Silencing the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor With CRISPR and Epigenetic Modifications – Technology Networks

The Hackett Group at EMBL Rome explores epigenetics, genome regulation and cell identity. Recently, the scientists developed a novel CRISPR molecular tool for editing the epigenome, enabling transient modifications that can switch certain genes "on" and "off" temporarily.The SARS-CoV-2 virus that has caused the COVID-19 global pandemic makes its way into a host cell via a protein known as ACE2, which is involved in a range of physiological functions in the body.

What happens when you transiently turn "off" the gene that encodes this protein? Can SARS-Cov-2 still enter the cell and cause infection? This is what Hackett and colleagues are currently exploring in animal models, to determine whether epigenetic silencing could be a treatment approach for COVID-19 in humans.Technology Networks spoke with Dr James (Jamie) Hackett, group leader at EMBL, to learn more about the CRISPR tool, how it can be used to silence ACE2 in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and whether there could be any adverse implications from doing so.Molly Campbell (MC): For our readers that may be unfamiliar, can you please describe what epigenetic modifications are?Jamie Hackett (JH): Epigenetic modifications are small chemical tags that are physically grafted onto DNA (or the histones that DNA wraps around) to help control how and when the DNA is used. These epigenetic modifications act as signposts that encourage a specific part of DNA, such as a gene, to be switched on or off. In other words, they help control which genes are "expressed", and which are ignored in each cell. This is important to ensure that genes that are required specifically in liver, for example, are only switched on in the liver, and not say, in the brain.MC: You are developing a CRISPR-based molecular tool to conduct epigenetic editing. Can you please tell us about this approach? How have you developed the tool and how does it work?JH: CRISPR systems normally locate a specific section of DNA in the genome and alter its genetic sequence, known as genetic "editing". Epigenetic editing uses the same principle but instead alters the epigenetic modifications at a specific region rather than the genetic sequence. This turns genes on or off in a "programmable" manner. Importantly, unlike genetic editing, epigenetic editing is largely reversible, enabling transient changes in how genes operate without changing the DNA sequence itself.MC: You plan to test the tool in mice to target airway cells that express the ACE2 protein. Can you talk to us about the rationale behind this?JH: ACE2 is a protein that sits on the outside of many cells and is normally involved in controlling blood pressure. However, the COVID-19 virus hijacks ACE2 by using it as a docking site that enables entry of the virus into a cell. If the gene ACE2 is switched OFF, this should remove the access point for COVID-19 and restrict infection. To test this possibility, we will use mouse models where we attempt to epigenetically switch off ACE2, which will help inform us whether this could be a viable strategy in humans in the future.

MC: Could there be adverse effects from targeting the ACE2 protein, as it is involved in several physiological processes in humans, for example? How will you explore and monitor this?JH: Impaired levels of ACE2 over long periods are linked with elevated blood pressure. However, over short-term periods loss of ACE2 appears to be relatively tolerable. This is one reason why a reversible "epigenetic" approach could be appealing since it would only temporality deplete ACE2 from cells, potentially to provide protection during high risk periods, before allowing it to return to its original status at the appropriate time.MC: What broader applications might this tool have, beyond SARS-CoV-2?JH: The same technology can, in principle, be applied to change the expression of genes other than ACE2, that are linked with disease. We are at the very beginning of exploring the potential of this, so it is not clear what realistic expectations are, but there is nonetheless great excitement about such precision strategies. For example, diseases where one of the two gene copies is a "mutant", such as Huntingtons disease, could be targets. Here it is hoped to be possible to epigenetically switch off only the mutant version of the gene, leaving the normal copy on. This scenario is predicted to help mitigate symptoms in a very precise and specific way. Conversely, in the neurological disorder Fragile X syndrome, the FMR1 gene has become inappropriately silenced (switched off). Epigenetic editing can be applied to selectively reactivate this gene to switch it on, with initial indications being that this helps restore neuronal functions. Jamie Hackett was speaking to Molly Campbell, Science Writer for Technology Networks.

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Silencing the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor With CRISPR and Epigenetic Modifications - Technology Networks

NuWave adds another DHS vet to leadership team – Washington Technology

PEOPLE

One month on from getting a new investor, NuWave Solutions has made another addition to the executive team to help shape the government IT outfits next phase.

McLean, Virginia-based NuWave appointed as chief operating officer Andre Hentz, a former Homeland Security Department official whose career there included stints as acting deputy undersecretary for science and technology and chief scientist.

Hentz is the second DHS veteran to join the NuWave leadership team alongside CEO Dr. Reggie Brothers, the former DHS undersecretary for science and technology who prior to that was deputy assistant secretary for research at the Defense Department.

In June, private equity firm AE Industrial Partners acquired a majority stake in NuWave and subsequently appointed Brothers as chief executive and two-decade defense sector veteran Michael Buscher as chief growth officer.

NuWave has also since then added a new chief technology officer in Keith Conner, a nearly two-decade research-and-development veteran and former senior director of innovation at Peraton. Conner's career in industry includes senior technical positions with Bell Labs, BAE Systems and Technical Solutions LLC. He also once worked as a senior technical engineer at DHS.

About the Author

Ross Wilkers is a senior staff writer for Washington Technology. He can be reached at rwilkers@washingtontechnology.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rosswilkers. Also find and connect with him on LinkedIn.

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NuWave adds another DHS vet to leadership team - Washington Technology

How Safe is the OPPO 125W Flash Charging Technology? – gizmochina

As we are heading towards a completely digitized society, smartphones and other gadgets are at the forefront of connecting us to the world. Consequently, our energy requirement is increasing every year, with portable devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops becoming increasingly thin but more powerful than ever before. But unfortunately, we havent been able to achieve a breakthrough in battery density technology to satisfy our growing requirement.

So whats the workaround to this obstacle?

One way of meeting the growing energy needs of portable devices is to develop fast charging technology that tops up a battery in minutes.

When it comes to smartphones, OPPO leads the market with its innovative VOOC charging technology. And earlier this month, the company unveiled the worlds fastest wired charging solution for smartphones the 125W Flash Charge technology. It can charge a 4000mAh battery in just 20 minutes.

This is a significant development in smartphone charging technology, doubling charging speeds to never before seen values.

But how safe is it to pump in such high wattage into your compact smartphone battery? We have already seen laptops like the Dell XPS 15 charge at up to 130W. However, doing the same on an exceptionally compact battery raises a lot of questions.

So I decided to ask OPPO about 125W flash charging and how safe it is for the device and the end consumer.

When you are charging a 4000mAh battery at 125W, essentially topping it up to 100% in just 20 minutes, two primary questions come to your mind.

Before we find answers to these two questions, its crucial to understand how OPPOs 125W flash charging works.

OPPOs 125W flash charging is made possible with the help of many proprietary components and technologies working together in synergy.

To make things simple, here are some of the specialized components that allow the smartphone battery to flash charge at 125W.

When all these components come together, your smartphone can charge at up to 125W.

Heres a simplified version of how OPPOs 125W Flash Charging Works

When you connect OPPOs 125W charger to your phone via USB-C, the charger outputs power at 20V and 6.25A. This power is sent to the phone via a customized USB-C port that supports current over 6A. The power from the USB-C port is then transferred to the three charge pumps. However, the bi-cell batteries inside the phone do not support such high voltage. So the three charge pumps work together (along with the other microcontroller chips) to bring down the voltage to 10V and increase the amperage to 12.5A. Thus each of the three charge pumps outputs 42W (so 125W in total) of power to the battery with an impressive efficiency of 98%. OPPO claims that using three charge pumps significantly improves efficiency and reduces heat generation. Remember that heat is bad for your battery, and the less heat generated, the better it is for your phone.

An essential component that makes fast charging at such a high current possible is the quality of the batteries. OPPOs 125W flash charging technology works because the 6C batteries can charge at 12A.

The C-rating of a battery is the ratio of the maximum current draw and the battery capacity. Here, the 2000mAh ( equivalent to 2Ah) battery has a 6C rating. This means that the bi-cell batteries can charge effectively at a high current of 12.5A. But this would also mean that these batteries discharge at such a high rate, which is why OPPO added another charge pump to slow down the discharging rate. So in total, OPPOs 125W flash charging technology utilizes four charge pumps, three for controlling the power coming into the phone via the charger and one for controlling the discharge rate.

Editors Pick:Qualcomm announces Quick Charge 5 with support for 100W+ fast charging

Now that we have got a basic idea of how OPPOs new flash charging works, lets come back to the questions.

Heat is an inevitable byproduct of fast charging. Every smartphone battery has internal resistance, and when you pump in 125W of power during the charging process, the resistance generates heat.

But OPPO explained that they have taken additional measures to monitor and address this issue.

Moving on to the second question.

If heat is an inevitable byproduct of fast charging, then faster battery degradation is also an unavoidable consequence.

Remember how OPPO revealed that the 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 degrades the battery faster than standard slow charging?

OPPO Reno Ace with SuperVOOC 2.0 that charges at 65W degrades itsbatterys capacity to around 90% in 800 full charging cycles.

So if you think 125W would degrade the battery capacity even more rapidly, then you are correct.

OPPO revealed that according to their tests, the 125W flash charging reduces the battery life expectancy at 80% after 800 charging-discharging cycles.

This figure isnt really surprising. And it can be acceptable if you consider the convenience of ultra-fast charging in our day to day lives. If you charge your phone once every day, the 800 charging cycle amounts to over two years.

Unfortunately, this is the price you pay for not having to spend hours charging your phone.

Historically, OPPO has had an excellent track record with its VOOC and SuperVOOC 2.0 fast-charging technologies. Given that the 125W flash charging is built upon its earlier generation, safety seems to be given due priority on this new technology as well.

OPPO did well with its Reno Ace models 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, keeping the heat to manageable levels while charging. But well have to wait and see if the 125W flash charge technology with the additional temperature control measures can keep the phone relatively cool even when it charges a battery in just 20 minutes.

OPPO has confirmed that the technology is ready for mass production, but we dont know which product will get it first. Probably, the next OPPO Ace3 model (OPPO has dropped Reno branding from the Ace series) will launch with this flash charging technology later this year.

So what do you think of ultra-fast 120W+ fast charging technologies? Super cool or unnecessary?

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How Safe is the OPPO 125W Flash Charging Technology? - gizmochina

Brain Cells Linked to Sex and Aggression in Males – Technology Networks

Two groups of nerve cells may serve as on-off switches for male mating and aggression, suggests a new study in rodents. These neurons appear to send signals between two parts of the brain the back tip, or posterior, of the amygdala and the hypothalamus that together regulate emotions including fear, anxiety, and aggression.Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the study showed that male mice struggled to have sex in experiments that blocked signals from one amygdala cell group that communicates with the hypothalamus (MPN-signaling cells). When the same signals were instead bolstered, the animals were not only able to mate but would repeatedly court unreceptive females, something they would not do normally.

Similarly, when the action of a second cell group in the amygdala that also communicates with the hypothalamus (VMHvl-signaling cells) was blocked, the rodents attacked unfamiliar males half as often. When these same neurons were triggered, the mice became unusually aggressive, even attacking their female mates and familiar males.

Our findings provide new insights into the crucial role played by the posterior amygdala in driving male social behaviors like sex and aggression, says lead study author Takashi Yamaguchi, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone Health and its Neuroscience Institute.

Past research suggested the amygdalas role in regulating social behaviors, but until now experts had not uncovered its precise role in sexual behaviors. Instead, researchers had focused on the neighboring hypothalamus, where both the MPN and VMHvl structures are located, as the brains regulator of mating and fighting.

The new investigation, published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience, is the first to uncover two distinct groups of cells that facilitate communication between the posterior amygdala and the parts of the hypothalamus responsible for sex and aggression, says Dr. Yamaguchi. It also provides key evidence that the posterior amygdala exerts tremendous influence over social behavior, he adds.

For the study, the researchers observed brain cell activity in more than 100 male mice that were mounting and fighting. The authors measured how often the nerve cells naturally fired signals throughout the animals day. They found that MPN-signaling cells were most active during sex, while VMHvl-signaling cells were most active during confrontations with other males. For each of the two cell groups, the researchers then suppressed or activated the neurons and observed how often the mice attempted to mount a mate or attack a strange male placed in their enclosure.

Our new understanding of which cells prompt sexual and aggressive behaviors should help us choose better brain targets as we design future treatments for psychiatric disorders, says senior study investigator Dayu Lin, PhD, an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology at NYU Langone and member of its Neuroscience Institute.

Still, Dr. Lin cautions that much of the posterior amygdalas structure remains poorly understood and that researchers still need to determine how these findings might translate to human brains. Her team also plans to study how the two groups of nerve cells interact in the brains of female rodents.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Brain Cells Linked to Sex and Aggression in Males - Technology Networks

Are All Plastics Recyclable? Spotlight on a New Technology that Reclaims Rejects of Plastics and Glass – ArchDaily

Are All Plastics Recyclable? Spotlight on a New Technology that Reclaims Rejects of Plastics and Glass

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While not all plastics are being recycled, even the ones that display the recycling sign, the global plastic waste problem is nowhere close to being resolved. Recycling, generally determined by factors like demand, legislations, and economy, takes on arguably around 20% of the annual production of plastics, leaving a large quantity unattended, doomed to last forever in our environment. In addition, competing with newly-produced materials, recycled plastics need to meet standards of quality and price, and undergo a sustainable, efficient, and economically viable transformation.

ROGP or Rejects of Glass & Plastics Technology is an innovative approach that repurposes plastics, once labeled as non-recyclable materials due to technical complexity or economy-related issues.

+ 13

Offering a solution that meets technical, environmental and economic requirements for sustainable use of all 80+ types of plastic waste, including mixed plastics, this particular ROGP technology recycles plastics (all 7 major plastic codes) and glass (all types of glass) into a durable and price competitive new material which has numerous applications, especially in the construction industry.

Current global challenges with existing recycling technologies include the impossibility to process mixed plastics due to their chemical composition, the need to segregate the materials and establish different recycling lines, the high energy consumption as well as the cost. Moreover, for glass, considered infinitely recyclable, low recycling rates are due to sorting difficulties, transportation obstacles, and expensive processes. On that note, ROGP, operated by Development Inc., is one single technology that can at the same time, recycle all 80+ types of plastics and all types of glass, and generate a composite from the rejects of glass and plastic.

The process builds on turning environmental liabilities into abundant resources, with a significant cost advantage over alternative materials. It requires no washing of plastics and glass; and it can handle all types of plastics, including mixed plastic waste and all types of glass, including mixed color and glass with impurities.

This efficient and low-cost recycling method has the ability to produce a multitude of end-products, from construction, infrastructure, piping, to urban furniture.Final outcomes are extremely diverse, especially that it can be molded into a variety of shapes and colors. Actually, specifications can be altered depending on the intended application. It can be used for tiles, speed bumps, parking stops, water pipes ducting, street furniture, waste sorting bins, building facade finishing, etc. Durable, flexible, strong, and with a relatively low production cost, this technology can also create a substitute for natural resources.

More key features of the technology include:

Positive Environnemental Impact

Low Production Cost

Mechanical properties

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Are All Plastics Recyclable? Spotlight on a New Technology that Reclaims Rejects of Plastics and Glass - ArchDaily

Are we reaching the tipping point on technology stocks? – Guernsey Press

NOT surprisingly, technology shares or tech stocks as they are colloquially called have been all the rage in recent months, if not years. Two decades ago a bubble expanded and burst leaving many embarrassed at having been caught up in the mania. What appeared to be a miracle at the time seemed more like a mirage in the aftermath.

With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to be judgemental but it should be remembered that some portfolio managers had harvested and re-cycled profits along the way. It was certainly the highlight of my career in terms of active trading and sheer excitement. The belief that technology was the gateway to the future also coincided with the onset of 2000 with all the optimism that entailed.

The subsequent crash was brutal and took two-and-a-half years to find a base with a peak-to-trough decline of 77% on the Nasdaq index; the most commonly referenced technology benchmark in America. Indeed, the lows were tested once more in 2009, making it a lost decade for returns on these investments. As ever the mainstay of capitalism is creative destruction and from the ashes emerged todays leaders without whom life would have been a struggle; especially in recent months.

Technology has become so all-consuming that the big five names (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google/Alphabet) now account for a record 22% of the top 500 US companies by stock market value. We have not seen such extremes since 2000 when the top five firms made up nearly 19% of the index. Back then share prices were based on theory and supposition but now they are grounded on real earnings. One must of course be mindful of the mantra this time its different but we should also remember that technology is a relentless source of innovation that sets human beings apart from other species.

We were fortunate in creating a technology portfolio in 2010 as the market began a decade-long rally. Rather than promoting the high returns irresponsibly we are at pains to point out cyclical corrections that see losses between 10% and 15% every other year; such is the nature of high-risk investing. Paradoxically, tech stocks proved to be relatively resilient during the pandemic as the shares fell less than other areas of the market and went on to rally strongly.

Investors are drawn to high returns like moths to flame and it is our job as advisers to temper expectations and highlight the potential downside. The lesson from history is that every boom or bubble sees opportunistic promotions that are often fraudulent or fantastical at best. This was true for the South Sea Bubble in 1720 and may well be the case for technology equivalents in 2020; the theme may have changed over the centuries but human behaviour remains unchanged.

There are other trends at play below the surface. Money printing in various guises will be coming to our shores soon because of our ties to sterling. This currency union was established in 1921 as a replacement for the Guernsey double, which had been dragged down by the deterioration of the French franc following the First World War. While the link to the pound may have brought benefits it now means Guernsey is not immune from the devaluation of mainstream currencies.

In this environment those who prudently saved cash on deposit will be punished while those who borrowed will be rewarded. This is because inflation whittles away debt over time just as it scythes purchasing power in equal measure. It applies as much to States finances as it does to individuals and is a reflection of the modern topsy-turvy world.

In a race to the bottom the principal safety net for the loss of our currencys value is investing in some kind of real asset, be it equity (shares), property or precious metals. Markets have already sensed the whiff of money printing so the rush into technology shares is symptomatic, with a rally of some 40% from the March lows. This can likewise be seen with the surge in precious metal mining stocks whose shares are up in excess of 50% since then. In the short term we should expect another downward correction but this is a healthy way of skimming off speculative froth. It also reminds investors of the reality of high-risk investing.

If money printing continues apace we may see a boom transition into a bubble for equities; sometimes known as a slingshot move. The degree of excess is anyones guess but you dont want to be the greater fool who is left holding over-priced shares at the peak. As ever, the public gets drawn in just as hype and hubris escalate and there is no reason to believe that the next episode will be any different. In the meantime it may be a case of making hay while the sun shines on technology meantime keeping an eye on the exit before a tipping point and subsequent topple.

n For further information please contact toby.birch@gowerfinancial.com or by telephone on 700155.

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Are we reaching the tipping point on technology stocks? - Guernsey Press

Global V2X Cybersecurity Market Report 2020-2025 – Increasing Trend of Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technologies Prone to Cyberattacks -…

Dublin, July 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "V2X Cybersecurity Market by Unit Type (OBU and RSU), Form (In-vehicle and External Cloud Services), Communication Type (V2I, V2V, V2G, V2C, and V2P), Security Type (PKI and Embedded), Connectivity Type, Vehicle Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The V2X cybersecurity market comprises major companies such as ESCRYPT (Germany), OnBoard Security (US), Autotalks (Israel), AutoCrypt (Korea), and Continental (Germany).

The growth of the V2X cybersecurity market can be attributed to the increasing trend of connected and autonomous vehicles equipped with V2X technologies and growing cyber threats in the automotive industry.

The global V2X cybersecurity market size is projected to reach USD 3,065 million by 2025, from an estimated USD 935 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 26.8%. The advent of V2X technology will have a significant impact on connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, which, in turn, will drive the V2X cybersecurity market.

The focus of automobile manufacturers has shifted from fuel efficiency, performance, driver safety, and stability of the vehicle to additional features such as vehicle connectivity, electrification of functions, and digitalization. This change in focus has created a massive opportunity for non-automotive industry players such as Intel, Qualcomm, and Nvidia, to name a few. Also, from the demand side, consumers are more inclined toward connected features such as navigation systems, live traffic updates, and easy access to emails via the internet in their vehicles.

The growing attraction of connected cars is compelling automotive companies to develop skills in web technology, chip design, and embedded systems, starting with smartphone integration. However, with the technological evolution of V2X communications, secure data processing has become a significant challenge. Thus, cybersecurity has gained a significant focus in the V2X communication system of vehicles.

The increasing cloud-based applications would drive the V2C segment in the forecast.

The V2C segment is projected to be the largest market during the forecast period. The fact that cloud stores all the personal/private data such as driver information, driving details, location, and vehicle details, securing V2C communications is one of the highest priorities for cybersecurity companies. V2C is a technology where all the necessary information from vehicles is stored on the cloud in real-time as well as various cloud services are provided in the vehicle.

V2C offers features such as weather updates, firmware & software updates (FOTA and SOTA), and multimedia services over the cloud (internet) inside a vehicle. These features allow vehicle users and passengers to stay connected with the outside environment. However, such features and applications need a constant update for proper functioning. Thus, it is the top priority for security solution providers to make cloud technology secure.

To avoid any malware, security updates are provided with the help of cloud-based services. These frequent updates reduce the risks associated with data loss, and at the same time, reduce the cost of data retrieval, which helps overcome many issues related to cybersecurity.

The Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest and the fastest-growing market during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to account for the largest share of the global V2X cybersecurity market during the forecast period. The region is home to renowned V2X cybersecurity companies such as Autotalks, AutoCrypt, and Argus Security. China is expected to be the most influential factor in the Asia Pacific V2X cybersecurity market. China has been conducting various tests and trails on cellular connectivity for V2X, and the expected country-wide launch is by 2021. The large market share of China can also be attributed to the high sales of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is equipped with V2X, especially V2C and V2I.

Moreover, increasing the adoption of electric vehicles will result in the increased demand for V2X technologies, which are quite suitable for electric vehicles. Apart from this, the increasing purchasing power of the population and growing concerns over the environment have triggered the demand for V2X in the Asia Pacific. Since South Korea and Japan are among the leaders in electronics, it would enable them to design V2X solutions with better performance at a lesser price. Thus, increasing V2X use in vehicles will result in high demand for cybersecurity solutions, thus, driving the Asia Pacific V2X cybersecurity market.

North America is expected to be the second-fastest market in the forecast period.

The North American automotive industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. The region, which is home to the big three - Ford Motors, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles - is known for passenger cars with advanced comfort and safety technologies. It is expected that market growth in North America would be significant due to the rise in application areas based on connectivity. Thus, the demand for cybersecurity solutions for cars in this region will also increase. The region is home to many renowned V2X cybersecurity solution providers such as OnBoard Security (Qualcomm), Green Hills Software, and Harman, which would further help the market grow.

Research Coverage

The market study covers the V2X cybersecurity market size and future growth potential across different segments such as by unit type, connectivity, communication, security, vehicle type, form, and region. The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Market DynamicsDrivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Challenges

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z4bt1i

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Global V2X Cybersecurity Market Report 2020-2025 - Increasing Trend of Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technologies Prone to Cyberattacks -...

More vehicles are sitting parked during coronavirus and they’re a risk to kids – Detroit Free Press

The heat can kill. When temperatures outside reach 100 degrees, temperatures inside a car can get up to 138 degrees in 5 minutes and 150 degrees in 15 minute. Here are ideas on how to reduce the risk of forgetting a child or pet. Wochit

Aug. 22,2010, was the worst day of Jenny Stanley's life, and she wants to make sure otherfamiliesdon't experience the loss of a child like her family has.

That Sunday was the day her 6-year-old daughter, Sydney, died in a hot vehicle. Her familybelieves the little girl, searching for a craft from church, crawled into the family's Buick Enclave and died of vehicular heatstroke.

Tragically, the Alpharetta, Georgia, family's loss has been followed by hundreds of others. The previoustwo yearshave seen the most children lost in a similar span in this gruesome fashion, 54 and 53deaths, respectively, in the United States.

This year, COVID-19 appears to havebrought its own impact to bear, with more children dying of heatstroke having gotten into vehicles on their own vs. being left there almost alwaysunintentionally, experts say by an adult. The assumption is that vehicles are more likely to be parked at home, often unlocked, rather than driven to, say,an office. Thirteen children, ages 10 months to 4 years old, have died so far this year in a hot car, according to KidsandCars.org. Since 1990, almost 1,000 have died of vehicular heatstroke.

Sydney Stanley died in a hot vehicle on August 22, 2010 in Alpharetta, Ga.(Photo: Family photo)

After she lost her daughter, Stanley became an advocate, working with the nonprofit group, KidsandCars.org.

I wanted to be sure that another child didnt pass awayto heatstroke. I wanted to be sure that another family didnt have to go through this. So now my mission is to have every car installed with a child detection device, Stanley said Tuesday during a webinar, which brought together advocates, lawmakers and representatives of companies offering their owntechnological solutions.

More: Automakers: Technology to fight deaths of kids in hot cars will be standard by 2025 model year

More: Kids are dying in hot cars at an alarming rate; safety agency tweets for awareness

Last year, automakers pledged that rear seat reminder systems would be standard equipment on almost all passenger vehicles sold in the United States by the 2025 model year. Industry groups noted that individual automakers are free to go even further and do sofaster if they choose.

Safety advocates, however, have blasted the pledgeassimply inadequate, noting alsothat it would be voluntary and unenforceable. They want systems that detect the presence of children, not just remind someone to check the back seat,and can alert the driver after he or she has left the vehicle. They point to unmet goals, such as whenGeneral Motors pledged in 2001 to roll out sensor technology by 2004 "so sophisticated that it can detect motion as subtle as the breathing of an infant sleeping in a rear-facing child safety seat.

When asked about the issue last year, GM, which has defended its focus on safety,explained that"systems that accurately and reliably detect children in vehicles have not been widely deployed across the industry due to continued challenges with the accuracy of sensing systems given the broad number of vehicle/seating configurations and the varied positions of children in vehicles.

The issue has received congressional attention, with legislation passing the House. However, something similar may not have enough support in theSenate despite interest, according to discussion during the webinar.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., added his voice to Tuesday's presentation, describing the need to act as a moral obligation.

We have the technology to prevent this kind of heartbreak, we have an obligation to use it. My heart goes out to whoever might be affected by these tragedies, but my message goes to the manufacturers. The Hot Cars Act that Ive introduced would make mandatory a moral obligation that you have to do the right thing and all of us should raise the alarm and support this legislation," Blumenthal said.

Experts have emphasized that children dying in hot cars is almost always unintentional, although some parents have faced criminal charges. The families involved range across racial, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.

That describes whatJanette Fennell, founder of KidsandCars.org, has seen in the years that she has been an advocate on the issue.

"All it takes is a simplechange in routine when parents are totally sleep-deprived and stressed. Everyone who has had children knows that that first year of a childs life were operating in a bit of a fog, and because that is simply a fact, I know as a country we can do more to protect our littlest, precious babies," she said.

Fennell and others called the cost of adding child detection technology inconsequential to the price of a new vehicle, ranging from an extra $10 to $40.

Regulators have emphasized education, encouraging parents never to leave children alone in a vehicle and to even place items, such as a purse, in the back seat as a wayto prompt a check before leaving.They have noted also that because of the length of time it takes the U.S. vehicle fleet to turn over, it would be years before newtechnology would be installed in a majority of vehicles, which is one reason for the educational push.

"Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle front and back before locking the door and walking away. Train yourself to park, look, lock, or always ask yourself, 'Where's baby?"according to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Heatstroke can beginwhen the body temperature reaches 104 degrees. It can alsohappen quickly, as a vehicle's interior temperature can increase almost 20 degrees in 10 minutes, according to experts. A cloudy day is not a defense against vehicular heatstroke.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.

The Free Press asked candidates up and down the ballot for their positions on a host of issues. Enter your address to see what the candidates on your Aug. 4 ballot had to say. Because the districts that these candidates run in can be very specific, you will only see an accurate ballot if you enter your full address. Your information, address and e-mail address if you enter one, will not be shared.

Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/07/29/kids-hot-cars-death-child-detection-technology/5529311002/

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More vehicles are sitting parked during coronavirus and they're a risk to kids - Detroit Free Press

[The Future of Viewing] Samsung Innovative Sound Technologies, Powered by AI – Samsung Newsroom South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa 24 June 2020 Now is the age of home entertainment and high-quality audio provides the finishing touch to the best of these experiences. The concept of the modern home goes way beyond being merely a residential space; it has become a place for relaxation, for recreation and for quality time with others. At the recentre of this change is the near-three-dimensional content experiences granted by todays ultra-large, ultra-high-definition, ultra-fine pixel TVs.

With its 2020 QLED 8K TVs and AI sound technologies, Samsung has raised the bar for TV audio experiences. Object Tracking Sound+ uses AI-based software to match the movement of audio with movement on-screen; Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) tracks the users audio environment; and Q-Symphony creates a more realistic, three-dimensional sound.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with the sound developers of Samsung Electronics Visual Display Business to learn more about their extensive capabilities and the journey to fostering innovation in sound.

(From left to right) Youngtae Kim (Sound Lab), Jongbae Kim (Sound Lab), Yoonjae Lee (Sound Device Lab) and Sunmin Kim (Sound Lab)

Object Tracking Sound+: Reading the Room for More Realistic Audio Experiences

Action movies with amazing sound arrangements provide the most realistic experiences when experienced at movie theatres. This is because movie theatres have multi-channel speakers with 3D sound placed on almost all the walls (including the ceiling), as well as around the screen. Compared with a two-channel sound that features speakers only on the left- and right-hand sides, the multi-channel speakers in a movie theatre deliver a more refined sense of realism. So how can this realism be recreated in the home? Samsungs sound developers came up with Object Tracking Sound+ technology, in which sound follows movement onscreen through six speakers built into the TV.

Thanks to this technology, a videos audio follows the action on-screen in real-time. When a car moves from the left to the right-hand side of the screen, so will the sound it makes; and when a heavy object drops from the top to the bottom of the screen, so will the audio.

When developing the 2020 QLED 8K TVs, Samsungs TV developers increased the number of QLED TV speakers from two to six to realise a sound that can mimic the action. By placing two speakers on each side of the screen, as well as on the top and bottom, we enabled the dissemination of sound in all directions from a total of six speakers, explained Jongbae Kim. The distance between the two main speakers has been widened as much as possible, and the additional speakers have been installed in order to maximise sound across all axes to be as three-dimensional as possible. For example, we placed speakers on the upper side of the screen to enable the movement of sound in a vertical direction for a more immersive sound experience. Additionally, Kim highlighted how, despite the complex nature of a TV structure that includes six embedded speakers, the team managed to keep the design of the TV slim and minimal.

In order to ensure audio will follow on-screen movements accurately, it is important to understand the original intentions of content creators. The role of a sound engineer is to increase the consistency between the action onscreen and its accompanying audio track when mixing. The location information of sound in a piece of video content, including sound panning information, is subsequently audio-signalled into the audio channel by the sound engineer something we must be able to track in order to reproduce the location and movement of a contents audio accurately, noted Jongbae Kim. Our Object Tracking Sound+ technology analyses the location information contained in these audio signals as originally placed during mixing. This means the TV can then effectively distribute the sound amongst its six speakers by distinguishing between sound orientations and whether or not the audio source is on-screen, off-screen, close-up or distant.

AVA: Intelligent Noise Detection to Enhance Voice Clarity

When that crucial scene in the show you are watching is overwhelmed by mixer sound or an important breaking news report is obscured by loud thunder, the act of reaching for the remote to adjust the TVs volume can come too late. This is why the team developed their AVA technology, which recognises exterior noises and increases the volume of voices in content accordingly if surrounding conditions become too loud.

The way it works is intelligent. The TVs sound sensor, attached to the bottom middle of the TV, takes in audio from the content onscreen as well as its surrounding environs. AI technology then compares the volume levels of the two types of sound, and if external sounds are found to be louder than that of the TVs content, it will selectively raise the TVs volume. The system does not have one set definition of noise, explained Sunmin Kim. It considers any elements that disturb the enjoyment of content as noise. When exterior sounds persist above a certain decibel level, that is when the system registers it as noise.

However, AVA technology does not just raise the volume of the TV when it recognises a louder environment, as this would only contribute to a boisterous room experience. The system harnesses AI to keep sound effect and background audio levels consistent and to only raise the volume of voice audio, highlighted Sunmin Kim. Our research showed us that the majority of content is dialogue-heavy, so we believe that enhancing the delivery of dialogue would be most beneficial to aid comprehension.

Q-Symphony: Creating a Multi-Dimensional Soundscape

One of the key elements to achieving a realistic sound during content playback on a TV is three-dimensionality, which encompasses both horizontal and vertical audio characteristics. Until recently, these perspectives had been being developed separately by the TV and Soundbar teams. However, with the inclusion of upper side speakers on Samsungs 2020 QLED 8K TVs, the team developed an all-inclusive solution that utilises the capabilities of both the TV and the soundbar in perfect harmony. Q-Symphony is a feature that plays audio using both the TV speakers and the soundbar at the same time, and as an industry-first achievement, the Q-Symphony technology was even recognised with a Best of Innovation Award at CES 2020.

The core of Q-symphony, which manages sound playback harmoniously using speakers with different characteristics, is the technology that follows the sound playback rules which are determined in advance and exchanges the necessary information between the TV and the soundbar when connected. This approach allows for a superior reproduced sound experience, explained Yoonjae Lee. A key element of the technology is a special algorithm that we created which divides and harmonises sounds seamlessly between the TVs speakers and soundbar.

During development, the challenge arose regarding the quality of dialogue reproduction. When both the soundbar and the TV speakers played dialogue simultaneously, the sound quality was noticeably diminished. However, the sound development team were able to resolve this issue by separating the main soundtrack, including dialogue, from the entire signal and assigning the different tracks to the TV speakers and soundbar respectively. In the 2020 QLED 8K TV range, the voice signal is extracted and removed from the sound being reproduced by the TVs embedded speakers, which are then assigned to play ambient sound signals such as sound effects, explained Lee. The soundbar then reproduces the main sound involving any dialogue. With this technology, Q-Symphony harnesses the advantages of both TV speakers and the soundbar in order to deliver the best, and most harmonious, sound experience to users.

Working Together to Develop the Perfect Sound Experience

The sound development team agreed that realising the addition of speakers, the new placement of speakers and the AI harmonisation with the soundbar on the 2020 QLED 8K TV range was possible because of close coordination with a variety of other teams. When developing new TVs, all areas need to be in sync with their innovations, noted Youngtae Kim. We came together in suggesting various solutions to overcome each technological hurdle with an open mind.

Youngtae Kim (left) and Sunmin Kim introduce the innovative sound technologies of the 2020 QLED 8K TV range

The sound development team has always been and always will be dedicated to developing the best possible audio experiences for users. As well as working with Samsungs Audio Lab based in the U.S. for the future audio technology, the team also works with Samsung Researchs R&D Centers, universities and start-up experts around the world. We want to bring about sound experiences that are as natural and as real as possible, explained Youngtae Kim. To achieve this, we will continue to work hard to understand the end-to-end process of the sound and realise sounds in our TVs.

Samsungs sound innovation is paving the path forward. In the future, we will bolster the use of AI so that users do not even need to use a remote control to find the perfect audio balance when enjoying their favourite content, said Nivash Ramsern, Head: Visual Display at Samsung South Africa. As time goes by, TV installation environments, lifestyles and age groups will be diversified. We want users to enjoy the sound of their content as intended, regardless of content type or listening environment.

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[The Future of Viewing] Samsung Innovative Sound Technologies, Powered by AI - Samsung Newsroom South Africa

Making the connection: What technology, adults and teens have in common – boulder-monitor.com

It is not hard to associate aging adults with limited technological knowledge, nor is it difficult to understand that teens can jump onto a new device with ease. And anyone can understand that tech support in the form of automated chats or lengthy phone calls can lead to more stress than solutions.

Do we really need any more apps in the world right now? Trish Lopez asked herself as she listened to other people pitch at a startup incubator in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2015.

Lopezs own contribution to the incubator stemmed from her mothers love and hatred of technologyshe understood its benefits, but would grow frustrated with the learning curve. Lopezs experience at New Mexicos Startup Weekend: Womens Edition evolved into a pitch to connect teens with older adults to provide technology help.

Lopez founded Teeniors as a result, which uses intergenerational connection to provide personal technology support, and offers programs to support seniors who can pay and those who cannot. There are currently 14 teens in the program, who are referred to as Teeniors.

Oceana Wadhams saw a flyer advertising a Teeniors job and thought it would be a perfect fit. She grew up living with her great-grandparents and felt like working with older adults called to me. Barbara, her first client, needed help with her iPhone. The experience of helping her always stood out to me because she was so thankful, Wadhams said.

Teeniors, based in Albuquerque, was five years old before the coronavirus forced operations to change. Lopez asked teens if they were comfortable supporting seniors via video or phone call. The decision to go forward with a remote structure was unanimous, and funding from grants made the transition possible.

I think all of [the Teeniors] were ambivalent about how this would work, and I was too, Lopez said. Is this going to be as good as in-person coaching? No. But are we going to do our best to make it the best experience of virtual coaching possible? Yes.

Judith Binder has been a Teeniors client before and during COVID-19. She discovered Teeniors at a monthly potluck put on by county commissioners in Albuquerque. Despite having worked in a university computer science department in the 1980s, she found value in the service.

They didnt rush me. And Im sure thats part of their skill. They waited until I was able to really grasp the concepts that they were showing me, Binder said.

Pivoting to remote instruction allowed Teeniors to reach older adults beyond Albuquerque and New Mexico. Lopez estimated 100 virtual coaching sessions took place during April and May, and 15% of the calls have come from out-of-state.

We were able to pivot in a way I was comfortable with, because our kids wanted to work still, and certainly our seniors wanted to stay connected to friends and family, and all of us wanted to decrease social isolation, Lopez said. She noted that remote sessions will continue to be an option even as it becomes possible to offer in-person services.

Lopez was not surprised by the challengesfinding teleconferencing software that doesnt require an account, worrying about Zoom scams. What surprised her was how much steam Teeniors gained in the transition.

I look forward to the days when we can help people in-person again because I think theres really something to that intergenerational connection in-person, she said. But right now, the Teeniors are happy with how things are going, the clientswere getting great reviews on thisand weve also heard from a wider array of older adults, including younger people still in the workforce.

Teeniors new clients in the coronavirus era are diverse in age and ability. A high school and a college teacher wanted to get a grip on Zoom before hosting their first classes. David Larson [the reporters father], 62, not a Teeniors client but an engineer with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said he can relate to the need.

All of the sudden it was one of these things where I was supposed to learn all this technology, he said. Working from home meant learning how to navigate Zoom, Microsoft Teams and a remote work setting. Larson said it might have been easier to adapt if he was younger, but Im just an old guy, he said.

I dont even think its easier when youre 16 to learn [technology], Lopez said. I think that theres no social shame about not knowing,

Binder praised Teeniors ability to communicate effectively and complimented their respect and patience. From her perspective, some of the shame of not knowing can be alleviated by proper communication.

Lopez tries to collect client intake forms from every Teeniors session and conducts annual reviews with teens to understand what each party gains from interThrough the pivot to remote sessions, 99% of client reviews have been positive, and shes seen a 656% increase in calls for virtual coaching since the end of March.

I dont think thats because people like virtual coaching better, I think its because now its become a necessity that you have to learn technology, she said.

Ninety percent of Teeniors said they had benefited personally, all reported feeling more economically stablebetter equipped to enter the workforce or apply to collegeand all shared that being a Teenior improved their communication with older adults.

I think its important that we get clear on what the people need before we rush in to help. I think thats the biggest mistake that people tend to make in general, Lopez said.

In Big Sky, the Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO) and Big Sky Relief joined to brainstorm about what assistance older adults may need as the coronavirus entered Montana.

Senior Buddies, a program resulting from that conversation, has a similar model to Teeniors, but without the technology focus. A younger person is paired with an older adult to pick up mail and get groceries. Sixty-five community members volunteered and eight people requested assistance through the program.

[Technology support] was something we really discussed in the beginning, and we were having a hard time reaching out to that demographic in order to provide that service, said Mackenzie Johnson, program organizer for BSCO. The group had the volunteer power, but the adults Johnson spoke with got their technology help from family members or friends. The need, when she reached out, was not there.

Before Teeniors began, Lopez surveyed senior centers in New Mexico to find out whether technology help was needed and if seniors wanted teens to provide that help. Now, Teeniors employs young people with meaningful jobs, has created a nonprofit arm to support seniors who cannot afford to pay and, through the evolution to online support, reaches seniors and others outside New Mexico.

In the past months, many people have rediscovered the human need for connection, and Teeniors has found that assisting older adults with technology can help build those connections, bridging generational divides and helping those on both sides to better connect with each other.

I really believe that ageism is the last acceptable prejudice, Lopez said. She is confident the young adults she employs as Teeniors are prepared to change that.

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Making the connection: What technology, adults and teens have in common - boulder-monitor.com

New Technology Visualizes Hundreds to Thousands of Genomes Simulataneously – Technology Networks

Researchers from Harvard university, the Centro Nacional de Anlisis Genmico (CNAG) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), describe the first technology able to visualize hundreds to potentially thousands of genomes at the same time under the microscope. The tech images genomes more cheaply, more quickly and increases range of visibility compared to currently available methods. The technique is described in Nature Methods.

Each human cell has two metres of genome condensed down into 10 microns within the cell nucleus. This blueprint of life folds to help genes make physical contact with other genes that may be located quite a distance away along the chromosome. This three-dimensional organisation is crucial for cell function, but its complexity and constant dynamism make it incredibly difficult to visualize. Imaging more than a handful of genes at the same time has been impossible, limiting researchers ability to characterize how genomes function.

One of the most common ways of studying the genome is by using fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH), which uses fluorescent probes to mark the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes. Scientists have made landmark discoveries such as how cells divide thanks to FISH, and still use it this day for medical applications or species identification, amongst other applications.

First developed in the 1980s, FISH is an ageing technology that can only visualise a handful of genes at the same time. Since then, new methods have been created that can image genomes at a high resolution, but map a very limited number of regions or chromosomes at a time.

Today authors of a a new study in Nature Methods describe OligoFISSEQ, a technology using new computational methods that overcomes these limitations. They used it to create three-dimensional maps of 66 genomic targets across six chromosomes in hundreds of cells, showcasing OligoFISSEQs potential to visualize the entire genome at a molecular resolution out of reach until now.

Up to this moment, seeing a large number of different genes at the same time under the microscope was impossible, says Marc A. Marti-Renom, co-lead author of the study and ICREA Professor at CNAG-CRG. We combined existing sequencing technologies in a smart way so that we can see hundreds of genes by sequencing their targets under the microscope. Before OligoFISSEQ, reaching this number of genes at the same time was slow and expensive. It is like upgrading from a dial-up phoneline to fibre-optic internet and paying 40 times less for it.

The researchers also tested OligoFISSEQ by mapping all of the 46 regions along the length of the human X chromosome. The higher resolution of the technology revealed new patterns in the way the genome organizes itself, including that the length of the chromosomes arm is not correlated with its angle. The researchers hypothesise this may be indicative of cell type, cell state or cellular health or age.

The resolution offered by OligoFISSEQ has huge potential to shed new light on patterns we could not see before, concludes Marti-Renom. Because of the coverage it provides to study the genome, it is well suited for spotting what may seem like a minor, seemingly inconsequential change in one part of the nucleus that may have a butterfly effect elsewhere. What may have previously have been thought of as random may turn out to be anything but. That is the power of this tool.

Reference: Nguyen et al. (2020).3D mapping and accelerated super-resolution imaging of the human genome using in situ sequencing. Nature Methods.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-020-0890-0.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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New Technology Visualizes Hundreds to Thousands of Genomes Simulataneously - Technology Networks

Duke Robotics Presents TIKAD Combat Drone Equipped with Innovative Stabilization Technology – PRNewswire

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --(OTC:USDR)Duke Robotics, a leader in robotics technology and drone solutions, introduces TIKAD, an innovative military UAS octocopter drone with a mounted lightweight firearm and advanced stabilization technology. TIKAD features a lightweight robotic gimbal with the unparalleled ability to carry and stabilize payload recoil up to three times its weight. In addition, TIKAD's gimbal offers real-time, 6 DOF (degrees of freedom), a capability that provides an advantage to U.S. and allied forces in combat.

TIKADadvances military strategy by integrating an aerial support system into combat missions. The UAS drone can engage with troops or lead precision strikes without the need for intrusive action. TIKAD can be used in various military applications including border patrol law enforcement, drone on drone warfare and counter terrorism.

According to a recent report, Fortune Businessprojects the military drone market to reach $21.76 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 12.4% during the forecast period. The report says, "Advanced defense technologies, such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, multi-sensor data fusion for UAV navigation, cloud computing-based services for military UAVs, and technological advancements in drone payloads are expected to support the market growth during the forecast period. mid-air refueling of drone, and anti-UAV defense system are the major upcoming trends in the military drone market."

About Duke Robotics:

UAS Drone Corp. (OTC:USDR) recently acquired Duke Robotics.

Duke Robotics is a forward-thinking company focused on bringing necessary products and solutions to defense sector. Duke Robotics developed TIKAD, an advanced robotic system designed to serve the growing need for tech solutions in the combat field. Duke Robotics' revolutionary stabilization technology enables remote, real-time and accurate firing of lightweight firearms and weaponry via an unmanned aerial platform (UAV). The proprietary and confidential complex kinematic algorithms address the crucial need of modern warfare to carry weapon on remote to bear on remote hostile targets without risk to the military personnel.

We believe that troops can use TIKAD to handle potentially dangerous situations quickly and efficiently from the air. This technology also allows troops to potentially disarm a situation remotely, without ever deploying a ground presence.

For more information about Duke Robotics, please visitwww.dukeroboticsys.comor view documents that USDR files with the Securities and Exchange Commission athttp://www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "future" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will" are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment including, but not limited to: the successful integration of acquisitions; significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and competition, including technological advances. For additional information on these and other risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Form 10-Ks and Form 10-Qs. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Relations 347-839-0993[emailprotected]

SOURCE Duke Robotics

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Duke Robotics Presents TIKAD Combat Drone Equipped with Innovative Stabilization Technology - PRNewswire

Dairyland Laboratories and ServiTech Collaborate on Feed Testing Technology – Business Wire

DODGE CITY, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ServiTech, Inc. and Dairyland Labs today announced a strengthened laboratory partnership for serving the beef and dairy industry. Building on a relationship that has been primarily focused on beef production within the ServiTech footprint, both laboratories are committing to an expanded level of service and feed science for the growing number of dairy herds in the high plains and southwestern United States. Benefits to the customer include seamless sample drop off, submission and reporting from both labs.

ServiTech has three strategically located laboratory locations in geographies with growing dairy herds, said Greg Ruehle, President and CEO of ServiTech. Dairyland Labs rich history and commitment to science commands respect in the dairy feed testing space, and we are very excited about this new partnership moving forward. Its a win for both labs, and ultimately a win for producers within the ServiTech service area.

The agreement allows laboratory users the flexibility to ship to or drop off feedstuff samples at any ServiTech laboratory location, while still being able to access the experts at Dairyland. ServiTech will process samples and run NIR spectral scans. The NIR spectral scans will be predicted using the Dairyland proprietary calibrations, which are the most robust in the industry. The customer may choose to view test results online through an account with either laboratory.

The new strengthened laboratory partnership builds on the analytical strengths of both companies, said Dave Taysom, President of Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. This unique relationship between ServiTech and Dairyland will provide real value in analytical services for the beef and dairy industry. We are excited to get started.

To connect with ServiTech on social media, please follow:Facebook: facebook.com/servitechinc/ YouTube: youtu.be/ZUKvzshbM-w Twitter: @servitechincLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/servi-tech-inc-

To connect with Dairyland Labs on social media, please follow:Facebook: facebook.com/dairylandlabsinc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0pEC3s_xaXxGp1EKKST69A Twitter: @dairylandlabsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dairyland-laboratories-inc-/

About ServiTech, Inc.

ServiTech, Inc. is the nation's largest crop consulting firm and agricultural laboratory. Started in 1975, ServiTech relies on the most current technologies, research and science to make productive and profitable recommendations for thousands of growers on millions of acres in North America. In 2020, ServiTech celebrates its 45th anniversary. For more information, please visit: http://www.servitech.com.

About Dairyland

Dairyland Laboratories Inc. is an independent agriculture testing laboratory providing timely, comprehensive, and accurate analysis. Established in 1958, Dairyland has built a reputation of being a reliable, responsible, resourceful, and evolving laboratory in the industry. Dairyland is a recognized leader in NIR technology and calibrations. For more information, please visit http://www.dairylandlabs.com

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Dairyland Laboratories and ServiTech Collaborate on Feed Testing Technology - Business Wire

212 Media Studios Partners with Amplified Solutions to Augment Technology Offerings – Kokomo Perspective

WARSAW, Ind., July 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --To provide clients with cutting-edge, enhanced technology solutions, 212 Media Studios has partnered with Amplified Solutions, a development startup based in northern Indiana. The partnership also augments 212's already robust web development services and opens doors for more successful developments in the future.

"Having worked with the principals of Amplified for some time, I've always respected their service delivery process, attention to client needs, and ongoing willingness to stay ahead of the technology curve when it comes to software development," says 212 Chief Marketing Officer David Phelps. "This partnership will allow us to provide next-level solutions that compete with the country's leading firmsbut at price points and delivery times far below average."

In the past year, 212 and Amplified Solutions have already worked together to deliver a revolutionary online reservation and collaboration solution for an international client headquartered in San Francisco. As technology advances and clients' needs increase, both companies are looking forward to the expanded partnership.

"This partnership allows us to combine the engineering expertise of Amplified Solutions with the marketing polish and impeccable user experience that 212 Media Studios is known for," says Brandon Wilhite of Amplified Solutions. "The result is an enhanced ability to provide a complete set of software development services for all types of businesses."

About 212 Media Studios212 Media Studios is a team of strategic thinkers and visionary creators based in Warsaw, Indiana. Through research, branding and inbound marketing, 212 creates comprehensive, personalized strategies that meet the business needs of clients in industries like technology, healthcare, higher education and non-profit. To learn more about 212 Media Studios' services and offerings, visit 212mediastudios.com.

Contact: Bailey GerberEmail: bgerber@212mediastudios.comPhone: (574) 269-0720

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212 Media Studios Partners with Amplified Solutions to Augment Technology Offerings - Kokomo Perspective

Modern Hire Expands Global Footprint with Acquisition of Automated Video Interviewing Technology Provider Sonru – News-Herald.com

Increased geographical reach furthers Modern Hire's ability to address enterprises' talent acquisition challenges now and in the future

CLEVELAND and DELAFIELD, Wisc., July 28, 2020 /CNW/ -- Modern Hire, the all-in-one enterprise hiring platform that enables organizations to continuously improve hiring experiences and outcomes with trusted science and technology, announced its acquisition of Sonru, an Ireland-based provider of automated video interviewing technology. The combined organization offers the most comprehensive enterprise hiring technology product suite in the global marketplace, extending Modern Hire's team, reach and expertise, and providing enhanced value to Sonru's clients.

"Modern Hire has established itself as the innovation leader trusted by known brands to modernize their virtual hiring process, with a focus on the candidate experience," said Brian Stern, President, Modern Hire. "The combination with Sonru was compelling due to our tremendous alignment in culture and values, and Sonru's success in the EMEA and APAC regions. This will increase our in-market presence in major growth geographies and enable us to better anticipate the changing needs of our global buyers. We welcome Sonru to the Modern Hire team, and look forward to supporting their clients with the strength of our technology, team and reach."

Over the past decade, Sonru has established itself as a talent acquisition technology leader within the EMEA and APAC regions. Its video interviewing solution maximizes the candidate experience and enables recruiters to replicate a live interview by replacing early-stage phone, Skype or face-to-face interviews. This cuts early stage screening time, freeing up recruiters to focus on more strategic tasks and ensuring consistency, fairness and the application of best practices. Sonru's technology reduces recruitment lifecycle time and costs by 50 percent. Its customers come from a wide variety of industry, including several Fortune Global 500 companies such as DHL, Nestl, Qatar Airways, Rolls-Royce, UBS and Westpac.

Incorporating Sonru into the Modern Hire brand expands Modern Hire's client-facing presence to include offices and staff in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, enabling Modern Hire to serve most major regions and time zones around the world.

"The Sonru and Modern Hire union brings together two companies focused on innovation with emphasis on the candidate experience," said Ed Hendrick, founder and CEO, Sonru. "Our strategic decision to combine with Modern Hire allows us reinforce our clients' leadership in enhancing the candidate experience with Modern Hire's expanded suite of solutions. We look forward to contributing further to our clients' success with the most comprehensive enterprise hiring platform globally, empowering them to use science and data to attract and engage the right talent."

Modern Hire partners with hundreds of leading global brands including 47 of the Fortune 100 to modernize their virtual hiring process. The company's SaaS hiring platform supports interviewing technology, pre-hire assessments, workflow automation, AI capabilities and predictive analytics. These solutions work together to enable organizations to continuously improve hiring results for more than 300 industry-leading enterprises, including Amazon, Capital One, CVS Health, FedEx, Humana, Procter & Gamble, Siemens and Walmart, which rely on Modern Hire to hire the right candidates quickly and fairly, at scale.

"Companies are seeking better interview management solutions, and Modern Hire's acquisition of Sonru signals strength in a burgeoning market," said Madeline Laurano, founder, Aptitude Research Partners. "We're seeing companies shift course rapidly from stand-alone interview and assessment tools to more comprehensive solutions to improve quality of hire and the overall experience. Bringing Sonru under the Modern Hire brand greatly expands Modern Hire's reach and marketshare, while signaling high demand for the talent acquisition industry."

About Modern HireModern Hire is the all-in-one enterprise hiring platform that enables organizations to continuously improve hiring results through more personalized, data-driven experiences for candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers. The Modern Hire platform merges trusted science with proven SaaS technology to predict performance, ensure fairness, and automate workflowenterprise-wide. It combines AI, predictive analytics, workflow automation, assessment, and interviewing technology in a single SaaS solution that integrates with leading HCM systems. Trusted by 47 of the Fortune 100, Modern Hire transforms each step of the hiring process, from post-apply to hire and beyond. To learn more about Modern Hire's vision for making hiring personal, visit: http://www.modernhire.com.

ContactAllison ZulloWalker Sands, for Modern HireModernHire@walkersands.com312-241-1474

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Modern Hire Expands Global Footprint with Acquisition of Automated Video Interviewing Technology Provider Sonru - News-Herald.com

Hong Kong spotlights why China cannot be trusted on technology | TheHill – The Hill

China has been showing its true colors in Hong Kong with the imposition of the new national security law on the former British colony. Approved last month, largely in secrecy with astonishing speed, and then almost immediately imposed on the city, the legislation provides Beijing nearly unlimited authority. The Chinese domination of Hong Kong, which until now was behind the scenes, burst into the open with the passage of this law and the crackdown on democracy protests in recent months.

Under the law, the Hong Kong police can censor content on the internet, search without warrants, surveil suspects without court orders, and shut down websites and take them offline. The Hong Kong police has power to crack down on protests, intervene with the Hong Kong legal system, and suppress the rights of free speech and expression of Hong Kong citizens. The law takes Hong Kong behind the great firewall of China.

In any other era, this law and this behavior would be cause for significant concern and outrage. But imagine combining this new sweeping authority with unparalleled application of technology to control what you see, what you do, and where you go, all under the guise of social credit. That is the future Hong Kong is facing. It could well be a future in the Western world where the data of citizens is used against them if the Chinese Communist Party and Huawei are successful in building the 5G network.

The only laws China respects are its own and not international laws or the privacy laws of other countries. This is reflected in how its companies do business. Huawei, for instance, is a company that hopes citizens will trust it with their data and its 5G network. Among other things, Huawei steals intellectual property, launders money, violates sanctions, and incentivizes trade secret theft. Indeed, if this were any other company from any other country, doing business with them would be unthinkable.

We need to ensure the Chinese Communist Party does not control the 5G network. Thankfully, the United States is taking steps to prevent this from occurring. The White House is finalizing regulations that would prevent the federal government from buying products from any company that uses Huawei or four other Chinese firms. The Federal Communications Commission has also designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats, cutting them off from billions of dollars in subsidies.

Moreover, the United Kingdom has announced a halt on the installation of any Huawei equipment and will remove all equipment already installed by 2027. This is a great step forward, and this recent decision is undoubtedly motivated by the behavior of China toward the former British territory of Hong Kong. Other countries must see this decision as a signal as to how serious the national security threat posed by Huawei gear is.

China and Huawei will, however, not go quietly into the night. They are working to push back on the accurate perception that they are bad faith actors. In response to the legal arrest of Huawei financial executive Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities, China arrested two Canadian citizens, consultant Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is absolutely right in saying that in this case in Canada, China is hostage taking to pressure Ottawa on Huawei. The Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, Liu Xiaoming, warned London against gross interference in response to the British decision to open a pathway to citizenship for up to three million Hong Kong citizens who may flee the city in response to the national security law.

Ignorance of such behavior and conduct by China is no longer an excuse. Its imposition of near totalitarian restrictions on Hong Kong, along with its imprisonment of more than one million Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps and its aggressive behavior across the South China Sea illustrates its intentions better than any Western analysis could. The aggressive use of data by China to restrict movement and speech is not something that should be imported anywhere, but that is precisely what Beijing hopes countries will do by buying and installing Huawei equipment.

We cannot allow Beijing to control our digital future, and that means the United States must push back on its attempts to dominate 5G. The federal government must continue to advance regulations that effectively limit access of Huawei and other Chinese companies to the American market. Around the world, we must continue to raise the awareness of the malign behavior, bad intentions, and illegal activities of Beijing. Anything less will cede us the future of China, and we cannot afford that scenario.

Mike Rogers, a former representative from Michigan in Congress, served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He is currently chairman of the group 5G Action Now. You can follow him on Twitter @RepMikeRogers.

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Hong Kong spotlights why China cannot be trusted on technology | TheHill - The Hill

Transformative Raises $1.7M Seed Round After Developing Technology That Predicts Sudden Cardiac Arrest – Business Wire

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Transformative, a healthcare startup whose software predicts sudden cardiac arrest, announced today that it has raised a $1.7 million seed round, led by Tera Ventures. The round includes funding from the Wellcome Trust, which provided Transformative a Healthcare Innovator Award, and from InHealth Ventures, which had previously invested in Transformatives pre-seed round. Investors Andrus Oks of Tera Ventures and Nick Slater of AI Seed are joining Transformatives board.

Transformatives first patented technology predicts sudden cardiac arrest by analyzing data from patient monitoring devices that are standard in hospitals. Transformative will use its seed funding to obtain FDA clearance for its first product and to begin developing technologies that predict other life-threatening conditions, according to Josh Oppenheimer, MD, MBA, the companys co-founder and CEO and a practicing emergency medicine physician.

On each shift, I experience the tragedy of delayed care and the marvel of early, preventive interventions, Oppenheimer said. AI-augmented patient monitoring detects subtle changes preceding patient deterioration that are invisible to physicians, allowing us to be in the right place at the right time and save more lives.

292,000 adults and 7,000 children suffer cardiac arrest in US hospitals each year, with only 25% surviving to hospital discharge, according to a 2019 estimate by the American Heart Association. Globally, 6 million people die from sudden cardiac arrest annually. The American Heart Association recommends early intervention which Transformatives technology enables as the centerpiece of its guidelines on improving cardiac arrest care.

Jack Lewin, MD, the Chairman of the National Coalition on Health Care, the former CEO of the American College of Cardiology, and an advisor to Transformative, noted that many patients who survive in-hospital cardiac arrest suffer serious cognitive deficits due to delayed care. While this is disheartening, there is new hope. Transformative has developed amazing and disruptive technology capable of predicting sudden cardiac arrest minutes to hours in advance, and with 94% accuracy. Transformative will soon help physicians and hospitals save many thousands of lives each year, Lewin said.

Transformatives other co-founders are Marek Sirendi, PhD, a physicist named to MITs Innovators Under 35 list, and Marek Rei, PhD, a machine learning researcher at Imperial College London. The company formed in 2016 through Entrepreneur Firsts startup program and participated in the Philips HealthWorks program.

Oks, Tera Ventures founding partner, said that investing in future technologies is essential so that the younger generation of researchers and innovators can develop solutions that will affect the future of all humankind.

About TransformativeTransformative is a medical software company operating in the US, the UK, and Estonia. Its predictive patient monitoring software identifies patients at imminent risk of life-threatening medical events, enabling preventive care. Its first patented technology predicts in-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. For more information, go to http://www.transformative.ai.

About Tera VenturesTera Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Tallinn, Estonia and focused on exceptional founders from Estonia, Scandinavia and CEE disrupting digital space globally. Tera builds presence and networks in the markets where our portfolio companies want to expand to - the UK, the US, and Asia. With presence in Estonia, Finland, and California, Tera Ventures is supported by a global advisory network and provides portfolio companies with access to expertise and hands-on support necessary to grow from seed stage to successful exit. For more information, go to http://www.tera.vc.

About WellcomeWellcome exists to improve health by helping great ideas to thrive. We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. Wellcome is a politically and financially independent foundation.

About InHealth VenturesInHealth Ventures (IHV) is a London-based early stage venture capital fund that invests across health IT and medtech at seed and series A. IHVs mission is to contribute to bending the healthcare cost curve, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing the working lives of clinical and non-clinical staff. IHV is linked to InHealth Group, the largest private provider of preventative and diagnostic services in the UK and Ireland. Other recent investments include Clarify Health Solutions, Heydoc, Kheiron Medical Technologies, Laudio and Nye Health.

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Transformative Raises $1.7M Seed Round After Developing Technology That Predicts Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Business Wire

Nordis Technologies takes its innovation-driven growth to new heights with Ricoh alliance – PRNewswire

EXTON, Pa., July 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced that Nordis Technologies, an innovator and leader in offering technology solutions to solve communications and payment challenges, has chosen Ricoh to help enhance its exciting business growth. Nordis sought a partner that could help address its needs for higher throughput, more efficiencies and shortened turn times, further enhanced by its game-changing, patent-pending Expresso application, used for streamlining and managing communications and payments. Nordis found its answer with the RICOH Pro VC40000,Ricoh's InfoPrint 5000and RICOH ProcessDirectortechnologies that help drive consistency and efficiency across communication channels and devices with tailored, automated, intelligent workflows.

Over the past 30 years, Nordis Technologies has made a name for itself delivering technology-enabled solutions, providing excellent customer service, and forging relationships that turn into true partnerships built on mutual respect and trust. Its proprietary Expresso platform allows customers to make changes to communications from wherever they are working in real time that automatically update within Nordis' system up to the moment production begins. Since its inception, Expresso has brought in many new customers and jobs. All of that growth began to outpace Nordis' capacity. The company wanted single-pass, continuous-feed, full color print, so they could increase throughput, add dynamic color and messaging, and streamline operations.

"We felt we'd reached a tipping point," said Ronnie Selinger, President and CEO, Nordis Technologies. "Moving to continuous-feed made sense for our volumes, but we wanted to do it right. We needed to move seamlessly among devices and channels, with centralized control that was compatible with Expresso. We also wanted to make color applications more robust and more cost effective. Fortunately, after some in-depth conversations about our current environment and our goals, the Ricoh team knew exactly how to help."

The addition of Ricoh hardware and software backed by expert service and support made single-pass, vibrant color for transactional documents a reality and strengthened Expresso's already-powerful value proposition. Its award-winning workflow solution boosted efficiencies by eliminating the need to transform AFP files when sending to Ricoh platforms. RICOH ProcessDirector also enabled barcode-assisted automation of perforation and streamlined handling of AFP transforms that maintains the architecture's signature page-level recovery to help drive reliability. Additionally, Ricoh's continuous-feed production devices helped lower storage costs and reduce waste associated with pre-printed shells. With these integrated technology advancements, Nordis and its customers can now more intuitively and flexibly customize any part of the application including color, graphics, or text right up to when the job goes to press.

"We often talk about the advantages of leaving pre-printed shells behind for single-pass color, but RICOH ProcessDirector's synergy with Expresso really takes it to the next level," said Mike Herold, Director, Global Marketing, Commercial Printing Business, Ricoh. "The most exciting thing about collaborating with so many unique customers is finding new, tailored ways to help their businesses realize their full potential. The resounding success of Nordis' transformation to a mixed sheet-fed and continuous-feed shop, with increased capabilities, greater throughput and faster turn times, is a testament to the power of well-considered alliances built on a foundation of collaborative innovation."

RICOH ProcessDirector helps keep jobs running smoothly, centralizing control of sheet-fed and continuous-feed devices, as well as non-print communication channels. This single point of access made interfacing with Expresso simple and streamlined, so changes could be pushed to all channels without added manual steps. RICOH ProcessDirector's security and compliance-minded features, such as the ability to create defensible audit trails, were just as important to Nordis, which counts many healthcare and financial services organizations among its clients.

For more information on Ricoh, visit http://www.takealookatricohproduction.com or follow along and engage on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter using #LookAtRicoh or #ImagineWithInkjet.Follow Nordis on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

| About Ricoh|

Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services enabling individuals to work smarter. For more than 80 years, Ricoh has been driving innovation and is a leading provider of document management solutions, IT services, communications services, commercial and industrial printing, digital cameras, and industrial systems.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2020, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,008 billion yen (approx. 18.5 billion USD).

For further information, please visit http://www.ricoh.com

2020 Ricoh USA, Inc. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Ricoh USA, Inc.

http://www.ricoh-usa.com

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Nordis Technologies takes its innovation-driven growth to new heights with Ricoh alliance - PRNewswire

The owner of WeChat thinks deepfakes could actually be good – MIT Technology Review

The news: In a new white paper about its plans for AI, translated by China scholars Jeffrey Ding and Caroline Meinhardt, Tencent, the owner of WeChat and one of Chinas three largest tech giants, emphasizes that deepfake technology is not just about faking and deceiving, but a highly creative and groundbreaking technology. It urges regulators to be prudent and to avoid clamping down on its potential benefits to society.

The examples: Tencent listed five examples of what it perceives as beneficial applications of deepfake technology that already exist or could soon exist today:

Why it matters: Tencent says its already working to advance some of these applications. This will likely spur its competitors to do the same if they havent yet, and influence the direction of Chinese startups eager to be acquired. As a member of Chinas AI national team, which the government created as part of its overall AI strategy, the company also has significant sway among regulators who want to help foster the industrys growth.

Any concerns? Tencent acknowledges that deepfake technology can cause harm, particularly in its use for face-swapping people into pornography. But the company is forcefully optimistic that it will not topple societys truths, much less pose a threat to the world order. Of course, thats easy to say for a company that stands to benefit significantly from the technologys commercialization.

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The owner of WeChat thinks deepfakes could actually be good - MIT Technology Review

Improved Testing Method Produces COVID-19 Results in 36 Minutes – Technology Networks

Clinician-scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore's (NTU Singapore) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) have demonstrated a way to improve the speed, handling time and cost of COVID-19 laboratory tests. The improved testing method yields results in 36 minutes - a quarter of the time required by existing gold-standard tests.

Their new approach could enable the wider adoption of COVID-19 testing for diagnosis in academic or research laboratories, and allow for screening and research especially in countries and regions with limited laboratory capabilities. The test, which can be done with portable equipment, could also be deployed in the community as a screening tool.

Currently, the most sensitive method for testing for COVID-19 is through a laboratory technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which a machine amplifies viral genetic material by copying it over and over again so any trace of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be detected.

A big bottleneck in sample testing is RNA purification - separating RNA from other components in the patient sample - a laborious process that requires chemicals that are now in short supply worldwide. Its steps have to be performed by highly trained technical staff and can take a few hours. Currently, automated equipment for sample preparation costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, and requires specialised laboratory facilities.

The method developed by NTU LKCMedicine combines many of these steps and allows direct testing on the crude patient sample, cutting down the turnaround time from sample-to-result, and removing the need for RNA purification chemicals.

Details of the new approach were published in the scientific journal Genes in June.

Mr Wee Soon Keong, a PhD candidate at NTU LKCMedicine and the first author of the paper, said: "While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a venerable technology that has proven to be a workhorse for biological research, it has some drawbacks when used outside of the laboratory environment. The process is fiddly and time-consuming. Our rapid COVID-19 test involves a single-tube reaction that reduces hands-on time and biosafety risk for lab personnel, as well as the likelihood for carryover contamination during the processing of samples."

Aside from testing for COVID-19, the same method developed by the NTU LKCMedicine team can also be used to detect other viruses and bacteria, including the dengue virus, which is set to plague Singapore as the country braces itself for one of the worst dengue outbreaks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Leader of the research team, Associate Professor Eric Yap, who also heads the Microbial Genomics Laboratory, said: "We previously demonstrated that this method works for dengue virus as well. When used directly on a crude blood sample with dengue virus, the test yielded results in 28 minutes. As Singapore battles the dual outbreak of dengue and COVID-19, both with similar early symptoms, our test could help in differentiating between the two infectious diseases."

Professor James Best, Dean of NTU LKCMedicine, said: "As Singapore continues with proactive testing to detect, isolate, and contain the possible spread of the coronavirus, rapid portable screening tools like the one developed by Assoc Prof Yap and his team could come in handy at testing sites in the community, allowing for infected patients to be identified quickly, and swift action to be taken to prevent transmission."

From benchtop to portable testing

Typically, in PCR tests, the genetic material on a swab sample collected from a patient has to be extracted to remove any substances in the sample that prevent the PCR test from working. An example of an inhibitor in respiratory samples is mucin (a main component of mucus).

The test designed by the NTU LKCMedicine team, which includes senior research fellow Dr Sivalingam Paramalingam Suppiah, uses the 'direct PCR' method, removing the need for RNA purification, a time-consuming and costly step. Instead, they added inhibitor-resistant enzymes and reagents targeting compounds that obstruct RNA amplification, such as mucin, a main component of mucus. These enzymes and reagents, which are commercially available, have high resistance to such compounds that otherwise inhibit PCR, rendering the test inaccurate.

The biochemical mix of crude sample and inhibitor-resistant enzymes and reagents is placed into a single tube, which is inserted into a laboratory thermocycler, a machine used to amplify genetic material in PCR. After 36 minutes, results reveal whether there is any trace of COVID-19 with confidence.

"By skipping the RNA extraction step with our direct-PCR method, we see cost savings on nucleic acid extraction kits, and avoid the problem of reagents in short supply when lab testing is ramped up and the demand increases globally," said Dr Sivalingam.

The team also tested this method on a portable thermocycler, which can be deployed in low-resource settings and endemic areas, pointing to the possibility of having this test done in community healthcare settings by frontline healthcare workers.

Assoc Prof Yap said: "We are now trying to deploy such direct-PCR methods, developed by ourselves and others, for routine diagnostics. We need to determine the actual utility and benefits in a real-world setting, and to understand if there are any trade-offs. When one bottleneck is removed, other challenges may emerge - like ensuring quality control, or reducing manual errors."

The team is now looking to use this method for COVID-19 testing at the NTU Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory at LKCMedicine that Assoc Prof Yap heads.

"Our goal is to develop ultrafast and automated tests that yield results in minutes, and that can be performed by healthcare workers in the clinic with similar accuracy and sensitivity as in specialised laboratories. This will allow us to take PCR testing out of conventional laboratories nearer to the point-of-care, and into the low-resource settings that need them the most," he said.

Reference:Wee, S. K., Sivalingam, S. P., & Yap, E. P. (2020). Rapid Direct Nucleic Acid Amplification Test without RNA Extraction for SARS-CoV-2 Using a Portable PCR Thermocycler. Genes, 11(6), 664. doi:10.3390/genes11060664

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Improved Testing Method Produces COVID-19 Results in 36 Minutes - Technology Networks