July 14, 2020

We all know that exercise benefits us physically, but ripped abs and a healthy heart arent the only advantages to hitting the gym. The sense of camaraderie, structure and accomplishment we get from physical activity all speak to its myriad social benefits.

But with everyone at more than arms-length these days, the social aspect of exercise is what many of us have been missing most its also what Connor Sheehan is most interested in.

An assistant professor at ASUs T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Sheehan was curious to know which, if any, of the more socially oriented exercises, such as team sports, contribute to longevity.

In a paper co-authored with family and human development graduate student Longfeng Li and recently published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the researchers found that any exercise is beneficial, but stretching, volleyball and fitness exercises (i.e., walking, aerobics, cycling, etc.) in particular were associated with lower rates of mortality.

Connor Sheehan

It's one of the most replicated scientific facts that exercise is good for humans and helps us live longer, Sheehan said. And a lot of research has been focused on the physiological benefits. But I'm a sociologist, so I think that exercise also benefits us sociologically by giving us other things that humans need, like social contact. And of course, America is a really diverse society where people do a bunch of different exercises. So we wanted to see how those exercises stacked up against each other and which exercises led to longer life spans.

In their study, which was funded by a grant from ASUs Global Sport Institute, Sheehan and Li used data collected by the National Health Interview Survey of 26,727 American adults ages 18 to 84 to examine the effect of 15 different exercises on mortality rates. The survey participants were asked once in 1998 what type of exercise they engaged in, then followed for all-cause mortality through the end of 2015.

During 17 years of follow-up, 4,955 deaths occurred. After adjusting for such factors as demographics, socioeconomic status and health behaviors, researchers found that walking, aerobics, stretching, weight lifting and stair climbing were related to lower risks of mortality. When adjusting for engagement in all exercise types, stretching and volleyball were found to be uniquely associated with lower risks of mortality.

Their findings suggest that some types of exercise have unique benefits for longevity, but most are indistinguishable in relation to longevity.

What that means, Sheehan said, is that if you're doing any exercise, that's better than if youre doing nothing. So I think what's best is to just keep doing what you can consistently do, what you consistently enjoy doing. I wouldn't go out of your way to adjust your lifestyle to the results of this study, because it might be harder for you to stretch than to play volleyball, for instance.

One exercise they found to have a negative effect on longevity was baseball, which they presume is due to the culture of chewing tobacco associated with the sport. And surprisingly, in spite of its association with the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), they did not find that football was associated with increased mortality.

In addition, Sheehan and Li found that the benefits of exercise did not vary across different types of social groups, meaning any type of exercise is good for everyone.

Figure 1. Adjusted mortality odds ratio for individuals who did the exercise compared with individuals who did not do the exercise. Note: Individual types or individual categories of exercise were examined separately in Figure 1A; all types or all categories of exercise were examined together in Figure 1B. All models controlled for demographic information, socioeconomic measures and health behaviors and status. Models in Figure 1A additionally controlled for total volume of other exercises (MET-hours per week excluding the volume of the type or category of exercise that was included in the corresponding model). Courtesy of Connor Sheehan

You can promote any type of exercise and everyone gets equal benefit, Sheehan said. So exercise and engagement in sports should be foundational in promoting population health.

However, he was hesitant to state whether the studys findings support an argument for a return to in-person, community and professional sports.

You have to balance the physical risk of getting a disease that can permanently alter the health of young people with the social benefits they would be getting from team sports, he said. It's tricky.

One exercise Sheehan and Li were unable to measure that was less popular in 1998 but has quickly become a virtual favorite during quarantine is yoga.

Yoga is so good for times like these because you don't need much space, you don't need much equipment and it's good for mental health, he said.

And while it might be hard to play volleyball or basketball on Zoom, Sheehan said that whatever helps you do any exercise so that you're getting physiological and social benefits is best.

If what was driving you to go to yoga was that you were doing it with your friend, and you can now do YouTube yoga over Zoom, thats going to help bring back the social benefits with the physiological benefits, he said.

Sheehan, who has conducted research on sleep in the past, is interested in expanding on these most recent findings to see how different types of exercise affect sleep quality.

Top photo: Members of the ASU Sun Devils Womens Volleyball team on the final night of the Puerto Rico Clsico in 2018. Photo courtesy Sun Devil Athletics

More:
When it comes to longevity, any exercise is good exercise - ASU Now

It looks like a telescoping grabber tool attached to a hat stand, but it could be the future of home robotics. Meet Stretch, the first device from Hello Robot, a startup founded by former Google director of robotics Aaron Edsinger and Georgia Tech robotics professor Charlie Kemp, that came out of stealth today after three years in development.

Stretch is not a consumer robot thats ready to roll into your apartment and start doing the dishes, but rather a research platform that Edsinger and Kemp hope will lay the groundwork for home automation in the years to come. The bots lightweight and low-cost design could be a blueprint for future robots, especially those designed to help look after the elderly or people with physical disabilities, allowing companies to automate a range of household tasks the way the Roomba has automated vacuuming.

Our long term mission is to see these types of robots in homes and workplaces being useful and helpful to people, Edsinger tells The Verge. What we anticipate now, though, is research labs, corporate R&D, and venture-backed startups using this for a variety of applications, all of which will move the ball forward for these mobile manipulators.

The problem with these mobile manipulators as robots with grabbing arms and hands are known is that theyre big and expensive, creating a bottleneck for researchers.

Yes, some companies do show off humanoid robots at trade shows that they claim can vacuum the floor or fetch you a beer from the fridge, but these machines are just puppets, only able to work in limited circumstances and no more functional than Nintendos R.O.B. robot toy. At the other end of the spectrum, mobile manipulators used by academics and researchers, like Willow Garages PR2, are far more capable but also heavy, complex, and pricey. The PR2, for example, weighs 220kg and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Its not easy to move about or test in new environments, and it represents a sizable investment.

Its like a giant old computer when what you want is a laptop, says Edsinger.

Stretch, by comparison, has been designed with simplicity and low cost in mind. Instead of using an expensive industrial arm with multiple joints and degrees of freedom, it has a single telescoping grabber attached to a central hoist that achieves a similar range of motion at a fraction of the price. A single Stretch unit costs $17,950 still expensive when compared to the consumer market but a bargain for academics and researchers.

The arm is touch-sensitive for safety and can carry items up to 1.5kg in weight. It definitely takes a hit in terms of functionality (its not strong enough to open a fridge, for example), but its well-matched to moving things about on flat planes like tables, shelves, and counters.

Stretch has a wheeled base like a Roomba thats 34 by 33cm in size, making it small and nimble enough to maneuver around tight spaces like corridors and small kitchens. And it uses an inexpensive depth-sensing Intel RealSense camera and 340-degree LIDAR sensor to survey and navigate its surroundings, allowing it to be operated remotely or autonomously. Theres also a microphone array built into the head that supports speech recognition for voice commands and a programmable LED light ring to give feedback to users.

If any single design choice exemplifies Hello Robots simple is better philosophy, though, its the robots grabber: a minimalist piece of hardware built from a pair of rubber cups and some metal springs.

Kemp says that when designing the bot, they quickly dismissed the idea of using human-like hands, which are overly complex and liable to break. Instead, they wanted a grabber that would stand up to real-world tests. So they looked to a ready-made research group: users on Amazon reviewing home grabbing tools for people with disabilities.

We went through thousands of reviews, looked at the best reviewed grippers out there, used by real people in real homes grabbing objects they really wanted, and this [design] came out on top, both in the evaluations on Amazon and in our labs, says Kemp.

We were able to make a robotic version of it and its really just so versatile and forgiving. It doesnt have to be in the exact right place to work, its just good at grabbing onto stuff.

While the hardware is polished, the unsolved problem for Stretch (and for home robots more generally) is how will these machines be controlled? Are they going to use AI to carry out tasks autonomously, or will they be operated remotely, like the wheeled delivery robots used to deliver groceries and takeouts?

Originally, says Edsinger, the team envisioned Stretch as a consumer product that was teleoperated: something that could be used to help people in assisted living scenarios, for example. They soon realized, though, that the economics of this didnt work out. Stretch is relatively capable, but like all mobile manipulators, its incredibly slow. And if youre going to hire someone to control a robot from afar for hours at a time just to carry out some simple jobs, its cheaper to get them to do the work in person in a matter of minutes.

As we got into it, it became clear that some level of autonomy was needed, says Edsinger.

To that end, the company has imbued Stretch with some basic autonomous capabilities. It can navigate by itself around rooms and grab and pass objects once the action has been initiated. But it cant carry out complex tasks like folding clothes or cleaning surfaces by itself. Thatll be up to other researchers to test and implement.

The agnosticism in Stretchs design, though, reflects the desires of Edsinger and Kemp to make sure the project has longevity. As the mantra of the robotics industry goes: robots are hard, and startups in this area fail frequently when faced with real-world challenges.

Edsinger is a veteran of Googles abortive foray into robotics. The startup he co-founded, Meka Robotics, was bought by the search giant in 2013 along with a string of other robot companies, including Boston Dynamics. There were high hopes for Googles entry in the market, but the companys efforts fizzled out as it realized the limitations of consumer robotics.

Even, now, says Edsinger, the business case isnt quite there yet for a consumer robot ... the technology isnt quite there yet.

The answer, he says, is to not rush things. He and Kemp have avoided the rocket fuel of venture capital in the hopes of building a sustainable business through sales. The research edition of the Stretch robot has already been sold to a half-dozen research labs, which they say will provide invaluable feedback on what the market really needs.

We realized that the best thing for us to do to really solve this problem is to be around for a while, says Edsinger, to not take a giant swing for the fences and disappear if we miss.

For all of the unanswered questions facing Hello Robot, Edsinger and Kemp are certainly adamant about the possibilities of Stretch. Its just simpler and easier to use than anything else on the market, they say, and it opens up a lot of possibilities for home robotic research.

Kemp, for example, has been using Stretch prototypes around his house for years. Hes used the robots to play games with his children and carry out basic chores. One Thanksgiving, when he was away from home with family, he even used Stretch to feed his cat. Controlling the robot over the web using his laptop, he was able to open up tins of cat food and tip them into a bowl as well as fill up glasses of water from the refrigerator and pour those out.

Ive had this long term dream of having a versatile robot in my home, and now Ive got one, its just a lot of fun, he says. If you have a $400,000 robot its really hard to imagine hiding Easter eggs with it for your kids. It constrains your thinking when you have these huge, expensive robots. But its not so with a machine that costs less than $20,000.

Both men are understandably cagey when it comes to suggesting a timeframe for when a robot like Stretch might be doing useful work as a consumer device. But its certainly a matter of years, perhaps even decades. They point out that the Roomba (a phenomenal product) took decades of work to get to its current abilities, and it only does a single, relatively simple task. Theyre hoping to create machines that do much, much more.

More here:
An ex-Googlers new robot reimagines the future of home automation - The Verge

The worldwide Anti-Senescence Therapy market report included by Regal Intelligence depends on the year 2019. This market report contemplates Manufacturers (counting worldwide and domestic), Suppliers and Vendors, Regions, Product Type, Product Variants and Application for the conjecture time frame. The analysis gives data on over a wide span of time on the aspects like market trends and improvement, drivers, limitations, advancements, and on the changing capital structure of the Anti-Senescence Therapy Market. The study will help market players and market specialists to comprehend the on-going structure of the market.

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The major manufacturers covered in this report:Unity Biotechnology, Siwa Therapeutics, Calico LLC, AgeX Therapeutics, Numeric Biotech, Human Longevity, Cleara Biotech, OisinBiotechnologies, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Sierra Sciences, Proteostasis Therapeutics, Senolytic Therapeutics, Allergan,

Types covered in this report are: Gene Therapy, Immunotherapy, Others,

Application Covered in this report areCardiovascular Diseases, Neural Degenerative Diseases, Ophthalmology Disorders, Others

The Anti-Senescence Therapy market report gives a five-year annual trend investigation, as for base and previous year examination, that features market size, volume and share for the key areas. The Anti-Senescence Therapy market has been fragmented in the areas of North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and ROW.

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The report offers data of the Anti-Senescence Therapy Industry division by type, application and area. The report features the development approaches and plans, government guidelines, manufacturing procedures and cost structures. It likewise covers specialized information, manufacturing plants analysis, and crude material sources analysis of Anti-Senescence Therapy just as clarifies which item has the most noteworthy entrance, their net revenues, and R&D status.

Table of Contents

Global Anti-Senescence Therapy Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 20261 Report Overview1.1 Definition and Specification1.2 Report Overview1.2.1 Manufacturers Overview1.2.2 Regions Overview1.2.3 Type Overview1.2.4 Application Overview1.3 Industrial Chain1.3.1 Anti-Senescence Therapy Overall Industrial Chain1.3.2 Upstream1.3.3 Downstream1.4 Industry Situation1.4.1 Industrial Policy1.4.2 Product Preference1.4.3 Economic/Political Environment1.5 SWOT Analysis2 Market Assessment by Type2.1 Gene Therapy Sales (K Units), Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2014-20202.2 Immunotherapy Sales (K Units), Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2014-20202.3 Others Sales (K Units), Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2014-20203 Asia Pacific Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Assessment by Type3.1 Asia Pacific Market Performance (Sales, Revenue)3.2 Key Players in Asia Pacific4 North America Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Assessment by Type4.1 North America Market Performance (Sales, Revenue)4.2 Key Players in North America5 Europe Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Assessment by Type4.1 Europe Market Performance (Sales, Revenue)4.2 Key Players in Europe6 South America Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Assessment by Type4.1 South America Market Performance (Sales, Revenue)4.2 Key Players in South America7 Middle Easr and Africa Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Assessment by Type4.1 Middle Easr and Africa Market Performance (Sales, Revenue)4.2 Key Players in Middle Easr and Africa

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Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Analysis Focusing on the Key Issues Surrounding the Growth of the Industry and Further Develop Opportunities - Cole of...

Some natural ingredients have been found to be potentially beneficial for ageing and longevity. One is resveratrol that has long been gaining increasing attention in the scientific community.

(Newswire.net -- July 14, 2020) Orlando, FL -- There are many people nowadays who suffer from the undesirable signs of aging. This is why more and more scientists are investigating the link between longevity genes and aging.

A report was published inGENETICS,and carried out byde Magalheset al.

In this research, the scientists tried to reanalyze a certain set of genes that were formerly connected to aging in mice.

They calculated the demographic rate of aging in the corresponding mutants, which indicates age-dependent mortality.

It is worth mentioning that TheGompertz-Makeham law of mortality says that there are age-dependent factors and age independent-factors that make up effective human death rate.

An example of age-dependent factors is heart disease and age independent-factors is lightning strokes.

The equation reveals the exponential increase in mortality rate with age. It was applied to data from former mouse studies, and this allowed the authors to see which genes influence the demographic rate of aging.

A majority of the genes analyzed by the authors have been found to affect the longevity of the subjects in an age-independent manner.

Out of 30 genes, only two increased lifespan and this happened through a reduction in the demographic rate of aging. Five out of twenty four genes that shorten the lives of mice increased the demographic rate of aging.

Some natural ingredients have been found to be potentially beneficial for ageing and longevity. One is resveratrol that has long been gaining increasing attention in the scientific community.

According to medical research, resveratrol has a remarkable ability to delay the ageing process. It has even demonstrated its ability to enhance the lifespans of a number of living organisms, which include fruit flies, mice, and fish.

Scientists from Harvard University carried out a study. In this research, it has been found that mice treated with resveratrol had a life expectancy 25 percent greater than average.

Daily consumption of resveratrol has further been found to inhibit weight gain in mice. This was despite the mice having a high calorie and fat diet

In recent scientific research, investigators suggest that it was also able to increase the lifespan of human cells. It seemed to slow the effects of ageing down, and it did so due to its ability to activate a gene called sirtuin.

This enzyme called sirtuin can increase stress resistance and even the ability to survive.

While more studies are still underway to validate the therapeutic benefits of resveratrol. However, its use is undeniably recommended and even widespread.

To experience its remarkable healing benefits, it may be helpful to consider the use of Divine Bounty Resveratrol (http://www.amazon.com/Resveratrol-Supplement-Strength-Extract-capsules/dp/B019C0UU5S).

Divine Bounty is a family-owned brand that manufactures high-quality turmeric curcumin supplements. Passionate about the potential health benefits of turmeric, the team behind Divine Bounty have carefully researched and sourced only the best ingredients to create the ideal blend of turmeric curcumin. More details are available at http://www.DivineBounty.com.

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New Study Now Reveals Whether Longevity Genes Influence Aging - Newswire

There are a few ingredients that are always thrown around when it comes to skincare, and vitamin C is definitely one of them. As of late, the only time weve been hearing of vitamin C is in regards to our immune system. However, this ingredient is just as necessary for our skin as it is for our overall health.

The antioxidant helps to address a number of skin concerns and this is why it continues to be a dermatologists best skincare ingredient, and why its constantly found in every lotion, face cream, and serum known to man.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient used by the body for the growth and repair of tissues. Unfortunately, the body cannot produce it on its own so the best way to get it is through supplements or your diet.

Now while you can eat your way to a healthy vitamin C intake, you cant do the same for your skin. This is because, when it comes to your skin, the topical application of vitamin C works out better than oral intake. In fact, a studypublished in Dermatologic Therapy found that the topical application of vitamin C resulted in 27 times higher levels of vitamin C in the skin than even the highest possible oral intake.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells, and in doing so, they encourage premature aging, and they may even trigger skin cancer. Being an antioxidant, vitamin C works to protect the skin by working to neutralize free radicals, thus preventingpremature aging and leaving the skin with ayounger and fresherappearance.

Loss of moisture can not only lead to dull and dry skin, but it can also accentuate the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Vitamin C helps the skin retain moisture by supporting the skin barrier. Additionally, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is a vitamin C derivative used in skincare, and it has been shownto help hydrate the skin (1).

Vitamin C doesnt only have benefits for your skin.

Firstly, it helps to protect your locks from free radical damage (which can cause breakage and hair loss). Secondly, it helps to stimulate the production of collagen. This is an important protein that helps to keep your hair healthy. Lastly, vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, which is a necessary mineral for healthy hair growth.

As we age, the levels of collagen begin to decline and this greatly contributes to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a loss of volume. Thankfully, vitamin C helps to stimulate the production of collagen, and in doing so, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In fact, a studypublished intheClinical, Cosmetic and Investigational DermatologyJournal found that vitamin C helped to increasecollagen production among study participants in all age groups.

Whats more, its antioxidant properties help to neutralize the free radicals that speed up the breakdown of collagen.

Prolonged sun exposure and poor sun protection wont only accelerate the aging process, but it can also cause skin concerns like flakiness, redness, and sunspots.

One animal studyfound that vitamin C helped to reverse sun damage. If youre interested in human trials, a 1999 study found that a 3-month vitamin C treatment helped participants withmild to moderately photo-damaged skin. In fact, they experienced a significant improvement in skin tone and roughness. As of this writing, there are not any recent human trials looking at vitamin C and sun damage.

Hyperpigmentation happens when the body produces too much melanin in certain areas of the skin. This leaves you with unwanted brown spots and discoloration. That said, if you have concerns about uneven skin tone, vitamin C has been found to address the overproduction of melanin.

According to astudypublished intheJournal of Drugs and Dermatology,participants noticed a73%improvement in skin pigmentation after using vitamin C.

When it comes to buying an effective vitamin C beauty product, there are a few things that you need to remember.

Vitamin C comes in various forms, yet L-ascorbic acid has been found to be the most stable and effective form. That said, when shopping for products, make sure that they list L-ascorbic acid as an ingredient.

For instance, the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serumcontains 15% L-ascorbic acid and its been found to improve the appearance of wrinkles and appearance.

The concentration of vitamin C also plays a role with research showing that a concentration higher than 8 but lower than 20 is quite effective (2). Take the Exuviance AF Vitamin C20 Serum Capsuleswhich contain 20% L-ascorbic acid and have been found to effectively address skin concerns such as sun damage and dullness.

Vitamin C breaks down when its exposed to light or air. Its important that any product you purchase comes in a dark glass bottle.

The LOral Revitalift Derm Intensive Vitamin C Serumcomes in the form of a metal tube, which helps to keep the product stable, ensuring that it delivers great benefits to your skin.

Store your product in a cool, dark place and away from extreme heat. Additionally, if you notice that the product has become yellow or brown, this means that its been oxidized and is likely going to be less effective.

Vitamin C is more effective if its paired with complementary ingredients, particularly vitamin E and ferulic acid.Ferulic acid has been found to stabilize the powerhouse ingredientwhereas vitamin E helps to boost antioxidant protection.

Paulas Choice Resist C15 Super Boosternot only contains vitamins C and E, as well as ferulic acid, but it also contains peptides, which helps to boost your skin health.

If you have sensitive skin, its best to start with a lower concentration. Reach out to your dermatologist to find a product that is best suited for your skin type.

That said, its also advisable to not use vitamin C and retinol at the same time. This can cause irritation. Rather, use vitamin C products in the morning and retinoids at night.

As lockdown regulations lift, more and more of us are making our way outside. So, for those still battling with skin concerns, these post-lockdown buys will not only prep your skin for the outside, but theyll also help to address skin issues brought on by being stuck indoors all day.

Al-Niaimi, F., & Chiang, N. (2017). The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology,10(7), 1417.

Burke, K. E. (2007). Interaction of vitamins C and E as better cosmeceuticals.Dermatologic therapy,20(5), 314-321.

Crisan, D., Roman, I., Crisan, M., Scharffetter-Kochanek, K., & Badea, R. (2015). Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology,8, 463470. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S84903

Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., & Vissers, M. (2017). Nutrients,9(8), 866. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866

Telang P. S. (2013). Indian dermatology online journal,4(2), 143146. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.110593

Traikovich, S. S. (1999). Use of topical ascorbic acid and its effects on photodamaged skin topography.Archives of otolaryngologyhead & neck surgery,125(10), 1091-1098.

Zussman, J., Ahdout, J., & Kim, J. (2010). Vitamins and photoaging: do scientific data support their use?.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,63(3), 507525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.037

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Vitamin C : Beauty Benefits of This Anti-Aging Powerhouse Ingredient - Longevity LIVE

Resuming play risky

"Skeptimiticissm."

Its a made-up term for the perception many people surely have of the potential return of professional sports. Or, more fittingly, how long they will last before shutting it all down for a second time due to COVID-19.

Rarely do medical degrees hang above the desks of sports journalists. Nor are crystal balls on the corner of scribes desks, any more than paperweights.

But it is a feeling of doubt that has crept over not the resumption of sports at pro levels, but the longevity before something goes badly.

Athletes are testing positive because, after all, they are human beings, too. And some are indicating that returning to work is not in their playbook at all and opting out.

For now, in the case of the National Hockey League, Edmonton and Toronto are hub centres for the West and East Conferences, respectively. Florida, of all places, is hosting the National Basketball Association. Major League Baseball? What a mess.

Confusing times? You know it.

As noted here a few weeks back, it is difficult to imagine athletes, whose bodies are their livelihood and paycheques, risking their careers for what could be interrupted restarts to seasons. Will champions even be determined for 2020?

Given the recklessness displayed daily in the United States, would it be any surprise if COVID-19 once again brings the sports world to its knees?

Branding for money

Since we're on the topic of branding, certain things really stand out when watching those vintage hockey games on Sportsnet.

You realize how the game has evolved over the decades, particularly in the goaltending and style of play, but also in the handful of penalties ignored each and every shift.

And its hard to remember there was once a two-line offside pass rule or touch icing.

Remarkably, even well into the 1980s, it is noticeable how few fans attended games decked out in team apparel.

Somebody, at some point, hit on a ka-ching idea that T-shirts, jerseys and caps would be popular sells. That realization turned on a tap that has since earned teams gazillions of revenue dollars.

John Cudmore is a longtime, award-winning reporter. His Cuddy Shark column appears regularly.

Link:
Opinion | CUDDY SHARK: Hockey Renegades jump in early on name-game revolution - yorkregion.com

Technology has become a necessity rather than just a nice-to-have during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tasks such as shopping for groceries, booking a taxi, or ordering a takeaway have all been made easier thanks to technological advances. Despite its influence on consumer behaviours, one of the perceived downfalls of automation is the limit it has on the reliance for humans to carry out certain tasks and jobs. A debate that has, and will, rage on for quite some time.

But, as the world has been gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, will automation continue to be a necessity as we enter the new normal and social distancing. Here we look at the role automation could play in the fight against COVID-19 and beyond.

Following the World Health Organisation reclassifying coronavirus as a global pandemic in March, cities and communities effectively turned into ghost towns. Tourist hotspots, restaurants, entertainment venues, and workplaces shut, with people instructed to stay at home.

In the UK, the job retention scheme was introduced to help ease the fears of businesses who were left to wonder how they would pay their staff and stay afloat. Originally set to last until July, the scheme has now been extended to October an indication that economic impacts of the virus will be felt for some time.

As of yet, its unknown as to whether businesses who rely on humans to come to work and carry out manual tasks will survive a post-coronavirus recession. Will it force company bigwigs to invest in automation to boost their chances of longevity and success?

In April, a study carried out by auditing firm, EY, found that nearly half of bosses in 45 countries are speeding up their plans to introduce automation, with companies such as Amazon and Ocado already using robots in customer fulfilment centres. A challenge that car manufacturers face is a reduction in available staff on their shop floors, which comes with health and safety concerns, and the need for new ecosystems to achieve efficient production. This may see a continued turn towards automation to aid the build of new vehicles.

Its almost inevitable that automation across industries will increase, both during and after COVID-19. To what extent is unknown, but it could play a key role in the way we dine at restaurants, check-in to hotels, and everything else in-between.

You may pose the question: How has coronavirus helped the environment?. In the short-term its had a positive impact, with carbon emissions dramatically falling, creating cleaner air in the process. You may have seen flamingos thriving off quieter roads and the cleaner air in Mumbai, and mountain goats making themselves at home in the streets of Llandudno. But, when this is all over, will our attitudes change, or will we just go back to travelling back-and-forward, pumping out carbon emissions and increasing our carbon footprint again?

If businesses must look at automation, will consumers look towards it when they choose their next vehicle, for example? Choosing an electric vehicle over petrol or diesel means you wont need to visit the petrol station to fill up eliminating human interaction. Plus, youll reduce your carbon emissions to zero when driving. If you have worries over social distancing, knowing that you can e-charge your car at home with the right equipment it may sway you towards a greener lifestyle.

Year-to-date data for 2020 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders reveals a 131% increase in the registration of fully electric cars compared to the year previously. This shows a potential shift towards a more environmentally friendly future, one that introduces an element of automation at the same time. Manufacturers have already acknowledged this, with BMW, for example, being committed to having no less than 12 fully-electric models in their line-up over the next three-to-four years, with the German brand potentially offering an electric version of their 1 Seriesas early as 2021.

Its likely that automation will become more prominent as we move into the future, but striking the correct balance between automation and human interaction could be key in the short-term to enable economies to bounce back and communities to thrive like they did before the pandemic hit.

Sources

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52634759

https://news.sky.com/story/flamingos-enjoy-quieter-roads-and-cleaner-air-in-mumbai-11982032

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/bosses-speed-up-automation-as-virus-keeps-workers-home

https://www.lookers.co.uk/bmw/new-cars/1-series

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As if 2020 couldnt get anymore bonkers. In a year thats already given usa global pandemic, the routinekilling of Black and Indigenous people by police and an overwhelming amount of Twitter content featuring realistic objects that are actually cake, we now have a conspiracy theory involving online furniture companies and child trafficking to contend with. On July 10, home furnishin retailer Wayfair started trending on Twitter and it was for a pretty nefarious reason. According to Mashable, on July 9, users onReddits r/conspiracy subreddit started positing that the siteor potentially third-party sellers on the sitewere secretly part of a child trafficking ring. And this didnt come out of nowhere. The theory started when a user posted a screenshot of abnormally high-priced cabinets from the Wayfairs site, noting that the names were unusual and unlike other furniture pieces on the site. According to those on the subreddit, a quick search of the names, which included monikers such as Neriah and Samiyah, found that they were the same names as several missing children.

Is it possible Wayfair involved in Human trafficking with their WFX Utility collection? Or are these just extremely overpriced cabinets? (Note the names of the cabinets) this makes me sick to my stomach if its true from conspiracy

This led many online to speculate and theorize a truly horrific allegation: that the company is engaged in child trafficking. Soon after starting on Reddit, the theories picked up steam on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Heres everything you need to know about the Wayfair child trafficking allegations.

For those who arent into interior design, or just really love Ikea (and who could blame you?), the name Wayfair may not be super familiar. Founded in 2002, the online home store sells furniture and accessories. And unlike Ikea and other furniture stores like Structube, many of the pieces sold on Wayfair.com are from different companies and not their own in-house brand.

This is far from the first time the company has come under scrutiny for reported bad behaviour. In June 2019, employees of the furniture brand walked off the job in protest of the companys low-key support of the Trump governments anti-migrant policy and detainment camps. ICYMI, Wayfair had a deal in which they provided government contractors with beds for the camps that house detained migrants at the United States border (camps that have been referred to by U.S. representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as mass concentration camps). Despite the fact that at the time, Wayfair employees requested the company terminate this contract, the company did not oblige.

So yeah, not everyone are big fans of the companyand for very valid reasons.

As inhumane and wrong as the detainment camps in the U.S. are, these latest accusations against Wayfair are even more alarming. As mentioned above, theories that Wayfair is involved in human trafficking (specifically the trafficking of children) arose after a user noted utility closets and storage units for sale on the site, priced between $12,000 to $14,500price points they felt were exorbitant. Is it possible Wayfair involved in Human trafficking with their WFX Utility collection? the user wrote alongside a photo of the cabinets in question. Or are these just extremely overpriced cabinets? (Note the names of the cabinets) this makes me sick to my stomach if its true :(.

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Is it possible Wayfair involved in Human trafficking with their WFX Utility collection? Or are these just extremely overpriced cabinets? (Note the names of the cabinets) this makes me sick to my stomach if its true from conspiracy

Asfact-checking websiteSnopesnotes, because of this initial post, users online started to search for *other* home goods on the site that were similarly oddly priced. As the website notes, one user on Twitter shared a set of pillows and a shower curtain listed at $9,999 (which is a Drake-level price for something like pillow cases). When compared to similar itemslisted at only $99.99, for instancethe user decided that the discrepancy in prices must be attributed to the fact that the first listing was actually a listing for purchasing a child. The user tweeted (then deleted): If you search bungalow rose a bunch of shower curtains and pillows show up priced at $9,999. Wayfair is fucking trafficking children what the FUCK. Same with other things. They all have big price jumps to like 10 grand. Wayfair also supplies the furniture at ICE detention centers, where children are going MISSING from.

As Snopes statesin the same article: This claim is largely based on the idea that $10,000 is simply too expensive for a cabinet, and that there has to be some other explanation child trafficking to justify its cost.

More allegations soon cropped up on social media. Per MediaWisea Poynter-runnon-profit project that teaches Americans how to sort fact from fiction onlinemany Twitter users began claiming that searching the Stock Unit Number (SKU) for each Wayfair product on Russian search engine Yandex, which is similar to Google, brought up photos of female children. News organization Newsweek later reported this is untrue.

And, in addition to all of this, an additional theory arose regarding a specific 2016 review of a filing cabinet, priced at $5,000. PerNewsweek,in 2016 a user named Janna from Walnut Creek, CA (an area outside San Francisco), published a review on this particular product. (FWIW, Janne wrote: Checked many other sites and this was a great deal! Fast shipping. Thank you!). In February of this year, a man in Walnut Creek was arrested forhuman trafficking, child pornography and attempted kidnapping. According to The Mercury News, this arrest led to the uncovering of a much larger sex trafficking ring in the area.

What does a February 2020 arrest have to do with a 2016 review by someone who sounds like a lady from your moms book club? Nothing, most likely. But many people online have claimed the two incidents are linked.

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There have also been unsubstantiated and unverified reports that Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah has stepped down amid the allegations,which has only helped to fuel rumours of trafficking more. [In an email to FLARE, a spokesperson for the company said: Thereisno truth to that rumor, our CEO has not stepped down].

Perhaps because this Wayfair conspiracy theory is happening shortly after the arrest of Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator and former GFGhislaine Maxwell, there have been attempts to connect Wayfair to the now-deceased disgraced billionaire. A 2003 photo of Maxwellwho was arrested on July 2 on charges that she helped recruit, groom and abuse minorshas gone viral in light of the allegations against the company, with many people online claiming that the man beside Maxwell is president of operations for Wayfair, Bill Hutcherson. But as Heavystates in a July 12 article, this claim is not true. An April 28, 2004 photo round-up in Tatlertaken at the December 2003 Aspreys New York Flagship launchin which Maxwell is wearing the same outfit and pictured with the same man, identifies him as George Bamford. Bamford is the founder of Bamford Watch Design, a company that launched in 2004 and which specializes in high-end watch customization.

In addition, Wayfair (which launched in 2002 under the name CSN Stores, according to Heavy), has never had a president of operations on its payroll. So, it would appear that the company doesnt have any overt links to Epstein and Maxwell.

According to Newsweek, who spoke with Reddit user PrincessPeach1987 (the user refused to reveal their real name), the theory originated after the poster began to search garage storage with their husband. The poster told Newsweek that while they were initially not suspicious of the pricing, additional posts on Facebook purporting similar scenarios caused them to become suspicious. According to the outlet, the user said they are involved in a local organization that helps victims of human trafficking, which has led them to be suspicious most of the time now. Per the outlet, they characterized their Reddit post as an effort to see if anyone else had more details.

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The Wayfair conspiracy theory follows several other theories of international pedophilia rings involving celebrities and high-ranking officials, like Pizzagate.

Since news of the theory began circulating, the company has denied any involvement with child trafficking. In a statement to Newsweek, Wayfair said: There is, of course, no truth to these claims. The products in question are industrial grade cabinets that are accurately priced. Recognizing that the photos and descriptions provided by the supplier did not adequately explain the high price point, we have temporarily removed the products from site to rename them and to provide a more in-depth description and photos that accurately depict the product to clarify the price point.

Unlike the IRL facts and legitimate evidence against Wayfair when it came to outfitting migrant detainment camps, these latest theories appear to be untrue (and in fact, Snopes has labelled the allegations definitively as a hoax). Which is good to know and have clarified. Something else that should be made crystal clear? The fact that conspiracy theories like this are *extremely* dangerous. Not only does it spread massive disinformation (often to people who may not be aware of ways to properly fact-check these allegations) thanks in large part to the viral nature and longevity of content on the internet, but they also do a disservice to the very real and very harmful reality of human sex trafficking in North America.

In Canada, human traffickingespecially of children and teensis incredibly prevalent. 2016 data from Statistics Canada on human trafficking (the most recent stats to date) found that 72% victims of human trafficking were under 25 years old and90% of sex trafficking victims are females. And circulating unsubstantiated hoaxes like these minimize the importance of, not to mention detract attention and resources away from, these real victims and perpetrators. And, these unsubstantiated conspiracy theories can have almost dire consequences. In 2016, a North Carolina man walked into a Washington D.C. pizzeria with a semiautomatic rifle, handgun and a folding knife, under the guise that he was saving captive children from a satanic sex ring run by Hillary Clinton in the basement of the pizzeria, a theory reported by InfoWars host Alex Jones (InfoWars is a far-right American conspiracy theory and fake news website). As reported by Rolling Stonein a November 2017 article on the consequences of hoaxes and fake news, there were no children being held captive and the pizzeria didnt even have a basement.

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The idea of a furniture company selling children is absolutely appallingand its entirely understandable that people would hear these allegations and get upset. Its also crucial that people look deeper into allegations and theories on the internet before posting or re-posting said claims.

FLARE has reached out to Wayfair for comment. The article will be updated with their response

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Should You Be Worried About Wayfair and Human Trafficking? - FLARE

BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 14, 2020 / StemSation International, Inc. (OTC PINK:STSN) - a pioneer in the emerging category of dietary supplements called Stem Cell Nutrition, announces strong industry trends should favorably impact its growth. https://www.newhope.com/market-data-and-analysis/analysts-take-online-supplement-sales-projected-double-between-2019-and

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, online dietary supplement sales are projected to grow from $5 billion in 2019 to over $10 billion in 2022. Sales in 2020 are projected to grow 61.4% as stay-at-home orders drive more people to e-commerce and many are then expected to remain loyal to this channel.

Ray Carter, StemSation's President and CEO commented, "it appears that current dynamics related to the pandemic are accelerating the positive trends towards dietary supplement purchasing. Our unique products are positioned to capture consumer attention and the efficacy of our formulations will keep them coming back for more". https://www.stemsation.global/www/en/us/products/category#categories=all

StemSation's all-natural products focus on supporting the two most recently discovered biological systems of the human body, the stem cell system of renewal and repair, and the endocannabinoid system of regulating physiological functions in both the central and peripheral nervous system and in peripheral organs. https://www.stemsation.global/www/en/us/about/

StemSation markets and sells its products online through its growing team of Independent Wellness Advocates in the United States and Europe, who each receive a StemSation replicated website in four languages and currencies. http://www.stemsation.global

StemSation is a company with a long-term health mission', ambitious research goals, and innovative, holistic approaches to health & wellness, and healthy longevity. Our product line shows a new pathway to wellness.

ABOUT STEMSATION INTERNATIONAL, INC.

StemSation International, Inc. (OTC PINK:STSN) develops, manufactures and distributes natural wellness products that support the stem cell and endocannabinoid systems in the human body through using a direct selling model in which Independent Wellness Advocates ("IWAs") advertise and sell its products directly to consumers. StemSation is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida and its website can be located at http://www.stemsation.global.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nicholas B. Panza, Vice-President StemSation International, Inc. 7777 Glades Road Suite 203 Boca Raton, FL 33434 npanza@stemsationusa.com (561) 245-7454

SOURCE: StemSation International, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/597328/Dietary-Supplement-Sales-Projected-to-Double-Over-Next-3-Years-COVID-19-Stay-At-Home-Orders-Drive-New-Loyal-Consumers

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Your source for the latest NIKE, Inc. stories

sustainability

July 14, 2020

From game-changing football kits made of recycled plastic bottlesto the more climate-friendly development ofNike Air, NIKE, Inc. has a decades-long history in sustainable design and innovation. With a rally cry to help protectthe future of sport, the charge to envision a better world has inspired a steady progression of ambitious benchmarks and more radical product.

With Move to Zero, NIKE, Inc.sjourney towardzero carbon and zero waste, our mindset is clear. Acceleratedinvestigation of the varied opportunities in circular design combine with an unwavering optimism.

A creative spark permeating through NIKE, Inc.s product line managers, materials design directors, color materials graphics directors and innovation and sustainable design leads reminds that, at its core, the future of sustainable design and innovation is driven by human ingenuity.

New product from across all three NIKE, Inc. brands underscores the energy aroundcircular design principlesand the unified end-to-end effort required for progress. Exploratory design is highly visible through Nikes Space Hippie and Revival lines, the Jordan Brand Crater collection and Converse Crater and Renew footwear.

While each of these examples offer an overt aesthetic statement on the dynamic promise of circular design, thepromise of a better future is no less apparent in subtler articulations.

Across Converse, Jordan and Nike, teams are sweating the details and enacting creative solutions at all levels of product creation. Considerations are made for trims, dye techniques, pattern efficiencies and material sourcing. Individually, on any given product, the impact is near hidden to the naked eye. However, when combined and scaled, the effect of these changes is significant. Check outthe highlighted sustainably-designedproducts on nike.com for evidence.

Here, representatives of Converse, Jordan Brand and Nike discuss the challenge and joy of the effort.

Seana Hannah, Vice President, NXT Sustainable InnovationThere are plenty of problems to solve when it comes to sustainability. It requires radical thinking, experimenting and failing over and over again until we come up with new solutions. The future is just waiting to be defined and we love that opportunity.

Brandon Avery, VP, Global Innovation, ConverseWhen you think about design or innovation, you're solving a problem or a challenge. Creativity in this regard comes with some guidelines or parameters. Creativity grows when you see a measurable impact that you can make.

Jessica LAbbe, Senior Director, Color Materials Graphics, ConverseDesigners are really great at creative problem solving. Wetry to challenge the design teams to think about ways to make things better. We found that by putting principles of circularityas a core tenant of our creative strategy, it really helps keep it front and center throughout the product creation process.

LeMar Anglin, Senior Product Line Manager, Jordan BrandWe're trying to reduce waste and inefficiencies, but we also are embracing what Jordan fans are considering in terms of longevity and durability. The problem of designing with sustainability in mindapplies a lovely pressure that will, you know, help us make some diamonds.

Noah Murphy-Reinhertz,NXT Sustainability Design Lead, NikeThat idea of pressure and how that drives us to somethingbeautiful speaks to the power of creativity in sports too. In sport there's practice. There's preparation. But then there are moments in competition where youre up against an incredible challenge, and the improvisation required to surmount it becomes magical.

Julia Barrett, Textile Director, NikeMy inspiration comes fromlooking at a process that has been set. Everybody thinks it's the most efficient way to do it; it's perfected. And then to put a whole new lens on that process that allows you to see it differently. You see the waste that comes out of it differently and all the byproducts. It allows you to say, "Hey, hold on."

Linai Vaz, PhD,Global Director Textiles Apparel, NikeI have an interesting, varied background, having a PhD in biomechanics and sports performance. I tend to look at things from a different angle. And that is a great way to guide your work when you are thinking about sustainability. We need to look at more creative ways to solve the problems and to really think in terms of a holistic approach.

Jessica Lomax, Senior Creative Director, NSW Womens Apparel, NikeWe are approaching apparel design with new questions. How can we use as little of a fabric to create what were after? It'salmost like a mathproblem. Its really interesting, because it can affect shapes and how you lay things.

Ivan Martini, Product Line Manager, NSW Footwear, NikePrinciples of sustainability have become a mindset for how we create products now. We may want the end result to look like it could fit naturally in a Nike catalog, but when we add a design filter of sustainable parameters, weve got to view the process differently. For instance, we can look at pattern efficiency, as Jessica mentioned, as a vehicle for reducing waste.

Murphy-ReinhertzWe're working at this very upstream part of the process right now, trying to reimagine the toolkit people use in product creation. We need to look at things with a big, wide view. Because weve got to provide something really flexible. We are thinking about a circular design that is flexible, accessible and doesn't require much technical investment. It cant be prohibitive for other people to use.

LomaxI think the power of materials is really important. We're always looking at low-impact materials and trends. But another thing we focus on is longevity, how we design things that can last for a long time. That includes durable materials, but also how you reinforce seams and apply graphics. All of the steps matter.

BarrettI come from a history of trims. It's a space where thats sort of the end of the line for a lot of designers, but changing the process there has a huge impact.We're dealing a lot with the raw material, the base that everything starts with. Im invested in figuring out the small aspects in our portion of the product creation that we can then funnel back into the other things were making.

MartiniWorking in the most foundational level of footwear, we see value in small changes to things that are sort of unseen. For example, we convert the sockliner of all our shoes to a 100-percentrecycled liner. It could havea massive, massive impact for Nike.

HannahIn product innovation, we are thinking about the small solutions and the big concepts at the same time. We also think of solutions that add to our tool box. These are the different elements that we can put together in new ways. Some examples are materials like FlyLeather, which incorporates the leather scraps from hides combined with synthetic fibersinto a new engineered leather material.Space Waste yarn is another example; we combinerecycled polyester with T-shirt and yarnscraps to create a new yarn that can be used in both footwear and apparel.

AveryThere are lots of pieces to this puzzle. You have to think about them all together.

AnglinCreating an emotional connection is one of the most important ways to create an authentic and honest relationship between new ideas and consumers.

LAbbeA lot of times we think about materials at their inception, but what about all the materials that already exist? Could we look at those just the same, and really embrace the value that those can still hold?

AveryWe call it emotional innovation. For example, if we reuse a material, something thats already had a journey and a life, there's a really interesting story to tell trash becomes treasure.

VazIt's now okay to show that a product is made with sustainable materials, it's out in the open.

BarrettBefore, we thought imperfection wasnt good. Now, we're embracing it and that is what makes for a really emotional connection with our products.

HannahWe arent interested in the moon and moonshots, theres way more opportunity to focus on the Earth with our big ideas. Earthshots are expressions of the future. They show whats possible and push us to all think differently. Space Hippie is the perfect example of this. The team took on the huge challenge of trying to create the lowest carbon footprint shoe Nikes ever made and created a shoe that is made with at least 25-to50-percent recycled content. To do that, they started with what was right in front of the them the waste from the creation of other shoes. The constraints they put on themselves were really, really tough and they ended up breaking the boundaries of design and sustainability to achieve their goal. We have many more Earthshots in the pipeline, so there is plenty of inspiration coming.

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Nike, Converse and Jordan Brand Discuss the Future of Sustainable Design and Innovation - Nike News