Latest news with #AMS
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Project Parivartan to reduce hospital acquired infections: Health min
Panaji: A four-year project named Project Parivartan, aiming to reduce hospital-acquired infections and curb antimicrobial resistance, is being implemented in all 41 public health facilities, health minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday. He held a detailed review meeting with representatives of Pfizer India, Americares India Foundation, the GMC dean, the director of DHS, and other senior representatives to assess the progress of the project. The strategically designed intervention to address the growing threat of AMR and hospital-acquired infections is being implemented by GMC and the directorate of health services in partnership with Americares India Foundation and supported by Pfizer's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. 'Project Parivartan will help drive safer healthcare practices, improving patient outcomes and public health,' Rane said. The project was launched on Nov 27 last year, and a team of 19 professionals were trained. Stakeholder engagement meetings were held with officials from GMC, DHS, and the hospital infection prevention and control committee at GMC. Ethical approvals were granted by the state ethical committee and the institutional ethical committee of GMC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bergisch Gladbach: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung GEERS Undo Baseline assessments were initiated in health facilities under the directorate of health services and are expected to be undertaken in GMC soon. Project Parivartan is constructing a robust statewide framework for antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention control, with its core mission to reduce hospital-acquired infections and ensure the responsible and judicious use of antibiotics within Goa's healthcare system. It is also conducting baseline assessments to understand the current AMR situation in Goa and establishing surveillance tools to monitor trends in antibiotic resistance. Under the project, specialised training programmes are being delivered for healthcare professionals on AMS and IPC. The project is also looking at enhancing the capacity of medical teams to create a safer healthcare environment and promote rational antibiotic prescribing. The WHO recognised AMR as one of the top global public health and development threats. The Union govt implemented measures to curb AMR, establishing a national task force in 2010 and developing a national policy on AMR containment in 2011, followed by a national action plan on AMR (2017-2021). State govt has aligned both with India's national action plan and WHO's global AMR containment strategy through Project Parivartan, Rane said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BCO Q1 Earnings Call: Brink's Highlights Margin Expansion Amid Flat Revenue and Shifting Mix
Cash management services provider Brink's (NYSE:BCO) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales flat year on year at $1.25 billion. Its non-GAAP EPS of $1.62 per share was 38.1% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy BCO? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.25 billion (flat year on year) Adjusted EPS: $1.62 vs analyst estimates of $1.17 (38.1% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $150.6 million vs analyst estimates of $132.7 million (12.1% margin, 13.5% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $1.28 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $1.24 billion Adjusted EPS guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $1.45 at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $1.62 EBITDA guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $215 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $221.8 million Operating Margin: 9.7%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $3.48 billion Brink's first quarter results reflected a continued focus on higher-margin, recurring revenue services, with management emphasizing growth in ATM Managed Services (AMS) and Digital Retail Solutions (DRS). CEO Mark Eubanks noted that AMS and DRS together achieved over 20% organic growth for the fourth consecutive quarter, now comprising roughly a quarter of the company's business. Eubanks attributed stable operating margins to productivity initiatives and a shift toward these service lines. In the Rest of World segment, an uptick in precious metals movement boosted results, while restructuring costs and lower interest income from Argentina partially offset gains. Management described ongoing efforts to onboard new customers, streamline operations, and maintain pricing discipline as contributors to the quarter's performance. Looking ahead, Brink's management expects AMS and DRS to remain central to its growth strategy, supported by a pipeline of new contracts and ongoing deployments in North America and Europe. CFO Kurt McMaken pointed out that margin expansion in the latter half of the year is anticipated as foreign exchange headwinds moderate and productivity initiatives take effect. Eubanks explained that AMS and DRS contracts are largely subscription-based, providing more predictable and resilient revenues compared to traditional cash-in-transit services, especially during economic uncertainty. Management also highlighted the onboarding of new customer accounts and continued expansion into emerging markets as key priorities. Risks discussed include currency fluctuations, restructuring expenses, and lower interest income from Argentina, which are expected to weigh on margins in the first half but ease in the second half of the year. Management highlighted the growing contribution of AMS and DRS, the impact of precious metals shipments, and discussed margin dynamics shaped by restructuring and foreign exchange movements. AMS and DRS Momentum: AMS and DRS, Brink's higher-margin, recurring revenue segments, saw over 20% organic growth for the fourth straight quarter. This momentum was fueled by new customer wins and device installations, particularly in North America and Europe, and is helping to shift the company's revenue mix toward more predictable, contract-based services. Rest of World Precious Metals Activity: Elevated precious metals shipments, especially to North America, drove strong growth in the Rest of World segment. Management attributed this to temporary market volatility linked to tariff concerns, which led to an unusual spike in shipment volumes during the quarter. Operational Restructuring: Ongoing restructuring initiatives in Latin America and Europe are intended to streamline operations and support AMS/DRS adoption. Some cost savings originally planned for Q1 will be realized in Q2, contributing to short-term margin pressure but expected to benefit profitability over time. Currency and Interest Headwinds: Currency devaluation, particularly in Mexico and Argentina, negatively impacted reported results despite underlying organic growth. Additionally, lower interest income from Argentina, as inflation moderates, was cited as a headwind to margins, with management expecting this impact to diminish later in the year. Capital Allocation Priorities: The company accelerated share repurchases in early 2025 and announced a third consecutive annual dividend increase, underscoring its ongoing focus on shareholder returns while maintaining investment in organic growth and margin expansion. Management's outlook for the next quarter and year centers on expanding AMS and DRS, mitigating margin headwinds, and leveraging productivity gains. AMS and DRS Expansion: Management expects continued double-digit growth in AMS and DRS through increased customer conversions and device deployments, particularly as large contracts in North America and Europe are onboarded. These recurring revenue streams are seen as more resilient to economic cycles and are expected to further improve margin consistency. Margin Recovery and Productivity: The company anticipates margin expansion in the second half of the year, driven by easing foreign exchange headwinds, reduced restructuring costs, and ongoing productivity initiatives such as improved routing, labor management, and network density across regions. Managing External Risks: Management is monitoring potential economic slowdowns, currency volatility, and fluctuations in precious metals activity. They believe the diversified business mix and locally sourced operations will help insulate margins, though risks from lower interest income in Argentina and restructuring expenses remain near-term concerns. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will watch for (1) sustained AMS and DRS momentum through new contract wins and device deployments, (2) signs of margin recovery as FX headwinds moderate and restructuring costs subside, and (3) the onboarding of major global and regional customers, particularly in North America and Europe. Progress on these fronts will be key to Brink's ability to deliver on its margin and cash flow objectives. Brink's currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 11.1×. Should you double down or take your chips? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Kutch housed hunter-gatherer communities 5,000 years before Harappans arrived: Study
Shell scatters, deposits, middens, stone tools. Researchers have found rare evidence of human settlement in Kutch. As they dug deeper, they found that Kutch was home to prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities way before the Harappan era. A recent study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has offered new insights into Kutch's cultural evolution. The study by IITGN researchers, in collaboration with experts from IIT Kanpur (IITK), Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) Delhi, and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, has uncovered archaeological evidence that pushes back the human presence in this region by at least 5,000 years prior to the arrival of Harappans. These communities inhabited a mangrove-dominated landscape, relied on shell species (both bivalves like oysters and gastropods), and naturally adapted to such environments. 'While British surveyors had previously noted shell accumulations in the area, these were not recognised as shell-midden sites, the heaps of discarded shells from human consumption,' explained Prof V N Prabhakar, an Associate Professor at the Archaeological Science Centre in the department of Earth Sciences at IITGN and lead investigator of the study. 'Our study is the first to identify these sites, confirm their cultural significance, and establish a chronological context,' he added. These newly identified sites are the first of their kind to be documented in the Kutch region, with a defined cultural and chronological context. According to the researchers, the findings also show similarities with coastal archaeological sites in the Las Bela and Makran regions of Pakistan and the Oman Peninsula, suggesting that early coastal communities across this broader region may have developed comparable strategies for food collection and survival. 'The shell samples collected from Khadir and nearby islands were analysed at PRL Ahmedabad, with support from Prof Ravi Bhushan and J S Ray, and at IUAC, Delhi, with help from Dr Pankaj Kumar,' mentioned Prof Prabhakar. To determine the age of these sites, the researchers used Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), a precise method for measuring the radioactive isotope values of Carbon-14 (C-14) from the shell remains, which is absorbed by all living organisms. After death, C-14 begins to decay and is reduced by half every 5,730 years. Measuring the remaining amount in the shell samples allows scientists to estimate how long ago the organism died. As atmospheric C-14 levels have varied over time, the results were calibrated using tree ring data. Trees form one ring per year, and these tree ring sequences can be matched and extended back over thousands of years, allowing scientists to construct an accurate reference timeline of atmospheric C-14. The team discovered a variety of stone tools used for cutting, scraping, and splitting. Used cores from which the tools were manufactured were also found. 'The presence of these tools and associated raw materials suggests that the communities engaged in the prolific manufacture of implements for daily tasks,' said Dr Shikha Rai, a postdoctoral researcher at IITGN and co-author of the study. The raw materials may have been sourced from Khadir Island, now known for housing the Harappan city of Dholavira. The study challenges the commonly held view that urbanism in Kutch developed primarily under the influence of the Sindh region. 'Instead of abrupt external influence, what we see here is a gradual, locally rooted process of adaptation and cultural development,' said Prof Prabhakar. 'This accumulated knowledge of local geology, water resources, and navigation may have later helped the Harappans plan their settlements more effectively and engage in long-distance trade.' The researchers also believe that the shell middens and scatters will be important in palaeoclimate studies. Since climate change unfolds gradually over millennia and cannot be directly observed in the short term, natural materials like shells preserve signals that help reconstruct past environments. Previous studies at IITGN have already mapped the palaeoclimate of Khadir Island over the past 11,500 years. Further analysis of the recently discovered shell middens may contribute critical new insights into the climate conditions in which early humans lived. 'Humans in the past adapted to different climatic zones and environmental challenges without the aid of modern technologies,' explained Dr Rai, adding: 'Their ability to observe, respond to, and live within their ecological limits is something worth learning from today, especially in the context of global climate change.' The team now aims at mapping cultural developments in Gujarat, from prehistoric to historical periods, to build a broader understanding of how human adaptation has evolved. The findings from this study were presented at the 17th Annual Workshop on South Asian Archaeology (Hartwick College and University of Chicago), the Seminar Series on the Archaeology of the Indo-Iranian Borderlands (Sorbonne University, Paris), and the 50th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies (ISPQS), Raipur — all in 2025. The research team includes Prof Vikrant Jain of the Earth Sciences Department, IITGN; Prof Javed Malik and Debajyoti Paul of IITK; Pankaj Kumar of IUAC, Delhi and Mahendrasinh Gadhavi of LD College, Ahmedabad.
Agriland
a day ago
- Politics
- Agriland
DAFM: First round of AMS notifications due later this month
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that the first round of Area Monitoring System (AMS) notifications will be sent to farmers later this month. The AMS is the observation and assessment of agricultural activities and practices on agricultural areas. The system uses Copernicus Sentinel satellite data which is gathered automatically every five days and stored to provide up-to-date information as required. AMS Under the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the AMS is mandatory across all EU member states to monitor compliance with farm scheme criteria. The AMS interprets satellite imagery to provide decisions on agricultural activity on all declared land parcels of which there are approximately 1.1 million in Ireland. The department is monitoring all area-based schemes with data gathered by the system. DAFM spokesperson told Agriland:'The first round of AMS notifications will focus on the presence of potential artificial surfaces and will issue end of June with a deadline for receipt of responses of July 8, 2025.' 'The second round of notifications will issue mid-July and will notify on potential non-compliance detected for incorrect crops, potential ineligible areas, and no evidence of agricultural activity. 'The third round of notifications will issue mid-August and will notify on potential non-compliance detected for incorrect crops, potential ineligible areas, no evidence of agricultural activity and no evidence of ACRES winter bird food. 'The deadline for receipt of completed responses for both rounds 2 and 3 will be 2nd September 2025,' the spokesperson added. DAFM issued over 5,800 notifications to landowners this year due to potential scheme issues being detected through the AMS.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everton to install another game-changing service at Hill Dickinson Stadium
A new specialist service will increase the accessibility of the matchday experience at Everton's new stadium. The Blues are set to move to the stunning Hill Dickinson Stadium next season, a transition that should turbocharge efforts to drive the club forward. Advertisement That new ground will be a major upgrade on the much-loved but historic stands of Goodison Park in a host of ways, with the new home boasting state-of-the-art features across the 52,888-seater arena. It is hoped that experience will be available to all, with the club set to enable a commentary service to run on matches to provide vital assistance to supporters who are visually impaired. READ MORE: The five modern bars inside Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton announcement made READ MORE: I played 500 games but never experienced an atmosphere like Goodison Park under the lights The coverage will be provided by Alan March Sport (AMS), which already runs commentary teams at Arsenal, Newcastle United and Fulham as well as other Premier League grounds. Advertisement AMS is now advertising for wannabe commentators to get in touch for training that will help those selected to take supporters at the Hill Dickinson Stadium through the drama of Everton's home games. Anyone who is interested can contact AMS by emailing the company via: info@
