• Foresight becomes largest shareholder in Rail Vision Ltd.
• Chinese company purchases prototype of Foresight’s breakthrough quad-camera vision system
• Foresight strengthens position as leader in providing vision solutions

A leading innovator in automotive vision systems and driver assistance technology, Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) (TASE: FRSX) has become the largest shareholder of Rail Vision Ltd. To reach this status, Foresight exercised $2.24 million of warrants, raising its ownership stake to approximately 35 percent of issued and outstanding shares and 34 percent on a fully diluted basis.

Focused on revolutionizing the rail industry with obstacle detection solutions, advanced imaging and deep-learning technologies, Rail Vision, in December 2017, successfully completed a trial of its unique vision-based system. The trial, conducted in partnership with a leading European railway company, demonstrated the system’s real-time capabilities to detect and identify obstacles at distances of several hundred meters under harsh conditions with minimal light.

“Foresight is pleased to increase its investment in Rail Vision,” Haim Siboni, CEO of Foresight, stated in a news release. “We believe that, like in the automotive space, the next step is to provide trains with sensors and processing capabilities, to prevent accidents, reduce downtime, and increase productivity. Rail Vision is uniquely positioned to offer these functionalities and provide systems, which have the potential to significantly reduce maintenance costs. Rail Vision is a leader in cognitive vision systems that detect objects before a train and make real-time decisions. We strongly believe that Rail Vision’s capabilities will become the standard in this market.”

In addition, Foresight announced a prototype sale of its breakthrough QuadSight quad-camera vision system designed for use in the autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle market. A leading Chinese manufacturer of electric and autonomous vehicles ordered the prototype in order to evaluate the system’s performance with its current electric vehicles. Depending on the test results, the overseas manufacturer could implement QuadSight into future electric autonomous vehicle designs, a move that could mean significant revenue generation for Foresight.

“According to a report by Frost & Sullivan earlier this year, more than 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold globally in 2017,” Doron Cohadier, Foresight’s vice president of Business Development, added in a news release. “Notably, China led the market with 49.5 percent of total sales. With China expected to be the largest market for electric vehicles for at least the next five to seven years, and as analysts at Boston Consulting Group predict that more than five million conventional cars per year could be replaced by fully or semi-autonomous electric vehicles, we feel that our QuadSight system is well suited for the evolving Chinese electric vehicle market.”

Foresight gathers customer feedback and a greater understanding of its customers’ needs and requirements with each prototype sale. This information allows Foresight to modify the QuadSight system within a short period of time to accommodate each individual company’s needs.

These two announcements – becoming Rail Vision’s largest shareholder and its newest QuadSight sale – highlight Foresight’s continued commitment to being a leader in providing unique automotive vision systems solutions, addressing customers’ needs and expanding its presence in the industry. Foresight will continue to work to secure that presence by identifying opportunities to work closely with others interested in the research, development and integration of QuadSight.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ForesightAuto.com

• Global lithium-ion battery market expected to reach $93.1 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 17 percent
• High market demand driven by increasing adoption of electric vehicles, portable consumer electronics and grid storage systems
• Mobile Metal Ion geochemical survey initiated over select target areas within Irgon Lithium Mine Project to locate mineral deposits, provide data for subsequent drill programs
• Land package located in a well-established, prolific mining region of Manitoba, Canada, ranked as one of the world’s most mining-friendly

Vancouver-based exploration company QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) is at the forefront of a global drive to locate and extract one of the world’s most in-demand metals – lithium. As a key raw material for the manufacture of batteries that power electric vehicles and next-generation technologies, lithium is particularly sought after because of its high energy density and safety level. The global lithium-ion battery market is expected to reach $93.1 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 17 percent, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. (http://ibn.fm/weWd6).

The use of lithium in energy storage systems is expected to witness the fastest growth with a CAGR of 21 percent over the forecast period of 2017 to 2025, Grand View Research states in its report. Developments in wind and solar photovoltaic technology in countries such as Germany, China and the U.S. are leading the market, with the Asia-Pacific region acting as a dominant force that’s projected to show a substantial rise due to government policies promoting electric vehicles.

QMC recently expanded its mineral claim holdings within the Irgon Lithium Mine Project in Manitoba, Canada, where the company holds a land package covering over 11,000 acres. The company increased its holdings by staking nine new claims, totaling 4,784 acres. QMC is the 100 percent owner of the Irgon Lithium Mine Project, historically estimated to hold 1.2 million tons grading 1.51 percent lithium oxide (Li2O), a press release states (http://ibn.fm/cLtIc). The acquisition of these new claims solidifies QMC’s goal of securing and developing lithium-rich prospects in Manitoba. This area is a well-established, prolific mining region that’s ranked as one of the world’s most mining-friendly, with much of the necessary infrastructure already in place.

QMC has also initiated planning of a Mobile Metal Ion (“MMI”) geochemical survey over select target areas within the Irgon Project footprint. MMI geochemistry, a proven technique used to locate buried mineral deposits, will be undertaken by SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”), the sole provider of MMI technology. Beginning with an initial orientation over known mineralization in the Irgon Pegmatite Dike, the MMI geochemical exploration technique will expand westward along strike to help define any potential buried extensions of the dike, a company press release states (http://ibn.fm/deGU7).

SGS’s team of engineers and geoscientists will review existing documents and geological modeling of the historical data to provide guidance to QMC on its 2018 field program and drilling campaign. Data acquired through the 2018 exploration program recommended by SGS will be used by SGS to compile a NI 43-101 technical report, which is expected to confirm and potentially increase the non-NI 43-101 historical reported resource.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.QMCMinerals.com

• Warren Wang, CEO of CIIX, noted in podcast interview that company plans to eventually expand its network of bitcoin ATMs to Vancouver and Toronto
• Company intends to offer its Bitcoin Trading Academy courses online to Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong
• Wang remains passionate about bitcoin, predicts that it will rise in value to as much as $1 million; he cites supply and demand as factor in projected increases

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) CEO Warren Wang said in a recent SmallCapVoice interview that he expects to expand CIIX’s previously announced ATM network to eventually include the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Toronto. Focusing on international growth, he also announced that the company will offer its Bitcoin Trading Academy online courses in Asia to reach a larger audience (http://ibn.fm/T2GrS).

Wang said that he remains optimistic about the value of bitcoin, predicting that the cryptocurrency will increase to a price of $200,000 to $1 million in the future. To justify that, he juxtaposed the 1.4 billion-person population of China versus the capped supply of just 21 million bitcoin (http://ibn.fm/CMRrs). Imagine the demand, Wang said, if everyone living there wanted just one Bitcoin compared to this available supply. He also asserted that the Chinese-U.S. trade war may result in a shortage of U.S. dollars on the Chinese mainland, and bitcoin could then rise if the Chinese population sees it as an alternative asset to be acquired.

CIIX offers a comprehensive suite of educational services focusing on cryptocurrencies. It includes its own NewCoins168.com website, a daily live broadcast from the NYSE, a licensed podcast translated into Chinese and a cable TV show. It also mines with its own ASIC machines and AntMiners for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at a data center near Seattle (http://ibn.fm/xJHzK). CIIX expects to issue its own ICO in the second half of 2018 or in 2019, issue currency and create a virtual investment ‘ecosystem’ for Chinese investors (http://ibn.fm/rLCbp). CIIX’s primary revenue streams have been from subscriptions and investor relations.

“We are looking to expand into Vancouver and the Toronto area down the road,” he said of the bitcoin ATMs, focusing on Chinese-concentrated communities. Both cities have large Chinese populations. In Vancouver, Chinese make up the second-largest ethnic group at 27.7 percent of the population, according to the 2011 Census (http://ibn.fm/5A8x2). In Toronto, Chinese represent the second-largest ancestry group at 12 percent, according to the same census (http://ibn.fm/soe18).

In terms of education, Wang discussed CIIX’s Bitcoin Trading Academy division and revealed that courses would be offered online internationally in the near future. “We are going to offer courses in Asia to Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong,” he said.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ChineseInvestors.com

• Lithium Chile hits 180-meter brine-saturated zone on its first drill hole in Chile – home to the world’s highest-grade lithium brines
• Company is awaiting assays and is now onto its next drill hole at the Ollague project
• Prior sampling of lithium brines at project site range from 160 to 1,220 mg/l lithium
• Lithium demand from battery makers for electric vehicles, laptops and other digital devices expected to grow 650 percent during coming decade

Early results from an exploratory drilling program under way in Chile – part of the famed lithium triangle – is evidence of growing excitement in Lithium Chile Inc. (TSX.V: LITH) (OTCQB: LTMCF) and the potential of its Ollague property to help answer the world’s need for highly efficient batteries to power increasingly demanding technology.

The four-hole drilling program began in late June on a site that returned sampling of lithium brine assays between 160 and 1,220 milligrams per liter, according to a news release about the program (http://ibn.fm/HKR0m). In other words, the company knows that there are brines containing high-grade lithium on the property.

The first hole has now been completed and, per the news release, field testing during drilling showed a 180-meter-deep brine-saturated zone of salt and sand.  The company has sent the brine samples to one of Chile’s top accredited laboratories to get official assays, which are required to determine the quantity and quality of lithium that may be contained in that brine.

It’s worth noting that just one kilometer from that hole is a recently re-entered historic well. It’s located just outside the property border and was flushed, allowed to recharge and then sampled. The new brine samples contained 1,220 mg/l lithium. The news release states that these results suggest a significant concentration of the mineral in the area. As a comparison, Albemarle’s massive lithium brine mine in the United States has a concentration of lithium between 190 and 200 mg/l.

The Ollague salar covers 3,500 hectares (8,648.7 acres), a fraction of Lithium Chile’s 152,900-hectare (377,824.1-acre) portfolio comprising sections of 14 salars and one laguna complex in Chile. The drilling is prioritizing conductive targets identified in a transient electromagnetic survey (TEM) earlier this year (http://ibn.fm/US38Y). The Ollague survey indicated that the conductive units are open-ended horizontal zones ranging from 20 to 200 meters in thickness encountered within 20 to 120 meters of the surface.

“After amassing one of the largest lithium land packages in Chile, we have now begun drilling on one of our more advanced projects which have had sampling and geophysics completed on them,” Lithium Chile President and CEO Steve Cochrane stated in a news release. “The new government has been clear in its support for the lithium sector and we are similarly encouraged by the strong community support we have received. This is an exciting new growth phase for the Company and our goal is to maximize our early-mover exploration advantage in Chile.”

The project is also close to the town of Ollague and existing infrastructure for production and transportation. The company will be reviewing data from the drills for lithology and depth-specific geochemicals. Once the initial four-hole drilling at Ollague is finished, Lithium Chile plans to undertake similar drilling programs at its four other advanced-stage projects in the region, working in quick succession so that drilling could potentially be concluded by late in the Q3 period.

Lithium has become a target of several junior miners amid global concerns about a supply/demand imbalance that has driven significant stock swings for the commodity. Demand from the companies that make batteries for electric cars, laptops and other tech devices is expected to increase 650 percent by 2027, with overall lithium demand predicted to triple during that period, according to the latest report by international metals and minerals research agency Roskill (http://ibn.fm/ZT7lh).

Lithium is the lightest metal in the periodic table and has the most electrochemical potential, which allows it to register very high energy and power densities. It has the highest specific heat capacity of any solid, coupled with a low density that makes it a preferred component of small, lightweight batteries.

Last year, the automotive industry became the biggest influencer on the lithium industry amid the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries for both hybrid and fully electric vehicle applications. Lithium demand from automotive applications reached over 34,000 lithium carbonate equivalents (LCEs) per ton during the year, and it is expected to more than double by the end of the decade, according to Roskill (http://ibn.fm/NADuj). The agency reported that rechargeable batteries accounted for over 43 percent of total lithium demand during 2017.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://ibn.fm/LTMCF

• Providing solutions to track loved ones prone to wandering and offer caregivers peace of mind
• Wide range of wearable GPS tracking devices that are discreet for children and adults
• Company recently announced the hiring of Doost, Inc. to open retail channels

Loved ones who suffer from memory problems, young children and pets can have a tendency to wander. Fear, confusion and anxiety can overwhelm the lost individual. The caregiver’s stress and concern over the potential of losing a loved one known to wander can become all consuming. GTX Corp (OTC: GTXOD) is creating solutions to track people, animals and even valuables, providing the caregiver with peace of mind that his or her loved one is safe. The wearable GPS technology was created for young children, those with autism or developmental disability, seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, veterans and athletes with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), at-risk individuals and anyone who could potentially wander or become lost.

GTX Corp develops and produces a wide range of wearable GPS tracking devices. GPS SmartSole® (www.GPSSmartSole.com) is a GPS solution that hides inside a shoe, much like a shoe insert. This discreet insole is now available in size small for children, as well as adult sizes. Invisabelt® (www.GPSInvisabelt.com) is another discreet solution provided by GTX Corp. This tiny device is enclosed in a slim case and waistband and designed for children. GTX Corp’s devices use satellite and cellular technology to report location and require service plans, similar to a phone. All GPS solutions point to a mapping system, allowing for granular detail or broad visibility to meet specific needs. The company’s loT Personal Location Services (PLS) platform provides solutions ranging from smart, wearable GPS technology to two-way GPS tracking devices and a mobile phone tracking app.

GTX Corp recently announced the hiring of Doost, Inc., a boutique sales and business development agency that specializes in bridging the gap between big box retailers and technology companies. Doost will be able to provide GTX Corp with strategic opportunities to bring products to market.

Companies like Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) are taking notice of the $50 billion senior care market and are investing in products and services that enable adults to remotely monitor aging parents. “As the loT and wearable tech space continues to gain momentum and traction, we are very pleased Doost will help us open, navigate and ultimately place products within the large retail and corporate industries,” GTX Corp CEO Patrick Bertagna stated in a news release (http://ibn.fm/ShCzh). “At GTX Corp we continue to expand our line of tracking and monitoring solutions and Doost is the first of several new alliances we will be forming in order to expand sales both in the U.S. and across Europe.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GTXCorp.com

• Foresight sets primary goal to sell prototype systems of QuadSight, its multi-spectral vision system for autonomous vehicles
• The company looks to establish mutual cooperation with key clients in automotive industry
• Foresight moves forward with plans to sell its Eyes-On automotive vision system to a leading Israeli vehicle importer
• Global autonomous vehicle market expected to reach $54.23 billion by 2026

While 2017 was the year of the electric vehicle, 2018 is slated to be the year of autonomy. Elon Musk predicted a fully autonomous Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) model by 2018, and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is slated to put its version of a fully autonomous car into production in 2019 (http://ibn.fm/E1B0r) (http://ibn.fm/4Fj3c). The global autonomous vehicle market is expected to reach $54.23 billion by 2026 (http://ibn.fm/zG5aG). Well positioned to take advantage of the upcoming autonomous vehicle boom is Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) (TASE: FRSX), a technological innovator in automotive vision systems and driver assistance technology working to solve the complex nuances of autonomous driving.

Foresight creates products and solutions designed to drive the future of the semi- and fully-autonomous vehicle industry. The company was first conceptualized as a spin-off of major shareholder Magna B.S.P., an Israeli company that has provided innovative homeland security and surveillance technology solutions for the last 20 years. Foresight now uses the same technology to power two of its unique solutions: QuadSight and Eyes-On. Foresight’s third solution, EyeNet, is a cellular-based V2X accident prevention system.

Foresight recently signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with a leading importer of vehicles to Israel for the sale of its Eyes-On system for aftermarket configuration. As a first step, Foresight and the importer will carry out a pilot project using a beta version of the Eyes-On system during which the system will be integrated into a number of models from the importer’s fleet of vehicles. The MOU could potentially see the importer order 21,000 Eyes-On systems over three years. Eyes-On is an advanced driver assistance system (“ADAS”) that uses two cameras and stereoscopic technology to detect potential obstacles with a very high degree of accuracy. Stereoscopic technology uses two synchronized cameras to imitate human depth perception. Eyes-On is available as both an OEM and a retrofit solution.

Foresight’s focus for 2018 is QuadSight, according to a recent interview given by VP of Business Development Doron Cohadier. QuadSight is a multi-spectral vision system that uses four cameras (two visible light and two infrared cameras) to provide safety in all weather and lighting conditions, including extreme weather situations. One of Foresight’s main goals for this year is the sale of several QuadSight prototype systems. Foresight recently sold a couple of these prototype systems.

“These prototype systems will allow us to be in connection with various key stakeholders within the automotive industry at an early stage,” Cohadier explained in a news release. “And following that, we want to establish mutual cooperation with these key clients in the automotive industry.”

Foresight’s operates as a holding company with three pillars under it: Foresight Automotive Ltd., Eye-Net and Rail Vision. Foresight Automotive is dedicated to developing advanced accident prevention systems and solutions based on vision systems and stereoscopic technology, while EyeNet is focused on development of the EyeNet V2X (vehicle-to-everything) cellular-based accident prevention system that provides real-time pre-collision alerts to vehicles and pedestrians using smartphones and cellular networks. Rail Vision, of which Foresight has 35 percent equity, develops advanced systems for railway safety.

Another large goal for Foresight in 2018 is to complete the spinoff and merger of Eye-Net with Israeli company Tamda Ltd. (TASE: TMDA). The two companies signed a merger agreement in early May that will see Foresight establish a wholly owned subsidiary. Foresight will then transfer to the subsidiary all of Foresight’s rights and intellectual property for Eye-Net for no consideration. Upon closure of the merger, Foresight has agreed to transfer 100 percent of the share capital of the newly-created subsidiary to Tamda in exchange for approximately 74.49 percent of Tamda’s share capital as of the closing date of the transaction.

Foresight is well-positioned to reach these goals. The company recently attracted private placement agreements from several leading Israeli institutional investors. Harel Insurance invested $5.5 million, while Meitav Dash Group invested $4.1 million and Psagot Investment House another $1.4 million.

Cohadier also spoke to Foresight’s strong strategic positioning, saying “At the end of the day, an autonomous vehicle will have a few technologies on them for sensors for redundancy purposes. Basically, there won’t be one winning technology, there will be quite a few. But what we understood is vision will always be needed. Vision is the only sensor that can actually identify lanes, traffic signs, traffic lights, colours… If vision will always be needed and you require [it], you might as well have the best vision systems. We want to provide the market with the best vision systems.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ForesightAuto.com

• LXRP files for patent with the USPTO for DehydraTECH’s innovative treatment options for diseases and disorders including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s
• Company hopes to leverage this future possible patent to commercialize its development or out-licensing of future new products that treat central nervous system diseases
• DehydraTECH platform, being lab tested for drug delivery, effectively transported nicotine across the blood brain barrier, a barrier that protects the brain and makes traditional treatment difficult

Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) patented DehydraTECH™ drug delivery platform has already received some eight patents granted and nearly 50 pending worldwide, and the company has applied for one more to the USPTO. This is because, in lab studies, the proprietary technology has shown evidence of transporting active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) across the brain’s protective blood brain barrier, the company announced in an article published by the CFN Media Group (http://ibn.fm/OOv4A).

That barrier blocks blood borne circulating toxins and is a challenge to researchers trying to deliver APIs in medications past it. The barrier serves as a significant hindrance for drug treatment of diseases of the central nervous system. DehydraTECH technology, in animal lab tests, was able to transport more nicotine to the brain tissue, conjugating or joining with APIs for maximum delivery.

Based in British Columbia, Canada, LXRP is a biotechnology company that out-licenses its disruptive delivery technology that promotes healthier ingestion methods. It results in lower dosing and higher effectiveness. LXRP holds a patent for oral delivery of all cannabinoids. It has a growing IP portfolio and will license in any of the 40 countries worldwide where its technology already has a patent or is patent-pending. DehydraTECH is its proprietary delivery technology platform.

LXRP has conducted in vivo lab studies on animals to, in part, determine DehydraTECH’s ability to deliver enhanced levels of nicotine to the bloodstream and brain tissue. The studies found that this platform was able to deliver up to 560 percent greater amounts of nicotine to the brain tissue compared to controls without DehydraTECH.

Originally, the tests were focused on developing products for nicotine replacement by LXRP (http://ibn.fm/GtEeg), which is itself a multi-billion market with profound need for more effective alternatives. However, the tests demonstrated that DehydraTECH could effectively transport drugs, in this case nicotine, across the blood brain barrier. The diseases affected include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and neuropathic pain. The versatility of Lexaria’s DehydraTECH™ drug delivery platform is apparent, and its limitations are not yet known.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com

• Federal four-year grant awarded to Ohio State University to fund research program with PBIO
• Goal is development of manufacturing process to keep foods fresh without costly refrigerated transport/storage and safe without chemical additives
• PBIO’s Ultra-Shear Technology (“UST”) allows food manufacturers to manufacture healthier beverages and other foods that retain flavor and preserve product’s wholesome ingredients, potentially affecting future food processing around the world
• Dairy alternative beverage market, which grew 18 percent from 2009 to 2014 to reach $18.9 billion, fueled by consumers seeking tasty, nutrient-dense, convenient options for on-the-go lifestyles
• Consumers increasingly value “clean-label” foods, with 73 percent stating that they would pay more for food or drink products made safely with recognizable ingredients
• Global dairy market projected at $442 billion by 2019 with a CAGR of six percent

Imagine food, such as milk, that doesn’t go bad, tastes like the fresh product, is free of chemical preservatives and doesn’t need expensive refrigerated transport or storage. Now, think of how many bottom lines of companies around the world such a technology could affect.

Global life sciences company Pressure BioSciences Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO) and its patented Ultra Shear Technology (“UST”) will be used to develop an innovative manufacturing technology in a new, federally-funded research program focused on food preservation and safety at Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (“CFAES”). PBIO is a Massachusetts-based company that manufactures high-pressure-based equipment and laboratory instrumentation for the life science industry. CFAES is a worldwide leading food safety college.

PBIO’s Ultra Sheer Technology produces highly stable, clean and cost-effective nanoemulsions that facilitate the production of food products with enhanced shelf lives and without the need for chemicals or preservatives, as the company notes in a recent article (http://ibn.fm/V4Vja). The UST technology, which aligns with consumer demand for chemical- and preservative-free products, can be applied across many industries, including pharmaceutical, food, nutraceutical, industrial lubricant, paint and cosmetic sectors.

Researchers at Ohio State and their PBIO collaborators announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture four-year $891,000 grant in a recent news release (http://ibn.fm/LEBPF). PBIO’s UST technology will be the basis upon which a new manufacturing technology will be developed to preserve food and beverages by reducing thermal exposure through the combined application of elevated pressure, shear, controlled times and temperatures.

A growing need to optimize processing technologies to preserve the freshness of foods while extending the shelf life without using preservatives is a key factor for researchers in this demanding, developing global market. Statista reports that, for example, the dairy market worldwide, valued at $336 billion in 2014, is projected to grow by six percent to reach a staggering $442 billion in 2019 (http://ibn.fm/RjYQx). For dairy-alternative consumers, the market is just as intriguing, with a strong demand that reached $18.9 billion by the end of 2014 as dairy-based sports nutrition drinks gained in popularity (http://ibn.fm/SmXH1).

V.M. Dr. “Bala” Balasubramaniam, a CFAES professor of food engineering, is leading the development project, which is designed as a collaborative team effort with scientists and engineers at PBIO. Balasubramaniam believes that UST also holds the potential to be utilized by food manufacturers to ensure a healthier processing of sauces, condiments and other foods.

“Development of cost-effective, next-generation, gentler industrial food manufacturing technologies for the preservation of healthy beverages has now become a critical need,” Balasubramaniam stated in the university’s news release.

Edmund Ting, a senior vice president at PBIO, will lead the development of the laboratory scale and pilot plant equipment that CFAES and the company’s researchers will use in the project. The UST equipment developed under the project will be used to demonstrate the UST-based processing method to the beverage and food processing industry through pilot plant demonstrations and testing at the university’s advanced technology pilot plant on campus.

“It has been rewarding to see the significant growth of high-pressure food and beverage processing over the last 25 years,” Ting stated in the news release. “I believe UST has equal if not greater applications than high-pressure processing, both within and outside the food and beverage industries.”

The high-pressure processing equipment market is projected to reach $500.3 million by 2022 at a CAGR of 11.26 percent from 2016, according to a report from MarketsAndMarkets (http://ibn.fm/9fZM9). North America and European regions dominated this market in 2015 and are expected to continue leading as early adopters of new food processing technologies, the report states.

Consumers are increasingly looking for foods and beverage products that they believe are genuine and free of preservatives, with 73 percent stating that they would pay more for a product they trust, a Food Insider Journal article states (http://ibn.fm/R67ID). These “clean label” products brought in global sales of $165 billion in 2015 and are expected to reach $180 billion by 2020. The UST-based processing method being developed by Ohio State and PBIO will be a new alternative to existing options, one that will not use high heat and will consequently offer the potential for better taste, nutritional value and safety.

“We are pleased to collaborate with experts at Ohio State to advance the commercialization of the UST platform for the food and beverage market,” Ting added, noting that the UST equipment developed with the grant will eventually be shared with the food and beverage industry through pilot plant demonstrations and testing, webinars, short courses and food processor fact sheets.

“The UST technology is expected to be particularly beneficial for medium- and small-scale food processors and entrepreneurs who otherwise have limited technical resources to evaluate such novel food manufacturing processes,” Balasubramaniam said. “The ultimate goal is for consumers to benefit from the increased availability of wholesome, healthy beverage and food options.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PressureBioSciences.com

• Company to work with Cavitation Technologies to raise efficiencies in oil extraction process
• Collaboration aimed at decreasing Petroteq’s production costs
• Petroteq applies for uplisting to Nasdaq exchange

Oil and gas company Petroteq Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PQE) (OTC: PQEFF) is partnering with a leading fluids processing company to test ways of improving oil yields in Petroteq’s oil sands extraction process. Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: CVAT) (“CTi”), which develops technologies used in various industries, is to work with Petroteq to analyze the efficiency of its workflow processes and ultimately decrease production costs, according to a Petroteq news release (http://ibn.fm/A4rvr).

Petroteq is on the verge of beginning full scale extraction of oil from oil sands in its facility at Asphalt Ridge, Utah. Using its patented, environmentally-friendly technology, Petroteq expects to extract 1,000 barrels of oil per day when the facility hits full capacity in August. Petroteq’s innovative methods will allow it to extract oil without leaving behind waste or releasing greenhouse gases. The company has leased 2,541 acres and 87.49 million barrels of mineable oil sands in Utah.

“We are excited to be partnering with CTi. With our recent upgraded facility site, we are now exploring opportunities to make our products more cost-effective and efficient. We feel that it is important to engage on the innovation of our R&D with other compelling technologies that have the potential of generating scalable solutions within the industry,” Petroteq CEO David Sealock stated in a news release.

CTi Founder and Global Technology Manager Roman Gordon explained that his company has introduced its proprietary technology in a number of different verticals while creating partnerships with industry leaders over the last decade. “This agreement provides our companies the opportunity to develop and implement technologically advanced processes that will greatly improve efficiencies over conventional methods while achieving increased margins and profitability,” he added.

Under the agreement, Petroteq and CTi will use CTi’s proprietary Nano Reactor System™ to raise the value and yield of oil extracted from oil sands. According to the press release, the technology can influence and alter the chemical and physical composition of certain crude oils and hydrocarbon substances so as to enhance the economic value and yield of refined oils and related hydrocarbon products.

In what has proved to be an eventful summer for Petroteq, the company has applied to have its stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (http://ibn.fm/wlt37). The company hopes that, if approved, listing on the Nasdaq will raise its visibility with investors and increase awareness of Petroteq in the financial community.

“We believe that a NASDAQ listing will help unlock some of the shareholder value we are trying to create for our stakeholders. A NASDAQ listing should provide us with more liquidity and a larger pool of investors that use the NASDAQ Stock Market as a requirement for assembling a portfolio,” Sealock said.

While the application is being processed, Petroteq stock will continue to trade as usual on the OTC market in the U.S. and on Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange, as well as markets in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Petroteq.energy

• Received $7.55 million institutional investment to support growth
• Setting the standard for global cross-channel payments acceptance and value-added service offerings
• Global business-to-business sales estimated at $7.7 trillion compared to $2.3 trillion business-to-consumer market
• Executed several complex initiatives in 2017, continued to deliver double-digit percentage organic growth year-over-year
• Total transactions processed by NETE during first six months of 2018 at $50.2 million, up from $35.7 million during same period of 2017

Global financial services, technology and value-added solutions group Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) continues increasing profitability with a strong track record that includes processing transactions in over 50 countries and coming “close to the $3 billion mark” with over 154 million transactions, Net Element CEO Oleg Firer stated in an exclusive interview with NetworkNewsAudio (http://ibn.fm/UhMwq).

Key to this growth is the company’s next-generation Netevia platform that offers a smart solution that enables secure vendor payment transactions and streamlines business-to-business (“B2B”) transactions. Global B2B e-commerce gross sales are estimated at nearly $7.7 trillion compared to the $2.3 trillion business-to-consumer (“B2C”) market, according to Statista (http://ibn.fm/stEPr).

The company’s Netevia platform streamlines B2B payments by improving vendor payment processes and reducing the costs to send payments through a user-friendly web and mobile platform interface. This streamlined transaction platform, developed for small and medium-sized businesses, brings comprehensive and innovative card payments-oriented solutions that enhance operations by enabling vendor payments.

With Netevia, business owners can safely integrate payment acceptance into their unique ecommerce solutions, allowing users to manage their vendors, process payments and handle invoices with existing accounting systems. Merchants can streamline their own processes, including marketing tools, payment mechanisms and point-of-sale devices, and can add features as needed. Payment solutions between vendor sales is also supported by Netevia (http://ibn.fm/aVL5K), and tech support is available at any time by phone, email or web chat – a critical benefit when dealing with international business ventures.

Businesses that use Netevia, which was launched in February 2018, can accept over 100 cashless payment methods in nearly two dozen currencies. Net Element is well positioned in 2018 following a $7.55 million institutional investment to support growth and the launch of a business unit focused on blockchain technology solutions that will empower users to create decentralized, customized payment products, accept cryptocurrency in a multi-channel environment without having to pay high fees, develop loyalty programs and more (http://ibn.fm/vEDiP).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.NetElement.com