YouTube star Lisa’s top tips to have you feeling all made up – Belfast Telegraph

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YouTube star Lisa's top tips to have you feeling all made up

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Hashtags like #ad and #spon (short for sponsored) are rife in the beauty blogging world, but you won't find them on Lisa Eldridge's YouTube channel. The 42-year-old was already one of the world's most in demand make-up artists when she started uploading videos in 2009.

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Hashtags like #ad and #spon (short for sponsored) are rife in the beauty blogging world, but you won't find them on Lisa Eldridge's YouTube channel. The 42-year-old was already one of the world's most in demand make-up artists when she started uploading videos in 2009.

"I think that's why they're popular, because the products I use are never paid for or sponsored by brands. I have never taken a penny through sponsorship," says Lisa, whose celebrity clients include Kate Winslet and Kim Kardashian.

And, unlike most vloggers, Lisa, who is also creative director for Lancome, didn't have ads on her videos - until recently, when she decided to turn them on for the first time for altruistic reasons.

The revenue will be going to children's rights charity Plan International.

Lisa figured that since 93% of her 1.7 million subscribers are women, they wouldn't mind enduring a few ads in order to support a female-focused charity.

"I have got a really nice group of people ... I don't really get weirdos, I get the people who like to answer each other's questions and talk to each other. It's a very affirming community," she says.

A few days ago she posted a photo on Instagram, declaring: "You think I'm listening but I'm really doing your make-up in my head."

So what does a make-up legend think are the most common make-up mistakes - and what can we do to correct them?

Here are Lisa's top 10 do's and don'ts, and the products she says you can't go wrong with.

1. Do use SPF50 every day

"A really good SPF that works for my skin tone - that is probably what I spend most of my money on. Heliocare do a tinted version which is gorgeous and it's not that expensive."

Heliocare Gelcream Colour SPF50, 23.50, EffortlessSkin.com

2. Don't overdo your eyebrows

"I don't like the really 'blocked' brows where you don't see the natural hairs. I personally hate the way it looks. I much prefer when the brows are more feathered and lighter so you have a sense of the hairs."

3. Do apply mascara from the roots

"I always apply as much as I can at the roots first. Get down to the roots and hold (the wand) there and massage very slowly as long as you can. It's all about getting the bulk on first, otherwise the lashes can get very heavy at the end."

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara, 24.50

4. Don't forget to blend your contour

"Contouring looks really bad when it's badly applied - when it's the wrong colour and it's too heavy. The edges should be blended. When it's done really well, it's amazing."

5. Do use concealer sparingly

"I like to have more coverage where I need it and less where I don't, because it tricks the eye. The person is looking at you and thinking, 'You're not really wearing a lot of make-up', when actually you can get away with wearing quite a lot when it's not heavy all over."

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage High Coverage Concealer, 22

6. Don't overload your eyes if they're small

"Sometimes people can really close their eyes down with very heavy eyeliner and very heavy lashes. If you have naturally quite small eyes, that type of make-up will make them look smaller."

7. Do use a primer

"I discovered Bioderma in Paris when I lived there in the Nineties. The thing I like from them is a Pore Refining Primer, a pore refiner that I use on clients underneath make-up."

Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner, 15.10, Escentual

8. Do use face masks liberally

"I am obsessed with face masks so most days I will wear one. I love Susanne Kaufmann, which is a natural Austrian brand. That is probably my favourite at the moment."

Susanne Kaufmann Moisturizing Mask, 41, Naturisimo.com

9. Do go easy on the bronzer

"The thing with bronzer is that it's always hard to take it down once you've done it. Apply it with nice light layers over your cheekbones, cheeks, temples, across the top of the forehead and a little bit on the neck."

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, 36.50, John Lewis; Bourjois Matt Illusion Bronzing Powder, 5.95, FeelUnique

10. Do buy Japanese false eyelashes

"They are just so much better and so much cheaper in Japan than they are anywhere else. There are so many incredible eyelash brands out there, like Dolly Wink. And they stick on so much easier because the band is light not heavy."

Koji Dolly Wink Eyelash 09, 10.73, YesStyle.com

Watch hundreds of make-up and beauty tutorials on Lisa Eldridge's YouTube channel

Belfast Telegraph

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YouTube star Lisa's top tips to have you feeling all made up - Belfast Telegraph

Virtual Reality Platform Created For Lab Animals – IEEE Spectrum

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Scientists have devised a virtual reality platform for lab animals. Let that sink in.Zebrafish have swum with the aliens from the video game Space Invaders, mice were afraid of virtual heights, and fruit flies circled illusory obstacles.

This new holodeck for animals can help researchers see how freely-moving animals respond to a variety of illusionswork that could help scientists better understand human genes and brain circuitry, researchers say. The researchers, from the Vienna Biocenter in Austria, detailed their findings in todays edition of the journal Nature Methods.

FreemoVR, immersed animals in arenas where the walls or floors were computer displays. Each screen depicted photorealistic images that accounted for each animals perspective as it walked, flew, or swam.

Up to 10 high-speed cameras monitored the precise 3D position of each animal. FreemoVR then updated its video imagery within milliseconds of each animal's movements to create the 3D illusion that they were moving in environments that changed in response to their actions.

The researchers compared FreemoVR to the holodeck, a fictional environment in [the TV show] Star Trek in which humans enter a computer-controlled virtual world, says Andrew Straw, a neurobiologist at the Vienna Biocenter who was co-senior author of a paper detailing the study. They can freely move, have no need to wear special clothing or headgear, and are immersed in a computer-controlled environment, which can be made completely realistic or arbitrarily unrealistic.

The researchers tested FreemoVR on mice, fruit flies, and zebrafish, three species commonly used in lab research. The virtual landscape with which these animals interacted included vertical pillars, floating rings, checkerboard floors, virtual plants, and a swarm of digital aliens from Space Invaders. They even had distinctive portals that could instantly alter the virtual environments to make it seem as if zebrafish swimming into them had teleported elsewhere.

The animals apparently found the illusions realistic. For instance, fruit flies circled virtual pillars just as they did real ones placed in the platforms. Moreover, mice generally avoided tracks that looked as if they were suspended at great heights, just as they would in real life.

The animals also changed their behavior in response to illusory animals. For example, zebrafish normally circled the periphery of their fishbowl near the screens, but when teleported into settings with swarms of Space Invaders, the zebrafish tended to move toward the middle of the fishbowl.

We wanted to study collective behavior because that is something incredibly difficult to do with real animals or with robots, Straw says. "We wanted to show how real fish respond to the motion of a swarm of simulated agents and to show that we could create a hybrid biological-computational swarm.

In addition, the researchers developed a photorealistic model of a swimming fish, and showed that real zebrafish most reliably followed the digital fish when the virtual animal matched its swim direction to the real fish. The fact that researchers can vary the appearance of virtual animals from cartoonish to realistic will allow experiments to test how important the exact visual appearance of other animals is as opposed to, say, the pattern of motion, Straw says.

This new platform will let scientists investigate animals as they behave relatively naturally and unrestrained by conventional VR gear in realistic virtual environments they can manipulate extensively. By tinkering with animal DNA or brains in such experiments, the researchers can learn what role certain genes or brain circuits play in these animals, and potentially in humans as well. Brains evolved in the real world, and to understand how and why neural circuits process information in the way they do, we need to understand them in this context, Straw says.

Straw notes that humans would notice several imperfections with FreemoVR. Primary amongst those is that our system does not create two distinct views for the two eyes, and thus the stereo cues important for depth perception would be gone, he says. However, Straw notes this is not a major concern with the animals they are experimenting with; the eyes of these animals are so close together that the differences between the view from each eye are limited.

Straws lab is now conducting experiments where they can silence the activity of single brain cells in fruit flies and examining the roles these cells play in the insects behavior in virtual erality.

IEEE Spectrums biomedical engineering blog, featuring the wearable sensors, big data analytics, and implanted devices that enable new ventures in personalized medicine.

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Virtual Reality for the Treatment of PTSD – R & D Magazine

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For those who have experienced a traumatic even such as a tragic car accident it can sometimes be difficult to move on.

Virtual reality (VR) is giving therapists a new tool to help patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dawn Jewell, Ph.D., a psychologist based in Greeley, Colorado, is using virtual reality tools to help some of her patients who are suffering from PTSD return in a virtual setting to the scene of an accident or other location where a traumatic event in their lives may have occurred.

Im using it primarily as exposure therapy, Jewell said, in an exclusive interview with R&D Magazine. So a lot of times with PTSD there is a tendency to avoid any triggers, reminders, events that can bring on those memories of the event.

So using exposure therapy in session I can go to a triggering place with a patient in the comfort of the therapy room and it can provide that exposure in a way that is less aversive, less frightening, she added. I know there is research in other areas like autism disorders, training, public speaking and a bunch of different areas.

Jewell is one of a handful of psychologists using VR tools from Limbixa Silicon Valley start-up that allows patients to experience exposure therapy by incorporating Daydream Viewa Google headset that works in coordination with a smartphone application.

According to the Limbix website, the VR environments are built with real-world footage that allows the patient to experience authentic exposures and feel a true presence in genuine environments.

By gradually exposing patients to phobias and sources of distress, therapists can control exposure thresholds in each VR environment and help patients face increasingly stressful situation.

The app is made specifically to use for therapy and Jewell said she primarily uses the tools to treat patients suffering from PTSD due to a car accident.

Ive gone to the intersection where an accident took place with one patient in particular because that person hasnt been that intersection since the accident and they are avoiding it. They were doing everything they could to drive around town and not go there, she said. So we were able to go to that intersection and it was helpful.

They can see that their anxiety about it was overblown and that they could tolerate it.

The app is a perfect match for vehicular related problems as it uses Street View, a Google platform that includes an online database of photos of panoramic scenes of roadways and other locations around the world.

According to Jewell, a patient will have to attend a number of more traditional therapy sessions before she suggests gravitating towards VR.

Ideally you have to have a handful of sessions before bringing the virtual reality in, you have to build a rapport and make sure this is something that they want to do, she said. Also you want them to develop some tools so that they can manage the anxiety that is likely going to occur during the VR.

She said her patients thus far have been receptive towards the tool, with and only one or two have been apprehensive since she began using Limbix. The ones that did go through the experience were impressed by the realness they saw in the virtual world.

According to Jewell, she was approached about using the new therapy tool by a friend who was working with the National Behavioral Health Innovation Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and jumped at the opportunity.

Since she began using the program, she said representatives from Limbix have been receptive towards updating the applications as different situational needs arose, including adding medical scenario to the virtual reality experience.

I recommended to the Limbix guys that lets do an MRI because I have a lot of patients that are fearful and become claustrophobic, so they can get that exposure before they go to the hospital, Jewell said. I recommended that maybe we should do more medical and within two weeks they had the material available and I think that is a great technological advancement we have now.

Jewell said she can see the tools being expanded to include other forms of anxiety, including agoraphobia where someone can be put into a virtual crowd for short periods of time. Other patients the tool may help include those suffering from a fear of public speaking or those suffering from white coat syndrome, a disorder where a patients blood pressure rises above the normal range in a clinical setting.

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Virtual reality helps new UPS recruits hone their driving skills – Digital Trends

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Why it matters to you

Starting a new job anytime soon? Your training might well involve slinging on a VR headset.

Just as businesses are exploring the possibilities offered by drone technology, many are also finding uses for another emerging platform:virtual reality (VR).

Take delivery giant UPS. It recently revealed how its about to start using VR headsets such as the HTC Vive to train new drivers to spot and deal with road hazards likely to be encountered during their delivery runs.

Developed by UPS IT experts, the VR training modules will be installed at all nine of its so-called Integrad training facilities across the U.S., and will replace the touchscreen devices that UPS currently uses for driver training.

A UPS video (above) highlighting the technology shows a trainee wearing a VR headset while driving a van using the kind of steering wheel avid gamers will be familiar with. The teacher can see the trainees driving decisions play out on a couple of screens in the room, enabling them to analyze their skills.

Virtual Reality offers a big technological leap in the realm of driver safety training, said Juan Perez, UPS chief information and engineering officer. VR creates a hyper-realistic streetscape that will dazzle even the youngest of our drivers whose previous exposure to the technology was through video games.

UPS has shown before how it likes to embrace new technology in an effort to drive its business forward. Earlier this year we heard that it was looking into the idea of using drones to make some of its deliveries. It has even built a prototype system featuring a UPS van with a roof that slides open to allow the package-carrying flying machine to zip off and make a delivery before returning for another package a short while later.

If UPS can perfect the design and gain permission from the Federal Aviation Administration somewhere down the line, it envisions using its system in rural locations where there might be, say, two delivery addresses several miles apart. In such a scenario, the van driver would make one of the deliveries while the drone would make the other, saving the driver time and, in theory at least, ensuring a speedier service for waiting customers.

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Virtual reality helps new UPS recruits hone their driving skills - Digital Trends

Watch Live: The Total Solar Eclipse in 360 Degrees – TIME

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Millions of people will watch as the moon completely blocks the sun during a rare total solar eclipse set to traverse the United States on Aug. 21. The eclipse will begin in Oregon at 9:05 a.m. PT and move across the country, ending at 2:44 p.m. ET near South Carolina.

If you can't catch the eclipse in person , we have a way to make it feel like you are practically there. Along with LIFE VR , TIME is producing a 360-degree virtual reality livestream of the eclipse. You can watch live beginning at about 11:30 a.m. on TIME's Facebook and YouTube pages, in partnership with Mesmerise Global.

Through the stream, you'll see on-the-ground views of the total eclipse from Casper, Wyo., as well as skygazers who have gathered for the event. TIME's editor-at-large Jeffrey Kluger will narrate throughout the livestream. An edited version of the 360-degree livestream will also be available in the LIFE VR app for iOS and Android , and on LIFE VR's Samsung VR channel immediately following the eclipse.

TIME will also host a separate livestream of the eclipse hosted by popular space personality Amy Shira Teitel starting at 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 21 on Time.com , as well as its Facebook and YouTube pages.

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How to watch the eclipse in virtual reality – CNN

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On Monday, August 21 at 1PM ET, CNN presents 'The Eclipse of the Century.' Live and in virtual reality, our show will transport you across the country for the best eclipse moments. Here's how you can make sure not to miss it... ON YOUR COMPUTER... On your laptop or desktop computer at CNN.com/Eclipse, you can look around the scene using your mouse . Once the livestream starts, click and drag the screen to take it all in. Make sure you're using Chrome or Firefox. ON YOUR PHONE...

Be proactive -- download the CNN app now. It's the best way to watch the eclipse on the go.

On Monday at 1PM ET just open the CNN app and you'll be able to watch live. All you have to do: tilt your phone to see all around you. It's called 'magic window' mode - and yes, it's pretty magical.

However you decide to watch, we look forward to joining you for this rare and exciting solar eclipse. Remember, it's been 99 years since a solar eclipse crossed the entire US. You don't want to miss this one.

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How to watch the eclipse in virtual reality - CNN

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Ken Burns Talks About Leadership, Productivity and Achieving … – Entrepreneur

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With his latest opus due out this month and a half-dozen more films on the way, the director and historian Ken Burns has learned a lot about how to manage big teams through even bigger projects.

Image credit: Tim Llewellyn

Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns is responsible for such genre-defining and genre- defying documentary series as The Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz, to name a few. As he and collaborator Lynn Novick prepare to debut their new 10-part documentary film series TheVietnam War on September 17 on PBS stations nationwide, we spoke with the tireless documentarian about leadership, productivity, managing gigantic projects and how to achieve immortality through storytelling.

Related:7 Telltale Signs That You Have aLeader'sMindset

So you just finished this incredible documentary about Vietnam. Are you already thinking of the next three documentaries down the road?

Sorry to say, in a kind of admission of foolishness, Im thinking usually about 13 or 14 films ahead. Im now working on six or seven at the same time, which is insane. A lot of that has to do with the economies of scale that these labor-intensive historical projects require.The Vietnam War was more than 10 years in the making.

How do you choose your subjects?

It is not based on any market research; its a gut feeling. Its the chemistry that happens between friends. Youve got a lot of ideas -- 60, 70 film ideas -- but then every once in a while, one drops from your head to your heart and you go, Gotta do that one. You sort of add that to the queue, and then it just becomes a matter of finding the bandwidth and figuring out who the collaborators are.

Your projects are massive undertakings. How do you keep your focus?

I feel comfortable. A lot of that has to do with [the patronage of] public television, and a lot has to do with my stubbornness. So many people ask me, Ten years? Dont you get bored? But for me, each day it gets better and better. Plus I dont live in Los Angeles or New York City. I live in a tiny village in New Hampshire, which permits us to do the deep dives, to do the necessary researchand keep the sanity in the course of a 10-plus-year project.

Can you give people a picture of the Ken Burns industrial complex? How do these films come together?

The film credits show several hundred people, whom were very grateful for. But every one of the films is really handmade. Even the big series you can reduce to about a dozen or so people. Thats why its hugely important to get your collaborators right, to get people you trust. To learn how to delegate, to trust them. Its great because most of my editors, for example, came as interns and worked their way to apprentices, then became assistantsand then after 10 or 15 years, full-fledged editors. A lot of it is good generalship. A lot of it is extraordinarily careful time management. But the biggest thing is choosing the right people.

Related:4 Ways to BuildTrustand Help Manage YourTeam

Can you talk about giving criticism -- especially when you have such a tightly knit team? Sometimes in a leadership position you have to, for lack of a better term, bust some balls.

Everybody screws up, including me. I have a certain confidence that even in the darkest days, I seem to know what to do next. And I do, and I say that. But thats not to say that the next day it isnt terrible. And Im the first person to admit that. If you create that environment, then theres not a question of needing to bust any balls. Its a question of process. Were all going to try something. We can have disagreements that can be passionate, but theyre not loud and vociferous; theyre not personal and angry. Theres a generous spirit of collaboration. Well finish an episode and turn to the interns and ask, What do you think? And then well ask the senior editors, What do you think? Then the co-producers, What do you think? And visitors, What do you think?" I know I have the right to make the final decision, and I will make that if were in doubt. But I would rather reach a consensus before we have to drop that shoe.

Image Credit Tim Llewellyn

Do you have any personal rules for separating your work from your personal life?

I dont see the blending. I have a lot of colleagues who work all the time, into the nightand on the weekends, but we dont do that. Were like: Come in, and if you can do your work and then go home and see your family, go and do that. Theres a real work ethic, but theres not set hours. We never end up firing anyone. People just say, This isnt right for me, and well just say under our breath, Yep, that wasnt the right fit. But it takes almost no time for people to realize that. Even among the interns who come from various colleges across the country, who work for minimum wage, it becomes clear whos going to make it and whos not going to make it. And thats OK. A lot of people are drawn to film for its apparent glamour and dont realize its really hard work.

What are some things you think are necessary to get you from initial idea to finished project?

You have to know who you are. Theres a kind of ultimate Socratic thing: Who am I? What am I interested in? Whats my strength? Is this what Im supposed to be doing? Do I have something to say? These are huge, existential questions, but they do have practical day-to-day manifestations. I feel very lucky that at age 12 I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker, by 19 I knew I wanted to be a documentarianand by the time I graduated I knew it was history. And once you know what you want, getting it requires perseverance. Im sure there are a lot of more talented filmmakers than me, with really great ideas, who just havent followed through. All the choices we make, its got to be, as Emerson said in his essay on self-reliance, whatever inly rejoices. A lot of people think theyre supposed to be a doctor or a lawyer as their parents told them to be, and it doesnt work for them. But if you do what inly rejoices, its going to be OK.

Related:Tap Your HiddenStrengthsto Unleash Your Leadership Skills

As a historian, how have you seen the spirit of entrepreneurship evolve over the years?

I think entrepreneurship is at the heart of who we are in terms of the American promise and the American dream. You have to go back to the fundamentals -- for the first time in human history, we decided to trust the people to govern themselves. That releases all kinds of creative energies. I remember interviewing a writer and historian for my baseball series. He said that when Americans are studied 1,000 years from now, well be known for three things: the Constitution, baseballand jazz music. And what all three things have in common is that theyre improvisatory. The U.S. Constitution is the shortest constitution on Earth. Its four pieces of parchment thats able to provide us with this improvisatory space. And baseball has infinite, chess-like combinations. And of course, the heart of the music thats recognized as an art form is all about improvisation, not playing the notes on the page. And so entrepreneurship is a manifestation of that.

Last question: How do you start your day?

I have no problem starting my day. Coffee is not in my diet. Its the other way around. I have to figure out how to turn off the machine at the end of my day. Thats my biggest problem. There are lots of things to do and not enough time to do them. Theres an interesting truth to the human condition, that none of us are getting out of this alive. None of us. So you could reasonably assume that the human race would just curl up in the fetal position and suck our thumbs all day. But we dont. We create symphonies, we raise children, we build cathedrals, we develop apps, we do all sorts of things that belie that. The thing we do most of all is tell stories to each other. And in the telling of stories, in the making of things, we create a kind of immortality.

For an extended video of Burns' interview, visit entm.ag/kenburns

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‘Rick and Morty’ Review: ‘The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy’ is the First Great Episode of Season 3 – IndieWire

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[Editors Note: The following review contains spoilers for Rick and Morty Season 3, Episode 5, The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy.]

Its not as elaborate as the premiere, not as recognizable a template as the Mad Max or Guardians of the Galaxy diversions, nor is it iconic like Pickle Rick. But with The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy, Rick and Morty seems to have regained its guiding principles to deliver the best episode of Season 3 so far.

Cutting to the chase in a quick cold open (that finds Jerry doing even worse than we might have previously suspected), Rick drags Jerry from his dismal apartment and on a carefree trip to a planet where death is an impossibility. Protected by a shield of immortality, the two of them kick back with various colored beverages, assuming this consequence-free getaway is the recharge that Jerry needs.

Naturally, that plan is quickly torn asunder by the general manager of the restaurant where the two set up shop. Another collateral victim of Ricks space misadventures, this exiled ruler turned middle manager convinces Jerry to help him in his revenge plot. When Jerry gets cold feet and thwarts the eventual assassination attempt on Ricks life, the resulting wreckage leaves Rick and Jerry at odds with each other. Getting off the planet to safety also gives them the chance to clear the air and give voice to the simmering antipathy thats always lingered underneath their shared home life.

Read More:Every Episode of Rick and Morty, Ranked

In many ways, its a better, more enlightening therapy session than anything that happened in Dr. Wongs office. Rick admits that he sabotaged Beth and Jerrys marriage, while Jerry finally comes to terms with his assumptions that things only got worse once Rick was back in the picture.

Venturing back to Earth on a transport shuttle, Ricks would-be killers reemerge and take the two hostage, a plan made all the easier by a neural inhibitor given to Rick while they ventured through security. Seeing Rick robbed of his powers and having it serve a story purpose was a bizarre source of relief, a reassurance that Rick and Morty still has ways of exploring different versions of Rick that dont rely on merely multiplying him or transforming him into a briny vegetable.

It only takes a few seconds of screen time, but no discussion of this episode is complete without a nod to the alien child unwittingly murdering their sibling when the immortality field breaks. Its twisted to say that this is the best indication of the show finding its footing againbut it is. Rather than building out half-hours of story to be The [insert premise/character here] Episode, seeing the show get back to those tiny gulps of pitch-black comedy feels like the show regaining that warped sense of humor in incremental doses.

And the wormhole vision! Jerrys cosmic tumblers clicking into place is Rick and Morty at its most gorgeous non-sequitur impulses. A melding of the subconscious and the transcendental, this rainbow potpourri of impulses and realizations is the only thing that could eclipse the Jemaine Clement-sung Moonmen sequence for sheer, unbridled psychedelia.

Back on Earth, the Honey, I Blew Up Summer adventures of the remaining members of the Smith family show this groups strengths and weaknesses with a small fraction of the screen time. Yes, the divorce is taking a toll on Beth that garish hoof sculpture is somehow more horrific than what she inflicts on Summer.

And much like Morty still faces all the pitfalls of being a teenager, even after becoming a seasoned veteran of interdimensional adventuring, Summers Mad Max badassery still doesnt come at the expense of body issues. Small technological gadgetry malfunction is still one of the shows most reliable sources of hijinks, and to have that come from Summers instincts and not just her accidentally stumbling on it in the garage shows that shes learning more than just how to handle a shotgun. (Plus, the engorging device sets up one of the seasons funniest gags, when the split screen tech support beings trick Beth into releasing them from customer service captivity.)

Even simply as the protective little brother, Mortys strange new emergence as the voice of reason in a post-Jerry household gets some nice shading in his payback against Ethan. If Morty is going to have to be the man of the house, hes going to do it his way.

Read More: Rick and Morty Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Gets a Deadly Twist in Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender

After escaping the clutches of his captors (that robotic arm contraption, along with the exploding labcoat, brings up far more questions than answers in the best Rick and Morty way), Rick and Jerry come to a fresh sense of mutual understanding. But their final front yard farewell is telling. Whenever Rick settles back at home base, his relationships have a way of reverting back to stasis: distrust, disapproving jabs, and a general air of superiority. But even when an episode affords him the chance to make those strides, for every tiny bit of understanding, there are a thousand intergalactic enemies waiting to revisit Ricks sins on anyone in his wake.

While that might not be heartening for the Smith family, thats good news for the creative direction of the show. Though its often excelled when it widens out its scope, Rick and Morty hasnt necessarily needed intricate, grand spectacles to deliver emotionally satisfying, adventure-of-the-week thrills. It built its mythology on unspooling different truths about various corners of the multiverse and reflected that new knowledge back on how we understand the characters who make up those adventures.

The Smiths arent a perfect family, but this is continuing the lurking arc of the season, that these five misfits might actually be better as a unit than a scattered, fractured group. After a handful of episodes that had sidelined some of that understanding in favor of some pop culture riffing and self-referential trips down memory lane, its refreshing to see the show going back to what it does best: playing with the infinite possibilities of the world its meticulously built for itself.

Rick and Morty Season 3 airs Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m. ET on Adult Swim.

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A first in China cryonics: Dead woman put in deep freeze – EJ Insight

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A 49-year-old Chinese woman who died from lung cancer has been put in deep freeze in the hope that she will be brought back to life and reunited with her husband once science has found a cure for her fatal illness.

Thecryonics procedure was performed at Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute in Jinan on May 8, several minutes after Zhan Wenlian died at Shandong Universitys Qilu Hospital, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reports.

Zhan and her husbandGui Junmin had agreed to put her through the procedure, which involves low-temperature preservation of a person whose life can no longer be sustained under current science and medical knowledge, with the hope that he or she can be resuscitated and restored to full health in the future.

While some people suspect that the procedure is just another hoax, Gui expressed in a letter of consent that he knew it was not possible to revive his wife in the near future but he still he would like to give it a try.

He said he and his family believe that future advances in science and medicine will enable experts to revive his wife.

The cryopreservation was the first for a whole human body in China, although a female writer in Chongqing had had her brain frozen and preserved in 2015.

The procedure was done by Aaron Drake, a specialist in cryogenics, in cooperation with doctors from Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute and specialists from the hospital.

After more than 60 hours of work, Zhans body temperature was lowered to below minus 190 degrees Celsius before she was kept in a liquid nitrogen tank that provides a stable temperature of minus 196 degrees.

The procedure is said to cost more than 7 million yuan (US$1.05 million) plus an annual charge of 50,000 yuan for the refilling of liquid nitrogen.

But Gui only needs to pay a small portion of the amount since his wife volunteered.

Jia Chunsheng, who is in charge of Shandong Yinfeng, said cryogenics projects remain asserious scientific studies and the institute has no intention to commercialize the procedure anytime soon, news website hk01.com reported.

Jia also praised Zhan for being willing to contribute her body to scientific research, adding that her consent fuels the hope that dead people can be revived and restored to full health in the future.

In the United States, there have been about 250 people placed in cryopreservation as of 2014.

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The Future is Here! Human Body Cryogenically Frozen for First Time Ever in China – Sputnik International

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17:40 17.08.2017 Get short URL

A 49-year-old woman has become the first to have her body cryogenically frozen in a procedure performed completely on Chinese soil, media reported on Monday.

Zhan Wenlian, who was declared dead oflung cancer onMay 8, underwent the operation atthe Yinfeng Biological Group center inShandong Province.

First developed inthe US, cryogenics (also known ascryonics) involves preserving an ailing body atextremely low temperatures inthe hopes it may be revived and treated inthe future.

Zhan's full body is currently being stored atYinfeng ina 2,000 liter tank ofliquid nitrogen, where she is kept attemperatures of196 C.

Before her death, Zhan had agreed todonate her body tomedical science.

As Zhan underwent chemotherapy, her husband Gui Junpin applied forthe cryonic procedure bydonating her body toShandong University Qilu Hospital, legally qualifying her toundergo the experimental procedure atYinfeng.

All fees are paid througha fund established byYinfeng.

Zhan is not the first Chinese tobe cryogenically frozen. In 2015, Chinese author Du Hong had her brain preserved atAlcor, the US-based cryonics center where it is currently being stored.

Aaron Drake, a senior consultant forAlcor, was onhand atYinfeng forZhan's cryonic operation inMay.

This article originally appeared onthe Global Times website

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Alternative medicine for cancer more than doubles death risk – New York Daily News

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, August 15, 2017, 4:00 PM

Crystal healing stones are evidently a less effective way of beating a tumor.

Going the route of alternative medicine to treat a form of curable cancer instead of undergoing conventional treatment more than doubles a person's risk of dying, according to a new study from Yale University researchers. One in three Americans has engaged in some kind of alt-therapy with varying results, but when it comes to cancer, the data suggests that herbs and crystals will not save a life.

"We now have evidence to suggest that using alternative medicine in place of proven cancer therapies results in worse survival," lead researcher Skyler Johnson told the Yale News.

The researchers looked at 10 years' worth of records from the National Cancer Database and found that 281 patients within that time who had early-stage breast, lung, prostate or colorectal cancer who decided to take an alternative approach to their treatment. Those patients were then compared to 560 others with the same diagnoses who chose more scientific approaches like chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

Feeling bad about being down can make things worse, says study

Patients who chose alternative medicine approaches that include things like "herbs, botanicals, homeopathy, special diets or energy crystals which are basically just stones that people believe to have healing powers," Dr. Johnson told New Scientist, were two and a half times more likely than their modern medicine-opting counterparts to die within five years.

To account for disparities that people face in the medical world (such as not being able to afford expensive chemotherapy treatments) the researchers placed biases in favor of the alternative medicine group they were all younger, more affluent and were otherwise healthy.

"These patients should be doing better than the standard therapy group, but they're not," researcher James Yu told MedPage Today. "That's a scary thing to me. These are young patients who could potentially be cured, and they're being sold snake oil by unscrupulous alternative medicine practitioners."

With this data and the urging of oncologists and all of their cancer expertise, the researchers are hopeful that doctors can educate their patients and communicate to them all of the drastic risks of alternative medical approaches.

Puppies more likely to become guide dogs if not coddled by mom

"Because of patient autonomy, they can do whatever they want," Yu said. "We're always advising them (but) we can't make them do anything."

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Alternative medicine for cancer more than doubles death risk - New York Daily News

Gwen Stefani: Using Alternative Medicine to Get Pregnant at 47 … – The Hollywood Gossip

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You know what they say: another day, another story about how Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton want nothing more in the whole entire universe than to have a baby together!

Seriously, it's like every time you turn around there's another rumor about Gwen and Blake and their family planning.

It's honestly a little overwhelming.

Just in the past month, we've heard that Gwen "feels like Blake is her true soul mate and there's nothing she'd love more than to have a baby with him."

Ideally they'd have twins -- more bang for your buck, you know.

And if Gwen did succeed in getting pregnant with those twins, she'd holler at Beyonce for some advice!

We've also heard that the lovebirds are doing nothing to prevent a pregnancy, and that if they did manage to conceive, no one around them would be surprised.

Again, those are all little updates from just the past month.

But although all the whispers and rumors are very exciting, there's still one very important thing to remember.

Gwen is 47 years old.

While it's possible for her to conceive, and while women older than her have given birth to healthy, lovely babies, the fact is that it's going to be more difficult to have a baby at her age.

And if she is able to get pregnant, there are certain risks for women of "advanced maternal age."

So it's a good thing Gwen is thinking ahead!

According to a source who spoke to Hollywood Life, "Gwen would love to get pregnant, things with Blake are so perfect, having a baby with him would be icing on the cake."

Nothing we haven't heard before!

"She's a big believer in alternative medicine,' the source continued, "so she wants to do it in the most natural way possible."

"She's been getting acupuncture and working with a Chinese herbalist to increase her fertility."

In addition to that, "She's been monitoring all her hormone levels and they're really balanced."

"She's also doing hypnosis because she knows there's a huge mind-body connection and she's got a good friend that swears that helped her get pregnant in her 40's."

And on top of the hypnosis, acupuncture, and trips to the Chinese herbalist, "All of Gwen's friends are supporting her on this journey, they'll send her articles about other women that have gotten pregnant at her age to encourage her."

"Gwen knows it's not the norm to get pregnant at her age," the source admits, "but she's never been average."

"If anyone can make this happen it's her."

Really though, it's not a matter of "making this happen" -- it's a matter of whether or not her body is capable of conceiving.

But it is important to remember that Gwen had her youngest son when she was 43, and while four years could mean a world of difference when it comes to reproductive stuff, that's still impressive.

We just hope that if Gwen and Blake really do want a baby together this badly, they're able to do it, naturally or through adoption or whatever works for them.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani: 11 Most Adorable PDA Moments

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Medical experts seek FG’s support for healthcare, alternative medicine – Guardian (blog)

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Worried over the huge amount spent by Nigerians on medical tourism, Managing Director (MD) of Cedarcrest Hospitals, Felix Ogedegbe has charged the Federal Government to adequately fund healthcare delivery in the country.

He gave the charge at the opening of Cedarcrest Hospitals in Lagos where he urged medical practitioners who fled the country for greener pastures to return home and develop the countrys healthcare delivery system.

There are a lot of indices out there for the fact that millions of dollars are being spent by Nigerians who go out for healthcare, we think this can be reversed if there is collaboration in the private sector and the government.

Nigerians should invest in the healthcare sector. The government should also have a framework that will help in setting up a proper hospital that can compete with others in other parts of the world, he said.

He added that the government announced a list of service areas that they would give incentives but did not mention healthcare sector, saying the trend was unfortunate.

Nigerians spend a lot outside the country and we have the capacity to provide healthcare at home. There are very good Nigerian doctors who are willing to return home and offer their services.

Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said the establishment of the hospital was a welcome development.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to raise awareness on alternative medicine, the Managing Director of Ruzu Natural Health, Uzu Onyemaechi Robert, has called for the integration of herbal medicine in the healthcare industry.

He made the call at the unveiling of its new product kamkpe herbal drink in Lagos, adding it mission was to transform lives through herbal drugs and to create financial freedom.

Through creative innovation and sincerity, we understand the need of the people and that is our objective. We formulated the product with roots to suit peoples needs, he added.

20 May 2016 News

26 Sep 2016 News

5 Mar News

6 hours ago Nigeria

7 hours ago Nigeria

6 hours ago Nigeria

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Medical experts seek FG's support for healthcare, alternative medicine - Guardian (blog)

Probiotics Conferences | Nutrition Conferences | Europe …

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Market Analysis

Summary

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are deliberated to have health benefits. Products which are sold as probiotics include foods (such as yogurt), dietary supplements, and products that are not used orally, such as skincreams. Popular probiotic products existing in the market include Amway Nutrilite Fiber, Herbalife Activated Fiber, HealthAid Acidophilus plus 4 Billion, Zenith Nutrition Probiotic Immune etc. Although more research is needed, there is an encouraging evidence that probiotics may help treat diarrhoea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics, prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections, treat irritable bowel syndrome, speed treatment of certain intestinal infections, prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu. Side effects due to probiotics are rare and most healthy adults can safely add foods that contain prebiotics and probiotics to their diets for better health and strong immune system.

Importance and scope

Probiotics food & beverages had the highest penetration in 2015, and this trend is expected to continue over the next eight years. Differentiated product portfolio and continued innovation in the sector are the primary reasons for this scenario.

Probiotics are finding acceptance in applications such as skin health. Development of proprietary formulation techniques is undertaken by companies to cater to customized needs.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth of 7.7% over the next eight years. High population density and percentage of the youth population in countries such as India coupled with rising disposable income are expected to contribute to the market growth.

A major part of market share is held by very few companies. Companies are trying innovative techniques for customer engagement. Mergers & acquisitions are carried out to increase regional presence as well as market share.

Industry participants majorly include Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, Danone, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., Nestle, Probi AB, Danisco A/S, Lallemand Inc., and Arla Foods, Inc.

Probiotics Market

The global market of probiotics ingredients, supplements, and foods reached nearly $23.1 billion in 2012. This market is expected to grow to nearly $27.1 billion in 2013 and $36.7 billion in 2018 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% over the five-year period from 2013 to 2018 with further projections determined to exceed US $63 billion by 2022, driven by growing clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of probiotics in general health maintenance and disease treatment. Probiotic therapy is growing in polularity in the treatment of lactose intolerance, lipid metabolism, oxalte metabolism, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), ulcerative colitits, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, allergic rhinitis, infectious diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis and helicobacter pylori.Japan, Europe and the United States represents major market worldwide. Asia-pacific ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 12.7% over the analysis period. However, the probiotics market is still at a relatively novice stage, with lack of clarity on usage patterns among consumers, this is expected to play a critical role in market development over the next six years. Labeling regulations, especially in the U.S. and European Union, are also expected to have significant impact on market growth.

Food & beverages dominated the application market and accounted for over 80% of the total probiotics market, driven by growth of fermented meat, dairy, bakery, breakfast cereals, fats & oils, beverages, fish & eggs, meat, and soy products. Dietary supplements are expected to be the fastest growing application segment, at an estimated CAGR of 7.7% from 2012 to 2020.

"Food & beverages was the largest segment in 2015"

Probiotics food & beverages segment was the largest segment in 2015 and accounted for more than 85% of total revenue. This application includes dairy products, nondairy products, cereals, baked food, fermented meat products, and dry food probiotics.

Figure-1: Functional Food Market by Sector (% value)

"Human probiotics dominated the total demand in 2015"

Human probiotics accounted for more than 90% of total revenue in 2015. Growing health concerns and development of more effective probiotic strains is expected to aid the industry growth. Increasing standard of living, as well as disposable income in areas such as Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa as well as Central & South America, has been benefiting the overall market growth.

Animal feed bacteria are expected to show a steady growth over the next eight years. Companies have been trying to develop and market more effective probiotic strains aimed at improving health.

"Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth from 2016 to 2024"

Asia Pacific dominated the global industry and accounted for more than 40%. Strong demand from countries such as India, China and Japan is the major contributing factor for this scenario. Rising population, growing awareness regarding probiotics usage and the strong presence of international players in the region are contributing to the market growth.

North America is expected to grow at an anticipated CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period. Prevalent awareness regarding these product usages and rising preference for functional foods are the driving factors in the region. The Middle East & Africa and Central & South America are also expected to show modest growth over the forecast period.

"Companies investing heavily in R&D are a major market characteristic"

Major industry participants are investing heavily in R&D to develop more effective probiotic strains. The companies are also striving to develop products which find novel applications such as skin treatment. Third party R&D companies are employed to develop superior cultures to gain competitive advantage. High level of integration between raw material suppliers, manufacturers, suppliers and end users. Major industry participants include Danisco A/S, Danone, Chr Hansen, Nestle, Arla Foods, Inc., Probi and Lallemand Inc., S.A., China-Biotics, Inc., E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, General Mills, Inc., Lifeway Foods, Inc., PROBI AB, BioGaia AB, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., Mother Dairy and Chr. Hansen. The growing popularity of probiotics worldwide has attracted many new players to participate in this market.

Key Segments of the Global Probiotic Market

A. Global probiotics market, by application

B. Global probiotics market, by end use

C. Global probiotics market, by strain type

Grand View Research has segmented the probiotics market on the basis of application, end use and region:

1. Global Probiotics Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024

A. Probiotics food & beverage

B. Probiotics dietary supplements

2. Global Probiotics End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

3. Global Probiotics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014- 2024)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central & South America

Middle East & Africa

European Market

Europe is the second largest global market for probiotics after Asia-Pacific, cornering a share estimated to be 25% in 2014. Growth in demand for probiotics in the region is also likely to maintain a fast pace over the 2014-2020 analysis period. Germany and the United Kingdom are the two largest probiotics markets in Europe, with a combined share estimated at about 55% in 2014, with United Kingdom also expected to be the fastest growing. By product type, dietary supplements and functional foods & beverages are the largest, as well as the fastest growing segments.

Prevention and cure of disorders, such as lactose intolerance and inflammatory bowel disease are some of the benefits offered by probiotics, with rising health-consciousness levels and wider access to probiotic dietary supplements being the major factors sustaining growth. The past decade has been witness to the launch of more than 500 food & beverage probiotic products, which have garnered exceptional response in terms of acceptance. Some of the factors implicated in causes of digestive disorders, bloating and reduction in resistance to infections include poor and not-in-time diet, age and stress levels. Studies have revealed that consuming products enhanced with probiotics has been successful in moderating these conditions to a large extent.

Figure-2:European Probiotics Market Revenue By Product, 2014 - 2024 (USD Million)

Why London, UK?

London is a leadingglobal city in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism, and transport. It is one of the world's leadingfinancial centres and has thefifth- or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world. London is a world cultural capital. It is the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has theworld's largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic. London is the world's leadinginvestment destination hosting moreinternational retailers andultra probiotics food & beverages had the highest penetration in 2015, and this trend is expected to continue over the next eight years. Differentiated product portfolio and continued innovation in the sector are the primary reasons for this scenario.

Industry participants majorly include Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, Danone, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., Nestle, Probi AB, Danisco A/S, Lallemand Inc., and Arla Foods, Inc. high-net-worth individuals than any other city. London's universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutes in Europe, and a 2014 report placed it first in the world university rankings. According to the report London also ranks first in the world in software, multimedia development and design, and shares first position in technology readiness.

Figure-3:Total Probiotics Market

List of Hospitals Research Centre:

London, UK

Worldwide

Major Probiotic Associations and Society

Companies Associated with Probiotics:

Top Nutrition Universities in UK

Target Audience

Figure-4:Target audience for Probiotics

Glance at Market and Funding for Probiotics Research

Figure-5: Projections Growth by next 5-10 years

Recent studies on Probiotics Market exhibit both the opportunities and forecasts during the period 2014-2022during which the global probiotics market is expected to reach$57.4 billionby 2022, registering a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period, 2016-2022.Asia-Pacificis presently dominant in the market and is expected to be the leading contributor in global revenue, due to its high adoption of probiotic based food and beverages. Bacteria derived probiotics would dominate the market throughout the forecast period as yeast strains are still under research and testing phase and approvals from the Food and Drug Administration would take time to implement. By end use, the probiotics market is segmented into animal probiotics and human probiotics. Human probiotics is in the lead by contributing nearly 90% of global revenue in 2015 and is forecasted to grow at a fastest rate of 7.8% during the period 2016-2022. Growth in awareness about the probiotics benefits among the consumers through various means such as publications, fact sheets, and conferences would help to grow among human end users.

1. Probiotic Microorganism

The term probiotic remains undefined legally in many countries, and regulatory approaches differ among countries worldwide. Diverse categories encompass probiotic products, including: food, functional food, novel food, natural remedy (Denmark Sweden and Finland), natural health product (Canada), dietetic food (Italy), dietary supplement (USA), biotherapeutic and pharmaceuticals (probiotic pharmaceuticals are available in Canada, China, eastern European countries, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Italy). There is no official definition of probiotic in Japanese regulation, but several probiotic and prebiotic products have achieved FOSHU (foods for specialized health use) status, with health statements being approved by the Japanese Ministry of HealthWhile few studies have established the minimum effective dose of a probiotic to convey a physiological effect, probiotic-induced changes are rarely seen at daily doses of less than 10810 colony forming units (cfu).24 However, one can only speculate as to how many probiotic cells reach target sites alive. Probiotic bacteria that are tolerant to acid stress would be expected to survive well during stomach passage. Genomic regions, identified through genome sequencing, that may help identify regions critical to the survival and functionality of commensal or probiotic organisms in their corresponding habitats might include: conserved versus distinct gene sets , genes resulting from recent horizontal transfer, altered GC contentislands/regions of adaptability.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th International Conference on Nutrition & Food Sciences May 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas June 07-09 San Francisco; The global nutraceutical event May 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th International Conference on Probiotics in Veterinary Medicine April 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th World Congress on Targeting Microbiota October 2017 Paris, France; The International Scientific Conference on Probiotics and Prebiotics June 19 22 June 2017Budapest, Hungary; Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th International Conference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics Foods July 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th International Conference on Probiotics and Functional Foods March 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

2. Mechanisms of action of probiotics

Recent studies are providing new insight into the mechanisms by which the microbiota regulates the colonization and eradication of pathogens. Particularly revealing the ability of commensals to restrain pathogen growth by dictating the metabolic pathways that control the competition for limited nutrients in the intestine. Furthermore, inflammatory responses have profound effects on the growth of pathogens and certain commensal species. However, the relative contributions of each metabolic pathway and the commensal species involved remain poorly understood. In addition, little is known about how the inflammatory responses affect interactions between pathogens and commensals. There is a delicate balance in microbiota populations in the gut and disruption in this balance leads to dysbiosis and overgrowth of pathobionts leading to pathologic immune responses and disease. The identification and characterization of natural competitors that suppress the growth of pathogens and pathobionts may lead to the development of rational approaches to manage intestinal disease. There is also a clear role for host immunity in controlling microbiota populations. However, recent studies have challenged a critical role of innate recognition receptors in determining the composition of the gut microbiota. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism by which the host regulates the microbiota.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

3. Probiotics and Health: A Clinical Perspective

Probiotics live microorganisms when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host that have been studied for both human and animal applications, and worldwide research on this topic has accelerated in recent years. Administration of probiotics could be effective in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea in children and the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and nosocomial/community acquired diarrhoea. Encouraging evidence is also emerging for the effectiveness of probiotics in the prevention and management of pouchitis and paediatric atopic diseases, and the prevention of postoperative infections. There is also strong evidence that certain probiotic strains are able to enhance immune function, especially in subjects with less than adequate immune function such as the elderly. Efficacy of probiotics has been shown in the prevention of prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, sepsis associated with severe acute pancreatitis, improvement of lactose metabolism and cancers, the management of weight and lowering of blood cholesterol, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend them for use in other clinical conditions.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

4. Probiotics in Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists once defined gastrointestinal health as the absence of chronic disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, this is too restrictive. The increasing frequency of digestive functional disorders, including non-ulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), justifies an enlargement of a definition that includes intestinal well-being and the overall impact on quality of life including reduction of disease risk. Some animal studies are required to investigate this concept. The intestinal microflora has been linked with a number of intestinal diseases including colon cancer, (IBS) and IBD however few details of their involvement have been elucidated. Since colon cancer and IBD can lead to extreme therapeutic approaches, including surgical excision, clarification of the role of the microflora in these diseases may significantly reduce morbidity.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

5.Probiotics in Pediatrics

Presenting global evidence for their utility in children, Prof. Sherman illustrated that evidence through randomized controlled trails have demonstrated that certain probiotic strains are more effective than placebo in a variety of conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Multiple meta-analyses indicate effectiveness in reducing the duration of acute enteritis in pre-schoolers and in reducing the frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis in pre-term babies. As probiotics exist naturally in some foods and are also available as dietary supplements in powder, capsule, and tablet forms. In 2002, the industry secured FDA designation of specific strains of B. lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus as substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in milk-based formulas for infants aged 4 months and older. Most probiotic bacteria are similar to the beneficial bacteria that occur naturally in the gut, including those of the Lactobacillus species (eg, L. acidophilus). Infants acquire other bacteria during their first months, mainly those of the Bifidobacterium and Enterobacter species. Bifidobacterium species dominate in the gut of breast-fed infants, whereas Enterobacter microbes dominate in bottle-fed infants. This difference in species, which has been identified as key to breast-fed infants superior immunity to many infections, has spurred much of the medical and pediatric communities interest in probiotics. Infant formula manufacturers have also taken interest.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

6. Probiotics in Animal Health

The use of probiotics for farm animals has increased considerably over the last 15 years. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which can confer a health benefit for the host when administered in appropriate and regular quantities. Once ingested, the probiotic microorganisms can modulate the balance and activities of the gastrointestinal microbiota, whose role is fundamental to gut homeostasis. It has been demonstrated that numerous factors, such as dietary and management constraints, can strongly affect the structure and activities of the gut microbial communities, leading to impaired health and performance in livestock animals. Probiotic microorganisms, which benefit from a natural image, can expect a promising future in animal nutrition. Controlled research studies demonstrate that they can positively balance gastrointestinal microbiota, and thereby improve animal production and health. However, care must be taken in the way that the probiotic candidate-strains are selected. Better knowledge of the structure and activities of the gut microbiota, functional interactions between gut microbes and interrelationships between microbes and host cells represent a fundamental aspect of future probiotic research. In this context new omic technologies will be very helpful to better characterize and understand the effects of probiotics on the balance of the gastrointestinal microbiota. It will be possible to select more powerful or targeted strains on a scientific basis and follow their behaviour in the host animal. Thanks to these techniques, which are complimentary to anaerobic culture methods and gnotobiotic animal or cellular models, probiotic research has had, and will also certainly have in the future, a very important place in the improvement of animal health and nutrition.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

7. Plant Probiotics

The increasing interest in the preservation of the environment and the health of consumers is changing production methods and food consumption habits. Consumers increasingly demand safe functional foods that have beneficial properties for health mainly focused on the protection against carcinogenesis and oxidative processes. The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables containing bioactive compounds has increased considerably in recent years and many studies have been carried out on the potential benefits of such compounds in different aspects of human health. At the same time, there has been a strong increase in studies addressing the benefits of biofertilization for plants and the environment. In this sense plant promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) able to colonize the inside of plants tissues are especially interesting. These beneficial microorganisms are plant probiotics and promote the plant growth through different direct mechanisms such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and the production of different compounds such as phytohormones or indirect mechanisms such as the production of siderophores. To achieve both aims, the promotion of plant growth and the benefits for human health, it is necessary to use non-pathogenic microorganisms in biofertilization schemes.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

8.Probiotics in Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the world's fastest growing food production sector. However, fish culture is currently suffering from serious losses due to infectious diseases. The use of antimicrobial drugs, pesticides and disinfectant in aquaculture disease prevention and growth promotion has led to the evolution of resistant strains of bacteria. Thus, the research into the use of probiotics for aquaculture is increasing with the demand for environment friendly sustainable aquaculture. The benefits of such supplements include improved feed value, enzymatic contribution to digestion, inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activity, and increased immune response. These probiotics are harmless bacteria that help the well-being of the host animal and contribute, directly or indirectly to protect the host animal against harmful bacterial pathogens. The use of probiotics in aquaculture has just begun, due to the fact that gastrointestinal microbiota of aquatic organisms has been poorly characterized, and their effects are not studied extensively.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

9.Probioceuticals: Probiotic- Derived Factors

Probiotic-derived factors have been described as capable of exerting probiotic activities through various mechanisms. However, it is important to distinguish between the concept of probiotic, which is necessarily based on the ingestion of live microorganisms, and the concept of microorganism-derived bioactive compounds that may have useful applications in nutrition and medicine. Bioactive compounds of bacterial or yeast origin, (antibiotics, for example), have been utilized in medicine for decades. Although there are many bacteria-derived products capable of inducing a health benefit, the concept of probiotic is only attributed to microorganisms administered as viable forms, providing the opportunity for a symbiotic relationship between the host, and resident, or in-transit, microorganisms. Secreted probiotic factors, such as reuterin from Lactobacillus reuteri, have been reported to inhibit adhesion and viability of known enteric pathogens, suggesting that probiotic supernatants could be a rich source of new antipathogenic compounds. In an in vitro study in human gastric epithelial cells, spent culture supernatants from certain lactic acid producing bacteria inhibited the growth and attachment of Helicobacter pylori. Roselli et al. demonstrated that supernatants of Bifidobacterium animalis MB5 and Lactobacillus GG could inhibit adhesion of E. coli K88 to Caco-2 cells, with the supernatant exerting identical beneficial effects following protease digestion, suggesting that proteins were not the active constituent.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

10. Probiotic Delivery Systems

Since probiotic-containing products in general do not require Food and Drug Administration approval, they are commonly available in the market in various food formats such as fermented milk, cheese, yogurt and juice. In recent years, probiotics have been extensively studied as a treatment option of various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection, irritable bowel syndrome. Due to probiotics vulnerability to several environmental factors such as temperature and pH, maintaining the viability of probiotics has long been a hurdle to develop successful probiotic delivery systems. Hence to overcome these hurdles in probiotic delivery methods like encapsulation of materials and recent probiotic delivery technologies are being commonly used. Microencapsulation technologies have been developed to protect the bacteria from damage caused by external environment. By the introduction of a straw delivery system containing a dry form of the probiotic bacterium beverage manufacturers can now provide it to the consumer. In addition, viable spores of a spore forming probiotic are available in the market offering advantages during processing. In the same time, the potential of antibiotics substances with antimicrobial properties production by bifidobacteria is being explored in order to be applied in the food area.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

11. Traditional Therapies of Probiotics

There is an increasing scientific and commercial interest in the use of beneficial microorganisms, or "probiotics," for the prevention and treatment of disease. The microorganisms most frequently used as probiotic agents are lactic-acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which has been extensively studied in recent literature. Multiple mechanisms of action have been postulated, including lactose digestion, production of antimicrobial agents, competition for space or nutrients, and immunomodulation. Studies of pediatric diarrhoea show substantial evidence of clinical benefits from probiotic therapy in patients with viral gastroenteritis, and data on LGG treatment for Clostridium difficile diarrhoea appear promising. However, data to support use of probiotics for prevention of traveler's diarrhoea are more limited. New research suggests potential applications in vaccine development and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Further studies are needed to take full advantage of this traditional medical approach and to apply it to the infectious diseases.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

12. Functional Foods

Overwhelming evidence from epidemiological, in vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial data indicates that a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of chronic disease, particularly cancer. In 1992, a review of 200 epidemiological studies showed that cancer risk in people consuming diets high in fruits and vegetables was only one-half that in those consuming few of these foods. It is now clear that there are components in a plant-based diet other than traditional nutrients that can reduce cancer risk. Functional foods containing physiologically-active components, either from plant or animal sources, may enhance health. It should be stressed, however, that functional foods are not a magic bullet or universal panacea for poor health habits. There are no good or bad foods, but there are good or bad diets. The range of food products containing probiotic strains is wide and still growing. The main products existing in the market are dairy-based ones including fermented milks, cheese, ice cream, buttermilk, milk powder, and yogurts, the latter accounting for the largest share of sales. The functional food market is expanding, especially in Japan its birthplace with further growth prospects in Europe and the United States and in most countries the largest share of its products is held by probiotics. Common foods containing probiotics include fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, and some juices, smoothies, nutrition bars, and soy drinks. The most common strains found in yogurt are L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus.

13. Beneficial aspects of Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible, fermentable carbohydrates and fibers, such as inulin-type frucans and galacto-oligosaccharides, which exhibit health promoting properties to host through selective stimulation of growth and/or activities of a limited number of bacteria (i.e., probiotics). Human milk contains substantial quantities of prebiotics. There is a paucity of Random Clinical Trials examining prebiotics in children, showing that there may be some long-term benefit of prebiotics for the prevention of atopic eczema and common infections in healthy infants for which confirmatory well-designed clinical research studies are necessary.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 207Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

14. Regulation and Product Development

Depending on intended use of a probiotic (drug vs. dietary supplement), regulatory requirements differ greatly. If a probiotic is intended for use as a drug, then it must undergo the regulatory process as a drug, which is similar to that of any new therapeutic agent. Despite the promising evidence, the role of probiotics in human health as well as the safety of their application should be further investigated as the current knowledge of the characteristics that are necessary for their functionality in the gut is not complete. The factors that must be addressed in evaluating the effectiveness of the incorporation of the probiotic strains into such products are, besides safety, the compatibility of the product with the microorganism and the maintenance of its viability through food processing, packaging, and storage conditions. The products pH for instance is a significant factor determining the incorporated probiotics survival and growth, and this is one of the reasons why soft cheeses seem to have a number of advantages over yoghurt as delivery systems for viable probiotics to the gastrointestinal tract. Current technological innovations provide ways to overcome probiotic stability and viability issues offering new options for their incorporation in new media and subsequent satisfaction of the increasing consumer demand. The safety profile of a potential probiotic strain is of critical importance in the selection process. This testing should include the determination of strain resistance to a wide variety of common classes of antibiotics such as tetracyclines, quinolones and macrolides and subsequent confirmation of non-transmission of drug resistance genes or virulence plasmids. Evaluation should also take the end-product formulation into consideration because this can induce adverse effects in some subjects or negate the positive effects altogether. A better understanding of the potential mechanisms whereby probiotic organisms might cause adverse effects will help to develop effective assays that predict which strains might not be suitable for use in probiotic products.

Related Conferences: 9thInternationalCongress on Nutrition & HealthFebruary 20-21, 2017 Berlin, Germany; 10thAnnualNutrition & Food Sciences CongressMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan; 11thEuropeanNutrition and Dietetics ConferenceJune 29- July 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain; 10thInternationalConference on Clinical Diabetes, Diabetes care & NutritionJuly 20-21, 2017 Chicago, USA; 13thWorldCongress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, July 27-28, 2017, Rome, Italy 10th InternationalConference on Nutrition & Food SciencesMay 29-31, 2017 Osaka, Japan;IPA World Congress + Probiota AmericasJune 07-09 San Francisco;The global nutraceutical eventMay 09 - 11 2017 Geneva Switzerland; ICPVM 2017: 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics in Veterinary MedicineApril 8 - 9, 2017 Dubai, UAE; 5th WorldCongress on Targeting MicrobiotaOctober 2017 Paris, France; The International ScientificConference on Probiotics and PrebioticsJune 19 22 June 2017Budapest,Hungary;Probiotics Congress: USA October 3-4 2016 San Diego, USA; The 2ndProbiotics Congress: Asia Mar 1-2 2017 Hong Kong; ICPFPF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics, Functional and Pediatrics FoodsJuly 10 - 11, 2017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ICPFF 2017 : 19th InternationalConference on Probiotics and Functional FoodsMarch 9 - 10, 2017 Miami, USA.

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Body Wise Celebrates 28 Years of Making Pharmaceutical Grade Nutritional Supplements Recommended by Doctors – Markets Insider

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IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Body Wise started a healthy living revolution in 1989 when it launched pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements. Over the years the product line has grown from essential nutrition and heart health to immune system modulation, weight loss, and sports performance. Each new product is rooted in the belief that optimal nutrition, together with sensible eating and exercise, forms the foundation for a lifetime of good health.

"I have personally made several Body Wise products part of my daily nutritional routine," said Dr. Kenneth Petri of Denver, Colorado. "Oxy G2 and AG Immune are both indispensable to me, along with the fabulous Right Choice AM and PM combination that I feel play a role in my continuing excellent health."

Today, as it was 28 years ago, most nutritional supplements on store shelves are food grade. Body Wise pharmaceutical grade nutrition offers a higher level of purity and potency.

"There is no uncertainty when it comes to the positive benefits of supplements because the evidence is overwhelming. The only uncertainty regarding supplements is their quality, and Body Wise removes that uncertainty," said Dr. Bradley Wajda of Fresno, California.

The process of creating pharmaceutical grade nutrition begins with the latest scientific research and formulations by doctors and nutritionists. Then, Body Wise manufactures these supplements in an FDA licensed facility to the same rigorous standards used to make medicines, in accordance with the U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Raw ingredients are quarantined and undergo heavy metal and microbiological testing. They are then cold processed to preserve the power of nutrients. A final batch testing by high-pressure liquid chromatography assures consumers that what's on the label is exactly what's in the bottle.

It all adds up to enhanced bioavailability at the cellular level and a difference people notice.

"Some of the major results reported to me by my patients have been a better sense of energy and improved sleeping habits," said Dr. Harold J. Bowersox of Mentor, Ohio. "Those patients with chronic complaints have had great relief, which I feel is the boost in their immune status."

Since 1989, interest in integrative medicine has skyrocketed. Body Wise is proud to partner with healthcare professionals to help thousands of people across the United States and Canada live healthier and happier lives.

About Body Wise

Body Wise makes pharmaceutical grade optimal nutrition supplements for energy, immune health, weight loss, anti-aging, and sports performance.

For more information, visit http://www.BodyWise.com.

Media Contact: J. P. Sousa 714-368-1253 rel="nofollow">jpsousa@bodywise.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/body-wise-celebrates-28-years-of-making-pharmaceutical-grade-nutritional-supplements-recommended-by-doctors-300507035.html

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Body Wise Celebrates 28 Years of Making Pharmaceutical Grade Nutritional Supplements Recommended by Doctors - Markets Insider

Global Wet Pet Food Market 2017-2021: Market to Grow at a CAGR of 5.66% – Key Challenges, Trends & Drivers – Markets Insider

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DUBLIN, August 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global Wet Pet Food Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global wet pet food market to grow at a CAGR of 5.66% during the period 2017-2021.

Global Wet Pet Food Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. To calculate the market size, the report considers sale of wet pet food products to individual consumers.

One trend in the market is premiumization of wet pet food products. Pet owners are increasingly buying premium products for their pets, as they consider pets as a part of their family and want to provide them with the best. Childless couples and single parents are adopting pets. To ensure the pets receive appropriate nutrition and care, the pet owners are willing to pay a premium for good-quality pet care products including food, supplements, and grooming items.

According to the report, one driver in the market is increase in pet ownership. Living with pets has been linked to significant health benefits like reduced blood pressure, anxiety, and stress. Children exposed to pets at a young age tend to have strong immune systems. Pet owners tend to have milder responses to/quicker recovery from stress.

Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is increasing instances of pet allergies among owners. The increasing instances of pet allergies among consumers is one of the challenges inhibiting the growth of global wet pet food market. Cryptosporidiosis and other pet diseases are often transmitted to humans, especially children.

Key vendors

Other prominent vendors

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive summary

Part 02: Scope of the report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Introduction

Part 05: Market landscape

Part 06: Market segmentation by product

Part 07: Market segmentation by distribution channel

Part 08: Geographical segmentation

Part 09: Key leading countries

Part 10: Decision framework

Part 11: Drivers and challenges

Part 12: Market trends

Part 13: Vendor landscape

Part 14: Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8dmc7m/global_wet_pet

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Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager rel="nofollow">press@researchandmarkets.com

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Global Wet Pet Food Market 2017-2021: Market to Grow at a CAGR of 5.66% - Key Challenges, Trends & Drivers - Markets Insider

Udall Touts Kirtland’s Critical Mission & Cutting-Edge Technology In Meeting With Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski – Los Alamos Daily Post

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Udall and Pawlikowski agree that sequestration and threatened government shutdown would be dangerous for national security and service member morale. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE Aug. 14,U.S. Sen.Tom Udallmet with Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center to discuss Kirtland Air Force Bases critical national security mission, cutting-edge technology, and future plans for harnessing the bases research and development capabilities to maintain the United States technological advantage.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which oversees funding for New Mexicos defense programs, Udall has secured strong funding for missions at Kirtland and the jobs and economic growth the base supports.

Pawlikowski commands AFMCs mission of conducting research, development, test and evaluation, and providing acquisition management services and logistics support to keep Air Force weapon systems ready.

During their meeting, Udall touted the essential national security mission being carried out at Kirtlands Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, as well as the leading technological developments, such as directed energy technology and small satellites, being advanced at Kirtland to provide more tools for the armed forces.

Udall cited the unmatched experience and expertise at Kirtland and the Air Force Research Lab, again making the case for why New Mexico with its premier military bases, and national laboratories, and supporting businesses is an ideal location for a Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) office that can help promote technology transfer and build the private sector economy in New Mexico and the Southwest.

Udall and Pawlikowski also discussed the W80-4 life extension program as well as the damage that a threatened government shutdown and return to sequestration, or automatic spending cuts, could do to morale and recruitment -- especially for service members and lab employees with in-demand technical skills -- and the missions at New Mexico's bases.

Every day at Kirtland, service members and civilians are expertly carrying out an essential national security mission doing the cutting-edge work that helps keep our nation safe and grows New Mexicos economy. General Pawlikowski agrees that steady governance and consistent funding levels are vital to our national security. We can't afford a shutdown, and a return to sequestration would be dangerous for New Mexico's labs and military bases and their surrounding communities,Udall said. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Im proud to fight for the strong funding Kirtland needs to support these critical investments in our national security and in New Mexico jobs and economic growth. I was glad to talk to General Pawlikowski today about how the first-rate technology being developed in New Mexico directly benefits war fighters and civilians, spurring progress, bolstering national security, and benefiting our economy.

Elizabeth Driggers, executive director of the Kirtland Partnership Committee, who attended the meeting, said, The Kirtland Partnership Committee and its members, who include some of the most innovative tech companies in New Mexico, are thrilled with General Pawlikowskis visit and her commitment to breaking down tech barriers and speeding up software issues, which are critically important to progressing our Air Force at a more commercial speed. We appreciated Senator Udall again demonstrating hes committed to fighting sequestration, which we have seen has had devastating short-term and long-term impacts to our bases.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Udall has for years secured strong funding for Kirtland and New Mexicos other military bases and installations. For example, 2017 funding for programs at Kirtland includes:

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Udall Touts Kirtland's Critical Mission & Cutting-Edge Technology In Meeting With Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski - Los Alamos Daily Post

AngloGold Ashanti’s (AU) CEO Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan on Q2 2017 Results – Earnings Call Transcript – Seeking Alpha

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AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU)

Q2 2017 Results Earnings Conference Call

August 21, 2017 09:00 AM ET

Executives

Stewart Bailey - IR

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan - CEO

Chris Sheppard - COO, South Africa

Ludwig Eybers - COO, International

Graham Ehm - EVP, Group Planning & Technical

Christine Ramon - CFO

Analysts

David Haughton - CIBC World Markets

Patrick Mann - Deutsche Bank

Tanya Jakusconek - Scotiabank

Operator

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to AngloGold Ashantis First Half 2017 Results Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end of todays discussion. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference being recorded.

I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Stewart Bailey. Please go ahead, sir.

Stewart Bailey

Thank you, Judith. And welcome everybody to our first half financial and operating results. We appreciate you making the time. And Id ask you please to go to the front of your presentation, which youll find on our website, and there is a Safe Harbor disclaimer. Right at the front, it has very important information. Wed urge you to read it carefully. Please get back to us if you have any question as far as that goes. We have a full slate today with our executive team and talking about the various aspects of the business.

Im going to hand over to Venkat for some introductory remarks.

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Thank you, Stewart. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Before we move to the results for the first half of 2017, lets revisit our overarching strategy which has since 2013 remained consistent. We continue to be guided by our five key business objectives and how they can support our central strategic goal of delivering sustainable improvements to cash flow and returns. This is especially relevant today, as we provide a progress report on our plans to invest in delivering better quality production, improving margins, extending mine lives and shaping our international portfolio for the long-term.

Were also taking steps to address losses of some of our older operations in South Africa in order to ensure the viability of our core assets shift. Chris Sheppard will speak more about that shortly. This internal focus has been fundamental to our strategy over the past four years when we directed our efforts yielding opportunity that lies within our pipeline was optimizing our existing portfolio, improving our cost structures whilst fortifying our balance sheet. We continued to build our ability to withstand gold price shocks and to weather the challenges that tend to crop up, as you manage a globally diverse portfolio of long life gold assets such as ours, whilst executing on the self-funded, quick payback options that exist within our portfolio.

Now, turning on to slide five on safety. This is the proudest element of our results for the half year being our exemplary safety record to-date. At the end of June, we had passed more than 283 days without a fatality in the group and for the first time ever, we logged three back-to-back calendar quarters with no fatal accident at our operations. The achievement is also more noteworthy when you consider that at the end of the first half of the year, our ultra-deep South African operations registered 339 days fatality-free with every unit surpassing 1 million fatality free shifts. To this end, whilst we are proud of this accomplishment, well never be satisfied until we eliminate fatalities from all of our operations.

Again, while this shows world-class standards and safety management that we have developed over several years, it also reinforces our commitment to hazard management and the analysis of high potential incidents as we look to improve even further.

Turning now to slide six. Before we move on to our six months performance, Id like to spend some time on the second quarter results. This is especially important given the improving trends in South Arica from our core operations, after a weak start of the year, in the first quarter, coupled with steady improvements from our international portfolio. As youll see through this presentation, we have continued to follow our strategy of improving the quality of our portfolio through our inward investment in a strong suite of Brownfield project opportunities, as well as by continuing to remove loss-making ounces from our production profile.

Ive already covered safety, but its worth noting that we achieved that result whilst delivering a very strong second quarter with a 20% jump in our South African production from the levels seen in the first quarter and a 10% drop in the rand denominated costs. In fact, we saw improvements right across the portfolio in the three months through to June. Production was up 11% quarter-on-quarter and 4% year-on-year. All four regions reported quarter-on-quarter increases in production levels; that means cash cost reduced 4% from Q1 and the escalation year-on-year was contained at 10% despite mining inflation and markedly strong currencies.

Now, moving on to the six months results through to June of slide one. We saw production of 1.75 million ounces, which puts about 48% of our production in the bag when you take the midpoint of guidance, and very much at the levels seen last year. Thus, despite the abnormally slow start to the year, which shows the extent of catch-up weve been able to do in the second quarter.

In line with prior years, we see a stronger second half with most of the pick-up coming during the fourth quarter. Our all-in sustaining cost of $1,071 were up from the levels seen in the first half of last year, as they come on the back of stronger currencies in all of our key jurisdictions and also planned increase in our capital investment program which we flagged at the beginning of the year. Christine will break all of that down in detail during her discussion of the financials.

Well be working very hard to maintain an improving trajectory over the remainder of the year, though its important to note that similar to last year, there will be a continued element of seasonality in the third quarter, driven by our mine plans in Brazil, the DRC and Australia before the customary strong finish in the fourth quarter.

With that said, we are keeping guidance intact on all key metrics. Id like to spend a moment to discuss the situation in Tanzania. Geita is an important asset for us and one that we are investing in for the long-term. As you can see from slide eight, its worth remembering that Geita has had a challenging past and has required capital injections at various points over the last 17 years. Starting with the initial investment to develop the mine back in 1999, then youll remember the collapse of the main pit wall in 2007, which took several years to dig ourselves out of and then with the major mill replacement in 2012.

As the life of the open pit starts to taper, were now investing in the extension of mine life through underground development. Were progressing well with the construction of the new power plant, guaranteeing reliable power over the extended life, whilst we have also commenced developing the underground mining infrastructure that will extract the ore from beneath the current Nyankanga and Star & Comet pits.

Tanzania has historically always been one of our preferred investment destinations, given both its geological endowment and the predictability afforded by our mine development agreement. Under the agreement, we have continued to operate and invest in a true Tier 1 gold asset for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. And analysis of the cash flows in and out of Geita since it was developed in 1999 shows that over this period the mine has delivered more than $1 billion to the Tanzanian government in the form of royalties, corporate taxes and employee income tax.

Turning to the important slide nine. As you see from the slide, in nominal terms, we only repaid the development capital Geita in 2011. It also shows that the government through tax and royalty payments has been a beneficiary since day one with its cumulative share of total benefit from Geita increasing as the mine life progressed.

In terms of net cash distribution to stakeholders, after accounting for repaying capital and obviously funding the operation, the net share of cash flows for the government of Tanzania thus far has been about 55% and our share 45% in nominal terms. When one takes into account the time value of money, the government share is significantly higher.

We hold as one of our core values, the beliefs that communities whether those directly affecting our operations or host countries at large must be material beneficiaries of our activities, if this enterprise is to remain sustainable. We have continued to strive to ensure that we strike that balance in Tanzania. We are one of the largest tax payers in Tanzania and the largest in the mining industry, and have received recognition from the authorities to this effect. It is a distinction we are proud of. We believe that as Geita goes from strength-to-strength, it will be an important tool in enabling Tanzania realize its goal of reaching middle income status.

Turning on to slide 10. In addition to making the requirement to list 30% of our Tanzanian mining operations on the local stock exchange during late June, over the course of less than a week, the government of Tanzania tabled, debated and approved a number of laws that could alter the landscape for the countrys extractive sector.

Whist we are seeking a dialogue with the authorities to gain clarity on how these new rules may affect our operation, given the protection afforded by our mine development agreement, we have continued to operate as normal at Geita. It has however been necessary to pay on a without prejudice basis, the additional 2 percentage points on royalty on revenue and the 1% clearing fee in order to ensure that the continued export of our gold dore` bars can take place.

During this capital investment phase, we are currently operating Geita on a self-funded basis, given the higher royalties combined with the continued lock-up of VAT receivables on eligible inputs at the mine. However, as a precautionary measure, as said in our announcement on July the 13th, our subsidiaries have initiated arbitration to protect the status of our mine development agreements.

We have, as I mentioned earlier, continued to seek dialogue with the government on the issue of how the new law and the associated impact will have with regard in the context of our mine development agreement, and we will continue on both of those tracks until we find resolution. This is the situation that requires patience, diplomacy and the need to take a long-term view. We must balance the optionality of this important asset on the goodwill of our Geita and Tanzanian stakeholders whilst planning for different contingencies and remaining careful custodians of shareholders capital.

With those introductory comments, I will pass you over to Chris Sheppard.

Chris Sheppard

Thank you, Venkat. Good day, ladies and gentlemen. If you can turn to slide 12 in the pack. The South Africa region has now accumulated more than 7 million fatal-free shifts, including Kopanang, which reached 1 million fatality-free shifts last month and Moab Khotsong which passed 2 million fatality-free shifts during the reporting period. In fact, at the end of June, Moab registered 21 straight months without a workplace fatality. These are impressive stats but we cannot declare victory yet in this important aspect of our business. We are as focused as ever on pursuing the implementation of our safe production strategy which we launched at the end of 2015, following, if you recall, a particularly challenging period of safety. A huge amount of effort has gone into entrenching integrated workplace planning, workplace management routines and workplace service strategies. Leadership accountability remains critical for effective execution of the safe production strategy and delivery of the required outcome. So, at this stage, we are certainly proud of the achievement but definitely not satisfied.

Turning to slide 13. Our core assets operated in line with plans during quarter two, clawing back quarter one underperformance and delivering strong results. We experienced continued challenges at TauTona and the hard rock surface sources units.

In the Vaal River, Moab Khotsong production was up 3% year-on-year due to improved throughputs and face time. And in the West Wits, Mponeng mined according to plan with localized lower grade areas, which resulted in lower year-on-year production and higher costs.

Production improvements at Mine Waste Solutions resulted from reclaiming higher grades, and this has partially offset the disappointingly low grade of some of our marginal ore dumps, as well as plant availability constraints in the ore receiving sections with limited mill availability due to plant shutdowns for a pit.

Kopanang and TauTona both posted unsustainable losses with half-one cash costs of $1,472 per ounce and $1,639 per ounce respectively. Kopanang was affected mainly by declining grades as well as mining mix and dilution, thus perpetuating the negative margins.

The Savuka section of TauTona continued to operate at lower volumes, resulting from reduced available mining ground. And finally, we halted the opening up project on a 116 level following the seismic incident of April 2016.

Turning to slide 14. The South Africa region produced 435,000 ounces for the first half compared with 486,000 ounces in the same period last year. The second quarter registered a recovery from a poor first quarter whereby the poor adherence to mining schedules experienced in the first two months of the year and this resulted in poor face-length availability and limited access to higher grade areas; these have been largely remedied. All-in sustaining cost for the South African operations was $1,259 per ounce compared to $958 per ounce in the same period of 2016. Total cash costs were unfavorably impacted by lower output, the markedly stronger local currency against the dollar, inflationary pressures mainly related to labor, consumables and power and an unfavorable byproduct contribution.

Turning to slide 15. Given the challenging operating conditions, a tough decision has to be taken to restructure the South African assets after review of our assets in quarter one, in order to ensure that our long-term assets are positioned for sustainable future. While we made our initial disclosure on this at the end of the June, I must affirm our clear view that job loss is always a last resort, particularly within the context of elevated unemployment within South Africa.

We have considered integrated TauTona into our long life Mponeng, similarly as was done with the previous integration of Savuka mine into TauTona mine from years back which led to an extension of profitable life. Unfortunately, it does appear at this stage that there is simply limited potential to replicate that model on a sustainable basis. Our initial number of roles impacted catered for this eventuality; there is no change in that regard. We have commenced two separate processes of engagement, firstly with the Minerals Board subcommittee convened under the auspices of MPRDA Section 52. We have provided plans, forecasts, options and assumptions to unions and DMR for scrutiny and expert review as committed.

Secondly, as from the end of June, a mandatory consultation is progressing in terms of Section 189 of the Labor Relations Act to mitigate job losses. We anticipate reaching a conclusion during the second half of the year, meanwhile in parallel with these consultations, a voluntary severance package or program has been opened up to all employees. And depending on the timing and the outcome of the process, we will make the necessary amendments to our outlook and an update on our future cost and production profile.

On that note, Ill hand over to Ludwig.

Ludwig Eybers

Thank you, Chris. Good day ladies and gentlemen.

Turning to slide 17, Im pleased to report that our international portfolio again delivered strong performances with increased production from all our operations in the second quarter relative to the first. That trend is encouraging and one that we are working on extending into the second half of the year, which as Venkat has pointed out, well see a very strong fourth quarter at key operations.

Looking out for year, its the fact that year-on-year despite stronger currencies and ever present mining inflation as well as the higher cash cost at Kibali, weve managed to contain our overall increase in cash cost to less than 5%. The increase in all-in sustaining cost was driven mainly by higher sustaining CapEx. We saw exceptionally strong operating performances over this period from Siguiri, Iduapriem and of course Tropicana, which Ill talk to you in a lot of more detail in a minute. Siguiri in particular was a knockout performer during the first half. On the back of commencement of mining at new Seguelen pit, which came with the anticipated increase in grades, we also saw better grade performances from Geita as well as weve expected. Kibali has moved on from last years plant commissioning challenges and now moving towards a ramp up of the underground, which will allow it to fully show and embrace its potential. Graham has more on that in a moment too. The Americas also showed improved performances from Minerao where underground tonnages improved and at CdS where the gains are driven by better plant performance.

Moving to slide 18. As I mentioned earlier, we have continued to maintain margins over the extended period of time, which boosted our focus on operational efficiencies through our operational excellence program. The bars for quarter one and two show that weve managed to hold out a good all-in sustaining cost margin even as we increased sustaining CapEx into our Brownfield projects, which will drive fundamental operating improvements in the medium to long term.

Turning to slide 19. A quick look at our progress on some of our value-adding projects shows that all aspects within our control are progressing exactly to plan. At Geita, the power plant is 80% complete, underground development is on track and Brownfield exploration is looking very promising. At Sunrise Dam, the project is bearing a 6% improvement in recovery, its tracking a planned, the grades [ph] at bulk are meeting our high expectations and Graham will talk to the excellent regional potential were uncovering at the nearby surface drilling program at Butchers Well.

At MSG in Brazil, we are on schedule to develop the high-grade Palmeiras and Inga ore bodies and are ensuring the pipeline remains [indiscernible] Brownfields and reasonable drilling program. The collection of intervention aimed at increasing mine life and margins at Minerao are on track and yielding good earlier results. Finally, whilst we remain positive on the potential at Sadiola, the ball is firmly in the mining [ph] government support with respect to negotiations around the agreements we need to proceed. Meanwhile, well mine oxides into early next year and continue processing into 2019. Our mine plans are being reviewed and will change depending on the progress of our negotiations.

Turning to slide 20. On to a very good new story that is develop ping at Tropicana, weve continued to exceed our initial planning assumptions. Weve now accelerated mining rate to 90 million tonnes per annum with the introduction of a 600 tonne face shovel. This, combined with increased throughput following the processing plant optimization and expansion project, has enabled us to resume grade streaming and bring forward 200,000 ounces of production into the 2017 through 2019 timeframe. Further optimization of the plant will lift throughput to 7.7 million tonnes per annum by the end of the year from a feasibility design of 5.5 million tonnes per annum. In addition, we have identified an opportunity to increase production at this mine by introducing a second ball mill. This will lift the throughput rates to 8.2 million tonnes and more importantly, at the finer grind size, thereby increasing recovery at the same time. The accelerated mining rate has brought productivity improvements to lower mining unit cost by 37% over the past two years. Importantly, the successful transition to a higher mine rate has set us on the pathway to implement the proposed Long Island mine plan, which will see mining rates of between 100 to 110 million per year.

Turning to slide 21. We have also made excellent progress on the Long Island strategy. This concept has been driven by signing a more cost-efficient way to mine wastes in CapEx. [Ph] It involves using strip mining approach that minimize waste [indiscernible] by using input backdrop. [Ph] The Long Island life of mine plan gives us optionality. Long Island comprises eight stages and there are three major decision points, which is great, because it gives us the flexibility to tailor our approach at each decision point depending on the market conditions.

The mineralized zone for Tropicana remained open as is, and there is potential to carry out underground mining in conjunction with the Long Island mine plan. The extensive drilling program carried out last year further enhances underground potential and identified additional high-grade underground zones at Boston Shaker. We have underground resource of almost 3 million ounces at Tropicana with the potential to grow this further. Well be carrying out underground studies over the next year, and this is -- underground providing higher grade additional mills [ph] in parallel with the Long Island mine plan from 2021 onwards.

And that completes the international operations. I will hand it over to Graham.

Graham Ehm

Thanks, Ludwig. Good morning, everyone. Ill start on slide 23. Today, Ill make comments on the progress at Kibali; the progress on the Siguiri hard rock project; Ill provide an update on our thinking around Obuasi; and share some exploration results that are proximal to Sunrise Dam.

At Kibali, the focus is on the completion of the shaft materials handling system and commissioning of the automated loading system, enabling ore hoisting in quarter four this year. Once completed, underground production will increase to 3.5 million tonnes per annum. Grade control, stope design and the build up and drilled and broken stalks is on track to enable this ramp up. Apart from the construction of the third hydropower station at Azambi, this will complete the construction of the Kibali project thats been in progress for the few years. Then 2018, Kibali will be producing at a rate of 760,000 ounces per annum. You will recall the low recovery issues in 2016 with four additional concentrate fine grinding mill and the expansion of the pump-cell circuit has been commissioned. Plant recoveries have improved substantially and are now at or above design. The process plant is operating very well with good run time and above nameplate capacity. The second hydropower station at Ambarau was commissioned earlier in the year, lifting hydro capacity to 32 megawatts. The third and final hydropower station, Azambi will be commissioned late next year and it will increase hydro capacity of 42 megawatts.

On the next slide and still on Kibali, underground exploration is delivering very good results. As shown on the left hand side of the slide, drilling of the up plunge extension and central sections of the 3,000 load has added approximately 360,000 ounces of 4 grams. [Ph] Drilling at the down plunge has commenced and caught of service 660,000 ounces. On the right hand side of the slide, drilling of the up plunge extension of the 9,000 load has added 700,000 ounces. And drilling further up plunge, towards the Sessenge pit has scope to add a further 1 million ounces.

On the next slide in regard to the Siguiri combination plant, the project adds hard rock milling capacity and expands the power station capacity from around -- by around 20 megawatts to 40 megawatts, the whole project has a capital cost of $158 million. The project extends the mine life of more than five years, adding 1.6 million ounces. All the long lead items have been ordered and major commitments have been made. As you can see from the photographs, the mill sells have been fabricated and are on their way and the construction camp has been assembled. The project is on budget and schedule for commissioning in quarter four next year.

Now in regard to Obuasi. The site remains clear of illegal miners, and care and maintenance activities are ongoing. Ghana as a country has definitely done a 180 degree turnaround in the first half of this year, following the election of the new government and the President Nana Akufo-Addo. The government has made its support for Obuasis redevelopment very clear in its election manifesto. Were engaging with the government of Ghana to obtain all the requisite consents and approvals. Were very pleased to say that this engagement is progressing well and we anticipate having everything in place before the end of the year.

On the environmental front, we have agreed and executed a new reclamation security agreement which defines the approach and the cost range for reclamation of this 120-year old mine site. Following public consultation and approval of the stoping report by the EPA, we have submitted the final EIS, based on which the EPS will issue the permit.

Assuming that all the government consents and other approvals are received, we would approach Obuasis redevelopment in a phased manner which enables a reasonably quick start to gold production and reduces the capital cost. The long section in this slide illustrates the main mining areas. Mining will start in the Sansu and Block 8 areas progressing to Block 10 and then to the very high grade Block 11 areas.

The first year would involve establishment of the project and operating teams, the recommencement of mining and the refurbishment of plant and infrastructure to enable the commencement of operations in the second year at 2,000 tonnes per day. Production would ramp up to 4,000 tonnes per day in the third year and be at that level for subsequent years. Gold production would start at 200,000 ounces a year in the second year, increase to 300,000 ounces for the next [ph] and then increase further to 400,000 ounces a year when the high grade area at Block 11 is reached. Mine life would be over 20 years, producing over 8 million ounces. Compared to a larger project, this approach provides very good capital efficiency and returns that are comfortably above our benchmarks. We will provide further update in the next quarter.

Turning to the next slide, we look out to exploration near Sunrise Dam. We have been progressing work on the area that was part of a farm-in with Saracen Mineral Holdings announced late last year. This has provided a consolidated tenement package along the western side of Lake Carey. Despite its location, this area is underexplored due to a long history of fragmented tenement holdings and because the drilling carried out to date has only been to the base of oxidation or about 40 meters.

The first round of diamond drilling beneath the Butchers Well pit over a 3 kilometer strike length has returned high-grade intercepts from beneath the Hronsky-Enigmatic pits and identified a new mineralized zone. The results indicate that the steeply west-dipping Enigmatic zone extends down dip to a vertical dip of more than 400 meters. The drilling also picked up the northerly offset extension of the Enigmatic zone and a dip of about 300 meters. Follow-up diamond drilling is in progress while aircore drilling is testing the strike extent to the north. The resource potential currently estimated at around 500,000 ounces to 1 million ounces.

Thanks very much. I will hand over to Christine.

Christine Ramon

Thank you, Graham. Good day, everyone. We have delivered a solid operational performance, reflecting good recovery in Q2. Our cost performance reflects our planned capital reinvestment plan as well as the impact of stronger currencies. Finally, our balance sheet remains strong and positions the Company well to fund its Brownfield reinvestment strategy and weather the current volatility.

Moving to slide 30. Our focus remains on improving margins despite currency headwinds and lower grades anticipated for this year. The all-in sustaining cost margin has significantly narrowed H1 to 13% due to the planned higher capital spend signaled earlier this year which was exacerbated by stronger currencies.

We will continue to focus on improving margins through our operational excellence program, which is what Ludwig referred to which looks to innovative ways to improve efficiencies and enhance recovery as well as our targeted investments to improve the portfolio mix.

Slide 31. Despite the marginal increase in the gold price and improvement in the overall production for the six months, our cash costs and all-in sustaining costs reflect the impact of stronger currencies, inflation and our significant capital reinvestment program.

Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by the one off silicosis provision of $63 million, contributing to the lower adjusted EBITDA margin of 30%. Finance costs are $16 million lower than last year, benefiting from Group cash optimization and the settlement of the high yield bond last year. However, free cash flow has declined due to planned higher CapEx, stronger currencies and the working capital lockup in Continental Africa which I will elaborate on later in the presentation. Free cash outflow in Q2, however, improved to $42 million compared to the outflow of $119 million in Q1, largely on the back of improved production.

Slide 32. The half year adjusted headline earnings have been impacted by non-cash once off provision. The adjusted headline loss of $93 million reflects the SA redundancy provisions of $47 million relating to the potential outcome of the Section 189 process and an estimated provision in respect of the silicosis class action lawsuit of $46 million, both these amounts are stated post-tax. On a normalized basis excluding the impact of these once off non-cash provisions which are also referred to efficient items, adjusted headline earnings would be neutral for the first half.

In addition, as a consequence of the restructuring of certain South African business units and impairment of $36 million post-tax was recorded in earnings for the period, which impacted basic earnings but was excluded from the excluded from headline loss and adjusted headline loss.

Looking the cost performance in detail year-on-year. We note that cash cost has increased by 6% excluding the impact of stronger currency, due to the adverse impact of inflation. However, lower grade was offset by positive movement in inventory and byproducts. Cash cost is Q2 was down by 4% compared to Q1 at $781 an ounce. In addition, all-in sustaining cost increased by 18% on the back of higher cash cost and significantly higher planned sustaining CapEx which increased by $67 an ounce in H1 compared to the prior comparable period. Sustaining CapEx increased by 46% to $400 million compared to $274 million in H1 2016.

In Q2, all-in sustaining cost at $1,082 an ounce increased by 2% from Q1, primarily due to a $22 an ounce quarter-on-quarter increase in sustaining CapEx. The higher capital spend, reflects the groups strategic inward investment on life extension and margin improvement, principally across its international operations. All-in sustaining cost $1,259 an ounce for the South African operation was 31% higher due to the slower than anticipated ramp up in production in Q1 after the festive break, despite the claw back in production in core assets in Q2 as explained by Venkat and Chris. We also saw a 14% stronger rand -dollar exchange rate.

All-in sustaining cost for the international operations at $988 an ounce was underpinned by solid performance across the operations and reflects the impact of the capital reinvestment program, inflationary pressures, as well as a 14% stronger Brazilian real.

Moving on to slide 34. The free cash flow lockups relating to the increase in net VAT receivables across Continental Africa and the Argentinean Patagonian port rebate has negatively impact on the groups free cash flow generation and earnings. These receivables have increased by $61 million year-on-year after currency devaluation. Geita in Tanzania is the most significant contributor to the VAT lockup over the period amounting to $40 million. [Ph] We have received $5 million in the current period from the Argentinean authorities and this picked up the Patagonian rebate which is positive. In addition, our attributable share on VAT and fuel levies receivable from Kibali which is treated as an associate and therefore not included in the groups working capital movement, but does impact on free cash flow generation from associates amounted to $64 million as at 30th of June, 2017, after the impact of $15 million due to currency devaluation and also had a negative impact on free cash flow generation.

We continue to spend significant effort engaging with the authorities to recover VAT and fuel levies across Continental Africa. However, this remains an area of concern and continues to impede free cash flow generation across our business, whilst also exposing the group to the adverse impact of the devaluation of local currencies in these jurisdictions.

Slide 35. Net debt was 3% higher at $2.15 billion compared to $2.1 billion in the first half of last year due to the free cash outflow of $161 million. Negative free cash flow was impacted by higher CapEx of $136 million, which includes Kibali, adverse working capital movement of $62 million and increased operating costs. We expect production improvements to benefit our cash flows over the remainder of the year, similar to what we saw in 2016. Our capital investment plan which we constantly review will impact cash flow as will possible retrenchment costs in South Africa. And we are seeking to put additional Vaal facilities in place to fund the possible retrenchment costs. We remain strongly leveraged to the gold price from which we expect continued benefit as well as from efficiency improvements, which will offset currency headwinds.

Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.56 times reflects ample headroom to our covenant level of 3.5 times. That shows a balance sheet that remains robust. We have strong liquidity, ample undrawn facilities and long-dated maturities, providing us the flexibility required in the current volatile environment. We remain focused on self-funding our Brownfield capital program and preparing our facilities as the opportunity arises. Our credit ratings remain intact despite the downgrade in the SA sovereign ratings.

Finally on guidance for the year, slide 36. Our cash costs and all-in sustaining costs guidance remain intact for the full year, on the back of improved second half production, despite stronger key exchange rates and including our assumption of $10 per barrel lower Brent crude oil prices. Guidance for corporate and exploration costs have been reduced. Our cost and cash flows remain highly sensitive to changes in commodity process, operating currencies and production. We provide indicative pre-tax sensitivities on all-in sustaining costs and cash flows with a health warning at our forecast average commodity prices and exchange rates.

Total CapEx for the year remains within the original guidance at $950 million to $1,050 million. About 85% that figure is sustaining capital relating directly to ORD and infrastructure at AGA Minerao, Geitas underground development and power plant, the cutback at Iduapriem, recovery improvement at Sunrise Dam and the mine optimization at Tropicana. We expect to incur about 56% of our capital expenditure in the second half, in line with our stream. We continue to see sustaining capital reducing to levels between those we saw in 2016 and 2017, in 2018. We reaffirm this years growth capital at between $100 million and $150 million, which relates primarily to the Siguiri hard rock project and power plants, Kibali underground and Mponeng.

Finally, Ill hand back to Venkat.

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Thank you, Christine. So, after that detailed presentation, please allow me to recap. We are executing our strategy of realizing the options that exist within our portfolio. In Brazil, for example, our exploration work is looking very promising indeed and we are confident of extending mine life there, whilst our investment in increased oil reserve development will yield future benefit to the productivity of those operations. Continental Africa is a hive of activity. Our investment will see production ramp ups coming through from Siguiri, Kibali and Geita, with significant latent potential still come from Obuasi and Sadiola once we have reached agreement with our host governments there. Iduapriem continues to tick along very well.

In South Africa, we are investing in the significant restructure of our South African capacity, stripping out loss-making production and focusing on a core set of cash generative assets that we have proved can be operated safely. In Australia, leading edge optimization work has turned Tropicana from a short life low margin operation into a true Tier 1 asset with world-class margins and more upside to be realized through the Long Island project. Sunrise Dam remains an excellent regional option but looks more attractive with each hole drilled on site and on the neighboring tenements. Together, these two operations remain one of Australias most attractive gold packages. We have advanced all of this work in a self-funded, self-executed package of projects that are on-budget and on-schedule and are underpin by solid balance sheet and appropriate overhead structures, given our operational base. We will continue to look for latent value in the business and take steps to realize it, whilst keeping our eyes firmly on the fact that we are careful custodians of our shareholders capital.

In conclusion, we are pleased with the first half operating performance despite a slow start to the year and are confident in our ability to meet full year guidance. We have a clear-eyed view of the fact that as Ive said many times before, mining is indeed a long-term game. And as managers of the worlds largest emerging market gold producer, we need to take a long view in managing some of our current volatility whilst keeping a tight rein on capital. For the remainder of the year, well be focusing our efforts on, first, continuing our strong safety performance; second, completing the restructure of our SA assets to ensure a vibrant cash generative business for the longer term; third, continuing to execute on advancing our high return Brownfields projects; engaging with our host governments and jurisdiction where we see significant long-term potentially; and finally, further enhancing the portfolio which should result in improving free cash flow trends across the business.

With that, Im happy to take questions.

Question-and-Answer Session

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AngloGold Ashanti's (AU) CEO Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan on Q2 2017 Results - Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha