Category: Uncategorized

KITCHENER, Ontario, July 13 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Avidbots, a leading Canadian-based robotics company, is proud to highlight the contribution of its autonomous floor scrubber, Neo, to top winners of the 2022 World Airport Awards.

The winners were recently announced in Paris by Skytrax, an aviation rating firm. Reviewing more than 500 airports globally, the annual survey evaluates a variety of traveler-specific topics, ranging from terminal comfort, cleanliness and hygiene to check-in, staff friendliness, taxi availability and much more.

For the second consecutive year, Avidbots Neo supports custodial teams within the world’s best and cleanest airports.

Six of the world’s top 10 airports, including two of the top three, have deployed Neo, the autonomous floor scrubbing robot.

Additionally, the top two cleanest airports use Avidbots’ autonomous cleaning solution to optimize, streamline and improve their floor care operations.

Neo’s contributions were also present in numerous regional categories, including:

• Five of Asia’s top 10 cleanest airports, including the top three (Tokyo Haneda, Singapore Changi, Tokyo Narita, Kansai, Hong Kong)
• Europe’s number one and number three cleanest airports (Zurich, Paris Charles de Gaulle)
• North America’s third, fifth and sixth cleanest airports (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Montreal, Toronto Pearson)

“We are thrilled Neo is prominently featured supporting the cleaning efforts of the best airports around the globe,” said Jeff Schrantz, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Avidbots. “Airports see the value of our autonomous floor-scrubbing robots, which deliver an efficient and measurable clean every time. Its use by the top airports on this list is a testament to the benefits Neo can unlock for the industry.”

Avidbots has been revolutionizing the robotic cleaning market since its founding in 2014, recently launching the Disinfection Add-On. The sprayer add-on expands the functionality of Neo, offering customers the ability to autonomously disinfect high-touch, 3-D surfaces.

Powered by Avidbots Autonomy, Neo understands its operating environment and takes action to maximize cleaning productivity while minimizing human intervention. Avidbots Command Center provides detailed reporting and performance measurement for monitoring, managing and tracking Neo remotely and in real time.

Today, Neos are being used throughout the world in various high-traffic, dynamic environments including airports and transit hubs, along with manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, education and retail.

For more information, visit Avidbots.com.

About Avidbots

Avidbots is a robotics company with a vision to bring robotic solutions into everyday life to increase organizational productivity and to do that better than any other company in the world. Their groundbreaking product, the Neo autonomous floor scrubbing robot, is deployed around the world and trusted by leading facilities and building service companies. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Kitchener, ON, Canada, Avidbots is offering comprehensive service and support to customers on five continents. Avidbots is backed by top global venture capital firms, including True Ventures, Next47, GGV Capital, BDC, Felicis Ventures, Real Ventures and Golden Ventures.

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Contact

Avidbots
Cassidy Scala
Fahlgren Mortine
P: 614-383-1529
E: cassidy.scala@fahlgren.com

Source : Avidbots

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Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour shines brighter than ever with a special edition of “A Symphony of Lights” this July alongside the new museum

HONG KONG, July 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — After five years in the making, the prestigious Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) opened yesterday (3 July), as the latest addition to Hong Kong’s arts and cultural offerings and the West Kowloon Cultural District. Joining a host of other landmark attractions on the storied Victoria Harbour waterfront, such as the newly opened M+ and recently renovated Hong Kong Museum of Art, the HKPM not only elevates the city’s lineup of renowned museums but also enriches its diversity of the arts and culture scene. What’s more, the much-loved “A Symphony of Lights” will bathe Victoria Harbour in lights, music and colours with an enchanting special edition every night in July.

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A must-visit museum full of priceless treasures

Located on the western tip of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the HKPM joins M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera and Freespace contemporary performance venue, to take the area to new heights. Visitors can look forward to a wide array of captivating exhibitions, shows, activities and events that deepen and diversify the city’s cultural offerings.

The HKPM is a must-visit attraction for arts and culture lovers, and a treasure trove of rare artefacts. For starters, it houses one of the world’s most impressive collections of Chinese ceramics and more than 900 works of art on loan from the esteemed Palace Museum in Beijing – among the largest and finest the Palace Museum has ever made to another cultural institution outside the Mainland since its establishment. The HKPM also displays 13 precious pieces borrowed from the Louvre as a testament to the museum’s role as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange.

Dane Cheng, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Hong Kong Palace Museum to Hong Kong’s artistic and cultural landscape and the West Kowloon Cultural District. Exciting, dynamic and constantly evolving, the district is brimming with activities and discoveries that underscore Hong Kong’s reputation as a leading destination for arts and culture lovers. We believe this world-class museum will generate even more interest for Hong Kong as an arts and cultural destination and solidify the city’s position as a centre for international cultural exchange.”

Enhanced “A Symphony of Lights” illuminates new landmarks across Victoria Harbour including Star Ferry

With Hong Kong’s dynamic skyline as a canvas, “A Symphony of Lights” show takes viewers on a multimedia journey that celebrates the city’s culture and innovative spirit. At 8pm every night through July, the captivating spectacle will feature new elements, including a fleet of 6 Star Ferries adorned with glittering light installations, and expand to include new landmarks, such as the HKPM and M+. With an array of distinguished arts and cultural venues and enhanced nightly light shows, visitors can now immerse themselves in a one-day adventure by the waterfront in the refreshed West Kowloon Cultural District.

Located on the western tip of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is the latest addition to Hong Kong’s arts and cultural offerings, and is a treasure trove of rare artefacts.

A special edition of Hong Kong’s nightly “A Symphony of Lights” show features new elements at 8pm every night through July.

Images can be accessed via: https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=810&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

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Contact

Media
Ms Candice Leung
Email: candice.leung@hktb.com

Source : Hong Kong Tourism Board

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WILMINGTON, Del., July 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new 2-year infant follow-up study reported no difference in developmental outcomes in children born after capacitation-in vitro maturation (CAPA-IVM) compared to those born through conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) following ovarian stimulation. The study was designed to detect developmental delay in children in terms of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal-social behavior. It included a total of 231 children who were evaluated at 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after birth.

The study results were presented by Prof. Dr. Tuong M Ho at the 38^th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) on July 6^th, 2022 in Milano (Italy) and have been published in Human Reproduction¹, a leading reproductive medicine journal.

Prof. Dr. Lan Vuong from MyDuc hospital, HCMC, Vietnam, who led the study, said: “One of the key messages of this study is that there does not appear to be any significant concern about the safety of CAPA-IVM on childhood development.” The current results complement recent findings that CAPA-IVM does not show any major epigenetic alterations or imprinting defects in in-vitro matured oocytes². Dr. Vuong believes that continuing building evidence on CAPA-IVM is important to physicians considering alternative approaches to current fertility treatment.

About CAPA-IVM

CAPA-IVM is a novel approach to in-vitro maturation of oocytes recovered after no or minimal ovarian stimulation, that incorporates a capacitation step in the maturation of oocytes in vitro which enhances oocyte developmental competence. CAPA-IVM is a patient-friendly assisted reproductive technology method that may become an alternative option to conventional ovarian stimulation and IVF, with reduced treatment burden for the patient. The worldwide rights to the CAPA-IVM technology are owned by Lavima Fertility, Inc.

References

1. Vuong LN, Nguyen MHN, Nguyen NA, Ly TT, Tran VTT, Nguyen NT, Hoang HLT, Le XTH, Pham TD, Smitz JEJ, Mol BW, Norman RJ, Ho TM. Development of children born from IVM versus IVF: 2-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Human Reproduction 2022, pp. 1–9, deac115,

2. Saenz-de-Juano MD, Ivanova E, Romero S, Lolicato F, Sánchez F, Van Ranst H, Krueger F, Segonds-Pichon A, De Vos M, Andrews S, Smitz J, Kelsey G, Anckaert E. DNA methylation and mRNA expression of imprinted genes in blastocysts derived from an improved in vitro maturation method for oocytes from small antral follicles in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Human Reproduction 2019 Sep 29;34(9):1640-1649.

Contact

andre.rosenthal@lavimafertility.com

SOURCE : Lavima Fertility Inc.

HONG KONG, July 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — A kick off ceremony was held at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (Gleneagles or GHK) for initiating a clinical trial to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the SINOVAC’s Omicron-specific COVID-19 inactivated vaccine used as a booster shot in healthy adults, in anticipation of providing scientific evidence for future immunization strategy. This study is led by a medical research team of the University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre (HKU-CTC) in collaboration with Gleneagles.

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In this study, a total of 300 healthy adult volunteers aged 18 and above who have been vaccinated with two or three doses of inactivated or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will be recruited.

“As we know, vaccination is one of the most effective ways to cope with infectious diseases. Currently, Omicron continuously sweeps the world. I hope the clinical trial could strengthen and effectively promote vaccine research and vaccination administration,” Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, Ru Chien & Helen Lieh Professor in Health Sciences Pedagogy, Clinical Professor and Chief of Infectious Diseases, and Assistant Dean of Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Assistant Dean (Admissions), LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), stated in the ceremony.

“As one of the research sites of HKU, we are pleased to be part of this clinical trial project and contribute to the continuous research and development of vaccines and immunization strategies to help enhance health protection for people,” said Dr Kenneth Tsang.

“It is of great significance to cooperate with Professor Hung, HKU-CTC and Gleneagles to carry out the clinical trial of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine as a booster shot against the Omicron strain. We hope to find a solution for Hong Kong and the globe to fight against the new viruses with the results of this trial,” said Ms. Cheryl Law, International Business Development Director of SINOVAC.

SINOVAC obtained the sample of the Omicron variant in early December 2021 and then actively promoted research and development of its inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (Omicron specific strain). Preclinical research demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and effective in animals. The Omicron strain booster immunization clinical trial was then approved by the HKU GHK Institutional Review Board (IRB) on 12^th April 22 and by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong on 14^th April 22, allowing the carrying out of the clinical study on boosting the immunity of people against the new coronavirus strain in Hong Kong.

About Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

SINOVAC Biotech Ltd. (SINOVAC) is a China-based leading biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, innovation, manufacture, and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. SINOVAC’s product portfolio includes vaccines against emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19, H5N1 pandemic influenza (avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu) and enterovirus 71 (EV71), and other common infectious diseases such as viral hepatitis, seasonal influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, poliomyelitis, varicella and mumps. SINOVAC is also exploring opportunities in the international market and is exporting it vaccines to tens of countries and international organizations. More information about SINOVAC can be found at www.sinovac.com.

About HKU Clinical Trials Centre

The University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre (HKU-CTC) is a one-stop clinical research management platform dedicated to facilitating the professional conduct of clinical research projects under HKUMed. Since its establishment, HKU-CTC has already facilitated over a thousand of sponsored clinical studies and investigator-initiated clinical studies in collaboration with sponsors and investigators around the world.

About Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong

Located at Wong Chuk Hang on Hong Kong Island South, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (Gleneagles) is a multi-specialty private hospital, providing 500 beds, cutting-edge medical technologies and a comprehensive range of clinical services spanning more than 35 specialties and subspecialties. As Hong Kong’s top-notch private teaching hospital, Gleneagles also contributes to the training and development of healthcare professionals and advancement of clinical research. Gleneagles is a joint venture between IHH Healthcare and NWS Holdings Limited, with The University of Hong Kong as its exclusive clinical partner. More information on Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong can be found at https://www.gleneagles.hk/.

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Contact

Media Enquiries

Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
Mr. Will Chan
Tel: +852 61408385
Email: will.chan@sinovac.com

HKU Clinical Trials Centre
Ms Cathy Shen
Tel: +852 2255 2553
Email: cathyswi@hku.hk

Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong
Ms Tracy Chow
Tel: +852 3153 9330
Email: tracy.chow@gleneagles.hk

Source : SINOVAC Biotech Ltd.

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) — The Financial Secretary of the Commonwealth of Dominica held a discussion recently with the European Union (EU) dignitaries in Brussels, Belgium, on Dominica’s journey to becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation.

According to a statement, Denise Edwards represented the country during the discussions with the European Member of Parliament (MEP) – Stéphane Bijoux, and the new MEP from Martinique Max Orville.

MEP Stéphane Bijoux lauded Dominica’s efforts to become a climate-resilient nation and to promote eco-tourism. He also assured support for the country as it forges ahead with a number of initiatives that will enable it to realise this goal and establish resilient infrastructure to withstand natural catastrophes.

Dominica has garnered appreciation for promoting as well as encouraging sustainable tourism and preserving its natural assets. The country has been at the frontline of the war against natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical storms, and cyclones.

The island nation of Dominica is making the right strides in its quest to become a climate-resilient nation. The construction of its geothermal plant is almost complete. The plant will enable the country to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

As hurricanes become more frequent and more intense, Dominica and other small islands are seeking new opportunities which lie in decarbonisation and renewable energy technologies to aid more sustainable forms of tourism and digitisation of the economy.

The country, which can be counted among the few nations that can be termed ‘carbon neutral’ is enhancing its resilience agenda by utilising resources on the island to generate energy.

The geothermal plant will ensure that the country is powered by renewable energy, reducing energy costs and carbon emissions while simultaneously creating jobs.

As the country moves towards complete climate resilience, visitors can be confident that their trip helps preserve and boost the environment. Those who fall in love with the country can be pleased to know that they can make it their ideal second home.

— BERNAMA