Category Archives: Technology

Saundra McGuire (top left), the director emerita of the Center for Academic Success and a retired Assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor of Chemistry at LSU, delivered the keynote address Sept. 29 during the 20th annual Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference, organized by staff members in UMSLs Center for Teaching and Learning, including Assistant Director Jennifer McKanry (top right) and Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Innovation Keeta Holmes (bottom). (Screenshots)

Saundra McGuire remembers hearing the phrase teach students how to learn sometime back in the mid-1980s.

At the time, McGuire, now the director emerita of the Center for Academic Success and a retired Assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor of Chemistry at LSU, thought it was nonsense.

How are you going to teach students how to learn? she asked rhetorically last Wednesday while delivering a virtual keynote address for the Focus on Teaching and Teaching Conference, hosted by the University of MissouriSt. Louis Center for Teaching and Learning. If they dont know how to learn and you teach them how to learn, theyre not going to learn it because they dont know how to learn. It just didnt make any sense at all to me.

McGuires developed a different view over the course of her long and decorated career, which included authoring a book titled Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate Into Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation.

Now I know exactly what it means, McGuire said. It means that we need to teach students that learning is a process.

In her nearly 90-minute address, McGuire discussed the importance of metacognition and shared ideas for helping students better understand the way they take in and process material so they can build more effective study habits and increase learning.

More than 1,900 educators mostly higher-education faculty members from across the St. Louis region and far beyond registered to hear from McGuire and the other presenters in what was the 20th annual Focus on Teaching and Teaching and Technology Conference.

Our priority is really to provide professional development for faculty, and particularly now in these challenging times of teaching during a pandemic, said Jennifer McKanry, the conference co-chair and the assistant director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Many of our faculty are still teaching blended or online components to their classes, as well as juggling high flex environments that flex around potential student illness issues. We really wanted to provide a forum that helps support those faculty.

The need is strong as evidenced by the conferences record participation more than 700 more registrants than in 2020 and more than 1,000 more than when the conference was last held in person in 2019.

McKanry and her co-chair, Mary Painter, CTLs learning analytics coordinator, made the decision last spring to hold the conference virtually again this year.

We wanted to be able to go forward and go forward full steam, McKanry said. We committed to a virtual format and one that really addressed a lot of the feedback we got from last year. We knew it meant we were going to be able to hold a solid conference and not have to make last-minute shifts.

Cognizant of Zoom fatigue and attendees who would be logging into the conference while still fulfilling typical work and life responsibilities, they decided to stretch the conference over three days instead of two. They offered more session blocks with fewer concurrent sessions, allowing attendees to space out their participation and have the opportunity to participate in more sessions.

Bonni Stachowiak, host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast and the dean of teaching and learning at Vanguard University, discussed the importance of cultivating imagination in students during her Sept. 30 keynote address in the Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference.

They also added a second keynote on Thursday, delivered by Bonni Stachowiak, the dean of teaching and learning at Vanguard University and the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, which has had more than 2.5 million downloads since its launch in 2014.

Stachowiak, who helped promote the conference to her podcast audience in the weeks leading up to it, used her keynote presentation to discuss the importance of imagination in learning.

Not imagination for imaginations sake, Stachowiak said, but imagination for igniting possibility within ourselves and our teaching, and most importantly, igniting a sense of possibility with students as well.

McKanry and Pointer tried to replicate the in-person conference experience of attendees by incorporating a new tool called Gather Town for the conferences virtual exhibit hall. The tool allowed attended to walk around the conference space with their avatar and engage with other attendees.

They built the lobby of the space to resemble the lobby of the J.C. Penney Conference Center, where the Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference has traditionally been held. They also took advantage of the programs templates to build a virtual beach with chair yoga and a Tiki Bar for participants to hold conversations.

The conference also provided asynchronous opportunities to engage, including a series of pre-recorded Tech Tracks videos and associated discussion boards.

Tech Tracks really highlight different tools that faculty enjoy using in their teaching, McKanry said. Usually, the requirement is that it has to be a free tool or part of some sort of a suite of tools thats really readily available on most campuses. Its something that helps faculty members engage and improve their teaching.

Short URL: https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/?p=90991

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Focus on Teaching and Technology Conference brings more than 1,900 educators together online in 20th year - UMSL Daily

October 11, 2021

The full proceedings of a national roundtable to identify Australia's RNA science and technology priorities have been released.

The roundtable was held on Thursday, 29 July 2021, hosted by the Australian Academy of Science and the Australia and New Zealand RNA Production Consortium.

The proceedings, aimed at policymakers and science funders, detail the discussions about how Australia can play a leading role in the global ecosystem of RNA science and harness the opportunities for Australian industry to develop RNA-based products and services for global markets.

"This roundtable was a step forward in presenting a united voice on RNA science and technology in Australia: what we are capable of and what we have the potential to achieve," saidProfessor John Shine, President of the Australian Academy of Science, in the foreword to the proceedings.

The group, comprising 38 experts in RNA biology and biotechnology from the Australian university and research sectors along with industry, has called on Australia to play a leading role in the global ecosystem of RNA science and harness the opportunities for Australian industry to develop RNA-based products and services for global markets.

Associate Professor Archa Fox from the University of Western Australia, co-chair of the the roundtable, said that Now is the time to be bold.

Professor John Mattick from UNSW Sydney and Professor Trent Munro from the University of Queensland were also co-chairs.

The agreed recommendations from the roundtable include:

Read the fullroundtable proceedings.

Read the full statement from the roundtable.

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Proceedings of National RNA Science and Technology Roundtable released - Australian Academy of Science

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., October 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Netsmart announced today that several clients and AJ Peterson, vice president and general manager, will be presenting on emerging topics that include virtual care, mental health, CMS requirements, and using technology to drive operations and outcomes at the 72nd Annual American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) 2021 Convention and Expo Oct. 10-13 in Washington D.C.

At booth 522, convention attendees can learn about the Netsmart CareFabric technology solutions and services that enable care coordination between providers across the healthcare ecosystem. Displayed in the Netsmart booth will be myUnity, the industrys first person-centered electronic health record (EHR). myUnity offers a full-continuum platform that provides a single comprehensive health record across skilled nursing, assisted living, home care and hospice, independent living, and palliative care settings. The platform connects clinical, operational and financial workflows into one solution, driving efficiencies that make it easier for clinicians and staff to deliver quality care.

As part of the CareFabric platform, Netsmart will also showcase the Simple portfolio of solutions including SimpleAnalyzer, SimpleConnect and SimplePBJ offerings. The solution suite is comprised of an interactive Five-Star planner, predictive analytics dashboard, real-time quality measures, survey reports, PDPM analytics/benchmarking and Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting. Attendees can stop by booth 417 to receive demonstrations on ways these offerings are leveraging predictive analytics to help organizations improve their outcomes and quality performance ratings.

The Expo Hall will be open for attendees Monday, October 11, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM ET and Tuesday, October 12, 10:30 AM-1:30 PM ET. Attendees can explore solutions across the Netsmart CareFabric platform as well as hear how leveraging advanced interoperability capabilities can inform and automate the intake process, improve occupancy rates, drive better care coordination and service delivery, and enable advanced analytics and outcomes tracking.

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"We are thrilled to be able to reunite with post-acute care providers during such a critical time," said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. "As the healthcare ecosystem continues to evolve the Netsmart CareFabric platform is helping clients digitize and integrate their operations across a variety of functions. Networking and educational events like the AHCA/NCAL convention allow post-acute providers to collaborate, learn and exchange best practices to position themselves today and in the future."

Educational sessions will deliver insight and perspectives on topics at the forefront of the post-acute care industry, including COVID-19 recovery, workforce strategy, technology and infection control, among others. Netsmart expert, AJ Peterson and client industry leaders will speak in a variety of sessions throughout the four-day event.

Sunday, Oct. 10

The Silver Quality Award: How-to, Tools, and Resources Presbyterian Homes and Services Leadership Institute Dean, Cathy Bergland, MBA, NHA, will give an overview of the demands of the Silver criteria and scoring system and exemplify how an organization would respond effectively to the criteria.

The Gold Quality Award: How-to, Tools, and Resources & Consultations Maryruth Butler, President at Cascadia Healthcare, will join members of the Quality Award panel of judges to discuss the criteria, organizational improvements of the award, identifying potential gaps, and current organizational systems and processes.

Monday, Oct. 11

Connecting the Dots: Social Isolation, Trauma-Informed Care and Elder Abuse Carolyn Eichberg, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Independent Consultant at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, will join a panel to discuss elder abuse screening and identify best practices and resources to increase connectivity and healing for socially isolated older and vulnerable adults.

Interprofessional Practice Competencies: A Catalyst for Person-Centered Care Hillcrest Health Services Director of Education and Quality, Anna Fisher, Ph.D., will review evidence-based updates to person-centered care, and demonstrate the value of interprofessional practice competencies. The session attendees will use existing CMS care requirements and build a sample facility action plan with the tools provided for all staff in diverse health care settings.

Healthcare Digitization in Practice: Making Virtual Care a Reality Mark Plunkett, Director of Information Technology at Maple Knoll Communities, and AJ Peterson, Vice President and General Manager at Netsmart, will share the vital role played by an immersive telehealth platform during COVID-19. In this virtual session, the speakers will identify successful strategies for implementation of telehealth hardware and software solutions.

Attendees are encouraged to stop by the Netsmart booth 522 and the Simple booth 417 at the AHCA/NCAL 2021 Conference and Expo to meet with a Netsmart expert or schedule a live demonstration to learn more about technology and tools that are enabling providers to achieve success in post-acute care.

About Netsmart

Netsmart, a leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) technology and services solutions, designs, builds and delivers electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), analytics and telehealth solutions and services that are powerful, intuitive and easy-to-use. Our platform provides accurate, up-to-date information that is easily accessible to care team members in the human services and post-acute care (which is comprised of home care and hospice and senior living) markets. We make the complex simple and personalized so our clients can concentrate on what they do best: provide services and treatment that support whole-person care.

By leveraging the powerful Netsmart network, care providers can seamlessly and securely integrate information across communities, collaborate on the most effective treatments and improve outcomes for those in their care. Our streamlined systems and personalized workflows put relevant information at the fingertips of users when and where they need it.

For more than 50 years, Netsmart has been committed to providing a common platform to integrate care. SIMPLE. PERSONAL. POWERFUL. Our more than 2,400 associates work hand-in-hand with our 680,000+ users at our clients across the U.S. to develop and deploy technology that automates and coordinates everything from clinical to financial to administrative. Learn more about how Netsmart is changing the face of healthcare today. Visit http://www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on our CareThreads Blog, LinkedIn and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube. Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDayMatters Foundation, which was established for behavioral health, care at home, senior living and social services organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211011005180/en/

Contacts

Netsmart Media Contact:Vince Koehlervkoehler@ntst.com 913.272.2235

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Netsmart and Clients Share Insights and Demonstrate Innovative Technology at AHCA/NCAL Convention and Expo - Yahoo Finance

As the world grapples with Covid-19, influenza isnt getting much attention these days. But the flus global impact is staggering: three million to five million cases of severe illness every year, and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic.

The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 and 60 percent. In some years its as low as 10 percent.

But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against Covid-19.

While traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each seasons flu strains. And when theyre injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do.

Two companies Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech company that produced one of the authorized mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, and Sanofi, a French vaccine maker began trials for mRNA flu vaccines this summer. Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies that produced the other mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, started their own flu trial last month. And Seqirus, a vaccine producer based in England, is planning to test another mRNA vaccine for the flu early next year.

No one can say for sure how well any of these four seasonal flu vaccines will turn out, but many experts are optimistic. And further down the line, mRNA technology may be tailored to make vaccines that work for years against a wide range of influenza strains.

I am beyond excited for the future of flu vaccination, said Jenna Bartley, an immunologist at the University of Connecticut.

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst in modern history, killing somewhere between 50 million and 100 million people. As the death toll climbed, doctors responded by inoculating people by the thousands with an assortment of experimental vaccines. None of them worked.

Scientists at the time wrongly believed that disease was caused by bacteria, not viruses. That error led them to make vaccines from the microbes they gathered in the sputum of flu patients. The vaccines were useless at mounting an immune defense against the viral disease.

It was not until 1933 that British virologists isolated the influenza virus, finally making it possible to design an effective vaccine. Researchers injected influenza viruses into chicken eggs, where they multiplied. Once they had extracted and purified the new viruses, they killed them with chemicals, and injected the inactivated viruses into people.

The United States licensed the first commercial influenza vaccine in 1945. The Nobel-prize-winning virologist Wendell Stanley hailed the milestone, declaring that the vaccine would prevent influenza from ever again becoming one of the great destroyers of human life.

But the vaccine didnt quite live up to Dr. Stanleys hopes. Influenza outfoxed it with an awesome power to mutate.

During an influenza infection, cells in our airway begin copying the viruss genome, allowing it to proliferate. The copying process results in lots of genetic errors. Sometimes these mutations will enable the virus to escape the bodys immune response spurred by a vaccine.

Flu viruses also have another route to rapid evolution. If two types of flu viruses infect the same cell, it can produce a genetic hybrid, which may evade vaccine-triggered immunity even more successfully.

This extraordinary capacity for change also explains why several strains of flu may circulate in a single flu season, and new strains may rise to dominance the following year.

The flu virus, for lack of a better word, is just kind of a jerk, Dr. Bartley said.

Vaccine makers have responded by including up to four different strains in their annual formulations. But because producing vaccines in chicken eggs is such a slow process, scientists must choose which strains to include several months before a flu season, often leading to a mismatch when the shape-shifting virus actually arrives.

Its an educated guessing game, said Dr. Alicia Widge, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Healths Vaccine Research Center. Were always catching up with the virus.

Between 2004 and 2019, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranged from as high as 60 percent to as low as 10 percent. Even that modest protection translates into a lot of benefit, however, because so many people get the flu every year. In addition to lowering the odds of getting infected, the vaccine also lowers the chances that people sick with the flu have to go to the hospital.

In the 2018-19 flu season, the flu vaccine with an effectiveness of just 29 percent prevented an estimated 4.4 million illnesses in the United States alone, plus 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, according to one study.

Oct. 11, 2021, 7:38 a.m. ET

If scientists could make more robust flu vaccines, they could potentially save thousands of additional lives.

The bottom line is that the flu vaccines we have arent good enough, said Nicholas Heaton, a virologist at Duke University School of Medicine.

In the 1990s, a few researchers set out on an entirely new course, making flu vaccines from mRNA.

The idea behind the technology was radically different than the chicken-egg approach. In effect, the new shots would turn peoples own cells into vaccine factories.

Scientists would create an mRNA molecule with the instructions for making an influenza protein, then deliver it into cells. Those cells would then make copies of the viral protein, some of which would end up on their surface. Immune cells passing by would detect the alien proteins and respond with a defense against the virus.

In 1993, a team of French scientists conducted the first experiments on an mRNA vaccine for the flu. The vaccines produced promising responses in mice, but were still primitive. For one thing, the animals cells sometimes responded to the vaccines mRNA by destroying it, as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. It took more than two decades of additional lab work before mRNA vaccines were ready for human trials.

When Moderna formed in 2010 to bring mRNA vaccines to the clinic, influenza was one of the first diseases it tackled. The company started with vaccines for two flu strains that normally infected birds but sometimes sickened people exactly the kind of viruses that might give rise to new pandemics.

Their first clinical trial results, in 2016, were encouraging. The volunteers produced antibodies against the viruses, though they also had side effects like fever and fatigue. The results spurred Moderna to build a new factory in Norwood, Mass., where the company could make large quantities of mRNA for more clinical trials.

The company began developing a new flu vaccine, this one for seasonal influenza rather than for pandemics. And the researchers worked on making the side effects of the vaccine less severe.

You want folks to feel comfortable strolling into CVS and getting their shot, and not be worried about adverse events, said Rose Loughlin, vice president for research and development strategy at Moderna.

The State of Vaccine Mandates in the U.S.

But then in early 2020, just as they were hoping to begin a new flu trial, the scientists had to shelve the plan. A new coronavirus was exploding in China.

Over the next year, Moderna made and tested a Covid mRNA vaccine in record speed. And its shot, like that of its primary competitor, Pfizer-BioNTech, was remarkably protective, with an efficacy rate around 95 percent.

The success of mRNA vaccines delivered huge revenues to both companies. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is on track to become the best-selling medicine of all time. And Modernas market cap since the beginning of the pandemic increased 19-fold to around $123 billion.

Riding the mRNA wave, these companies, along with Sanofi and Seqirus, are moving on to seasonal flu projects.

Jean-Franois Toussaint, Sanofi Pasteurs head of global research and development, cautioned that the success of mRNA vaccines against Covid did not guarantee similar results for influenza.

We need to be humble, he said. The data will tell us if it works.

But some studies suggest that mRNA vaccines might prove more potent than traditional ones. In animal studies, mRNA vaccines seem to provide a broader defense against influenza viruses. They prompt the animals immune systems to make antibodies against the virus, and also train immune cells to attack infected cells.

But perhaps most important for the flu, mRNA vaccines can be made rapidly. The speed of mRNA manufacturing may allow vaccine makers to wait a few extra months before picking which influenza strains to use, potentially leading to a better match.

If you could guarantee 80 percent every year, I think that would be a major public health benefit, said Dr. Philip Dormitzer, Pfizers chief scientific officer.

The technology also makes it easier for mRNA vaccine makers to create combination shots. Along with mRNA molecules for different strains of influenza, they can also add mRNA molecules for entirely different respiratory diseases.

At a Sept. 9 presentation for investors, Moderna shared results from a new experiment in which researchers gave mice vaccines combining mRNAs for three respiratory viruses: seasonal flu, Covid-19 and a common pathogen called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The mice produced high levels of antibodies against all three viruses.

Other researchers have been searching for a universal flu vaccine that could protect people for many years by fending off a broad range of influenza strains. Rather than an annual shot, people might need only a booster every few years. In the best-case scenario, one vaccination might even work for a lifetime.

At the University of Pennsylvania, a team of researchers led by Norbert Pardi is developing mRNA vaccines that encode proteins from influenza viruses that mutate only rarely. Experiments in animals hint that these vaccines could remain effective from year to year.

Although Moderna isnt working on a universal flu vaccine at the moment, its absolutely something wed be interested in for the future, said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the companys head of infectious disease research.

Even if mRNA flu vaccines live up to expectations, they will probably need a few years to gain approval. Trials for mRNA flu vaccines wont get the tremendous government support that Covid-19 vaccines did. Nor will regulators be allowing them to get emergency authorization. Seasonal flu is hardly a new threat, and it can already be countered with licensed vaccines.

So the manufacturers will have to take the longer path to full approval. If the early clinical trials turn out well, vaccine makers will then have to move on to large-scale trials that may need to stretch through several flu seasons.

It should work, said Dr. Bartley of the University of Connecticut. But obviously thats why we do research to make sure should and does are the same thing.

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How Covid Vaccine Technology Could Improve Flu Vaccines - The New York Times

The ITS World Congress begins today (Monday, October 11) and looks set to be a great success, with more than 10,000 people registered from around the world all looking forward to experiencing Future Mobility Now.

With over 400 exhibitors, 200+ conference sessions, 33 technical demonstrations and 19 technical visits, the sheer size of the event can seem overwhelming to start with. So, here we focus in on five of the key event partners and give a preview of the technology and services theyll be showcasing at the Hamburg Messe

Learn how tailored and scalable location data helps deliver seamless intermodal journeys and shapes the future of smart mobility. Join experts at HEREs Stand B5.310and watch demonstrations to learn how location technology can help to advance urban mobility, deliver efficient rides, and optimize transit routes.

HERE will also be hosting a two panel discussions on Thursday, October 14, 2 4pm, with Siemens, Deutsche Bahn, NavVis and SBB. Looking at out how location intelligence is helping to shape the future of rail mobility.

On Wednesday, October 13, HERE CEO Edzard Overbeek will join Plenary Session 2 in Auditorium Z at 9am to discuss the topic of Delivering safe, efficient and integrated solutions for optimizing transportation.

Continental has 150 years of experience in mobility technology. The company stands for driving safety and is a pioneer in vehicle electronics, connectivity, and software. Based on this expertise, Continentals goal is to unleash the full potential of smart and autonomous mobility solutions for everyones benefit. At the ITS World Congress the company will be demonstrating services and innovative solutions along the following technology streams:

Join Continental inatStand B5.410.

As city and transportation officials rethink mobility, tackle traffic congestion, advance sustainability, and build safer intersections for pedestrians and vehicles, accurate data collection has become a critical endeavor.

At ITS World Congress 2021, come and meet representatives from Mobileye, an Intel Company, and a global leader in the development of computer vision and machine learning, data analysis, localization, and mapping for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving solutions, at Stand B5.200.

Mobileye aggregates road data from millions of vehicles equipped with our advanced computer vision technology as they travel their regular routes, which allows us capture the real-world traffic dynamics and the changing urban mobility landscape.

Mobileye Data Services can help local authorities and DOTs address mobility and transportation challenges by providing valuable data on driving behavior, pedestrian and cyclist volume, traffic flow with lane-level precision, and more all delivered at a high refresh rate.

Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software development, will participate as General Partner at the ITS World Congress.

Come and discuss with it experts, who will present our approaches and IT solutions for a more open, more fluid and more eco-responsible mobility, at stand B5.003.And dont miss Sopra Sterias conference on Tuesday, October 12 at 3.30pm How to take advantage of the power of your raw mobility data, during which three of its European experts will illustrate this subject with different use cases.

Mobility is changing faster than ever before. The strategic goal of ZF is to provide technology for Next Generation Mobility. Not tomorrow, but now.

The global technology company offers all the necessary technologies for the vehicle and mobility concepts of the future. The Group is also very active in the market for autonomous shuttle systems.

The ZF subsidiary 2getthere has many years of experience with autonomous driving systems. And currently, ZF is in the process of developing autonomous shuttles for the German cities of Friedrichshafen and Mannheim as part of the RABus project. The company is convinced that a network of autonomous, electric shuttles available via app can usefully supplement existing public transport services in cities, but also better connect rural areas of cities.

At the ITS World Congress in Hamburg, ZF will show what role the company will play in the future when it comes to autonomous shuttle systems.

Visit ZF on Stand B5110 and attend its public panel discussion with exciting guests on stage B5420, on the topic Mobility in transition the public transport of the future. Now. (in German language) on October 12 at 11am.

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ITS World Congress 2021: Meet some of the Congress partners - Traffic Technology Today

A man walks past an Ant Group logo at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China, July 8, 2021. REUTERS/Yilei Sun/File Photo

BEIJING, Oct 11 (Reuters) - China's Ant Group has raised its registered capital to 35 billion yuan ($5.44 billion) from 23.8 billion yuan, public business registration records showed, as the fintech giant continues its government-mandated restructuring.

Ant, an affiliate of e-commerce leader Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (9988.HK), in a Monday statement said the increase was to support growth and was "according to relevant regulations and business needs."

Authorities in April ordered sweeping restructuring at Ant after halting the financial technology (fintech) firm's record $37 billion initial public offering in November, underscoring government determination to rein in its internet giants. read more

The overhaul subjects Ant to tougher regulatory oversight and capital requirements.

Ant said the 47% jump in registered capital comes from "capitalisation of the company's capital reserve." It said it had not engaged in any fundraising activity and that no additional investors were involved.

($1 = 6.4374 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Reporting by Cheng Leng and Brenda Goh; Editing by Christopher Cushing

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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China's Ant Group increases registered capital by 47% to $5.4 bln - Reuters

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Emerald Cloud Lab (ECL) recently announced their plans to build a cloud lab at the university's campus in Pittsburgh. A carbon copy of ECLs lab in San Francisco, the CMU Cloud Lab will enable scientists to perform experiments remotely and give them access to nearly 200 types of scientific instruments.To learn more about the CMU Cloud Lab, the motivation behind the project and the benefits it will bring, Technology Networks spoke to Rebecca Doerge, PhD, dean, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, and Toby Blackburn, head of business development and research, Emerald Cloud Lab.Anna MacDonald (AM): What was the motivation behind creating a cloud lab at CMU?Rebecca Doerge (RD): Carnegie Mellon University excels in the foundational sciences, robotics, machine learning and data science all fields that are at the core of the cloud lab and automated science. Were also in the midst of a future of science initiative, where we are devoting our time and resources to creating the future of science and educating the scientists of the future. It just made sense that we should be the ones to create the worlds first cloud lab at a university.AM: This will be the first cloud lab in an academic setting. Why do you think other universities have so far not adopted this approach?RD: CMU is being visionary and forward thinking in bringing a cloud lab to campus. ECLs Brian Frezza and DJ Kleinbaum are our alumni and they presented us with the chance to be a pioneer in this space. To us, the promise of the cloud lab for academic research and education was undeniable, and we jumped on it early.AM: What makes CMU well suited to host a cloud lab?RD: Carnegie Mellon has long been a world leader in the foundational sciences, computer science, robotics, machine learning and data science, all of which are at the foundation of the cloud lab. Were also known for being an institution where interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged and thrives. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon often collaborate with computer scientists, engineers and statisticians to enhance their work using technology. The cloud lab is an extension of this.Carnegie Mellon is also committed to educating the next generation of scientists. Part of that is preparing them to use the latest methods and technologies. Giving our students access to a cloud lab will expose them to coding and automated science. It will also provide CMU students with greater access to state-of-the-art research equipment when they conduct their own research.

AM: Can you tell us more about the platform that the lab will be based on?Toby Blackburn (TB): Emerald Cloud Lab is the worlds first state-of-the-art pre-clinical biopharma R&D laboratory that runs experiments virtually from the cloud. Experiments ranging from basic chemistry to cell biology can be run using ECLs collection of instruments that encompass 190 different capabilities, all through one single platform, ECL Command Center.The Carnegie Mellon University Cloud Lab will be based on ECLs Global Cloud, a facility located in South San Francisco that is accessible to enterprise, start-up and academic customers. Command Center, the system used to interact with the lab and data, will function in the same way across both facilities, allowing for interoperability of experiment commands and data analysis functions.AM: Can you give us an overview of how the cloud lab will work? What equipment will be available and what experiments will be possible?TB: The cloud lab will work identically to the current ECLs Global Cloud but will be wholly dedicated to the experiments and research of the CMU community.Scientists will use Command Center to design their experiments, which are then performed in the Cloud Lab. Once an experiment is complete, users can also perform all data analysis, visualization and interpretation within Command Center.Equipment and capabilities of the CMU Cloud Lab are largely based on the ECL Global Cloud, but we are presently working with CMU to finalize the list of equipment and ensure that the facility will meet the needs of CMU faculty, staff and students.AM: In what ways do you expect the cloud lab to benefit faculty, students and the wider community?RD: The Carnegie Mellon University Cloud Lab will democratize science. Carnegie Mellon faculty and students, both undergraduate and graduate, will no longer be limited by the cost, availability and location of equipment. We also plan to open the Carnegie Mellon Cloud Lab to others in the research community, including high school students, researchers from smaller universities that may not have advanced research facilities and local life sciences startup companies.AM: How does developing and implementing a cloud lab in an academic setting compare to developing one in an industry setting?TB: Functionally, both Cloud Labs will work the same way, with the CMU facility leveraging all of the development and lessons learned from building the ECL. We plan to maintain this compatibility, allowing CMU to benefit from the further development arising from our pharma and biotech clients, and vice versa.One thing we are really excited about is the public nature of academic research. With the potential for research to be published with not only the raw data associated with the research, but also the experimental commands used to generate that raw data at the push of a button, the cloud lab can really change the landscape of scientific research and go a long way to address the reproducibility crisis.AM: Do you have any advice for other academic institutions thinking of developing a cloud lab?TB: Universities should be constantly looking for new and better ways to do research and provide education. A cloud lab is a great example. Over the last few years Carnegie Mellon faculty has used ECLs facilities for research and education. On the research front, weve found that using the cloud lab accelerates the pace of discovery and yields accurate, replicable and sharable data. On the education front, students are excited about the cloud lab. We believe that the cloud lab is part of the future of science and believe that it is important for academic institutions to begin to use the platform.

Additionally, having access to ECL facilities was a game-changer while many of us were working and learning remotely due to COVID-19. We were able to use the cloud lab to give students who were learning remotely a laboratory experience. And while many researchers had to pause their laboratory work, those who were working with the cloud lab could continue to do experiments.Rebecca Doerge and Toby Blackburn were speaking to Anna MacDonald, Science Writer for Technology Networks.

Excerpt from:

Building the World's First University Cloud Lab - Technology Networks

CoinDesk published its annual list of top universities for the development of blockchain technology, with UC Berkeley taking third place.

To determine the rankings, CoinDesk examined a variety of factors, including scholarly impact and campus blockchain offerings. This is the second year CoinDesk has published a list of blockchain universities, expanding into international universities.

The punchline is that Berkeley is among the very top-most schools in the blockchain area that finding is robust, said Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer Richard Lyons in an email.

According to Blockchain at Berkeley co-President Darya Kaviani, people exchange information and transactions through central institutions such as banks and government entities. She added that society has become increasingly reliant on these institutions, giving them an immense amount of power.

Kaviani claimed the solution lies in blockchain, which is a method of sharing data with two central components. First, it contains a database in which every actor can hold a copy. Second, the information that is committed to the blockchain cannot be changed down the line.

Central institutions end up working to serve an incredibly small class of people, Kaviani said. Because theyre usually profit-maximizing, they create really dangerous situations for people like us. When you utilize blockchain technology, youre able to share data in a decentralized way.

At UC Berkeley, students can learn and participate in the development of blockchain in a variety of ways. The curriculum offered on campus is at the frontier of decentralized finance, according to Lyons. Along with classes, campus has a blockchain startup accelerator, which supports startups in the field.

Blockchain at Berkeley, a student organization, is another hub for blockchain technology on campus, Kaviani said. Among other functions, it organizes classes for students and provides consulting services to blockchain companies.

I feel great about the rank, Kaviani said. The Berkeley community is very excited about blockchain, and I think the way that we can improve our ranking is to create a very cohesive tightknit community that brings together joint blockchain enthusiasts throughout campus.

Blockchain at Berkeley launched an initiative Thursday called the Berkeley Blockchain Ecosystem, Kaviani said. She added that the purpose of the initiative is to bring all of the spheres of blockchain on campus together: academia, industry and student body.

By bringing together these bubbles, Kaviani noted, UC Berkeley may become the number one university in the world for blockchain.

It is so natural that Berkeley should lead in the area of decentralized finance: not just because of its intellectual creativity but also because of the open-source nature of what decentralized finance represents, Lyons said in the email.

Contact Kelly Suth at [emailprotected], and follow her on Twitter at @kellyannesuth.

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UC Berkeley ranks third best university for blockchain technology - Daily Californian

(Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP)

Drone technology continues to see innovations with new verticals and use cases being developed to solve more problems. In the past, drones were only used for surveillance purposes. Today, they can do a lot more.

Drone technology is being adapted for delivery services, agriculture, telco maintenance, and even as the basis for flying vehicles. Some of these use cases have been successful around the world and in Asia as well.

With the global market for drone technology projected to reach US$ 21.9 billion by 2026, China and the US represented a big chunk of it followed by Japan, Canada, and Germany. In fact, China continues to bring in innovations and use cases with the drone in verticals that were once thought never possible.

For example, China unveiled Robo-Shark, a military drone capable of operating at high speeds with a low sound for deep-sea exploration and anti-submarine warfare.

In healthcare, drone technology is creating endless possibilities as well. According to a UNICEF report, drones in healthcare can be used for transportation of medical equipment and vaccines, aerial spraying as well as public space monitoring.

As such, countries like India, Indonesia, and Malaysia have been using drones to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic for different reasons. In Malaysia, drones are being used for the surveillance of large gatherings in specific areas. If an area has too many people, the drone will sound an alarm and request the crowd to disperse.

In Indonesia, a group of drone enthusiasts is using their aerial skills to provide contactless medicine and food delivery to COVID-19 patients isolating at home. As Indonesia is geographically spread out across thousands of islands, the Makassar Recover Drone Medic team is working with the local coronavirus task force to deliver medicine at least five times a day.

Mobility restrictions remain in place in many Indonesian cities, including Makassar, in a bid to contain a devastating wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Delta variant. It was reported that during the peak of the latest outbreak in July, they made up to 25 rounds of deliveries in one day.

(Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP)

Mobility restrictions are also a big problem in India. With a population of nearly 1.4 billion people, India saw nearly 34 million cases, with over 450,000 deaths reported. Despite accelerated vaccination efforts in the country, getting vaccines to those in remote locations is still a big challenge.

However, drone technology is changing this. In Hyderabad, drones commenced the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, beyond the visual line of sight. Typically, drones are only allowed to be flown within the line of sight with anything beyond that posing a risk to the drone.

The Times of India reported that the drone delivery service is a joint initiative of the Telangana government, World Economic Forum, NITI Aayog, and Apollo Hospitals. The project is expected to pave the way for more healthcare drone delivery services around the country. Each drone is capable of carrying a payload of 4kg and 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the 6.6km flight.

For UNICEF, drone technology in healthcare can only be successful if the health supply chain is fully understood. This includes understanding the potential use cases, locations, routes, commodities, and transportation modalities, as well as having a cost-effective strategy on drone optimization.

The effective use of technology cannot be scaled without building an appropriate support system and enabling environment. In order to operationalize the use of drones for pandemics or, in general, health supply chain work, enabling environment becomes crucial, stated the report.

As such, drones may just revolutionize the healthcare system and help provide aid to those in remote locations. While the technology is still in its testing phases, improvements in drone technology, as well as the network, will be crucial in ensuring the processes are seamless in the future.

Aaron Raj

Aaron enjoys writing about enterprise technology in the region. He has attended and covered many local and international tech expos, events and forums, speaking to some of the biggest tech personalities in the industry. With over a decade of experience in the media, Aaron previously worked on politics, business, sports and entertainment news.

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India and Indonesia leveraging drone technology to deliver vaccines - Tech Wire Asia

In our ever-upgrading world, one of the things that you can always count on changing is technology. We can do things today that we could not do 10 years ago thanks to our evolving and improving technology, and the next 10 years will lead to more continuous improvements. Technology on the Vermeer surface miner has also changed drastically. What once was a wish list has now become a reality.

These technological advances have allowed the Vermeer surface miner to incorporate features including real-time machine data, GPS technology and a full-function remote control, each helping to maximise operator efficiency and jobsite productivity. Here is a breakdown of the three features.

SmartTEC performance software helps operators monitor machine functions to maximise production and get access to real-time data. The software has a clean dash display that shows the status of the most critical elements of machine performance and gives you visual cues to increase ground drive or attachment speed to maximise your machines production.

Along with this software, Vermeer Telematics allows the Vermeer dealer, customers and owners to remotely monitor and record machine information, performance prompts, maintenance codes and machine diagnostics for future analysis.

The Vermeer telematics tool gives you access to around-the-clock mobile machine monitoring and reporting in real time, said Mike Selover, a Vermeer mining sales manager.

With this data, you have full control of the tools you need to be as efficient as possible on your jobsite.

The Vermeer surface miner can also be equipped with autosteer, when coupled with GPS control. This GPS technology can be utilised when following a programmed, GPS mine plan, allowing the machine to automatically steer straight sections of the GPS mine plan. This minimises operator steps and is the most efficient way to use a Vermeer surface miner.

The operator is required to manually turn the Vermeer surface miner around after each pass and, once back within the GPS programmed straight-cut plan, autosteer will cut to the programmed mine plan to the end of the straight section, explained Selover. Then the operator will be engaged again to turn the machine around. This can maximise your tph and optimise your cost per t.

Then there is the optional full-function remote control. This allows you to remotely operate the machine in person and control the attachment for select jobsite conditions in surface mining, site prep and road or pipeline construction.

The remote control can be especially helpful when working near a high wall, water hazard or loading and unloading onto a trailer, said Selover.

Put those three features together and you have a surface miner that is equipped with advanced technology for the mine site. Get real-time machine data, utilise GPS technology to increase your efficiency and take advantage of the full-function remote control when you need it most. This is the future of surface mining, and the realisation of several technological advances applied to the mining industry.

Who knows where the next 10 years of technology will take us, but the part we do know is that it will continue to change and make jobsites productive and efficient.

For more information about the terrain leveler surface excavation machine (SEM) and its features, contact your local dealer today.

Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications.

Vermeer, the Vermeer logo and Terrain Leveler are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the US and/or other countries. 2021 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/special-reports/11102021/the-advanced-technology-in-the-vermeer-surface-miner/

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The advanced technology in the Vermeer surface miner - Global Mining Review