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Centre for Neuro Skills and University of Texas Medical Branch Study Indicates That Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Are Not Absorbing Needed Nutrients

Centre for Neuro Skills

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, more than 2.5 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) each year. A new and recent study, supported by the Centre of Neuro Skills in conjunction with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, found abnormal reactions between the brain and gastrointestinal tract (gut-brain axis) in moderate to severe chronic TBI patients. The result is that these patients may not be absorbing nutrients properly and treatments need to be developed to address these issues. The study was conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Department of Neurology in Galveston, Texas (under the supervision of Dr. Brent Masel) and the Centre of Neuro Skills in Bakersfield, California (under the supervision of Dr. Mark Ashley). Study Summary: The controlled study followed 10 TBI patients in Galveston, where Dr. Masel is a clinical professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Department of Neurology. Dr. Masel is also the vice president of Medical Services at the Centre for Neuro Skills. Researchers had the patients fast, get their blood drawn, eat a specific meal and get their blood drawn again. TBI patients had low baseline levels of essential amino acids. Even after eating a meal, their levels remained lower than the non-injured study participants. Researchers determined that TBI patients weren’t absorbing essential amino acids. Dr. Masel and his colleagues made this determination and then wondered if it was simply the local diet or geographical location (lifestyle/exercise, stress, etc). He called Dr. Mark Ashley and suggested an identical study at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield, California. The results were the same, so the conclusion was that this issue wasn’t related to diet, location or lifestyle. Dr. Masel’s observation: “The commonality is TBI. Essential amino acids are not being absorbed from the gut, and those molecules are critical to TBI recovery. This is amazing to me: maybe these patients are starving. I figured there must be a connection between the gut-brain axis.” After administering the fasting/eating/blood draw protocol, they added stool sample analysis. The study then focused on the microbiome and its relation to bacteria in the gut. The gut can say “OK” to a healthy system and absorb essential amino acids or can “gobble up” the same molecules depriving the human of using these critical nutrition components. That’s what was found in the fecal matter. Essential amino acids were missing; the commonality in both the Texas and California groups was TBI. This may affect the ability of patients to fully recover. In CNS’ “whole person” approach, it could affect the quality of functionality/return to normalcy. Point of distinction here – with CNS’ dedicated research team, these discoveries/research/scientists and their publications can advance treatment and expand understanding of the depth of TBI’s damage. The study’s distinction is that the two groups, thousands of miles apart, produced the same outcome and the same deficit of non-absorption. The CNS patient study group was part of CNS’ Long Term Care program, so the organization will be able to study them now and in the future. Observations: “Clearly there are abnormalities in the microbiome of the gut in TBI patients,” commented Dr. Masel. “Maybe this is a piece of the puzzle that can solve the mystery of TBI. It’s one puzzle piece at a time. Presently, the majority of what we do is treat the symptoms of TBI, as opposed to the underlying causes of those symptoms, which would be far more effective. Perhaps by correcting the malabsorption of the essential amino acids, we can advance the recovery from TBIs. We will be studying how altering the diet in these individuals may change their amino acid absorption. Our hope is that this will assist in identifying long-term risks and treatments.” Comments CNS’ Dr. Ashley, “It’s gratifying to be part of a study that in the end may help identify keys that allow us to better treat patients with TBI for the long haul. With CNS’ dedicated research team and these discoveries, we hopefully can advance treatment and expand our understanding of the depth of TBI’s damage. We look forward to the next steps.” This study was funded by the Moody Endowment (funding M.S.M.) and conducted with the support of TideWay, part of the Transitional Learning Center (Galveston, TX) and the Centre for Neuro Skills (Bakersfield, CA). The study took place with 8 patients in Galveston and 12 patients in California. The link to the full study is here. About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Centre for Neuro Skills, visit: https://www.neuroskills.com/, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. For a video overview of CNS, visit: https://youtu.be/Jwqve9gWtEw. About University of Texas Medical Branch The Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) was established in 1973. It has a long-standing history and tradition in the practice and advancement of Clinical Neurosciences by providing the most comprehensive care to patients with neurologic illnesses from Alzheimerâs disease and related dementias, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, brain tumors, Parkinsonâs Disease and other movement disorders, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders, stroke as well as other acute neurologic injuries. For more information, visit: https://www.utmb.edu/neuro. Editors, please note: Photos, videos and interviews are available by contacting Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or CNS@landispr.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 cns@landispr.com Company Website https://landispr.com/

April 21, 2021 10:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time

CIPIO Completes $2M in Pre-seed funding to launch Industry's First Domain Infused Data Apps Platform™ for the B2C Subscription Businesses

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO, a B2C Subscription Customer Success company, today announced the launch of the Industry's first Domain Infused Data Apps Platform™ that solves the massive business problem of retention and growth. Amidst the unprecedented disruption and digital acceleration triggered by COVID-19, this problem has multiplied by ten folds as customer behavior, decision making, and choices have changed dramatically. To accelerate its growth and product innovation, CIPIO completed its $2M pre-seed round in December 2020, led by DX.Partners and an experienced team of investors- including Linda Abraham, Managing Partner of Crimson Capital, Vineet Goel of Visa, Kathy Holmes of Arcola Investment, Ketan Karkhanis CPO of Turvo (ex-Salesforce GM & SVP), Karl Rumelhart, CPO of Gainsight, and the Dean of Big Data-Bill Schmarzo. CIPIO disrupts the B2C Subscription Customer Success category by unifying vast quantities of data from systems of records, customer behavior, and domain infused pre-built data apps. Companies get actionable predictions and recommendations that are directly integrated into engagement systems such as Hubspot to ensure maximum financial outcomes. Gartner predicts that 75% of B2C Businesses will offer Subscription services by the year 2023. "COVID-19 has hyper accelerated this transform across Fitness, OTT, Sports, Entertainment & Media just to name a few. Yet B2C Subscriber churn is 3X the churn in the B2B SaaS market, and B2C Growth rate is 50% lower than the B2B Saas Companies," says Growson Edwards, Co-Founder & CEO of CIPIO. "At CIPIO, we understand the change and disruption B2C Subscription Businesses are facing in this new Hybrid Subscription Economy and are desirous about our mission to help our customers Retain, Grow, and Acquire their subscribers exponentially." "CIPIO's domain centric approach to address the significant gap in today's CDP solution is a game changer. Data Apps are the future of the Hybrid Subscription Economy, and CIPIO's Retention, Growth, and Acquisition Data Apps are directly and rapidly impacting the customer's bottom line," said Ketan Karkhanis, Chief Product Officer at Turvo, and an investor at CIPIO. Ketan previously ran Einstein Analytics at Salesforce and has in depth experience with Customer Success in the B2B SaaS market. “As founders, we are channeling our B2B SaaS Retention & Growth knowhow into our Domain infused Data Apps Platform™ for B2C SaaS,” says Manoj Kumar Goyal, Co-Founder & CPO of CIPIO. Mr. Goyal previously led Oracle’s Customer Data Platform team, served as Marketo’s Chief Product Officer, and is obsessed with delivering ROI. “We are removing 8-12 months of the time and a myriad of domain experts, BI specialists, Data Engineers, and Data Scientists it takes to generate value out of Customer data.” continues Goyal. “Our Data Apps are powered by Domain infused AI Platform that automates all the necessary functions to generate value out of Data with efficient Human Involvement built specifically for our customer.” The company is so confident in delivering the ROI so much that they are giving away their Domain Infused Data Apps Platform™ for free until the customer sees the results of acceleration in retention, growth, and acquisition. Companies can access the Industry's first Domain Infused Data Apps free trial here. About CIPIO: CIPIO is pioneering the Industry's first domain-infused Data Apps Platformâ¢ that humanizes and automates predictions and recommendations to increase Subscriber engagement, retention, and growth for B2C Businesses. CIPIO's early adopters include Crunch Fitness, Industry's Gym, Xponential Fitness, Motor City Church, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, NCFit, Cyclebar, RowHouse, Stretch Lab, and Stride who have witnessed a significant return on investment in a short time. Contact Details CIPIO Chris Foudy +1 831-238-1905 chris@cipio.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

April 21, 2021 12:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

NAMEPA’s Maritime Sustainability Program Receives Global Recognition

North American Marine Environment Protection Association

Green4Sea has announced that the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) has won the 2021 Green4Sea Initiative Award for its CSR/ESG (Corporate Social Responsibility/Environment, Social and Governance) Maritime Sustainability Program. The Green4Sea award is given to an organization that has sparked, realized, or significantly contributed with a specific initiative towards greener shipping. NAMEPA is extremely proud of its contribution to the maritime industry with its CSR/ESG Program being the first known standards program of its kind developed especially for the maritime industry. Successful participants of NAMEPA’s CSR/ESG Program receive the Maritime Sustainability Passport and MSP Seal, signifying a participant has met, or exceeded benchmarks set by the program. The program encompasses the three strategies of CSR/ESG: environment, corporate governance, environment and the human element. “After reviewing the global maritime landscape, and verifying with The Governance and Accountability Institute, we have learned that NAMEPA’s CSR/ESG is the only ESG accreditation standard for maritime,” stated Carleen Lynden Walker, NAMEPA’s Co-Founder and Executive Director. “We are honored that we can provide this opportunity for the industry to be credibly recognized for its high standards on these measures which are important to the public as well as investors in shipping and the industry at large.” The first companies to qualify for NAMEPA’s Maritime Sustainability Passport were Cargill, The American Club and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). These three exemplary companies successfully completed all three phases of the program, including supplying supporting documentation for their claims. Their submissions were then evaluated by a team of independent assessors to determine whether they met the criteria of the CSR/ESG Program and were eligible to receive NAMEPA’s MSP Certificate and Seal. Cargill, The American Club and MSC successfully demonstrated to the assessors their qualifications to receive the Maritime Sustainability Passport, and have proven their dedication and continuing efforts to Save Our Seas. “The maritime industry is rapidly recognizing the importance of demonstrating its commitment to sustainability” stated NAMEPA Chairman Joe Hughes, CEO and President of the Shipowners Claims Bureau. “NAMEPA identified the need to provide the industry with a standard guideline of expectations relating to a company’s efforts in CSR/ESG. We are pleased to provide this tool for the industry to support its efforts towards sustainability.” To learn more about NAMEPA’s CSR/ESG Program, visit NAMEPA's CSR/ESG Maritime Sustainability Program - NAMEPA or email CSR-ESGProgram@nameapa.net with any relevant questions. The program is offered to NAMEPA members at no cost to qualify for the Maritime Sustainability Passport and receive the MSP seal. Non-members are welcome to apply to participate at a cost of $2000 or become NAMEPA members and have the fee waived. To protect the proprietary information of the qualifying companies, NAMEPA offers a non-disclosure agreement. The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) was officially launched in 2007. NAMEPA is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. For more information, go to www.namepa.net. Contact Details NAMEPA Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-255-4686 executivedirector@namepa.net Company Website https://namepa.net/

April 21, 2021 12:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SullivanCotter Releases Comprehensive APP Utilization and Perceptions Manager for its Growing Benchmarks360™ Platform

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and technology and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, is pleased to announce the addition of powerful new capabilities for assessing advanced practice provider (APP) utilization and workforce perceptions to its growing Benchmarks360™ platform. Powered by SullivanCotter’s proprietary surveys and research, Benchmarks360™ is a suite of intelligent, web-based products that enables health care organizations to analyze and visualize compensation, clinical productivity and workforce perceptions through industry-leading data, analyses and reporting. "In today's unprecedented health care environment, it is important for organizations to utilize, engage and retain their clinical workforce more effectively. APP turnover can significantly impact cost, morale and operations, and gaining access to the right data and benchmarking tools can help to enhance workforce retention, team-based care practices and organizational performance during such a critical time,” said Amy Noecker, APP Workforce Practice Leader, SullivanCotter. SullivanCotter’s Benchmarks360™ APP Utilization and Perceptions Manager allows organizations to collect, benchmark and report on the thoughts and experiences of their APPs and physicians related to APP compensation, resources and job responsibilities to help ensure current pay programs and care models are competitive and effective. In addition to data on nurse practitioners and physician assistants, it also provides information and analysis on other members of the APP workforce including certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse midwives. This new module includes two surveys designed to measure and compare individual organizations to national benchmarks. APP: Utilization and Perceptions Survey Learn more about the APP employment experience within your organization regarding scope of practice, clinical and non-clinical responsibilities, and perceptions on culture and compensation. Specific insights include: Organizational structure, support and processes related to the APP workforce Roles on the care team specific to location and specialty Degree of integration and care team support Opportunities for improved utilization and engagement Physician: APP Utilization and Perceptions Survey Learn more about your physician workforce and their experience working with APPs. Specific insights include: Perception on APP integration and utilization Roles of APPs on the care team APP impact on quality, access and patient engagement Understanding of regulatory requirements Opportunities for improved alignment and team performance These surveys may serve as a resource for organizations looking to better understand the current state of their APP workforce – including quantifying opportunities for optimization and readiness for change – and can play an important part in a more holistic review of APP practices when combined with SullivanCotter’s comprehensive advisory services. “As health care organizations continue to navigate the lasting effects of a global pandemic, SullivanCotter remains committed to providing them with the critical, data-driven insights they need to measure, analyze and report on compensation and workforce performance. With the goal of addressing the increasingly complex and evolving needs of our clients, we are developing one of the industry’s most comprehensive benchmarking solutions by continuously refining our product roadmap and adding innovative new resources and functionality,” said David Schwietz, Chief Information Officer, SullivanCotter. To learn more about Benchmarks360™, including important licensing information and a full list of features and functionality, visit sullivancotter.com/benchmarks360 or call 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights, expertise, data and technology products to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com/

April 21, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Industrial Defender ASM for Splunk App Delivers Deeper Contextual Data for Faster Response to Security Events

Industrial Defender

Industrial Defender, a pioneer in operational technology (OT) security, today announced the launch of their Industrial Defender ASM for Splunk App in Splunkbase. When a security event occurs in complex OT environments, it can be difficult to get the right information to the right people to quickly respond to an emerging cybersecurity threat. The Industrial Defender ASM for Splunk app solves this challenge by delivering security events with deep asset context to analysts, so they can quickly identify and mitigate potential security issues. “This app is unique within the OT space because it goes beyond simply providing basic alert data from the network. It also delivers contextual asset data, like vulnerabilities, changes to firewall rules, user accounts, and use of removable media, along with the location, criticality, and contact information for the OT asset owner, directly to security analysts,” says Peter Lund, VP of Product Management at Industrial Defender. “With this app, security operations teams will have a much easier time identifying and diagnosing a real cybersecurity issue versus an operational change. By enhancing collaboration between IT and OT teams, the app will help our customers get the most value out of their investments in both Splunk and the ASM.” The Industrial Defender ASM for Splunk app delivers detailed asset and network data related to security events and changes into two pre-configured dashboards, the SOC Dashboard and the Asset Insights Dashboard. The API Add-on also automates the manual process of mapping the comprehensive data sets provided by the ASM to the Splunk user interface. To preview all the asset and security data that the Industrial Defender ASM for Splunk App provides, view the solution brief or download the app in Splunkbase. About Industrial Defender Since 2006, Industrial Defender has been solving the challenge of safely collecting, monitoring, and managing OT asset data at scale, while providing cross-functional teams with a unified view of security. Their specialized solution is tailored to complex industrial control system environments by engineers with decades of hands-on OT experience. Easy integrations into the broader security and enterprise ecosystem empower IT teams with the same visibility, access, and situational awareness that they’re accustomed to on corporate networks. Learn more at www.industrialdefender.com. Contact Details Industrial Defender Erin Anderson +1 617-675-4206 eanderson@industrialdefender.com Company Website https://www.industrialdefender.com

April 20, 2021 09:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

D8 Holdings to Accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin for Delta-8 THC Products

D8 Holdings, Inc.

D8 Holdings, Inc., the market leader in hemp-derived Delta-8 THC —today announced it will start accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin as payment methods on their site. “Our customers are early adopters, many of whom are heavily involved in the crypto market,” said Chris Duffield, CEO of D8. “With $2 trillion dollars sitting in crypto assets, and $45 billion parked in Dogecoin, the ability to accept crypto currency presents a big opportunity for our company.” D8.co will integrate Bitpay into their online platform, and all transactions will be settled in Doge. With the click of a button, customers can trade Doge for delta-8 gummies, delta-8 carts and delta-8 disposables as long as they are over 21 years of age. “Anyone paying with crypto will get a free pack of Delta-8 gummies as a bonus. We are looking long-term, and don’t plan on selling a single Doge,” concluded Duffield. About D8 Holdings Inc. The D8 Holdings team based in Colorado and Miami—with satellite offices in Las Vegas and Los Angeles—is an assembly of the top hemp and cannabis minds in the country. With backgrounds in extraction, chemistry, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and legal, the D8 Holdings team came together organically around this elusive, but extremely powerful molecule to create a new category of products. More info at www.d8.co. # # # Contact Details D8 Holdings Chris Duffield +1 424-333-2112 chris@d8.co

April 20, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with CICER ONE TECHNOLOGIES

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence ( CMMC COE ), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is excited to announce a partnership with Cicer One Technologies, an innovative company with a suite of communications and data management and protection tools that are specifically designed to end 3rd party exposure of sensitive information, to protect CUI, intellectual property and sensitive financial, customer, and employee data. Decentralized Autonomous Edge Computing by Cicer One Technologies Inc provides turn-key compliance solutions for CMMC, NIST 800-171, ITAR and Federal or State level privacy requirements. Zero-trust, jurisdictionally controlled management of users, documents, and chat communications enables non-technical business owners the confidence and ease-of-use required to achieve compliance in a cost-effective manner. This unique partnership will extend efforts to identify and include proven capabilities within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Cicer One Technologies and the CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices, risk management, and compliance for the DIB contractor, vendor, and supplier community of providers creating a broader CMMC ecosystem globally to improve security and resilience. Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( http://cmmc-coe.org ) and Cicer One Technologies ( https://ciceronetech.com ) partnership will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. “We are excited to embark on this journey with Cicer”, said John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence, “The foundation of CMMC starts with visibility into devices in the network and the risks they bring. This new partnership will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience for the US Department of Defense (DoD)”. Cicer One Technologies adds to the growing list of recognized technology providers contributing to the growth and advancement of the CMMC compliance knowledge base, product refinement, and education collateral. Together we share the responsibility to accurately disseminate knowledge and education thereby building cyber resiliency across the DIB supply chain. “This new partnership further enables important and critical discussions regarding cybersecurity and the protection of the DIB supply chain. We are excited to contribute in the development and education of policy, products, and services throughout the adoption of the CMMC protocol supporting contractors across the country,” said Robert Embleton, CEO. The CMMC-COE establishes both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that will include resources that support the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more that will help reduce the cost and burden on small and medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. For more information on the CMMC Center of Excellence, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org, email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766 For more information on Cicer One Technologies, please visit https://ciceronetech.com/ email info@ciceronetech.com or call 512-582-7009 About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. Contact Details Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

April 20, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

XA Network expands and appoints senior advisory board, as Southeast Asia digital economy races ahead

XA Network

The XA Network [the X denotes any tech firm with $1b+ valuation and the A refers to Alumni], the leading member-based investment network of executives from prominent tech firms in Southeast Asia, has today appointed an advisory board. The appointments signal the organisation's growth and reach, as the Southeast Asian digital economy proves resilient and is racing ahead at full velocity. John Wood (ex-Microsoft, Room To Read), Steve Chen (co-founder of YouTube), Maya Hari (Twitter) and David Thevenon (Balderton Capital, ex-Google) have been appointed to advisory board positions. They will work directly with the members as the organisation scales and will champion the new purpose - to be an organisation that fosters inclusive innovation for the benefit of start-ups across Southeast Asia. On his appointment, John Wood, advisory board member at XA Network commented: “I’m delighted to join this esteemed board to support and drive the ambitious community of investors. The XA Network brilliantly embodies Metcalfe's law – e.g., the value of a network rises exponentially as the number of users grows. I believe this generation of technology leaders, by working together to support the start-up ecosystem in Southeast Asia, will have an immense impact on the region. We are all very committed to the power of smart capital, intense mentoring and fuelling inclusive innovation. This approach resonates with me on many levels and I look forward to helping XA Network scale to the next level”. The XA Network is made up of 100 tech leaders from companies including Alibaba, Gojek, Grab, Google, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube amongst others. These investors offer an unmatched array of skills and counsel to their portfolio companies from engineering advice, product management, to marketing and partnership building experience. As a collective, this is embodied in their purpose to foster inclusive innovation beyond simply investing in start-ups. The XA Network exists to empower the tech community in Southeast Asia with its inclusive innovation approach. The Southeast Asia digital economy is forging new ground every year* and 2020 was no different, despite COVID-19. Over 70% of the region is now online, accounting for 400 million people (of a total population of 580 million). Digital adoption of consumer-service businesses increased as more people spent time online during lockdowns. HealthTech and EdTech based companies are earmarked to take-off in the coming years. Overall, the digital economy added USD $100 billion to the region and is poised to grow to over USD $300 billion by 2025. The XA Network portfolio businesses are making a positive impact across the region such as Indonesian startups, Sampingan who enable access to the gig economy and Bukukas who enable small businesses to digitize their operations. Meanwhile, Singapore-based mentor platform Tigerhall is connecting the world’s most successful people with young professionals. Nellie Wartoft, CEO at Tigerhall commented: "We raised $2m in 2020, it was a huge milestone for the company but we had a lot to do. The XA Network members are some of the absolute most supportive investors I've ever had on my cap table. They're never afraid of rolling up their sleeves and doing real work either, which is rare to find amongst investors. They feel much more like an extended team than just financial investors to me, and have been key to Tigerhall's success." The appointments come at an exciting time for XA Network as they achieved their first exit. Lomotif, Singapore’s video-sharing service, was acquired by a syndicate for US$125 million. The deal is said to be one of the biggest exits by a tech startup in Singapore in recent years. XA Network highlights (last 12 months) Membership base increased from 50 to 100 people in March 2021 XA Network portfolio includes 30 start-ups in a range of sectors including mobility, healthtech, foodtech, edtech, adtech, fintech, social commerce, proptech Portfolio companies have also gone on to raise $82m in follow-on capital Notes to the editor * e-Conomy SEA 2020 Report About the XA Network The XA Network [the X denotes any tech firm with $1b+ valuation and the A refers to Alumni] is an investment network comprising senior executives from prominent tech companies including Alibaba, Gojek, Grab, Google, Amazon, Netflix and Twitter amongst others. Its mission is to invest and empower early-stage companies across Southeast Asia through their inclusive innovation approach, by exposing these businesses to the wide array of skills in the network. Since 2018, they have made 30 investments and expanded their member base to 100 people. XA Network has invested in a wide variety of promising companies including Bukukas, Tigerhall, Sampingan, Neuron, and Infradigital as well as the Vertex Southeast Asia and India fund. Contact Details XA Network Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 press@xanetwork.co Company Website https://xanetwork.co/

April 19, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE LEADERS LAUNCH A GLOBAL PLEDGE TO TRUST SCIENCE

International Day of Light Steering Committee

Ahead of this year’s International Day of Light celebration on 16 May, the International Day of Light Steering Committee announces the launch of the Trust Science pledge, a worldwide campaign to promote support for the scientific process and to acknowledge the many benefits of science for society. Crises such as the coronavirus pandemic demonstrate the importance of scientific research and remind us how much we depend on dedicated professionals to find evidence-based solutions to global challenges. To recognize the central role played by science in society, the Trust Science pledge invites the general public to join leading scientists worldwide to affirm confidence in the process of scientific research and discovery. To date, the pledge has seen enthusiastic support worldwide with founding signatories including Nobel laureates, UNESCO L’Oréal For Women in Science prize winners, Presidents and CEOs of major scientific bodies, as well as scientists and students from more than 20 different countries. The pledge is now being shared widely to invite all interested individuals to take part. The Trust Science pledge states: “Trust in evidence-based, scientific facts is essential for providing sustainable solutions to today’s challenges. By adding my name to this declaration and pledge, I recognize the key role that scientific research and discovery plays in improving quality of life for all.” The Trust Science campaign is organized by the IEEE Photonics Society, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The Optical Society (OSA), together with the International Day of Light Steering Committee. “The events of the past year have spotlighted science’s crucial role in solving critical global problems,” said Steering Committee Chair John Dudley from the Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté in France. “This campaign will allow people around the world to join us in affirming support for science and the scientific process. We encourage all to sign, and our hope is that this will stimulate valuable discussions within families, at the workplace and in educational settings.” In the context of the International Day of Light, the campaign will also highlight a number of Champions, research leaders in broad areas of light science and technology, including solar energy, the study of cultural heritage and healthcare. To sign the pledge and to learn more, please go to https://www.trust-science.org Contacts For questions about how you can engage with the campaign, please contact: info@trust-science.org For media enquiries, please contact: pr@trust-science.org Social media: please share using #TrustScience and #LightDay2021 Social media links: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter About the International Day of Light The International Day of Light (IDL) is a worldwide initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The International Day of Light is administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO by a Steering Committee that includes representatives from a broad range of international partners: the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), Bosca, the China International Optoelectronic Exhibition (CIOE), Chinese Optical Society (COS), the European Centres for Outreach in Photonics (ECOP), the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), the European Physical Society (EPS), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), lightsources.org - the international network of accelerator based light sources, Light: Science and Applications, The Optical Society (OSA), Tampere University, SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, SESAME, Signify, Tampere University, Transitions, the Université de Franche-Comté and Velux. For information about the International Day of Light, please visit www.lightday.org Contacts for IDL: John Dudley and Joseph Niemela 2021 Steering Committee Chairs Email: contact@lightday.org Bethany Downer 2021 Communications Coordinator Email: contact@lightday.org Media Contact for Trust Science: pr@trust-science.org About IEEE Photonics Society The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists, engineers and allied professionals who advance laser, optoelectronics, and photonics technology. As a technical society representing the IEEE, it is a vital part of the world’s largest technical professional organization of more than 400,000 members dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, educational activities, and humanitarian initiatives, the IEEE Photonics Society provides its members in more than 160 countries the opportunity to grow professionally and stay on the forefront of transformational breakthroughs in photonics. PhotonicsSociety.org About SPIE SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. In 2020, SPIE provided more than $5 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders in light science and technology. The society serves over 432,000 customers and 22,000 members from more than 100 countries who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the field. OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts through world-renowned publications. For more information, visit osa.org. Contact Details pr@trust-science.org +1 703-907-0010 pr@trust-science.org

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