The U.S. Commerce Department conducted global survey of semiconductor supply chain companies.

Results show supply is still far too short to meet current market demand for chips. Biden administration says situation will remain dire for at least the rest of 2022.

It remains to be seen if the Biden administration’s estimates are correct and whether we will have to wait longer.

The survey didn’t reveal any evidence of hoarding, but some prices do appear to be inflated and the Commerce Department is going to review them, but it will continue to collect data from companies and collect data.

In the past two years, there may be some light in the dark for mining cards may drop due to the current cryptocurrency crash and the demand for mining chips may also stabilize as soon as this year, according to sources in the coming months. 

Why the global chip shortage threatens the economy, national security and Americans’ ‘status quo’

“It is both an economic and national security imperative to solve this crisis.”

Continue reading on ABC News

How the Computer Chip Shortage Could Incite a U.S. Conflict With China

A war game and study by a think tank illustrate how dependent the world is on Taiwan’s semiconductor foundries.

Continue reading on

U.S. says semiconductor chip shortage has nothing to do with S. Korean firms

The U.S. Department of Commerce says Washington ?s semiconductor shortage has nothing to do with South Korean firms, increasing hopes that chip cooperation between Seoul and Washington will be boosted.

The commerce department on Tuesday released results from the Risks in the Semiconductor Suppl

Continue reading on U.S. says semiconductor chip shortage has nothing to do with S. Korean firms : ARIRANG

Source: TG Daily – Will the chip shortage end soon?

Last week, Intel and the U.S. government announced a joint effort to build what may turn out to be the largest factory for semiconductors in the world. Referred to as FABs (Fabrication Plant), these specialized factories produce the microprocessors that are the backbone of our technology, automobile, weapons systems, aircraft, and most anything that has technology in its markets. 

Some of the current problems with supply chain logistics and out-of-control prices are a result of a massive shortage of semiconductors. TSMC, the largest semiconductor manufacturer, is in Taiwan which is particularly problematic given shipping delays and China’s increased posturing toward taking control of Taiwan, much like it did Hong Kong. Given TSMC’s dominance in the manufacture of semiconductors, China taking over Taiwan could be disastrous to a variety of U.S. industries.

Therefore, the formation of the foundation for the Chips for America Act to help fund the construction of a U.S.-based FAB is critically important. There is a critical second Act called the FABS Act which is, like the Chips for America Act, supported by members of both political parties and provides additional tax credits to support restoring U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, protecting the US from the kinds of supply problems we’re suffering through now.  

Let us talk about how this super FAB could change the world dynamically for semiconductor shortages but may come too late to prevent war.

The problem

Before the pandemic, there was little indication we were going to have a shortage, but when the pandemic hit, manufacturers anticipated a large drop in demand and reduced their production capacity. The firms making those semiconductors shifted their manufacturing capacity from areas that were seeing reduced demand to areas that were likely to continue to see demand, eliminating much of the existing capacity for these semiconductors.

As it turned out, the dire predictions were way off. Not only did demand not drop as sharply, but it also came roaring back, creating product shortages which in turn fueled inflation and demand across the board. But even in those areas that did not have component shortages, there was now a problem getting finished goods to people due to shipping backlogs. 

Employees in all segments of manufacturing and related logistics (including warehousing) got slammed, got sick, or got so overwhelmed they quit, making everything a lot worse. Also exacerbating the problem is an aggressive program by China to take control of the largest percentage of rare earth metals critical to technology manufacturing.  

So, while domestic production is a major part of the problem that Intel and the U.S. government hope to address, the materials used to build out the rest of the ecosystem are largely controlled by others, which means we may not be out of the woods even when this massive factory is built. The U.S. needs to secure the entire supply chain for technology products. Otherwise, the bottleneck is likely to simply move to some other area, and the shortages will remain.

Timing is tight

This Mega FAB will need to be in operation before China attacks or blockades Taiwan because losing Taiwan’s and Asia’s manufacturing capabilities would be disastrous for the U.S. Technology industry across the board.

Why? Because FABs and their related lines take years to build and spin up. Currently, without delays (which often plague FAB projects) this Mega FAB is slated to start production in 2025 or around 3 years from now. On the other hand, China appears to be very close to having the capability to attack Taiwan decisively and has been threatening such an attack for some time. Coordinating their attack on Taiwan with Russia’s attack on Ukraine seems likely since the two powers are cooperating, and that would spread U.S. efforts to stop either attack very thinly. China could then use the acquired Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing capacity to more than offset the semiconductor sanctions that the U.S. is currently threatening. It looks like China is preparing to back Russia up and vice versa.  China has 15% of the world’s FAB capacity, Taiwan 21%, and the US only around 13% and during a war shipment from Asia to the US would most certainly be at risk (that is a total of 72% of the world’s FAB capacity).  

Losing that capacity would also cripple the U.S.’s ability to manufacture advanced weapons systems during a war and might, therefore, be forced to withdraw prematurely, potentially reversing the dynamic that assured the win in the Second World War.  

Wrapping up:

While it is clear the U.S. Government and Intel are taking this risk very seriously, time is not on their side. Along with the much-needed manufacturing capacity of this new Mega Fab, we must assure control of the materials needed to produce the components necessary for a war effort. I expect the window is closer to twelve than 36 months, and that time and capacity for electronic manufacturing, particularly for weapons systems, may define the next conflict. Both China and Russia appear to be in far better shape in that regard (they have massive proximity advantages particularly over the US, and political execution advantages over NATO). This huge disparity could fuel the decision to begin the conflict. So, the need for the U.S. to solve both the manufacturing and supply problems are far more critical than most realize, and right now, it looks like the timeline is in weeks not years to solve this problem. 

Source: TG Daily – Intel’s Mega FAB. It May Not Be Soon Enough If China And Russia Go To War

Conversation intelligence has become a well-known buzzword today, and that is for good reason. The post-pandemic has shifted many businesses into the digital world making most interactions in an organization via video conference software, such as zoom, google meet, skype, etc… By implementing conversation intelligence into your sales process, you’re able to enhance the meeting’s outcome and improve the productivity of your team.

Implementing a conversation intelligence software can help your team close more deals. Attention is the only tool that empowers your sales reps during their meetings through state-of-the-art artificial intelligence. Attention gathers insightful analytics during the calls and provides real-time feedback to your sales reps. The sales reps are able to identify their goals and measure their process, thus, increasing the productivity of the team. Attention is a modern tool that can aid in training your sales reps and ramp up coaching time turning junior reps into top-performing sellers. 

What is Conversation Intelligence?

Conversation Intelligence (CI) is a software that captures and analyzes speech or text from a sales agent and prospect through Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing (NLP). The software is then able to deliver a data-driven response. The data collected can then be used by sales teams to win more deals and increase their productivity.

With an increase in digital meetings, conversation intelligence has become crucial for a business’s sales process. Implementing this software to your practices will aid in making sense of the data, provide real-time feedback, and be able to ramp up the coaching of your reps.

What can conversation intelligence do for your business? 

Using the conversational data collected, teams can filter through the important analytics and be able to interact with their customers in a genuine way. There are many benefits of adding a conversation intelligence software into your sales process. As a manager, you will be able to ramp up the team’s sales training and coaching because getting your new hires and junior reps to perform their best shouldn’t take months. The data collected through sales meetings are analyzed and scored, allowing sales reps to be empowered and improve their productivity. Conversation Intelligence improves the sales process so that the team will be able to focus on closing more deals.

Applying a conversation intelligence tool to your sales process can also optimize your sales conversion. Attention provides real-time feedback that sales reps can use during their call to connect with their prospects. Being able to have battlecards during your calls will set your team for success. Battlecards help sales reps focus on what’s important during their calls. Sales Battlecards will have information such as facts about clients, selling tactics, and data on market research. 

Conversational intelligence can ramp up training, optimize your sales conversion, and create genuine relationships between your sales reps and prospects.

Who should use conversation intelligence? 

There is a misconception of who should use conversation intelligence. Many companies think that it benefits only large organizations. However, this is far from the truth. Conversation Intelligence tracks calls and provides insightful data to help optimize your conversation with prospects. This is a very powerful tool that any business will be able to benefit from.

Some of the positions in an organization who will benefit from a conversation intelligence software are:

• CRO 
• Sales leads 
• Sales reps
• Customer service/ success
• Marketing teams

The conversational data collected can help each team member understand their audience and their pain point. This will help each team find ways to better help them and improve their selling and marketing tactics.

How to drive growth with conversation intelligence? 

Think of conversation intelligence as the magic wand that helps connect your sales team with their prospects. Conversation Intelligence will make your sales team more effective. A great salesperson will be able to close a deal and keep their prospects happy through the whole process, even when they become customers of your business. Conversation intelligence can provide real-time feedback to your salesperson allowing them to have the tools to carry an authentic conversation with their prospects. This will help close more deals and keep your clients happy.

Implementing a conversation intelligence software can also help provide superior support for your management. As your team grows, it quickly becomes nearly unrealistic for a manager to shadow every rep’s calls. Using a conversational AI platform will analyze and monitor the data collected through their meetings. This data can be used for coaching and training to improve junior reps into high-performing reps and close more deals.

Implementing software that will work for your sales team

The convenience and efficiency of implementing a conversation intelligence makes it easy to streamline your sales process and provide your potential clients with the best overall experience.

If you are looking for a solution that can help improve the efficiency and productivity across teams and departments in your organization, give Attention a try! Attention uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to analyze and generate metrics such as questions asked, speak share, positive feedback, engagement, and overall performance. This data can then be used to ramp up training and turn your junior reps into top sellers. Attention integrates with your Zoom calls and delivers real-time guidance to aid your sales reps during their calls.

Source: TG Daily – What is conversation intelligence and why your sales team should use it

Hydroponic farming is the process of growing plants in nutrient-rich water without using soil. It is considered to be advantageous when compared with conventional farming because it simplifies the growth process, reduces labor costs, minimizes erosion, and improves crop yields. As a result, hydroponic practices are common today in commercial agriculture. Still, this method has some drawbacks: hydroponics need artificial lighting, potentially enhancing the spread of plant diseases, and may increase crop yields in regular outdoor conditions beyond what they would be.

Hydroponics takes its name from the Greek words “hydro,” which means “water,” and “ponos,” which means “labor.” It is a subset of hydroculture, defined as cultivating plants in water.

Hydroponics is sometimes called “soilless gardening,” but it differs from growing crops directly in water. In hydroponic farming, the soil is used only to anchor the plant’s roots until they can support themselves. Hydroponic farmers use various nutrient solutions containing mineral salts dissolved in water. This nutrient solution is delivered to the plant’s root system through an automated process.

The nutrients are dissolved because these crops generally have small root systems, and the supply must be diluted to be absorbed efficiently. If the roots had to grow into soil rich in clay, it would take days or weeks to spread enough to gather enough nutrition for the plant to survive. With hydroponics, nutrients can be administered in a highly-concentrated solution and immediately taken up by the root system.

Hydroponic farming also includes technology used for climate control in greenhouses: fans, dehumidifiers, and heating systems (similarly, these can be controlled by automated systems). It is commonly used in warm, moist climates because it allows crops to grow all year round. However, hydroponics presents certain disadvantages: it needs artificial lighting and ventilation and often results in greater crop yields than regular outdoor conditions.

Hydroponics is typically done in greenhouses, but it is possible to set up an indoor hydroponic farm in buildings with sufficient space for large-scale crop production. Hydroponics can be used for commercial or personal gardening purposes, although the latter is more popular among hobbyists.

Some Advantages of Hydroponic Farming

According to the experts at hydroponics supplier Progrow, some advantages of hydroponic farming include:

1) Year-Round Growing

Hydroponic systems can be set up to grow all year long. So you can get twice the harvest by growing out of season, giving you higher profits.

2) Profits by Weight Grown, Not Acreage

With hydroponics, you can produce more than double the product’s weight compared to soil-grown crops. With increased yield per square foot, you can maximize the profit potential.

3) Higher Yields with Less Work

By eliminating weeding and thinning, your labor costs are drastically reduced. Even harvesting is easier, as many hydroponic systems allow you to run a ‘cut and come again’ operation (new shoots continuously regrow from the main plant).

4) Fewer Water Needs

Growing in water conserves water compared to soil, and hydroponic systems recycle nutrients back into the water. This can also help you save money on your overall yearly operation costs.

5) Less Space Required to Start

Due to the reduced weight of soil needed for hydroponics, shipping is reduced considerably. This means you can transport your products by land or sea, to get them to market faster.

Written by Rida Sheppard

Source: TG Daily – The Advantages of Hydroponic Farming

When it comes to marketing, Krishen Iyer knows what to consider. The Carlsbad, CA-based entrepreneur is the head of MAIS Consulting. He understands that companies need to keep up with changes in technology. But sometimes, trying to keep up can be problematic. The plans the company has for marketing don’t always fit well with that technology. Additionally, some technological changes require adjustments to marketing budgets. A company may not be well-prepared for that and could struggle.

It’s possible to adopt new technology, says Krishen Iyer, without the need for organizational disruption. The first step toward doing that is to be clear on the technological options available. Without understanding what is offered, choosing what works is much more difficult. As companies work toward finding the technology they need for their marketing, they can make adjustments over time. The more they know, the better they’ll do. That’s where companies like MAIS Consulting come in.

Krishen Iyer Says Knowing is Half the Battle

Often, companies turn a blind eye toward new technological options. They know that what they’re doing works. They’re comfortable with what they already have. Because of that, they aren’t very likely to choose something new. If they select a new technology option for their marketing, then they have to make changes. Those changes could feel scary, and they may also be difficult to work through. But it’s generally not that complicated to make a change when all the facts about that change are known.

In other words, says Krishen Iyer, companies that decide to make a technology change need to learn about the change before they make it. They want to understand what they’re doing now, what they want to do later, and how technology will help. Making a change just to make a change isn’t a good idea. But making a deliberate marketing change to benefit from new technology can be the right choice for many companies. What they know about the technology can help them feel more confident.

The pandemic is changing a lot of what customers want and need from businesses. It’s also affecting how companies can and want to, do business. The requirements of both customer and company mean that businesses have to adjust their marketing efforts. They need consultants like Krishen Iyer to give them insight into which technological options are going to work. They also need to take their customers’ needs and wants into account. Considering the way the pandemic has changed things is vital, as well.

A Digital-First Framework is Emerging, Says Krishen Iyer

When Krishen Iyer works with companies, one of the main considerations is a framework that’s digital-first. Companies that avoid this often find that they aren’t attracting new customers. While their current base may stay loyal to them, most new customers come from digital spaces. Even loyal, current customers can become wary of companies that aren’t focused on digital platforms. By keeping that in mind, companies are better able to create marketing frameworks that offer what customers are looking for.

The right consulting can help with that, but it’s only part of the equation. Companies must be open to making the suggested changes. By moving toward digital platforms, they can adjust their marketing in ways that work for everyone. Their customers need to know they can trust the companies. It’s easier for customers to trust them when they can see those companies in the spaces they use every day. Most of the time, for the majority of customers, that’s the digital space.

Setting the Right Strategy Makes the Difference

It’s one thing to know that customers need to see businesses in the digital space. But it’s another thing entirely for those companies to make their way into that space successfully. With the right technology, says Krishen Iyer, it’s far easier for customers and companies to meet in that location. Whether it’s just one platform, or several, companies that market digitally are going to move ahead of competitors that don’t choose that option.

More technology isn’t always the answer, but better technology when it comes to marketing can be highly valuable. Krishen Iyer and MAIS Consulting remain focused on showing companies the importance of this. It’s not always easy to convince companies that are used to doing things a particular way. They worry that they’ll have to make too many changes. They’re concerned that their marketing efforts won’t translate well to a digital platform.

While it’s understandable that companies would be concerned over this, it’s an unfounded fear with the right support. When companies have good knowledge and quality support, they can handle their marketing tasks appropriately. That includes the task of taking their marketing to the next level, by moving into a digital space. Krishen Iyer works with a number of companies and has seen first-hand the value of new technology. Marketing continues to evolve, and companies don’t want to be left behind.

Having a strategy is a great step. But it’s generally only effective after acquiring plenty of knowledge. Companies that have educated themselves, or worked with a consultant, are more prepared for these adjustments. These companies are likely more excited to see how digital marketing efforts can improve their business. In time, they’ll embrace even more technology. Their customers will appreciate that, and it won’t generally go unnoticed. That can move them ahead of the competition.

Source: TG Daily – Krishen Iyer Reflects on the Value of New Technology for Marketing

This week, doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine transplanted two kidneys from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead patient. It’s the first such transplant to be detailed in a peer-reviewed journal, an important step for validating any research.

The kidneys were able to function as expected and weren’t immediately rejected by the body, the team says.

Earlier this month, a team in Maryland transplanted a pig heart into a living patient who had a terminal heart disease but was medically ineligible for a standard transplant or heart pump.

In all of the procedures, though, the genetically engineered pigs were supplied through the company Revivicor.

Surgeons successfully transplant two PIG KIDNEYS into brain dead human

Jim Parsons, 57, of Huntsville, Alabama was brain dead – and therefore declared officially deceased – in September, but scientists performed the transplant on him with his family’s blessing.

Continue reading on Mail Online

Pig kidney successfully hooked up to human patient in watershed experiment

In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists hooked up a genetically modified pig kidney to a human patient and watched as the organ successfully filtered waste from the person’s body.

Continue reading on livescience.com

Severely damaged human lungs ‘can be successfully recovered for transplant’

Lung transplantation remains limited by the low availability of healthy donor organs.

Continue reading on Lancashire Telegraph

Source: TG Daily – Doctors Successfully Transplant Pig Kidneys Into Brain Dead Human

This week I’m looking at CTO and Executive Vice President Mark Papermaster’s tenure at AMD, and it reminded me of a story I was told when I was on a Windjammer Cruise a few years ago. The Captain and ship are no longer with us having perished in a nasty storm, but the story he told stuck with me, and it parallels the most important decision that Papermaster made as CTO of AMD.  

Let’s talk about the true story of how to not sink a cruise ship and how it relates to effective executive decision-making this week. 

The Windjammer story

A few decades ago, I was invited to sail on the Windjammer Ship Fantome, which was an old, converted sailing warship. It was the Duke of Westminster’s personal yacht. It had been heavily armored but no longer had weapons on board.  The front of the ship had a bowsprit of solid steel about as thick as a human torso.  The captain, Guyan March, had been a captain with Norwegian Cruise lines and, as he told the story, was moored right next to a huge Norwegian cruise ship when he decided to show off.  

His plan was to use the foresails to pull the ship off the dock, raise the mains, and spectacularly and safely come about (turn the ship around) and give the folks on the cruise ship a show.  So, he called for the mainsails and foresails to be unfurled and quickly realized he had a problem.  The third mate, who was supposed to be handling the foresails, was instead chatting up a young woman on deck which meant the ship wasn’t coming about but was building up speed and aimed right at the middle of the cruise ship. The cruise ship had a steel hull made up of ¼” metal plate while the Fantom, being a warship, not only had the huge solid steel bowsprit but was also clad in ½” military-grade steel.  If it hit the cruise ship at speed, it would likely cut the cruise ship in half, sinking both ships.  

Guyan ordered the Fantom’s huge engines fired up, and then he had a choice to make.  If he ordered a full reverse, he knew he couldn’t stop the ship, only slow it with the best outcome being a hole in the side of the Norwegian ship about the size of a house.  Or he could order full ahead and hope he got enough force on the rudder to miss the ship entirely.  Granted, if he didn’t turn the ship, he’d take out both the cruise ship and the dock where it was moored.  

He ordered full ahead and was able to turn the ship enough so that it made a glancing hit, snapping one of the massive oak booms and removing much of the paint on the sides of both ships, but both ships were still seaworthy, and his gamble paid off. The decision took a ton of guts because, if it didn’t work out, he was done as a captain and might even have ended up in jail. 

Executives often make bet-your-career decisions like this, but few have the guts to do so.  Which causes folks like Papermaster to stand out.  

Papermaster’s save-the-ship decision

When Mark Papermaster joined AMD, it was in deep trouble, and Papermaster, because he’d recently been fired from Apple, should have been risk-averse. His firing from Apple was tied to the Antenna Gate scandal at Apple, which arguably wasn’t his fault, but because Jobs hated IBM employees and Papermaster was ex-IBM, it looked like Mark was scapegoated.  Ironically, IBM was the company that helped Apple fix the problem, which has always seemed odd to me given how much Jobs seemed to hate the company and its employees. It kind of surprises me how many firms have helped Apple over the years, even when they have been treated horribly by the company.  

So Papermaster joined AMD under a bit of a cloud which should have made him risk-averse. But he was faced with a hard decision. He could take the easy path by trying to work with AMD’s then Bulldozer technology, which wasn’t competitive and try to make it more competitive, which would have failed but would not leave him at personal risk. Or he could push to have the technology redesigned and leapfrog ahead to create something that was competitive and would take the battle to Intel. But, if that failed, his career likely would have been over and AMD would have gone under.  

Like Captain March, he made the hard choice, putting his own neck on the line, and the result, like March’s, was that AMD is now in far better shape than it has been for decades and far more competitive than most that follow the company thought possible.  

Wrapping up:  Making the hard choice

The higher up in a company you go, the more likelihood you’ll have to make a high-risk decision. Most of the executives I’ve studied tend to take the safe path. I remember meeting with one senior VP at IBM years ago to whom I presented a series of critical problems that were killing the company, only to have the exec say he was aware of the problems but, if he tried to fix them and failed, he’d get fired and lose his pension. IBM almost went under due to people like that who felt it far safer to cover up problems than fix them.  

Papermaster and Captain March were cut from better cloth, and both showcased a willingness to put their own careers at risk to save their operations. Part of an executive’s job is to take risks, but executives that are risk-averse tend to be company-killers as much as those that take unreasonable risks. Knowing the difference and taking risks when appropriate is what often differentiates the truly successful executive, the one who is an asset to their company, from the dead weight.  

Something to think about when you look at the behavior of your own upline. 

Source: TG Daily – Mark Papermaster: Executive Best Practices And How Not to Sink a Cruise Ship

As an employer, it is your job to do all that you can to protect your employees at all times. Every business is only as good as the employees that it hires and every business owner would attest to the fact that without their employees, the business would not be successful at all. It seems only fair then to reward your employees with the necessary injury care program that they so rightly deserve. It is a requirement to make sure that an employer purchased insurance for their employees and that they contact a workers compensation insurance carrier to get it done. If you are a larger employer however you may be allowed to self insure and companies that are quite small with only three or four employees are exempt from this type of insurance.

When you have a business and a worker is injured, you need required insurance in Colorado which will pay the medical and disability benefits to the affected employee. It is important to remember that as the owner of a business and if workers’ compensation coverage is optional in your particular state then you are still liable for any workplace injuries that might occur. It makes sense then to take out the necessary insurance so that you don’t always have to be paying out of your own pocket. You could have a really bad year for workplace injuries and this could force you to close your business and this would be a great shame. For those of you who are pondering whether or not to get workers’ compensation coverage, then maybe the following benefits of doing so can help you to make a more informed decision.

1. It helps to lower business costs

You can’t just take the chance that an injury will not occur while an employee is doing their job. You may be very stringent in your rules and you may have many health and safety procedures in place and you are to be commended for that. However, realistically an accident will happen, and depending on the extent of the injuries, if you don’t have an insurance policy in place then you will be paying out of your own pocket and you could be running into many hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses and prescriptions. It just doesn’t make sense to take a chance when you could have full coverage for a much lower payment.

2. Employees are covered

Finding employees nowadays is incredibly difficult and so you need to offer them something that other employers are not. If an employee knows that you offer workers compensation coverage then they are more likely to make an application for a job with your company. You need to remember that when an employee gets hurt at work, it works out to be very expensive for them as their salary will be reduced and their personal life will be affected as well. They might even be forced to file a lawsuit in order to be able to pay the bills and so you should never put your employee in this position in the first place.

These are two of the benefits of getting workers comp insurance and there are numerous more. It is your responsibility as an employer to do everything that you can to protect your employees and of course, it is the right thing to do.

Written by Callum Jackson

Source: TG Daily – Why Every Employer Should Have Workers Compensation Insurance In Colorado

A cyberattack on a Red Cross contactor has led to the theft of personal data for more than 515,000 people in a program that helps reunite families separated by war, disaster, and migration.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is pleading with the threat actors not to publish, share, sell, or use the stolen data.

The ICRC says they do not know who performed the attack on a Swiss company that stores their data and that there have been no indications that the data has been leaked or shared publicly.

The systems and website for the Restoring Family Links program has been shut down while ICRC investigates the breach, which they say is affecting their ability to reunite separated family members.

The data was compiled by at least 60 different Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies worldwide. 

Cyberattack on Red Cross compromised data of over 515,000 ‘highly vulnerable people’

A cyberattack on a contractor used by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has compromised the personal data of more than 515,000 “highly vulnerable people,” including people separated from their families by conflict and disaster, the organization said Wednesday.

Continue reading on CNN

Red Cross website hacked in latest Singapore cyber attack – France 24

Red Cross website hacked in latest Singapore cyber attack

Continue reading on France 24

Hackers disrupt payroll for thousands of employers ? including hospitals

A month-old ransomware attack is still causing administrative chaos for millions of people, including 20,000 public transit workers in the New York City

Continue reading on

Source: TG Daily – Data of Over 500,000 People Compromised Due to Cyberattack on Red Cross

Sydney January 18, 2022, Integrated Media Technology Limited (NASDAQ: IMTE) (“IMTE” or the “Company”), announces today the completion of the development of its online digital assets trading platform “Ouction”.

Ouction platform is an interactive experiencing solution designed with dynamic image cryptographic verification technology which will serve as a bridge for O2O (Online to Offline) transactions. This will enable the “Ouction” platform to not only verify virtual (digital) asset transactions but also provide encryption and Blockchain notarized digital certificates of physical assets for a fairer and more credible platform trading experience to e-commerce companies and their users. The website www.ouction.io is available now for registration and trading in digital assets.

Eric Zhang, Ouction’s CTO stated, “The number of digital assets listed on the platform is limited at the moment, but we expect this will increase as we promote and market our Ouction NFT platform in Asia and North America. NFT or Non-Fungible Token facilitates moving assets from the real world to the digital/virtual world.”

“This is an exciting time. The market for non-fungible tokens in 2021 has surged to new highs as the popularity and adoption of NFTs and cryptocurrency continues to grow. NFT sales had a breakthrough year with a sales volume estimated over $40 Billion in 2021 as reported by Bloomberg,” stated Mr. Kim Chan, the CEO of Ouction. He further added “Everyday, news on the development of the metaverse and how it will reshape the way we interact with each other in the real and virtual world. The use of NFT, blockchain technologies, and smart contracts is the cornerstone of bringing/creating digital assets from the real world to the virtual world. Ouction’s marketplace plans to be a niche market in art, historical artifacts, photos, and videos.”

About Integrated Media Technology Limited (“IMTE”)

IMTE is an Australian company engaged in the business of manufacture and sale of nano-coated plates for filters, the manufacture and sale of electronic glass, the operating of an online exchange platform for trading in digital assets, and the provision of financial research. For more information, please visit www.imtechltd.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects” or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:
Email: info@imtechltd.com

Source: TG Daily – Integrated Media Technology Limited Announces the completion of the development of its NFT Trading Platform “Ouction”

Spain has announced new rules for how social media influencers and others can advertise cryptocurrency assets.

Starting next month, the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) will require people and companies to notify it at least 10 days before running campaigns for crypto assets.

The new rules apply to influencers with more than 100,000 subscribers who are paid to promote cryptocurrency.

The CNMV has previously used social media to throw cold water on crypto hype, warning that “cryptoassets, being unregulated products, carry some significant risks,” the agency said in a tweet from professional soccer player Andrés Iniesta after he enthusiastically promoted the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

The agency’s new rules won’t stop influencers from telling their followers about cryptocurrency, but they’ll let the agency keep closer tabs on what exactly is being offered and make sure audiences are aware of what they’re selling.

Earlier this month, a proposed lawsuit was filed against Floyd Mayweather and others over the use of the cryptocurrency. 

Spain sets new rules for influencers who promote cryptocurrency | Engadget

Those with more than 100,000 followers need to include warnings about crypto risks..

Continue reading on Engadget

Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather sued by investors over alleged crypto scam

A class action lawsuit accuses Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather of artificially inflating the price of the cryptocurrency EthereumMax.

Continue reading on CNBC

Storyboard18 | Can Crypto Ads Land Celebrities In Legal Trouble?

Kim Kardashian and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather are being sued over allegations that they misled investors when promoting a little-known cryptocurrency. Are Indian celebrities at such risk as well?

Continue reading on Moneycontrol

Source: TG Daily – Spain Imposes New Regulations Over Crypto Advertising

In 2022, one of the biggest threats in terms of cyber security is keeping your data safe. There are many stakeholders with a vested interest in the data and browsing habits of their clients. Therefore, if you want to keep your data safe, you need to encrypt it. One of the most convenient ways to do so is by using a VPN. In this article, you can learn more about how VPNs can help in data protection.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a dedicated server that monitors and secures all of your data. VPN services often offer hundreds or even thousands of servers located across the globe. When one device is connected to a VPN, third parties with whom the device communicates online see only the VPN server’s IP address, while the device’s IP address is concealed.

VPNs may be advantageous in a variety of situations. They may be used, for example, to access material that is not accessible in a certain location. Additionally, they may be used to conceal surfing activity from your internet service provider. They may also assist in securing data and allowing for more control over data access.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a dedicated server that monitors and secures all of your data. VPN services often offer hundreds or even thousands of servers located across the globe. When one device is connected to a VPN, third parties with whom the device communicates online see only the VPN server’s IP address, while the device’s IP address is concealed.

How VPNs Help with SaaS Applications

Numerous firms host their most important SaaS tools in a cloud infrastructure, which is among the most prevalent strategies for enhancing SaaS security controls. When businesses exercise control over how their workers use company resources, they mitigate the danger of a hack. However, what can you do when you have workers that work remotely outside your workplace? 

And what should you do if you have a large number of SaaS applications and your staff is experiencing difficulty memorizing all of their unique usernames and passwords? To facilitate access, you may utilize a VPN to grant remote access to required services and a directory provider to simplify authentication.

A VPN enables safe remote access to the private infrastructure that contains all of the SaaS tools required for workers to perform their tasks. Is an individual working at home on a day-to-day basis? There is no issue. Are you attending a seminar? This process is simple. Conducting a sales presentation at a prospective client’s place of business? It’s never been more straightforward! 

Regardless of where workers are located or when they want to connect to the network, a VPN enables them to obtain the data they need, precisely when they require it, while also maintaining the security of your system. Additionally, you may quickly implement multi-factor verification, which requires users to input their login and passcode in addition to a key produced via a device, such as a cellphone. 

This guarantees that the connection is only accessible to authenticated users. After individuals log in to the VPN server, they have access to SaaS apps, often through additional unique sets of passwords per application.

Final Thoughts

If you want to learn more about how integrating SaaS will benefit your business, and why SaaS customer support is more important than ever, check out the linked blog. In the meantime, you can take some major steps to secure your data simply by using a VPN to encrypt your browsing history!

Written by Barbara McGee

Source: TG Daily – How VPNs Can Help in Data Protection

Sexual violence can be debilitating both physically and emotionally, and it can be difficult for a person who has experienced sexual violence to return to life before the assault. Indeed, it may feel impossible to return to work in an ordinary capacity or to go about daily activities. When sexual violence affects students, it can be significantly disruptive to education. Many students who report sexual assault and formally file Title IX complaints ultimately end up leaving the institution where the sexual violence occurred, and often after their coursework suffers. Survivors of sexual violence at colleges and universities should know that they do have rights under Title IX and that they may be able to take legal action if an educational institution or Title IX coordinator does not take steps to provide protection or to effectively prohibit retaliation. A Title IX lawyer can provide you with more information. 

Title IX is Supposed to Afford Equal Access to Educational Opportunities

When Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was passed, it was intended to afford equal access to educational opportunities for students regardless of sex. Indeed, the language of Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Yet for many students who report sexual violence at colleges and universities, and who ultimately file Title IX complaints, the acts of sexual violence themselves and subsequent consequences of the Title IX investigation process result in disrupted educations due to mental and physical health impacts, being retraumatized by the Title IX investigation, and as a result of retaliation from respondents.

Research Suggests Students Who Face Sexual Violence Experience Educational Disruptions

According to a study conducted by the nonprofit organization Advocates for Youth, “39 percent of survivors who reported sexual violence to their schools experienced a substantial disruption in their educations.” Some of those students left the school temporarily, while others withdrew from the college or transferred to another institution. Beyond these interruptions in education, students also experience grade declines and other consequences of sexual violence and the subsequent reporting and investigation process under the school’s Title IX protocols. The Advocates for Youth student emphasizes that “educational interruptions occur not because of sexual violence alone, but because of sexual violence exacerbated by schools’ inadequate or otherwise harmful responses to reports of violence.” 

That report cites the following statistics concerning educational disruptions or interruptions among students who experienced and reported sexual violence:

• Approximately 27 percent of those students took a leave of absence
• About 20 percent of those students transferred to another school
• Almost 10 percent dropped out and did not enroll in another institution

Students who experienced educational disruptions also reported that they had endured “name-calling by school officials,” according to the report and that the investigations were “drawn out for years,” thereby making it difficult or even impossible to move forward and to focus on getting an education.

Any student who is a survivor of sexual violence and has faced unfair treatment during a Title IX process should seek advice from a Title IX attorney who can help.

Written by Spencer Calvert

Source: TG Daily – How Sexual Violence Leads to Disrupted Educations

To me, autonomous driving is a no-brainer. Once in place, it would save hundreds of thousands of lives per year by eliminating the vast majority of deadly vehicle accidents and it would also eliminate many of the logistics problems associated with moving materials long distances over land. But I also believe in mask mandates, vaccine mandates, seat belts, helmets for motorcycle riding and snow skiing, and other safety efforts that have had, when announced, significant push back from users.   

The way autonomous driving is being presented is as a technology that will take away your “privilege” of driving yourself by turning that privilege over to a computer. As a society we don’t really trust computers and for good reason. Large companies like Facebook have clearly misused the technology to do harm, reinforcing this distrust of technology. People, in general, don’t like to lose privileges and tend to fight efforts to dictate their behaviors, even when they’re demonstrably for their own good. It often seems like large portions of our population live by the concept that no one can make them do things that are for their and their fellow citizens’ benefit if it results in some reduction of perceived freedoms.  

There are two ways to fix this, and they aren’t mutually exclusive. One is to more aggressively point out the financial, health, and life expectancy benefits of autonomous driving technology, and the other is to lead with the other option for autonomous driving called “Guardian Angel”.  

Let’s take each in turn.

The financial, liability, health, convenience, and life expectancy benefits of autonomous cars

Currently, it is estimated that much of our investment in automobiles is wasted. We pay tens of thousands of dollars for our cars, but unless we are doing delivery or ride-sharing, those cars spend most of their time underutilized just sitting in garages and parking spaces.  The average cost of a car as of January 2021 is $41K for a new car and $22K for a used one.  That makes the monthly payment around $451 and insurance averages $124 a month for a total of nearly $600 a month or around $7K a year.  That’s a lot of money tied up in an asset you only rarely use.  This cost can change a lot depending on where you live. But self-driving cars will be offered as a service where the costs can be spread across several users, they’ll require less expensive insurance, and most should be electric, reducing gas charges significantly. Even if you own and use the car exclusively costs are expected to drop up to 50% year over year. With shared use, that savings would be significantly greater, and you could turn your garage or carport into living space.  

When you drive and own a car, the liability for any accident lies with you.  With a fully autonomous car service, the liability resides with the service. Since they are far less likely to be in an accident in the first place, you are far less likely to be killed or injured. Particularly when we talk about kids or those driving under the influence, this could be the difference between a long, happy life and a far shorter one. Because we likely did the same, we know kids often take unreasonable risks with cars. Even if they are responsible young people, they could still be a passenger or hit by a car driven by someone behaving irresponsibly. Autonomous vehicles would reduce that frightening probability significantly.  

Finally, autonomous vehicles drop you off and pick you up where you are. You shouldn’t have to find parking, find yourself in a dicey area looking for your car, worry about your car being broken into or stolen (if you are using a service, that’s the service’s problem, and if you own the car, it should be able to protect itself and aggressively alert if someone is trying to break into it; these are connected vehicles after all, and they should be able to call for help).  

Guardian Angel

At an NVIDIA event years ago, Toyota spoke to two types of autonomous car technology, and they aren’t mutually exclusive. The most common we talk about is Chauffer where the car drives and you are a passenger. This is also the mode most people who don’t like the concept object to. But the other type is called “Guardian Angel”. Toyota argued, and I agree, that this is the more attractive of the two formats. This is where the car can drive autonomously but can allow the driver to have some control over the vehicle and it simply acts to protect the driver aggressively. If the driver is under the influence, distracted, doing something unsafe, or in distress, the system can near-instantly take over the driving responsibilities to avoid an accident.  

This could even work on track days where the car could learn the track and then calculate the ideal speed and apex to optimize the speed of the vehicle for the track design and surface conditions. The driver could then provide a directional GPS-like guide on their heads-up display showing the ideal line and ideal speed which they can follow, like using an onboard coach.  

This is closer to having an always-ready co-pilot that is totally focused on keeping you, your spouse, your loved ones, and your kids safe while being transported and assuring the kinds of accidents that take our loved ones from us every year become a thing of the past.  

Guardian Angel allows us to retain some control over the car but still gain the safety, reduced stress, and some of the cost benefits of an autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel. It is close to having your cake and eating it too.  

Wrapping up:

Autonomous cars are likely going to have similar sales issues to other safety technologies that seem to reduce freedoms. Drivers fought mandatory seat belts, mandatory helmets, and other mandated practices designed to reduce the medical costs to the state and protect lives and livelihoods. But if people realize that these technologies can bring them longer happier lives, can keep their loved ones far safer, and can be deployed so their driving privileges aren’t revoked, I think the technology will be far more successful sooner and that, statistically, we’ll have longer, happier lives. 

Source: TG Daily – Why Autonomous Driving Efforts May Fail And How They Could Instead Succeed

In a competitive business environment, more business owners are looking to improve the quality of their output while reducing the total costs.  In this instance, businesses need to get more from their employees. At the same time, however, employees also expect more from the business that has hired them. 

Employee recognition and reward program is a method that allows businesses to change the behaviors of employees and have them motivated to be more productive for the business. To understand how small businesses can leverage from these methods and strategies, you need to first understand the difference between reward and recognition. 

Reward Vs Recognition

Even though many people will use recognition and reward interchangeably, it is better to categorize both of them separately when trying to implement a system. Employee reward systems are usually a procedure system that allows businesses to reward their workers and motivate them on group or individual levels. 

They are normally considered separate from salaries, but can also be monetary in nature in which a company will have to account for a cost. Businesses have also begun to implement employee recognition programs as a tool to draw appeal to the best and most qualified employees. 

This not only helps businesses attract good workers towards their business but also helps increase their efficiency in a competitive job market. Nonetheless, employee recognition programs are often combined with reward programs despite having different purposes. 

A reward program helps put out a psychological reward of financial benefits. Regardless of being different in nature, the elements of designing and maintaining the recognition and reward system are similar. Therefore, it is useful to keep their differences in mind when trying to implement the system. Both of the strategies are great for motivating the staff while reducing the overall cost. 

Differentiate Reward Programs from Performance Appraisals 

When a business is creating a reward program, the HR managers and owners need to set aside the monetary incentives. It requires businesses to distant salaries from regular basis financial rewards such as bonuses and commissions. By doing so, managers can avoid a sense of entitlement on the part of the employee, and ensure that the reward encourages extraordinary achievements and excellence. 

Pay increases due to merit should not be a part of the employee reward system.  This is because they do not particularly have an impact on motivating employees and encouraging them to perform beyond their limitations for a company. This is because when implementing this reward system, the distinction between a good employee and an average one is very small. 

In many businesses, teamwork is a critical aspect and needs to be reinforced. Thus, a reward system can reflect an employee’s compatibility and coordination when working as a part of a team. On the other hand, merit increases focus more on individual job performances without looking at achievements within a group or business. 

Designing a reward program 

When creating a reward program, a business must keep in mind some of the key elements. Businesses must determine the desired behavior, value, and achievement that they want from their employees. After identifying this, businesses need to find the best reward system which will precisely reinforce the particular goal. 

 After creating a reward and recognition program, new businesses have to move into the phase of trial and error. This will require them to apply the system and judge whether the performance of the team has improved. Since rewards require businesses to spend time and money, a small business owner must to sure that the performance has indeed improved. 

Oftentimes, analyzing a reward system’s performance thoroughly requires measuring financial returns along with other impacts. These can involve reduced defects, quicker deliveries, more customer satisfaction, and more. When developing a reward program, a business owner should ensure that the system is easy to comprehend and follow. 

The specifics of the system should be integrated in the daily tasks and procedures of the employee. If an employee does not understand the reward system, they will be unable to adhere to it. You can also promote the system through different means such as meetings and memos.  

Types of Reward Systems 

There are different types of reward systems that a new business can implement. For instance, variable pay, which is you can put a small fraction of a worker’s pay under their achievement. Variable pay takes shape in many forms. These include bonus structures, one-time awards, and stock options. Many companies use variable pay methods to get the best out of their workforce. 

Final Thoughts 

Similar to variable pay, there are many different types of reward programs. A recognition program may require workers and HR representatives to make extra efforts and receive fewer intangible returns. Employees not only want monetary benefits for their work, but also recognition for their work. This is where recognition programs come into play.

Written by Callum Jackson

Source: TG Daily – How Small Businesses can Utilize Reward and Recognition Systems to their Advantage

The onset of widespread social media adoption has democratized and enhanced the functions of human resource management. Today, many factors lead to changes in compensations, employee reward systems, and employee recognition strategies. 

Reward and recognition strategies are often subject to internal and external work environments. Factors that drive change in rewards systems and employee recognition can be separated into internal and external contexts. 

Internal Factors 

To understand the internal factors, you have to know about the organizational culture. This culture consists of shared values and assumptions. These influence the way you interact with each other in the workplace. In reward systems, it is very important to take note of the organizational values when you are developing reward systems and considering employee recognition software. 

These values revolve around the desired behaviors of organizational culture and goals. In an organization, there are typically two types of cultures. The first type of culture is entitlement-oriented, while the second is contribution-oriented. 

Entitlement culture focuses more on employees as a part of their family members. It gives way to more personal rewards and heartfelt recognition. The contribution culture shifts focus on the individual and their contribution towards the business’s growth. Both of these are factors that shape the reward system and set it out to particular directions. 

Organization Type – Bureaucratic and non-Bureaucratic  

An organization will likely follow a bureaucratic system or a post-bureaucratic system. In the bureaucratic system, organizations and employees have to adhere to stringent policies and rules. Not to mention, they are also subject to vertical hierarchies. This means that their path to rewards and recognition is standard, and requires overcoming milestones. 

In this type of business, workers have to face rational decisions where rules are followed. On the other hand, organizations that adhere to a post-bureaucratic system have much different company dynamics. In this system, there are fewer hierarchies within employees, and this leads to more transparency between managers are workers. 

In a bureaucratic organization, managers have to set up recognition strategies that are based on compliance and control. This means that the reward system will be focused on adherence to company rules, procedures, and policies. Alternatively, a post-bureaucratic culture endorses reward systems that recognize the individual capabilities of workers, and recognition is much more fluid. 

In the bureaucratic organization, multi-grading structures and pay spans take place. This means that employee salaries may increase due to the longevity of their service. In post-bureaucratic organization, there is a much broader graded structure; employees earn rewards according to particular achievements.  

In addition to that, the post-bureaucratic system also applies compensational benefits that reflect the needs of the individual employee. Hence, in this organizational culture, the types of rewards can also vary accordingly. Overall, the bureaucratic system is much more standardized, while the non-bureaucratic system is more open-ended and involves the aspect of networking. 

Business Sector 

The industry sector in which a business operates is also a key driving factor that shapes employee recognition and reward system. Each different business sector has its own set of values and ethos which reflect deeply in the employee recognition program. Furthermore, each sector also has its own rules and based on those rules, HR representatives and managers have to implement reward strategy practices. 

Work Environment 

Work environment is a factor that plays an over-arching role to enhance the performance of an organization. Some areas of a business require good cooperation and teamwork, while other areas may require individual achievements. You have to focus on piece-rate systems, along with multi-skilling strategies when implementing a reward system in that company. 

When implementing a new employee recognition system, you are more focused on attracting high-quality workforce. These are usually workers that have the knowledge of technologies which impact grades and pay structures. 

Occupations 

People’s occupation is another important factor that can determine grades, pay structures, incentives and rewards. There are different types of employees in a business. Some work in sales, while others may work in support or production. For instance, a sales representative focuses more on commissions and incentives, while others are more focused on getting salaries and climbing up the hierarchal corporate ladder. 

Business strategy 

This factor refers to a business’s intention, and goals. It keeps a tab on what the organization plans to do in order to fulfill their core value. If the organization is focused on attracting high-quality people, then they may use a competitive reward system that leads the market. Similarly, other values will lead to different strategies that positively reinforce workers to work towards that value. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, these are core factors upon which employee recognition and reward systems experience change. As the workplace is moving towards digital applications, factors such as business types and strategies have also changed, which manifests a completely different reward and recognition system. 

Written by Lara Harper

Source: TG Daily – Factors Driving Change in Employee Recognition and Reward System

Philadelphia is a huge, densely populated city with a large population of people who commute over vast distances. In Philadelphia, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury-related death. In 2015, 936 people died in motor vehicle accidents in Philadelphia. These accidents happen due to many factors, such as speeding, failure to yield, or drunk driving. Some of the most common types of accidents that happen in Philadelphia are single-car crashes and head-on collisions.

Motor vehicles can be devastating. It brings severe injuries and can become a life-changing event. In addition, the financial and emotional burden of a motor vehicle accident can also drastically affect an individual. Therefore, if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, especially when due to another person’s negligence, then it is essential to hire Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorneys to protect your rights and get the deserving compensation.

Let us now see the most common types of motor vehicle accidents reported in Philadelphia.

1. Motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle accidents in Philadelphia increased by 16% in 2021, making it the fourth-largest increase in the country. With over 700 motorcycle accidents, Philadelphia is ranked second in the nation for the number of crashes with fatalities. The increase is due to a combination of factors, including more motorcycles on the roads, higher rates of alcohol use, and a lack of understanding among drivers about how to handle sudden situations involving motorcycles.

2. Car Accidents

In 2021, the number of car accidents in Philadelphia was projected to reach a record high. More than 1 million people are expected to be injured. With such a staggering amount of people at risk, the Department of Health and Human Services suggests that all drivers should take extra precautions to avoid such fatal accidents.

3. Bus accidents

Many bus accidents in Philadelphia are caused by drivers who lack experience. This is because many of the buses in Philadelphia are operated by independent contractors who only work part-time. These drivers aren’t required to undergo any special training or licensing, and they often drive the same route daily.

4. Commercial vehicle accidents

In the year 2021, the number of commercial vehicle accidents in Philadelphia was on the rise. This is a national trend and not just confined to Philadelphia. Many factors can be attributed to these increased numbers, such as driving under the influence, distracted driving, and the increasing popularity of autonomous vehicles.

Written by Barbara McGee

Source: TG Daily – What are the Most Common Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents Reported in Philadelphia?

Certain cannabinoid acids from hemp (Cannabis sativa) can prevent infection from the virus that causes COVID-19 by obstructing its entry into cells.

By binding to the spike protein, these acids can block the virus from reaching into cells and causing infection.

The study was published in the Journal of Natural Products. The research was led by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, College of Pharmacy and the Linus Pauling Institute.

“They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans,” van Breeman said, as quoted by local media. “Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2,’ the researchers noted in the abstract of the study. 

Some marijuana compounds can block coronavirus from entering cells: study

The researchers found that a pair of hemp compounds bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a vital step in the deadly bug?s path to infect people.

Continue reading on New York Post

Local hemp stores stock up after new discovery

Now local shops like TJ’s Provisions in Eugene are preparing for the potential for more sales.

Continue reading on KEZI News

Jimmy Kimmel Is High Off Covid?s Cannabis Breakthrough

All this time we have been listening to the C.D.C., we should have been eating CBD, Kimmel said of research showing that cannabis compounds can prevent Covid-19.

Continue reading on

Source: TG Daily – New Study Shows Hemp Compound May Prevent Covid-19 From Entering Human Cells

A high-quality handoff of the patient can deliver a great outcome in health care services. It can reduce medical errors and prevent disputes from happening between the two parties. However, practicing the handoff requires time, effort, and a set of skills all of its own.

If you are looking for the best way to improve your handoff communication, you will need to learn from an expert. CareAlign, the best provider of nursing handover tools and other relevant solutions, emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-for-all. Individuals must understand how to provide the best handoff communication and service possible given the available resources and conditions.

There is no one centralized solution because we have to deal with the complex health systems in the healthcare industry. However, there are some guidelines or good practices for physicians in training that can improve communication in the health facility setting. Of course, it is for the sake of the patient’s wellness and safety.

The key to a successful handoff result is the high quality of handoff communication. Here are the ways you can consider improving your handoff communication quality.

Don’t interject communication.

There have been many reports where the back-channeling could be a strong cause of the poor quality of handoff. In such a hectic place, we could see that some physicians conduct quick runs through the notes about the patients. During the conversation, they seemed to be affirmative of the information given by the sender of the patient. However, it does not guarantee that they are 100% focused and listening to each other. When back channeling happens, there’s a risk of missing information in the conversation. As the healthcare provider, it is important to make sure that the specialists really comprehend the information transfer. If you are the receiver, you also need to be more proactive and double-check with the sender if they are not giving you the complete information.

Conduct the interviews.

To review the current quality of your healthcare handoff, you could conduct an intern interview with your internal team members. Together with your colleagues, you will be able to identify the root causes of the problem. Therefore, you will understand what went wrong and why the handoff was poor.

The interview’s main objective is to understand the areas for improvement and pitfalls to avoid. Since the topic is handoff communication, your internal interviews should revolve around the mentioned topic. It is the right opportunity to ask questions about the communication errors that happen between your healthcare providers. These miscommunications or misunderstandings can be harmful to patients. Through the open discussion with your internal team members, you are able to find the feedback process to determine the key issues. Therefore, you can steer clear of the problems and improve the handoff communication for good.

Check if the sign-out processes are clear.

The sign-out process can be different from one program to another. Each healthcare provider might have their own unique sign-out process. However, the overall objective of the sign-out is to update the information. Therefore, the most effective sign-out processes are those that are accurate and updated. It is highly crucial to keep the patients’ information updated.

Adding video cues to handoff solutions

In many cases, the visual cues are important for clarifying many things in the handoff process. You will want to confirm that the handoff process is done without flaws.

Offering face-to-face interaction, you will be able to conduct verbal exchanges with your partners although you are away from the hospital. While physicians might have different means of communication, the most preferred Patient Handoff Tool nowadays is still face-to-face. When it is not possible because of different locations or other situations, you could use a video conference tool to procure the same communication procedure.

Provide the necessary patient information.

When it comes to the handoff, you must think about the kind of information you need to care for the particular patient right now. Here, there is no need to offer long details of the personal life of the patient. Some doctors run through every review system to find out what they think. Well, that’s wasting your time and energy. For the sender, it is important to isolate the most relevant information, which you can use right now to treat your patients well. For the receiver, it is okay to be proactive and ask as many questions as you need, as long as they are all relevant to your handoff patients.

It does not hurt to exercise a bit of if-then and to-do. When the team has such a formula, it will be much easier to handoff.

Understand the limits of caregivers

In the field of work, clinical tasks are popularly known as the causes of fatigue. There are some familiar tasks that can be done quickly. But when it comes to the handoff, one could hit a certain point in the difficult weighing. The decision-making can be a bit tricky there. The challenges will be multiplied when the caregivers in the hospital are already tired. Fatigue can affect how you care. Therefore, it is important to make sure that everyone on board is fit and healthy.

Pay attention to the handoff level of threats.

Some handoffs are simple since the patent conditions are not life-threatening. But there are also some high-risk handoff agendas that you need to pay attention to. When the patient is moving, they are critical or unstable. These patients usually have worse conditions, where a slight mistake could end their lives. The high-risk handoff usually comes with a lot of pressure. To improve the communication in handoff, one could make use of the template so that they can focus on treating their patients. Understand the levels of treats in every handoff. Each handoff is important.

Therefore, it is also a great idea to access a wide array of resources to improve the model procedures and skills. Consider taking a look at the tips above when you want to improve the handoff communication quality. You could also use the tools to help you improve the handoff quality.

Get more information at CareAlign.

Source: TG Daily – Effective handoff communication

Magawa, who retired in June last year, died over the weekend, the international non-profit organisation APOPO announced on Tuesday. 

Magawa was in good health and spent most of last week playing with his usual enthusiasm, but towards the weekend he started to slow down, napping more and showing less interest in food in his last days, APOPO said in a statement.

“All of us at APOPO are feeling the loss of Magawa and we are grateful for the incredible work he’s done,” the organisation said in a heartfelt tribute.

In 2020, Magawa was honoured with a gold medal from the UK-based People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals for lifesaving bravery and devotion to duty – the first rat to receive the award.

Magawa was bred in Tanzania and was brought to Siem Reap in Cambodia in 2016 to begin clearing mines.

Magawa, the landmine-sniffing hero rat, dies aged eight

Magawa was awarded a gold medal for heroism for clearing landmines in Cambodia.

Continue reading on BBC News

‘Hero rat’ wins gold medal from UK charity for hunting landmines

A rat in Cambodia has been heralded a hero and awarded for saving lives.

Continue reading on CNN

Hero rats sniff out landmines and TB – CNN

Can a rat be a hero? It can if it saves lives. Meet the giant rats that sniff out landmines and TB

Continue reading on CNN

Source: TG Daily – Landmine Sniffing Rat Dies At The Age Of 8