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GROUNDWORK BIOAG ACQUIRES A STAKE IN NOVATERO BIOAG

Groundwork BioAg

Acquisition Accelerates Adoption of Mycorrhizal BioPlatform in Brazil Rootella® Addresses Farmers’ Need to Reduce Phosphorus, Combat Drought, Increase Yield After another year of global expansion to accelerate market penetration of their Mycorrhizal BioPlatform, Groundwork BioAg announced its partial acquisition of NovaTero BioAg, their exclusive distribution partner in Brazil for the past four years. The Brazilian biologicals market is projected to double in the coming years, fueled by the demand for increased yield on fewer hectares, solutions for moderate to chronic drought and fertilizer reduction. These combined challenges are affecting production and impacting the country’s approximately 83.4 million hectares of cropland. “As Brazilian farmers battle chronic drought as well as higher fertilizer prices and lack of supplies, they want the strongest natural defense for their farms so they can more effectively manage productivity season-to-season. Rootella® helps deliver broad benefits to farmers in their field as well as in their bank account,” said Bernardo Arnaud, Chairman of NovaTero. “The partial acquisition of NovaTero by Groundwork BioAg solidifies our continued partnership and signifies our shared commitment to help Brazilian farmers grow more, better food for around 1 billion people in the world, without having to expand agriculture internal frontiers.” Groundwork BioAg’s production capabilities uniquely supply cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants to large-scale mainstream agriculture, like that in Brazil. While biologicals offer a fertility alternative, only mycorrhizal inoculants offer farmers an additional opportunity to increase climate resilience and access new revenue streams as a long-term strategic investment. After being granted the first and only definitive commercial registration for mycorrhizal inoculants in Brazil, NovaTero introduced Groundwork BioAg’s Rootella BR and Rootella BR Ultra, which set the standard for quality, concentration, and predictability of application for mycorrhizal inoculants in Brazil. “This investment reflects our strong partnership and market success working with NovaTero. They quickly established trust among Brazilian farmers and demonstrated our shared mission to ensure our customers can realize the full benefits of mycorrhizal inoculants,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Groundwork BioAg, who recently announced commercial expansions in China and India. “Partnerships like these are integral to our global strategy as we continue to help tackle grand challenges facing humankind today, including food security, soil health, and climate change.” In the past few years, Groundwork BioAg established commercial operations across the world’s major breadbaskets, including Brazil, India, China, Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe. As the “queen of biologicals,” mycorrhizae are uniquely able to underpin a healthy soil microbiome and support resilient, stress-resistant plants with enhanced capacity for nutrient uptake under extreme drought. Based on strains isolated in the harsh Israeli desert, Groundwork BioAg’s products were applied on more than one million acres in 2021. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. About Groundwork BioAg Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture company, leverages the natural power of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of commercial agriculture and expand regenerative agriculture practices. Groundwork BioAg is the first to use innovative techniques to solve challenges inherent in high-volume mycorrhizal inoculant production. We will not rest until every hectare of arable land is protected by mycorrhizae and every farmer benefits from higher crop yields while preserving our soils. For more information, visit www.groundworkbioag.com. Contact Details AgTech PR for Groundwork BioAg Jennifer Goldston +1 816-260-0040 jennifer@agtechpr.com Company Website https://www.groundworkbioag.com

July 26, 2022 08:00 AM Central Daylight Time

Leading protagonists held by police in fight to protect cannabis patients.

Who Are We Hurting?

Article written by Rip Nicholson When kissing a loved one amounts to having your business and your earnings taken from you, two founding members of a pro-cannabis collective have taken their fight to the powers that be and have since been fined by NSW Police for protesting cannabis laws in urgent need of review. Two members of a group of activists asking the question ‘WHO ARE WE HURTING?’ artist Alec “Craze” Zammitt and pro athlete turned entrepreneur and podcaster, William “Willy Biggs” Stolk - jointly known as the Australian ‘Kings of Cannabis’ - have fought on many battlefields for the advocacy of drug reform policy in Australia. Along with Sydney Opera House and harbour bridge projections, the group of activists have worked alongside the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party (formerly the HEMP party) through a series of well-orchestrated and very daring public awareness and guerrilla campaigns and protests which have each proved to be successful. Who Are We Hurting? Australian 420 Protests. The latest ‘Who Are We Hurting?’ installation ‘Opera House laser beam stunt’ as coined by The Daily Telegraph saw the pair projecting pro-cannabis slogans across the famous white sails of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the wee hours of 20 April, this year (also known as 420 - the international day to celebrate the cannabis plant). Using industrial projectors to illuminate the question, ‘420’ and dancing cannabis leaf animations across the iconic landmarks, the event was posted and shared throughout social media. How a kiss can get you prosecuted under broken driving legislation. In 2020, Zammitt, a former owner of a private security firm, had his licence to operate his business revoked due to a positive roadside test finding traces of cannabis in his system, thus stripping him of his ability to operate the enterprise. Zammitt along with representation from Mark Davis of Sydney City Crime disputed these results from NSW’s Government’s controversial mobile drug testing program insisting the positive test was most likely caused by cross-contamination by way of intimacy with his partner, a fellow medicinal cannabis patient. After being reviewed by an expert doctor in the field, it was found to be entirely possible that the cannabis detected in Zammitt’s system was picked up from a kiss exchanged with his partner prior to driving the car in which he was tested. Zammitt received two no-convictions for driving with cannabis in his system and was allowed to maintain his driving licence. Despite this, the NSW Police revoked Zammitt’s licence to operate his business. Without further evidence to suggest Zammitt was indeed under the influence of cannabis or any requirement for Zammitt to be removed from the roads, Zammitt believes his vehicle was targeted due to prior protests and his case shines a light on the many flaws present within the mobile roadside drug test systems throughout most Australian states. “This has become a de facto means of drug testing all citizens, and they’re doing it through licensing,” said Mark Davis. “There’s no onus on the police to prove these people were affected by drugs in any way, but you still have hundreds of people ending up with criminal convictions – even for trace elements in their system,” said Davis. 58-year-old Magistrate David Heilpern has retired after 21 years in service after stating he could not in good conscience continue to apply the law as stated and take away licences for drug driving out of his Lismore court — sometimes as many as 30 in a day. David Heilpern has since annonced his involvement as campaign lead for Drive Change, an initiative dedicated to fixing this legislation in Australia. "An enormous number, the vast majority of people who are brought before the courts on this charge, are not affected [by the drug]," says Heilpern. Mr Heilpern says there's not enough evidence to suggest a clear link between a positive test for cannabis and adverse driving, given the minute levels of the drug detected in roadside tests. "When they introduced random breath testing, the road toll decreased massively. When they introduced seatbelt laws, there was a reduction in the road toll,” said Heilpern. “I have seen nothing to show that there is any reduction in the road toll as a result of the thousands and thousands of people who are appearing before courts for historic use of cannabis." Cannabis has been legal in Australia for years now. Doctors at MediCann Clinics, the clinic prescribing Zammitt must advise patients that they cannot legally drive if there is any THC in their system. Clinic founder, Matthew Shales gets first-hand reports of the very real frustrations that come from drug driving laws as they stand. Shales is a committed advocate for his patients’ right to not be discriminated against with the current driving laws in Australia prohibiting cannabis from being present in the system. “Unfortunately, as the rules currently stand, we have to advise our patients that they cannot legally drive if there is any THC in their system, even if they are not impaired,” said Shales. “This has negative impacts for patients by either forcing isolation through not being able to drive or through a heightened level of anxiety for the patients that choose to drive, which is the opposite outcome we are hoping to achieve by prescribing patients medicinal cannabis. NSW Government’s controversial mobile drug testing program has come under scrutiny following a recent study released by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, comparing the length of time in which someone is likely to be impaired by cannabis to the duration of the time it can be detected in their system. The study found that a user’s impairment is likely to last three to 10 hours but can be detected in the body for weeks after consumption. Currently, a medicinal driving defence amendment - The Road Transport Amendment Bill (Medicinal Cannabis – Exemptions from Offences) Bill, 2021 is before parliament in deliberation with NSW Greens MP, Cate Faehrmann heading up the passing of the Bill in the near future. The strength of which is geared around gathering traction of enough support through the committee report. However, questions remain on what experts are to be heard from and ultimately, who is responsible for the final decision. Here, the fight continues as to whether those who require medical cannabis can be free to drive without fear of a positive roadside drug test. “Current driving laws in Australia are forcing patients to choose between their medicine or their independence. We are trying to improve the quality of life for our patients, yet the ancient driving laws currently in place make it exceedingly hard to do so.” said Shales. Zammitt and Stolk’s current case is not without precedent. Theirs is not dissimilar to that of the 2018 actions of comedy group and tv show The Chasers who projected radio broadcaster Alan Jones phone number alongside "Advertise Here, Call Alan'' on the same very sails of the Opera House on which Zammitt and Stolk would later be charged for ‘advertising’. Despite the widespread media coverage, The Chasers were not investigated by police. Zammitt and Stolk have been issued infringement notices relating to offences that uniquely apply only to the Opera House under obscure legislation known as the Sydney Opera House Trust By-law 2021. Similar legislation titled 2015 applied at the time of The Chasers projection. The maximum fine for the infringements against Zammitt and Stolk is $1,100 for each offence and is set for a hearing on 20 December. Contact Details News Direct Newsroom newsroom@newsdirect.com

July 25, 2022 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shortage of Mental Health Professionals Gets Severe

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

At a time when we need them most, psychologists and other mental health professionals are harder to find—resulting in a severe shortage of behavior health providers in the U.S. Government agencies estimate half of those who need psychological services are not able to access them. “Many people who desperately need support are finding they have few options,” said Dr. Michele Nealon, Psy.D., President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. “At a time when more people need mental health counseling, we have fewer professionals to meet the need.” According to Dr. Nealon, the widening gap means that someone who needs counseling may have to wait months to see a specialist. In Los Angeles County, a national search last year to fill 83 vacant mental health positions yielded only 13 candidates, reports the Public Health Department. A Harvard University study recently found just 17 percent of phone calls placed to get an appointment with a mental health counselor were successful. The shortage, which has existed for more than a decade, has grown worse since the pandemic prompted thousands of therapists to take early retirement or leave the field entirely. This shortage is now exacerbated by a global 25 percent increase in depression, trauma, and anxiety resulting from the pandemic, inflation, war, and mass violence, according to the World Health Organization. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration reports that we “need to add 10,000 providers to each of seven separate mental healthcare professions by 2025 to meet the expected growth in demand.” “At The Chicago School, we are training more than 6,000 professionals every year to fill the need, especially in underserved communities of color and in rural areas,” said Dr. Nealon. “There needs to be a greater investment in this country in mental health institutions and prospective counselors so that we create a continuous pipeline to these communities.” The training for a psychologist or counselor typically requires two to five years of post-bachelor’s degree studies, so there will take time for the supply of new therapists to catch up with demand. With growing acceptance of mental health services, the gap is even greater for culturally competent therapists who understand specific communities, such as LGBTQIA+ and ethnic/racial minorities. “Two out of three students at The Chicago School identify as people of color,” Dr. Nealon noted. “These are the professionals who are most critical to addressing our mental health crisis in the long run.” About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Integrating theory with hands-on experience, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides education rooted in a commitment to innovation, service, and community for thousands of diverse students across the United States and globally. Founded in 1979, the nonprofit, regionally accredited university now features campuses in iconic locations across the country (Chicago, Southern California, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas) and online. TCSPP continues to expand its educational offerings beyond the field of psychology to offer more than 30 degrees and certificates in the professional fields of health services, nursing, education, counseling, business, and more. Through its engaged professional model of education, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an extensive network of international partner institutions, The Chicago School’s students receive real-world training opportunities that reflect their future careers. The Chicago School is a proud affiliate of TCS, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu. Contact Details The Chicago School of Professional Professional Psychology Vivien Hao +1 323-893-4743 vhao@thechicagoschool.edu

July 21, 2022 02:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time

US Digestive Health Expands Presence in Southwestern PA Through Partnership with Top-Rated Gastrointestinal Practice

US Digestive Health

US Digestive Health (USDH), a network of top-rated gastrointestinal (GI) practices managed by US Digestive Health Management (USDHM), a management services organization created to expand access to high-quality, low-cost gastroenterology care, announced today that it has partnered with Southwestern Gastrointestinal Specialists (SWGI), a specialty practice with full-service locations in Uniontown and Connellsville, PA. With the addition of this new partnership, US Digestive Health Management now oversees a network of gastroenterology providers and services with 26 locations, 15 ambulatory surgery centers, over 150 providers, and more than 800 employees. US Digestive Health Management works hand-in-hand with gastroenterology partner practices throughout Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Greater Philadelphia region, and now Western Pennsylvania, to meet the challenges of a fast-changing healthcare landscape. USDHM provides innovative business management and technology solutions that ease administrative burdens and allows physicians to focus on clinical care. “By partnering with USDH, our team of board-certified GI doctors and specialists can stay focused on delivering high-quality patient care, prioritizing high standards in medicine, innovation in diagnosis, and treatment for patients,” said Dr. Frederick W. Ruthardt, President of Southwestern Gastrointestinal Specialists. “As we expand our footprint, our goal is to continue partnering with top GI practices that have exceptional reputations in their communities,” said Jerry Tillinger, CEO of US Digestive Health Management. “Southwestern Gastrointestinal Specialists’ commitment to providing patients with the latest advances in the gastroenterology field and their patient-focused care makes them a leader in this market, and we could not be more thrilled to partner with them.” USDHM was formed in 2019 by Amulet Capital Partners, LP (“Amulet”), a middle-market private equity investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, focused exclusively on the healthcare sector, in partnership with member practice partner physicians. Gabriel Luft, Partner at Amulet, commented, “We are excited to announce that US Digestive Health is partnering with another best-in-class GI practice that leads in prioritizing the patient experience, driving positive outcomes, and creating long-term value.” Luft added, “We are confident that increasing access to top-rated GI practices through our partnerships will benefit patients throughout Pennsylvania. Importantly, the expansion of USDH-backed practices into Southwestern Pennsylvania will provide both current and future patients with access to more innovative, quality healthcare options closer to home.” For more information, please visit https://usdigestivehealth.com/ About US Digestive Health US Digestive Health oversees a network of 140 gastroenterology providers and has 26 locations, 13 ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 700 total employees in Pennsylvania. They are at the forefront of the rapidly advancing science of digestive health, bringing new insight into the care, treatment, and prevention of digestive health disorders. About Amulet Capital Partners, LP Amulet Capital Partners, LP is a middle-market private equity investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, focused exclusively on the healthcare sector. Amulet seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation through privately negotiated investments in companies. Amulet Capital Partners focuses on those segments it believes have the most attractive long-term fundamentals with a target investment size generally between $25 million to $150 million. For additional information, please visit www.amuletcapital.com. Contact Details US Digestive Health Lauren Stralo +1 484-747-9692 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://usdigestivehealth.com

July 21, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Telland Releases First of Its Kind Farmland NFTs on Telos Blockchain

Telos Foundation

The mint is currently underway on Telos EVM providing users with a unique opportunity to own collectable artistic NFTs representing access to yields from 100 square meters of physical land within the Proyecto Ecológico Nuestro Paraíso in the Northwestern region of Piura, Peru, South America. However, the use-case of Telland NFTs goes far beyond simple ownership. These land plots will contribute to the growth of local farmers' sustainable organic produce and a more robust economy in the region. Perpetual Rewards for Holders Users that mint one or more Telland NFTs will receive annual rewards in perpetuity, financially backed by the revenue generated from the South American farmland. Currently there are only 100 NFT parcels of land priced at $150 USD in TLOS tokens each available to mint. The rewards payment breakdown is as follows: Year 1 of ownership - Holder receives minimum guarantee of $30 (20% APR on NFT mint price) Year 2 of ownership - Holder receives a minimum guarantee of $50 (33% APR on NFT mint price) Year 3 of ownership - Holder receives a minimum guarantee of $75 (50% APR on NFT mint price). This minimum continues perpetually from year 3 onwards. The collection debuts at an ideal moment as accumulating land ownership is more challenging for millennials today than at any other time in our history. Furthermore, Telland NFTs offers holders a chance to generate passive revenue from a real-world asset that benefits the environment while omitting painstaking bureaucratic processes and paperwork. Telland is also a participant in the Telos Mission NFT contest, which offers NFT creators a chance to win substantial prize money and acclaim in the NFT community. The contest has over 60 submissions to date and Telland's participation provides yet another opportunity for value increase in the event Telland is announced a winner. Public voting begins on July 23, 2002, on the TaiKai Network. "We chose Telos primarily for two factors: the community and the technology. The vision of the founders of Telos was to create a community around the ideas of service to society and care for the environment. Telland wants to do just that by converting arid lands into farmlands that produce fruits with a high nutritional content that help the well-being of humanity. In terms of technology, the ease of creating and deploying smart contracts in the Telos EVM, the incredible speed and low cost of transactions was such that the decision to build on their network was simple." -Paul Gonzales, Telland Co-founder "Telland is an amazing example of real-world application of NFTs and a glimpse at the future of tokenised land and real estate. At $150 an NFT, these prove to be a very interesting way to gain exposure to the value of real estate. The idea of being able to buy and trade land rights with such ease is magical to anyone who has had the pleasure of making a traditional real estate purchase where the process is incredibly slow (taking 2-4 weeks) and requiring middle men and costly fees" -Justin Giudici, Telos Foundation CEO About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is an ESG compliant Layer 1 smart contract platform that offers full-service compatibility with Solidity, Vyper and Native C++ smart contracts. The Telos EVM is the most powerful and scalable Ethereum Smart Contract platform built to power Web 3.0. Telos features a robust, third-generation, ESG compliant evolutionary blockchain governance system, including smart contracts, advanced voting features, and flexible and user-friendly fee models. In addition, Telos supports the blockchain ecosystem by serving as an incubator and accelerator for decentralized applications through development grants. Come build with us. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

July 19, 2022 10:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

VinFuture Foundation launches science and technology webinar series “InnovaTalk 2022”

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach – 19 July 2022 - VinFuture Foundation officially launched a series of six InnovaTalk webinars focusing on key areas of science and technology to introduce new technology trends that may provide grounds for solutions to urgent global issues. The series was launched by the VinFuture Foundation with the goal of promoting the community-oriented values of science and technology, inspiring domestic and international scientists, especially young scientists, as well as sharing knowledge in an engaging and accessible way to science enthusiasts. The InnovaTalk webinar series includes six seminars taking place on Zoom from now until the end of November 2022. Each seminar will be led by a member of VinFuture’s scientific councils or a VinFuture Prize laureate. Invited guest speakers are leading international scientists from different high-tech fields and distinguished professors from top global universities and research institutes, such as the University of California system, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Oxford, Stanford University, National University of Singapore, and other prominent universities. A highlight of the webinar series is the active participation of the Vietnamese scientific community with leading domestic scientists and experts from technology institutes and academies, as well as representatives from businesses, organizations, ministries, and departments. Through discussions and interactive activities, VinFuture Foundation expects to portray the meaningful roles and contributions of the Vietnamese scientific community in the global value chain. Sharing about the networking event series, Dr. Le Thai Ha – CEO of VinFuture Prize said: “ With the 2022 InnovaTalk series, we want to join hands to resolve global issues. Each webinar opens up an opportunity to connect science and technology communities, promote interaction and cooperation, and help accelerate the development of industries towards a healthy, modern, and sustainable society after the COVID-19 pandemic, following the "Reshaping and Reviving" theme of the 2022 VinFuture season." On June 29, the first webinar was successfully held with the theme of "High-tech Agriculture – Transgenic Livestock". The second InnovaTalk webinar is scheduled to take place on July 26, 2022 with the theme of "Cancer Measurement at the Point of Care". Professor Chi Van Dang, member of the VinFuture Prize Council, Scientific Director of Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, USA, will chair the webinar. The webinar’s focus will be a presentation on methods and techniques to help develop precision cancer diagnosis technology from Professor Brian T. Cunningham - Intel Alumni Endowed Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of Center for Pathogen Diagnostics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. To listen to the speakers’ presentations, as well as participate in discussions and interactions in the second webinar with the theme of "Cancer Measurement at the Point of Care", interested viewers can register to join the webinar at: https://cloud.info.vinuni.edu.vn/vinfutureprize_innovatalk_2022_webinar_2 Through the webinar series, VinFuture aims to build a platform for more than 2,000 viewers to connect with science, exchange knowledge, and discuss with scientists and scholars about pressing global issues. InnovaTalk webinar series’ topics: 1. Webinar #1 (June): High-tech Agriculture – Transgenic Livestock 2. Webinar #2 (July): Cancer Measurement at the Point of Care 3. Webinar #3 (August): Artificial Intelligence 4. Webinar #4 (September): Green Energy 5. Webinar #5 (October): Advanced Materials 6. Webinar #6 (November): Environmental Sustainability About VinFuture Foundation The VinFuture Foundation, established on December 20th, 2020, on the occasion of International Human Solidarity Day, is an independent, not-for-profit foundation established by Mr. Phạm Nhật Vượng, the Chairman of Vingroup JSC, Vietnam’s leading private conglomerate, and his wife, Madam Phạm Thu Hương. The vision and mission of the Foundation are to create positive changes in the lives of millions of people in the world. The core activity of the Foundation is awarding the annual VinFuture Prizes to breakthrough scientific research and technological innovations that have already contributed or have the potential to contribute to the betterment of life for people. The VinFuture Prize consists of four prize categories, of which the Grand Prize – with a value of US$3 million – is one of the largest annual global prizes, and three additional Special Prizes, worth US$500,000 each, are dedicated to Female Innovators, Innovators from Developing Countries, and Innovators with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields. In addition, the Foundation also conducts many activities to realize its mission, such as funding research, collaborating in academic development, and promoting STEM education. The 2021 VinFuture Prize Laureates The Grand Prize: Dr. Katalin Karikó, Prof. Drew Weissman (USA) and Prof. Pieter Cullis (Canada) with their breakthrough research on mRNA technology for vaccines. Special Prize for “Innovators with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields”: Professor Omar Yaghi (USA) with his work on discovering Metal-Organic Framework Materials (MOFs) Special Prize for “Female Innovators”: Professor Zhenan Bao (USA) with her work on developing flexible electronics with the sensing properties of human skin. Special Prize for “Innovators from Developing Countries”: Prof. Salim S. Abdool Karim and Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa), for their Research on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Antiretrovirals to prevent transmission of HIV. Contact Details Vingroup Media Contact v.nammh@vingroup.net

July 19, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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RDW Group Receives Five Bell Ringer Awards

RDW Group

RDW Group accepted a total of five Bell Ringer awards during the PR Club ’s 54th annual ceremony, held last month at the Royal Sonesta Boston. The Bell Ringer Awards recognize public relations and communications campaigns demonstrating excellence in planning, strategy, execution, and outcomes. RDW received awards for five campaigns and initiatives conducted throughout 2021: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Social Media Silver Bell: RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging for “Sharing the Unseen Through Social Media” Bronze Bell: RDW Group with Ageless Innovation for “Supporting Caregivers and Older Adults Through Social Media” Mega Influencer Bronze Bell: RDW Group with Ageless Innovation for “Social Media Influencers Help Raise Awareness of Joy for All Companion Pets” Healthcare Campaign Bronze Bell: RDW Group with the Rhode Island Department of Health for the “Rhode Island Department of Health Substance Exposed Newborns Campaign” One-Time Special Event Merit: RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging for “Rhode Island Medical Imaging and Providence College Basketball Pink Out Friartown” “RDW is proud to, once again, be recognized alongside our clients as Bell Ringer recipients,” said RDW Group’s managing partner, Phil Loscoe, Jr. “The collaborative work of our teams is not only award-winning, but more importantly is proven to be making a positive impact on our communities. There is no better reward.” The Bell Ringer event was hosted by Brianna Borghi, on-air reporter for NBC5, Burlington, VT. In addition to the Bell Ringer awards, the Pub Club announced winners of its Striker and Ringer professional awards and its John J. Molloy Crystal Bell for lifetime achievement award. “The excellence of our New England PR community shines through in this year’s Bell Ringer Award winners,” said Amanda Fountain, PR Club president and digital engagement lead at LEGO Education. “This year feels extra special as we returned to celebrating the incredible work and professionals in-person after two years of virtual events. The format of the Bell Ringer presentation may have adapted to the times, but the quality of the work and dedication of the individuals who do it is consistently impressive.” View all 54 th annual Bell Ringer Award recipients at prclub.org/blog/54th-bell-ringer-awards-concludes. Learn more about RDW Group at rdwgroup.com. RDW Group was founded in 1986, and is a full-service advertising, public relations and media services agency with offices in Providence and Boston. RDW also operates iFactory, an award-winning web strategy, design and development group in Boston. More info at rdwgroup.com. Contact Details RDW Group Giselle Mahoney +1 401-829-8321 gmahoney@rdwgroup.com Company Website https://rdwgroup.com

July 19, 2022 09:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Asia’s only diagnostic-first sexual health wellness startup Kindly secures funding round

Kindly

Health tech startup Kindly has set out to support men and women across asia dealing with sexual lifestyle disorders and fertility issues with a diagnostic-first approach. As they seek to grow and expand, Kindly has today announced a $3.25M seed round from investors around the world including Y Combinator, DG Daiwa, Olive Tree, Soma, Goodwater, and Gaingels. Founded in 2020 (previously known as Janani.life), Kindly is a holistic sexual performance and a lifestyle brand focussed on the sexual & reproductive health space. They are addressing the gap in the market of lifestyle disorders, sexual performance, and hormonal wellness – a $8b market opportunity - with their support and product range. The YCombinator (W22 cohort) backed start-up, Kindly is Asia’s only diagnostics-first lifestyle brand offering a full-stack sexual wellness solution, including at-home diagnostics, convenient expert consultations, and doctor-backed supplements. Kindly is the only brand in India to offer at-home-semen tests that are not only focused on fertility issues but also on lifestyle disorders, which are extremely common among men and women today. Kindly is addressing a marketplace of 130 million users in India alone who will benefit from Kindly’s full stack approach by early diagnosis of lifestyle disorder, expert doctor consultations and research backed supplements to overcome and manage lifestyle disorders such as sexual dysfunctions, low vitality, PCOS and menstrual pain. Nilay Mehrotra, Founder & CEO of Kindly, commented: “We’ve attracted investors from around the world and this bodes well for our expansion into markets beyond India. The whole team is passionate about empowering people to explore their sexual wellness safely and confidently and this shows in our community engagement and growth numbers. We’re breaking new ground with an all-inclusive approach to lifestyle and sexual disorders, something which hasn’t been done before. The funding round wil elevate us from from a disruptor brand to a market leader in the lifestyle and sexual wellness market. With fresh product lines, a tech-enabled platform for easy access to our services, and our intention for global expansion, we are poised to enter the next phase of our growth.” Kindly’s offerings are categorised into KindlyHis and KindlyHers to address the needs of both genders. KindlyHis is predominantly leading the conversation about sexual performance and sperm health whereas KindlyHers focuses on women’s holistic wellness offering products and services for sexual, menstrual, and hormonal wellness. Both men and women face sexual wellness concerns but due to lack of awareness and social stigma associated with these problems they refrain from seeking help. Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and loss of libido are one of the major concerns for men. According to research, Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction increased with age, from 22% in women aged <20 years to 75.7% in women aged 40-50 years. Most women suffer from painful sex, vaginusmus, vaginal dryness and loss of libido but in most cases it is ignored due lack of knowledge. Kindly will use the capital to accelerate its growth and expansion across India and international markets. “As a growth-stage investor focused on bio health led businesses, we are excited to partner with Kindly. The wellness market has changed dramatically over the last year, and we believe the demand for at home diagnostics will only continue to grow. Kindly's diagnostics first based model is well positioned for success, and we believe it has the potential to grow” added Takeshi Kanamori, Managing Director, DG Daiwa ventures. About Kindly Kindly is a holistic sexual performance and a lifestyle brand for all, offering discreet, non-judgmental, convenient, end-to-end full-stack solutions. Launched in May 2022 by Nilay Malhotra and Raj Garg, the Bengaluru-based start-up provides an end-to-end, research-backed solution for sperm health & sexual performance for men, PCOS, irregular periods & period pain for women, and low libido for women. Kindly has two verticals: Kindly His and Kindly Hers. Kindly His is predominantly leading the conversation about sexual performance and sperm health whereas Kindly Hers focuses on women’s holistic wellness offering products and services for sexual, menstrual, and hormonal wellness. For more information, please visit: https://www.kindlyhealth.com/ Contact Details Kindly Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.kindlyhealth.com/

July 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Elsevier Launches Global Collaboration to Understand the Impact of the Pandemic on Confidence in Scientific Research

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, has today announced the launch of a global collaboration that will include new, independent research led by Economist Impact. The initiative aims to assess the drivers of confidence in research, examine how researchers have experienced the increased public attention on science during the pandemic, and the implications this has had on the academic research community. It is also looking at changes in the ways in which researchers communicate their findings. A main focus of the initiative will be a landmark global survey conducted by Economist Impact, experts in helping to identify critical and actionable insights, of 3,000 researchers across Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The insights will be published in a free report in Autumn 2022, and be used to create a set of actionable commitments and recommendations that will support researchers in their efforts to advance knowledge that benefits society. The initiative sees Elsevier partner with Sense about Science, which has pioneered wider engagement on the reliability of research internationally, to bring together world-renowned experts to advise and inform the collaboration via a Global Advisory Board tasked with shaping the primary research, and a Global Expert Panel that will drive the co-creation of actionable insights and recommendations to benefit the research community. Elsevier is also working in partnership with leading science and research organisations in six regions: Chinese Association for Science of Science and Science & Technology Policy (China) Körber Stiftung (Germany) Japanese Association for the Advancement of Science (Japan) Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen - Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (Netherlands) Sense about Science (UK & global) Research!America (US) These organisations will bring unique perspectives from their respective countries, and co-host roundtables with Elsevier to explore the findings and discuss potential recommendations the collaboration will put forward. Anne Kitson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Cell Press and The Lancet, Elsevier said: “Ensuring quality research can accelerate progress for society is at the heart of what Elsevier does. Science is making extraordinary advances at an accelerated pace, but amid this change lie new challenges for researchers. We’re privileged to partner with and bring together some of the world’s leading experts to consider these challenges, and work towards recommendations that we hope will help researchers to navigate this fast-evolving scientific landscape.” Tracey Brown, Director, Sense about Science, said: “This work builds on our long-standing collaboration with Elsevier to support initiatives that improve understanding of research quality and accessible findings. If researchers have questions about the reliability of research on which to build, then these are also questions for the public and how we more broadly place confidence in findings. We are looking to this initiative to provide more of an evidence base on which initiatives can be developed and benchmarked.” Jonathan Birdwell, Regional Head of Policy Research & Insights for EMEA, Economist Impact said: “2020 was a landmark year for scientific research. The development of Covid-19 vaccines marked an extraordinary achievement for science and global scientific cooperation. The pandemic turned previously unknown researchers into household names, with politicians, business leaders and the general public more invested than ever before in the outcomes of the scientific process. But the pandemic also appears to have accelerated a number of longer-term trends affecting the research community, including the speed and volume of research published and the role of social media. What impact has the pandemic had on how researchers produce and communicate their research? How do researchers’ experiences differ by geography, gender identity and career stage? What types of tools and resources do researchers need to produce and communicate research effectively? Our research hopes to answer these questions and identify solutions that could help researchers navigate this changing landscape with confidence.” The collaboration comes as Elsevier’s Research Futures report reveals that the most cited ‘red flags’ for researchers to engage with and trust research was the source of data being unclear (60%), the journal being of low quality (57%) and the research not being peer reviewed (55%). The report, which surveyed over 1,000 researchers globally, also found that the most stated challenges to effective communication of research were pressure to publish to advance your career (63%), the sheer volume of articles being published (51%), and the growing emphasis on demonstrating novelty in research (47%). Researchers also reported an increase in their use of sharing sites, academic community platforms, and publisher websites. --- Notes to editors Global Advisory Board members include: Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda Dr. Cary Funk, Director of science and society research, the Pew Research Center Dr. John Grove, Director of Quality Assurance for Norms & Standards, World Health Organisation Dr. Heide Hatheckmann, Senior Advisor for Transdisciplinarity and Global Knowledge Networks, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship of the University of Pretoria and Interim Director for Future Africa. Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-chief, The Lancet Dr. Reiko Kuroda, Professor at Chubu University, Japan and Professor Emeritus at The University of Tokyo Dr. Nick Perkins, Board Member, International Science Council Dr. John Pham, Editor-in-chief, Cell Dr. Wim van Saarloos, Chair of the Energy Programme, European Academies Science Council (EASAC); Professor of theoretical physics, the Instituut-Lorentz, University of Leiden Dr. Michael Saliba, Professor and Head of the Institute of Photovoltaics, University of Stuttgart and Co-chair, Global Young Academy Dr. Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor-in-chief, Cochrane Dr. Jack Stilgoe, Professor of Science and Technology Policy, Dept of Science & Technology Studies, Faculty of Maths & Physical Sciences, University College London Dr. Sheila Jasanoff, Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University About Sense about Science Sense about Science is an independent non-profit that promotes the public interest in sound science and evidence. It produced the first public guide to peer review, ‘I Don’t Know What to Believe’ over a decade ago, and has since produced the first international guide to data science, co-created with user groups around the world. With its AllTrials campaign, with patients, doctors and researchers, it has achieved major changes in international regulation and compliance on the publication of clinical trial results. Sense about Science will chair the Global Expert Panel, to develop plans for improving scientific practices and helping researchers and the public to navigate research outputs. It will represent UK-based stakeholders as the local Regional Convening Partner, to draw people into a discussion of what actions and interventions researchers, scholarly publishers, universities, funders and others can make to improve confidence in research in the UK. About Economist Impact Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress across three core areas of expertise and leadership including sustainability, new globalisation and health. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, Economist Events and SignalNoise. Our track record spans 75 years across 205 countries. Along with creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, we produce framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, making Economist Impact's offering unique in the marketplace. Visit www.economistimpact.com for more information. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,700 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,700+ digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our 43,000+ eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Contact Details Andrew Davis andrew.davis@elsevier.com Andrea White a.white@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

July 13, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time