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LevLane Announces Hiring of Chief Talent Officer, Adam Heagy

LevLane

LevLane announced today that it has hired Adam Heagy as its new Chief Talent Officer. Heagy is an experienced leader in HR and talent acquisition and development, and a veteran of the advertising talent world. Prior to joining LevLane, Heagy was President of Interactive Recruiting Consultants for nearly 10 years where he led all recruiting and talent efforts. “We’ve worked with Adam for years as our contract recruiter and he’s always been a true partner, providing reliable guidance and sending us fantastic talent,” said Josh Lev, SVP Brand Engagement at LevLane. “It was a natural fit to bring Adam into the LevLane family full-time to help us find the best talent for our future growth.” While at Interactive Recruiting Consultants, Heagy worked with a wide range of advertising and marketing agencies to source and recruit top talent. “LevLane has a phenomenal culture that is truly unique in the advertising world, said Heagy. “So, when the opportunity arose to join the team full-time, it was a no-brainer. I’m excited to be part of such a talented team and can’t wait to find that next generation of LevLane talent.” Heagy will be responsible for all talent acquisition and will head up the Human Resources Department, reporting to Chief Financial Officer, Nicole Landau. --- About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

May 12, 2021 07:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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GROUNDWORK BIOAG RAISES $11 MILLION TO ADVANCE BIOAGRICULTURE GLOBALLY

Groundwork BioAg

Accelerating Production Capacity to Meet Demand for Regenerative Agriculture Products Serving One Million Acres (400 KHa) in 2021 Groundwork BioAg announced today it raised $11 million in venture capital financing led by Ibex Investors with the participation of ProDelta and Future Foodways. Previous investors, including MoreVC, Middleland Capital, Axess Ventures and BPD Agri, materially participated in the round. With this new funding, Groundwork BioAg will accelerate and expand production of its mycorrhizal platform to meet global demand for natural, sustainable solutions that increase agricultural productivity while preserving soil health. Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture technology company, produces highly effective mycorrhizal inoculants. Mycorrhizae are a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture best practices. In addition to increasing yields, these natural products reduce dependency on phosphorus fertilizer and improve carbon sequestration in soil. Through distribution partnerships in strategic markets across five continents, the company is helping farmers improve the efficiency of major crop production, including corn, soybeans, grains, bio-energy crops, fruits and vegetables, and cannabis. “Over the past few years, we have focused on building production capacity to support millions of hectares and solidify our global presence in the main agricultural markets. With this investment and strong sales, we will be able to fulfill our mission to bring mycorrhiza – the queen of biologicals – to mainstream agriculture and help farmers succeed while protecting our planet,” said Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Groundwork BioAg. “We look forward to working with our investors, strategic partners and distributors to continue bringing meaningful value to farmers around the world.” While naturally occurring in the Earth’s soil, mycorrhizae and other beneficial microbes have been destroyed by modern farming practices, including tilling, pasteurization and over fertilization. Following years of research and product development, Groundwork BioAg is the first to crack the code on mass production of highly concentrated, cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants that improve yield and soil health. The company’s flagship products include Rootella® for commodity, organic and specialty crops, and DYNOMYCO® for cannabis. Following record sales in both the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, the company is rapidly scaling up production to meet demand expected in 2022 and beyond. Approximately one million acres (400 Kha) will benefit from the company’s unique products in 2021. Disruptive Technology VC Chooses Groundwork BioAg As First Investment in AgTech “We are pleased to add Groundwork BioAg to our portfolio – not only because of its strong in-field performance and continued growth trajectory, but also because its technology provides the most compelling solution to increase yield while protecting our environment,” said Gal Gitter, Managing Director of Ibex Investors focused on growth stage investments. “With its high efficacy and broad applicability, Groundwork BioAg can feasibly treat over one billion hectares, nearly all of the world’s farmland, with these beneficial fungi.” Headquartered in Denver, Colorado with offices in Tel Aviv and New York, Ibex Investors is a multi-strategy investment firm targeting outsized returns through differentiated global strategies. Ibex invests internationally in Israel, which has the highest concentration of start-up companies outside Silicon Valley. The funding demonstrates Groundwork BioAg’s strong growth position and enables efforts to expand its platform technology and accelerate production capacity to meet global demand for regenerative agriculture products. About Groundwork BioAg Groundwork BioAg, a global bioagriculture company, leverages the natural power of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of commercial agriculture and expand regenerative agriculture practices. Groundwork BioAg is the first to use innovative techniques to solve challenges inherent in high-volume mycorrhizal inoculant production. We will not rest until every hectare of arable land is protected by mycorrhizae and every farmer benefits from higher crop yields while preserving our soils. For more information, visit http://www.groundworkbioag.com Contact Details AgTech PR for Groundwork BioAg Jennifer Goldston +1 816-260-0040 jennifer@agtechpr.com Company Website https://www.groundworkbioag.com

May 12, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

EDUCATORS CAN FOSTER TRUST IN SCIENCE THROUGH GLOBAL PLEDGE

International Day of Light Steering Committee

For more than a year, educators worldwide have been forced to transform the way they teach. However, advancements in science, specifically telecommunications, enabled the shift from a traditional classroom to remote learning environments. Today, scientific developments, including health advancements such as vaccines and testing, are allowing students to return to physical classrooms. The Trust Science pledge, a worldwide campaign to promote support for the scientific process and acknowledge the many benefits of science for society, offers a valuable teaching tool to help educators draw attention to the crucial role science plays in improving our quality of life. In celebration of this year’s International Day of Light on 16 May, the pledge is allowing people, particularly educators and students, around the world to affirm their support for science and the scientific process. Students can be leaders in understanding and defending science. Just as educators teach skills that build students’ scientific literacy to help them evaluate facts, they can offer ways for students to affirm confidence in the scientific process. “A dedicated effort to building—and in some cases, rebuilding—trust in science will prepare students to be the scientifically informed leaders we desperately need,” said Dr. Desiré Whitmore, Senior Physics Educator and Staff Physicist at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA. Additional resources for educators are available on the Trust Science website, including hands-on activity videos, lesson plans, posters to download, activities and lessons, links to online resources and the Laser Classroom. To date, the pledge has seen enthusiastic support worldwide with more than 2,500 signatures, including Nobel and Breakthrough Prize laureates, UNESCO L’Oréal For Women in Science prize winners, Presidents and CEOs of major scientific bodies, as well as scientists and students from more than 20 different countries. The Trust Science campaign is organized by the IEEE Photonics Society, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The Optical Society (OSA), together with the International Day of Light Steering Committee. To sign the pledge and to learn more, please go to https://www.trust-science.org Contacts For questions about how you can engage with the campaign, please contact: info@trust-science.org For media inquiries, please contact: pr@trust-science.org Social media: please share using #TrustScience and #LightDay2021 Social media links: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter About the International Day of Light The International Day of Light (IDL) is a worldwide initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The International Day of Light is administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO by a Steering Committee that includes representatives from a broad range of international partners: the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), Bosca, the China International Optoelectronic Exhibition (CIOE), Chinese Optical Society (COS), the European Centres for Outreach in Photonics (ECOP), the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), the European Physical Society (EPS), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), lightsources.org - the international network of accelerator based light sources, Light: Science and Applications, The Optical Society (OSA), Tampere University, SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, SESAME, Signify, Tampere University, Thorlabs, Transitions, the Université de Franche-Comté and Velux. For information about the International Day of Light, please visit www.lightday.org Contacts for IDL: John Dudley and Joseph Niemela 2021 Steering Committee Chairs Email: contact@lightday.org Bethany Downer 2021 Communications Coordinator Email: contact@lightday.org Media Contact for Trust Science: pr@trust-science.org About IEEE Photonics Society The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists, engineers and allied professionals who advance laser, optoelectronics, and photonics technology. As a technical society representing the IEEE, it is a vital part of the world’s largest technical professional organization of more than 400,000 members dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, educational activities, and humanitarian initiatives, the IEEE Photonics Society provides its members in more than 160 countries the opportunity to grow professionally and stay on the forefront of transformational breakthroughs in photonics. PhotonicsSociety.org About SPIE SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. In 2020, SPIE provided more than $5 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders in light science and technology. The society serves over 432,000 customers and 22,000 members from more than 100 countries who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the field. OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts through world-renowned publications. For more information, visit osa.org. Contact Details pr@trust-science.org +1 703-907-0010 pr@trust-science.org Company Website https://www.trust-science.org

May 11, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Hong Kong Baptist University and Cornell University jointly develop a novel nano-carrier that increases the efficacy of Chinese medicine treatment for breast cancer

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 11 May 2021 - Researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), in collaboration with Cornell University, have developed a novel targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that uses a specially-designed nano-carrier to deliver the Chinese medicine compound gambogic acid (GA). The invention enhances the anti-cancer effect of GA and reduces its damage to off-target organs. The invention has the potential to become a more effective therapeutic option for TNBC. The study was supported by the Vincent and Lily Woo Foundation, and the research findings have been published in the international medical journal Frontiers in Oncology. GA as a breast cancer treatment and its limitations TNBC accounts for 10-24% of all breast cancer cases and it also grows and spreads faster than other types of breast cancer. There are limited treatment options for TNBC and it has a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. In the advanced stage of the disease, the five-year relative survival rate is only about 12%. GA is a herbal compound isolated from a dry, brownish resin called gamboge, which is derived from Garcinia hanburyi, a plant with a long history of medicinal use in Southeast Asia. Previous studies have shown that GA can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However, its clinical application is limited by the fact that it is rapidly eliminated from the circulation system and has poor water solubility, which makes it difficult for GA to reach the cancer cells. Furthermore, high dosages of GA can cause damage to off-target organs due to its toxicity. Nano-carrier increases treatment efficacy of GA In the search for a more effective treatment protocol for TNBC when compared to existing options, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies of the Clinical Division of HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) and Dr Kwan Hiu-yee, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of SCM, together with the research team of Professor Chu Chih-Chang at Cornell University, designed a novel nano-carrier to enhance GA’s efficacy as a TNBC treatment and reduce its off-target toxicity. The researchers made a bio-degradable nano-carrier out of polyester urea urethane (PEUU), and they decorated it with folate (also known as vitamin B9) and arginine (an amino acid). Folate receptors are highly expressed in TNBC cells, and they can serve as a target for therapy. Arginine is a positively charged amino acid, and it can attract the nano-carrier to the negatively charged tumour surface. These features enable the nano-carrier to target and deliver GA effectively to TNBC cells. Treatment efficacy tested in mice The research team tested the efficacy of the GA-loaded nano-carrier as a TNBC treatment in a series of mouse experiments. Two groups of mice with TNBC were treated with the same dosage of GA, one in the form of the GA-loaded nano-carrier, and the other in the form of free GA. After 17 days of treatment, the average reduction in tumour weight of the GA-loaded nano-carrier group was 67.6% higher than the free GA group. The results showed that the GA-loaded nano-carrier is more effective at shrinking the tumours than the free GA. In addition, the group treated with the GA-loaded nano-carrier had 0.23 μg/mL of GA in their tumours two hours after injection, and the tumour GA concentration of the GA-loaded nano-carrier group was three times of the free GA group, showing that GA is being delivered to TNBC cells more effectively with the nano-carrier. Also, the concentration of GA in the plasma of the GA-loaded nano-carrier group two hour after injection was nearly three times of the free GA group, showing that the GA carried by the nano-carrier stays in the circulation system for longer. Reduced off-target damage to other organs Furthermore, when compared with free GA, the GA delivered by the nano-carrier caused less damage to the off-target organs of the mice including their hearts, livers and lungs. It also caused minimal damage to their kidneys and spleens as relatively low levels of GA were detected in these two organs. “As demonstrated in our study, the novel nano-carrier for GA offers many benefits when it comes to treating TNBC,” said Dr Kwan Hiu-yee. “The application of nanotechnology in this study modernises the delivery of Chinese medicine, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. We believe that our nano-carriers have great clinical potential to treat TNBC and other types of cancer,” said Professor Bian Zhaoxiang. Contact Details Hong Kong Baptist University Kevin Lau from the Communication and Public Relations Office kevinkflau@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

May 11, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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LevLane Advertising Appoints Nicole Landau as Chief Financial Officer

LevLane

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LevLane Advertising, a full-service advertising agency and 37-year veteran of the Philadelphia marketing scene, announced today the addition of Nicole Landau as its new CFO. Landau will oversee all agency financial functions and will serve as a key member of the executive team. Landau is a seasoned business executive with over 20 years of experience in senior financial leadership roles. Before LevLane, Landau served as Chief Financial at Seven C’s Hospitality Solutions, where she oversaw all finance and accounting operations. She began her career at Arthur Andersen before joining Digitas Health as Senior Finance Manager, followed by a decade-long stint as VP of Finance at DiD Agency. “Nicole’s background in financial leadership and operations was a perfect fit for us,” said Josh Lev, SVP Brand Engagement at LevLane. “She is exactly who we need in this role to help us reach the next level.” The agency has expanded services in recent years and is ready to capitalize on that momentum – something Landau will be integral in. “I’m thrilled to be part of the LevLane family. They have already done the hard work of building a unique culture and a stellar reputation in the advertising world,” said Landau. “I'm excited to continue that mission and I'm confident that together we can create the right financial structure to drive consistent growth." About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details LevLane Liz Weir, SVP of Content, Social Media and PR +1 610-401-4825 lweir@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

May 11, 2021 07:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Kadimastem Announces Publication in Frontiers in Endocrinology of a Peer-Reviewed Article Demonstrating Advancement in the Company’s Technology to Treat Diabetes

Kadimastem

Kadimastem (TASE: KDST), a clinical stage biotechnology company announced today that the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Endocrinology has published an article in a focused issue on advances in stem cell technology to model and treat diabetes (click here to access the full article). The article describes the results of collaborative research conducted by Kadimastem’s R&D team in concert with scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science. The article details the important milestones achieved thus far in the pre-clinical development of Kadimastem’s diabetes product, IsletRx, and their translation to clinical application. IsletRx is composed of clinical grade pancreatic islet cells which produce and secrete insulin and glucagon in response to blood glucose levels. Using micro-encapsulation technology, integrated within IsletRx, the islet cells are protected from an attack response by the host immune system. The article details the advantages of Kadimastem’s novel selection and purification process technology currently utilized in the production of IsletRx. By employing Functional Cell-Capture Screening (FCCS) technology, the scientists identified unique signature cell-surface markers that enable them to select and enrich the IsletRx product with a population of highly effective cells. The selection process also eliminates cells that may not be necessary for function, and even may impair the efficacy and/or the safety of the transplanted cells. These results position IsletRx as a potential cure for many insulin dependent diabetes patients. Kadimastem has renewed its focus on the advances in its diabetes project and its strategic positioning among other leading cell therapy companies worldwide. The Company’s technology is singular in its ability to refine the composition of Islet cells differentiated from hPSC by negative selection to remove un-needed cells and positive selection for selecting highly functional insulin producing cells to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. “The implications of this proprietary technology developed by our team and the WIS scientists, could be tremendously important in developing effective therapies for hundreds of millions of people living with diabetes,” said Asaf Shiloni, Chief Executive Officer of Kadimastem. “We are immensely proud of the work of our scientific team, led by Kadimastem Chief Scientist and Israel Prize winner Professor Michel Revel. His vision guides the research presented in this important article and the work provides a solid foundation to continue advancing Kadimastem’s mission to develop and provide a cell therapy cure for diabetes.” Dr. Kfir Molakandov, head of Kadimastem’s diabetes cell therapy program said, “The research results published in Frontiers in Endocrinology will enable an improved and safer cell therapy product development. We have managed to demonstrate that we have the capability to manufacture the islets in a good, reproducible way and our proof-of-concept studies show that treatment with IsletRx is capable of ameliorating glycaemia in diabetic animals for a prolonged period of time.” Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Company Contacts: Asaf Shiloni CEO info@kadimastem.com Press Contact: Marjie Hadad General Manager Must Have Communications 917-790-1178 marjie@mhc-pr.com About Kadimastem: Kadimastem is a clinical stage cell therapy company, developing and manufacturing "off-the-shelf", allogeneic, proprietary cell products based on its technology platform for the expansion and differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) into functional cells. AstroRx®, the Company's lead product, is an astrocyte cell therapy in clinical development as a treatment for ALS. IsletRx is the Company's second product in development. IsletRx is comprised of functional pancreatic islet cells intended to treat patients with insulin dependent diabetes. IsletRx demonstrated safety and efficacy in a proof-of-concept preclinical study. Kadimastem was founded by Professor Michel Revel, CSO of the Company and Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Professor Revel received the Israel Prize for the invention and development of Rebif®, a multiple sclerosis blockbuster drug sold worldwide. Kadimastem is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: KDST). Forward Looking Statement: This document may include forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. Forward-looking information is uncertain and mostly is not under the Company's control and the realization or non-realization of forward-looking information will be affected, among other things, by the risk factors characterizing the Company's activity, as well as developments in the general environment and external factors affecting the Company's activity. The Company's results and achievements in the future may differ materially from any presented herein and the Company makes no undertaking to update or revise such projection or estimate and does not undertake to update this document. This document does not constitute a proposal to purchase the Company's securities or an invitation to receive such offers. Investment in securities in general and in the Company in particular bears risks. One should consider that past performance does not necessarily indicate performance in the future. Contact Details Asaf Shiloni +972 73-797-1613 a.shiloni@kadimastem.com Company Website https://www.kadimastem.com/

May 11, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Advocates for Permanency

New Markets Tax Credit Coalition

The week of May 10, 2021, will serve as Advocacy Week for the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Coalition. Members of the NMTC Coalition will be contacting Members of Congress about the importance of the NMTC and its permanency during virtual visits with Representatives and Senators. In particular, they will be advocating for the NMTC in regards to President Biden’s American Jobs Plan in hopes of creating effective policy changes. Specifically, Coalition members are asking their Members of Congress to do the following: Enact a permanent extension of NMTC along the lines of the Bipartisan NMTC Extension Act of 2021; Provide $15 million in technical assistance support and ensure that at least 5 percent of annual NMTC allocation is available for new and emerging Minority Led Community Development Entities; Ensure that at least $500 million in NMTC annual allocation is used to expand investment in Indian Country; Promote greater economic growth in economically distressed rural, urban and tribal communities by providing an additional $3 billion in NMTC allocation for investment in child care facilities, clean technology industries, small business incubators and other infrastructure investments; and Include provisions to improve investor liquidity. “Over the last 20 years the NMTC has proven to be an essential tool for creating jobs, improve facilities and services and business and economic opportunity in communities left out of the economic mainstream,” said Bob Rapoza, NMTC Coalition Spokesperson. “There is no better way to enact the American Jobs Plan than through such a program, which will undoubtedly help underserved and marginalized communities for the better. We hope to impress upon Members of Congress the importance of the NMTC and how it can be integrated with the American Jobs Plan during the upcoming Advocacy Week.” Many of the goals and priorities within the American Jobs Plan directly align with the New Markets Tax Credit – particularly its emphasis on supporting underserved communities. The NMTC is targeted to low-income census tracts in rural and urban communities. Every year, between 75-80 percent of NMTC activity is in high distress communities – with poverty rates above 20 percent, median incomes lower than 60 percent of area median and/or unemployment rates 1.5 times the national average. Over 50 percent of NMTC activity to date is in majority-minority communities. Supporting the American Jobs Plan goals through expanded use of the NMTC would ensure that infrastructure spending reaches underserved communities and supports historically disadvantaged groups within an established, existing federal program with robust reporting metrics, well-tested programmatic rules and administration, and established agency infrastructure within the Treasury Department at the CDFI Fund. About New Markets Tax Credit Program The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 in an effort to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities that lack access to the patient capital needed to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Today, due to the NMTC, nearly $110 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 greg@curleycompany.com Company Website http://nmtccoalition.org/

May 06, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Graphic novel tackles disinformation around COVID-19 Vaccine and critical 5G infrastructure

Stockwood Strategy

Sophisticated social media campaigns sponsored by bad state actors are responsible for creating and spreading disinformation around the critical Covid-19 Vaccine and emerging infrastructure such as 5G technology for communications. Erly Stage Studios has today published Bug Bytes, the digital graphic novel, which sheds a light on the disruptive forces at work. This book is the second installment of the graphic novels that are a part of the Resilience Series commissioned by the US Cyber Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA). Bug Bytes will inform and educate people on the dangers and risks associated with dis- and mis- information through fictional stories inspired by real-world events. In Bug Bytes, readers will meet the protagonist Ava Williams, a journalist and academic, patriot and member of Symous - a group fighting disinformation and foreign interference in elections as polling day approaches. Ava’s life gets tangled up in a web of lies as her father, a 5G technician gets hurt and she works to understand what a seemingly innocent poll online related to 5G technology has to do with the 5G Vaccine? Ava is surprised by the reaction of the anti-vaccination community at what is proven to be engineered data and has the unenviable task of making the case to the public at large for how they can be weary on data online with unproven provenance. Farid Haque, founder and CEO of Erly Stage Studios commented: “We’re delighted to have been commissioned by CISA to create a practical and engaging communication tool that highlights the existential threat of disinformation in the context of bad state actors. While the story is fictional many of the approaches shown are very much grounded in the reality of the technology we live with and are exposed to almost daily.” Bug Bytes provides a unique education for the reader about the world of social media and how digital resources can be hijacked to serve a more nefarious agenda. The ability for foreign bad state actors to weld this kind of influence on another nation is unprecedented as is their ability to twist and manipulate a narrative to use domestic groups to do their bidding. The work helps the reader understand the need to exercise care when it comes to consuming news and information via social media platforms and online sources of information. In the story, Ava Williams and a team of patriots are racing against the clock to shine a spotlight on the source of disinformation engineered to hurt critical communication infrastructure and damage the Vaccine roll-out efforts. Ava’s investigative journalism leads her through the metaverse to find allies and discovers through hard graft that foreign actors are tinkering with public data to maliciously mislead and influence perceptions of 5G as a communications technology and its fabricated link to vaccine effectiveness. “Bug Bytes is the culmination of the wealth of experience that Clint Watts brings in cyber warfare and disinformation and our studio’s creative direction and storytelling style. We spent months researching the real life incidents and then wrapped them into a fictional story” added Farid Haque. The graphic novel is being made available by CISA to the general public online as a free resource as the Covid19 vaccine roll out continues to have an impact across the United States and the world at large. The work is available for free for the public and media to read at the following URL: https://www.cisa.gov/cfi-resilience-series-graphic-novels. A first title in the series was released a few months earlier last year ahead of the US elections titled Real Fakes. Watch this space and log back into https://publishing.erlystagestudios.com/ to learn more. Contributing artists to Bug Bytes include: Jose Niño Galenzoga, Patricia Beja, Mona Shan and Joel Santiago. Lettering and layouts by Komal N. and Haroon M. Story by Clint Watts and Farid Haque, supported by the script writing team which includes Michael Gianfrancesco and Kabir Sabharwal. Edited by Tolly M. and Laila Khan. Special thanks to Randall Heather and Max Brooks. Erly Stage Studios is an indie publisher, headquartered out of London, United Kingdom, capturing iconic stories in serious graphic novels. We are an expert team of educators, storytellers, and artists working to create awareness about important topics using the graphic novel medium. The team loves shining a spotlight on stories that are yet to see the light of graphic novels. As an expert team of teachers, researchers and designers the team works with innovative organisations and policymakers around the world to deliver soft power through engaging and creative projects. Contact Details Erly Stage Studios Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://publishing.erlystagestudios.com/

May 06, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The First American Samurai With Divine Purpose

Koyamada International Foundation

The Last Samurai star Shin Koyamada and wife of 16 years, Nia Lyte, tried everything possible to get pregnant, but dishearteningly, nothing worked. As time slipped by and Nia’s biological clock started ticking, the odds of pregnancy became overwhelmingly against them. The couple tried many rounds of IVF treatments with top fertility doctors in different countries, reiki, yoga, acupuncture, Tibetan meditation, natural herbs, hormone stimulation, astrology, and a cosmos analysis to see if the ancestors were interfering, yet all techniques failed. With each defeat, the Koyamada’s spirits waned, fear and anxiety increased. A miscarriage almost sealed the decision of starting a natural family simply would not happen. After the miscarriage crisis, when Nia and Shin went to Japan, their Shintoist Japanese friend, who had a similar journey, said that a spiritual person told the couple to beseech the Virgin Mary on their behalf. Coming from a Japanese Shintoist, Nia was taken aback by the recommendation and yet touched when she met her friend’s miracle daughter. Back in Los Angeles and during the dawn of the pandemic, Nia joined a small Christian Bible group, and Nia and the group prayed together for a baby. Nia got pregnant three months later. Nia boldly recalled, “This changed our family. It is different when you read about miracles or see them in films. When you experience a miracle in your own flesh, it is very powerful. I made a promise to God that if He could give us a baby, I would share this miracle with the world. I would also give Jesus and his mother Virgin Mary all the glory. It may sound crazy, but when everything else failed, the power of prayer worked for our family.” In early 2021, little Shun Nathan Koyamada entered into Shin and Nia’s lives. Not giving up on each other, sticking it out together, and overcoming the trauma of five long years, Shin and Nia further proved that marriage truly is not always about looking at each other but looking in the same direction. Proud father Shin shares that the name Shun is derived from his ancestors, the Hayato People who lived in the Satsuma Domain, today's Kagoshima Prefecture located at the southern most area of Japan's Kyushu Island, where 900+ years ago the name came into use by the samurai under the title Hayato no suke. Nia added that Nathan means gift from God. Shin discovered his samurai ancestry via his grandfather, telling him old stories based on the grandfather's life-long research on the subject. Surprisingly, Shin didn't know his samurai ancestry until after the release of the Hollywood blockbuster Last Samurai, a film influenced by the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, where Shin's character Nobutada Katsumoto, inspired by his real samurai ancestor, befriends Tom Cruise's Algren role. Apart from his samurai descendants, Shun's unique heritage includes being half Colombian, half Japanese, and the first American samurai born in the United States. As Nobutada might say, "Jolly Good.” According to Shin and Nia, doctors said that since science should have worked but failed, she had a two percent chance of having a healthy natural pregnancy. They concurred that Nia giving birth to a biological baby was a medical miracle. Shun is a miracle baby and is proof to the Koyamadas of a higher power in charge. For Shin and Nia, having a baby completes the circle in their lives. After co-founding KIF ( Koyamada International Foundation ), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring youth and women to achieve their dreams. Now for the Koyamadas, their work takes on added meaning beyond being symbolic. It is now more personal. KIF can create miracles for others. Because after their personal miracle, the Koyamadas have the strength of three spirits: dad, Shin; mum, Nia; and son, Shun. Follow Nia and Shin on social media Facebook @NiaLyteShow and @shinkoyamada, Twitter @nialyte and @shinkoyamada, Instagram @nialyte and @ shin_koyamada. For interviews and media inquiries, contact Kelly Bennett at Bennett Unlimited PR at (949) 463-6383 or Kelly@BennettUnlimitedPR.com. Contact Details BENNETT UNLIMITED PR Kelly Bennett +1 949-463-6383 kelly@bennettunlimitedpr.com Company Website http://koyamada.org

May 05, 2021 02:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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