Category: Science

MIL-OSI Australia: Win for SA sport with new SASI up and running
Source: University of South Australia
26 September 2024

UniSA’s Prof Jon Buckley and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard with SASI athletes.

South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) athletes have had a first look at their new, state-of-the-art Mile End facility, ahead of operations commencing next week.

The nearly $90 million SASI build has been designed to give South Australian and SA-based athletes a competitive edge, featuring nation-leading spaces including:
- Strength and conditioning gym, fit with five lane synthetic turf testing space (three lanes are 60 metres and two lanes are 40 metres) and anti-gravity treadmill.
- Environmental chamber for athlete testing under a range of temperature, hypoxic and humidity conditions.
- Full sized indoor sprung timber court and half court movement studio, designed for instant performance analysis under individual and team modes.
- Ergometer training space, home to the SASI rowing and canoe/kayak programs.
- Physiology laboratory and athlete health rooms, fit out for our allied health partners.
- Athlete recovery centre, complete with athlete nutrition zone.
- Biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories fit for our allied health partners and for students to learn about the role that forces play in movement and physiological responses to exercise and training.
The Malinauskas Government has invested $68 million towards the development, which provides a world-class sport, research and education hub to high performance athletes, coaches and university students.

UniSA Prof Jon Buckley and SASI athlete and weightlifter Callum Thomas

Project partner UniSA has contributed a further $20 million for capital costs, which will see the UniSA Sports Science Hub open on the second floor in the coming months, with high performance sport science laboratories and teaching spaces for students undertaking a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

The building will also be home to the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, which was instrumental in the design and building process, working alongside COX Architecture and Hansen Yuncken.

The new facility launches as one of the best high-performance sports precincts in the country. Its Mile End location sits right on the doorstep of Adelaide’s CBD, and is co-located with the pioneering National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded SA Athletics Stadium, and the SA Netball Centre.

The Mile End sports precinct is set to be a drawcard for international sports teams with world-renowned organisations having already expressed their interest in basing themselves in Adelaide to use these amenities.

A SASI open day event will be held early next year where members of the public will be invited to come along and take a tour of the new facility.

Quotes attributable to Katrine Hildyard

Through this remarkable new SASI, our Government is proudly ensuring South Australia is at the forefront of world-class sport performance and research, and empowering more athletes to chase their sporting dreams.

The new SASI and its state-of-the-art features will be a key site in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games and beyond, supporting the work of our South Australian athletes and coaches and also attracting national and international teams to Adelaide.

This almost $90 million development is a key part of the brilliant sporting precinct we are developing at Mile End with our National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded Athletics Stadium and soon to be redeveloped SA Netball Centre all neighbours.

We know that the new SASI will enable every athlete who uses this facility to have the best possible support around them as they strive to realise their ambition to compete at the highest level.

Quotes attributable to SASI Director Keren Faulkner

SASI’s new home in Mile End is something I am extremely proud of where we will help athletes develop into the best version of themselves, both in their sporting pursuits and in their everyday lives.

As an organisation that is at the heart of South Australia’s sporting success, I’m thrilled that this space has been designed to be inclusive and support every type of elite athlete.

It will also enable our coaches and staff to power greatness in their work where we’ve always had a world class team and now, we have the facilities to match this – the sky’s the limit in terms of what we can achieve.

Our partnership with UniSA will also give us great opportunities to promote the way research, science and academia can work together with sport.

Quotes attributable to UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean: UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit

UniSA is very pleased to partner with the State Government and South Australian Sports Institute in this world-class development.

The collaboration draws upon the expertise of SASI and UniSA to dually advance the preparation of high-performance athletes and educate the elite sports workforce of the future.
Other articles you may be interested in

MIL OSI News –
January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207 – B10-0146/2024

Source: European Parliament

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Members responsible: Martin Häusling, Biljana Borzan, Anja Hazekamp

B10‑0146/2024

European Parliament resolution on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207 (2024/2840(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 renewing the authorisation for the placing on the market of feed containing, consisting of and of food and feed products produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1207 [1],

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed [2], and in particular Article 11(3) and Article 23(3) thereof,

– having regard to the vote of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, on 26 April 2024, at which no opinion was delivered, and the vote of the Appeal Committee on 29 May 2024, at which again no opinion was delivered,

– having regard to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers [3],

– having regard to the opinion adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 30 November 2023, and published on 19 January 2024 [4],

– having regard to its previous resolutions objecting to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (‘GMOs’)[5],

– having regard to Rule 115(2) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety,

A. whereas, on 6 October 2022, Bayer Agriculture BV, based in Belgium, submitted on behalf of Bayer CropScience LP, based in the United States, an application to the Commission for the renewal of Commission Implementing Decisions 2013/649/EU [6] and (EU) 2017/1207 [7]; whereas, in accordance with Article 11(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, the period of authorisation of genetically modified pollen produced from genetically modified maize MON 810 (the ‘GM maize’) for food uses covered by Implementing Decision 2013/649/EU has been automatically extended until a decision is taken on the renewal application;

B. whereas, on 30 November 2023, EFSA adopted a favourable opinion, which was published on 19 January 2024;

C. whereas the GM maize has been modified to produce insecticides (‘Bt toxins’);

Outstanding questions concerning Bt toxins

D. whereas a number of studies show that side effects have been observed that may affect the human immune system following exposure to Bt toxins and that some Bt toxins may have adjuvant properties [8], meaning that they can increase the allergenicity of other proteins with which they come into contact;

Bt crops: effects on non-target organisms

E. whereas, unlike the use of insecticides, where exposure is at the time of spraying and for a limited time afterwards, the use of Bt GM crops leads to continuous exposure of the target and non-target organisms to Bt toxins;

F. whereas the assumption that Bt toxins exhibit a single target-specific mode-of-action can no longer be considered correct and effects on non-target organisms cannot be excluded; whereas an increasing number of non-target organisms are reported to be affected in many ways; whereas 39 peer-reviewed publications that report significant adverse effects of Bt toxins on many ‘out-of-range’ species are mentioned in a recent overview [9];

Member State comments

G. whereas Member States submitted many critical comments to EFSA during the three-month consultation period [10], including that the compositional data for the GM maize should be checked and re-analysed and that the analysis should fulfil the present EFSA requirements, inter alia equivalence testing, and that the literature review did not include studies on the fate of Cry1Ab in the environment or on potential effects of Bt-crop residues on non-target organisms, which is problematic because publications indicate that a carryover from GM maize feed to manure may lead to exposure of soil organisms to Cry1Ab and that this may trigger negative effects on soil organisms with consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services;

H. whereas Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 states that GM food or feed must not have adverse effects on human health, animal health or the environment, and requires the Commission to take into account any relevant provisions of Union law and other legitimate factors relevant to the matter under consideration when drafting its decision; whereas such legitimate factors should include the Union’s obligations under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD);

Reducing dependency on imported feed

I. whereas one of the lessons from the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine is the need for the Union to end the dependencies on some critical materials; whereas in the mission letter to Commissioner-elect Christophe Hansen, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asks him to look at ways to reduce imports of critical commodities [11];

Undemocratic decision-making

J. whereas the vote on 26 April 2024 of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed referred to in Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 delivered no opinion, meaning that the authorisation was not supported by a qualified majority of Member States; whereas the vote on 29 May 2024 of the Appeal Committee again delivered no opinion;

K. whereas, in its eighth term, Parliament adopted a total of 36 resolutions objecting to the placing on the market of GMOs for food and feed (33 resolutions) and to the cultivation of GMOs in the Union (three resolutions); whereas, in its ninth term, Parliament adopted 38 objections to placing GMOs on the market;

L. whereas despite its own acknowledgement of the democratic shortcomings, the lack of support from Member States and the objections of Parliament, the Commission continues to authorise GMOs;

M. whereas no change of law is required for the Commission to be able not to authorise GMOs when there is no qualified majority of Member States in favour in the Appeal Committee [12];

N. whereas, on 2 July 2024, the Commission renewed the authorisation for the placing on the market of the GM maize;

1. Considers that Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003;

2. Considers that Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828 is not consistent with Union law, in that it is not compatible with the aim of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, which is, in accordance with the general principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council [13], to provide the basis for ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, animal health and welfare, and environmental and consumer interests, in relation to GM food and feed, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market;

3. Calls on the Commission to repeal Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1828;

4. Welcomes the fact that the Commission finally recognised, in a letter of 11 September 2020 to Members, the need to take sustainability into account when it comes to authorisation decisions on GMOs [14]; expresses its deep disappointment, however, that, since then the Commission has continued to authorise GMOs for import into the Union, despite ongoing objections by Parliament and a majority of Member States voting against;

5. Urges the Commission, again, to take into account the Union’s obligations under international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN CBD and the UN SDGs; reiterates its call for draft implementing acts to be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum explaining how they uphold the principle of ‘do no harm’[15];

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 22, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Action on NPSFM needed urgently

Source: ACT Party

“Farmers are under serious pressure from Labour’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 and action is urgently required to provide them with relief,” says Ruawai dairy farmer and ACT Rural Communities spokesperson Mark Cameron.

“The coalition government was elected with a mandate to end this unnecessary burden. We’ve made excellent progress, but a significant remnant of Labour’s damaging policies still lingers: the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020.

“Farmers have raised concerns with me about the proposed changes to the Otago Regional Council’s freshwater rules – rules which are being drafted in accordance with Labour’s NPSFM 2020.

“ACT continues to argue that the full repeal of NPSFM 2020 is the right approach.

“Short of achieving that, I have written to Environment Minister Penny Simmonds asking her to use section 25A of the RMA to allow the Otago Regional Council to remove any sections relating to freshwater management from their plan while allowing them to progress with other sections. This would provide consistency across councils and offer clarity for the farmers who have sought my help.

“Over the past six years, farmers have not only had to manage the day-to-day challenges of farming but also navigate a sea of red tape and costs imposed by the last Government. This onslaught has threatened one of our most efficient and productive industries.

“This policy introduced stringent rules, centralising control from Wellington, and elevating the vague concept of ‘Te Mana o te Wai’, the mana of the water. This principle has led to even more restrictive regulations being imposed on our farmers by regional councils.

“Today, despite the work of the Government, regional councils continue to integrate these stringent regulations and vagaries into their regional plans. Farmers face uncertainty and fear. This over-regulation not only stifles our agricultural productivity but also risks our entire national economy at a time when we should be empowering our most productive sectors.

“The concept of ‘Te Mana o te Wai’ is not only vague but replaces scientific benchmarks with subjective interpretations. This isn’t about environmental standards, which are necessary, it embeds a subjective idea of the mana of the water that leads to co-governance and unequal treatment based on who someone’s ancestors were. The broad and often ambiguous interpretation of this principle by councils and courts adds to the confusion, diverting from a clear, science-based approach.

“ACT is dedicated to real change. We cannot continue with a policy that burdens our farmers unnecessarily. We campaigned on a complete overhaul of this policy to remove subjective concepts and ensure that our freshwater management is scientifically sound and adapted to the needs of local communities.

“We are continuing to advocate for repealing the NPS-FM and allowing district councils more flexibility in how they meet environmental limits.

“It is time for urgent reform. We must protect our farmers from the ongoing effects of what has effectively been a war on our agricultural sector.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

September 30, 2024
MIL-Evening Report: ChatGPT is changing the way we write. Here’s how – and why it’s a problem

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ritesh Chugh, Associate Professor – Information and Communications Technology, CQUniversity Australia

Shutterstock

Have you noticed certain words and phrases popping up everywhere lately?

Phrases such as “delve into” and “navigate the landscape” seem to feature in everything from social media posts to news articles and academic publications. They may sound fancy, but their overuse can make a text feel monotonous and repetitive.

This trend may be linked to the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs). These tools are designed to make writing easier by offering suggestions based on patterns in the text they were trained on.

However, these patterns can lead to the overuse of certain stylistic words and phrases, resulting in works that don’t closely resemble genuine human writing.

The rise of stylistic language

Generative AI tools are trained on vast amounts of text from various sources. As such, they tend to favour the most common words and phrases in their outputs.

Since ChatGPT’s release, the use of words such as “delves”, “showcasing”, “underscores”, “pivotal”, “realm” and “meticulous” has surged in academic writing.

And although most of the research has looked specifically at academic writing, the stylistic language trend has appeared in various other forms of writing, including student essays and school applications. As one application editor told Forbes, “tapestry” is a particularly common offending term in cases where AI was used to write a draft:

I no longer believe there’s a way to innocently use the word ‘tapestry’ in an essay; if the word ‘tapestry’ appears, it was generated by ChatGPT.

Why it’s a problem

The overuse of certain words and phrases leads to writing losing its personal touch. It becomes harder to distinguish between individual voices and perspectives and everything takes on a robotic undertone.

Also, words such as “revolutionise” or “intriguing” – while they might seem like they’re giving you a more polished product – can actually make writing harder to understand.

Stylish and/or flowery language doesn’t communicate ideas as effectively as clear and straightforward language. Beyond this, one study found simple and precise words not only enhance comprehension, but also make the writer appear more intelligent.

Lastly, the overuse of stylistic words can make writing boring. Writing should be engaging and varied; relying on a few buzzwords will lead to readers tuning out.

There’s currently no research that can give us an exact list of the most common stylistic words used by ChatGPT; this would require an exhaustive analysis of every output ever generated. That said, here’s what ChatGPT itself presented when asked the question.

Possible solutions

So how can we fix this? Here are some ideas:

1. Be aware of repetition

If you’re using a tool such as ChatGPT, pay attention to how often certain words or phrases come up. If you notice the same terms appearing again and again, try switching them out for simpler and/or more original language. Instead of saying “delve into” you could just say “explore”, or “look at it closely”.

2. Ask for clear language

Much of what you get out of ChatGPT will come down to the specific prompt you give it. If you don’t want complex language, try asking it to “write clearly, without using complex words”.

3. Edit your work

ChatGPT can be a helpful starting point for writing many different types of text, but editing its outputs remains important. By reviewing and changing certain words and phrases, you can still add your own voice to the output.

Being creative with synonyms is one way to do this. You could use a thesaurus, or think more carefully about what you’re trying to communicate in your text – and how you might do this in a new way.

4. Customise AI settings

Many AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Claude allow you to adjust the writing style through settings or tailored prompts. For example, you can prioritise clarity and simplicity, or create an exclusion list to avoid certain words.

By being more mindful of how we use generative AI and making an effort to write with clarity and originality, we can avoid falling into the AI style trap.

In the end, writing should be about expressing your ideas in your own way. While ChatGPT can help, it’s up to each of us to make sure we’re saying what we really want to – and not what an AI tool tells us to.

Ritesh Chugh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ChatGPT is changing the way we write. Here’s how – and why it’s a problem – https://theconversation.com/chatgpt-is-changing-the-way-we-write-heres-how-and-why-its-a-problem-239601

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

September 30, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gedion Onyango, Research Fellow, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics and Political Science

Kenya has published a draft bill outlining protections for whistleblowers. Long in the making, the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2024 could help to encourage disclosures in a country where 86% of the respondents to a 2023 survey feared what might happen to them if they reported corruption cases. Gedion Onyango, who researches public accountability reforms, anti-corruption and whistleblowing reforms, sets out what protections are needed and how to change public mindsets.

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is disclosing information about behaviour or misconduct that could harm the public interest – the overall welfare of a society.

Whistleblowing is primarily associated with disclosing corruption in state institutions. Because the private sector has become a partner in public service and national development processes, emerging laws like Kenya’s whistleblower protection bill and existing ones like Botswana’s Whistleblower Protection Act 2016 have been designed also to expose activities of companies and institutions that directly affect public affairs.

Several key conditions must be met for whistleblowing to be effective.

Read more: Corruption in South Africa: would paying whistleblowers help?

Firstly, the society needs to broadly agree on what misconduct is. People should feel obliged to flag and address wrongdoing, and know what is expected when such information is disclosed. Essentially, the disclosure must be made in good faith.

Secondly, there must be an authority that is expected to and is willing to take action after receiving such information.

Thirdly, clear procedures or legal processes should be in place for receiving the information and determining the truth.

The person disclosing the information must find it easy to report, besides having sufficient evidence to support their claims. A thoroughly bureaucratic way of receiving information about wrongdoing is more likely to intimidate and discourage potential whistleblowers.

Fourthly, a system should be in place to reward individuals who disclose wrongdoing. This could involve recognising their contribution to society or providing financial incentives, often a percentage of money recovered in cases of corruption and asset recovery. Not all countries have this provision. But having such a reward is not always enough. This has been shown in Nigeria, where whistleblowing is declining despite the reward of 5% of recovered funds.

Finally, there needs to be trust in the authority and the process for it to work.

Why the focus on whistleblowers?

Whistleblowers are important sources of information about misconduct, dishonesty and unethical behaviour that would otherwise remain concealed from the public. They are critical in promoting human rights, fighting corruption and addressing governance misconduct and inequalities.

Many infamous scandals around the world have been brought to light by individuals who disclosed the wrongdoing. These include Kenya’s Anglo Leasing scandal.

Whistleblowing is essential to ethical public leadership. It is no accident that many developing countries are now enacting laws to encourage and protect whistleblowers. With new laws in Kenya, whistleblowers would no longer have to primarily defend themselves against non-disclosure clauses that outlaw disclosures of a potential wrongdoing. Whistleblowers have previously been targeted by public organisations for releasing information in an unprocedural manner.

You want to blow the whistle. What next?

Potential whistleblowers can use internal or external mechanisms to disclose wrongdoing. The choice of mechanism will depend on the whistleblower’s confidence or history with these mechanisms.

Studies have shown that internal whistleblowing is less desirable, and most whistleblowers prefer anonymous external whistleblowing channels that could prompt an investigation by an authority.

Read more: South Africa’s corporate whistleblowers don’t get enough protection: what needs to change

What protections should whistleblowers expect?

Effective whistleblower protection mechanisms include protecting the identities of whistleblowers until the responsible authority has checked that there was wrongdoing.

Whistleblowers should be protected from retaliation or harm, including social victimisation, physical attacks and disciplinary actions.

The law should ensure that an insider whistleblower, such as an employee, is protected from being intimidated, disciplined or removed from their position. This should be for a long enough time (for example, at least five years), even if the case ultimately collapses, as often happens.

In other words, the person should be protected from any loss, including damages that would affect their mental health or their job. This is typical of legislation globally.

In today’s age of social media, the laws against defamation should be applied strictly to guard against online harassment.

What would a forward-looking whistleblower policy look like?

It’s important that whistleblower protection policies are understood and accepted by everyone. The process should start with extensive consultation. It should involve authorities such as religious groups, traditional leaders and government administrators at the lowest levels.

Including whistleblowing in the country’s school, college and professional curriculum would increase awareness and improve social acceptance.

It’s often the case that whistleblowers are seen as betrayers or snitches rather than as courageous defenders of public interest and ethical members of society. The reward system for whistleblowers should be included in prestigious national honours such as the Presidential Award.

– Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them
– https://theconversation.com/kenyas-whistleblowers-are-key-to-fighting-corruption-how-a-new-law-could-protect-them-239647

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sun Dong attends automotive summit

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong attended automotive supply chain meetings in Wuhan, Hubei Province today.

In the morning, Prof Sun attended the 2024 China Automotive Supply Chain Conference & the Third China Intelligent Networked New Energy Vehicle Ecological Conference organised by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Dongfeng Motor Corporation, as well as the launch ceremony of the International Automotive & Supply Chain (Hong Kong) Summit and the 2025 International Automotive & Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong).

Speaking at the conference, Prof Sun said that the automobile industry has entered the new energy era, making it an emerging industry under new industrialisation. In the Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Development Blueprint, new energy vehicles is one of the significant industries advocated for development under new industrialisation.

He added that over the past two years or so, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attracted over 100 strategic innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises to set up their businesses in Hong Kong, including BeyonCa, a joint enterprise established earlier in the city by today’s event co-organiser Dongfeng Motor Corporation and France’s Renault Group.

The tech chief also expressed confidence that Hong Kong can make new contributions to the innovative development of the national supply chain of the new energy vehicle industry, thereby augmenting the new advantages of Chinese vehicle brands.

At the Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Prof Sun learnt about its latest developments, product planning and corporate culture. He also had in-depth exchanges with the corporation’s Chairman Yang Qing on its development of new quality productive forces in the future and potential co-operation opportunities between the two parties in aspects such as new industrialisation.

He particularly hoped that both sides’ collaboration on BeyonCa setting up in Hong Kong would serve to demonstrate their co-operation with each other.

During a tour of the assembly final workshop at the corporation’s Mengshi Tech Intelligent Park, Prof Sun experienced the functionality and performance of the latest domestic high-end off-road electric vehicles.

In the afternoon, he visited Wuhan FineMEMS to gain an understanding of the national high technology enterprise’s research and development, and products in providing Microelectromechanical Systems sensors, and metallic thick film pressure sensors and system.

Prof Sun then proceeded to the Wuhan University to exchange views with its leaders and experts, as well as other local higher education institutions, the Hubei Provincial Government’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office, Hubei Province’s Department of Science & Technology and high-tech enterprises.

The tech chief expressed his support for deepening I&T co-operation among higher education institutions between the two places.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at event entitled “Revitalized Multilateralism: Recommitting to Ending AIDS Together” [as prepared for delivery]

Source: United Nations secretary general

H.E Mr. William Ruto, President of Kenya, H.E Mr. Russell Dlamini, Prime Minister of Eswatini, H.E Mr. Terrance Micheal Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

What once seemed impossible— to end AIDS as a public health threat —is now within our reach by 2030.

In a time where divisions are widening, and conflicts are tearing at the social fabric of societies and when the spectre of the climate crisis looms, the progress we have made in ending AIDS is the success story we need to renew hope.

Today, the numbers of AIDS-related deaths reached their lowest level since the peak in 2004.
39% fewer people acquired HIV in 2023 compared with 2010.

And in 2023, an estimated 30.7 million people were receiving HIV treatment as compared with 7.7 million in 2010.

The AIDS response is a powerful testament to what is achievable when leaders unite efforts in service of global solidarity.

When communities are empowered.

When inequality is tackled, and human rights protected.

And when science-based policy making is matched with political will.

As a modern moonshot, the ripple effects of investments in the fight against HIV have yielded extraordinary dividends beyond the AIDS pandemic. Accelerating progress across other Sustainable Development Goals, including economic growth, poverty and hunger reduction, education, and universal health coverage.

However, we all know that progress is not immutable.

Gains are fragile and backsliding is possible.

As we speak, AIDS claims a life every minute. By the end of this session today, ninety families would have lost a loved one to AIDS.

We stand at a crossroads and to retreat now would jeopardize all we have fought for and gained.

To sustain the momentum, we need to take action on three fronts.

First, we must tackle the fiscal crisis that is squeezing social investments.

The current financial system is stacked against a sustainable AIDS response.

Half of sub-Saharan countries spend three times more on debt servicing than on health.

Meanwhile, for years these nations have been strangled by interest rates four to eight times those of high-income countries.

If we do not address the injustices of the financial system so countries can invest in bringing an end to AIDS now, we will pay the price in many ways later. We know that the costs of tackling AIDS are less than the costs of an unending pandemic.

Time is not on our side – now is the moment to boost domestic financing and to renew global solidarity and meeting the commitments to financing development and gavelled in the Pact for the Future.

Second, we must ensure access to medicines and medical technologies for all.

Innovative medical technologies need to be recognised as global public goods. Their effectiveness in ending AIDS as a public health threat depends on ensuring access to all.

This includes enabling the production of generics everywhere, crucial for global health security.

Third, we must continue the battle to stop stigma in its tracks.

Fear and discrimination drive people away from life-saving services.

Punitive laws, hate speech, violence against marginalized communities, exacerbate stigma and push people away from accessing vital health services.

It is vital to uphold all human rights for all people – including by removing punitive discriminatory laws that hold us back for reaching the goals on gender equality.

We must ensure that all girls complete secondary school, live free from violence, and have access to necessary support. Protect democracy and civil society space by enabling community-based organisations to operate, deliver services, and hold authorities to account.

Excellencies, Colleagues and Friends,

There is a clear path to ending AIDS by 2030.

A path that ensures the health and rights of all people living with HIV for the rest of their lives.

A path that we will ensure a safer, fairer, world for everyone.

That path is a choice.

We must choose solidarity over division.

Choose action over complacency.

Choose prosperity for all, not simply the few.

Just as we did when our global efforts began nearly 30 years ago.

Let’s act now to end AIDS by 2030 and deliver on the promise of the SDGs.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Robotic Moving ‘Crew’ Preps for Work on Moon

Source: NASA

As NASA moves forward with efforts to establish a long-term presence on the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign, safely moving cargo from landers to the lunar surface is a crucial capability.
Whether the cargo, also known as payloads, are small scientific experiments or large technology to build infrastructure, there won’t be a crew on the Moon to do all the work, which is where robots and new software come in.
A team at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, spent the last couple of years infusing existing robotic hardware with a software system that makes the robot operate autonomously. Earlier this month, that team, led by researcher Dr. Julia Cline of NASA Langley’s Research Directorate, ran demonstrations of their system called LANDO (Lightweight Surface Manipulation System AutoNomy capabilities Development for surface Operations and construction).

The demos took place in an area set up to look like the Moon’s surface, complete with fake boulders and a model lunar lander. During the first demo, the team placed the payload, a small metal box, on a black pedestal. The robotic arm stretched over the scene, with its dangling hook poised to grasp the box.
As the team huddled nearby around computers, sensors on the arm scanned the surrounding area, looking for the metal box, which was outfitted with encoded markers — similar to QR codes — that revealed critical information about its position and orientation relative to the arm. Using a graphic user interface, team member Amelia Scott also chose a location for LANDO to place the payload.

After locating the metal box and computing a safe path to move it, the arm began a slow, deliberate movement toward its target, coming in at a precise angle that allowed the hook to select a capture point on the payload. Once engaged, the arm slowly lifted the payload from the pedestal, moved right, and gently lowered the payload to the simulated lunar surface. With the payload safely on the surface, the system carefully disengaged the hook from the capture point and returned to its home position. The entire process took a few minutes. Shortly after the first demo was complete, the team did it again, but with a small model rover.
“What we demonstrated was the repeatability of the system,moving multiple payloads to show that we’re consistently and safely able to get them from point A to point B,” said Cline. “We also demonstrated the Lightweight Surface Manipulation System hardware – the ability to control the system through space and plan a path around obstacles.”
The system’s successful performance during the September demonstration marks the end of this project, but the first step in developing a larger system to go to the Moon.
Now that the team has determined how the system should function, Cline believes the next natural step would be to develop and test an engineering design unit on one of the landers going to the Moon as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The team is actively looking for industry partners who want to commercialize the capability.
Through CLPS, NASA is working with commercial companies to deliver science and technology demonstrations to the Moon.
The work behind LANDO could be directly infused into much larger versions of a lightweight surface manipulation system.

“The overall control system we’ve developed would apply to larger versions of the technology,” said Cline. “When you think about the payloads we’ll have to offload for on the Moon, like habitats and surface power systems, this is the kind of general-purpose tool that could be used for those tasks.”
The LANDO system was funded through the Early Career Initiative in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). Through STMD, NASA supports and develops transformative space technologies to enable future missions. As NASA embarks on its next era of exploration with the Artemis campaign, STMD is helping advance technologies, developing new systems, and testing capabilities at the Moon that will be critical for crewed missions to Mars.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Chavez-DeRemer-Backed Bill to Restore Forest Health, Improve Wildfire Resiliency
Source: United States House of Representatives – Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act passes as Oregon faces most expensive wildfire season in state history
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790) with bipartisan support. The proposal, cosponsored by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), seeks to restore forest health, improve wildfire resiliency, and protect communities by increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. This bill passed as Oregon is experiencing its most devastating wildfire season in recorded history.

“This wildfire season in Oregon has been tragic and devastating. So far this year, over 1.9 million acres have been scorched. That’s more than double the state’s 10-year average. Costing more than $250 million, the Oregon Department of Forestry has stated this is the most expensive wildfire season in our state’s history,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “It’s clear that more needs to be done to prevent another record-breaking wildfire season from occurring. That’s why I’m proud to support the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. It’s a comprehensive proposal that would improve forest management in areas at the highest risk for wildfires by using advanced science and technology. Providing needed resources to those affected, and working to prevent wildfires from starting in the first place, will continue to be top priorities.”

The Fix Our Forests Act would:
- Simplify and expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects;
- Promote federal, state, tribal, and local collaboration;
- Deter frivolous litigation that delays essential projects;
- Create a framework for prioritizing treatments in forests at the highest risk of wildfire;
- Encourage the adoption of state-of-the-art science and techniques for federal land managers;
- Encourage active management to improve the safety of powerlines and other infrastructure; and
- Strengthen tools like Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting.
A section-by-section analysis by the Natural Resources Committee is available HERE. A one-page summary is available HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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MIL OSI USA News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Russia: GUU takes part in events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

From September 19 to 20, the International Scientific and Practical Conference “On the Road of Struggle and Achievements: for the 75th Anniversary of the Formation of the PRC and the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Russia and China” was held in St. Petersburg.

Director of the Center for Socio-Economic and Political Research of China at the National University of Management Fanis Sharipov made a presentation at the plenary session on the program “International Manufacturing Business”. This is a dual degree program of the National University of Management and Ningbo University (PRC), which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

The next day, Fanis Sharipov became the moderator of the section “International Relations and Foreign Policy of the PRC in a Changing World”, and also gave a report “The Space Silk Road”.

The conference was organized by the Regional Office of the Interregional Public Organization “Russian-Chinese Friendship Society” in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg State University of Economics with the support of the A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

On September 27, the Director of the Center for Socio-Economic and Political Research of China at the State University of Management will attend a gala reception at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China.

And on September 30, 2024, a Gala Evening dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the 75th anniversary of Russian-Chinese diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese-Russian Friendship Society will be held in the Rossiya Cinema building.

The Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation I.I. Melnikov and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Russian Federation Zhang Hanhui will speak at the ceremonial meeting. After the speeches, the guests will enjoy a concert by the N.V. Osipov Folk Instruments Orchestra, soloists of the A.V. Alexandrov Song and Dance Ensemble, as well as musicians from the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Organizers of the event: Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/25/2024

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

GUU takes part in events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China

[embedded content]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL OSI Russia News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Recognizes Global Biotech Week

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on September 25, 2024

Agriculture Minister David Marit has proclaimed September 22 to 28, 2024, as Global Biotech Week in Saskatchewan. This week brings awareness to and celebrates the benefits of biotechnology, including the province’s achievements in the agriculture sector.

“Biotech is transforming the future of farming, from enhancing crop and livestock production to improving sustainability,” Marit said. “We are proud of the role our province plays in advancing this important sector, boosting our provincial economy and global food supply.”

Agricultural biotechnology equips Saskatchewan producers with improved upon productivity and management practices, resulting in higher yields and product quality. Saskatchewan’s biotech sector is recognized internationally, with one-third of Canada’s agricultural biotechnology sector in the province. Our institutes are leaders in the field of crop breeding, genetics and genomics.

“Ag-West Bio coordinates activities across the province to mark Global Biotech Week,” Biotech President and CEO Karen Churchill said. “The goal of Global Biotech Week is to bring attention to the ways that biotechnology benefits society. The world would look very different without biotechnology. Sustainable agriculture production, innovations in food and medicine are made possible thanks to science. We need to take time to celebrate!”

Members of the public are encouraged to check out the activities planned this week to showcase the province’s bioeconomy, including how science benefits agriculture. A full list of this year’s events, including several in Saskatoon and online, is available at www.globalbiotechweeksask.ca/.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: US election: why immigration remains a major issue for voters and why they trust Trump on border security

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eli Auslender, Research Fellow in Migration and Climate Change, Aberystwyth University

US border policy remains a key electoral issue for Democrats and presidential nominee Kamala Harris as she approaches the November election.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 77% of Americans believe the southern border is experiencing either an ongoing crisis or is a major problem. Meanwhile 55% wish to see less overall immigration, 53% support expansion of the border wall and 63% would support the president temporarily closing the border to asylum seekers when the border is “overwhelmed”.

The issue is an important one in border states, especially in those such as Arizona, where polls show an incredibly tight race.
Those who rate immigration as a top issue favour Donald Trump over Harris, and in one new poll voters say that Trump will be far more successful than Harris at securing the border.

Joe Biden’s initial border policies continued some entry restrictions brought in by Trump’s administration, which had restricted border entry during the heights of the pandemic. But Biden also opened new pathways for legal migration. This included expanding temporary protected status, which expedites work permits for specific populations fleeing violence or disasters from countries such as Haiti or Ukraine.

Biden’s congressional border bill failed to get through the Senate in June. In it, he aimed to speed up the asylum process, revoke visas of the bosses of companies that work with illegal immigrants, and add executive authority to shut border access.

Harris has confirmed that she wants to resurrect the Biden administration’s border bill despite criticism from advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union. It argues that it would cut off any access to asylum protections for the vast majority of people arriving at the US-Mexico border, and disregard human safety.

Democratic shift?

So how and why did Democrats shift their border policies so drastically when they had been openly against Trump’s border restrictions during his presidency – and what does this mean for potential border policies under a Harris administration?

Over the past decade, people from Central and South America have been fleeing for a variety of reasons, including the recent chaos in Haiti, the effect of harsh economic conditions in Venezuela and organised crime. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that the number of forcibly displaced people in the region is expected to reach 25 million.

Along with this, the US southern border has been inaccurately framed as the primary means through which fentanyl has entered the country and caused the opioid crisis. These two factors have linked asylum-seekers with fentanyl despite US citizens being the main smugglers of fentanyl into the country.

The Biden administration attempted to address some of these issues by appointing Harris, at the beginning of its term, to explore the “root causes” of migration from Central America. This included directing private sector investments towards countries from where large numbers of asylum seekers were fleeing. Research suggests that this does little to address organised crime or governance issues.

Read more:
No, immigrants aren’t eating dogs and cats – but Trump’s claim is part of an ugly history of myths about immigrant foodways

Immigration was under discussion in the recent presidential debate.

Customs and Border Protection reported in June that 2024 saw the fewest border crossings since 2021. The Harris campaign has seized on this to claim the Biden administration’s approach has been the correct one. A closer looks, however, suggests there are many different factors.

US Customs and Border Protection has increasingly restricted access to asylum as per the executive order, delaying those who can cross the border and need to claim asylum immediately. Mexico (among other states in Central America) has restricted northward movement towards the US border, including bussing people back to the south of the country.

Meanwhile, asylum-seeker deaths at crossing points within Central America and after crossing the US border have increased from 149 discovered remains in 2023 to 164 by August 2024. This would suggest that the root causes remain the same.

Asylum, border security, crime, and the opioid epidemic have been tangled into a single issue. National security and immigration are constantly linked. And this has led to the Harris campaign’s recent advertisements emphasising her “tough stances” on border crime.

This is in contrast to her criticism of Trump in 2018, when she called his border wall policy “un-American”. Despite past Democratic criticism of Trump’s harsh border restrictions, restrictive border policies have come from both parties.

Both parties claim that stronger enforcement and more rigorous vetting of asylum-seekers is needed, as well as expedited deportations and “safe third country” deportations. These positions still conflate asylum-seekers with criminals. Immigrant advocates have noted that the US’ asylum system is already one of the most complex in the world. Asylum cases often take years to decide.

The “remain in Mexico” policy, which forced asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their asylum applications were considered, was implemented by the Trump administration during the pandemic and maintained by the Biden administration. Advocacy group Human Rights Watch argued that it endangered countless asylum seekers, putting men, women and children at risk of violence or death, while they waited for their cases to be heard.

Seeking asylum is both a national and international right. The first potential policy priority to ease the border pressure should be to simplify the asylum process and reduce the time it takes to resolve a case from several years to several months. Fortifying the border puts vulnerable lives at risk, regardless of which party proposes it. Shutting down the border would only put more lives at risk.

If the Harris campaign is serious about border policy reform, it must first look to ease and expedite asylum access instead of restricting it.

Eli Auslender does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. US election: why immigration remains a major issue for voters and why they trust Trump on border security – https://theconversation.com/us-election-why-immigration-remains-a-major-issue-for-voters-and-why-they-trust-trump-on-border-security-238263

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Higher doses of buprenorphine may improve treatment outcomes for people with opioid use disorder

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

News Release

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

NIH-funded analysis suggests higher doses of buprenorphine were associated with lower rates of future behavioral health-related emergency department and inpatient care.

Adults with opioid use disorder who receive a higher daily dose of the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine may have a lower risk of subsequent emergency department visits or use of inpatient services related to behavioral health (such as for mental health and substance use disorders) than adults receiving the recommended dose, according to an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These findings suggest that higher buprenorphine doses could be more effective in managing opioid use disorder, which may be particularly relevant for improving treatment for those who use fentanyl, a major driver of the overdose crisis.

Researchers reviewed insurance claims data from over 35,000 people who were diagnosed with opioid use disorder and began buprenorphine treatment between 2016 and 2021. They found that among all people who started treatment with buprenorphine, 12.5% experienced an emergency department or inpatient visit related to behavioral health within the study period. After adjusting for patient demographics and medical history available in the data, researchers then analyzed how long it took for people receiving different doses of buprenorphine to use emergency care or have an inpatient stay after starting treatment.

The recommended target dose for buprenorphine in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s approved labeling is 16 mg per day. Researchers found that those taking higher daily doses of buprenorphine (>16 to 24 mg) took 20% longer to have a subsequent emergency department or inpatient health care visit related to behavioral health within the first year after receiving treatment, compared to those receiving >8 to 16 mg a day. Those taking daily doses of more than 24 mg of buprenorphine went 50% longer before having a subsequent emergency or inpatient health care visit related to behavioral health within the first year after receiving treatment, compared to those receiving >8 to 16 mg a day.

“As the overdose crisis evolves, particularly with the rise of fentanyl, it is crucial to investigate how to best adapt and deliver the lifesaving and evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder that we have available,” said Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “The findings add to the growing evidence that higher doses of buprenorphine may have meaningful health impacts for people with opioid use disorder.”

In 2022, of the nearly 108,000 overdose deaths reported in the U.S., almost 70% were primarily due to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times stronger than heroin. The ubiquity of fentanyl in the drug supply and associated overdose deaths have raised questions about whether existing dosing guidelines for buprenorphine should be modified to better address the unique challenges posed by such a potent opioid. Higher doses of buprenorphine may be necessary to effectively manage the more severe withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and tolerance associated with fentanyl use.

“Preventing or delaying the need for high-intensity, urgent health care among people with opioid use disorder has tremendous benefits on health and recovery,” said Bradley D. Stein, M.D., Ph.D., a study co-author and director of the RAND-USC Schaeffer Opioid Policy Tools and Information Center. “As we continue to gather data across studies, findings suggest that higher doses of buprenorphine may have the ability to significantly improve treatment in the era of fentanyl, as both fatal and nonfatal overdoses remain unacceptably high.”

The authors also note that addressing barriers to accessing higher doses, such as state laws and insurance policies, will be important in ensuring that all patients receive effective care. In addition, revisiting guidelines that serve as barriers to higher doses could be beneficial, as these may limit access to potentially life-saving treatment for patients at high risk of relapse or overdose.

Notably, the data used in the study were pulled from a single commercial insurance company, which does not include uninsured people and those with Medicaid or fee-for-service Medicare coverage, and the sample of people included in the analysis was 75% non-Hispanic white. Further research is needed to explore the effects of higher buprenorphine doses in more diverse populations, including those with different insurance statuses or in different clinical settings. In addition, the authors note that future research should also investigate additional outcomes such as the long-term effects of high-dose buprenorphine on opioid use disorder treatment retention and overall health outcomes using similar data.

These findings build upon accumulating evidence of the safety and efficacy of higher doses of buprenorphine. Studies have shown that more than 16 mg of buprenorphine is safe and well tolerated in people with opioid use disorder in emergency department and outpatient treatment settings, and that higher buprenorphine doses are associated with improved retention in treatment for opioid use disorder.

This study was funded by the NIH’s NIDA and published in JAMA Network Open. The data analyzed in the study came from a large insurer’s database of commercial claims, including those for Medicare Advantage.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can go directly to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).

About the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy, improve practice, and advance addiction science. For more information about NIDA and its programs, visit www.nida.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health^®

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MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Geography of Childhood in China: The Daily Reality of Rural Migrant Children

MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

Source: Universities – Science Po in French

The page you requested does not exist or no longer exists.

To continue your search:

Return to the home page ; or click the “Back” button on your browser.

You can report the broken link by writing to webmaster@sciencespo.fr.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Boebert’s Legislation to Protect Native Fish Species and Responsible Water & Power Users Passes in the House of Representatives

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) applauded final passage of her legislation H.R. 4596, “Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act:”

“Passage of my bill to reauthorize the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Recovery Programs is a major win for Colorado and the West. These important programs, which will be extended for an additional seven fiscal years, will ensure that 2,500 water and power projects continue, and provide legal certainty for water and power users throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

With strong bicameral, bipartisan momentum and significant stakeholder support, I’m confident this bill will become law and this important program will be reauthorized,” said Congresswoman Boebert.

“Congresswoman Boebert is true fighter for Colorado’s rich biodiversity, and her bill to reauthorize the endangered fish recovery programs in the San Juan and Upper Colorado River Basins will ensure these species are healthy for future generations to enjoy. I’m so glad to see this commonsense, science-based legislation pass the House today, and look forward to seeing it signed into law,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman

Background:

The House of Representatives voted to pass Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s bill H.R. 4596, the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act.

Congresswoman Boebert’s bicameral bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, provides a clean, seven-year reauthorization of the Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Programs that protect four threatened and endangered native fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins by extending conservation programs at current funding levels for seven additional fiscal years.

The Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Programs were established in 1988 to achieve full recovery of four federally listed endangered fish species including the humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. Those designations led to the threat of significant water and power-use restrictions.

The recovery programs facilitate water delivery from the Navajo, Flaming Gorge, and Aspinall Unit reservoirs which collectively can store more than 6.5 million acre-feet of water as part of the Colorado River Storage Project.

For over three decades, states, tribes, local communities, environmental groups, energy users, and water users, have partnered to help recover four threatened and endangered fish species while continuing water and power facility development and operations in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin.

Non-federal partners contribute $11 million per year in water contributions, plus another $750,000 in staffing and in-kind contributions. Participating states contribute $500,000 to base funding each year in cash equivalents for recovery actions, including for fish hatcheries and non-native fish removal.

The Fish and Wildlife Service contributes $1.56 million per year in base funding. The Bureau of Reclamation provides cost-shared contributions to both base and capital funding. Reclamation’s capital funding supports major infrastructure projects at reservoirs, diversion dams, canals, and floodplains across the basin.

Without these programs, these 2,500 water and power users would have to perform extremely burdensome Section 7 consultations for all 2,500 individual projects.

Because of the success of these programs, the humpback chub and the razorback sucker are success stories with the chub been downlisted from endangered to threatened and the razorback being recommended for downlisting.

Rep. Boebert’s bill is the result of months of hard work with local stakeholders, the Bureau of Reclamation, and Senators Hickenlooper and Romney, and others to provide a long-term solution by reauthorizing these vital programs until 2031.

Groups supporting Congresswoman Boebert’s Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act include: Aurora Water, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Clifton Water District, Colorado River District, Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Water Congress, Delta County Commissioners, Denver Water, Dolores County Commissioners, Dolores Water Conservancy District, Grand Valley Water Users, Huerfano County Commissioners, LaPlata Water Conservation District, Mesa County Farm Bureau, Montezuma County, Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Pueblo Water, Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District, Rio Blanco Board of Commissioners, Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, Rio Grande Water Conservation District, San Juan Water Commission, Southern Ute Tribe, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, Tri-County Water Conservancy District, Utah Waters Users Association, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Ute Water Conservancy District.

Co-sponsors of Congresswoman Boebert’s bill include Rep. John Duarte (CA-13), Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Full text of Rep. Boebert’s Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act can be found HERE. Full replay of Rep. Boebert’s remarks on the House floor can be found HERE.

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For updates, subscribe to Congresswoman Boebert’s newsletter here.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Announces Over $3 Million in Awards to Advance Local Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for STEM, R&D-Focused Small Businesses and Startups
Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) Stage Two winners. Forty-four accelerator partnerships received between $50,000 and $150,000 each to advance their work supporting small businesses and startups in STEM and research and development (R&D) across priority areas like national and economic security, domestic manufacturing and production, and sustainability and biotechnology.

“Innovation happens everywhere and the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to build on its commitment to promote sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems that advance research and development and commercialization in communities across the nation,” said Administrator Guzman. “The 2024 GAFC Stage Two award winners will drive forward the Investing in America agenda and strengthen America’s global competitiveness by continuing to support the expanding and increasingly diverse entrepreneurs across the nation and provide them with the opportunities that lower barriers for market and capital access.”

GAFC Stage One prizes emphasized ecosystem network building, while Stage Two efforts focus on the enhanced support that can be provided to small businesses and startups through these Growth Accelerator Partnerships. These partnerships span public, private, nonprofit, and academic institutions, fostering collaboration across industries and geographies, with lead awardees headquartered in 34 U.S. states and territories, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and assisting innovators nationally.

“Since its launch in 2014, the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) has made a positive difference to local and national innovation-focused entrepreneurship organizations and the communities they support. The competition has grown to be a core component and vital source of support to our nation’s innovation ecosystem. Over the last decade, SBA has awarded 566 prizes totaling over $33 million to winners across the U.S. and U.S. territories. We are delighted to announce 31 of this year’s Stage Two winners are new to the program, and we are inspired to witness communities of ecosystem developers coming together to build new relationships and networks with GAFC funding,” said Bailey G. DeVries, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation.

Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Stage Two Winners

Learn more about each GAFC partnership in the public directory located at https://bit.ly/GAFC24Directory.

National and Economic Security
- Ala., The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship
- Calif., Starburst Accelerator
- Colo., Catalyst Accelerator
- Ind., Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
- Ind., Indiana Center for Emerging Technologies
- La., Maven Scouts
- Md., Rural Autonomous Innovation Network (RAIN) Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
- Mo., Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation
- Mont., Early Stage Montana
- Neb., Invest Nebraska
- N.M., NewSpace Nexus
Domestic Manufacturing and Production
- Ariz., Startup Tucson
- Ark., Endeavor NWA Entrepreneurs
- District of Columbia, National Disability Institute
- Fla., Florida Institute of Technology
- Fla., International Business Innovation Association
- Hawaii, XLR8HI
- N.C., RIoT
- N.D., Grand Farm Research and Education Initiative Inc.
- N.Y., FuzeHub
- N.Y., Southern Tier High Technology Incubator Inc.
- Utah, Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Institute
- Wash., 360 Social Impact Studios
Sustainability and Biotechnology
- Alaska, Spruce Root Inc.
- Calif., Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
- Conn., The Community Foundation-Mission Investments Company
- Ill., University of Illinois Research Park LLC
- Maine, Central Maine Growth Council
- Mass., SeaAhead Inc.
- Minn., RuralWorks Partners LLC
- N.C., Eva Garland Consulting LLC
- N.Y., The Hudson Valley Venture Hub at SUNY New Paltz
- Ore., Oregon Health and Science University
- Pa., University City Science Center
- Puerto Rico, CARBONO3 LLC
- Tenn., BioTN Foundation Inc.
- Tenn., Native American Investment and Capital Alliance
- Texas, Health Wildcatters
- Texas, Impact Hub Houston
- Utah, Altitude Lab
- Va., FedTech
- Vt., LaunchVT
- W.Va., U.S. Research Impact Alliance Corp.
- Washington, D.C., Women in Engineering ProActive Network
“Supported by SBA’s Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development (IIED) Division, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition awards boost strategic partnerships that create a national network so entrepreneurs can tap into significant capital and resources. Our work emphasizes the value of strategic connections and relationships across a wide variety of entrepreneur support organizations and accentuates how the work they are doing can successfully impact the growth and advancement of our federal innovation ecosystem,” said Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, for SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation. “We are changing the trajectory for underserved communities and founders so that more startups and small businesses can scale and grow. “

For more information about the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, please visit SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (americasseedfund.us).

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About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the growth-oriented small business and startup community with access to financial capital, networks, assistance, and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Boebert’s Legislation to Protect Native Fish Species and Responsible Water & Power Users Passes in the House of Representatives

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) applauded final passage of her legislation H.R. 4596, “Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act:”

“Passage of my bill to reauthorize the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Recovery Programs is a major win for Colorado and the West. These important programs, which will be extended for an additional seven fiscal years, will ensure that 2,500 water and power projects continue, and provide legal certainty for water and power users throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

With strong bicameral, bipartisan momentum and significant stakeholder support, I’m confident this bill will become law and this important program will be reauthorized,” said Congresswoman Boebert.

“Congresswoman Boebert is true fighter for Colorado’s rich biodiversity, and her bill to reauthorize the endangered fish recovery programs in the San Juan and Upper Colorado River Basins will ensure these species are healthy for future generations to enjoy. I’m so glad to see this commonsense, science-based legislation pass the House today, and look forward to seeing it signed into law,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman

Background:

The House of Representatives voted to pass Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s bill H.R. 4596, the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act.

Congresswoman Boebert’s bicameral bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, provides a clean, seven-year reauthorization of the Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Programs that protect four threatened and endangered native fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins by extending conservation programs at current funding levels for seven additional fiscal years.

The Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Programs were established in 1988 to achieve full recovery of four federally listed endangered fish species including the humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. Those designations led to the threat of significant water and power-use restrictions.

The recovery programs facilitate water delivery from the Navajo, Flaming Gorge, and Aspinall Unit reservoirs which collectively can store more than 6.5 million acre-feet of water as part of the Colorado River Storage Project.

For over three decades, states, tribes, local communities, environmental groups, energy users, and water users, have partnered to help recover four threatened and endangered fish species while continuing water and power facility development and operations in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin.

Non-federal partners contribute $11 million per year in water contributions, plus another $750,000 in staffing and in-kind contributions. Participating states contribute $500,000 to base funding each year in cash equivalents for recovery actions, including for fish hatcheries and non-native fish removal.

The Fish and Wildlife Service contributes $1.56 million per year in base funding. The Bureau of Reclamation provides cost-shared contributions to both base and capital funding. Reclamation’s capital funding supports major infrastructure projects at reservoirs, diversion dams, canals, and floodplains across the basin.

Without these programs, these 2,500 water and power users would have to perform extremely burdensome Section 7 consultations for all 2,500 individual projects.

Because of the success of these programs, the humpback chub and the razorback sucker are success stories with the chub been downlisted from endangered to threatened and the razorback being recommended for downlisting.

Rep. Boebert’s bill is the result of months of hard work with local stakeholders, the Bureau of Reclamation, and Senators Hickenlooper and Romney, and others to provide a long-term solution by reauthorizing these vital programs until 2031.

Groups supporting Congresswoman Boebert’s Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act include: Aurora Water, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Clifton Water District, Colorado River District, Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Water Congress, Delta County Commissioners, Denver Water, Dolores County Commissioners, Dolores Water Conservancy District, Grand Valley Water Users, Huerfano County Commissioners, LaPlata Water Conservation District, Mesa County Farm Bureau, Montezuma County, Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Pueblo Water, Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District, Rio Blanco Board of Commissioners, Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, Rio Grande Water Conservation District, San Juan Water Commission, Southern Ute Tribe, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, Tri-County Water Conservancy District, Utah Waters Users Association, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Ute Water Conservancy District.

Co-sponsors of Congresswoman Boebert’s bill include Rep. John Duarte (CA-13), Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Full text of Rep. Boebert’s Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act can be found HERE. Full replay of Rep. Boebert’s remarks on the House floor can be found HERE.

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For updates, subscribe to Congresswoman Boebert’s newsletter here.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Banking: Project Guacamaya uses daily satellite images, Amazon-specific AI models in battle against deforestation
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Project Guacamaya uses daily satellite images, Amazon-specific AI models in battle against deforestation

The Amazon rainforest is the world’s most complex biological environment, with millions of species of plants, birds and wildlife calling the vast area home, many of which have yet to be studied by scientists. From 2022 to 2023, the Amazon lost approximately 3 million hectares to deforestation, an average of 10,000 acres per day, according to the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project.

Ten percent of the Amazon is within Colombia’s borders, and organizations within that country are applying advances in cloud and AI in a unique approach to fighting deforestation, improving the climate and keeping flora, fauna and Indigenous communities safe from harm.

“It is important to maintain the integrity of the Amazon region, because when we lose integrity, we lose coverage, we lose fauna, we lose flora and the jungle disappears,” says Luz Marina Mantilla, General Director of Instituto SINCHI. “That’s what we don’t want to happen.”

Project Guacamaya is a joint effort of the CinfonIA Research Center at Universidad de los Andes, Instituto SINCHI, Instituto Humboldt, Planet Labs PBC and Microsoft AI for Good Lab that uses best-in-class AI models to monitor deforestation and protect the biodiversity of the ecosystem, through a combination of satellite imagery, camera traps and bioacoustics.

“Technology will be a game-changer in saving the Amazon,” says Pablo Arbeláez, director of the CinfonIA Research Center.

Using data, machine learning, cloud technology, data science and other technology, patterns of deforestation are identified faster, allowing for quicker action to be taken in at-risk areas. The audio language model is a custom-made multimodal language model called CLAP, developed by Microsoft. The image models are trained from open-source models and the framework used to develop the image models, Pytorch Wildlife, was also created by Microsoft.

“I think it shows the best of private sector, NGOs, universities and governments working together,” says Juan Lavista Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. “This is a great example of how AI accelerates and supports the work of conservationists. We’ve already made significant progress through this collaboration and I’m looking forward to more impact.”

[embedded content]

Several key updates have occurred in Project Guacamaya over the past year, giving researchers more options and better ability to track and understand deforestation patterns, including:
- Daily satellite images from Planet Labs: Prior to this update, imagery was provided monthly. Now, with daily updates, researchers can set up daily alerts using images from the satellites monitoring the Amazon.
- Amazon-specific AI models: Now, researchers studying animals found in the Amazon can use a region-specific AI model that is more accurate in identifying the species found in the rainforest, allowing them to work 10x faster.
- Governmental collaboration: The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), which provides the official deforestation reports for Colombia, will now use Project Guacamaya’s models in its reporting.
- Open-source biodiversity model: The project has released Pytorch Wildlife, an open-source platform that is specifically designed for creating, modifying and sharing powerful AI conservation models.
“With this connection of knowledge, institutions and technology, we want the country to move more forcefully in making critical decisions on how to maintain and conserve ecosystems,” says Hernando García Martínez, general director of the Instituto Humboldt. “We need people to understand the value of nature.”

Top image: Amazon-specific AI has made it 10 times easier for scientists studying the wildlife in the Rainforest to identify species found in Colombia, since the model narrows down the focus to animals who live in the region.
MIL OSI Global Banks –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: SBA Announces Over $3 Million in Awards to Advance Local Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for STEM, R&D-Focused Small Businesses and Startups
Source: United States Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) Stage Two winners. Forty-four accelerator partnerships received between $50,000 and $150,000 each to advance their work supporting small businesses and startups in STEM and research and development (R&D) across priority areas like national and economic security, domestic manufacturing and production, and sustainability and biotechnology.

“Innovation happens everywhere and the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to build on its commitment to promote sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems that advance research and development and commercialization in communities across the nation,” said Administrator Guzman. “The 2024 GAFC Stage Two award winners will drive forward the Investing in America agenda and strengthen America’s global competitiveness by continuing to support the expanding and increasingly diverse entrepreneurs across the nation and provide them with the opportunities that lower barriers for market and capital access.”

GAFC Stage One prizes emphasized ecosystem network building, while Stage Two efforts focus on the enhanced support that can be provided to small businesses and startups through these Growth Accelerator Partnerships. These partnerships span public, private, nonprofit, and academic institutions, fostering collaboration across industries and geographies, with lead awardees headquartered in 34 U.S. states and territories, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and assisting innovators nationally.

“Since its launch in 2014, the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) has made a positive difference to local and national innovation-focused entrepreneurship organizations and the communities they support. The competition has grown to be a core component and vital source of support to our nation’s innovation ecosystem. Over the last decade, SBA has awarded 566 prizes totaling over $33 million to winners across the U.S. and U.S. territories. We are delighted to announce 31 of this year’s Stage Two winners are new to the program, and we are inspired to witness communities of ecosystem developers coming together to build new relationships and networks with GAFC funding,” said Bailey G. DeVries, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation.

Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Stage Two Winners

Learn more about each GAFC partnership in the public directory located at https://bit.ly/GAFC24Directory.

National and Economic Security
- Ala., The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship
- Calif., Starburst Accelerator
- Colo., Catalyst Accelerator
- Ind., Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
- Ind., Indiana Center for Emerging Technologies
- La., Maven Scouts
- Md., Rural Autonomous Innovation Network (RAIN) Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
- Mo., Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation
- Mont., Early Stage Montana
- Neb., Invest Nebraska
- N.M., NewSpace Nexus
Domestic Manufacturing and Production
- Ariz., Startup Tucson
- Ark., Endeavor NWA Entrepreneurs
- District of Columbia, National Disability Institute
- Fla., Florida Institute of Technology
- Fla., International Business Innovation Association
- Hawaii, XLR8HI
- N.C., RIoT
- N.D., Grand Farm Research and Education Initiative Inc.
- N.Y., FuzeHub
- N.Y., Southern Tier High Technology Incubator Inc.
- Utah, Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Institute
- Wash., 360 Social Impact Studios
Sustainability and Biotechnology
- Alaska, Spruce Root Inc.
- Calif., Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
- Conn., The Community Foundation-Mission Investments Company
- Ill., University of Illinois Research Park LLC
- Maine, Central Maine Growth Council
- Mass., SeaAhead Inc.
- Minn., RuralWorks Partners LLC
- N.C., Eva Garland Consulting LLC
- N.Y., The Hudson Valley Venture Hub at SUNY New Paltz
- Ore., Oregon Health and Science University
- Pa., University City Science Center
- Puerto Rico, CARBONO3 LLC
- Tenn., BioTN Foundation Inc.
- Tenn., Native American Investment and Capital Alliance
- Texas, Health Wildcatters
- Texas, Impact Hub Houston
- Utah, Altitude Lab
- Va., FedTech
- Vt., LaunchVT
- W.Va., U.S. Research Impact Alliance Corp.
- Washington, D.C., Women in Engineering ProActive Network
“Supported by SBA’s Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development (IIED) Division, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition awards boost strategic partnerships that create a national network so entrepreneurs can tap into significant capital and resources. Our work emphasizes the value of strategic connections and relationships across a wide variety of entrepreneur support organizations and accentuates how the work they are doing can successfully impact the growth and advancement of our federal innovation ecosystem,” said Brittany Sickler, Director of Ecosystem Development, for SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation. “We are changing the trajectory for underserved communities and founders so that more startups and small businesses can scale and grow. “

For more information about the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, please visit SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (americasseedfund.us).

###

About SBA Office of Investment and Innovation

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the growth-oriented small business and startup community with access to financial capital, networks, assistance, and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Say ‘hello’ to Citizen Science in the North
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Talking watercourses are asking people in the region to provide information to help shape water quality improvement plans.
A sign at Windermere asking people to get involved.

People visiting or living near Lake Windermere, the River Ribble at Edisford Bridge or the River Nidd in Yorkshire are being asked to become citizen scientists by providing a range of information, about what they can see at the sites, to help shape future plans to improve water quality.

To support this, the Environment Agency have joined forces with Hello Lamp Post, a two-way communication platform that can reach any member of the community via their mobile phone.

Interactive signage, including QR codes, has been placed on fences, benches and walls. Smartphone users can scan the code or text the number on the sign to share their findings and views, get information about local bathing waters and learn more about how to get involved in the Environment Agency’s citizen science work.

The data will be used to supplement that already gathered by the Environment Agency, as part of its extensive monitoring programme, to help ensure that as much information as possible is used to inform plans going forward.

Citizen science is valuable research carried out by members of the public who help collect scientific data.

Previous work in Cumbria and Lancashire has included the Big Windermere Survey, which has been supported by the Environment Agency, and activity along the River Douglas in collaboration with the Douglas Catchment Partnership and Groundwork.

The Nidd Action Group and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust are also working alongside the Environment Agency to support the Hello Lamp Post project, and it is hoped that this will complement existing work in the area.

This includes projects such as iNidd and iWharfe as well as the wider activity of the local catchment partnership.

The first interactive objects are now live at four locations at Windermere Rayrigg, four locations at Windermere Millers Ground and four locations at the Ribble at Edisford Bridge.

Signage will soon also go live at Oak Beck Park, Knaresborough Lido, Valley Gardens, Nidd Gorge and Hookstone Beck.

Kelly Haynes, Citizen Science Advisor for the Environment Agency, said:  

We are pleased to be teaming up with Hello Lamp Post on this innovative project as we look to gather even more data on how people interact with their local watercourses at Windermere and the Ribble at Edisford Bridge.

This clever piece of modern technology will explain all the whys, what and the what ifs of bathing water monitoring and our citizen science work. It will also allow participants to become a citizen scientist themselves and tell us about what they can see at the time they visit a specific bathing water.

We know how much our rivers and inland waters mean to communities across Cumbria and Lancashire and we hugely value the contribution of England’s enthusiastic citizen scientists. This work is an important step bringing that together to gather real-time observation of the water environment and how it is being used.

I would encourage everyone living in the area or visiting to try out this new, interactive service.

If you are already involved in monitoring the water environment through citizen science, the Environment Agency would love to hear from you! Using this feedback service, you can share details of the citizen science you are involved in and provide feedback on the supporting citizen science information page.

The feedback survey is open until 31 December 2024.

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Published 25 September 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd at the UN Security Council

Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

Bern, 25.09.2024 – Statement by the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), at the UN Security Council, open debate ‘Leadership for Peace’, New York, Wednesday, 25 September 2024.

Check against delivery

Mr Secretary-General,
Mr President of the Security Council,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen

Mr President, I am pleased that you are giving us the opportunity to debate the topic of ‘leadership for peace’. This discussion makes us realise how important it is to fulfil our responsibilities, especially as members of the Security Council.

Upon its election to the Council, Switzerland made a commitment to creating added value for peace, to be ‘A plus for peace’.

Now that we have embarked on the last hundred days of our mandate, it is a good time to consider where the Security Council stands and how it can best fulfil its responsibilities. I would like to emphasise two points in particular:

Firstly, leadership means setting standards, upholding them and holding those who violate the law accountable.

Today, international law, including international humanitarian law, is very often and gravely violated; be it in Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan or Myanmar.

The international community cannot stand idly by and watch the breaches of law in these different contexts as well as the discord in the world. We condemn the disastrous consequences of the hostilities on the civilian population, including many children.

The Security Council must speak with one voice to ensure compliance with international law and the protection of the civilian population.

In the light of current events, I would like to underline that my country is deeply concerned about Israel’s air strikes in Lebanon and the rockets fired by Hezbollah into Israel.

I reiterate our call for a cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy to resolve the conflict, as well as full respect for Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law.

The civilian population must be protected!

As a member of the Security Council, Switzerland is firmly committed to international peace and security.

The extension of the peace mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported by Switzerland in 2023, and the call by the ten elected members of the Council for a ceasefire in Gaza are two examples of this.

With the resolution introduced by Switzerland on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel, and the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, we are reaffirming our commitment to the protection of vulnerable civilian populations.

We hosted talks on Sudan. We also advocate for fair procedures in the UN sanctions regimes. We are committed to the implementation of humanitarian exemptions and to ensuring that humanitarian actors can continue their life-saving activities.

Switzerland never tires of repeating its appeal for compliance with international law, regardless of the context. We are grateful that many here on the Council share this responsibility.

Now to my second point, which is our responsibility to anticipate challenges, prevent dangers and recognise opportunities.

The effects of climate change are further exacerbating and fueling existing crises and conflicts. Switzerland is working both within and outside the Security Council to ensuring that the international community addresses this challenge together.

In view of the many challenges, it seems likely that peace missions will be more agile in the future. We also consider it a matter of urgency that peace work becomes more inclusive. Women make an important contribution to building and sustaining peace. We must recognise and strengthen this.

This includes addressing the gender-specific impacts of conflicts and crises in a targeted manner. It will be an honour for me to chair a Council debate on the role of women in peace processes in a month’s time.

Prevention is particularly important. In the recently adopted Pact for the Future, states have committed themselves to doing more to prevent conflicts instead of merely alleviating their consequences. The New Agenda for Peace is essentially geared towards conflict prevention. Prevention includes development and security aspects, but above all respect for human rights. Without the protection and promotion of universal human rights, there can be no lasting peace.

Finally, I want to emphasize that we can only lead together. This principle applies to the multilateral system in general and to the Council in particular: no one can succeed alone. Partnerships, courage and trust between states are needed.

Equally important is the dialogue with civil society, business and science. International Geneva has long been a place where humanitarian tradition and scientific innovation are united in the ‘esprit de Genève’. Switzerland is proud to promote this spirit through the organisations in Geneva.

Regional partnerships are also valuable, as demonstrated by the African Union in the area of peacebuilding. I am pleased, therefore, that next month, under Switzerland’s chairmanship, we will be welcoming the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to New York.

Mr President,
Excellencies,

Sustainable solutions require the will of all parties involved. Peace remains possible, especially if states and their leaders reflect on common human values. By agreeing to work together, we help everyone – including ourselves.

Thank you.

Address for enquiries

DDPS Communication
Federal Palace East
CH-3003 Bern

Publisher

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
http://www.vbs.admin.ch

MIL OSI Europe News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: NASA Analysis Shows Irreversible Sea Level Rise for Pacific Islands

Source: NASA

Climate change is rapidly reshaping a region of the world that’s home to millions of people.
In the next 30 years, Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji will experience at least 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise, according to an analysis by NASA’s sea level change science team. This amount of rise will occur regardless of whether greenhouse gas emissions change in the coming years.
The sea level change team undertook the analysis of this region at the request of several Pacific Island nations, including Tuvalu and Kiribati, and in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State.
In addition to the overall analysis, the agency’s sea level team produced high-resolution maps showing which areas of different Pacific Island nations will be vulnerable to high-tide flooding — otherwise known as nuisance flooding or sunny day flooding — by the 2050s. Released on Sept. 23, the maps outline flooding potential in a range of emissions scenarios, from best-case to business-as-usual to worst-case.
“Sea level will continue to rise for centuries, causing more frequent flooding,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who directs ocean physics programs for NASA’s Earth Science Division. “NASA’s new flood tool tells you what the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity look like in the next decades for the coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations.”
Team members, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and in collaboration with scientists at the University of Colorado and Virginia Tech, started with flood maps of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. They plan to build high-resolution maps for other Pacific Island nations in the near future. The maps can assist Pacific Island nations in deciding where to focus mitigation efforts.
“Science and data can help the community of Tuvalu in relaying accurate sea level rise projections,” said Grace Malie, a youth leader from Tuvalu who is involved with the Rising Nations Initiative, a United Nations-supported program led by Pacific Island nations to help preserve their statehood and protect the rights and heritage of populations affected by climate change. “This will also help with early warning systems, which is something that our country is focusing on at the moment.”
Future Flooding
The analysis by the sea level change team also found that the number of high-tide flooding days in an average year will increase by an order of magnitude for nearly all Pacific Island nations by the 2050s. Portions of the NASA team’s analysis were included in a sea level rise report published by the United Nations in August 2024.
Areas of Tuvalu that currently see less than five high-tide flood days a year could average 25 flood days annually by the 2050s. Regions of Kiribati that see fewer than five flood days a year today will experience an average of 65 flood days annually by the 2050s.
“I am living the reality of climate change,” said Malie. “Everyone (in Tuvalu) lives by the coast or along the coastline, so everyone gets heavily affected by this.”
Flooding on island nations can come from the ocean inundating land during storms or during exceptionally high tides, called king tides. But it can also result when saltwater intrudes into underground areas and pushes the water table to the surface. “There are points on the island where we will see seawater bubbling from beneath the surface and heavily flooding the area,” Malie added.
Matter of Location
Sea level rise doesn’t occur uniformly around the world. A combination of global and local conditions, such as the topography of a coastline and how glacial meltwater is distributed in the ocean, affects the amount of rise a particular region will experience.
“We’re always focused on the differences in sea level rise from one region to another, but in the Pacific, the numbers are surprisingly consistent,” said Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the agency’s sea level change science team lead.
The impacts of 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise will vary from country to country. For instance, some nations could experience nuisance flooding several times a year at their airport, while others might face frequent neighborhood flooding equivalent to being inundated for nearly half the year.
Researchers would like to combine satellite data on ocean levels with ground-based measurements of sea levels at specific points, as well as with better land elevation information. “But there’s a real lack of on-the-ground data in these countries,” said Hamlington. The combination of space-based and ground-based measurements can yield more precise sea level rise projections and improved understanding of the impacts to countries in the Pacific.
“The future of the young people of Tuvalu is already at stake,” said Malie. “Climate change is more than an environmental crisis. It is about justice, survival for nations like Tuvalu, and global responsibility.”
To explore the high-tide flooding maps for Pacific Island nations, go to:
https://sealevel.nasa.gov
News Media Contacts
Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
2024-128

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Record-Breaking Laser Demo Completes Mission

Source: NASA

NASA’s TBIRD (TeraByte InfraRed Delivery) demonstration and its host spacecraft — the PTD-3 (Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-3) — have completed their technology demonstration. The TBIRD payload spent the past two years breaking world records for the fastest satellite downlink from space using laser communications.
NASA’s PTD series leverages a common commercial spacecraft to provide a robust platform for effective testing of technologies with minimal redesign in between launches. After launch in May 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter 5 mission, the PTD-3 spacecraft entered low-Earth orbit and shortly after TBIRD began sending laser communications signals to an optical ground station in Table Mountain, California.

TBIRD’s two-year demonstration showcased the viability of laser communications. Most NASA missions rely on radio frequency communication systems, however, laser communications use infrared light and can pack significantly more data in a single communications link. This technology is ideal for science and exploration missions that need large data transmissions.
In 2023, TBIRD continuously broke its own records, reaching its peak in June when it transmitted 4.8 terabytes of error-free data — equivalent to about 2,400 hours of high-definition video — in five minutes at 200 gigabits per second in a single pass.

The TBIRD payload was one of many laser communications demonstrations. NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program is maturing this technology to demonstrate the impact laser communications can have for bringing more science and exploration data home. The next demonstration will be on the Artemis II mission.

In addition to breaking a world record, this mission demonstrated cost-effective design and extremely low size, weight, and power requirements — both on the PTD-3 spacecraft and within the TBIRD payload. The tissue-box-sized payload contained two commercial telecommunication modems that the TBIRD team modified for the extreme environment of space.

The PTD-3/TBIRD system also overcame one of the major challenges associated with laser communications: making the narrow beam laser link connection while moving at orbital speeds while being buffeted by atmospheric drag. The PTD-3 spacecraft’s precision “body pointing” and stability enabled the TBIRD payload to make its record-breaking achievement while moving as fast as 17,000 mph through space. The spacecraft set a record for the highest accuracy pointing ever achieved by a NASA CubeSat without any moving mechanisms or propulsion systems.

The end of PTD-3 and TBIRD’s mission was expected. The system did not contain a propulsion system, meaning once it was deployed into its low Earth orbit, the mission could only last until its orbit naturally decayed.
While only planned to operate for six months, TBIRD carried out its demonstration for well over two years, enabling NASA to learn more about laser communications operations in low Earth orbit.
The lessons learned during TBIRD will be applied to future implementations of laser communications and minimize downlink constraints for mission designs enabling future exploration and discoveries.
All of the PTD-3/TBIRD accomplishments were made possible by collaborations across NASA centers and beyond. TBIRD was a collaborative effort among NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley; NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts; and Terran Orbital Corporation in Irvine, California. Funding and oversight for the TBIRD payload came from NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program office within the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. The PTD-3 mission was managed and funded by the Small Spacecraft Technology program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Crew Returns from Simulated Trip to Mars—Take a Peek Inside their Journey

Source: NASA

An all-volunteer crew on a simulated trip to Mars “returned” to Earth on Sept. 23, 2024, after being isolated in a tiny habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Their work is contributing to the science that will propel humanity to the Moon and eventually Mars.
The HERA missions provide valuable scientific insights into how humans may respond to the confinement, demanding work-life conditions, and remote environments that astronauts may encounter on deep space missions. These insights help NASA prepare for humanity’s next giant leap to the Moon and Mars.
Campaign 7 Mission 3 started when HERA operations lead Ted Babic rang the bell outside the habitat 10 times, a ceremonial send-off wishing the crew a safe and successful simulated mission to Mars. Seven rings honored the campaign, and three more signaled the mission—continuing a long-standing tradition.
At ingress, Anderson, a structural engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, told HERA’s mission control, “We’re going to take good care of this ship of yours on our journey.”

Life on a 45-Day Journey
The HERA crew members participated in 18 human health and performance studies, seven of which were led by scientists from outside the United States. These international studies are in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and the European Space Agency.

Throughout the simulation, the crew performed a variety of tasks. They harvested plants from a hydroponic garden, grew shrimp, deployed a small cube satellite to simulate data gathering, conducted a virtual reality “walk” on the surface of Mars, and flew simulated drones on the Martian terrain. These activities are designed to immerse the crew in the task-focused mindset of astronauts. NASA scientists then monitor HERA crew to assess how routine tasks, along with isolation and confinement, impact behavior and performance.
As their mission progressed, the team experienced longer communication delays with mission control, eventually reaching five-minute lags. This simulates the challenges astronauts might face on Mars, where delays could be up to 20 minutes. Scientists studying HERA crew are interested to see how this particular group builds independent, autonomous workflows, despite this communication delay.
Here are some snapshots of crew activities:

All crew members brought books to accompany them on their journey to the Red Planet, while Kent left behind letters for his two daughters to open each day.
McCandless also brought letters from loved ones, along with Legos, her favorite card game, and a vintage iPod.
Iakymov, an aerospace engineer with more than 15 years of experience in research and design, is carrying postcards and photos of family and friends.
Anderson, who describes herself as a massive space nerd, brought extra socks and “The Never Ending Story,” a book she has cherished throughout her life.
The crew all shared appreciation for being part of a mission that contributes to the aspirations of future human space exploration travel.

Returning to Earth
As the mission neared its end, McCandless and Anderson participated in a Groundlink—a live session connecting them with middle school students in a classroom in Coconut Grove, Florida, and in Olathe, Kansas. Groundlinks provide a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with crew members and learn about the realities of long-duration missions.
The students asked the crew about life inside the habitat, the challenges of isolation, and what it might be like to live on Mars. They were also curious about the crew’s favorite foods and activities. McCandless shared her love for cheddar crisps and freeze-dried Pad Thai and proudly showed off favorite sports teams from her home state of Kansas, much to the cheers of the crowd. Anderson displayed the massive collection of comics and fantasy books that she read inside the habitat.
In the late afternoon of Sept. 23, 2024, the crew egressed from HERA, marking the end of their 45-day simulated mission to Mars. After stepping out of the habitat, the crew expressed gratitude for the opportunity and reflected on the mission’s significance.
“Following our safe passage to Mars, and our safe return to Earth, as the crew of Campaign 7, Mission 3, we hereby officially transfer this exploration vessel to the flight analogs operations team,” said Kent. “We hope this vessel continues to serve as a safe home for future HERA crews.”
Want to Participate in HERA?
NASA is actively seeking healthy, non-smoking volunteers, aged 30 to 55, for future HERA missions. Volunteers, who will be compensated for their participation, must pass a physical and psychological assessment to qualify.
For those inspired to take part in this groundbreaking research, opportunities to join future HERA missions await:
https://analogstudies.jsc.nasa.gov

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Security: NPCC pledges major funding for innovation

Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

Up to £4.5m is available to create nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs.)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI) have joined forces to boost innovation and seeks out new ways to tackle crime.

Together they have pledged £4.5m of funding for the creation of up to nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs.)

The centres will improve connections between policing and academic researchers, bringing them together to share evidence and methods and shape practices.

It is hoped the centres can galvanise researchers, enhance the quality and scale of work in policing, and help establish new evidence led methods for policing to tackle and prevent crime, build public trust, and improve the wider criminal justice system.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “Research and innovation is key to transforming policing and ensuring the service is not only fit for purpose but that it delivers the best results for our communities.

“The technologies which benefit policing are not tools which we can just buy off the shelf, they develop over time in response to our complex needs and are built with the help and support of industry and academia. That’s why investing in new centres like this are essential.

“This work will help us to futureproof policing and invest in the tools and technology of tomorrow, today.

“By bringing researchers, academics and leaders in their fields together with law enforcement we can help prevent and tackle a range of offences using the newest and most innovative methods.”

Each Policing Academic Centre of Excellence will be promoted across the policing sector as an accessible source of leading academic experts aligned with Policing’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) and evidence needs.  

The maximum total value of this opportunity is £5.4 million, with each P-ACE having a maximum total funding of £600,000. The NPCC and UKRI are contributing 80% towards the total value of the fund, valued at £4.5 million.

For more information about the fund, please visit: Apply to be recognised as a Policing Academic Centre of Excellence – UKRI

MIL Security OSI –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Russia: The management of the State University of Management visited the DPR on a working visit

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On September 25, 2025, representatives of the rector’s office of the State University of Management, headed by Vladimir Stroyev, paid a working visit to the Donetsk People’s Republic.

A delegation from the State University of Management headed by rector Vitaly Stroyev handed over humanitarian aid to one of the combat units operating on the territory of the DPR. The handover took place as part of the “State University of Management – to Ourselves” campaign; the cargo included various equipment and first aid supplies.

After that, a round table was held, at which the State University of Management was represented by Rector Vladimir Stroyev, Vice-Rectors Maria Karelina, Vitaly Lapshenkov and Pavel Pavlovsky, as well as the Director of the Educational and Training Center for Actions in an Emergency Situation and Basic Military Training, Moscow City Duma Deputy Maxim Dzhetygenov. The host party was the head of the regional executive committee of the People’s Front in the DPR Sergey Samokhin, the head of the Department of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the DPR Alexey Yankel, the rector of the Donetsk National Technical University Alexander Anoprienko, the vice-rector for research Sergey Borshchevsky, as well as representatives of the Interregional Office of Rosfinmonitoring of the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.

The round table was devoted to the issues of training specialists based on additional professional education programs, organizing work with youth, humanitarian cooperation, creating network programs for training engineers and developing the skills of young specialists. The possibilities of jointly submitting an application for the Advanced Engineering School were also discussed.

The Second Round Table was held on the territory of the Mariupol State University named after A.I. Kuindzhi. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky took part in it. The agenda included issues of preserving the sovereignty and integrity of the Russian Federation.

After this, Vladimir Stroev made a working visit to the Priazovsky State Technical University, where he discussed with the acting rector Igor Kushchenko the possibilities of cooperation on scientific projects and educational programs.

Let us recall that yesterday the management of the State University of Management made a working visit to the Don State Technical University.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/25/2024

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

The management of the State University of Management visited the DPR on a working visit

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL OSI Russia News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Andrew Cardno, Dr. Ralph Thomas and Dr. A.K. Singh Release Their 11th Book: “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium”

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acclaimed gaming and analytics experts Andrew Cardno and Dr. Ralph Thomas of QCI have proudly released their 11th book, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium,” a definitive exploration of the mathematical frameworks and strategies that have shaped the modern gaming industry.

The book, which serves as a comprehensive guide to the intersection of mathematics and gaming, is a deep dive into how advanced analytics, mathematical modeling, and data science have revolutionized the gaming landscape. Covering decades of research and insights, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” provides a wealth of knowledge for industry professionals, data enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about the intricacies of gaming mathematics.

A Legacy of Expertise

Andrew Cardno, a recognized authority in gaming analytics, and Dr. Ralph Thomas, a pioneer in gaming data science, bring together their years of experience and research in this book. Together, they offer readers an unparalleled understanding of how math is used to optimize everything from player experiences to casino operations.

“This book is a culmination of over 20 years of innovation in the gaming industry,” said Andrew Cardno. “It not only highlights how data and analytics have evolved but also provides the tools and knowledge for others to apply these concepts in real-world gaming environments.”

A Must-Read for Industry Professionals

Industry expert Buddy Frank shared his praise for the book: “If there’s one thing the casino gaming industry does not do well, it is sharing. This book breaks that mold as the authors dish some of the best advice on improving your slot mix, gaining market share, understanding databases, and a lot more. They even translate all our obscure acronyms. This new volume is several inches thick, but you’ll find gems on every page. Better yet, follow their advice and your profitability will improve.”

“The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” is available now through Amazon.

About Andrew Cardno

Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the field of artificial intelligence and data plumbing, with over two decades of experience leading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams. His expertise has made significant contributions to data tooling, including groundbreaking innovations like the deep zoom image format, now a cornerstone in many mapping tools. Andrew’s leadership has earned him two Smithsonian Laureates and garnered 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Co-founding Quick Custom Intelligence with Dr. Ralph Thomas, Andrew holds over 150 patent applications and has made a profound impact across various industries, from telecommunications and retail to the medical sector. He is also a prolific author, contributing to over 100 industry publications and co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas. Andrew advocates for community and diversity and has made a significant impact on over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, reflecting his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

About Dr. Ralph Thomas

Dr. Ralph Thomas is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence. Ralph is a product visionary in applied analytics and the founder of two companies that deliver solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. As a gaming industry veteran, Dr. Thomas has substantial experience implementing analytics into single and multi-property gaming companies to drive tangible and measurable gains to the bottom line and has built business intelligence tools for multibillion-dollar casinos. Dr. Thomas is co-author of seven books and over 80 articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, an inventor on dozens of patents, and understands gaming from raw data up through casino operations, giving him a unique, 360-degree view of the industry.

About Dr. A.K. Singh

Chair & Professor, Resorts, Gaming & Golf Management Department at University of Nevada Las Vegas. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Statistics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, Ashok worked as a Visiting Research Fellow at the NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, in 1977. He has held academic positions since 1978, including: 1978 to July 1991: Associate Professor of Mathematics at New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM. August 1991 to December 2005: Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UNLV. January 2006 to present: Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UNLV, serving as Chair of the Resorts, Gaming & Golf Management Department since July 1, 2021. His research interests encompass applications of statistics in engineering, business, and law, as well as machine learning applications in business and medicine, and predictive analytics.

Contact:

Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence

Phone: 858-349-8354

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Canada: Bringing mobile lung screening to rural Alberta
Source: Government of Canada regional news

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Alberta’s government is committed to providing high-quality health care services for all Albertans, no matter where they live in the province. To ensure Albertans can get the care they need close to home, Alberta’s government and the Alberta Cancer Foundation are partnering with the not-for-profit 19 to Zero to support mobile lung health units that will bring screening services to underserved communities across the province.

Investing in mobile services available in rural and remote communities will increase the likelihood of early detection and treatment, improving health outcomes and bridging gaps in the health care system. The mobile screening program will receive $1.5 million from Alberta’s government, which will be matched by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“We are committed to ensuring every Albertan has access to the health care services they need when and where they need them. These mobile units will help bridge existing gaps in the health care system and improve outcomes for Albertans in rural and remote areas.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

“Living outside of a big city shouldn’t mean less access to vital testing and screening services. Early detection is key to successful cancer treatment, and these specialized mobile clinics will bring essential diagnostics to thousands of Albertans in rural, Indigenous and underserved communities each year.”

Wendy Beauchesne, CEO, Alberta Cancer Foundation

The mobile lung health units will travel to and service underserved, high-priority communities across the province. Patients in these communities often experience lengthy travel times to reach their closest diagnostic centres, which can lead to delayed diagnoses and the suboptimal management of lung conditions.

“19 to Zero is excited to be partnering to provide mobile health services for lung cancer and lung health testing. Many Albertans face health care access challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas, and this mobile unit will help improve equitable access across the province.”

Theresa Tang, co-founder and CEO, 19 to Zero

The mobile units include a converted medical sprinter van for pulmonary function testing (PFT) and a custom-built diagnostic imaging truck. The units will be designed and operated by Aceso Medical, and they will use mobile internet and Starlink to integrate with Connect Care, ensuring instant access to test results for radiologists and pulmonologists.

The mobile lung health units will provide PFT and computed technology (CT) scans, which are critical diagnostic tools for identifying and managing lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Across Canada, these services are predominantly available in urban centres, leaving rural and remote communities without access close to home.

Alberta’s government will work with health care partners and local leadership to help determine areas of need for mobile visits. A website will be developed where the location and schedule of the units will be available.

The pulmonary function testing van is expected to be operational and on the road in spring 2025, with the CT truck following in late summer. Once operational, these mobile units will be able to complete more than 4,000 PFTs and up to 6,000 CT scans per year.

Alberta’s government is committed to improving outcomes for Albertans diagnosed with cancer and will continue to engage in partnerships to leverage the growing life sciences sector.

Quick facts
- Alberta’s government is providing $1.5 million to support the mobile units. These funds will be matched by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
  - $1 million in 2024-25
  - $500,000 in 2025-26
- PFTs are non-invasive tests that measure lung volume, lung capacity, rates of flow and gas exchange in patients. These tests help health care providers diagnose and develop treatment plans for various lung conditions.
- Low-dose CT scans provide detailed images to identify small nodules and other abnormalities that might be missed by standard X-rays. They are vital tools in the early detection of lung cancer and other life-critical diseases.
- Units will be staffed by qualified nurses, CT technicians and respiratory therapists.
- The 41-foot mobile CT truck will be the first of its kind focused on lung health in Canada.
- One in 13 Albertans will develop lung cancer in their lifetime and more than 1,500 lives are lost each year due to this disease.
Related information
- Cancer Care Alberta
- Alberta Cancer Foundation
- 19 to Zero
Multimedia
- Watch the news conference
MIL OSI Canada News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Capito Secures CDS Awards to Expand Cybersecurity, Health Facilities and Services in West Virginia

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced eight Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for education and research programs, facility construction and renovations, and healthcare treatment resources in West Virginia.
These awards, which were secured through CDS requests made by Ranking Member Capito in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), will be used to improve medical centers and treatment, bolster cybersecurity education, and expand the educational opportunities for future healthcare workers in West Virginia.
“After partnering with organizations across our state and listening to their needs, I am excited to see these awards help West Virginia institutions meet critical goals to expand medical services offered by providers in our state in both scope and quantity. I am also particularly excited to see Marshall expanding its National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure, which I have championed,” Ranking Member Capito said. “These CDS awards will help deliver medical and educational outcomes in West Virginia and I am proud to have secured them. As Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to partner with local leaders to identify their most pressing needs and work to build up our medical and educational infrastructure.”
Individual award details listed below:
$15,000,000 HHS CDS award to Marshall University (Huntington, W.Va.) for cyber security training of critical infrastructure operators in West Virginia. This project will continue development of a critical infrastructure cyber security lab started in 2023 to research cyber-attacks and determine how to mitigate their effects. The project also will continue efforts to train critical infrastructure operators on the cyber-defense techniques that will allow them to maintain their systems, even in the face of cyber-attacks. This funding will allow the university to add additional categories of critical infrastructure to its laboratories, and to conduct research to determine how those categories are vulnerable, what attacks will be effective, and then subsequently what mitigation techniques can be developed to overcome them. Additionally, a curriculum will be developed to train operators on these attacks and mitigation techniques, so that they can recognize them and respond in a timely manner with an appropriate mitigation response.
Ranking Member Capito has long been a supporter of this effort, using her role on the Appropriations Committee to drive resources to help Marshall grow their cyber security emphasis. In August, Senator Capito hosted U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly at Marshall University’s Institute for Cyber Security and the National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure.

$12,600,000 HHS CDS award to West Virginia University (WVU) (Morgantown, W.Va.) for the expansion and renovation of existing WVU School of Dentistry clinical space and the consolidation of all postgraduate programs on the Health Sciences Center campus. The renovations and upgrades will transform dental education and practice to meet the oral health needs of West Virginians, provide excellence in training for new generations of dental professionals, enable the school to compete for and retain well-qualified faculty and students, and propel dental research to further support patient care, education, and outreach programming.
$7,516,000 HHS CDS award to the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) Greenbrier Medical Center, Inc. (Ronceverte, W.Va.) to construct a state-of-the-art facility to house an employed multispecialty physician practice of CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. Currently, the employed physicians supporting the hospital are not located on the campus of the hospital. The current rented locations are neither modern nor accessible and were not constructed to meet the needs of patients and providers. The new medical staff office building on the CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center campus will support improved access to multispecialty services for the hospital’s patients. It will also enhance the hospital’s ability to attract new physicians and retain the ones already recruited to the area. The enhanced ease of access will ultimately improve the health of residents in the Greenbrier Valley Region. The project will allow CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center to expand its Family Medicine, Cardiology, Urology, Pulmonology, ENT, and General Surgery departments. It will also provide room for the addition of Neurology Services and a telemedicine hub as CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center becomes a full services community hospital.

$5,000,000 HHS CDS award to the Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center (Grantsville, W.Va.) to make the necessary improvements to the hospital building that offers the needed healthcare services for the community in order for those services to remain uninterrupted. This renovation project would provide new clinical, dietary, and laboratory space for patients. Also included in this phased project would be the remodel of the emergency department, ancillary therapies, and pharmacy. These renovations would enable Minnie Hamilton to provide the needed healthcare services to one of the most underserved regions of West Virginia. The current facility is over 60 years old and has exceeded its useful life. Completion of this project would ensure those healthcare services remain for the next 30-40 years.

$5,000,000 HHS CDS award to Camden-on-Gauley Medical Center (Camden on Gauley, W.Va.) to construct a new building in Summersville, W.Va. that will contain the organization’s administrative offices, optical, x-ray, and physical therapy services. Camden Family Health plans to transition all administrative functions to this proposed building, along with the health center’s optical, physical therapy, and x-ray services. The construction of a new building and the transfer of services will provide increased access to patients, as the existing space that houses administrative services is in proximity to patients served.

$3,000,000 HHS CDS award to Summers County (Hinton, W.Va.) to assist the Summers County Commission, in partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. (ARH), in renovating and expanding the emergency department at Summers County ARH Hospital in Hinton, W.Va. Summers County ARH Hospital treated over 4,600 emergency cases in 2022; however, with 1,808 square feet of space, Summers County’s existing emergency department faces numerous challenges in accommodating emergency patients. The emergency department renovation project will be an asset for the entire Summers County community and a resource for the residents of all ages who need the medical services this modern facility will be designed to provide.
$1,000,000 HHS CDS award to Potomac Valley Hospital (PVH) of W.Va., Inc. (Keyser, W.Va.) to create a new six-bed observation unit that will enhance Emergency Department (ED) capacity and quality of care by reducing premature discharges and transfers, improving operational efficiency, and lowering costs. By renovating an outdated segment of the existing ED layout, PVH will create a new 1,675 square foot clinical space centered on six dedicated observation beds to take the pressure off of existing inpatient beds and boost the Hospital’s overall capacity.

$300,000 HHS CDS award to Jefferson County Community Ministries, Inc. (Charles Town, W.Va.) for a homeless shelter that will supply a variety of essential services, including emergency housing, health and medical care, food and clothing, case management and life skills training, and other aid to vulnerable citizens, children, and families in Jefferson County. Currently, there is no homeless shelter or family shelter in Jefferson County region. Jefferson County Community Ministers (JCCM) is working to establish the first emergency shelter for the homeless and vulnerable in Jefferson County, which will include the first family emergency shelter in the Eastern Panhandle.
$300,000 HHS CDS award to the Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission (Waverly, W.Va.) to replace the outdated Chiller/Air Conditioner at the White Oak Village section of the park to ensure the continued success of the Harmony Ridge Recover Center operation. The replacement and upgrade of the Chiller/Air Conditioning unit for the lodge plays a vital role in continuing treatment services offered by Harmony Ridge Recovery Center.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Foster Legislation to Research Windstorms Passes Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, the bipartisan National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Max Miller (R-OH), passed out of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

This legislation reauthorizes the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through Fiscal Year 2029, providing critical funding for the program to continue its research into how to mitigate the injuries and property damage caused by windstorms. It also directs the program to develop and implement new standards to make housing and infrastructure more resilient, and to study the impacts of climate change on windstorms.

“From a devastating EF-3 tornado striking Naperville and Woodridge in 2021 to a record number of tornadoes hitting northern Illinois in 2023, our community is no stranger to the threat of severe weather. The science is clear: These storms will continue to grow more frequent and powerful with the effects of climate change,” said Rep. Foster. “That’s why I’m proud to lead the effort in Congress to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, which will provide critical resources to continue the program’s research and ensure we are all safer the next time a windstorm strikes.”

The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program is a research and implementation program that combines the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation. The last formal authorization bill for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program expired in 2017.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024