Cardiovascular disease, clinical research, digital health

Sophia Antipolis The first platform to combine real-world cardiology data from millions of people in multiple European countries is set to advance research aimed at improving heart health. The EU-funded DataTools4Heart (DT4H) project is backed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and coordinated by the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine lab (BCN-AIM), University of Barcelona, Spain. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally.2 Until now, cardiology data that could advance research and healthcare has remained unused in hospitals across Europe. This is due to data privacy requirements and variations in data formats and languages. To tackle these challenges, DT4H will extract, translate, and reuse data in a federated manner, i.e. without the information being shared with anyone or transferred out of the hospital. DT4H will use data that hospitals already hold in electronic health records. This will include structured information, such as diagnoses, medications, diagnostic measurements and procedures, and unstructured information including referral letters, discharge letters, clinical notes, radiology reports and surgical reports.Eight hospitals covering seven languages (Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, English, Czech, Italian and Romanian) will test out the system over the next two years using clinical questions from their outpatient and emergency departments. Multilingual, AI-powered virtual assistants will help clinician researchers to navigate through the platform and data.Researchers from across the globe will have access to an initial version of the platform through a web portal in October 2024. The model will be continually updated and improved with user feedback until the end of the project and final release of the platform in October 2026. Dr. Gkontra said: “We hope this innovative project will improve heart health by unlocking vast amounts of currently unused data to address critical clinical questions.”

Research News July 2022

The monthly editions of Research News are here to keep you informed about recent projects by the Fraunhofer Institutes. This update on current trends, future topics, studies, the latest developments and innovative concepts goes out to you at the beginning of each month.Hydrogen as an energy carrier is becoming increasingly important for the global energy transition. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have developed a clever method of generating hydrogen: They generate the energy carrier from green waste and sewage sludge. The CO2 that is created in this process can be used as a raw material in the chemical industry or stored in the ground in abandoned natural gas fields. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, in turn, have developed HyMethShip, a propulsion concept for generating hydrogen from methanol. This alternative to marine engines, which use environmentally unfriendly diesel and fuel oil, is expected to almost completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in the future. Another important building block for the energy transition is electromobility. Neodymium-iron-boron high-performance permanent magnets are required for an electric motor to work. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS want to prove that recycling these magnets on a large scale is actually worth the effort and that electric motors with recycled old magnets can deliver the same performance as with their original new magnets. (font: https://www.isc.fraunhofer.de/en/press-and-media/press-releases/innovation-by-creative-economy-ICE.html

La Commissione europea premia Unicam per “L’excellence in research”

Camerino. La Commissione Europea ha confermato per UNICAM l’accreditamento ufficiale “HR-Excellence in Research” per la Human Resources Strategy for Researchers: ieri sera, infatti, al termine della visita di audit tenutasi in modalità telematica, i tre commissari hanno annunciato la notizia che sarà confermata nei prossimi giorni tramite l’invio di un documento ufficiale. La definizione, da parte delle Istituzioni di Ricerca europee, di una Human Resources Strategy for Researchers rappresenta un documento strategico che tutte le Università europee sono invitate ad adottare per sostanziare e dare evidenza degli obiettivi e dei progressi ottenuti nell’attuazione dei principi della Carta Europea dei Ricercatori e del Codice di Condotta per il loro Reclutamento.La Carta Europea dei ricercatori, sottoscritta dalle Università italiane proprio a Camerino nel luglio 2005, è considerata dalla Commissione Europea uno strumento cruciale per attrarre negli atenei Europei i migliori talenti da tutto il mondo e per promuovere all’attenzione dell’opinione pubblica (e quindi della politica) il ruolo-chiave dei ricercatori per lo sviluppo sociale, culturale ed economico dell’Europa.“Siamo ovviamente molto soddisfatti – ha dichiarato il Rettore Unicam prof. Claudio Pettinari – per questo risultato che conferma per la quarta volta consecutiva la qualità del lavoro svolto e con grande orgoglio mostriamo sempre logo che rappresenta in Europa e nel mondo il riconoscimento HR-Excellence in Research. L’Università di Camerino si pone dunque sempre più come modello da seguire anche a livello europeo. Voglio esprimere un particolare ringraziamento al gruppo di lavoro che monitora il processo di implementazione dei principi della Carta europea dei ricercatori e che si sta fortemente impegnando per continuare a mantenere alto il livello di attenzione dell’Ateneo nel favorire le migliori condizioni di lavoro per tutti i propri ricercatori, con particolare riferimento alle ricercatrici ed ai ricercatori più giovani”.I commissari si sono complimentati per le attività di ricerca e le strategie di reclutamento, di produttività e di soddisfazione del personale docente e ricercatore.La Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) di Unicam è disponibile nel sito http://www.unicam.it, cliccando sul banner HR-Excellence in Research.

Applied research dedicated for the future

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) predicts that Germany will consume around 655 terawatt hours in the year 2030 – an increase of almost 20 percent compared to today. The fast-growing electromobility sector is therefore look-ing for new ways to reduce the energy required to produce batteries and thus to design them to be as cost effective and environmentally friendly as possible. DRYtraec® is a promising solution developed by an interdisciplinary research team at Fraunhofer IWS in Dresden that focuses on the manufacture of battery electrodes. A key component of any battery, electrodes consist of a metal foil with a thin coating. This coating contains the active components that are responsible for storing energy. The conventional coating process uses a wet chemical method in which active materials, conductive carbon black and binders are dispersed in a solvent to make a paste that is applied to the metal foil to form a wet coating. This requires extremely large plants with very long drying tracks to ensure that the solvent evaporates. The researchers can make this process more effi-cient with the newly developed DRYtraec® dry-coating process.The building sector is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. According to the German Environment Agency, buildings are responsible for around 30 percent of the country’s CO2 emissions. Buildings with large glass frontages are particularly problematic. They heat up in the sun, especially in summer. The interior therefore needs to be cooled with electricity-intensive air conditioning, which exacerbates the carbon footprint of the building. The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC and the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP have come up with a sophisticated solution to this problem. In the “Switch2Save” project, researchers have been working on transparent coatings for glass façades using electrochromic and ther-mochromic materials. These add a variable, transparent dark tint to the outside of the windows. This keeps the rooms cool and thus contributes to environmental and climate protection.Another building problem, the occurrence of mold in damp conditions, could be solved in the future with bamboo. This rapidly renewable raw material absorbs CO2 and is resource-efficient and biodegradable. For this reason, the construction industry is increasingly choosing to use it as a substitute for wood, which is becoming scarce due to the increase in building activities across the globe. The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP is presenting a solution that helps to forecast bamboo’s response to moisture, thereby enabling the humidity of the material to be managed efficiently. The goal is to prevent the occurrence of mold without the need to use chemical poisons.

New research reveals small businesses lose £17,000 to FX

Melbourne, Australia. In 2020, UK SMEs paid 10x more than corporates for their foreign exchange (FX) when using their banks and wasted an average of £17,000 on their international payments according to fintech company Fluenccy.Alarming research conducted by Professor Harald Hau from the University of Geneva and other academics from the ECB and IMF triggered Founder Tony Crivelli to conduct his own research more broadly. To address the wasted spend, Fluenccy launched Currency Score, a new and free tool that allows SMEs to see their effective foreign currency rate and compare that to a new industry benchmark and identify savings they often don’t know exist.Currency Score was built for SMEs and start-ups who regularly use FX but don’t have the expertise or time to analyse the impact on their bottom line. It measures their FX buying activity and provides a straightforward number – just like a credit score.A score of 500 out of 850 shows they’re doing pretty well. Anything below indicates they could be doing better.By syncing and tracking 12 months of invoice and payment data from a secure Xero integration with Fluenccy’s proprietary algorithms, small businesses can see how effective they are at buying FX quickly, simply, and for free. Currency Score shows their bank’s FX mark-up, what rate they averaged, and how much they could be saving. Snapshot graphs in the full report make the data and possible losses easier to see and understand (but potentially harder to stomach).

Applied research dedicated for the future

The monthly editions of Research News are here to keep you informed about recent projects by the Fraunhofer Institutes. This update on current trends, future topics, studies, the latest developments and innovative concepts goes out to you at the beginning of each month.Microscopes and other lab equipment are a vital weapon in the fight against viruses and bacteria. They help scientists in their search for vaccines and therapies to combat diseases – such as those caused by SARS-CoV-2. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig, researchers are developing hard-magnetic, cobalt-samarium (CoSm) coatings for magnetic scales. These coatings are used for linear scales in microscope stages, the platforms where specimens are mounted for viewing. Combined with sensors and an evaluation algorithm, they help scientists achieve the highest possible positioning accuracy. Cells and other biological materials move, so the ability to position things on a micrometer scale is essential. Microscope stages that use a magnetic positioning system generally have a very compact design. They are used in microscopes from renowned manufacturers such as Leica and Zeiss.In future, self-driving cars will be even safer thanks to LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems, which measure the distance between the vehicle and other objects. By scanning the vehicle’s surroundings, such systems effectively replace the driver’s eyes on the road. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has developed a new type of microscanner mirror as well as a key component of LiDAR systems that enables digital vision in three dimensions with detection ranges of up to 200 meters.A colleague chatting on the phone in the office or a neighbor playing loud music can often be a cause of stress. That’s because our acoustic environment is a key factor in determining how we feel. Sound absorbers offer a useful way to improve room acoustics. Interior designers use sound-absorbing elements as wall claddings or interior furnishings. Many of these are currently made of mineral fibers or plastic foams, some of which are not classed as sustainable and are difficult to recycle. In a bid to bring to market a more eco-friendly alternative, the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP are developing sound absorbers made of mushroom-based materials.The number of laboratory animals in Germany has remained relatively stable for a number of years. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM have been working on various projects to develop alternatives to animal testing. In recent years, they have focused on testing strategies based on human cell lines and organ sections. The scientists’ goal is to steadily reduce the number of animal experiments required for drug development and ultimately replace them entirely.

Research: MEPs reach deal with Council on Horizon Europe programme

Bruxelles. Horizon Europe will help EU’s health system prepare for future pandemics, and industry to decarbonise and innovate, after MEPs and Council came to an informal agreement on Friday.”We really needed this agreement, and we managed to deliver a strong and well financed programme for research and innovation, that will start in time” said Dan Nica (S&D, RO), rapporteur on the Horizon Europe regulation. “Money channelled through the Horizon 2020 helped find a vaccine against COVID-19. The Parliament insisted on an ambitious investment in research and innovation and ensured budgetary stability and predictability in order to have a Horizon Europe programme that will deliver on the future challenges. The budget increase for Horizon with the €5,4 billion from New Generation Europe and the extra €4 billion from the multiannual financial framework (MFF) will ensure investment in resilience both for short term and long term: basic research (through the ERC), the fight against climate change, digitalisation, the support for innovative SMEs and the support for the European Research infrastructure” he said.Citizens, businesses, social partners and the research and knowledge community will have to work in the same team. We cannot miss the opportunity to lead in all these challenges.” M. Nica added.”Finally, we achieved an ambitious and balanced budget which strongly supports fundamental research as well as thematic research” said Christian Ehler (EPP, DE) rapporteur on the Horizon Europe specific programme. “It includes an additional €1bn for the European Research Council and the highest budget ever for digital topics. For the first time there is also a specific budget for Europe’s cultural and creative industries” he said.Industry, Research and Energy committee Chair Cristian Bușoi (EPP, RO) said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that research and innovation (R&I) is a driver for our recovery. We rely on R&I to become resilient for future crisis and to address challenges such as cancer and antimicrobial-resistance, but also to adapt to our globalized world, fight climate change and to prepare a better and greener future for next generations. But to achieve all these ambitions we require an ambitious programme. I believe that this is what we have achieved to deliver today”. The informal agreement will be confirmed in the Industry, Research and Energy committee later this month. Since the European Parliament had insisted to have a Partial Agreement already in April 2019, the whole programme is in position to be finalised and to start on the 1st of January 2021.

Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) di Horizon 2020

Perugia. Una cordata guidata dall’Università per Stranieri di Perugia e composta da 13 partner di 7 paesi dell’area mediterranea si è aggiudicata la realizzazione di un progetto da 3 milioni di euro erogati nell’ambito del Programma europeo. Il progetto vincitore del bando europeo è finalizzato allo sviluppo di azioni nel settore della sicurezza idrica e alimentare in relazione alle strategie di transizione energetica. Esso mira in particolare all’integrazione dei dati e modelli di analisi multisettoriali e transdisciplinari dell’asse Water-Energy-Food, allo scopo di evidenziare i molteplici benefici di un uso equo e sostenibile delle risorse naturali per gli ecosistemi e per la società nel suo complesso. Il progetto, sviluppato nell’ambito della Stranieri dal Centro di ricerca Water Resources Research and Documentation Center (WARREDOC) si chiama NEXUS-NESS (Fair and Sustainable Resource Allocation Demonstrator of the Multiple WEFE Nexus Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits for Mediterranean Regions) – e coinvolge un partenariato di eccellenze italiane e dell’area mediterranea composto di università, PMI, centri di ricerca, enti pubblici e NGO, impegnate nell’ambito della sostenibilità e sicurezza idrica, alimentare, ambientale ed energetica. NEXUS-NESS produrrà e validerà un protocollo operativo denominato Nexus-NESS Service, la cui funzionalità verrà testata in quattro diversi siti: la Val di Cornia in Toscana, la zona del Rio Daja in Spagna, l’area costiera di Matrouh in Egitto e il bacino Oued Jir presso Gabes, in Tunisia. Le attività programmate nel suo ambito avranno una durata di tre anni, nel corso dei quali le operatività poste in essere verranno testate da gruppi di stakeholder transnazionali secondo le metodologie Living Laboratories e Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).

Meeting of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Bruxelles. Tuesday 27 October 2020, 9.00 – 12.30 Room: Altiero Spinelli (6Q2), Brussels and via videoconference Presentation of the study on ‘Budget and staffing needs of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)’ Exchange of views with Mr Christian Zinglersen, Director of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), on the 2019 Annual Report on the Results of Monitoring the Internal Electricity and Natural Gas Markets and on the draft programming for 2021 Presentation by the Director General of DG ENER, Ms Ditte Juul Jørgensen, on the EU-wide assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plans in view of delivering the 2030 targets Next meeting: 9 November 2020 (Brussels)

Meeting of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Brussels Thursday 4 June 2020, 13.45 – 15.45 Room: József Antall (2Q2), Brussels and via videoconference Most MEPs will attend the committee meeting via remote participation (Members will be able to view and listen to the proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting).Votes to the decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations :
– Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination
– Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
– Establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027
– Establishing the space programme of the Union and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme
– Establishing the European Defence Fund
– Exchange of views with Mr Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, on European recovery after COVID-19
Next meeting: 8 June 9.00 in Brussels.

Applied research dedicated for the future

The monthly editions of Research News are here to keep you informed about recent projects by the Fraunhofer Institutes. This update on current trends, future topics, studies, the latest developments and innovative concepts goes out to you at the beginning of each month. The May issue’s topics include sustainability, climate action and AI in manufacturing. We are covering a lot of ground with subjects ranging from alternative fuels and new methods of testing e-vehicle batteries to neural networks for accelerated logistics workflows.This issue continues the April edition’s SARS-CoV-2 coverage to keep you posted on research projects and initiatives pursued by Fraunhofer experts to fight the coronavirus. Our researchers are supporting industry and society in their efforts to deal with its immediate effects and future consequences. This work includes critical projects in the life sciences, close collaboration with businesses, and direct and indirect medical support.

Applied research dedicated for the future

A new issue began to emerge at the turn of the year 2019/2020. It has since taken center stage in the public discourse and in the personal experience of individuals. The novel virus that the World Health Organization calls severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has upended every aspect of public life. The WHO declared the outbreak of this virus to be “a public health emergency of international concern.” The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on day-to-day life, on people’s health, on businesses, on the domestic economy and on global trade. The current situation and the dynamic developments throughout Germany and across the world are posing major challenges for people. Working at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, Fraunhofer experts are supporting the efforts of industry and society to cope with the immediate effects and the consequences to come. These women and men are pursuing critical life sciences projects, joining ranks with businesses, rising to challenges with partners, and providing direct and indirect medical support. And we are reporting on all this and more as part of our special website coverage of the “Fraunhofer vs. Corona” campaign. In this April issue of Research News, we are also going to bring you up to date on other technological highlights that figure prominently in Fraunhofer research.
The coronavirus pandemic is the dominant story in the media. Many Fraunhofer Institutes have joined the battle against COVID-19, bringing their know-how to bear. Fraunhofer researchers are testing the efficacy of drugs available to physicians today, supporting research across national borders with their expertise in diagnostics, and creating the infrastructural prerequisites for further research into SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses in their laboratories. We will soon add more information about Fraunhofer research activities related to the coronavirus to our website.

IBM and Fraunhofer bring Quantum Computing to Germany

Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin – The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe’s leading organization for applied research, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today the signing of the agreement aimed at advancing quantum computing in Germany. The collaboration gives companies and research institutions access to IBM quantum computers in Germany and the USA under the umbrella of a nationwide Fraunhofer competence network. The aim is to research the technology, application scenarios and algorithms while generating competence development and competitive advantages for the local economy and science.
As part of the collaboration, an IBM Q System One quantum computer will be installed in a IBM computer center near Stuttgart. The system is scheduled to go into operation in early 2021 and will be the first of its kind in Europe. Fraunhofer plans to bring together established partners from research and industry under the umbrella of a research infrastructure of Fraunhofer institutes, which will work together in a centrally coordinated national Fraunhofer competence network for quantum computing.
This network has set itself the goal of further developing and transferring application-oriented quantum computing strategies under complete data sovereignty of European law and will initially be represented by competence centers in expected six German states – Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. Currently, more than ten Fraunhofer Institutes are already working on various fields of quantum technology.As early as April 1, 2020, interested companies and research institutions will have access to the world’s largest group of quantum computers in the US-based IBM Quantum Computation Center under the umbrella of the nationwide Fraunhofer competence network. The IBM Quantum Computation Center currently comprises 15 systems and is located in the US state of New York. Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will offer Fraunhofer technical support and assistance in using the IBM Quantum systems.
IBM System Q One is optimized to ensure the quality, stability, reliability and reproducibility of multi-qubit applications. Due to these factors and the resulting high quantum volume (a measure of the performance of a quantum computer), the IBM System Q One enables state-of-the-art research for concrete application scenarios in science and industry. In 2016, IBM was the first company to make universal quantum computers accessible via the cloud. An active community of more than 200,000 users have run hundreds of billions of executions on real IBM Quantum hardware, and have published more than 200 research papers based on these experiments. IBM is also the first company to have commercial clients via the IBM Q Network, a community of more than 100 businesses, start-ups, research labs, education institutions and governments working with IBM to advance quantum computing.

Polish diplomats in Bern tried to save 10,000 Jews during Holocaust, new research reveals

NEW YORK – Polish diplomats based in Bern, Switzerland during World War II attempted to save between 8,000 and 10,000 Jews from Nazi deportation by providing them with fake Latin American documents, new research undertaken by the Warsaw-based Pilecki Institute has revealed.The English version of The Ładoś List, a comprehensive publication presenting previously unrevealed details about the Ładoś Group (also known as the Bernese Group), as well as a full index of the names of the 3,253 Jews who received or were meant to receive these documents, will be presented under the patronage of the World Jewish Congress on Thursday 27 February, at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, following its Polish-language premiere in December.
The publication of the Ładoś List, named for then-Polish Ambassador Aleksander Ładoś, who served in Switzerland 1940–45 and directed the forged certification efforts, is the result of two years of painstaking research conducted by the Pilecki Institute, together with the Jewish Historical Institute of Warsaw, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum, and the Polish Institute of National Remembrance. It is one of the most comprehensive Holocaust research projects conducted in recent years, and was made possible through access to various reputable archives, including Bad Arolsen, Yad Vashem, the Polish Central Archives of Modern Records, and others, according to Pilecki Institute Director Dr. Wojciech Kozłowski.
Between 26 and 46 percent of the 3,253 Jews who received the Polish-forged documents are confirmed to have survived the Holocaust, and several dozen of them are still alive. But the real number of the survivors is much larger, said Dr. Jakub Kumoch, Polish Ambassador to Switzerland and the editor of the study. “We estimate that the Ładoś group contributed to the rescue of between 2,000 and 3,000 people,” Kumoch said, adding that thousands more Jews are believed to have benefited from these efforts, though their names remain undocumented.
The Ładoś Group assisted Jews from all over Europe, though the majority of the passports identified and documented in the research were used by Jews in occupied Poland, the Netherlands, and to some extent, Germany, according to Monika Maniewska, a Pilecki Institute archivist and co-author of The Ładoś List. Since its premiere in Poland last December, a number of people have come forward to confirm the details revealed. The English edition, which includes the life stories of more than 50 survivors, was first presented last week in London, at the Wiener Holocaust Library. The research will also be presented in West Hartford, Connecticut at the Mandell JCC Innovation Center on 28 February, following the 27 February event in New York.WJC Associate Executive Vice President and General Counsel Menachem Rosensaft, whose father Josef (Józef) Rosensaft was among the Jews saved through a forged certificate of Paraguayan nationality, praised these efforts in an op-ed in Tablet Magazine, in which he wrote: “We cannot and must not overlook those Poles who killed Jews or handed them over to the Germans to be killed, or who profiteered shamelessly from the ghettoization and deportation of their Jewish compatriots. At the same time, however, it is equally critical to emphasize that there were thousands of Poles who risked their lives to hide and save Jews, and that the London-based Polish government in exile was one of European Jewry’s few allies during the Holocaust years.”

Agoda Research Reveals Travel Trend Expectations for The 2020s

Single apps for all travel needs, passport free travel, and mobile app check-in are the top three ‘new travel norms’ expected by travelers in the next decade, according to new research by Agoda, the world’s fastest growing digital travel platform.
With the continued advancement of technology, revolutionary travel apps, and better connectivity, people expect a lot more from their travel experience in the next decade. Specifically, Southeast Asians half of all respondents in Indonesia (56%), Singapore (54%), Malaysia (53%), Taiwan (50%), the Philippines (48%) and Thailand (48%) considering this the norm in the next decade. This compares to only a third of people in the United Kingdom and the United States (33%).Specifically, in Taiwan (50%) and in Southeast Asia half of all respondents in Indonesia (56%), Singapore (54%), Malaysia (53%), the Philippines (48%) and Thailand (48%) considering this the norm in the next decade. This compares to only a third of people in the United Kingdom and the United States (33%).Meanwhile, Singapore (50%), Vietnam (47%), Philippines (45%), China (44%) and Australia (41%) are the top five origins most likely to see a future with passport-free travel. In the UK and US, they are less expectant of this advancement with only 1 in 5 expecting it to be the norm within the next decade.Technology has already made such a positive impact on how and where people travel as innovative technologies, like those developed at Agoda, give travelers instant access to millions of hotels and home properties around the world with real time pricing and availability.Globally, people want to increase travel, but also to make eco-friendlier travel choicesUniversally, people want to increase the amount of travel they undertake in the 2020s. Exploring more of their own country is cited by 40% of respondents globally, while international travel more often is anticipated at 35%.What’s also interesting, in the context of global narratives on climate sustainability, is the trend that more than a quarter want to make more eco-friendly travel choices in the next decade. Travelers from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are most keen to make eco-friendlier choices perhaps more aware than others with the recent closure of Maya Bay in Thailand, and the Boracay rehabilitation program in Philippines, and thus travelers want to do their bit even when on holiday.Travelers in the 35-44 and 55+ age groups are most likely to want to explore their own countries and territories more (40% and 42% respectively), with those from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, US and Vietnam choosing domestic destinations within their top three wishlist destinations for the coming decade.Meanwhile Korean and Japanese travelers see themselves taking more solo trips in the next decade. Taiwanese and Indonesians would prefer taking a sabbatical or gap year.Kyoto scoops #1 spot as the world’s most desired destination to visit in the 20s. Asia dominates the global travel wishlists destinations for the next decade, as travelers from both Asia and the West showcase a growing curiosity for Asian treasures like Kyoto (Japan) famed for its Shinto shrine, Kyoto is an eclectic blend of culture, food and history, followed by Bangkok, (Thailand) and Bali, (Indonesia).Travelers in Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia want to cross off their own capital cities from their travel lists. Meanwhile, South Korea, the UK, and Australian travelers are the only one who don’t choose a domestic destination on their wishlists for travel in the next decade. American and British travelers alike are most excited about visiting New York in the coming decade, with New York also a top three choice for travelers from Australia, Japan and South Korea. Both Malaysian and Indonesian travelers would like to visit Makkah by 2030.

KBRA Releases Research: Project Finance and Infrastructure 2020

The global project finance and infrastructure (PFI) market is expected to expand in 2020 as many countries must replace aging infrastructure, adapt to new technologies, and develop new means of energy production. These major initiatives will likely come about through the development of renewable energy assets to meet clean energy targets, improvements in telecommunications systems to account for increased internet demand, and new infrastructure investments (rail, parking, ports, etc.) to accommodate a growing population.However, the question of what comes next in the PFI sector seemed to have taken on greater importance in 2019 as the market adapted to changes in tax incentives, regulatory requirements, and the emergence of new technologies. This 2020 sector outlook discusses recent market trends, credit performance of certain PFI subsectors, and provides the Project Finance and Infrastructure Group’s forward-looking views for the year ahead.

La democrazia esiste ancora?

La rabbia nei confronti dei poteri economici, le disuguaglianze crescenti e l’inquietudine per i rapidi cambiamenti tecnologici e climatici in atto hanno generato un clima di disaffezione nei confronti della democrazia. Secondo un sondaggio di Pew Research, condotto in 27 Paesi nel mondo, il 51% dei cittadini non è più soddisfatto del funzionamento delle istituzioni democratiche. Nelle democrazie di tutto il mondo, si legge su Project Syndicate, gli elettori hanno sempre più la sensazione che la maggior parte delle decisioni che incidono sulle loro vite in realtà vengano prese altrove. Nonostante i dati dicano che la democrazia sia in netto vantaggio rispetto ai regimi autoritari (Ourworldindata), “la democrazia oggi sta combattendo per la sua stessa sopravvivenza”, avverte Foreign Policy. Negli ultimi mesi, le proteste di piazza hanno coinvolto sia i Paesi ricchi sia quelli poveri, sia le democrazie forti sia i regimi più repressivi. Al centro di questa rabbia c’è la diffusa percezione che i governi agiscano nell’interesse delle élite piuttosto che delle persone. Il che solleva una questione: la democrazia è ancora la migliore forma di governo? (Ekathimerini). Tra innovazione e regressione – Già nel 2007 lo storico Eric Hobsbawm si interrogava sulla capacità della democrazia di fronteggiare dinamiche complesse e travolgenti come la globalizzazione e il terrorismo (Globalisation, democracy and terrorism). Oggi la finanziarizzazione, le trasformazioni del mondo produttivo e la comparsa di nuove potenze di chiaro stampo non democratico mettono ancora più in crisi l’impianto liberale nato nell’Ottocento e legato al primo e al secondo decollo industriale scrive Altreconomia. L’aspetto paradossale – osserva Nadia Urbinati nella sua Introduzione al nuovo Annale di Fondazione Feltrinelli intitolato Thinking Democracy Now: Between Innovation and Regression – è che l’ideologia democratica non è affatto messa in discussione: la democrazia oggi gode di un’indiscussa egemonia, al punto che anche chi la mette a repentaglio e ne mina le fondamenta lo fa in suo nome, promettendo di accrescerla e coniando espressioni ossimoriche come “democrazia illiberale”.

Hyperfine Research Inc. Teams with NVIDIA on Next-Generation Point-of-Care MRI System

Hyperfine Research, Inc. is demonstrating the world’s first bedside, portable, point-of-care MRI (POCMRI) system at the 2019 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting. The Hyperfine POCMRI is ultra-compact, standing 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall, and is currently 510(k) submitted for clinical brain imaging. The key to the Hyperfine POCMRI is the ability to use ordinary permanent magnets, which require no power or cooling, to produce an MR image. Hyperfine’s goal is to produce images that provide significant clinical value. Hyperfine is collaborating with top-tier partners to evaluate the clinical utility and efficacy of POCMRI.The Hyperfine POCMRI can operate in an open environment and requires no special shielding. This means that the Hyperfine POCMRI can conduct MRI in electromagnetically noisy environments — in hospitals and beyond. MRI has no associated cancer risk, and the Hyperfine POCMRI produces no ionizing radiation. Instead, the Hyperfine POCMRI uses ultra-low magnetic fields and low-power radio waves to do imaging of the brain and other body parts. Early clinical results show that the Hyperfine POCMRI can image brain disease and brain injury using scans that are about 5-10 minutes long.
Critical to POCMRI is advanced computing. Since the very first MRI of a human subject, computing power has increased a billion times relative to cost. Hyperfine is using GPU computing to enable clinical MRI with 20-40 times less magnetic field than that of current standard-of-care hospital MRI. Lower magnetic field means lower power requirements; the POCMRI requires only a standard electrical power outlet for operation. Lower magnetic field also means less weight. The POCMRI sits on a motorized drive and can be wheeled from hospital bed to hospital bed and be taken up and down standard elevators.Hyperfine was founded by Jonathan M. Rothberg, PhD, founder of Butterfly Network, Inc. Hyperfine has chosen to partner with NVIDIA Corporation to help implement next-generation MRI computing architecture. NVIDIA is the leader in artificial intelligence hardware and software across cloud, edge, and now embedded platforms.

The American Association for Cancer Research Conference

Omeros Corporation (Nasdaq: OMER) presented new GPR174 immuno-oncology data yesterday at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy in Boston, Massachusetts. The positively received and well-attended presentation about the company’s cell-based and animal studies related to its newly discovered cancer immunity axis was made by Marc Gavin, Ph.D., Omeros’ Director of Immunology. This data can now be accessed on the company’s website at https://investor.omeros.com/presentations. Omeros is an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing small-molecule and protein therapeutics for large-market as well as orphan indications targeting complement-mediated diseases, disorders of the central nervous system and immune-related diseases, including cancers. In addition to its commercial product OMIDRIA® (phenylephrine and ketorolac intraocular solution) 1%/0.3%, Omeros has multiple Phase 3 and Phase 2 clinical-stage development programs focused on complement-mediated disorders and substance abuse, as well as a diverse group of preclinical programs including GPR174, a novel target in immuno-oncology that modulates a new cancer immunity axis recently discovered by Omeros. Small-molecule inhibitors of GPR174 are part of Omeros’ proprietary G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) platform through which it controls 54 new GPCR drug targets and their corresponding compounds. The company also exclusively possesses a novel antibody-generating platform.

Engitix Receives a Golden Ticket to LabCentral from Takeda to Advance Fibrosis and Solid Tumour Research

Engitix Ltd (‘Engitix’), a private company focused on drug discovery for fibrosis and solid tumours based on its pioneering human extracellular matrix (ECM) platform, announced that its subsidiary Engitix, Inc, has been awarded a Golden Ticket to LabCentral by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda). The Golden Ticket provides Engitix one year of lab bench space at LabCentral, a world-class shared laboratory and office space in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It includes access to LabCentral’s shared infrastructure and services, such as first-class lab, facility, and administrative support, skilled laboratory personnel, and participation in LabCentral’s training programme and seminars. Engitix will use the Golden Ticket to advance its human extracellular matrix (ECM) research in fibrosis and solid tumours disease progression.
“We are honoured to have received this Golden Ticket from Takeda, bringing us immediate access to a world-class bioresearch facility. It is a first step in developing Engitix’s presence in the United States and I look forward to building our network in Cambridge and across the USA more widely. We are also delighted that Takeda, a leader in the area of gastrointestinal diseases, has recognised the potential in Engitix’s ECM technology,” said Dr Giuseppe Mazza, Engitix co-founder and CEO.Engitix has developed the world’s first proprietary drug discovery platform based on tissue-specific and disease-specific human ECM scaffolds. The company’s 3D human ECM scaffolds provide an enabling tool for a better understanding of the role of the ECM in disease development and progression, leading to the identification of more relevant targets for drug discovery and biomarker development. A key current limitation in developing more effective treatments in fibrosis and for various solid cancers has been the absence of human ECM in experimental models. Engitix’s mission is to increase the quality of therapeutics targets selected for development and a reduction in the number of later-stage drug trial failures by establishing more advanced platforms for drug target identification and validation, in which healthy as well as diseased cells can be tested with potential therapeutic agents within their natural physiological and pathological microenvironment.