Latest news with #DVM
The Hindu
a day ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Science for All: Krill don't have jet lag, thanks to their circadian rhythm
(This article forms a part of the Science for All newsletter that takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Subscribe now!) Krill (Euphausia superba) are transparent marine organisms. Each krill is the size of a matchbox but they travel the open seas in swarms of several thousands. They are prey to millions of seals, penguins, and whales in the Southern Ocean, a rapidly warming water body whose temperature has significant effects on tropical rainfall. All organisms have an internal clock called the circadian rhythm that syncs with the day/night cycle. If the natural cycle is interrupted, so is the rhythm. This is why you have jet lag. Yet krill have been found to have a circadian rhythm that ticks on even when their days and nights are distorted. Researchers from Germany and the U.K. recently reported this finding in eLife. Every day, krill move to the surface of the ocean and back down to feed and fend off predators. This collective swimming is called diel vertical migration (DVM). They tend to move towards the surface at night and to the depths during the day. The study took a closer look at the mechanism that drives DVM. 'We know that krill move up and down in the water column each day which also has important implications on nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, but we don't know what mechanism governs this behaviour. This study sheds light on that, and will help us better understand and conserve this incredible species,' Matthew Savoca, a research scientist at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University and who wasn't involved in the study, said. In 2024, the team developed a device called Activity Monitor for Aquatic Zooplankter (AMAZE). It's an observation incubator with 80-cm-long acrylic glass columns. Laser light is passed through the columns. When krill swim through them, they interrupt the laser light, which a detector records to track the krill's movement. For the experiment, the researchers collected krill from the Bransfield Strait and the South Orkney Islands located about 800 km and 1,250 km southeast, respectively, from the bottom tip of South America. They divided the samples into two groups. The first was immediately transferred to AMAZE, which simulated the natural durations of day and night around the islands. Some days were short (5.5 hours) and others much longer (15 hours). Then the krill were placed in complete darkness for 4-8 days. The scientists observed the second group of kill in their natural conditions using hydroacoustics, then they were moved to AMAZE and kept in darkness. Researchers studied the second group in conditions corresponding to the four seasons. Krill's DVM activity increased towards the night and decreased during morning hours. Notably, the scientists found that when DVM began or ended was fixed to daytime and nighttime whenever they happened, rather than to particular hours of the day. In fact the krill maintained the same DVM patterns even in complete darkness. If the days were long, the krill fed for fewer hours. And if nights were longer, they fed for longer and in phases. As krill move across the ocean via currents, they influence the lives of many other creatures around them. Lukas Hüppe, a doctoral researcher at the University of Würzburg in Germany and coauthor of the study, expressed optimism about the findings' implications for the Southern Ocean ecosystem, which centres around this species. 'The findings provide novel insights into the mechanistic underpinnings of daily and seasonal timing in Antarctic krill, a marine pelagic key species, endemic to a high-latitude region,' the researchers wrote in their paper. 'Mechanistic studies are a prerequisite for understanding how krill adapt to their specific environment and their flexibility in responding to environmental changes.' Manaswini Vijayakumar is interning with The Hindu. From the Science pages Question Corner What is synthetic aperture radar? Find out here Flora and fauna
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Forbes
Are Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Worth It?
Even if you love everything about your cat—their piercing eyes, the way they curl up on your lap while you read, even the smell of their breath—you probably don't look forward to scooping their litter box every day. While putting your cat in a carrier comes close, routine litter box maintenance might be the chore that pet owners dread the most. For that reason, you've probably asked yourself the question: Are self-cleaning litter boxes worth it? Automatic litter boxes are large and expensive—but they also allow you to have minimal contact with ... More your cat's waste, which is why many pet owners think they're worth the investment. While these high-tech machines don't automate the entire cleaning process, they do most of the dirty work for you: They separate waste from clean litter, emptying the clumps into a sealed compartment that doesn't need to be emptied every day. 'From a lifestyle perspective, having a Litter-Robot makes things easier for pet parents. It keeps the litter box constantly clean, which many cats prefer and which can encourage regular use," says Dr. Anna Foster, DVM. "Plus, it takes a daily chore off your plate, which gives you more time to focus on enjoying your cat, rather than managing the mess.' (Out of the best self-cleaning litter boxes that we've rigorously over the years, the Litter-Robot 4—a quiet, smart option with advanced safety sensors—is our top pick and the one most recommended by vets.) As popular as they are, though, they aren't without a few drawbacks: They're bulky, expensive and capable of malfunctioning. If you're on the fence about swapping out your standard litter box with one of these advanced devices, here's what to keep in mind as you consider the investment. All models work slightly differently, though most share a similar overarching design. First off, they're equipped with sensors—either motion, weight or a combination of the two—to detect when your cat enters, goes to the bathroom and then gets out of the box. After your cat has fully exited, these sensors trigger the cleaning mechanism, which usually involves a rotating drum or sweeping rake that sifts the litter and captures waste. Then, those clumps get deposited into a waste drawer and bin, some of which have filtration systems or UV light to reduce odors and bacteria. Additionally, some especially high-tech models come with added safety measures, including anti-pinch software and lasers that monitor specific zones in the litter box. There are even models, such as the Litter-Robot 4, that can track health metrics like weight and bathroom usage—in some cases, for multiple cats—on an app. Litter-Robot Thinking about tossing out your litter scoop and investing in one of these automated machines? Here are the main benefits self-cleaning litter boxes offer, based on our experience testing them over the years. No one likes getting their hands close to their pet's waste, which is unavoidable with a standard litter box. Most vets recommend scooping your cat's litter once or twice a day, as well as washing the box and refilling it with all new litter once a week. While you still have to throw away your cat's waste on a regular basis with self-cleaning models, they reduce how often you need to do this—and there's no scooping involved. Every time your cat goes to the bathroom, the machine captures the clumps and dumps them into a sealed waste drawer or bin, which can sometimes hold up to two weeks' worth of messes. Then, you should only have to deep-clean the machine every few months; if you have one cat, Litter-Box recommends tackling this chore every 90 days. Amazon It's also worth noting that some cats won't use a litter box if there's any waste in it, and you don't want to disincentivize your pet from using the bathroom—holding in pee can lead to serious health issues involving the urinary tract. So if you sometimes struggle to keep up with routine maintenance, a self-cleaning litter box can also be an investment in your cat's wellbeing. Even if you stay on top of scooping, litter boxes can get stinky—fast. While not all models offer this, many advanced ones have waste bins equipped with filters to combat odors. The Litter-Robot 4, for example, relies on a carbon filter. One of the best-designed models we've tested, the Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too, uses a bamboo filter—plus it has a UV light, which helps sanitize the fully contained waste drawer. Just keep in mind that filters don't last forever and need to be replaced from time to time. For example, Litter-Robot recommends changing the carbon filter once a month, and a replacement costs $12. Casa Leo Just like smart cat water fountains, which can help track your pet's hydration habits, some advanced automatic litter boxes are capable of monitoring metrics that can speak to your pet's overall wellbeing. The Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too and the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and 4 are all Wi-Fi–enabled and can detect when your cat is using the bathroom. In fact, if you have multiple cats, the Litter-Robot 4 can tell which cat is in the box, based on their weight—though it sometimes gets its wrong. 'It registers my 10-pound cat as weighing 7 pounds," executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers, who's tested a handful of top-rated models, writes in a story comparing the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and 4. That said, 'it's still a useful tool for tracking the bathroom habits of each of your pets,' she adds. If you start to notice that your cat is peeing much less frequently, for example, they might be suffering from a urinary tract infection, which demands immediate action and a trip to the vet. Forbes Vetted's editorial team knows a thing or two about pets—not only do a multitude of our writers and editors own cats and dogs, but we regularly review all kinds of pet staples to help keep furry friends happy, healthy and nourished. Most relevantly, we've tested the best self-cleaning litter boxes, but we've also researched and tried out everything from raw dog food to dog harnesses and leashes. What Are The Disadvantages Of An Automatic Litter Box? To many, automatic litter boxes provide an invaluable service: They handle routine litter box maintenance. That said, these machines aren't without their weaknesses. Chief among them, they're significantly larger and more expensive than standard litter boxes. Additionally, seeing as they're mechanical, they can malfunction. In the years that we've been testing top-rated models, though, we haven't had one break down. Do Vets Recommend An Automatic Litter Box? Yes, many vets recommend automatic litter boxes because they can help you stay in touch with their routine. 'Subtle changes in litter box behavior—like how often they go or how much they weigh—can sometimes be the first indication that something's off,' Foster explains. 'That kind of information can be incredibly helpful for your veterinarian when assessing your cat's condition.' Do Self-Cleaning Cat Boxes Really Work? While not all models we've tested have impressed us, our favorite models—including the Litter-Robot 4 and Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too—are effective at sorting clumps from clean litter. The only thing worth noting is that, over time, we've noticed some models don't contain odors as well as when they were brand new. Therefore, it's essential to empty the waste bin regularly and give the machine a more thorough clean every few months.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Korean telco KT selects the Digital Vending Machine® from Bango to power next-gen subscription bundles
AI subscription product among new services set to diversify and transform customer experiences CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bango PLC (AIM:BGO, OTCQX:BGOPF), the leader in subscription bundling, today announces a strategic partnership with KT, a leading telecommunications provider in the Republic of Korea, to deliver subscription services to its 13.5 million customers. Leveraging the Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) from Bango, KT customers will benefit from new and exciting subscription services. This is the first major DVM agreement for Bango in Korea, building momentum for further expansion into the East Asia telco market. KT will use the Bango DVM to seamlessly integrate a wide array of third-party services into its subscriptions hub and its customer bundled offers. This will include AI, language and translation subscriptions - responding to the rising consumer appetite for next-generation digital experiences. KT is leading the development of AI solutions across telecommunications and other industry sectors in the Republic of Korea. With AI subscriptions emerging as a standout category in the fast-evolving subscription economy, KT is now extending that vision to give customers access to groundbreaking AI services that enhance productivity, creativity, and learning, all through the Bango DVM. The Bango DVM simplifies the complexity behind subscription bundling, transforming a traditionally technical and operational challenge into a seamless, scalable business model. With a single integration, KT gains access to a growing global catalog of subscription services. New offers can be deployed quickly and flexibly, giving customers access to the latest services while providing KT with deep insights to personalize and optimize bundles over time. 'This collaboration will be a turning point for KT's subscription platform to expand as a global subscription service hub,' said Younggeol Kim, Head of KT's Service Product Division. 'We want to meet the evolving needs of our users, whether that's the latest entertainment or cutting-edge AI subscriptions, and the Digital Vending Machine from Bango gives us the agility to do exactly that.' 'KT is a leader in its field and now, also in the subscription space, taking bold steps to offer customers a wide and modern mix of digital services,' said Paul Larbey, CEO of Bango. 'With the Bango DVM, they can move faster, launch smarter, and deliver the high-demand subscriptions people are asking for, from SVOD to AI.' About Bango Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscription economy, powering choice and control for subscribers. The world's largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere. Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit Media contact: Anil Malhotra, CMO, Bangoanil@ +44 7710 480 377Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Korean telco KT selects the Digital Vending Machine® from Bango to power next-gen subscription bundles
AI subscription product among new services set to diversify and transform customer experiences CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bango PLC (AIM:BGO, OTCQX:BGOPF), the leader in subscription bundling, today announces a strategic partnership with KT, a leading telecommunications provider in the Republic of Korea, to deliver subscription services to its 13.5 million customers. Leveraging the Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) from Bango, KT customers will benefit from new and exciting subscription services. This is the first major DVM agreement for Bango in Korea, building momentum for further expansion into the East Asia telco market. KT will use the Bango DVM to seamlessly integrate a wide array of third-party services into its subscriptions hub and its customer bundled offers. This will include AI, language and translation subscriptions - responding to the rising consumer appetite for next-generation digital experiences. KT is leading the development of AI solutions across telecommunications and other industry sectors in the Republic of Korea. With AI subscriptions emerging as a standout category in the fast-evolving subscription economy, KT is now extending that vision to give customers access to groundbreaking AI services that enhance productivity, creativity, and learning, all through the Bango DVM. The Bango DVM simplifies the complexity behind subscription bundling, transforming a traditionally technical and operational challenge into a seamless, scalable business model. With a single integration, KT gains access to a growing global catalog of subscription services. New offers can be deployed quickly and flexibly, giving customers access to the latest services while providing KT with deep insights to personalize and optimize bundles over time. 'This collaboration will be a turning point for KT's subscription platform to expand as a global subscription service hub,' said Younggeol Kim, Head of KT's Service Product Division. 'We want to meet the evolving needs of our users, whether that's the latest entertainment or cutting-edge AI subscriptions, and the Digital Vending Machine from Bango gives us the agility to do exactly that.' 'KT is a leader in its field and now, also in the subscription space, taking bold steps to offer customers a wide and modern mix of digital services,' said Paul Larbey, CEO of Bango. 'With the Bango DVM, they can move faster, launch smarter, and deliver the high-demand subscriptions people are asking for, from SVOD to AI.' About Bango Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscription economy, powering choice and control for subscribers. The world's largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere. Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit Media contact: Anil Malhotra, CMO, Bangoanil@ +44 7710 480 377
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bango 2024 Full Year Results and Outlook
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bango (AIM: BGO), today announces its full year results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2024 and provides an update on current trading and outlook for 2025. FY24 Financial Overview: Results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2024 FY24 FY23 YoY Change Transactional Revenue1 $36.2M $32.7M +11% DVM & One Off Revenue2 $17.2M $13.4M +28% Total Revenue $53.4M $46.1M +16% Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) 3 $14.0M $8.8M +59% Net Retention4 125% 137% Adjusted EBITDA5 $15.3M $6.4M +139% Loss After Tax ($3.7M) ($8.8M) $5.1M Net (debt)/cash at 31 December6 ($1.8M) ($4.0M) $2.2M FY24 Operational highlights: 9 new Digital Vending Machine® (DVMTM) license customers (total 27 at end of 2024) 110 content providers connected to the DVM, up from 93 at the end of 2023 Launched Disney+ with Continente - Portugal's largest high-street retailer, in only 12 weeks from first customer contact First two DVM CX (user interface) customers signed, including Altice in the US First Eastern European DVM customer signed Post period-end Digital Vending Machine® 6 new DVM customers to date in 2025, including: New US wins mean the Bango DVM now serves 6 out of the top 8 US communication providers (by subscriber count) First DVM customer in South Korea – leading Telco selected Bango DVM for bundling New DVM Telco customer in Benelux marks the first win from an improved Western Europe DVM pipeline First customer launch of the Bango DVM CX (user interface) with Altice in the US. The DVM CX reduces the effort for resellers when launching bundled offers, allowing them to launch much faster. It is sold as an additional license fee. DVM is on track to once again deliver double digit revenue growth in-line with consensus7. Transactional 98% of traffic acquired with DOCOMO Digital has been migrated to the Bango platform The high cost of sales routes acquired from DOCOMO Digital have experienced volatility and are below expectation however, given the margin profile of these routes, there is minimal impact to EBITDA. Work to optimize or restructure these routes is ongoing. Bango has disconnected several small, unprofitable routes since the DOCOMO Digital acquisition and continues to launch selected new routes where there is significant growth potential. Core Transactional revenue (excluding the high cost of sales routes) is in-line with expectations. Financing Bango has secured financing which will be used to strengthen the balance sheet and provide further flexibility on the timing of cost reductions. Bango has secured an enhanced loan facility from NHN. Under the agreement, the existing loan will increase by $2.85M and include a deferral of principal repayments for 18 months (further information can be found detailed in the RNS announcement published earlier today titled, 'Loan Agreement and Related Party Transaction'). In addition, Bango has secured a $15M Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) with NatWest. This provides a committed, long-term financing solution that will replace the existing £3M overdraft from Barclays. Efficiency Initiatives Bango expects to report FY25 Adj. EBITDA in-line with consensus7 Further efficiencies are expected to result in a modest increase to Adj. EBITDA vs consensus7 in FY26 of $1M. A reduction in R&D capital expenditure versus current consensus7, of $0.5M in FY25 and $1M in FY26 is planned. Board changes As separately announced, (See 'Directorate Change' RNS published today), Anil Malhotra and Frank Bury will formally step down from the Board at the conclusion of the AGM on 30 June 2025. Investor Presentation: Bango is hosting a presentation, open to all existing and potential shareholders, at 10.30am BST today. Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and register to join the call here: Bango CEO, Paul Larbey, said: '2024 was a pivotal year for Bango, marked by strong revenue growth, a significant increase in profitability, and strategic progress across both our Digital Vending Machine® and Payments businesses. We delivered a 16% increase in total revenue and more than doubled Adjusted EBITDA to $15.3M, reflecting the operational leverage of our platform and disciplined cost management. The DVM continues to gain global traction, with 9 new customers added during the year and a strong pipeline rapidly converting in 2025 with 6 new wins including our first customer in South Korea. With tens of millions of subscriptions already managed, and the scalability to support hundreds of millions more, Bango is uniquely placed to benefit from the structural shift toward subscription-based services and indirect distribution models. Increasingly, the Bango DVM is becoming the standard platform for subscription bundling - not just in capability, also in reputation. It's the solution recommended by some of the world's largest content providers when their partners want to scale subscriptions and build customer engagement, and now serves 6 of the top 8 US communication service providers. This positions Bango at the very heart of the global subscription economy. In the Payments business, Bango continues to have a leading position in the market and remains the largest Direct Carrier Billing partner for the Google Play store, the only partner powering DCB for the Amazon store in Japan and the sole provider of online DCB services to NTT DOCOMO Japan - the largest operator, in the most valuable DCB market. With the migration of traffic from the DOCOMO Digital platform to the Bango platform we are optimizing our Payments business for cash and profitability by simplifying operations. The financing provided by NatWest and NHN demonstrate strong confidence in Bango's business model & strategic plan and materially strengthens the balance sheet. The decision to make the strategic investment in DVM coupled with the market growth in 'Super bundling' are driving a strong sales pipeline. This combined with disciplined cost management, a reduction in R&D capex and the inherent operational leverage of our platform will deliver a step-change in cash generation in FY26 and drive shareholder returns. We view the future opportunity with both confidence and excitement.' See the full RNS announcement: Notes: The Annual Report, including full accounts, is available at, and will be sent to shareholders shortly. 1 Transactional Revenue is revenue derived by charging a percentage of the retail price paid by the consumer and is made up of carrier billing, resale and e-Disti revenue share amounts.2 DVM & One Off Revenue includes all DVM license and support fees, revenue from Bango Audiences (discontinued in Q1 FY24) and one off fees including DVM set-up and change requests. 3Annual Recurring Revenue is the expected annual revenues to be generated in the next 12 monthsbased on contracted revenues recognized as at 31 December.4 Net Retention is a measure of the retention and expansion of revenue from existing customers over a specific period and is calculated by dividing the ARR from existing customers at the end of a period by the ARR generated from those same customers at the beginning of the period.5Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization, negative goodwill, exceptional items and share based payment charge.6Net debt is cash and cash equivalents plus short-term investments less loans and borrowings. 7Current consensus market expectations prior to today's announcement. The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of Bango is Paul Larbey, Chief Executive Officer. For further information, please contact: Investor questions on this announcementWe encourage all investors to share questionson this announcement via our investor hub About Bango Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscriptions economy, powering choice and control for subscribers. The world's largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere. Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit Subscribe to our news alert service:
