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R2 Technologies Disrupts the Aesthetics Industry with Its Groundbreaking Glacial Rx™ Treatment

R2 Technologies

R2 Technologies Inc. ("R2") the leader in CryoAesthetic™ medical devices, launches Glacial Rx™, the first revolutionary in-office CryoAesthetic™ age spot removal treatment, FDA-cleared to remove benign lesions and temporarily reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Developed by the pioneers of CoolSculpting and Fraxel, Glacial Rx is the first and only technology that uses Cryomodulation™ to improve skin appearance and freeze melanin at the source. The treatment harnesses the power of cold, using patented cooling technology, to suppress melanin production and remove unwanted dark spots. It also brightens, soothes, and renews skin for peak results and no downtime. “I am excited to partner with Glacial Rx to be among the first to offer this novel treatment in my practice,” says Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Gregory Nikolaidis. “I believe it will be a game-changer in the category of cryoaesthetics, offering the opportunity to treat new patients who are looking for a comfortable solution to remove benign lesions.” The Glacial Rx System is an FDA Class II Device administered by trained healthcare professionals. Effective on most skin types, Glacial Rx delivers the best possible outcomes to remove age spots without the contraindications, risks, side effects or limitations associated with heat modalities. In partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing cosmeceutical skincare brands, Allies of Skin, Glacial Rx offers a curated topical regimen made with optimal active ingredient concentrations that can be provided alongside the treatment at the healthcare professional's discretion. The treatment consists of: Cool: The cold plate is applied to a spot for 15-20 seconds; no topical anesthetics or numbing agents needed. Calm: The cooling handpiece is gently moved across the face to reduce redness and puffiness, clearing the way for skin to better absorb potent topicals. Protect: Serums containing protective antioxidants and brightening agents can be applied, shielding the skin from environmental aggressors. Post-treatment take-home topical offerings, formulated with skin-beneficial plant derived actives, aid in skin recovery, accelerate skin’s desquamation process and re-epithelialization, and dramatically boost antioxidant activity to fight free radical damage. “It took us a long time to ensure that we were creating a best-in-class treatment, giving unparalleled results and superior experiences to our patients, and we are thrilled to finally bring this matchless innovation to market,” says Tim Holt, R2 Chief Executive Officer. According to a recent clinical study, 93% of spots improved at 2 months [1]; and another showed that 90% of patients said their skin was rejuvenated, brighter or more even at 1 month [2]. Launching this month in dermatology offices and med spas nationwide, Glacial Rx was named among ‘2021 Launches Doctors are Buzzing About’ by RealSelf, the leading and most trusted source to educate on cosmetic procedures. R2 is continuing to facilitate Glacial Rx system orders for practices to offer the treatment. Learn more about R2 Technologies and Glacial Rx at glacialskin.com and follow the company on LinkedIn. About R2 Technologies: Headquartered in Silicon Valley, R2 Technologies is a world leader in CryoAesthetic™ medical devices. In 2014, Pansend Life Sciences, LLC and Blossom Innovations, LLC founded R2 Technologies and licensed exclusive intellectual property from Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2019, R2 brought on another strategic partner, Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. In close collaboration with these partners and the brand’s scientiﬁc founders and world-famous luminaries in aesthetic medicine, Drs. Rox Anderson, Dieter Manstein, and Henry Chan, R2 focuses on the development, engineering, clinical research, and commercialization of groundbreaking technologies for aesthetic providers and consumers. Since inception, R2 has raised $62 million in ﬁnancing led by a world-class team of experts within the aesthetics industry and was named winner of the 2nd Annual Aesthetics Tech Summit LaunchPad SBDC, hosted by Octane, a company committed to making resources, capital and mentorship available to tech and medtech startups. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ [1] Evaluation of the Dermal Cooling System for the Enhanced Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions and Common Skin Conditions - Interim Analysis - Nov 2020 - TD-0993 [2] Evaluation of a New Dermal Cryotherapy System for the Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions - Interim report - May 2018 - TD-0992 Contact Details Linsey Tilbor Rubin +1 732-991-5294 ltilbor@rellmc.com Company Website https://glacialskin.com/

April 07, 2021 08:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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How Medicaid Compliant Annuities Work by: Jennifer Lang Financial Services

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

Contact Details Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. Jennifer Lang +1 877-487-8926 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

April 06, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Start of Lyme Disease Season Provides Heightened Risks for Americans Wanting to Go Outdoors After a Year of COVID-19 Restrictions

Quidel Corporation

As America slowly and hopefully extricates itself from the coronavirus pandemic, another health concern lies just around the corner: the start of Lyme disease season. To complicate matters, Lyme disease is one of the distinct underlying conditions that make those afflicted more vulnerable for coronavirus complications. “The warm weather of spring and summer makes everyone want to get outdoors and never more so than this year when so many of us have spent the past 12 months hunkered down in our own homes,” says Judi Tilghman, Ph.D., vice president of technology assessment at Quidel Corporation, the nation’s leading developer of rapid Lyme disease testing. “The key is to be smart in taking steps to avoid getting a tick bite in the first place and then getting tested immediately if you think you may have contracted Lyme.” Lyme disease afflicts as many as 400,000 Americans every year and can lead to a number of serious, life-threatening problems if not caught early. The challenge is that unlike a mosquito bite where people know immediately if they have been bitten, deer ticks that may carry Lyme disease are tiny—the size of a poppy seed—and symptoms may not appear for two to six weeks. That makes it critically important that anyone who spends time outdoors in heavily wooded areas—hikers, hunters, campers—or travels to such places be particularly vigilant. Some of the basic symptoms of a Lyme infection—fever, malaise, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches—can resemble COVID-19, which, according to Dr. Tilghman, is “still another reason to get tested if you feel any of these symptoms coming on. The vast majority of patients tested are negative, so getting results quickly with Quidel’s Sofia® 2 Lyme FIA test can provide peace of mind for individuals while also allowing physicians to more rapidly pursue testing and treatment for other diseases that may be causing the patient’s symptoms.” While Dr. Tilghman acknowledges that a walk in the woods, a return to playing outdoor sports on grassy fields, or camping by a river or lake is an appealing way to relieve stress from the coronavirus lockdown, she warns that such activities do come with the risk of ticks that carry Lyme and other illnesses. For anyone who intends to spend time in wooded/grassy areas during the height of Lyme disease season, she recommends: Shower right away as ticks often remain on skin for hours before attaching themselves. Showering and using a washcloth can remove unattached ticks. Check your entire body for ticks, including low-visibility areas such as the groin, underarms and the back of your neck. If you find a tick on your body, use a pair of tweezers to pull it off very gently but firmly. Watch for early signs which may include a rash (often shaped like a bullseye), flu-like symptoms, fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. Watch for later symptoms, which could appear weeks or months after being bitten. These may include a rash on areas of your body, joint pain, neurological problems, heart problems (such as an irregular heartbeat), eye inflammation, liver inflammation (hepatitis) and severe fatigue. Get to a doctor or clinic right away, and ask to be tested if you sense you might have Lyme disease. The innovative Sofia 2 Lyme FIA test is an in-office test that provides indicative results within minutes as opposed to days, which has historically been the norm. Performed in the privacy of a doctor’s office or local clinic, it is also the only test that can get results from a simple finger prick of blood. The best solution, of course, is to not get a tick bite in the first place; and there are many precautions people can take to lessen the chance of getting bitten. Dr. Tilghman says these include: wearing long pants and shirts, a hat and gloves when in wooded areas; sticking to trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass; putting lavender oil or insect repellants on your legs and arms and any bare skin; and tick proofing your yard by clearing brush and leaves and mowing your lawn regularly. About Quidel Corporation Quidel Corporation (Nasdaq: QDEL) is a leading manufacturer of diagnostic solutions at the point of care, delivering a continuum of rapid testing technologies that further improve the quality of health care throughout the globe. An innovator for over 40 years in the medical device industry, Quidel pioneered the first rapid diagnostic point-of-care test for influenza in 1999 and was the first to market a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in the U.S. Under trusted brand names, Sofia®, Solana®, Lyra®, Triage® and QuickVue®, Quidel’s comprehensive product portfolio includes tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and autoimmune biomarkers, as well as a host of products to detect COVID-19. With products made in America, Quidel’s mission is to provide patients with immediate and frequent access to highly accurate, affordable testing for the good of our families, our communities and the world. For more information about Quidel, visit quidel.com. Contact Details Jim Yeager +1 818-264-6812 jim@breakwhitelight.com Company Website http://Quidel.com

April 05, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research reveals hyocholic acids arepromising agents for diabetes prediction and treatment

Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach – 1 April 2021 - A series of studies led by researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have revealed that hyocholic acid and its derivatives (collectively known as HCAs), a component of bile acids that facilitate fat digestion, are a promising risk indicator of type 2 diabetes. The strong efficacy of HCAs in regulating blood glucose levels and protecting against diabetes has also been uncovered. The findings open a window for the development of HCA-based predictive markers as well as anti-diabetic drugs. The research results have been published in the international scientific journals Cell Metabolism and Nature Communications. High concentration of HCAs protects pigs from diabetes Inspired by the traditional Chinese medical book Compendium of Materia Medica, which recorded the use of pig bile to treat excessive thirst, a condition known today as diabetes, Professor Jia Wei, Chair Professor of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, led research teams to conduct a series of studies on the role of HCAs in glucose homeostasis and diabetes prevention. Diabetes is characterised by high blood glucose levels. Through a series of tests conducted on 55 humans, 32 mice and 12 pigs, Professor Jia’s team confirmed that fasting blood glucose levels in pigs are significantly lower than that of humans and mice. As HCAs constitute nearly 80% of bile acids in pigs, while the proportions in humans and mice are only about 2% and 3% respectively, a negative correlation between HCAs and blood glucose levels was observed. The result indicates the potential role of HCAs in the maintenance of stable glucose levels. This may explain why pigs, unlike humans, seldom suffer from diabetes despite their low physical activity levels and consumption of a calorie-rich diet. HCAs correlate with diabetes and metabolic health To analyse the correlation between the levels of HCAs and the occurrence of diabetes in humans, data was collected from two large-scale cohort studies, namely the Shanghai Obesity Study and the Shanghai Diabetes Study. The researchers examined the serum bile acid profiles of 1,107 participants of the Shanghai Obesity Study, which was published in 2013. The participants were divided into three groups: healthy lean, healthy obese and obese with type 2 diabetes. It was discovered that the levels of serum HCAs were significantly lower in the healthy obese and obese with type 2 diabetes groups. In another study, the serum bile acids of 132 participants of the Shanghai Diabetes Study were investigated. They were all healthy (at baseline) when they were enrolled in the study between 1998 and 2001. Ten years later, 86 of them had become metabolically unhealthy, while 46 remained healthy. Analysis showed that, compared with those who remained healthy ten years later, those who had become metabolically unhealthy had significantly lower baseline levels of serum HCAs, illustrating that levels of HCAs are a strong predictor of metabolic syndromes such as diabetes. HCAs regulate blood glucose levels in animal models Through a series of laboratory experiments, the researchers looked further into the mechanisms that underpin the key role that HCAs play in regulating blood glucose levels. In an animal model experiment, the researchers suppressed the synthesis of HCAs in the livers of a group of pigs by around 30%, and they found that their blood glucose levels increased by 30% when compared with the control group. HCAs were then given to the pigs, after which their blood glucose levels eased off. Another experiment conducted by the researchers focused on the effect of HCAs on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is a hormone produced by L-cells, a type of enteroendocrine cell that enhances insulin secretion and decreases blood glucose. In a laboratory setting, different kinds of bile acids, including HCAs, were applied to L-cells, at varying levels of concentration. Results showed that at a high concentration of 50 micromolar, HCAs were the most effective at stimulating GLP-1 secretion when compared with other types of bile acids. The findings also revealed that HCAs regulate blood glucose levels by stimulating the secretion of GLP-1 and thus insulin production. Potential for diabetes prediction and treatment “The results of our studies provide evidence of how HCAs help to regulate blood glucose levels, and they have revealed the mechanism of how it is achieved at a cellular level. HCAs demonstrate promising potential, and they could be developed into an agent for the prediction and treatment of type 2 diabetes,” said Professor Jia. “As gut microbiota can regulate the metabolism of HCAs, targeting the intestines instead of the pancreas could be a prospective novel strategy for treating diabetes. We will further investigate how to increase the secretion levels of HCAs in diabetic patients by regulating the intestinal bacteria,” he added. Researchers from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Afﬁliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Peking University, the Afﬁliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China Agricultural University, Sichuan University and the University of Hawaii were also involved in the studies. Contact Details Hong Kong Baptist University Christina Wu, Communication and Public Relation Office +852 3411 7828 christinawu@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

April 01, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ordr

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 Ordr, an industry leader in continuous discovery, device asset inventory visibility and security of all connected devices, including unmanaged IoT, IoMT, and OT devices. This unique partnership will extend efforts by providing complete device asset inventory discovery for compliance within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. “We are excited to embark on this journey with Ordr”, 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)”. Ord provides a purpose-built platform for asset inventory and security. It discovers and secures all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Using agentless and passive methods of data collection, connected devices can be automatically discovered and classified. Devices with vulnerabilities, weak ciphers/certificates or are subject to recall are identified. Ordr’s machine learning engine also maps and baselines device communication patterns to establish “Flow Genomes”. Ordr can then alert on anomalous behavior and dynamically generate micro-segmentation policies to allow devices only appropriate access. “The Ordr team is thrilled to be joining the pioneering organizations and innovators that make up the CMMC COE,” said Greg Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Ordr. “We are working with DIB contractors, vendors, and the supplier community to enable them to meet CMMC regulations quickly and efficiently. Being a part of the CMMC COE accelerates that effort.” The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Ordr 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 Ordr 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. 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 COE, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org, email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766. For more information on Ordr, please visit https://ordr.net/solutions/cmmc/, email info@ordr.net or call 833.673.7999 #### Contact Details John Weiler Executive Director, IT-AAC Chairman, CMMC COE john.weiler@it-aac.org 703-863-3766 Monica Wallace for Ordr Monica.Wallace@ruderfinn.com 650-346-8994 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. About Ordr ------------ Digital transformation has led to the inevitable explosive increase of connected devices. The scale and diversity of these devices, and the capacity for network connectivity introduces risks. Every single device is a potential attack vector and must be secured. Ordr delivers visibility and security of all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Ordr discovers what devices are in the network, profiles device behavior and risks, and then automates appropriate action. Contact Details CMMC Center of Excellence Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

March 30, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) Announces Sabrina Prince Elected to Its Board of Directors

Bpeace

The Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) announced today the election of Sabrina Prince, to the Board of Directors. Prince is an Executive Vice President at FCB Health Europe, a global healthcare marketing agency. She has served as a traveling volunteer Skillanthropist and member of Bpeace's Executive Council for four years. Toni Maloney, Bpeace’s CEO, noted, “Sabrina is a shrewd strategist and empathetic leader with 20+ years in healthcare marketing, including research, public relations and advertising. At Bpeace, we know her as a trusted volunteer marketing advisor to the small businesses in our portfolio, helping them recognize their brand essence and cultivate strategies to expand customer loyalty. To the Board level, she now brings perspective as a champion of diversity and inclusion, actively advocating for employee engagement and mentorship. She will be a great asset to the Board.” Prince commented, "Over the past four years with Bpeace, I have advised hospitality, healthcare and consumer goods brands at pivotal growth stages–building on their established talents and providing tools or foundational concepts they are able to customize and apply to their needs. My first Skillanthropist project was remote consultation with an Afghan business, Pakiza Dairy, a milk-processing company. And I am still holding to my promise of trying their yogurt in person someday! I look forward to working with the Board and Toni to further the impact of Bpeace." The Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) is an award-winning nonprofit working in crisis-affected communities to grow small businesses, create significant employment for all, and expand the economic power of women. More jobs mean less violence.® FCB Health Network is one of the world’s most awarded communications networks, focused on creating game-changing marketing solutions for consumers, patients and healthcare professionals. Contact Details Business Council for Peace Joan Harper +44 7572 885584 joanharper5364@gmail.com Business Council for Peace Caroline Basso +1 607.222.5791 cbasso@bpeace.org

March 29, 2021 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University-led research unlocks the genomic secrets of organisms that thrive in extreme deep-sea environments

Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 29 March 2021 - A study led by scientists at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has decoded the genomes of the deep-sea clam ( Archivesica marissinica ) and the chemoautotrophic bacteria ( Candidatus Vesicomyosocius marissinica) that live in its gill epithelium cells. Through analysis of their genomic structures and profiling of their gene expression patterns, the research team revealed that symbiosis between the two partners enables the clams to thrive in extreme deep-sea environments. The research findings have been published in the academic journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Due to the general lack of photosynthesis-derived organic matter, the deep-sea was once considered a vast "desert" with very little biomass. Yet, clams often form large populations in the high-temperature hydrothermal vents and freezing cold seeps in the deep oceans around the globe where sunlight cannot penetrate but toxic molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide, are available below the seabed. The clams are known to have a reduced gut and digestive system, and they rely on endosymbiotic bacteria to generate energy in a process called chemosynthesis. However, when this symbiotic relationship developed, and how the clams and chemoautotrophic bacteria interact, remain largely unclear. Horizontal gene transfer between bacteria and clams discovered for the first time A research team led by Professor Qiu Jianwen, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, collected the clam specimens at 1,360 metres below sea level from a cold seep in the South China Sea. The genomes of the clam and its symbiotic bacteria were then sequenced to shed light on the genomic signatures of their successful symbiotic relationship. The team found that the ancestor of the clam split with its shallow-water relatives 128 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The study revealed that 28 genes have been transferred from the ancestral chemoautotrophic bacteria to the clam, the first discovery of horizontal gene transfer—a process that transmits genetic material between distantly-related organisms —from bacteria to a bivalve mollusc. The following genomic features of the clam were discovered, and combined, they have enabled it to adapt to the extreme deep-sea environment: (1) Adaptions for chemosynthesis The clam relies on its symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria to produce the biological materials essential for its survival. In their symbiotic relationship, the clam absorbs hydrogen sulfide from the sediment, and oxygen and carbon dioxide from seawater, and it transfers them to the bacteria living in its gill epithelium cells to produce the energy and nutrients in a process called chemosynthesis. The process is illustrated in Figure 1. The research team also discovered that the clam's genome exhibits gene family expansion in cellular processes such as respiration and diffusion that likely facilitate chemoautotrophy, including gas delivery to support energy and carbon production, the transfer of small molecules and proteins within the symbiont, and the regulation of the endosymbiont population. It helps the host to obtain sufficient nutrients from the symbiotic bacteria. (2) Shift from phytoplankton-based food Cellulase is an enzyme that facilitates the decomposition of the cellulose found in phytoplankton, a major primary food source in the marine food chain. It was discovered that the clam's cellulase genes have undergone significant contraction, which is likely an adaptation to the shift from phytoplankton-derived to bacteria-based food. (3) Adaptation to sulfur metabolic pathways The genome of the symbiont also holds the secrets of this mutually beneficial relationship. The team discovered that the clam has a reduced genome, as it is only about 40% of the size of its free-living relatives. Nevertheless, the symbiont genome encodes complete and flexible sulfur metabolic pathways, and it retains the ability to synthesise 20 common amino acids and other essential nutrients, highlighting the importance of the symbiont in generating energy and providing nutrients to support the symbiotic relationship. (4) Improvement in oxygen-binding capacity Unlike in vertebrates, haemoglobin, a metalloprotein found in the blood and tissues of many organisms, is not commonly used as an oxygen carrier in molluscs. However, the team discovered several kinds of highly expressed haemoglobin genes in the clam, suggesting an improvement in its oxygen-binding capacity, which can enhance the ability of the clam to survive in deep-sea low-oxygen habitats. Professor Qiu said: "Most of the previous studies on deep-sea symbiosis have focused only on the bacteria. This first coupled clam–symbiont genome assembly will facilitate comparative studies that aim to elucidate the diversity and evolutionary mechanisms of symbiosis, which allows many invertebrates to thrive in 'extreme' deep-sea ecosystems." The research was jointly conducted by scientists from HKBU and the HKBU Institute for Research and Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the Sanya Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, and the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

March 29, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Consumer lender Fintern appoints Chief Risk Officer

Stockwood Strategy

Prior to joining Fintern, Mark was a Partner at EY, where he specialised in Credit Analytics and led EY's Quantitative Advisory Services team of 200 quantitative analysts. Since joining EY in 2005, Mark has served virtually every major UK bank on the topic of credit modelling and the use of advanced analytics. At Fintern, Mark will leverage his market-leading experience to develop Fintern's next-generation credit technology and improve access to affordable credit. Mark holds a PhD in mathematics and has been a leading advocate for the use of alternative data in fairer credit decisioning. Gerald Chappell, Fintern CEO, said "I am excited about Mark's vision for Fintern, as well as his passion for using data and analytics to fix the failings of the credit score system and improve access to affordable credit. Given his career track record, he will bring world-class analytics, artificial intelligence and strategic expertise to build on the strengths of the existing management team." On his appointment, Mark London commented: "I am delighted to be joining Fintern at this important time. Fintern's mission to transform consumer credit markets, bypassing a broken credit scoring system that unfairly excludes millions of people from affordable loans, is more relevant now than ever with the economic disruption caused by Covid-19. Using Open Banking and other alternative data we can improve financial lives by bringing affordable and responsible loans to many more people." Mark added "I am excited about Fintern's commitment to interactive lending. As CRO, I will ensure we share our insights with customers, that we will help them to make decisions that are in their best interest, and that we will provide full transparency on all our lending decisions." Michelle He, Fintern COO and CFO, said "Mark will find an amazing home here at Fintern, and a deep commitment from the entire Fintern team to challenging the traditional lending approach and helping consumers recover as we emerge from Covid-19." About Fintern Fintern is a digital consumer lender on a mission to expand access to low-cost personal finance and transform financial well-being. Fintern's next-generation credit technology takes a holistic look at each applicant’s financial situation rather than making a decision solely based on a credit score. Fintern builds relationships with customers helping them to understand their repayment capacity and credit appetite. Fintern integrates its AI platform with Open Banking to smartly connect the dots in consumers' banking data enabling Fintern to obtain the most accurate view of borrowers' affordability and spending behaviour using up to the minute transaction information. Fintern was founded in 2020 with a team from McKinsey, EY, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC and XiaoMi. Fintern is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 929244, a member of Cifas (the UK's leading anti-fraud association) and registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office in compliance with the Data Protection Regulations 2018. Contact Details Fintern Sam Power +44 7400 122813 press@fintern.ai Company Website https://fintern.ai/

March 29, 2021 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NextFerm Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Audited Financial Results

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

For the first time, Company recorded initial net revenues of $95 thousand in H2 2020, and expects significant net revenue growth in the upcoming quarters, with consistent improvement in gross profit starting H2 2021 Expects to begin mass production phase of ProteVin™, its proprietary vegan protein while generating initial demand from leading food and dietary supplement producers by the end of 2021 In January 2021 the Company consummated its IPO on TASE and raised ~ ILS 35.2 million NextFerm Technologies Ltd. (TASE:NXFR), a Food-tech company that develops, produces and markets nutritional ingredients and yeast-based, vegan, non-GMO protein alternatives for a wide range of uses for the growing protein substitute market, food market and food supplement market, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020. 2020 Highlights and 2021 Targets: Astaferm™- In Q3 2020 the Company recorded first revenues after launching Astaferm™, a potent, yeast-based and non-GMO antioxidant, in the US dietary supplement market by Purity Products, an established US dietary supplement brand, on its website, on Amazon and in physical stores. In February 2021, Carlson Labs, a US veteran dietary supplement producer, has launched Astaferm™-based dietary supplement on its website and in stores. The Company expects additional launches of Astaferm™ throughout 2021 with leading US dietary supplement companies. ProteVin™ - A vegan protein developed by the Company, with nutritional value similar to animal protein and a neutral flavor, suitable for use as a quality source of protein in various markets: The sports nutrition market, the meat-replacements market, the milk market, infant and adult nutrition markets and more. The Company expects commercialization of the product in the US during 2022. Its main targets for 2021 include: (1) Completing industrial scale-up phase, including engagement with sub-contractors for mass production infrastructure; (2) Creating initial market demand with first purchase order or agreement by the end of 2021. “We ended an exciting year in which we became a public company, recorded first sales of our Astaferm™ antioxidant in the US and completed the development of ProteVin™, our flagship product, a first-of-a-kind, yeast-based vegan protein with similar nutritional value to animal proteins with a neutral flavor." said Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm. "The fact that we achieved sales of almost USD 100,000 within a short period of time proves the need, interest and trust in Astaferm™ from leading dietary supplement players and consumers in the US. Astaferm’s uniqueness has been recognized thanks to its concentration of active ingredients, flavor and friendly gummy form. Astaferm™ enjoys respectable demand and in 2021 we expect to launch it with additional customers, which will reflect in the Company’s performance, consistent quarterly growth and improved gross profit." "As for ProteVin™, during 2021 we expect to commence commercial manufacturing scale-up, engagement with a manufacturing subcontractor and turning the growing interest of the alternative protein market into first ProteVin™ customer purchase order or contract by the end of 2021.” Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights Net Revenues increased 150% to $68 thousand, compared to the third quarter of 2020. These revenues derive from the first sales of Astaferm™ starting September 2020. 2020 Annual net revenues amounted $95 thousand. Under its strategic plan, during 2021, beside Purity Products and Carlson, the Company intends to have additional launches in cooperation with other US dietary supplement players. The Company expects consistent quarterly growth in 2021, and an improvement in Astaferm’s profitability by improving and streamlining production processes. Gross profit increased 116% to $13 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. While gross margin decreased 300 basis points to 19% from 22% in the fourth quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Gross profit amounted $19 thousand (gross margin of 20%). The Company expects improvement of gross profitability, based on technological improvements, during H2 2021. Research and development expenses increased 42% to $653 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. Research and development annual expenses for 2020 decreased 27% to $2.2 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in salaries and related expenses implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis during 2020. Sales and marketing expenses increased 68% to $101 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. Sales and marketing annual expenses for 2020 increased 3.6% to $313 thousand compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. General and administrative expenses increased 43.5% to $178 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. General and administrative annual expenses for 2020 decreased 8.6% to $581 thousand compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is mainly due to decrease in salaries and related expenses implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis during 2020. Operating loss increased 44% to $919 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Operating loss decreased 20.5% to $3.1 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. Net loss increased 46% to $1.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Net loss decreased 26% to $3.4 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. Net cash used in operating activities for 2020 increased 275% to $3 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The increase is mainly due cash inflow of $2.75 million received under the agreement with Lallemand, a giant multi-national corporation operating in the yeast industry, and recognized in the cash flow from operating activities in 2019. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020 amounted $716 thousand, compared to $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019. In January 2021 the Company consummated an IPO of shares and warrants on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange with gross proceeds of ILS 30.5 million. In parallel, the Company raised additional gross proceeds of ILS 4.7 million from existing shareholders under identical terms and conditions to the IPO. In total, the Company raised gross proceeds of $11 million. About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, production and marketing of yeast-based innovative, functional, vegan and non-GMO nutritional technologies and ingredients for a wide-range of uses for the food market, the dietary supplement market and the growing market for non-animal protein alternatives. NextFerm is developing and marketing Astaferm™, an innovative antioxidant, and ProteVin™, a vegan protein with nutritional value similar to that of animal protein with a neutral flavor. For more information on the Company’s website: www.nextferm.com Forward-looking statement 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. Meirav Bauer +972 54-476-4979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

March 26, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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