Monthly Archives: August 2017

A New Quantum Understanding is About to Turn Chemistry on Its Head – Futurism

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In BriefResearchers have discovered that quantum indistinguishability necessarily plays a significant role in some chemical processes. This changes the way scientists will view chemistry, and will influence isotope fractionation and enzymatic catalysis.

In a world of quantum oddities, the phenomenon of indistinguishability, the impossibility of distinguishing between two quantum particles, remains notable. Superposition is one of the underlying causes of indistinguishability because there is no sure way to lock down an exact position of a quantum particle. This, in turn, makes it impossible to know which particle is which when two quantum particles interact in the same place. This leads to exotic particle behaviors, especially at low temperatures. Under those conditions, behavioral qualities of particles can resemble each other closely, causing phenomena such as Bose-Einstein condensates and superfluidity.

Chemistry, though, requires relatively high temperatures, which cause most substances to shed their quantum properties. This is why indistinguishable physics and chemistry have traditionally been approached as if they were completely distinct, allowing chemists to ignore the effects of quantum indistinguishability with confidence. However, University of California Santa Barbara researchers Matthew Fisher and Leo Radzihovsky are turning the field of chemistry on its head, proving this confidence has been misplaced.

The pair has now demonstrated for the first time that even at ordinary temperatures, quantum indistinguishability plays a significant role in some chemical processes. This means that indistinguishability most likely causes entirely new chemical phenomena such as isotope separation, and may also give betterexplanations for poorly understood phenomena such as reactive oxygen species and their enhanced chemical activity. The quantum coherence of atomic nuclei is of particular interest to the team.

Things like spin-isomers and symmetry are important in chemistry because many reactions depend upon molecules being able to fit together precisely. Fisher and Radzihovsky have demonstrated that quantum indistinguishability changes the way molecules fit together, then quantum indistinguishability prevents reactions that dont achieve symmetry between nuclei. Theyve also shown that para molecules with their greater range of possible symmetrical matches are necessarily more reactive than ortho molecules.

This research will have a major impact on enzymatic catalysis. Hydrogen, for example, is subject to the influence of quantum indistinguishability and is also central to the work of many enzymes. This is easier to predict than to test, however, since it is difficult to separate ortho- and para-versions of molecules.

Fisher and Radzihovsky also believe quantum indistinguishability will influence isotope fractionation by providing it with a new mechanism, and offer insight into reactive oxygen species and their enhanced chemical activity, not to mention biochemical molecules in general. Testing these predictions may be an uphill battle, but understanding some of the most critical and subtle phenomena in chemistry will be a worthwhile payoff.

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A New Quantum Understanding is About to Turn Chemistry on Its Head - Futurism

Gators offensive line improving through cheese fries – Miami Herald

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On a recent trip to Outback Steakhouse with the rest of Floridas offensive linemen, center T.J. McCoy was feeling generous.

Look, he told the group of 14, were going to go to Outback and Im going to order everyone cheese fries.

At $9.99 each, those three plates of fries, cheese, bacon and ranch dressing cost him $30. But they provided something McCoy, his teammates and coach Jim McElwain claim is invaluable: Chemistry. And it doesnt stop with cheese fries and wings at Outback Steakhouse.

McCoy said the group also went fishing for catfish recently, with tackle Jawaan Taylor and guard Tyler Jordan reeling in the days biggest catches before the group fried them up together. There was also a trip to Yamato, a Gainesville hibachi restaurant, where they enjoyed servings of rice, noodles, steak and chicken together. With the average weight of a UF offensive lineman on scholarship being 312 pounds, the bills from these outings can be high.

We told [offensive line] Coach [Brad] Davis, We aint guy money like that, McCoy said of the trip to Yamato. You might help us out with that.

Whether he helps them or not, Davis and the other coaches are happy about the groups cohesion. McElwain said Wednesday he believes their bonding will lead to better play on the field through better communication.

I... see a group of guys, McElwain said, who now have been together enough, have understood the communication piece, and you know what, understand that they're a little bit tired of being that group, if you understand what I mean.

Florida center TJ McCoy, left, goes through drills during practice Fri., Aug. 4, 2017.

Ethan Bauer

That group is a group that ranked 71st in nation with 28 sacks allowed last season, which was an improvement over 2015, when it ranked last in the NCAA with 45. And that criticism has been heard by the players.

Most people was bashing us for the last two years since Ive been here, left tackle Martez Ivey said. Now they think were the strong point of the offense and were supposed to carry the load. Were not going to shock ourselves. We know what weve got to do.

Aside from the groups familiarity, McElwain also said it has improved thanks to better competition. With a battle between Tyler Jordan, Fred Johnson and Brett Heggie for two starting guard spots, theres plenty of motivation for all of them. But thanks to what they do away from practice, McCoy said there arent concerns about competition getting out of hand.

I talk to [right tackle] Jawaan [Taylor] about his parents, his family, where he comes from, McCoy said. Its all about getting to know each other and then saying, you know what? This guy cares about me. Not just the football, but he cares about my life.

You get to know this person on an intellectual level and not just football, but a personal level. And that makes the bond tighter.

Luke Del Rio took reps with the first-team offense in Fridays open portion of practice, but again, McElwain said not to read much into it this early in preseason camp.

Freshman wideout James Robinson, who McElwain said Wednesday UF was waiting on some things to clear up before he could enroll, was at practice for the first time on Friday. Robinson was a rated four-star receiver in Floridas 2017 class.

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Gators offensive line improving through cheese fries - Miami Herald

Chicago Bears QB Mike Glennon develops chemistry with Cameron … – ESPN (blog)

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Every day at Chicago Bears training camp is about the quarterbacks. There is no quarterback controversy -- Mike Glennon is the clear-cut No. 1 -- but plenty of intrigue surrounds Glennon (still a relative unknown), Mark Sanchez (former high-profile starter) and Mitchell Trubisky (No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft).

Heres a closer look at their day Wednesday:

Mike Glennon

Wow moment: Glennon is clearly on the same page with wide receiver Cameron Meredith, one of Glennons favorite targets on the practice field. Arguably Glennons best throw of the day happened in the opening 7-on-7 period when he rifled the ball to Meredith, who broke hard toward the right sideline approximately 15 to 20 yards downfield. Glennon put the ball on the money. Glennon later found Meredith over the middle in 11-on-11.

Whoa moment: Glennon and Meredith did have a misfire on a deep ball in a full-team period. Meredith had a step on a defender downfield on the left seam, but Glennon sailed the ball over his head. Glennons ability to hit on those big plays is important. Again, teams are going to stack the box to stop running back Jordan Howard -- second in the NFL in rushing yards in 2016 -- which will create opportunities for the Bears in the vertical passing game. Glennon has to keep defenses honest.

Mark Sanchez

Wow moment: Cant remember a wow moment from Sanchez on Wednesday. He spent most of practice with the third team as the Bears wanted Trubisky to get some extra work.

Whoa moment: Sanchez was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Eddie Jackson, who rotated over from safety to pick off the ball by the front-corner pylon. Jackson also intercepted Trubisky over the weekend.

Mitchell Trubisky

Wow moment: First of all, Trubisky spent most of the day working with the second-team offense. That development is noteworthy in itself, although Bears coach John Fox downplayed it after practice.

Dont read much into it, Fox said. Its just a matter of getting guys through different centers, different groups. Its something that we mentioned would happen at some point throughout the camp.

Trubisky has shown throughout camp that hes mobile. The rookie successfully climbed the pocket in one team period and found Daniel Braverman wide open over the middle. Trubisky also targeted Kevin White on a couple of plays. White had one of his best practices of camp, catching multiple passes from both Trubisky and Glennon.

Whoa moment: Trubisky overshot Deonte Thompson in 7-on-7. Thats a throw Trubisky probably wishes he had back because Thompson was all alone in the middle of the field.

The Bears' next practice is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT Thursday.

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Chicago Bears QB Mike Glennon develops chemistry with Cameron ... - ESPN (blog)

Hinsdale Central graduate wins gold medal at International Chemistry Olympiad – Chicago Tribune

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Harrison Wang, a 2017 graduate of Hinsdale Central High School, received a gold medal in the International Chemistry Olympiad held July 6-15.

Wang was part of four-member team that represented the United States in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, competing against 293 students from 75 other countries.

"My parents are pretty proud," said Wang, who lives in Hinsdale.

The other members also won gold medals, making it the best performance by a U.S. team since the U.S. began participating in the Olympiad in 1984, said Joan Coyle, spokeswoman for the American Chemical Society, which sponsors the U.S. team.

When asked whether he thinks the gold medal is a big deal, Wang said the chemistry in the Olympiad is different from the chemistry research being done, so professional chemists are not overly impressed by the achievement.

"But education-wise, I think we are role models and we motivate kids to study chemistry," said Wang, who has a younger brother and sister.

The other members of the team are Joshua Park of Massachusetts, Steven Liu of California and Brendan Yap of Carmel High School, Indiana.

The medals were awarded based on scores from a five-hour written exam and a five-hour practical lab at the Olympiad. Wang had the fifth-highest ranked score, Coyle said.

Wang first became interested in chemistry when he took honors chemistry freshman year at Central. In sophomore year, he competed in physics and math Olympiads. In junior year, he advanced as far as alternate to the U.S. team going to the International Chemistry Olympiad.

His parents pushed him to compete and challenge himself, Wang said. "I still do enjoy it."

Wang said there definitely is a difference between studying chemistry and competing at such a high level. Competition chemistry is concentrated on problem solving and analyzing.

For the 2016 International Olympiad, Wang estimates he studied an hour or two a day for four to five weeks.

To prepare for the 2017 Olympiad, he studied 15 to 20 hours a week, starting in June 2016 and continuing through May of this year.

He took only one science class at Central this year, AP biology.

"I intentionally chose a course load (senior year) that was light on homework, so I could have time to study," Wang said.

He said it was not very difficult to work so hard on a goal that is not shared by your classmates.

"I've been working hard by myself since a young age," Wang said.

He also became friends with other students who would attend the Chemistry Olympiad Study Camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June.

The students receive college-level training in chemistry, with an emphasis on organic chemistry, during the camp, which is the final step to qualify for the team that will go to the international competition.

"I enjoy organic chemistry a lot because there is a certain style to it that is unique," and involves intuition, Wang said.

His classes senior year included AP literature and honors philosophy, subjects Wang found interesting because they involve a different kind of thinking than he uses in science and math classes.

"In literature, there is no one right answer," Wang said. "Some answers may be more correct than others. But in science, at least in competitions, there is only one right answer."

Wang is undecided what major he will pursue at Massachusetts Institute of Technology this year, but the literature and philosophy classes piqued his interest enough to get them on his list of possible majors that also include physics and computer science.

kfornek@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @kfDoings

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Hinsdale Central graduate wins gold medal at International Chemistry Olympiad - Chicago Tribune

Anti-aging medicine group says field isn’t ‘controversial’ – FierceHealthcare

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A group dedicated to the advancement of treatment for diseases associated with aging disputes what they describe as a mischaracterization that their field of medicine endorses controversial practices.

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) says there is nothing controversial about anti-aging medicine described in an article about Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., who was recently appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fitzgerald is board-certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine by the organization.

The article noted that some practitioners questioned the choice of Fitzgerald for the high-level government position based on her previous support for anti-aging treatments that they said were unproven and anti-scientific.

It also raised concerns that Fitzgerald partnered with Coca-Cola to run a program against child obesity when she was Georgias public health commissioner. That program focused on physical activity but didnt encourage the need to reduce soda consumption due to its high sugar content.

But Robert Hughes, spokesman for A4M, said in an email to FierceHealthcare that the characterization of anti-aging medicine is false and misleading.

While some may not yet embrace the term anti-aging medicine, there is no controversy over the need for physicians to learn how to stem the rising tide of chronic disease through prevention, lifestyle educationand incorporation of the latest scientific research to help patients live healthier, longer lives, he says. Patients want this. Physicians want this for their patients. A4M provides advanced postgraduate Continuing Medical Education (CME) and training that enables this to occur.

Hughes describes A4M as aU.S. federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of more than 26,000 members across the globe, including physicians, scientists and governmental officials, all of whom collectively represent more than 120 nations.

In its 25-year history, he says, A4M has never been the subject of any adverse legal ruling, nor ever been the target of any regulatory procedure or penalty.

We know through experience that, when practiced by trained physicians, the protocols A4M teaches can result in improved patient health. In addition, these techniques help patients avoid chronic conditions that are major drivers of the relentlessly expanding costs of healthcare, he says.

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Anti-aging medicine group says field isn't 'controversial' - FierceHealthcare

Do these 4 natural anti-aging alternatives work? – Fox News

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In anti-aging skin care, there are many alternative treatments you'll come across, from skin-needling to Ayurvedic medicine to a diet detox, but all of them aren't created equal.

We asked skin care professionals which ones are worth your time and moneyand which ones you can skip. (We've also got loads of good natural skin care tips and tricks, from coconut oil to rosehip oil based moisturizers, to masks containing that anti-bacterial beauty balm, honey.) Below, we break down everything you need to know about four popular treatments.

RELATED: 6 MOST IMPORTANT BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO BUY ORGANIC

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

This system of traditional Indian healing relies on techniques such as diet changes, breathing exercises and botanical medicine to treat patients based on their dosha, or "mind-body type."

Does it work?

"The doshas seem to line up with skin types we're familiar with," says Jasmina Aganovic, an MIT-trained chemical and biological engineer and founder of the Stages of Beauty skin-care line. "The Vata dosha typically coincides with dry skin," she says, "Pitta coincides with sensitive; and Kapha, with oily or combination skin."

Even so, there's no scientific evidence that treating your skin based on your dosha is beneficial, says Susan Stuart, MD, a dermatologist in San Diego. However, there is proof that many of the powerhouse plant-based ingredients used in Ayurvedic medicine can help you look younger.

For example, "research shows that turmeric and ginger, both used frequently in Ayurvedic medicine, can reduce wrinkles," says Shyam Gupta, PhD, a chemist and founder of Bioderm Research, a cosmetic research company in Scottsdale, AZ. And several studies show that grapeseed extract, another Ayurvedic ingredient, protects against photodamage.

RELATED: I TRIED DRINKING FRESH TURMERIC JUICE EVERY DAY FOR A MONTHHERES WHAT HAPPENED

Bottom Line

Try healing Ayurvedic recipes, and products with Ayurvedic ingredients like turmeric and ginger, but don't overhaul your beauty regimen based on your dosha just yet.

ALKALINE DIET

A few studies have shown acidity can be damaging to the body, so it's thought by some that eating mostly alkaline-forming (or, acid-lowering) foods like fruits and vegetables may slow skin aging.

Does it work?

There's no research proving this theory. Our bodies do a good job of regulating acidity regardless of diet. But there is anecdotal support: "My clients who eat 80% alkaline-forming foods notice fewer lines and more hydrated skin in weeks," says author and nutritionist Kimberly Snyder.

Bottom Line

The diet won't erase wrinkles, but eating more fruits and veggies improves overall health (including preventing weight gain)and that can only be good for skin.

SKIN NEEDLING

In this procedure, you roll a small needle-covered device over your face to create tiny, temporary pricks in your skin, which may trigger a healing response (similar to what occurs after a cut), leading to a smoother complexion.

Does it work?

San Francisco dermatologist Kathy Fields, MD, who helped develop a home skin needling package with a peptide-and retinol-based serum for Rodan + Fields, says her company's analysis shows using it can induce skin's collagen-building process and improve penetration of anti-aging ingredients applied afterward. But there aren't peer-reviewed studies of at-home devices, and Dr. Stuart believes needling is safer and more effective done in a dermatologist's office with a pro version of the tool.

Bottom Line

Used before a retinol-based product, an at-home skin-needling tool can smooth skin, but it's likely the retinol doing most of the work. Check with your dermatologist first.

RELATED: 11 OLD FASHIONED BEAUTY TREATMENTS GRANDMA USED THAT YOU SHOULD TOO

DIET CLEANSE

Some experts think that temporarily restricting your diet (whether with a cleanse, a juice fast or a similar detox plan) can clarify your complexion and make your skin glow.

Does it work?

"Most people's skin improves when they do a cleanse because they're removing foods that have a pro-inflammatory effectand inflammation is the root of many skin issues, including rosacea, acne and premature aging," says Frank Lipman, MD, an integrative physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness in New York City. Although it's best to have an integrative medicine expert guide you in the cleansing process, it's possible to see benefits on your own.

RELATED: 7 DIY FACE MASKS AND SCRUBS THAT ACTUALLY WORK

Dr. Lipman says avoiding caffeine, sugar, dairy, gluten and meat for a few weeks can offer a short-term boost to your complexion. Research supports this theory to some extent (gluten intolerances have been linked to skin issues for some people, and several studies have shown a correlation between dairy consumption and acne). However, Mary Lupo, MD, a dermatologist, says there are no studies showing that a temporary cleanseno matter what types of food are restrictedcan reduce cellular inflammation or provide long-term skin benefits.

Bottom Line

A cleanse won't turn back the clock, but eating less sugar and fewer starchy carbohydrates could be beneficial in the long run, and help you determine what's potentially throwing off your body chemistry. "These foods can spike blood glucose levels, and that accelerates aging of all organs, including the skin," says Dr. Lupo.

This article originally appeared on Rodale Organic Life

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Do these 4 natural anti-aging alternatives work? - Fox News

Green Tea Boosts Memory, Combats Obesity – Anti Aging News

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EGCG ,a compound in green tea, could alleviate high-fat and high-fructose -induced insulin resistance and cognitive impairment.

Green tea's top catechin and most biologically active component, EGCG, could alleviate cognitive impairment and insulin resistance caused by the consumption of high-fructose and high-fat. This is the determination of researchers from Northwest A&F University's College of Food Science and Engineering. They reached this conclusion after conducting a study centered on mice. The details of the study were recently published in The FASEB Journal.

Insights From Previous Studies

Prior research indicated EGCG had the potential to treat an array of human diseases. However, EGCG's ability to influence insulin resistance and cognitive impairment resulting from the typical Western diet were unclear. The study outlined above has eliminated some of the uncertainty regarding the effects of EGCG.

The Magic of Green Tea

Green tea is consumed more than any other liquid besides water. The tea leaves used for green tea are grown in more than 30 countries. The centuries-old habit of drinking green tea just might be a better alternative to modern medicine in the fight against insulin resistance, obesity and the impairment of memory.

About the Study

The research team separated young mice into three groups according to diet. The first was a control group that consumed a standard diet. The second group was provided with an HFFD diet. The third group was provided with an HFFD diet along with two grams of EGCG for each liter of drinking water. The research team monitored the mice across 16 weeks.

The Results

It was determined the mice provided with HFFD had a higher body weight than the mice in the control group. The HFFD group also had a higher body weight than the mice in the HFFD+EGCG group.

A Morris water maze test was administered. The HFFD mice took longer to reach the platform compared to those in the control group. The HFFD+EGCG mice had a dramatically lower escape distance and escape latency than those in the HFFD group.

The hidden platform was then removed for a probe trial. The mice inthe HFFD group took less time within the target quadrant compared to those in the control group. They also crossed fewer platform crossings than the mice in the control group. The HFFD+EGCG group showed a meaningful increase in the average amount of time spent in the target quadrant. They also had a greater number of platform crossings. Thismeans EGCG might improve memory impairment caused by HFFD.

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Green Tea Boosts Memory, Combats Obesity - Anti Aging News

Protein at All 3 Meals May Help Preserve Seniors’ Strength – Sioux City Journal

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THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Eating protein at all three daily meals, instead of just at dinner, might help seniors preserve physical strength as they age, new research suggests.

The Canadian study found that protein-rich meals evenly spread throughout the day staved off muscle decline, but did not increase mobility, in older people.

Study co-author Stephanie Chevalier said, for seniors, "The important point is to create three meal occasions with sufficient protein to stimulate muscle building and greater strength, instead of just one."

Chevalier is an assistant professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal.

The functional decline associated with aging often leads to falls, mental impairment and loss of independence. Chevalier's team wondered if more evenly distributed protein consumption might be tied to better physical performance and a reduced rate of decline.

To find out, they tracked more than 1,700 relatively healthy Quebec men and women, aged 67 to 84, who were all enrolled in a three-year study.

The participants provided dietary information and underwent yearly hand, arm, and leg strength testing. They were also tested for mobility.

Over the three years, the researchers found that both men and women saw their overall physical performance worsen, with muscle strength fading more significantly than mobility.

But those who consumed protein more evenly throughout the day appeared to retain greater muscle strength -- though not greater mobility -- than those who consumed most of their protein late in the day.

However, Chevalier stressed the researchers only observed an association between protein distribution and muscle strength, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

"In other words, we cannot conclude that older people had greater strength because they were ingesting protein evenly distributed at every meal," she said.

Establishing direct proof would require more research, she said.

Still, the study finding held up regardless of the total amount of protein consumed, she noted.

Prior research has indicated that adults of all ages should consume a minimum of 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. (To convert pounds to kilograms, divide your body weight by 2.2.)

For a 155-pound man, that would add up to about three ounces of protein a day, Chevalier said. Spread across breakfast, lunch and dinner, that would mean about one ounce of protein at each meal. A 130-pound woman would require a little less than one ounce per meal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dietary Guidelines call for those over age 50 to consume 5 to 7 ounces of protein foods daily.

In general, one ounce of meat, poultry or fish or one egg or one tablespoon of peanut butter, one-quarter cup of cooked beans or one-half ounce of nuts or seeds qualify as an ounce of protein, according to the USDA.

An outside nutrition expert offered one explanation why the new findings might work.

"Muscle protein is constantly being broken down and built back up. We need protein in our diet daily to make this happen," explained Lona Sandon, a dietetic educator.

That's true at any age, but in late life muscle protein tends to break down faster than it builds up, added Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Also, research has shown older adults require a higher amount of protein, she said.

"Eating protein throughout the day seems to be a means to stay in a positive protein balance longer than just eating most of your protein for the day in the evening meal," said Sandon.

Sandon said distributing protein intake evenly throughout the day is likely beneficial to everyone, young and old.

Much of the research in this area stems from sports nutrition studies, she added. "This research has also shown a benefit to spreading protein throughout meals over the day for increased muscle mass and strength benefits in active individuals and adults," she added.

However, she cautioned that eating protein alone is not an anti-aging silver bullet.

"You can't just eat a steak and suddenly have bulging biceps," she said, noting the need for some level of physical activity or resistance training as well.

The study was published in the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Protein at All 3 Meals May Help Preserve Seniors' Strength - Sioux City Journal

Anti-aging medicine group says field isn't 'controversial' – FierceHealthcare

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A group dedicated to the advancement of treatment for diseases associated with aging disputes what they describe as a mischaracterization that their field of medicine endorses controversial practices.

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) says there is nothing controversial about anti-aging medicine described in an article about Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., who was recently appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fitzgerald is board-certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine by the organization.

The article noted that some practitioners questioned the choice of Fitzgerald for the high-level government position based on her previous support for anti-aging treatments that they said were unproven and anti-scientific.

It also raised concerns that Fitzgerald partnered with Coca-Cola to run a program against child obesity when she was Georgias public health commissioner. That program focused on physical activity but didnt encourage the need to reduce soda consumption due to its high sugar content.

But Robert Hughes, spokesman for A4M, said in an email to FierceHealthcare that the characterization of anti-aging medicine is false and misleading.

While some may not yet embrace the term anti-aging medicine, there is no controversy over the need for physicians to learn how to stem the rising tide of chronic disease through prevention, lifestyle educationand incorporation of the latest scientific research to help patients live healthier, longer lives, he says. Patients want this. Physicians want this for their patients. A4M provides advanced postgraduate Continuing Medical Education (CME) and training that enables this to occur.

Hughes describes A4M as aU.S. federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of more than 26,000 members across the globe, including physicians, scientists and governmental officials, all of whom collectively represent more than 120 nations.

In its 25-year history, he says, A4M has never been the subject of any adverse legal ruling, nor ever been the target of any regulatory procedure or penalty.

We know through experience that, when practiced by trained physicians, the protocols A4M teaches can result in improved patient health. In addition, these techniques help patients avoid chronic conditions that are major drivers of the relentlessly expanding costs of healthcare, he says.

See the rest here:
Anti-aging medicine group says field isn't 'controversial' - FierceHealthcare

Green Tea Boosts Memory, Combats Obesity – Anti Aging News

Posted on by

EGCG ,a compound in green tea, could alleviate high-fat and high-fructose -induced insulin resistance and cognitive impairment.

Green tea's top catechin and most biologically active component, EGCG, could alleviate cognitive impairment and insulin resistance caused by the consumption of high-fructose and high-fat. This is the determination of researchers from Northwest A&F University's College of Food Science and Engineering. They reached this conclusion after conducting a study centered on mice. The details of the study were recently published in The FASEB Journal.

Insights From Previous Studies

Prior research indicated EGCG had the potential to treat an array of human diseases. However, EGCG's ability to influence insulin resistance and cognitive impairment resulting from the typical Western diet were unclear. The study outlined above has eliminated some of the uncertainty regarding the effects of EGCG.

The Magic of Green Tea

Green tea is consumed more than any other liquid besides water. The tea leaves used for green tea are grown in more than 30 countries. The centuries-old habit of drinking green tea just might be a better alternative to modern medicine in the fight against insulin resistance, obesity and the impairment of memory.

About the Study

The research team separated young mice into three groups according to diet. The first was a control group that consumed a standard diet. The second group was provided with an HFFD diet. The third group was provided with an HFFD diet along with two grams of EGCG for each liter of drinking water. The research team monitored the mice across 16 weeks.

The Results

It was determined the mice provided with HFFD had a higher body weight than the mice in the control group. The HFFD group also had a higher body weight than the mice in the HFFD+EGCG group.

A Morris water maze test was administered. The HFFD mice took longer to reach the platform compared to those in the control group. The HFFD+EGCG mice had a dramatically lower escape distance and escape latency than those in the HFFD group.

The hidden platform was then removed for a probe trial. The mice inthe HFFD group took less time within the target quadrant compared to those in the control group. They also crossed fewer platform crossings than the mice in the control group. The HFFD+EGCG group showed a meaningful increase in the average amount of time spent in the target quadrant. They also had a greater number of platform crossings. Thismeans EGCG might improve memory impairment caused by HFFD.

Original post:
Green Tea Boosts Memory, Combats Obesity - Anti Aging News

Protein at All 3 Meals May Help Preserve Seniors' Strength – The Sentinel

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THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Eating protein at all three daily meals, instead of just at dinner, might help seniors preserve physical strength as they age, new research suggests.

The Canadian study found that protein-rich meals evenly spread throughout the day staved off muscle decline, but did not increase mobility, in older people.

Study co-author Stephanie Chevalier said, for seniors, "The important point is to create three meal occasions with sufficient protein to stimulate muscle building and greater strength, instead of just one."

Chevalier is an assistant professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal.

The functional decline associated with aging often leads to falls, mental impairment and loss of independence. Chevalier's team wondered if more evenly distributed protein consumption might be tied to better physical performance and a reduced rate of decline.

To find out, they tracked more than 1,700 relatively healthy Quebec men and women, aged 67 to 84, who were all enrolled in a three-year study.

The participants provided dietary information and underwent yearly hand, arm, and leg strength testing. They were also tested for mobility.

Over the three years, the researchers found that both men and women saw their overall physical performance worsen, with muscle strength fading more significantly than mobility.

But those who consumed protein more evenly throughout the day appeared to retain greater muscle strength -- though not greater mobility -- than those who consumed most of their protein late in the day.

However, Chevalier stressed the researchers only observed an association between protein distribution and muscle strength, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

"In other words, we cannot conclude that older people had greater strength because they were ingesting protein evenly distributed at every meal," she said.

Establishing direct proof would require more research, she said.

Still, the study finding held up regardless of the total amount of protein consumed, she noted.

Prior research has indicated that adults of all ages should consume a minimum of 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. (To convert pounds to kilograms, divide your body weight by 2.2.)

For a 155-pound man, that would add up to about three ounces of protein a day, Chevalier said. Spread across breakfast, lunch and dinner, that would mean about one ounce of protein at each meal. A 130-pound woman would require a little less than one ounce per meal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dietary Guidelines call for those over age 50 to consume 5 to 7 ounces of protein foods daily.

In general, one ounce of meat, poultry or fish or one egg or one tablespoon of peanut butter, one-quarter cup of cooked beans or one-half ounce of nuts or seeds qualify as an ounce of protein, according to the USDA.

An outside nutrition expert offered one explanation why the new findings might work.

"Muscle protein is constantly being broken down and built back up. We need protein in our diet daily to make this happen," explained Lona Sandon, a dietetic educator.

That's true at any age, but in late life muscle protein tends to break down faster than it builds up, added Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Also, research has shown older adults require a higher amount of protein, she said.

"Eating protein throughout the day seems to be a means to stay in a positive protein balance longer than just eating most of your protein for the day in the evening meal," said Sandon.

Sandon said distributing protein intake evenly throughout the day is likely beneficial to everyone, young and old.

Much of the research in this area stems from sports nutrition studies, she added. "This research has also shown a benefit to spreading protein throughout meals over the day for increased muscle mass and strength benefits in active individuals and adults," she added.

However, she cautioned that eating protein alone is not an anti-aging silver bullet.

"You can't just eat a steak and suddenly have bulging biceps," she said, noting the need for some level of physical activity or resistance training as well.

The study was published in the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Protein at All 3 Meals May Help Preserve Seniors' Strength - The Sentinel

11 Organizations Urge Caution, Not Ban, on CRISPR Germline Genome Editing – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)

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Unintended Effects

In a statement to Catholic News Agency earlier this week, Rev.Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., director of education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center, expressed moral objection to germline genome editing on embryos: Their value as human beings is profoundly denigrated every time they are created, experimented upon, and then killed. Moreover, if such embryos were to grow up, as will doubtless occur in the future, there are likely to be unintended effects from modifying their genes.

The 11 organizations acknowledged numerous ethical issues arising from human germline genome editing, including:

At a minimum, the potential for harm to individuals and families, ramifications on which we can only speculate, provide a strong argument for prudence and further research, the policy statement asserted. By proceeding with caution, we can ensure better understanding of the potential risks and benefits of gene editing from a scientific perspective and, as such, provide families with a more fulsome exercise of their autonomous decision making through the consent process.

The statement added: We encourage ethical and social consideration in tandem with basic science research in the upcoming years.

Last October, You Lu, M.D., and colleagues at Sichuan Universitys West China Hospital in Chengdu launched the first known clinical trial using CRISPR to treat patientsspecifically, knocking out a gene encoding the programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Groups joining ASHG in issuing the policy statement included the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors, the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors, the International Genetic Epidemiology Society, and the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

Additional groups authoring the policy statement were the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics, the British Society for Genetic Medicine, the Human Genetics Society of Australasia, the Professional Society of Genetic Counselors in Asia, and the Southern African Society for Human Genetics.

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11 Organizations Urge Caution, Not Ban, on CRISPR Germline Genome Editing - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)

Keeping pace with momentum investors, ignoring the VIX and why it may be time to buy Canadian – The Globe and Mail

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Long ago when I was a mutual fund analyst, I would tell the brokers that if they let me pick the beginning and end dates for performance history, I could prove both that it was a great buying opportunity and it was among the worst funds in its category.

Take Mackenzie Financials Cundill Value Fund (a fund I liked a lot in my previous life) as an example. To prove it was a great buy, it would be easy to emphasize the 2016 returns where the funds 10.5 per cent appreciation outpaced the average global equity fund by more than 700 basis points. To argue the fund was mediocre, Id point to the three year average annual return that was worse than 95 per cent of the competition.

So is it a good or bad fund? Neither, at least based on this cursory look at performance.

Each fund, and by extension each investing style, is best suited to specific market conditions.

The momentum investing strategy, with its agnosticism on valuations and emphasis on stock price and earnings strength, has been the top performer in the past five years. Momentum-based managers have been comfortable holding the extremely expensive FANG stocks that were leading global equity markets higher, as long as their prices and earnings continued to climb.

Im not suggesting history is about to repeat itself but momentum investors were also riding high in the late 1990s, with a similar dependence on the technology sector, before getting obliterated in the 2000 to 2002 period.

For mutual funds and individual investor portfolios, all performance data must be taken in context. An investor with strong trailing portfolio returns over the past five years has every right to be proud of themselves, but they also have to make sure that their holdings are also positioned to benefit from the next five years.

Are the same growth drivers that drove returns in the past in many cases technology stocks and dividend paying companies benefitting from declining interest rates sustainable?

-- Scott Barlow is The Globe's in-house market strategist

This is the twice a week Globe Investor newsletter. If someone has forwarded this e-mail newsletter to you, you can sign up for Globe Investor and all Globe newsletters here.

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Stocks to ponder

Air Canada. The airline demonstrates just how fickle the business can be. The carriers gains this week take its stock back only slightly beyond the $21 a share it went public at in 2006. For investors, the past 11 years have been one long round trip. Ian McGugan examines the industry.

BSM Technologies Inc. The Toronto-based company, whose equipment and software help owners of truck, rail and other fleets track their vehicles, has grown through acquisition and could be a takeover target, according to David Barr, president of PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. in. Vancouver. Shirley Won looks at six budding stocks that trade for less than $5 a share.

AcuityAds Holdings Inc. The Toronto-based technology firm has rallied 89 per cent year-to-date. There are six buy recommendation on the stock with a 46-per-cent price return anticipated over the next year. Jennifer Dowty analyzes at the stock.

Ross Stores Inc. This discount fashion retailer is a seemingly contrarian pick given the pressure on retailers from e-commerce giants such as Amazon.com. But it passes all the criteria Berkshire Hathaway would use. John Reese examines three stocks from a Warren Buffett-inspired portfolio.

Theratechnologies Inc. Shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company have shot up nearly 200 per cent over the past year on the promise of a newer product and some analysts say the run may not be over yet, according to Brenda Bouw.

Cineplex Inc. The industry leader that took a rare tumble on Wednesday, falling over 8 per cent. For patient long-term investors, this pullback may represent a buying opportunity with a potential reacceleration in the share price in late-2017 or early-2018. Jennifer Dowty breaks down the stock.

The Rundown

Investors, heres a case for buying CanadaCanadian investors have been criticized since forever for having too much of a home bias. In that context, the push into international ETFs is laudable. Now, investors seem to have a home aversion to some extent, according to Rob Carrick.

Why investors shouldnt be reading too much into the fear indexPessimists see the decline of the VIX and disappearance of volatility as evidence of investor complacency a dangerous precursor to many of historys most severe corrections. But while an underappreciation of the markets risks is a legitimate concern, many investors are putting too much stock in the VIX index, writes Tim Shufelt.

Its the world, not Donald Trump, thats making the Dow great againWhile the U.S. President may want to make America great again, his countrys major stock indexes are globalized to an extent that surprises many investors. The companies in the S&P 500, a broadly based index of large U.S. businesses, derived 44.3 per cent of their sales from outside the United States in 2016, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Ian McGugan explains.

Canada should fight for shareholder rightsAt some point, someone tries to take things just too far, and all hell breaks loose. This is what happened when Snap Inc., owner of the Snapchat messaging app, went public earlier this year in the United States with shares that gave investors no vote at all on virtually all corporate matters, writes David Milstead.

How to make the right choices when investing in REITsReal estate investment trusts should be an integral part of every income investors portfolio. They offer steady income, relative safety, and tax advantages if held outside a registered plan. The question is, how should you hold them? Gordon Pape explores the possibilities.

Others

Rob Carrick: The financial disadvantages of living alone

Charity fund managers navigate difficult second quarter

Fridays Insider Report: Companies insiders are buying and selling

Thursdays Insider Report: Companies insiders are buying and selling

Wednesdays Insider Report: Companies insiders are buying and selling

Number Crunchers

Eight U.S. restaurant stocks that are looking oversold

Eleven Canadian stocks with solid fundamentals that analysts ignore

Fifteen large-cap stocks built to weather the storm

Ask Globe Investor

Do you have a question for Globe Investor? Send it our way via this form. Questions and answers will be edited for length.

Whats up in the days ahead

Click here to see the Globe Investor earnings and economic news calendar.

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Keeping pace with momentum investors, ignoring the VIX and why it may be time to buy Canadian - The Globe and Mail

LEBRECHT LISTENS | Barenboim Assembles A Dream Team – Musical Toronto

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Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (DG)

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (DG)

(out of five)

The first thing you need to know about Daniel Barenboims live performance with the Staatskapelle Berlin is that it is the best-sounding Gerontius on record. No British string section has ever played the work with such sweet serenity. No British winds ever breathed with such deep assurance. Strange as it may seem, the Berlin musicians and chorus singers feel this most English of works in their fingers and bones. There is something akin to love in their playing.

This is not to disparage past recordings, all by English forces, notably the Halles with John Barbirolli and two-thirds of a dream team in Janet Baker and Richard Lewis; or the LPO with Adrian Boult and Nicolai Gedda, Helen Watts and Robert Lloyd. Nor would I want to be without Sakari Oramos recent Birmingham selfie release. All three are passionate accounts. This one just sounds lovelier, less effortful. The critical faculty of disbelief is suspended for the duration.

Daniel Barenboim shares with the composer a breezy agnosticism and a love for English moderation. His approach to the oratorio is broadsided, utterly secure, without shocks or fancy gestures. The intended soloists were Jonas Kaufmann, Sarah Connolly and Thomas Hampson. The first two called in sick, to be replaced by Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Andrew Staples. Their voices are, perhaps, a shade less full but the cohesion of soloists, orchestra and chorus is admirable. Never a huge devotee of post-Handel English oratorios, I dont think Ive enjoyed a Gerontius this much before.

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (DG) is available atAmazon.co.uk.

Norman Lebrecht is one of the most widely-read commentators on music, culture and cultural politics. He is a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3 and a contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Standpoint, Sinfini and other publications. His blog, Slipped Disc, is among the most widely read cultural sites online, breaking exclusive stories and campaigning against human abuse and acts of injustice in the cultural industries.

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LEBRECHT LISTENS | Barenboim Assembles A Dream Team - Musical Toronto

David Hume and the Shroud of Turin – Patheos (blog)

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So The alternative to the miraculous answer is always to be preferred because it will always be more probable.

In other words, Miracles are impossible therefore miracles dont happen.

As more and more scientific research is completed on the Shroud of Turin, however, Humes argument becomes more and more strained.

The toss up is this: The Shroud of Turin is either the burial cloth of Jesus Christ on which is recorded evidence of the resurrection OR it is a forgery OR it is just a mysterious artifact for which we do not yet have a natural explanation.

The most stunning evidence from the shroud is the mysterious image itself. The image was not painted. It was not burnt on with conventional heat application processes. According to the latest research by Dr Paolo Lazzaro, the image was seared onto the linen by a super intense blast of ultra violet light. Not only was this impossible in the Middle Ages, but it is impossible today. We dont have the technology to reproduce this kind of image.

Therefore we need to ask, which is more difficult to believethat the Shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus or that some medieval forger was able to blast ultraviolet light on the shroud to produce the image in a manner still undeterminedusing a technology that is still way beyond that available today?

It is actually easier to believe that the Shroud is authentic.

The only other option (and one which an increasing number of Shroud skeptics take) is to shrug and say, Well, it is a mysterious artifact that we cannot explain.

But when you add that the image not only shows a crucified man, but a crucified man with the particular distinguishing marks of Jesus Christ crucifixion (the crown of thorns, the unbroken legs, the spear wound in the side, the flogging) it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain such disinterested agnosticism.

I suppose the authenticity of the Shroud will never be proven in a completely watertight way, but with the accumulation of evidence it is increasingly difficult to deny.

If, according to Hume, we must choose the most probable answer we would choose the proposal that it is the burial cloth of Christ and the image is supernatural evidence of his resurrection.

In other words, in this one case, the miraculous answer is the most probable.

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David Hume and the Shroud of Turin - Patheos (blog)

Caribbean, East Atlantic may spawn tropical threats in coming days – Fox News

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There is the potential for two tropical systems, one in the Atlantic and one in the Caribbean, to slowly develop and drift westward over the next week.

The next two names on the list of tropical storms in the Atlantic for 2017 are Franklin and Gert.

Residents and those planning vacations around the Caribbean should closely monitor the weather and forecasts.

Up to this point in the season, there have been extensive areas of dry air and Saharan dust as well as a large zone of strong westerly winds aloft. These three factors act as a strong deterrent toward tropical storm formation and can bring an early demise to well-developed tropical storms and hurricanes.

Conditions are gradually becoming more favorable for development in the tropical Atlantic with dry air, dust and strong winds aloft on the retreat. Waters are sufficiently warm over the region.

One system, dubbed 90L, was located close to South America over the south-central Caribbean and is the more immediate concern of the two.

"In the short-term, the close proximity to South America will be a significant inhibiting factor for development," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.

"However, once this system moves away from South America, it will have a better chance for development sometime this weekend," Doll said.

Depending on the track and speed of strengthening of 90L, some of the islands and mainland areas may be affected by adverse conditions and perhaps localized flooding.

An immediate concern for torrential downpours, gusty thunderstorms and building seas will be in northwestern Venezuela, northern Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through Saturday.

As 90L grows in size, the risk of flooding downpours, gusty winds and rough seas may affect Jamaica late Saturday night and Sunday.

Westerly steering winds may bring 90L close over Nicaragua and Honduras later this weekend.

While this track would mark an end for strengthening, the two nations could be affected by damaging and dangerous conditions from flooding and gusty winds.

Should 90L take a more northwesterly track, toward the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, it would have more time for development and may then wander into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico next week.

The system farthest away from North America, dubbed 99L, has the potential to gradually develop into next week and beyond, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.

"Nintey-nine L could become a tropical depression by the end of the weekend," Doll said.

Provided the system avoids strong winds aloft and dry air to the north, significant additional strengthening could occur.

If 99L develops and/or survives, then it is likely approach the Windward and Leeward islands during the middle to latter part of next week. Parts of these islands are likely to experience an uptick in showers and thunderstorms at very least during that time.

The exact track of 99L in relation to the proximity to the islands will depend on how quickly the system strengthens. A weak and poorly organized system is more likely to track to the west. A developed system is more likely to track north of west.

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Caribbean, East Atlantic may spawn tropical threats in coming days - Fox News

South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival planned for Aug. 19 – News-Daily.com

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JONESBORO The Caribbean Association of Georgia Inc. is hosting its 8th Annual South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival on Aug. 19.

The festival, presented by Clayton County Board of Commission Chairman Jeff Turner, will be held at the Clayton County International Park, 2300 Ga. Highway 138, from 1 to 8 p.m. The event will celebrate Caribbean American heritage.

The CAG festival will feature a lineup of entertainers including dancers, singers, musicians, stilt performers and spoken word artists. Visitors will have the chance to taste authentic Caribbean food and children can play in the CAG Kids Zone. Free medical screenings will also be available.

The Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival provides a family friendly atmosphere that highlights the rich contributions of the Caribbean American community. Each year, the Caribbean Association of Georgia shares the spirit and economic power of Atlantas Caribbean American community. This years celebration in Clayton County will help support CAGs ongoing international humanitarian efforts and local social impact programs.

Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available, but space is limited. For more information about the South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival and the work of CAG visit http://www.caribbeangeorgia.org.

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South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival planned for Aug. 19 - News-Daily.com

Airbnb will let you rent your own off-the-grid Caribbean island – Inhabitat

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Why settle for a beachfront cabana when you can rent the whole island? For $595 per night, Bird Island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean could be yours. The listing comes courtesy of Airbnb, which plies such unique retreats as a treehouse in a 150-year-old oak, a replica of Vincent Van Goghs Bedroom in Arles, and a floating house on Australias Great Barrier Reef.

Stay on your own in a truly private island on a beautiful atoll, with excellent swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and exploringwith all the comforts, Airbnb promises. It is a perfect setting for either a romantic get-away for a couple, a family gathering/reunion or for a small group of friends.

The spot, which is 20 minutes by boat from Placencia Village on the mainland, includes a private three-bedroom home that can accommodate up to six guests, a brand-new propane refrigerator and freezer, and a rainwater filtration system.

Although Bird Island is off the gridpower is generated through solar and windyou dont have to be cut off from the world if you dont want to. The locale boasts a phone for local numbers, plus good and reliable WiFi.

Related: Washington Hobbit Hole is the first of three in an off-grid Shire

Self-sufficiency is key, however. Youll have to supplyor fish foryour own food. Snorkling or angling equipment is also strictly BYO.

The central theme of Bird Island is a self-catering, Robinson Crusoe type of adventure, yet with all the comforts, where one could get to do their own thing in total privacy, Airbnb says. We offer Bird Island at an exceptional price for an experience best-suited for the adventurous who are totally self-sufficient.

+ Airbnb

Photos via Airbnb

Via Thrillist

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Airbnb will let you rent your own off-the-grid Caribbean island - Inhabitat

The time for Caribbean flair is now – ESPN

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4:20 AM ET

Peter Della PennaCricket

What is the CPL?

The Caribbean Premier League is a six-team franchise T20 competition that's perhaps better than England's T20 Blast but not quite as big as the IPL. From a quality and entertainment perspective, it's about on par with Australia's Big Bash League.

More than anything, what makes the CPL unique from other T20 competitions is Caribbean flair. It's not just Dwayne Bravo who is dancing after each wicket. The league is filled with crowd-pleasing entertainers, and that infectious energy spreads into the stands where the support is reinforced by soca, reggae, calypso and other island beats.

Each of the six teams plays each other twice, five games each home and away (with the exception of the four neutral-venue games in Florida). The top four teams qualify for the playoffs in Trinidad & Tobago.

CPL Draft v IPL Auction

Unlike the IPL auction, where players go to the highest-bidding franchise, the CPL uses a player-draft system modelled on American sports franchises. Each draft slot has a fixed salary; players taken in the first round get US $160,000, fifth-round picks make $70,000, all the way down to $4000 for the final selections in the 15th round.

Squads have the choice to retain players from previous seasons or release them back into the draft pool. They also must pick an ICC Americas player from either USA or Canada, who are not considered overseas players, as well as an Under-19 West Indies player to round out their 17-man squads.

As teams are only allowed a maximum of four overseas players in the XI, most franchises carry no more than five overseas players in their squad. So, unlike in the IPL, where overseas stars can be picked at will to boost the bench, CPL franchises are much more judicious in their overseas draft picks. If you get a dud, it's far more difficult to swap them because there may only be one overseas player waiting on the bench and one who is not necessarily a like-for-like skillset swap.

Where do the teams stand?

Jamaica Tallawahs

The defending champions are relying more on brain than brawn, after a major revamp in the offseason. Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton, their openers and two leading scorers, are gone, while Andre Russell, the player of the previous season, is still serving his one-year ban for a doping-code violation.

Lendl Simmons was tipped to fill part of the opening void after coming over from St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, while Kumar Sangakkara was retained to provide stability in the top order and behind the stumps. Coach Paul Nixon places high value on players with a winning mentality, and few fit that description more heading into this season than Imad Wasim, who was part of the victorious Pakistan side in the Champions Trophy earlier in the year.

Imad forms a three-man left-arm spin attack, along with Shakib Al Hasan and Garey Mathurin, as they focus on building pressure by choking the scoring rate. Kesrick Williams was taken in the 13th round in the 2016 draft for just $5,000, but after topping his team's bowling charts with 17 wickets, has earned a pay rise to $30,000. Another good season should attract the attention of other overseas leagues.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Three times a bridesmaid, but never the bride. Guyana topped the table at the end of the league stage last year, but with Martin Guptill leaving for New Zealand duty, they were walloped in the final by Jamaica to fall short of the title for the third time in four years.

Guyana were dealt a major blow on the eve of the tournament when their leading scorer of 2016, Chris Lynn, was ruled out of the season due to upcoming shoulder surgery. He has been replaced by the up-and-coming Pakistan batsman Babar Azam, while the batting order has been injected with fresh blood in the form of Chadwick Walton and USA captain Steven Taylor, who is expected to take on a bigger role after limited opportunities in his two years with Barbados Tridents.

The Australian Adam Zampa, last season's leading spinner, is no longer with the side. In most cases, any replacement would be considered a downgrade, but the arrival of Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan may be what this side needs to clear the final hurdle and claim their first title.

St Lucia Stars

Formerly called the Zouks, the Stars received a double-blow ahead of their first match when their top two picks, David Miller and Lasith Malinga, withdrew. In their places is a pair of New Zealanders, Mitchell McClenaghan and Jesse Ryder.

In the past, Ryder was as capable of imploding as he was of exploding on the opposition. If he can rediscover his peak form, it will go a long way toward ensuring the Stars return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher formed the most consistently destructive opening combination of CPL 2016, but with the exception of Shane Watson, struggled to find support down the order. That will need to change for sustained success.

Trinbago Knight Riders

The 2015 champions are the most settled of the six squads, with the tournament's leading wicket-taker, Dwayne Bravo, supported by fellow returnees Kevon Cooper and Sunil Narine. Outside of Rashid, Knight Riders may have plucked the best acquisition of the offseason by drafting Pakistan legspinner Shadab Khan in the eighth round for $30,000.

On the batting front, Knight Riders will have to endure the early-season absence of Hashim Amla, their leading scorer from 2016, while South Africa's Test series continues in England. Brendon McCullum will have to pick up the slack in Amla's absence and will be keen to bounce back after a subpar 2016 season.

Barbados Tridents

After winning the title in 2014 and losing in the final in 2015, Tridents missed the playoffs for the first time in 2016. AB de Villiers finished as their second-highest scorer despite playing just six games, and they have addressed the top-order deficiency by revamping the batting.

Dwayne Smith was brought over from Amazon Warriors, while the CPL's most high-profile batting newcomer, Kane Williamson, was snapped up in the second round for $130,000. Twin legspinners Imran Khan and Damion Jacobs provide captain Kieron Pollard with attacking options in the field.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

This side has undergone the biggest facelift during the offseason in a bid to change their fortunes, having finished with at least a share of the last place in every season. Gayle was the most high-profile acquisition, and despite a poor IPL, he still possesses the intimidation factor that Patriots lacked in the past. If he clicks, Gayle and Evin Lewis may give Patriots a lethal opening combination.

The bigger changes, though, were made in the bowling, which was the weakest of any side last year despite having one of the top T20 bowlers in the world in Samuel Badree. Hasan Ali, the Man of the Tournament in the Champions Trophy, and Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi are new additions, while the $130,000 big ticket item Chris Morris will enhance the bowling further when he arrives after the end of South Africa's tour of England.

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The time for Caribbean flair is now - ESPN

Sunday Supper: Caribbean Salmon – Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Caribbean Salmon

MIKE GARTEN

August 04, 2017 - 7:30 AM

Caribbean Salmon

Serves 4.

Note: From "Skillet Suppers," by the editors of Good Housekeeping.

1 14-oz. can coconut milk, shaken

2 garlic cloves, crushed with press

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. salmon fillet, skin removed and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1/2 tsp. salt

3 c. cooked basmati or jasmine rice

1 medium mango, peeled and finely chopped

3 c. baby arugula

1/4 c. loosely packed fresh dill, chopped

Directions

In a 10-inch skillet, combine coconut milk, garlic and pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Sprinkle salmon with salt. Add salmon to skillet. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until just salmon is just opaque throughout. Remove from salmon from heat.

Using a slotted spoon, remove salmon from coconut milk and transfer to a large bowl. Add rice, mango, arugula and dill. Carefully toss, and serve.

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Sunday Supper: Caribbean Salmon - Minneapolis Star Tribune