Investing in Brazil is a great long-term option, says AAA

Alternative investment advocacy group AAA claims that there is enough evidence to suggest that further economic recovery is on its way in Brazil and growth rates of 3-4 per cent can be expected in the coming years.

Boston, MA, USA, November 14, 2012 -- Alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) claims that there is enough evidence to suggest that further economic recovery is on its way in Brazil and growth rates of 3-4 per cent can be expected in the coming years.

A large number of people put their cash into Brazil in the past few years, as growth rates hit as high as 6 or 7 per cent. However, growth fell to just 1.5 per cent this year and the economy has failed to deliver in several areas, AAA has admitted. For example, those who invested in its stock markets have seen a 5 per cent fall in values in dollar terms and the value of its currency, the real, also took a hit against the dollar this year.

However, AAA claims that strategic government moves, such as the slashing of interest rates to a record low of 7.25 per cent, have helped to get recovery back on track. "Those who have investments in Brazil will see strong returns over time," claimed AAA's analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He predicted that growth of between 3 and 4 per cent will return before too long.

AAA supports a range of alternative investment products and funds, but focuses on ethical options like impact investing and sustainable forestry investment. "Brazil is a great place to invest in forestry," explained Mr Johnson. "It has lush, fertile conditions and there is a growing demand for sustainably produced timber due to huge house building projects and infrastructure investment in advance of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics within the coming four years."

One forestry investment option, run by Greenwood Management, offers people that chance to invest in their own piece of forestry plantation for as little as $15,000.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

eZuce and NextPlane Partnership Delivers Seamless UC Federation

eZuce openUC added to NextPlane UC Exchange as a Certified UC Platform.

ANDOVER, Mass. (November 14, 2012) -- eZuce Inc., the leading global provider of cloud based communications and collaboration solutions for large enterprises, has recently completed certification testing with NextPlane for its openUCTM solution. eZuce openUC has demonstrated full Instant Messaging (IM) federation with Microsoft Lync during initial Phase I certification in which users are able to share not only standard presence states of either "Available," "Away," "Busy" or "DND" on unified communication (UC) clients but also custom status messages, and enhanced presence states with federated colleagues.

NextPlane provides UC Exchange a UC and social media federation service with a searchable directory of over 100 (and growing) federation-ready organizations where companies can easily federate with customers and partners, using a secure management portal to track federation requests to and from business partners. UC Exchange Federation Services accelerates the building of collaborative business communities by eliminating the need to set up and maintain separate federation connections with multiple partners. UC Exchange supports all major UC platforms including Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Google, OpenFire, Isode and eJabberd. UC Exchange enables end-users within the UC Exchange community to easily share presence, exchange instant messages, participate in multi-party chat sessions, make voice calls, share files, and participate in voice conferences.

"We're glad to include eZuce openUC in our UC Exchange program; in particular its seamless IM federation with Microsoft Lync and OCS enables users to experience collaboration the way it was designed to be- easy and reliable. We look forward to strengthening our technology alliance with eZuce as we continue to expand our federated services to Enterprises through strategic partnerships such as this." Farzin Shahidi, Founder and CEO, NextPlane Inc.

eZuce provides UC cubed, the transition of unified communications into a software and IT application that is open, standards based, enterprise-grade, and socially-enabled. eZuce openUC™ and Unite solutions are transformational, enabling companies to become social organizations, improve productivity, and lower costs by communications-enabling and integrating business-critical applications and functions across multiple platforms. It enables IT to successfully manage the transition not only to the Cloud and Communications-as-a-Service (CaaS), but also to embrace the even more challenging reality of Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD). eZuce openUC™ offers ease of use for the IT team, extreme flexibility, scalability, resiliency, and security, with the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO).

"eZuce fully embraces the partnership we have with NextPlane as our collective efforts enable users to have more choice and flexibility in how they communicate and collaborate amongst contacts particularly within their social networks. This approach aligns directly with our overall product strategy as eZuce openUC is the solution of choice for Enterprises in need of open standards-based virtualized communications." David Grazio, VP of Product Marketing, eZuce Inc.

About NextPlane

NextPlane Inc., is the provider of 'UC Exchange,' a cloud based community focused federation service for unified communications (UC). UC Exchange enables member organizations to find, connect, and collaborate with business partners across a wide range of UC platforms and includes powerful features such as UC Federation Services, centralized Members Directory, Social Media Federation, and Skype Federation. Using a unique federation management portal, organizations can search a member's directory for federation-ready partners; manage federation requests and access reporting and analytic tools.

UC Exchange Federation Services enable seamless federation across Microsoft Lync, OCS and LCS, Cisco Jabber XCP, Unified Presence Server (CUPS) and WebEx Messenger (formerly Cisco WebEx Connect), IBM Sametime, Google Apps, Jive OpenFire, Isode M-Link and eJabberd. Organizations can connect users from different companies regardless of their underlying UC platform - with enhanced presence, instant messaging, multi-user chat, voice and video - all as if they are on the same UC platform. Moreover, UC Exchange enables its member organizations to federate their UC platforms with social business communities such as Yammer, Salesforce.com's Chatter, Twitter, Skype, LinkedIn, and XMPP hosted chat rooms. For more information please visit http://www.nextplane.net, or contact sales at sales@nextplane.net.

Contact:
Farzin Shahidi
NextPlane, Inc.
(650) 305-7404

Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
(415) 259-5638

About eZuce, Inc.

eZuce delivers an open source platform designed to provide virtualized communications. For companies looking for an IT and cloud solution to fulfill all their communications and collaboration needs, eZuce provides users the ability to communicate openly and globally in the most cost-effective way available. And, because eZuce is a software solution built for the cloud, IT best practices apply, making this the easiest platform to operate available today. The company also built the largest and most successful open source unified communication community known as the sipXecs solution from SIPfoundry, underlining its commitment to open standards. eZuce counts as its customers some of the largest and innovative Fortune 500 companies as well as leading system integrators and partners. For more information about eZuce please visit our website at http://www.ezuce.com.

You can also follow eZuce online through our official corporate social networking sites:

Contact:
Christina Inge
eZuce, Inc.
+1.978.296.1005 x2073

FRA agrees that Timberland is a good Long-Term Investment

A recent article by Wyatt Investment Research published by Nasdaq.com discusses claims that timberland could be a better long-term investment option than gold. The report has attracted much support from FRA, a forestry investment analysis group that believes timberland is a strong and reliable long-term asset class.

Seattle, United States, November 14, 2012 -- A recent article by Wyatt Investment Research published by Nasdaq.com discusses claims that timberland could be a better long-term investment option than gold. The report has attracted much support from Forestry Research Associates (FRA), a forestry investment analysis group that believes timberland is a strong and reliable long-term asset class.

The article from Wyatt Investment Research says that one of the main reasons trees are a great long-term option is that healthy trees physically grow by around 4 per 6 per cent in value each year. The article concludes that timber is indeed "better than the stock market as a long-term investment." It then asks whether it can compare to a commodity like gold for long-term returns on investment.

Between 1991 and 2010, timberland investors saw returns averaging 11.16 per cent per year, with gold investors seeing gains of just 7 per cent each year during the same period. However, the article claims that people buy gold and timberland for very different reasons. "It's right that people buy gold primarily to protect the value of their investments and protect their cash from wider economic factors, such as inflation," explained FRA's analysis partner, Peter Collins.

"However, timberland can offer these benefits as well, as timber tends to emerge from recessions and other economic crises relatively unscathed."

One of the main benefits of investing in timber is the fact that the owner of the trees does not have to sell if conditions aren't quite right when the trees reach maturity. If timber prices are low, they can continue to grow in size and in value until the market is just right. As a result, investing in timberland can be one of a least risky strategies during tough economic times, added Mr Collins.

FRA is a research and analysis consultancy focusing on forestry investment. It supports a range of forestry investment schemes, such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada.

Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394

NanoMarkets Issues Report on Emerging Opportunities for Low-Cost Sensors

NanoMarkets today announced the release of its report titled "Markets for Low-Cost Sensors 2012."

Glen Allen, Virginia - November 14, 2012 -- Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets today announced the release of its report titled "Markets for Low-Cost Sensors 2012." In this new report, NanoMarkets analyzes the opportunities for low-cost sensors in key applications over the next eight years. The report estimates that the total market for such sensors will grow from its current value of over $8.9 billion today to $13.2 billion (USD) by the year 2019, which corresponds to about 42 billion low-cost sensors shipped.

Additional details about the report are available at: http://nanomarkets.net/market_reports/report/markets_for_low_cost_sensors_2012.

About the Report:

Within the report NanoMarkets reviews the key applications for low-cost sensors: smart packaging for consumer goods; pharmaceutical smart packaging and healthcare-related applications; interactive media and disposable electronics applications; lighting applications, including both standalone lighting control units and smart lighting systems; building automation systems; and diagnostic test strips for monitoring of, for example, blood glucose or cholesterol levels in conjunction with an electronic meter.

Forecasts in each application are broken out by sensor type as follows: temperature sensors; humidity sensors; chemical, biochemical or gas sensors; and pressure, motion, or other physical factor sensors. The report contains granular, eight-year forecasts for low-cost sensors, in both quantity (number of sensors shipped) and value ($ millions) terms, broken out by application and by sensor technology.

From the Report:

- Diagnostic test strips, and blood glucose test strips in particular, will dominate the overall market. The market value of blood glucose test strips will grow at a rate of about 3 percent per year, from $7.6 billion in 2012 to nearly $9.3 billion by 2019.

- One of the fastest growing markets for low costs sensors will be in smart packaging applications, particularly in those that are enabled with sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, and various chemicals or gases in foods and personal care consumer goods. NanoMarkets expects this area to grow from its relatively modest value of about $150 million today to over $1.1 billion by the end of the forecast period in 2019.

- At the same time, applications in interactive media, advertising, and disposable electronics are also emerging as a market for low-cost sensors. The market value of low-cost sensors in these applications will grow from about $30 million today to over $160 million by 2019.

- Low-cost sensors also have a role to play in some building automation systems, which monitor and control the heating, cooling, ventilation, and even lighting of (mostly commercial) buildings using a wirelessly connected network of sensors. Such systems seek to improve efficiency through smart-metering of demand but also may be used to improve aesthetics, comfort, security, and safety. Because of the large number of sensors per system, even small penetration rate for low-cost sensors translate into large revenues. The market value of low-cost sensors in building automation systems is expected to grow from about $245 million in 2012 to just $1 billion by the end of the forecast period in 2019.

About NanoMarkets:

NanoMarkets tracks and analyzes emerging market opportunities in solid-state lighting, energy, electronics and other markets created by developments in advanced materials. NanoMarkets has provided coverage of sensors markets as part of a larger focus on the low-cost and printed electronics markets, and in this report we share the insights that we have garnered into the market opportunities that will emerge and grow for low-cost sensors in key application areas.

Visit http://www.nanomarkets.net for a full listing of NanoMarkets' reports and other services.

Media Contact:
Robert Nolan
NanoMarkets, LC
PO BOX 3840
Glen Allen, VA 23058
(804) 938-0030

IAPAM Announces Next Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Injection Training Dates: December 8-9, 2012

The election is over but as the economy continues to recover, patients are still more likely to opt for minimally-invasive, less expensive anti-aging treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin rejuvenation, microdermabrasion and chemical peels over surgical options. To that end, the IAPAM helps physicians enter this cash-based market by offering their dermatologist-led Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Training in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 8-9, 2012. Physicians will learn, and receive, everything they need to start offering Botox injections and other in-demand aesthetic medicine procedures for the New Year.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - November 14, 2012 -- "About 5 million nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed by aestheticians last year, frequently in a spa setting," says Jeff Russell, Executive Director of the IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com). "Many primary care physicians (PCPs) have decided to capitalize on the demand for these services by actively controlling the "med" part of these "medspas."

Therefore, the IAPAM's Aesthetic Medicine Symposium is specifically designed by physicians, for physicians, to educate and train on the top aesthetic medical procedures like: Botox, dermal filler injections, lasers for skin rejuvenation & hair removal, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. The IAPAM's December 8-9, 2012 Symposium has integrated the most important clinical, aesthetic medicine business, and Botox training ALL into one weekend, including:

- dedicated instruction from board-certified dermatologists, who are true experts of the skin and cosmetic injectables;
- hands-on practice in the best Botox injection techniques;
- Botox training at a multi-million dollar medical practice, not in a hotel room; and
- an environment that does not allow exhibitors, giving physicians more time for education.

Attendees also have the opportunity to:

1. Attend the IAPAM's Aesthetic Practice Start-Up Workshop (http://iapam.com/aesthetic-practice-startup-workshop) on Monday, December 10, 2012, a program highlighting the latest information on medspa business development and social media marketing.
2. Attend the IAPAM's Clean Start hCG Weight Loss Training (http://iapam.com/physician-weight-loss-training-using-hormones) on Friday, December 7, 2012, which covers the new Clean Start hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) for Weight Loss Program, prescription appetite suppressants, ketogenic diet based programs, meal replacements and B6/12 injections.

Since 2006, over 1200 physicians (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, DDSs etc.) and their staff (RNs, MAs, practice managers, etc.), have attended the IAPAM's Aesthetic Medicine Symposiums and hCG Training seminars, and been certified by the IAPAM.

Consider adding aesthetic medicine modalities to your medical practice for the New Year! Physicians who have attended the Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Injection Training testify (http://www.iapam.com/category/testimonials) to its comprehensiveness, and the year of practice support from the IAPAM definitely makes the program different than the others.

Botox is a trademark of Allergan, Inc.

About the IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), dentists (DDSs/DMDs) doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: Botox training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 x704