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Sunday, July 31, 2016

10 Weirdest Services Out There (Video)

Have an idea for a new service but afraid it’s a bit too weird to work? Don’t worry. There are already plenty of weird services out there in the market. Some of the weirdest ones are included in the above video.
Whether it’s goat rentals, mobile weddings or an invisible boyfriend: all of these businesses meet a need in the market.  At the same time, their unconventional nature was almost certainly what made these businesses a success. Offering unusual services made these businesses easier to market and promote and guaranteed they would stand from the competition.


10 Weirdest Services Out There (Video)

Trump adviser: Melania nude picture "nothing to be embarrassed about" - Jul. 31, 2016

A key adviser to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says there's no problem with the New York Post's publication of a nude photograph of Melania Trump on its Sunday cover.



"They're a celebration of the human body as art," Jason Miller, the Trump campaign's senior communications adviser, said on CNN's "Reliable Sources."



Trump adviser: Melania nude picture "nothing to be embarrassed about" - Jul. 31, 2016

Standoff? Commission defends debate schedule amid Trump complaints - Jul. 31, 2016

Donald Trump's campaign is pushing to reschedule two of the presidential debates set for this fall, but the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan group responsible for scheduling, is standing firm.



"Our position on the debates is we want as many people, as many voters, to be participants in and to see the debates as possible," Jason Miller, senior communications adviser with the Trump campaign, said on CNN's "Reliable Sources" Sunday.



Standoff? Commission defends debate schedule amid Trump complaints - Jul. 31, 2016

Plan for Big Events in Los Angeles and Atlanta This August

Los Angeles and Atlanta are the big destinations this August.
First, the #BlogHer16 Conference brings plenty of Hollywood star power. Just look below.


Plan for Big Events in Los Angeles and Atlanta This August

Donald Trump and RNC attack presidential debate schedule - Jul. 30, 2016

Donald Trump says the fall debate schedule is "unacceptable," raising the specter that he may try to skip them.



In a tweet on Friday night, Trump incorrectly said that Hillary Clinton and the Democrats are "trying to rig the debates."



Donald Trump and RNC attack presidential debate schedule - Jul. 30, 2016

Islamic State: How the IS Trains Child Soldiers - SPIEGEL ONLINE

The Islamic State is holding thousands of young boys captive in Syria and Iraq, where it is teaching them the Koran and how to become deadly child soldiers. By Katrin Kuntz



Islamic State: How the IS Trains Child Soldiers - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Mathematician Ken Ono Talks About His Search For Ramanujan - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Ken Ono is an award-winning mathematician who specializes in number theory. As a kid, his parents pushed him hard to be the best, and it almost drove him to ruin. He talked to SPIEGEL about young prodigies, suicide in Japanese culture and divine afflatus.



Mathematician Ken Ono Talks About His Search For Ramanujan - SPIEGEL ONLINE

UPS Reports Strong 2Q Results

UPS Reports Strong 2Q Results

Watch Out for Modobag! It's Motorized Luggage You Can Ride -- Really

Ah, the road warrior of the business world. The image is almost universal — a business person in the airport running along pulling their luggage, a laptop on one shoulder, a carry on, an overcoat of some kind, and the always present pastry and coffee. (Maybe you are this person!) But if Modobag has its way, the hectic scene will be a distant memory for the tens of thousands of business — as well as regular — travelers plodding through airports around the world.



Watch Out for Modobag! It's Motorized Luggage You Can Ride -- Really

Friday, July 29, 2016

10 Steps for Arranging the Best Company Conference or Gathering

Planning a company conference can boost your career and visibility. It can strengthen company sales and morale, depending on its purpose.



10 Steps for Arranging the Best Company Conference or Gathering

Newsmax Prime | Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, PhD talks about the appearance o...

Email Marketing STILL Not Dead, New Podcast Claims

“Email marketing is dead.” If you’ve been involved in the world of marketing over the last few years, you’ve likely heard that declaration more than once.
But a new podcast wants to bring a new perspective to that discussion about email marketingEmail Marketing’s Grave is a new podcast from the team at marketing solutions provider PostUp. And you can subscribe on the podcast main page to never miss a future episode. Or download the podcast via iTunes oron SoundCloud.


Email Marketing STILL Not Dead, New Podcast Claims

Pfizer Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Pivotal Phase 3 Maintenance Trial of Oral XELJANZ® (Tofacitinib Citrate) in Ulcerative Colitis

From Pfizer:


Pfizer Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Pivotal Phase 3 Maintenance Trial of Oral XELJANZ® (Tofacitinib Citrate) in Ulcerative Colitis

Thursday, July 28, 2016 4:10 pm EDT

Dateline:

NEW YORK

Public Company Information:

NYSE:
PFE
US7170811035
"Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, often debilitating inflammatory condition that can be difficult to treat. There are a limited number of therapies available and patients need additional treatment options"
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today top-line results from Oral Clinical Trials for tofAcitinib in ulceratiVE colitis (OCTAVE) Sustain, the third Phase 3 study of XELJANZ® (tofacitinib citrate) being investigated in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). OCTAVE Sustain is a 52 week study that evaluated oral tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily (BID) as a maintenance treatment in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC who previously completed and achieved clinical response in either the OCTAVE Induction 1 or OCTAVE Induction 2 studies.
Top-line results from the OCTAVE Sustain study showed that the proportion of patients in remission at week 52, the primary efficacy endpoint, was significantly greater in both the tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID groups compared to placebo. In OCTAVE Sustain, remission was defined as total Mayo scorea ≤2, no subscore >1, and rectal bleeding subscore of 0. No new or unexpected safety findings for tofacitinib were observed in the study.
“Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, often debilitating inflammatory condition that can be difficult to treat. There are a limited number of therapies available and patients need additional treatment options” said Michael Corbo, PhD, Chief Development Officer, Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer, Inc. “These findings, along with the previously released positive induction data from the OCTAVE studies, are encouraging and provide evidence that tofacitinib, if approved, has the potential to be an effective new oral treatment option that both induces and maintains remission. We are proud to advance our clinical development program for tofacitinib as we work to bring a potential new treatment option to patients living with ulcerative colitis.”
OCTAVE Sustain is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multi-center study. A total of 593 patients were randomized to tofacitinib 5 mg BID, tofacitinib 10 mg BID and placebo BID. Detailed analyses of OCTAVE Sustain, including additional efficacy and safety data, will be submitted for presentation at a future scientific meeting.
About the OCTAVE Clinical Development Program
The OCTAVE global clinical development program includes three Phase 3 studies, OCTAVE Induction 1, OCTAVE Induction 2, and OCTAVE Sustain, as well as a long-term extension trial, OCTAVE Open. We expect that these four studies will form the submission package to regulatory authorities for a potential UC indication.
OCTAVE Induction 1 and OCTAVE Induction 2 are two replicate Phase 3 placebo-controlled studies that evaluated induction of remission by oral tofacitinib 10 mg BID in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. Subjects needed to have failed or been intolerant to UC treatments including corticosteroids, thiopurines or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi).
OCTAVE Sustain is a Phase 3 placebo-controlled study evaluating oral tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg BID as maintenance therapy in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC.
OCTAVE Open is an ongoing open-label extension study designed to assess the safety and tolerability of tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg BID in patients who have completed or who have had treatment failure in OCTAVE Sustain or who were non-responders upon completing OCTAVE Induction 1 or 2.
About Ulcerative Colitis
UC is a chronic, often debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is believed that UC is the result of complex interactions between multiple factors that include the environment, genetic predisposition, immune response, and the gut microbiome in the colon or intestines. It can cause abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and chronic, bloody diarrhea. UC can have an effect on work, family and social activities. In up to one-third of patients with UC, treatment is not completely successful or complications arise. Under these circumstances, surgery to remove the colon (colectomy) may be considered. Even after surgery, certain symptoms of UC may still persist.
About XELJANZ (tofacitinib citrate) and XELJANZ XR (tofacitinib citrate) extended-release
XELJANZ®/XELJANZ XR® (tofacitinib citrate) is a prescription medicine called a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. In the United States, XELJANZ XR 11 mg QD is the first and only once-daily oral JAK inhibitor approved for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
As the developer of XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, Pfizer is a leader in JAK innovation. XELJANZ is approved in more than 45 countries around the world for the treatment of moderate to severe RA as a second-line therapy after failure of one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Pfizer is committed to advancing the science of JAK inhibition and enhancing understanding of XELJANZ through a robust clinical development program. The efficacy and safety profile of XELJANZ has been studied in approximately 6,200 patients with moderate to severe RA, amounting to more than 19,400 patient-years of drug exposure in the global clinical development program.
References available upon request
XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR U.S. Label Information
XELJANZ (tofacitinib citrate)/XELJANZ XR (tofacitinib citrate) extended-release is a prescription medicine called a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in which methotrexate did not work well. XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR may be used as a single agent or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Use of XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR in combination with biologic DMARDs or potent immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine and cyclosporine, is not recommended.
  • It is not known if XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is safe and effective in people with hepatitis B or C.
  • XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is not for people with severe liver problems.
  • It is not known if XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR is safe and effective in children.
Important Safety Information
  • XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can lower the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Some people can have serious infections while taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Healthcare providers should test patients for TB before starting XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, and monitor them closely for signs and symptoms of TB and other infections during treatment. People should not start taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR if they have any kind of infection unless their healthcare provider tells them it is okay.
  • People may be at a higher risk of developing shingles.
  • XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR may increase the risk of certain cancers by changing the way the immune system works. Lymphoma and other cancers, including skin cancers, can happen in patients taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR.
  • The risks and benefits of treatment should be considered prior to initiating XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR in patients with chronic or recurrent infection; who have been exposed to tuberculosis; with a history of a serious or an opportunistic infection; who have resided or traveled in areas of endemic tuberculosis or endemic mycoses; or with underlying conditions that may predispose them to infection.
  • Viral reactivation, including cases of herpes virus reactivation (e.g., herpes zoster), was observed in clinical studies with XELJANZ.
  • Use of live vaccines should be avoided concurrently with XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR. Update immunizations in agreement with current immunization guidelines prior to initiating XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR therapy.
  • Some people who have taken XELJANZ with certain other medicines to prevent kidney transplant rejection have had a problem with certain white blood cells growing out of control (Epstein Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder).
  • Some people taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can get tears in their stomach or intestines. This happens most often in people who also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or methotrexate.
  • XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR should be used with caution in patients who may be at increased risk for gastrointestinal perforation (e.g., patients with a history of diverticulitis), or who have a narrowing within their digestive tract. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they have fever and stomach-area pain that does not go away or a change in bowel habits.
  • XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR can cause changes in certain lab test results including low blood cell counts, increases in certain liver tests, and increases in cholesterol levels. Healthcare providers should do blood tests before starting patients on XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR and while they are taking XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, to check for these side effects. Normal cholesterol levels are important to good heart health. Healthcare providers may stop XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR treatment because of changes in blood cell counts or liver test results.
  • Use of XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR in patients with severe hepatic impairment is not recommended.
  • Patients should tell their healthcare providers if they plan to become pregnant or are pregnant.
It is not known if XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR will harm an unborn baby. To monitor the outcomes of pregnant women exposed to XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, a registry has been established. Physicians are encouraged to register patients and pregnant women are encouraged to register themselves by calling 1-877-311-8972.
  • Patients should tell their healthcare providers if they plan to breastfeed or are breastfeeding. Patients and their healthcare provider should decide if they will take XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR or breastfeed. They should not do both.
  • In carriers of the hepatitis B or C virus (viruses that affect the liver), the virus may become active while using XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR. Healthcare providers may do blood tests before and during treatment with XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR.
  • Common side effects include upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections), headache, diarrhea, and nasal congestion, sore throat, and runny nose (nasopharyngitis).
Please click the direct link to the full prescribing information for XELJANZ/XELJANZ XR, including boxed warning and Medication Guide: http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=959.
Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world ®
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer healthcare products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. For more information, please visit us at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News,LinkedInYouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of July 28, 2016. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about a potential new indication for XELJANZ for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active UC (the “potential indication”), including its potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated trial commencement and completion dates and regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing clinical data; uncertainties regarding the commercial success of XELJANZ and XELJANZ XR; whether and when any applications for the potential indication may be filed with regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve such applications and/or any other applications that are pending or may be filed for XELJANZ or XELJANZ XR, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of XELJANZ and XELJANZ XR, including the potential indication; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at  www.sec.gov  and  www.pfizer.com .
a Mayo score is a measurement index comprised of four categories (stool frequency, rectal bleeding, findings on endoscopy, physician global assessment) that are each rated from 0 (normal) to 3 (most severe) for a total score that ranges from 0-12.

64 Percent of Small Businesses Worry They Can't Attract Qualified Candidates

It’s Olympics season and we’re talking hiring hurdles.



64 Percent of Small Businesses Worry They Can't Attract Qualified Candidates

In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Dr. Dawn D. Walters

From the #USDA:


Dr. Dawn D. Walters
Dr. Dawn D. Walters, a public health veterinarian and current Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discusses her role in food safety on tape.
Every month, USDA shares the story of a woman in agriculture who is leading the industry and helping other women succeed along the way. This month, we hear from Dr. Dawn D. Walters, a public health veterinarian and current Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer in Arizona. Dr. Walters has committed the past six years to food safety by working for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). With her big smile and enthusiastic personality (yes, I’ve been lucky enough to meet her), it is no surprise that Dr. Walters also serves as an outreach liaison for FSIS. Dr. Walters has also served as an interim Frontline Supervisor and the District Veterinary Medical Specialist. She received Bachelor’s of Science in Animal and Poultry Science and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University.
How/when did you first become interested in studying animals?
I became interested when I was four years old after watching my poodle give birth to 6 puppies in our garage!
What does a typical day look like for you?
As an Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer (EIAO), a typical day may begin in my office conducting recall effectiveness checks and catching up on enforcement cases. These cases can involve establishments that have been suspended or provided a notice of intended enforcement if they are unable to bring themselves back into compliance with regulations. Alternatively, my day may start at an establishment to perform a food safety assessment, which determines whether the establishment’s food safety system is safe, scientifically sound and supported through documentation.
How do you impact food safety?
I ensure that every establishment understands that FSIS and the establishments are working together to keep the public safe from food pathogens. My role as an EIAO is to make certain the establishments continue to do their part to maintain a safe product, free of pathogens and wholesome, to enter commerce. This is my direct link to keeping Americans’ meat, poultry, and processed eggs products safe for consumption!
You have held more than one position at FSIS; what was your favorite part of each role?
My favorite part of being a supervisory Public Health Veterinarian was ensuring the humane treatment of animals. I also enjoyed developing great working relationships with the establishments and my inspectors.
My favorite part of working as a Frontline Supervisor was traveling all over beautiful Petaluma wine country and meeting a vast array of FSIS employees. Additionally, I enjoyed utilizing the GAD (Gather, Assess, and Determine) process when resolving issues within my circuit while both learning from and guiding my inspectors.
My favorite part of being an EIAO is the voluminous wealth of knowledge I have obtained in all food processing categories and the flexibility of my supervisor and the position. This flexibility allows me to be available for other duties and roles needed by my district and the Agency, as shown by my interim work as a Frontline Supervisor and the District Veterinary Medical Specialist.
What do you wish you knew before getting started at the USDA FSIS?
I wish I knew how important and needed veterinarians are to the Agency. There are so many roles that can be filled by veterinarians in FSIS and there is a lot of opportunity to find the position right for you.
Who are your role models?
Michelle Obama and my mother, Bonita G. Chaney
What is some advice you have for other women interested in a career in food safety?
Try not to limit yourself to any one area, and ask for what you want. If you have a desire to do something new, and you are willing to be flexible, ask for it to happen! The sky is the limit in the USDA and food safety, so keep reaching!

The Hard Line | Lauren Fix discusses an urgent warning to Honda owners o...

3 Tips (with Case Studies) for Effectively Competing in a Crowded Handmade Market Place

One of the issues many new handmade entrepreneurs frequently approach me with is the concern that the handmade market is too saturated for them to be successful. While I agree that consumers can choose from an almost dizzying array of handmade products, I disagree that the handmade market (or any market, for that matter) is too saturated for a new entrant offering quality and value to get a foothold. That’s not to say it won’t be a challenge. It will. Here are three tips (with case studies) to help you effectively compete in the competitive market for handmade goods.



3 Tips (with Case Studies) for Effectively Competing in a Crowded Handmade Market Place

A Conversation with USDA Leader Jonathan Cordone

From the #USDA:


Jonathan Cordone, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Jonathan Cordone, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, has key responsibilities for USDA’s international activities for trade policy, export assistance, food aid, international economic development and more.
As the Deputy Under Secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS), Jonathan Cordone leads the Department’s international activities, including key responsibilities for trade policy and export assistance, as well as food aid, international economic development, and trade capacity building. With more than 15 years of public service, Cordone has served as the General Counsel and Chief Counsel of key congressional committees with responsibilities for commerce and international trade, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and most recently as USDA’s second highest ranking attorney.
I manage USDA’s international portfolio, so I work on trade every day. I have the opportunity to work with some amazing professionals, both here in Washington and in our 93 overseas offices. Our international presence is a unique asset for USDA: people working around the world exclusively on behalf of American producers, American agriculture, and American food.” – Jonathan Cordone
Your background is more focused on law, trade and commerce. Would you explain your passion for agriculture?
I love working with agriculture! First, there is something so fundamental about food that everyone, everywhere can relate to. Although there are cultural differences in how and what people eat, food remains a basic need for everyone. Second, agriculture and trade go hand-in-hand. As major exporters, American agriculture is generally supportive of expanding trade.  Having their enthusiastic backing for the work we do certainly helps keep me motivated.
Why should the average American consumer who feels as though they have absolutely no connection to agriculture care about trade?
The bottom line is that we need to do a better job explaining how important trade is to American agriculture and how that, in turn, affects people’s daily lives. There’s a sign we had in the Senate that said, ‘No Farms, No Food’. That’s how we began this conversation – agriculture is fundamental to a need that everyone shares whether they recognize it or not.  And trade is a key driver of our agricultural economy.  There is a link there, and we need to tell that story in ways that are more relatable for a typical American.  There’s also a big-picture humanitarian component to agricultural trade. The world needs to find smart, sustainable ways to produce our food and also reduce food waste.  It’s all interconnected.  For example, we can’t afford to lose food at the port just because there’s a trade restriction in place.
Describe a particular foreign community where the direct and indirect impacts of trade resonate with you.
I just got back from Colombia. It was an amazing time to be there because they had just announced a historic cease-fire agreement between the government and rebel fighters. One of the things the Colombians are focused on doing in this new era of peace is supporting their rural communities. A lot of rural communities were either sucked into growing coca – which is used in producing cocaine – or ravaged by the conflicts. Colombia is going to be challenged with how to develop more viable rural economies, and it’s a good example of where we could see mutually beneficial trade and capacity building at work. How can we support these communities in ceasing coca production and ensure sustainable development into the future? We are actively working to make sure that these communities benefit from trade with the U.S. and have the necessary tools to accomplish this, and we’re seeing a difference already.
What does the future of agriculture trade look like?
As exports and international trade become increasingly important to our agricultural economy, opening new markets, setting global rules, and enforcing our rights will all become increasingly important.  And when I talk about enforcing our rights, I don’t just mean taking formal legal actions.  I also mean engaging with other countries, sorting through misunderstandings, finding mutually agreeable paths forward, and yes, when necessary, taking legal actions too.  These are all things USDA currently does really well, but they are also things that we’ll need to do increasingly better heading into the future.

10 Reasons Small Companies Fail and What to do About It

No small company wants to go out of business, yet many do. And the younger the company, the greater the likelihood that it will.
According to the SBA Office of Advocacy (PDF), about two-thirds of businesses with employees survive at least two years, but only 50 percent make it to the five-year mark and just one-third celebrate their 10-year anniversary.


10 Reasons Small Companies Fail and What to do About It

NRCS Helps Young Iowa Farmer Plan New Grazing System

From the #USDA:


Ryan Collins (center) with NRCS District Conservationist LuAnn Rolling (right) and Iowa NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist Laura Crowell
Ryan Collins (center) stopped to meet with NRCS District Conservationist LuAnn Rolling (right) and Iowa NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist Laura Crowell June 1 at his farm near Harpers Ferry. Photo: Jason Johnson.
When Iowa livestock producer Ryan Collins bought his 170-acre farm near Harpers Ferry, he knew from experience with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that the agency could help him plan a rotational grazing system.
A rotational grazing system—also known as prescribed grazing—divides pastures into four or more small paddocks with fencing. The animals move from paddock to paddock on a schedule based on the availability of forage and the livestock’s nutritional needs.
Collins says he has a lot more grass available than before. “I attribute it to the rotational grazing,” he said. “I like to have plenty of grass. The cows and calves both do, as well.”
When he first contacted NRCS for assistance, Collins assumed he would only receive help with fencing for his new grazing system. Today, however, he works regularly with NRCS staff – including District Conservationist LuAnn Rolling – to develop and implement his plan that is helping him better manage his grasslands, keep his cattle healthy and productive, and protect the natural resources on his farm.
Cows/calves grazing on Ryan Collins' farm
Ryan Collins has 35 cow/calf pairs grazing his 170 acres near Harpers Ferry in northeast Iowa. Photo: Jason Johnson.
“I didn’t realize there were so many practices available for funding through EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) until I started working with LuAnn,” said Collins. EQIP provides agricultural producers financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural lands. NRCS provided about $16.4 million to Iowa farmers in fiscal year 2015.
As a beginning farmer—group USDA considers historically underserved—Collins received higher payment rates than most farmers for the conservation practices he installed.
Pond Access Ramp
One of the practices Rolling recommended—a limited-access ramp for ponds—is Collins’ key to watering his cattle. Design of the rotational grazing system called for three of five paddocks to utilize an existing pond for drinking water. Rolling also recommended fencing off the pond to prevent erosion and pond degradation, while allowing livestock to drink directly from it from a fenced access ramp.
Cows using the fenced access ramp
Cows use the fenced access ramp to drink water from one of three paddocks available to the pond. Photo: Jason Johnson.
Rolling says livestock should almost always be excluded from streams and ponds. “Allowing unlimited access to water sources like ponds and creeks can be dangerous and unhealthy for animals,” she said. “Cattle can get foot rot and leg injuries. Plus, cattle prefer clean water.”
Rolling says keeping animals out of ponds extends pond life, too, allowing bank vegetation to grow. This keeps water cleaner by reducing sediment and nutrient runoff.
The entire access ramp is 40-feet long with a gradual 8:1 slope. A contractor installed geo-textile, covered it with 3- to 9-inch rock, and topped it with 2- to 3-inch rock. The 15-foot by 15-foot drinking area is covered in water. “The ramp is very solid and stable, and won’t erode,” said Collins.
Other Practices and Maintenance
As part of the rotational grazing system, Collins installed more than 7,000 feet of permanent barbed wire multi-strand fence and 3,500 feet of permanent high-tensile fencing.
Family Farm Upgrades
Collins is so pleased with the new conservation practices on his farm that he’s working with his father to implement some of the same practices on the family farm. “We are going to convert some cropland to pasture to more easily connect two farms for a rotational grazing system,” he said.
They are also planning to install limited-access ramps on livestock watering ponds, as well as two new watering facilities.
For more information about conservation planning and programs for your farm, visit your local NRCS office or go to www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov.
Ryan Collins of rural Harpers Ferry
Ryan Collins of rural Harpers Ferry stands near his new limited access pond ramp, which only allows his cow/calf herd to drink from that portion of the pond. Photo: Jason Johnson.

UP: Union Pacific Achieves Safest First Half of Year in History

UP: Union Pacific Achieves Safest First Half of Year in History

UP: Union Pacific Corporation Declares Third Quarter 2016 Dividend

UP: Union Pacific Corporation Declares Third Quarter 2016 Dividend

Pfizer and Western Oncolytics Announce Immuno-Oncology Research Collaboration to Investigate Novel Oncolytic Virus Technology

From Pfizer:


Pfizer and Western Oncolytics Announce Immuno-Oncology Research Collaboration to Investigate Novel Oncolytic Virus Technology

Companies plan to advance Western Oncolytics’ lead preclinical therapy into human testing
Potential combination of WO-12 with Pfizer’s oncology pipeline could enhance therapeutic benefit in patients
Thursday, July 28, 2016 10:00 am EDT

Dateline:

NEW YORK & CLEVELAND

Public Company Information:

NYSE:
PFE
US7170811035
"We believe that the real advances in immuno-oncology will come from novel combinations, and cancer fighting viruses and vaccines could play a key role in helping transform cancer treatment and potentially enable us to treat more patients."
NEW YORK & CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Western Oncolytics announced today that they have entered into a development collaboration, license and option agreement to advance Western Oncolytics’ novel oncolytic vaccinia virus, WO-12. Oncolytic viruses are viruses engineered to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, which subsequently elicits anti-cancer immune responses. This collaboration in oncolytic virus development adds another novel technology platform to Pfizer’s cancer vaccine efforts and provides an additional tool to bolster its immuno-oncology portfolio.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer and Western Oncolytics will collaborate on preclinical and clinical development of WO-12 through Phase I trials. Following completion of Phase I trials, Pfizer has an exclusive option to acquire WO-12. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Our goal is to combine WO-12 with our portfolio of promising investigational immunotherapies to explore how these novel combinations could help further enhance the body’s immune response in fighting cancer cells,” said James Merson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Vaccine Immunotherapeutics at Pfizer. “We believe that the real advances in immuno-oncology will come from novel combinations, and cancer fighting viruses and vaccines could play a key role in helping transform cancer treatment and potentially enable us to treat more patients.”
WO-12 is a preclinical investigational oncolytic virus. As an in vivo vaccine, it has the potential to be delivered directly to the tumor (intratumoral) or intravenously. More specifically, it is a virus engineered to replicate primarily in cancer cells while delivering several therapeutic genes that modulate the immune system to enhance efficacy against a range of cancers. By replicating inside cancer cells, it is designed to both kill the cancer cell and releases tumor antigens that direct the immune system to recognize the antigens and kill additional cancer cells. WO-12 has potential applications across multiple tumor types.
“We believe this collaboration will create a unique opportunity to accelerate and expand the clinical testing of WO-12 as well as to examine potential combinations with other immunotherapies in the Pfizer portfolio,” said Steve Thorne, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Western Oncolytics and inventor of WO-12.
Kurt Rote, CEO of Western Oncolytics, added, “We have been very impressed with the expertise and commitment to success from everyone at Pfizer, and are excited to be partnering this promising therapy with a shared vision of improving the way patients are treated.”
About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to the discovery, investigation and development of innovative treatment options to improve the outlook for cancer patients worldwide. Our strong pipeline of biologics and small molecules, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range of cancers. By working collaboratively with academic institutions, individual researchers, cooperative research groups, governments, and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control cancer with breakthrough medicines, to deliver the right drug for each patient at the right time. For more information, please visit www.pfizer.com.
Pfizer is making a significant investment in immuno-oncology with development efforts across an array of modalities and novel technologies, including: avelumab, an anti-PD-L1 lgG1 monoclonal antibody (in collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany); utomilumab (PF-05082566), a 4-1BB agonist antibody; an anti-OX40 antibody; a CCR2 inhibitor, an anti-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) antibody; Vaccine Based Immunotherapy Regimens (VBIR) that combine vaccines and immunomodulators; and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy.
Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world®
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer healthcare products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. For more information, please visit us at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_NewsLinkedInYouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
Western Oncolytics Ltd.
Western Oncolytics Ltd. develops novel therapies for patients. The Company commercializes treatments that show promise in early laboratory research and demonstrates their value to patients in clinical trials. The Company believes that its lead technology, the novel immuno-oncolytic therapy WO-12, has the potential to extend the lives of, or outright cure, patients across a wide range of cancer types while avoiding the severe side effects common with current cancer therapies.
PFIZER DISCLOSURE NOTICE
The information contained in this release is as of July 28, 2016. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer’s research collaboration agreement with Western Oncolytics to advance WO-12 novel oncolytic vaccinia virus (WO-12) into human testing, WO-12 and Pfizer’s immuno-oncology portfolio, including their potential benefits that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing data; risks associated with interim data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for any potential indications for WO-12 or Pfizer’s immuno-oncology product candidates; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Pfizer’s oncology products and product candidates; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at  www.sec.gov  and  www.pfizer.com .

U.S. Bank and Sage Announce AP Optimizer to Streamline Invoice Payments

U.S. Bank (NYSE:USB) and Sage (LON:SGE) announced this week at Sage Summit 2016 in Chicago a new partnership that will benefit Sage customers in the U.S. and Canada.
The partnership centers around the introduction of AP Optimizer, an application built by U.S. Bank that lives inside the Sage Live accounting platform.


U.S. Bank and Sage Announce AP Optimizer to Streamline Invoice Payments

Thursday, July 28, 2016

13 Independent Donut Shop Alternatives to Dunkin' Donuts

Despite the popularity of donut shop chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, there are plenty of successful donut shops that are thriving in today’s market. In fact, artisan donut shops, which offer specialty confections like cereal or bacon covered donuts, are beginning to gain more popularity in a number of different markets.
If you’re interested in breaking into the artisan donut market but need some inspiration, here are independent donut stores that are already experiencing big success.


13 Independent Donut Shop Alternatives to Dunkin' Donuts

Bristol-Myers Squibb Reports Second Quarter Financial Results | BMS Newsroom

Bristol-Myers Squibb Reports Second Quarter Financial Results | BMS Newsroom

How Will Investors Exit Their Crowdfunding Investments?

Investors can now buy equity in private companies through online platforms, which has led people eager to invest in startups to consider purchasing shares through these portals. But before people become invested in equity, they should think about how they will get their money out. We don’t yet have an efficientsecondary market for private company shares.



How Will Investors Exit Their Crowdfunding Investments?

New Studies Suggest Relationship between Tau Pathology and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease (NYSE:LLY)

Results Presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® 2016 (AAIC® 2016)



New Studies Suggest Relationship between Tau Pathology and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease (NYSE:LLY)

Facebook’s Aquila Internet-delivery Drone Could Add Billions More Online Customers

Social networking giant Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) last week reported the first successful full-scale test flight of its ambitious Aquila solar-powered high-altitude unmanned aircraft. It’s part of an ambitious goal to bring four billion more  people online — more customers, freelancers and maybe even partners for your business.



Facebook’s Aquila Internet-delivery Drone Could Add Billions More Online Customers