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Our system will be able to handle registrations easily: Navin Kumar, Chairman, GST Network – Economic Times

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

In an interview with ET Now, Navin Kumar, Chairman, GST Network , talks about the number of resgistrations, the GSTN website and how it has been designed to handle heavy workload. Edited excerpts:

Navin Kumar: As of yesterday, the total number of new registrations was 7,98,000. This is the number of applications submitted and out of that about 5,30,000 have already been approved. As far as migration is concerned - the number is now well beyond 70 lakhs out of 86 lakhs.

Do you think the real test of GSTN will be in the month of September when everybody starts filing the returns?

Navin Kumar: We are starting the functionality for uploading invoices next week. That functionality will be a very important one because we want all the businesses, particularly those that generate very large number of business to business invoices to come and upload their data on our system. The load on the system will keep on increasing from that point of time and we are ready for it. So whether it is return filing, invoice uploading - our system has been designed to take care of heavy load and we are confident that our system will be able to handle the load easily.

As we understand GSTN is the IT backbone of GST. How will you make sure that all the small traders that have yet not registered will be registering in some more time?

Navin Kumar: The registration depends on the person, so whenever a person wants to register and he has to keep in mind the provision of law which says that within a month of the date, when the liability to register arises, he has to register. Our portal has the functionality of registration open 24 hours so they can come anytime and register themselves.

How do you plan to tackle all the difficulties that might arise with the GST registrations?

Navin Kumar: If a person who wants to register goes through the help files, the user guide that we have put in our portal, we have also put a number of videos and video-based tutorials. If they go through these they will face no problems. I case they do face any problems, they need to contact our helpdesk, which will guide them and help them complete their process.

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Our system will be able to handle registrations easily: Navin Kumar, Chairman, GST Network - Economic Times

‘I felt relieved’ – What happens when you ditch social media – BBC News

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

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'I felt relieved' - What happens when you ditch social media
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"I deleted the account for my own peace of mind but I do think Facebook needs to put something into action that deletes the bullies accounts instead. It's unfair." Forty percent of people surveyed said they felt upset if nobody liked their selfie and ...

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'I felt relieved' - What happens when you ditch social media - BBC News

Fresh flaws in e-Medhabruti scholarship – HERE. NOW

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

July 20 2017

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Bhubaneswar: Despite prompt action and implementation of online procedure, irregularities have been made at institute-level in uploading of merit details of students for selection of the e-Medhabruti scholarship scheme of higher education department. This time the government itself has found the irregularities. The government has invited online applications from the students for award of fresh and renewal scholarship under e-medhabruti scholarship scheme and the applications were verified offline by the concerned institution heads. It was found that the marks figured by the institutions is not matching with the original marks obtained by the concerned student, official sources said. However, the government has not distributed the scholarship to the students found ineligible during verification. After finding the irregularities, additional chief GVV Sarma Wednesday written letter to all principals and asked them to upload details of students like income certificate, mark sheets, resident certificate and bank accounts. For the year 2016-17, the list of provisionally selected students was uploaded on the website on 22.05.2017 with instruction to the principals to verify the non-validated applications by 07.06.2017. However, it is a matter of serious concern that less than 15 per cent of institutions have replied so far. Even among the validated cases, it was found that ineligible applicants have also been validated leading to doubts whether the principal had actually verified with due application of mind, Sarma said in his letter. The inconsistencies include marks claimed by students not matching with the marks list given by Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), he pointed out. In order to expedite disposal of e-Medhabruti scholarships to eligible students, the government has prescribed new procedure and asked the principals to follow it. It has been decided that for both the year 2016-17 and 2017-18, the fresh as well as renewal cases, will be authenticated online by the head of the institution or principal of the college. This means no further offline documents will be entertained. The secretary has instructed the principals to collect students details including income certificate, mark sheets, resident certificate, caste certificate (for SC and ST students) and bank accounts and verify as per the e-Medhabruti guidelines. If the application of the student is found valid, then the principals would upload the details of students in the website (www.medhabruti.org). The principals have to authenticate the applications of the students for the year 2016-17 by August 10 and August 20 for the year 2017-18. If any principal or head of the institution would be personally responsible for any further irregularities, the government warned. Earlier, gross irregularities have been reported in selection of applicants and distribution of scholarship to the students. After that, the government has made it online. The government provides `10,000 every year to each engineering and professional degree student and PG Merit students, `12,000 to Special Girl Merit, `5,000 to senior Merit and `3,000 to junior merit students who qualifies for e-Medhabruti scholarship.

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Fresh flaws in e-Medhabruti scholarship - HERE. NOW

Silk ‘micrococoons’ could be used in biotechnology and medicine – Phys.Org

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

July 19, 2017 The silkworm spins a silk cocoon around itself for protection during metamorphosis. Researchers have found that silk can protect other precious cargos. Credit: 2017 Natural Materials Group

Microscopic versions of the cocoons spun by silkworms have been manufactured by a team of researchers. The tiny capsules, which are invisible to the naked eye, can protect sensitive molecular materials, and could prove a significant technology in areas including food science, biotechnology and medicine.

The capsules were made at the University of Cambridge using a specially-developed microengineering process. The process mimics on the microscale the way in which Bombyx mori silkworms spin the cocoons from which natural silk is harvested. The resulting micron-scale capsules comprise a solid and tough shell of silk nano-fibrils that surround and protect a centre of liquid cargo, and are more than a thousand times smaller than those created by silkworms.

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the team suggest that these "micrococoons" are a potential solution to a common technological problem: How to protect sensitive molecules that have potential health or nutritional benefits, but can easily degrade and lose these favourable qualities during storage or processing.

The study argues that sealing such molecules in a protective layer of silk could be the answer, and that silk micrococoons that are far too small to see (or taste) could be used to house tiny particles of beneficial molecular "cargo" in various products, such as cosmetics and food.

The same technology could also be used in pharmaceuticals to treat a wide range of severe and debilitating illnesses. In the study, the researchers successfully showed that silk micrococoons can increase the stability and lifetime of an antibody that acts on a protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.

The work was carried out by an international team of academics from the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Sheffield in the UK; the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland; and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The study was led by Professor Tuomas Knowles, a Fellow of St John's College at the University of Cambridge and co-director of the Centre for Protein Misfolding Diseases.

"It is a common problem in a range of areas of great practical importance to have active molecules that possess beneficial properties but are challenging to stabilise for storage" Knowles said. "A conceptually simple, but powerful, solution is to put these inside tiny capsules. Such capsules are typically made from synthetic polymers, which can have a number of drawbacks, and we have recently been exploring the use of fully natural materials for this purpose. There is potential to replace plastics with sustainable biological materials, such as silk, for this purpose."

Dr. Ulyana Shimanovich, who performed a major part of the experimental work as a St John's College Post-Doctoral research associate, said: "Silk is a fantastic example of a natural structural material. But we had to overcome the challenge of controlling the silk to the extent that we could mould it to our designs, which are much smaller than the natural silk cocoons."

Dr. Chris Holland, co-worker and head of the Natural Materials Group in Sheffield added: "Silk is amazing because whilst it is stored as a liquid, spinning transforms it into a solid. This is achieved by stretching the silk proteins as they flow down a microscopic tube inside the silkworm."

To imitate this, the researchers created a tiny, artificial spinning duct, which copies the natural spinning process to cause the unspun silk to form into a solid. They then worked out how to control the geometry of this self-assembly in order to create microscopic shells.

Making conventional synthetic capsules can be challenging to achieve in an environmentally friendly manner and from biodegradable and biocompatible materials. Silk is not only easier to produce; it is also biodegradable and requires less energy to manufacture.

"Natural silk is already being used in products like surgical materials, so we know that it is safe for human use," Professor Fritz Vollrath head of the Oxford Silk Group said. "Importantly, the approach does not change the material, just its shape."

Silk micrococoons could also expand the range and shelf-life of proteins and molecules available for pharmaceutical use. Because the technology can preserve antibodies, which would otherwise degrade, in cocoons with walls that can be designed to dissolve over time, it could enable the development of new treatments against cancer, or neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases.

To explore the viability of silk microcapsules in this regard, the researchers successfully tested the micrococoons with an antibody that has been developed to act on alpha-synuclein, the protein that is thought to malfunction at the start of the molecular process leading to Parkinson's Disease. This study was carried out with the support of the Cambridge Centre for Misfolding Diseases, whose research programme is focused on the search for ways of preventing and treating neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

"Some of the most efficacious and largest selling therapeutics are antibodies," Michele Vendruscolo, co-director of the Cambridge Centre of Misfolding diseases, said. "However, antibodies tend to be prone to aggregation at the high concentrations needed for delivery, which means that they are often written off for use in treatments, or have to be engineered to promote stability."

"By containing such antibodies in micrococoons, as we did here, we could significantly extend not just their longevity, but also the range of antibodies at our disposal," Knowles said. "We are very excited by the possibilities of using the power of microfluidics to generate entirely new types of artificial materials from fully natural proteins."

The study, Silk microcooons for protein stabilisation and molecular encapsulation, is published in Nature Communications.

Explore further: Learning from nature's silky skills

More information: Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS15902

Why have we never been able to manufacture fibers as strong and tough as the silks spun by silkworms and spiders?

(Phys.org)A team of researchers at Tsinghua University in China has found that adding graphene or carbon nanotubes to the food eaten by silkworms causes them to produce silk that is stronger than normal. In their paper ...

If you want to spin silk like a spider then you need to rethink your starting material, Oxford University scientists have discovered.

Possibly the strongest hybrid silk fibers to date have been created by scientists in Sweden using all-renewable resources. Combining spider silk proteins with nanocellulose from wood, the process offers a low-cost and scalable ...

Supple, light and biodegradable but stronger than steel: researchers said Monday they have succeeded in producing synthetic spider silk, one of nature's strongest materials.

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) in Singapore has developed a way to replace the traditional dying process necessary to make colored silk. A simple dietary change for the silkworm ...

(Phys.org)When most people hear the term "CO2 emissions," they probably think of several negative things: greenhouse gas, pollutant, climate change, political discord, economic burden. But a team of researchers led by ...

A boosting skin vaccination with a biodegradable microneedle patch and protein constructed from sequences of influenza virus subtypes could improve the effectiveness of conventional influenza vaccines, according to a study ...

Using the principles of light, University of Leeds scientists have discovered a new way to measure the strength of modern forms of concrete - giving industry a better way to understand when it could fracture.

Catheters, intravenous lines, and other types of surgical tubing are a medical necessity for managing a wide range of diseases. But a patient's experience with such devices is rarely a comfortable one.

Nitrogen is abundantly available in nature and forms the basis for many valuable products, both natural and artificial. This requires a reaction known as "nitrogen fixation", whereby molecular nitrogen is split into two atoms ...

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Silk 'micrococoons' could be used in biotechnology and medicine - Phys.Org

Startup touts neuro-stimulation as ‘medicine for the brain’ – Medical Xpress

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

July 19, 2017 Daniel Chao, co-founder of Halo Neuroscience, displays his company's device to improve brain performance

They look like a set of fancy headphones. But a set of spikes inside the band act as electrodes to stimulate the brain.

According to California startup Halo Neuroscience, the device can help improve the performance of athletes, pilots and surgeons, and potentially help rehabilitation for stroke victims.

"The brain is an electrical organ," said Daniel Chao, a physician and co-founder of Halo, in discussing the product at this week's Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference.

By stimulating the motor cortex, Chao says the Halo device can "extract latent potential" in the brain to improve performance for people who rely on making quick decisions on movements such as athletes.

"We think of athleticism athletes, pilots as athletes."

Halo, which has raised some $10 million in funding, began selling the Halo Sport device last year for $749.

The San Francisco startup has also concluded deals with the San Francisco Giants baseball team and the US Olympic ski team to integrate Halo in training programs.

Chao said the US military is the company's largest customer, aiming to help improve the performance of special operations team

Users are advised to wear the headset for 20 minutes a day, to get electrical stimulation "to build stronger, more optimized connections between your brain and muscles," according to the company website.

Chao, who trained as a doctor and studied neuroscience at Stanford, previously worked at a startup called Neuro Pace which uses electrical stimulation to treat epilepsy.

He said his research found little help from drugs for the disease and decided to study "electricity as medicine for the brain."

Chao said he hopes to obtain US government approval to use the technology for medical applications.

"As a doctor I want to see this achieve an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval," he told the conference. "The first application could be for stroke rehab."

Explore further: Smooth jumps from athletes integrating headphones with training

2017 AFP

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Startup touts neuro-stimulation as 'medicine for the brain' - Medical Xpress

Intermountain, Stanford University see promise for precision medicine in cancer cases – Healthcare IT News

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Recent research from Intermountain Healthcare's clinicians shows the successful application of genomic-based approaches to studying individual cancer cases.

Oncologists Lincoln Nadauld, MD, and Derrick Haslem, MD, work at the Southwest Cancer Center in St. George, Utah. In addition to treating patients, they conduct research aimed at improving cancer care and precision medicine.

Their recent research has been published in two national peer-reviewed journals in collaboration with Intermountain Healthcare doctors and researchers from Stanford School of Medicine.

[Also:Precision medicine: Hype today but the promise is even bigger than we think]

One study outlines what the doctors call an "impressive" clinical course and positive outcome of a patient with metastatic colon cancer treated with a precision oncology approach. It was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology-Precision Oncology, a research publication outlet from the American Society of Clinical Oncologists.

The second publication, co-authored by Nadauld and published in Genome Medicine, shows that linked read sequencing is useful in characterizing oncogenic rearrangements in cancer metastasis.

Both studies were done in collaboration with Hanlee P. Ji, MD, senior associate director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center and Associate Professor at Stanford's School of Medicine.

Linked read sequencing, the researchers note, is a process that allows scientists and doctors to look at the molecular structure of tumor DNA in longer reads of 50,000 base pairs, as opposed to the typical 200-300, and thus "revealing the genomic complexity of patient tumors."

In reference to the Genome Medicine study, Nadauld points out: "In this patient, we were able to identify an amplification of a gene called FGFR2, which is critical because there are drugs that target that mutation.

"This case indicates there are broader applications for linked read technology, including diagnostic purposes and defining additional treatment options for patients along with new genes to target," he added. "With further study, pharmaceutical and biotech technologies can start to develop new drugs that target different molecular phenomena."

Twitter: @Bernie_HITN Email the writer: bernie.monegain@himssmedia.com

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UR Medicine partners receive $21.8M in state grants – Rochester Business Journal

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Four partners of UR Medicineincluding Strong Memorial Hospitalwill receive a total of $21.8 million in state grants, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.

The grants are part of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program that aims to create financially stable health care systems.

Now, more than ever, we need to protect health care in New York and ensure the system in place is meeting the needs of current and future generations of New Yorkers, Cuomo said in a statement. While others seek to decimate our hospitals and reduce access to quality health care, we are investing to help ensure a stronger, healthier New York for all.

The four hospitals are:

Strong Memorial Hospital: The hospital will receive $1.88 million to expand crisis stabilization and addiction services in Monroe County, including a 24/7 phone triage available to all community providers, further development of mobile crisis services and additional crisis beds for patients who require short-term transitional care, officials said.

Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville, Allegany County: The hospital will receive$5.7 million to implement a new electronic medical record system that will integrate Jones into the UR Medicine EMR system.

Noyes Memorial Hospital, Dansville, Livingston County: The hospital will receive $6.3 million to implement an EMR system integrated with the UR Medicine system.

St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell, Steuben County: The hospital will receive $7.9 million to support development of a new hospital campus, officials said.

These grants help to close the gap between whats needed by those we serve and whats affordable based on our operations, said Mark Taubman M.D., CEO of UR Medicine, in a statement. This funding will help us build an infrastructure that works better for patients and providers, and furthers our efforts to address daunting behavioral health challenges. Follow Kerry Feltner on Twitter: @KerryFeltner

Explosion and fire damages homes in Medicine Hat – CTV News

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Three homes in Medicine Hat were damaged in a fire on Wednesday morning and investigators are working to determine a cause for the blaze.

Crews were called to a residence in the Crescent Heights area at about 10:00 a.m. for reports of a fire.

An investigator has been on scene since then, police are involved as well and so until we find out all the details it will be treated as a crime scene, said Deputy Fire Chief, Lance Purcell.

One home was completely gutted by fire and a residence on either side of it was scorched.

Officials say the structure has been compromised and crews have not yet been able to enter to search the building.

It took us about an hour to get control of everything. At present we dont have an all clear on all the buildings. The structural damage on the centre one is, significant structural damage in the centre unit so we haven't been able to search that to ensure everybody is out, said Purcell.

Police and fire will remain at the scene to investigate and monitor for hot spots.

Blood test IDs key Alzheimer’s marker – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

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Study findings are significant step in predicting disease risk

A study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that measures of amyloid beta in the blood have the potential to help identify people with altered levels of amyloid beta in their brains or cerebrospinal fluid. Ideally, a blood-based screening test would identify people who have started down the path toward Alzheimers years before they could be diagnosed based on symptoms.

Decades before people with Alzheimers disease develop memory loss and confusion, their brains become dotted with plaques made of a sticky protein called amyloid beta that is thought to contribute to the disease and its progression.

Currently, the only way to detect amyloid beta in the brain is via PET scanning, which is expensive and not widely available, or a spinal tap, which is invasive and requires a specialized medical procedure. But now, a study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that measures of amyloid beta in the blood have the potential to help identify people with altered levels of amyloid in their brains or cerebrospinal fluid.

Ideally, a blood-based screening test would identify people who have started down the path toward Alzheimers years before they could be diagnosed based on symptoms.

Our results demonstrate that this amyloid beta blood test can detect if amyloid has begun accumulating in the brain, said Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology and the studys senior author. This is exciting because it could be the basis for a rapid and inexpensive blood screening test to identify people at high risk of developing Alzheimers disease.

The findings will be announced July 19 at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in London and published online in the journal Alzheimers and Dementia.

As the brain engages in daily tasks, it continually produces and clears away amyloid beta. Some is washed into the blood, and some floats in the cerebrospinal fluid, for example. If amyloid starts building up, though, it can collect into plaques that stick to neurons, triggering neurological damage.

A blood test would be cheaper and less invasive than PET scans or spinal taps, but previous studies have found that measures of total levels of amyloid beta in the blood dont correlate with levels in the brain.

So Bateman and colleagues measured blood levels of three amyloid subtypes amyloid beta 38, amyloid beta 40 and amyloid beta 42 using highly precise measurement by mass spectrometry to see if any correlated with levels of amyloid in the brain.

The researchers studied 41 people ages 60 and older. Twenty-three were amyloid-positive, meaning they had signs of cognitive impairment. PET scans or spinal taps in these patients also had detected the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain or amyloid alterations in the cerebrospinal fluid. The researchers also measured amyloid subtypes in 18 people who had no buildup of amyloid in the brain.

To measure amyloid levels, production and clearance over time, the researchers drew 20 blood samples from each person over a 24-hour period. They found that levels of amyloid beta 42 relative to amyloid beta 40 were consistently 10 to 15 percent lower in the people with amyloid plaques.

Amyloid plaques are composed primarily of amyloid beta 42, so this probably means that it is being deposited in the brain before moving into the bloodstream, Bateman said.

The differences are not big, but they are highly consistent, he explained. Our method is very sensitive, and particularly when you have many repeated samples as in this study more than 500 samples overall we can be highly confident that the difference is real. Even a single sample can distinguish who has amyloid plaques.

By averaging the ratio of amyloid beta 42 to amyloid beta 40 over each individuals 20 samples, the researchers could classify people accurately as amyloid-positive or -negative 89 percent of the time. On average, any single time point was also about 86 percent accurate.

Amyloid plaques are one of the two characteristic signs of Alzheimers disease; the other sign is the presence of tangles of a brain protein known as tau. David Holtzman, MD, the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and head of the Department of Neurology at the School of Medicine, is developing a blood-based test for tau that could complement the amyloid test.

If we had a blood test for tau as well, we could combine them to get an even better idea of who is most at risk of developing Alzheimers disease, Bateman said. That would be a huge step forward in our ability to predict, and maybe even prevent, Alzheimers disease.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01NS065667, and the Alzheimers Association Zenith Award Grant, number 385680569.

Ovod V, Bollinger JG, Mawuenyega KG, Hicks TJ, Schneider T, Kasten T, Sigurdson W, Sullivan M, Donahue TA, Ramsey K, Paumier K, Holtzman DM, Morris JC, Benzinger TLS, Fagan AM, Patterson BW, and Bateman RJ. Concentrations and Stable Isotope Label Kinetics of Human Plasma Amyloid Beta. Alzheimers Association International Conference. Oral presentation. July 19, 2017.

Ovod V, Ramsey K, Mawuenyega KG, Bollinger JG, Hicks T, Schneider T, Sullivan M, Paumier K, Holtzman DM, Morris JC, Benzinger T, Fagan AM, Patterson B, and Bateman RJ. Amyloid beta concentrations and stable isotope labeling kinetics of human plasma specific to CNS amyloidosis. Alzheimers and Dementia. July 19, 2017.

Washington University School of Medicines 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked seventh in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

Blood test IDs key Alzheimer's marker - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Mercyhealth donates $250K to Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford – Rockford Register Star

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Kayli Plotner Staff writer

ROCKFORD Mercyhealth gave $250,000 today to support the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford's expansion to a four-year medical school.

The expansion will bring 55 first-year medical students to Rockford in August. Historically, medical students spend their first year at the Urbana campus and then complete the remaining three in Rockford.

"We are so appreciative of Mercyhealth's generous gift to support our transformation to a four-year school," said Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, regional dean of the college. "This expansion includes physical improvements to our campus and also involves hiring of eight new faculty members, almost all of whom are relocating to Rockford from outside the region."

The college hopes the expansion will add to the continuity of education, strengthen relationships among students and enhance their exposure to the Rockford region. Mercyhealth's donation will help support a new anatomy laboratory with state-of-the-art virtual bodies and traditional cadavers, as well as a technology-based classroom designed for team-based learning.

"Medical education is critically important to the training of tomorrow's physicians," said Javon Bea, president and CEO of Mercyhealth. "We are proud to have partnered with the University of Illinois College of Medicine in their mission since the college's inception in 1971."

"This collaboration provides us the opportunity to have a lasting impact on medical education, securing quality and compassionate care for the Rockford region."

Kayli Plotner: 815-987-1391; kplotner@rrstar.com; @kayplot

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Forbes named Penn Medicine the 7th best employer in the country. Staffers explain why. – The Daily Pennsylvanian

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

You come to work not just to survive' your job. Its to survive and grow, because Penn has this culture of excellence," says Maria Molina, an award-winningnurse practitioner.

Penns sprawling medical system, home to major scientific innovations and the largest capital expenditure in the Universitys history, just added another distinction: a nomination as one of the best employers in the United States, fromto Forbes magazine.

Penn Medicine placed 7th in the country on the list.

Several of Penn Medicines over 35,000 employees spoke to The Daily Pennsylvanian this week about the honor and why their workplace is one of the nations best.

Michael Ashburn, the director of Penn medicines pain management center and an anesthesiology professor, noted the historical significance of working at the home of Americas first hospital and first medical school.

That sense of history gives people a foundation on which to try to make their own history, he said.

Maria Molina, who has been a nurse practitioner with the heart transplant team for the past seven years, said, You come to work not just to survive your job. Its to survive and grow, because Penn has this culture of excellence.

She added that this high-level climate is not a double-edged sword that forces people to work too hard. Instead, she said employees are like-minded, committed to what they do and ready to collaborate.

Medical oncologist Kim Reiss Binder specializes in gastrointestinal malignancies. In an interview with the DP, she emphasized Penn Medicines focus on teamwork and praised the dedication of her administrative assistant, nurses and physicians assistants.

This way, she said, no employees get too overwhelmed and the patients assigned to her team receive the best care possible. She added that Penn Medicine has a strong emotional support department as well for patients and families going through rough times.

As in any good workplace, Penn Medicine employees also know how to have fun.

Reiss Binder described annual, very raucous, very entertaining brunches at her division chiefs house with the women in the oncology department.

You feel like youre just hanging out with a bunch of really cool ladies who happen to be absolutely, unbelievably brilliant and extraordinary scientists, she said. I think that was the moment for me when I went to that brunch. I was like, I am part of an unbelievable group of women.

Molina lauded her mentor as well, a former president of the American Heart Association who has written textbooks about heart failure.

When I first met her, I was starstruck, she said. Thats probably why I have this culture of, I have to strive harder, because I am with the best.

Molina, who earned an International Nursing Excellence Award in 2015, was also inspired by a collaborating physician to get started in the research field.

Theres a number of opportunities, she said. Its difficult not to excel in anything because the opportunities are just there.

Jennifer Bard to join Penn State Law, College of Medicine as visiting professor – Penn State News

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Jennifer S. Bard, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of law, public health and bioethics, will join the faculties of Penn State Law and the Penn State College of Medicine this summer for a one-year appointment as a visiting professor of law and medicine.

Bard is a professor of law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law where she also holds an appointment as professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She served as dean of Cincinnati Law from 2015 to 2017.

At Penn State, Bard will work with the faculties of Penn State Law and the College of Medicine to build new synergies between the two professional schools. In the spring 2018 semester, Bard will teach a course or seminar at the law school in the field of health law. She will also deliver guest lectures, workshops and seminars at the College of Medicine.

I am very excited that Jennifer Bard will be joining us at Penn State this coming year, said Penn State Law Dean Hari Osofsky. Her impressive expertise in both interdisciplinary health law issues and program development will help us enormously as we build in this area. The University has made a strategic commitment to enhancing health, and Penn State Law looks forward to collaborating in that effort.

Bard will serve as a visiting professor on the faculty at Penn State for the 2017-18 academic year, beginning in August.

A well-founded medical education goes far beyond the science of healing to also include important and interconnected topics such as the impact of health policies, social determinants of health, the changing health care landscape and patient perspectives, said Dr. Craig Hillemeier, dean of Penn State College of Medicine, CEO of Penn State Health and Penn States senior vice president for health affairs. Im confident that Dr. Bards contributions will be yet another way to ensure our students become solid, systems-ready physicians, while also bringing new knowledge and perspectives to our faculty and staff.

Im honored to accept the invitation to spend a year at Penn State Law and the College of Medicine as they assess how best to bring together the amazing resources of this exceptional university to build a program that will integrate research and learning about some of the most important issues we face as a society, said Bard. This is an exciting year for health law and its a pleasure to be part of the national conversation while at a law school and medical school whose students and faculties are in the forefront of policy change and innovation. I look forward to being part of the energy, intellect and vision that Deans Osofsky and Hillemeier are creating through their creative leadership.

Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, Bard was associate vice provost for academic engagement at Texas Tech University and was the Alvin R. Allison Professor of Law and director of the Health Law and J.D./M.D. program at Texas Tech University School of Law. From 2012 to 2013, she served as associate dean for faculty research and development at Texas Tech Law.

Bard also held appointments in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences as a member of the founding faculty of the public health program and as adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Texas Tech University Health Science Centers School of Medicine. She has been a visiting professor at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, and in the LL.M. program at LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

Bard has been recognized for her teaching, including being named Outstanding First Year Teacher at Texas Tech Law. She has taught Torts, Public Health Law, Human Subject Research Law, and Constitutional Issues in Health Law. She began her academic career as a faculty member at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Bard is a prolific and highly successful scholar in the disciplines of law, public health and bioethics. She has published 30 articles and book chapters, including articles in the University of Utah Law Journal, The American Journal of Bioethics, and the University of Houston International Law Journal on topics ranging from the regulation of e-cigarettes, international human subject research, whistleblowing in higher education, the use of dangerousness as a factor in death penalty sentencing, corporate wellness programs, and posthumous reproduction. Her work is widely cited by publications in a variety of disciplines.

Bard has been asked to present scholarly papers at conferences all over the world in law, bioethics and public health, most recently including the Athens Institute for Education and Research's 11th annual International Conference on Law in Athens, Greece, and the European Law Faculties (ELFA) Annual Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. She is frequently sought out by the media on issues of law and public health and has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine. She often publishes opinion pieces in print and is a contributing editor to the Health Law Professors Blog, PrawfsBlawg, and The Harvard Bill of Health.

She is an elected member of the American Law Institute and has served as book review editor of the Journal of Legal Medicine, a publication of the American Academy of Legal Medicine. She also was a past-chair of two American Association of Law School's sections: Law, Medicine, and Health Care and Mental Disability.

Bard holds a doctorate from Texas Tech University, a juris doctor from Yale Law School, a master of public health from the University of Connecticut, and a bachelor of arts from Wellesley College.

Following law school, Bard clerked for the late Honorable Frank H. Freedman, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She was then a litigation associate at Shearman & Sterling in New York City where she worked on complex commercial litigation and international mergers and acquisitions. Before entering academe, she was an assistant attorney general in Connecticut in the Medicaid Fraud/Whistleblower Unit.

She is a member of the bars of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia and admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Military Court of Appeals, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, and the District of Connecticut.

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Jennifer Bard to join Penn State Law, College of Medicine as visiting professor - Penn State News

Alleged conduct by former USC dean ‘horrible and despicable,’ med school head tells angry students – Los Angeles Times

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Addressing scores of bewildered and at times angry students, the dean of USCs medical school said Wednesday that the university had launched multiple internal investigations into the conduct of his predecessor after The Times reported that he associated with criminals and drug abusers who told of using methamphetamine and other drugs with him.

These allegations, if they are true, they are horrible and despicable, Dr. Rohit Varma told the gathering of scores of medical scholars and graduate students at the Keck School of Medicine in Boyle Heights, who were summoned to a town-hall-type meeting to discuss The Times article about Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito. The newspaper obtained a recording of the meeting.

Hes a man who had a brilliant career, all gone down the drain, Varma said. Im standing in this place where my predecessor now has this taint. ... It is sad.

He also said Puliafito, who stepped down as dean last year, had sought treatment in the past for alcoholism, but that the allegations in the article that he used drugs came as a complete shock to us.

On Monday, when The Times lengthy investigation was published, USC announced that Puliafito, 66, had been placed on leave from his positions as a faculty member and Keck eye surgeon, and was no longer treating patients. The school has been struggling to contend with the fallout from the accounts that the renowned ophthalmologist, who headed the medical school for nearly a decade, led a second life involving meth and other drugs he used with a circle of much younger people.

At the meeting on the Keck campus, students some wearing hospital scrubs said university administrators should have known more about Puliafitos troubling behavior, including reports that he appeared drunk or otherwise intoxicated at campus events. One woman said that it seems shocking that no one has been able to figure anything out in the last 10 years. ... People are now going to be questioning our professionalism.

Another student said, Its pretty unfathomable to believe there was no one in the loop and that no one had any idea and that everyone is completely blindsided. We want to be assured that there will be people held accountable that this was allowed to take place.

Puliafito resigned his $1.1-million-a-year deans post in March 2016, in the middle of the spring term, saying he wanted to explore outside opportunities.

He did not mention that three weeks earlier, a 21-year-old woman had overdosed in his presence in a Pasadena hotel room. The woman was rushed to a hospital, where she recovered. Police found methamphetamine in the hotel room, according to a police report, but made no arrests.

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A tip about the episode prompted The Times to investigate. The newspaper interviewed six people who said they partied and used drugs with Puliafito in Pasadena, Huntington Beach and Las Vegas, as well as at USC. They ranged in age from the late teens to late 30s. None were USC students.

Members of the group captured their exploits in photos and videos shot in 2015 and 2016.

In one video, a tuxedo-clad Puliafito displays an orange pill on his tongue and says into the camera, Thought Id take an ecstasy before the ball. Then he swallows the pill.

In another, Puliafito uses a butane torch to heat a large glass pipe outfitted for methamphetamine use. He inhales and then unleashes a thick plume of white smoke. Seated next to him on a sofa, a young woman appears to smoke heroin from a piece of heated foil.

Near the end of his remarks Wednesday, Varma said he had recently spoken with Puliafito, and he asked those present in the auditorium not to share with others the personal interaction he had with the former dean.

An overdose, a young companion, drug-fueled parties: The secret life of USC med school dean

He called me yesterday and he apologized for what had happened and for putting me and the school and SC through what has happened, and he informed me that hes going to go and get help.

USC has declined to say when it first learned about Puliafitos alleged conduct or how it responded. Varma said at Wednesdays meeting that USC Provost Michael Quick told him that Puliafito had resigned because he cannot continue his activities here anymore as dean.

Varma said Quick provided no other information about the resignation. That is what was communicated to me, he said. There were no other additional aspects.

A witness to the incidents phoned the office of USC President C.L. Max Nikias and told two employees about Puliafitos role. The witness spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity.

Phone records confirm that the witness made a six-minute call to Nikias office on March 14, 2016, 10 days after the overdose.

A third student at Wednesdays meeting said that if Nikias did receive the call, his handling of the affair needed further scrutiny.

If this is true, if it turns out that it is a cultural problem with the university, with President Nikias, will you fight for President Nikias to be let go, so we can bring in another president who wouldnt let this happen? the student asked.

Varma told the students that university officials had not corroborated that the call had been placed. There was no evidence particularly of that phone call, he said. There is a full-on series of investigations.

Nikias did not respond to an interview request.

The Medical Board of California said Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into Puliafito.

In a statement Wednesday, USC said we have multiple investigations ongoing, and much of this situation is complicated by confidentiality. The university also said that Varma held the meeting with good intentions but did not intend it as a public statement.

The university has been trying to address widespread concern on campus and off about The Times article and how USC handled the former dean.

In a letter to USC faculty on Wednesday, Quick said that all along we have taken this matter very seriously, that we made what we felt were the best decisions we could make, as swiftly as could be done in a prudent and thoughtful manner, and given the information we had at any given time.

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Alleged conduct by former USC dean 'horrible and despicable,' med school head tells angry students - Los Angeles Times

Delegation Explores Possible Partnership with Cuba’s Medical School – University of Texas at Dallas (press release)

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

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July 20, 2017

Representatives from The University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern recently traveled to Havana to meet with the president of Cubas Latin American School of Medicine and officials from the University of Havana to investigate establishing two- to four-week observerships in which faculty from both Texas universities would visit laboratories and classes to see how Cubans approach research and clinical care training.

Dr. Mark W. Spong, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Magaly Spector, assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives and professor in practice at UT Dallas; Dr. Nora Gimpel, associate professor and chief of community health at UT Southwestern; and Erica Asante of the UT Southwestern Office of Global Healthmet with Dr. Antonio Lopez Gutierrez, president of the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM), to learn more about the medical school and discuss potential areas for collaboration.

The Jonsson School has a number of exchange agreements with universities around the world, said Spong, holder of the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair in Electrical Engineering and Excellence in Education Chair. The opportunity to foster a collaborative relationship with ELAM is exciting. It would bring a new dimension to our international collaborations.

During the meeting, Spong and Gimpel gave overviews of the bioengineering program at UT Dallas and family medicine efforts at UT Southwestern, respectively.

It was a rare visit among faculty from The University of Texas System and Cubas top medical school, which has more than 20,000 students from over 100 countries. The school occupies a former naval base that Fidel Castro transformed in the late 1990s into a global medical school for qualified students, regardless of national origin.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds. The fact that our institutions came together to discuss a doable and mutually beneficial exchange is a milestone.

Dr. Magaly Spector, assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives and professor in practice at UT Dallas

The trip also included meetings with ELAMs director of research and investigations, Maria Adelaida Sareigo Riumbau, and the director of foreign affairs, Dunia Cribeiro Gregores. Faculty also met with U.S. students studying at ELAM, three of whom are from Texas.

We are very proud to initiate these talks, Gutierrez said. We look forward to implementing concrete steps toward a partnership.

Cuba, which boasts a patient-to-doctor ratioof 150 to 1, prides itself on educating doctors focused on public health and the more humanistic practices of traditional medicine (e.g., the physical exam) that can sometimes be overlooked in more technologically advanced settings, Gutierrez said.

Both UT Dallas and UT Southwestern have been invited back for a second visit in the fall to discuss the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding that may involve hosting Cuban researchers in Texas, as well.

Spector, who has overseen the development of University programs in Cuba over the last several years, led the trip. In the past, Spector has led delegations from the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) and the School of Arts and Humanities to Cuba. JSOM has a number of programs aimed at exposing students and faculty to the business environments and socio-cultural dynamics of emerging markets in countries such as China, India, South Africa, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mexico, Poland and Estonia.

Despite a recent shift in the United States evolving Cuba policy, educational trips of this kind remain unrestricted.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds, Spector said. The fact that our institutions came together to discuss a doable and mutually beneficial exchange is a milestone.

Media Contact: Alex Lyda, UT Dallas, (972) 883-3783, [emailprotected] or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [emailprotected]

Delegation Explores Possible Partnership with Cuba's Medical School - University of Texas at Dallas (press release)

Tina Charles and the Liberty win one for the kids – New York Post

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

On a day the Liberty drew 17,443 people to Madison Square Garden the vast majority of them kids for Camp Day it was only fitting Tina Charles, who herself grew up cheering for the Liberty, would be the one to lead the way.

For sure, I remember being young and watching games and just being one of them and coming to the game to support the New York Liberty, Charles, a Queens native, said after her 28-point and 17-rebound performance, her ninth double-double of the season.

The games 11 a.m. start time gave NYC campers the opportunity to make their way to the Garden, and they turned out in full force, thunder-sticks and all.

The kids were in for a treat as the Liberty avenged two losses this season and rolled over the Connecticut Sun 96-80. The Liberty (10-9) head into the All-Star break having beaten the Eastern Conferences top-two teams the Sun and Washington Mystics (both 12-9) in less than a week.

We like where were at right now, Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer said. Were pushing the pace better, and were getting easier baskets. I think they enjoy what they have right now, and its showing in the way they play.

It feels like when were playing great teams were able to match where they are, Charles said. Everybody is getting better and were just starting to click.

Charles a former MVP and the leagues leading scorer last season is headed to her fifth All-Star Game in Seattle on Saturday. But the 28-year old center would not take the credit for the teams performance.

This is not a one-woman show, she said. We need everyone in this locker room to be successful.

Nevertheless, Charles was dominant. When the game was still tight, her 10-point third quarter turned the Libertys four-point halftime lead into a double-digit rout.

As the near-capacity crowd made its way toward the exits, Charles had all of those kids on her mind.

Im really happy were able to show young girls that they can have a dream, and that they can aspire to play in the WNBA, she said.

Tina Charles and the Liberty win one for the kids - New York Post

Liberty Media discusses potential deal with Univision: source – Reuters

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

(Reuters) - U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc held early-stage talks with John Malone's Liberty Media Corp (FWONA.O), after he expressed interest in an acquisition or significant investment, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

An acquisition of Univision would expand Liberty Media's ever-growing media footprint, while giving the broadcaster's private equity owners a chance to cash out on their investment after they pushed back plans for an initial public offering.

There is no certainty that Malone will pursue the talks further, the source said. Without a deal, Univision may go public in the first half of next year, the source added.

The source requested anonymity because the discussions, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, are confidential. New York-based Univision declined to comment. Liberty Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Liberty Media has investments across the media industry, including telecommunications company Charter Communications Inc (CHTR.O), motorsports business Formula One Group (FWONA.O) and radio business Sirius XM Radio Inc.

It is also an investor in cable company Discovery Communications Inc (DISCA.O), which sources have said is engaged in merger talks with Scripps Networks Interactive Inc (SNI.O).

Univision was taken private by a group of buyout firms, including Madison Dearborn Partners, Saban Capital, Providence Equity Partners, TPG Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners, for $12.3 billion in 2007.

Univision filed for an IPO in 2015, but investor appetite for large indebted companies such as Univision soured and those plans have been on hold.

During the delay, the company underwent a restructuring that led to the layoffs of more than 200 employees. It also acquired U.S. internet publisher Gawker Media LLC for $135 million.

Mexican media company Grupo Televisa (TLVACPO.MX) is a minority investor in Univision.

It holds three board seats and also collects hundreds of millions in licensing revenue and royalties every year from Univision, which airs a large chunk of its programming.

Univision, with total 2016 sales of $3 billion, owns television operations, cable networks, digital businesses such as mobile apps and radio stations.

This would not be the first time Univision has explored a sale. It has had conversations with CBS Corp (CBS.N) and Time Warner Inc (TWX.N), sources previously told Reuters.

Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Richard Chang

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Liberty Media discusses potential deal with Univision: source - Reuters

Sun enter All-Star break with loss to Liberty – Norwich Bulletin

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Staff and wire reports

NEW YORK It was a 24 hours full of distractions for the Connecticut Sun.

Alyssa Thomas learned she was a reserve for the WNBA All-Star game Saturday in Seattle on Tuesday.

At the same time, Connecticut Sun coach Curt Miller learned he and his staff were going to replace Bill Laimbeer and his staff on the bench as coach of the Eastern Conference.

Jasmine Thomas learned she would be a competitor in the 3-point shooting contest at the All-Star game.

Oh, and the Sun had to play the Liberty in New York on Wednesday morning.

Connecticut fell to New York, 96-80, before 17,443 fans for Camp Day at Madison Square Garden.

The loss dropped the Sun into a tie with Washington, a 100-96 winner over Atlanta Wednesday, at 12-9 for best record in the Eastern Conference. New York is equal to both in the loss column at 10-9.

New York coach Bill Laimbeer was supposed to coach the Eastern Conference at the All-Star game but opted out.

Laimbeer's wife contracted a virus while in Africa on vacation and was hospitalized for a few days. Laimbeer decided to spend time with his wife while she recovers. New York hits the road for two weeks after the All-Star Game.

Because the Sun were leading the Eastern Conference at the time of Laimbeers decision on July 10, Miller was named the head coach. He will be joined in Seattle on Saturday by his assistant coaches, Steve Smith and Nicki Collen.

It is a substitution role, Miller said after the loss on Wednesday. Obviously were proud of where were positioned right now in the East this season. Were representing Bill (Laimbeer) and his staff. We take pride that we were asked to be the replacementThat New York staff deserves to be out there.

The Sun could have claimed the season series over the Liberty with a win and it was close in the first half.

The two teams were tied at 24 at the end of the first quarter, with the Liberty going up, 45-41, at the break.

The message at halftime was that we were doing a lot of things well, we just weren't necessarily making shots, said Connecticut center Jonquel Jones, who finished with her 11th double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds). We were kind of taking a lot of shots that they didn't want us to take. I guess just trying to attack a little bit more and not settling for too many jump shots and trying to get to the basket.

The difficulty in making shots was even more pronounced in the third quarter.

New York led, 51-47, after Alyssa Thomas (10 points) scored with 6 minutes, 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

It would be the last basket for the Sun for the next 4 minutes as the Liberty scored 13 straight points. Tina Charles (28 points, 17 rebounds) started the New York run.

We didn't play defense like we usually do, Alyssa Thomas said. But we have this little break to regroup and come out strong for the second half because we have a tough Chicago team when we come back. It was a rough shooting day for us from the arc (and) not a good defensive game either, but we cant dwell on it.

Miller began substituting liberally in the fourth quarter.

We wanted to give our bench confidence that they could play against some of the best players in the league and we got that, they really competed in that fourth quarter, Miller said. We needed to get out of this game injury-free with whats happened around the league this week.

Miller was referring to injuries suffered by All-Stars Elena Delle Donne of Washington and Brittney Griner of Phoenix which will cause both to miss the All-Star game.

That caused some changes to the All-Star reserves and starters.

The Eastern Conference reserves announced Tuesday night included Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta), Stefanie Dolson (Chicago), Candice Dupree (Indiana), Allie Quigley (Chicago), Sugar Rodgers (New York) and Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta).

The reserves for the Western Conference are Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson from Minnesota, Breanna Stewart (Seattle), Chelsea Gray and Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles) and Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas).

The WNBA All-Star game will be played at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Key Arena in Seattle.

Sun enter All-Star break with loss to Liberty - Norwich Bulletin

Liberty Bridge to close for construction | TribLIVE – Tribune-Review

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

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Liberty Bridge to close for construction | TribLIVE - Tribune-Review

Sandi Morris returns home for Liberty Bridge Jump Off – Greenville … – Greenville Journal

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Greenville pole vaulter Sandi Morris. Photo by Taylor Wilder via Team USA

On Wednesday evening, some of the best athletes in the world will be gathered near Falls Park in downtown Greenville, demonstrating the skills that have made many of them champions.

The first-ever Liberty Bridge Jump Off, a gathering of eight female pole vaulters and eight male long jumpers, will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of Falls Park. Admission is free.

The Jump Off, presented by the American Track League (ATL) in conjunction with the Greenville Track Club and Fleet Feet Sports on Augusta Street, will be followed by a street party featuring a DJ, food trucks, and beer vendors. The event will also feature lessons in the fundamentals of pole vaulting for young children and a fun run at 4:30 p.m. sponsored by Fleet Feet.

Perhaps the most exciting of the many names on the list of participating athletes is champion pole vaulter Sandi Morris, a Greenville native who, in addition to holding the American outdoor pole vaulting record, won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics last August.

Its really awesome to get an opportunity to bring track and field home, Morris said at a Tuesday evening press conference at Fleet Feet. I have so many fans here in Greenville who scour the internet for the live feed of when Im jumping overseas in Europe, so its going to be really cool to show my Greenville fans what professional pole vaulting and long jumping are like in person. It gives me a chance to give back to the community that made me who I am and inspire the next generation of vaulters.

The Liberty Bridge Jump Off is part of the American Track Leagues mission, which is to bring more awareness to American track-and-field sports by making each meet a true event.

I had this vision of what a track league could be, and weve infused entertainment into track and field, ATL president Paul Doyle said. Live music, food trucks, beer, a live DJ. Our goal is make every event a lifelong memory, and thats what we hope to achieve with the Jump Off.

Morris, who hasnt done any competitive pole vaulting in Greenville in over a decade, is excited that the Jump Off will allow the public to get closer than they typically do during a standard track-and-field event.

Theres going to be lots of adrenaline and positivity, she said. At meets like this, youve got your coach right there. You can high five the fans. And you can feed on that positivity of the crowd having a good time. It rubs off on the athletes for sure.

The two other athletes at Tuesdays press conference had their own reasons for looking forward to the event.

2014 USA Indoor Vaulting champion Mary Saxer is encouraged by the rising profile of her sport. Its so awesome to see more and more women rise to the occasion over the years, said Saxer, who has been competing for eight years. We really have quite a group of women jumping well, and Im so proud to be among them.

For long jumper Jarvis Scott, the results of the Jump Off are even more important, as this is Scotts last chance to make it to the World Games, a crucial step toward the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

It would mean a lot, especially since I missed the Olympic trials, said Scott, who has only been competing for two years. It would be a great accomplishment so early in my career.

Must do events this week.

Greenville native and Olympic silver medalist pole vaulter Sandi Morris will be grand marshal for

509 Beckonridge Trail, Sapphire, NC 28774

The Greenville pole vaulter is preparing to launch into the Olympics, and a possible world

Sandi Morris returns home for Liberty Bridge Jump Off - Greenville ... - Greenville Journal

Powell rallies around families of Olentangy Liberty teens killed in crash – The Columbus Dispatch

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Danzig

Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch @DeanNarciso

A day after twoOlentangyLiberty High School seniors died in a car crash, the Powell community was rallying around their families.

Byearly Wednesday, a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $35,000to help the family of one of the victims. A new goal of $50,000 was set as hundreds of donations were recorded within hours.

Hunter McClelland was the passenger in a Toyota Camry driven by her boyfriend, Gavin Schlotterbeck, wholost control of the car Monday morning, went off the berm, overcorrected and crashed into an oncoming southbound car along Africa Road near Alum Creek State Park. Both were killed instantly, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Two people in the Jeep Wrangler that theCamry hit Emily R. Bensi, 19, of Westerville, and her passenger, Geneva Day, 12, of Columbus, whom she was babysittingwere hospitalized with injuries thatauthorities say arenot life-threatening.

The fundraising campaign began late Monday "to bring relatives from western Canada here (Powell) in time for Hunter's service," according to the website. Funds beyond what are needed will go toward a school scholarship fund, the site says.

McClellandandSchlotterbeckwere both 17 and entering their senior year atOlentangy Liberty. Both shared an interest in ice hockey.

McClelland was the daughter of former Columbus Chill player Darwin McClelland, who played for the Chillfrom 1993 to 1995.

Schlotterbeckplayed on the Liberty hockey team.

Hundreds of students converged on the school grounds Monday night to hold a memorial service, painting the initials of each victim on a large spirit rock beside the school along Home Road.

McClelland was known as a kind, hard worker who served kids at her church. She had a "snarky" sense of humor, a family spokeswoman said, loved photography and wanted to go into graphic design.

"She had a light that caused others to be drawn to her," said Dean Fulks, pastor of Lifepoint Church in Lewis Center. For the past two years, Fulks said, McClelland volunteered with young children during Sunday school thereand "put others' needs ahead of hers."

Bill Warfield, Olentangy Liberty principal, recalled Schlotterbeck as "just a nice kid, always laughing and telling jokes."

He said the outpouring from around the area has been impressive.

"It just shows what kind of community we have," Warfield said.

James Meacham, a chaplain for the Delaware County sheriff's office, notified Schlotterbeck's family of Gavin's death Monday.

"I don't take religion into the scene," he said of the conversation with them. "I take a comforting heart."

The message he left: "Memories are sweet, and a gift from God that death can't take away."

Visitation for McClelland will be 9 to 11 a.m. Fridayat Lifepoint Church, 7719 Graphics Way in Lewis Center, with the funeral to follow there that morning.

Funeral arrangements for Schlotterbeck were not immediately available.

To donate to the fundraising campaign, visitwww.gofundme.com/support-for-mcclelland-family.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

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Powell rallies around families of Olentangy Liberty teens killed in crash - The Columbus Dispatch

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