Agoracom Blog

Enthusiast Gaming $EGLX.ca – How #Esports Could Rival Traditional #Sports Like the #NFL $EPY.ca $FDM.ca $WINR $TCEHF $ATVI $TNA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:59 PM on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 85 owned and affiliated websites, currently reaching over 150 million monthly visitors. The company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More

How eSports Could Rival Traditional Sports Like the NFL

Let’s talk eSports. 

Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends, announced on Monday, Sept. 23 that it was partnering with famed fashion house Louis Vuitton.

Louis Vuitton is designing the case for the Summoner’s Trophy–the award handed out to the winners of the World Championships. 

They will also design skins, which can be used in-game in League of Legends. 

So, what do partnerships like these mean for eSports? And does this prove that eSports have the ability to compete against other sports–such as football? 

Naz Aletaha, head of global e-sports partnerships at Riot Games, sat down with TheStreet to discuss whether or not eSports could one day rival traditional sports–such as the NFL. 

Source: https://www.thestreet.com/video/how-esports-could-rival-traditional-sports-like-the-nfl-15100449

Labrador Gold $LAB.ca – Higher Gold Prices Aren’t Enough, New Discoveries Are Needed – Mining CEO $RIO.ca $WHM.ca $SIC.ca $NXS.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 1:43 PM on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

SPONSOR: Labrador Gold – Two successful gold explorers lead the way in the Labrador gold rush targeting the under-explored gold potential of the province. Exploration has already outlined district scale gold on two projects, including over a 40km strike length of the Florence Lake greenstone belt, one of two greenstone belts covered by the Hopedale Project. Click Here for More Info

Investors are starting to pay more attention to junior miners but the sector isn’t out of the woods when it comes to attracting much needed capital, according to one mining executive.

Gold’s $200 rally this year has breathed new life in the precious metals market, but the junior sector has seen only a small portion of renewed investor interest. The TSX Venture Index ($JX), which is heavily weighted with junior explorers is up less than 3% this year, a disappointing performance compared to gold’s 18% rally so far this year.

Following a busy and positive Beaver Creek Precious Metals Summit, Ioannis Tsitos, president of Goldsource Mines (TSX.V: GXS) said that the junior exploration sector needs more than just higher gold prices to attract investors; it needs new discoveries: greenfield discoveries

“In the last decade we have seen a significant decline in budgets for greenfield exploration and that has led to less discoveries and that has led to less stories in the marketplace,” he said.

Greenfield exploration refers to projects in unchartered territory where information on the region’s mineralization is unknown. Because of that lack of initial mineral information greenfield projects are seen as a higher risk compared to brownfield projects, where exploration is done around an existing mime.

Tsitos added that not only are few deposits being discovered but grades are also dropping, which leads to a general lack of excitement in the industry.

“Investor sentiment is improving for the sector but junior explorers still need to do a lot more work and show that they are finding new deposits,” he said.

Tsitos’ comments come as the company develops its Salbora project, in Guyana, South America, which isn’t exactly a greenfield project as there has been some preliminary airborne surveys of the area.  The project is also 1.5 kilometers from the company’s Eagle Mountain Gold Project. However, the company has been doing a lot of work to define the project’s mineralization.

Earlier this spring the company was able to raise nearly $7.5 million in an oversubscribed private placement deal. Tsitos added that the company has spent about $2 million on an aggressive exploration, targeting 4,000 to 5,000 meters drilled by the end of the third quarter.

“The private placement was oversubscribed in one day,” he said. “It just shows how starved investors are for a new discovery.”

Tsitos added that his company didn’t set out to be a greenfield explorer but have embraced this role as the company ran into production issues when it started producing gold at Eagle Mountain. He added that the company needed to expand its resource to make the original mine more efficient.

“For us exploring in a greenfield was a necessity. We were driven by internal forces and our organic growth objectives,” he said. “But being on this side we see the need for new discoveries in the industry.”

Source: https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-09-17/Higher-gold-prices-aren-t-enough-new-discoveries-are-needed-mining-CEO.html

New Age Metals Inc. $NAM.ca – New Research Promises Electric Car #EV #Batteries That Last For a Million Miles $LIC.ca $LIX.ca $LI.ca $ELR.ca $ATL.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:35 AM on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc. The company’s Lithium Division has already made significant acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns one of North America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in Sudbury, Canada. Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate 2,867,000 PdEq Measured and Indicated Ounces, with an additional 1,059,000 PdEq Ounces in the Inferred. Learn More.

New Research Promises Electric Car Batteries That Last For a Million Miles

  • Power cells used in electric vehicles, like Teslas, have an expected lifespan of around 300,000 to 500,000 miles,
  • A team of battery researchers believes it has come up with a recipe that can double that, leading to batteries that could potentially outlast the electric car itself.

By: Andrew Liszewski

Electric motors guzzle electricity, which can be especially hard on a rechargeable battery. The power cells used in electric vehicles, like Teslas, have an expected lifespan of around 300,000 to 500,000 miles, but a team of battery researchers believes it has come up with a recipe that can double that, leading to batteries that could potentially outlast the electric car itself.

In a paper published in the The Journal of the Electrochemical Society earlier this month, battery researchers from Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Dalhousie University describe a new lithium-ion battery that could potentially power an electric vehicle for over one million miles and over 4,000 charging cycles while only losing about 10 percent of its charging capacity (and vehicle range) as it reaches the end of its lifespan. Most drivers upgrade their rides well before the odometer rolls over to one million, but the new battery tech could be especially useful in vehicles that are on the road around the clock like taxis, shuttles, and even delivery trucks.

Like the ingredients of a fast-food chain’s “special sauce,” the chemical makeup of batteries, which governs how well they perform and how long they last, are usually a closely guarded secret. Since 2016, the Dalhousie team has actually been conducting its research on improving lithium-ion batteries exclusively for Tesla, but this paper divulges exactly how they came up with a recipe for a million-mile electric car battery by optimizing all of the ingredients, which includes artificial graphite, and then improving the nanostructure of the lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide to create a crystal structure that’s less likely to crack and degrade performance. The exact recipe allows all of Tesla’s competitors to improve their own battery tech, so what’s going on?

According to Wired, who spoke to former researchers who worked in the Dalhousie lab, by publishing the most important details of this research, it provides a new performance benchmark for all of the other R&D labs working on improving battery tech, so, ideally, a million miles of battery life is just the beginning. But Elon Musk is not one to simply give away valuable research without a backup plan, and as Wired points out, just days after this paper was published, Tesla was awarded a patent for a new electric vehicle battery featuring nearly the exact same chemical makeup as the ones detailed in the research paper. One of the inventors listed in the new patent was physicist Jeff Dahn, who just so happens to lead Dalhousie University’s battery lab.

The exact details of Tesla’s newly patented lithium-ion battery aren’t known, but former researchers who worked alongside Dahn believe there’s a very good chance it already outperforms the battery detailed in the research paper. It’s also unknown when Tesla would put the new battery into production, but there will undoubtedly be plenty of fanfare when Musk officially debuts it to the world.

Source: https://gizmodo.com/new-research-promises-electric-car-batteries-that-last-1838357663

ZEN Graphene Solutions $ZEN.ca – Graphene Can Also Be Viewed as a 3D Material, New Study Claims $LLG.ca $FMS.ca $NGC.ca $CVE.ca $DNI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:32 AM on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019

SPONSOR: ZEN Graphene Solutions: An emerging advanced materials and graphene development company with a focus on new solutions using pure graphene and other two-dimensional materials. Our competitive advantage relies on the unique qualities of our multi-decade supply of precursor materials in the Albany Graphite Deposit. Independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada confirm this. Click here for more information

Understanding the properties and dimensions of graphene is important for understanding novel ways in which the extremely thin, potentially world-changing material can be used.

A ‘wonder material’

Graphene has the highest known thermal and electrical conductivity of any material and is tougher than steel while still being light, flexible, and transparent. No wonder it is often called a ‘wonder material.’

The material has a wide range of potentially world-changing uses. These include being used as a filter for seawater, a barrier against mosquito nets, and a comfortable solution to electrodes in prosthetic devices.

Comparing graphene and graphite

In a new study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, researchers asked two key questions: what is the true thickness of graphene, and to what extent is the material graphite?

To the surprise of the scientists, they found that 2D graphene, which is a flat single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure, has several similarities to the 3D graphite.

Graphene and graphite share a similar resistance to compression. The thickness of graphene, meanwhile, was extrapolated by comparing it to graphite. 

If the thickness of a block of graphite 100 layers thick is measured, that means that the thickness of a single graphene layer is equivalent to the thickness of the graphene block divided by 100.

So, based on their calculations, the thickness of graphene is 0.34 nm, the researchers say.

2D or not 2D, that is the question

Dr. Yiwei Sun, the lead author of the study from Queen Mary University of London, said: “Graphene owes its thickness to an array of chemical bonds sticking out above and below the 2D plane of carbon atoms. Hence graphene is really a 3D material, albeit with a very small thickness.

“By applying conventional 3D theory, which has been used for around 400 years, to 2D materials such as graphene, which have been known for 15 years, we show that similar arguments apply to other so-called 2D materials, such as boron nitride and molybdenum disulphide. In that sense, 2D materials are actually all 3D.”

Graphene was discovered in 2004 by peeling off graphene flakes from graphite using sticky tape. It is known by many as ‘the world’s first two-dimensional material’, due to the fact that it is extremely thin and is made of a sheet of atoms.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/graphene-can-also-be-viewed-as-a-3d-material-new-study-claims

Bougainville Ventures $BOG.ca Signs Definitive Agreement to enter into Funding and Asset Purchase Agreement of 39% with Thrive Nutrition Products Ltd. $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 6:52 AM on Tuesday, September 24th, 2019
  • Further to the letter of intent with Thrive Nutrition Products Ltd. announced in the Company news release dated August 6, 2019 Company signed a definitive agreement to complete the acquisition of Thrive Nutrition
  • The total consideration will consist of common shares of Bougainville equivalent to $819,000 CDN.

Vancouver, British Columbia–(September 24, 2019) – BOUGAINVILLE VENTURES INC. (CSE: BOG) (OTC Pink: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) (“Bougainville” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that further to the letter of intent (“LOI”) with Thrive Nutrition Products Ltd. (“Thrive Nutrition”) announced in the Company news release dated August 6, 2019 the Company signed a definitive agreement to complete the acquisition of Thrive Nutrition (“the Thrive Nutrition Transaction”). Thrive Wellness is a preeminent distributor of hemp & cannabinoid-focused natural health products under the “THRIVE WELLNESS” brand.

TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION

The total consideration will consist of common shares of Bougainville equivalent to $819,000 CDN. Subject to completion of the Thrive Wellness Transaction the board of directors of Bougainville will approve the Company to deliver the common shares of Bougainville to Thrive Nutrition, which will satisfy Bougainville’s obligation under the Thrive Nutrition Transaction. The consideration is to be payable in such number of common shares equivalent to $819,000 CDN in its share capital (“Consideration Shares”) at a per share price equal to the volume weighted average price of such shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange over a 15-day period ending on the day such Consideration Shares are required to be issued (“15 day VWAP”). The final evaluation was determined by an independent third party evaluator, which valued the business at $2,100 000 CDN. The Company will acquire 39% of Thrive Wellness assets and current inventory.

About Thrive Nutrition Products Ltd.

Thrive Wellness is a distributor of premium hemp and natural health products with operations currently in Canada and the USA. Thrive specializes in the development, marketing and distribution of cannabinoid products refined into their own natural health product brand. The company was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia and is the first of its kind with national retail distribution in Canada. Thrive has achieved $2,500,000 CDN in sales through retail distribution, its’ e-commerce website and their relationship with Nutrition House, Canada’s leading Natural Health Product franchise. Founded in 1979 the company began franchising in 1993 and now operates over 45 retail stores, located in high profile shopping centers across Canada, and in the USA. www.nutritionhouse.com

CEO, Andy Dhaliwal Comments:

“I am very excited to be joining the Bougainville team and happy to see the merger of our to companies happening at a time when the CBD market is set to explode. My objective is to have our two companies grow across multiple platforms in the CBD market, from oils, topical and drinks to fibers and eventually processing the many products derived from the Hemp plant.”

To learn more about what this news means to the shareholders visit https://marketnewsfirst.com/bog-news, as well as on the company’s site.

About the CBD Market

Bank of America projects a spend of $1.3 Billion on CBD in Canada by 2022, while $1.9 Billion is being spent in the USA currently, and another $4.4 Billion in Europe this year. Demand for CBD and Hemp is increasing year over year, with Merrill Lynch predicting an $11.5 Billion American market by 2032.

About Bougainville Ventures, Inc.

Bougainville Ventures Inc. is dedicated to rapid growth in production, processing, retail and branding of cannabis and cannabis related products. Currently the company provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. We offer fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Also, the Company is focused on building a strong presence in the hemp industry with the objective of extracting cannabinoids in both Canada and the United States. Along with our flagship Hemp project in Oregon State and the Greenhouse campus in Washington state, the Company has proprietary formulas for cannabis edibles, topical, and tinctures.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
BOUGAINVILLE VENTURES INC.

Andy Jagpal, President and Director

For further information, please contact Zoltan, IR Representative at: 604-722-0305 [email protected]. Or toll free at 1-877-517-7816

http://bougainvilleinc.com/
https://twitter.com/bougainvilleinc

www.thriveCBD.org

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/47953

PyroGenesis $PYR.ca Announces Special Meeting of Shareholders to Increase the Number of Directors and Elect New Board $LMT $RTN $NOC $UTX $HPQ.ca $DDD.ca $SSYS $PRLB

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:45 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2019
  • Announced today that it is calling a Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for November 21st, 2019, to increase the number of directors and to elect a new Board.
  • The total number of Board members will now be increased to seven (7), five (5) of whom will be independent.

MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2019 – PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (http://pyrogenesis.com) (TSX-V: PYR) (OTCQB: PYRNF) (FRA: 8PY), a high-tech company, (the “Company”, the “Corporation” or “PyroGenesis”) that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma atomized metal powder, plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, announced today that it is calling a Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for November 21st, 2019, to increase the number of directors and to elect a new Board. The total number of Board members will now be increased to seven (7), five (5) of whom will be independent. Of those directors proposed, three (3) will be new and include the following:

  • Dr. Virendra Jha, Member of the Order of Canada and former Vice President for Science, Technology and Programs and Chief Engineering Adviser at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA);
  • Mr. Michael Blank, CPA, CA, over 30 years of experience in finance and accounting;
  • Mr. Alexander Pascali, Senior Business Development Manager at PyroGenesis with more than 10 years of experience in business, strategy, and marketing.

The full slate of directors proposed are as follows who, once elected, will be confirmed in their respective offices by the Board:

  • Mr. Andrew Abdalla, CPA, CA as Chair of the Board and Acting Chief Financial Officer;
  • Mr. P. Peter Pascali as Chief Executive Officer, President and Director;
  • Mr. Michael Blank as Chair of the Audit Committee;
  • Mr. Robert M. Radin as Director;
  • Dr. Virendra Jha as Director;
  • Mr. Christopher Twigge-Molecey as Director;
  • Mr. Alexander Pascali as Director.

The proposed slate of directors is a result of a thorough process wherein the candidates were selected with a view of complementing the strategic plan which the Company has been executing over the past 18 months.

“I am proud that our Board is actively involved in every aspect of our business and we are pleased to propose these three new directors whose expertise is highly relevant to our future and will further strengthen our current mix,” said Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis.

About Dr. Virendra Jha
Dr. Jha has over 42 years of experience in the Canadian Space Program ranging from in-depth engineering work to senior management positions in both the Private and the Public Sectors. Dr. Jha began his space career in 1972 when he joined the Aerospace group of RCA Limited Montreal, which later became Spar Aerospace Limited. In 1988, he became the Director of Engineering at Spar Aerospace Limited. In 1991 Dr. Jha joined the Canadian Space Agency as Director of the Space Mechanics Group. In 1996, he was promoted to the position of Director General, Space Technologies Branch of the CSA. From 2003 till 2008, he was the Vice-President responsible for Science, Technology and Programs at the Canadian Space Agency. As Vice President, Dr. Jha provided strategic direction, vision and leadership to all core technical sectors of the Agency. From November 2005 until February 2006, Dr. Jha also served as the Acting President of the Canadian Space Agency. He was Chief Engineering Adviser at the Canadian Space Agency until his retirement in 2014.

Dr. Jha received his B. Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi India, his Master’s degree in Mechanical engineering from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, and his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada and the C.Dir. (Chartered Director) Degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

Dr. Jha’s technical contributions in Canadian Space Program as well as in International Space activities have been significant. His leadership and commitment to the profession is reflected by his recognition and active participation in many groups, committees and advisory boards. 

About Mr. Michael Blank
With over 30 years of executive experience in leading finance and operations for private and public organizations, Michael has a sound professional judgement in business plan preparation, budgeting, cash flow management and internal control implementation. As the Chief Financial Officer of global publicly held corporations, Mr. Blank has gained significant experience in financial reporting, accounting, finance and capital management, investor relations, and international operations.

Michael has acquired an extensive knowledge of taxation and audit over 10 years at KPMG, a leading international public accounting and consulting firm in Canada and Europe. Adept at explaining complex accounting and tax rules and their impacts on businesses, he provided corporate tax consulting and the information clients rely on to make strong business decisions.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce with finance and accounting major with honors, from Queen’s University and a Diploma in Public Accounting from McGill University. Michael is a designated Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and qualifies as a Chartered Accountant (CA).

About Mr. Alexander Pascali
With a strong background in marketing, Alexander has been actively involved over the past ten (10) years in all aspects of the Company, which has culminated in his current leadership position in business development. Alexander has also been intimately involved in the formation and implementation of the Company’s strategic direction. He has been instrumental, and the driving force behind the Company’s largest transactions, including the recently announced potential $20M contract.

About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is the world leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and products. We provide engineering and manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge contract research, as well as turnkey process equipment packages to the defense, metallurgical, mining, advanced materials (including 3D printing), oil & gas, and environmental industries. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of our Montreal office and our 3,800 m2 manufacturing facility, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. Our core competencies allow PyroGenesis to lead the way in providing innovative plasma torches, plasma waste processes, high-temperature metallurgical processes, and engineering services to the global marketplace. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, and have been ISO certified since 1997. PyroGenesis is a publicly-traded Canadian Corporation on the TSX Venture Exchange (Ticker Symbol: PYR) and on the OTCQB Marketplace. For more information, please visit www.pyrogenesis.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which constitute “forward- looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Corporation’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Corporation with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Corporation’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com, or at www.otcmarkets.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE PyroGenesis Canada Inc.

For further information please contact:
Rodayna Kafal, Vice President Investors Relations and Strategic Business Development, or
Clémence Bertrand-Bourlaud, Marketing Manager/Investor Relations,
Phone: (514) 937-0002, E-mail: [email protected]

RELATED LINKS: http://www.pyrogenesis.com/

Enthusiast Gaming $EGLX.ca – Louis Vuitton #LV enters the #Esports arena with League of Legends #LOL deal $EPY.ca $FDM.ca $WINR $TCEHF $ATVI $TNA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:35 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2019

SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 85 owned and affiliated websites, currently reaching over 150 million monthly visitors. The company exceeded 2018 target with $11.0 million in revenue. Learn More

Louis Vuitton enters the eSports arena with League of Legends deal

  • Creative director of French fashion house Louis Vuitton is designing clothing for characters in the popular fantasy video game League of Legends, part of a new partnership between the LVMH unit and publisher Riot Games

By: Eben Novy-Williams, Bloomberg News

Luxury fashion designer Nicolas Ghesquiere’s next creation might be his least expensive.

The creative director of French fashion house Louis Vuitton is designing clothing for characters in the popular fantasy video game League of Legends, part of a new partnership between the LVMH unit and publisher Riot Games. The first of these outfits, called skins in gaming parlance, will be unveiled during the League of Legends World Championships, which end in Paris in November.

While a Ghesquiere dress might normally cost a few thousand dollars, skins typically sell for $9 to $25. It’s the first time that Riot Games has let a luxury brand place designs within its games.

The partnership, which also features a small collection of Ghesquiere-designed real-world clothing, comes as Riot Games has pushed the League of Legends brand into other parts of the entertainment world.

The approach, similar to one taken by Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc., is intended to broaden the audience beyond just gaming circles. League of Legends is part of a storyline on the HBO show “Ballers.” The company has worked with “The Simpsons” on an recent episode and recently partnered with Marvel to produce comic books around characters from the game.

As part of the Louis Vuitton partnership, the fashion house is also designing a carrying case for the League of Legends World Championship trophy, known as the Summoner’s Cup. The company already makes a travel case for the World Cup, the biggest sporting event on the soccer calendar.

The League of Legends World Championship finals last year drew drew 99.6 million unique viewers. The event is “where the world of sports and entertainment come together in celebration of new legends to be born,” Louis Vuitton Chairman Michael Burke said in a statement. “Louis Vuitton has long been associated with the world’s most coveted trophies, and here we are today, alongside the Summoner’s Cup.”

This isn’t Louis Vuitton’s first foray into digital clothing. In 2016, the company started using characters from the popular sci-fi game Final Fantasy as models. It also designed an outfit for Japanese hologram pop singer Hatsune Miku.

Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/esports-goes-luxury-with-in-game-outfits-by-louis-vuitton-1.1320389

Global Digital Health Market Is Expected to Post a CAGR Close to 22% During the Period 2019-2023 SPONSOR: CardioComm Solutions $EKG.ca $ATE.ca $TLT.ca $OGI.ca $ACST.ca $IPA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:55 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2019

SPONSOR: CardioComm Solutions (EKG: TSX-V) – The heartbeat of cardiovascular medicine and telemedicine. Patented systems enable medical professionals, patients, and other healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals and call centres to access and manage patient information in a secure and reliable environment.

Global Digital Health Market Is Expected to Post a CAGR Close to 22% During the Period 2019-2023

The global digital health market is expected to post a CAGR close to 22% during the period 2019-2023, according to the latest market research report by Technavio.

  • mHealth technologies are gaining significant prominence in the digital health market as these are used for chronic disease management, disease surveillance, and treatment support.
  • Healthcare professionals are finding it easier to access patient information and diagnose diseases by using mHealth technology driven apps on smartphones

In addition, with the rise in adoption of smartphones and increase in penetration of the Internet, there has been a considerable growth in the use of mHealth technologies. Healthcare professionals are finding it easier to access patient information and diagnose diseases by using mHealth technology driven apps on smartphones. These apps also help the users in tracking personal health data including allergies and medications. Furthermore, mHealth services also enable the dissemination of essential medical information among healthcare professionals. This is expected to further drive the digital health market in the forthcoming years.

Source:https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-digital-health-market-2019-200000445.html

Affinity Metals $AFF – Pierre Lassonde Says Gold Could Hit $25,000 in 30 Years $SII.ca $TUD.ca $GTT.ca $AMK.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 2:03 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2019

Sponsor: Affinity is a Canadian mineral exploration company building a strong portfolio of mineral projects in North America. The Corporation’s flagship property is the Drill ready Regal Property near Revelstoke, BC (TSX-V: AFF) Click Here for More Info

http://www.smallcapepicenter.com/Affinity%20Small%20Square.png

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Denver Gold Forum (DGF), the world’s most prestigious precious metal equities investment conference. The invitation-only event, held last week, was attended by an incredible seven-eighths of the world’s publicly traded gold and silver companies by production, as well as leading metals and mining executives, money managers, analysts and investors.

Much has changed in the precious metals and mining industry in the past 30 years, as we were all reminded by my longtime friend and mentor Pierre Lassonde. Pierre, as many of you know, is the legendary co-founder, along with Seymour Schulich, of Franco-Nevada, the first publicly-traded gold royalty company. What you may not know is that Pierre is also one of Canada’s most gracious philanthropists and currently serves as the chairman of the Canada Council for the Arts Board of Directors.

According to Pierre, annual global gold demand has exploded in the years since the first DGF was held. Demand grew more than fivefold, from a value of $32 billion in 1989 to $177 billion in 2018.

Today’s central banks are net buyers of gold as they seek to diversify away from the U.S. dollar. But 30 years ago, they were net sellers. In 1989, banks collectively unwound as much as 432 tonnes from their reserves. Compare that to last year, when they ended up buying some 651.5 tonnes, the largest such purchase since the Nixon administration, with Russia and China leading the way.

Speaking of China… Pierre pointed out to us that we’ve seen a significant shift in gold demand over the past 30 years, from west to east, as incomes in China and India—or “Chindia”—have risen. In 1989, Chindia’s combined share of global demand for the precious metal was only about 10 percent. Fast forward to today, and it’s 53 percent.

China and India Now Represent More Than Half of Total Global Gold Demand

China and India Now Represent More Than Half of Total Global Gold Demand U.S. Global Investors

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“Don’t forget the Golden Rule,” Pierre said. “He who has the gold makes the rules!”

The Gold Price in 2049 Will Be…

One of the highlights of Pierre’s presentation was his forecast for the price of gold in the next 30 years. After analyzing gold’s historical compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past 50 years, ever since President Nixon formally took the U.S. off the gold standard, Pierre says he sees an average price target of $12,500 an ounce by 2049. And under the “right” conditions, it could go as high as $25,000!

Could We See $25,000 Gold by 2049?

Could We See $25,000 Gold by 2049? U.S. Global Investors

“I think gold is in a good place,” Pierre told Kitco News’ Daniela Cambone on the sidelines of the DGF. “The financial demand is being driven by negative interest rates. Should the U.S. Treasury 30-year bond yield ever, ever go negative, like in Germany and France, God bless, we’re looking at $5,000 gold.”

ESG Investing Goes Mainstream

One of my own observations of how the DGF has changed over the last 30 years is the way in which mining companies pitch their stock to investors. Before, they would jump right into financials, production costs, mining feasibility and the like. Today, however, they begin by discussing topics such as sustainability and environmental impact.

ESG investing stands for environmental, social and governance. This set of criteria has grown in importance among “socially conscious” investors over the past decade, as you can see in the chart below. In the U.S. alone, assets under management (AUM) in ESG-oriented funds and ETFs have more than doubled from approximately $40 billion in 2013 to $90 billion in 2019, according to Morningstar data. In Europe, where institutional investors and money managers must now comply with certain ESG standards, the figure’s likely even higher.

U.S. Investor Appetite for ESG-Oriented Funds Has Surged in Recent Years

U.S. Investor Appetite for ESG-Oriented Funds Has Surged in Recent Years U.S. Global Investors

Gold’s “Green Credentials” May Be Understated: RBC

The good news is that gold and gold mining look very attractive from an ESG perspective. Gold’s “green credentials,” in fact, may be understated, according to a recent report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). For one, owning physical gold—in coins, bars or jewelry—has absolutely no environmental impact and actually increases a portfolio’s ESG rating.

As for gold mining, the process gives off significantly less greenhouse gasses (GHG) on a per dollar basis relative to some other mined products, including aluminum, steel, coal and zinc. What this means is that gold has a much smaller “carbon footprint” than what some people might think.

Gold Has Among the Lowest GHG Emissions Per Dollar of Major Mined Products

Gold Has Among the Lowest GHG Emissions Per Dollar of Major Mined Products U.S. Global Investors

Many mining companies are also working to meet some investors’ changing attitudes. IAMGOLD, for instance, is investing heavily in solar infrastructure, and its mine in Burkina Faso is the world’s largest hybrid solar/thermal plant, according to RBC. Newmont Goldcorp is moving forward with its “Smart Mine Initiative,” which uses optimizer software to maximize ore recovery and minimize waste. And Torex Gold has developed what it calls the “Muckahi Mining System,” which alleges to limit surface disruption and reduce the use of fossil fuels underground.

In the same report, RBC says it remains “positive on gold,” writing that the metal’s “deep liquidity, near global acceptance and role as a ‘perceived safe haven’ and ‘store of value’ make it very difficult to displace” as an investment.

SOURCE: https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/09/23/pierre-lassonde-says-gold-could-hit-25000-in-30-years/#3a9da0ec3526

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Posted by AGORACOM at 12:47 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2019

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Tesla's New One Million Mile Battery
Lomiko Metals TSXV: LMR, OTCQB: LMRMF To Raise Funds to Develop North American Supply of Key Battery Material Ingredient Graphite

Last April, Elon Musk promised that Tesla would soon be able to power its electric cars for more than 1 million miles over the course of its lifespan. At the time, the claim seemed a bit much. That’s more than double the mileage current Tesla owners can expect to get out of their car’s battery packs, which are already well beyond the operational range of most other EV batteries. It just didn’t seem real—except now it appears that it is. 
A. Paul Gill, CEO of Lomiko Metals (TSXV: LMR, OTCQB: LMRMF) stated “If we’re going to continue to expand the electric vehicle industry in Europe and  North America, we need a secure supply of raw materials.”,stated Gill. “The shortage of graphite is going to be a real concern in the coming years.”,he added.   
Earlier this month, a group of battery researchers at Dalhousie University, which has an exclusive agreement with Tesla, published a paper in The Journal of the Electrochemical Society describing a lithium-ion battery that “should be able to power an electric vehicle for over 1 million miles” while losing less than 10 percent of its energy capacity during its lifetime.
Led by physicist Jeff Dahn, one of the world’s foremost lithium-ion researchers, the Dalhousie group showed that its battery significantly outperforms any similar lithium-ion battery previously reported. They noted their battery could be especially useful for self-driving robotaxis and long-haul electric trucks, two products Tesla is developing.
What’s interesting, though, is that the authors don’t herald the results as a breakthrough. Rather, they present it as a benchmark for other battery researchers. And they don’t skimp on the specifics.
“Full details of these cells including electrode compositions, electrode loadings, electrolyte compositions, additives used, etc. have been provided,” Dahn and his colleagues wrote in the paper. “This has been done so that others can recreate these cells and use them as benchmarks for their own R+D efforts.”
Within the EV industry, battery chemistries are a closely guarded secret. So why would Dahn’s research group, which signed its exclusive partnership with Tesla in 2016, give away the recipe for such a seemingly singular battery? According to a former member of Dahn’s team, the likely answer is that Tesla already has at least one proprietary battery chemistry that outperforms what’s described in the benchmark paper. Indeed, shortly after the paper came out, Tesla received a patent for a lithium-ion battery that is remarkably similar to the one described in the benchmarking paper. Dahn, who declined to comment for this article, is listed as one of its inventors.
The lithium-ion batteries described in the benchmark paper use lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, or NMC, for the battery’s positive electrode (cathode) and artificial graphite for its negative electrode (anode). The electrolyte, which ferries lithium ions between the electrode terminals, consists of a lithium salt blended with other compounds.
NMC/graphite chemistries have long been known to increase the energy density and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. (Almost all electric car batteries, including the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt, use NMC chemistries, but notably not Tesla.) The blend of electrolyte and additives is what ends up being the subject of trade secrets. But even those materials, as described in the paper, were well known in the industry. In other words, says Matt Lacey, a lithium-ion battery expert at the Scania Group who was not involved in the research, “there is nothing in the secret sauce that was secret!”
Instead, Dahn’s team achieved its huge performance boosts through lots and lots of optimizing of those familiar ingredients, and tweaking the nanostructure of the battery’s cathode. Instead of using many smaller NMC crystals as the cathode, this battery relies on larger crystals. Lin Ma, a former PhD student in Dahn’s lab who was instrumental in developing the cathode design, says this “single-crystal” nanostructure is less likely to develop cracks when a battery is charging. Cracks in the cathode material cause a decrease in the lifetime and performance of the battery.
Through its partnership with Tesla, Dahn’s team was tasked with creating lithium-ion batteries that can store more energy and have a longer lifetime than commercially available batteries. In electric cars, these metrics translate to how far you can drive your car on a single charge and how many charges you can get out of the battery before it stops working. Generally speaking, there’s a trade-off between energy density and battery lifetime—if you want more of one, you get less of the other. Dahn’s group was responsible for the seemingly impossible task of overcoming this tradeoff. The energy density of a lithium ion battery is one of the most important qualities in consumer electric cars like Tesla’s Model 3. Customers want to be able to drive long distances in a single charge. Tesla’s newer cars can get up to 370 miles per charge, which is well beyond the range of electric vehicles from other companies. In fact, based on the average American commute, Dahn estimates that most EV owners only use about a quarter of a charge per day. But to make a fleet of robotaxis or an empire of long haul electric trucks, Tesla will need a battery that can handle full discharge cycles every day. The problem is that fully discharging and recharging everyday puts greater stress on the battery and degrades its components more rapidly. But simply maintaining the current lifespan of a Tesla battery pack— about 300,000 to 500,000 miles—isn’t enough either. Long haul electric trucks and robotaxis will be packing in way more daily miles than your average commuter, which is why Musk wants a battery that can last for one million miles. Musk asked and Dahn delivered. As Dahn and his team detailed in their benchmarking paper, “one does not need to make a tradeoff between energy density and lifetime anymore.” The team’s results show that their batteries could be charged and depleted over 4,000 times and only lose about 10 percent of their energy capacity. For the sake of comparison, a paper from 2014 showed that similar lithium-ion batteries lost half their capacity after only 1,000 cycles
“4,000 cycles is really impressive,” says Greg Less, the technical director at the University of Michigan’s Energy Institute battery lab. “A million mile range is easily doable with 4,000 cycles.” Just days after the publication of the benchmarking paper, Tesla and Dahn were awarded a patent that described a single-crystal lithium-ion battery almost identical to the batteries described in the benchmarking paper. The patented battery includes an electrolyte additive called ODTO that the patent claims can “enhance performance and lifetime of Li-ion batteries, while reducing costs.”
It’s not certain that the battery described in the patent is the million-mile battery that Musk said would enter production next year, and neither Tesla nor Dahn are talking. But it’s a safe bet that Tesla’s proprietary battery performs even better.
Shirley Meng, who runs the Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion at the University of California, San Diego, says many electric vehicle companies are pursuing batteries with higher nickel content than what Dahn’s paper and patent describe. That approach can boost the energy density of a battery. Meng says the next step is to merge those higher-density designs with some high-performing mix of electrolytes and additives. Whether it’s the formula Dahn’s group perfected is an open question.
“I believe the ultimate goal of Jeff’s team is to demonstrate ultralong life in a high-nickel-content cathode, but perhaps they need a completely different mixture of the electrolyte additive cocktail,” Meng says. “I don’t think the same formula will work, and that’s why they released all the formulations.”
Whatever design ends up making it into production at Tesla’s massive Gigafactory, the signs are clear: A million-mile battery will be here soon.


Source: Daniel Oberhaus is a staff writer at WIRED, where he covers space exploration and the future of energy.