Ascension Partners with Tech Accelerator for Greater Healthcare Innovation – Healthcare Informatics

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Ascension, said to be the world's largest Catholic health system, has begun a collaboration with Plug and Play Tech Center, a global innovation, investor and technology accelerator that supports innovative startups across various sectors, including healthcare.

The St. Louis, Mo.-headquartered health system has been looking for innovative solutions and ideas to help the national health system deliver compassionate, personalized care, and this collaboration offers a new way to connect with the best new ideas as they emerge, its officials said in a press release.

Specifically, Plug and Play Tech Centers Health and Wellness Technology Accelerator aims to connect forward-thinking organizations, corporations and investors with startups in the health and wellness industry around such broad topics as wellness, longevity and digital health. Each year, the accelerator provides two 12-week intensive programs for some 40 health-related companies, culled from thousands of applicants. These young companies then are connected with sponsoring organizations like Ascension for coaching, mentoring and testing ideas.

This collaboration gives Ascension new opportunities to support our efforts to lead the transformation of healthcare. Plug and Play Tech Center offers us a defined, targeted method of spotting innovation in healthcare and wellness early on to solve problems and meet evolving consumer needs where, when and how they prefer, said Jim Beckmann, chief operating officer of Ascension Holdings, part of Ascensions Solutions division, said in a statement. We know the future of healthcare lies in offering greater value and in empowering consumers, and teaming with Plug and Play gives us another tool in the toolbox to achieve that goal.

Chris Young, Ascension vice president of innovation, further added that the health system looked at various accelerators before making a decision. These startups may be two or three people creating a new technology or method in their garage, or they may be further along as a budding business, he said.

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Ascension Partners with Tech Accelerator for Greater Healthcare Innovation - Healthcare Informatics

Ascension Teams with Plug and Play Tech Center to Connect with Health and Wellness Startups – Business Wire (press release)

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ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascension, the nations largest non-profit health system, has begun a collaboration with Plug and Play Tech Center, a global innovation, investor and technology accelerator that supports innovative startups across multiple business sectors, including health and wellness.

This collaboration gives Ascension new opportunities to support our efforts to lead the transformation of healthcare. Plug and Play Tech Center offers us a defined, targeted method of spotting innovation in healthcare and wellness early on to solve problems and meet evolving consumer needs where, when and how they prefer, said Jim Beckmann, Chief Operating Officer of Ascension Holdings, part of Ascensions Solutions division. We know the future of healthcare lies in offering greater value and in empowering consumers, and teaming with Plug and Play gives us another tool in the toolbox to achieve that goal.

Plug and Play Tech Centers Health and Wellness Technology Accelerator connects forward-thinking organizations, corporations and investors with startups in the health and wellness industry around such broad topics as wellness, longevity and digital health. Each year, the accelerator provides two 12-week intensive programs for some 40 health-related companies, culled from thousands of applicants. These young companies then are connected with sponsoring organizations like Ascension for coaching, mentoring and testing ideas.

We are excited to welcome Ascension as an Anchor Partner in our Health program along leading corporations such as Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, University of Mississippi Medical Center and Boehringer Ingelheim. Our partnership with Ascension provides the startups with access to the largest non-profit provider in the US for possible business development and investment opportunities, says Saeed Amidi, Founder & CEO of Plug and Play. We look forward to opening up our global ecosystem to their team and providing a soft landing to the Silicon Valley.

We looked at multiple accelerators before teaming with Plug and Play Tech Center, one of the largest and most successful multinational accelerators with a solid pipeline and proven processes, said Chris Young, Ascension Vice President of Innovation. These startups may be two or three people creating a new technology or method in their garage, or they may be further along as a budding business.

Young said Ascension is looking for innovative solutions and ideas to help the national health system deliver compassionate, personalized care, and this collaboration offers a new way to connect with the best new ideas as they emerge. He added, We know healthcare is a very difficult industry to break into as a startup, and we want to break down those barriers to bring exciting ideas and approaches to those we are privileged to serve.

About Ascension Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the worlds largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. Ascensions Healthcare Division operates 2,500 sites of care including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascensions own group purchasing organization.

About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. We connect startups to corporations and invest in over 150 companies every year. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in 24 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 180 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over$6 billionin funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visitwww.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

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Ascension Teams with Plug and Play Tech Center to Connect with Health and Wellness Startups - Business Wire (press release)

Share Performance Update on Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V) – Morgan Research

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Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V) has ended the week in the red, yielding negativeresults for the shares at they ticked -0.72%.In taking a look at recent performance, we can see that shares have moved 8.66% over the past 4-weeks, 16.95% over the past half year and 26.61% over the past full year.

Traders are keeping a keen eye on shares of Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V). The Average Directional Index or ADX may prove to be an important tool for trading and investing. The ADX is a technical indicator developed by J. Welles Wilder used to determine the strength of a trend. The ADX is often used along with the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI) to identify the direction of the trend. Presently, the 14-day ADX is resting at 25.53. Generally speaking, an ADX value from 0-25 would indicate an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would indicate a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would signal a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would indicate an extremely strong trend.

Some investors may find the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R as a helpful technical indicator. Presently, Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V)s Williams Percent Range or 14 day Williams %R is resting at -42.11. Values can range from 0 to -100. A reading between -80 to -100 may be typically viewed as strong oversold territory. A value between 0 to -20 would represent a strong overbought condition. As a momentum indicator, the Williams R% may be used with other technicals to help define a specific trend.

When performing stock analysis, investors and traders may opt to view technical levels. Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V) presently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of 37.88. Investors and traders may use this indicator to help spot price reversals, price extremes, and the strength of a trend. Many investors will use the CCI in conjunction with other indicators when evaluating a trade. The CCI may be used to spot if a stock is entering overbought (+100) and oversold (-100) territory.

Checking in on moving averages, the 200-day is at 1.31, the 50-day is 1.30, and the 7-day is sitting at 1.37. Moving averages may be used by investors and traders to shed some light on trading patterns for a specific stock. Moving averages can be used to help smooth information in order to provide a clearer picture of what is going on with the stock. Technical stock analysts may use a combination of different time periods in order to figure out the history of the equity and where it may be headed in the future. MAs can be calculated for any time period, but two very popular time frames are the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.

Shifting gears to the Relative Strength Index, the 14-day RSI is currently sitting at 57.53, the 7-day is 56.83, and the 3-day is currently at 53.78 for Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a highly popular momentum indicator used for technical analysis. The RSI can help display whether the bulls or the bears are currently strongest in the market. The RSI may be used to help spot points of reversals more accurately. The RSI was developed by J. Welles Wilder. As a general rule, an RSI reading over 70 would signal overbought conditions. A reading under 30 would indicate oversold conditions. As always, the values may need to be adjusted based on the specific stock and market. RSI can also be a valuable tool for trying to spot larger market turns.

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Share Performance Update on Nanotech Security Corp (NTS.V) - Morgan Research

Global Nanotech-enabled Aircraft Power Solutions Market to Grow … – Markets Insider

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DUBLIN, August 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global Nanotech-enabled Aircraft Power Solutions Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global nanotech-enabled aircraft power solutions market to grow at a CAGR of 8.89% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global Nanotech-Enabled Aircraft Power Solutions Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is the emergence of zero-fuel aircraft. Zero-fuel aircraft use photovoltaic panels that absorb energy from the sun and convert them into energy to thrust the engines. Of late, there has been an increasing interest in the commercial and civil sectors for using such aircraft in applications, including agriculture, aerial photography, 3D mapping, wildlife protection, and provision of internet access in remote places. With the growing need for reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, government agencies, in collaboration with private entities, are significantly developing new approaches, such as the use of solar technologies and maximizing the absorption of solar power.

According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient aircraft. To address the challenges arising from global warming and climatic changes, aerospace stakeholders are actively promoting carbon-reducing measures and energy savings. These initiatives are expected to bring down greenhouse gas emissions that have adverse environmental impacts. Since the late 90s, a number of initiatives have been directed toward substantially reducing the fuel consumptions during flight, landing, and taxiing of aircraft.

Further, the report states that one of the major factors hindering the growth of this market is constrained durability and instability of nanoparticles. The robustness of fuel cell systems is lower compared with the internal combustion engines, particularly in the specific temperature and humidity ranges in which an aircraft driven by a fuel cell would operate. The durability of a commonplace fuel cell stack is half the optimum durability required for its use in commercial aviation.

Key vendors

Other prominent vendors

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Introduction

Part 05: Market Landscape

Part 06: Market Segmentation By Application

Part 07: Geographical Segmentation

Part 08: Decision Framework

Part 09: Drivers And Challenges

Part 10: Market Trends

Part 11: Vendor Landscape

Part 12: Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/n63cgn/global

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager rel="nofollow">press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

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Global Nanotech-enabled Aircraft Power Solutions Market to Grow ... - Markets Insider

Positive Ichimoku Levels For Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) Indicate Upward Momentum – Concord Register

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Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) shares opened the last session at $1.1000, touching a high of $1.1100 and a low of $1.0900 , yielding a change of-0.01. The latest reading places the stock above the Ichimoku cloud which indicates positive momentum and a potential buy signal.The Ichimoku Cloud was originally called the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo. Where Ichimoku means one glance,Kinko balance and Hyo chart. Thus the full translation could best be described as one glance balanced chart. Originally developed by Goichi Hosada pre WWII, a newspaper journalist (published in 1969) who wanted to develop an Uber-indicator that could provide the trader with various levels of support/resistance, entry/exit points, direction of the trend, and strength of the signal.

The most basic theory of this indicator is that if the price is above the cloud, the overall trend is bullish while below the cloud is bearish, and in the cloud is non-biased or unclear. Lastly, when the price is above the cloud, then the top of the cloud will act as a general support level, and when price is below, the cloud base will act as resistance. But remember the cloud has thickness, and thus resistance does as well, which by making these thicker reduces the risk of a false breakout.

Many investors enter the stock market without a plan in place. Investment goals may be a highly important part of coming out on top. Investors may need to set realistic and measureable goals in order to build a baseline for success. Defining investment goals clearly can help keep individual investors from making common mistakes and losing their shirts. Creating a plan for entering the equity market may start by setting up goals and outlining the objectives of the individual. These goals can differ depending on the person and situation. Many investors will opt to follow strategies put in place by others. This may work fine for some, but not as well for others. Keeping a close eye on particular stocks in the portfolio may help the investor when the time comes to adjust the holdings. Being able to adapt to rapidly changing market environments may turn out to be immensely important when the winds of uncertainty blow in.

Another popular tool among technical stock analysts is the moving average. Moving averages are considered to be lagging indicators that simply take the average price of a stock over a specific period of time. Moving averages can be very useful for identifying peaks and troughs. They may also be used to help the trader figure out proper support and resistance levels for the stock. Currently, the 200-day MA is sitting at 0.95, and the 50-day is 1.00.

The 14-day ADX for Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) is currently at 30.59. In general, and ADX value from 0-25 would represent an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would support a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would signify a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would point to an extremely strong trend. Checking in on some other technical levels, the 14-day RSI is currently at 57.19, the 7-day stands at 55.77, and the 3-day is sitting at 57.70. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of stock price movements. The RSI was developed by J. Welles Wilder, and it oscillates between 0 and 100. Generally, the RSI is considered to be oversold when it falls below 30 and overbought when it heads above 70. RSI can be used to detect general trends as well as finding divergences and failure swings.

At the time of writing, Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of 12.48. Developed by Donald Lambert, the CCI is a versatile tool that may be used to help spot an emerging trend or provide warning of extreme conditions. CCI generally measures the current price relative to the average price level over a specific time period. CCI is relatively high when prices are much higher than average, and relatively low when prices are much lower than the average. Investors may be watching other technical indicators such as the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R. The Williams %R is a momentum indicator that helps measure oversold and overbought levels. This indicator compares the closing price of a stock in relation to the highs and lows over a certain time period. A common look back period is 14 days. Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF)s Williams %R presently stands at -55.56. The Williams %R oscillates in a range from 0 to -100. A reading between 0 and -20 would indicate an overbought situation. A reading from -80 to -100 would indicate an oversold situation.

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Positive Ichimoku Levels For Nanotech Security Corp (NTSFF) Indicate Upward Momentum - Concord Register

Kim’s WW3 threat: Rare colour pics show brutal reality of LAST Korean War – Daily Star

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THESE incredible colour pictures capture the brutal reality of the Korean War for Western troops as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang.

DOUG BANKS/MEDIA DRUM WORLD

The shots, sure to worry Kim Jong-un, show UN forces in action during the devastating conflict, which lasted from 1950-1953.

US soldiers are seen firing bazookas, taking cover behind tanks, and training their sights on enemy forces.

The pictures emerge as North Korea and the US ramp up their war of words.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis last week said continued aggression from Pyongyang could escalate into war very quickly.

Washington and Pyongyang have stoked fears of nuclear conflict since the North Korean tyrant said he was carefully considering an attack on a US military base on Guam earlier this month.

These stunning images of the Korean war were painstakingly colourised by digital colourist and retiree Doug Banks, from Brighton, UK

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Donald Trump said the hermit kingdom would be met with fire and fury if it maintained its threats.

The photographs will be a stark reminder of the horrors faced in the last Korean conflict.

They reveal images including three grizzled Royal Marines taking cover in a trench with fixed bayonets and a monster M20 rocket launcher.

One weary US marine is shown huddling against the bitter cold, while another bloodied troop tries to find a moment of solitude.

DOUG BANKS/MEDIA DRUM WORLD

US marines and Japanese tanks are taking part in a military exercise on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido as tensions reach breaking point on the Korean peninsular

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Soldiers from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force take part in a field drill with US Marines during joint military exercises with in Eniwa, Hokkaido prefecture

Another shot captures a US Grunman Panther fighter jet gliding above the Pacific Ocean, as Navy ships sail on below.

Two optimistic gunners of the Royal New Zealand Artillerys 16th Field Regiment are pictured peering out of windows in their makeshift hut.

The stunning images were painstakingly rendered by digital colourist and retiree Doug Banks, from Brighton.

He said: I try to create an accurate historical record using layers of colour as if I were painting on a canvas.

The most important thing is to research the image thoroughly before attempting the colouring.

DOUG BANKS/ MEDIA DRUM WORLD

My aim is to establish the media of colourising black and white images in a way that will earn credibility among the purists who think that black and white photos should remain in that way.

I also want to educate those, particularly youngsters, that otherwise would not be interested in dull black and white images that are gathering dust in museums and private collections.

Earlier this month, Daily Star Online uncovered other pics from the conflict showing wounded American troops on the battlefield.

In June, we also revealed colourised World War Two photos that capture dogfights and RAF heroes with their aircraft.

These stunning images have been published in a new book. The amazing shots show in beautiful detail the battle in the skies as the world battled the genocidal Nazi regime

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USAF pilot Captain Fred Christensen on July 7th 1944 he shot down six enemies in one day

The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950.

The UN came to the aid of South Korea with US forces providing the bulwark of resistance.

After three years of fighting, an armistice was signed and the Korean Demilitarised Zone separated North and South Korea.

No peace treaty was agreed and the two Koreas are still technically at war.

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Kim's WW3 threat: Rare colour pics show brutal reality of LAST Korean War - Daily Star

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How MDMA & Other Psychedelics Could Change Therapy | Goop

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Psychedelic drugs that have been considered recreational for decadesand classified as drugs of abuse by the FDAare showing major promise as potential solutions for hard-to-treat disorders and illnesses (see this goop piece on ibogaine and addiction, as well as this one on ayahuasca). Usually associated with the street names ecstasy or molly (although its not actually the same), the drug MDMA is in new clinical trials to treat PTSD and anxiety; other possible therapeutic applications are being explored, too.

Emily Williams, M.D. is a resident psychiatrist at UCSF and trained MDMA-assisted psychotherapist working with MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), a non-profit pharmaceutical research organization leading the way on MDMA research. In Williams current work, she has patients take MDMA while undergoing tailored psychotherapy sessions. MDMA is thought to enhance the efficacy of psychotherapy by reducing the fear response, and strengthening the sense of the trust between patient and therapist. MDMA seems to bring about an internal awareness that even painful feelings that arise are important to the therapeutic process, says Williams. Many people describe the experience of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as years of therapy in one day.

Below, Williams tells us how MDMA might change the future of various therapy modalities, as well as how we think about psychedelics.

Q

Can you explain what MDMA is?

A

MDMA is not the same as ecstasy or molly, which may contain MDMA, but frequently also contain unknown and/or dangerous adulterants. (Its important to note that in clinical research trials, the MDMA used is created in a strictly regulated lab setting and monitored by both the FDA and DEA.)

In technical terms, MDMA (3, 4-methelynedioxymethamphetamine) is a monoamine releaser and re-uptake inhibitor that affects serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin. This means that it causes an increase in serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the body, and also allows for increased serotonin activity at certain receptors in the brain.

MDMA was first synthesized in 1912 by Merck in an effort to develop a compound to stop abnormal bleeding. It wasnt thought to have a medical benefit until it was rediscovered by Alexander Shulgin, Ph.D. in Northern California in 1976 and spread by psychiatrists and psychologists who reported seeing benefits to its use as an adjunct to psychotherapy in individuals and couples.

Q

What does MDMA-assisted psychotherapy entail, and who is it meant for?

A

Clinical trials have primarily investigated MDMA as treatment for PTSD, but there have also been studies on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for social anxiety in autistic adults, anxiety related to life-threatening illness, as well as in couples therapy. (As mentioned above, in the late 1970s and early 80s, before MDMA was reclassified as a drug of abuse, it was used with anecdotal success in individual and couples therapy.)

In MAPS clinical research trials, a course of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy begins with a series of psychotherapy sessions, sans drugs, to establish the therapeutic relationship and safe space for processing.

This preparatory phase is followed by a series of MDMA psychotherapy sessions: Each one lasts about six to eight hours and consists of the patient orally ingesting MDMA and resting in a comfortable position with eyes closed or wearing an eye mask, while listening to music thats initially relaxing and then emotionally evocative. Throughout these experimental MDMA sessions, periods of patient introspection alternate organically with periods of conversation with the therapists, largely determined by the desire of the patient.

The MDMA sessions are followed by integration sessions (no drugs involved) that last about 90 minutes, where the patient and therapist talk about insights gained during the experimental sessions, and how they relate to the trauma or other issues that were brought up during the preparatory phases.

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Q

Can you tell us about the results so far?

A

The combined results from the PTSD studies are very promising: After just two sessions of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, 52.7% of 74 study participants no longer met criteria for PTSD, versus 22.6% of the placebo group. Among all study participants who received active dose MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, 67.4% of 86 participants no longer met criteria for PTSD at the twelve-month follow up. This shows that not only is MDMA-assisted psychotherapy effective for treating PTSD, its benefits are long-lasting. No other psychiatric medications or therapies currently available are comparable.

Q

Whats the treatment like for the patient?

A

The MDMA experience itself has been described as having an enhanced mood, heightened sense of openness, sense of closeness with others, and increased connection with ones intuition or what we refer to as inner healing intelligence. A large majority of patients in the clinical trials have reported that their course of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy was profound and life-changing. Many describe it as years of therapy in one day.

Q

Would MDMA be effective on its own, without the therapy session, or does it work because of the interaction of the two?

A

MDMAs effectiveness is reliant on the accompanying psychotherapy. It is thought that MDMA increases trust and strengthens the therapeutic alliance (the relationship between patient and therapist)that relationship is actually the number-one factor determining the efficacy of psychotherapy. MDMA is thought to catalyze the healing process, which is further supported by highly trained MDMA therapists. MDMA seems to bring about an internal awareness that even painful feelings that arise are important to the therapeutic process. The MDMA and psychotherapy complement each other to foster a clearer perspective, helping the patient understand that the trauma is an event from the past, and to see the support and safety that exists for them in the present moment.

This process also relies on concepts of set and setting: Set is the intention of the patient, the preparations they have made, as well as their mental and physical characteristics. The setting is the physical/interpersonal environment that can contribute to a persons altered state of consciousness. The psychotherapeutic frame of MDMA-assisted therapy is so important; the preparatory process works towards establishing an optimal set and setting for the MDMA experience.

It is also important to stress that there are medical risks associated with MDMA use, including hyperthermia, cardiac complications, as well as a potentially fatal complication called Serotonin Syndrome, so close supervision by a physician is critical.

Q

How is MDMA/psychotherapy treatment thought to decrease the fear response in patients?

A

MDMA can reduce a patients perceived threat to their emotional integrity; it can also decrease defensiveness without blocking access to memories, or preventing a deep and genuine experience of emotion. Eliminating your conditioned fear responses can lead to more open, comfortable communication about past traumatic events and give you greater access to information about those events. Some studies show a decrease in communication between the amygdala (the fear-processing area of the brain) and hippocampus (memory storage) with MDMA compared to a placebo, however the actual mechanism of action remains unknown, which is why further research is crucial in this growing field.

Q

Could MDMA be used for other applications/to treat other conditions?

A

MDMA-psychotherapy has the potential to be used to supplement more traditional therapy modalities, such as psychodynamic or cognitive behavioral therapies, as a way to explore personal growth and overall wellbeing.

Q

Besides MDMA, which psychedelic drugs do you think are most promising in terms of potential therapeutic applications?

A

There are a number of different psychedelics being studied currently for a variety of disorders, ranging from depression to addiction and tobacco cessation. At this moment, I would say that psilocybin (the active compound in psychedelic magic mushrooms) is also very promising in terms of becoming legalized for clinical use. The Amazonian brew, ayahuasca is also showing benefit in some recent research studies for a variety of disorders, including trauma and depression.

Q

MAPS work is all privately funded; do you see federal funding (or FDA approval) on the horizon?

A

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is undertaking a roughly $25-million effort to make MDMA into an FDA-approved prescription medication by 2021; its currently the only organization in the world thats funding clinical trials on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Were closer than ever before to seeing federal research funding awards to projects focusing on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. We are experiencing a societal, cultural shift in how psychedelics are perceived and I hope that as more people express interest, the funding will follow.

Q

How did MAPS get started, and how did you become involved with the organization?

A

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on pharmaceutical research. It was founded in 1986 by Rick Doblin, Ph.D. in an effort to preserve the therapeutic use of MDMA after it was identified by the US DEA as a drug of abuse. Doblin realized that to legitimize psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, wed have to prove its efficacy via clinical trials. Nearly a decade later the first FDA-approved, double-blind, placebo-controlled US Phase I dose-response safety study of MDMA was published; it was sponsored by MAPS. MAPS is now beginning the first Phase 3 multi-site clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD, one of the last steps towards MDMA becoming an FDA-approved medication.

I first became connected with MAPS when I was in medical school in Charleston, South Carolina, which also happened to be the site of one of the original MDMA-assisted psychotherapy studies in the US. Over the last several years, I have trained as an MDMA-assisted psychotherapist with MAPS in parallel with my psychiatry residency, and I will be a therapist and team co-leader on our clinical PTSD trial. Im also working on an MDMA psychotherapy study for anxiety related to life-threatening illness.

Emily Williams, M.D., is a resident psychiatrist at UCSF where she is conducting an analysis of the effects of MDMA on therapeutic alliance, as well as serving as co-investigator on a clinical trial for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. She is a mentor for the Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and works as the independent clinical rater for a MAPS-funded study on MDMA for end-of-life anxiety. In addition to her clinical and research work, she serves as a supervisor for the Zendo Project, which provides psychedelic harm reduction for events and festivals.

The views expressed in this article intend to highlight alternative studies and induce conversation. They are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of goop, and are for informational purposes only, even if and to the extent that this article features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.

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How MDMA & Other Psychedelics Could Change Therapy | Goop

Observer Review Some Cyberpunk and Some Junk – COGconnected

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Its always a sad thing when a game shows such promise but falls short of a fun final product. Observer (stylized:>observer_)had all the makings of an experience worth praising for all the things it did right, but it managed to decay in a couple major ways as the game progressed, leaving for a depressing post-mortem.

Observerputs us into the cybernetically enhanced eyes of DanielLazarski, an observer for the Chiron Corporation. In this dystopian future, Poland is controlled by Chiron, and you act on behalf of the corporation as aMinority Report-esquedetective. While you cant see into the future, you can see into the past by accessing peoples memories through a neural connection. The concept is solid, and DanielLazarskiis a fun protagonist, for a while. Hes voiced byBlade RunnersRutgerHauer as if we needed proof thats whereBlooberTeam drew inspiration. That aside, Hauer achieves something I havent seen in a game before; low-quality voice acting for the sake of story. What starts out as poorly articulated, corny dialogue starts to feel very fitting of the environment as you begin to realize everyone is only a fragment of themselves. They dont talk like you and me because technically, theyre not.

__________________________

Even in the peaceful sequences, the sound adds an eeriness to everything and complements the world really well.

This revelation comes through the people you meet. Whether theyre standing right in front of you, half man, half machine, or theyre only a singular eye on a static-filled view screen, humanity is only ever displayed in portions. This becomes a major theme for the entire gamewhat is humanity and how much of it has been sacrificed in this new world?

Again, to contribute to this concept, the world beats around you with a bleeding, mechanical heart. While investigating a series of grotesque murders that take place in a tumbledown tenement, the building itself becomes a charactera personification of the lowlifes that inhabit it. You can see their daily habits by whats scattered around the floor, or what kind of books they like to read. Some people have terrible secrets, but youll only know about them if you search this world for all it has to offer.

And itsbeautiful.I said this in my previewthe game is so detailed that every room feels unique. Tenements would have been the easiest things to just cookie-cut each room, but they didnt. They breathe, or sometimes they dont because whatever was in there died long ago.

So with all of this, where did things go wrong? It comes down to two things: the story falls apart almost out of nowhere and the horror elements of this game are shamefully easy, and sometimes buggy.For the first four hours, the story had my interest piqued. Cyberpunk almost always leads to the cerebral in one way or another, and Observerjumps into this concept almost immediately. This, matched with the detective aspect, and afriggin genetically engineered wolfman (Im not joking), I thought this game could tell a story worth telling.

__________________________

What starts out as poorly articulated, corny dialogue starts to feel very fitting of the environment as you begin to realize everyone is only a fragment of themselves.

But then it all comes loose in the final half-hour, which is all that remained of Observerafter my preview. Things feel rushed, and they ride entirely off of the cyberpunkclicheof a broken reality. Who is who and who am I, and why should I care? A story can work using that element, but it cant be theentirestory.

As far as the horror parts of the game, Ive had a harder time making sure I watered all of my plants in a farming simulator. The creatures are dumb, predictable, and at some points broken. When theyre not making the same, slow path over and over again, theyre getting caught in a part of the wall and staying there.

What makes these parts at least somewhat heart-pounding is the audio. Sound is a big part of understanding where the monsters are, but the digitized noises are constantly reminding you that something is coming, and it makes you want to either hide or run. Even in the peaceful sequences, the sound adds an eeriness to everything and complements the world really well.

But what are pretty things and great atmosphere if theres nothing rewarding about exploring them? What sense of gratification can be found from outrunning monsters that dont know theyre supposed to be chasing you? None.

Observer markets itself as a cyberpunk horror game, and I think thats the stage from which it should be judged. Cyberpunkneedsworld building and atmosphere to flourish, and Observerbrings that in full. But cyberpunk also relies heavily on a narrative, while horror is, well, horror. By this standard, Observershould be compelling and bone-chilling. And it isnt. The scary bits arent scary and the story goes flat almost out of nowhere, leaving for an experience that is very stunted.

***PCcode provided by the publisher ***

74

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Observer Review Some Cyberpunk and Some Junk - COGconnected

Edap Tms SA (EDAP) Compiles Losses For the Week Concord … – Concord Register

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Shares of Edap Tms SA (EDAP) have been trending lowerover the past five bars, revealing bearishmomentum for the shares, as they ran -0.74% for the week. Looking further out we note that the shares have moved -14.92% over the past 4-weeks, -13.55% over the past half year and -11.55% over the past full year.

Currently, Edap Tms SA (EDAP) has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -113.34. The CCI technical indicator can be employed to help figure out if a stock is overbought or oversold. CCI may also be used to aid in the discovery of divergences that could possibly signal reversal moves. A CCI closer to +100 may provide an overbought signal, and a CCI near -100 may offer an oversold signal.

Tracking other technical indicators, the 14-day RSI is presently standing at 33.06, the 7-day sits at 26.29, and the 3-day is resting at 23.43 for Edap Tms SA (EDAP). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a highly popular technical indicator. The RSI is computed base on the speed and direction of a stocks price movement. The RSI is considered to be an internal strength indicator, not to be confused with relative strength which is compared to other stocks and indices. The RSI value will always move between 0 and 100. One of the most popular time frames using RSI is the 14-day.

Moving averages have the ability to be used as a powerful indicator for technical stock analysis. Following multiple time frames using moving averages can help investors figure out where the stock has been and help determine where it may be possibly going. The simple moving average is a mathematical calculation that takes the average price (mean) for a given amount of time. Currently, the 7-day moving average is sitting at 2.71.

Lets take a further look at the Average Directional Index or ADX. The ADX measures the strength or weakness of a particular trend. Investors and traders may be looking to figure out if a stock is trending before employing a specific trading strategy. The ADX is typically used along with the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI) which point to the direction of the trend. The 14-day ADX for Edap Tms SA (EDAP) is currently at 23.32. In general, and ADX value from 0-25 would represent an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would support a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would signify a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would point to an extremely strong trend.

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Edap Tms SA (EDAP) Compiles Losses For the Week Concord ... - Concord Register

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Trump abandons political correctness and shows his true self – AL DIA News

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We frequently wish to see a politician sincerely leave the script and speak from the heart. On Tuesday, President Trump fulfilled that desire, leaving the whole world with its mouth open.

In a combative press conference from the Trump Tower in New York, President Donald Trump decided to abandon the path of the politically correct and say exactly what was on his mind, turning the conference into one of the most important episodes in the contemporary political history of the United States.

The appointment came with the intention of outlining his infrastructure project, but his inability to address the violent encounter between extremist hate groups and counter-demonstrators in Virginia over the weekend has been perceived as a silent accolade to far-right groups, and the media focused their questions on it.

Trump's response was rising in intensity, sparking a series of denials and condemnations, challenging journalists to "define the alt-right" and falling into historical nonsense.

For the president, a group of social activists with Nazi symbols, anti-Semitic slogans and references to the KKK - carrying guns, in addition - also has "nice people", and the counter-demonstrators share the blame for the unleashed violence.

"What about the fact they came charging -- that they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do," he said. "I think there is blame on both sides."

Let us try to reconcile ideas and believe that the US president really wanted to take a neutral stance, and forget for a moment his record of racism as an entrepreneur ... is not easy. Especially when from his mouth do not cease to leave arguments like cannon shots to the boat of credibility.

You had a lot of people in that group that were there to innocently protest, and very legally protest because I dont know if you know, they had a permit. The other group didnt have a permit. So I only tell you this: there are two sides to a story, said the president, to the icy surprise of all who were listening.

Was the president of the United States making public an apology for racism? This seems to have been understood by members of extreme right groups. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, for example, even thanked the president on Twitter for "condemning leftist terrorists".

The danger of this situation is not only the escalation of violence, but also its legitimacy. The absence of a condemnation argued and the insistence in the distribution of guilt, will only add fuel to the fire.

Senator Marco Rubio, who wrote in his Twitter account that the president cant allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of blame. They support idea which cost nation & world so much pain. The #WhiteSupremacy groups will see being assigned only 50% of blame as a win. We can not allow this old evil to be resurrected.

For Democrats, Trump's reaction is due to his desire to maintain the support of white nationalists and the extreme right, especially from its political activists. This may have influenced the president's delay in addressing "the biggest domestic challenge during his short presidency," as described by Reuters, as it took him more than 48 hours to deliver a controlled and read speech, which cataloged the KKK and neo-Nazis as "criminals and thugs".

But enough for Trump to skip the pattern, forget the script and let his true self to flourish, so that the whole world is convinced that, unfortunately, racism has a permit under this administration.

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Trump abandons political correctness and shows his true self - AL DIA News

How can I keep my employees from jumping ship? – New York Post

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I am the owner of a thriving small company. I make an extreme effort to support my employees, yet no matter how much I do, I rarely trust their loyalty. They tell me how happy they are and how grateful for learning so much, but then jump ship, chasing a shinier fish. Loyalty and building a place in a company is a thing of the past, it seems. Whats a small business owner to do?

Good help is hard to find is a common refrain, particularly from small business owners. Generally, I agree with that, which is why, when you are one of the good help you have a lot of leverage and employers are best-served to do what they can to retain such talent. Its harder for small business owners because of the limited career potential. It is your business, after all, not theirs, so if you are hiring people who have higher career aspirations than what you can provide, its unrealistic to expect them to stick around. Not everyone is a career climber, though, so maybe you need to hire more wisely. Find people who are looking for a steady job with good pay, benefits and a pleasant place to work. Youll have a better chance of retaining your staff.

I went through a 360-degree evaluation where my staff, peers and bosses filled out an anonymous evaluation about me, my traits, my performance, etc. I am mortified by the results. Our workplace is very competitive, and I am sure my peers sabotaged me because they want my job. I also dont think its fair that it is anonymous. How do I handle this and discuss it with my boss?

Someone needs a little more help than just a 360 evaluation! Before you go popping off about how the deck was stacked against you and the results are the forces of workplace Darwinism, you might want to dial back there a bit and take a long, hard look in the mirror. Usually there is a certified survey professional who sits with the individual and goes through the results and strategies for dealing with the feedback. Do that! Because unless you do work in a vipers den, chances are you have some things to work on. The fact that your employer invested time and money in this process usually means he or she sees something positive in you worth developing. Seize on that and go from there.

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How can I keep my employees from jumping ship? - New York Post

The birth of Geotrumpism – Guardian (blog)

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Since the advent of the current American President, Donald Trump in January this year, there has been a new level of irritability in living things, especially humans called Trumpism. I shall add the prefix geo to make it compatible with what obtains. And so, we now have Geotrumpism, which is movement of the earth towards Tump. It is a reverse order because instead of the earth creating the stimulus, it is the earth itself that is reacting to an external stimulus called Trump.

In a different lesson and under a different subject, my geography teacher, Mr. Ononibe told me that the features of the earth are not constant and that over time, sometimes millions or even billions of years, movements occur in the crust of the earth that recreate the continental boundaries, global vegetation and topography such that mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, oceans, deserts and the entire ecosystems will be reformatted and possibly relocated and the American continent for instance could be relocated from its current location to the Sahara Desert or into the Pacific Ocean.

Aah! It sounded like a fairy tale; too strange to be true! Did it therefore mean that the network of streams in my community had not always been there? I prayed to God that night to allow one of such earth movements to happen in my life time so that I could witness the relocation of America into the Pacific.

In the university, my sociology teacher told me that sociology as a discipline evolved effectively after the industrial revolution in England, which redefined the production process with dire consequences on the human condition. Machine started doing what humans were doing. The soil was no more as attractive as the machines and the migration to cities to seek livelihood in the emerging industrial economy generated new set of challenges that changed society and a whole field of learning had to be created to study these changes and proffer methods to maintain conducive social order.

Truly in life, there is no condition that is permanent. It is the reason I do not accept this end-time position of Christendom and I ask for forgiveness. The current global strife cannot be a fulfillment of the scriptures in the book of Revelation that the end-time will be preceded by tribulations of a scale that is already manifesting. Recorded history tells us that the world has never enjoyed absolute tranquility. The world had been troubled long before Christ and has remained so since Christ left more than 2000 years ago.

The history of Europe is also the history of wars. Twice, in 1917 and 1939, Europe had made its own wars become World War 1 and 2. In pre-colonial Africa, greatness was determined by military conquest. The great empires of Western Sudan and the tropics were great because their armies plundered, killed and brought others into subjugation in an uncontrolled reign of territorial expansionism.

Man prides himself (and I guess it was how God purposed it) as the height of Gods creation. But how it is so difficult for man, with all his intellectual and spiritual advantages to be at peace with himself is difficult to fathom. I will say here that man, in spite of himself, has so much to learn from the jungle where life is essentially predatory with the lion and other big cats at the top of the brutal order.

And the lesson is this. In all my observations, I have not witnessed where the lion or other predators engage in willful annihilation as man does. The lion kills to eat not to conserve and when it is filled it can fellowship with preys without posing any danger to them. Man on the other hand is propelled by vanity not necessity to disrupt and destroy the creation of God.

How can this be adequately explained? Not even Darwinism offers a complete answer because mans propensity to destroy just to feel cool is a narrow, if not wrong interpretation, of Charles Darwins theory of Origin of Species and its derivative concept of the Survival of the Fittest or Natural Selection. In the jungle and in Charles Darwins mind, survival does not mean absolute destruction or even territorialism but adaptation to changing natural and social conditions to ensure sustainability.

Man has failed in this regard. Europe, which prides itself as a super race divinely ordained to dominate the universe equates destruction with dominance. The race had maintained an order of unceasing strife in search of dominance until the end of World War II in 1945 and when the United Nations was formed through mainly the instrumentality of the United States to create a new order for Europe and the World.

That order has run for 72 years and paradoxically, Mr. Donald Trump, the new American president is calling for its review or more appropriately, for a return to pre-1945 status quo when might was a national duty and stronger nations could arm themselves to the teeth to inflict maximum pain on weaker nations. This is just one interpretation of Geotrumpism.

Another is the enormous effort at racial profiling to place the peoples of the world in geo-political compartments such that the Caucasians, Mongoloids, Arabs, Africans, etc., do no cohabit to achieve a common human purpose. The resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), neo-Nazism and supremacist sentiments generally in American politics since the coming of Donald Trump explains this. Humanity is no longer a common denominator under Trump and the Whites genuinely have a responsibility to protect their own against others. It is left for others to protect theirs against the Whites. The consequence of this racial protectionism/exclusivity is a divided world where God Who offers all the connections will be disconnected and pushed to the background.

It is a frightening prospect but that is where we are or going with the Trump presidency. Why then should the world fight to put down ISIS if all they ask is a protected caliphate they can call theirs? How is the ISIS revolt different from the event in the last one week in Charlottesville in the State of Virginia, United States?

If Trump can say America and Americans first and heavens are not falling, why should heavens fall if Kim Jong-Un says the same thing regarding North Korean and its people? Blind nationalism was never an exclusive right of the Germans under Adolf Hitler neither is it going to be of Americans under Donald Trump. The North Koreans are equally entitled, same as the ISIS. That should be the true meaning of a Free World which the Americans love to talk about.

I return to my teachers. The earth, perhaps, was not created by God to remain constant or uniform. There are contentions that force a mutation of the physical, social and anthropological elements of earth now and again. I suspect we are at one of such points with Geotrumpism.

But God is still good all the time. That is why the devil is offered all the time to retrace and be good before Armageddon. I am saying it is not too late to create a fresh stimulus and pull back from Geotrumpism onto a more beneficial path and save the world from imminent cataclysm. We can also choose to remain in the direction of Trump if this generation has finally agreed that there is nothing to learn from the lessons of history.

11 Jun Opinion

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The birth of Geotrumpism - Guardian (blog)

Jamaican students on historic robotics feat – Jamaica Gleaner

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It was long ago in a silver screen near us when R2-D2, C-3PO, or more recently BB8, awed and mesmerised us with their ability to assist humans and other living species in galaxy light years away. These alphanumeric science fictional droids and technologies from the future are become as real as humanity's quest to find life on Mars.

In Jamaica, a group of students are translating their interest in the sciences into creating functional pieces of automated machinery robotics is slowly spiking interest of students. A group of them made their mark at the world's first International Robot Olympics for High School Students inAlexandria, Virginia.

"This was a historical feat," said Lesleyann Samuel, president of Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc (UJAA). "To our knowledge, this is the first time that Jamaica has been represented in an international robotics competition."

Jamaica was represented by a team of students from five schools Jamaica College, Calabar High School, Immaculate Conception High School, Kingston College and St George's College.

Beyond putting their techie caps on, the team members had to work seamlessly and in sync in a co-ed scenario and to work with students from other countries.

"The programme is intended to create platform to get youngsters from different parts of the world and different cultures to come together and solve global problems," said Samuel.

UJAA was responsible for organisation, coordination, project management, and interfacing with First Global, the organisers of the Robotics Olympics.

"Did not hear about the competition till January, and between then and July we made it happen," Samuel said, commending Karlene Largie, director at UJAA and robotics project team leader, for ensuring that everything went smoothly and seamlessly.

An engineer herself, she is excited about the prospects of girls making inroads into technology.

"We (girls and boys) do things differently," Samuel said. "But the key is diversity, which is a strong thing, and we can complement each other in whatever we do."

She started a robotics club with assistance from volunteers from Jamaica College robotics team at her alma mater Immaculate Conception High in 2010.

This, she said, was demonstrated at the Robot Olympics, where all teams were given the same piece parts and asked to build a robot that could perform a specific set of functions.

"FIRST has chosen to work with the National Academy of Engineering to define a theme each year," Samuel said. "This year, the theme was 'Providing Access to Clean Water.' The tasks of the robot were intended to replicate tasks needed to assist with addressing this global objective."

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a non-profit organisation started in 1989, to encourage youth in America to pursue STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) the Robot Olympics is one of their initiatives to popularise the sciences.

The robot built by Team Jamaica performed well in the games the team won four out of six matches, and was placed 48th out of 165 teams.

Armed with the success of their maiden voyage UJAA, Samuel informed, is hoping to bring a FIRST Technology Challenge for high schools in Jamaica in 2019.

"By having a competition in Jamaica, we allow all secondary schools to participate in a local competition without the expense of each of them travelling to the USA to compete," she said.

Samuel is upbeat on the prospects, and what such participation can do to the psyche of the students helping them to get a fresh perspective on life, broaden their thinking and horizons.

"This global competition is conducted in a unique way," she said. "In the initial rounds, teams of three (arbitrary) countries compete against another team of three countries."

Aside from not knowing each other, they had language and cultural challenges, and in order to win, the students found ways to collaborate and cooperate for the greater good connecting technology with terra firma.

"This experience can be life-changing, as we expose our children not only to the technical aspects of the challenge," she said, "but also to the realities of what it takes to solve our global challenges.

"We cannot teach this in a classroom."

It is the age of technology and we are slow learning to cohabit on the third planet of this solar system of the Milky Way Galaxy with Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence.

Science fiction is not so fictional after all ...

amitabh.sharma@hotmail.com

Originally posted here:

Jamaican students on historic robotics feat - Jamaica Gleaner

Business Showcase : Fastbrick Robotics – Irish Tech News

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By@SimonCocking

Describe the company the elevator pitch

Fastbrick Robotics Limited (ASX:FBR) is an Australian robotic technology company developing and commercialising digital construction technology solutions.

Fastbrick Robotics revolutionary bricklaying machine, the Hadrian X, represents the first application of our underlying intellectual property portfolio.

The Hadrian X is a globally patented 3D robotic bricklaying system, and marks the transition of automated machinery from the secure and controlled nature of indoor factories and laboratories to the dynamically stabilised robots (DSR) that operate outdoors in uncontrolled environments.

Fastbrick Robotics is committed to improving the safety, speed, accuracy, cost and waste management in the global construction industry through utilising the worlds latest innovations in mobile robotic technology.

How are you different?

The robotics sector globally has tremendous growth and presents significant opportunity for those with relevant intellectual property, and the underpinning technology that enables the Hadrian X associated with dynamic stabilisation, has widespread potential applications beyond robotic bricklaying.

While the Hadrian X is not the first robotic bricklaying machine, it is the first machine that is fully-automated from start to finish meaning that the entire brickwork of a house could potentially be completed in as little as 15 hours without the need for human intervention.

Fastbrick Robotics is pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: https://t.co/8swHPHlJ1c pic.twitter.com/JVKjmVDkpj

Fastbrick Robotics (@_Fastbrick) August 16, 2017

Why will the company/product do well?

Fastbrick Robotics has a suite of protected intellectual property that extends well beyond the Hadrian X bricklaying machine and we have hardly scratched the surface in exploring other possible markets and applications for this technology. We are therefore very excited by the unquantifiable potential for the company and its technology and about the additional applications and opportunities beyond the Hadrian X. Having said that, the delivery of the Hadrian X is certainly the companys priority at the moment.

The Hadrian X represents a quantum leap in digital construction technology and this breakthrough threatens to shake up one of the oldest and largest industries in the world, the construction industry. We know that the digital age of construction is here right now and that the use of robots outside factory walls for purposes including construction is also a reality right now. We intend to lead the charge in this emerging space of digital construction and also explore other markets and applications for our enabling technologies. While many people around the world once objected to automation and the use of robots in factories, so it is that this technology presents as disruption to markets such as construction. The prevalent use of robotics in factories today speaks for itself and we can not only see the same evolution happening with robots outside but we are leading the charge. Our dynamic stabilisation technology now makes this a reality.

People need houses and the world has a shortage of them along with bricklayers. With the valuable end prize of reducing cost, time, and waste while improving safety and accuracy in the building process, the world is watching this technology very closely as it threatens to shake up the way houses and other structures are built.

The industry and the market we are addressing with the Hadrian X is extremely large and the commercial prize is very big, and we are a long way ahead of any other company in terms of the technology we have developed. The potential applications for our enabling technology are potentially endless and we are currently exploring these as part of our broader company strategy.

With the market now closed, Fastbrick Robotics $FBR finishes a stellar day as one of the biggest movers on the @ASX. pic.twitter.com/KUDeqxAQjJ

Fastbrick Robotics (@_Fastbrick) August 16, 2017

Where are you based?

Perth, Western Australia.

When was the company launched?

Fastbrick Robotics was publicly listed on the ASX in November of 2015 via an oversubscribed reverse takeover, and subsequently raised AUD $5.75 million.

What have been your biggest wins to date?

At the end of 2016, we were named Western Australian Innovator of the Year. This success continued in 2017 when we won the Most Disruptive Technology category at the WAITTA INCITE Awards, and most recently when we announced an agreement with industry giant Caterpillar (see our website atwww.fbr.com.au), and when Caterpillar became a shareholder of Fastbrick Robotics Ltd as part of the same deal.

What type of people (market segment) are you trying to attract to your product?

Weve had a significant amount of interest from both individuals, companies and governments of countries around the world. As a result, we are still working through the details of a fully integrated market strategy that may now be influenced by our recent agreement with Caterpillar Inc.

Tell us about your team?

Our team is primarily made up of both mechanical and software engineers that have been working extremely hard to develop the underlying technology behind the Hadrian X. While we have a reasonably young team, our engineers represent the peak of innovation and have established themselves as leaders in their respective fields. The technical teams are led by founder/Executive Director/Chief Technical Officer Mark Pivac.

We also have a very strong commercial managerial team led by our Managing Director, Mike Pivac, who are leading the company towards the commercialisation of our technology and ensuring a secure and profitable future.

What are your long-term plans for your product/company?

The overall long-term plan is to cement our position as a global leader in the field of robotics, particularly in relation to digital construction solutions. However, our primary focus now is commercialising the Hadrian X and bringing this unique technology to the world.

How do people get in touch with you?

The best way to contact us is via the contact form on our website atwww.fbr.com.au. Alternatively, you can keep in contact with us through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Facebook:www.facebook.com/fastbrickrobotics

Twitter:www.twitter.com/_Fastbrick

If you would like to have your company featured in the Irish Tech News Business Showcase, get in contact with us at [emailprotected] or on Twitter: @SimonCocking

AustraliaBusiness ShowcaseFastbrick RoboticsRobotics

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Business Showcase : Fastbrick Robotics - Irish Tech News

Build It Workspace robotics summer camp taught computer-aided design – Orange County Breeze

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An instructor shows a student how to use Fusion 360 computer-aided design software during Build It Workspace's competitive robotics summer camp. Photo courtesy of Build It Workspace.

During Build It Workspaces competitive robotics summer camp, approximately 20 students and young adults received training in prominent computer aided design (CAD) software, Fusion 360, as a joint venture with KETIV, a local engineering consulting firm.The camp is lead by local First Robotics Competition (FRC)Team #6220, the same team which has previously won the FRC Orange County Regionals a first for the Los Alamitos community.

Build It Workspace owner Mark Lengsfeld said, These children are our future engineers.They grab onto robotics and never look back.In the Build It camps and classes, the children are exposed to and taught mastery over a variety of technology and engineering concepts.

Jack van der Linden, engineer of Team #6220, said, The kids are learning the inner workings of parts and pieces and of how things work.

Also in attendance was nearby FRC Team #4999 hailing from the Long Beach area. Brian Mongkolpoonsuk and Alex Alvarez representatives of KETIV provided invaluable CAD training to be utilized for the next competitive season. Team #4999will apply these new skills to aid in the design and constructions of a racing robot for use in the Fall competition.

A student at Build It Workspaces competitive robotics summer camp manipulates a design in Fusion 360. Photo courtesy of Build It Workspace.

Fusion 360 is a product of Autodesk Inc. a provider of leading CAD software.

Build It Workspace is a engineering-based educator and frequently partners with Southern California schools.Programs range from in-school to after-school, as well as Teach the Teacher.

KETIV is a business consulting firm that helps people build better products by providing tools, training, and support to facilitate informed decisions in the earliest stages of development.

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Build It Workspace robotics summer camp taught computer-aided design - Orange County Breeze

New Horizon 2020 robotics projects, 2016: ILIAD – Robohub

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In 2016, the European Union co-funded 17 new robotics projects from the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research and innovation. 16 of these resulted from the robotics work programme, and 1 project resulted from the Societal Challenges part of Horizon 2020. The robotics work programme implements the robotics strategy developed by SPARC, the Public-Private Partnership for Robotics in Europe (see the Strategic Research Agenda).

EuRobotics regularly publishes video interviews with projects, so that you can find out more about their activities. This week features ILIAD: ntra-Logistics with Integrated Automatic Deployment: Safe and Scalable Fleets in Shared Spaces

ILIAD is driven by the industry needs for highly flexible robot fleets operating in spaces shared with humans. The main objectives are care-free, fast, and scalable deployment; long-term operation while learning from observed activities; on-line, self-optimising fleet management; human-aware fleets that can learn human behaviour models; compliant unpacking and palletising of goods; and a systematic study of human safety in shared environments, setting the stage for future safety certification.

ILIADs focus is on the rapidly expanding intralogistics domain, where there is a strong market pull for flexible automated solutions, especially ones that can blend with current operations. The innovations developed in ILIAD target key hindrances identified in the logistics domain, and are essential for independent and reliable operation of collaborative AGV fleets. The expected impact extends to most multiple-actor systems where robots and humans operate together.

REBRO UNIVERSITET UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN UNIVERSIT DI PISA LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITT HANNOVER ROBERT BOSCH GMBH KOLLMORGEN AUTOMATION AB ACT OPERATIONS RESEARCH ORKLA FOODS LOGISTIC ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD

Achim J. Lilienthal

ILIAD

Watch all EU-projects videos

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New Horizon 2020 robotics projects, 2016: ILIAD - Robohub

Hartford robotics team teaches at the Dodge County Fair grandstands – WiscNews

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The robotics team from Hartford Union High School took time to give fairgoers a shot at controlling one of their award-winning robots through some obstacles near the Dodge County Fair grandstand.

We think its really cute because the kids get to drive the robot, said team member Maddy Jacobi, 15.

The team is called Oriole Assault (Team 1091), which is part of the FIRST Robotics. The organization is meant to bring mentors and young students together to build science, engineering and technology skills. The 15-year-old team is composed of 21 high school students and more than seven mentors. It took the team six weeks to construct its robot.

Near the fair grandstands Thursday morning, the team maneuvered its robot through a set of obstacles. The robot could transport a large yellow gear from one station to another and is able to hoist itself off the ground, making it look like the machine is doing a pull-ups. All of the obstacles gain the team points in competition.

This year, the team took third place overall in the Seven Rivers Regional in La Crosse, and it took third place in the Wisconsin Regional in Milwaukee. According to the teams website, it has competed in nine FIRST Robotics Challenges.

Its our teams goal to one year make it to nationals, Jacobi said.

Oriole Assault is the first group of its kind to host a robotics demonstration at the Dodge County Fair. Jacobi said the team wanted to do a demonstration at the fairgrounds because, compared to other teams, they are small and they want to get their work in front of people.

In addition, she said the team is mostly boys and its important for her to show girls that they can work on a team like Oriole Assault.

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Hartford robotics team teaches at the Dodge County Fair grandstands - WiscNews

HEXA, The Facehugger Mech, Could Be The Perfect Gateway Project Into Robotics – Gizmodo Australia

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Flying drones may be all the rage, but spare a thought for all those ground-based robots trying to make it in the world. Vincross' HEXA is one such gadget a six-legged, fully-programmable sci-fi droid that promises to be a gateway project into the field of robotics.

HEXA is currently being funded via Kickstarter, with the campaign already exceeding its relatively low-ball target of $US100,000. At the time of writing, there's still 26 days to go, so it should hopefully bring in a lot more than that.

As for the robot itself, it weights 1.75kg and can carry 1.5kg. Physical dimensions differ wildly between the official website and Kickstarter campaign, which I'm guessing is down to the spider-like legs. Taking this into account, it can be anywhere from 40-50cm wide and 12-15cm tall.

Housed inside is a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, which makes it about as powerful as a late-2011 iPhone 4s. This is coupled with 8GB of storage, a 720p camera, infrared transmitter and an accelerometer. Connectivity comes in the form of 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and yes, it can act as a wireless access point.

In terms of battery life, well, this is where it gets confusing. Like the dimensions, there are discrepancies between the specifications listed on the website and those on the Kickstarter page. The site promises four hours per charge, while the Kickstarter ranges from 45 minutes to three hours. Recharge times on the Kickstarter are also more conservative from two hours to four for wireless charging.

The HEXA can be all yours for $US499 at the lowest pledge tier, which doesn't appear to include shipping. The good news is both Australia and New Zealand are valid shipping destinations.

[Vincross, via The Awesomer]

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Last week, Netflix's Death Note adaptation premiered in New York City and the screening gave its creators a chance to respond to the widespread criticism of the film's whitewashing of Japanese characters and context. Their responses aren't exactly encouraging, but at least they're talking?

Photo. AP There are plenty of people who enjoy the warm sadness cowboy drink known as whiskey. While some might have a John Wayne instinct to drink it neat, the real aficionados know that adding a few drops of water to the drink can improve and expand its flavour profile. Now, in the great whiskey war of whether or not one should add water, some chemists have chosen a side. they say yes, you should add water to your whiskey.

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HEXA, The Facehugger Mech, Could Be The Perfect Gateway Project Into Robotics - Gizmodo Australia

Meegan Hefford’s protein food death sparks review of sports foods … – The West Australian

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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has ordered the national food and medicine watchdogs to investigate the regulation of sports food supplements.

Mr Hunt made the request this week after the revelation that protein supplements contributed to the death of Mandurah mum Meegan Hefford .

Mrs Hefford, who died after her body couldnt process all of the protein she was taking.

The 25-year-olds death made headlines around the world this week and sparked debate about the safety of high-protein diets and use of sports supplements.

Read the full story of Meegans tragic death.

A spokesman for Mr Hunt said the minister had asked Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Therapeutic Goods Administration this week to clarify the regulatory status of these types of products.

Some of these products do not appear to fit neatly under the Food Standard 2.9.4 -- Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods as they lack nutritional value, he said.

We look forward to receiving the recommendations from FSANZ and the TGA.

He said section 2.9.4 of the legislation was intended to allow sports food supplements to be specially formulated to help people achieve specific nutritional or sporting performance goals.

But there were concerns of a potential adverse outcome for someone using the product as a main source of nutrition.

WA Healths environmental health director Jim Dodds, who is the WA Health Ministers FSANZ proxy, said people shouldnt use sports supplements without being advised by a health professional.

He said the WA Government was doing substantial work with the Commonwealth to try to clarify definitions for sports food supplements. He said allowing greater food innovations in Australia had made it that little bit more difficult to control that industry.

Mr Dodds said the industry was always pushing for its products to be regarded as food which had less regulatory restrictions than medicine.

So its about walking that fine line... and were doing our best to make sure (companies) dont overstep the line, he said.

He said WA Health worked closely with local councils to enforce the legislation which included ensuring products didnt have misleading labelling and marketing.

Meegans mother Michelle White said it was encouraging that people were getting a better understanding of the dangers of taking supplements.

Ms White said she had been contacted by people from around the world expressing their sympathies and shock over Meegans death, including a man from New York who lost his sister in 2013 in similar circumstances.

Meegan was unaware she had a genetic defect called urea cycle disorder which prevented her body from properly processing protein. This led to a build-up of ammonia in her bloodstream which poisoned her brain.

Meegans death certificate listed intake of bodybuilding supplements as contributing to her death as well as the previously undiagnosed disorder.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Bastian Seidel said an increasing number of Australians were putting their health and lives at risk because of supplements.

The perception is that its safe because its marketed as safe ... but the opposite is true for a lot of those supplements, he said.

He said the general public didnt know enough about how supplements were harmful when interacting with medicines and existing health conditions.

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Meegan Hefford's protein food death sparks review of sports foods ... - The West Australian

Penn State’s Franklin signs extension – Arkansas Online

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State Coach James Franklin has signed a contract extension that guarantees him $34.7 million through 2022.

According to terms released by Penn State on Friday, the deal is worth an average of $5.78 million annually and contains up to $1 million in incentive bonuses each year. The extension modifies the initial six-year contract Franklin signed when he was hired in 2014. That contract was to pay him $4.6 million this year.

After back-to-back 7-6 seasons in Franklin's first two years in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten last year. Penn State finished 11-3 and No. 6 in the country after starting 2-2, capping the program's best season in the post-Joe Paterno era with a 52-49 loss to Southern California in the Rose Bowl.

A blowout loss to Michigan last September had Penn State fans doubting Franklin's ability to turn around a program that was still recovering from NCAA sanctions brought on by the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Athletic Director Sandy Barbour was even compelled to give Franklin a public vote of confidence.

Less than a year later, Franklin has a contract that by annual average compensation puts him behind only Urban Meyer of Ohio State and Jim Harbaugh of Michigan among Big Ten coaches.

According the USA Today coaches' salary data base, Harbaugh, Meyer and Nick Saban were the only coaches who made more than $6 million before bonuses in 2016. Four other coaches made at least $5 million.

Franklin's deal would push him over the $5 million mark in 2019 and reach $6.25 million in 2022, plus a $1 million retention bonus.

The deal has been in the works for months. It was given approval by the Board of Trustees on Friday.

"I am pleased with the progress our program has made in the community, in the classroom and on the field," Franklin said in a statement. "I look forward to diligently working with President [Eric] Barron and Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour on implementing a plan that puts our University and our student-athletes in the best position to compete on the field and in life."

Franklin replaced Paterno's successor, Bill O'Brien, in 2014. The Pennsylvania native was 24-15 in three seasons at Vanderbilt before taking the Penn State job.

Last season, the Nittany Lions responded from a ragged and injury-filled start with a nine-game winning streak that included a come-from-behind victory in the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin. Franklin was Big Ten coach of the year.

"James and his staff have done an exceptional job with our football student-athletes and in all aspects of the football program," Barbour said. "His values are Penn State's values and they resonate throughout every member of the organization and team he has built."

Sports on 08/20/2017

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Penn State's Franklin signs extension - Arkansas Online