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New high-tech health screening technology to detect COVID-19 symptoms

Ontario Tech University

As a research leader in the ethical deployment of new technologies, Ontario Tech University is working with data sensory and ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) company SmartCone Technologies to test a high-tech system capable of real-time multi-symptom screening for COVID-19. Making sense of scent loss Loss of smell is a common indicator of COVID-19 infection. Various research studies show loss of smell affects anywhere between 80 and 96 per cent of COVID-19-positive patients. U.S. agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health recognize and recommend smell testing for COVID-19 screening. SmartCone’s anonymous, two-step web-based health-screening process, dubbed SYMP2PASS, combines COVID-19 sense-of-smell testing with smart kiosks, thermal scanners, and other technologies to provide private, speedy, and reliable COVID-19 screening without accessing personal information: At home: In the privacy of their own home, a person uses their smart device to scan the QR code located on the company’s SYMP2PASS scent test packet, completes the smell test, and answers additional screening questions. They receive immediate confirmation of test results. In public spaces: If the person passes the at-home pre-screening, they will receive another QR code that provides a 24-hour ‘Day Pass’ to enter a SYMP2PASS Smart Kiosk set up at the entry point to the public venue they wish to access. The kiosk has a thermal camera with a sensor that tests for fever. The kiosk also uses mask-image recognition to ensure anyone entering a location is wearing a mask. SmartCone has a federal research contract with Innovation, Science and Economic Development's (ISED) Innovation Solutions Canada Sector to develop the technology. SYMP2PASS benefits SmartCone estimates onsite point-of-entry screening can reduce COVID-19 spread by up to 75 per cent, making the system ideal for any business or high-traffic location, such as professional sports stadium or a major amusement park. SYMP2PASS will: Help organizations follow current and future screening requirements mandated by various levels of governments and health authorities. Collate data from all access points and in-home measurements to ensure employers meet all privacy regulations. Support workplace contact-tracing capabilities. Warn participants of positive test results. Provide access control for visitors/guests and employees. Quotes “A crucial role the Ontario Tech University research enterprise plays is supporting lab-to-market initiatives. Our collaboration with SmartCone and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is an exemplar of this role and will be a model for future product research, testing and validation of new technologies.” - Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University "Innovation, Science and Economic Development was instrumental in being able to demonstrate our ability to fight COVID. They were very professional, organized and easy to work with. SmartCone is now selling to U.S. companies as a direct result of the demonstration." - Jason Lee, CEO, SmartCone Technologies About SYMP2PASS Powered By SmartCone SYMP2PASS, developed in conjunction with doctors and researchers, is the first anonymous end-to-end advanced health screening web process. Using our patent pending ScentsiBLE scent test paired with multi-symptom survey, SYMP2PASS will help reduce the spread of COVID and save businesses and countries millions of dollars. Learn more at www.symp2pass.com About SmartCone Technologies, Inc. SmartCone Technologies Inc. (SCTI) is a unique data sensory company that commercializes new Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies powering a wide array of sensors, edge computing, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence (AI). TheSmartCone™ solutions have been used most recently in " Return to Work " solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as securing dangerous work sites, controlling bicycle lane traffic, managing vehicle fleets, smart warehouses, crowd control, and more. Visit us at www.thesmartcone.com Contact Details Tenille Houston +1 613-617-7467 tenille@thesmartcone.com

June 16, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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NHS Test and Trace strengthen their cyber defences with Risk Ledger

Stockwood Strategy

NHS Test and Trace has selected British cyber security company Risk Ledger to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain as a proactive measure to mitigate the increasing risks the NHS and other critical national infrastructure organisations face from supply chain cyber-attacks. The Risk Ledger platform will give the UK government funded service all the tools they need to manage cyber security risks in their supply chain at speed for a low per-supplier cost - at least 60% cheaper than traditional solutions. Cyber security risks in the supply chain can include third parties failing to encrypt sensitive data when it is being transferred. NHS Test and Trace, established to track and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in England, will take advantage of Risk Ledger's key innovation which is its secure 'social network' allowing organisations to connect and share risk data securely, quickly, and easily. This gives organisations like NHS Test and Trace unparalleled visibility of their supply chain and a comprehensive set of data to identify, measure and mitigate supply chain security risks at scale. Major supply chain cyber security breaches at Solarwinds and Microsoft in recent months have put the challenge of securing supply chains at the top of the agenda for organisations around the world. Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman MP said: “The government is working tirelessly to secure the nation online and grow the UK's £8.9 billion cyber security industry as we build back better from the pandemic. We're helping SMEs develop innovative products and services and it's great to see Risk Ledger, one of the firms we've supported, win this contract to protect the Test and Trace system and support the national effort against coronavirus.” Risk Ledger's client base includes organisations like BAE AI, City of London Police, Telenor, Schroder's Personal Wealth and ASOS. Risk Ledger CEO and Co-Founder Haydn Brooks said: "NHS Test and Trace is essentially the biggest new start-up in the UK healthcare market so we are delighted they have chosen to take advantage of our ability to provide enhanced visibility of their supply chain risks. I am proud we will be part of the effort to secure this incredibly important supply chain. "Healthcare organisations and their supply chains handle lots of highly sensitive data and have a high rate of data breaches. We have already seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that bad actors are actively targeting supply chains to access data and cause disruption” added Haydn Brooks. Risk Ledger is a rising star of the UK's growing cyber security scene having won competitions run by the UK Government's National Cyber Security Centre, the tech industry body TechUK and most recently a winner in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition in May. The company is also a member of the UK Government backed LORCA programme (London Office of Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement). About Risk Ledger Risk Ledger is a British company that manages cyber security risks in supply chains. Th process of supply chain security risk management ensures third parties who deliver critical services, have access to data, corporate networks, or any other status of business trust, maintain a good base level of cyber security controls to prevent bad actors using the third party as an attack vector. In 2019, Risk Ledger won the ‘Cyber Den’ competition at the 2019 CyberUK event run by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). At the time, Ian Levy, Technical Director at the NCSC said: ‘Our mission is to make the UK the safest place to do business online. We run the Cyber Den competition with DCMS to identify and provide a springboard for the most promising cyber security start-ups in the UK. Risk Ledger beat some excellent competition at this year’s Cyber Den event because their platform approaches supply chain security in a novel way that could revolutionise the way organisations understand the cybersecurity of their supply chains which is at the root of so many security incidents.’ Notable achievements - Risk Ledger was a finalist in the 'Most Innovative New Technology Award' category at the 2021 Water Industry Awards. - In March 2021, Risk Ledger won the South Summit Industry 4.0 innovation competition. - In May 2021, Risk Ledger was announced as a runner up in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition. Contact Details Risk Ledger Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://riskledger.com/

June 16, 2021 05:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Living Kidney Donor Receives National Advocacy Award

United Network for Organ Sharing

Today, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the mission-driven nonprofit serving as the nation’s transplant system, announced the recipient of the 2021 National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence: Jon Lee, who donated one of his kidneys as part of a paired organ exchange at Medical City Dallas in Texas. UNOS established the National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence in 2010 to annually recognize exceptional advocates for organ and tissue donation. “Becoming a living donor is one of the most profound and transformative decisions someone can make,” said UNOS President David Mulligan, M.D. “Jon is the first living donor to receive this award and an inspiring example of what it means to give the gift of life. With his ongoing outreach to encourage more people to become living kidney donors, Jon Lee truly embodies the spirit of this award.” Previous award winners have included organ recipients, donor family members and a social worker. Lee became a living organ donor because his brother-in-law needed a transplant. In 2019, living donors made possible almost 30% of all kidney transplants performed nationwide. Lee, a 41-year-old husband and father from McKinney, Texas says that donating his kidney in August of 2019 was such a life-changing and spiritually fulfilling experience that he started the “Us For Them” movement with a mission to eliminate the kidney transplant waitlist. His goal is to “inspire people of faith to prayerfully consider living kidney donation.” His efforts have included developing a website, UsForThem.org, that provides information, data and facts about living kidney donation, inspirational videos and an opportunity for people to consider becoming a kidney donor. A Facebook page also provides a channel to enable donors and recipients to share their stories. As a result of these efforts, multiple potential donors have now begun the living donor evaluation process. "Jon Lee's passionate advocacy for organ donation exemplifies Medical City Healthcare's commitment to the care and improvement of human life," said Medical City Dallas Solid Organ Transplant Director Emilie Burgess, who nominated Lee for the UNOS award. "In 2020, the collaborative transplant programs at Medical City Dallas and Medical City Fort Worth performed 277 solid organ transplants, and Jon's outreach to potential donors can help make kidney transplantation a reality for so many more people in need of this lifesaving gift." After Lee decided to give a kidney to his brother-in-law, Jason Smith, Lee found out he was not a compatible match to donate directly. However, Lee was still able to help Smith receive a transplant through a paired kidney exchange coordinated by the transplant programs at Medical City Dallas and Medical City Fort Worth. A paired kidney exchange works this way: Many patients in need of a kidney have family members or friends willing to donate. But a patient and a potential donor must go through a series of tests, and sometimes a patient has a willing donor who is not an acceptable match. Transplant hospitals and paired kidney donation programs can identify and connect these non-matching pairs of patients and donors, so that the recipients end up with an organ that’s a match for them. Through this kind of “swap,” Lee’s kidney was transplanted into Jill Kolb of Fort Worth at Medical City Fort Worth, and Smith received a kidney from Kolb’s close friend Sara Holloway at Medical City Dallas. ### About United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the mission-driven nonprofit serving as the nation’s transplant system under contract with the federal government. We lead the network of transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and thousands of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the gifts of life entrusted to us and to making lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need. Working together, we leverage data and advances in science and technology to continuously strengthen the system, increase the number of organs recovered and the number of transplants performed, and ensure patients across the nation have equitable access to transplant. About Medical City Dallas Medical City Dallas is an 876-bed, acute care hospital located in Dallas, Texas. With a medical team of more than 1,700 providers, many of whom are top experts in their fields, Medical City Dallas offers nearly 100 specialties, including world-class programs for heart and vascular, brain and spine, women’s services, orthopedics, transplant (heart, kidney and pancreas), cancer, bariatrics and robotic surgery. Voted “Best Place to Have a Baby” in Dallas County by DFW Child readers, more than 4,000 babies are delivered annually at its dedicated women’s hospital, Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas, which includes a Level IV neonatal ICU (NICU). “A” rated for safety by the Leapfrog Group and Magnet® recognized for nursing excellence. Medical City Dallas is part of Medical City Healthcare. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Medical City Dallas Kelly Hanes Kelly.Hanes@MedicalCityHealth.com Company Website https://unos.org

June 15, 2021 12:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Praduman Jain, CEO and Founder of Vibrent Health, accepted into Forbes Technology Council

Vibrent Health

Praduman Jain, CEO and founder of Vibrent Health, a digital health technology company powering the future of precision health research, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Jain was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. “We are honored to welcome Praduman into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.” As an accepted member of the Council, Praduman has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Praduman will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Praduman will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. "As we work to reimagine global health research and power the future of precision medicine, this acceptance from Forbes will allow us to share our insights and knowledge in new ways,” said Jain. “Our mission is to accelerate health research through digital tools and with the support of the Forbes platform we can help our industry move forward. I am excited about being included in this exclusive group of technology thought leaders and look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from other members.” ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. About Vibrent Health Vibrent Health develops digital health technology and research tools for health organizations, researchers, and research participants. Powering the next generation of precision medicine, Vibrent’s scalable technology platform for individual and population health provides actionable insights to help accelerate medical discoveries. Vibrent Health is proud to serve, since 2016, as the Participant Technology Systems Center for the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, which aims to collect health data from one million or more people to support a wide variety of research studies. This work is supported under NIH funding award U24OD02316. To learn more, visit vibrenthealth.com. Contact Details Vibrent Health Pearson Brown +1 310-994-7057 pbrown@vibrenthealth.com Company Website https://vibrenthealth.com

June 15, 2021 09:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Velocity Global commits $1M to First Descents to expand adventure programs for young adults coping with multiple sclerosis

Velocity Global

First Descents (FD) has announced a transformative $1 million contribution from Velocity Global to support the expansion of adventure programs for young adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Funds will support program development and help reach more than 1,000 MS participants over the next 5 years. “First Descents serves people first to fill a gap in psychosocial supportive care for young adults living with MS. Velocity Global is honored to support the expansion of these programs through this donation and volunteer efforts from our global team,” said Ben Wright, founder and CEO of Velocity Global. “I have witnessed the healing impact of First Descents programs firsthand, and am proud our company is in a position to advance this important work.” Velocity Global and First Descents share a special partnership that transcends financial support. The two Colorado-based companies began as office neighbors at INDUSTRY Denver in 2014. Over the years, Velocity Global employees have volunteered on First Descents programs and fundraised while competing in the Ragnar Snowmass Relay and the TransRockies Run. In 2018, Velocity Global contributed $150,000 to pilot MS programming which began with a whitewater kayaking experience in Tarkio, Montana. “Velocity Global’s support will help us to serve more than 1,000 young adults living with MS in the coming years while investing in vital partnerships with patient advocacy groups and neurology clinics nationwide,” observes Ryan O’Donoghue, CEO, First Descents. “We want MS patients to learn about First Descents closer to the time of diagnosis and know that we are here for them. Velocity Global’s leadership support will make this vision a reality.” The National MS Society indicates there are approximately 1 million people living with multiple sclerosis in the United States with approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Typically, MS is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with a median age of diagnosis at 34. Young adults living with MS can experience significant physical, neurological and psychosocial changes that often disrupt important developmental milestones. In addition to the complexities of clinical treatments and lifestyle implications, the relapsing and progressive nature of MS can be daunting, and can result in significant psychosocial distress. According to the National MS Society, clinical depression ranks among the most common comorbidities associated with MS. These realities have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic where prolonged social isolation and apprehension for the future have taken a significant toll. First Descents is working with several renowned patient advocacy groups, including the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) to reach more people coping with MS. “There is an important need to support young adult MS patients with age appropriate programming that can improve their outlook and quality of life,” observes Gina Ross Murdoch, CEO, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. “Staying fit and active - especially with peers living with MS - can greatly benefit patients’ mental and physical health. We are excited to work with First Descents and Velocity Global on the launch of these programs.” First Descents’ all-inclusive programs are free of charge to participants. All programs ensure ADA lodging compliance, a tailored Wahls protocol nutrition program, and fully-accessible outdoor activities. Further, programs are designed with careful consideration to mitigate heat sensitivity, balance issues, and fatigue. Ultimately, First Descents creates an environment where young adults with MS can reclaim their physical agency, explore new activities, and nurture lifelong supportive peer relationships. ### ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform enables businesses to employ remote teams and expand internationally through global expertise, best-in-breed technology, and scale. More than 700 brands rely on its Employer of Record model and infrastructure, also called an International PEO (Professional Employer Organization), in 185 countries and all 50 United States to compliantly employ thousands of supported employees, access global talent, and grow revenue. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients through additional comprehensive services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Singapore, with local employees in 16 countries. ABOUT FIRST DESCENTS First Descents (FD) is a leader in adventure-based healing. Through outdoor adventure, community building, and lifestyle development, FD improves long-term survivorship and quality of life for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions. Headquartered in Denver, First Descents has served more than 10,000 participants over the last 20 years. Beginning in 2020, First Descents launched programs for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. All services are fully-adaptive and free of charge. A Guidestar Platinum-ranked nonprofit, First Descents has been recognized on CNN Heroes and Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work. RESOURCES: First Descents MS Program Page Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com First Descents Ray Shedd +12034999633 ray.shedd@firstdescents.org Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

June 15, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Secta Finance innovates the £10b private school fees model, making affordable finance options for parents

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business Secta Finance has launched today to transform how private school fees are paid. Families are spending circa £10b every year to pay school fees for over 620,000 children and over the years there has been no innovation on the termly bill payments. Secta Finance has set out to change this and become an enabler for many more families considering private schooling but feel it is currently unaffordable. In collaboration with a number of financial institutions, Secta Finance has created a range of flexible and highly competitive finance plans that enable parents (and would-be parents) to spread the cost of private school fees over many years in a simple affordable way. The Secta Flexiplan enables parents to use the equity in their home to secure a facility that allows parents to draw funds flexibly within the first 5 years. Parents only pay interest on the amount they actually drawdown. If they don’t need to draw funds there is no cost. Parents can decide how much they draw; their monthly repayment amounts (subject to a minimum) and the term they repay over (up to 30 years). Also, there are no early repayment fees if they choose to repay in full. Below is an example* of how a Secta Flexiplan could be used to finance 5 years of private education. This example is based on one child, annual school fees of £15,000 per year and with the Secta Flexiplan being repaid over a period of 10 or 20 years. However, the amount borrowed, the term over which it is repaid and the monthly repayments can be adjusted to suit individual circumstances and preferences. Secta Finance has made it quick and simple for parents to get indicative quotes from their online platform. Thereafter they can engage with a qualified advisor to discuss their options and tailor a plan to suit their needs. Joe Hill, founder and CEO of Secta Finance commented: “How parents pay for private school fees is no longer fit for purpose. They are still paying large lump sums, sometimes, with expensive and inflexible means using credit cards or unsecured loans, that simply is not sustainable. Secta has set out to challenge this approach with a fresh lens and a clear pathway for parents to handle this significant expense. We want to create manageable and affordable finance solutions for school fees, much like the financial products people consider when buying a house or a car.” Contrary to popular belief, private education is not confined to the wealthy, but many middle class parents place a very high value on it and want to provide the benefits of a private education for their children. However, the costs can be prohibitive, especially for families with more than one child. Annual average school fees are in excess of £15,000 for day schools and in excess of £30,000 for boarding schools. Factoring in additional costs, a private education can cost an average of £325,600 per child for day school and £469,700 for boarders starting their schooling in 2019. Unsurprisingly, many parents find this a struggle. Research completed by Killik and Co suggests that private day school fees have increased by 403% since 1990. “Many parents make significant sacrifices to give their children a private school education. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It makes sense to have a solution whereby parents can spread the cost over a longer period of time if they wish (up to 30 years), to reduce the strain on their finances, but still be able to give their children a private education,” added Joe Hill. There are more than 2,500 independent schools in the UK catering for approximately 620,000 pupils. This represents about 7% of all UK school children and 18% of pupils over aged 16 years and older. The estimated school fee market value is approximately £11 billion. Secta Finance is working closely with schools who are keen to offer meaningful finance options for their parents. The company is also collaborating with independent financial advisors who are seeking flexible, efficient options for their clients. Parents are also directly engaging with the online platform to find out more about the options available to them. Looking ahead Joe Hill added: “We are creating opportunities for parents, for schools and for children. By offering finance solutions which are affordable, simple to understand, we will create a sustainable path for better outcomes. Our strategic aim is to expand the opportunity of private education to many more families and enable a sustainable relationship for parents and schools through the products that we offer”. ENDS *This is an indicative quote and does not constitute an offer or advice. Interest rate and solution terms will depend on your circumstances and the amount of the loan. Before you make a loan application, we will carry out a full review to establish your needs and preferences and if you meet the criteria, we will give advice and make a recommendation to you. All loans are subject to status. Please note that our product calculators show an indicative rate only and may not be suitable for you. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your repayments. About Secta Finance Our mission is to relieve the pressure of private school fees by providing innovative, affordable finance solutions to parents. In doing so, we bring the outstanding benefits of private education within the reach of many more families, everywhere. Secta Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Contact Details Secta Finance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.sectafinance.co.uk/

June 15, 2021 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Impact of Hearing Loss and What You Can Do About It

YourUpdateTV

Hearing loss has been shown to affect nearly every dimension of human life, including physical, emotional and mental health. Recently, World Champion and Olympic Kayaker, Eric Jackson, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss his own battle with hearing loss and the importance of getting your hearing tested. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/0Ewdu9hNHF8 Hearing loss is the most common neurologic disorder in the world, affecting around 460 million people. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 37.5 million adults report some trouble hearing. Experts note that hearing loss is an undertreated condition, with an estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults with mild to severe hearing loss could serve to benefit from hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss brings higher risk of dementia, depression, memory loss, injury, and cognitive decline. There are several reasons for delay in addressing hearing loss, including recognizing and accepting that one may have hearing loss, having access to Hearing Care Professionals, and misperceptions associated with hearing aids. For Eric Jackson, hearing loss has been a lifelong battle. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted Scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 57 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids like ReSound ONE as necessary tools to help him communicate. All of ReSound’s hearing aids are designed with the person in mind, and is made to be discreet, comfortable, durable and functional. Hearing quality is the foundation for ReSound hearing aids, providing unmatched hearing quality, emulating the way humans hear sound. For more information, visit resound.com/online-hearing-test About Eric Jackson: Eric Jackson is a four-time world champion and an Olympian who has dominated the whitewater kayaking scene for the past three decades. Eric has received numerous accolades for kayaking, including two Everest Awards and the World Paddle Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and hosts his own popular videos on YouTube. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 54 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids and lipreading as tools to help him communicate. Eric has never let hearing loss stop him from enjoying life and pursuing his ambitions. Today, Eric spends his free time helping others achieve their goals, coaching the winners of almost every gold medal winner in freestyle kayaking over the past 15 years, including his two children. Eric’s son, 27-year-old Dane, a world champion kayaker himself, also lives with severe hearing loss which he has had since birth About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 11, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nearly 600 nominations submitted for Vietnam's first-ever global sci-tech prize

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 10 June 2021 - Vietnam's VinFuture Foundation announces that it has officially closed the nomination portal for the 2021 VinFuture Prize, recording nearly 600 nominations from more than 60 countries across six continents. The result has exceeded expectations, particularly for a newly established sci-tech prize opened for nominations less than four months ago, affirming the global scientific community's favorable response to VinFuture's mission of serving humanity. With a vision "to create meaningful change in the everyday lives of millions of people by promoting breakthrough scientific research and technological innovations", the VinFuture Foundation and the VinFuture Prize have drawn great enthusiasm from the global scientific and technological community. Notably, VinFuture has attracted prominent scientists and the world's leading research and academic institutions as well as innovators from developing countries. Nearly 100 nominated projects belong to the world's top 2% most-cited scientists, many of whom are laureates of prestigious awards such as the Nobel Prize, the Breakthrough Prize, the Tang Prize, the Japan Prize, among others. While the majority of candidates are from North America (31.6%), Asia (33.9%), and Europe (21%), VinFuture has received significant nominations from scientists in Oceania, Latin America, and Africa. In particular, female scientists were nominated in all four prize categories, accounting for 34.3% of the total nominees. All share the same aspiration of doing science for humanity, offering highly applicable and practical solutions to improve the quality of people's lives. These positive results are attributed to the strong support of prominent individuals and organizations, world-renowned scientists, as well as distinguished professors and experts from the Prize Council and Pre-screening Committee who have endorsed the VinFuture Prize among the global scientific community. Therefore, just four months after the initial call for nominations, the Prize has attracted nearly 1,200 nominators from the world's most reputable academic circles. These include Harvard University, where many prominent scientists converge; the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, home to many Nobel laureates and well-known for its natural sciences and engineering programs; the University of Tokyo, Japan's leading higher education organization; and other recognized organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - the leading U.S. government agency in public health, the Max Planck Society - the world's leading research organization in science and technology, and the Chinese Academy of Science, one of the world's largest research organizations, to name but a few. "We are very pleased to see that the VinFuture Prize, while being the first of its kind from Vietnam, has been received so warmly by the global scientific community. Particularly, many prominent scientists have been nominated for the Prize. They have made truly meaningful contributions to the future of humanity by tackling global challenges from infectious diseases, environmental pollution, climate change to shortage of natural resources. The nominations for female scientists, scientists from developing countries, as well as pioneers in emerging fields are also very impressive," said Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, University of California, Santa Barbara, Co-Chair of the VinFuture Prize Pre-Screening Committee. In addition to the impressive number of nominations and the prestige of nominated scientists and researchers, the VinFuture Prize has also seen an impressive diversity and depth of areas that address humanity's common challenges after its inaugural call for nominations. A significant number of nominated innovations focus on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases on a global scale, sustainable poverty elimination, smart agriculture, clean food supply, renewable energy, and applications of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in education and life. Going forward, nominations will be reviewed by a twelve-member Pre-Screening Committee – prominent scientists and experts from various disciplines and countries – who will present the shortlisted candidates to the Prize Council in August 2021. Laureates will then be selected independently by the Prize Council comprising eleven distinguished individuals in academia, research, and industry with significant achievements and contributions to advancing human progress. The VinFuture Grand Prize will be awarded to innovators whose work has been proven to create the largest impact on humanity. It is also one of the world's largest prizes for science and technology to date, valued at US$ 3 million (equivalent to 70 billion Vietnamese Dong). Additionally, three special prizes will be awarded to innovators from developing countries, female innovators, and innovators with outstanding achievements in emerging fields, each worth US$500,000 (equivalent to 11.5 billion Vietnamese Dong). The laureates of the 2021 VinFuture Prize will be announced on December 20 th, 2021 and the official award ceremony will be held in Vietnam on January 20 th, 2022. About the VinFuture Prize The VinFuture Prize is a global science and technology prize founded by Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup, and his wife, Madam Pham Thu Huong, to recognize groundbreaking scientific discoveries and technological inventions proven to create, or having the potential to create, better changes in the everyday lives of millions of people and foster a sustainable living environment for future generations.To learn more, please visit: https://vinfutureprize.org/ Contact Details Vingroup Media Contact v.nammh@vingroup.net

June 10, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NextFerm Technologies Announces Successful Pilot for Industrial-Scale Production of ProteVin™, its Proprietary Vegan Protein

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

NextFerm Technologies (TASE:NXFR), a Food-tech company developing ProteVin™, a vegan, non-GMO, yeast-based protein alternative, announced that it has successfully completed an industrial production pilot for ProteVin™. The successful pilot is the first of three milestones towards commercial production and launch of ProteVin™, planned in 2022. The two additional milestones are first, generating initial demand from the market and engagement with a first customer by the end of 2021; and second, entering into a production agreement with a subcontractor. As part of the pilot, which was conducted at production facilities in the US, the industrial production of the protein was examined while preserving the same characteristics that were achieved in the laboratory scale. Analysis of the results by independent laboratories, an internal team taste testers and a potential customer, showed that ProteVin™ successfully achieved all the pilot's objectives. Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm, said, “The successful industrial pilot of ProteVin™, marks an important achievement that brings us significantly closer to the planned commercial production and launch of ProteVin™ in 2022. The fast-growing alternative protein market is estimated at $13 billion, with an annual growth rate of 10%. The strong need for innovation by leading players in the food industry is for the protein itself, the raw material that is the foundation for all animal-derived food alternatives. The successful pilot reflects the outstanding value proposition of ProteVin™ as an alternative to animal-derived protein, with neutral flavor, the most important parameter for food manufacturers. This makes it accessible to a wide array of products such as milk and dairy substitutes, meat substitutes and additional categories such as infant nutrition, adult nutrition, and sports nutrition. Furthermore, for the first time, we bring the market a vegan protein with nutritional value that is higher than other plant-based proteins and that is comparable to animal-derived proteins. The nutritional advantage of ProteVin™ over other sources of plant-based proteins can be seen in its amino acid profile, which provides more essential amino acids (EAA) and more branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and has better digestibility.” Mr. Noy Concluded, “We have recently begun sending commercial samples of ProteVin™ to potential customers worldwide. On the production side, we are in discussions with several potential subcontractors, in order to launch the product in 2022, as planned, and look forward to update our investors on our progress.” 1 st Target - Meeting the parameters determined that define the product: In tests performed by an independent laboratory, ProteVin™ met all parameters defined, including concentration of the protein, composition of amino acids, digestibility, light color, a product free of contaminants and allergens, and its compliance with food regulations and other quality parameters. 2 nd Target - Compliance with taste, flavor and odor requirements: ProteVin™ achieved neutral taste, flavor and odor requirements, without typical aftertaste and odor of various types of plant-based proteins. 3 rd Target - ability to supply samples of ProteVin™ for customers' approval: As part of the pilot, NextFerm produced a quantity of the protein sufficient to supply samples in the amount required for approval by potential customers. Customer testing includes integrating the protein in the prototype of their products, which is an essential step towards a commercial agreement with a customer. To the best of the company's knowledge, other than ProteVin™, there is currently no other protein alternative on the market with the same nutritional value and amino acid composition as animal-derived protein, and which has a neutral taste and flavor, with no aftertaste. In terms of regulation, ProteVin™ can be marketed in the US, Europe and other countries. About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, functional and vegan yeast-derived, non-GMO protein alternatives for various applications in the food and food supplement markets and the growing market for animal-derived protein alternatives. NextFerm's flagship product is ProteVin™, a vegan yeast-derived protein alternative with nutritional value that is similar to animal-derived protein and a neutral flavor with no aftertastes that are typical of plant-based protein. ProteVin™ is designed for a variety of categories in the alternative protein market, which is estimated at $13 billion, with an annual growth rate of 10%, including the alternative meat market, milk alternatives and powder formulas for the infant nutrition market, for the wellbeing market and the market for athletes. NextFerm is gearing up for commercialization of the product in the US in 2022. Another product currently being sold is Astaferm®, an innovative astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since the end of 2020 through well-established and leading brands in the food supplement market in the US. The company has additional products which have been licensed to Lallemand, a global giant focused on yeast. For more information, visit the NextFerm website at: www.nextferm.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details NextFerm Technologies Ltd. Yossi Ohana - Chief Financial Officer +972 54-771-5893 yossio@nextferm.com Investor and Media Contact Meirav Gomeh-Bauer +972544764979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

June 08, 2021 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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