Archive for December, 2009

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McAfee Labs Predicts Facebook, Twitter Will Be Platforms of Choice for Emerging Threats

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
McAfee Labs Predicts Facebook, Twitter Will Be Platforms of Choice for Emerging Threats

Business Wire, Dec 29, 2009

McAfee Also Foresees HTML 5 Will Attract Attackers, Increased Trojan
Sophistication And That 2010 Will Be a Good Year for Law Enforcements
Fight Against Cybercrime

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — McAfee Inc. (NYSE:MFE) today unveiled its 2010 Threat Predictions
report. McAfee Labs believes cybercriminals will target social
networking sites and third-party applications, use more complex Trojans
and botnets to build and execute attacks, and take advantage of HTML 5
to create emerging threats. McAfee Labs also predicts 2010 will be a
good year for law enforcements fight against cybercrime.

Over the past decade, weve seen a tremendous improvement in the
ability to successfully monitor, uncover, and stop cybercrime, said
Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Labs
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House Water Treatment Systems – Your Guide to Finding the Right One For You

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Buying whole-house water treatment systems may be the right choice for your family. Here’s how to figure out which home water treatment system will provide the protection that you need at a price you can afford.

Well Owners

If you have a private well, you should have testing conducted on an annual basis, even if the first test is a “thumbs-up”. Testing can be expensive, and you have to specify which contaminants that you would like to test for but you need this official record, just in case.

Industry or a “planned community” could move into your area and that could affect the quality of your well-water. With an official record, you can seek restitution for the problems that the newcomers caused for your family.

Testing will also help you find the right whole-house water treatment systems. Each home water treatment system on the market can handle some toxins but not others.

Some are difficult to maintain and have other drawbacks. It’s important to consider all of this, before you buy. Otherwise, you could end up dissatisfied as well as unprotected.

Municipally Supplied Homes

If you are serviced by a public treatment facility, you could have testing done, but it’s largely unnecessary.

The home water treatment system that you need will remove more than 99% of the chlorine added by treatment facilities
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Integrated Asset Management Corp. and Integrated Private Debt Corp. Announce $20 Million Financing for Provincial Airlines Limited

Saturday, December 19th, 2009
Integrated Asset Management Corp. and Integrated Private Debt Corp. Announce $20 Million Financing for Provincial Airlines Limited

Market Wire, December, 2009

Integrated Asset Management Corp. (”IAM”) (TSX: IAM) and its private corporate debt group, Integrated Private Debt Corp.(”IPD”), announced today the closing of a senior secured loan of $20 million to Provincial Airlines Limited (”PAL”).

Founded in 1972, PAL is the largest independent air services company in Atlantic Canada and provides full-time aerial surveillance for Fisheries and Oceans Canada over the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. PAL also operates regional scheduled, contract passenger and cargo service, domestic and international charter airline services, aircraft modification and maintenance services, special missions’ crew training, fixed base operations and aviation fuel dealerships.

In the past 12 months, PAL has announced a number of major long-term maritime surveillance and special missions contracts including two with the Government of Canada (Department of National Defence and Department of Fisheries and Oceans); the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates and Bombardier Aerospace. Under its contracts PAL provides dedicated surveillance services with its fleet of specially modified aircraft, integration of extensive suites of surveillance equipment and installation of unique design innovations developed by PAL over its 25 year history of operating maritime patrol aircraft.

John Robertson, President of IPD, said “We are very pleased to continue our 14 year relationship with PAL, an Atlantic Canada-based company recognized as a world leader in maritime surveillance. IPD strives to build productive long-term relationships with borrowers, including provision of follow-on financing.”

IPD provides funding from the $1.0 billion IPD LPs on behalf of a number of pension funds and other institutional investors
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Praesidian Capital Investors Completes Second Investment in Epic Production Technologies

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Praesidian Capital Investors Completes Second Investment in Epic Production Technologies

PR Newswire, Dec 3, 2009

$13.5 Million in Mezzanine Financing to Facilitate Growth

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ — Praesidian Capital Investors, a leading provider of mezzanine capital for small and mid-sized companies, has completed its second investment in Epic Production Technologies, a leading provider of lighting systems for concert tours, theatrical productions, and corporate and special events throughout North America. The $1.5 million subordinated debt investment brings the total amount invested in Epic to $13.5 million.

Epic was formed in September 2008 through the merger of Q1 Production Technologies Inc. and Ed and Ted’s Excellent Lighting, Inc., with the support of H.I.G. Capital, LLC. Epic has provided services for a wide range of innovative productions, such as Disney’s The Lion King, Tony Award winning musicals Showboat and Ragtime, The XV Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies, Dancing with the Stars, KROQ, Blue Man Group, and musical talent such as Bon Jovi and Green Day.

“Our confidence in Epic and its management team has been reaffirmed by the success we’ve had in the first year of our investment. Marc Raymond and Ted Fowler are very talented executives with a strong equity partner in H.I.G. Capital,” said Neil Marks, Managing Partner at Praesidian. “We are excited to continue our support of the company and its long-term growth.”

About Praesidian Capital Investors

Praesidian Capital partners with small and mid-sized businesses, providing private debt capital. With a focus on its core competency in mezzanine financing, Praesidian invests in established, historically profitable companies often in connection with a management/leveraged buyout, recapitalization or refinancing. Based in New York City, Praesidian manages over $400 million in committed capital. For more information, visit http://www.praesidian.com/.

> About Epic Production Technologies

Epic Production Technologies was created through the bold and strategic, September 2008 merger of Ed & Ted’s Excellent Lighting and Q1 Production Technologies. Each company brings a long and illustrious history to the partnership and together they form the foundation for a dynamic, world-class enterprise providing a comprehensive range of lighting and rigging for rentals and production, as well as a wide selection of lighting, rigging, audio, staging and softgoods for sales and integration — combining the highest quality products with innovative system design and precision implementation
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A therapist's guide to understanding common medical conditions

Friday, December 18th, 2009
A therapist’s guide to understanding common medical conditions

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Jul 2009 by Gravitz, Melvin A

Kolbasovsky, A. (2008). A therapist’s guide to understanding common medical conditions. New York: W.W. Norton. Reviewed by Lynette Bassman, PhD, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Fresno, CA. The reviewer is a Professor at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) of Alliant International University, where she is the director of the Health Psychology emphasis, and teaches health psychology and hypnotherapy courses. She is also the director of the Integrative General Clinical Practice program at CSPP’s Psychological Services Center, and has been a psychotherapist for 24 years. She is the editor of The Whole Mind: The Definitive Guide to Complementary Treatments for Mind Mood and Emotions, and The Feel-Good Guide to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Kolbasovky, who holds a PsyD degree, is the Director of Mental Health Disease Management and Clinical Development for a large HMO. He has written and presented on the integration of behavioral medicine and primary care, and on managed care. This background speaks to what is perhaps the greatest strength of this book: that it encourages collaboration between psychotherapists and physicians, which is one of the most important things we can do for our medically ill psychotherapy clients.

Medical care in America today differs dramatically from how it was practiced 50 years ago. New medications, diagnostic tests, surgical options, and understandings of the etiology of various illnesses have all increased the complexity of medicine. At the same time, behavioral medicine research and practice have become much more sophisticated, and we now better understand the powerful influence of emotion and behavior on health. More than ever, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy clients present with chronic and acute medical illness as the mind/body connection becomes more widely understood and accepted by health care professionals and the general public.

As a result of these trends, there is a need for psychologists to be well versed in the diagnosis and medical treatment of common medical conditions, and to understand the possible ways that we can intervene with our medically ill patients. This is no easy feat, given the vast amounts of information available. Dr. Kolbasovsky’s book aims to meet that need. His aspiration is masterfully fulfilled in this reference book that manages to condense the most frequently needed information into clear, practical language, and well organized for easy access. Frequently, a client will make reference to a certain diagnostic procedure or lab value, and it is crucial for the clinician to easily access the information that will help us understand its import for the client
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A word from the editor

Thursday, December 17th, 2009
A word from the editor

0 Comments | Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England), Dec 5, 2009

CHRISTMAS can come any time now -I’m all ready for it!

How lovely it is, just once in a while, to feel ever so smug!

I can’t say I was planning to be super-organised for this year’s festivities.

I had just a few deadlines to meet for buying and sending cards and presents.

The only person I had to buy for particularly early was my eldest son who is off to work at a French ski resort for the winter.

We had a Chinese-themed Christmas last month before he set off to the Alps, where snow is lying very thickly on the ground, and he’ll be very glad of all the preparations he made.

It’s quite a contrast to his summer work – in the sunshine in Majorca.

Having an unusual start to the festivities spurred me on to buying and wrapping presents for the rest of my family.

Mum’s present has been sent to my sister so that Christmas comes on December 25 for her.

Last year she opened her gifts on the day she received them and her memory problems means she had forgotten all about them on the big day. Not so this year. I’m a step ahead of her.

My daughter, a nurse, will be opening her goodies through a very sleepy fog as she will be travelling down from Newcastle after a night shift on the heart unit.

And my youngest, newly independent, son will no doubt arrive from his flat at some point and we can tuck into our Christmas fayre.

It may be just one day in the year but it still has such a special place in our fast-changing world.

It has never found itself dated or out of fashion and is celebrated by young and old.

However your celebrations are shaping up, remember to share them with us. We’d love to see your pictures and hear your stories. Maybe like me, you’re having an early or late Christmas
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National PTA to Mobilize Parents for Common Core Standards

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
National PTA to Mobilize Parents for Common Core Standards

Market Wire, December, 2009

National PTA is positioning itself as a key
player at the front line of education reform. The association today
announced a new three-year effort to mobilize parents to advance key
education priorities, beginning with common core state standards — a
voluntary, state-led, internationally benchmarked set of high academic
standards in English language arts and mathematics. A $1 million grant from
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help support the effort.

Beginning in January 2010, National PTA will educate and train PTA members
and parents about the common core state standards, focusing early outreach
in four states: Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina. National
PTA plans to engage additional states as this work moves forward in
mid-2010.

“Currently, there are disparities in the level of rigor because every state
has a different set of standards. This reform effort will educate parents
about the need for higher, clearer and fewer standards so that they know
what their child should be learning in school and how they can support
learning at home,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President.
“Parents should be able to rest assured that their child is up to par with
their peers across the country and around the world no matter where they
choose to raise their child.”

For decades, National PTA has taken action for children. Through this
effort, the association is taking another step toward education reform by
addressing common core standards. It is National PTA’s fundamental belief
that every child, regardless of zip code, deserves an equal education, and
all teachers deserve a set of clear, high standards.

“Education standards have historically been too vast and too vague to
provide the focus required for students and teachers to achieve at high
levels,” said Vicki L. Phillips, Director of Education, College-Ready, at
the Gates Foundation. “National PTA and its five million members can be a
leading voice in the common core standards movement, raising academic
expectations nationwide and preparing all students for success beyond high
school.”

National PTA is committed to ensuring that all students graduate college-
and career-ready. Earlier this year in June the association called for the
creation of common core state standards and became an endorsing partner of
the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School
Officers’ Common Core State Standards Initiative. In September, National
PTA also offered its full support of the initiative’s draft college- and
career-readiness standards.

To date, 51 states and territories have joined the Common Core State
Standards Initiative.
The full K-12 standards are expected to be finalized in early 2010.

“National PTA believes that there should be a level playing field among
states, school districts and schools that will give all students the
opportunity to be ready for their college and career. This effort will
bring us one step closer to real education reform
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Tri-State Area MAC Cosmetics Artists Trade Makeup Brushes For Aprons To Give Back On World AIDS Day

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Tri-State Area MAC Cosmetics Artists Trade Makeup Brushes For Aprons To Give Back On World AIDS Day

PR Newswire, Dec 1, 2009

Local volunteer team is part of a 24-country initiative of Hundreds of MAC employees extending the work of the MAC AIDS Fund

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ — Keeping true to the company’s long-standing dedication to HIV/AIDS, makeup artists in the Tri-State area will roll up their sleeves and take off their brush belts to participate in volunteer efforts today, in a company-wide effort to commemorate World AIDS Day. The volunteer initiative — part of a worldwide effort including makeup artists in 56 North American cities and 24 countries — is being organized to complement the artists’ commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and to strengthen their connection to the company’s philanthropic arm, the MAC AIDS Fund (MAF), and its grantees.

MAC artists from the New York area are donating their time and skills to local organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of residents affected by HIV/AIDS. Artists will package homemade meals for people living with HIV/AIDS at God’s Love We Deliver, one of the first organizations to receive a grant from the MAC AIDS Fund and the recipient of grants totaling more than $1.3 million. MAC employees and their children will also volunteer at Bailey House, a MAC AIDS Fund grantee since 1999, baking cupcakes and painting a mural to honor those affected by HIV/AIDS.

“Volunteering and giving back to the HIV/AIDS community has always been a source of pride at MAC,” said Keri Blair, MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist. “Today’s company-wide volunteer day is allowing us to match our everyday fundraising through the sale of our Viva Glam products, which benefit HIV/AIDS programs, with hands-on work at organizations in our community that are making a difference.”

The volunteer effort will be complemented by a one-day in-store promotion at New York’s Harlem, Flatiron and Columbus Avenue stores, where 100 percent of the sales for all Viva Glam lipstick and lipglass, which retail for $14, will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the MAC AIDS Fund. The top-selling store will receive a two-to-one match. Funds will be donated to UNICEF and Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity, a South Africa-based organization helping communities build capacity to care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

The WAD promotion doubles MAC’s usual philanthropic commitment, which directs 100 percent of the sales price of its Viva Glam line of lip products to the MAC AIDS Fund to benefit grantees in more than 67 countries. To date, the company has given away more than $150 million to fight HIV/AIDS.

“Every time a MAC employee creates, designs, packages, ships or sells a Viva Glam lipstick or lipglass, they are helping to save and improve the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS,” said Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President of MAC Cosmetics and Executive Director of the MAC AIDS Fund. “Our employees around the world are critical to the success of our programs. Extending this effort to include volunteering on World AIDS Day is a new tradition of which I am very proud.”

Around the world, MAC employees are giving back in a variety of ways. In Australia, artists will volunteer at the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, which has received $1,041,281 AUD since 2001 from MAC AIDS Fund Australia. MAC volunteers in Spain will work with Apoyo Positivo, which has received more than $250,000 from the in-country MAC affiliate. Other participating MAC affiliates are Austria, Chile, Peru, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Venezuela, Italy, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

About the MAC AIDS Fund

The MAC AIDS Fund (MAF), the heart and soul of MAC Cosmetics, was established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. MAF is a pioneer in HIV/AIDS funding, providing financial support to organizations working in underserved regions and with underserved populations. As the largest corporate non-pharmaceutical funder in the arena, MAF is committed to addressing the link between poverty and HIV/AIDS by supporting diverse organizations around the world that provide a wide range of services to people living with HIV/AIDS
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Pregnancy therapies

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Pregnancy therapies

0 Comments | Express & Echo; Exeter (UK), Oct 3, 2009

EXPECTANT mums are invited to a special natural health taster day being held in Exeter next month.

It is being organised by Dawn Robinson, local natal hypnotherapy practitioner and Alexander Technique teacher.

“I have got together with a number of therapists who provide natural health services for pregnant women,” she said. “Our aim is to provide mums-to-be with the opportunity to come and find out about the different therapies that can be helpful during pregnancy.”

Therapies include active birth and pregnancy yoga, acupressure for labour, maternity reflexology and pregnancy massage.

The event is going to be held at the Exeter Natural Health Centre, on Saturday, November 21.

For more information, contact Dawn on 01392 442715.

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Development of intestinal flora in infancy and its effects on immune system/Bebeklikte barsak florasi gelisimi ve immun sisteme etkileri

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Development of intestinal flora in infancy and its effects on immune system/Bebeklikte barsak florasi gelisimi ve immun sisteme etkileri

Journal of Pediatric Infection, June, 2009 by Nilgun Kultursay

Yenidogan doneminden itibaren erken bebeklikteki beslenmenin ve intestinal immun sistem gelisiminin kisa ve uzun donem saglik uzerine etkileri vardir. Anne sutu (AS) ile beslenmenin infeksiyonlardan, premature bebeklerde sepsis ve nekrotizan enterokolit (NEK) gelisiminden koruyucu etkileri yani sira uzun donemde allerjik hastaliklarin da AS ile azaldigi bilinmektedir. Son yillarda giderek artan allerjik hastaliklar adeta epidemi halini almakta iken anne sutunun koruyucu etki mekanizmalari yani sira barsak bakterilerinin sagligimiza onemli katkilari da yeni yeni ogrenilmeye baslanmis ve infeksiyonlarin ve allerjinin onlenmesi icin barsak flora modifikasyonunun uzerinde durulmaya baslanmistir.

Gastrointestinal sistem 300-400 [m.sup.2] yi bulan genis mukozal yuzey alani ile besinsel antijenler, patojen mikroorganizmalar ve cevresel ajanlarla karsi karsiya kalmaktadir (1). Karsilasilan bu ajanlara karsi intestinal epital bariyeri, mukozal immun sistem ve intestinal mikroflora yardimi ile gelismis bir savunma sistemi kurulmustur (2-4). Epitel yuzeyindeki mukus bariyeri ve epitel hucreleri arasindaki siki baglantilar yardimi ile bakteri ve antijenlerin barsak lumeninden dolasima gecmeleri engellenir. Bariyer fonksiyonunun onemli bir komponenti de mukozal immun sistemdir. Peyer plaklarinda yerlesen lenfositlerden olusan GALT (Gut associate lymphoid tissue) vucuttaki immun hucrelerin p-80′ini olusturur ve en buyuk immun organdir. Peyer plaklarinin uzerlerinde bulunan ozel epitel hucreleri (M hucreleri) ile barsak lumenindeki antijenler alinir ve lokal dendritik hucrelerde islenip CD4 regulator T hucre populasyonlarinin (Treg) sonraki egitimleri icin sunulur. Normal floraya ait canli ya da cansiz antijen ornekleri surekli lumenden orneklenip taninarak, effektor lenfositleri suprese edecek olan IL -10, TGF- [beta] gibi sitokinlerin salinimi ile antijene tolerans saglanir. GALT potansiyel patojenlere karsi da hem dogal hem de kazanilmis bagisiklik acisindan en onemli savunma organidir.

Barsak Bakterileri Barsak Bariyerini destekler ve immun yaniti dengeler:

Dogumda steril olan barsaklarda dogum sekli, genetik ozellikler, cevresel temas, beslenme sekli ile ilgili olarak her bireye ozgu yaklasik 500 den fazla tur ve 10 (14) bakteriyi iceren gastrointestinal mikroflora bulunur. Ozellikle kolonda ve ince barsak distalinde yerlesen bu mikroflora “Unutulmus organ” olarak adlandirilacak kadar cok onemli biyolojik aktiviteye sahiptir (1,2,4).

Bu kommensal bakteriler beslenme, anjiogenez ve mukozal immunite uzerinde onemli faydalar saglarlar. Barsak bakterileri safra tuzu matabolizmasi lipid hidrolizi, proteinlerin peptid ve aminoasitlere parcalanmasi ve vitamin uretiminde de rol alirlar (2-4). Kolona sindirilmeden gelen kompleks karbonhidratlarin fermentasyonu ile oluturduklari asetat, propionat ve butirat gibi kisa zincirli yag asitleri (SCFA) gibi konakcinin kullanabilecegi enerji kaynaklari olustururlar. SCFA ayrica barsak kan akimini uyarirlar ve intestinal epitelial siki baglantilari etkilerler. Flora bakterileri SCFA direkt inhibisyonu veya indirekt olarak asit pH ortam yaratmasiyla ya da, epitel yuzeyinde baglanti yerleri icin yarisarak, bacteriocin adi verilen bakterisidal veya bakteriostatik urunler salarak patojen bakteri uremesini engellerler (4). Fiziksel bariyer gelistirerek, gastrointestinal epitel gecirgenligini azaltarak hem patojen hem de komensal mikroorganizmalarin invazyonunu ve sistemik yayilimi (bakteriyel translokasyon) onlerler (5).

Maturasyon sirasinda barsak mikroflorasinda ve konakci hucrelerdeki degisiklikler barsagin gelisimini etkiler ve bu degisiklikler de degisen besinsel cevre ile etkilesir. Intestinal mikroorganizmalarin spesifik ligandlarini taniyan TLR ile dogal ve kazanilmis bagisiklik sistemlerini gelistirir
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