Kroll's Fraud Solutions to Host Webcasts on Improving Patient Data Security, Proper Data Breach Response

Kroll's Fraud Solutions to Host Webcasts on Improving Patient Data Security, Proper Data Breach Response

Kroll's Fraud Solutions joins with Providence Health & Services to host two webcasts on improving patient data security and proper data breach response titled "Data Breach…When Patient Safety Goes Beyond Critical Care."

Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 3, 2007

Healthcare organizations interested in improving patient data security and data breach response will have the opportunity to learn from leading data security experts at Kroll's Fraud Solutions (http://www. krollfraudsolutions. com) and an executive from Providence Health & Services as part of two Webcasts on the topic of "Data Breach...When Patient Safety Goes Beyond Clinical Care." (http://www. krollfraudsolutions. com/patienttrust3) Providence has worked with Kroll since 2005 after suffering a data breach that received both local and national media coverage.

The Webcasts combine the identity theft and data security expertise of Kroll's Jim Leonard with the personal testimony of a breached healthcare organization, thanks to the participation of Providence Health & Services Risk and Claims Administrator J. Dianne Garcia, J. D.

Learn how your organization can:
-- Improve data security
-- Contain the situation should a breach occur
-- Protect your reputation
-- Support patients at risk

The Webcasts are scheduled for Tuesday, December 11 at 2:00 p. m. EST and Wednesday, December 12 at 1:00 p. m. EST.

For more information, visit: www. krollfraudsolutions. com/patienttrust3 (http://www. krollfraudsolutions. com/patienttrust3).

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Tranax Technologies Announces Strong Demand in Credit Union Market for "Essential Banking" ATMs

Tranax Technologies Announces Strong Demand in Credit Union Market for "Essential Banking" ATMs

Tranax announces strong demand for "Essential Banking" STMs among credit unions and smaller banks. Fairleigh Dickinson Federal Credit Union, GPO Federal Credit Union, Southeast Financial Credit Union, Lake Chem Federal Credit Union, New South Credit Union, Cumorah Credit Union, Forest Area Federal Credit Union, Finger Lakes Healthcare Federal Credit Union, Stevenson Federal Credit Union among first to sign up.

Toronto, ON, Canada (PRWEB) July 12, 2006

Tranax Technologies, a leading developer of ATMs and self service kiosks, today announced strong demand for its Mini-Bank family of “Essential Banking” ATMs for credit unions and smaller banks. Among the first credit unions to buy the new low cost, high quality ATMS are: Fairleigh Dickinson Federal Credit Union, GPO Federal Credit Union, Southeast Financial Credit Union, Lake Chem Federal Credit Union, New South Credit Union, Cumorah Credit Union, Forest Area Federal Credit Union, Finger Lakes Healthcare Federal Credit Union, Stevenson Federal Credit Union. To date Tranax has sold several hundred banking ATMs to many community banks and credit unions throughout the country.

“Essential banking services provide credit unions and smaller banks a level playing field with the larger banks,” says Dr. Hansup Kwon, founder and chief executive officer of Tranax. “We’re delighted with the demand that we have experienced thus far, and expect it to only increase over time.”

When TDES security upgrades became an industry requirement in 2004, Tranax foresaw an opportunity to enter the Financial Institutions market and serve the credit unions and smaller banks. While these smaller financial institutions faced the same security requirements as the larger banks, there were no ATMs available tailored for their specific needs. Instead, the smaller banks could only purchase expensive machines loaded with services they could not use or afford, or refurbished machines which came with their own challenges.”

Tranax has put in place a very strong support program for the smaller bank, even before a product is shipped. The Tranax Banking Business Partners (BBPs) selling these products are providing service that meets a financial institution’s servicing requirements. All Tranax BBPs are factory trained by Tranax and are required to stock a full compliment of spare parts.

“We program, configure each machine to the individual requirements of the end user, and then set up, test and stage it before we ship. Our shipping response time is in days, not the weeks or months typical of larger manufacturers,” said Dr. Kwon.

Tranax Technologies

Tranax leads the ATM and self-service industry in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of self-service technology to the retail, banking, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming industries. Founded in 1986 by Dr. Hansup Kwon, the Fremont-based company has sold 70,000 ATMs across North America.

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School Books Expose Students to New Careers for the 21st Century

School Books Expose Students to New Careers for the 21st Century

Mason Crest Publishers announces new series of books geared to nurture youth career choices.

Philadelphia, PA (Vocus) July 21, 2010

Mason Crest Publishers announces the New Careers (http://www. masoncrest. com) for the 21st Century: Finding Your Role in the Global Renewal book series for school kids ages 12 and up. The cutting edge, 15 book series, which tackles the changing career landscape that young adults are looking at, is in production and scheduled to be in libraries and schools across the country and internationally in September 2010.

“There’s no denying that the world economy has experienced major changes during the past few years,” said Louis Cohen, Principal of Mason Crest Publishers. “As a result, young adults are looking at a career landscape that has undergone some major upheavals. But there are positive trends at work and exciting opportunities for those who are entering the workforce. This series presents young adults with facts about the new careers for the 21st century that they should be focused on now.”

New Careers for the 21st Century provides evidence that workers in expanding green industries (http://www. masoncrest. com), those who have computer skills, and those with the talent and enthusiasm to build a global world will find growing opportunities in a variety of fields. Along with this factual information based on the latest job research, the books also offer tips for matching specific jobs to the reader’s individual personality and interests, as well as inspiration for achieving meaning in the working world.

The editorial consultant for this series, Michael Puglisi, is the District Director of the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP), New York Chapter, a nonprofit educational association exclusively dedicated to workforce professionals with a rich tradition and history of contributions to workforce excellence. He is currently the Manager at the Department of Labor’s Workforce New York One Stop Center in Binghamton, New York.

“Green world, green economy, green technology—they all say the same things: the way we do business today is changing,” said Puglisi. “Every industry will be shaped by the world’s new focus on creating a sustainable lifestyle, one that won’t deplete our natural and economic resources. The possibilities are unlimited for today’s young adults. This series can act as the first step toward their continued education, training, and career path decisions helping them take the first steps that will lead them, and our planet, to a productive and sustainable future.”

The titles in the New Careers for the 21st Century: Finding Your Role in the Global Renewal series are:
1. Careers in Green Energy: Fueling the World with Renewable Resources
2. Environmental Science & Protection: Keeping Our Planet Green
3. Freelance and Technical Writers: Words for Sale
4. Green Construction: Creating Energy-Efficient, Low-Impact Buildings
5. Media in the 21st Century: Artists, Animators, and Graphic Designers
6. Medical Technicians: Health-Care Support for the 21st Century
7. Modern Mechanics: Maintaining Tomorrow's Green Vehicles
8. The Pharmaceutical Industry: Better Medicine for the 21st Century
9. Physicians' Assistants & Nurses: New Opportunities in the 21st-Century Health System
10. Social Workers: Finding Solutions for Tomorrow’s Society
11. Tomorrow’s Enterprising Scientists: Computer Software Designers and Specialists
12. Tomorrow's Teachers: Urban Leadership, Empowering Students, & Improving Lives
13. Tomorrow’s Transportation: Green Solutions for Air, Land, & Sea
14. 21st-Century Counselors: New Approaches to Mental Health & Substance Abuse
15. Therapy Jobs in Educational Settings: Speech, Physical, Occupational, & Audiology

For more information on the series and Mason Crest Publishers, call 866-MCP-BOOK or visit http://www. Masoncrest. com (http://www. Masoncrest. com).

About Mason Crest Publishers: Mason Crest evolved in 2002 from some of the key people responsible for making Chelsea House Publishers one of the leading young adult and reference school and library publishers. Mason Crest is dedicated to providing the most unique upper elementary and young adult quality books available within the school and library marketplace. With each series Mason Crest obtains the most proficient & knowledgeable editors, advisors, senior consultants, major institutions, authors, agencies, and specialized “think tanks” to ensure the books meet the highest standards of excellence. Mason Crest is currently offering over 1,500 titles that reflect the company’s dedication to quality. A complete list can be found online at http://www. masoncrest. com (http://www. masoncrest. com).

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Lesotho AIDS Orphans Benefit From Mallorca, Spain, Wedding

Lesotho AIDS Orphans Benefit From Mallorca, Spain, Wedding

Morten Sondergaard and Anett Bernhardt were married in Mallorca, Spain. Bernhardt, who had lived in South Africa, met Sondergaard eight years ago. The couple, who have two adored children, are both acutely aware of the difference in life style between AIDS orphans in Lesotho and those of their own children.

(PRWEB) October 21, 2006

Morten Sondergaard and Anett Bernhardt were married in Mallorca, Spain. Bernhardt, who had lived in South Africa, met Sondergaard eight years ago. The couple, who have two adored children, are both acutely aware of the difference in life style between AIDS orphans in Lesotho and those of their own children.

With this disparity in mind, they decided to celebrate their wedding by making a difference in the lives of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in Lesotho, in southern Africa.

In lieu of wedding gifts, the couple asked their wedding guests to make a donation to SHARED, a Massachusetts-based non - profit organization, for the purpose of providing medicines to the charity's partner organizations -- orphanages and district hospitals in Lesotho.

Rather than struggle with finding the perfect gift for the couple who has everything, the guests were only too happy to contribute to SHARED and donated more than an incredible $9,000.00 to support this worthy cause. SHARED will use 100 percent of the wedding donations to provide medicines for some of the more than 120,000 orphans and abandoned children in Lesotho.

Sondergaard and Bernhardt are both delighted that such a happy occasion as their wedding has also benefited children in South Africa about whom they care so much.

"Weddings are about love and commitment and this was a way which enabled everyone at the wedding to show love and commitment to AIDS children in southern Africa. We would like to thank our guests for their generosity and assure the children of Lesotho of our continued support," said the newly married couple.

Hoping that other like-minded people will follow the Sondergaards' example, SHARED has launched a "Celebration Gifting" program for individuals and couples who prefer donations instead of or in addition to a traditional gift for any occasion. Event planners, couples and party givers are encouraged to work with SHARED to create the perfect, custom fit for the occasion.

By affirming the generosity of the hosts and guests, the children in Lesotho celebrate the best gift of all -- better health.

For more information about SHARED and how you can participate in Celebration Gifting just like the Sondergaards, please visit SHARED's Web site at http://www. HealthShares. org (http://www. HealthShares. org) or contact the office directly at 617-277-7800.

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LocumTenens. com Names Lisa Kaeck Executive Vice President

LocumTenens. com Names Lisa Kaeck Executive Vice President

Founding partner promoted to a larger management role

Alpharetta, GA (Vocus) February 26, 2010

LocumTenens. com has named Lisa Kaeck as Executive Vice President, a promotion that recognizes the vast expertise Kaeck has developed in her 15 years of service at LocumTenens. com.

A founding partner of LocumTenens. com, Kaeck has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience, and has worked in the medical recruiting industry for 17 years. Previously Kaeck managed the anesthesia division at LocumTenens. com and was directly involved in development and implementation of company objectives, policies and procedures, as well as strategic planning.

Recognized as a leader of the company, Kaeck’s new role moves her out of day-to-day management of the anesthesia team and into a corporate position where she will have increased leadership of operations and work closely with the company president, R. Shane Jackson.

“Lisa knows virtually everything there is to know about our business, and her actions have consistently and continually portray her desire to do what is in the best interest of the company and all associates,” said Jackson.

“This is a very key promotion for LocumTenens. com. Allowing Lisa to focus her expertise and energies on overall company objectives and goals will provide an outstanding value to LocumTenens. com, and will ultimately help the company succeed and grow in the years to come.”

About LocumTenens. com
Founded in 1995, LocumTenens. com is a full-service physician recruitment firm specializing in primary care jobs, anesthesiology jobs, psychiatry jobs, radiology jobs, surgery jobs, and CRNA jobs with U. S. hospitals, medical groups and community health centers. LocumTenens. com operates an internet job board with direct access to thousands of jobs — in all specialties — posted directly by facilities and agencies nationwide. LocumTenens. com is part of the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. To learn more, visit http://www. locumtenens. com/welcome.

Media Contact:
Meigan Manis, Senior Public Relations & New Media Specialist
Phone: (678) 992-1276

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Flyte Systems Inks Agreement with Digital Signage Provider Digital Minds, Installs TouchQuest FlyteBoard at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

Flyte Systems Inks Agreement with Digital Signage Provider Digital Minds, Installs TouchQuest FlyteBoard at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

Airline flight information enhances customer service at Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center, adds revenue opportunities.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 26, 2008

Flyte Systems (http://www. flytesystems. com/?campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008), the leading provider of airline flight information displays (http://flytesystems. com/FlyteChannel. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) and digital signage (http://flytesystems. com/digitalsignage. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) content for the hotel signage (http://www. flytesystems. com/hospitality. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) and convention center industries and related businesses, announced it has partnered with digital signage solution (http://www. flytesystems. com/digitalsignage. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) provider, Digital Minds Inc., to install FlyteBoard (http://www. flytesystems. com/FlyteBoard. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008), its real-time airport travel information (http://www. flytesystems. com/FAQs. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) display screens, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center in Rosemont, IL. The partnership enables the companies to increase the scope of information they provide to conference attendees, expands revenue generating opportunities, and enhances the service offerings at the Stephens Center.

"Digital Minds, Inc. is an innovator in the digital signage field that continues to maintain a competitive lead over other providers by delivering flight information (http://www. flytesystems. com/FAQs. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) to clients," said Brian Reynolds, president of Flyte Systems. "The TouchQuest FlyteBoard implementation at the Stephens Center marks another successful partnership for Flyte Systems with an innovative digital signage company (http://www. flytesystems. com/Backgrounder. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008) to deliver its services."

Convention Center Provides Live Airline Information
"The addition of Digital Minds' TouchQuest FlyteBoard with real-time flight information enhances our visitors' experience and ensures the Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center is at the forefront of integrated technology in the industry," said Stephens Center General Manager, Christopher R. Stephens. With its location near Chicago O'Hare Airport and within walking distance to several high-end hotels, the Stephens Center hosts over 1.5 million people each the year.

"We are in a new age of digital communications in a world ruled by the clock," said Joseph P. Fiduccia, president and CEO of Digital Minds Inc. "I see strong demand for the FlyteBoard solution because travelers value a service that enables them to view real-time airport travel information and confirm the status of their flight prior to departure." Fiduccia notes that integrating FlyteBoard with TouchQuest provides a split-screen solution where a portion of the display can also be allocated for revenue-generating sponsorship opportunities. "We look forward to integrating with FlyteBoard at many future installations. No other company provides this service today." 

FlyteBoard, developed by Flyte Systems is a wall, floor or ceiling mounted high-definition, flat panel screen that the Stephens Center installed in its lobby area to provide attendees with 'glance-and-go' convenience for confident travel planning. What sets FlyteSystems applications apart from other PC-based systems is its ability to post accurate real-time airline flight arrival and departure information, not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that do not list delays caused by:
 Air Traffic Control  Aircraft maintenance  Crew availability  Weather Flyte Systems offers a suite of products that serve the traveling public that includes FlyteTouch touch screen kiosks that display real-time arrival and departure information; FlytePass, which adds free, secure boarding pass printing to FlyteTouch kiosks; FlyteChannel for in-room viewing of airline information by hotel guests; and FlyteBoard's flat-panel HD screens for lobbies, restaurants and other public areas. FlyteSystems products may display information from one or more airports. Flyte Systems applications are often used by properties to generate increased revenue streams with innovative marketing approaches to the distressed traveler.

For tips on how to generate revenue by providing guests with Flyte Systems airline information, please log on to the Flyte Systems website (http://www. flytesystems. com/AboutFlyte. html? campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008).

About Flyte Systems:
The Flyte Systems Division of Industrial Television Services (ITS), based in Chicago, Illinois, is the leading provider of airport flight information displays for the hospitality and convention center industries and related businesses. It delivers accurate, instant, airport-centric updates of flight information - not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that may omit last minute changes. Properties are able to differentiate their products and boost customer loyalty and repeat business with 'glance-and-go' content critical to a traveler's day. Flyte Systems' product suite builds upon ITS' 47-year history as the leading provider of live flight information to airports, airlines, government agencies, port authorities and other travel-based businesses. Flyte Systems was formed in 2007 to offer new Web-based travel technology and product lines. Customers include the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Touch Quest, Marriott, Days Inn, Hilton, DoubleTree, Hotel Sofitel, and Crown Plaza hotels, independent properties and municipal airports.

About Digital Minds, Inc.:
Digital Minds Inc., founded in 2002, is a software development firm specializing in digital solutions and interactive media to facilitate multiple vertical markets. Digital Minds Inc., at the forefront of interactive services and digital media displays in high traffic areas, set out to modernize the way information and services are provided to the consumer public. Through the creation of TouchQuest® and additional media solutions, Digital Minds Inc. offers modern day products/services to enhance the experience and knowledge of visitors and guests. These markets include hotels, convention centers, airports, college campuses, healthcare facilities, commercial office buildings, and additional points of interest with captive audiences. For additional information regarding products and services, visit www. touchquest. com.

About Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center
The Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center is located in Rosemont, Illinois, less than five minutes from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The Stephens Center spans nearly one million square feet of space (including the flexible Conference Center), and welcomes more than a million visitors annually to more than 100 tradeshows, conventions and events.

Rosemont is a premier destination for commerce, entertainment and hospitality which is also home to Allstate Arena (18,500 seats) and Rosemont Theatre (4,400 seats). With a population of 4,200 residents, Rosemont welcomes an average 50,000 visitors daily to its facilities and/or world-class hotels.

Contact:
Flyte Systems
Debbie Kalish, Account Executive
3515 Martens Street
Franklin Park, IL 60131
Phone: (877) 463-5983
Email: Debbie. Kalish(at)flytesystems. com
Www. flytesystems. com/?campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008 (http://www. flytesystems. com/?campaign=PRWebDigitalMindsFeb262008 )

Digital Minds
Joseph P. Fiduccia
President, CEO
Digital Minds Inc.
TouchQuest. com
Phone: (773) 851-5104
Email: jfiduccia(at)touchquest. com
Www. touchquest. com

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Susan L. Prather, APR
PratherPR
Slprather(at)msn. com
(312)371-5137

Media Contact:
Julie Keyser-Squires, APR
Softscribe Inc.
Julie(at)softscribeinc. com
(404)256-5512
Http://www. softscribeinc. com (http://www. softscribeinc. com)

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Male Menopause Treatment Provider, ReNEW MAN, Increases Online Presence

Male Menopause Treatment Provider, ReNEW MAN, Increases Online Presence

ReNEW MAN helps men ages 35 and older treat the symptoms associated with male menopause, also known as andropause, through their hormone replacement therapy program. The staff at ReNEW MAN is knowledgeable, professional and focused on providing safe, effective treatment. The company is currently working to expand their online presence through search engine optimization. By improving their visibility on major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN, the company hopes to drive more potential clients to their website and increase awareness about male menopause and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 18, 2008

Since 1999, ReNEW MAN (renewman. com) has provided a quality hormone replacement therapy for men with male menopause. ReNEW MAN has a network of doctors throughout the U. S. that meet one-on-one with patients to determine the best andropause treatment (http://www. renewman. com/), periodically retesting hormone levels to ensure safe, effective treatment.

ReNEW MAN's male hormone replacement therapy (http://www. renewman. com/HormonesMenTheFacts/TheBadHormones/tabid/801/Default. aspx) program reduces the symptoms of male menopause by offering testosterone, thyroid, growth hormone, and DHEA hormone replacement. Four to five million men have low testosterone levels, which causes fatigue, irritability, reduced muscle mass and strength, erectile dysfunction, and other symptoms. ReNEW MAN's testosterone treatment (http://www. renewman. com/HormonesMenTheFacts/Testosterone/tabid/779/Default. aspx) helps mitigate these symptoms by testing hormone levels and bringing them to a healthy level.

Expansion of Online Visibility:
ReNEW MAN recently contracted TwentySix2 Marketing, a search engine optimization and online marketing agency, to improve ReNEW MAN's online visibility. Search engine optimization will increase ReNEW MAN's visibility in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN, and expand web traffic to ReNEW MAN's website.

"Too often men with male menopause (andropause) symptoms are misdiagnosed by their family physician," explains Jim Michels, founder of ReNEW MAN. "By not seeing a physician with male hormone therapy experience, men are risking exposing their bodies to toxic levels of treatment. Since 1999 we have partnered with a national network of doctors that are experienced at providing quality andropause treatment."

John Waddy, CEO of TwentySix2 Marketing said, "ReNEW MAN has distinguished itself from other hormone replacement treatments by offering a personalized treatment. We are excited to help ReNEW MAN expand their message in the online community through natural search and paid search marketing efforts."

Hormone Replacement Therapy Designed for You:
ReNEW MAN's doctors get to know their patients on a personal basis and develop an individualized hormone replacement therapy program specific to each person's needs. ReNEW MAN's network of doctors supervise the treatment and periodically recheck hormone levels and PSA levels to ensure that the treatment is effective. The company offers several treatment options, including:
Male Hormone Therapy (http://www. renewman. com/HormonesMenTheFacts/tabid/766/Default. aspx) Testosterone Replacement Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Replacement (http://www. renewman. com/HormonesMenTheFacts/GrowthHormoneHGH/tabid/780/Default. aspx) Testing and treatment for thyroid and DHEA Anti-aging hormones

ReNEW MAN's health store also has daily health supplements and additional supplements to help people lead a better life. Some of the supplements at the health store include:
Multi-vitamins Omega 3 oils Antioxidants L-Carnitine for a healthy heart Curcumax for metal acuity

For additional information about treating male menopause and male hormone replacement (http://www. renewman. com/TreatmentPrograms/tabid/767/Default. aspx), visit renewman. com or call 800-859-7511.

About TwentySix2 Marketing:
Founded in 1997, TwentySix2 is one of the most advanced online marketing agencies dedicated to helping businesses achieve their full online potential. TwentySix2 Marketing is a leader in the online marketing industry, providing services in search engine optimization (http://www. twentysix2.com/), paid search, affiliate marketing, email marketing, blog marketing, social media, web design and online consulting services and strategy.

About ReNEW MAN:
ReNEW MAN specializes in the management of age-related male hormone replacement therapy. They provide information, clinical services and access to products that have been proven to reduce the symptoms of male menopause. ReNewMan's experts work with their extensive network of doctors to provide safe, effective, and convenient care for their clients. For more information, visit renewman. com or call 800-859-7511.

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Your Dog Won’t Pull While Wearing This New Harness-vest Combination

Your Dog Won’t Pull While Wearing This New Harness-vest Combination

Your dog won’t pull while wearing this new harness-vest combination. Introducing Har-Vest™, a happy merger between a no-pull harness and a dog vest.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 10, 2006

Owners, frustrated with uncontrollable dogs, now have better control over their dog by using Har-Vest™, a revolutionary new product that combines a no-pull harness and a vest, offering unprecedented control, functionality and style (www. har-vest. com). With no-pull harnesses becoming more popular, Rachel Friedman, MSW, LISW, owner of a Better Pet, LLC designed Har-Vest so that it would have all the benefits of a no-pull harness and satisfy the need to identify a working dog with a vest.

The Har-Vest is specially designed to calm a dog by applying equalized tension on various pressure points while providing gentle weight distribution over the dog’s back. The Har-Vest is easy to put on and comes with fully removable and adjustable straps. The vest includes an ID badge holder and two zippered pockets for carrying other necessities. Har-Vest is made from high quality materials in the U. S.A. and is available in a variety of colors and sizes.

Friedman received her Master’s in Social Work from The University of Pennsylvania and became independently licensed in Ohio, working many years in early childhood development/in-home parenting and emergency mental health/crisis intervention work in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. Friedman then combined her passion in working with animals with her extensive social work background, and became a fulltime pet and service dog trainer in 1999.

Rachel is available for public speaking on a variety of topics. For interviews, contact Michelle Hirsh, 330.963.3664. For more information or speaking engagements, call Rachel at 216.321.7654 or visit www. har-vest. com.

Contact:

Michelle Hirsh

Felber & Felber Marketing

P: 330.963.3664 F: 330.963.8547

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Whats Next: Luxury Travel, Lifestyle & Real Estate Trends -- Life in the Slow Lane: Nostalgic and Expensive

Whats Next: Luxury Travel, Lifestyle & Real Estate Trends -- Life in the Slow Lane: Nostalgic and Expensive

While most of today's 24/7 world seems to be speeding up, a growing number of the affluent among us are taking a road less traveled and slowing down.

MIAMI (PRWEB) April 14, 2008

 One of the latest lifestyle trends is to incorporate something labeled "slow" into food and fashion, to design and travel - even sex. What does this mean? For one thing, the affluent are looking backwards to a nostalgic past - whether real or rosily imagined - for inspiration. It's the lifestyle equivalent of "comfort food." Those who are detouring along this rarified path fully expect to pay a premium to apply a touch of the brakes in everything they do.

Home-Grown, Handed-Down and Locavores

Some cultural anthropologists trace the beginnings of this burgeoning lifestyle slowdown to Rome's historic Piazza di Spagna. It was back in 1986 that the so-called "slow food" movement was born. Disdaining the spread of American chain restaurants and fast food, as they crossed the Atlantic and began to invade the Old World, adherents of the new credo focused once again on the fresh, the local and the artisanal. In so many ways, it was a back-to-the-future moment.

The idea was to take a U-turn back to the days of farmers' markets, handed-down recipes and, above all, leisurely dining with family and friends. Two decades later, products created in artisanal mode are coveted once more. Celebrity chefs turn to long communal tables in their newest outposts (Bar Boulud) and hotels and restaurants highlight the provider and provenance of products in their fanciest menus. Old-fashioned nose-to-tail dining on all parts of the beast is back in vogue, based on yesteryear's satisfying nostrum: waste not, want not.

This lifestyle reverse even permeates our everyday vocabulary. One use of speech derived from the slow food movement was recently awarded "Word of the Year" by the New Oxford American Dictionary. Are you a locavore? It means someone who cooks with and dines on locally produced foods.

Finding the Right Speed, Not the Fastest

The idea of a slow food movement bears implications beyond simple consumption. It encompasses an entirely new direction in how the affluent choose to live their lives. As writer Carl Honore describes in his best seller, In Praise of Slow, the global slow movement challenges the modern cult of speed. It's about how to live better in a fast-paced world by striking a balance. You find not the fastest speed, but the right speed.

The philosophy is already spawning the notion of Slow Cities, from the UK and Norway, to Brazil. Combustion engine vehicles are strictly limited, walking is encouraged, and mission statements talk about the "serenity" of everyday life and "reflective" living. In Japan, one city's mayor issued a "Take-It-Easy Declaration", encouraging residents to leave work early, take a walk with the family and talk to neighbors. Residents are gravitating towards Slow Homes where bigger isn't always better, quality prevails, design is individual, and care is taken to use healthy building materials, preferably recycled (such as fashionable, old woods). Residents may even engage in Slow Sex, choosing to emphasize spirituality and quality over quantity.

Out With Rock Stars, In With Farmers

In this new slower world, farmers become society's heroes. The new luxury lifestyle status symbol is owning farmland. With slow in mind, a growing real estate trend among second-home buyers is to invest in less urban escapes, such as green-pastured horse farms, ranches, vineyards or olive groves. Even in dense urban areas, such as Manhattan, city dwellers are turning their backyards into mini fruit orchards. In slow food vernacular, they are "co-producers" rather than "consumers." By becoming part of the process, they control the speed, escape homogeneity and enjoy a form of creative self-expression.

Enjoying the Journey

In its most glamorous heyday, travel was slow - of necessity, but also sometimes by design. It possessed sophistication, merely because only the affluent could afford it. Now, the trend is to recapture a bit of this nostalgic haze by savoring the journey once again, not just the destination. Slow leisure is the aim. Instead of pursuing yesterday's extreme adventures, today's slow travelers seek to spend their time contemplating, relaxing and reveling in doing very little or nothing. Witness the growing, global travel trend of transatlantic cruises, luxury trains, and the newest unconventional offering - The Manned Cloud airship. Under development by French designers Massaud Studio, the 700 foot long airship will offer 40 passengers accommodation similar to that of a luxury cruise ship plus a library, gym and even terraces. With a top speed of 105 mph, it's about simply enjoying the view.

Old Foods Are New Again

For those seeking to experience slow foods abroad, culinary tourism, one of the hippest travel trends in 2008, will go well beyond cooking classes. Epicurean adventures will extend to agricultural villages where food is grown, to food lovers markets and to obscure food festivals in the four corners of the world. For example, the annual saffron harvest attracts crowds to Consuegra, Spain. Travelers forage with the pigs at the White Truffle Fair in Alba, Italy. In Cyprus, travelers learn the secrets of making the local Halloumi cheese or how to cure olives - a blending of two larger trends: gastronomy and enrichment travel.

Fashioned From the Fields

No longer a utopian or fringe movement, Slow Fashion is emerging from the uppermost echelons of fashion designers' elite. During New York's Fashion Week, renowned fashion critic Suzy Menkes observed, "We're getting beyond the idea of 'Look at me, look at me.' Fashion today is becoming more about calmness than flash." Classic silhouettes are making a comeback, some with a sustainable or green twist. This year's Academy Awards red carpet saw the appearance of a sustainable gown from designer Linda Loudermilk - a bespoke dress fashioned from hemp silk with organic cotton and "vintage findings" as accents. A trend for jewelry lovers: classic pearls are the new choice over diamonds; sustainable, understated and with shades of nostalgia. For those who want what The New York Times calls "Punk Meets Park Avenue" look, pearls are combined with contemporary chains, beads and estate brooches.

For over 29 years, first in New York City and now in Miami, Karen Weiner Escalera and her firm's KWE group have been among the nation's leading marketing and public relations experts in the luxury travel, hospitality and real estate industries. Her campaigns have been cited as setting the standard in publications including Advertising Age, Nation's Business, and Fortune Small Business. A thought leader in luxury lifestyle, she is the editor of an internationally syndicated luxury travel and lifestyle trends newsletter and blog, and a frequent speaker on luxury travel. KWE group is a founding member of Tourism Trademark, a global network of independent marketing communications firms specializing in travel, hospitality and destinations.

Copyright (C) 2007, 2008 KWE group, Inc.

Fusion Sleep Appoints James Ernest Riddle to Transportation Business Advisory Board

Fusion Sleep Appoints James Ernest Riddle to Transportation Business Advisory Board

Logistics Company Executive Advises Sleep Disorder Management Programs for Fleets.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 18, 2010

Fusion Sleep, the leading provider of transportation sleep medicine services, announced today that global transportation and logistics executive and former President of Ryder International, Ernie Riddle, has joined its Transportation Business Advisory Board.

“Ernie is an outstanding addition to our advisory board.” said Sigurjon Kristjansson, CEO of Fusion Sleep. “His depth of experience and insight into the logistics and technology industries will provide us with valuable expertise as we enhance the value-added services of our fatigue management sleep medicine program. Fusion Sleep is dedicated to serving the transportation industry with fatigue management solutions that improve medical outcomes for their drivers and shift workers while having a significant positive impact on bottom-line results for the company.”

Riddle was drawn to Fusion Sleep by its high-quality professional and medical services. “My initial interest was in the opportunity to cut operational costs, reduce risks and decrease medical expenses for professional fleets and shift workers. As I learn more about Fusion Sleep and its principals, I am impressed by the level of medical expertise and technology enabled delivery processes we offer to a formerly underserved driver population”, said Riddle.

Riddle is a partner of Progility Partners, LLC, a consultancy that helps companies maximize sales & marketing performance, align technology with business strategy and drive operational effectiveness & efficiency to create sustainable competitive advantage.

His former roles include Founder, Former Chairman and CEO of Astadia, Inc.; President and COO of Norrell Services, Inc.; President of Ryder International; and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Xerox Corporation in the U. S. and in EMEA.
Riddle has served on numerous boards as a Director for AirNet Systems, Inc., Enterasys Inc., Danka Business Systems, PLC and Norrell Services, Inc. and several private boards. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his MBA from Emory University.

The U. S. transportation industry employs over three million truck drivers, of which approximately 28 percent suffer from Sleep Apnea alone. Sleep is a fundamental function of the brain and Sleep Apnea is only one of over 70 sleep disorders that are known to cause costly diseases when left untreated, including Weight Gain, Hypertension, Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke. Eliminating sleep disorders can reduce healthcare costs by as much as 50 percent, reduce absenteeism and curb driver turnover while increasing productivity and sharply reducing the risk of traffic accidents.

About Fusion Sleep
Fusion Sleep is the provider of the only comprehensive sleep medicine program that combines extensive medical and professional expertise in the field of Sleep Medicine with multiple treatment options and a unique delivery model for patients in the transportation industry and other employers who make safety a priority in their business. Programs are focused on removing the risk of sleep and fatigue problems in the workforce. Based in Atlanta, Ga., Fusion Sleep’s program is a fusion of Sleep Technology and Engineering, Sleep Research and Clinical Sleep Medicine designed to deliver exemplary medical care for problems and conditions that impact sleep quality, quantity and daytime function. Fusion Sleep currently serves more than 7,000 patients and is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). For more information, visit http://www. sleep4safety. com or call 1.888.505.0280.

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Anorexia: Facts About This Deadly Eating Disorder

Anorexia: Facts About This Deadly Eating Disorder

Dedicated solely to provide helpful information about the problems, symptoms and solutions of this deadly disorder, a new web site, AnorexiaAide. com, offers suggestions and advice about all aspects of anorexia. Anorexia is an eating disorder in which the person is so afraid of being fat, that he or she almost stops eating. People suffering from anorexia see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. People with anorexia may repeatedly check their body weight and may engage in other techniques to control their weight, such as intense and compulsive exercise, or purging by means of vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics.

(PRWEB) July 15, 2005

Eating is controlled by many factors, including appetite, food availability, family, peer, and cultural practices and attempts at voluntary control. An eating disorder like anorexia involves serious disturbances in eating behavior such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake. Anorexia is not due to a failure of will or behavior; rather, it is a real, treatable medical illness in which certain patterns of eating take on a life of their own.

Anorexia frequently co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. In addition, people who suffer from anorexia can experience a wide range of physical complications, including serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death. Females are much more likely to develop anorexia than are males. Approximately 90-95 percent of those who suffer anorexia and female.

Like with most other medical conditions, the course and outcome of anorexia vary across individuals: some fully recover after a single episode; some have a fluctuating pattern of weight gain and relapse; and others experience a chronically deteriorating course of illness over many years.

Treatment of anorexia calls for a specific program that involves three main stages: first, restoring weight lost to severe dieting or purging; secondly, treating psychological disturbances such as low self esteem; and finally, achieving long term remission or full recovery.

For reams of additional information about anorexia, visit http://www. AnorexiaAide. com (http://www. AnorexiaAide. com)

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Nodak Mutual Selects Millbrook's Management Information Suite

Nodak Mutual Selects Millbrook's Management Information Suite

Millbrook is pleased to announce that Nodak Mutual has licensed Millbrook's Management Information Suite of products to provide robust analytics and reporting tools to accelerate profitable growth for the organization.

Lehigh Valley, PA (PRWEB) March 29, 2004

Millbrook Incorporated of Bethlehem, PA and Nodak Mutual Insurance Company of Fargo, ND are pleased to announce an agreement under which Nodak will license Millbrook's Management Information Suite of products. Nodak will utilize Millbrook's solutions and industry knowledge to provide robust analytics and reporting tools to accelerate profitable growth for the organization. Additionally, the Millbrook Information Suite will be employed as a critical centerpiece in facilitating processing system conversion activities that are ongoing.

Ronald Koester, Nodak's Senior Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and CFO noted that Nodak chose Millbrook after they reviewed the expense and time involved with building or licensing other solutions. "It was clear to us that Millbrook's pre-built, industry standard models allow us to implement what we need within very reasonable time frames and with very reasonable deployment expense. We do not have a large IT staff and we have key project members that are new to us and to the industry. The Millbrook models and experience will help us to transfer knowledge to our staff and to have ownership over the project."

Nodak will be implementing Millbrook's insurance specific enterprise data warehouse and data marts, analytical grid products and dashboards. Project implementation activities will commence in March.

About Nodak Mutual Insurance Company

The mission of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company is to meet the lifetime financial needs of the company's Farm Bureau member client by providing personalized advice, competitive products and superior services backed by the security of Nodak Mutual's outstanding financial strength.

Nodak Mutual was founded to protect farmers and ranchers from the natural disasters they faced in their business. The founders' basic objective was to offer property insurance protection and quality service at a reasonable cost to Farm Bureau members. Nodak Mutual has expanded the tradition set forth by its founders and today, offers a diverse portfolio of products including, home, farm and ranch, auto, business, crop-hail, life, long-term care, health, securities and annuities.

Website: www. nmicfb. com

Contact:

Ronald Koester

Nodak Mutual Insurance Company

(701) 298-4200

Rkoester@nodakmutual. com

About Millbrook Incorporated

Millbrook Incorporated is the recognized leader in providing information solutions to the property and casualty insurance industry. It is this unique industry competence and focus that create solutions that let insurance companies direct and improve their business performance. Millbrook's solutions enable complete information management, including planning, measuring performance, and providing targeted, industry specific analytics and reporting.

Millbrook's solutions include models that understand and embed specific knowledge of all major lines of business so customers do not have to "build from scratch". With its industry specific models and success in deployment, Millbrook has helped its insurance company customers to successfully use the power of information.

The company has a deep, experienced staff to create, deploy and service its innovative solutions.

CONTACT: Sales & Marketing

Millbrook Incorporated

(610) 867-7400 ext 1180

Sales@millbrookinc. com

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Online Magazine Blogcritics. org Rolls Out SciTech, A New Content Section That Explores Strange New Worlds

Online Magazine Blogcritics. org Rolls Out SciTech, A New Content Section That Explores Strange New Worlds

Blogcritics. org SciTech is the place to go for opinionated and knowledgeable coverage on a galaxy of cutting-edge topics, from iPods and the latest "personal tech" crazes to nanotechnology on the tiny end to vast reaches of the cosmos on the large. As always, an active community of writers and thousands of daily readers will be on board and online to keep the conversation humming.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) January 12, 2006

In December 2005, award-winning online magazine Blogcritics. org expanded upon its core mission of covering music, politics, books, film, TV, and popular culture by adding new content sections in gaming and online sports. Now, the famously "sinister cabal" of more than 1,100 bloggers pushes into brand new territory.

Blogcritics. org SciTech is the place to go for opinionated and knowledgeable coverage on a galaxy of cutting-edge topics, from iPods and the latest "personal tech" crazes to nanotechnology on the tiny end to vast reaches of the cosmos on the large. As always, an active community of writers and thousands of daily readers will be on board and online to keep the conversation humming.

Join The Healthy Skeptic, Sal Marinello, as he debunks and exposes some popular health and diet fads and replaces them with some tried-and-true health and fitness suggestions.

Natalie Bennett's weekly roundup of Friday Femmes Fatale will keep you informed about the fascinating female voices of the blogosphere.

Bug Blog, released by Bruce Kratofil, is a long-running feature that looks out for the bugs and viruses on the technological landscape. January's Bug of the Month? Microsoft WMF.

Bennett Dawson will take you on his great space coaster to out-of-this-world roundups and analysis of NASA and the latest space news.

Some highlights from the past week in Blogcritics. org SciTech:

Alpha explains the concept of Google cooking and shares some recipes as an added bonus Warren Kelly gets the Urge to introduce Microsoft’s new music service Sal Marinello gets real about getting into shape in the new year a la "the least amount of specific work" Phillip Winn rehashes, dismantles, and then rebuilds the re-branding of Intel

About Blogcritics. org

Blogcritics. org is a new kind of online magazine, an interactive community in which writers and readers from around the globe talk about stories, issues, and products. If it's happening in the world - from global political issues to obscure rock bands, from the latest best selling novel to the TV shows that aired last night - Blogcritics. org has it covered.

Blogcritics. org was founded by Eric Olsen, who has enjoyed a 25-year career in writing and broadcasting on a vast array of topics including politics, music, and media. Co-owner Phillip Winn built Blogcritics. org, nearly from scratch, and continues to manage the technical and design elements of the site. Working with Olsen and Winn is a team of over twenty editors dedicated to making Blogcritics. org the premiere Web destination for interactive news, commentary, and reviews.

Blogcritics. org is an official Google News and My Yahoo! source, syndicates content to online editions of newspapers around the United States via the Advance family of websites, and has won numerous awards, including a Bloggie for best music site, Forbes. com's Best Media Blogs, and was recently showcased on the prestigious AlwaysOn and Technorati "Open Media 100" list.

You can now let Blogcritics. org come to you. Sign up for Blogcritics. org's "all articles" RSS 2.0 feed or any number of specific feeds tailored to your interests at:

Http://blogcritics. org/archives/categories/ (http://blogcritics. org/archives/categories/)

Are you a blogger? Would you like to increase your visibility and reach a very large and growing audience? Then Blogcritics. org may be for you. Visit http://Blogcritics. org (http://Blogcritics. org) and click Become a Blogcritic for details.

For press inquiries, requests for interviews, sales and advertising information, or to opt out of future mailings, please contact:

Eric Berlin

Blogcritics. org Executive Producer

626.372.0778

Eric Olsen

Blogcritics. org Publisher

330.562.4692

Craig Lyndall

Blogcritics. org Sales and Advertising

440.666.1087

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Leading Training & Development Conference 'Sharing@LearnShare' Debuts in Denver: 'Achieving Mile High Results' Will be Focus of August Conference

Leading Training & Development Conference 'Sharing@LearnShare' Debuts in Denver: 'Achieving Mile High Results' Will be Focus of August Conference

LearnShare, LLC, the consortium of Fortune 1000 companies organized to research, design, purchase, package and share best practices in the training and development field, today announced that its summer 2007 conference will be held August 8-10, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Denver. This will be the first time the conference has held an event in the Denver market. The Denver Sharing@LearnShare conference will bring together training and development executives in a wide variety of industries from across the nation. The theme, Achieving Mile High Results, will give attendees a forum to share their experiences and learn new ways to excel in their careers.

Toledo, OH (PRWEB) May 18, 2007

LearnShare, LLC, the consortium of Fortune 1000 companies organized to research, design, purchase, package and share best practices in the training and development field, today announced that its summer 2007 conference will be held August 8-10, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Denver. This will be the first time the conference has held an event in the Denver market.

The Denver Sharing@LearnShare conference will bring together training and development executives in a wide variety of industries from across the nation. The theme, Achieving Mile High Results, will give attendees a forum to share their experiences and learn new ways to excel in their careers. The collaborative spirit of the Sharing@LearnShare conference gives attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices with peers who are also looking to increase positive results for themselves and their organizations.

Sharing@LearnShare is a high-quality, content-packed conference that provides best practices and lessons learned from industry leading organizations. The event consists of well-regarded keynote speakers, focused breakout sessions on pertinent topics, and a variety of networking opportunities where participants can meet expert presenters, LearnShare members and sought-after learning executives.

The keynote presenters for the event are Dave Groff, Chief Learning Officer at Allstate, and Christine Fleming, Chancellor of Quiznos University. Breakout session speakers include learning leaders from Microsoft, Banner Health, LandAmerica and more.

For more information on attending or sponsoring a Sharing@LearnShare event, contact Matt Franks at 419-327-4160 ext. 4162 or email conferences @ learnshare. com. The conference website is www. sharing2007.com/denver (http://www. sharing2007.com/denver ).

About LearnShare
LearnShare LLC, founded in 1996, is a consortium of 42 diverse, industry-leading companies dedicated to sharing their proven expertise and innovative practices across member organizations to enhance their competitive advantage. LearnShare's key focus is to provide technology-based learning solutions, collaborative communities, best practices and applied research to meet its members' mission critical business education and development needs. The original owner companies are 3M, Chevron, Deere & Co., Eaton Corporation, General Motors, Motorola, Northwest Airlines, Owens Corning, O-I, Pfizer Inc, Pilkington, and UnitedHealth Group. For more information, visit www. learnshare. com.

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Carla Mills, ARNP, Outlines Nurse Practitioner Rescue Plan for Health Care System in New Column for NP World News

Carla Mills, ARNP, Outlines Nurse Practitioner Rescue Plan for Health Care System in New Column for NP World News

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are poised and ready to take a leading role in health care reform, says Carla Mills, author of the award-winning health book A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices and founder of Maverick Health. Her new column, "NPs on the Edge," in NP World News will highlight the ways in which NPs can guide people to smart choices that will reduce their health risks.

Fort Myers, FL (PRWEB) February 25, 2009

Carla Mills, author of A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices (http://www. maverickhealth. com/smarthealthchoices) and founder of Maverick Health, will write a new column for NP World News (NPWN) titled "NPs on the Edge." The Jan/Feb issue of the news magazine for nurse practitioners introduces Ms. Mills by profiling her career and reviewing her award-winning book, A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices. Starting with the Mar/Apr issue, her column will outline a NP rescue plan for a troubled health care system.

"With our health care system in crisis, it is more important than ever for Nurse Practitioners to take a leading role in health care reform. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to communicate with fellow NPs in NP World News." says Carla Mills. "NP Communications has long been a respected publisher for the nurse practitioner profession. It is a great honor to have the quality and importance of my book recognized by such a respected publisher.

In her NP World News column, Ms. Mills will be sharing her views on the role of nurse practitioners in health care reform as well as her common sense approach to reducing the burden of chronic diseases on both individuals and society. She will explain why NPs are the perfect primary care providers to help people make smart choices and choose behavioral changes that will significantly reduce their risk for developing major diseases long before symptoms ever appear.

"Carla Mills has written a book to make all NPs proud. A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices is a well written, how-to manual for those contemplating a lower-risk lifestyle. Carla captures completely the holistic, integrated orientation unique to NP practice. Included in this tremendous work are the major lifestyle and behavioral causes of disease, disability, and premature death - plus action steps that help you stick to lifestyle changes you choose." writes NPWN's Eileen T. O'Grady.

In 2008, Ms. Mills' book was named a National Best Book in Health: Medical Reference by USA Book News and was also a winner in the Health Category of the National Indie Excellence Book Award. In addition, it was a finalist in the Health/Wellness Category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices is available for purchase exclusively online at www. maverickhealth. com]. The Maverick Health Blog expands on the book to keep readers up to date on the national treatment guidelines for the most common health risks (http://www. maverickhealth. com/blog) and other timely health issues.

About Maverick Health
Maverick Health is dedicated to creating a health care system to complement the country's current sick care system. Its mission is to reduce chronic diseases and prevent catastrophic health events in both individuals and populations. Taking a very practical and measurable approach, Maverick Health teaches people with no prior medical knowledge how to effectively and efficiently manage their own health and health care. The cornerstone of its approach is outlined in the award winning book, A Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Smart Health Choices.

About Carla Mills, ARNP
Carla Mills, ARNP, has been a practicing clinician for more than 20 years. She is also a writer, entrepreneur, and a dynamic speaker who can offer insights on a variety of health care topics that address the role that wellness and illness play on both a personal and professional level. For more information, visit www. maverickhealth. com.

About NP Communications
NP Communications (http://www. webnp. net/) is a leading publisher that has served the Nurse Practitioner profession for over 15 years. In addition to publishing NP World News, NP Communications also publishes two peer reviewed professional journals. The American Journal of Nurse Practitioners includes articles of clinical relevance to NP clinicians and Women's Health Care is the official journal of NPWH (Nurse Practitioner's in Women's Health). As publishers, Louise and George Young have brought together key thought leaders within the NP profession and seen to it that their ideas are widely propagated. As friends of NPs, they have served tirelessly over the years on boards and committees helping NPs become more visible, better organized and better understood by both consumers and lawmakers.

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Genetic Basis for Premature Ovarian Failure Identified

Genetic Basis for Premature Ovarian Failure Identified

Researchers have successfully identified several genes associated with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) or premature menopause, enabling carriers to make informed choices with regards to family planning.

Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) May 20, 2006

Researchers have successfully identified several genes associated with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) or premature menopause, enabling carriers to make informed choices with regards to family planning.

The study by Dr Kathryn Woad, Wendy Watkins, Deborah Prendergast and Associate Professor Andrew Shelling – all from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences from University of Auckland – is published by Blackwell Publishing in the June issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Affecting approximately 1:100 women under the age of 40, POF often coincides with infertility and menopausal symptoms.

Only a few causes have been identified, and researchers have demonstrated a genetic component.

Approximately 20-30% of women with POF will have other affected female family members, suggesting that an inherited predisposition to the condition is common.

Two significant consequences of POF are the loss of fertility, and clinical effects of hypoestrogenism.

Women with POF are found to express anger, depression, anxiety, loss and sadness at their diagnosis – the condition may have a deleterious psychological impact, and its emotional importance is often underestimated.

Andrew Shelling added, “A better understanding of the causes of premature ovarian failure will provide the potential for early diagnosis, and also will allow us to consider new ways to treat the condition once it arises.”

“Premature ovarian failure will remain a significant cause of infertility if women continue to leave child-bearing to later in life.”

This study is published in the June 2006 issue of The Australia and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Vol. 46, No. 3). Media wishing to receive a PDF, please contact via email.

About The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ANZJOG) is an editorially independent publication owned by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the RANZCOG Research foundation. ANZJOG aims to provide a medium for the publication of original contributions to clinical practice and/or research in all fields of obstetrics and gynaecology and related disciplines. Articles are peer reviewed by clinicians or researchers expert in the field of the submitted work.

About Blackwell Publishing

Blackwell Publishing is the world’s leading society publisher, partnering with 665 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and, to date has published close to 6,000 books, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects. The company remains independent with 950 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Denmark, Singapore, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell’s mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with clients to enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit www. blackwellpublishing. com or www. blackwell-synergy. com.

This press release is also available at

Http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/press/pressitem. asp? ref=756 (http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/press/pressitem. asp? ref=756)

For all Blackwell Publishing press releases, go to http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/press/default. asp (http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/press/default. asp)

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Local Tech Company Continues to Grow in Tough Economy, Adding a New Website and Doubling Workforce in 2009

Local Tech Company Continues to Grow in Tough Economy, Adding a New Website and Doubling Workforce in 2009

The latest expansion includes a recently launched website, InsuranceAgents. com, which offers high quality leads and innovative services to help agents grow their business. To fulfill demand, the company plans to hire 30 new employees in 2009.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) June 5, 2009

Cyber Technology, LLC, which owns and operates various websites, recently launched a newly branded website called InsuranceAgents. com (http://www. insuranceagents. com/), formerly InsuranceLeadz. com. This marks another major milestone in the company's rapid growth. To maintain this latest endeavor, the company plans to offer 30 new job opportunities, nearly doubling its employee base.

In 2004, Cyber Technology began with three employees in the basement of an insurance agent, Lev Barinskiy, who is now president of the company. In 2006, the company opened an office in downtown Columbus and hired five employees. A year later, the company launched one of its premier websites, InsuranceLeadz. com.

Since the launch of InsuranceLeadz. com, Cyber Technology has posted a 4000% growth in revenue, increased their staff to over 30 people and opened a second office in Chicago, Ill. "We are pleased that the growth of our company has created local jobs and contributed to the success of insurance agents across the country," said Barinskiy.

The inception of InsuranceLeadz. com came from a specific need in Barinskiy's professional life. As an insurance agent, Barinskiy worked to increase his client list by purchasing insurance leads (http://www. insuranceleadz. com/) from websites that obtained contact information from people looking for insurance quotes (http://www. insuranceagents. com/). He noticed that many of the leads he would receive had inaccurate contact information or the potential clients were not really interested in insurance quotes.

"I recognized a distinct niche in the market, which was overwhelmed with established websites selling bulk leads," said Barinskiy. "I decided to build a website that would focus on the quality of leads rather than just quantity. That way, insurance agents would not waste their time or money on bad leads. They could count on a return on their investment, which would ultimately help them grow their business."

To generate only high quality leads, Barinskiy utilized innovative technology that incorporated a strict, state-of-the-art, lead verification process. He also implemented the most lenient lead return policy in the industry. With this new angle in the insurance lead generation market, InsuranceLeadz. com grew rapidly. This became the impetus to rebrand the website and launch InsuranceAgents. com.

The new website continues to provide agents with high quality leads but also offers a host of innovative services that are aimed at helping agents grow their business. These services include an online community, agent directory and live transfer phone leads. The online community connects agents nationwide to discuss industry topics and trends. The agent directory allows agents to create personalized pages with biographies and photographs so customers can reach them directly. The live transfer phone leads connect agents instantly with potential clients looking for quotes.

About Cyber Technology and InsuranceAgents. com
Established in 2004, Cyber Technology, LLC owns and operates various websites and employs over 30 people with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio. Specializing in auto, life, health, home, renters, and annuity leads, InsuranceAgents. com produces the highest converting leads in the industry for agents across the country. The site also provides agents with resources to grow their business such as an online community, agent directory and live transfer phone leads.

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Advanced Hypnosis Center Announces November is National Stop Smoking Month

Advanced Hypnosis Center Announces November is National Stop Smoking Month

During November, we will help 100 people stop smoking using hypnosis, the fastest, most effective way to quit smoking. Nearly 1 in 3 people smoke, and 70% of them are looking for a way to quit. Hypnosis is safe, easy, fun, and provides lasting results.

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) November 2, 2006

"November is National Stop Smoking Month and our goal is to help 100 people quit smoking during November," says Karen Marshall, Clinical Hypnotherapist and founder of Advanced Hypnosis Center of Tempe.

Hypnosis patients are more than twice as likely to quit smoking. According to a University of Iowa report, in 600 different studies involving 72,000 people across America and Europe, hypnosis was three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.

"If you feel like you have tried everything and just can't seem to quit smoking, perhaps it's time to try hypnosis," says Marshall.

"About 29% of the population smokes, and of those, 70% are looking for a way to quit. Even if someone has tried and failed to quit in the past, with hypnosis, they can finally be free from the addiction," says Karen Marshall.

"Hypnosis helps reprogram the subconscious mind, which is the seat of all behaviors, including habits and addictions. It's completely safe, reliable and quick. Everyone with normal brain functioning can be hypnotized," Marshall adds. "90% of our patients quit smoking with just one or two sessions. The only requirement for getting therapeutic results is that the person has a conscious desire to change, or in other words, is in agreement with the suggestions."

Individual sessions are twice as effective as group sessions. People are individuals and different people smoke for different reasons. All of Advanced Hypnosis Center's programs are one-on-one, private and customized to individual needs.

How does it feel to be hypnotized?

"During hypnosis, you are not asleep, but rather in a state of consciousness somewhere between awake and asleep. You are completely aware of everything that is occurring in the surrounding environment as well as what is happening in the inner mind. You are in control the whole time, and you cannot be made to do anything that would violate your morals or your values. It's fun, relaxing, and an efficient method to make important health and behavior changes," she adds.

As a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Karen Marshall is a member of the Arizona Society for Professional Hypnosis and can be reached at 480-231-1101 or on the web at www. AdvHypnosis. com.

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Morehead Webcast Reveals Vulnerability to Unions

Morehead Webcast Reveals Vulnerability to Unions

Research shows consistent patterns of employee dissatisfaction

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 3, 2007

Unions form in organizations with specific areas of employee dissatisfaction, according to ongoing opinion research. On April 12 at 1:00 EST, employee opinion survey (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/events/contents_event4.htm) firm Morehead will offer a one-hour webcast called, Morehead's Employee Relations Analysis: Predicting an Organization's Vulnerability to Unionization (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/events/contents_event4.htm).

Although the American labor force has changed dramatically in recent years, the drivers of union formation have remained remarkably stable, including job stagnation, substandard benefits and disrespectful superiors.

The webcast, presented by Morehead's Vice President of Research & Development, David Rowlee, Ph. D, includes analyses of union vulnerability conducted for an academic and teaching hospital in the South and a faith-based community hospital in the Northeast. These case studies will answer questions critical to every organization:
Which factors drive union activity How to predict the likelihood of unionized labor (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/events/contents_event4.htm) What to focus on to reduce the chance of a unionized workplace (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/events/contents_event4.htm)

Rowlee heads Morehead's research department, performs custom analysis and new product evaluations, and works directly with client organizations as a senior consultant. He has a background of extensive research across various organizations.

"Unions evolve where employees feel undercompensated and unheard," says Rowlee. "This webcast shows organizations how to identify dissatisfaction and create a more satisfied, committed workforce."

The free webcast will help attendees understand how employee surveys can reveal dissatisfactions that lead to union formation. To sign up for the webcast, go to www. moreheadassociates. com/UnionVulnerability (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/UnionVulnerability).

About Morehead
Morehead uses sound science, cool technology and smart processes to conduct employee opinion research that enable clients to enhance employee commitment, leadership practices, and organizational quality (http://www. moreheadassociates. com/events/contents_event4.htm). Morehead's clients include healthcare providers, financial institutions, government agencies, universities, service providers, and manufacturers. For more information, visit www. moreheadassociates. com.

Media Contact:
Ronald J. Bowker
704.926.5221
Rbowker(at)moreheadassociates. com

This press release was distributed through eMediaWire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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Girls Night Out - March 11, 2006, Tulsa Oklahoma

Girls Night Out - March 11, 2006, Tulsa Oklahoma

A 'ladies only' evening of shopping, fun, and fashion at the Tulsa Event Center. From 4:00 pm til 11:00 pm, women will have a chance to shop and visit with almost 100 Tulsa-area vendors.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, (PRWEB) January 15, 2006

Lora Dail with CCD Media is thrilled to announce ‘Girls Night Out’ coming to the Tulsa Event Center on March 11, 2006 from 4:00 – 11:00 pm. Girls Night Out is a ladies-only night of shopping, fashion, food, and fun for women of all ages. This is a chance for women to get away without men or children and just cut loose and have fun.

Girls Night Out will feature 100 vendors representing products that cater to women: clothing, shoes, cosmetics, hair, employment, beauty, and assorted activities. Scheduled for the stage area are style shows, hair design shows, a professional DJ, and entertainers. Food and beverages will be available throughout the venue and door prizes will be awarded frequently.

“We’re very excited about this event,” Lora said. “Girls Night Out is a chance for businesses geared towards women to meet their customers in a festive environment.” “We’re hoping that women get into the spirit of this event, get together with friends, and come and have a good time,” Lora added. In fact, Girls Night Out encourages women to ‘Leave the men, leave the kids, and bring your wallet!’

But the show will offer some important information as well. The Women’s Health Corner is being provided to conduct some crucial screenings and provide important information related to women’s health. In works is the Mobile Mammogram so women can have this crucial test performed. “This will be a yearly event,” Lora said. “And yearly mammograms are important to any woman over 40. A woman can use Girls Night Out as her mammogram reminder!”

Girls Night Out is also working with Domestic Violence Intervention Services to help raise money for this worthy cause.

Any vendor who is interested in participating in Girls Night Out is urged to call Lora Dail at 918-639-5635 or The Tulsa Event Center at 918-388-5318 quickly. “With room for only 100 vendors, we’re filling up faster than we thought we would,” Lora said. The deadline for contract and payment is February 11, 2006.

Admission to Girls Night Out is $5 with a twist. “Our guests will receive $5 in Fun Bucks that will be honored by every vendor, excluding food/drink” Lora said. Tickets can be purchased at the Tulsa Event Center on the day of the event or will be available throughout the community.

Contact Information:

Lora Dail 918-639-5635

Www. GirlsNightOutEvent. com

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PalmGuard™ Maximizes Accuracy and Ease of use for Security-Based Applications

PalmGuard™ Maximizes Accuracy and Ease of use for Security-Based Applications

BioGuard Unveils Breakthrough Palm Vein Authentication Solution in Collaboration with Computer Sky and Fujitsu Europe Limited

Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel (PRWEB) April 4, 2008

BioGuard, a leading provider of biometric solutions for a wide variety of applications, today announced the launch of PalmGuard™, an advanced biometric authentication system for verifying an individual's identity by recognizing the unique pattern of veins in the palm. Combining Fujitsu's breakthrough palm vein authentication technology with BioGuard's compact product design and powerful management software, PalmGuard™ maximizes accuracy and ease of use for security-based applications.

PalmGuardTM Product Description
PalmGuard™ is a combination of Fujitsu's PalmSecureTM biometric palm vein authentication sensor and a smart card reader / writer device. Both components are integrated into an attractively designed and compact desktop-enclosure.

If a user positions his hand 3 to 6 cm above the sensor's surface, the sensor emits a near infrared beam to the palm. The near infrared light passes the human skin layers and reaches the veins. The reduced oxygen in the blood flowing back to the heart absorbs the near infrared light. This absorption will be recorded as a raw image by the sensor's integrated near infrared wide angular camera.

This raw image is then encrypted inside the sensor by using the AES method. The encrypted data will be transferred to the sensor's template library software, which converts and compresses the encrypted raw image to a template with a size of approx. 1 KB. This final template will then be again encrypted with AES.

With the related software application, the enrolled biometric user template can be directly stored onto the chip of a smart card, which can be operated and processed by the integrated smart card reader / writer device of PalmGuard™.

PalmGuard™ is high-level security authentication desktop device, which can be used in various security application environments requiring biometric template-on-card processes to verify the user's identity.

The PalmGuard™ integrator product (application software is to be added by the integrator) will be available from April 2008 .

The PalmGuard™ value added distribution product is planned for June 2008. This product will additionally have a client security software, offering Windows log on and single-sign-on feature.

PalmGuardTM Product Features
 Contactless and hygienic operation of the PalmSecure™ sensor  Biometric information is inside the body and therefore almost impossible to forge  Very high applicability and excellent accuracy  Template can be stored directly to the chip of the smart card  Palm vein pattern is different for each individual and it does not change during lifetime  PalmSecure FAR/FRR: 0.000 8% / 0.01%  Verifying time with template-on-card: ca. 1 sec.  Supported card types: 5V, 3V and 1.8V smart cards, ISO 7816 Class A, AB and C  USB 2.0 interface (Y-cable)  Dimensions of PalmGuard combo device: 150x100x90mm (D/W/H)

PalmGuardTM Package Contents
 PalmSecure™ & Smart Card combo device  USB Y-cable  1x Smart card  Device drivers for WIN XP/2000//2003/Vista® (CD-ROM)  Hand guide  Hand guide mounting screws & mounting tool  Manual  Packaging box (290x250x80mm) The Business Need for Palm Vein Authentication Solutions
The ease with which traditional authentication systems can be compromised, together with the rapid growth in identity theft and increasing privacy concerns have resulted in a surge in demand for stronger authentication methods. Biometric authentication methods, such as palm vein scanning, use "something you are" as the basis of verification, rather than something you have, like a smart card or PIN. PalmGuard™ is a contactless solution that uses a near-infrared beam to scan the distinct vein patterns deep within each individual's palm, which are virtually impossible to duplicate or forge. This ensures unsurpassed accuracy, security and usability for applications requiring strong authentication.

"Among today's available biometric technologies, PalmGuard™ provides top level reliability and accuracy, while also offering maximum convenience with respect to ease of use. It addresses the growing scourge of credit card and smart card fraud, as well as helping organizations comply with HIPAA and other legal requirements," stated Ofer Gol, CEO at BioGuard.

Delivering Strong Authentication for a Wide Range of Applications
PalmGuard delivers strong authentication for a wide range of applications:

 Banking - PalmGuard™ can be implemented to support a variety of banking scenarios including ATMs, walk-in customers, internal bank security and remote banking for business customers.  Kiosks - PalmGuard™ performs quick and accurate authentication of identity, such as machines in airports that issue airplane e-tickets, kiosks in clinics that dispense medical test results, or automated stands in train stations that check monthly rail passes.  Hospitals and healthcare - PalmGuard™ secures access to patient data in compliance with HIPAA requirements. Hospitals need to accurately verify patients ID to protect them from medical identity theft and insurance fraud. This hygienic solution enables authorized personnel to enter restricted areas or log into computer systems in sterile areas without contacting the sensor itself.  Physical access - PalmGuard™ can be used to manage high security entry control for financial institutions, military facilities, schools and other types of organizations. In addition, it serves as a time and attendance solution, enabling organizations to track employees' arrival and departure times using on-access control.  Logical access - Organizations can use PalmGuard™ to secure the enterprise's valuable information and protect the privacy of customer and employee information. It supports single sign-on (SSO) to enable a user to authenticate once and gain access to the resources of multiple software systems. "The market has recognized the need for biometric authentication solutions, particularly in the financial and healthcare industries," stated Thomas Bengs, Senior Account Manager at Fujitsu. "Through our strategic partnership with BioGuard and ComputerSky, we are able to offer a highly accurate, easy to use palm authentication solution at a very attractive price. This solution enables enterprises and organizations to enjoy the benefits of our cutting-edge palm vein scanning technology, together with BioGuard's proven experience in the development and implementation of innovative biometric authentication solutions."

Advantages of Palm Vein Authentication over Other Biometric Authentication Technologies
The palm vein scanning technology offers a number of outstanding advantages versus other biometric identification methods in terms of security, accuracy, performance and usability. PalmGuard™ severely reduces the risk of security breaches, because the veins are deep within the hand and arranged in very complicated, hard-to-reproduce patterns. Fingerprints, in contrast, are based on making contact, and can be "lifted" from a glass surface and duplicated using commonly found ingredients.

A key advantage of palm vein authentication is that it uses "no touch" technology, enabling it to be used when hands are dirty, wet or even if the skin surface is scratched. Equally important, since the hand never touches the sensor's surface while being scanned, it is a clean and convenient solution in situations where hygiene is of primary importance (e. g., hospitals).

About BioGuard
BioGuard is a leading developer of innovative, proprietary biometric solutions for a wide variety of applications - for business, government, security and home use. Our goal is to develop and implement high-performance, user-friendly biometric products and solutions, meeting the rapidly growing need for positive identification and effectively countering the increasingly widespread phenomena of identity theft and forgery.

The company's advanced systems and modules combine an unmatched level of performance in terms of accuracy and one-to-many matching with exceptional ease of use, fully complying with US and European biometric standards. Operating as stand-alone systems or as part of a network, BioGuard's state-of-the-art biometric solutions are deployed for satisfied customers in the USA, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and Africa. For more information about BioGuard, please visit: www. bio-guard. net.

About Computer Sky Vertriebs GmbH
Computer Sky Vertriebs GmbH has been operating for more than 20 years in the fields of purchasing, consultation, distribution and software development with various partners worldwide. One of its main market segments is home security and biometric solutions, in which it conducts joint ventures and cooperation with several leading companies. Currently, Computer Sky Vertriebs has been instrumental in supporting BioGuard and Fujitsu in the promotion of the unique PalmGuard solution. In this role, its goal is to enlarge the distribution of the PalmGuard solution worldwide. See www. computersky. de for further information.

About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of about 5.1 trillion yen (US$43.2 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. See www. fujitsu. com for further information.

About Fujitsu Europe Limited
Operating in Europe/Middle East/Africa, Fujitsu Europe Limited is a market leading provider of document image scanners for professional desktop, workgroup and high volume production environments; Enterprise SCSI, FCAL and SAS, and Mobile ATA and SATA hard disk drives; high capacity external 2.5-inch drives; KVM devices including switches, CAT-5 extenders and pull-out drawers; biometric authentication sensors as well as dot-matrix printers.
Established in the United Kingdom in 1981, Fujitsu Europe Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the global electronics giant Fujitsu Limited and has its head office in the UK as well as subsidiary offices in Germany, Italy and Spain. See http://emea. fujitsu. com/felg (http://emea. fujitsu. com/felg) for further information.

BioGuard Components & Technologies Ltd  

Dorian Basow
V. P. Marketing
BioGuard Components & Technologies LTD
11 Ha'Avoda Str. Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel
Tel: +972-3-9025902
Mobile: +972-54-4660231
E-Mail dorib(at)bio-guard. net

Computer Sky EDV-Vertriebs GmbH
Yehoshua Chmiel, President
Grünwalder Strasse 145
D-81547Munich
Grmany
Tel: +49 89 6302060
Fax: +49 89 6373712
Www. computersky. de
Chmiel(at)computersky. de

Fujitsu Deutschland GmbH
Thomas Bengs,
Senior Account Manager
Frankfurter Ring 211
D-80807 München
Germany
Tel: +49 89 32378180
Fax: +49 89 3237810

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McCabe & Associates Demonstrates the Latest Software Quality Management and Configuration Management Tools at SD West 2004

McCabe & Associates Demonstrates the Latest Software Quality Management and Configuration Management Tools at SD West 2004

Announcing McCabe & Associates Appearance at Software Development Conference and Expo West 2004 in Santa Clara, CA.

WARWICK, RI (PRWEB) March 11, 2004

McCabe & Associates, Inc. will be demonstrating the latest versions of McCabe IQ and TRUEchange at SD West, booth #417 (March 16-18).

The McCabe IQ Suite of products helps companies analyze the effectiveness of their application testing, measure the quality and complexity of their software, and provide comprehensive reporting and visualization of the testing and code analysis across the enterprise.

The latest release of McCabe IQ (8.0.1) introduces comprehensive support for the C++.NET and VB. NET languages, including static analysis, test analysis and. NET IDE integration on Windows platforms. In addition to the. NET framework support, this latest release of McCabe IQ calculates and reports on 24 additional static analysis metrics indicating code quality.

McCabe & Associates will also be demonstrating the latest update to its software configuration management line. TRUEchange 3.0 introduces an all new Java client that is a common multi-platform GUI with detailed data representation, versatile user control flows, client-side conflict resolution and more.

In conjunction with the release of TRUEchange 3.0, McCabe introduces TRUEchangeWeb. This add-on component provides secure access to multiple TRUEchange systems worldwide via the TRUEchange 3.0 Java client.

Visit SD West booth #417 for more information and a demonstration of these new tools or find McCabe & Associates on the web at www. mccabe. com.

About McCabe & Associates, Inc.

McCabe & Associates is the leading provider of Software Quality Management and Configuration Management solutions worldwide to top commercial software, finance, defense, healthcare and telecommunication providers. McCabeÂ’s IQ suite of tools has been used to analyze the quality and test coverage of over 100 billion lines of code, utilizing a comprehensive set of advanced software metrics including the McCabe-authored Cyclomatic Complexity metric. McCabeÂ’s IQ tools are the standard upon which mission, life and business critical applications are measured. Our TRUEchange line of SCM solutions helps organizations manage changes faster and more efficiently to ensure quality throughout the Application Lifecycle. McCabe & Associates has offices in the United States, Great Britain and Australia and distributes its products worldwide and can be found on the web at www. mccabe. com.

Methamphetamine Addiction Research and Drug Treatment Resources Offered through AddictionSearch. com

Methamphetamine Addiction Research and Drug Treatment Resources Offered through AddictionSearch. com

Methamphetamine addiction is becoming more prevalent than ever before. This article explores the latest methamphetamine research and topics that have been published by some of the top journals and government organizations, available through AddictionSearch. com.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) June 28, 2006

PRWEB) June 28, 2006 -- AddictionSearch. com offers the latest methamphetamine research and drug treatment options published by some of the top journals and government organizations.

The following compiles some of the latest research on methamphetamines.

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant. It is stronger and works faster than traditional amphetamine. Both drugs have limited clinical use in the treatment of obesity but today meth addiction and abuse (http://www. addictionsearch. com/featuredtopic. php) is more prevalent than ever.

The most common form of methamphetamine or otherwise know as crystal meth (http://www. addictionsearch. com/featuredtopic. php) is a powder. It is produced domestically and brought in from Mexico. It is also available in ice and tablet forms.

The action of methamphetamine is that of a mood and movement enhancer. Users report a “flash” or “rush” sensation of intense pleasure. Use causes the release of increased levels of dopamine and serotonin.

In 2004, more than 1 in 20 high school students reported having tried or used methamphetamine (6.2%) (MTF study). The increased domestic production of methamphetamine has led to an increased availability on the street. It has been reported that methamphetamine is replacing other drugs in the ‘club drug’ scene in some areas. Additional statistical information on methamphetamine follows:

  In 2004, an estimated 1.4 million persons aged 12 or older (0.6% of the population) had used methamphetamine in the past year, and 600,000 persons (0.2% of the population) had used methamphetamine in the past month.  Although the number of past year and past month methamphetamine users did not change significantly between 2002 and 2004, the number of past month methamphetamine users who met criteria for abuse or dependence on one or more illicit drugs in the past year increased from 164,000 (27.5% of past month methamphetamine users) in 2002 to 346,000 (59.3%) in 2004.  The average age of first use among new methamphetamine users was 18.9 years in 2002, 20.4 years in 2003, and 22.1 years of age in 2004. (SOURCE: The NSDUH Report: Methamphetamine Use, Abuse, and Dependence: 2002, 2003, and 2004*)

Dopamine is an intermediate in the production of adrenaline needed for the fight/flight response and all the physiological effects related to this necessary adaptive reaction; such as increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased respiration and metabolic changes. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with learning and consciousness.

There is evidence of nuerotoxic effects related to brain cell damage caused by methamphetamine. The effects of methamphetamine on the Central Nervous System of the user include the following experiences for the user, even with only a small amount of methamphetamine:

  Increased wakefulness  Decreased appetite  Increased respiration (breathing rate)  Hyperthermia (over-heating)  Euphoria

Over time, these effects may lead to the following conditions:

  Irritability  Insomnia  Confusion  Tremors   Anxiety  Paranoia  Aggressiveness  Convulsions

Other long term results include irreversible damage to the blood vessels in the brain which can cause strokes, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular (blood vessel and heart) damage which can lead to heart attacks and collapse.

Addiction (http://www. addictionsearch. com) to methamphetamine was first branded as untreatable in rural communities in the Midwest. These small hometowns were unaccustomed to treating substance abuse disorders that present with the intensity and severity of methamphetamine abuse. Larger, urban communities had their experiences with cocaine and heroine to guide them and perhaps even prepare them for the literal explosion in methamphetamine use that has occurred over the past 10-15 years.

The effects and chemistry of methamphetamine use are well documented; but there is very little solid research available to recommend efficacious treatment strategies. A majority of the treatment options are borrowed from cocaine and heroine use models, including the popular Matrix model of treatment. The treatment of methamphetamine use is difficult partly because users do not always experience immediate and severe withdrawals but rather may undergo a period characterized by the inability to experience anything pleasurable. This lack of pleasurable sensations, “ahedonia”, seems to correspond to the physiological recovery of the brain and often leads to relapse within the first year of abstinence.

Furthermore, there is no clinically significant pharmacological treatment to support the abstinence and recovery of methamphetamine users. There are pharmacological protocols currently being studied, however; and medication can be effective in the management of some symptoms in some methamphetamine users.

There are a number of components that the addiction treatment (http://www. addictionsearch. com) community agrees are integral to an effective treatment program for methamphetamine addiction:

  At least 3 months to a year in duration of intensive, comprehensive, and highly structured living;  Long-term and intensive outpatient program focused on functional analysis including information, structure and life skills;  Instruction and education on dealing with triggers and cravings;  Relapse prevention (http://www. drugrehabcenter. com) components including providing education, vocational and employment opportunities; and  Introduction and involvement in 12-step programs with the recommendation of life-time enrollment in such programs.

Addictionsearch. com offers articles, statistics, population studies, and links about addictions, prevention, treatment programs and harm reduction. For more information or live assistance go to addictionsearch. com (http://www. addictionsearch. com) or contact Jerry Goldfarb at 800-559-9503.

More addiction related resources can be found at:

Drug Rehab (http://www. drugrehabcenter. com)

Drug and Alcoholism Interventions (http://www. druginterventions. net)

Dual Diagnosis (http://www. dual-diagnosis. net)

Drug Rehab Program (http://www. drugrehabprogram. net)

Addiction Treatment Center (http://www. addictiontreatmentcenter. com)

Florida Drug Rehab (http://www. floridadrugrehab. com)

Heroin Addiction (http://www. heroin. org)

Sources:

DEA, “Drug Intelligence Brief: The Forms of Methamphetamine”, April 2002 retrieved 6/11/06 from www. streetdrugs. org.

Hammer, M. R. “A key to methamphetamine literature”. May 1, 2006. Retrieved 05/19/06 from http://www. health. state. ny. us/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/crystalmeth/docs/meth_literature_index. pdf (http://www. health. state. ny. us/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/crystalmeth/docs/meth_literature_index. pdf)

J. C. Maxwell. (2005). “Emerging research on methamphetamine”. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 18(3): 234-242. Retrieved 5/22/06 from

Http://www. co-psychiatry. com/pt/re/copsych/abstract.00001504-200505000-00004.htm;jsessionid=GxJRRdCLYv9h2Tck8p5XLsx67nPcLCvmLtxGQglFBpPpZHQ0pCSQ!50530596!-949856144!8091!-1 (http://www. co-psychiatry. com/pt/re/copsych/abstract.00001504-200505000-00004.htm;jsessionid=GxJRRdCLYv9h2Tck8p5XLsx67nPcLCvmLtxGQglFBpPpZHQ0pCSQ!50530596!-949856144!8091!-1)

MTF data are from the 2003 Monitoring the Future Survey, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, and conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in NIDA InfoFacts. The survey has tracked 12th-graders' illicit drug use and related attitudes since 1975; in 1991, 8th - and 10th-graders were added to the study. The latest data are online at www. drugabuse. gov.

Methamphetamine Treatment Project. (Updated May 7, 2001). “Treatment” retrieved 6/19/06 from http://www. methamphetamine. org/treatment. htm (http://www. methamphetamine. org/treatment. htm).

NIDA InfoFacts: Methamphetamine (revised 5/05) retrieved 6/11/06 from http://www. nida. nih. gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine. html (http://www. nida. nih. gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine. html).

Office of the Illinois State Attorney General.

Sommerville, Julie. (1/22/01). “Beating a Meth Addiction” retrieved 6/19/06 from http://www. msnbc. msn. com (http://www. msnbc. msn. com).

The NSDUH Report: Methamphetamine Use, Abuse, and Dependence: 2002, 2003, and 2004* retrieved 6/5/06 from http://drugabusestatistics. samhsa. gov/2k5/meth/meth. htm (http://drugabusestatistics. samhsa. gov/2k5/meth/meth. htm)

US Department of Health and Human Services. Statement by Charles Curie, M. A., A. C.S. W., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, on Prevention and Treatment of Methamphetamine Abuse before Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, April 21, 2005. Retrieved June 19, 2006 from http://www. hhs. gov/asl/testify/t050425.html (http://www. hhs. gov/asl/testify/t050425.html)
*Methamphetamine use as recorded by SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health includes both prescription preparations (i. e., Desoxyn® and Methedrine) and non-prescription/illicit methamphetamine.

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