How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping ECommerce – Business.com

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Discover how artificial intelligence is shaping eCommerce today. The age of AI and machine learning is upon us. Don't let your business get left behind.

Artificial intelligence will take over. But its not going to be an apocalyptic scenario, unless the latest U.S. military developments actually come up with a mind of their own.

AI will have control over our everyday lives, but only because we want it to. For some people, Siri or Cortana already play this role, as AI assistants.

A perfect example of AI automation is the US stock market that sees around around 70 percent of trades being done by automated algorithms. Gartner predicts that by 2020 over 80 percent of all customer interactions will be handled by AI. We can already see automation taking over with services like Amazon Go, being advertised as an AI-based shopping experience.

But how will AI change the landscape of online shopping and other forms of online commerce? How can business owners leverage this sprawling AI ecosystem to their advantage? Lets find out.

With services like CamFind, people can already leverage the power of artificial intelligence to facilitate their shopping. Its the perfect mix of augmented reality and AI that has the potential to transform how businesses do their marketing, address user experience issues and creates revenue streams. Given that, according to some studies, over 50 percent of young shoppers are interested in VR and AR products, AI will see even more implementations like that.

RankBrain is Googles own take on artificial intelligence -- an AI-based search algorithm that has a lot of practical implications for businesses. Algorithms like these will eventually remove any possibility of gaming search engines to get traffic and increase sales.

They should focus the majority of their eCommerce website development efforts on better user experience and quality content. After all, this is what will matter to AI and companies that create machine-learning products. Google, for example, likes to stress the importance of user experience. With more information, instant product discovery and the growing pace of online shopping, the average attention span of an online user has decreased by 30 percent over the last 15 years.

Now you have even less time to capture users, with exactly the right products that they were looking for and in a convenient way. You can also use content that might give your brand an opportunity to build a relationship with the user. Its pretty obvious from these developments that SEO and other technical marketing tools will be neglected by artificial intelligence and app-based shopping assistants. And this takes us to our next point.

Although theres the browsing versus buying gap when it comes to mobile users (only 16 percent of eCommerce dollars are spent via mobile), AI-based technologies are already here to close it. This is a huge window of opportunity for businesses. We can already see big companies pioneer the machine-learning way in hopes of getting a competitive advantage.

Macys teamed up with IBMs Watson to simplify shopping for mobile users. Theres a growing number of various shopping assistance apps, like Mona or AI apps by famous brands, like "My Starbucks Barista." All of these products have a single goal to make mobile the default shopping domainand close that revenue gap, where desktop shoppers are at the top.

Companies that really want to exploit this trend have to include mobile app development or mobile UX efforts as parts of their growth strategy.

Providing proper customer care is one of the most important aspects of todays business. For example, 73 percent of customers tend to like brands specifically for their support. And since customers prefer human interactions for a quality customer care experience, a growing business might find this specific chunk of their expenditures to be taxing on their bottom line. But theres no getting away from this important part of running a business -- its six times cheaper to keep a customer than to bring a new one. And if a business wants to keep customers, adequate customer support is crucial.

Luckily, with the latest advances in AI and machine-learning, customer care is getting cheaper every day. Conversational chat bots are very popular right now. Companies like DigitalGenius merge real customer care departments with AI-based solutions.

These products greatly extend the reach of any business and its ability to communicate. Customer care becomes more effortless. This means that companies can discover additional growth and marketing opportunities. Theres no excuse for eCommerce businesses that dont have a proper customer care process in place.

Machine-learning tools have greatly simplified modeling and analysis for various business niches. For example, companies like BigML and DataRobot present amazing advances in the world of data science and automated machine learning.

Although these kinds of technologies seem to be more suited for FinTech industry players, like loan and car insurance companies, theres a window of opportunity for eCommerce businesses that are ready to fully embrace these new technologies.

AI is perfect for handling customer data, predicting visitors and their behaviors, analyzing purchasing patterns and doing all kinds of other manipulations with big sets of data.

As machine-learning tools are becoming more prevalent, eCommerce businesses find it easier to implement automation and AI solutions for their specific product or marketing needs. This is the next big thing in eCommerce that will change how businesses address planning and development.

As if businesses didnt have enough on their hands, competitors arent going to wait for anybody. Thats why there is already a plenty of services that handle various elements of competitive analysis with the help of artificial intelligence. Price scraping, dynamic pricing patterns and many other intelligence nomenclatures are now handled by companies like Clavis, Indix or Quicklizard.

It is projected that AI will be responsible for an economic impact of up to $33 trillion in annual growth and cost reduction. Companies that fail to get on board and efficiently utilize machine-learning tools are going to get left behind in terms of revenue and expansion.

In general, AI and machine-learning platforms open a myriad of opportunities for eCommerce businesses. The biggest problem, at this point, is cost/benefit rationalization for many of these practices and products. Companies that adopt automated data science and AI tools early on may suffer due to increased costs and imperfections in many of the products offered in this niche. At the same time, companies that refuse to innovate may soon end up on the curb and stagnate.

Photo credit: Shutterstock /Willyam Bradberry

Maria Marinina

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How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping ECommerce - Business.com

4 Ways Artificial Intelligence Boosts Workforce Productivity – Entrepreneur

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Eighty-four percent of businesses see the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as essential to competitiveness, while half view the technology as transformative, according to Tata Consultancy Services'Global Trend Studyreleased in March 2017. AI, once limited to experimentation within large enterprises and R&D labs, is becoming an accessible and cost-feasible tool for all market segments -- including entrepreneurs and the businesses they run.

But, as was the case with cloud computing and big data, broader availability of AI does not by default translate into productivity gains, better customer service or operational efficiency. As vendors bake AI into existing workforce communications and collaboration solutions, they must keep an eye firmly fixed on areas where AI can improve productivity. Here are five ways AI can do just that.

OK, so its not physical paper anymore, but employees are struggling to manage an avalanche of emails, messages, tasks, files and meetings. Its little wonder the typical workerspendsnearly 20 percent of their week just searching for and gathering information. The good news: Artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities through bots are helping to shift the burden away from workersstruggling to manually filter the influx of content, communications and notifications.

Related: The Best Productivity Tools for Small Businesses

AI helps reduce the amount of time workers must dedicate each day to the orchestration of work, and more time on the work itself.For example, the ability to search through all a users cloud applications to find the documents, messages, social profiles and any content relevant to the conversation or meeting theyre having enables workers to collaborate effectivelyand leads to a more efficient workforce.

300,000 hours a year: Thats how much manpower consultants from Bain & Companyestimatedone large firm was losing as a result of just one weekly executive meeting. Drilling down further, professionalsattendmore than 60 meetings per month, and consider more than half of these meetings a waste of time.

A key reason meetings are so unproductive is that employees spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for them. Trying to find the right files, notes and tasks associated with each meeting eats several additional hours every week, and if an employee misses a meeting the problem becomes even worse. AI doesnt have the power to get rid of meetings altogether, but it can make meetings more productive by identifying additional information, triggered by workflow demands, that is derived from a deeper understanding of relationships -- with people, entitiesand information. This includes past collaboration with meeting participants, additional potential stakeholders that should be included, and relevant information from cloud applications.

Related: Create Your Own Chatbot Online and Increase Productivity

Consider this common scenario: An employee in your increasingly mobile workforce is asked at the last minute to hop on a conference call with an important client. Shes at the airport, dialing in from an iPhone. Typically, in this scenario, it would be next to impossible to quickly locate past emails, messages and files pertinent to the client and the topic of the call. But, AI flips that script, searching in real-time to present the employee only with contextually relevant information for that particular call.

Most businesses provide workers with tools to communicate while working remotely, but that is not the same as tools that keep them engaged and fully productive. Entrepreneurs must extend beyond just hooking employees up with email, internet and network access to technologies specifically designed to foster collaboration and recognize todays work teams are often virtual ones that want to engage and interact from any location, at any time, and using any device.

Related: 10 Productivity Tools for the Sole Proprietor

Knowledge workers areinterruptedevery 3 minutes on average, and it takes up to 8 uninterrupted minutes to re-establish focus. With the average employee suffering through 56 interruptions per day, it is easy to see why these distractions are adding up big time for businesses in the form of lost productivity and efficiency.

Distractions come in many forms, and a major culprit is that employees are getting hit by communications coming from all sides, be it through apps, emails, chat, video, tasks and yes, in-person.From 2014-2016 the number of applications that employees usegrew25 percent. Equally problematic is the time spent toggling back and forth between each app and work task.

By reducing the time employees spend moving between apps to communicate, collaborate and retrieve information, AI can reduce these types of distractions and in turn, boost productivity.

TaherBehbehani brings over 20 years of operational, product strategy and marketing expertise toBroadSoft. Behbehani frequently writes and speaks on the increasingly millennial, mobile and dispersed workforce, and the technology,...

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4 Ways Artificial Intelligence Boosts Workforce Productivity - Entrepreneur

Generation Us: Artificial intelligence may help combat isolation – The Daily Progress

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When we complain, feel lonely or are going through a hard time, its often said that all we really need is someone to listen to us, not try to fix things for us. Something like I hear what youre saying or I support you 100 percent will often work wonders, despite how robotic the supportive listener might feel the offering to be.

Well, then, what if an actual robot were offering this kind of emotional support? Could it be as effective as a human listener?

According to an Israeli research study completed last year, the answer is yes.

Study participants were asked to tell a personal story to a small desktop robot. Half the participants spoke to a robot that was unresponsive, while the other half spoke to a robot who responded with supportive comments and common gestures of understanding and sympathy, like nodding and turning to look the participant in the eye. Researchers found that people can develop attachments to responsive robots, and they have the same feelings and response behaviors they would have had if the listener had been human.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology is creating all kinds of possibilities, and raising all kinds of questions, too. However, researchers are discovering that this new technology could most help most those who understand it the least: older adults.

Technologies like Siri and Alexa already exist that can help provide a natural language interface to online resources and that dont require keyboard skills or computer literacy, said Richard Adler, a distinguished research fellow at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California, and a nationally recognized expert on the relationship between technology and aging. As this kind of technology becomes more powerful, it will become easier to use and more helpful.

In other words, Mom and Dad can interact with technology the same way they would with family and friends.

There are also interesting experiments underway to use AI for predictive monitoring that can do things like detect changes in gait that could signal a greater risk of falling, Adler said.

At Standford University, theres a special Artificial Intelligence Assisted Care Research Program in which researchers are developing AI technology that can monitor seniors in their homes using multiple sensors to detect lifestyle patterns, physical movements, vital signs even emotions and then use that data to accurately access the seniors health, safety and well-being.

Indeed, while AI technology is being developed that can help older adults directly, much of the research is being focused on providing support for caregivers, doctors and other health other care professionals. At the Stanford program, they are even working on an AI-powered ICU hospital unit that can monitor patients.

I see AI helping doctors make better diagnoses, managing patients remotely and helping to coordinate caregiving teams that could include both doctors and family members, Alder said.

And while AI like this is being developed to provide practical assistance, it is also being developed to provide human-like companion support as well, which can help reduce the isolation that often comes with living alone with limited mobility.

Thats the theory behind ElliQ (which takes its cue from the aforementioned Israeli research study), a new device thats being called an autonomous active-aging companion, and which is currently being tested with older adults in San Francisco. ElliQ, which looks more like a friendly extension lamp than a humanoid robot, can speak and respond with a combination of movements, sounds and light displays to convey shyness, assertiveness, and even sympathy and understanding.

For example, ElliQ might prompt you to take a walk if its a nice day outside, either with a gentle reminder or something more forceful, depending on what its learned about its owner. Some family photos might arrive on the tablet screen beside the robot, and ElliQ might tilt its little abstract head and say what a beautiful family you have. ElliQ also can provide reminders about taking medications, upcoming doctors appointments and caregiving schedules with a human touch.

If all this sounds like scary, Brave New World-type stuff, well, it is.

While Alder said there are many benefits to using AI technology, like better connecting older adults with caregivers, family members and health professionals, and reducing senior isolation, he has a few warnings.

I worry that AI and other media will be used to provide pseudo-social interactions rather than actual human interactions, he said, adding that theres also a danger in taking agency and privacy away from older adults in the name of better, more intrusive monitoring by others. My hope is that AI can be used to facilitate and orchestrate more and better human-to-human interactions. But the jury is still out on which way well go.

David McNair handles publicity, marketing, media relations and social media efforts for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging.

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Generation Us: Artificial intelligence may help combat isolation - The Daily Progress

The future is now: Artificial intelligence in the workplace – Crain’s Cleveland Business (blog)

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The future is now: Artificial intelligence in the workplace
Crain's Cleveland Business (blog)
... to work in flying cars or teleport to our company's lunar outpost, a concept once thought to be outside the realm of possibility is now on the verge of transforming the modern workplace -- working side-by-side with robotics capable of artificial ...

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It’s inevitable – artificial intelligence is going to invade every aspect of our lives – The Canary

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The relationship between humans and machines is becoming ever more intertwined.Already we can see how artificial intelligence (AI) is invading our lives. But soon, everything we think of as human could be intimately tied to computer intelligence. Including our sexual and romantic lives.

Computer science pioneer J.C.R. Licklider wrote about the cooperative interaction between men and electronic computers in his 1960 paper, Man-Computer Symbiosis. And futurist Ray Kurzweil, who has made a number of correct predictions, said that by 2045 we will be able to multiply our intelligence a billionfold by wirelessly connecting our neocortex to an artificial neocortex in the cloud.

Its hard to imagine. It sounds way too far-fetched. But its based on the exponential growthof computer processing power.

A sex doll company unveileda robot that can speak and be programmed to have a personality. Its created by Realbotix and is called Harmony 2.0. Its also considered to be the worlds first AI sex robot. Its creators say it has a persistent memory, so it can bring up information from previous conversations. On the companys website, it statesthat Harmony 2.0 has been created with the aim of:

alleviating loneliness and helping individuals to conquer social anxiety and intimacy phobia.

But soon it may become quite common to develop intimate relationships with robots. Something previously the preserve of fiction. For example, In the film Her (2013), heartbroken Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) develops a relationship with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), a computer. And in Charlie Brookers series Black Mirror, the episode Be Right Back in Season 2 tells the story of a woman who loses her boyfriend in a car accident. She replaces him with an AI duplicate.

Michael Harre, a lecturer in Complex Systems at the University of Sydney, recently saidthat workplaces will soon include AI. Indeed, asThe Canary previously reported, Japanese insurance firm Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance is replacing its employees with an AI system.

Harre believes that the introduction of AI in the workplace will raise some interesting questions about our sense of self. He said:

The fact that we will be interacting with the appearance of consciousness in things that are clearly not biological will be enough for us to at least unconsciously revise what we think consciousness is.

There are worries about AI making all of us unemployed. But Harre isnt so pessimistic. He believes that people who are flexible and open to learning will still be very much in demand. Also, its not clear if unique human traits such as intuition, empathy, and creativity can be computed.

But astudy completed by Israeli researchers last year did suggest that a robot could be as effective a listener as a person.

In the experiment, half of the participants told a personal story to a robot that was unresponsive. The other half spoke to a robot that responded with supportive comments, as well as gestures that indicate understanding and sympathy, like nodding and looking the participant in the eyes. The study found that people can develop an attachment to the sympathetic robots. They also showed the same feelings and responses they would have if the listener was an actual person.

The hope is that this human-like companion support will offer relief to people who suffer from isolation, such as elderly people. ElliQ is a robot being tested with elderly people in San Francisco. It can speak and respond with a variation of movements, sounds, and lights which offer emotional support. It can also offer suggestions and reminders, like a caregiver.

We dont know if these interactions with robots will improve human-to-human interactions or replace them to an extent. Right now, for many of us, our smartphones are more or less another appendage. We cant go anywhere without them. One papersupports the widely held notion that theyre ruining real-life conversations. So as AI starts to invade more aspects of our lives, what we regard as human and how we communicate is likely to become radically altered.

Get Involved!

Read more about jobs that will be at risk of automation.

Check out more articles fromThe Canarys science section.

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It's inevitable - artificial intelligence is going to invade every aspect of our lives - The Canary

Nest Labs CTO Yoky Matsuoka on Artificial Intelligence and Robots … – Fortune

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When Yoky Matsuoka was a small child in Tokyo, she dreamed that one day she would be the next Serena Williams. But while she never made it to Wimbledon, Matsuokas pioneering work studying robotics and the human brain earned her the prestigious MacArthur genius fellowship.

Speaking at Fortune 's Brainstorm Tech dinner in San Francisco on Wednesday, Matsuoka discussed her work in the red-hot field of artificial intelligence and her career at Apple ( aapl ) , Googles ( googl ) experimental research group, and Nest, the home technology arm of Google's parent company.

Get Data Sheet , Fortunes technology newsletter.

Matsuoka first became enamored with robotics when she attended the University of California at Berkeley. At the time she wanted to merge her love of tennis with robotics, and thought it would be cool to potentially build a tennis buddy with legs and arms and eyes with computer vision that could track a tennis ball and hit with her like a human.

But building such a robot is very complex. Even with the leaps in artificial intelligence technology in recent years, which has made advances like semi-autonomous driving possible, Matsuoka says that her tennis wonder robot is still 10 to 15 years away.

In the meantime, she's concentrating on building cutting-edge products that impact people daily. At Nest, for example, she is working on more than just Internet-connected thermostats that adjust temperatures based on peoples habits.

For more about finance and technology, watch Fortune's video :

Matsuoka wants the company to build so-called smart appliances that use artificial intelligence so the home is doing the work for you, she explained. That would include, presumably, every home appliance you can think ofall sucking in data and learning your habits so that you dont have to tell them what to do.

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Nest Labs CTO Yoky Matsuoka on Artificial Intelligence and Robots ... - Fortune

Chasing Boeing: Aerospace giant’s choice of Plano shows how much North Texas has changed – Dallas Business Journal

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Chasing Boeing: Aerospace giant's choice of Plano shows how much North Texas has changed - Dallas Business Journal

Aerospace giant Boeing selects Plano for its global services HQ – WFAA

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Aerospace giant Boeing selects Plano for its global services HQ

Candace Carlisle, Dallas Business Journal , WFAA 6:43 AM. CDT April 06, 2017

PLANO -- Aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE: BA) has selected Plano's Legacy West to serve as the new headquarters for its global services division.

The company expects to be up and operational at the site in July.

"I am so excited an unbelievable American company, like Boeing, has chosen Legacy West for their divisional headquarters; it's an honor," Legacy West Master Developer Fehmi Karahan, told the Dallas Business Journal.

"Out of all the cities they could've gone to in the United States, we are very excited they chose us," said the president and CEO of The Karahan Cos.

The new headquarters for Boeing's global services division will sit on the top floor of one of Legacy West's office buildings.

An exact square footage and employee count have yet to be finalized, however, this office will have the top leadership of Boeing Global Services, including President and CEO Stan Deal.

The executive team for Boeing Global Services will serve about 20,000 employees throughout the world.

The central location in the United States will help assist in Boeing Global Services' plans for worldwide service, Deal said.

"We have a fixed focus on serving our customers worldwide, and this location assists in our mission of providing uncompromising service worldwide," he said, in a statement.

Last November, Boeing announced its standup global services division, which was formed to integrate the services and capabilities of the defense, space and commercial sectors into a single, customer-focused business.

By Boeing bringing its key executives of the newly formed organization to North Texas, this "opens up the world to Plano," said Mayor Harry LaRosiliere.

"It is their upper-level management with an exposure to an incredible array of companies from all over the world that will come and visit this location for business purposes," LaRosiliere told the DBJ. "It opens the gateway for us."

Boeing Global Services are expected to ask for incentives from the City of Plano, which could go before council on April 10 or April 24. The details of the incentive package were not immediately available on Wednesday.

Boeing joins a number of other corporate tenants at Plano's Legacy West, including Toyota North America, JP Morgan Chase, Liberty Mutual, FedEx Office and many other companies setting up a corporate home in Legacy West.

Legacy West has been built within less than four years. Karahan plans to hold a grand opening for the mixed-use development on June 2, 3 and 4.

2017 WFAA-TV

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Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook – April 2017 – Yahoo Finance – Yahoo Finance

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Donald Trumps ascension to the seat of the President seems to have created a win-win situation for the aerospace and defense industry. The outlook for stocks in this space has improved manifold in recent months, notably with enhanced spending promises that Trump made in his latest America First budget.

In fact, defense stocks have been on an upward growth trajectory post-Trumps election win last November. This raised investors hopes that Trump will indeed keep his word of big spending toward the nations defense.

Impressively, stocks in the Zacks Aerospace sector (a stand-alone sector) are up 4.3% since Jan 20 (Inauguration day of President Trump), outperforming the S&P 500 indexs 3.9% gain. With the majority of macroeconomic factors favoring this industry, the outperformance can be expected in the days ahead as well.

U.S. Defense Scenario

Apart from enjoying the lead in terms of economic prosperity, the U.S. has literally turned itself into a hub of aerospace and defense equipment and allied products over last few years. Other countries, in like manner, are also spending on state-of-the art artillery, to stay privileged.

The need for this rapid evolution of advanced military weapons surfaced with the meteoric rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an organization that President Obama had termed the network of death.

Moreover, other factors like rising demand for more fuel-efficient aircraft, the growing international market for defense equipment with more developing nations increasing their share of defense spending and increasing application of unmanned aircraft in warfare today are driving sales in this sector.

Also, other macroeconomic statistics like improving employment in the private sector, a more-or-less stabilized oil price for past few months, and increasing core consumer price inflation boosted consumer confidence and is being reflected in increased consumer spending. In fact, in Jan 2017, the U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.4% the largest gain since Feb 2013 after rising 0.2% in December.

No doubt, this in turn will bolster the entire economy to grow at an accelerated pace. In fact, having high hopes on Trumps supply-side economic reforms, market economists estimate the nation to witness 2.3% growth in 2017 against 1.9% growth last year.

Although, rising interest rates continue to be a spoil sport for an uninterrupted growth trajectory for this industry, its non-cyclical feature helps it to overcome all the oddities and thus has been stable for years. Therefore, the time is ripe for considering the aerospace and defense industry as one of the top performing ones.

Budget Updates

On Mar 16, 2017, President Trump unveiled the Pentagon's fiscal 2018 (FY 2018) budget proposal, with the intent of rebuilding the U.S. military force without increasing the Federal deficit. The proposed budget of $639 billion for the Pentagon includes a base budget of $574 billion. This reflects a $52 billion increase over the FY 2017 current budget level of $587 billion. Moreover, FY 2018s base budget reflects a 10% increase from the current base budget level of this fiscal.

The budget also includes $65 billion in funding for the Pentagons overseas contingency operations (OCO) fund, which is also higher than the FY 2017 level by $2 billion. The combined request represents a total increase of $54 billion over the current FY 2017 level.

It is also important to mention that the FY 2017 defense budget of $587 billion has yet to be passed by the House or Senate. Trump recently offered another proposal to increase the current fiscals defense budget by $30 billion: $24.9 billion in base budget and $5.1 billion in OCO. This request also has a provision to include an additional $3 billion fund for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for urgent border protection activities. If this proposal gets approved, then there might be a change in FY 2018s defense budget as well.

The FY 2018 budget proposal mainly addressed three key agendas: focus on keeping Americans safe, keeping terrorists out of the country and putting violent offenders behind bars.

Zacks Industry Rank Mixed Bag

The Zacks Industry Rank relies on the same estimate revisions methodology that drives the Zacks Rank for stocks. The way to look at the complete list of 256+ industries is that the outlook for the top one-third of the list (Zacks Industry Rank of #88 and lower) is positive, the middle 1/3rd or industries with Zacks Industry Rank between #89 and #176 is neutral while the outlook for the bottom one-third (Zacks Industry Rank #177 and higher) is negative.

The Aerospace is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. Aerospace is further sub-divided into three industries at the expanded level: aerospace/defense, aerospace/defense equipment and electric-military.

Aerospace/defense is positive with a Zacks Industry Rank #77, placing it at top 30%. The Zacks Industry Rank for electronics-military is #4 out of 257 industries, which puts it at top 2%. However, aerospace/defense equipment with a Zacks Industry Rank #197 comes in at the negative territory of all Zacks industries, placing it at bottom 23%.

Earnings Review and Outlook

Every fiscal year, no matter how constrained the funding picture, the Pentagon almost always gets its way. Despite headwinds, the Aerospace sector held up well in the fourth quarter. The earnings beat ratio for the stocks in this space (percentage of companies coming up with positive surprises) was an impressive 80%, while the revenue beat ratio was 50%.

Going forward, the earnings picture for the first quarter of 2017 reveals a mixed bag. The sectors earnings are expected to improve 0.2% in the first quarter, while revenues are expected to see a 1.3% decline (as of Mar 31, 2017). Margins for this sector are expected to nudge up 0.7% in the quarter. Notably, this sector is one out of the nine of the 16 Zacks sectors that are expected to exhibit positive earnings growth this quarter.

Defense Stocks Worth Adding

Investors might keep a watch on the following defense biggies that have the financial strength to withstand a gradual increase in the interest rate without compromising on dividend payments.

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Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) has a long-term earnings growth projection of 15%. This security stock registered positive earnings surprises in three out of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 19.85%. Its 2016 earnings estimates moved up 8.3% in the last 60 days. Huntington currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) has a long-term earnings growth projection of 8.5%. This stock registered positive earnings surprises in two out of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 5.80%. Its 2016 earnings estimates moved up 2.5% in the last 60 days. Leidos currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) has a long-term earnings growth projection of 5.8%. This stock registered positive earnings surprises in all the last four quarters, with an average beat of 12.41%. Its 2016 earnings estimates moved up 0.2% in the last 60 days. Lockheed currently sports a Zacks Rank #2.

Summing Up

Increasing terrorist attacks across the globe have spurred nations to make heavy investments in their aerospace and defense industry. Some say its a game for power, while others say its just a protective measure.

In a big-picture sense, the aerospace and defense industry is a direct beneficiary of a volatile and uncertain geopolitical global backdrop, characterized by terrorist threats, civil wars and border disputes. The U.S., home to the worlds major weapons manufacturers, is potentially a big beneficiary of this environment. Its defense measures are therefore expected to grow manifold in the days ahead.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS): Free Stock Analysis Report Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

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Proposed aerospace park at Tri-Cities Regional Airport takes step forward – WJHL

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Proposed aerospace park at Tri-Cities Regional Airport takes step forward
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BLOUNTVILLE, TN (WJHL-TV) The Tennessee Legislature passed legislation this week that will allow the Tri-Cities Regional Airport to move forward with a proposed aerospace park on the airport grounds. Previously, the Tri-Cities Airport Authority could ...

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Proposed aerospace park at Tri-Cities Regional Airport takes step forward - WJHL

433rd AW inducted into San Antonio Aviation Aerospace Hall of Fame – Minuteman

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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 433rd Airlift Wing was inducted into Dee Howard Foundations San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, during an awards dinner, March 30 at the GDC Technics Hangar, Port San Antonio (formerly Kelly Air Force Base), Texas.

The 433rd AW joins the ranks of other San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame greats, such as Maj. Gen. Benjamin Foulois, Air Education and Training Command, Durrell U. Dee Howard and others.

The Alamo Wing was honored for its leadership in ensuring combat readiness, and their performance in peacetime missions. Col. Thomas K. "TK" Smith, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander, accepted the award on behalf of the 433rd AW.

Since I have served 12 years, which is the majority of my 30 plus years of my Air Force career here at the 433rd AW, I would have to say, this was the top highlight of my career, representing the Alamo Wing at its induction, said Smith.

The 433rd AW traces its history back to the U.S. Army Air Corp's 433rd Troop Carrier Wing. The unit, which was activated in 1943, distinguished itself in combat during World War II. In 1955, it was activated as a reserve wing at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas and moved to Kelly Air Force Base, Texas in 1960. In 1964, the Alamo Wing was the first wing in the Air Reserve Forces or Air National Guard to win the coveted Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, an award the unit has won three times since.

Other inductees into the hall of fame that night were former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Air Force Lt. Col. (retired) E. Olga Custodio, the first Latina U.S. military pilot, flight instructor with Air Education and Training Command, and the first Latina captain for American Airlines; Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the first African-American to perform an extra-vehicular activity during his Space Shuttle flights; Colonels Carl Joseph Crane and William Charles Ocker, for their service at Brooks and Kelly Fields and their leadership in developing instrument flight systems; and Col. William B. Tuttle, the former president of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, who established the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber and Luther Bynum Clegg, owner of the Clegg Company.

This is the second year of the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame. This years honorees were picked because of their outstanding contribution to San Antonio and who has something remarkable or significant in aviation, said Wayne Fagan, Chair Honoree Selection Committee, San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame 2017 Dinner.

The Dee Howard Foundation Fund was established in 2013, in memory of aviation pioneer and entrepreneur Dee Howard for the support of programs that enhance excellence and global leadership in the aviation and automotive sectors in the San Antonio region.

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433rd AW inducted into San Antonio Aviation Aerospace Hall of Fame - Minuteman

Uber has crossed the line from motivating employees to actively manipulating them – Quartz

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The gig economy is supposed to be a tradeoff: In exchange for foregoing the stability of a steady income and health benefits, workers get more freedom and flexibility. But its becoming increasingly clear that, in some cases, workers are giving up a lot more than they get in return. A recent article in the New York Times explains that the ride-sharing service Uber has been using design based on behavioral science to encourage its workers to work longer hoursfor less money than they think.

On one hand, organizations since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution have tried to incentivize employees to behave in ways that are advantageous to the bottom line. But federal law also affords employees certain protectionsmandatory lunch breaks and paid overtime for certain categories of workers, for examplemeant to protect workers from abuse.

As contract workers, Uber drivers do not have those protections. And there are several things about the ways in which Uber is using tools to manipulate drivers that cause me to bristle as an expert in organizational psychology. Here are the primary issues with Ubers use of behavioral design.

Thats a big problem. The small army of behavioral scientists at Uber headquarters is manipulating the myriad buttons, badges, and banners on the drivers app to encourage them to change their behavior. The New York Times reports:

For months, when drivers tried to log out, the app would frequently tell them they were only a certain amount away from making a seemingly arbitrary sum for the day, or from matching their earnings from that point one week earlier.

The messages were intended to exploit another relatively widespread behavioral tic peoples preoccupation with goalsto nudge them into driving longer.

In effect, Uber is treating drivers as guinea pigs for different app designs designed to prod them to do what the company wants, and harder for them to follow their own instincts. In another experiment, Uber manipulated whether a male or female name was associated with certain notifications, and learned that the predominantly male drivers acquiesced to a female sender more frequently than to a male sender.

This kind of psychological experimentation is strictly controlled in most environments. The concept of informed consent is a fundamental tenant of human research, meant to protect us from being experimented upon without our knowledge or full understanding of the potential consequences. An undergraduate psych major has to go through multiple ethics committees to send a survey to fellow students. But evidently Uber can experiment on its drivers with no repercussions. Healthy relationships are not built on deception.

Good incentive systems leave the control in the hands of the employee. The incentive increases the value of a certain behavior, then the person decides whether that increased value is worth extra effort, and how to react.

Uber seems to want to remove this conscious control by using motivation techniques that remove the drivers agency. For example, when the company rolled out their forward dispatch programwherein a driver is assigned a new ride before theyve completed the previous onedrivers rolled from one ride to the next without being given a chance to stop. (Later iterations allowed the driver to manually pause the forward dispatch functionality.)

From an ethical perspective, this is a big problem. An incentive, by definition, involves a worker actively making the choice to take on extra work for additional reward. Drivers need to be able to consciously gauge the value of the extra work in comparison to the alternatives (go home and see your family, for example). If the worker doesnt have the option to say no, its not motivationits coercion.

Uber is constantly fiddling with the placement of cars to ensure its customers have the shortest possible wait times. One way of ensuring short wait times is to lure drivers to lower-demand locations, where they will spend more time idle and unpaid.

While that formula works for Uber and its customers, its a painful proposition for drivers. If a worker needs to take one for the team, they should be aware thats what they are doing, and ideally they should be compensated in some way. Ubers defense is that, over the long-term, more drivers means more passengers, and less time spent idling. But this misses the point that for a single driver at a given point in time, a notification to move to underserved area may not be in their best interest. Long-term success with incentive systems requires win-wins, not win-lose scenarios.

For all of these reasons, Ubers programs dont fit my definition of effective or ethical incentives. By obscuring the purpose (and even the existence) of motivational programs, removing or limiting the drivers ability to control which incentives they accept or decline, and designing the system to maximize company outcomes at the expense of the drivers, Ubers programs have crossed a line.

The frightening thing is that no one is there to protect the Uber driversor any of the other millions of workers now working contractually rather than as employees, in industries such as video game design, retail, and professional services. Worker protections must catch up with the novel abuses of the gig economy. There is a new and vital role for unions to play in protecting workers from manipulative practices. There is also surely a role for regulation (although new regulation will be an unpopular topic with the current administration). And all of us, increasingly addicted to the cheapness and convenience of the gig economy, need to start taking a hard look at its costs.

Learn how to write for Quartz Ideas. We welcome your comments at ideas@qz.com.

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How to Boost Your Savings With Behavioral Science and Apps – Netralnews

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NETRALNEWS.COM - An app can help you order a pizza, find a parking spotor plan your retirement.

In more than a dozen recent experiments, Duke University behavioral economist Dan Ariely used mobile apps and simple tenets of psychology to help people save more money, pay down more debt and devise and stick to budgets.

Overall, Dr. Arielys research at the universitys Common Cents Lab shows that people enrolled in the behavioral interventions spent less and saved more than those who werent.

We face more temptation now than ever to spend money, he says. While very few forces help us plan for the long term, lots of forces want something from us right now, including text messages and apps that market products including games and music.

Heres how to replicate some of the results in your own life.

Round Up When Budgeting

Few people like to budget. The task becomes more tedious when expenses are difficult to add quickly in your headlike a $1,024.71 monthly mortgage and a $354.43 student-loan payment.

To test ways to make budgeting easier, Common Cents sent emails to 3,000 randomly selected users of EarnUp, an app that helps people pay off debt earlier by automating their payments, among other things.

The researchers asked half the participants to consider rounding up their mortgage paymentsfor example, to $1,050 from $1,024.71. They urged the rest to overpay by the same amount$25.29.

The round-up group had 37% more takers than the group asked to overpay, according to Common Cents co-founder Kristen Berman. She says the approach simplifies mental accounting and retires debt sooner, while overpaying only accomplishes the latter.

By paying an extra $25 a month, someone with a $310,000, 30-year mortgage at 3.76% can save more than $7,000 in interest and extinguish their debt a year early.

Stick to a Weekly Budget

People with a budget tend to adhere to a monthly time frame. But using weekly spending targets can better prevent overspending and under-saving.

Consider an experiment Common Cents conducted among food-stamp recipients. Those given a weekly spending budget stretched their benefits three days longer, on average.

A shorter time frame allows us to better understand trade-offs, says Ms. Berman.

A $20 grocery bill may feel like no big deal to a person who has just received an average households monthly food-stamp allowance of about $250. But when considered in the context of a $62-a-week spending goal, $20 feels significant, says Ms. Berman.

To keep from overspending, download a budgeting app like Qapital or Digit, which can sync to a bank account. And select a weekly rather than monthly goal by using Qapitals spend less rule and Digits goalmojis.

Dr. Ariely is on Qapitals board, and he is an investor in the company.

Save Windfalls Now

It is easier to pledge to save $1,000 next year than it is to save $1,000 today. The problem occurs when the future becomes the present. Then it becomes harder to keep the pledge.

Thats because choosing to save now means forgoing immediate gratification. People typically see the future in less-vivid terms than the present.

They gloss over future temptations they are likely to faceand wrongly assume they will be able to save more than they do today. To solution can be to commit sooner rather than later to saving a portion of future windfalls.

That includes raises, bonuses, tax refundsand those extra paychecks in months with an additional payday. In one experiment, Common Cents found that participants who pledged to save some of their tax refunds in February chose to put away 15%, on average, versus 10% for those asked to save on the day the Internal Revenue Service sent the money.

Thats a 50% increase based solely on when people were asked to save, says Ms. Berman. (Three months later, an average, across both groups, 85% of the savings were still in the participants accounts.)

Need help pre-committing? Try budgeting app Digits goalmoji feature.

Use Different Accounts for Different Goals

Many people deposit all of their nonretirement savings into one all-purpose bank account. But the tactic can make it psychologically easier to justify using the money for luxuries (a fancy new TV) or unplanned expenditures (new tires).

The trade-off becomes clearer if buying that TV means raiding savings earmarked for a specific purpose, such as early retirement or a Hawaii vacation.

Several programs, including Simple, Qapital and Digit, make it easy to save in separate subaccounts, often called envelopes. To protect your retirement savings, envelopes can be added for often-overlooked current expenses, such as car repairs.

Common Cents is helping customers of a credit union use envelopes to encourage them to create rainy day funds. Dont just label your envelope car, says Qapital Chief Executive George Friedman. To motivate yourself, say what kind of car you want, attach a picture, and share it with a friend.

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Michael C. Clark – Oak Ridge Today

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Michael C. Clark

Judge Michael C. Clark of Gwinnett County, Georgia, will discuss his career as a family court judge in the Atlanta area for the spring 2017 Roane State Social and Behavioral Science Forum.

The forum will be at Roane States Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. Its scheduled from 12:30-2 p.m.on Wednesday, April 12, in the City Room (A111).

Clark, born and raised in Macon, Georgia, served for more than 21 years as Superior Court Judge in Gwinnett County. He became a member of the bar in 1980, worked briefly as a law clerk for a Superior Court Judge in Floyd County (Rome), as an assistant district attorney in Gwinnett County, and as a private lawyer before being elected to the bench in 1992. He was re-elected five times.

Before being elected to the bench, Clark had a reputation as an excellent trial and appellate lawyer, a press release said. In March 2014, he stepped down to return to the private practice of law. As a trial judge, he presided over approximately 150 jury trials and handled about 30,000 cases. [Read more]

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Michael C. Clark - Oak Ridge Today

Gardner receives COSSA Distinguished Service Award – Valley Courier

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WASHINGTON, D.C. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the below statement after receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA). According to COSSA, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes leaders who have gone above and beyond to promote, protect, and advance the social and behavioral science research enterprise.

It was an honor to receive the Consortium of Social Science Associations Distinguished Service Award and be recognized as a champion in our science community, said Gardner. Ill continue to advocate for our science community and ensure they have the necessary resources to conduct their research and maintain the United States position as a global leader in scientific research.

Senator Gardner has demonstrated unwavering leadership on behalf of the scientific research enterprise, and social science in particular, said Wendy Naus, executive director of the Consortium of Social Science Associations. We are fortunate to have champions like Cory Gardner in the senate who recognize the importance of investing in scientific researchacross all fieldsand prioritizing research funding even in times of significant budget challenges. Senator Gardner worked across the aisle to ensure an inclusive and bipartisan process when writing the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, and the bipartisanship, transparency and diligence demonstrated by Gardner is greatly appreciated and refreshing.

"I'm delighted to see COSSA recognize Senator Gardner with its 2017 Distinguished Service Award in acknowledgment of his strong support for science in Congress, said Dr. Myron Gutmann, of the University of Colorado Boulder and the former director of the U.S. National Science Foundations Directorate for the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. As the director of CU Boulder's Institute of Behavioral Science, I'm especially grateful for Senator Gardner's support for social and behavioral science research, which addresses human-centered issues of national and global importance."

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Crane announces winners in 33rd annual science fair | Local News … – Washington Times Herald

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CRANE - Last month, area students showcased more than 160 projects during the 33rd Annual Team Crane Science Fair held at WestGate Academy. In addition to the science fair, which was open to students in junior high and high school, fifth grade classes were invited to come get a taste of what science fairs are like.

"With last year's science fair, we added a fifth grade field trip for the first time," said Kim Frazier, director of business operations for STIMULUS Engineering, adding that 170 students from North Daviess Elementary and Bloomfield were invited to take part this year.

"The idea was to let the fifth graders be introduced to the science fair in a fun way with the intent that they are more likely to participate with their own project in the future."

Frazier said students toured learning centers, looked at projects, participated in fire safety demonstrations with the Naval Support Activity Crane Fire Department and completed several science, technology, engineering and math or STEM activities.

Learning centers included NSA Crane Environmental Division, the Battery Innovation Center, Ivy Tech, Greene County Hospital, NSWC Crane Maritime Electronic Warfare Division, Vincennes University math, engineering, and physics departments, VU geoscience, Wonderlab, Crane Army Ammunition Activity, FIRST Robotics, FIRST Tech and Seaperch, Small Arms, and West Boggs Park.

STEM activities were offered by Wonderlab which brought scribble bots, a gravity wall and the pyramid challenge for students and the Battery Innovation Center offered the Power and Energy Challenge.

Ben Wrightsman, chief operating officer for the Battery Innovation Center, said the Power and Energy Challenge was something new.

"As part of our commitment to the community and STEM education, we have been developing the Power and Energy Challenge," he said, adding the day of the science fair was the first time the session had been tested with students. "The students learned the difference between power and energy, while making batteries out of common household items and performing tests."

Wrightsman said he was surprised by how interested and engaged students were.

"It was amazing to see their reactions and hear their feedback on making batteries," he said.

The Greene County Master Gardeners and Martin County Beekeepers also provided learning opportunities for students.

The fifth grade field trips were sponsored by STIMULUS Engineering, Battery Innovation Center, Bloombank and the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation.

Science fair projects were divided into seven categories: behavioral science, biology, chemistry, consumer science, environmental science, inventions and physics. North Daviess, Shoals and Washington Catholic schools were represented in the contest that was sponsored by AOC, CEOT, Crane Federal Credit Union, Donald and Mariette House, FEW - Hoosier Hills, Greene County General Hospital, McKean, Paragon Force, SAIC, Society of Women Engineers, Springs Valley, STIMULUS Engineering, Structurepoint, TriStar, Vincennes University and WG Authority.

Local winners were Lydia Cook, Shoals Elementary (first place, junior division consumer science); Brooke Dobson and Emma Hert, Shoals Junior High (third place, consumer science junior division); Abigail Giesler, North Daviess Junior High (second place, environmental science junior division); Haley Blevins, North Daviess Junior High (third place, environmental science junior division); Alex Tedrow Shoals High School (first place, behavioral science senior division); Jeffrey Mayfield, North Daviess High School (second place, behavioral science senior division); Britton Helms, North Daviess High School (third place, behavioral science senior division); Lindsey Robinson, Shoals High School (first place, biology senior division); Abby Stoll, Shoals High School (second place, biology senior division).

Also, Emilee Wagler, Shoals High School (third place, biology senior division); Mattie Lawyer, North Daviess High School (first place, chemistry senior division); Whitney Watkins, North Daviess High School (second place, chemistry senior division); Megan Lampert, Shoals High School (third place chemistry senior division); Elise Jerrels, North Daviess High School (first place consumer science senior division); Amelia Cooper, Shoals High School (third place, consumer science senior division); Nicholas Walker, Washington Catholic (first place physics senior division); Shom Berry, North Daviess High School (second place, physics senior division); Allison Boyd, Shoals High School (third place, physics senior division); Jonathon Ritter, North Daviess High School (first place, environmental science senior division); Rusty Bonham and Shoals High School (second place, environmental science senior division).

"After attending the science fair at the WestGate Academy for students from the region, I firmly believe the key to Daviess County's future is to expose our children to the opportunities that exist in Daviess County and beyond," said Natalie Smith, project manager at the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation. "This event starts that process with those children at a very young age. I was certainly impressed by the apparent high level of topics chosen and the time and effort the students put into their projects."

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Crane announces winners in 33rd annual science fair | Local News ... - Washington Times Herald

Natural Strategies for Anti-Aging at Pequot Library, April 19 – HamletHub

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Southport, CT -- Combat the aging process naturally with information from Naturopathic Physicians Dr. Mara Davidson and Dr. Andrew Cummins, as they teach ways to slow and treat the progression. Learn how the body ages at the cellular level, and how this impacts your appearance, level of energy, sleep, stress, weight, and pain. Assess how your body is aging in order to create a plan of action to aid you in your journey to a healthy life! Hosted by Naturopathic Physicians of Shalva Clinic in Westport, CT. Q & A session to follow. This Wellness Wednesday takes place on April 19, 2017 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

About the Speakers:

Dr. Mara Davidson is a dual honors graduate of the University of Bridgeport from the College of Naturopathic Medicine as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine as well as the Nutrition Institute with a Master of Science in Human Nutrition. While in medical school, Dr. Davidson also obtained her Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management from Davenport University.

As a Naturopathic General Practitioner, Dr. Davidson sees patients of all ages for acute, sick visits as well as chronic conditions. She also encourages patients to see her for optimizing their full health potential. Dr. Davidson focuses part of her practice on anxiety and depression, neurodegenerative diseases, anti-aging, as well as integrative cancer care.

Dr. Cummins received the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the College of Professional Studies at National University of Health Sciences. Before entering his premedical studies at NUHS, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Dr. Cummins has areas of specialty and focus with chronic pain, chronic fatigue, autoimmune disease, digestive health, cardiovascular health, low back pain, and improved athletic performance. He developed the website ChronicFatiguePain.com to give hope and encouragement to individuals living with these conditions and to offer treatment options other than drugs and associated side effects and risk of addiction.

Please visit http://www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15. Follow Pequot Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Pequot Library Brings Culture to Life!

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Global Anti-Aging Market to Witness 7.7% CAGR … – Digital Journal – Digital Journal

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According to a new market research report Global Anti-Aging Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2025 - Industry Insight by Type of Product (Anti-Wrinkle, Hair Color, UV Absorbers, Anti-Stretch Marks, Others), Type of Device (Radiofrequency, Laser, Anti-Cellulite, Microdermabrasion), by Treatment (Hair Restoration, Anti-Pigmentation, Anti-Adult Acne, Liposuction, Breast Augmentation, Chemical Peel, Others), by Demography (Generation X, Baby Boomer, Generation Y) published by P&S Market Research, the global anti aging market is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.7% during 2017 - 2025.

Browse Report Overview at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/anti-aging-market

Global anti-aging market to witness 7.7% CAGR during 2017 2025

According to the study, the global anti-aging market is expected to witness 7.7% CAGR during 2017 2025. Technological advancements, increase in volume of anti-aging procedures, growing aging population and increase in disposable income have been driving the global anti-aging market. The market is further expected to gain revenue due to increase in anti-aging awareness campaigns. For instance, EuroMediCom plans to organize the 15th Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress from 6th April to 8th April, 2017, in Monaco. Furthermore, EuroMediCom is also going to organize the 4th AMWC Latin America- Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress from 16th November to 18th November, 2017, in Colombia, South America. EuroMediCom promotes future medical sciences, particularly those related to aging and aesthetics.

Insights on market segments

As per the findings of research, anti-wrinkle products, which includes dermal fillers and botox, is expected to witness considerable growth during the forecast period, primarily due to high sales of botulinum toxin and increasing appearance consciousness and awareness among women about anti-wrinkle products. Anti-wrinkle products include anti-wrinkle milk, anti-wrinkle moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams, anti-wrinkle gels and anti-wrinkle serums. Wrinkles are formed due to lack of collagen in the body which makes the skin elastic and firm. The two main types of wrinkles include surface lines and deep furrows. Anti-wrinkle creams, oils and gels reduce fine lines, but deep furrows usually require anti-aging treatments, such as plastic surgery and botox injections. Radiofrequency, laser, anti-cellulite, and microdermabrasion devices are used for the anti-aging treatment such as hair restoration, anti-pigmentation, anti-adult acne treatment, liposuction and breast augmentation.

Browse Report Sample at:https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/anti-aging-market/report-sample

North America stands as the largest anti-aging market

Geographically, North America has been the largest anti-aging market, with the U.S. being the largest contributor to the regional market. Increasing volume of plastic surgeries and growing geriatric population in the region are the key growth drivers for the North American anti-aging market. As reported by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), American spent more than $13.5 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2015. It further reported that 1,912,468 surgical procedures and 10,879,909 non-surgical procedures were performed. It was also reported that liposuction was the most popular surgical procedure in 2015 with about 396,048 procedures performed.

Europe is also a key market for anti-aging products and it is anticipated to witness considerable growth during the forecast period. Increase in product approvals and aging population are driving the European market. According to International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), some of the popular surgical anti-aging surgical procedures in European countries in 2015 included breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, and abdominoplasty.

Key players in the anti-aging market actively seeking acquisitions

The anti-aging market has witnessed number of mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances recently. In January 2017, L'Oral signed an agreement with Valeant Pharmaceuticals to acquire its the skincare brands including, CeraVe, AcneFree and Ambi for a consideration of $1.3 billion in cash. These products are expected to expand LOreals Active cosmetics division. In July 2016, Johnson & Johnson acquired Vogue International LLC, a privately-held company focusing on marketing hair care and other personal care products, for an amount of $3.3 billion in cash. The acquisition was expected to strengthen Johnson & Johnsons consumer segment with hair care and personal care products.

Browse Other Related Report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/healthcare

Some of the other key players in the market include The Proctor & Gamble Company, Beiersdorf AG, Allergan Plc., The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Coty Inc., Cynosure, Inc., Lumenis Ltd., Syneron Medical Ltd., Photomedex Inc., Orlane, Personal Microderm and Alma Lasers Ltd.

About P&S Market Research

P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.

As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.

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Uber responds to the New York Times article about how it psychologically manipulates drivers – TechCrunch

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Uber is on the defensive after the New York Times claimed that it manipulates drivers using techniques from behavioral science in order to reduce costs and increase corporate growth. The company did not refute that it uses psychological incentives, but instead focused its response on a claim in the April 2 article that faster pickup times for riders require a greater percentage to be idling unpaid.

This is simply not trueand had the Times asked us whether it was, we would have explained the reality of what happens when Uber grows in a city: riders enjoy lower pick-up times and drivers benefit from less downtime between trips, Ubers director of policy research, Betsy Masiello, wrote in a blog post.

In order to avoid long wait times for customers and surge pricing (which automatically kicks in when demand for rides is higher than usual in an area), Uber has to make sure enough of its drivers are workingand does so using techniques that are sometimes ethically questionable, the New York Times said.

The article claimedthat Uber engaged in an extraordinary behind-the-scenes experiment in behavioral science to manipulate them in the service of its corporate growthan effort whose dimensions became evident in interviews with several dozen current and former Uber officials, drivers and social scientists, as well as a review of behavioral science.

According to the article, Ubers tactics are similar to ones used by video game designers and have included:

Even though drivers can decide when they want to work, Ubers techniques are potentially problematic because they can manipulate drivers into working longer hours or undesirable locations without guaranteeing higher income, while benefiting the companys bottom line.

Furthermore, becauseUbers drivers are contractors, they lack the protections and benefits that employees get, and are therefore more vulnerable to exploitation.

Masiello writes, however, that Ubers practices have actually resulted in less idle time for its drivers:

First, as the number of passengers and drivers using Uber grows, any individual driver is more likely to be close to a rider. This means shorter pickup times and more time spent with a paying passenger in the back of the car. In addition, new features like uberPOOL and Back-to-Back trips have meant longer trips, while incentives to drive during the busiest times and in the busiest locations help keep drivers earning for a greater share of their time online. And that should be no surprise: drivers are our customers just as much as riders. So although the Times article suggests that Ubers interest is misaligned with drivers, the opposite is true: its in our interest to ensure that drivers have a paying passenger as often as possible because theyre more likely to keep using our app to earn money. (And Uber doesnt earn money until drivers do.)

Though other tech companies, likeLyft and Postmates, use similar tactics to get more work out of their contractors, the New York Times article comes at an especially bad time for Uber. The company has never been viewedas a paragon of good corporate practice, but its reputation has arguably reached an all-time low over the past few months after a deluge of PR crises.

These include the revelation that it used a software tool called greyball to prevent regulators from taking rides, the #deleteuber social media campaign, reports of rampant sexual harassment, a video of founder and CEO Travis Kalanick berating a driver who was upset about dropping fares (Kalanick later apologized and promised to seek leadership help) and its ongoing court battle with Waymo, which claims Uber stole trade secrets.

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How pharma marketers are using behavioral science – Medical Marketing and Media

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New technology has shifted the marketing paradigm from one-way messaging and simple reminders paired with education efforts to a new set of tools including gamification, augmented and virtual reality, and online interventions tailored to individual patients. Designed right, these advances stand to have a more meaningful impact: helping foster long-term behavior change to support brand objectives.

And it's not just marketers who are recognizing that shift. Medical associations, too, are starting to better grasp the importance of addressing patients' behavior in improving health outcomes. The American Diabetes Association, in its new 2017 standards of medical care, included new guidelines on the importance of addressing patients' psychosocial needs while also looking at traditional health needs.

See also:4 trends with the potential to change behavior in the patient journey

But more can be done. Most companies still don't allot enough of their budget to create long-term behavior change in patients. When habits can sometimes take as long as a year to form, that's a recipe for relapse, according to behavioral health psychologist D'Arcy King, EVP and chief strategy officer of Daggerwing Health.

It's about long-term sustained behavior change, she affirmed. That's what is missing in many cases. We don't necessarily give programs enough time to work or see success or even measurable results coming out of them.

And while programs with life-long goals sound nice on paper, clients need to demonstrate ROI on quarterly timelines. The key? Helping patients with chronic diseases prioritize disease management so it becomes automatic behavior and then recognize that connection, King added.

See also:3 Lessons on Behavior Change from Pokmon Go

It's hard for patients to say each day, I will take this on and I will win,' because then they burn out, she explained. It goes back to, as a patient, What are my priorities?' And for many who succeed in managing their disease, it's about prioritizing their condition in incremental ways so they have a better quality of life.

This eBook, spanning both HCP and consumer campaigns, elucidates how pharma marketers can leverage behavioral health learnings to help create that connection for patients. You'll find four case studies detailing how drugmakers and their marketing agencies use behavioral change techniques such as reframing, social learning, problem solving, and others to keep patients adherent to their treatment regimen, better communicate their symptoms, and reinforce healthy behaviors. And on later pages, six industry leaders share their thoughts on the pharma sector's progress in making behavioral science a key part of the marketing equation.

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How pharma marketers are using behavioral science - Medical Marketing and Media