anguyen – Page 6 – Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors

Emergency drones used in search of missing toddler in North Texas

The search continues for Sherin Mathews, a 3-year-old toddler who has been missing from her home in Richardson, Texas since October 7. Emergency drones were deployed yesterday as the latest surveillance measure in hopes of finding the missing girl.

According to the International Business Times, Sherin’s father Wesley Mathews had allegedly left his daughter outside at 3 am as a form of punishment for not drinking her milk. When he returned 15 minutes later, she had disappeared. Police said that though coyotes are often seen in the area, there is little evidence that Sherin was mauled by a bear. Kidnapping also appears unlikely.

Police and volunteers have been searching in fields, creeks, and wooded areas for the missing girl. Locating missing persons is very arduous but every second counts. An officer said, “We’re always hopeful that we can find her alive. But time is our enemy.” Aerial surveillance can offer these extra precious seconds. The North Texas Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Response Team are using emergency drones to search for Sherin. Jamie Moore, Emergency Management Director of Johnson County, stated, “It gives you a much better perspective of what the terrain looks like, what the ground looks like. You can see car tracks for example that might have driven through dirt. You can see where dirt may have been disturbed, and you can see articles of clothing.” While the police cannot disclose all the details, Moore is hopeful the scouting efforts of the emergency drones has provided important information for finding Sherin.

Smaller police departments short on manpower and resources are quickly resorting to investing in drone technology. Compared to helicopters, emergency drones offer air surveillance at a fraction of the cost of an actual aircraft and they can reach areas that aircrafts usually cannot. This week’s search is not the first time drones have been used in police investigations. Emergency drones have been deployed in North Texas since 2015. Earlier this year in March, drones was used in Dallas for the search of 38-year-old Matthew Meinert whose body was found a couple days later. Drones have also been used to hunt down criminals and to scope out critical situations like fires.

Drones are expected to become commonplace in police investigations, especially as the technology advances. “If you can save a life because you were able to locate somebody very quickly, a matter of minutes as opposed to a matter of hours, that’s worth investing in,” said Moore.

Are you developing life-saving emergency drones and aerial surveillance technology through R&D? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and can receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative

18 billionaires from Dallas-Fort Worth make Forbes’ 400 Richest Americans List in 2017

Forbes released its annual 400 Richest Americans list on Tuesday, October 17 and the verdict is in: 18 of the 34 Texans who made the cut call Dallas-Fort Worth “home”.

The richest Texan is Alice Walton, 68, the Walmart heiress who resides in Dallas-Fort Worth and whose estimated net worth is at $38.2 billion. She ranks No. 13 on the Forbes 400. She is an active curator of art, serving as Chairman of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas and having supported the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

Texas’ economy is diverse but its main sources of wealth are oil, gas, and pipelines. The Forbes 400 reflected this with Robert Bass, Ray Lee Hunt, Trevor Rees-Jones, and Sid Bass among DFW residents in the Top 400 whose fortunes were built on oil. Others like Andrew Beal and H. Ross Perot Senior and Junior made their wealth through real estate. Sports also played a role, with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, worth an estimated $5.6 billion, rounding out the top three richest Texans and No. 95 in the country. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has an estimated $3.3 billion, making him the 21^st richest Texan. Cuban is also an investor on the television show, “Shark Tank.”

Bill Gates remains the richest American, with $89 billion. Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, claimed the No.2 spot with $81.5 billion, replacing Warren Buffett who previously held title for fifteen years and now sits at No. 3 with $78 billion. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg rounded the top four Richest Americans with a net worth of $71 billion.

2017 has proven a successful year for the country’s wealthiest Americans. Forbes’ 400 criteria jumped from 2016’s $1.7 billion net worth threshold to $2 billion. The Forbes 400’s total net worth is $2.7 trillion compared to last year’s $2.4 trillion.

Despite the minimum increase, 22 newcomers made the Forbes 400 list with 14 of them being self-made entrepreneurs. Notable innovators include Don Vultaggio, founder of Arizona ice tea and Tito Beveridge who created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Netflix founder Reed Hastings also notably landed a spot on the Forbes 400 with an estimated $2.2 billion.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur in Dallas-Fort Worth engaging in R&D to develop new products and maybe one day make the Forbes 400 Richest Americans List? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and can receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Who We Are:

Business Fort Worth Oil and gas industry r&d Technology

Fort Worth plastic surgeon’s non-invasive CoolSculpting demonstrates R&D in cosmetic surgery industry

Most people wouldn’t immediately think of research and development when they think of cosmetic surgery, but this Fort Worth-based plastic surgeon’s decision to introduce CoolSculpting in her practice demonstrates otherwise.

In a press release earlier today, Kirby Plastic Surgery in Fort Worth announced that it will offer CoolSculpting as a fat reduction treatment. Citing safety and efficacy for her clients, Dr. Emily Kirby asserts that CoolSculpting has improved in recent years and offers the product needed by clients. FDA-cleared, the procedure reduces fat by using cryolipolysis to freeze the skin and destroy fat cells without harming surrounding tissues. It reduces isolated fat bulges without the need for needles, incisions, anaesthesia, and there is no downtime for patients. From a process of research and development, CoolAdvantage was also developed. Building on the findings of CoolSculpting, CoolAdvantage treats more parts of the body, including thighs, chin, and arms, in addition to the abdomen and flanks. It is also faster than its predecessor, cutting down treatment duration from one hour to 35 minutes.

The procedure is non-invasive and more comfortable than traditional plastic surgery treatments. Dr. Kirby states, “A growing number of patients have expressed interest in minimally invasive alternatives to surgery to address effects of genetics, aging and childbearing on their bodies. My priority is to provide patients the results they want in a safe, predictable way.” Plastic surgery is on the rise, with over 11.6 million nonsurgical procedures conducted in 2016 in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. New technologies are constantly being developed.

Are you also developing new or improving existing body sculpting technologies? Did you know this constitutes R&D? If this sounds like you, you could be eligible for an R&D Tax Credit, even if your experiments and trials haven’t been successful. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Fort Worth Medical r&d Texas

On the road in Texas and need a bathroom? Buc-ee’s High-Tech Tooshlights Got You Covered

If you’ve ever driven along the North Freeway on the way to Fort Worth, you’ve probably stopped by Buc-ee’s, the famous roadside store with its quirky finds, tasty Beaver Bites, and world-renowned bathrooms. Now, the company is adding an even “smarter” upgrade: high-tech bathrooms with Tooshlights.

Jeff Nadalo, Buc-ee’s general counsel, announced that by next year, the company’s 33 stores across Texas will have a whole new system of high-tech bathrooms developed by Tooshlights, a Los Angeles startup. Providing relief for the tired traveler, Buc-ee’s bathrooms are known for their pristine cleanliness and spaciousness as well as its iconic Texas décor. Nadalo has emphasized that clean restrooms are truly “one of the most important pieces of our customer experience.”

With the new Tooshlights technology, Buc-ee’s will take the bathroom experience one step further. Tooshlights was founded in 2013 by Allen Klevens who came up with the idea while he was waiting for a bathroom stall at the Hollywood Bowl. Finding the wait time incredibly long and wearisome, Klevens came up with a system to manage bathroom traffic. Each stall in the Tooshlights system is equipped with a “smart latch” that connects to a colored light above each stall. These ceiling lights indicate whether a particular stall is occupied or vacant. Green indicates unlocked and empty while red signifies locked and in use. There is also a blue light for handicapped-accessible stalls. You don’t need to awkwardly knock on bathroom stalls anymore. Additionally, the Tooshlights software can monitor cleanliness of stalls and send notifications to staff about when it is time to clean a bathroom stall. It can also monitor when a stall has not been occupied in awhile and one that would require further attention.

Tooshlights’ ground-breaking approach to improving bathroom traffic makes it a perfect fit with Buc-ee’s reputation as a provider of extremely immaculate toilets. As one of Buc-ee’s billboards declares, “Your Throne Awaits. Fabulous Restrooms – 32 miles.” Who knows what new innovations are in store for Buc-ee’s next year?

Experimenting with high-tech ways to manage bathroom traffic like Tooshlights and Buc-ee’s? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Who We Are:

Fort Worth Technology texas r&d

Fort Worth Company NanOlogy Leads the Way to Treating Prostrate Cancer

Last week, NanOlogy, a Fort Worth-based pharmaceutical company, made headlines when it enrolled its first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial to test a new chemotherapy method to fight ovarian cancer. This week, the same company is changing the game again: this time to treat prostrate cancer.

27,000 American men die from prostrate cancer each year and about 3 million are currently diagnosed with the disease. Only patients at a higher risk for the disease’s progression are treated while those who are considered “low risk” are monitored closely and not treated. Prostatectomy is a common treatment but it is known for its side effects that decrease a patient’s quality of life, such as incontinence and impotence.

NanOlogy, in contrast, is developing a more convenient alternative with its patented intratumorally-injected NanoPac (nanoparticle paclitaxel). Currently in Phase 2 of its clinical trial, NanoPac will be monitored for its effects on safety and efficacy. Clinical Director of NanOlogy, Shelagh Verco, told Business Wire, “If we are successful, we may offer a treatment option for moderate or high risk patients with localized or non-metastatic disease without a negative impact on quality of life.” While mainstream treatments are limited to metastatic disease, NanOlogy hopes this can treat the disease before metastasis occurs. Dr. Gere diZerega, NanOlogy’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, explained, “Systemically administered paclitaxel has been shown to be effective for prostate cancer but is limited to metastatic disease. This clinical trial is the first study in humans to examine whether NanoPac injected intratumorally will effectively and safely treat the tumor with a high locally sustained concentration of the drug.”

NanOlogy is a collaboration among Fort Worth’s DFB Pharmaceuticals as well as Kansas’ CritiTech and California’s US Biotest. The firm aims to develop and improve the safety and efficacy of drug delivery by using nanoparticle technology to treat cancer. Other projects for the ambitious firm include developing treatments for lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and others.

Are you also developing new chemotherapeutic treatments like NanOlogy using R&D? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

biotechnology Fort Worth healthcare Medical r&d

Using Wi-FI? Here are three things you need to know about the KRACK in the system

Billions of people use Wi-Fi – in fact, you’re probably using it right now. But be warned: according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, there is a vulnerability in the Wi-Fi system known as KRACK or Key Reinstallation Attacks that could put your encrypted information at risk.

What is KRACK?

The modern Wi-Fi system uses the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) protocol to authenticate and protect the connection between access points and devices, such as computers and smartphones. Two researchers Mathy Vanhoef and Frank Piessens have found vulnerabilities in the WPA2 system which allow attackers to eavesdrop on Wi-Fi traffic between devices and access points. Because the vulnerability is at the protocol-level, attackers can access encrypted information previously assumed to be secured, ranging from passwords, emails, credit card numbers, photos, and so forth. In some cases, attackers may also manipulate information such as by injecting malware into websites.

Who is vulnerable?

Most devices are vulnerable to attack, from Android, Linux, Apple, Windows, OpenBSD, to MediaTek Linksys operating systems. However, the severity of threat varies as companies respond to the vulnerability. Microsoft announced earlier today that it has provided a software update protecting customers against the KRACK vulnerability. Google has promised to address the vulnerability on its systems within the coming weeks, with Google Pixel as the first to receive an update. Currently, Linux and Android 6.0 or higher systems are the most susceptible to attack.

What can I do?

While it is unknown whether hackers are already exploiting the KRACK vulnerability, researchers urge users to implement safety measures when possible. They recommend that users should avoid connecting to Wi-FI until patches have been developed and can be safely installed on Wi-Fi clients’ devices and access points. Microsoft users, as mentioned above, should be safe. However, when Wi-FI is the only option, people should use HTTPS, STARTTLS, Secure Shell, and other protocols to encrypt online traffic as it passes between computers and access points. Users could also use a virtual private network (VPN) as an added safety measure. Fortunately, network providers are already starting to deploy security patches.

Vanhoef and Piessens will present their paper Key Reinstallation Attacks: Forcing Nonce Reuse in WPA2 on November 1, 2017 at the Computer and Communications Security conference in Dallas.

Are you conducting R&D to develop cyber-security measures to defend against potential security threats like KRACK? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and receive up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

Cybersecurity research and development Technology

Living on the edge: How R&D helped DFW-based entrepreneur to build the Single Edge Razor 2.0

After quitting his job selling fighter jets around the world, Patrick Coddou launched a new company based in Fort Worth called Supply and developed its signature product: the Single Edge Razor. Now, two years since the company’s inception, Coddou is back with the Single Edge Razor 2.0.

Coddou told D Magazine he came up with the idea for the Single Edge Razor because of his sensitive skin: “I used to hate shaving and using those five blade razors. So my search brought me to this old style of razor. I loved it so much that I thought, you know, I think I can make one of these and show more people what these are.” With the Single Edge Razor 2.0’s release this summer, Supply offers a new razor that is more durable and comfortable than existing multi-blade razors on the market.

From extensive research, Supply found that multi-blade razors caused irritation when shaving because these are often built as a “one-size-fits-all” product and the blades cut below the skin’s surface and pull up the hair to cut which results in discomfort and ingrown hairs. The razors are also more difficult to wash thereby prompting bacterial buildup in the blade and the material is usually cheap plastic that does not last. Supply’s Single Edge Razor 2.0, in contrast, developed three blade designs to account for distinct skin types: mild, classic, and aggressive. Mild was built for sensitive skin and short beard growth, aggressive was made for long beard growth and wiry hair, and classic for everything in between. The Single Edge Razor 2.0 is designed to shave just at the surface of the skin, ensuring a closer shave and comfort, and is cleaned easily to avoid bacterial buildup. As well, the blades are 100% stainless steel and twice as thick as the average multi-blade razor, guaranteeing it is rust-resistant and unbreakable.

Additionally, the Single Edge Razor 2.0 was designed at a closer distance and angle between the blade and the safety bar than its predecessors. While single edge razors have existed for decades, they have often been difficult to use because the blade must be held at the same angle throughout the entire shaving process or else there is risk of cutting and nicks. With the Razor 2.0, the angle is built-in for the user to handle with ease.

Coddou’s company is still constantly finding ways to improve its product. Supply employed an entirely new manufacturing process for the Single Edge Razor 2.0 by adopting methods used in aerospace and medical device manufacturing. In particular, the company used the Metal injection Moulding process which built products with extreme accuracy and ensures quality of the product. The company hopes to continue to invest in this type of manufacturing and to expand to create more razors and even an entire line of grooming products, from shaving cream after-shave to body wash. You can find the company’s product on Kickstarter.

Supply’s expenses incurred during the design stage of building a new razor and improving the manufacturing methods are all eligible for the R&D tax credit. If you are also engaging in R&D to develop new products or improve existing processes, you could be up to 14% back on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

research and development Technology texas r&d

When Dallas researchers introduced Twistron, they may have sparked an energy revolution

Scientists from The University of Texas (UoT) in Dallas, in collaboration with researchers from Hanyang University in South Korea, have developed a new fabric that generates energy: twistron. A lightweight yet resilient yarn made from carbon nanotubes woven together, twistron can produce electricity simply by stretching and without the need of a battery or other energy source.

Dr. Carter Haines, an associate research professor at UoT’s NanoTech Institute in Dallas, said, “The easiest way to think of twistron harvesters is, you have a piece of yarn, you stretch it, and out comes electricity.” Carbon nanutobes, from which twistron is constructed, are 10,000 times smaller in diameter than human hair and therefore offer a lightweight material. To harvest energy, twistron initially needed to be soaked in electrolytes, such as saltwater or even human sweat. However, through experimentation and research, the scientists were able to use a solid-state electrolyte to coat the yarn, without soaking the material. From testing, the scientists found stretching the yarn 30 times a second could 250 watts per kilogram. Dr. Na Li, another research scientist at the NanoTech Institute, further described the process, ‘Whenever a harvester yarn is twisted or stretched, the volume of the carbon nanotube yarn decreases, bringing the electric charges on the yarn closer together and increasing their energy. This increases the voltage associated with the charge stored in the yarn, enabling the harvesting of electricity.”

The scientists hope the twistron could be used in clothing and other commercial uses one day. They tested twistron by sewing it into clothing and found that even normal respiration stretched the fabric enough to power electricity. One of the scientists also tested twistron in ocean currents. Dr. Shi Hyeong Kim submerged 10 cm of twistron on the east coast of South Korea and the material successfully generated electricity. Dr. Kim hopes this is a breakthrough for harnessing the strength of the ocean. From these small scale activities, the researchers are confident these activities could be scaled up in the future. The team has patented the technology and are continuing to test its capabilities. Perhaps they could even make batteries superfluous.

Are you also engaging in R&D experiments to develop new ways to generate energy? Did you know that If you conduct your R&D projects in universities, you could receive up to an additional 20% credit for your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

research and development Technology texas r&d

20 years later, AOL Instant Messenger’s retirement is a testament to advancement in R&D

In the not-so-distant past, before direct messaging, texting, and smartphones, before Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, before the boom of Twitter and Facebook, only one online communication method reigned supreme: AOL Instant Messenger. Known as “AIM” for short, the AOL messenger, along with its counterparts by Microsoft and Yahoo, changed the way people interacted with each other online.

AIM first appeared on the scene in 1997 and, by 2001, it had over 100 million users. While Yahoo and MSN messengers were widely used outside of the United State, AIM was the most popular instant messenger among Americans. The messenger’s trademark “buddy list”, screen names, and immediate, simultaneous access to multiple friends changed communication during a time when most people talked to each other over the phone. Now twenty years since its launch, AIM will officially retire by December 15, 2017. Oath, the company behind AOL, announced the news last week. Michael Albers, Head of Communications, stated, “AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed.”

The messenger had sparked new user behaviours that are now common practice in contemporary social media. Before Facebook statuses, there were AIM’s “Away Messages” which allowed users to creatively update their friends of their whereabouts. Before adding “friends” on Facebook, there was asking for people’s screennames. AIM profile stalking was a precursor to Facebook profile stalking.

While no one has used the messenger in years, nostalgia has burst across the internet reminiscing how the now-obsolete technology was once transformative. Adam Lashinsky wrote in Fortune, “At the risk of oversharing, it is no understatement to say I began dating my wife on AIM. She worked at AOL when I joined TheStreet.com, and she was on AIM as much as I was. I remember early instant messaging chats far more than phone chats.” In The Guardian, Matthew Cantor recalled, “For me, as a 14-year-old, AIM was a revelation. Here was a way I could communicate with my peers – including those who were objectively cooler than me – without stammering or panicking…That’s because, behind the wall of the computer screen, we had the time and distance to craft much wittier banter.”

AIM’s retirement demonstrates how times have changed. The instant messaging era has since been replaced by smartphones and apps. Nevertheless, the technical innovation that sparked AIM and contributed to its decline will continue. Lashinsky poignantly stated, “Like many consumer technologies that went before it, AIM ushered in a revolution that quickly left it behind. I can’t say I’ll miss it. But I sure am glad it existed.”

The rise and fall of AOL demonstrates the advancement and innovation of R&D in the communication technology sector. If you are developing software and programs building on AOL Messenger’s legacy, your R&D activities may be eligible for the R&D tax credit and you could receive up to 14% on your research and development expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

research and development Smartphone Technology

Ericsson chooses Austin as site of new design center for city’s “bustling tech and start up scene”

When deciding where to open its next 5G design center, the Swedish telecommunications juggernaut Ericsson knew that Austin was the right choice.

With its highly skilled talent and growing reputation as a leader in the start-up tech industry, Austin has attracted many processor manufacturing companies and now Ericsson is joining the neighborhood. Many of Ericsson’s partners and suppliers are also based to Austin, making the city an obvious choice instead of California’s Silicon Valley. In an interview with Fierce Wireless, Sinisa Krajnovic, Head of Development Unit Networks at Ericsson, said, “We did analysis across the whole world. We had considered several places seriously and our choice was Austin for this.” Similarly, “Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US with a bustling tech and start-up scene,” Niklas Heuveldop, Head of Ericsson North America, told Business Insider. “We want to capture the great talent on-hand there, enabling us to increase digital ASIC capabilities even further and be close to some of our key global customers.”

Ericsson’s new design center in Austin will focus on testing and developing the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microelectronics processor. Intended for cell phones and mobile devices, these are 100 times faster and more cost and power efficient than the average personal computer processor. Located in Austin’s tech neighborhood, the new design center will collaborate with nearby silicon manufacturing plants to design solutions and prepare for the commercialization of the 5G network. Joining the company’s teams in Sweden and China, the Austin design center is part of Ericsson’s global strategy to develop “faster, better, and greener 5G products to bring into the Ericsson portfolio by 2019,” said Krajnovic. The 5G design center in Austin is expected to be up and running by the end of this year. It is currently recruiting designers and developers.

Ericsson’s expenses from R&D experiments conducted in Austin are eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and the company could receive up to 14% in return. If you are also conducting R&D testing to develop and manufacture processors, you could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit. Contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today.

R&D tax credit Research Technology Texas

What is KRACK?

Who is vulnerable?

What can I do?