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Piera Systems Selected by the Province of Ontario for its “Vape Detectors and Building Safety Initiative”

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Piera’s intelligent particle sensors with AI identify sources of indoor pollutants including vape, smoke

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 2, 2024 /CNW/ – Piera Systems Inc., today announces its Canāree IX6 Vape Detector with Noise Monitoring has been selected as a Vendor of Record (VOR) by Supply Ontario, for the Province of Ontario’s Initiative to reduce vaping in school buildings and other public spaces. 

Student vaping continues to grow with 13.4% of middle and high school students that vape daily (source: Ontario CAMH OSDUHS 2023 study).  While vaping can be less harmful than smoking, many vapes have much higher nicotine levels leading to lower impulse control, mood disorders, disrupting attention and learning, increasing the risk of future addiction to other drugs.

The Province of Ontario’s “Vape Detectors and Building Safety Initiative” provides funding to install vape detectors with noise monitoring to identify vaping and smoking incidents in seconds, alert school officials with location, time and duration information.  Simultaneously, sound level sensors identify loud, sustained noises indicating activities that require school staff attention. Sensors do not record sound or video ensuring privacy.

Canāree can also integrate to available video security systems, where location and time data can be used to determine if individuals or repeat offenders can be identified.  In addition, signage will indicate vape and smoke free zones so students can know when monitoring is in effect.  Devices are installed in tamper-proof locations and their status monitored continuously.

“Indoor air pollution has a significant impact on human health and productivity and our unique ability to identify vape and smoke accurately and quickly at an affordable cost was a key reason for our selection for this initiative,” said Vin Ratford, CEO of Piera Systems. “We are honoured to be selected as a supplier and applaud the provincial government for allocating funding to reduce indoor vaping, smoking, and the health impacts caused by secondhand smoke.”

Funding is available immediately to Ontario Public Service ministries including all Ontario schools. The deployment process will begin once vendors are selected by individual school districts. Additionally, other non-OPS entities, including public libraries, hospitals, universities, schools, etc. may choose to use the VOR. 

Canāree monitors are currently deployed worldwide in schools, hospitals, hotels, commercial and residential spaces to monitor air quality, classify pollutants, and provide alerts on vaping and smoking activity delivering significant health benefits. 

The Canāree Platform

The Canāree IX6 Vape Detector with Noise Monitoring is based on Piera System’s Canāree IX platform of AI-based intelligent Indoor Environment Monitors (IEM) that detect various gases and particulate aerosols in real-time, capable of identifying sources of pollution as well as providing feedback on mitigation steps to clean the air, reduce health risks, and other environmental factors that affect inhabitants like vape and smoke.

The base Canāree IX model, the IX6, includes as standard, Piera Systems’ own intelligent particle sensor, the IPS7100, volatile organic compounds (VOC), temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and noise sensors. The IX can be customized to include additional sensors such as CO2 (NDIR-based), CO, NO2, SO2, O2, O3, ammonia, and vibration detectors.

All Canāree models collect real-time air quality data locally and send that data to Piera’s SenseiAQ cloud for remote monitoring, analysis and alerting. SenseiAQ then displays the data on a dashboard including Air Quality Index (AQI) scores, color-coded to EPA/EEEC standards along with vape/smoke/AQ alerts. APIs are available to support third-party integrations such as video security systems, air quality management systems (AQMS), building management systems (BMS) and IoT device management.

Canāree was selected as a finalist in the AI/Machine Learning category of the 2024 Best of Sensors Awards for “Classifying Pollutants Using Industry’s Most Accurate Low-cost PM Sensor.”  The awards program presented by Sensors Converge and Fierce Electronics honors the best in sensor technologies and the sensor ecosystem, people and companies.

About Piera Systems, Inc.

Piera Systems Inc. (Mississauga, ON) mission is to make air quality measurement as accurate, simple, and pervasive as temperature, enabling a major improvement in the health of all humans. The IPS family of intelligent particulate matter sensors uses a custom, patented particle-counting microchip to determine particulate matter’s size, count, and mass. Then, by utilizing AI/ML techniques, Piera can identify pollution sources such as vape, smoke, cooking, construction dust, and more, either at the edge or in the cloud. Our SenseiAQ air quality monitoring platform monitors and alerts users to poor air quality and pollution events.

Headquartered in Canada, more information on Piera Systems’ air quality solutions can be found at https://www.pierasystems.com

About Supply Ontario

Supply Ontario is a crown operational agency of the Ontario government that leads and manages procurement-related work on behalf of the Ontario government. Its mandate is to strengthen supply chain management and procurement across the public sector, ensuring that Ontario ministries, provincial agencies, and broader public services such as hospitals, school boards, children’s aid societies, and more have access to high-quality, timely, reliable products at the best value.  The Vape Detectors and Building Safety Provisions (Tender 19788) will be used by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Service – Ontario and includes:

Vape Detectors (includes installation and maintenance services and related accessories)Building Safety Provisions of safety lighting, security cameras, motion sensors and signage (includes installation and maintenance services and related accessories as needed)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/piera-systems-selected-by-the-province-of-ontario-for-its-vape-detectors-and-building-safety-initiative-302265859.html

SOURCE Piera Systems Inc.

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Kakunin Announces Cryptographic Compliance Shield for Google Gemini and OpenAI Agent Ecosystems

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SaaS Compliance Leader Launches First-Class SDK Integrations for Google Antigravity, OpenAI Swarm, and OpenAI Assistants API to Meet Strict MiCA and EU AI Act Standards.

LONDON, June 13, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Kakunin, the leading compliance infrastructure platform for autonomous AI agents, today announced the release of first-class SDK integrations for Google Antigravity SDK, OpenAI Swarm, and the OpenAI Assistants API.

Autonomous agents are executing high-value, real-world tasks—but without strict boundaries, they represent a massive security risk,” said Palash Bagchi, Founder, at Kakunin.

As organizations move autonomous AI agents from sandboxes to production, securing the tools they run has become a critical operational hurdle. The new integrations allow developers to cryptographically secure and audit agent actions in real time, meeting the strict requirements of upcoming regulations like the EU AI Act and MiCA.

Preventing Agent Drift at the Tool Layer

Instead of relying on prompt engineering or system instructions—which are susceptible to jailbreaks—Kakunin secures agent tool execution at the cryptographic layer:

Pre-Flight Scope Verification: Validates that an agent possesses the required permission scope (e.g., trade.execute, file.write) before executing local code.Active-Agent Enforcement: Dynamically halts execution if the agent’s underlying X.509 certificate has been revoked or suspended.Tamper-Evident Auditing: Automatically logs session starts, prompts, responses, tool successes, and error anomalies.

Ecosystem Compatibility out of the Box

The new releases bring seamless, code-first integrations to the industry’s leading agent frameworks:

Google Antigravity SDK: Hook-based runtime protection that automatically secures Gemini-powered tool workflows.OpenAI Swarm: A lightweight class wrapper (KakuninSwarm) that dynamically gates multi-agent handoffs and task executions.OpenAI Assistants API: A polling-loop helper (handle_assistants_requires_action) that streamlines safety checks and tool output formatting in a single call.

Beyond these core OpenAI and Google environments, the new releases also extend Kakunin’s cryptographic shield to the broader agent development community. Out-of-the-box templates and shims are now available for LangChain (KakuninToolGuard), LlamaIndex (KakuninFunctionToolGuard), CrewAI (KakuninCrewAgent), and AutoGen (KakuninConversableAgent), alongside native middlewares for Next.js API routes and raw client libraries for Go, TypeScript, and Python.

“Autonomous agents are executing high-value, real-world tasks—but without strict boundaries, they represent a massive security risk,” said Palash Bagchi, Founder, at Kakunin. “By bringing cryptographic X.509 validation directly to Google’s and OpenAI’s agent loops, we are giving developers the peace of mind to deploy agents in highly regulated environments like fintech and healthcare.”

Availability

The new SDK integrations are available immediately:

Python Package: Available on PyPI via pip install kakunin.Playground Notebooks: Developers can test the integrations in 1-click via the official OpenAI Cookbook and Google Gemini Cookbook.Reference Samples: Available on the public Kakunin Samples Repository.

To learn more about securing your autonomous agent workflows, visit kakunin.ai/docs. or visit Conversational GTM for more enquiries.

Media Contact
Palash Bagchi, Immortal Reality PA LLC, 1 4125437290, ai@kakunin.ai, https://www.kakunin.ai/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/kakunin-announces-cryptographic-compliance-shield-for-google-gemini-and-openai-agent-ecosystems-302798798.html

SOURCE Kakunin

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District Taco Kicks Off The Summer’s Biggest Soccer Event with Free Delivery Offer

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App Users can enjoy District Taco at home with free delivery during the world’s biggest soccer tournament.

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — District Taco is bringing the excitement of the world’s biggest soccer tournament straight to fans’ homes with a special promotion designed to make game-day meals even more convenient.

This promotion makes it easier and more affordable to enjoy District Taco delivered right to your door so you don’t miss a moment of the action!

From June 11 through July 19, guests who order delivery through the District Taco app can use promo code ‘SOCCER26’ to receive $5 off their order, effectively offsetting the standard delivery fee and creating a free delivery experience.

Whether cheering on a favorite team, hosting a watch party, or enjoying the match from the couch, fans can enjoy District Taco’s fresh, made-to-order menu without leaving home or the extra delivery cost. “We know fans will be gathering throughout the tournament to watch some of the most exciting matches in the world,” said Osiris Hoil, CEO of District Taco. “This promotion makes it easier and more affordable to enjoy District Taco delivered right to your door so you don’t miss a moment of the action!”

The promotion is part of District Taco’s broader effort to drive digital engagement and app use. Here are the campaign details:

Enter Promo Code: ‘SOCCER26’ when placing the order in-appOffer: $5 off delivery ordersAvailable: June 11 through July 19Valid on: District Taco app delivery orders only (not third-party platforms)

Guests can download the District Taco app here for Apple users and here for Android users!

About District Taco

In 2009, two neighbors got together over some homemade chips, salsa and guacamole and decided to launch District Taco as a food cart. Since then, District Taco has opened multiple locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington, DC. Their mission is to serve quality – Yucatán style – Mexican food that is fresh, simple, and healthful, with a fully customizable menu that includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. At District Taco, food is made fresh daily from the highest quality ingredients. They strive to limit their impact on the environment by serving in environmentally friendly packaging where possible. For more information about District Taco or their menu, and to download the app, visit districttaco.com or follow @districttaco across socials.

Media Contact

Raquel Robinson, District Taco, 1 5712657573, raquel.robinson@districttaco.com, districttaco.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/district-taco-kicks-off-the-summers-biggest-soccer-event-with-free-delivery-offer-302799507.html

SOURCE District Taco

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MGI Tech Showcases Expanding Genomics Ecosystem at ESHG 2026 with New IVD Partnering Program and OEM Collaborations

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI), a company committed to developing core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life sciences, is showcasing its latest advancements in sequencing, automation and clinical genomics at the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) 2026 Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

At Booth 352, MGI welcomes researchers, clinicians, laboratory leaders and industry partners to explore its comprehensive portfolio of sequencing and automation solutions while unveiling new initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration across the genomics ecosystem.

Advancing Clinical Genomics Through Partnership

A key highlight of ESHG 2026 is the launch of the MGI NGS Partner Enablement Program, a new initiative designed to connect diagnostic developers, assay providers and laboratory partners seeking to build validated clinical workflows on MGI sequencing platforms.

The program aims to accelerate the development and adoption of regulated next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications by fostering collaborations that simplify workflow implementation, reduce time-to-market and support broader access to precision medicine solutions.

“Clinical genomics is increasingly dependent on strong partnerships across the value chain,” said Fang Chen, General Manager Europe & Africa at MGI. “With the launch of our NGS Partner Enablement Program, we are creating a collaborative framework that brings together assay developers, software providers, automation partners and clinical laboratories to accelerate access to high-quality genomic testing.”

Expanding Automation Capabilities Through OEM Collaborations

At ESHG 2026, MGI is also announcing new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnership opportunities on MGI’s DE Bundles (integrated library preparation and sequencing platform), bringing turnkey automation to global partners. The DE Bundle includes the current D4+E25 combination, as well as the new D16 paired with the E25 featuring a new 50M flow cell.

The D16, which will be launched later this year, is a benchtop, mid-to-low throughput library prep system and the upgraded successor to the D4. Retaining the fully enclosed contamination control system, it integrates a single-channel robotic pipetting module to maximize automation. With two sample preparation cartridges each processing 8 samples, the D16 delivers significantly higher throughput. The D16 and E25 systems provide flexible and scalable automation solutions for library construction, sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, streamlining the entire laboratory workflow.

Through this open OEM framework, MGI is enabling customers and solution providers to integrate proven automation technologies into customized workflows tailored to specific clinical and research applications. The OEM program reflects MGI’s commitment to building an open ecosystem that empowers laboratories to increase efficiency, improve standardization and accelerate scientific discovery.

“We are excited to expand the opportunities available to our OEM partners by providing access to the D16 platform, enabling the development of truly walkaway solutions that simplify and automate complex laboratory workflows,” said Wim Vervaeke, OEM Director at Europe & Africa at MGI. “Our innovations, including the PrepALL, E25, and G99, have already sparked new partnerships across the life sciences ecosystem. By combining MGI’s automation expertise with the specialized capabilities of our partners, we are creating integrated solutions that deliver maximum value, efficiency, and convenience for end users.”

Corporate Satellite Symposium Highlights Clinical Genomics, Precision Oncology and Spatial Multi-Omics

As part of ESHG 2026, MGI hosted its Corporate Satellite Symposium, Advancing Diagnostics: From Clinical Implementation to Biomarker Discovery, bringing together leading experts from across Europe to showcase how advanced genomic technologies are being translated into real-world clinical and research impact. The symposium highlighted applications spanning clinical oncology diagnostics, pharmacogenomics, and spatial multi-omics.

Dr. Raquel T. Lima from IPATIMUP (Portugal) presented the clinical value of RNA sequencing for detecting actionable gene fusions in solid tumours, improving diagnostic yield and supporting precision oncology decision-making. Prof. Dr. Andreas Braun from University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) shared how spatial biology technologies map the tumour microenvironment in melanoma, revealing tumour heterogeneity, cellular interactions, and mechanisms associated with disease progression and treatment response. Dr. Andrea Conti from BMR Genomics (Italy) explored the opportunities of whole genome sequencing for pharmacogenetic marker evaluation, highlighting how comprehensive genomic approaches can support the implementation of personalised medicine through improved identification of clinically relevant variants.

Together, the presentations demonstrated how genomic and multi-omics technologies are advancing clinical diagnostics, translational oncology research, and precision medicine, while highlighting the growing role of sequencing in delivering actionable insights across healthcare and biomedical research.

Comprehensive Solutions for Genomics and Multi-Omics Research

Visitors to the MGI booth can explore the company’s comprehensive portfolio of sequencing and automation technologies supporting applications across human genetics, oncology, reproductive health, population genomics and multi-omics research.

Highlighting strong market adoption, MGI is showcasing the T7+, its ultra-high-throughput sequencing platform at the conference. Following its official launch for the Europe and Africa region at Analytica 2026 in Munich, the T7+ has gained significant momentum, with 27 units installed worldwide as of the end of 2025. From benchtop to ultra-high-throughput sequencing platforms, as well as advanced laboratory automation solutions, MGI continues to support laboratories seeking high-performance, scalable and cost-effective genomics workflows.

“Our mission extends beyond delivering innovative technologies,” said Dr. Christian Zimmerman, VP Sales Europe & Africa at MGI. “We are focused on building a complete ecosystem that enables our customers to transition seamlessly from research to clinical implementation. The partnerships and initiatives we are launching at ESHG 2026 demonstrate our commitment to making genomic technologies more accessible, integrated and impactful.”

Driving the Future of Precision Medicine in Europe

Europe remains a strategic region for MGI, with growing adoption of genomic technologies across research institutions, healthcare systems and national population initiatives.

Through continued investment in sequencing innovation, automation, clinical partnerships and collaborative ecosystem development, MGI is helping accelerate the transition toward more precise, data-driven healthcare.

As genomics increasingly becomes integrated into routine clinical practice, MGI remains committed to providing the technologies and partnerships necessary to support the next generation of precision medicine.

About MGI

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its subsidiaries, together referred to as MGI) is committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science. Our focus lies in research & development, manufacturing, and sales of instruments, reagents, and related products in the field of life science and biotechnology. We provide real-time, multi-omics, and a full spectrum of digital equipment and systems for precision medicine, agriculture, healthcare, and various other industries.

Founded in 2016, MGI has grown into a leader in life science, serving customers across six continents and establishing research, manufacturing, training, and after-sales service facilities globally. As one of the few companies capable of independently developing and mass-producing clinical-grade gene sequencers, MGI empowers global users with scalable sequencing capabilities ranging from Gb to Tb levels. MGI also stands out as one of the only providers of a full-stack product portfolio that spans three core segments: SEQ ALL (short- and long-read sequencing), GLI (Generative Lab Intelligence), and Multi-Omics. With unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge products, and a commitment to global impact, MGI continues to shape the trajectory of life sciences into the future.

To learn more, please visit MGI TechLinkedInX, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mgi-tech-showcases-expanding-genomics-ecosystem-at-eshg-2026-with-new-ivd-partnering-program-and-oem-collaborations-302799622.html

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