Monthly Archives: June 2022

Talking the talk: 30 ICSD students earn NYS Seal of Biliteracy – The Ithaca Voice

Posted: June 11, 2022 at 2:05 am

ITHACA, N.Y.Graduating high school seniors lined up, smiled and posed with their diplomas on Monday at Ithacas Stewart Park to the joyous sound of applause as they were congratulated for receiving the New York State Seal of Biliteracy.

The seal is a unique distinction for graduating seniors in New York State. It requires a year of independent study in addition to their regular curriculum. Students journal, research, read, speak, and write, in English and the language which theyre pursuing proficiency in, and ultimately, give a formal presentation before a panel of judges to earn the seal, or seal the deal, so to speak.

Students dont necessarily need to have studied a language in the Citys School System to pursue the seal. In fact, Emily Ufford, the teacher that pushed for the introduction of the Seal of Biliteracy program to the school district, emphasized the importance of the program for students whose families speak different languages at home. Ufford said that connecting students with their heritage languages was the original inspiration for her to get the program going locally.

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Of the Ithaca City School Districts (ICSD) graduating seniors, 30 received the seal, conferring the states highest official distinction for proficiency in a second language. The seal was earned by 2 students attending Lehman Alternative Community School, and 28 from Ithaca High School. The seal of biliteracy was given to students proficient in languages ranging from Bulgarian, to Spanish, Russian, French, Hebrew, Chinese, as well as among others.

The final presentations students worked on had titles like: A Comparison of Bullying in Russian, French, and U.S. Schools; the Urban Rural Gap in U.S. and Spain; Sustainable Architecture in the U.S., France, and Senegal; Access to Music Education in the U.S. and Israel; or Similarities and Differences in American and German Genetic Engineering.

One student, Daniela Rivas, shared that for her final project compared the childhoods experienced at-large in the U.S. and El Salvador, where her family is from. She relied on help from her Mom while doing research, and said that project made her aware of the prevalence of child labor in El Salvador. While the year of independent study for the seal made Rivas become more familiar with the Spanish language, she said that her final project constituted the biggest takeaway of her experience earning the Seal of Biliteracy.

Shaqued Menda, a student whose Seal of Biliteracy was in Hebrew, said that she has remained verbally fluent in Hebrew since moving from Israel to the U.S. in early childhood, but she saw herself losing the ability to read and write in the language as shes grown up.

I lost my ability to read and write in Hebrew because growing up here I worked so hard to learn English [] I was motivated to be able to text my grandparents again. Its kind of difficult to call them whenever I want to because of the time difference, said Menda, excited to confirm that she achieved her goal of being able to keep in touch with distant relatives.

Sofia Trigueros-Ufford daughter of Emily Ufford earned a seal of biliteracy in Spanish, and shared that it allowed her to get even closer with her dad. It definitely made me able to connect to my Dad more. I feel like the mothers language is the one that children speak most at home, so it was a lot of English at home. My dad has always spoken Spanish to me, but I used to always respond in English. Her studying to pursue the seal shifted the language spoken at home to Spanish, which her mom is also fluent in.

Nomi Falk, a student who is the first in the school district to have ever earned the seal of biliteracy in three languages Hebrew, Spanish, and French looked at the program as a great opportunity for students to flex their linguistic muscles.

I think whats cool about the seal is that it isnt just a language learning opportunity, so much as a preening opportunity, said Falk, adding, It was a good opportunity to show off what we can all do.

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UC develops new lung cancer treatment | University Of Cincinnati – University of Cincinnati

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We adapted this technique to the study of lipids and specifically in a miniaturized, scaled-down version so that we can actually study tumors which are like the head of a pin, said Scaglioni, associate director for translational research at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, professor and division chief of hematology oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine in UCs College of Medicine and a UC Health physician. As far as I know there are three places worldwide where we can do this, and UC is one of them.

In addition to being used as fuel to help cancer cells grow, the team discovered that the lipids also help fortify the cell membrane and prevent damage that could lead to cancer cell death.

When you know the specific lipids, you know the genes that make the lipids, Scaglioni said. Then you can start manipulating the genes and ask yourself what happens to the cancer.

In the lab, the team used a novel drug to block the protein responsible for fatty acid synthesis. As expected, when the cells couldnt make lipids, cancer cells couldnt grow and began to die.

With the lessons learned from the research, Scaglioni and his team oversaw a Phase 1 multisite clinical trial testing the effectiveness of the drug to treat patients with KRAS-mutated lung cancer. The trial results were sufficient to proceed to a Phase 2 trial currently being operated at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, with the trial expected to open at UC soon.

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ITBF Conference In Newmarket A Success – Thoroughbred Daily News

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Some of the ITBF delegates in Newmarket | ITBF

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF)'s successful biennial four-day General Meeting concluded on Thursday in Newmarket. Attended by 23 of its 25 member countries, the programme included visits to all the leading Newmarket stallion studs, as well as two equine veterinary hospitals. Over 40 delegates had earlier attended the ITBF Derby Experience, provided by The Jockey Club, over the past weekend.

A half-day veterinary meeting plus an all-day General Meeting; covered areas of worldwide interest and included presentations on varying subjects from, amongst others, the JRA (Japan Racing Association), Weatherbys, SITA (Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers), the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), The TBA of Chile and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. Members also voted unanimously to continue to stand resolute against the use of artificial breeding methods (artificial insemination, embryo transfer, cloning, sexing of sperm, genetic engineering/manipulation, and other possible methods yet to be defined).

The ITBF will continue working to advance and protect the interests of Thoroughbred breeders' interests; throughout the world. Its next General Meeting will be hosted by Japan in 2024.

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This story was posted in Europe, Shared News Europe and tagged biennial General Meeting, General Meeting, International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation, ITBF, Newmarket.

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The Jurassic Park Universe Explained: Your Guide To The Movies, Books, And More – CinemaBlend

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From Michael Crichtons original best-seller in 1991 to the upcoming movie of Jurassic World: Dominion, the Jurassic Park legacy has been a pop culture landmark. Inspiring the public to fall in love with dinosaurs all over again, Steven Spielbergs 1993 blockbuster adaptation only strengthened the entire Jurassic universes foothold on the imagination of the entire planet.

Which means that theres a lot of stuff to keep up with over the course of almost 30 years, as books, video games, and even a TV show have become part of that very dino dynasty. If youre looking for a guide to not just the movies, but also the fun Jurassic lore thats waiting to be discovered in other media, youve come to the right place.

Naturally, this isnt everything, as this is a pretty expansive universe, but we spared few details in including the notable properties you should dig into as a Jurassic Park fan. Hold onto your butts, as the tours about to start!

It all started with a duology of books that best-selling author Michael Crichton would pen throughout his storied career. While one would set the table for the Jurassic Park craze, another was written directly as a result.

Jurassic Park (1990)Written throughout the 80s, Jurassic Park was the novel that helped catapult Crichton further into literary stardom. There are some stark Jurassic differences between the book and the movie, especially when it comes to tone and characters. The novel is a bit more horrific in its events. Also, Ian Malcolm was heavily implied to have died at the end.

The Lost World (1995)Surprise! Ian Malcolm isnt dead, and returns in 1995s The Lost World! This book exists because of the success of Jurassic Park the movie. Its Crichtons only sequel to one of his novels, with the main difference between book and movie taking place in a battle between Dr. Malcolm and his companions vs. Lewis Dodgson and BioSyn - inGens main competitor.

The decades-long friendship between Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton led to the key business deal that would make Jurassic Park happen. As mentioned in the book, Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Visual History (opens in new tab), this partnership was one of mutual respect, as Crichton really wanted Spielberg to direct the adaptation of that first book.

Jurassic Park (1993)Drs. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are brought as endorsements for John Hammonds (Sir Richard Attenborough) unique amusement park. Unfortunately for all involved, life finds a way to turn the entire experience into a genetically engineered nightmare from hell. Jurassic Park landed itself in the history books as a massive hit, and as an adaptation some argue is better than Michael Crichton's book.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)Four years after the events on Isla Nublar, something has survived. Isla Sorna, also known as Site B, is now overrun with the dinosaurs bred for Jurassic Park. Dr. Ian Malcolm returns, in order to prevent John Hammonds scheming nephew, Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard), from apprehending the remaining creatures.

Jurassic Park III (2001)Another four years sees Dr. Alan Grant lured to Isla Sorna on a search and rescue mission. Lessons in Raptor communication, a vicious Spinosaurus, and a small detour into how Alan and Dr. Ellie Sattler broke up, all take place.

Throughout the years after Jurassic Park III, there were several attempts to revive the franchise. Some of the resulting story ideas were wild, like a Jurassic Park IV involving human/dino hybrids. Eventually, Jurassic World would be revealed as the start of the new era in the franchises history, with director Colin Trevorrow kicking things off.

Jurassic World (2015)Twenty-two years after John Hammonds dream seemingly collapsed, the park is open. Introducing trilogy stars Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), another day in the park is ruined by a psychotic genetic hybrid.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)After the Jurassic World incident, Owen and Claire are recruited to head back to the ruins of Isla Nublar to recover the dinosaurs still living on the island. Yet again, humanitys bright ideas involving genetic engineering and profiteering backfire, with dinosaurs left to run rampant around the world.

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022)Taking place during events in the Jurassic World trilogy, Camp Cretaceous uses a TV show to throw its young campers into dino-danger. Theres as much cuteness as there is horror, and though the series is ending this July, Jurassic Park fans should totally watch this Netflix show.

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)The end of the Jurassic era, this summers big blockbuster reunites Owen and Claire, as well as introduces them to Drs. Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm. Needless to say, were not going to reveal much about this one, because spoilers; but heres a hint: theres more dinosaurs.

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There was another common practice that the Jurassic Park movies werent immune to: tie-in video games. While theres plenty more than what were about to mention, here are the more notable entries in the Jurassic gaming canon.

Jurassic Park (1993)Depending on what sort of gamer you were, Jurassic Parks adaptation was a wildly different experience. The Super Nintendo version apparently included first person shooter sequences, as well as other tasks like rebooting the computers. Meanwhile, the Sega Genesis version of Jurassic Park was a side-scrolling shooter/fighter, where you could play as Dr. Alan Grant or a Velociraptor!

Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (Sega Genesis - 1994)Heres another case of the consoles diverging wildly in their approach. Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition sees Alan Grant crashing back onto Isla Nublar, with our Velociraptor friend remaining on the island as well. Both fight off dinosaurs and inGen personnel in a slightly more brutal follow-up.

Jurassic Park 2: The Chaos Continues (Super Nintendo - 1994)Taking the side-scrolling approach from its Genesis counterpart, Jurassic Park 2: The Chaos Continues has Alan Grant trying to stop BioSyn employees from raiding the island for dinosaurs/specimens. It should be noted that both this and the Rampage Edition were released about a year before The Lost World novel would find its way into the world

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)While not exactly a direct adaptation of the film, The Lost Worlds video game allowed you to play as several dinosaurs, and Julianne Moores character from the film, Dr. Sarah Harding. This title is notable for two reasons: its music was one of the projects that put young Michael Giacchino on the worlds radar, and of course, the snarky Jeff Goldblum video that basically tells players to touch grass.

Trespasser (1998)Most excitingly, The Lost World: Jurassic Park had a digital sequel, the 1998 game Tresspasser. A woman named Anne (Minnie Driver) crash lands on Isla Sorna, years after The Lost World, and has to survive the dinosaurs still on the island. The game was janky, but ambitious, and theres a community thats still keeping it alive to this day.

Warpath: Jurassic Park (1999)Two words sum up the officially licensed Jurassic Park fighting game: dino fights. It may not have done much back in the day, but it may have influenced some of the prize fights in the Jurassic World saga.

Perhaps the best part of the video game angle of the Jurassic world are the park sims!

Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis (2003)This is pretty much the only game from the Jurassic Park III era that is worth mentioning. Acting as a sort of Roller Coaster Tycoon in the Jurassic saga, you could build your own Jurassic Park, and take part in both the business and maintenance end. Good luck finding an affordable copy, but if you can get your hands on it, its worth it.

The Jurassic World: Evolution Games (2018/2021)If you dont want to spend the massive cash on getting Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis, then you can snag the more modern, massively more affordable versions! 2018s beautiful Jurassic World: Evolution, and the 2022 sequel, Jurassic World: Evolution 2, both allow you to build and maintain your own dinosaur park; but with new and exciting challenges. Also, Jeff Goldblum and Bryce Dallas Howard take part in some of the voice acting throughout the games, which really helps sell that Jurassic World feeling.

Almost 30 years of history in the books and Jurassic Parks legacy is stuffed with a ton of proof to show its impact on pop culture. Again, this isnt even close to everything we could have discussed. If you really want to dig into the history of the first three Jurassic movies, then check out Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Visual History (opens in new tab)! And dont forget, Jurassic World: Dominion is currently in theaters, continuing the tradition of dinosaurs snacking on humanity.

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CTGT transactions: Beware of ripples in the safe harbor – JD Supra

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Research tools, cell lines, and other technologies, many of which are patented, are useful for, but separate from, the product or therapy being developed. When the question of third-party patent rights is raised with respect to such patented technologies, many partners dismiss the concern on the ground that the development of the product or therapy is being conducted in support of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to FDA, and therefore is immune from an infringement lawsuit pursuant to the development safe harbor.

Indeed, in the United States, 35 USC 271(e)(1) expressly exempts from an infringement suit certain otherwise infringing acts, so long as they are conducted solely for uses reasonably related to the development and submission of information under a Federal law that regulates the manufacture, use, or sale of drugs or biological products.

Similar exemptions exist under the laws of many other jurisdictions. Historically, this safe harbor, also known as the Bolar exemption, has been broadly construed in the U.S. However, as recent case law indicates, where a patented research tool such as a cultured host cell useful in the manufacture of a gene therapy product or a fluorescent protein is itself not subject to FDA premarket approval, the safe harbor may not apply.

As additional patented research tools become available, developers of CTGT products would be prudent to include any potential development technologies as part of their freedom-to-operate analysis moving forward. And in development collaboration arrangements, companies should ensure that their partners engaged in development work have secured the appropriate licenses for the conduct of such development activities.

This article is the fifth in our 2022 series, Trends in Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapies, which aims to help you stay informed about the broad array of legal and regulatory issues affecting companies operating in the regenerative medicine space. From clinical studies, to obtaining patents, to scaling up manufacturing, our global team will discuss novel issues arising in all parts of the world, including unique deal-making, litigation, and inspections concerns for CTGT companies.

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News from the world of education – June 10, 2022 – The Hindu

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Samsung launches Solve for Tomorrow

Samsung has launched the inaugural edition of Solve for Tomorrow, a new youth-centric national education and innovation competition, which invites Indias brightest young minds to come up with innovative ideas in the areas of Education, Environment, Healthcare and Agriculture. Support will include mentoring by industry experts and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi). For details visit http://www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

The Learn Fest 2022

Teacher skilling platform OrangeSlates has announced the second edition of The Learn Fest 2022 to be held on June 25 and 26. The theme this time is Taking NEP 2020 into classrooms. Educators interested in participating can register at https://LearnFest.OrangeSlates.com

RGCB opens applications

The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), an autonomous institution of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, invites applications from GAT-B qualified candidates for its M.Sc. Biotechnology programme for the academic year 2022-24. The course offers specialisations in Disease Biology, Molecular Diagnostics & DNA Profiling, and Genetic Engineering. Applicants must also have 60% aggregate in their Bachelors degree in any branch of Science, Engineering or Medicine. Last date is June 30. Visit https://rgcb.res.in/msc2022.php for details

MindBox launches summer courses

MindBox has announced the launch of its design and coding led summer courses, which include2D Animation, Multimedia Design, Graphic Design Photoshop, Digital Design SketchUp, AI with Python among others. For details, visit https://mindboxindia.com/

Free mock test series for CLAT

Edtech startup Oliveboard has announced a free mock test series for CLAT aspirants (2022) to help them prepare for the exam. The Oliveboard Mock Test is currently live and can be accessed on the website/app until the exam day.

Holberton partners with Jigsaw Academy

The U.S.-based ed-tech company Holberton has partnered with Jigsaw Academy to offer a PG Certificate in Full Stack Development. Holberton will provide the projects, platform, tools and services while Jigsaw will deliver the programme from the Holberton platform and also provide mentoring support to the students.

IET India Scholarship Award

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has opened applications for the sixth edition of the IET India Scholarship Award, with a combined prize money of Rs 10 Lakhs. The programme aims to reward and celebrate individual excellence and innovation among undergraduate engineering students in ACITE and UGC approved institutes and national institutes in India. For more information, please visit https://scholarships.theietevents.com/#!

Webinar on Management Education

EduCrack will host a webinar at 6.00 p.m. on June 11 to guide students who want to opt for an MBA. Rammohan, Chief Knowledge Officer, EduCrack, will talk about various specialisations and the career options these will lead to. Those interested can join through https://bit.ly/3mw9zaN

Applications open up Rishihood University

Rishihood University (RU) invites applications for its 2022 intake commencing September 2022. At the UG level, the University offers degrees in Design, Visual Arts, Psychology, Education, Leadership among others. Minor specialisations include Computer Science, Law, Media and Sanskrit with electives like Sustainable Development and Creative Writing. At the PG level, programmes include PG Diploma in Leadership, , MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Research, MBA, MBA (Entrepreneurship) and M.Design. For details call 1800 120 6631 (toll-free) or visit https://apply.rishihood.edu.in/

WWI entrance exams in June

Whistling Woods International (WWI) has announced the dates for the June round of entrance examinations for the 2022 intake. The last date to register is June 18 and the exams will take place from June21-24. The institute offers degree, post-graduate, and diploma programmes under an agreement with Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD). For details of programmes offered and to apply, visit http://www.whistlingwoods.net

MyCoolGuru launched

MyCoolGuru, a career tech platform, was launched recently. It will offer online and offline courses, list tutors, trainers and counsellors, have notes and questions for exam prep and guidance from industry mentors. Operating through a membership model, it has on boarded 300 tutors and curated over 100 study materials across 25 courses. More details at http://www.mycoolguru.com

Graduation Day celebrated

Saveetha Engineering College celebrated its 15th and 16th Graduation Days earlier this month. Among the dignitaries present were Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, Chairman NBA; S. Suresh Babuji, Joint Director & Head of Office, MSME DI Chennai; Dr. N. M. Veeraiyan, Founder President & Chancellor SIMATS; Dr. S. Rajesh, Director SEC; and Dr. N. Duraipandian, Principal, and the heads of various departments. Over 900 students from the 2019 batch and 830 students from the 2020 batch received their degrees.

Partnerships

Vivekanand Education Societys College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous) has partnered with GlobalGyan Academy of Management Education to launch new autonomous courses, including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. Students who have completed their Class 12 exam, from any stream, board and institute, are eligible to apply. For more, visit https://ves.ac.in/

The Karnataka State Education Department and EMBIBE, an AI-powered personalised adaptive learning platform, have entered into a partnership to make available Karnataka Board curriculum in the local language. The objective is to provide students with quality digital education and 3D content for Science and Maths in their language. The platform caters to Classes 6 to 12 and to Engineering and Medical entrance exams.

Crimson Education has partnered with Nxt Venture Labs LLP for EpicQuest, a young entrepreneurial leader in-residence programme. The four-week programme is exclusively designed for Indian high school students; to guide and prepare them via hands-on exposure to effective global business management practices, and entrepreneurial leadership training. EpicQuest will continue till July 4. Each group will consist of 10 students between the ages of 14 to 16 years. For more information, visit https://www.crimsoneducation.org/in/

Lovely Professional University invites applications its B.Tech CSE (AI & Data Engineering) in association with Futurense Technologies. by the university.

Eligibility: 65% aggregate in 10+2 (with Physics, Mathematics and English); qualification in LPUNEST and interview by Futurense Technologies.

Details at https://bit.ly/3HeocZF

Environment Studies course

Augustana University, the U.S., has opened applications of its Environment Studies course for the Spring 2023 intake. The university offers merit-based scholarships of $15,000 to $25,000 for candidates from India, depending on their academic qualifications. For more details, visit https://bit.ly/3aOurHG

IIM-Bangalore in the PIR 2022

IIM-Bangalore features in the top category (Level 5) in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) 2022. The Indian quartet of IIM-Bangalore, SPJIMR, XLRI, and Woxsen Business School has achieved the highest level of the PIR as Pioneering Schools. The Positive Impact Rating (PIR) is a rating conducted by students and for students to assess the positive impact of business schools.

World Environment Day celebrated

Smiling Tree celebrated World Environment Day along with Leelawanto Saraswati Vidya Mandir School. Students were encouraged to become green warriors, take care of the environment and inspire others to do so.

Noida International University organised a poster making and essay competition on the theme Only One Earth. The aim was to create awareness about climate change and encourage students to take action. Over 70 students from NIUs 12 schools participated.

Orchids The International School has partnered with Citizens Association for Child Rights (CACR), a development partner of UNICEF for WASH, to sensitise its students to environmental issues like waste segregation.

Celebrating diversity

The student-initiated campaign Yaadhum Manamae Yaavarum Kaelir by the Department of Public Relations, Stella Maris College, celebrated its valedictory with a walkathon conducted at Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar. The event was inaugurated by Santhtosh Pratha, actor and mixed martial arts athlete, and S. Nelson, ACP Adyar. Theatre Akku also staged a Tamil play Komaligal that threw light on issues such as gender inequality and intersectional abuse.

Sanskriti team develops electric Buggy

A team of six students (Thokchom, Satish, Monu, Deepak, Jivan, and Akhilesh) from Sanskriti University has developed an electric Buggy, for travelling in sandy and off-road terrain. The team was led by Prof. Anshuman Singh, of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

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News from the world of education - June 10, 2022 - The Hindu

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Food Industry Innovations of Recent Years and Those Coming in 2022 – Startup.info

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The combination of the pandemic and new innovations in tech have contributed to huge changes within the food industry in recent years and these developments are likely to keep coming in 2022 and beyond.

From ghost kitchens and lab-grown meat to vertical farming and super crops, the food industry landscape has changed almost beyond recognition, helping us to eat more ethically while safeguarding the future of the sector. We look in more detail at these advances below and also speculate on what is likely to be the next game-changing development in the food industry.

With environmental concerns moving to the forefront of public consciousness over the last few years, the move to biodegradable packaging has become mainstream, with the majority of restaurants, cafes, and takeout establishments offering recycled and recyclable packaging.

Advances in this field are set to continue: there is currently a focus on innovating packaging from the waste products created by the food industry itself. For example, scientists are currently working on ways to turn the millions of metric tons of shellfish waste into a biodegradable, natural wrap that could be used for storing food.

Point of sale (POS) systems refer to the equipment and system used to process customer transactions; however, things have moved miles beyond this, simply including physical elements such as the cash register and handheld payment terminals. Now, advanced point of sales systems specifically designed for restaurants and bars allow customers to make and manage bookings online and for menus to be added and amended with a couple of clicks of the mouse.

Next-generation POS systems also feature inventory management features with the option to automate many of the processes regarding this and even customer relationship management tools that enable business owners to tailor specific offers and marketing drives to different customer groups. For an example of one such advanced POS system, take a look at this information on the Toast payment system, which has been designed specifically for businesses in the food sector. It offers a cloud-based solution, so theres no need to worry about storage and security, either. Toast also features an impressive array of reporting features and a scannable dashboard that makes for easy interrogation of the stats and figures.

Again, environmental concerns have led to innovations in the lab-grown food sector, with more people than ever before becoming aware of the environmental damage that factory and mass meat farming can cause.

The first lab-grown burger was presented to the public in 2013, and its estimated that by 2040 more than half of the meat we eat will either be lab-grown or made from plant alternatives. Continuing advances in this field have led to lab-grown meat entering the mainstream market and becoming a popular choice for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

While ghost kitchens were growing in number pre-pandemic, it was Covid 19 that created a huge spike in the businesses choosing to operate using this new model.

As a way to cut costs and boost efficiency, ghost kitchens are perfect. Theyre a delivery-only proposition and often operate out of an existing restaurants kitchen. Sometimes a single ghost kitchen will host the production and delivery of several different food brands, thereby cutting back on waste and optimizing staff time. With companies like Deliveroo potentially taking a commission of around 30% of an orders value, ghost kitchens have been a useful way for food businesses to cut out the middle-man and protect their profit margins.

Vertical farming is the term used to describe crops that are grown indoors, in urban areas often in large warehouses, for example. As well as requiring less land and water, it is believed that this method can generate a significantly higher yield than traditional farming is able to partly because of the close monitoring of the plants and the inherent protection from pests that indoor growing facilitates.

At present, vertical farming is in its infancy, and progress will be dependent on the sectors ability to find ways to harness renewable energy although growing crops on rooftop terraces are also being increasingly used as a way to produce food for a city.

With the worlds population growing and increasingly extreme weather wiping out swathes of crops on a regular business, one of the key innovations of the next few years will be the development of super crops that can withstand heat, drought, and flood, and pack a bigger nutritional punch.

Scientists in Dubai are already modifying crops like quinoa so that they can grow and thrive even in desert conditions, while the aptly named scuba rice can survive when submerged in water for up to two weeks.

Selective breeding, biofortification, and genetic engineering are all expected to play a part in the creation of these super crops, which could be game-changing and life-saving in areas of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa, where the threat of malnutrition is often ever-present.

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Startup offers genetic testing that promises to predict healthiest embryo – WHYY

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Both I and my girlfriend, have children from previous relationships. But still, one child is not enough. It doesnt feel like I got enough enjoyment with children. And I think its good to have children because somebody needs to take over in the future, Smigrodzki said. So, between my girlfriend and I, we decided to have a child.

Due to his girlfriends age, one of the couples only options was IVF.

Smigrodzki was interested in also using the tests offered by Genomic Prediction. They met with an IVF doctor in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since the testing was new, the company sent a scientist to explain the technology to the doctors on the IVF team.

During the next visit, our physician told us that they would not let us use the technology, because that [would be] unethical.

Smigrodzki disagreed with the doctors decision.

A physician who tells you that they will not use a life and health-saving technology because its unethical is a physician who is making a big mistake. Theres absolutely no credible reasoning that would justify this kind of a decision, Smigrodzki said.

This wouldnt be the last time Genomic Prediction caused tension. Controversy and resistance seem to follow the company.

Stephen Hsu, a co-founder of Genomic Prediction, said he became interested in computational genomics about 10 years ago.

It became possible to build predictors using machine learning and artificial intelligence, which would look directly at the DNA of an individual and could tell whether someone was at unusually high risk, for example, for a specific disease condition. When we started seeing how powerful these techniques were, we realized one of the most obvious applications of it would be in embryo selection, Hsu said.

IVF clinics have long tested embryos for genetic diseases. But what differentiates Genomic Prediction from routine genetic testing is the companys promise to give an overall health impression of an embryo not just testing to see if it has a specific disease or not.

This is much more complicated than screening, say, for Huntingtons disease. A single gene causes that disease, and tests for Huntingtons disease have a 99.9% accuracy rate. But test results for complex conditions, meaning they involve many, even thousands of genes, like heart disease or diabetes, are much less precise. So instead of giving definitive results, Genomic Prediction provides a risk score an estimate of how likely an embryo will be to develop a disease.

One very common case, which weve seen many times already, is a couple comes in and they know they have a family history of x. And just to take a concrete example, x could be breast cancer. So it could be that in the mothers family tree, there are women that had breast cancer, said Hsu.

And they may just say, Look, I saw my aunt die from breast cancer, and I just dont want it to happen to my daughter. So, I just want to make sure that of the embryos we look at, I want the one we implant to be normal risk, not high risk.'

Testing for breast cancer risk may not sound all that controversial. But you could imagine where this could go.

Remember that Smigrodzkis first IVF doctors refused to administer the test, calling it unethical.

To start, the same technology that can test for complex diseases can also test for things like eye color, skin tone, or height.

So, the accuracy with which one can predict height, from DNA alone, for people who have good family environments, you know, growing up, the error is less than three centimeters now, Hsu said.

That means the scientists at Genomic Prediction say theyre able to predict adult height within a bit more than an inch before you are even born. But they are not doing that yet.

We only provide risk scores for very impactful common diseases. Because its just too controversial, people just get too excited, Hsu said. We can make predictions about IQ scores of individuals. But we do not provide any of that information in our IVF service, just because its too controversial.

But what about traits that fall somewhere in the middle of eye color and disease risk?

We can predict BMI [body mass index], Hsu said. And theres a whole complex of health problems that come with being significantly overweight. Now, are we going to report BMI prediction scores? Would people call us fat shaming if we did that? As you know, its extremely delicate.

Hsu and his company are pioneers with this type of genetic testing. They are making choices on what diseases and traits to test for, how accurate the tests should be, and if they should even offer the test. And the work they are doing will influence the direction this industry takes.

There are guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. And those guidelines support the use of this kind of technology to prevent disease, they do not explicitly support the use of this kind of technology for cosmetic purposes, and they dont really talk about IQ, Hsu said.

So, its kind of a gray area. Were certainly not forbidden from doing it, but we just chose not to do it. Because from our perspective, theres so much good that you can do just on the purely medical health risk front, that we dont want that to get drowned out by this other stuff.

Hsu never explicitly said where he draws the line. But he did say that people should have a better understanding of these tests.

People should become aware of how the technology works, how does heredity work, how the genes work people should learn that. And then, through a kind of democratic process, they should decide this is the kind of society we want to be. This is what we should allow. We like gene editing, we dont like gene editing, we like embryo selection, we dont, he said.

He says this technology, the ability to screen embryos for diseases and even non-disease traits, is becoming more sophisticated, and more importantly, it is becoming more available. There are other companies that plan to offer similar testing.

Even though Genomic Prediction doesnt offer scores based on intelligence, a recent article in Bloomberg follows a couples journey with embryo selection. The couple used Genomic Prediction and wanted more data than the company offers, so they downloaded the raw embryo data. They analyzed it to weigh the odds of mental health traits, like stress management and chronically low mood. They told Bloomberg that what was most important to them was mental health and performance.

As this genetic modeling continues to improve and become more wide-spread, we must start asking the hard questions: How will we use it?

Laura Hercher, director of research in human genetics at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, says almost everything to do with embryos and manipulation of embryos stirs up some controversy.

Hercher is a trained clinical genetic counselor, licensed to work with patients. But lately, she spends her time educating on ethical, legal, and social issues in genomic medicine. She says these test results are much more nuanced than they may seem.

Ive talked to a lot of genetic counselors about embryo testing. And mostly we have a good laugh. I always say if I was going to write a textbook on genetics which, God forbid I would entitle it, It Turned Out to be More Complicated Than They Thought.'

One of the biggest challenges with these risk scores is that scientists simply dont know all of the genes involved with complex conditions like heart disease or cancer.

Another problem is that the information scientists do have comes from genetic databases with overwhelming white, European participants. Applying that data to other populations, some scientists say, is misleading.

Its population data, which means that you have to be very careful about how you use it for an individual, Hercher said.

These genetic tests say something about your risk, the way your zip code, when youre born says something about your risk. If we calculated it over a population, and said, whats your chance of going to college based on the zip code you were born in? We could trace a relationship, right? Thats intuitive. But it would not be causal it would not be the end point.

So, the tests arent perfect. But they will continue to improve. Already, parents who use IVF can select an embryo based on its biological sex, which is not a concerning medical condition. They can also screen embryos for rare, devastating disorders like Huntingtons disease. But soon, testing could include conditions that may or may not be considered a serious medical concern.

Hercher said, take ADHD or autism, for example.

People might fear these conditions, they might particularly fear them based on sort of worst-case scenario thinking, that it can get very bad. But also, these are medical labels we have applied in some cases, to things that were well within the spectrum of, really normal behavior, said Hercher. And I think globally, big picture, when people look at the use of these technologies with embryos, one of their fears has to have something to do about reducing our vision of what is normal and acceptable in the human population. And specifically doing that, for people who can pay for it.

Stephen Hsu from Genomic Prediction said that his company was starting to see inquiries from couples interested in doing IVF just so they could do the embryo selection process. Couples tell him:

Hey, we heard about this, and it just seems like such a smart thing to do. Were actually considering doing IVF. Because we can get a better health outcome for our children, even though were not necessarily having fertility issues, Hsu said.

IFV is already very expensive, and the additional genetic test itself is about $2,000 per cycle. Hercher warns that we must be careful about how this difference in access will impact society.

So, how do you draw the actual lines there? I think the only way to do it is to try and bring the population along with you, Hercher said, to try and explain the limitations of the genetics and explain the negative effects of too much selection and too much trying to control what a child is like.

With all of that in place, Hercher said she doesnt, see an option other than to trust parents to make decent decisions.

Fundamentally, one reason why we dont want to get into selection of things that are less like diseases and more like traits, she added, is that what we owe our children above everything else, is to accept them and love them as they are.

Rafal Smigrodzki says it was his sense of fatherly responsibility that influenced his decision.

You see, its all about the children. Its not about us, right? Smigrodzki said. He said he expects that children would be grateful if parents choose certain traits for them, like intelligence.

Intelligence is a good, Smigrodzki said Its not a weapon that we use against each other in a fight. Its actually something that we use to understand and control the world. And its precisely our intelligence that gives us the ability to progress to build civilization. So, theres absolutely nothing wrong, in my opinion, in selecting an embryo based on intelligence.

For Smigrodzki and his girlfriend, they ultimately found an IVF provider in Washington D.C. that was willing to work with Genomic Prediction. They started with 16 embryos and eventually had five surviving embryos genetically tested.

Out of the remaining five, one had a chromosomal abnormality, so it was immediately rejected. And out of the four remaining ones Genomic Prediction provided a list of odds for different conditions, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, he said.

Its up to the parents to decide how to weigh those odds. Smigrodzki decided to select the embryo with the lowest risk of heart disease. Later, Genomic Prediction came up with an overall, embryonic health score, taking into account each possible condition, the odds, and the potential for a higher quality of life. Smigrodzki later had those embryonic health scores calculated for the four embryos he had to choose from.

The embryo that became Aurea [had] by far the best health score of the four of them. So, it means that I could congratulate myself because I selected the best embryo.

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Chimeric develops own method to deliver cancer treatment – The West Australian

Posted: at 2:05 am

Chimeric Therapeutics has cut out significant global supply chain problems facing the cell therapy industry by developing its own viral vector system to deliver its patented treatment for killing brain tumours or glioblastoma.

Viral vectors are tools commonly used by molecular biologists to deliver genetic material into cells.

Creating the viral vector system was a key milestone in commercialising the patented protein derived chimeric antigen receptor, or CLTX CAR T therapy and was developed and manufactured in partnership with world-renowned cancer research and treatment hospital, City of Hope, near Los Angeles.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord and whilst relatively rare, is almost always lethal, with less than 5 per cent of patients surviving more than five years.

In CAR T therapy, a patients own T-cells are taken from their body and trained before being put back in to target cancerous cells. The therapy uniquely utilises CLTX, a protein derived from scorpion toxin, as the tumour-targeting component of the treatment where the T-cells are enhanced by the protein from the scorpion toxin.

Viral vectors underpin the manufacture of a CAR T-cell therapy as they hold the genetic engineering instructions. The timely manufacturing and release of viral vectors is regarded as one of the most challenging and critical components of cell therapy operations.

Chimeric said the current shortage of vector manufacturing capability has significantly delayed other companies development programs, as well as challenging commercial manufacturers.

Given the difficulties, the company says developing the system is a critical milestone for Chimeric in supporting the broader phase 1 glioblastoma clinical program expansion of CLTX CAR T, also known as CHM 1101, as well as a new phase 1 clinical basket trial in solid tumours.

This enlarged clinical program requires coordinated expansion of Chimerics current technical functions.

Vector supply significantly challenges the cell therapy industry with current backlogs of more than a year to access vector manufacturing. Securing vector for the expansion of our CHM 1101 development program enables us to move forward and is a clear demonstration of the benefit of our experienced cell therapy development team.

Chimeric is developing several cell therapies to broaden its suite of potential treatments.

The company is aiming to develop another four new next-generation cell therapy assets, with plans for phase 1 clinical trials on solid tumours and blood cancers to start next year.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au

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WHRY Funds Studies on Sex Differences in Treating Gastrointestinal Cancers, Bone Health in Transgender Youth, and the Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s…

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Womens Health Research at Yale today announced funding for three new studies. They include one of the first studies to examine sex differences in treating neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a rare form of cancer often found in the gastrointestinal tract. The second study will examine the effect of gender-affirming hormone therapy during adolescence on bone development. The third study will utilize machine-learning and brain imaging techniques to understand the mechanisms through which a particular genetic variant increases the risk for developing Alzheimers disease more significantly for women than men.

The more we investigate the role of sex and gender on our health, the more we learn how differences can lead to quite large impacts, said WHRY Director Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD. These new studies explore critical features of health and disease to ensure that everyone has the best health care throughout life. Such care starts with research that considers all aspects of biology and behavior that make us unique.

The new studies ask significant questions with practical consequences for health. Can analyses of a large U.S. database and multiple completed clinical trials in patients with NENs identify sex-based differences in treatment-related side effects? And, can these studies help inform additional research to identify changes in DNA that are associated with these side effects? Can data collected using state-of-the-art bone density equipment and analysis techniques guide efforts to minimize short- and long-term risks for bone growth to adolescent individuals undergoing gender affirming hormone therapy? And can newly designed neuroimaging techniques successfully map the relationships among brain circuitry, sex, aging, and cognitive task performance to inform the development of new targeted prevention strategies and therapies for the estimated 15% to 25% of women who carry the single greatest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimers disease?

This years Wendy U. and Thomas C. Naratil Pioneer Award has been granted to Dr. Pamela Kunz. With co-funding from Yale Cancer Center, Dr. Kunz will study sex-based differences in adverse events associated with treating neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).

About 12,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with an NEN every year, a number that has been increasing for years as diagnostic techniques have improved and awareness has grown. Though rare by incidence, NENs are the second most prevalent gastrointestinal cancer after colorectal cancer, due largely to their slow growth. Research has shown that treatment-related toxicities are common among patients treated for these cancers, contributing to poor quality of life, worse outcomes, and increased costs both to the patient and the health care system. These challenges are especially important in chronic cancers such as NENs.

And while large population-based studies suggest that there are sex differences in the number of patients diagnosed with NENs each year, where the cancer starts, and survival rates, there have been few studies dedicated to the role sex plays in the side effects of treating these tumors.

One such study showed that female patients undergoing treatment for NENs had twice the rate of low platelets (cells that help blood clot) and five times the risk of low white blood cells (the cells that fight infection). These increased side effects have the potential for many negative downstream consequences for female patients involving quality of life, financial costs, and outcomes, particularly if treatments are interrupted or doses reduced.

Dr. Kunz, an oncologist, associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, is utilizing a large U.S. database of patient information to provide an important biological window into such sex differences in NEN treatment side effects. Her team will also identify candidate genes or common gene variations that are associated with the risk of a single toxicity from treatment or a cluster of related toxicities.

By identifying sex differences and genetic predictors of these side effects, researchers can then tailor treatments to reduce the toxicity of the treatments and improve survival rates.

As a female doctor who treats gastrointestinal cancers and an advocate for gender equity, I am eager to apply the lens of equity to my own research, said Kunz, who also serves as the vice chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the medical oncology section at Yale Cancer Center. If we confirm an increase in treatment-related side effects for female patients with NENs, we can propose proactive steps to better understand and lower these risks.

The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are critical regulators of bone health, contributing in different but complementary ways to the development of bone strength and structure during puberty. The typical patterns and timing of pubertal development are significantly altered in transgender youth who undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) during adolescence, and the effects of these hormonal regimens on the process of bone development are not fully understood.

Transgender youth, particularly youth transitioning from male to female, may have delays in development of overall bone strength that improve over time.

However, overall bone strength reflects a basic, single approximation of a dynamic process that can vary greatly among individuals. Newer assessments of bone structure can now account for variations in bone strength within the bone, which may help to predict fracture risk over time. But there are limited data for these newer measurements to determine what might be usual in youth undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy, an increasingly common but understudied treatment.

In a survey published by The Trevor Project in 2019, nearly 2% of youth identified as transgender, more than double a 2017 estimate from a survey of adults. And while not every transgender individual undergoes gender-affirming hormone therapy, young people identifying as transgender and their families need more information about the effects of GAHT on bone health to minimize risk and improve long-term health outcomes.

With a grant from WHRY, Dr. Stuart Weinzimer, professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, will work with youth extensively screened psychologically and medically through Yales Pediatrics Gender Program prior to choosing GAHT. Dr. Weinzimer will utilize the latest and most sophisticated measures of bone health to characterize the changes in the density, quality, and architecture of bones as well as the metabolic markers of bone health over the first year of gender-affirming hormone treatment in transgender youth. In addition, Dr. Weinzimers team will identify demographic, clinical, and behavioral variables such as diet and exercise that may facilitate or interfere with normal skeletal health in this population as they age.

We are focusing on the first year of treatment because this is the time of maximal alterations in the hormonal environment, Weinzimer said. This study will not only collect important data on individuals assigned female at birth and those who are affirmed in the female gender undergoing treatment but will also guide providers in developing hormone treatment regimens that minimize short- and long-term risks and optimize skeletal health over time.

Weinzimer is recruiting transgender adolescents prior to initiating either testosterone or estrogen treatment, analyzing bone health within each group from baseline measurements through the end of the year and between the two groups receiving different hormones. He will also assess the potential effects of prior use of puberty blockers on biological markers of bone health at the beginning of the study and after one year.

These data will ultimately help us to understand if current treatments are effective in optimizing skeletal health when initiating affirming hormone therapies and the role played by non-pharmacological influences, such as physical activity and diet, in the trajectories of these metrics over time, Weinzimer said. Given the increasing number of adolescents undergoing gender-affirming treatments, it is vital to understand how these therapies either increase or mitigate risk so that we can provide informed counseling and identify potential interventions."

About two-thirds of the six million people affected by Alzheimers disease (AD) in the United States are women. The reasons for this gender difference include the average longer lifespan of women as well as social determinants of health that are not as easily accessed by women, such as higher education, opportunities for physical fitness, and stimulating employment which all provide protective benefits for brain health as we age. But research continues to reveal the role of biological factors as well.

For example, a genetic variant of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosome 19, known as the APOE-4 allele, accounts for up to 50% of genetic risk for Alzheimers disease. APOE helps to create a protein involved in carrying cholesterol and other types of fat through the bloodstream. Women who carry one or two copies of this allele (people inherit one APOE allele from each parent) face a four- to twelvefold increased risk of Alzheimers disease as they age. In comparison, men who carry just one APOE-4 allele have little or no increased risk.

Approximately 25% of the U.S. population carries at least one APOE-4 allele. But we only have limited understanding of how this genetic variant interacts with brain connections to increase womens vulnerability to AD.

With a two-year WHRY grant, Dr. Carolyn Anne Fredericks is using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a new technique developed at Yale by Dr. Todd Constable, director of MRI Research, and colleagues, to understand the functional impact of APOE-4 on the brains of women who develop Alzheimers disease and create new opportunities for targeted therapies. Known as connectome-based predictive modeling, the technique provides a map of connections within the brain to match with non-imaging biological markers associated with a predictor of interest, such as a behavior or a gene. For this study, the researchers will seek robust predictors for the presence of an APOE-4 allele as well as short-term memory performance and compare the results for women and men.

We dont yet understand whether there are specific aspects of brain connectivity that predict poorer memory test performance in women, as opposed to men, and whether these are affected by the inclusion of other variables, such as level of education, said Dr. Fredericks, an assistant professor of neurology and a clinician specializing in neurodegenerative disorders. Gaining this knowledge would motivate future work targeting these connections for future therapy, whether behavioral or drug-based.

Previous neuroimaging studies attempting to address the relationship between sex, aging, and cognitive task performance have been hampered by relevantly small datasets with limited power and capacity to generalize to larger populations, as well as analytical techniques that are not often validated and have limited predictive power.

Dr. Fredericks will access a large database of individuals who are cognitively healthy yet have abnormal Alzheimers protein build up in their brains as documented by a specialized positron emission tomography (PET) scan. In addition to APOE genotype, the database also includes extensive health information and MRI data. She will use connectome-based predictive modeling to avoid over-fitting to any specific data set and increase the likelihood findings will be applicable to larger populations.

We believe that this work has the potential to inform the development of new targeted therapies for the 15 to 25% of women carry at least one 4 allele, Fredericks said. As well as for women with poorer short-term memory performance, particularly related to lower cognitive reserve, who are at future risk of Alzheimers disease.

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WHRY Funds Studies on Sex Differences in Treating Gastrointestinal Cancers, Bone Health in Transgender Youth, and the Greater Risk for Alzheimer's...

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