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Fireflies help kindle new tests and treatments for COVID-19 – TMC News – Texas Medical Center News

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Scientists at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) have employed an unlikely partner in their quest to develop treatments for COVID-19 disease: the common firefly.

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are insects in the Lampyridae family who use bioluminescence to attract potential mates and prey. Their conspicuous glow at twilight comes from an enzyme called luciferase, which can be isolated in the lab. Now, UTMB virologists are using the enzyme to develop faster and more accurate diagnostic tests for COVID-19 as well as to analyze potential therapies and gain a clearer understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself.

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We are very much interested in using basic research knowledge to develop systems to support translational work, for example, diagnosing disease, vaccine development, medical countermeasures and therapeutic drugsall those things that can be applied to the public health and human well-being, said Pei-Yong Shi, Ph.D., professor of human genetics in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at UTMB. He is leading the research by labeling viruses with glowing tags like luciferase to study them.

Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, Shis team had been focused on flaviviruses, including West Nile virus, Zika and dengue. His lab developed the first infectious clones of the epidemic strain of both West Nile and Zika and have established new pathways for flavivirus vaccine and drug discovery.

But as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Shis lab adapted by altering research techniques to address the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

First, researchers harnessed luciferase to develop faster diagnostic testing through innovative assaysinvestigative procedures that measure the activity or amount of a substance. The lab can now visually confirm the presence of antibodies that can block a SARS-CoV-2 infection earlier than through previous methods.

The great thing about luciferase, and the one that we specifically use which is nanoluciferase, is that its really bright, said Coleman Baker, a fourth-year graduate student in the department of microbiology and immunology at UTMB who works in the Shi lab. We found that these detection assays can be read earlier than most people thought. Most people would do these 24 to 48 hours after infection and we found that you can read them as early as 4 hours post-infection.

Not only does the enhanced brightness provided by luciferase decrease turnaround time for a diagnosis, but it also helps speed up the process of vaccine development.

For vaccine studies, you need to find out how much of a response somebody has to a potential vaccine, Baker said. So, instead of the traditional waywhich could take dayswe can get results in four hours after infection.

Shi said his team has been collaborating with leading pharmaceutical companies to help them evaluate their vaccine candidates, specifically by measuring the immune response in humans in clinical trials. His labs systembased on reporter viruses in which the luciferase enzyme is inserted into the virus genome to make it easy to followmeasures the concentration of neutralizing antibodies while also allowing for a much higher throughput. According to Xuping Xie, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at UTMB, this way of measuring the immune response is more accurate than traditional methods.

The sensitivity and the dynamics of the assay, because of the luciferase, can really allow us to discern any small changes that the conventional way would not, said Xie. Its much more sensitive, much more accurate, when you test antiviral compounds.

The compounds to which Xie is referring are potential therapies, including antiviral drugs already on the market for non-COVID-19 viral infections.

The researchers recently tested every antiviral drug approved by the FDA for human use to see if any were effective against SARS-CoV-2.

These assays allow us to very rapidly look at each in a very sensitive way very accurately, Shi said. Thats really allowed us to decide whether there is a potential so-called repurposing of these drugs for COVID-19 treatment, including remdesivir, chloroquine and others.

The virologists also have created a system for manipulating and studying SARS-CoV-2 itself, paving the way for a deeper understanding of what happens when the virus enters the human body.

Because of this system we created, we can study and understand the virus in ways that others cannot, Baker said. We have the ability to go in and make changes in the virus and see what those changes affect in the different cells that its infecting. So, not only have we developed these assays to look at drugsto look at antibody responsesbut we also are probing the virus itself and looking at how it interacts with the immune system.

Even more, the team is studying the virus genome to analyze how it has evolved and what that means for human healthincluding how it affects the body and how it transmits among different populationsusing techniques they developed for studying Zika and its connection to microcephaly, a neurological condition in which an infants head is significantly smaller than other infants of the same gender and age.

When we manipulate the viruses, it allows us to address a lot of important questions, such as how the virus is adapting and changing over time, Shi said. For example, SARS-CoV-2 now has been spreading in humans for six monthshas the virus changed? Do these changes affect viral transmission and disease severity? Scientists around the world have been chasing the virus to answer those exact questions.

Shi noted that his lab is sharing innovations with scientists worldwide to help advance public health efforts as quickly as possible.

He hopes his research will light the way.

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Fireflies help kindle new tests and treatments for COVID-19 - TMC News - Texas Medical Center News

Meet Dr Sarah Gilbert, one of the scientists leading the race to find a Covid-19 vaccine – The Indian Express

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Written by Dipanita Nath, Edited by Explained Desk | Pune | Updated: July 25, 2020 4:42:06 pm Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading development of a coronavirus vaccine at Oxford University, in Oxford, April 24, 2020. (Mary Turner/The New York Times)

Earlier this week, there was positive news on the Oxford vaccine candidate, one of a clutch of frontrunner candidates to protect the world from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that had, until Friday (July 24) morning, infected nearly 15.5 million people and killed over 630,000 worldwide.

Leading its development is a British scientist who plays the oboe, cycles to work, and is the mother of triplets. Dr Sarah Gilbert was famous in the scientific community as a brilliant vaccinologist; with the success in early trials, she and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, the vaccine candidate her team is working on has been spotlighted as never before.

Gilbert and co-authors published the results of the early trials in the medical journal, The Lancet, on July 20, titled Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary report of a phase 1/2, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. They wrote: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 showed an acceptable safety profile, and homologous boosting increased antibody responses. Which means that the vaccine candidate had induced an immune response (which is what vaccines are supposed to do), and was safe for people.

Dont miss from Explained | How corona of the virus changes into a hairpin shape and why

What is Dr Gilberts work in the field of vaccine development?

Dr Gilbert is one of the leading vaccinologists in the world. She is professor of vaccinology at Oxford Universitys Jenner Institute, a prestigious vaccine research centre, and one of the two founders of its spin-out company, Vaccitech, which develops immunotherapy products to treat and prevent infectious disease and cancer.

For more than 15 years, Dr Gilbert has been making and testing vaccines that trigger T cells a type of white blood cells to respond to antigens from malaria, influenza, and tuberculosis, among others.

Her work also includes developing vaccines for influenza and emerging diseases such as Lassa, Nipah, CCHF, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). MERS, which appeared in 2014, too, is caused by a coronavirus. A vaccine against MERS has been tested in clinical trials in the UK, and is now in trials in Saudi Arabia, where the virus is endemic, says Gilberts page on the Jenner Institute website.

The vaccine for MERS involved using the adenovirus (which causes common colds) from a chimpanzee embedded with the genetic material of the MERS virus. For the Covid-19 vaccine, the Oxford scientists used the adenovirus of a chimpanzee embedded with the genetic material from the spike protein, which the coronavirus uses to pierce the cell. In tests till now, bodies of participants have responded as if they were infected with the coronavirus.

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What is known about the acclaimed scientists life away from her work?

Dr Gilbert has not given many interviews since the publication of the results of the early phase trials. Earlier profiles of the scientist in the UK media have said that as a child in Northamptonshires Kettering High School for Girls, she was quiet, polite, and studious, getting a lot of As in studies.

Gilbert belongs to a family of musicians, and her mother, Hazel, was part of the towns operatic society. By the age of 17, however, Gilbert was sure that she wanted to be a medical researcher. After obtaining a degree in biology at the University of East Anglia and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Hull, Dr Gilbert worked at a number of biotechnology companies, among them Delta, where she learnt about making medicines.

Profiles on Prof Gilbert have noted that she became a vaccine specialist rather by accident. In 1994, when she entered Oxford University to join Professor Adrian Hills lab in a senior postdoc position, it was to work on human genetics. That highlighted the role of a particular type of immune response in protection against malaria, and so the next thing to move on to was to make a vaccine that would work through that type of immune response and thats how I got into vaccines, she told UKs The Telegraph newspaper in an interview.

By 2007, Dr Gilbert, who had become a reader at Oxford University three years previously, had won a project grant from the Wellcome Trust, and had begun work on an influenza vaccine. She has developed two vaccines for the disease so far, and has said that her ultimate aim is to be able to develop her team of scientists to be the leaders in vaccine research in the world.

Many people are fascinated with Dr Gilberts success in balancing the extra demands that women with a career in science face.

According to UNESCO, women make up less than 30 per cent of the worlds researchers. In science, technology, engineering and mathematics, women also publish less, are paid less for their research and do not progress as far as men in their careers.

On the website of the Nuffeld Department of Medicine (of which Jenner Institute, where she works, is a part), Dr Gilbert has been quoted as saying: Work life balance is very difficult, and impossible to manage unless you have good support. Because I had triplets in 1998, nursery fees would have cost more than my entire income as a post-doctoral scientist, so my partner has had to sacrifice his own career in order to look after our children.

She described how 18 weeks of paid maternity leave with three premature babies to care for and work to be completed, was tough: If there is a three-year grant and a woman wants a year-long maternity leave, it can disrupt the progress of the project. The situation becomes worse if more than one person is away simultaneously.

Dr Gilberts advice to women: One of the good things about being a scientist is that the hours are not fixed, so there is a fair amount of flexibility for working mothers. Having said that, there are also times when things (such as overseas conferences and important meetings) are fixed and you have to make sacrifices. It is exceptionally hard work. Its important to plan ahead, and make sure you have people who are willing to cover for you at home while you work. That might be your partner or relatives, or you may be able to buy in help.

Her own children seem to have survived unscathed, but none of them wants to be scientists, she said.

Dr Gilbert is cautiously hopeful. In an interview to the BBC, she said, Nobody can be absolutely sure that it is possible. Thats why we have to do trials. I think the prospects are very good but it is not completely certain.

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Meet Dr Sarah Gilbert, one of the scientists leading the race to find a Covid-19 vaccine - The Indian Express

Executive urged to act over axing of 235 aerospace jobs – Belfast Telegraph

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The Stormont Executive has been asked to step in to assist workers at Co Down-based Collins Aerospace after the company announced 235 employees would not be returning to work at the end of their furlough period.

The news that around a quarter of the workforce were losing their jobs at the Kilkeel company could cost the local economy 10million a year.

Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison said the scale of the job losses would also mean uncertainty for many other workers and small businesses that depend on these employees for a livelihood.

"Unite is estimating that the Kilkeel job losses will cost the local economy 10million a year," Mr Ellison added said.

"While the likes of France and Germany have brought forward multibillion-pound strategies to safeguard jobs and skills in their aerospace sectors, the UK Government has made a patchwork of initiatives, whilst at the same time we are seeing a tsunami of job losses on its watch. Stormont also needs to step up in terms of support.

"As an immediate priority, we need to see the introduction of short-time working to enable continued employment, alongside a training programme to up-skill them for the future."

Collins Aerospace said it was continuing to experience difficulties due to Covid-19. It also forecast reduced business in future.

"This has forced us to take further actions to align with current and future business demands in an evolving environment," the company added.

"We have made the extremely difficult but necessary decision to commence a consultation process with the union and appointed staff representatives to discuss proposals to reduce headcount and make other operational changes in Kilkeel. This is a critical step to ensuring that Collins Aerospace emerges strong once this crisis is contained.

"The number of redundancies is subject to consultation, but the current proposals envisage 235 roles being made redundant."

Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard said the losses would come as a bitter blow to workers and their families.

"First and foremost, this is devastating for the workers, but it will also have a major impact on the local economy," he added.

"The company has exhausted a series of mitigation steps, including eliminating overtime, freezing recruitment and accessing the furlough job retention scheme.

"I have asked management to continue to proactively engage with workers at every stage of the process and offer retraining and up-skilling opportunities wherever possible for those workers affected."

SDLP MLA Sinead Bradley said the job losses at the company, which was the main sponsor of the Newcastle Festival of Flight last year, would be felt right across the local community.

"Employees have expressed their anxiety that they could be faced with unemployment by the end of October," she said.

"The retention of employment on this site is of critical importance to the economic prosperity of Kilkeel town and the surrounding areas.

"Immediate intervention from the Executive and Economy Minister Diane Dodds is needed.

"We can't afford to stand by and allow jobs critical to the local economy to disappear."

Approximately 1,100 jobs were lost in the aerospace sector in just one week in June when Bombardier in east Belfast and Portadown aeroplane seat manufacturer Thompson Aero announced redundancies.

Belfast Telegraph

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Executive urged to act over axing of 235 aerospace jobs - Belfast Telegraph

Howmet Aerospace to Host Webcast and Announce Second Quarter 2020 Results – Yahoo Finance

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Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) will announce its second quarter 2020 financial results on Thursday, August 6, 2020. The press release and presentation materials will be available at approximately 8:00 AM ET on August 6, 2020, via the "Investors" section of the Howmet Aerospace website. A link to the press release will also be available via the Howmet Aerospace Twitter handle @HowmetAerospace at https://twitter.com/HowmetAerospace.

The conference call and webcast will begin at 10:00 AM ET. Details of both follow.

Conference Call Information:

Day:

August 6, 2020

Time:

10:00 AM ET

Hosts:

John Plant, Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer

Ken Giacobbe, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Call:

(833) 519-1352

+ 1 (918) 922-6504 (International)

Conference ID: 1243909

To avoid a delay in start time, please dial in beginning at 9:45 AM ET

Webcast:

Available on the "Investors/Events and Presentations" section of http://www.howmet.com (audio and slides).

Replay Information

A replay of the call will be available on the "Investors/Events and Presentations" section of http://www.howmet.com from August 6 at 1:10 PM ET until August 21 at 11:59 PM ET. Details follow.

About Howmet Aerospace

Howmet Aerospace, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The Companys primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and titanium structural parts necessary for mission-critical performance and efficiency in aerospace and defense applications, as well as forged wheels for commercial transportation. With nearly 1,300 granted and pending patents, the Companys differentiated technologies enable lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft to operate with a lower carbon footprint. In 2019, the businesses of Howmet Aerospace reported annual revenue of over $7 billion. For more information, visit http://www.howmet.com. Follow @howmet: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Dissemination of Company Information

Howmet Aerospace intends to make future announcements regarding Company developments and financial performance through its website at http://www.howmet.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200723005425/en/

Contacts

Investor Contact Paul T. Luther(412) 553-1950Paul.Luther@howmet.com

Media Contact Paul Erwin(412) 553-2666Paul.Erwin@howmet.com

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Howmet Aerospace to Host Webcast and Announce Second Quarter 2020 Results - Yahoo Finance

Z-Wave Alliance Releases 2020 State Of The Ecosystem Report – Essential Install

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The Z-Wave Alliance has announced the release of its second-annual Z-Wave State of the Ecosystem Report. The newly available report examines smart home and connected technology from both within and outside of the home and explores the smart home landscape as it exists today, current and future trends and new opportunities, with an emphasis on the role Z-Wave technology plays in the advancement of the industry.

With the number of connected IoT devices predicted to surpass 40 billion by 2025, including smart home safety sensors (i.e. water and motion) and smart security devices (i.e. door locks and smoke detectors ) and smart home energy equipment (i.e. smart thermostats and smart lighting), its not surprising that Z-Wave continues to see exponential growth in these categories. Water, all-in-one sensors, and smart doorbells all grew by greater than 500% from 2019 to 2020.

There is no shortage of possibilities for the internet of things, said Mitch Klein, executive director, Z-Wave Alliance. Smart Home has changed our way of life. In 2005, there were less than 10 Z-Wave devices on the market, and today there are over 3,300 certified products worldwide across an Alliance of hundreds of global member companies. As we look ahead, we see tremendous opportunity for Z-Wave to continue to advance the way we live.

The report is divided into sections which collectively provide data, figures and proof points impressing upon Z-Wave technology as the leading low-energy mesh network protocol for smart home devices. Contained within the report, readers will find research from analysts examining relevant industry verticals including MDU, insurance, aging-in-place, healthcare, real estate, and more.

Additionally, the report is brimming with thought-leadership contributions regarding open standards, interoperability, artificial intelligence and contextual awareness, and features a section where technology experts and industry press provide their insights into the future of the smart home through the rest of 2020 and beyond.

For nearly two decades, the Z-Wave Alliance has stewarded the advancement of the Z-Wave technology and served as an organization where manufacturers interested in integrating Z-Wave technology could come together to work on new methods of implementation, further certification and market the strengths and benefits of Z-Wave to consumers.

To access the full Z-Wave 2020 State of the Ecosystem Report, click here.

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Z-Wave Alliance Releases 2020 State Of The Ecosystem Report - Essential Install

Insights on the Consumer Automobile Entertainment Global Market – In-vehicle Infotainment System Market Estimated to Reach $78.9 Billion by 2025 -…

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Consumer Automobile Entertainment: Manufacturer vs. Third-party Connected Vehicle Infotainment Apps 2020 - 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This research evaluates software and app platforms including OS, middleware, HMI, smartphone app integration, and OEM SDKs. The report compares the strategic advantages between driver-centric and vehicle-centric infotainment systems. The report also evaluates key initiatives of auto OEMs, third-party app providers, and monetization strategies for automakers in the emerging in-vehicle infotainment ecosystem.

The connected car ecosystem is rapidly evolving as a result of the dominant industry trend to leverage software-defined cars to provide cloud-based services that are indirectly related to driving itself and more concerned with the overall vehicle occupant experience. This trend includes auto OEMs developing their own application platforms that integrate with third-party app development for in-vehicle infotainment systems.

Infotainment systems are emerging as diverse services including navigation system, premium audio, and video systems, in-vehicle advertising, commerce, and smart mobility services such as travel, hotel, flight and train, robo-taxi, ride-sharing/rental, health and education services, and content including video, music, and movies. Various suppliers within the automotive value chain, such as telematics providers and aftermarket service providers, are contributing to develop the SDC ecosystem. This ecosystem is the foundation for in-vehicle entertainment.

The in-vehicle infotainment system market is going to become a $78.9 billion opportunity by 2025. Building driver-centric infotainment systems instead of vehicle-centric ecosystems will be one of the key success factors through 2030. Infotainment services enable new revenue streams that are less dependent on automotive production cycles and provide consistent revenue with up to five times higher margins than the current post-sale services. Many automotive manufacturers have installed third-party infotainment systems, which is a trend that is anticipated to accelerate as vehicle sales decline, placing greater reliance on post-sale services.

Companies Mentioned

Select Report Findings:

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Connected Vehicle Infotainment System: Rise of Software Platforms

2.1 Auto OEMs, OS Platform, Middle Ware and Other Third Party Platforms

2.1.1 OS Platform

2.1.2 Middleware Platform

2.1.3 HMI Platform

2.1.4 Apps Platform

2.1.5 Smartphone Apps Platform

2.1.6 OEM SDK Platform

2.2 Driver Centric Infotainment System

2.3 Vehicle Centric Telematics Solutions

2.4 OEM vs Third Party

2.5 On-Board vs. Cloud-Based

3 Automotive Infotainment Apps Platforms and Emerging Challenges

3.1 Auto OEM Initiatives

3.2 Third-Party Apps Providers

3.3 API Based Development Ecosystem

3.4 Monetize Connected Services

3.5 Address Cybersecurity Challenges

3.6 Buy or Build Decision for In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems

3.7 Adopt Integrated Strategy and Build Partnership

3.8 Prepare for the Age Software Defined Cars

4 Case studies

4.1 The Smartphone as Next-Gen Automotive Infotainment Concept

4.2 QNX and Freescale: Automotive Infotainment

4.3 Case Study for Ford Motor Company developed its next-generation SYNC 3

4.4 BOSCH CASE STUDY for GENIVI Adoption

4.5 Apple CarPlay: Ready for Connected Car Prime Time

5 Company Analysis

6 Market Outlook and Forecasts

6.1 Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Ecosystem and Rise of In-Vehicle Infotainment System Market

6.2 Connected In-Vehicle Infotainment System Market Forecasts 2020 - 2025

6.2.1 Global Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.2.2 Regional Market

6.2.2.1 North America Market: OEM vs. Others, Types of Connectivity, and Country

6.2.2.2 Europe Market: OEM vs. Others, Types of Connectivity, and Country

6.2.2.3 APAC Market: OEM vs. Others, Types of Connectivity, and Country

6.2.2.4 Latin America Market: OEM vs. Others, Types of Connectivity, and Country

6.2.2.5 Middle East & Africa (MEA) Market: OEM vs. Others, Types of Connectivity, and Country

6.2.3 Leading Country Market

6.2.3.1 USA Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.2.3.2 Germany Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.2.3.3 China Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.2.3.4 Japan Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.2.3.5 France Market: OEM vs. Others and Types of Connectivity

6.3 Connected In-Vehicle Infotainment Module Equipped Car Forecasts 2020 - 2025

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s6o8gg

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Insights on the Consumer Automobile Entertainment Global Market - In-vehicle Infotainment System Market Estimated to Reach $78.9 Billion by 2025 -...

STL sets up end-to-end 5G Ecosystem with its strong portfolio of optical fibers and wireless technologies – PR Newswire India

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PUNE, India, July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- STL (NSE: STRTECH), an industry leading integrator of digital networks, today announced financial results for the first quarter ending June 30, 2020. The company recorded a strong cumulative order book of over Rs. 10,300 crore and revenues of Rs. 876 crore. While the revenues for the quarter were affected by lockdowns in various parts of the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company's performance showcased a balanced focus on employee well-being and supporting customers with resilience and adaptability. STL is proud of its role in upgrading and maintaining the digital lifeline connecting the world for its customers.

During this period, STL has further invested in building a one-of-a-kind end-to-end Digital networks ecosystem, including next-gen optical and wireless (5G) portfolio for all markets. Subsequently, global, marquee network creators are actively discussing large scale engagements with STL for 5G networks, FTTH rollouts, Data centers, and network modernisation.

Earlier this month, at STLescope 2020, STL announced Vision 2023 to investors and analysts. Over the next-3 year, STL plans to:

This comes with the backdrop of a credible performance - doubling of revenues in the last 3 years.

Industry at Inflection Point

As remote working becomes the new norm, the shift to digital is now permanent. Globally, internet traffic has increased significantly, and the demand for data connectivity continues to grow exponentially. The current digital infrastructure is not primed to manage this sudden spike in web traffic, so a completely new architecture is evolving - the Next-Gen Digital Network. These virtualised networks will be software-driven, disaggregated, converged, fibre rich, and close to the Edge.

Digital service providers and cloud companies globally have accelerated their plans to bring these digital networks to the market, while they continue to invest in modernising the current networks.

STL, with its unique value proposition - 25 years in optical connectivity, large-scale digital network integration, and virtualised wireless capabilities, is gaining global prominence as a leading integrator of digital networks.

Empowering Customers to realise their Vision

In the current times, as connectivity becomes an essential service like food, water and electricity, STL continues to support its customers relentlessly by delivering end-to-end solutions for their fixed and wireless networks:

Leading one-of-a-kind 5G Ecosystem

STL continues to strengthen the Make in India 5G ecosystem by investing in technology and assembling an ecosystem of partners in hardware manufacturing, cloud computing, and academia. The ecosystem will create the Next-Gen Digital Network by bringing together four specialised technological confluences - (i) wired and wireless; (ii) software and hardware; (iii) connectivity and compute; and (iv) open source - all at the edge of the network. This network will bring the scale and quality to bring affordable Internet to the world.

Q1FY21 Financial Highlights

Revenue: Rs. 876 crore

EBITDA: Rs. 131 crore

PAT: Rs. 6 crore

Order Book: Rs.10,312 crore

Exports at 51% of revenue

"Digital disruption is the new normal, and the world is embracing the changes that come with it. New ways of working, new business models and new opportunities are emerging. We are seeing the current telecom infrastructure evolving to a new digital network architecture - virtual, converged, disaggregated, and close to the Edge," said Dr. Anand Agarwal, Group CEO, STL. He added, "As our customers are swiftly advancing towards creating these new digital networks, we are uniquely positioned with our 5G Ecosystem and digital network integration capabilities, to deliver these next-gen digital networks for our customers globally."

To know more about the company's strategy and Q1FY21 results, please log in to Analyst Call today at 16.00 IST.

About Sterlite Technologies Ltd - STL

STL is an industry-leading integrator of digital networks.

We design and integrate these digital networks for our customers. With core capabilities in Optical Interconnect, Virtualised Access Solutions, Network Software and System Integration, we are the industry's leading end-to-end solutions provider for global digital networks. We partner with global telecom companies, cloud companies, citizen networks and large enterprises to deliver solutions for their fixed and wireless networks for current and future needs.

We believe in harnessing technology to create a world with next generation connected experiences that transform everyday living. With intense focus on end-to-end network solutions development, we conduct fundamental research in next-generation network applications at our Centre of Excellence. STL has a strong global presence with next-gen optical preform, fibre and cable manufacturing facilities in India, Italy, China and Brazil, along with two software-development center's across India and one data Centre design facility in the UK.

SOURCE Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL)

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STL sets up end-to-end 5G Ecosystem with its strong portfolio of optical fibers and wireless technologies - PR Newswire India

HUAWEI clocks 1.6 million developers for its HMS ecosystem as it reaches 700 million global users – Pocketnow

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At its 19th China Internet Conference held on July 23 in China, HUAWEI shared some important figures regarding its Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Ecosystem, the companys alternative to a Google services-free ecosystem. The Chinese electronics giant has revealed that it now has reached 1.6 million developers worldwide working with the HMS core, a number that is 76% higher compared to last year.

Additionally, the company also announced that the HMS ecosystem has now reached 700 million users worldwide, which amounts to a growth of 32% on an annual basis. Moreover, the company mentioned that over 81,000 innovative applications have integrated the HMS core open abilities since its inception.

Furthermore, the $1 billion HMS Ecosystem Incentive Program that HUAWEI announced back in September is also reaping good results. Initially created to boost app development, user growth and marketing, the Shining Star Program that oversees it has since provided support to 10,000 apps.

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HUAWEI clocks 1.6 million developers for its HMS ecosystem as it reaches 700 million global users - Pocketnow

Xvoucher Launches a Global Tax Solution Designed for the Learning Ecosystem – Southernminn.com

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MINNEAPOLIS, July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Xvoucher, a division of Genuine Genius Technologies, LLC, is announcing the launch of their newest financial management solution: Global Tax Service. An innovative new service added to the Xvoucher platform.

When it comes to the sale, distribution, and consumption of learning and testing, all taxes are not created equally. The world of global taxation is complex. Dealing with taxing authorities internationally, staying informed of the changing laws, payment schedules, governmental requirements, and the currencies involved gets exponentially more complicated. As such, Xvoucher has rapidly established itself as a leader in tax management for credentialing and training programs that have a global footprint.

"Tax management and payment is a challenge for any global organization that sells training and credentialing. Xvoucher's new service ensures that their learning program is legally compliant, reducing their exposure and opening new markets." - Kevin Brice, CEO of Xvoucher

Xvoucher's innovative Global Tax Service manages your company's tax filing capabilities, allowing you to focus on other things--like growing your education business. Xvoucher's global partnership with Deloitte is at the forefront of managing our specialized tax management service. With a corporate presence in over 60 countries it is now possible to leverage Xvoucher's expertise as an added service to our existing Learning Marketplace capabilities.

Xvoucher understands how different training modalities like asynchronous training, e-learning, virtual Instructor-led, and even webinars are often taxed differently. Assuring compliance to current tax laws within all jurisdictions and having tax-compliant invoicing throughout a program's ecosystem brings you peace of mind.

For more information on Xvoucher's Global Tax Service, contact our team: sales@xvoucher.com.

Contact Name:Christine AveryPhone: 612-406-9480Email: cavery@xvoucher.comWebsite: http://www.Xvoucher.com

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Xvoucher Launches a Global Tax Solution Designed for the Learning Ecosystem - Southernminn.com

Beram Kayal sounds ominous Rangers title warning as Celtic hero reckons there’s ‘no doubt’ about 10 In A Row – Daily Record

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Confident Beram Kayal reckons Neil Lennon being in place to mastermind Celtic's title tilt means there's "no doubt" his former team will secure 10 In A Row this season.

The Israeli international was a key player under the Irishman and played a vital role in securing the first three league triumphs.

And Kayal believes the Irishman's managerial ability leaves rivals Rangers facing a tall order in stopping Celtic securing Scottish football immortality.

Speaking to the Herald, he said: I enjoyed my time. We started something there and I think they will finish it this season by completing 10 In A Row.

"I have been really pleased to see the boys continue to do so well.

It hasnt been easy for them to change manager from Ronny Deila to Brendan Rodgers and now the main man Lenny is back.

"Neil Lennon is a super guy, he is hungry, he wants to win. I have no doubt Celtic are going to do it."

Despite the 32-year-old believing a title success for the ages is coming for his former team, the combative midfielder has nothing but praise for new Rangers defender Leon Balogun.

Kayal is certain Steven Gerrard has landed a player capable of competing for regular game time as Nigerian international inked a deal at Ibrox on Friday.

He said: Obviously, Rangers have made progress in the last few years. I havent been surprised by that. That is what happens when you bring in a legend like Stevie G.

"They are building something very good there at Ibrox.

I know Connor Goldson. He was with Brighton when we were in the Championship. He is a great talent and I havent been surprised that he has done so well at Rangers in the last couple of seasons.

"But a team like Rangers needs more than three centre backs, they need four or five. Competition has to be high.

But if Leon proves himself he should feature in the first team there. He is aninternationalfootballer who has played at a very high level in his career. He will be pushing hard to be in the starting XI in the new season.

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Beram Kayal sounds ominous Rangers title warning as Celtic hero reckons there's 'no doubt' about 10 In A Row - Daily Record

Readers sound off on police criticism, nuns and the Golden Rule – New York Daily News

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Bronx: Im confused. First, the Daily News and the public howl about summons and arrest quotas, even publishing stories about the brave police officers who came forward to whine about this evil. Now, you complain that not enough arrests and summonses are being made. If you dont want a quota, you cannot complain about the number of arrests and summonses, since there is no mandatory number expected of officers. I also remember reading some nonsense about smart policing, which is a fantasy, just like, you cannot arrest your way out of crime. I had to laugh when I heard that one. If thats true, why are arrests down and crime going up? Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth. I fully support cops standing on the sidelines until the mayor, the City Council, the press and the defund the police believers decide theyve had enough. Eric Reynolds, NYPD Det., retired

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Readers sound off on police criticism, nuns and the Golden Rule - New York Daily News

Letter: The left doesnt know what patriotism is – Red Bluff Daily News

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Editor:

In response to never-Trump Mitch Crows letter on July 2, even the casual observer will come to the conclusion that Mr. Crows crowing is the result of overdosing on the cool-aid so abundantly served up by the fake news media and the leadership of the Democratic Party and has no clue what sanity, patriotism and Christianity is all about.

Its plain to see his description of President Trump exactly describes the Clintons and Obamas, the most recent Democrats to occupy the White House. Both are filthy rich by selling out our country and leaving our national defense defenseless. Is that being patriotic?

Is refusing to call Arabs terrorists who make videos of beheading Christians and Jews, is that being Christian? Obama claimed he was a Christian. To what country does his loyalty go?

Mayors of major cities across the country for decades have been Democrats. I dont hear Mr. Crow objecting to the black on black crime that has claimed the lives of countless children over the decades. Or the rioting and destruction in these cities led by patriots of the Democratic Party, Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA. That is insane.

Sanity is making rational decisions such as renegotiating trade deals and removing restrictions made by Democrats that sent jobs overseas and by bringing back those jobs putting people back to work and off welfare.

Patriotism is devotion to our country and concern for its defense. When Donald Trump was sworn in as president our military was desperately inadequate for a proper defense. Our borders were wide open and we were under an invasion of illegals. President Trump built our military back to defend us and our borders are much more secure.

Being a Christian is following the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. President Trump has done just that. Minorities benefited the most from the jobs he brought back and his reforms in our criminal justice system. President Trump has brought back prayer in the White House and Merry Christmas is also welcome there.

Violence always begins on the left and is ignored by the left. Forty-eight shot, 11 dead over 4th of July weekend in NYC, add to the count Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and all cities run by Democrats and the numbers go out of sight and what are the Democrats doing about it? Defunding or eliminating their police departments?

Les Wolfe. Red Bluff

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KEEPING THE FAITH | How to embrace kindness as a lifestyle – Mahoning Matters

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The Golden Rule encourages us to treat others with respect, kindness and fairness. It is advanced by the concepts of compassion and empathy.

It is hard to imagine but there was a recent time when we looked forward to renting videotapes.

Yeah, I pretty much dated myself. Each tape had a sticker affixed that said, Please be kind and rewind

It was not a requirement, but a hope that one would be mindful of the next viewers desire to enjoy the same experience. The sticker was in essence a visual appeal to the renter to be considerate of others.

The Golden Rule is the moral principle and practice of treating other people as one's self would prefer to be treated. It is considered to be one of Jesus' most profound and impactful teachings. He taught in Matthew 7:12 Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

The Golden Rule encourages us to treat others with respect, kindness and fairness. It is advanced by the concepts of compassion and empathy. Its basic principle is that you would extend yourself to others as you want to be done to you. Kindness is a virtue that is embraced by many cultures and religions.

Kindness is the ability to display concern for others without expecting praise, recognition or reward.

I also believe that within the Golden Rule, we should treat others as they wish to be treated. I try not to presume to know what is best for someone, especially if their approach is not the same as mine; I try to honor and respect their preference.

In third grade at Mary Haddow Elementary School, a classmate untied my shoe in a failed attempt to be funny. However it was not known, but my younger sister tied my shoes for me daily!

Raising my hand in horror yet without shame, upon being acknowledged I said, "Mrs. Phifer, Anthony untied my shoes and I don't know how to tie them!"

I don't remember her immediate response but we were then given classwork to complete independently. It was then she took me to a private area and observed my unsuccessful attempts to tie. She quickly realized that I was left-handed trying to tie like I was right-handed!

It was not on her lesson plans for the day or within the curriculum to teach ME a skill others had already mastered in kindergarten! Without judgment or scorn, she taught me how to complete this once difficult task!

Recently I recalled the impact of that episode several times on the same day yet on different occasions. While I have long acknowledged this act to her directly, I felt led to further express my appreciation in a tangible way.

My Granny often said, "Give me my flowers while I can smell them!" It is a blessing that Mrs. Phifer still lives within walking blocks of my home. As an educator, she lived among the students she taught. Hence, I arrived at her home with a floral arrangement unannounced!

It was Lewis/Louie standing at her door, but she kept addressing me as "Rev. Macklin" After excusing myself for the impromptu visit, I shared my appreciation for that impactful teaching moment.

She recalled the moment as well, saying "I was not going to let him do that to you again! This act also effectively took away the power of the bully. I remain grateful for her intentional response of kindness. Four decades later I still vividly recall her single act of empathy.

We have been bombarded in the midst of this pandemic with a series of unnatural disasters the human acts or inactions which cause harm or aggravate circumstances which are in our control. Even the wearing of face masks to protect others has become a contentious act for some.

The Golden Rule is reinforced and stated in the Old Testament as well. Leviticus 19:18 admonishes, Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. While we can debate the justification or gross injustice of any one conflict, I am disheartened when I think of the devastation created by wars motivated by racial or religious hatred.

The local and national news has reported numerous examples of inhumane domestic aggression and insensitivity with increasing episodes of violence, racial strife, sexual harassment, civil unrest, marginalization of victims and intimidation.These behaviors demean the victim and damage our civic life. Flashes of aggression in word and deed can be life-changing.

We all become less when these offenses are perpetrated. I contend that preventing conflict should be one of the most important human aspirations.

Be kind especially to unkind people they need it the most. Kind words can heal the heart and mind. Luke 6:35 directs us to Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great."

Pope Francis said it well, Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us. The true reward of being good to others is spreading some joy and offering hope.

John Wesley once said, Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.

Even when things seem to be in disarray, God still finds a way to show love and kindness. As we are made in His image, we have the ability to do the same to others.

The world is demanding us to be kind especially under the pressure given the climate in this country and the extraordinary pressure we are all under. We all need to give each other a lot more mercy! We have been through some challenging times where we must constantly reassess, recalculate and readjust things differently in real-time.

The late Rev Lonnie Kwajo Asim Simon, the pastor emeritus of the New Bethel Baptist Church and was recognized in the community as The Peoples Pastor for his stalwart advocacy for humanity. He was an accomplished author and poet in his own right. However he would frequently conclude public gathering with a recitation by Charles Meigs entitled Others

Lord help me live from day to dayIn such a self-forgetful wayThat even when I kneel to prayMy prayer shall be for Others.

Help me in all the work I doTo ever be sincere and trueAnd know that all I do for youMust needs be done for Others.

Let self be crucified and slainAnd buried deep; and all in vainMay efforts be to rise againUnless to live for Others.

And when my work on earth is doneAnd my new work in heavens begunMay I forget the crown Ive wonWhile thinking still of Others.

Others, Lord, yes othersLet this my motto beHelp me to live for othersThat I may live like Thee.

We must embrace kindness as a lifestyle so that in the event of conflict, kindness would ebb naturally from us instead of forced politeness or attempting to be nice without being offensive. Proverbs 16:23-24 From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.I contend the best medicine for the world today is kindness so please administer a generous dose often!

I honor the legacy of civil rights icons Reverend C. T. Vivian and the honorable U.S. Rep. John Lewis who passed away within hours of each other. These men were central figures in the early struggles of Americas Civil Rights Movement. These agents of change used their platforms to show the world how it could be better using the approach of non-violence. Both valiantly faced while experiencing violent bigotry as they walked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the cause of equality.

They displayed the essence of the Golden Rule during a time when it was not extended to them. As Congressman Lewis stood earlier this year, battling terminal cancer, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday he issued a challenge to the conscience of America to get in good trouble, necessary trouble Remember it is always your choice whether to be an instrument of peace or a tool of torture. Choose wisely and keep fighting the good faith!

Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II is the lead pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, chaplain for the Youngstown Police Department and coordinator of the Mahoning Valley African American Male Wellness Walk. He resides in Youngstown with Dorothy, his partner in marriage and ministry. They share the love and joy of 5 children and 6 grandchildren.

All biblical references cited are New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

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KEEPING THE FAITH | How to embrace kindness as a lifestyle - Mahoning Matters

I’ve fallen and no one will help me up – Valley News

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Zachary Elliott, Special to Valley News

Being the first one off the elevator, my mother-in-law didnt see the cord from the vacuum stretching across the hotel floor. As she stepped out, she tripped in front of a crowd of vacationers. She hit the ground with as much grace as possible while breaking her wrist. It was a painful and embarrassing ordeal.

Later as she recounted the incident, what shocked her most was that only one person stopped to help. Several people were exiting the elevator, and a handful of people were waiting to get on. All of them witnessed a grandmother hit the ground. Most people gasped, but only one stopped to help the poor woman lying on the ground. It was the classic situation of, Ive fallen and no one will help me up.

With such a lack of compassion and love for their neighbor, one has to wonder what kind of world people are living in. Have they become so self-centered and so busy that they dont have the heart, time or concern for a person, created in Gods image, to help them in their time of need? I hope not.

At the very least, this behavior should not be the case for the one who professes to be a follower of Christ. As Christians, its their Christ-like duty and privilege to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, even when its inconvenient, according to Matthew 22:39.

If Christians lose sight of what Jesus said was his second most important command, then they are really no better than animals. They are the ones who are to fulfill the golden rule of do to others whatever you would like them to do to you, from Matthew 7:12.

This life goal is precisely the example that Jesus modeled while he was on the earth. He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many, in Mark 10:45.

And it is precisely the life he calls us to live out. As he said in the parable of the good Samaritan, Go and do likewise, in Luke 10:37.

Now here is where it gets serious. Jesus also said that when we love our neighbor, and our enemy for that matter, we are actually showing love toward him. Think of that!

While speaking on loving people, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me, in Matthew 25:40.

Now, this statement changes everything.

I think its time we took a new perspective on helping people. In our culture of self-convenience, its time for the church, the people of God, to rise up and show the world how its done. The church knows that Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends, from John 15:13.

It can no longer be inconvenient, uncomfortable or too costly. Its actually mandatory for anyone who professes the name of Christ. Christians are his people, and as such, they are to live like their master.

Zachary Elliott is the lead pastor of Fusion Christian Church in Temecula. For more information, visit https://www.fusionchristianchurch.com, https://fourminutefaithbuilder.com or find them on Instagram.

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Letters to the Editor for Friday, July 24, 2020 – Tulsa World

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Economy improves with masks

What the president and Gov. Kevin Stitt do not realize is that the economy will not improve until everyone is masked.

I will not shop for pleasure until everyone is wearing a mask. I order online the necessities and do without other things.

MaryEmma Bristow, Tulsa

According to legend, Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Today, President Donald Trump fumbles while America fails.

Trump is the gift that keeps on giving to Russia and China. He and his wrecking crew of Republican enablers preside over our crumbling decline and fall.

If Trump gets a second term in office, we can say goodbye to America and hello to Trumpdumpfistan.

Andrew Shead, Tulsa

In Acts 24:1-8, a trial lawyer and evil accuser named Tertullus proceeded to bring false charges against apostle Paul. Tertullus called him a pet, an agitator and ringleader.

He also accused Paul of belonging to a sect and attempting to profane the temple.

Ever since Donald Trump was elected president by the democratic process, the liberal media has continually dumped prejudicial terms upon him.

Whether a person likes him or not, any reasonable, fair-minded person would have to admit that the constant barrage of hateful speech on Trump has not been equitable. Our president was never given a fair shake from the outset and never even given a chance.

It reminds me of the scripture, They hated me for no reason at all (John 15:25).

Ive been documenting the liberal press comments regarding the president and have come up with the liberals own Tertullusan list.

Socialist liberals really dont believe in democracy anyway, just anarchy.

These people refer to the president as arrogant, divisive, domineering, ignorant and narcissistic.

I would be extremely careful who I made false accusations about. These things seem to have a way of boomeranging on individuals, coming back through people you once trusted and that you thought loved and respected you.

Guy Burnett, Jr., Owasso

Personal freedom is subordinate to the communitys well-being.

For example, as a community, we set aside personal freedom (to drive anywhere we wish) by agreeing to drive on the right side of the road because it decreases accidents.

Similarly, in a sort of two-way street of cooperation, you could think of wearing face coverings as an extension of the Golden Rule.

During this pandemic we wear face coverings to protect other people against the chance that we are contagious but dont know it.

To accept the fact that we could unknowingly be contagious requires some humility.

The Tulsa City Council deserves credit for affirming a new norm designed for the benefit of all.

John and Linda Fields, Bixby

As a health care professional, I review the epidemiology of COVID-19 on a daily basis.

It is now obvious that the rate of new infections is spiraling out of control in our area, threatening to overload the capacity of our hospitals to treat the patients who become critically ill from the virus.

I relish my freedom and personal liberties as do all Americans. That being said, all current scientific studies support the fact that the wearing of mask in public dramatically reduces the rate of new COVID-19 infections in as little as four to six weeks.

By slowing the rate of new cases, we buy more time for new avenues of treatment for those infected and we buy time for an eventual vaccine. I realize there are individuals who cannot wear masks for various reasons, but for the vast majority, masks are a viable option.

As it pertains to the pandemic, it is time for all Americans to put our political ideologies aside, stop the finger-pointing and stop dwelling in hindsight as to what should have been done.

Our best hope is to move forward as one nation against our common enemy, COVID-19. Growing up, my parents provided me with a road map for life that can serve us well during this pandemic: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, the Golden Rule.

Wearing a mask in public is a show of compassion not a sign of weakness.

Justen Brent Smith D.D.S., Sperry

To mask or not to mask, that is the question.

I have heard I should wear a mask to protect the great unmasked multitudes. Malarky!

I wear a mask to protect me. I have no desire to inhale whatever has been spewed into the air by all those unmasked people.

I can only protect me and so, reluctantly, I wear a mask. It comes off as soon as I am out of the store or building.

There is no herd immunity, but we definitely have herd illness. My mask will help me stay out of that herd.

I appreciate the statistic showing the number of recoveries. That makes the virus seem less of a death threat.

I was astonished it took the World Health Organization so long to acknowledge the virus is airborne.

Donna Schoeni, Grove

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Letters to the Editor for Friday, July 24, 2020 - Tulsa World

A Failure Of Imagination – The Standard

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By David Todd McCarty | Friday, July 24, 2020

By the grace of reality and the nature of life, manevery manis an end in himself and exists for his own sake, and the achievement of his own happiness is his highest moral purpose.

Ayn Rand believed that rational selfishness was the ultimate expression of human nature, a philosophy perfectly captured in the 1987 movie Wall Street when Gordon Gecko tells room full of investors, Greed is good.

The fact that so many Republicans consider Rand to be a prophet and spiritual leader is maybe less surprising than it should be, given their adherence to laissez-faire capitalism, but you might expect them to be a little less self-congratulatory about their own avarice, out of sheer good taste.

There was a time when Republicans truly believed that free market capitalism was the best method for maintaining healthy, balanced economies, but after decades of abject failure, from Reagans trickle-down economics to Paul Ryans path to prosperity, their only viable strategy seems to be to simply embrace greed as a moral value worthy of religious rapture and run with it.

Liberals often denigrate conservatives as dull-witted, facile, religious fanatics, which given their rhetorical proclamations, is at times hard to refute, but the reality is far more complex than daft ignorance. While there is a certain amount of gamesmanship, strategy and willful ignorance involved, the key feature of conservatism is an almost total lack of imagination that results in an equal dearth of empathy.

Imagination is defined by Merriam-Webster as the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality. The creative ability to confront and deal with a problem without having a clear path to doing so.

Empathy, on the other hand, is the imaginative projection of a subjective state; the ability to be able to vicariously grasp the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another without actually having the feelings, thoughts, and experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

Put another way, imagination takes an act of faith, whereas empathy, an act of submission. To imagine something requires the ability to conceptualize something weve never experienced, while empathy demands that we experience something we may not be able to conceptualize.

Empathy is a spiritual exercise, obliging you to open yourself up to the pain of another, and requiring you to lose a bit of yourself in the process. Its an act of sacrifice; a selfless exploration into the world of another.

Beyond the metaphysical, there are practical reasons to incorporate imagination and empathy into public policy, and they generating new ideas involves risk-taking that requires courage and the ability to suppress fear. In a nutshell, you cannot leap off into the wild blue yonder if you are consumed by the fear of failure.

In order to innovate beyond what you already know, you need the ability to envision a variety of outcomes, and if you have the ability to experience the world through the eyes and emotions of others, not only might you be open to untold possibilities, but you will also be more likely to account for a wider range of outcomes.

For nearly a decade during the Obama administration, Republicans were not in a position to govern, so they adopted a posture of obstruction as their overarching ideology. When they finally found themselves in power, they were completely unprepared to govern. Theyd spent eight years complaining about Obamacare but when given the chance, they failed to come up with an alternative and continue almost four years later to try to dismantle it without ever having attempted to replace it.

Republicans are not creators, rather they operate most comfortably as critics. They are no longer for things as much as they are against things. But bigger than any other single issue or policy is the fundamental nature of the Republican Party, and that is they they do not believe in government.

Donald Trumps greatest measure of success within the Republican Party has been his willingness to install Cabinet Secretaries that do not believe in the departments they run. Donald Trump and his enablers have built nothing, but have rather spent the past 40 months dismantling, defunding and discrediting every regulation and consumer protection they could.

According to the framers of the United States of America, the very idea of government itself is instituted by men, deriving their powers by consent, in order to secure the rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government therefore is to protect the rights of citizens, not the corporate welfare of the ruling class.

America is a considerably larger and more complex country than the framers could have ever imagined. We have likely grown beyond the capacity of our current limitations and it will take people of substance to guide us into a sustainable future. We are going to need smart people capable of imagining a future that does not yet exist, and they will need the empathy to understand the importance of succeeding, as well as the consequences for failing to do so.

Government will always be about power to some degree, and there will always be winners and losers, but we should at least strive to hold it to the promise of protecting the rights of all Americans. That much, at the very least, it should strive to do.

If any society can be judged by how well its treats its most vulnerable, the very least we can do is have the empathy to imagine a country that is inherently greater than rational selfishness.

Follow David Todd McCarty on Twitter @davidtmccarty and The Standard @capemaystandard

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Big problems with the Paycheck Protection Program? – The Week

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The smartest insight and analysis, from all perspectives, rounded up from around the web:

"The U.S. Small Business Administration released 4.8 million loan records detailing who received money from the $530 billion Paycheck Protection Program," said Taylor Borden at Business Insider and it's quite a list. Kanye West's Yeezy sneakers brand is on it, with a loan of $2 million to $5 million. So are the Girl Scouts of America, the Archdiocese of New York, the Ayn Rand Institute a think tank known for promoting "hard-core capitalism" and the anti-tax Americans for Tax Reform Foundation. "Meant to protect small business," the program, which offered forgivable loans to help save jobs, ended up sending money to large corporations, private schools, and even private clubs. Among the "well-heeled and well-connected" recipients were organizations linked to the Trump administration itself, said Ryan Tracy at The Wall Street Journal. An Indianapolis company part-owned by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos got a loan of at least $6 million; a company run by the family of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao got a loan, too. So did Newsmax Media, run by Trump donor Christopher Ruddy. Large hospital and casino chains got loans for multiple subsidiaries, leading to complaints of misuse. Says one finance professor, "This was supposed to be a small-business program."

It's hard to evaluate just how effective the program has been, because the numbers released so far are full of mistakes, said Mark Niquette at Bloomberg. For instance, on the electronic system that lenders use to process applications, more than 550,000 loan recipients listed "zero" for the number of jobs retained and more than 320,000 left the line blank. Some of the data is flat wrong. The official list shows Herb Miller's "one-man business" in Hixson, Tennessee, getting as much as $5 million. The real amount: $3,700. With the numbers rolling in, "people are still confused, and even angry, over the ambitious, unprecedented experiment," said Emily Stewart at Vox. The flaws go far beyond issues with the data. The program's reliance on banks disadvantaged smaller businesses, "because banks can collect bigger fees for bigger loans." But the biggest problem was in the design, which created confusion "about what PPP was supposed to accomplish in the first place." Take the Mark Fisher Fitness studio in New York City. With a PPP loan, it was able to rehire in April the 28 employees who were laid off in March. But the money had to be used in two months and now that it's spent, the employees have been laid off again.

Don't get mad at Kanye West, said David Graham at The Atlantic. Naming and shaming companies that were "legally allowed to seek public stimulus funds" misses the mark. So what if a recipient has a celebrity CEO? "Each dollar they passed to employees was a dollar injected into the American economy." The "huge and hasty PPP was bound" to make mistakes, said The Washington Post in an editorial, but "the declining unemployment rates of the past two months suggest this broad approach did indeed help save jobs." Congress on a bipartisan basis agreed to write the rules "and ask questions later." Now the initial results of the program are finally public, and "Congress has enough time and data as well as a duty to fix it."

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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Daily Reformer: Hagehan The First Couple Of Minnesota Politics – Patch.com

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From the Minnesota Reformer:

By J. Patrick CoolicanJuly 24, 2020

No surprise: With the virus surging in key states like Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arizona and southern California, data show the recovery is stalling out.

Ricardo Lopez on how police reform was a major achievement for the People of Color Indigenous Caucus, which was just formed in 2017.

(Also, I wrote in this space July 9: "Given Senate Republicans' lack of interest in serious police reform, the place for a deal is on a big infrastructure bill." I shall eat crow, and good on Senate Republicans for proving me wrong. And I was wrong twice cuz no infrastructure bill.)

We had a discussion at Reformer HQ about how to describe U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn and GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan, who are married.

Are they Minnesota's own Kid Rock and Pam Anderson? Or how about Peg and Al Bundy?

Either way, they embarrassed themselves and all Minnesotans Thursday.

Carnahan:

Your math is wrong. Also, there's a lot of reliable information out there for general interest readers on the benefits of masking. Even your hero, the game show host president, is encouraging us to wear masks.

Hagedorn, meanwhile, was the only Minnesota member of Congress to vote no on a measure to remove confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, as well as a bust of Roger Taney, to be replaced by one of Thurgood Marshall, Ricardo Lopez reports.

Roger Taney: Author of the Dred Scott decision.

Thurgood Marshall: Argued for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Ks.

Minnesota: The first state to volunteer troops to the Civil War effort.

Republicans have their summer retreat tonight and tomorrow at Madden's On Gull Lake in Brainerd. Tonight's featured speaker is said to be potential 2022 candidate for governor Mike Lindell, who uses infomercials to sell pillows. Also, buy his memoir What Are the Odds? signed hardcover, low low price: $49.95 buy it now before it's too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fox News poll of Minnesota: Joe Biden 51, President Donald Trump 38. (Gov. Tim Walz polling well, as are local police and Black Lives Matter.)

David Shor would tell us we should expect reversion to the mean, meaning tightening.

And Minnesota's own James Hohmann points out in his Post column that Dems should be concerned about turnout. Those polls may not be what they seem. And APM Reports' Tom Scheck et. al. have a scary story about votes disqualified in the Wisconsin primary due to user error, and whether it's a scary preview of what's to come in November. 23,000 votes were thrown out. (Trump's 2016 margin was just shy of 23,000. Yikes.)

Mall of America owner Triple Five has missed mortgage payments and has no reopen plan for its $5 billion American Dream mall in New Jersey.

An interesting, diverse mix of writers on the Strib op-ed page argue the City Council is falling down on the job when it comes to the Police Department.

Vice has a lengthy story on the upcoming DFL primary in the 5th Congressional District, leading with a recent mailer Rep. Ilhan Omar sent out ripping the challenger Antone Melton-Meaux for accepting big donations from out-of-state donors.

"Can We Trust Antone Melton-Meaux's Money?"

What do you know they're all Jewish.

Reformer contributor Rabbi Avi Olitzky of the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, who endorsed Melton-Meaux this week, is quoted: "My immediate thought when I saw the mailer was 'Here we go again.'"

Her Jewish supporters defend her in the piece:

As an adolescent I believed former President Bill Clinton was sending "jack-booted thugs" to trample on our liberties. (Who else here is in Ayn Rand recovery? No shame in it! One day at a time!)

As an adult in the era of former President Barack Obama, the Republican claims of "tyranny" sounded both hysterical and disingenuous, especially after the Patriot Act and warrantless surveillance of the Bush era that they often supported.

And now this:

If you're a libertarianish Republican: This is it. It's happening. You warned us that confiscatory taxation was a stone's throw from federal agents violating our rights. Well, now it's happening. What are you doing about it?

I asked readers Thursday how you're caring and feeding your souls and got some nice responses:

Local bookstore owner L.E. writes that "My mostly harmless mission is to offer people the sorts of books that either inform this time or help them through this time. This is Happiness, by Niall Williams, is the latter. It's about everything in life. Love, loss, hunger, family, etc. All of this within the structure of an epic tale about how rural electrification comes to a small Irish village."

Reader P.F. is reading the graphic novels and nonfiction, including Open Borders and Banned Book Club, which is set in South Korea in the early 1980s. "Yeah, they're illustrated books, but it's a lot easier to swallow content like that right now," P.F. writes.

K.M. listens to podcasts while biking and recommends Pitchfork Economics and says she's learned more from it than any Econ 101 course ever.

And reader S.S. is reading The Great Evil: Christianity, the Bible, and the Native American Genocide but only when she can steal it back from her boyfriend, who took it from her after Chapter 2. Hey Mike: Give it back!

Correspond: patrick@minnesotareformer.co

Have a great day all. JPC

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can't or won't tell..

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Nagarro launches machine vision-based artificial intelligence solutions that mitigate COVID-19 risks and enhance workplace safety – PRNewswire

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SAN JOSE, Calif., July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Nagarro, a global leader in digital engineering and technology solutions, announced the launch of AI-powered solutions to help organizations kick-start work and life amid the COVID-19 crisis. Based on machine vision technology, these solutions provide powerful workplace interventions quickly and effectively, and have the potential to transform how we work and interact by ensuring better health and safety of employees and visitors.

Nagarro's COVID-AI suite of solutions is designed to leverage state-of-the-art AI models running on low-cost edge devices and can be deployed at scale in a matter of weeks, with very little overhead. It has mechanisms to ensure social distancing behaviour, encourage PPE practices such as wearing masks, and monitor as well as mitigate high risk scenarios such as large collections of people.

Nagarro's COVID-AI suite of solutions includes:

"As the world grapples with COVID-19, every ounce of technological innovation and ingenuity harnessed to fight this pandemic brings us one step closer to overcoming it. AI and ML are playing a key role in better understanding and addressing the COVID-19 crisis, " said Anurag Sahay, VP & Global Head - AI & Data Sciences, Nagarro. "Organizations, businesses and establishments are finding new ways to operate effectively. At Nagarro, we are using AI powerfully to help bring some of these interventions in place. We believe that machine vision-based AI platforms have significant potential to transform how we work and live during the new normal."

Nagarro recently conducted a webinar highlighting how the COVID-AI suite of solutions can help organizations accelerate the adaptation to the new normal. To view the webinar recording, click here https://www.nagarro.com/webinar/ai-to-the-rescue-during-covid

Write to [emailprotected] for more information about Nagarro COVID-AI solutions.

About Nagarro

Nagarro drives technology-led business breakthroughs for industry leaders and challengers. When our clients want to move fast and make things, they turn to us. Today, we are more than 7,000 experts across 22 countries. Together we form Nagarro, the global services division of Munich-based Allgeier SE.

Contact:

Megha Jha [emailprotected]

SOURCE Nagarro

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Nagarro launches machine vision-based artificial intelligence solutions that mitigate COVID-19 risks and enhance workplace safety - PRNewswire

Why Its Time to Start Using Artificial Intelligence in Your Greenhouse – Greenhouse Grower

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Luna by iUNU is a greenhouse AI platform using aerial robots on tracks that scan the entire production area several times a day using computer vision.Photo courtesy of Sunrise Greenhouses

With todays automated climate-control systems, managing the greenhouse environment and its systems has never been easier. The management of all equipment under one system, including heating, venting, and irrigation, provides optimal efficiency and precision in terms of systems management and data collection.

The development of these technologies allows growers to be more focused on their crops and provides control at their fingertips. Digital parameters are defined by crop level observations, which represent the modern-day dynamic between plants, the grower, and technology.

Increasing development of artificial intelligence (AI) has allowed the greenhouse sector to further improve efficiency and precision, thereby changing that dynamic. Thanks to the work of researchers and private companies, AI is allowing plants to communicate directly with climate-control systems, as well as the grower. It notifies them when there are issues within the crop relating to growth rate, pests, and disease. AI is not only helping growers identify when there is a problem, it is also predicting long-term effects of the issue via harvest forecasting.

Who Is Developing AI for the Greenhouse?

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is one of the academic institutions leading the way in the development of AI-controlled cultivation. In 2018, WUR hosted an autonomous growing competition where Microsoft took first place over several other teams, including a team of Dutch growers.

A host of private companies including Motorleaf, LetsGrow.com, and Illumitex already have commercially available platforms. Sunrise Greenhouses has been an early adopter of the technology, integrating AI in two areas of its production. The decision to start using AI was driven by the desire for improved efficiency and to help manage skilled labor shortages by expanding employee capacity.

The first system, Luna by iUNU, is a greenhouse AI platform using aerial robots on tracks that scan the entire production area several times a day using computer vision. Images are uploaded for analysis using algorithms customized to production requirements and translated for access on any device. Historical data is used to identify anomalies within the crop, alerting the grower or the climate-control system and providing an unprecedented level of oversight.

The second technology, Watchdog by Bold Robotic Solutions, is a production line AI system developed to monitor equipment for production issues and efficiency. Watchdog is currently installed on our potting line, monitoring pots moving from the potting machine to the tagger, transplanter, and placing robots. The system provides visual and audible alarms for issues such as an empty pot dispenser or pots that have fallen over. A series of sensors also allows the system to observe patterns and make timing corrections by controlling the equipment, thus removing repetitive corrective burdens from the operator.

What Are the Challenges?

In the upcoming years, there is no doubt the role AI will play in the evolution of the greenhouse industry. That being said, these game-changing technologies will not come without challenges, specifically during the early years of technology adoption.

While both solutions have different functions, they are based on the same self-learning technology that uses neural networks and machine learning. Like us, it takes time for the systems to learn patterns and crop cycles. As a seasonal grower with product cycles of up to two years in duration, patience is necessary. It takes time to collect the data for these systems to work and learn.

Greenhouse environments are also challenging for technology implementation due to broad temperature and humidity ranges, which influence both the electronic and mechanical components that contribute to their ongoing development. This can be a frustration for staff trying to complete their weekly plans.

AI solutions for greenhouse growers are still in their initial phases of development and have been mostly implemented by early adopters. As more players in the industry move toward the latest greenhouse technologies, we can expect the number of out-of-the-box AI solutions on the market to increase. For now, AI adopters will likely require some patience as the product learns the intricacies specific to their growing environment before it produces state-of-the-art results.

How Are Staff Trained?

The integration of these systems requires changes to processes, which can be disruptive to production, so flexibility and managing expectations is important among staff. When identifying new equipment, we involve staff in the process. When staff understand what we are trying to accomplish and can provide input, the transition is generally much smoother. People are more willing to adapt when they understand how the technology will make their lives easier. That said, providing people with training and, more importantly, ongoing support is key to the successful integration of these new technologies into your business.

The high level of granularity in digital crop surveillance can save money through early identification of problems related to pests, disease, moisture management, and climate. Photo courtesy of Sunrise Greenhouses

What Are the Benefits?

Having systems that continuously monitor equipment and cultivation allows staff to focus on less redundant tasks, which improves efficiency and the experience and quality of work. The high level of granularity in terms of crop surveillance has saved money due to the early identification of problems related to pests, disease, moisture management, and climate. This allows issues to be dealt with before they proliferate.

Working with iUNU, both our Production Manager and Sales Manager can access inventory in real-time, which has uncoupled departments in our facility that were previously dependent on one another for decision making. This is just one example of the increase in efficiency we are seeing as a result of these technologies.

Facilities that are focused on crop yields, such as vegetable growers, can benefit from AI developed by companies like Motorleaf, who offer yield-predicting products. They consider variables such as historical weather forecasts, nutrient ratios, daily temperatures, and humidity levels. These products train themselves to predict harvest yields with accuracies that are far superior to what is achieved by traditional forecasting methods.

Lee Fisher is the Innovations Manager at Sunrise Greenhouses Ltd., a 250,000 square-foot ornamentals operation in Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada. His background is in computer software engineering, as well as integrated pest management. See all author stories here.

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Why Its Time to Start Using Artificial Intelligence in Your Greenhouse - Greenhouse Grower