Saturday, March 31, 2012

Video: Yahoo Preparing Layoffs

CNBC's Scott Wapner reports Yahoo is preparing to make significant layoffs next week in an ongoing effort to restructure the company.

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From food to silverware, ten retail businesses explode readily ...

This may sound like semantic nit picking but it is important to understand.

. But not all of us have a ready reservoir of money each time we need it. These are again of the highest quality. These specialists, or experts, are set up with many Merchant Cash Advance funding sources. So, it pays to some homework which restaurants are doing this.

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You can still avail lines of credit. The funding source analyzes your moving business past credit card sales. In such a situation, we need the cash from external sources, and what better way than to take it as a line of credit from a cheap as well as a reliable source. A slightly higher rate of interest might be required to pay.

You can easily avail a loan. However, a good research can help you get better interest rate deals and also restaurant finance. There are many private financing companies which offer a window washing business cash advance or similar program. Just keep in mind that you need to check the expiration date on all supplies you purchase prior to using. After purchasing products, materials, and a location a person will find that they have accumulated a lot of debt.

If you decide to take this route, make sure to order from a reputable online source. Name brands need to be purchased straight from the company or you can purchase them at a salon. Restaurants have received an unjust standing for being extremely prone to going under, making it incredibly complicated for flourishing restaurateurs to acquire unsecured bus company loans. If youre looking to start a bus company then I would look no further than the internet. They can start a sporting goods store from scratch or they can buy into another company as an affiliate or franchise owner. Users of both Social Networking Sites love their favorite eating places and will follow these on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook where they expect to find fair deals that are available on company sponsored pages. Funders now require several months of past credit card statements and restrict the types of industries they approve for funding.

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The price is usually higher, but you are paying for high quality. You have to be relieved with your purchase and so do your customers. Check out the return policy that the company offers.

At last, for a new financier, a lower amount of poignant essentials for approval will effectively foster the potential of acquiring the much desired assets. When you possess a restaurant you generally catch yourself in dire need of urgent funding for renovations or additional costs.

Source: merchant cash advance

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eReflect Announces Americas Support of Turkeys National Library ...

Canberra, Australia (PRWEB) March 30, 2012

eReflect, a US-focussed developer of self-improvement software packages today announced its full support of Turkeys 48th annual Library Week.

The company is making it clear that all Americans are behind the initiative, held annually in the Eurasian country to promote better job prospects, horizon diversity and personal development.

Reading will change you was the message being conveyed by Turkeys Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoan. His statement to the Nation also placed a focus on libraries importance in the overall development of Turkey:

Libraries are a road to knowledge for people of all ages and social classes and are an important stepping stone to ensuring equal opportunities, the Prime Minister said.

Marc Slater, Founder of eReflect, believes that the annual festival is something every country should consider:

Reading is vital to improving communication, interpersonal interaction and career prospects. Many people believe that every country should side time aside to recognise the importance of this he explains.

Continuing, Our company, famous for the creation of speed reading software, gives Turkey one hundred percent support of the initiative, and were confident everyone else in the United States feels the same way.

National Library Week in the United States was first launched in 1958, observed by the American Library Association as well as thousands of individual libraries in all 50 states.

This years celebration will take place between April 8th and April 14th comprising of celebrations ranging from National Library Workers Day to National Bookmobile Day.

Evidence from the buzz created by Turkeys National Library week would suggest its an event everyone wants to celebrate. With events in the United States appearing a little more low key, Slater hopes people will stand up to the opportunity and take advantage of their local library:

The library is often the central focus of every community. However, whether people take advantage of it or not is another question. With most services offered on a free basis, wed like to see more Americans rushing to read as they are in Turkey Slater adds.

Turkeys National Library Week takes place from 26th March 1st April.

******

About eReflect

eReflect is a world leader in self-improvement software, with products currently being used by tens of thousands of people in over 110 countries.

When Ultimate Vocabulary was released in 2006, it quickly became the most sought after and awarded vocabulary software available. Since then eReflect has released a number of highly successful and popular products in the speed reading, spelling, and memory improvement markets.

eReflect prides itself on creating the best products available. Each eReflect product represents the painstaking work of top content experts, engineers, academic studies, and customer research. All products are backed with a famous 365 day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

More information can be found online at: http://www.ereflect.com

30. March 2012 by bavaLeace
Categories: Marketing | Tags: Americas, Announces, eReflect, Library, National, Support, Turkeys, Week | Leave a comment

Source: http://artificialintelligenceseo.com/ereflect-announces-americas-support-of-turkeys-national-library-week/

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

[OOC] Whispers in the Night

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This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Whispers in the Night?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.


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''I'm on my way to Heaven..'' ''Can we tag along, Can we take a journey?''

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The Various Uses Of Health and fitness Equipment

In terms of exercise and achieving the individual health and fitness goals that we set for ourselves, usually we need to have much more health and fitness equipment than simply our own physique. Raising health and fitness amounts and achieving general health, needs a commitment to a regimented eating and physical exercise plan that could result inside the shedding of extra fat and constructing of muscle. But in order to attain these targets we ought to initially identify the type of physical exercise that is definitely likely to indicate success for our distinct physique ? and also the kind of physical fitness equipment that can assist us do it.

For cardiovascular exercise ? the conditioning equipment depends on the kind of physical exercise you select. Runners ? and walkers for that make a difference ? demand a great pair of shoes as their workout equipment. Appropriate footwear can by no means been underestimated; theyll additional conditioning goals and stop damage. Whether operating or walking, pounding on pavement can put an huge amount of anxiety on knees, ankles, feet, and even again. High quality footwear can soak up the shock and make this health encounter a much more enjoyable one.

Other fitness gear corresponds to other cardiovascular workout ? kickboxing often demands a punching bag; boot camp applications may demand a medicine ball; as well as a high-energy step course will demand a strong stage on which to perform your exercises. For those who favor to acquire their workout by device, conditioning equipment could incorporate the treadmill, stair climber, stationery bicycle, and elliptical machine.

But needless to say, physical fitness gear extends to other types of workout too. Weight coaching demands a variety of weights ? each device and free weights. Core instruction ? for instance yoga and Pilates ? requires mats as being a portion of conditioning equipment.

Health and fitness gear does not have to be high-end highly-priced pieces of equipment. Optimum bodily fitness might be accomplished inside the comfort of the house by basically utilizing each day objects around the home so as to complement your exercise routine. Do dips on a cooking area chair, squats in opposition to a wall, or sprints on your stairs ? exercise doesn?t need to be confined to a fitness center. Like a make a difference of truth, lots of people today take into consideration their workout video clips to become by far the most essential bit of health equipment that theyve.

Conditioning gear can maximize your work out and go a lengthy way towards helping you realize your fitness targets. Preserve your choices in health and fitness gear inventive ? you?ll quickly find out that exercise could be peaceful enjoyable.

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Source: http://articlewwe.info/the-various-uses-of-health-and-fitness-equipment/

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jeffreyogden.com : State car insurance coverage. Get Auto ...

Article by Kumarsk

Need to locate a straightforward definition of Auto Insurance coverage coverage?An policy that is acquired by the owner of the automobile to address losses because of to thefts, traffic mishaps is termed as automobile Car insurance policy policy is a wise fiscal resource for the shoppers delivering basic safety and safety against costly and unsafe surprises in the kind of highway mishaps and thefts. Several crucial aspects including one?s age, sex, status of marital, past claim report, previous driving history influences his expected future car insurance policies declare. Auto is 1 the primary insurance policies comparison internet sites offering a number of policies and protection choices to help the consumers find the very best policy.Fetch Highest Special discounts with the aid of our comparison facility at the click of a button We fee diverse vehicle charges for various shoppers on the basis of a number of person variables and factors like age, sex, earlier driving record and motor vehicle make and design, among other variables. Your are entitled to get much more than 10%-15% low cost on your whole price if you are employing exact same supplier for acquiring your auto, home and daily life insurance policy companies. There are a lot of companies associated with car insurance that are offering a variety of types auto insurance quotes of reductions to its customers which includes several automobile discounts, very good driving discounts, anti-theft reductions, and so on. You can conserve on your automobile insurance policy charges by basically swapping your present firm and seem for attractive special discounts with a new provider. Just trying to keep a very good, clean driving record and good credit score historical past will entitle you to get some great reductions.et related to most Straightforward and cost-productive Auto with usAuto is reputed as the greatest Web advertising and marketing resource in the business to assist the buyers obtaining very best, reliable estimates at the ease and comfort of their residences. Automobile Insurance can support you locate the greatest insurance coverage bargains in the entire nation with our comparison facility. Doing thorough examine and study of the quote picked is crucial prior to signing on the final coverage. Our major car comparison facility can effortlessly help save your hundreds of bucks by comparison of many rates and prices, assisting you discover the greatest plan.Discover Most Reasonably priced Vehicle Insurance coverage Estimate Choose free of charge vehicle quotes with us and get the most affordable auto insurance policies offer. We can help you in producing a correct determination with regards to the auto coverage, supplying you with the most important automobile information. We can aid you auto insurance quotes in deciding on the correct deal along with providing totally free details and sources regarding e. A buyer should compare insurance policy prices in get to fetch the outstanding inexpensive and inexpensive vehicle deal. If you are searching for most inexpensive vehicle coverage protection, then you can simplify your search by checking out us. You can obtain the very best car estimate from the top-notch insurance coverage companies, aiding you fetch the greatest vehicle insurance policies deal in accordance to your specific demands.Select the very best car policy for youOur company aids you in obtaining lower-expense cover in accordance to your specific needs and requirements. With us, the clients can very easily discover an insurance policy go over in their spending budget and meets their economic and time demands. Seem for the greatest insurance policies choices like full protection, numerous motor vehicle, luxury cars etc. at our comparison services. We can aid you in case of your accidents with our finest motor vehicle policies that can avail you full fiscal security. You can minimize value of teenage automobile insurance policies by availing the most inexpensive coverage for your teenager with us. We deliver you the very best insurance policies from top suppliers which are most cost-effective and affordable at our comparison services.

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Source: http://jeffreyogden.com/state-car-insurance-coverage-get-auto-insurance-quotes-and-premiums-on-the-web/

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Finding A Job In Venture Capital - Business and Finance

Landing a enterprise capital job will not be a straightforward decision. The very first thing it?s essential contemplate is that if this is going to be a protracted-time period career or one thing you?re contemplating for a number of years till you decide to vary your career path. If you?re considering a job in enterprise capital as a means to build a protracted-term profession, you could take a collection of rigorously deliberate steps that can boost your potential.

Particularly:

a)????? Curve your name on a MBA degree from a prime enterprise school

In majority, venture capitalists (VCs) are high graduates from high-esteemed business schools. Harvard, Berkeley or MIT are full of students who aspire to develop into the following Michael Moritz or L. John Doerr. In reality, it?ll make your life simpler and your aim extra attainable to have an MBA degree because a enterprise capital job is often primarily based upon the merit of MBA education. Alternatively though, reality has proven that candidates who possess an MBA from a non-high 10 business college have fewer probabilities to get a venture capital job than those who don?t possess a level at all. In different phrases, the trade creates and helps its own mechanisms that require future venture capitalists to be outfitted with a top tier MBA degree. In any other case, attempt to acquire valuable working experience to commerce off for the degree you didn?t get.

b)???? Find your niche market

Venture capitalists are unique for what they do. They outline markets. They set funding targets and so they alter their decisions on a mixed set of expertise that match their insight. For those who were to join an funding financial institution, you?ll most certainly be asked to implement predetermined funding policies to help the corporate?s mission statement. Enterprise capital doesn?t work like this. As a enterprise capitalist you would have to place cash in a high danger ? high progress company for a selected time period and count on a return on your investment both by public placement or by selling the corporate to a different owner. Due to this fact, you?ve to be able to determine new market alternatives and corporations that may add worth to your portfolio on an extended-term horizon moderately than blindly comply with the funding policies of an investment company. Furthermore, you would have to leverage the company?s advertising and sales policies by branding yourself effectively and remaining on the appropriate track.

c)????? Be part of a begin-up group

When pursuing a job in enterprise capital, it is extremely vital to have a start-up experience. In case you don?t really feel like starting your individual company, you could be part of a start-up organization with full potential to offer you useful perception on what are the required steps within the early stages. Working for a start-up firm will expose you to venture finance and equip you with all the required experience to develop into a successful enterprise capitalist in the long run. Apart from, your personal perception and keenness for the job combined with the institutional traders who will belief your instincts and will comply with take the chance you supply to them, can function a method for future success in the troublesome discipline of venture capital. All you need at this level is to align your passion with the necessities of the actual trade you?ll choose to cope with to ensure the greatest lengthy-term benefit from your begin-up experience.

d)???? Network, Community, Community

Networking is extraordinarily necessary in any sort of job. Particularly, when pursuing a job in enterprise capital, the value of networking becomes extremely essential. This is because enterprise capital job alternatives are not often advertised. As an alternative, people who already work in a venture capital company are asked to suggest anyone who could be appropriate to work for the company. It?s all a matter of trust. Enterprise capital corporations base their recruiting insurance policies first on trust and then on the resume. Due to this fact, you might want to develop a networking technique and comply with it religiously, while adding value to anybody you meet and work together with. Take into account that constructing the best network?online payday advance may help you becoming a venture capitalist probably in no time. Yet, maintaining your community and hold it rising is what will make you a profitable enterprise capitalist.

Overall, you need to know what you?re asking from a job in venture capital. In 2009, venture investing declined by 30%, fundraising declined by 44.5%. For those who think these stats are black and discouraging, you in all probability shouldn?t considering becoming a member of the venture capital industry. On the other hand, in case you see clearly that enterprise capital remains to be a promising market to speculate with excessive returns, then, by all means, join.

Furthermore, just remember to know what you profile is. It?s possible you?ll shoot for the most effective agency in the marketplace, but if your profile and perception do not match the corporate?s positioning and investment resolution making, don?t count on returns and dynamic partnerships. Even more, don?t expect to be able to outline new markets and propose new strategies because quickly you will see yourself to be a misfit within the firm you will have chosen.

This post is written by Travis Tate 6.

Source: http://www.francescovalpa.com/finding-a-job-in-venture-capital/

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Saving Money On Car Repairs | Malaga Automotive Repair

Saving Money On Car Repairs
Car repairs can become very expensive, whether it is a big or small problem. This article will teach you ways to save money on automotive repairs. First of all, in order to save money on repairs you should take good care of your car. Make sure you keep up with the regular maintenance, such as oil changes and getting the tires rotated. Keeping up with small things like this will save you in the long run. If you don?t take care of your car, it could lead to bigger and more expensive problems.

Of coarse no matter how much you take care of your car, there can be unexpected problems. Whether it is normal wear and tear, such as replacing your wipers, or something more drastic like your engine blowing, you can save money. One way to save money on car repairs is buying the parts yourself. If it is something minor, such as changing the windshield wipers than you can look around for the parts and change them yourself. You can even look online for low prices and easy to follow videos that will help you fix your car and save money at the same time.

If it is a more serious problem, such as your brakes or transmission failing, and you do not know much about cars, it is best to go to a mechanic. You can still save money when it comes to going to a mechanic. Make sure you do your research and find a mechanic that is trustworthy and reliable. Having these two traits as a mechanic is important. Once you find the mechanic ask for a general quote of how much it is going to cost to get the car fixed. You should shop around and get a few different quotes, as this can also save you money. Even if you choose the more experienced mechanic with the higher price, bringing in a competitors quote can make him lower his price and do the service for you, ultimately saving you money and getting you the best service.

Oil Changes

Doing your own oil changes is a great way to save money. The process is actually quite painless in fact, and will usually take you less than 15 minutes. If you?re unsure of the process then take out your owner?s manual or watch some videos on the Internet to help you.

As you could see saving money on car repairs is easy, no matter what is wrong with your car. From doing it to yourself to shopping around for a mechanic, you are sure to save money on car repairs if you do your research.

Tags: Money, repairs, Saving

Source: http://www.hemofilia-malaga.org/258/saving-money-on-car-repairs

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

sssssssssssssssss | ShbabNahda | Health & Fitness Blog

Cupping Therapy for Knee pain

An investigation into the effect of Cupping Therapy as a treatment for Anterior Knee Pain and its potential role in Health Promotion
Posted on March 5, 2011 by admin

Kaleem Ullah MSc Physiotherapy
University of East Anglia Physical Address

Address:
UK

Ahmed Younis
Principal Lecturer
St Georges University of London Physical Address

Address:
UK

Mohamed Wali
St Georges University of London Physical Address

Address:
UK

Citation: K. Ullah, A. Younis & M. Wali : An investigation into the effect of Cupping Therapy as a treatment for Anterior Knee Pain and its potential role in Health Promotion. . The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2007 Volume 4 Number 1
Table of Contents

* Introduction
* History and origins of Cupping T?
* Current use of Cupping Therapy
* Medical effects of Cupping Thera?
* Anterior Knee Pain and Cupping T?
* Cupping Therapy and the ethnic m?
* Contra-indications and Precautio?
* Aims of the research
* Testable hypothesis
* Methodology and research design
* Population and Sampling
* Inclusion Criteria
* Exclusion Criteria
* Instrumentation
* Ethical consideration of the stu?
* The procedure
* Data Analysis
* Results
* Response Rate
* The difference between Passive a?
* The significance of differences ?
* Discussion
* Effect of Cupping Therapy on Ran?
* The impact of Cupping Therapy We?
* Conclusion
* Appendices

Abstract

Objective : To investigate the effect of Cupping Therapy at a patho-physiological level for anterior knee pain and its impact on Quality of life and well-being.
Method: Experimental survey utilising clinical trial and a questionnaire. A three week follow-up was conducted to determine longer term carry over of treatment effects utilising both objective and subjective assessment. This method enables the researcher to examine how much the independent variable causes participants to change (Dane, 1990).
Results: There was statistically significance difference between the level of pain, well being and Range of Motion for patients with anterior knee pain pre and post Cupping (P Conclusions : The efficacy of the treatment of Cupping Therapy for Anterior Knee Pain, well being and range of motion has been researched and results reveal improvements in participants as a result of Cupping Therapy. It is recommended that further studies are conducted with larger study samples and of longer duration.

Introduction

Cupping is an ancient method of treatment that has been used in the treatment and cure of a broad range of conditions; blood diseases such as haemophilia and hypertension, rheumatic conditions ranging from arthritis, sciatica, back pain, migraine, anxiety and general physical and mental well-being. The aim of Cupping is to extract blood that is believed to be harmful from the body which in turn rids the body of potential harm from symptoms leading to a reduction in well-being.
History and origins of Cupping Therapy

Traditionally, Cupping Therapy has been practiced in most cultures in one form or another. In the UK the practice of Cupping Therapy also dates back a long way with one of the leading medical journals ?The Lancet? being named after this practice. A lancet is a piece of surgical equipment that was traditionally utilised to release excess blood i.e. venesection and to prick boils. The Arabic name for Cupping Therapy is Al-Hejamah which means to reduce in size i.e. to return the body back to its natural state. The practice of Al-Hejamah has been part of Middle-Eastern cultural practice for thousands of years with citations dating back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC). Of the western world, the first to embrace Cupping Therapy were the ancient Egyptians, and the oldest recorded medical textbook, Ebers Papyrus, written in approximately 1550 BC in Egypt mentions cupping (Curtis, 2005). Cupping Therapy can be divided into two broad categories: Dry Cupping and Wet Cupping. Dry Cupping Therapy tends to be practiced more commonly in the Far-East whereas Wet Cupping is favoured in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. For the purpose of this research Wet Cupping Therapy will be investigated and the referred to as Cupping Therapy.
Current use of Cupping Therapy

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is becoming more popular with the public and gaining credibility within biomedical health care (Hill, 2003). Surveys show that approximately one third of the UK?s population (Ernst, 1996) and slightly higher in the USA (Wootton and Sparber, 2001) have used CAM. Additionally, mainstream healthcare, whilst requesting further evidence for CAM, are increasingly interested in some forms of CAM (Hoffman, 2001).
Medical effects of Cupping Therapy

According to Hennawy (2004), Cupping Therapy is indicated for blood disorders, pain relief, inflammatory conditions, mental and physical relaxation, varicose veins and deep tissue massage and quotes up to 50% improvement in fertility levels.

The principles of Acupuncture and Acupressure are very similar to that of Wet Cupping Therapy, except for the fact that Wet Cupping involves the letting of blood whereas Acupuncture and Acupressure utilise suction and stimulation of points to attain the desired results. Letting out blood is in fact among the oldest of acupuncture techniques (Dharmananda, 2004). It is speculated that acupuncture started as a method of pricking boils of the skin, then expanded to letting out ?bad blood? that was generated by injuries or fevers and finally allowing invisible evil spirits and perverse atmospheric qi (most notably ?wind?) escape from the body (Unschuld, 1985).

Focussing attention back to the research into Chinese healing traditions, the discovery of Acupressure and Acupuncture analgesia has proved that they can elicit the release of morphine like substances (Endorphins), Serotonin or Cortisol which can ultimately lead to pain relief and alter the physiological status of the individual (Schulte, 1996). Acupressure and Acupuncture in fact are being utilised and proven useful in pain and addictive management (Schulte, 1996; Hinze, 1988; Cadwell, 1998). At a biological level; Acupressure and Acupuncture work by stimulating or activating (1) the immune system; (2) Enkephalin secretion; (3) neurotransmitter release (4) vasoconstriction and dilatation and (5) the gates for pain in the CNS which interpret pain sensation (NIH Consensus Development Panel, 1998; Schulte, 1996). Finally, it is believed that stimulation of Acupoints can lead to the pain gates to be overwhelmed by increasing frequency of impulses, therefore ultimately leading to closure of the gates and hence pain reduction (Oumeish, 1998; Cadwell, 1998).

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Panel (1997), acupuncture is also effective against chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, nausea in pregnancy, dental pain, adjunct therapy, addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma and so forth (Lee, 2001). Given the relative low cost of CAM in general, integration of therapies into mainstream healthcare delivery will no doubt lighten the financial and time burden on our healthcare system.

As Cupping Therapy has been proposed as an effective treatment for pain and given the similarities with Acupuncture and Acupressure theory, it is possible to therefore accept the above mechanism of biological action for Cupping Therapy for pain reduction as well.
Anterior Knee Pain and Cupping Therapy

It is well established that knee injuries are the most common serious injury during sporting activities (Johnson, 2005). The potential for Cupping Therapy to treat anterior knee pain and its associated morbidity should be researched as mentioned earlier as the health and cost implications are indeed promising. It is proposed that Cupping Therapy alongside sound medical and physiotherapy advice for conditions such as Anterior Knee Pain will work well as research has shown that conventional treatment of Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) with sound physiotherapy advice are effective tools in reducing levels of AKP as well as having benefits on individual well-being (Clark et al., 2000).
Cupping Therapy and the ethnic minority population

Britain?s population is very diverse; the number of people classed as ethnic minorities is on the increase, (Commission for Racial Equality 1999). It is well established that the use of health care services by ethnic populations is disproportionate to that of the Caucasian population in the UK (Crespo et al., 2000) and also that physical inactivity is more prevalent among ethnic minorities than among Caucasians, (King et al 2000). Therefore an intervention such as Cupping Therapy may help to bridge the gap as did Acupuncture with Far-Eastern communities.
Contra-indications and Precautions to treatment

Cupping Therapy has no major side effects aside from minimal discomfort due to the method of application of skin cuts to the patient. In cases where the patient?s pain threshold is low, a local anaesthetic can be administered. Also other possible minor side effects that may occur is the feeling of slight light headedness post Cupping Therapy, this again is similar to the sensation one feels after having had blood taken from the doctor, as Cupping Therapy encourages blood flow to the cupped region (hyperaemia), one may therefore feel warmer and hotter as a result of vasodilation taking place and slight sweating may occur. Again this can be attributed to sound scientific rationale and there is no cause for concern.

Pregnant women or menstruating women, cancer (metastatic) patients and patients with bone fractures or muscle spasms are also believed to be contra-indicated. Also, Cupping Therapy cannot be applied to a site of DVT, where there are ulcers, arteries or places where a pulse can be felt (Chirali, 1999,).
Aims of the research

The aim of the research:

* Evaluate the effect of Cupping Therapy on Anterior Knee Pain (AKP), Range of movement and its impact on quality of life and well-being.

Testable hypothesis

* Cupping Therapy has no effect on the perception of knee pain, Range of movement and well being

Methodology and research design

The method of this study was an experimental survey utilising clinical trial and a questionnaire methodology. A three week follow-up was conducted to determine longer term carry over of treatment effects utilising both objective and subjective assessment. Measurements of subjects were taken pre- and post-test.

The research was designed after extensive literature review, discussion with cupping practitioners, observation of the application techniques, and discussion and communication with practitioners and centres involved in performing cupping (mainly in the Middle East). After that, the procedure for the application of cupping for this research was established(see cupping application procedure).

An assessment sheet (see appendix 1) was designed to include patient information, past and present medical history, vital signs measurements (pulse rate, blood pressure and O 2 saturation rate for monitoring purposes only). All measurements and questions were performed by the same researcher before and after cupping to enhance validity and reliability.

Outcome measures that were used were the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (Pain VAS), Well Being Visual Analogue Scale (Well Being VAS) and joint range of motion, both Active Range of Motion (AROM) and Passive Range of Motion (PROM). The independent variable in this study was the treatment of Cupping Therapy, which all participants received. The independent variables measured were Pain and Well-being VAS scales and Active and Passive Knee Ranges of Movement. The participants were also asked about their perception of cupping and general health and quality of life through a questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed carefully through integrating an array of generic qualitative approaches such as the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-100), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and the 15D Health Related Quality of Life (15D); with the aim to develop a questionnaire specific to Cupping Therapy. Prior to the main study, the questionnaire was tested successfully in two pilot studies.
Population and Sampling

The target population for this investigation was the general public predominantly in the Greater London region and currently unaffiliated with any health trust using convenience sampling technique. Subjects were recruited utilising a range of advertising techniques including advertising on; a national radio station (Spectrum Radio 558 AM), university email system, a medical documentary TV show on ANN satellite channel (Arab News Network).
Inclusion Criteria

* Subjects with knee problems age between 20-80 years old.
* Subjects who did not receive cupping to the knee region before or to any other region of the body six months prior to the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Infants
* Subjects suffering from serious heart troubles or diseases that render the individual prone to bleeding.
* Pregnant women
* Cancer patients
* Subjects with bone fractures or muscle spasms at the knee region.

Instrumentation

Basic Cupping therapy equipment was utilised including a hand suction pump, plastic cups of the same size and anti-septic tools.
Ethical consideration of the study

Patients were provided information sheets detailing the research procedure, subject understanding of the research was considered and a consent form was provided prior to commencing the study. Subjects wishing at anytime to withdraw from the study, or withhold any information were allowed to do so. Ethical approval was sought from Kings College Research Committee.
The procedure

The following procedure as used:

Prior to commencing application of treatment, we ensured that:

* The subjects had complied with the pre-cupping requirements (inclusion criteria).
* Contra-indications were eliminated
* Equipment was sterilised
* Subjects were reassure/reminded of minor side effects
* Subjects? blood pressure, pulse rate and O 2 saturation rate were measured in a sitting position, and then subjects were asked to identify the level of their pain using visual analogue scale in English (and also an Arabic translation was available, see appendix 1). Vital signs were taken only to monitor subject general condition.
* Knee observations were conducted for any abnormalities and then the knee range of motion was measured from a supine lying position by the same researcher.
* Subjects were interviewed by the same researcher.
* The cupping application was performed at the knee (lateral to the quadriceps tendon) utilising a razor for sterility purposes and control of depth and breadth of cuts. Cups were applied to the treatment region and the blood was carefully drained three times. The cupped region was managed as according to basic wound management procedures (i.e. antiseptics and gauze application)
* All measurements (blood pressure, pulse rate and O 2 saturation rate, knee range of motion as well as the pain and well being scales) were repeated by the same researcher immediately after cupping and then one, two and three weeks after cupping.

Data Analysis

The data was analysed using descriptive analysis in the form of minimum, maximum, mean, and Standard Deviation (SD). The paired sample t-test was employed to determine the difference between subjects before and after cupping.

The level of significance of this study was set at 5%. All data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.12 for Windows.
Results
Response Rate

A total of 26 volunteers consented to partake in the study. Four volunteers dropped out prior to the study commencing. Twenty two volunteers began the study; five volunteers did not attend any follow-up appointments therefore they were excluded from the study and two volunteers were unable to attend the final two appointments and the remaining 15volunteers completed the study giving a participation rate of 57.69% (n=15). The constitution of the twenty two volunteers that began the study was as follows: male (n=20, 90.90%), female (n=2, 9.10%). All volunteers were above 18 years of age.
The difference between Passive and Active Ranges of Movement, Pain and Well Being scores before and after Cupping Therapy

The table below illustrates there was an increase in the mean both Active and Passive ranges of movement, as a reduction in pain scores and an increase in well-being. The Std. Deviation pre-Cupping for PROM was (M?SD) (142.64 ? 11.168), and three weeks post-cupping the Std. Deviation was (151.67 ? 5.96). Likewise for AROM the Std. Deviation pre-Cupping for AROM was (134.14 ? 16.53) and three weeks post-cupping the Std. Deviation was (147.24 ? 7.04). A similar trend can be seen for the pain and well being scores. The Std. Deviation pre-Cupping for Pain was (5.38 ? 2.8), and three weeks post-cupping the Std. Deviation was (1.29 ? 2.02). The Std. Deviation pre-Cupping for well-being was (7.21 ? 1.65), and three weeks post-cupping the Std. Deviation was (8.29 ? 1.20).

Thumbnail: Table 1: Showing the difference between Passive and Active Ranges of Movement, Pain and Well Being scores before and?
Table 1: Showing the difference between Passive and Active Ranges of Movement, Pain and Well Being scores before and after Cupping Therapy
The significance of differences in subject scores before and after cupping

As we have seen from the above table there are noticeable differences in each outcome measure scores pre-Cupping and the follow-up sessions. The paired sample t-test was performed to ascertain the statistical significance difference between the pain scores, range of motion and well being: immediately after Cupping, 1 week after Cupping, 2 weeks after cupping and 3 weeks after Cupping.

Thumbnail: Table 2: showing the significance of differences in subject scores before and after cupping
Table 2: showing the significance of differences in subject scores before and after cupping

The table above shows that there is a statistically significance difference in Passive Ranger of Motion, Active Ranger of Motion, Pain Visual Analogue Scale and Well Being Visual Analogue Scale before and after Cupping Therapy; p ? 0.05 in all outcome measures.
Discussion
Effect of Cupping Therapy on Ranges of Motion and Pain level reduction (Tables 1 and 2)

The level of pain perceived by the subjects post intervention was significantly lower than compared to pre-intervention. This can be viewed from table1 which shows difference between Passive and Active Ranges of Movement (ROM), Pain and Well Being scores before and after Cupping Therapy.

Looking at the pain scores similar changes can be seen as with the Ranges of Motion scores. The mean pain score had dropped from 5.14 to 1.26 after the third week. There was a considerable reduction in the levels of pain perceived and upon applying a paired sample t-test it was found that the difference in scores was statistically significant immediately after cupping, 1,2 and 3weeks post cupping also (p

It can be seen that both active and passive ranges improved considerably post cupping. The mean AROM pre cupping was 134.14degrees with the minimum ROM being 95degress. The mean scores had increased to 143degrees 1week post cupping and the minimum score had increased to 124degrees. By the third week, the mean score had increased to 147.24degrees and the minimum score had increased 128degress. Upon applying a paired sample t-test it was found that the difference in scores was statistically significant immediately after cupping, 1,2 and 3weeks post cupping also (p

The reductions in pain scores can be attributed to sound rationale as cupping therapy can elicit the release of morphine like substances (Endorphins), Serotonin or Cortisol which can ultimately lead to pain relief and alter the physiological status of the individual (Schulte, 1996). Acupressure and Acupuncture in fact are being utilised and proven useful in pain and addictive management (Schulte, 1996; Hinze, 1988; Cadwell, 1998). At a biological level like Acupressure and Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy works by stimulating or activating (1) the immune system; (2) Enkephalin secretion; (3) neurotransmitter release (4) vasoconstriction and dilatation and (5) the gates for pain in the CNS which interpret pain sensation (NIH Consensus Development Panel, 1998; Schulte, 1996). Finally, it is believed that stimulation of Cupping points can lead to the pain gates to be overwhelmed by increasing frequency of impulses, therefore ultimately leading to closure of the gates and hence pain reduction (Oumeish, 1998; Cadwell, 1998).
The impact of Cupping Therapy Well-Being (Tables 1 and 2)

It is not possible to truly quantify the true impact an intervention like Cupping Therapy has on the life of an individual. A qualitative approach towards understanding the impact from a patient?s perspective is perhaps a more accurate interpretation with respect to the general impact. However, an analogue scale similar to the Pain VAS was used to quantify the perceived impact of cupping therapy on subject well being. The mean well-being VAS scores had increased from 7.21 to 8.23; an overall increase of more than 1. The increase in well-being scores was maintained throughout the study therefore reflecting the idea that Cupping Therapy has a positive impact on well-being. This finding is supported by the paired sample t-test (p= ? 0.05). Hennawy (2004) supports this finding also.

It is therefore reasonable to stipulate that the biological benefits of cupping therapy in conjunction with the psychological uses of cupping collectively induce a feeling of physical and psychological well being.
Conclusion

It is not for the purpose of an exploratory piece of work like this to implement changes in healthcare practice. Rather the aim being to investigate and raise awareness of a procedure and to address issues of importance associated with it. The efficacy of the treatment of Cupping for Anterior Knee Pain, Range of Movement and well being has been researched and results reveal statistically significant differences in support of Cupping Therapy. It is also suggested that as an intervention, Cupping Therapy needs to be regulated and a register of practitioners developed. Longer term studies related to the effects of Cupping Therapy need to be conducted for other musculo-skeletal conditions.
Appendices

Thumbnail: Appendix 1
Appendix 1

Thumbnail: Appendix 2: Assessment pack
Appendix 2: Assessment pack
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Cadwell, V., 1998. A primer on acupuncture. Journal Emergency Nursing. 24(6): 514-517 (s)

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Chirali, I. Z (1999) Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy, 6th Edition. Churchill Livingstone. (s)

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Article Source ? http://www.britishcuppingsociety.org/http:/www.britishcuppingsociety.org/hello-world

Source: http://www.shbabnahda.com/fit/?p=2054

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

A's look to stay focused against Ichiro in Japan

By JIM ARMSTRONG

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 4:44 a.m. ET March 24, 2012

TOKYO (AP) -The Oakland Athletics aren't bothered that Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners will be the crowd favorites when they open Major League Baseball's 2012 season in Japan.

Oakland's Kurt Suzuki has been in this position before when he played in a two-game season-opening series against the Boston Red Sox here in 2008. Daisuke Matsuzaka grabbed all the attention in that series just as Ichiro no doubt will this time around.

As if having Suzuki wasn't enough, the Mariners arrived in Japan with two more Japanese players - infielder Munenori Kawasaki and pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.

But the A's catcher said his team just has to focus on the task at hand.

"Daisuke was with the Red Sox and we all knew what his track record was and we all know what Ichiro has done," Suzuki told a news conference on Saturday. "But we try to out there and have people talk about us after we perform. Our goal is to go out there and play the game right and not worry about all the other distractions."

Kawasaki was named to the Mariners' 30-man travel roster for the team's trip to Japan after impressing in spring training.

"Kawasaki had a great camp," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "He made a great impression on all of us, obviously he had to make the ball club and he's still with us along with Iwakuma and I'm sure they are both happy to be back in Japan as members of the Seattle Mariners."

Ichiro Suzuki hit his second home run of the spring on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. The Seattle outfielder is hitting .400 since moving to the third spot in the lineup this spring after batting leadoff for nearly all of his career.

Oakland manager Bob Melvin said he was expecting an evenly matched series between two teams that are looking to improve after disappointing results last season.

"We all know Seattle has a good club and it's a little different dynamic with Ichiro hitting in the third spot," Melvin said. "But they are similar to us, they have some news players, had a good spring and a lot of times you gain something from that going into the season confidence-wise so I think they are in the same boat as us."

The teams left their spring training homes in Arizona on Thursday and will return to Arizona in a week. They will play preseason games against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers on Sunday and Monday before the season-opening games on Wednesday and Thursday.

Oakland's Manny Ramirez did not make the trip. Ramirez must sit out the first 50 games for a second violation of MLB's drug policy, making him eligible to play his first game barring rainouts on May 30 - his 40th birthday.

This will be the fourth Japan opener, following the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs (2000), the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay (2004), and Boston and Oakland (2008).

MLB and the players' association said the series also will aim to assist rebuilding in Japan following last year's earthquake. On Tuesday, a group of players will travel to Ishinomaki in the disaster-hit northeast region to conduct a baseball clinic.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Friday, March 23, 2012

The Hunger Games | Arts & Entertainment | South Philly Review

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), left, and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), right, star in ?The Hunger Games,? opening Friday in area theaters.

Modern media is skewered, a fiery uprising begins in an oppressed culture, and yet the strongest component of ?The Hunger Games? saga is simple and plain: This story, cooked up by author Suzanne Collins for her unstoppable best sellers, is about children forced to kill each other, a horrifying premise that never runs short of dramatic heft. Held as an annual, televised tournament to remind the villages of a dystopian future to never again defy their oppressive ruler, the titular battle royale involves 24 youths, who are treated like gods until they have to pick each other off, leaving only one as the champion. No matter the movie?s missteps, the stakes are always sky-high, making for a uniquely intense filmgoing experience.

The film?s protagonist, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), puts herself in the violent mix in order to save her younger sister, who was the actual female pick in one of 12 chilling lotteries. Along with a baker?s son named Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss is whisked away to the shimmery, privileged Capitol, only to be dropped into a man-made ?arena? teeming with weapons, traps, pine trees and rough terrain. Will it be harder to fight the competitors or Mother Nature? Will Katniss be able to woo enough sponsors to send her precious supplies? When the time comes, will she slaughter her new companion?

Boasting more merit in its first reel than all the ?Twilight? films combined, this similarly young adult-based fantasy is fast becoming cinema?s new phenomenon, with consumers of all stripes dying to be swept up in the eerie world of a tough heroine (a familiar love triangle, however integral, is graciously left on the sidelines).

Though not given much personality by director Gary Ross, ?The Hunger Games? is a rather sterling adaptation, hyper-aware of when to trim the fat and how to manage unwieldy exposition. Like the book, its pace never relents, and virtually every actor is shrewdly cast save Donald Sutherland (the name?s President Snow, not Santa). Readers, especially, will be highly pleased, and they?ll tell all their friends until, as the film promises, the world will be watching indeed.

The Hunger Games

PG-13
Three reels out of four
Opens Friday in area theaters

?

?

Recommended Rental

A Dangerous Method

R
Available Tuesday

The latest drama to see director David Cronenberg explore the twisted connection of mind and body, ?A Dangerous Method? charts the rise of modern psychoanalysis via the heady, sex-tinged practices of Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), professional friends driven apart by a patient-turned-pupil (Keira Knightley). Mortensen is stellar as Freud, Knightley transforms herself, and Fassbender fattens his ever-impressive r?sum?. For the cast alone, this one?s not to be missed.

Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.

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    HP LaserJet Pro 400 color Printer M451dw


    Once you get past the unwieldy name, the HP LaserJet Pro 400 color Printer M451dw ($549 direct) has a lot to recommend it. It offers high-quality output, especially for graphics and photos, plus paper handling suitable for typical small to medium-size offices or for a micro office with heavy-duty print needs. The combination qualifies it not just as a workhorse color laser, but as one that should be of particular interest to anyone who needs high-quality output for anything from PowerPoint handouts to small runs of one-page mailers or similar marketing materials.

    The M451dw is the mirror image in many ways of the similarly priced Brother HL-4570CDW ($500, 3.5 stars), offering less emphasis on speed and more on output quality. Like the Brother printer, it is small enough, at 12.7 by 15.9 by 19.1 inches (HWD), to fit easily in a small office. It's also heavy enough, at 52.1 pounds, so you may need some help moving it. Once in place, however, setup is standard fare, with support for both wired and WiFi network connections. For my tests, I connected the printer to a wired network and installed the drivers on a Windows Vista system.

    Speed and Output Quality
    Print speed is a little sluggish for the price. HP rates the M451dw at only 21 pages per minute (ppm) for both monochrome and color. That's a much lower rating than, for example, the HL-4570CDW, at 30 ppm for both, or the Editors' Choice in this category, the Xerox Phaser 6280DN ($649 direct, 4 stars), rated at 31 ppm for mono pages and 26 ppm for color. However, note that these ratings aren't really comparable. HP's rating is based on the relatively new ISO tests, rather than the speed of the engine itself, as with the other two printers.

    HP LaserJet Pro 400 color Printer M451dw

    Even with that in mind, the printer came in at a surprisingly slow speed on our tests. I timed the M451dw on our business applications suite (using QualityLogic's hardware and software for timing) at a lackadaisical 3.2 ppm. The HL-4570CDW was more than twice as fast, at 6.8 ppm. Even the 6280DN, which also focuses on output quality, was faster, at 4.2 ppm

    The good news is that what the M451dw lacks in speed it largely makes up for in output quality. More precisely, text quality is good enough for most purposes, while graphics and photo quality is among the best available.

    Text quality is at the low end of the range where the vast majority of color laser printers fall. However, laser text quality is so high in general that even the low end of the range is reasonably high quality. The M451dw text is good enough for anything short of the most demanding desktop publishing applications with small fonts.

    Graphics output was in the top tier for laser printers, making it good enough for output going to important clients when it's important to look fully professional. Photos, similarly, were a match for the best color lasers, and just short of true photo quality. Mount the photos in a frame behind glass, and you'll have to take a close look to see that they're not traditional photos.

    Other Issues

    The M451dw's combination of text, graphics, and photo quality helps make it suitable for small runs of marketing materials as an alternative to using a copy shop. The quality is also easily good enough for client or company newsletters or the like, with full-color photos and graphics. The photo output in particular is good enough to be useful in, say, a real estate office to print photos of properties for potential buyers.

    The printer's paper handling is also a strong point. The M451dw offers a 250-sheet drawer, a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and a built-in duplexer (for two-sided printing), a combination that should be enough for most small offices. If you need more, you can add a second 250 sheet tray ($115.99 direct) for a total 550-sheet capacity.

    If you're more concerned with print speed than print quality, you should be looking elsewhere, with the Brother HL-4570CDW a good candidate. If output quality is more important, also be sure to check out the Xerox 6280DN, which doesn't offer quite as high quality graphics and photos, but has absolutely top-quality text. If you can get by with slightly lower text quality, however, the HP LaserJet Pro 400 color Printer M451dw offers good paper handling and a balance of text, graphics, and photo quality that your inner Goldilocks may decide is just right.

    More Laser Printer Reviews:

    ??? HP LaserJet Pro 400 color Printer M451dw
    ??? Panasonic KX-MB1520
    ??? Brother MFC-9125CN
    ??? Ricoh Aficio SP C242DN
    ??? Samsung ML-2165W
    ?? more

    ?

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/jhlcUfTnfq4/0,2817,2401731,00.asp

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    Thursday, March 22, 2012

    China factory activity falters, markets take fright

    BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economic momentum slowed in March as factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month, leaving investors fretting about the risks to global growth and anticipating fresh policy support from Beijing.

    The HSBC flash purchasing managers index, the earliest indicator of China's industrial activity, fell back to 48.1 from February's four-month high of 49.6. New orders sank to a four-month low, an expected rebound in export orders failed to emerge and new hiring slumped to a two-year low.

    "With new export orders sluggish and domestic demand still softening, China's slow down has yet to finish. This calls for further easing to come from Beijing," HSBC chief China economist, Qu Hongbin, said in a statement.

    Investors immediately hedged exposures to trades betting on a rebound in global growth. Brent crude oil shed half a percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng stock index sank 0.1 percent into the red to reverse early gains of 0.7 percent and the Australian dollar skidded to a two-month low.

    Broad-based weakness in the five key components that generate the headline index level surprised analysts, particularly those who had anticipated a clear cut rebound in factory activity in March after the Lunar New Year disrupted output in the first two months and distorted the data.

    "This data suggests there's something more profound at work, that it's not just a Lunar New Year problem and that it's not just affecting exports, but domestic demand," Tim Condon, chief economist and head of Asian research at ING in Singapore, said.

    "We'll be talking about this all day. This will be news on (TV) tonight in the U.S., the weak China PMI," he told Reuters.

    An index reading of 50 marks the line between expansion and contraction, according to the methodology of the survey compiled by UK-based data provider, Markit.

    Index sponsor HSBC reckons factors unique to the Chinese economy make 48 especially significant, given that an index at that level still implies industrial production growth at a healthy 11-12 percent and overall GDP growth around 8 percent.

    Annual growth of 8 percent for the full year would be the slowest in at least a decade for the world's second-biggest economy, but comfortably above the government's 2012 target of 7.5 percent.

    BEARISH VIEWS

    The flash PMI reading will reinforce the more bearish views on China's economic trajectory.

    The HSBC Manufacturing PMI index has not been consistently above 50 since June 2011, though it is far above readings of low-40s delivered at the depth of the global financial crisis in late 2008 and early 2009.

    The new orders sub-index fell to 46.2, which weighed on the overall index because it is the single biggest of the five components comprising the PMI.

    Manufacturing output, the second-biggest component of the overall index, slipped back below the 50-point dividing line to hit a two-month low.

    New export orders signaled a second-straight month of shrinkage, albeit at a slower pace than in February.

    Backlogs of work shrank to their lowest level since January 2009, near the depths of the global financial crisis as world trade -- a core driver of Chinese economic growth - ground to a halt and Beijing began implementing a 4 trillion yuan ($635 billion) economic stimulus package.

    Of the 11 aspects of business analyzed by the survey, only one had not changed from the previous month; input prices were static and pointed to lingering inflation risks.

    That highlights the dilemma for China's policymakers in containing price pressures while giving adequate support to growth.

    But Bank of America/Merrill Lynch economists cautioned about reading too much into the HSBC survey because it captures data mainly from small and medium-sized firms, which have relatively large exposure to exports and less access to bank credit than big companies.

    "The number could make some sell-side analysts to claim (again) that China is undergoing a hard landing. But we disagree," Ting Lu, Hong Kong-based China economist at the bank wrote in a note to clients. "We confidently maintain our 8.6 percent annual GDP growth forecast."

    Indeed, the government's official PMI, which surveys mostly big companies, has painted a different picture of China's economy. It was 51.0 in February, its highest since September as new export orders expanded. The next official PMI is due for release on April 1.

    Many analysts have revised up their forecasts for 2012 growth and the consensus view is that the first quarter is likely to be the bottom of the current economic downswing.

    UNSETTLED GLOBAL MARKETS

    Concerns about a slowdown in the Chinese economy unsettled global markets earlier this week after BHP Billiton, the world's largest miner, said it was seeing signs that iron ore demand from China was flattening.

    The price of three-month copper futures on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.67 percent after the PMI was released.

    Data for the flash PMI was collected between March 12-20 and is typically based on approximately 85-90 percent of total PMI survey responses each month.

    A Reuters poll earlier this month revealed a consensus call for required reserve ratios (RRR) at the biggest banks to be cut by 150 basis points in 2012 to support money supply and growth. The first 50 bps cut was not forecast until the second quarter.

    The RRR was at a record high of 21.5 percent before the central bank called a halt to a near two-year long policy tightening campaign in November, cutting the rate by 50 bps. It followed it with another 50 bps cut in February.

    China's economy is expected to return a fifth successive quarter of slowing growth. Analysts anticipate growth will slide towards 8 percent in the first three months of 2012 compared with a year ago, weakening from 8.9 percent in the final quarter of last year.

    Zhu Baoliang, chief economist at the State Information Centre, a government think-tank, said first-quarter growth could be 8.2-8.3 percent and then slow further in the second quarter.

    "The downward pressure on the economy is bigger than we had previously anticipated," he said.

    China's official growth target has been cut to 7.5 percent this year, a pace the government hopes will give it room to deliver on promised structural reforms without causing an inflationary spike. Analysts broadly expect the growth target to be exceeded and few expect a hard landing.

    Yu Bin, a senior economist at the Chinese cabinet's Development Research Centre think-tank said he expected growth to hit 8.5 percent in the first quarter and expand at the same rate for the full year, provided there was no external economic deterioration and that China's property market was stable.

    Beijing policymakers had to be ready to cope with shocks, he suggested. "We should have emergency plans to respond to extreme risks," Yu said.

    (Additional reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Neil Fullick)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-factory-activity-falters-markets-fright-061253453.html

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