Harvard Apparatus achieved considerable buzz this morning in announcing significant results from animal research on its second-generation bioengineered platform. Demonstrating clear evidence of complete esophageal tissue regeneration within two weeks, the study “far exceeded” company – and market, so it seems – expectations.

“We pursued these animal studies to test the design and technology enhancements we have made to our second generation technology and to prepare us for our upcoming studies with the Mayo Clinic. We are very encouraged by the results of these studies and by the significant advancements we have made across all three indications …,” HART CEO Jim McGorry said in today’s news release.

Company chief Medical Officer Saverio La Francesca, M.D. added to the sentiment, stating that “We believe that our second generation implant possesses all the necessary cues to elicit full regeneration of the esophagus. Importantly, our esophageal implant addresses a very significant need as a potentially life-saving treatment for patients with esophageal cancer. Each year in the U.S. approximately 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer are diagnosed, and more than 4,000 are addressed by surgery. Our results underscore the value and potential of our platform technology to treat these patients and pave the way for further studies and our regulatory pathway for human clinical trials.”

McGorry has been at his executive post for four months now, and moving forward will guide the company through expanded preclinical trials at the Mayo Clinic slated for December. HART plans to file an initial IND application with the USDA next year.

Today’s news boosted shares more than 115% in mid-day trading, a welcome increase considering the company earlier this week received a delisting notice from NASDAQ. The company’s stock is down 89% since the start of the year.

If that’s enough to pique your interest, join in on the company’s conference call at 5 p.m. ET today for a discussion of study results. Dial toll-free 877-407-8293, or international: 201-689-8349, and reference Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. You can also access the audio webcast at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=117087.

A replay will be available within approximately three hours from the end of the call through 11:59 pm ET on November 19, 2015, and will be accessible by dialing toll-free 877-660-6853, or toll/international 201-612-7415, and referencing conference ID “13624147.” The replay will also be made available at the web link above and on the company’s web site, www.harvardapparatusregen.com.

Moxian, a leader in online-to-offline platform, today announced that it has engaged corporate communications firm DreamTeamNetwork (“DTN”). Austin, Texas-based DTN has assisted more than 300 public companies fine tune their corporate communications strategies, which includes investor relations, public relations, and social media relations, as well as branding and marketing, video production and website development.

“We’re pleased to announce this strategic partnership with DreamTeamNetwork to help us deliver stronger communication channels to our shareholders and initiate greater exposure to potential investors who may not yet have Moxian on their radar,” says Moxian Chief Executive Officer James Mengdong Tan. “We have a great story to tell, and look forward to increasing our exposure without skipping a beat with our ongoing operations.”

DTN will leverage its family of unique brands, along with an extensive network of partners, daily and weekly newsletters, social media channels, blog and other outreach tools to further develop Moxian’s brand awareness and communications with shareholders.

“Moxian is an exciting company that we believe is positioned to capture significant market share as it increases exposure and streamlines communications with the broader investment community,” stated Michael McCarthy, Managing Director for DTN. “We look forward to working closely with Moxian’s senior management and staff to help the company achieve its corporate communications initiatives.”

For more information, visit http://ir.moxian.com/html-en/

The need to understand and use English increases each day across the globe. Lingo Media Corporation meets this demand by developing online and print technologies to help people learn the language. So far, the company established a strong relationship with China’s education system, helping 300 million students, and seeks to expand its reach to Latin America.

Lingo Media uses two business units, ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning, to teach English from kindergarten to adulthood. The first is a virtual software that provides contextual-based training, achievement tests, and interactive lessons to users. The other offers print educational texts that make teaching easier while offering 350 program titles that can suit any eager student.

For continued success, the company assures its scalability in the EdTech industry. The benefits of its electronically based coursework start with its real-time reporting and feedback of progress while dealing with the tedious parts of teaching so educators can focus on the important intellectual areas. For continued scalability, both Lingo Media’s programs can be accessed across many devices and therefore can be used across the world. Part of Lingo Media’s scalability is the assurance that software can run in any environment while adapting to all skill levels. Kindergartners and adults alike have benefited from these programs. The company also takes feedback from customers so that lessons are continuously updated to keep content relevant.

Lingo Media strives to develop its electronic learning resources while expanding its market. It believes that English can break down global barriers that may hinder development and business relationships. Both ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning provide educational tools that people of all ages can benefit. The company’s scalability factors into its goals of advancing education and expanding its brand.

For more information, please visit www.lingomedia.com

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GTX Corp., a leading provider of wearable monitoring and tracking solutions using GPS, Cellular and BLE technology, announces that it has engaged the investor relations services of QualityStocks. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, QualityStocks has assisted more than 300 public companies with their efforts to broaden influence, attract growth capital and improve shareholder value.

“Thus far, 2015 has been an incredible year for GTX. Entering into a partnership with QualityStocks greatly supplements our rapidly growing international exposure, which is driven by key distribution strategies and new product launches,” stated GTX Corp CEO Patrick Bertagna. “We look forward to finishing out the year with the same momentum, and accelerating our progress in the year ahead. As we continue to focus on our current strategic plan, we welcome the QualityStocks team to diligently communicate our progress to existing and potential shareholders.”

QualityStocks will leverage its network of partners, daily and weekly newsletters, social media channels, blog and other outreach tools to launch a comprehensive communications strategy to generate market visibility of GTX Corp and its cutting-edge innovations.

“Technology is constantly moving at warp speed, and GTX is among the visionary companies surging ahead of consumer demand with its proprietary global enterprise monitoring platform,” stated QualityStocks Managing Director Michael McCarthy. “We look forward to helping GTX Corp grow its communications efforts while demonstrating the company’s increasing potential in the rapidly growing wearable technology market.”

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com/

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Avant Diagnostics is a medical technology company at the forefront of driving an evolution in the screening of ovarian cancer. Its focus is centered on bringing to market innovative diagnostic tests based upon the completion of the human genome sequencing project. The company endeavors in developing a refined screening test for diagnosing ovarian cancer by way of OvaDx – the market’s first large-panel biomarker screening test for this deadly disease.

OvaDx® is considered to be an advanced diagnostic test that measures the activation of the immune system in response to ovarian tumor cell development. Patient sera are applied to OvaDx® microarrays which enable binding between proteomic biomarkers in the patient samples and capture agents on the microarrays. The microarrays are washed and scanned to produce a digital readout for each serum sample, and the data are quantified and analyzed in software to generate the test results.

Medical findings in genetic research offer extensive opportunities for impacting both the diagnosis and treatment of critical diseases. It focusses on identifying variations in specific genes in the genome, variations which reveal individual characteristics, including the state of the disease or its statistical characteristics. Tests of this nature that detect diseases at early stages in their progression and thus offer different options for earlier treatments resulting in better outcomes for the patient. As an additional result, medical providers benefit by way of significant cost savings by avoiding costly treatments traditionally reserved for cancer in its later stages.

ADVX’s discovery path is a result of a decade of genetic and physiological research. The company concentrates on capitalizing on the human immune system for early detection. The result, OvaDx, delivers a large panel of refined markers for high sensitivity. The company’s OvaDx markers and kits are proprietary, include patented manufacturing technology, and an exclusive, worldwide license. Upon FDA 510(k) clearance, Avant intends to sell or license OvaDx®. Avant intends to utilize its public company stage to expand its portfolio of diagnostic tests in the future.

For more information on the company, visit www.avantdiagnostics.com

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A report out last month from 30-year plus veteran energy, telecom, security and advanced computer tech analysis/forecasting firm, Winter Green Research, indicates that the solid-state thin film battery market is set to grow 44 percent from last year’s $9 million market by 2021, when it will hit $1.3 billion. Key applications in emergent technologies, as well as continuously evolving areas such as power bridging, permanent power and wireless sensor networks, are among the chief growth drivers cited by the report. Also noted was the fact that vendors recently trounced Q1 performance handily, with two-fold revenue growth and a trebling of unit output. The uninterruptable, standalone efficacy of these millimeters-thick, high energy density battery systems has really caught on across all target markets, and the industry has matured to a point where the focus has shifted from growth to manufacturing efficiencies and profit margins.

This is where a lithium-ion battery developer, manufacturer and marketer like Oakridge Global Energy Solutions can really shine, expanding into a complementary product space which reinforces the company’s already strong footing. Solid-state thin film is an attractive addition to the company’s lineup as OGES continues working towards its goal of building a truly industrial scale lithium-ion systems platform, one which spans both core technologies and form factors. Oakridge Global Energy Solutions already has an impressive lineup being churned out, covering such markets as NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle) and golf carts, stationary and grid storage applications, consumer and military ROVs (remotely operated vehicle), and the starter motor battery market.

Solid-State Thin Film Battery Market Has Ripened

According to OGES the solid-state thin film battery market is now finally ripe for some serious momentum, with a vast array of technologically sophisticated products coming into existence, or ready to come into existence commercially with the assistance of these wafer-thin powerhouses, some of which can last for years without the need for recharging. Steady power to a given device from a flexible form factor allows for incorporation into wearables like smart clothing and the creation of a range of products featuring smart surfaces or embedded sensors, even ones you might not consider right away, such as automotive tires. The military market is quite interesting here as well, with the emergence of smart combat gear and wearables for the battlespace, as well as smart furniture on infantry armaments becoming easier and easier to implement.

At any rate, after the much ballyhooed expansion of Oakridge’s impressive new 68,718 square foot facility in Central Florida, personally attended by Governor Rick Scott, news out of OGES is that the company will likely already be out of pre-production prototyping early next year on is solid-state thin film model. The company wants to be making and shipping these high-tech American made beauties from another brand new facility sometime starting in late 2016. Executive Chairman and CEO of OGES, Steve Barber, said the company would harness all of its in-house expertise, as well as the local bounty of talent contained in Florida’s neighboring Space Coast region, in order to get a separate facility tooled with the requisite capabilities needed to manufacture these “game-changing” new batteries. This market is ripe for the picking too, with only a handful of companies such as STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) (OTC: STMEF) really at the forefront of the space. Products such as STM’s 220 µm EnFilm™, a rechargeable, solid-state unit with a fast constant-voltage recharge, as well as a 10-year (4000 cycle) lifespan, really shows what is possible in this market through creative engineering.

Oakridge Already Is Where Experts Say Tesla Should Be Focused

A recent article in The Washington Post on Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) argued that Tesla would be better off as a battery arms dealer in a world rapidly migrating towards electric vehicles and touted the explosion of the Chinese low-speed electric vehicle (LSEV) market over the last several years. Tesla sales are still dwarfed by traditional auto manufacturers, with the top slot still in the EV market currently still held by the Nissan (OTC: NSANY) Leaf at 12 percent market share. Nearly ten times the number of highly versatile low-speed electric cars were sold in China during 2013 than Tesla sold that year worldwide, with the epicenter of activity being Shandong Province, which has around 100 million people, packed into bustling cities like Linyi (population over 10 million). The low price point of LSEVs, which are effectively more powerful versions of golf carts, could help the vehicle class develop into a substantial market in the U.S. as well, especially in higher population density cities such as Los Angeles.

Tesla is coming at the EV market from the luxury auto end of things and trying to work high margin items to get its footing, but this has been a difficult and harrowing endeavor to say the least. The easy street some would argue, is servicing burgeoning demand for batteries to power all these electric vehicles. This is a big opportunity for a domestic manufacturer like OGES, which already has the appropriate tack worked out and is primed for growth with cutting-edge products like those from its Pro Series of maintenance-free rechargeable 40 Ah, 60 Ah, 100 Ah, and 160 Ah batteries, which have been designed specifically for the golf cart/NEV market. Equipped with a smart charging system that allows the user to retain their existing charger, Pro Series lithium-ion batteries are good for over 2,000 cycles, can go up to 60 miles on a single charge, work with any golf cart, and have a software UI driven by an Android app.

Harvard Business Review made the case quite succinctly in its May 2015 issue, arguing that Tesla is not as disruptive as one might think, because the company’s entire business model focuses on starting at the high end of the EV market, with $100,000 plus luxury vehicles. Tesla is aiming to have a $35,000 vehicle out sometime in 2017 aimed squarely at the mass consumer market, but the big automakers could shift to electric more quickly than Tesla can ramp up vehicle production capacity. OGES can step in here and be one of a handful of companies filling the gap, providing the kinds of diverse battery solutions needed at all levels of the EV space.

Learn more about Oakridge Global Energy Solutions by visiting http://www.oakg.net

GTX Corp, a leading provider of wearable monitoring and tracking solutions using GPS, Cellular and BLE technology, announced that it has engaged the investor relations services of QualityStocks. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, QualityStocks has assisted more than 300 public companies with their efforts to broaden influence, attract growth capital and improve shareholder value.

“Thus far, 2015 has been an incredible year for GTX. Entering into a partnership with QualityStocks greatly supplements our rapidly growing international exposure, which is driven by key distribution strategies and new product launches,” stated GTX Corp CEO Patrick Bertagna. “We look forward to finishing out the year with the same momentum, and accelerating our progress in the year ahead. As we continue to focus on our current strategic plan, we welcome the QualityStocks team to diligently communicate our progress to existing and potential shareholders.”

QualityStocks will leverage its network of partners, daily and weekly newsletters, social media channels, blog and other outreach tools to launch a comprehensive communications strategy to generate market visibility of GTX Corp and its cutting-edge innovations.

“Technology is constantly moving at warp speed, and GTX is among the visionary companies surging ahead of consumer demand with its proprietary global enterprise monitoring platform,” stated QualityStocks Managing Director Michael McCarthy. “We look forward to helping GTX Corp grow its communications efforts while demonstrating the company’s increasing potential in the rapidly growing wearable technology market.”

For more information, visit www.gtxcorp.com/

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With the 2015-2016 National Pet Owners Survey now out from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), we see a healthy climb in pet ownership has taken place during the past two decades, with penetration rising to nearly 65 percent. That’s some 80 million households, over 10 percent of whom are first-time pet owners. Moreover, the majority of those new pet owners are aged 18 to 50 (Millennial and Gen X) and they apparently like to spend more on their pets – whether it’s on gadgets, toys and gifts, or things like trips to the vet. This data represents a primary force vector that is fueling what was seen as a $73 billion pet products and services market last year, according to experts at market research firm Packaged Facts.

Given that the APPA data indicates U.S. households collectively own nearly 86 million cats and 78 million dogs, with a reported annual spend of around $28 and $47 respectively on toys, we have toy markets worth somewhere in the ballpark of $2.4 billion for cats and $3.7 billion for dogs. The comparatively more conservative APPA boil-down from diverse industry sources estimates that some $61 billion will be spent on pets this year in the U.S. and one of the major driving factors continues to be the growing body of scientific data that shows pet ownership is good for human health. In fact, 64 percent of respondents in the APPA data indicated health benefits from pet ownership were important to them.

According to data from the APPA report and non-profit research and education organization HABRI (Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative), there is a growing number of studies detailing the health benefits to humans of the human-animal bond. In fact, 97 percent of the 1,000 doctors polled were convinced that there are valuable health benefits to pet ownership and would recommend it to patients. One of the classic examples here is the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Research Center study that tracked over 4,400 Americans aged 30 to 75 over a decade, finding significantly lower risk of heart attack (40%) and heart disease (30%) among those who owned and played with a cat routinely. Stress relief is just the tip of the iceberg of course and the health benefits of pet ownership range from enhancing social interaction skills (particularly among children with autism and elderly folks with dementia), to boosting immune function.

One leading theory about a big part of the reason the human-animal bond is so good for us, is that playing with pets taps into countless centuries of evolved biochemistry from associating with animals in this way, stimulating our body to (among other things) release oxytocin, a powerful hormone made by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus actually links the endocrine system to the central nervous system via the pituitary gland where oxytocin is stored, and is the center of the limbic system, or paleomammalian brain, the seat of emotional life and a core driver of memory formation.

In much the same way that we humans are wired to play with pets and enjoy it, cats and dogs are similarly adapted on a cellular level to benefit from playing with us. But deep down inside, the undomesticated wild animal still lives on in our pets, and that is one major reason why OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO) took home the New Product Showcase Award in the Cat Product Category at this year’s massive SuperZoo industry trade show for retailers organized by the World Pet Association. The company was awash in accolades as its new Catty Whack® hide and seek action game for cats wowed those in attendance. The Catty Whack taps into a feline’s deep-seated need to hunt for prey, brilliantly simulating what is appropriate to the cats natural instincts with a quick little feather wand that darts in and out of a number of holes around the perimeter of the small, circular floor device. This randomized darting is accompanied by timed bursts of audio from the company’s patented electronic RealMouse® sound, resulting in a captivating experience for cats that is also highly entertaining to watch.

With non-skid rubber feet and a carpeted scratching area for cats to get out their punchiness on, the Catty Whack elegantly showcases OPCO’s grasp of both design and animal psychology, marking the latest and greatest in a long string of superb concept executions. Sales are improving for OPCO as conversion to the Pet Zone brand nears completion around the end of the year and the company anticipates a very robust holiday season for its numerous offerings, which are sold nationwide at leading retailers, as well as at etailers like Amazon.com. From high-quality stainless steel bowls with bonded rubber bottoms and elevated feeder stands like the Designer Diner™ and Barking Bistro™, to a full line of litter boxes ranging up to its self-cleaning SmartScoop Automatic Litter Box, OPCO is really the only compelling pure play designer in this market that investors have access to.

With a strong mind to developing tight IP around its mounting portfolio of toys, as well as feeding and waste management solutions, OPCO is looking to take its established ability to innovate and capture market share through compellingly higher value products, and grow the company towards an ever-larger retail presence. An IP book with over 160 individual patents is quite an arsenal for OPCO to have at its command along this journey and this same IP position also forms a highly effective defensive emplacement for the business model against product encroachment by competitors in the retail space.

Record Q3 net revenues reported in November of around $6 million, and net income ($410,450) that was up 428 percent year-over-year, underscore OPCO’s robust sales growth, driven in large part by its cat toys and bowls/feeder lines. The company’s shrewd defense of its core IP is evident from the recent Loving Pets Corporation patent infringement settlement in October (529 utility patent, covering feeding dish with rubber on bottom that does not extend up the sidewall) and the company actually reported nearly $15,000 in other income during Q3, a figure which more than doubled year-over-year on the strength of patent infringement settlements.

Helmed by Dr. Steven Tsengas, a Fellow at the Ohio Academy of Science, as well as the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the American Society of Patent Holders, OurPet’s Company has the visionary muscle to continue to capture market share on the strength of its innovation and design. Dr. Tsengas is a technical savant and serial entrepreneur with over 75 utility and design patents under his belt, as well as the personal founding of over half a dozen successful high tech and consumer product companies since 1976, and he has even helped provide financial and managerial overwatch for several other start-ups besides. The entire OPCO team measures up to the captain of the ship and the latest word out of OPCO is that the company anticipates launching a few new trend-setting products over the next several quarters. Investors should keep an eye out for new product announcements and familiarize themselves with the product lineup to get a better sense of the company’s position.

Take a closer look, visit http://www.ourpets.com

A first of its kind recreational dining experience, Giggles N’ Hugs plans uniquely designed parties for young children so parents don’t have to. Children can expect continuous fun within the 6,000 square foot restaurant and play space while their parents can expect affordable prices. The award-winning professional staff handles everything from set-up, cleanup, and the excitement filled hours in between. It’s no wonder Nickelodeon declared Giggles N’ Hugs Los Angeles’ #1 Birthday Party destination.

Party-seeking parents are able to fully customize their child’s party with just a few clicks on the restaurant’s website. They first choose whether they want a VIP Private, Private, or Semi Private Party, each with its own bells and whistles. Next, parents can decide on a party package which ranges from a King and Queen option right down to Count and Countess. These designate what deliciously organic food and activities guests can enjoy. After that, parents and children can decide upon a fun theme. These can be completely made up or chosen from the wide assortment of themes already covered.

Giggles N’ Hugs even offers those extra options that could make a party even more special. Parents can add a photo booth, popcorn or cotton candy machines, and even beverages for adults. They can also choose to have a party DJ, petting zoo, or magic show. Then, parents just fill in the ‘when and where’ and they’re all set for a fantastic party. Lastly, the restaurant even offers electronic invitations to be sent out to lucky guests.

To ensure customer retention, the restaurant offers incentives which each party booking. Parents who book a semi private party receive a $50 gift card while a private party gets them $100. The birthday boy or girl will also receive a free membership card so they can keep coming back for more fun.

Giggles N’ Hugs makes it easy for parents to book an enjoyable day for their children without any hassles. By offering a unique experience for each child with future opportunities for more play days, the company hopes families will continue using the restaurant for all their playtime needs.

For more information on Giggles N’ Hugs, please visit www.gigglesnhugs.com

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The telecommunications market can be a confusing, acronym-filled place for the uninitiated. First, there are mobile network operators (MNOs), or wireless service providers. These companies own or control all of the necessary elements to sell and deliver cell phone services to customers. In the United States, major MNOs include Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ), AT&T (NYSE: T), T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) and Sprint (NYSE: S). In addition to offering services directly to consumers, MNOs normally obtain additional revenue by selling access to their network services to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) at wholesale rates. For consumers, MVNOs provide similar services to those offered by MNOs, but these companies are different because they don’t own their own wireless network infrastructure.

In some cases, MVNOs use their own customer service, billing support systems and marketing and sales personnel, but the upfront capital needed to fund these investments is often too much for newly formed wireless service providers. In order to cut initial costs, MVNOs can employ the services of a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE). MVNEs provide a full range of network enablement platforms and services to MVNOs without having any direct relationship with the consumer. Benefits for MVNOs include a dramatic reduction in upfront capital expenses and potential savings in wholesale airtime costs resulting from bulk purchase discounts enabled by larger MVNEs.

Elephant Talk Communications Corp. (NYSE MKT: ETAK) is a leading provider of mobile networking software and services following an MVNE model. The company provides a patented cloud-based mobile communications infrastructure, operating software and managed services while enabling MVNOs to offer a full suite of products and high quality customer service without substantial upfront investment.

ETAK already counts several of the world’s leading MNOs and technology firms amongst its customers and partners, but the company took a significant step toward increasing its market share in October when it entered into a cloud service and software license agreement with the wholesale division of a tier one U.S. mobile operator. Following this agreement, the tier one MNO may procure ETAK’s proprietary MVNE services platform for use in the launch of a number of new MVNO brands at a later date.

The costs associated with developing a nationwide communications network are astronomical, so the best entry point for upstart telecommunications firms utilizes the MVNO model. As an established provider of MVNE services with a proven mobile service platform, ETAK is in a strong position to benefit from continued market expansion for the foreseeable future.

For more information, visit www.elephanttalk.com