2007'02.11.Sun
New Study Ranks Chicago a Top City Among China's Business Leaders
November 14, 2006
- High Awareness, Solid Attributes, Weak on Specifics
CHICAGO, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- A new survey
released today showed that Chicago is rated in the top
three best business cities in the U.S. by Chinese business
decision makers who will choose American cities in which to
invest. But it also revealed that the Chinese executives
are unaware of many of Chicago's key business strengths.
The survey, commissioned by World Business Chicago and
the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and coordinated by
Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management,
also assesses Chinese business leaders' perceptions of
different U.S. cities.
The study was released this morning, when Paul
O'Connor, executive director of World Business Chicago and
Tim Calkins, clinical professor of marketing at
Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management,
presented the findings to more than 200 of Chicago's
business leaders at the Chicago Club.
The survey showed that Chinese leaders rely on specific
criteria in identifying a North American city in which to
invest. Of most importance (in order of importance) are: a
strong technology center, tax incentives, supportive local
government, a large business center, a strong distribution
system, the number of corporate headquarters, and proximity
to supplies and buyers. Less important attributes include
the low cost of living, presence of other Chinese
businesses and cultural resources.
When asked which North American cities were "the
best cities to do business," 69% named New York, 57%
named Chicago, and 40% named San Francisco -- while
Washington, D.C. (35%) and Los Angeles (31%) trailed in the
open-ended question.
Chicago was perceived strongly relative to New York,
Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles on factors identified
as most important to the business leaders surveyed,
including a central location, tax incentives, a strong
distribution system, and local government support.
Although the survey found that there is high awareness for
Chicago, it also showed that knowledge of specific
influential facts about Chicago has room for substantial
improvement.
Interestingly, Chicago was perceived as second to New
York for being a tech center, while San Francisco ranked
5th. Chicago was also perceived as second for having the
best business schools and the largest population (Chicago
was perceived to have a larger population than Los
Angeles). The city was also thought weak on being "in
touch" with China and not known for its quality of life
and central location.
"The good news is that Chicago has surprisingly
high awareness in China as a business city," said Paul
O'Connor. "The bad news is that their understanding of
our business assets is shallow and vague. We need to do a
much better job communicating the city's key attributes --
largest airport, most non-stop flights to Shanghai, most
diversified economy, best railroad connections, and two
world-leading business schools."
The study noted the primary reason for selecting a
particular U.S. city is to gain access to the U.S. market
and capital. Chinese business investors look for a
welcoming business environment and Pacific-oriented
attitude.
"We are striving for the world to see that Chinese
cultural and business assets are abundant in Chicago,"
said Marshall Bouton, president, Chicago Council on Global
Affairs. "Foreign investors need to know that we have
everything from the largest Chinese language program in the
U.S. in our public schools, to one of the most business
friendly local governments, to an extensive list of
authentic Chinese cultural institutions and restaurants,
all with tremendous access to the American market."
The study's research was done in phases and conducted
by NuVista Strategies, Inc. Initially, secondary research
was reviewed and qualitative interviews with more than
three dozen Chinese and American executives were completed.
The group then assessed perceptions of Chicago among
mid-level Chinese executives with a Web-based quantitative
survey completed by 200 Chinese business executives.
Finally, the group completed qualitative interviews with
Chinese business executives in Shanghai who are involved in
foreign investment decisions.
"This was an important project for Chicago,
because the growth of China is one of the key global trends
of the 21st century," said Tim Calkins. "The
results are very encouraging. This study is a call to
action for business and civic leaders of Chicago."
The survey was an initial step in branding Chicago to
the Chinese market. Research shows that at the current
trends, China would be the biggest economy in the world by
2013. To date, most of the investment has been in Asia,
but going forward, investment in North America is set to
grow sharply. China's outbound investment provides an
enormous opportunity for Chicago, and through this initial
study, Chicago is learning how to utilize its compelling
assets to draw China's North American investment to the
city.
For a copy of the complete survey visit
http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com ,
http://www.thechicagocouncil.org or call 312.553.0500.
For more information, please contact:
Karley Sweet
World Business Chicago
Tel: +1-312-553-4658
Email: ksweet@worldbusinesschicago.com
SOURCE World Business Chicago
PR
2007'02.11.Sun
Symbol Technologies Introduces WS5100 Wireless Switch With Wi-NG Architecture
November 14, 2006
Award-winning WS5100 Wireless Switch and RF Management Software Takes Enterprise Mobility to Next Level
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Symbol
Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL), The Enterprise Mobility
Company(TM), today announced the latest version of its
award-winning WS5100 wireless switch. Based on the Wireless
Next Generation (Wi-NG) architecture, Symbol's WS5100
wireless switch provides enhanced support for enterprise
mobility and multimedia applications, security and
manageability.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041029/SYMBOLOGO )
Version 3.0 of the Symbol WS5100 wireless switch
enables flexible deployment of access ports in either Layer
2 or Layer 3 networks and seamless campus-wide roaming of
mobile users for true enterprise mobility, as well as
switch clustering for high-performance wireless networking,
resiliency and scalability. New security features include
integrated enhanced intrusion detection and RF monitoring,
an IPSec VPN (virtual private network) gateway and secure
guest access provisioning.
Koninklijke KPN N.V. (KPN) provides international
business customers in the Netherlands with voice, Internet
and data services in addition to fully managed outsourced
information communication technology solutions. "As a
leader in mobile telecommunications, in multiple countries,
we create and look for scalable technologies that bring
efficiencies and promises of future growth," said
Edwin Rademaker, KPN's senior product manager, Application
Services. "Symbol's WS5100 wireless switch with the
Wi-NG architecture will enable the abstraction of the RF
layer for the deployment and management of current and
emerging RF technologies. The key benefit with the Wi-NG
architecture is the ability to centrally manage multiple
wireless technologies on a single platform."
Available on the latest WS5100 wireless switch, Layer 3
mobility allows mobile users to maintain seamless
connectivity to applications such as voice and video as
they roam throughout the enterprise campus. Layer 3
mobility with clustering capability allows the WS5100
wireless switch to be cost-effectively deployed in large
enterprise campuses. In addition, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)
with "power save" extensions also provides
additional voice capacity and battery life savings of
WMM-capable mobile devices.
"As businesses like KPN continue to realize cost
savings and productivity increases from the deployment of
enterprise mobility solutions, the role of the wireless
network takes on more importance both now and in the
future," said Anthony Bartolo, vice president of
Symbol's Wireless Infrastructure and RFID Divisions.
"Business needs should dictate network coverage, not
the other way around. With the latest software on our
WS5100 wireless switch, supporting mobile workers and
taking enterprise mobility to the next level has never been
easier."
Manage and Control Your RF Domain
Integration with Symbol's RF Management software
provides monitoring and management of wireless devices
throughout the spectrum to help ensure maximum up-time and
peak performance of the network system, as well as the
ability to plan, evaluate and monitor the network. Symbol's
RF Management software suite includes a location engine and
Wireless Intrusion Protection System (Wireless IPS) that
enables businesses to securely deploy applications, and
track assets. Statistics including RF coverage, load
balancing, redundancy, security threat level and network
utilization, are graphically displayed, which allows IT
managers to instantly assess network status.
A software upgrade to the latest version of the WS5100
wireless switch will be available shortly to customers with
a Symbol Services support agreement.
To learn more about Symbol's wireless solutions, visit
http://www.symbol.com/wireless .
About Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility
Company(TM), is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise
mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture,
move and manage information in real time to and from the
point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility
solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio
frequency identification technology, mobile computing
platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and
world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility
products and solutions are proven to increase workforce
productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational
efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the
world's leading companies. More information is available at
http://www.symbol.com .
For more information, please contact:
For media information:
Ed Tan
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-408-528-2996
Email: ed.tan@symbol.com
Dan Munoz
A&R Edelman
Tel: +1-650-762-2918
Email: dmunoz@ar-edelman.com
For media information (EMEA):
Ana Williams
Spark Communications
Tel: +44-207-357-8612
Email: ana@sparkcomms.co.uk
For media information (APAC):
Susan Toh
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +65-6796-9629
Email: susan.toh@symbol.com
For financial information:
Lori Chaitman/Nancy Coco
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-631-738-5050
Email: lori.chaitman@symbol.com
For industry analyst information:
Shirley Schroedl
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-631-738-4823
Email: shirley.schroedl@symbol.com
SOURCE Symbol Technologies, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Quellan and Fulcrum Join Forces to Deliver Advanced Interconnect for Next Generation Data Centers
November 14, 2006
Companies Demonstrate High-density Mezzanine Card for Rapid Deployment of Ultra-thin Data Center Interconnects
TAMPA, Fla. - SuperComputing 2006 Conference - Nov. 14
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Quellan, a leader in analog signal
integrity devices and Fulcrum Microsystems, a leader in
high performance interconnect devices, today announced the
industry's first extended reach CX4 mezzanine card. The
card is for use with the Fulcrum FocalPoint switch
reference design, which will allow OEMs to attain up to 40
meters of reach on up to 24 ports of 10-Gigabit Ethernet
seamlessly.
"Increasing the reach of 10G Ethernet at an
attractive price point will help accelerate its adoption in
the data center," said Harry Quackenboss, Chairman and
CEO of Woven Systems. "Quellan's Lane Manager devices
drive copper cable distances substantially farther than the
standards specify, minimizing the need for expensive fiber
optic interconnects."
The mezzanine cards are populated with Quellan's
QLx4300 Lane Manager Chips that actively remove impairments
and compensate for channel loss, allowing data center
managers to use ultra-thin 30 gauge CX4 cabling for
increased airflow, density and manageability or extend the
reach of traditional 24 gauge cable to up to 40 meters.
"Signal integrity and low latency are critical
parameters for next generation data centers," said
Joel Goergen, Chief Scientist at Force10 Networks.
"Quellan's products address both these issues in a
very low power consumption device. Well done!"
The FocalPoint FM2224 is a breakthrough 10-Gigabit
Ethernet switch chip with 200ns of total latency, making
Ethernet the new cost-effective and high-performance choice
for storage, computing and networking backplane and
interconnect applications. The FM2224 features 24
integrated 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, each of which
can be configured to operate in 10Gbps, 2.5 Gbps and
10/100/1000 modes.
"Our customers are eager to reduce weight and
improve density in their data center interconnects,"
said Bob Nunn CEO of Fulcrum. "Our collaboration with
Quellan has yielded a ready-to-go solution to address these
issues."
"Clearly, next generation data center
interconnects are challenged by reach, weight and density
issues -- and the only way to achieve this is with low
power, smart silicon at each end," said Tony Stelliga,
Chairman and CEO of Quellan, Inc. "Next generation
high density switches can now run up to 4 times farther on
cabling that is just one third the size and weight of
existing copper interconnects."
Quellan is demonstrating both its Q:ACTIVE(TM)
semiconductor technology for active cabling and its
mezzanine card in booth 235 at the 2006 SuperComputing
Conference in Tampa, Florida to address the growing need
for data center reach and density improvements.
About Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.
Fulcrum Microsystems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor
company focused on developing interconnect switch chips for
next-generation board and system designs. The company's
devices change the paradigm for interconnect, offering low
latency, fine-grained flow control and high throughput,
which combine to simplify board design and to build in more
flexibility and higher performance. More information can be
found at http://www.fulcrummicro.com .
About Quellan Incorporated
Quellan specializes in analog components that improve
the performance and functionality of electronic equipment
by removing channel impairments and noise. Quellan serves
the Enterprise, Telecom, Broadcast, Automotive and Consumer
Electronics markets. Privately held, Quellan's investors
include Menlo Ventures, Cordova Ventures and Samsung
Ventures Investment Corporation.
For more information call 408-774-0084 or visit
http://www.quellan.com .
For more information, please contact:
Quellan Incorporated
Tel: +1-408-774-0084
SOURCE Quellan Incorporated
2007'02.11.Sun
Securing Water for China: Progress and Challenges
November 14, 2006
-- Launch of the 2006 Human Development Report
BEIJING, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- China continues
to make progress in improving conditions of life as measured
by the human development index (HDI), according to the 2006
Human Development Report, released today in Beijing. In the
last three years alone, China's surpassed nearly 25
countries in the HDI ranking to assume the 81st position
among the 175 developing countries listed.
(Logo:
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/20061107113358-34.jpg )
Entitled Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global
water crisis, the Report notes that global progress on
meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the
proportion of people without sustainable access to safe
drinking water is largely thanks to progress in China and
India.
Yet challenges remain in securing a sustainable supply
of clean water throughout China, where national per capita
levels of water are only a third of the global average.
As climate change threatens to intensify pressure on
China's water supply, it will directly affect the 538
million people living in China's already water-scarce
North.
Progress and continued challenges in dealing with water
sanitation and pollution
The 2006 Human Development Report particularly
highlights the advances made by China in meeting the needs
of its rural residents. "Now, provincial and county
governments oversee plans for meeting targets set by
government. Resources have been invested in developing and
marketing sanitary latrines designed for rural areas.
Uptake has been impressive, with rural sanitation coverage
doubling in five years," the Report says.
"China has made strong improvements in extending
the availability of water across the country, despite a
large imbalance in natural distribution between north and
south, said Alessandra Tisot, UNDP Senior Deputy Resident
Representative in China, in opening the launch event.
"The same goes for improved sanitation. Extending
rural access has been an important priority of the
government, and this has yielded impressive and laudable
results."
Yet despite dramatic advances in rural water
sanitation, pollution caused by China's economic boom pose
a continued risk to the country's water-ways. More than 70%
of the water in the 3-H river system, is now too polluted
for human use, according to the State Environmental
Protection Administration as quoted in the Report.
China's continued industrial expansion also brings
higher risks of industrial accidents like the one on the
Songhua River one year ago. The accident threatened not
only the 3 million citizens of Harbin but also the
residents of the Russian city of Khabarovsk, says the
Report, underlining the need for international cooperation
on issues of water safety.
The growing importance of water management in China
Northern China will face continued challenges in
providing safe water for its population. The 3-H basin of
the Hai, Huai and Huang (Yellow) rivers accounts for less
than 8% of national water resources but supplies nearly
half of China's population.
The Report emphasizes that the lack of access to clean
water and sanitation is above all a crisis for the poor.
This is true also for China, where about half the country's
rural poor live in the depleted 3-H river basin area.
The urgency of sustainable water policy in Northern
China is captured by the transformation of the Yellow
River. Once named China's sorrow because its high waters
often caused flooding, the river's flow has been reduced to
a trickle in its lower streams, which now barely reach the
sea.
Current water shortages in China reflect that until
recently water was not priced, resulting in
overconsumption. Pricing and demand management now plays a
growing role in water governance in China.
Global climate change is affecting Chinese farmers
Global warming raises serious concerns about the future
volume and timing of glacial flows, and may pose risks to
China's efforts to redistribute water across the country.
The impacts of glacial melt, caused by global warming,
may come to affect as many as 300 million farmers in
China's arid western region. Almost all glaciers in China
have already shown substantial melting. In Tibet, glacial
retreat has meant that most glaciers could disappear by the
year 2100, says UNDP's Human Development Report.
About this report:
The Human Development Report continues to frame debates
on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. It
is an independent report commissioned by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). Kevin Watkins is the Lead
Author of the 2006 report, which includes special
contributions from U.K. Chancellor Gordon Brown, Nigeria's
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President Lula of
Brazil, Former U.S. President Carter, and UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Report is translated into
more than a dozen languages and launched in more than 100
countries annually. Further information can be found at
http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006 . The 2006 Human Development
Report is published in English by Palgrave Macmillan.
About UNDP:
UNDP is the UN's global network to help people meet
their development needs and build a better life. We are on
the ground in 166 countries, working as a trusted partner
with governments, civil society and the private sector to
help them build their own solutions to global and national
development challenges. Further information can be found at
http://www.undp.org .
UNDP fosters human development to empower women and men
to build better lives in China. As the UN's development
network, UNDP draws on a world of experience to assist
China in developing its own solutions to the country's
development challenges. Through partnerships and
innovation, UNDP works to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and an equitable Xiao Kang society by
reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law, promoting
environmental sustainability, and fighting HIV/AIDS.
http://www.undp.org.cn .
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Zhang Wei
Communications Officer,
UNDP China
Tel: +86-10-8532-0715
Email: wei.zhang@undp.org
SOURCE United Nations Development Programme
2007'02.11.Sun
Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center Chooses Ludesi
November 14, 2006
LUND, Sweden, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Ludesi AB,
a global provider of bioinformatics solutions to the life
science industry, today announced that Johns Hopkins
Bayview Proteomics Center, Baltimore, has selected Ludesi
for its complete image analysis processing of
two-dimensional gels.
The Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center has
selected Ludesi for its gel image analysis obtained from
two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, a key technology
within the growing field of expression proteomics.
"Ludesi offers the industry's by far most accurate
option when it comes to 2D gel image analysis. Our
technology is uncovering crucial information in 2D gel
images that conventional 2D gel software doesn't find
because of analysis errors. The unparalleled accuracy of
Ludesi's image analysis is the main reason that leading
scientists have chosen our solution", comments Ola
Forsstrom-Olsson, CEO at Ludesi.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center is directed by
Dr. Jennifer Van Eyk. Dr. Van Eyk is an associate professor
in the departments of medicine, biological chemistry and
biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Dr. Van Eyk is a Fellow of the American Heart Association,
and a member of the editorial boards of the following
journals; Circulation Research, Journal of Physiology,
Proteomics, and Proteomics: Clinical Applications. Her
research group focuses on the use and optimization of
proteomic analysis of tissue and serum for the development
of treatment and diagnostics for heart disease.
"Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center and Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine is world-renowned for scientific
excellence and front-end applied medical research. It is an
honor to work with such successful and skilled
scientists", concludes Mr. Forsstrom-Olsson.
About Ludesi
Ludesi is a global provider of bioinformatics solutions
to the life science industry. The company is serving some of
the most prestigious research facilities in the world with
image analysis of 2D electrophoresis gels. Ludesi's
analysis is performed at the Ludesi Analysis Center with
proprietary software technology and strict quality control
to ensure accurate and objective results. Ludesi's mission
is to eliminate analysis time and analysis errors in all
expression proteomics technologies.
Further information can be found at
http://www.ludesi.com
Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center
Johns Hopkins Bayview Proteomics Center applies
state-of-the-art methods and develops new approaches and
techniques to investigate a biological process of broad
interest to heart, lung and blood diseases.
Further information can be found at
http://www.proteomics.jhu.edu
For more information, please contact:
Ola Forsstrom-Olsson
Ludesi, CEO
Tel: +46-46-286-5510
Mobile Sweden: +46-708-122-548
Mobile USA: +1-917-573-4073
Email: ola.forsstrom-olsson@ludesi.com
SOURCE Ludesi AB
2007'02.11.Sun
DTCC Deriv/SERV's Trade Information Warehouse Goes Live
November 14, 2006
Global Infrastructure Will Reduce Risk for OTC Derivatives
LONDON, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Depository
Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) announced today the
launch of its Trade Information Warehouse, creating a
centralised and secure global infrastructure for the
post-trade processing of over-the-counter (OTC)
derivatives.
The warehouse is made up of two components: 1) a
comprehensive trade database containing the "official
legal record" for all contracts eligible for automated
Deriv/SERV confirmation, and 2) a central support
infrastructure that automates and standardises post-trade
processes (such as payments, notional adjustments and
contract term changes) over the life of each contract,
which can extend five or more years.
Initially, the warehouse will support credit
derivatives, and then extend to other OTC derivatives
products including rates, equities, FX and commodities --
depending on market demand and input from the senior group
working with DTCC in guiding the initiative.
"The trade warehouse is a `just in time'
technological solution necessary to support our vibrant OTC
derivatives markets," said Robert E. Diamond Jr.,
President of Barclays PLC. "My thanks to DTCC and all
industry participants who worked tirelessly to implement the
warehouse in record time."
Current environment: A high degree of manual
processing
Today's OTC derivatives environment requires continuous
bilateral reconciliation for each contract. In other words,
each trading party must continually "sync up" with
each of its counterparties over the life of each contract,
keeping track of post-trade events, such as assignments,
amendments, terminations and notional adjustments.
Processing is not standard across the industry, and the
work involves considerable manual processing relying on
faxes, emails and phone calls.
The credit derivatives market more than doubled
annually through mid-2006, when the notional amount of
credit derivatives reached $26.0 trillion up from $12.4
trillion in mid-2005.
"The warehouse represents the launch of a very
innovative and important industry solution to improve
process, efficiency and risk control in the global credit
derivatives markets," said Dick Weil, Chief Operating
Officer of PIMCO. "It was made possible by some
exceptional cooperation between dealers, investment
managers and regulators."
The warehouse will automate many processes that occur
throughout a contract's life cycle, which today involve
significant manual effort. This includes bilateral contract
and cash flow reconciliation. Other post-confirmation
processes, such as credit event processing and assignment
processing, will be made much more efficient. From a risk
management perspective, the warehouse will help firms
ensure accurate balance sheet information for corporate and
regulatory reporting purposes, support accurate collateral
management, and promote correct and complete payments.
"The implementation of the warehouse marks a
milestone in the evolution of the OTC derivatives
marketplace," said Thomas A. Russo, Vice Chairman,
Lehman Brothers. "Our industry has come together in
record time to put in place a common operational platform
to manage credit derivative contracts over their life
yielding standardization, efficiency and risk
reduction."
Building on Deriv/SERV's foundation
Today, 80% of credit derivatives traded globally are
electronically confirmed through Deriv/SERV, up from 15% in
2004. The warehouse builds on Deriv/SERV by using confirmed
trade details as input for the warehouse, so that post-trade
processing flows automatically from up-to-date trade terms.
"The trade warehouse is the successful result of a
truly cooperative, global effort on the part of both
financial services firms and their regulators," said
Dr. Hugo Banziger, Chief Risk Officer, Deutsche Bank.
"The warehouse demonstrates their common interest to
work together to bring about growth and stability to our
financial markets."
Warehouse launch plan and development
With today's launch, all new trades and post-trade
events submitted to Deriv/SERV for electronic confirmation
will automatically be loaded into the Trade Information
Warehouse. The warehouse will assign a unique reference
identifier for each contract, and maintain the
"current state" contract terms, taking into
account assignments, terminations and amendments.
"Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient
processing environment globally -- modelled on the
automated central asset servicing that central securities
depositories provide for equities, fixed income and other
securities," said Peter Axilrod, managing director,
DTCC Business Development. "The Trade Information
Warehouse provides the underpinnings to support the entire
post-trade life cycle for OTC derivatives in a paperless
environment."
In 2007, the warehouse will expand to support central
payment calculation, and a central settlement capability
through links with a central settlement provider to
streamline payment settlement. Also in 2007, the warehouse
will offer customers the flexibility of electronically
reconciling ("tying out") complex or non-standard
contracts that cannot be legally confirmed through
Deriv/SERV, replacing the customary telephone-based
approach.
The warehouse is designed with a flexible, but secure,
open architecture capable of being extended, and allowing
other service providers to connect to the warehouse. As a
result, the warehouse will be able to offer additional
efficiencies in portfolio management, bilateral margining
and other post-trade processes, both directly and through
links with other providers.
"We developed the warehouse in close collaboration
with leading dealers and buy-side firms over an aggressive
ten-month timeframe," said Bill Hodgson, vice
president, DTCC Business Development, who led development
from London. "This has been a cross-border
collaboration -- from developing business requirements, to
designing an operating model, to setting processing
standards, to testing. We anticipate that a wide range of
industry service providers will be connecting to the
warehouse and offering complementary services."
Background on the warehouse project
DTCC announced in February its plans to build the
warehouse. Since then, DTCC has been working aggressively
with senior personnel from 19 leading global dealers and
the buy-side community (including traditional asset
managers and hedge funds) to develop this industry
infrastructure solution. The project is being overseen by a
Senior Oversight Group, which has been established by the
OTC Derivatives Operations and Planning Committee of DTCC's
Board to make implementation recommendations to the Board
Committee.
Major credit derivatives dealers pledged their
commitment to the warehouse project, calling it "a
material step forward in reducing operational risk and
increasing operational efficiency in the credit derivatives
market," in a letter to the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York on 10 March 2006. Financial regulators have also
publicly stressed the importance of a global infrastructure
for the credit derivatives market and the Trade Information
Warehouse.
Testing of the warehouse's functionality began in
September. In addition, backloading, which involves
populating the warehouse database with trade data on
existing contracts, has started and will continue through
2007.
About DTCC
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC),
through its subsidiaries, provides clearance, settlement and
information services for equities, corporate and municipal
bonds, government and mortgage-backed securities, money
market instruments and over-the-counter derivatives. In
addition, DTCC is a leading processor of mutual funds and
insurance transactions, linking funds and carriers with
their distribution networks. DTCC's depository provides
custody and asset servicing for more than 2.5 million
securities issues from the United States and 100 other
countries and territories, valued at $31.2 trillion. Last
year, DTCC settled more than $1.4 quadrillion in securities
transactions. DTCC has operating facilities in multiple
locations in the United States and overseas. DTCC's
derivatives services are offered through DTCC Deriv/SERV
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of DTCC. For more
information on DTCC, visit http://www.dtcc.com .
For more information, please contact:
In the UK:
Stuart Z. Goldstein
Tel: +44-20-7638-9571
Email: sgoldstein@dtcc.com
Freida Moore
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: +44-20-7282-2997
Email: freida.moore@citigatedr.co.uk
In the US:
Lisa Argento
Tel: +1-212-855-5302
Email: largento@dtcc.com
Judy Inosanto
Tel: +1-212-855-5424
Email: jinosanto@dtcc.com
SOURCE DTCC - The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Pro-poor Fiscal Reforms and Building New Socialist Countryside
November 14, 2006
The First High-Level Forum on Fiscal Reform in China
BEIJING, China, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
first Annual Forum on China's Fiscal Reform was opened
today in Beijing, jointly organized by the Ministry of
Finance, the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), the
China International Center for Economic and Technical
Exchanges (CICETE) under the Ministry of Commerce, and the
United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) in China.
First of its kind in China, the 2-day forum serves as a
platform for policy makers and stakeholders to discuss and
debate how China's fiscal reforms can be made most
beneficial to the poor. This high-level dialogue highlights
the role of local governments in China which bear the
primary responsibility of providing basic social services
to the poor.
"China has made enormous progress in economic and
social development in recent decades," said Khalid
Malik, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in China, while delivering a
keynote speech during the forum. "However, the depth
and coverage of China's fiscal reform process has been
uneven, and there is scope for strengthening the links
between fiscal reforms and poverty reduction goals."
"From growth-orientation to promoting greater
equity, fiscal policy must play a central role in this
shift," he stressed.
Under the theme "Pro-poor Fiscal Reform and
Building New Socialist Countryside in China," this
forum was set up as an institutionalized mechanism under a
US$10.3 million project, established between the Government
of China and UNDP, with support from the Department for
International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.
Entitled "Capacity Building to Support Pro-Poor
Fiscal Reforms in China," this 4-year initiative was
designed to support China's pro-poor fiscal reform on both
the expenditure and the revenue fronts. It aims to make
national fiscal policies more pro-poor and implemented more
effectively at local levels through policy research and
capacity building activities.
This programme will propose new options for pro-poor
fiscal policy design to ensure the delivery of basic
public services to the most needed. This is hoped to tackle
the major fiscal challenge facing China, as local
governments often suffer from restricted financial
resources to provide basic social services.
The project is also supporting China to develop a
strategic framework to reassign taxation powers, deepen
local taxation reform and formulate basic tax law. It also
helps local governments set up an incentive framework for
environmental protection through tax increase, and explore
new options for broadening the tax base.
"Taxation, as an important instrument of
macro-economic management, should and will play a more
active role in balancing urban and rural development,
regional equalization, reducing unempolyment and
environmental protection", said Wang Li, Deputy
Administrator of the SAT.
About UNDP:
UNDP fosters human development to empower women and men
to build better lives in China. As the UN's development
network, UNDP draws on a world of experience to assist
China in developing its own solutions to the country's
development challenges. Through partnerships and
innovation, UNDP works to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and an equitable Xiao Kang society by
reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law, promoting
environmental sustainability, and fighting HIV/AIDS.
http://www.undp.org.cn
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Zhang Wei
Communications Officer,
UNDP China
Tel: +86-10-8532-0715
Email: wei.zhang@undp.org
SOURCE United Nations Development Programme
2007'02.11.Sun
Chindex International, Inc. Announces Results for the Quarter and Six Months Ended September 30, 2006
November 14, 2006
BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Chindex
International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHDX), an independent American
provider of Western healthcare products and medical services
in the People's Republic of China, today announced results
for the quarter and six months ended September 30, 2006.
Both operating divisions of the Company reported profitable
results.
(Logo:
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200611131726.jpg )
Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 was
$26.5 million, a 16% increase over revenue of $22.7 million
in the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Net income from
continuing operations for the quarter ended September 30,
2006 was $1.1 million, or earnings per basic share on
continuing operations of $0.17. This compares to a net
income from continuing operations of $0.2 million, or
earnings per basic share on continuing operations of $0.03
for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
Revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2006 was
$50.9 million, a 13% increase over revenue of $44.9 million
in the six months ended September 30, 2005. Net income
from continuing operations for the six months ended
September 30, 2006 was $1.7 million, or earnings per basic
share on continuing operations of $0.25. This compares to
a net loss from continuing operations of $0.4 million, or a
loss per basic share on continuing operations of $0.06 for
the six months ended September 30, 2005.
The Company's balance sheet as of September 30, 2006
shows cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $8.3
million, total assets of $60.9 million, a current ratio of
1.6:1 and stockholders' equity of $24.8 million.
Roberta Lipson, Chindex CEO commented on the results
for the quarter: "During the quarter we reported
profitable results in both divisions. In the Healthcare
Services division, we also announced the first global
comprehensive Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
insurance product ever issued in China, for which our
network is the primary provider. This was a long
anticipated new chapter in our development program for the
United Family Healthcare network which will help us to
further expand our market access to the local Chinese
patient base in both the Beijing and Shanghai markets. In
the Medical Products division we shipped the first da Vinci
surgical robotic system in mainland China during the
quarter. This is the latest in a long history of Chindex
technology `firsts' in the Chinese healthcare
markets."
About Chindex International, Inc.
Chindex is an American healthcare company that provides
healthcare services and supplies medical capital equipment,
instrumentation and products to the Chinese marketplace,
including Hong Kong. It provides healthcare services
through the operations of its United Family Hospitals and
Clinics, a network of private primary care hospitals and
affiliated ambulatory clinics in China. The Company's
hospital network currently operates in the Beijing and
Shanghai metropolitan areas. The Company sells medical
products manufactured by various major multinational
companies, including Siemens AG, which is the Company's
exclusive distribution partner for the sale and servicing
of color doppler ultrasound systems. It also arranges
financing packages for the supply of medical products to
hospitals in China utilizing the export loan and loan
guarantee programs of both the U.S. Export-Import Bank and
the German KfW Development Bank. With twenty-five years of
experience, 950 employees, and operations in China, Hong
Kong, the United States and Germany, the Company's strategy
is to expand its cross-cultural reach by providing leading
edge healthcare technologies, quality products and services
to Greater China's professional communities. Further
company information may be found at the Company's websites,
http://www.chindex.com and
http://www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com .
Statements made in this press release relating to
plans, strategies, objectives, economic performance and
trends and other statements that are not descriptions of
historical facts may be forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). Forward-looking information is
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual
results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but
are not limited to, the factors set forth under the heading
"Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2006, updates and additions to
those "Risk Factors" in our interim reports on
Form 10-Q and in other documents filed by us with the
Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such
as "may", "will", "should",
"could", "expects", "plans",
"intends", "anticipates",
"believes", "estimates",
"predicts", "forecasts",
"potential", or "continue" or similar
terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe
that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
We have no obligation to update these forward-looking
statements.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(thousands except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended
Six months ended
September 30,
September 30,
2006 2005
2006 2005
Product sales $15,686 $14,260
$28,487 $28,561
Healthcare services revenue 10,794 8,473
22,407 16,369
Total revenue 26,480 22,733
50,894 44,930
Cost and expenses
Product sales costs 12,048 10,501
21,248 21,865
Healthcare services costs 9,529 7,666
18,997 15,408
Selling and marketing
expenses 2,334 2,671
4,587 5,027
General and administrative
expenses 1,688 1,352
3,530 2,849
Income (loss) from
continuing operations 881 543
2,532 (219)
Other (expenses) and income
Interest expense (199) (99)
(386) (193)
Interest income 60 31
124 68
Miscellaneous income - net 20 27
5 81
Income (loss) from
continuing operations
before income taxes 762 502
2,275 (263)
Benefit from (provision for)
income taxes 368 (313)
(619) (128)
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations 1,130 189
1,656 (391)
Loss from discontinued
operations (251) (906)
(264) (1,689)
Net income (loss) $879 $(717)
$1,392 $(2,080)
Net income (loss) per
common share - basic
Continuing operations $.17 $.03
$.25 $(.06)
Discontinued operations (.04) (.14)
(.04) (.26)
Net income (loss) $.13 $(.11)
$.21 $(.32)
Weighted average shares
outstanding - basic 6,753,902 6,514,244
6,741,197 6,508,903
Net income (loss) per
common share - diluted
Continuing operations $.15 $.03
$.22 $(.06)
Discontinued operations (.03) (.14)
(.04) (.26)
Net income (loss) $.12 $(.11)
$.18 $(.32)
Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted 7,557,288 6,922,044
7,535,027 6,508,903
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(thousands except share data)
(Unaudited)
September
30, March 31,
2006
2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$8,119 $9,034
Restricted cash
201 383
Trade accounts receivable, less
allowance for doubtful accounts of
$2,796 and $2,250, respectively
Product sales receivables
11,779 7,685
Patient service receivables
4,715 5,468
Inventories, net
8,793 8,681
Deferred income taxes
1,815 177
Other current assets
4,291 2,322
Current assets of discontinued
operations
99 1,006
Total current assets
39,812 34,756
Property and equipment, net
19,365 19,119
Long-term deferred income taxes
1,318 2,452
Other assets
454 719
Total assets
$60,949 $57,046
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
$23,701 $21,727
Short-term portion of
capitalized leases
42 50
Short-term debt and vendor
financing
975 3,080
Income taxes payable
602 143
Current liabilities of
discontinued operations
304 748
Total current liabilities
25,624 25,748
Long-term portion of capitalized
leases
76 91
Long-term debt and vendor financing
10,450 8,569
Total liabilities
36,150 34,408
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par
value, 500,000 shares
authorized, none
issued
0 0
Common stock, $.01 par value,
13,600,000 shares authorized,
including 1,600,000 designated
Class B:
Common stock - 6,043,885 and
5,946,873 shares issued and
outstanding at September 30, 2006
and March 31, 2006, respectively
61 60
Class B stock - 775,000 shares
issued and outstanding at
September 30, 2006 and March
31, 2006
8 8
Additional paid in capital
37,203 36,436
Accumulated other comprehensive
income
76 75
Accumulated deficit
(12,549) (13,941)
Total stockholders' equity
24,799 22,638
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity
$60,949 $57,046
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company has two reportable segments: Healthcare
Services and Medical Products. Prior to fiscal year 2006,
the Company had three reportable segments, Medical Capital
Equipment, Healthcare Products Distribution and Healthcare
Services. In fiscal 2006, the Company discontinued the
retail sales portion of the Healthcare Products
Distribution segment and the remaining portion of the
segment was grouped together with the Medical Capital
Equipment segment to become the Medical Products Division.
The following segment information has been restated to
reflect the new segment structure. We evaluate performance
and allocate resources based on income or loss from
continuing operations before income taxes, not including
gains or losses on our investment portfolio or foreign
exchange gains or losses.
Healthcare
Medical Total
Services
Products
As of September 30, 2006:
Assets $31,305,000
$29,545,000 $60,850,000
For the three months ended
September 30, 2006:
Sales and service revenue $10,794,000
$15,686,000 $26,480,000
Gross Profit n/a *
3,638,000 n/a
Gross Profit % n/a * 23
% n/a
Income from continuing
operations before foreign
exchange $695,000
$83,000 $778,000
Foreign exchange gain
103,000
Income from continuing
operations
$881,000
Other (expense), net
(119,000)
Income from continuing
operations before income taxes
$762,000
Total consolidated assets of $60,949,000 as of
September 30, 2006 include $99,000 of assets pertaining to
our healthcare products retail business, which was
discontinued in fiscal year 2006.
Healthcare
Medical Total
Services
Products
As of March 31, 2006:
Assets $29,801,000
$26,239,000 $56,040,000
For the three months ended
September 30, 2005:
Sales and service revenue $8,473,000
$14,260,000 $22,733,000
Gross Profit n/a *
3,759,000 n/a
Gross Profit % n/a * 26
% n/a
Income (Loss) from
continuing operations $373,000
$(192,000) $181,000
before foreign exchange
Foreign exchange gain
362,000
Income from continuing
operations
$543,000
Other (expense), net
(41,000)
Income from continuing
operations before income taxes
$502,000
Total consolidated assets of $57,046,000 as of March
31, 2006 include $1,006,000 of assets pertaining to our
healthcare products retail business, which was discontinued
in fiscal year 2006.
Healthcare Medical
Total
Services Products
As of September 30, 2006:
Assets $31,305,000
$29,545,000 $60,850,000
For the six months
ended September 30, 2006:
Sales and service
revenue $22,407,000
$28,487,000 $50,894,000
Gross Profit n/a *
7,239,000 n/a
Gross Profit % n/a * 25
% n/a
Income from continuing
operations before
foreign exchange $2,282,000
$179,000 $2,461,000
Foreign exchange gain
71,000
Income from continuing
operations
$2,532,000
Other (expense), net
(257,000)
Income from continuing
operations before income
taxes
$2,275,000
Total consolidated assets of $60,949,000 as of
September 30, 2006 include $99,000 of assets pertaining to
our healthcare products retail business, which was
discontinued in fiscal year 2006.
Healthcare
Medical Total
Services
Products
As of March 31, 2006:
Assets $29,801,000
$26,239,000 $56,040,000
For the six months
ended September 30, 2006:
Sales and service
revenue $16,369,000
$28,561,000 $44,930,000
Gross Profit n/a *
6,696,000 n/a
Gross Profit % n/a *
23 % n/a
Income (loss) from continuing
operations before
foreign exchange $148,000
$(698,000) (550,000)
Foreign exchange gain
331,000
Loss from continuing
operations
$(219,000)
Other (expense), net
(44,000)
Loss from continuing
operations before
income taxes
$(263,000)
Total consolidated assets of $57,046,000 as of March
31, 2006 include $1,006,000 of assets pertaining to our
healthcare products retail business, which was discontinued
in fiscal year 2006.
For more information, please contact:
Lawrence Pemble / Judy Zakreski
Chindex International, Inc.
Tel: +1-301-215-7777
SOURCE Chindex International, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Sportscasting Celebrity Jeremy Schaap Hosts Coverage of TopCoder Collegiate Challenge Airing November 17th on dev.aol.com
November 14, 2006
TopCoder Members John Dethridge and Ken Vogel Join ESPN's Schaap for Webcast of Live Action Programming Tournament
GLASTONBURY, Conn., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- TopCoder, Inc., the leader in online programming competition, skills assessment and competitive software development today announced that the 2006 TopCoder(R) Collegiate Challenge will be webcast live on November 17th and will be hosted by a high caliber panel of coding commentary anchored by sportscasting celebrity Jeremy Schaap. On Friday, November 17, viewers will be able to visit AOL's developer Web site at http://dev.aol.com/ to watch the competition unfold live starting at 1:30 p.m. PST (21:30 GMT). Over the course of the four hour webcast, viewers will be able to watch the high stakes software competition through live views of the arena, entertaining profiles and interviews with contestants -- and in-depth coverage of the final results -- in real time. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/topcoder/26099/ Jeremy Schaap is the author of the New York Times bestseller Cinderella Man. An ESPN anchor and national correspondent, his work has been published in Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, Time, Parade and the New York Times. He has also been a regular contributor to ABC's World News Tonight and Nightline. John Dethridge is a former TopCoder champion having won the 2002 TopCoder Invitational. He is a five time onsite finalist and holds a TopCoder rating of 3011. Ken Vogel is a 2002 quarter finalist and currently a director in equities IT with UBS. What: Live Webcast of TopCoder Collegiate Challenge 06 Where: On AOL at http://dev.aol.com When: 1:30 pm Pacific (21:30 GMT) For the first time a TopCoder global event will be presented on the internet, bringing the excitement and drama of competitive coding at the highest level to a global audience. Thousands of the brightest students from computer science, mathematics, physics and other fields representing 92 countries from around the world have spent months locked in qualifying heats. Now they will be flown in all expenses paid as one of 63 of the world's best collegiate programmers competing against the clock and each other for a share of $200,000 in prizes. "We're very excited about bringing the tournament to viewers around the world via the AOL," said Rob Hughes, President and COO of TopCoder, Inc. "Between the fantastic group of competitors, the anchor desk with Jeremy, Ken and John, roving cameras, audience viewing stations and leader boards, this promises to be the most entertaining TopCoder event yet." About TopCoder, Inc. TopCoder is the recognized leader in identifying, evaluating and mobilizing effective software development resources. Through its proprietary programming competitions and rating system, TopCoder recognizes and promotes the abilities of the best programmers around the world. TopCoder Software harnesses the talent of these developers to design, develop and deploy software through its revolutionary competitive development methodology. TopCoder's methodology emphasizes thorough specification and design, distributed development using reusable components, and a rigorous quality assurance review process and results in higher quality, lower cost software solutions than traditional software development methodologies. For more information about sponsoring TopCoder Events, recruiting TopCoder members and utilizing TopCoder Software, visit http://www.topcoder.com/ . TopCoder is a registered trademark of TopCoder, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, please contact: Jim McKeown TopCoder, Inc. Tel: +1-860-633-5540 Email: jmckeown@topcoder.com SOURCE TopCoder, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Guilford Expands European Presence
November 14, 2006
WILMINGTON, N.C., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Guilford, a global designer and manufacturer of performance
textiles, announced today the expansion of its European
operations with the establishment of Guilford France.
Guilford France was formed by the acquisition of
France-based Salome-Rokona, which includes manufacturing
operations and sales offices.
The creation of Guilford France secures the continued
operation of the plant in Troisvilles, northeast of Paris,
which is the principal provider of warp knit textiles for
the French automotive headliner market. The newly acquired
company will gain immediate access to Guilford's global
R&D network and quality systems.
Guilford has been advancing a strategy to expand
globally, supporting car manufacturers worldwide by looking
in China, Japan and Europe. Regarding the importance of this
acquisition, Joe Cottone, Vice President of Strategic
Planning, said, "France, second only to Germany in
European production of automobiles, represents a very
important market and a great growth opportunity for
Guilford. To best service the needs of important customers,
such as PSA and Renault, we felt a local presence was
critical."
Guilford, who recently moved their worldwide
headquarters to Wilmington, North Carolina, is an
integrated designer and manufacturer of performance
textiles and the world's largest warp knit textile company.
Guilford serves a diversified global customer base with
Automotive Products, Technical Textiles and Specialty
Apparel Fabrics.
For more information, please contact:
Marc Bourhis of Guilford
Tel: +1-910-794-5901
Email: mbourhis@gfd.com
SOURCE Guilford
2007'02.11.Sun
Net Music Makers.com Announces Launch Date for Revolutionary Music Website
November 14, 2006
Groundbreaking Online Music Collaboration Website Set for March 2007 Launch
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Net
Music Makers.com ("NMM") today announced plans to
launch its online collaborative website in March 2007. In
preparation for its launch, NMM will make its site
available in January to allow bands to create a personal
website and access a virtual studio that allows public and
private collaboration to create new music available for
international podcast and internet radio broadcast.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061114/SFTU005 )
The new site will represent a groundbreaking social
networking venue for musicians to create, collaborate, and
broadcast their music.
A key feature of the new site will be the availability
of downloadable lick tracks provided by legendary artists
and studio musicians, on a royalty free basis.
"After six months in stealth mode, we are putting
the finishing touches on our new services that will change
the music world," stated Jeff Tamelier, President of
NMM. "In the next few weeks, look for us to announce
some legendary musicians that have been in the studio
creating a comprehensive library of music licks and
grooves. Our users will be able to 'Frankenstein' these
into their original tunes."
"We're totally stoked about making NMM the next
generation in music making," commented Zaq Whitnack,
NMM Creative Director. "Whether you're an established
band that wants to find your audience or looking to round
out your tune with an international music community, NMM
will be your one-stop shop. Our Battle of the Bands
contest, currently posted on our site, is getting
phenomenal response, with nearly 20,000 songs, covering 120
different genres, uploaded in our first sixty days."
About Net Music Makers.com
Net Music Makers.com ("NMM") is an online
collaborative music website, in the process of rolling out
innovative musician services that will revolutionize
music-making. The new site provides a 360-degree music
making experience, including a 24x7 virtual studio
connected to a multi-channel fan-driven internet radio
service. NMM is an interactive media property of House of
Hansen Productions, LLC, a privately held company founded
in April 2006 with headquarters in Sacramento, California.
For more information, visit NMM at
http://www.netmusicmakers.com .
For more information,please contact:
Anica Archip
Net Music Makers.com
Tel: +1-718-858-3550
Email: anicaEFPR@aol.com
SOURCE Net Music Makers.com
2007'02.11.Sun
Xinhua Finance Reports Solid Growth From All Businesses For the First Nine Months of 2006
November 14, 2006
Significant Progress in China Distribution Strategy and Operational Integration
SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua
Finance (TSE Mothers: 9399; OTC: XHFNY), China's premier
financial information and media service provider, today
announced, under International Financial Reporting
Standards ("IFRS"), the consolidated results were
revenue of US$125.1 million, EBITDA of US$19.7 million and
net income of US$15.8 million for the nine months ending
September 30, 2006, representing increases of 64%, 68% and
227% respectively over the same period last year. Fully
diluted earnings-per-share (EPS) reached US$18.11, up from
US$7.38 for the nine months ending September 30, 2005.
Under IFRS, proforma results, adjusted to exclude
non-cash ESOP expense and one-time items, were EBITDA of
US$24.3 million and net income of US$12.1 million, showing
solid growth of 107% and 149% respectively over prior year
levels. Proforma IFRS adjusted EBITDA margin was 19% and
net income margin was 10%, as compared to full year
forecasts of 15.4% and 8.3%, respectively. The non-cash
ESOP expense and one-time items are items that were
unforeseen when preparing the Company's forecasts. The
Company believes these proforma results may be helpful for
understanding underlying operating and financial trends.
In order to reflect the full year impact of non-cash ESOP
expenses and one-time items to its 2006 projected net
income, the Company has revised its net income forecast
upward to US$18.5 million from US$13.8 million.
Xinhua Finance CEO Fredy Bush commented, "With the
continued execution of our strategy and successful
integration of new revenue streams, we have achieved
another period of solid top- and bottom- line growth. Over
the past eight fiscal quarters since our IPO, we have
consistently delivered period after period of stable growth
in line with or exceeding our financial targets. This
established track record of strong financial performance
demonstrates our ability to deliver value-added products
and services to our global markets. It is also a testament
to management's focused efforts to streamline operations and
tightly control costs, which has translated directly into
significant gains in our bottom line profit and EPS."
"I am pleased to report that all service lines are
performing well while we continue our march along our key
strategic initiatives. As the China distribution strategy
takes hold and the Distribution service line begins to
stand on its own, we expect to see a further multiplying
effect through our core service lines, as the generation of
additional distribution channels drives greater value from
our proprietary products and services. By all strategic,
operational and financial measures, this has been another
very successful quarter for Xinhua Finance."
During the third quarter, Xinhua Finance further
expanded the robustness of its core product offerings. As
of the end of October, $19.4 billion in exchange-traded
funds track the Xinhua FTSE Index Series worldwide. Several
short-term bond ratings were issued during the period,
including those for two leading Chinese pharmaceutical
companies. In the period several significant operational
milestones were attained including: Financial News reported
its second-highest month of sales, Investor Relations made
further inroads into the Asian market by signing ongoing
advisory agreements with major Asian clients, and Stone
& McCarthy Research Associates opened its Beijing
office.
Xinhua Finance also strengthened the scope and impact
of its China distribution platform. By leveraging its
proprietary content, the Company created a special
"Finance" section for distribution in the Beijing
Review and Economic Observer, both of which are prominent
media sources in China. The Company also established an
integrated financial advertising and marketing platform
across magazine, newspaper, radio and TV to better serve
its customers and advertisers.
At the same time, the Company remains focused on
continuously enhancing the efficiency of its operations.
With such recent initiatives as the initiation of the
Shared Service Center to provide back office financial
processes for multiple Service Lines centrally, Xinhua
Finance is maximizing the value of its growing and
synergistic businesses.
First Nine Months 2006 vs. First Nine Months 2005
(IFRS) - unit: USD mil.
1st 9 Mo. 2006 1st 9 Mo.
2005 Change
Revenue 125.1 76.5
64 %
EBITDA 19.7 11.8
68 %
Net Income 15.8 4.8
227 %
NOTE: The 2006 projected net income under IFRS is
revised upward to
US$18.5 million from US$13.8 million to reflect
the full year
impact of non-cash ESOP expenses and one-time
items.
First Nine Month 2006 vs. First Nine Months 2005
(JGAAP) - unit: USD mil.
1st 9 Mo. 2006 1st 9 Mo.
2005 Change
Revenue 125.1 76.5
64 %
EBITDA 20.1 11.6
73 %
Net Income 10.3 -1.0
N/A
NOTE: The 2006 projected net income under JGAAP is
revised upward to
US$10.5 million from US$1.1 million to reflect
the full year impact
of non-cash ESOP expenses and one-time items.
Notes to Editors
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's premier financial
information and media service provider and is listed on the
Mothers board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADR: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and
the world, Xinhua Finance serves financial institutions,
corporations and re-distributors through four focused and
complementary service lines: Indices, Ratings, Financial
News and Investor Relations. Founded in November 1999, the
Company is headquartered in Shanghai with 20 news bureaus
and offices in 19 locations across Asia, Australia, North
America and Europe.
For more information, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com .
For more information, please contact:
Xinhua Finance
Hong Kong/Shanghai
Ms. Joy Tsang,
Tel: +852-3196-3983, +852-9486-4364 or
+86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
Japan
Mr. Sun Jiong
Tel: +81-3-3221-9500
Email: jsun@xinhuafinance.com
Taylor Rafferty (Media/IR Contact)
Japan
Mr. James Hawrylak
Tel: +81-3-5444-2730
Email: james.hawrylak@taylor-rafferty.com
United States
Ms. Ishviene Arora
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Email: ishviene.arora@taylor-rafferty.com
Europe
Mr. John Dudzinsky
Tel: +44-20-7614-2900
Email: john.dudzinsky@taylor-rafferty.co.uk
SOURCE Xinhua Finance Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
Bowmans Poker Heads East
November 14, 2006
The Online Poker Site Has Expanded to Include Russian and Chinese
LONDON, Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- BowmansPoker.com ( http://www.bowmanspoker.com ) is poised to take the East by storm, as it launches its sexy online poker brand in both Russian and Chinese. In anticipation of significant future growth and marketing efforts in Eastern Europe and Asia, BowmansPoker.com has expanded its site to include both Russian and Chinese-language versions. This exciting development means that players in two of the world's largest potential markets for online gaming can now enjoy all the fast-paced action at BowmansPoker.com in their own language. Customers from these markets will now also be able to make instant payment transfers at BowmansPoker.com via its new partner, WebMoney -- a global transfer system which has been providing secure, instant payment transfers since 1998. With nearly 2.5 million registered users across 37 countries, WebMoney is the perfect payment provider for BowmanPoker.com's new local language sites: not only is it already popular in China, but the system also offers WebMoney units for currencies including Russian Roubles and Ukrainian Hryvnias. The introduction of a Chinese version of BowmansPoker.com is sure to be welcomed by its already sizable Chinese customer base. "By launching a local language site we're giving existing players more value, while also encouraging new players from Chinese-speaking markets across Asia," said Ben Lukas, Head of Poker of BowmansPoker.com. Making the Bowmans Poker room more accessible and attractive to Russian-speaking customers was another natural progression for Bowmans, following hot on the heels of the formation of a Poker Players Association in Ukraine and the successful launch of a bricks-and-mortar Bowmans Pokerclub in Lviv, Western Ukraine. Boasting full online facilities and a growing membership, the Lviv Pokerclub promises to be an important foothold for BowmansPoker.com as it continues its strategic expansion into the fast-growing Eastern European and Chinese markets. About BowmansPoker.com BowmansPoker.com comes from the suite of Bowmans gaming and betting products. The websites and international gaming licenses are operated by Bowman International Sports (IOM) Ltd located at Cumbrae House, Market Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, British Isles and Bowman International Sports Ltd, located at Informatics Park, La Tour Koenig, Mauritius. For more information, please contact: Sara Waller, Marketing Manager Tel: +350-47741 Email: swaller@bowmans.com SOURCE BowmansPoker.com
2007'02.11.Sun
MEDIA ADVISORY: CASINO ROYALE - World Premiere Highlight Package -
November 14, 2006
EON Productions Ltd and Sony Pictures Releasing Present The Royal Film Performance 2006 and the World Premiere of CASINO ROYALE
On Tuesday 14 November 2006, CASINO ROYALE will take
over Leicester Square as three of London's flagship cinemas
(Odeon Leicester Square, the Empire and the Odeon West End)
celebrate the release of the 21st Bond film and the 60th
Royal Film Performance(TM). The highly anticipated world
premiere of CASINO ROYALE will see the stars and filmmakers
gather on the red carpet as Daniel Craig is unveiled to the
world as James Bond 007.
FROM THE FILM: DANIEL CRAIG, EVA GREEN, MADS
MIKKELSEN, CATERINA MURINO, DAME JUDI DENCH (M), JEFFREY
WRIGHT, GIANCARLO GIANNINI, MARTIN CAMPBELL (Director)
B-ROLL: Includes cast and celebrity soundbites &
b-roll of the red
carpet.
CASINO ROYALE OPENS NATIONWIDE ON 17th NOVEMBER 2006
SATELLITE INFORMATION
EUROPE
Feed 1
November 14th, 2006
11:00PM-11:30PM London Local (2300-2330 GMT)
Feed 2
November 15th, 2006
5:30AM-5:45AM London Local (0530-0545 GMT)
Satellite: Eutelsat W2 @ 16 degrees East - 9mhz
Transponder B6 - Slot C
Downlink Frequency: 11144.83 V
FEC: 3/4
Symbol: 5.632
Color: PAL
Uplink: Arqiva Winchester - UKI-WIN3 +44 (0) 1962
823000
Also available at BT Tower from Pacific Television
Center's ABQH3UK broadcasters can call for complementary
refeeds via Tower. +44.207.702.1427
ASIA/PACIFIC
Feed 1
November 15th, 2006
8:00AM-8:30AM Tokyo Local (2300-2330 GMT on 11/14/06)
Feed 2
November 15th, 2006
1:00PM-1:15PM Tokyo Local (0400-0415 GMT)
Satellite: PAS-2/08C MCPC CH.4 (169' E)
Downlink: 3901.000 MHz Horizontal
FEC: 3/4, Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 30.80000
Virtual Channel: 4, Network ID: 1
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
AUSTRALIA
Feed 1
November 15th, 2006
10:00AM-10:30AM Sydney Local (2300-2330 GMT on
11/14/06)
Access Sydney TOC ex GCA. +612 8258 7966 for access.
PACIFIC TELEVISION - 310.287.3800
LATIN AMERICA
Feed 1
November 14th, 2006
8:00PM-8:30PM Buenos Aires Local (2300-2330 GMT)
Satellite: PAS-9/10C MCPC CH.7 (58' W)
Downlink: 3880.000 MHz (H)
FEC: 7/8
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 27.69000
Virtual Channel: 7, Network ID: 5002
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
Feed 2
November 15th, 2006
6:00AM-6:15AM Buenos Aires Local (0900-0915 GMT)
Satellite: PAS-9/24C Slot A (58' W)
Downlink: 4146.500 MHz (H)
FEC: 2/3,
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 6.62000
Virtual Channel: 301, Network ID: 1
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
For more information, please contact:
Black Diamond Media, Inc.
Tel: +1-310-451-5500
SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment; MGM
2007'02.11.Sun
Symbol Technologies Announces Third Annual Enterprise Mobility Solutions Award Winners
November 13, 2006
Partners Provide Innovative Enterprise Mobility Solutions that Simplify Customer Business Processes to Deliver Significant ROI
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Symbol
Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL), The Enterprise Mobility
Company(TM), today announced the winners of its third
annual Enterprise Mobility Solutions Awards. The award
recognizes PartnerSelect members -- in each geographical
region -- on their ability to provide customers with the
most innovative, end-to-end enterprise mobility systems to
help accelerate growth, productivity and operational
efficiencies. New for 2006, Symbol also introduced the
Partner Ecosystem Award for the most innovative enterprise
mobility solution developed collaboratively by two
PartnerSelect members.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041029/SYMBOLOGO )
"The Symbol Enterprise Mobility Solutions Award
recognizes PartnerSelect members that provide customers
with unique solutions that simplify their business
processes, cut costs and save time," said Sanford
Preizler, vice president of worldwide channels. "Each
of the more than one hundred award submissions we received
were worthy of recognition, which clearly illustrates that
Symbol's partners across the globe are providing customers
with innovative enterprise mobility solutions that help
solve business needs."
A select panel of judges from Microsoft, AMI Partners,
Questex Asia, and editors from leading industry
publications including Business Solutions, Channel
Business, Data Collection, eWeek and MicroScope Magazine
selected the winners from the United States and Americas
International (Canada and Latin America), Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC).
Symbol Enterprise Mobility Award Winners
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. was awarded the U.S.
Enterprise Mobility Award for their deployment of Symbol
MC9060 rugged mobile computers with its 20/20 Delivery(TM)
solution to 550 staff members at a large national
healthcare company. The solution provides real-time status
for deliveries and information on the location and delivery
receipt of healthcare products, allowing the healthcare
company to adopt a paperless system -- reducing costs, and
eliminating the need for storage of printed proof of
delivery.
The winner of the Symbol Americas International
Enterprise Mobility Award, Allegro Mobile Solutions,
deployed Symbol MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistants (EDA)
with its application for a modular and scalable solution to
enable 800 field nurses and staff, starting with the
Community Care Access Centre Simcoe County. The first
module enables nurses to order medical supplies directly
with real-time estimated time of arrival feedback. The
second module is used to assess and track changes in
patients' wounds, reducing the time to heal. The project
has resulted in an annual cost savings of $8,000 per nurse
through elimination of duplicate orders, reduced paper and
printing costs. Nurses now spend less time on paperwork
and more time on patient care.
By working with Aker Yards, the world's leading
designer and builder of cruise vessels and ferries to
simultaneously keep track of more than 5,000 craftsmen
working on a cruise ship, Vilant Systems Oy Finland earned
the Symbol EMEA Enterprise Mobility Award. Leveraging a
radio frequency identification (RFID) system, Vilant
Systems affixed tags to workers' helmets to track their
movement using a wireless LAN (WLAN) in the event of an
evacuation.
AirData Pty Ltd. integrated Symbol's Wi-Fi network
infrastructure at Star Track Express' transport and
logistics tracking depots and was awarded the Symbol APAC
Enterprise Mobility Award. By creating a centralized
management platform for wireless networks and mobile
computers, AirData's sorted tracking data is now collected
in real-time for all depots, and processes have been
improved, resulting in greater efficiencies, lower costs
and improved customer service quality.
Symbol Partner Ecosystem Award Winners
Enfotrust Networks and Stratix Corporation won the
Symbol U.S. Partner Ecosystem Award for their work in
providing The Home Depot with a solution based on
Enfotrust's PACE Mobile Technology installed on Symbol MC50
EDAs with integrated cameras. The application manages the
store-level tasks of more than 14,000 employees, and ties
together all U.S. in-store service activities to a
centrally-administered Web-based platform, which resulted
in a 35 percent increase in hourly output per
representative and a 25 percent increase in store
efficiencies.
The Symbol Americas International Partner Ecosystem
Award was awarded to RFX Tecnologia e Comercio Ltda. and
CMW Automacao Ltda., who partnered to reduce the time spent
on cycle counting at Brazilian supermarket chain Angeloni's
distribution center. The partners deployed MC3090 and
MC9060 mobile computers, MC50 EDAs, VC5090 vehicle mounted
mobile computer, bar code scanners and Wi-Fi network
infrastructure to help ensure the accuracy of inventory
levels.
PEAK Technologies UK Ltd. and Syclo, LLC USA partnered
to provide Tube Lines, a tube maintenance company that
works in partnership with the London Underground, with a
solution to efficiently track and monitor assets and earned
the Symbol EMEA Partner Ecosystem Award. Leveraging Symbol's
partner ecosystem, independent software vendor (ISV) partner
Syclo, was able to meet the stringent timeframe requirements
Tube Lines set, effectively delivering enterprise mobility
in less than three months with the help of PEAK
Technologies.
The winners of the Symbol APAC Partner Ecosystem Award
are SkyWire Pty Ltd. and Manhattan Associates, an ISV who
jointly deployed a warehouse management system with new
processes for Magna Pacific, the largest independent DVD
distributor in Australia and New Zealand, using Symbol's
MC3090-G mobile computers, WS5100 Wireless Switch and AP300
Access Ports. The solution doubled Magna Pacific's capacity
to ship orders -- from 400 per day to 900 per day. Magna
Pacific expects a return on its investment within 18 months
and an approximately $600,000 return over three years due to
efficiency, stock management improvements and labor
savings.
Symbol's PartnerSelect Program is designed to help
channel partners increase both revenue and profitability by
offering benefits that recognize each partner's unique
value-add and business model. The program facilitates
teamwork between Symbol's internal sales force and its
partners in order to identify and create more sales
opportunities.
To learn more about the Symbol Enterprise Mobility
Solutions Awards and Symbol's PartnerSelect channel
program, visit http://www.symbol.com/partner .
About Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility
Company(TM), is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise
mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture,
move and manage information in real time to and from the
point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility
solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio
frequency identification technology, mobile computing
platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and
world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility
products and solutions are proven to increase workforce
productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational
efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the
world's leading companies. More information is available at
http://www.symbol.com .
For more information, please contact:
For media information:
Ed Tan
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-408-528-2996
Email: ed.tan@symbol.com
Greg Wood
A&R Edelman for Symbol Technologies
Tel: +1-650-762-2838
Email: gwood@ar-edelman.com
For media information (EMEA):
Ana Williams
Spark Communications
Tel: +44-207-357-8612
Email: ana@sparkcomms.co.uk
For media information (APAC):
Susan Toh
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +65-6796-9629
Email: susan.toh@symbol.com
For financial information:
Lori Chaitman/Nancy Coco
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-631-738-5050
Email: lori.chaitman@symbol.com
For industry analyst information:
Shirley Schroedl
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1-631-738-4823
Email: shirley.schroedl@symbol.com
SOURCE Symbol Technologies, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
New Research(1) Calls for Reclassification of Zoladex as Curative
November 13, 2006
-- Findings Challenge Historical Assumptions & Current Guidelines for Treating Non-Metastatic Poor Prognosis Prostate Cancer With Adjuvant LHRHas
MACCLESFIELD, England, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
New research presented today at the 28th Congress of the
Societe Internationale d'Urologie (SIU), Cape Town, South
Africa demonstrates that adjuvant androgen-deprivation
therapy with ZOLADEX (goserelin) can consistently control
prostate cancer, allowing men to out-live their disease(1).
The researchers conclude that adjuvant goserelin should be
reclassified as a treatment of 'curative' intent for men
with poor prognosis, non-metastatic prostate cancer and
call for current clinical guidelines to reflect this.
The research highlights other cancer treatments that
have been reclassified as 'curative,' including
cisplatinum-based chemotherapies that revolutionized
testicular cancer treatment so that the disease is
eradicated in a substantial proportion of men, and
long-term results with tamoxifen used after surgery in
women with breast cancer, which led to the drug being
reclassified as a treatment of curative intent.
Dr. Neil Fleshner, Division of Urology, Princess
Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, who presented the
research, commented: "Our analysis of four long-term
studies clearly shows that treatment with adjuvant
goserelin provides long-term control of non-metastatic,
poor prognosis prostate cancer such that a significant
number of men are out-living their disease. Historically,
LHRHas were a treatment for palliation of metastatic
prostate cancer, and physicians today still consider
adjuvant hormonal therapy as a palliative treatment option,
despite the number of trials showing positive survival
results for men with non-metastatic, poor prognosis cancer.
The findings fundamentally challenge this notion, which is
an important message for clinicians and men alike as it
means the current way we view and use this drug is
outmoded, meaning some men may not be receiving the best
chance of cure."
Concept of 'cure' in cancer
The concept of 'cure' in oncology is emotive and
fraught with complications: currently the diagnostic
technology that allows physicians to determine whether all
cancer cells are eradicated does not exist. Because of
this, oncologists are reluctant to use the term 'cure.' A
definition of cure for cancer was first established in the
1970s, which proposed that cure exists for disease-free
survivors whose overall survival rate is similar to that of
an age- and sex-related matched population(2). This concept
first led to the five-year survival rates becoming widely
accepted as an indication of the success of a cancer
treatment.
However, advances in treatments, earlier detection, and
increasing international collaboration and data sharing have
made the five-year survival concept obsolete for many
cancers. A review of other genitourinary cancers (bladder
cancer, testicular cancer, and renal cancer) by the
researchers indicates that cure varies with tumour type and
disease stage. They found, for example, a five-year
follow-up of patients with transitional cell
muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with a combination
of chemotherapy and radiation or surgery was insufficient
as the survival curve has not yet flattened, and a
follow-up period greater than five years to evaluate cure
was needed due to the progression of invasive bladder
cancer(3).
Is it possible to 'cure' patients with poor-prognosis
non-metastatic prostate cancer?
The researchers reviewed survival data from four
long-term, randomized, controlled clinical studies in men
with non-metastatic, poor prognosis prostate cancer who
received adjuvant hormonal therapy with goserelin following
their primary treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiation
therapy)(4),(5),(6),(7) . The researchers reviewed
goserelin as it is the most widely researched LHRHa and is
unique amongst LHRHas as it has been studied as an adjuvant
therapy in a number of randomized, controlled survival
studies with a follow-up of more than five years. From
these findings, the researchers assessed whether the
potential for cure was achieved using an amended definition
of cure specific to prostate cancer, defined as 1) when the
disease-free survival curve flattens out after 10-15 years
following treatment and 2) when the overall survival rate
approaches that of an age-related healthy male
population(1). Their findings showed that:
-- Across all four trials, long-term disease control
was achieved in a
sizeable proportion of men with non metastatic
prostate cancer and a
poor prognosis (poor prognosis is defined as having
PSA level >20ng/mL
and high Gleason scores >8 amongst other
criteria) who received
adjuvant goserelin
-- The disease-free survival (Kaplan-Meier) curves
flattened during
long-term follow up, indicating that many men are
not relapsing
-- Importantly, the overall survival curves indicate
that patients were
not experiencing significant additional mortality
associated with the
side-effects of long-term goserelin use
Guidelines outmoded
In moving forward, Dr. Fleshner commented: "The
European Association of Urology and the American Society of
Clinical Oncology treatment guidelines do not currently
classify adjuvant hormonal therapy as being a potentially
curative treatment. It is worth noting that generally
similar long-term results with tamoxifen adjuvant to
surgery in women with breast cancer led to this drug being
classified as a treatment of curative intent. We believe
that adjuvant goserelin should be reclassified as a
treatment of curative intent for patients with poor
prognosis, non metastatic prostate cancer."
Notes to Editors
About AstraZeneca:
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare
business engaged in the research, development, manufacture
and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the
supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's
leading pharmaceutical companies with leading positions in
gastrointestinal, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience
and respiratory products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the
FTSE4Good Index.
'ZOLADEX' is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of
companies.
For more information visit:
http://www.astrazenecapressoffice.com
http://www.astrazeneca.com
http://www.zoladex.com
http://www.prostateline.com
References:
(1) N. Fleshner et al. Adjuvant androgen deprivation
therapy augments
cure and long-term cancer control in men with poor
prognosis,
nonmetastatic prostate cancer. Presented at SIU,
Cape Town, November
2006
(2) Frei III E, Gehan EA. Definition of cure for
Hodgkin's disease.
Cancer Res 1971; 31: 1828-33
(3) Fellin G, Graffer U, Bolner A, Ambrosini G, Caffo
O, Luciani L.
Combined chemotherapy and radiation with selective
organ preservation
for muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma. A
single-institution phase II
study. Br J Urol 1997; 80: 44-9
(4) Messing EM et al. Immediate versus deferred
androgen deprivation
treatment in patients with node-positive prostate
cancer after radical
prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Lancet
Oncol 2006: 7; 472-79
(5) Pilepich MV, Winter K, Lawton CA et al. Androgen
suppression adjuvant
to definitive radiotherapy in carcinomas of the
prostate - long term
results of phase III RTOG 85-31. Int J Radiat Oncol
Biol Phys 2005;
61: 1285-90
(6) Bolla M, Collette L, Blank L et al. Long-term
results with immediate
androgen suppression and external irradiation in
patients with locally
advanced prostate cancer (an EORTC study): a phase
III randomized
trial. Lancet 2002; 360: 103-8
(7) Hanks GE, Pajak TF, Porter A et al. Phase III trial
of long-term
adjuvant androgen deprivation after neoadjuvant
hormonal cytoreduction
and radiotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma of
the prostate: the
Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Protocol 92-02. J
Clin Oncol 2003;
21: 3972-8
For more information, please contact:
Peter Edwards,
Prostate Franchise Global Brand PR Manager,
AstraZeneca, +44-1625-232-685
Mobile: +44-7747-118-498
Rebecca Hibble,
Cohn & Wolfe
Tel: +44-207-331-5336
Mobile: +44-781-309-6161
Email: rebecca_hibble@uk.cohnwolfe.com
SOURCE AstraZeneca
2007'02.11.Sun
Quellan and Gore Go Active with New Intelligent Cable for Data Center Interconnects
November 13, 2006
Companies Demonstrate Industry's First Active Cable to Improve Reach, Speed, Airflow and Latency at SuperComputing `06
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
SuperComputing 2006 Conference -- Quellan, a leader in
analog signal integrity devices and Gore Industries, a
leader in advanced interconnects, today announced the
availability of the industry's first Active Cable that will
transform data center cable interconnects from passive,
non-active devices to intelligent roadways for use in
today's mega data centers. These dramatic improvements
yield lower operating expenses and capital expenditures for
expanding data centers.
"The need for extended interconnect reach, reduced
weight and latency and increased air flow is of paramount
importance to next generation data centers", said
Lloyd Dickman, CTO, System Interconnect Group, QLogic.
"Quellan and Gore have clearly demonstrated that their
active cable collaboration has yielded an innovative family
of products to meet this burgeoning market need."
Cable solutions include InfiniBand SDR, DDR and 10
Gigabit Ethernet (CX-4) all with Gore's performance leading
EYE-OPENER(R) Cable at gauges ranging from 24 to 30 gauge at
lengths ranging from 5 to 40m.
"These new cable assemblies promise to fill a
reach void in the market between passive copper and optics
at DDR signaling speeds," said Eric Gaver, business
leader for Gore's Advanced Digital Interconnects.
"We're excited to work with Quellan, a leader in
analog signal integrity devices, to provide this
cost-effective cabling solution."
Quellan will demonstrate its Q:ACTIVE(TM) Semiconductor
Technology at the 2006 SuperComputing Conference using
GORE(TM) EYE-OPENER(R) Cable, at both 10 Gigabit Ethernet
and Double Data Rate Infiniband speeds.
"Todays data center cabling clusters are exceeding
three tons in weight and plugging 10 foot diameter conduits
- reducing reliability and blocking critical air
flow," said Tony Stelliga, Chairman and CEO of
Quellan, Inc. "Our Q:Active technology reduces this
weight and conduit diameter by two-thirds and the resultant
improvement in reliability and airflow is a win for next
generation data centers."
About Quellan Incorporated
Quellan specializes in analog components that improve
the performance and functionality of electronic equipment
by removing channel impairments and noise. Quellan serves
the Enterprise, Telecom, Broadcast, Automotive and Consumer
Electronics markets. Privately held, Quellan's investors
include Menlo Ventures, Cordova Ventures and Samsung
Ventures Investment Corporation.
For more information visit http://www.quellan.com or
contact Kristen Domingo at (408) 774-0084 x4056. SC06
attendees visit booth 235.
ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES
Founded in 1958, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. has
parlayed its unique technical capabilities into hundreds of
diverse products and is world-renowned for its expertise in
configuring the remarkably versatile polymer PTFE. This has
resulted in numerous products for electronic signal
transmission; fabric laminates; medical implants; as well
as membrane, filtration, sealant, and fiber technologies
for diverse industries. With nearly $2 billion in sales,
the company is headquartered in Delaware in the US and
employs approximately 7,000 associates at 45 facilities
throughout the world. Gore is one of only five companies
included in every selection of Fortune Magazine's "100
Best Companies to Work For" since the list began in
1984. Gore has also been cited among the "Best Places
to Work" in Germany, Italy and Scotland.
For further information, please visit
http://www.gore.com . SC06 attendees visit booth 1200.
For more information, please contact:
Kristen Domingo
Quellan Incorporated
Tel: +1-408-774-0084 x4056
SOURCE Quellan Incorporated
2007'02.11.Sun
The Netherlands Gets Dancing for World Record in Call for Action Against Obesity
November 13, 2006
BENNEKOM, Netherlands, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
On Thursday 16 November at 11:15 a.m. more than 200,000
Dutch people will be dancing simultaneously for five
minutes as part of the `Get the Netherlands Dancing'
campaign, an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Sport
and Exercise (NISB). The aim of the campaign is to call
attention to exercise as a resource in the fight against
obesity. An important part of the campaign is to break the
current Guinness world record for simultaneous dancing. At
the moment it is held by Canada, where 196,569 people
danced the hokey cokey simultaneously on 9 April 2002.
Get the Netherlands Dancing?
More than a thousand organizations all over the country
are taking part, from kindergartens to schools, from
rehabilitation centers to health centers, to wheelchair
dancers, students, government employees, police and
firefighters. In many city halls there will be dancing with
the mayor. These tens of thousands of Dutch people will be
dancing the same dance, to the track `What a Feeling' by
the Hughes Corporation.
`Get the Netherlands Dancing' will kick off on 16
November in the city hall of the government city, The
Hague. Various members of the lower house of Parliament,
CEOs of companies and members of leading social
organizations will be joining in the dancing. Afterwards
they will be debating how exercise can put a stop to the
growing problem of obesity.
Obesity in Europe and the Netherlands
One in four children in the European Union is
overweight. This number is growing year on year by around
400,000. Although not all European countries record the
number of their overweight or obese citizens, the European
Commission estimates that over 200 million adults in the EU
may be overweight (source: International Obesity Task Force,
2006).
In the Netherlands 13% of children and young people
(aged 0-21) are overweight. For adults the figure is 40%,
10% of whom are battling a serious weight problem. If the
current trend continues, in 2015 an estimated 15 to 20% of
Dutch adults will be obese (source: Dutch Obesity Forum).
Exercise Standard
`Get the Netherlands Dancing' is part of the `30
Minutes Exercise' campaign, run by the Dutch Institute for
Sport and Movement (NISB) on behalf of the Ministry for
Health, Well-Being and Sport. The NISB wants to encourage
Dutch people to exercise for half an hour at least five
days a week. For children and young people the Dutch
Exercise Health Standard is an hour a day.
For more information visit
http://www.heelnederlanddanst.nl (in Dutch)
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Copyright-free photos (high
resolution) available at: http://www.heelnederlanddanst.nl
/
For more information, please contact:
Juul van Rijn
Tel: +31-318-490900
Cell: +31-6-51977131
Nanette Hagedoorn
Tel: +31-6-26414314
Jaap de Graaf
Tel: +31-6-22201286
SOURCE Nederlands Instituut voor Sport en Bewegen
2007'02.11.Sun
Mistral -- A Breath of Fresh Air for Fast, Safe and Effective Phototherapy
November 13, 2006
ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Radiancy Inc. announced the international launch of
Mistral, a light-based, multi-applications platform device
for hair removal, skin photo rejuvenation, acne clearance
and psoriasis care at Medica Dusseldorf and CosmoProf Asia,
2006.
Mistral, using proprietary Light Heat Energy(TM) (LHE)
technology, is one of today's fastest and safest
light-based devices available. "LHE is a fascinating
technology," said Dr. Dolev Rafaeli PhD, CEO of
Radiancy, "By incorporating advances like OP2 and a
computer-based upgradeable smart system, we take that
technology to the next level."
Mistral introduces OP2 (Optimized Pulse Protocol(TM))
.OP2 creates a protected environment for the safe delivery
of energy. Within milliseconds, a train of pulses,
optimized to application, skin type and treatment
parameters, are emitted. There is a slight pause between
pulses, allowing skin to cool while the targeted
chromophores retain and accumulate energy. This produces
optimal results while the integrity of the skin remains
protected.
Mistral's handpieces, with significantly extended lamp
life, have large 12 cm squared spot sizes and snap-on
adaptors to treat smaller areas. And when the optional
Extra-Large spot size of 18 cm squared for hair removal
combines with a 2-4 second pulse rate, Mistral becomes the
fastest mode of treatment in the industry.
Recognizing that not all skin types are alike, there
are 2 handpieces available for specialized treatment of
skin types V-VI (Fitzpatrick scale). "For some skin
types, photo therapy can be harmful," commented Dr.
Paul Sofer MD, head of Radiancy's clinical department.
"The Sensitive Care handpieces for skin photo
rejuvenation and hair removal allow greater flexibility in
choosing energy levels and enable the professional to
create a safe and effective treatment solution."
Mistral integrates a custom-programmed Windows CE-based
platform to streamline operation and maintenance.
Multilingual capabilities, preprogrammed protocols and
intuitive user interface simplify operation and facilitate
altering between applications and treatment options.
Mistral, with internet capabilities, is easily upgraded,
insuring it remains compatible with all future
advancements, such as the onboard patient database already
under development.
Radiancy Inc. develops and manufactures safe and
effective laser and LHE phototherapy devices for
Skin-Resurfacing, Hair-Removal, Acne-Clearance,
Skin-Rejuvenation, Tattoo and Pigmented Lesion Removal and
Psoriasis Care. Radiancy is committed to providing smaller,
smarter and cost-effective devices for the aesthetic skin
care and the At-Home market.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Yoni Epstein
Radiancy Ltd.
Tel: +972-8943-3100 / +972-5477-76615
Email: yoni@radiancy.com
Web: http://www.radiancy.com
SOURCE Radiancy Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Women Entrepreneurs Pledge to Support Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
November 13, 2006
-- First International Forum of Outstanding Women-Entrepreneurs
BEIJING, China, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
International Forum of Outstanding Women-Entrepreneurs
opens today in Beijing. The two-day event brings together
successful businesswomen from China and other countries of
the world, as well as representatives of the government
agencies, academia, civil society, the United Nations and
the international community, to engage in a dialogue on
public-private partnerships, and the role of the private
sector, particularly led by women, in addressing
development challenges.
(Logo:
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/20061107113358-34.jpg )
"Businesswomen have tremendous potential to become
a driving force in building partnerships between the private
sector and other stakeholders in promoting equitable
development", says Khalid Malik, United Nations
Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in
China.
The Forum's agenda, inspired by the substantive
principles of the Millennium Declaration, focuses on a
range of inter-related issues varying from the attainment
of the Millennium Development Goals in China, to energy and
sustainable development, corporate social responsibility,
gender equality, and challenges for women in
entrepreneurship.
Numerous examples of public-private partnership good
practices from around the world include education projects,
HIV/AIDS campaigns, `green' environment initiatives to
support vulnerable groups. The Forum is expected to provide
an opportunity for exchanging experiences, identifying best
practices, establishing new business and professional
contacts to forge and build sustainable partnerships and
alliances between businesses, multilateral agencies, NGOs
and governments in support of the Millennium Development
Goals.
The Forum is organized jointly by the China Association
of Women-Entrepreneurs (CAWE) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) in China, in association with the United
Nations Theme Group on Gender.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Chen Huizeng, Director,
China Association of Women-Entrepreneurs
Tel: +86-10-6847-8511
Fax: +86-10-6870-1474
Email: cawe@cawe.org
Ms. Dono Abdurazakova, Gender Specialist,
UNDP Country Office, China
Tel: +86-10-8532-0771
Fax: +86-10-8532-0800
Email: dono.abdurazakova@undp.org
SOURCE United Nations Development Programme
2007'02.11.Sun
Clean Hands Leading to Safer Health Care for Half the World's Population
November 13, 2006
GENEVA, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Half the people
in the world can look forward to cleaner and safer care and
a lowered risk of becoming ill with an infection as a result
of their health care. That is because they live in countries
whose governments have pledged to become part of a worldwide
movement to address health-care associated infections under
the Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer
Care.
A total of 22 countries representing 55% of the world's
population have signed on to the Global Patient Safety
Challenge since it was launched by the World Health
Organization World Alliance for Patient Safety in October
2005.
On 10 November, 13 more countries -- Australia,
Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya,
Finland, Luxembourg, Singapore, Sudan, Uganda and the
United States- will pledge commitment to the initiative.
Seven countries and regions -- Bangladesh, Hong Kong SAR,
China, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Ireland,
Italy, Scotland, Spain- will report on their first year of
achievements.
At any given moment some 1.4 million people worldwide
are ill because of infections acquired in hospitals. In
developed countries the toll is 5% to 10% of patients. In
some developing countries, as many as a quarter of patients
may be affected.
"We can reduce these numbers dramatically, and
more and more countries are showing they are ready to take
action. With the help of WHO and other partners these
countries are laying the foundations for patients
everywhere to receive cleaner, safer care", said Dr
Anders Nordstrom, Acting Director-General of WHO.
One of the most powerful approaches to fighting health
care-related infection is also the simplest: healthcare
providers need to clean their hands every time they see a
patient.
Many countries have already substantially improved hand
hygiene practices among health professionals. During a
recent four-month hand hygiene campaign in Switzerland, for
example, compliance with good practices increased 25% among
doctors and nurses working in two cantonal hospitals. Based
on the results of that study it has been estimated that the
Swiss could avert 17 000 nosocomial infections each year if
hospitals nationwide achieved comparable improvements.
"With 33 countries committing to 'Clean Care is Safer
Care' over the last year, we have proof of the global
political commitment to dramatically reduce deaths and
suffering from infections acquired in health care
facilities. I urge countries throughout the world to follow
the example of those who have already committed to
"Clean Care is Safer Care," Sir Liam Donaldson,
Chair of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety and
Chief Medical Officer for England.
Hand hygiene remains the primary measure to reduce
health care-associated infection and the spread of
antimicrobial resistance, stressed Professor Didier Pittet,
Leader of the Global Patient Safety Challenge and Director
of the Infection Control Programme at Geneva's University
Hospitals. "It enhances the safety of care across all
settings, from complex, modern hospitals to simple health
posts".
Editor's note: Progress report on 22 countries
participating in "Clean Care is Safer Care".
Bahrain, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Hong Kong SAR, China,
Malaysia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are
running hospital hand hygiene campaigns and made an alcohol
hand rub available at the point of care to ensure hand
hygiene can occur quickly and easily.
The Netherlands, the Russian Federation, and United
Arab Emirates have set up national committees on infection
control.
Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, the Philippines, Slovenia
and Tajikistan recently committed their countries to
addressing healthcare-associated infection.
All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as
well as other information on this subject can be obtained
on Internet on the WHO home page: http://www.who.int/ .
For more information, please contact:
Dr Agnes Leotsakos
Technical officer
World Alliance for Patient Safety, WHO
Tel: +41-22-791-25-67
Mobile: +41-79-476-70-48
Email: leotsakosa@who.int
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.11.Sun
ICMM Launches Community Development Initiative in China
November 13, 2006
BEIJING, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has
released a Mandarin language version of its Community
Development Toolkit with the support of the China
International Mining Group (CIMG). The publication,
produced in partnership with the World Bank and the Energy
Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), contains 17
practical "how to" tools that cover a mine's
operational stages from exploration through to closure.
(Logo:
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/sa/200611101115.jpg )
"Community development is a key element of ICMM's
core mission -- the Toolkit enables our members and others
to demonstrate their commitment to the local communities
where they operate" said Kathryn McPhail, ICMM
Principal.
The Community Development Toolkit, originally published
in November 2005, is designed to foster closer relations
between mining companies, communities and governments, in
order to support sustainable community development
activities that last beyond the life of a mining operation.
The Mandarin version of the Community Development Toolkit
will be one of the most comprehensive documents of its kind
in China.
Nigel Clark, CIMG Chairman added "The Mandarin
version of the Community Development Toolkit will form an
integral part of the CIMG's mission in China, which is to
promote sustainable business outcomes in the country's
mining sector".
The Toolkit, which can be applied at mining operations
anywhere in the world, has its roots in southern Africa.
The project concept was originally conceived at a joint
workshop held in November 2000 for members of the Southern
African Development Community.
The Mandarin version of the toolkit contains numerous
instances of successful initiatives currently undertaken in
southern Africa. For example, the Palabora Mining Company, a
member of the Rio Tinto Group, has worked in partnership
with local people to develop the Titirheleni Community
Gardens in the province of Limpopo, South Africa. The
Gardens feeds families and provides incomes, and training
in financial management and technical skills that have
enabled the project to become self-supporting.
Copies of the Toolkit are available at
http://www.icmm.com and http://www.cimg.org.cn . Hard
copies are available on request.
About International Council on Mining and Metals
(ICMM)
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
is a CEO-led organization representing the mining and
metals industry internationally. An important part of its
mandate is dedicated to sustainable development. ICMM
comprises many of the world's leading mining and metals
companies as well as regional, national and commodity
associations, all of which are committed to improving their
sustainable development performance and to the responsible
production of the mineral and metal resources society
needs. ICMM's vision is a viable mining, minerals and
metals industry that is widely recognized as essential for
modern living and a key contributor to sustainable
development.
ICMM's 15 corporate members are:
Alcoa, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton,
CVRD, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Lonmin, Mitsubishi
Materials, Newmont, Nippon Mining & Metals, Rio Tinto,
Sumitomo Metal Mining, Teck Cominco, Xstrata, Zinifex.
ICMM's 24 association members are:
Camara Minera de Mexico, Chamber of Mines of South
Africa, Cobalt Development Institute, Consejo Minero de
Chile A.G., Eurometaux, Euromines, Federation of Indian
Mineral Industries, Indonesian Mining Association,
Instituto Brasileiro de Mineracao, International Aluminium
Institute, International Copper Association, International
Wrought Copper Council, International Zinc Association,
Japan Mining Industry Association, Lead Development
Association International, Minerals Council of Australia,
Mining Association of Canada, Mining Industry Associations
of Southern Africa, Nickel Institute, Prospectors and
Developers Association of Canada, Sociedad Nacional de
Miner¨ªa, Sociedad Nacional de Miner¨ªa Petr¨®leo y
Energ¨ªa, World Coal Institute, World Gold Council.
About China International Mining Group (CIMG)
The China International Mining Group (CIMG) is a forum
for International mining and service companies plus
individuals with interests in creating sustainable business
opportunities in China's mining industry. The CIMG aims to
promote sustainable investment and best business practice
in the mining sector through sharing non-competitive
information and addressing issues of common concern to
potential mining investors in China by providing channels
for dialogue with the relevant authorities.
The CIMG is an official industry-working group of the
China-Australia Chamber of Commerce in Beijing (AustCham
Beijing). The CIMG is supported by the Australian Embassy
in Beijing, British Embassy in Beijing, British Chamber of
Commerce in Beijing, Canadian Embassy in Beijing, the CCBC,
DIFID and South African Business Council.
CIMG's 10 Sustaining Sponsors are:
Anglo American Beijing; AngloGold Ashanti Limited;
Asian American Coal; BHP Billiton China; Mundoro Mining;
Oxiana (China) Limited; Rio Tinto Limited Beijing
Representative Office; Teckcominco Limited; Sustainability
and The Swann Group
For more information, please contact:
Ben Peachey
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
Tel: +44-207-290-4942
Mobile: +44-773-322-5130
Email: ben.peachey@icmm.com
Web: http://www.icmm.com
Auslan Ishmael
China International Mining Group (CIMG)
Tel: +86-10-6595-9252
Mobile: +86-135-2044-0703
Email: auslan@cimg.org.cn
Web: http://www.cimg.org.cn
SOURCE China International Mining Group (CIMG)
2007'02.11.Sun
Avnet Electronics Marketing Ranked 25th in Second Annual InformationWeek China Business Technology 100
November 13, 2006
BEIJING, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Avnet
Electronics Marketing, the largest operating group of
leading global distributor of electronic components and
computer products, Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced
it has been ranked No. 25 in the InformationWeek China 100
list of the nation's best users of information technology.
This is the second consecutive year that Avnet Electronics
Marketing was chosen from a preliminary list covering more
than 35 industries and nearly every large-scale company
doing business in China to rank on the list.
The InformationWeek China Business Technology 100
Research follows the research methodology and procedures of
the InformationWeek 500, which has tracked the technology
practices of the most innovative companies in America for
the last 18 years.
"The second annual InformationWeek China 100
focuses on companies' innovative use of IT architecture and
solutions, leveraging them for sustainable competitive
advantage to drive their business," said Geoffrey He,
associate publisher and chief editor at InformationWeek
China. "It has attracted leading companies from more
than 35 industries, which represent numerous entries
detailing highly innovative projects. Additional judging
criteria examine the benefits that accrue to the specific
industry's progress in China."
"With a leading global technology distribution
organisation like Avnet, we are fortunate to be able to
continue to make investments in our Asian infrastructure to
the benefit of our customers and suppliers. They can
further leverage our global resources -- giving them total
support across the board -- in a way that will contribute
to their success in the Asian market," said Stephen
Wong, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia.
Avnet Electronics Marketing was recognized for
excellence in a number of areas, particularly its Third
Party Logistics (3PL) Services Business-to-Business (B2B)
Model.
"As product cycles shrink and competitive
pressures within the manufacturing industry increase, the
focus on supply chain efficiency has never been greater.
Accordingly, the world's leading distributor of electronic
components, solutions and services, Avnet Electronics
Marketing is constantly looking for ways to add value and
efficiency to the production process," said Alfred
Tang, senior IT director, Avnet Electronics Marketing
Asia.
In practice that means continually creating new
solutions and services that can make a major competitive
difference and provide its customers with a significant
advantage in whichever market they operate.
The most recent example of this approach is a new 3PL
Services B2B Model that exploits Avnet Electronics
Marketing's award winning SAP implementation and the power
of RosettaNet. Stimulated directly by the demand from
strategic customers for expanded logistics engagements,
Avnet has completely overhauled its existing logistics
management system. The organization has created a
comprehensive new 3PL services model that stretches from
inventory management, inspection services, tagging, bar
coding, RFID, supplier management and technology
integration all the way through to industry standard
compliances and certification.
"The most innovative aspect of the project can be
seen at the core of the solution, where the expansion of
the current 3PL inventory hub functionalities and business
processes linked to customers has been radically
transformed.
Today, Avnet and its customers interact through a
full-function B2B model that not only ensures maximum
efficiency and therefore reduced turnaround times, but also
maximizes cost-effectiveness, virtually eliminating wastage
or wasted effort," continued Tang.
"We are honored to have been ranked highly for the
second year running in the prestigious InformationWeek China
100 list," said Steve Phillips, CIO at Avnet.
"This accolade recognizes the relevance of our
philosophy for long-term business-driven IT strategies
which include providing excellent global customer service,
expanding our end-to-end connectivity with suppliers and
customers, delivering world-class materials management, and
setting our ERP strategy."
Phillips took part in a panel discussion at the
InformationWeek China Fall Conference on Nov 13, 06 on
"Management and Innovation-constructing sustainable
competitive advantages".
About InformationWeek
InformationWeek helps more than 440,000
business-technology professionals who buy, build, and
manage technology drive business innovation powered by
technology. In addition to the weekly magazine,
InformationWeek provides a platform of information
solutions, including InformationWeek.com; InformationWeek
Research; InformationWeek Events, which includes the
InformationWeek Conference for business-technology
executives; and the InformationWeek Daily, an E-mail news
service. In May 2003, in conjunction with Optimize,
InformationWeek launched its Media Network. The Media
Network consists of Optimize, Government Enterprise, and
Healthcare Enterprise, as well as its Vertical Industry
Network publications, Bank Systems and Technology,
Insurance and Technology, and Wall Street and Technology.
InformationWeek is consistently recognized for its
commitment to excellence and innovation, receiving several
of the industry's top media accolades, including top spots
in Technology Marketing's Influencers Report, BtoB
Magazine's annual Media Power 50, as well as awards from
ASBPE.
About InformationWeek China
As the leading business technology media in China,
InformationWeek China, launched in December 2004¡Acurrently
provides unique, updated and penetrating information,
innovation and industry trends to China's C-level business
technology decision-makers, helping them take advantage of
market opportunities, improve corporate management and
achieve business success. InformationWeek China has a
four-dimensional media platform including print, online,
research and events. The monthly InformationWeek China
magazine reaches 100,000 senior corporate executives, and
the network and e-newsletter reaches more than 50,000
senior corporate executives.
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is the largest operating
group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune
500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic
original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic
manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 70 countries,
distributing electronic components from leading
manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and
supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at
http://www.em.avnet.com .
About Avnet, Inc.
With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70
countries, Avnet (NYSE: AVT) markets, distributes and adds
value to the products of the world's leading electronic
component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and
embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a
breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as
supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product
assembly, device programming, computer system integration
and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year
ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25
billion. Visit http://www.avnet.com/ .
For more information, please contact:
Jaime Chan
Tel: +852-2410-2735
Email: jaime.chan@avnet.com
Brian Paterson (EBA)
Tel: +852-2537-8022
Email: brian@eba.com.hk
SOURCE Avnet Electronics Marketing
2007'02.11.Sun
Repeat Treatment with MabThera Provides Continuous Improvement of Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
November 13, 2006
Benefit of B Cell Therapy Confirmed in Patients Who Respond Inadequately to One or More TNF Inhibitors
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Data
presented at this year's American College of Rheumatology
Congress (ACR) show that patients receiving repeat
treatment with MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) achieved
continued improvement in both physical and mental aspects
of quality of life measures. In addition, a higher
proportion of patients achieved a significant improvement
in disease symptoms with a second course of MabThera,
compared to the first course they received.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Keystone,
University of Toronto, Canada said, "With further
analyses, we are able to evaluate just what MabThera can
deliver with subsequent treatment courses for patients who
have an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more
TNF inhibitors. Patients are telling us they feel better
and their quality of life has improved significantly; this
is supported by clinical outcomes."
RA is one of the most common forms of autoimmune
disease which affects more than 21 million people
worldwide, with as many as 3 million sufferers in Europe
alone. Currently up to 40 per cent of people with RA who
are treated with biologic therapies such as TNF inhibitors,
do not have satisfactory outcomes.
Study results: patient reported outcomes
In 156 patients with an inadequate response to
treatment with TNF inhibitors:
-- Patients reported an improvement in the mental
component of
quality of life measures after the first course of
MabThera with
further improvement following a second course
(SF-363 scores
increased from 4.8 to 8.7, following the first and
second courses
respectively)
-- The physical component of quality of life measures
also increased
following a second course of treatment, suggesting
patients
physical ability continues to improve with repeated
treatment
(SF-36(3) increased from 6.4 to 7.8 at 24 weeks
following the
first and second treatment courses respectively)
-- Patient questionnaires showed that repeated
treatment allowed them
to better perform daily tasks (more than two thirds
of patients
reported a decrease in HAQ-DI(4) score after each
treatment
course)
All comparisons of change were made relative to
patients' baseline values prior to treatment with
MabThera.
Study results: efficacy
Data presented from an ongoing extension study in
patients with prior exposure to one or more TNF inhibitors
demonstrated the long-term efficacy of repeated courses of
MabThera. At 24 weeks following a subsequent course of
treatment with MabThera, patients continued to show
clinical improvements in their RA symptoms, measured using
the standard ACR assessment, compared to outcomes after
their first course of treatment:
-- 72 percent achieved ACR20[1] after a subsequent
course, versus 65
percent after the first course
-- 42 percent achieved ACR50 after a subsequent course,
versus 33
percent after the first course and
-- 21 percent achieved ACR70 after a subsequent course,
versus 12
percent after the first course
Furthermore, a greater number of patients achieved low
disease activity(2) (25% vs 13%) and remission(2) (13% vs
6%), after a subsequent treatment course of MabThera.
Inhibition of joint structural damage
Further analyses of the 56 week radiographic data
presented previously, have confirmed the positive impact of
MabThera treatment in inhibiting structural damage to
joints. Damage to the structure of the joints ultimately
causes joint destruction and contributes to joint deformity
and loss of mobility. MabThera provides the first evidence
of inhibition of radiographic progression in rheumatoid
arthritis patients with an inadequate response(1) to one or
more TNF inhibitors.
The extensive MabThera data presented at the American
College of Rheumatology this year provides the opportunity
for optimising therapy for patients who have previously not
achieved satisfactory outcomes in managing their disease.
Editor's Notes
About Rheumatoid Arthritis and MabThera
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease
characterised by inflammation that leads to stiff, swollen
and painful joints. Current treatments include
disease-modifying drugs (DMARDS) and biologic therapy such
as the TNF inhibitor drugs.
MabThera is a first-in-class therapy that selectively
targets B cells early in the inflammatory cascade of
rheumatoid arthritis. B cells are known to play a key role
in the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis
and MabThera breaks the inflammatory cascade of RA -- a
series of reactions inflaming the synovia and leading to
the cartilage loss and bone erosion that is characteristic
of the disease, and may provide an innovative new treatment
even in patients with severe and long-standing disease.
MabThera has a strong heritage in the treatment of a form
of lymphatic cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and
the safety profile of MabThera has now been established in
more than 960,000 patient exposures over the last 8 years
in oncology and autoimmune disease.
About Long-term Safety
Other results presented at the congress added to the
wealth of data contributing to MabThera's safety profile
with 1669 patient-years of follow-up now collected. The
latest analysis showed no new safety signals when
subsequent courses of MabThera are administered, beyond
those reported in the randomised clinical trials. In fact,
the rate of any adverse events and infusion reactions
decreased with subsequent courses.
About the REFLEX study
REFLEX (Randomised Evaluation oF Long-term Efficacy of
MabThera in RA) is a pivotal Phase III study evaluating the
efficacy and safety of MabThera in combination with
methotrexate (MTX) in patients with long-standing, severe
disease who have had an inadequate response of are
intolerant to TNF inhibitor therapy. A total of 520
patients were randomised in this multi-centre,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients received
either a single treatment course of just two infusions of
MabThera two weeks apart (1000mg i.v. on days 1 and 15), or
placebo infusions, in combination with continuing MTX and a
two-week course of glucocorticoids. The study was conducted
as part of the overall development programme in RA.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of
the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in
the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a
supplier of innovative products and services for the early
detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases,
the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to
improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is a
world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of drugs
for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in
virology. In 2004 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division
totalled 21.7 billion Swiss francs, while the Diagnostics
Division posted sales of 7.8 billion Swiss francs. Roche
employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries and has
R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous
partners, including majority ownership interests in
Genentech and Chugai. Additional information about the
Roche Group is available on the Internet (
http://www.roche.com ).
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are
legally protected.
For a selection of broadcast footage clips relating to
MabThera and rheumatoid arthritis please visit
http://www.thenewsmarket.com/roche
To view and download high resolution stills and media
materials please visit the Virtual Press Office at
http://www.mabthera-ra.com
1) The ACR response is a standard assessment used to
measure patients' responses to anti-rheumatic therapies,
devised by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). It
requires a patient to have a defined percentage reduction
in a number of symptoms and measures of their disease. For
example, a 20 or 50% level of reduction (the percentage of
reduction of RA symptoms) is represented as ACR20, ACR50 or
ACR70. An ACR70 response is exceptional for existing
treatments and represents a significant improvement in a
patient's condition.
2) Disease activity is measured by a Disease Activity
Score (DAS), where low disease activity is defined as DAS28
less than or equal to 3.2 and remission is defined as DAS28
less than or equal to 2.6
3) SF-36 is the Short Form-36 which is used to assess
quality of life
4) HAQ-DI score refers to the Health Assessment
Questionnaire Disability Index and it is used to assess
physical function
For more information, please contact:
Roche, Jennifer Wilson (on site)
International Communications Manager
Tel: +41-79-619-1765
Cohn & Wolfe, Emily Goodenough (on site)
Tel: +44-7980-663851
Rebecca Hibble (UK)
Tel: +44-207-331-5336
SOURCE Roche Pharmaceuticals
2007'02.11.Sun
Continental 'Global Engineering Excellence' Initiative:
November 13, 2006
-- Engineering Education Not Keeping Pace With
Challenges
of Globalization
-- Top Universities in Favor of 'Open Borders' and
Internationalized
Study Programs
-- Unprecedented Study Shows Action Required to
Internationalize
Engineering Sciences
-- Continental AG Expands International Network of
Universities
HANOVER, Germany, and FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 13
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Engineering education that instills
global competence is not keeping pace with the complex and
highly dynamic development process of globalization. Study
programs are not sufficiently international and cross
disciplinary, the mutual recognition of degrees or
curriculum modules is still in its infancy, and a worldwide
accreditation system is nowhere in sight. In addition, there
are many government-imposed barriers that hinder an
international and, at the same time, research-oriented
study program. Furthermore there are still hardly any
cooperative projects between companies and universities
that go beyond a national framework. These are the key
findings of the "Global Engineering Excellence"
study, which was initiated by Continental AG.
Scientists from the renowned universities Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland; Georgia
Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, U.S.A.; Shanghai Jiao Tong University and
Tsinghua University, China; Escola Politecnica Universidade
da Sao Paulo, Brazil; and the University of Tokyo, Japan,
conducted the study under the leadership of the Technical
University of Darmstadt, Germany. They formulated four key
statements and recommendations for the future education of
engineers, based upon the findings of this unprecedented
study, which was presented on Friday at the Eberbach
Cloister near Frankfurt:
-- Global competence needs to become a key
qualification of engineering
graduates.
-- Transnational mobility for engineering students,
researchers, and
professionals needs to become a priority.
-- Global engineering excellence depends critically on
a mutual
commitment to partnerships, especially those that
link engineering
education to professional practice.
-- Research on engineering in a global context is
urgently needed.
As one of the leading international automotive
suppliers, Continental has for many years promoted
excellence in the education of engineers: "Technology
is our passion. That is why we called the 'Global
Engineering Excellence' initiative to life last year to
examine the prospects for engineers in the era of
globalization, their social position and education, as well
as their impact on the productivity of national economies,
and to then draw conclusions from these findings,"
said Continental Executive Board Chairman Manfred
Wennemer.
"We encourage our eight partner universities to
develop and set up their own and joint study courses for
the degree of 'Master of Global Engineering' within the
framework of this project. In the future, this could be an
elite title for top engineers with an excellent and, above
all, internationally-oriented education," explained
Continental Human Resources Director Thomas Sattelberger.
"For the practical part of the education, we are not
only opening up Continental's worldwide network, we also
want to win the collaboration of other partners from
industry." He pointed out that Continental is
currently expanding its existing network with
universities.
For the "Global Engineering Excellence"
universities, Prof. Dr. Ing. Reiner Anderl of the TU
Darmstadt, which heads the study, called it, "an
outstanding milestone on the way to the further development
of engineering education at university level in preparation
for working successfully in international and intercultural
teams." He pointed out that the universities drafted
essential and forward-looking recommendations based upon
the findings of the study: "Credits from suitable
partner universities must be recognized, and the learning
of foreign languages made obligatory. New technologies such
as e-learning and video conference systems must also be used
more extensively, and part-time study courses should be
promoted for students from other countries. Cooperative
ventures with industry could be expanded considerably, for
instance through research collaboration, training projects
and technical internships."
The universities are also in favor of governments
promoting global engineering education and research, with
funding for university programs and scholarships for
international studies or internships. "Transnational
mobility should be improved by, for instance, removing
barriers, such as restrictive visa policies and work
permits for foreign students while they are studying and
after they receive their degree," said Prof. Anderl.
One possibility, for instance, would be to introduce a
special category of student visa for technical internships
and part-time jobs. "We feel it is essential that
triads develop consisting of universities and industry
together with politics or government, to make active
headway in this topic."
As European Commissioner responsible for Education, and
himself a trained engineer, Jan Figel, who was guest of
honor at the "Global Engineering Excellence"
event, said on Thursday night that the study was, "an
analysis of the highest quality." He added: "In
my view, it should be required reading for deans of
engineering faculties everywhere," and that,
"engineers are the key to Europe's future in a
globalized world. But, as the study shows, in a globalized
world engineers need skills that go far beyond what is
traditionally considered necessary."
"Most engineers in this century will work in
integrated global enterprises," explained the
long-serving MIT President Emeritus Prof. Charles Vest, who
recently was nominated as new President of the National
Academy of Engineering in the U.S.A. "The "Global
Engineering Excellence" study provides an ambitious but
practical roadmap for educating 21st century engineers to
work effectively in this context."
Continental Executive Board Chairman Wennemer pointed
out that within the framework of the "Global
Engineering Excellence" initiative, students at the
eight participating universities would be asked their
opinions regarding the findings and recommendations of the
first study as well as the view they take of their own
education, career opportunities and future prospects on job
markets and social environment. This representative study
will be linked with the Continental Student Survey, which
has already been conducted for some years, and its findings
will be presented in 2007.
The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive
supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle
electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2005 the
corporation realized sales of EUR13.8 billion. At present
it has a worldwide workforce of approximately 85,000.
For information about the initiative, visit the
websites:
http://www.global-engineering-excellence.org
http://www.conti-online.com
For more information, please contact:
Hannes Boekhoff
Head of Press
Continental AG
Vahrenwalder Strasse 9, 30165 Hanover/Germany
Phone: +49-511-938-1278
Fax: +49-511-938-1055
Email: prkonzern@conti.de
SOURCE Continental AG
広告
ブログ内検索
アーカイブ
カウンター