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Portwest Partners with Construction Ready to Support Future Tradespeople in Atlanta

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SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Portwest, a global leader in workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE), is proud to announce its new partnership with Construction Ready, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing training and career opportunities in the construction trades. This collaboration underscores Portwest’s commitment to giving back to the communities where it operates and supporting the next generation of skilled workers.

The partnership officially launched on February 20th at the Construction Ready Career Expo, where Portwest sponsored SkillsUSA Georgia competitors by providing them with Type II safety helmets. The event, which drew over 7,000 students and 1,500 trade professionals, offered a significant platform for Portwest to engage with young individuals entering the construction industry.

Portwest utilized the expo to gather valuable feedback on the needs and interests of young individuals entering the trades, while also emphasizing the importance of on-site safety practices. This partnership with Construction Ready aligns perfectly with Portwest’s mission to provide innovative and reliable safety solutions.

“Construction Ready’s mission to train and connect individuals with rewarding careers in construction resonates deeply with our values,” said Harry Hughes, CEO at Portwest. “We are excited to work together on future projects that will contribute to building a brighter future for the construction industry and support the development of skilled tradespeople.”

This partnership will facilitate numerous exciting projects aimed at supporting the future of the construction industry.

About Portwest

Portwest is a global designer and manufacturer of high-quality workwear and PPE. For over 120 years, the company has been committed to providing innovative and reliable safety solutions to workers in a variety of industries. With a presence in over 130 countries, Portwest is a trusted brand for professionals around the world.

About Construction Ready

Construction Ready is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization that provides training and career opportunities in the construction trades. Their mission is to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the construction industry.

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SOURCE Portwest, LLC

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Ligent Inc. and Hisense to Showcase Innovations at OFC 2025

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Ligent Inc. and Hisense will be showcasing their latest innovations at the 2025 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) from March 30th to April 3rd. You can find them at booth #4321 and OIF’s booth #5745. Additionally, they will present a leading research paper at the event.

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ligent Inc., a global leader in optical transceivers, active optical cables (AOCs), ONTs, and Terminal Devices, is excited to announce its participation in the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) 2025. Ligent will be showcasing a series of groundbreaking demos highlighting its latest advancements in high-speed optical communication.

“We’re here to lead, innovate, and showcase how our cutting-edge technologies support and empower our customers” Dr. Jin Hong, CEO and President of Ligent.

Featured Demos at Booth #4321:

1.6T OSFP 2xDR4 Silicon Photonics and EML-based fully and half re-timed: Demonstrating unmatched performance and efficiency for next-generation AI clusters.1.6T 2xVR4 VCSEL and peek into 400G per Lane for 3.2T Transceivers: Showcasing advancements with 200G VCSELs and 400G TFLN modulators, setting the stage for high-capacity, ultra-efficient future data centers.800G QSFP-DD ZR & LR4: Live demonstrations of long-range, high-capacity optical connectivity for demanding DCI/metro applications.Interoperability of 400/800G fully re-timed, LPO and half re-timed LRO or TRO: Featuring products like 800G 2xFR4/2xDR4 Silicon Photonics-based LPO, 800G 2xFR4 EML-based half retimed LRO or TRO, and 800G 2xFR4/2xDR4 EML-based fully retimed with I3C support.

Interop Demos at Booth #5745:

In addition to these demos, Ligent Inc. and Hisense will also participate in OIF interoperability demonstrations:

CEI-448G, 224G, and 112G: Multi-vendor demos of 224Gbps and 112Gbps CEI across various applications, including a live 448G demo for AI network scaling. Featured products include OSFP 1.6T 2xDR4+ Silicon Photonics half retimed LRO or TRO, and OSFP 1.6T 2xDR4+ Silicon Photonics fully retimed.800ZR, 400ZR, and Multi-Span Optics: Showcasing advancements in pluggable coherent optics interoperability, featuring 800ZR and 400ZR applications, and multi-span connections like OpenZR+, 100ZR, and 800G OpenROADM (PCS). Featured products include the 800G QSFP-DD ZR.CMIS: Demonstrating physical layer management interoperability across diverse network equipment and pluggable modules, highlighting the CMIS industry-standard management interface. Featured products include the 800G 2xSR4/2xDR4+/2xFR4 LPO.

Research Presentation:

Ligent will unveil an important research paper by Dr. Jianying Zhou and his team, titled “Performance Limitations and Optimizations of Linear Driver Optics for 200G/Lane and Beyond.” This presentation, scheduled for March 31 at 10:30 AM in room 213-214, will explore the challenges and solutions for optimizing 1.6T LPO optics, paving the way for future AI and cloud applications.

“Our presence at OFC 2025 shows our new commitment to our vision to be a leading force in the optical connectivity space,” said Dr. Jin Hong, CEO and President of Ligent. “We’re here to lead, innovate, and showcase how our cutting-edge technologies support and empower our customers. At Ligent, our mission is clear: to align deeply with our customers and provide solutions that exceed expectations.”

Media Contact

Media Relations, Ligent, 1 4083530623, mediarelations@ligent.com, www.ligent.com

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SOURCE Ligent

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BFA’s 10th Religious Sub-forum Highlights Global Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures

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QIONGHAI, China, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Sub-forum on Religious Harmony and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations took place at the BFA (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 on March 28. The sub-forum focused on the theme “Countless Dharma Doors Converge in a Square Inch: A Discussion on the Future of Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures.” The gathering brought together 12 eminent monks and cultural researchers from six countries and regions to explore the current state and future of digitizing Buddhist scriptures. Chaired by Venerable Master Yin Shun, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, and President of the Buddhist Association of Hainan Province, the event aimed to advance the preservation and development of Buddhist culture through international collaboration.

 

BFA’s Decade of Progress: A Solid Foundation for the Future

Yin Shun, reflecting on the ten-year journey of the BFA Religious Sub-forum, noted its steadfast commitment to the foundational goal of building a global community united by a common destiny. The sub-forum has been instrumental in promoting religious harmony and fostering cross-cultural dialogues, while also enhancing international cooperation in the fundamental domains of religion, culture, education, philanthropy, and healthcare. A notable achievement of the sub-forum has been in the area of digital preservation and accessibility of Buddhist teachings. It has effectively used digital technology to compile the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms and has facilitated the digital translation of Buddhist classics across the economically important Pan-South China Sea region. Furthermore, it has proposed initiatives to raise the digitization of these texts as a major national concern. The South China Sea Buddhist Academy, China’s premier international Buddhist educational platform targeting Southeast Asia, has made significant contributions by educating 106 international students from several nations, most notably from Laos, Mongolia, Cambodia, and Nepal, and, by doing so, playing a crucial role in the international effort to digitize Buddhist scriptures.

Digital Empowerment: Advocating for the Chinese Adaptation of Buddhism

Ven. Guang Quan, Deputy Secretary General of the Buddhist Association of China and President of the Buddhist Association of Zhejiang Province, noted the crucial role of digitizing Chinese Buddhist scriptures in enhancing the international dissemination of Buddhist culture. He highlighted the accomplishments of Hangzhou Lingyin Temple in this area, including the development of an AI-based OCR engine for ancient books, production and tool platforms for digitizing ancient books, and a Buddhist scriptures reading hub. Building on these advancements, efforts are underway to digitize Buddhist canons, citing, in particular, the Jingshan Canon, the Yongle Northern Canon and the Siji Canon. Guang Quan’s initiatives aim to further the interconnection of civilizations through digital technology, breathing new life into Asian Buddhist wisdom in the digital realm.

Bhikshu HUIMIN, President, Comprehensive Buddhist Electronic Text Archive Foundation (CBETA) Taiwan, China, reflected on the establishment of the Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative (EBTI). He provided an overview of the current status of global Buddhist text digitization, highlighting its evolution from digital archives (DA) to digital humanities (DH). Additionally, he unveiled the groundbreaking concept of Artificial Intelligence and Brain-Computer Interface (AI – BCI) for the digitization of Buddhist culture. He stressed that the transition of Buddhism from traditional scriptures to cloud-based platforms represents not only the future of Buddhism but also a new civilization where mindfulness and technology merge.

Hong Xiang, Research Assistant at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, highlighted the transformative impact of digital technology on the collation and proofreading of the Dunhuang manuscripts, starting from the digitization project. He noted that the preservation of the Dunhuang manuscripts, which embody the essence of a multi-faceted and symbiotic civilization, demands interdisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, he advocated for global resource sharing in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures.

Zhu Cuiping, Editor-in-Chief of Zhonghua Book Company GuLian (Beijing) Digital Media Tech Co., Ltd, China, pointed out that the digitization of Buddhist scriptures is an enormous undertaking that requires a collaborative effort among the government, religious organizations, universities, research institutes, and publishing entities. She called for the initiation of a global initiative to compile Buddhist literature to drive the worldwide project of digitizing Buddhist scriptures.

International Cooperation: Jointly Advancing the Global Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures

The sub-forum placed particular emphasis on the contributions of Japanese and Korean Buddhism to the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. KAWANAKA KOKYO, Director-General of Administration of Jodoshu, Japan, presented the “Digitization of Zōjō-ji’s Three Great Buddhist Canons” project. He urged all parties to collaborate in furthering the global effort to digitize Buddhist scriptures, with the aim of fostering a more peaceful and harmonious future for humanity.

JONG-RIM, Honorary Chairman of Tripitaka Koreana Research Institute, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, shared insights from the digitization efforts of the Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa Temple in Korea. He proposed the future goal of completing a comprehensive Tripitaka and developing a dictionary of concepts and terms utilizing digital technology.

South China Sea Buddhist Friendship Circle: Fostering Digital Connections

The sub-forum highlighted the role of the South China Sea Buddhist Friendship Circle in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. Ven. PHRAPROMMASITH (Thongchai Sukkayano) Supreme Patriarchs, elaborated on Thailand’s experience in safeguarding Buddhist cultural heritage. He urged international cooperation to facilitate the digitization of Buddhist scriptures, aiming to provide convenient access to anyone anywhere with an interest in reading and better understanding the Dharma.

SANDI MARBHIVAMSA, Chairman of Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Myanmar, and Ven. (Dr.) KIRINDE ASSAJI, Chief Prelate (Malwatta Chapter) Sanghanayaka of Sri Lanka’s Western Province, provided insights into the current state of Buddhism in their respective countries and the advancements made in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. They both expressed a strong willingness to collaborate with Buddhist communities from other nations in these endeavors.

Looking to the Future: Consultation, Collaboration, and Sharing

Ven. YAN JUE, President of the Buddhist Association of China, concluded by emphasizing that Buddhist scriptures represent a shared cultural heritage of humanity. He noted that their digitization presents not only a technical challenge but also a cultural mission. He also underscored the commitment of the Chinese Buddhist community to the global governance principles of consultation, collaboration, and sharing. By partnering with Buddhist and academic communities worldwide, they aim to advance the digitization of Buddhist texts, share the outcomes of these efforts, and further disseminate the teachings and scriptures of Buddhism.

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SOURCE The Buddhist Association of Hainan Province

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Brii Bio Unveils New Data from Its Ongoing Phase 2 ENSURE Study at APASL 2025, Showcasing BRII-179’s Unique Potential to Prime and Boost Higher HBsAg Loss Through Target Patient Identification

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Preliminary data from Cohort 4 of the ENSURE study supports a novel enrichment strategy to utilize BRII-179 to identify patients who are immune responders and have the potential to achieve higher HBsAg loss at EOT48-week EOT data from Cohort 1-3 of the ENSURE study clearly suggests the added benefits of elebsiran towards achieving a higher rate of HBsAg loss in combination with PEG-IFNα

DURHAM, N.C. and BEIJING, China, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Brii Biosciences Limited (“Brii Bio,” or the “Company”, stock code: 2137.HK), a biotechnology company developing therapies to improve patient health and choice across diseases with high unmet medical needs, announced new data from its ongoing Phase 2 ENSURE study as a late-breaking oral presentation at the 34th Annual Meeting of Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL 2025) in Beijing, China.

ENSURE (NCT05970289) is a multicenter, open-label Phase 2 study. Cohorts 1-3 were designed to evaluate the contribution of elebsiran, an investigational small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), in combination with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFNα) in participants with chronic HBV infection with baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of 100-3,000 IU/mL. Participants who completed 9 doses of BRII-179, a recombinant protein-based therapeutic vaccine, in combination with elebsiran (BRII-835) in a previous APAC study BRII-179-835-001 (NCT04749368) were enrolled to Cohort 4 of this study and received elebsiran and PEG-IFNα combination treatment. The design of Cohort 4 as part of this study was based on insight from previous studies that a significant proportion of the chronic HBV patients fail to generate a sufficient immune response after receiving multiple doses of BRII-179, and therefore unlikely to have the immune support to achieve sustainable functional cure.

Emerging data from Cohort 4 showed that participants who previously had BRII-179 induced anti-HBs response achieved a substantially higher rate of HBsAg seroclearance than those who did not. At Week 24, more than half of the BRII-179 responders (55.6% [10/18]) achieved HBsAg seroclearance, compared to only 10.0% (1/10) in non-responders. These latest data suggest that BRII-179 can serve as a predictive tool for enriching patients more likely to respond to curative therapies.

Additional data from Cohorts 1-3 of the ENSURE study showed that higher end of treatment (EOT) HBsAg loss and seroconversion rates in participants receiving elebsiran in combination with PEG-IFNα than those receiving PEG-IFNα alone.  

“The positive Cohort 4 data from the ENSURE study opens new doors for HBV functional cure,” said Dr. Grace Lai-Hung Wong, Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at CUHK Medical Data Analytics Centre (MDAC) and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics in Hong Kong SAR, China. “Previous studies have suggested that BRII-179 may offer a unique opportunity to identify CHB patients who are able to elicit the necessary HBsAg antibody response. I believe these new findings provide clear evidence supporting such value proposition and further substantiate the role of BRII-179 in shaping future combination therapies.”

“We are encouraged that the Cohort 4 from the ENSURE study continue to support our enrichment strategy in developing a functional cure for chronic HBV in target populations,” said David Margolis, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Brii Bio. “The results underscore the potential of BRII-179 in identifying patients who are more likely to respond to regimens aimed at functional cure, thereby enhancing functional cure rates in the target population while reducing exposure to costly therapies for those with a lower probability of cure. We are committed to advancing BRII-179 in combination with various modalities through our ongoing studies and collaborations with strategic partners, aiming to deliver higher functional cure rates to 254 million patients worldwide living with chronic HBV infection.”

Abstract Number: OP0335

Presentation Title: Responders to Prior BRII-179 Treatment Achieved Faster and Higher Rate of HBsAg Seroclearance Following Treatment of Elebsiran and PEG-IFNα in Participants with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Preliminary Data from ENSURE Study

Presenter: Grace Lai-Hung Wong, MBChB (CUHK), MD (CUHK), FRCP (Lond, Edin), FHKCP, FHKAM (Medicine), Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at CUHK Medical Data Analytics Centre (MDAC) and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics in Hong Kong SAR, China

Among the 28 of the 31 participants enrolled in Cohort 4 with baseline HBsAg ≥ 100 IU/mL being analyzed, 18 participants with peak anti-HBs ≥ 10 IU/L induced by prior BRII-179 treatment were defined as BRII-179 responders and 10 participants with peak anti-HBs < 10 IU/L were defined as non-responders.At Week 24 of treatment with elebsiran + PEG-IFNα, 39.3% (11/28) of the Cohort 4 participants achieved HBsAg seroclearance.The rate of HBsAg seroclearance at Week 24 in the BRII-179 responders was 55.6% (10/18), notably higher compared to the non-responders at 10% (1/10).Responders to prior BRII-179 treatment appeared to achieve a faster HBsAg seroclearance compared to BRII-179 naïve participants receiving elebsiran + PEG-IFNα as previously reported.Elebsiran and PEG-IFNα combination therapy was generally safe and well tolerated in participants with virally suppressed chronic HBV infection.Treatment with elebsiran + PEG-IFNα is ongoing for 48 weeks.

Abstract Number: LB0009

Presentation Title: Higher end of treatment (EOT) HBsAg loss and seroconversion rates in participants with chronic HBV infection receiving elebsiran (BRII-835) and pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFNα) compared to PEG-IFNα alone: Week 48 results from ongoing ENSURE study

Presenter: Jidong Jia, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at the Liver Research Centre, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University in Beijing, China

The rates of HBsAg seroclearance at EOT in elebsiran 200 mg + PEG-IFNα and elebsiran 100 mg + PEG-IFNα cohorts were 26.3% (5/19) and 33.3% (6/18), respectively, notably higher compared to PEG-IFNα alone cohort (5.6%) in participants with baseline HBsAg levels 100-3,000 IU/mL.Greater HBsAg reductions at EOT were observed in elebsiran + PEG-IFNα combination cohorts (mean [SE]: -2.47 [0.28] or -3.01 [0.28] log10 IU/mL in elebsiran 200 mg or 100 mg, respectively) than in PEG-IFNα cohort (-1.02 [0.30] log10 IU/mL).Elebsiran in combination with PEG-IFNα at both 200 mg and 100 mg doses achieved similar HBsAg reductions and seroclearance rates. Elebsiran and PEG-IFNα combination therapy was generally safe and well tolerated in participants with virally suppressed chronic HBV infection.Post-treatment follow-up is ongoing and will continue for 24 weeks after discontinuation of treatment.

As part of Brii Bio’s unique approach to developing a functional cure for HBV, the Company and its partners are actively progressing multiple combination studies with our differentiated portfolio, including BRII-179, a recombinant protein-based HBV immunotherapeutic being evaluated in multiple combination studies with elebsiran led by Brii Bio; elebsiran being evaluated in combination with PEG-IFNα  in studies led by Brii Bio and tobevibart, an investigational broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody targeting HBV, being evaluated  in multiple Phase 2 and 3 tobevibart and elebsiran combination studies led by Vir Biotechnology. Key data readouts will be shared in the coming months at the scientific conferences throughout 2025.

About Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the world’s most significant infectious disease threats with more than 254 million people infected globally.[1] Chronic HBV infection is the leading cause of liver disease and an estimated 820,000 people die of complications from chronic HBV infection each year.[1] HBV is of exceptional concern in China, where 87 million people are chronically infected.[2]

About BRII-179

BRII-179 is a novel recombinant protein-based HBV immunotherapeutic candidate that expresses the Pre-S1, Pre-S2, and S HBV surface antigens, and is designed to induce enhanced and broad B-cell and T-cell immunity. In November 2023, the Center for Drug Evaluation (the “CDE”) of the National Medical Products Administration (the “NMPA”) granted BRII-179 Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

About Elebsiran (BRII-835, VIR-2218)

Elebsiran is an investigational subcutaneously administered HBV-targeting siRNA designed to degrade hepatitis B virus RNA transcripts and limit the production of hepatitis B surface antigen. It has the potential to have direct antiviral activity against HBV and HDV. It is the first siRNA in the clinic to include Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry Plus technology to enhance stability and minimize off-target activity, which potentially can result in an increased therapeutic index. Brii Bio licensed exclusive rights to develop and commercialize elebsiran for the Greater China territory from Vir Biotechnology, Inc. in 2020.

About Brii Bio

Brii Biosciences Limited (“Brii Bio“, stock code: 2137.HK) is a biotechnology company developing therapies to address major public health challenges where patients experience high unmet medical needs, limited choice and significant social stigmas. With a focus on infectious diseases, the Company is advancing a broad pipeline of unique therapeutic candidates with lead programs against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The Company is led by a visionary and experienced leadership team and has operations in key biotech hubs, including Raleigh-Durham, the San Francisco Bay Area, Beijing and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.briibio.com.

[1] World Health Organization. (April 2024). Global hepatitis report 2024: action for access in low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240091672

[2] World Health Organization. Hepatitis. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/china/health-topics/hepatitis#:~:text=There%20are%2087%20million%20people,living%20with%20chronic%20hepatitis%20C.

 

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SOURCE Brii Biosciences Limited

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