Wednesday, November 30, 2011

GLG Life Tech Corp. (GLGL) Announces Agreement with International Flavors & Fragrances

GLG Life Tech Corp. is a global leader in the supply of high-purity stevia extracts. Stevia is an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener used in food and beverages. The company is involved in all aspects of stevia development, from stevia seeds and plants to distribution of the finished product.

The company announced today the signing of a renewable, five-year product supply agreement with International Flavors & Fragrances for high-purity Rebaudioside C (Reb C) extracts. International Flavors & Fragrances is a global leader in the creation of flavors and fragrances used in a wide variety of consumer products and packaged goods.

The signing of the exclusive agreement by the two companies leverages each company’s strengths to pursue commercialization of Reb C, one of the eleven primary glycosides in the stevia leaf. Reb C has demonstrated its proficiency as a flavor modulator in food and beverage formulations and is expected to provide an exciting market opportunity for both firms.

The chairman and CEO of GLG Life Tech, Dr. Luke Zhang, said, “We are pleased to be working with International Flavors & Fragrances to help develop the market for high purity Reb C.” For further information about GLG Life Tech, please visit the company’s website at www.glglifetech.com

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TASER International, Inc. (TASR) Gains Recognition with Chandler PD Order; Upgrades All Officers with New Taser X2 ECD’s

Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, TASER has quickly gained a reputation as a global provider of safety technologies that protect life, prevent conflict, and resolve disputes. Today, TASER took a major step towards prominence with the announcement that the Chandler Police Department in Arizona purchased the new TASER X2 electronic control device (ECD) for all of its patrol officers.

TASER CEO Rick Smith commented, “With this purchase, Chandler PD becomes one of the largest deployments of the TASER X2 in Arizona. Taking advantage of our limited-time trade in program provided Chandler an economical means to upgrade all its officers form the TASER X26 to the new TASER X2.”

The order was received from the ProFoce Law Enforcement, a long-time TASER ECD law enforcement distributor for the Western United States. The TASER trade-in program is a special opportunity for law enforcement agencies to upgrade to the latest field-proven TASER ECD technology. Through December 31, 2011, agencies will receive for any ECD, functioning or not, a $300 per unit trade-in credit towards the purchase of a new TASER X2.

Currently, TASER is trading in the $6.04 range. With this breaking news and an array of technology within their corporate pipeline, TASER International, Inc. is a company on the rise.

To learn more about this company as a whole, visit their corporate website at: www.taser.com


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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

ARI Network Services Inc. (ARIS) Announces Integration Between FootSteps™ and PartSmart® Solutions

Today, ARI Network Services, a leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions, announced that it has integrated its award-winning FootSteps™ lead management solution with its PartSmart® premier parts lookup software.

ARI identified crucial touch points off of which to base the integration; this gives dealers the opportunity to turn every consumer interaction into a long-term relationship.

“With a simple click of the mouse, dealers can easily capture customer information in FootSteps at the time of a sale or service event, record make and model information, as well as keep track of parts orders and service quotes,” explained Catie Lukas-Ter Horst, Product Manager of eCatalogs at ARI.

Used by more than 50,000 users worldwide, PartSmart offers dealers the broadest and richest library of manufacturer content in the market. The platform is easy to use and aids dealerships in finding the fastest way to the right part on the first try. PartSmart’s Internet Update Service enables users to download and install catalog updates as soon as they become available. It also interfaces with over 90 dealer business management systems.

The FootSteps solution helps users capture and distribute sales opportunities in real time, as well as target and nurture market prospects and customers. Dealers, distributors and manufacturers can build relevant customer relationships and generate more whole goods, parts, accessories and service sales. FootSteps makes it easy for users to track, manage, and report lead management activity. The integration with PartSmart makes it an all-in-one solution with end-to-end automation.

“The integration of FootSteps and PartSmart and the resulting flow of data between these lead management solutions offers dealers a powerful value proposition in that they can now easily automate a consistent and professional series of communications that will keep their brand, products and services at the forefront of their customers’ mind. They can proactively engage targeted customers and suggest seasonal service, recommend or upsell maintenance plans or notify them of special offers and promotions in a highly cost-effective manner,” concluded Lukas-Ter Horst.

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China HGS Real Estate, Inc. (HGSH) Expands with $12.43M Land Purchase

Today, China HGS Real Estate, Inc. announced a continuing expansion into the Shaanxi Province via two new land purchases. The combined total of land purchased is 90,776 square meters, at a cost of $12.43 million. The land is located in downtown Yang County.

China HGS is focused on real estate development, with the goal of constructing apartment buildings in third- and fourth-tier Chinese cities, including multilayer, sub-high-rise and high-rise buildings. China HGS has been ranked the #1 property developer in the Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province from 2007 to 2010 in terms of market share.

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, HGS will make a payment of 60% (including applicable taxes) by December 2, 2011, which will be paid from cash reserves and/or potential loans, with the remainder to be paid by January 20, 2012. HGS is authorized to build residential structures on each parcel of land at a ratio of up to 1.95. The plot ratio is the total gross floor area (GFA) divided by the actual land area. This will result in residential structures with a gross floor area of up to 1.9 million square feet.

Ground breaking on these projects is expected to begin in 2012.

Xiaojun Zhu, CEO of China HGS Real Estate, Inc., said, “With the continuing strong demand we see ahead for residential sales in the southern Shaanxi region, we expect to expand our market leadership there with this high quality land resource, while also expanding our footprint outside the region in other third and fourth tier cities where population growth continues to be spurred by the government. We expect to complete the project planning, design, and approvals for this new project in the near future and break ground in 2012. We fully anticipate this project will make an important contribution to our business going forward and we will provide more detailed updates as we progress.”

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FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (FPMI) Announces Additional Patent Protection in the U.S. and China

Today before the opening bell, FluoroPharma Medical announced that composition of matter patents covering AZPET, the company’s Alzheimer’s Disease agent, have been issued by the U.S. patent office expiring in 2028. FluoroPharma has also been granted patent rights in China for BFPET, its imaging agent for measuring cardiovascular blood flow. The patents will expand the company’s intellectual property protection in these important growth markets where diagnostic imaging is playing an increasingly significant role in the early detection of disease.

FluoroPharma is developing breakthrough diagnostic imaging products that utilize positron emission tomography (PET) technology, a molecular imaging platform that is growing rapidly due to its inherently superior sensitivity and specificity compared to other imaging options. The company’s imaging products will give clinicians the ability to detect and assess pathology before clinical manifestation of diseases.

“There is an urgent need to encourage fast, early diagnostic intervention and to recognize the advantages that early diagnosis entails for both patients and overall economics of healthcare systems around the globe,” stated Dr. David Elmaleh, FluoroPharma’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and inventor of the technology. “Improved patient outcomes and more appropriate treatments are possible if better, earlier diagnoses are made. Our agents harness the power of PET/CT to give this utility.”

“Strong composition of matter patents in both the U.S. and high growth markets like China are very important to the commercial potential for BFPET and AZPET,” commented Thijs Spoor, FluoroPharma’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “China represents one of the most significant sources for growth of PET technology and therefore PET imaging agents. This patent grant along with the others in our growing patent estate should add to the value of FluoroPharma’s technology and be recognized by potential partners.”

In addition to the United States, Europe and China, patents related to FluoroPharma’s portfolio of imaging compounds have been issued in Japan, Canada, Australia, Finland, Portugal, and Ireland.

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR) Obtains FDA Approval to Initiate...

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR) Obtains FDA Approval to Initiate TKM-Ebola Phase I Clinical Trial

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tekmira is focused on advancing novel RNAi therapeutics and providing its leading lipid nanoparticle delivery technology to pharmaceutical partners. Today, Tekmira took a major step towards prominence with the announcement that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for TKM-Ebola has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing Tekmira to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Tekmira is developing TKM-Ebola, a systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic that utilizes Tekmira’s lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology for the treatment of Ebola virus infection. Currently, there are no approved treatments for Ebola or other hemorrhagic fever viruses. With this approval, Tekmira has an opportunity to become a pioneer within the sector.

Leading the way at Tekmira is Dr. Mark J. Murray whom serves as the company’s President and CEO. In reference to this press release, Dr. Murray stated, “We are pleased to have received the FDA’s approval of our TKM-Ebola IND. With this approval, we remain on track to achieve another significant milestone for the company by initiating the Phase 1 clinical trial of this product in early 2012.” Dr. Murray further added, “TKM-Ebola is being developed under a $140 million contract awarded to us by the U.S. Government’s Transformational Medical Technologies (TMT) Program. We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration to drive the TKM-Ebola program forward in clinical development.”

Currently, Tekmira is trading in the in the $1.45 range. To learn more about this press release or the company as a whole, visit the company’s corporate website at www.tekmirapharm.com

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Leading Networking Tech Firm Uses Bridgeline (BLIN) Product Suite to Launch New Web Site

Bridgeline Digital Inc., developer of the iAPPS Web experience management (WEM) platform, today announced that a leading U.S.-based networking technology firm has successfully launched a strategic Web initiative using Bridgeline’s award-winning iAPPS Product Suite.

The newly launched site is based on iAPPS solutions, and leverages the content manager, analyzer and marketier modules of the suite to increase the technology firm’s market presence and to drive increased sales and support contracts, and customer satisfaction.

The iAPPS Product Suite is designed as an easy-to-use tool to build awareness and visibility through multi-channel marketing campaigns. iAPPS Marketier features integrated eMarketing tools that allow the user to plan, create and execute marketing campaigns.

iAPPS Analyzer’s “Smart Recommendation Engine” helps the firm track and report on all campaign channels including display, social, paid search and e-mail, along with additional marketing efforts.

Bridgeline highlighted the iAPPS Content Manager’s ease-of-use design, which by using a single dashboard interface, allows for site content to be maintained by users with even minimal technical expertise.

“Content Manager’s characteristic ease-of-use makes every employee a potential publisher, opening the management of site content to as many locations, employees or departments as the customer requires and providing company-wide delegation of content management duties that are targeted at attracting visitors and improving conversion,” the company stated in the press release.

The iAPPS Product Suite was recently selected as a finalist for two 2011 CODiE Awards, and the iAPPS Content Manager was the 2010 CODiE Award Winner for Best Content Management Solution, globally.

For more information visit www.bridgelinedigital.com


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Lightbridge Corp. (LTBR) Signs Agreement with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute for Opportunities in Nuclear Fuel Collaboration

Lightbridge Corp., a company that develops nuclear fuel technology and provides consulting and advisory services worldwide, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to uncover opportunities for nuclear fuel collaboration.

In accordance to the terms of the MOA, Lightbridge and KAERI will be exploring collaborative opportunities in the pre-irradiation examination of the metallic fuel samples designed by Lightbridge, and other areas. As part of the planned loop irradiation experiments in the MIR Research Reactor in Russia and the Advanced Test Reactor located in the U.S., Lightbridge plans to carry out a pre-irradiation examination of metallic fuel samples before they are used in irradiation testing.

“This is an exciting development for Lightbridge as we and KAERI plan to collaborate in a key area,” said Jim Malone, Chief Nuclear Fuel Development Officer of Lightbridge. “KAERI is interested in Lightbridge-designed metallic fuel technology and its potential application to Korean OPR-1000 and APR-1400 reactors.”

KAERI has a distinct history of research and development in numerous nuclear-related fields. The Institute is researching and developing fuel concepts with the objective to reduce the fuel operating temperature and potentially increasing the burn-up. The two companies will be exploring how they will be able to come together and collaborate in order to further enhance Lightbridge’s plans for nuclear fuel testing.

Lightbridge Corp. is a developer of nuclear fuel technology and provides consulting and advisory services worldwide. Its Technology Business Segment operates in the development, promotion, and marketing of nuclear fuel designs for pressurized water reactors. This segment’s fuel products in the development stage include all-metal fuel technology based on a uranium-zirconium alloy; and thorium-based fuel technology that is based on a seed-and-blanket fuel assembly configuration. The company’s Consulting Business Segment provides consulting and strategic advisory services to companies and governments planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants. Lightbridge Corporation has a collaboration agreement with AREVA as well. The company was formerly known as Thorium Power, Ltd. and changed its name to Lightbridge Corporation in September 2009. Lightbridge Corporation was founded in 1992 and is based in McLean, Virginia.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (MCZ) Ships New Rock Band 3 Bundles

On November 23, Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. announced the shipping of a series of new Rock Band 3 bundles for the Xbox 360 game system. These bundles will include specific game hardware along with a copy of the Rock Band 3 game, as well as coupons for downloading songs intended to be played in the game.

Based in San Francisco, Mad Catz is best known in the video game industry for producing gaming peripherals such as joypads and arcade sticks for the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, as well as instrument peripherals for various music games. Mad Catz also produces flight simulators under its ThunderHawk Studios brand, and pro gaming peripherals under the Cyborg brand.

The new bundles will include selected Rock Band game instrument peripherals, such as the Wireless Fender Mustang PRO controller, the Wireless Fender Precision Bass controller, and the Wireless Fender Stratocaster controller. The included coupon will allow users to download five songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge, Otherside, Californication, By the Way, and The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.

Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz said, “We believe that bundling hardware, software and complementary tracks by the Red Hot Chili Peppers represents superb value for money and further demonstrates our commitment to delivering unique entertainment experiences through software publishing and specialty hardware.”


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FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (FPMI) Holds Important Technologies For $1.7 Billion Molecular Imaging Agents Market

Advanced imaging technologies are certainly among the most important developments in modern medicine. They’ve allowed us to view the workings of the human body as never before, allowing increasingly accurate up-front diagnosis without the cost, dangers, and discomfort involved in cutting the patient open. But most imaging tools provide insight only into the anatomical manifestation of disease. By contrast, molecular imaging techniques, such as PET, allow doctors to view developing disease processes at the molecular and cellular level, where disease can be detected before anatomical manifestation is identified. As such, it is a critical and growing part of the modern medical imaging field.

FluoroPharma Medical engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary medical diagnostic imaging products, currently focused on imaging agents used in positron emission tomography (PET) for the detection of acute and chronic forms of coronary artery disease. The company’s proprietary molecules, labeled with a radioactive isotope of fluorine, combined with PET scanning, provide an efficient non-invasive assessment of heart metabolism and physiology. Agents have been designed to target either the myocardial cells within the heart or the vulnerable plaque within the coronary arteries. It’s a huge market. In the U.S. today, coronary artery disease affects more than 13 million patients, accounting for 30% of all deaths.

Other products in development include agents for detection of inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in peripheral arteries, amyloid plaque in Alzheimer’s disease, and agents for detection of certain types of cancer. In the case of Alzheimer’s, the need is growing rapidly as the population ages. 10 million baby boomers are now expected to develop the disease in their lifetime. There is currently no single diagnostic test that proves a person has the disease. FluoroPharma is developing new options for early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s. The company is also developing new compounds for the early and accurate detection of prostate cancer, the second most lethal malignancy among men in the U.S.

Together, the market for molecular imaging agents now exceeds $1.7 billion annually. FluoroPharma has four issued U.S. patents and seven pending applications, in addition to strong international protection.

For more information, see the company website at www.FluoroPharma.com

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Xueda Education Group (XUE) Makes Changes to Board of Directors

Today, Xueda Education Group announced that Mr. William Hsu and Mr. Cheung Kin Au-Yueng have joined the Board of Directors. Xueda also announced that Mr. Gongquan Wang has resigned as a director, citing personal reasons for his departure. Xeuda is the leading provider of personalized tutoring services for primary and secondary school students throughout China.

Mr. William Hsu has over 10 years of investment experience in both venture capital and traditional business sectors in China. He currently serves as a general partner at CDH Venture Partners, where he has been since 2007. Prior to joining CDH, Mr. Hsu was a senior vice president from 1996 to 2006 at GIC Special Investments Pte. Ltd. At GIC, Mr. Hsu focused his investment activities on the Greater China market and played an instrumental role in a number of successful investments across a wide range of sectors, including semiconductor, electronics, software, financial services, industrial and consumer products. Mr. Hsu received his bachelor’s degree in 1986 and a master’s degree in 1989 in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mr. Cheung Kin Au-Yueng brings over 30 years of general management experience to Xueda, gained through working with the privately-owned Morningside Group and other notable multi-national companies, including Gillette, Revlon, and Hiram Walker. He currently oversees the Morningside Group’s operations as well as its portfolio companies in China. Prior to joining Morningside, he acted as head of Gillette’s operations in China for five years. He also serves as a board director of The9 Limited (NASDAQ: NCTY). Mr. Au-Yueng holds a master’s degree in physics and an MBA from Indiana University.

On the additions and departures to Xueda’s board, Mr. Xin Jin, co-founder and CEO, remarked, “We are very pleased to welcome William Hsu and Tony Au-Yueng to the Xueda Board. They both bring decades of executive management experience and industry leadership across a wide spectrum of industries and companies. We expect their insights will be valuable in helping our Board lead Xueda in the years to come. I would also like to thank Mr. Gongquan Wang for his dedicated service to our company during his time as a director.”

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Wizzard Media (WZE) Sees 30% Year-Over-Year Signups


Today, Wizzard Media announced that it has seen a year-over-year 30% increase in weekly signups to their podcasting service so far this year. This has translated to a 29% increase in weekly client account revenue for the same period.


Wizzard Media is the owner of Libsyn.com, a podcast distribution and monetization platform, which includes clients such as Microsoft, National Geographic, Harvard Business Review and NPR among their base of over 13,000 users. Wizzard Media offers products that distribute audio and video podcasts to media consumers, as well as monetizing podcast content via advertising and app sales. During 2010, Wizzard received more than 1.64 billion unique podcast requests through 20 million unique monthly users.


Wizzard attributes this increase to two main sources: a focus on reoccurring revenue via attracting new app customers through marketing and social networks, and podcast producers interested in migrating their podcasts to Wizzard’s Lybsyn services. This second source is achieved through customer satisfaction with Wizzard’s products, such as their Basic Getting Started accounts and App-Enabled accounts, which feature advertising opportunities and obtaining a smartphone app.


Wizzard reports that the average weekly signups for new App-Enabled accounts regularly exceed Getting Started accounts, and that these accounts have grown by 47% year-over-year from 2010 to 2011.


“We are thrilled by the growth we are seeing and confident that efforts like our Facebook integration and the Podcast.com Directory will continue to build upon the ongoing growth of the network,” said Laurie Sims, President of Wizzard Media. “October results are very encouraging with our uniques up over 20 million, downloads requests up substantially and growth in weekly new client sign-ups up 33%. We also saw weekly revenue up 39% in October 2011 compared to October 2010. We are well-positioned to leverage and expand into 2012.”


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6 Noteworthy Small Caps in Traditional Energy

In spite of the precarious nature of the global economy, with still unresolved (some would say unaddressed) debt crises in Europe and the U.S., now joined by a growing concern that China’s real estate market is just the latest bubble about to burst, the energy sector, primarily oil and gas, continues to hold its own. Oil and gas prices remain near record highs, although volatility remains the key. In September, Moody’s had cut the sector’s outlook to “stable” on expectations of softening crude oil prices and tighter refining profit margins, but investors hardly took note. Perhaps of more significance is the ongoing development of shale gas resources, natural gas produced from shale. Shale gas appears destined for a big role in American energy, with major deposits in Canada and the U.S.

How all of these factors will ultimately play out is impossible to say, but energy sector stocks are still considered by many to play a critical part in a healthy stock portfolio. Below are some small caps in traditional energy, each noteworthy for different reasons. As always, due diligence is required to ferret out any weaknesses in the stocks that you may be unwilling to accept.

China North East Petroleum Holdings Ltd. (AMEX: NEP)

The company, headquartered in Song Yuan City, PRC, engages in the exploration and production of crude oil in northern China, operating, as of December, 2010, 295 producing wells over several oil fields, with proven reserves of nearly 5.5 million barrels. They also provide contract land drilling and other oil field services.

China North East Petroleum stands out for its low debt to equity ratio, with a good free cash record and profit margins.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.CNEPetroleum.com

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP (AMEX: CLMT)

Calumet, headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, is a leading refiner and processor of specialty hydrocarbon products. The company’s capacity has grown significantly in the last decade, and the company now has 6 plants operating in four states. Calumet has the most diverse specialty hydrocarbon capability in the world, with a full line of naphthenic and paraffinic oils, aliphatic solvents, white mineral oils, petroleum waxes, petrolatum and hydrocarbon gels.

Calumet stands out for its dividend yield, now at over 10%.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.CalumetSpecialty.com

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (NYSE: ATW)

Houston-based Atwood Oceanics has long been a leader in delivering safe, reliable, and efficient offshore drilling services to clients around the world. The company owns ten drilling rigs operating in many of the world’s major offshore hydrocarbon basins, and maintains offices on six continents, with a multi-national workforce of approximately 1,400 people.

Atwood is just beyond the traditional small cap range, but has an especially strong history of both revenue and earnings growth.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.ATWD.com

Breitburn Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ: BBEP)

Breitburn Energy, headquartered in Los Angeles, is an independent oil and gas limited partnership, focused on the acquisition and development of domestic oil and gas properties in the Los Angeles Basin in California, as well as in central Wyoming, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Breitburn stands out for its per share cash flow, recently standing at roughly $4 per share.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.Breitburn.com

Apco Oil & Gas International, Inc. (NASDAQ: APAGF)

With headquarters in Tulsa, OK, Apco Oil and Gas is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on properties in Argentina and Columbia in South America. Apco has interests in eight oil and gas producing concessions and two exploration permits in Argentina, and three exploration and production contracts in Colombia.

Apco stands out for its steady revenue growth, coupled with its debt to equity ratio.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.ApcoOilAndGas.com

Legacy Reserves LP (NASDAQ: LGCY)

Based in Midland, TX, Legacy is an independent oil and natural gas limited partnership focused on the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties primarily located in the Permian Basin, Mid-Continent, and Rocky Mountain regions of the U.S. As of December 31, 2010, the company’s proved reserves had a standardized measure of $774.8 million.

Legacy stands out for its dividend yield, now at over 8%.

For additional company and stock information, see the company’s website at www.LegacyLP.com


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Monday, November 21, 2011

FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. (FPMI) is “One to Watch”

FluoroPharma Medical, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing patented Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging products to improve patient management by evaluating cardiac disease at the cellular and molecular levels. The company is currently advancing two products in clinical trials to fulfill critical unmet medical needs. The agents will provide clinicians important tools for detecting and assessing pathology before clinical manifestations of disease.

The company’s proprietary molecules labeled with the radioactive isotope of fluorine combined with PET scanning provide non-invasive, highly specific and efficient assessment of heart metabolism and physiology. FluoroPharma’s cardiovascular program targets the historically largest potential market of nuclear medicine.

Molecular imaging fulfills numerous unmet needs in diagnosis by enabling visualization, characterization and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular level. Unlike traditional imaging modalities – MRI, CT, and Ultrasound – that reveal the anatomical manifestation of disease, PET provides insight into physiology and can detect disease before anatomical manifestation is identified. The market for molecular imaging agents currently exceeds $1.7 billion annually and promises rapid growth for the foreseeable future.

FluoroPharma’s comprehensive technology platform was developed by scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital. To date, the company has been issued four US patents and has seven applications pending in addition to strong international protection. With a highly competent management team in place and the necessary resources to advance clinical development, FluoroPharma is well positioned to capitalize on its superior imaging technology.

Key Investment Highlights

Clinical Trials Confirmed Technologies are Safe and are Now Proving They Are Effective
Intellectual Property in Place to Protect Proprietary Innovations Around the World
Strong Cash Position to Accelerate Business Strategy
Technology Targets Multiple, Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Markets With Strong Unmet Medical Needs


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Quadrant 4 Systems Corp. (QFOR) Has a Uniquely Focused Plan

Quadrant 4 Systems is essentially a group of very experienced IT and business professionals that have joined forces for a very specific goal: To acquire key IT assets to meet the needs of targeted industries, and scale up revenue and market capitalization through organic growth and movement into new markets. The company is led by the experience of its principals, who have a successful record of building technology business enterprises from startup, growing the businesses and shareholder value organically and through acquiring, reorganizing and integrating existing operations.

The team now plans to build company assets and then target companies in the financial services, health care, and telecom sectors, providing them with IT consulting as well as industry-specific software products and technology. In particular, the company is acquiring IT assets of up to 100M, including client interfacing consulting and offshore delivery capability, aimed at delivering 10% EBIT. As they grow, acquisitions will become more selective. Eventually the portfolio will be structured to distinct industry verticals, with growing competence in horizontals such as infrastructure management, identity management, product engineering, business intelligence, Internet security, enterprise mobility, business and knowledge process outsourcing.

The company considers their consolidation platform as being unique, in as much as it seeks to build integrated value in a phased manner, providing liquidity and a valuation mechanism that lets its participants move from staffing and consulting up to projects and partnerships. The consolidations are designed to create and build intellectual property and multiple revenue streams.

Quadrant 4 Systems has already identified a number of targets, and is in active dialogue. In March of 2011, the company obtained, through acquisition, business intelligence and enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities involving Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP technologies. Revenues have grown steadily over the past three years, and are on track to continue their growth. According to a recent report by Taglich Brothers, revenues are projected to grow at an annual rate of approximately 8%, barring additional acquisitions. It’s all part of the plan.

For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.QuadrantFour.com

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Increasing FDA Requirements Underline the Importance of VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (VSTA)

On Thursday last week, when PPD, Inc., a leading global contract research organization, gave a presentation relating to current issues in cardiac safety, and the impact it has on drug development, it was clearly a hot topic for many listeners involved in bringing new drugs to market. An informal poll taken during the online presentation indicated that over 90% of involved listeners felt that cardiac safety was a clear factor in the drug development process.

PPD is known for providing drug discovery, development, and life cycle management services for pharmaceutical and other companies, as well as for government organizations, and has offices in 44 countries around the world. The presentation was given by Rob Dow, VP of Strategic Product Development at PPD, and Robert Kleiman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and VP of Global Cardiology at ERT, an industry leader in cardiac safety drug research.

One of the points emphasized in the presentation was the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now requires cardiovascular outcomes evaluation for non-cardiovascular drugs in several therapeutic areas, all of which can significantly impact drug development. Today, so-called blockbuster drugs can lead to the exposure of millions of patients. Previous high-profile market withdrawals of FDA-approved drugs involving cardiovascular safety issues, and the associated public outcry, fueled major changes in what is required by drug developers to ensure cardiovascular safety. Given traditional testing methods, which are used late in the preclinical development process, it adds another layer of complexity and expense for drug developers.

The issue of cardiovascular safety for new drugs underlines the importance of VistaGen’s developments in clinically relevant cardiovascular toxicity testing before new drug candidates are ever tested in humans. Just when it is needed most, VistaGen’s Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube platform, using advanced stem cell technology, is an important new tool for the pharmaceutical industry, allowing companies to accurately test for potential cardiovascular toxicity in the early preclinical stages of drug development, offering potential far-reaching savings in time and money. Instead of going through the tremendous investments necessary for developing a new drug, only to have it shot down in the last stages by unexpected cardiovascular toxicity issues, the risks can now be identified up front, and steps taken to rescue and re-engineer the drug candidate.

For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.VistaGen.com

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ERF Wireless (ERFB) Posts Q3 Results, 51% Rev Growth

ERF Wireless Inc., a leading provider of enterprise-class wireless and broadband products and services, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

The company reported that its quarterly revenues increased 51 percent to $1.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to $882,000 in revenues reported for the comparable three months of 2010.

Gross profit margins increased to 33 percent for the current quarter compared to 21 percent for the prior year quarter.

ERF Wireless’ net loss for the third quarter of 2011 was reported at $1.3 million compared to a net loss of $2.2 million for the third quarter of 2010.

Richard Royall, CFO of ERF Wireless, further detailed the company’s financial position for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

“During the third quarter of 2011, we continued to generate substantial growth in the oil and gas sector and have dramatically improved our overall financial condition since fiscal year end, including 182 percent increase in net sales for our oil and gas subsidiary Energy Broadband Inc. for the quarter ended September 30, 2011,” Royall stated in the press release. “We also achieved a $1.5 million improvement in our liquidity position and a $1.1 million improvement in our Shareholders’ Equity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011. Lastly, we retired some $1.5 million in certain debt and capital leases in the first nine months of 2011, resulting in an overall $1.1 million decrease in current liabilities and an increase of $0.4 million in current assets.”

Dr. H. Dean Cubley, CEO of ERF Wireless, said the company achieved “dramatic improvements” in its financial and operational results, which have positioned the company to continue revenue growth.

“The results have paved the way for our recently announced closing of a $3 million debt financing with Dakota Capital Fund LLC that will allow us to expand our operational footprint in active oil and gas drilling regions in preparation for additional increases being experienced in the oil and gas industry,” Dr. Cubley stated. “Given the foundation that we have put in place during the last two years, along with recent new contract wins with major oil and gas producers, we expect to begin realizing substantially more recurring wireless circuit, construction and services revenues from all of our oil and gas contracts for the balance of calendar year 2011 and into calendar 2012.”

For more information visit www.erfwireless.com

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SunSi Energies, Inc. (SSIE) is “One to Watch”

SunSi Energies, Inc., a provider of trichlorosilane (TCS), a chemical compound used to produce polysilicon for the semiconductor/solar industry, recently announced it has submitted its application to list its common stock on the NASDAQ exchange.

“SunSi is ready to list on a larger, high profile exchange and believes that the NASDAQ is the right marketplace for our shares to trade. Listing on the NASDAQ should enable us to broaden our investor reach, increase visibility to the investment community, and add liquidity to our shares,” David Natan, SunSi’s CEO, stated in the press release.

Acceptance to the exchange poses an obvious advantage in the market, but also reflects the company’s stated mission to become one of the world’s largest producers of trichlorosilane, a chemical mainly used in the production of polysilicon, which is an essential raw material in the production of solar cells for PV panels. The plan is for the company to acquire and develop a portfolio of high-quality, scalable TCS production facilities in strategically chosen locations to position the company for future growth and expansion.

U.S.-based SunSi currently controls approximately 55,000 metric tons of TCS production in China, and is taking advantage of trends in the solar market by taking steps to increase its current capacity levels. In fact, according to Natan, SunSi continues to expand its TCS operations in China, and last week announced revenue guidance for fiscal 2012 in the range of $49 million to $52 million, plowing past fiscal 2011 revenue of $15.1 million in revenue.

The company’s most recent major growth initiative took place in March of 2011 when SunSi completed an agreement to acquire 60 percent of Wendeng He Xie Silicon Co. Ltd in Weihai City.

For more information, visit www.sunsienergies.com

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Friday, November 18, 2011

ProPhase Labs (PRPH) Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Secures Coveted Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal

ProPhase Labs, developers of leading OTC cold remedies in the homeopathic category, reported reception recently of the coveted Winner’s Seal of Approval for their Cold-EEZE® Cold Remedy, from the massive Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) community, representing North America’s largest volunteer parent testing group, at some 40k plus participants.

That stamp of excellence from the PTPA is a huge boon for PRPH and goes a long ways towards driving sales, as the seal is a widely recognized emblem of quality, effectiveness and value. The proprietary formulation of zinc gluconate in Cold-EEZE has made it the number one zinc-based cold remedy to be recommended by pharmacists and the product has been clinically proven to curb symptoms of the common cold by some 42%, essentially halving the duration and severity of cold conditions.

PTPA Media and the PTPA Seal™ represent an excellent benchmarking system for products that help to enrich family living and as such the field was full of entrants to obtain the seal. Cold-EEZE beat out the competition based on hard data, generated by independent parent volunteers using the products in their own homes. This consumer-based driver in the PTPA Seal award system has super-charged its rise to prominence, bringing in recognition throughout North America and around the world.

Chairman and CEO of PRPH, Ted Karkus, commented on the reception of this widely recognized seal of approval, noting that it clearly underlines the product going into the cough and cold season. Karkus held up the Cold-EEZE product as being a prime example of the Company’s dedicated R&D in diversified natural health and medical sciences, calling the zinc gluconate lozenges, which are manufactured at a wholly-owned subsidiary’s FDA registered manufacturing facility, an extremely safe and effective choice for consumers.

Founder and CEO of PTPA, Sharon Vinderine, has certainly done her due diligence to win the Seal and the organization such wide acclaim, appearing on more than forty morning shows to establish the branding as a trusted source and guide for the latest in family products. Vinderine, clearly proud of the role PTPA Media has come to fill in helping to educate and inform consumers, “certifying innovative products that families can trust.” Vinderine explained that she understands how important it is for families to be able to look to that seal of approval on product packaging and websites with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their peers have vetted the product and that the advertised performance is based on and backed up by real-life performance capabilities.

The Cold-EEZE product just rolled out a great tasting Oral Spray version of the popular lozenge and already sees market penetration to the tune of some 40k retail locations, ranging from food stores to pharmacies and mass retailers. For more information on the product and where to find it locally, consumers are encouraged to logon to the product website at: www.coldeeze.com

For more information on the Company and to stay up to date with the latest news and information surrounding ProPhase Labs, please visit their website at: www.ProPhaseLabs.com

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G4S to Implement Calladius Software (CALD) Sales Training Solutions

Today, Callidus Software Inc. announced that G4S, the world’s largest security services provider, selected its ForceLogix Sales Coaching and Litmos Learning Management solutions to assist in the learning and talent development for some of G4S’s European sales organization. The companies signed the agreement in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Callidus’s ForceLogix Sales Coaching solution enables businesses to rank sales professionals and agents based on key performance indicators (KPIs) from multiple data stores. Mainly used in call centers, managers use the information obtained from the ForceLogix system to easily identify the core activities and training that drive top performance. Then, managers can implement the right training and development processes across their sales channels – building a concrete roadmap for their new hires and existing employees to replicate the performance of their stars.

The other solution, Litmos LMS, is a fast growing online training system that makes managing and delivering web-based training courses easy. A user-friendly platform that enables organizations to create and distribute web-based content in multiple formats, Litmos LMS tracks results in real-time and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices as well as the Internet. Users can access these courses anywhere and at any time.

Callidus’s technologies will enhance G4S’s current training methods and both companies are excited to begin their new found relationship. The combination of online coaching with sales training offers a blended learning approach that promises to yield positive results.

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Drop in Unemployment Applications Suggests Hiring May Improve

Another indication that the jobs picture may be getting ready to improve came Thursday with the Labor Department’s announcement that weekly unemployment benefit applications dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 388,000. It was the lowest level since early April, and the fourth decline in five weeks. The four-week average dropped below 400,000 for the first time in seven months, to 396,750.

The numbers suggest an easing in layoffs, which could be setting the stage for an increase in hiring. Applications need a consistent drop below 375,000 for sustained job growth. The last time that number was seen was in February.

In addition, the number of people receiving benefits fell to the lowest level since September of 2008, dropping 57,000 to 3.6 million, although many people are believed to have simply used up their benefits. Moreover, the figure doesn’t include the 3 million people receiving extended benefits from emergency programs. This, coupled with the fact that only 80,000 jobs were added in October, has clouded what is seen as a general improvement, with the unemployment rate recently dropping to 9%.

It’s all a sign of an economy that is turning, but at a sluggish rate. Manufacturing is picking up, and retail sales are growing, but companies are doing more with less, and many employees are still on the sideline. Nevertheless, growth, however slow now, is expected by many to improve over the next several months, though nobody is expecting things to move quickly. The economy would have to grow at twice the current rate to significantly improve the job picture, and consumers can only keep spending for so long without improved employment income.

On top of all this is the continuing debt crisis in Europe and the U.S., problems that everyone agrees will require substantial growth to address.

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Marina Biotech (MRNA) Given Patent in China for Its Intranasal Insulin Delivery Formulation

Marina Biotech Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. The company’s innovative therapeutics utilize multiple mechanisms of action, including RNA interference and messenger RNA translational blocking.

The company reported today that China’s State Intellectual Property Office has issued a Notification of Granting Patent Rights for PRC 200680047851. This patent covers pharmaceutical formulations for intranasal delivery of insulin, and uses of the formulation to treat diseases associated with inappropriate insulin levels.

The president of CEO of Marina Biotech, J. Michael French, said, “We believe that the intranasal assets from our predecessor company, Nastech Pharmaceutical, have considerable value. Our intranasal insulin program has the potential to serve patients with diabetes, and holds additional promise in the treatment of CNS (central nervous system) diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

Combined with the current patent protection in Europe, this patent grant in China further expands and strengthens the company’s insulin patent portfolio. For additional information about Marina Biotech and its products, please visit the company’s website at www.marinabio.com

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VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (VSTA) Announces Expansion of Collaboration Agreement with UHN and Extends Stem Cell Alliance to 2017

VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue and cell therapy, and the University Health Network (UHN), one of Canada’s largest research hospitals, today announced the expansion of their existing collaborative pluripotent stem cell research and development program, and extended it through September 2017.

In 2007, VistaGen and Dr. Gordon Keller, head of UHN’s McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Toronto, agreed to combine Dr. Keller’s human pluripotent stem cell biology expertise with VistaGen’s proprietary Human Clinical Trials in a Test TubeTM stem cell technology platform. The platform delivers clinically relevant indications of how humans will respond to new drug candidates early in the drug development process. Dr. Ralph Snodgrass, VistaGen’s President and Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr. Keller, who is chairman of VistaGen’s Scientific Advisory Board, co-founded VistaGen in 1998, with the goal of using stem cell technologies to transform the way new drugs are discovered and developed.

“Our unique relationship with UHN and Dr. Keller is dynamic, innovative and directly supports the drug rescue capabilities of our Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube™ platform,” said Shawn Singh, VistaGen’s Chief Executive Officer. “This research partnership gives us direct access to cutting-edge stem cell research conducted by one of the world’s leading stem cell researchers at one of the world’s top stem cell research institutions.”

Dr. Christopher Paige, UHN’s Vice President, Research, said, “We are very pleased with the progress Dr. Keller’s lab and VistaGen are making in our cooperative research effort. VistaGen’s support of Dr. Keller and his team, and its commitment to commercializing these technologies, give us confidence that we will soon see the remarkable promise of our collaborative stem cell research translated into therapeutic realities that will improve patients’ lives.”

The amended UHN agreement includes five key programs that will further support VistaGen’s core drug rescue initiatives and potential cell therapy applications.

Research conducted at UHN and VistaGen labs will include the development of stem cell-based drug discovery and drug rescue technologies, using mature cardiac, liver and pancreatic beta-islet, blood and cartilage cells. The program will also focus on large-scale production of these cell types, each derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS cells), which are potentially suitable for in vivo transplantation studies and cell therapy applications.

Additionally, VistaGen and UHN scientists plan to further enhance current methods used to produce cell types derived from both human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) and hiPS cells. The research alliance also aims to establish preclinical proof-of-concept for the use of iPS cell-derived articular chondrocytes for cell therapy repair and regeneration of autologous cartilage, as well as the use of iPS cell-derived precursor cells to produce lymphocytes, granulocytic cells, red cells and blood platelets.

For more information, please visit VistaGen’s website at www.VistaGen.com

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Deyu Agriculture (DEYU) Posts Solid Increases in Q2 Financial Performance

Deyu Agriculture Corp., a vertically integrated producer, processor, marketer and distributor of organic and other agricultural products made from corn and grains operating in the Shanxi Province of the People’s Republic of China, yesterday reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

The company reported a 182 percent increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2011 to $52.0 million compared to $18.5 million reported in the comparable quarter of 2010.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2011 improved 88 percent to $8.9 million compared to $.4.7 million in the second quarter of 2010. Deyu’s gross profit margin decreased 8.6 percent to 17.1 percent for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 25.7 percent reported in the comparable quarter of 2010.

Deyu’s net income increased 8 percent in the second quarter of 2011 to $3.1 million compared to $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Jianming Hao, Deyu’s CEO and chairman, said the company is pleased with its second quarter 2011 results, and noted that the company’s corn division more than doubled its sales, while its simple processed grains division improved revenues by more than 500 percent. The company has focused on promoting its brand names and products on a regional scale to drive sales, an initiative Hao says the company will continue throughout 2010.

“We are glad to see this strategy continue to work well for us this past quarter while we continued to utilize our regional strengths and environmental resources in Shanxi Province, our extensive production capacity, our established network of farmer agents, our steady supply of quality crops from excellent farmland, our bank loans and our efficient distribution network to gain further leverage in China’s agriculture sector,” Hao stated in the press release. “As we head toward 2012, we are confident that we can maintain our progress while we strive to provide our expanding customer base with what we believe to be delicious, healthy grain products.”

The company is utilizing all its distribution channels and networks, including its B2B and B2C ecommerce platforms, to drive brand recognition for further growth.

“We believe that enacting these strategies will further ease the requests from retail stores and many of our wholesalers. Our continuous growth relies on our ability to meet the rising demand for our current products and expanded product lines and as we head into 2012, we believe we have sound strategies in place to help us sustain our progress,” Hao stated.

For more information visit www.deyuagri.com


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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Misonix, Inc. (MSON) Secures Key Distribution Agreement for Ultrasonic BoneScalpel in Thailand with JPL Medical

Misonix, developers of a wide range of revolutionary medical devices based on the Company’s advanced ultrasonic technology, ranging from wound care systems that remove necrotic materials and devitalized tissue to high-power surgical cutters like the BoneScalpel™ Ultrasonic Bone Cutter, reported entry into an exclusive three-year distribution agreement for the BoneScalpel with one of Thailand’s top medical device marketers, JPL Medical Co., Ltd.

Preisdent and CEO of MSON, Michael A. McManus, Jr., offered an inside peek at this latest endeavor in the Company’s campaign to dynamically grow its presence in Asian markets, hailing the relationship with JPL as a fundamental key to the overall regional strategy. McManus pointed to JPL’s rock-solid reputation for introducing high-tech all across Thailand and underscored the unique competencies of JPL as a “specialty distributor of advanced medical products.”

McManus made it very clear that the reputation JPL has established, especially in neurosurgery and spine surgery, offered an ideal vector for integration. This arrangement will allow the aggressive launcher of numerous successful high tech products, including similar devices in the medical area, to have rights throughout all of Thailand for selling the BoneScalpel. A task made all the easier by JPL’s deep network and mountains of experience in associated fields like neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and spinal surgery.

The agreement stipulates annual minimum purchase requirements and should be a huge gateway for MSON into a broader Asian market, while providing a stable footing in Thailand that should be rapidly evident in the Company’s bottom line. As all of the preliminary training with the product has been completed and sales have already begun, the ramp-up time for market penetration is very low and receptivity should be very high based on past experiences with the medical community.

Indeed, such products are a boon to the end-user market as well, with the BoneScalpel offering osteotomy capabilities like none other. Able to make precision cuts through bone and hard tissues while preserving the essential integrity of the delicate soft tissue structures, all with the usability and ergonomics of an ultra-modern medical tool, the BoneScalpel also delivers the power of a rotary cutter without all the danger.

This is a power play for MSON, as they shrewdly maneuver for better positioning of their medical product portfolio in Asian markets from above, they are simultaneously branching out into parallel sectors like Forensics products and Ductless Fume Hoods from below and making good use of the Company’s architecture in the process.

For more information on the distribution agreement, or to keep up on the latest news and information pertaining to Misonix, Inc., please visit the Company’s website at: www.misonix.com


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Webxu, Inc. (WBXU) Acquires Lot6 Media

Earlier today, Webxu, Inc. announced that they had acquired Lot6 Media, Inc., an online marketing company. Lot6 Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lot6 Media, LLC. Lot6 is involved in several sectors of the marketing industry, such as data monetization, optimization technology, and business-to-business lead generation.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Webxu is a media company focused on consumer acquisition, e-commerce and social media. Webxu operates several web brands, such as Bonus.com, Paydayloan.net and dollarblvd.com, as well as operating the Bonus Interactive brand.

Through the end of September 2011, Lot6 had unaudited revenue of $16.4 million, and EBITDA of $3.2 million.

Matt Hill, Webxu CEO, said, “Through branded online properties, Lot6 Media is extremely efficient at delivering quality offerings to targeted consumers. With experienced management and a scalable customer acquisition technology platform, the company is an excellent fit in our overall growth strategy.”

“Webxu has a compelling growth story and we are very excited to become a part of it,” said Spencer Henry, CEO of Lot6 Media, LLC. “We see a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on potential synergies between Webxu and Lot6.”

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ERF Wireless (ERFB) is “One to Watch”

ERF Wireless was founded with the goal of providing wireless broadband technology to rural wireless service markets in North America, as well as to specialized vertical markets such as banking and the oil/gas industry. ERF has now become one of the largest wireless Internet service providers in the country, and is a leading provider of secure wireless networks for the regional banking industry. ERF serves customers in nine primarily mountain and south central states and two Canadian provinces.

The company’s rapid but carefully orchestrated growth rests largely on its aggressive acquisition of 16 competing wireless broadband networks in these largely rural markets, together with the expansion of wireless coverage where needed. ERF has also developed several master service agreements with wireless companies throughout much of the U.S. and Canada, further extending its reach. In addition to traditional rural residential and commercial customers, the company serves regional banks, healthcare institutions, educational institutions, and various enterprises. Service areas include Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and North Dakota where a new regional office is being opened.

Today one of the fastest growing markets for ERF is the oil and gas industry. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Energy Broadband, Inc., ERF now serves the wireless broadband needs of the industry throughout rural North America. Carefully located acquisitions have given the company the largest wireless broadband network in North America’s principal oil and gas regions. As the industry’s software has become more sophisticated, and associated communications requirements have increased, standard satellite links are proving ineffective, creating a need for superior land-based solutions. ERF Wireless has become the preferred answer, addressing the large and growing demand. The company plans to expand operations, opening up new service regions and adding new products.

For additional information, visit the company’s websites at www.ERFWireless.com

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Winner Medical Group (WWIN) Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results

Yesterday, Winner Medical Group Inc., a China-based exporter and retailer of high-quality medical dressings and consumer products, reported preliminary unaudited consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter that ended on September 30th, 2011. These selected results are unaudited and subject to change.

Compared to last year’s results, Winner’s revenues increased by 46.7% to $41.4 million. Gross profit increased by 21.2% to $10.7 million, up from $8.8 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Additionally, gross margin decreased to 25.8% and net income decreased by 14.5% to $2.7 million. Basic and diluted net income-per-share were both $0.11 for the fourth quarter.

Winner’s medical product sales increased to $36.2 million, up from $25.1 million in the same quarter of 2010. The company attributes this to steady sales in Europe, North America and South America (especially Brazil). As a percentage of total sales, sales from medical products represented 87.5%, compared to 88.9% in the same quarter of last year. Sales generated from PurCotton® products increased to $5.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, a 65.8% increase. As a percentage of total sales, PurCotton® products represented 12.5% in the fourth quarter.

Mr. Jianquan Li, Winner Medical chairman and CEO, commented, “We are pleased to report a revenue increase of 46.7% to $41.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, driven by both our medical and PurCotton® businesses. Increased sales in various markets reflect customers’ growing recognition of our brand and demand for our products.”

Mr. Li continued, “During the quarter, we continued building up our retail channel for PurCotton® products and opened our 41st chain store, compared to 22 stores operating as of the fourth quarter 2010. All PurCotton® stores are located in major Chinese cities and their operations integrate with our online sales platform. This retail expansion has required the Company to make accompanying investments in operations to support growth, which reduced the Company’s net income for the quarter. However, we feel this investment will increase long-term value for our shareholders and will earn attractive returns over future quarters.”

Mr. Xiuyuan Fang, Winner Medical CFO, added, “Against the macro background of cotton price fluctuations, our gross profit continued to grow, yet pressure was put on the Company’s gross margin, which declined to 25.8% during the quarter. The decrease was driven by a higher average purchasing price of cotton, our primary raw material, as well as an increase in the volume of cotton consumed due to increased orders. As a strategic move, the Company decided to increase raw material inventory of relatively high-quality cotton to hedge against potential future price inflation and continue meet customers’ needs. However, we are pleased to see sales growth in our higher-margin PurCotton® retail business. Such growth is expected to improve the Company’s overall gross margin level in future periods.”


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InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV) Posts Third Quarter Results

InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. is a developer of innovative technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The company’s biopolymer scaffold technology is designed to provide structural support for a damaged spinal cord to promote healing and improve recovery.

The company reported financial results for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2011. For the three month period, InVivo reported net income of $3.067 million or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.03 a share or $837,000 in the year ago period.

For the nine month period ended September 30, InVivo posted net income of $419,000 or $0.01 a share versus a net loss of $2.261 million or $0.08 a share in the year ago period.

The company’s CEO, Frank Reynolds, said, “We had a strong third quarter as we prepare for human studies to treat acute spinal cord injury.” Mr. Reynolds also gave a look as to what is ahead for InVivo, stating, “We’ll also begin working with FDA on our second product, a drug releasing hydrogel for acute spinal cord injuries.” The device extends the company’s focus to also include peripheral nerve injury as well.

For further information about InVivo Therapeutics, please visit the company’s website at www.invivotherapeutics.com

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Monday, November 14, 2011

YM BioSciences Inc. (YMI) Reports Financial and Operational Results

YM BioSciences, Inc., an Ontario based drug development company advancing a diverse portfolio of hematology and cancer-related products, today reported results of its first fiscal quarter of 2012 ending September 30, 2011. The company trimmed its net loss to $900,000 compared to a loss of $11.3 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue from out-licensing was unchanged and the company saw a gain of $5.4 million on the revaluation of warrants compared with a loss of $3.4 million in the prior year’s first quarter.

YM BioSciences Inc. is advancing three main drug products: CYT387, a small molecule, dual inhibitor of the JAK1/JAK2 kinases; nimotuzumab, an EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody; and CYT997, a vascular disrupting agent (VDA).

In the press release the company said, “Licensing and product development expenses were $6.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared with $5.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Increased development expenses for CYT387 and CYT997, and increased spending on database services and stock option expenses were offset by decreased expenses for nimotuzumab and a decrease in employee compensation costs related to restructuring costs incurred during the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.”

YM BioSciences also reported that net finance income increased by $11.3 million since the same time last year and attributed the majority of the improvement to a change of $8.8 million in the fair value adjustment of US dollar warrants. Under new international financial reporting standards, warrants in a currency other than the company’s functional currency should now be classified as a financial liability and measured at a fair value with a recording in profit or loss.

The company reports that it has cash and short term deposits totaling $75.6 million, which are sufficient to support the company activities for at least the next 18 months.

For the full first quarter earnings report of YM BioSciences, Inc, please visit www.ymbiosciences.com

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European Approval of Stevia Opens New Opportunities for GLG Life Tech Corp. (GLGL)

GLG Life Tech is a global leader in the supply of high purity stevia extracts – an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener used in food and beverages. The company’s operations cover each step in the supply chain, from the stevia plant to marketing and distribution of the finished product.

The company announced today that the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have formally adopted the regulation to allow the use of steviol glycosides in the European Union this year. The regulation will take effect 20 days after it is published in the EU Official Journal.

This decision means that consumers across Europe could begin seeing products sweetened with steviol glycosides as early as December 3. The decision by the EU Parliament was seconded by the European Food Safety Authority. And it confirms the long standing position held by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) that steviol glycosides are safe for everyone to consume and are suitable as sweetening options for diabetics.

Now that stevia has approval, GLG will begin distributing it across Europe through previously established agreements with seven distributors. The companies involved in the distribution of stevia include: PK Chemicals, Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH, Keyser & Mackay, ChemPoint.com, Caldic Ingredients B.V., Emilio Pena SA and Gusto Faravelli S.P.A.

For more information on GLG Life Tech and Stevia, please visit its website at www.glglifetech.com


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Thursday, November 10, 2011

VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (VSTA) Moves Forward with AV-101 Clinical Development

VistaGen, a biotechnology company best known for applying human pluripotent stem cell technology to drug rescue, is also developing AV-101, a unique prodrug candidate for the treatment of neuropathic pain. AV-101 is orally available, converted in the brain to a synthetic analogue of a naturally occurring compound that is one of the most potent and selective blockers of the regulatory GlyB-site of the NMDA receptor. In laymen’s terms, AV-101 affects nerve function, useful for reducing neuropathic pain, but may also offer treatment to patients with other neurological conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and even depression.

Neuropathic pain is a serious and chronic condition causing misery after an injury or disease of the peripheral or central nervous system. It can be continuous, or occur in episodes, and affects an estimated 1.8 million people in the U.S. alone. VistaGen has been awarded over $8.5 million for the development of AV-101 from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the company is exploring additional opportunities for pilot Phase 2 clinical studies of AV-101 for depression, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.

AV-101 is currently in Phase 1b development in the U.S. for neuropathic pain. VistaGen believes that the associated safety studies completed under its neuropathic pain Investigational New Drug Application on file with the FDA may also enable its Phase 2 development of AV-101 for epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and depression. VistaGen plans to advance AV-101 into Phase 2 development for neuropathic pain by the end of 2012.

For additional information on VistaGen Therapeutics, visit the company’s website at www.VistaGen.com

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Aurizon (ARZ) Posts Q3 Strength: Record Revenue, 467 Rise in Profit

Aurizon, a gold producer focused on developing its projects in north-western Quebec, Canada, today posted its financial results for the third quarter of 2011. All figures are in Canadian dollars.

The company reported record revenue of $68 million for the third quarter of this year, up 71 percent compared to $39.9 million in the comparable quarter of 2010.

Net profit for the third quarter of 2011 was $13.1 million, or $0.08 per share, up 467 percent compared to $2.3 million, or $0.01 per share, reported in the third quarter of 2010.

Aurizon posted gross profit of $38.4 million for third quarter 2011 compared to $12.7 million for the same quarter of 2010.

The company increased its exploration expenditures in the third quarter of 2011 by 29 percent to $7.0 million, compared to $5.5 million for the comparable quarter of 2010, as it optioned new exploration properties as well as continued exploration and feasibility work at its Joanna gold development property.

George Paspalas, the company’s president and CEO, attributed the improved quarterly performance primarily to continued strength of its Casa Berardi gold mine operations. Gold production for the mine increased 49 percent compared to the production achieved in the third quarter of 2010.

“The operating performance at Casa Berardi continues to improve, and we are seeing greater margins as lower operating costs on a per ounce basis complement higher gold prices to realize an operating margin of US$1,198 per ounce for the quarter, an improvement of 233 percent over the corresponding period last year …,” Paspalas stated in the press release. “Our investment in the future of Casa Berardi is progressing well, with the shaft deepening in full swing and very encouraging exploration results from the 123 zone within the West Mine. We have also realized exploration success elsewhere at Fayolle and Marban, and are excited about the future potential for these projects. The optimization of the Joanna feasibility is progressing well, and a final study should be completed in second quarter 2012.”

For more information visit www.aurizon.com

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Penford Corp. (PENX) Solidifies Strong Position in Sector, Moves to Acquire Carolina Starches

Penford, known in the US as a leading supplier of specialty food ingredients developed by top minds in carbohydrate chemistry and for their wide range of chemically modified, specialty starch products consumed by the textile/paper sectors, recently reported entry into an agreement to acquire domestic modified starch/starch-blend producer Carolina Starches.

CEO of PENX, Tom Malkoski, outlined the acquisition a bit, explaining that the purchase would encompass company interests, as well as certain assets of the business currently being operated by Carolina Starches, LLC and Keystone Starches, LLC. Malkoski underscored the supply chain logistics and operational efficiencies this would create for PENX, paying special attention to the fact that this acquisition would fuse two of the top specialty starch elements in the marketplace, giving Penford an extremely strong position as they move forward with their specialty industrial and food ingredient segments (Penford Products Co. and Penford Food Ingredients).

Indeed, the entire network will open up substantially in areas of customer service and technical support to key clients, while research and development of new and better products will be amply boosted as well. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to first year results and will provide the basis for future economic growth, with closing merely subject to typical conditions/terms and projected for this December.

CEO of Carolina Starches, Ben Cheatham, pointed to the roughly $25M yearly revenue of the business and synergistic sourcing in domestic potato/corn starches, as well as Asian tapioca and European potato starch inputs, all of which are processed at facilities in North Charleston, SC and Berwick, PA. This profile complements PENX’s own strong core competencies and infrastructural architecture in potato, tapioca, corn and rice starches, adding significant throughput to the Company’s five existing processing/manufacturing/research sites.

This move will really shore up domestic operations and the overall position of the resulting business as a whole in North American markets. It will also give the Company an able footing in international markets, opening functional gateways to external markets and really contributing to maximized growth for the business model.

For more information on the acquisition and to stay up to date on the latest news, please visit the Penford Corp. website at www.Penx.com

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

iCAD, Inc. (ICAD) Cancer Treatment Technology Being Accepted at Hospitals Nationwide

iCAD, Inc., a New Hampshire based provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions, and radiation therapies for the early identification and treatment of cancer, announced today that its Xoft electronic brachytherapy system has been recently adopted at a number of leading hospitals across the country, including Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology (Pleasant Hill, CA), Exeter Hospital (Exeter, NH), Memorial Hospital Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN), Florida Hospital Tampa (Tampa, FL), Rockford Memorial Hospital (Rockford, IL), Rose Medical Center (Denver, CO), and Vanderbilt Medical Center (Nashville, TN).

The Xoft® Axxent eBxTM system for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is designed to reduce the normally required radiation treatment regimen for breast cancer patients. The current standard for treating early stage breast cancer calls for a lumpectomy, medical therapy, and a 5-7 week course of daily Whole Breast External Beam Radiation Therapy (WBEBRT). IORT allows doctors to give a high dose of radiation to the tumor bed during a lumpectomy, reducing or eliminating the need for follow-up radiation treatments. A single IORT dose may be as effective in treating such tumors as 10-20 daily radiation doses.

iCAD CEO Ken Ferry spoke of the increased acceptance of the Axxent eBx system and IORT: “The recent adoption of the Axxent eBx System is an increasing endorsement of electronic brachytherapy and IORT as a safe and effective method of radiation treatment. The growing demand for IORT offers patients expanded access to potentially lifesaving radiation therapy for their cancer treatment and an alternative to long-term radiation therapy.”

iCAD is an industry leader in helping healthcare professionals identify the most prevalent cancers earlier. The company offers a range of Computer-Aided Detection systems and workflow solutions for mammography, MRI, and CT applications. iCAD recently acquired Xoft, Inc., developer of the Axxent eBx system that uses non-radioactive miniaturized X-ray tube technology for the treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer, and endometrial cancer. In addition, the system is cleared for use with other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy such as IORT is indicated.

For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.icadmed.com

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UTStarcom (UTSI) Posts Q3 Improvements, Reiterates Full-year 2011 Guidance

UTStarcom Holdings Corp., a leading provider of interactive, IP-based network solutions and broadband for cable and telecom operators, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011.

The company posted third-quarter 2011 revenues at $83.3 million, up 36 percent over the $61.4 million reported for the third quarter of 2010.

Gross profit increased 164 percent year-over-year to $31.9 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to $12.1 million reported for the comparable quarter of 2010.

Gross margin was 38 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared to gross profit of 19.7 percent reported in the third quarter of last year.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2011 was $14.2 million compared to an operating loss of $23.3 million for the corresponding period of 2010.

UTStarcom reported third quarter 2011 net income of $8.0 million, or basic earnings per share of $0.05, compared to a net loss of $17.2 million, or basic loss per share of $(0.13), for the third quarter of the year prior.

As of Sept. 30, 2011, the company reported cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $305.9 million.

UTStarcom president and CEO Jack Lu said sustaining profitability is one of the main goals for the company, which it achieved this quarter. He also noted the company’s achievements in the third quarter, which contributed to its year-over-year performance.
“Our cost restructuring efforts continue to show encouraging results as we recorded our second consecutive profitable quarter. In the third quarter of 2011, we announced the completion of our first end-to-end Internet TV solution for a cable TV network customer and launched five new products at the Beijing Telecommunications EXPO,” Lu stated in the press release. “ … As we look to the quarters ahead, demand for our solutions and services is healthy and our focus will be on execution and expanding our revenue contribution from higher value-added solutions.”

Company CFO Jin Jiang reiterated UTStarcom’s guidance for revenue, expense control and profitability for 2011. Total revenues are estimated in the range of $300.0 million to $320.0 million; annualized operating expenses are expected to be less than $100.0 million; and the company anticipates break even for full-year 2011.

For more information visit www.utstar.com

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Magic Software Enterprises Ltd.’s (MGIC) uniPaaS Application Platform Chosen by Shlomo Sixt to Develop Fleet Management System for Mobile Phones

Magic Software Enterprises Ltd., a company that develops, markets, and supports software development and deployment technology and applications, announced that Shlomo Sixt, an Israeli leader in private and commercial car rental, leasing, and sales, has chosen Magic Software’s uniPaas application platform for the development of a more innovative mobile system for managing the fleet of vehicles used by its fieldworkers.

Shlomo Group IT Group developed the software by utilizing the uniPaaS platform, which supports application deployment on numerous types of devices and mobile operating systems from one single development effort.

The new system allows the company’s employees to use their smart phones to manage the process of car delivery and return, which includes recording the exact condition and location of the vehicles, and to merge the data with other back-end systems, all in real time.

“Thanks to the uniPaaS application platform and the close support provided by Magic Software, we were able to develop a complex system in a short amount of time and with a relatively small development team,” said Yuval Shani, manager of the Shlomo Group IT department.

“Magic Software’s technology for smartphone application development offers groundbreaking capabilities for enterprise IT,” said Eyal Pfeifel, CTO of Magic Software. “In the near future, uniPaaS developers will be able to run their applications on any popular smartphone without needing to modify or redevelop them in any way.”

Magic Software Enterprises Ltd. develops, markets, and supports software development and deployment technology and applications. It offers uniPaaS, an application platform for developing and deploying business applications; and iBOLT, a platform for business and process integration. The company’s uniPaaS and iBOLT platforms enable enterprises to accelerate the process of building and deploying applications to customize and integrate with existing systems. The company offers its products and services through numerous regional offices, independent software vendors, system integrators, distributors, and value added resellers, as well as through original equipment manufacturers and consulting partners in approximately 50 countries around the world.

For more information on Magic Software Enterprises Ltd., visit http://www.magicsoftware.com

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