SnotBot Goes Tagging

GLOUCESTER, Mass., April 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - For the first time ever, Ocean Alliance and their collaborators have successfully deployed suction cup data-tags on blue and fin whales in the Gulf of California using a drone (UAV). This new deployment method is detailed in an April 2023 publication in the journal Royal Society Open Science and could have significant positive implications for whale science and conservation. Deployment of Biologging Tags on Free Swimming Large Whales Using Uncrewed Aerial Systems. R. Soc. open sci. April 19, 2023 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.221376

This work shows that UAVs are capable of attaching biologging tags to free-swimming large whales. This method may hold advantages for studying vulnerable or hard-to-study species by potentially reducing stress from tagging activities. The work was carried out in collaboration with researchers from Ocean Alliance, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, University of Michigan, and Syracuse University.

"The ability to use the aerial platform for tag deployment provides a huge step forward for the science. This method allows for tags to be attached to whales that might otherwise be difficult to approach with a boat and minimizes any disruption to their normal behaviors. This gives us an opportunity to better understand their behavior to aid in conservation efforts." Dr. Susan Parks, whale acoustics expert and Biology Professor from Syracuse University. 

Biologging data tags are critical tools for marine mammal research. The tags are equipped with specialized sensors for recording depth, orientation, acceleration, temperature, acoustics, and even video.

In addition to reduced behavioral impact, "efficient tag deployment enables targeting of specific animals in a group or multi-animal tagging. This ability to target an individual animal and/or doubling or tripling sample size for an experiment will greatly enhance the science and our understanding of these animals." Dr. Alex Shorter, Mechanical Engineering Professor University of Michigan.

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Research Ecologist Dr. David Wiley, who has used suction-cup tags to study the behavior of whales for almost 30 years, said, "A lot of time and funds have gone into improving tag design and capability, but this is the first real improvement in tag delivery!" Wiley also stated, although the use of UAVs for tag attachment is a major advancement, it, "Takes more than just the desire and a drone to make it happen. The synergy of combining our expertise and experience greatly contributed to our success." 

Learn more at instagram.com/SnotBot or www.whale.org.

About Ocean Alliance
Dr. Iain Kerr leads Ocean Alliance's Drones for Whale Research Program. Ocean Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to protect whales and their ocean environment through research, scientific collaboration, public education, and the arts. 

Contact Information:
Dr. Iain Kerr
CEO, Ocean Alliance
[email protected]
978-281-2814 ext 600

Chris Zadra
Drone Program Manager/Drone Pilot
[email protected]
978-281-2814 ext 300

Alicia Pensarosa
Assistant Director, Ocean Alliance
[email protected]
978-281-2814 ext 100


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Original Source: Ocean Alliance Announces First-Ever Successful Drone-Based Tagging of Endangered Blue and Fin Whales

Revolutionizing mental wellness with evidence-based psychedelic services

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Harmoniously.com, an innovative technology platform providing individual and community-focused psychedelic services, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Chacruna Institute's Queering Psychedelics 2 Conference in San Francisco on April 22-23 at the Brava Theater. This two-day conference is part of Chacruna's Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities speaker series. It highlights the voices of queer visionaries within the psychedelic community and examines the history of psychedelics from queer and non-binary perspectives.

"We are excited to be involved with this important event that centers around creating a more inclusive society," said Harmoniously CEO, Sean Carr. "At Harmoniously, we understand the power of psychedelics for personal growth and mental wellness, and we are committed to supporting initiatives that further this mission."

The conference will feature a variety of interactive workshops led by leading scientists, researchers, and advocates from the psychedelic community. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, trauma healing, intersectional justice, and more. The event is open to anyone interested in exploring these topics or learning more about psychedelic medicines in general.

Harmoniously will be providing conference attendees with a code for one free year of access to Harmoniously.com's Community Wellness Membership, which connects individuals with coaches, therapists, and community experts for guidance and integration of their psychedelic journeys through an online group and community-based experience. 

"Our mission is to make mental wellness accessible for everyone," said Carr. "By sponsoring Queering Psychedelics 2 Conference, we are helping create an inclusive environment where all people can benefit from the therapeutic potential of psychedelics."

Join us at Queering Psychedelics 2 Conference as we explore how psychedelics can help create a better future for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

ABOUT COMPANY

Harmoniously Integrative Wellness, PBC is dedicated to revolutionizing mental wellness with evidence-based psychedelic medicines. We are passionate about providing individuals with access to care providers who possess the knowledge and qualifications required to guide journeys of healing safely. Our unique value proposition lies in our comprehensive integrative approach, which combines ancient wisdom and modern science, making us the only platform that offers a personalized experience utilizing multiple modalities for mind, body, and spiritual health. 

ABOUT CHARITY PARTNER

The Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, an organization founded by Brazilian anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate and American psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar, produces high-quality research on plant medicines and psychedelics, and helps propagate academic knowledge in more accessible formats. We educate the public and create cultural understanding and legitimacy regarding these substances so that they may cease to be stigmatized and outlawed. Chacruna also promotes a bridge between the world of plant medicines and the emergent field of psychedelic science, between "traditional ceremonial use" and clinical and therapeutic settings, bringing the knowledge and perspectives of the social sciences to health care professionals and practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy. 

Contact Information:
Sean Carr
CEO
[email protected]
925-633-4828


Original Source: Harmoniously Launches Platform With Sponsorship of Queering Psychedelics 2 Conference

DALLAS, April 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., provider of expert translation services in 70 languages, found in a recent internal review that almost 60% of its work involves Spanish translation for businesses, primarily to assist organizations with international expansions. However, ASTA-USA advises businesses that they may be overlooking a critical Spanish language market that can be tapped into by simply translating their domestic business documents and marketing materials.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 68 million people in the United States speak a language other than English (LOTE) at home. The most common LOTE, by far, is Spanish, spoken by about 42 million people, and is used both at home and in the workplace. That means that if U.S. businesses want to reach a large segment of the population, they need to use Spanish domestically as well as internationally.

"We often see businesses translating human resources documents, marketing materials, contracts, and operational information into Spanish when they are targeting new audiences in the international arena, but they neglect the 40 million people who speak Spanish right here in America. Spanish is not a foreign language, and it shouldn't be reserved for foreign markets," said Alain J. Roy, founder and president of ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc.

Because research has shown that about 76% of online shoppers prefer to purchase a product or service when information is presented in their native language, companies are hindering their own performance in the domestic marketplace if they neglect advertising and outreach in Spanish.

"By investing in Spanish translation services for use here at home, businesses can improve their overall revenue, customer satisfaction rates, and even operational safety when translating manuals for Spanish-speaking employees," Roy said.

ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc. provides corporations, non-profit organizations, law firms, and government entities with highly specialized translation services to remedy obstacles like language barriers. The company invites business owners to reap the rewards of inclusivity by translating domestic documents into Spanish or other commonly spoken languages.

About ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc.

Every day, corporations and governments of all sizes rely on the expertise of ASTA-USA to translate their important written materials, and to provide real-time, live, human interpreting services. ASTA-USA offers premium translations in more than 70 languages for a variety of industries. Headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, ASTA-USA's Translation Directors, and Professional Translation Teams are based all over the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Asia, South America, Latin America, and Africa.

To learn more about ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc., visit www.asta-usa.com

Contact Information:
Alain J. Roy
[email protected]


Original Source: ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc. Advises U.S. Businesses That Spanish is Not a Foreign Language and How They Can Tap Into the Spanish-Speaking Market

NEW YORK, April 18, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Credello: Personal loan apps have been on the rise for the past several years. Even if you've never used one, you can probably imagine how they work. You download one of these apps and then apply for a loan through it. 

If you're looking into hardship personal loans, a loan for a new vehicle, a loan for college tuition, etc., this is potentially a convenient way to get approved. In order to get the approval you seek, though, the personal loan app will need to access a great deal of your personal information.

That might worry you, and with good reason. Whether the app approves you for a loan or not, you have no way of knowing whether it will then do something inappropriate with that info.  

Google plans to stop personal loan apps from accessing some of your private information, though. That's worth discussing, so let's dive into this topic right now.

You Must Share Some Personal Information

The first thing worth mentioning is that if you download one of the apps and use it to try and secure a personal loan, sharing some personal information with it is mandatory. The app needs that information to determine whether you're a suitable loan candidate.

However, a distinction needs to be made between the information the app needs to decide 

whether you're a suitable loan candidate and extraneous personal info that's on your phone. It is this second kind that Google plans to shield the app from accessing and using.

What Information Will Be Off-Limits?

Google plans to block a loan approval app's access to your precise location, call logs, contacts, photos, videos, and external storage. This limitation makes sense if you think about it. What possible legitimate reason could the app have for needing that information to help determine whether you should get a loan or not?

Why This Step is Being Taken

There are also some particular reasons why this step is being taken. In recent years, some loan apps have pulled that personal information and used it for nefarious purposes. They have harassed borrowers and engaged in predatory behavior.

If the person who borrowed money does not pay it back in an expedient fashion, the app gives that personal information to debt collection agencies. These agencies might reach out to the borrower's contacts. They tell friends and family members about the money the person owes in an attempt to get them to speed up payment.

What's worse, they might even manipulate some of the pictures found in that individual's collection to disturb or threaten them. Some of those who have been targeted and harassed have experienced extreme distress because of this treatment. 

This is a Crucial Step

Google needed to do something about the predatory and unethical behavior of lending apps. This step can safeguard a lot of the personal information from these apps that they don't need in order to extend offers of personal loans to applicants.

If you're going to use an app of this nature to ask for a personal loan, you should research the one you use before downloading it to your phone. 

Look around online and see what kind of feedback this app has. You should probably only use one that you know is connected to a reputable lending entity. 

You can also forego using an app to seek a personal loan and visit a lending entity in person. It's more time-consuming, but you can feel confident that none of your personal information that's not needed for the loan application is falling into the wrong hands.  

About Credello

Credello is a financial tech company offering a personal finance tool that simplifies financial decisions through personalized, on-demand recommendations — so users can borrow, save, or invest with confidence. Credello believes that finding the right financial product should be as easy and interactive as online shopping, and we are on a mission to make that possible. For more information, please visit https://www.credello.com. 

Contact Information:
Keyonda Goosby
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
(201) 633-2125


Original Source: Credello: Experts Review Changes to Personal Loan Apps Accessing Private Information

The Universal Smart Key represents the latest and most advanced key technology available, combining 250 OEM smart keys into a single device.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 18, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Car Keys Express, the U.S.-based global leader in automotive key replacement, announced the upcoming release of the Universal Smart Key. The product is expected to begin shipping in Q4 2023. 

The advanced technology in smart keys has revolutionized the way we use car keys. Unlike traditional keys with metal blades, smart keys use advanced wireless proximity systems that allow drivers to keep their key fobs pocketed while unlocking, locking, and starting their vehicles. Because smart keys are only available from dealerships, they're also the most difficult and expensive to replace. 

The Car Keys Express Universal Smart Key is the world's most advanced car key, combining hundreds of OEM smart keys into a single retail-friendly device. Designed for value and reliability, it costs up to 70% less than dealership prices and is backed by an industry-leading, three-year, better-than-OEM guarantee. The Universal Smart Key is compatible with more than 500 vehicle models from 15 top makes including Honda, Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, Jeep, GMC, Dodge, Ram, Cadillac, Infiniti, Buick, Chrysler, Acura, Lincoln, and Fiat. Now, more than 60 million North American drivers have an affordable, high-quality alternative to costly dealership replacements. 

Car Keys Express has eliminated the barriers preventing resellers from offering the latest key technology. The Universal Smart Key delivers maximum vehicle coverage, fast product turns, and high margins. Now, any reseller can enter the multibillion-dollar key replacement business and offer high-value modern car keys for hundreds of vehicle models using a single SKU.

Features

• Replaces OEM smart keys for over 500 vehicle models from 15 makes including: Honda, Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, Jeep, GMC, Dodge, Ram, Cadillac, Infiniti, Buick, Chrysler, Acura, Lincoln, and Fiat
• Compatible with all standard pairing equipment
• High margins for retailers while offering significant savings and customer value  
• Designed and assembled in the United States
• Patented universal technology
• Three-year "better-than-OEM" warranty
• FCC certified

Car Keys Express is the global leader in universal key technology, having introduced the world's first Universal Car Remote, the world's first Universal Car Keys, and now the world's first Universal Smart Key. Now all forms of key technology over the past 40 years are universal. 

Together with the world's first Universal EZ Installer, the new Universal Smart Key paves the way for retailers and locksmiths to regain their former status as the go-to destination for automotive key replacement. 

"Our new Universal Smart Key allows retailers and other businesses to carry one SKU and cover hundreds of vehicle models while offering significant value and savings to their customers," said Kirk Stewart, Chief Commercial Officer for Car Keys Express. "The keys are equal to or better than OEM in terms of quality and can be paired with any standard pairing device. In the past, consumers had to go to the dealership for keys, especially for newer vehicles. Only Car Keys Express offers key replacement solutions that are tailor-made for retail. What once was a complicated, SKU-intensive program is now dramatically simplified."

"After more than a decade of investment into universal products, Car Keys Express is no longer just a key replacement company. We've become a technology-driven company," said Mark Lanwehr, Founder and CEO of Car Keys Express. "Our Universal Smart Key strategy allows for many keys of varying vehicle makes and models to be combined into a single universal key. More than any product we've introduced to date, the Universal Smart Key embodies our company's mission to make replacing car keys simple and affordable again. There's much more to come, as we continue to invest in disruptive technologies that challenge the unchecked 30-year monopoly."

Now in its 20th year, Car Keys Express is disrupting the automotive key replacement industry, developing tools and keys that let resellers easily re-enter the high-margin car key business. 

For more information on becoming the first reseller in your market to offer the Universal Smart Key, contact [email protected]. 

About Car Keys Express

Car Keys Express is a global leader in discount, automotive key replacement for businesses and consumers. The company invented the world's first Universal Car Remote and Universal Car Keys and is the only company that manufactures a full line of aftermarket versions of modern car keys, like remote keys and smart keys. Car Keys Express offers a complete line of retail-friendly solutions to allow retailers to build a key replacement program or enhance an existing program. Car Care Express, a division of Car Keys Express, offers mobile vehicle reconditioning service for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2002, Car Keys Express is continually recognized for excellence in the industry, winning Inc. Magazine's, "Inc. 5000" in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, AAPEX "Best New Product" Award in 2015 and 2019, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year® in 2017, and EnterpriseCorp's FAST Innovation Award Winner in 2017, among others. To learn more, visit www.CarKeysExpress.com.

Contact Information:
Bruce Burton
Marketing Manager, Car Keys Express
[email protected]
360-607-1949


Original Source: Car Keys Express Announces New Universal 'Smart' Key, the World's Most Advanced Car Key

Keys NOW!™ machines instantly replace car keys—including "smart" keys and high-security "laser-cut" keys, allowing hardware retailers to regain category dominance.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 18, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Car Keys Express, the U.S.-based global leader in automotive key replacement, introduces new Keys NOW! Automated Key Machines^TM configured to the needs of hardware retailers. Hardware stores in New England were the first to receive new units.

For more than 70 years, the hardware channel was the go-to destination for car key replacement. Early transponder keys could be duplicated cheaply and easily at every local hardware store. 

But newer car keys must be paired with customers' vehicles and cannot be cloned. This requirement alone has deterred many hardware retailers from offering modern car keys. Those that do have struggled with difficult-to-use key machines and complicated programming equipment. 

Car Keys Express eliminates the barriers preventing hardware retailers from succeeding in modern car keys. The new Keys NOW! machines combine hands-free, automated key duplication with easy app-based key pairing consumers can complete on their own. 

Keys NOW! is the world's first and only fully-automated house and car key duplication machine. It's as easy to use as a microwave oven. Open the door, insert the key, then stand back. A precisely duplicated key is produced instantly. With traditional manual key-cutting machines, store employees fear making expensive miscuts, so they often avoid customers altogether. Keys NOW! machines eliminate human error, duplicating at near 100% accuracy, so anyone can cut keys accurately, safely, and instantly. 

Because the machine does all of the cutting, key duplication requires 50% less associate time than legacy machines. The machines keep key inventory secure, eliminating most shrink. And unlike other key systems, consumers can engage with Keys NOW! to make product selections and confirm pricing on their own before a store associate completes their order. With new hardware configurations, consumers—not retailers—use a Universal EZ Installer to easily pair new car keys or remotes on their own using an app on their phone. That means retailers can stop sending their employees to the parking lot to work on customers' cars.

With Keys NOW! coverage topping 220 million vehicles, hardware retailers can finally stop directing customers to dealerships for keys. Now customers can instantly replace car keys without the time, expense, and hassle of a dealership service appointment. 

"Hardware retailers turn away millions of customers simply because their key programs are out of date, expensive, and overly complicated," said Kirk Stewart, Chief Commercial Officer for Car Keys Express. "To succeed with modern keys, retailers must address complex inventory requirements, upgrade cutting equipment for new high-security keyblades, and spend the time to train employees on cutting and pairing equipment. We solved all of those issues with Keys NOW!"  

"Entering the hardware segment with our Keys NOW! machines and EZ Installers is a milestone event," said Mark Lanwehr, Founder and CEO of Car Keys Express. "Our company mission from the beginning has been to make car keys simple and affordable again. By nature, this is disruptive to a multi-billion dollar OEM and dealership business model where consumer pricing is unchecked, leading to astronomical prices for car keys. Car Keys Express has leveraged technology to reduce prices for consumers and simplify key replacement for retailers, allowing them to again enter this profitable space and in the process solidifying Car Keys Express as the innovator in the key replacement category."  

Now in its 20th year, Car Keys Express is disrupting the automotive key replacement industry, developing tools and keys that let retailers easily re-enter the high-margin car key business. 

Be the first retailer in your market to offer car keys made "on the spot" with these fully-automated, easy-to-use solutions.

For more information or to request a store test, contact [email protected]. 

About Car Keys Express

Car Keys Express is a global leader in discount automotive key replacement for businesses and consumers. The company invented the world's first Universal Car Remote and Universal Car Keys and is the only company that manufactures a full line of aftermarket versions of modern car keys, like remote keys and smart keys. Car Keys Express offers a complete line of retail-friendly solutions to allow retailers to build a key replacement program or enhance an existing program. Car Care Express, a division of Car Keys Express, offers mobile vehicle reconditioning services for businesses and consumers. Founded in 2002, Car Keys Express is continually recognized for excellence in the industry, winning Inc. Magazine's, "Inc. 5000" in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, AAPEX "Best New Product" Award in 2015 and 2019, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year® in 2017, and EnterpriseCorp's FAST Innovation Award Winner in 2017, among others. To learn more, visit www.CarKeysExpress.com.

Contact Information:
Bruce Burton
Marketing Manager, Car Keys Express
[email protected]
360-607-1949


Original Source: Car Keys Express Launches Its First-Ever Fully Automated 'Hands Free' Car Key Machines Designed for Hardware Retailers

NEW YORK, April 18, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Credello: Homelessness has been an issue in California for a long time. If you visit San Diego or Los Angeles, you can easily find huge camps of unhoused individuals. Many people without homes travel to the West Coast to avoid punishing winter weather.

California is currently looking into the possibility of constructing many small homes that the state feels could combat the homeless crisis. Before you head out there and start looking at options for financing a tiny home, though, you should know more about the program. 

We'll talk about it in detail right now.  

The Basics

Let's start with the most basic details surrounding these tiny homes. California plans to spend $30 million on them. Governor Gavin Newsom is spearheading the initiative.

These homes will be erected in places like San Diego and Los Angeles, where there are high concentrations of unhoused individuals. Los Angeles already has some tiny homes set up as villages. 

The pilot project seems successful. It's run by the nonprofit Hope of the Valley. California hopes to house about 15% of the homeless population by 2025. That's just two years away, so it's an ambitious goal.

Who Gets a Home?

The areas where these latest tiny homes are going up include parts of San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Jose counties. The beds in the little homes will be intended primarily for individuals who currently live in encampments in those areas.

Los Angeles, the biggest city in California, will get the most homes. They can expect 500, while San Diego will get the least. They're only getting 150 for the moment.

Some Details of this Program Aren't Available Yet

So far, you probably agree that all of this sounds good. There are more than a few details about this program that are missing, though.

It's not clear yet precisely who will be building these homes. Their exact planned location has also not been revealed. It is believed, though, that the houses will indeed earn their "tiny" designation. They could be as small as 120 square feet.

Los Angeles Provides a Roadmap

While details about this latest small house initiative remain scanty, we might look at Los Angeles and its existing tiny homes for inspiration. The ones created and placed there that we mentioned earlier might resemble the new tiny homes Governor Newsom hopes to build. 

The cost of the tiny homes that were built in Los Angeles is about $43,000 each. If we multiply that amount by the $30 million dedicated to this latest initiative, we can extrapolate approximately how many new homes there should be. 

What is This Project's Likely Result?

While some details about this program are yet to be revealed, the tiny homes in Los Angeles prove this idea isn't a pipe dream. The existing tiny dwellings were erected in what the city deemed to be a forgotten corner of Los Angeles. There are certainly plenty of those in L.A. and in the other areas we mentioned as well.

What's more difficult to figure out is exactly how eligibility will be determined. There are bound to be many more homeless people than available tiny homes. 

Some kind of lottery will probably be implemented. Any unhoused person should be able to participate, though some are homeless because of mental illness. Those individuals are unlikely to seek one of these tiny homes because they don't have the lucidity to take part in the selection process. 

The short answer to whether tiny homes are the answer to homelessness in California is that they can certainly help. The success of the Los Angeles pilot program proves that.

In time, if the funding for more tiny homes becomes available, then California may be able to see a significant drop in its total number of unhoused individuals. It's an exciting prospect and one the state's homeless population will continue monitoring with interest.  

About Credello

Credello is a financial tech company offering a personal finance tool that simplifies financial decisions through personalized, on-demand recommendations — so users can borrow, save, or invest with confidence. Credello believes that finding the right financial product should be as easy and interactive as online shopping, and we are on a mission to make that possible. For more information, please visit https://www.credello.com. 

Contact Information:
Keyonda Goosby
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
(201) 633-2125


Original Source: Credello: Are Tiny Homes the Answer to Homelessness in California?