Novationwire’s AI-Driven ABL Platform Streamlines Press Release Distribution for Clients

SINGAPORE, Nov 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Novationwire (https://www.novationwire.com), an industry leader in press release distribution services, announced today the success of its AI-Branding-Leverage (ABL) platform in helping companies efficiently distribute press releases and earn media mentions.

ABL utilizes AI technology to streamline every aspect of the press release process, from strategizing and creating optimized content to targeted media pitching and monitoring. Since launching the platform in 2023, Novationwire has helped hundreds of clients secure features in major publications like Allure, Bloomberg, CNET and The New York Post.

“Earning media coverage has always been a struggle for small and midsize businesses with limited resources and know-how,” said Novationwire CMO Eric Lee. “Our AI-driven ABL platform levels the playing field by handling the heavy lifting of press release distribution, allowing our clients to get their message in front of exactly the right journalists and outlets.”

Key features of Novationwire’s ABL highlighted by Lee include:

– AI-powered content creation based on clients’ unique goals, key messages and target audiences.

– Automated press release distribution across Novationwire’s vast media database.

– Custom AI media list building and pitching to ensure relevancy.

– Ongoing media monitoring and real-time alerts when clients earn coverage.

– Access to an online media room to store assets and track campaign analytics.

This integrated suite of brand journalism services has been a game-changer for Novationwire customers seeking an edge in competitive markets. The platform’s efficiency and precision have allowed users of all sizes to punch above their weight.

“In today’s crowded marketplace, earned media exposure is more important than ever,” Lee emphasized. “With ABL, we’ve made press release distribution easy and effective so companies can build credibility and stand out from the pack.”

Novationwire plans to continue enhancing ABL by incorporating insights from its growing client base. “We’re committed to constantly improving and iterating on our AI technology to deliver the best possible results,” said Lee. “The next stage of our platform will provide an even bigger advantage as users work to grow their brands.”

About Novationwire

Novationwire is a media technology company that provides press release distribution, media databases, monitoring and analytics to execute integrated brand journalism campaigns. Through its AI-driven platform, Novationwire is dedicated to making press release distribution easy, efficient and effective for organizations of all sizes. For more information, visit Novationwire.com.

Media Contact

Brand: Novationwire

Contact: Eric Lee

Email: support@novationwire.com

Website: https://www.novationwire.com

H World Group Attends CIIE’s International Investment Promotion and Investment China Closed-Door Dinner Party, Actively Building Bridges and Strategically Positioning in the Middle East Market

HONG KONG, Nov 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – On November 8th, the China International Import Expo International Investment and Financial Cooperation Forum was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The forum, centered around the theme of “Digital Empowerment for Innovative Growth, Building a New Landscape for International Investment and Financing Cooperation,” was attended by leaders from various Chinese government departments and relevant institutions, diplomatic representatives, foreign guests, domestic financial experts and scholars, overseas financial institution representatives, as well as representatives from the financial and economic sectors. During the event, H World Group Limited (“H World” or “the Group”, NASDAQ: HTHT, HKEX: 1179) subsidiary, the Joya Hotel Shanghai Gubei, proudly served as the official reception hotel for the Arab exhibition delegation. A dedicated reception team was promptly established to smoothly coordinate and facilitate the proceedings, providing tailored services in accordance with Arab reception etiquette and religious practices. Exclusive culinary offerings and customized dishes were prepared to cater to the diverse lifestyle needs of the guests, reflecting the commitment of Joya Hotel to uphold the elegance of Chinese traditions and high-quality brand philosophy of providing guests with refined living. Additionally, Murphy Zhu, President of Asia Pacific and the sole representative from the Chinese hotel industry, was invited to participate in the “International Investment Promotion and Investment China Closed-Door Dinner Party.” During the event, he delivered a keynote speech focusing on future cooperation with the Middle East region.

H World Group President of Asia Pacific, Murphy Zhu, was invited to attend the International Investment Promotion and Investment China Closed-Door Dinner Party in China

As one of the fastest-growing hotel groups globally, H World ranks sixth in terms of the number of hotel rooms, with a portfolio that encompasses 31 hotel and apartment brands across 18 countries as of September 30, 2023. The Group currently operates a total of 9,157 hotels with 885,756 rooms, and has successfully cultivated a membership base of over 200 million. With a strong focus on the Chinese market, H World has established a presence in over 1,000 cities nationwide, operating more than 9,000 hotels under 31 distinct brands. The Group is continuously exploring opportunities in lower-tier markets, expanding its hotel network. Simultaneously, H World actively pursues international expansion, presently operating 8 hotel brands across 3 continents, with 129 hotels in operation and 35 new hotels in preparation. This extensive hotel network and loyal membership base provide H World with the capability to capitalize on new market opportunities and fortify its brand chain.

Focusing on the Vast Market Potential in Saudi Arabia, H World Strategically Targets the Middle East for Expansion

Saudi Arabia possesses a robust hotel pipeline and holds significant market potential. The government’s “Vision 2030” initiative aims to foster a more dynamic, open, and modern business environment by introducing new industries such as entertainment and tourism, promoting investment regulations and societal reforms to drive economic diversification. Key catalysts for this expansion include the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), with investment projects primarily concentrated in the Giga projects, the investment in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as the Pilgrimage Cities: Makkah, Madinah. These initiatives are gradually extending to select secondary cities to enhance the appeal of tourism products, attract investment opportunities, and further develop and refine Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem. The significant potential for market development, backed by local government financial support, aligns well with H World’s long-term development strategy in the Middle East. Capitalizing on this opportunity, H World is strategically directing its focus toward the Middle East market, continually enhancing its market share in overseas territories.

China and the Arab States Engage in Deep Cooperation, H World Enters the Middle East Market with Strong Capabilities

As the “Belt and Road” initiative and multilateral trade exchanges enter a phase of high-quality development, China continues to deepen its cooperation and exchanges with Arab states. Statistics indicate that total seat capacity from China to KSA in 2023 was 4.5 million, with a forecast to reach 6 million in 2025. This continuous increase in capacity is expected to drive further trade cooperation between China and the Arab states, fostering rapid development in the tourism industry for both parties. In July of this year, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region met with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, witnessing the signing of the memorandum of understanding by 11 local companies to enter the Saudi market. As one of these enterprises, H World has longstanding roots in the Middle East, and the signing of the memorandum further enhances its resource network in the region, facilitating better connectivity to the Saudi market. This establishes an efficient and connected platform as H World continues to expand its global business footprint. Currently, H World operates 3 hotel brands in the Middle East, with 9 hotels already open in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. China and Germany, as the main operating regions of the Group, are also the important source markets for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, laying a solid foundation for H World to establish a foothold in the Middle East. In order to offer specialized, high-quality hotel services tailored to the local characteristics, H World has opened offices in Dubai and plans to establish a new office in Riyadh in 2024. The experienced team and rich operational expertise make local operations more manageable, fostering the strategic positioning of H World in the Middle East.

The ongoing close collaboration between China and the Middle East paves the way for H World to further expand its overseas presence. Leveraging the substantial market potential in the Middle East’s hotel accommodation industry, H World actively seizes market opportunities, relying on a seasoned management team, extensive operational experience, and a solid customer base to drive continued expansion in the Middle East. This contributes to H World’s share increasing in the global market, leading the way for China’s tourism and accommodation industry to explore and establish a positive development model in international markets.

First edition of transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia was very well received

Singapore/Munich, Nov 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Over 7,300 participants from more than 60 countries attended the inaugural transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia, with resilient supply chains, sustainability and digitalization were the dominant themes at this first transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia, which took place in Singapore from 1 to 3 November 2023. Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany, and China were represented with official country pavilions. During more than 50 conference sessions covering current industry topics, visitors had the opportunity to gain insight into industry trends.

The participation of 135 exhibitors from 23 countries and over 7,300 industry professionals at the first transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia reflects the great economic potential of the region. Key factors include the advantageous geographical location, growing consumer demand and the desire of numerous companies to diversify their production and supply chains.

“The positive response to the inaugural transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia shows the enormous interest in the Southeast Asian logistics market and is a confirmation of the decision to expand the transport logistic cluster to this region. The trade fair offered decision-makers an efficient and practical platform for exchanging ideas in person and establishing and expanding business relationships,” says Michael Wilton, CEO & Managing Director of MMI Asia, Messe München Regional HQ, Singapore.

Ravishankar Mirle, Vice President Cargo Commercial Operations, Far East & Australasia from Emirates SkyCargo, also confirms this impression: “I think it has been a very good experience for the last three days. We have had some action-packed activities, and it has been an opportune moment for the logistics ecosystem to convene together. We have been at the time where we’re just coming out of Covid, the production and distribution hubs in the region have been changing. It has been an opportune moment for us to meet our business partners, our customers, our clients – to share insights, share best practices, and to plan for the future.”

As an integral part of transport logistic Southeast Asia, air cargo Southeast Asia also brought together the entire air cargo industry in Singapore. In addition to the exhibition of leading international and regional companies such as Boeing, Emirates SkyCargo, Singapore Airlines, United Cargo, Jettainer, Garuda Indonesia, MAS Kargo, Vietjet Cargo and ACL Airshop, the conference program included, for example, a panel discussion on “Building resilient and reliable airfreight solutions for high-tech cargo”. During this session, experts from DB Schenker, Changi Airport and Etihad Cargo gave the audience insights into their corporate strategies.

Conference programs deal with trend topics

The conference program at transport logistic Southeast Asia comprised around 50 accompanying events on two stages, providing a platform for the latest industry trends and discussions. Among the highlights of the program were the sessions on the Southeast Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia: The experts explored the extent to which diversification strategies have impacted Southeast Asian production locations and their supply chains and clearly illustrated the potential in the region. During the “Germany: Logistics from Germany – Logistics for The Future” presentation at country-focused Germany sessions, hosted by Your German Logistics (YGL), companies like BlueBox Systems, PRIOjet Logistics, and Logwin Air + Ocean International discussed technical innovations and the reliability of supply chains between Asia and Europe. On the Exhibitor Stage, companies from logistics, sea and air freight, such as DHL, dnata, Gebrüder Weiss, Incheon International Airport and Singapore Airlines, provided practical insights into their sustainability and digitalization strategies, among other things. At the same time, the special conference on Project Cargo offered up-to-date information on trends, challenges and opportunities in the general cargo and heavy lift sector in Southeast Asia.

“I think it was a great conference, for us it was wonderful because it was very effective and impactful. We did get a chance to meet a lot of shippers, airlines and supply chain enthusiasts. Especially because Messe München originates from Germany, we did have a lot of leverage out of exposure into the European market, and Wiz as a company is definitely looking at Europe as the next step in terms of our expansion. There was also a lot of emphasis on digital transformation, which is of course something on which Wiz bases its expansion on. From that perspective, it did makes sense, and it was a great conference. Congratulations to Messe München!” summarizes Bipin Chinnappa, CCO – APAC & Head – Global Accounts of Wiz Logtec Solutions.

The next transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia will take place from 29 to 31 October 2025 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. For more information, please visit: https://transportlogisticsea.com/.

About MMI Asia Pte. Ltd

A full subsidiary of Messe MuÌˆnchen GmbH, MMI Asia established in Singapore in 1992, is now embarking on a significant growth and expansion program, bringing some of Messe München’s world leading brands to the Southeast Asia market. transport logistic and air cargo Southeast Asian editions are organized by MMI Asia Pte Ltd.

transport logistic exhibitionsThe international industry network of transport logistic exhibitions consists of twelve events. In addition to the leading international trade fair transport logistic in Munich, transport logistic China is held every two years, alternating with it in Shanghai, China. In Turkey, Messe München and EKO Fair Limited organize the logitrans International Transport Logistics Exhibition in Istanbul every year. Messe München is organizing transport logistic Americas, which will be held every two years in Americas started in 2022. In November 2023, transport logistic Southeast Asia took place in Singapore for the first time. At all trade fairs, the air cargo sector plays an essential role. As part of transport logistic in Munich, air cargo Europe is the world’s largest air cargo trade fair, while air cargo China is the leading event in Asia, in addition, air cargo Southeast Asia is focusing on this segment in Singapore. air cargo India and air cargo Africa are independent trade fairs for the industry.

About Messe München

Messe München is one of the leading exhibition organizers worldwide with more than 50 of its own trade shows for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. Every year, a total of over 50,000 exhibitors and around three million visitors take part in more than 200 events at the exhibition center in Munich, at the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München, the Conference Center Nord and the MOC Veranstaltungscenter München as well as abroad. Together with its subsidiary companies, Messe München organizes trade shows in China, India, Brazil, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey. With a network of associated companies in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, and with around 70 representatives abroad for more than 100 countries, Messe München has a truly global presence.

Graid Technology and ThinkParQ Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize High-Performance Computing and Data Management

SANTA CLARA, CA, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Graid Technology, the visionary creators behind the groundbreaking SupremeRAID™, and ThinkParQ, the developers of the innovative BeeGFS parallel file system, proudly announce their collaboration to elevate the performance and fortify the data protection landscape across multiple industries.

This strategic partnership joins Graid Technology’s pioneering SupremeRAID™, a GPU-accelerated data protection solution, with ThinkParQ’s BeeGFS parallel file system, recognized for its unparalleled performance, scalability, and simplicity in management. The union aims to address the increasing demands in High-Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning, Media and Entertainment, Life Sciences, and Oil and Gas industries.

The collaboration between SupremeRAID™ and BeeGFS represents a seismic shift in the realm of data storage, data management, and business resilience. It effectively sidesteps the performance limitations inherent in other RAID products, providing enhanced data protection, scalability, flexibility, and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).

“By joining forces with ThinkParQ, we aim to redefine the benchmarks in high-performance computing, AI, and diverse industries reliant on data-intensive operations,” stated Leander Yu, President and CEO of Graid Technology. “The collaboration between SupremeRAID™ and BeeGFS creates an unparalleled synergy that not only enhances performance but also ensures comprehensive data protection, scalability, and flexibility.”

“We are delighted to partner with Graid Technology and are really excited for our partners and customers to experience how they can benefit from the collaboration between SupremeRAID™ and BeeGFS,” said Frank Herold, CEO, ThinkParQ GmbH. “The technical innovation between the two companies will further enhance and accelerate our customers’ experience.”

The strategic partnership between Graid Technology and ThinkParQ signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of storage solutions, promising cutting-edge advancements to cater to the most demanding computational workloads across various industries.

For more information, please visit the respective websites:
Graid Technology: www.graidtech.com
ThinkParQ: www.thinkparq.com

About ThinkParQ GmbH

ThinkParQ GmbH strives to create and develop the fastest, most flexible, and most stable solutions for every performance-oriented environment. Established in 2014 as a spinoff from the Fraunhofer Center for High-Performance Computing, ThinkParQ drives the research and development of BeeGFS, and works closely with system integrators to create turn-key solutions. Visit https://www.thinkparq.com for further information.

About Graid Technology and SupremeRAID™

Graid Technology, led by a dedicated team of experts with decades of experience in the SDS, ASIC, and storage industries, continues to push boundaries in data storage innovation. SupremeRAID™, hailed as the world’s only NVMe and NVMeoF RAID card to unlock the full potential of PCIe 3, 4, and 5 SSD performance, eliminates traditional RAID bottlenecks, leveraging GPU acceleration to maximize enterprise SSD performance. The company’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, supported by an R&D center in Taiwan, symbolizes our global commitment to pioneering advancements in storage solutions. Visit our website or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Contact Information
Andrea Eaken
Director of Marketing, Americas & EMEA | Graid Technology
andrea.eaken@graidtech.com
949-742-9928

Troy Patterson
Head of Marketing and Partnerships, ThinkParQ
troy.patterson@thinkparq.com

Samurai 2K Aerosol Records All-Round Improvement in 1H2024 Financials despite Challenging Business Environment

1H2024 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

	1H2024	1H2023	Variance
Revenue	RM39.74 m	RM41.83 m	-5%
Net Income attributable to Equity Holders	RM2.78 m	RM0.47 m	+494%
Earnings Per Ordinary Share (EPS)	RM 0.83 sen	RM 0.14 sen	+493%
Gross Profit Margin (%)	44.7%	34.3%	+10%
Profit before tax Margin (%)	9.8%	3.3%	+7%

SINGAPORE, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Samurai 2K Aerosol Limited (the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (SGX: Y8E), a manufacturer of automotive aerosol paints and aerosol solution specialist, announced its financial results for the six months ended 30 September 2023 (“1H2024”). Despite a challenging business environment dominated by international trade tensions, global geopolitics and general slowdown in global economies, the Group recorded all-round improvement in its financials for 1H2024 as compared with same period last year (“1H2023”).

Revenue slightly decreased by approximately 5.01 % from RM41.83 million in 1H2023 to RM39.74 million in 1H2024. The decrease in revenue was mainly due to lower demand from the Malaysia market. However, for the same period, net income attributable to equity holders increased significantly from RM0.47 million to RM2.78 million. Consequently, EPS increased from 0.14 RM Sen to 0.83 RM Sen.

Revenue by Geography	1H2024	% of revenue	1H2023	% of revenue
Indonesia	RM17.87 m	45%	RM17.11 m	41%
Malaysia	RM10.40 m	26%	RM12.73 m	30%
Others (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, United Kingdom, Singapore, Cambodia, India and United States of America)	RM11.47 m	29%	RM11.99 m	29%
Total	RM39.74 m	100%	RM41.83 m	100%

Indonesia remains Samurai’s largest market with 45% of total revenue or RM17.87 million for 1H2024 and Malaysia is the second largest market with 26% of total revenue or RM10.40 million for 1H2024.

Cost of sales decreased by RM5.51 million or 20.05% from RM27.47 million in 1H2023 to RM21.96 million in 1H2024. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in raw material and packing material costs. As a result, Gross Profit Margin was higher at 44.7% in 1H2024 compared to 34.3% in 1H2023.

Overall expenses increased marginally by 0.7% from RM 15.22 million in 1H2023 to RM15.33 million for 1H2024. Administrative expenses in 1H2024 increased by RM0.98 million or 12.97%, mainly due to additional headcount which is in line with business expansion generally in new business development O2O (offline to online). This is offset by marketing and distribution expenses decreasing approximately by RM1.15 million or 15.86%, from RM7.24 million in 1H2023 to RM6.09 million in 1H2024 as well as a decrease in offline marketing activities. Finance expenses increased approximately by RM0.28 million or 61.42% from RM0.45 million in 1H2023 to RM0.73 million in 1H2024 mainly due to increase in drawdown of term loan for upgrading the new office building.

Financial Position

The Group’s financial position remains robust with net assets of RM77.44 million as at 30 September 2023, compared to RM75.15 million as at 31 March 2023. As at 30 September 2023, net asset value per ordinary share is 23.15 RM Sen vs 22.46 RM Sen as at 31 March 2023. The Group has a total debt of RM 34.65 million and a cash balance of RM29.22 million as at 30 September 2023.

Going Forward

The Group expects the operating environment to be challenging over the next 12 months in the light of current international trade tensions, global geopolitics, and a slowdown in global economic growth. The Group will continue to intensify its marketing and business development efforts, and exercise prudent financial policies and cost control.

The main thrust of its business strategy is the development of new products using innovative proprietary technologies as a differentiating factor for the enhancing of the Samurai brand name. This will go hand in hand with offline to online digital marketing taking advantage of its global reach, scalability, and the reaping of economies of scale.

Meanwhile, the Group will continue to expand sales to emerging markets in Asia where demographics and income growth should provide some resilience in demand for aerosol paints and coating products.

One of the new products the Group is focusing on will be Tintatek-an innovative color mixing, creation and matching product which is expected to be launched by the beginning of calendar year 2024.

The Group continues to see growing demand for its products in the emerging markets of Asia amidst favorable its macroeconomic factors of demographics, urbanization, and higher consumer disposable income. It will therefore continue to expand its business footprint in these markets.

This media release is to be read in conjunction with the Company’s results announcement for 1H2024 posted on the SGX website on 14 November 2023.

Reference:
https://links.sgx.com/1.0.0/corporate-announcements/HBF3C8Y905OT1IKC/795efad7fc45d816baca2c94eda8c162de701e2b6f7d5167a40d8f626a67a8a4

Issued by Samurai 2K Aerosol Limited

This press release has been reviewed by UOB Kay Hian Private Limited (the “Sponsor”).

This press release has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”) and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this press release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this press release.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Lance Tan, Senior Vice President, who can be contacted at 8 Anthony Road #01-01, Singapore 229957, telephone (65) 6590 6881

About Samurai 2K Aerosol Limited(SGX: Y8E)

Samurai 2K Aerosol Ltd (“SAMURAI®”) has been listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “SGX-ST”) since January 2017. SAMURAI® is a fully integrated aerosol specialist that focuses on the repainting business as well as aftermarket for the automotive refinishing and refurbishing industry.

SAMURAI® aims to be the world’s most respected innovative aerosol system provider and offer the most innovative aerosol systems with the best user enjoyment and to create more job opportunities for all the sprayers in the world.

SAMURAI® specializes in manufacturing 2-part aerosol paint which is a mix of resin and hardener within the same spray can. In 2000, Mr. Peter Kwasny, the German inventor of aerosol spray paint, invented the first 2K technology in aerosol spray paint, which allows two (2) separate components, namely paint and hardener into a single aerosol spray paint. In 2015, Mr. Ong Yoke En, Samurai’s inventor and CEO, established a similar 2K technology and patented the first improved version of 2K technology. In 2016, SAMURAI® further developed from the earlier dual-head system to a single-head system aerosol spray paint, which penetrates the combination of the two (2) components thoroughly before application. This provides better performance in spraying experience and high level of durability.

SAMURAI® regional office is situated in Singapore while research, product development, branding and manufacturing are conducted in Malaysia. Samurai’s products are distributed worldwide to throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, UK, USA, Singapore and India. Its range of products include Truck Bed Liner, Epoxy Marine Surface Primer, Marine Coating, Boat Deck Granular Textured Epoxy Primer, Automobile Body Epoxy Primer etc. For more information, please visit our official website at www.samurai2kaerosol.com.

Media and Analysts Contact:
Samurai 2K Aerosol Limited
Ms. Saveena Prabakaran
Legal Cum Relation Executive
Email: saveena@samuraipaint.jp

Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Mr. Wayne Koo
Tel: +65 9338 8166
Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg
Email: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

A bio-inspired twist on robotic handling

TSUKUBA, Japan, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The subtle adhesive forces that allow geckos to seemingly defy gravity, cling to walls and walk across ceilings have inspired a team of researchers in South Korea to build a robotic device that can pick up and release delicate materials without damage. The team, based at Kyungpook National University and Dong-A University, has published their research work in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, an international science journal. The researchers are hoping it can be applied to the transfer of objects by robotic systems.

The structure and operation of the soft robotic device with dry adhesive.

The dry but sticky secret of a gecko’s foot lies in its coating of tiny hairs- made of protein- called micro setae. These hairs are around 100 micrometers long and 5 micrometers in diameter. Each hair divides into a number of branches that end in flat triangular pads called spatulae. The spatulae are so small that their molecules interact with those of the surface the gecko is climbing. This creates weak forces of attraction between these molecules, known as van der Waals force. This force is strong enough to hold the gecko in place.

The gecko’s innate adhesive ability has drawn the attention of many researchers and has inspired the use of its adhesion mechanism in robotics. An artificial, mushroom-shaped dry adhesive, that mimics this mechanism, has been used to robotically pick up materials. However, the force needed to detach the adhesive from the material’s surface can lead to its damage, especially if the material is fragile, such as glass. “There have been problems in getting the adhesive to detach easily,” explained Seung Hoon Yoo, first author of the research article. “In order to exploit these adhesive powers in robotic systems, it is imperative that the robot can not only pick up an object, but also readily detach from it to leave the object in its desired location”.

In their study, the team resolved this detachment problem by using a vacuum-powered device, made of soft silicon rubber. In order to detach the dry adhesive without damaging the fragile object being moved, a new detachment method was introduced. This method involves a twisting and lifting motion that pulls the dry adhesive off of the glass surface without causing any damage to it. The researchers found that the addition of this twisting motion caused a ten-fold reduction in the force required for detachment, which could be vital when handling delicate materials.

On conducting tests in which their transfer system was attached to a robotic arm, the researchers demonstrated that it could pick up a delicate glass disc from a sloping surface, move it to a different location and gently set it down without causing any damage to it.

“We expect our research will garner significant interest from the industry, since many companies are very interested in using dry adhesives for temporary attachment and movement of components, especially in robotic applications,” said Sung Ho Lee, one of the study’s authors. He added that his team hopes to serve as a bridge between research and industry by applying it to real industrial applications and developing more advanced models.

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM)

Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials. https://www.tandfonline.com/STAM

Press release distributed by Asia Research News for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Bluelight.inc is Getting Released on the Mainnet

NICOSIA, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Bluelight.inc announced its official launch on the BNB Chain Mainnet. Starting from November 14th, players will be able to access the Open beta version of the game on Mainnet, earn great rewards and $KALE, and have their progress saved forever.

What is Bluelight.inc?

Bluelight.inc is a blockchain game that offers players the chance to build a virtual startup from the ground up. With two engaging modes – Tycoon mode for office management and Collectible Card Game (CCG) mode for project completion – the game not only provides a platform for strategic thinking but also imparts valuable lessons in business development, all while delivering a dose of entertainment. Inspired by the Take My Muffin adult cartoon, Bluelight.inc delivers a dynamic mix of challenging tasks, clever humor, and visually stunning graphics.

The Open Beta stage on the Testnet is almost over, but everyone can register and start playing without any upfront investments. The exciting news is that Bluelight.inc is now in the process of being listed on the Epic Games Store, marking a pivotal milestone towards widespread adoption. This listing is poised to boost its popularity, exposing thousands of WEB 2.0 and WEB 3.0 players to the game and sparking interest in this distinctive startup-themed card game.

Milestones passed in 2023

In the year 2023, Bluelight.inc has taken significant strides toward its public release:

– The successful completion of both the Closed Alpha and Open Alpha stages has paved the way for the implementation of full-fledged game mechanics.

– The Bug Contest, coupled with community participation during the private Alpha stage, enabled developers to address code discrepancies, enhance the gaming experience, and make informed decisions regarding upcoming updates.

– A shift in focus towards the Collectible Card Game was decided upon, foregoing the development of the Tycoon mode. This strategic move aims to engage players in the most challenging and captivating aspect of the gameplay.

– Exciting collaborations lie ahead, as Bluelight.inc partners with notable NFT artists and explores ventures in the blockchain and cryptocurrency realm to collectively shape the future of WEB 3.0 gaming. The team is actively exploring potential joint ventures.

– The accumulation of extensive feedback from the public, particularly from the crypto community and early users on social media, has significantly expanded Bluelight’s online presence. These insights have proven invaluable in enhancing the overall gaming experience.

What’s inside the Open Beta on Mainnet?

The Open Beta on Mainnet has preserved the majority of changes made for Open Beta on Testnet. These improvements include:

– Renewed map

– Refined UX and menu.

– Game progress is now saved forever and synced with the server.

– The Shop allows players to purchase character cards, discount packs and furniture – everything to enhance their experience.

– New game mechanics: players will be able to purchase characters and add them to card packs, and arrange office furniture. Note that placement of stuff in the Tycoon mode will not be reflected in the Collectible card game, so users may simply exhibit the most beautiful items in their virtual space.

What does the switch to the Mainnet mean?

Switching to the Mainnet has a few perks.

First, be aware that your progress in the game will be erased because of blockchain switching from Testnet to Mainnet. However, from now on, your game advancement will be saved permanently.

Second, switching to the Mainnet means that you will have access to $KALE – the native token that fuels in-game trading (in the Shop and later – in the Marketplace) and will also serve as a reward. It will be accessible in both BEP-20 and ERC-20 networks, and is traded on Cryptology in the KALE/USDT pair.

Final note

Prior to the launch of Open Beta on the Mainnet, Season 00 with leaderboards and special prizes will last until December 3rd. So if you still want to participate and get a chance to win precious rewards, you’ve got less than a month left!

Also, Bluelight.inc will release its teaser clip to enlighten the community on the game concept and get everyone acquainted with San Crypto and Dealan’s dream team. The video is coming out soon, don’t miss it!

Keep tabs on Bluelight’s updates and news – visit their website, subscribe on Medium, Telegram, and Discord.

Social Links
Medium: https://bluelightworlds.medium.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/bluelightworlds
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/bluelightworlds

Media contact
Brand: Bluelight.inc
Contact: Karina
Email: pr@bluelight.inc
Website: https://bluelight.inc

AI innovations impress Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium audience

HONG KONG, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Widespread ChatGPT use and remote medical consultations have taken artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine into the mainstream, including treatment for vision problems. At the 21st Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium this year, professionals from Mainland China, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, discussed AI and tele-optometry developments. They examined how technology could “open the eyes” of the visually impaired and reduce staffing pressure on primary healthcare. They also shared thoughts on whether technological advancements would endanger employment prospects for optometrists.

“This is an exciting time, as many technologies suited for the visually impaired can now be accessed through apps,” said Dr Patrick D. Yoshinaga of the Marshall B. Ketchum University in the United States. Several AI-powered smartphone apps could identify objects after being trained through exposure to a large set of images. Users simply needed to point their smartphone camera at any object or text and listen to an audio narration describing it. Using Microsoft’s Seeing AI as an example, Dr Yoshinaga pointed out that, six years ago, users would have had to wait several seconds for the app to respond after clicking on the screen, but no longer! He recalled that a blind working mother could use the app to read documents and find meeting locations at work, and help her daughter choose matching colours at home. She could even turn off the lights in her daughter’s room after learning how bright the room was.

Dr Patrick D. Yoshinaga of the Marshall B. Ketchum University in the United States warned against the black-box effect during AI algorithm development, referring to people's inability to understand the AI algorithm or its decision-making process. — Dr Patrick D. Yoshinaga of the Marshall B. Ketchum University in the United States warned against the black-box effect during AI algorithm development, referring to people’s inability to understand the AI algorithm or its decision-making process.

Visually impaired people can now wear AI glasses equipped with the GPT-4 language model and converse with them, reading menu contents for example. A user could even ask: “What types of vegetarian options are available?” and GPT-4 would summarise relevant dishes and respond conversationally. When the audience learnt that AI apps could serve as “eyes” for the visually impaired, some gasped in amazement and photographed presentation slides to capture the moment.

PolyU employs AI for diagnosis and brings Australian experience to Hong Kong

Globally, societies are contending with ageing populations and rises in diabetes cases. With healthcare providers in high demand, AI can offer relief. Professor Mingguang He of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University received a grant from the Australian government some years ago. He collaborated with universities in Hong Kong and healthcare technology companies to investigate AI use in eye disease diagnosis, as well as how this technology could be implemented in the community. His research in 2018 found that AI had a 90% or higher accuracy rate in detecting common eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. They subsequently installed a simple AI system in local GP clinics. Following an eye examination, fundus images were automatically transferred to the AI system for analysis, and the system could produce a report in two to three minutes.

Discussing whether AI vision test failure may pose a liability risk for optometrists, Prof Mingguang He of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University noted that some insurance companies in the United States and Australia had already included coverage for AI errors.

“Previously, Australians were required to visit a clinic multiple times for diagnosis and report collection. That can now be accomplished in a single visit.” Prof He said they designed the system to work without requiring an internet connection, after considering resources available at clinics. They also created a simplified version of the device for self-administered testing which could be bought for as little as HK$10,000. Prof He planned to gradually apply his Australian experience to Hong Kong’s Smart Clinic Project, which is expected to benefit more than 200,000 grassroots citizens.

Eye-health software fills gaps in UK eye-care services

Another example of AI use came from Professor Benny Chung-ying Zee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care. He explained that AI analysis of retinal images allowed prediction of a patient’s risk of stroke and cognitive impairment, allowing early intervention to improve lifestyle habits. This approach could also reduce the long-term burden that vision examinations would place on the healthcare system.

Dr Priya Morjaria of Peak Vision, a social enterprise in the United Kingdom that specialises in eye care, said 90% of vision-loss cases could be avoided if individuals received timely examination and assistance. Her social enterprise provided eye health screening software to help countries bridge eye-care service gaps. The system begins with a screening for eye conditions, followed by case triage, eyeglass prescriptions and even surgical intervention. All of this is documented in the system, lowering the possibility of patients in need of care not being followed up. She noted that the proportion of Pakistani men participating in her social enterprise’s programmes had increased from 19% to 45%, approaching the ideal target of 50%.

Dr Priya Morjaria’s social enterprise, Peak Vision, designs software for remote eye examinations, collecting just the data needed.

Many audience members were optometry students concerned about how AI would affect employment prospects and how they could prepare themselves before entering the field. Prof He believed AI would not replace optometrists but help them work more efficiently. Eye examination and reporting used to take three days to complete but with AI assistance, these tasks took just 30 minutes. Dr Morjaria added: “AI will not take away your job. Patients always need to see a person. They always want to find a clinician to make a final decision.” Nevertheless, she reminded students to be aware of the evidence underlying AI decisions and advised them not to accept the finding for what it is, but to learn about and understand AI in order to interpret the evidence presented.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/47ph7Bi

Websites
Hong Kong International Optical Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkopticalfair/en
Intelligence Hub: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkopticalfair/en/intelligence-hub

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, Tel: (852) 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Phyllis Tsang, Tel: (852) 2584 4288, Email: phyllis.km.tsang@hktdc.org

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Kinetic Consulting Launches Macky AI – the First AI Business Consulting Platform Available to Any Business

DUBAI, UAE, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Kinetic Consulting, the leading boutique consulting company providing business growth consultancy, has released macky.ai, the first AI business consulting platform that offers any organisation an easy, non-prompt-based AI consulting solution for up to 55 different business categories. The platform is powered by OpenAI’s artificial intelligence technology.

CEO of Kinetic Consulting - Joe Tawfik — CEO of Kinetic Consulting – Joe Tawfik

What is Macky AI?

The Macky AI platform overcomes some of the key hurdles preventing the mass adoption of AI in a business environment. No training is required for employees to begin taking advantage of the consulting platform. No knowledge is required on how to prompt the AI to get the right output or determine if the output is suitable. The hard work of determining which prompt to use or if the output is suitable has already been determined by the software’s creator, Kinetic Consulting. Platform users are asked a maximum of three questions to generate the desired output.

The creators of the Macky AI software have curated the types of everyday requirements of key departments in a business and what type of suitable output can be generated from a generative AI solution. An example may be generating something as simple as a job description for a new employee or something more complex, such as creating a new business process or reengineering an existing one. These types of requests are often requested for consultants to perform. Macky AI aims to reduce the cost of everyday consulting needs for companies so they can empower their employees to complete these tasks without the need for costly consultants.

By freeing up the costs paid for these lower-level activities, companies can now divert effort and funds to develop higher-value business initiatives, such as business roadmaps and growth strategy plans. These higher value and more complex business requirements will remain better suited for traditional consulting. The Macky AI platform is unique because it also provides its users with traditional consultants for more complex needs. The ability for an organisation to have the best of both worlds, all on one platform, is made possible on Macky AI. The future of consulting will be the augmentation of AI and human consultants.

Macky AI Provides New Consulting Options for SMEs

A 2023 report by the OECD[1] on the outlook of SMEs in OECD countries highlights that the majority are currently operating in highly challenging environments. The report cites that SMEs have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, high inflation, tighter monetary and fiscal policy, and supply-chain disruptions. Retaining and attracting staff has also become a major issue for SMEs in OECD countries. According to a Future of Business Survey, it is reported to be the second most pressing challenge faced by SMEs that are older than two years in the first quarter of 2022[2]. Many SMEs have also depleted their cash reserves during the pandemic and now find it challenging to raise capital for their business to fuel the rising costs of goods and services and the capital required for digital transformation projects.

Outside of the OECD, we find the importance of a thriving SME ecosystem even more critical. In the Gulf region, SMEs contribute even more to the economy than their counterparts in OECD countries. Within the UAE, for example, SMEs represent 94% of the companies and institutions operating in the country, contributing more than 50% to the country’s GDP. SMEs account for 86% of the private sector’s workforce. Operating extensively throughout the rest of the GCC, SMEs employ 80% of Saudia Arabia, 43% of Oman’s workforce, 57% of Bahrain, 23% of Kuwait, and 20% of Qatar.

The importance of having healthy and thriving SMEs is recognised as the primary pillar of strength for any economy. The challenging environment and rising cost of capital make it difficult for SMEs to afford traditional consulting. Ironically, this is the time when consulting is most needed to help SMEs navigate, transform, and thrive again. Macky AI gives SMEs affordable access to consulting services using artificial intelligence. The AI business consulting platform provides an on-demand service for key business challenges, such as analysing a profit and loss statement to identify cost savings and developing a 12-month marketing plan to increase sales.

The Future of Consulting

Business consulting, like most industries, is undergoing a period of disruption. Technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, are accelerating the delivery of consulting in the future. Critics of the technology may highlight how AI is not 100% accurate in its outputs and is prone to error, so it should not be used. This argument is fundamentally flawed because even human-based consulting is prone to errors. All outputs delivered by human or AI consultants should be checked for accuracy. The advancement of generative AI technology has reached a point where it is now highly useful in a business or education environment.

AI technologies should be embraced rather than resisted if they are fit for purpose. Macky AI is designed to be specifically for business-related needs, and even in the open question section of the platform, the AI has been programmed not to answer questions that are not business-related. The objective of restricting it for business purposes only is to ensure that if employers give it to their employees, it will not be used for personal needs.

“As advancements in AI evolve, we need to accept that it will become a natural part of how we interact with things, get answers to our questions, and help solve complex problems. The future of consulting will be an augmentation between AI and human consultants. This is the inevitable evolutionary path. The percentages of AI usage versus human is unknown at this stage. However, I am 100% confident it will not be all traditional human consulting for much longer. Macky AI is the first step towards bringing AI into the workplace in a controlled environment for a specific business purpose. By empowering SMEs with affordable consulting outputs for business tasks, we are also helping SMEs overcome everyday business challenges and thrive in the future. Macky AI is designed to democratise consulting, making it accessible to all organisations regardless of size.” said Joe Tawfik, founder of Macky AI.

[1] OECD (2023), OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2023, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/342b8564-en .

[2] OECD-World Bank-Meta Future of Business Survey, Data for Good, (March 2022).

Contact Information:
Alfred Berring
Media Officer
media@kineticcs.com

Related Files
Macky Color logo – no background.png

Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corporation Announces Poh Leong Peng Has Joined as General Manager, Spectrum China

GARDENA, CA and SHANGHAI, CHINA, Nov 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp., a leading global provider of specialty, fine and cGMP chemicals, has announced that Poh Leong Peng has joined the company as General Manager, Spectrum China. Based in Shanghai, Poh will be responsible for working closely with Spectrum customers, strategic partners and distributors to drive engagement and business development efforts, and to oversee regional operations in serving the diverse China market.

Poh Leong Peng, General Manager, Spectrum China

“We are very pleased to welcome Poh to our global team,” said Randy Burg, President and CEO, Spectrum Chemical. “His leadership and substantial expertise will help accelerate our forward-looking goals for further international business development. China is an important strategic market and Poh will be instrumental in guiding Spectrum China in its next phase of growth.”

Poh joins Spectrum from Thermo Fisher Scientific in Singapore. He has more than a decade’s worth of leadership roles in operations management of commercial organizations across multiple regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and biopharma. Poh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University College of Dublin, Singapore, and an MBA from the University of Northampton, Singapore.

“I am excited to become a member of Spectrum management,” said Poh Leong Peng. “I look forward to working with the China team to offer customers and partners Spectrum’s global supply chain advantages, advanced chemical technologies and best-in-class quality products and services.”

About Spectrum China

Spectrum Chemical began sales and marketing operations in China in 2003 and later opened analytical testing, laboratory and warehousing facilities in Shanghai. In February 2011, Spectrum opened a new 30,000-sq ft facility in the Songjiang Industry Zone in Shanghai, which provides expanded analytical testing, warehousing, and distribution capabilities for its global customers. In addition to offering contract analytical services, the company’s facilities in China serve two primary functions: supplying domestic and foreign manufacturers with bulk fine chemicals and providing a base for the company’s sourcing activities in China, which include related analytical testing. For more information on Spectrum Chemical’s commitment to the China market 2003 to the present, visit SpectrumChemical.com

About Spectrum Chemical

Celebrating more than 50 years in business, Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp. is a leading global provider of chemicals, laboratory equipment and supplies serving more than 120 industries in 70 countries. The company offers more than 45,000 chemicals in laboratory, scale-up and bulk quantities including the largest selection of USP-NF-FCC-BP-EP-JP chemicals in the world. Spectrum Chemical’s capabilities include extensive analytical testing of its products throughout its three state-of-the-art facilities, as well as scientific documentation with supply chain transparency and change control required for quality-driven industries. The company also distributes more than 60,000 laboratory supplies, safety items and equipment. For more information, visit SpectrumChemical.com

Media Contact:
Sandra Oak, Nsight Public Relations,
+1-321-591-1508, soak@nsightpr.com

China Company Contact:
Lynn Luo, Marketing Manager,
+86.21.67601398-818, lluo@spectrumchemical.com

United States Company Contact:
Matthew Szap, PhD, Senior Technical Marketing Manager,
+1-323-206-5949, mszap@spectrumchemical.com