Diagnostics For All: Providing Access to Cheap Liver-Health Test

Diagnostics For All is a non-profit organization organized in 2007 by Una Ryan. Its humble mission is to transform the way health services are brought to many poor countries around the world.

The organization is into paper diagnostics. They are affordable, portable, and easy-to-produce tests that are usable in any kind of environment, even in areas with little infrastructure and few resources.

The most notable innovation of Diagnostics For All thus far is the liver-health test they have designed. The test kit is indicated for people suffering from tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. With the help of the test kit, the attending physician and immediately implement a change in the patient’s drug or dosage.

In Ryan’s vision, the test kits will reach the poor countries through partners. Initial contacts with clinics and hospitals in far-flung areas should set the infrastructure needed to mobilize the kits. NGOs will also be tapped to help in the delivery of the test kits to patients.

Diagnostics For All has also developed its own glucose test for diabetes patients and pregnancy test.

PepsiCo, Inc. Engages in Ambitious R&D to Remain as One of the Top Consumer Product Companies in the World

PepsiCo owns three of the world’s most popular consumer brands. Pepsi-Cola Company still holds the record as the second largest soft drink producer in the world. It owns 21% of the world’s market share for carbonated drinks. Frito-Lay Company, PepsiCo’s division devoted to salty snacks, holds 40% of the world’s market.  PepsiCo’s third division Tropicana Products Inc. owns 41% of the world’s market share in juice sales to remain the leader in the industry.

To date, PepsiCo owns more than 26 brands which contribute to the company’s $500 million of sales annually. The figure is expected to increase as PepsiCo now owns Quaker Oats Company, owner of brands such as Gatorade, Quaker Oatmeal, Life, Cap ‘n Crunch, and other cereal brands.

The company’s humble beginning started with Doc Bradham’s concoction that created his popular soda Pepsi-Cola. Formerly known as Brad’s Drink, Bradham’s bottled soda became very saleable that he has to close his drugstore to concentrate on his newfound fortune. In 1903, Bradham patented the trademark of Pepsi-Cola.

Bradham’s company went bankrupt after the World War I. A banker named Roy Magargel purchased Pepsi-Cola including the rights to the concoction’s formula. The acquisition led to reorganization and a change in name to Pepsi-Cola Company. The company did not recover from its financial difficulties and Magargel was forced to sell 80% of the company to Charles Guth, owner of Loft, Inc. Guth made little modifications to the concoction’s formula and reintroduced the soda with the shortened name “Pepsi.”

Guth was responsible for the international operations of the company. Several offices were established outside the US including Pepsi-Cola Company of Canada, Compania Pepsi-Cola de Cuba in Cuba, and Pepsi-Cola Ltd. of London.

In 1940, the company went public and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Pepsi-Cola began to sell the soda in cans. Vending machines started to sell Pepsi in almost every corner of the major cities in the US.

The company continued to thrive through the World War I. After the war, profits were reported at $14.5 million per year. The rising earnings were attributed to intense advertising and innovations in product packaging.

Several new products were introduced including Mountain Dew which was acquired from Tip Corporation. Pepsi-Cola also introduced the soda in one-and-a-half liter bottles.

In 1965, the company expanded to non-softdrink products by acquiring Frito-Lay. In 1970, Pepsi-Cola also acquired Taco Bell and Pizza Hut and became major outlets of Pepsi products.

In the early 1980s, Pepsi introduced Diet Pepsi which is a reformulated soda. Burger King also began selling Pepsi products to their customers.

The company also purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1986 and Hot ‘n Now hamburger chain in 1990. Through the 1990s, PepsiCo purchased other restaurants like California Pizza Chicken. In 1998, PepsiCo purchased Tropicana in its effort to compete with its nearest rival Coca-Cola. In the early 21^st century, PepsiCo also acquired giant Quaker Oats Company, owner of the Gatorade brand.

Boo-Box: Brazil’s Web 2.0 Ad Network

Boo-Box is known to be the first social media player and ad tech in Brazil. It displays more than 3 billion ads for 80 million Brazilians every month. The display contains product offers and ad campaigns in more than 310,000 websites blog sites.

Boo-Box’ cutting edge is how it treats the publishers – they are customers. Boo-Box provides publishers with inventory controls, access to premium products, and the tool to explore different formats for higher profitability.

According to advertisers, Boo-Box provides effective social media advertising because it integrates them with the strategies of the ad agencies. As a result, Boo-Box’s Social Media Ad System is widely accepted by many website owners. They have perceived that Boo-Box is a powerful tool to promote their ads.

Boo-Box continues innovate by focusing on demographic profiles, ad formats, and target market behaviors and interests.

Products advertised in Boo-Box are gaining traction like Boo-Box Seeding, a Twitter-based ad solution.

One Firm’s Commitment to Equality

O’Melveny & Myers LLP, a U.S. law firm with offices across Asia and Europe, maintains a reputation for innovation in the field. Among various achievements is the group’s dedication to female legal professionals and the programs and affiliations it maintains to empower them.

Committed to equality in the workplace, O’Melveny & Myers LLP oversees the Women’s Leadership Academy, an ongoing event series that highlights female accomplishment at the firm, affords attendants the opportunity to network with like-minded peers, listen to inspirational speakers, and discuss the role of their gender at the firm. O’Melveny also oversees WomenConnect, an online platform in which current and former personnel may interact and access a focused network of informative resources, news, and contacts. Additionally, the majority of O’Melveny offices maintain Women’s Affinity Groups, a helpful space in which members may architect community outreach initiatives, organize educative panels, and engage in an ongoing conversation about professional development. In the spirit of advancement for all, O’Melveny maintains affiliations with a host of advocacy groups including The National Association of Women Lawyers, DirectWomen, The National Association of Women Judges, The Women in Law Leadership Academy, and The No Glass Ceiling Initiative.

Noted for its unflagging dedication to a modern workplace free of prejudice, O’Melveny & Myers LLP employs some of the most high-performing female legal professionals. One exemplary woman attorney with the firm, Suzzanne Uhland, acts as Partner and Chair of Restructuring Practice and proves representative of the excellence upheld by the leading venture. Suzzanne Uhland holds a Juris Doctor from Yale University and recognition by her contemporaries in The Best Lawyers in America.

Turner Broadcasting System Inc.: Quality Programs Right at your Doorsteps

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Inc. is the biggest supplier of programs for the players in the cable industry. It owns the broadcast rights of the Cartoon Network, CNN and all its affiliates, and TNT. It also owns the franchise of the baseball club Atlanta Braves and oversees the operations of pga.com and nascar.com. TBS is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.

TBS was founded by Robert Edward “Ted” Turner III. After his father committed suicide in 1961, Turner found out that his father agreed to sell their company, the Turner Advertising Company. Turner paid the buyers $200,000 to rescind the agreement.

In 1970, Turner merged with the small UHF TV station Rice Broadcasting Company Inc. Since Turner was the major stockholder, the company adopted the name Turner Communications Corporation.

After the success of HBO’s nationwide satellite broadcast, Turner also expanded his audience share by using the cable systems. He opened the SuperStation WTBS in December 1976, which later on became another TV network.

In June 1980, Turner started the Cable News Network (CNN) for a 24-hour live news broadcast. The 24-hour format was available and convenient to many viewers. Since CNN’s feeds were live and unedited, Turner opened the Headlines News which showed edited news from CNN. In April 1982, Turner also opened CNN Radio.

TBS rode with the increased cable system infrastructure in the country. There was an increased audience share as more and more homes subscribed to cable TV services.

In 1985, Turner helped in the founding of the Better World Society, which produced documentaries that relate to environmental and ecological issues.

TBS acquired the movie outfit MGM/UA Entertainment in 1986 for $1.4 billion. However, the deal was not very “friendly” to Turner and what he later on described as “substantial accounting losses in the foreseeable future.”

Soon, TBS began to pick up. Turner Network Television (TNT) started to perform well. Later on, Turner also started Turner Pictures for filmmaking and Turner Publishing for publications.

One of CNN’s most spectacular news coverage was the Persian Gulf events in the 1990s. CNN also covered the Operation Desert Storm with a commitment of 2,000 workers and an airtime of more than 4,000 hours.

Turner specializes in particular markets like the Airport Channel which broadcasts places in airports like gates and baggage claim areas. Its first year of operations earned revenues of $10 million.

TBS continues to innovate to remain at the edge of competition.

American Express: Luxury Made Affordable

American Express Company, more popularly called AmEx, is a multi-million dollar financial services corporation. AmEx is known for credit cards, charge cards and traveler’s cheques. It is the biggest credit card issuer in the US, accounting for more than one-fourth of the volume of transactions involving cards in the US.

AmEx has captured a large portion of the card market because it appeals to technology and luxury. The company has associated with first rate banks, providing their clients with a status symbol and a feeling of importance.

AmEx continues to diversify in order to attract a wider demography by introducing the idea of affordable luxury. The concept was more evident in the AmEx website which reads “You’re not dreaming – vente-privee is now available in the US, bringing you many of the world’s luxury and fashion brands at up to 70% off. Join Now – vente-privee with American Express.”

AmEx is listed in Fortune Magazine’s Top 20 Most Admired Companies in the World. Businessweek has estimated its value at more than $14 billion.

ESO Equity Group’s Strong Roots and Stronger Promise

Maintaining a host of relationships with investors and community institutions, ESO Equity Group continues to expand even in the context of a rapidly-fluctuating real estate market. Founded in 2005, ESO Equity Group maintains a steady growth rate as a holding and development venture.  Thanks to owner Ori Tal’s efforts in acquisitions and partnerships, the firm boasts control of more than 1,000,000 square feet across central Florida. Recent accomplishments include the purchase of a space of more than 43,000 square feet to be transformed into office spaces and retail spaces. To be named the Executive Tower and Plaza, the space will cater to the community’s deep ties to business and culture, renting to both independent boutiques and companies who desire a new work environment. The firm recently aligned $2,000,000 to be positioned towards the renovation, which will focus on upscale Mediterranean architecture and luxury office amenities.

Skilled at evolving both commercial and residential property campaigns, ESO Equity Group and Ori Tal also supervise a variety of rental communities that vary in aesthetic style, pricing, and location. Whether renters seek proximity to the exciting world of Orlando’s theme parks, the scenic views of the Indian River or the Atlantic Ocean, or the creative culture that abounds in the area, they may choose a desirable solution through ESO Equity. Current residential communities include Fairway Apartments in Daytona Beach, Millennium Palms in Orlando, Bluewave Condominiums in Satellite Beach, and several others. Through the diversification of acquisitions and the pursuit of lucrative partnerships, ESO Equity Group remains at the forefront of the Florida real estate arena.

National Football League: Creating a Demand for Year-Round Football

The most popular sport in the US – football – is governed by the National Football League (NFL). It is the association of the 32-member teams and is operating through the NFL Europe League. The franchises operate in the same way as regular business entities.  The only difference is that 75% of the revenues are shared by the member franchises.

American football started in the 1980s as a derivation of soccer and rugby. The first set of rules for the game was drafted in 1876. In the 1890s, the game became popular among rival teams in Pennsylvania. The first football player who received a pay for playing football was William “Pudge” Heffelfinger. He was paid $500 by Allegheny Athletic Association to play against rival team Pittsburgh Athletic Club. This became the dawn of professional football.

Several football teams were organized and spread up to Ohio. Competition was stiff among professional football clubs. Players in turn were seen switching from one team to another in search for high paying bids. Teams began scouting college players and some even hired good players even before they finish college. Due to a lack of governing body that shall regulate the games and instill discipline among players and teams, a call was made to organize an association.

The first meeting was held in August 1920 in Canton, Ohio. Four teams were represented in that meeting. The American Professional Football Association (APFA) was established. The next meeting was attended by three more teams.

APFA started with 14 teams. The new organization was met with several administrative problems, a re-organization took place and Joe Carl of the Columbus Panhandles was named as President. During his tenure, the by-laws were organized, criteria for franchises were developed and player rights were restricted. In 1922, APFA was renamed as NFL.

From these humble beginnings, NFL games today are attended by an average of 66,960 spectators per outing. Franchises in the NFL are multi-billion franchises, the Dallas Cowboys being the most valued at $1.6 billion.

Television coverage of the NFL, especially the Super Bowl, has topped the ratings according to Nielsen Media Research. Each franchise in the league owns its own radio network which covers each team game. NFL also operates its own website, the NFL.com.