Latest news with #NICS
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
NEX IVF Strengthens Patna's Position as a Hub for Advanced Fertility Solutions
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 18: As awareness and acceptance of assisted reproductive technologies have increased, the need and demand for specialized fertility care have risen in the capital of Bihar, Patna. In this new environment, specialized medical institutions are instrumental in closing the gap between high-tech treatment and availability. One of the elements of such change is NEX IVF & Fertility Centre, which was launched by senior consultant Dr. Swati Mishra, who has more than 15 years of clinical experience in the field of gynecology, obstetrics, and the management of infertility issues. Dr. Swati Mishra is a graduate of RIMS Ranchi with a DNB in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and she also received training in IVF protocols, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and reproductive sonology. It is not only the scholarship that has marked her medical path but also exposure to the practical aspects of the job at premier institutes such as KHFH Patna and Prachi Hospital Odisha, where she trained in endoscopy. She has published several research papers on national platforms over the years and has contributed to medical journals, which makes her one of the voices of authority on the subject of reproductive health in women. The facilities at NEX IVF are in tandem with the present universal standards in fertility services. The facility, which has an advanced embryology laboratory equipped and built according to Class 10,000 air quality standards, provides precision-based procedures such as ERA, MACS, PGT-A, PGT-M, and NICS. These advancements have improved the success rate of treatments, especially for patients who had consistently experienced IVF failures. According to medical onlookers, these developments place the center among the elite IVF centers in Patna, combining clinical excellence with patient-focused care. The unique factor about NEX is that it focuses on both transparent medical communication and ethical treatment pathways, which are frequently mentioned among the primary reasons for rising patient trust. The center serves a broad range of reproductive problems, including IUI, IVF, ICSI, recurrent pregnancy loss management, and pre-conception genetic counseling. These are in addition to the minimally invasive surgical procedures such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, which affirm its status as a super-speciality IVF center in Patna. The patients, too, have acknowledged the unwavering emphasis on individual programs under the care of Dr. Swati Mishra. She is scientifically accurate and at the same time compassionate in approaching sensitive fertility journeys, which makes her a reliable guide for individuals or couples seeking long-term solutions. Even though the city is still emerging as a medical tourism location, analysts see facilities such as NEX IVF & Fertility Centre as a means of transforming the approach to reproductive health in Eastern India. To most people in the area and beyond, the center is increasingly being recognized as one of the best IVF centers in Patna Bihar, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of the quality, ethics, and result-oriented approach it employs in the profession.
The Print
4 days ago
- Health
- The Print
NEX IVF Strengthens Patna's Position as a Hub for Advanced Fertility Solutions
New Delhi [India], June 18: As awareness and acceptance of assisted reproductive technologies have increased, the need and demand for specialized fertility care have risen in the capital of Bihar, Patna. In this new environment, specialized medical institutions are instrumental in closing the gap between high-tech treatment and availability. One of the elements of such change is NEX IVF & Fertility Centre, which was launched by senior consultant Dr. Swati Mishra, who has more than 15 years of clinical experience in the field of gynecology, obstetrics, and the management of infertility issues. Dr. Swati Mishra is a graduate of RIMS Ranchi with a DNB in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and she also received training in IVF protocols, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and reproductive sonology. It is not only the scholarship that has marked her medical path but also exposure to the practical aspects of the job at premier institutes such as KHFH Patna and Prachi Hospital Odisha, where she trained in endoscopy. She has published several research papers on national platforms over the years and has contributed to medical journals, which makes her one of the voices of authority on the subject of reproductive health in women. The facilities at NEX IVF are in tandem with the present universal standards in fertility services. The facility, which has an advanced embryology laboratory equipped and built according to Class 10,000 air quality standards, provides precision-based procedures such as ERA, MACS, PGT-A, PGT-M, and NICS. These advancements have improved the success rate of treatments, especially for patients who had consistently experienced IVF failures. According to medical onlookers, these developments place the center among the elite IVF centers in Patna, combining clinical excellence with patient-focused care. The unique factor about NEX is that it focuses on both transparent medical communication and ethical treatment pathways, which are frequently mentioned among the primary reasons for rising patient trust. The center serves a broad range of reproductive problems, including IUI, IVF, ICSI, recurrent pregnancy loss management, and pre-conception genetic counseling. These are in addition to the minimally invasive surgical procedures such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, which affirm its status as a super-speciality IVF center in Patna. The patients, too, have acknowledged the unwavering emphasis on individual programs under the care of Dr. Swati Mishra. She is scientifically accurate and at the same time compassionate in approaching sensitive fertility journeys, which makes her a reliable guide for individuals or couples seeking long-term solutions. Even though the city is still emerging as a medical tourism location, analysts see facilities such as NEX IVF & Fertility Centre as a means of transforming the approach to reproductive health in Eastern India. To most people in the area and beyond, the center is increasingly being recognized as one of the best IVF centers in Patna Bihar, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of the quality, ethics, and result-oriented approach it employs in the profession. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida No. 2 in gun sales but numbers are dropping here and in the US. Possible reasons
Floridians, and Americans in general, are buying fewer guns. People in the Sunshine State bought just over an estimated 1.2 million guns in 2024, according to the annual report from safety product review site based on data from the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). That's a 7% drop from 2023. Florida still ranks No. 2 in the country in total gun sales, though, behind Texas (1.36 million). Sales were down nationally as well, where the estimated 16.1 million firearms sold in 2024 were a 3.4% decline from the previous year. The National Shooting Sports Foundation's annual report calculated a lower number, 15.2 million sold in 2024, but also said sales were declining. Sales have declined every year since 2020 after peaking during the COVID pandemic, SafeHome said. Gun sales in Washington plunged nearly 46%. "Some expected the 2024 presidential election to drive a spike in gun sales, but early data from 2025 tells a different story," said SafeHome managing editor Rob Gabriele. "In the first four months of the year, just over 5.29 million guns were sold, averaging around 1.32 million per month. "If that pace holds, 2025 will end with roughly 15.5 million gun sales, a 3.8 percent drop from 2024 totals," he said. "This mirrors the previous year's rate of decreasing sales." However, 15 states saw increases in gun sales, with Massachusetts residents buying 22.5% more of the weapons. SafeHome releases its report every year in time for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which was June 6. Many Americans wear orange between June 6-8 in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. SafeHome estimates that 389,994 guns have been sold in Florida from January through April 2025, behind Texas with 443,224. But by this time last year, Florida gun sales hit nearly half a million. Florida saw gun sales go up 1% in 2023, the same year the state passed a law to allow permitless concealed carry. The Sunshine State was one of only four states to see an increase, with 1,316,471 estimated sales in 2023, according to the report. FBI report: Active shooter incidents decrease in 2024, list includes Florida I-10 shooter Whlie the answer remains unclear, the record sales during the pandemic may have lowered the demand for now. 'What we saw in 2020 and 2021 were not sustainable from a market standpoint,' Jonathan Metzl, director of Vanderbilt University's Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, told The Trace, a website tracking gun violence. 'But also, many more people have guns now, and so the market of potential consumers is a lot smaller than it was during the pandemic.' Another factor is a Republican president in the White House. Gun sales tend to rise when presidents from the Democratic Party are elected, due to expectations of more restrictive gun laws, weapons confiscation, or fears of violent right-wing suppression. In January 2021, the month rioters swarmed the Capitol to prevent the certification of former President Joe Biden's votes, the firearms industry set a new record of more than 2 million firearms in one month, CNN reported. That was a 75% increase over the number sold in January 2020. Firearm and ammunition sales also spiked during former President Barack Obama's terms. However, gun sales dropped 17% during the first three years of President Donald Trump's first term, The Trace said. Some gun owners may be shifting their focus on accessorizing the firearms they own instead of buying more, Guy J. Sagi wrote for the American Rifleman in February. An October 2024 NSSF press release (now deleted, archived here) reported that American ownership of suppressors is skyrocketing, with as many silencers sold between May 2021 and July 2024 as were registered in the previous 87 years. Other possible reasons for a drop in sales include more restrictive gun laws in some states and inflation pushing firearms farther down the list of immediate needs for many Americans. According to SafeHomes' analysis of NICS data, these are the states with the most firearms sales in 2024: Texas: 1,363,596 (1.2% increase) Florida: 1,224,566 (7% decrease) California: 1,019,136 (2.3% decrease) Pennsylvania: 822,286 (2.3% decrease) Tennessee: 583,750 (7.8% decrease) Ohio: 583,959 (0.1% increase) Virginia: 566,053 (2.7% decrease) North Carolina: 530,083 (6.1% increase) Missouri: 500,885 (3.8% decrease) Michigan: 481,870 (13.3% decrease) Adjusted for population, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska have the highest gun sales rates in SafeHomes' report. "These states have strong hunting traditions fostered by rural lifestyles and less rigid gun control laws," Gabriele said. "The pro-gun cultures and the need for self-defense in such remote areas, which abound in predators that could harm livestock, may also contribute to higher gun ownership and sales." Wyoming: 68,964 (16.1 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Montana: 135,882 (15.9 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Alaska: 79,217 (15.4 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) New Hampshire: 145,700 (13.3 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Oregon: 429,892 (13.2 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Alabama: 460,694 (12.3 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) North Dakota: 65,170 (11.7 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Idaho: 162,079 (11.5 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) West Virginia: 155,421 (11.5 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Oklahoma: 322,315 (11.1 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) Tennessee: 583,750 11.1 sold per 100 residents aged 21+) In comparison, Florida saw 7 firearms sold per 100 residents 21 and older. National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which falls on the first Friday in June every year, was established to honor the estimated 88 Americans (as of 2015) whose lives were cut short by gun violence every day, and the survivors whose lives are forever changed. The day, and the Wear Orange movement, began when some Chicago teens asked their classmates to wear orange on June 2 to commemorate the birthday of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton. Pendleton was shot and killed a week after marching in President Obama's 2nd inaugural parade. Orange was chosen because it's what responsible gun owners wear in the woods while hunting to protect themselves and others. Former First Lady Michelle Obama attended Pendleton's funeral and delivered the commencement address at what would have been her graduation ceremony. Former President Barack Obama talked about her death in his 2013 State of The Union Address. The Obamas announced they were honoring the slain student through the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium at the Obama Presidential Center. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gun sales down in Florida, America. Why the decline?
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings Inc (SPWH) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Growth ...
Net Sales: $249.1 million, a 2% increase from $244.2 million in the same period last year. Gross Margin: 30.4%, up 20 basis points from 30.2% a year ago. SG&A Expenses: $95.3 million or 38.2% of net sales, improved from 38.6% in the prior year. Net Loss: $21.3 million or negative $0.56 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $18.1 million or negative $0.48 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted Net Loss: $15.6 million or negative $0.41 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net loss of $17.8 million or negative $0.47 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA: Negative $9 million, compared with negative $8.7 million in the first quarter of 2024. Total Inventory: $412.3 million, up from $391.6 million in the same period last year. Debt Balance: $166 million with total liquidity of $122.1 million. Same-Store Sales: First positive year-over-year sales comp in nearly four years. Firearm Unit Sales: Increased nearly 7% over last year, despite a 5.4% decline in adjusted NICS data. E-commerce Sales: Positive comp, up 8% over last year. Fishing Sales: Up 11%, with a two-year comp growth of 12.3%. Ammunition Sales: Up 3%, with a 12% increase in ammo unit sales during the quarter. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with SPWH. Release Date: June 03, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:SPWH) reported a 2% increase in net sales for Q1 2025, marking the first positive year-over-year sales comp in nearly four years. The company's e-commerce business posted an 8% increase over last year, driven by a new digital-first marketing strategy and improved omnichannel customer experience. Firearms unit sales increased nearly 7% over last year, significantly outpacing the adjusted NICS data, indicating market share gains. Positive sales comps were achieved in most core categories, including firearms, clothing and footwear, ammunition, and especially fishing, which was up 11%. The company is executing a strategic plan focused on inventory precision, local relevance, personal protection, and brand awareness, which is showing early signs of success. Despite the positive sales growth, Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:SPWH) reported a net loss of $21.3 million for Q1 2025, compared to a net loss of $18.1 million in the prior year. Gross margin was slightly pressured by increased freight expenses tied to strategic inventory pull forward in anticipation of higher tariffs. SG&A expenses remained high at $95.3 million, representing 38.2% of net sales, though slightly improved from the prior year. The company pulled forward approximately $20 million in inventory to mitigate tariff impacts, temporarily elevating inventory levels. Camping sales were down, attributed to a later spring and the timing of Easter, impacting overall category performance. Q: Can you break down the positive comp trends for the quarter by month and extend that into May? A: Jeff White, CFO, explained that February showed good trends, March was pressured due to an ad shift, but April was strong. The positive trend continued into May, with May also showing a positive comp. Q: Are the positive trends in stores due to increased foot traffic or improved inventory assortments? A: Jeff White, CFO, noted it's a mix of both. They are seeing better traffic trends and higher basket sizes due to improved in-stock levels and strategic inventory management. Paul Stone, CEO, added that e-commerce performance is also contributing to store traffic. Q: Is there an opportunity to expand the "shop within a shop" concept, particularly for key brands? A: Paul Stone, CEO, confirmed there is significant opportunity to expand this concept, especially in personal protection. They plan to build out this strategy with more partners and categories. Q: Can you clarify the $20 million inventory pull forward in Q1? A: Jeff White, CFO, stated they strategically pulled forward $20 million in inventory to address tariff uncertainties, focusing on high-turning products like firearms, ammo, and fishing gear to ensure they are well-stocked for peak seasons. Q: How are tariffs impacting your financials, and what measures are you taking to mitigate these effects? A: Paul Stone, CEO, mentioned they are constantly assessing pricing and have a strategy to balance everyday low prices with efficiency improvements. Jeff White, CFO, added that they feel confident in their guidance barring any drastic changes in consumer health. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Civil Service: 'Not enough office space' if working from home ends
A return-to-office policy for the civil service would not be possible because there is no longer enough space to accommodate everyone, Stormont assembly members have been civil servants began working from home during the pandemic, a trend which has NI Civil Service (NICS) is in the process of reducing its office estate by 40% by selling buildings and ending Smyth, chief executive of construction and procurement delivery at the Department of Finance, said that four-year process was on track. She told Stormont's finance committee there was currently sufficient office space for civil servants but that would not be the case if there was a widespread return to office-based the policy was "everyone's coming back four days a week" then "we wouldn't have the space, we wouldn't have the physical accommodation to do that," she Smyth said a review of the NICS hybrid working and working-from-home policies is due to be published also revealed the sale of one of the biggest NICS offices had not been completed despite going sale agreed last Court in Belfast City Centre is the former HQ of the Department of Smyth said it would be put back on the market shortly and the current bidder remains also told assembly members a decision was expected by the end of July on whether Marlborough House in Craigavon would be 1970s office block is due to be vacated by civil servants and a listing could complicate efforts to find a new use for the site.
