Monthly Archives: June 2021

Fri, 06/18/2021 - 16:14pm | By: David Tisdale

An enhancement of the cutting edge technology employed by the Mississippi INBREs (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) Imaging Facility, headquartered at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), will keep its affiliate faculty and student researchers at the forefront in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) research.

The Mississippi INBRE Imaging Core has upgraded its existing Leica SP8 confocal microscope to the STELLARIS STED super resolution platform, one of the most complete imaging systems in the region. The instrument was acquired through funding from the NIH-supported Mississippi INBRE Imaging Core Facility, as well as an NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program grant whose Principal Investigator (PI) is Dr. Alex Flynt, an associate professor in USMs Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences.

The Mississippi INBRE Imaging Facility, directed by Dr. Jonathan Lindner, provides imaging and microscopy expertise to researchers throughout the state, offering access to and training on biomedical research equipment at no cost to users. The facility houses several types of microscopes, as well as a variety of large-scale instruments. The imaging facility also offers computational services and expertise to Mississippi researchers.

The addition of the STELLARIS STED super resolution microscope will enhance the quality and scope of biomedical research in the state of Mississippi, accommodating the varied needs of the INBRE Imaging Core user base. This cutting-edge technology is now accessible to faculty and students at USM and across the state who otherwise would not have access to super-resolution confocal microscopy.

According to Dr. Flynt, while light-based microscopes are indispensable to the advancement of many scientific fields. Unfortunately, he says, there is a lower limit to the size of objects that can be observed due to the physics of light itself, a barrier that impedes investigation of minuscule objects. Fortunately, recent advances have vaulted over this hurdle, yielding super-resolution microscopes such as the STELLARIS STED.

This specific super-resolution technology is well-suited for imaging dynamic objects like those in cells, as well as nanoparticles created in the laboratory, Dr. Flynt said. Areas of research that will be investigated with this microscope include material scientists studying assembly of plastic-like materials, cell biologists, and biochemists investigating cell components important in Alzheimers and genetic tools, and microbiologists who examine bacterial community structures involved in infection and plant-soil interactions.

Dr. Lindner concurs, noting also that researchers from a broad base of biological, chemical, and material science fields, including cellular and developmental biology, virology, biochemistry, high performance materials, and nanoparticle development, can greatly benefit from the instruments unique and powerful capabilities.

Microscopes are essential tools for the investigation of biological and molecular systems, Dr. Lindner said. Access to cutting-edge instruments is vital for cell biology, embryology, biochemistry, and imaging advanced materials.

Further, the addition of the advanced microscope will provide important training opportunities for students, also enhancing Mississippi STEM education.

The Leica STELLARIS STED Super-Resolution Confocal Microscope upgrades the previous confocal microscope to a fully automated platform with a 3D STimulated Emission Depletion (STED) super resolution module. The STED technology enables fluorescence microscopy approaches for visualizing objects smaller than the diffraction limit of light, increasing resolution up to 10 times more than traditional microscopes. For reference, the diameter of a nucleus of an average human cell is approximately 10 micrometers. STED super-resolution imaging is capable of resolution below 50 nanometers, over 200 times smaller than a nucleus. This enables the real-time study of sub-cellular molecular interactions and mechanisms on the nanoscale.

The system is capable of both conventional confocal scanning and resonant scanning for rapid low-light illumination imaging, which is ideal for live specimens. It is equipped with an automated motorized stage with upgraded software for expanded view image stitching options, 3D modeling, FRAP, and co-localization. Additionally, the instrument is outfitted with an Okolab CO2chamber for long term mammalian tissue culture imaging, and a Hamamatsu Flash camera for ultrafast acquisition.

Mississippi INBRE, directed by USM Professor Dr. Mohamed Elasri, is a statewide program supported by an award from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences. Its mission is to enhance the biomedical foundation in Mississippi and engage talented researchers and students in biomedical research projects that will increase the state's research competitiveness, as well as positively impact the health of the states citizens.

For more information about Mississippi INBRE, visit msinbre.org.

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Mississippi INBRE Research Efforts Aided by Technology Upgrade - Southern Miss Now

MOVIA Robotics aims to help children with autism and other special needs.

The extraordinary challenges women face when balancing a demanding career and raising a child with special needs are immense. Yet, some of the most inspiring stories are about how mothers find creative ways to overcome these challenges, especially over the past year with the additional pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognition of the challenges faced by those who are both mothers and professionals, as well as a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, is sorely needed.

One company, in particular, thats on a mission to help with this is MOVIA Robotics, a collaborative robotics company building systems and software to help people and robots work together to assist those with special needs. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, and serving families, schools, and clinicians worldwide, MOVIAs team of experts is passionate about making sure both the children and their parents flourish.

The company builds systems tailored to help children on the autism spectrum and with special needs and abilities learn and grow using collaborative robotic technology. Timothy Gifford founded MOVIAan internationally renowned scientist, researcher, and entrepreneur who has worked with NASA led the team that built the first virtual reality exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution and is a sought-after consultant and presenter on Robot-Assisted Instruction, Autism, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Collaborative Robotics, Human Perception, and Assistive Technology.

As rates of autism increase, mothers of children with autism are in more need than ever of support, ... [+] and there are seldom enough cost-effective resources readily available to them.

The idea to focus on helping children on the Autism Spectrum came from Gifford wanting to help his wife, an elementary school teacher in West Hartford, CT, one of the leading school districts in the country. She identified how autistic individuals often require a large amount of one-on-one care, which was very difficult for staff in the school system. Gifford then set out to build an effective tool that could help teachers, therapists and parents reach children and help them gain the skills they need to succeed in their lives. Gifford combined his research into human-robotic interaction with earlier work he had done to create virtual characters and build friendly robots that could interact with children engagingly.

He explains that the name MOVIA was inspired by the words movement and motivation, a fitting combo since MOVIA moves families in a positive direction and motivates children to learn by making it accessible and fun. Robot-Assisted Instruction leverages the unique peer bond relationship between a child and a robot to unlock doors for learning.Research has revealed that robots can help children with autism solve problems, verbalize their ideas, and create a communicative bond with the robot.This facilitates growth, both at home as well as in the classroom.

The recent development of cost-effective assistive technologies has been incredibly beneficial to ... [+] parents raising and teaching their autistic children at home.

The recent development of cost-effective assistive technologies has been incredibly beneficial to parents raising and teaching their autistic children at home. For example, assistive technologies can support communication, sensory challenges, activities for daily living, learning readiness, and social skills.

Vice President of Sales, Muniba Masood, shares that Mothers of children with autism are not praised enough for their selflessness in raising a child with special needs. It takes a village to raise a child on the autism spectrum; family, siblings, therapists, teachers, and more, and when that village is stripped away by something like a pandemic, life can become exponentially more difficult for those affected by autism. She continues, I speak every day with some of the most heroic parents who have children with autism and are seeking new methods, and it's so rewarding when I can assist them with opening a new door and unlocking the learning potential of their child.

According to the CDC, in the United States alone, 1 in 54 children have been diagnosed with autism. Autism has been identified in 1 in 34 boys and 1 in 144 girls. Autism Spectrum Disorder is diagnosed across all socio-economic backgrounds and races; autism does not discriminate, yet the causes are unknown. As rates of autism increase, mothers of children with autism are in more need than ever of support, and there are seldom enough cost-effective resources readily available to them. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation, as schools have gone to remote learning; many therapists have resorted to zoom calls, and resources have become more scarce, placing yet an additional burden on families of children with special needs.

Research has shown that some autistic children tend to gravitate and are attracted to technology. Robots become a non-threatening, non-judgmental, peer-like entity, opening pathways to learning through which the child can explore a new world. In addition, this innovation is proving to be an invaluable aid for the hardworking mother raising a child with special needs.

Many schools have been bringing Robot-Assisted Instruction into their classrooms, and the ... [+] advancements witnessed in these children are astounding.

Many schools have been bringing Robot-Assisted Instruction into their classrooms, and the advancements witnessed in these children are astounding. Teachers and professionals are amazed at how beneficial the interaction between the robot and child is. The child is immediately drawn towards the robot within the first introduction and excited to learn and interact.

Kebbi, one of MOVIAs robots, was created for both home and school use. Kebbi is an educational robot that integrates artificial intelligence, software, and hardware technology to provide various facial expressions, body movements, and communicative interactions. Kebbi offers a unique set of interactive capabilities that work wonderfully in the home or school environment, providing users with a heartwarming, educational experience.

Kristen Whoolery, a Speech-Language Pathologist in Wallingford, Connecticut, who has been using MOVIAs RAI systems with her students, shared that the robots immediate impact on children with autism makes learning comfortable exciting, non-judgmental, and anxiety-free. It has been life-changing, she said. I have enjoyed seeing the robots interaction with the students and how it has changed their lives.

The company hopes that its helping these hardworking heroes parents, teachers, and of course, autistic individuals making their lives a little less challenging.

However, it is essential never to forget the significant contributions working women raising children with special needs offer their families and society every day and keep moving positively towards a brighter future.

Link:

How One Company Is Leveraging Technology To Support And Educate Autistic Children - Forbes

From artificial intelligence to healthcare to fintech, the latest group of World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers blends entrepreneurial spirit with science and engineering to tackle global problems head on.

The 2021 cohort of young and growing tech companies includes "many future headline makers at the forefront of their industries, says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Forum's Global Innovators Community, which will facilitate workshops and high-level discussions for the pioneers over the next two years. The social innovators are selected for being cutting-edge players with "great potential to not only shake up their industries but offer real solutions to global problems," she explains.

Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneer community is composed of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

By joining this community, Technology Pioneers begin a two-year journey where they are part of the World Economic Forums initiatives, activities and events, bringing their cutting-edge insight and fresh thinking to critical global discussions.

Meet the Technology Pioneers cohort of 2021. This year we're bringing together 100 early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are pioneering new technologies and innovations.

Apply here to become a Technology Pioneer of the World Economic Forum.

Ceretai, for example, helps media companies uncover stereotypes and representation gaps by analysing content for diversity and equality. Banyan Nation uses tech to support climate solutions in India. Century Tech personalizes education tools via AI and neuroscience.

FlexFinTx, for example, is building self-sovereign digital identities to help the over 400 million Africans that lack proper forms of identification. Meanwhile, Cambridge Industries is addressing climate change by developing sustainable city infrastructure to support waste-to-energy products.

Gender representation among start-ups has long been a challenge, which is why it's heartening to see the highest gender diversity yet in this year's cohort, with over 30% of companies led by women. The United Arab Emirates, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe are represented for the first time.

Following their selection as Technology Pioneers, this years companies will join an impressive group of alumni that include many household names, such as Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia.

Written by

Saemoon Yoon, Community Lead, Technology Pioneers, World Economic Forum

Madeleine Hillyer, U.S. Media Specialist, World Economic Forum

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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Meet the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers of 2021 - World Economic Forum

Jun 15th 2021

PROTECTING THE biological, ecological and genetic diversity that sustains life on Earth is the mission of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. But progress has been slow, to put it mildly. A list of 20 conservation targets, known as the Aichi targets, was drawn up in 2010, with a 2020 due date. In the event, not a single one of the goals was met in full (see chart).

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In 2020, IPBES (the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, a body created to bridge the gap between biodiversity science and policy) published a global appraisal of the state of biodiversity. Written by 145 experts from 50 countries who reviewed 15,000 research and government sources, it offered a sobering message. The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever, said Sir Robert Watson, chairman of IPBES. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.

According to the 2020 Living Planet Report, produced by WWF and the Zoological Society of London, two conservation and research groups, populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish shrank by 68% on average between 1970 and 2016. Two years earlier, it had found the decline to be 60% for the years spanning 1970 and 2014, suggesting that losses are accelerating. Human activity is thought to be causing species to disappear around 100 times faster than the natural background rate.

As this Technology Quarterly has shown, an explosion of technology, from nanopore DNA sequencing to global computer models, is expanding human understanding of ecosystems. Yet most biodiversity indicators are still heading in an alarming direction. How can advances in technology be coupled to the policy changes needed to reverse the decline? It will require three things.

The first step is to knit together the various monitoring systems in order to provide a clear picture of what is going on and what needs to be done. The siloed nature of ecological science, in which teams focus on a particular animal, plant or ecological niche, has created a patchwork of initiatives and data rather than a comprehensive, global approach. At the moment it is not even possible to draw up an accurate summary of the number, location and type of different sensors around the world, let alone the species they are monitoring. Wildlife Insights, an online global repository for camera traps, has logged thousands of cameras, but is constantly discovering more. One country recently informed it that it had another 1,000 sensors that had not yet been logged, for example. A survey due to be published later this year by WildLabs, a network of conservation-technology users, found that financing, co-ordination and capacity-building are critical to the development and adoption of conservation technology.

Shared practices, databases and platforms, such as Wildlife Insights, are starting to close the gap. In addition, says Tanya Berger-Wolf, a computer scientist and ecologist at Ohio State University, ecosystem-wide observation networks are needed to measure everything from the structure of a landscape and its climatic conditions, to the location and identity of animal species, and how they interact with each other and with human infrastructure.

The second step is to create more powerful and detailed ecosystem models, so that they can be used to develop and analyse policy changes, for example on land use, fishing rights, farming practices and regulation of pollutants. Computer simulations have been instrumental in deepening the understanding of climate change, projecting future impacts, building public and political awareness, and designing policies. Global ecosystem models are decades behind by comparison. Better models would let policymakers set more specific and effective targets. The 2010 Aichi list was hopelessly detailed in its breakdown of what needed to be done, while remaining vague and qualitative about how targets should be met. Governments are now negotiating a new list, which is due to be signed off at an intergovernmental summit scheduled to take place in October 2021, setting goals for 2030 and 2050. Simple, quantifiable targets and clear methods for measuring success, as exist for climate change, are urgently needed.

Third, once monitoring systems, models and policies are in place, technology can help assess and enforce those policies, and make the case for adjusting or extending them as appropriate. If marine protected areas are expanded, for example, ecosystem monitoring can both measure the impact on fish stocks, and keep an eye out for unauthorised fishing boats.

All this will require funding for monitoring and enforcement. And at the moment, most technology for conservation is developed in rich countries, while most biodiversity is concentrated far away in poorer ones. Even when American or European kit makes it into the hands of researchers, park rangers or land managers, maintenance is a problem. More training, and greater use of open-source platforms that put knowledge in the hands of people on the ground, can help. But ultimately there will need to be broader mechanisms for richer countries to assist poorer ones.

Many of the necessary policies will overlap with those needed to address climate change. But not all of them. Understanding how ecosystems are changing, and measuring the impact and effectiveness of interventions, will be critical to conserving biodiversity. Technology cannot solve the problem on its own. But it is hard to imagine how the problem can be solved without it.

Full contents of this Technology QuarterlyThe other environmental emergency: Loss of biodiversity poses as great a risk to humanity as climate changeSensors and sensibility: All kinds of new technology are being used to monitor the natural worldCracking the code: The sequencing of genetic material is a powerful conservation toolCrowdsourced science: How volunteer observers can help protect biodiversitySimulating everything: Compared with climate, modelling of ecosystems is at an early stageBack from the dead: Reviving extinct species may soon be possible* Bridging the gap: Technology can help conserve biodiversity

This article appeared in the Technology Quarterly section of the print edition under the headline "Bridging the gap"

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Bridging the gap: Technology can help conserve biodiversity - The Economist

(The Center Square) Researchers are testing a way to use facial recognition technology to selectively divert invasive Asian carp species in the Illinois River.

The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Whoossh Innovations are testing the use of artificial intelligence to weed out Asian carp at Emiquon, a 6,000-acre wetland along the Illinois River, the News Tribune reported.

Assistant Chief of Fisheries for Illinois Department of Natural Resources Kevin Irons says they are combining AI technology with a fish ladder, which is often used out west to help large river fish like salmon climb dams.

If carp can climb a fish ladder then we can do some things with it, he said. We could identify them and pull them out of that stream and we can put them in a bucket, a bin, a net to hold them to be removed.

Irons describes the sorting process as akin to crime scene photos.

Using this fish ladder, theres an opportunity when they get to the top of the ladder the technology basically takes many pictures in just a second, he said. From that information, we can tell what species of fish that is.

The AI uses a good fish/bad fish identification to assist with sorting, eliminating much of the physical labor required, Irons said.

Unlike other barriers, this method would also allow native species to pass through.

This does give us an opportunity to put those deterrents in place for carp and provide a solution for native fish to pass while still being able to screen those fish to make sure we dont pass these carp unnecessarily, Irons said. So it really allows us to manage our rivers for their best integrity even when battling these invasive fish.

Keeping the invasive fish out of the Great Lakes is a big part of the researchers goal.

Asian carp, in general, compete with all of our native fish for food they eat the plankton resources that all fish need when theyre small, and theyre very good at it, he said.

Irons said they are very happy with how the experiment is going.

Were getting images of fish as they go across and nearly 100% accurate on what we can allow past and what well pull back.

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Research says AI technology to divert invasive species in Illinois river akin to 'crime scene photos' - The Center Square

While green energy solutions often rely on new technology, MIT students who took class STS.032 (Energy, Environment, and Society) in fall 2020 discovered that even many promising innovations share a downside electronics waste (e-waste).

Weve been using energy technologies that work well for our needs now, but we dont think about what happens 30 years in the future, says Jemma Schroder, a first-year student in the class who learned that waste from solar panels, for example, is on the rise. The International Renewable Energy Agency has projected that, given the current rate of accumulation, the world will have amassed 78 million metric tons of such waste by 2050.

Were trying to dig ourselves out of the pit, but were just digging ourselves another pit, Schroder says. If youre really aiming for sustainability, you have to think about all aspects of the problem.

Providing context for energy and sustainability issues is the major goal of STS.032, an elective for the Energy Studies minor. I understand the imperative that we need energy, we need electronic goods, but the environment is an afterthought. Thats a big mistake, says Professor Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society, who teaches the class.

We can no longer just focus on happy stories about technology, says Mavhunga, who serves on the Energy Minor Oversight Committee, a subcommittee of the Energy Education Task Force of the MIT Energy Initiative. What I try to do is place energy in everyday life and to show issues everyday people are grappling with.

To that end, every year Mavhunga identifies a specific energy challenge and asks students in STS.032 to tackle it. Its very much a problem-centered approach to the energy curriculum, he says.

Global perspective

During the fall 2020 term, Mavhungas students spent eight weeks exploring the global landscape of energy and electronics waste, including cast-off cell phones and computers but also retired parts for solar panels. Topics covered ranged from the interplay of energy, race, inequality, poverty, and pollution in the United States to the dumping and innovative recycling of e-waste in Africa.

We take a world tour, looking at how things are made, how they travel illegally around the world, Mavhunga says, noting that many cast-off electronics and their associated pollutants end up in the Global South. There is this planned obsolescence at the level of design, he adds. And the question of what to do with the waste has not been really discussed.

Students in STS.032 say they were shocked to learn that many solar panels are already becoming obsolete and that designers did not plan well for end-of-life reuse or recycling. Solar panels only last 20 or 30 years, so what happens to them after they stop working is a problem, Schroder says. Many cant be recycled, or they can be but its too expensive to do so. So, people end up illegally shipping them off to sit in a waste dump.

It never really occurred to me that electronics waste, especially solar waste, was such a big issue, says senior Julian Dubransky, who is majoring in humanities and engineering. Id argue its one of the most important things I learned at MIT.

Waste hazards

STS.032 requires two individual papers and culminates in a final group research paper, which this term focused on characterizing the problems associated with solar and electronics waste and proposing solutions.

In their final paper, the students noted some of the hazards of electronics waste, including harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium, and other known carcinogens, which can leach into the soil and contaminate water supplies. In East African waste dumps, acids and chemicals from solar panels, lead-acid batteries, and lithium batteries are commonly drained directly into the ground to allow the metal components to be melted down and resold, the students wrote.

Its also common to burn the plastic off wires to recover valuable copper, even though the process generates toxic fumes, Schroder says. Its not a priority for people to deal with these pollutants, though they are getting into land and water and deteriorating the health of everyone, she says, because the waste is being processed in areas where subsistence is the higher priority.

The students conclude that addressing the problem of electronics waste will require more public awareness of the environmental and human health consequences of improperly discarded waste. Tech waste is a big form of waste that we dont really talk about or see, Schroder says.

You have to expose these problems and make people aware of them, Dubransky says, adding that the challenge of addressing electronics waste is more about the will than the way. There isnt any true waste product if you can figure out how to reuse it or recycle it.

Innovative recycling

Underscoring that point, STS.032 provided students with several examples of innovative recycling efforts, ranging from simply using water bottles filled with dirt as building blocks to creating new electronics out of the old. I dont know what I would do if someone gave me a pile of old electronics pieces, but theyve created all these amazing machines, even 3D printers, from recycled tech, Schroder says, referring to entrepreneurs across the continent who have built businesses from electronics waste dumped in Africa (WoeLab in Togo is one example). Its really inspiring.

Investigating what different communities do with waste is important, because it gives students the chance to see the problem from a new perspective, Mavhunga explains. Different places in the world are connected, dealing with the same issues in different ways, he says. Knowledge doesnt just come from universities and books. Knowledge can also come from people on the ground.

The students in STS.032 were able to identify some big-picture challenges to addressing electronics waste notably the worldwide problem of inconsistent regulation but they also had personal takeaways from the class.

Schroder, for example, says she wont be upgrading her phone anytime soon. Thats because now that she understands the problem of electronics waste, she wants to do something about it.

If you see a coal factory or a coal burner, you see the fumes rising up, she notes. What you dont see is the phone you break and just throw out you dont see what happens to that. The lack of awareness of what happens to these devices is a really big problem.

The students hope awareness will drive demand for solutions, such as products that are designed for reuse and recycling. Lack of awareness is probably the biggest issue we have in regard to the e-waste problem. If were aware its a problem, solutions can start flowing in, Dubransky says.

Mavhunga says he hopes STS.032 can help MIT students drive such solutions. Places like MIT should be where this is done precisely because this is where weve got the engineers, he says. We need more people at the table who design from an ethical, environmental, and social perspective.

More here:

Diving into the global problem of technology waste - MIT News

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for New Oriental Education & Technology Group

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Levered FCF ($, Millions)

US$443.1m

US$1.09b

US$1.27b

US$1.74b

US$2.48b

US$1.54b

US$1.08b

US$864.0m

US$747.3m

US$681.1m

Growth Rate Estimate Source

Analyst x13

Analyst x13

Analyst x13

Analyst x3

Analyst x2

Analyst x1

Est @ -29.64%

Est @ -20.15%

Est @ -13.51%

Est @ -8.86%

Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9%

US$415

US$953

US$1.0k

US$1.3k

US$1.8k

US$1.0k

US$680

US$508

US$411

US$351

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$8.5b

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2030 (1 + g) (r g) = US$681m (1 + 2.0%) (6.9% 2.0%) = US$14b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$14b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= US$7.4b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$16b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$7.6, the company appears about fair value at a 18% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at New Oriental Education & Technology Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.902. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For New Oriental Education & Technology Group, there are three important factors you should further research:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with New Oriental Education & Technology Group .

Future Earnings: How does EDU's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart.

Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Calculating The Fair Value Of New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU) - Yahoo Finance

New technology could save the NHS an estimated half a million hours a year in staff time by the middle of the decade, under plans to automate some behind-the-scenes tasks.

The Government will publish a new draft data strategy this week, aimed at saving lives by sharing more patient information to give them better access to healthcare.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the changes were being made after the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated the need for more effective use of data.

As well as using artificial intelligence (AI), the strategy will promote robotic process automation, which uses software to automate back office processes.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said this would save the NHS more than half a million hours a year in staff time by 2025, but would not affect staffing levels.

Trials using AI are also being supported by the strategy, with the aim of replacing one of the two radiologists needed to review breast cancer screens with AI.

Mr Hancock said: Data saves lives. We need to learn from the pandemic to improve the way our health and care system processes data, giving power to patients and enabling clinicians to use data in new ways to improve patient care and support research for innovative treatments.

This pandemic has shown us just how many lives can be saved through effective use of data we must do all we can to harness this potential and the changes brought about through this strategy will no doubt go on to save countless more lives in the future.

The proposals also include giving people access to view their medical records.

Professor Mark Callaway of the Royal College of Radiologists said AI is undoubtedly a big leap forward, but explained the technology is not a cure-all for staffing issues.

For widespread adoption in the NHS, each programme will need to be rigorously tested and then regulated, and the AI regulatory landscape itself is still developing, he said.

Story continues

Imaging AI is not the panacea for the health services human staffing problems, as radiologists and imaging teams do far more than just look at scans, but AI programmes will undoubtedly help by acting as a second pair of eyes and a safety net.

Pointing to lessons learned during the Covid-19 crisis, the DHSC said staff being able to share data in a privacy-secure way allowed clinical trials to be approved in record times.

This enabled research into treatments such as dexamethasone which the department said saved more than one million lives across the world.

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Ministers eye technology to save thousands of NHS staffing hours - Yahoo Finance UK

BRUSSELSThe U.S. and European Union plan to cooperate more on technology regulation, industrial development and bilateral trade following President Bidens visit, in a bid to help Western allies better compete with China and Russia on developing and protecting critical and emerging technologies.

Central to the increased coordination will be a new high-level Trade and Technology Council the two sides unveiled Tuesday. The aim of the TTC is toboost innovation and investment within and between the two allied economies, strengthen supply chains and avert unnecessary obstacles to trade, among other tasks.

You see the possibility for alignment, said European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager in an interview.

In a sign of both sides aspirations for the council, it will be co-chaired on the U.S. side by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The EU side will be co-chaired the Ms. Vestager, the blocs top competition and digital-policy official, and fellow Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, who handles trade.

As the EUs top antitrust enforcer, Ms. Vestager has gained prominence for her cases against U.S. tech giants including Apple Inc., Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Facebook Inc. Former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump both said her policies unfairly targeted American companies.

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U.S., EU Forge Closer Ties on Emerging Technologies to Counter Russia and China - The Wall Street Journal

YANTAI, China, June 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Newater Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEWA) ("NEWA", or the "Company"), a developer, service provider and manufacturer of membrane filtration products and related hardware and engineered systems that are used in the treatment, recycling and discharge of wastewater, today announced that on 17 June 2021 the Commercial Division of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the British Virgin Islands (the "BVI Court"), discharged an injunction that had been obtained on 16 March 2021 on an ex parte basis by Fulcan Capital Partners LLC, a Nevada limited liability company ("Fulcan"). Fulcan had sought to prevent the Company, the members of the board of directors, and Tigerwind Group Limited (a special purpose vehicle wholly owned by Mr. Yuebiao Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company), from taking any steps to proceed with the proposed "going private" merger transaction. In response to the ex parte order, the Company applied to discharge the injunction on the basis that Fulcan had breached its duty of full and frank disclosure when applying for the injunction. In discharging the injunction with immediate effect, the BVI Court accepted the Company's submissions that the Court had been misled by Fulcan at the ex parte hearing on 16 March 2021. In response to the BVI Court's order, Mr. Yuebiao Li said, "Although it's too bad that we had to divert precious time and resources to fight this baseless lawsuit, we're glad to have this ex parte injunction behind us."

ABOUT NEWATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Yantai, China, the Company, operating its business through its wholly owned subsidiary Yantai Jinzheng Eco-Technology Co. Ltd., specializes in the development, manufacture and sale of DTRO (Disk Tube Reverse Osmosis) and DTNF (Disk Tube Nano-Filtration) membranes for waste water treatment, recycling and discharge. NEWA provides integrated technical solutions in engineering support and installation, technical advice and water purification services, and other project-related solutions to turn wastewater into valuable clean water. More information about the Company can be found at http://www.dtNEWA.com.

The Company's core business includes:

More information about the Company can be found at: http://www.dtNEWA.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may", "will", "intend", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company's statements regarding the transaction are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of the water filtration industry in China; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at http://www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

SOURCE Newater Technology, Inc.

http://dtnewa.com/

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Newater Technology, Inc. Announces the Discharge of Injunction Against its Going Private Transaction - PRNewswire