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HKBU biologists discover two new windowpane shell species

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HONG KONG, Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Biologists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have discovered two new species of windowpane shell at Mai Po, Hong Kong and in the South China Sea. Also known as the windowpane oyster or capiz shell, the windowpane shell is a small group of saltwater bivalves belonging to the genus Placuna under the family Placunidae. Their discovery brings the total number of species in this genus from five to seven worldwide.

The HKBU research team, led by Professor Qiu Jianwen, Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, has named the new species Placuna aestuaria and Placuna vitream. Their findings have been published in the academic journal Ecology and Evolution. This study was supported by the Lantau Conservation Fund.

Translucent silvery windowpane shells

Windowpane shells are edible but valued more for their shells which have been used for thousands of years as a substitute for glass. These beautiful translucent shells have been widely used in making windows, jewellery and decorative items such as lampshades and chandeliers.

The HKBU biologists discovered the new species Placuna aestuaria from Hong Kong. The name “aestuaria” is derived from the Latin word for “estuarial”, highlighting this species’ habitat – the estuarine waters of the Pearl River Estuary.

New windowpane shell species discovered in Hong Kong

The HKBU team surveyed the epibenthic fauna in the waters of Lantau Island in April 2022 and studied a box jellyfish, which was later confirmed to be a new species, in the Mai Po Nature Reserve in July 2023. During these studies, the team collected several subfossils of the genus Placuna.

According to the literature, the only recorded species of the genus Placuna in Hong Kong is the tropical species Placuna placenta. After careful comparison, the biologists at HKBU found that the specimens collected from Hong Kong differed in features such as the hinge and auricle structure from the Placuna placenta. This led them to confirm that it is a new species, which they named Placuna aestuaria. The team believes that the previous records of Placuna placenta in Hong Kong were due to misidentification, and that Placuna aestuaria may have migrated to other coastal areas of China due to climate change.

The other new windowpane shell species sold in the market

The other new species, named “vitream”, is celebrated for its “glassy”, pearl-like appearance. HKBU biologists purchased live specimens of Placuna vitream from the local fishermen at the Haikou Dongmen Market in May 2023. Then they found more wild specimens in the intertidal zone of Xincun Port located in Sanya, Hainan, as well as specimens collected from Xiajin Bay in Xiamen, indicating its potential wide distribution around the South China Sea including Hong Kong.

Placuna vitream has been erroneously identified as Placuna placenta in the literature due to their similarities in shell shape, outline, and hinge structure. The HKBU team compared Placuna vitream to Placuna placenta from Singapore, which revealed a genetic difference of 11.43%–11.82% between their cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, being several times the corresponding genetic difference between humans and chimpanzees.

Professor Qiu said, “Identifying the Placuna species poses distinct challenges due to the variability in shell size, shape, and even the color of the inner surface, which can exhibit a wide range of variations. Our discovery of two new species not only broadens the diversity of windowpane shells but also suggests that this group may be more diverse than previously recognised. This finding calls for a reassessment of other marine species in Asia that are presumed to be widely distributed.”

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SOURCE Hong Kong Baptist University

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Air Creebec confirms cybersecurity intrusion affecting some of its administrative systems

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VAL-D’OR, QC, Nov. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Air Creebec has discovered an unauthorized intrusion targeting some of its administrative systems. As soon as the incident was discovered, the company brought in cybersecurity experts to assess its scope and strengthen the security of the affected systems. It is working with the appropriate authorities.

“We recognize the seriousness of this situation, and we deeply regret the concern it is causing our employees, retirees, customers, partners and the communities we have the privilege of serving,” said Tanya Pash, President, Air Creebec.

The safety of Air Creebec’s flights, aircraft and flight operations remains assured and has not been compromised in any way. The company’s aircraft and flight systems operate independently, separately from the affected administrative systems. Operations are continuing as normal.

Initial findings indicate that administrative files were exfiltrated. These files may contain personal information relating mainly to current and former employees, as well as passengers. Others may also contain operational, administrative or financial information related to customers and partners. The review is ongoing.

“Air Creebec takes this situation very seriously and is committed to supporting the people affected,” said Tanya Pash.

The company is currently assessing appropriate protective measures, including the possibility of offering a credit monitoring and identity protection service, based on the nature of the information exposed and the risks identified. Eligible individuals will be informed directly of the measures available to them and the steps to follow.

Air Creebec asks everyone to be especially vigilant with any unexpected email, text message or phone call requesting urgent action or confidential information. The company reminds the public that it will never contact anyone to ask for banking information or passwords. It recommends monitoring accounts and statements, and reporting any unusual activity to one’s financial institution.

For any questions about this incident, Air Creebec can be reached by email at communications@aircreebec.ca. Advice and tools for self-protection are also available at aircreebec.ca/cybersecurity-incident. A dedicated phone line will be available soon; its number will be posted on the same page, where future updates will also be published.

About Air Creebec
Founded in 1982 by the Cree Nation, Air Creebec is a regional airline 100% owned by the Cree. It serves 16 destinations across Quebec and Ontario and operates a fleet of 22 aircraft, comprising Dash 8s and one ATR 72 Cargo. Driven by its community commitment, Air Creebec carries more than 200,000 passengers per year. 

SOURCE Air Creebec

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Go1 Partners with OpenAI to Expand Access to OpenAI Academy Courses

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OpenAI Academy courses will now be available through Go1, helping HR and L&D teams bring trusted, relevant AI learning to more employees through their existing learning systems.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Go1, a global learning and compliance solution that makes workforce learning relevant and measurable, today announced a partnership with OpenAI to help organizations build AI capability at scale. Practical, hands-on courses from OpenAI Academy will be available through Go1’s learning ecosystem, supporting employees and leaders in applying AI to their work.

The partnership builds on Go1’s role as a learning, data and intelligence layer for major HR systems, extending OpenAI Academy courses through the infrastructure employers already use. For HR and L&D teams, it brings trusted AI learning into their existing workforce strategy, making it easier to deliver relevant learning across the organization and understand participation and progress.

“AI adoption is moving quickly, but workforce capability isn’t always keeping pace,” said Chris Eigeland, CEO of Go1. “Organizations need a way to give every employee – not just technical teams—the knowledge and confidence to use AI effectively in their role. Bringing OpenAI Academy learning into Go1 helps HR and L&D leaders turn AI learning into a coordinated, measurable workforce strategy.”

Building AI capability across the workforce 

Organizations are investing in AI technology, but many still lack a consistent approach to preparing their people to use it. Learning is often fragmented across providers and platforms, making it difficult for HR and L&D teams to reach different audiences, measure participation, or understand where capability gaps exist.

OpenAI Academy provides practical AI learning for a range of roles, including knowledge workers, leaders, developers, educators and students. The courses help people apply AI to everyday work, build and evaluate AI-powered products, lead AI adoption, and use AI to support teaching and learning.

Combining foundational knowledge with real-world examples and hands-on application, the courses help people build the skills and confidence to use AI more effectively in their work.

Through Go1, organizations will be able to incorporate OpenAI Academy courses into a broader workforce learning strategy. Employees can access relevant AI learning through familiar systems, while HR and L&D teams gain a clearer view of engagement, learner sentiment, and emerging skill needs.

“We built OpenAI Academy courses by bringing together expertise from our research, product, safety and deployment teams with what we’ve learned helping organizations put AI to work,” said Lois Newman, Customer Education, OpenAI. “Through practice on real tasks and learning tailored to different roles, the courses help people use AI effectively in their day-to-day work and give organizations a shared foundation for adoption across their workforce.”

From AI learning to workforce readiness 

By bringing OpenAI Academy courses into the Go1 ecosystem, organizations can create a shared foundation of AI understanding while supporting the different needs of employees, leaders and technical teams.

“HR and L&D leaders are being asked to prepare the entire workforce for a new way of working,” Eigeland said. “This partnership gives them a practical way to expand access to trusted AI learning, meet people at their level and measure progress over time.”

OpenAI Academy courses will be available through Go1 starting today. To learn more, visit go1.com/openai-academy.

About Go1 
Go1 builds technology around how people learn and work, combining trusted learning and intelligence from the world’s largest learning ecosystem across a portfolio of brands that help organizations develop their people and support workforce progress. 

Its portfolio includes Go1, the trusted learning foundation for a future-ready workforce, and Morgan by Go1, the operator behind workforce enablement. Go1 helps organizations build capable, compliant, and future-ready workforces through the world’s most comprehensive learning ecosystem. Morgan builds on that foundation to surface useful signals and coordinate the action and follow-through that turn learning into measurable workforce progress, while keeping people in control. 

Technology partnerships extend the portfolio’s reach across the HR and learning ecosystem, bringing learning capabilities into the systems organizations already use. More than 11 million learners worldwide use Go1, and the company works with more than 10,000 organizations globally. To learn more, visit Go1.com.

Media Contact
PANBlast for Go1
Zach Weismiller
Go1@panblastpr.com          

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SOURCE Go1

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CorroHealth CEO Pat Leonard Named to CEO Magazine’s 2026 Executive of the Year Awards

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PLANO, Texas, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leading revenue cycle technology company CorroHealth today announced that CEO Pat Leonard has been named to CEO Magazine’s 2026 Executive of the Year Awards, which recognizes the exceptional leaders shaping the future of American business.

Leonard was honored for his strategic vision and operational discipline, building a strong foundation for accelerated growth. He was selected after a thorough nomination and evaluation process, standing out among an outstanding group of executives who are making a significant impact across their organizations and industries.

“A huge congratulations to Pat on being named Executive of the Year by CEO Magazine,” said Becky Blake, Chief People Officer at CorroHealth. “His vision and commitment have transformed our company and pushed healthcare technology forward. This recognition is a testament to the innovation and inspiration he brings to our team, partners, and stakeholders every day.”

CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards celebrate excellence among senior executives making significant impacts in their fields, from driving business growth and transformation to championing innovation, building high-performing teams and navigating complex markets.

Since 2020, Leonard has led CorroHealth’s operational transformation, establishing the company as a preferred partner in healthcare technology and revenue cycle management by merging clinician-led expertise with proprietary AI-driven technology. Through targeted acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and organic growth, he has expanded the company’s presence to over 10 locations worldwide and further strengthened its position as an industry leader.

To learn more about CorroHealth, visit corrohealth.com.

About CorroHealth
CorroHealth, the leading healthcare technology and revenue cycle management company that helps providers and payers improve financial performance through automation, data-driven analytics, and clinically led expertise. CorroHealth delivers integrated, scalable solutions that support complex reimbursement and documentation workflows, backed by a global workforce operating in more than 10 locations, including the United States, United Kingdom, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was recently named one of the “Top Places to Work in Healthcare in 2026” by Becker’s Healthcare and was recognized by the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Further information is available at corrohealth.com.

Media Contact:
CorroHealth 
mediarelations@corrohealth.com

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SOURCE CorroHealth

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