Month: October 2007

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Uncovering Popular Myths About Anti-Aging Creams

According to the revelations of a study by American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, effectiveness of popular over-the Counter (OTC) anti-aging creams do not have enough scientific and clinical research evidence. Findings of this study are available in the July-August, 2007, issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. It is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery (ASAPS).  

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is a nodal organization of certified plastic surgeons with cosmetic plastic surgery specialization. ASAPS also brings out an ‘Aesthetic Surgery Journal’ with numerous subscribers across more than 60 countries.

“Over-the-Counter (OTC)” anti-aging-cream products have a market of more than one billion dollars. Marketing of these ‘anti-aging-products’ is also not a new concept. Manufacturing and marketing of these products was an important business activity even in the early 19th century. In the year 2000 alone, the OTC anti-aging cream products sold to the American consumers was over two billion dollars.  Moreover, it is surprising that their popularity is growing exponentially despite the fact that there is no scientific and clinical research base and evidence supporting the effectiveness of these products.

ASAPS study findings show that the  “Over-the-Counter” ‘anti-aging-creams’ have some beneficial remedies for people who are suffering from aging and other related problems. In case of such persons, a surgical process is necessary to get the effective results otherwise. This study impresses upon an urgent requirement of public awareness on the effectiveness of OTC anti-aging products. 

A complete review of the existing research on ingredients found in OTC anti-aging creams was an important part of this study. The ingredients and compounds included vitamins, anti-oxidants, alpha-hydroxyl- acid, penta-peptides and other botanicals. Some of them like Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxyl- acid, and penta-peptides have proved their effectiveness in scientific and clinical research. Similarly, Vitamin A and other retinols also demonstrate effectiveness in some restricted prescription-strength formulations. Effects of vitamin-B are presently under investigation and it may turn out to be a potential ingredient in future. Moisturizers generally prove effective to improve hydration and skin appearance, according to ASAPS. 

Botanical products like grape- seed- extracts, soy compounds, green- tea, and gingko-biloba are newer varieties to enter the anti-aging market. These products are in great demand. Effectiveness of these botanical products is however, not established until this day. Some animal experiments and cell culture results are available for these botanical compounds. These findings do establish some beneficial effects like increased collagen expression, improved anti-oxidant activity, accelerated healing and enhanced hydration reveals the ASAPS-study. 

ASAPS-study concludes that, It is required that people are educated properly about the effectiveness of OTC anti-aging products. Patients need to educate themselves.” Consumers should understand the outcomes of OTC anti-aging creams until clinical evidence arrives”, said adds Foad Nahai, MD, Atlanta plastic surgeon, President of ASAPS. 

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Growing Trends In Favor of Hybrid Cars Sales and Increasing Market Share

Hybrid Cars Sale is on happy vroom this year. Power Information Network Data shows a net 3.4% growth in the sale of hybrid car market in the United States during the month of May alone. This happens to be the highest sales per month ever.Hybrid Car sale constitutes a very small component of the total car sale market today. The total market share was 2.8% out of the total new cars sold during a period from January to June 3, this year. RNCOS E-services Pvt. Ltd. issued a report recently stating that the hybrid cars in United States crossed 254,000 in 2006. The Hybrid Cars Market Outlook Report of RNCOS calculates this number to be just 1.9% of the total vehicle sale volume. The market is maturing slowly and it expects a net sale of 1.68 million hybrid cars by the year 2012.

Higher car price tag is one of the major concerns for customers as well as the manufacturers. These hybrid Cars run on a system that works for gasoline and electric power at the same time. Facility of switching to one system to other system provides fuel efficiency to the customer. The technology is there in the market since long now and customers are getting used to it, though slowly. Other versions of Hybrid Technology are facing a problem of lengthy guarantees, dealership, and service issues.” That might not be fixed by a non-dealership mechanic”, says Rosen at EdmundsAutoObserver.com.

Statistical data of State Department of Motor Vehicles provides an interesting trend of the sales pattern. It shows that more than 1560 hybrid cars were on the registration panel in Niagara and Erie Counties alone. This was a sharp jump from 960 cars to 1560 cars in just one year.

Hybrid Car segment is just a tiny one in the whole vehicle segment of auto market in United States. Market is taking new shapes slowly and new trends are now emerging. Hybrid cars are here to stay and grow exponentially.” I think it will continue to grow”, Says Frank Downing Jr., President, Towne Automotive Group.

The Hybrid Cars market Outlook Report of RNCOS demonstrates analytical trends of global hybrid car market. Various parameters were under consideration while making this report. Some of these parameters include market size, player’s strategies, regional markets, government policies, driving factors and opportunities with challenges.

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How to Stop Crimeware Infection and Confidential Information Stealing: Finjan Software Suggests Measures

A report released by Finjan, reveals how criminals are stealing the banking and other confidential financial data by infecting personal computers, leaving no trace behind, with crimeware like MPack Toolkit. The crimeware breaks into confidential information of customers, which includes user name, Password, and bank account numbers. Criminals infect the computers with crimeware and take out data through a secure communication channel (SSL). At the infected computer user’s end, everything remains normal including online browsing. Even the popular security solutions cannot detect it, according to Finjan.

How It Happens !

Crimeware is so creative that it generates webpage, exactly same in ‘look and feel’, instantly. As soon as a customer opens the website of a bank or any other financial institution, and starts feeding login details ,the crimeware takes over the browser and starts sending information to criminal’s servers. The customer never identifies anything abnormal.

“This attack is more dangerous than Phishing, and it is extremely difficult to detect,” says Yuval Ben-Itzhak, the CTO of Finjan.

The Crimeware operates parallel to the normal browsing in the background. User never realizes anything suspicious. The infection spreads from one user to another. When a user opens the main page of a legitimate website, embedded malicious code is also loaded silently.

A criminal hacker gets an access to extract all confidential information. Crimeware also use ‘Key logger’, to keep a track of ongoing activities on the infected computer .Popular security solutions and anti-virus programs do not protect computers completely from these embedded malicious codes, which creep in through legitimate sites, as this crimeware operates through SSL connections, Security solution are not configured for encrypted SSL connections.

The crime ware with malicious codes keeps changing its hosting locations, making it a difficult task to track. A ‘real-time content inspection technique’ is the only solution. It detects and provides safety from malicious codes and crime ware. “Real-time analysis is required to protect users from malicious code the first time it strikes,” observes Ben-Itzak of Finjan.

Safety Measures

Finjan, provides real -time global web gateway security solutions, to repel threats from hackers, including spyware, phishing, and malicious codes. Finjan’s research wing MCRC (Malicious Code Research Center), suggests measures and precautionary steps for customers and financial institutions. It advises that the services providers should never ask customer’s confidential information and codes online. Customers must contact through other means, incase it is demanded on a website, as why it is necessary. Customer must add a real-time inspection and protective web security solution to their computers. An updated security solution protects a user from financial frauds.

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Mysterious Human Heart: Three Part TV series Premier to Fight Heart Diseases

Worldwide premieres of a three -hour, three part television series, “The Mysterious Human Heart” will be on PBS on Mondays, October 15th and 22nd at 9 PM (ET).
Umpteen efforts and innovative approaches are underway across the globe in order to educate and inform the individuals about the advantages of maintaining healthy life styles. We find numerous organizations, agencies, governments, individuals, and combined and joint efforts working on same platform. “Mysterious Human Heart” is one of those organized innovative effort that aims to combat heart disease prevention. This time it will be the “TV-Media” to reach to the public at large.
Medtronic, AstraZeneca, and Mars Incorporated have joined hands to support the telecasting of new three-hour PBS Series of ‘David Grubin Productions’ and ‘Thirteen/WNET New York’ in association with WETA Washington D.C. ‘Fannie E. Rippel Foundation’ is supporting this television series financially.
“Mysterious Human Heart” is a program that will help to educate everyone about the burden and consequences of cardiovascular diseases. This three part series will also initiate a process to inspire patients to take the responsibility of their own heart-health. It will enable them to talk to their physicians in an effective way. It also aims to equip them in such a way that the patients will help their physicians to work out and develop a suitable treatment plan exclusively for themselves.
David Grubin, the ‘Series Executive Producer’, says,”When it comes to heart disease, information can save lives”.
The series will demonstrate all the advancements and new discoveries in the field of heart disease prevention and treatments through the live experiences of the people.

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Honesty Once Again Proved Itself a Globally Existing Human Nature Phenomenon

What will you do if you notice a mobile phone left unattended and ringing in a shopping mall lobby? Would you answer the call? In case you do, you come to know that the owner of the mobile phone has almost lost it. He then requests you to spare some time and trouble yourself to return it. Would you agree for that? Alternatively, cut-it and keep the tempting new handset in your pocket and walk away?

The “Global Cell-Phone Honesty Test” reveals that almost 68 percent people choose to give it back. Albeit the test does not have a base of scientific methods, it brings out some beguiling natural human instincts.

Reader’s Digest carried out the test simultaneously in select most populated cities of 32 countries around the world. Reader’s Digest, the most widely read magazine of the world, conducted an informal honesty test by leaving 960 mobile phones unattended, at select busiest public spots, in each city.

Every country had local researchers who arranged and conducted this test. They observed the mobile handsets from a distance after leaving it unattended at a place. These mobile handsets were brand-new, mid-priced models with tempting designs. Researchers observed if anyone answered the ringing mobile. Researchers were observing for three possible types of people’s response after ringing the mobile. One may decide to return the phone or keep the phone with himself. He may also decide to make a call on the pre-programmed handset number, the third possibility.

“In every single city where the test was conducted, at minimum almost half of the phones were returned. And despite the temptation that people must have felt to keep the phones, and the fact that the test imposed on everyone’s time, the average return rate was remarkable 68 percent, or about two thirds of the 30 phones we dropped in each city.” said Conrad Kiechel, Editorial Director, International

The editors of the ‘Reader’s Digest’ magazine conceptualized and monitored this test in every participating country. Reader’s Digest did organize a ‘Global Courtesy Test’ last year as well. This year the test was on the same lines. The test is remarkable and spectacular in its approach and findings, as it concludes concurrently at many cities around the world. Reader’s Digest has drawn an exemplary trajectory geographically.

‘Ljubljana’, a small city in Slovenia, with highest percentage of mobile handsets returned, tops the list of cities. This is the smallest of all participating cities with a population of only 267,000. Inhabitants of this picturesque city are generous and very helpful. People returned 29 of 30 mobile handsets during the test.

In Toronto, Canada, citizens returned 28 mobile phones of 30 in total. This metro police stood at second rank of all. Ryan Demchuk, 29, works as an insurance broker in Toronto. He expressed his sense of satisfaction when he returned the mobile.”If you can help somebody out, why not?” said Ryan.

In Stockholm, Sweden, Lotta Mossige, who works as a railway ticket inspector, also gave it back after finding it on a shopping street. She always calls back people who leave their handsets in her train. Seoul, South Korea and Stockholm, Sweden, were at third and forth rank respectively. In Mumbai, India; Manila, Philippines; and New York City, people gave back 24 such mobile phones. At fifth Place, these three cities stand together.

Putting aside the common belief, young ones proved themselves equally honest. “I did the right thing,” said 16-year-old Johnnie Sparrow from New York’s Harlem section. He felt proud over his action when he found a mobile unattended. Muhammad Faizal bin Hassan, a shopping complex employee in Singapore also answered a ringing phone. “My parents taught me that if something is not sure, don’t take it,” says Faizal.

Women were slightly more likely to return phones than were men. It was an opportunity for many parents to teach a lesson of good human behavior to their children. “I am glad that my kids are here to see this. I hope it sets a good example,” said Mohammad Yusuf mahmoud, 33, in Hounslow, west London, when he answered the mobile phone call. His two young daughters were also with him now.

Reason behind this natural human response was an experience of suffering and a feeling of satisfaction towards those who have lost their valuable things that they never found it back. Kristina, 51, from Helsinki expressed her feelings with a sense of satisfaction, “I’ve had cars stolen three times and even the laundry from the cellar was taken”.

Despite all luring, greed, economic pressures and many other excuses people returned 68% (654 numbers of mobiles) mobile phones. Honesty once again proved itself a globally existing human nature phenomenon once again.