Daily Archives: April 9, 2020

The all-female robotics team in Afghanistan who made a cheap ventilator out of Toyota parts – The National

Posted: April 9, 2020 at 6:53 pm

Five girls in Afghanistan, aged between 14 and 17, have joined the fight against the coronavirus, designing a cheap ventilator that runs off the motor of a Toyota Corolla.

The all-female robotics team, aptly named the Afghan Dreamers, has long been more accomplished than average teenagers.

Tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob founded the trail-blazing programme in the Afghani city of Herat, selecting young girls from high schools across the country, usually aged 14 or 15, for the programme.

It was a passion project for Ms Mahboob, a serial entrepreneur who became one of Afghanistans first female chief executives at 23, established a non-profit organisation to help young women to build digital literacy, and has since been named one of Time Magazines 100 most influential people.

Participants are selected for the Dreamers based on their entrance exam for the 9th and 10th grades, and the very best of them then get to join the national team the Afghan Girls Robotics Team for international competitions. There are about 50 participants in the Dreamers, and they stay in the programme for about two years.

In 2017, the national team made international headlines when their US visas were rejected not long before they were due to travel to an international robotics competition in Washington, DC. After individual appeals to the US Embassy in Kabul failed, the group took to social media to air their grievances. The teams' plight received international attention, and led to US President Donald Trump intervening on their behalf.

The Afghan Girls Robotics Team returned from that competition with a silver medal for courageous achievement won by their ball-sorting robot, designed to distinguish between contaminated and clean water.

Upon their return home, the girls were not only heroes, but inspiration for women seeking higher education in Afghanistan, where about 40 per cent of women are literate.

In the years since, that robotics team has graduated, and another has come to the fore. But Ms Mahboob has remained, spearheading a movement to tackle inequality with education.

"The only thing that we all want to do is help our people and our community. We will do anything to help them," she tells The National.

"I work with the girls, but mostly to co-ordinate. They are the real heroes."

Ms Mahboob now splits her time between New York and Kabul. She is currently in Afghanistan, initially to oversee the Brite conference (Building Resilience through Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) another brainchild of hers which is due to take place in Kabul this June.

Other teams in the Afghan Dreamers have been working on big projects too, after all. One team was developing a device to help farmers with saffron picking. Another was building drones and robots to work in the mining sector.

But with cities under increasing lockdown in the country and the conference postponed, Ms Mahboob has turned her attention to ventilators.

"We don't know what's going to happen here in two or there weeks so we want to be prepared," she says.

Cases of Covid-19 are accelerating in Afghanistan. The first was reported in Herat, the country's third most populous city, on February 24. That number has since increased to 337, with seven deaths. But authorities fear it could get much worse and with a compromised health system and an insufficient number of ventilators, the authorities face a race against the clock.

Which is why, when the governor of Herat put out a public plea for more ventilators, five young women answered the call.

This team consists of five Dreamers aged between 14 and 17; captain Somaya Faruqi, Dyana Wahbzadeh, Folernace Poya, Ellaham Mansori and Nahid Rahimi. Ms Mahboob has been working with them for about a year.

They are currently working with two prototypes. One is a gear-based system based on a design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. The other uses parts from a Toyota Corolla.

The key to this MIT ventilator alternative was devising a mechanical system to operate the hand-operated plastic pouch, or Ambu bag, which hospitals have on hand in large quantities. An Ambu bag is designed to be operated by hand, by squeezing the bag, which pumps air into a patient's lungs. The mechanic version would cost about $200 to make. A company from Texas has now offered to help provide advice for the design and to connect them with others who can help them bring the concept to fruition.

For the other ventilator, the Toyota Corolla motor was used as it runs off a battery and is easily sourced in the country. And it costs just $300 to make.

Both needed to be made with local materials, Ms Mahboob says. That proved a challenge for the girls, as did working with a gear-based device, rather than their usual technological or robotic designs.

"The idea of these machines is that we use them for emergency cases, when there are no professional ventilators. The thing in Afghanistan is, we don't have enough ventilators, but that's the case for many other countries, even Italy or New York.

"If we don't have access to anything professional we can use these ones."

As cities across the country shut down, working on the designs became increasingly challenging, Ms Mahboob says. The girls' parents were concerned about them being out of the house as the pandemic raged on, but they were usually able to work together for a couple of hours a day.

"It's very difficult for the girls to come together in one place. The shops are closed, so we have to call so many people to open the shop someone who knows someone, who can open the store to get that part."

The team was still fine-tuning both designs, and working with doctors to test them.

However, since a new governor of Herat took over a few days ago, Ms Mahboob doesn't know what the immediate future of her designs is. She hopes the new governor will look favourably on their work.

"We want to make sure that the government and the community are excited about technology," she says.

"There are other focuses for government money to be spent, but in order to compete and prosper in the 21st century, all countries must be able to access the highest technology that's transforming our world.

"If these girls have access to the opportunity or the tools, their lives can be changed. But not only their lives, they can change their community, too."

Updated: April 9, 2020 09:00 PM

The all-female robotics team in Afghanistan who made a cheap ventilator out of Toyota parts - The National

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The artist with the remote-controlled robotic body: ‘Ive made a career out of being a failure’ – The Guardian

Posted: at 6:53 pm

What was it about the 1970s that promoted suffering for ones art? In Rhythm 0 (1974), Marina Abramovi stood next to a table loaded with items ranging from a rose to a gun, and let the audience desecrate her with them. Tehching Hsieh took a two-storey leap for Jump Piece (1973) and broke his ankles. Chris Burden somehow lived to the age of 69, despite in the same curious decade getting a friend to shoot him, cramming himself into a locker for five days and nailing himself onto a Volkswagen Beetle. For Eleanor Antins 1972 work Carving a Traditional Sculpture, the artist crash-dieted for 45 days and documented her decline.

Stelarcs series of 25 Body Suspensions also began in that decade, when the singularly named performance artist lived in Japan. Before one such flesh-hook suspension, at Tokyos Komai Gallery, he additionally stitched his lips and eyelids shut for a week. Since then, he has continued to use his body he calls it the body as a medium, subjecting it to surgical construction, liposuction, implanting, sensory deprivation and internal probing with recording devices.

Yet when we meet for coffee in Melbourne, Stelarc says, I am the least tormented person youll probably ever meet. His practice is not about exploring what the body is capable of, but rather about understanding its limitations. Stelarc sees the body as an object among other objects, to be assembled as part of a greater structure. And, he adds, he doesnt get a kick out of pain. I would scream and shout in the dentists chair as much as anyone would, he says.

Stelarc was born Stelios Arcadiou in 1946 in Cyprus and raised in Sunshine, Melbourne. Initially, he was going to study architecture at Melbourne University, before realising he was more interested in the architecture of the body and switching to art school.

Now in his 70s, Stelarc has engineered a new work for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art with its theme of Monster Theatres. Reclining Stickman taps into his interest in prosthetics, robotics, cybernetics biotechnology and virtual reality, which began when he moved to Japan as a young man and became fascinated by its hi-tech culture.

The 9m robot has rubber muscles and can be operated by Stelarc, using pneumatic joysticks, when he sits in it. It can also be choreographed remotely by the public, at any time of day, from anywhere in the world, by using the interface on his website. The Art Gallery of South Australia is working to move the exhibition online during the gallerys Covid-19 closure, but this is one work that was ahead of the curve. Like curator Leigh Robb says: At a time when we are physically distanced, Stelarcs robot offers moments of intimacy with art and technology.

Back in the mid-70s, Stelarc had intended his very first flesh-hook suspension to be in Adelaide, at the Experimental Art Foundation, but it turned into a melodrama that shaped his way of working from that moment onwards.

The media found out what was going to happen and there was an outcry, he says. There were comments from doctors saying that this was self-harm, that it might cause a fatality. Thirty minutes before the performance, the foundation withdrew their support, and then the accusation in the media was that the whole thing had been a stunt and hadnt really been going to happen.

Ever since, his more controversial performances have been unadvertised and are usually only performed in front of those who helped build the installation.

As the director of the Alternate Anatomies Lab at Perths Curtin University, Stelarc has overseen many research projects that tie in to his interests, including Ambidextrous Arm a prototype arm with a manipulator that is double-jointed, allowing it to be both a left hand and a right hand that could benefit amputees.

His friend, Neuromancer author William Gibson, wrote of Stelarcs work: I associate it with da Vincis ornithopter, eccentric 19th-century velocipedes, and Victorian schemes for electroplating the dead though not retrograde in any way. Instead, it seems timeless moments of the purest technologically induced cognitive disjunction.

I ask Stelarc if he thinks hes doing a service to science by demonstrating what can be done without the constraints of ethics boards, risk assessment and other red tape.

I dont think realistically that artists meaningfully contribute to science, he says. Im very sceptical of this kind of mashing together which is now becoming more and more a genre of artistic practice because the methodologies of scientific research and artistic actions are totally different ... You dont want a situation where artists do bad research and scientists make bad art.

Another of his ongoing projects is Ear on Arm, and he sportingly rolls up his sleeve in the cafe to show me. It took Stelarc 10 years to find three surgeons willing to form the ear on his left forearm. Its made out of cartilage grown from his tissue and stem cells, shaped into a scaffold, then implanted. He had originally wanted to put the ear on his head, next to his actual ear. But, you know, no surgeon would do it.

Originally, the ear was to have a microphone embedded in it that would transmit the noises around Stelarc to an internet portal, allowing others to eavesdrop. He might even whisper things into his own forearm for them to hear. But the site became infected when wires were introduced, and, as he says, I almost lost an arm for an ear. He was hospitalised for a week and put on industrial-strength antibiotics for six months.

Whats interesting about any art project is the slippage that occurs between intention and actual outcome, he says cheerfully. Ive always admitted that Ive made a career out of being a failure nothing I imagine turns out the way I expected it to.

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The artist with the remote-controlled robotic body: 'Ive made a career out of being a failure' - The Guardian

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Powerful Optimization Tool from MercuryGate Uniquely Supports the Transportation Industry’s Demand to Drive a Disrupted Supply Chain – Business Wire

Posted: at 6:52 pm

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MercuryGate International, Inc., (MercuryGate) the largest and rapidly growing independent transportation management system (TMS) provider, today announced it will provide online education - free of charge - to help customers tackle a disrupted supply chain with its Multimodal Optimization tool. The automated, smart load planning tool leverages customer operational data - anywhere in the world - to produce realistic and executable load plans. The purpose-built optimizer for the transportation and logistics arena, uniquely addresses the current global supply chain disruption confronting sustainability around the world.

In a time of uncertainty, MercuryGate wants to come alongside our customers to offer tools and free training that can help address the demands of a disrupted supply chain while operating with a virtual workforce, said MercuryGate President & CEO Joe Juliano. Never has there been a time where faster, automated capabilities operating in real time will help the economic well-being of companies and communities.

Multimodal Optimization Uniquely Addresses a Disrupted Supply Chain

MercuryGate manages transportation operations all around the world - from simple to complex movements and modes - including truckload, less-than-truckload, parcel, intermodal and rail, ocean and air. As the only TMS provider to offer integrated fleet and best-of-breed TMS capabilities on the same platform, Multimodal Optimization enables users the ability to orchestrate backhaul optimization and continuous moves whether on MercuryGates TMS or any TMS. The solution provides a transparent view on how and why load plans are selected using business intelligence to optimize smart load choices. Multimodal Optimization leverages any rating engine to take into account real world constraints, making the new tool a game changer in the industry.

By automating consolidations, creating multi-stop loads and leveraging backhauls, MercuryGate Optimization looks at all orders maximizing efficiency, minimizing demands on trucks and drivers and delivering immediate value, said Juliano. While Optimizer works with any TMS, when running on MercuryGates TMS, customers get Total Transport Leverage (TTL). TTL is a unique combination of feature-rich functionality and usability addressing the growing complexities of supply chain automation. In a time where tender rejects are running high, TTL allows users to not only do round-robin tendering but also enables them to broker loads through email blast or a private bid board. Now loads created by MercuryGate Optimization can be executed even when contract carriers are unable to move the freight.

Free Access to MercuryUniversity Optimization Learning

MercuryGates online multimodal optimization education offer spans an array of advanced and solution course work free of charge through July 31, 2020. Among the coursework offered, the online training allows users to set up the optimizer tool and start leveraging operational data that fits their unique business needs in less than 45 minutes.

Among the many industry-leading features, Multimodal Optimization delivers:

A global, multi-billion-dollar MercuryGate shipper who serves customers in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean through thousands of locations and multiple U.S. distribution centers uses Multimodal Optimization to plan and execute inbound freight movements from multiple vendors. Using a single control tower view allows them to look at thousands of inbound orders across all vendors to develop a comprehensive plan to move freight efficiently into distribution centers. Due to the high volume of daily orders they receive, Multimodal Optimization runs an automated process that plans, consolidates and tenders loads to carriers seamlessly enabling the company to focus on other pressing priorities.

To learn more about the Multimodal Optimization free education offer, MercuryGate customers should contact their customer success manager. New customers can learn more about Multimodal Optimization here : https://mercurygate.com/solutions/planning-forecasting/multimodal-optimization/ or request a demo: https://mercurygate.com/demo/.

About MercuryGate

MercuryGate provides powerful transportation management solutions proven to be a competitive advantage for todays most successful shippers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, brokers, and carriers. MercuryGates solutions are unique in their native support of all modes of transportation on a single platform including Parcel, LTL, Truckload, Air, Ocean, Rail, and Intermodal. Through the continued release of innovative, results-driven technology and a commitment to making customers successful, MercuryGate delivers exceptional value for TMS users through improved productivity and operational efficiency. MercuryGate offers business intelligence to improve transportation processes, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce costs. Find out why MercuryGate has set the industry standard for the most adaptable, comprehensive transportation solutions suite in the industry at https://mercurygate.com or on Twitter at @MercuryGate.

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Powerful Optimization Tool from MercuryGate Uniquely Supports the Transportation Industry's Demand to Drive a Disrupted Supply Chain - Business Wire

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Alpega TMS Brings Together the Expertise of inet and Transwide – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 6:52 pm

TWO OF THE MARKETS LEADING SOLUTIONS HAVE MERGED TO FORM A UNIQUE, SCALABLE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, DESIGNED TO EVOLVE ALONGSIDE BUSINESS NEEDS.

Alpega Group announces Alpega TMS, a union of inet and Transwides cloud-based Transportation Management Systems. The new software provides a uniquely scalable solution, designed to manage all levels of logistics complexity. At the same time, Alpega Group has been recognized as a Challenger in Gartners 2020 Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005391/en/

Alpega TMS is the combination of two of the markets most innovative, established and trusted solutions. inet has long been a trusted solution for companies with highly complex and unique supply chain needs. Transwides focus has always been on transport execution by helping businesses looking for rapid ROI and process improvements. Together, as Alpega TMS, these solutions offer a truly unique scalable solution.

Speaking on the launch, Todd DeLaughter, CEO of Alpega said: "The transportation industry has changed immensely in the past few years and businesses that want to thrive need to be flexible. The digitalization of logistics processes is central to driving this growth, but we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

"Leveraging the experience and technology of inet and Transwide means Alpega TMS represents industry best practice and we believe is one of the most advanced software suites in the sector. Our unique scalability and best-in-breed standalone solutions ensure shippers benefit from a system that evolves alongside their needs, regardless of the complexity of their logistics processes."

This unique scalability means companies can start out with a solution focused on Full Truck Load (FTL) and road transport, before expanding to incorporate Live Tracking or Advanced Planning, while addressing multi-mode Land, Sea, Rail and Air with Less-than Truck Loads (LTL).

Alpega Group recognized by Gartner in the Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems

"Im delighted Gartner has recognized Alpega Group as a Challenger in its Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems," says DeLaughter. "We believe its evidence that were bringing something special to the market. With Alpega TMS theres no need to worry about changing TMS when your logistics process gets more complex."

This is the ninth time that Alpega Group has been recognized in Gartners Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems. The report evaluates vendors based on ability to execute and for completeness of vision.

For more information visit https://www.alpegagroup.com/en/tms/

*Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems," Bart De Muynck, et al, 25 March 2020 (Alpega Group was previously recognized as inet in the report from 2011 to 2019, except 2013)

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Gartner DisclaimerGartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Alpega GroupAlpega Group is a leading global logistics software company offering modular solutions that cover all transportation and logistics complexity needs. By bringing together the best solutions and market expertise, the Alpega Group has created the transportation industrys only scalable end-to-end software suite.

Alpega TMS empowers transport professionals to manage the logistics and supply chain processes, it transforms global and local supply chains into collaborative ecosystems, bringing together all parties involved. Alpega TMSs unique scalability and best-in-breed standalone solutions ensure shippers benefit from a system that evolves alongside their needs, regardless of the complexity of their logistics processes. Our freight procurement solution, TenderEasy, provides a world-class solution for sourcing transportation providers across air, land and sea. In terms of freight exchanges, 123cargo, Teleroute and Wtransnet are leading European marketplaces designed to match spot shipments and truck capacity.

These platforms and the data which flows through them, alongside our 30+ years experience in transportation lets us enable businesses to optimize their supply chain planning and execution while benefitting from lower costs and higher visibility. All of Alpegas solutions combine to create added value for customers. Our community of 80,000 carriers and 200,000 members are electronically connected every day to successfully manage critical transport processes. Alpega is present in 80 countries worldwide and employs over 600 people with 31 different nationalities.

For more information, visit http://www.alpegagroup.com For Alpega North America, visit http://www.na.alpegagroup.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005391/en/

Contacts

Alpega Group Yamille MelendezDirector of Brand and Communicationyamille.m.rodriguez@alpegagroup.com

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Alpega TMS Brings Together the Expertise of inet and Transwide - Yahoo Finance

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The Remedy Is Now Offering Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) Therapy to Treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive-Compulsive…

Posted: at 6:52 pm

FDA-cleared helmet approved to treat MDD and OCD is now available in Vadnais Heights and surrounding areas

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn., April 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Remedy, a person-centered mental health care facility offering advanced treatments, announced today that it is now offering BrainsWays Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) for major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Our mission at The Remedy is to provide the best treatment options available in one place, for patients with mental health illnesses in the Vadnais Heights community, said Dr. Jeffrey Sawyer, M.D., psychiatrist, co-founder and CEO of The Remedy. While we are taking proper precautions during the COVID-19 outbreak, our facility is still serving patients in the community through telemental health services and in-clinic services for patients receiving Deep TMS treatments.

For those reliant on Deep TMS sessions, The Remedy has implemented measures such as disinfecting all touched surfaces frequently, and after each patient visit, requiring providers to wear masks, and adhering to physical distancing as much as possible during sessions, and in the waiting area.

Patients can learn more about The Remedys response to the COVID-19 pandemic by visiting the companys dedicated page, which includes guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and tips to care for yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. The company has also rebranded its website, allowing easier navigation and access to information.

BrainsWays Deep TMS administers magnetic waves through a cushioned helmet to target deep structures of the brain that impact a patients depression and OCD symptoms. The treatment is both noninvasive and medication-free, and patients can return to normal activities, such as driving, immediately following the session. Because Deep TMS penetrates deeper and broader in the brain than traditional TMS, it enables stimulation of the deep brain structures that are involved in mental health illnesses. BrainsWay has been treating depression with Deep TMS for more than 10 years and received FDA clearance to target OCD in 2018.

In addition to Deep TMS, The Remedy offers telemental health, ketamine infusion therapy, psychotherapy for addiction, trauma therapy and more. The facility is located at 3640 Talmage Circle, Suite 216, Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. For more information, visit http://www.theremedymn.com or call the clinic at 952-431-5330.

About The Remedy At The Remedy, we strive to combine cutting-edge treatment options with compassionate, patient-centered care for people who are suffering from depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and chronic pain. We offer a better way forward by focusing on the needs of the individual, striving to forge an emotional and personal connection with every patient.

About BrainsWayBrainsWay Ltd./ BrainsWay USA (BWAY), is engaged in the research, developmentand sales and marketing of a medical system for noninvasive treatment of common braindisorders. The medical system developed and manufactured by the Company is based on aunique breakthrough technology called Deep TMS, which can reach significant depth andbreadth of the brain and produce broad stimulation and functional modulation of targeted brainareas. In the U.S., the Companys device has been FDA cleared for the treatment of majordepressive disorder (MDD) since 2013 and is now FDA cleared (De-Novo) for the treatment ofObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The Companys systems have also received CEclearance and are sold worldwide for the treatment of various brain disorders.

BrainsWay Media Contact:Holly Dugan Brainsway@antennagroup.com (201) 465-8019

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The Remedy Is Now Offering Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) Therapy to Treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive-Compulsive...

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Valiant latest Canadian supplier to add to arsenal of health, free of charge – Automotive News Canada

Posted: at 6:52 pm

Valiant TMS, which normally supplies parts to some of the worlds biggest automakers, including Ford and General Motors, has joined the fight against the spread of COVID-19 and is now supplying the arsenal of health with face shields and masks for health-care workers manning the front lines.

We were just going to do [ventilator] parts for somebody else that had a medical clean room and could assemble them, Valiant CEOTony EliastoldAutomotive News Canada. But there was a bunch of red tape, so we took the path of least resistance.

There were too many standards, regulations and lawyers to deal with in short order. So that meant theWindsor, Ont.-basedhad to change gears quickly,and moved to producing 3D-printed face shields and donating N95 face masks for nurses and other first responders.

We looked at things we could do quickly, Elias said. We immediately reached out to our supply base and I was able to acquire 2,000 face masks that will be delivered to Windsor Regional Hospital.

Theyre set to arrive the week of April 13. Previously, the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association challenged its members to donate one million masks to the cause.

Valiant then went to work in-house, printing 15 shields for the hospital.The Schulich School of Medicine, which operates out ofWestern University in London, Ont., and the University of Windsor, then said it needed some for triage workers. So Valiant printed another 15 for the school.

There are now multiple places were delivering, Elias said.

Midwives, nursing homes and emergency rooms in the Windsor region are all receiving the shields, adding to what auto suppliers and politicians are calling the Canadian-made arsenal of health. Valiant is supplying the masks free of charge.

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Valiant latest Canadian supplier to add to arsenal of health, free of charge - Automotive News Canada

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Time To Worry? One Analyst Just Downgraded Their EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP) Outlook – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 6:52 pm

The latest analyst coverage could presage a bad day for EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP), with the covering analyst making across-the-board cuts to their statutory estimates that might leave shareholders a little shell-shocked. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analyst has soured majorly on the business.

After the downgrade, the consensus from EDAP TMS' one analyst is for revenues of 27m in 2020, which would reflect a substantial 39% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Following this this downgrade, earnings are now expected to tip over into loss-making territory, with the analyst forecasting losses of 0.26 per share in 2020. Before this latest update, the analyst had been forecasting revenues of 52m and earnings per share (EPS) of 0.10 in 2020. There looks to have been a major change in sentiment regarding EDAP TMS' prospects, with a pretty serious reduction to revenues and the analyst now forecasting a loss instead of a profit.

Check out our latest analysis for EDAP TMS

NasdaqGM:EDAP Past and Future Earnings April 4th 2020

The consensus price target fell 13% to US$5.25, implicitly signalling that lower earnings per share are a leading indicator for EDAP TMS' valuation. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values EDAP TMS at US$5.50 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$5.00. Even so, with a relatively close grouping of analyst estimates, it looks to us as though the analyst is quite confident in their valuations, suggesting that EDAP TMS is an easy business to forecast or that the underlying assumptions are knowable.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast revenue decline of 39%, a significant reduction from annual growth of 9.7% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same industry are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 7.5% next year. It's pretty clear that EDAP TMS' revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry.

The most important thing to take away is that the analyst is expecting EDAP TMS to become unprofitable this year. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. With a serious cut to this year's expectations and a falling price target, we wouldn't be surprised if investors were becoming wary of EDAP TMS.

Still, the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have analyst estimates for EDAP TMS going out as far as 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

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Time To Worry? One Analyst Just Downgraded Their EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP) Outlook - Yahoo Finance

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No interest in Texas IndyCar race without fans – The Union Journal

Posted: at 6:52 pm

With Belle Isle, Detroit Grand Prix double-header tinned since Monday today, the General Practitioner of Indianapolis and also Indy 500 being changed to July and also August specifically, the termination of the races at Barber, Long Beach and also Circuit of the Americas, and alsoSt Petersburg perhaps held off till October, Texas Motor Speedway presently rests as the NTT Indy Cars And Truck Series brand-new season-opener on June 6.

Gossage, that has actually run TMS for 16 years, stated that while the rebranded Genesys 600s day is as safe and secure as it can be offered the still-fluid nature of the feedback to the coronavirus pandemic, an effective race there would certainly need fans to be in participation.

He informedMotorsport com: For currently, we are expecting the June Indy Cars And Truck race as prepared. We will not transform that setting till the scenario determines, whether that be government, state, area or city authorities, or if the sector shows we can not hold the occasion.

But we would not have any type of interest in holding an occasion without fans in participation. The factor it is a factor to consider for NASCAR marketers is that the marketer gets 65 percent of the large TELEVISION civil liberties charge. In Indy Auto, the marketer does not obtain any type of tv civil liberties charges. That is a standard problem that triggers Indy Auto, also in its finest days, to not be virtually as preferable to a marketer and also why you will certainly constantly see a turn over in the occasions and also timetable for Indy Cars And Truck.

TMS commonly holds 2 NASCAR Cup races each period, and also the OReilly Auto Parts 500 was just one of the numerous casualties of the March/April cancelations that exploded the motorsport schedule, and also while the tracks 2nd Cup race is still established forOct 25, the initial has actually not been rescheduled.

Given that he requires viewers to make an Indy Cars And Truck race rewarding and also there is still a lot unpredictability regarding whether U.S. state guvs will certainly enable their populaces to collect in teams once again by very early June, a later day with the Genesys 600 and also the OReilly Auto Parts 500 on the very same expense would certainly show up a preferable choice if both approving bodies can collaborate. Gossage stated the opportunity would certainly depend on a variety of details.

He took place: I have actually chatted for 20- plus years with all the rotating door managements Indy Auto has actually tossed at us concerning a NASCAR/Indy Auto doubleheader. It was a significant task when we obtained both companies to collaborate 24 years back when we combined Indy Cars And Truck and also NASCAR Trucks in1997 That was a very first.

It is among minority celebrations that would absolutely be a win-win. Both occasions would certainly profit, no doubt. The idea has advocates at both approving bodies in the last number of years yet unless driven by TELEVISION or, probably, a globally pandemic I can not obtain the celebrations completely to review it.

If I can obtain Mark Miles [Penske Entertainment and IndyCar CEO], Steve Phelps [NASCAR president] and also Sam Flood [NBC/NBCSN president and executive producer] all in the very same space and even on the very same phone conversation it would certainly take place. But all celebrations speak with me and also appear in assistance yet decrease to be in the very same space or contact us to review it.

One day it will certainly take place I am figured out! And, on a larger degree, why not NASCAR Trucks, Xfinity, Indy Cars And Truck and also Cup all on the very same weekend break? Why not?

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No interest in Texas IndyCar race without fans - The Union Journal

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EGEB: A world first: Offshore oil and gas platforms to be powered by wind – Electrek

Posted: at 6:49 pm

In todays Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

The Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB): A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.

Norwegian oil giant Equinor has gotten the go-ahead from Norways Ministry of Petroleum and Industry to build and operate the Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm in the North Sea.

Now, heres the twist: This new offshore wind farm will be powering the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil and gas platforms. Its a world first. (Writers note: Yes, Im trying to get my head around the concept of renewables to power fossil fuels, too, in case you think its just you.)

Hywind Tampen will feature 11 8MW wind turbines and will be situated around 140km (87 miles) from shore, between the two fossil-fuel platforms. The wind farm will generate 88MW of energy that will meet about 35% of the annual power demand of the oil and gas platforms.

Equinor Norway development and production executive vice-president Arne Sigve Nylund said [via Power Technology]:

Hywind Tampen is a pioneering project and a central contribution to reducing emissions from Gullfaks and Snorre, and I am pleased that both ESA and Norwegian authorities have approved the project.

A Harvard University study at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which was updated on April 5, has confirmed that there is a direct correlation between long-term exposure to air pollution and a higher coronavirus death rate.

This study is the first to confirm a statistical link between coronavirus deaths and air pollution something public health officials and environmentalists already surmised.

The studys background states that the majority of pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death for coronavirus are the same diseases that are affected by long-term exposure to air pollution. They investigated whether long-term average exposure to fine particulate matter, which is caused by fossil fuels and vehicle emissions, increases the risk of COVID-19 deaths in the US.

The researchers collected data for about 3,000 US counties (98% of the population) for 17 years, up to April 4, 2020.

An increase of one microgram of fine particulates per cubic meter is associated with a 15% increase in the coronavirus death rate. Breathing in fine particulates damages the lungs over time, making it harder for the body to fight respiratory infections.

The study concluded:

A small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 [fine particulate matter] leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate, with the magnitude of increase 20 times that observed for PM2.5 [fine particulate matter] and all-cause mortality. The study results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Harvard study researcher Xiao Wu said [via the Guardian]:

We should consider additional measures to protect ourselves from pollution exposure to reduce the COVID-19 death toll.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that more than 80% of US voters favor offshore wind energy, with widespread support coming from both Republicans and Democrats and every demographic group across the country, according to a national survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from March 16 to 19, 2020.

85% of all voters think wind energy is a clean, renewable, and affordable power source of the future, including 80% of Republicans. GOP voters support offshore wind energy for slightly different reasons than Democrats: They cite well-paying, stable jobs and improved economic revitalization for port communities/coastal states.

Further, voters from Gen Z to Millennials to Gen X and Boomers all express 83% to 88% favorability in their support for offshore wind.

AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said:

Republicans and Democrats alike see offshore wind as playing a key role in the nations future energy portfolio, providing tremendous economic and environmental benefits and helping stabilize the cost of electricity.

Photo: Equinor illustration of Hywind

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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EGEB: A world first: Offshore oil and gas platforms to be powered by wind - Electrek

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Global HNW Offshore Investment Drivers & Motivations, 2020 – 32.5% of HNW Wealth is Invested Outside One’s Country of Residence -…

Posted: at 6:49 pm

The "HNW Offshore Investment: Drivers and Motivations" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report draws on survey results to analyze the drivers behind offshore investments in the HNW space. It examines and contrasts offshore HNW investment preferences across 27 jurisdictions, providing readers with an in-depth understanding of what is motivating HNW investors to look for new homes for their wealth.

Key Highlights

The proportion of HNW individuals who invest offshore has been on the rise despite the scandals that have shaken the industry.

While the reasons are diverse and differ from country to country, an expectation of better returns abroad, international business interests, and local political and economic instability top the list. However, we are seeing notable differences between regions, suggesting that one strategy does not fit all.

For example, tax efficiencies as a driver for offshore investments are of particular importance in Europe and North America. This means assisting HNW investors in minimizing their tax liabilities is key in these regions. Meanwhile, in Asia Pacific business interests are a significant driver, so a well-designed business and investment banking proposition neatly integrated with standard private banking services is a must.

Reasons to Buy

Companies Mentioned

Key Topics Covered

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1. HNW offshore investment is driven by a multitude of factors

1.2. Key findings

1.3. Critical success factors

2. GLOBAL TRENDS DRIVING HNW OFFSHORE INVESTMENTS

2.1. Increasingly easy access will drive offshore investments across the globe

2.1.1. A third of HNW offshore wealth is booked abroad

2.1.2. A sophisticated offshore proposition has become a hygiene factor

2.2. An expectation of better returns abroad and business interests account for a third of HNW offshore investments globally

2.2.1. HNW investors are looking for better returns abroad

2.2.2. Already the second most important offshore driver, the importance of international business interests is set to increase

2.2.3. Taken together, tax efficiencies and client anonymity are the number one driver for offshore investments

2.2.4. Other drivers include access to better investment options, local political and economic instability, expatriate money flows, and currency volatility

2.3. Significant regional differences exist in the motivations for offshore investment

2.3.1. Offshore propositions must be tailored at a country or regional level

3. DETAILED DRIVER ANALYSIS

3.1. Local market factors drive the variety in HNW individuals' motivations for offshore investment

3.2. Driver one: HNW investors are betting on better returns offshore

3.2.1. Despite a desire to capitalize on returns abroad, HNW investors are taking a more careful and diversified stance

3.2.2. Investors who look for better returns abroad are biased towards the US

3.2.3. Chinese HNW investors look for returns abroad in the property space, but tensions with the US will affect booking center preferences going forward

3.3. Driver two: Business interests as a driver for offshore investments means offering hedging products is a must

3.3.1. Targeting Japanese HNW entrepreneurs requires a sophisticated offshore proposition

3.3.2. Increasing business dealings with the US will see more Taiwanese HNW wealth flow offshore

3.4. Driver three: Political and economic uncertainty

3.4.1. Economic factors are marginally more important than political ones as an offshore driver

3.4.2. Political instability remains an important driver for offshore investments in Europe

3.4.3. Political and economic instability are also major concerns in South Africa

3.4.4. Providing access to safe havens is paramount in countries where economic and political stability rank highly

3.4.5. Hong Kong seeks to defend its safe haven status amid economic and political unrest

3.5. Driver four: Access to a broader and better range of investments is also an important consideration in the offshoring decision

3.5.1. Domestic market sector concentration bias drives offshore investment in the developed world

3.5.2. Access to a broader range of investment options is also an important driver in markets with limited investment options

3.6. Driver five: The desire for tax efficiency represents an opportunity, but achieving anonymity is becoming increasingly challenging

Story continues

3.6.1. With a few exceptions, the importance of tax efficiency and client anonymity as an offshore driver go hand in hand

3.6.2. Compliance is becoming an increasingly big headache, but technology can assist

3.6.3. The US and fake residency information are the biggest issues facing CRS

3.6.4. Tax efficiencies are a major driver in the UAE despite the lack of income taxes

3.7. Other drivers: The importance of currency volatility, geographic diversification benefits, and expat money flows vary across markets

3.7.1. Players looking to attract offshore HNW wealth should highlight the benefits of geographic diversification, while smaller companies should promote funds

3.7.2. Expat flows are an important driver in countries with high immigration rates

3.7.3. Currency volatility as a driver for offshore investments is becoming more important

4. APPENDIX

4.1. Supplementary data

4.2. Abbreviations and acronyms

4.3. Definitions

4.3.1. Affluent

4.3.2. CRS

4.3.3. HNW

4.3.4. Liquid assets

4.3.5. Mass affluent

4.3.6. Residency

4.4. Methodology

4.4.1. The 2019 Global Wealth Managers Survey

4.4.2. The 2018 Global Wealth Managers Survey

4.5. Secondary sources

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

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200409005440/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Global HNW Offshore Investment Drivers & Motivations, 2020 - 32.5% of HNW Wealth is Invested Outside One's Country of Residence -...

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Global HNW Offshore Investment Drivers & Motivations, 2020 – 32.5% of HNW Wealth is Invested Outside One’s Country of Residence -…

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