Myrtle Beach Sun News | Why does it matter if food is grown organically? Myrtle Beach Sun News About two thirds of the processed and packaged food on the supermarket shelves contains genetically engineered products. That may be in the form of oils, sweeteners, soy protein, amino acids, vitamin C and other such ingredients. Genetic engineering ... |
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Why does it matter if food is grown organically? - Myrtle Beach Sun News
Key Players
J. Craig Venter: After playing an important role in early efforts to sequence the human genome, Venter now heads the J. Craig Venter Institute, whose work involves, among other things, research on synthetic life forms.
Christopher Voigt: Voigt is an MIT biological engineer who has worked at the intersection of synthetic biology and CRSIPR gene editing technology.
Boundaries of species: Synthetic biologists sometimes take genetic material from one species and implant it in another. Will such transplantations challenge our ability to make sense of the unnatural world?
Regulatory uncertainty: At present, there are few to no legal standards specific to the practice of synthetic biology. Are we courting environmental or medical disaster in the absence of such norms?
BioBricks: DNA strings designed to be pieced together in synthetic biology applications.
CRISPR: A genetic editing technique that involves copying and pasting strings of DNA.
Synthetic biology: An interdisciplinary research field that combines the insights of computer science, engineering, genetics, and cellular biology in an effort to reshape the building blocks of life.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original:Your Cheat-Sheet Guide to Synthetic Biology
Excerpt from:
Synthetic biology cheat sheet: Key players, big debates and lingo you should know - Genetic Literacy Project
The following essay is reprinted with permission fromThe Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.
The fidget spinner craze has been sweeping elementary and middle schools. As of May 17 every one of the top 10 best-selling toys on Amazon was a form of the hand-held toy people can spin and do tricks with. Kids and parents are even making them for themselves using 3D printers and other more homespun crafting techniques.
But some teachers are banning them from classrooms. And experts challenge the idea that spinners are good for conditions like ADHD and anxiety. Meanwhile, the Kickstarter online fundraising campaign for the Fidget Cube another popular fidget toy in 2017 raised an astounding US$6.4 million, and can be seen on the desks of hipsters and techies across the globe.
My research group has taken a deep look at how people use fidget items over the last several years. What we found tells us that these items are not a fad that will soon disappear. Despite sometimes being an annoying distraction for others, fidget items can have some practical uses for adults; our inquiry into their usefulness for children is underway.
Fidgeting didnt start with the spinner craze. If youve ever clicked a ballpoint pen again and again, youve used a fidget item. As part of our work, weve asked people what items they like to fidget with and how and when they use them. (Were compiling their answers online and welcome additional contributions.)
One thing people often report is that fidgeting with an object in the hand helps them to stay focused when doing a long task or sitting still and attentive in a long meeting. Many examples people have told us about are ready-to-hand objects like paper clips, USB thumb drives, headphone earbuds and sticky tape. But people also buy specialized items like a fidget spinner or a Fidget Cube for this purpose.
Another common thread involves people using some fidget objects like a favorite smooth stone to calm themselves down, helping them achieve a more relaxed, contemplative, even mindful state.
Psychology research about sensation seeking tells us that people often seek to adjust their experiences and their environments so that they provide just the right level of stimulation. Different people function well under different circumstances. Some people like total quiet to help them focus, while others are happiest working in a busy, noisy environment.
The optimal level of stimulation (or lack thereof) not only varies among people but even can change for one person throughout the day depending upon what he or she is trying to do. So people fine-tune their environments to get things just right: for example, putting on headphones in a noisy office environment to substitute less distracting noise.
A person who cant get up and walk around to wake up a bit, or go have a nice cup of tea to calm down, may find it helpful to use a fidget item to get in the right frame of mind to stay focused and calm while staying put.
Our results align with anecdotal accounts about fidget toys helping children with attention or anxiety issues to stay focused and calm in the classroom. In fact, fidget toys have been available for kids for quite some time.
There hasnt yet been a definitive study of the impact of these toys in the research world. In one preliminary study looking at stress ball use, sixth graders who used these fidget toys during instruction independently reported that their attitude, attention, writing abilities, and peer interaction improved.
The closest significant research is UC Davis behavioral science professor Julie Schweitzers study of letting children with ADHD fidget wriggling, bouncing or otherwise moving gently in place while they worked on a lab-based concentration task called the flanker paradigm. She found that more overall movement (measured using an accelerometer on the ankle) in children with ADHD did help them perform this cognitively demanding task.
Of course, its a big step from that finding to a claim that fidgeting with small objects in the hand can work, too. However, therapists tend to focus more on results than theoretical findings. They use what gets results and throw out what doesnt, so practical experience suggests these toys may help kids.
And yet, schools are banning the spinners and teachers are taking them away. The reason is that not all fidget items are created equal.
The items that therapists recommend are primarily tactile a user holds it in a hand and can manipulate it without looking. But fidget spinners require hand-eye coordination.
To use a fidget spinner, a person holds the center of the spinner with thumb and finger, and then uses the other hand (or other fingers on the same hand) to get the spinner rotating. Once its spinning, there are tricks to be explored, like balancing the rotating spinner on a thumb.
Balancing a moving object really requires keeping an eye on it, and doing tricks is a lot of what makes the spinners fun. Its also what draws the eyes of the user away from the teacher, and likely also the eyes of nearby students. This is the bane of a teacher trying to keep a classroom focused.
By contrast, putty, stress balls and other therapeutic fidget items dont have this visual attention problem. They can serve the same purpose as the spinners, but are more classroom-ready and less distracting. In the same way, the Kickstarted Fidget Cube, too, is probably also more classroom-friendly.
Fidget items do seem to serve a valuable purpose. Theres still science to be done, but theyre not just a fad. They embody an enduring phenomenon that nearly everyone uses at some point just watch your own behavior when doing desk work or sitting in meetings. My research team continues to study fidgeting behavior and design, working to create next-generation smart fidget objects that support managing attention and keeping calm.
This article was originally published onThe Conversation. Read the original article.
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Fidget Toys Aren't Just Hype - Scientific American
Ad will collapse in seconds CLOSE public health May 18, 2017 05/18/2017 8:00 am By Jesse Singal Share
To a certain approximation, awareness is overrated: That is, as a general rule, educating people about problems in the world is unlikely to nudge their behavior or their views all that significantly. But there are exceptions to that rule, and one of the more interesting classes of exceptions occurs when theres a big, high-profile event that focuses a lot of media attention on a particular problem.
John Ayers, a San Diego State University computational epidemiologist with a behavioral-science bent, has done a lot of work with his colleagues studying the effects of these events on Google search terms. One such example came in November 2015, when Charlie Sheen announced on the Today show that he was HIV-positive, and that the treatment he had received for the virus had rendered it undetectable in his blood. It was one of those media events that focused a huge amount of attention on one public figure and one very important public-health issue.
And it left a behavioral mark at least on Google. A few months later, in a JAMA Internal Medicine study that Science of Us covered, Ayers and his colleagues found that Sheens announcement appeared to have caused a massive uptick in Google searches pertaining to HIV testing and condoms. As I noted at the time, such a search spike suggested, but didnt prove on its own, that Sheens high-profile interview may have saved some lives by leading some people to change their behavior: The big question, of course, is what percentage of these searches will lead to action to the querier getting tested or having safer sex.
Thats what Ayers and his colleagues sought to find out for a new study just published in Prevention Science. Rather than just examine search-term volume, the researchers looked at sales data for OraQuick, which is apparently the only rapid-result HIV testing kit available in the United States.
Sure enough:
Thats a big jump. And it lends a lot of credence to the idea that some high-profile events really can cause massive, albeit probably temporary, changes in behavior sometimes, as in this case, life-saving ones. So maybe its time for a parenthetical addendum: Awareness is overrated (usually).
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Most Popular Video On Science of Us
A new study found that when you pair two disagreeable people together, they both get what they want and have more fun in the process.
A new study looks at the sales of an at-home HIV-testing kit and finds some very encouraging results.
The psychology of how we choose who to leave out.
Research suggests that sexism in hiring cant explain the entire gender gap in leadership positions theres other stuff going on, too.
Just about everyone, everywhere, is a complicated mutt, and stories about pure bloodlines are almost always false.
Labels like organic and natural are impossibly vague and often misleading.
Most adults can do a decent job of understanding other peoples internal mental states. Not the leader of the free world.
Or its about to be, at least. Thats just the life cycle of any fad.
It might seem counterintuitive to advertise a place for injection-drug users to shoot up, but theres smart public-health reasoning behind the idea.
Not exactly, but theres some merit to the myth.
Time to find another hangover remedy.
A realization about monogamy that should make anyone getting married feel a little more hopeful.
Its a mixed bag.
The science behind a common-sense piece of advice.
Giving your mind time to wander is a key part of creativity.
Theres a bit of dissent within the American Psychological Association about the role of video games in contributing to violence.
A new TEDx video sums up the research of Bella DePaulo, a social psychologist who has been chipping away at the many myths surrounding marriage.
No matter how long they live in a loud urban environment.
The WHO and the CDC offer different recommendations for proper handwashing technique. Which is right?
Drinking with the author of Cork Dork, a new book about the obsessive world of wine.
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More Evidence That Charlie Sheen's 2015 HIV Announcement Saved Lives - New York Magazine
Nguyen spent more than eight years at Gap, Inc., during which time he grew the analytics team from four to 30 FTEs and 50 contractors. His primary expertise is in scaling analytics operations to meet growing customer needs. At Gap, Inc., he was responsible for both inventory management and customer data science. Prior to his tenure at Gap, Inc., he spent six years developing data-centric applications at Oracle.
"Food poses an exciting challenge for data science we must both keep consumers engaged, and also gradually help them advance on a path to better health," Nguyen said. "Zipongo is the only healthy eating technology application I have seen that really 'gets it.' The focus is on meeting users where they are and working with them to change unhealthy behaviors in a personalized approach that really works."
Nguyen's connection to Zipongo dates back eight years, when he first worked with Zipongo CEO and Founder Jason Langheier, MD, MPH to create a nutritional database that would eventually become the backbone of the current technology platform.
"We are thrilled to welcome Viet, an early contributor to our Food Terminology Index," said Dr. Langheier. "Given his experience with both enterprise analytics at Oracle and leading a large consumer-oriented data science organization at Gap, Inc., Viet will skillfully continue to build out our full-stack data science team at an important inflection point for Zipongo."
Dr. Langheier continued, "Data Science is integral to the R&D process at Zipongo, driving product science that optimizes the user experience, analytics and actuarial sciences for health plan and employer customers, as well as ontology development behind our Food Terminology Index, and predictive modeling that drives our personalized nutrition recommendations that sync with national guidelines."
Zipongo offers recipe, food shopping and restaurant recommendations that are personalized to each user's food preferences, health status, health goals and genetic makeup. Zipongo's expanding food benefits offerings include recipe recommendations, customized grocery lists, grocery delivery, restaurant ordering support and digital nutrition coaching.
Zipongo envisions a future where employers deploy food as medicine to improve the overall health of the workforce and help rein in health costs. Zipongo's current and future products are backed by the latest data science to track and report success metrics to customers.
About ZipongoZipongo is Eating Well Made Simple. Zipongo's platform enables digital nutrition coaching for large employers, health plans and health systems, and provides food utility tools to families that make it easier to consistently select and buy healthy food people love. Zipongo provides trusted food selection and buying environments for cooking and eating prepared meals that meet the needs of diverse groups of people, with tools ranging from meal planning, recipes, grocery rewards and online grocery ordering, to menu coaching and mobile meal ordering. Zipongo's HIPAA secure software-as-a-service platform is built to meet people where they areat home, at work, or on the go, and deliver robust, anonymized population analytics back to enterprises. Learn more atwww.zipongo.comand follow us onTwitterandLinkedIn.
Media ContactTodd Stein Amendola Communications for Zipongo 916.346.4213 tstein@acmarketingpr.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zipongo-hires-vice-president-of-data-science-to-advance-eating-well-made-simple-platform-300459595.html
SOURCE Zipongo
BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwired - May 16, 2017) - The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine will be launching its new podcast, Redefining Medicine, today. Tune in Tuesdays will host weekly sessions with key players in the field of functional and integrative medicine. The podcast will capture and spotlight the personal lives of healthcare professionals and practitioners, allowing listeners to view and hear the more intimate aspects of practicing medicine.
The first three episodes feature Dr. Andrew Heyman, Dr. Pamela W. Smith, and David Asprey, all of whom showcase the benefits of preventive medicine, and discuss the trajectories that led them to their current practices. Later episodes feature physicians who initially worked in the army, emergency medicine, and an array of other disciplines; yet the consistent theme lies in the ultimate decision to seek out and practice integrative healthcare.
These discussions reveal the varied backgrounds and histories of medical professionals, while displaying a more personal and intimate perspective.
The podcast episodes are also available on iTunes, free of charge.
About the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) is the world's largest non-profit society of physicians and scientists committed to research that helps optimize the human aging process, along with the advancement of techniques and technologies that detect, prevent, and treat aging-related diseases.
A4M offers exclusive membership to all medical professionals, with the potential to access over two-decades of established medical expertise. We are dedicated to educating physicians, scientists, and all healthcare professionals, and are proud to be in our 24th year of providing first-class continuing education conferences on anti-aging, regenerative, and functional medicine.
To learn more, register for any event, enroll in any training program, or exhibit at an A4M Conference, please contact the office of the American Academy of Anti-Aging medicine at:
Toll-Free - US Only: (888) 997-0112
International: (561) 997-0112
Email: rel="nofollow">info@a4m.com
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The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Introduces New Podcast: Redefining Medicine - Markets Insider
It is now possible to print 3-D organs. In fact, ovary structures can be printed to replicate the design of real ovaries. A study conducted at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and McCormick School of Engineering determined these 3-D printed ovaries can even produce offspring. The results of the study were published last week in Nature Communications.
How 3-D Printed Ovaries Produce Offspring
A female mouse's ovary can be replaced witha bioprosthetic ovary. The mouse is then able to ovulate and even give birth to pups. Mother miceare also able to nurse their young. The bioprosthetic ovaries are built with 3-D printed scaffolds that hold immature eggs. These ovaries have increased hormone production and restored fertility.
Why the Study is Important
The research is proof that bioprosthetic ovaries have durable functionality across the long haul. There is no longer a need to use cadavers to build organ structures and restore health tissue. This is the breakthrough in regenerative medicine scientists have long hoped for.
Why the Research is Unique
This research is distinct from that conducted by other labs as the design of the scaffold and material (ink) is highly nuanced. The material is made of gelatin, a biological hydrogel created with collagen that is safe for use in humans. The research group knew the scaffold would have to be comprised of organic materials solid enough to be handled in surgery and porous enough to interact with body tissues. They used a gelatin that is self-supporting and capable of building several layers.
No other scientists have printed such gelatin with this level of self-support. This support makes it possible for the ovarian follicles and cells around an immature egg cell tosurvive in the ovary. In a nutshell, this is the first study to show scaffold architecture makes a meaningful difference in the survival of follicles. This would not be possible without a 3-D printer.
What the Study Means for Humans
The scientists' primary objective for creating bioprosthetic ovaries was the restoration of hormone and fertility in women who have endured cancer treatments and now face a heightened risk of infertility. Some young cancer patients' ovaries do not function at a high level and the use of hormone replacement therapy is necessary to spur puberty.
The scaffold used in the study serves to recapitulate the manner in which the ovary functions. It could serve this purpose from the age of puberty, into adulthood, menopause and beyond. Furthermore, the generation of 3-D printed implants to substitute for soft tissue will likely impact future work concerning soft tissue regenerative medicine.
A Look at how 3-D Printing Works
Think of the 3-D printing of an ovary structure as a connecting of a child's Lincoln Logs. These logs at positioned at right angles to build structures. The distance between the logs determines whether the building has doors, windows and so on. 3-D printing is similar except it is performed with depositing filaments. The distance between filaments and advancing angle between the layers can be controlled with ease. The result is the generation of highly precise pore geometries and sizes. Such 3-D printed structures are referred to as scaffolds like those used in the repair/construction of buildings.
Scaffolding supports the materials necessary to repair the structure until it is eventually removed. The remaining structure is self-sustaining without the assistance of the scaffold. 3-D printed scaffolds are implanted into the woman and its pores optimize how the immature eggs are positioned within the scaffold. This support ensures the survival of the immature egg cells andthe cells necessary for hormone production.
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3-D Printed Ovaries Restore Fertility - Anti Aging News
Caption: Image of James Comey and Donald Trump (Courtesy of BBC/Reuters)
________________________________________________________________
We all want our top investigative bodies to be headed by competent officials. We also all want to ensure that these officials can freely investigate other branches of the government including the presidential administration without fear of retribution. How can we tell whether Donald Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey was meant to ensure competent leadership of the FBI, as Trump claims, or to prevent Comey from digging deeper into Trumps potential connections with Russia, as many Democrats claim?
Our personal political perspectives will strongly influence us to favor one explanation or the other, regardless of the truth. According to behavioral science research, our minds tend to interpret new information in accordance with our past beliefs a thinking error known as the confirmation bias. Fortunately, we can fight the confirmation bias in such situations by evaluating the opinions of people who both have the most information and have political motivations to support one side, but fail to do so or even support the other side.
Caption: Meme saying Look for the actual truth, not just for what supports your beliefs (Created for Intentional Insights by Lexie Holliday)
In this case, we can observe a number of prominent Republicans expressing concerns over Comeys firing. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican who heads the Senates Russia investigation, stated that he was troubled by the timing and reasoning of Comeys firing, which confuses an already difficult investigation for the Committee. So did a number of other influential Republican Senators, such as Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and stated in response to Trump firing Comey that It is essential that ongoing investigations are fulsome and free of political interference until their completion. Representative Justin Amash, who belongs to the conservative House Freedom Caucus, even stated that he intends to introduce legislation calling for creating an independent commission to investigate Russias interference in the election. Pat Tiberi, a conservative member of the House, expressed potential support for a special prosecutor of the Trump and Russia connection and stated that the White House needs to come clean.
Altogether, about 40 Republican members of Congress have expressed concerns over Comeys firing, while virtually every Democrat is calling for an independent commission or special prosecutor to evaluate Comeys firing. While some of these Republicans are known for breaking ranks at times, such as Senator John McCain, many others such as Corker and Burr are mainstream Republicans who generally toe the party line. This data on many of those in the know federal lawmakers who have clear political motivation to align with Trump firing Comey instead broke ranks provides strong evidence that the decision to fire Comey is less about incompetence and more about the Russia investigation than anything else.
Another thinking error playing a role in clouding our judgment is illusory correlation, namely an incorrect illusory perception of a connection between two events. Trumps administration claimed, in a memo by deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that Trump referenced in his firing of Comey, that Comey lost support due to his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clintons email server. Democrats claimed that Trump fired Comey because of Comeys investigation into the Trump-Russia connection as part of Russias meddling in the US presidential elections.
One of these is an illusory connection, but which is it? Due to confirmation bias, Republicans will be likely to see the Trump-Russia connection as illusory. Democrats will tend to see the Clinton investigation connection as illusory.
Caption: Meme saying It would be very convenient if the things that are most comfortable to believe are also the ones that happen to be the most true (Image created for Intentional Insights by Isabelle Phung)
Fortunately, we can use another technique from behavioral science to correct for this thinking error consider the alternative. Consider a situation where Trumps true concerns lay with Comeys Clinton email server investigation. When would Trump fire Comey if this was the case? Trump would fire Comey when Trump entered office, as Trump did with a number of federal attorneys. Instead, Trump specifically made a decision to keep Comey in office when he took the presidency, despite knowing about Comeys handling of the email server. Trump specifically indicated, in a message loud and clear for the government investigative bodies, that he would not pursue any further investigation into Clintons email server shortly after he was elected. As late as April 12, long after Trump had access to any secret information about Comeys handling of Clintons email server and any other information relevant to Comeys pre-election activities, Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network I have confidence in . Given this evidence, it seems quite unlikely that the real reason for Comeys firing is the Clinton email scandal.
What about the Trump-Russia investigation? According to Fox News, a conservative source, the day before he was fired, Comey met with the Republican and Democrat Senators on the Senate intelligence committee, Senators Richard Burr and Mark Warner. At the meeting, he discussed the inquiry into Russian hacking in the presidential election and potential involvement of Trump and members of his administration in this hacking. Burr and Warner both wanted Comey to speed up the investigation, and Comey responded that he needed more resources to conduct the investigation. Earlier, Comey allegedly made a request for more resources for this investigation from Rosenstein, whose later memo was used by Trump as a reason to fire Comey. Given the evidence of the closeness of the timing of Comeys requests for more resources and Trump firing Comey, the connection between the investigation into Russian hacking and the firing of Comey appears to be true rather than illusory.
Now, this behavioral science-based conclusion does not favor the conservative perspective, and instead favors the liberal one. Will it mean that conservatives dismiss it out of hand? To determine if this is the case, I went on the conservative radio network 700WLW to speak on this topic with the well-known radio show host Scott Sloan two days after Comeys dismissal. Sloan is known as a strong proponent of Christian and conservative values but not someone who practices post-truth politics by dismissing the truth in favor of his personal beliefs. We had a civil discussion, during which Sloan acknowledged the validity of this behavioral science-informed perspective and accepted that the evidence pointed against Trumps narrative. It is highly likely that our conversation on his radio show swayed some of his conservative audience to change their perspective as well.
Caption: Meme saying Tempting Lies or Wholesome Truth: The Choice is Yours (created for Intentional Insights by Jane A. Gordon)
This interview shows the benefits of using such behavioral science-based approaches to bridge the political divide and have reasonable conversations that result in people going against their current values and changing their minds to match reality. What it takes is knowing why our minds are likely to lead us astray and addressing these internal biases using science-informed strategies to
do so. In this case, the evidence once corrected for political bias points conclusively, in a way that both reasonable conservative and liberals can agree on, to Trump firing Comey due to concerns over the FBIs investigation into Russian interference in the election.
P.S. Want to reverse the tide of lies in politics? Take the Pro-Truth Pledge! ____________________________________________________________________
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How Can We Tell Whether Comey's Firing Was Justified? - Patheos (blog)
Last September, a University of Georgia (UGA) student was struck and killed as she cycled down an Athens road with two friends. The driver was later found to be under the influence of a cocktail of drugs at the time of the accident. She was reaching for her ringing cellphone when her car veered out of the lane and plowed into the trio of cyclists.
That incident kept coming up between a group of students sitting down to discuss ideas for theNational Public Policy Challenge, which is hosted by the University of Pennsylvanias Fels Institute of Government and Governing. Their focus, however, wasn't on the fact that the driver was impaired but on the fact that a reach for a phone -- something most drivers are guilty of doing at some point -- ended someones life.
From those conversations came TurnKey, a program that uses and updates an existing app to encourage teens to avoid using their phones while driving. The idea eventually won first place at the national competition in March, and the team received $10,000 to roll it out this fall.
[Unlike drunk driving], texting and driving isnt something that has really been addressed as a public safety issue. We wanted to get on the forefront of that, says Laura Pontari, one of the UGA graduate students behind the proposal.
TurnKey will work like this: Students at high schools in Athens-Clarke County will be given access to a specialized version of an app called JoyRyde, which awards drivers points for every mile theyre on the road without touching their cellphone. To take JoyRyde further, the UGA students got local businesses on board to give students prizes -- such as free ice cream or coffee -- for accruing a certain number of points. Students will also receive notifications on their phones to nudge them into using the app. One Friday, for example, they might get a notification that says 80 percent of your classmates are driving safely this weekend! Students will also be assembled into teams by grade and, when the program expands, by high school, to foster friendly competition and further encourage use of the app.
Our intervention is about using the existing technology of the app in conjunction with behavioral science in order to encourage teens to drive safely, says Pontari.
Its well-known by behavioral scientists that rewards work better to change behavior than punishments. Because of that, giving students an incentive to drive safely should be a more effective social intervention than simply reminding them of the risks associated with distracted driving or giving them a ticket when theyre caught, says Pontari.
After TurnKey's debut this fall, the team will begin to assess the effectiveness of the program via user data provided to them by the app company and accident reports from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Theyre hoping to eventually see at least a 10 percent reduction in accidents due to distracted driving -- and perhaps a reduction in fatalities, too.
That kind of result could be a boon to new projects like this around the country, considering the abject failure of laws against texting and driving, which have cropped up in 46 states. Despite that widespread implementation, traffic fatalities increased nationwide for the first time in three decades in 2015, and experts pointed to distracted driving as the culprit. If TurnKey has even a modest effect on rates of distracted driving among students in Athens-Clarke, the implications could be significant.
We want to serve as a model for other places, says Pontari. We would hope to see something like this rolled out all over the country.
This article was originally published on Governing.
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Can Rewards for Not Texting and Driving Break the Habit? - Government Technology
Contact: Karyn Brown
STARKVILLE, Miss.A Mississippi State biological sciences doctoral student is receiving a fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation to study abroad at the University of Copenhagen.
Jonathan Belanich will continue his dissertation research in microbiology and bio-computing through the fellowship, conducting studies in the Centre for GeoGenetics, a part of the National History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen. He will travel to Denmark in September and stay for one year.
I am excited to have been awarded this fellowship, as it will allow me to incorporate samples from northern Europe into my analysis, permitting comparisons between ancient remains from vastly different cultures, Belanich said.
Belanich, who earned a masters degree in applied anthropology from MSU in 2016, will continue his investigation of the composition of ancient oral microbiomes, with a particular focus on the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Originally from Long Island, New York, he completed undergraduate degrees at the University of Alabama in biology and anthropology with minors in computerbased research and Italian.
I look forward to this chance to contribute to the budding field of ancient oral microbiome research, with the hope of improving our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which the bacteria inhabiting our mouths influence, or are influenced by, our state of health, Belanich said.
The University of Copenhagen is a world leader in applying the latest genome sequencing tools to ancient DNA.
Jonathan Belanich is an exceptional graduate student, and the magnitude of his research into the evolution of human pathogens will be greatly amplified by this fellowship, the Scandinavian equivalent of a Rhodes or Gates Cambridge Scholarship, said Mark Welch, associate professor and graduate coordinator for MSUs Department of Biological Sciences. I feel that this accomplishment is an endorsement of both our graduate program and the collaborative spirit of our college which fostered Jonathans interest in anthropology and encouraged an interdisciplinary shift toward microbial ecology and evolution.
The College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,000 students, 300 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs and 24 academic majors offered in 14 departments. It also is home to the most diverse units for research and scholarly activities, including natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities.
Natural and physical science research projects have been supported over the decades by the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.
Research expenditures in the humanities also are an important part of Mississippi States overall research portfolio. Additionally, the NSF has ranked MSU among the top 25 for research expenditures in the social sciences.
For complete information about the College of Arts and Sciences, visit http://www.cas.msstate.edu and the biological sciences department at http://www.biology.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippis leading university, available online at http://www.msstate.edu.
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Jonathan Belanich (Photo by Russ Houston) - Mississippi State Newsroom
BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwired - May 16, 2017) - The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine will be launching its new podcast, Redefining Medicine, today. Tune in Tuesdays will host weekly sessions with key players in the field of functional and integrative medicine. The podcast will capture and spotlight the personal lives of healthcare professionals and practitioners, allowing listeners to view and hear the more intimate aspects of practicing medicine.
The first three episodes feature Dr. Andrew Heyman, Dr. Pamela W. Smith, and David Asprey, all of whom showcase the benefits of preventive medicine, and discuss the trajectories that led them to their current practices. Later episodes feature physicians who initially worked in the army, emergency medicine, and an array of other disciplines; yet the consistent theme lies in the ultimate decision to seek out and practice integrative healthcare.
These discussions reveal the varied backgrounds and histories of medical professionals, while displaying a more personal and intimate perspective.
The podcast episodes are also available on iTunes, free of charge.
About the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) is the world's largest non-profit society of physicians and scientists committed to research that helps optimize the human aging process, along with the advancement of techniques and technologies that detect, prevent, and treat aging-related diseases.
A4M offers exclusive membership to all medical professionals, with the potential to access over two-decades of established medical expertise. We are dedicated to educating physicians, scientists, and all healthcare professionals, and are proud to be in our 24th year of providing first-class continuing education conferences on anti-aging, regenerative, and functional medicine.
To learn more, register for any event, enroll in any training program, or exhibit at an A4M Conference, please contact the office of the American Academy of Anti-Aging medicine at:
Toll-Free - US Only: (888) 997-0112
International: (561) 997-0112
Email: info@a4m.com
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The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Introduces New Podcast: Redefining Medicine - Marketwired (press release)
Posted on May 16, 2017, 6 a.m. in Cardio-Vascular Respiratory
Research findings confirm that a respiratory infection can trigger a heart attack, increasing the risk by 17 times in the 7 days following the infection.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have determined the risk of suffering a heart attack is 17 times higher in the week after a respiratory infection. The study took place at Royal North Shore Hospital. The findings were recently published in the Internal Medicine Journal. It is the first study to show a link between respiratory infections like bronchitis, influenza and pneumonia and a heightened risk of heart attack in individuals confirmed through coronary angiography. Coronary angiography is an X-Ray that pinpoints artery blockages in the heart.
Why the Findings Matter
The findings are of significance as they confirm that respiratory infections can serve as a trigger for heart attacks. The study's data showed that a heightened risk for heart attack does not solely occur at the beginning of the respiratory symptoms. The risk peaks in the first week and slowly decreases. However, it is elevated for a full month.
About the Study
The study involved nearly 600 consecutive patients who suffered a heart attack as a result of a coronary artery blockage. They provided information on recent and common occurrences of respiratory infection symptoms. Just over 20 percent of the patients reported respiratory infection symptoms within the first month of their heart attack. Exactly 17 percent of the patients reported respiratory infection symptoms within a week of the heart attack.
Each subject was questioned about his activities prior to the onset of the heart attack. These interviews included questions about whether they endured recent flu-like sickness with a sore throat and/or fever. If a subject reported a cough, sore throat, sinus pain, fever or flu-like symptoms, he was considered to be affected. The same is true of those who reported a diagnosis of bronchitis or pneumonia.
Another analysis was performed amongst those with symptoms limited to the upper respiratory tract. These symptoms included sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis and the common cold. Subjects who reported fairly mild infection symptoms of the upper respiratory tract endured less risk. However, this risk was still boosted 13-fold.
Though upper respiratory infections are not as severe, they are more common than the symptoms of lower respiratory tract infections. The research group desired to understand their relationship to the risk of heart attacks. This information is especially important during the winter. Heart attacks tend to occur at higher rates in the winter months in countries around the world. Part of the reason for this increase is due to an elevation of respiratory infections during the colder months. Medical professionals far and wideadvise people to take precautions to minimize exposure to infection, whether it is a pneumonia vaccine, flu vaccine or other measures.
Why Respiratory Infections Trigger Heart Attacks
Though no one is completely certain why respiratory infections cause heart attacks, researchers point to the fact that blood clots occur at a higher frequency when one has a respiratory infection. There is also an increased tendency for other alterations in blood flow, inflammation, and toxins harming blood vessels. However, the odds of a single episode of a respiratory infection causing a heart attack are low. Yet it is still possible for such an infection to cause a coronary event.
Everyone should consider preventative strategies and take note of the symptoms that are an indication of a heart attack. As time progresses, medical professionals will eventually pinpoint effective treatment strategies to minimize the risk of heart attacks. This is especially important for those who face a higher susceptibility to heart attacks.
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Heart Attack Risk Raised by Respiratory Infections - Anti Aging News
Actor Antonio Sabato, Jr., was suffering from depression, mood swings, and just feeling a tremendous loss of energy until he discovered hormone therapy that he says changed his life around.
Sabato, a staunch Republican who recently announced that he is running for Congress, was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. The actor has long been interested in politics and public policy, but he tells Newsmax Health his health woes prevented him from performing his best.
The Italian-born heart throb best known for his role as Jagger Cates in the soap opera General Hospital and his work as a Calvin Klein model, discovered that his debilitating symptoms stemmed from hormone depletion, a condition that strikes one in four men over the age of 30.
The symptoms may also include low sex drive, sleep disturbances, depressed mood, lethargy, and diminished physical performance.
For me, I couldnt understand why I was feeling so low, Sabato tells Newsmax Health. Ive always worked out to keep myself in top shape for my demanding roles in movies and on television and I just wasnt bouncing back the way I used to. I suffered from terrible mood swings and insomnia. The doctors I went to wanted to give me pills, which I took at the beginning but then I felt trapped.
I didnt want to take sleeping pills and antidepressants. I just want to feel like myself again.
Rather than throwing in the towel and chalking up his lethargy to aging, Sabato was determined to find an effective treatment for his condition.
After a great deal of searching he met Dr. Christopher Asandra, who is board-certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and a leading anti-aging expert.
His program includes custom-tailored replacement therapy for both men and women to replace hormone levels diminished by the aging process, menopause and andropause, stress, diabetes, obesity, certain medications, and alcohol use.
By careful testing and evaluating each patients blood work, I prescribe a formula that restores optimum hormone levels which soon translates into optimum health, Asandra tells Newsmax Health.
After following Asandras protocol Sabato, 45, says he feels decades younger.
I should have started his program in my 30s, he laughs. I have amazing energy and vitality and my mood swings are gone. I sleep like a baby and as an added benefit the brain fog disappeared and I have incredible mental clarity which is an asset when I need to memorize scripts.
The therapy consists of inserting two tic-tac sized time-release pellets containing bio-identical testosterone hormones that slowly regulate the body over a 5-6 month period. Sabato also uses Asandras growth hormone called Sermorelin, a sequence of 29 vital amino acids taken daily at night to stimulate growth hormone production.
This treatment helps improve bone density, strengthen the cardiovascular system, increase muscle mass and improve cognitive and memory function, says Asandra.
But patients must also do their part, the expert insists.
I can jump start their systems but they have to change their lifestyles to get off the couch, start exercising and eating right, he says.Its like the old expression, I can lead the horse to water but I cant make him drink!
Sabato changed his diet to include 80 percent vegetables, fish, and chicken.
I eat red meat once in a while but I usually stick to a huge salad with fish, he says. I eat no dairy, eggs or bread.
Sabato, a self-professed workout enthusiast works out strenuously six days a week.
I do resistance training, cardio and Jiu Jitsu, a form of martial arts, he says. Thanks to the hormone therapy I have far more energy than ever before.
Asandra says that the secret to successful anti-aging therapy is to be judicious in replacing lost hormones.
Some of my patients only need to have hormone therapy for a year to get back their energy, get off the couch and stay motivated to keep their bodies and minds healthy, he says. We customize all our therapies to ensure optimum levels which are carefully monitored by regular blood tests.
My patients say it is life changing not only for them, but also for the people around them, he says, noting his treatment is generally not covered by insurance. When you are on an even keel mentally, in top shape physically and can enjoy intimacy once again, a price tag similar to buying a Starbuck coffee daily is so worth it!
Asandra says it is important to find the right doctor who will listen to your needs and treat the cause of your symptoms rather than use a Band-Aid approach.
2017 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.
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Actor Antonio Sabato Touting Hormone Therapy - Newsmax
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ Dr. Manjula Raguthu is recognized by Continental Whos Who as a Top Doctor of 2017. Dr. Raguthu is a Physician at Medwin Family Medicine & Rehabilitation.
According to their website, Medwin Family Medicine & Rehabilitation, established in 2002, is a healthcare facility that serves patients of all ages and is aimed at delivering high quality and comprehensive health care services at two locations. The physicians at Medwin Family Medicine & Rehabilitation are dedicated to providing patients with utmost care with convenient locations and flexible office hours.
Specializing in internal and family medicine, Dr. Raguthu possesses over twenty years in the medical field. Her areas of expertise include the following: acute care, anti-aging, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, pain management as well as sports medicine and injury. Her role at Medwin consists of overseeing the primary care clinic and assigning clinical duties to the staff, and she has also worked in emergency medicine. She believes strongly HEALTH IS WEALTH.
Recognized as one of the Best Family Physicians in America by the Consumers Research Council of America for 2009, 2006 and 2004, Dr. Raguthu holds 32nd rank in Family Practice Boards in America. She has received distinctions in the fields of Microbiology and Opthalmology, and an Exemplary Leadership Award in her field in 2001. Additionally, she was awarded the Distinguished Humanitarian Award, and was named the Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2016 by Elite American Physician, as well as many other honors throughout the course of her career.
To further her professional development, Raguthu is member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Texas Academy of Family Physicians and American Anti-Aging Academy. She is also involved with the American Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine Society.
Heavily educated in her line of work, Dr. Raguthu earned her Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology in addition to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Guntur Medical College in 1990, and completed her residency at St. Vincents Medical Center in New York. In 2008, she was Re-Certified in Family Practice and holds an Advanced Trauma Life Support Certification, Medical Office Management Certification and is a Certified Medical Coder and Certified Compliance Officer.
Outside of work, Dr. Raguthu enjoys photography, chess, reading, and playing badminton.
For more information, please visit http://www.medwinfamily.com
Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, pr@continentalwhoswho.com
SOURCE Continental Whos Who
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Dr. Manjula Raguthu is recognized by Continental Who's Who - MilTech
The environment ministry in India will make the final call after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee recently gave a positive recommendation for the commercial cultivation of GM mustard. Whether the crop is commercially cultivated could depend on the Supreme Court, which is hearing a case seeking a moratorium on its commercial release. The government has stated it will abide by the courts decision (although that remains to be seen and some question the courts impartiality). The final hearing will probably take place in July. The casebefore the Supreme Court was brought by Aruna Rodrigues who accuses various officials and the regulatory authorities of unremitting fraud and regulatory delinquency.
The importance of GM mustard should not be underestimated. It is central to the whole debate about the future of agriculture in India and the wider development paradigm. GM mustard is a Trojan horse that would help pave the way for ripping up the economic and social fabric of India and recast for the benefit of powerful Western corporations, not least Bayer-Monsanto (seeGM Mustard in Indiato read my numerous articles on this issue).
GM mustard is being promoted on the basis of the lie that it will increase yield. However, the government itself admits theres no evidence that it will do so.In aletterto Anil Dave, Indias environment minister, presented below, advocate Prashant Bhushan says that conclusions were drawn and disseminated to mean that GM Mustard DMH 11 is a superior hybrid-making technology that will out-yield Indias best non-GMO hybrids and varieties. But he adds that non-GMO hybrids and varieties out-yield HT DMH 11 hands down.
Bhushan reminds the Indian government that it has admitted that there is no evidence that GM mustard out-yields non-GM. In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the government stated,
No such claim has been made in any of the submitted documents that DMH 11 out-performs Non-GMO hybrids.
ANNEX
Resi. Office. Chamber
B-16,Sector-14,Noida C-67, Sector-14, Noida 301, New Lawyers Chamber
Dist. Gautam BudhNagar Dist. Gautam BudhNagar SupremeCourt Of India
(U.P.) 201 301 (U.P.) 201 301, fax: 0120-4512694 New Delhi
Ph : 0120-2512632, 2512693 Ph: 0120-2512523, 2512695 Ph: 011- 23070301,23070645.
Dated: May 13, 2017
Shri Anil DaveThe Honble Minister of MoEF and Climate Change Paryavaran Bhavan Lodhi Road New Delhi
COMMERCIAL APPROVAL BY THE GEAC OF HT MUSTARD HYBRID DMH 11ON 11 MAY 2017
Dear Shri Dave
I express a deep disquiet and anxiety at the opaque and unscientific regulatory oversight of this GM mustard, which is also an herbicide tolerant (GM) crop. It has resulted yesterday, in its undoubtedly flawed approval for Commercialisation by the GEAC. I write to request you to please withhold your approval of such a move on three grounds.
The firstis that the CJ, based on the assurance given by the AG Mukul Rohatgi that the Union of India will not release DMH 11without the prior approval of the Supreme Court,accordingly, gave a verbal Order of an interim injunction till the case is heard comprehensively and the issue of HT mustard in substance. This was widely reported in the newspapers, two examples of which are referenced ().
The secondis the grave matter of the independence, surety and rigourof the oversight of the biosafety of HT Mustard DMH 11, which is critical for Indias agriculture in mustard, its food safety (both as a vegetable and seed oil), and furthermore, and of outstanding importance, the certain contamination that will occur of Indias mustard germplasm. These matters are of course, of central concern to your Ministrys regulating function and mandate for India.
The thirdis the requirement and my personal plea to you, to take note of the lessons of history of GMO regulation in India, embedded as it is in the most serious conflicts of interest and lack of expertise, where regulation has become farcical. For this reason,self-assessed safety dossiersby crop developers are kept secret by our Regulators and governing Ministries. Four official reports attest to the prevailing, utterly dismal state of regulation.
May any government treat its citizens with such willful disregard, despite Constitutional provisions?
The Bt brinjal Biosafety-Dossier remained unpublished for 16 months despite a SC order, but eventually, the Regulators had to comply with its full publication (with the raw data), which then revealed its fraudulence when examined and appraised by independent scientists of international stature. Studies said to be done were not done, as many as 36 of 37 environmental studies, leaving aside other risk assessment protocols. The moratorium which followed was also in large part influenced by the fact thatIndia is the worlds Centre of brinjal diversitywith 2500 varieties and wild species, which would certainly be contaminated. This is what the 37thPSC of 2012 (on GMOs) had to say on Bt brinjal and regulation. I quote very briefly. I would urge you to read the full recommendations of just 3 pages:
-Convinced that these developments are not merely slippages due to oversight or human error but indicative of collusion of a worst kind,they have recommended a THOROUGH PROBE INTO THE BT. BRINJALmatter from the beginning up to the imposing of moratorium on its commercialization by the then Minister of Environment and Forests (I/C) on 9 February, 2010 by a team of independent scientists and environmentalists.(Recommendation Para No. 2.79).
The Committee after critically analyzingthe evidence the gross inadequacy of the regulatory mechanism, the absence of chronic toxicology studies and long term environment impact assessment of transgenic agricultural crops; the virtual non-existent nature of the oversight bodies like National Biodiversity Authority, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, etc., recommended that till all the concerns voiced in their Report are fully addressed -, to put in place all regulatory, monitoring, oversight, surveillance and other structures,further research and development on transgenics in agricultural crops should only be done in strict containment and FIELD TRIALS UNDER ANY GARB SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED FORTHWITH.(Recommendation Para Nos. 8.116, 8.121 & 8.125)
Noting with concern the grossly inadequate and antiquated regulatory mechanism for assessment and approval of transgenics in food crops; the serious conflict of interest of various stakeholders involved in the regulatory mechanism; the total lack of post commercialization, monitoring and surveillance, the Committee have felt thatin such a situation what the Country needs is not a bio-technology regulatory legislationbut anall-encompassing umbrella legislation on bio-safety-The Committee have also cautioned the Government that in their tearing hurry to open the economy to private prospectors, they should NOT MAKE THE SAME FATE BEFALL ON THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, as has happened to the communications, pharma, mineral wealth and several other sectors in which the Governmentsfacilitative benevolence preceded setting up of sufficient checks and balances and regulatory mechanisms,thereby, leading to colossal, unfettered loot and plunder of national wealth in some form or the other, incalculable damage to environment, bio-diversity, flora and fauna and unimaginable suffering to the common man.(Recommendation Para No. 3.47 & 3.48)
But till date, the GM mustard dossier remains unpublished in willful Contempt of Court. Prof Pental is the Chair of the DBTs Agricultural Biotechnology Task Force. SR Rao, Member GEAC is over-all in-charge of the DBTs Agri Biotech programmes.The DBT also funds Pentals GM mustard.
Does anything more need to be said to underscore the implications of thiscosyarrangement of partnership in the Regulatory oversight of HT mustard DMH 11 and GMOs in general?
Data that has leaked around the edges demonstrate that we have ample reason to be greatly concerned of gross cover-up and misconduct. Furthermore, this HT mustard DMH 11 and its two HT variants are doubly barred by the unanimous 5-member TEC recommendations: ie this is an HT crop and a crop in a Centre of genetic diversity.
The further contents of this letter below, make clear in the simplest possible way, from, and it has to be said, curious admissions of your Apex Regulator and the Union of India in their Reply Affidavit submitted to the SC, which effectively demolish wholesale, any sound basis for the release of HT DMH 11 for commercial cultivation. I make 3 short points, to alert you to the veracity of this statement, as you will not be briefed correctly on these matters by your Regulators and indeed by the Ministries of S & T and Agriculture, both of which promote HT DMH 11 and even fund it (DBT) as stated above:
(a) HT hybrid mustard DMH 11 has failed the first criteria of a test risk protocol of a GM crop:Is the GM Crop required in the first place?The answer inNobased on the admission of the Union of India itself in their Reply Affidavit in the SC.They said:
No such claim has been made in any of the submitted documents that DMH 11 out-performs Non-GMO hybrids. The comparison has only been made between hybrid DMH 11, NC (national Check) Varuna and the appropriate ZC (zonal checks) MSY of 2670 Kg/ha has been recorded over three years of BRL trials which is 28% and 37% more than the NC & ZC respectively (At 88, pg.56).
Unfortunately, the whole truth uncovered, is that no valid comparators were used and the field trials themselves stand voided on the basis of serious anomalies and violations in field testing, inconclusive results and even statistical fraud.Yet, conclusions were drawn and disseminated to mean that DMH 11 is a superiorhybrid-making technologythat will out-yield Indias best Non-GMO hybrids and varieties. The fact is, Non-GMO hybrids and varieties out-yield HT DMH 11 hands down.
(b) We know, based on the AGs assertion in Court that the Union of India holds that this GM mustard will displace imported edible oil-seeds in a significant way (reduce our oilseeds bill). However, such an assertion in the light of the above submission is to say the least ludicrous, entirely lacking any semblance of logic. Moreover, the nearest equivalent to Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) is rape-seed oil (Canola), imported from Canada (which is essentially GMO) and represents just 2% of Indias edible oil imports! Rs 68,000 Cr is the total import oil-seeds bill,not Canolaalone, as the AG mistakenly stated in Court. Can this be the basis for the Commercialisation of HT mustard DMH 11?
It gets murkier still when the U of I also admits that:
Heterosis is due to the careful selection of parents and not due to the three transgenes The developers have nowhere claimed that the yield increase is due to the three transgenes(At 65, page 45)
This is exactly the issue that there is no trait for yield in HT DMH 11. It is good indeed that on this point we are all in agreement. Yet, somehow, the opposite story prevails, the story to the media, and the PMO. The stand of the Niti Aayog is particularly curious in that their National Agri policy requires GMOs in agriculture to meet Indias food security as they are better yielding! Where in this statement is the basic science governing the trait for yield in GMOs and Mustard in particular? It is very troubling that the Niti Aayog has failed to do some basichomework.
(c) Therefore, we draw the conclusion that the stated regulatory intent is toderegulate HT DMH 11 as a policy agenda based on no science,and to convert Indias mustard agriculture, in a massive and dangerous experiment, to (GM) HThybridmustard, (variants of DMH 11). Imagine our consternation when your Regulator admitted to precisely this:
Once the GE mustard events Varuna bn 3.6 and EH2 modbs 2.99 are approved and deregulated, these would be immediately used by the National net-work programme Once a robust pollination control mechanism is in place,yield of hybrids can be further improved by breeding betterparental lines(at 63, pg. 43).
The statement is pure spin, dissimulation. Unless deconstructed, it conveys that HT Hybrid DMH11 is a superior hybrid-making technology (which it is not); that will (alone) provide 25 to 30% higher yield and even better, (not true, as admitted), because on the contrary, Indias best Non-GMO hybrids and varieties are already significantly outperforming HT DMH 11. Unfortunately and regrettably, the plain truth is that decades of good work already being done by our agri institutions and the DRMRin Non-GM hybrid technology and superior-yielding varieties will be laid waste in this dangerous plan for the country via HT Hybrid DMH 11 and its variants.
AND OUR GERMPLASM WILL BE THOROUGHLY CONTAMINATED AND IN A CENTRE OF MUSTARD DIVERSITY.
India is a centre of diversity in mustard with9720 Accessionsin our gene banks(The NBPGR). With a commercialised GM crop, contamination of non-GMO is certain. That is the evidence.
In closing, Id like to emphasise that GMO contamination is neither remediable nor reversible and is the outstanding concern. The genes in HT hybrid DMH 11 are toxic genes: being an HT crop also means that DMH 11 is a pesticidal crop. Its nationality doesnt change the science. It stays this way whether foreign or Indian! How do we get carried away on such a band-wagon?
The issue also is that with GMO contamination, our mustard will be changed at the molecular level. Any toxicity that there is will remain in perpetuity. Are we prepared to be the agents for such monumental risk and put India and its people in jeopardy without any recourse and remedy?
For these reasons among others, and there are decidedly others, I would urge you on behalf of our Nation not to endorse this outrageous and anti-national approval, but reject it in the public interest. You will be doing India a noble service in posterity.
Thank you, Yours sincerely,
Signed/
Prashant Bhushan
* * *
Notes
LiveLaw News Network: No GM Mustard Without SC Approval October 24, 2016;
Directorate of Rape-Seed Mustard
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India: Genetic Engineering, the Commercialization of GM Mustard and the Future of Agriculture - Center for Research on Globalization
Three MMC Biology and Biomedical Sciences students presented their research at the international Experimental Biology Meeting (EB 2017) in Chicago this April.
Elevit Perez 17, Taylor Allen 17, and Tracy Tauro 18 presented their research projects at the Experimental Biology meeting held in Chicago, IL, on April 22-25, 2017. All three students are conducting research with Dr. Benedetta Sampoli Benitez, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In particular, Perez and Tauro presented a poster titled Understanding conformational changes during translesion synthesis:in silicostudies of DinB. Allen presented a poster on Investigating the mechanism of trans-lesion synthesis by human DNA polymerase kappa. Both research projects were faculty-supervised collaborations conducted at MMC with funding from the Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable Trust Grant.
The Experimental Biology meeting is one of the largest meetings in Biology, with more than 14,000 participants. Six societies in Biology join in the meeting, including the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), of which our undergraduate program has a chapter. Students presented both at the undergraduate poster event on Saturday and at the general meeting the following day, giving them tremendous exposure to scientific presentations.
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Students Present Biochemistry Research in Chicago - Marymount Manhattan College News
Wichita Eagle | Religion and mental illness form a complex relationship Wichita Eagle I would describe it as being complex and patient specific, said Lisa Harding, a resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. There's no 'one shoe fits all' as to how religion ... |
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Religion and mental illness form a complex relationship - Wichita Eagle
Attention, Philadelphians: Your city government is conducting experiments to better understand how to get you to react.
As part of an effort to use human behavior to inform how City Hall reaches residents, a group led by Mayor Kenneys policy team conducted three studies, the results of which were made available last week.
The team: Director of Policy Anjali Chainani, Assistant Director of Policy Yuan Huang, and Policy Analyst Nandi OConnor. They run GovLabPHL, which connects volunteer researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College with various city departments. In its first round of testing, GovLabPHL worked with the citys Revenue Department, Indego bike share, and a summer jobs program.
Some of the experiments may seem simple, but they are shaping how departments go about mail and email campaigns to maximize responses and participation.
Were doing this because we have a commitment from the policy office to lead with research and evidence, Chainani said. All these departments really believe in being able to use scientific methods to see if their outcomes work, primarily because we do the best we can with the resources we have, but we cant always know exactly what is working until we test it.
The Revenue Department focused on first-time delinquent taxpayers. The office sent different messages to see which drew the most responses. The first letter appealed to the persons civic duty, citing specific parks and recreation centers in the neighborhood supported by property taxes. A second letter sought to shame recipients by pointing out that nine out of 10 Philadelphians pay taxes and that they were in the tax-dodging minority. The final and most effective message listed all the properties in the neighborhood that had been sold at sheriff's sale because of unpaid taxes.
The scary letter -- warning of impending consequences -- was by far the most effective, First Deputy Revenue Commissioner Marisa Waxman said. Weve really learned through this work that everything is a choice. Not thinking about how youre structuring or delivering your message is a choice.
The department spent $17,000 on the mailers but collected $615,752 more in delinquent taxes than it did from a control group that received in the mail the standard, less personalized notice of delinquency. If each recipient had received the scary letter, Waxman said, the city could have reaped $1 million, based on the data.
The Revenue Department also wanted to increase participation in a water bill discount program for senior citizens. In this instance it was the packaging, not the message, that made a difference.
The city found that large envelopes with handwritten addresses received more responses than regular-size envelopes, phone calls or post-cards. Mint- or sage-colored regular-size envelopes also seemed to get peoples attention, Waxman said.
In an attempt to find out what motivates children to sign up for summer jobs, Philadelphia Youth Network sent out two types of e-mail reminders -- one that stressed what a job could mean for the young persons career prospects, and another touting the pay.
The city found reminders of any kind helped boost applications, but that teens who received e-mails mentioning money were slightly more likely to submit applications.
The summer jobs program, which Mayor Kenney wants to increase to 16,000 young people by 2020, had 10,600 participants last year.
Indego bike share wanted to increase the rate of renewal among people who sign up for the program. The program e-mailed coupons for 15 percent off to one cohort, coupons for 50 percent off to another, and no coupons to a third. Renewals increased twice as much among coupon recipients as among non-coupon recipients, and the higher discount drew more renewals.
Chainani said the department would work with the Department of Licenses and Inspections on how to get more people to renew licenses online and the school district to increase teacher participation in an annual survey. The city has also applied for a Knight Foundation grant to place two full-time researchers at City Hall.
Published: May 14, 2017 8:14 PM EDT
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City study: Scarier the better when it comes to collection notices - Philly.com