Category Archives: Evolution

"PVEL's PQP supports technical due diligence and risk mitigation by helping buyers identify inverters and power electronics that meet their long-term expectations for energy yield, product life and functionality," commented Jenya Meydbray, CEO of PVEL.

Independent test lab, PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) has expanded its PV inverter reliability testing operations with a newly renovated South San Francisco laboratory to handle its PV Inverter Product Qualification Program (PQP) business and its PV Inverter Scorecard report that was first published in May, 2019.

"PVEL's PQP supports technical due diligence and risk mitigation by helping buyers identify inverters and power electronics that meet their long-term expectations for energy yield, product life and functionality," commented Jenya Meydbray, CEO of PVEL. "Our data drives granular energy yield and O&M models for solar projects of any scale, ultimately increasing investor confidence in an asset's economic performance."

PVEL said that previous inverter testing had been undertaken at its Berkeley, California headquarters but the new advanced inverter test centre had included equipment for plug-and-play evaluations of 600V, 1000V and 1500V products, spanning the entire spectrum of the market from a 320W microinverter to a 1500V string inverter.

"In the past 12 months, we have observed inverter failures accounting for nearly 80% of lost production in PV power plants before the interconnection point and a major portion of unscheduled maintenance costs," noted Joe Kastner, CEO of Radian Generation. "Understanding inverter quality and supply chain constraints are key to controlling and understanding these costs. Inverters are critical to the financial performance of solar power plants and PVEL's independent testing is a great tool for understanding inverter risk and informing procurement decisions."

System-level testing of ancillary equipment including rapid shutdown devices, optimizers and communications products are also to be carried out at the facility, according to PVEL.

Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager of Keysight Technologies' automotive and energy solutions, a leader in electronics laboratory testing equipment said, "PVEL deployed the most advanced power electronics testing and measurement technologies available for the upgraded lab. As one of the world's leading suppliers of electronics testing solutions, we can say that PVEL's revamped South San Francisco facility is among the most sophisticated inverter labs in the solar industry."

PVEL also expects to be able to conduct advanced evaluations of a product's ability to interface with the local utility grid in compliance with recent IEEE and California Rule 21 mandates.

The second edition of PVELs PV Inverter Scorecard report had been delayed, due in part to COVID-19 working restrictions, although the testing firm has not indicated when the second report will be published.

Tags: pvel, microinverters, string inverters, 1500vdc, pv inverters, pv power plants, california

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PV Evolution Labs expands operations to serve in-depth PV inverter reliability testing - PV-Tech

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases!

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Spearhead Studios releases two more engaging titles during its Super July campaign. Blackjack and Giant Panda will join Spearhead Studios portfolio and are set to bring entertainment to life in many jurisdictions. Blackjack is Spearhead Studios second table game, following the release of European Roulette in the Spring of 2020. This classic casino game was specifically built to be played of both desktop and mobile and offers an intuitive experience which card lovers will enjoy. Asian themed Giant Panda will appeal to players who are looking for a relaxing experience. The 5-reel slot is accompanied by a beautiful scenario and peaceful music, surrounding the player with zen vibes and transforming the gameplay into a true pleasure.

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Evolution Wins Live Casino Supplier of the Year Award for 11th Year Running at the EGR B2B Awards - European Gaming Industry News

Jul 24, 2020 12:03 AM ET iCrowd Newswire Jul 24, 2020

Latest released the research study onGlobal P2P Lending Market, offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the global business scope.P2P LendingMarket research report shows the latest market insights, current situation analysis with upcoming trends and breakdown of the products and services. The report provides key statistics on the market status, size, share, growth factors of theP2P Lending Market. The study covers emerging players data, including: competitive landscape, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers.

Global P2P Lending Market is expected to Reach CAGR of 55.22% till 2027. The final report will add the analysis of the Impact of Covid-19 on P2P Lending Market

Top players in Global P2P Lending Market are:

LendingClub Corporation (United States), Funding Circle Limited (United Kingdom), Prosper Marketplace, Inc. (United States), Daric (United States), Social Finance, Inc. (United States), Zopa Limited (United Kingdom) , Avant, Inc. (United States), onDeck Capital, Inc. (United States), RateSetter (United Kingdom) , Kabbage, Inc. (United States)

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/34384-global-p2p-lending-market

Keep yourself up-to-date with latest market trends and changing dynamics due to COVID Impact and Economic Slowdown globally. Maintain a competitive edge by sizing up with available business opportunity in P2P Lending Market various segments and emerging territory.

Brief Overview on P2P Lending

P2P lending is referred to peer-to-peer lending, is the process of giving money or lending money for a particular instance to businesses or individuals through online services. Prosper, SoFi, Funding Circle, Peerform, and Upstart is the popular website for P2P lending. The P2P lending services are more transparent and cheaper as compared to the traditional process. Growing demand from developing economies due to low market risk & operating cost and high transparency between lender and borrower in P2P lending system due to technical advancement is the major driver for the market. Additionally, the rising trend in investing and digital technologies and rising awareness of P2P lending across the globe is supplementing overall growth of the market. However, strict government regulation & risk of losing all money and lack of awareness regarding benefits associated with P2P lending is limiting the growth of the market. Moreover, burgeon number of startups globally may increase the usage of peer to peer lending platforms.

Recent Development in Global P2P Lending Market:

On September 2015, Prosper Marketplace had acquired BillGuard in approximately USD 30 million. Whereas, BillGuard was a startup in the crowdsourced security app for personal finance.

The Global P2P Lending Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

Study by Interest Rate (4.99 percent, 5.22 percent, 5.77 percent, 7.78 percent, 11.49 percent, 13.48 percent, 11.74 percent, Others), Business Model (Alternate Marketplace Lending, Traditional Lending), Loan Type (Personal Loans, Auto Loans, Business Loans, Mortgages and Refinances, Student Loans, Bad Debt Loans, Medical Loans), End User (Lenders, Borrowers)

Market Drivers

Market Trend

Market Challenges

Market Restraints:

Market Opportunities:

Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.

Enquire for customization in Report @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/34384-global-p2p-lending-market

Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global P2P Lending Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Global P2P Lending market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Global P2P Lending Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Global P2P Lending

Chapter 4: Presenting the Global P2P Lending Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2020

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Global P2P Lending market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

Finally, Global P2P Lending Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.

Data Sources & Methodology

The primary sources involve the industry experts from the Global P2P Lending Market including the management organizations, processing organizations, analytics service providers of the industrys value chain. All primary sources were interviewed to gather and authenticate qualitative & quantitative information and determine the future prospects.

In the extensive primary research process undertaken for this study, the primary sources Postal Surveys, telephone, Online & Face-to-Face Survey were considered to obtain and verify both qualitative and quantitative aspects of this research study. When it comes to secondary sources Companys Annual reports, press Releases, Websites, Investor Presentation, Conference Call transcripts, Webinar, Journals, Regulators, National Customs and Industry Associations were given primary weightage.

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What benefits does AMA research study is going to provide?

Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

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Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies revenues.

Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources; our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enables clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.

Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLPUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 [emailprotected]

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P2P Lending Market Predicted to Witness Sustainable Evolution in Years to Come | LendingClub, Funding Circle, Prosper Marketplace - Reported Times

On July 23, 2010, there was a ripple across the pond. During production of the seventh series of the U.K.s The X Factor, five young ladsNiall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinsonfailed to make enough of an impression on the judges to advance to the next round as individuals. But in a savvy move, X-Factor judge and V-necked superproducer Simon Cowell pulled the five teenagers aside and gave them a second chancethey would continue on in the competition as a group under Cowells tutelage. The boys were elated and quickly united in their mission, unanimously agreeing over text (as the story goes) to be known as One Direction. When the series hit British airwaves, fans immediately took to the mop-haired teens, watching their real-life friendships blossom as they tore their way through the competition. On December 12, 2010, they finished third on The X-Factor; their consolation prize: A reported 2 million record deal with Cowells Syco Records.

A decade later, its hard to believe that the members of One Direction1D for shortwere once the underdogs. By the time they arrived in America for their first stateside tour, the buzz over pop musics next big thing was already deafeningsome even likened it to Beatlemania. While their refusal to dance meant they werent exactly following in the choreography-heavy footsteps of the boy bands before them, it only helped make them that much more appealing: They were the every-lads, just five young guys who wanted to make music and have a good time. Mischievous, but not dangerous. Charming and crush-worthy, but relatable. Their music and image was perfectly manufactured to lean into these qualities, the boys maintaining a sense of goofy realness even under all the glossfor a while there, it really did seem like they were having a blast. But the nonstop cycle of albums and globe-trotting took its toll, and during the groups fourth world tour in five years, it was announced that Zayn Malik would leave 1D in early 2015. Later that year, the group released Made In The A.M. (which some suggested stands for After Malik), shortly followed by the announcement of a hiatus starting in 2016. In the years since, Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis have all released solo singles and albums, carving out space for themselves and defining their personal sounds in the shadow of One Direction.

If youre reading this, its safe to assume that youre either holding on to some affection for the former reigning boy band (without a doubt, BTS now claims that crown), or you cant believe were about to argue that they have enough worthwhile songs to fill out an hour-long playlist. Either way, welcome! Whether you love or loathe One Direction and their record-breaking career, venturing back through their discography provides a fascinating look at the evolution of a boy bandhow five young performers grew up within the contract-laden confines of the mainstream music machine, and how they found their voices while millions of Directioners (the moniker for self-described 1D stans) clung to their every word. From the starry-eyed teenage debut, Up All Night, to the (varyingly successful) string of solo adult albums, this Power Hour distills a decade of One Direction down to the tracks that highlight their growth as a quintet, eventually a quartet, and then as individuals. These are the enduring songs that define their legacy and prove that, once these five set their sights on music stardom, the only direction they could go was up.

There are more than a few similarities between One Thing and One Directions inescapable breakout hit What Makes You Beautiful, both from the debut album Up All Night: Both are driven by a clap-heavy beat and a buoyant guitar riff, and both have a chorus that begs to be shouted by adoring fans. Aside from giving all of the members their moment to shine vocally, One Thing ultimately stands out as the groups definitive early single because of its intriguing ambiguity. What is that one thing, anyway? Like Meatloafs Id Do Anything For Love (But I Wont Do That), the lyrics keep things vague, allowing the listener to imagine theyre the one One Direction cant get out of their heads.

After the runaway success of the groups debut, One Direction turned it all the way up for album two: Take Me Home is a proper charm offensive with the goal of world domination. Its third single Kiss You leans hard into their goofball personas, a gonzo love song that promises to, show you off to all of my friends, making them drool down their chinny-chin-chins. Childish? Maybe so, but the song relishes in its youthful energy. By the time it reaches the na na nas of its final bridge, youre putty in the hands of one of 1Ds catchiest tunes. Frenetic yet perfectly polished, Kiss You is a sugar rush from start to finish.

When laying out the groundwork for Take Me Home, Simon Cowell reportedly challenged industry hit-makers to submit potential No. 1s, effectively tasking top songwriters to compete for their slot on One Directions sophomore album. This go-big-or-go-home approach meant that the record was a near-exhausting barrage of bumping back-beats and radio-ready hooks. Still, Cmon, Cmon stands outits One Direction at the groups most celebratory and joyful. Indicative of the albums more electronic sound, the song emphasizes its drum-machine wallops and New Wave synths to irresistible effect, and then drops them out for a split-second before launching into a soaring chorus. Its all over in less than three minutes, but Cmon, Cmon is the kind of song that buzzes in your head for much longer.

Now certified global pop stars with a splashy tour documentary under their belts, the members of One Direction were out to prove that they could adapt to a more mature milieu for 2013s Midnight Memories. With artists like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers giving the years adult contemporary charts a folksier makeover, a number of the albums cuts followed suit. Midnight Memories most successful foray into folk-rock, Through The Dark, doesnt shy away from its influences; following Little Lion Mans formula, it kicks off with a lone acoustic guitar, gradually building to a rollicking chorus built for boot-stomping (its pop sheen also means it holds up better than a lot of that eras hits, which already sound like relics). The song had its broadcast debut on a Paul Rudd-hosted episode of SNL wheredespite some visible discomfortthe quintet showcased their knack for harmonies, proving to the shows late-night audience there was talent behind all the hype.

Along with the groups new, grown-up sound, Midnight Memories found One Direction ditching the playful innuendos for (slightly) more overt pillow talk. Near the albums midpoint, on Happily, Payne sings, Its four A.M. and I know that youre with him; I wonder if he knows that I touched your skin. Its not quite scandalous, but the guys music had to go past puppy love if they wanted to be taken seriously as artists. Elsewhere, the refrain exclaims, I dont care what people say when were together, painting the picture of a forbidden romance, giving the bands young queer fans (of which there were many) enough wiggle room to find themselves in its narrative. With its clap-and-shout catharsis, Happily might be the closest thing 1D has to a queer anthem.

While some cited One Directions fourth album Four as evidence the group was losing a bit of its luster (the unimaginative title only highlighting this inevitability), in retrospect, it also produced some of their most potent and thoughtfully constructed tracks. Fireproof, for example, channels breezy 80s Fleetwood Mac for a tambourine-fueled testament to a love built to last. That a guitar riff takes the spotlight for its second bridge instead of another round of na na nas showcases a wizened restraintthat the group had grown beyond the need for another radio-ready sing-along. Noted Directioner Mitski (who once tweeted, disrespect 1D, disrespect me) also gave the song her stamp of approval with a killer, fuzzed-out cover, showing that even indie rockers couldnt resist the charms of One Direction.

Boy band music videos have traditionally served up big concepts and even bigger budgets, but One Directions date-night clip for Night Changes displays simple brilliance. With the videos handheld point-of-view cinematography, viewers are given the opportunity to spend a special moment with each band membera wine-and-dine with Zayn, ice-skating with Harry, cozy board games by the fire with Nialluntil they all go a bit off the rails. Indulgent, earnest, and goofy, it endures as 1Ds definitive video. Musically, Night Changes creates a similar romantic atmosphere, employing ooh ooh backing vocals and a heartbeat bass drum to woo listeners into its mid-tempo easy-listening before sealing the deal with an irresistible key change.

With its insinuation that falling in love can feel a bit like its titular psychological condition, Stockholm Syndrome has some questionable sexual politics. Nevertheless, the song is an absolute pop banger, putting some arena-ready oomph behind another classic One Direction hook. Like many of the groups later tracks, Stockholm Syndrome wears its influences on its sleeve, recalling The Polices post-punk energy with its bouncing guitar riff that swells to match the whoas! of its chorus. It should come as no surprise that the song became one of the rare 1D covers Harry Styles would trot out on his first solo world tourit highlights both his lower-register timbre and his powerful belt, planting the seeds for the rock star to come.

Throughout its tenure, One Direction endured many comparisons to The Beatles, largely in terms of the groups status as an inescapable global phenomenon. But if there was ever a track that sounded like kin to a Sgt. Peppers diddy, its the vibrant, utterly sunny Olivia. Co-written by Styles, the exuberant love song is a time machine unto itself and a joyful standout among the bands winding discography. Backed by a full orchestra, the track is an indulgent celebration of all-consuming devotion. With the power of hindsight, it would be fair to also view it as foreshadowing for what could be expected from Styles then-forthcoming solo effort: something vintage and infectious.

The bands announcement of an impending extended hiatus was met with global devastation from long-time devotees, but not that much shock. Even before Maliks abrupt departure in March 2015, the young men had been ruminating on their inevitable transition into solo work since the year prior. History was more than a folksy, guitar-driven culmination of years of hard work; it was also a fitting sign-off. Equipped with a rousing hook, the final single from the then-quartet rang like a cozy bars last-call anthem and a loving farewell to the bands historic era.

Malik explained his exit from one of the biggest modern musical acts in pop culture as an opportunity to show off his more authentic self, a way to make the music that he actually stood behind. As the first 1D member to build up his solo persona, his Mind Of Mine may have caused some understandable whiplash for those familiar with the music he was making just a year prior. Leaving the palatable, family-friendly rock-pop archetype behind and leaning more into hazy R&B and sensual soft funk, BoRdErZ bared no hints of Maliks glossy boy band roots and became one of the stronger songs among the bunch. It was also one of eight collaborations with Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Malay, and a promising look at Zayns growth as an artist (groan-inducing stylization of track titles aside).

Not every One Directioner has managed to comfortably find a distinctive sound beyond their boy band roots. Since the bands break, Louis Tomlinson has released a handful of singles and, as of this year, a debut album with Walls, although none of it has really resonated on the same scale as his former bandmates. But in 2016, Tomlinson teamed with super DJ Steve Aoki for his first official solo venture. Just Hold On was everything a listener would need from an EDM-pop jaunt: catchy, uplifting, and a solid addition to any festival lineup. It was also a sound that Tomlinson never fully revisited, later opting for the more rock-driven soundscape that underscored the majority of 1Ds discography. Now the track largely exists as a memento of a fairly untrodden path toward house and dance stardom that very well could have set him apart from the rest of his former bandmates.

Of the five original 1D members, Styles, unsurprisingly, has managed to cultivate the biggest solo career. With his boisterous style and generation-defying sound, critics often cite classic rock tentpoles like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney in their praises. Carolina crystallized Styles appreciation of 60s and 70s rock in a rollicking ode to a girl he met once. Upbeat and reverent, the song became a tour favorite and a late-blooming summer jam. Years later, it endures as a testament to Styles determination to make music that could fit in any decade and possibly outlast us all.

Easily the star of Styles debut, Kiwi is nothing but fun, unabashed rock. The opening verseShe worked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes / Hard liquor mixed with a bit of intellect / And all the boys, they were saying they were into it / Such a pretty face, on a pretty neckworked hard to cement a much older point of view for 1Ds breakout star. Its energetic spirit also signaled a budding soloist who was willing to exist outside of a single box, setting him apart from his former bandmates as one of the strongest songwriters in the group.

Chalk it up to his ever-present grin, but Niall Horan certainly earned a reputation as the cheekiest of One Directions merry pranksters, which made his folksy, assured solo debut that much more surprising. Flicker had one hell of a saucy single in Slow Hands, but its Seeing Blinda swooning duet with country superstar Maren Morristhat best carved out a niche for Horan in a post-One Direction world. His reedier voice trades off with Morris full-bodied twang in the verses before the two combine for a gorgeous harmony in the songs sweeping refrain. Seeing Blind is a honest-to-goodness country love song with crossover appeal that, like Tomlinsons EDM dabbling, proves the guys didnt need to stay in their former bands pop-rock lane to succeed.

With Icarus Falls, Malik offered a lengthy, 27-track followup to Mind Of Mine that truly highlighted his solo potential. It didnt quite garner the same commercial success as his debut, but it did carve a viable path forward for a growing alt-R&B artist. Its a shame that we never saw a more robust celebration of Maliks second album outside of its more favorable critical reception: Icarus Falls provided more than its fair share of both genre-bending entries and straightforward grooves like Imprint. Sleek and laid-back, the easy tune was a nice bridge between the two projects, changing the pace of the album and solidifying his signature sound.

There are a few genres at work in Fine Lines second single, the ever-charming Adore You. Rock, pop, disco, and funk have ways of registering a little differently with each listen, but all are bolstered by a thumping baseline and Styles soulful vocals in a true go-for-broke love jam. Though the subject of an elaborate (and rather brilliant) viral marketing campaign, Adore You absolutely sells Styles abilities as a wide-ranging artist on its own merit, employing lush background harmonies and an alluring energy that makes it difficult not to fall for his inherent charm. Of all the mellifluous things to come out of One Directions break, this track is by far one of the best.

If 1D were still around to grow the bands collective sound, its current music would likely be comparable to Horans Heartbreak Weatherthat is, breezy, guitar-heavy, and pleasantly melodic. Its snappy (figuratively and quite literally) bridge is so reminiscent of a One Direction hit that it sounds like a Made In The A.M. bonus track in the best way. Out of everyone, Horan held tightly to the playful spirit that catapulted the band into superstardom while injecting his own innate folksy musicality, crafting an ethos that is still very much his own. Heartbreak Weathers title track was not only an ideal opening track for casual listeners, but a security blanket of sorts for fans who still miss the spirited group that started it all.

Since were just shy of 60 minutes, theres time to wrap up this Power Hour with One Directions most meme-able moment to date. When Act My Age was released as an extra track on the Ultimate Edition of 2014s Four, it felt like something of a lark: The band sings about getting fat and old over what is, essentially, an Irish jig on adrenaline. According to Knowyourmeme.com, Twitter user @hozierlesbianin a stroke of geniusspliced the songs raucous strings over video of a familys impressive synchronized dance to Freco and Merlos Drop. Then, in early 2019, the edit fell into the right hands on Twitter, and a brand new reaction meme was born. Those unfamiliar with the One Direction deep cut were mystified by the clips pirate music, but longtime Directioners clocked the song immediately. The surprising viral moment for Act My Age may have spiked over a year ago, but it speaks to the fact that the earnest, irresistible spirit of One Directions music lives on, even if the bands in no hurry to come back from hiatus any time soon.

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From boy band to men: A decade of One Directions musical evolution in 60 minutes - The A.V. Club

Freddie Knight

Business Leader recently spoke to Freddy Knight the Innovation Director for one of the UKs leading cyber insurance providers, Optimum Speciality Risks (OSR) to discuss how his innovative company is disrupting the industry, and helping businesses prepare themselves against future risks.

Can you tell us about OSR?

OSR was founded in 2018 and rebranded and relaunched in 2019, following my arrival as Innovation Director to launch our SME product, Optimum Cyber Plus.

Optimum Cyber Plus is a unique insurance offering and was created to help make the premium cyber insurance and cybersecurity solutions bought by large, corporate organisations accessible to local insurance brokers and their SME clients.

Until its release in 2019, small business owners in the UK had to choose between two realities; Pay hefty premiums for comprehensive cyber insurance solutions that, in most cases, were totally out of proportion to the rest of their insurance/risk management spend, or pay a more reasonable premium for a budget solution which, in the majority of cases, were lacking in appropriate coverage, response services and risk management capabilities.

Our policies start at 75 and provide a combined, partner led insurance and risk management package worth in excess of 3,000.

All of our policyholders are provided access to a suite of complimentary risk management aides, including a one-hour consultation with one of the UKs leading GDPR consultancy practices, GDPR123; online employee awareness training modules covering cyber-crime, data protection and cyber security; a free vulnerability scan from KryptoKloud and two days free consultancy to resolve any issues highlighted; access to a Cyber Essentials Certification and Management from Berea (Cyber AMI); and ten licences for Firewall and Backup Solutions via Avast Business Pro Plus.

As a result, were you recently a finalist for a prestigious award?

Thats right, we were shortlisted for Cyber Newcomer of the Year at the Advisen Cyber Risk Awards 2020 in New York. There were some amazing businesses in our category and to have the work we are doing acknowledged, on a stage like that, made us all immensely proud.

What measures should businesses have in place to protect against cyber threats?

There are a million and one different approaches that an organisation can take to manage their cyber risk, but for SME businesses, putting the following measures/services in place will stand them in great stead; employee awareness training modules; quality antivirus solutions including offsite data back-ups; and a comprehensive cyber insurance program, including risk management support

Its important to remember, however, that cyber security is continuous and business owners shouldnt rest on their laurels if they have already implemented these suggestions. Threat actors only need to be successful once to cause disruption, whereas a businesss defences need to be successful every time.

What cyber security risks are most prevalent right now?

Whilst not a specific attack or threat, I think that businesses need to be aware of one factor more than any other when it comes to cyber security, and that is their resilience and ability to continue to operate following a cyber event.

Increasingly, from our own cyber insurance claims data, we have seen the mishandling of a cyber event become responsible for some substantial losses, so it is essential to ensure your organisation has access to a proper incident response service.

How are cyber-attacks becoming more sophisticated?

Phishing attempts are becoming more and more sophisticated by the day, and many experts see this trend continuing through 2020 and beyond. More businesses provide training on matters of cyber security now than ever before and the criminals know this. They are forever advancing their techniques in line with technology innovations like AI, machine learning and, I imagine in the not too distant future, quantum computing too.

How can you train staff to be aware of the threat of cyber security?

OSR policyholders automatically receive access to an online suite of training modules to educate their employees on subjects like email and password security, virus and malware protocols, phishing, social engineering and remote working. Combining an insurance policy with an employee training platform is just one way in which we are helping to change that cyber insurance narrative, from one of fear to one of education and understanding.

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Leading the evolution of the cyber insurance market for SMEs - Business Leader

With over 800 monsters in its hand, the Pokemon franchise has enough creatures for every fan to find a favorite. It doesn't matter if your preferences lean towards starters or legendary Pokemon; If you search long enough, you will find the monster that calls to you. Of course, plenty of fans have found themselves charmed by Eevee and all of its evolutions. There are still some types missing from the species, and fans always want to meet more. That is why one artist decided to imagine the perfect Fighting-type evolution for Eevee, and The Pokemon Company would be hard-pressed to outdo this creation.

The Reddit user PTickles posted their take on a Fighting-type evolution and shared it with fans the other day. The art, which can be found below, introduces the world to the tough Champeon. This clever name proves Pokemon is really missing out on a Fighting-type evolution, and fans demand they get one ASAP.

According to the artist, they decided it was time to imagine how these missing Eeveelutions might look in the canon. So far, Eevee has eight different types covered from fairy to water and psychic. That means there are plenty missing like a bug and even dragon, but this fighting Eevee looks ready to jump into the games.

The artist also gave some special stats for this Pokemon, so Champeon is even more ready to fit in than you thought. The creature is given the ability called Scrappy that helps them in battle, and PTicklees explains trainers can evolve Eevee into Champeon so long as the base Pokemon levels up while knowing the move Counter.

For now, such a Pokemon is nothing but a dream in the franchise as Eevee has yet to unlock such a type evolution. The eighth generation of Pokemon did not introduce any new Eeveelutions to the mix, but there is plenty of time for the brand to do so. And when the next bunch is brought to life, we're hoping the name Champeon sticks around.

What do you make of this fan-made evolution? Which evolution type do you want Pokemon to give Eevee next? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to talk all things comics and anime!

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS.

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This Pokemon Art Pictures the Perfect Fighting Evolution for Eevee - ComicBook.com

For 45 years, ARB 44 Accessories has innovated products for vehicle-based adventures over rough terrain. Now, for the first time in more than 26 years, ARB releases a new roof rack system.

ARBs very first product was a roof rack. And while the new ARB BASE Rack is just another platform-style roof rack, its one that thoroughly impresses.

ARB says that BASE stands for Build, Attach, Set, and Explore. Sure, that isnt a very exciting name, but it does make sense. Although Australian off-road companies arent known for their quality branding or marketing, they are luckily renowned for innovative and top-quality off-road products.

Why should you care about another platform roof rack hitting the market? Its a valid question, as there are a ton of options out there. Some of the top players in this space are Front Runner, Rhino-Rack, K-9, Yakima, and, of course, ARB. But the all-new ARB BASE Rack stands out from the crowd in a few key ways.

First, its thin profile and completely flat top surface offer a new take. The beam structure of the BASE Rack allows it to be extremely low-profile, aerodynamic, and strong.

The aluminum beams run across the vehicle and are fully welded together. This ensures optimal strength and the lowest weight possible. No welds or hardware protrude from the top of the rack, which maximizes the usable load surface and ensures loaded gear isnt damaged by the rack.

Each beam can hold about 50 pounds, but accessory mounts work to spread the load across multiple beams. As with most top-quality platform roof racks, the vehicle roof is likely to fail before the rack in most cases.

ARB will offer vehicle-specific mounts for the BASE Rack and is sure to have some universal fit-style mounts on offer soon. Vehicle-specific air dams for the BASE Rack ensure aerodynamic efficiency and low wind noise.

Another cool feature of the BASE Rack is the ability to internally route any cables. When mounting electrical accessories, like solar panels and lighting, all you need to do is remove one screw in the corner cap of the rack to access the interior of the beams. This provides the tidiest install possible.

The all-new ARB BASE Rack system has a ton of unique little features, but theside-rails dovetail-style attachment system truly stands out from the crowd. Instead of the traditional t-slot, the BASE Rack has slots on the edges of the rail, both top and bottom. This dovetail-style mounting point allows for easy mounting and unmounting of all accessories and infinite adjustability.

Most platform-style roof racks use a t-slot attachment system for mounting accessories. The big drawbacks to the t-slot system are that it tends to collect grit and grime and requires the attachment mounts to be slid into the t-slot from the ends.

The disadvantage of this is that, many times, you have to remove other mounts to add new mounts. The BASE Rack dovetail-style attachment points mitigate all these issues. Its easier to use, more configurable, and more versatile.

As with any good roof rack system, its the quality, convenient, and secure ways the rack can hold your bulky gear that is key. The BASE Rack not only works with a ton of rack accessories from market leaders like Thule and Yakima, but ARB has also developed a full line of quality mounts themselves.

Especially impressive areARBs slick, low-profile light bar mount which can mount in front of or below the rack and the Hi-Lift mount. The Hi-Lift mount is secure, rattle-free, lockable, and easy to use. There are also quality mounts on offer for traction boards, propane tanks, gas cans, and, of course, some high-quality universal tie-down points.

Another unique feature of the ARB BASE Rack is the ability to set up the brands platform rack with a variety of guard rail styles. On offer arefull rail, three-quarter rail, trade rail, and one-quarter rail offerings. These guard rails are easy to install and remove, allowing you to quickly configure your rack for the task ahead.

ARB will initially only offer two widths and five lengths for the BASE Rack. This should cover most applications but doesnt allow the flexibility and custom fitment that some modular platform racks offer. Initially, the vehicle-specific rack mounts and air dams will be offered only for top Australian vehicles. This means your vehicle might not be able to get the most out of this rack system just yet.

My only real concern with this rack and mount system is that Id think the clamp-style mounts could loosen up and come off when bouncing down rough roads, and especially when traveling over corrugations. That said, Australia is covered in highly corrugated dirt roads, and the brand tested this rack in that environment.

Shipping costs for this one-piece welded design rack also are sure to be more expensive than modular racks. While probably not a big deal, this will add a few dollars to the final price of these racks for many.

We reached out to ARB USA to get pricing and availability details. We found out that the BASE Racks will hit U.S. shores in late summer. But pricing is still a bit of a mystery. We were told that it would be in the middle of the road compared to competitors like Yakima, Rhino-Rack, and Front Runner.

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ARB BASE: The Next Evolution in Adventure Roof Racks Has Arrived - GearJunkie

John Hendricks made connections in Southern California through his outgoing nature, a love of baseball and his job running the San Juan Hills Golf Club. He would inevitably talk about his son, an unassuming pitcher who was easy to overlook on Orange Countys crowded baseball scene.

Kyle wasnt the star at Capistrano Valley High School, a program that produced a second-round pick in 2007 (Mike Watt) and a first-round pick in 2009 (Tyler Matzek). Instead of sitting on the bench at a bigger school, Kyle wanted to play immediately, so he went to Dartmouth after the Angels drafted him in the 39th round in 2008.

Kyle was invited to the prestigious Cape Cod League after his sophomore season at Dartmouth, but only as a temporary player at first, a designation that essentially means a tryout while the team waits for bigger prospects involved with Team USA or the College World Series.

Kyle wasnt a throw-in at the 2012 trade deadline, but Christian...

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Inside the evolution that turned Kyle Hendricks into the Cubs ace - The Athletic

Art showing stencilled hands (mostly left) in the Cueva de las Manos caves, Argentina, is dated between 11,000-7,000 BC. Photo: Mariano/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Any story that begins with the words 14 billion years ago is bound to be epic, and Transcendence: How Humans Evolved Through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time, by Gaia Vince, is no exception. In the first chapter alone, Vince, an award-winning science writer and broadcaster based in London, covers the Big Bang, evolution, photosynthesis, the extinction of the dinosaurs, climate change and the presence of our early primate ancestors on the African savannah. Its a whirlwind and its only the beginning.

By the books conclusion, Vince has taken readers on a journey encompassing tens of thousands of years of human evolution that shows how our exceptional species has reset our relationship with nature and transformed into a new creature from our hypercooperative mass of humanity: we are becoming a superorganism. Vince calls it Homo omnis.

Whether you enjoy this kind of epic treatment of human history might depend on whether you like authors such as Jared Diamond, Stephen Pinker, Bill Bryson, and Yuval Noah Harari, who all write in a similar style: approachable, smart, and very ambitious. (Bryson got there first but nearly all of these authors books could have been called A Short History of Nearly Everything) Transcendence is most comparable to Hararis 2014 blockbuster Sapiens: both offer a sweeping account of human existence beginning with our origin as a species and ending with the idea that our species is becoming something post-human.

Unlike Harari, who focuses on a series of revolutions from the cognitive to the scientific, Vince chooses to highlight more nebulous and even poetic turning points in human evolution like beauty and time. We exist as the result of what she calls an evolutionary triad of genes, environment, and culture, and are now agents of our own transformation. She defines Homo omnis as a species that has transcended our evolutionary purpose to advance our genes for our cultural purpose, which is to be self-determining. Today, we are organisms with options: We can edit our genomes, choose the embryos of our offspring, prolong our lifespans, and maybe one day defeat death itself.

Vince takes care to deftly transition between one subject and another, bringing the reader along as she moves from topics like Wikipedia to cultural evolution to altruism to the neocortex to gossip to the survival of genes to monotheistic religion, as she does in the chapter called Telling. She argues early on that new collaborations between scientific fields, and in particular between the natural and social sciences, has allowed us to look at ourselves with new eyes and recognise the deep links that run through our biology, culture, and environment.

Likewise, Vince assembles the threads of these different disciplines and weaves them together to create moments of revelation for readers. She is uniquely talented in this respect, capable of presenting an impressive breadth of research from palaeoarchaeology to genetics to anthropology. In one of the best chapters, Story, she gives a rich and compelling account of Australian Aboriginal storytelling and the culturally universal strategy of the brain using story as a means to organise information and make it more memorable. Stories are a powerful survival adaptation, writes Vince, because they dont just allow us to travel back in time with our memories, they also allow us to mentally explore different future scenarios without expending time and energy.

Vince offers readers a vertiginous perspective of our existence on the planet. The cumulative effect seems intended to create awe and wonder in the reader, and inspire them to take seriously the responsibility of being an extraordinary species capable of directing our own destiny. But such an approach doesnt leave much room for nuance, and there are many instances when Vince presents readers with statements that would seem to merit greater skepticism, such as when she writes that In the United States, southerners are, as a group, more friendly and polite than northerners, who are often more brusque and ruder. Or, that more intelligent people tend to have fewer children; perhaps intelligence is being diluted in the gene pool.

Should we really accept without any discussion that people who live in cities are more inventive, or that the number of friends we have is determined by our genes? Other assertions seem intended to knock us over with profundity but end up feeling like platitudes. While animals are driven by biological urges to find food and mate, humans are also motivated by meaning and purpose, Vince writes. Or, We are all creatures of time.

In the end, Vinces provocative assertion that we are becoming a new species and the implications for our future become somewhat vague. She writes that human cultural evolution involves peaks and troughs, and that while there are reasons for pessimism and despair about the fate of our species today, its mostly a problem of perspective. Once we recognise and embrace our shared humanity, according to Vince, we can achieve a good, liveable Anthropocene. Perhaps. The lack of specificity regarding how our species will transcend the serious problems she enumerates (tribalism, individual self-interest, partisanship, fascism, war, violence, environmental catastrophe) feels like a letdown after such an intellectually voracious book.

Its worth asking why there is such a public appetite for science books written from a God-like vantage point at this time. Why do we seek out authors who try to explain everything? Is there security in the sense that someone out there can offer a coherent narrative that makes sense of where we come from and where we are going? Unfortunately, such authoritative, sweeping narratives often leave out what makes science so interesting in the first place: not just the certainties but the unknowns. Transcendence never lets us in on the process or methodologies by which studies come to their conclusions. Readers arent given a sense of the evolution of ideas or debates within scientific disciplines, or the individual scientists behind these ideas and what might drive them to do their research. We are never shown that just as science gives us answers, it also exposes the mysteries of our existence.

M.R. OConnor, a 2016-17 Knight Science Journalism fellow at MIT, writes about the politics and ethics of science, technology and conservation. She is the author of Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-Extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things and Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the Earth.

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.

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The Whirlwind Path of Human Evolution - The Wire

A group of Pacific leaping blennies out of the water on the foreshores of the island Guam. Credit: Terry Ord, UNSW Sydney

A diverse diet and flexible behavior may have empowered blenny fish to make a dramatic transition out of the water but once on land, they have been forced to become specialized, a new study led by UNSW shows.

The analysis of multiple big datasets, a collaboration between UNSW and the University of Minnesota, was published today in journal Functional Ecology.

Some species of blennies never emerge from water and others stay on land full-time as adults so they present a unique opportunity to study fish evolution in action and explore the transition from water to the land in a living animal, says study lead and UNSW evolutionary ecologist, Associate Professor Terry Ord.

In this study, we found that having a flexible diet has likely allowed blennies to make a successful leap onto land but once out of the water, these remarkable land fish have faced restrictions on the type of food available to them.

These restrictions have triggered major evolutionary changes in their morphology, specifically dramatic changes in their teeth, as they have been forced to become specialist scrappers of the rocks to forage on algae and detritus.

Looking at the fish pre- and post-transition could hold broader clues about what makes such a dramatic move successful, the scientists say.

There is ample evidence that transitions from one environment into another are responsible for the evolution of many of the species we see today, as well as the diversity in morphology and behavior we see across different species. But little is known about the mechanisms behind what drives those transitions in the first place, A/Prof Ord says.

To shed light on exactly that, the researchers applied a set of complex evolutionary statistical models to their data. They were able to reveal the sequence of events that likely allowed aquatic marine fish to ultimately evolve into fish that could leave water and colonize land and what happened once they got there.

Our findings suggest that being a jack-of-all-trades for example, being flexible in the types of foods you can eat and being flexible in leaving water for very brief periods of time can open the door to making what would seem to be a really dramatic change in habitat, A/Prof Ord says.

This core insight can be extended to any species making a move between habitats and might have other implications as well.

The flipside of our study suggests that some species that are already uniquely specialized to their existing environment are probably less able to make further transitions in habitat, or might not cope well if abrupt changes occur to their environment, for example as a consequence of the current climate crisis.

The scientists say there are limits to their study and further research is needed.

This study is essentially observation, or what we call a correlational study. The data is suggestive that diet and behavioral flexibility is important for making major transitions in habitat, and that once those transitions have occurred, that flexibility is eroded by adaptation, A/Prof Ord says.

But ideally we would want to perform some type of experimental investigation to try to establish causality that it is flexibility in diet and behavior specifically and not something else that allows such transitions to occur. Its possible that diet or behavioral flexibility are not responsible, and that some other currently unknown factor is. What this experimental study might be is hard to imagine at this stage, but were working on it.

Previous studies by A/Prof Ord found that avoiding nasty aquatic predators is a big motivator for blennies to spend time out of the water, and that once on land, they use camouflage to avoid further attacks by other predators on land.

Reference: Crossing extreme habitat boundaries: Jackofalltrades facilitates invasion but is eroded by adaptation to a masterofone by Terry J. Ordand Peter J. Hundt, 16 June 2020, Functional Ecology.DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13600

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Dramatic Fish Evolution in Action: Land Fish Forced to Adapt After Leap Out of Water - SciTechDaily