NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Farmer's Dog, the leader in real, human-grade dog food, today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Woof, the award-winning pet company known for its functional enrichment and wellness products.

The transaction marks the first acquisition for The Farmer's Dog and expands its commitment to helping dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives through nutrition, enrichment, and future innovation.

Woof will operate independently under its existing brand and team, while gaining access to The Farmer's Dog's resources and capabilities to support its next phase of growth.

Founded in 2019, Woof has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the pet industry by creating a new category of refillable wellness systems for dogs. Products like the Pupsicle have helped millions of dogs enjoy healthier play, mental stimulation, and daily enrichment.

BofA Securities has served as exclusive financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP has served as legal counsel to The Farmer's Dog.

About The Farmer's Dog: For more than a decade, The Farmer's Dog has been setting a higher bar for pet care by providing freshly cooked and minimally processed meal plans designed to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. Our on-staff team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists®, PhD nutritionists, and veterinarians work to develop recipes packed with the nutrients dogs need, while avoiding the downsides of excess processing. Every meal is complete and balanced, made to human-grade safety standards, and delivered directly to customers' doors. For more information, visit thefarmersdog.com and follow on social media: @thefarmersdog.

About Woof: Woof is the award-winning pet care brand on a mission to help dogs live longer, healthier lives through joy-filled innovation. Founded on the belief that the best products don't make you choose between what dogs want and what's good for them, Woof combines functional wellness, thoughtful design, and purpose-led play to help dogs live safer, happier lives and deepen the bonds they share with their people. Woof has been recognized with a number of awards for innovation in pet care across its product portfolio, including its hero product, the Pupsicle, now loved by millions of dogs and their families. In 2025, Woof debuted at No. 3 overall and No. 1 in Consumer Products on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. For more information, visit mywoof.com and follow on social media: @mywoof.

The Farmer's Dog Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE The Farmer's Dog

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the nation's oldest and largest independent and nonpartisan kidney patient advocacy organization, issued statements from its patient leadership today in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new appointments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

AAKP has led the kidney community's call for reforms to the USPSTF, including the adoption of a new screening recommendation for people most at risk for kidney diseases. Kidney disease impacts more than 37 million Americans and their families. Further, interrelated cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases have impacted more than 25% of the adult population and are a leading cause of death. More broadly, an estimated 90% of U.S. adults, or approximately 240 million people, have some degree of interconnected cardiovascular, kidney, or metabolic health conditions according to the American Heart Association. AAKP advocates are helping advance kidney community efforts, coordinated by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) (view report), to expand Congressional appropriations and taxpayer investments in kidney science and research by up to $1.8 billion through the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.

AAKP President Edward V. Hickey, III, a chronic kidney disease patient, stated, "We applaud Secretary Kennedy for appointing medical professionals who have the diverse range of life experiences and professional credentials necessary to advance patient-centered medicine, especially kidney health. As an organization driven solely by the interests of patients, AAKP has proudly led the fight to reform the USPSTF and to challenge the excuses that have been offered to the kidney community for the Task Force's years of inaction and the harm done to people most vulnerable to kidney disease. We look forward to a renewed era and commitment to chronic disease prevention and the harnessing of all available evidence, including the impact of new therapies that reduce patient burdens." Hickey is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and former senior Congressional aide who has served in appointed roles in two presidential administrations. He serves as Chair of the AAKP Veterans Health Initiative and was recently selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration to serve on the Transitional Nominating Committee for the OPTN Board of Directors.

AAKP Vice President and Chair of Policy and Global Affairs Paul T. Conway, a 49-year kidney patient and 29-year kidney transplant recipient, stated: "We are very pleased Secretary Kennedy listened closely to kidney patients and used his authority to appoint experts familiar with early disease prevention and detection, Native American and rural health, innovations including AI, as well as the management of interrelated chronic heart, kidney, and metabolic diseases. We are optimistic the newly appointed members will refocus the USPSTF on reducing patient and taxpayer burdens associated with preventable disease progression and organ failure through evidence-based research. For the past 20 years, the USPSTF has demonstrated complete incompetence in regard to kidney health and disease prevention. Today marks an opportunity to change that trajectory and to help make America healthier." Conway has served in appointed roles under four presidential administrations and served two terms as the inaugural Chair of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Patient Engagement Advisory Committee. He is a former member of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Nephrology Specialty Board and has served on multiple technical evaluation panels to craft quality measures for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administered End Stage Renal Disease Program.

On September 14, 2026, AAKP announced the rollout of its 2026 national, non-partisan KidneyVoter™ campaign, "50 States in 50 Days." KidneyVoters™ use their voices, votes, and sophisticated organizing tools and social media to turn out like-minded voters, hold Congress accountable for decisions impacting patient care choice, and encourage oversight of federal agencies responsible for red tape that stymies patient health, continued employment, and survival. AAKP has expanded the program in 2026 to service patient and professional communities impacted by cardio-renal-metabolic syndrome and related health issues. The KidneyVoter™ platform now services heart disease advocates, the diabetes community, and patients suffering from bone and mineral disorders. In 2024, AAKP engaged over 500,000 KidneyVoters™, resulting in a new "micro-constituency" within the American electorate according to election data science and targeting experts. Since 2017, the KidneyVoters™ campaign has been the only non-partisan voter registration campaign serving the highly diverse kidney community.

During the recent Congressional summer recess, AAKP conducted its All Kidney Policy is Local™ national campaign, which connected patients, organ donors, and caregivers to U.S. Congressional leaders in their home district offices and online. The campaign included issues of concern to kidney patients, including USPSTF reform and FDA support for next-generation transplant drugs. Since 2025, the campaign has resulted in over 300 targeted legislative and policy meetings with top Congressional decision-makers. AAKP is committed to American leadership in the discovery of safe, next-generation kidney technologies while counteracting the pacing threat of communist China and its state-orchestrated efforts to dominate biotech, manipulate the drug supply chain, and limit patient choice.

Follow AAKP on social media at @kidneypatient on Facebook, @kidneypatients on X, and @kidneypatients on Instagram, and visit http://www.aakp.org for more information. AAKP patient advocates advance bipartisan kidney policy including: passage of the bipartisan law modernizing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) (2023); lifetime transplant drug coverage for kidney patients (2020); the historic Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health signed by President Donald Trump (2019); job protections for living organ donors under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) via the U.S. Department of Labor (2018); and Congressional approval of HIV positive organ transplants for HIV positive patients (2013).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Brendan LaCivita

National and Medical Media Specialist

[email protected]

(813) 906-7740

SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients

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LOCATED AT 3413 S MOONEY BLVD, UNIT 101, VISALIA, CA 93277, this clinic opening marks 20 years of uninterrupted growth for the founder-led, Los Angeles–based company.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LaserAway, the nation's leader in aesthetic dermatology today announced the opening of its 231st location in Visalia, CA. The opening celebrates the company's 20th Anniversary which takes place this year and reflects two decades of continuous growth without a single clinic closure, a rare achievement in retail and the medical aesthetics category.

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Roy Winston and brothers Scott, Brock, and Todd Heckmann, LaserAway has evolved from a single West Hollywood, CA clinic into the largest nationwide aesthetics and dermatology company in the country. All LaserAway locations are privately owned and operated with no franchises. LaserAway's success was built on a simple but disruptive idea: that industry-leading, safe, and effective aesthetic dermatological treatments should be available for everyone.

"When we opened our first clinic on Sunset Boulevard, we knew there was a massive opportunity to make these treatments accessible to everyone—not just a privileged few," said Scott Heckmann, co-founder and CEO of LaserAway. "From day one, our mission has been to combine medical precision with modern convenience, giving people safe, effective results in a setting that feels approachable and empowering."

LaserAway currently operates in 36 states and all treatments are performed by licensed medical professionals (NPs, PAs, RNs). LaserAway's Chief Medical Officer is Dr. Will Kirby. Dr. Kirby leads LaserAway's Medical Board, which consists of a team of over 25 board-certified dermatologists.

The Visalia, CA location, like all LaserAway locations, will provide a full range of non- and minimally-invasive aesthetic services, including laser hair removal, Botox®, dermal fillers, skin rejuvenation and body contouring treatments such as CoolSculpting® and Thermage®. It will also feature LaserAway Wellness Injections, administered by medical professionals to support safe, clinically monitored results.

For more information on the brand, please visit laseraway.com.

ABOUT LASERAWAY

LaserAway® is the nation's leader in aesthetic dermatology, offering customized treatments tailored to patient needs with a team of more than 25 board-certified dermatologists and 700 nurses in its 231 locations across the country. It specializes in a full suite of non- and minimally-invasive aesthetic treatments, including laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, laser skin rejuvenation, body contouring, skin tightening, injectables, and skincare products. LaserAway is committed to providing high-quality, results-driven skincare solutions in a modern and welcoming environment. For more information, visit the brand on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, or at www.laseraway.com.

SOURCE LaserAway, LLC.

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Inluriyo plus Verzenio delivers proven clinical benefit after the evidence-based practice of maximizing initial treatment with an aromatase inhibitor, with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor

In the Phase 3 EMBER-3 trial, Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio doubled median progression-free survival compared to Inluriyo alone, among patients with ESR1-mutated MBC

The all-oral combination of Inluriyo and Verzenio gives patients a treatment approach that targets the two central drivers of ER+ breast cancer, with an established tolerability profile and no new monitoring required

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Inluriyo (imlunestrant), an oral estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, in combination with Verzenio (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–), ESR1-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), as detected by an FDA-authorized test, with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy. The approval is based on the proven clinical benefit of switching to Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio at clinical progression as observed in the Phase 3 EMBER-3 trial.

"In less than a year since its approval, Inluriyo is the leading treatment option for people with ER+, HER2–, ESR1m metastatic breast cancer, now reaching over half of all patients starting an oral SERD," said Jacob Van Naarden, executive vice president and president of Lilly Oncology. "Today's full approval extends what Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio can do for patients, with a regimen that has confirmed benefit, is aligned to the clinically proven treatment paradigm of changing therapy at clinical progression, and doesn't introduce burdensome monitoring requirements for patients or physicians. In fact, all available evidence suggests that switching endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor at clinical progression improves patient outcomes more than switching therapy earlier. Utilizing this evidence-based practice spares early exposure to additional side effects, reduces patient anxiety from unnecessary testing, and mitigates avoidable costs to the healthcare system."

This full FDA approval is based on the results of the Phase 3 EMBER-3 trial in patients with MBC whose tumors harbor an ESR1 mutation (n=159). Patients received Inluriyo (n=92) or Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio (n=67) after an aromatase inhibitor (AI), with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor, in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting. Among patients with ESR1-mutated MBC, Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio doubled median progression-free survival (PFS) versus Inluriyo alone, with a median PFS of 11.1 months versus 5.5 months (HR=0.53 [95% CI, 0.35–0.80]).

"We have an urgent need for effective and safe treatment options for patients with disease progression on adjuvant or first-line therapy. Combining therapies that work on two distinct drivers of tumor growth—the estrogen receptor and CDK4/6—is an important strategy to help address treatment resistance," said Komal Jhaveri, MD, FACP, FASCO, Associate Attending Breast Medicine and Early Drug Development Services, section head of the Endocrine Therapy Research Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and principal investigator for the EMBER-3 and EMBER-4 trials. "In EMBER-3, switching both the endocrine therapy and CDK 4/6 inhibitor, for the majority of patients, to imlunestrant plus abemaciclib at disease progression achieved a median progression-free survival of 11.1 months and a safety profile consistent with that of each medicine individually, establishing a meaningful new treatment option."

In about half of patients with ER+, HER2– MBC, tumors develop a genetic change called an ESR1 mutation during or after treatment with a common class of hormone-blocking medicines known as AIs. These mutations can cause estrogen receptors to become overactive, fueling cancer growth. Inluriyo and Verzenio target two different drivers of tumor growth, offering a combined approach to help slow the disease. Inluriyo degrades mutated estrogen receptors, cutting off the signal that drives cancer cells to grow. Verzenio targets proteins that control how quickly cancer cells divide, helping to slow their growth.

The Inluriyo label contains a warning and precaution for embryo-fetal toxicity. See Important Safety Information below and full Prescribing Information for additional information.

The Verzenio label contains warnings and precautions for severe diarrhea, neutropenia, interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, hepatotoxicity, venous thromboembolism, embryo-fetal toxicity, and increased serum creatinine without affecting renal function. See Important Safety Information below and full Prescribing Information for additional information.

In EMBER-3, the majority of adverse events (AEs) with Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio were Grade 1-2. The most common (≥10%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased neutrophils, diarrhea, decreased hemoglobin, decreased lymphocytes, nausea, decreased platelets, fatigue, increased triglycerides, infections, increased AST, increased creatinine, increased ALT, vomiting, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, increased cholesterol, rash, cough, headache, and decreased weight. Permanent discontinuation of Inluriyo alone due to adverse reactions in the combination arm occurred in 1% of patients, and permanent discontinuation of Verzenio alone in the combination arm occurred in 3.4% of patients.

This marks the second FDA approval for Inluriyo in less than a year, following its September 2025 approval as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with ER+, HER2–, ESR1-mutated MBC whose disease progressed after at least one line of endocrine therapy (ET).

Inluriyo is also being studied in the Phase 3 EMBER-4 trial (NCT05514054) in the adjuvant setting for people with ER+, HER2– early-stage breast cancer (EBC) at increased risk of recurrence following standard of care endocrine therapy, including CDK4/6 inhibitors. EMBER-4 is the largest adjuvant oral SERD clinical trial, with more than 8,000 patients enrolled worldwide across 650+ sites in 30+ countries. Initial results are anticipated in 2027.

Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio is now available in the United States.

See Important Safety Information below and full Prescribing Information for additional information.

About Inluriyo (imlunestrant)

Inluriyo (imlunestrant) (pronounced en-loo-ree-yoh) is an oral estrogen receptor antagonist that delivers continuous ER inhibition, including in ESR1-mutant cancers. The estrogen receptor (ER) is the key therapeutic target for patients with ER+, HER2– breast cancer. Inluriyo is a U.S. FDA approved oral prescription medicine, 200 mg tablets taken as a once-daily dose of 400 mg taken on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours before food or 1 hour after food. Inluriyo is also currently being studied as an adjuvant treatment in early breast cancer in the Phase 3 EMBER-4 trial (NCT05514054).

For full details on indicated uses of Inluriyo in ER+, HER2– ESR1m metastatic breast cancer, please see full Prescribing Information, available at www.inluriyo.lilly.com.

About Verzenio® (abemaciclib)

Verzenio (abemaciclib) is approved to treat people with certain HR+, HER2– breast cancers in the adjuvant and advanced or metastatic settings.

Verzenio is an oral tablet taken twice daily and available in strengths of 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg. Discovered and developed by Lilly researchers, Verzenio was first approved in 2017 and is authorized for use in more than 90 countries around the world.

For full details on indicated uses of Verzenio in HR+, HER2– breast cancer, please see full Prescribing Information, available at www.verzenio.lilly.com.

Important Safety Information for Inluriyo® (imlunestrant) as Monotherapy and in Combination with Verzenio® (abemaciclib)

Diarrhea: Severe diarrhea associated with dehydration and infection occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Instruct patients at the first sign of loose stools to initiate antidiarrheal therapy, increase oral fluids, and notify their healthcare provider. In EMBER-3, diarrhea occurred in 86% of patients who received Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio; Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea occurred in 9%. Follow specific dose modification and management instructions located in the Prescribing Information for each drug.

Neutropenia: Neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia and fatal neutropenic sepsis, occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. In EMBER-3, neutrophil count decreased in 86% of patients who received Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio; Grade 3 or 4 decreases occurred in 21%. Monitor complete blood counts prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Follow specific dose modification and management instructions located in the Prescribing Information for each drug.

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with Verzenio and other CDK4/6 inhibitors. In EMBER-3, ILD or pneumonitis occurred in 2.9% of patients who received Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio. Monitor for clinical symptoms or radiological changes indicative of ILD/pneumonitis. Permanently discontinue Verzenio in all patients with Grade 3 or 4 ILD or pneumonitis. Follow specific dose modification and management instructions located in the Prescribing Information for each drug.

Hepatotoxicity: Increases in serum transaminase levels have been observed. Perform liver function tests (LFTs) before initiating treatment with Verzenio.

New IP67 safety I/O block combines fast local safety logic with centralized CIP Safety™ management to simplify machine design, deployment, and maintenance.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OMRON Automation Americas announces the NXR-S Series Simple Logic Safety I/O Block for CIP Safety™, a new distributed safety solution that brings safety logic closer to the point of action while maintaining centralized safety management. The NXR-S helps manufacturers standardize safety architectures across machines while reducing engineering, commissioning, and maintenance effort.

Unlike conventional remote safety I/O architectures, the NXR-S combines distributed safety control with centralized CIP Safety management. With response times as fast as 15 ms, the IP67-rated Safety I/O Block enables safety decisions to occur closer to the machine, helping improve responsiveness, simplify safety-distance design, and reduce overall system complexity.

The NXR-S is also designed to streamline installation and commissioning. SmartClick M12 connectivity supports power, Ethernet, and I/O connections, while single-cable connectivity options help reduce wiring complexity. The secure 1/8-turn SmartClick design eliminates the need for torque-controlled installation tools, helping enable faster, more consistent installation.

Built-in pre-defined, add-on, and user-defined safety applications further reduce commissioning effort and minimize reliance on specialized safety programming expertise. This combination of configurable local logic and centralized management gives machine builders greater flexibility to deploy consistent safety strategies across different machine designs and applications.

For maintenance teams, a built-in Web UI provides access to diagnostics, troubleshooting, status monitoring, and device replacement without dedicated software. The NXR-S also supports communication with multiple CIP Safety originators, giving manufacturers greater flexibility in safety architecture design while helping reduce redundant devices.

Designed to support global machine deployment, the NXR-S addresses major international functional safety requirements, including IEC 61508, ISO 13849, UL/FSPC requirements, and CIP Safety conformance standards.

By combining local safety logic, centralized CIP Safety management, simplified connectivity, and built-in diagnostics in a single IP67 platform, the NXR-S gives machine builders and manufacturers a more scalable approach to designing, deploying, and maintaining machine safety systems.

SOURCE Omron Automation Americas

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Unusually hot September weather is driving high electricity demand across parts of the Carolinas. Duke Energy is asking customers in North Carolina and South Carolina to voluntarily reduce electricity use from 2-8 p.m. today, Sept. 18, to help reduce demand on the power grid during the day's peak period.

Customers can help by taking simple steps during this peak period:

- Raise your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting.

- Avoid using major appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers.

- Limit use of electric ranges and ovens, which can add heat to your home and increase air conditioning demand.

- Electric vehicle owners: Charge overnight, when demand is lower.

"Above-average heat puts pressure on the system during peak hours," said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy's utility operations in North Carolina. "Small actions during the late afternoon and early evening can help reduce strain on the grid and support reliable service for everyone."

"We recognize it is inconvenient to reduce electric use, but it makes a real difference," said Tim Pearson, president of Duke Energy's utility operations in South Carolina. "We're using every available resource to meet demand so power keeps flowing to our communities."

Duke Energy has approximately 3.9 million electric customers in North Carolina and more than 870,000 electric customers in South Carolina.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

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Energy Corps Names Four New Grantees Advancing the Shift from Energy Poverty to Energy Prosperity

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Corps today named four new grantees whose projects will expand access to affordable, reliable, modern energy for communities from East and West Africa to Tribal Nations in the United States. Energy Corps is a U.S.-based nonprofit accelerating the global shift from energy poverty to energy prosperity.

The grantees span different geographies and technologies but share a common thread: each puts local leaders and the communities they serve at the center of the work — helping families cook without smoke, businesses grow, households access reliable power, and governments manage their resources.

"Energy poverty isn't solved in a conference room. It's solved by people on the ground who know their communities and just need the right partners behind them," said Tisha Schuller, Head of Energy Corps. "That's what energy prosperity looks like."

The four new grantees reflect Energy Corps' energy-agnostic approach, spanning electric cooking, productive use of electricity, solar construction, and energy governance:

DanChurchAid (DCA) — The Cooking Dividend (Kenya), with Mwangaza Light and Renewvia Energy. Helping more than 1,000 refugee and host-community households in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements — about 7,500 people — move from firewood and charcoal to electric cooking through induction cookers, pay-as-you-go financing, and a discounted daytime electricity tariff.

Prosper Global — PROSPER Senegal (Senegal). Helping about 50 women- and youth-led enterprises and producer groups put electricity to work with refrigeration, milling, and irrigation equipment — turning new grid access, leveraged from a Millennium Challenge Corporation investment, into higher incomes and new jobs.

Tribal Energy Alternatives (TEA) — Tribal Solar Access Initiative (United States). Closing the final capital gap on shovel-ready, community-led solar projects on Tribal lands, with technical and construction support; completed installations can cut participating households' energy costs by 75 to 90 percent.

New Producers for Sustainable Energy (NP4SE) — AI for Energy Governance (25 countries). Building two AI-enabled tools — an advisory desk drawing on 14 years of peer expertise and a greenhouse-gas dashboard that integrates satellite data to spot methane leaks — to strengthen energy oversight while keeping sensitive data under national control.

For the full release including detailed project descriptions and partner quotes, visit https://energycorps.com/our-work/news.

About Energy Corps

Energy Corps is a U.S.-based nonprofit accelerating global access to affordable, reliable energy. Working with partners worldwide, it tests, learns, and shares what enables modern energy to drive opportunity and prosperity — guided by a long-term ambition of bringing 50 megawatt-hours of reliable energy per person and $50,000 GDP per capita globally within 50 years.

To schedule an interview, contact [email protected].

Contact:

Charlie Cardillo

415-901-0457

SOURCE Energy Corps

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ARTPRICE NEWS: A WORLD-BOOK BECOMES A MIRROR FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

OpenAI/Astra, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Google Gemini and xAI/Grok are confronted with the same work: a meta-reading experiment turns literary criticism into a comparative laboratory for artificial intelligence.

PARIS, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What if, in order to understand artificial intelligences, we gave them exactly the same book to read?

That is the experiment now accompanying "Dialogue Between a Thinker and AI".

After hundreds of hours of dialogue, human thought, archives, questions, and contradictions gave rise to a book whose pen was entrusted to artificial intelligence.

https://www.dialoguebetweenathinkerandai.com/en/

Today, the book also exists materially: its French and English editions are in print. But the experiment does not end with the book. It now turns back toward the artificial intelligences themselves.

We didn't ask AI to judge the book. We asked AIs to read it — and then to read each other.

The complete corpus is submitted to several major systems:

OpenAI / Astra, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Google Gemini, and xAI / Grok.

They all receive the same object. But do they produce the same reading?

https://www.dialoguebetweenathinkerandai.com/en/meta-reading/

The objective is not to organize a competition between models.

It is precisely the opposite.

The purpose is to observe their convergences, divergences, and blind spots.

Which concepts do they spontaneously identify? Which theses do they consider central? Which passages do they connect? Where do their interpretations diverge?

And above all: what happens when each is subsequently given access to the analyses produced by the others? At that moment, a meta-reading emerges.

AI no longer merely reads the book.

It reads another AI reading the book.

A third system can then analyze that confrontation. Commentary becomes corpus. The corpus becomes new material for analysis.

For centuries, we have used critics to better understand books.

This experiment also proposes the reverse movement:

using a book to better understand those who read it.

The same work thus becomes a kind of cognitive mirror placed before several artificial-intelligence architectures. This mirror does not ask: "Which AI is right?"

What Gemini thought of the analysis produced by Grok.

DeepSeek's response to the critique by OpenAI Astra.

It asks: "Why don't they see exactly the same thing?"

The distinction is essential. Because their divergences themselves become information.

This experiment does not delegate human judgment.

It demands more of it. The human remains the one who compares, doubts, contextualizes, and decides.

The machine produces readings. The human also observes the gaps between those readings.

Dialogue Between a Thinker and AI thus becomes simultaneously a book, a corpus, and an open experiment into the plurality of artificial intelligences.

The book was meant to be read by humans.

It now also becomes an object through which humans can watch AIs read.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The meta-reading experiment makes it possible to examine, among other things:

- what Google Gemini observes in the analysis produced by xAI/Grok;

- DeepSeek's response to the critique produced by OpenAI/Astra;

- the convergences, divergences and blind spots revealed by confronting the different readings.

"We didn't ask AI to judge the book. We asked AIs to read it — and then to read one another."

https://www.dialoguebetweenathinkerandai.com/en/meta-reading/

https://www.dialoguebetweenathinkerandai.com/en/

Media Contact : Thierry Ehrmann, [email protected]

SOURCE Artmarket.com

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Appian also named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT) report

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) today announced it has ranked #1 for the Deterministic Workflow Automation Use Case and Platform Consolidation Use Case in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities™ for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT) report. In addition, Appian is once again a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT) report based on its Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

The BOAT market is seeing immense traction driven by evolving automation needs as organizations shift from task automation to agentic automation and address the growing proliferation of AI agents across the enterprise.

According to Gartner, "By 2030, 70% of enterprises will pivot to a consolidated automation platform that orchestrates business processes, AI agents, bots, APIs and human actions, up from 10% today." Gartner evaluated 20 vendors across five common use cases for BOAT. Of the vendors recognized as Leaders, Appian was the only vendor among the top three for all five use cases, and the highest scoring vendor for the Platform Operations and Governance Critical Capability.

We believe Appian enables organizations to orchestrate complex operations with AI, systems, and people. The Appian Platform unifies critical BOAT capabilities, including process orchestration, data, AI agents, robotic process automation (RPA), rules, intelligent document processing (IDP) and AI-assisted low-code application development.

Large enterprises and governments use Appian to automate their most important business processes.

"We're automating manual work, orchestrating processes, and reducing complex operational cycles from weeks down to minutes on the Appian Platform. Appian gen AI provides an opportunity for us to continue delivering against our strategic plans. The more innovation that we do, the better tools that we can give to our policy owners, the faster they can deliver to their patients." — Sheila Evans, Chief Product and Solutions Officer, MagMutual

As a recognized enterprise software vendor in process, data, and AI with more than 25 years of customer success, we believe the Appian Platform provides enterprise-grade resilience and scale.

"AI must operate with reliability when running high-stakes operational processes," said Sanat Joshi, Executive Vice President of Product at Appian. "By embedding AI agents directly within structured, deterministic process models, Appian gives AI the exact goals, precise context, and guardrails to execute complex work safely. This recognition as a Leader from Gartner validates our vision for serious enterprise AI, built on process."

To learn more about Appian's position as Leader in orchestration and automation, download a complimentary copy of the Gartner report at appian.com/boat-report.

Gartner, Inc. 2026 Magic Quadrant™ for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT). Saikat Ray, Art Villa, Tushar Srivastava, Sachin Joshi, Adam Briggs, Mike Warren. 15 September 2026.

Gartner, Inc. 2026 Critical Capabilities for Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (BOAT). Saikat Ray, Art Villa, Tushar Srivastava, Sachin Joshi, Adam Briggs, Mike Warren. 15 September 2026.

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Appian provides AI automation for the most important business processes at the world's largest organizations.

On the Appian Platform, customers build AI-powered processes that accelerate work, reduce cost, and manage risk. Our platform is known for its unique power, reliability, and scale. We've been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Clinicians and staff gain an up-to-date view of capacity, patient movement, and environmental services workflows

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- San Juan Regional Medical Center has strengthened its clinical operations with several new Oracle Health solutions that help streamline patient flow, improve bed management, and enhance operational visibility. The new capabilities give clinical and operational teams a shared, up-to-date view of capacity and demand, helping them coordinate care efficiently, limit delays, and support a predictable patient experience. Oracle Health and Optum supported the implementation, combining connected clinical operations technology with healthcare operations and transformation expertise.

San Juan Regional Medical Center is an independent, community-owned nonprofit healthcare system serving patients across the Four Corners region of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. The organization sought to address fragmented coordination among bed management, environmental services, and clinical operations, which limited visibility into bed status, patient movement, and operational priorities. To help address these challenges, San Juan Regional Medical Center implemented Oracle Health Command Center Dashboard, Oracle Health Patient Flow, and Oracle Health Transfer Center, building on its long-time use of Oracle Health clinical and revenue cycle solutions. Optum worked alongside San Juan Regional Medical Center, leveraging the organization's deep expertise in technology transformation, to help align workflows, support adoption, and apply operational best practices.

"Our long-standing collaboration with Oracle Health provided a strong foundation for this next step in enhancing patient flow and operational coordination," said John Gaede, CIO, San Juan Regional Medical Center.

"Working collaboratively with Oracle Health and Optum, the new solutions now equip our clinical and operational teams with a more connected view of operations that helps us enhance coordination, improve discharge readiness, and turn beds over quicker to prepare for new patients," said Carlo Hallak, MD, physician informatics executive, San Juan Regional Medical Center.

One month after go-live, San Juan Regional is seeing early operational improvements. Bed-assignment time decreased 38.9%, from 54.00 minutes to 33.00 minutes. Environmental services response time decreased 48.5%, from 49.67 minutes to 25.56 minutes, exceeding the organization's established target. Environmental services clean-completion time improved 1.2% and continues to trend positively.

"Health systems need a clear, real-time view of their operations to help increase efficiency, make the best use of available resources, and deliver timely care," said Seema Verma, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences. "By connecting our clinical operations solutions with San Juan Regional Medical Center's existing Oracle Health environment, the organization can improve patient flow, strengthen coordination across care teams, and help caregivers spend more time focused on patients."

"Technology transformation is most successful when it is paired with operational expertise and a clear focus on the care journey," said Lou DiLorenzo, CEO, Optum Advisory. "Together with San Juan Regional Medical Center and Oracle Health, we are helping establish a foundation for sustainable improvements in patient flow, capacity management, and operational performance."

To learn more about Oracle's full suite of clinical, life sciences, and business applications, join us at the Oracle Health and Life Sciences Summit in Orlando, September 22-24, 2026. Register now.

About San Juan Regional Medical Center

San Juan Regional Medical Center is an independent, community-owned nonprofit healthcare system headquartered in Farmington, New Mexico. Founded in 1910, the organization serves patients throughout the Four Corners region. Learn more at https://www.sanjuanregional.com/.

About Optum 

Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 310,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). For more information, visit www.optum.com.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

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Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

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