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Combatting Cracked Concrete

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Causes of failing concrete and how to solve them

MISSION, Kan., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — (Family Features) Concrete is a strong, durable and easy-to-maintain material that is popular for driveways, walkways, patios and more. Like most materials, though, it can inevitably wear down over time.

When signs of failure show themselves, homeowners commonly face two options: repair or replace. Prepare and plan for eventual concrete deterioration with this advice from the experts at Thrasher Foundation Repair, which has served more than 150,000 families over the last 50 years.

Reasons for Concrete Failure

Natural elements like weather, water and earth are often to blame, but man-made mistakes can also contribute to concrete failure.

Poorly compacted soil: When a home is constructed, a lot of soil is moved around and put back in place. This often results in loose, poorly compacted soil, which allows water to seep in, saturate and dry out. The constant expansion and contraction can create voids beneath the concrete, which it eventually sinks into.Weather: During hot weather, concrete expands and causes pressure throughout the slab, often resulting in cracks. Conversely, during cold weather, the moisture in the ground freezes and can cause the slab to shrink, causing concrete to lift, heave and crack.Excessive weight: Concrete is strong but not indestructible. Excessively heavy objects, like snow, can cause cracking.Shrinkage: When concrete is installed, water is used to facilitate mixing and pouring. As concrete cures, excess water evaporates and causes a reduction in concrete volume, sometimes leading to cracking.Defects: Improper installation or a poorly prepared concrete mix may lead to a weak slab that’s prone to cracking.

Signs of Concrete Failure
Identifying failure can help you address issues before they get out of hand. One of the most common signs is cracking – while a few hairline cracks that aren’t actively growing aren’t typically a problem, larger cracks that spread can affect drainage, aesthetics and structural integrity.

If you notice water collecting in areas following heavy rain, that may indicate a soil issue that can lead to concrete failure. Pitting, flaking and staining are also signs of damaged concrete. Uneven surfaces or sinking concrete are serious signs that concrete slabs are struggling with external factors that need to be addressed.

Options for Addressing Concrete Failure
When homeowners notice signs of failure in their driveways, sidewalks or patios, they often assume replacement is the only option. However, concrete repair can revitalize slabs without a full replacement, typically at a lower price.

Repair: New technology makes repairing concrete less invasive, more affordable and quicker than total replacement. Consider Thrasher Foundation Repair’s PolyLevel process, which refers to a system using a two-part polyurethane polymer to fill voids and lift concrete slabs to their original position. It’s injected through a pencil eraser-sized hole and expands into a structural foam that compacts the soil. Quick, noninvasive and aesthetically pleasing, it’s a fast installation process with a curing time of 15-20 minutes so the surface can be used the same day. This repair process is recommended for cracks, settled and unlevel slabs or sunken steps.

“Repairing concrete, rather than full replacement, can save homeowners as much as 50-80%, depending on square footage,” said Dan Thrasher, CEO of Thrasher Foundation Repair. “It’s often a more economical solution that provides peace of mind, visual appeal and long-lasting results.”

Staining: After a repair, slabs may appear mismatched. Staining concrete adds visual appeal while helping to prevent pitting, flaking, cracking and moisture-related issues.

Replacement: As a long, disruptive and inconvenient process, full slab replacement can be overwhelming, both in terms of time and money. Some situations do call for full slab replacement, however, such as concrete older than 30 years, deep cracks and large potholes or a poorly installed base.

When choosing the right way to address concrete failure, it’s important to consider your time and budget. When in doubt, contact a professional who can walk you through the process by visiting GoThrasher.com.

Michael French
mfrench@familyfeatures.com
1-888-824-3337
editors.familyfeatures.com

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate
A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com.

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Fangzhou CEO Honored at 2025 VBEF Conference as Company Showcases AI Medical Innovations

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SUZHOU, China, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fangzhou Inc. (“Fangzhou” or the “Company”) (06086.HK), a leader in Internet healthcare solutions, participated in the prestigious 2025 VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference hosted by VCBeat at the Suzhou International Expo Centre May 9-10th. Fangzhou’s founder, chairman, and CEO Dr. Xie Fangmin was named “Most Influential Healthcare Entrepreneur” as part of the 2025 Annual Future Healthcare Awards. The recognition highlights Fangzhou’s decade-long evolution as a pioneer in online medical services, including its latest advancements in large language models and safeguards against AI hallucination risks.

Dr. Xie Fangmin commented, “I am privileged to accept this award, and this recognition underscores Fangzhou’s commitment to developing innovative healthcare solutions that prioritize both safety and intelligence. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to our mission of leveraging AI technologies to broaden healthcare accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and drive the next generation of intelligent healthcare services.”

Policy Alignment

Fangzhou’s growth strategy aligns with China’s AI regulatory framework for healthcare, including the recent 2025-2030 Pharmaceutical Industry Digital Transformation Implementation Plan which emerged from a collaborative effort among seven regulatory bodies, comprising the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”), the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and other key ministries. The integration of generative AI with traditional machine-learning systems creates a foundation for widespread AI deployment, catalyzing tremendous potential opportunities in China’s healthcare industry.

AI Innovation

Since launching its H2H (Hospital to Home) Smart Healthcare Ecosystem, Fangzhou has implemented an AI integration roadmap, initially addressing chronic disease management features before progressing to more advanced applications. In 2022, the Company expanded its AI medical application research efforts, followed by the 2023 rollout of an intelligent customer service assistant. In 2024, Fangzhou incorporated DeepSeek-V2 into its platform to optimize its knowledge base and enhance content generation capabilities, and more recently in 2025, the company deployed DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 models through strategic partnerships with Tencent Cloud and Tencent Health. To ensure the highest standards of safety and reliability, Fangzhou’s R&D team developed safeguards to address “hallucination” risks in large language models through a multifaceted approach, including knowledge base enhancements, model architecture refinement, and implementation of rigorous supervision protocols.

About Fangzhou Inc.

Fangzhou Inc. (06086.HK) is China’s leading online chronic disease management platform, serving 49.2 million registered users and 223,000 physicians (as of December 31, 2024). The Company specializes in delivering tailored medical care and precision medicine solutions. For more information, visit https://investors.jianke.com.

About VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference

The VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference convenes industry leaders, academics, and investors to address critical trends in healthcare. The 2025 forum emphasized AI applications and digital transformation.

Media Contact
For further inquiries or interviews, please reach out to:
Xingwei Zhao Associate Director of Public Relations Email: pr@jianke.com 

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements

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SOURCE Fangzhou Inc.

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ChipMOS ANNOUNCES NT$525 MILLION SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

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HSINCHU, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (“ChipMOS” or the “Company”) (Taiwan Stock Exchange: 8150 and Nasdaq: IMOS), an industry leading provider of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test services (“OSAT”), today announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program with the total amount up to NT$525 million (approximately US$16.4 million, based on the exchange rate of NT$31.96 to US$1.00 as of April 30, 2025).

Under the program, the company will repurchase up to 15 million shares from the open market on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, approximately 2.06% of its issued share capital. The shares will be repurchased within a price range of NT$18.87 to NT$35.00 per share, while the buyback will still be carried out if the stock price falls lower than the aforementioned range. The authorization repurchase program period is from May 14 to July 13, 2025.

S.J. Cheng, Chairman and President of ChipMOS, said, “Our strong balance sheet and long-term fundamentals give us confidence in our business, which is reflected in the new share repurchase authorization by the Board of Directors. This is in-line with our capital allocation strategy and view that our shares represent a highly compelling investment opportunity given the recent share price dislocation in the market. We continue focus on supporting our customers and executing on the longer-term, strategic initiatives that will help drive our growth and leadership success.”

About ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC.:

ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (“ChipMOS” or the “Company”) (Taiwan Stock Exchange: 8150 and Nasdaq: IMOS) (www.chipmos.com) is an industry leading provider of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test services. With advanced facilities in Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu Industrial Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park in Taiwan, ChipMOS is known for its track record of excellence and history of innovation. The Company provides end-to-end assembly and test services to leading fabless semiconductor companies, integrated device manufacturers and independent semiconductor foundries serving virtually all end markets worldwide.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as ‘believes,’ ‘expects,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘intends,’ ‘should,’ ‘seeks,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘future’ or similar expressions or by discussion of, among other things, strategies, goals, plans or intentions. These statements may include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding tariffs, government policies, global trade environments, pricing, plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Actual results may differ materially in the future from those reflected in forward-looking statements contained in this document, due to various factors. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors are included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

Contacts:

In Taiwan

Jesse Huang

ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC.

+886-6-5052388 ext. 7715

IR@chipmos.com 

In the U.S.

David Pasquale

Global IR Partners

+1-914-337-8801

dpasquale@globalirpartners.com 

 

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SOURCE ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC.

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Ogury Accelerates Net Zero Strategy with 51toCarbonZero Partnership

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The global adtech leader sets new standards in sustainable advertising with deeper data, measurable reductions, and product innovation.

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ogury, the leader in advertising solutions fueled by exclusive data and grounded in privacy, today announced a strategic partnership with 51toCarbonZero (51-0), the only net zero platform powering growth for marketing and advertising leaders. This marks a pivotal step in Ogury’s sustainability journey, as the company accelerates its path toward net zero.

Following Ogury’s signing of The Climate Pledge in 2021 – and the completion of three comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) assessments – the company has a clear understanding of its carbon footprint and is taking bold steps to minimize its environmental impact. With a mature emissions baseline and an established reduction roadmap, Ogury turned to 51-0 to leverage its advanced AI data automation capabilities and its tailored expertise in adtech sustainability – driving greater emissions visibility and faster progress toward the company’s net zero goal.

Nathalie Pannequin, Senior Culture Lead at Ogury, said: “Environmental responsibility is not an add-on for us—it’s embedded in how we operate, innovate, and grow. As we advance toward net zero, it’s critical we pair our strong foundations with targeted expertise that understands the unique emissions profile of digital advertising. 51-0 brings the deep industry knowledge and pioneering solutions we need to lead responsibly in this space. Through this partnership, we aim to set new benchmarks and share best practices for sustainability within adtech while tackling climate change head-on.”

51-0 will support Ogury’s fourth GHG assessment and help refine its global reduction roadmap, providing more granular emissions measurement and analysis across Scopes 1, 2, and 3. Together, the companies will embed sustainability even deeper into Ogury’s operations and evolve its product offering to improve environmental impact, especially for ad delivery, while promoting more responsible consumption to contribute to broader industry change.

By leveraging 51-0’s platform and climate advisory, Ogury will track progress more effectively and make data-driven decisions around operational efficiencies, which create opportunities for cost saving. The partnership underscores Ogury’s belief that environmental action is not just about ethics, but a strategic business opportunity that builds trust and long-term value with clients, suppliers, investors, and employees.

Richard Davis, CEO & Co-founder at 51toCarbonZero, said: “Ogury is a brilliant example of how climate leadership can evolve with integrity. Moving from measurement to impactful action, Ogury is now opening up opportunities to create additional revenue lines and generate operational efficiencies in a complex, fast-moving sector. We’re excited to support the team as they shape what responsible advertising looks like in a net zero future.”

This collaboration spans Ogury’s global operations across 19 countries and digital activities in 33 markets, ensuring a unified approach to sustainability. It also strengthens the environmental pillar of Ogury’s holistic ESG strategy, complementing its work to foster diversity and inclusion, responsible business practices, and long-term stakeholder impact.

Ogury and 51-0 demonstrate the power of treating climate action as both a business driver and a moral imperative—proving that with the right data, direction, and dedication decarbonizing adtech is achievable.

About Ogury
Ogury is a global adtech company that delivers Personified Advertising solutions grounded in privacy to brands, agencies and publishers by focusing on targeting personas, not people.

We deliver relevant audiences at scale and on quality publisher inventory thanks to our exclusive data, which is meticulously collected and crafted from millions of self-declared customer surveys, enriched with billions of impactful data points, and refined by AI. This results in audience insights and performance not available through any other adtech platform.

Founded in 2014, Ogury is a global organization with a diverse team of 500+ people across 19 countries.

About 51toCarbonZero
51toCarbonZero is a climate-tech company dedicated to helping organizations understand and reduce their carbon emissions. Their platform consolidates an enterprise’s entire carbon footprint, providing real-time data and actionable insights to drive carbon transformation. With a focus on industries that shape public opinion, such as media and advertising, 51-0 is expanding to serve additional sectors, including food and beverage and automotive.

 

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SOURCE Ogury LTD

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