Latest news with #ARMS
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Express
One of 1st real-world data sets shows how tropical marine life cope with acidifying seas
Published on: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025 Text Size: ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures) are stacked PVC plates that mimic the complex reef structures for marine organisms to colonise, which helps to monitor marine biodiversity of seabed at MERC, Gaya Island, over time. DRIVEN by climate change, oceans are absorbing more heat and carbon dioxide, causing a triple threat: warming waters, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation – a condition increasingly observed in coastal areas of Malaysia and across the tropics. In layman's terms: the oceans is getting Hotter, Sour and Breathless. The OA (Ocean Acidification) station at Merc (Marine Ecosystem Research Centre), launched on 1 February 2023, is pioneering long-term monitoring of reef changes linked to acidification. It fills a critical data gap in Southeast Asia and aligns with global efforts under the UN Decade of Ocean Science. On March 27, 2023, Merc was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records a s the first OA monitoring station for South China Sea. Researchers have deployed Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) and Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs). These devices mimic reef habitats and passively collect sessile (attached to or fixed in one place) and mobile invertebrates, allowing scientists to assess biodiversity changes over time without disturbing the environment. Using innovative tools like ARMS and CAUs, researchers are tracking not only corals but also hidden reef dwellers, including sponges, molluscs, bryozoans, and mobile invertebrates, which are essential for a healthy reef ecosystem. The ARMS and CAUs deployed by Centre For Marine & Coastal Studies (Cemacs), Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2023 (led by Prof. Dato' Dr Aileen Tan) two sets each (ARMS & CAUs) were retrieved on 17 July 2025 – 2.5 years after deployment, offering valuable insights into how marine communities have responded to ongoing acidification, warming, and other stressors over a multi-year period. This long-term monitoring is rare in the region and will provide one of the first real-world data sets on how tropical marine life is coping with acidifying seas. The retrieval process involves carefully collecting each structure to analyse colonised organisms, from tiny snails and worms to sessile sponges and bryozoans. This long-term observation is crucial for detecting early signs of biodiversity shifts linked to ocean acidification, particularly among calcifying species such as barnacles, polychaetes, and jewel box clams (Chama spp.). The project examines both mobile organisms (e.g. crabs, worms, shrimp) and sessile organisms (e.g. sponges, bryozoans, Chama bivalves). These often-overlooked species are crucial to reef function and can serve as early indicators of environmental stress. This research could reveal which reef organisms are winners and losers in a changing ocean. Many species found in ARMS are cryptic, meaning they look identical but are genetically distinct. This includes encrusting sponges and bryozoans that blend into the reef structure. DNA barcoding helps researchers detect this hidden biodiversity. The ARMS deployed at Pulau Gaya, Sabah, reveal a distinctly different assemblage of marine organisms compared to those found in the Straits of Malacca. This variation likely reflects the broader biogeographic transition between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Sabah lies within the Coral Triangle and is influenced by Pacific biodiversity, while the Straits of Malacca are more closely aligned with Indian Ocean faunal patterns. The macro-invertebrate community observed here is noticeably different from what we typically see in the Straits of Malacca, featuring species like crinoids, cemented bivalves (Chama sp.), and various types of brittle stars. However, when it comes to cryptic species such as bryozoans and sponges, it is still difficult to distinguish them at this stage. We hope that the upcoming eDNA analysis will provide better resolution and help clarify their diversity. Succession has started with the presence of Chama sp. (Overall, the ARMS looks like already entering later successional phases because of the presence of Chama which is a slow-growing species). Mercs plans to gradually retrieve remaining ARMS units over the next 2.5 years, creating a multi-year time series to understand trends in biodiversity and calcification under changing ocean conditions. Ongoing monitoring is essential to capture the full picture of ocean acidification's impacts, especially as marine conditions continue to shift. Each ARMS unit is like a time capsule of biodiversity, helping researchers track slow but significant changes in the marine ecosystem. Various organisms found on ARMS: Brittle star Chama bivalve (Jewel box clam) Six-legged starfish Crustacean larvae (not identified)
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Express
What a rare ocean acidification study in Sabah found so far
Published on: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025 Text Size: PVC plates of ARMS structures showing what are growing on them after two years being deployed at Marine Ecology Research Centre, Gaya Island, sea bed since February 2023. EARLY results from a rare and historic long-term ocean acidification study in Marine Ecology Research Centre, Gaya Island, started in February 2023, found 'a healthy and diverse macro invertebrate community… with no visible signs of shell thinning or reduced calcified biomass' but cautioned that these are only short term indications. Most marine biologists believe ocean acidification is real and ongoing. Ocean acidification refers to an ongoing decrease in seawater pH which doesn't mean seawater is already acidic. Between 1950 and 2020, the average pH of ocean surface is said to have dropped from 8.15 to 8.05, still alkaline but the concern is long term, when it is predicted to drop to 7.7 by the end of this century. Below pH7, the word is acidic. Prof Dr Aileen Tan, a top award winning Malaysian marine biologist, Director of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs), Universiti Sains Malaysia, is waging a battle to help people grasp the triple threats from his ongoing menace :: Oceans getting Hotter, Sour, Breathless 'The oceans are getting Hotter, Sour and Breathless !' she keeps explaining the complex phenomenon in simple words to widen public understanding and recognise this is a major threat to marine ecosystem and biodiversity held to have far reaching consequences on ocean health and all life that inhabit it. Keen to discover how Ocean Acidification may have threatened Sabah waters too, in early February 2023, Prof Aileen Tan led Cemacs under her into a joint agreement with Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) to set up the first ever ocean acidification monitoring station in the South China Sea, at Gayana Marine Resort, enjoying close rapport with aquatic biologist Alvin Wong, MERC's Project Director, and Gillian Tan, owner representative of Echo Resorts which owns Gayana Marine Resort. By 28 Feb 2023, key standard research tools such as a sensor that continuously monitor sea water temperature and acidity, Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures or stacked PVC plates for marine organisms to colonise designed to monitor biodiversity and thirdly, CAUs (Calsification Accretion Units) deployed to measure calcium carbonate accretion which helps to assess impacts of environmental changes, were fully installed and commissioned. Tools such as Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) and Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) are increasingly important in this regard. On 17 July 2025, ie two months and five months later, two sets of CAUs and two sets of ARMS each were successfully retrieved and brought back to Cemacs for preliminary analysis, according to Prof Aileen Tan. Prof Tan kindly furnished the preliminary findings to Daily Express, through Alvin Wong. Early ARMS data: No visible signs of shell thinning 'Early ARMS data from Pulau Gaya, Sabah, indicate a healthy and diverse macro-invertebrate community, including sensitive calcifying taxa such as Chama, crinoids, and brittle stars. No visible signs of shell thinning or reduced calcified biomass have been detected, suggesting that OA stress may not yet have reached ecologically significant thresholds in this area. However, ocean acidification is a cumulative stressor and may interact with warming seas and nutrient inputs to undermine coral and invertebrate resilience over time. While visible reef health in Sabah may still appear stable, structural changes in coral skeletons and shell-forming species may already be underway. A long-term coral core study in the northern South China Sea has shown a decline in Porites skeletal density and calcification rates over the past four decades, despite stable vertical growth – an early sign of OA's silent but lasting impact (Yue et al., 2021). This underscores the need for proactive monitoring. Building an early warning system By combining ARMS, CAUs, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, researchers are building an early-warning system capable of detecting ecological shifts before they become visibly apparent, helping safeguard Sabah's reefs against the advancing effects of ocean acidification. From CAU plates: There is clear evidence of calcifying organism settlement, including small corals, tube worms, bivalves & patches of coralline algae. Some plates show relatively dense colonization, particularly by encrusting taxa, while others exhibit patchier @ more selective settlement patterns. The presence of early coral recruits is a positive indication of larval availability & settlement potential in the area. The overall diversity appears moderate, with both hard & soft encrustations visible,' Prof Aileen Tan concluded. However, she reminded these are just 'short term biological responses'. 'Ocean acidification (OA) is occurring in the South China Sea but a moderate and regionally variable rate.' 'In many cases, its effects remain subtle or masked by complex local environmental conditions, making it difficult to detect clear short term biological responses without long term fine-scale monitoring.' Editor's note: The facts in these Special Reports are contributed by Prof Dato' Dr Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, a prominent figure in marine science, Director of Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. As recent as June 30 this year, she was awarded the prestigious Unesco Anton Bruun Medal for her significant contribution to marine science.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Digi Power X Announces Closing of $15 Million Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock
This news release constitutes a 'designated news release' for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated May 30, 2025 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated May 15, 2025. MIAMI, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Digi Power X Inc. ('DGXX' or the 'Company') (Nasdaq: DGXX / TSXV: DGX), a vertically integrated AI and digital infrastructure company, today announced the closing its previously announced registered direct offering of 4,807,693 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) at an offering price of U.S.$3.12 per share (the 'Offering'), resulting in gross proceeds of approximately U.S.$15 million before deducting placement agent fees and other expenses payable by the Company. The closing of the Offering occurred on July 23, 2025. The Offering was to a single new fundamental institutional investor, underscoring a growing interest in DGXX's scalable AI infrastructure strategy, including its proprietary ARMS 200 Tier 3 modular data center platform and NeoCloud GPU-as-a-Service infrastructure. The completion of the Offering resulted in DGXX holding over U.S.$30 million in cash and cash equivalents, with zero long-term debt on its balance sheet. Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners ('Titan'), acted as the sole placement agent for the offering. Key Highlights: Expected Use of Proceeds: Titan received a cash commission representing 7% of the gross proceeds from the Offering and 240,385 purchase warrants, with each warrant exercisable for one share at a price of US$3.588 per share commencing on January 17, 2026 and expiring on July 21, 2030. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-286520) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on April 14, 2025, and declared effective on May 20, 2025. The prospectus supplement relating to the offering was filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website at . The Company also filed the prospectus supplement with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at prospectus@ . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. About Digi Power X Digi Power X (NASDAQ: DGXX / TSXV: DGX), is a vertically integrated AI and energy infrastructure company. Digi Power X designs and deploys modular Tier 3 data centers through its ARMS (AI-Ready Modular Solution) platform and offers enterprise-grade GPU compute through its NeoCloud portal, leveraging advanced NVIDIA GPU technology and secured energy infrastructure. For further information, please contact: Michel Amar, Chief Executive Officer Digi Power X Inc. Follow us on X: @DigipowerX Investor Relations T: 888-474-9222 Email: IR@ Cautionary Statement Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' (collectively, 'forward-looking information') that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking information in this news release includes information about the Company's expectations concerning the impact of the offering, potential further improvements to profitability and efficiency across the Company's operations, including, as a result of the Company's expansion efforts, potential for the Company's long-term growth and clean energy strategy, and the business goals and objectives of the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: delivery of equipment and implementation of systems may not occur on the timelines anticipated by the Company, or at all; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; share dilution resulting from equity issuances; development of additional facilities and installation of infrastructure to expand operations may not be completed on the timelines anticipated by the Company, or at all; ability to access additional power from the local power grid and realize the potential of the clean energy strategy on terms which are economic or at all; further improvements to profitability and efficiency may not be realized; development of additional facilities to expand operations may not be completed on the timelines anticipated by the Company; ability to access additional power from the local power grid; an increase in natural gas prices may negatively affect the profitability of the Company's power plant; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other documents filed or furnished by the Company on SEDAR + and on the SEC's EDGAR website at and , respectively. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about, among other things, the timing for, expected proceeds from and impact of the offering. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainties therein. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by applicable law.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How Paytm is using AI for in-house ops
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led Paytm reported a profitable Q1 FY2026 , attributing its operational efficiency and product innovation to artificial intelligence (AI) integration across the fintech major said it is deploying AI across its operations to streamline workflows and increase fraud and risk its latest earnings presentation, Paytm highlighted multiple AI-first features integrated into both internal processes and consumer-facing products.1) Paytm said it is using AI-led quality checks for merchant onboarding, including advanced image analysis and text recognition. With AI, verification is done through algorithms for merchant category code (MCC) deduction from shop photos, name matching, and optical character recognition (OCR).An MCC is a four-digit number that classifies businesses based on the types of goods or services they offer. These codes help payment networks standardise transactions and ensure accurate processing.2) Paytm's in-house AI platforms like Paytm ARMS (merchant lifecycle insights platform) and Paytm Pi (fraud and risk detection system) automate merchant onboarding, fraud detection, segmentation, and pricing proprietary fraud and risk detection AI engines help monitor merchant activity. It reports anomalies and predicts chargeback risks, including high-ticket refunds.3) The company uses conversational AI agents to provide personalised assistance to customers via text and voice across 11 languages.4) The ARMS platform also uses AI to profile merchants in real time and match them with the right financial products to improve retention and effective cross-selling.5) On the customer side, Paytm has integrated an AI assistant in partnership with Perplexity for users.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword June 28 answers: All clues, hints and solutions to today's puzzle
The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 28, 2025, is a great mix of fun, logic and quick thinking. Designed for short breaks, this smaller version of the classic crossword keeps things simple yet smart. If you found yourself stuck today, we have you covered with all the hints and answers. This puzzle was packed with clues from different topics from music and movies to everyday objects. With a 5x5 grid and fast clues, the Mini can be solved in just a few minutes, making it a favourite daily game for many crossword fans around the world. NYT Mini Crossword June 28 Across hints and answers 1 Across – Removable parts on a mannequin: ARMS 5 Across – A thermal container for coffee or tea: TEAURN 8 Across – A climbing tower for pets: CAT TREE 9 Across – Arrives in a place or city: ARRIVES 10 Across – Someone like Chopin or Ray Charles: PIANIST 11 Across – Things that do not work well at filtering: SIEVES 12 Across – Reflex you cannot control: KNEE NYT Mini Crossword June 28 Down hints and answers 1 Down – In a risky position: AT A RISK 2 Down – To learn again for a new role: RETRAIN 3 Down – A noon-time Broadway show: MATINEE 4 Down – What players want to do on "Survivor": SURVIVE 6 Down – Reese who acted as June Carter: REESE 7 Down – Bird homes found early in the day: NESTS 8 Down – Souvenir caught at a baseball game: CAP
