A passion for taking care of Steamboat’s active patients – Sky Hi News

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Dr. Alex Meininger didnt just know he wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon someday. He specifically knew he wanted to practice in a ski resort town.

As a skier, competitive cyclist and outdoorsman, he understands the opportunity for work-life balance that living in a community such as Steamboat provides. It also offers him the chance to relate and socially interact with his patients, almost all of whom are fellow athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

Maintaining an active lifestyle can also be an outlet and decompression for a stressful occupation, Dr. Meininger said.

Dr. Meininger specializes in sports medicine and minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques, with a focus on joint preservation and knee injuries, at the Steamboat Orthopaedic and Spine Institute (SOSI). He has gravitated toward knee injuries such as ACL tears and meniscus injuries because theyre prevalent among so many of his athletic patients.

My practice is about saving lifestyles, not lives. Were giving people the function theyre seeking to pursue the lifestyle they want. Dr. Alex Meininger

I enjoy taking care of athletic people and the problems common to them, he said. Ive developed my practice as a knee specialist to care for complex and advanced injuries, and also as an educator of arthroscopic surgery.

Saving lifestyles

Performing more than 500 knee surgeries a year about 150 of which are ACL reconstructions in addition to numerous hip and shoulder procedures, Dr. Meininger focuses on helping patients return to their passions.

One of the best things about being an orthopaedic surgeon is that its a tangible specialty. We identify a problem that we can see, feel and touch; and offer a repair or other ways to physically solve that problem, he said. My practice is about saving lifestyles, not lives. Were giving people the function theyre seeking to pursue the lifestyle they want.

Instructor and author

Dr. Meininger is a leader in the field of arthroscopy, serving as an Associate Masters Instructor of Arthroscopy and volunteering regularly with the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA).

As an instructor, I take away a lot of pearls myself just by interacting with fellow leaders in the field, he said. Meetings and conventions provide opportunities and time to brainstorm and develop new techniques.

Dr. Meininger is also a respected author of multiple scientific publications; including two books dedicated to the treatment of sports injuries, author of numerous scientific articles and an invited author of textbook chapters on orthopaedic surgical techniques. Steamboat Springs truly has access to world-class orthopaedic sports medicine care right here in our resort community.

Orthopaedics is a lifelong passion, and its truly one of the greatest things of my life, Dr. Meininger said.

Orthopaedic innovation

Dr. Meininger is an expert in joint preservation, taking measures to restore the joint and prolong longevity in order to avoid joint-replacement surgery. He uses advanced tools for regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma or stem-cell injections, as well as MACI surgery, which repairs cartilage defects of the knee.

Given Steamboats active population, many patients suffer multiple injuries, Dr. Meininger said. He wants these patients to know that when injuries get complicated, SOSI can provide the latest and best treatments right here in town.

We can accomplish anything the big cities can offer, he said.

The great demographic reversal and what it means for the economy – USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog)

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

The rise of China to the status of economic superpower has been the dominant narrative of the last three decades. Chinas rise as the main feature of globalisation, in conjunction with a beneficial sweet spot in demography, drove output up and inflation down in the advanced economies. But these trends are now reversing. Chinas economic success depended on many factors, a strong historical social and cultural background, political single-mindedness, a flexible and competent labour force, fed by internal migration, capital controls, developing satisfactory infrastructure and absorption of Western technological know-how. But Chinas greatest contribution to global growth is now past. Its working age population is now shrinking, while the ranks of the old expands.

This great demographic reversal will lead to a return of inflation, higher nominal interest rates, lessening inequality and higher productivity, but worsening fiscal problems, as medical, care and pension expenditures all increase in our ageing societies. Below are key pointsin ournew book.They arethe executive summaries of some of its chapters.

Output growth will decline

The surge in the labour force working in the worlds trading system in previous decades is now reversing. The ratio of the retired-old to workers will worsen, as longevity out-distances retirement age, particularly in those countries which earlier grew fastest. Overall output growth depends on a combination of the growth rate of the working population and their productivity. With the former declining, unless offset by a major rise in the participation rates of the elderly, growth has to be based on higher productivity per worker. While there are some reasons for hoping that we may improve on recent disappointments on this latter front, we are reasonably confident that overall output growth will now generally decline.

Dependency, dementia and the coming crisis of caring

Extra longevity is not such a boon if it is accompanied by enhanced morbidity. Ageing leads to a greater incidence of neuro-degenerative diseases, e.g. Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Unlike their success with cancer and cardio-vascular ills, medicine has been largely unsuccessful in dealing with dementia; research, diagnosis and treatment are all under-funded and unsatisfactory. The costs of such diseases are bound to grow rapidly, partly by diverting a growing proportion of the available workforce into care for the dependent old. Even then, the availability of properly trained carers will probably be insufficient, leading to a greater burden for the affected old and their families. Combine this with the rising age of having children and the result is a markedly changing life-cycle pattern, one that we argue will reduce the household savings ratio.

The resurgence of inflation

The great demographic reversal and the retreat from globalisation will bring back stronger inflationary pressures this is our highest conviction view. Worsening dependency ratios naturally raise inflation. The lesser availability of labour at home and abroad will serve to restore the (previously diminished) bargaining power of labour. It will also end up raising the equilibrium natural rate of unemployment. Households will save less, and invest more in housing, than some mainstream models suggest. The non-financial corporate sector may have to invest more to hold down unit labour costs, though we are agnostic about the various causes for recent low investment rates. But we doubt that politicians, facing rising health and pension costs, will be prepared or able to raise taxes enough to equilibrate the economy via fiscal policy.

The determination of (real) interest rates during the great reversal

The rising inflation that we foresee in the future will raise nominal interest rates, but not necessarily real interest rates. There are multiple factors influencing the equilibrium real interest rate, r*. We doubt whether the prospective slowdown in world growth will depress r*. While slower growth will tend to reduce both ex ante saving and ex ante investment in the private sector, we tend to believe that savings will fall by more. If so, the public sector should ideally move back towards primary surplus to balance the economy. But rising health and pension costs, and the political unpopularity of tax increases, will hinder that. Political pressures may force central banks to hold short-term rates below the level consistent with inflation targets, thus keeping short real rates low, while market pressures lead to stronger increases in long rates, both nominal and real. The yield curve will become much more upwards sloping.

Inequality and the rise of populism

After two centuries of growing global inequality, faster growth in Asia compared to the West has seen this trend start to recede. Inequality within countries, however, has generally risen, though perhaps more in perception than in fact. The allocation of responsibility for this, between technology, growing monopoly power, and the surge in labour supply due to globalisation and demography, is complex and uncertain. One might have expected such rising within-country inequality to benefit left-leaning political parties, (and it did in Latin America). But in North America and Europe it has led to rising support for right-wing, populist parties. We attribute this largely to the publics distaste for large-scale immigration. Immigration is an issue that sharply divides the views of mainstream economists, who mainly welcome it, and the public at large, who want it to be restricted.

A switch from debt to equity finance?

The best way to reduce excessive debt leverage, and perhaps to rescue capitalism, is to remove the fiscal advantages of debt over equity finance. There should be a greater equity element in both housing and student financing, and the public sector should start issuing nominal income bonds. But the main change should occur in corporate finance. Here there are two proposals on the table, an allowance for corporate equity and destination-based cash flow taxation. A general problem, however, is that the remuneration and incentive structure for corporate managers encourages them to maximise the return on equity (RoE), which is most easily achieved by increasing leverage. We suggest a reformulation of limited liability for those equity holders with the power to influence corporate strategy, in order to mitigate this concern.

Future policy problems: old age and taxes, and the monetary-fiscal clash

Demographic trends will place increasing pressures on public policies, fiscal and monetary. An ageing society will require greater medical and pension expenditure, just as a declining workforce is slowing output growth, and hence taxable capacity. We consider four ways for enhancing taxable capacity: 1) reforming the basis of corporation tax; 2) land value taxation; 3. acarbon tax; 4) destination-based cash flow tax.

But we doubt whether politicians will be able to raise taxes enough to equilibrate the economy. Hence inflation will rise. That will lead central banks to raise nominal interest rates in pursuit of their inflation targets. In turn, that will put them at loggerheads with ministers of finance and prime ministers/presidents, especially those of a populist inclination. In any such conflict between politicians and central bankers, we would back the former to win that conflict has already begun.

Swimming against the (main)stream

From 1750 until 1950 inflationary expectations, and nominal and real interest rates, remained roughly constant, in the UK at least, while inflation was a function of occasional wars and the vagaries of harvest. After the 1950s there was a strong upwards trend in inflation, inflationary expectations and nominal interest rates (1950 1980), followed by an extraordinary downwards trend in inflation, inflationary expectations and both nominal and real interest rates (1980 2020). The earlier trend can be ascribed to a doomed, but well intentioned, attempt to keep unemployment below its rising natural rate, with the monetary regime allowing that to happen. We ascribe the subsequent downwards trend to underlying demography and globalisation factors. Given the expansionary intent of monetary policies, it is hard to claim that such disinflation was a monetary phenomenon. But in that case the forthcoming reversal of the previous demographic and globalisation trends should lead to a revival of inflation and nominal (but not necessarily real) interest rates. But this view is at odds with most current mainstream analysis, even of those who do focus on demography, who generally continue to foresee secular stagnation, lower for longer. We outline why they differ from the mainstream. Our view of the future is not encouraging, but it is coherent and plausible.

Notes:

Charles Goodhart, CBE, FBA is emeritus professor of banking and finance with the Financial Markets Group at LSE, having previously, 1987-2005, been its deputy director. Until his retirement in 2002, he had been the Norman Sosnow professor of banking and finance at LSE since 1985. Before then, he had worked at the Bank of England for seventeen years as a monetary adviser, becoming a chief adviser in 1980.

Manoj Pradhan is the founder of the independent macroeconomic research firm Talking Heads Macroeconomics. based in London, with a specialisation in the analysis of global and emerging markets macroeconomic trends, and their implications for financial markets. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the George Washington University and a Masters in Finance from the London Business School.

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The great demographic reversal and what it means for the economy - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog)

UGA Faculty Will Collaborate on Evaluating COVID-19 Control Methods in Meat Processing – Southeast AgNet

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

By Maria M. Lameiras, Joe Montgomery for CAES News

Poultry researchers at the University of Georgia are partnering with a team from Kansas State University to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nations meat and poultry processing facilities.

The study seeks to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19 through practical solutions. The research is funded through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Harsha Thippareddi, John Bekkers Professor in Poultry Science at UGA, and Manpreet Singh, poultry science professor and interim head of the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology, are co-directors of the project along with A. Sally Davis, an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. Thippareddi and Singh provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and, with backgrounds as food safety specialists, will lead the grants industry outreach efforts.

A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations.

Because there have been a number of outbreaks among employees in meat processing plants, there is always a perception that food or meat can be contaminated as well, said Thippareddi. Frozen chicken wings imported to China from Brazil in August tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, he said. This is a potential issue and we need to know the answers to what the risks to humans are if the coronavirus is present in food, and will it survive in the food or will it be destroyed during cooking and other food processing operations?

Using Kansas StatesBiosecurity Research Institute, a high-containment research facility, researchers will study various potential contamination methods for meat and poultry, how long the virus survives on meat products, how various storage and preparation methods influence the infectivity of the virus and what product-treatment methods can be used to mitigate the virus on food products.

Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks, said Davis, Kansas States project director of the grant. This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem.

While animals, such as cattle, swine and chickens, do not carry the virus, infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to microdroplets in the air generated by infected workers.

The ultimate goal would be for us to better understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus if at all can be transmitted through meat and poultry and through contact surfaces in poultry plants, Singh said. Thippareddi added that, people working in meat processing plants may have the illness and, if it is aerosolizing, the virus can get onto the meat. If it is on the meat, it can get to people. All the poultry processing plants are taking preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus, because if you can prevent people from getting the virus and keep the virus from being aerosolized, you can prevent it getting onto the food.

The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. Researchers seek to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, in addition to developing mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.

The project will also rely on input from an industry advisory board composed of senior level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.

Thippareddi and Singh will conduct site visits at various meat and poultry processing plants to evaluate current processing methods and to lead discussions with processors on COVID-19 mitigation strategies, develop new food safety training materials based on the needs of meat processors of varying sizes, conduct web-based trainings based on the research outcomes of the project, and assist in publishing the research findings.

The goal is to provide guidance to the meat-processing industry in the form of science-based best practices, Singh said.

For information on the UGA Department of Poultry Science, visit poultry.caes.uga.edu.

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UGA Faculty Will Collaborate on Evaluating COVID-19 Control Methods in Meat Processing - Southeast AgNet

Increase in recreation good for business, but could be bad for the forest – Steamboat Pilot and Today

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS An increase of recreation proved to be a double-sided sword in Steamboat Springs.

Stores have reaped the benefit and recorded a historic summer of sales. However, the nearby Routt National Forest has suffered a bit of abuse from the rising number of recreators.

As restaurants and boutiques in downtown Steamboat Springs limited capacity and saw a thinner stream of people coming through the door, sporting good stores, outfitters and bike shops saw more traffic than ever.

In May, the city reported that sales tax collection was down 4% from the previous May, but that sporting good sales tax was up nearly 67%. The next month, city sales tax collection was down 11.3% compared to June of 2019, but sporting goods was up 41.7%. Meanwhile, lodging and amenities were down 49% in June.

I have never seen anything like this from one category being way up and a different category being way down, said Kim Weber, city finance director. This was definitely a surprise for us to see our restaurants and lodging down, yet sporting goods up in large percentages.

Weber said the 2009 recession brought on similar drops in sales tax collection, but those drops were more widespread across all categories, except for groceries, utilities and liquor stores, which were stable.

The increase is only determined by stores that are deemed sporting goods stores, of which there are 97 in Steamboat Springs. The figure doesnt include any sporting goods sold at stores designated under a different category. Anything sold at department stores such as Walmart or Walgreens isnt considered.

John Duty, owner of Bucking Rainbow Outfitters, expected a slower summer with the pandemic, so he didnt have as much staff on hand. Still, with less staff and, therefore, fewer fly-fishing trips for patrons, the business had a successful summer. Even from a retail standpoint, they had a busy few months, watching apparel and fly-fishing equipment fly off the shelf.

If we had more staff, we probably would have had a record-type year, said Duty.

Duty said people typically choose to book with Bucking Rainbow on weekdays, spending the weekend participating in one of the many events that fill the Steamboat summer calendar. However, with fewer events, Bucking Rainbow ended up being busy on the weekdays and weekends.

From mid-June on, Bucking Rainbow was booked solid, and only recently started to see a lull in business.

Ski and Bike Kare had a far different experience. As people realized being outdoors was one of the only things they could do amid mass closures, they cleared the market of low-end bikes, then the mid-range bikes. The spike in demand led to bike shortages across the globe, but it also led to a massive surge in sales.

Foster Martin, general manager at Ski and Bike Kare, said the store saw $150,000 more in June of this year than the previous best June.

June was our biggest month ever in 25 years of business, said Martin. August and September have slowed down just because we ran out of stuff to sell. If we had as many bikes as we would have liked to, August and September would have been huge as well.

More recreation is a double-edged sword.

Its hard to measure how much people use places on national forest land, such as Buffalo Pass.

Unlike national parks, there arent staffed gates that tally how many people are coming in national forests. Places, such as Fish Creek Falls that require a self-pay pass, have a rough tally of usage but cant always be trusted since many may not pay for one. Additionally, those numbers are skewed this year since locations opened later than usual due to the pandemic.

That being said, there is no denying that over the past few years, Buffalo Pass has seen increased use.

This year followed that same pattern, but the summer of 2020 seemed to be particularly busy, according to Aaron Voos, national forest public affairs specialist for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland.

We dont go out and ask visitors why they are in the forest, he said. But it does seem like there is an additional desire for people to get out and experience the outdoors this year.

Voos said Buffalo Pass is one of the most high-profile recreation locations not only in Routt National Forest, but in the entire administrative unit.

Due to the obvious increase in usage in recent years, the U.S. Forest Service enlisted the help of Routt County Riders and the city of Steamboat Springs to track just how many people take advantage of the trails on Buffalo Pass. Both the city and Routt County Riders have collected data during the past two years and are in the process of tallying their counts.

Voos said Forest Service staff members and law enforcement officers havent kept official tallies, but have observed increased usage this summer.

Some of that is positive. Its just more people on a trail or in a parking lot or along a stretch of creek, said Voos. Thats fine. The national forest can handle some of that increased usage. Some of the observations though have been negative, regarding how people are handling themselves while on forest land.

Voos said negative aspects of that include additional trash in heavy-use areas like parking lots and campgrounds, as well as violations. People drive too far off the road with their vehicles to get to a dispersed campsite and off-road violations with ATVs. There has also been a notable amount of unattended campfires.

Fire hasnt been a huge issue this year, though. The Middle Fork Fire is burning in North Routt County, but has been ruled a lightning-caused wildfire. Voos said this summer showed an improvement over prior years, with the number of human-caused fires down in 2020.

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Increase in recreation good for business, but could be bad for the forest - Steamboat Pilot and Today

Healthy Cat Treats and Snacks – Legal Reader

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

If you want your cat to live a long, healthy, and happy life, give your cat healthy treats and snacks.

As you know, cats love treats. They will run around the house when they hear you open the closet. When they see the treat in your hand, the winds between your feet will begin to meow until you give them the treat.

If you give them treats every time they start meowing, thats not a great thing. It will affect their health like humans, because the treats can result inunhealthy weight gainand serious health problems, including heart problems, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

However, healthy treats and snacks can help with training and other behavior problems. In this article, we will discuss what healthy treats and snacks for your cat are and how they are beneficial for your cat.

What Makes a Cat Treat Healthy?

Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, an Oregon veterinarian, says, Its okay to feed your cat treats, but they should be a tiny part of the diet.

Many feline nutritionists recommend that healthy snacks and treat not exceed more than 10% of the total calories a cat can eat.

John K.L Ph.D., says that, Most cat treats add nothing but calories to your cats diet.Try to meet your cats caloric needs by feeding them high-quality cat food.

Benefits of healthy Treats and Snacks

Feeding your cat healthy treat and snacks will help your cat live a high-quality life. There are many benefits your kitty will receive from eating high-quality cat treats. Some of them are:

Healthy and increased life span

As you know, the fact that the quality of food can seriously affect your lifes vitality and longevity is the case with cats. Feeding your kitty low nutritional quality treats and snacks overly processed and full of chemicals will put her at greater health risk and a shorter lifespan.

Healthy appearance

The pets appearance says a lot about its health, the appearance of the cat is basically a direct reflection of its overall health. A better-looking pet will feel better because healthier treats and snacks will have a good effect on your cats health.

The type of treat you give your cat, whether commercial or homemade, will directly affect its skin, coat, nails, etc. Healthy, organic treats, and snacks contain sources of grains that have super nutritional value. In contrast, most commercial inorganic treats contain chemical additives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, and toxic agents.

These unhealthy snacks and treats can develop rashes, lesions, and open sores on your cats fur and the coat will lose its shine, color, and eventually fall off entirely.

Less allergic reactions

While giving your kitty treats and snacks, you will find many ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction to your kitty. Sometimes these reactions are to a single element or to the real treat. Unfortunately, a single component can ruin the whole treat by producing a mild irritant reaction to a life-threatening reaction. If you use organic and healthy treats, there is less chance that your cat will have an allergic reaction.

Fewer hairballs

As you know, cats are excessive groomers and spend most of their time grooming themselves. Excessive grooming often results in hairballs. If you give your cat a high-quality treat containing good quality protein, your kitty will have a silky coat, healthy skin, and will swallow less hair while grooming.

Consistent healthy weight

You are always trying to feed your cat a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight throughout her life. Dont interrupt her efforts by giving her unhealthy treats that have no nutritional value.

Healthy snacks and treats are high in nutritional value and will not increase your kittys weight. If your cat maintains a healthy weight, she will have excess energy for exercise and other physical activities.

Tips for giving treat and snacks

There are some tips to keep in mind when giving your cats a treat or snack. These tips will help you keep your cat healthy and full of energy.

Always feed in moderation

Cats sometimes behave like children, as if they develop a taste for some treats and then begin to avoid their usual food. That is why always feed your cat treats in moderation, such as no more than two to three times a week.

Dont give human food

Special cat foods are best for cats because they contain minerals, vitamins, and amino acids necessary to maintain the cats excellent health. On the other hand, human foods do not have all the essential vitamins and probiotics, so they must be consumed in minimal quantities. You must give thebest vitamins for catsto avoid any deficiencies.

According to veterinarian advice Dr. Chyrle Bonk, Probiotics contain microorganisms that live in your cats digestive tract and improve digestive and immune health. They work by balancing the good bacteria within your felines intestines to ensure that your cat stays healthy and happy.

You can give your cat small bites of chicken, tuna, liver, or fish as an occasional snack, but dont feed him regularly. You can also provide them with a tablespoon of milk every now and then, but dont give it to lactose-intolerant cats.

Avoid toxic foods

While looking for healthy treats and snacks, always be careful of toxins in food. You may like to feed your kitty grapes, raisins, onions, salt, and alcohol, but they can be very toxic. So before adding anything to your cat treats, talk to your vet.

Dont award begging

Dont give your cat treats at the dinner table or reward her when she begs for treats. Since rewarding begging behavior will induce many behavior problems.

Dont feed treats to obese cats

As you know, overweight cats are more prone to health problems. So feed your obese cats very carefully. Cat treats and snacks are packed with calories, and these extra calories are bad for your kitty. So, provide them very carefully. Simply cutting out the treats is not an ideal solution. You can consult your vet and develop a healthy and safe diet plan for your kitten to help her lose weight.

Feed green

Catnipcan be used in cat treats and is low in calories. Actually, cats love cat grass and catnip. Cat grass is cereal grass like oats or wheat. It is effortless to grow both at home and can be easily found at a pet store. While feeding your kitten any type of plant, first make sure they are safe for her. Cats generally regurgitate after eating grass, so dont be alarmed if your cat does this. For such cats, just stick to the catnip.

Use treats for fun activities

Use cat treats in keeping your cat fit and doing fun activities. You can use treats to exercise your cats body and brain. Cats can learn a few tricks in the love of treats. These activities are ideal for indoor cats.

Use treats after training and grooming sessions

Cats typically dont like brushing their teeth, trimming their nails, and taking a medicine dose. You can use treats for doing these activities. Giving treats and petting and praise can play an important role in calming cats that are forced to do something unpleasant.

Dont replace your love with treats

Cats are adorable animals and have no additional needs to stay happy. They just need a safe home, a healthy diet, and your attention.Anthony Herrig says, When youre late for work, and you think about giving your kitty a handful of treats to build the same bond as a hug or a pet. Im not sure it really works that way.Basically, its the physical contact that your cat likes the most. She likes when you pet her, play with her, and hold her to help a cat bond with you.

Make your own cat treats

Try feeding your cats natural homemade treats because commercial treats are packed with calories. You can provide your kitten with some cooked fish, liver, and eggs. But dont use them as part of your cats daily diet.

Dont feed them table scraps

A common mistake people make is feeding their cats table scraps. Avoid doing this because every day, human food contains caffeinated beverages, raisins, onions, chocolates, and other toxic things to cats.

Similarly, say this to your whole family because if you are avoiding and not giving these treats to your kitty, it does not mean that your family will start feeding them. This is especially true in the case of children. So, make them understand that they should give treats only when you are there to supervise, as something terrible can happen to them.

Can some treat help with health conditions?

Some healthy cat treats claim to be great for your cats teeth by preventing gingivitis and reducing tartar. Certain treats claim to overcome the problem of nutritional deficiencies in cats. Dr. Murray suggests that, It is always good to contact your veterinarian to recommend a treatment for your cats health.

Conclusion

If you want your cat to live a long, healthy, and happy life, give your cat healthy treats and snacks. Always decide why, what, and when to give your kitten a treat. Also, keep in mind that these treats cannot replace your love, so a scratch behind the ear or a friendly hug can also work as a great treat for them.

What Are the Health Benefits of Qi Gong? – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Its safe to say many of us are under more stress than usual these days. And sure, youd love to do something to lower your stress and improve your health. But who has time for that?

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

Actually, if you have 10 minutes a day, you have enough time to do qi gong. This ancient Chinese practice can reduce stress and help your body function at its best.

Integrative medicine specialist Yufang Lin, MD, talks about this age-old practice. It requires no special training or equipment and has some amazing potential health benefits.

Qi gong originated in China about 4,000 years ago. It is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles, which state that qi, or energy, is present in everyones body.

According to TCM principles, a persons qi must flow throughout the body in order for people to feel their best, Dr. Lin explains. If qi becomes stagnant in a certain area, health problems can occur.

Qi gong uses simple poses and breathing patterns to promote a healthy flow and reduce stagnation of qi. Proper flow of qi can help the body engage its own healing processes. The literal translation of qi gong is to work with qi.

Qi gong is not a form of yoga. Yogas poses tend to require more strength, balance and stretching than qi gong. Yoga also originated in ancient India and is not rooted in TCM.

As a child in Taiwan, I would see people doing qi gong in the park on my way to school, Dr. Lin recalls. A lot of them were older people. The slow, purposeful movements of qi gong are less challenging to your balance. These movements are easy for most people to do and you can modify them. People can also do chair-based qi gong if they cant stand.

Dr. Lin says many smaller studies have shown that qi gong offers a variety of benefits. However, more large, controlled studies are needed to prove that qi gong can treat or even prevent health problems. Still, Dr. Lin says, qi gongs potential benefits make it well worth the effort. Its generally safe and easy for nearly anyone to try. Heres what the research says about qi gong:

One study found that qi gong could reduce symptoms of depression. In this study, those who practiced qi gong also experienced less anxiety and better moods as compared to those who didnt. Qi gong was also shown to have positive effects on bone and cardiovascular health and improve balance.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common disorder that causes extreme tiredness. There is no known cause, and it doesnt go away with rest. It can be difficult or nearly impossible for someone with chronic fatigue to function in their daily life.

In a study, 64 people with chronic fatigue experienced improvements in their symptoms after four months of practicing qi gong. They had better mental functioning and less fatigue than those who didnt. If youre tired all the time, and your doctor has ruled out any medical conditions, qi gong could help.

Your immune systems job is to fend off unwanted guests like viruses, bacteria and diseases. Thats an important responsibility. And qi gong may give your immune system a little extra help.

A review of several studies found that qi gong had a noticeable impact on immune functioning. It increased levels of certain immune cells in people who practiced it regularly.

Many people who are undergoing cancer treatment need relief from side effects and the stress of treatment. Often, they turn to alternative medicine practices like acupuncture, yoga or massage. Qi gong may have a place on this list, too.

Some evidence suggests that using qi gong can help patients with cancer fight fatigue and mood disturbances. This boost may be a welcome relief.

Keep in mind that qi gong is not an overnight fix. Like any exercise, you need time to master it to get the full benefits.

While taking a class is helpful, Dr. Lin says this isnt necessary. Many people learn qi gong from online videos and instructions. Pay attention to the form and learn it properly. Then you can focus on breathing and being present, Dr. Lin says.

Qi gong can help you feel your best plus, its free, easy and doesnt require much time. Not many other wellness activities can make those claims.

Regular exercise such as 30 minutes of walking a day is also an effective way to improve your health, reduce stress and help you sleep better. If you exercise regularly or plan to start, qi gong is a great addition to your routine. Working it in could be the healthy one-two punch you need during stressful times.

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What Are the Health Benefits of Qi Gong? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Everything You Need to Know about Getting Pregnant During COVID-19 – Coveteur

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Last year, there were a lot of think pieces floating around the internet about Americas declining fertility rate. After much hand-wringing and editorializing, some concluded that perhaps the reasons behind fewer pregnancies were complicated at best.

As The Atlantic put it, Whatevers going on, people decide not to have children, or to delay having them, for all sorts of reasons, not always because theyre not interested. According to a survey of healthy, egg-freezing women in the United States and Israel from 2018, the number-one reason these ladies werent popping out babies just yet was not for lack of interest, but for lack of a partner.

Moreover, participants said there was a massive undersupply of college-educated men who are down to commit to things like marriage and kids. Well, amen to that, but in other news, this year we have bigger problems than a dearth of eligible bachelor(ette)s.

Were not sure if youve checked the news lately, but theres a pandemic swirling about, and the prospect of pregnancy might feel a bit daunting, even if you do have someone to shack up with or some other baby-producing arrangement that works for you.

So we spoke with six OB/GYNs to get their thoughts on baby making in the time of the coronavirus, as Mrquez would put it.

If someone wanted to get pregnant right now, what would your advice be?

If youre under 35 and in good health, Id suggest waiting a year. There is a lot in the works with treatments and vaccines, which could potentially make being pregnant safer for mom and baby. Dr. Felice Gersh, OB/GYN, founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine and author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track

Talk to your OB/GYN about the risks of pregnancy due to COVID-19. Planning a pregnancy is a highly personal decision, and there are [many] factors that play into when a couple decides to conceive, including age, health risks, and professional and personal goals. Dr. Shweta Desai, OB/GYN and Love Wellness advisor

Ensure that both partners have been tested for COVID. There are reports in the literature that COVID has been found in semenand theres a question as to the possibility of it being transmitted sexually.

If there are any comorbid conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, see a provider to ensure they are optimized, and take folic acid supplementation in the preconception period to decrease the incidence of fetal neural tube defects.

Assess your vitamin D levels, and begin supplementation, particularly if you are a person of colorvitamin D is made in the skin in conjunction with sunlight, and people of color possess melanin, which blocks the production of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that has a myriad number of functions in the body, boosts immunity, enhances bone metabolism in both mom and developing fetus, is good for mental and cardiovascular health, and, for pregnant women, may decrease their incidence of preterm birth.

Observing guidelines for mask wearing, social distancing, and keeping hands clean is particularly important for pregnancy, when immunological competence declines. Eat foods which boost immune functiononions, garlic, turmeric, et ceteraand take your prenatal vitamins with Omega-3. Dr. Kecia Gaither, double board-certified in OB/GYN and maternal fetal medicine and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln

If youre thinking of trying to get pregnant right nowdont panic. Id start by taking a good prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg of folate two to three months before [trying to get] pregnant. Being pregnant increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women, so its important to take precautions.

Pregnant womens immune systems are repressed, making them more vulnerable to infections. Its recommended to limit your contact with people as much as possible to reduce exposure. You can also take steps to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 by wearing a mask and practicing good hygiene when interacting with people.

In addition to pregnancy, many underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity can possibly increase the severity of the disease if exposed. So before you get pregnant, make sure you are in the best possible health you can be. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), theres no documentation of increased risk of miscarriage or fetal malformations in pregnant women who are infected with COVID-19. Dr. Jodie Horton, OB/GYN and chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness

I would say that no one, not even your doctor, can make such an important decision for a woman. There are so many factors that go into the decision to become a parent that its impossible to know what any one woman and her partner may be considering.

There are key questions that go into that decision-making process, including, age, fertility, pre-existing medical conditions, economic, geographical (living close to family or support), healthcare coverage, and career. Connecting the dots for any woman, for any one family, is complex. Dr. Jane van Dis, OB/GYN and medical director at Maven Clinic

My advice is to go and get pregnant with the following precautions: Wash your hands frequently; wear a mask and other recommended PPE (if applicable) at work and in public; maintain physical distancing; and limit contact with other individuals as much as possible.

Whether youre pregnant or not, taking COVID precautions [is] essential. Also, it remains uncommon that COVID will affect the baby if you get the coronavirus. Dr. Zaher Merhi, OB/GYN and fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center

What if a woman is in her thirties and feels the pressure of time?

Theres a sense that at age 35, womens fertility begins to fall off a cliff, but that isnt the right image or metaphor. The change in fertility rates between, say, 34 and 38 are minimal.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women ages 27 to 34 have an 86 percent chance of conceiving in a year, and women ages 35 to 39 have an 82 percent chance of conceiving in one year. How many children youd like to have matters as well.

If a woman at age 35 tells me she would like to have three children, my answer would be: Yes, you should probably start on that journey now. Ideally, women, if they have a cesarean, should wait 18 months between pregnancies, and while three vaginal deliveries is ideal, leaving some wiggle room for unforeseen bumps on a fertility and pregnancy journey is just good planning.

If a woman tells me she wants only one child, then that might change the pressure or calculus for how anxious she should feel. I understand the pressure of time, and I felt it poignantly myself, having had my twins at age 39. Reaching out for mental health support on this journey is also a great idea. Dr. Jane van Dis, OB/GYN and medical director at Maven Clinic

Even in your thirties, my advice to you would be no different now than before the pandemic. I wouldnt delay getting pregnant, but would [suggest that you] discuss your concerns with your doctor. Your prenatal care and delivery will look different, but the quality of the care wont change.

Pregnancy during a pandemic has changed what normal prenatal appointments, ultrasounds, and delivery look like. Many doctors offices are taking precautions to limit possible exposure. Its possible that your partner may not be able to come to all your prenatal visits, including your ultrasounds.

Telehealth has become a popular option in many offices. In the age of technology, we can see low-risk, uncomplicated pregnant patients virtually by video or phone. When its time to deliver, one support person may be allowed to be with you during your hospital stay, as long as your COVID-19 test is negative. Every hospital is different, so its always best to check with your doctor to see the current rules on labor and delivery. Dr. Jodie Horton, OB/GYN and chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness

If age is a major issue and you feel you cant wait even a year, then get as healthy as you can and plan on socially isolating for the duration of the pregnancy and for months afterwards, depending on what happens with the pandemic. Dr. Felice Gersh, OB/GYN, founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine and author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track

If someone is feeling the pressures of time, my advice would be to move forward with trying to conceive if you feel as though its the right time in your life. Dr. Shweta Desai, OB/GYN and Love Wellness advisor

What are the drawbacks of going through pregnancy at this time?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists did release a statement in June with evidence suggesting that pregnant patients may be at increased risk for severe illness due to COVID-19, such as ICU admission and mechanical ventilation.

They also went on to state that the overall risk of these clinical interventions remains low and that pregnant patients dont appear to be at increased risk of death associated with COVID-19. So its important that pregnant patients take the appropriate precautions to prevent infection, particularly those who are at high risk of exposure. Dr. Shweta Desai, OB/GYN and Love Wellness advisor

The biggest drawback right now is that, public-health-wise, were still in a state of flux, not knowing how long until a vaccine for COVID will be available to healthy, reproductive-age women. [On the plus side], most OB/GYN care is going smoothly, in the prenatal course and in the hospital. We know a lot more about the virus than we did in March or April. Dr. Jane van Dis, OB/GYN and medical director at Maven Clinic

There are definitely risks to mom and baby with the coronavirus. Theres an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and other pregnancy complications. Pregnant women have become extremely ill, requiring intensive-care therapy.

Pregnancy does modulate the immune system to prevent the moms immune system from attacking the fetus, and this can heighten her risk for a more severe case of COVID. Dr. Felice Gersh, OB/GYN, founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine and author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track

Drawbacks are the inconvenience of going to the doctors office for your OB visits. And if you dont drive, taking public transportation or a taxi could be stressful if not taking the right precautions. My advice is to wear a mask and gloves if you take any public transportation or a taxi. Dr. Zaher Merhi, OB/GYN and fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center

What are the benefits of being pregnant right now?

Some pregnant women were able to find the silver lining while pregnant during a pandemic. Many women said they didnt have to hide their growing belly and got to avoid unsolicited comments and advice while in quarantine.

There were also fewer missed workdays from those suffering from nausea and vomiting, since many women are working from home. With flexible hours, women were able to adjust their schedules. Also, having a partner at home to help out was a bonus.

Telehealth appointments were easier to schedule, and many women were happy about no longer having to wait long periods of time to see the doctor. One surprising benefit that many moms have talked about is the number of visitors allowed in the hospital.

Having a baby can be overwhelming. New moms are exhausted and experiencing hormonal and body changes. They appreciated the quiet time to bond with their new baby without entertaining visitors in the hospital. Dr. Jodie Horton, OB/GYN and chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness

Pregnancy is, fundamentally, an act of hope for the future, and I think having that sense of making room for a new life is powerful. Personally, I push through anxiety and fear that I sometimes have about the future in part because the next generation needs to see that sense of hope. Dr. Jane van Dis, OB/GYN and medical director at Maven Clinic

A benefit to being pregnant right now is that if the timing is right for you and your reproductive timeline, then celebrate it! Congratulations, and dont let the pandemic take away from the joy that is pregnancy. Dr. Shweta Desai, OB/GYN and Love Wellness advisor

Working from home is now common, so getting pregnant and working from home could be a benefit. Additionally, staying at home usually means more homemade meals, which are much healthier for the pregnancy than eating in restaurants. Dr. Zaher Merhi, OB/GYN and fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center

Anything in particular you would advise women to keep in mind if they do decide to go through with pursuing pregnancy right now?

According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), studies show that telehealth has provided similar health outcomes compared to traditional prenatal visits. The evidence suggests that the patient-physician relationship isnt compromised, and theres an improvement in patient engagement and satisfaction.

So despite not having all your appointments be in-person, the quality of care you receive will still be the same. Dr. Jodie Horton, OB/GYN and chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness

If youre considering becoming pregnant right now, the most important thing you can do to prepare is to have a conversation with your OB/GYN so that you can be appropriately informed about the risks of pregnancy during this time.

After that, its your reproductive choice, and you [would be] going into it with an informed decision. Personally, as an OB/GYN, I chose to become pregnant during the pandemic as it was the right time for me, and Ive been exercising the appropriate precautions.

I cant wait to welcome my baby girl in December and strongly believe that every woman has the right to choose their own reproductive timeline, as long as they are making an informed decision. Dr. Shweta Desai, OB/GYN and Love Wellness advisor

Id recommend ideally getting in good shape, mentally and physically, before getting pregnant. Meet with your primary care doctor or OB/GYN to address any medical conditions you may have, like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, or obesity, in order to have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Making sure you have mental health support as well, I think, is key. Dr. Jane van Dis, OB/GYN and medical director at Maven Clinic

Try to do as much telehealth as possible with your doctor. Go to the office only when it is necessary. [Keep in mind that] pregnant women with COVID are not at increased risk of death compared to non-pregnant women with COVID.

If you have comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, make sure you control those as much as possible before getting pregnant, because COVID in pregnant women with comorbidities can have more complications, such as ICU admission and the use of mechanical ventilation. Dr. Zaher Merhi, OB/GYN and fertility expert at New Hope Fertility Center

Pregnancy unfortunately adds risk to having a coronavirus infection. If you get pregnant, even though you are young and healthy, the risk for a very serious outcome exists and is increased. Pregnancy complications are increased.

Do all you can to avoid catching COVID while pregnant by staying healthy, getting restorative sleep, eating lots of vegetables and fruit, staying fit, and staying calm. Dr. Felice Gersh, OB/GYN, founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine and author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track

Photos: Getty

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Everything You Need to Know about Getting Pregnant During COVID-19 - Coveteur

Are Mushrooms the Future of Wellness? – The New York Times

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Even before the onset of the pandemic, which has increased the demand for all manner of so-called organic immunity elixirs, wellness-minded Americans were warming to mushrooms. To be clear, mushrooms dont cure Covid-19, but they are thought to provide a host of other benefits, from serving as an aphrodisiac to bolstering ones defenses to toxins. As Ligaya Mishan explains in her essay for Ts Fall Mens issue, Eastern cultures have long been enthusiastic about edible fungi, both in culinary and health contexts mushrooms are rich in umami, the Japanese fifth taste that denotes savoriness, and woody species such as reishi are often prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine while the West has been more ambivalent. Today, though, American cooks and diners delight in foraged morels and matsutakes, while others mix mushroom-based powders into shakes and teas. In an article published in 2014 over 80 years after the British scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the powerful group of antibiotics derived from the fungus Penicillium the mycologist Paul Stamets, best known for the TED Talk 6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World, described mushrooms as natures miniature pharmaceutical factories.

Fungi have the ability to soak up and escort waste from our cells, and have a digestive system almost identical to that of humans, says Liz Smithers, who studied Ayurvedic medicine and herbal sciences before launching the sustainable Kauai-based nutrition brand Laka Living with her sister, Kate, in 2015. The line includes a chocolate-flavored hemp protein ($34) containing mushrooms such as lions mane (shown in studies to reduce anxiety and prevent cognitive decline), and Super Shroom Dip ($30), a macadamia nut butter laced with a five-mushroom blend. At this point, only 7 percent of the worlds fungi have been discovered, and Hawaii, the most isolated archipelago in the world, has some of the most understudied species, says Benjamin Lillibridge, the Kailua-Kona-based founder of the wellness company Mlama Mushrooms, and of the Hawaii Fungi Project, a nonprofit dedicated to the discovery and responsible use of the islands native species. Of course, there are also plenty of noteworthy mushroom nutraceutical ventures Stateside see Shizu Okusas brand Apothkary, which has teams in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. but Lillibridges wider point, perhaps, is that with so much still to discover about fungi, who knows what heretofore unknown powers they may possess? Here, a list of just some of the beneficial properties mushrooms are thought to have, and where to find the best blends.

I grew up in a super-traditional immigrant Japanese family where my parents wouldnt give me Tylenol or Advil, says Okusa, who was instead given dark, oozy drinks of mushrooms and dried herbs that had been brewed for days in stone pots. Last year, she launched Apothkary, offering her Immunity Set ($45), a trio of different mushroom powders that draw on the blends of her youth: One pairs reishi with ashwagandha root to reduce inflammation, while another is made purely of ground reishi and meant to be used as a concentrated booster in teas and smoothies by advanced herb users, she says. Reishi by itself can be a bit more difficult, taste and potency wise. Meanwhile, Steven Gundry, a Palm Springs-based cardiologist, has grouped what he calls the big three reishi, chaga and coriolus, the latter two best known for their high antioxidant content and immune support benefits in his Gundry MD M Vitality immune support tonic ($66), drops of which can be applied directly to your tongue. If youd prefer something sweeter, consider Forest Juice ($31), a reishi- and chaga-infused maple syrup from Rainbo, a line of mushroom-based supplements and food products founded by the holistic chef and nutritionist Tonya Papanikolov.

Lions mane, which has the look of a shaggy, faux-fur ottoman, was found in a 2016 study published by the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine to promote peripheral nerve regeneration in rats. For humans, the mushroom is typically used with the goal of enhancing concentration, memory and mental clarity. It has a mild taste and is fantastic sauted in butter, says Wooden Spoon Herbs founder Lauren Haynes, who gets hers from Oregon and upstate New York. For the brands Mushroom Cocoa powder ($38), a scoop of which can be added to your morning coffee, fruiting bodies of lions mane and other varieties are extracted via a long-simmer method and flavored with vanilla and mesquite. Another option for those hoping to improve recall is Gaia Herbss Mind Spring powder ($35), which contains lions mane and turmeric. Cordyceps, on the other hand, whose stems often resemble Cheetos in both shape and color, may contribute to physical acuity. In the 1993 Olympics, three Chinese runners were screened for steroids, but all the panel found were cordyceps, says the naturopathic doctor Nadia Musavvir. She recommends Four Sigmatics Instant Mushroom Coffee With Chaga and Cordyceps ($15) the chaga is purported to neutralize caffeine jitters.

Tremella is amazing for boosting gut and skin health from the inside out its been revered as a beauty mushroom in Asia for hundreds of years, Stephanie Park, the founder of the Brooklyn supplement label Wylde One, says of the vitamin D-rich variety. Wrapped in single-serving packets, the brands Golden Glow Up ($29) adaptogenic turmeric latte blend contains astragalus and tremella, also known as silver ear mushrooms, along with cardamom, black pepper and digestion-enhancing ginger. Another option is Moon Juices Collagen Protect powdered creamer ($58), which incorporates organic tremella extracts and rice bran-derived tocotrienols, or tocos, natural sources of vitamin E that lend a mildly malty finish. Picking up some raw shiitake mushrooms from your local farmers market might also be a boon: Jeannette Graf, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, says the familiar umbrella cap contains significant levels of vitamin D, selenium and zinc, which help to maintain skin health. And then theres Sun Potions Astragalus the Great Protector ($57), made with ingredients grown wild at high elevations, and filled with polysaccharides, which have long been endorsed as natural aids for hydration and soothing stomach ulcers.

The repeatedly invoked cure-all of functional fungi is reishi. Its most popular and well-known benefits are its ability to reduce stress and fatigue, and, in general, help chill you out, says Lillibridge, who suggests Mlama Mushroomss Reishi Mushroom Extract Powder ($30). When taken consistently, the multitasking queen healer, as reishi is sometimes called, is even believed to help regulate rest cycles: Its been shown to increase deep delta-wave sleep, Lillibridge says. For a soothing nightcap enjoyed half an hour before bed, try the reishi- and valerian root-filled Sleep Superfood Water Enhancer by BareOrganics ($12), which will dissolve in liquid at any temperature, or Kamu Labs Dream nightly sleep drops ($60), which enhance the mushrooms calming effects with those of CBD and California poppy. Its no wonder emperors of the Qing dynasty were said to exchange gifts of ceremonial ruyi scepters sculpted to resemble reishi, the so-called mushroom of immortality.

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Are Mushrooms the Future of Wellness? - The New York Times

Top Doctors of N.J.: Meet the physicians who have achieved ‘excellence in medicine’ – Jersey’s Best

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Doctor, if this wereyourmother, who would you send her to? Its aquery physicians often hear when they inform the adult child of an elderly parent or a patients spouse, mother, father or sibling that they are referring a relative for care.

The question, of course, reflects the desire to ensure that our loved ones are being diagnosed and treated by highly skilled practitioners. When we want to find the top doctors in aparticular specialty, we ask the people in a position to know best their fellow physicians.

So does Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Each year for a quarter of a century, Castle Connolly has consulted tens of thousands of physicians across America to obtain their confidential recommendations regarding the Top Doctors in their specialty and region. Those nominations are the first step in a rigorous vetting process described in further detail below a process overseen by the physicians who lead the Castle Connolly research staff.

Physicians cannot pay to be designated a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly. Neither can they nominate themselves. Selection is a matter of meritocracy, pure and (in terms of the steps involved) not-so-simple.

The result is a thoroughly reliable list of Top Doctors that consumers can consult when seeking nearby physicians in various specialties. As in years past, Jerseys Best has partnered with Castle Connolly to provide readers with information on dozens of doctors across the Garden State who have been recommended by their peers and who have met Castle Connollys exacting criteria.

Those criteria are used to evaluate not only physicians professional qualifications, professionalreputationand disciplinary history, but also their interpersonal skills, such as communication, empathy and trustworthiness.

What Does It TakeToGetToTheTop?

While accolades abound in our status-conscious society, physicians recognize that selection as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly is a hard-won, highly credible honor. As Joseph Feuerstein, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician and integrative medicine specialist who has made the list, noted, The Castle Connolly recognition in medicine is considered by physicians to be the only legitimate recognized category of excellence in American medicine.

The effort to identify physicians who merit that recognition begins with Castle Connolly sending out an annual survey asking thousands of licensed medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathy (DOs) across the United States to nominate their peers for consideration.

The process is anonymous and confidential. Each invitee is assigned a unique access code to the nomination website to ensure that doctors do not nominate themselves.Hospital presidents,CEOsand vice presidents of medical affairs at hospitals nationwide also are invited to take part in nominating doctors. Further, Castle Connolly communicates with hospitals marketing departments to publicize the annual survey and encourage participation.

In New Jersey, 2,229 distinct doctors received 5,413 nominations.

After a doctor has been nominated, Castle Connollys physician-led research teams evaluate the practitioner in terms of:

Once selected and approved by Castle Connollys editors, chief medical officer, chief research officer and research staff, each Top Doctor submits a comprehensive, professional biography.

Doctors Need Periodic Check-Ups, Too

Castle Connollys Top Doctors list is updated annually. It also can be revised in between those yearly updates if a physicians status should change. However, a doctors removal from a Castle Connolly list does not necessarily indicate something negative about the physician.

Reasons for removal include:

Similarly, while a Castle Connolly Top Doctors list is quite comprehensive, it does not encompass every excellent physician in the area or specialty covered. Rather, the list is apowerful tool patientscan use as they pursue the best care available. In addition to consulting the Top Doctors list, health care consumers also should weigh factors including:

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, more than 27,000 physicians were practicing in New Jersey in 2018, the last year for which statistics are available. Roughly one in three of those clinicians 8,705, to be exact was a primary care physician, while the rest practiced in specialties such as allergy/immunology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology,orthopaedicsurgery, psychiatry, pulmonology and more.

New Jersey residents are fortunate to have many options when seeking medical care. Jerseys Best is proud to provide this years list of Castle Connolly Top Doctors to help readers find the physician who is tops for them. To see if your doctor is on the powerhouse list, click here (starts on page J88). To find a Top Doctor near you, click here.

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Top Doctors of N.J.: Meet the physicians who have achieved 'excellence in medicine' - Jersey's Best

Frontier Nursing University Virtual Event to Focus on Telehealth and Racial Disparities in Maternity Care – GlobeNewswire

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Frontier Nursing University hosts virtual event in celebration of National Midwifery Week.

Versailles, KY, Sept. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Midwifery Week is the first week of October, and Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is celebrating by hosting a virtual event from Oct. 5-8, called Empower 2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

The event features four free sessions, including two continuing education opportunities, presented by FNU faculty, students, and alumni on the latest practices and topics influencing nurse-midwifery care:

Its the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife: Get the 411 on Becoming a Nurse-Midwife is for midwifery students or anyone who is considering becoming a nurse-midwife. Participants will hear from current midwifery students about their experiences and have the opportunity to ask questions during this live session.

Midwifery Pearls of Telehealth will provide an overview of telehealth from a midwifery perspective with special emphasis on the areas of patient engagement, group care, provider satisfaction and best practices for meeting compliance requirements.

Hot Topics in the Management of Perimenopause & Menopause: A Conventional & Integrative Approach will provide a review of the most common conventional and evidence-based integrative medicine interventions used during perimenopause and menopause.

Maternal and infant mortality affects black and indigenous women at a much higher rate than other races. In Racial Disparities in Maternity Care: Where Do We Go From Here?, FNU Assistant Professor Dr. Heather Clarke and FNU President Dr. Susan Stone will review the issues related to health care disparities and discuss how midwives can engage in meaningful strategies for change.

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingales birth. The designation brings awareness to the importance of nurses and midwives in the health and care of populations across the globe. According to the WHO, the world needs nine million more nurses and midwives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

Southern Cross Insurance Solutions is sponsoring the 2020 virtual event. National Midwifery Week was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care. ACNM and its 7,000+ midwife members, physicians and womens health organizations observe National Midwifery Week each year. Dr. Cathy Collins-Fulea, FNU course faculty member and DNP graduate, is currently serving as president of the ACNM Board of Directors.

Frontier Nursing University is the birthplace of nurse-midwifery in the United States and has 80 years of experience in delivering graduate nursing and midwifery programs. This is the sixth consecutive year FNU has hosted a virtual event in support of National Midwifery Week.

Register for the Empower 2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife virtual event and learn more at Frontier.edu/MidwiferyWeek.

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FNU is passionate about educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to serve women and families in all communities, especially rural and underserved areas. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the students home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

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Frontier Nursing University Virtual Event to Focus on Telehealth and Racial Disparities in Maternity Care - GlobeNewswire

Never Alone Initiative Hosts Worldwide Livestream from Prolific Author Deepak Chopra and Launch of his 91st Book Titled "Total Meditation" -…

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide wellness expert, spiritual icon and New York Times bestselling author, Deepak Chopra, is launching his 91st book titled Total Meditation - Practices in Living the Awakened Life on September 22, 2020 (8am PDT) during a worldwide livestream event that will broadcast on YouTube and Facebook Live. The Total Meditation Livestream was created in conjunction with The Chopra Foundation's Never Alone Initiative, raising awareness and donations for mental health and suicide prevention for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September). As part of the livestream, Dr. Chopra will introduce his new book and lead a meditation in the two-part event. Thosewishing to view the livestream can register here.

The livestream, hosted by Gabriella Wright, co-founder of the Never Alone Initiative and an actress, activist and humanitarian, will include two parts with unprecedented access to Deepak Chopra:

Total Meditation - Practices in Living the Awakened Lifecalls on readers to live an "awakened life" through meditation and breathing. As Chopra states in the book, "There are many good reasons to meditate, reasons that date back thousands of years. But this book was written not with a glance backward, but with a view forward.I call this the awakened life."

Total Meditation is being by published in the United States by Harmony Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House/Penguin. The book is currently available for pre-order and will be available on September 22.

For more information, to view a trailer of the event, and to register for the livestream, visit the Total Meditation website at https://totalmeditationlive.deepakchopra.com

Total Meditation Synopsis:

With this book, Deepak elevates the practice of meditation to a life-changing quest for higher consciousness and a more fulfilling existence. He also incorporates new research on meditation and its benefits, provides practical awareness exercises, and concludes with a 52-week program of meditations to help revolutionize every aspect of your life. Total Meditation offers a complete exploration and reinterpretation of the physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual benefits that this practice can bring.

Deepak guides readers on how to wake up to new levels of awareness that will ultimately cultivate a clear vision, heal suffering in your mind and body, and help recover who you really are. Readers will undergo a transformative process, which results in an awakening of the body, mind, and spirit that will allow you to live in a state of open, free, creative, and blissful awareness twenty-four hours a day.

About Deepak Chopra

Dr. Chopra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He is the founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. He is the author of 91 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as "one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century."

PRESS CONTACT

Marion Public RelationsKristen Marion623-308-2638[emailprotected]

SOURCE The Chopra Foundation

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Never Alone Initiative Hosts Worldwide Livestream from Prolific Author Deepak Chopra and Launch of his 91st Book Titled "Total Meditation" -...

Nutrigenomics Testing Market Analysis, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts to 2025 – The Research Process

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

A detailed overview of Nutrigenomics Testing market with respect to the pivotal drivers influencing the revenue graph of this business sphere. The current trends of Nutrigenomics Testing market in conjunction with the geographical landscape, demand spectrum, remuneration scale, and growth graph of this vertical have also been included in this report.

Rising number of obese people will surge demand for nutrigenomics testing kits over the analysis timeframe. Nutrigenomics testing enables nutritionists to recommend personalized diet for obese people to control their weight and maintain healthy lifestyle. Obesity is one of the prominent factors for chronic disease progression such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders that results in hazardous life-threatening repercussions. Obese people are increasingly preferring nutrigenomics testing in order to enhance eating habits. Aforementioned factors will escalate nutrigenomics testing market growth in forthcoming future.

Rapid advances in genomics and molecular biology will be a high impact rendering factor for nutrigenomics testing market growth over the forecast period. Nutrigenomics testing enables in detection of food effects on an individual?s body that further helps in preventing onset of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity. Technologically advanced nutrigenomic panels help nutritionists to suggest exercise and personalized diet-based disease management. Advantages of nutrigenomics testing in maintaining healthy lifestyle will rise its preference over the forecast period. However, stringent regulations may restraint the industry growth to certain extent.

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Nutrigenomics Testing Market will exceed USD 800 million by 2025; as per a new research report.

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Hospitals and clinics segment is anticipated to witness around 10.5% CAGR over the forecast period. Significant growth can be attributed to increasing number of patients opting treatment for chronic diseases from hospitals and clinics. For chronic disease management, doctors often recommend nutrigenetic tests that will fuel its demand. Industry players commercialize superior quality nutrigenomics testing kits to healthcare facilities that may positively boost segment growth in forthcoming future.

Japan nutrigenomics testing market was accounted for more than 35% revenue share of Asia Pacific industry in 2018 and it is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Considerable revenue can be attributed to several factors such as increasing preference towards personalized diet and rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Moreover, industry players in the region are undertaking various activities in order to provide efficient nutrigenomics tests. Also, various startups have been established to offer superior quality nutrigenomics testing kits, thereby accelerating country growth over the forecast period.

Diabetes segment of nutrigenomics testing market was valued more than USD 70 million in 2018 and it is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Nutritional genomics testing broadens understanding of patterns pertaining to genetic variations, epigenetic modifications, and gene diet phenotype interactions. It also enables comprehensive understanding of early molecular events occurred in diabetes that may prevent further complexities and disease progression. As a result, nutrigenetics testing has pivotal role in diabetes management and care that will fuel its demand over the analysis timeframe.

Notable industry players operational in the nutrigenomics testing market include Sanger Genomics, Gene Box, Metagenics, CURA INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE, Orig3n, Pathway Genomics, Holistic Heal, Nutrigenomix, Xcode Life, Salugen, GX Sciences and NutraGene. These industry players are implementing several strategic initiatives such as collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, product launches and emphasis on R&D activities in order to gain competitive advantage and sustain market competition. For instance, in November 2017, Orig3n acquired Interleukin Genetics, a genome based personalized health organization. This acquisition aimed at providing Inherent Health genetic tests for heart health, weight management and bone health. This activity will help company to capture higher market share that will enable it to exceed its business revenue.

Major Highlights from Table of contents are listed below for quick lookup into Nutrigenomics Testing Market report

Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

Chapter 3. Nutrigenomics Testing Industry Insights

Chapter 4. Company Profiles

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Nutrigenomics Testing Market Analysis, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts to 2025 - The Research Process

Scientists Discover Why We Need Sleep Important Work Is Being Done – SciTechDaily

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

A UCLA-led team of scientists reports on why sleep is vital to our health and how the brain heals during sleep.

In very early life, sleep helps build the brains infrastructure, but it then takes on an entirely new decluttering role.

Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to severe health problems in humans and other animals. But why is sleep so vital to our health? A UCLA-led team of scientists has answered this question and shown for the first time that a dramatic change in the purpose of sleep occurs at the age of about 2-and-a-half.

Before that age, the brain grows very rapidly. During REM sleep, when vivid dreams occur, the young brain is busy building and strengthening synapses the structures that connect neurons to one another and allow them to communicate.

Dont wake babies up during REM sleep important work is being done in their brains as they sleep, said senior study author Gina Poe, a UCLA professor of integrative biology and physiology who has conducted sleep research for more than 30 years.

After 2-and-a-half years, however, sleeps primary purpose switches from brain-building to brain maintenance and repair, a role it maintains for the rest of our lives, the scientists report on September 18, 2020, in the journal Science Advances. This transition, the researchers say, corresponds to changes in brain development.

All animals naturally experience a certain amount of neurological damage during waking hours, and the resulting debris, including damaged genes and proteins within neurons, can build up and cause brain disease. Sleep helps repair this damage and clear the debris essentially decluttering the brain and taking out the trash that can lead to serious illness.

Nearly all of this brain repair occurs during sleep, according to senior author Van Savage, a UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and of computational medicine, and his colleagues.

I was shocked how huge a change this is over a short period of time, and that this switch occurs when were so young, Savage said. Its a transition that is analogous to when water freezes to ice.

The research team, which included scientists with expertise in neuroscience, biology, mathematics and statistics, conducted the most comprehensive statistical analysis of sleep to date, using data from more than 60 sleep studies involving humans and other mammals. They examined data on sleep throughout development including total sleep time, REM sleep time, brain size and body size and built and tested a mathematical model to explain how sleep changes with brain and body size.

The data were remarkably consistent: All species experienced a dramatic decline in REM sleep when they reached the human developmental equivalent of about 2-and-half years of age. The fraction of time spent in REM sleep before and after that point was roughly the same, whether the researchers studied rabbits, rats, pigs or humans.

REM sleep decreases with the growth in brain size throughout development, the scientists found. While newborns spend about 50% of their sleep time in REM sleep, that falls to about 25% by the age of 10 and continues to decrease with age. Adults older than 50 spend approximately 15% of their time asleep in REM. The significant dropoff in REM sleep at about 2-and-a-half happens just as the major change in the function of sleep occurs, Poe said.

Sleep is as important as food, Poe said. And its miraculous how well sleep matches the needs of our nervous system. From jellyfish to birds to whales, everyone sleeps. While we sleep, our brains are not resting.

A chronic lack of sleep likely contributes to long-term health problems such as dementia and other cognitive disorders, diabetes, and obesity, to name a few, Poe said. When you start to feel tired, she said, dont fight it go to bed.

I fought sleep and pulled all-nighters when I was in college, and now think that was a mistake, Savage said. I would have been better off with a good nights sleep. Now when I feel tired, I dont have any guilt about sleeping.

For most adults, a regular seven-and-a-half hours of sleep a night is normal and time lying awake doesnt count, Poe says. While children need more sleep, babies need much more, roughly twice as much as adults. The large percentage of REM sleep in babies is in stark contrast to the amount of REM sleep observed in adult mammals across an enormous range of brain sizes and body sizes. Adult humans have five REM cycles during a full night of sleep and can have a few dreams in each cycle.

A good nights sleep is excellent medicine, Poe says. And its free.

Reference: Unraveling Why We Sleep: Quantitative Analysis Reveals Abrupt Transition from Neural Reorganization to Repair in Early Development by Junyu Cao, Alexander B. Herman, Geoffrey B. West, Gina Poe and Van M. Savage, 18 September 2020, Science Advances.DOI: 10.1101/827212

Co-authors of the study are Junyu Cao, who conducted research in Savages laboratory and is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin; Alexander Herman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; and Geoffrey West, a physicist who is the Shannan Distinguished Professor at the Santa Fe Institute.

Funding sources included the National Science Foundation and the Eugene and Clare Thaw Charitable Trust.

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Scientists Discover Why We Need Sleep Important Work Is Being Done - SciTechDaily

Helium-huffing alligators and reluctant hitmen win big at the Ig Nobel awards – Live Science

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

What do alligators on helium have in common with frozen poop knives, hitmen who won't do their jobs and earthworms that vibrate at high frequencies? These peculiar topics all inspired research that earned a unique science accolade: a 2020 Ig Nobel Prize.

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony is an annual event to honor weird science in a diverse range of disciplines. The awards are organized by the magazineAnnals of Improbable Research (AIR) and co-sponsored by theHarvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Studentsand theHarvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association, and it's definitely an evening to remember. Each year, winners are handed their trophies (along with a 10-trillion dollar bill from Zimbabwe) by Nobel laureates; professional singers trill an original mini-opera; and audience members gleefully fling paper airplanes at the stage, in a celebration of scientific achievements "that make people laugh, then think," according to the contest website.

Now in its 30th year, the Ig Nobels usually take place at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. But for the 2020 presentation, the organizers had to get even more creative than usual; due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was prerecorded and debuted online yesterday (Sept. 17).

Related: In photos: The science and silliness of the 2017 Ig Nobels

One big winner was research on bellowing alligators that huffed helium for science. Scientists enclosed a female Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) in a chamber, then pumped in a mixture of helium and oxygen and measured acoustic changes in her bellows, to see if they could detect resonances in alligator vocals that were similar to human speech; their experiments earned them an Ig Nobel in Acoustics.

Other winners included a team that generated waves in the liquid-filled bodies of live (anesthetized) earthworms through high-frequency vibrations, to see how that would affect the shape of their bodies (Ig Nobel in Physics); researchers who found that narcissistic personality traits could be revealed by a person's eyebrows (Ig Nobel in Psychology); and scientists who identified diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric disorder that causes stress and aggression in response to the sounds of loud chewing (Ig Nobel in Medicine).

"We just want to dedicate this award to everyone who's done data-driven research and found themselves somewhere they never expected," said Nick Rule, one of the co-winners of the Psychology prize and a psychology professor and associate chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto.

A special Ig Nobel in Management went to a group of "reluctant hitmen" in China; a would-be assassin, rather than doing the job he was hired to do, subcontracted another assassin to do it for him, for a lower price. The subcontractor then hired another hitman, who then hired yet another; eventually, the fee was so low that the sixth hitman in the line decided to talk the victim into faking his own death. The failed hitmen, who were sentenced in 2019 for intentional homicide, were unavailable to collect their prize.

Participants spanned six continents, yet Ig Nobel laureate presenters still handed them their prizes from their own homes, master of ceremonies and AIR co-founder and editor Marc Abrahams told Live Science.

"We figured out a way to do that which seemed to be pretty satisfying to everybody concerned and was certainly goofy," he said. (The "handoff" of prizes took place on Zoom, and was mostly successful).

"And then there's the opera, which is a pretty complex undertaking anyway. But when you can't have all the people in the same room, and most of them can't leave their homes how do you coordinate that? People did a lot of clever stuff," Abrahams said.

Related: The 10 weirdest medical cases in the animal kingdom

Every year, the Ig Nobels present a theme (which does not necessarily reflect the prizewinning research topics) and this year's was "bugs." The prizes, emailed to presenters and winners as PDFs for assembly at home, were six-sided paper cubes; five sides were decorated with different kinds of bugs: a flea, a cockroach, a computer bug, a norovirus stomach "bug", and a Volkswagen Beetle.

But why bugs?

"You always want something that's well-known to everybody, and "bugs" is pretty universal," Abrahams said.

Bugs were certainly important to the winner of the Ig Nobel Prize for Entomology. Richard Vetter, a retired staff research associate in the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside, described the unusual predicament of entomologists who were afraid of spiders, and were unable to overcome their negative feelings despite decades of work with other small arthropods insects.

"For these people, two more legs makes a big difference," Vettner wrote.

During the streaming ceremony, bugs also appeared in animated sequences; as wearable accessories on presenters and musicians; and in several of the evening's 24/7 Lectures, in which scientists summed up their research first in 24 seconds, then in seven words.

"Insects: You'll be sorry when they're gone," lectured May Berenbaum, a professor and head of the Entomology Department at the School of Integrative Biology in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

While this is the first year that the Ig Nobel ceremony was not streamed from the Sanders Theatre, the event has been presented live online since 1995, Abrahams said.

"We were worried about too many people trying to get into the building, and we wanted to send a television signal to a lecture hall in Harvard," Abrahams explained. As it turned out, the building wasn't wired for TV broadcast but it could connect to the internet.

"A grad student there said: 'Hey, stick the signal on the internet and send it across the street,'" Abrahams said. "And as long as we're doing that, we can just tell everybody on the internet, and then everybody can watch!"

The 2020 ceremony is available in its entirety on Live Science and on YouTube. You can find the full list of the 2020 Ig Nobel Prize winners on AIR's website.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Helium-huffing alligators and reluctant hitmen win big at the Ig Nobel awards - Live Science

6 ways to relieve stress naturally – Insider – INSIDER

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

More than 60% of Americans report feeling significant stress on a daily basis, according to a Gallup poll conducted in March 2020. Stress is the emotional or physical tensions caused by any event or thought that triggers frustration, anger, or nervousness.

Stress isn't necessarily bad, says Ben Hagopian, MD, a primary care physician at Maine Integrative Family Care. As part of your fight or flight response, stress causes your body to release cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones that make you more alert, tensing your muscles and increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.

This is beneficial when you are in danger, but overtime, chronic stress can have negative effects on your health, causing symptoms like:

Hagopian says his first advice for anyone who feels stressed is to identify the cause and see if you can eliminate it. If your stress is caused by something you can't eliminate, or is due to uncertainty, there are ways you can cope and manage it.

Here are some of the best ways to relieve stress:

Hagopian recommends aerobic exercise, such as jogging, cycling or dancing, but says the specific type doesn't matter as much as just getting some physical activity. "You need to get your heart rate up, you need to be sweating a little bit and be breathing hard," he says.

The main way exercise helps relieve stress is by increasing endorphins, leading to the so-called "runner's high," Hagopian says. Endorphins are the hormones produced naturally by your brain to alleviate pain and reduce stress. Exercise also ultimately decreases the levels of hormones associated with stress, including cortisol and adrenaline.

Working out even when you aren't feeling stressed can also help you manage stress later on. A 2007 study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology compared the stress response of elite athletes to healthy non-athletes. Researchers put participants through the Trier Social Stress Test, or TSST, a standard procedure for inducing stress in studies.

While both groups saw increased cortisol levels and heart rate, the increase was significantly less for the elite athletes compared to the healthy non-athletes. The athlete group also reported being calmer and in a better mood.

Hagopian recommends finding a type of exercise you actually enjoy, so that it's not a chore. General recommendations are to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. If you are just starting out, Hagopian suggests taking 10 to 20 minute walks three times a week and building from there.

Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can also help manage stress.

Usually, when you are stressed, you breathe faster and take shallow breaths, because your heart is racing. Other people actually hold their breath, Hagopian says. Slowing down your heart rate by focusing on your breath can help. Hagopian recommends a technique called 4-7-8 breathing, where you inhale for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds and then exhale for 8 seconds.

Meditation also has a number of benefits, including stress relief. In a small 2013 study, medical students who participated in a four-day mindfulness meditation program had significantly lower cortisol levels compared to before the program. A review of more than 200 studies published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review also found that mindfulness meditation was effective at reducing stress.

Hatha yoga has also been shown to reduce cortisol levels during a stressful event. A 2017 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that a single Hatha yoga session before a stressful task lowered cortisol levels and blood pressure levels in participants, when compared to a control group.

Anyone who has ever had to function on just a few hours of shut eye knows that lack of sleep makes it harder to deal with anything, including stress. In fact, 21% of adults report feeling more stressed when they don't get enough sleep.

Adults typically need seven to nine hours of sleep a night, and those who sleep less than that report being more stressed. But for many people, being stressed makes it harder to fall asleep. Cortisol, the stress hormone, makes you stimulated and alert, which can make it difficult to doze off.

There are some basic ways to improve sleep, including:

Another key to managing stress is your diet. "Healthy nutrition is super important," Hagopian says. "Eating lots of fast food, or food with a lot of processed flour or sugar, is going to make you feel worse."

Here are some stress-reducing nutrients to look for in foods:

You should also try to avoid consuming too much alcohol, caffeine, or sugar, as these can all exacerbate stress, Hagopian says. Plus, if you are turning to food to cope with stress, you may be engaging in emotional eating, or stress eating. Learn more about how to stop emotional eating.

When you are feeling stressed, reaching out to your friends and family can help. Studies have found that people with less social support are more reactive to stress, exhibiting increased heart rates, blood pressure, and hormone levels, according to a 2007 review published in the journal Psychiatry.

Having a best friend by your side might make it even easier to cope with stress. A 2011 study published in Developmental Psychology of kids ages 10 to 12 found that having a best friend nearby led to lower cortisol levels after an unpleasant situation. The researchers had kids write in a journal multiple times a day to record their experiences, and tested cortisol levels in their saliva.

Moreover, a study done at the University of North Carolina found that women who spent time with their partner, including receiving a hug from them, had higher oxytocin levels (the "feel good" hormone) and lower blood pressure when asked to then prepare and record a speech about a recent event that made them angry or stressed.

Having sex, either solo or with a partner, can also help relieve stress. Like exercise, sex triggers the release of endorphins, which boost your mood. Your body also releases oxytocin during sex, especially during a woman's orgasm.

When it comes to stress, laughter truly is one of the best medicines. Laughing actually triggers immediate changes in your body that can help counteract the stress response.

When you laugh, you take in more oxygen-rich air, which stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles. It also increases your release of endorphins, improves circulation, and helps you relax your muscles, which are often tense when you are stressed.

Hagopian says it doesn't really matter what makes you laugh, as long as you try finding ways to lift your mood when you're feeling stressed. Here are some easy ways to induce laughter:

For most of us, stress is a part of our lives, but there are ways to manage and relieve it. Maintaining healthy habits will make you better able to respond to stressful situations.

If you are struggling to adopt some of these healthy habits, Hagopian suggests what he calls "habit stacking" or trying to incorporate many of these strategies at once. For example, after your 20 minutes of exercise, do breathing exercises as you cool down. Or try exercises like yoga, that combines physical activity with mindfulness.

It's important to remember that everyone responds differently to stress, and everyone has a different threshold for managing stress. Finding what helps you relieve stress may take some trial and error, so don't get discouraged.

Finally, Hagopian says if stress is affecting your ability to function daily, you should reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional for further treatment.

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Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) Market: Development Factors and Investment Analysis by Leading Manufacturers -…

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

Global Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market (2020-2026) report highlights Significant dynamics and in-depth analysis of the market segment with concentrating on factual data, present industry activities, growth opportunities, new product inventions, and market forecast for the future prospective of time along with leading market players, market study based on several regions, and extensive product. Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market report can function as an assistive reference point for helping individuals as well as businesses from this segment.

The report on Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market comprises an in-depth analysis of key global developments that will be beneficial to businesses operating in this industry. The report delivers a clear understanding of the major trends and forthcoming market prospects to facilitate the making of effective business strategies.

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The study identifies the opportunities and growth drivers that will impact the remuneration scale of the industry over the analysis period. It also entails the threats and challenges tackled by the industry along with solutions to subdue their impact.

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The report offers a comparison of present and past market outlook to deduce the growth rate of this industry vertical over the study period. Besides, it evaluates the COVID-19 pandemic impact on overall and regional markets to determine methodologies that can potentially yield significant returns for industry participants.

Main highlights from table of contents:

Product landscape

Application scope

Geographical terrain

Competitive outlook

In summary, the Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market assessment has been performed at a granular level through various segmentations, while keeping track of other crucial aspects like supply chain and sales channel comprising of details about the downstream buyers, upstream suppliers, raw materials, and distributors in the industry.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

The Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market report provides extensive qualitative insights on the potential and niche segments or regions exhibiting favorable growth.

The report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging market trends and opportunities in the global Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market.

A comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrict the growth of the Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market is provided.

An extensive analysis of the Pharmacogenomics Technology/Theranostics/Companion Diagnostics (CDx) market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework.

The report provides a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of current trends and future estimations that help evaluate the prevailing market opportunities.

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Cancer Immunotherapy Market Estimated to be Worth USD 153.03 Billion by 2027 | CAGR of 10.1%: Emergen Research – PR Newswire UK

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

- The increasing prevalence of cancer and rising R&D activities in the cancer immunotherapy field is driving the demand for the market.

- Market Size USD 78.04 billion in 2019, Market Growth - CAGR of 10.1%, Market trends Growing health awareness and effectiveness of treatment

VANCOUVER, B.C, Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The globalCancer Immunotherapy Marketis expected to reach USD 153.03 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Emergen Research. The cancer immunotherapy market is growing at a substantial pace owing to the growing acceptance and inclination of the patients towards the newly invented advanced treatments over the conventional ones. In order to substantialize the severe and chronic diseases like cancer, every year, the cancer research centers invest a handful of the amount in their R&D, which fuels up the market growth by a large margin.

Key factors responsible for driving the growth of the cancer immunotherapy market include technological advancements in therapy, rising incidences of cancer, increasing R&D activities for the treatment of cancer, and the improving effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer, among others. Factors that could significantly limit market growth is the high price of the slow and long-term procedure, expensive treatment and R&D, and stringent government regulations. Moreover, product approvals and high cost of treatment are expected to act as a restraining factor on the growth of the global market in the near future.

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Key Highlights From The Report

To get leading market solutions, visit the link below:https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/cancer-immunotherapy-market

For the purpose of this report, Emergen Research has segmented the Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market on the basis of technology, application, end-use, and region:

Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

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About Emergen Research

At Emergen Research, we believe in advancing with technology. We are a growing market research and strategy consulting company with an exhaustive knowledge base of cutting-edge and potentially market-disrupting technologies that are predicted to become more prevalent in the coming decade.

With market-leading insights and an in-depth understanding of leading and niche technologies, our solutions address the most pertinent questions for your business needs. A major technological shift has been witnessed towards creating a 'Circular Economy,' fuelled by factors, such as the increased adoption of bio-based materials, along with other methods for achieving carbon neutrality. We are conversant in technologies, viz., Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Smart Manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data Analytics, Machine learning, Nanotechnology, Edge Computing, Blockchain Technology, Cloud Computing, Vehicle Electrification, Advanced Maintenance Analytics, and Predictive Maintenance, among other prevalent and emergent technologies.

Eric LeeCorporate Sales SpecialistEmergen Research | Web: https://www.emergenresearch.comE-mail: sales@emergenresearch.com

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Medical Simulator Market 2020 Will Emerge Globally And Grow upto 13.8% of CAGR by 2023 – The Daily Chronicle

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

The Global Medical Simulator Market size is projected to reach USD XX Mn by 2023 from USD XX Mn in 2018, at a CAGR of 13.8% during the forecast period.

Global Medical Simulator Industry Research Report Provides Detailed Insight Covering all Important Parameters Including Development Trends, Challenges, Opportunities, Key Insights and Competitive Analysis of Medical Simulator Market.

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With industry-standard accuracy in analysis and high data integrity, the report makes a brilliant attempt to unveil key opportunities available in the global Medical Simulator market to help players in achieving a strong market position. Buyers of the report can access verified and reliable market forecasts, including those for the overall size of the global Medical Simulator market in terms of both revenue and volume.

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Impact of COVID-19: Medical Simulator Market report analyses the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Medical Simulator industry. Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost 180+ countries around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt, and will significantly affect the Medical Simulator market in 2020

COVID-19 can affect the global economy in 3 main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disturbance, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets.

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Top Players Listed in the Medical Simulator Market Report areVirtaMed, MS Tech, VRmagic, Simbionix, Gaumard Scientific, Ambu, Bioseb, CAE Healthcare, Creaplast, Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC), PerSys Medical, .

Based on type, The report split into 2D Simulator, 3D Simulator, .

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Medical Simulator Market 2020 Will Emerge Globally And Grow upto 13.8% of CAGR by 2023 - The Daily Chronicle

Scientists are working on vaccines that spread like a disease. What could possibly go wrong? – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

A worker conducts testing during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Credit: John Saindon/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CC BY 2.0.

Once a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for public use, officials around the world will face the monumental challenge of vaccinating billions of people, a logistical operation rife with thorny ethical questions. What if instead of orchestrating complicated and resource-intensive campaigns to vaccinate humans against emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19, we could instead stop the zoonotic diseases that sometimes leap from animals to people at their source? A small, but growing number of scientists think its possible to exploit the self-propagating properties of viruses and use them to spread immunity instead of disease. Can we beat viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, at their own game?

A virus that confers immunity throughout an animal population as it spreads in the wild could theoretically stop a zoonotic spillover event from happening, snuffing out the spark that could ignite the next pandemic. If the wild rats that host the deadly Lassa virus, for example, are vaccinated, the risks of a future outbreak among humans could be reduced. For at least 20 years, scientists have been experimenting with such self-spreading vaccines, work that continues to this day, and which has gained the attention of the US military.

For obvious reasons, public and scientific interest in vaccines is incredibly high, including in self-spreading vaccines, as they could be effective against zoonotic threats. The biologists Scott Nuismer and James Bull generated fresh media attention to self-spreading vaccines over the summer after publishing an article in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. But the subsequent reporting on the topic gives short shrift to the potentially significant downsides to releasing self-spreading vaccines into the environment.

Self-spreading vaccines could indeed entail serious risks, and the prospect of using them raises challenging questions.

Who decides, for instance, where and when a vaccine should be released? Once released, scientists will no longer be in control of the virus. It could mutate, as viruses naturally do. It may jump species. It will cross borders. There will be unexpected outcomes and unintended consequences. There always are.

While it may turn out to be technically feasible to fight emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19, AIDS, Ebola, and Zika with self-spreading viruses, and while the benefits may be significant, how does one weigh those benefits against what may be even greater risks?

How they work. Self-spreading vaccines are essentially genetically engineered viruses designed to move through populations in the same way as infectious diseases, but rather than causing disease, they confer protection. Built on the chassis of a benign virus, the vaccines have genetic material from a pathogen added to them that stimulates the creation of antibodies or white blood cells in infected hosts.

These vaccines could be particularly useful, some scientists say, for wildlife populations where direct vaccination is difficult due to issues like inaccessible habitats, poor infrastructure, high costs, or lack of resources. The idea, essentially, is to vaccinate a small proportion of a population through direct inoculation. These so-called founders will then passively spread the vaccine to other animals they encounter either by touch, sex, nursing, or breathing the same air. Gradually, these interactions could build up population-level immunity.

Self-spreading vaccines have some of their roots in efforts to reduce pest populations. Australian researchers described a virally spread immunocontraception, which hijacked the immune systems of infected animalsin this case a non-native mouse species in Australiaand prevented them from fertilizing offspring. The earliest self-spreading vaccine efforts targeted two highly lethal infectious diseases in the European rabbit population (myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus). In 2001, Spanish researchers field-tested a vaccine in a wild rabbit population living on Isla del Aire, a small Spanish island just off Menorca. The vaccine spread to more than half the 300 rabbits on the island, and the trial was deemed a success.

In 2015, another team of researchers speculated on the development of a self-spreading vaccine for the Ebola virus that could be used on wild great apes like chimpanzees. Since then, scientists have come to see a wide array of animalsfrom wildlife such as bats, birds, and foxes to domesticated animals like dogs, pigs, and sheepas amenable to self-spreading vaccines.

So far, researchers have not developed experimental self-spreading vaccines for humans; there is no clear evidence that anybody is actively working on the technology. Nuismer and Bull argue, rather, that self-spreading vaccines present a revolutionary approach to control emerging infectious diseases before they even spill over from animals into the human population.

Zoonotic spillover is certainly a pressing problem; alongside SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Ebola virus, and the Zika virus, there are over a thousand other new viruses with zoonotic potential that have been detected in wild animals over the last decade. Prevention is better than a cure, Nuismer and Bull say in a New Scientist article. In their Nature Ecology & Evolution article, they claim they are poised to begin developing self-disseminating vaccines to target a wide range of human pathogens in animals.

Outside of an experiment, scientists would face massive technical and practical hurdles in identifying the most appropriate targets for intervention and ensuring immunity is maintained in the wildlife populations. Despite these substantial challenges, the potential security implications of self-spreading vaccines are even more serious.

The principal security concern is that of dual-use. In essence, this means that the same research that is used to develop self-spreading vaccines to prevent disease, could also be used to deliberately cause harm. You could, for instance, engineer triggers into a virus that cause immune system failures in infected people or animals, a bit like HIV does naturally. Or you could create triggers in a virus that cause a harmful autoimmune response, where the body starts attacking its own healthy cells and tissues.

The bioweapon question. While researchers may intend to make self-spreading vaccines, others could repurpose their science and develop biological weapons. Such a self-spreading weapon may prove uncontrollable and irreversible.

We dont have to dig very deep for a historical example of weaponized biology. As the apartheid-era South African biowarfare program shows, social, political, and scientific pressures can lead to the misuse of biological innovation.

Codenamed Project Coast, South Africas program was primarily focused on covert assassination weapons for use against individuals deemed a threat to the racist apartheid government. In addition to producing contraptions to inject poisons, Project Coast researchers developed techniques to lace sugar cubes with salmonella and cigarettes with Bacillus anthracis.

While there have been many biowarfare programs, including several that were far more elaborate and sophisticated, the South African program is particularly relevant in thinking through malicious uses of self-spreading vaccines. One of Project Coasts research projects aimed at developing a human anti-fertility vaccine.

The idea took hold during a time of widespread concern over worldwide population explosion. Schalk Van Rensburg, who oversaw fertility-related work at a Project Coast laboratory, told South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a forum for examining the sordid history of the era and laying the foundation for future peace and tolerance, that he thought the project was in line with the World Health Organizations attempts to curb rising global birth rates. He believed it could bring his lab international acclaim and funding. According to Van Rensburg, Wouter Basson, the director of the biowarfare program, said the military needed an anti-fertility vaccine so that female soldiers would not fall pregnant.

While some of the scientists involved in the project denied awareness of ulterior intentions or even that their fertility work was part of a military endeavor, Van Rensburg and Daniel Goosen, a lab director, told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that the real intention behind the project was to selectively administer the contraceptive in secret to unwitting Black South African women.

In the end, the anti-fertility vaccine was not produced before Project Coast was officially closed down in 1995, 12 years after it was initiated. An early version was tested in baboons, but never in humans. South Africa isnt the only country to try and forcibly sterilize parts of its population. European countries, including Sweden and Switzerland, sterilized members of the Roma minority in the early half of the 20th century and some, like Slovakia, continued even beyond that. More recently, analysts have alleged that the Chinese government is sterilizing women in Xinjiang, a province with a large population of Uighur Muslims.

It doesnt take a massive leap of the imagination to see how the aims of South Africas anti-fertility vaccine project would have benefited from research into self-spreading vaccines, particularly if you combine it with current developments in pharmacogenomics, drug development, and personalized medicine. Taken together, these strands of research could help enable ultra-targeted biological warfare.

An expanding potential for abuse. The Biological Weapons Convention, the treaty that bans biological weapons, is nearly 50 years old. Negotiated and agreed to in the depths of the Cold War, the convention suffers from outdated modes of operation. There are also significant compliance assessment challenges. The convention certainly didnt stop South Africa from pursuing Project Coast in the early 1980s.

Self-spreading vaccine research is a small but growing field. At the moment, about 10 institutions are doing significant work in the area. These laboratories are primarily located in the United States, but some are in Europe and Australia, as well. As the field expands, so does the potential for abuse.

So far research has primarily been bankrolled by US government science and health funders like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Private organizations like the Gates Foundation and academic institutions have also financed projects. Recently, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), sometimes thought of as the US militarys research and development wing, has gotten involved in the research. The University of California, Davis, for example, is working on a DARPA administered project called Prediction of Spillover Potential and Interventional En Masse Animal Vaccination to Prevent Emerging Pathogen Threats in Current and Future Zones of US Military Operation. According to a pamphlet, the project is creating the worlds first prototype of a self-disseminating vaccine designed to induce a high level of herd immunity (wildlife population level protection) against Lassa virus and Ebola.

Military investment in biological innovation for defensive or protective purposes is permissible under the Biological Weapons Convention, but it can still send the wrong signals. It could cause countries to doubt one anothers intentions and lead to tit-for-tat investment in potentially risky research, including in self-spreading vaccines. The result of research gone awry or biowarfare could be catastrophic for health and the environment.

At a time when the norm against chemical weapons is degrading, underscored most recently by the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny with the nerve agent Novichoka crime for which many European officials blame Russiathe international community simply cant afford to have the same thing happen to the norm against the use of biological weapons. It would completely defy the spirit of the treaty if it seemed like states would even want to pursue high-risk dual use activities in biology.

Early, open, good-faith conversations about scientific aims and advances that cause particular dual-use concerns, as self-spreading vaccines do, are essential to exploring the broader stakes of certain technical trajectories. The University of California, Davis program is pursuing ways to incorporate an off switch to safely control the technology. And DARPA says any field experimentation related to the project would follow biosafety protocols. But these pledges wont suffice. Our ambition must be to make a collective decision about the technical pathways we are willing, or not willing, to take as a society.

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Scientists are working on vaccines that spread like a disease. What could possibly go wrong? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Socially distanced chemistry for kids: Join the U.S. Crystal Growing Competition! – UB News Center

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Danzig

BUFFALO, N.Y. Looking for a hands-on science project to do with your children this fall? The U.S. Crystal Growing Competition is back.

Held annually since 2014, the contest challenges K-12 students and teachers to grow the biggest, most beautiful crystals they can using aluminum potassium sulfate (alum), a nontoxic chemical used in water purification.

This year, the contest takes on new meaning, with many schools across the country operating under a remote or hybrid learning model, says founder Jason Benedict, a University at Buffalo chemist with two school-aged kids.

Now, more than ever, with so many kids being at home, they need fun, hands-on scientific activities, says Benedict, PhD, an associate professor of chemistry in the UB College of Arts and Sciences. Growing crystals means they can take a break from their screens and do an exciting activity thats going to teach them something about crystals and crystal growth. You can do this as a family.

Crystals are really special objects where all of the ions or molecules are lined up in repeating patterns. People are exposed to crystals in a variety of ways in their daily lives. Snowflakes, for example, are all crystals. Salt and sugar are crystals. There are crystals inside of computers. Pharmaceuticals are crystalline. Well-tempered chocolate is an example: The snap of a well-tempered piece of chocolate is because the chocolate has a particular crystal form inside of it.

The contest is open to K-12 students and teachers, whether they are back in the classroom or learning at home. Participants can register for the competition by filling out the 2020 entry form and ordering bottles of crystal-growing material for $8. The deadline to order alum is Oct. 1.

Crystal-growing begins on Oct. 19, coinciding with National Chemistry Week, and goes on for five weeks. In addition to categories judging crystals by size and quality, the contest will again include a coolest crystal category that awards participants for cultivating crystals with a creative flourish, whether that means coloring crystals, trapping an object inside of them or implementing some other innovation.

Winners in various categories will be able to choose between cash prizes or hands-on magnetic science models that kids can manipulate to learn about crystal structures.

During the competition, teachers, students and families can share their excitement with the community of crystal-growers by posting updates on Twitter using the contests hashtag, #2020USCGC, Benedict says.

Submissions will be judged at UB.

The 2019 competition reached about 150 teams representing thousands of K-12 students and teachers, and homeschooling families in 33 states.

The experience of growing a sparkly, single crystal from scratch can be memorable for children.

Each team or participant starts with 100 grams of powdered alum. To grow a crystal, kids dissolve the material into water, then let the water evaporate. This causes the compound to emerge from the solution to form a crystal.

Its work that requires patience and finesse: If the water evaporates too quickly, too much of the alum will crystallize, causing imperfections such as occlusions or jagged edges (think rock candy). Go too slow, and youll get a miniscule crystal.

If the participants have half as much fun growing their crystals as we do receiving them, were going to have a lot of happy kids, parents and teachers, Benedict says.

The U.S. Crystal Growing Competition is sponsored by the American Crystallographic Association (which is based in Buffalo), the U.S. National Science Foundation, VWR and Wards Science, the UB Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, Georgetown University, the Texas A&M Department of Chemistry, the University of Central Florida Department of Chemistry, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Western New York section of the American Chemical Society, Bruker, The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, Krackeler Scientific, and Rigaku, along with individuals who have made donations. To make a gift to support the contest, visit the competitions fundraising page.

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Socially distanced chemistry for kids: Join the U.S. Crystal Growing Competition! - UB News Center

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