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Kaleidoscope Launches Full-Service Scholarship Funds Disbursement Platform

Rally Ventures

Kaleidoscope, the leading fintech platform driving education-based philanthropy, today announced the launch of its full-service scholarship funds disbursement platform. The Kaleidoscope fintech platform connects sponsoring organizations, donors and applicants. It has facilitated over $600M in scholarships and grants since it was founded in 2017. Philanthropy broadly is a $500B per year industry, with more than $160B per year distributed in the form of scholarships to pay for higher education and advancement. Despite its market size, philanthropy has been chronically underserved by financial technology and modern software solutions. Kaleidoscope’s breakthrough solution enables organizations to easily host, manage and seamlessly operate branded scholarship and grant programs. And now, its newly launched disbursement platform takes Kaleidoscope’s capabilities to the next level by making it easy to dynamically distribute and track money awarded to recipients. There is enormous financial, tax and operational complexity around the transfer of scholarship funds from sponsor organizations to students. This burden often falls to stretched teams who don’t have the financial and compliance expertise to carry out the process, which can lead to errors and delays in getting funding to students. Kaleidoscope’s cutting-edge disbursement platform makes awarding money a seamless experience, while eliminating the administrative and compliance burden from busy teams. Features of Kaleidoscope’s disbursement platform include end-to-end management of the disbursement process, comprehensive reporting capabilities and the ability to transfer funds via check, wire, ACH and spend-managed Kaleidoscope Pre-Paid Card. "Kaleidoscope is already the leading scholarship management operational software platform," said Kaleidoscope CFO Jody Johnson. “We are now also the leading financial solutions platform for the scholarship industry. The funds disbursement industry has been stagnant for too long. We are excited to bring market leading technology tools to automate funds distribution, tracking, compliance and reporting to busy scholarship organizations.” “Kaleidoscope has been a trusted financial and scholarship partner for many years. We appreciate the partnership with Kaleidoscope because it simplifies a very complex process for our team, and we can be certain it’s being handled with care. Our Live Más Scholarship recipients also appreciate having the expert Kaleidoscope team available to guide them through the disbursement process,” said Marissa Lara, Taco Bell Foundation. To learn more about how Kaleidoscope can improve your scholarship or grant program, visit mykaleidoscope.com. About Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope is a cloud-based fintech platform enabling organizations to fund, design, administer and host branded scholarship and grant programs. The platform uses leading technologies to deliver an end-to-end solution for sponsors, organizations and those they support. Kaleidoscope is building a future where financial aid and funding solutions are smart, cost-effective and as unique as the applicants they serve. Contact Details Rachel Subasic rachel@rallyventures.com Company Website https://www.mykaleidoscope.com/

May 15, 2023 08:03 AM Central Daylight Time

ASTRO America Wins $1 Million NSF Engines Development Award

ASTRO America

The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America ( ASTRO America ) has been awarded a $1 Million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program. ASTRO America is among the more than 40 unique teams to receive one of the first-ever NSF Engines Development Awards, which aim to help partners collaborate to create economic, societal, and technological opportunities for their regions. Entitled “ Advancing Additive Manufacturing Technologies,” this initiative aims to accelerate supply chains’ adoption of 3D printing across the state and help grow capabilities in aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. Florida is recognized as a world leader in these key industries; with this grant, ASTRO America will leverage its AM Forward partnership with several major corporations to support the State’s small and medium sized suppliers transition to additive manufacturing (AM). ASTRO America’s team for this project includes five of the nation’s leading minority serving institutions to coordinate support for small business suppliers’ adoption of AM, including Florida International University, the joint Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida. “Florida remains on the cutting edge of science and technology,” said Neal Orringer, President of ASTRO America. “This initiative will spur further innovation in the field of 3D printing across the State. It will also support job creation, and grow a new generation of engineers and technicians. We could not have better partners in this endeavor than Florida’s universities and business community. We look forward to working with the State and other stakeholders to build a regional innovation engine.” The NSF Engines program is a transformational investment for the nation, ensuring the U.S.remains in the vanguard of competitiveness for decades to come. "These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF's vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation." Leading U.S. corporations have signed letters of intent outlining their specific commitment to help deploy AM Forward Florida. Sponsor-companies include Boeing, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, and Siemens Energy. Each will play an important role in AM Florida, informing requirements and future demand for production technology and materials. Small manufacturer partners include Sintavia and ACMT Aero. More information on all partners in this effort, including university partners, can be found here. “We are honored to be part of this ‘All-Star’ Florida university consortium, and fulfilling our role in boosting our State’s manufacturing ecosystem. Together with our industry partners, we aim to deliver integrative, aggregated and repeatable solutions that are grounded in demonstrated innovative technologies distinctively aimed to benefit small-to-medium manufacturing suppliers that will help contribute to Florida’s flourishing economy and high-skilled workforce,” said Forrest Masters, Ph.D., P.E., Interim Dean, University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. "University of Central Florida's strength in materials engineering and additive manufacturing will benefit this new initiative. We look forward to engaging with our partners in this exciting effort to advance manufacturing capability in Florida and the U.S. through scientific and technological innovations," said Michael Georgiopoulos, dean, UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science in Orlando. “There’s many reasons why we are excited to be a part of this important collaboration and the larger aim of advancing AM in these critical sectors,” said Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “Our renowned facilities and faculty research at the High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion and Aero-Propulsion, Energy and Mechatronics Center exponentially expand the opportunities. But leveraging the joint nature of our college introduces the unique opportunity to recruit and develop the next-generation of AM engineers. It’s exciting to imagine these engineers coming through the HBCU and top-tier research university ecosystem we have created at this college.” “This consortium provides Florida with an excellent opportunity to lead efforts to expand the discipline of additive manufacturing (AM) using cutting-edge techniques,” said Arvind Agarwal, Chair of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing. “FIU is excited to contribute by leading efforts to craft novel, hands-on curriculum that will serve to cultivate a superior AM workforce for the future, which will benefit aerospace, defense, marine and biomedical industries.” The awardees span a broad range of states and regions, reaching geographic areas that have not fully benefited from the technology boom of the past decades. These NSF Engines Development Awards will help organizations create connections and develop their local innovation ecosystems within two years to prepare strong proposals for becoming future NSF Engines, which will each have the opportunity to receive up to $160 million. Launched by NSF's new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships and authorized by the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," the NSF Engines program uniquely harnesses the nation's science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources. NSF Engines aspire to catalyze robust partnerships to positively impact regional economies, accelerate technology development, address societal challenges, advance national competitiveness and create local, high-wage jobs. View a map of the NSF Engines Development Awards. More information can be found on the NSF Engines program website. NSF MEDIA REQUESTS: media@nsf.gov The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan Research Institute and Think Tank. It was established in 2018 to advance the public interest through manufacturing technology and policy. Led by manufacturing professionals with broad public and private sector experience, ASTRO America supports collaborations by government agencies and companies to address supply chain challenges in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense. Find out more: https://www.astroa.org/ Contact Details Elizabeth Heaton Posthumus +1 202-445-9858 elizabeth@astroa.org Company Website https://www.astroa.org

May 12, 2023 12:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Preparing the Workforce for an AI-Driven Economy

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/dF-Ro-2ZuM4 Over the next 10 to 20 years, virtually every business and government agency will use Artificial Intelligence. This will have a profound impact on society, the economy, and national security. ChatGPT and autonomous vehicles are two examples of the various applications of AI that demonstrate the ability these technologies have to fundamentally transform how Americans live and work. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence Competition, Inclusion, and Innovation recently released a report outlining recommendations for how to address key risks associated with AI, while maximizing the technology’s enormous potential benefits. The report recommends that policymakers must address regulations, workforce preparation and education, global competitiveness—especially pertaining to intellectual property—and national security protections. The U.S. should not pause the development of AI, but rather take the necessary action to ensure we have trustworthy AI and maintain a competitive position in the global economy. Jordan Crenshaw, Senior Vice President of the Chamber’s Technology Engagement Center conducted a nationwide media tour discussing the report and the state of Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work. Topics that Jordan discussed included: How widespread will the use of artificial intelligence be in the coming years. How to get the U.S. workforce ready and ways to help businesses hire people. Ways the U.S. can stay competitive. Concerns about regulating artificial intelligence. Should there be a pause on development? For more information visit: www.uschamber.com/aicommission Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 12, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

News Release

Kosmos Games Presents New Quests In Solitaire Social

Kosmos Games

Solitaire Social is a popular free-to-play casual game with 10 million players and great graphics. Play Solitaire against other players, grow a beautiful garden, and learn more about new stories of the game! Kosmos Games announces new quests and storylines in Solitaire Social after researching players' requests, wishes, and feedback. The Solitaire Social team is happy to bring Solitaire fans brand-new content, striving to make all players amused and entertained. So, the Solitaire Garden welcomes old and new players on board to explore new stories and tasks! Kosmos Games is an independent casual games developer that has successfully presented one of the best card games — Solitaire Social — the PvP online game based on classic Klondike Solitaire. Players compete against each other or several players simultaneously. The emphasis is on "social," as you will meet many fans of this card game! The game can be played for free in the browser by using the Solitaire Social website. Besides being free, it does not require registration, and you can start your journey right away! Solitaire Social immerses all card game fans in an alternative world of a magical garden grown by Granny Lily. By playing Solitaire games, users enhance the garden, making it more vibrant and unique. Players can team up, create groups, and unite to progress together. Participate in team events, get to the top in tournaments with big prizes, and enter worldwide competitions to demonstrate your amazing Solitaire skills! With 10 million active players worldwide and a vast community, the company bases its projects on what players want and expect. Kosmos Games is grateful for players' feedback and is now enhancing stories and quests all players can enjoy soon! So, what are the novelties? Starting on the 1st of June, all solitarians will have opportunities to get more rewards by completing the new Daily Quests. Moreover, the new quests can get more diverse and lively with different difficulty levels, and rewards will also grow! Complete the Easy level, proceed to Medium, and demonstrate your Solitaire skills playing the Hard level. Soon, players who complete all three levels can try a tougher challenge by playing in the Super Hard mode. Of course, advancement means winning greater rewards and amazing prizes! Skilled solitaire players can nail all those tasks fast, and Kosmos Games adds a bit of thrill to the game by bringing in a timer. But do not worry if the timer runs out! You will still get all chances to win many rewards by completing another task of the same or lower difficulty. How does the story progress with this? Solitaire Social players will accompany Melissa, Lily's granddaughter, on her educational journey. Apt, smart, and curious about everything in this beautiful and magical world, Melissa returns to the Solitaire Garden with a school task on her mind. Sure thing, Granny Lily wants to ensure her golden girl succeeds with the school project. Together, they will gather everything Melissa needs for her big project and work hard while enjoying the serenity of Granny's magnificent garden. By clicking a button on the panel, players can see Melissa's notebook, where she writes down all tasks she must complete for today. Bonding with nature and having a great time with her granny, Melissa is grateful for your assistance and cannot wait for the next day to collect new materials for her project. We also remind you that SolitaireSocial has many tournaments, including… Standard tournaments. The regular competition aims to help players grow their skills, win bonuses, and connect with other card game fans. Round the World. Start your journey in the US or Europe and venture to the most beautiful corners of Earth. Visit interesting places, claim bonuses, meet other travelers, and win prizes! Knockout. Get a ticket for free and compete against THREE solitarians with your best Solitaire skills to claim the great Chest and three prizes inside. Ensure you are not the last to complete a solitaire game, or you will be knocked out! On the last note, Kosmos Games emphasizes that all Solitaire Social players are important, and developers are grateful for their support and the thoughts they share. The Solitaire Garden grows and blooms thanks to players. Lily hopes every card game fan finds harmony and fun in this cute and sunny place! Contact Details Kosmos Games Leonid Ustin +1 929-491-3157 support@kosmosteam.com Company Website https://kosmos.games/

May 11, 2023 11:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Columbus, Ohio-area School Wins Grand Prize in National Creativity Competition presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs – Earns Visit from the Harlem Globetrotters on Tuesday, May 23

Campus Multimedia

Glacier Ridge Elementary School in Dublin, OH, has been named the national grand prize winner of the Court of Creativity contest presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs. As the grand prize winner, the school will receive a visit from the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters on Tuesday, May 23, plus a $1,000 prize that was awarded when they became a finalist. Judges from the Harlem Globetrotters and Jersey Mike’s Subs were impressed by the students’ ability to blend science, music, and basketball in a creative and original way. The school’s participation included multiple grade levels as their 5th graders performed and analyzed 10 different science experiments, and 3rd graders created a basketball movement music routine. "Congratulations to Glacier Ridge Elementary for winning the Court of Creativity challenge," said Rich Hope, Chief Marketing Officer of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. "We were impressed by the creativity and energy from all the submissions we received, and we're thrilled to name Glacier Ridge Elementary as the grand prize winner." Known as the “Court of Creativity presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs,” the six-week contest was open to public, private, and vocational schools with grades Kindergarten through 5th across the United States. It was part of Jersey Mike’s and the Harlem Globetrotters’ ongoing efforts to promote healthy lifestyles, teamwork, and creativity among young people. The contest encouraged students to showcase their creativity related to the Harlem Globetrotters or the sport of basketball. “On behalf of the staff and students of Glacier Ridge Elementary School, we are extremely honored and grateful to be the recipient of the Court of Creativity contest sponsored by Jersey Mike’s and the Harlem Globetrotters,” said Pete Kurty, Principal at Glacier Ridge Elementary School. “We are excited to celebrate as a whole school as the Globetrotters perform and then we are treated to a delicious Jersey Mike’s lunch. We would be remiss if we didn’t also celebrate the creativity of the teachers of the winning lesson submissions. Incorporating creativity into instruction is what great educators do every day. However, without the creativity, innovation, and collaboration of the 5th-grade teaching team and the music and physical education teacher, this experience would not be possible. Thank you to Jersey Mike’s and the Harlem Globetrotters for encouraging and promoting creativity and quality instruction in order to provide an amazing educational experience for students.” ABOUT JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS Jersey Mike’s Subs, with more than 2,500 locations nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike’s local communities is reflected in its mission statement “Giving…making a difference in someone’s life.” For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com). The World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters – THE originators of basketball style, captured by dynamic athletes with unmatched skills and influencers of today’s game. The team has showcased their iconic brand of basketball in over 124 countries and territories across six continents since 1926. Winners of 2 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards and Emmy® nominated for their hit NBC weekly series, “Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward,” they continue to break barriers and stand as leaders across diversity, equity, and inclusion. Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission continues to advance the game of basketball and deliver exciting and interactive entertainment to the world. If you have ever seen a jump shot, slam dunk or a half-court hook shot, you have witnessed the creative moves made famous by the Globetrotters. The Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. For the full schedules and more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official website: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://www.campusmultimedia.com/

May 10, 2023 08:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COMCAST LAUNCHES SPEEDS FASTER THAN A GIG IN DEMING, PORTALES, AND TAOS

Comcast New Mexico

Comcast announced today internet speeds up to 1.2 Gbps (1,200 Mbps) are now available via the Xfinity 10G Network to nearly 20,000 homes and businesses in Deming, Portales, and Taos, New Mexico. These new speeds are available to new and existing customers. With the launch of new, faster speeds, Comcast, the nation’s largest provider of Gigabit internet, will provide internet options ranging from 50 Mbps to 1.2 Gbps, together with video, mobile, voice, home security and management products, and other products and services geared to local businesses. In addition, Xfinity Internet customers who lease a gateway will have access to Comcast’s next-generation cyber protection, xFi Advanced Security, that automatically detects and blocks of cyber threats like malware, providing peace of mind to consumers and businesses. “Comcast is committed to connecting more people to what matters most to them,” said Chris Dunkeson, Area Vice President, Comcast. “We’re excited to bring additional internet options to consumers and businesses on our fast, reliable, secure network. Whether it’s for work, school, or entertainment, our fiber-rich, gigabit network is built to meet the needs of tomorrow - today.” Comcast also is addressing digital equity in the communities we serve through Project UP, the company’s $1 billion dollar commitment to help tens of millions of people connect to the internet and build futures of unlimited possibilities. In the last three years, Comcast has invested more than $13.5 million in more than 75 nonprofit and community organizations across New Mexico. Additionally, Comcast will continue to bring affordable, high-speed internet to low-income households through Internet Essentials. In over 10 years, the program has connected more than 10 million Americans, including 412,000 New Mexicans. Comcast also proudly participates in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a subsidy of up to $30 per month –up to $75 per month in tribal areas—to pay for Internet service, covering the full cost of both Internet Essentials (50/10 Mbps) and Internet Essentials Plus (100/20 Mbps) for eligible households. Interested customers can visit Xfinity.com/ACP or call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about this program and find out if they qualify. -More- Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: Comcast is the largest provider of Gigabit internet and about one third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful Xfinity WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and business and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm-ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Julianne Phares +1 505-218-0961 julianne_phares@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://newmexico.comcast.com/

May 09, 2023 11:05 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Learning Technologies Group "achieved everything predicted" with GP Strategies acquisition

Learning Technologies Group PLC

Learning Technologies Group PLC (AIM:LTG, OTC:LTTHF) chief executive Jonathan Satchell talks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after releasing full year results for 2022 - a year dominated by the integration of talent transformation provider GP Strategies. Satchell says that in 2022 LTG "achieved everything predicted" when the acquisition was announced back in October 2021, noting that GP Strategies achieved a 6% organic constant currency revenue growth despite the challenge of the integration process. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

May 04, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

TiE Global Pitch Competition 2023: Fostering Entrepreneurship for the NextGen

TiE University Global

TiE University Global is excited to announce its 5th Annual Pitch Competition Finals taking place on the 5th of May 2023 at the Santa Clara Convention Center at TiECon Silicon Valley. The TiE University Global Pitch Competition is a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative business ideas to a global audience and win attractive cash and in-kind prizes. This year, the competition received an overwhelming response with over 1500 teams from 420 universities from 8 countries applied to participate. The teams pitched their business ideas in diverse industries such as healthcare, tech, energy, life sciences, consumer products, food tech, e-commerce amongst others. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of 50K USD for the first prize, 25K USD for the second prize, and 10k USD for the third prize and special prizes in the category of Sustainability, Social Impact, Women Lead and Most Innovative etc. The competition will be judged by 25 experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors who will evaluate the teams based on their Go to Market Strategy, Financial Modelling, Story Telling, Investor Pitching etc. The TiE University Global Pitch Competition has gained immense popularity over the years and is viewed by over 5000 audience members worldwide. It is an excellent opportunity for the next gen entrepreneurs to showcase their business ideas, network with industry leaders, and gain valuable insights from experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Most of all, through this platform, they get an opportunity to create viable and scalable business by attracting investors. With over 20 weeks of continuous engagement and interaction, the program included Masterclasses, Bootcamps held virtually across the globe with some of the best industry experts on various topics ranging from GTM strategy, Digital, Tech, Finance, Pitch deck etc! Shankar Ram, Chairman of TiE Global was happy to share that, “We are excited to not just fund these young startups, but as a community, we offer heavy duty mentorship from some of the best in the field.” According to Ravi Puli, the Co Chair of TiE University Global, “As a first generation entrepreneur, I understand the need to have an enabling environment in the early days. I am just making sure that these young startups hit the ground running.” “We are on a mission to spread the virus of entrepreneurship amongst students across the world,” says SubbaRaju Pericherla, the Co Chair of TiE University Global. TiE Global is a global community that fosters entrepreneurship through mentoring, education, and networking. With over 15,000 members in 61 chapters across 14 countries, TiE Global is committed to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. TiE Global invites all entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to attend the Pitch Competition and join us in nurturing the NextGen entrepreneurs who will build our future as well. Contact Details TiE University Global Vijay vijay@tie.org Company Website https://tieuniversity.org/

May 04, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University joint research suggests that urine cytomegalovirus test facilitates early prediction of AIDS end-organ diseases

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 4 May 2023 - A Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) collaborative research team has shown that urine tests for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can identify the risk of end-organ diseases such as pneumonitis, gastrointestinal ulcers, hepatitis and myocarditis, earlier in patients who have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The findings suggest that HCMV detection in urine should be implemented as a routine test for HIV-1 patients who are progressing towards acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as anti-HCMV treatments could reduce the incidence of lung and cardiovascular end-organ diseases by half. The research findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Virology, an international scientific journal. No routine HCMV check-ups for HIV-1 patients HIV-1 infection is divided into four clinical stages. In the first stage, patients are infected and some experience mild illnesses such as a cold without any apparent symptoms. HIV-1 infection then slowly progresses towards AIDS in the second and third stages of infection. These two stages, collectively regarded as the "developing" stage, usually last several years if they are comprehensively controlled by a range of medications before developing into AIDS, which represents the fourth stage of HIV-1 infection. HCMV is a DNA virus found in more than half of the human population. It is controlled by an intact immune system and remains dormant in healthy individuals. However, it can be reactivated in patients with poor immune systems, such as those in the fourth stage of HIV-1 infection, and as a result it can become one of the major opportunistic infections that cause life-threatening end-organ diseases. In Hong Kong, HCMV detection is not part of the routine check-ups for HIV-1 patients unless they suffer from apparent end-organ diseases. In such cases, blood tests are the preferred method of detection. A research team co-led by Dr Allen Cheung Ka-loon, Assistant Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, and Professor Chen Zhiwei, Professor of the Department of Microbiology, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with researchers from the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, investigated the detection of HCMV in urine for the continuous monitoring of end-organ disease risk in HIV-1 patients. They also examined the relationship between HCMV detection and end-organ diseases in HIV-1 patients in the "developing" stage. Easier to detect HCMV in urine than in blood The team screened the records of more than 130,000 HIV-1 patients in Shenzhen between January 2011 and June 2022, and selected about 13,700 patients with relevant blood and urine test records. They were grouped according to the four stages of HIV-1 infection, and the results of their HCMV blood and urine tests were then compared. It was discovered that in all the four patient groups, the proportions of patients found to be HCMV-positive were higher in the urine samples than in the corresponding blood samples. The situation was particularly obvious for HIV-1 patients in the "developing" stage. Urine tests showed that 5.8% of second-stage HIV-1 patients were HCMV-positive compared to only 0.9% using blood tests. The proportions of third-stage HIV-1 patients found to be HCMV-positive using urine and blood tests were 12.8% and 1.4%, respectively. This suggests that HCMV is more easily detected in urine than in the blood, especially during the "developing" stage of HIV-1 infection. The researchers further filtered 233 "developing" stage HIV-1 patients with detailed clinical and disease records to evaluate the association between HCMV and the onset of different types of end-organ diseases. Statistical analysis revealed that there is a significant association between the incidence of lung and cardiovascular end-organ diseases and the detection of HCMV in urine. Early anti-HCMV treatment lowers the risk of end-organ diseases To study the effect of early interventions with anti-HCMV treatments, the team tracked the data of 54 "developing" stage HIV-1 patients who had been hospitalised at least once. They were divided into three groups: those who received no anti-HCMV treatments, those who received treatments but not during each round of hospitalisation, and those who received treatments during all rounds of hospitalisation. The data showed that those who received anti-HCMV treatments in all rounds of hospitalisation had the lowest incidence of lung and cardiovascular end-organ diseases. Furthermore, compared to those who had not received anti-HCMV treatments, the incidence of such end-organ diseases in patients who had received the treatments was reduced by half. This suggests that continuous anti-HCMV treatments are effective in reducing the onset of lung and cardiovascular end-organ diseases in patients who are progressing towards AIDS. Dr Allen Cheung said: "Patients have to face a difficult journey once they have tested positive for HIV. They are often at risk of developing end-organ diseases without any apparent symptoms. Our study shows that routine urine tests for HCMV can monitor the development of end-organ diseases more effectively, which signals the need for early medical intervention. We thus recommend that HCMV detection in urine should be implemented as a routine test for HIV-1 patients." Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office, HKBU Winnie Shum hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

May 04, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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