Category: English

TRONDHEIM, NORWAY / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Chiron AS, now part of ZeptoMetrix®, has developed the world's very first commercially available microplastic reference materials. This revolutionary new product range, called MicroPRefs®, was developed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and was made possible by grants from the EU project EUROqCHARM and Innovation Norway.

Microplastic particles are found in large quantities in water, soil, and in the air. Plastic pollution of various kinds breaks down in nature into tiny particles. These range in size from macro- to nano-sized particles. Microplastics are also carriers of various environmental toxins such as PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and brominated flame retardants, and cause significant environmental and health risks to communities around the world.

"In order to measure the quantity and type of microplastic substances present, there is a need for a yardstick or a 'reference material,' which is a material developed in the laboratory that can be used for comparison. ZeptoMetrix's Chiron AS business has now developed the very first commercially available microplastic reference materials for the six most abundant plastics in nature. New variants will follow successively throughout this year," stated Huiling Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, R&D Analytical Reference Materials.

MicroPRefs® microplastic reference materials feature a novel tablet format containing a defined number of particles. The particles produced are of known plastic type and were designed to provide sizes and shapes that mimic microplastics found in nature. The tablets are dissolved in water and then analyzed using various methods and in parallel with real samples from nature.

The first single polymer tablets produced contain microplastic particles ranging in size between 50 and 300 micron. Multi-polymer tablets contain a mixture of three different plastic types. Further variants containing different size, quantity and combinations of plastics are planned to support researchers in their endeavors.

"The need to monitor microplastics in our surroundings is paramount to protecting the ongoing health of our communities. ZeptoMetrix is committed to fostering innovations that will help solve real-world issues as laboratories around the world can now deliver microplastics test results with greater confidence," stated Evangeline Gonzalez, President of ZeptoMetrix. "In addition, our scientists are partnering with industry organizations and leading laboratories to incorporate microplastics into our innovative proficiency testing programs."

About ZeptoMetrix
Chiron AS is part of ZeptoMetrix®, an Antylia Scientific company. ZeptoMetrix is the industry leader and manufacturer for innovative solutions solving challenges in the evolving Diagnostic Microbiology, Infectious Disease, and Oncology markets, as well as Analytical Reference Materials for the Applied Markets. We focus on our customers' success by providing premium product quality, reliability, and expert technical knowledge, enabling our customers to develop and advance many applications across diagnostics, pharmaceutical, environmental, food and beverage industries. From in-stock solutions to custom control and panel development, our scientific teams provide our customers with comprehensive, performance-oriented, and cost-effective products and services that positively impact the field of clinical diagnostics, analytical testing and contribute to a healthier world. ZeptoMetrix is a division of Antylia Scientific, an operating company of premier life science and diagnostic brands, including Cole-Parmer, Environmental Express and ZeptoMetrix.

Contact Information
Nancie Geddings
Global Business Development Leader
nancie.geddings@antylia.com
1-843-277-5230

Related Files

Chiron AS Develops the World's First Commercial Microplastic Reference Materials

SOURCE: ZeptoMetrix

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RODEN, NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Exosens is pleased to announce a partnership with Photonscore, a provider of instrumentation for time-correlated single photon imaging. Through this partnership, Exosens will distribute LINCam, an innovative camera system with picosecond time resolution through their Photonis-branded scientific imaging product portfolio.

"We are delighted to partner with Photonscore and add LINCam to our scientific imaging solutions to our potential customers. LINCam is a breakthrough technology that enables fast and accurate time-resolved imaging for a variety of applications, such as biomedical research, material science, and quantum optics. LINCam complements our existing product line and combined will provide a unique value proposition." - Ulrich Laupper, President and Executive General Manager of the Exosens Ultimate Detection Business Unit.

LINCam is an easy-to-use, event-based camera that counts photons at high rate with the picosecond time resolution combined with accurate position information. Paired with a pulsed light source, LINCam can turn any conventional microscope into a powerful lifetime imager.

The partnership between Exosens and Photonscore is supported by Photonis, a brand of Exosens, which provides a crucial component of the camera: the high-time resolution position-sensitive MCP-PMT detector. Photonis has optimized the MCP-PMT which allows for the best properties for LINCam performance by providing high quantum efficiency and low dark rate photocathodes in a broad spectral range and also by implementing high linearity and high gain MCPs to increase the dynamic operational range. As a result of Exosens and Photonscore's close technical collaboration, the state-of-the-art high-time resolution single-photon camera LINCam becomes the optimal solution for widefield microscopy and other highly demanding applications.

"At Photonscore we are excited to start a productive partnership with Exosens. Their knowledge and experience in the field of photon detection gave us a big leap in the quality and capability of our system. In particular, the outstanding technology of Hi-QE photocathodes and high-performance MCPs enables us to bring LINCam to the applications where we did not dare enter into before." - Yury Prokazov, CEO, Photonscore GmbH

ABOUT PHOTONSCORE:

Photonscore GmbH specializes in simplifying single photon counting for its customers. The company's primary product, the LINCam, is a single photon counting camera with a 100% fill-factor and minimal noise. The company is serving leading universities and research institutes across the world, reflecting the broad applicability of its technologies. Photonscore's contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards. These include the 1st Prize in the Hugo-Junkers-Award 2017 for innovative applied research and nomination as a finalist in the German Innovation Award 2019. Photonscore is committed to advancing photon counting technology, striving to make it more accessible and effective for a wide range of applications.

ABOUT PHOTONIS:

Photonis is a leading brand of Exosens, a high-tech company with more than 85 years of experience in the innovation, development, manufacture, and sale of high-end electro-optical technologies used in the detection of ions, electrons, and photons. The Photonis brand portfolio offers photo-detection and low-light conditions imaging solutions for extremely demanding markets such as Defense & Security, Nuclear Safety, Life Science, and Industrial & Non-Destructive testing. Photonis is internationally recognized as a leading brand and a major innovator in its fields with production and R&D sites in Europe and North America.

For more information: exosens.com

Contact: scientificdetectors@exosens.com

Contact Information

Sales Manager
scientificdetectors@exosens.com
+31 50 501 8808

SOURCE: Photonis

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The World Hepatitis Summit (WHS) 2024 Will Bring Together Global Experts to Discuss the Latest Advances in Hepatitis Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment

LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 4, 2024 / The World Hepatitis Summit (WHS) 2024 convenes in Lisbon from 9 - 11 April and will bring together global experts to discuss the latest advances in hepatitis prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Policy makers, civil society members, representatives from the private sector, academics and other stakeholders will convene to deliberate and share updates on innovative approaches to increase access to testing, vaccination and treatment services for viral hepatitis. Deliberations will also focus on addressing stigma and discrimination and advocating for funding, with an aim for viral hepatitis elimination by 2030.

At the Summit, the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) and The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will present findings from a first-of-its-kind report examining levels of stigma and discrimination surrounding people living with hepatitis in Europe. The report finds that half (50%) of those living with hepatitis B and C struggle to tell people about their hepatitis. Around a quarter of people living with hepatitis B and C report they have not told their family (23%) or friends (25%) about their hepatitis.

Eliminating the stigma surrounding hepatitis through the introduction of policies and structural changes has been named as a key factor in hepatitis elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO).

On the opening day of the Summit, WHO will release its 2024 Global Hepatitis Report. It is the first consolidated report on viral hepatitis epidemiology, service coverage and product access, with improved data for action. With information from 187 countries, the report outlines regional perspectives and actionable steps to scale up interventions, emphasising the importance of leveraging lessons from the COVID-19 response. A standalone press release will be issued by WHO on 9 April.

About the World Hepatitis Summit

The World Hepatitis Summit is organised by the World Hepatitis Alliance, with the support of the Ministry of Health of Portugal and co-sponsored by WHO. Its mission is to support countries in meeting the targets needed to eliminate viral hepatitis. It is being held in Lisbon and virtually. More information: http://worldhepatitissummit.org/ and https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/.

About Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. WHO says that the total deaths cause by viral hepatitis, including acute cases, cirrhosis and liver cancer, accounted for 1.1 million deaths globally in 2019. In total, over 350 million people in the world are living with viral hepatitis. Each year, over a million people lose their lives because of conditions related to acute hepatitis and chronic infection that cause liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Contact Information

James Gillies
Communications Contact
james.gillies@worldhepatitisalliance.org
00447932328287

Steve Shaw
Marketing Manager
steve.shaw@worldhepatitisalliance.org

SOURCE: World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA)

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LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2024 / HOFA Gallery and Fellowship AI platform daily.xyz announce the launch of ‘New Beginnings', a pioneering London exhibition that documents the evolution of AI artistry, and weaves together the realities of AI, art and the human experience. In partnership with AI art curation and research experts, Crysalis, the exhibition runs from 11 - 30 April 2024. The ground-breaking showcase will present 14 globally renowned AI artists, including Niceaunties, Sougwen Chung, Emily Xie, Agoria and Elman Mansimov who explore the profound implications of AI on art and human interaction. Other artists include Kevin Abosch, Ivona Tau, Gordon Cheung, Roope Rainisto, Crosslucid, Jennifer & Kevin McCoy, Legio X, Sheldrick and Noper.

Elio D'Anna, Co-founder of HOFA Gallery, explains, "With the emergence of new AI models and techniques, a profound technological evolution occurred in 2023. 'New Beginnings' captures the first major works conceived and produced in the post-transition period, juxtaposing them with early era AI creations of immense significance. It effectively narrates the evolution of AI-generated artistry while simultaneously redefining contemporary perceptions of art in the digital age."

‘New Beginnings' showcases a diverse spectrum of mediums and methodologies to reflect on AI's journey and its dual role as both inspiration and instrument in the artistic process. The art creators selected for this showcase are at the vanguard of integrating AI technologies with creative expression through their innovative practices.

Show highlights include:

• Niceaunties, a Singapore-based architect and AI artist, who draws inspirations from the rich tapestry of her culture and explores themes of aging, personal freedom and everyday life through generative AI and digital art.
• Multi award-winning Sougwen 愫君 Chung, a Chinese-Canadian artist, who is widely regarded as a pioneer in human-machine collaboration. Recognised as one of TIME100's esteemed AI innovators, their MEMORY (Drawing Operations Unit: Generation 2) piece has the distinction of being the first AI model acquired by London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
• New York based artist Emily Xie harnesses algorithms to create life like textures and forms, navigating delicate balances between chance and control, and the abstract and representational. Her work has been showcased internationally, including at the Singapore ArtScience Museum and the Armory Show.
• Agoria, the visionary artist celebrated for his avant-garde BioGenArt, has captivated the art world with his groundbreaking exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay. As a DJ and a master of digital artistry, he is poised to unveil ‘I Feel Good', a cinematic exploration that weaves together the complex tapestry of AI and humanity, all viewed through the discerning eye of an anthropologist.
• Artist Elman Mansimov is a Senior Applied Scientist, who is known for pioneering research in AI. His 2015 alignDRAW project, the first text-to-image model that marked a new era of human-machine collaboration, has been compared to the revolutionary impact of the first fixed photographs in the 1820s.

HOFA, founded in 2012, specialises in curating and showcasing contemporary artworks that blend traditional techniques with digital innovation. The gallery's dedication to merging these elements is symbolic of its broader mission to catalyse a renaissance in art acquisition, connecting the tangible with the digital to enchant a discerning global audience. Similarly, Fellowship aims to bridge the past and present, shaping the future of art by leveraging blockchain technology to introduce art to a new generation of collectors.

Sunny Cheung, who oversees Design & Architecture curation at M+, Asia's first global museum of contemporary visual culture, says in his curatorial statement about ‘New Beginnings', "The recent advancements in AI and generative art processes often feel like magic. Through this exhibition, we explore this magic in AI's evolution and its impact on creative practices. The artists selected have embraced digital tools to create works that reflect new, faster and collaborative production methods. With vast data flows and virtualisation, artists can draw from lived experiences to create new meanings."

He adds "Like all great relationships, we don't necessarily know where the relationship with AI and art is heading, but we are excited by the new possibilities that come with New Beginnings."

Exhibition Details:

‘New Beginnings' Exhibition: Free and open to the public daily

Dates: 11 - 30 April 2024

Press Preview: 10am - 1pm, 10 April 2024, RSVP required

falon@thehouseoffineart.com

Venue: HOFA Gallery, 11 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 6PY, UK

More Information:

TheHouseofFineArt.com

Daily.xyz

HOFA.io

Press Contact:

Emma-Louise O'Neill

Comms & Branding Collaborations Director

emmalouise@thehouseoffineart.com

+44 7515 136909

Contact Information

Emma-Louise O'Neill
Comms & Brand Collaborations Director
emmalouise@thehouseoffineart.com
+447515136909

Related Video

https://vimeo.com/930211460

SOURCE: HOFA Gallery

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The Acquisition Broadens the Reach of 4me® and Expands Its Capabilities by Integrating Real-Time Technology Service Status Updates for IT Teams, Service Providers and Customers

SANTA BARBARA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 2, 2024 / 4me^®, the SaaS-based Service Management software platform for the modern enterprise, has completed the acquisition of StatusCast. StatusCast is a cloud-based provider of incident management products. The acquisition strengthens 4me's position in the ITSM market and represents another advancement in its efforts to assist companies in transforming their businesses with the most advanced and complete service management platform in the industry.

"Our mission is to make IT teams more productive while we directly help our partners and customers deliver great customer experiences. Our transformation of traditional service management is built on an advanced technology platform," said Kevin McGibben, CEO of 4me. "Integrating StatusCast's leading capabilities for incident management and status updates with 4me's core IT Service Management capabilities strengthens the IT operational power of our platform."

"We are incredibly excited to join the fantastic team at 4me," said Eric Warth, VP of Operations at StatusCast. "4me's cutting-edge ITSM solution, with its emphasis on a comprehensive, service-centric, multi-tenant architecture, perfectly complements our mission to unify and automate status and incident communications. This acquisition is in line with our vision of transparently communicating with stakeholders relevant information efficiently so that teams can focus more on the incident than managing communications."

Companies like 8x8 use StatusCast's features to ensure seamless productivity and enhanced communication with their customers. These features include public and private status pages, configurable notifications, and subscriptions for the public, partners or customers. They can provide information about service availability, current incidents or scheduled downtime.

4me will now be able to deliver the following benefits with the addition of StatusCast:

• Real-time service status notifications. Status page updates and notifications will enable IT organizations to provide public status pages, internal and customer status pages reflecting availability and status, including degradation and downtimes of critical services, technologies, and applications.
• Visuals of the status of the IT service catalog, which will integrate with 4me incident management, automatically allowing for faster mean time to resolution (MTTR) in outages and service degradations.
• MSPs, Network Operations Centers, support and service desk teams can use StatusCast incident management to add a layer of automation and end-to-end capability for incident management and service level agreement (SLAs) management for their clients.

To learn more, visit https://www.4me.com/it-service-management.

About 4me

4me is transforming service management for the modern enterprise. 4me's AI-forward, service-oriented, multi-tenant SaaS platform seamlessly connects teams to optimize IT service management. 4me's ability to automate cross-functional workflows makes frictionless service delivery possible, significantly improving business outcomes. The 4me platform's ease of use and deployment makes it the most advanced ITSM platform available today. Hundreds of organizations around the world look to 4me to elevate their Enterprise Service Management. To learn more, visit www.4me.com.

About StatusCast

Founded in 2013, StatusCast's mission is to help IT departments and SaaS companies keep their employees and customers better informed when applications or IT infrastructure goes down. StatusCast is a communication platform for the enhanced and timely distribution of critical information related to outages and maintenance, enabling organizations to be as effective as possible when problems occur. StatusCast's solutions are used by many of the world's leading Fortune 500 companies and SaaS brands.

Contact Information

Carlyn Manly
Marketing
carlyn.manly@4me.com

SOURCE: 4me

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Partnership expands reach with Evonik's high-performance polyamides, including sustainable solutions.

ROMEOVILLE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / April 2, 2024 / Formerra today announced its new strategic partnership with Evonik, the global leader in PA12 and high-performance polyamides. This alliance enables Formerra to distribute Evonik's polyamides and sustainable materials in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, these materials are accessible in Mexico courtesy of Formerra's recent acquisition of Suministro de Especialidades.

Specifically, Formerra will distribute the following materials:

• VESTAMID^® L POLYAMIDE 12
• VESTAMID^® E POLYAMIDE 12 ELASTOMER
• VESTAMID^® D POLYAMIDE 612
• TROGAMID^® CX (transparent and microcrystalline polyamides)
• Sustainable grades:
  • VESTAMID^® eCO (PA12)
  • VESTAMID^® RFP (PA12)
  • VESTAMID^® Terra (PA610 and PA1010)

Doug Zupan, Vice President of Operations at Formerra, expressed enthusiasm about the addition of this new supplier. "Joining forces with Evonik empowers us to supply top-tier materials for critical applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Evonik's reputation in high-performance polyamide production and their commitment to sustainable solutions resonate with our vision of offering customers the best cutting-edge material options."

Craig Schmidter, Americas Director of Granules and Compounds at Evonik, added, "With Formerra's vast network and deep technical support for performance-driven applications, they are the ideal choice for our polyamide products distribution. In short, Formerra is a great match because they offer the technical material selection and engineering support that customers and applications need to incorporate our high-performance materials."

Evonik products enable Formerra to enter new markets such as aerospace and oil & gas; Evonik will play a key role in helping Formerra to accomplish this growth. In addition, Formerra will be able to support current and future customers with logistics, warehousing, technical service, and speed to market.

The Formerra-Evonik collaboration will focus on providing substantial benefits to fuel customer innovation in multiple markets.

Formerra will exhibit next month at NPE2024: The Plastics Show in booth S39025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

About Formerra

Formerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world's leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading e-commerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways - driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com.

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.3 billion in 2023. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

Contact Information:

Jackie Morris
Marketing Communications Manager, Formerra
jackie.morris@formerra.com
+1 630-972-3144

SOURCE: Formerra

View the original press release on newswire.com.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 2, 2024 / USPA Global has announced that U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has delivered a record $2.4 billion in global retail sales in 2023.

The global sports brand's record growth is the result of expanding its existing sizeable footprint across all regions around the world. U.S. Polo Assn. has seen a balanced growth strategy with significantly increased market share in more mature markets, such as North America and Western Europe, while delivering exponential growth in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and India. In fact, the brand is targeting to become a billion-dollar business in India alone, as U.S. Polo Assn. is an international power brand and the top-selling casual menswear brand in the country.

The brand's footprint is a fast-growing presence across 190 countries, with over 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of wholesale locations spanning department stores, sporting goods channels, and independent retailers, as well as e-commerce. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to climb the retail ranks as one of the largest global licensed sports brands in the world, ranking in the top five alongside the NFL, MLB, and NBA, according to License Global.

U.S. Polo Assn.'s strong execution has relied on a global focus regarding the brand's worldwide store expansion. The brand has grown its global fleet to more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. stores, targeting over 1,500 in the next several years. For 2023, new stores and existing strategic stores around the world have been enhanced with a more elevated brand and sports concept, providing consumers with an authentic experience when engaging with the brand.

U.S. Polo Assn. also built on its successful digital strategies to generate record growth in e-commerce with some 50 brand sites in 20 languages in 2023. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to grow its digital presence and global momentum on social media, with some 8 million followers worldwide.

"Our global team and strategic partners around the world delivered another record financial performance in 2023 while also achieving many major milestones across our product lines and global expansion efforts," noted J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPA Global. "We continue to execute our aggressive product, store, digital, and international growth strategies to further expand our global footprint in key cities and markets worldwide, while also increasing the overall interest in the sport of polo."

Prince added, "Despite the many challenges over the past several years facing global retail, U.S. Polo Assn. was able to exceed our goal of $2 billion three years early and has set a target to hit $3 billion and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. stores in the near future."

True to the heritage of the brand, U.S. Polo Assn. maintains a strong connection to the sport of polo. By signing a recent landmark multi-year global deal with ESPN, the thrilling sport now has exposure to a massive global audience, extending to many parts of the world with reach to millions of households and multiple digital channels. The sport's iconic U.S. Open Polo Championship®, which is broadcast by ESPN, now sits alongside the elite company of The Masters and Kentucky Derby as one of the country's most prestigious spring sporting events.

In addition, the USPA now owns the USPA National Polo Center (NPC), the sport's premier destination in North America. The 2024 American High-Goal Polo Season has brought record crowds and sellout Sundays, with the best polo in the world from January-April. Nestled in beautiful Palm Beach County, Florida, this outstanding venue spans 160 acres, encompassing multiple grass polo fields, fine dining, tennis courts, stadium seating, a swimming pool, and the NPC Retail Shop. Exciting updates to the world-class facility are slated for 2025.

"We continue to seek avenues and partnerships to expand into new global markets, as well as new and innovative areas of business. The combination of these factors, alongside our authentic connection to the sport of polo and outstanding global brand marketing, is the key to our global success," Prince adds. "I am optimistic about the U.S. Polo Assn. global business maintaining its leadership position among its industry peers while gaining market share and our ability to reach over $3 billion in worldwide sales and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores in the coming years."

"Today, I am proud to say that our U.S. Polo Assn. global ecosystem is comprehensive of both the brand and the sport, with our $2.4 billion global sport-inspired brand, a global sports content platform with ESPN, and ownership of NPC, one of the sport's most beautiful and prestigious venues," concludes Prince.

About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the governing body for the sport of polo in the United States and one of the country's oldest sports governing bodies, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. A recent, multi-year deal with ESPN to broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., has made the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time.

U.S. Polo Assn. has consistently been named one of the top global sports licensors alongside the NFL, NBA, and MLB, according to License Global. In addition, the sport-inspired brand is being recognized around the world with awards for global growth, expansion, licensing, and digital growth. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, particularly in the last five years, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Modern Retail, and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world.

For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.

USPA Global is a subsidiary of the USPA and manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPA Global also manages Global Polo TV, which provides sport and lifestyle content. For more sports content, visit globalpolo.com.

Contact Information

Stacey Kovalsky
VP Global PR and Communications
skovalsky@uspagl.com
+001.561.790.8036

Kaela Drake
PR & Communications Specialist
kdrake@uspagl.com
+001.561.461.8596

SOURCE: USPA Global Licensing Inc.

View the original press release on newswire.com.

HILLSBORO, OR / ACCESSWIRE / March 28, 2024 / It was an exciting day at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, Hillsboro, Oregon, when artist Naomi Sarna's 703-carat L'Heure Bleu tanzanite carving set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title as the world's largest cut tanzanite, on March 9.

A standing room only crowd witnessed the "weigh in" as Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric, verified and announced the results. Gemstone experts, Jessie English, J.S. English Appraisals and Madeline Saunders, Oregon Estate Jewelry, were the official witnesses for the weighing. Rice Museum board president Gail Spann and museum director, Kim Vagner were also on hand for this historic event.

"As the Director of the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals board, and long-time supporter of this wonderful ‘gem' in Hillsboro, I couldn't have been more delighted that we hosted Naomi Sarna on her adventure with Guinness World Records that was enjoyed by many attendees! We are lucky to have such talent grace our Museum's doorstep," said Gail Copus Spann, president, board of directors, Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals.

Several years ago, artist Naomi Sarna was invited to travel to the Tanzanite mines located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She was asked to create a carving for an international competition. The mines are on the ancestral land of the Maasai and it is the only place in the world where this blue-violet gemstone is found. While there Sarna was asked to do humanitarian work, so she taught Maasai women how to make wire-wrap jewelry from tanzanite. Touched by the community, the poverty and the eye disease she witnessed, Sarna decided that she when she sells her award-winning tanzanite L'Heure Bleu carving, she will donate the profits to the world-renowned Portland-based Casey Eye Institute to provide eyecare to the Maasai. Dr. Andreas Lauer, Chair of the Casey Eye Institute came as its representative and just as the weighing ceremony took place, doctors from the Institute were touching down in Tanzania for a cataract conference!

"The Casey Eye Institute is in Naomi's debt. In the future, patients, their families and the Maasai community will feel her passion and love as they express it through their smiles and joy from improved vision," commented Dr. Andreas K. Lauer, director, Casey Eye Institute.

"The Guinness World Records brings international recognition and attention to my tanzanite carving L'Heure Bleu. This recognition gives great strength to my promise to help the Maasai with their vision difficulties. This is the cornerstone for our future hopes to provide eye care to the Maasai in Tanzania," stated artist Naomi Sarna.

While she was in Tanzania, Sarna was presented with several tanzanite crystals eventually selecting the piece that she hand-carved into the 703-carat L'Heure Bleu. It won a First-Place Spectrum Award for carving from the American Gem Trade Association. It sits on a Sterling Silver base inspired by the winds of Tanzania's Great Rift Valley.

Contact Information

Naomi Sarna
info@naomisarna.com

Related Images

SOURCE: Naomi Sarna Designs

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Marlin Equity Partners has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in Treasury Intelligence Solutions. The investment puts the company in a great position to continue investing in organic and inorganic growth opportunities across the Office of the CFO. Co-founder Joerg Wiemer, Aquiline Capital Partners LP, and the Management Team retain significant minority positions in the company.

BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2024 / Today, Treasury Intelligence Solutions ("TIS"), a global leader in cloud-native cash management, liquidity and payment solutions, announced that it has signed a binding agreement to secure majority growth investment from Marlin Equity Partners ("Marlin"). The investment positions TIS to execute on organic and inorganic strategic initiatives to further serve the Office of the CFO. The agreement is subject to customary regulatory clearance. A closing of the transaction is expected in the second quarter.

TIS' Group CEO Erik Masing commented "this exciting partnership with Marlin will fuel our international expansion efforts, leveraging their expertise to broaden our partnerships and strengthen our product offering. In an era of supply chain disruption, rate volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty, the importance of liquidity management, working capital optimization, and secure, efficient B2B payments has never been higher for our customers. The Marlin team demonstrated a deep appreciation for the strength of our value proposition and a strong alignment with our strategic goals."

Chris Calhoun, TIS' CEO of Americas, added "Marlin's deep understanding of the European and U.S. markets, as well as their experience in the Office of the CFO and monetization of data and payments in particular were the key reasons we were keen to partner with them."

"The TIS team impressed us with their strategic and innovative product offering, strong banking integrations and dedicated customers focus. The company's mission-critical platform is well positioned to deliver continued growth in the global market for B2B payments, cashflow and treasury management solutions," said Konstantin von Bismarck from Marlin. "We are excited to welcome TIS to our family of software businesses and are thrilled to support the company's vision of helping more enterprises effectively, securely and transparently manage their treasury needs."

Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor to TIS. Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Marlin.

About Treasury Intelligence Solutions (TIS)
TIS helps Chief Financial Officers, Treasurers, and Finance teams transform their global cash flow, liquidity, and payment functions. Since 2010, our award-winning cloud platform and robust service model have empowered the entire office of the CFO to collaborate more effectively and attain maximum efficiency, automation, and control. With over 11,000 banking options, $80 billion in daily cash managed, and $2.7 trillion in annual transaction volume, TIS has a proven track record of combining our extensive market expertise with tailored client and community feedback to drive digital transformation for companies of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit www.tispayments.com.

About Marlin Equity Partners
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with approximately $9 billion in capital commitments. The firm is focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthen a company's outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 200 acquisitions. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.

About Aquiline Capital Partners LP
Aquiline Capital Partners LP is a private investment specialist based in New York, London, Philadelphia, and Greenwich, Connecticut, that invests across financial services and related technologies. The firm has $10.1 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023. For more information about Aquiline, its investment professionals, and its portfolio companies, visit www.aquiline.com.

Contact Information

Jennifer Knutel
EVP Global Marketing
jennifer.knutel@tispayments.com

SOURCE: Treasury Intelligence Solutions (TIS)

View the original press release on newswire.com.

• mRNA-1283 induced a more robust immune response compared to Spikevax^® COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273.222
• Next-generation mRNA vaccine design offers the potential of longer shelf life and storage advantages, and paves the way for combination vaccine against influenza and COVID-19, mRNA-1083

CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2024 / Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) today announced that mRNA-1283, the Company's next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, has successfully met the primary endpoints of its Phase 3 clinical trial, demonstrating a higher immune response against SARS-CoV-2 when compared to mRNA-1273.222, Moderna's licensed COVID-19 vaccine.

"We are excited to announce our fourth infectious disease vaccine program with positive Phase 3 data, further validating our robust mRNA platform," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "mRNA-1283 is a critical component of our combination vaccine against flu and COVID-19, mRNA-1083, and this milestone gives us confidence in our ability to bring this much needed vaccine to market."

In the NextCOVE (NCT05815498) Phase 3 pivotal trial, mRNA-1283 was shown to elicit a higher immune response against both the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and original virus strains of SARS-CoV-2, compared to mRNA-1273.222. Importantly, this benefit was most acutely seen in participants over the age of 65 years, the population that remains at highest risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. The most common solicited local adverse event was injection site pain. The most common solicited systemic adverse events included headache, fatigue, myalgia and chills.

The NEXTCove clinical trial is a randomized, observer-blind, active-controlled study of approximately 11,400 individuals aged 12 years and older in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. mRNA-1283 was found to have a similar safety profile to Moderna's approved COVID-19 vaccines.

The storage, shelf life and pre-filled syringe presentation of mRNA-1283 could alleviate healthcare provider burden and potentially increase access into new settings to serve public health. A detailed analysis of the Phase 3 clinical trial data for mRNA-1283 will be shared at the Company's Vaccines Day event on March 27 and presented at upcoming scientific conferences.

About Moderna

Moderna is a leader in the creation of the field of mRNA medicine. Through the advancement of mRNA technology, Moderna is reimagining how medicines are made and transforming how we treat and prevent disease for everyone. By working at the intersection of science, technology and health for more than a decade, the company has developed medicines at unprecedented speed and efficiency, including one of the earliest and most effective COVID-19 vaccines.


Moderna's mRNA platform has enabled the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases and autoimmune diseases. With a unique culture and a global team driven by the Moderna values and mindsets to responsibly change the future of human health, Moderna strives to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines. For more information about Moderna, please visit modernatx.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Spikevax^® is a registered trademark of Moderna.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding: the potential longer refrigerator shelf life and storage advantages of mRNA-1283 compared to Spikevax; and the ability of mRNA-1283 to maintain effectiveness compared to Spikevax. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others, those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Moderna's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna's current expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release.

Moderna Contacts

Media:
Elise Meyer
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
+1 617-852-7041
Elise.Meyer@modernatx.com

Investors:
Lavina Talukdar
Senior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations
+1 617-209-5834
Lavina.Talukdar@modernatx.com

SOURCE: Moderna, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com