OXFORD, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

NEPHRON+, an EU research project, has recently selected Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) tools for its software and test development environment. Key factors in its decision were ease of use and flexibility of OVP, as well as the availability of ARM processor models chosen for the electronics system.

The NEPHRON+ project is developing a wearable artificial kidney and personal renal care system. According to Frank Poppen of OFFIS - Institute for Information Technology of Germany, the lead institution in the consortium for the embedded software development, OVP was selected because of the ease with which models are built and the flexibility in interfacing to other tools. He continued, The availability of the ARM processor model we needed, and the open source nature of the OVP models, were also important factors.

One of OFFISs development milestones was to interface the OVP simulator, OVPsim, to the Simulink system simulator. This was done to enable testing of the target software, running directly on the processor in the virtual platform, with the full system environment. Due to the open nature of the OVP technology, OFFIS was able to write its own interface model, which is now available on the OFFIS website (http://system-synthesis.org/offissimlink).

OVP is addressing key issues in software development for embedded systems, said Noel Hurley, VP Business Development, ARM. By supporting the creation of virtual platforms, OVP is enabling early software development and helping expand the ARM user community.

OVP processor models are instruction accurate, and very fast. They enable the early creation of software development environments for embedded software developers looking to create hardware-dependent software such as firmware and bare metal applications. OVP processor models employ a state of the art just-in-time code morphing engine to accelerate simulation speeds. Virtual platforms utilizing these OVP processor models can be created with the OVP peripheral and platform models. The processor models can also be integrated into SystemC/TLM2 based virtual platforms using the native TLM2 interface available with all OVP models. The native TLM2 interface enables multiple instantiations of the processor models in a single virtual platform, just as any other component would be instantiated. The OVP simulator can also be encapsulated within the Eclipse IDE, enabling easy use for software developers.

The OVP library of Fast Processor Models includes the complete families of the ARMv4, ARMv5, and ARMv6 architecture-based processors, as well as models of most of the processors in the ARM Cortex-M series and Cortex-A series processors. In addition to working with the OVP simulator, these models work with the Imperas Multiprocessor/Multicore Software Development Kit, M*SDK, which includes advanced tools for multicore software verification, analysis and debug, including key tools for software development on virtual platforms such as OS and CPU-aware tracing, profiling and code analysis.

ARM users recognize the importance of virtual platforms to accelerate the development of software for embedded systems, said Simon Davidmann, Imperas CEO, and OVP founding director. Compatibility and quality of models is essential when using virtual platforms to develop software, and having validated processor models available for free from OVP means developers can get higher quality software developed faster. Validated models really help to close the Software Gap.

Available OVP Fast Processor Models of ARM cores

The following specific models are available as open source from OVP:

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Open Virtual Platforms Selected by NEPHRON+ EU Research Project for Software Development Environment

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/0aabea17/analysis_of_the_pe) has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Analysis of the Personal Care Chemicals Market" to their offering.

This research provides analysis of the personal care chemicals market in Brazil regarding to surfactants, fragrances, emollients, UV filters, propellents, and polymer compounds. The base year is 2011, and the forecast period is 2011 to 2018. The Brazilian personal care industry has an attractive scenario due to fast growth rates. The increasing number of consumers, from an emerging middle class, has expanded the market. Brazil is expected to become the main world supplier of green chemicals ingredients; yet the country is already the third-largest market for personal care products in the world. Brazil is the leading market for deodorants and fragrances, and the second-largest for sunscreen products.

Key Questions This Study Will Answer:

Is the personal care chemicals market growing, how long will it continue to grow, and at what rate?

What are the current and future market trends? Are the existing competitors structured correctly to meet customer needs?

Will these companies and products continue to exist or will they get acquired by other companies? Will the products become features in other markets?

Are the products offered today meeting customer needs, or is additional development needed?

Key Topics Covered:

Market Overview

Total Personal Care Chemicals Market

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Research and Markets: Analysis of the Personal Care Chemicals Market in Brazil

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland City Councilmen Joe Cimperman and Matt Zone say they fully support a plan to create housing on Lorain Avenue to support homeless men who are fighting addiction.

The Cleveland Housing Network has an option to purchase the property, a closed-down Hollywood Video store, and has submitted an application to the Ohio Housing Finance Authority for funding for the project.

"It's just smart housing, smart public policy," said Zone.

"But you have certain people who say Ohio City has been the dumping ground of too much social service agencies serving vulnerable populations," he said. "This gets right to the root of NIMBYism. [NIMBY is an acronym for Not In My Backyard.] People want to talk out of both sides of their mouth."

The project is termed "permanent supportive housing," but not everyone is supportive of the idea.

Architect David Ellison, a former Green Party candidate for Cuyahoga County executive and an Ohio City resident, sees shady intent in a secretive deal that smacks of "machine" politics. Upset that the members of the Ohio City Development Corp.'s board voted to support the project in a meeting opponents weren't invited to attend, he posted their names and personal information on an Ohio City Yahoo board.

The information was public record, but Cimperman said Ellison crossed the line, and so the councilman wrote a letter to the board to alert them and sent an email to police saying, "I have grown more concerned by the tenor and underlying tone of violence on this Web site."

He said later that such information can be dangerous: "If you run for office, you're public. I get that. But, really? Did you have to put someone is pregnant or not? When their terms are up? That's intimidation."

Zone added: "When you profile people, when you put where they live, that is dangerous."

Ellison said that's nonsense: "As a body ostensibly voting on behalf of the community, we have the right to know who the board members are, where they live, how they voted and what was said in the proceeding. A hidden vote by individuals who themselves are hidden is not something that should be happening in this community or this country."

Excerpt from:
Ohio City homeless housing plan stirs heated debate: Michael K. McIntryre's Tipoff

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

CompassLearning officially unveiled Impact Teacher Academy Online today at the 2012 ASCD Annual Convention and Exhibit Show in Philadelphia, PA. The online expansion of Compass Learning Impact Teacher Academy provides educators with regularly scheduled, streaming, online sessions that allow for interaction with faculty and staff of the Academy as well as anytime, anywhere online access to video instruction and on-demand instructional sessions. The Impact Teacher Academy is an engaging blend of workshops, leadership planning and instructional coaching designed to share new ideas and classroom-proven approaches that empower teachers to help every child reach his or her potential.

Impact Teacher Academy focuses on professional development opportunities related to the successful implementation and use of Compass Learnings K12 personalized learning software and solutions in the classroom. The ultimate goal of the Academy is to build teacher capacity and student success.

The new online offering enhances traditional Impact Teacher Academy blended, on-site and virtual implementations customized to the needs of individual schools and districts with a professional-learning environment that can help new teachers get up to speed more quickly and expand the capacity of experienced teachers, while saving time and money. With Impact Teacher Academy, teachers have more time to focus on student achievement.

Were excited to offer a new, dedicated, online offering for our customers, said Quannah Hopper, vice president, CompassLearning Impact Teacher Academy. Providing professional-development opportunities that can help teachers spend classroom time fulfilling their aspirations and helping students achieve academic success and personal growth is the ultimate goal of our program.

For more information on Impact Teacher Academy, visit booth number 1218 at ASCD or online at: http://www.compasslearning.com/why-compass-learning/professional-development.php

About CompassLearning

Compass Learning provides educational software that empowers teachers to unlock every students potential for academic success and personal growth. The companys comprehensive K12 solutions create personalized learning programs that engage students and inspire them to learn. Teachers and administrators can more efficiently and effectively manage and measure progress, freeing time to focus on individual students needs. Both of the companys software solutions, CompassLearning Odyssey and the Renzulli Learning System, deliver academic rigor based on more than 40 years of research into how students learn. The solutions also are aligned with state and Common Core standards to support classroom and district accountability. With headquarters in Austin, Texas, Compass Learning serves nearly 6,000 schools across the United States.

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Introduction of Live Online Professional Development Offering Expands CompassLearning Impact Teacher Academy

10:35 p.m. EST, March 25, 2012

Chamber

Winter Park: Winter Park Executive Women "Discover Your Personal Brand," 11:30 a.m. April 2, Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 W. Lyman Ave., Winter Park. Cost: $20 for members; $25 nonmembers; Reservation deadline is March 30. Details: 407-644-8281 or winterpark.org.

Sanford: Successful Business Solutions Forum, 5:30-8 p.m. April 19; Sanford Chamber of Commerce Hall, 400 E. 1st St., Sanford. A panel of local entrepreneurs will share their stories of the triumphs and challenges on the path to success. Free, registration required. Call 407-322-2212 or email susan@sanfordchamber.com.

Sanford: Better Neighborhood, Better Life Community Expo, 5-8 p.m. April 26; Sanford Civic Center, 401 E. Seminole Blvd., Sanford. A breakout session will be offered from 6-6:30 p.m. on "3 Keys to Email Marketing." Free. Details: 407-322-2212.

Education

Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center, Steps for Starting a 501c3 Nonprofit, 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 16; $25; Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. Details: 407-975-6414.

UCF-Small Business Development Center, Social Media Marketing for Business Success, 6-8 p.m. March 27, $20; Quickbooks Overview, 6-9 p.m. March 28, $30; Bookkeeping and Taxes, 6-9 p.m. March 29, $30; Contracting with the Army, 6-9 p.m. April 3, $30; Start Up Basics, 6-9 p.m. April 4, free; Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights, 6-9 p.m. April 4, $30; GSA Schedules, 6-9 p.m. April 10, $30; Government Contract Law, 6-9 p.m. April 17, $30; Bids & Proposals, 6-9 p.m. April 24, $30; all classes at Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Details: 407-420-4850 or sbdcorlando.com.

SCORE Orlando, Funding Your Business, 6-9 p.m. March 27, $50; You, Your Business Idea, How SCORE Can Help, 6:30-9 p.m. April 2, 9:30 a.m.-noon April 7, free; Starting Your New Business, 9:30 a.m.-noon April 9, $50; all classes at Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Details: 407-420-4844 or scoreorlando.org.

Seminole State College of Florida-Small Business Development Center, Building the Ultimate Business Plan, 9 a.m.-noon March 29, $95; Websites for Small Business, 9-11 a.m. April 4, $30; Print, Website, and Brand Consistency 2-5 p.m. April 11, $30; all classes at the Center for Economic Development, Seminole State College, 1055 AAA Drive, Heathrow. Details: 407-321-3495 or sbdc.seminolestate.edu/.

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03/26: Business events

At Farmingtons Acsys Interactive, a full-service digital agency, management doesnt just talk about work-life balance it practices it.The companys focus on encouraging both personal and professional growth has created a culture where employees feel supported and respected.

Stan Valencis, president and CEO, said employees get a positive vibe from the work atmosphere, and theres a reason for that.

If you want to have a good culture, it needs to be authentic; our senior management really cares about the people, Valencis said.People can sniff out if somethings phony. If theres not a genuineness behind it, people feel it.

The employees are clearly happy.Last year alone, the company hired 25 employees, growing 50 percent to nearly 75 people.

We didnt use any outside recruiting firms to do that, Valencis said.It was all through employee referrals.

About two and a half years ago, an employee approached management, asking to go on sabbatical in order to spend six months hiking the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine.Management agreed to allow him to go, without pay, while assuring him he would have a job when he returned.

The day he came back, he came in with all his gear and announced he had just completed hiking 2,176 miles and everyone cheered, said Deb Peterson, vice president of human resources.It was something we wanted to help him do.We thought it would be an experience of a lifetime, and it built up a lot of teamwork, discussions in the hall.

Health and wellness is a priority at Acsys.The company offers a program which includes fitness classes conducted by a company-paid trainer four times a week, fitness and wellness competitions, campus flu shots and health and wellness screenings.

Peterson said the fitness classes are offered both during the workday and in the early evening, allowing employees to take a class before heading home. And, Peterson said, the trainer goes above and beyond just classes.

If you want to go for a run, hell get some people together, she said.People really take advantage of this.They have access to a personal trainer thats huge.

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Acsys Interactive puts focus on professional, personal development

Enlarge Courtesy of the artist

Melanie Fiona's new album is titled The MF Life.

Melanie Fiona's new album is titled The MF Life.

The MF Life is the second album by R&B singer Melanie Fiona, released this past week. The two-time Grammy winner says the title has sparked a lot of discussion.

"It gets people talking to each other," Fiona says. "I wanted it to be a collection of music and songs that make people think about the things that we actually go through and feel, and to acknowledge that to know that there's someone out there singing their story, as well."

Born and raised in Toronto, with Caribbean roots, Fiona says she inherited her parents' musical tastes artists such as Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, Patsy Cline, Otis Redding and Ben E. King.

"But I'm an '80s baby, so at the time I was born, Whitney Houston was 'the voice,'" Fiona says. "It was just so soothing to me to hear her inflection, her emotion and her control. It is just so magnificent, and it's incomparable, in my opinion, to any other voice that's ever existed. ... I think that had a lot of influence on me, and on why I feel I need to make music that should make people feel passionate about it."

Continued here:
Melanie Fiona: A Grammy Winner Gets Personal

The Henry County Board of Commissioners is temporarily halting the acceptance of applications for personal-care homes in the county. Commissioners enacted a 90-day moratorium on approving licenses, or permits, relating to such facilities.

County spokesperson, Julie Hoover-Ernst, said the action is being taken in order to clarify language in Henrys Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).

Officials said that the ULDC and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan require additional review and revision by the county, in relation to the location of personal-care homes within single-family residential zones, and the development and standards of personal-care homes located anywhere within unincorporated Henry County, she said.

Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Henrys planning and zoning director, said her staff has received a number of inquiries regarding the location of personal-care homes in residential areas of the county.

With some inconsistencies regarding the utilization of properties for a personal-care home as a home occupation, versus a non-home occupation, staff felt that it was pertinent to clear up any ambiguities that the Unified Land Development Code currently presented, Hobson-Matthews said. The moratorium is designed to allow staff the opportunity to conduct an additional review and revision to the ULDC and Comprehensive Plan, as they relate to the location of personal-care homes within single-family residential districts, and the development and standards of personal-care homes located anywhere within unincorporated Henry County.

Hoover-Ernst added that, during the moratorium, the county will research surrounding jurisdictions, and examine commission meetings from when the ULDC was passed, to ensure that the revised language lines up with the commissions collective desire regarding personal-care homes.

Officials will seek to determine if the original intent was to allow personal-care homes to operate inside a subdivision, as well as determine what number of clients and employees is appropriate in those zones, the spokesperson said. Any changes made to the ordinance will not apply to group homes or assisted-living facilities. For more information, visit http://www.hcpz.org.

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Moratorium enacted for personal-care home applications

March 24, 2012 - 11:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Delegates to the first Global Human Development Forum unanimously adopted on March 23 an Istanbul Declaration calling on the world community to take bold action against global social inequities and environmental deterioration at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio this June.

It is time to reset the global development agenda, the Istanbul Declaration states. The world needs a renewed commitment to sustainable development and strong political leadership to implement it.

The Istanbul Declaration was adopted by consensus at the conclusion of the two-day Global Human Development Forum, a gathering of more than 200 leading development experts, civil society activists, government ministers, private sector representatives and UN officials from all regions of the world.

The Forum was organized by UNDPs Human Development Report Office and Bureau of Development Policy in partnership with the Government of Turkeys Ministry of Development. The Istanbul Declaration was supported by the Government of Turkey as a key contribution to the UN debates and discussions leading up to the Rio + 20 conference in June. Negotiations on the conference agenda and proposed resolutions resumed this week at UN headquarters in New York.

The Declaration stresses the need for global and national development strategies to put strong emphasis on social inclusion, social protection, and equity, in recognition of the fact that economic development has too often gone hand in hand with environmental degradation and increased inequality.

Achieving those goals will require better-coordinated mobilization of global capital and local resources, good governance on the local and global level, and full empowerment of women through access to education, health care, basic services and their participation in the labour force, the Declaration says.

In a personal message to Forum participants, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: Sustainable development recognizes that our economic, social and environmental objectives are not competing goals that must be traded off against each other, but are interconnected objectives that are most effectively pursued together in a holistic manner. We need an outcome from Rio+20 that reflect this understanding and that relates to the concerns of all.

More than 120 heads of state and government have confirmed their participation in the Rio conference, making it one of the largest such gatherings of world leaders in recent times.

Excerpt from:
Istanbul Declaration calls for sustainable development worldwide

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The anionic surfactant market for home care and personal care products, in South Africa, is restrained by fluctuating exchange rates, environmental and health concerns, and oligopolistic supply. While little can be done about the exchange rates, FMCG manufacturers need to educate final consumers on the safety of chemical ingredients found in their products.

The Kenyan market, on the other hand, is restrained by its reliance on imports, a depreciating currency and price-sensitivity. This situation could be partially remedied by the introduction of manufacturers who produce good quality, cosmetic-grade anionic surfactants. It is also crucial that FMCG manufacturers have a good understanding of the needs of their final consumers.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.chemicals.frost.com), Analysis of the Anionic Surfactant Market for Home and Personal Care Products and its Importance to FMCG Manufacturers, finds that the market generated revenues of $137.5 million and $31.2 million in 2010, for South Africa and Kenya respectively, and estimates this to reach $193.3 million and $45.7 million for the respective countries in 2015.

"The functionality of anionic surfactants is the overarching driver in the South African market," notes Frost & Sullivan Research's Chemicals, Materials and Food Research Analyst Carolyn Krynauw. "While functionality is still important in the Kenyan market, the emergence of consumer trends is set to be the greater driver there. Other important trends that should be noted in Kenya include the move towards greater contract manufacturing, the development of niche markets, and the increased focus on the environment."

As the South African anionic surfactant industry is in the maturity phase and almost entirely self-sufficient, emphasis is placed on the functionality, or performance of these surfactants, and growth is stable. Kenya shows higher growth rates as consumers pay more attention to personal grooming and are changing from laundry bars to toilet soaps and laundry detergents.

However, media concerns regarding certain anionic surfactants can be detrimental to FMCG manufacturers in South Africa. Other restraints include the importation of raw materials for local anionic surfactant production amidst fluctuating exchange rates, and lack of competition as two major local suppliers dominate the anionic surfactant market.

"Chemical ingredients used in personal care products must be listed on the packaging," indicates Krynauw. "This can become detrimental to manufacturers, should consumers remain uneducated about the chemicals and different grades used. Although South Africa has yet to ban certain ingredients, FMCG manufacturers who maintain a reactive approach to potential legislative changes may well find themselves in troubled times in future."

Kenya faces its own set of constraints. The country is plagued by a depreciating currency that hurts local manufacturers and a high dependency on imports, both for anionic surfactants and final products. This trend stems not only from the lack of local supply, but also from the perception by FMCG manufacturers that the quality of the local cosmetic-grade anionic surfactants is inferior. In addition, the market is restrained by the limited purchasing power of its citizens.

"In both South Africa and Kenya, it is important that local FMCG manufacturers take the initiative and refrain from using substances banned on the international market," concludes Krynauw. "Moreover, in Kenya, there remains an opportunity for a local manufacturer to produce good quality, cosmetic-grade anionic surfactants to drive local supply."

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail with your contact details to Samantha James, Corporate Communications, at samantha.james@frost.com.

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Growing Kenyan Anionic Surfactant Market Holds Greater Potential than Mature South African Market, Finds Frost ...