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Secta Finance innovates the £10b private school fees model, making affordable finance options for parents

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business Secta Finance has launched today to transform how private school fees are paid. Families are spending circa £10b every year to pay school fees for over 620,000 children and over the years there has been no innovation on the termly bill payments. Secta Finance has set out to change this and become an enabler for many more families considering private schooling but feel it is currently unaffordable. In collaboration with a number of financial institutions, Secta Finance has created a range of flexible and highly competitive finance plans that enable parents (and would-be parents) to spread the cost of private school fees over many years in a simple affordable way. The Secta Flexiplan enables parents to use the equity in their home to secure a facility that allows parents to draw funds flexibly within the first 5 years. Parents only pay interest on the amount they actually drawdown. If they don’t need to draw funds there is no cost. Parents can decide how much they draw; their monthly repayment amounts (subject to a minimum) and the term they repay over (up to 30 years). Also, there are no early repayment fees if they choose to repay in full. Below is an example* of how a Secta Flexiplan could be used to finance 5 years of private education. This example is based on one child, annual school fees of £15,000 per year and with the Secta Flexiplan being repaid over a period of 10 or 20 years. However, the amount borrowed, the term over which it is repaid and the monthly repayments can be adjusted to suit individual circumstances and preferences. Secta Finance has made it quick and simple for parents to get indicative quotes from their online platform. Thereafter they can engage with a qualified advisor to discuss their options and tailor a plan to suit their needs. Joe Hill, founder and CEO of Secta Finance commented: “How parents pay for private school fees is no longer fit for purpose. They are still paying large lump sums, sometimes, with expensive and inflexible means using credit cards or unsecured loans, that simply is not sustainable. Secta has set out to challenge this approach with a fresh lens and a clear pathway for parents to handle this significant expense. We want to create manageable and affordable finance solutions for school fees, much like the financial products people consider when buying a house or a car.” Contrary to popular belief, private education is not confined to the wealthy, but many middle class parents place a very high value on it and want to provide the benefits of a private education for their children. However, the costs can be prohibitive, especially for families with more than one child. Annual average school fees are in excess of £15,000 for day schools and in excess of £30,000 for boarding schools. Factoring in additional costs, a private education can cost an average of £325,600 per child for day school and £469,700 for boarders starting their schooling in 2019. Unsurprisingly, many parents find this a struggle. Research completed by Killik and Co suggests that private day school fees have increased by 403% since 1990. “Many parents make significant sacrifices to give their children a private school education. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It makes sense to have a solution whereby parents can spread the cost over a longer period of time if they wish (up to 30 years), to reduce the strain on their finances, but still be able to give their children a private education,” added Joe Hill. There are more than 2,500 independent schools in the UK catering for approximately 620,000 pupils. This represents about 7% of all UK school children and 18% of pupils over aged 16 years and older. The estimated school fee market value is approximately £11 billion. Secta Finance is working closely with schools who are keen to offer meaningful finance options for their parents. The company is also collaborating with independent financial advisors who are seeking flexible, efficient options for their clients. Parents are also directly engaging with the online platform to find out more about the options available to them. Looking ahead Joe Hill added: “We are creating opportunities for parents, for schools and for children. By offering finance solutions which are affordable, simple to understand, we will create a sustainable path for better outcomes. Our strategic aim is to expand the opportunity of private education to many more families and enable a sustainable relationship for parents and schools through the products that we offer”. ENDS *This is an indicative quote and does not constitute an offer or advice. Interest rate and solution terms will depend on your circumstances and the amount of the loan. Before you make a loan application, we will carry out a full review to establish your needs and preferences and if you meet the criteria, we will give advice and make a recommendation to you. All loans are subject to status. Please note that our product calculators show an indicative rate only and may not be suitable for you. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with your repayments. About Secta Finance Our mission is to relieve the pressure of private school fees by providing innovative, affordable finance solutions to parents. In doing so, we bring the outstanding benefits of private education within the reach of many more families, everywhere. Secta Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Contact Details Secta Finance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.sectafinance.co.uk/

June 15, 2021 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Impact of Hearing Loss and What You Can Do About It

YourUpdateTV

Hearing loss has been shown to affect nearly every dimension of human life, including physical, emotional and mental health. Recently, World Champion and Olympic Kayaker, Eric Jackson, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss his own battle with hearing loss and the importance of getting your hearing tested. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/0Ewdu9hNHF8 Hearing loss is the most common neurologic disorder in the world, affecting around 460 million people. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 37.5 million adults report some trouble hearing. Experts note that hearing loss is an undertreated condition, with an estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults with mild to severe hearing loss could serve to benefit from hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss brings higher risk of dementia, depression, memory loss, injury, and cognitive decline. There are several reasons for delay in addressing hearing loss, including recognizing and accepting that one may have hearing loss, having access to Hearing Care Professionals, and misperceptions associated with hearing aids. For Eric Jackson, hearing loss has been a lifelong battle. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted Scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 57 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids like ReSound ONE as necessary tools to help him communicate. All of ReSound’s hearing aids are designed with the person in mind, and is made to be discreet, comfortable, durable and functional. Hearing quality is the foundation for ReSound hearing aids, providing unmatched hearing quality, emulating the way humans hear sound. For more information, visit resound.com/online-hearing-test About Eric Jackson: Eric Jackson is a four-time world champion and an Olympian who has dominated the whitewater kayaking scene for the past three decades. Eric has received numerous accolades for kayaking, including two Everest Awards and the World Paddle Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and hosts his own popular videos on YouTube. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 54 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids and lipreading as tools to help him communicate. Eric has never let hearing loss stop him from enjoying life and pursuing his ambitions. Today, Eric spends his free time helping others achieve their goals, coaching the winners of almost every gold medal winner in freestyle kayaking over the past 15 years, including his two children. Eric’s son, 27-year-old Dane, a world champion kayaker himself, also lives with severe hearing loss which he has had since birth About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 11, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Centre for Neuro Skills Sets June 24 as Grand Opening for New Austin, Texas Clinic

Centre for Neuro Skills

The Texas Brain Injury Alliance reports that 144,000 Texans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year - one every 4 minutes. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that approximately 72,500 Texas residents have strokes each year that require hospitalization. Now, more help is on the way. Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), a premier provider of treatment for traumatic and acquired brain injury, announced the grand opening date of its new clinic in Austin, Texas. The clinic will celebrate with an invitation-only open house on Thursday, June 24. Former CNS patients Justin Glick and Megan Guerra are guest speakers who will share their rehabilitation stories. The 17,000-square-foot facility is located at 14425 Falconhead Blvd., Building F, Suite 200, Austin. A virtual tour of the new facilities is available. To access the tour, please click here. The Austin clinic is CNS’ fourth location in Texas, joining Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. CNS also treats patients at three facilities in California. All CNS clinics offer a continuum of care approach to therapeutic rehabilitation and disease management services for those recovering from acquired and traumatic brain injuries. “No two brain injuries are the same,” said CNS’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Matthew Ashley. “What sets CNS apart is our whole team focus on patients and their caregivers. This new clinic will allow us to provide localized quality care to brain injury patients in Austin and Central Texas, which will ensure better recovery. Our goal is to maximize independence and improve quality of life.” Patient Success Story – Justin Glick Former CNS patient Justin Glick and his wife Caroline relocated to Austin from Los Angeles in 2020. They have since had their first baby, Sienna. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury at work, Justin sought treatment at the CNS Los Angeles clinic. He made a remarkable turnaround in just 47 days. Justin had spent his career in a highly specialized profession – the collecting and selling of rare coins, jewelry and watches. He’s now a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Austin. According to Justin, “the Centre for Neuro Skills has an amazing team that helped me literally get back on my feet and back to work. Caroline and I moved to Austin last year and absolutely love it. And now, we have our friends from CNS as neighbors. Austin is fortunate to have such an outstanding resource for brain injury rehabilitation.” Rehabilitative Technology Technology and advanced care systems at the Austin Clinic include: The ZeroG® Gait and Balance System, which helps patients relearn to walk, sit, stand, balance and improve gait. The Bioness Integrated Therapy System, which addresses vision, safety and motor balance training; the system supports returning to work and driving. The Independent Living Scale tracking system, which monitors patient progress. Tablets to record/integrate patient data in real time for analysis. Patient web portal for 24/7 secure access. Dedicated physician space, including a medical exam room, secured medication room and a nursing suite. Dedicated area for behavior analysis, including a meditation/quiet room. Patient and staff kitchen; computer center and offices for case management and administration. COVID-19 Safety Staff, patients and visitors are required to wear a mask at all times when in the clinic and common areas of residential homes. Clinic and residential visitors will have their temperatures taken upon entry. CNS clinics, homes and facilities observe CDC guidelines. About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Center for Neuro Skills, visit: https://www.neuroskills.com/, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. For a video overview of CNS, visit: https://youtu.be/Jwqve9gWtEw Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To request an interview with CNS leadership, clinical staff or patient guests at or before the Grand Opening, please contact Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or CNS@landispr.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 CNS@landispr.com Company Website https://www.neuroskills.com/

June 10, 2021 10:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Nearly 600 nominations submitted for Vietnam's first-ever global sci-tech prize

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 10 June 2021 - Vietnam's VinFuture Foundation announces that it has officially closed the nomination portal for the 2021 VinFuture Prize, recording nearly 600 nominations from more than 60 countries across six continents. The result has exceeded expectations, particularly for a newly established sci-tech prize opened for nominations less than four months ago, affirming the global scientific community's favorable response to VinFuture's mission of serving humanity. With a vision "to create meaningful change in the everyday lives of millions of people by promoting breakthrough scientific research and technological innovations", the VinFuture Foundation and the VinFuture Prize have drawn great enthusiasm from the global scientific and technological community. Notably, VinFuture has attracted prominent scientists and the world's leading research and academic institutions as well as innovators from developing countries. Nearly 100 nominated projects belong to the world's top 2% most-cited scientists, many of whom are laureates of prestigious awards such as the Nobel Prize, the Breakthrough Prize, the Tang Prize, the Japan Prize, among others. While the majority of candidates are from North America (31.6%), Asia (33.9%), and Europe (21%), VinFuture has received significant nominations from scientists in Oceania, Latin America, and Africa. In particular, female scientists were nominated in all four prize categories, accounting for 34.3% of the total nominees. All share the same aspiration of doing science for humanity, offering highly applicable and practical solutions to improve the quality of people's lives. These positive results are attributed to the strong support of prominent individuals and organizations, world-renowned scientists, as well as distinguished professors and experts from the Prize Council and Pre-screening Committee who have endorsed the VinFuture Prize among the global scientific community. Therefore, just four months after the initial call for nominations, the Prize has attracted nearly 1,200 nominators from the world's most reputable academic circles. These include Harvard University, where many prominent scientists converge; the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, home to many Nobel laureates and well-known for its natural sciences and engineering programs; the University of Tokyo, Japan's leading higher education organization; and other recognized organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - the leading U.S. government agency in public health, the Max Planck Society - the world's leading research organization in science and technology, and the Chinese Academy of Science, one of the world's largest research organizations, to name but a few. "We are very pleased to see that the VinFuture Prize, while being the first of its kind from Vietnam, has been received so warmly by the global scientific community. Particularly, many prominent scientists have been nominated for the Prize. They have made truly meaningful contributions to the future of humanity by tackling global challenges from infectious diseases, environmental pollution, climate change to shortage of natural resources. The nominations for female scientists, scientists from developing countries, as well as pioneers in emerging fields are also very impressive," said Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, University of California, Santa Barbara, Co-Chair of the VinFuture Prize Pre-Screening Committee. In addition to the impressive number of nominations and the prestige of nominated scientists and researchers, the VinFuture Prize has also seen an impressive diversity and depth of areas that address humanity's common challenges after its inaugural call for nominations. A significant number of nominated innovations focus on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases on a global scale, sustainable poverty elimination, smart agriculture, clean food supply, renewable energy, and applications of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in education and life. Going forward, nominations will be reviewed by a twelve-member Pre-Screening Committee – prominent scientists and experts from various disciplines and countries – who will present the shortlisted candidates to the Prize Council in August 2021. Laureates will then be selected independently by the Prize Council comprising eleven distinguished individuals in academia, research, and industry with significant achievements and contributions to advancing human progress. The VinFuture Grand Prize will be awarded to innovators whose work has been proven to create the largest impact on humanity. It is also one of the world's largest prizes for science and technology to date, valued at US$ 3 million (equivalent to 70 billion Vietnamese Dong). Additionally, three special prizes will be awarded to innovators from developing countries, female innovators, and innovators with outstanding achievements in emerging fields, each worth US$500,000 (equivalent to 11.5 billion Vietnamese Dong). The laureates of the 2021 VinFuture Prize will be announced on December 20 th, 2021 and the official award ceremony will be held in Vietnam on January 20 th, 2022. About the VinFuture Prize The VinFuture Prize is a global science and technology prize founded by Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup, and his wife, Madam Pham Thu Huong, to recognize groundbreaking scientific discoveries and technological inventions proven to create, or having the potential to create, better changes in the everyday lives of millions of people and foster a sustainable living environment for future generations.To learn more, please visit: https://vinfutureprize.org/ Contact Details Vingroup Media Contact v.nammh@vingroup.net

June 10, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NextFerm Technologies Announces Successful Pilot for Industrial-Scale Production of ProteVin™, its Proprietary Vegan Protein

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

NextFerm Technologies (TASE:NXFR), a Food-tech company developing ProteVin™, a vegan, non-GMO, yeast-based protein alternative, announced that it has successfully completed an industrial production pilot for ProteVin™. The successful pilot is the first of three milestones towards commercial production and launch of ProteVin™, planned in 2022. The two additional milestones are first, generating initial demand from the market and engagement with a first customer by the end of 2021; and second, entering into a production agreement with a subcontractor. As part of the pilot, which was conducted at production facilities in the US, the industrial production of the protein was examined while preserving the same characteristics that were achieved in the laboratory scale. Analysis of the results by independent laboratories, an internal team taste testers and a potential customer, showed that ProteVin™ successfully achieved all the pilot's objectives. Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm, said, “The successful industrial pilot of ProteVin™, marks an important achievement that brings us significantly closer to the planned commercial production and launch of ProteVin™ in 2022. The fast-growing alternative protein market is estimated at $13 billion, with an annual growth rate of 10%. The strong need for innovation by leading players in the food industry is for the protein itself, the raw material that is the foundation for all animal-derived food alternatives. The successful pilot reflects the outstanding value proposition of ProteVin™ as an alternative to animal-derived protein, with neutral flavor, the most important parameter for food manufacturers. This makes it accessible to a wide array of products such as milk and dairy substitutes, meat substitutes and additional categories such as infant nutrition, adult nutrition, and sports nutrition. Furthermore, for the first time, we bring the market a vegan protein with nutritional value that is higher than other plant-based proteins and that is comparable to animal-derived proteins. The nutritional advantage of ProteVin™ over other sources of plant-based proteins can be seen in its amino acid profile, which provides more essential amino acids (EAA) and more branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and has better digestibility.” Mr. Noy Concluded, “We have recently begun sending commercial samples of ProteVin™ to potential customers worldwide. On the production side, we are in discussions with several potential subcontractors, in order to launch the product in 2022, as planned, and look forward to update our investors on our progress.” 1 st Target - Meeting the parameters determined that define the product: In tests performed by an independent laboratory, ProteVin™ met all parameters defined, including concentration of the protein, composition of amino acids, digestibility, light color, a product free of contaminants and allergens, and its compliance with food regulations and other quality parameters. 2 nd Target - Compliance with taste, flavor and odor requirements: ProteVin™ achieved neutral taste, flavor and odor requirements, without typical aftertaste and odor of various types of plant-based proteins. 3 rd Target - ability to supply samples of ProteVin™ for customers' approval: As part of the pilot, NextFerm produced a quantity of the protein sufficient to supply samples in the amount required for approval by potential customers. Customer testing includes integrating the protein in the prototype of their products, which is an essential step towards a commercial agreement with a customer. To the best of the company's knowledge, other than ProteVin™, there is currently no other protein alternative on the market with the same nutritional value and amino acid composition as animal-derived protein, and which has a neutral taste and flavor, with no aftertaste. In terms of regulation, ProteVin™ can be marketed in the US, Europe and other countries. About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, functional and vegan yeast-derived, non-GMO protein alternatives for various applications in the food and food supplement markets and the growing market for animal-derived protein alternatives. NextFerm's flagship product is ProteVin™, a vegan yeast-derived protein alternative with nutritional value that is similar to animal-derived protein and a neutral flavor with no aftertastes that are typical of plant-based protein. ProteVin™ is designed for a variety of categories in the alternative protein market, which is estimated at $13 billion, with an annual growth rate of 10%, including the alternative meat market, milk alternatives and powder formulas for the infant nutrition market, for the wellbeing market and the market for athletes. NextFerm is gearing up for commercialization of the product in the US in 2022. Another product currently being sold is Astaferm®, an innovative astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since the end of 2020 through well-established and leading brands in the food supplement market in the US. The company has additional products which have been licensed to Lallemand, a global giant focused on yeast. For more information, visit the NextFerm website at: www.nextferm.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details NextFerm Technologies Ltd. Yossi Ohana - Chief Financial Officer +972 54-771-5893 yossio@nextferm.com Investor and Media Contact Meirav Gomeh-Bauer +972544764979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

June 08, 2021 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

UPDATING HEADLINE: AS U.S. FATAL OVERDOSES HIT A NATIONAL HIGH DURING PANDEMIC, SHATTERPROOF EXPANDS FREE TOOL TO MORE STATES TO HELP PEOPLE FIND TRUSTED AND HIGH-QUALITY ADDICTION TREATMENT

Shatterproof

Fatal drug overdoses have reached an all-time high in the U.S., with over 88,000 deaths occurring in the 12 months ending in October 2020 according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. To help those in need, Shatterproof, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States, is expanding and enhancing its free tool, ATLAS ®, to connect individuals with high-quality, appropriate addiction treatment. ATLAS is currently available in Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Shatterproof is excited to announce today that ATLAS is also expanding its reach to Florida, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. “It is now more critical than ever, given the profound uptick in fatal overdoses and the impact that COVID-19 has had on addiction and mental health, that people are able to access a trusted, free resource when searching for quality substance use disorder treatment for themselves or a loved one,” says Jen Velez, Chief Impact Officer, Shatterproof. “Trust is everything. We know that it can be a confusing, scary time when someone is seeking help, and we want to ensure that the information available to find quality care is trusted, unbiased, and meets the person’s needs.” ATLAS identifies addiction treatment providers’ use of evidence-based best practices, and publicly displays this information to support those in need and their loved ones in navigating to appropriate, quality care. Individuals can search for and compare treatment options using criteria that are important to them – such as location, particular services offered, and insurance accepted. ATLAS also allows patients (or their family members acting as a proxy) to provide feedback on their treatment experience. The platform lists all authorized treatment providers in a state. The current ATLAS platform has many unique features: Facilities’ use of best practices measured against Shatterproof National Principles of Care, which are evidence-based standards derived from the landmark 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Addiction as well as subject matter and other clinical experts; Display of feedback from patients and family members, updated daily; An Addiction Treatment Needs Assessment, created in collaboration with the subject matter expertise of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and OpenBeds, to help guide the search based on an individual’s needs and severity; Ability to search and filter using criteria such as location, services offered, and insurance provider. The ATLAS platform, www.TreatmentATLAS.org has seen more than 100,000 sessions since launch in July 2020 and will be updated over the coming months to enhance the experience of those seeking treatment. ATLAS 2021 enhancements include: Availability of all content in Spanish language Improved display of insurance information Integration of state resources into ATLAS Ability to search for facilities by name Updated educational content to increase readability. In addition, the platform also offers secure access to critical data for state policymakers, providers, and insurance payers to further drive improvements to the addiction treatment space, fueled by increased accountability and transparency: Addiction treatment providers can compare their quality data to that of their peers and use these metrics to inform internal quality improvement efforts. Metrics allow payers to assess the performance of providers to more easily align financial incentives to support quality care over quantity. State policymakers can use the data to better direct policy, access changes, and disseminate resources such as technical assistance to support providers. When the platform launches in Florida, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, it will feature all of these components, using facility-level data collected in each state. In the interim, the ATLAS team will be working with stakeholders and partners in each of the ten states to collect data from addiction treatment providers, analyze and validate these data using industry best practices, and disseminate technical assistance resources to providers. Shatterproof partnered with key thought leaders and subject matter experts in the addiction treatment space to create ATLAS. The platform is based on quality measurement system best practices and uses metrics developed via a multi-step process, culminating with a National Quality Forum (NQF) expert panel and public comment period. Shatterproof continues to revise and update the ATLAS measures displayed on the platform to ensure they reflect current evidence in the field. ATLAS is funded by Arnold Ventures; the Longwood Foundation; state partners: the Louisiana Department of Health, the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources – Office of Drug Control Policy, and several national and state-based health care companies: Aetna, a CVS Health Company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Cigna, GuideWell in partnership with New Directions Behavioral Health, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and UnitedHealth Group. About Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. Shatterproof harnesses the models of business, the rigor of science and the power of a national movement to create change and save lives through three pillars of work: revolutionizing the addiction treatment system, breaking down addiction-related stigmas and supporting and empowering our communities. To learn more visit www.Shatterproof.org. Contact Details Shatterproof Holly Jespersen +1 646-334-1024 hjespersen@shatterproof.org Company Website https://www.shatterproof.org/

June 08, 2021 10:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SCIENTISTS WORLDWIDE PLEDGE THEIR TRUST IN SCIENCE IN CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT

International Day of Light Steering Committee

The UNESCO International Day of Light on May 16 th celebrated the worldwide campaign promoting the importance of science and the scientific process for society and sustainable development. The Trust Science pledge saw supporters of science worldwide join together to affirm their appreciation for science. Notable signatories include Nobel and Breakthrough laureates, UNESCO prizewinners, CEOs, representatives from scientific societies and academies, individual scientists and students from nearly 100 countries. “After a year in which we have seen science lead the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, we thought it was essential to highlight the importance of trusting its methods in guiding decisions,” said Steering Committee Chair John Dudley. “The pledge focuses particularly on science’s role in improving quality of life, a sentiment that clearly resonates around the world.” The International Day of Light recognizes the value of light science and technology and its role in providing clean energy, clean water, high-speed connectivity and medical treatments. The day was celebrated with events and hands-on activities in more than 55 countries. The International Day of Light also highlighted the achievements of a number of Champions of Science, individuals from all fields whose work is changing the world. “As a scientist, seeing this kind of support for the scientific process is inspiring,” said Neysha Lobo-Ploch, FBH Berlin, UVphotonics NT GmbH, Germany and LightDay 2021 champion. “I’m honored to have my work acknowledged in this way.” After its initial launch with the International Day of Light, the #TrustScience campaign will continue throughout 2021, and scientists worldwide will be organising targeted actions throughout the year. Dudley explains, “A central aim of this initiative has been to remind members of the scientific community that we share a responsibility to ensure that the public has confidence in science and its outcomes. It is up to us to explain how science works and why it can be trusted.” 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 (LightDay)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 Bethany Downer 2021 Steering Committee Chairs 2021 Communications Coordinator Email: contact@lightday.org 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

June 08, 2021 09:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Study from ZOE Shows Significant Inflammatory Responses After Meals

ZOE

Scientists at health science company ZOE and King’s College London today published novel research in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study shows that acute and prolonged food-induced inflammation can increase the predicted risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases like cardiovascular disease. As the largest in-depth global study to look at postprandial inflammation, researchers found that inflammation, triggered by food, varies widely between individuals. Moreover, for the first time in a study of this scale, researchers were also able to identify the relative influence of blood sugar and blood fat levels on inflammation, demonstrating a stronger link with blood fat responses than blood sugar. These findings highlight the potential for personalized strategies to reduce chronic inflammation in preventative health. The facts on inflammation and food: Inflammation is a normal biological process caused by the immune system responding to injury. However, sustained long-term (chronic) inflammation is linked to many health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease Researchers measured levels of fat, sugar and inflammatory markers in the blood of 1,000 PREDICT participants who had eaten set meals at specific times, making this by far the largest study of the impact of food on postprandial inflammation in the world Most people experienced some level of inflammation after eating but the amount varied widely between people, depending on their unique biology. For the first time, this study shows that changes in the levels of fat in the bloodstream after eating have a greater influence on inflammation than blood sugar levels. This shows that only concentrating on a single measure like blood sugar or blood fat is not the right strategy for overall dietary advice There are several strategies that people can use to reduce food-induced inflammation Understanding your personal nutritional responses after eating can enable you to make food choices that will help reduce inflammation and better support your health Measuring inflammation after eating Led by Dr. Sarah Berry and her team at King’s College London and ZOE, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and additional researchers in the US, UK, Italy, Spain and Sweden, the PREDICT study invited 1,002 healthy adults taking part in the PREDICT research program to come into the team’s research clinic for a day. They were all given two standardized meals to eat, each containing precise amounts of fat, carbohydrate, fiber and protein: breakfast (a muffin and a milkshake) and lunch 4 hours later (a muffin). The researchers took blood samples from the participants before the breakfast meal and at nine points throughout the day. These were then analyzed to measure the levels of blood fat and sugar at the different timepoints, along with levels of two markers of inflammation, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA). While IL-6 has conventionally been used as a measure of inflammation, GlycA has recently emerged as a more robust marker. Higher levels of GlycA are also associated with a number of health conditions, including fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Dr Sarah Berry from King’s College London, who led the study, explains, “Several small studies have previously tried to look at the relationship between food and inflammation, but the results have been inconsistent due in part to the challenges in measuring levels of inflammation after eating from blood samples. Thanks to recent advances in metabolic science, we were able to take advantage of a novel marker, GlycA, to gain new detailed insights into the connection between food and inflammation.” Additionally, the researchers also gathered detailed data on the participants’ health, including information about their typical diet, a stool sample for microbiome analysis, and a body fat scan. Individual inflammation responses after eating vary widely The researchers found that the levels of inflammation after eating varied widely between participants, including identical twins, even though everyone had exactly the same meals at the same intervals. For the first time in a study of this scale, the researchers were able to separate out the influence of blood sugar and blood fat levels on inflammation. While both unhealthy fat and sugar responses were associated with higher levels of inflammation after eating, blood fat was a stronger predictor of food-induced inflammation than blood sugar. People with more body fat and greater body mass index (BMI) were more likely to have higher levels of inflammation after eating, supporting current evidence that management of obesity will reduce chronic inflammatory burden. Levels of inflammation also tended to be higher in males than females, and in older participants than younger ones. How to control food-related inflammation Berry explains, “Experiencing inflammation after eating is a normal biological response, but prolonged, sustained periods of inflammation have been linked to health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you have less healthy responses to fat or sugar, then it’s easier to overload your system after eating, leading to increased inflammation.” Based on these findings, Dr Berry recommends several strategies to help reduce the impact of inflammation after eating: Control unhealthy blood fat responses by choosing whole foods that are higher in fiber and lean protein, increasing your intake of healthy omega-3 fats from sources like fish, nuts and seeds, and reducing your overall body fat Control unhealthy blood sugar responses by choosing foods containing complex carbohydrates and fiber, such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and limiting sugary processed foods and sodas Reduce inflammation after eating by choosing foods that are high in ‘anti-inflammatory’ bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, found in colorful fruits and vegetables and other plant-based foods Understand your biology and choose foods that are less likely to cause unhealthy blood fat or sugar responses after eating Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London and scientific co-founder of ZOE, adds, “Previous results from our PREDICT study showed that the combination of microbes living in our guts, known as the gut microbiome, is closely linked to how we respond to food, particularly fat. We have also found that microbiome composition is strongly associated with GlycA levels, opening the door to reducing food-related inflammation and improving health by manipulating the microbiome.” To help bring this cutting-edge science to everyone, ZOE now offers an at-home test that measures blood fat, sugar and inflammation levels after eating, along with in-depth microbiome analysis, and provides personalized advice on the best foods to eat to support overall health. Professor Spector concludes, “Our PREDICT research program is the largest study of its kind in the world, and results like this mark important steps forward in unpacking the complex connection between diet, inflammation and health. Our mission at ZOE is to enable anyone to understand their own unique biology and make food choices that optimize their health through the latest advances in nutritional science.” Find out more about the ZOE at-home test and nutrition program at joinzoe.com. Notes and resources: Link to proof Read more about the PREDICT research program: joinzoe.com/post/what-is-predict Read more about how ZOE’s research uses standardized muffins to measure metabolic responses: joinzoe.com/post/muffin-metabolism-predict Read ZOE’s White Paper on inflammation, diet and health: joinzoe.com/whitepapers/dietary-inflammation Learn more about the science behind ZOE: joinzoe.com/whitepapers/overview ZOE’s previous research on the link between the gut microbiome and responses to food: joinzoe.com/post/nature-microbiome-discoveries Find out more about the ZOE at-home test and nutrition program at joinzoe.com ZOE is a healthcare science company helping people understand their body’s responses to food. By using machine learning combined with large scale human studies, ZOE is decoding the impact of nutrition on health. ZOE leads the PREDICT Studies and the COVID Symptom Study, which are the world’s largest community-powered research programs of their kind in nutrition and COVID-19 respectively. Located in London and Boston, ZOE was founded by Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London, data science leader Jonathan Wolf and entrepreneur George Hadjigeorgiou. ZOE was named one of the Deloitte Fast 50 Rising Stars in 2019 for the company’s contribution to science enabled by technology and machine learning. For more information on ZOE’s mission and science, visit joinzoe.com. Contact Details ZOE Fiana Tulip +1 817-691-3031 fiana@joinzoe.com Company Website https://www.joinzoe.com

June 08, 2021 08:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Haystack Analytics attracts investment, powering tech teams globally and addresses developer burnout

Stockwood Strategy

Engineering insights tool Haystack Analytics, backed by Y Combinator, today announced it has secured a US$1.2m funding round which included participation from Founders Club, Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Entrepreneur First and investors Dan Siroker and Blaine Vess. Founded in 2020 by Julian Colina and Kan Yilmaz, Haystack helps build elite developer teams by providing engineering metrics and alerts proven to drive performance. Haystack improves developer productivity and software quality. Through their integration with GitHub, Haystack is able to provide live data insights that illustrate the entire delivery process from commit to deploy, being able to highlight bottlenecks like code review and team productivity. Using this feedback loop, Haystack users have increased production deployments by 58% and achieved 70% faster cycle times on average. In less than 12 months since launch, Haystack is being used by more than 7,000 developers at tech teams in GoDaddy, Microsoft, The Economist, Indiegogo and Truebill among others as revenues have increased by an average of 36% month on month. Julian Colina, CEO and co-founder of Haystack Analytics commented: “Tech teams and engineers around the world are key assets to any company and shipping software is the heartbeat and competitive advantage they seek. The efforts of developers are at the heart of processes, products and, effectively, the bottom line. Until now, it was difficult for CTOs and engineering managers to objectively know what their roadblocks are or have insights into resourcing levels. Haystack gives visibility by providing metrics and alerts to make sure nothing continues to be stuck. We are helping developers to ship faster and improve their satisfaction”. Research 1 has shown that elite performing engineering organisations are twice as likely to achieve their organisational goals and achieve a 50% higher growth rate over 3 years. It isn't just business objectives that do better, employees of elite performers are almost twice as likely to recommend their team as a great place to work. “Companies with strong technology teams are outperforming those which don't. Technology teams which follow DevOps best practice are less likely to see developers being burnt out, whilst allowing new product ideas to be experimented faster and shipping business value more reliably” added Julian Colina. The funding advances Haystack’s commitment to building intuitive one-click dashboards and alerts using GitHub data. Haystack plans to expand its offering to a greater range of data sources whilst providing an ever greater variety of user-friendly alerts and insights. As companies move to hybrid office/home working environments, Haystack provides insights that teams need to experiment with their workflows to prevent developer burnout whilst shipping faster. “Our mission is to bring the competitive advantage data-driven engineering teams like Google have to everyone. We help teams track their delivery process and optimization opportunities instead of relying solely on gut feelings - resulting in 70% faster delivery on average. It’s been an incredible 12 months and we are well set to achieve much more in the next year” concluded Julian Colina. Ends 1 DevOps Research and Assessment, State of DevOps report About Haystack Analytics Haystack was founded in 2020 by Julian Colin and Kan Yilmaz for tech teams to learn more about roadblocks to their work, improve productivity and importantly identify burnout issues with developers. Haystack helps build elite developer teams by providing engineering metrics and alerts proven to drive performance, improve developer productivity and software quality. Through their integration with GitHub, Haystack is able to provide live data insights that illustrate the entire delivery process from commit to deploy, being able to highlight bottlenecks like code review and team productivity. Using this feedback loop, Haystack users have increased production deployments by 58% and achieved 70% faster cycle times on average. Contact Details Haystack Analytics Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal@usehaystack.io Company Website https://www.usehaystack.io/

June 07, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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