Author Archives: Danzig

New hemp CBD tests show it’s time to downsize and grow up – New Hope Network

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A flurry of various testing efforts over the last month has revealed what everybody knows: Its buyer beware when it comes to the wild west of hemp CBD supplements.

In Minnesota, 16 out of 25 brands tested had more than 20% deviation from what the label listed, and eight tested positive for pesticides or heavy metals.In Mississippi, only 3 of 25 products tested were within 20% of label claim, and three others had elevated levels of stoner THC in them.

Related: 17 groups pile on FDA, Congress, White House to regulate hemp CBD

And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just published test results of 147 products tested for 11 different cannabinoids plus heavy metals and other contaminants. Among the results, of 102 products that declared a specific CBD content, 18 products contained less than 80% of the amount of CBD indicated, 46 products contained CBD within 20% of the amount indicated, and 38 products contained more than 120% of the amount of CBD indicated.

Although the report does highlight issues with meeting CBD label claims and raises some concerns with THC labeling, rationalized Rend Al-Mondhiry, attorney with the Amin Talati Wasserman law firm, its positive to see that most products didnt have unsafe levels of heavy metals.

Related: Can consumer demand for hemp CBD overcome government agencies?

Other industry observers took a similarly sanguine look at the FDAs assessment.

Theres not much news here, yawned the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a lobbying consortium whose sister organization, the U.S. Hemp Authority, sets quality standards for top-flight brands. The FDA revealed what we already knew: While more work needs to be done to ensure CBD products consistently meet label claims, the majority of products do not contain unsafe contaminant levels, specifically heavy metals.

Really, though. What the commentariat is saying is that hemp CBD products appear to be clean. And thats nothing to sniff at, what with hemp being an excellent bioremediatorthat is, it draws in toxins from the soil. So for finished products to be declared clean does indeed mean that somebody is doing something right.

But six in 10 products did not contain anywhere close to the amount of CBD in the bottle that was claimed on labels.

Is that not a fail?

Its true that such resultsnot to mention the even worse results from Minnesota and Mississippiare a black eye to product makers. Come on, guys, can you really not do the math?

The irresponsible players in the market are distributing false promises and mislabeled products for consumers, said Brandon Beatty, president of Bluebird Botanicals, a top 10 market leader, leading to potentially dangerous outcomes.

Steve Mister, head of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which represents the largest supplement companies in the business, also expressed fears around the growing subset of CBD-containing products that pose health and safety risks to the 20 million Americans who take CBD dietary supplements.

And the FDA continues to bang the drum about safety concerns around hemp CBD. But remember, the FDAs concerns are around CBD isolate, which is what the agency approved as an official pharmaceutical drug. The agency is never seemingly capable of differentiating between the 99% pure CBD isolate that it approved as a drug and the full spectrum hemp extracts that contain CBD at vastly lower quantities.

So if the FDA is concerned about CBD isolate, what do we make of the majority of the full spectrum hemp CBD oils that dont contain what they say they do? Are they unsafe? The World Health Organization doesnt seem to think so. But then, the WHO does not have to concern itself with pharmaceutical profits.

The problem is, that even if legit hemp CBD may possibly carry a safety risk, what do we make about what can only be described as subpar hemp oil? Is there a true safety issue, or is it just that it all too often does not contain what the label says it should?

And this gets to the crux of the issue. Even in the larger dietary supplements market, the FDA has identified three categories of products in particular that it is concerned about not just not meeting label claim but containing unapproved, contaminated pharmaceutical drugs inside the pills. These categories are weight management, sexual health, sports performanceand diabetes.So its not like the supplements industry in general has its house exactly in order. And as a subset of the larger supplements business, the fledgling upstart hemp CBD business without question needs to get its house in order.

Its time for this industry to downsize and grow up, said Jim Ott, CEO of CFH, Ltd., a vertically integrated hemp genetics, production and extraction company producing CBD ingredients. It is happening as we speak. With this industry consolidation that is happening as we speak, making consumers and brand companies aware that their supply source is in jeopardy and the financial crunch that companies who are not vertically integrated are going to face, will result in more corners be cut and product safety and efficacy will be sacrificed as companies attempt to save their businesses.

As if there isnt enough headwinds with the economic collapse, hemp is facing particular problems, starting with the oversupply of 2019 that led to a price collapsegreat news for consumers, not so much for producers.

Most of what I am hearing suggest a major extinction event is in progresswith bankruptcies, for example, bypassing chapter 11 and going right into liquidation, said John Grubb, managing partner of Summit Venture Management, which consults and partners with entrepreneurs and equity investors of brands. Atalo in Kentucky, and Integrated CBD in Arizona who just auctioned off massive, state-of-art drying and extraction equipment after raising $78 million in 2019.

Already, many top-shelf hemp CBD brands do supplements one better vis a vis transparency by containing QR codes on labels and/or website information that contains Certificates of Analysis vouchsafing product quality and standards. Thats impressive. But the vast number of low-barrier-to-entry hemp CBD brands that have gone into business not knowing they are in the supplements business and not really caring about product quality.

The FDA had been charged by Congress to, among other things, issue a report on the state of the hemp CBD market. One could imagine a report with better utility than the one the agency issued.

For example, imagine the FDA collected samples from various sales channels to get a handle on which was best? First, they couldve started with the top 10 brands. ConsumerLab did such a thing in 2018, and found that the top brands were there for a reason. Brands that passed with flying colors included Ananda Hemp, Bluebird Botanicals, Charlottes Web, Elixinol, Endoca Raw Hemp Oil, Plus CBD Oil, PrimeMyBody Nano-Enhanced Hemp Oiland SOL CBD Pure Hemp Extract.

The FDA could have grabbed products off store shelves at leading health food stores. Then topicals from mass market drug stores. Then CBD-only stores. Then gas stations. Then irregular channels such as boutiques and bookstores. Then the internet. That would have been valuable to consumers, for whom products can be hit or miss.

Instead, savvy consumers need to rely on a sophisticated third party to help them navigate the hemp CBD market. That means natural products retailers, who from all accounts conduct rigorous vetting processes to select only high-quality brands.

This report should serve as further encouragement of compiling of safety data across the industry that might compel FDA to become more comfortable and act more quickly, said Garrett Graff, managing attorney with the Hoban Law Group.

What this report really shows is that the hemp companies the FDA surveyed are clean of heavy metals but fall all too short of providing the much-heralded product promise: Whats on the label is in the bottle. That makes CBD largely safe but of uncertain effectiveness.

The position of the FDAas with the USDA in its draft regulations on the production sidearent doing anyone any favors, and arent working to positively build a legitimate hemp industry. The more they waitthe more uncertainty remains in the market, and hemp CBD will remain a niche market, and more brands and farmers will fail. Maybe thats the way these dinosaur drug warriors want it. You can add consumers to the list of stakeholders that arent being served by the federal apparatus.

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New hemp CBD tests show it's time to downsize and grow up - New Hope Network

Best weight loss supplements: The extract proven to burn body weight and belly fat – Express

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Numerous studies in rodents have found that it has anti-obesity effects.

Studies in Japanese adults have demonstrated its flair for attacking belly fat.

One notable study followed 210 people with a lot of belly fat.

It found that taking Lactobacillus gasseri for 12 weeks reduced body weight, fat around organs, BMI, waist size and hip circumference.

What's more, belly fat was reduced by 8.5 percent.

However, when participants stopped taking the probiotic, they gained back all of the belly fat within a month

It is thought that certain probiotics may inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, increasing the amount of fat excreted with feces.

Put simply, they make you "harvest" fewer calories from the foods in your diet.

Certain bacteria, such as those from the Lactobacillus family, have been found to function in this way.

Probiotics alone won't yield results as gains in one area can be offset by bad decisions in another.

It is important to incorporate probiotics into a diet that cuts back on calories while topping up the essentials.

"The best way to achieve this is to swap unhealthy and high-energy food choices such as fast food, processed food and sugary drinks (including alcohol) for healthier choices," advises the NHS.

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Best weight loss supplements: The extract proven to burn body weight and belly fat - Express

SCAN CEO Sachin Jain: Health Care on the Cusp of a Revolution – Hospice News

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Sachin Jain, M.D., on July 1 took the helm of SCAN Health Plan, a nonprofit Medicare Advantage plan, as the companys president and CEO. Jain in April stepped down as CEO of Aspire Health and CareMore Health, both subsidiaries of Anthem (NYSE: ANTM).

At SCAN, Jain leads a $2.4 billion organization that covers more than 215,000 members. The company is a part of the SCAN Group, a nonprofit dedicated to helping senior citizens stay healthy and independent.

Jain spoke with Hospice News on his priorities for SCANs future, the involvement of hospice in Medicare Advantage, and the importance of social justice in health care.

As you come into this new role at SCAN, what do you see as your top priorities?

SCAN was founded in 1977 by a group of 12 seniors who believe in social justice and believe that society can and should do more, to keep seniors aging healthily as well as aging in place. I think our objective is timeless in that regard, because were always going to have a need for innovation in the space of serving and supporting seniors.

SCAN has an extraordinary history of actually accomplishing that mission. We were originally what was called a social HMO, and it subsequently evolved into a Medicare Advantage plan thats really differentiated in the marketplace by its focus on the social determinants of health. We also have whats called our Independence at Home program, which is a set of programs that help to ensure that seniors are aging safely at home. Were actually meeting a lot of unmet needs in the community.

Were on the cusp of a revolution where I think seniors expectations are changing. Their digital savviness is changing. More and more people are accepting of care being delivered in the home, which I think gives us an extra pair of eyes and ears in terms of what patients have as unmet needs. I think that theres opportunities for us to leverage technology to engage with patients, both in scheduled interactions, but as well as asynchronously through things like remote patient monitoring. SCAN has an incredible opportunity to continue its leadership in the industry around helping seniors live independently.

What attracted you to this endeavor at SCAN? What made you say This is the organization that I want to lead?

We need more health care with heart in the United States. I think over the last several decades weve seen a corporatization of American health care. Ive known SCAN for several years now, and this is an organization thats truly heart-first, and you cant have enough of that. Its the durability of the mission, the passion of the associates, and then frankly, the ambition of the board and the people of SCAN to really make a difference, and extend what we consider our special sauce to new geographies and to new service models. This is not an organization that wants to stand still. Its always been a leader, and I think theres an opportunity to really kind of grow the organization as well as expand and extend the ways in which it reaches people who need services.

What did you learn during your tenure at Aspire and CareMore that will most significantly impact your approach to leadership at SCAN?

I was really fortunate to spend my first year at CareMore working under the tutelage of Leeba Lessin, who had been the president of CareMore for over 10 years, as well as Dr. Sheldon Zinberg, the founder of CareMore. From them, I learned important lessons about how to fundamentally redesign health care delivery.

I think Leeba was a master at putting ourselves in the shoes of the patient and designing around the patient. Then Dr. Zinberg created this incredible culture of challenging the status quo. Those are important lessons Im going to carry with me throughout my career. Theyre very different from a lot of people who say that they do those things. There was an authenticity in the culture that changed me and made me a better leader. Im excited to bring to SCAN a lot of what I learned from them and the incredible colleagues that I had the privilege of working with.

During your career you have overseen some tremendous growth at the companies you have led. Can you speak to some of the strategies you might employ to promote growth at SCAN?

Some of what were going to do at SCAN is expand to new geographies, but I think theres also opportunities for us to enter into new areas of work. SCAN has a long history of partnering with provider groups, across the areas where it works. I think theres opportunities for SCAN to build some of its own provider capabilities in geographies where seniors dont have access to great health care.

I think we have opportunities to build senior-focused digital solutions and technologies.A lot of what comes out of Silicon Valley is not made for aging seniors. We have opportunities to partner with technology companies, as well as to build our own kind of native capabilities in this space.

We have a number of programs that I think have the potential to serve, you know, people who are not just SCAN members.

This is an organization with almost unlimited potential and a history of doing amazing work on behalf of people who need it. Now the opportunity is to do more on behalf of an even greater population.

What do you think needs to change in the larger health care system to better support seniors aging in place?

We need to stop thinking about people as consumers. I think it leads us down a particular path, which is we turn them into shoppers in health care instead of serving them as patients. We have to change our mindset in terms of how we think about what health care means in the lives of the people that we serve.

I think as a society we have to better embrace the fact that not everyone lives forever and that we have opportunities to help people live the last third of their lives gracefully and healthily. We sometimes build systems and clinical programs and clinical protocols with a view to keeping people alive for an unrealistic notion. I think we have an obligation to help people live the last years of their lives gracefully.

During your career, youve had a significant impact on palliative care in the United States. Can you say a little bit about where palliative care fits in at SCAN?

We have a partnership with a home-based palliative care company, and ultimately we believe very strongly in the power of palliative care to improve the quality of life and patient outcomes. I think this is something were going to continue to take a hard look at in terms of opportunities for us to broaden the reach of palliative care, as well as improve the quality of services delivered. I think we have incredible opportunities as a nation to improve symptom management for patients who need it, and this will definitely be an area that we look at closely at SCAN.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) in 2021 will begin a test of hospice coverage through Medicare Advantage. What impact do you think the demonstration project will have on the hospice and palliative care communities?

One of the experiences of seniors who transitioned from traditional Medicare to hospice is that they experienced a significant disjointedness in their care. Were hoping to see through this new demonstration project at CMMI greater seamlessness in the transition of service and a better experience for patients and family members. I think its going to be up to the hospice and palliative care community to execute on this in partnership with traditional providers. I think thats the opportunity of going forward.

Value-based payment models are designed to reduce costs, improve quality and care coordination. Do you think that payment models are the solution we need to achieve those goals?

I think payment models are a definite solution, because they create the foundation for how we deliver organized care. That said, I think theres been inadequate focus on the human element of care delivery and ensuring that we have a health care workforce thats passionate, committed, and concerned about delivering great care to people who need it.

One of the things thats happened during the last 20 years that we often lament is that weve industrialized and corporatized health care to the point where many organizations are more focused on the profit motive than they are the caring motive. I think we have an opportunity over the next several decades to recenter around the caring motive.

We treat the two, sometimes, like theyre in opposition, or as though one motive is kind of superior to the other, with the profit motive oftentimes coming out ahead of the caring motive. We have to kind of redefine the rules for companies who are operating this in this space. We have to ensure that everyone whos delivering patient care is motivated equally by doing right financially and also doing right by patients. I think thats a place where weve kind of gotten a little bit lost.

You mentioned you would like to speak about social justice in health care. What message do you have for your colleagues in the health care space?

I think health care organizations have a special obligation, given their role in society, to promote social justice and racial equity and equality. We all have to take a hard look at ourselves and evaluate how were doing, whether or not disparities exist, both in terms of the quality of the outcomes but also in terms of our reach of service.

We have to look at whether we truly are fulfilling our mission to serve the communities in which we work. I think theres another layer of it, which is ensuring that were creating a socially just and equitable workplace. These are huge priorities for me for SCAN at this moment in time when we do have a renewed dialogue around social justice and racial equality in this country, Its really important for anyone whos in a position of leadership in health care to take that on as an important mandate. Its ensuring that we are treating people equally and that we are giving everyone an opportunity to live their very best lives.

Dr. Jain will be participating in a Fireside Chat at Hospice News upcoming Virtual Summit on Value-Based Care.

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SCAN CEO Sachin Jain: Health Care on the Cusp of a Revolution - Hospice News

As COVID-19 resurges in Ohio, will Akron-area health care providers have the PPE they need? – Akron Beacon Journal

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When the pandemic began to unfold in Ohio and around the globe earlier this year, there was widespread concern about acquiring enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent health care workers and others from becoming infected with COVID-19 and to stop them from passing it on.

Those worries seemed to ease here after Ohioans stayed at home for much of the spring, flattening the pandemic curve.

But now that cases are on the rise again Summit County remains at state Level 3 (red), with very high exposure and spread are area hospitals, health care systems and others still able to buy the N95 masks, gowns and other PPE they need?

The Akron Beacon Journal last week reached out to three local health care systems and Summit County public health officials for an update, asking each the same nine questions about PPE supplies, cost and reuse.

The answers below come from:

Lisa Aurilio, chief operating officer, Akron Childrens Hospital

Steve Abdenour, chief operating officer, Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Dr. Donald Dumford, medical director for infection prevention, Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Chris A. Barker, Summit County Public Healths emergency preparedness/compliance supervisor who also coordinates preparedness for the Northeast Central Ohio Regional Healthcare Coalition (NECO), a collaboration among hospitals and health care systems and their partners in Summit and 13 surrounding counties.

Summa Health did not respond to individual questions, but did provide a general statement about PPE, which follows the questions and answers below.

Q: As COVID-19 cases are again on the rise, how is the supply of PPE in your health system and/or public arena (nursing homes, day care centers, etc.)?

Aurilio: We continue to work on our supply chain and developing a secure, reliable supply chain for our hospital. We are increasing our supply in expectation of surge needs that are typical for the pediatric population in the fall.

Abdenour: At this time, we have sufficient PPE to meet the needs of our caregivers and patients.

Barker: In general, the availability of PPE has improved since the onset of the pandemic, but many private distributors are still providing material based on priority allocations (allocating to critical infrastructure/health care organizations). Requests are either partially filled or fulfilled in full based on the original request. It depends on the product request.

Q: How many weeks of supplies do you have, and are you confident that the supply chain can provide every item you need to maintain adequate supplies of all items at all times?

Aurilio: We have four or more weeks worth. We partnered with several vendors that have shown a reliable source to meet our needs.

Abdenour: We are confident in our supply chain. We dont have a time frame to provide inventory.

Dumford: As a provider who spends about 85 to 90% of [his] time seeing patients in the hospital, I've felt very comfortable in the hospital and confident in how our supply chain is handling the pandemic.

Barker: The volume of resource requests have dropped since the onset of the [pandemic]. This is a positive indicator overall as organizations are procuring PPE through various means. This picture could change, however, based on national and international factors.

Q: Are there any particular items, like N95 masks, in short supply?

Aurilio: We have continued to acquire the PPE needed to safely protect our patients, families, and staff. None of the PPE are in an endless supply, but we review our current and projected use daily/weekly to ensure that our patient/family/staff needs are met.

Abdenour: N95 supplies are sufficient.

Barker: Shortages for specific types of PPE have ebbed and flowed since the onset of the pandemic. Face shields, surgical masks and isolation gowns were some notable products that had been challenging to procure, but coordination with the state and private resource providers has helped address these product gaps. At present, N95s continue to be a challenge when seeking specific makes/models of respirators. Emergency-use respirators are available, but many agencies are seeking specific makes and models of respirators as their staff are "fit tested" on these products. (A "fit test" fits the seal between a respirator face piece and someones face, according to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.)

Q: Has the cost of PPE risen? If so, could you give some examples?

Aurilio: Prices have both decreased and increased depending on the item. For example, early in the pandemic, the cost of N95 was above $5 each. This has come down closer to 90 cents each. However some items, like gowns, have actually gone up from 43 cents to over $2 each.

Abdenour: We are part of the Cleveland Clinic enterprise that handles the sourcing and price negotiations of all products we use, including PPE.

Barker: (Deferred to the hospital officials because they have more experience with direct procurement and purchasing.)

Q: Are any PPE items now or soon to be rationed or limited? Some hospitals, for instance, allow health care workers only one N95 mask per shift. Also, if there are limits, is that entirely due to supply, or is cost a factor, too?

Aurilio: We have continued to use appropriate PPE based on screening questions, clinical symptoms and types of procedures. Currently, no rationing of PPE. Im not sure that I consider one N95 per shift "rationing" per se.

Abdenour: We have put practices in place to help us control the proper use of PPE per CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines in order to be responsible in our consumption.

Dumford: We have strategies to be good stewards of our supplies. This isn't because we're concerned about our supply right now, but because we want to make sure we have supplies three, four or five months from now. This situation is going to go on for a long time and hospitalized COVID-19 patients require a lot of resources, so health care providers everywhere have to do their best to conserve what we have.

Barker: Rationing of PPE is still a factor. Rationing ebbs and flows based on specific products being requested from distributors/vendors. PPE reuse is still in place for certain products [like N95 masks] and follows CDC guidance.

Q: Have you changed suppliers or otherwise changed how you stock/supply PPE since the pandemic began? Has it proved successful?

Aurilio: We have used multiple suppliers, both US and international but we have used only those N95 clinically that meet the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards. Changing suppliers has required us to revisit and update fit testing with the new N95s specifically this has proven to be quite time and labor intensive, but again a process that had to be undertaken due to variability in supply of certain mask types/manufacturers.

Abdenour: We are part of the Cleveland Clinic enterprise that handles the sourcing and distribution of PPE supplies. The system of ordering and allocation has proved successful.

Q: Are you getting any supplies from Ohio and/or U.S. manufacturers who began making PPE only after the pandemic began?

Aurilio: The supply from the Ohio stockpile continues to be limited but we do on occasion get a distribution. Distribution is based on numbers of COVID patients treated. As we have had few pediatric patients admitted to the hospital, we get lower amounts of supplies from the stockpile than other hospitals that have treated more patients. We are now getting our supply of N95s out of Texas, where we previously received these from Asia.

Abdenour: We are working with several Ohio companies that retooled to supply products including gowns, face shields and cloth masks.

Barker: Yes, the state is providing material through the Ohio Department of Health. I cant speak as to how the material is procured at the state or federal level, but the products are provided through various manufacturers, including organizations which transitioned into PPE production.

Q: Early on in the pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine praised Battelle machines that sterilize N95 masks for reuse. Has your hospital/health system used this (or similar) technology to reuse any of its PPE? And are you confident this technology and/or system (labeling masks, etc.) works?

Aurilio: We have resterilized through Battelle but have set those aside and have not reused. We would use if we have no other choice.

Abdenour: Cleveland Clinic created its own vapor phase hydrogen peroxide system (which would be similar to the Battelle device) to sterilize appropriate PPE. Used products are collected weekly for this purpose.

Barker: Summit County Public Health provided organizations with information regarding Battelle. We use them internally for N95 [mask] cleaning.

Q: What does the public need to know about PPE at this stage of the pandemic crisis?

Aurilio: COVID-19 has continued to be a disease that predominantly affects adults so the frequency of COVID in our patients continues to be quite low, with even fewer that require hospitalization. That said, we have continued to acquire the PPE needed to safely protect our patients, families, and staff in case parents/family members/caregivers are symptomatic and to protect against asymptomatic COVID infections in our patients or family. None of the PPE are in an endless supply, but we review our current and projected use daily/weekly to ensure that our patient/family/staff needs are met.

Dumford: They should know that were feeling safe in the hospital. PPE is there to protect health care workers from getting infected and subsequently to protect our patients, colleagues, friends and family from getting exposed to us. As someone who spends nearly all his time seeing patients in the hospital, I have felt very safe. The public should remember, too, that PPE should be for reserved for front-line health care workers. I encourage you all to save N95s and surgical masks for the nurses, nurses assistants and doctors who are working with COVID-19 patients. For the general public, the most important preventive measures are social distancing, masking in public places and good hand hygiene.

Barker: PPE is still a concern and organizations should be closely monitoring PPE needs and resources as this crisis has not ended.

Summa Healths response to questions: Summa Health has and will continue to provide PPE for employees. Depending on the level of patient interaction, this may include cloth masks, N95 masks, goggles, shields and gowns. We monitor our supplies daily and should PPE supplies become limited, we will work with our county and state health care partners and continue following CDC guidelines to keep our employees, patients and visitors safe. Throughout the pandemic, Summa Health has received generous PPE donations from local businesses and community members and we are thankful for their support.

Reporter Amanda Garrett can be reached at agarrett@thebeaconjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @agarrettABJ.

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As COVID-19 resurges in Ohio, will Akron-area health care providers have the PPE they need? - Akron Beacon Journal

We need action on health care | News, Sports, Jobs – Lock Haven Express

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On June 26, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Ripping away the ACAs coverage and consumer protections without a replacement plan is irresponsible.

Overturning the ACA would eliminate health insurance for more than 20 million Americans, including more than 46,000 Pennsylvanians in the 12th District. In addition to lost coverage, all Americans would lose specific protections provided by the ACA.

These lost protections include coverage for preexisting conditions, a ban on lifetime limits on coverage, free preventative healthcare and inclusion of mental health coverage in insurance plans.

Overturning the ACA would also exacerbate social inequities by giving large tax cuts to very rich, predominantly white, households ($198,000 a year for those with incomes over $3 million a year and $42,000 a year for those with incomes over $1 million a year) while lower income communities and communities of color would disproportionately lose health coverage.

Congress needs to act to protect the American people. Instead of dividing Americans into two camps Defend the ACA vs Eliminate the ACA our leaders should be taking significant action.

The consumer protections in the ACA should be proposed as single issue bills. Legislators should vote yes or no on things like protecting those with preexisting medical conditions.

Ways to address inequities in healthcare access and pricing should be discussed. Action needs to be taken. The recent court decision requiring price disclosure by hospitals and insurance companies is a step toward reigning in cost, but much more needs to be done.

Making healthcare accessible to millions of Americans who cant afford it in the absence of the ACA should be a priority. Regardless of the courts potential ruling, we need action. We need change.

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We need action on health care | News, Sports, Jobs - Lock Haven Express

Nikki McGruder named MU Health Care director of diversity and inclusion – Columbia Missourian

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Nikki McGruder, director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, will become the director of diversity and inclusion for MU Health Care on Aug 10.

MU Health Care added this new position recently, according to a press release from MU Health Care.

McGruder is expected to move forward MU Health Cares efforts on diversity, which is considered an integral aspect of the health systems culture, according to the release.

MU Health Care is committed to developing a culture of inclusion, and some progress has been made in the past two years, said Jonathan Curtright, chief executive officer of MU Health Care.

"Nikki will help us further our goal of creating a workforce where each person feels welcomed, respected, included, valued and with opportunities to be successful," Curtright said.

McGruder has been devoted to making the Columbia community more diverse and inclusive for years.

McGruder worked for the Columbia branch of the Diversity Awareness Partnership as the regional manager for more than three years. In 2018, she started her career as the director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, which aims to create "diverse and inclusive communities through collaboration, education and engagement," according to the release.

"Its clear to me that MU Health Care is passionate about having a diverse and welcoming environment for patients and employees alike," McGruder said. "I am excited to continue my efforts to bring inclusivity to our community as a member of MU Health Care."

"I am excited to lead these efforts for a world-class health system while working alongside like-minded colleagues at MU Health Care and the MU School of Medicine," she said.

McGruder studied at Webster University in St. Louis with a masters degree in human resources development and received a bachelors degree in business from Columbia College.

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Nikki McGruder named MU Health Care director of diversity and inclusion - Columbia Missourian

Meet Thryve: The Future Of Personalized Beauty, Healthcare And Body Awareness – Forbes

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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A model, beauty detail, walks the runway during the Chanel show as part ... [+] of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)

I believe wholeheartedly that now matter how successful you are, borders on how well you live your life. These days, and for good reason, the fashion world has a strong focus on beauty, healthy and wellness. If applied in a balanced format, all three will live in harmony.

Lets face it, living well makes you feel stronger and more confident. When you feel confident, you have more stamina at work. People are attracted to beauty, health and positive people. Revlon understands that natural looking make-up looks radiant on healthy skin and healthy skin comes from within.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actress Jennifer Hudson arrives at Revlon's Annual Philanthropic ... [+] Luncheon at Chateau Marmont on September 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

In early 2020, mankind awakened to the sounding bell of a global pandemic Since then, beauty, health and body awareness has come to the forefront of consumer awareness. Now, more than ever, consumers are focused on looking healthy, well-dressed and displaying a strong positive attitude. Moreover, during these trying times, beauty and health allow people the ability to face the world and tackle daily problems.By choosing a healthy lifestyle, vitality, vibrancy, and vigor soon unfold and come into play to help you reach the greatest potential. This is the look of the season. Fashion, beauty and overall well-being is the new key to dressing for corporate ascension.

As I started to conduct this feature, I stumbled upon endless brands to research. Chanel, Revlon and Lancme are just a few global beauty and health brands that have been conducting in-depth research into this well-being sector of the celebrity and fashion industry.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: Gigi Gorgeous attends Vanity Fair and Lancme Toast Women in ... [+] Hollywood on February 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

Despite the enormous amount of attention and dedication to the subject, mankind still has a lot to learn. Just this week, I watched the Netflix show titled Down-To -Earth featuring celebrity host Zac Efron. Upon watching the documentary, it clearly demonstrates with laser focus the importance of food, water and energy to sustain the planet. As I watched the show, I became absorbed in learning how good living is imperative in looking good and feeling productive.

Change is from the inside and maybe at this point in time, we all have to change. Tracking down Richard Lin, the co-founder and CEO of Thryve was not an easy task but it was most certainly worth the effort. My session with him was quite revealing. He believes through his beauty, health and well-being analysis that he can ensure a better path to life and a positive way to look good and feel greatespecially with respect to corporate ascension.

Launched in 2016, Thryve is focused on ensuring the availability of subscription-based customized testing of the microbiome with a personalized probiotic that any individual can use to have actionable insight into their health status and the prevention of chronic diseases. What is Thryve all about? Who is Richard Lin?

During COVID-19, I couldnt have wished for a more opportune time than this to discuss beauty and health with him. A time the world is engulfed in the distress of COVID-19 and people have faced one form of a lockdown or the other. People still want to look and feel good. Moisturizers, face-creams, vitamins are all part of a healthy regime. I cannot bypass the opportunity of bringing the good news of how your gut can be involved in creating a better version and a more successful you to your way at this time you may be embroiled with the ugly situation COVID-19 has brought on us.

The brand has it as a mission to empower you to take charge of your Health so you can feel your greatest. With a quality resource team, Thryve has been able to utilize artificial intelligence (natural language processing and machine learning) in order to summarize 50,000+ research articles on the microbiome to make the science accessible and easy-to-understand.

Richard Lin

JD: Who are you and what inspired you to start Thryve?

Richard Lin: About 4 years ago, I took antibiotics and came down with a nasty superbug called Clostridium Difficile. I had gone to multiple different doctors only to have my symptoms dismissed because I was too young and healthy looking to be sick. Through this process, I started reading scientific literature and engaging with other folks with chronic disease in Facebook Groups and Online Forums. Through my research, I asked my fourth doctor to get a DNA test to check for overgrowth of Clostridium Difficile which came back positive. I had that treated through more antibiotics and eventually a fecal transplant which resolved my symptoms.

In going through this journey, I realized that most consumers did not have a good idea what a microbiome is, why their microbiome matters, and ultimately what they can do to change it to improve their health. Thats why I started Thryve. The microbiome are the trillions of bacteria, yeast, and viruses that reside in our gut, skin, mouth, and more that science has shown to be correlated to many of the chronic and modern diseases we see in the west.

My background was in software and data science at large fortune 500 companies like SAP and startups like Deliv (acquired by Target), so I utilized these skills to bring together a scientific team that could get a product to market that was affordable and accessible for everyday consumers.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 07: Actress Halle Berry attends the 18th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women ... [+] on May 7, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

JD: Beauty enthusiasts would like to know if probiotics are any good for them, what are the skincare benefits of using probiotics?

Kimberly Griffith MS Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine and Thryves Clinical Researcher Partner: The concept of beauty from within is highly supported by the gut-skin axis. Probiotics encourage a healthy and balanced gut microflora that directly impacts skin health by reducing inflammation, preventing pathogenic growth, and increasing skin hydration and strength. Specifically, clinical evidence presents the positive role that probiotics provide in preventing and managing chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, wound healing, and dandruff. However, the positive effects of probiotics are not limited to chronic skin conditions, probiotics have shown to combat accelerated skin aging and assist in the prevention of premature aging. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology confirmed the anti-aging benefits exerted by probiotics which resulted in improved skin elasticity, decreased wrinkle depth, skin gloss, and increased skin hydration. The growing body of clinical evidence continues to support the beneficial role probiotics play in managing and maintaining overall skin health.

Specialized Probiotics for beauty and health

JD: Talk to Forbes about your companys History, Development, and Projection.

Richard Lin: Thryves origin story is like any tech darling. We started out in the kitchen and slowly expanded to our own facilities over the course of 3 years. Weve raised from venture-capitalist and strategic venture arms such as Unilever Ventures, PivotNorth Capital, TrailMix Ventures, Darling Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, Unpopular Ventures, Joyance Partners, Social Starts, Shanda Group, Pharmapacks, and Bioverge

Our product which includes a microbiome DNA test, digital app (health report, customized food plan), and personalized probiotics is the worlds first customized solution to target gut health. Weve utilized artificial intelligence (natural language processing and machine learning) in order to summarize 50,000+ research articles on the microbiome to make the science accessible and easy-to-understand. Weve done this with the help of our scientific advisor board from the likes of MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Purdue, and UC Davis.

The future of healthcare which I like to call going from health 1.0 (reactive) to health 2.0 (predictive, personalized, and preventative) will be realized by using omics / DNA in order to prevent chronic disease from happening in the future.

Our goal going into 2021 and 2022 is to offer multiple site-wide microbiome testing (vaginal, infant/child, skin, oral) and build the omics platform as a service with genomics (human DNA) and exposomics (environmental toxins).

Pic Thryve COURTESY OF Thryve

JD: Why do you think people should consider using probiotics?

Richard Lin: Science has shown that probiotics when taken in adequate amounts can have far reaching health benefits such as positively affecting gut related infections and diseases, food and environmental allergies and intolerances, immune support, intestinal barrier strength, microbial imbalances, skin related issues, hypercholesterolemia, anxiety and depression, and weight management.

A recent article reviewing probiotics in treatment and disease prevention in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, stated Few treatments for human diseases have received as much investigation in the past 20 years as probiotics. Additionally, they concluded when given in adequate quantities for sufficient periods of time, are beneficial in many human disease conditions and safer than most pharmaceuticals. (Liu, et al., 2018)

As stated by Sarah Daniels Ph.D., Lead Research Scientist at Thryve: A clinical review published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, confirmed the efficacy and beneficial effects of Saccharomyces boulardii as a probiotic for the therapy and prevention of disorders within the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus CL 1285, L. casei Lbc80r, L. rhamnosus CLR2 alongside Saccharomyces boulardii I-745 and L. casei DN114001 have shown effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. (Sniffen, et al., 2018). Probiotic efficacy is not limited to the gut. A recent study published within Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, presented evidence suggesting the therapeutic role of a probiotic such as Lactobacillus casei 01 positively affecting weight management and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. (Khalili, et al., 2019)

That said, probiotics would be a shot in the dark if purchasing from your local grocery store. A couple of items to consider

1) what strains are in the probiotics, this will determine the actual health benefits

2) total amount of CFUs (Colony Forming Units), which determines the potency

3) prebiotic additives, which are indigestible fibers or sugars that feed probiotics to help them proliferate and growth for added benefits

4) source of ingredients, most probiotics need to be refrigerated or they expire. Although your store bought variety may be in the refrigerated aisle, it may been delivered in a high temperature storage facility like a truck or warehouse

Beauty starts with good skin

JD: What differentiates Thryve from every other probiotic company out there?

Richard Lin: 3 things:

Natural/Beauty Skin: Model With Probiotic

JD: What are some changes your company is making and how are you happy about those changes?

Richard Lin: The first 2 years in Thryve, I had never truly focused on culture. More specifically, what are the values of our business and who do we want to hire that upholds these same values. When I first started the company, I hired folks who looked great on paper, but just weren't a good fit with the culture I had internally thought about, but never externally expressed in voice or writing.

Over the course of 2020, Ive been highly vocal on our company values (growth mindset, clear accountability, customer obsession, and speed as a habit) and put into the process to continue to remind our team why we do what we do. I believe this is such an important change in any company, since companies are made up of people and the goal is to have everyone rowing in the same direction (mission).

More specifically, we enacted these changes from the start of the hiring process. When we interview candidates for new positions we hone in on our core values to ensure everyone we bring on is a good fit for our culture. Post-hiring, we set up bi-monthly performance reviews with quantitative and qualitative bi-directional (managers to employees and vice versa) feedback around these values to review where weve done well and where we need to improve. This has built a great feedback loop and positive camaraderie between the team.

JD: Do you think probiotics are any good for weight loss or weight gain?

Sarah Daniels Ph.D. and Thryves Lead Research Scientist:

Recently, the relationship between probiotics and weight change has been of great interest. Seminal work in this field has demonstrated that obese and non-obese gut microbiome profiles differ in both animal models and in humans. Given the current obesity epidemic, many studies have focused on the effects of probiotics on weight loss. However, a probiotic supplement alone may not confer full reversal of obesity. Previous research examining the direct effects of probiotics on weight loss has shown mixed results. These studies cannot always be compared side-by-side as participant demographics (e.g., age, baseline weight) and the probiotics tested vary from study to study. Overall, this field is in its infancy stages. More human studies using large sample sizes, rigorous randomized control trials, and multi-pronged approaches (i.e., incorporating diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes) will help determine whether probiotics play a role in weight change.

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Meet Thryve: The Future Of Personalized Beauty, Healthcare And Body Awareness - Forbes

Molina Healthcare to buy Passport Health Plan, saving jobs and hope for west Louisville headquarters – HealthLeaders Media

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Most Popular #1Fact check: Hospitals get paid more if patients listed as COVID-19, on ventilators

Sen. Scott Jensen, R-Minn., a physician in Minnesota, was interviewed by "The Ingraham Angle" host Laura Ingraham on April 8 on Fox News and claimed hospitals get paid more if Medicare patients are...

Confusion about lethality comparisons may be owing to "a knowledge gap" in how the CDC reports on seasonal influenza and COVID-19....

Healthcare created 346,000 new jobs in 2018, up from 284,000 jobs in 2017. The 2018 figures include 219,000 jobs in ambulatory services and 107,000 hospital jobs....

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provides life support for coronavirus patients suffering respiratory failure....

A team of Canadian scientists believes it has found strong strains of cannabis that could help prevent and then treat coronavirus infections, according to interviews and a study.

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Molina Healthcare to buy Passport Health Plan, saving jobs and hope for west Louisville headquarters - HealthLeaders Media

Addressing racism in healthcare requires accepting responsibility – ModernHealthcare.com

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We are all feeling many strong emotions in response to the recent death of George Floyd, the civil unrest, and the long-standing institutional racism and injustices in health, education, housing and wealth that are more exposed than ever.

As an expert in improving patient safety and health system performance, I believe the way we respond to harmful medical errors can offer insights into how we can make progress with racism. When clinicians harm a patient, the response can be shame, guilt or love. With shame, we feel, I am a bad person. Shame makes us small and stalls progress in preventing harm in the future. With guilt, we feel, I did a bad thing. Guilt turns us inward, narrowing the focus of potential solutions. Love allows the person to both be accountable and to work with others to reduce the risk that the event happens again.

A love response requires three things: An apology and acceptance of responsibility; a transparent disclosure of what happened; and a commitment to make amends and work with others to ensure the mistake does not happen again. Conversations about race might be more productive if approached the same three ways.

Furthermore, there are two types of apologies a clinician can make after harming a patient: an apology of acknowledgment and an apology of responsibility. An apology of acknowledgment states, I am sorry you were harmed. An apology of responsibility states, I am sorry that I harmed you.

Apologies of acknowledgment do little to heal or build trust. Apologies of responsibility are a potent pill that helps heal and builds trust.

Many are asking what will work in addressing institutional racism and systemic inequities in power, health, wealth and education. In my opinion, we need to build trust, which can start with whites publicly apologizing for their contributions to racismwhether intentional or not.

Most of the public discourse has been apologies of acknowledgment that infer, I am sorry you suffer from racism. Few individuals have made apologies of responsibility. As a white man of privilege, I would like to start the process by apologizing for contributing to racism and the inequities and injustices that result. As a society, we need to begin with an apology of responsibility followed by a transparent accounting of our history of racism and a commitment to work together for change.

I call these conversations of love, because love empowers apologies of responsibility. Love can provide empathy for all, recognizing that the vast majority of people are loving and all of us want to be loved. Love can house the strong feelings that will emerge, so we can really hear and seek to understand each other.

These conversations can take place in communities where we work, worship, live, learn, congregate and collaborate. They can be jointly hosted by persons of color and a white person. To work, they need to occur with the uplifting and connecting energy of love. While they are not easy conversations to have, they will begin the healing process and will continue to grow in number. Along the way, we learn what works to make things substantively better, and we do what works.

Change progresses at the speed of trust. Trust between communities of color and white people is terribly broken. But it can be mended. Our country and our communities are ready for change. An Aspen Ideas report on education reform concluded that in any collective human endeavor there comes a moment; a moment when we know so much more about what to do; a moment when collective voices align around a common purpose; a moment when we can make the possible real. For ending racism in America, that moment is now. Words are not enough; they do not substitute for action. We need action.

So let us start conversations of love. Let us create safe spaces for all and make an apology of responsibility. Let us acknowledge and mourn our history of racism, let us draw hope from the strengths in our communities, and walk together toward a better tomorrow.

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Addressing racism in healthcare requires accepting responsibility - ModernHealthcare.com

Healthcare workers among the many who are writing up a will because of the pandemic – KSN-TV

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)-Attornies are seeing a rise in the number of people drafting up wills, many being frontline workers.

It made it really clear that this could happen to any of us, said Post Rock Family Medicine Physician Dr. Beth Oller.

With four young kids and a two-physician household, Doctor Beth Oller said writing up a will was something she needed to do.

Coronavirus really brought it into perspective of how important it was to do this sooner rather than later, said Oller.

Oller said she and her husband wanted to have a plan for their kids in case they were to get the virus working on the frontline.

She isnt the only one that has this on her mind, Attorneys who focus on estate planning said theyre seeing a surge in inquiries.

A lot of healthcare workers calling obviously being on the frontlines have an even increased concern of the virus and wanting to make sure that things are set, said Morris and Laing Law Partner and Attorney Shannon Braun.

Braun has worked with many healthcare workers and she said even her longtime clients are finalizing their wills.

It makes us think about planning for those things that a lot of times we dont want to think about or we do put off, said Braun.

Oller said while its the worst case scenario, ensuring her family is taken care of is her priority.

Its not always a comfortable conversation to have, however, this is a really perfect time as it brings these concerns and realities of life to the forefront, said Oller.

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Healthcare workers among the many who are writing up a will because of the pandemic - KSN-TV

OPINION EXCHANGE | Reimagination of public safety should start with this principle – Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Dr. Gary Slutkin, a public health epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, noticed something unexpected while conducting research: Violence spreads between community and family members like a disease.

In addition to gun violence spreading through retaliatory violence, public health experts have found that other kinds of violence also share the devastating effects of disease. For instance, communities subjected to state-led political violence such as genocide were more prone to intimate-partner violence. A deep interconnection between child abuse and community violence has also been uncovered. This theory of violence as a disease became the underlying principle of Slutkins violence interruption program, CeaseFire (now known as Cure Violence). This program has been replicated around the world and is lauded as best practice in stopping the deadly disease of violence from spreading.

With coronavirus wreaking havoc on our country, we are seeing in real time the consequences of not listening to public health experts. They have deemed violence an infectious disease. Its time we as a city start treating it like one.

Communities like mine in north Minneapolis are tragically familiar with violence in its many forms, ranging from gang shootings to intimate-partner homicides. Guns have become the immediate go-to for conflict resolution. Traumatized children who witness family violence often go on to become victims and perpetrators of violence themselves. Our experience on the North Side, however, is not unique. Violence is up across our city. It is intolerable, and we cannot accept it as just a fact of life when there are proven methods to break the cycle.

Like other infectious diseases, violence can be prevented, treated and quarantined in extreme circumstances. Also like other infectious diseases, violence can be eradicated.

To live in a city in which violence is no longer a daily occurrence looks like every single person having their needs met: stable housing, economic opportunities that allow them to thrive rather than just survive, and accessible mental and chemical health services. In a safe and healthy city, every resident has a pathway to achieving their self-defined greatness.

Neighborhoods thrive because they are filled with wealth-building opportunities in homeownership and entrepreneurship. Neighbors are connected to and look out for one another. A communitys fabric is tightly woven into a tapestry of strengths, culture and compassion.

This is not an imaginary utopia. This can be our real future in Minneapolis with the right investments, mind-set and policies.

As we reimagine public safety as a city, we must build its foundation on the public health approach if we are to break out of the cycle of violence. Another way of thinking about it is the four phases in the cycle of someones involvement with crime and the criminal-justice system: prevention, intervention, enforcement and re-entry after incarceration.

Governments across the country, like Minneapolis, have continued to heavily invest in enforcement, particularly policing, while simultaneously divesting from proven prevention, intervention and re-entry strategies. We have asked police to be responsible for and hide all of our social ills. With the results we are living with now, we can clearly see this approach has failed. Reimagining public safety calls upon us to right-size enforcements role in this cycle, allow police officers to focus on what they have been trained to do, and expand evidence-based investments in the other phases. This comprehensive approach is a pathway for us to cultivate safe, healthy communities.

We are far from starting from scratch with building new systems of community safety here in Minneapolis. We already employ a model similar to Slutkins: our group-violence intervention strategy called Project Life. It lives within the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), a division within the Citys Public Health Department. The OVP is a small but mighty office that leads the citys public health approach to public safety efforts including Project Life, a hospital-based bedside intervention for victims of violent injuries, and myriad youth-violence prevention programs. There are also other strategies used throughout the city, such as a pre-job training program called Journey Forward and a domestic-violence program in Minneapolis Animal Care and Control to protect pets from violent family members.

The incredible city staff and community members leading these efforts are making real, sustained change in the lives of the residents they serve. But they cannot make the kind of population-level impact we all want to see, because they do not have the resources to do so. Reimagining public safety in our city means we must take responsibility to scale up what is working, find out where there are gaps, and creatively solve those problems together.

When it comes to curing violence in our city, we all play a role. We all have a responsibility and stake in this challenging, life or death work. In the months ahead, the city and our community partners will be leading deep community engagement to co-create new systems of community safety alongside residents like you. Now is the time to roll up your sleeves and join us in this work. It wont be easy; then again, eradicating a disease never is. We can do it, but only together. So lets get to work, Minneapolis.

Phillipe Cunningham is the Minneapolis City Council member representing the Fourth Ward. He is the lead council member for the citys Future of Community Safety Workgroup and authored the ordinance creating the Office of Violence Prevention in 2018.

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OPINION EXCHANGE | Reimagination of public safety should start with this principle - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Comic-Con 2020: Before Amazon Prime’s remake of ‘Utopia’, here’s what happened to David Fincher’s 2014 version – MEAWW

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As [emailprotected] draws nearer, fans are looking forward to news about Amazon Prime's 'Utopia' panel on July 23. The remake of the controversial cult classic will see the British series gain a high-budget American remake. However, this is not the first time the series was up for renewal. In 2014, just as Channel 4 was canceling 'Utopia', HBO announced that director David Fincher would be helming an all-new remake. So what happened?

'Utopia' tells the story of a deep, worldwide conspiracy that appears to be predicted by a comic book known as 'The Utopia Experiments'. A group of fan theorists online find the manuscript for the comic and become an immediate target for shadowy agents seeking to bury the conspiracy at all costs. The series quickly won acclaim for how dark, subversive and mind-bending its plot got. However, despite the critical acclaim it received, Channel 4 canceled the series after two seasons.

Around the same time, it was announced that David Fincher would be directing an American remake. However, the project soon fell apart due to budgetary concerns. According to Fincher, in an interview on the Empire podcast, $9 million would have made all the difference. "I thought we had really, really good scripts and a great cast and we were getting ready to do that and you know it came down to $9 million," he said. "In the end, when you actually kind of lay it all out, $9 million in the scheme of things doesnt sound like a huge discrepancy between what we wanted to do and what they wanted to pay for."

Fincher, having just come off the commercial and critical hit 'Gone Girl' had ambitious plans for the project, wanting to "sort of rival tentpole movies." One of the reasons that the budget was so high was that Fincher wanted to shoot the entire series in chronological order. "Gillian Flynn wrote the scripts and you know it's a road movie," he said. Fincher had worked with Gillian Flynn previously, who had written both 'Gone Girl' as a novel and as the film adaptation.

"They go from one place to the next place, they burn that place to the ground, they go to the next place and they shave their heads and dye their hair and get tattoos and then burn that place to the ground. It wasnt 'Cheers'. It wasn't like you build a bar and then generate some pages and the cast comes in and reads some lines." "This was inherently chronological," Fincher continued. "Any time that you sort of impose a chronology to film production things become because you literally cant go to the next scene until you finish the scene in the kitchen that burns to the ground. You have to make sure you have it done, then you can burn it to the ground."

It's been six years since all hope for a new 'Utopia' series appeared to have been lost, but the new Amazon Prime remake appears to be bringing the defunct project to life. The show will be helmed by Gillian Flynn herself and David Fincher will be serving as executive producer.The [emailprotected] Panel on 'Utopia' will be held on July 23. You can get additional details here.

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Comic-Con 2020: Before Amazon Prime's remake of 'Utopia', here's what happened to David Fincher's 2014 version - MEAWW

Why We Need Dystopian Fiction Now More Than Ever – Slate Magazine

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A New York City Police Department officer during a protest against police violence, July 15, 2020Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images

On Tuesday, July 21, at 4 p.m. Eastern, P.W. Singer, co-author of the new book Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution, and Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series and Chosen Ones, will join June Thomas, senior managing producer for Slate podcasts, to discuss the role of speculative fiction in the real world. RSVP here.

It hits you every so often.

When you when you tug on a face mask to go pick up food for your family.

When you witness the powerless suffer casual violence by a man with a sneer.

When you see riot police surround the Lincoln Memorial and protesters snatched off the streets by masked soldiers in unmarked cars.

And when you realize that it is all being watched by an unblinking eye of A.I. surveillance.

At times, it feels like we are living in a real-world version of dystopia. The strange outcome, though, is that it means we need dystopian fiction now more than ever, to help us sort and even make it through it.

Youd think with everything going on, now would be the last time to escape to a world of darkness. And yet books, including those of awful imagined worlds, are in deep demand.Some of it has been a return to old classics. In a period of disease and lockdowns lasting for weeks, booksellers report the seeming irony that Albert Camus The Plague and Gabriel Garca Mrquezs One Hundred Years of Solitudehave seen renewed demand. And some of it has been escaping into new worlds, as with Divergent author Veronica Roth taking readers into another post-apocalypse with her new novel Chosen Ones. People have even been willing to enter imagined worlds that seem not too far away, such as Lawrence Wrights best-selling pandemic thriller The End of October.

Yet the value of the genre is as much in education as entertainment. It can elucidate dangers, serving the role of warning and even preparation. Think of the recent resonance of Margaret Atwoods 1985 Handmaids Tale and its 2020 sequel The Testaments or the revival of interest in It Cant Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis in 1935. These are finely written works, not as indulgences, but as a pure expression of the idea that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Even Susan Collins Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, might be interpreted in that light, showing how authoritarian rule can originate through the manipulations of an ambitious striver.

Our personal corner of this dark market is the meld of imagination with research. For our book Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution, we chose the setting of not a far-off imagined world like Panem or Gilead, but Washington, D.C., just around the corner. What happens as Silicon Valleys visions of utopia hits our real, and very divided, country? What plays out in politics, business, and even family life as our economy is rewired by AI and automation? Yet to make our scenario more haunting, we back up everything that happens in it with 27 pages of endnotes.

When the scarier elements from an imagined world come to life in the real one, however, there is no gleeful I told you so. When the novel coronavirus accelerated the more widespread roll out of the robots, remote work, job automation, and AI surveillance projected in our book, we certainly werent happy. All it meant was that all the tough dilemmas that our characters face would come quicker for all of us. What was perhaps most disturbing of the last few weeks, though, were when some of the most dystopian scenes we had painted of a future Washington, D.C., also came true, from our books scene of riot police deployed around the Lincoln Memorial to the militarized fence thrown up around the White House being put exactly where we had it in Burn-In.

Yet what makes dystopian fiction different is that its creators are oddly optimists at heart, as we are. These works are not about prediction, but prevention. The stories warn of just how far things can go if action isnt taken, wrapped in a package that is far more impactful than a white paper or PowerPoint. Indeed, research shows that narrative, the oldest communication technology of all, holds more sway over both the public and policymakers than even the most canonical academic sources. Our minds cant help but connect to the synthetic environment that our fictional heroes and villains experience, living part of our lives through theirs, even if imagined.

Most importantly, though, the dark worlds are only the setting. The stories are really about the agency of the people in them. And that is perhaps the true value of the dystopian fiction. These stories are not about what those characters experience so much as how they act. At the heart of every story of darkness is a story of perseverance.

As we face our own difficult journeys through the reality of 2020, it is perhaps that lesson which is most important of all.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

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Why We Need Dystopian Fiction Now More Than Ever - Slate Magazine

Every New Release Coming to Disney+ in August: "The One and Only Ivan," "Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe"…

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The dog days of summer are upon us, so why not spend some time with Snoopy? Or Perry the Platypus? Or maybe The One and Only Ivan? You can even flash back to the far off past of 2019, and get a sneak preview of a little theme park land called Star Wars: Galaxys Edge? You can do all that and more this August on Disney+. Of course, if youre looking for some fun this month, be sure to check out our new release list for July!

Hidden Kingdoms of China

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Star Wars Galaxys Edge: Adventure Awaits

The Peanuts Movie

UFO Europe: The Untold Stories (S1)

X-Men

HowardPremiereDirected by Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast), Howard is the untold story of Howard Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind Disney classics like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and creator of musicals including Little Shop of Horrors. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, personal films and photographs, as well as interviews with Howards friends and family, the film is an intimate look at the Disney Legends life, his creative drive, and the process behind the music. Spanning his childhood in Baltimore, to his formative years in New York, and his untimely death due to AIDS, Howard goes in-depth to explore his journey to become the lyricist behind some of the most beloved and well-known classic family films in the world.

Muppets NowEpisode 102 Fever PitchFozzie Bear has some big ideas for Muppets Now, and theres no time like the deadline to start pitching! Hes found a very tough audience in Scooter, who just wants to finish uploading the latest delivery. We see the very first episode of a game show that Pepe The King Prawn totally just made up. The Swedish Chef tries to cook a better mol sauce than his competitor, Danny Trejo. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew has replaced Beaker with a new smart assistant, and things get fired up. Miss Piggy and her guests, Taye Diggs and Linda Cardellini, show viewers how to work it out when they share the secret to staying healthy.

One Day At DisneyEpisode 136 Ryan Meinerding: Marvel Studios Creative DirectorCreative Director Ryan Meinerding brings Marvel characters to life through innovative design every day. Theres never a dull moment as Ryan creates the first looks of characters for Marvel Studios films including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America and more. From initial sketches to special effects, Ryan oversees the process of bringing the next iteration of iconic characters to the screen.

Disney Family SundaysSeries FinaleEpisode 140 Goofy: Pencil CupWho says you cant be Goofy and organized at the same time? Not Amber or the Gubaney family, who connect to work on a Goofy-inspired craft. She will show them how to turn a simple item from the cupboard into a fun organizational tool thats sure to stand out. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge of all may be figuring out which Gubaney is the Goofiest!

Pixar In Real LifeEpisode 110 WALLE: BnL Pop-up ShopWhen Buy N Large opens its first store in New York City, hungry customers get a taste of the future.

Alaska Animal Rescue (S1)

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Indias Wild Leopards

Jungle Animal Rescue (S1)

Nature Boom Time (S1)

Sams Zookeeper Challenge (S1)

Scuba Sams World (S1)

Spaced Out (S1)

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The One and Only IvanPremiereAn adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, DisneysThe One and Only Ivan is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be. The heartwarming adventure, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegates bestselling book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.

Muppets NowEpisode 103 Getting TestyJoe, the new legal counsel for The Muppets, interrupts the scheduled delivery of Muppets Now to announce that all streaming content must be vetted by a focus group. Things go from bad to worse when Scooter meets up with the assigned test audience curmudgeonly critics Statler & Waldorf. The Swedish Chef collaborates with Chef Roy Choi as the two try to make a one-of-kind kalbi bowl. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, enlist a Pizza Delivery Person (Al Madrigal) to explore velocity. Miss Piggy and her guests, Linda Cardellini and Taye Diggs, dig deep into the workings of a healthy relationship. Pepe The King Prawns unbelievable game show features new contestants, new challenges, new rules, and no planning at all.

Magic CampPremiereA group of misfit campers help a down-on-his-luck magician rediscover his love of magic in Disneys Magic Camp, a heartwarming comedy about finding joy and confidence in self-acceptance.

One Day at DisneyEpisode 137 Pavan Komkai: Broadcast EngineerManager of Broadcast Engineering at Disney Streaming Services, Pavan Billy Komkai explains the unique process of broadcasting live sports on ESPN+ for fans around the world. No matter the time of day or the location of the event, Disneys Streaming Services team provides viewers with high quality coverage of diverse sporting events every day.

Weird But True!Season PremiereEpisode 301- DinosaursDid you know there are more stars in the universe, than grains of sand on the whole planet?! So weird! National Geographics newest season of Weird But True! on Disney+ gets even weirder! Childrens entertainers and educators Charlie Engelman and Carly Ciarrocchi host the third season of the Emmy Award-winning series, and this time, theyre embarking on even more imaginative and strange adventures to reveal surprising and interesting facts about the world. Set both in studio and in the field, the award-winning Weird But True! integrates a mix of arts and crafts, unbelievable facts and real-life exploration. This 13-episode season includes weekly guest appearances from renowned astrophysicist Michio Kaku and Nat Geo Photographers and Explorers, including Anand Varma, and professor and founder of SciStarter Darlene Cavalier. Whether hunting for dinosaur fossils, hiking volcanoes or flying planes, the science-loving duo Charlie and Carly inspires kids to get excited about the world around them.

Hosts Charlie Engelman and Carly Ciarrocchi dont have tickets to their favorite actress movie premiere, but somehow their friends do. Charlie and Carlys quest to get to the Alabama Cones premiere takes them on a fascinating journey to Dinosaur National Monument. There, they hatch a plan with a paleontologist to dig up the dough.

Back to the Titanic

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

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Muppets NowEpisode 104 Sleep ModeScooter wakes up in horror to discover his all-nighters have finally gotten the best of him, and he has only 30 minutes to upload Muppets Now. With the clock ticking and his eyelids drooping, Scooter enlists Animal to help him stay awake. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, conduct a series of vibrational experiments with the help of a lonely, outdated computer. The Swedish Chef uncovers the secrets of Spaghetti Carbonara when staring down his competitor, Giuseppe Losavio. Miss Piggy sits down with Aubrey Plaza to conduct a fabulous one-on-one interview. Later, she looks out for number one as she focuses on self-care with guests Linda Cardellini and Taye Diggs.

One Day At DisneyEpisode 138 Heather Bartleson: Holiday ServicesAs Senior Facilities Coordinator for Holiday Services, Heather Bartleson helps bring the holiday spirt to Disney. From parks, resorts, cruise lines and more, Bartleson works year-round to ensure the Holiday Services Team has everything they need to create holiday themed environments that immerse guests and create magical holiday moments.

Weird But True!Episode 302 National ParksTo protect or enjoy? Hosts Carly and Charlie have two very different plans for the backyard and cannot come to an agreement. Carly thinks backyards are to be enjoyed, and Charlie thinks they should be protected. A visit with park rangers from Yellowstone National Park might just help settle Carly and Charlies debate.

Alice Through the Looking Glass

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Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the UniversePremiereStepbrothers Phineas and Ferb, their older sister Candace, Perry the Platypus and the Danville gang are back together again in Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, an out-of-this-world animated adventure from Disney Television Animation. Executive-produced by Dan Povenmire and Jeff Swampy Marsh (creators and executive producers of the long-running Emmy Award-winning series Phineas and Ferb), the movie centers on Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue Candace, who after being abducted by aliens, finds utopia in a far-off planet, free of pesky little brothers.

Muppets NowEpisode 105 The I.T. FactorChip the I.T. guy installs an upgrade to Scooters overtaxed computer just as Scooter is beginning to upload the latest episode of Muppets Now. Scooter must work fast to get everything in place before the hard reboot goes into effect. Miss Piggy takes a trip through the topic of travel with guests Linda Cardellini and Taye Diggs. Pepe The King Prawn makes up a new game show on the spot, and the contestants do their best to keep up. Uncle Deadly demonstrates the drama, disciplines, and danger of stage combat for Muppet fanboy, Walter. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew puts the pressure on his assistant, Beaker, with a hydraulic-press experiment that requires a personal touch.

OneDay At DisneyEpisode 139 Eric Baker: Imagineering Creative DirectorStep into Star Wars: Galaxys Edge with Walt Disney Imagineer & Creative Director Eric Baker as he helps create this new, exciting land. From traveling the globe in search of props to overseeing larger-than-life installations, Eric is constantly reimagining how to elevate the park guest experience so they are in awe each time they step into new lands and attractions.

Weird But True!Episode 303 FarmingCharlie and Carly run a fruit-and-vegetable stand outside of headquarters, but lately, theyve been selling out of their crops faster than they can grow them. Carly has an idea to turn the garden into a farm, but they dont have enough space to grow everything they need outside. She takes Charlie on a trip to an indoor vertical farm in NYC to learn new possibilities of farming!

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Every New Release Coming to Disney+ in August: "The One and Only Ivan," "Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe"...

US House Committee concerned over IOJ&K situation – The News International

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WASHINGTON: The US House Appropriations Committee has voiced its concern over the deteriorated human rights and religious freedom in India including in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) region.

In a detailed report, the committee highlighted that it was concerned over the deterioration of human rights and religious freedoms in India, including in IOJ&K, and the recent addition of religion as a factor in the naturalisation process.

The committee also directed the Secretary of State to submit a report, not later than 90 days after enactment of the Act, to the Committees on Appropriations on what steps the Department of State has taken to address the deterioration of human rights and religious freedom in India and a strategy to engage the government of India on these issues. "Such report shall also contain the extent to which the government of India is supporting human rights and implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, as well as due process of law," the committee said.

The report was submitted, accompanying a bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and for other purposes. The committee recommendation also included funding for Pakistan as well.

Meanwhile, the United States has also accepted Pakistan's accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The Convention will enter into force between the United States and Pakistan on October 1, 2020, and will put in place an internationally recognised legal framework to resolve cases of parental child abduction between the two countries. "As partners, both countries will enhance shared commitment to protecting children and open a new chapter in the vibrant US-Pakistan relationship," the State Department said adding, "Preventing and resolving cases of international parental child abduction is one of the Department's highest priorities."

The convention is a vital tool to deter international abduction and secure the return of abducted children. "It provides a mechanism under civil law in either country or parents seeking the return of children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside of their country of habitual residence in violation of custodial rights," the department said.

The US now has 80 partners under the Convention. "We look forward to welcoming Pakistan as a new partner in this global effort to address international parental child abduction," the department said.

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US House Committee concerned over IOJ&K situation - The News International

I won 2 million playing poker – this is what I did next – Hull Live

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He embraced the razzmatazz of Las Vegas and was renowned for his distinctive jacket and flamboyant nature.

When it came to winning Bridlington man John Hesp was a larger-than-life character even in the neon lights of Sin City.

But when it comes to spending cash he is a typical and humble Yorkshire man.

Mr Hesp became an overnight poker star after he stormed Las Vegas to win 2million, as the Daily Star reports.

The caravan salesman had only ever won a couple of hundred pounds at events at his local casino before his trip to Vegas in 2017.

But the granddad-of-eight left pokers top pros stunned when he finished in fourth out of 7,200 players in the World Series of Poker Main Event - the worlds biggest and most prestigious poker tournament.

Mr Hesp, 67, came away a millionaire having enjoyed the high life for a few weeks.

But back in East Yorkshire, you would be hard pushed to be persuaded about his incredible windfall.

There is no flashy car, no exotic holiday, only a trip to the Yorkshire Dales in his caravan with wife Mandy.

My lifestyle was never extravagant or exorbitant, Mr Hesp said, and to win the extra money, I could have more or less had anything. But I had everything.

When I say everything, I had my caravan in the Yorkshire Dales.

Mr Hesp has revealed the money he won in Vegas remains largely untouched.

We particularly enjoy the Dales for the peace and quiet that we get - and that was enough, he said.

We didnt need any fancy holidays or any big expensive toys or anything like that.

So the money is still in the bank!

We treated family, that sort of thing, so they had a few quid out of it but other than that, we havent really spent anything on ourselves.

This year, the World Series of Poker is taking place online only, and being hosted by GG Poker, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the tournament three years ago Hesp went from being an average man to an overnight poker superstar during and was even invited to dinner by the legendary Phil Hellmuth.

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Other poker superstars wanted selfies with him and Mr Hesp was known for his jovial table chatter and colourful jacket, which made him instantly recognisable anywhere in the poker room.

Simply by making the top thousand players, Hesp had achieved more than he could have ever imagined.

But when he got to the top 20, every elimination was suddenly worth a life-changing amount of cash.

And he insists his desire to have fun only worked in his favour.

How much did a $100,000 hike in prize money make to my style of play? I would say nothing, Hesp said. Whereas I think for most others, you would say that it did.

When I say nothing, I say that with a degree of humility. It is not intended to be cocky. But I had won when I got into the top thousand players. Anything else was a bonus.

I was determined to keep on playing just as I had been doing at the start with a spirit of fun and enjoyment in the game.

It was almost like I donned my jacket and my hat and became the fun face of poker.

In some way I would say it is a bit of an act, getting into a character mode. As we got towards the final table, it became symbolic of the fun side of it.

Such has been his remarkable tale, it is now in the process of being turned into a movie. Read more about that here.

But Mr Hesp has turned his back on pokers high life, happy to quit while he was very much ahead.

The extent of his poker playing is now restricted to private home games with his closest friends.

I was just a regular small town guy from Bridlington, who had a single buy-in to the biggest tournament in the world, Mr Hesp said.

In doing so, all these top pros that I only ever dreamed that I would ever meet, were actually wanting to rub shoulders with me and have pictures taken with me.

That experience alone was worth everything. The fact I won that money was wonderful.

"Take the money away and that experience alone was worth $10,000.

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I won 2 million playing poker - this is what I did next - Hull Live

Arjun Rampal is playing poker to support NGOs – The Hindu

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Do you play poker? asks Arjun Rampal. No? Well, then we have to convert you, he laughs over a phone call from Mumbai.

Rampal is partner and brand ambassador for PokerHigh.com, a licensed poker site that is now aiming to raise funds for smaller, deserving charities in India.

There was a big surge in the number of people logging in to play [poker] during lockdown. We thought why not use this skilled game to give back to smaller NGOs that have not been getting recognition, he explains. There are different teams representing the charities and people can decide which one they wish to play for.

The initiative, which Rampal says has been successful, started two months ago when the group began sending food parcels to around two lakh people. This is our third month and we get players from all over India. The winners get to keep what they win. Whatever stake the bank makes goes to the NGOs, he says.

Other than Chennai-based Pudhiya Udhayam, there are also NGOs that serve animals such as CUPA in Bengaluru and Humanity for Animals in Kochi. Human life is important but so are the lives of animals, says Rampal, adding that during phase one they managed to generate 2.11 lakh, of which CUPA received a little over 72,000 (it took care of the feeding of over 150 dogs at the centre for a month) and Pudhiya Udhayam received 1.38 lakh, which took care of dry rations for over 500 families in Chennai.

The actor plays too, as a part of PokerHigh. My game is decent. But there is room for improvement, he laughs. Rampal has used time during lockdown to play a lot more poker. This time has been amazing as it allows you to introspect, pause and have a lot more clarity. Lot of things in life seem unnecessary and you can put them out of your list, he says.

The pandemic, Rampal believes, is a huge wake up call. We have to be far more compassionate and be open to change. Panicking is not going to help. It is important to adapt and adjust. We need to stick with the new norms, maintain social distance, wear a mask. A lot of people are just careless in the way they move around. If the pandemic has not shaken them up, then you should panic, he says.

Lockdown has also affected those in the film industry and although film shoots are yet to resume, Rampal says that it has altogether been a great year for him. I was working on three films and two web series.

This includes The Big Battle of Bhima Koregaon, Aparna Sens The Rapist, an unnamed action film he was shooting for in London, Abbas Mustans Penthouse. He was also set to start shooting for the second season of The Final Call. I was working 350 days of the year but God had other plans. He said go home and spend time with the family, and thats what I am doing with (partner) Gabriella [Demetriades], my daughters Mahikaa, Myra and my son Arik, he adds.

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Arjun Rampal is playing poker to support NGOs - The Hindu

genetic engineering | Definition, Process, & Uses | Britannica

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Genetic engineering, the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms.

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origins of agriculture: Genetic engineering

The application of genetics to agriculture since World War II has resulted in substantial increases in the production of many crops. This...

The term genetic engineering initially referred to various techniques used for the modification or manipulation of organisms through the processes of heredity and reproduction. As such, the term embraced both artificial selection and all the interventions of biomedical techniques, among them artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (e.g., test-tube babies), cloning, and gene manipulation. In the latter part of the 20th century, however, the term came to refer more specifically to methods of recombinant DNA technology (or gene cloning), in which DNA molecules from two or more sources are combined either within cells or in vitro and are then inserted into host organisms in which they are able to propagate.

The possibility for recombinant DNA technology emerged with the discovery of restriction enzymes in 1968 by Swiss microbiologist Werner Arber. The following year American microbiologist Hamilton O. Smith purified so-called type II restriction enzymes, which were found to be essential to genetic engineering for their ability to cleave a specific site within the DNA (as opposed to type I restriction enzymes, which cleave DNA at random sites). Drawing on Smiths work, American molecular biologist Daniel Nathans helped advance the technique of DNA recombination in 197071 and demonstrated that type II enzymes could be useful in genetic studies. Genetic engineering based on recombination was pioneered in 1973 by American biochemists Stanley N. Cohen and Herbert W. Boyer, who were among the first to cut DNA into fragments, rejoin different fragments, and insert the new genes into E. coli bacteria, which then reproduced.

Most recombinant DNA technology involves the insertion of foreign genes into the plasmids of common laboratory strains of bacteria. Plasmids are small rings of DNA; they are not part of the bacteriums chromosome (the main repository of the organisms genetic information). Nonetheless, they are capable of directing protein synthesis, and, like chromosomal DNA, they are reproduced and passed on to the bacteriums progeny. Thus, by incorporating foreign DNA (for example, a mammalian gene) into a bacterium, researchers can obtain an almost limitless number of copies of the inserted gene. Furthermore, if the inserted gene is operative (i.e., if it directs protein synthesis), the modified bacterium will produce the protein specified by the foreign DNA.

A subsequent generation of genetic engineering techniques that emerged in the early 21st century centred on gene editing. Gene editing, based on a technology known as CRISPR-Cas9, allows researchers to customize a living organisms genetic sequence by making very specific changes to its DNA. Gene editing has a wide array of applications, being used for the genetic modification of crop plants and livestock and of laboratory model organisms (e.g., mice). The correction of genetic errors associated with disease in animals suggests that gene editing has potential applications in gene therapy for humans.

Genetic engineering has advanced the understanding of many theoretical and practical aspects of gene function and organization. Through recombinant DNA techniques, bacteria have been created that are capable of synthesizing human insulin, human growth hormone, alpha interferon, a hepatitis B vaccine, and other medically useful substances. Plants may be genetically adjusted to enable them to fix nitrogen, and genetic diseases can possibly be corrected by replacing dysfunctional genes with normally functioning genes. Nevertheless, special concern has been focused on such achievements for fear that they might result in the introduction of unfavourable and possibly dangerous traits into microorganisms that were previously free of theme.g., resistance to antibiotics, production of toxins, or a tendency to cause disease. Likewise, the application of gene editing in humans has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding its potential use to alter traits such as intelligence and beauty.

In 1980 the new microorganisms created by recombinant DNA research were deemed patentable, and in 1986 the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of the first living genetically altered organisma virus, used as a pseudorabies vaccine, from which a single gene had been cut. Since then several hundred patents have been awarded for genetically altered bacteria and plants. Patents on genetically engineered and genetically modified organisms, particularly crops and other foods, however, were a contentious issue, and they remained so into the first part of the 21st century.

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genetic engineering | Definition, Process, & Uses | Britannica

Viewpoint: Fish farming has a sustainability problem and genetic engineering might be the solution – Genetic Literacy Project

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As the world endures the impacts of a rapidly changing climatesea level rise, extreme weather events, warming and acidifying oceans (among many others)policy makers and the public should critically examine how food production contributes to these worrying trends. Animal agriculture may be the best place to start since, many scientists argue, its the single biggest cause of biodiversity loss and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Over a quarter of the worlds land surface is currently dedicated to raising animals for food, but that practice can be exceptionally wasteful. Despite taking up almost 80 percent of global agricultural land, livestock represents less than 20 percent of the worlds calories. Proper stewardship of the land, which absorbs nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, is critical in our fight against climate change, but human activities degrade roughly a quarter of it, and livestock production is perhaps the primary culprit.

To help combat these growing environmental challenges, concerned citizens around the world are eating more sustainable and arguably healthier diets that partially or entirely replace meat with fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals. Fish production generally has a lower environmental impact than land animal farming, owing to the fact that fish require less feed. Most fish are poikilotherms, which means they dont use energy to heat their bodies. And unlike most land animals (homeotherms), fish dont need to constantly maintain their body temperatures, which tend to fluctuate with their external environment. Moreover, the density of water carries the weight of the fish, eliminating the requirement for heavy bones.

Despite its lower environmental footprint, global fish productionwhich includes wild capture and aquaculture (fish farming)has its own sustainability issues. Around one-third of the worlds marine fish stocks have reached unsustainable levels due to overfishing. Simultaneously, the global demand for fish and nutritional oils containing omega-3 fatty acids is increasing rapidly as more consumers recognize that consuming them is linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Saturation in capture fishing since the early 1990s means aquaculture is filling consumer demand for fish. But without significant changes, aquaculture isnt a long-term solution.

Fortunately, a valuable but misunderstood tool can help the industry become more sustainable. Of course, Im talking about biotechnology. Genetic engineering has sped up the production of fish, and enabled the development of sustainable fish feed sources and nutritional oils. All three innovations are marching toward commercialization, and the evidence indicates their collective impact will be enormous.

While commercial fish farms have greatly improved their production systems over the years, feeding fish with fish (primarily fishmeal and oils) still poses a significant sustainability threat. In 2018, global fish production reached around 179 million tons, and humans ate about 88 percent of the produce (156 million tons) while about 10 percent (18 million tons) went towards producing fishmeal and fish oils. Finding alternative feed sources would slash the environmental footprint of aquaculture and contribute to global food security goals.

Breeding better fish

Fish maturity is based on physical features such as shape and size. The faster fish grow, the lower their environmental impact, so innovators have targeted faster growth rates as a solution to the industrys sustainability problem. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a bioengineered Atlantic salmon for consumption after decades of rigorous scientific review. The FDA concluded that the genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon is as safe to eat as any non-genetically engineered Atlantic, and also as nutritious. This salmon is approved for sale in Canada and is slated for commercialization in the US.

Scientists at the biotech firm AquaBounty introduced two different bits of genetic information from other fish species into a bioengineered salmon: a growth hormone gene from the fast-growing Chinook salmon controlled by a DNA switch (promoter) from the ocean pout. Because the Chinook growth hormone gene works overtime, AquaBountys salmon grows to full size in about half the time required by conventional salmonand consumes 25 percent less feed as a result.

Faster growth means the energy and carbon emissions required to produce the fish are lower. And since AquaBountys land-based aquaculture facilities are located in Canada and the US, transporting these fish to market generates lower carbon emission than delivering conventional salmon by air or ship. Additionally, the expansion of genetically engineered fish production could significantly reduce overfishing, since some of salmon feed comes from other wild fish.

Some environmentalists have voiced concerns about the consequences of bioengineered fish escaping into the wild. In theory, genetically engineered fish may flee to the wild, breed with their wild relatives and create a hybrid that could out-compete other fish in the marine ecosystem. Quite rightly, these are serious concerns that require proper attention and strong mitigation plans.

Considering the trade-off between hypothetical risks and the demonstrated benefits of biotechnology in fish production helps us evaluate the situation. AquAdvantage salmon are produced in land-based facilities and are sterile. Regulators at the FDA have therefore concluded its extremely unlikely that the fish could escape and establish themselves in the wild.

Shorter production time and lower feed and energy requirements clearly outweigh the low risk of fish escaping into the wild. And we get all these without compromising the nutritional value of the fish itself. AquaBounty is scheduled to begin producing its bioengineered salmon in the US before the end of 2020, making it the first genetically engineered food animal to hit US markets. As COVID-19 continues to put pressure on food supplies, the introduction of genetically engineered salmon helps illustrate how biotechnology can help solve critical problems.

Alternative fish feeds and fish oils

Bioengineered fish is an important step in the right direction, but it doesnt fully address aquacultures sustainability issues. The industry has developed non-fish based feeds, cutting use of fishmeal and fish oil from 30 million tons in 1994 to about 18 million tons in 2018. But there are concerns that fish products grown on alternative feeds arent providing the same nutritional value as those fed real fish, which is high in omega-3 oils. To understand why, we need to look at the chemistry of these fatty acids.

Omega-3 oils are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids existing mainly in three types: -linolenic acid (ALA); eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Plant oils contain ALA, which is the shorter version of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in marine organisms like microalgae and phytoplankton.

Our bodies cant make omega-3, so we mostly get it from eating fish, which incidentally also cant make omega-3 but accumulate it by eating microalgae and phytoplankton. As vegetable oils replace fish oil in aquafeeds, the level of beneficial fatty acids, EPA and DHA, have also declined considerably, reducing the nutritional value that fish offer. Therefore, the aquaculture industry needs to identify aquafeeds that are derived from alternative sources and provide the same level of nutrition.

Algae are a promising source to replace fish oil, but extracting algal oil is more expensive than producing fish oil and fishmeal, though the extraction technology is rapidly developing. Additionally, algae cultivation for aquafeed is sometimes limited to species that only produce DHA fatty acids, which means the algae-fed fish lack EPA, compromising their final nutritional value.

Again, scientists have turned to biotechnology to address this problem. Research teams have engineered plants like camelina and canola that contain high levels of EPA and DHA in their seed oil. These plants naturally produce the shorter version of omega-3, ALA, and scientists introduced microalgal genes that convert ALA into EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids typically found in fish. Research shows that fish fed with seed oil from these camelina plants show good growth, maintain feed efficiency and dont lose nutritional valueindicating that genetically engineered plants can provide a sustainable substitute for fish oil feeds.

Now innovators are aiming to produce omega-3 oils from camelina for aquafeeds and nutritional supplements. Biotech startup Yield10 Bioscience has fused artificial intelligence with synthetic biology to create a technology that identifies trait targets to produce better plants. Using their technology platform and genome editing, they have generated camelina plants that produce double seed yields with a high content of both EPA and DHA omega-3 oils. The company has recently launched field trials of their genome-edited seeds. They are scaling seed production, aiming to plant thousands of acres of camelina to produce plant-based omega-3 oil products for fish feed and human nutrition soon. Crucially, the USDA announced in January 2020 that it wont regulate gene-edited camelina, accelerating development of this sustainable omega-3 oil source.

Biotechnology is already accelerating production of environmentally friendly salmon, and is poised to provide more sustainable fish feed and nutritional oils in the coming years. It could also bring aquaculture production costs down, reducing incentives to overfish our oceans, which will no doubt be better for the marine ecosystem.

Surging fish demand will only be met by sustainable, low-cost solutions, enabled in key instances by biotechnology. Technical details aside, the benefits of broader biotechnology adoption in aquaculture will extend beyond the developed world to improve the lives of those most in needimpoverished people in the developing world.

Rupesh Paudyal holds a PhD in plant science and covers agriculture and the environment as a freelance writer. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter @TalkPlant

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Viewpoint: Fish farming has a sustainability problem and genetic engineering might be the solution - Genetic Literacy Project

13 Important Genetic Engineering Pros And Cons | Bio Explorer

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Over the last century, the field of genetics and biotechnology has greatly developed because of the better understanding of the gene. Because of the improvement of technology, scientists have already gone up until the manipulation of the genome (complete set of genes) of organisms. This process is called genetic engineering. In this article, we will explore 13 important genetic engineering pros and cons.

The sharing of genetic material among living organisms is known to be a natural event. This phenomenon is known to be very evident among bacteria, hence they are called natures own genetic engineer. Such phenomenon is the inspiration of scientists in this endeavor.

In literature, there are in fact many synonyms of the term genetic engineering: genetic modification, genome manipulation, genetic enhancement, and many more. However, this term shall not be confused with cloning because genetic engineering involves the production of new set of genes while the latter only involves the production of the same copies of genes in the organism.

Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating an organisms genome using biotechnology and the products of it are either referred to as genetically modified or transgenic organisms. Check out the disadvantages of genetically modified foods here.

Basically, genetic engineering is done by inserting a gene of interest from sources like bacteria, viruses, plants, and animals into the target organism. As a result, the organism with the inserted gene of interest is now able to carry out the new trait or characteristic.

This technology grants us the ability to overcome barriers, exchange genes among organisms, and produce new organisms with favorable traits.

For a more detailed explanation of the process, check out this video below:

Now we will dive into the pros and cons of Genetic Engineering now.

Supporters of genetic engineering believe that genetic engineering is indeed safe and is still comparable to the traditional process of breeding in plants and animals. Advocates of genetic engineering support the technology primarily because of the following reasons:

On the other hand, there are several types of potential health effects that could arise from the insertion of a novel gene into an organism. Critics disagree with the methods of genetic engineering because of:

Because of the technology used to create genetically modified crops and animals, private companies that produce them do not share their products at a reasonable cost with the public.

In addition, they believe that the process is somewhat disrupting the natural way and complexity of life. In addition to this, critics fear the misuse and abuse of biotechnology.

Indeed, genetic engineering will always have two opposite sides. While the possibilities of what science can create are endless, and the harmful effects also are. At present, it is important to know that the real risks and benefits of genetic engineering lie in how science is interpreted and used.

But theres really no doubt that with the rapid advancements in technology, the creation of GM organisms are also increasing.

What do you think? Are GM organisms slowly becoming the future?

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13 Important Genetic Engineering Pros And Cons | Bio Explorer