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Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) January 25, 2012

A new mobile app developed by global public health organization NSF International is making it even easier for consumers to search and find dietary supplements and sports nutrition products that have earned NSF Certified for Sport? certification.

Download the free NSF Sport App: iPhone | Android

The NSF Certified for Sport? program was developed by NSF International to help athletes, coaches, trainers and health and fitness enthusiasts make more educated decisions when choosing nutritional supplements. NSF screens supplements for more than 165 banned substances and undeclared ingredients including stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2-agonists, masking agents and other substances, as well as unsafe levels of contaminants. The NSF Certified for Sport program also tests and certifies that product content matches label claims, and inspects the manufacturing facility in which the products are made. Annual product re-testing and facility inspections verify ongoing compliance with program requirements.

The NSF Certified for Sport? program is recognized by major sports organizations such as the NFL, MLB, and their player associations, PGA, LPGA, NCAA and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) to help ensure the sports supplements their athletes use are free of banned substances. To help educate consumers about the program, NSF is offering consumers a chance to win a prize by taking a short NSF Certified for Sport quiz on their Facebook page.

The new NSF Sport App makes this even easier by allowing users to search NSF International?s listings or browse a complete list of NSF certified products from an iPhone (and iPad) or Android phone.

?NSF International?s Certified for Sport? program is the most rigorous and complete testing and certification program available for sports nutrition and dietary supplements. This new NSF Sport mobile app now makes it even easier for consumers to search for and find NSF Certified for Sport certified supplements that are safer and free of banned substances,? said NSF Dietary Supplements Certification program General Manager Ed Wyszumiala.

The NSF Dietary Supplement and Certified for Sport? programs are part of the NSF Health Sciences Division, which offers certification, training, consulting, GMP and GLP testing, R&D and auditing for the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and medical device industries. The Health Sciences Division includes: NSF Pharmalytica, a GLP & GMP contract laboratory; NSF-DBA, which has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, and medical devices training expertise; NSF Reference Standards and NSF Dietary Supplements. NSF International wrote the only official American National Standard for Dietary Supplements (NSF/ANSI 173) and developed its product certification program based on that standard. NSF’s Health Science Division operates globally throughout North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Editor?s Note: To schedule an interview with Ed Wyszumiala, General Manager of NSF International Dietary Supplement Certification program, contact Kelly Nichols at 734-827-6850 or knichols(at)nsf(dot)org.

Organizations seeking to learn more about the NSF Certified for Sport program, visit nsfsport.com or contact David Trosin at dtrosin(at)nsf(dot)org or 734-827-6856.

About NSF International: NSF International is an independent organization that writes standards and certifies products for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

Additional NSF services include NSF Education and Training, safety audits for the food and water industries, NSF Sustainability, organic certification provided by QAI (Quality Assurance International) and management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kelly Nichols

NSF International

734.827.6850

knichols(at)nsf(dot)org

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London, UK (PRWEB) January 24, 2012

Today, digital channels offer life science companies enormous untapped opportunities to reach and interwork with physicians and patients. Some marketing teams have already responded by boosting their digital activity, with growth trends indicating that some digital channels will surpass more traditional media tools.

However, a host of challenges faced by the industry like regulatory compliance, ROI, adverse events monitoring, etc. leave companies behind the curve as they try to navigate both opportunities and hidden dangers. Meanwhile, leading-edge firms forge ahead by integrating digital tools into overall brand – and corporate-level strategies.

New research study ?Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing and Social Media? worked out by Cutting Edge Information has been recently published by Market Publishers Ltd.

Report Details:

Title: Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing and Social Media

Published: December, 2011

Pages: 187

Price: US$ 7,695.00

http://marketpublishers.com/report/medicine_pharmaceuticals_biotechnology/healthcare_equipment_services/pharmaceutical_digital_marketing_n_social_media.html

The report is a must-have for those who want to:

????explore real-world marketing mixes, case studies and rankings to understand industry-wide usage and goals for digital marketing, social media and mobile technology;
????learn how leading companies manage compliance, gauge ROI and avoid outsourcing pitfalls; as well as explore how digital models help teams mitigate regulatory risks and earn internal buy-in for new initiatives.;
????benchmark structure, staffing, budget and reporting lines to develop a team equipped to face challenges both now and in the future.

Report Contents:

Executive Summary

Study Methodology

Study DeUnitions

Digital Marketing: Key Findings and Recommendations

Integrating Digital and Traditional Channels

The New Pharmaceutical Marketing Mix

Social Media and Mobile Technology in Pharma

Pharma?s In-Roads into Social Media

Mobile Technology

eMarketing Structure, Stafung and Budgets

eMarketing Organizational Structure

eMarketing StafUng Resources

Digital Marketing Budgets

Outsourcing Digital Marketing

Agency Ratings: Six Categories for Digital Success

Structural Strategies for Mitigating Digital Marketing Risk

Charts and Graphics

Executive Summary

Figure E.1: Digital and Traditional Channels as a Percentage of the Overall 2011 Marketing Media Mix

Figure E.2: Media Mix for All Companies from 2009-2011

Digital Marketing: Key Findings and Recommendations

Figure E.3: Percentage Change in Media Mix from 2009 to 2011

Figure E.4: Dedicated eMarketing Groups? Staffing (FTEs)

Figure E.5: Total eMarketing Budgets

Figure E.6: Brand-Level eMarketing Spending During Registration & Launch

Figure E.7: Percentage of Companies Engaged in At Least One Type of Social Media Activity

Figure E.8: Ratings of Challenges to Social Media Adoption

Figure E.9: Effect of Lack of FDA Guidance on Companies? DTC Social Media Strategy

Figure E.10: Overall Opinion of Contract Agency?s Ability to Carry Out Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing

Integrating Digital and Traditional Channels

Figure 1.1: Age of Dedicated eMarketing Groups

The New Pharmaceutical Marketing Mix

Figure 1.2: Media Mix for All Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.3: Percentage Change in Media Mix from 2009 to 2011

Figure 1.4: Media Mix for Top 10 Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.5: Media Mix for Top 50 Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.6: Media Mix for Top 100 Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.7: Media Mix for US Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.8: Media Mix for Non-US Companies from 2009-2011

Figure 1.9: Media Mix for Brand-level Groups from 2009-2011

Figure 1.10: Media Mix for Corporate-level Groups from 2009-2011

Social Media and Mobile Technology in Pharma

Pharma?s In-Roads into Social Media

Figure 2.1: Percentage of Companies Engaged in At Least One Type of Social Media Activity

Figure 2.2: Number of Companies Engaged in Each Type of Social Media Activity

Figure 2.3: Companies Engaged in Each Type of Social Media Activity, by Percentage

Figure 2.4: Companies Engaged in Each Type of Social Media Activity at Corporate and Brand Levels

Figure 2.5: Ratings of Positive Impact Potential of Social Media, by Activity Type

Figure 2.6: Ratings Spread of Positive Impact Potential of Social Media, by Activity Type

Figure 2.7: Ratings of Challenges to Social Media Adoption

Figure 2.8: Ratings Spread of Challenges to Social Media Adoption

Figure 2.9: How Companies Measure Social Media Initiatives

Figure 2.10: Effect of Lack of FDA Guidance on Companies? DTC Social Media Strategy

Figure 2.11: Effect of Lack of FDA Guidance on Companies? DTC Social Media Strategy (US vs Non-US)

Figure 2.12: Support for Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Options

Figure 2.13: Ratings of Marketing Potential of Online Channels

Figure 2.14: Employee Use of Social Media and Formal Policies

Mobile Technology

Figure 2.15: Percentage of Brands Using Mobile Technology for Marketing or Medical Affairs Initiatives

…

More new studies by the publisher can be found at Cutting Edge Information page.

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Columbus, Ohio and Muscat, Oman (PRWEB) January 22, 2012

Franklin University and the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) are pleased to announce the start of the first Franklin MBA cohort beginning January 29.

To commemorate this historic event, Franklin University?s President David Decker, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Christopher Washington, and Godfrey Mendes, Dean of Global Programs will join MCBS officials in Oman for a ceremony to celebrate the official start of this new cohort.

With the start of this new cohort, students at MCBS will now have the opportunity to take classes in the Franklin University MBA designed to help develop them into well-rounded, adaptive, and strategic-thinking business leaders. In addition, the Franklin MBA, accredited (by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education ) is offered in many countries around the world, providing curriculum that offers a truely global perspective.

?We are excited for the start of this new MBA cohort in Oman,? said Franklin University President David Decker. ?The start of this cohort allows Franklin, an institution known for its expertise in providing access to career-relevant education, to challenge students in Oman to leverage their strengths while increasing their ability to think expansively about how the world of commerce operates.?

The comprehensive theory-to-practice curriculum emphasizes analytics, contemporary business communication skills, and social responsibility, allowing students to build a foundation of practical business strategies and adaptable management skills that are noticed and needed in the ever-changing global marketplace.

MBA classes will be held on the campus of the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Muscat, the country?s capital, largest city, and seat of government. Classes will be taught in English by a combination of Columbus-based Franklin faculty members traveling to Oman and local faculty members from MCBS and other institutions.

The Modern College of Business and Science in the Sultanate of Oman is a private college accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education. It was established in 1996 and offers Associate and Bachelor Degrees, primarily in business administration and computer science. The Franklin MBA will be the first graduate program offered by the college. For further information on MCBS visit http://www.mcbs.edu.om.

The Franklin University MBA program is offered internationally through agreements with institutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Further information regarding Franklin University can be found at http://www.franklin.edu.

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(PRWEB) January 19, 2012

Upsite Technologies?, Inc. ?the pioneering company in airflow management solutions? announces the retirement of Dan Gollahon, Vice President of Strategic Partners. Data center industry veteran, Dan Gollahon has decided to retire after a full career of leading business development and driving sales. Dan?s retirement is effective February 3, 2012. Over the years Dan has contributed to the success of notable technology companies to include: Lowrance Electronics (http://www.lowrance.com), SpaceCom Systems (http://www.spacecom.com), Digital Equipment Corporation (now owned by Hewlett-Packard) and Hewlett-Packard (http://www.hp.com).

Dan has been a mainstay at Upsite since it was founded in 2001 contributing to corporate sales growth and year over year financial success. ?Dan?s contributions to the early successes of Upsite Technologies, Inc. were invaluable to establishing the company?s reputation as a leader in Airflow Management for the Data Center Industry? stated Ken Brill, Founder, Uptime Institute and Upsite.

?As Upsite initiated its Strategic Partner Plans in early 2011, Dan played an important role by establishing strong commitments with our Partners and ensuring the lines of communications were built on respect and integrity. His relationship building will be missed by Upsite as well as the industry,? noted Ken Sowards, President, Upsite Technologies, Inc.

Dan built his career with a BSEE degree from Southern Illinois University and a Certificate of Management from Oral Roberts University. Dan?s talents were quickly recognized as he established himself as a successful leader in sales, marketing and executive management. Dan is also known in the industry as an outstanding recruiter and trainer of top sales talent.

Dan recalls, ?It was a leap of faith for me as I joined Upsite during their infancy stage before products hit the market. Together we created a buzz in the industry and generated acceptance within the Fortune 50 to become a recognized industry best practice. I enjoyed being a part of the team bringing industry innovations to our highly respected Partners. I consider my time with the Upsite team and Partners the highlight of my career.? When asked what?s next, Dan said, ?I have accepted an opportunity to consult in Sales Management and teach Sales Ethics. It will allow me to share my experiences and build on the philosophy that to generate the best results you have to give respect, take responsibility, and build win/win solutions for it is only in a positive growth environment that we can excel and thrive.?

About Upsite

Known as the ?pioneering company in airflow management solutions? Upsite Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2001 by Ken Brill, who in 1993, had established the Uptime Institute, a think tank dedicated to understanding, improving, educating and expanding awareness of uptime and optimal efficiencies in data centers. Upsite Technologies leveraged the experience and knowledge obtained at the Uptime Institute to create its initial energy-efficiency products and services including the first KoldLok? product, the Integral grommet. Upsite continues to successfully engineer, design and manufacture a series of precision sealing solutions from our award winning, patented LOK Family of Solutions?. Sharing the science and executing it to optimize the data center is what sets Upsite apart in the industry. Upsite Technologies’ products and services empower data center managers to leverage cost savings and /or improve key elements of data center operations. The company is partnered with proven leaders in the data center airflow management industry throughout the United States, EMEA and Asia Pacific markets. For further information please visit http://www.upsite.com.

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Houston, TX (PRWEB) January 19, 2012

Practitioners and teachers have long described the numerous mental and physical benefits of yoga and meditation practice. A recent scientific study measuring the electrical activity in the brain of those practicing a specific meditative practice, taught in Isha Foundation?s Inner Engineering program, provides scientific evidence to support some of these claims. The self-realized yogi and the founder of Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Vasudev, will be visiting Houston May 4-6, 2012 to conduct this Inner Engineering yoga and meditation program, which offers a powerful possibility to balance and align one’s inner energies, leading to enhanced joy as well as improved physical and mental wellbeing.

The Inner Engineering program includes interactive discussions, guided meditations, a set of simple, gentle asanas (yoga poses) and the transmission of Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya. Shambhavi Mahamudra is a 21-minute practice that greatly accelerates spiritual transformation and can have powerful physiological benefits as well. The kriya is an ancient internal energy process that functions as a catalyst for spiritual growth. When practiced regularly, the Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya will support health and inner wellbeing the rest of one?s life.

The study* of the brain activity of meditators demonstrated dramatic changes in electrical wave patterns in the brain after just 21 minutes of Shambhavi practice. These results included marked increases in the slow frequency delta and theta wave patterns characteristic of deep relaxation, and increased activity in areas of the brain important for alertness and focus. The EEG study also found marked increases in synchronization of wave patterns in the right and left sides of the brain. Referred to as ‘whole-brain synchronization,’ this phenomenon is commonly associated with more efficient and effective mental processing capabilities, including heightened mental clarity and sharper discrimination, better learning ability, and increased creativity.

In a 2010 survey of 536 practitioners of Shambhavi, 86% reported reductions in stress and anxiety with 91% of respondents saying they felt a deeper sense of overall peace. 80% of practitioners in the study also felt they had improved mental clarity and 70% reported increased mental concentration.

Participants of Sadhguru’s Inner Engineering program not only report feeling much happier as a result, they also commonly express greatly reduced levels of stress and anxiety, increased mental-alertness, enhanced focus and self-awareness. ?I am happier with life and more accepting, I am more responsible and somehow more in tune with everything,? shared a recent participant of the Inner Engineering program. ?I’ve become a much more confident and positive person, able to think clearly and deal with complicated situations and emotionally sensitive issues,? explained another.

According to Sadhguru, the 10,000-year-old science of yoga understands the human system not just as a physical body, but as five layers of body. These five layers are the physical body, mental body, pranic energy body, etheric body and bliss body. It is alignment of the bodies, the koshas, that allows a yoga practitioner to experience the bliss at the core of human life.

?The reason why most people in the world do not know joy is that the physical, the mental, and the ?pranic? or the energy-body, are not in alignment. The core of you is joy; over that there are four layers. If they are properly aligned, a natural expression, an overwhelming expression of joyfulness will naturally happen within a human being,” explained Sadhguru in a recent introductory talk. “People may achieve this state in so many ways. Someone is listening to music and at a certain moment he experiences joyfulness because in that moment his physical body, mind, energy, everything is focused in one direction, and suddenly, a burst of joyfulness happens within. Maybe somebody is dancing, it happens with him. Maybe somebody is looking at something beautiful, it happens to him. These are all different ways that it may happen. Now (in Inner Engineering programs) we are looking at the technology of keeping these three bodies constantly aligned so that joyfulness is not an accidental happening; joyfulness becomes a normal condition, a natural way of living for you.”

Manveer Bhatia et al. Neurophysiological and Biochemical evaluation in practitioners of Isha Yoga. World Conference- Expanding Paradigms: Science, Consciousness and Spirituality February 2006

For more information on Inner Engineering May 4-6 in Houston, contact houston(at)ishafoundation(dot)org or kathy(dot)c(at)ishafoundation(dot)org.

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2012

ViSalus Sciences is a Health and Wellness focused direct sales company with corporate offices in Troy, Michigan and Los Angeles, California. Offering a diverse line of quality nutritional supplements, energy drinks, and weight management solutions, the ViSalus community of customers and distributors stretches from coast to coast as the company prepares for International expansion.

Among these products is the ViSalus Vi-PAK, an advanced anti-aging and energy system designed to support your daily health. ViSalus NEURO is a smart energy drink mix that gives you a gentle, healthy lift of energy that gets you through the day without the jitters. The Trim Slim Shape Program offers a 1-2-3 system for healthy weight loss and weight management to let the real you show through.

The name “ViSalus” represents the three pillars of the company’s core mission: Life, Health and Prosperity. The ViSalus community is able to create lasting life memories through reward trips and personal development opportunities. ViSalus promotes better health through its line of health and wellness products. And, finally, ViSalus seeks to improve the prosperity of others through providing direct selling opportunities, teaching entrepreneurship principles, and reinforcing the need to give back and make an impact on the people and causes we care about most.

To read more about Blyth, Inc and their brands, click here.

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Sandy, UT (PRWEB) January 16, 2012

The Waterford School is pleased to announce its charter membership in the Cum Laude Society. Waterford is currently the only school in Utah to have this distinction.

Beginning with the Class of 2012, the school will select a group of students each year to be inducted into Cum Laude. These students will be recognized for their academic achievements across all disciplines.

?Waterford has a long tradition of commitment to the ideals of liberal arts education. One of those ideals, is academic excellence: true and deep achievement in a broad range of disciplines. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize our finest scholars with a distinction that will carry weight at a national level,? said Dr. Brandon Bennett, Waterford Academic Dean.

In addition, seven Waterford faculty members were inducted into the Cum Laude Society as Charter Members. These teachers were recognized for their outstanding contributions to learning and excellence: Brandon Bennett, Ph.D., Academic Dean; Mark Bromley, Science Teacher; Kelley Heuston, History Teacher; Steve Manning, Computer Science Department Chair; Kathy Morris, Orchestra Teacher; Nancy Woller, Math Teacher; Jan Van Arsdell, History and English Teacher.

Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. The founders of the society modeled Cum Laude after Phi Beta Kappa and in the years since its founding, Cum Laude has grown to 382 chapters, approximately two dozen of which are located in public schools and the rest in private or independent schools. Membership is predominantly in the United States, but chapters also are located in Canada, England, France, Spain, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

The Waterford School is a private, college-preparatory school located in Sandy, Utah, for students in preschool through grade 12. For more information visit http://www.waterfordschool.org

For more information about the Cum Laude Society visit http://www.cumlaudesociety.org.

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Silver Spring, MD (PRWEB) January 12, 2012

The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) today announced support for 19 elephant conservation projects for 2012.

?IEF-supported projects protect elephants from poaching, seek solutions for human-elephant conflict, equip and train community conservationists, increase our knowledge of the treatment and prevention of disease, and educate people,? said IEF Executive Director, Deborah Olson. ?In 2012, IEF will provide over $ 225,000 to support elephant conservation around the world, adding to the over 2 million total invested in conserving elephants since its inception in 1998.?

IEF?s elephant conservation and education programs are ongoing both in managed elephant care facilities and in the wild. IEF is a non-profit organization established in 1998 by a group of zoos and other elephant care facilities to enhance and promote elephant conservation around the world. IEF receives the majority of its funding from AZA-accredited zoos. To date, seventy-five AZA institutions have contributed funds or support to IEF totaling over 1.4 million.

?African and Asian elephants are relying on us to ensure their future,? said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. ?Elephants in North American zoos contribute to studies in welfare, reproduction and behavior which has applications for their wild counterparts and also generate support for the International Elephant Foundation while providing a powerful, up-close connection to animals only seen on T.V.?

?AZA is proud to support the efforts of the International Elephant Foundation,? said, Jim Maddy. ?Elephants in AZA-accredited zoos are wildlife embassadors who educate the public, create life-long conservationists and raise money to support vital IEF conservation efforts.?

The following elephant conservation projects will receive support from IEF in 2012:

ASIAN ELEPHANT PROJECTS:

Changing local attitudes and behavior towards elephants in Kerala, India

Zoo Outreach Organisation Trust has developed a teaching guide on Human-elephant coexistence (HECx) entitled, ?Getting along with elephants? and educational packets for use during programs. This information provided in the human-elephant conflict areas of Kerala will help to create a positive attitude among the people toward the elephant and its conservation.

Emergence of highly fatal Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) in Asian elephants of South India

This project will promulgate a thorough epidemiological investigation of the EEHV infections in both free ranging and captive Asian Elephants in South India. It will identify and evaluate the extent of emergence of EEHV, risk factors and risk groups involved and will help formulate management strategies for the future conservation of the Asian elephant.

Sumatra Elephant Conservation Response Units, Indonesia

This ongoing IEF project uses once neglected captive elephants and their mahouts for direct field based conservation intervention and protection for all wildlife.

Supporting community-based conservation of Asian elephants in Rakhine Yoma, Myanmar

IEF will support the participation of Chin tribes in the protection of Asian elephants and other globally threatened wildlife in the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Sanctuary (RYES) and the adjacent Taung-nyo Public Protected Forest (TPPF). In a country with no tradition of community participation in protected area management, this is an opportunity to build on success and demonstrate a functioning model of community-based conservation.

A sustainable solution for human elephant conflict in Sri Lanka

Introducing Palmyra bio-fencing as a sustainable, eco-friendly, long-term solution will work to mitigate the impacts of human elephant conflict. This innovative project proposes pilot testing Palmyra bio-fencing technology at three different locations of the country, obtaining the assistance from three key national government agencies and respective local communities.

Publication of the Gajah, the Journal of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group

Gajah shares best practices and builds capacity amongst managers, conservationists, researchers and to those interested in the management and conservation of the Asian elephant, both wild and those in human care.

AFRICAN ELEPHANT PROJECTS:

2012 Waterborne Anti-poaching & surveillance operations on Lake Itezhi Tezhi and Kafue River in Kafue National Park, Zambia

This project supports Zambia?s Wildlife Authority and the Community Resources Board to undertake anti-poaching and monitoring of Lake Itezhi Tezhi, in order to minimize the poaching threat, thereby securing the northern Buffer Zone of the Ngoma Forest complex for the benefit of wild elephants, as well as other wildlife species.

Mounted horse patrol anti-poaching unit for Mount Kenya, Kenya

Elephant poaching on Mount Kenya is escalating at an alarming rate. Mount Kenya Trust statistics indicate that more than 100 elephant have been killed in the last two and a half years. The Mount Kenya Trust horse patrol unit will tackle the identified poaching hot spots between the Imenti and Sirimon areas of the mountain.

Program ?My Elephant Neighbor,? Burkina-Faso, West Africa

Exposing children to their elephant neighbors in a positive manner is the most effective way to involve them and their families in elephant conservation. This program offers a unique opportunity to see and learn about the local elephants. It will benefit elephant conservation both in the long- and short-term, as both children and their parents learn about the issues of the neighboring elephant population.

Reduction of human/elephant conflict through beekeeping, Ghana, West Africa

The best strategy to prevent crop damage is to discourage the elephants from coming out of the forest. It has been shown that elephants will not approach beehives and this can be used as a barrier or fence between the forest and the farm crops. Beekeeping will also be an income generating activity for some of the local farmers as well as helping with pollination both within and outside of the forest.

Capacity building by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Kenya

This multi-year partnership supports NRT as it develops the capacity and self-sufficiency of its constituent community conservancies in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and natural resources-based enterprises.

Waterways Project, Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF)

This multi-year partnership constructs and equips marine stations that are positively impacting the ability of law enforcement to reverse poaching and to initiate water rescue for the communities that make their livelihood from the resources of the lake.

Disseminating Lessons Learned and Building Capacity through Pachyderm

Pachyderm is an essential vehicle for publishing manuscripts by elephant range State researchers, thereby assisting in developing capacity at the scientific and managerial level.

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION:

Developing a test to detect viral infection in elephants

This study will develop an improved, more sensitive blood test to detect antibodies against multiple EEHV proteins. The test will provide a much-needed tool to evaluate the prevalence of infection in North American elephants, and determine whether prior infection with one strain of EEHV protects against infection by other strains.

Disease risk analyses for Tuberculosis detection and prevalence in elephants

Identification of risk factors and assessment of currently available diagnostic methods in U.S. elephants will provide information that can be used for making recommendations to minimize transmission and prevent infection. Improved interpretation of diagnostic tests, identification of risk factors associated with infection, and assessment of the current infection status of the U.S. elephant population will facilitate decision-making by elephant managers, veterinarians, and regulatory officials regarding movement, treatment, and management of elephants to prevent TB infection.

Innovative attempts to propagate Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus cell culture

The ability to grow and propagate this virus in the laboratory conditions is critical for the progress of future research of EEHV. Understanding the biology and pathology of this virus and the possibility of generating live attenuated vaccines, requires that innovative approaches to EEHV research must be a top priority. This study will employ a variety of improved detection methods and alternative approaches, together with stored elephant blood vessel wall cells and virus-containing samples that have already been collected for this purpose.

Validation of the effectiveness of anti-herpesvirus inhibitors for EEHV disease

Only ten out of 70 elephants with confirmed EEHV disease have survived, all after medication treatments that include one of two drugs known to target the lytic replication of certain human herpesviruses. However, the rationale that either drug works against EEHV is purely theoretical and at least twice as many calves that have also been treated similarly did not survive. This project will carry out sophisticated basic research experiments designed to answer which if any of these two drugs are indeed truly capable of stopping EEHV.

Determining Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of the Antivirual Drug Ganciclovir in Asian Elephants

Appropriate dosages and dosing intervals to maintain therapeutic blood levels of ganciclovir in elephants needs to be established in order to guarantee effective treatment and to minimize drug?associated side effects.

Elephant Edotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) Research

IEF is the primary funder of the National Herpesvirus laboratory at the Smithsonian National Zoo and directs and funds multiple studies aimed at identifying the causes of EEHV.

As a non-profit organization dedicated to elephant conservation, education and research, IEF funds worthy elephant conservation and research projects worldwide. To learn more about IEF or to contribute to elephant conservation efforts, please visit IEF?s website at http://www.elephantconservation.org/.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. To learn more, visit http://www.aza.org.

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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (PRWEB) January 12, 2012

Two of the most popular 2011 trends ? triathlons and social media ? come together even better in 2012 with the launch of the International Triathlon Coaching Association?s (ITCA) new Facebook page, designed for triathlon coaches, athletes, fans and members of the association.

Online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/170987673613/, the new page offers triathlon tips, articles, nutrition, interviews, surveys, special deals and more as well as a place for triathletes to connect and communicate with each other.

?When you combine the disciplines of swimming, biking and racing in one athletic event, you are already pretty good at making connections, so this Facebook page simply offers triathlon lovers worldwide another opportunity to connect with each other to talk about strategies, races, training, nutrition and everything else in the world of triathlons,? said John Spencer Ellis, founder of the International Triathlon Coaching Association. ?We look forward to sharing even more news, tips and trends with many of our fans and friends around the globe.?

In addition, the ITCA website at http://triathloncoachcertification.com/ continues to provide online, self-paced triathlon coach training; the online training offers a blueprint for triathlon coaching success that includes science, application and proven business models. The Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/170987673613/, then, simply provides a more informal option for connection, communication and community for triathlon lovers.

About the International Triathlon Coaching Association

The International Triathlon Coaching Association (ITCA) is the triathlon certification division of the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association or NESTA, which was formed in 2008 to be the leading source of triathlon coaching certification and business development for new and advancing triathlon coaches. Since 1992, NESTA has been a leader in innovative solutions for sports and fitness professionals. Now with more than 55,000 members in 55 countries, it is one of the largest fitness associations in the world, and the fastest growing association of its kind in the United States. For more information on the ITCA or to sign up for the International Triathlon Coaching Association Facebook group, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/170987673613/

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Oakland, CA (PRWEB) January 11, 2012

New students attending the Bay Area Graduate Studies school, Lincoln University this spring semester will have an opportunity to meet the faculty, administration and president of the school at the Welcome Reception being held Jan. 11.

Students at Lincoln will be able to get to know their fellow students, and enjoy special activities and events planned for the reception.

Students arrive from all over the world to attend the Bay Area MBA degree program at Lincoln University and participate in the programs offered which include Doctor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Associate of Science in Diagnostic Imaging, Ultrasound Technician Certificate Program, and Intensive Academic English Preparation.

Lincoln University is well-known for the excellent education provided to their students, as well as ensuring that each student has a positive college experience.

?I invite you to discover for yourself the unique character of Lincoln University. Our excellent and rigorous curriculum, outstanding faculty and convenient facilities provide all the necessary components to ensure our students? path to a successful future,? said Dr. Mikhail Brodsky, President and Rector of Lincoln University in Oakland.

For more information about the university, please call them at 510-250-3772 or visit their website at http://www.lincolnuca.edu to view more details about the academy and courses offered. Lincoln University is located at 401 15th St. in Oakland.

About Lincoln University

Founded in 1919, Lincoln University offers an education of higher learning where educational excellence, professional know-how, and up-to-date international standards are combined with individual attention and a friendly atmosphere, giving rise to a world-class education. Each program within the university is designed to ensure that all of the acquired knowledge and skills will be valuable to its graduates, providing a practical and solid foundation for the student’s future. We make sure that every part of our students’ education serves a purpose and brings them closer to accomplishing their professional degrees goals.

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