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General Adult or Forensic West London Forensic Services West London NHS Trust is one of the largest most diverse mental health providers in the UK, employing around 3,000 staff who are providing care and treatment for around 20,000 people each year and serving a local population of approximately 700,000 residents. West London Forensic Services provide assessment, treatment and care in conditions of medium and low security and community for men and women from London and other parts of the UK. There is a community Forensic CAMHS (FCAMHS) team within this service. Local Services provide inpatient and community care for adults of working age and older people and community CAMHS in Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham. The Trust acts as a teaching centre for Undergraduates and for Postgraduate Trainees in psychiatry. The forensic service also attracts a significant level of international interest from students and practising clinicians who do short term visiting placements. Applications are invited from candidates with experience of Forensic Psychiatry for a Consultant Psychiatrist post in the FOS Team of West London Forensic Service (WLFS), West London Mental Health NHS Trust. Although it is preferred that applicants have Higher Training in Forensic Psychiatry, this is not essential if experience in forensic psychiatry can be demonstrated. Applicants must be registered with a licence to practise with the GMC. Inclusion on the Specialist Register or within six months of interview is a requirement. All applicants should have Section 12 Approval and Approved Clinician Status. The post holds a community case load and works with a full multidisciplinary team. The salary range for this post is 82,096 - 110,683 per annum prorated plus London Zone Weighting of 2,162 per annum. Candidates are invited to contact Dr Claire Dillon, Clinical Director (

lus Laboris To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. What do employers have to consider when employees go on holidayabroad in COVID-19 times? This article explains the Belgianposition and Ius Laboris lawyers from around the Alliance provide aperspective on employer's rights and obligations in theirjurisdictions. Belgium This article has been updated based on the availableinformation until 4 July 2021. As the government measures have beenamended several times in recent months, it is always recommendedyou consult the relevant governmental website. The summer of 2021 seems to be another summer in Belgium oftravel measures, possible COVID-19 testing and quarantineobligations. Many employees will be leaving for holidays abroad inthe coming days or weeks, which raises several questions foremployers. Employers must take adequate prevention measures inrelation to COVID-19 and in general to ensure the employees'health and safety is not compromised. In addition, from 27 June 2021 teleworking is no longermandatory in Belgium, although it remains strongly recommendeduntil (currently) 30 September 2021. So what are your rights andduties as an employer if your employees return from a holiday riskarea? To determine which regions pose a risk, the Belgian FSPForeign Affairs uses coloured risk areas (see here): Green zone: regions or countries for which a low risk ofinfection has been identified; Orange zone: regions or countries for which a moderatelyelevated risk of infection has been identified; Red zone: regions or countries where individuals are at a highrisk of infection; Very high-risk area: regions or countries where a variant ofconcern has spread to a significant extent. The list of countries in the EU and the Schengen Area is updatedevery week; the list for third countries is updated every twoweeks. 1 Before departure The employer cannot oblige the employeeto communicate his or her planned travel destination(s) nor can theemployer forbid the employee to travel to a risk zone. It is, ofcourse, possible to discuss travel destinations and any quarantineobligations involved with employees on a voluntary basis. It isalso recommended to focus on clear communication, urging employeesto follow and strictly comply with the travel restrictions of theBelgian FPS Foreign Affairs. 2 On return 2.1 Mandatory information? The employee is not obliged to inform the employer of his or hertravel destination(s). Systematically requesting employees'travel destinations could also cause discussion with regard totheir right to privacy. The Belgian Data Protection Authority is ofthe opinion that an employer cannot oblige its employees to fill ina questionnaire regarding their recent travel destinations.However, the employer can draw the employee's attention to thegeneral obligation for all individuals present in the workplace tocomply with the rules imposed by the government regarding COVID-19(including filing in the PLF form, explained below, and the testingand quarantine obligations if applicable). Compliance can bechecked by the occupational physicians and by the inspectionservices, who may also ask all persons involved to provide evidenceof compliance with these obligations. In any event, if the employeeis placed in quarantine, s/he must inform the employer immediatelyand, if the employer so requests, provide a medical or quarantinecertificate. In practice, the employee will therefore have tocommunicate his or her return from a very high-risk area. 2.2 Mandatory test and medical certificate? The employer cannot oblige the employee to undergo a COVID-19test or to provide a medical certificate stating that the employeeis fit for work. Therefore, the access to the work floor cannot bedenied to an employee who has returned from a green or orangezone. 2.3 Mandatory quarantine? An employer cannot oblige an employee to go into quarantine whenreturning from international travel. Upon return to Belgium,employees and their family members must complete the PassengerLocator Form ('PLF' see herehttps://travel.info-coronavirus.be/public-health-passenger-locator-form)within 48 hours before arrival in Belgium. The PLF will considerthe individual's movements over the last 14 days to determineif mandatory quarantine or test obligations apply. No PLF must becompleted if the stay outside Belgium lasted less than 48 hoursunless the person travels to Belgium by aeroplane or boat fromanywhere or by train or bus from a country outside the EU or theSchengen Area. No quarantine nor test obligations apply on returnfrom a green or orange zone. Access to the workplace can thus notautomatically be denied to an employee returning from green ororange zones. However, the employer and the employee can of coursemake the necessary arrangements for teleworking if possible. If employees are returning from a red zone or a very high-riskarea, as of 1 July 2021, a distinction must be made based on thedigital COVID-19 certificate (proof that someone is vaccinated,recently tested negative or recovered from COVID-19). In addition,a distinction must be made between Belgian residents, EU/Schengenresidents and non-EU/Schengen residents. In our overview below we assume the employees are Belgianresidents as this situation will be the most common for Belgianemployers. The rules for EU/Schengen residents and non-EU Schengenresidents are not included in our overview below. 2.4 Temporary unemployment or sick pay? The following principles apply with regard to temporaryunemployment and sick pay: The employee is not entitled to temporary unemployment benefitsif s/he is fit for work and must undergo compulsory quarantinebecause of a return from a red zone that was already red on thedate of departure (e.g. the employee does not have a COVID-19certificate and does not take a PCR test or the employee takes apositive PCR test and is not fit for work). The employee is also not entitled to temporary unemploymentbenefits when returning from a very high-risk area that was alreadyconsidered a very high-risk area at the time of departure. TheNational Employment Office (NEO) FAQs do mention an exception foressential travel, such as travelling for professional reasons. TheNEO reserves the right, in the event of professional travel, toverify whether the employer has not acted manifestly unreasonablyby sending the employee abroad (this will be a question of fact).If the zone had not yet been designated as very high-risk at thetime of departure, an employee who is fit for work and cannottelework is entitled to temporary unemployment benefits('quarantine certificate'). The employee is entitled to sick pay for 30 days if s/he isunfit for work due to COVID-19 infection ('medicalcertificate').

Mad Max could be getting a new video game (pic: Warner Bros.) Evidence has emerged that Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios were working on a sequel to Mad Max, but its unclear if they still are Considering what a massive influence the movies have had on the concept of a post-apocalyptic world, it is strange that theres only ever been one big budget game based on Mad Max. There was a little known NES game back in 1990, and a SNES sequel that had to be renamed to Outlander because the publisher lost the licence, but the only adaptation worth talking about is the 2015 game by Just Cause and Rage 2 developer Avalanche Studios. Although a little formulaic at times, the game was generally well received and seemed to be at least a minor hint, but theres never been any hint of a follow-up, until the tweet below was spotted by fans. Before times, at @AvalancheSweden in New York, when ONeil invited me to get scanned to be in Mad Max 2, as a rebel. The magic of #photogrammetry, 3D Scanning, & many cameras @MadMaxGame. pic.twitter.com/gIjzC3zM54 WENDY W FOK | (@W_W_F) February 7, 2022 The tweet shows digital researcher Wendy W. Fox at Avalanches New York offices, having her face scanned using photogrammetry cameras, for what she describes as Mad Max 2. The photo was apparently taken before the pandemic but other than stating that her face would have been used for a rebel character theres no information on what the game is and whether its still in development. It is possible she may have been mistaken about what game she was been scanned for, as Avalanche also worked on the Mad Max-esque Rage 2. However, that was released in May 2019 and so unless shes underplaying how much earlier this was before the pandemic started, it doesnt seem likely that it was that. 3D scanning technology was not used for the original Mad Max, in fact its poor quality character models were a notable flaw, so it does make sense that it would be something that Avalanche would want to improve in a sequel. Theres also recently been talk of a new Mad Max film, a prequel focusing on the Furiosa character from Fury Road, thats supposed to start production this year. That would certainly be a good reason to start work on a new game and while the tweet doesnt make any claim that the sequel is still in development so it could have been cancelled its certainly enough to remain hopeful. Avalanche is currently working on Xbox console exclusive Contraband for Microsoft but theyre big enough to have two major games in production at once, with the original Mad Max releasing the same year as Just Cause 3. Email [email protected], leave a comment below, and follow us on Twitter. MORE : Fortnite leaks point to Mad Max crossover following Season 7 finale MORE : Mad Max review Fallout on wheels MORE : Mad Max preview and interview Australian U-turn Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at [email protected] For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.

Share Seaport Community Health Center, 53 Schoodic Drive, Belfast. BELFAST In a July 7 email to patients, Seaport Community Health Center announced plans to move operations to the Bank of America (formerly MBNA) complex at 21 Schoodic Drive . Seaports parent company, Penobscot Community Health Care, the email said, is under contract to buy the property with closing anticipated before the end of the year. Seaport, which currently serves 8,000 people with family medicine, walk-in care, mental health and recovery, pharmacy and care management services, according to the press release, is bursting at the seams, the email said. The move will allow Seaport to expand and offer new services as well. Kate Carlisle, director of mission engagement at PCHC said the company would be purchasing the entire Bank of America property and move Seaport to one of the buildings in the complex. Rumors of the deal had been circulating, she said, and the company thought it was time to release the news to patients. I think its great for the community, she said. We know we are projected to grow, and would not have been able to continue to offer all services at the current 53 Schoodic Drive location. Details and arrangements are being finalized and no further information is being made available until after the sale is complete. Officials said in the email they do not expect any interruption of service or change in providers.

x Highlights The three winners will get access to Airtels digital innovation labs and partner ecosystem to deploy their innovations at scale. 237 Indian startups working on solutions for 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital ads, and digital entertainment took part in the challenge. Bharti Airtel ("Airtel"), India's premier communications solutions provider, today announced the winners of the 'Airtel India Startup Innovation Challenge', which was organised in partnership with Invest India. The Challenge invited entries from Indian startups working on innovative solutions across 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital advertising, and digital entertainment. Over 237 technology startups from across India participated in the challenge, underscoring the strong response the challenge received from homegrown startups. Nuronics Labs, a provider of real-time intelligence using composite AI on audio files, text files, and images was declared the winner of the challenge. Enthu.Ai, which makes voice data searchable using speech AI, and Chimes Radio, India's first podcast platform for kids, offers educational & entertaining content that encourages creativity and curiosity in them, came second and third, respectively. The three winners of the competition will get access to Airtel's Digital Innovation Lab and an opportunity to be a part of the Airtel Start-up Accelerator Program. The Program invests in early-stage start-ups engaged in developing solutions based on new-age technologies which also complements Airtel's Digital vision across segments. Adarsh Nair, CEO of Airtel Digital, said, "We are thrilled to see the incredible response to the challenge and the innovation that was showcased. It's heartening to see how India's startup ecosystem is thriving. We welcome the winners to Airtel's digital ecosystem and thank everyone who participated and wish them the very best for the future." About Airtel: Headquartered in India, Airtelis a global communications solutions provider with over 480 Mn customers in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India's largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second-largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel's retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloudbased communication.

Tweet on Twitter (MENAFN - Baystreet.ca) Sometimes, it's a clerical error, and sometimes it IS the fault of the government. So it was that Charlotte, North Carolina-based XSport Global, Inc. (OTC:XSPT) discovered on this week, that the Wyoming Secretary of State had inadvertently entered the wrong number of shares of the Company's authorized common stock. It seems the state secretary's website indicated that the Company had authorized an amendment to increase the number of shares of common stock to six trillion shares. However, this was a clerical input mistake made by the Secretary of State which immediately fixed the error to the correct number the Company had, in fact, authorized five billion. XSPT is reassuring its shareholders that it did not authorize an increase that high and immediately took steps to ensure the correct capitalization was showing on the Secretary of State's website. XSport Global is a leading youth and collegiate sports technology and media holding company focused on developing disruptive sports-centric technologies and related media projects around the world As for the shares which are trading, XSPT's were going for 36-100ths of a cent, or 63.6% higher, on volume topping 16.1 million shares. MENAFN1308201902120000ID1098879425

Insect UK company, Premier Nutrition, has launched a feed ingredients matrix, with global relevance, to help nutritionists formulate livestock rations more accurately. The Premier Atlas contains more than 260 raw materials and 40,000 nutrients. This edition also takes account of 59 new ingredients. Premier Nutritions pig director, Mick Hazzledine, who led the update of the feed matrix, said, from a performance point of view, with feed conversion improving all the time in pigs and poultry, the company looks to keep on top of nutrient values: It is our bible of raw material values that we redo every four years, it gets bigger and bigger each update. As a commercial nutritionist there are two aspects to your job. What you are trying to do is define a certain, consistent level of nutrients to the animal whether that be a pig, chicken or ruminants. You need to understand your raw materials in depth. And that is what we are doing with the Atlas the first part defines the nutrients in the raw materials and the second part focuses on how many nutrients you need for a growing pig, a chicken or a cow. Premier Nutrition pig product director, Mick Hazzledine It is a significant undertaking for the company: We use our quality control data over the intervening four years, we review international papers, we work with commercial companies such as Evonik because it does a lot of amino acid analysis, then we summarize all that in the publication, which we make available to our clients, whether they are feed mills, or farmers or those working in academia. The extensive guide covers a comprehensive analysis of ingredients for cereals, roots, legumes, by-products and more. Raw material processing Accompanying text in the feed matrix defines how the raw materials are produced because the nutrient values of feed ingredients can very often depend on how the product is processed, particularly when it comes to rapeseed, soy and dry distillers grains: To fully understand a raw material you need to understand what the grind,

/ KUNR Public Radio Lucy Comstock, director at Incline Village Nursery School, inside the KUNR studios on November 17, 2021. While some child care facilities in our region are full, with waiting lists, others are struggling with enrollment. Lucy Comstock is the director at Incline Village Nursery School, a child care facility for children aged 3 to 5 in North Lake Tahoe. Comstock spoke with our business reporter Kaleb Roedel about the financial and staffing challenges theyre facing during the pandemic. Kaleb Roedel: What are the biggest impacts the pandemic has had on the child care industry over these past two years? Lucy Comstock: For us, one of the biggest things would be enrollment, which then affects our finances, which then affects the ability to operate our facility and a high quality educational capacity. Truly, one of the biggest things we see is that we've operated in the red for two years. Luckily, we have a deep well of fundraising in our community that we've been able to draw upon, and the PPP loans from the federal government have helped keep us afloat. Normally, our numbers in our older class at a full enrollment would be 26 children. We currently have six children enrolled who pay for their spots, and we have two scholarship children, giving us a total of eight enrolled. And, in our younger group, we have only 13, and normally we would have 24. Roedel: And how have all of those challenges affected the people, like yourself, working in the industry? Comstock: I would say it has definitely burned out a lot of workers. I have known several employees in my previous company, who left the industry entirely and went to, like, office jobs, medical field jobs. And they just got out because it was too draining physically, emotionally, mentally, whatever it was, for them personally. It was too draining to operate in the childcare facility capacity anymore, and that's a loss for us, because those are teachers that we had invested in for years at a time in some cases, that had experienced that you can't replicate in a new hire, and that leadership and mentorship that they could have offered to new employees entering the workforce. Roedel: And what potential impacts can that have on the kids? Comstock: Well, it means that the children might not have as high quality teachers, or knowledgeable teachers who have the same skill sets that are necessary for understanding their skill and ability level. A lot of people come in and might not know what normal developmental milestones are for these children, and that expectation can be hard when a teacher has an expectation of a child that doesn't match up with that child's ability level. So, if you have a child who's on the spectrum, or you have a child who has [Oppositional Defiant] Disorder, and you've never experienced that in your life, you don't have the skills and abilities to connect with that child where they are, and then their learning environment suffers because of it. And they might not get to a point of managing those developmental issues, if they don't have a teacher who knows how to manage those developmental issues, but if you have someone who's brand new that year, and they don't have any of that knowledge or experience, then that child's learning environment could be harmed for that whole year that they're there. Roedel: There are out there that show one in three working families are struggling to find the child care that they need. What are some things that should be done or need to be done to help change that? Comstock: I definitely think that the definition of poverty has to change that. That benchmark, numerically, needs to be much higher for families. Because, as we all know, if you're a family of four, and you only have $40,000 a year, especially in Reno, that's, basically, functionally poverty. Because given those numbers, they don't qualify for aid in Medicaid, they don't qualify for food stamps, they don't qualify for rental assistance, and, now, they wouldn't qualify for child care assistance. Roedel: It seems like it took a pandemic to shine a light on how broken the child care system is in the U.S. Has this crisis, perhaps, quietly been happening for some time? Comstock: Absolutely, and I think that one of the things is that child care starts from birth; you need child care from the time your child is born, so that you can either work or stay home. And now families are having to choose to stay home because the cost of child care is so high, especially in the infant range. Basically, putting an infant in care is like paying rent for your baby; its about as much as some people pay in rent. And, so, the choice has been hard for a long time on families to choose whether or not their child could get a quality early childhood education based on cost, or whether or not they just simply have to keep them home. That was KUNRs Kaleb Roedel speaking with Lucy Comstock, the director of Incline Village Nursery School. Kaleb is doing ongoing coverage of the regional child care crisis. If you are a parent whos been impacted by the situation and are interested in sharing your experience, email us at or call us at 775-682-6300. Tags

International Conference on Structural and Civil Engineering Reasaearch Sunday, April 12, 2020 -- Thursday, April 23, 2020, 0900 - 1700 Industry Events - Civil Engineering - Construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates EuroSciCon warmly welcomes to all the experts in the field of Structural and Civil Engineering to attend its upcoming conference on Structural and Civil Engineering Research, to be held during April 22-23, 2020 in Dubai, UAE. The Conference is based on the Theme: Exploring latest Innovations & Modern trends in Structural and civil Engineering. Structural and Civil Engineering Conferences Connects Experts from 50+ Countries & Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Asia, Australia, Middle East. For more kindly visit us:- https://civilengineering.euroscicon.com/ Agenda Structural engineering,Civil engineering,Architecture,water engineering, Environmental engineering, Transportation and traffic Engineering, Concrete technology, Bridge and tunnel design and engineering, Reinforced concrete Stricture,Automation in construction,pavement Starting Price Per Person

, will lead a discussion titled Connected Health: Applications in Goal Setting and Accountability , which is about the role of innovation in healthcare. The event is on January 16,12:00 to 1:30 p.m., at the NIIC. There is no charge to attend and registration is required. Register for the event on Eventbrite . Healthcare treatment and prevention are linked to making behavioral changes and cultivating resources to support those changes. The introduction of innovative technological approaches to goal setting, progress tracking, and achievement can and will enhance the outcomes in healthcare, said Labenberg. This innovation will be the future of controlling costs while simultaneously improving outcomes for both individuals and communities. The use of this technology can be used to greatly reduce epidemics, including maternal and infant mortality, as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Patton developed the STRE.ME mobile app to help users set goals, engage accountability partners, receive encouragement, and track daily progress. Connected technologies like this can be implemented in a wide range of business and personal applications from empowering healthcare providers to improve their services to encouraging patients to stay on track with preventative and ongoing care, said Patton. The Connected Health Lab is the sponsor of the event and is located in the biomedical wing on the NIICs campus. This event has implications for all three focus areas of NIICs Connected Health Lab: cost, quality of care, and patient experience. Modifying patient behaviors and medical team interactions have strong potential to broadly impact all three areas, said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC. STRE.ME is one of a growing number of high-tech and bio-science startups incubated at the NIIC. Several health tech companies have launched their businesses at the NIIC, including BioPoly, LLC, Solstice Medical, LLC, and OrthoPediatrics to name a few. This event is for those interested in large-scale public health issues and how

Save The Possum Point Power Station, near the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, burned coal from 1948 to 2002, using expansive ash-filled ponds to store the coal ash waste. (Courtesy of Dominion Energy) Dominion Energy wants to create a permanent solution for a decades-long pileup of coal ash by building a new, lined landfill on its Possum Point property by the Potomac River. The Virginia utility company presented its plans to a small group of stakeholders during an online meetingin January. The Possum Point Power Station burned coal for power from 1948 to 2002, creating expansive ponds throughout the property to store the resulting ash. The sites five ash ponds have over the last six years been consolidated into one that now holds 4 million cubic yards of coal ash enough to fill the Capitol Rotunda 83 times. Nationwide, coal ash sitting in ponds and pits has become a large industrial waste stream, leaving states and utilities grappling with strategies for safe disposal. The ash contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and mercury that pose health risks to people, fish and wildlife. Virginia is among a handful of states with coal ash closure requirementsthat are stricter than the federal standards were at the time the state law was passed. Spencer Adkins, director of power generation projects at Dominion, explained during the online meeting that the companys preferred method for handling the ash at Possum Point is to create a new lined landfill next to the existing storage pond. Doing so would cost $347 million, Dominion estimates. Recycling half of the ash to create building materials and removing the rest by truck would cost about twice as much. Recycling half and removing the rest by rail would cost about three times as much as would removing all of the ash to an offsite lined landfill, the company says. In terms of impact, cost and permitting, we think this is a very attractive option. We think it is least impactful to the local neighborhood, Adkins said. Dominion originally planned to permanently cap the coal ash in its current location in the clay-lined pond. The company took a similar approach to legacy coal ash pits at three other power stations located along Chesapeake Bay rivers in Virginia. But a 2019 state lawrequired utilities to move piles of coal ash currently stored at a handful of power stations to landfills with modern synthetic liners, or to recycle them. The law also requires that about 25% of the ash from at least two of the four affected sites be recycled. Some environmentalists whove followed Dominions coal ash decisions for years still oppose keeping the ash at Possum Point. My position is consistent, Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks said. We want all the ash moved from the banks of the Potomac River, and we want as much recycled as possible and [the rest] put in a lined landfill so it doesnt threaten water quality. And we want it hauled out by rail. We havent changed our position. Those who prefer transporting the ash by rail say it would reduce the impact of truck traffic and emissions on the local community as well as the potential for coal ash spills on roads. The landfill proposed for a northcentral section of the Possum Point property would also be close to a residential development called Potomac Shores which has sprawled across the peninsula since coal ash discussions first started in 2016. Some homes that sold for more than $500,000 in 2020 would be about 700 feet from the proposed landfill. Does Prince William County support landfilling coal ash 700 feet from residential properties? I just cant imagine, Naujoks said. Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey was cordial when she appeared onscreen at the end of the public presentation by Dominion. But later, she told local media that she was very disappointed in Dominions plan to put the ash in an onsite landfill. I think Dominion is recommending this because it is the most inexpensive way to solve the problem, Bailey told Inside Nova. Inexpensive is not always the best when youre talking about human lives. Bailey did not return calls for comment. She also said at the close of Dominions presentation that she plans to assemble a local taskforce to discuss options with Dominion. The utility will need to seek a permit from the county to construct a coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill for the ash, and the State Corporation Commission must approve its plans and any additional costs to ratepayers. The new landfill would also need air and wetlands permits from the state, Dominion said. Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat representing the 36th District, which includes Possum Point, and has been one of the most vocal opponents of storing coal ash in unlined pits near the Potomac. Now, he said, he sees Dominions plan as in line with the law he helped to pass, and he thinks decisionmakers need to take a long-term view of the property. I think theres not going to be a power plant there in 20 years, and Prince William County needs to have a sense for their vision for that peninsula, said Surovell, citing the 2020 Virginia Clean Energy Actthat requires Dominion to produce energy from entirely renewable sources by 2045. I think that vision ought to drive the outcome. County residents commenting on a Facebook post were skeptical of Dominions cost estimates, particularly that it would cost more to carry the coal ash out by rail than by truck. They were also critical of Surovell, who will soon no longer represent the area under new redistricting lines and has received campaign donationsfrom Dominion, his second-highest donor. Dominion is working to dismantle longstanding coal ash piles and pits at three other power station near Bay rivers in Virginia. It plans to recycle half of the coal ash from ponds at Chesterfield Power Station on the James River and to move the other half to a nearby existing, lined landfill. Ash from Bremo Power Station, also near the James River, would be placed in a new, lined landfill. All of the ash from Chesapeake Energy Center on the Elizabeth River would be recycled.

Register deFacto Global, a Microsoft Inner Circle AI-Partner, offers Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) enabled solutions that empower companies to better manage their companys performance and drive competitive advantage. deFacto Globals flagship product, deFacto Planning, is the smartest, fasting thinking corporate planning product. Intelligize.AI, the firms consulting and development practice, builds custom AI and ML solutions. Customers include Fortune 500, leading brand name and mid-market companies across a wide-range of industries. Is deFacto Planning the solution youve been missing? Leverage these questions and ask yourself if deFacto planning might be of value to your business. Does your company struggle with your annual budgeting process? A. deFacto Planning is a best in class budgeting application full featured, powerful and scalable. Does your company struggle with the monthly close process? A. deFacto Planning uses native Excel tied to a SQL database, so getting the best of both worlds radically reduces time and effort needed to close. Is it difficult to get access to your Dynamics data in a format that you need? A. deFacto Plannings tight integration with Dynamics products assures seamless access to your data. Bring your questions and visit with the deFacto team at ASPIRE19!

Tunisian Eco-Pioneers Battle to Save Sahara Oasis (AFP) Tunisian Eco-Pioneers Battle to Save Sahara Oasis (AFP) Published March 20th, 2022 - 09:26 GMT Employees cultivate the Dar Hi hotel's vegetable garden amidst palm tree in the remote Nefta oasis, a seven-hour drive from the coastal Tunisian capital Tunis, on February 12, 2022. The remote oasis in Tunisia's desert was exhausted by decades of wasteful water use for agriculture -- but now pioneers around an eco-lodge are reviving the spot with innovative projects. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) A remote oasis in Tunisia's desert was exhausted by decades of wasteful water use for agriculture -- but now pioneers around an eco-lodge are reviving the spot with innovative projects. They hope their back-to-basics approach can keep alive the ancient Saharan caravan stop and its traditions as a sustainable alternative to the region's high-irrigation date plantations. "Among the palm trees, everything can grow," said Mohamed Bougaa, 63, a farmer in the remote Nefta oasis, a seven-hour drive from the coastal capital Tunis. "There's everything you need here: vegetables, fruit. We can plant peppers, tomatoes, carrots -- everything grows when there's sun and water." The problem has been that the Nefta spring -- which once delivered some 700 litres (185 gallons) of water per second -- has been exhausted to irrigate the region's famous dates, called "deglet nour." "The Nefta springs dried up 20 years ago," said Bougaa. As underground water sources have failed and summer temperatures peaked at a scorching 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit) last August, the season's crop has been disappointing. Mimicking Nature French businessmen Patrick Ali El Ouarghi (R) is pictured in the remote Nefta oasis, a seven-hour drive from the coastal Tunisian capital Tunis, on February 12, 2022. The remote oasis in Tunisia's desert was exhausted by decades of wasteful water use for agriculture -- but now pioneers around an eco-lodge are reviving the spot with innovative projects. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) Patrick Ali El Ouarghi, who runs an eco-tourism lodge in the oasis, said date palm plantations, at the right scale, can be run sustainably. He called them an ideal demonstration of permaculture, a system for producing food organically by mimicking natural ecosystems. "The palm trees protect the fruit trees, and the fruit trees protect the vegetable patches, it's natural in an oasis," El Ouarghi said. The French-Tunisian set up his Dar Hi lodge 11 years ago -- including the so-called "Palm Lab" where engineers, architects and artists discuss how to conserve the oasis. The ecology project aims "to make investors and farmers want to reinvest in the oasis, because it's decaying a bit," he said. A key theme is tackling the severe water shortages by experimenting with technology such as drip irrigation. The current system of flooding orchards with water, pumped from 100 metres (300 feet) below ground, is wasteful, he said. Date Sugar An employee displays date sugar, produced from organic-certified desert fruits, at Dateible, a company founded by US Kevin Klay, in the remote Nefta oasis, a seven-hour drive from the coastal Tunisian capital Tunis, on February 12, 2022. The remote oasis in Tunisia's desert was exhausted by decades of wasteful water use for agriculture -- but now pioneers around an eco-lodge are reviving the spot with innovative projects. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) Not far from Dar Hi, others are trying different ways of creating value in the oasis. American Kevin Klay, 35, a former resident of Sousse in northern Tunisia, says he fell in love with dates during a visit to the south. "We realised that many dates, up to 20 to 30 percent, were thrown out and not used because of a small visual blemish," he said. So he bought a few kilos (pounds), removed their seeds, dried them and then put them through a coffee grinder. The result, he said, was a sweetener "with a fifth of the calories of white sugar" that is full of fiber and contains "more potassium than bananas." Armed with this knowledge, Klay in 2018 launched "Dateible," selling his "date sugar" produced from the organic-certified desert fruits for export. He now employs nine people, seven of them women. "We've seen huge demand, particularly in the US where our main market is," he said. The firm is exporting dates in bulk and also starting to sell on online retail site Amazon. Several firms are producing other date derivatives such as a coffee substitute made of date pips and a form of molasses for use in pastries. Unknown Flavors Chef Najah Ameur prepares a salad from vegetables grown in their premises at Dar Hi hotel's in the remote Nefta oasis, a seven-hour drive from the coastal Tunisian capital Tunis, on February 12, 2022. The remote oasis in Tunisia's desert was exhausted by decades of wasteful water use for agriculture -- but now pioneers around an eco-lodge are reviving the spot with innovative projects. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) Back at the lodge, the restaurant is reviving traditional desert cuisine. "It's very simple and dates from the arrival of nomads," when Nefta, today regarded as a spiritual home of Sufism, was a key stop on Saharan desert routes, El Ouarghi said. They brought "unknown flavors and spices that have remained here as a tradition," he said. Chef Najah Ameur says residents create their own unique spice mixes. "It's not the same as buying them at the market: cleaning the leaves, the smell, the flavor, you have to know exactly how to do it," the 40-year-old said. She cooks a menu of dishes she learned from her mother and from French celebrity chef Frederick Grasser Herme, the recipes collated in a recently published book on oasis cuisine. "Many ingredients come from the palm groves: parsley, celery, chard, green beans, peas," she said. Some recipes are also adapted to use Moringa, an Indian tree famed for its nutritional and medicinal qualities and its ability to thrive in arid conditions. The tree species may be new to the oasis, but residents are hoping that a mix of old and new can keep both their community and their ecosystem in good health. (By Francoise Kadri - AFP)

LinkedIn Premier Foods credits its successful branded growth model for building increased stability as the business prepares to expand into new categories and readies for overseas expansion. Speaking on an investor call this morning (16 November), CEO Alex Whitehouse explained Premier Foods plans to extend its branded growth model, which has proved successful across its five core categories, into new whitespace categories where the buisness hopes to generate incremental revenue streams. What were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers from those brands based on our insight into how their lives are changing and the way they shop, Whitehouse explained. Mr Kipling, for example, is set to enter the biscuit category for the first time and expand into a range of branded ice cream, backed by TV advertising spend. Ice cream launches are also planned for Ambrosia and Angel Delight. The business is poised to launch a range of insight driven new products in adjacent categories, building on the initial success of its Cape Herb and Spice, and Oxo rubs and marinades products. Branching out from the Oxo core of stock cubes, the range of marinade and rub flavours is set to expand. What were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers. Alex Whitehouse, Premier Foods Several of the groups brands are said to have retained higher household penetration rates (a measure of how many consumers buy a brand on at least one occasion in a given timeframe), than pre-pandemic. Whitehouse noted 800,000 households who tried Sharwoods cooking sauces have continued to buy the brand post-lockdown. The company also saw success by pivoting into new products catering to people cooking more at home, such as Loyd Grossmans pizza-making range and cake mixes from Mr Kipling. Whilst its all still early days for us in new categories. Were getting to a point where collectively it all starts to add up to something interesting. Were looking at delivering towards 10m of revenue from those new category extensions over the full year this year, said Whitehouse. Bisto unveils first new ad in six years amid 4m push to reach next generation Going into the key festive period and the run-up to Easter, Premier Foods plans to maintain marketing spend at similar levels to 2021. The company spent 59.6m during the 26 weeks to 2 October on selling, marketing and distribution costs. Looking ahead, this will be the second consecutive year the business has invested in TV advertising for its Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bisto, Mr Kipling, Oxo and Sharwoods brands. Clearly were able to invest more last year because of the year that we had that was great. So, in terms of overall levels, probably looking to similar levels of marketing compared with last year, but a step up compared to two years ago, said CFO Duncan Leggett. Our aim is to grow margin so that we can invest that behind the brands in consumer marketing and thats very much what weve been able to achieve over the last couple of years. Mr Kipling skips across the pond Spurred on by international revenue growth of 7% versus two years ago, the company is going into full rollout mode in Canada with Mr Kipling slices, after seeing high-levels of repeat purchase. A testing phase for the Mr Kipling brand in the US is coming up. Whitehouse said the company will follow the same process it did in Canada by stocking the brand with a few retail partners, the expectation being Mr Kipling will land on US shelves by late December or early January. In the US, were going to be following the same process that we followed in Canada. Were going into an initial launch with a couple of customers in the US while were working with those customers, to make sure weve got the model right as we did in Canada, said Whitehouse. The Sharwoods brand is currently on display across 2,400 distribution points in the US, as the company noted the Indian cooking sauce market in the States remains at an early stage. Premier Foods on why its ramping up its marketing investment in 2021 Premier Foods has also been focusing on bringing its UK branded growth model into Ireland, where the company posted growth of 38% compared to 2019. There will be support for brands in Ireland with TV advertising through the winter. Revenues for Premier Foods hit 394.1m during the 26 weeks to 2 October, down 6.5% on the 421.5m generated during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but up 7.5% on 2019. The business sales through online channels are up 80% compared to two years ago. Premier Foods posted a statutory pre-tax profit of 30.7m, down 39.2% on the 50.5m generated in 2020, but up 104.7% on a two-year basis. Compared to pre-pandemic in 2019, the companys second-quarter group revenue was up 8.5%, with branded revenue ahead by 13.3%. For the half-year period, revenue rose by 11.4% on a two-year basis, reflecting what Premier Foods describes as the strength of its branded growth model. We feel that weve had a really strong first half of the year and weve taken a lot of momentum into the second half with lots of strong plans, Whitehouse concluded.

R&D Leishmaniasis affects some of the poorest people on earth. This disease is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system and lack of financial resources. Current treatments for leishmaniasis require patients to take toxic and poorly tolerated drugs, often over a long period of time and through painful injections, said Dr Bernard Pcoul, Executive Director at Drug Neglected Diseases initiative. Therefore, R&D should focus its efforts on the development of oral, effective, low cost, and short course treatment but also a treatment that would be safer and well tolerated by patients. Our team in Madrid was involved in the development of antileishmanial compounds. This research, made in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline and Dundee University was illustrated in the following letter Optimisation of a key cross-coupling reaction towards the synthesis of a promising antileishmanial compound . It describes the optimisation of the reaction conditions and protecting group strategy for a key Buchwald-Hartwig coupling, delivering the required quantities of(R)-1,as well as further compounds in the series. Working in partnership, combining experience, is the base of success. The Tres Cantos site in Spain is home to GSK DDW specialist research facility, which is focused on discovering and developing new medicines for Diseases of the Developing World, specifically malaria, tuberculosis and kinetoplastids diseases (leismaniasis, Chagas). The University of Dundee Drug Discovery Unit is a fully operational, fully integrated drug discovery group working across multiple disease areas including Diseases of the Development World. GalChimia is specialized in discovery and process chemistry applied to pharmaceutical industry, especially drug development. We hope this research will bring a new medicine to treat leishmaniasis, going over the limitation of the current ones, and improving significantly the life of the patients. Cebreiro, s/n - 15823 O Pino - A Corua, Spain +34 981 814 506

| Play in new window| Duration: 24:47 For this recording, we chat with Wynand Smit, CEO of contact center solutions provider INOVO about their lockdown experiences as well as a profile on the business itself. Founded in 2006 as technological solutions and optimizations reached a critical point, INOVO helps companies across the country to streamline their call centre operations, enabling happier consumers as well as savings to the businesss bottom line. Using Data and technology has enabled the company to service large companies such as Woolworths Financial Services whilst still being nimble enough to tailor a package of programmes to fit businesses of all sizes, we profile this and more in the podcast. Enjoy.

Sue Pearl Image caption, Sue Pearl says she never gets a good night's sleep because of husband David's snoring Sue Pearl and her husband David wake up feeling grumpy every morning. "My husband snores so loudly that the whole house shakes," says Sue. David, a 65-year-old solicitor from London, has tried just about everything to cure the problem, from nasal drops and strips, to sprays, and even an electric bracelet that gave him a mild electric shock. Yet nothing has worked, and even his ears, nose and throat doctor is at a loss. "I'm often woken up, my sleep is so disturbed, so I'll send him to the spare room," says Sue, who is a voice-over artist. "It's a nightmare. It's exhausting living with a snorer, neither of us sleep properly, it really isn't great for any relationship." It is not just the sound of a snoring partner that can affect your quality of life. From living near a busy road or airport, to noisy neighbours, or blaring music, noise pollution can have a detrimental impact on your mental health. In fact, the European Environmental Agency says that excessive noise is actually killing people. It Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says that noise pollution is an "underestimated threat that can cause a number of short and long-term health problems,such as, for example, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects, poorer work and school performance, [and] hearing impairment". Image source, Image caption, We live in a noisy world, and excessive noise can seriously damage people's health Aside from good old ear plugs and noise-cancelling headphones, a number of tech companies have been scrambling to find new ways to drown out increased unwanted sound. One such firm is Israeli business Silentium, which says that its "Quiet Bubble" system can significantly reduce unwanted sound - even if it is coming from a husband lying beside you in bed. The technology is based around a speaker and microphone. How it works is rather complicated, but in simple terms the microphone listens to the unwanted sound, and then the speaker emits a noise that cancels it out. For readers that want a more technical explanation - computer algorithms process the unwanted noise, and the speaker releases the same sound waves, but in the opposite phase, or back to front. This creates interference, which cancels out much of both sounds. Image source, Image caption, Silentium's chief executive Yoel Naor points out his company's technology Called active noise cancelation, it has existed in headphones for a number of years, but companies like Silentium have developed the technology to work without having to put a pair of cans over your ears. "You can fit our speaker and sensors to your bed's headboard, and the sound of your partner's snoring would be dramatically reduced, as it generates 'anti-noise'," says Silentium's chief executive Yoel Naor. He adds that the technology could also be used in cars. "Your kids could be in the back playing Disney on full blast, or even arguing, and you wouldn't be able to hear much in the front." The company says its technology can also create "individual sound zones", whereby the sound from an array of speakers is focused on a very specific area of space, and minimised outside of that zone or bubble. The idea is that someone on a train, or plane, can listen to music or watch a film without headphones, and yet still not bother people sitting nearby. In his laboratory Mr Naor has two chairs side by side to demonstrate how this directional sound projection works. Depending on which seat you sit in you hear a different song being played through the assorted speakers. And you cannot hear the other tune. Silentium is already working with carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, and hopes to interest other car firms, plus trains and airline companies with its tech. New Tech Economy is a series exploring how technological innovation is set to shape the new emerging economic landscape. In some situations you want other people to hear a noise, such as a warning sound when a lorry is reversing. But ideally, you only want people close to the vehicle to hear the sound, and not the surrounding neighbourhood. Brigade Electronics, based in Kent, makes such reversing alarms - they are only audible to those pedestrians, and others, in close proximity. They work by emitting sounds that dissipate after 10 metres or so. "A 'ssh ssh' white noise can be heard clearly in the danger area, even when wearing ear defenders, headphones or for those with hearing impairment, but it doesn't wake up the entire neighbourhood." says Emily Hardy, marketing manager at Brigade. She adds that the firm's speaker releases "gentle" short-travelling multi-frequency sounds, rather than "painful" narrowband frequencies that carry through the air for much longer distances. Its systems have been fitted to everything from airport buggies, to supermarket delivery vehicles, diggers and some electric cars. Poppy Szkiler is the co-founder and chief executive of UK-based Quiet Mark, a global certification programme that awards everything from consumer products to building specifications, hotels, shops, and transport companies for their low noise levels. Image source, Image caption, Poppy Szkiler is the third generation of her family to tackle excessive noise She says that a "quiet revolution" is taking place, with the need to reduce unnecessary noise having "shot to the top of priority lists in environment and health agendas" over the past two years. She says this was partly to do with coronavirus lockdowns meaning that the noise in cities fell by half. "And the work from home movement brought an awareness to the impact of sound with all of life happening under one roof," she says. Ms Szkiler established Quiet Mark a decade ago, but her family has been tackling excess noise for three generations. Back in 1959 her grandfather John Connell founded the Noise Abatement Society, a charity which has now campaigned against noise pollution for 63 years. His lobbying helped to push the 1960 Noise Abatement Act through the UK parliament. It legally recognised noise as potential nuisance or pollutant for the first time. Image source, Image caption, John Connell is the founder of the Noise Abatement Society Talya Ressel is a psychotherapist based in London who works with people with high sensitivity to noise. In particular, she helps people deal with the challenges of misophonia, a condition whereby certain noises can trigger a strongly negative emotional response. "We are bombarded by more sounds than ever before," she says. "Understand that sounds, that you may not even hear or notice, can have a very different effect on others. "If you can not avoid an unwanted sound, and noise-cancelling headphones and white noise aren't options, then you need an active plan to manage the situation. Ignoring the issue doesn't mean that your body is not reacting or being affected." Ms Ressel adds: "Try to find a few minutes every day where you sit in active silence. It's giving you a chance to reset

Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 24th. The digital transformation consultancy reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $214.73 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $207.17 million. Perficient had a net margin of 6.84% and a return on equity of 24.49%. The businesss revenue was up 32.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.64 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Perficient, Inc. will post 3.72 EPS for the current year. In related news, Director Gary Wimberlypurchased 399 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $100.00 per share, for a total transaction of $39,900.00. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock. Several equities analysts have recently commented on PRFT shares. Barrington Research lowered their target price on shares of Perficient from $150.00 to $124.00 in a report on Friday, February 25th. Zacks Investment Researchdowngraded shares of Perficient from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, March 5th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Perficient from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 24th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on shares of Perficient from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 25th. Finally, Alliance Global Partners decreased their price target on shares of Perficient from $138.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Monday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Perficient currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $133.50. Perficient Profile ( Get Rating ) Perficient, Inc provides digital consultancy services and solutions in the United States. The company offers strategy and consulting solutions in the areas of digital and technology strategy, management consulting, and organizational change management; and data and intelligence solutions in the areas of analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data, business intelligence, and custom product portfolio. Read More

Journey headlining Pro Football HOF Concert for Legends in Canton The 82,000-square-foot Fan Engagement Zone is a retail center being built north of the Pro Football Hall of Fame complex. It will sit between the Constellation Center for Excellence and a hotel and water park. Hall of Fame Resort expects the Fan Engagement Zone will be open this summer before the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame EnshrinementWeek. Build-A-Bear, which has a location in the Belden Village Mall, will use a 1,900-square-foot space in the Fan Engagement Zone. The store will have a "sportscentric theme" andmerchandise will include "furry friends and accessories" that featurebrands and logos ofprofessional or collegiate football teams, Hall of Fame Resort officials said. Mike Levy, Hall of Fame Resort president of operations, said Build-A-Bearfits the Village's strategy to bring in family-centric and interactive tenants for the Fan Engagement Zone. Based in St. Louis, Build-A-Bear sells teddy bears and other stuffed animals that while visiting the store are assembled and designed to match the customers choices. The company is marking 25 years in business and has more than 500 locations around the world.

1.69% 2.00p The company, which also owns brands such as Ambrosia and Oxo, now expects trading profit for this financial year to be at least 145m and adjusted pre-tax profit of at least 125m. This compares with consensus expectations of 140.7m and 119.3m, respectively. In an update for the third quarter, Premier said trading was ahead of expectations, with "strong and broad based" branded growth across both Grocery and Sweet Treats. Group sales rose 7% versus two years ago and 7.3% year-to-date. Branded sales rose 11.3% on a two-year basis and Premier said it significantly outperformed the market, gaining 90 basis points of value share in the period compared to last year. International sales were ahead 33%. On the year, total group sales were down 1.8%, with branded sales 0.7% lower and non-branded sales down 6.4%. Chief executive officer Alex Whitehouse said: "We're particularly pleased with the performance of our Sweet Treats business. This was Mr Kipling's biggest Christmas ever, as our Sweet Treats brands outperformed the market, growing 6.3% compared to last year and 11.6% versus two years ago, helped by an increased number of family gatherings over the festive period. "Our overseas businesses performed particularly well with sales up over 30% versus two years ago as we continue to execute our expansion plans. All of our strategic international markets saw growth, with sales of Sharwood's and Mr Kipling both well ahead of the same period two years ago. "With three strong quarters of trading now delivered and taking good momentum into the final quarter, we are increasing our profit expectations for this financial year." Advertising

Zentech acquires Trilogy Circuits LLC Editor:LisaLucke Zentech Manufacturing has acquired Texas-based Trilogy Circuits LLC, a provider of EMS services to military primes and other high-reliability industries in Texas and across the United States. At the close of the transaction, Trilogy Circuits LLC will become Zentech Dallas, joining the family of companies under the Zentech umbrella including Zentech Baltimore (MD) and Zentech Fredericksburg (VA). The company will be managed by Trilogy Circuits Founder Charles Capers, a press release read.Zentech CEO Steve Pudles said, We are extremely excited to welcome Charlie Capers and the Trilogy Circuits team to the Zentech family. The transaction was driven in large part by requests from our established military customers for Zentech to deliver our highly certified, high-complexity processing model to the Southwest region as they all have significant operations in this vibrant geography. Zentech is on the leading edge of many emerging DoD programs and the formation of Zentech Dallas will provide seamless engineering collaboration with our customers to support their mission-critical NPI requirements.In the press release, Capers said, I am very honored to be working with Steve and the team at Zentech. The culture and the talent of the two companies is very similar and the synergies are many. As a Zentech company we will have access to greater resources, guidance and the working capital needed to grow the Zentech Dallas presence in the Southwest mil/aero sector."Zentech is a portfolio company of New York City-based BlackBern Partners.

, Dec. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe ("WCAS"), a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare and technology industries, and Resurgens Orthopaedics, one of the nation's largest orthopaedic practices, today announced the formation of a new venture focused on building the premier physician-owned orthopaedic platform in the country. Since its founding over 35 years ago, Resurgens Orthopaedics has grown into the largest orthopaedic group in Georgia , providing comprehensive specialty care and ancillary services addressing all musculoskeletal needs. Today, Resurgens Orthopaedics has nearly 100 physicians and approximately 50 advanced practice providers across 24 clinic locations serving nearly 800,000 patients annually in Atlanta The new company will be led by Alex Bateman as Chief Executive Officer. Bateman is a seasoned healthcare executive with decades of operating experience, including senior leadership roles at United Surgical Partners International ("USPI"), a former WCAS portfolio company, and DaVita. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Resurgens Orthopaedics. "We are excited to be building a new physician-owned company dedicated to delivering exceptional clinical care in orthopaedics and are thrilled to have the support of a highly experienced investor such as WCAS," said Bateman. "We look forward to partnering with other like-minded, entrepreneurial orthopaedic practices around the country." Sean Traynor , General Partner at WCAS, said, "As one of the largest and most respected orthopaedic practices in the country, Resurgens Orthopaedics is the perfect founding partner for our new venture. Resurgens Orthopaedics' commitment to best-in-class clinical quality together with our resources and capital investment will enable the company to deliver exceptional care to more patients nationally. We are thrilled to partner with their team of outstanding providers." WCAS has deep experience building industry leading companies in partnership with physicians, including: US Radiology Specialists, US Anesthesia Partners, US Acute Care Solutions, US Oncology and USPI, among others. Harris Williams acted as exclusive financial advisor to Resurgens Orthopaedics, with Bass Berry & Sims serving as legal counsel. Sidley Austin served as legal counsel to WCAS. About Resurgens Orthopaedics Resurgens Orthopaedics, one of the nation's largest orthopaedic practices, has 24 offices throughout metro Atlanta , serving the residents of Georgia , the Southeast and beyond. Resurgens Orthopaedics provides comprehensive operative and non-operative musculoskeletal care in a single location, from injury diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and imaging services. With almost 100 physicians, Resurgens Orthopaedics provides specialized expertise and broad experience in the areas of sports medicine, joint replacement, neck and back surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, non-operative spine care, hand surgery, arthroscopic surgery, epidural steroid injection, general orthopaedics and trauma care. For more information, please visit . About Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe WCAS is a leading U.S. private equity firm focused on two target industries: healthcare and technology. Since its founding in 1979, the firm's strategy has been to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational improvements, growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. The firm has raised and managed funds totaling over $27 billion

Oreo cookies . New non-dairy creamers offered by Califia Farms include cookie butter almond milk creamer and cinnamon roll oat creamer. Califia provides plant-curious consumers with a broad array of delicious and versatile plant-based beverages, said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer at Califia Farms. As we work to create a future where plants replace dairy without compromise, these newest products offer even more opportunities for consumers to experiment with plant-based options, delivering on the taste, textures, and nutritional expectations consumers have for occasions typically involving dairy. Danone North America has added new yogurt and non-dairy yogurt offerings with fruit flavors. Joining the Dannon Light + Fit Greek nonfat yogurt collection are lemon cream and orange cream. The products contain fewer calories than average flavored Greek yogurt, according to the company. So Delicious Dairy Free, a business owned by Danone North America, is debuting a new line of yogurt alternatives made with coconut milk and botanical extracts. Varieties include strawberry with elderberry extract, mango with ginger and turmeric extracts, and mixed berry with chamomile extract. Here at So Delicious, were focused on dairy-freeing minds with great taste and our new yogurt alternatives with vibrant botanical extracts are making it easier than ever to indulge in mindful microbreaks throughout the day, said Lia Stierwalt, senior director of marketing.

Emma Betuel 9 hours UK-based digital therapy company ieso announced a $53 million Series B round on Tuesday. The round is the funding the company needs to move in a brand new direction: creating more intuitive autonomous text therapy. In other words, AI trained on thousands of hours of real-life therapy that can provide personalized sessions, over chat. ieso has been around for about ten years, and has been running a text-only therapy service (with human therapists on one end) through the UKs National Health Service. So far, the company has provided text-based therapy for about 80,000 patients though 6,000 are actively receiving therapy, Nigel Pitchford, iesos CEO told TechCrunch. Thats a total of 460,000 hours of therapy so far. Well deliver some sort of 400 hours of therapy this evening, via our network, said Pitchford. This most recent round of funding was led by Morningside, with participation from Sony Innovation Fund. It also included existing investors IP Group, Molten Ventures and Ananda Impact Ventures Ultimately, ieso is looking to take itself from a human-based therapist based system, to a scaled up autonomous system. The idea of A.I. based chat therapy isnt exactly unique in this space (weve covered other companiespursuing this) but the data i esos approach is what the company sees as its secret sauce. iesos unfair advantage, is ten years of real-life text-based conversations between patients and therapists, which Pitchford calls transcripts of care. That dataset is paired with real-time data on patients clinical outcomes, which the company has also been collecting alongside those transcripts. ieso has built one of the most impressive data assets I have seen in the space with their text therapy dataset, said Stephen Bruso, an investment partner at Morningside. The dataset is one aspect of ieso he finds most attractive as an investor, and called it unprecedented. This dataset has been used to track how certain therapeutic conversations or techniques are linked (or not linked) to patient improvement. And, there is some evidence ieso has managed to mine that data for insight. For example, the company published in 2019 in JAMA Psychiatry analyzing 90,000 hours of therapy. The paper found that aspects of therapy like planning for the future, or certain cognitive behavioral therapy techniques were linked to better patient outcomes. Overall, the data suggested that 28 minutes out of every hour of therapy contained conversations or exercises that directly affected the patient outcome, said Andy Blackford, the companys group chief science and strategy officer. Perhaps counterintuitively, the paper also found that therapeutic empathy was negatively associated with patient outcomes though other research has suggested clients when they feel their therapists understand them. Blackford interpreted the empathy finding as evidence that empathy should be employed alongside other therapeutic techniques. Ultimately, Pitchford sees this dataset, and analysis like the type conducted in that JAMA paper as a roadmap for how the A.I. based therapists will be trained and personalized. So essentially, weve been studying what the very best therapists are doing at a very high scale, and then reconstructing that, so it can reach people that are unable to access human psychotherapy delivery, which is a huge problem all over the world, he said. Even with this dataset, ieso does seem to be working in an increasingly crowded space. Funding for mental health startups is anticipated to crack $3 billion in 2021, per Q3 a Silicon Valley Bank Trend report. That means there are a lot of minds focused on the problems associated with traditional therapy right now. Bruso sees ieso as one of the few mental health companies that can point to real-world health outcomes, at least using their own dataset. We believe that there is a unique synergy between iesos digital products built on real world data, and their ability to trial these products in their existing user base to generate outcomes data from day 1, he said. At the end of the day, the products that will last in the space will be those who can demonstrate a measurable impact on both individual health and societal outcomes. Blackford is also aware of how packed this space is in fact, he sees it as a problem for consumers. These apps, iesos leadership figures, are often designed for either self-help, mindfulness, or patients with non-severe mental health diagnoses. Though ieso can treat people with non-advanced mental health struggles, the company also has a focus on moderate-to-severe diagnoses. Its not, to use his words, a wellness solution and can be used by groups who might require more intensive care. This focus means that safeguards for self-harm need to be especially strong. Blackford says the company has risk escalation protocols in place for its human-based therapy model that have been honed over the course of ten years as one of the largest mental health providers in the UK. The company has plans to incorporate those programs into the autonomous therapy product in the future. Right now, Blackford doesnt anticipate a harder regulatory path because its looking to deal with higher-stakes mental health diagnoses. The good thing is that there are precedents and predicates that we can use as we come to market. But the key thing will be about having, you know, demonstrably safe and effective products, he said. The high volume of data the company has already collected will allow it to collect insights into efficacy and safety many times faster than youd expect under regular clinical trial circumstances, Blackford argued. Going forwards, ieso plans to use this round to build out its A.I. based therapy arm, and shore up a presence in the US. The team is expected to grow to about 200 people by next year, which will set up a push to go to market over in the next two years.

Uber Health rides for patients to expand access to clinical research. The initiative with Uber Health, the HIPAA-compliant technology solution from Uber, is centered around improving care options for patients by increasing clinical trial access and flexibility, aligning with Javaras mission to improve the entire clinical trial experience. Integration of clinical research into overall care can lead to better health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and increased knowledge of personal health. Every year, 3.6 million Americans miss medical appointments due to lack of reliable transportation*. Its an important component of the clinical trial patient journey. Partnering with Uber Health provides a patient-centered solution to advance access to cutting edge therapies by reducing barriers to clinical trial participation and providing participants with dependable, convenient, prepaid rides. Participants report being happier with their care and feeling more in control of their health as a result of their involvement in clinical trials. With Uber Health, were helping to expand access and transcend barriers to participation for volunteers. Jennifer Byrne, CEO of Javara. Patients participating in clinical trials with Javaras healthcare partners are able to receive prepaid transportation to study visits, coordinated by Javaras Clinical Trial Navigators. With the ability to schedule a ride up to 30 days in advance, important appointments wont be missed and Uber Health does not require that patients have a smart phone or Uber app. Enhancing the clinical trial process through Uber Health means better access, better care and a transformative healthcare experience for researchers, physicians, and patients. With 94% of trials not completed on time and 46% delayed due to patient enrollment issues, this initiative helps reduce barriers to participation. Patients are able to confidently enroll in clinical studies and take advantage of transportation options through Uber Health, resulting in fewer no-shows and more on time

Prepared Remarks: Operator Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to Sunlands' Third Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] After prepared remarks by the management team, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]. I would now like to turn the call over to our host today, Yuhua Ye, Sunlands' IR Representative. Please go ahead. Yuhua Ye -- Investor Relations Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining Sunlands' third quarter 2020 earnings conference call. The company's financial and operating results were issued in a press release via Newswire services earlier today and are posted online. You can download the earnings press release and sign-up for our distribution list by visiting our IR website. On the call, our CEO, Tongbo Liu will provide an update on our operational performance, as well as our strategic initiatives. Our CFO, Selena Lu will give you an overview of our financial performance, and also provide our guidance for the fourth quarter of 2020. Following their prepared remarks, we will move into the Q&A session. Before I hand it over to the management, I'd like to remind you of Sunlands' Safe Harbor statement in relation to today's call. Except for the historical information contained herein, certain of the matters discussed in this conference call are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current trends, estimates and projections, and therefore, you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual result to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. For more information about the potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. With that, I will now turn the call over to our CEO, Tongbo Liu. Tongbo Liu -- Chief Executive Officer and Director Thank you, Yuhua. Hello, everyone. Welcome to Sunlands' third quarter 2020 conference call. Despite the short-term impact on our operations of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, Sunlands delivered steady year-over-year increases, in both gross billings and net revenues in the third quarter. Our results were fueled by a combination of the recovering macroeconomic conditions in China, as well as the implementation of our optimization initiatives within our business. In the third quarter, our gross billings reached RMB654.3 million, increasing by 6.6% year-over-year and 23.1% quarter-over-quarter. We attribute our strong gross billings results largely to improvements we made in sales efficiency, with new approaches to student acquisition, as well as our enhancing brand awareness and continuous upgrade to our product categories. Additionally, following the solid performance in the second quarter of 2020, net revenues increased 2.7% year-over-year to RMB541.6 million, exceeding the top end of our guidance by 4.2%. Moreover, our new enrollments reached over 140,000 in the third quarter, growing 47.8% year-over-year and 70.5% quarter-over-quarter. During the third quarter, we made further progress to balance our top line growth mix. Proving the [Indecipherable] of our long-term strategy in efforts to continually expand our portfolio of educational products and bring content innovation. While maintaining a leading market share in STE programs, master's degree-oriented programs and professional certification and skills programs continue to reveal good potential to become the next pillars among the company's offerings. Let me start with master's degree-oriented programs, which contributed around 31% to gross billings in the the third quarter. Compared with approximately 17% in the same quarter last year, the growth of master's oriented -- degree-oriented programs in terms of gross billings was phenomenal, registering 93.3% year-over-year and 48.4% quarter-over-quarter. This growth was primarily driven by increase in need from working professionals as uncertainties in the labor market remain in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with the increasing demand for talent with higher educational background. In light of this, in order to enrich our program portfolio and address the increased demand for diversified and differentiated higher education. In the third quarter we further expanded our partnership with overseas universities, such as [Indecipherable] State University to provide joint offering programs. Taking to account our existing partners in the United States, The United Kingdom and Australia, we have now established joint offerings program with over 24 [Phonetic] universities. In line with our balanced growth strategy, this effort is designed to further enhance our attractiveness and competitiveness and complement our master's degree-oriented offerings. Due to the current macro conditions, in particular, international COVID related travel restrictions, we are seeing an uptick in demand for those international online focused joint offering programs. And we believe this trend will continue for foreseeable future. Based on current number of admission applications received for 2021 already announced by most universities in China, we expected the number of applicants for postgraduate entrance exams for 2021 admission to surpass the record of 3.41 million said for 2020. Given this trend, also with feedback reports from our sales and marketing department, we have high confidence in the continuing favorable demand in this area. With our proven ability to bring compelling offerings to the market that many students needs, we see a sustainable growth pathway ahead in developing our portfolio of master's degree-oriented and joint offering programs. These programs also typically carry higher margins than our standard programs owing to their higher ASPs, with especially MBA programs. To further implement our sustainable overall growth strategy, we continued to promote the [Indecipherable] course offerings targeting professional certification, vocational education and popular hobbies. I'm very pleased that this segment also delivered significant growth in gross billings in third quarter. It generated gross billings of RMB139.9 million, up 301.9% year-over-year and 135% quarter-over-quarter. In the third quarter this segment accounted for 21.4% of our total gross billings, compared to 5.7% for the third quarter of 2019. The increase in this segment primarily stems from rising requirements from the labor market for workers and candidates equipped with occupational skill sets and professional qualifications to meet higher demanding roles and responsibilities. With our course offerings presenting attractive ASPs than the shorter time durations than traditional [Indecipherable] options with a favorable growing demand in this segment in the long run. Moreover, we believe bandwidth from these courses are more likely to purchase services from [Indecipherable] when changing employ

WESTPORT Frannys of Westport is moving as it looks to expand into Connecticuts newly legalized recreational marijuana market something Westport doesnt allow. The hemp wellness stores last day at 31 Church Lane is scheduled for Dec. 31, before reopening Jan. 4 just a few hundred feet away at 33 Elm Street, unit 2. The stores Facebook page will remain up and people can also still order online during the shutdown. Were in pursuit to continue building our brand while making Frannys a household name, said Griff Conti, the owner and operator of Frannys of Westport. If we didnt go after this opportunity wed be doing a great disservice to our loyal customers and community at large as we seek to educate and advocate for all things cannabis. He said the move is temporary and the new location will allow flexibility to move forward on the stores long-term plan, including joining Connecticuts new legal THC market for adult recreational use. It also lets the store stay in Westport and continue to serve the community. A state law went into effect in July, legalizing the possession and use of recreational marijuana for adults. The law opens the door to retail sales as soon as next year, with municipalities deciding how to zone for it, if at all. The state will issue the licenses to actually be allowed to sell it, not the towns. The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission passed a prohibition in September on all businesses related to adult-use marijuana, including the storage and sale of it. The ban came after a long public hearing. Traffic and a lack of details from the state were the big drivers for the decision, said Danielle Dobin, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission. It seemed early to be zoning for a use when the state hasnt caught up to where its going to be allocating the licenses yet, she said. She said the surrounding communities put a moratorium or some form of prohibition on recreational dispensaries and expects having one in downtown Westport would exacerbate the towns current traffic issues, especially with a lot of residents still working from home. She said the traffic for it would likely be similar to the drive-thru at Starbucks or Norwalks Chick-fil-A. Were trying to be sensitive to that, Dobin said. She said there also wasnt a lot of information from the state yet on how many licenses would be awarded, who would receive them and whether the towns could select which businesses would open. She said there needed to be more from the state on the equity piece of who gets the licenses and ensuring the communities actually affected by marijuana over the years would get the revenue from it. Conti said Westports recreational prohibition and the state banning Frannys top selling, hemp derived Delta-8 caused them to move to a month-to-month location while they wait to hear if theyre one of the businesses selected in the state lottery process to receive a THC license. If a license is awarded, we would need to leave Westport altogether and would target areas like Norwalk and Bridgeport, where I was born and raised, in addition to our social equity applicant who was born and raised in Bridgeport and (is) a current employee at Frannys of Westport, he said. Frannys hemp CBD/wellness business will remain unchanged and be part of, in a separate location, the expansion plans in Connecticut. Frannys opened in Westport in June of 2020 and was able to step away from the current five-year lease three years early, he said. Conti said the long-term plan is to support cannabis in all forms and advocate for its legalization. He also wants to offer Frannys Farmacys family of products, which go beyond hemp wellness and includes adult-use cannabis, as well as expand their seed-to-shelf operation and footprint. It is apparent that this country is moving towards federal legalization of cannabis, he said. We dont know the details of how and when, but the Franny's family of brands will be positioning ourselves to be leaders in this transition and in that new era where cannabis will be common, in all forms. There are 14 Frannys Farmacy locations nationally with one in Connecticut. Frannys Farmacy provides hemp that is grown and produced in Asheville, N.C. to customers in all 50 states, according to the company. Dobin said the prohibition can be revisited at any time and lifted by a majority of the commission. She doesnt expect it to happen any time soon though without a change in traffic patterns and more information from the state. But she said it could happen in several years if those other things happen. Westport is already home to a medical marijuana dispensary, which has been there for about three years. It has operated without incident and is very positive for the community, Dobin said. She said the current prohibition is working as it should and understood Frannys plans to move if it gets a license. We wish them the best of luck and, who knows, maybe at one point in time the law might change and accommodate what they want to do and they might be back in Westport, Dobin said.

Games Humble Bundle is releasing a new collection to help support relief efforts during the war in Ukraine. (Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis.) 100% of its proceeds from the gaming company's "Stand with Ukraine" bundlewill go toward humanitarian aid for those affected by the Russian invasion. Charities that will receive the donations include Razom for Ukraine International Rescue Committee International Medical Corps and Direct Relief SEE ALSO: Watching footage from Ukraine? Here's how to protect your mental health. The one-week bundle features over 120 pieces of content from games to RPG books to game dev assets and is valued at over $2,500. For a donation of $40, you'll get the entire package. Humble Bundle is a "pay what you want" storefront, so while $40 is the minimum you must donate to receive the full bundle, you can always give more if you're able. Some highlights in the mix include Back 4 Blood

Video: Jade Carey scores a 9.900 on the vault vs. Washington Hallandale Beach police say a pedestrian was hit while attempting to cross the tracks about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Brightline later released video taken from a camera inside the nosecone of a train that collided with a car at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, leaving the driver hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. The video shows that the crossing barriers were down and the red lights were flashing when the driver turned from a side street and seemed to purposely go around the gate and into the train's path. The crash split the car in two, according to the railroad. The sheriff's office said a northbound freight train had just cleared the crossing on parallel tracks and the driver may not have seen the southbound Brightline train until it was too late. Another driver was killed Sunday by a Brightline train after going around a crossing gate. A Brightline statement said it released Wednesday's video as an example of the dangers of disobeying rail crossings (and) to educate motorists and pedestrians in an effort to prevent future trespassing. The AP analysis shows that Brightline averages about one death for every 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) its trains travel, three times worse than the next mid-size or major railroad. According to police reports examined by the AP, investigators determined most of those killed have been suicides, drivers maneuvering around crossing barriers to try to beat the trains, or pedestrians who were intoxicated or mentally ill. Among railroads that have logged at least 1 million miles over the past five years, central Floridas SunRail has the second-worst death rate, averaging one for every 108,000 train miles (174,000 train kilometers). More than 800 people die nationally each year from train strikes, according to Federal Railroad Administration records. In response to the accidents, Brightline has installed infrared detectors to warn engineers if anyone is lurking near the tracks so they can slow down or stop. The company also has added more fencing and landscaping to make track access more difficult, and is installing red-light cameras at crossings to enable police to ticket drivers who go around guardrails. It is testing drones to monitor the tracks. Brightline is nearing completion of an extension that will connect West Palm Beach and Orlando. It has plans to eventually connect Orlando with Tampa. It is also building a line that will connect Southern California with Las Vegas. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tags

Food and Drug Administration THE ANSWER Yes, the U.S. government bought COVID-19 tests that were made in China. Three companies are providing the government with the tests that are being sent to American households, and one of those companies manufactures its tests in China. WHAT WE FOUND The U.S. Army allocated $2 billionto help procure some of the 500 million tests promised by Biden. That money went to three companies. Two contracts worth about $300 million apiece were awarded to two companies: Rocheand Abbott Roche is a Swiss-owned company that partners with SD Biosensorto manufacture its rapid tests. SD Biosensor is a Korean company, and the tests are made in Korea. Abbott is an American company, and its rapid tests are manufactured in the United States, specifically facilities in Maine and Illinois. The rest of the money nearly $1.3 billion was awarded to iHealth Labs Its evident from pictures of the teston iHealths website and from the packaging on the shipped tests themselves that the product is manufactured in China. In addition, even though iHealth Labs is based in California, its a subsidiary of a Chinese company, Andon Health White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged these facts in a briefing on Feb. 2 We needed to meet a need that we had in this country for more tests, she said. And a shortage of tests and the understandable demand from people across this country to get tests and make them free and accessible required us purchasing some of those tests from China in order to meet that demand. All of the tests purchased by the government went through the same authorization process. The FDA gave emergency use authorization to iHealthto make COVID tests likewise to Roche and Abbott. An EUA is the same thing the FDA gave Pfizer and Moderna for COVID vaccines. The EUA outlines specific protocols for tracking how safe and effective the tests are, which iHealth and the other companies are required to follow. More from VERIFY: Yes, the free N95 masks from the federal government are manufactured in the US The VERIFYteam works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter text alertsand our YouTube channel You can also follow us on Snapchat Twitter Instagram Facebookand TikTok

Strive Health , the national leader in value-based kidney care, today announced that Regencehealth plans are bringing Strives comprehensive kidney care program to Medicare Advantage (MA) and commercially insured members living with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This program includes a regional, state-of-the-art Strive Health Kidney Care Centerthat recently opened in Medford, Oregon. The center accommodates future and existing dialysis patients on all modalities, including in-center, home and peritoneal dialysis. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220104005323/en/ Regence health plans are bringing Strive Healths comprehensive kidney care program to members living with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah. This initiative includes the opening of an innovative dialysis center. (Photo: Business Wire) Strives comprehensive kidney care program will drive quality improvements, including earlier interventions, whole-person care and hospital admission reductions, for 16,000 Regence members in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah who have Stage 3 CKD through ESKD. People living with kidney disease require a more person-focused and holistic treatment approach, said Marion Couch, Regence's Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Health Care Solutions. Strive Healths comprehensive and proactive care approach will help us deliver on our goal to make health care better, simpler and more affordable for our members and customers. We are excited to partner with Strive to create a new approach to this disease. More than 1 in 7U.S. adults are estimated to have kidney disease, which requires a proactive, value-based approach that promotes patient health and well-being. Changes outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act are expected to significantly increase the number of ESKD patients enrolled in MA plans, and new value-based payment models are revolutionizing care delivery for this population. Strives technology-enabled, high-touch clinical model addresses social determinants of health, improves care outcomes and reduces unnecessary healthcare costs by: Closing care gaps through coordination with the members primary care physician, nephrologist and other specialists. Applying predictive analytics through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology to identify potential adverse events sooner. Delivering direct, home-based and virtual clinical services, education and training to delay kidney disease progression. Establishing experienced, local Kidney Heroes teams to better support members through whole-person care, including care coordination, disease management, wound care, medication management and acute care management. Kidney disease requires a fresh and comprehensive approach centered around the patient, said Chris Riopelle, CEO of Strive Health. Regence and Strive Health will offer transformative care to address the clinical and social determinants impacting kidney disease in a way that also controls long-term healthcare costs. We are thrilled to bring our Kidney Heroes teams to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah, where they can deliver compassionate and complete care to enhance member quality of life. If youre interested in learning more about the Strive Health Dialysis Center in Medford, visit StriveHealth-MedfordDialysis.comTo explore dialysis technician, nurse, administrator and other job openings at Strive, visit the Strive Health Careers site About Regence Regence serves more than 3.3 million people through its Regence health plans in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Each Regence health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit Regence.com About Strive Health Strive Health is the nations leader in value-based kidney care and partner of choice for innovative healthcare payors and providers. Strive's core solutions include Population Health, Strive Care Partners (a value-based nephrology platform) and Complete Dialysis. Using a unique combination of high-touch care teams, predictive analytics, advanced technology, seamless integration with local providers and next-generation dialysis services, Strive forms an integrated care delivery system that supports the entire patient journey from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Strive partners with commercial and Medicare Advantage payors, Medicare, health systems and physicians through flexible value-based payment arrangements, including risk-based programs. Backed by New Enterprise Associates, Alphabets CapitalG, Redpoint, Town Hall Ventures, Echo Health Ventures and Ascension Ventures, Strive delivers compassionate kidney care the way it should be done. For more information, visit Twitter LinkedInor www.strivehealth.com or email [email protected] View source version on

LVMUY ) Sephora unit, which had previously been at JC Penney. Gass now hopes the Sephora connection can save her strategy. Placer.AI says shops specializing in beauty have been a retailing bright spot lately. At an Investor Day event this month, Gass said she is planning to open 400 Sephora shopswithin Kohls stores in 2022. Placer.Ai says Kohls is seeing increased sales in the rest of its stores as a result Gass wants to make Sephora a $2 billion businessfor Kohls. But she is still just predicting low single-digit growth for the chain. The Bottom Line on KSS Stock When Macellum announced its slate, Kohls reportedly sent its corporate jet to Seattle the home base of Amazon. There has since been speculation Amazon might make a bid, seeing it as a cheap way to jump-start its physical retail ambitions. Analysts said they were unimpressed by Kohls Investor Day but it is unclear whether Macellums strategy is any better. The only buyers to step up so far have been private equity companies who want to break up Kohls. Starboard Value reportedly offered $9 billion but that is not a huge premium to Kohls current market cap of $7.6 billion. Starboards plan seems to be to get debt financing, then finance the purchase with Kohls own real estate through a sale-and-leaseback. This would lock Kohls into long-term rental agreements, which to critics like Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ), looks like what killed Sears. Gass has acknowledged some mistakes. She wants to open 100 new stores in the next few years, but admits they will be smallerthan current locations. The choice for investors is now between a risky strategy and a breakup of the company. If I owned the stock now, my heart would prefer the strategy, but my head would be looking to see Starboards money. On the date of publication, Dana Blankenhorn held a long position in AMZN, BAC and DG. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com

Share on whatsapp Dynatrace Inc. (NYSE:DT) went up by 0.95% from its latest closing price compared to the recent 1-year high of $80.13. The companys stock price has collected -9.54% of loss in the last five trading sessions. Barronsreported on 02/02/22 that Dynatrace Reports Strong Earnings. Heres Why the Stock Is Dropping. Is It Worth Investing in Dynatrace Inc. (NYSE :DT) Right Now? Dynatrace Inc. (NYSE:DT) scored a price-to-earnings ratio above its average ratio, recording 149.08 x from its present earnings ratio. Opinions of the stock are interesting as 15 analysts out of 21 who provided ratings for Dynatrace Inc. declared the stock was a buy, while 2 rated the stock as overweight, 4 rated it as hold, and 0 as sell. The Top 5 Ways to Trade a Potential $800 Billion Metaverse According to analysts at Emergen Research, the metaverse market could be worth up to $828.95 billion by 2028. When you sign up for our report "The Top 5 Metaverse Stocks to Buy for 2022," you'll get access to the the five best metaverse stocks in our report, along with a free subscription to DailyMarketAlerts newsletter to help you get in on the hottest stocks of tomorrow. Click here to sign up for the FREE Report & become a subscriber to DailyMarketAlerts Newsletter Sponsored The average price from analysts is $64.50, which is $24.36 above the current price. DT currently public float of 195.26M and currently shorts hold a 4.63% ratio of that float. Today, the average trading volume of DT was 2.88M shares. DTs Market Performance DT stocks went down by -9.54% for the week, with a monthly drop of -14.48% and a quarterly performance of -31.88%, while its annual performance rate touched -20.55%. The volatility ratio for the week stands at 7.27% while the volatility levels for the past 30 days are set at 5.43% for Dynatrace Inc.. The simple moving average for the period of the last 20 days is -7.29% for DT stocks with a simple moving average of -33.82% for the last 200 days. Analysts Opinion of DT Many brokerage firms have already submitted their reports for DT stocks, with RBC Capital Mkts repeating the rating for DT by listing it as a Outperform. The predicted price for DT in the upcoming period, according to RBC Capital Mkts is $65 based on the research report published on February 03rd of the current year 2022. Needham, on the other hand, stated in their research note that they expect to see DT reach a price target of $56, previously predicting the price at $68. The rating they have provided for DT stocks is Buy according to the report published on February 03rd, 2022. Loop Capital gave a rating of Hold to DT, setting the target price at $45 in the report published on February 03rd of the current year. DT Trading at -18.69% from the 50-Day Moving Average After a stumble in the market that brought DT to its low price for the period of the last 52 weeks, the company was unable to rebound, for now settling with -49.58% of loss for the given period. Volatility was left at 5.43%, however, over the last 30 days, the volatility rate increased by 7.27%, as shares sank -14.57% for the moving average over the last 20 days. Over the last 50 days, in opposition, the stock is trading -33.43% lower at present. During the last 5 trading sessions, DT fell by -9.54%, which changed the moving average for the period of 200-days by -17.82% in comparison to the 20-day moving average, which settled at $43.23. In addition, Dynatrace Inc. saw -33.06% in overturn over a single year, with a tendency to cut further losses. Insider Trading Reports are indicating that there were more than several insider trading activities at DT starting from ZUBER PAUL ANDREW, who sale 2,500 shares at the price of $43.83 back on Feb 25. After this action, ZUBER PAUL ANDREW now owns 500 shares of Dynatrace Inc., valued at $109,575 using the latest closing price. MCCONNELL RICK M, the Chief Executive Officer of Dynatrace Inc., purchase 2,500 shares at $41.50 during a trade that took place back on Feb 18, which means that MCCONNELL RICK M is holding 186,300 shares at $103,750 based on the most recent closing price. Stock Fundamentals for DT Current profitability levels for the company are sitting at: +13.07 for the present operating margin +76.91 for the gross margin The net margin for Dynatrace Inc. stands at +10.76. The total capital return value is set at 6.08, while invested capital returns managed to touch 5.02. Equity return is now at value 6.60, with 3.40 for asset returns. Based on Dynatrace Inc. (DT), the companys capital structure generated 39.48 points at debt to equity in total, while total debt to capital is 28.30. Total debt to assets is 19.48, with long-term debt to equity ratio resting at 38.62. Finally, the long-term debt to capital ratio is 27.69. >> 5 Best Growth Stocks for 2022 << When we switch over and look at the enterprise to sales, we see a ratio of 13.22, with the companys debt to enterprise value settled at 0.03. The receivables turnover for the company is 2.67 and the total asset turnover is 0.32. The liquidity ratio also appears to be rather interesting for investors as it stands at 0.97. Leave a Comment Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

Amazon has announced its first James Bond project since buying MGM Studios, but it might not be exactly what fans had in mind. Not quite ready to reveal Daniel Craig's successor and a new film, the company is working on a new reality TV show inspired by the super spy's exploits. But, put your dinner jackets away, because contestants on 007's Road To A Million won't get to screech around hairpin bends in a custom-built Aston Martin, or parachute off a cliff while being shot at. They will, however, travel the world trying to complete challenges set in some iconic Bond film locations. And the winners will pocket a cool million. In other words, enough for quite a few dry Martinis. Forget about gadgets and gimmicks, though, as producers say it will be "a true test of intelligence and endurance". And while Bond traditionally works alone, contestants will compete in two-person teams. "In addition to conquering physical obstacles, the contestants... must correctly answer questions hidden in different locations around the world to advance to the next challenge," producers say. Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are on board, along with MGM Television, and filming is scheduled to begin later this year. Reaction to the announcement has been mixed to say the least, with one quipping back at the 007 Twitter account: "When you said 'James Bond Will Return', I didn't think you meant 'in a tiresome reality show'." Craig's final outing as Bond, No Time To Die, released last year to rave reviews and box office success. It was nominated for several awards at this year's Oscars.

Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn PORTLAND, Maine (WABI) - MaineHealth, northern New Englands largest health system and the states largest private employer, announced Tuesday that it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. Officials say this is for all of the systems 23,000 staff members with very few exceptions to be made. The mandate is effective as of October 1st, not necessarily when the vaccines on the market are fully approved by the FDA. The company joins dozens of others hospitals and health systems to make this move. Northern Light Health announced Monday it would require for vaccinations for 12,000 employees once they receive full FDA approval. MaineHealth officials say its all part of a public health effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially in light of the growing threat of the Delta variant. As of last month MaineHealths care team member vaccination rate was 83.8 percent. Copyright 2021 WABI. All rights reserved. Most Read

May 14, 2021 / 07:03 AM EDT / Updated: May 14, 2021 / 07:03 AM EDT FILE In this Jan. 18, 2021, file photo, a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 is prepared at a vaccination center of the 3rd district, in Paris. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) AUGUSTA (WJBF) Gold Cross EMS is teaming up with Augusta Transit to help get more COVID shot into the arms of more Augusta residents. Gold Cross is holding a clinic at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) and the bus company will be taking people to that location for a shot. If you let them know you are heading to take the vaccine, you can ride the bus for free. REMEMBER THE AGES ARE 12 AND UP NOW. The city will provide a city bus every hour starting at 12:30pm to take people to the Augusta Airport from Southgate Plaza to receive the vaccine. Copyright 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share this story

Jet Health Inc. , a regional provider of home health and hospice services, has acquired Signal Home Health & Hospice, a San Antonio, Texas-based company. The acquisition marks Jet Healths seventh acquisition and furthers the companys strategy to build a premier home health and hospice provider across the western and southwestern U.S., Fort Worth-based Jet Health said. Signal Home Health & Hospice, founded in 2010, primarily serves patients in the greater San Antonio area as well as adjoining counties, providing hospice services, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social workers and home health aides. Jet Health got its start in Texas, and we have been looking for opportunities to build density in the state by acquiring quality providers. San Antonio is the second-largest market in Texas, and the Signal Home Health & Hospice acquisition provides us the ability to further expand our presence throughout the state, Stacie Bratcher, Jet Healths chief executive officer, said in the announcement. This acquisition further reflects Jet Healths attractiveness to sellers seeking buyers that can provide not just a fair purchase price, but also one that shares their culture and commitment to quality care, Bratcher said. I spent more than 10 years building our company into a provider of quality home health and hospice services. Our strategy for success was simple recruit and retain top-notch professionals who deliver excellent clinical care and service, Signal Home Health & Hospice Owner Robert McDowell said. It was critical that the company to whom I sold my business shared those values and would afford our team the opportunity to continue to execute this mission. As we conducted the acquisition process and spent time with Jet Healths leadership and diligence teams, it was clear that this was in fact the right choice, McDowell said. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Funding for the transaction was provided by Stifel Bank, SV Health Investors and Health Enterprise Partners. Stradling Yocca Carlson and Rauth acted as legal counsel to Jet Health. The transaction was facilitated by Agenda Health, a healthcare-focused Mergers & Acquisitions advisory firm, headquartered in Austin. Jet Health operates locations in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho. Share

FORT COLLINS Science and tech start-up incubator Innosphere Ventures has hired Kevin Noble as its new life sciences program manager, it announced Monday in a news release. Sponsored Content March 30, 2022 at The Ranch, Loveland - The fifth annual Northern Colorado Real Estate Summit , presented by BizWest, is the premier regional event for commercial and residential real estate professionals to learn, explore opportunities, and network with peers. Featuring keynote speaker Lawrence Yun - Chief Economist with National Association of Realtors. ReadMore Noble will run an incubator program designed to accelerate the success of founders bringing life science innovations to market. The program, led by Innosphere Ventures, Colorado BioScience Association, and Colorado BioScience Institute, is currently accepting applications from founders who are developing or commercializing technologies, products, devices, and life-saving breakthroughs. Kevins extensive industry experience in health-focused sectors combined with his background in working with early-stage founders will be a great value-add to our Innosphere client companies who are launching medical device, digital health, diagnostic, biotech, or pharmaceutical companies, said Mike Freeman, Innosphere CEO, in a prepared statement. Were excited for Kevin to help us launch our new Life Sciences Incubation Program for Colorados technical founders, physician-entrepreneurs, and startups coming from federal labs and universities. FORT COLLINS Science and tech start-up incubator Innosphere Ventures has hired Kevin Noble as its new life sciences program manager, it announced Monday in a news release. Sponsored Content

Comment Kiran Gadela (CEO)-Oasis Fertility COVID-19 has put unrivaled exertions on the healthcare sector, and when the pandemic struck for the first time, the sectors' resilience was put to test, forcing the entire system to bring innovative technologies to the market. The revolutionary technology of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has been a savior for families struggling with infertility, enabling them to experience the joy of parenthood. According to the data by World Health Organisation, around 48 million couples and 186 million individuals have infertility globally. Over the last two decades, fertility rates have been continuously declining in India. Also, to the most recent statistics from the National Family Health Survey, India's fertility rate has been deteriorating, with the 2019-21 survey putting it at an all-time low of 1.6 in the urban population and 2.1 in the rural population. To top it, various factors like changing lifestyle and a significant number of the sub-fertile population contribute to the increased demand for infertility treatments. Due to an increase in infertility rates, the IVF sector is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 20% in the upcoming years. IVF is one of the most widely known types of assisted reproductive technology (ART). It works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg and then implanting the egg in the uterus. As the pandemic situation improved with time, the demand for IVF clinics and their services resumed while following the guidelines that ensured the safety and security of the patients and staff, like social distancing, wearing a mask and regular fumigation and deep cleaning of the premises, and sanitization of hands and equipment used for medical procedures. During the first wave, the fear factor was at its highest. We did our best to adhere to international safety protocols to overcome pandemic anxiety and encourage couples to resume their plans to start a family. We did everything we could to keep the couples and our employees safe during the pandemic, from vaccinating our employees to spacing out consultations and offering online counseling says Kiran Gadela, Co-founder and Managing Director, Oasis Fertility a leading chain of fertility clinics in India. The company introduced an innovative initiative IVF @ Home to overcome the COVID apprehensions and fright patients have while seeking treatment at the hospital. Here, IVF is being provided at the doorstep of the patient, with minimal visits to the clinics, thereby reducing any risks of getting COVID infected. Within 3 months of the first wave, we came up with this concept. We aimed to reduce the fear and worry of couples and encourage them to begin their parenthood journey without any difficulty, even during difficult times, with the help of our committed and agile multidisciplinary teams. This special project arose because we knew the outbreak was here to stay, and deferring pregnancy is not a viable choice as fertility declines with age adds Sudhaker Jadhav, Chief Operating Officer, Oasis Fertility. During the first two waves, people put their conception plans on hold- first due to the COVID 19 fright, but eventually people started realizing that there is no end in sight. With the world now going through the third wave with the Omicron variant and couples knowing that COVID 19 is here to stay, IVF clinics are observing the inflow of patients in 2022 compared to that of 2021 and 2020. Moreover, there have been changes in consumer behavior and the severe and long-term economic effect is still being felt by the healthcare sector. Despite the economy's slowing growth, technological developments, particularly post-pandemic, have benefited the health business. Only those who were able to adapt to the new normal survived. Recent research by WHO shows one in six couples (globally) has some degree of infertility issue. India collectively is doing 3,00,000 IVF cycles and the need is expected to be almost ten times the current number. Oasis Fertility is striving to fill the gaps in the segment, they have added 8 more centres in this year taking the count to 25 centres. Our relentless focus on technology, clinical excellence and a scientific approach in all we do contributes to (a) best in class success rates and (b) a transparent and seamless experience of the couples seeking treatment through the use of technology-enabled solutions. It's been a gratifying year thus as we doubled our growth from the previous year. We have a clear road map to onboard and train more senior fertility specialists and embryologists - and deepen our presence into tier ii and tier iii cities of India as well. adds Kiran Gadela. As the pandemic caused a paradigm shift in the entire healthcare ecosystem, organized fertility chains like Oasis Fertility are leaving no stone unturned in terms of thought leadership, creating awareness, and trying to dispel misconceptions about infertility. They also focus on educating people about the wide range of treatment possibilities and instill faith and hope in the couples seeking treatments. Disclaimer: Content Produced by Oasis Fertility (Catch all the Business News Breaking NewsEvents and Latest NewsUpdates on The Economic Times) Download The Economic Times News Appto get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News. ...

Friday, 18 February 2022 08:55 (EST) Image source: Blue Water Vaccines Blue Water Vaccines, a preclinical stage vaccine development company, announced Thursday evening that it has raised $20 million in its initial public offering. The Cincinnati-based company sold 2,222,222 shares at $9.00 for a post-money market capitalization of just over $98 million. The stock is expected to begin trading Friday on The Nasdaq Capital Market under symbol BWV. Blue Water Vaccines is focused on the research and development ofvaccines to prevent infectious diseases. Its most advanced program is targetinga universal flu vaccine. Boustead Securities acted as sole underwriter. Pipeline Click to enlarge Image source: Blue Water Vaccines Blue Water Vaccines is focused on the research and development ofvaccines to prevent infectious diseases. Its most advanced program is in influenza. The pipeline includes novel vaccine candidates exclusively licensed from renowned research institutions, including: University of Oxford Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital We think any company pursuing vaccines is worth keeping on the radar. The modest market valuation may be attractive for investors, but we would recommend that only those with a high risk appetite should consider it. The company has nothing in clinical trials as yet, but the licensed candidates do hold the promise of potentially helping millions of people worldwide. Companies at this stage also are targets for acquisition, another way that investors could possibly benefit. As the company's registration statement with the SECclearly states, Blue Water Vaccines represents a "highly speculative investment." _____ Source: Equities News Stock price data is provided by IEX Cloud on a 15-minute delayed basis. Chart price data is provided by TradingView on a 15-minute delayed basis.

on April 23, 2020 Sometimes, the best way to navigate the future is to learn from the past. Because weve been through downturns before. Maybe not to this extent. But at least in some semblance. So learnings from a startup in the dotcom days both boom and bust and the mortgage crisis could provide some interesting insights for startups to survive the current pandemic and what to expect when the market starts to correct. Thats why PIE has scheduled a chat with Elia Freedmanfounder of Infinity Softworks and creator of the PowerOne calculator. To get his insights on what he experienced. And to answer questions that todays founders might have. powered by Crowdcast Elia Freedman was founder and CEO of Infinity Softworks, which he started in 1997 as a senior in college, leveraging both his business training and programming ability. The company has helped more than 20 million professionals and students in real estate, financial services, math and science who use calculation every day to solve problems and generate proposals, both in the field and at their desk. The companys primary app, PowerOne, has been in existence as apps for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, and Windows computers for more 20 years, Infinity Softworks re-launched PowerOne as a web and mobile service in 2018. Sound interesting? Then please join the Q&A on Friday, April 24, 2020, at noon for a lunch and learn with Elia. Its completely free and open to the public. Does that description spark some questions? One of the nice things about Crowdcast, the platform hosting the event, is the ability to submit questions ahead of time. So just register and submit them with the Ask a Question feature at the bottom of the screen. No questions come to mind? Then maybe consider upvoting the questions you like. That way, we can focus the conversation on the topics that are most relevant to attendees. For more information or to RSVP, visit . [Full disclosure: This event is produced by PIE. I am the cofounder and general manager of PIE.] Like this:

9 min read For many of us, start-ups are exciting environments full of adventure, constant change, and uncertainty. That being said, even adrenaline junkies also need certainty at times and the same is true in start-ups. In our experience, the primary source of certainty in companies is well-organized, consistent rhythms that define a heartbeat and architecture of the company. Here, we share the rhythms that we successfully leverage in our start-ups for planning, meetings, retreats and reviews. Planning Annual Every year, we create a plan for the next year (including objectives for the next three years). This planning process evolves as the company matures, but to start, a single day planning session is typically sufficient. A week before the planning session, we send out the following questions to participants: What should the companys top 3 to 5 outcomes be for the next 3 years? What should the companys top 3 to 5 outcomes be for the next year? What revenue targets should we achieve in the next 3 years and year? What product/service milestones should we reach in the next 3 years and year? What marketing outcomes should we achieve in the next 3 years and year? We ask each participant to submit their answers to the CEO (or whoever is leading the planning session) and for the CEO to organize these answers (including his or her own) and share with the group at least a day before the planning session. Also note that hiring and financing are not top outcomes to start this process, but rather derived outcomes based on what we want to accomplish in growing revenue and building and marketing our product. With this preparation in place, it is now possible to set a clear agenda to establish outcomes based on the points of agreement, and to flesh out and seek alignment on the points of disagreement. We strive to make this planning day fun, high energy, interactive and engaging. The more passionately and whole-heartedly we embody our plans and outcomes, the more likely we are to achieve them. We begin by seeking alignment on the top 3 to 5 outcomes for 3 years. This will typically include a revenue number (and number of customers), an overarching product or service outcome, a marketing outcome, a financing outcome, and a hiring outcome. Then we identify our 1 year outcome for each area. Finally, we identify our 1 quarter and 1 month outcomes for each area. Thus, we have a short-term and long-term roadmap that guides the company towards its most important achievements. It is also important to note that in a well-organized team, each outcome will be the responsibility of one person (and their team). A thoughtful CEO defines clear areas of ownership and accountability for each member of the team and facilitates identification of distinct outcomes that each member of the team can be measured against. At the same time, a healthy team collaborates to support each other in accomplishing each of the outcomes regardless of who is directly responsible. With all that in a roughly 2-page document, we distribute it to everyone in the organization who was not in the planning meeting. We then ask each team (in the week to follow) to break down the more specific outcomes that must happen over the next month, year, and three years to achieve the overall company outcomes. If any major discrepancies arise, those are surfaced quickly to reconcile in a shorter follow-up leadership session. We have seen this simple process for annual planning work for organizations from a founding team up to massive high-growth companies with thousands of employees. The only thing that varies is the amount of time required (from a week to a month) to coordinate across teams. Quarterly We redo this process once per quarter (using the same 3 year and 1 year outcomes with small modifications based on learnings in the most recent quarter). Due to the clarity of long-term objectives from the annual planning, this quarterly process is faster and for a small organization often takes only a few days of preparation time for participants, half-a-day for the actual planning day, and a few days of debrief for the rest of the team to convert the new quarterly outcomes into outcomes for each team or department. Monthly For monthly outcomes, we simply use our existing weekly meeting rhythms described below to report on and create our new monthly outcomes. Again, this is a relatively rapid process given that we already have clear quarterly outcomes and it is simply a matter of tracing backwards to what must we accomplish in the next month in order to achieve our quarterly outcomes. Meetings At the start of a company with just the founders and perhaps a few early employees, we have two simple meetings with everyone: all hands and 7x7. For each meeting, one person is the owner responsible for keeping things on schedule and ensuring follow-ups are recorded. A second person is the energizer responsible for coming up with creative ways to maintain high levels of energy (jumping, dancing, stretching, singing, etc) throughout the meeting at scheduled energizing activity times. These roles rotate weekly and are assigned as the last step in the meeting to give the owner and energizer time to prepare for the next weeks meeting. F irst is an all hands focused in the business (tactics, day-to-day, blocking and tackling) lasting no more than two hours, ideally 90 minutes. Each person reminds the team of the annual outcome he or she is responsible for, the monthly outcome in service of that longer term outcome, and the weekly outcome committed to the week before. That person reports on the progress and if it is a win, we celebrate, and if it is a miss, we reflect on learnings for the next time. Then we set the next weeks outcome. This is collaborative and typically takes 5-10 minutes per person. After all outcomes are reported on and set for the next week, there is a window for 1530 minutes of discussion on hot topics needing to be addressed imminently. As the company grows, this all hands meeting splits up into multiple separate weekly meetings: a leadership meeting for the leaders of each team in the company, an all hands with all members of the company (and leaders reporting on the outcomes only), and individual team (and later department) meetings. Each meeting has roughly the same structure as above with a different scope. We also commit to having only one day of the week (Monday) with regularly scheduled meetings so that the rest of the week can be uninterrupted by recurring meetings. This means that particularly for leaders, Mondays are very busy days full of meetings, but for individual contributors they can count on the rest of the week to get things done. S econd is a 7x7 meeting focused on the business (constant and never ending improvement in every crucial area of the business). Please note, this meeting is inspired by attending Tony Robbins Business Masteryand using the strategies he uses to run his 50+ companies. In short, there are seven areas of our businesses that we mus

Updated: 22-02-2022 00:19 IST | Created: 22-02-2022 00:10 IST Representative Image Image Credit: Flickr SHARE French manufacturer Alpineunveiled their 2022 Formula One challenger in Parison Monday, becoming the ninth team to take the wraps off their car for the upcoming season ahead of the first winter test later this week. The Renault-owned team's new A522 has been designed to the sport's radical new rules, with the cleaner, swept-back aerodynamics and larger 18-inch wheels, aimed at improving wheel-to-wheel racing. It also features a revised livery, with the pink colour scheme of new title partner and water technology company BWT mixed in with the team's traditional blue. Alpine's target is to fight for the championship within 100 races of the start of Formula One's new rules era, which will begin with the season-opening BahrainGrand Prix on March 20. "In 2022, we want to show constant progress with comprehensive developments across all sites to ensure we are contenders for the title in the future," said Alpinechief executive Laurent Rossi. "We are going in the right direction and we want to carry on our climb to the summit." The outfit, who have finished fifth in the constructors' standings for the last three years, recently beefed up their technical department and last week announced the signing of former Aston Martinteam boss Otmar Szafnauer as new team principal in a move aimed at reversing their plateauing form. The team, who head into 2022 with an unchanged driver line up of double world champion Fernando Alonsoand Frenchman Esteban Ocon, returned to the top step of the podium last season, with Ocon handing them their first win since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix in Hungary. "I've had the displeasure of racing against these formidable competitors," said Szafnauer. "I remember too well when they beat us in Hungaryand didn't put a foot wrong," he said referring to Ocon's win ahead of Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel who finished second on the road but was later disqualified for a fuel irregularity. Alpine displayed a 2022 show car at their Parisevent but released images of their actual car, which is currently being readied for the first pre-season test in Barcelonawhich gets underway on Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) READ MORE ON:

/PRNewswire/ -- Green Peak Innovations, Michigan's largest holder of vertical medical marijuana licenses, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a company which holds a vertical cannabis license in the state of Florida. The close of the transaction is subject to certain preconditions and regulatory approval. Details are confidential. This transaction will give Green Peak Innovations one of only 22 vertical licenses in Florida , the third largest cannabis market in the United States Jeff Radway, CEO, Green Peak Innovations (PRNewsfoto/Green Peak Innovations) "As a strategically focused multi-state operator, Florida fits perfectly into Green Peak's portfolio as a first step in expanding our presence beyond Michigan , the country's second largest cannabis market," said GPI CEO Jeff Radway . "We are aggressively pursuing the establishment of operations in Florida to fast-track the implementation of our model in the state. We look forward to serving the patients of Florida very soon with the highest quality medical cannabis products." The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. ABOUT GREEN PEAK INNOVATIONS Green Peak Innovations uses nature, science and agricultural best practices to raise cannabis industry standards. We're building state-of-the-art facilities and using advanced technology to cultivate high-quality medicine that is safe for our patients, our communities and our state. Green Peak Innovations Global Headquarters is located in Windsor Township

Homethrive Partners with Benefit Harbor to Offer Its Digital Coach for Eldercare Support Share Article Benefit addresses hidden caregiver crisis that impacts employees and job performance. The partnership with Homethrive is a no-brainer because it allows us to provide additional value and support to our clients in a frequently unnoticed and underserved area of employee benefits. NORTHBROOK, Ill. (PRWEB) August 18, 2021 Homethrive, the high-touch/high-tech family caregiving platform that integrates digital coaching & human support services for aging and eldercare navigation, guidance, and community experience, today announced it will partner with Benefit Harbor, a leading cloud-based provider of benefits management solutions. Homethrive is Benefit Harbors newest addition to its benefit portfolio that helps employers reduce costs, create efficiencies, and effectively manage the complex employee benefit platform. Adding Homethrive builds on Benefit Harbors commitment to offering employers the optimal benefit portfolio. When you consider that one in five Americans is a caregiver and 24% of those caregivers care for two or more adults [according to AARP's 2020 Caregiving in the U.S.], the importance of offering benefits to support caregivers in the workforce cannot be underestimated, said Dave Jacobs, Co-CEO of Homethrive. Homethrive aims to help older adults live healthier and independently at home for as long as possible, while reducing the work, worry, and stress that family membersunpaid caregiversface. Establishing this partnership with Benefit Harbor underscores the impact caregiving has on the wellbeing of employees and their work responsibilities and why benefits to support those employees is so important. The status quo just isnt enough. Our goal is to help employees navigate their employee benefits in a manner that is both intuitive and insightful while also offering functionality and services to best address the employers benefit administration needs. said, Austin Michelsen, EVP of Sales and Service, Benefit Harbor. The fact that working caregivers report spending an average of 20.8 hours a week on care duties [beyond their job responsibilities] is indicative of the millions of dollars in hidden costs related to employee turnover and productivity loss that employers can face without the appropriate benefits. Knowing this makes partnering with Homethrive a no-brainer because it allows us to provide additional value and support to our clients in a frequently unnoticed and underserved area of employee benefits. About Benefit Harbor Benefit Harbor is a leading cloud-based provider of benefits management solutions delivering a unique technology and service solution to meet the demands of todays most challenging benefit strategies. The Benefit Harbor platform is architected to address the complex challenges and requirements faced by employers, employees, carriers, and brokers in todays fast-changing benefits market. The Companys solution provides employers with a single delivery platform to simplify benefit enrollment and manage a myriad of complexities around eligibility, benefit offerings, turnover, underwriting, and data analytics. About Homethrive Homethrive is the high-touch/high-tech family caregiving platform. Through the integration of digital coaching and human support services for aging and eldercare navigation, guidance, and community experience, Homethrive improves outcomes and lowers costs for aging adults living at home and reduces the work, worry, and stress on family caregivers. Through its personalized platform and algorithms, Homethrive provides 24 x 7 digital and human concierge services and expert coaching from certified Homethrive social workers. The Homethrive program is available nationally and offered primarily through insurance companies and as an employee benefit through employers. Homethrive was co-founded by Dave Jacobs and David Greenberg, who both personally struggled to navigate the process of caring for aging parents at home. As veteran healthcare professionals, they were surprised that finding the support and guidance they needed to care for their aging parents proved to be far more challenging than they anticipated. The company was launched in partnership with 7wireVentures after identifying the vast unmet need for a comprehensive solution to support caregivers elder parents looking to age in place. LinkedIn: Share article on social media or email: View article via:

Screenshot taken by Chuck Quirmbach / WUWM Dr. Raul Mendoza of Advocate Aurora Health speaks to the news media Monday. Doctors who have been warning people about COVID-19 have expanded their concerns to influenza, commonly known as the flu. State of Wisconsin figures show the number of flu cases has been rising. The same goes for COVID-19. Pulmonologist, or lung expert, Raul Mendoza of Advocate Aurora Health in Green Bay said Monday it's possible to get both COVID-19 and a more common flu virus. "We have a patient who has a double infection. She's in the hospital. She has both influenza and COVID-19, and of course, that's not good news," Mendoza told news reporters. Mendoza said the exact effect on anyone depends on that individual. "If the patient has underlying chronic illness, underlying immune suppression, the symptoms could be more severe," Mendoza said. Immune suppression means the body's disease and virus-fighting immune system isn't working properly. Long-term health problems can cause that, but so can short-term changes like not getting enough sleep. Mendoza suggests getting both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine or, if eligible, the COVID-19 booster. Only about half of Wisconsin adults typically get a flu shot. The state said 62% of Wisconsin residents authorized to do so had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Tags

There were 283 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 218,002 in the last 365 days. Bensons Pet Center Launches Successful Ecommerce Site with Help of Valued Technology Partner News Provided By June 01, 2021, 14:00 GMT Share This Article Online orders have been well above our expectations already, that's really been a good accomplishment for us, and we are really happy with the results so far Todd Smith EINPresswire.com / -- Benson's Pet Centerof Clifton Park, New York, launched a new website that is helping drive local sales for curbside pickup and local delivery. The new site is already seeing success as new and returning local customers find the online ordering process fast, easy, and convenient. Benson's is proud to continue its long history of excellence in customer service by providing yet another convenience and solution for busy pet parents in their community. The search for a new website started when staff of Benson's Pet began exploring popular pet industry website platforms. Unfortunately, they were soon disappointed with available solutions. After attempts to work with two of the most popular pet industry solutions fell flat, the team reached out to other independent pet stores to find a vendor capable of building and managing a top-quality solution. That's when they gained a valued technology partner in New Media Retailer(NMR). Bensons team felt confident in the services NMR provided after hearing the countless positive testimonials from other pet store owners. Their goal was to create a user-friendly website. One where customers could shop their catalog online in the same way as big box stores, except with a local touch. The site needed to have robust functionality for curbside pickup, local delivery, and exceptional customer service. NMR worked closely with the team at Bensons Pet Center to build an ecommerce website directly connected to the store's point of sale system, allowing them to update the site with pricing and inventory daily. NMR stood out as a true partner immediately, solving every problem quickly after it arose. Project Lead, Todd Smith said, "New Media Retailer set up an ecommerce site and fine-tuned it and tweaked it to what we needed to achieve and provided consultation along the way. The marketing specialists we have worked with have been able to tackle every challenge, build custom solutions and programming, all things we would not have been able to do on our own or with another company." After numerous headaches with ecommerce vendors, Todd is relieved to be working with NMR. He stated, "Online orders have been well above our expectations already, that's really been a good accomplishment for us, and we are really happy with the results so far." Benson's Pet Center is sure to give big box stores a run for their money with this high-quality local ecommerce solution. Our Organization New Media Retailer helps small businesses overcome the expensive, time-consuming, and technical barriers to a successful online presence. We serve thousands of successful and thriving small business owners as they bring the best customer service and convenience to their communities. To learn more, visit https://newmediaretailer.com/ Janet Thomas

October 28, 2019 MyoStorm has created a patent-pending, FDA compliant, medical massage device that combines vibration and heat therapy to help reduce pain and speed up muscular recovery after exercise or muscle strain. Unlike other products like it on the market, the Meteors cutting edge technology allows it to be used while lying, sitting or just by applying pressure/holding it to the affected sore muscles. The Sharks are impressed with the Meteor and with the influencers that MyoStorm has to promote the product, but they wanted to understand their clear differentiation in the market. Jonathan, Shaquille, and Jared explain that what sets them apart from other competitors is that their product provides both heat and vibration to muscles rather than just pressure or heat. The Sharks are blown away by the high margins on the Meteor, but question if the price tag may be keeping away potential customers. Lori Greiner theorizes that if they would lower the price from $160 to $99 they could still make a healthy margin but attract more buyers. Sharks Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Matt Higgins and Kevin OLeary all present partnership offers to MyoStorm. After deliberation, and much to the surprise of the Sharks, MyoStorm decided to partner with Lori Greiner. Lori offered $150,000 in exchange for 5% equity but will collect a $1 royalty per Meteor until $500,000 is recouped. The MyoStorm team shares that they chose Lori because they liked her ideas and felt that she could help them to truly grow their business. The product is great, thats undoubtable, everyone loves it. But I think

Ways to get involved Miniila Refugee Council is working in partnership with Missing Children Europe to promote Miniila, an app for unaccompanied children. Children in migration have said that one of the things they lack the most is access to information they can trust. Missing Children Europe has designed the Miniila app to provide unaccompanied children with child-friendly information on useful services within the country that the young person is in. Miniila is currently available in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden and the UK and can be downloaded in several languages including Arabic, Tigrinya and Farsi. The app also provides information on the rights of children in the EU, international protection and family reunification. What we offer The app is free for all users and organisations. Refugee Council is working in partnership with Missing Children Europe to invite UK organisations to feature on the app as well as promote usage of the app to unaccompanied children. Who it's for The app is for children and youth in migration. How to access this service Miniila can be downloaded via Google Playand the App storeand further information can be found on the Miniila websiteand Facebook pageIf you are an organisation that provides services to unaccompanied children in the UK and would like to feature on the Miniila app, please contact the National Coordinator

Gene Marrano Not content with redeveloping older properties in downtown Roanoke and in the Wasena neighborhood, John Garland has set his sights on Southside Virginia. In conjunction with Cherney Development which recently turned the old Happys Flea Market into office and storage space two former schools and a shuttered Winn-Dixie supermarket will become living spaces. Construction on two of the Southside properties is underway; the third in Martinsville is a mixed-used development slated to start this summer. Garland says his development company has also purchased a handful of older buildings in downtown Pulaski that will be renovated as well.

Science In last trading session, Allot Ltd. (NASDAQ:ALLT) saw 0.61 million shares changing hands with its beta currently measuring 0.84. Companys recent per share price level of $8.23 trading at $0.45 or 5.78% at ring of the bell on the day assigns it a market valuation of $297.02M. That closing price of ALLTs stock is at a discount of -155.65% from its 52-week high price of $21.04 and is indicating a premium of 13.61% from its 52-week low price of $7.11. Taking a look at companys average trading volume of 309.76K if we extend that period to 3-months. For Allot Ltd. (ALLT), analysts consensus is at an average recommendation of an Overweight. Splitting up the data highlights that, out of 4 analysts covering the stock, 0 rated the stock as a Sell while 0 recommended an Overweight rating for the stock. 0 suggested the stock as a Hold whereas 3 see the stock as a Buy. 1 analyst(s) advised it as an Underweight. The company is expected to be making an EPS of -$0.03 in the current quarter. Allot Ltd. (NASDAQ:ALLT) trade information Upright in the green during last session for gaining 5.78%, in the last five days ALLT remained trading in the green while hitting its week-highest on Friday, 02/25/22 when the stock touched $8.23 price level, adding 0.48% to its value on the day. Allot Ltd.s shares saw a change of -30.72% in year-to-date performance and have moved 4.44% in past 5-day. Allot Ltd. (NASDAQ:ALLT) showed a performance of -6.80% in past 30-days. Wall Street analysts have assigned a consensus price target of $15.50 to the stock, which implies a rise of 46.9% to its current value. Analysts have been projecting $10.00 as a low price target for the stock while placing it at a high target of $23.00. It follows that stocks current price would drop -179.47% in reaching the projected high whereas dropping to the targeted low would mean a loss of -21.51% for stocks current value. Allot Ltd. (ALLT) estimates and forecasts Statistics highlight that Allot Ltd. is scoring comparatively lower than the scores of other players of the relevant industry. The company lost -49.82% of value to its shares in past 6 months, showing an annual growth rate of -288.24% while that of industry is 17.90. Apart from that, the company came lowering its revenue forecast for fiscal year 2022. 1 industry analysts have given their estimates about the companys current quarter revenue by setting an average figure of $40.65 million for the same. And 1 analysts are in estimates of company making revenue of $31.49 million in the next quarter that will end on Mar 2022. Weighing up companys earnings over the past 5-year and in the next 5-year periods, we find the company posting an annual earnings growth rate of -11.60% during past 5 years. ALLT Dividends Allot Ltd. is more likely to be releasing its next quarterly report between February 07 and February 11 and investors are confident in the company announcing better current-quarter dividends despite the fact that it has been facing issues arising out of mounting debt. Allot Ltd. (NASDAQ:ALLT)s Major holders Insiders are in possession of 2.15% of companys total shares while institution are holding 76.12 percent of that, with stock having share float percentage of 77.79%. Investors also watch the number of corporate investors in a company very closely, which is 76.12% institutions for Allot Ltd. that are currently holding shares of the company. Lynrock Lake LP is the top institutional holder at ALLT for having 7.24 million shares of worth $107.54 million. And as of Sep 29, 2021, it was holding 20.45% of the companys outstanding shares. The second largest institutional holder is Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd, which was holding about 2.26 million shares on Sep 29, 2021. The number of shares represents firms hold over 6.38% of outstanding shares, having a total worth of $33.55 million. >> 5 Best Growth Stocks for 2022 << On the other hand, ETF Managers Tr-EFTMG Prime Cyber Security ETF and Starboard Investment Tr-Roumell Opportunistic Value Fd are the top two Mutual Funds which own companys shares. As of Sep 29, 2021, the former fund manager was holding 1.27 million shares of worth $18.81 million or 3.58% of the total outstanding shares. The later fund manager was in possession of 0.5 million shares on Aug 30, 2021, making its stake of worth around $8.31 million in the company or a holder of 1.41% of companys stock. Tags:

Epro , a clinically-led digital solution for healthcare professionals and organizations Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory and how you got started? My parents have been going through the copious paperwork in their loft, and came across a bundle of my school reports. Even from the age of five, my teachers were noticing my desire to tell stories in the best way possible! I still have some of the stories I wrote from when I was about seven (nothing groundbreaking, Im afraid), and I grew up desperate to live by my pen, as Jane Austen once said. And to date, I have been successful! After university I freelanced as a copywriter and editor, and then entered the more traditional workforce as a copywriter, rising up to be Chief Brand Officer at Eprowithin five years. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career? One of the joys of building a brand is that you can do that for an individual, a company, or both. In one of my previous roles, I was fortunate enough to work with a prolific and exceptional scientist who was essentially unknown within the media due only to a lack of access. I worked closely with her to examine and redefine her brand with the purpose of attracting the media, and landed her a live BBC interview with my first pitch. The segment was going to be filmed within an hour. A crash course in media training over the phone (which I dont recommend, in normal circumstances!), and my client was on BBC Victoria Derbyshire, speaking on the importance of environmental factors when considering business rates. All in a days work! Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life? Mind how you go. It may not mean much by itself, but its a family farewell that encapsulates the myriad of emotions on departing. I dont wish to leave you, but I understand you have to go. Stay safe until we meet again. A phrase that has gained importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that? My parents have been and continue to be a huge influence on me. They never restricted my world view of what I could be or what I could do, and encouraged me in everything I attempted even if it crashed and burned! I think its because of them that I approach most challenges with the view that it can be beaten: I just have to work out how. Thats a huge advantage, and I owe it all to them. Ok wonderful. Lets now shift to the main focus of our interview. The pandemic has changed so many things about the way we behave. One of them of course, is how we work and how we communicate in our work. Many teams have started working remotely. Working remotely can be very different than working with a team that is in front of you. This provides great opportunity but it can also create unique challenges. To begin, can you articulate for our readers a few of the main benefits of having a team physically together? Being in the same physical space as someone changes something radically about the way we communicate. Not only can we see a persons entire body language (which by some estimates is up to 93% of our communication), but we can better understand a persons emotional mood. But it goes beyond that! We can hug, high five, share a cup of coffee, read a newspaper together and discuss things one wouldnt feel comfortable doing over a video connection. We can walk together. Eat lunch together. Science tells us that physical activity improves our ability to solve problems, and there is a sense of togetherness and us against the problem that is most tangible when together. On the flip side, can you articulate for our readers a few of the main challenges that arise when a team is not in the same space? I think 2020 has taught each of us our personal bugbears about not being physically together when trying to work as a team, and I think much of that is dictated by your personality type and your job role. For extroverted creatives like myself, the idea of going through a day without speaking to someone is abhorrent. Ive organised Google Hangout drop ins and shared the link internally, as a place for anyone else desperate to speak to someone about something non-work related to chat with me. But that doesnt mean that introverts or those who work in more scientific, technology-based industries dont suffer in equal measure, but in different ways. Its difficult to debug code as a group, or suggest new support structures, or whiteboard a new network patternwhen youre hundreds of miles apart. Lastly, theres something especially nuanced about critical conversations that doesnt translate easily to video or voice call. When you need to tell a colleague that their last piece of work needs some serious work; when a junior person needs to be informed their application for a higher position wasnt successful; when a contract isnt renewed All these conversations are strenuous enough in person, but are made far more difficult when remote. Fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, what can one do to address or redress each of those challenges? What are your 5 Things You Need To Know To Communicate With Your Team Effectively Even If You Are Rarely In The Same Physical Space ? (Please share a story or example for each.) Acknowledge that this isnt a perfect situation. By making it clear to your team that you recognize this is not the circumstance that you would choose, people feel more comfortable. Doorbell rings during a work call, child wanders into the room, signal suddenly drops? If you have a workplace that acknowledges that these things might happen and that its okay youll massively reduce the stress your team members will feel, helping them to approach work with a cool head. 2. Ask how your team prefers to communicate. Yes were remote, but thats only removed one type of communication: face to face. We still have email, text, video calls, intranet, voice calls, internal channels like Slack plenty of ways to communicate. And there isnt one perfect solution, so ask your team how they want to communicate. Does a 10-minute video stand up every morning suit everyone or would they prefer a text check in around midday with any blockers? Dont just assume a video call has to be used for everything! 3. Be prepared to iterate. Whether your team has been working remotely since the beginning of the pandemic, or is just starting out, there is no perfect system and whatever you create will need to be updated and refined over time. Iteration doesnt just occur in the world of start-ups and agile development: its critical that you do not become wedded to one way of doing things. Always

Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.31 by ($0.17). Spire had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 10.13%. The firm had revenue of $555.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $548.70 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.42 EPS. Spires revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Spire will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 11th will be paid a $0.685 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 10th. This represents a $2.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.07%. Spires dividend payout ratio is presently 63.28%. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SR. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Spire in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Spire by 114.3% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 555 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.86% of the companys stock. About Spire (

and Susan Juroe , to our family of leading operators. Michael and Susan are true industry innovators and are delivering a next generation senior housing and care model in high-end urban and suburban locations," said Thomas J. DeRosa , Welltower Chairman and CEO. "The Balfour relationship is further validation of our commitment to premier seniors housing properties and a partnership approach. Balfour helps to further differentiate Welltower's portfolio with one-of-a-kind design, which is unparalleled in the industry, as evidenced by its numerous awards and accolades from Hospitality Design and the National Association of Home Builders . We look forward to collaborating with the outstanding management team at Balfour to offer residents and families some of the highest level of independent living, assisted living and memory care living available." " Welltower is an optimal partner for the future expansion of Balfour's platform," said Balfour co-founder and CEO, Michael Schonbrun . " Tom DeRosa and his top-notch management team appreciate Balfour's vision for serving individuals who have always known and appreciated a comfortable and beautiful residential setting and the services and amenities that they require. This is a population who has previously chosen to stay in their homes, but now appreciate that a better alternative has been developed by Balfour. In addition, Welltower's data analytic and market-assessment capabilities along with speed-of-execution will enhance Balfour's ability to scale quickly in these high quality, high barrier to entry markets." About Welltower Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL), an S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. The Company invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. Welltower, a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns in

Digital Editor, South Florida Business Journal Oct 2, 2020, 5:56am EDT Health care businesses are showing signs of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but telemedicine is still going strong, MDLive Chief Medical Officer Dr. Cynthia Zelis says. After in-person care plummeted in mid-March, 43.5% of Medicare primary visits were provided through telehealth services by April, compared to just 0.1% in February, according a study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The leap in usage was made possible through expansions on reimbursements and other flexibilities enacted by the Trump administration in the wake of the health crisis. Zelis, who took the role at MDLive in June, says the trend continues to benefit the Miramar-based company, which offers telehealth services including urgent care, virtual primary care, behavioral health and dermatology in all 50 states. The company expects nearly $100 million in revenue for 2020. Year-to-date through July, revenue had risen 73%. Signs point to telehealth being adopted more widely adopted in the long term, Zelis says. Here's her take on her new role and the company's expected growth: What's your focus at MDLive? I come from a family of physicians and primary care doctors. I'm the wife of a family doctor and the daughter of a family doctor. The majority of my career has been with the University Hospitals of Cleveland, with over 20 years of being a family doctor. Over the last six years, I transitioned to executive roles, with two being in the C-suite, leading to MDLive. We have over 2,000 credentialed providers in our network, and my key responsibility is to ensure we deliver the highest quality of comprehensive care as we help change health care. What's primarily benefitting the business? The market and literature has shown that patients have wanted telehealth, but there are more patients and providers who are skeptical, as well. We're seeing great transformation on both sides of that virtual screen of adoption. It's about caring, convenience, cost control and contagion avoidance. Virtual care is here to stay. What are some unexpected benefits for telehealth providers? They're able to coordinate their schedule. It's perhaps a retirement exit or helped physicians who themselves might be in a situation where they don't feel safe to go back to practice. Telemedicine provides that opportunity to continue their career. It also provides full-time opportunities. What is driving MDLive's growth? We continue to see significant year-over-year growth across all of our service lines, including behavioral health, dermatology, as well as our primary virtual care. Our fastest-growing segment is behavioral health. In the first half of the year, we were up over 507% compared to the prior year, and we continue to see that rise. It's our young adults and teens that have greatest growth compared to other parts of our core population. Specifically for behavioral health, it's key to controlling the cost of care, improving work-life balance and boosting work productivity. Is there a difference between how checkups are done in person and on the web? We call it the "webside manner," and there are clear clinical guidelines to ensure relationships can form and be maintained over the screen so the doctor-patient relationship can occur virtually with compassion. Have the regulatory changes around telehealth accelerated adoption for MDLive? Current regulation changes through Covid-19 are helping the universal adoption of telehealth. It certainly has given us a springboard to greatly advance what we can do in the scope of practice and accelerating growth for virtual primary care. We want to see perhaps some of the restrictions on state licensure evolve, and that would support our business. How is MDLive's preparation for flu season (typically its busiest time) different this year? We're thinking forward and preparing for a potential second wave, and seeing what the impact of Covid-19 social distancing, more people getting vaccines and hand washing will apply to the influenza rate. We will need to be prepared for the synergy between the two and ensure we have the right providers in place. Will telehealth eventually replace in-person care? Telehealth will not replace, one-for-one, brick-and-mortar practice. It's meant to allow the right things to happen in the right location. We need primary care brick-and-mortar for things that need to be done in person. If you can do work through telehealth, it minimizes your time in a health care setting. Referring patients at the right time to the right place, that's where telehealth steps in.

Senior Reporter, Dallas Business Journal Sep 14, 2020, 2:30pm CDT A California-based home health and hospice services provider has acquired Arlington-based Carrington Hospice Care. The acquisition of the Dallas-Fort Worth provider by Irvine-based Jet Health Inc. will position Carrington for more growth, the company said in a joint statement from Elsie Johnsonand Dorothy Ojirika who founded Carrington in 2018. The Dallas-Fort Worth health care landscape is rapidly shifting toward providers that provide multiple home-based care service lines, the statement says. Joining Jet Health allows the company to address this move and helps expand the depth of their offerings. Jet Health has established a solid reputation for quality patient care and service throughout Texas, and aligning with the company will advance our market leadership position. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The combined companies will have 40-plus Dallas-Fort Worth employees, according to a spokeswoman for the companies. Carrington will operate under the name Klarus Hospice, in keeping with Jet Healths Texas brand, the spokeswoman said. The acquisition marks Jet Healths second one in the hospice arena and furthers its strategy to offer hospice care in the current home health markets it serves, said Stacie Bratcher Jet Health CEO. By providing our home health patients a choice to remain in our care as they transition to hospice, we will improve the continuity of care and overall patient satisfaction of those we serve, Bratcher said. This acquisition affords Jet Health the opportunity to better service both our patients and referral sources in the Texas marketplace and to continue to grow Jet Healths hospice offering throughout our geographic footprint. Funding for the transaction was provided by SV Health Investors and Health Enterprise Partners. Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, of Newport Beach, Calif., acted as legal counsel to Jet Health. American Healthcare Capital of Marina Del Rey, Calif., served as acquisition advisors to Carrington Hospice Care, Inc. By

February 3, 2022 BROOMFIELD, Colo. For all of the plant-based categorys extraordinary momentum, there are still dairy-lovers out there that like the idea of plant-based beverages but are unwilling to give up the taste and texture of traditional dairy. In fact, in one survey, 53% of people said they wouldnt purchase plant-based products because of taste 1 That all changes today, thanks toSilk, the No. 1 plant-based beverage brand 2 Silk Nextmilk . This revolutionary offering is specially formulated to meet dairy-lovers taste expectations through a remarkably delicious blend of plants that are designed to deliver on key attributes of dairy milk, like taste and texture. Silk Nextmilk can be enjoyed straight out of the glass, paired with your favorite cookie, over cereal, or in your favorite recipes. An excellent source of six key nutrients found in dairy, including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, B12, riboflavin and phosphorus, Silk Nextmilk also delivers 4 grams (8% DV) of plant-based protein per serving. Silk Nextmilk is lactose-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and has 30% fewer calories than dairy milk 3 . Its so much of what you love about dairy milk, minus what you dont 4 . Some consumers remain skeptical about plant-based food and beverages due to taste and texture, but Silk Nextmilk is on a mission to change that. We deconstructed dairy to create this revolutionary product that delivers the taste and texture we think dairy drinkers will love, saidJohn Starkey, president of plant-based food and beverages, Danone North America. Thanks to Silk Nextmilka true category game changerwere confident dairy lovers will want to cross the aisle. The science behind Silk Nextmilk Danone North Americas research and innovation team brought creative passion, science and expertise to the creation of Silk Nextmilk. The team painstakingly deconstructed the classic dairy drinking experienceincluding key nutritional factors, molecular composition and iconic sensory elementsand reconstructed it with plants that mirrored the different components of dairys flavor curve and mouthfeel, in partnership with its own dairy experts. Through this research, they developed the winning recipe for Silk Nextmilk, designed to closely mimic beloved dairy attributes and incorporate the perfect blend of plant-based ingredients to make a truly delicious and versatile beverage. Silk Nextmilk is now available in

/PRNewswire/ -- MedicaMetrix, Inc. is pleased to announce that Perry Borch has joined the company as the Director of Sales and Business Development for Critical Care . In his role, Mr. Borch will be overseeing the launch of the SureSet product line and work with the internal MedicaMetrix team to bring the product to market internationally. MedicaMetrix develops innovative technologies and device solutions that transform the healthcare status quo, leading to better medical outcomes, streamlined care and enhanced patient experience. (PRNewsfoto/MedicaMetrix, Inc.) Mr. Borch is an accomplished professional in corporate sales with a proven record of success in both start-ups and established world-class companies in the medical device industry. Most recently, Mr. Borch worked with Wright Medical/Tornier in Bloomington, MN where he was an Area Sales Director with over $6M in sales growth in each of the past 2 years with the company. Mr. Borch has also acted as Vice President of Sales in multiple medical device companies with great success in sales growth, management, and execution. "I am very excited to join the MedicaMetrix team and have the ability to commercialize an innovative technology that is positioned to drive costs out of the healthcare system, while most importantly improving patient outcomes," commented Borch. "I look forward to building a strong team that will support our goal of becoming the standard of care in IV securement." In recent weeks, MedicaMetrix has received multiple clearances and certifications that will allow the manufacturing, distribution, and sales of its products both domestically and internationally. The SureSet system is an innovative peripheral intravenous securement device that the company believes will have wide appeal and use in medical facilities around the world. "We believe that SureSet can be the future of IV Securement," said MedicaMetrix CEO Robert Rudelius . "We are fortunate to have someone like Perry on our team." With his experience in bringing products to market, we believe that we will be able to show medical professionals around the world what SureSet can do. Perry is an incredible addition our MedicaMetrix team." Story continues In the first phases of his new role, Mr. Borch is focusing on the corporate infrastructure and strategy necessary to support international sales and distribution. In the coming weeks, he plans on an updated SureSet website in addition to the creation of sales support materials that better reflect the unique benefits of the product. About MedicaMetrix MedicaMetrix develops innovative medical technologies and device solutions that transform the healthcare status quo, leading to better medical outcomes, streamlined care and an enhanced patient experience. MedicaMetrix is leading the development of a new paradigm that transforms the diagnosis, treatment, and management of prostate health by filling the gap between PSA testing and biopsies and surgery. MedicaMetrix plans to continue to acquire and develop additional, new medical devices with the goal to bring them to market rapidly by leveraging its production facilities in the U.S. and India. Cautionary Statements Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may be forward-looking statements or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. MedicaMetrix Inc. does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will MedicaMetrix Inc. and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or for any related damages. Cision

https://vator.tv/n/5220 The company operates six dental clinics in NYC, and plans to open 20 more this year While nearly half of Americanssay they don't see a dentist as often as they would like, there's also a sizable percentageof people who avoid going completely. There area variety of reasons they give for that, with over 40 percent citing the cost and more than 30 percent saying they don't need dental care, while 14 percent say they don't have the time, and around 10 percent say they have anxiety over visiting the dentist. Put together, this shows that people know they need dental care, but they are being held back by a variety of things, from cost to access. That's the problem being solved by Tend which calls itself "the first dentist that people actually look forward to." The company uses technology, including online booking, modern tools, and personalized care, toimprove the patient experience and provide smarter, faster care. "We've stepped into a $142 billion category that's completely antiquated, known for long wait times, surprise bills, judgment from practitioners and generally unpleasant experiences. We started Tend under the belief that going to the dentist shouldn't feel like it's 1984," Doug Hudson , co-founder and CEO of Tend, told me. "We have completely modernized and refreshed the experience, making it something that people actually look forward to. Weve launched a suite of products that people are going to be excited about. That's what we're creating here at Tend." Tend's solution has caught wind of investors as the company announced a $125 million Series C funding led by Addition, with participation from existing investors including GV, Juxtapose, Redpoint and Zigg Capital. With this latest fundraising, Tend now has a total of$198 million. Launched inOctober 2019,Tend operates its own dental clinics, allowing patients tobook appointments on its online portal, enabling them to not only schedule their visit at a time that's convenient to them, but also to personalize the experience. Patients are able to access their personalized treatment plan through the online portal and connect with clinicians directly in-between visits. Tend now serves more than 20,000 patients across six locations across New York City, and e ach Tend Studio is equipped with screens to visually walk patients through each step of their treatment, along with technology that includes low-noise drills and 20 second pain-free X-ray scans, designed for transparency and precision. Of course, operating in-person clinics has become more difficult over the last year, as COVID caused a shut down of in-person visits; as such, Tend was forced to close its studios for three months between March and June of 2020. Since re-opening, it has implemented safety measures that include pre-and-post visit health checks, meaning that before and after a patient comes in, the company will get in touch to ask if they've had any symptoms of illness, or if they've been around anyone sick. It has also implemented contactless check-in, staggered visit times, zero waiting, and a health check on arrival. "When you arrive, youll be greeted by a team member in gloves and a mask who will take your temperature with a contactless thermometer. If your temperature is within normal range, great. If you show signs of a fever, well ask you to reschedule. Well also ask you again whether youve had any symptoms of illness, or if youve been around anyone sick, in case anything has changed," Hudson explained. With the new investment, Tend says it be launching what it calls "a suite of comprehensive services and oral care products," which willinclude orthodontics through its invisible Breezy Braces, emergency care, oral surgery, and pediatrics. The company also plans to use the new funding to expand, first by opening 20 new locations in New York City this year, before launching into new markets. The company is looking at the top 20 markets in the US for potential expansion, Hudson said, but its first two new cities will be Washington DC and Boston, with plans to open clinics in both this year. "We are starting close by in Boston and Washington DC. Both markets behave similarly to NYC and, given their close proximity, we will easily be able to export our teams culture in order to deliver the same best-in-class experience our patients have come to expect," said Hudson. Finally, the company also plans to grow its 256 member team, adding staff across dental, operations and technology. "We expect that in five years, Tend is the dominant oral care brand that people get excited about. We want people to think of Tend when they think of oral care."

Hospital creates calming pediatric space with nurses farm-inspired murals Westchester Medical Center Health Network Neighbors taking care of neighbors Its one of the hallmarks of community hospitals. Just as your neighborhood is familiar and comforting to you, so should be a pediatric care area in a hospital. MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of WMCHealth, is creating a calming, neighborhood environment with mural art from one of its own, very talented nurse practitioners in the recently opened Maria Fareri Childrens Healthcare Services . It is important for pediatric patients, and their parents, to feel a sense of security and calmness when they enter a hospital. So it is no surprise that MidHudson Regional Hospitals new pediatric areas are being transformed with brightly colored murals. This gives our patients a warm, comforting feeling, says Jenny Sung, MD, the hospitals pediatrics medical director. Now when a child and their parent(s) arrive at the new pediatric emergency room or the inpatient pediatric care area, they are welcomed into a kid-friendly, calming environment. Guidance from world-renowned experts WMCHealth networks world-renowned Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital located in Valhalla, the Hudson Valleys only acute care childrens hospital, oversees the childrens healthcare services in Poughkeepsie. Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital has a long tradition of creating themed neighborhoods within the walls of the hospital and using art and images in the hallways and rooms to create peaceful, calming environments that promote healing and security. Some examples of the neighborhoods themes found at Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital include sailing, literature and athletics. So it was natural that MidHudson Regional Hospital was going to create a neighborhood theme that would reflect the areas history and culture for its new pediatric inpatient area and new pediatric emergency room services. Selecting a neighborhood theme MidHudson Regional Hospital asked its workforce to select the theme that would transform the Maria Fareri Childrens Healthcare Services area at MidHudson Regional Hospital into a neighborhood. Employees suggested many interesting and creative choices, and one theme continually rose to the top: farming. During the selection process it became clear that many employees enjoy tending to their own vegetable gardens, planting flowers and some also care for livestock. So, farming was selected to honor the rich agricultural heritage of Dutchess County. The next step was to create a magical farming neighborhood for all to enjoy. Transforming into a neighborhood To create this whimsical world, the talents of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Elaine Suderio-Tirone and her daughter Viviane were secured. Suderio-Tirone and her daughter transformed blank spaces into brightly painted artwork depicting a friendly farming neighborhood, complete with fields and orchards, colorful flowers, cattle and horses, and rabbits and butterflies, among other locally found animals and plants. Suderio-Tirone, a board-certified family nurse practitioner who has a doctorate in nursing practice, enjoyed painting the engaging wallscapes with her 16-year-old daughter. Pediatric care is my passion I just love caring for children and the farm scenes weve painted add to the pediatric care we provide at MidHudson Regional Hospital, says Suderio-Tirone, who has specialized in pediatrics for more than 20 years. The beautiful outdoor scenes we painted offer a soothing, playful environment and provide an important connection to our community, she adds. At the nurses station, for instance, we painted lots of flowers, and we have honey bees busily walking on them, pollinating them. I love that this ties into Poughkeepsies city seal a beehive surrounded by flying bees because Poughkeepsie has been a beehive of activity for centuries. MidHudson Regional Hospital also painted the new pediatric emergency room, and will soon paint the pediatric procedure room and eventually each pediatric patient room. Weve found that art like this reduces stress and increases childrens feelings of well-being, she says. Studies show paintings like ours can also improve clinical outcomes. Creating the paintings is also a stress reliever for Suderio-Tirone, she says. I enjoy painting. Its an avenue for me to step away from my professional life although in this case, it supports my professional life because it supports the children I care for. Suderio-Tirone says she wants the Hudson Valley community to know that infants, children and adolescents, from birth to age 18, who go to Maria Fareri Childrens Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital will receive high quality medical care provided by pediatric and adolescent medicine specialists. And, patients will have access to the latest medical treatments and technology in a caring, neighborly environment. A pediatric emergency room and inpatient care services are now open at MidHudson Regional Hospital, in association with Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital, the Hudson Valleys only acute care childrens hospital. Both organizations are members of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). The new services are called Maria Fareri Childrens Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospita l. The new emergency room and inpatient services will help meet the healthcare needs of local children from birth to age 18, with care delivered by pediatricians and emergency medicine specialists, along with pediatrics-trained nurses with recent clinical experience at Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital. The new emergency room can be accessed by calling 911, or arrival at the hospitals main emergency department entrance. About MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network MidHudson Regional Hospital provides advanced medical care in the Mid-Hudson Valley. This 243-bed hospital, located in Poughkeepsie, New York, provides local residents with acute care services and direct access to the renowned care of the Hudson Valleys largest healthcare network. Services include the areas first Level II Trauma Center, Total Joint Replacement, the Center for Robotic Surgery, the Redl Center for Cancer Care and Maria Fareri Childrens Healthcare Services at MidHudson Hudson Regional Hospital. To learn more about MidHudson Regional Hospital and the vital services it provides to residents of the Mid-Hudson Valley, visit

Tweet Glazer Capital LLC bought a new stake in Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 101,722 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,042,000. Glazer Capital LLC owned approximately 2.89% of Edoc Acquisition at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Panagora Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter valued at about $124,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $205,000. Cowen Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,024,000. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,561,000. Finally, Periscope Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $7,681,000. Get Edoc Acquisition alerts: Shares of ADOC stocktraded down $0.01 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $10.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,030 shares, compared to its average volume of 47,606. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.16. Edoc Acquisition Corp. has a twelve month low of $9.85 and a twelve month high of $10.37. Edoc Acquisition Profile Edoc Acquisition Corp. focuses on acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation with, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements with, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities in the healthcare sector. Read More: Economic Bubble Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ADOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.comto get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC). Receive News & Ratings for Edoc Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edoc Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter

Dec. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 0x Limit Orders, which were previously only available on Ethereum, are now available on Polygon and BSC Limit orders offer DEX users more trading flexibility and further narrow the gap between centralized and decentralized exchange offerings 0x Labs continues to add support for new L1 chains and L2 solutions as part of its multi-chain expansion 0x Limit Orders 0x Labs, a global blockchain company building decentralized exchange infrastructure for the internet, today announced the expansion of 0x Limit Orders to Polygon and Binance Smart Chain (BSC). With the rollout of 0x Limit Orders on Polygon and BSC, users can now place off-chain, resting orders for specified prices and specified amounts, which can be filled by any counterparty at a later time. Adding multi-chain support for 0x Limit Orders is another important step in our mission to create a tokenized world where all value can flow freely. We believe that exposing the broadest set of users to smart contracts, self-custody wallets, and DEX markets is key to achieving that mission. Businesses use 0x API to power their DeFi applications across a growing number of blockchains, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Fantom, and Celo. Since launch, 0x API has facilitated over 27M

Share Flo: app has more than 220 million users Gallium Ventures will handle full-service comms activities for Flo, which has more than 220 million users globally and 7.5 million in the UK. The brief includes creative campaigns development and press office support. It's a new brief for the UK, although Flo and Gallium previously worked together on projects including the client's latest funding round and the launch of its Pregnancy Loss Policy for employees. The funding round in September brought the amount raised to date to $65m and gave the company a valuation of $800m. Money raised will be used for research and development and talent acquisition. The Flo app's features include cycle and symptom predictions, an ovulation calendar, personalised insights, guidance and support. Flo said more than one billion menstrual cycles have been tracked within the app, and 30 million women have got pregnant while using it. Kate Romanovskaia, chief brand and communications officer at Flo Health, said: As female health has been significantly overlooked and undervalued for far too long, Flos mission is to build a better future for female health, by helping women harness the power of their body signals. With over 220 million users across the globe 7.5 million in the United Kingdom Flo aims to strengthen the position of a market leader, further scaling our brand awareness in line with our mission and our goals. For us, Gallium Ventures is the perfect agency to help us achieve this, as they have both the industry knowledge and dedication to womens health. Heather Delaney, founder and managing director of Gallium Ventures, said: Working with Flo is an exciting opportunity to help others understand their bodies more and interpret those findings into something actionable. We look forward to designing and implementing PR programmes and campaigns that have a major impact on the brands future and the women who use Flo. London-based Gallium Ventures focuses on clients in b2b and b2c tech, offering services in PR, marketing, branding, product development and funding assistance.

Hattiesburg-Laurel Airport to offer flights to Chicago Lici Beveridge View Comments Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport soon will begin offering daily flights to Chicago in a new arrangement with American Airlines. The flights to O'Hare International Airport will begin June 2. Booking flights for the Chicago destination begins Monday. The change will mean the airport will have only one daily flight to Dallas instead of two. Although there will be fewer flights to Dallas each week, airport director Tom Heanue said there will be added weekend service with both flights departing daily. "Although we are losing our frequency to DFW, picking up another option for our travelers is helpful for those wanting to travel to the Midwest or eastern destinations," he said. The change was prompted by a national shortage of available aircraft and pilots affecting the airport's current carrier, ExpressJet, Heanue said. Its parent company, Skywest, wanted to find a way to continue air service in the Pine Belt, an Essential Air Service market. "We have very good service with American right now, with nonstop to Dallas-Fort Worth at the noonday flight," Heanue said. American Airlines continues Hattiesburg-Laurel service Skywest agreed to take over the flights for ExpressJet, but because it has no gates in Dallas, the company said it would begin bringing the 50-seat airplanes out of Chicago. The Chicago flights can help north- and east-bound passengers avoid having to go west to Dallas to reach their destinations. "That's pretty exciting news for a small community like ours," Heanue said. "There's probably only three in America our size that has dual-hub service. "This will give us a little more opportunity." The new flights could help improve tourism and bring in more revenue for the Hub City, said Rick Taylor, executive director of Hattiesburg Convention and Tourism commissions. "These paths create new travel options for our regional tourism economy," he said. "Hattiesburg welcomes new visitors from both of these U.S. locations with a host of leisure offerings. We also believe these new routes will inspire previous visitors to return to our great community." The addition of an American Airlines flight to Chicago has the potential to bring new jobs to the Pine Belt, Forrest County Board of Supervisors President David Hogan said. American's decision to add another route to the airport shows the confidence the airline has in the area's growth. "In 2016 the Pine Belt led the state in job growth and we believe the Hattiesburg-Laurel Airport and American Airlines helped in that growth," Hogan said. "It opens not only travel opportunities for Pine Belt residents, but it also opens up more business opportunities." Heanue said the airport also may be able to hold another TSA pre-check registration event at the airport after the success of the December one. The airport was set up to handle around 250 applicants through the government agency, and ended up with around 270. "We had a great turnout," he said. "If it's possible, we're going to try and do that again." Hattiesburg-Laurel airport sees increase in passengers Flights in and out of the Pine Belt airport are on an upswing as well, with more than 16,000 total boardings in both 2015 and 2016, up from 7,848 in 2014. The airport had seen total boardings in 2010-12 reach more than 20,000 each year, peaking at 29,455 in 2011, but those numbers fell sharply in 2013-14. Heanue said while the number of boardings is unpredictable, he hopes the Chicago flights will encourage more travelers to book locally. He said the nonstop between Hattiesburg and Dallas will no longer be offered to accommodate the Chicago flight, but travelers will be able to book either destination seven days a week. "I'm hoping if the market picks up, we can pick up more flights (to Chicago)," he said. If you go To book flights, visit aa.com Daily flights, beginning June 2 are as follows: Departures Hattiesburg-Meridian-Dallas departs at 8:50 a.m., arriving in Dallas at 11:40 a.m. Hattiesburg-Meridian-Chicago departs at 2:35 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 5:45 p.m. Arrivals Dallas-Hattiesburg-Meridian departs at 12:40 p.m., arriving in Hattiesburg at 2:10 p.m. Chicago-Meridian-Hattiesburg departs 6:20 p.m., arriving in Hattiesburg at 9:30 p.m. For more information about the airport, visit

Get Rating )s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$0.21 and traded as high as C$0.38. Bri-Chem shares last traded at C$0.38, with a volume of 80,231 shares changing hands. The stock has a market capitalization of C$9.09 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.92. The company has a 50 day moving average of C$0.26 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 170.99. Get

ZenTech said it plans to roll out millions of its foolproof antibody tests in Europe. The tests still need to be used in a laboratory and are not suitable for home use. UK says it won't consider rolling out antibody test that is less than 98% accurate. Heres how to help people impacted by Covid-19

G20 finance ministers and central bankers began a videoconference Wednesday to coordinate post-pandemic recovery plans, increase help for the poorest Covid-hit countries and discuss a US-backed global minimum corporate tax. 16h ago Archegos Losses Test Japanese Bank Risk Controls, Fitch Says (Bloomberg) -- The losses announced by some Japanese banks from dealings with a U.S. client will test the robustness of their risk controls, especially overseas where theyre seeking to offset a subdued domestic market, according to Fitch Ratings Inc.Banks could face not only financial and reputational risks, but also regulatory scrutiny or redress if authorities determine there were material governance deficiencies or risk management weaknesses, Fitch said in a statement on Wednesday.Mizuho Financial Group Inc. last week emerged as the third Japanese bank to face losses stemming from the collapse of Bill Hwangs Archegos Capital Management under the weight of billions of dollars in leveraged stock bets. Nomura Holdings Inc. has signaled it stands to lose as much as $2 billion, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.s securities unit is booking a $270 million loss.Other Japanese financial institutions could face similar losses, though their exposure may vary, Fitch said.Risk AppetiteAlthough Nomura is yet to confirm exactly how much it will lose from Archegos, SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. analysts led by Masao Muraki this week said that Japans biggest brokerage may post a 95 billion yen ($866 million) loss in the fourth quarter as a result of the trades.Such losses also bring into focus these institutions risk appetite while in search of profit and whether they are adequately compensated for the risks involved over economic cycles, Fitch said.Fitch last week placed the bbb+ Viability Ratings of Nomura and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., on rating watch negative, due to the potential losses.The agency said it doesnt expect there to be a substantial impact on MUFGs financial profile, but warned that the losses could affect the banks long-term earnings contribution from its securities business should it revise its risk appetite in the overseas securities business.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. 22h ago Amundi Buys SocGens Lyxor in Bid To Reshape Europes ETF Sector (Bloomberg) -- Amundi SA agreed to buy Societe Generale SAs fund management arm Lyxor as outgoing Chief Executive Officer Yves Perrier used his last major deal to upend Europes exchange-traded funds industry.The Paris-based firm has entered into exclusive talks with SocGen for an 825 million euro ($980 million) cash deal, according to a statement Wednesday. The acquisition, expected to close by February next year, would vault Amundi to Europes no. 2 ETF manager, second only to long-time leader BlackRock Inc.For Perrier, whos stepping down in May, the deal caps more than a decade at the helm during which he used acquisitions to make Amundi Europes largest asset manager. The firms push into ETFs would help cement its position in one of the industrys fastest-growing areas, as investors desert active funds for cheaper passive rivals. Inflows for Europe-listed equity ETF products reached a record 19 billion euros in March, according to Bloomberg data.Today we are number two in Europe, far behind BlackRock, Perrier said in a call with reporters Wednesday. Lets meet again in five years and we will see that the landscape will have changed very much.BlackRock, the worlds biggest money manager, owes much of its dominance to an early foray into ETFs in 2008. Following the integration of Lyxor, one of Europes largest ETF providers with about 124 billion euros under management, Amundi sees its combined market share of 14% growing by one point per year. Perrier described that estimation as conservative in the call.Amundis shares climbed as much as 3.3% in Paris trading, while SocGens rose as much as 1.7%.No FiringsThe Lyxor deal is expected to deliver synergies of 60 million euros in costs and 30 million euros in revenues by 2024, and is not expected to result in firings, Perrier said. The company expects less than 50 million euros in integration charges after taxes, which will not affect the groups dividend policy.A natural consolidator by its size and extensive M&A experience, Amundi is not looking for further acquisitions at the moment as it will focus on the integration of its recent deals, such as the purchase of Banco Sabadell Asset Management last year.Doing acquisitions is one thing, achieving their integration is another, Perrier said. We are not on the lookout, we have enough development engines, and many things to do.Bloomberg reported earlier that Amundi was the leading bidder for Lyxor.Amundi, whose majority shareholder is French lender Credit Agricole SA, had about 1.7 trillion euros under management at the end of December. The firm was formed in a merger of SocGens and Credit Agricoles fund management operations. SocGen later sold its stake and now offers investment products via a range of partnerships with external asset managers.For SocGen CEO Frederic Oudea, whos been trying to shore up the banks capital buffers and boost profitability, the transaction boosts his ability to return capital to shareholders. The bank said the deal will result in a capital gain, net of taxes, of about 430 million euros. It has vowed to resume payouts even after its worst year in decades.(Adds CEO quotes throughout)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. 17h ago Cambodia PM orders home treatment for COVID-19 patients as hospitals strain Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered health officials on Tuesday to prepare to treat coronavirus patients at home, as the country's biggest COVID-19 outbreak so far tests the capacity of its fragile healthcare system. Cambodia had one of the world's smallest coronavirus caseloads until six weeks ago, but an outbreak in late February has led to its first 22 COVID-19 deaths and a five-fold jump in cases to 2,824. A total of 1,003 patients are currently being treated in hospital that are near capacity, Hun Sen said in an audio message shared widely on Tuesday and reported by local media. 2d ago Deliveroo rises as retail investors join trading, riders demand fair pay Deliveroo shares rose on Wednesday, the first day retail investors could trade stock bought during the food delivery group's initial public offering (IPO), while some of its riders cycled through London to demand fair pay. At 1411 GMT on the first day of unrestricted trading, Deliveroo's shares were up 2.1% at 286 pence, but still about 25% lower than the IPO price, following a hefty first day tumble when it made its stock market debut in London last week. Deliveroo was given an initial valuati

Getting patients on the road to care with Uber Health Improving Care Options by Increasing Clinical Trial Access and Flexibility. Participants report being happier with their care and feeling more in control of their health as a result of their involvement in clinical trials. With Uber Health, we're helping to expand access and transcend barriers to participation for volunteers. 3.6 million Americans miss medical appointments due to lack of reliable transportation In fact, one of the top challenges that research patients face is access to reliable, prepaid transportation to get to the clinic for their regular study visits. At Javara, were working to improve the entire clinical trial experience for patients, which is why were using Uber Health to help clinical trial participants get reliable, prepaid rides to their appointments. With Uber Health, clinical trial participants can save time, be alleviated of the financial burden of transportation, and focus on whats important - their health. How it works This service allows patients participating in clinical trials at one of Javaras healthcare organization partners to receive convenient, prepaid transportation to study visits. Javara Clinical Trial Navigators are able to request and coordinate rides for patients through a centralized dashboard, with patients being alerted to their ride details on their phone. With the ability to schedule a ride up to 30 days in advance, important appointments wont be missed. Uber Health does not require that patients have a smart phone or have the Uber app. Here's a quick look at how Uber Health works *Uber Health is for non-emergency transportation Join a Clinical Trial with Javara today Transportation is a component of the clinical trial patient journey and through our Uber Health partnership, we are working toward improved health outcomes through access to meaningful clinical trials. If you are a patient and are interested in learning about the trials we are conducting fill out the form here and our team will be in touch.

Free Report ) is benefiting from strong demand across key end-use markets, a diversified product base and strategic acquisitions. Shares of the company have risen 21% in the past three months. We are optimistic about its prospects and believe that the time is right to add the stock to the portfolio as it looks poised to carry the momentum ahead. Lets delve deeper into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock an attractive choice for investors. Estimates Northbound Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for Reliance Steel for 2022 has increased 11.2%. The consensus estimate for first-quarter 2022 earnings has also been revised 16.5% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock. Positive Earnings Surprise History Reliance Steels earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 12.3%. Superior Return on Equity (ROE) ROE is a measure of a companys efficiency in utilizing shareholders funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Reliance Steel is 24.8%, above the industrys level of 23.9%. Upbeat Prospects Demand in non-residential construction, which is Reliance Steels biggest end-market, has gradually expanded and is nearing the pre-pandemic levels. Demand in this market is expected to remain healthy on solid bidding activity. The company expects non-residential construction activities to strengthen through 2022. Reliance Steel is also witnessing strength in semiconductors and an accelerated recovery in the energy (oil and natural gas) market. Demand in the heavy industry also remains steady. The company is also seeing improved demand in commercial aerospace on a recovery in activities. It remains optimistic about the business environment and sees robust underlying demand in the majority of its end markets in the first quarter of 2022. The company has also been following an aggressive acquisition strategy for a while as part of its core business policy to drive operating results. Its latest acquisitions of Rotax Metals, Admiral Metals and Nu-Tech Precision Metals are in sync with its strategy of investing in high-quality businesses. Rotax Metals diversifies the company's products by widening its portfolio of specialty bronze, brass and copper products. Massachusetts-based Admiral Metals strong reputation in the metal industry with high levels of customer service and next-day delivery flexibility promises to further solidify Reliance Steels position. Nu-Techs reputation in the key markets that it serves through its proprietary processes and quality certifications and its support for Reliance Steels customer, product and geographical diversification strategies make it a solid choice. RS anticipates the acquisition to aid its growth in the nuclear, aerospace and other industries. Reliance Steel also remains focused on offering incremental returns to its shareholders. Last month, its board raised its quarterly dividend by 27.3% to 87.5 cents per share. It repurchased around 2.1 million shares of its common stock for $323.5 million in 2021. The company also returned more than $500 million to its stockholders in 2021 through dividends and share repurchases. The company also generated cash flow from operations of $799.4 million in 2021 and ended the year with $300.5 million of cash. It has adequate liquidity to meet its short-term debt obligations. Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Price and Consensus

Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios Exit Content Preview Hybrid primary care provider Reside Health is partnering with real estate and investment company Silverstein Properties to open its largest clinic in Lower Manhattan, Reside CEO Komal Kothari tells Erin exclusively. Why it matters: Onsite employee-facing hybrid wellness centers were trending long before COVID hit, and Reside Health is just the latest example with a twist. Similar to rivals Crossover Health and Marathon Health, Reside combines brick-and-mortar assets with a digital health platform to offer a mix of primary care and wellness services. But rather than contracting with companies to offer its services to employees as Crossover and Marathon do, Reside contracts with building developers to offer its services to enterprise tenants. Driving the news: As offices and other businesses begin to reopen their doors amid a temporary lull in COVID cases, the availability of near- and onsite medical clinics could prove a helpful selling point. "Employees now see health care as one of the most, if not the most important benefit their companies offer," Kothari tells Erin. How it works: In partnership with Silverstein, Reside is opening the latest location inside the Inspire Workspace at 4 World Trade Center. While Silverstein pays for the buildout, Reside offers tenants subscription-based primary care and wellness services including mental health support, acupuncture, massage and physical therapy. For individuals whose employer doesn't foot the bill for Reside, a one-year subscription is $150. Yes, but: Fairly new to the market, Reside could face several obstacles in its quest to achieve its stated goals of "whole building, whole person health," according to industry observers, including ... Privacy concerns: Some employees may avoid visiting onsite clinics out of a desire to keep their health and work lives separate. Potential problems turning a profit as a subscription-based business: Despite notable public exits and rising popularity among subscription-based health care offerings, a recent PitchBook report found that few have managed to make money. Issues differentiating themselves from larger and better-funded incumbents. Context: So far, New York-based Reside has opened three offices alongside some of the city's biggest landlords. The company has raised $8.5 million in a seed round from BBG Ventures, 8VC, Bling Capital and AlleyCorp. For comparison, Crossover has raised a total of $281.5 million, while Marathon has collected $25 million, according to PitchBook. Reside was co-founded by Kothari, an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health, and Kevin Ryan, the founder and CEO of AlleyCorp. Ryan has also founded and currently leads a handful of other retail and health care startups including Capable Health, Nomad Health, Pearl Health, Affect Therapeutics and Humming Homes, to name a few. What they're saying: Medical clinics located close to where people live and work make logical sense, but it's too early to assess whether there's any advantage in offering them to enterprise tenants rather than employees. "People certainly value a convenient provider who's easy to choose and in their building," says Steven Wardell, a health care consultant and author, "but I dont see any special benefit in tying onto real estate rather than an employer." Erin Brodwin co-authors the Axios Pro Health Tech deals newsletter. Start your free trial at AxiosPro.com. Axios on facebook

health care facilities on a subscription basis. "It's amazing the progress that the InheRET team has made since launching the company this past December," said Bryce Pilz, director of licensing for U-M Tech Transfer. "In just six month's time, they've launched their hereditary risk assessment tool and are making a positive difference in the lives of people, and that's incredibly gratifying to see." Individuals will receive reports that indicate whether or not they should be seen by a genetics specialist due to their family's health history and health pedigree. These reports can be saved and updated at any time, may be kept private, or shared with health care providers and family members. Health care facilities will be able to invite their patients to complete the InheRET health history form. Physician reports will contain the patient data summary, pedigree, next-step recommendations and how the patient meets the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines criteria for further genetic risk evaluation. Explore further

) shares made a dramatic comeback in June, ending the month 11.9% higher according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence and reversing a major chunk of the losses they'd piled on year to date. Interestingly, Clorox shares have been on the rise ever since the company reported its third-quarter earnings early May despite a full-year earnings downgrade. What gives? So what common theme across the consumer goods industry. Clorox's third-quarter gross margin dropped to 42.8% from 44% as a result. Yet, the company earned 5% higher net profit year over year on lower taxes and 3% growth in sales. More importantly, Clorox upgraded its full-year sales guidance to the higher end of its previous range of 1%-3%. On the flip side, it downgraded its fiscal 2018 earnings per share (EPS) outlook to $6.15-$6.30 from $6.17-$6.37. There's nothing to worry here, though. Image source: Clorox Company. In March, Clorox announced plans to acquire health and wellness company, Nutranext for $700 million, to be financed through cash and debt. While Clorox expects the acquisition to add a percentage point to its top line this year (hence the revenue outlook upgrade), acquisition-related expenses are expected to dilute its earnings. Investors were encouraged by Clorox's resilience amid challenging cost conditions. To top that, the company announced a share repurchase program worth $2 billion later in May, reflecting management's confidence in its long-term goals, which include 3%-5% growth in annual sales and conversion of 11%-13% annual revenue into free cash flows. Rising cash flows should also mean higher dividends for shareholders: Clorox has already made a mark in the dividend world as a and rewarded shareholders with a good 14% increase in dividends earlier this year. So what Clorox's full-year outlook, after the downgrade, calls for a solid 16% growth in EPS at the midpoint. While the Nutranext acquisition is unlikely to be accretive before fiscal 2020, Clorox should still be able to grow its EPS at a decent clip next year. The growth potential in earnings and dividend, coupled with the buyback program, was good enough for the market to propel Clorox shares higher last month. Motley Fool Returns

" PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services was a logical next step for me and Black Mountain PT because they understand that patient care should be skilled, effective and compassionate. I love that the company was built by PT's for PT's. It shows their focus is the same as ourshelping patients return to a healthy, pain free lifestyle," said Shulman. Black Mountain PT will continue to offer physical therapy services and accepts all major insurers. "We are excited to add a facility with a dedicated team and a proven track record of exceeding the expectations of their patients," said Dave Angelo , Chief Operating Officer of PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services. "Cliff and his team bring the expertise and experience that matches what PHOENIX offers at all our locations." About

DURHAM, N.C., June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BioSkryb, a developer of genomic amplification technologies that deliver higher coverage and fidelity for gene sequencing, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the nation's leading hospital dedicated to understanding, treating and curing childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Bioskryb will use St. Jude technology to development a first-in-class clinical diagnostic solution to detect and define heterogenous populations of cancer cells as patients undergo treatment. BioSkryb and St. Jude previously established an exclusive licensing agreement for the research-based applications of the primary template directed amplification technology. "With this expanded licensing agreement, we hope to use this technology developed by scientists at St. Jude to generate diagnostic solutions that provide real insights to improve cancer treatments," said Jay West , PhD, CEO and Co-founder of BioSkryb. With the expansion of the license, BioSkryb will initiate the process of developing diagnostic solutions that take advantage of the proprietary single cell-genomic amplification approach. The company and their early access customers have demonstrated the superior performance of PTA compared to existing genome amplification technologies. These advancements are driving the early demand for the developed suite of research use only products, marketed as the ResolveDNATM product line. Basic and clinical research groups have been looking for a solution that provides the improved accuracy in genome sequencing the ResolveDNA amplification system offers using low inputs of DNA and single cells. "I am confident that the significantly improved accuracy of single-cell genome sequencing enabled by PTA will lead to a new generation of clinical diagnostics, providing much more detailed information on the genomic changes in a tumor than what is currently available with standard sequencing approaches," said Charles Gawad MD, PhD, Associate Professor at Stanford University , BioSkryb Co-founder and the inventor of the PTA technology while at St. Jude. "The ultimate goal of the cancer clinical diagnostic is to connect genetic variation in those single cancer cells to a phenotype, such as resistance to a specific drugwith the aim of translating that into an actionable diagnostic test that will guide higher resolution precision oncology and improved outcomes for our patients." BioSkryb will initially focus on hematologic cancers, followed by the development of similar solutions for solid tumors. For more information about BioSkryb and its technology, please visit: https://bioskryb.com About BioSkryb Bioskryb is a venture-backed developer of genomic amplification technologies that deliver unprecedented coverage and fidelity for various gene sequencing applications. Its proprietary genome amplification technology was developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. For more information, please visit: https://www.bioskryb.com/ CONTACT

The Augusta Chronicle, Ga. (MCT) In the last month Gold Cross has invested nearly $1 million dollars in Jefferson County by replacing its two primary ambulances with brand new models. The new trucks, one stationed inLouisville, the other inWrens, are F-350 chassis with new, upgraded stretchers that offer an integrated patient transport and loading system and new equipment. Were proud of our new truck, said paramedic Capt.Mary Sasser. Gold Cross Director of Business DevelopmentMichael Meyerssaid that his company is excited about providing the new equipment to theirJefferson Countyparamedics. At Gold Cross we believe in not only having the best employees but the best equipment as well, Meyers said. This shows the level of commitment we have toJefferson County. Sasser, who has been a paramedic in the area for many years and worked with several different emergency service providers, said that she has been very pleased with Gold Cross attention to the needs of both their employees and the patients they serve. People think things are slower out here in a rural community, but its no different than being in a big city. The problem is the distance, Sasser said. It is 47 miles from here (atJefferson Hospital, where Gold Cross houses itsLouisvilleambulance) to AU (Augusta University Medical Center). And then its 47 miles back. It is not unusual for an ambulance run inJefferson Countyto be more than 100 miles start to stop. And Gold Cross averages around 250 calls per month. During the height of the COVID pandemic, when it was hard to find a bed for many ventilated patients, Sasser said they had to take one patient as far asValdosta. That was a 360-mile round trip. We feel like we can get in any of our trucks and go and not have to worry about making it or the truck breaking down, Sasser said. She is particularly impressed with the new patient transport and loading system in the new ambulances. The old time stretchers, you had to lift them in. There were a lot of back injuries (for paramedics), she said. It took two people because you had the weight of the stretcher and the weight of the patient, the weight of your equipment. And then all of that had to lifted into the back of the ambulance, several feet off of the ground. This does all of that for you, Sasser said and demonstrated by removing the stretcher that adjusts for the height and can be steered and driven by one medic. Before you had to be careful with how big the people were and might have to add another piece to the stretcher. Sasser folded down portions of the new stretcher, expanding it to show how it can accommodate a variety of patient body sizes. This is a back saver and it serves more patients, Sasser said. There are several other mechanisms to it. It will walk up a porch so you dont have to pick it up and lift it up there. This is an updated version of the stretchers we have had. We love it. The stretchers also lock into the center of the rear compartment, where the old stretchers were set to one side. This new arrangement allows room for more emergency personnel to have access to work on a patient simultaneously. Meyers said that everything about the new ambulances have been upgraded, including the addition of monitors, ventilators and a security camera system in both the rear and cab of the vehicle. It offers a level of security, not just for us, but also for the patient, Meyers said. We want people to feel safe. When they are back here they are in their most vulnerable state and so its important. Overall, we really just want our people to have the best equipment so they can provide the best care to this community. ___ (c)2021 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) Visit The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) at chronicle.augusta.com Distributed by

Print Canada is about to lose ownership of one of its best-known cybersecurity firms. SecureKey Technologies, an identity and authentication provider whose services are used by the Canadian government and leading financial institutions for login verification, has struck a deal to be bought by Czech-based antivirus provider Avast. Its Verified.Me is a mobile app that leverages a users bank credentials for digital identity verification for a wide range of services. In Canada, that includes secure login to a number of government departments including Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Employment and Social Development Canada, or securely buying commodities through TD Banks Precious Metal digital store. Last year Interac Corp., which runs a payment network here used by major credit card companies, acquired the exclusive rights to SecureKey technologies in Canada. The companies said today they expect the deal to close early next month. No purchase price was announced. Best known as a provider of consumer antivirus for individuals and small businesses, Avasts acquisition of SecureKey now gives it a foothold in the business market The maturity of the SecureKey hybrid federation, bank ID, and decentralized technology suite and history of strong operational delivery in Canada for discerning financial services and government customers and partners positions Avast for geographic expansion, Charles Walton, Avasts general manager and senior vice president for identity, said in a statement. Walton used to be SecureKeys chief executive officer (CEO). As the European community is investing in public-private sector digital identity infrastructure in 2022 and beyond, we see Avast well-positioned as a collaborative provider of digital trust services for people, digital businesses and government. Success for us is where digital identity becomes simple, user-centric and portable, and can enable a more trustworthy digital experience and deeper online engagement benefiting both people and business. Avast has been buying companies for a while to bulk up in the highly competitive cybersecurity market. In 2016 it bought competitor AVG Technologies for US$1.3 billion. Last year it announced a deal to merge with Norton Lifelockfor US$8 billion, however, it hasnt been consummated yet. The U.K.s anti-trust regulator has some concerns Since this acquisition is on hold, Avast decided to go ahead with its acquisition of SecureKey. Avast said it had adjusted revenue of US$892 million in 2020. SecureKey CEO and founder Greg Wolfond said in a statement that combining forces with Avast enables SecureKey to innovate further and faster with its technology. Wolfond is an entrepreneur who has co-founded and sold several companies. Among them was Footprint Software, a maker of financial applications for banks, sold in 1995 to IBM; and 724 Solutions a maker of messaging solutions for wireless carriers, which went public in 2000. 724 Solutions was bought by California-based Mobixell Networks in January 2010. Wolfond began to step back from running SecureKey in 2012 when Charles Walton was named CEO. At the time, Wolfond said hed be concentrating on working with SecureKey customers and on the companys technology. He added he was not thinking about the next company hell create, nor selling or taking SecureKey public. But he returned as CEO in 2016. Now he will report to Walton. Its a funny turn of events, Wolfond said in an interview this morning. His return as CEO came as the company turned to a distributed identity model that gives consumers control over the use of their personal data for secure ID, explained. Walton joined Avast last summer, Wolfond said. Late last year talks began on whether SecureKey would be a good fit for it. Wolfond will stay with the SecureKey division for as long as theyll have me. He described the acquisition as a win for Canada rather than the loss of a technology firm. Its difficult to conquer the world organically with a team of 110 people who are resident in Canada he said. So how do you get it going in Indonesia, Germany, France and all of these places? Its a speed to market and capability thing. Its a pretty big boost and pat on the back for Canadas technology. We built this out, we got it working, we gave Interac an exclusive licence in Canada, and this is folks coming in and saying, We love what youre doing. Lets take this out globally. We stay here all the data, all the people stay in Canada. We continue to make Interac a showcase, and then we take the technology to the world. Its pretty fantastic. He also expects the deal will allow the SecureKey division to hire more staff. We envisage a global and reusable digital identity framework which will underpin a new trust layer for the internet, said Ondrej Vlcek, CEO, Avast. Its clear that digital identity is the critical enabler for many digital services and SecureKeys success reflects the growing demand for this from consumers. SecureKey is highly complementary to Avasts prior work in Identity and together we will take our offer to the next level, accelerating innovation and working to establish a user-focused, global approach that aligns user, business, and government propositions. Forrester Research senior analyst Paddy Harrington said the acquisition is a strong move by Avast to expand. Theyve been seen by many as a useful free antivirus solution for a long time, with a pay-for upgrade, so expanding into the digital identity and authentication market will show theyre growing as a company and providing more value. By expanding the reach of the SecureKey technology, they could bring this solution to more users and businesses and help provide that trusted authentication solution that a lot of users want when theyre online. This does raise questions though, as Norton has interest in merging with Avast. While this has been put on hold to answer some concerns on the competitive side, if allowed to go through, youd be combing the AV, VPN, privacy monitoring, and now digital identity of these companies together and that could change the combined solutions into a powerful endpoint protection solution. This story has been updated with comments from SecureKey founder Greg Wolfond, Forrester Research, and Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek Tags

Employ Milwaukee has created a new workforce initiative that will provide training at no cost and result in a guaranteed job interview at Advocate Aurora Health. The Milwaukee Healthcare Workforce Initiativeis a three-year project funded by a $500,000 grant from the Medical College of Wisconsins Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment. Its designed to increase underrepresented populations access to quality health care careers, Employ Milwaukee said. The training component will include job shadowing, an introduction to hospital operations, and an overview of health care career paths and job application support. Curriculum will cover direct health care roles as well as those in administration, environmental services and food services departments. Participants who complete the program are guaranteed job interviews at Advocate Aurora Health. In todays climate, the need for increased numbers of trained health care workers is significant, said Chytania Brown, president and chief executive officer of Employ Milwaukee. At the same time, unemployment remains too high for people of color in Milwaukee. Were excited to bring this solution-oriented program to the table. Candidates will be recruited from partner organizations: Social Development Commission, JobsWork MKE, Greater Milwaukee Urban League, RiverWorks Development Corp. and Journey House. Nationally, health care careers account for the largest gap between available talent and the number of job openings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin is experiencing those shortages across the board, including among registered nurses, lab technologists, surgical technicians and certified nursing assistant roles. Advocate Aurora was dealing with staffing shortages prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the situation has been exacerbated due to increased stress, fatigue and employees contracting COVID themselves, leaders have said. Increasing the pool of diverse, qualified job candidates is critical to the future of Milwaukees health care industry and to the wellbeing of our residents, said Dayla Randolph, system vice president of Advocate Aurora Health. Sign Up Now Sign up for BizTimes Daily Alerts Stay up-to-date on the people, companies and issues that impact business in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin

3.01% Volatility & Risk SkillSoft has a beta of 0.03, indicating that its stock price is 97% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Blackbaud has a beta of 1.05, indicating that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Blackbaud beats SkillSoft on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About SkillSoft Skillsoft Corp. provides corporate digital learning services in the United States and internationally. The company offers enterprise learning solutions to prepare organizations for the future of work, as well as enable them to overcome critical skill gaps, drive demonstrable behavior-change, and unlock the potential in their greatest assets. It provides comprehensive suite of content, including library of authorized technology and developer curricula, and multiple learning modalities that dramatically increase learner engagement and retention. The company is based in Nashua, New Hampshire. About Blackbaud Blackbaud, Inc. engages in the provision of cloud-based and on-premises software solutions and related services for the global philanthropic community. It offers solutions for fundraising and constituent relationship management (CRM), marketing, advocacy, accounting, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR), school management, ticketing, financial management, payment processing, and analytics. The company was founded by Anthony E. Bakker in 1981 and is headquartered in Charleston, SC. Receive News & Ratings for SkillSoft Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SkillSoft and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter

One of the productions is a documentary about Harry's charity sporting event Invictus Games and the other is Pearl, a children's animation, Elser reckons the two projects may fail to thrill viewers despite being "touching" and "powerful". She said: These might both prove to be touching and powerful shows but on paper they don't exactly sound like they will be setting viewers or Hollywood on fire. One of the couple's productions is a documentary about Harry's charity sporting event Invictus Games (Image: Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE) The couple signed a multiyear deal with Netflix as well founding a production company. The firm allows the couple to create content spanning documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and children's programmes. Meghan and Harry said in a statement after signing the deal in September 2020: "Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. The couple signed a multiyear deal with Netflix (Image: Getty Images) "As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us." They added that Netflix's "unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action". Netflix's chief content officer and co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said: "We're incredibly proud they have chosen Netflix as their creative home and are excited about telling stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere." Their partnership with Netflix came less than a year after they quit the Royal Family for a more independent life. For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters

Kia Ultimately, the car buying experience boils down to what a brands ride has to offer. You cant deny, though, that how the dealership experience is presented factors in, too. A poorly maintained showroom can raise a question mark or two about how a company is run, after all. This is why major car manufacturers are constantly keeping their dealer facilities up to date with renovations every now and then. Kia Sto. Tomas, for example, has just reopened flaunting the South Korean manufacturer s new visual identity. Located along President Laurel Highway in Barangay San Roque, Santo Tomas, the facilitys face immediately catches your attention thanks to the clean new Kia corporate logo and a minimalist exterior. PHOTO BY Kia Philippines 8 Of the most fuel-efficient motorcycles in PH The interior of the building is rather nice, too. It appears incredibly spacious, and the light vibe is accompanied by a very natural feel thanks to the prominent use of wood. The shift in aesthetic should definitely leave an impression on any consumers who drop by to check one of the brands rides out. Our brands purpose is to create spaces that will inspire consumers, Manny Aligada, Kia Philippines president said in a statement. To create more time for consumers so they can focus on what inspires them and what they aspire for. Now, we dont know about inspiration and whatnotbut the clean new look does give the impression Kias house is in proper order. How much does a dealerships appearance affect your car-buying decision? See Also Top Gear Philippines is now on Quento! Click here to download the app and enjoy more articles and videos from Top Gear Philippines and your favorite websites. Read Next

The Silence of the Lambs , the company noted. "MGM has a nearly century-long legacy of producing exceptional entertainment, and we share their commitment to delivering a broad slate of original films and television shows to a global audience," Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, said in a statement. "We welcome MGM employees, creators, and talent to Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities to deliver quality storytelling to our customers." Amazon announced last Mayit planned to acquire MGM and since then, has worked its way through the regulatory process. Advertisement Earlier this week, Amazon won unconditionalEuropean Union antitrust approval for the $8.5 billion acquisition. The European Commission said the deal would not create competition concerns in Europe. Read More

Steel cut for Ocean Infinitys green ammonia-ready vessel Steel cut for Ocean Infinitys green ammonia-ready vessel February 23, 2022,by Ajsa Habibic The steel cutting ceremony for the fifth in a series of eight green ammonia-ready vessels being built for marine robotics company Ocean Infinity was held on Monday, 21 February. The vessels are being built at VARDs shipyard Vard Vung Yau in Vietnam while the construction is being supervised by ship management company OSM Maritime. As disclosed, the delivery of the first vessel is expected from mid-2022. The vessels are said to be among the firstto be prepared for green ammonia as a fuelwith fuel cell and battery technology and are designed for an ultra-low carbon footprint. Additionally, the green ammonia-ready vessels will provide safe launch and recovery platforms for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other robotic systems through two large moonpools arranged with an optimised damping system. To remind, back in November 2021, Ocean Infinity revealed its plans to build a marine propulsion test facility with an integrated ammonia marine propulsion system ( AMPS ). As informed at the time, the test facility aims to demonstrate clean-fuelled technology eventually capable of powering Ocean Infinitys fleet, using an innovative ammonia-based fuel cell system. Related Article

Today In Healthcare: Walgreens, VillageMD Expand Into Orlando; GoodRx Reports Jump In Subscribers Seeking Discounts August 12, 2021 Today in healthcare, Walgreens and VillageMD will open 10 Orlando-area Village Medical locations this year, and more GoodRx subscribers are seeking discounts. Plus, BlueJeans Telehealth enhances virtual health care with televisit tile and integration with the Apple Health app. Walgreens, VillageMD Opening 10 Orlando Primary... Healthcare Walgreens, VillageMD Opening 10 Orlando Primary Care Clinics August 12, 2021 Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMD will open three Orlando area Village Medical clinics at Walgreens locations, the companies announced Thursday (Aug. 12), and will cut the ribbon on seven more Sunshine State outposts by the end of the year. The Walgreens and VillageMD integrated care... Healthcare GoodRx Reports Spike In Subscribers Seeking Drug Discounts August 12, 2021 Healthcare is rife with frictions for patients, certainly, grappling with the increasing burdens of high deductibles, high drug costs and the responsibility for a growing percentage of financial liability tied to their care. In the app-driven economy, that digital front door can be key... Healthcare Today In Healthcare: New COVID Rules Could Harm US Businesses; Flywire Payment Volume Surges August 11, 2021 Today in healthcare: Businesses, organizations and governments are updating their COVID-19 rules to bring back masks. Plus, PharmEasy is considering a $1 billion IPO for its Mumbai-based online healthcare and medicine delivery platform, and Flywires payment volume is up 85 percent in the past year.... Healthcare BlueJeans Telehealth Adds Feature To Improve Virtual Patient Care August 11, 2021 Virtual healthcare offering BlueJeans Telehealth now includes a Televisit Tile and integration with the Apple Health app to improve patients video-based interactions with their medical professionals. The new tools allow patients to share their heart rate, sleep patterns, falls and more with their providers during... Healthcare Today in Healthcare: 5G Powers Telehealth Innovation, JPMorgan Backs Medical Subscription Startup August 06, 2021 Today in healthcare, Vizient launches a healthcare supply chain assistant and JPMorgan invests $50 million in Vera Whole Health, a medical subscription startup. Plus, 5G networks are powering the telehealth revolution and GoodRx and Surescripts team up for drug discounts. JPMorgan Invests $50M In Medical... Healthcare Flexible Financing Is The Healthcare Rx Thats Good For Patients and Doctors August 06, 2021 A generation ago, patients didnt think of themselves as healthcare consumers because the transactional part of the process was largely taken care of by their insurance provider and evaluating the cost was not a big consideration for most. That, of course, has changed dramatically as... Healthcare GoodRx, Surescripts Team For Real-Time Drug Discounts August 05, 2021 GoodRx has struck a deal with Surescripts on the Real-Time Prescription Benefit electronic drug discount pricing program to help uninsured patients and those who cant get pricing information from their health plans, according to a press release. About one-third of Americans have skipped filling a... Healthcare Vizient Debuts Healthcare Supply Chain Help August 05, 2021 Vizient has rolled out a new product to boost the strength of healthcare supply chains, per an announcement, via its partners. The product will offer visibility supplier manufacturing and distribution sites. The product will also help monitor events that may impact operations as well as... Healthcare JPMs Vera Investment And Healthcares Moment Of Reckoning With Payments August 05, 2021 JPMorgan Chases new healthcare unit, Morgan Health, has made its first investment, putting $50 million into Seattle startup Vera Whole Health. In addition to the investment, JPMorgan will begin offering Vera to its employees during benefits enrollment season this fall. Veras core product is its healthcare subscription... Page 5 of 34

The universitys board of trustees is expected to review a purchase agreement in the upcoming days; details about a purchase price have not yet been made public. Calling the Ballmer Institute the first of its kind and the most comprehensive effort undertaken by a U.S. university and its partners in creating a new model of care for childrens behavior health, the University said the initiative would: Develop new behavioral health practitioners through creation of undergraduate degrees and certificate programs for mid-career learners. Deliver science-based early detection, prevention, and treatment for children and their families. Accelerate the discovery and dissemination of new technologies and research informed by clinical practice. Provide scholarships for students enrolling in the new programs through a $100 million endowment. Have an initial goal of graduating at least 200 behavioral health practitioners annually. Hire more than 20 new faculty members who will train students and conduct research in the field of childrens behavioral and mental health. Enhance public-private partnerships where researchers collaborate with school districts behavioral health professionals, local agencies, prevention and digital behavioral health startups, and other healthcare providers to deliver behavioral health interventions for children. ____________ Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.He is the current owner of theLos Angeles Clippersof theNational Basketball Association.Through the Ballmer Group, he and his wife have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations and efforts that support the wellbeing of youth as well as advance racial equity. Right now, the need for behavioral health services across our country is at critical levels, and there is an opportunity to strengthen and enhance the behavioral health system so that it is set up to address every childs needs - now and in the future, said Connie Ballmer in the universitys announcement. An alum of the University of Oregon, who also served on its Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2021, Ms. Ballmer added, Steve and I are excited to help bring to life this institute, which can help strengthen talent and build partnerships to create long-lasting impact for Oregons kids and families. Follow me on

Email Altru Health Systems decision to resume work on its new building comes as the nonprofit hospital reaps the benefits of city-issued bonds, financial adjustments and donations. Hospital staff announced Tuesday that they plan to carry on with construction on the partly completed building this fall, with a completion date sometime in 2024. In the meantime, theyll figure out some new but mostly unspecified design elements, including a negative pressure unit that would be designed to limit the spread of viruses, among other administrative tasks. This is a really, really good piece of news for our community and our region, Dave Molmen, Altrus CEO, told the Herald after the announcement Tuesday. We were determined to see that this happened. Altru paused construction on its new hospital in April at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rosier financial outlooks this year and last gave the hospital the financial room to resume the project. We were not going to start the project until we had the operational and financial support that put us in the right place to do it, Molmen said. We had a positive year in 2020 thanks to a lot of amazing work by Altru staff who worked very hard and dedicated themselves and sacrificed a lot. ADVERTISEMENT up to $50 million on the hospitals behalf , which allows Altru to more cheaply refinance a loan it took out in November 2019. The city is a conduit for that money but the financial obligation is entirely Altrus. Molmen said the hospital is expected to hit that $50 million cap and is working to issue more bonds via the city. City Administrator Todd Feland indicated that the hospital has not asked the city for another bond issuance, but they also have specifically met about one. The hospital also cut costs at multiple points in 2020, including and pausing construction on the new hospital in April. The nonprofit has since rehired some of the 167 people it laid off last spring, but Molmen and spokesperson Kenneth Harvey didnt specify how many. Altru has rehired former employees when possible, Harvey said. At one point earlier in the pandemic, the hospital had about 120 days worth of cash on hand, but Molmen said that figure was about 187 days worth on Tuesday. Weve worked to make sure that were efficient in everything, that weve reduced areas of possible duplication or waste, Molmen said. Weve tried to smooth out our procedures, eliminate downtime, all kinds of things like that. And philanthropic support is also set to help pay for the new building, according to Altru staff. Molmen said lots of people in the Grand Forks area want to see the new hospital built, but said Altru doesnt have a goal in mind for would-be donations. The most recent estimate for the new hospitals construction is about $250 million. Molmen said the hospital didnt lose any money by putting that project on a back burner. Thus far, Altru has spent between $60 million and $70 million on the project, Molmen estimated, cautioning that it was an approximate figure. Harvey and other hospital staff did not provide a more precise figure than that. And that $250 million could ultimately mean about $320 million worth of economic impact in the Grand Cities, according to David Flynn, a UND economics professor who directs research at the schools Institute of Policy and Business Analytics. Flynns estimate assumes that about 60% of the firms the hospital will use to build its new site are local. ADVERTISEMENT The bulk of that figure encapsulates the money Altru plans to pay builders and designers to put the building together, and the remainder represents how those businesses spend that money once it's in their own checkbooks. There may also be a more roundabout economic boost from the Altru project. Cities with amenities like a large hospital could more easily attract people and businesses, but thats complicated by a chicken-and-the-egg relationship between those two phenomena: does a city with many conveniences attract businesses and people, or do a lot of businesses and people attract a lot of conveniences? From a development standpoint, as you try to evaluate and assess communities and try to attract in other kinds of business, it can, depending on the type of business, matter what kind of medical facility you have available in the town, in the region, Flynn told the Herald. A company that recruits on the strength of its workers health insurance plan could, perhaps, have an easier time if its workers could use those benefits locally. Whats the use of being offered health benefits if you have to drive 95 miles in order to see the particular specialist you want or get the particular scan you need? Flynn said. Related Topics:

Loren Adler, Associate Director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, joins Yahoo Finance to discuss the health care sector. Video Transcript JARED BLIKRE: Private equity money has flooded the medical industry in recent years, particularly in physician practices and staffing companies. But could that new money be driving unexpected financial burdens on those needing medical services? A new report says it might. And here to discuss it is Loren Adler, Associate Director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, plus Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani. Lauren, thank you for joining us here today. Can you break down some of the findings of this report? Because I know that any time we talk about profits and medicine, it's raising eyebrows. LOREN ADLER: Sure, no, thanks for having me. You know, it has been-- it's an interesting report. And to look into sort of this big surge over the last decade or so, I think the movement of private equity money into physician practices has made a lot of headlines in recent years, particularly with the surprise billing debate, where we had, you know, strong evidence that the rise of these private equity staffing companies in emergency medicine or anesthesia, in particular, really was resulting in additional patient costs and really getting surprise bills, in particular. And we have seen that at least get closed with the No Surprises Act that's set to take effect next year. Story continues But, you know, in our analysis of the data here, there really seems to be a new shift into some of the office-based specialties, like dermatology, GI, and ophthalmology, where the evidence base is much more nascent. But certainly, there are fears of some of the same increases in patient costs, especially given some recent evidence that we discuss, really finding quite negative patient outcomes in the nursing home sector, which has, obviously, been sort of a big-- getting a lot of press in the-- with COVID and everything. ANJALEE KHEMLANI: And Loren, I'm so glad you brought that up because I know that that's something we've talked about, is where the evidence has come from when it comes to the nursing home sector and how that can play a role in what we understand, especially for hospital-based or group-based practices and how that really impacts the long-term view of this. And on one hand, we have some states that have gotten down to encouraging more transparency for these private equity deals. But what could, really, the country do largely? Is it supposed to be, or should it be, a state by state sort of determination on how to address this? Or is it something that needs to be addressed federally, and how can they, if so? LOREN ADLER: Sure, so my view is, really, there are-- this is largely a federal issue to deal with. Obviously, states have some tools that can be useful on these fronts in terms of transparency or especially price regulation or looking at consolidation, right? A big part of the drive for private equity money in physician practices is primarily about creating and consolidating companies, coming into particularly these office-based specialties that hadn't really gotten a lot of interest from the hospital sector. So they were pretty fragmented at the time being. Private equity money can come in, consolidate markets a fair amount, and use that pricing power to jack up prices. That is sort of an easy way to make money in this space. But that really is-- largely comes back to the federal antitrust agencies and the Federal Trade Commission, who, to be fair, is certainly looking into this and has made a lot of noise more recently about looking at these smaller deals that have often gone under the radar. So, a common tactic here is, you buy one big platform company, they call it. And then you buy a lot of small practices that are add-ons, which often have sort of evaded the eyes of the agencies because these deals are relatively small. Hopefully, we can kind of look into those a little bit more and look more holistically at the company when they are trying to do these sorts of mergers, given the plethora of evidence we have that that sort of consolidation can harm consumers, either through higher prices or lower quality. And then, you know, I think where we come down is that a lot of this can come down to, there are a host of market failures and payment loopholes that sort of litter our healthcare system. And really closing those can be the first step to removing the low hanging fruit that private equity likes to take advantage of in these sectors. ANJALEE KHEMLANI: I want to dig into that a little bit because definitely looking at the loopholes and just sort of how that fits into the larger conversation that's happening about healthcare right now, we're talking more technology, you know, fancier devices and products. And all of that put together also puts pressure on the systems and increased costs, generally speaking. So, looking at it from the broad spectrum, are we in a different sort of-- are we in a shift, really, in how healthcare services are being provided? And maybe the sort of tug of war happening right now is more of a philosophical question. But in sort of this, like, brand awareness environment, is that going to play a role, do you think, in how this sort of sorts itself out? LOREN ADLER: I think that's certainly possible. And part of this is people sometimes talk about whether you want to somehow target private equity in particular. But it is-- one, it's sort of hard. Private equity can pretty easily sort of change the format of the exact financing. So it is somewhat hard to really target regulation that well. And, you know, another point we make here is there's been a lot of consolidation in healthcare over the last decade. And it's not all driven by private equity. We have a good chunk of evidence that health system acquisition of physician practices are just sort of two practices merging and joining together. Hospital consolidation, payers are buying practices, you know, all of that can have some similar negative outcomes potentially. But, you know, you make a good point that there also is a need for investment. And particularly, as we move more towards some risk bearing, the physician practices and the hospitals want to take some risk on, need to invest in new technology and all of that. There is a reason why the private equity money is attractive as well. And that's where it comes in handy, that if you remove sort of the low hanging fruit that we think is pretty clearly negative for consumers, maybe you can still leave open the opportunities where it probably might be more of a net positive, right? I think of the example of primary care, where, certainly, there have been a number of developments and advancements that have been good for patient quality, right? A lot of these new primary care practices respond to your emails more quickly, have telehealth, have services that patients really do find attractive. But at the same time, there

VIC News Drivers have been warned they could be cheated out of petrol savings unless fuel companies agree to lower prices. Skyrocketing prices at the petrol pump are set to receive special attention in the federal budget, with a cut to the fuel excise. But the NRMA is concerned fuel companies could use the cut to boost their own profit margins instead of passing the savings onto consumers. There needs to be a pretty stringent monitoring of these margins to make sure the petrol companies dont just increase their margins and eat up the cost, and then motorists get no relief, NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said. Australias fuel giants said they would wait and see whats in the budget. Camera Icon Fuel prices have broken records in recent months. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia Should a change to fuel excise be announced in the budget, Ampol will work with the federal government to ensure it benefits consumers as intended as soon as feasible, an spokesman for the petroleum company said. He added excise was just one factor in deciding the cost, and that recent high prices were linked to the rising global cost of oil. A BP spokesman said the company had a policy of not commenting on future prices. Should a change in excise be announced in the federal budget, BP will take this into account into any future pricing decisions, he said. A temporary cut to the fuel excise has been floated ahead of Tuesdays federal budget. The 44 cent-per-litre tax is used by the government to pay for things like road upgrades. Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers chief executive Mark McKenzie said it would likely take several days for any price drops to be felt. Mr McKenzie told the radio station 3AW stations may need to clear the volume thats in the ground before adjusting prices. For some service stations theyll get daily deliveries, for others its two or three days, he said. Camera Icon NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the organisation opposed cutting the fuel excise. NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi Credit: News Corp Australia The NRMA has opposed the proposed excise cut because they say it will leave less funds for maintaining roads. Were pleased that the government has increased spending on roads across the country We think that the excise should be allocated to that consistently, year on year, Mr Khoury said. Several European countries and New Zealand have already cut fuel taxes as the cost of living increases, putting pressure on household budgets. Australian petrol price records have been broken several times over the past few months. Most capital cities currently see average petrol prices of more than $2 per litre. Before December, petrol prices in Sydney had never topped $1.80. On Monday, the citys cheapest petrol was found in Villawood where a litre cost $1.87. Originally published as

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Nearly 100 Topekans got to enjoy a Christmas experience in East Topeka. Family entertainment company invited 25 families to celebrate Christmas Friday afternoon. The kids were able to enjoy some inflatables, pizza, and, of course, a few Christmas gifts. KidzTrapp owners say the event is their way of giving back to the community. Its a whole 360, Nakisha Bryant said. Actually, this is our first Christmas in Kansas in a long time. We have watched other cities do huge toy drives. We wanted to get back to our community and show you guys what we learned. Sponsors included Kulture Innovations, 4Real 4Real Drip, and Epic Overstock. Copyright 2021 WIBW. All rights reserved. Most Read

Obtaining a CE mark OBTAINING A CE MARK FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE Medical devices (MD) are specific products that are used at different stages of medical therapy from the diagnosis, throughout the treatment and monitoring. Whether your medical device is an active implant, an IVD or a classic medical device, compliance with the essential principles of safety / performance / effectiveness must be demonstrated. In this business cases, we were called by a startup who had been confronted by the National Competent Authority for having palced on the market an active electromedical product that was qualifying as a medical device without the proper CE mark. Time was of the essence. The essential pieces of evidence that are usually assembled during the design, development, and industrialization were missing to form a comprehensive Technical Documentation. Therefore, we helped the Client rebuilding the missing protocols and reports within a very tight timeline by delegating a regulatory and quality engineer on-site to coach the team and review the documentation. We also established a compact and simple QMS in order to gather the essential ISO 13485:2016 certification. In parallel, we initiated a relationship with a Notified Body and helped the company to find an availability slot. We also took care of the preparation of a Summary Technical Documentation (STED) that would ease the review process for the Notified Body. After 5 months, the company could obtain a class IIa MDD CE mark. Medidee may drive the project for you and/or assist your team in the following areas: Classification of your Medical Device as per applicable regulation Development and implementation of risk management processes and activities Realization and/or review of the Technical Documentation according to the latest MDR and IVDR requirements and applicable guidance Identification, planning and/or completion of the necessary V&V activities Organization of the submission with the Notified Body Implementation of a manufacturing strategy which in compliance with a

Share Markings seen recently on Russian tanks and other military vehicles involved in the invasion of Ukrainehave prompted one large insurance company to back away from a longstanding logotype. For the time being, Zurich Insurance Company has opted to stop using its Z logotype as part of its social media presence. Those social pages now feature the companys name spelled out in capital letters in a light blue field. We are temporarily removing the use of the letter Z from social channels where it appears in isolation and could be misinterpreted, Zurich Insurance Company told Canadian Underwriter in a statement. The Zurich brand has been around for 150 years, it added. It is a trusted brand and we have proven our ability to change and respond to challenges over time. In addition to being spray painted on Russian military vehicles, the letter Z has been used on clothing, flags and in other ways by Russians supporting the war. It also has been displayed on banners and other decorations during pro-Kremlin events. In addition to the logo change, the company told CU that Zurich has decided to suspend underwriting domestic customers as well as to halt renewing of local policies in Russia. Other major insurers have made similar moves.

/PRNewswire/ -- Thorne HealthTech, Inc. ("Thorne HealthTech" or " Thorne THRN ), a leader in developing innovative solutions for a personalized approach to health and well-being, today launched its Healthy Aging campaign, which challenges outdated views of aging in support of living longer, healthier lives. Through proactive and personalized knowledge, lifestyle changes, and nutritional supplementation, it is possible to minimize health risks and achieve healthy aging feeling one's best at every age. From adolescence to youth to adulthood to golden years, a person's health and nutrition needs change with each era of life and Thorne is empowering individuals to live healthier for longer. Thornes Healthy Aging campaign highlights Collagen Plus, NiaCel, and ResveraCel, all of which contain an exclusive form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) that works in the cells to support a number of cellular processes, helping individuals age well, exercise better, stay clear-headed, and maintain normal metabolism and detoxification. To launch the campaign, is partnering with veteran tight end and current sportscaster, Greg Olsen . Olsen has used Thorne's best-in-class products since his days as a professional football player and remains a current user and brand advocate. "Investing in my health has always been a priority as a pro athlete, especially in a sport that is incredibly physically demanding. My health needs have changed throughout the years, most recently in 2021, when I retired from professional football," says Olsen. " Thorne offers a nutritional supplement product line that supports me at different stages of my life, whether that was training hard as a tight end or now, as a game analyst on TV. These days, my focus is on healthy aging so I can continue to keep up with my kids and enjoy the life I've built. I turn to Thorne as a trusted partner to have the products that are right for me, right now." To support his healthy aging goals, Olsen will take Thorne's Biological Age test, which analyzes the impact that lifestyle, nutrition, illness, and genetics have had on the body and vital organs and continue to incorporate various Thorne products into his daily wellness routine. In addition, Olsen will donate proceeds from his campaign to his charitable organization, HEARTest Yard, which provides health-care support and services for families of babies born with a congenital heart disease. "Although it's impossible to change the number of times you have gone around the sun each year, it's very possible to lower the rate at which your body experiences problems," says CEO of Thorne HealthTech, Paul Jacobson . "No matter where you are on the aging spectrum, Thorne provides rigorous scientific testing and supplement solutions to help you take proactive steps toward optimized health and lowered risk of chronic disease." From testing that provides individualized data to education that teaches consumers about their bodies and products to support specific health goals and needs, Thorne's deep portfolio of personalized offerings provides consumers with a uniquely comprehensive approach to healthy aging. All of Thorne's Healthy Aging products, including Collagen Plus, NiaCel, and ResveraCel, contain an exclusive form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) that works in the cells to support a number of cellular processes, helping individuals age well, exercise better, stay clear-headed, and maintain normal metabolism and detoxification. The Healthy Aging campaign will launch across numerous formats, including digital out-of-home (OOH), online video (including Hulu and YouTube), social media, influencer marketing, and more running March 28 through June 19 . To learn more about and their suite of Healthy Aging testing and product solutions, visit www.Thorne.com About Thorne HealthTech: Thorne HealthTech is a leader in developing innovative solutions for delivering personalized approaches to health and well-being. As a science-driven wellness company that empowers individuals with the support, education, and solutions they need to achieve healthy aging living healthier for longer Thorne utilizes testing and data to create improved product efficacy and to deliver personalized solutions to consumers, health professionals, and corporations. Predicated on the power of the individual, Thorne leverages artificial intelligence models to provide insights and personalized data, products, and services that help individuals take a proactive and actionable approach to improve and maintain their health over a lifetime. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on wellness research and content and is trusted by more than four million customers, 45,000 health professionals, thousands of professional athletes, more than 100 professional sports teams, and 11 U.S. Olympic teams. For more information, visit Thorne.com About : Greg Olsen is an American football sportscaster and former tight end who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro ranks fifth all-time among tight ends with 742 receptions and 8,683 yards. From 2014 to 2016, he recorded 1,000 receiving yards each season, becoming the first tight end in history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Following his retirement at the conclusion of the 2020 NFL season, Olsen joined FOX Sports as an NFL game analyst. Inspired by the challenges facing his son, T.J., who was born with a severe congenital heart defect, Olsen and his wife, Kara, founded the HEARTest Yard Program to offer support and services to families facing similar circumstances. Olsen also recently founded Audiorama, a premium content creation platform, and launched Youth Inc., a journey into the changing world of youth sports in America. About The HEARTest Yard: The HEARTest Yard, established in 2013, is the first and only family support and service program for pediatric cardiovascular patients and their families in the Carolinas. The HEARTest Yard, a program under Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation, supports families of children with congenital heart disease with in-home nursing care and comprehensive medical services at The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center. The Foundation seeks to provide a happier, healthier future for heart kids. SOURCE Thorne HealthTech, Inc.

Free Report ) also made it to the headlines. Overall, it was a bearish seven-day period for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lost 5.5% to close at $109.33 per barrel, while natural gas prices fell 5.8% to end at $4.725 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). It was a wild week for oil. After surging to a 14-year high of over $130 a barrel amid fears of Russian production squeeze, the commodity pulled back sharply on speculation that production from alternate sources will make up for the potential loss of output from Moscow. It should be noted that the negative price action overshadowed a report from the Energy Information Administration showing draws in crude and fuel stockpiles Natural gas tallied a weekly loss too, spooked by a mild weather outlook and the subsequent lull in demand. Recap of the Weeks Most-Important Stories 1. U.S. upstream operators Whiting Petroleum and Oasis Petroleum jointly announced that both the companies signed agreements to combine in a $6-billion merger of equals transaction. The companies stated that the merged entity will have the leading Williston Basin position in North Dakota and Montana, with top-tier assets spanning over 972,000 net acres and an output of about 167,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an improved free cash flow generation and a substantial scale of operations. Per the terms of the transaction, Whiting shareholders will be given 0.5774 shares of OAS common stock and $6.25 in cash for each share of WLL stock held. Oasis shareholders will receive a special dividend of $15.00 per share ahead of the close. On the closing of the deal, which is expected to be done by the second half of this year, Whiting and Oasis shareholders will own approximately 53% and 47% in the merged company, respectively. ( Whiting, Oasis to Tie Up & Create Top Williston Producer ) 2. The energy giant, Shell, recently stated that it is withdrawing from the Russian oil and gas industry in a phased manner and is instantly discontinuing all spot purchases of Russian crude. This development is in line with the U.S. Governments new guidelines of banning the import of oil and other energy sources from Russia, in response to Russias military campaign in Ukraine. Shell also declared that it would not renew any Russian term contracts and close its service stations, aviation fuels and lubricants operations in the country. The company further said that it would eventually find substitutes for the Russian supply but stressed that it might take some time, leading to lower output at some of its refineries. Europes largest oil company apologized after it faced criticism over buying the cargo of Russian crude at a reduced price after many other firms started to curb their purchases. SHEL mentioned that it would commit profits from its Russian oil purchases to humanitarian funds meant to alleviate the emergency in Ukraine. ( Shell Withdraws From Russia, Halts Spot Purchases ) 3 Calgary-based energy infrastructure provider TC Energy declared that it signed option agreements to sell 10% of its interest in the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline project to indigenous communities across the pipeline's route. The prospect of having equity ownership is available to the native groups that already hold existing agreements with the 670 km-long development. This project, in which TC Energy owns a 35% interest, while KKR and Alberta Investment Management together hold a 65% stake, has been opposed by environmentalists and First Nations (a term used to identify the native Canadian population) for several years as they contend that the pipeline trespasses the traditional native land. Built in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, the Coastal GasLink pipeline will have a preliminary transport capacity of 2.1 billion cubic feet per day. The project will transport natural gas from the Montney gas-producing region, the Groundbirch area west of Dawson Creek, to the permitted LNG Canada export facility near Kitimat. ( TC Energy Agrees to Indigenous Stake in Coastal GasLink ) 4. Delek US Holdings stated that it signed a stock purchase and cooperation agreement with Carl Icahn and the Icahn Group for the buyback of $64 million worth, or approximately 50%, of Delek USs common stock owned by the Icahn Group for about $18.3 per share. The $18.30 figure is the closing price of DKs common shares on Mar 4, 2022, the last trading day preceding the agreements execution. Per the terms of the deal, the Icahn Group will pull out its nomination of directors and agree to a standstill restriction through the completion of Delek USs 2023 annual stockholders meeting and abstain from purchasing additional shares of the refiners common stock. Delek US mentioned that it would make use of the available cash in hand to fund this share repurchase program. The companies anticipate the share buyback to close ahead of Mar 11, 2022, bound by certain customary closing conditions, after which the Icahn Group is likely to own roughly 3.48 million common shares of Delek US, which represent about 4.93% of the company's outstanding shares. ( ) Price Performance The following table shows the price movement of some major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last six months. Company Last Week Last 6 Months XOM +1% +45.1% CVX +7.7% +69.7% COP -1.9% +62.8% OXY +3.4% +99.4% SLB +10.2% +42.1% RIG +11.6% +13.7% VLO +6.6% +36.1% MPC +1% +28.7% The Energy Select Sector SPDR a popular way to track energy companies was up 2.2% last week. Over the past six months, the sector tracker has increased 48.3%. Whats Next in the Energy World? As the global oil consumption outlook strengthens amid tightening fundamentals, market participants will closely track the regular releases to watch for signs that could further validate the upward momentum. In this context, the U.S. governments statistics on oil and natural gas one of the few solid indicators that come out regularly will be on energy traders' radar. Data on rig count from the oilfield service firm Baker Hughes, which is a pointer to the trends in U.S. crude production, is closely followed. News related to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine geopolitical conflict will be of utmost importance too. Investors will also keep an eye on the potential demand hit from the resurgence of new coronavirus cases in China. In-Depth Zacks Research for the Tickers Above Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:

Comment Synopsis As Delhi Metro Rail Corporations (DMRC) managing director Mangu Singh prepares to hang up his boots after steering the organisation for more than a decade and through the worst pandemic in 100 years, the mass transit systems ridership is now closest to pre-Covid levels. Mangu Singh (This story originally appeared in on Mar 29, 2022) As Delhi MetroRail Corporations (DMRC) managing director Mangu Singhprepares to hang up his boots after steering the organisation for more than a decade and through the worst pandemic in 100 years, the mass transit systems ridership is now closest to pre-Covid levels. We have up to 70% of our pre-Covid ridership, the 66-year-old Singh said in an interview Monday. From 56-57 lakh passenger trips before the outbreak, the figure now stands at 42 lakh on weekdays, he said, adding, We hope the moment school and colleges open, we will see a jump of 5 to 6 lakh. Singh said while the metro is nearing 50 lakh passenger trips, it could take time to reach 56 lakh again as many are still working from home or avoiding travel. Earlier, on weekends, people would take joyrides but that has drastically reduced. Now, the metro only has office-goers. Passengers going to their workplace will return but there will be fewer in the non-essential category, he said, adding that DMRC is taking all safety precautions. The pandemic resulted in a loss of about Rs 3,500 crore for DMRC, but its reserves, earned through consultancy, came in handy, apart from non-fare revenue, he said. Full support from all sides Although he was at the helm during a devastating pandemic that forced services to close or be restricted for months, Singh considers land acquisition and permission to cut trees as his biggest challenges. Unfortunately, activists sometimes give out wrong information to the public but there is a positive aspect too. If the metro is not there, pollution and emissions would be much higher, he said. While Delhigovernment and the Centre equal stakeholders in DMRC have sparred over the past few years over various issues, particularly the fare hike, Singh said he has always received full support. Politics is one thing, but I believe nobody will stop you from doing work. We got full support from both the sides, he said. On the arbitral award DMRC has to pay to Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure for the Airport Express Line, Singh said it is not a penalty as perceived by some, but a clause in such contracts. Our fight all along was that we are not at fault, so (DAMEPL) should not be paid fully. We believed right from the beginning that metro projects are not fit for private investment because the contract period is so long and there are so many uncertainties, he added. Singh said that in a challenging and rewarding tenure, his only regret is the metros technical control remains with Indian Railways. Moreover, there should be an automatic mechanism for fare revision at regular intervals based on factors like wholesale price index, he added. No politics or pvt firm role In 2011, when Metro man E Sreedharan decided to quit, the capital witnessed many bureaucrats and technocrats vying for the position but the baton was passed on to Singh. Singh said he never wanted to work in Delhi. I perceived life here as tough and it was not an easy decision, he said. But destiny had other plans. Since taking charge, Singh let his work do the talking. Now, with Vikas Kumar, director (operations), expected to take over the reins, the outgoing MD said DMRC is an organisation with many competent people to lead it. Asked if he had any advice for his successor, he said with a smile, Rest assured, DMRC is in safe hands. I have declared my innings while I am not out, Singh said, adding one should not delay such decisions. Asked whats in store for him next, Singh said, The plan for the next one month is not thinking about the future. After that, we will see. On whether politics was an option, Singh replied with an emphatic no. If you fight elections at this age, you cant do grassroot politics. I will also not be working for any big private company, he said, reasoning he would be used for his position to get work done in government offices, rather than for his knowledge. DMRC, however, will always remain in his heart and he would always be available for it, he added. Read More News on

Editor:LisaLucke BlackBern Partners portfolio company Zentech Manufacturing Inc. has purchased Illinois-based EMS provider CAMtek Inc. AS9100D certified, CAMtek brings 100,000 sq. ft. of advanced manufacturing space, including four SMT lines and serves the military, industrial and commercial markets. Upon close of the deal, CAMtek Inc. will become Zentech Bloomington (IL), joining Zentech Baltimore (MD), Zentech Fredericksburg (VA) and Zentech Dallas (TX), the most recent addition to the company which resulted in Zentechs purchas of Trilogy Circuits in January.According to a press release, CAMtek Founder Christine Davis will continue to manage Zentech Bloomington. Our team is incredibly excited to join the Zentech family. I have been very active in the IPC for many years and have a near two decade working relationship with Steve on various executive committees. Joining Zentech is a perfect blend of capabilities, commitment, certifications and culture, Davis said.

What Is Tom Brady's Net Worth? These Endorsements Have Made Him a Fortune Our portfolio of brands delivered Deckers largest quarter in history, with balanced growth among our direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels and across multiple geographies, said Dave Powers president and CEO in a statement. We believe Hoka and Ugg are two of the strongest brands in the footwear industry, which are complimented by our strong operating model and fortified balance sheet. Breaking down sales by brand, Uggsaw net sales for the third quarter increase 7.9% to $945.9 million compared to $876.8 million for the same period last year. Hokasaw net sales increase 30.3% to $184.6 million compared to $141.6 million for the same period last year. And Teva reported that its net sales increased 31.4% to $20.6 million compared to $15.7 million for the same period last year. Sanuk, on the other hand, saw net sales decrease 13.4% to $6.1 million compared to $7.0 million for the same period last year. Other brands, primarily composed of Koolaburra also saw net sales decrease in the quarter by 16.6% to $30.6 million compared to $36.7 million for the same period last year. Parris Goebel Fronts Uggs Rain boot collection campaign. - Credit: Courtesy of Ugg Courtesy of Ugg Moving to its wholesale business, Deckersreported a 7.3% increase in the third quarter to $598.4 million compared to $557.9 million for the same period last year. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) also saw an increase in the quarter with net sales climbing 13.4% to $589.4 million compared to $519.9 million for the same period last year. Story continues Supply chain issues continue to be a nuisance for the company. In its earnings release, Deckers stated that it has experienced disruption and delays within its sourcing network related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its third quarter earnings Deckers said that, Fiscal year to date, the most significant macro-level supply chain impacts the company has experienced are extended transit lead times and cost pressures related to container shortages, port congestion, and trucking scarcity that have caused shipping delays and a higher usage of air freight. The company noted that the full effect and duration of disruptions and delays are not yet known, and there are no indicators signaling improvement in the near-term. Deckers also mentioned that while all its owned and third-party facilities are open and operational, they are continuing to experience capacity constraints and labor shortages, which may continue to have an adverse effect on its operations, the company said. While we have continued to experience unprecedented demand for our brands, we are still navigating a challenging supply chain and pandemic environment, added Powers. Even with these headwinds, I have great confidence in our organization and its ability to deliver another impressive year while positioning the company for long-term success. Looking ahead, Deckers is now expected its net sales to be in the range of $3.03 billion to $3.06 billion for fiscal 2022. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting Recommended Stories In The Know by Yahoo Some TikTokers thought the photos were hilarious but others had very strong opinions about what was written on her T-shirt. 2h ago Business Insider A lawsuit states that Dr. Malika Mitchell-Stewart, who is Black, was "treated like a criminal." Chase says it is investigating the situation. 6h ago

April 13, 2020, 9:59 AM GTS Insurance Brokers, Inc. (GTS), a full service insurance broking company, encourages its clients to avail of the telemedicine services of their health maintenance organization (HMO) partners such as Maxicare, Intellicare, Medicard, and PhilCare when in need of medical consultation. Telemedicine services enable GTS clients to have remote consultation with physicians within the comforts of their own home. These consultations can be done via video conferencing, telephone call, or text messaging. These can help them get initial screenings for their medical needs. Aside from protecting them from possible exposure to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while outside, remote medical consultations can also help decongest hospitals and support front liners in the middle of the current pandemic. Maxicare members can call the companys telephone consultation hotline at (02) 8582-1980. Meanwhile, Intellicare, Medicard, and PhilCare have mobile applications that will initially take the users current condition using a series of questions then connect them to their respective physicians. These apps are Call Doc Medgate for Intellicare, My Pocket Doctor for Medicard, and HeyPhil for PhilCare. Mobile applications can be downloaded via Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Being able to speak with a doctor remotely when you are ill can guide you on your most immediate course of action given your condition, said Cheryl Tiambeng, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer of GTS. While telemedicine is an innovation our HMO partners have been offering for a while now, this is a service that proves especially useful to insurance clients, in light of whats happening today. We hope to be able to provide more ways to help our clients protect themselves and their families during these challenging times. GTS has more than 50 life and non-life insurance partners including HMOs that provide remote consultation services. Related Posts

Send email Aegis Living is set to pilot its own staffing agency in a move aimed at saving millions of dollars in workforce expenses and potentially creating a new business line down the road. The Bellevue, Washington-based operator in January plans to launch the new agency in Seattle, where it has 17 communities and five more under development. Aegis expects to pilot the new agency, called Aegis Staffing, for a period of about 12 to 18 months. The agency will exist as a separate entity from Aegis, with its own staffing software and management. While the initial goal of the pilot will be to help with staffing at only Aegis communities in Seattle, CEO Dwayne Clark believes there are opportunities to expand the service to other regions and potentially even other senior living companies down the road. Advertisement The [staffing] philosophy that weve used for years and years and years is going out the window, Clark told Senior Housing News. That usual philosophy entails hiring full-time workers at wage rates that are competitive for their markets, with two days off per week, with some perks and bonuses and benefits. But workers expectations and their priorities related to work-life balance have shifted over the last 18 months, Clark observed. In 2021, Clark estimates that Aegis will end up spending around $10 million to $11 million in agency staffing. But with an in-house staffing agency, he sees a chance to save money on workforce while creating a new revenue stream by leveraging Aegis reputation as a quality senior living company. The company will also gain access to a new flexible trained workforce. Advertisement The decision to launch a staffing agency comes amid intense staffing headwinds for senior living operators across the country. Conditions are such that Clark said, in his 36 years in the industry, he has never seen anything like it although hiring at Aegis has picked up in recent months, he added. Aegis has made headway whittling down its number of open positions in 2021. Over the summer, the operator was facing 450 vacant positions, but as of today, that number is about 250. More generally, Aegis is making good headway on regaining the occupancy lost in 2020 and last year. At the outset of the pandemic, Aegis dipped from an average occupancy of 93% to less than 82%. But by December typically a slow month for move-ins the company was already back to 88% average occupancy. What we have seen in the last four months is like the light switch flipped on, especially in the last two weeks, Clark said. We had a 1% surge in census just last week. This recent occupancy growth is particularly noteworthy given usual seasonal trends, of move-ins slowing around the holidays, he added. Aegis agency pilot Underpinning Aegis Staffing will be a centralized system to deploy workers where they are needed within Aegis portfolio. Although Aegis already employs many seasoned caregivers, the company wont draw from its own workforce to staff the agency. Instead, the company will look to recruit workers from existing staffing agencies and tap other alternative recruiting sources. When recruiting workers from other staffing agencies, Aegis plans to leverage the fact that it is a large company with a stable balance sheet. When faced with a choice between working at Aegis Staffing or a typical mom-and-pop staffing agency, Clark believes the answer is simple and that workers will take the former. The company will also look to recruit people from all walks of life, including recent refugees, retired military personnel and even older adults themselves. Clark gives an example of a stay-at-home parent. While they may not want to work swing shifts five days a week, they may be open to working two days a week while their kids are at school. Thats a workforce that we havent been exposed to, Clark said. While Aegis Staffing workers wont get benefits like full-time employees in Aegis communities do, they will be paid at a higher hourly rate comparable to what other local agencies are paying for staff. To prevent taking employees from other Aegis communities, the operator has mandated that prospective workers must have a break from the company either three months or six months before they can work at the staffing agency. What we dont want to do is just shift our people over from working in our buildings, causing disruption, Clark said. Initially, Aegis Staffing will meet the operators own needs in Seattle, where Aegis has a large concentration of communities, with workers being kept to one location as much as possible. But down the road, Clark believes there will be opportunities to work with other senior living operators. It could be a $30 million, $40 million business pretty easily, Clark said. At a recent senior living industry conference in Santa Barbara, California, Clark asked other attendees about their experience using staffing agencies and got a range of responses, most complaining about poor training or a lack of sophistication. Once Clark mentioned Aegis was piloting a staffing service that could be offered at a similar or even lower rate than other agencies, they were all over it. I dont think theyre going to look at us from a competitive standpoint as much as a resource, Clark said. Theyre going to look at their current situation and go, Hey, this is not very good, and if you can solve this problem, thats interesting. Occupancy comeback Staffing is just one challenge facing senior living operators at the moment, and Clark believes that providers must be open about sharing their challenges as well as their victories. I think thats one of the pivots that we have to make as an industry, is to be very transparent, honest about the challenges we face, whether thats in staffing, whether its supply chain issues, whether its, our occupancy has been low, and were trying to get it up, he said. You have to be transparent about that, because thats the only way you win consumer confidence back. While the big challenge of the moment is staffing, the occupancy story is a brighter one for Aegis. The company is not back to normal, but has seen huge, huge traffic, particularly in the two buildings that opened in the last six months. One of the communities open for four months so far is $2.5 million ahead of budget, while the other open for six months is $1.2 million ahead of budget, according to Clark. Aegis senior living residents and their families are also more willing to pay additional community fees and higher rates than they were just two years ago, he has observed. This is a view shared by other industry executives, such as Brookdale Senior Living CEO (NYSE: BKD) Cindy Baier, who believes 2022 will be a year of rate and occupancy growth for the industry. At the same time, the pandemic has muted new development and construction, which Clark believes will be a tailwind for further occupancy growth in the months ahead. I think there is going to be more demand, which is goin

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NewsDesk Naborforce defeated six other startups in the 3rd Consumer Electronics Association (CTA) Foundation Pitch Contest hosted by AARP Innovation Labs. The focus of this third annual Shark Tank-like event was to help connect people by finding technical solutions to address social isolation and loneliness. The pandemic has made isolation very familiar to us this year, says Steve Ewel, Secretary-General of the CTA Foundation. But thats not a new issue. In a 2018 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Ewell noted that 22% of Americans often or always feel lonely or isolated. The results can be disastrous. He says loneliness is a health effect comparable to smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity, leading to increased mortality and dementia. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the pitch competition took place on March 31st, rather than January at the CES Technology Trade Fair in Las Vegas. Each candidate shared a short pitch via video, followed by a short Q & A session with a trio of investors / judges. Family inspires company ideas Wilson came up with the idea of Neighbor Force eight years ago after his mother, Joy, who was 78 at the time, broke his hip. Wilson said on the pitch that his mother needed help in many small things to continue to live an independent, connected and joyful life. Wilson was busy raising her career and teenage daughter at the time. We found that the space between complete independence and medical care was totally lacking in resources. She didnt need an assistant or a nurse yet. What we needed was another. It was me. My number is decreasing. She said the number of family caregivers compared to older people in need of care is projected to decline from seven to three by 2050. It was 1 in 2010, will drop to 4: 1 by 2030, and could drop further to 3: 1 by 2050. This is simply due to the aging of the baby boomers and Generation X generations and the decline of the younger generation. Affordable price for clients is the selling point The cost for seniors or families to book Nabor is $ 25 per hour on weekdays and $ 30 per hour on weekends, with discounted monthly packages. Your visit to Nabor will take at least an hour and will be charged every 5 minutes thereafter. As a marketplace, Naborforce reduces the amount paid to Nabors and charges clients. According to Wilson, about three-quarters of the companys revenue comes from regular monthly plans with a rebooking rate of over 90%. Elderly people can book Nabor from the client portal or by calling the office. Matches are automated through the companys platform. You can also visit on the same day, but usually request Nabor at least a few days to a month in advance. Clients often get the same Nabor, but not always. 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GDPR Aegis Living Debuts New COVID-Era Future for Senior Assisted Living Appoints Infection Control & Safety Officer, launches coronavirus research study, expands nursing care, harnesses FDA-approved virus-fighting technologies and more News provided by Jul 07, 2020, 14:55 ET Share this article , July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Aegis Living a national leader in assisted living and memory care, unveiled a series of company-wide commitments for advancing resident care, safety and wellness during the COVID-19 era. The comprehensive commitments which were debuted in a short, animated video span all aspects of the organization from leadership to operations, research, resident care and more. "Families are facing unprecedented challenges as they work to care for their loved ones during this uncertain time," said Kris Engskov , Aegis Living President. "Our number one priority is to apply our 23 years of experience and deep clinical expertise to continue to innovate well ahead of this virus to ensure we are the safest place for our seniors and also a place where they can thrive physically, mentally and emotionally now and well into the future." Aegis Living's commitments include: Appointing a dedicated Infection Control & Safety Officer. Accessing and applying the latest infection control research and highest operational standards per direction of the newly appointed Coronavirus Advisory Council Launching a research partnership with Fred Hutch to study the virus, identifying transmission insights and containment best practices. Deploying FDA-approved, virus-fighting technologies from Molekule, Inc.and Viking Pureto clean indoor air and kill the virus. Dramatically increasing nursing care capacity to support its 32 communities and 2,500 residents. Developing new clinical culinary expertise to define a Culinary Wellness Program designed to offer residents immune-boosting meals and nutritional supplements. Creating new spaces, Aegis Chat Suites, for residents to connect virtually with their families and medical providers. Continuing to explore new opportunities for safe in-person visits and engagement with programs like the recently announced Outdoor Living Roominitiative. Aegis Living commitments were driven by insights and experience gleaned over the past four months navigating the pandemic, coupled with medical expertise and direct feedback from residents, families and staff. At the center of these new advancements is building the most qualified team to drive this work forward. Appointed as Infection Control & Safety Officer, Tom Laborde has a 22-year tenure at Aegis, most recently as their Chief Operating Officer. In his new position, Laborde will work closely with Aegis' senior management team to assess, develop and implement new infection control technologies and measures across all of Aegis' properties. The company also recently hired Senior Vice President of Operations Tony Pisa to provide operational leadership in California and Nevada . Pisa joined Aegis after a successful career leading large-scale, multi-unit operations at Starbucks, Kinkos and Kizuki Ramen. His position is mirrored in Washington state by Executive Vice President of Operations John Carpentier . Aegis Living also announced Ashleigh Pedersen will join the team as Enterprise Culinary Service Director, helping evolve and develop its Culinary Wellness Program. Jennifer Alexy was appointed Senior Vice President of Sales. "We hire people who have excelled in their careers, often in outside industries, who bring incredible insights and fresh thinking to senior living," said Dwayne J. Clark , Aegis Living founder and CEO. "I call it the weaving of the quiltwe're building a phenomenal team to take Aegis to the next level." For more information on how Aegis Living is responding to the coronavirus crisis, visit: www.aegisliving.com/communications About Aegis Living Aegis Living is a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care with a simple philosophy: make every day count. With more than 22 years of experience, it is known for its approach for supporting residents along the continuum of care, from light assistance to advanced dementia; an eye for innovation and staying on the frontlines of design; and an employee-centric company culture. With every community, Aegis Living creates a living environment where residents can feel at home and inspired to live life to the fullest. The privately held company is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and operates 32 communities in Washington