Occupational alcoholism and drug use are serious problems among America’s workforce, leading to major expenses and issues ranging from low employee morale and absenteeism to lost productivity, theft, injuries and even fatalities. Costs associated with alcohol abuse in the workplace alone range anywhere between $33 billion and $68 billion per year, studies show. Faced with this problem, a growing number of businesses are introducing mandatory workplace drug and alcohol testing by enrolling the help of industry leader Lifeloc Technologies, Inc. (OTC: LCTC).

Of the approximately 142.63 million people employed in the U.S. as of September 2015, about 14 million are alcoholics. A factsheet from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (http://dtn.fm/lVYD9) shows that roughly 6.6 percent of full-time employees are frequent and heavy drinkers, having had five or more drinks at once during more than five occasions within the last 30 days. Of current adult illegal drug users aged 18 to 49, 70% are employed full-time, the NCADD data also shows.

Alcohol and drug abuse can be a major financial burden for employees and businesses, both in terms of higher health care costs, workers’ compensation and legal liabilities, as well as in lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries on the job, fatal accidents and more. Additional problems may include tardiness and sleeping on the job, poor decision making, loss of efficiency, reduced job performance and even having trouble with co-workers or supervisors. Some of the jobs ad industries with increased occupational alcoholism rates and alcohol-related deaths include bartenders, shoe machine operators, roofers, painters, cooks, sailors and construction workers.

According to NCADD statistics, alcohol and drug testing as part of the hiring process remains the most common method used by employers to identify candidates with a substance abuse problem. Only about one quarter of workers interviewed reported random testing on the job, while 30% mentioned testing upon suspicion and 29% mentioned testing after an incident.

Lifeloc Technologies comes to the aid of all businesses and industries with a wide range of DOT and NHTSA approved, high-precision alcohol and drug testing solutions, whether for pre-employment, random, post-accident, return-to-duty or stand-down testing. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, the company offers complete alcohol and drug testing solutions, including handheld breath testing instruments for screening and confirmation, as well as training, supplies and consultations to guide customers through all aspects of setting up alcohol and drug testing programs in the workplace. Two of Lifeloc’s most popular products for workplace alcohol testing, the Phoenix 6.0 Bluetooth and the EV30, are based on proprietary technology and are guaranteed to give accurate and reliable readings.

A global leader in the breath alcohol testing industry, Lifeloc offers a complete range of evidential breath testers and portable breath alcohol testers to markets such as law enforcement, schools, corrections, and workplace. Its products are also recognized and distributed internationally through a complex global network of specialists that also offer consultation, support and service.

For more information, visit www.Lifeloc.com

Fibrosis is when connective tissue from an injury or other circumstances thickens and scars, or when there is excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ after it has been exposed to a chronic disease. Unfortunately, the effects of fibrosis cannot be reversed, and there is currently no treatment that stops the disease from getting worse, although some treatments can deal with the symptoms temporarily.

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GALT) is currently undertaking its phase 2a pilot trial (NASHFX) with GR-MD-02 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients with advanced fibrosis. Although the study did not meet original expectations, Galectin’s larger scale, one year trial in patients with NASH cirrhosis has already enrolled 162 subjects, and top line results will be reported by the end of December 2017. The company considers it encouraging to see that GR-MD-02 has an important clinical effect in both moderate and severe cases of psoriasis. This further suggests that the substance can play a role for human diseases that could be related to NASH.

Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the science of galectins, a family of proteins, and drug development. With this expertise, the company creates new therapies for patients suffering from fibrotic diseases and cancer. Galectin works with a variety of partners in order to achieve cost effective and efficient development results within short time frames.

GALT is currently looking to enhance and market its lead compounds in liver fibrosis and cancer immunotherapies. The company has three key areas of focus: studying galectins, developing proprietary compounds for diseases, and advancing its discovery programs. All three work together in order to achieve the overall goal of creating new therapies for fibrotic diseases and cancer.

For more information, visit www.GalectinTherapeutics.com

Before the opening bell, Dominovas Energy Corporation (OTCQB: DNRG) announced the formal submission of grant proposals to the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) related to the proliferation of both its RUBICON™ Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology and its ORCAS™ hydroelectric system. In total, the company petitioned the USTDA for just over $2.1 million, with submissions divided across four distinct projects featuring a combined power output of 2.9 Megawatts.

USTDA grants are awarded based upon the intended and expected social and environmental impact of proposed projects in an effort to bring private sector solutions to existing development challenges. Dominovas Energy expects to receive the USTDA’s decision on the submissions within the next month.

Dominovas Energy’s proprietary power generation solutions lie at the core of its proposals. The company’s RUBICON™ system leverages a SOFC platform to generate clean, efficient electricity through the conversion of a hydrocarbon fuel such as natural gas. Among its many benefits, the RUBICON™ produces significantly less pollutants than competing systems and is designed to operate year-round with minimal disruptions due to maintenance. For added efficiency, the RUBICON™ can also be used for hot water production or space heating. With these systems in place, combined heat and power efficiency for the RUBICON™ is measured at approximately 85 percent.

The company’s ORCAS™ system offers similar reliability and efficiency without the need for hydrocarbon fuel. The run-of-river (ROR) technology generates electricity by diverting running water from waterways. When compared to conventional stored water systems like reservoirs or dams, ORCAS™ has a much smaller environmental impact, seamlessly guiding used water back into the main river after it navigates power generation channels.

Dominovas Energy’s ORCAS™ platform could be widely implemented in the Republic of Madagascar moving forward and other sub-Saharan countries. The island nation has an “enormous potential” for hydropower generation, with the World Bank estimating capacity for up to 7,000 Megawatts across over 500 potential sites.

For more information, visit www.dominovasenergy.com

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Singlepoint, Inc. (OTC: SING), a leading mobile technology and payments provider, is making its mark in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) industry, just months after officially entering the market with minority acquisitions in two major DFS companies: GoDraft and DraftFury. One of the fastest growing industries at the moment, the DFS market brings together millions of people spending an average of $550+ every year, with 39% of them using a mobile device to pay, according to Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) statistics.

The minority acquisitions, in particular the participation in DraftFury, will allow Singlepoint to capitalize on this fast-growing market, especially at the height of the NFL season. Singlepoint is currently the only publicly traded company in the U.S. that allows shareholders to be involved in DFS, and it is planning to take a noticeable stake in the industry, according to company CEO Greg Lambrecht. Even a small stake could be game changing, given that the daily fantasy games industry is expected to grow at a rate of roughly 41% per year, reaching $14.4 billion in entry fees alone by 2020. For reference, entry fees were about $2.6 billion last year.

According to FSTA data for 2015 (http://dtn.fm/dda0A), about 20% of the U.S. population and about 17% of the Canadian population over 12 years of age play daily fantasy sports, totaling 57.4 million people. For comparison, there were roughly 15 million players in 2003. Of these 57.4 million, 66% are male and 34% are female, with an average age of 38.6. Also, the FSTA found that daily fantasy sports players are overall better educated, as 66% of them have a college degree or more. Most of them have a household income of more than $75,000, while 67% have full-time employment.

The average spending per fantasy player of 18+ years of age is $556, money spent on league-related costs and materials and single-player challenge games. Statistics also show that a total of 70% of daily fantasy sports participants pay league fees, and the most popular fantasy sport remains football. Additionally, a growing number of players now use some sort of mobile device to play – 39%, compared to only 25% in 2012. Players use their mobile devices for activities such as checking the score of their games or of other games in their league, drafting a team and/or changing line-ups, joining a fantasy sports league, researching players, posting comments, and viewing or listening to fantasy sports media ranging from podcasts and radio shows to TV or online videos.

With its minority investments in GoDraft and DraftFury, and with other planned acquisitions in the DFS vertical in the future, Singlepoint could be primed to become a significant player on the market. Founded in 2006, the company is currently a leading provider of mobile technology, mobile marketing and mobile payment services. Its products target small to mid-sized enterprises by offering solutions that allow clients to conduct business transactions, engage in targeted mobile communication or accept donations.

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

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iGambit, Inc. (OTCQB: IGMB) started as a software development, customer service, and technology licensing company. Since then, the company has taken a turn toward acquiring and strengthening technology companies by becoming a holding company, focusing its efforts on investing in small and medium sized companies in order to help them grow. In November 2015, the company announced the acquisition of ArcMail Technology, which now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of iGambit.

ArcMail Technology is a leading provider of email technology solutions for businesses of all sizes. The company works in partnership with its customers to address their needs. ArcMail Technology offers email archiving, archiving appliances, cloud based and physical hybrid gateways and virtual archiving software services, as well as fully-hosted archiving services.

iGambit is in the business of helping organizations grow. ArcMail chose to become an iGambit company because it believes iGambit is supported by excellent leadership, core values, and integrity. These fit well with ArcMail’s vision and mission statement, which it anticipates will allow it to grow more efficiently.

Since being acquired by iGambit, ArcMail Technology has been named one of CIOReview’s “20 Most Promising Enterprise Security Companies” of 2016, which is an annual list showcasing the most promising Enterprise Security Companies. In addition to this, the subsidiary was selected as one of the 50 most innovative companies to watch in 2016 by The Silicon Review.

iGambit’s vision is to acquire and develop small to medium sized businesses that are in the licensing or services industries. The company works on the strategy of facilitating the acquisition of partner companies by offering a range of professional experience and capital, enabling them to mature and increase their profitability.

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

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At the beginning of 2016, 43% of real estate agencies expected competition from non-traditional firms. Although this number was down 2% from 2015, a survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) (http://dtn.fm/Fx2Sb) found that 46% of agencies believe the competition from virtual firms is increasing, compared to a small 17% of agencies expecting competition from brick and mortar firms.

With this in mind, it is worth noting that the real estate industry is one of the slowest to adapt to this new digital age. The last few years can be seen as the first real phase of digital development within the real estate industry, as technology has played but a minimal role until now. Thanks to today’s growing technology, people in the real estate industry are able to make faster and more informed decisions.

Until now, the industry has believed in location. However, today people can access and accomplish more through the use of smartphones, computers, and other mobile devices. With technology companies such as Airbnb, people are becoming more accustomed to a sharing economy. According to an article by Wharton University of Pennsylvania (http://dtn.fm/M0Vl6), 86% of Americans believe the sharing economy they are now part of makes life more affordable, 83% say things are more convenient and efficient, and 63% believe it is more fun than engaging with traditional companies.

But why does the technology industry want to play a role in the real estate sector? The answer is simple. Real estate is one of the largest single assets in the United States. The sector is now worth approximately $50 trillion, with residential housing making up approximately $26 trillion of this. As a result, real estate companies are having to embrace the digital world quickly at the risk of letting technology-savvy companies take over.

To do this, real estate firms are having to implement cloud-based Big Data technologies to better serve their customers. eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) is a prime example. eXp Realty, the company’s real estate division, is a fully agent-owned cloud brokerage. The agents and brokers at EXPI work, train, strategize, collaborate, innovate, and build teams across North America from the comforts of home using the company’s cloud office environment.

EXPI believes that, with the advancements in technology today, real estate consumers are equipped with deeper knowledge and understanding than ever before. Many consumers today leverage the company’s cloud-based technology to buy and sell without the aid of brick and mortar offices. EXPI’s primary goal is to become “the first truly agent-owned, cloud-based, full service, global real estate brokerage company delivering around-the-clock access to collaborative tools and professional development for managing real estate brokers and agents.”

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

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The travel and hospitality industry is changing, with companies worldwide attempting to strengthen their positions within the industry by increasing consolidations, examples being hotels such as Marriott (NASDAQ: MAR), AccorHotels, and others. At the same time, other companies are focusing less on consolidation and more on incorporating new business models that meet consumer needs.

One growing area in the industry is the concept of sharing, facilitated by the efficient processing of business and consumer communication. Companies such as Airbnb, OpenTable, and Uber are focused on helping customers find what they need rather than offering their own brick and mortar facilities or other physical assets.

Next year is expected to be a growth year for this new sharing economy. The concept is simple: instead of having excess supply and/or demand, the sharing economy aims to keep supply and demand in balance. Companies worldwide will provide as much as the consumer needs when he/she needs it, with an emphasis on convenience. New business models ensure that the experience is as convenient as possible for the consumer. They are referred to as ‘market-makers’, because they control both supply and demand, which in turn has created a major move toward convenience that has been lacking in the industry.

To generate this cost and market effectiveness that is convenient for the consumer, companies are required to partner with the customer. The customer wants to be connected to his/her experience. Partnering with the customer means connecting with the customer. This not only allows the customer to participate in the design of his/her experience but also enables the companies to gather more feedback, which in turn can be shared with other customers.

Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI), a technology-driven travel company, offers travel solutions to every demographic through its booking engine, NextTrip.com. Through NextTrip, customers are able to choose from a range of transport options, accommodations, tours, and much more. Monaker has incorporated itself within the new sharing economy, where guests are able to make decisions based on their demographic, holiday requirements, time preferences, and, thanks to social media, other people’s experiences.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

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Before the opening bell, Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (Frankfurt: LB6A.F) took a significant step toward expanding market awareness of its hemp-based functional beverage products when it announced a new partnership with digital marketing experts ArDoMi Media Group and C&I Studios. The two firms are expected to collaborate on the creation of a marketing campaign highlighting both Caffe, Laguna’s instant hot coffee beverage, and Pro369, the company’s water soluble hemp protein product.

Through this campaign, Laguna Blends will look to amplify its brand visibility in target areas while simultaneously expanding the reach of its affiliate network into unexplored markets across North America. Initial production relating to the media campaign is currently scheduled to begin on October 7, 2016, in California.

“We continue to see increasing awareness and acceptance of the vast health benefits of hemp, and our goal at Laguna Blends is to elevate our marketing strategies to become a leading supplier of hemp and CBD products,” Stuart Gray, chief executive officer of Laguna, stated in this morning’s news release. “We are excited to partner with ArDoMi Media Group and C&I Studios to enhance our business profile and take the Laguna Blends brand to the next level.”

Both ArDoMi Media Group and C&I Studios have extensive track records in the digital marketing space, boasting a number of high profile clients across multiple industries. ArDoMi has previously planned, produced and executed marketing campaigns for clients such as Nike (NYSE: NKE), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), P&G (NYSE: PG) and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), among others. Likewise, C&I Studios has worked with industry leaders such as Polaroid, Sony (NYSE: SNE), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and American Apparel.

In recent weeks, Laguna Blends has made considerable progress toward expanding market awareness of its growing affiliate network, and the upcoming media marketing campaign is expected to build on this headway. Notably, the company recently announced the launch of Cannaceuticals CBD skin care products to its affiliates in the United States, putting it on track to become a major player in the $121 billion global skin care industry in the coming years.

The Swiss-made skin care line features seven cannabidiol-based products, including an innovative facial serum that produced a 100 percent overall improvement to skin appearance in just two weeks in a recently completed clinical trial. By diversifying its offerings and turning toward additional branding and marketing efforts, Laguna Blends appears primed to build on the solid launch of its affiliate marketing network, which reported an impressive $105,000 in unaudited sales during its first 11 weeks.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) is a precision marketing machine. For six years, the corporation has been steeped in integrated marketing techniques, offering ways for companies to get to know their customers and competitors as well as they know themselves.

Moxian is a pioneer of novel social marketing and promotion platforms with a particular focus on Asian markets. From its head office in Shenzhen, China, the company has developed and delivered products and services that enable its merchant clients to manage advertising campaigns and promotions targeting potential customers.

Since 2010, Moxian has leveraged big data to create winning marketing solutions and encourage stable, sustainable growth. With constant, harmonious promotion and business development, Moxian steadily drives local merchants and users to its marketing platform while simultaneously pushing that platform to the mainstream areas of the Internet. Moxian’s platform is specially designed to attract new users to subscribe to it and to entice current users to return frequently. How does the company do this? It employs social media to encourage regular interactions between merchants and consumers.

Once Moxian drives merchants and consumers to its platform, it monitors and tracks their activity. The data collected from its database of users’ activities is in turn offered to and used by merchants who wish to study consumer behavior on the platform. In offering this option, Moxian has built a social customer relation management tool that allows business owners to engage in precision marketing.

With the guidance of its experienced management team and a set of wide-ranging business strategies, Moxian seems ready to take advantage of the significant market opportunities presented by the online-to-offline sector in China. As a growing number of merchants adopt its platform, merchant fees will likely offer a major source of repeat revenue for the company, which is also poised to earn additional revenue from the sale of advertising on its platform. All in all, the company’s multiple revenue sources, operating performance and growth initiatives are positioning it to advance even further.

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

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In the relatively short eight years since Airbnb was founded, the San Francisco-based company has connected more than 60 million guests with over two million accommodation listings around the world. Today, Airbnb holds an enviable position as the bellwether of the community marketplace, underwritten by a $30 billion valuation that demonstrates the incredible investor and consumer appetite for the home-sharing market.

Airbnb recently filed a Form D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing an equity deal in which the company raised approximately $555 million. This is likely part of the ongoing $850 million Series F round, as reported by Equidate (http://dtn.fm/s3imF), and brings Airbnb’s total fundraising to more than $3 billion.

What this means for small-cap travel booking company Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI) is that the investment community knows there is plenty demand to go around. Not only has Monaker developed a one-of-a-kind booking engine for lodging options, its model includes travel and entertainment booking features that should be turning heads in the investment community.

According to a draft prospectus filed with the SEC (http://dtn.fm/ZDj1b), Monaker is accelerating its corporate action and has initiated the process seeking to uplist shares of its common stock to the NYSE Market.

Headquartered in Weston, Florida, Monaker Group is digging its heels into the alternative lodging market (vacation home rentals, resort residences and unused timeshare inventory). As evidenced by the diversity of Airbnb’s listings – which include castles and villas – this puts Monaker in exactly the right spot to cater to consumers looking beyond hotel rooms for economical and unique accommodations.

The company’s flagship brand is NextTrip.com, the first and only real-time booking engine that features alternative lodging, as well as a full selection of airlines, hotels, cruises, rental cars, tours and concierge services. While its model greatly differs from its competitors in this respect, NextTrip also offers the ability to book in real-time – which means no more waiting for home owners to respond – and employs a B2B solution for the larger Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and lodging bookers that until now have been unable to access inventory.

These features are offered in a single, easy-to-use platform that gives users access to vacation rental inventory in desirable locations in the U.S., the EU and the Caribbean.

In addition to its existing inventory, Monaker has roughly one million additional alternative lodging units under contract that are set to be added to its platform. In terms of available listings, the additional inventory should easily place NextTrip among the top three largest vacation rental inventories and rival industry peers – along with Airbnb and HomeAway.

Monaker is also tapping into business travel, and recently expanded its initial agreement with Recruiter.com to offer travel products and services to Recruiter’s list of more than three million customers, many of which are senior corporate executives. Monaker expects the deal to provide “meaningful exposure” to decision makers at roughly one million companies worldwide.

Demonstrated by Airbnb’s ability to raise billions of dollars and build confidence in a relatively young industry, the market is ripe and welcoming for Monaker and its ability to deliver innovations that add a new dynamic to the existing home-sharing model.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

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