Digital Medicine And Remote Monitoring Receives Boost From New Playbook – Forbes

Digital medicine

A new Digital Measures Playbook was unveiled to help doctors and companies develop safe and effective clinical measures across patient care, research and public health. This is the latest multidisciplinary effort co-led by Elektra Labs and the Digital Medicine Society (DiME), a volunteer professional group created to drive scientific progress and broad acceptance of digital medicine to enhance public health in partnership with industry and academia.

The goal of The Playbook is to is provide an essential guide for successful remote monitoring across clinical research, clinical care, and public health. It is the result of collaborators from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Elektra Labs, Koneksa, Myokardia, Sage Bionetworks, Scripps Research as well as DiME. This first guide will be followed by an educational series, The PlaybookMasterclass, with interdisciplinary experts leading instructional sessions.

The value of remote patient monitoring dramatically increased with the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors need to closely track concerning symptoms such as worsening dyspnea from a distance. Physician scientists have called for digital systems that can provide vigilant evaluations of patients in the home for COVID-19 and also could be adapted to manage a variety of clinical conditions including hypertension, diabetes, or heart failure, where frequent human contact might be supplemented or partially replaced with digital automation and remote monitoring.

The current public health crises requires improvements in remotely monitoring and managing clinical research, routine care, and public health initiatives.The Playbookwill help address clinicians possible lack of experience implementing remote technologies by merging various frameworks for a 'how to' guide. Remote monitoring technologies are now advanced in their capabilities to detect symptoms of health and disease," said Jennifer Goldsack, executive director of DiME.

A critical benefit of remote monitoring using connected sensors is to offer a more holistic view of disease and lived experience by collecting important medical information continuously. The Playbookwill provide the foundational elements of developing and deploying high quality digital clinical measures that cut across use cases and positioning our field for a shared digital health data ecosystem, said Andy Coravos, CEO of Elektra Labs.

COVID-19 has been called an digital accelerant for remote monitoring while patients stay away from clinical settings. As research and care shift from hospital to home, there has been more adoption in the past few months in remote technologies. However, the need for sophisticated use of endpoints and digital data continues. For example, questions persist such as which digital clinical measures will best predict COVID-19 while patients are still pre-symptomatic.

Healthcare data

Efforts like the Playbook help address some concerning aspects of healthcare as costs continue to be unacceptably high coupled with with poor outcomes. Remote monitoring systems have the potential to shift this trend and be more patient-centered. Simultaneously, consumer technology giants such as Apple, Google Verily, Fitbit and Samsung have gotten clearances for personal monitoring devices, and are beginning to get broad adoption with the public, yet researchers and doctors need guidelines for how to use digital health data from remote devices.

Benchmarking digital clinical measures is an essential step in building confidence in how doctors interpret data from remote monitoring. The Playbook helps establish a roadmap for foundational processes in successful remote monitoring. Additionally different types of digital endpoints can be used in clinical trials, and to provide different levels of evidence about new medical product and interventions.

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Digital Medicine And Remote Monitoring Receives Boost From New Playbook - Forbes

Construction begins on new UW Medicine teaching facility in Spokane – Dailyuw

The UW-Gonzaga health partnership, UW School of Medicines Eastern Washington program, had been hoping for its own building since its establishment in 2016.

Right after we launched our partnership with them, we increased our class size by 20 students, Kim Blakeley, the UW Medicine director of communications for medical education, said. We were pretty packed.

The new medical education, health sciences, and innovation building which broke ground last week in Spokane will be the future home of 120 first- and second-year medical students, 30 to 35 MEDEX Northwest physician assistant (PA) program students, 225 human physiology students, and over 300 nursing and undergraduate health science students.

According to Blakeley, integrating so many disciplines of health science into one building allows for interprofessional proximity that encourages training across specialties.

It will give our medical students the opportunity to work more closely with nursing students, with PA students, Blakeley said. Theres also undergraduate health science students taking courses in the facility. It may interest a number of students in pursuing a career in medicine.

Previously, medical students had been renting the anatomy lab from Washington State University in Spokane. The upcoming four-story building will feature classrooms and labs, research space, administrative offices, and solar energy generation. It will also house a new anatomy lab to call its own.

The building is being built and managed by McKinstry, with UW Medicine and Gonzaga as the anchor tenants. McKinstry owns the Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad (SIERR) building next door, historically an electric streetcar repair station, which will be included in the new medical education hub and house MEDEX Northwest student classrooms.

The entire fourth floor of the new building will likely be dedicated to research and, according to Blakeley, other private industries related to health, wellness, and medicine.

Dedicating a 90,000-square foot building to health science education in Spokane reflects UW Medicines commitment to training physicians to practice in rural areas. Each of the WWAMI states (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) have UW Medicine campuses partnered with a local university that train residents and coordinate clerkship rotations among all five states once students reach their third year.

When they graduate, they all have UW School of Medicine diplomas, and the curriculum is the same throughout the region, Blakeley said. The opportunity to travel around, its a really unique system.

The interest in rural medicine appears to be increasing among new generations of medical schools. According to Blakeley, when UW Medicine first began in Pullman nearly 50 years ago, students who intended to attend the Seattle campus would say they had been WWAMI-ed to Spokane when the school placed them there instead.

Now that has flipped around, Blakeley said. All of the students in Spokane now are students who choose to be there.

Blakeley cites that over 50% of the graduates in Spokane remain in Eastern Washington to practice. Establishing more opportunities for residency in non-urban areas is the challenge of retaining physicians, since the location of residency is a major predictor of where someone will practice.

In rural areas, the physician work force is not adequate, Blakeley said. Thats the reason WWAMI was started in the first place: to train a physician workforce for the five-state region that struggles to get physicians to work in these small towns.

UW-Gonzaga hopes the new building set to open in August 2022 will expand the medical program from its current capacity of 60 per cohort to 80.

Reach reporter Theresa Li at news@dailyuw.comTwitter: @lithere_sa

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Construction begins on new UW Medicine teaching facility in Spokane - Dailyuw

Caladrius Biosciences to Present at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine’s Virtual Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa – GlobeNewswire

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLBS) (Caladrius or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of cellular therapies designed to reverse, not manage, disease, announced today that its Chief Medical Officer, Douglas W. Losordo, M.D., FACC, FAHA, will present at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicines (ARM) Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa, being held virtually on October 12-16, 2020.

The 2020 Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa will be delivered in a virtual format over the course of five days where attendees will be able to watch company presentations on-demand, in addition to two live-streaming panels each day. The Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa is the sectors foremost annual conference, bringing together senior executives and top decision-makers in the industry to advance cutting-edge research into cures. Tackling the commercialization hurdles facing the cell and gene therapy sector today, this meeting covers a wide range of topics from clinical trial design to alternative payment models to scale-up and supply chain platforms for advanced therapies.

For more information on the conference, or to register, please visithttps://www.meetingonthemesa.com.

About Caladrius Biosciences

Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of cellular therapies designed to reverse, not manage, disease. We are developing first-in-class cell therapy products based on the notion that our body contains finely tuned mechanisms for self-repair. Our technology leverages and enables these mechanisms in the form of specific cells, using formulations and modes of delivery unique to each medical indication.

The Companys current product candidates include CLBS119, a CD34+ cell therapy product candidate for the repair of lung damage found in patients with severe COVID-19 infection who have experienced respiratory failure, for which the Company plans to initiate a clinical trial in the coming weeks as well as three developmental treatments for ischemic diseases based on its CD34+ cell therapy platform: HONEDRA (formerly CLBS12), recipient of SAKIGAKE designation and eligible for early conditional approval in Japan for the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) based on the results of an ongoing clinical trial; CLBS16, the subject of a recently completed positive Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. for the treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD); and CLBS14, a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designated therapy for which the Company has finalized with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) a protocol for a Phase 3 confirmatory trial in subjects with no-option refractory disabling angina (NORDA). For more information on the company, please visit http://www.caladrius.com.

Contact:

Investors:Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.John MendittoVice President, Investor Relations and Corporate CommunicationsPhone:+1-908-842-0084Email:jmenditto@caladrius.com

Media:W2O GroupChristiana PascalePhone: +1-212-257-6722Email:cpascale@w2ogroup.com

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Caladrius Biosciences to Present at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine's Virtual Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa - GlobeNewswire

CLINE FAMILY MEDICINE PRESENTS 13TH ANNUAL HEALTH AND FITNESS FAIR: Friday, October 16 – The Light and Champion

CLINE FAMILY MEDICINE PRESENTS13 TH ANNUAL HEALTH AND FITNESS FAIR

The 13 th Annual Health and Fitness Fair, Presented by Cline Family Medicine will be held nextweek on Friday, October 16th at the Windham Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon. GoldSponsors Focused Care of Center, Hope Community Medicine and Nacogdoches MedicalCenter also helped in making the event a success.

This years theme is Healthy Living. Healthy Living is when our physical and mental health arein balance and functioning well. Healthy Living is a lifestyle choice which includes healthyeating, regular exercise and good sleep habits. Experts will be available at the Fair withinformation to help you achieve your Healthy Living goals.

Clines Family Medicine will be offering Flu Shots. There will be new vendors and newinformation.

A Scavenger Hunt will be held again with three drawings at the end of the Health Fair. Prizesinclude ear buds, a healthy gift basket and a 32-Inch Flat Screen TV. Attendees and vendorsare invited to participate in finding items throughout the fair.

The fair is free to the public featuring over 30 vendors with give aways and door prizes. Maskswill be required and available.

The purpose and goal of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee andthe Health and Fitness Fair is to educate Shelby County and the surrounding areas about healthcare resources available in the area and about their personal health. There will be a variety ofhealth screenings available including glucose, cholesterol, bone density, spinal screenings,heart awareness, diabetes information, allergy testing information and vision.

For more information please contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at(936) 598-3682, email info@shelbycountychamber.com or visit http://www.shelbycountychamber.com.

Here is some more info - Cline's Flu Shots for $25.00 or insurance card and info on the new Body Lab. Hope Community Medicine - Mental Health and Breast Cancer Awareness info. CHI St. Lukes - Diabetes Information. Cornerstone Physical Therapy and Balance Center - Balance Testing. Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders (SFA) - Hearing Screenings.

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CLINE FAMILY MEDICINE PRESENTS 13TH ANNUAL HEALTH AND FITNESS FAIR: Friday, October 16 - The Light and Champion

Global Precision Medicine Market 2020-2030: Market to Reach $278.61 Billion by 2030 – A Frontier in the Genesis of Patient-centric Medicine – WFMZ…

DUBLIN, Oct. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Precision Medicine Market: Focus on Ecosystem, Technology, Application, Country Data (21 Countries), and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Precision Medicine Market to Reach $278.61 Billion by 2030

Precision medicine refers to the medicine developed as per an individual's genetic profile. It provides guidance regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The segmentation of the population is done depending on the genome structure of the individuals and their compatibility with a specific drug molecule.

In the precision medicine market, the application of molecular biology is to study the cause of a patient's disease at the molecular level, so that target-based therapies or individualized therapies can be applied to cure the patient's health-related problems.

This industry is gaining traction due to the increasing awareness about healthcare among individuals, integration of smart devices such as smartphones and tablets into healthcare, and increasing collaborations and agreements of IT firms with the diagnostics and biopharmaceutical companies for the development of precision diagnostic tools.

Within the research report, the market is segmented on the basis of product type, ecosystem application, and region, which highlight value propositions and business models useful for industry leaders and stakeholders. The research also comprises country-level analysis, go-to-market strategies of leading players, future opportunities, among others, to detail the scope and provide 360-degree coverage of the domain.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Product Definition

2 Research Scope

3 Research Methodology

4 Global Precision Medicine Market Overview4.1 Market Definition4.2 Precision Medicine: A Frontier in the Genesis of Patient-centric Medicine4.3 Precision Medicine: Remodeling the One-Size-Fits-All Theory to Individually Tailored Therapy4.4 Initiatives and Programs4.5 Precision Medicine: Enabling Technologies and Applications4.5.1 Innovators4.5.1.1 3D DNA Printing4.5.1.1.1 Introduction4.5.1.1.2 Role of 3D DNA Printing4.5.1.2 RNA-Seq4.5.1.2.1 Introduction4.5.1.2.2 Role of RNA-Seq in Precision Medicine4.5.1.2.3 Key Players4.5.1.3 4D Molecular Imaging4.5.1.3.1 Introduction4.5.1.3.2 Role of 4D Molecular Imaging in Precision Medicine4.5.1.3.3 Key Players4.5.2 Early Adopters4.5.2.1 CRISPR4.5.2.1.1 Introduction4.5.2.1.2 Role of CRISPR in Precision Medicine4.5.2.1.3 Key Players4.5.2.2 Blockchain4.5.2.3 Imaging Informatics4.5.3 Early Majority4.5.3.1 Artificial Intelligence (AI)4.5.3.2 Circulating Free DNA (cfDNA)4.5.3.3 Big Data4.5.3.4 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)4.5.3.5 Health Informatics4.5.3.6 Bioinformatics4.5.4 Late Majority4.5.4.1 Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR)4.5.4.2 Microarray4.6 COVID-19 Impact on the Global Precision Medicine Market

5 Market Dynamics5.1 Overview5.2 Market Drivers5.2.1 Advancement of Sequencing Technologies5.2.2 Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases5.2.3 Growing Demand for Preventive Care5.2.4 Shifting the Significance in Medicine, from Reaction to Prevention5.2.5 Reducing Adverse Drug Reactions Through Pharmacogenomics Test5.2.6 Potential to Reduce the Overall Healthcare Cost Across the Globe5.3 Market Restraints5.3.1 Unified Framework for Data Integration5.3.2 Limited Knowledge about Molecular Mechanism/ Interaction5.3.3 Lack of Robust Reimbursement Landscape5.3.4 Regulatory Hurdles5.4 Market Opportunities5.4.1 Targeted Gene Therapy5.4.2 Expansion into the Emerging Markets5.4.3 Collaboration and Partnerships Across Value Chain to Accelerate the Market Entry

6 Industry Insights6.1 Patent Analysis6.2 Legal Requirements and Regulations6.3 Pipeline Analysis6.4 Legal Requirements and Framework by the FDA6.5 Legal Requirements and Framework by the EMA6.6 Legal Requirements and Framework by the MHLW

7 Competitive Landscape7.1 Synergistic Activities7.1.1 Product launches, Enhancements, and Upgradation7.1.2 Product Approvals7.1.3 Mergers and Acquisitions7.1.4 Business Expansion7.2 Market Share Analysis7.2.1 Market Share Analysis by Applied Sciences, 20197.2.2 Market Share Analysis by Precision Diagnostics, 20197.2.3 Market Share Analysis by Precision Therapeutics, 20197.2.4 Market Share Analysis by Digital Health and IT, 2019

8 Global Precision Medicine Market (by Ecosystem)8.1 Overview8.2 Applied Sciences8.2.1 Genomics8.2.2 Global Precision Medicine Genomics Market (by Technology)8.2.2.1 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)8.2.2.2 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)8.2.2.3 Genome Editing8.2.2.4 Other Technologies8.2.3 Pharmacogenomics8.2.4 Other Applied Sciences8.3 Precision Diagnostics8.3.1 Molecular Diagnostics (MDx)8.3.2 Global Precision Medicine Molecular Diagnostics Market (by Type)8.3.2.1 Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)8.3.2.2 Companion Diagnostics8.3.2.3 Liquid Biopsy8.3.2.4 Other Molecular Diagnostics8.3.3 Medical Imaging8.3.3.1 Global Precision Medicine Medical Imaging Market (by Type)8.3.3.1.1 Imaging Analytics8.3.3.1.2 Imaging Computer-Aided Detection (CADx)8.3.3.2 Global Precision Medicine Medical Imaging Market (by Region)8.4 Digital Health and Information Technology8.4.1 Global Precision Medicine Digital Health and Information Technology Market (by Type)8.4.1.1 Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)8.4.1.2 Big Data Analytics8.4.1.3 IT Infrastructure8.4.1.4 Genomics Informatics8.4.1.5 In-Silico Informatics8.4.1.6 Mobile Health8.5 Precision Therapeutics8.5.1 Global Precision Medicine Therapeutics Market (by Type)8.5.1.1 Clinical Trials8.5.1.2 Cell Therapy8.5.1.3 Drug Discovery and Research8.5.1.4 Gene Therapy

9 Global Precision Medicine Market (by Application)9.1 Overview9.2 Oncology9.2.1 Cancer Precision Medicine Drugs and Indications9.3 Infectious Diseases9.3.1 Infectious Diseases Precision Medicine Drugs and Indications9.4 Neurology9.4.1 Neurology Precision Medicine Drugs and Indications9.5 Cardiovascular9.5.1 Cardiovascular Precision Medicine Drugs/Tests/ and Indications9.6 Lifestyle and Endocrinology9.6.1 Endocrinology Precision Medicine Drugs and Indications9.7 Gastroenterology9.7.1 Gastroenterology Precision Medicine Drugs and Indications9.8 Other Applications9.8.1 Precision Drugs for Other Applications

10 Global Precision Medicine Market, (by Region)

11 Company Profiles11.1 Company Overview11.2 Role of Abbott Laboratories in Global Precision Medicine Market11.3 Financials11.4 Key Insights About Financial Health of the Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/45j44d

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and MarketsLaura Wood, Senior Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com

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Global Precision Medicine Market 2020-2030: Market to Reach $278.61 Billion by 2030 - A Frontier in the Genesis of Patient-centric Medicine - WFMZ...

Lesson of the Day: Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times – The New York Times

Option 1: Create a Laughter First-Aid Box.

In the article, Mary Laskin, a nurse case manager, said she recommended laughter first-aid boxes for her patients, where they can stash joke books, funny toys and other props for this purpose.

Assemble your own laughter first-aid box. It can be a physical kit like the one pictured above, or a collection of digital artifacts, such as funny video and movie recommendations, entertaining social media accounts to follow, a playlist of songs that make you chuckle, or anything else.

Make a list of all the things you would include in your box. Then, if you have time, put it together and send it to someone you care about or squirrel it away for yourself when youre in need of cheering up.

Option 2: Play With Your Pain.

Try this exercise suggested in the article:

Charlie Chaplin once said, In order to truly laugh you need to be able to take your pain and play with it, said Paul Osincup, the president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Write down all of the most difficult and annoying things about quarantine, Mr. Osincup recommends. Play with those. See if you can find any humor in your situation.

Once youve created your list, see if you can find something to laugh about in any of the things you wrote down. Then choose one of those experiences and make something funny from it. You might write a joke or a tweet, perform a comedy sketch or a stand-up bit, create a meme or a TikTok video. Whatever you make, share it with someone to make them laugh.

Then, reflect: What was it like to take your pain and play with it? What was the response when you shared your joke with others? How did that feel?

Option 3: Weigh In on Our Related Student Opinion Question.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, we asked students, Is It OK to Laugh During Dark Times?

Many students said yes. Julia Grandpre from Sarasota, Fla., wrote:

It is very important that we continue to laugh during these times. As a person who tends to dwell in negative thoughts, I believe that laughter is the best medicine right now. To find the fun in this situation, is not to take away from its severity, its just a coping mechanism As people we need a bright side to look for, and since we are quarantined, laughter and the sharing of creativity is the best way to bring us together.

But a few, like Lauren Ackermann from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., warned:

Honestly, I see our generation as one where it has become easier than ever to make what some would call insensitive jokes about pretty much anything because its easier to laugh at a dark joke on a screen just like its easier to cyber bully someone through a screen. In both cases, you dont directly see who you would impact by making a comment so you become disconnected from possible consequences. It might make you feel better to post that witty comment about people dying from coronavirus, but we all need to be mindful about how that comment would be perceived by people whose lives have been torn apart by the event you just laughed at.

What do you think? Read what else teenagers had to say, then add your voice to the conversation.

About Lesson of the Day

Find all our Lessons of the Day in this column. Teachers, watch our on-demand webinar to learn how to use this feature in your classroom.

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Lesson of the Day: Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times - The New York Times

Penn Medicine finds hydroxychloroquine ineffective in preventing COVID-19 – The Daily Pennsylvanian

Researchers did not see an effect associated with hydroxychloroquine among the study participants. (Photo by Ajale on Pixabay)

Hydroxychloroquine is no more effective than a placebo in preventing COVID-19, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found.

There was no difference in infection rates among health care workers who took the drug daily and those who took a placebo, according to Penn Medicine News. The study was published on Sept. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association: Internal Medicine.

A placebo is a medical treatment designed to deceive a participant in a clinical experiment because it does not contain any active ingredients.

While the researchers did not see an effect associated with HCQ, overall infection rates remained low among participants, Penn Medicine News reported. The researchers believe this is the result of the effectiveness of other prevention methods, such as social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, and proper hand hygiene.

The study included 125 health care workers from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, including the emergency departments and COVID-19 units.

Associate professor of medicine Ravi Amaravadi and professor of emergency medicine Benjamin Abella led the clinical trials. Between April 9 and July 14, roughly half of the participants received HCQ and roughly half received a matching placebo.

At the end of the study, 6.3% of those who took HCQ tested positive and 6.6% of those who took the placebo tested positive. There was also no difference detected in the heart rhythms of either group, which showed that while the drug did not prevent against COVID-19, it was not detrimental aside from temporary side effects, Penn Medicine News reported.

To really test the potential of HCQ as a prevention drug, we felt it was key to recruit health care workers with many hours of direct physical exposure to COVID-19 patients, then randomize them in a double-blind manner between hydroxychloroquine or a matching placebo, and treat them for a long period of time, Amaravadi told Penn Medicine News.

At the start of the pandemic, studies suggested HCQ which is used to treat arthritis and malaria could be an effective treatment for COVID-19, but follow-up studies have found less promising results, The New York Times reported.

The drug gained national prominence in March when President and 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump tweeted about it as a potential COVID-19 treatment. Trump, who announced he tested positive for the virus on Friday, announced in May that he was taking the drug.

A lot of good things have come out. Youd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front line workers, Trump said at the White House. "I happen to be taking it."

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Penn Medicine finds hydroxychloroquine ineffective in preventing COVID-19 - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Penn Medicine Researchers Receive Prestigious National Institutes of Health Directors Awards – Newswise

Newswise PHILADELPHIA Picture a future where embedded medical devices not only treat and teach patients, but learn from them. Imagine chronic pain being managed without the negative side effects of opioids. Penn Medicine researchers are working to make those scenarios a reality. These initiatives are among innovative new National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded efforts that are mapping the future of medicine.

The NIH has selected two researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania to receive its prestigious Directors Awards, part of the NIH Common Funds High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program honoring exceptionally creative scientists. Brian Litt, MD, a professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Bioengineering, was honored with a Pioneer Award for $5.6 million, supporting novel neurodevice research. Gregory Corder, PhD, an assistant professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, was selected as a New Innovator Award winner, receiving $2.4 million for research investigating the mechanisms of chronic pain.

This NIH initiative, designed to fuel research endeavors that are more opened-ended and have a potentially broader effect on scientific understanding compared to more traditional research, awards these to scientists to support research over a five-year period. The 2020 Penn recipients are among 85 awardees nationally:

Pioneer Award Ghost in the Machine: Melding Brain, Computer and Behavior

The Pioneer Award challenges investigators to pursue new research directions and develop groundbreaking, high-impact approaches to a broad area of biomedical or behavioral science. This award supports Litts work to develop a new generation of autonomous neurodevicesimplanted machines that can question, record, and combine learning algorithms based on neurological signals and feedback to act and alter human behavior on the fly.

In epilepsy, for example, these devices would predict and prevent seizures; in Parkinsons patients, implants will measure and communicate with patients to improve mobility, reduce tremor and enhance responsiveness. Other implants might improve hearing or psychiatric symptoms by querying patient perceptions, feelings, and altering stimulation patterns algorithmically to improve them. The loop is closed in real time, so the host can change their behavior based upon device feedback to improve their health.

Imagine this: A 30 year-old veteran walks into a bar. None of the patrons are aware of the anti-seizure device in his brain, or the traumatic brain injury that requires it. After he drinks a beer, his phone vibrates with a text from the implantable device asking what hes doing and sharing his probability of a seizure has increased. And with a quick explanation from the veteran, the device stimulates and suggests avoiding a second beverage, Litt explains. Were working towards this future, with the help of the Pioneer Award.

This is a paradigm shift from todays simple devices, which rely on physicians to give device feedback to patients and change simple parameters by hand during occasional office visits. Litts goal is to build a foundation for responsive implants that can collaborate with hosts, linking human experience and perception to machine algorithms, actions, and therapy, predicting and preventing events before they start. Not only will the patient teach the device, but the device will teach the patient.

Grant ID: DP1 NS122038-01.

New Innovator Award Harnessing Cortical Neuromodulation to Disrupt Pain Perception

The New Innovator Award supports unusually innovative research from early career investigators who have not yet received a research project grant or equivalent NIH grant. The award will support Corders efforts to research the mechanisms of chronic paina major health crisis in the United States, affecting millions, and a driver of the opioid epidemic.

Corders goal is to identify which parts of the brain are important for pain perception and which circuits impact pain relief from opioids. He hopes to decode how this neural activity evolves during chronic pain. Once the brain circuits and pathways that contribute to the suffering and perception of pain are identified, they can be targeted for potential therapeutics which could be more effective at reducing pain and without the addictive elements of prescription opioids.

Corder envisions these next generation pain therapeutics leveraging viral-delivered cell-specific gene therapies to disrupt the pain-processing circuits in the cortex. This would will allow patients to sense pain but without the unpleasant aversion.

We currently have a limited understanding of the neural pathways in the brain that contribute to pain, which has been a significant barrier for treating pain efficiently, without negative side effects. But, if we can identify and understand these circuits, we can then try to rewrite the neural code of pain, Corder said. Picture being able to specifically target the one desired brain region or circuit that processes pain in order to provide pain relief. This research will help us lay the groundwork for new classes of therapeutics, which could have a profound and broad impact for treating patients with chronic pain, while reducing the burden of the national opioid crisis.

Grant ID: DP2 GM140923-01.

###

Penn Medicineis one of the worlds leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of theRaymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nations first medical school) and theUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $8.6 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according toU.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $494 million awarded in the 2019 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health Systems patient care facilities include: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Centerwhich are recognized as one of the nations top Honor Roll hospitals byU.S. News & World ReportChester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; and Pennsylvania Hospital, the nations first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.

Penn Medicine is powered by a talented and dedicated workforce of more than 43,900 people. The organization also has alliances with top community health systems across both Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, creating more options for patients no matter where they live.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2019, Penn Medicine provided more than $583 million to benefit our community.

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Penn Medicine Researchers Receive Prestigious National Institutes of Health Directors Awards - Newswise

Medicine Nobelist wants science awards to be ‘more inclusive’ – Times Higher Education (THE)

The British-born virologist who shared this years Nobel prize for medicine has called on award committees to be more inclusive and expansive when recognising scientific achievements but has dismissed speculation that he might have turned down sciences top award because his collaborators had not been recognised.

When Michael Houghton was named one of three winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the hepatitisC virus on 5October, some pundits flagged the London-born scientists previous criticism of other academic awards that, like the Nobels, have chosen to honour only a select group of individuals linked to a scientific discovery.

In 2013, Professor Houghton, who is the Canada Excellence research chair in virology and LiKaShing professor of virology at the University of Alberta, turned down the C$100,000 (58,000) Canada Gairdner International Award because his colleagues Qui-Lim Choo and George Kuo, with whom he worked for seven years at the California-based biotech firm Chiron, were not recognised.

However, at a press conference this week, Professor Houghton said in response to a question from Times Higher Education that it would be too presumptuous of me to turn down aNobel.

The Nobel is the longest traditional prize in all fields, not just biomedicine and their regulations and processes are based on Alfred Nobels will, said Professor Houghton.

His decision to reject the Gairdner Prize was an entirely different situation, he explained. That prize, first awarded in 1958, was not as long-standing as the Nobel, and other newer scientific prizes had been more flexible with their rules, Professor Houghton said.

In his case, he had engaged in a discussion with the prizes committee in the hope that it could break a few rules, he explained.

However, discussions had become alittle heated and he felt unable to accept the prize, despite regretting the embarrassment that he, avisitor, had caused by snubbing one of Canadas top biomedicine prizes, he said.

I was trying to influence how awards are given, explained Professor Houghton, who said he believed that newer prizes that modelled themselves on the Nobel with itsmaximum of three winners per prize could instead be more inclusive and expansive.

Major breakthroughs in modern science were notachieved by just three people but probably six or seven, he said, adding that, in future, anumber of committees that are not steeped in the tradition [that] the Nobel [committeeis] could be more inclusive and expansive in recognising these broader scientific teams.

Great science comes from groups of people, and somehow we need to include that into [award] policies, Professor Houghton said of future prize-giving.

In the case of the Nobel committee, it was not feasible to discuss these things with them, he said, referring to its long-standing three-person maximum and the fact that it notifies winners only minutes before announcing their honour.

Professor Houghton, who shared this years medicine prize with the US scientists Harvey Alter and Charles Rice, is only the second Canada-based scientist to claim a medicine Nobel, almost a century after its first winner, insulin co-discoverer Frederick Banting, was honoured in 1923. Professor Houghton took a PhD in biochemistry at Kings College London after undergraduate study at the University of East Anglia. He later moved to Alberta and now splits his time between Canada and California, where his family is based.

David Pendlebury, a senior researcher at Clarivate Analytics, commented that Professor Houghton was a worthy recipient of the Nobel given the public health dimensions of hepatitisC and the importance of this discovery, but his stance on awards had jeopardised not just his inclusion on the award, but recognition of the achievement altogether.

History tells us that the Nobel committee has to make hard choices among possible and competing honorees in order to stay within the Nobel prize rule of three limit, said Dr Pendlebury. With so many worthy discoveries and discoverers waiting, it is always a safer option to choose an award that does not have a priority or credit controversy builtin, he said.

The surprise was the decision to award [the Nobel to hepatitisC researchers] based on the fact that more than three researchers were instrumental in this discovery, demonstrating how much more global and collaborative the research ecosystem is today than in Nobels day.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com

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Medicine Nobelist wants science awards to be 'more inclusive' - Times Higher Education (THE)

Getting COVID-19 blessing in disguise, will get countrymen same medicine that cured me: Trump – The New Indian Express

By PTI

WASHINTON:Describing getting coronavirus that took him to a military hospital for treatment 'a blessing in disguise', US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told the countrymen that he will get them same medicine that cured him for free.

"I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president because I feel great.I feel like perfect.So, I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it.This was a blessing in disguise," Trump said in a video message.

Standing at the Rose Garden outside the Oval office, Trump attributed his fast cure to Regeneron drug along with others.

Trump was admitted to Walter Reed National Medical Center last Friday, a day after he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

He was discharged from the hospital Monday.

On Wednesday Trump went to the Oval office to have a briefing on Hurricane Delta and on coronavirus stimulus.

Less than four weeks before the crucial presidential elections, Trump said he wants Americans to get the same treatment that he received.

"I want to get you what I got, and I'm going to make it free.We're going to get it in to the hospital as soon as you can as soon as we can with military handling the distribution," Trump said, adding that they have "hundreds of thousands of doses that are just about ready".

According to Trump, in addition to Regeneron, there is a very similar drug from Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company.

"They are coming out.And we're trying to get them emergency basis.I've authorised it," he said.

"I walked in (the hospital).I didn't feel good.A short 24 hours later, I was feeling great.I wanted to get out of the hospital and that's what I want for everybody," he said.

Earlier in the day, his physician said Trump has been fever-free for more than four days now and that physical exam and vital signs remain stable and in normal range.

"The President this morning says 'I feel great!' His physical exam and vital signs, including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, all remain stable and in normal range," White House Physician Dr Sean Conley said in a memorandum released Wednesday afternoon.

"He's now been fever-free for more than four days, symptom-free for over 24 hours and has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization," he wrote.

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Getting COVID-19 blessing in disguise, will get countrymen same medicine that cured me: Trump - The New Indian Express

Nature is the best medicine | Events | jhnewsandguide.com – Jackson Hole News&Guide

Whether a multiday backpacking trip, a short hike on your lunch hour or just a little time spent idling outdoors, encounters with the natural world can improve our sense of well-being.

That will be the theme of the 2020 SHIFT Summit, now in its seventh year, which will, for the first time, be broadcast online Oct. 14-16 from Jackson Hole.

The title of this years conference, Healthy by Nature, refers to the mental health benefits reaped from spending time in nature, a pastime that has received increased attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The summit also will emphasize issues of equitable access to the outdoors and its benefits.

The conference is organized by Christian Beckwith, executive director of the nonprofit SHIFT it means Shaping How we Invest For Tomorrow which since 2018 has been exploring how to advance nature as a way to increase health. Though Beckwith is a Republican candidate for the Teton County Board of County Commissioners, SHIFTs message goes across party lines.

Tying the importance of nature to public health benefits creates a nonpartisan argument that all of us are personally invested in for nature, Beckwith said. And we believe that advancing public health as an ecosystem service gives us a powerful argument for the protection of our natural world.

While people have been going outdoors as a safe way to get out of the house during the pandemic, Beckwith said the mental health benefits of nature, such as reduced stress and higher levels of concentration, have not been publicized as much as the physical ones. A 2019 report from Griffith University in Australia estimated that national park visits create mental health benefits valued at around $6 trillion per year worldwide, SHIFT noted in a press release.

This year the intent of SHIFT is to address the benefits of nature that are less often reported. Three days of online presentations will cover research evidence of the mental health benefits, the work of individuals and organizations translating evidence into practice, and the implementation of policy at all government levels.

A few focal points include the benefits specific to children and young adults, the psychological resilience nature provides, and the ways that resource managers can make nature more accessible. Overall the conference seeks to discuss and exemplify nature as a public health delivery system, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the crises that were experiencing right now there is opportunity for seismic social change, Beckwith said. Past pandemics have ushered in completely new ways of thinking. The black plague resulted in the Renaissance. The Spanish flu led us to our current health care system. What were trying to do with this years SHIFT is harness the opportunity to not only center nature more robustly in all of our lives to ensure that we all have safe access to nature, but to rebuild the relationship with the natural world.

The opening speaker, Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-trained medical epidemiologist, will discuss the ways we can leverage this historic moment for positive social change, SHIFTs website states.

Atiya Wells the founder of Backyard Basecamp, an organization that connects Baltimore residents with wildlife, and BLISS Meadows, a social justice project that creates equitable access to green space for Black, Indigenous and People of Color also will give a keynote address on ways to create connections with nature in communities where they are lacking.

With the virtual format, keynote talks will be prerecorded to allow speakers to answer questions via chat during the presentation. Panels will take place live virtually followed by panelists and attendees splitting into breakout rooms for smaller discussions. The full schedule can be found on SHIFTs website.

Beckwith hopes that attendees will take away an understanding of the importance of nature to our mental and spiritual well being, and thereby increase the value of nature in our society.

If we dont get back to valuing nature as a centerpiece of everything we do, he said, were not going to be able to sustain the relationship between the built and natural environment.

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Nature is the best medicine | Events | jhnewsandguide.com - Jackson Hole News&Guide

Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times – The New York Times

Dr. Peter Viccellio, a professor of emergency medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, has seen many Covid-19 patients during his hours in the emergency room. A touch of playfulness and kindly humor, he said, has helped to ease an enormously painful situation for both his patients and members of the overburdened hospital staff.

Genuine levity can make patients believe that they are not going to meet their doom today Dr. Viccellio said, but he added that it needs to flow naturally. If you are empathetic with the person, your humor tends to fit them, its not forced. If you are not emotionally connected to them and force a joke it can go very wrong.

A case in point: A colleague of mine once said casually to a patient whose medical history he did not know, Dont worry about it, at least its not cancer, Dr. Viccellio recalled. The patient replied, Actually, Doc, it is.

Other kinds of joking that are potentially destructive, he said, are the in-group humor that mocks patients or other members of the hospital staff, and the gallows humor that focuses on the darker sides of medicine. And one needs to be careful not to appear to be making light of somebody elses pain.

Despite these potential pitfalls, some hospitals have initiated formal humor programs, making funny books and videos available and inviting clowns in to interact with their younger patients. Some caregivers are also innovating ways to bring humor into their own practice.

Mary Laskin, a nurse case-manager at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, has been working with her chronic pain patients online, teaching them laughter exercises alongside practices designed to develop other positive mental states like gratitude and forgiveness.

This pandemic is like a tiger creeping toward us, a huge slow-motion stressor that makes the experience of pain worse. Humor helps my patients relax and release their grip on pain, she said.

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Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times - The New York Times

BVI Tourist Board Meets With Major Tourism Industry Partners – Government of the Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and Film Commission held a meeting with tourism industry partners from the private-islands, resorts and large hotel sectors last evening.

The meeting which was considered a success was the first in a series with key industry stakeholders in various sectors of the local tourism industry to be held over the next two weeks.

The session was done virtually with the use of the Microsoft Teams Platform and had over 80 participants.

Premier and Minister responsible for Tourism, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, addressed the meeting and stated that it was imperative that the Government meet with tourism stakeholders to finalise the health protocols as it prepares to open the Territory on December 1st and that he was extremely pleased with the participation and contributions made by the stakeholders.

Premier Fahie said, We were able to share our plans with them and welcomed their feedback. We presented a positive and engaging discussion that will be beneficial in enhancing our guest experience during the COVID era while ensuring that safety remains a priority. I look forward to more discussions with our other industry partners because we are in this together.

Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Sharie de Castro said the meeting with the stakeholders within the tourism industry was important so that their collective voices can be heard and their concerns recorded.

Honourable de Castro said, I believe we were able to explain how far we are in the process, their role in ensuring our preparedness for December 1st and how we intend to support their efforts. I left feeling encouraged, as the partners who participated showed that they are eager to do what is necessary for us to successfully reopen.

The Junior Minister thanked the stakeholders who participated and stated that their contribution was very meaningful and appreciated. She added that she also looked forward to hearing from more industry partners during this consultation phase.

Director of Tourism, Mr. Clive McCoy said, We are meeting with our stakeholders to ensure that they have an opportunity to review our opening plans and protocols and provide input, to ensure that we have the safest reopening protocols. Their input and commitment is very important to a successful reopening on December 1st.

Chairperson of the BVI Tourist Board, Mrs. Kenisha Sprauve also stated that following several one-on-one meetings with industry partners, which helped to shape the draft protocols, the board thought it was time to meet with stakeholders collectively, to get their feedback on the said protocols before they are finalised.

I think we had a successful meeting last evening and look forward to meeting with the other stakeholders as we work together to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests when we welcome them with BVILove beginning on December 1st, she said.

The remaining meetings will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m. for the following categories: Wednesday, October 7 Small Hotels, Guesthouses and Villas; Thursday, October 8 Licenced Taxi and Livery Operators; Tuesday, October 13 Tour Operators, Shuttles, Car Rentals; Wednesday, October 14 Marinas, Day Sail, Sport fishing, Crewed and Bareboat Charters; Thursday, October 15 Diving, Watersports and Land-based Activities; Tuesday, October 20 Restaurants; and Wednesday, October 21 Spas and Salons.

NOTES TO EDITORS

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BVI Tourist Board Meets With Major Tourism Industry Partners - Government of the Virgin Islands

Belize Reopens: Heres The Ultimate Secluded Getaway – Forbes

Belize reopens its borders and its main airport October 1, after delaying initial plans to reopen on August 15. For those ready to plan for a trip, a vacation to the Belizean private island of Cayo Espanto sounds like the ideal way to forget about Covid for a while.

Lounge chairs on the beach or on the dock? The choice is yours at Cayo Espanto, Belize

Since COVID started spreading around the world, seclusion is a top criteria for planning a holiday. Cayo Espanto is a private island three miles off the coast of Belize that delivers seclusion and privacy, with just the right touch of laid-back luxury. How private is it? Well, celebrities like Chelsea Clinton, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Tiger Woods have all reportedly stayed here.

From the dock toward the villa and plunge pool, Cayo Espanto

There are just seven private villas on Cayo Espantoif you stand at the end of your private dock you might (maybe) get a glimpse of another one. But its easy to forget that you dont have the whole island to yourself. If you truly want to avoid other people, you can book the whole thing. But even at full occupancy, its unlikely youll even see another guest, let alone interact with one. Theres no lobby, no restaurant, no bar, and no shared pools or beaches. Cayo Espanto prides itself on offering the ultimate in privacy, interrupted only when your houseman delivers meals and drinks for you to enjoy on your private veranda or, sure, even in you rprivate plunge pool.

Given the seclusion already existing at Cayo Espanto, the main difference guests will see in the Covid era is that the friendly staff wear masks covering their smiles, your luggage is given a disinfection upon arrival, and youll have supplies of hand sanitizer and wipes in your villa. Behind the scenes theres more, of course, like enhanced extra sanitizing of tour boats, kayaks, and other equipment, changes in the kitchen and housekeeping, plus measures to protect the health and safety of Cayo Espantos staff.

Villa in the palms on Cayo Espanto

Cayo Espanto is a four acre island, with six villas hiding amidst palm trees and mangroves; the seventh is an overwater bungalow. The islands white sand gets combed into designs alongside the main path across the island.You might occasionally hear a boat go by, a bird sing, or a fish jump out of the water, but youll otherwise be surrounded by silence.

Each villa sits right at the water. Except for overwater Casa Ventanas, each has a private plunge pool looking out onto the shallow sea. Two of the villas have two bedrooms, the others spaciously sleep two people. Your houseman will open up the shutters during the daytime, so you can feel the island breeze.

Lunch on the veranda overlooking the water at Cayo Espanto

Your meals will be at your villa and your menus designed to your taste. Before you arrive, youll fill out a form to let staff know about your preferences and theyll take the rest from there, checking in with you as needed to be sure you still wanted lobster for dinner tonight and to confirm the wine pairing. You can dine on your veranda, on your beach, out on your dock, or even in bedthe choice is yours.

Private dock with two sunbeds, perfect for sunbathing or stargazing at Cayo Espanto

Inside one of Cayo Espanto's open-air villas

Spa services are in your villa too, so after your massage youre just two steps away from your bed or lounge chair to continue your relaxation via a nap.

After dinnerperhaps while youre enjoying your nightcapyour houseman will close up all the doors to your villa for you, set up your mosquito net (more for atmosphere than for actual mosquitos), and turn on your fans and AC. Youll likely have the best sleep of your life.

Cayo Espanto was designed for relaxation, but theres plenty to keep you busy on or off the island. But its hard to beat just watching the fish and rays swimming in the clear, shallow water next to your dock and plunge pool. One regular Casa Ventanas guest is known to spend almost all his waking hours sitting on his veranda with his fishing pole.

The island has a small gym, plus kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards to use. Your houseman can even set up an outdoor movie theater for youwatch a film projected onto a blow-up screen with your feet in the sand. Want a smores-making station on the beach or a stargazing spot on your dock? No problem.

Friendly nurse sharks at Belize's Shark Ray Alley

A boat ride away is snorkeling at famed Shark Ray Alley, plus fishing (bonefish, tarpon and more), birdwatching at nearby protected islands, picnic excursions, and trips to Ambergris Caye and to the mainland to explore Mayan ruins and the jungle (some restrictions are in place as Belize reopens). You can arrange a private charter to go diving at Belizes famous Blue Hole and other nearby sites too.

Belizes main airport, just north of Belize City, is a two-hour flight from Houston, Miami, and Mexico City, and under five hours from L.A. and Toronto. Once youve arrived and cleared Customs and health checks (see below), Cayo Espanto will arrange for someone to greet you, help you with your luggage, and escort you to the domestic side of the airport. From there, youll take the short flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. After that, hop in a boat for the 10-minute ride directly to your villa.Helicopter transfers are possible too.

Details on Belizes Covid protocols are at TravelBelize.org. Check regularly since, as with all countries, rules may change as the pandemic changes.

Entry rules depend on whether youre a Belizean citizen/resident, long-stay foreign national, traveling for business, or traveling for tourism (see this chart). There are currently no bans based on nationality or country of residence.

Belize is gradually reopening and has designated a Safe Corridor to limit interactions and virus transmission between international travelers and local communities (see Belizes FAQ). A Tourism Gold Standard Program was created to provide a range of hotels (Cayo Espanto is one of them), restaurants,transportation, and tour operators/guides that have implemented new Covid procedures.

Belize has a Covid Health App which youre required to download before arrival. Youll need to fill in some information in advance, receive a Unique ID, and, each day of your stay, the app will check in with you and ask you about your symptoms (Cayo Espantos wifi makes it easy to comply).

Belize encourages tourists to bring certification of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours (and some passengers will be randomly selected for a second test). For those who are unable to get an advance test, theres a test on arrival available at a cost of $50 US. A positive COVID test means quarantine at the travelers expense and two negative test results are required to exit quarantine.

Make sure you bring your mask with youtheyre required by law in the airport and in all public spaces in Belize. Ideally youll put one on to protect your houseman when he comes to your villa, but otherwise you can forget about the pandemic during your Cayo Espanto stay.

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Belize Reopens: Heres The Ultimate Secluded Getaway - Forbes

Privately funded search team claims to have found possible signs of life on islands near where Gulf Livestock 1 sank – 9News

A private search team claiming to have found possible signs of life on uninhabited islands near where the Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship sank is urgently seeking government help as cash for its air scouts runs dry.

The ship disappeared below rough waves, forcing the ship's 43 crew into life rafts.

In the hours and days following the sinking, Japan's Coast Guard (JCG) rescued three survivors; one would tragically die.

However, a privately funded search operation, led by family and friends of Mr Mainprize, claims to have found signs of life on the Tokara Islands - a chain of 12 small islands off Japan's coast.

Of the 12 islands, only seven are inhabited with an estimated population ranging from 40 to a total of 600 people across the entire archipelago.

"We have been privately funding a search and rescue for two and a half weeks and we have narrowed it down into an area," Harry Morrison, a search spokesman and close friend of Mr Mainprize, told nine.com.au.

"We're finding a lot of debris form the boat, we've found two dead cattle on an island.

"We've found parts of a life raft, we've found life rings, we've found life jackets."

Photos taken from the air search show debris from the cargo ship, life rafts and life jackets on the shorelines.

The search group has spent $50,000 of donated money on the fixed-wing flights and $75,000 on the helicopter flyover.

The expenses have dwindled their more than $116,000 in funds raised to just $4000.

With another typhoon forecast, the group has been given tomorrow and Saturday as crucial search days to revisit the islands.

Yet, tragically they don't have the cash to undertake the new searches.

Mr Morrison said the next proposed search had hoped to take in the Amami Islands.

"There's one island basically we have found the roof of a life raft on an island and it looks to be that plastic covering of the life raft was taken off," he said.

"When we found this life raft, we contacted JCG and told them and got no response for them.

"Communication with the Japanese Coast Guard has been very limited."

Mr Morrison said the JCG "didn't say yes but they didn't say no" when the group asked if they could search parts of the islands.

By September 10, the dedicated search had been called off with the JCG continuing to search for survivors, but only as part of its regular patrols.

The strength of Typhoon Maysak and a second typhoon had hampered the search effort.

The Australian and New Zealand governments have both offered assistance to Japan in the search, however Japan is yet to accept the offer.

Another large scale search for survivors is being conducted from California and on the shorelines of Japan.

"I was contacted to assist with the hope of SAR on behalf of a (Australian) family member and we decided to work as a collaborative effort on behalf of all the families," Shawn Alladio, President of International Rescue Instructors Association, told nine.com.au.

Ms Alladio said the main aim of the search is to support the families remotely and provide search and rescue expertise through her company's bases in Japan and Taiwan.

"We are using EOS satellite imagery. Nobody has travelled to Japan because of COVID quarantines. So, this is all done through public assistance and our companies or others friends in the respective countries," she said.

"Our company in Taiwan has been conducted searches for debris along their shores in the field."

Contact reporter Kate Kachor at kkachor@nine.com.au.

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Privately funded search team claims to have found possible signs of life on islands near where Gulf Livestock 1 sank - 9News

Government To Discuss Reopening Protocols With Service Industry – Government of the Virgin Islands

Officials from the BVI Tourist Board will discuss the draft reopening protocols with stakeholders specific to their respective tourism sectors starting this week.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said that it is critical that Government meets with stakeholders in the service industry at this juncture as it actions its reopening plans for the Territory.

Premier Fahie said, As I have said on many occasions, we are in this together, Government officials, Government agencies and private sector in ensuring that our guest are welcomed in the safest manner possible and that our communities remain safe as well.

The Premier, who is also the Minister for Tourism, said that the discussions are expected to be productive as the industry experts get an opportunity to review the plans and give input which will ultimately aid in the finalisation of the COVID-19 protocols for that industry.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the BVI Tourist Board, Mrs. Kenisha Sprauve said the board is eager to lead the discussions with its industry partners as they finalise the COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the various sectors of the Tourism Industry.

She said, The frank and impartial discussions will be the perfect opportunity for experts in the various industries to lend their voices to the COVID-19 strategies proposed for the reopening.

Mrs. Sprauve added that the meetings will be held virtually and stakeholders who have not received an invitation can contact the BVI Tourist Board for the meeting details.

The industry meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, October 6 with resorts, private islands and large hotels

Wednesday October 7with small hotels, guesthouses and villas

Thursday, October 8 with licenced taxi operatives

Tuesday, October 13 with tour operators, shuttles, car rentals

Wednesday, October 14 with marinas and crewed yacht charters, bareboat yacht charters

Thursday, October 15 with diving and water sports

Tuesday, October 20, restaurants and bars

Wednesday, October 21 with spas and salons

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to contact the BVI Tourist Board at (284) 852-6020 or via email at bvilove@bvitourism.com

The industry consultations come on the heels of the announcement of the reopening of the Territorys borders on December 1.

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Government To Discuss Reopening Protocols With Service Industry - Government of the Virgin Islands

The perfect fix for your travel itch comes in the form of private jets – Lifestyle Asia

With CoViD-19 seemingly here for the foreseeable future, conventional air travel might seem out of the question.

But thats if you have a little more than some extra money to spare. As commercial carriers continue to struggle to survive during the CoViD-19 pandemic, another industry has been quietly reaping the benefits of personalised, small group charters.

After all, who wouldnt want to fly to a private beach right now without being subjected to germ-ridden tourists and a five-hour screening there and back?

Private jet companies and the increase in private air travel are yet another byproduct of the virus, seeing a surge of at least 75 percent in interest this summer. Interestingly, the bulk of these lucky, soon-to-be travellers arent recurring passengers, but first-time fliers in the personal sector, marking a potential shift in the industry.

Smaller travelling groups mean that your exposure to people and hence, the virus is significantly lower, but thats not the only benefit of private jet travel it seems. From check-in and security to bathrooms and restaurants, there are as many as 700 touchpoints when you make your way through a regular airport. This rather astounding number reduces to only 20 interactions when flying private, so statistically, youre in much better hands.

Of course, high-flying companies like VistaJet and TCS World Travel have wasted no time in getting these eager, cooped-up folks out of the house and into the wild again, offering vacation packages that maximise safety through exclusivity. The benefits of these tours extend beyond skipping queues and crowded check-ins at the airport to also ensure that every single step you take on your holiday has been accounted for to be as safe as possible.

Air Charter Service, the worlds largest global aircraft charter broker, has also reported a 75 percent increase in inquiries this May and June as compared to last year, citing that those who usually travel first class commercially have now made the leap to private jet travel for a peace of mind, especially its older clients.

This extreme privacy doesnt end in the air. VistaJet has partnered with a network of world-leading travel experts and properties to facilitate point-to-point journeys for its members. The Malta-basedbusiness aviation company has worked with Abercrombie & Kent, for example, to offer a 14-day exclusive trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, where guests will be based in the new Cotopaxi Sanctuary Lodge amidst spectacular volcanoes and abundant wildlife. From there, a privately chartered private yacht cruise will take them through the islands, a tour of which includes a private audience with a leading scientist from the Galapagos Science Centre on San Cristobal Island.

Over in the Maldives, private island buyouts are available for those who want absolute seclusion. The same goes forAfrica, where youll be the only neighbours to creatures of the safari on a 100,000-hectare remote private property. Ever dreamt of being part of the Tour de France? Theres a vineyard tour for that too, where youll cycle through beautiful France with Dean Stott former special forces operator and holder of two world cycling records who will (thankfully) also stop for wine tasting along the way.

As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless even during times like these. Understandably, many are still not keen to venture beyond home turf, so planners like US-based TCS World Travel have itineraries focused on regional excursions with private experiences, so youll avoid crowds as much as possible. Similarly, OneFineStay has also announced that its top destination is now Los Angeles, compared to last years Paris and Milan. The private rental service gives the affluent an opportunity to book entire premises to avoid potential CoViD-19 contact, with services like private chefs and nannies who have been trained for safety protocols.

Air Charter Service hasnt put together actual packages, but offers a series of destinations that can only be accessed by private jet think Necker Island, Richard Bransons private island retreat in the British Virgin Islands, and Calivigny, an 80-acre private island in Grenada. Wed gladly be marooned on any one of those, to be honest.

When Four Seasons Private Jet takes flight next year, the luxury air travel industry will see another worthy contender. The adults-centric program intends to whisk guests to fascinating destinations around the world in its new, custom-outfitted Airbus A321Neo.

Business travellers might lead the recovery of post-coronavirus travel, but we all know that traffic wont be back to 2019 levels until at least 2023. As airlines around the world continue to reel from the impact of the outbreak, private jet travel continues to thrive for its exclusivity, a luxury only a handful will be able to afford. Still, its a sign of the times. Humans were programmed to explore, only now they have a responsibility to do so safely. At least we wont have to turn to months-long expeditions on board ships for that.

This article was first published onLifestyle Asia Singapore.

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The perfect fix for your travel itch comes in the form of private jets - Lifestyle Asia

Cayman Islands Removed from the EU Blacklist | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP – JD Supra

The EU has yesterday removed the Cayman Islands from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the EU blacklist).

Cayman was put on the EU blacklist in February this year (please see here and here) and its removal from the list yesterday will be a relief to many who have entities, arrangements and/or investments involving the Cayman Islands and who have been waiting for the outcome of todays review meeting.

Other changes to the EUs blacklist announced yesterday include Anguilla and Barbados having been added to the blacklist.

The EU blacklist is next due for review and possible change in February 2021.

The removal of the Cayman Islands from the EU blacklist will be welcomed by private fund sponsors who often structure their investment funds using Cayman Islands entities, passive investors who invest in such funds or who otherwise make investments through Cayman Island vehicles and by active businesses for whom the Cayman Islands features in their corporate structures.

Since February a minority of taxpayers, for example those under contractual obligations to avoid EU blacklist jurisdictions, have undertaken restructurings or redomiciliations for existing Cayman structures, or have opted for alternative holding jurisdictions over the Cayman Islands for new structures. Most private fund sponsors, investors and businesses with existing structures involving the Cayman Islands have however opted to take more of a wait and see, optimistic approach particularly given hopes that the Cayman Islands would take the necessary steps to be de-listed following the October 6, 2020 scheduled review meeting.

Key considerations in relation to yesterdays announcement include the following:

Yesterdays development will be a relief for the Cayman Islands and for those who invest in or through Cayman entities or structures. However it remains to be seen whether there are any residual effects, for example whether private fund sponsors and investors now take a more searching look at structuring new investments through Cayman going forward given its historic EU blacklist association. Alternatively, the successful steps taken by the Cayman Islands to improve its tax policy framework resulting in its being removed from the EU blacklist may be perceived by many as reinforcing the choice of the Cayman Islands for their structures and arrangements. In all cases this should be carefully weighed up taking into account all relevant factors and with input from tax and other advisors.

The text of yesterdays EU announcement is at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/06/eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions-for-tax-purposes-anguilla-and-barbados-added-cayman-islands-and-oman-removed/

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Cayman Islands Removed from the EU Blacklist | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP - JD Supra

voluntaryist.com – Fundamentals of Voluntaryism

Introduction

Voluntaryism is the doctrine that relations among people should be by mutual consent, or not at all. It represents a means, an end, and an insight. Voluntaryism does not argue for the specific form that voluntary arrangements will take; only that force be abandoned so that individuals in society may flourish. As it is the means which determine the end, the goal of an all voluntary society must be sought voluntarily. People cannot be coerced into freedom. Hence, the use of the free market, education, persuasion, and non-violent resistance as the primary ways to change people's ideas about the State. The voluntaryist insight, that all tyranny and government are grounded upon popular acceptance, explains why voluntary means are sufficient to attain that end.

Violence is never a means to knowledge. As Isabel Paterson, explained in her book, The God of the Machine, "No edict of law can impart to an individual a faculty denied him by nature. A government order cannot mend a broken leg, but it can command the mutilation of a sound body. It cannot bestow intelligence, but it can forbid the use of intelligence." Or, as Baldy Harper used to put it, "You cannot shoot a truth!" The advocate of any form of invasive violence is in a logically precarious situation. Coercion does not convince, nor is it any kind of argument. William Godwin pointed out that force "is contrary to the nature of the intellect, which cannot but be improved by conviction and persuasion," and "if he who employs coercion against me could mold me to his purposes by argument, no doubt, he would.. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong; but he really punishes me because he is weak." Violence contains none of the energies that enhance a civilized human society. At best, it is only capable of expanding the material existence of a few individuals, while narrowing the opportunities of most others.

People engage in voluntary exchanges because they anticipate improving their lot; the only individuals capable of judging the merits of an exchange are the parties to it. Voluntaryism follows naturally if no one does anything to stop it. The interplay of natural property and exchanges results in a free market price system, which conveys the necessary information needed to make intelligent economic decisions. Interventionism and collectivism make economic calculation impossible because they disrupt the free market price system. Even the smallest government intervention leads to problems which justify the call for more and more intervention. Also, "controlled" economies leave no room for new inventions, new ways of doing things, or for the "unforeseeable and unpredictable." Free market competition is a learning process which brings about results which no one can know in advance. There is no way to tell how much harm has been done and will continue to be done by political restrictions.

The voluntary principle assures us that while we may have the possibility of choosing the worst, we also have the possibility of choosing the best. It provides us the opportunity to make things better, though it doesn't guarantee results. While it dictates that we do not force our idea of "better" on someone else, it protects us from having someone else's idea of "better" imposed on us by force. The use of coercion to compel virtue eliminates its possibility, for to be moral, an act must be uncoerced. If a person is compelled to act in a certain way (or threatened with government sanctions), there is nothing virtuous about his or her behavior. Freedom of choice is a necessary ingredient for the achievement of virtue. Whenever there is a chance for the good life, the risk of a bad one must also be accepted.

Common sense and reason tell us that nothing can be right by legislative enactment if it is not already right by nature. Epictetus, the Stoic, urged men to defy tyrants in such a way as to cast doubt on the necessity of government itself. "If the government directed them to do something that their reason opposed, they were to defy the government. If it told them to do what their reason would have told them to do anyway, they did not need a government." Just as we do not require a State to dictate what is right or wrong in growing food, manufacturing textiles, or in steel-making, we do not need a government to dictate standards and procedures in any field of endeavor. "In spite of the legislature, the snow will fall when the sun is in Capricorn, and the flowers will bloom when it is in Cancer."

Although certain services and goods are necessary to our survival, it is not essential that they be provided by the government. Voluntaryists oppose the State because it uses coercive means. The means are the seeds which bud into flower and come into fruition. It is impossible to plant the seed of coercion and then reap the flower of voluntaryism. The coercionist always proposes to compel people to do some-thing, usually by passing laws or electing politicians to office. These laws and officials depend upon physical violence to enforce their wills. Voluntary means, such as non-violent resistance, for example, violate no one's rights. They only serve to nullify laws and politicians by ignoring them. Voluntaryism does not require of people that they violently overthrow their government, or use the electoral process to change it; merely that they shall cease to support their government, whereupon it will fall of its own dead weight. If one takes care of the means, the end will take care of itself.

It is a commonplace observation that the means one uses must be consistent with the goal one seeks. It is impossible to "wage a war for peace" or "fight politics by becoming political." Freedom and private property are total, indivisible concepts that are compromised wherever and whenever the State exists. Since all things are related to one another in our complicated social world, if one man's freedom or private property may be violated (regardless of the justification), then every man's freedom and property are insecure. The superior man can only be sure of his freedom if the inferior man is secure in his rights. We often forget that we can secure our liberty only by preserving it for the most despicable and obnoxious among us, lest we set precedents that can reach us.

It is a fact of human nature that the only person who can think with your brain is you. Neither can a person be compelled to do anything against his or her will, for each person is ultimately responsible for his or her own actions. Governments try to terrorize individuals into submitting to tyranny by grabbing their bodies as hostages and trying to destroy their spirits. This strategy is not successful against the person who harbors the Stoic attitude toward life, and who refuses to allow pain to disturb the equanimity of his or her mind, and the exercise of reason. A government might destroy one's body or property, but it cannot injure one's philosophy of life. - Furthermore, the voluntaryist rejects the use of political power because it can only be exercised by implicitly endorsing or using violence to accomplish one's ends. The power to do good to others is also the power to do them harm. Power to compel people, to control other people's lives, is what political power is all about. It violates all the basic principles of voluntaryism: might does not make right; the end never justifies the means; nor may one person coercively interfere in the life of another. Even the smallest amount of political power is dangerous. First, it reduces the capacity of at least some people to lead their own lives in their own way. Second, and more important from the voluntaryist point of view, is what it does to the person wielding the power: it corrupts that person's character.

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voluntaryist.com - Fundamentals of Voluntaryism

Voluntaryism | Polcompball Wiki | Fandom

VoluntaryismVoluntaryism is a variation of Anarcho-Capitalism inhabiting the bottom right of the compass, with no specific cultural implications. It believes in voluntary funding of the state, which end up giving the state no real monopoly over violence, making it basically like any other organisation, and without having the monopoly of violence it can be considered that it seeks for an non-statal society but with a national government.

It puts a direct focus on the philosophy of immorality of starting force in peaceful individuals in an agressive and not-deffensive way.

It is the biggest intelectual influence for Rothbardian Anarchism. It was created in 1897 and is probably one the first full theoretical seen way of achieving a society completely based on liberty and property rights (Probably just preceded by "The production of security" by Gustave de Molinari, in 1849), which fully influenced Anarcho-Capitalism.

Probably the main difference is that Voluntaryism is based in Classical economics while Anarcho-Capitalism is greatly influenced by Austrian economics.

In Benjamin Tucker's words after Auberon Herbet's death: "Auberon Herbert is dead. He was a true anarchist in everything but name. How much better (and how much rarer) to be an anarchist in everything but name than to be an anarchist in name only!"

The term Voluntaryism was created by Auberon Herbert. The term was created first exposed in the book "The principles of Voluntaryism" in 1897.

It believes that the only legitimate government, by the meaning that it has for most Lib-Rights, that isn't the same as the meaning of "State" (State being the monopoly of considered legitimate coaction over the individual), is a government based on voluntary human interactions without any un-voluntary intervention over the individual.

It believes that it is never legitimate to start force against individuals whenever it is not done for defense purposes, and thus see taxes as a form of theft and believe although there can be a government to give these services it must be voluntary to pay those taxes and thus doesn't have a state, which leaves this ideology in the exact (Or almost) the same place than Ancap.

This can be usually used for the same as Anarcho-Capitalism in most cases. Since some Voluntaryists think the term capitalism was first used and created by leftist philosophers in a pejorative way, and prefer to call it Voluntaryism since it represents better the philosophy of a society based on free association without coaction from un-voluntary organisms as a state in this case, and also was created for the precise same meaning that it has right now and with no derogatory connotations.

Drawing Voluntaryism is very simple:

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Voluntaryism | Polcompball Wiki | Fandom