,” and she and her firms’ attorneys were among the first to actively investigate the potential hazards of open-air burn pits on the health and welfare of U. S. soldiers and military personnel.
For more information about re KBR Inc. Burn Pit Litigation contact litigator Joe Rice (http://www. motleyrice. com/attorneys/view/joseph-f-rice) (SC) at +1 800.768.4026 or attorney Susan Burke (http://www. burkepllc. com/attorneys/susan-burke. php) at +1 202.386.9622 or visit www. burnpitlawsuit. com.

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Healthopedia. com Â A Powerful Health Reference Tool and Search Engine

2011-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Healthopedia. com Â A Powerful Health Reference Tool and Search Engine

Provides very comprehensive and trusted information on over 1,500 health topics including diseases, conditions, tests, symptoms, injuries, surgeries, nutritionÂs and special topics. The site also focuses on family and community health as one of the major topics and contains over 70 focused health centers.

(PRWEB) January 6, 2005

Health of body and mind is among one of the most important issues of life. Seeing a doctor is the best option, but in todayÂs world, one tends to be well informed about different aspects of health issues.

Healthopedia. com is designed as a powerful additional information source for health consumers, which would help them take control of their own health.

Medical and health information is not only needed and important for medical professionals, but also very important for the suffering patients who are in need of the information and should become aware about what they are going through. Healthopedia. com is specially meant for the general public and is written in a patient-friendly language. Almost every health condition is explained and elaborated with the help of detailed and brief pictures and images.

One of the major highlights of the site is its news section, which brings to you breaking news on health from all over the world. Keeps you updated about the latest breakthrough in medical science as well first hand information about any upcoming health problem and possible solutions.

Professionally designed with a user friendly navigation, Healthopedia. com provides accurate health information, breaking news, health centers and a lot more. Briefly stating, Healthopedia. com provides very comprehensive and trusted information on over 1,500 health topics including diseases, conditions, tests, symptoms, injuries, surgeries, nutritionÂs and special topics. The site also focuses on family and community health as one of the major topics and contains over 70 focused health centers.

To know more about it, log on to http://www. healthopedia. com/ (http://www. healthopedia. com/)
Healthopedia News: http://www. healthopedia. com/news/ (http://www. healthopedia. com/news/)

About Healthopedia. com

Healthopedia. com is a leading health reference and information resource developed by Par Web Solutions.

Contact Information:

Mihir Parmar

Par Web Solutions

91-22-24464667

Http://www. healthopedia. com (http://www. healthopedia. com)

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SemTech 2009 Showcases Keynotes, Panels, Tutorials, and Presentations on Semantic Search, Data Discovery, and Linked Data

2011-04-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

SemTech 2009 Showcases Keynotes, Panels, Tutorials, and Presentations on Semantic Search, Data Discovery, and Linked Data

Accenture, Adobe Systems, ask. com, BBN Technologies, bing (Microsoft), The Boeing Company, Dow Jones, FAO/United Nations, Google, IBM Rational, Intuit, Los Alamos National Labs, Merck and Co., Oracle, Procter & Gamble, Radar Networks, Sabre, SAP, Siri, TextWise, Travelocity, US Department of State, Wolfram Alpha, XBRL International, Yahoo!, and More to Present at Fifth Annual Conference on Semantic Technologies

Culver City, CA (PRWEB) June 4, 2009

SemTech 2009, the world's leading conference on semantic technologies, today announced its sessions on Semantic Search, Data Discovery, and Linked Data, comprising nearly 45% of its more than 220 hours of business and technically-oriented presentations. The fifth annual conference will take place June 14-18 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California.

Over the past five years, SemTech has established itself as the must-attend forum to address real-world issues faced by the industry today, attracting hundreds of executives, entrepreneurs, technologists, and academics from around the world. The conference program has grown to become the most comprehensive offering on semantic technologies, with more than 220 hours of presentations at levels, from introductory-level tutorials to expert sessions aimed at the power user. Semantic search, data discovery, and linked data presentations span diverse topics such as enterprise information management, digital asset mashups, social networking, metadata standards, digital libraries, collaborative tagging, multimedia and rich content sharing, knowledge mapping, search engine optimization, data portability, and mobile applications. Sessions include:
Keynote Address: The Game Changer - The Siri Virtual Assistant: Bringing Intelligence to the Interface Presenter: Tom Gruber, Siri

Executive Round Table: Semantic Search Presenters: Carla Thompson, Guidewire Group; Tomasz Imielinski, Ask. com; Riza Berkan, hakia; Andrew Tomkins, Yahoo! Search; Peter Norvig, Google; Scott Prevost, bing (Microsoft); and William Tunstall-Pedoe, True Knowledge

Panel: A Shift in SEO Strategy Presenters: Jason Kreidman, Kreidman. com; Mark Birbeck, Backplane Ltd.; and Tim Musgrove, TextDigger

Year of the Monkey: Lessons from the first year of SearchMonkey; and SearchMonkey and the Semantic Web Speakers: Kevin Haas, Yahoo! Search, and Peter Mika, Yahoo! Research

Semantics at Google Speakers: Othar Hansson and Kavi Goel, Google

Semantic Enterprise 2.0 - Enabling Semantic Web technologies in Enterprise 2.0 environment Speakers: Alexandre Passant, Uldis Bojars, John Breslin, and Stefan Decker, Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI), National University of Ireland, Galway

Applying Semantic Technologies to Asset and Configuration Management in the Enterprise Speakers: Taylor Cowan, Sabre Holdings, and Brian Boyd, Travelocity

Wolfram|Alpha - An Interview Speakers: Russell Foltz-Smith, Wolfram|Alpha, and Nova Spivack, Radar Networks

Ontology 101: An Introduction to Knowledge Representation, the Web Ontology Language, and Ontology Development Speakers: Elisa Kendall, Sandpiper Software, and Deborah McGuinness, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Semantifying Social Networks Speakers: Paul Miller, The Cloud of Data; Nova Spivack, Radar Networks (Twine. com); Stephen A. Leicht, Collexis Holdings Inc.; Amit Sheth, Kno. e.sis Center, Wright State University; and Daniela Barbosa, DataPortability Project/Dow Jones

An Ontology-Driven System for the Semantic Analysis of Multimedia Content Speaker: Walter Chang, Adobe Systems

Bridging Semantics: An Application of Ontology in Corporate Knowledge Management Speaker: Yu Su, Intuit

Not Just Your Daddy's Search or Browsing: Enabling users to interact with rich information spaces Speakers: Robert F. Coyne, TopQuadrant, and Tim S. Smith, Procter & Gamble

How is the Semantic Web Being Used? An Analysis of the Billion Triples Challenge Corpus; and Semantic Web @ BBN: Application to the Digital Whitewater Challenge Speakers: Mike Dean, and John Hebeler, BBN Technologies

High Precision Entity Extraction: A U. S. State Department Case Study Speakers: Joseph Wicentowski, U. S. Department of State, and Dan McCreary, Dan McCreary and Associates

In addition to the above presentations, SemTech 2009's instructors and speakers on semantic search, data discovery, and linked data include renowned experts from: Accenture Technology Labs; AdaptiveBlue; The Analysis Group; Asemantics; Babel-Ease Ltd.; Bintro. com; The Boeing Company; Cambridge Semantics; CIC-IPN; Clark & Parsia; Cleveland Clinic; Cognition Technologies; Custom Technology Ltd.; Cycorp; Dan McCreary & Associates; Emergent Intelligence Technology, Inc.; Earley & Associates; Expert System; Fedora Commons; Florida IHMC; Franz; Getty Research Institute; hakia, Healthline Networks; IBM Rational; iQser AG; iQuest Analytics; Jazz Foundation; James Leigh Services Inc.; JS-Kit; Kapow Technologies; KnowledgeHives; Los Alamos National Laboratory; Matrixware Information Services; Merck and Co.; Metatomix; Metaweb Technologies; MuseGlobal, Inc.; Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI); Ontos AG; Ontotext AD; Open Link Software; Oracle; Orbis Technologies; Oregon Health & Science University; Overtone; Oxford University; Palomar Ventures; Primal Fusion; Progeny Systems; Project10x; Revelytix; Riot Games; RiverGlass; Sandia National Laboratories; Saltlux; SAP Labs; Sciova; Semantic Arts; SemanticCommunity. net; Semantic Discovery System; SemanticV; Smartlogic; Stanford University; Syntactica; TextDigger; TextWise; The Cloud of Data; TriviumRLG; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; University of California, San Diego; University of Cambridge; University of Texas, Houston; VIStology; Widality; the World Wide Web Consortium; XBRL International; XSB, Inc.; Zemanta; and Zepheira.

The full program is available at the SemTech2009.com website (http://www. semtech2009.com/ataglance).

SemTech sponsors and exhibitors include: Platinum--Metatomix, Oracle, and STI International; Gold-- Calais/Thomson Reuters, Collibra, Franz, Ontotext, TopQuadrant, and Zepheira; Silver--AdaptiveBlue, BBN Technologies, bing (Microsoft), Cambridge Semantics, Ontos, Saltlux, SemanticV, TextWise, and Yahoo! Search; Exhibiting Sponsors--Cycorp, Expert System, iQuest Analytics, KBSI, Syntactica, TextDigger; and Supporting Sponsors--Guidewire Group, Peer39, Project10X, and W3C.

Select sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are still available; please contact Steve Bastasini on +1 415 740 5528 or steve(at)semanticuniverse. com for more information.

Media Partners include KMWorld, Mashable, ReadWriteWeb, and SEMJ. org. Registration for SemTech is free of charge to credentialed members of the press and analyst community; for more information, or to become a Media Partner, contact Sally Khudairi on +1 617 921 8656 or sk(at)haloworldwide. com.

For the full conference program and to register, please visit SemTech2009.com (http://www. SemTech2009.com/).

ABOUT SEMTECH
Now in its fifth year, SemTech is the world's largest conference on semantic technologies. SemTech is the only event focused on the commercialization of semantic technologies, bringing the most recognized names, knowledge, leadership, and innovation in the semantic community together at one location. SemTech is owned and operated by Semantic Universe--the semantic industry's trusted information resource. Semantic Universe is a joint venture between Wilshire Conferences and Semantic Arts, whose portfolio of services and events are the industry standard for education and professional development. They include Enterprise Data World; the international Data Governance series; Designing and Building Business Ontologies; Enterprise Information Management Conference; and Information and Data Quality Conference; as well as the Data Strategy Best Practices Council and Data Strategy Journal. For more information, visit SemanticUniverse. com (http://www. semanticuniverse. com/).

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Plastic Surgeons, Breast Surgeons Urge Team Approach to Breast Cancer Care

2011-04-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

Plastic Surgeons, Breast Surgeons Urge Team Approach to Breast Cancer Care

Breast Cancer Survivors, Physicians, Advocacy Groups, Medical Societies, Manufacturers, Press Cite Vastly Improved Quality of Life for Patients

Arlington Heights, IL (Vocus) May 21, 2010

Advocating the need for a medical Team Approach in the treatment and recovery from breast cancer, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (http://www. plasticsurgery. org/) (ASPS), in partnership with the American Society of Breast Surgeons (http://www. breastsurgeons. org/) (ASBS), urges breast cancer patients, and their physicians, to insist that their treatment be handled by a team of healthcare physicians with the appropriate expertise for each procedure and level of care.

The Team Approach to breast cancer care brings together an interdisciplinary group of key medical professionals – gynecologist, radiologist, breast surgeon, medical oncologist, and a plastic surgeon – who work together at the onset of a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis to develop and implement a treatment plan tailored for each patient. When the Team Approach is implemented at the time of diagnosis through treatment and recovery, it can result in significantly improved patient outcomes and quality of life.

“Each step of the cancer care journey requires specific medical expertise. When a team of experts works together, the outcome for patients is vastly improved,” said ASPS President Michael McGuire, MD. “However, when these specialists do not work in conjunction, opportunities are missed, and patient outcomes suffer. The problem is the Team Approach is underutilized. The ASPS is very pleased to be part of this extremely important venture along with the ASBS which represents physicians who play a critical role in the Team Approach.”

The ASPS, ASBS, physicians, breast cancer survivors, advocacy groups, manufacturers, and the media recently met in New York to discuss the critical role the Team Approach plays during an event entitled, “Connecting the Docs: The Team Approach to Breast Cancer Care.” Leading manufacturers of breast reconstruction products – Allergan Medical (http://www. natrelle. com/), LifeCell (http://www. lifecell. com/), and Mentor (http://www. mentorcorp. com/) – were in attendance lending their support for the Team Approach.

During the event, a team of New York-based physicians who practice the Team Approach including an obstetrician/gynecologist, radiologist, breast surgeon, oncologist, and plastic surgeon emphasized the importance of their individual role in the team. One of their patients, a breast cancer survivor, joined the panel, discussing how this unified approach positively affected her outcome as she went through one of the most difficult times in her life.

“We’re very excited about ‘Connecting the Docs: The Team Approach to Breast Cancer Care’ because this helps to start the conversation – to get the word out to all women,” said Patrick Whitworth, MD, ASBS Past Chairman of the Board. “Sometimes the medical community changes when patients start saying ‘hey doc, I heard you’re supposed to be working with a plastic surgeon here.’ Women diagnosed with breast cancer have the power, authority, and right to ask for the Team Approach and, with their voices, perhaps the ‘team’ can become standard practice.”

An alarming statistic discussed at length at the New York event underscores the importance of the Team Approach, nearly 70 percent of women who are eligible for breast reconstruction are not informed of their reconstructive options by a referring physician. The number is even higher for minority women.

“Like a sporting event, theatrical performance or an orchestra, each team member is an expert in their respective roles,” said panelist and ASPS Vice President Scot Glasberg, MD. “A plastic surgeon’s role on the team is to ensure that the patient knows all of her reconstructive options before her cancer is treated and removed, and that the best reconstructive procedure is performed. If the patient isn’t given the chance to consider her reconstructive options before mastectomy, or the procedure is performed by someone who is not board-certified in that field of expertise, it can have a significantly negative effect on their quality of life beyond the disease.”

Those in attendance also expressed how essential it is that the team be implemented when a woman is first diagnosed so that she, and her physicians, can understand all of her options and make informed decisions.

“The vast majority of breast cancer patients are missing out on a critical conversation that should take place at the time of diagnosis,” said Dr. McGuire. “Involving key specialists early in the process and having them work as a team allows for more coordinated care and fosters the most beneficial outcome for the patient, as the election for breast reconstruction affects the techniques surgeons use to remove the cancer.”

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

To view the video “Are Breast Cancer Patients Being Kept In The Dark?”visit http://www. plasticsurgery. org/Media/Press_Releases/Are_Breast_Cancer_Patients_Being_Kept_In_The_Dark/Are_Breast_Cancer_Patients_Being_Kept_In_The_Dark. html (http://www. plasticsurgery. org/Media/Press_Releases/Are_Breast_Cancer_Patients_Being_Kept_In_The_Dark/Are_Breast_Cancer_Patients_Being_Kept_In_The_Dark. html)

Contact:
ASPS Public Relations
(847) 228-9900

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OIT Positions Company for Further Growth: VP of Sales and Marketing Appointed

2011-04-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

OIT Positions Company for Further Growth: VP of Sales and Marketing Appointed

STATE COLLEGE, PA (PRWEB) November 4, 2005

Optical Image Technology, Inc. (OIT) announced today that the company has added the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing to complement its current organizational structure and position the company for expected growth. Jim Thumma, who previously served as the Director of Insurance and Healthcare Solutions for OIT, has been appointed to this new position.

OIT, which has a customer base that spans 33 states across the United States with an international presence on five continents, is seeing an increase in extensive enterprise installations which require considerable expertise from vendors, and has created this position to help provide additional knowledge and vision. In his new role, Thumma will oversee the sales, marketing, and professional services departments at OIT to bring the departments together and provide market vision.

Thumma began his career with OIT in 2001 and has been a critical member of the sales force during his tenure. He has worked closely with marketing and professional services and brings considerable market experience through his work with customers in a variety of vertical markets across the country.

“Jim has proven his ability to sell, package, and develop new initiatives which have helped our customers, our development team, and the rest of OIT to move forward over the years. We look forward to furthering this effort with a combined team of expertise who will push such visions forward for the betterment of OIT and its customer and partner base,” said Scott Buchart, president and CEO of OIT.

“The creation of this position shows just how much OIT has been growing and how promising the company’s future is and I am extremely excited about what our future will offer our employees and customers,” said Thumma. “The past five years at OIT have given me the opportunity to work on many exciting projects with many wonderful, dedicated people, and I know that this position will give me the chance to utilize what I’ve learned from those many experiences.”

About Optical Image Technology, Inc.

Since 1986, OIT has been developing award-winning integrated document management solutions. OIT’s DocFinity Suite of document management software has gained prominent industry recognition by organizations such as AIIM International, Doculabs, Kinetic Information and Transform Magazine.

OIT serves customers throughout the world and across all major industries, including insurance, education, financial services, government, healthcare and more. By dynamically coordinating and managing the transfer of content with its document management software, the DocFinity Suite of products, OIT enables organizations to realize increased profitability, improved productivity and enhanced customer satisfaction by empowering them with enterprise-wide business processes.

For more information, please visit www. docfinity. com.

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Curbside Fitness, Inc., Mobile Personal Training Combines Fitness and Nutrition in Revolutionary Concept

2011-04-11T02:03:00.000-07:00

Curbside Fitness, Inc., Mobile Personal Training Combines Fitness and Nutrition in Revolutionary Concept

For more information on how to start your own personalized in-home or in-office fitness program, please visit www. curbsidefitness. com or call President/CEO James Johnson at 214-395-3393.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) August 24, 2006

Regardless of health status, most individuals search for a healthier lifestyle and appearance. Curbside Fitness, Inc., has launched a new training model that is tailored to meet each individual’s specific needs. Curbside Fitness, Inc., President and CEO, James Johnson, has teamed with Nutrition Educator Laurie Barenblat to offer clients a complete package of fitness and nutrition education in one. Mr. Johnson believes “Fitness and nutrition should be designed for the customer with efforts directed toward personal growth.”

Mr. Johnson is a certified personal trainer, with more than 8 years of experience molding soldiers into functional physical machines of the Uniformed Armed Services. In an effort to continue his passion for fitness, James Johnson is sharing his proven methods with the civilian public, through Curbside Fitness. Ms. Barenblat has a MS in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and has experience educating schoolchildren to improve their eating habits, as well as teaching and coordinating cooking and nutrition classes for both adults and children.

Curbside Fitness has programs for all age groups. In addition, Curbside Fitness offers private one-on-one, small group, and corporate services. No equipment is necessary, and no long–term contracts are required.

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Consult A Doctor Unveils TeleCare 3.0TM SaaS Telemedicine Platform for Health Plans

2011-04-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

Consult A Doctor Unveils TeleCare 3.0TM SaaS Telemedicine Platform for Health Plans

Innovative Platform offers powerful solutions designed to drive down costs, increase revenues and provide members with revolutionary 24/7 access to physicians via phone and online.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) June 9, 2010

Today at AHIP Institute, Consult A Doctor, Inc., announced TeleCare 3.0TM, a next generation solution enabling health plans to offer consumer-directed telemedicine services by phone and online. With TeleCare 3.0TM, health plans can lower costs and facilitate care delivery between their physician network and members in new, efficient ways.

TeleCare 3.0TM is a customizable software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that utilizes the latest advances in internet and digital telephony for heath plans to provide on-demand 24/7 access to their network of physicians. The platform enables the health plan to immediately drive down costs and transform how many healthcare benefits are accessed and delivered. Plan members will have convenient and efficient access to medically equivalent care in a lower-cost setting, the home. Thereby, reducing unnecessary doctor and emergency room visits. “Consult A Doctor’s innovative telemedicine solutions will transform the inefficiencies of the healthcare marketplace and reduce costs for employer-sponsored plans, uninsured and underinsured individuals and families,” says Wolf Shlagman, Founder and CEO.

Health Plans utilizing Consult A Doctor’s TeleCare 3.0TM Platform can expect to:
Grow Membership - Provide immediate access to a physician 24/7/365 Telemedicine services will be a major differentiator and competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Drive Down Costs by Providing Access to Appropriate Care in Lowest Cost Setting Providing on-demand healthcare in the home, the least expensive care setting, therefore reducing costs for all.

Provide Affordable Access to Healthcare for the Underinsured and Uninsured The TeleCare 3.0 TM platform provides powerful utilization management to provide the right solution to the right population. Health plans can set parameters to define the plan’s financial contribution and member’s out of pocket co-pay.

Strengthen bonds with medical providers Offering new income opportunities and care delivery tools strengthens the relationship between the plan and its network providers. “For physicians, using the TeleCare 3.0TM system is not just about additional income. It provides a way to take back control of their practices, of their lives. It creates additional access points for physicians to interact with their patients. It is a much desired way of streamlining their operations, to get faster and more efficient reimbursement, an improved lifestyle and the freedom to practice from anywhere at any time with powerful online EMR, e-prescribing and evidence based tools. In addition, many physicians believe this technological capability will provide a competitive advantage for their practices,” says Doug Smith, M. D. Chief Medical Officer. All this and comprehensive malpractice coverage is included by a top rated carrier especially for telemedicine delivered via the TeleCare 3.0TM Platform.

Dr. Smith continued, – “providing healthcare in the home, the least expensive care setting, shifts the benefit consumption from more expensive settings, such as physicians' offices, clinics and emergency rooms, therefore reducing cost. This is one of the first and most important steps in healthcare reform and a major step forward toward truly achieving the goal of the Medical Home”.

Consult A Doctor goes one step further than any other solution in the market by offering a unique hybrid option for health plans that combines the power of the TeleCare 3.0TM platform with Consult A Doctor’s existing suite of telemedicine services it has been providing for over 2 years, named CADR 24/7TM. This powerful fusion provides a potent solution unique in the marketplace. "Health plan members will be able access care from Consult A Doctor’s own nationwide network of US licensed board certified physicians as soon as the health plan launches the telemedicine program to its members while physicians from the health plans’ own networks enroll to provide care through the platform as well”, says Shlagman.

“The TeleCare 3.0TM platform combined with on-demand CADR 24/7TM telemedicine services allows consumers to access healthcare anytime online and even more conveniently using any telephone with 3 levels of service to choose from - immediate access to a doctor ”OnCall”, call back of under an hour “Priority” and by “ Appointment.” In addition, we offer a whole suite of concierge-like services that include live support via an 800 number that will guide members in taking a 7-8 minute medical questionnaire over the phone whereby the medical record is available for the physician within the TeleCare 3.0 TM platform”, says Shlagman.

CADR 24/7TM empowers health plans with the option to quickly roll out a telemedicine solution into their markets by initially providing health plan members access to Consult A Doctor’s 24/7 cross-coverage network of always available telemedicine physicians. Accessible from anywhere, around the clock, physicians are available to provide answers and advice regarding non-emergency, preventative, maintenance and routine medical questions and issues. Unnecessary doctor’s office and emergency room visits can be avoided by utilizing a telemedicine physician, who will discuss symptoms, recommend treatment, diagnose many common, minor and/or brief illnesses and even prescribe medication when appropriate. All calls are recorded and the interactions can be forwarded to the primary care physician to maintain continuity of care.

“Health plans are now realizing that they must start to look at innovations in the marketplace in order to lower costs, provide greater access to healthcare, and retain or increase their market share. All of these goals can be accomplished by offering telemedicine solutions such as those provided by Consult A Doctor,” Says Shlagman. The latest studies show phone and online consultations generate significant cost savings for plan sponsors and benefit payers while providing greater access to physicians. Consult A Doctor offers the most comprehensive suite of consumer-friendly telemedicine services available, with multiple convenient ways to contact a doctor and a thorough Personal Health Manager with an expansive health and medical library, wellness tools and a personal health record.

Consult A Doctor is exhibiting TeleCare 3.0TM at: AHIP Institute 2010 Booth # 707 June 18-20, 2008

About Consult A Doctor, Inc.
Consult A Doctor is a leading provider of Consumer-Directed Telemedicine Services (CADR 24/7TM) and Telemedicine Technology Platform Solutions (TeleCare 3.0TM) empowering organizations to lower health care costs, improve quality care and provide revolutionary access to affordable and convenient healthcare. Consult A Doctor partners with health insurance companies, self-insured groups, third-party administrators, brokers and others to offer convenient 24/7 access to doctor consultations by phone and online to their members and customers. Its proprietary nationwide network of U. S.-based physicians provides specific answers to medical questions and advice regarding non-emergency, routine medical conditions. All Consult A Doctor physicians are carefully screened, credentialed and have are covered by malpractice insurance. They discuss symptoms, recommend treatment options, diagnose many minor conditions, and can prescribe medication when appropriate. Consult A Doctor’s platform solutions and telemedicine service reduces healthcare cost for all payers by providing members with convenient efficient access to medically equivalent care in a lower-cost setting, considerably reducing unnecessary doctor, ER and urgent care visits.

For more information please call 888-688-DOCTOR (888-688-3628) or visit http://www. consultadoctor. com (http://www. consultadoctor. com)

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OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING PACT ANNOUNCED

2011-04-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING PACT ANNOUNCED

Arlington, VA and White Plains, NY; September 29, 2003 Â TriVision Partners and HyperTech Solutions have established a partnership in the growing offshore outsourcing arena. The firms will provide both IT Outsourcing and Business Process Outsourcing services to small and medium sized businesses.

(PRWEB) September 29, 2003

Arlington, VA and White Plains, NY (PRWEB) September 29 2003 Â TriVision Partners and HyperTech Solutions have established a partnership in the growing offshore outsourcing arena.

Concentrating on India-based Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing, the two companies plan to combine their complimentary skill sets for small to medium sized businesses seeking to lower their technology development and back-office processing costs while simultaneously increasing quality and service levels. The firms will provide US-based requirements development, business analysis, project management, and on-going client services while utilizing low cost/high quality resources in Bombay.

ÂIt is clear that small to medium sized businesses can take advantage of offshore resources just as Fortune 500 companies do,Â said Don Fergus, Managing Partner of TriVision Partners, LLC. ÂBy combining our analytical and management skills with HyperTechÂs technology development and processing capabilities, we can offer large enterprise style outsourcing to smaller firms Â increasing their productivity and significantly lowering their costs.Â

The service involves US-based resources working closely with clients to determine their needs and workflows, with project managers and account managers overseeing all development, training, cut over, and on-going operational support.

ÂWe have successfully leveraged offshore resources for a number of years, and offering our experience and skills as a service is a natural evolution for us,Â said Rakesh Mishra, President of HyperTech Solutions, Inc. ÂWe are proof that small to medium sized companies can benefit from offshore outsourcing.Â

Information Technology services offer highly experienced software engineers, skilled in object oriented and Web-based software languages and hardware platforms. TriVision and HyperTechÂs personnel in the U. S perform Requirements Definition, Project and Test Planning, and Client Interface.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services are targeted at repetitive back-office activities such as data entry, transaction processing, validation, and reconciliation Â both in batch and on-line environments across many applications. Local, US-based business process analysts Â teamed with seasoned project management experts Â assess workflows as well as resource and skills requirements, to manage the cutover of processing to an offshore operation center. Three industry sectors are initially being targeted: Financial Services, Healthcare, and Airlines. Subject Matter Experts in these three industries will be working directly with clients, providing authoritative advice to client firms in process analysis, controls, and quality management.

The companies note that - by combining their respective management, technology, and processing skills specifically targeted at smaller companies - a market thus far underserved by offshore outsourcers will be addressed.

About TriVision Partners, LLC

TriVision Partners, LLC is a multi-disciplinary management consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia. With certified project managers, business process engineers, marketing and e-commerce experts, network engineers, and systems analysts located across the country, TriVision provides a wide range of expertise to small, medium, and large enterprises. For more information visit www. trivisionpartners. com or call 866-824-9258.

About HyperTech Solutions, Inc.

HyperTech Solutions is a technology and business process solutions provider with offices in White Plains, New York and Bombay, India. HyperTech Solutions is the leading provider of dynamic packaging technology to the travel industry and offshore IT and BPO outsourcing services to the Travel, Healthcare and Financial industries. For more information visit www. hypertechsolutions. com or call 914-682-6650.

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29 September, 2003

PR Contacts:

TriVision Partners, LLC

Name: Ruth Boyer

Tel: 866-824-9258

HyperTech Solutions, Inc.

Name: Al Bloom

Tel: 914-682-6650

Belly Dancing: Shaking The Fat To A New Fad

2011-04-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

Belly Dancing: Shaking The Fat To A New Fad

Belly Dancing has become the new trend in exercise activity. This fun, low impact exercise has Americans of all ages burn fat while improving flexibility. Belly Dance is the new way to stay in shape.

(PRWEB) July 23, 2003

Contact: Monica Braverman

Public Relations Manager

Day: 760-580-9000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Belly Dancing: Shaking The Fat To A New Fad

SAN DIEGO, Ca. Â (July 21, 2003) - Belly dancing used to be considered a foreign and exotic dance performed at harems full of women trying to seduce the Sultan. However, Shakira, the hip shaking Latin singer, Britney Spears and Sting have started a new revolution that has women of all sizes and ages and across the country shaking their bodies to this exotic rhythm. Belly Dancing has become the new trend for people who want to exercise.

Master Belly Dance instructor, performer and choreographer Sahar Sami recently introduced Belly Dance classes as a new alternative to help San Diegans stay in shape. People looking to lose or manage their weight have a chance to use this old art form to help them accomplish their long - term health goals.

It is a surprise that it has taken America so long to embrace belly dance as a form of exercise. It is one of the most fun, low impact, creative, exciting cardiovascular exercises available to people who are tired of boring, harsh exercises. ÂBelly Dance, formally known as Oriental Dance, offers a complete workout for the body and soul because it allows you to use your creativityÂ says Sahar Sami, Director of SaharÂs Academy of Egyptian Dance Arts, who teaches Belly Dance at her studio in Carlsbad and at Premier Athletic and Squash Club in Sorrento Valley. ÂPeople are tired of aerobics and other types of exercises that are hard on their joints and knees. They are looking for a fun way to stay in shape and to de-stress after a long day of work -- which is why so many people are converting to belly dance as a form of exerciseÂ reaffirms Sahar.

The facts speak for themselves, studies indicate that Americans are 60% fatter than they were 10 years ago. SaharÂs goal is to help Americans shake off the fat and improve their health by incorporating belly dance into their weekly activities. People who belly dance for at least a half hour 3-5 times a week will see improvements in their physical appearance as well as their emotional state because belly dance helps reduce stress, improve self esteem, and tone the body.

You can check Sahar SamiÂs website at http://www. sahardance. com (http://www. sahardance. com) or call 760-580-9000 for more details.

Hablamos Espanol

Interview Contact: Sahar Sami, SaharÂs Academy of Egyptian Dance Arts (SAEDA)

P. R. Manager, Monica Braverman

Telephone: 760-580-9000

Info@sahardance. com

Http://www. sahardance. com (http://www. sahardance. com)
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Vera Health Views - Tips on Healthy Living

2011-04-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Vera Health Views - Tips on Healthy Living

VeraHealthViews. com launches new content to provide information about cardiovascular exercise, the benefit of healthy eating, causes of obesity, and hand yoga.

Andes, NY (PRWEB) July 17, 2009

VeraHealthViews. com has recently launched a new series of pages to provide relevant information about healthy practices and diet. The primary focus of the site is to keep the internet community informed about healthy practices. The trend in America toward obesity is something that at least in part can be slowed through proper education and motivation. VeraHealthViews. com is merely one voice among many that seek to lead people toward a healthier lifestyle. The new series of pages includes such topics as the benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise and the causes of obesity in American children. Today in America, obesity is on the rise, and the causes are debated. While there is some evidence that body type is somewhat genetic and that some people are more predisposed to health problems than others, there are still some variable factors. Obesity can be mitigated with a change in lifestyle. The new content also includes a motivational article about the top ten reasons to exercise.

About VeraHealthViews. com:

VeraHealthViews. com was launched in April of 2008, and since that time has provided valuable information about health, diet, fitness, disease, beauty, make up and improving quality of life. It also includes several recipes for practical application of the ideas presented. The site's design was provided by IGoMogul. com.

Http://www. verahealthviews. com (http://www. verahealthviews. com)

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Four New Authors Appear on Global Talk Radio's September 12 Edition of "A Story to Tell"

2011-04-02T01:11:00.000-07:00

Four New Authors Appear on Global Talk Radio's September 12 Edition of "A Story to Tell"

Meet up & coming authors Dawn Van Zant (of Wild Hearth Ranch, Inc.), William Sawyers, Martha Jette and Debbie Alferio for conversations about their new publications on Global Talk Radio's September 12th edition of "A Story to Tell."

Torrance, CA (PRWEB) September 13, 2005

Global Talk Radio (http://www. GlobalTalkRadio. com (http://www. GlobalTalkRadio. com)) is pleased to announce four new authors who appeared in its September 12th edition of its top-rated talk show, "A Story to Tell".

Wild Heart Ranch is a publishing and toy company that designs, manufactures and markets products that are content driven. The CompanyÂs focus is in producing high quality innovative products. The Company uses content to create character and brand awareness through its animated CD-Rom and web site, www. WildHeartRanch. com. The original products included the 14" plush No More Night Mares with night light and legend, as well as the 5" Lucky Stars Collection of plush mini horses. Extensions include audio cassettes of the legend and artwork by Kim McElroy. Additionally the company has developed the Armadillo Cowboy Club story and product line through the online arcade game. The website receives substantial internet traffic from online gamers and is building brand awareness for the line. The Company recently launched a new updated website, reflecting a new corporate identity and a growing list of brands.

Next, we heard from children's book author William L. Sawyers, about his most recent titles "What Am I?" and "What Am I? Bugs", written primarily for children from 5 to 8 years old. Riddles are on the front of each page with the answer on the back in color. On the next page, children can color the bug on top of the page and also fill in the missing bug parts on the bottom. It's ideal to be read to them by parents, siblings, grand parents or baby sitters. In return the child should try to guess the riddle.

A new book offering more than 90 amazing but true paranormal tales from around the world has just been released by Canadian author Martha Jette, who phoned into our program. Glimpses 2" It Could Happen To You is perhaps the first such comprehensive book covering every topic from ghosts and hauntings, to angels, visions, dreams, near death experiences, premonitions, reincarnation, ghost hunters, haunted homes and sites, dangers of Ouija boards and much more. Written by Hamilton, Ontario, Canada author, Martha Jette, "Glimpses 2" is the culmination of nine months of research and writing. Ms. Jette is a journalism graduate with many years of magazine and newspaper editing experience. Since retiring due to health problems in 1996, this Canadian grandmother has written three books and is currently working on a fourth.

Finally, Debbie Alferio (author of "A Forever Kind of Love") is a lifelong resident of Northern Ohio. Her interest in writing this novel came after a dream she had one night involving the character of Mitch. Feeling inspired by this dream, she began to write and now views it as her passion. Feeling it important to write in a way that readers could easily relate to, she made each character very realistic and down-to-earth, instilling her own importance of high moral and family values into each one. The relationships between characters, the surprises revealed throughout the story, and the humorous and heartwarming approach to each situation they face makes DebbieÂs writing both interesting and entertaining. This is her first novel in the series. She feels that long stories are the best stories. ÂWhen you are absorbed in a good book, you donÂt want it to end. I like to give that satisfaction to my readers by keeping the excitement going just a little longer.Â Also, having lost several relatives to cancer as well as personally knowing many others touched by the disease, Debbie chose to donate a portion of her profits from the sale of each book to the American Cancer Society. In doing so, she hopes that her novel will not only bring enjoyment to those who read it, but will aid in finding a cure for this deadly disease.

The entire show can be heard on-demand 24/7 at http://www. GlobalTalkRadio. com/shows/astorytotell (http://www. GlobalTalkRadio. com/shows/astorytotell)

About Global Talk Radio:

Global Talk Radio was launched in late 2004, and has quickly become a dominant force in the internet talk radio industry. With numerous programs broadcast live and available 24 hours per day on-demand, Global Talk Radio offers a wide variety of exclusive and syndicated talk show content - from paranormal to political, from automotive to women's programs, and much more!

Other talk shows of interest on Global Talk Radio include A Story to Tell, Army Wife Talk Radio, Best Internet Sites, Beyond Reality, Bobby Likis Car Clinic, Business 101, Demystifying Non-Profits, Disability News & Views Radio Show, GenderTalk, Jewel's Way, Journeys with Rebecca, New Age Radio, PodCast Radio Show, Radio Road Test, Ready for Romance, Sally's Midnight Hour, The BigMoney with JD Hoffman, The Brandon Show, The Great Shift with Fred Sterling, The Lillian Cauldwell Show and Your On Live.

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Early to Rise Debuts the New Internet Money Club to Rave Reviews at its Annual Bootcamp in Delray Beach, Florida

2011-03-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

Early to Rise Debuts the New Internet Money Club to Rave Reviews at its Annual Bootcamp in Delray Beach, Florida

Early to Rise, the Internet's most popular health, wealth & success E-zine, launches its new Internet Money Club -- ideal for Internet entrepreneurs and profit seekers everywhere.

Delray Beach, Fla. (PRWEB) October 10, 2007

Early to Rise, the Internet's most popular health, wealth & success E-zine, launches its new Internet Money Club -- ideal for Internet entrepreneurs and profit seekers everywhere.

According to Patrick Coffey, Director of Internet and Business Opportunities and co-creator of the Internet Money Club, "Over the past year, we've developed a practically fail-proof program for taking an online business from concept to execution … and beyond. Many of our current programs focus on the marketing side of things -- how to market your products online. But the Internet Money Club is a program specifically created to help not only with marketing but also with the technical side of selling products online."

He adds, "In this program, we'll walk you step by step from Internet neophyte to Internet master. You'll learn everything, from soup to nuts, about getting your online business up and running. We'll give you special software that will allow you to build a functional website, we'll share some of ETR's most effective strategies for making sales, and much more. You'll never find a more comprehensive program for starting your own online business."

Members of the Internet Money Club are closer to a money-making, Internet-based business than ever before. The program will equip members with all the information needed to turn business ideas into an honest-to-goodness online business and ultimately, to cash.

Coffey concludes, "I truly believe the Internet Money Club can be life changing - helping turn individuals' computers into powerful, cash-generating machines."

For more information visit http://www. earlytorise. com/IMC/ (http://www. earlytorise. com/IMC/)

About Early To Rise

Early to Rise is an affiliate company of Agora Publishing. Headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Early to Rise is published 7-days a week and has more than 250,000 avid daily readers.

For press inquires, please contact Wendy Montes de Oca at 561-921-0001.

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Busy Workers' Compensation Group Will Spin Off from Sands Anderson Law Firm

2011-03-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Busy Workers' Compensation Group Will Spin Off from Sands Anderson Law Firm

The Workers' Compensation Practice Group at the law firm of Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, P. C. will be spun off from the firm as a separate shareholder-owned company and plans to become completely independent later this year, firm president M. Pierce Rucker announced today.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) September 17, 2009

"This step, consistent with our most recent strategic plan, occurs through a process common in the corporate world, but rare among law firms," said Rucker, "and represents an innovative and exciting business growth model developed by the shareholders of the Workers' Compensation group (http://www. sandsanderson. com/our_work/workers_compensation. html) and Sands Anderson's Board of Directors."

"We're thrilled to have this chance to chart our own course," Cecil H. Creasey, chair of the Workers' Compensation group, said. The practice group, with the law firm's blessing and support, began planning for this change months ago, with client service as the focus.

"Our group continues working to ensure that its transition to independence will be a seamless, service-enhancing change from the clients' point of view. The entire team -- lawyers, paralegals and staff -- has eagerly embraced this new adventure and the opportunities that come with it," Creasey explained.

"Taking control of their own costs and revenue will enable this very busy group of lawyers and workers' compensation professionals to maintain the flexibility and agility necessary to effectively meet their clients' needs, while allowing Sands Anderson to continue focusing its resources and efforts on the practice areas identified in its strategic plan," said Rucker. The Worker's Compensation firm will have offices in Richmond and the New River Valley and employ 25 to 30 people. Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, P. C. will continue to operate all five of its present offices (http://www. sandsanderson. com/offices. html).

Founded more than 150 years ago, Sands Anderson has 75 North Carolina and Virginia lawyers (http://www. sandsanderson. com/) practicing among its offices in Richmond, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg and McLean, Virginia, and the Research Triangle of North Carolina. In 2009, it ranked 7th in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly's annual listing of the state's largest law firms. Sands Anderson provides a full range of legal services to corporations and businesses, healthcare providers, financial institutions, state and local governments, the insurance industry and individuals. For more information, visit www. SandsAnderson. com.

For further information contact:

Russell Lawson
Director of Marketing
(804) 783-6799 (Office)
(804) 240-8862 (Mobile)
RLawson (at) SandsAnderson (dot) com

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Chairman of largest commercial medical malpractice insurer in the state says current tort system of dealing with medical injury is Âfundamentally flawedÂ

2011-03-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Chairman of largest commercial medical malpractice insurer in the state says current tort system of dealing with medical injury is Âfundamentally flawedÂ

Medical malpractice insurer says current tort system of dealing with medical injury harms doctors, leads to defensive medicine, and is fundamentally flawed.

Waltham, Mass. (PRWEB) November 23, 2003

- Barry M. Manuel, M. D., chairman of the board of ProMutual Group, the stateÂs largest commercial insurer for professional liability for physicians, said that the current tort system of dealing with medical injury is Âfundamentally flawedÂ and is having a Âprofound influence on every aspect of our health care industry.Â

Manuel, who is also Associate Dean and Professor of Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine and a past president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, made his remarks Wednesday evening (Nov. 19) before some 300 physicians as he delivered the Massachusetts Medical SocietyÂs 2003 Oration, an annual event designed to keep physicians informed on significant issues facing the medical profession. This yearÂs Oration, focusing on the issue of medical professional liability, was co-sponsored by the Middlesex District Medical Society and attracted its largest audience in years.

Citing national surveys of physicians and his experience at ProMutual Group, Manuel said the current flawed system of dealing with medical injury forces physicians to practice defensive medicine, compensates fewer than one in 16 patients who are negligently injured, makes individuals who litigate wait five to seven years before receiving compensation, consumes more than 60 percent of premiums paid by doctors for legal fees, and impedes the development of a patient safety system that requires self-reporting of errors. It also leads to higher health care costs, as the estimate of defensive medicine, conservatively according to Manuel, totals some $50 billion nationwide.

Manuel further stated that the system is having enormous impact on physicians, causing them to limit their practices to less risky procedures, abandon specialty practices, move to other states, and retire prematurely. Most important, he said, was the fact that this system is causing access to care problems, as trauma centers are closing; obstetricians are giving up delivering babies; neurosurgical care is increasingly becoming limited; and waiting times for orthopedic and radiological services, such as mammograms, are increasing.

Refuting the notions that the professional liability crisis has been caused by Âbad doctorsÂ and Âbad insurance companies,Â Manuel said Âwe have mechanisms built into the system to weed out bad doctors, and our insurance companies, regulated by state authorities, have invested conservatively and have actually made money in the last several years.Â

He pointed to skyrocketing jury awards as the cause of the crisis. Manuel cited instances where Texas has seen a $268 million verdict, Philadelphia has recorded multiple verdicts in excess of $50 million, four claims in Arkansas totaled $98 million, and $23 million was awarded for one case in Massachusetts. Such jury awards, he said, have a huge impact on insurance settlements, driving them higher and higher.

While Manuel does support the legislative tort reform package of the Massachusetts Medical Society now before the legislature, he said Âour fault-based tort system will never provide satisfactory long-term solutions to our professional liability system no matter how we try to reform it.Â

Manuel suggested that one option to consider is medical injury insurance, an insurance-based system funded by those who receive the benefits and one that can compensate more patients. Such a system, he said, Âwould be fair, timely, efficient, reduce the cost of defensive medicine, remove the physician from the ever-present fear of being sued, and promote a patient safety system that would include self-reporting of errors.Â

The crisis in medical malpractice insurance has become one of the most significant issues now facing doctors nationwide. Both the American Medical Association and the Massachusetts Medical Society have designated liability reform as their number one legislative priority. The comprehensive tort reform package now before state lawmakers was filed last December.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 18,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians and patients of Massachusetts. Founded in 1781, the MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country. The Society owns and publishes The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal Watch family of professional newsletters, AIDS Clinical Care, and produces HealthNews, a consumer health publication. For more information, visit www. massmed. org.

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Natural Deodorant For Teen Girls - A New Way of Staying Fresh

2011-03-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Natural Deodorant For Teen Girls - A New Way of Staying Fresh

Earth Exchange Corporation has released a natural deodorant body spray product, the first in a line of natural personal care products under the mariposa brand name. Mariposa products contain no parabens, no aluminum, and no petroleum distillates. Not just a fragrant cover-up, a natural deodorant, a fragrance, and a malodor neutralizer. eXc products are available through select retailers and their website, earthxc. com.

Houston, Texas (PRWEB) July 14, 2005

Most deodorant products simply try to cover up unwanted malodor. Fragrances are commonly used to ÂmaskÂ offensive odors that the body naturally produces. The fragrant scent soon dissipates and the offensive odors reappear. Julie C. Downey, founder and CEO of Earth Exchange Corporation has developed a fragrant natural deodorant body spray product, the first in the line of natural personal care products under the mariposa brand. Mariposa Â mistralÂs unique approach to keeping teens fresh is based on a combination of two naturally derived ingredients, combined with an odor neutralizer fragrance element to control the formation of new malodor molecules while trapping already present malodor molecules. Allowing the intended fragrance to give the teen a nice-to-be-near you fresh scent.

While deodorants try to cover up odor, anti-perspirants reduce the level of sweat by temporarily blocking the sweat glands, reducing sweat from which bacteria create body odor. Because sweat helps eliminate toxins and waste, there has long been a question as to how healthy this approach is for the body. Of growing concern are the aluminum compounds used in anti-perspirants that are easily absorbed by the body; scientists are looking at their negative long-term health impact. Personal care products formulated with natural ingredients carry certain connotations that consumers associate with products that are healthier, less toxic or perhaps better for you and the environment.

Sales of natural products are exploding in mass retail supermarkets, chain drugstores, mass retailers, and specialty stores; natural/organic personal care products are available everywhere in mainstream stores. Many consumers are not aware of or do not take the time to investigate the ingredients contained in the personal care products they place directly on their bodies. The truth is most personal care products on the market contain toxic unhealthy ingredients; such as parabens, aluminum compounds, petroleum derivatives and sodium lauryl sulfate. In an effort to disguise themselves or to appeal to a more naturally oriented consumer, some manufacturers place the natural moniker on their label, add a small amount of a natural ingredient to their normal ingredients, and call the product ÂNaturalÂ. Consumers should be aware of these mass-market companies that are adding a drop or two of green tea or aloe vera juice and plastering ÂnaturalÂ all over their bottle and product claims. The solution is ÂmariposaÂ products.

Contact: Julie C. Downey, President, CEO, Earth Exchange Corporation, 800-276-0683

For Information: http://www. earthxc. com (http://www. earthxc. com)

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X-ISS Named Leading IT Managed Services and Solutions Provider in Houston

2011-03-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

X-ISS Named Leading IT Managed Services and Solutions Provider in Houston

X-ISS (eXcellence in IS Solutions), a leading IT solutions consultant was recognized as one of the top information technology consulting firms by the Houston Business Journal again this year. It was also ranked as one the top five firms providing IT managed services to small-to-medium businesses (SMB's). X-ISS was the only leading managed services provider to improve its ranking over last year. In a separate independent customer study, the company was also ranked number one in expertise and responsiveness by Houston small-to-medium business customers.

Houston, TX (Vocus) November 5, 2010

X-ISS (eXcellence in IS Solutions), a leading IT solutions consultant was recognized as one of the top information technology consulting firms by the Houston Business Journal again this year. It was also ranked as one the top five firms providing IT managed services to small-to-medium businesses (SMB's). It was the only leading managed service provider to improve its ranking over last year. In a separate independent customer study, the company was also ranked number one in expertise and responsiveness by Houston small-to-medium business customers.

While X-ISS offers a wide range of IT consulting services, one of the fastest growing segments is their X-Care information technology managed services solution. X-Care makes it affordable for small-to-medium businesses to have complete expert management and support for all of their IT needs. Many businesses have found it to be a better and more economical way to meet their increasing technological needs than growing their own IT departments internally. For a predictable and lower monthly cost, X-Care reduces downtimes and data losses while improving data access and security.

The growth in X-Care IT managed service clients, who range from oil and gas exploration businesses to graphic design and architectural firms, has in part been fueled by the health and medical practice sector. “Medical practices of all types are under increasing pressure to ensure the security and confidentiality of their patient information. At the same time, the need has risen for them to streamline operations and maximize the capabilities of increasingly sophisticated practice management systems to be competitive” says Matt Ahearn, an analyst with extensive experience managing health related data and technological support systems. “That’s requiring them to turn to more experienced and proactive IT support to ensure they are best caring for their patients and their businesses.”

Deepak Khosla, President of X-ISS, attributes their continued and growing leadership role in the Houston technology industry to their sustained commitment to exceptional customer care and delivering innovative customized business solutions to help their clients achieve their goals. “We recognize that in these times, every dollar a company spends needs to return more for them,” Khosla says. “So, in addition to growing with our current clients by offering them cutting-edge solutions like the latest cloud-based technology to increase their ROI, we’ve been able to attract new clients who weren’t satisfied with the responsiveness and expertise of their previous IT support. Most of our new clients want to be able to get beyond worrying about whether their IT is working and to start leveraging IT to grow their businesses. That’s where we deliver.”

A separate telephone sample survey of small-to-medium business customers who have utilized one or more X-ISS services conducted by an independent research company supports Khosla’s claims. X-ISS was ranked as a leader in both expertise and responsiveness in the Greater Houston area. Reggie Spiller at Frontera Resources, one of the X-Care Managed Services clients agrees. “X-ISS helped our business get to another level by leveraging IT,” says Spiller, “We expect things to work, with X-ISS they always work.”

“We’re pleased the Houston Business Journal has recognized our growing leadership role in the market place. We are even more committed to continuing to provide our clients not just IT support, but the exceptional IT care they deserve that has allowed us to obtain this position,” says Khosla.

For more information on X-ISS or the X-Care Information Technology Managed Services Solution please call 713.862.9200, ext. 201.

ABOUT X-ISS: Delivering eXcellence in IS Solutions since 1993
X-ISS is the trusted choice of small-to-medium businesses in the Greater Houston area who want to maximize the performance and protect the security of their IT resources affordably. Best known for their exceptional expertise and responsiveness, X-ISS has been delivering a full range of cost-effective information technology consulting services to a wide variety of loyal clients for nearly twenty years.

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Perforce Software’s Bill Baffy to Present at East Bay Innovation Group Meeting

2011-03-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Perforce Software’s Bill Baffy to Present at East Bay Innovation Group Meeting

“Adopting Scrum: Best Practices for Jumping the Hurdles” Wednesday, August 4

Alameda, Calif. (Vocus) August 4, 2010

Perforce Software’s (http://www. perforce. com/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=release&utm_content=home&utm_campaign=pr128_Scrum) Bill Baffy will present “Adopting Scrum: Best Practices for Jumping the Hurdles” at the East Bay Innovation Group meeting on Wednesday, August 4. Baffy, a ScrumMaster and project manager for the Visual Clients development team at Perforce, will discuss the recent challenges his team faced while implementing the Scrum framework.

“Adopting a new methodology can be very disruptive if it’s not done properly,” said Baffy. “I look forward to discussing our process and sharing what has worked well, what hasn’t, and what to consider before making the leap to an iterative process.”

The East Bay Innovation Group (eBig) is the San Francisco East Bay's leading technology forum. eBig is focused on building, connecting and educating the East Bay's technology and business community. For more information about the event, please visit http://www. ebig. org/ (http://www. ebig. org/)

About Perforce Software (http://www. perforce. com/perforce/corp. html? utm_source=pr&utm_medium=release&utm_content=about&utm_campaign=pr128_Scrum)
Founded in 1995, Perforce Software Inc. develops, markets and supports Perforce, the Fast Software Configuration Management System. Perforce Software is headquartered in Alameda, Calif., and sells worldwide. The company has international operations in Europe, Japan and Australia. In addition to application software companies, Perforce customers represent a broad range of industries including game development, electronics, healthcare and financial services.

Media Contact
Sheri Aguirre
Perforce Software
+1-510-864-7400 x5403

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The Âbetter public servicesÂ hot potato. Can the solution to NHS reform be found in putting citizens at the heart of the decision-making process? An Expert View from Article 13

2011-03-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

The Âbetter public servicesÂ hot potato. Can the solution to NHS reform be found in putting citizens at the heart of the decision-making process? An Expert View from Article 13.

The UKÂs Modernising Government agenda has a commitment to deliver public services to meet the needs of citizens, not the convenience of service providers. In this monthÂs Expert's View, Article 13, the leading corporate social responsibility experts, argues that to meet the needs of citizens you need to involve them and, by reviewing the recent round of NHS reform, evaluates what this can look like in practice.

(PRWEB) March 30, 2003

Does reform mean the dawn of a new citizen led era for health or does it represent privatisation by stealth? Can a reformed health service help the UK create the healthy communities it needs to play a productive role in the worldÂs economy?

All change please

The Alder Hey child organs scandal, the catalogue of errors at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and most recently the fiddling of waiting lists found by the Audit CommissionÂs spot checks at NHS trustsÂ While the majority of doctors are no doubt conscientious and overworked, the British public no longer puts its faith in medicine and science.

Involvement for allÂ

The governmentÂs new commission for patient and public involvement in health started work in January. It will report to the health secretary, Alan Millburn, on patient involvement issues and, at a local level, encourage public participation on trust (hospital) and primary care trust (GPs etc.) boards.

Â or an elite for a few?

A second proposal of NHS reform is to turn some hospitals into autonomous, locally run ÂfoundationsÂ, with the ability to raise private finance and more freedom to set staff pay.

So whatÂs the evidence?

Are these initiatives really involving citizens in order to deliver public services that meet their needs or are they just a panacea?

Creating healthy communities

There is growing recognition that access to health services plays a huge part in regenerating deprived areas, particularly when service delivery is planned to meet the needs of the public in conjunction with other services such as housing, employment, food, transport and leisure facilities.

And the verdict is

To deliver public services that meet the needs of citizens it is essential to involve citizens.

This is only a very brief outline of the contents of the article. To read the full Expert View, visit www. article13.com.

Ends

Article 13 work in the area of corporate responsibility and corporate governance for global businesses right across industry, UK and EU Government and the voluntary sector to deliver a new way of doing business. Areas of expertise include scenarios, business planning, supply chain management, culture change, performance measurement and management, web consultancy services, dialogue and communication. Article 13 approaches business responsibility from the mainstream business angle and works through dialogue to unlock the opportunities of business responsibility to deliver innovation and competitive edge.

Article 13's co-directors, Neela Bettridge and Jane Fiona Cumming, have extensive experience in a number of critical fields: commerce and communications, social and environmental arenas, legal and business strategy. Article 13 also draws on the wisdom of distinguished advisors: Dr Paul Toyne, Professor Chris Baines, Chris Hoare, Professor Colin Gilligan, Susan Clayton, Neill Irwin, Professor Dave Owen and Andrew Acland. This panel, in turn, is complemented by a network of specialists drawn from the social, environmental, economic, ethical and business worlds.

For further information please contact Lucy Shea

Article 13, Bradley House, 26 St Albans Lane, London, NW11 7QE

Tel: 0208 731 7700

Fax: 020 8731 8800

Lucys@article13.com

Www. article13.com

Mindless Method Interactive Weight Loss and Management Website Launches Just in Time for Swimsuit Season

2011-03-22T02:25:00.000-07:00

Mindless Method Interactive Weight Loss and Management Website Launches Just in Time for Swimsuit Season

Strategia Design’s latest web branding project provides fun, interactive solutions for individuals, businesses, and families who want life-long weight management solutions without dieting.

Fairfax, VA (Vocus) July 10, 2010

Strategia Design, a leading design and brand consultancy firm has brought a new interactive healthy lifestyle and eating site to the web with the launch of Mindless Method (http://www. mindlessmethod. com). This dynamic and informative site features weight loss and weight management information based on the Mindless Eating program developed Brian Wansink. The website includes, healthy eating planning strategies, weight management information, tracking tools, a shopping portal, and an interactive members-only section. Plans are also underway to include fun, interactive healthy eating games for kids to teach them at an early age to make good food and portion size choices.

“This is one of the most interactive sites we’ve designed, consulted on, and created,” says Deborah Ginsburg, Strategia Design CEO and Creative Director. “When we were first presented with the project it was little more than an idea to bring the Mindless Eating program to the web. We’ve created the structure for a supportive online community where people can discuss weight management and life-long weight loss goals. It is also a destination site with activities and advice based on the Mindless Eating methodology.”

Strategia, working with Mindless Products executives and food experts developed a robust web 2.0 site featuring interactive web technology, graphics with high visual appeal, easy navigation that is also fun to use. “This site was truly a partnership between Mindless Method and Strategia Design. We are both extremely proud of the project,” says Ginsburg.

Strategia Design is a WBENC certified woman-owned business specializing in design, branding, and print solutions for retailers and businesses looking to develop and evolve their brand identities or market their products. For more information about Strategia Design, please visit them online at Strategia Design (http://www. strategiadesign. com).

Mindless Method transforms bad Mindless EatingTM habits into good ones, to help you enjoy weight loss and better health without dieting. The Method is easy to follow, and builds a foundation for lasting changes. It is the only program endorsed by Brian Wansink, Ph. D., author of Mindless Eating and world-class expert in eating behavior. Enjoy Better Living Through Less Thinking. To learn more visit the site online at http://www. mindlessmethod. com (http://www. mindlessmethod. com).

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Savvymiss. com Launches Redesigned Website

2011-03-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Savvymiss. com Launches Redesigned Website

The acclaimed web community for women introduces a new look and adds new sections and site features to its domain.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 8, 2007

Savvymiss. com, a free website community for "intellectually curious, fun-loving" women, today announces the launch of its redesign. Beyond introducing a new face to its domain, the emerging online destination for women has also added new sections -- Body & Spirit, Beauty & Fashion, Living and Reviews -- as well as interactive features such as blogs, reader polls and the opportunity for readers to comment on articles.

"The new look compliments our articles and makes navigating through the site a far greater experience for our visitors. We added the new features to enhance the community feeling and allow readers a unique opportunity to interact with one another," says Savvymiss. com, founder and president Emily Florence. "Friendships and networks will result."

Visitors to the site will find the new aesthetic inviting and sophisticated with its visuals and user-friendly navigation. Upholding its mission of "connecting, empowering and informing savvy women everywhere," Savvymiss. com now offers a unique feature with respect to other women's websites: the opportunity for members to share their thoughts and personal stories beneath articles and be alerted by email when other members respond -- creating the opportunity for dialogue among members. Other community enhancing features include polls reflecting readers' opinions -- savvy women ages 18-35 -- on current events and lifestyle choices; easy-to-post blogs where members rant and rave about everything from too-skinny runway models to what it is like to be a young woman living with bipolar disorder.

New sections Body & Spirit, Beauty & Fashion, Living and Reviews introduce more diverse topics, featuring the kind of relatable articles, interviews and expert Q&As that Savvymiss. com readers have come to depend on. Body & Spirit covers health, fitness, emotional and spiritual welfare and anything that helps create, maintain or regain personal balance; Beauty & Fashion sifts through the latest trends, tips and products in the beauty and fashion market; Living provides easy-to-follow outlines for approaching pastimes, household nuisances and life's special moments; Reviews offer a trusted critical eye for the "Savvy Miss," surveying products, books, film, music and DVDs.

"We continually strive to respond to the needs and wants of our readers," says Florence. "These new sections truly reflect the multidimensional women that make up the Savvy Miss community."

For more information on Savvymiss. com, or if you want to schedule an interview with Emily Florence, please contact Delilah De La Rosa.

About Savvy Miss (http://www. savvymiss. com)

Savvymiss. com has become the go-to website for tens of thousands of intellectually curious, fun-loving women worldwide. Updated daily, the free website community features articles, interviews and expert Q&As regarding dating, relationships, careers, fashion, beauty, body and spirit, do-it-yourself projects and important societal issues. SavvyMiss. com currently averages over 1.5 million hits, 250,000 page views and 50,000 unique visitors a month. Emily Florence serves as Founder and President.

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FOUR MOUNTAINS, INC. BREAKS 'THE CYCLE' OF STRESS & BOGUS 'QUICK FIXES' TO PREVENT PREMATURE-AGING, OBESITY, FATIGUE AND ILLNESS

2011-03-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

FOUR MOUNTAINS, INC. BREAKS 'THE CYCLE' OF STRESS & BOGUS 'QUICK FIXES' TO PREVENT PREMATURE-AGING, OBESITY, FATIGUE AND ILLNESS

Long hours, deadlines, bills, taxes, errands, traffic, REPEAT! The Cycle of Stress can make you fat, sick, diseased and kill you. It's time to ELIMINATE the cycle and stop the fixes with drugs, alcohol, shopping sprees and fast food and address WHAT'S HAPPENING!

(PRWEB) July 26, 2003

Calabasas, CA - Do you 'live to work' or 'work to live?' If work were premium nourishment, everyone would be happy, healthy, fit, young

Attractive, stress-free, balanced and well. In 1999, the U. S. government reported that the average number of hours worked in the United States has increased 8% in one generation to 47 hours per week, with 20% working 49 hours per week or more, a number which in on the upswing.

Four Mountains, Inc., a clinical & research laboratory has found the solution to the ugly 'cycle of stress' which is taking its toll on Americans causing premature-aging, illness and a multitude of health problems.

Their applied research in developing Wellness Tools and programs can help change and transform an unhealthy, overstressed workaholic from

Unwell to well.

Four Mountains identifies the 'cycle of stress' as a tri-fold problem:

1) Tolerating stress for a short duration which gradually expands to a larger, longer and chronic degree, leading to weight gain,

Illness, then disease.

2) Handling stress with "quick fixes" which only

Temporarily patch the problem (diet pills to prescriptions) and simultaneously create others with side-effects, more illness, gradual or

Sometimes violent abrupt death.

3) Passing it along -

Workaholism/stress affects singles, couples, families, and children (ADD, childhood illnesses, etc.) - They become teens with problems, then

Adults with problems.... REPEAT.

Workaholism causes chronic stress leading to problems including stomach (indigestion, ulcers), heart & eye disorders, skin/hair

Problems, metabolism (weight/chronic fatigue), hormones (excess/diminished libido, infertility...) brain degeneration of form &

Function, mood swings/anxiety, bi-polar patterns, sleep/wake disorders

And much more.

"Four Mountains is suggesting that we evolve our body/mind/lifestyle toward authentic control, breaking the 'cycle of stress' and 'maintaining balance in the midst of a hectic world.' Americans must learn how to live without running for pills to quick-fix

Problems. We want to teach people how to live a more adaptive, applied healthy lifestyle, which is an anti-aging/anti-stress lifestyle of complete wellness from the inside-out," explains Dr. Ward Coleman, N. D. and President of Four Mountains, Inc.

For media requests, contact Stacey Kumagai at 818/506-8675 or mediamonster@yahoo. com For information on Four Mountains' Wellness Programs, call 800/736-0904. To subscribe to "INSIDE/OUT", the FREE ONLINE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM,

E-mail: fourmountains@earthlink. net

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Custom Silicone Bracelets & Promotional Items Company Expands Product Line

2011-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Custom Silicone Bracelets & Promotional Items Company Expands Product Line

CAS Enterprises, LLC announced today its intention to expand its current product offering to include nearly 800,000 promotional products. After attending the ASI Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and being exposed to a wide variety of unique promotional products, promotional items, customized promos, and advertising specialties, Clark Swihart, President of CAS (and www. TheAwristocrat. com), became sold on the industry.

Columbus, NE (PRWEB) April 3, 2007

CAS Enterprises, LLC announced today its intention to expand its current product offering to include nearly 800,000 promotional products. After attending the ASI Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and being exposed to a wide variety of unique promotional products, promotional items, customized promos, and advertising specialties (http://www. theawristocrat. com/promotional-products. html), Clark Swihart, President of CAS, became sold on the industry.

"I was blown away by the insane number of products that could be customized with your company's logo," Clark exclaimed. These promotional products include personalized pens and mechanical pencils, customized mugs, decals, magnets, calendars, silicone bracelets, T-Shirts, key chains and tags, event tyvek wristbands, corporate gifts, custom printed lanyards (woven, tube, and polyester) (http://www. theawristocrat. com/lanyards. html), spirit items, awards, water bottles, and tote bags to name just a few.

Advertising Specialty Institute® (ASI) released results of its annual advertising specialty industry sales analysis, indicating revenues topped $18.6 billion in 2006 - up 4.5 percent from 2005 and a new record.

Spending on advertising specialties was almost twice as large as Internet display advertising, nearly five times greater than outdoor advertising and more than cable TV advertising for the same period and outpaced the 3.4% growth rate for the United States GDP.

The exclusive annual analysis, conducted by ASI, shows that growth in 2006 was driven by a healthy economy in North America and by increased interest from businesses in using advertising specialties as an alternative to other forms of advertising and as an integral part of their marketing campaigns.

"The advertising specialty industry is extremely robust and as this analysis indicates, has set an unprecedented record of continued growth and increased sales for the last four years," said Timothy M. Andrews, president of ASI.

Melodee Brunken, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, added, "All these new promotional items are an excellent complement to our current line of products." CAS Enterprises' website, TheAwristocrat. com, currently offers Custom Silicone Rubber Bracelets and Personalized Wristbands (debossed, embossed, printed, laser-engraved, and blank) (http://www. theawristocrat. com), Foam Hands (we're number one #1 foam fingers), Foam Spirit Sticks ("Noodles"), Custom Lanyards (Woven, Tube, and Polyester), Slap Bracelets (Slap Wraps), Custom Leather Wristbands, and other unique school and church fundraising ideas for fundraisers, raising awareness, and raising funds (money).

Clark Swihart is also the webmaster of another CAS Enterprises, LLC website property that provides Mixed Martial Arts Equipment, Uniforms, and Gear (http://www. martialartspride. com) - along with MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Videos, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) & Pride Fighting Videos and Gloves, Karate Judo Jujitsu TKD Tae Kwon Do and Ninja Uniforms, Muay Thai Kickboxing Sparring Gear, and more at MartialArtsPride. com.

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Privacy Networks, Inc. Rolls Out Internet Communications Security Suite at RSA Conference

2011-03-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Privacy Networks, Inc. Rolls Out Internet Communications Security Suite at RSA Conference

Privacy NETworks has developed a complete front-to-back software suite that enables companies to effectively manage, control and secure the entire life cycle of their email communications. Internet Communications Security Suite, ICSS, from Privacy NETworks assures that all email communications are seamlessly and automatically validated, encrypted, secured, archived and are retrievable on demand. ICSS makes it easy for companies to comply with the confidentiality, security, retention and reporting requirements of regulations such as HIPPA and Sarbanes-Oxley.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 14, 2005

Privacy NETworks, Inc. announced the release of the final products in its Internet Communications Security Suite, ICSS. Privacy NETworks has developed a complete front-to-back software suite that enables companies to effectively manage, control and secure the entire life cycle of their email communications.

"Today companies are engaged in a battle over the intellectual property and confidential information that create the value of the company," stated Todd Massey, President and CEO of Privacy NETworks. "Cyber criminals are out to steal the precious company data and disrupt business operations through the constant barrage of Spam, Virus, Worm, Phishing and Data Sniffing attacks. The cost to businesses of these data losses and work stoppages is in the Billions of dollars every year and is growing rapidly. Companies need help."

With ICSS, companies are able to manage email communications in a corporate-centric way. All intellectual property, proprietary data and confidential information contained in email is automatically validated, protected and stored for security, decision support, auditing and regulatory or legal compliance. ICSS provides centralized control that incorporates the companyÂs policies, objectives and best practices.

ICSS from Privacy NETworks assures that all email communications are seamlessly and automatically validated, encrypted, secured, archived and are retrievable on demand. The entire ICSS suite is server based, is available as a fully integrated front to back secure email suite, and is compatible with virtually any email client including Outlook, Eudora and Lotus Notes. ICSS makes it easy for companies to comply with the confidentiality, security, retention and reporting requirements of regulations such as HIPPA and Sarbanes-Oxley.

Components of ICSS include:

Â PrivacyPost Â the popular, server-based Anti-Spam and Anti-Virus engine

Â PrivacyMobile Â the previously released mobile extension to PrivacyPost that allows sending email messages to mobile devices, such as cell phones, pagers and PDAs using existing carrier services.

Â PrivacyLock Â a new release from Privacy NETworks that provides automatic encryption and decryption of email communications.

Â PrivacyVault Â another new release that automatically compresses, encrypts, indexes, and archives incoming and outgoing messages for auditing and regulatory compliance.

"PR Pharmaceuticals, Inc is dedicated to creating innovative drug delivery technologies to improve human and animal health", stated Gil Hersh CIO at PR Pharmaceuticals. "We are in a highly regulated industry and must answer to the FDA, EPA, IMEA, OSHA and we have to comply with a number of regulations. Not only will these new products assure that any intellectual property that is transmitted via email is secure, they will also assure that I am able to comply with the regulatory agencies requirements for archival and retrieval."

About Privacy NETworks

Privacy NETworks is a privately held company that has been helping companies and individuals establish and maintain the privacy, security and integrity of their Internet communications.

For additional information, visit www. privacynetworks. com.

PR Contact: John Stark

(970) 224-2339 extension 304

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ProDance a Part of NBA and Boston Celtics History

2011-03-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

ProDance a Part of NBA and Boston Celtics History

As the Boston Celtics become the last team in the NBA to form a dance squad, the team follows in their grand tradition of finding All-Stars in hiring Dance Team Director Marina Ortega. Ortega has the inside track in developing a world-class dance team, having been a star choreographer for ProDance since its beginning.

Riverside, CA (PRWEB) May 23, 2006

“Marina Ortega has been a recognizable face as a choreographer at ProDance since its inception 7 years ago”, said Rosalyn Jones, CEO/Founder of ProDance, “She brings a tremendous amount of expertise to the table in regards to professional sports dance. She creates some of the most show-stopping and crowd-appealing choreography I've ever seen and is equally adept at offering diverse ideas that continue to evolve this niche of the dance market. I'm not surprised that the Boston Celtics organization tapped her to become its premier artistic director for their inaugural dance team. She's been a foot soldier working in the trenches of the dance industry for many years, and her experience choreographing for numerous teams has allowed her to refine her craft. She has a gift and is so deserving of the opportunity to develop what will surely be one of the most highly profiled and successful dance teams in the NBA.”

ProDance is a powerhouse, high-profile gathering of choreographers, dancers, and directors representing the NBA, NFL, WNBA, CFL, AFL, and other professional sports teams. These unique athletes and entertainers receive state-of-the-art instruction, enabling them to provide a heightened entertainment package for the upcoming season, which will directly impact their respective franchises. The world's top choreographers teach more than 30 fully choreographed routines, many of which are performed on basketball courts and football fields around the world.

ProDance 2006 will take place July 30 - August 2, 2006 at LaQuinta Resort and Club in the Palm Springs California area. "We are expecting over 500 professional sports dancers from around the US, Canada, and Europe," said Cheryl Lawson, event specialist and coordinator for ProDance. "The making of a pro sports dance team is a complex undertaking, we are very excited that the ProDance annual conference continues to be the resource for professional sports dance teams."

About ProDance

ProDance is a powerhouse weekend of dance for high-profile choreographers, directors, and dancers representing the NBA, NFL, WNBA, CFL, AFL, and other professional sports leagues. Founded in August 2000 by Rosalyn Jones, ProDance’s mission is to “positively impact each participant by offering effective strategies to improve the overall entertainment value of their respective franchises.” Rosalyn is a former NCA instructor, choreographer for the San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers (1992-2003), and has owned and operated her own cheer/tumbling/dance studio for many years. For more information, or to register for ProDance visit http://www. ProDance. net.

Boston Celtics Dance Team auditions:

Dancers interested in trying out for the team can access applications for the 2006-07 Celtics Dancers at http://www. celtics. com

AUDITION DATES / LOCATIONS

Date Saturday, June 10, 2006

Location Sports Authority Training Center at Healthpoint in Waltham, MA

Boston Celtics Training Facility

Date Saturday, June 17, 2006

Location Broadway Dance Center New York

Date Sunday, June 25, 2006

Location Edge Performing Arts Center

Los Angeles, CA 90038

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The PodLounge Mobile Enhances Podcasting on Nokia N91 and Other 3G Phones

2011-03-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

The PodLounge Mobile Enhances Podcasting on Nokia N91 and Other 3G Phones

The PodLounge, one of the world’s leading podcast directories, announced today the release of The PodLounge Mobile for mobile or cell phone users. Designed with the new Nokia N91 in mind, one of the latest mobile jukeboxes in the Nokia Nseries of 3G phones, users can now access music as well as over 31,000 podcasts from their phones, anytime, anywhere. Utilising the phone’s inbuilt web browser, The PodLounge Mobile, built specifically to fit the tiny screens of mobile phones, has added an extra benefit to the latest phones.

Melbourne, Australia, (PRWEB) September 18, 2006

The PodLounge, one of the world’s leading podcast directories, announced today the launch of its new mobile phone-compatible podcasting directory, The PodLounge Mobile. For the first time ever, there is a major podcast directory - mobile. thepodlounge. com - that has been built specifically for mobile phone users to find, listen and subscribe to their favourite podcasts or vodcasts anytime, anywhere without the need for a computer.

Mobile phones are fast becoming more than just communication devices; they are now web enabled, and have their own built-in media players amongst other things, and as podcasting grows, it seems only natural to put the two together. The PodLounge Mobile was designed with the Nokia N91 in mind, which is one of the latest mobile jukeboxes in the Nokia Nseries of mobile 3G phones. It has been tailored to fit the tiny screens of any mobile phone that is web enabled, allowing users of The PodLounge and anyone who is into podcasting, easy access to a huge podcast directory of over 31,000 podcasts, wherever they are.

The PodLounge also launched a version - psp. thepodlounge. com for PSP (Portable Sony Playstation) users in June 2006. Designed primarily as a games machine, the Sony PSP is gaining popularity as a portable media device. Simplified access to podcasts through The PodLounge for PSP just gives those who have looked at it as purely a games machine, yet another reason to consider it.

According to John McClumpha, Technical Director of The PodLounge, “One of the most frustrating aspects of using these portable devices to access podcasts or vodcasts is accessing podcast directories that are not designed for small screens. Navigating a directory that’s tailored to fit your screen makes it so much easier”.

Podcasting, for those unfamiliar with it, is a relatively new technology where ‘podcasters’ can record audio or video ‘episodes’ on topics of their choice, and listeners can subscribe and listen to them in their own time. 99% of podcasts are free to subscribe to.

The parent directory, ‘The PodLounge’ was launched in January 2006. With over 31,000 podcast feeds (more than 500,000 episodes), it is one of the world’s largest podcast directories. It is extremely user-friendly and has an extensive range of podcast topics to choose from – music, surfing, comedy, health, politics, religion and more. Whatever your passion, you’ll find a podcast for it there.

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Aura Cacia Expert Aids Essential Oil Operations in Nepal

2011-03-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Aura Cacia Expert Aids Essential Oil Operations in Nepal

Aromatherapy educator Tim Blakley advises on projects that help Tharu people out of Poverty.

Norway, Iowa (PRWEB) December 20, 2007

Aura Cacia Training Manager Tim Blakley recently traveled to western Nepal to help the Tharu community increase the productivity and profitability of their essential oil distillation operations. Blakley was asked by the Farmer to Farmer Program to assist the projects that were funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to create income for the impoverished communities.

Aura Cacia's Vice President of Sustainability and Education Kathy Larson praises Blakley for undertaking the project, which the company supported by paying Blakley's regular salary while he was in Nepal.

"Our business shares the values of the Farmer to Farmer program, championing sustainable agriculture and support for the small growers around the world," says Larson. "In addition to the tremendous benefit this project has for the Tharu people, it's a great experience for Tim to bring back to our own Well Earth program."

Well Earth™ is the company's sustainable sourcing and social responsibility program. Both Larson and Blakley travel extensively to develop and certify growers for the program. (More information on Well Earth can be found at www. auracacia. com/acwellearth (http://www. auracacia. com/acwellearth).)

The remarkable impact of these distillation projects on the entire community was immediately apparent to Blakley. "The Tharu are almost exclusively subsistence farmers living in extreme poverty," he says. "These two tiny distillation facilities are the only options at this time for the community to make money and 'get ahead' a bit."

Blakley says it's gratifying to know that even the smallest improvements he facilitates in any area of the operations -- from farming to distilling to post production to marketing and sales -- have a positive effect on the hundreds of households and thousands of people directly and indirectly involved in the community project.

"Even though their total production is small, it represents a huge amount of income to them," he says. "They have invested every extra resource they have into this distillation business because it truly offers them a chance to change their lives."

The project's distillation operations are decidedly low-tech and sustainable. The essential oil still is fired by dried lemongrass, as is common in these remote communities. (Automobiles, aside from UN vehicles and a few SUVs hauling occasional tourists, are almost nonexistent in this area.) Farming for the essential oil botanicals is done by hand and with ox, and the harvest is delivered by ox cart.

Six crops -- lemongrass, palmarosa, citronella, German chamomile, corn mint and eucalyptus -- are currently distilled by the Tharu. All the plants are cultivated except the eucalyptus, which is harvested from wild trees. In the first year only a few hundred pounds of oil was produced, but all of it was sold, and it was considered a very successful year. Plantings have been greatly expanded for the coming year, and production is expected to double.

Blakley's personal notes on the project and his experiences in Nepal are available online at www. auracacia/nepalproject (http://www. auracacia/nepalproject).

Farmer to Farmer, which is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sends experts to communities around the world that have received USAID funding for agriculture-related projects with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness of the funded projects. Information on Farmer to Farmer is available at www. farmertofarmer. org.

Aura Cacia® Aromatherapy

Aura Cacia® provides personal-care products made with 100% pure essential oils. Aura Cacia fulfills consumers' desires for comfort, health and safety in personal care products by combining the benefits of aromatherapy with practical products that can be used every day by the whole family. A sister brand, Aura Cacia Organics®, offers an extensive selection of organic aromatherapy products. Aura Cacia and Aura Cacia Organics are brands of Frontier Natural Products Co-op™. Find out more about Aura Cacia at www. auracacia. com.

# # #

FREE HELPDESK SOFTWARE RELEASED

2011-03-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

FREE HELPDESK SOFTWARE RELEASED

Leigh Business Enterprises Ltd. (LBE) is giving away licences for its latest helpdesk software. Anyone can apply for a single user licence for LBE's browser or Windows based helpdesk applications. There is no spyware, no ads, no time limit, no tricks! This is exactly the same software as sold by LBE and used by businesses, major educational institutes, government bodies and health organizations throughout the world. The only restriction in this free licence is that only one person can use the software at one time.

(PRWEB) June 5, 2003

LBE Web Helpdesk is operated entirely through a web browser, and is designed to be used both by both support staff and customers. It can be accessed from anywhere with a standard web browser.

LBE Desktop Helpdesk is a Windows application and is typically used by support staff. Complete control is given over how data is presented, and the desktop software comes with powerful pre-defined filters, shared data views, text macros and more to make your helpdesk operate more efficiently.

Both products are fully multi-user and use industry standard databases for scalable, robust data storage. Licences which allow multiple concurrent users can be purchased from http://www. lbehelpdesk. com (http://www. lbehelpdesk. com).

To obtain your free licence to either (or both) products, visit http://www. freelbe. com (http://www. freelbe. com) and complete the request form.

Leigh Business Enterprises Ltd.

2 Dorland Gardens

Totton

Hampshire, SO40 8WR, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 870 741 9887

Fax: +44 (0) 870 121 5580

Company History

Leigh Business Enterprises Ltd. is a UK based software consultancy specializing in the development of helpdesk software and other applications since 1991. Clients come from all over the world and include all types and sizes of business.

# # #

Consumers Turn the Tables on Retailers and Corporations Starting December 24

2011-03-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Consumers Turn the Tables on Retailers and Corporations Starting December 24

OutSource Data Bank turns data into dollars, putting ordinary people on the receiving end of media revenues. Consumer databank for the people by the people launches on Christmas Eve starting in Arizona. Consumers opt-in demographic data (age, gender and zip code only) and receive revenue resulting from the use of the databank by retailers and corporations for interactive messaging and other purposes. "Big Business spends a lot of money to engage consumers. It seemed only fair that consumers should be able to claim some of that money, especially now..." commented OutSource Data Bank Founder Bob Ells.

Gilbert, AZ (PRWEB) December 19, 2008

On December 24, OutSource Data Bank will launch globally a unique demographic databank starting in Arizona that puts ordinary people on the receiving end of media revenues.

Potential income for Arizona consumers is in the billions of dollars.

OutSource Data Bank (http://www. outsourcedatabank. com (http://www. outsourcedatabank. com)) is a consumer databank for the people by the people, with each member becoming a stakeholder in the company upon depositing demographic data of interest to retailers and other corporations. Demographic data includes age, gender and zip code. Arizona membership receives 75% of all revenues resulting from the use of the databank by companies for interactive messaging, marketing and other purposes.

The company is the brainchild of two database pioneers and visionaries, Bob and son Ethan James "EJ" Ells. "Big Business spends a lot of money to engage consumers. It seemed only fair that consumers should be able to claim some of that money, especially now that retirement funds are evaporating, housing is in a free-fall and people can't rely on a paycheck anymore," commented Bob Ells. He said the idea for OutSource Data's unique business model came after viewing news about a middle-class worker who lost a third of his lifelong earned pension and all his family health coverage due to corporate bankruptcy. "It was particularly enraging that the company opened under a new name," said Ells.

"Our technology levels the playing field for these and other individuals," added EJ Ells.

Membership in OutSource Data Bank is free, and active for life or as long as members receive and respond to messaging. Members are required to open a dedicated communication line with OutSource Data Bank in order to qualify.

Anyone with a valid social security number can participate - even diapered children -- whose earnings will be placed in a trust fund for college or until they reach legal age.

The database management system behind OutSource Data Bank is based on proprietary technology developed as a result of the Ells' involvement as data analysts for Southwest Debt Exchange, the sixth largest debt exchange in the United States. "We were approached by the big online players to buy us out. We're Boston Irish, and have the attitude to go with it, so we chose instead to create the world's largest demographic databank for the people," commented EJ Ells.

Arizona consumers will be the first to opt into OutSource Data on December 24, with subsequent market rollouts to follow into the 2009 year. Arizona membership is initially limited to 100,000 households.

About OutSource Data Bank (http://www. outsourcedatabank. com (http://www. outsourcedatabank. com))

OutSource Data Bank is the only demographic databank organized for the financial gain of ordinary people. Its members earn revenue depositing their zip code, age and gender data with OutSource Data Bank. In turn, they lease access to their demographic information to corporations and retailers interested in messaging directly to US. The technology has applications worldwide.

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U. S. Highbush Blueberry Council Votes to Increase Market Promotion Initiatives

2011-03-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

U. S. Highbush Blueberry Council Votes to Increase Market Promotion Initiatives

In response to an unprecedented increase in blueberry production, the U. S. Highbush Blueberry Council last month voted to raise growers' assessment rate to fund its new market promotion initiative "BLUEprint 2015--Building Demand to Meet Future Supply."

Ferndale, WA (Vocus) April 3, 2009

In response to an unprecedented increase in blueberry production, the U. S. Highbush Blueberry Council (http://www. blueberry. org/) last month voted to raise growers' assessment rate to fund its new market promotion initiative "BLUEprint 2015--Building Demand to Meet Future Supply." The recommendation presented to the USDA for approval doubles the rate from the current 0.6 cents per pound ($12 per ton) to 1.2 cents per pound ($24 per ton).

In just three years, North American highbush blueberry acreage grew 33%, from 71,000 acres in 2005 to more than 95,000 in 2007. Expanded acreage has led to a record 407 million pounds produced in 2008, more than twice the level produced ten years before (185 million pounds in 1998). As new acres mature and worldwide production grows, highbush blueberry supply is expected to exceed 1 billion pounds by 2015.

"In spite of the sagging economy, the future looks bright for our industry," says USHBC Executive Director Mark Villata. "Consumers love blueberries and are aware of their health benefits, which has helped increase per capita consumption. But now, with rapidly increasing supply, we will have to make a concerted market promotion effort to double consumption by 2015. Dollars strategically invested in our "BLUEprint 2015" campaign will pay off in helping us maintain and grow a healthy industry."

The proposed change will be published in the Federal Register with a 60-day comment period. The blueberry industry is encouraged to comment. Assuming acceptance later this year, the increased assessment will be applied to the 2010 crop and will allow the USHBC to more fully fund market promotion and advertising programs beginning in 2011. An annual assessment rate of 1.2 cents per pound will generate an estimated $4 million for promotional efforts. Programs will target consumers, foodservice, food manufacturers and export markets. There will also be increased support for blueberry health and nutrition research, as well as expanded educational efforts in the areas of food safety and good management practices to strengthen consumer confidence.

For more information, go to www. blueberry. org. If you would like to schedule an interview with Mark Villata or a representative of the blueberry industry in your area, email mvillata (at) blueberry (dot) org or call 916-983-0111.

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Promopeddler. com Reveals Top Ten Promotional Golf Products For 2007

2011-03-14T04:25:00.000-07:00

Promopeddler. com Reveals Top Ten Promotional Golf Products For 2007

Spend your branding dollars wisely as relevancy reigns when selecting golf tournament promotional giveaways.

Sherwood, OR (PRWEB) May 16, 2007

Promopeddler. com's The Ideas Guru (http://www. promopeddler. com/blog/index. php? option=com_wrapper&Itemid=8), A. K.A. Dale Lee Kirby, has released this year's top ten most relevant imprintable golf items. Golf promotional products represent one of the fastest growing segments in an almost $18.7 billion dollar industry.

"Company golf tournaments, sponsorships for great causes and just the overall climate to brand your company in the golf environment is extremely healthy," beams Ms. Kirby, a 20 handicapper and director of marketing for Promopeddler. com. This year she selected the top ten most relevant custom imprinted golf products that truly have "legs" on and off the golf course. "Forget about passing out 2 inch tees because the size of the driver's club face has grown so large the smaller tees are now an irrelevant product."

Making the top ten golfer appreciated products list this year are the custom printed Ballzee ball cleaner (http://www. promopeddler. com/Detail/38120/GBZ) simple to use and easily kept in a side pocket with no leakage. The customized Dri Mark golf kit (http://www. promopeddler. com/Detail/50840/GMAQ-1) for permanently marking your ball is a 'must have' in tournament play where in a foursome it is not unusual to have three people playing the same maker of a ball. Golfers will love the corporate logo trunk organizer (http://www. promopeddler. com/Detail/43512/18020) where preparedness rules. You can now carry with you extra balls, tees, socks, wind shirts, rain pants, sandals, sun protection you name it, and be able to find it without holding up play. Logos on the cover of this product get plenty of branding ad space as the imprint area is a whopping 6 ¾" x 13 ½", enough to put more then one sponsor and leave a clean, lasting impression.

Check out the top ten promotional golf products (http://www. promopeddler. com/top-golf-products-2007.php) and other relevant customizable golf merchandise.
"Work your brand on the golf course, but make sure you are spending wisely and keeping up with the new technological advances in the industry," adds Jeff Anderson sales manager at Promopeddler. com.

About Promopeddler. com
Winner of the PPAI web award for marketing and branding (http://www. promopeddler. com/blog/index. php? option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=31) in 2007, along with being listed in the Inc 500, Promopeddler. com features the largest online catalog of promotional products. Maintaining an extensive, low-priced, quality product line with a focus on personalized customer service, the company can be reached at 1-800-455-1350.

Promotional Products Association International (http://www. ppa. org/default) released the results of its annual sales volume study, confirming that distributor sales of promotional products in 2006 increased 4.25 percent to $18,779,654,661--setting a new sales record for the industry.

The annual study was conducted exclusively for PPAI by Richard A. Nelson, Ph. D., at the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, and Rick Ebel, principal of Glenrich Business Studies in Corvallis, Oregon.

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Alan Weinstein Named Chairman of PerfectServe Advisory Board

2011-03-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

Alan Weinstein Named Chairman of PerfectServe Advisory Board

Alan Weinstein was recently named chairman of the advisory board for PerfectServe, a healthcare communications company.

Knoxville, TN (PRWEB) September 17, 2009

Alan Weinstein was recently named chairman of the advisory board for PerfectServe, a healthcare communications company. The board provides guidance on innovative ways to leverage PerfectServe's physician-contact network serving physician practices and hospitals nationwide.

Weinstein is the founder and retired president of Premier Inc., a strategic alliance of over 1,800 hospitals throughout the United States. Weinstein left Premier in 2000 after merging his previous company, Premier Health Alliance, with AmHS and SunHealth in 1995.

Prior to Premier, Weinstein worked with various groups of hospitals, including serving as executive vice president of the Illinois Hospital Association, president and chief executive officer of North Suburban Association for Health Resources in Northbrook, Ill., and executive director of the Midtown Hospital Association in Denver.

During his three-decade career in healthcare, Weinstein supported medical care organizations in developing shared programs and achieving greater economies of scale. He has also been involved with a variety of private healthcare companies, most often as a board member or advisory board member.

Weinstein received a master's degree in business administration from Cornell University in 1966 and a bachelor's degree from Allegheny College in 1964.

The PerfectServe physician-contact network automatically routes calls and messages to the right doctor, at the right time, in the precise way each physician wishes to be reached. Communication occurs faster, with greater efficiency and safety, because PerfectServe assembles and maintains the communications workflow for every medical staff physician, for every moment of every day. The company currently serves over 12,500 physicians in 150 markets across the U. S. For more information, visit http://www. perfectserve. com (http://www. perfectserve. com).

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Online Physician Ratings: Proceed with Caution Leading Physician Certification Organization Offers Consumers Tips for Using Doctor Rating Sites

2011-03-12T01:31:00.000-08:00

Online Physician Ratings: Proceed with Caution Leading Physician Certification Organization Offers Consumers Tips for Using Doctor Rating Sites

Online physician ratings allow patients to publicly and anonymously critique their doctors, providing one of the newest tools available to consumers seeking information to help them select a doctor. But can these online physician ratings be trusted? Experts from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) say that online ratings can be one useful tool, but caution consumers against relying solely on anonymous ratings.

Evanston, Ill. (PRWEB) June 12, 2008

"Online physician ratings can be helpful, but they don't provide a complete picture of a physician's qualifications and, because they reflect a patient's personal experience, they're likely to have a bias," said ABMS president and CEO Kevin Weiss, MD. "Consumers who use online rating systems and other Internet sources for healthcare information should always check to see where the information comes from and how often it is updated. The more consumers know about the source, the better they can assess the information's value and reliability alongside information from other sources."

For 75 years, ABMS, which oversees 24 Member Boards that certify physicians in more than 145 specialties and subspecialties, has been a reliable and trusted resource for consumers seeking information on physician qualifications.

"Many Web sites that allow consumers to search by medical specialty or by a specific health condition don't always have the most current information about board certification," Dr. Weiss said. To access the most up-to-date information on certification status, consumers should check www. abms. org to see if their doctors are board certified by one of the 24 ABMS Member Boards. ABMS Member Board certification is widely recognized in healthcare as the gold standard for judging a physician's knowledge, experience and skills within a medical specialty.

In addition, ABMS offers the following tips to help consumers assess and make the best use of online ratings resources:
Confirm the information. Many Web sites include self-reported physician information. A doctor may list a specialty but that doesn't guarantee that he/she is board certified in that particular area of medicine. Check with ABMS to verify specialty certification. Search for online physician ratings that permit a "360 degree evaluation," which allows consumers to read comments on an individual physician from a variety of sources, including other doctors, nurses and patients. Be aware that many online physician ratings do not consistently moderate content or review comments prior to posting. This means individuals can post negative or glowing comments about a doctor they've never even seen. When choosing a doctor, consider several sources of information rather than relying solely on a doctor rating Web site. For a small fee, consumers can also check for disciplinary actions against individual physicians through the Federation of State Medical Boards at www. fsmb. org.

About ABMS
Now in its 75th year, American Board of Medical Specialties is the preeminent medical organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. It assists its 24 Member Boards in their efforts to develop and implement educational and professional standards for the evaluation and certification of physician specialists. ABMS Member Boards provide physician certification information to ABMS for its certification verification service programs. ABMS is recognized by the key healthcare credentialing accreditation entities as a primary equivalent source of board certification data for medical specialists. Patients can visit www. abms. org or call toll-free 1-866-ASK-ABMS to see if their physician is board certified by an ABMS Member Board. For more information about ABMS visit www. abms. org or call (847) 491-9091.
The 24 Member Boards that make up the ABMS Board Enterprise covers over 145 medical specialties and subspecialties include: American Board of Allergy and Immunology, American Board of Anesthesiology, American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, American Board of Dermatology, American Board of Emergency Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Medical Genetics, American Board of Neurological Surgery, American Board of Nuclear Medicine, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Board of Ophthalmology, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Otolaryngology, American Board of Pathology, American Board of Pediatrics American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Preventive Medicine, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, American Board of Radiology, American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and American Board of Urology.

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