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  • DLA Piper advises SAI360, a portfolio company of STG Partners, on German market expansion entering the German market through lawcode acquisition

    DLA Piper has advised SAI360, a US-based global leader in integrated risk management, legal technology and compliance solutions, on the acquisition of lawcode, a leading German software provider. The transaction marks SAI360’s expansion into Germany and will serve as the strategic foundation for its growth into the German compliance market as well as revolutionizing the US market for digital whistleblower systems.

    Lawcode’s acquisition will allow SAI360 to establish a long-term presence in Germany and drive strategic growth. Through the acquisition, SAI360 particularly gains access to the Hintbox platform, a whistleblower system established in the DACH region that complies with highest data protection standards. SAI360 aims to bring this modern European technology to the US market to replace outdated systems. Furthermore, the transaction is a significant step in strengthening SAI360’s market position in other ethics and compliance related technology offerings in the United States and internationally.

    SAI360 is a leading business in the US providing AI-enhanced compliance and LegalTech solutions and is recognised as a provider of best-in-class Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) technology. As a portfolio company of STG Partners, a US-based private equity firm headquartered in Palo Alto, California, specialising in investments in technology-driven companies, SAI360’s clientele includes businesses operating in regulated industries worldwide.

    Lawcode based in Frankfurt am Main, is the developer of the Hintbox platform and a provider of various compliance and legal tech software solutions including digital whistleblower systems. The company is one of the leading providers in the DACH region for implementing the EU Whistleblower Directive.

    The DLA Piper team was led by Partner Dr Moritz von Hesberg (Corporate, Hamburg) and Associate Melanie Bierwirth (Corporate, Hamburg).

    The wider team included Partners Verena Grentzenberg (Intellectual Property and Technology, Hamburg), Dr Justus Herrlinger (Litigation and Regulatory, Hamburg), Dr Konrad Rohde (Tax, Frankfurt), Dr Nico Brunotte (Intellectual Property and Technology, Hamburg), Counsel Sven Bischoff (Tax, Frankfurt), Nils Grunicke (Employment, Hamburg), Senior Associates Philipp Nikolaus Adelberg (Intellectual Property and Technology, Hamburg), Hazel Franke, Nina Oldehaver (both Employment, Hamburg), Louisa Arlette Maier-Witt (Litigation & Regulatory, Hamburg), and Associates Jerome Bieler (Corporate, Hamburg), Jonas Riesenkampff (Intellectual Property and Technology, Hamburg). Also, significant due diligence and project management support was provided by the firm’s newly established Legal Delivery Center, which played a key role in the efficient execution of the transaction.

    GÖRG acted as legal advisor to lawcode.

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  • New Tool Predicts Pediatric Agitation Risk in the ED

    New Tool Predicts Pediatric Agitation Risk in the ED

    TOPLINE:

    In a study of pediatric mental and behavioral health (MBH)-related encounters in the emergency department (ED), the 14-item Brief Rating of Aggression by Children and Adolescents (BRACHA) tool as well as its shortened 5-item version (BRACHA-S) showed strong predictive ability for pediatric agitation that required intervention.

    METHODOLOGY:

    • This retrospective cohort study included records of patients aged 5-18 years who were evaluated for MBH concerns in the ED from 2012 to 2020 and who completed a BRACHA assessment.
    • A total of 32,906 MBH-related ED visits were analyzed.
    • The primary outcome was agitation requiring intervention, defined as episodes requiring physical or pharmacologic management.
    • Predictive accuracy was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression was used to develop BRACHA-S.
    • BRACHA-S scores were used for risk stratification of visits into low-risk (scores 0-1), moderate-risk (scores 2-3), and high-risk (scores 4-5) tiers.

    TAKEAWAY:

    • About 10.7% of visits involved patients with agitation requiring intervention.
    • BRACHA could strongly predict agitation requiring intervention (AUROC, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.79-0.82). BRACHA-S demonstrated similar predictive accuracy (AUROC, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.78-0.81).
    • Compared with the low-risk tier, the moderate-risk and high-risk tiers showed risk ratios for agitation requiring intervention of 6 and 14, respectively.

    IN PRACTICE:

    “This study adds evidence on the accuracy of both the original 14-item Brief Rating of Aggression by Children and Adolescents and the novel 5-item item Brief Rating of Aggression by Children and Adolescents, shortened version, in predicting agitation requiring intervention in the ED,” the authors wrote. “Implementing these tools for early risk assessment may enhance patient safety and optimize resource allocation in emergency settings,” they added.

    SOURCE:

    The study was led by Bijan Ketabchi, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, and Lynn Babcock, MD, MS, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati. It was published online on June 11, 2025, in Pediatrics.

    LIMITATIONS:

    The study’s reliance on retrospective electronic health record data meant its findings might have been influenced by limitations in documentation quality and completeness. The absence of a structured agitation assessment prevented the evaluation of agitation severity, and variations in healthcare providers’ perceptions may have introduced bias in determining intervention needs. Being limited to a single regional pediatric referral center may have restricted the generalizability of the findings. Some patients may have required intervention before BRACHA assessment, potentially affecting its predictive value.

    DISCLOSURES:

    This study was funded by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training at the University of Cincinnati provided services, including the REDCap database, through a National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

    This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

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  • Double top for Mini with Nissan driver fastest on Rookie Test afternoon

    Double top for Mini with Nissan driver fastest on Rookie Test afternoon

    The Nissan driver’s 57.428s lap was a couple of tenth’s quicker than he’d gone in the morning.

    RESULTS: The full classification from the 2025 Berlin Rookie Test

    All 22 drivers were split by just 1.5 seconds on a super competitive afternoon – as teams put the rookies through their paces with stacked development programmes. As in the morning’s running, more than 1,000 laps were clocked up between them.

    DTM star Ayhancan Guven followed in second spot – the Porsche driver 0.226 seconds back on his maiden outing with the German giants.

    Kush Maini produced a time quick enough for another top three berth with Brit Callum Voisin fourth for CUPRA KIRO.

    NEOM McLaren’s Alex Dunne wound up fifth quickest, following up a maiden Free Practice outing for the McLaren Formula 1 Team in Austria. Jak Crawford rounded out the top six for Andretti.

    Find out more

    CALENDAR: Sync the dates and don’t miss a lap of Season 11

    WATCH: Find out where to watch every Formula E race via stream or on TV in your country

    TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets

    SCHEDULE: Here’s every race of the 2024/25 Formula E season

    HIGHLIGHTS: Catch up with every race from all 10 seasons of Formula E IN FULL

    PREDICTOR: Get involved, predict race results and win exclusive prizes

    HOSPITALITY: Experience Formula E and world class motorsport as a VIP

    FOLLOW: Download the Formula E App on iOS or Android

     

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  • Rory McIlroy ditches sleep for some early Open practice

    Rory McIlroy ditches sleep for some early Open practice

    PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Twelve hours after Rory McIlroy wrapped up a second-place finish at the Scottish Open near Edinburgh, the five-time major winner walked up to the first tee at Royal Portrush around 7 a.m. local time, on four hours of sleep, and began his first practice round in advance of this year’s Open Championship.

    Fans were still trickling onto the grounds and no other player was within sight as McIlroy plotted his way around a golf course where he still owns the course record — a 61 when he was just 16 years old. By the time he made the turn on the back nine, the crowd had grown and was filled with people looking to witness McIlroy’s return home, this time as a Grand Slam champion.

    “The fact that I’m here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way and enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them,” said McIlroy. “But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I’m very capable of doing that.”

    The last time the Open Championship came to Portrush in 2019, McIlroy said he was unprepared for what kind of emotional experience it would be. After getting an ovation on the first tee, McIlroy hit his tee shot out of bounds and made an 8. He would go on to miss the cut. This week, McIlroy says, he is taking a slightly different approach.

    “I think in ’19, I probably tried to isolate,” said McIlroy. “And I think it’s better for everyone if I embrace it.”

    On Monday, after striking a 3-iron off the 18th tee, hitting his approach on the green and sinking in a birdie putt that elicited a decent-sized cheer from the gallery, McIlroy spent ample time signing memorabilia for the local fans in attendance. He signed countless yellow pin flags and hats, but also a giant Northern Ireland flag that featured all four major championships and said “Rory Legend” on it. One kid even held out a green suit jacket in a far different shade of green than the Masters one that McIlroy signed too.

    “It’s nice to be able to accept adulation, even though I struggle with it at times,” McIlroy said. “But it’s also nice for the person that is seeing you for the first time in a few years. It just makes for a better interaction and not trying to hide away from it.”

    It helps, too, that McIlroy is playing his best golf since that historic Masters victory in April. In his last two starts, McIlroy has finished T-6 at the Travelers Championship and T-2 last week.

    “A bit of a change of scenery has been really nice,” McIlroy said. “I’m excited with where my game is. I felt like I showed some really good signs last week. I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

    Portrush’s demands this week — be it by way of wind, rain or simply the course’s sheer difficulty — will be steep, but McIlroy says he is in a much better headspace to take on the challenge. After playing well below his level at the PGA Championship and having a slow start at the U.S. Open, McIlroy himself admitted he was struggling with motivation following the long-awaited Masters win. This Open at home, however, needs no extra motivation.

    “When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was circled, even more so than the Masters,” he said. “I’ve done something that I’ve told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it’s like I still feel like I have a lot more to give … I still feel like there’s a lot left in there. The story certainly isn’t over.”

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  • Princeton University

    Princeton University

    PRINCETON, N.J. – Peyton Leigh of the Princeton University women’s track & field/cross country team was selected to represent New Zealand at the World University Games in Bochum, Germany, in July.

    Leigh will be racing in the 5,000 meters. Track and field takes place from July 21-27 at the Lohrheidestadion.

    She’ll aim to carry the momentum over from a strong sophomore season at Princeton, where she finished sixth in the 5,000 at Outdoor Heps and was part of the team that won the 4×800 at Indoor Heps. Leigh also earned a sixth-place finish in the 800 at Indoor Heps. During the cross country season, Leigh advanced to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships and finished 26th.

    Schedule

    July 26

    3:30 a.m. ET – 5,000 meters round one

    11:25 a.m. ET – 5,000 meters final

     

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  • The Apple Watch Series 10 is still on sale for a record low price

    The Apple Watch Series 10 is still on sale for a record low price

    is officially over after a record-long affair, but there are still standout deals available. You can currently snag the , or $120 off its usual retail price. That’s tied for the lowest price we’ve ever seen. A deal offering 30 percent off a current-generation Apple product doesn’t come around often. The cellular version is also $120 off during this sale.

    It’s hard to believe the Apple Watch has hit its tenth generation, but this latest model remains our among smartwatches. In our , we loved the comprehensive health and fitness tracking features available on the Apple Watch 10.

    Apple

    The Apple Watch Series 10 was our best overall pick among smartwatches, and it’s still $120 off.

    $279 at Amazon

    The ECG monitoring, fall detection and sleep tracking are particularly helpful in offering a fuller picture of your health, as well as peace of mind for our older loved ones. While we miss the blood oxygen monitoring app that , the Series 10 impressed us as the sleekest Apple Watch yet. Thanks to its thinner case, the Apple Watch is finally starting to feel and look more like a normal accessory on your wrist than a somewhat bulky tech gadget. Overall, we gave the Apple Watch 10 earned a review score of 90 out of 100.

    If you’re in the market for a new Apple Watch but are interested in a lower price point, you might consider the second-generation . This more affordable model is currently discounted to $169, saving you over 30 percent from its retail price of $249. While it lacks some of the more advanced functionality found in the Series 10, it still provides great core features like fitness and sleep tracking, crash detection, heart rate monitoring and an excellent Retina display.

    Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.


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  • LVMH brand rapped for worker exploitation

    LVMH brand rapped for worker exploitation

    MILAN – LVMH brand Loro Piana has become the latest luxury fashion house to be placed under court administration over worker exploitation in its Italian supply chain.

    A court in Milan put the cashmere brand under judicial administration for subcontracting production of apparel, including jackets, to the Chinese-owned Evergreen Fashion Group which allegedly exploited workers.

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  • Gene Delivery Advances: Polymers Boost Non-Viral Therapies

    Gene Delivery Advances: Polymers Boost Non-Viral Therapies

    Gene therapy has emerged as a revolutionary approach to treating genetic disorders by directly addressing underlying genetic abnormalities. However, the success of gene therapy hinges on the efficient and safe delivery of therapeutic genes to target cells. Traditional viral vectors, despite their high transfection efficiency, face limitations such as immunogenicity, limited cargo capacity, and risks of insertional mutagenesis. Non-viral gene delivery systems, particularly those based on macromolecular carriers, have gained prominence as safer and more versatile alternatives. This review explores the advancements in synthetic and natural polymer-based gene delivery systems, highlighting their design, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential.

    Role of Macromolecules in Gene Delivery Systems

    Macromolecular carriers, including synthetic and natural polymers, offer significant advantages such as biocompatibility, controlled gene release, and targeted delivery. These systems are categorized into various types, such as cationic polymers, dendrimers, and hybrid nanomaterials, each with unique physicochemical properties that influence their gene delivery efficiency. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral systems exhibit lower immunogenicity and greater design flexibility, making them suitable for diverse therapeutic applications.

    Targeting Strategies of Macromolecules for Non-viral Gene Therapy

    Functional polymers can be engineered with targeting ligands or stimuli-responsive elements to enhance specificity and efficiency. Natural polymers like chitosan, hyaluronic acid (HA), and dextran are particularly notable for their biodegradability and low toxicity. For example, chitosan’s pH-sensitive behavior and mucoadhesive properties make it ideal for oral and nasal delivery, while HA’s affinity for CD44 receptors enables tumor-specific targeting. Synthetic polymers, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(L-lysine) (PLL), are widely used for their strong nucleic acid binding and endosomal escape capabilities but often require modifications to reduce cytotoxicity.

    Cationic Polymers

    Cationic polymers, including PEI, PLL, and poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs), play a crucial role in gene delivery by forming stable polyplexes with nucleic acids. PEI’s high charge density facilitates efficient transfection, but its cytotoxicity necessitates modifications like PEGylation. PBAEs, known for their biodegradability and pH-responsive properties, have shown promise in delivering plasmid DNA and RNA molecules with minimal toxicity. Dendritic polymers, such as poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, offer precise structures and high transfection efficiency but require optimization to balance efficacy and safety.

    Conjugation-Based and Star Polymers

    Conjugation-based systems, like polyplex micelles, integrate hydrophobic cores and PEG shells to improve circulation time and targeting. Star polymers, with their branched architectures, exhibit high gene-loading capacity and enhanced cellular uptake. For instance, star-shaped PEI-g-PEG polymers have demonstrated reduced toxicity and improved transfection efficiency in retinoblastoma therapy.

    Comb and Brush Polymers

    Comb polymers, with their hydrophobic backbones and oligolysine side chains, provide efficient gene transport and protection. Brush polymers, particularly those with PEG-based structures, enhance nuclease stability and cellular uptake, making them suitable for siRNA delivery. These architectures highlight the importance of polymer design in achieving optimal gene delivery outcomes.

    Limitations and Future Perspectives

    Despite their potential, polymer-based gene delivery systems face challenges such as lower transfection efficiency compared to viral vectors, cytotoxicity, and batch-to-batch variability. Future research aims to develop “smart” polymers that respond to cellular stimuli, integrate multifunctional components for targeted delivery, and leverage natural polymers for improved biocompatibility. Advances in nanotechnology and hybrid systems are expected to overcome physiological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, further expanding therapeutic applications.

    Conclusions

    Macromolecular gene delivery systems represent a promising frontier in non-viral gene therapy, offering a balance of safety, versatility, and efficacy. By addressing current limitations through innovative polymer design and targeted strategies, these systems hold the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic disorders and complex diseases like cancer. Continued research and preclinical studies will be essential to translate these advancements into clinical practice.

    Full text

    https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2572-5505/JERP-2025-00009

    The study was recently published in the Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology .

    Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (JERP) publishes original innovative exploratory research articles, state-of-the-art reviews, editorials, short communications that focus on novel findings and the most recent advances in basic and clinical pharmacology, covering topics from drug research, drug development, clinical trials and application.

    /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

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  • Uncovering The Rock Record Of Earth’s Earliest Continental Crust – astrobiology.com

    1. Uncovering The Rock Record Of Earth’s Earliest Continental Crust  astrobiology.com
    2. Geologists Decode Earth’s 4.4-Billion-Year-Old “Missing” Crust  SciTechDaily
    3. Are these the oldest rocks on Earth? A new study says so  MSN
    4. Neither meteorites nor volcanoes – this find at Nuvvuagittuq reveals what the Earth was like in its first 400 million years  Blanquivioletas
    5. These Canadian rocks may be the oldest on Earth  keysnews.com

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  • Hermann’s debut heroics lead South Africa to T20 victory over Zimbabwe

    Hermann’s debut heroics lead South Africa to T20 victory over Zimbabwe

    HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — South African batter Rubin Hermann made an impressive T20 debut and led Proteas to a five-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the opening game of the tri-series on Monday.

    The 28-year-old Herman top-scored with 45 off 37 balls and made up for the top-order collapse before South Africa cruised to 142-5 in 15.5 overs in its first T20 this year.

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    Dewald Brevis smashed five sixes in his belligerent 41 off just 17 balls in a strong Proteas chase.

    Zimbabwe was earlier limited to 141-6, despite an unbeaten 54 from its skipper Sikandar Raza, with George Linde picking up 3-10 after South Africa captain Rassie van der Dussen won the toss and elected to field.

    Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi (1-15) and Nandre Burger (1-22), returning after almost 10-month absence from lower-back stress fracture, bowled well upfront before Raza and Ryan Burl (29) provided the acceleration for Zimbabwe in the second half of the innings.

    South Africa will take on New Zealand in the second game of the tri-series on Wednesday.

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    Hermann and Brevis control the chase

    Tall fast bowler Richard Ngarava (3-35) struck twice inside the powerplay when another debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius offered a return catch off the first legitimate ball in Proteas’ chase and Reeza Hendricks’ middle stump was knocked over when he tried to go for an ambitious drive and got a big inside edge.

    Captain van der Dussen struck two sixes, but was caught at mid-on off fast bowler Trevor Gwandu (2-15) as South Africa slipped to 3-38 in the sixth over.

    But Herman and Brevis steadied the chase with 72-run stand as Brevis smashed Burl for 25 runs in one over that featured three sixes and a boundary. Brevis fell in the 12th over when he tried to hit Gwandu inside out over extra cover and sliced a catch to Bennett. Ngarava flattened Hermann’s off-stump off a ball that kept a bit low with only 12 needed for victory.

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    Pace and spin pin down Zimbabwe

    Fast bowlers Ngidi and Burger didn’t allow Zimbabwe batters to score freely in the first half and Brian Bennett’s (30) patience also ran out as he holed out to deep mid-wicket when he tried to push the acceleration against Linde in the 11th over.

    Raza and Burl tried to up the ante in the death overs but Burl was caught by Hermann at long off in the 18th over after scoring 29 off 20 balls.

    Linde picked up two wickets of successive balls in the final over before Wellington Masakadza avoided the hat-trick ball, but left-arm spinner Linde finished off well without conceding a boundary off his three overs.

    ___

    AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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