Technology

Draper to Design Microbe-based Sensors to Perform Environmental Monitoring

Published

4 months ago

July 23, 2024

Draper is looking to test the boundaries of microbe-based sensing technologies.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Over the past decade, scientists have proved that engineered microbes are capable of exhibiting a range of sense-and-response functions. They can be programmed to convert input signals into detectible outputs, such as a change in color when they encounter specific toxins. They can sense and respond to physical stimuli such as light or magnetic fields. They can even produce an electric current to actuate a tiny gear.

“Our goal is to support DARPA in mapping the modular design of microbe-based sensors, develop a standardized design-build-test process analogous to the hardware development processes and determine the environmental conditions in which these sensors operate.” Chris Vaiana in Biotechnology at Draper.

Now, Draper is looking to test the boundaries of microbe-based sensing technologies. In partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Draper is leading a diverse team of experts to explore the development of an interactive, platform methodology for the rapid design of microbe-based sense-and-respond devices for monitoring Department of Defense-relevant environments.

Specifically, DARPA seeks to establish the range of chemical and physical signals that microbial devices can detect, environmental conditions they can tolerate and types of output signals that can be generated. To this end, Tellus will focus on developing the methodology to enable the rapid design of agile, robust, reliable and durable microbial sensors for environmental monitoring, the agency said.

“Microbes have the potential to be developed as biological sensors that can collect vital information about the environments they naturally inhabit,” said Chris Vaiana in Draper’s Biotechnology business. “Our goal is to support DARPA in mapping the modular design of microbe-based sensors, develop a standardized design-build-test process analogous to the hardware development processes and determine the environmental conditions in which these sensors operate.”

Current approaches to environmental monitoring rely on distributed sensor networks on the ground, in the water, and on satellites and autonomous systems, such as drones. The goal of DARPA’s Tellus program is to develop a complementary monitoring system composed of microbial devices that can translate detected signals into a variety of physical or chemical output signals that can then be measured by conventional receiver systems, such as photonic, photoelectronic or imaging systems.

One way this solution might look, according to DARPA, is a dashboard or interface where a user will dial in features of their environment, along with the inputs they want to detect, and the output signals that are useful to them, and the system would design a safe, effective microbial device to meet those needs.

Applications vary depending on the configuration. A microbe-based sensing system could be used to detect pesticides, toxins and contaminants in the soil and water. It could also be used to detect harmful agents like heavy metals, organic pollutants, explosives, chemical warfare agents and poison gases.

Draper scientists will develop six unique microbial sense-and-respond devices that will function in a range of environments, according to Kevin Remillard, Draper’s Director for the DARPA Tellus program team. “Monitoring emerging conditions in the environment using microbe-based sensing requires a flexible, multidisciplinary engineering approach. Draper will draw on expertise in areas including synthetic biology and bioinformatics to do just that,” Remillard said.

Draper is fortunate to be partnering with a team of experts from Boston University, MIT, North Carolina State, University of Colorado at Boulder and RTX BBN. Draper’s work on the Tellus program is part of a growing portfolio of capabilities directly supporting national security needs. Some of these capabilities include biothreat detection technologies developed for IARPA’s Finding Engineering-Linked Indicators (FELIX) and DARPA’s Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies (D [IGET) programs.

This contract was a competitive acquisition under broad agency announcement Tellus, HR001123S0027.

Draper

As a nonprofit engineering innovation company, Draper serves the nation’s interests and security needs; advances technologies at the intersection of government, academia and industry; cultivates the next generation of innovators; and solves the most complex challenges. Multidisciplinary teams drawn from a broad and deep talent pool of 1,300 engineers and scientists collaborate to develop first-of-a-kind solutions. Draper’s unbiased approach enables the company to focus on their customers’ needs and to deliver new capabilities to them. Learn more at draper.com.

Media Contact

Dan Dent, Draper, 6172582462, ddent@draper.com, https://www.draper.com/

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Technology

CGTN: Starting a new era in Asia-Pacific development amid global uncertainty

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2024 /CNW/ — Over the decades, the Asia-Pacific region has been a vital driver of global economic growth. In October, the International Monetary Fund predicted the region would contribute approximately 60 percent to global economic growth in 2024.

At the same time, Asia-Pacific cooperation is confronted with challenges such as rising tendencies of geopolitics, unilateralism and protectionism. In this regard, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called on leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to shoulder greater responsibilities.

“We must act in solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges, fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision 2040, build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and start a new era in Asia-Pacific development,” said Xi, when attending the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Peru’s capital Lima.

China’s proposal

To deepen Asia-Pacific cooperation, the Chinese president on Saturday made three proposals.

Firstly, Xi stressed the need to build an open and interconnected paradigm for Asia-Pacific cooperation, calling for staying committed to multilateralism and an open economy.

China has made great efforts towards an open Asia-Pacific economy. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China is the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies and has actively advanced the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, promoted high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

Secondly, Xi emphasized the need to make green innovation a catalyst for the Asia-Pacific, saying APEC economies should push forward coordinated digital and green transformation and development to create new momentum and new drivers for Asia-Pacific development.

China is developing new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions and deepening cooperation with interested parties on green innovation. Xi announced on Saturday that China will launch a Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative.

China has put forward initiatives for cooperation between APEC member economies in green agriculture, sustainable city development, green and low-carbon energy transition, and marine pollution control and prevention.

The Chinese president also urged efforts to uphold a universally beneficial and inclusive vision for Asia-Pacific development. The data unveiled by the Chinese Foreign Ministry showed China contributes 64.2 percent of the region’s economic growth, 37.6 percent of the growth in goods trade, and 44.6 percent of the growth in services trade.

Xi told APEC leaders that China will advance initiatives through the APEC platform on increasing residents’ income and promoting the industrial cluster development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, for the purpose of bringing about universally beneficial and inclusive development of Asia-Pacific economies.

China’s commitments

China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026, Xi announced on Saturday, saying China welcomes all parties to continue riding the “express train” of its development and grow together with the Chinese economy.

The Chinese president reiterated China’s commitments to reform and opening up. “Reform and opening up is a historic process in which China and the world achieve development and progress together,” he said.

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, at its third plenum in July, laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform across the board with more than 300 consequential reform measures being unveiled, pertaining to building a high-standard socialist market economy, advancing high-quality economic development, promoting high-standard opening up, improving the people’s quality of life, and building a beautiful country.

In his written speech at the APEC CEO Summit on Friday, Xi also said China will introduce more policies for voluntary and unilateral opening up, expand its globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas, and open its door even wider to the world.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-11-17/Starting-a-new-era-in-Asia-Pacific-development-amid-global-uncertainty-1yAvmNr7lYc/p.html

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Technology

CGTN: How does Chancay Port light up Asia-Pacific cooperation?

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2024 /CNW/ — From the arrival of the first ship at Chancay Port to its official inauguration, the port has gained global attention in recent days, boosting confidence in the prospects of more open and inclusive Asia-Pacific economic development.

The port, a cooperative project between Peru and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will reduce sea shipping time from Peru to China to 23 days, cutting logistics costs by at least 20 percent. It is expected to generate $4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru and create over 8,000 direct jobs. The port, capable of accommodating ultra-large container ships with a capacity of 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), has a designed annual throughput capacity of 1 million TEUs in the near term and 1.5 million TEUs in the long term, positioning it as a key hub for trade between Latin America and Asia.

Noting that the port connects Chancay and Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping remarked that “what we are witnessing is not only the root and blossom of the BRI in Peru but also the birth of a new gateway that connects land and sea, Asia and Latin America” during his address via video link at the port’s inauguration ceremony.

Peruvian officials: ‘More job opportunities and economic growth’ brought to Peru

Senior Peruvian officials and ordinary citizens have said they are looking forward to benefiting from the first smart and green port in South America.

Prime Minister of Peru Gustavo Adrianzen said that cooperation between China and Peru, including the Chancay Port project and other fields, will bring more job opportunities and economic growth to Peru, improving people’s living standards.

Jose Tam, president of the Chinese-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce, talked about the significance of Peru’s Chancay megaport with CGTN, saying the port will be an “engine” for the local economy.

Juan Carlos Capunay, former executive director of the APEC Secretariat and former Peruvian ambassador to China, also stated that the port will play an important role in deepening bilateral relations and fostering practical cooperation between China and Peru.

Entrepreneur Cielo Augusto from Chancay said he is looking forward to building the first levels of business while noting that industries such as hospitality will also be boosted, as there will be a significant influx of people from abroad.

“The port will save time, increase efficiency and bring new opportunities to Peru,” Karla Santuyomarca, a Peruvian citizen, told CGTN.

Some 78.3 percent of respondents to a CGTN survey of Peruvians said they support their country’s participation in the BRI, which includes Chancay Port. Additionally, 93.6 percent of respondents expressed support for deepening practical cooperation in various fields between China, Peru and other Latin American countries.

Open, interconnected Asia-Pacific cooperation

With its official opening on Thursday, Chancay Port is expected to integrate the entire Latin American region into the dynamic economic framework of the Asia-Pacific, greatly enhancing connectivity within and beyond the continent.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo said, “The Pacific Ocean does not separate us, but it connects us,” adding that Chancay Port will halve the time and costs of connecting South America with Asia.

Carlos Aquino Aquino Rodriguez, professor of Asian economies at San Marcos National University, said the port is crucial to the economic development and connectivity of the Asia-Pacific and can also promote mutual benefits for raw material buyers, suppliers of manufactured goods and investors.

In a CGTN global poll on Asia-Pacific cooperation, 93.7 percent of respondents called on all parties in the region to forge consensus and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovative growth, connectivity and win-win cooperation.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-11-17/How-does-Chancay-Port-light-up-Asia-Pacific-cooperation–1yAAAYcaP28/p.html

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Technology

Effeect’s CEO David Ispiryan Shares Insights on Maximizing PPC Campaigns Through AI and Machine Learning in Forbes Council Post

Published

7 hours ago

November 17, 2024

David Ispiryan’s Forbes Article Offers Actionable Advice for Leveraging AI in PPC Advertising

SHERIDAN, Wyo., Nov. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — David Ispiryan, CEO of Effeect and member of the Forbes Agency Council, recently published a featured article on Forbes titled “AI And Machine Learning In PPC: How To Automate For Maximum Results.” In this insightful piece, Ispiryan shares strategies for automating PPC advertising campaigns through AI and machine learning. This article aims to equip businesses with the knowledge needed to optimize PPC performance, reduce costs, and drive higher returns.

The digital advertising space is rapidly evolving, and AI-powered tools are changing how businesses approach PPC campaigns. From automated bid management to audience segmentation and predictive analytics, Ispiryan’s article on Forbes covers the core ways that AI and machine learning are transforming PPC.

Key Highlights from David Ispiryan’s Article

AI-Powered Bid Management: Bid management can be a complex and time-intensive task in PPC campaigns. Ispiryan highlights that AI algorithms streamline this process by automatically adjusting bids based on several factors. He explains that advertisers can automate their bids for optimized conversions. “AI-driven bid management allows businesses to spend less time adjusting bids” said Ispiryan. “Tools like Smart Bidding make it easier to achieve optimal ROI by targeting the most valuable customers.”Automated Ad Creation with Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs): Ispiryan underscores the importance of Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs), which automatically create ads based on a website’s content. By targeting long-tail keywords, DSAs help businesses capture high-intent users further along in the buying process. This automation fills potential keyword gaps, reaching audiences who are ready to convert.Enhanced Audience Targeting through AI: In his article, Ispiryan explains how AI tools analyze user behavior, demographics, and search history to create customized audiences. By using tools like Google’s Custom Audiences and Facebook’s Lookalike Audiences advertisers can ensure their ads resonate with their leads.Predictive Analytics for Smarter Budget Allocation: Predictive analytics allows advertisers to anticipate user behavior and make informed budget decisions. AI-powered tools in Google Ads and Microsoft Ads use historical data to predict conversion likelihood, making it easier for businesses to allocate budgets effectively. “Predictive analytics enables businesses to target users who are most likely to convert, maximizing the effectiveness of their ad spend,” said Ispiryan. “With predictive bid adjustments, companies can stay agile, responding to market changes in real time.”Automated A/B Testing with Responsive Search Ads (RSAs): A/B testing is crucial for PPC success, and Ispiryan discusses how Google’s Responsive Search Ads (RSAs) simplify this process. By inputting multiple headlines and descriptions, Google’s AI tests and determines the most effective combinations, continuously optimizing ad performance without manual effort.

Maximizing PPC Campaigns with AI and Machine Learning

According to Ispiryan, AI and machine learning are revolutionizing PPC by automating processes that once required hours of manual work. Through actionable advice in his Forbes article, Ispiryan urges businesses to set clear goals and regularly review campaign performance to ensure their automation strategies align with their broader marketing objectives.

“Automation is a powerful tool, but it works best when complemented by human insight,” Ispiryan concluded.

Read the Full Article

To explore more on these groundbreaking PPC automation strategies, read David Ispiryan’s full article on Forbes

Pull Quote

Automation is a powerful tool, but it works best when complemented by human insight.

Media Contact

Bill Adams, Digital Marketing Agency, 1 3072882822, info@digitalmarketingarticle.com, https://digitalmarketingarticle.com/

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