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Groundbreaking Study in Noninvasive Chromosomal Testing for Embryos Recognized as Seminal Contribution in the Field

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Olive Fertility Centre co-director, Dr. Gary Nakhuda, co-authored a groundbreaking study highlighting the advances and limitations in noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A).

VANCOUVER, BC, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Dr. Gary Nakhuda, MD, co-director Olive Fertility Centre, and his team have made a significant leap in the field of reproductive medicine with their groundbreaking study highlighting the advances and limitations in noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) recently published in the prestigious journal Fertility & Sterility. “We are honoured that our paper about the NICEST (Noninvasive Chromosomal Embryo Screening Trial) study was published in Fertility & Sterility and recognized as a Seminal Contribution to the field,” says Dr. Nakhuda.

We are honoured that our paper about the NICEST (Noninvasive Chromosomal Embryo Screening Trial) study was published in Fertility & Sterility and recognized as a Seminal Contribution to the field.

The study involved 120 patients under the age of 35 undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and focused on analyzing the positive predictive value and false positive risk of detecting chromosomal abnormalities using niPGT-A. Currently, PGT-A is the standard method for detecting chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. However, it requires an invasive biopsy of the embryo, which is labor-intensive and demands the expertise of highly skilled embryologists.

In contrast, niPGT-A utilizes DNA secreted by the embryo into the culture media during its growth. Typically discarded after the embryos have matured, this “spent” culture media contains minuscule amounts of DNA that can be isolated and amplified. The noninvasive approach offers several advantages over conventional PGT-A. Besides eliminating the risk to the embryo, niPGT-A could potentially make PGT-A more accessible by reducing the reliance on highly skilled embryologists, thereby lowering costs. However, the technique’s current limitations, primarily related to obtaining reliable samples due to the small amount of DNA available, were acknowledged in the study.

Study Highlights: Promising Results and Key Challenges

Positive Predictive Value: The study reported a 94.4%-100% positive predictive value for detecting aneuploidy using niPGT-A, indicating a high level of accuracy in identifying nonviable embryos with whole chromosome abnormalities.Clinical Outcomes: Embryos categorized as having “uncertain reproductive potential” showed a sustained implantation rate of 77.8%, similar to those without detected abnormalities. This suggests that some embryos deemed abnormal by standard criteria may still have the potential for successful implantation.Technological Limitations: Despite its promise, niPGT-A faces significant challenges. A total of 22.5% of samples had undetermined or uncertain results, highlighting the need for further refinement of the technology.

The editorial accompanying the study praised Dr. Nakhuda and his team for their meticulous work. “Nakhuda et al.’s non-selection study is a major step forward in validating niPGT-A and providing clinical information regarding its technological limitations,” the editorial stated, emphasizing the importance of cautious optimism. “We commend the investigators for their hard work in working to validate niPGT-A and taking great care to look before we leap,” the editorial continued, highlighting the careful balance required in adopting new technologies in reproductive medicine to ensure both effectiveness and safety for patients.

Dr. Nakhuda’s study provides a foundation for future research and development in niPGT-A. By identifying current limitations and areas for improvement, the study paves the way for further validation and optimization of this noninvasive technique. Future studies with larger sample sizes and diverse patient populations will be essential in determining the broader applicability of niPGT-A. Dr. Nakhuda and his team are already planning a follow-up study to further validate niPGT-A, aiming to finalize its validation and pave the way for its future clinical application.

“Our research was significant since it was the first to document the predictive values of noninvasive PGT-A (niPGT-A) in a transparent and blinded fashion,” says Dr. Nakhuda. “We still have work to do but are confident that niPGT-A will change the paradigm of embryo screening in the near future.”

About Olive Fertility Centre:

Olive Fertility Centre olivefertility.com is one Canada’s leading fertility centres with clinics in Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, and Kelowna. We offer an award-winning IVF lab, personal care teams, and innovative programs including specialized genetic testing, egg freezing, and prenatal NIPT testing.

Media Contact
Mairi Campbell, Olive Fertility Centre, 1 778-885-5300, mairi.campbell@telus.net, https://www.olivefertility.com/

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Galloway Company Expansion Nearly Doubles United States Industrial Sweetened Condensed Milk Capacity

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NEENAH, Wis., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Galloway Company, a leader in premium dairy ingredients, announces the completion of a major expansion to its production capabilities. The addition of a custom-built evaporator will nearly double the United States’ total capacity for industrial sweetened condensed milk. The expansion comes at a critical time, relieving a highly constrained market for premium concentrated dairy ingredients in the United States.

The expansion will set new industry benchmarks in capacity, operational efficiency, and quality.

The expansion will allow the company to serve existing clients with the same premium quality ingredients they’ve come to rely on, while also welcoming new customers for the first time in four years.

“Over the last four years, we’ve seen growing constraints from the bakery and confectionery markets, with extended lead times and maxed-out production capacities,” said Mike Hasler, Director of Industrial Sales, Galloway Company. “This expansion ensures we can not only meet the demand of our existing customers but also welcome new business.”

With the addition of the second evaporator, Galloway Company is building redundancy into its production process, minimizing the risk of service interruptions for clients. The new system will also enable greater customization of products, allowing the company to meet the needs of clients of all sizes—from full tanker trucks to smaller batches packaged in totes and 5-gallon pails.

The expansion will set new industry benchmarks in capacity, operational efficiency, and quality. The upgraded system includes high-efficiency motors and precision-engineered valve systems, with a fully automated homogenization process, advanced lactose seeding technologies, and state-of-the-art cooling systems. These updates minimize energy consumption and reduce environmental impact while advanced quality control measures ensure consistent performance and accuracy. 

For more information or to place an order, please visit gallowaycompany.com or contact Mike Hasler at mhasler@gallowaycompany.com.

About Galloway Company

Galloway Company is the number one supplier of cream liqueur bases and sweetened condensed milk in the U.S. Located in Neenah, Wisconsin, Galloway specializes in producing unique formulations of condensed dairy blends and beverage bases. Classic Mix Partners, a subsidiary of Galloway Company, is the largest manufacturer of frozen dairy dessert mixes in Wisconsin, serving customers nationwide. For more information on our complete line of innovative dairy product mixes and bases, visit gallowaycompany.com.

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SOURCE Galloway Company

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SOCi Scales its AI Agent Solutions While Bolstering Path to Profitability

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SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SOCi, Inc., the leader in AI-powered marketing solutions for multi-location businesses, today announced initial results from its AI Agent strategy. In less than eight months, SOCi’s Genius AI™ solutions now account for more than 10% of the company’s annual recurring revenue (ARR). These results cap off a year of remarkable milestones for SOCi, including surpassing $100 million in ARR—a feat that places the company among the elite Centaur SaaS organizations globally.

In 2025, the company plans to continue to enhance and expand its advanced Genius AI™ technology, allowing SOCi’s AI Agents to take on even more local marketing tasks at scale and deliver unprecedented efficiency and value for SOCi’s nearly 1,000 multi-location customers. Additionally, SOCi is committed to accelerating its journey to profitability by strategically realigning resources to focus on high-impact areas with proven success. This reorganization is designed to enhance efficiency, drive scalability, and position the company for sustainable, long-term growth.

“We remain committed to revolutionizing the industry with our AI Agent innovation and Genius solutions, delivering the first digital workforce to drive unparalleled value for our customers,” said Afif Khoury, CEO of SOCi. “Simultaneously, we are focused on achieving sustainable growth by prioritizing financial stability and operational efficiency, solidifying our position as the leader in marketing innovation.”

Recently recognized as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company for the seventh consecutive year, and named one of Fast Company Most Innovative Companies, SOCi continues to expand its reach into new high-growth markets with its cutting-edge local marketing solutions. Over the past two years, the company has forged partnerships with iconic enterprises such as Ford, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and Ace Hardware, while establishing a strong presence in the Financial Services and Insurance sectors with notable partners like Liberty Tax and Motto Mortgage.

About SOCi, Inc.
SOCi is the leader in AI-powered marketing solutions for multi-location businesses. With its proprietary Genius AI™ and suite of Genius Agents™, SOCi provides a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered digital workforce capable of handling the workload of 1,000 local marketers™, empowering brands to achieve unmatched digital visibility, strengthen customer engagement, and scale faster than ever before.

SOCi is recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, and is trusted by nearly 1,000 top brands—including Ford, Ace Hardware, Kumon, Liberty Tax, and more—to automate and optimize local marketing tasks across all locations. Founded in 2012 and backed by leading strategic investors, SOCi is transforming how multi-location brands manage and scale their marketing efforts. Learn more at www.soci.ai or contact us at hello@soci.ai.

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SOURCE SOCi, Inc.

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Verdantas Acquires M-H-M, Inc. Expanding Water Services Throughout Northern California

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TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Verdantas, a leader in digitally enabled technical consulting solutions for the environment, water, and energy transition markets, backed by Sterling Investment Partners, is pleased to announce the acquisition of M-H-M, Inc. (MHM). The acquisition aims to enhance Verdantas’ expertise in the northern California water market and expand the services offered by both firms.

Based in Marysville, California, MHM brings invaluable expertise and experience to Verdantas, broadening the depth and range of services within the water, and land development markets with strong relationships with municipalities, public agencies, and private clients. The integration of MHM into Verdantas enhances its water service capabilities bringing valuable expertise in water supply and storage, distribution, irrigation, water master planning, flood control, storm drainage, as well as land development and surveying.

Jesse Kropelnicki, CEO of Verdantas, stated about the acquisition: “Integrating MHM into Verdantas will continue our growth strategy by further diversifying our business on the west coast, and by furthering our capabilities in the water market. This expansion enhances our expertise and ability to serve water clients more effectively in northern California. Additionally, MHM improves our land development and surveying capabilities, which will enhance other services we provide in the same geography. We look forward to providing their team with new opportunities for growth while they continue to contribute to our mission.”

California brings unique engineering design complexities. By partnering with Verdantas, we can now integrate robust in-house geotechnical and geological, structural engineering, and environmental expertise into our projects that we previously outsourced,” stated Sean Minard, President of MHM. “Our collaboration with Verdantas aims to expand our service offerings, providing comprehensive solutions in flood control, storm drainage, and water resource management as well as land development. This growth will add value to our current clients in Northern California, enabling us to deliver a more extensive suite of engineering and environmental solutions.”

James Soldano, Partner at Sterling, said, “We are proud to support Verdantas in this strategic acquisition of MHM. This move reflects our shared vision of growing Verdantas’ presence throughout the western United States and addresses the critical need for water-related expertise in a region facing challenges related to water resources and flood control.”

This acquisition is a vital component of the company’s sustainable service offerings objectives. By participating in significant projects, Verdantas plans to address critical water challenges, advocate for conservation, improve water quality, and encourage sustainable practices.

About Verdantas

Verdantas is a leader in digitally enabled technical consulting solutions for the environment, water, and energy transition markets. Blending balanced strengths in environmental and engineering expertise, we partner with clients and communities to create comprehensive solutions that contribute to a sustainable future. With a team of over 1,700 professionals nationwide, we harness diverse skills and innovative technologies to address complex challenges, protect vital resources, and foster resilient communities. For more information, visit www.verdantas.com.

About Sterling Investment Partners

Sterling Investment Partners is a leading private equity firm that has been building leading middle-market companies for over 30 years with a highly experienced, cohesive team of senior investment professionals. Sterling focuses on control investments in value-added distribution and business services, acquiring businesses that the firm believes have strong, sustainable competitive advantages and significant opportunities for value creation. Over its history, Sterling has completed over 230 transactions, representing over $31 billion in aggregate value, and was recently ranked a Top 10 performing middle market private equity firm globally by Dow Jones-HEC Paris. For more information, visit www.sterlinglp.com.

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SOURCE Verdantas LLC

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