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Monthly Archives: May 2023
Consistent Use of Ceramide-Containing Products Combined With … – Dermatology Times
Posted: May 20, 2023 at 10:37 am
Results from a SCALE 2023 poster presentation1 demonstratedthat the consistent use of ceramide-containing skin care products as monotherapy and adjunctive to prescription treatment improved the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) in pediatric patients. Schachner et al noted that AD commonly starts in infancy and early childhood and is associated with pruritis and genetic predisposition. Previous studies have proven that daily use of moisturizers that contain lipids such as ceramides can reduce the rate of AD flares, and therefore the need for topical steroid treatment.
In the study, Schachner et al gathered a panel of 8 pediatric dermatologists, dermatologists, and pediatricians who treat pediatric AD to report on clinical cases from their practice. The panelists reviewed 15 pediatric AD cases and agreed to select 6 patients covering various presentations of pediatric AD, patient ages, and skin types.
During their evaluations, the panelists discussed why they selected a specific case, previous treatments, type of prevention and education provided, skin care as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment, prescription and non-prescription therapy and maintenance treatment, and clinical pearls. The summary of each patient included:
After discussing the 6 patients and using ceramide-containing skin care products to manage their pediatric AD, the study investigators concluded that Sharing best-practice in AD therapy and maintenance treatment for pediatric eczema patients may support health care providers treating children to improve clinical outcomes. Consistent skincare use with CER-containing cleansers and moisturizers as mono or adjunctive to prescription treatment promoted a healthy skin barrier.
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These 13 Household Items Contain Smells That Are Harmful To … – Rock 92.9
Posted: at 10:37 am
In our modern society, smells are everywhere, but they are harmful to our health. They cover our bodies, our homes, and our daily routines. From perfumes and colognes to scented candles and air fresheners, we often associate pleasant smells with a sense of well-being. However, what many of us fail to realize is that behind these enticing scents lie a multitude of potential health hazards. Fragrances.
Most commercial fragrances, whether found in personal care products, cleaning agents, or household items, are composed of synthetic chemicals. These chemicals are often undisclosed or labeled vaguely as fragrance or parfum. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for consumers to make informed choices about the products they use and the potential risks associated with them- like these things!
Many celebrities have released their own perfumes. If they only were aware how harmful fragrances were to the people purchasing them
One of the primary concerns associated with fragrances is their impact on respiratory health. Synthetic fragrances emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can be inhaled and irritate the respiratory system. These VOCs include formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and other hazardous chemicals known to cause respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, and even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some of those products include:
Fragrances can also wreak havoc on our skin. Many people experience skin irritation, redness, itching, and rashes when exposed to synthetic fragrances. These reactions are particularly common in people with sensitive skin or pre-existing conditions like eczema. Prolonged exposure to fragrances may lead to sensitization, whereby the immune system becomes hypersensitive to certain chemicals, resulting in allergic reactions upon subsequent exposures.
Unbeknownst to many, certain chemicals used in fragrances have been linked to endocrine disruption. Phthalates, for example, are commonly used as solvents in fragrances and have been associated with hormonal imbalances. They may interfere with reproductive functions, disrupt the normal development of the endocrine system, and even contribute to fertility problems.
Studies have shown that some fragrance chemicals, such as synthetic musks, may have neurotoxic effects. These substances have been found to accumulate in the body over time and have the potential to disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system. Exposure to such chemicals has been associated with headaches, migraines, dizziness, and even cognitive impairment.
The detrimental effects of fragrances are not limited to human health alone. When we wash away personal care products containing synthetic fragrances or spray air fresheners in our homes, these chemicals eventually find their way into the environment. Fragrance compounds, along with other pollutants, can contaminate air, water sources, and soil, leading to ecological imbalances and potentially harming wildlife and ecosystems.
While we may enjoy the pleasant scents that fragrances provide, it is crucial to be aware of the potential health risks they pose. The synthetic chemicals used in many commercial fragrances can have far-reaching consequences for our respiratory system, skin, hormones, and even neurological well-being. To protect our health and that of the environment, it is advisable to opt for fragrance-free or naturally scented products. Reading labels, seeking out eco-friendly alternatives, and advocating for greater transparency in labeling practices can empower us to make informed choices and promote safer, healthier living.
Remember, the sweet smell of health is far more valuable than any artificial fragrance that comes at a hidden cost.
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The Best Swimming Skin and Hair Products | livestrong – Livestrong
Posted: at 10:37 am
Image Credit: Tempura/E+/GettyImages
For some swimmers, long workouts in the pool or ocean can cause itchy, dry, irritated or even burning skin. And as someone who deals with some pretty bad eczema, speaking from experience, it makes swimming even more difficult.
But also speaking from experience, finding the right post-swim skin and hair products can be a total game changer. Browse some of the best swimming skin- and hair-care products for sensitive skin and learn how to find your best formulas.
To help us narrow down our list of under-desk treadmills, we turned to KJ Kroetch, a certified swimming and triathlon coach, avid swimmer and owner of All Terrain Endurance. We chose our top picks based on the following criteria. You can learn more about how we cover products here.
1. TRIHARD After-Swim Body Wash Extra Boost
This body wash eliminates all traces of chlorine and hard water.
As a triathlete myself, I've had to invest a fair amount of post-swim skin and hair products. And TRIHARD is a brand I won't swim without. This body wash eliminates the harsh smell of chlorine and salt.
I also love that it's great on sensitive skin. Pool chemicals can cause my eczema to act up pretty badly but when I use this wash consistently (right after I swim), I'm spared dry, itchy skin.
2. Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal & Hard Water Treatment Moisturizing Shampoo
Protect your hair from damage with this moisturizing shampoo.
When shopping for post-swim products, ingredients matter, according to Kroetch. For your shampoo, you want a sulfate-free formula that eliminates harsh elements found in all kinds of water.
This shampoo gently washes away chlorine, salt water (necessary for open-water swims), minerals, odor and any unwanted tints for color-treated hair.
3. TRIHARD Pre & Post Swim Conditioner
This conditioner doubles as a hair mask and post-swim treatment.
Alongside TRIHARD's body wash, this conditioner is the other product I bring to every pool workout. Not only does it smell amazing, it washes even the faintest bit of chlorine out of my color-treated hair.
The best part? You can use this before and after your swim. To get some extra protection from hard water, just apply the conditioner like a hair mask and put your swim cap on top.
Pro tip: Don't apply too much to your roots because it can cause your cap to feel a little slippery.
4. TRISWIM Swimmers Lotion
Chlorine and salt water can be pretty drying but this lotion is enriched with aloe vera and Vitamin B5 and E to help keep your skin moisturized.
It's best that you apply this only after you swim, though, as it's not water-resistant and the fragrance can linger on the water and affect other swimmers, according to Kroetch.
Plus, it's great for healing a sunburn!
5. Reef Safe Sun Barrier SPF 50 Sunscreen
This sunscreen is reef safe and excellent for sensitive skin.
Kroetch is a big fan of Zealios products for all kinds of exercise, including swim.
"They make a sunscreen, including a reef-safe version and that is my go-to for face and body," she says.
This formula has zero harsh chemicals and is specifically formulated for sensitive skin. It's unscented and it won't stink if any drips into your eyes.
And for swimmers who like longer workouts, this one is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.
3 Things to Look for in Swimming Skin and Hair Products
1. Chlorine and Salt Absorption
The biggest thing to look for in any post-swim product is chlorine or salt protection, according to Kroetch. These elements are inevitable when you swim in the pool or ocean but they can damage your hair and dry your skin, so getting those off your body and hair are a priority.
Chlorine and salt can be especially harmful to sensitive skin. So, before you buy a post-swim shampoo, conditioner or body wash, read the label to check that it removes traces of chlorine and saltwater.
2. Fragrance-Free Formulas
For products you're using in the water (like sunscreen), look for a formula that's free of any aroma or fragrance, Kroetch recommends. When you wear a scented lotion or perfume, the scent can leech into the water and disturb other swimmers or wildlife.
Specific to sunscreen, you want a product that's water resistant and, if you're swimming in the ocean, reef safe. Inevitably, some of your sunscreen will get washed away as you exercise but a water-resistant formula can help you hang on to as much protection as possible.
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FDA Approves First Pill to Treat Moderate-to-Severe Crohn Disease – HealthDay News
Posted: at 10:37 am
FRIDAY, May 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with Crohn disease have a new treatment option, following U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Rinvoq (upadacitinib).
Rinvoq is meant to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn disease who have not had success with tumor necrosis factor blockers. The daily pill is the first oral treatment for this group of patients.
The medication was previously approved for several other conditions, including eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis, according to the website of pharmaceutical company AbbVie.
Researchers evaluated its safety and effectiveness in two randomized trials in 857 patients with the disease. Participants received either 45 mg of Rinvoq or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. More patients treated with the medication achieved remission than those treated with the placebo, the FDA said in a news release. Also, more people treated with the medication had improvement in intestinal inflammation, which was assessed with a colonoscopy.
The FDA also assessed Rinvoq as a maintenance treatment, evaluating 343 patients who had responded to the 12 weeks of medication. This group received 15 or 30 mg once daily or a placebo for a year. More of those on the maintenance treatment achieved remission and reduced intestinal inflammation than those on the placebo. Side effects of the medication were upper respiratory tract infections, anemia, fever, acne, herpes zoster, and headache.
The drug is not recommended for use with other Janus kinase inhibitors, biological therapies for Crohn disease, or strong immunosuppressants, including azathioprine and cyclosporine. Among the risks are serious infections, death, cancer, major adverse cardiovascular events, and thrombosis.
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Alibaba approves cloud computing unit spin-off, prepares for grocery and logistics arms to go public – Yahoo Finance
Posted: at 10:37 am
HONG KONG (AP) Alibaba plans to spin-off of its cloud computing business and said Thursday that its logistics and grocery units will explore initial public offerings as the Chinese e-commerce company kickstarts a restructuring of its operations in hopes of spurring growth.
The company in March announced plans to reshape itself into six business divisions with plans to allow all but its core e-commerce business to raise external capital and go public.
In an earnings call Thursday, Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang said that the Alibaba plans to fully spin off its cloud computing unit and complete a public listing in the next 12 months, allowing it to optimize operations, Zhang said.
Alibabas board of directors approved the full spin-off of the cloud computing unit via a stock dividend distribution to shareholders, the company said.
Zhang also said that Freshippo, its groceries arm, as well as logistics arm Cainiao, are ready to go public.
Alibabas board has approved plans to begin Freshippos IPO process and Cainiao will explore an IPO in the next 12 to 18 months, he said.
Other units such as Alibabas international digital commerce group, which operates Singapore-based e-commerce platform Lazada, will also explore raising external capital as it seeks to expand globally.
Alibaba Group Holding on Thursday posted a lower-than-expected 2% rise in revenue for the quarter ended March, suggesting that spending has been slow to bounce back in China since the removal of COVID-19 restrictions amid slowing economic growth.
The company reported revenues of 208.2 billion yuan ($29.6 billion) for its March quarter. It also reversed losses from the same quarter last year, posting a net income of 23.5 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) due to one-off gains from its equity investments.
Revenue from its China commerce business Alibabas largest business unit by revenue declined 3% compared with the same period last year. Its cloud computing unit also declined 2% in revenue.
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Ampere Computing launches its custom chips aimed at cloud computing – Yahoo Finance
Posted: at 10:37 am
By Stephen Nellis
(Reuters) - Ampere Computing on Thursday released a new family of data center chips with technology it has custom-designed for cloud computing companies.
Founded by former Intel Corp president Renee James, Ampere has focused on courting cloud companies that buy thousands of chips at a time and in turn rent them out. The company has deals in place with Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud, Microsoft Corp's Azure and Oracle Corp's cloud unit, among others.
Unlike Intel, Ampere uses a computing architecture from SoftBank Group Corp-owned Arm Ltd, which is also an investor in Ampere. But the new AmpereOne offerings announced Thursday are the first that use Ampere's own custom-designed computing cores, which are the most important part of the chips, which are in turn the brains of data center servers that power everything from business apps to social media sites.
The new Ampere chips will have as many as 192 of those cores where Intel chips tend to have only a few dozen. The high core counts are because cloud companies make money by slicing up chips and selling just a piece of their computing power to customers, and having a large number of cores makes doing so easier.
After Ampere disclosed its approach, Advanced Micro Devices announced a 128-core chip based on the what is called the "x86" architecture used by AMD and Intel. Intel also has a high-core-count chip in the works.
"It's flattering that the x86 vendors have been able to get closer to us, but we're well on our way to higher core counts now," said Jeff Wittich, Ampere's chief product officer.
Ampere last year filed a confidential registration with U.S. securities regulators for an initial public offering. Oracle, where Ampere's CEO James sits on the board, is a major investor. James declined to say when Ampere might go public.
"We did not pull our registration. We are ever hopeful that the market will open and that it will open for growth companies," James said.
(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Mark Potter)
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Cloudflare Is Fixing the Biggest Problem with Its AWS Killer – The Motley Fool
Posted: at 10:37 am
Amazon Web Services is a hulking mess of a cloud computing platform. It offers hundreds of distinct products and services, many of which overlap, with pricing schemes that almost seem designed to confuse. Enterprises love AWS, but then again, they also have armies of IT staff to figure it all out.
There's a big market for cloud computing simplicity. Platforms like DigitalOcean, Akamai's Linode, Vultr, Netlify, Vercel, and many others aim to make life as simple as possible for developers. In some cases, that means a highly curated list of services with dead-simple pricing. In others, it means an opinionated serverless platform that makes deploying applications a breeze.
Cloudflare (NET -0.91%) is taking the latter route with its serverless Workers platform. With Workers, developers can deploy full-stack applications to Cloudflare's global fleet of edge servers. Code runs nearly instantly as close to the end user as possible.
Cloudflare has been building an ecosystem around Workers for the past few years, rolling out products including R2 object storage, Pub/Sub for messaging, and the D1 relational database. But there's been one glaring problem that has made the whole platform a non-starter for many potential customers, and Cloudflare finally has the pieces in place to fix it.
Any useful web application needs some sort of database. There are countless database software options to choose from. In the world of relational databases, there's Oracle, Microsoft's SQL Server, and open-source options like MySQL and PostgreSQL. Outside of relational databases, there's the document-based MongoDB, key-value store Redis, and a slew of others. Some applications may use multiple databases, while others may stick to one. But somewhere, data needs to be persisted in an orderly, queryable way.
The one thing that almost all databases have in common is that they don't work over HTTP. In other words, hitting the database isn't just a simple API call. Databases generally use lower-level, long-lived TCP connections with custom protocols.
Up until now, Cloudflare's Workers did not support TCP connections. That means that a developer running a database somewhere else could not use Workers with that database without resorting to a middleman. A developer could set up a server application outside of Cloudflare that accepts API calls from a Worker, pulls data from the database, and returns it to the Worker, but the Worker could not access the database directly.
That's an annoying problem. Annoying enough, in all likelihood, to make Cloudflare Workers a non-viable option for many developers. The good news is that Cloudflare finally has the beginnings of a solution to this problem. On Tuesday, the company announced a new feature for Workers that allows outbound TCP connections.
Cloudflare Workers can now connect to any service that accepts TCP connections. There are some caveats, though. For connecting to databases, the database driver library a developer uses to initiate and manage the connection must explicitly support Cloudflare's solution. Cloudflare is working on broadening support, but there are currently big gaps.
Database access was the missing piece of the puzzle for Cloudflare workers. Once a Worker can connect directly to any database, the potential of the platform greatly expands. Suddenly, a developer hosting a database on AWS, or on any other cloud platform, can run their actual application on Cloudflare Workers, benefiting from the global reach of Cloudflare's network.
Serverless platforms like Cloudflare Workers take cloud computing and distill it down into deploying applications and not worrying about issues like scaling and performance. The platform takes care of all that. Compare this to the nightmare of managing complex cloud infrastructures on AWS, and you can see why serverless platforms are gaining in popularity.
With database access on its way to being a solved problem, Cloudflare Workers takes another step toward largely eliminating the need for a traditional cloud platform for developers and businesses.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Timothy Green has positions in DigitalOcean. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com, Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Microsoft, and MongoDB. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Amazon’s Cloud Business Makes a Big Bet on India. Big Tech Loves the Country. – Barron’s
Posted: at 10:37 am
Amazons cloud computing unit plans to invest $12.7 billion in India by 2030 to meet growing demand for cloud services in the worlds most populous country, the company announced Thursday.
The long-term commitment will take Amazon Web Services total investment in India to $16.4 billion, following its $3.7 billion investment between 2016 and 2022, which Amazon (ticker: AMZN) used to launch two data infrastructure regionsin Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Big...
Amazon s cloud computing unit plans to invest $12.7 billion in India by 2030 to meet growing demand for cloud services in the worlds most populous country, the company announced Thursday.
The long-term commitment will take Amazon Web Services total investment in India to $16.4 billion, following its $3.7 billion investment between 2016 and 2022, which Amazon (ticker: AMZN) used to launch two data infrastructure regionsin Mumbai and Hyderabad.
Big Tech companies have been expanding their footprint in one of the worlds fastest-growing economies in recent years. Microsoft (MSFT) has three data centers in India and plans to open a fourth, while Alphabet (GOOGL) opened its second cloud data center region in the country in 2021.
Apple (AAPL) has also expanded its presence in the country, opening its first stores in the South Asian country in April, while iPhone maker Foxconn is planning to build a new factory in the state of Karnataka. The states chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said it will create 100,000 jobs.
AWSs investment in data center infrastructure will create 131,700 jobs annually, it said in a release.
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Since 2016, AWS has invested billions of dollars into cloud infrastructure in India to support the tremendous growth we have witnessed in the use of cloud for digital transformation, AWS Indias president of commercial business, Puneet Chandok said.
Write to Callum Keown at callum.keown@barrons.com
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Why Cloudflare, Confluent, and Other Cloud Stocks Soared This Week – The Motley Fool
Posted: at 10:37 am
What happened
There's no question that the primary driver of the stock market over the past year or so has been the state of the economy. High inflation, rising interest rates, various political dramas, and concerns about a potential recession have all weighed on the market.
Yet investor sentiment has been rising in recent weeks, as earnings season showed that the sky was not falling, contrary to popular belief. Furthermore, slowly but steadily improving economic conditions are fueling investor hopes for a so-called "soft landing," with the economy ultimately avoiding a recession.
With that as a backdrop, Cloudflare (NET -0.91%) rose 19.3%, Confluent (CFLT) climbed 18.5%, and Splunk (SPLK -0.50%) jumped 13.3% for the week, as of 11:11 a.m. on Friday, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Image source: Getty Images.
A check of all the usual sources -- regulatory filings, earnings results, and changes to analysts' targets -- turned up little in the way of company-specific news driving these cloud stocks higher this week. This seems to suggest that the majority of investors are responding to incremental improvements in the state of the broader economy.
The U.S. Department of Labor released its unemployment weekly claims report, which revealed that initial jobless claims decreased by 22,000 to 242,000 for the week ending May 13, which was well below economists' forecasts of 254,000. It also marked the largest drop in weekly jobless claims since November 2021. Continuing claims, or the number of people already collecting unemployment benefits, decreased by 8,000, largely unchanged at a total of 1.79 million. This suggests that unemployed workers are finding new positions quickly.
The strength of the labor market continues to defy concerns that a recession could be imminent. Further debunking those fears were better-than-expected results from Walmart, which points to resilient consumer spending -- the bedrock of the economy.
In the lone piece of company-specific news, regulatory filings confirmed that activist investor Starboard Value more than doubled its position in Splunk. For the quarter ending March 31, Starboard increased its stake by 2.7 million shares, bringing its total holdings to 4.6 million -- or roughly 2.8% of the shares outstanding.
Starboard has previously said it believes Splunk is undervalued, compared to its opportunity, and has a significant opportunity to drive operational improvements and expand its margins -- an opinion that's no doubt music to the ears of shareholders.
But while investor sentiment saw the glass as half full this week, the market is just one negative report away from turning south, since challenges remain and stocks will continue to be volatile for the foreseeable future.
So what does all this have to do with cloud computing stocks? Software-as-a-service (SaaS) and other cloud-based businesses have been particularly hard hit by the downturn, as investors turned to the safety of profitable stocks.
A quick look at Confluent, Cloudflare, and Splunk show that they were, indeed, part of that illustrious group, with their stocks down 71%, 66%, and 26%, respectively, during 2022. It's no coincidence that all three were unprofitable over the past year.
However, as the specter of a recession dims, investors are increasingly willing to take chances on these stocks, as long as they have compelling growth prospects.
Then there's the matter of valuation. None of these stocks is cheap, though they are trading at a significant discount to their recent highs. Cloudflare, Confluent, and Splunk are currently selling for 12 times, 8 times, and 4 times next year's sales, respectively, when a reasonable price-to-sales ratio is generally between 1 and 2.
Valuation shouldn't be viewed in a vacuum, and investors frequently award higher valuations to businesses with continued strong revenue growth -- even unprofitable ones -- given the chance of strong future returns.
For investors willing to hold their shares for three to five years, these stocks represent an intriguing opportunity. While they aren't for everyone, this trio of companies could generate impressive gains over time, but they do carry a higher degree of risk.
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Ampere Computing launches its custom chips aimed at cloud … – Reuters
Posted: at 10:37 am
May 18 (Reuters) - Ampere Computing on Thursday released a new family of data center chips with technology it has custom-designed for cloud computing companies.
Founded by former Intel Corp (INTC.O) president Renee James, Ampere has focused on courting cloud companies that buy thousands of chips at a time and in turn rent them out. The company has deals in place with Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google Cloud, Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Azure and Oracle Corp's (ORCL.N) cloud unit, among others.
Unlike Intel, Ampere uses a computing architecture from SoftBank Group Corp-owned (9984.T) Arm Ltd, which is also an investor in Ampere. But the new AmpereOne offerings announced Thursday are the first that use Ampere's own custom-designed computing cores, which are the most important part of the chips, which are in turn the brains of data center servers that power everything from business apps to social media sites.
The new Ampere chips will have as many as 192 of those cores where Intel chips tend to have only a few dozen. The high core counts are because cloud companies make money by slicing up chips and selling just a piece of their computing power to customers, and having a large number of cores makes doing so easier.
After Ampere disclosed its approach, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O) announced a 128-core chip based on the what is called the "x86" architecture used by AMD and Intel. Intel also has a high-core-count chip in the works.
"It's flattering that the x86 vendors have been able to get closer to us, but we're well on our way to higher core counts now," said Jeff Wittich, Ampere's chief product officer.
Ampere last year filed a confidential registration with U.S. securities regulators for an initial public offering. Oracle, where Ampere's CEO James sits on the board, is a major investor. James declined to say when Ampere might go public.
"We did not pull our registration. We are ever hopeful that the market will open and that it will open for growth companies," James said.
Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San FranciscoEditing by Mark Potter
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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