What are some good resources to read up on if you are interested in corporate banking?
This site has some good stuff – the corporate banking posts are representative and accurate. Leveraged loan by S&P is also good, although that is more levfin it dives into a lot of similar concepts. For really boring people they may be inclined to read a credit agreement.
How did you get into corporate banking?
I did an MBA at a target school and entered the recruiting process. I hit it off with the team and am a decent golfer with good grades, so not a difficult time.
What is the corporate banking interview process like?
It is almost entirely fit and behavioral questions as to understanding what the corporate bank does.
As far as technical questions go, the technical interview is far easier than investment banking. You need to know about EBITDA and simple credit ratios such as leverage and coverage but as far as credit analysis goes it barely scratches the surface. Don't expect corporate bankers to be joining distressed debt funds any time soon.
Since corporate banking is not technically rigorous, a lot more goes into how much the team likes you. Grades are not as important and are not necessarily a barrier for lateral hires, so for anyone who is looking to join off-cycle networking is key.
What is going on in the corporate banking space right now?
All the groups are telling me that it is pretty busy right now with amendments, extensions and upsizes, new deals and pitches.
The market is frothy and banks are looking to lend money – syndicated loan volumes are jumping while banks are fighting for lead roles in revolvers. Firmly risk-on in the bank market, with increased competition making loans more aggressive in terms of pricing as well as structure (more relaxed covenants, making lawyers and risk management divisions nervous).
Exciting for us though, because the loan book is growing and accordingly so is profit.
Philosophy has changed from lending for the right returns to winning business using our balance sheets as bank CEOs are eager to boost earnings.
The other cool thing is that there has been a lot of M&A activity, which means large bridge loans that need to be underwritten and then taken out by debt and equity.
What are borrowers looking to do in 2018?
Despite a booming global economy, trade war jitters and uncertainty around the business environment have made it opportunistic to lock in good pricing on loans and long tenor (up to 5 years) while banks are willing and able. So clients can get a syndicate together pretty easily and are looking to do that.
The banks bicker amongst themselves and then the agent bank (lead relationship) agrees to match to keep their place.
Also, it seems like oil and gas is coming back in a very big way as many indebted companies in the US have restructured their high yield obligations and have seen positive redeterminations in their borrowing bases as oil prices have ticked up and shale drilling technology has advanced.
Also have seen some financing packages for weed stocks, which I have certainly never seen before.
What sort of client interaction do you get in corporate banking?
You will usually be brought to meetings with treasury professionals and for bigger transactions possibly the treasurer or CFO. I have seen the CEO maybe once in all the meetings that I have gone to, and that was part of a broader strategic mandate involving various other groups within the investment bank.
Since treasury professionals are not necessarily as polished/important or senior as the treasurer or CFO, you are brought along more readily.
As an associate, you sometimes will entertain the treasury analysts and managers at drinking events hosted by the bank.
At more formal meetings and client lunches as a corporate banking standalone, there is usually a bank market update and comparison of loans telling them what they can do. Occasionally, you will be accompanied by DCM or another group walking through some of the options available to the treasury to save costs or gain flexibility.
What are the hours like in corporate banking?
On average, they are pretty soft compared to investment banking, I would say 9-8 on an average team while people will take off early for beers on Fridays (and even Thursdays). If there is a live deal that is credit intensive, expect blowups where you stay until possibly 2AM for most days and full days on weekends but nothing like investment banking. I have also never heard of anyone needing to cancel their vacation.
I do know of teams that work late until 11PM or 12AM every day doing non-deal stuff, writing annual reviews and other non-time sensitive things. If you are in one of those groups, you should leave – you are not being compensated enough for what you are doing.
Peeking over at the investment bankers, they are usually in before I come in and they are still there when I leave. Sometimes they are wearing the same clothes. It's kind of funny but kind of sad.
That said, when working together, the investment bankers and corporate bankers will have different work streams, so it could be that corporate banking is still working away on credit and internal memorandums while investment bankers are pencils down as they have already given all the data that the client needs while corporate bankers still need to satisfy their "client", which is the bank itself.
What is compensation like in corporate banking?
Corporate banking salaries are in line with the article on this site from the last time I have checked. 70k to 100k all in as a new analyst and 100k to 160k as a new associate. As you can see the band is quite wide – some banks will pay corporate bankers the same base as investment bankers and somewhat lower bonuses – usually the Bulge Bracket adheres to this structure – while some banks will pay corporate bankers materially less. If you are in a group that pays materially less, it can make sense to switch as you are doing the same work at any corporate bank.
What designations are helpful for entering corporate banking?
CFA. Having level 1 helps a little and having level 2 helps a lot in terms of showing initiative for a lateral hire. Not a lot of what corporate bankers actually do shows up in the curriculum, but there certainly is overlap with almost every chapter of the CFA program when corporate bankers deal with other groups.
It is recommended for corporate bankers to get their CFAs – similar to sales under S&T, corporate banking is seen as more relationship heavy and less technically rigorous so it certainly helps to have the letters after your name. Most of the clients that corporate bankers interact with in treasury and other finance divisions will have CFAs, so it helps to get on the same level in terms of understanding certain corporate finance topics.
The hours are light compared to investment banking, so there is no excuse for failing at any level. People will assume that you are undisciplined or stupid. Each year a bunch of corporate banking analysts go "ohh, I'll be lucky if I pass, I haven't studied at all," to hedge bets. Whatever, you are going to be seen as a moron if you do not make the cut.
CPAs are also looked at favorably and depending on how high an accountant has climbed the Big 4 ladder there may be room to come in as an associate. This demonstrates that you at least know what EBITDA is and that you can see clients.
What are some good corporate banking exits?
The attrition rate in corporate banking seems to be a lot lower than investment banking. To my understanding the whole point of investment banking is to exit, regardless of how prudent the exit actually is.
In my experience, people usually leave for other jobs within capital markets. The best fit is to a group that corporate banking works closely with already. Usually these are product groups that rely heavily on the credit extended by corporate banking – so debt capital markets, interest rate derivatives, equity capital markets, loan syndications and leveraged finance.
More often, corporate bankers will go on rotation to those groups with an option to stay, but a lot of them come back owing to the lifestyle and pace.
Outside of investment banking, there are usually credit funds and private debt funds that have pretty light underwriting and credit analysis that will hire corporate bankers. I would say an ideal external exit would be asset management at a pension fund or in an asset management division, but I am not sure that they pay more than corporate banking.
Do corporate bankers switch over to investment banking?
They do, but the switch is not as common as you might think because the coverage team in investment banking will only work with corporate banking when they need to fund a transaction – so this is usually buy side M&A or sell side M&A with staple financing. I would say this is 10-20% of the time – you are spending far more time bogged down with extensions and joint pitches with teams on the trading floor.
For those determined to switch over to investment banking, analyst to analyst is the easiest direct line. If you are in the same coverage group, have worked in a deal together and get along with the IB team, this can be done fairly easily. They will rarely give you the same credit for time worked, but you might be able to get 1 year of experience for 2 in corporate banking.
Associate to associate is much harder – the pay gap is a lot wider while the analysts on the team will be reluctant to be "under" someone who has not worked the equivalent of 10 years in 3. However, it still happens at some banks, although again you will need to give up some seniority.
At the VP level and above, have barely ever seen it happen unless the sector is very niche and you are being groomed for management in the bank in which case it is a temporary switch so that you can learn the ropes.
What do corporate banks cover that investment banks do not?
As with anything on the debt side, you have a lot of borrowers that are not traditional corporates, public or private. So this entails, whenever we are not speaking about asset sales and acquisitions, government entities such as states, municipalities and supranationals – as well as financial institutions and their ilk. Captive finance vehicles and other finance companies can be large issuers of debt and require credit but will rarely do business with the coverage teams because there is nothing to buy.
It is pretty incredible how much is covered in corporate banking and the trading floor that falls outside the jurisdiction of a coverage team as there will be solutions to tackle pensions, asset managers and the needs of various other organizations.
There are also a lot of private companies that operate in a specific niche that will not be buying competitors that they think would dilute their brand, and obviously they will not issue equity. However these guys still have needs from cash management and trading product perspectives and corporate banking will play quarterback on these ones. Examples could include Cactus Club Cafe.


Sherlock Holmes returns to his Victorian roots for a feature-length New Year's Day special, screening in cinemas across the US and UK, as well as on TV.
Camden is the proud home of the fictional 221B Baker Street – actually filmed on North Gower Street – next to the real Speedy's café.
Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock is usually set in modern times, but for this special, shot in February, the story is set in Arthur Conan Doyle's own Victorian era, with stunning period scenes including horses and carriages.
Take a look at the latest trailer here.
Together with Martin Freeman as Doctor Watson, Sherlock Holmes is drawn into the mystery of The Abominable Bride, set in 1895. Rupert Graves also returns as Metropolitan Police detective inspector Greg Lestrade, to help out.
Thomas Ricoletti's wife has taken her own life – but now she appears in her old wedding gown prowling London, apparently with a thirst for revenge.
Co-writer Steven Moffat shows audiences around the famous 221B Baker Street in extra footage to be screened in cinemas.
Viewers can expect a more traditional Holmes in this interpretation, with Cumberbatch embracing the manners of a Victorian gentleman.
FilmFixer manages the Camden Film Office. FilmFixer director Karen Everett says, "We always enjoy welcoming the Sherlock Holmes production back to '221B Baker Street' in Camden. Even the normally low-key Speedy's café next door has become a must-see attraction for Sherlock fans.
The Abominable Bride will be screened at 100 cinemas across the UK and 500 in America. Or stay cosy in your PJs and catch the show on BBC One in the UK and PBS in the States.


When we were tidying up round St Ann's Well and hanging the new Crescent planters, we noticed that there were a lot of weeds in the steps, and then we saw that the grass was encroaching onto the paths ... and when we cut back the grass it looked so much better!
And so a new project was born. Starting in August 2016 we organised a series of work sessions on the Slopes, starting with weeding and edging. Later on we expanded to trimming all the surplus growth from the base of the trees, cleaning the moss off the stone walls, cleaning up the urns and with help from volunteers from Cemex, cleaning and painting all the benches. Then we moved on to repointing the slabs round the war memorial, cleaning signs and railings, the railings around the weather station could do with painting ... no doubt we'll come up with more things as time goes by!
We'd love you to join us, please get in touch.
There's more information in the Project Proposal.


January 22 marks 45 years since the Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in America. Decades after the ruling, statistics show that millennials are the most pro-life generation yet, and most Americans today support some protections for the preborn — especially later in pregnancy. However, nearly 1 million abortions are committed in the United States annually, most within the first 12 weeks, or first trimester. According to Guttmacher, two-thirds of abortions occur at eight weeks of pregnancy or earlier, and 89 percent of abortions in the U.S. are committed during the first 12 weeks.
The photos below, compiled by the Center for Bioethical Reform, reveal the brutality of abortions in the first trimester and the obvious humanity of children at that stage. They may be viewed at AbortionNO.org.
Warning: Images below are graphic and may be disturbing to some.
The most prevalent procedure used from 5 to 13 weeks of pregnancy is a D&C abortion procedure, during which a suction machine 29 times the power of a household vacuum is used to remove the child. The preborn child, who is extremely fragile at this stage, is quickly torn apart by force. Former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino describes the procedure below.


The city of Cortina d'Ampezzo, the well-known touristic centre in the Dolomites, is the ideal starting point for many tours and excursions in the surrounding area. It is also the place to reach if one wants to figure out what happened in that peculiar absurd war inside the war that was fought with the mines in the Lagazuoi. At the outbreak of the First World War the city was soon abandoned by the Austro-Hungarian army, persuaded to put all the efforts on the defense of Badia and Pusteria valleys, and consequently entrenched in the Forte Tre Sassi (Tre Sassi Fortress) in Valparola pass. This fortification was erected by the Austrians between 1897 and 1901 and later modernized in 1911. Right after the beginning of hostilities (we have to remember that Italy enters the war against the Austro-Hungarians on May the 24th), already on the 5th of July, the fort became useless because of the perforation of Italian 210 and 260 shells. The building was illuminated even after this date, turning into a kind of "ghost fortress" and in a false target for the Italian artillery.
Today the fortress represents the richest museum of the area with its 10,000 war relics. Unlikely many other Italian war museums, regardless if they are WW1 or WW2 museums, Forte Tre Sassi stands out thanks to his tidy and clear layout. If you chance to visit it, you will immediately dive into a clear itinerary through the different aspects of war. Fundamentally, what we want to point out is that the weakest point of the Italian World War One museum attitude is often a general propensity to pile things and relics without a clear idea of what to do with them. This fact has of course bad consequences on the museums' layouts and sometimes even on the internal signage. It's not always a matter of dimensions: you can detect this problem in big museums while you can find interesting paths and smart solutions going on the lower scale of a very small museum or viceversa. This is something related with the Italian history, the way of organizing the cultural heritage and offer and not rarely connected with a short-sighted political intrusion. Luckily this is not the case of Forte Tre Sassi, a unique place also for another reason: after spending some time inside the fortress, you can easily walk outside and reach the close trenches, see the restored Austrian barracks in the Edelweiss village also known with the name of Edelweiss Stellung.


text:
L.A. vs. the Saloons, Part II: The Parkhurst Society Plays Vice Squad
Huell Walks Along an Original Dirt Section of the El Camino Real
The Kings Highway, or El Camino Real, has long been a part of California's rich history.
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Huell Explores Every Corner of Coit Tower
Huell spends the day exploring San Francisco's Coit Tower, including the beautiful murals that adorn the lobby with the descendants of one of the original artists.
L.A. vs. the Saloons, Part II: The Parkhurst Society Plays Vice Squad | KCET
Meredith Drake Reitan
Meredith Drake Reitan is an Associate Dean in the Graduate School at the University of Southern California and an adjunct associate professor in USC's Price School of Public Policy. Her work has been published in the Journal of Planning History, the Journal of Urban Design, the Journal of Architectural and Planning Research and in an edited volume for Planners Press.
Just before midnight on Dec. 4, 1896, two men asked to use the bathroom at Los Angeles' Olive Saloon. The older and larger of the two had a well-trimmed black moustache and dark eyes. He looked like a stern headmaster who secretly enjoyed watching his pupils blush and stutter while reciting their lessons. The younger man stood in the shadows, trembling. Charles Pickenbach, the saloon's owner, was just closing up. He had turned out the lights, taken off his apron, and put on his coat and hat. Reluctantly, he agreed to let in the pair. The men stayed in the toilet for approximately five minutes and then entered the bar. The older man asked for a beer, while his unsteady friend requested port wine. Noting that the man appeared to be in distress, Pickenbach suggested that if his "bowels were out of order," blackberry cordial would be better than port. The two drank at the bar for a few minutes, bought a bottle of whiskey for 25 cents, and then hurried away.[1]
The following day, Pickenbach was served with a notice to appear in Judge D. C. Morrison's Police Court for selling liquor after hours. The complainant was the Rev. Jesse W. Ball, a member of the Parkhurst Society's Committee on Immoral Places and Practices. His companion, H. S. Ryder, was a young theological student at the University of Southern California.[2]
Over the course of several weeks, the Parkhurst Society filed more than 300 complaints against the bartenders, saloon owners, and madams of Los Angeles.
After a brief trial, the judge dismissed the case, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that Pickenbach intended to violate the closing law.[3] The decision was the first of many failures for the Parkhurst Society. Over the course of several weeks, they filed more than 300 complaints against the bartenders, saloon owners, and madams of Los Angeles.[4] The cases did not amount to much legally, but, for a brief period, the Society was the talk of the town.
Founded earlier in 1896 by a small group of eager citizens and zealous religious leaders, the Parkhurst Society took their name from Rev. Charles Henry Parkhurst, a New York political reformer. Like their East Coast namesake, the goal of the Los Angeles group was to root out corruption and public officials who supported vice. Their first target was the city's saloons. In the years since passing laws that required saloons to close at midnight and all day on Sundays, members of the Parkhurst Society felt that not enough had been done to enforce the law. The group called on Los Angeles' Police Chief Glass and Mayor Rader but were unsatisfied with the response.[5] The Society hired two private detectives from San Francisco who visited saloons after hours to gain evidence of wrongdoing. Members of the Society also began an undercover campaign in the city's theaters, brothels, and dives.
Rev. John B. Wilson of the First Methodist Episcopal Church served as the Society's president and spokesman. Rev. C. C. McLean, leader of the Simpson Tabernacle, chaired the committee responsible for the Society's nightly excursions. Each was a firebrand preacher who saw "depravity spreading" from bad to good parts of Los Angeles.[6] Wilson suggested that their anti-vice campaign would shine a light on "harpies too vile to live", while McLean described the crusade as one where he would enthusiastically taste the evil of the city "for the sake of God and law."[7]
Rev. J. W. Ball of the Parkhurst Society visited the Olive Saloon to collect evidence against its owner. Drawing from the Los Angeles Herald's coverage of the incident.
Rev. John Wilson was the Parkhurst Society's leader and primary spokesperson. He had come to California after being dismissed from his ministry in New York. In Los Angeles, his primary foe was Police Chief Glass who described Wilson as a vindictive "knave." Drawing from the Los Angeles Herald.
Rev. C.C. McLean, of the Simpson Tabernacle, served as chair of the Parkhurst Society's Committee on Immoral Places and Practices. Drawing from the Los Angeles Herald.
The Parkhurst Society's outings were exhaustive. On Spring Street alone, they stalked the Hollenbeck, the Eintracht, Mike Pulanski's Hoffman Café, Charles Bauer's Anheuser, the McInnes Brothers' Los Angeles Theater, the Nadeau Hotel and Gillmore and Zorb's Fountain Saloon. Members of the Society attended boxing matches and a masked ball held at the Turnverein Hall to make sure that the dancers were not served beer after midnight.[8]
On the night of Nov. 26, Rev. McLean, Rev. Ball and three theological students visited Madam Lottie Van's brothel on New High Street. The party arrived with flushed faces, having already visited the Los Angeles Athletic Club and a few other "parlor houses." While various women sat on their laps, the group ordered drinks. A collection was taken up to pay a woman named Dolly for her high-kicking. Dolly was also offered $5 to do the "hula hula." The woman danced for a minute or two but most of the evening was spent sitting around while the girls told "smutty stories." Dolly's dancing, or perhaps the conversation, must have been somewhat stimulating, because the group returned the following night with more committee members.[9]
During the trial that followed, Madam Van was accused of selling beer without a license. In court, under a "profusion of blond hair," the woman appeared to be "unusually sober" and a picture of propriety. Her attorney argued convincingly that Parkhurst members had arrived to her establishment drunk and pointed out that it was not against the law for a woman to dance.[10]
Turnverein Hall located at 321 South Main Street was the third building erected by the German American sport and social club. The building opened in 1894 and survived as a theater and men's club until it was destroyed by fire in 1951. In December 1896, the Parkhurst Society attended a masked ball at the hall to ensure that no dancer was served beer after midnight. Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Members of the Parkhurst Society sampled the saloons on Spring Street, including the Hollenbeck, the Eintracht, Mike Pulanski's Hoffman Café, Charles Bauer's Anheuser, the McInnes Brothers' Los Angeles Theater, the Nadeau Hotel and Gillmore and Zorb's Fountain Saloon. View of Spring Street looking north from First Street in 1885. Photo courtesy of the USC Libraries – California Historical Society Collection.
Some Angelenos accused the group of going too far, most found their methods distasteful, and still more suggested that the Society's members found too much pleasure in their evening work.
Despite public support for the liquor laws and the initially positive coverage of local newspapers, the mood of the city quickly turned against the Parkhurst Society.[11] Some Angelenos accused the group of going too far, most found their methods distasteful, and still more suggested that the Society's members found too much pleasure in their evening work.[12] In the course of their investigations, the preachers spent more than $300 on beer, whisky, and entertainment, a sum well beyond the public's expectations. Police Chief Glass was a particularly vocal opponent of the "meddling ministers," calling them "wolves who want to hang a man without judge or jury." Glass accused the group of using their campaign to create fear in the city for their own aggrandizement.[13]
According to its members, the Society's dissipation was solely "for the betterment of the morals of the city". However, after 300 complaints and 21 trials, the group's efforts led to just two convictions.[14] J.E. McDowell of the notorious White Wings saloon and a madam named Ella Rorick were found guilty of violating the liquor ordinances. Each was fined $2.[15] Charges were dismissed against Madam Van, who returned to a now famous and infinitely more profitable business.
Reverend McLean served as pastor of the Simpson Tabernacle (also called Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church) at 730 S. Hope St. The church was constructed in the late 1880s and included a large auditorium. In the early 1910s, the church became Third Church of Christ, Scientist. The church sanctuary was demolished after it was damaged in the 1971 San Fernando-Sylmar earthquake. A fragment of the building remains as the Christian Science Reading Room on Hope at 7th Street. Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection
The Christian Science Reading Room at 730 S. Hope is a surviving fragment of the Simpson Tabernacle complex. Photo by author, January 14, 2016.
[1] "Moral Dissipation: The Parkhurst Society Lays a Snare" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Dec 6, 1896, pg. 24; "Taken Under Advisement: The First Case for the Parkhurst Society" Los Angeles Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896,
[2] "Parkhurst Methods: The Ministerial Union Approves" Los Angeles Times, December 22, 1896, pg. 7
[3] "Pickenback is Discharged" Los Angeles Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. 3; "Paid to Kick: McLean Held Stakes while the Girls Performed" Los Angeles Times, December 17, 1896, pg.11
[4] "To Enforce the Law: Warrants Issued for Keepers of Saloons" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Dec 4, 1896, pg. 7
[5] "Parkhurst Society: Mass-Meeting for Men Only" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Dec 1, 1896, pg. 9
[6] "Parsons Prepare to Purge City of Vice" Los Angeles Herald, Friday morning, December 4, 1896
[7] "How the Ministers Went out Slumming" Los Angeles Herald, Saturday morning, December 5, 1896; "Parsons Prepare to Purge City of Vice" Los Angeles Herald, Friday morning, December 4, 1896
[8] "Taken Under Advisement: The First Case for the Parkhurst Society" Los Angeles Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896; "Parsons Prepare to Purge City of Vice" Los Angeles Herald, Friday morning, December 4, 1896
[9] "Kicked for the Preachers: Dizzy Girls Entertain the Parkhurst Committee" Los Angeles Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. 3; "Paid to Kick: McLean Held Stakes while the Girls Performed" Los Angeles Times, December 17, 1896, pg.11
[10] "Kicked for the Preachers: Dizzy Girls Entertain the Parkhurst Committee" Los Angeles Herald, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1896, p. 3
[11] Parkhurst Evidence" Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1896, pg. 6
[12] "To Enforce the Law: Warrants Issued for Keepers of Saloons" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Dec 4, 1896, pg. 7
[13] "Parsons Prepare to Purge City of Vice" Los Angeles Herald, Friday morning, December 4, 1896; "Taken Under Advisement: The First Case for the Parkhurst Society" Los Angeles Herald, Sunday Morning, December 6, 1896
[14] "Reformers in Court: Appear as Prosecutors" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Dec 5, 1896 pg. 5; "Achieved Fame: Dr. McLean Has His Picture in The Examiner In San Francisco" Los Angeles Times (1886-1922); Jan 9, 1897 pg. 9
[15] "Scores Two Points" Los Angeles Times, December 29, 1896, pg. 7
Top image: John Black's Saloon in Bishop, California, ca. 1894-98. Photo courtesy of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection, Loyola Marymount University.
A collaboration between the USC Libraries and KCETLink, Lost LA features the member collections of L.A. as Subject, a research alliance dedicated to preserving and telling the sometimes-hidden stories and histories of the Los Angeles region.
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S4 E3: Bootlegger Tunnels - A Journey Through LA's Prohibition Lore
Prohibition may have outlawed liquor, but that didn't mean the booze stopped flowing. Explore the myths of subterranean Los Angeles, crawl through prohibition-era tunnels, and visit some of the city's oldest speakeasies.
S4 E4: Paul Revere Williams - An African-American Architect in Jet-Age L.A.
Although best known for designing the homes of celebrities like Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra, the pioneering African-American architect Paul Revere Williams also contributed to some of the city' s most recognizable civic structures.
S4 E5: Discovering the Universe - Exploring the Cosmos Atop Mount Wilson
As recently as a century ago, scientists doubted whether the universe extended beyond our own Milky Way — until astronomer Edwin Hubble, working with the world's most powerful telescope discovered just how vast the universe is.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This traditional block is a true stunner. Made up of lots of little pieces, the tips and tricks you will learn in this class make the patchwork come together easily. Heather Jones uses solid colors to make this bold, modern block, and with a finished size of 16" square, you won't need many blocks to make a full size quilt.


Форум Saratov-X.com / Саратов и Энгельс / Знакомства для ярких впечатлений.
Тема: Знакомства для ярких впечатлений.
Re: Знакомства для ярких впечатлений.
Кто сделает классный миньет тому сделаю умопомрачающий куни!
What do you sit down on at the end of a long day? What helps you sleep at night? It allows you to keep your valuables displayed so that you can enjoy looking at them. This article is meant to help educate you on how to look for the best pieces available.
You always want to check the furniture when buying older furniture. A lot of the time, furniture will look good but be in terrible condition.Older furniture can be plagued with dry rot and rust.
Tile top tables are perfect for busy families. These tables are simple cleanup. You can find a lot of different styles when it comes to this type of table.
Don't neglect trying some haggling with someone selling furniture.Most furniture stores mark their furniture and can usually reduce the price by approximately twenty percent. If you don't like haggling, seek out an experienced friend or family member to come along and help you dicker.
When shopping for home office furniture, search for items that can be used for several purposes. An armoire which to place your printer and supplies.
Check the frame before purchasing. The board should be a little more than 1 inch thick. Your sofa will probably squeak if the board is any thinner. Sit and bounce around a bit on the couch to test it for squeaks.
Furniture that is basic in style is your priority choice. Neutral pieces are easier to change and art. You can have more options as the years progress.There are many neutral options out there that you can add to your home.
Check the legs of any sofa before you buy it. The legs need to be heavy and secured to the frame. Wooden legs are the most durable, metal or plastic, which can easily scratch flooring.
Plan out your budget before you buy furniture.Furniture comes in many different forms and with it comes a wide range of price points. You could end up paying more than you should if you aren't prepared. Knowing how much you can spend helps to keep you from getting in over your head.
You will get the quality that you pay for when purchasing furniture. While it's important to budget things, increase it to go for better quality. You may think it's good to buy a bargain priced sofa, but it is likely made cheaply. Spend a little more and you can get quality furniture that lasts longer.
Test out any furniture before you are considering. You should ensure it's sturdy and doesn't have any damage that's hidden. Flipping it over will also let you look for labels or manufacturer marks that help determine value.
You should now have a better understanding about how to find great deals on furniture. You can shop with style in mind and stay in budget all at once. Buy the pieces you need and want at the right price. Make it stress free and fun. You should be prepared to shop, so delay no further!


Thanks! Couple of mistakes, but I wanted to post it last night because of the song title.
I planned to make a better version, but I ran out of time.
Now I want to learn this.
You're not getting anything for Christmas!!


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Open access peer-reviewed chapter
On the Intricacies of Facial Hyperpigmentation and the Use of Herbal Ingredients as a Boon for Its Treatment: Cosmeceutical Significance, Current Challenges and Future Perspectives
By Naima Parveen, Ayesha S. Ali and Sharique A. Ali
Submitted: October 30th 2018Reviewed: January 9th 2019Published: July 11th 2019
Home > Books > Depigmentation
Facial hyperpigmentation is the term used to express areas on irregular pigmentation in the skin. It appears as darkened patches on the face that make the facial skin look uneven. Facial hyperpigmentation is not physically debilitating but has been associated with enhanced psychosocial complications including anger, depression and frustration. These psychosocial burdens, in turn, have inference on quality of life and self-esteem. So, the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation seems to be a growing concern to the dermatologists today and they have been practising several treatment modalities including chemical peeling, laser therapy, dermabrasion, etc. But, those are found to be associated with various after-effects. Hence, the use of plants and its products is highly recommended as they are reported with either none or fewer after-effects. The present chapter draws attention to the forms of facial hyperpigmentation with their aetiologies and available treatment options for them with associated side effects. Furthermore, we have discussed about the other side of treatment with herbal ingredients which are safe and have less or no side effects. This chapter will be of value to the dermatologists who are searching for naturally derived ingredients for treating facial hyperpigmentation, in line with consumer expectations and preferences.
psychosocial
novel agents
chapter and author info
Naima Parveen*
Department of Biotechnology and Zoology, Saifia College of Science, Bhopal, India
Ayesha S. Ali
Sharique A. Ali
*Address all correspondence to: naimaparveen@gmail.com
From the Edited Volume
IntechOpen
DepigmentationEdited by Tae-Heung Kim
Depigmentation
Edited by Tae-Heung Kim
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Melanin is the natural polymer pigment responsible for imparting color to the skin, hair, and eyes as well as provides the photoprotection of the skin against ultraviolet radiation. It is produced inside the specialized organelles, melanosomes of melanocytes through a complex process called melanogenesis. Although melanin protects the skin from UVB radiation damage, its overproduction leads to the problem of hyperpigmentation and its related disorders. Post-inflammatory disorders, ephelides, solar lentigines, melasma, etc. are the common diseases of hyperpigmentation. Skin color imperfection due to hyperpigmentation spots on the face causes psychological problems in patients and takes them far from their social life. The public perceptions of tanned skin as being healthy and attractive merged with growing demand of treatment of facial hyperpigmentation provoke huge interest cosmeceutically as well as pharmaceutically [1, 2, 3, 4].
Facial hyperpigmentation is a common and emergent concern to the dermatologists today. Treatment for facial hyperpigmentation seems to be difficult as there is no universally accepted treatment for it, and also the efficiency of known active agents is different. Majority of reports concerning the treatment of the disease consist of small series of patients. So, it becomes challenging to evaluate the efficacy of variety of therapy. Moreover, there are various options, but some of them come under growing scrutiny, emphasizing the research into pathogenesis and treatment. Sunscreen, chemical peeling, laser therapy, dermabrasion, topical treatment, cosmetic camouflages, etc. are the different treatment modalities used to treat facial hyperpigmentation. Though they are very effective and instant treatment for hyperpigmentation, its long-term exposure causes various side effects. Persistent erythema, swelling, pain, allergic reactions, herpes recurrence, acne, dyspigmentation, etc. are some of the various after effects associated with these treatment strategies [5, 6, 7].
In opposition to the state of affairs with these treatment options, we have the other side with herbal treatment which are nowadays attaining importance due to their low cost and ease of use and are believed to be free from risk of handling them as well as scarcely pollute the environment. Consequently, a dermatological formulation, including active ingredients of strictly natural origin, is designed by a variety of scientist to protect the skin from exogenous and endogenous harmful agents. There are many chemical reactions involving various enzymes that are engaged in melanogenesis. So, there is a wide range of targets or mechanisms against which to screen for skin pigmentation control agents. Active compounds isolated from different plants inhibit melanogenesis with no cytotoxicity by different mechanisms including inhibition of tyrosinase and other related protein expressions, inhibition of tyrosinase activity, inhibition of melanin dispersion and translocation, etc. [8, 9, 10].
Hence, the present chapter highlights the commonly occurring hyperpigmentary diseases of the face and their aetiologies. The available treatment options for hyperpigmentation along with the problems associated with them. As there is vast flora available on earth which has valuable medicinal properties, they are used for the treatment of many incurable diseases. Consequently, plants and its products are used for the treatment of hyperpigmentation through different mechanisms of action. Various studies on the use of plants for hyperpigmentation treatment have also been discussed in the present chapter.
2. Biosynthesis of melanin
Melanin is the end product of complex multistep transformation of amino acid, L-tyrosine. It is the polymorphous and multifunctional biopolymer represented by eumelanin (brown-black melanin), pheomelanin (brown-red melanin), and allomelanin (nitrogen-free melanin). This can be differentiated on the basis of chemical composition and monomer subunit structure of melanin. It has been found that there are four factors involved in melanin formation: (1) tyrosine as substrate, (2) tyrosinase with its coenzyme, (3) molecular oxygen, and (4) dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). Tyrosine is converted into melanin by a series of enzymatic reaction [11, 12, 13].
Biosynthesis of melanin can be initiated from either the hydroxylation of L-phenylalanine to L-tyrosine or directly from L-tyrosine, which is then hydroxylated to L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). In the next step, L-DOPA is oxidized to dopaquinone which is common to both eu- and pheomelanogenic pathways. Formation of eumelanin involves transformation of dopaquinone to leukodopachrome, followed by a series of oxidoreduction reactions. Dihydroxyindole (DHI) and DHI carboxylic acid (DHICA) are produced as intermediates, which undergo polymerization to form eumelanin. Pheomelanin synthesis also begins with dopaquinone; this is conjugated to cysteine or glutathione to yield cysteinyldopa and glutathionyldopa, for further transformation into pheomelanin. Mixed melanin contains both eu- and pheomelanin [12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18].
3. Hyperpigmentary diseases of the face and their etiology
Melanocytes are responsible for the synthesis and distribution of melanin pigment, by the process of melanogenesis which involves different stages from embryonic development, melanin synthesis, to its transfer to neighboring keratinocytes. The importance of each of these stages and their mechanisms is evident in clinical defects in the form of hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. Exposure of the skin to UV radiation or other exo- and endogenous sources/allergen poses erythema, variation of vascular responses and immunosuppression, formation of inflammatory mediators, or overproduction of melanin which leads to pigmentary disorder, i.e. hyperpigmentation [19, 20, 21].
Facial hyperpigmentation is a common and growing concern to the dermatologists today. The difference in structure and function of the skin, as well as the influence of cultural practices, produces variable skin diseases of the face based on skin type. There are many skin conditions quite unique to person skin of color. Some of them are summarized here.
3.1 Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) refers to the darkening of the skin that arises after cutaneous injury or inflammatory eruption. Hyperpigmentation results from the melanocyte's response to the cutaneous insult, which causes increased production of melanin. Acne lesions, scratches, insect bites, ingrown hairs, etc. are among such cutaneous insults. It has been found that patients of darker skin are more susceptible to this pigment alteration. Postinflammatory changes can occur both in the epidermis and dermis of the skin. In epidermal hyperpigmentation, there is an increase in melanin production and/or its transfer to keratinocytes. In dermal postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, a damaged basement membrane allows melanin to enter the dermis, which is then phagocytosed by dermal macrophages, called as melanophages. Macrophages may also migrate into the epidermis, phagocytose melanosomes, and then return to the dermis. Melanin within dermal melanophages may persist for years [22, 23, 24, 25].
Physical examination of PIH includes small to large hyperpigmented macules and patches of variable size in any distribution. The time required for the normalization of dyspigmentation is unpredictable and depends on many factors including the patient's baseline skin tone, the type and intensity of the injury or inflammation, and the patient's sun exposure habits [22, 24].
3.2 Maturational dyschromia
It has been observed as darkening of facial skin tone, even outside of extensive sun exposure and sometimes termed as general uneven tone. Maturational dyschromia can be described as diffuse hyperpigmentation usually occurs on the lateral forehead and cheek bones. According to one of the survey-based studies, more than one third of black women have complaint of uneven skin tone. These alterations in skin tone are possibly due to chronic sun exposure over many years. Maturational dyschromia may be misdiagnosed as melasma, acanthosis nigricans, or postinflammatory hyperpigmentation [26].
3.3 Ephelides
Ephelides, or freckles, are caused by an increase in photoinduced melanogenesis and increase in transport of fully melanized melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes. It occurs on sun-exposed area of the body, predominantly the face, dorsal side of hands, and trunk. They are 1–3 mm hyperpigmented macules that are round, oval, or irregular in shape. They might increase in number and distribution but can fade with aging. Ephelides are benign and there is no tendency of it to transform into malignant. Ephelides are benign and show no susceptibility for malignant transformation. Some ephelides represent as a subtype of solar lentigo [27, 28].
3.4 Lentigines
Lentigines are found more commonly in white subjects including African-Americans and American-Indians. Individuals of skin type I and III are more likely to develop solar lentigines. Solar lentigines result from a local propagation of basal melanocytes and a consequent increase in melanization, differing from freckles, which result from increased melanin production. Like ephelides, they also occur in sun-exposed areas, particularly the dorsal side of hands and forearms, face, upper back, and chest. Solar lentigines are 2–3 cm well circumscribed, round, oval, or irregularly shaped macules that differ in color from tan to dark brown [29, 30].
3.5 Melasma
Melasma is a common and well described form of hyperpigmentation that is seen most commonly on the face. It is a common disorder of hyperpigmentation affecting millions worldwide and at least 90% of those are females. It predominantly affects women with darker skin types, i.e. Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III and IV. It has also been referred to as chloasma or 'the mask of pregnancy' because the condition is often associated with pregnant women. There is recently no exact etiology, but multiple factors like ultraviolet radiation, hormonal alteration, genetic predisposition, and/or inflammation have all been involved. Physical examination of the disease includes light to dark-brown patches with irregular margins usually distributed symmetrically on the centrofacial, malar, and mandibular regions and can also be seen on the forearms [31].
On the basis of location of melanin, melasma can be differentiated into epidermal, dermal, mixed, and indeterminate types. In epidermal type, the pigment is brown, and borders are well defined, whereas in the dermal type pigment is gray brown, and borders are scantily defined. When there is melanin in both epidermis and dermis, mixed-type melasma occurs, and the term interdeterminate type may be used when it is not easy to classify even with the aid of Wood's light [32].
3.6 Lichen planus pigmentosus
Lichen planus pigmentosus is an unusual variant of lichen planus common in individual with skin types III and IV. It affects young to middle-aged adults generally those from India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Clinically, there are oval or irregular gray-brown to brown macules or patches with usually diffused and symmetrical pattern on sun-exposed areas, including the forehead, and neck, or intertriginous areas. Lesions are often symmetrical and can present in unilateral, linear fashion. The etiology for the disease is unknown, but immunological mechanisms associated with cellular immunity and exposure to ultraviolet light appear to be concerned [33, 34].
4. Treatment strategies for facial hyperpigmentation
Treatment for facial hyperpigmentation seems to be challenging as there is no universally accepted therapy for it, and also the efficacy of existing agents is different. Majority of reports regarding treatment consist of small series of patients, so it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of a variety of therapies. Additionally, there are multiple options available, but some of them come under increasing scrutiny, underscoring the requirement of research into pathogenesis and treatment. On the whole, treatment includes removal of provoking factors, photoprotection, and active pigment reduction with either topical formulations or physical approaches [35, 36].
4.1 Sunscreen
Numerous evidence-based studies showed that light from both UV and visible spectrum can induce variation in pigmentation pattern of the skin. Both UVA and UVB cause increased melanin synthesis resulting in delayed tanning. Sun protection is found to be the most significant step which has to be taken to prevent and to cure hyperpigmentation. So, broad spectrum UVA and UVB protective sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 including a physical block (e.g. titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) should be recommended in order to protect the skin from hyperpigmentation [37, 38]. It has been observed that the use of broad spectrum sunscreen on the first day after skin resurfacing can decrease the incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after laser treatment [39].
4.2 Cosmetic camouflage
Cosmetic camouflage is the application of makeup including cream and powder to conceal color. Physical blocking opaque sunscreens also have camouflage facial hyperpigmentation and prevent photoinduced darkening. Many patients find that the use of makeup helps even out skin tone. Moreover cosmetic camouflage solves the psychological problems that a skin imperfection is sometimes able to irritate; it allows to rejuvenate its own beauty and to return to its own social life [40]. A single-centre clinical trial was conducted by Roberts et al. on females with mild to moderate facial hyperpigmentation to assess the efficacy of multifunctional facial primer. They found it very effective for immediate or long-term improvement of hyperpigmentation when used over a period of 12 weeks [41].
4.3 Chemical peel
Chemical peels can be used for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation either alone or combined with other regimens. Most common chemicals used for peeling are trichloroacetic acid, phenol, lactic, glycolic acid, retinoid, etc. In this technique, a chemical solution is applied to the skin which makes it exfoliate and ultimately peel off; it means it damages the skin in a controlled manner. Finally the newer skin appears with no hyperpigmentary spots. After chemical peel, the skin becomes more sensitive to sun, so the use of sunscreen is recommended. Generally, there are three types of chemical peels based on the depth of the skin they exfoliate: superficial peel, medium peel, and deep peel. In superficial peel, mild acids like alpha hydroxy acids are used to exfoliate the skin. It only penetrates the outermost layer of the skin. Trichloroacetic acid or glycolic acids are used in medium peel to remove damaged skin; they reach to the middle and outer layer of the skin. On the other hand, deep peels fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin. Medium-depth peel should be highly recommended and performed with caution, and deep peels are not at all recommended because of the high risk of permanent pigmentary changes. Although chemical peeling may help in improving facial hyperpigmentation, they can also cause irritation which leads to dyspigmentation [42].
4.4 Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is the non-chemical superficial removal of the upper skin with abrasive tool. Patients with resistant melasma, especially with well-known dermal components that are hard to treat, have been successfully treated with dermabrasion. Methods with the use of 16-mm diameter coarse grit diamond fraise are considered successful. Ninety seven percent of patients were found to have improvement, and only around 1% was found to develop hypertrophic scars or permanent hypopigmentation [43]. In most of the other cases, mild to moderate improvement has been shown with dermabrasion. Histopathologically, decreased melanization and regular distribution of melanosomes were commonly observed in biopsy samples of patients treated with dermabrasion [44].
4.5 Laser therapy
Laser and light therapy is a promising and effective treatment for a variety of hyperpigmentation conditions. In particular, longer wavelength is the most widely used laser because it can penetrate deeper and can target dermal pigments. Lasers and light sources should only be used by the experienced physician, and it should only be attempted after other modalities have been proven to be unsuccessful for a particular disorder. This treatment strategy however is quite challenging because of the high risk of damage to surrounding tissues that can lead to long-lasting and delayed postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. So, proper patient counseling with regard to side effects, and expectations should always be done prior to any laser therapy [45, 46].
4.6 Topical treatment
The majority of topical agents used are those that disrupt the enzymatic processes of pigment production within melanocytes. Different agents like hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, retinoids, etc. have been used either alone or in combination with varying degree of efficacies. Kligman formulation having combination of hydroquinone, tretinoin, and hydrocortisone has been used in many skin lightening creams. Modified combination of Kligman formulation has also been successfully tested by various scientists during their studies, and now they have been practised in various lightening creams. But continuous applications of these agents have been found to have certain side effects. Hydroquinone is the gold standard for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation and has been used for many years, but adverse reactions have been associated with hydroquinone, which include asymptomatic transient erythema, irritation, and exogenous ochronosis [47]. Kojic acid is a known sensitizer and can cause erythema and contact dermatitis. Similarly, arbutin at higher concentrations can cause paradoxical hyperpigmentation [48].
There are various national and international brands who are claiming that the skin will glow after a short period of time on topical application of their cream. They are claiming that their products are entirely safe as they are using herbal ingredients. But, it is not possible to make the skin glow and white in a short span of time without using harmful substances such as heavy metals. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has reported that about half of the 73 national and international brands of popular cosmetics contain high levels of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, etc. The CSE's Pollution Monitoring Lab had tested popular fairness creams and found 44% mercury in it. According to Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, 'Mercury is not supposed to be present in cosmetic products. Its mere presence in these products is completely illegal and unlawful [49]'.
5. Consequences of conventional treatment strategies
Although there are several modalities of treatment for facial hyperpigmentation available today including physical therapies or chemical agents, none of them are entirely satisfactory. Traditional topical agents like hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, etc. are highly effective, but their long-term exposure causes several side effects. Persistent erythema, swelling, pain, allergic reactions, herpes recurrence, acne, dyspigmentation, etc. are some of the various after effects associated with treatment strategies like chemical peeling, dermabrasion, laser therapy, and cosmetic camouflage [50, 51].
There is a high risk of damage to the surrounding tissues when treated with laser therapy. During one of the clinical trials on woman patients, allergic reactions have been reported when treated with chemical peel using tretinoin. Patients exhibited itching, swelling, and erythema on their entire face [52]. Though the use of sunscreen with 50+ SPF may protect the skin from sun tan, its long-term use significantly decreases the cutaneous vitamin D production which is necessary for bone health and hence increases the risk of osteoporosis [53].
6. Natural herbal-based treatment for hyperpigmentation
Due to the consequences of conventional treatment modalities for skin hyperpigmentation, scientists and dermatologists are now looking for the treatment which will be safe and having very less or no side effects as well as do not contaminate the environment. Thus, the use of herbs and their ingredients for skin hyperpigmentation treatment is gaining interest as they are found to be safer, milder, and healthier than synthetic products. Dermatological formulation, including active compounds of strictly natural origin, is designed to protect the skin from hyperpigmentation. The aim of using natural ingredients is to reduce skin hyperpigmentation without causing undesirable hypopigmentation and irritation in the skin [10].
As there are many processes and enzymes involved in melanogenesis, there is a wide range of targets or mechanisms against which to screen for skin pigmentation control agents. Active compounds extracted from different plants inhibit melanogenesis without melanocyte toxicity by different mechanisms including inhibition of tyrosinase and other related protein expressions, inhibition of tyrosinase activity, inhibition of melanin dispersion, and translocation.
6.1 Inhibition of tyrosinase activity
As tyrosinase is the key enzyme of melanogenesis, inhibitors of this enzyme have caught the interest of dermatologists to prevent abnormal accumulation of melanin. There are various botanical agents that are acting through interfering in the pathway leading to melanin synthesis by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase [54].
p-Coumaric acid extracted from the fresh leaves of Panax ginseng was used to inhibit the oxidation of L-tyrosine catalysed by mushroom tyrosinase [55]. Epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate were the three major components isolated from green tea, and their efficacy of the inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase was assessed and found that green tea was the strongest inhibitor. Kinetic analysis revealed that these components inhibit tyrosinase via competitive inhibition [56]. Similarly, studies of Hridya et al. [57] and Hridya et al. [58] demonstrated that brazilein isolated from Caesalpinia sappan and santalin isolated from Pterocarpus santalinus have been found to reversibly inhibit tyrosinase in a mixed-type manner. Both the compounds inhibited tyrosinase activity dose dependently.
Recently, Kim et al. [59] have isolated five flavonoids, kushenol A, 8-prenylkaempferol, kushenol C, formononetin, and 8-prenylnaringenin, from Sophora flavescens to find out compounds with inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase. They have tested the ability of these flavonoids to block the conversion of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA by tyrosinase. Among the five compounds, kushenol A and 8-prenylkaempferol exhibited potent inhibitory activity which was further confirmed by molecular docking analysis.
6.2 Inhibition of tyrosinase and other related protein expressions
To develop treatment therapies for hyperpigmentation, many natural products have been tested which aimed at inhibiting production and expression of enzymes involved in rate-limiting steps of melanogenesis pathway including tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2).
Macelignan isolated from Myristica fragrans has shown inhibitory action on melanogenesis and significantly decreased the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2 expressions in melan-a murine melanocytes. Macelignan effectively inhibits melanin synthesis and thus could be used as a new skin whitening agent [60]. Panduratin A isolated from Kaempferia pandurata was also found to inhibit melanin biosynthesis. Through western blot analysis, panduratin A has shown decrease expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 proteins [61]. Similarly, curcumin suppressed the expression of melanogenesis-related protein expression such as tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells [62].
Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb, which contains various ginsenoside with therapeutic effects. Lee et al. [63] isolated floralginsenoside (FGA), ginsenoside Rd. (GRd), and ginsenoside Re (GRe) from Panax ginseng berry. Among the three, floralginsenoside (FGA) was observed to impart more inhibitory effect on melanogenesis through decreased expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to this, FGA also induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. Peng et al. [64] evaluated the antimelanogenic and depigmenting activity of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) from royal jelly of Apis mellifera. They have reported that 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) would reduce melanin biosynthesis through inhibiting the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF in B16F1 melanoma cells.
In a recent study, Ko et al. [65] investigated that n-hexane fraction of Sageretia thea downregulated melanogenesis through reduced expression of tyrosinase, TRP1, TRP2, and MITF. Bioactive compounds responsible for melanogenesis inhibition were identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis as methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate.
6.3 Inhibition of melanosome transfer to keratinocytes
Regulation of skin pigmentation depends on several processes. The transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes is one of the major factors which play a crucial role in cutaneous pigmentation. Hence there are various treatment modalities developed to inhibit melanosome transfer in order to prevent hyperpigmentation.
Niacinamide, a derivative of vitamin B3, can be found in many foods including meat, milk, eggs, green vegetables, etc. Greatens et al. [66] found that niacinamide inhibits melanosome transfer to keratinocytes in cocultures of keratinocytes and melanocytes. They have assessed the effect of niacinamide on facial hyperpigmented spots through human clinical trials and observed the reduction of hyperpigmented lesion. Methylophiopogonanone B extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus also appeared to reduce melanosome transfer [67]. Similarly, centaureidin (5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,6,4′-trimethoxyflavone) derived from Achillea millefolium also reduced melanosome transfer to keratinocytes. It was believed that centaureidin activates Rho which leads to melanocyte dendrite retraction without affecting melanogenic enzyme expression [68].
Hyperpigmentation is a common condition characterized by patches or spots on the skin. Pigment spots appear mainly on body parts that are exposed and hence are more commonly found on face. Facial hyperpigmentation is not only the problem concerned with pharmaceuticals and cosmeceutical sciences, but it is a problem that can pressurized the beauticians also to find out its treatment. Besides of being a disease, it is also associated with psychosocial complications. So, the appropriate treatment for hyperpigmentation is the need of the day. There are various treatment modalities available in medical sciences in order to treat hyperpigmentation, but many of them come under increasing scrutiny due to the side effects they impart on the patient skin. Herbal ingredients on the other hand are free from side effects and can hardly contaminate the environment. Hence, they are used for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation. Many plants and their products have been used successfully to treat hyperpigmentation. But still, there are infinite numbers of plants which are yet to be characterized for their efficacy to treat hyperpigmentary problems of the face. Scientists all over the world would therefore try to evaluate more potent agents using various state-of the-art techniques that are highly effective and safe for the treatment of hyperpigmentation.
The authors extend their heartfelt gratitude to the secretary and principal of Saifia College of Science, Bhopal, India, for the encouragement.
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2.Biosynthesis of melanin
3.Hyperpigmentary diseases of the face and their etiology
4.Treatment strategies for facial hyperpigmentation
5.Consequences of conventional treatment strategies
6.Natural herbal-based treatment for hyperpigmentation
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Naima Parveen, Ayesha S. Ali and Sharique A. Ali (July 11th 2019). On the Intricacies of Facial Hyperpigmentation and the Use of Herbal Ingredients as a Boon for Its Treatment: Cosmeceutical Significance, Current Challenges and Future Perspectives, Depigmentation, Tae-Heung Kim, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.84257. Available from:
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So, I know how to design web pages. I have read up and worked with CSS / XHMTL for a while, but I am never impressed with my work. Simply mediocre.
I have zero knowledge with creating graphics. How should I go about learning? For example, what softwares do you use [for a Mac]? Any books? tutorials?
I like fresh / clean designs [not graphic heavy], but do not know how to create anything worth looking at. For example, I would like to be able to create the graphics found in the header of Vanilla. Stuff like that.
Personally, I use Photoshop primarily. But in support of that I also use Fireworks and Flash from time to time.
That's just me though. Some use GIMP or other programs.
If you have an Intel based Mac, be advised that any current PS version (CS2 and down) aren't universal and will run under rosetta. This will be corrected in CS3, which is due out next year. However it isn't too bad under rosetta, so if you found a copy at a fair price it might be worth it.
If you've yet to take the Intel plunge, than the current PS versions would be fine.
To be honest, I can't say about the current Flash/Fireworks universal status. My primary dev machine is still a G5, and I've been waiting on CS3 to update with one of the new Mac Pro's and move the G5 to a supporting role.
That's like using skipping ropes to train for climbing Mount Everest!
Anyone telling you different is an amateur, and not a good one either.
I commiserate with you about good design. I can see something that I think looks good, but I find it difficult to understand why it looks good. So for me, the problem is more about design (what looks good on a page and what works well to achieve the objectives of the page) than execution (what technology to use to achieve the effect). I'm inclined to think that making the page "work" is more important that making it "pretty", but doing both is obviously best of all.
i will dig into some photoshop tutorials.... and see what happens. i am not looking to create anything intense. just to bring some taste to a layout.
Also remember, good design is about good ideas, not good equipment.
A fresh concept or way of looking at things will set you WAY above the rest.
3stripe is absolutely correct. What computer you use is really no importance. I use a MacBookPro, but it has no effect on my design.
Good design is all about ideas, namely problem solving.
My recommendation is start with educating yourself. Screw learning how to use programs. You don't need a car before you know how to drive.
I would recommend picking up a copy of Meggs' History of Graphic Design. It isn't for the weak of heart, but it's what I had to read in college and I still go back to it. Once you have a foundation, you will easily find new places in design to explore. It will give you the context to start experimenting with.
Quote: FuntimeBen What computer you use is really no importance. I use a MacBookPro, but it has no effect on my design.
Ah but it does have an effect, in a not so subtle way!
I have been training "designers" for 12 years and without exception, people with a PC/Windows background are seriously dull, unimaginative, boring and restricted to thinking in a box, very much like the Mac Ads on TV currently which is why I laugh so much when I see them.
When learning Illustrator for example, they focus and obsess on the steps and technical aspects of creating a path where the more creatively bent Mac people get on with being creative and enjoy their work once they master the skill.
I'm not sure what comes first chicken and egg style, do boring people select the PC/Windows platform or does the PC/Windows platform turn people into boring drones?
I suspect the latter because many of them, being forced into using Macs initially, become very addicted to the platform and in turn creative, successful and nice people to boot!
Similarly with programmers, web developers and the like. No doubting their technical expertise in making things "work" but the interface and front end is appallingly dull, unexciting and vomit-indicing, certainly not something one enjoys looking at let alone using.
Anyway, enough of my ranting, who got me started on this topic?
Quote: litbynature Maybe I should just stick to a PC for graphics for now..
That might be a little bit drastic. Photoshop under rosetta isn't that bad. Not what it would be natively, but far from unusable.
You could always use GIMP until CS3 becomes available, just to save a double purchase, although last I looked it was a little bit of a chore to get installed and such. If command lines scare you, skip it.
Either way, IMO, CS3 wouldn't be a reason to miss out on the Mac experience.
days of installing Gimp through command line have looong gone.
Cool. Might have to take 'er for a spin.
I agree that hardware is not going to transform you into an amazing designer.
@FuntimeBen: Thanks for the book reference. I do need a solid foundation in order to move ahead.
Just to throw another bone to the Gimp, I am an avid photoshop guy, but my current job does not have a copy. So I installed the latest Gimp here to try and make do (my primary function is application design, not graphic). I was pleasantly surprised at what it can do now once you get the hang of it.
I don't like the GIMP but, there is a modified version of GIMP I came across while I was off trekking in Linux a while back. It is modified to look like PS. The menus, etc, almost everything are made to look like PS. It made using it a little easier when I had to, at least you knew where to go for something you needed. You didn't have to search websites and tool bars looking for what GIMP calls Gaussian Blur etc.
Edit: now I remember, it is called GIMPShop.
In all honesty Wanderer, that is just your opinion and a righteous one at that. There are many reasons why someone may not be able to use a Mac (cost for starters, and yes, I'm a Mac owner) so getting up on your high horse effectively saying "if you don't use a Mac you'll be crap at design" is not exactly helpful.
I completely agree with you on the name of The GIMP 3stripe. It's a hangover from linux days of yore. They could do with rebranding it to something a little more modern.


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Both SFPD officers recently charged in shootings were rookies. Did inexperience play a role?
Local // Crime
Megan Cassidy Dec. 27, 2020 Updated: Dec. 27, 2020 6:47 a.m.
Both SFPD officers recently charged in shootings were...
1of2An officer at Bayview Station in a high-crime area near where one fatal shooting by a rookie cop took place.Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
2of2San Francisco Police Commissioner John Hamasaki says raising the age barrier for officers could benefit public safety.Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
San Francisco police Officer Christopher Flores had been in field training for five months before firing the single bullet that would send him to criminal court. Officer Christopher Samayoa had been on the streets for just four days when he killed a man in the line of duty.
The rookie cops will soon stand as the first tests of one of District Attorney Chesa Boudin's core priorities: holding police accountable for what he argues are unjustified uses of force.
The charges against the two men raise questions about whether new officers are being sent into situations they're not ready to handle and whether different training, more education or older recruits would produce better outcomes. How juries might weigh the officers' inexperience is an open question.
On Nov. 23, Boudin announced that he had filed manslaughter and other charges against Samayoa, who fatally shot a carjack suspect, Keita O'Neil, during a chase in the Bayview in 2017. The decision marked the first time a San Francisco prosecutor filed homicide charges against an on-duty officer in modern history.
On Dec. 7, Boudin announced that a grand jury had indicted both Flores and the man he shot, Jamaica Hampton, on assault charges after an encounter in the Mission District last December.
"Both cases involved officers who were new to the job, who were relatively inexperienced, behaving in a way that is a stark contrast from the way that other officers on scene with more experience behaved," Boudin said in a recent interview. "In any profession, including policing, I think when people are new to the job they're more prone to make mistakes."
Tony Montoya, the president of the San Francisco police officers union, disagreed, saying he wouldn't peg either of the San Francisco shootings on training or experience, and said each circumstance needs to be viewed independently. Montoya, who condemned the charges in both cases, stressed that both Flores and Samayoa were in highly stressful, volatile situations.
"I can't say that somebody with my experience — 32 years — would have necessarily acted any differently, based on the circumstances," Montoya said. "It's really hard to use a one-size-fits-all approach."
Boudin argues that both cases revealed "a clear distinction" between how experienced veteran officers and rookies use force.
Prosecutors believe none of the other, more veteran officers on the scene after the chase of O'Neil had drawn their weapons when Samayoa fired. O'Neil had allegedly carjacked a lottery employee's van and led police on a chaotic chase. He was reportedly unarmed, and moving toward or past the police car on foot, when Samayoa shot through a passenger window and fatally struck O'Neil in the head.
In the other incident, both Flores and his training officer, Sterling Hayes, were emerging from their patrol car when a man they were about to stop for questioning, Hampton, attacked them with a vodka bottle, they said.
The three darted around parked cars until Hampton appeared to charge at Hayes, who fired six times and sent Hampton to the ground.
Hayes was heard calling in the shots fired and appeared to turn around just in time to see Flores fire at Hampton as he struggled to stand.
"Stop stop stop stop stop!" Hayes yelled as he raced over to the two.
Hayes was not charged in the case.
Both cases are the subject of internal investigations. Samayoa was terminated in 2018, and Flores is currently assigned to the investigations bureau, police officials said. An officer's departure does not end a pending internal investigation, and the former officer will be notified of the outcome when the probe is completed.
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Police Chief Bill Scott said the department is constantly reviewing critical incidents in an effort to improve training and policies.
The department has expanded crisis intervention training and other drills to handle rapidly developing situations drawing several officers.
"We always want to get better at how we communicate together and … to whoever it is that we're coming into contact with," Scott said. "And we saw a need there to improve."
Though research on the topic is scant, some findings have suggested that age and experience can play a role in how likely officers are to reach for their weapons. A 2008 study shows that an officer's risk of shooting decreased with age. That data that was supported by a 2015 BuzzFeed analysis that found officers in many of the nation's most controversial police shootings were younger than 30.
Both officers prosecuted by Boudin's office were in their 20s at the time of the shootings, though older than the youngest rookies. Flores is now 28 and Samayoa is 31, officials said.
It is standard for departments to send younger patrols into the city's crime hotbeds, where the chance of a violent confrontation is higher, regardless of the officer. The benefits are twofold: Some officers with seniority prefer a beat with less action, and rookies get a crash course on all aspects of policing.
Local leaders have previously weighed whether stations like Bayview — one of the city's high-crime areas — should remain training grounds, said Police Commissioner Malia Cohen, a former city supervisor who led the charge in creating the city's independent Department of Police Accountability.
Samayoa's fatal shooting of O'Neil was in the Bayview, while Flores' shooting of Hampton occurred in the Mission, also a relatively high-crime area.
Officials have questioned whether police stations like Bayview — in one of the city's high-crime areas — should remain training grounds.
Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
The city's seven field training stations are Bayview, Tenderloin. Southern, Northern, Central, Mission and Ingleside. Bayview, Tenderloin and Mission had more reported violent crimes than other stations this year, according to police data.
Cohen said she'd like to revisit the question of where officers should be trained, though she understands why, at first glance, the Bayview seems a fitting beat for newcomers: The area is brimming with shootings, domestic violence and robberies of all kinds, "all in one little police district," she said.
"Perhaps we need to update that thinking," she said. "Is Bayview Station in the best interest of officers and the public to be a training station?"
Fellow Commissioner John Hamasaki said he's considering drafting a local policy similar to proposed state legislation that would require officers to have a bachelor's degree or be at least 25. Currently, recruits need a high school diploma or equivalent and to be at least 18.
While both Flores and Samayoa would have cleared that hurdle, Hamasaki said raising the age barrier could benefit public safety. He pointed to research that shows young adult brains are still developing well into the 20s.
S.F. Police Commissioner John Hamasaki is planning legislation requiring officers to have a bachelor's degree or be 25 years old.
Photo: Photos by Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
"It's a very good question," he said. "Is this the best time for them to be in that role, and for our city to have them in that role?"
Both Flores and Samayoa's status as rookies will almost certainly factor into their defense. To get a conviction, prosecutors would need to show in both cases that the officers' use of force wasn't "reasonable." Both shootings happened before 2020, when a California law changed the standard to allow officers to use deadly force only when "necessary."
Alison Berry Wilkinson, an attorney for Samayoa, said jurors will be asked to determine what a reasonable officer — with Samayoa's level of training and experience — would have done in the same situation.
"Certainly a four-day officer — which is what Officer Samayoa was — is different than somebody who might have been on the force for four years or 14 years or 24 years," she said. "That makes sense. They have a different level of training and experience that they apply to the decisions that they make."
Before the shooting, she said, Samayoa had never made a traffic stop where a citation was issued. In the final week of the academy, recruits undergo what's known as "officer survival school" in which officers are faced with training scenarios they're likely to encounter on the streets, Wilkinson said.
"Some of those scenarios that they ran with Officer Samayoa show a startling resemblance to what happened here," Wilkinson said. "He performed as they trained him under the circumstances and reacted exactly as the San Francisco Police Department had told him he should."
Nicole Pifari, Flores' attorney, said the fact that two rookies were involved in shootings wasn't as much related to their inexperience, "but a reminder that the job can be as dangerous on the first day as it is on your last."
"There is only so much training and preparation we can put these brave men and women through before finally putting them out on the street," she said. "While I do not believe these shootings occurred simply because the officers were brand-new, an officer's training and experience is certainly a relevant factor when evaluating a force incident."
Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Megan Cassidy
Follow Megan on:
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Megan Cassidy is a crime reporter with The Chronicle, also covering cops, criminal justice issues and mayhem. Previously, Cassidy worked for the Arizona Republic covering Phoenix police, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and desert-area crime and mayhem. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Missouri, and has additionally worked at the Casper Star-Tribune, National Geographic and an online publication in Buenos Aires. Cassidy can be reached on twitter at @meganrcassidy, and will talk about true crime as long as you'll let her.
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Stories about the toxicity of our food supply just keep rolling in.
As I wrote about recently, numerous samples of conventional apple juice were found to have unsafe and illegal levels of arsenic. And now orange juice is having its own set of problems.
Coca-Cola, which makes Minute Maid and Simply Orange, reported to the FDA on December 28th that some Brazilian growers of oranges that are used in the company's juices and those of its competitors had sprayed their trees with carbendazim, a toxic fungicide.
Organic Kaffir Limes – WOW, These are Amazing!
Organic Kaffir Limes - WOW, These are Amazing!
A while ago I did a story on gold nugget mandarins and when I saw this unknown fruit above, I couldn't help but think of them because of the similarity of the rind.
And just as I had never seen gold nugget mandarins before, the same was true with these organic kaffir limes.
When I was in my local organic market the other day, a handful of unconventionally-looking oranges were sitting in a back shelf.
I had never seen anything that look like these and then asked the guy working there a question.
At the recent 2010 Natural Products Expo East Trade Show in Boston, I spoke with Larry Plesent, the founder of Vermont Soap Organics.
Vermont Soap Organics makes my absolute favorite fruit and vegetable wash. Yes, washing with water is just not enough. It is important to use a produce wash but not just any one.
In this video, Larry explains the benefits of using a produce wash and discusses the main ingredients in his product.
Please be aware that not all produce washes are created equally. Many contain an ingredient called grapefruit seed extract. There is a good deal of controversy around grapefruit seed extract and it is something that I try to avoid.
If you want to order this fanastic produce wash, click HERE.
Last week, I went to the Natural Products Expo East Trade Show in Boston. I just absolutely love these shows. Not only do I get to meet some fantastic people but I have the opportunity to see the newest products on the market.
These are the best organic food products that I came across.
I can only describe Sipp's ginger blossom soda in one word – WOW.
When I first took a sip, I experienced the ginger. Then literally within one second, the ginger vanished and vanilla poured in. It was like Houdini played a trick on me.
The aftertaste was where things calmed down and I could reflect on what was in my mouth. If I could compare it to anything, I'd say this drink tastes like a cream soda. The few ingredients include ginger, lime, vanilla and agave nectar.
I just love reading announcements like this. Researchers at Washington State University just released the results of their study of strawberries and concluded that organic is superior to conventional in several different categories.
Not that this is any great surprise to me but having empirical evidence is always beneficial.
– Longer shelf life and greater dry matter.
– Higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds.


Drive-by training. Never heard of it? It is exactly what it sounds like. You drive to a training facility (or an instructor drives to you), for a day or three the instructor delivers the pre-packaged training class, then everyone drives back home. It's not the best training model ever invented. There is generally no student assessment, and the only instructor/course provider accountability is reputation. Even so, many good ideas can be shared and lots of students come away feeling that it was well worth "the drive."
As it turns out, I've been delivering a lot of drive-by training to software testers this fall. That in itself isn't particularly noteworthy -- end-of-the-budget year is a popular time for drive-by training -- but something that is noteworthy is that I have noticed a rise in some disturbing behaviors among the individuals and organizations that select and attend drive-by training.
At first, I thought it was just me. But after an informal poll (and some lively discussions) with my employees and trainer friends in the testing realm, I became increasingly convinced that the behaviors I'm noticing are not exclusive to me and that I'm not the only one who thinks they are on the rise.


This culvert outfalls to the River Croal via two 4ft RCPs and carries a small watercourse under Bolton.
Around 80m from the outfall the pipes joined in a small chamber, the next RCP was slightly bigger and easier to walk down.
The pipe turned to brick after 100m, rather nice brick shafts gave the odd chance to stand up and take breath. After another 100m the brick expanded into a chamber, which has some lovely patterns on the stonework.
It looked like the original stone arch had suffered a collapse or needed reinforcing at some point so had been blocked off and replaced with two small RCPs.
The chamber smelt fresh and a set of small stone steps went upto a CSO just in the left hand RCP.
The RCPs continued only for a short stretch before expanding back into the original tunnel. The stone arch from the previous chamber could be seen on the wall, probably the oldest part of the culvert which had been built out further with brick on both sides, then the concrete downstream section added with the construction of a large roadway.
The tunnel changes shape and alters between brick and stone sections, before shrinking into a 5ft, then 3ft RBP.
I followed this up for a while before giving up at a small brick shaft to the surface.


STRUMIS LTD is delighted to participate at The Big 5, the International Building and Construction Show from 25-28 November, 2013, Dubai, UAE.
The Big 5 is the Middle East's largest construction exhibition. In Its unique venue, this exhibition is a way to source new and innovative products and provides the widest and most comprehensive range of building and construction products. An international exhibition, Big 5 is designed to attract a wide audience including; construction contractors, engineers and architects. This year there will be hundreds of seminars which you can attend for FREE!
STRUMIS LTD welcomes any delegate registered/attending The Big 5 to visit our sales representatives on stand number 2B77, where we will be demonstrating our solutions for efficient steel fabrication and construction management.
Delegates visiting our stand will witness new initiatives for steel fabrication and also new enhancements with our products. You will also experience and see some of the new features in our upcoming V9 of our Steel Fabrication Management and Information System – STRUMIS.
So come along to The Big 5 show where our Middle East team will be there showcasing our STRUMIS system for larger and medium sized steelwork contractors, together with our Essentials solution for smaller fabrication shops. We will also be demonstrating our Building Information Modeling (BIM) collaboration software - BIMReview, and introducing BIMProject - our construction lifecycle management software for procurement and construction teams.
STRUMIS LTD, along with its Steel Fabrication Management Information System – STRUMIS, is delighted to announce their dedicated seminar session at The Big 5 titled - BIM for Steel Fabrication.
Delegates who have registered to attend The Big 5 can come and attend this FREE seminar to understand new initiatives from STRUMIS LTD for Steel Fabrication.
28th November 2013, at 14:30 – 15:00PM, theatre No. 1. Seminar theatres will be located in Makhtoum Hall on the exhibition floor.
Simply attend this seminar at the above time and date or visit our stand (2B77) for more details.
Prize draw will take place on Thursday, 28th after our seminar at 3pm local time.
*terms and conditions apply. Licence will be given after the show via email.


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The Best Streaming Devices of 2017
Posted July 11, 2017 - Blog Posts,News and Blog
You don't need a smart TV to watch content from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon and thousands of other apps. It's super cheap and easy to connect up your set to a streaming device and smarten up. Check out our up to date rundown of the best streaming devices so far in 2017.
Google Chromecast (around £30)
Cheap and blissfully easy to use. Simply plug this compact HDMI dongle into the back of your TV for quick and effortless streaming from your smartphone, tablet or PC, using Google Chrome Browser or the Google Cast app (now rebranded as Google Home). And with your mobile device acting as the remote, you can then stream content from BBC iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and other services straight to your TV.
Apple TV (3rd Generation) (around £80)
As you'd expect from Apple, the design is stylish, slick and intuitive. Apple TV lets you easily stream Apple Music content from your PC, Mac, iPad or iPhone running Apple's software. And like the rest of Apple Music, you just pay for what you want. The interface is presented in a clean, uncluttered way with apps for a range of on-demand services. If you're a fan of everything Apple, you should consider Apple TV even if you already own a smart TV.
Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa (around £40)
The immaculately designed Amazon Fire Stick plugs straight into an Amazon account – making it easy to stream any TV programme or film from Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But you can also access other services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub thanks to a range of pre-installed apps. The Alexa voice remote facility is included with a microphone for voice searches. Just say "Launch Netflix", or "Skip ahead five minutes" and Alexa will do the rest. Alternatively, you can upgrade to an Amazon Fire TV box with 4K video, a faster interface and bigger storage.
Roku 3 (around £70)
With the biggest range of apps available, this premium all-rounder gets great reviews – it's been described by TechRadar as "the gold standard in streaming". Not only does the latest Roku 3 let you enjoy TV programmes and films from the likes of Netflix, ITV Hub, and All4, you can also stream music from Spotify and other services and play a selection of files from a USB drive. The supplied remote can also be used as a motion controller, which is handy for apps and games. And Roku's recently revamped app is now much easier to navigate.
Now TV (around £15)
With Sky's cheapest Now TV box boasting 1080p video (and 7:1 surround sound), at £15 it's astonishing value for money. The device is designed to stream Sky's Now TV service, including movies, entertainment and sports channels. That means you can watch some of the best shows on Sky as well as Sky Sports. The box also has apps for BBC iPlayer, the ITV Hub, All4 and Demand 5, as well as YouTube, BBC Sport and Spotify.
PS4 Pro (around £340)
Alongside a top games console, if you go for a PS4 Pro you'll be getting a top streaming device – and one that's capable of playing 4K and HDR content. Access to 4K content is gettoing better every day, with streaming services starting to serve up 4K as an option alongside HD. The PS4 Pro is the perfect device to ride that wave, with a gaming powerhouse thrown in for good measure.


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