Author Archives: Danzig

Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering – Penn State News

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar alumna Paula Garcia Todd has been named Woman of the Year in Engineering by Women in Technology (WIT). She was recognized at the virtual 2020 Woman of the Year in STEAM Awards Gala on Nov. 12.

Paula Garcia Todd, Penn State chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar alumna.

IMAGE: Provided by Paula Garcia Todd

Each year, WIT celebrates female leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with the WIT Woman of the Year STEAM Awards. According to the WIT website, the awardees are female visionaries that have made important contributions in their fields to make a difference in their communities.

Women in Technology holds a mission to empower girls and women to excel in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM) from the classroom to the boardroom, Garcia Todd said. Im deeply passionate about introducing STEAM to students, especially underrepresented populations in STEAM, and serving as a role model to children who didnt grow up with an understanding of the importance and everyday applicability of STEAM.

To receive this award, Garcia Todd had to meet criteria in a number of categories, including inspiration, innovation, leadership and serving others.

During Garcia Todds professional career, she has worked to promote STEAM educational tools in K-12 classrooms, and she has become an engineering role model in her community.

Garcia Todd is currently a global strategic marketing manager at DuPont Nutrition and Bioscience, where she manages the companys largest pharmaceutical excipient portfolio. She works to grow the companys business by first understanding the needs of its customers. In this position, Garcia Todd also serves as a mentor to many younger employees.

From a young age, I understood that engineers solved important problems and made an impact on everybody, and I was surrounded by an encouraging family and Penn State community that helped me believe that I was suited to be an engineer, Garcia Todd said.

After realizing that many K-12 teachers struggle to find female role models in STEAM, Garcia Todd made it one of her goals to help address that need.

She started connecting and collaborating with local schools and organizations to introduce students to STEAM-related educational material. Before the pandemic, Garcia Todd would often visit schools to give students hands-on experience with STEAM-related topics. Now, she is able to expand her connections and virtually connect to schools and organizations across the country. She has created numerous videos that explain the various fields in STEAM and distributed that content to more than 100 schools in the Atlanta area.

I strongly believe that bringing more girls into STEAM careers is critical toward the fight for womens equality, Garcia Todd said. STEAM careers are extremely impactful and provide foundations to make strong leaders in our communities whether that be in technical fields, business, government or any other discipline.Putting more women into these paths is what will finally ensure our voices are included and inequities are discontinued.

In 2019, Garcia Todd was chosen by the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences as one of only 125 women across the country to become an IF/THEN ambassador. She used the grant to fund a mentorship partnership with Science ATL that supports STEM education.

The STEM Professional School Partnership (SPSP) program partners teachers with a STEM professional for a full year tobuild and strengthen partnerships between schools and STEM businessesto benefit students, teachers, employees and companies, Garcia Todd said.

Garcia Todd said she hopes that her work in her local community and with the SPSP program will help promote STEAM education and open the eyes of students to all the opportunities in the STEAM fields.

My wish for all young girls is to be surrounded by optimism and encouragement that shows engineering has a place for them and their perspectives, Garcia Todd said. As women, I think it should be intrinsically part of our jobs to support other women to achieve their definition of success and to serve as role models to younger generations to demonstrate what is possible.

Last Updated December 09, 2020

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Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering - Penn State News

Alternative Medicine Is Ruining The Future Of 155 Threatened Species – Yet Helps No One – Science 2.0

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A new meta-analysis finds what scientists outside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health have long known - alternatives to medicine, now called Integrative Medicine after failing as Complementary and Alternative Medicine after failing as Traditional Medicine after failing as Folk Medicine, are not just useless, they are ecologically reckless.

The paper in Mammal Review only look at mammal species and still found that 155 commonly used in Traditional Medicine (Chinese, African. Latin American, also bought by people in America who thinks science is s corporate conspiracy) are threatened (vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered), while 46 are near threatened. Overall, they found that 565 mammalian species that have been used to source products used in traditional medicine around the world.

Killing this for your mystical potion will not prevent COVID-19, nor will it cure your chronic lyme disease, GMO poisoning, fracking headaches, or anything else people who believe in magic think it will cure. Image: Itamar Barbosa

While environmental groups target home ownership and food as causes for concern, their political proclivities may be the reason they turn a blind eyeto overexploitation in "medicinal" use - in wealthy countries the people most likely to believe in it are wealthy elites on the coasts, and they also donate to environmental groups.

"Our study revealed that an impressive mammalian species richness--9% of the 6,399 known species--is used in traditional medical systems worldwide. We also highlight that closely related species are used to treat similar diseases," said lead author Rmulo Romeu Nbrega Alves, PhD, of the Universidade Estadual da Paraba in Brazil. "The widespread utilization of mammals in traditional medicine (including threatened species) is evidence of the importance of understanding such uses in the context of mammal conservation. Sanitary aspects of the use of wild mammals by humans, and their implications for public health, are also key aspects to consider."

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Alternative Medicine Is Ruining The Future Of 155 Threatened Species - Yet Helps No One - Science 2.0

Integrative Healthcare is Cost-effective and Safe – The New Indian Express

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Integrative medicine seeks to restore and maintain health and wellness across a person's lifespan by understanding the patient's unique set of circumstances. It addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect health, using the most appropriate interventions.

WHO defines health as a "state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing"and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Both the patient and the practitioner are partners in the healing process.

Health providers use scientifically recognised systems, such as Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani and Siddha, Homoeopathy and Acupuncture, to facilitate the body's innate healing response. These interventions are natural, less invasive and safe. The care is more personalised to address the individuals unique conditions and needs.

Mayo Clinic in London is one of the earliest to have started this practice and it offers services for your physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health and wellbeing by using herbs, acupuncture, massage, yoga and meditation.

Many common diseases such as chronic neck-shoulder pains, migraines, insomnia, stress and anxiety, frozen shoulder, knee arthritis, lower back pain, sciatica, chronic gastric problems, IBS, etc, are not curable by western medicine. But integrative systems of medicine have shown great results.

Studies worldwide have found that such patients showed substantial improvement when they took any of these treatment modalities as their first choice, and thus avoided the side effects of western medicine. They have also found that an integrative health clinic can co-exist with a western medical centre.

Conventional western medicine today depends on expensive technology, which is not always effective. Simple methods of intervention such as dietary adjustment, relaxation techniques, exercises and correction of flow of energy in the body are more helpful.

Most patients turn to complementary medicine out of frustration. However, since very few such trained practitioners are available, patients often land up with quacks. Studies in the US, the UK and Australia have shown an increased spending on integrative healthcare by patients. The most organised and accepted/regulated systems are Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, Chiropractice and Osteopathy.

A total of 170 WHO member-states have acknowledged the role of traditional medical systems in their countries and there has been a jump of over 40 percent in the use of such therapies.It is about time that we recognise the importance of these valuable therapies and make them available free of cost at government hospitals. They are more cost-effective and free from most side effects of modern medicine.

(The writter is HoD, Acupuncture, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi)

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Integrative Healthcare is Cost-effective and Safe - The New Indian Express

Essential Oils 101: Do They Work + How Do You Use Them? – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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Alternative medicine enthusiasts have subscribed to the power of essential oils for years. But with their increasing availability (and claimed health benefits), theyre going mainstream.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

Essential oils are fantastic. They have many benefits, says integrative medicine specialist Yufang Lin, MD. The problem lies in how people use them.

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. Plants are made of structural materials and phytochemicals. These chemicals have properties that not only benefit the plant but benefit people, too, explains Dr. Lin.

It takes a tremendous amount of plant material to make essential oils. For example:

Because it takes so much of the plant to make an essential oil, its a powerful botanical medicine, she says.

Because essential oils are so strong, Dr. Lin recommends being mindful about why and how youre using them. Only small doses are required. Its also a good idea not to use them routinely, as your body can get used to them, lowering their effectiveness, she says.

There are three ways you can use essential oils:

Aromatherapy involves smelling essential oils to improve health. Its a great way to change your mood quickly. As you breathe in, the oils aroma immediately stimulates your central nervous system, triggering an emotional response, explains Dr. Lin. It can reduce anxiety and stress response quickly.

There are several aromatherapy methods. Whichever method you choose, avoid direct contact with the essential oil and dilute it first, says Dr. Lin.

Aromatherapy methods include:

One caveat is that aromatherapy may not work as well for older adults with dementia or behavior problems, she notes. That may be because people tend to experience loss of smell as they get older.

Some people take essential oils orally in teas, supplements or even via a drop or two on their tongue. Unless youre directed by a trained herbalist, I recommend against using them this way. Since theyre so strong, they may be harmful, advises Dr. Lin. Even with just a few drops of essential oil, youre taking a lot of plant material without realizing it. They can even burn the mucosal lining in your mouth.

You can also reap the benefits by applying essential oils to your skin, where its absorbed into your body. But Dr. Lin cautions against directly applying essential oils to your skin without diluting them. With few exceptions, its best to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, to avoid skin irritation, she says.

Some people put their essential oil blend into a small rollerball bottle for easier application.

Studies have shown that essential oils may:

Lavender is Dr. Lins go-to oil. Its gentle and has a lot of benefits. You can also use it in a variety of ways, she says.

Lavender can help with stress, pain and sleep. Before they discovered antiseptics, lavender was also used as a cleaning agent in hospitals, Dr. Lin says.

Dr. Lin says most people use tea tree oil as an antiseptic, antimicrobial or antifungal. You can also use it to help:

One note of caution: Since tea tree oil can be neurotoxic, Dr. Lin says you shouldnt diffuse it if you have small children or animals at home.

Known as the king of oils, frankincense can help with inflammation, mood and sleep.

Peppermint oil is known to:

Peppermint tea can settle your stomach, too if you have irritable bowel syndrome or gastric irritation, adds Dr. Lin. Its very gentle and easy to use.

Eucalyptus is a great essential oil to have on hand during cold season. It soothes a stuffed-up nose by opening your nasal passages so you can breathe easier. (Peppermint oil can also help with this.)

Be careful when using essential oils in children, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and seniors. Some essential oils can be harmful to the liver and nervous system when used in excess. Tea tree and eucalyptus oil have also been known to cause seizures, warns Dr. Lin. Theyre toxic for animals as well.

If you are pregnant, these oils tend to be safe for use if you properly dilute them:

Citrus oils lemon, orange, lime, tangerine, grapefruit and bergamot are also safe, but they cause photosensitivity to light when applied to the skin, Dr. Lin says. If youre not careful, that could lead to a quick sunburn.

Potentially toxic oils include:

Dr. Lin also says to make a note of these very toxic oils:

The essential oil business is booming and mostly unregulated. Thats why Dr. Lin says its important to make sure youre getting the real deal and not some chemical-laden snake oil. Go for organic, minimally processed essential oils, she recommends. You can find good quality oils at natural and organic grocery store chains and health stores.

Look for oils that are:

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Essential Oils 101: Do They Work + How Do You Use Them? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

LA Doctor: We Should Expect Reports Of Severe Allergic Reactions To COVID Vaccine – CBS Los Angeles

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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) The United Kingdom is the first in the western world to launch a mass vaccination program against COVID-19.

While experts call it a historic day, there were two people who had a significant allergic reaction to the vaccine.

The National Health Service in England said in a statement both of the medical workers who experienced anaphylactoid reactions to the Pfizer vaccine had a strong past history of allergic reactions and that both had recovered after treatment.

I think this is something we should expect, news to come out everyday of people reacting differently to what is basically a brand new biotech public health weapon thats never been injected into humans before, said Dr. Michael Hirt, founder of The Center For Integrative Medicine in Tarzana.

Now they are advising people with severe allergies to not get the vaccine but its important to note they are not talking about seasonal allergies.

People who have severe allergies are those who walk around with an Epipen and need to inject themselves if they got a bee sting or ate a peanut or some kind of reaction where their throat is gonna swell, their eyes are gonna swell shut, have trouble breathing or swallowing, Hirt said.

British health officials warned that includes people who have had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine or medicine in the past.

While the U.S. will likely start giving the Pfizer vaccine next week, healthcare workers and people living in long-term nursing facilities will be the first to get the dose.

But Dr. Hirt says people with the three Os should consider getting the vaccine when its available: those that are older, overweight or have other medical problems like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.

People who have high risk of dying or being seriously ill of Covid need to look at this vaccine very seriously because the risks of taking it may be much less than the risk of facing down Covid one on one, said Hirt.

The state is expected to get doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week. About 84,000 of them will come to Los Angeles County.

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LA Doctor: We Should Expect Reports Of Severe Allergic Reactions To COVID Vaccine - CBS Los Angeles

CAA approves 11 action items in last meeting The Daily Eastern News – The Daily Eastern News

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The Eastern Council for Academic Affairs met via Blackboard Collaborate Thursday afternoon for the final time this semester.

There were 11 action items on the agenda for the council, all of which were approved in the meeting.

Three of the items were revised programs, two were revised minors and two were new courses. There was also one revised course, one new minor and votes on a virtual study abroad plan and an amendment to the CAA bylaws.

The first revised program was for the History with International Studies major, and the proposal was to reduce the number to make it more attractive to students.

There was also a proposed revision to the Nursing RN to BSN program, the rationale for which stated:

The changes being recommended are to remove microbiology from a required course in the major to a recommended course that meets the general education coursework.

The final revised program proposal was for Communications Disorders and Sciences program. The revision is to improve accessibility and flexibility of courses for transfer students.

The Broadcast Meteorology Minor will be revised to make it more transparent and streamlined and the Earth Sciences Minor will be revised to remove a class that is no longer offered.

Two new courses in the Public Health Department were approved, PUBH 3060 Introduction to Complimentary Integrative Medicine and PUBH 4840 Complimentary Integrative Medicine for Health Services Professionals.

A revision was also approved for CDS 3300 Sign/Deaf Culture to make it a 3000-level course.

A new minor, Communications Disorders and Sciences Minor, was also approved. According to the proposal, The Minor in Communication Disorders and Sciences provides introductory coursework in the development of speech and language. It requires 18 semester hours.

The council also approved an option that allows Eastern to use virtual study abroad programs for students who will be unable to actually travel in the Spring and Summer 2021 semesters.

The final item approved by the council Thursday was an amendment to its bylaws that allows already approved courses to change to online or hybrid delivery formats through executive action by the council.

It is pending approval from Eastern President David Glassman, but the council expects it to be in place by Spring 2021.

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [emailprotected]

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CAA approves 11 action items in last meeting The Daily Eastern News - The Daily Eastern News

Juva Life Introduces Advisory Team in Preparation for Advancement Towards Precision Cannabis – GlobeNewswire

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juva Life Inc. (CSE: JUVA) (OTC: JUVAF) (FRANKFURT: 4VV)(Juva Life, Juva or the Company), a premier California based multi-faceted life sciences company focused on the commercialization of Cannabis products and advanced formulations, is pleased to announce the launch of concerted efforts to develop "precision cannabis" products targeting the delivery of the right formulation to the right individual at the right time. Juva plans to develop intellectual property and secure patent protection on each of its custom formulations and will focus its research registries in areas of inflammation, oncology, neurology, pain management, sleep, menopausal symptoms, and opiate reduction.

Juvas CEO and Founder, Doug Chloupek, has been the driving force in assembling a top team of leading professionals who come to Juva from major enterprises such as Bristol-Meyers Squibb, to prestigious high-profile organizations and academic institutions. These interdisciplinary experts are actively moving forward with research and data collection to support the creation of specialized formulations aimed at addressing a broad range of sometimes devastating disorders. As an outcome of the Companys compelling vision and targeted recruitment efforts, the Company is pleased to introduce the following individuals and their respective roles as employees and advisors of the company. Together they bring an unparalleled level of experience from the medical and pharmaceutical industries to Juva.

Sanjeev Gangwar, Ph.D., VP of ChemistryPreviously served with Bristol-Meyers Squibb as Director of Oncology Discovery Chemistry where he successfully discovered and developed novel classes of cancer therapeutics during his tenure at this award-winning and globally recognized biopharma conglomerate. In his over 25-year career, Dr. Gangwar holds an impressive and extensive record of discovering and developing pharmaceutical drug candidates. Throughout his career he has focused on oncology and immuno-oncology research and held R&D leadership roles at several biopharmaceutical organizations. Dr. Gangwar is co-inventor of 45 patents, has co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers and has presented his work at numerous international conferences.

Guy Miller, MD, Ph.D., Chairman, Science Advisory BoardDr. Miller is the Chair of Juvas science advisory board. In this capacity, he is responsible for integrating our business and technical strategy into a unified Research & Development plan, and in steering our internal team and external experts towards key corporate objectives. Dr. Miller holds both a Ph.D. in chemistry and an MD, completing his training at the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is currently the founder and CEO of Wheel Biology, Inc., chairman of the board of directors, Pneumico, Inc. and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. He possesses broad expertise in natural products pharmacology, drug development, and innovation.

Rakesh R. Patel, MD, Director and Chairman,Clinical Advisory BoardA renowned Oncologist and clinical researcher in the San Francisco Bay Area, with over 150 worldwide lectures and 100 publications to-date. In addition to precision oncology, Dr. Patel has a special interest in integrative medicine and has served on non-profit boards offering complementary therapies to cancer patients. He is also a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple digital health healthcare start-ups. He is currently practicing in the Bay Area with Precision Cancer Specialists Medical Group.

Peter Beitsch, MD, Science AdvisorDr. Beitsch is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist and researcher. He holds several fellowships and is the former President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Pat Whitworth, MD, Research AdvisorA leading researcher, educator and cancer surgeon, Dr. Whitworth completed his fellowship at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is a principal Investigator for numerous NCI and industry clinical trials.

Justin Lo, MD, Medical Advisor Dr. Lo is a prominent specialist whose practice is respected and recognized for leading the way in effective pain management. Formerly, Dr. Lo was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco. Currently he owns and manages comprehensive multidisciplinary pain management clinics throughout the Bay Area, specializing in non-opiate pain management.

To find out more about the Juva team visit: https://juvalife.com/about/.

From Doug Chloupek, CEO: Today, I am delighted to formally introduce our amazing medical and scientific leadership team. This gathering of innovative excellence is the true measure of where we are headed. Furthermore, we have assembled an outstanding executive team to advance our divisional cannabis operations in California to support our research and development efforts. Our mission lies in unlocking the medicinal benefits of Cannabis. The fields of inflammation, oncology and neurology are extensive and represent a potentially significant pathway to considerable value creation.

In related news, Mr. Norton Singhavon has resigned effective immediately from the board to focus on his family and other full-time commitments. The Juva team thanks Mr. Singhavon for his dedication and commitment throughout the critical development stage of the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

For those new to the Juva story, please visit our website at http://www.juvalife.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

-Doug Chloupek-

Doug Chloupek, CEO & FounderJuva Life Inc.inquiries@juvalife.com

About Juva Life Inc. (CSE: JUVA) (OTC: JUVAF) (FRA: 4VV)Juva Lifeis working to bring the cannabis market face to face with the sectors next generation investment grade business model. From in-house research, cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and delivery services, Juva employs state of the art tools in discovery, development, and data science to identify new molecular profiles for major unmet medical needs. Our initial focus is on cannabis, where we are deploying our platform to target consumer and pharma applications. Find out more at:https://juvalife.com/.

For further information, please contact:Juva Life Investor RelationsTel: +1 833-333-5882 (JUVA)Email: inquiries@juvalife.com

Forward Looking Statement This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as may, would, could, will, likely, except, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the objectives and business plans of the Company; ability to realize benefits from its recent corporate appointments; ability to retain its key personnel; the intention to grow the Companys business and operations; the competitive conditions of the industries in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; and the Companys ability to secure financing on reasonable terms.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all, as well as all of the other risks as described in the Companys management discussion and analysis for year ended December 31, 2019 under the heading Risks and Uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Companys management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Juva Life Introduces Advisory Team in Preparation for Advancement Towards Precision Cannabis - GlobeNewswire

Responding to pandemic in South Seneca: STEPS offers community health education program through Lodi library – FingerLakes1.com

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The cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly negatively affecting health-related quality of life across the country and our South Seneca Community is not exempt from the distressing impacts. As Covid-19 cases rise in our South Seneca communities, the S2AYRural Health Networks STEPS project continues to engage residents in the towns of Covert, Ovid, Lodi and Romulus for solutions, collaborating with local partners to promote community well-being during this challenging time.

As a direct response to Covid impacts in our community, STEPS has awarded a Resident Health Promotion Project (RHPP) Finding Joy and Ease for the Long Winter proposed by residents Caroline Peterson and Mary-Catherine French in collaboration with the Lodi Whittier Library and Librarians Beth Bevars and Nora Snyder.

The Finding Joy and Ease program is a community-oriented health education program based on learning mindfulness skills to manage life stress and reduce anxiety. The funded programs content is derived from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program which is a standard health education course which has been offered in Medical Centers and Universities throughout the US for 30 years. Key elements of the original MBSR program will be combined in theFinding Joy and Ease Program including, gentle chair stretching, learning mindfulness skills and meditation to calm the mind and body and exploring how intention, attention and a non-judgmental attitude can support responding rather than reacting to the stress of life. Clinical studies evaluating mindfulness programs for stress management have shown significant improvements in health-related quality of life and reductions in psychological distress, including anxiety. The MBSR program is commonly found in Universities and University Hospital Settings and is offered at University of Rochester Medical Center and Syracuse University.

Why this is the right time to learn more skillful stress management?

Learning skills for managing stress and applying them to your daily life, is an opportunity to improve your quality of life now and may well serve as a protective buffer for your future well-being and pro-active health engagement with your family members.

The STEPS RHPP mindfulness learning program, offered virtually via Zoom, will be led by Caroline Peterson, MA, a South Seneca resident. Caroline, a retired Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist, received advanced training to teach MBSR at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centers Center for Mindfulness. Over 18 years, her innovative work integrating art therapy with the MBSR program for persons diagnosed with cancer, was the focus of successful clinical research studies, showing beneficial outcomes, at Thomas Jefferson Universitys Center for Integrative Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.

Learn more about the Finding Joy and Ease program offered through the Lodi Library via an introductory session offered on December 12 (from 11:00 am 1:00 pm) or December 16 (from 5:00-7:00 pm) via Zoom. Participants are welcome to borrow a Chrome Laptop for the course. The 8-week Zoom program begins in January (with the option of either Wednesday early evening or Saturday late morning classes) To register for this free course, please contact the Lodi Library at 607-582-6218.

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Responding to pandemic in South Seneca: STEPS offers community health education program through Lodi library - FingerLakes1.com

11 Vitamin D Myths and Facts – Everyday Health

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While there is a correlation between obesity and vitamin D deficiency, as the NIH notes, theres no scientific proof that taking a vitamin D supplement will help trim your waistline, saysMichael Holick, MD, PhD, an endocrinologist and the director of the Bone Health Care Clinic at Boston University Medical Center.

A previous study found that when obese and overweight women brought their vitamin D levels up to a normal level with a supplement, while eating a low-calorie diet and exercising, they lost more weight than women who were also on a low-calorie diet and exercising but were unable to raise their vitamin D up to the ideal level. Still, the researchers agree that its too early to draw any conclusions that taking vitamin D can help you shed pounds, because its still unclear whether a low vitamin D status is a consequence of obesity or in some way involved in its cause.

Having sufficient vitamin D, though, may help people live healthier lives, which could in turn help a person lose weight. If bone aches and pains from a vitamin D deficiency keep you from exercising, and if vitamin D supplementation allows you to exercise more because you dont have those aches, that could help you be more active, says Dr. Holick.

To keep your immune system functioning at its best, youll want to make sure youre getting enough vitamin D.

Thats because, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, vitamin D may help mitigate the harmful inflammatory response of certain white blood cells, as well as increase the immune cells production of microbe-fighting proteins. Adults who have low vitamin D levels are more likely to report having experienced a recent cold, cough, or upper respiratory tract infection.

Clinical trials have found that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the amount of illnesses that children develop, says McTiernan, referring to past research on influenza. And a meta-analysis published in February 2017 in the BMJ yielded two points: One, people who took vitamin D supplements were 12 percent less likely to develop acute respiratory infections compared with people who didnt. And two, the authors found that for those with a severe vitamin D deficiency, taking vitamin D supplements lowered their respiratory infection risk by 70 percent.

Because of the potential benefits to the immune system, some people have been quick to assume vitamin D could work as a potential COVID-19 prevention tool or therapy, but its still too early to say. According to Harvard, there is no good evidence on the topic because it is such a new virus. Still, they suggest its wise to keep your levels out of the low range.

One study, published in October 2020 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found that more than 80 percent of people with COVID-19 in a hospital in Spain had a vitamin D deficiency. Another study, published in September 2020 in PLoS One, analyzed 235 individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus; the researchers concluded that improving vitamin D status in both the general population as well as those hospitalized with COVID-19 had the potential to reduce the severity of symptoms and death associated with the disease. Given the low risk of supplementation, if you have questions about taking vitamin D and proper dosing, its best to discuss with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian who is well versed in integrative medicine.

RELATED: A Comprehensive Coronavirus Glossary

For maintaining good health, its important to have your vitamin D levels in the adequate range. According to the NIH, adults need between 20 and 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of vitamin D in their blood. While theres no way to know if your levels are in that range without a test, that doesnt make it necessary to get one, unless, as the Cleveland Clinic notes, you have a condition such as osteoporosis.

Testing is becoming more common, but there is no need for widespread screening, says Holick. If you take the recommended amounts of vitamin D, your levels will be sufficient.

Its probably a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start supplementing. I support seeing your doctor or other provider for a check of vitamin D level, and then taking a supplement if the test shows youre lacking, says McTiernan.

Also, according to MedlinePlus, your doctor may order a vitamin D blood test if you have low-vitamin-D symptoms, which could include bone weakness, bone softness, and fractures. Other risk factors that may signal to your doctor that you need a vitamin D test include obesity, previous gastric bypass surgery, older age, a dark complexion, and lack of sunlight in your day (for example, if youre on bedrest or have an injury that keeps you indoors), MedlinePlus notes.

If youre trying to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes, it might be time to ask your doctor about your vitamin D levels.

We think vitamin D helps with insulin resistance, says Holick. For example, one review of literature published in September 2019 in the journal Current Diabetes Reports showed that low vitamin D blood levels correlated with insulin resistance. At the same time, the study authors concluded that the role of vitamin D for preventing and treating diabetes remains to be seen.

Another study published in September 2019, in the European Journal of Endocrinology, found that six months of vitamin D supplementation did improve insulin sensitivity in people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes as well as people who had been recently diagnosed. The researchers even suggested that supplementing with vitamin D may help delay the development of type 2 diabetes or slow the progression of the disease.

Given the mixed results, ask your healthcare team about possibly adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet for preventing or treating diabetes.

RELATED: Is Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Type 2 Diabetes?

Individuals with very low vitamin D levels are thought to be at increased risk for breast, colon, kidney, lung, and pancreatic cancers, says Carol Fabian, MD, an oncologist at the University of Kansas Cancer Medical Center in Kansas City and the chair of its cancer prevention research program. The Cleveland Clinic notes, too, that vitamin D may help lower the risk for prostate cancer.

The most at-risk groups are individuals who are obese or have darker pigmented skin and have lower levels of vitamin D but are not supplementing, notes Dr. Fabian. Other factors can also drive up the risk. Most people who are obese do not exercise much, and obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors for breast, colon, kidney, lung, and pancreatic cancers, says Fabian. While vitamin D deficiency may not be directly upping cancer risk, an association between the two exists in some cases.

That said, a review published in May 2020 inSeminars in Cancer Biology suggests that there is strong data supporting a protective effect of vitamin D (due to its role in regulating cells) against several types of cancer.

Furthermore, research shows the potential positive effects of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D. Overall, individuals with the highest levels (greater than or equal to 35 ng/mL of vitamin D) may have about a 30 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared with those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D (less than 15 ng/ml), says Fabian. And missing out on important UVB rays during the crucial sunny months may also up your odds of cancer. A very large observational study with many years of follow-up suggests that women who have very low levels of vitamin D measured in the spring and summer are at increased risk for breast cancer, says Fabian, referring to the Nurses Health Study, published in September 2016 inCancer Research.

Right now, there are challenges to vitamin D and cancer studies, a review published in October 2018 in Trends in Cancer Research noted. For example, the amounts of vitamin D provided to study participants varies greatly from study to study, and men and women respond to vitamin D supplementation in different ways.

As for utilizing vitamin D to treat cancer? The research and technology isnt there yet. High doses of drugs with a structure similar to vitamin D may someday be used to treat some forms of breast cancer, but doses of vitamin D that are high enough to cause death of cancer cells are likely to cause very high blood levels of calcium, which can be toxic to the body, says Fabian.

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2021 Will Be The Year Of Mind Gyms, Tele-Therapy & The Rise Of Mental Fitness – mindbodygreen.com

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We're not going to sugarcoat it: 2020 was a challenging year for mental and emotional well-being.

"Mental health is the silent pandemic that is also happening right now," says Uma Naidoo, M.D., nutritional psychiatrist, chef, nutrition expert, and author of This Is Your Brain on Food. "With lockdowns, quarantine, physical distancing, and ongoing uncertaintyloneliness is at its peak for many. The individuals who are thriving are few and far between, as the majority of individuals are lonely and isolated with limited supports."

Renowned clinical neuroscientist psychiatrist Daniel Amen, M.D., calls this intersection of mental health and COVID-19 "pandemic squared," which refers to the way COVID has been multiplied by a subsequent pandemic of psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction.

Data supports these observations, too. A survey in JAMA, which included 1,441 respondents from during COVID-19 and 5,065 respondents from before the pandemic, found the prevalence of depression symptoms was three times higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. What's even more devastating, in August of this year, the CDC released data that among the 5,412 adults they surveyed, more than 10% said they seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days (compared to 4.3% in 2018).

We would also be remiss not to mention the significant toll this year has taken on the BIPOC community. As Eudene Harry, M.D., wrote for mindbodygreen in October, BIPOC individuals already face racism-related vigilance, "the adverse stress response that comes from living with the constant expectation of experiencing racial discrimination in your daily life." With the added weight of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected BIPOC and a push for justice against police brutality and systemic racism2020 has been trying, to say the least.

While the data from 2020 can seem discouraging, it was also a year of turning inward, with more people becoming proactive about their mental health. "2020 has taught us that instead of sticking metaphorical Band-Aids on things, escaping from symptoms, or simply chasing temporary relief, we have to look at the source and redesign a life," Perpetua Neo, DClinPsy, a psychologist and executive coach. In fact, according to a report published by Mental Health America, the number of people seeking help for mental health has drastically increased this year: 93% more people took their anxiety self-screening test and accessed immediate resources from their website this year, compared to 2019.

Roxanna Namavar, D.O., psychiatrist and integrative medicine practitioner, says she's similarly noticed her patients paying more attention to what's happening in their bodies, along with seeking ways to take better care of their physical and mental health. "There's been a lot of slowing down and figuring out what they really need," she says. "I've noticed more awareness of the present moment, and I think that's going to continue from a mental health perspective."

Companies and startups are also working to keep up with the demand for more accessible mental health care. In fact, venture capital funding of U.S. mental health startups totaled $1.37 billion through the third quarter of 2020, which outpaced the $1.06 billion in 2019, according to PitchBook data. The meditation app Calm, for example, raised $75 million, and the company is now valued at $2 billion. While the first mental health gym, Coa, is supported by several notable angel investors, including professional basketball player and mental health advocate Kevin Love, who recently spoke about mental health challenges on mindbodygreen's podcast. "The first thing is realizing that it's normal to feel this way," Love told mbg. "It can be tough to realize so many people are suffering and going through a lot of pain, but on the other side, it's really powerful knowing you're not alone or isolated."

With the heightened awareness around mental health, its important connection to physical health, and vice versawe're confident mental well-being will continue to take priority in 2021. We've already seen some significant upticks in mental health services and priorities to accommodate these tumultuous times, and here's how we predict mental health care will continue to grow and evolve as we head into the new year.

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2021 Will Be The Year Of Mind Gyms, Tele-Therapy & The Rise Of Mental Fitness - mindbodygreen.com

A COVID-19 surge is straining Colorado’s medical workers. Reinforcements are on the way. – RED. Relevant. Essential. Denver

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December 7, 2020

By Cory Phare

Victor Hernandez was working as a student nurse at Porter Adventist Hospital in Littleton this year when COVID-19 broke out at a nearby senior-care facility.

Infected seniors filled the hospitals intensive-care unit. Many of those patients were also dealing with various stages of Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.

So many people were intubated; they had to get hourly meds and constant head-to-toe assessments, Hernandez recalled. But the nurses there are absolutely top-notch. Even though theyre unbelievably fatigued, theyre brave and taking care of their patients every single day.

Theyre super badasses, you know?

RELATED:Nurses in the pipeline

For Hernandez, anursing senior at Metropolitan State University of Denver, that experience was one of many that deepened his commitment to a field he described as applied biology in a humane context.

In addition to working in the ICU, hes spent time in general medicine, psychiatric, post-trauma, post-surgery and orthopedics.

And though hes grateful for the experience, theres one area in particular that has resonated with him.

I love the adrenaline that comes with critical care, Hernandez said. In those moments where you might want to freeze up, when someone is coding or bleeding out, being in the ICU as part of an integrated team has definitely brought out confidence in me I didnt know I had.

I find myself saying, Wow, I cant believe Im here right now. This is what I wanted; now Im going to step up to the plate.

A COVID-19 surge is straining Colorados medical workers. Reinforcements are on the way. from MSU Denver on Vimeo.

Paying it forward

A team approach to health care is an integral part of Hernandezs success, whether surrounded by trauma doctors and E.R. nurses or a supportive academic network. He credited Mallory Brunel, an assistant professor of nursing, and Professor Steve Rissman in integrative health care for supplying an encyclopedic depth of knowledge and the inspiration to keep him going.

Hernandez said he appreciates MSU Denvers diverse student body.

I love how Ive always felt included since I stepped foot on campus here, Hernandez said. Its a melting pot of cultures. Especially in nursing, we need more diversity and people who are bilingual. If you can understand your patients culture firsthand, thats invaluable.

RELATED:Public-Health Crises Converge

The Universitys Health Institute, a collaboration of 10 MSU Denver departments, is working to address equity gaps and increase cultural competency. Research shows that patientsreceive better care from practitioners with a shared racialor ethnic background. Yet a shortage of health care workers from underrepresented populations has led toa disproportionately low number of medical practitioners available to serve these communities.

And the job opportunities are bountiful. Traveling COVID-19 nurses are fetching upward of $8,000 a week.

Last spring, the Health Institute partnered with Centura Health to create its Centura Scholars program, which provides scholarships, mentoring and career-networking opportunities.

For Hernandez, who is already working in the Centura system, its a mission-driven fit that extends to his role as a mentor with MSU Denvers Brother 2 Brother support initiative for male-identified students of color. Hes working with a first-year student who is interested in nursing, helping to guide him through exams and difficult course material.

Hernandez sees the connection as a way to pay it forward.

From the beginning of this path, you find yourself saying, I dont know if I can do this, he said. But Im here as a reminder that folks arent alone in seeing this as a huge goal. Perseverance pays off, and youve got someone with you at every step of the way.

That camaraderie builds trust and, in turn, the confidence of being part of a team you can count on. And its what Hernandez relies on every time he puts on his scrubs to head into his calling to care.

At this point, youre putting everything youve learned throughout your whole career into practice, he said. I cant wait to be on the front lines already. I know theres risk involved, but I cant not help these people.

So lets go tackle this and save some lives.

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A COVID-19 surge is straining Colorado's medical workers. Reinforcements are on the way. - RED. Relevant. Essential. Denver

‘Great Conjunction’ brings ‘astronomical event of the year’ to Cincinnati’s sky – WLWT Cincinnati

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Two of our solar system's largest planets get closer and closer together just days before Christmas. Astronomer Dean Regas from the Cincinnati Observatory calls the event the "Great Conjunction.""I mean this is the astronomical event of the year for the Cincinnati area," Regas said.This is not to be confused with the story that takes the spotlight as "The" Christmas Star. "Totally different thing, but I think it gets lumped into it because it's almost Christmas time. Dec. 21 is a pretty cool date. Also, it's the solstice, so we'll be looking forward to the daylight coming back after Dec. 21," Regas said. Jupiter and Saturn will be so close you can see them both in the telescope at the same time. "You're not going to exactly see one giant mega planet. They're going to be separated. If you have good eyesight or even average eyesight, you should be able to separate the two. What I'm kind of thinking it's going to look like is Jupiter is so much brighter than Saturn, you'll see Jupiter first, and then you might see a little lump on the side of it. That lump will be Saturn," he said."I have never seen this in all my years and probably never will again so I'm not going to miss it," he said. No telescope? No worries. This will be visible without one. Look to the southwestern sky between 6 to 6:45 p.m. Dec. 20-22. They will be closest on the 21.

Two of our solar system's largest planets get closer and closer together just days before Christmas.

Astronomer Dean Regas from the Cincinnati Observatory calls the event the "Great Conjunction."

"I mean this is the astronomical event of the year for the Cincinnati area," Regas said.

This is not to be confused with the story that takes the spotlight as "The" Christmas Star.

"Totally different thing, but I think it gets lumped into it because it's almost Christmas time. Dec. 21 is a pretty cool date. Also, it's the solstice, so we'll be looking forward to the daylight coming back after Dec. 21," Regas said.

Jupiter and Saturn will be so close you can see them both in the telescope at the same time.

"You're not going to exactly see one giant mega planet. They're going to be separated. If you have good eyesight or even average eyesight, you should be able to separate the two. What I'm kind of thinking it's going to look like is Jupiter is so much brighter than Saturn, you'll see Jupiter first, and then you might see a little lump on the side of it. That lump will be Saturn," he said.

"I have never seen this in all my years and probably never will again so I'm not going to miss it," he said.

No telescope? No worries. This will be visible without one. Look to the southwestern sky between 6 to 6:45 p.m. Dec. 20-22. They will be closest on the 21.

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'Great Conjunction' brings 'astronomical event of the year' to Cincinnati's sky - WLWT Cincinnati

Amateur Astronomers Over the Moon for Chang’e 5 Mission – Sixth Tone

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Every night for the past two weeks, Scott Tilley has been saying good morning to the moon as it rises above the horizon.

The 50-year-old astronomy hobbyists well-wishes are intended not for Earths shiny satellite, but for the Chinese space probeChange 5, which left Earth on Nov. 24 to collect soil samples from the moon.

Every evening since, Tilley has set up his self-built 60-centimeter radio dish a miniature version of Chinas enormousFAST telescope in his backyard on Canadas west coast to eavesdrop on the signals the probe sends back to ground control.

While most space fans have been pinned to the occasional livestreams provided by Chinas state broadcaster, China Central Television, Tilley and his fellow astronomy enthusiasts around the world are tuning in to their radio telescope setups. On Twitter, they have been taking turns monitoring Change 5 and sharing the signals theyve picked up.

Amateur astronomer Scott Tilley tracks the Change 5 mission from his van in British Columbia, Canada, Dec. 3, 2020. Courtesy of Scott Tilley

On launch day, amateur astronomers managed to pick up part of the video feed that Change 5 sent back to ground control. First, a British amateur radio operator tweeted a chunk of binary code from the probe that he had captured by aiming his dish at coordinates Tilley had calculated. Then, a hobbyist from the Czech Republic managed to decode that piece of data into a nine-second video that they described in a tweet as a solar panel of Change 5 glistening in the sun and dust floating around.

This is the first time a deep-space mission has been decoded by amateurs, as far as Im aware, Tilley tells Sixth Tone, adding that many things have to line up to capture and decode a video signal, such as the timing, gear, and skill sets.

Its quite rare that we get a mission like Change 5 where theres so much going on, Tilley says. Within two weeks, Change 5 launched from southern China, landed on the moon, dug up lunar soil, and relaunched from the moon a relative plethora of tasks.

He has tracked many other spacecraft, from NASA satellites to Chinas earlier lunar probes, and few are as busy as Change 5. Most spacecraft spend the bulk of their missions cruising, he says.

A GIF shows signals from the Change 5 ascender and orbiter, observed and recorded by Scott Tilley. Courtesy of Scott Tilley

Astronomy radio hobbyists are relatively rare in China. But at the Harbin Institute of Technology in the countrys northeast where one of Chinas few amateur radio clubs is located students have also been tuning in to the lunar mission with a radio telescope installed on campus thats about 5.4 meters in diameter.

Within minutes of Change 5 touching down on the moon, the club posted a diagram on microblogging platform Weibo of the radio signals sent from the spacecraft. Congratulations on the landing! Good luck digging up the soil, theywrote. The club declined to be interviewed when contacted by Sixth Tone, saying they dont wish to draw attention.

Some of the international amateurs are pretty outstanding, Liu Qinghui, an astronomer at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, tells Sixth Tone. Theyre familiar with the entire process, from receiving to decoding.

It helps that ordinary data from space missions, including Change 5, usually isnt encrypted, Liu says. Most of the time, its just sending a picture. If you want to encrypt the message, youre wasting resources.Because encrypted files are bigger, transmitting them takes longer, and during critical times such as moon landings, minimal communication delays are preferred.

However, signals going from ground control to the spacecraft are encrypted otherwise people could easily control and disrupt the mission, he says. To avoid communication interference, space missions must also make the frequencies they will use public.

Liu himself has taken part in spacecraft tracking, too. He participated in a collaboration between the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory and the European Space Agency, a project for which they tracked ESAs Mars mission as training for ChinasTianwen-1mission to the red planet.

But Liu admires the global community of amateurs who manage to do the same from their own backyards just for the fun of it. In a research climate like Chinas, when it comes to individuals pursuing topics that might not seem particularly useful, I have to admit that sometimes these ideals are somewhat lacking, Liu says. We are still cultivating peoples interests in less tangible subjects like astronomy. But I think it will change in the future.

Editor: Kevin Schoenmakers.

(Header image: A diagrammatic illustration of the Change 5 ascender preparing to dock with the orbiter, published Dec. 6, 2020. Jin Liwang/Xinhua)

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ESO and Microsoft will work with artificial intelligence to boost astronomy – News Center Latinoamrica – Microsoft

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Santiago, Chile In line with Microsofts recent announcements in Chile, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, met with an ESO delegation, headed by its Director General , Xavier Barcons, to sign a new step of their agreement that addresses to optimize and enhance the science made from ESO Paranal Observatory telescopes through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Thanks to this initiative, ESO and Microsoft will work in three areas of great interest for the operations of the Paranal Observatory. The first project is Turbulence Nowcasting, which makes real-time weather and atmospheric predictions to determine whether weather conditions are suitable for different observations. The second project is Anomaly Detection in calibration images taken with ESOs scientific instruments. The visual inspection of the images is replaced by the automatic inspection through Machine Learning algorithms. The third project is Adaptive/Predective Control on adaptive optics, a technique that allows to correct in real time the distortions caused by the turbulence of the Earths atmosphere, making the obtained images almost as sharp as those taken from space.

Microsoft will allocate resources from Microsoft Research, its research division and AI specialist, to analyze large volumes of data from Earths atmosphere. Microsoft will also donate resources from its Cloud and AI platform for the equivalent of $3 million of dollars.

ESO researchers will use these advances in the day-to-day scientific operations of ESOs Paranal Observatory. This work will be carried out by the observatorys local engineering team, in collaboration with universities and companies in Chile to enhance the use of AI at a local level. Research will include training programs to strengthen knowledge transfer in the country.

This partnership began to develop on Brad Smiths previous visit in 2019 to the ESO Paranal Observatory, located in Regin de Antofagasta, at Chiles northest.

Since Galileo pointed his telescope at the night sky more than 600 years ago, technology has propelled humankinds understanding and discovery of space, said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft. Today, cloud computing and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate the work of modern-day astronomers. Were so proud to partner with the European Southern Observatory as they will explore our digital technology to optimize their telescopes to accelerate their scientists work from taking decades to days

Astronomy is also facing a digital transformation. We must adopt the concepts of Industry 4.0, an important factor to understand in the future the complexity of the operations of a revolutionary telescope such as ESOs ELT. Thanks to this alliance, we will learn to face complex problems in a state-of-the-art observatory such as Paranal. At the same time, we want to pass on what our colleagues have learned to the local community through companies and universities in Chile said Claudio Melo, ESO representative in Chile.

Both initiatives started as proofs of concept led by EY-Metric Arts, Microsoft partner in Chile, who with its team of astronomers specialized in Artificial Intelligence contributed to taking the first steps in the development of this technology.

As EY Chile, we see a great space for cloud and AI technologies to strongly impact the current astronomical operation, in order to lay the foundations for the astronomical operations of the future. We also see a huge opportunity to take advantage of these pioneering initiatives, to link local talent and test solutions that can eventually be transferred to other industries, Patricio Cofre, Partner at EY Chile

About ESO

ESO is Europes leading intergovernmental astronomical organization and the worlds most productive astronomical observatory. It has sixteen member countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland, along with Chile, host country, and Australia as a strategic ally. ESO develops an ambitious program focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground observation facilities that allow astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays an important role in promoting and organizing cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates in Chile three unique observation facilities in the world: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope in conjunction with its VLTI (Very Large Telescope Interferometer), the worlds most advanced, as well as two tracking telescopes: VISTA (Optical and Infrared Tracking Telescope for Astronomy), which works on infrared, and the VST (VLT Survey Telescope), which tracks in visible light. ESO is also a partner of two facilities in Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, currently the largest operating astronomical project in the world. Finally, in Cerro Armazones, near Paranal, ESO is building the 39-meter ELT (Extremely Large Telescope), which will become the largest eye in the world to look at the sky.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy in Muncie, IN for Ball State University – Physics

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Department of Physics & Astronomy

Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Ball State University

Ball State Universitys Department of Physics & Astronomy has a tenure-track position available August 2021. The successful applicant will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in physics, conduct and disseminate research and actively seek external funding to support this research, supervise undergraduate and graduate research projects, and participate in service activities appropriate for a tenure-track position.

Primary Responsibilities: include teaching courses ranging from non-major courses, primarily at the 100-level, to advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses. It is also assumed that the successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach courses within their area of expertise. They will be expected to conduct an active research program in experimental physics. Start-up funds will be available to initiate a research program and set up an experimental lab within the Cooper Science complex. It is expected that the successful applicant will publish 1-2 refereed journal articles per year and similar number of conference presentations in the areas of physics. These publications will usually include students as authors and co-authors.

Minimum Qualifications: Earned Ph.D. in physics or closely related field from an accredited institution, completed by date of appointment. One year minimum teaching experience at the college level, gained concurrently or at any time. Effective communication skills in both the classroom and laboratory setting.

Employer will consider sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications: Research experience in experimental physics. Preference may be given to candidates with backgrounds in Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Semi-conductor physics, Nanophysics, or Bio/Medical Physics. Three or more years of successful post-secondary teaching experience. Record of acquisition of external grants and scholarly publications.

Apply online at: http://bsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/23154. Include the following documents with your application: curriculum vitae, Teaching Statement/Portfolio, and Research Statement/Papers, and cover letter addressed to Feng Jin. Additional materials supporting excellence in teaching and/or research may be submitted under the Other document in the optional Applicant Documents section. (Note that only one document may be uploaded. Therefore, if you desire to upload multiple documents in the Other section, you will need to combine them into a singlePDFprior to the upload.) The option to upload transcripts is available. Original, official transcripts showing the highest related degree earner is required at the time of hire (even if obtained at BSU). Degree verification will be conducted.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will be accepted through January 21, 2021.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, approximately 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students enroll each year in diverse academic programs on and off campus. Our students come from all Indiana counties, all 50 states, and 68 countries to pursue knowledge in seven academic colleges offering 190 undergraduate majors, 130 undergraduate minors, 140 graduate programs and 200 study abroad programs.

The Ball State way is rooted in the Beneficence Pledge a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, honesty and integrity, social responsibility, gratitude and valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Ball State students, faculty and staff are empowered in a culture that believes in them and demands they believe in themselves. They are partners in an innovative, immersive approach to education. They are supported by living and learning facilities that enable intellectual curiosity. We graduate scholars who are changing the world, and weve dedicated our University to do the same.

The university offers an excellent wellness program and extensive benefits offerings to include a generous paid time off package and paid parental leave. For further information regarding benefits please visit: https://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/HumanResources/Jobs/Benefits-and-Community/Faculty

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

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Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy in Muncie, IN for Ball State University - Physics

Ghostly blobs in space are the new exciting thing in astronomy. Could these be linked to wormholes? – Scroll.in

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In September 2019, my colleague Anna Kapinska gave a presentation showing interesting objects she had found while browsing our new radio astronomical data. She had started noticing very weird shapes she could not fit easily to any known type of object.

Among them, labelled by Anna as WTF?, was a picture of a ghostly circle of radio emission, hanging out in space like a cosmic smoke-ring. None of us had ever seen anything like it before, and we had no idea what it was. A few days later, our colleague Emil Lenc found a second one, even more spooky than Annas.

Anna and Emil had been examining the new images from our pilot observations for the Evolutionary Map of the Universe project, made with CSIROs revolutionary new Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope.

Evolutionary Map of the Universe plans to boldly probe parts of the Universe where no telescope has gone before. It can do so because Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope can survey large swathes of the sky very quickly, probing to a depth previously only reached in tiny areas of sky, and being especially sensitive to faint, diffuse objects like these.

I predicted a couple of years ago this exploration of the unknown would probably make unexpected discoveries, which I called WTFs. But none of us expected to discover something so unexpected, so quickly. Because of the enormous data volumes, I expected the discoveries would be made using machine learning. But these discoveries were made with good old-fashioned eyeballing.

Our team searched the rest of the data by eye, and we found a few more of the mysterious round blobs. We dubbed them odd radio circles, which stands for odd radio circles. But the big question, of course, is: what are they?

At first, we suspected an imaging artefact, perhaps generated by a software error. But we soon confirmed they are real, using other radio telescopes. We still have no idea how big or far away they are. They could be objects in our galaxy, perhaps a few light-years across, or they could be far away in the Universe and maybe millions of light-years across.

When we look in images taken with optical telescopes at the position of odd radio circles, we see nothing. The rings of radio emission are probably caused by clouds of electrons, but why do not we see anything in visible wavelengths of light? We dont know, but finding a puzzle like this is the dream of every astronomer.

We have ruled out several possibilities for what odd radio circles might be.

Could they be supernova remnants, the clouds of debris left behind when a star in our galaxy explodes? No. They are far from most of the stars in the Milky Way and there are too many of them.

Could they be the rings of radio emission sometimes seen in galaxies undergoing intense bursts of star formation? Again, no. We do not see any underlying galaxy that would be hosting the star formation.

Could they be the giant lobes of radio emission we see in radio galaxies, caused by jets of electrons squirting out from the environs of a supermassive black hole? Not likely, because the odd radio circles are very distinctly circular, unlike the tangled clouds we see in radio galaxies.

Could they be Einstein rings, in which radio waves from a distant galaxy are being bent into a circle by the gravitational field of a cluster of galaxies? Still no. Odd radio circles are too symmetrical, and we do not see a cluster at their centre.

In our paper about odd radio circles, which is forthcoming in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, we run through all the possibilities and conclude these enigmatic blobs do not look like anything we already know about.

So we need to explore things that might exist but have not yet been observed, such as a vast shockwave from some explosion in a distant galaxy. Such explosions may have something to do with fast radio bursts, or the neutron star and black hole collisions that generate gravitational waves.

Or perhaps they are something else entirely. Two Russian scientists have even suggested odd radio circles might be the throats of wormholes in spacetime.

From the handful we have found so far, we estimate there are about 1,000 odd radio circles in the sky. My colleague Brbel Koribalski notes the search is now on, with telescopes around the world, to find more odd radio circles and understand their cause.

It is a tricky job, because odd radio circles are very faint and difficult to find. Our team is brainstorming all these ideas and more, hoping for the eureka moment when one of us, or perhaps someone else, suddenly has the flash of inspiration that solves the puzzle.

It is an exciting time for us. Most astronomical research is aimed at refining our knowledge of the Universe, or testing theories. Very rarely do we get the challenge of stumbling across a new type of object which nobody has seen before, and trying to figure out what it is.

Is it a completely new phenomenon, or something we already know about but viewed in a weird way? And if it really is completely new, how does that change our understanding of the Universe? Watch this space!

Ray Norris is a Professor, School of Science at the Western Sydney University.

This article first appeared on The Conversation.

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Star gazing with astronomers of the past – The Hindu

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Award-winning documentary 'Hidden in the mists of Time - The Travancore Observatory', brings the forgotten research facility from the 1830s to new light

Trekking up the arduous route to the misty peak of Agastyakoodam, astrophysicist and academic Anand Narayanan, marvelled at the spirit of enquiry and adventure that motivated John Allan Broun, a British astronomer, to make the same trip more than 150 years ago.

Broun, the second director of the observatory in Thiruvananthapuram (appointed in 1852), felt that an observatory post atop the Agastyakoodam, the second highest peak in the Western Ghats in Kerala, would be the best place to carry out studies on magnetism. We were tracing his footsteps to see if we could discover the post he had set up there, says Anand, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.

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Ever since Anand first heard about the nakshatra bungalow in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city from local history buffs, he was intrigued and tried to learn more about its location, work and history. It still exists in the heart of the city but hardly anyone knows about its significance and the work of eminent scientists who had worked there, he says.

He began delving into the history of the observatory and read annual reports brought out by the erstwhile Travancore Administration, where they chronicle in great detail everything that happened in the kingdom during that year. All of it is preserved at the Public Library in the city.

I was able to read the report on the centenary of the observatory in 1937, where many dignitaries, like CP Ramaswamy Iyer, had gathered to celebrate the occasion. I realised that though it is a small facility, it had been through a lot of ups and downs, depending on the people at the helm, says Anand.

Wanting more people to know more about the place, he decided to make a documentary. The 27-minute short, Hidden In The Mists Of Time The Travancore Observatory, bagged awards for the best-researched film and for the best-technically visualised film (graphics, animation, and special effects) in the recently concluded 10th National Science Film Festival of India, held from November 24 - 27.

Anand began his research for the film in 2017. We realised how fascinating regional history can be. Stories of the past are always around us but hidden from us at the same time. And that is where research becomes interesting. We talked to several local historians and the older generation who were associated with the observatory one way or the other. We then spent a lot of time finding documentary evidence to verify certain facts and fill the gaps, he elaborates.

The observatory predates the University of Kerala, although it now comes under its aegis.

This is perhaps the oldest scientific facility of the University and it had been commissioned by Swati Thirunal, then the reigning monarch of erstwhile Travancore, in 1837. He was keen on astronomy and was in his twenties when he decided to have an observatory in Thiruvananthapuram. There was a certain vision in his decision, explains Anand. In 1832, Swathi Thirunal had met John Caldecott, the British commercial agent and persuaded him to set up the observatory.

To make the film, Anand approached the Department of Physics of the University of Kerala. They were extremely supportive, giving him permission for filming and for going through the archival material in the observatory. The film was financially supported by an outreach grant from the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Education.I gathered a team of students to help with the research. Reputed wildlife photographer Suresh Elamon sir joined in as cinematographer. I had no story board or script. We began randomly shooting everything related to the observatory. Somewhere along the way, I wrote a script, he says. Rahul Rajiv, an engineer with a knack for visuals and science, did the editing, and Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan, the voiceover.

Anand and his team did the Agastyamala trek (about 69 km from the city) in January 2019, following reported geographical coordinates of the magnetic observing station. There were no tangible structures there. The reports mentioned that the structure was made of wood. It is likely to have perished in the humid, windy conditions close to the summit of the peak. We just filmed whatever was present at roughly the location mentioned there was practically nothing, he recalls.

The team consisting of Sreerag Jayakumar, Shajeer Rahman, Vivek Vijayan and Anand found the going tough even now due to the tropical vegetation and the steep climb. Academic and local history buff Achuthsankar S Nair mentions in the documentary that the team led by Broun was given convicts to help them cut a path to reach the peak.

Making the film meant digging through the history of the city. They found that the observatory was once used for timekeeping and that the Travancore Broadcasting Station depended on the observatory for accurate timekeeping.

However, one of the many reasons why this facility, in our opinion, waned out is because its focus kept shifting over time from astronomy to magnetic field studies, to timekeeping, and meteorological measurements. It depended on who was in charge of the observatory and what their science interests were. At the same time, the city grew around that facility, the light pollution increased, and it became difficult to carry out scientifically worthwhile astronomical observations, believes Anand.

He says the future of this place lies in reviving the facility into a science history museum, and an astronomy public outreach facility and thus help. . This is probably the best way to help the future generations bond with local history. The place is of national importance; it is the second oldest modern astronomical observatory in India, after the Madras Observatory, he asserts.

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Star gazing with astronomers of the past - The Hindu

Astronomer Andrea Ghez on the responsibility that comes with a Nobel Prize – UChicago News

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Astrophysicist Andrea Ghez was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the supermassive black hole that lurks at the center of the Milky Way.

Ghez led a team that carefully measured the movements of stars at the center of the Milky Way, showing that these stars were revolving around something incredibly heavy. That black hole, named Sagittarius A*, is thought to have played an important role in the formation of our galaxy. She also developed a technique known as speckle imaging, which combines many short exposures from a telescope into a single, crisper image.

A professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, Ghez grew up in Chicago and is a 1983 graduate of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, an N-12 school renowned for its pioneering approach to education. Last month, she gave a colloquium at the UChicago physics department explaining how to prove a black hole exists.

Ahead of the Nobel Prize award ceremony on Dec. 10, she spoke with UChicago News about her love of science, how to get back up again after running into obstacles in life, and the responsibilities that come with winning sciences top honor.

You become a spokesperson for science, she said. With being the fourth woman ever awarded in physics, theres an opportunity there to be a more visible role model. How do you want to use that opportunity to advance scienceyour science, science at large, and the opportunities for the next generation to do science. So Im still thinking a lot about that.

The full interview, edited for clarity, is below.

I love it! I think its all about what you love. You can endure a lot if you have passion for something.

Anything you do with great intensity comes with all kinds of interesting issues. In both science and life, youre going to experienceIm looking for a different word than failure, because its not really failure. Its bumps in the road. Its things not going how you planned or thought, and how to develop that ability to understand the idea that all challenges can be opportunities.

I have to say, thats become one of my favorite sayingsthat all challenges can also be opportunities. When I talk to my kids, I say that good faceplants are really important in life. You need to figure out how to get up and figure out what didnt work, and how you move forward. How do you take whatever you can learn from it, and just keep going? Because that always happens. It doesnt matter what field youre in. It doesnt matter what walk of life youre from. These things will present as challenges; how do you reposition yourself so that you can make progress?

Well, you know, the first time I proposed to do this [now Nobel-winning] experiment to get telescope time, it was turned down. To me, it was so obvious that it was such a good idea! I realized when youre trying to convince a group of people to do something that hasnt been done before, just because you think its a good idea, that doesnt mean theyre going to accept it.

So it forced me to articulate the science better. Thats the opportunity: Figure out what they didnt like and strengthen the argument.

The most interesting moments scientifically are when you talk to somebody with a really different point of view. Often you can find deeper truths, or the weaknesses in work, by having dialogues. In fact, thats why I like giving talks about my work at other universities, because you present it to different audiences and they often have something new to offer, or something you didnt think of.

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Astronomer Andrea Ghez on the responsibility that comes with a Nobel Prize - UChicago News

Tiger Woods rookie card grabs an astronomical fee and it can still be yours (we think) – Golf Digest

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For those who used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated for Kids, now would be a good time to call your parents and pray they are hoarders.

This week a mint Tiger Woods card sold for $26,400 at a Dallas auction. At least, we think thats what it sold for. On the Heritage Auctions website, the item has SOLD next to its lot, although it appears the seller might be willing to give it to you for the small sum of $34,000.

Crazy thing is the card was not technically a trading card, as it came in a sheet distributed in an issue of SI for Kids. The card was issued in 1996, Woods rookie season on the PGA Tour, in which he won twice.

Now, $26,400 for a card that came in a kids magazine may seem a tad overboard. Its just cardboard with a photo, right? Well strap in, sports fan, because the same auction house sold a rare Wayne Gretzky card for a whopping $1.29 million earlier in the week. (We mentioned you should call your parents, yes?)

Collectible cards are graded for perfections and imperfections, like how well it was preserved or how much it has deteriorated. PSA weeds out the fakes. They grade by numbers: 1 (poor) to 10 (gem mint), with the Woods card receiving a 10 score.

Woods memorabilia tends to be a hot ticket on the auction circuit. In September a replica of Woods Cameron putter sold for $150,000.

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Tiger Woods rookie card grabs an astronomical fee and it can still be yours (we think) - Golf Digest

The Conversation: I’m an astronomer and I think aliens may be out there but UFO sightings aren’t persuasive – New Zealand Herald

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Many people who say they have seen UFOs are either dog walkers or smokers. Photo / 123RF

OPINION: By Chris Impey

If intelligent aliens visit the Earth, it would be one of the most profound events in human history.

Surveys show that nearly half of Americans believe that aliens have visited the Earth, either in the ancient past or recently. That percentage has been increasing. Belief in alien visitation is greater than belief that Bigfoot is a real creature, but less than belief that places can be haunted by spirits.

Scientists dismiss these beliefs as not representing real physical phenomena. They don't deny the existence of intelligent aliens. But they set a high bar for proof that we've been visited by creatures from another star system. As Carl Sagan said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

I'm a professor of astronomy who has written extensively on the search for life in the universe. I also teach a free online class on astrobiology. Full disclosure: I have not personally seen a UFO.

UFO means unidentified flying object. Nothing more, nothing less.

There's a long history of UFO sightings. Air Force studies of UFOs have been going on since the 1940s. In the United States, "ground zero" for UFOs occurred in 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. The fact that the Roswell incident was soon explained as the crash landing of a military high-altitude balloon didn't stem a tide of new sightings. The majority of UFOs appear to people in the United States. It's curious that Asia and Africa have so few sightings despite their large populations, and even more surprising that the sightings stop at the Canadian and Mexican borders.

Most UFOs have mundane explanations. Over half can be attributed to meteors, fireballs and the planet Venus. Such bright objects are familiar to astronomers but are often not recognized by members of the public. Reports of visits from UFOs inexplicably peaked about six years ago.

Many people who say they have seen UFOs are either dog walkers or smokers. Why? Because they're outside the most. Sightings concentrate in evening hours, particularly on Fridays, when many people are relaxing with one or more drinks.

A few people, like former NASA employee James Oberg, have the fortitude to track down and find conventional explanations for decades of UFO sightings. Most astronomers find the hypothesis of alien visits implausible, so they concentrate their energy on the exciting scientific search for life beyond the Earth.

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While UFOs continue to swirl in the popular culture, scientists are trying to answer the big question that is raised by UFOs: Are we alone?

Astronomers have discovered over 4,000 exoplanets, or planets orbiting other stars, a number that doubles every two years. Some of these exoplanets are considered habitable, since they are close to the Earth's mass and at the right distance from their stars to have water on their surfaces. The nearest of these habitable planets are less than 20 light years away, in our cosmic "back yard." Extrapolating from these results leads to a projection of 300 million habitable worlds in our galaxy. Each of these Earth-like planets is a potential biological experiment, and there have been billions of years since they formed for life to develop and for intelligence and technology to emerge.

Astronomers are very confident there is life beyond the Earth. As astronomer and ace exoplanet-hunter Geoff Marcy, puts it, "The universe is apparently bulging at the seams with the ingredients of biology." There are many steps in the progression from Earths with suitable conditions for life to intelligent aliens hopping from star to star. Astronomers use the Drake Equation to estimate the number of technological alien civilizations in our galaxy. There are many uncertainties in the Drake Equation, but interpreting it in the light of recent exoplanet discoveries makes it very unlikely that we are the only, or the first, advanced civilization.

This confidence has fueled an active search for intelligent life, which has been unsuccessful so far. So researchers have recast the question "Are we alone?" to "Where are they?"

The absence of evidence for intelligent aliens is called the Fermi Paradox. Even if intelligent aliens do exist, there are a number of reasons why we might not have found them and they might not have found us. Scientists do not discount the idea of aliens. But they aren't convinced by the evidence to date because it is unreliable, or because there are so many other more mundane explanations.

UFOs are part of the landscape of conspiracy theories, including accounts of abduction by aliens and crop circles created by aliens. I remain skeptical that intelligent beings with vastly superior technology would travel trillion of miles just to press down our wheat.

It's useful to consider UFOs as a cultural phenomenon. Diana Pasulka, a professor at the University of North Carolina, notes that myths and religions are both means for dealing with unimaginable experiences. To my mind, UFOs have become a kind of new American religion.

So no, I don't think belief in UFOs is crazy, because some flying objects are unidentified, and the existence of intelligent aliens is scientifically plausible.

But a study of young adults did find that UFO belief is associated with schizotypal personality, a tendency toward social anxiety, paranoid ideas and transient psychosis. If you believe in UFOs, you might look at what other unconventional beliefs you have.

I'm not signing on to the UFO "religion," so call me an agnostic. I recall the aphorism popularized by Carl Sagan, "It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out."

- Chris Impey, University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The Conversation: I'm an astronomer and I think aliens may be out there but UFO sightings aren't persuasive - New Zealand Herald