Category Archives: Progress

Oct. 13MIAMI, Okla. The detrimental impacts of flooding and the exposure to toxins carried by floodwaters was a topic of concern Wednesday during day one of the 24th annual Tar Creek Conference. The event focuses on the ongoing environmental challenges faced at the Tar Creek Superfund Site from historic lead and zinc mining.

Local Environmental Action Demanded, or LEAD Agency, hosts the annual conference to bring together scientists, tribal leaders and government agencies with local residents to discuss current environmental issues facing the region.

LEAD Agency, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed in 1997 to begin working on both the health and the environmental issues in Northeast Oklahoma.

Tar Creek, one of the oldest and most complex Superfund sites in the country, is a former lead and zinc mining area, part of the Tri-State Mining District that included Southwest Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas. Historic lead and zinc mining began in the region in the late 1800s and the earlier part of the 1900s, but it left behind toxic heavy metals in the process.

Large scale pumps were used to control groundwater inflow to mines, but once the mines ceased operation, they flooded.

In 1979, acidic water from former mines began flowing to the surface near Commerce and flowed into Tar Creek, killing most of the life downstream and running red as a result of contamination.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added Tar Creek to the federal National Priorities List, making it a Superfund site, in 1983 due to high concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc in the mined areas of Ottawa County.

Nearly 40 years later, cleanup efforts are ongoing, but more work remains as continuous flooding events backtrack some of the progress already made.

Progress

The Quapaw Nation works closely with the EPA and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to clean the Tar Creek Superfund Site of any source material, such as chat and mine tailings.

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According to the EPA, approximately 7 million tons of mine source material has been addressed, as of March 2022. As a result, nearly 5,000 acres have been cleaned up and made available for future use.

Craig Kreman, environmental director with the Quapaw Nation, said they've removed 7,703,168 total tons of source material to date at the Tar Creek Superfund Site. Throughout this work, 184 mineshafts and subsidences have been capped, and 197 case borings have been plugged.

The waste is consolidated and taken to the Central Mill Tailings Pond Repository, which is designed to hold approximately 20 million tons of material. The Quapaw Nation is also focusing on cleaning up watersheds such as Beaver Creek and Elm Creek.

Operable Unit 2 of the Tar Creek Superfund Site was established to address contaminated soil in residential and high-access areas such as parks, playgrounds and schools within the boundaries of Ottawa County. The EPA began cleaning up residential yards, alleyways and parks in 1995, and then handed over the program to the state of Oklahoma in 2015.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality manages Operable Unit 2, or residential areas, within the Tar Creek Superfund Site. Any resident in Ottawa County is eligible for ODEQ's Residential Yard Cleanup Program.

On Wednesday, ODEQ officials shared the progress being made with cleanup in residential areas, which is also ongoing.

ODEQ has sampled over 200 residential properties and high access areas throughout the county since 2016. Almost 90 properties and high access areas have been cleaned up and over 10,000 tons of contaminated material have been removed.

Kristen Bliss, Operable Unit 2 Remedial Action project manager with ODEQ, said the state has sampled more than 150 properties this year since January. Lead contamination has been identified in 20 of those properties and have been recommended for cleanup. She added that they worked closely with local landlords to coordinate testing of rental properties in Miami and Commerce.

"It's a voluntary program, so we have to depend on you, the community, to help us get participation" said Bliss. "Get your neighbors, family or friends to sign up. That's how we keep this program going, and that's how you help us out by giving us the opportunity to test more properties."

Residents can contact ODEQ to schedule a time for officials to sample a section of the property and will receive their results within four to six weeks. Bliss said if they discover high levels of contamination, they'll suggest cleanup.

"We'll give them a map of exactly what we're going to do to remove the contamination, and we try to make it look even better than what was originally there," she said. "I always want people to be happy with what we've done."

Ongoing challenges

Recurring floods in Ottawa County pose a major risk to human and environmental health, and scientists believe it will only continue to grow worse with climate change. Floodwaters can move chat and other contaminants into yards and locations that have already been cleaned up.

In effort to better illustrate floods in Ottawa County, LEAD Agency unveiled a new interactive flood map on Wednesday.

LEAD Agency partnered with the science nonprofit American Geophysical Union's Thriving Earth Exchange to create an interactive flood map for residents to see what properties lie in floodplains and areas that have been affected by past floods.

Rebecca Jim, executive director of LEAD Agency, said the map shows how contaminants from chat piles are flowing downstream and landing in yards, playgrounds and parks.

"This water is tainted, and in 1947, the mining companies said that if you turn off the pumps beneath the mining site, we will poison your lake," said Jim. "I'm asking the EPA, at this point, to consider what we must do... the next operable unit must be Grand Lake."

To access the flood map and locate your property, visit https://bit.ly/3CAIVFo or contact the LEAD Agency at 918-542-9399.

The 24th annual Tar Creek Conference will conclude in the evening on Thursday in the Student Union Ballroom at Northeastern A&M College in Miami.

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Tar Creek Conference highlights flooding impact on cleanup progress - Yahoo News

As once-feared Omicron subvariant BA.4 fades into the sunset, one of its offspring is picking up steam in the U.S.

BA.4.6dubbed Aeterna by variant trackers on the Twitterverseis slowly but steadily climbing toward the top of a muddled mountain of variants in the U.S. During the first week of October, Aeterna accounted for about 1% of cases, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But by the first week of October, it was the second most commonly identified variant in the country, accounting for nearly 14% of cases. It was most common in the Midwest, where it comprised a little over a fifth of sequenced cases.

BA.5, a close relative, is still dominant, comprising roughly 79% of cases. But it is down slightly as other variants pull ahead.

Some experts, including those at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, predict a coming wave of infections that will swell in October and peak in late December or early January. Aeterna is one of a handful of variants being eyed for its potential to fuel such a wave.

Up-and-coming variants are increasingly evading both vaccines and societys last remaining effective monoclonal antibody treatments. Aeterna evades the protection provided by Evusheld, an IV treatment of lab-produced antibodies given to individuals who are immunocompromised, and for whom vaccines dont offer enough protection, according to a preliminary study published last month that has not been peer reviewed The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated the drugs packaging information shortly thereafter, stating that its 1,000 times less effective against Aeterna.

We used to say we have the tools against the virus, Dr. Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., recently told Fortune. The tools are getting picked off.

Some of this falls Omicron spawns seem to be more transmissible as well. Aeterna appears to have a nearly 6% growth advantage over BA.5, according to an Oct. 7 technical brief from the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.

But no one variant appears to be stealing the show so far this autumn. That could be because variants are becoming increasingly alike as they pick up similar mutations and combine with one another. This means that a fall/winter wave could be fueled by multiple variants that differ but just barely, experts say.

Eventually all variants may look the same at the spike level, where the virus binds to human cells in order to infect them, Rajnarayana said.

While new Omicron boosters are intended to offer substantial protection against severe disease and death, its unclear how they will hold up against newer variants like Aeterna, some researchers point out. However, vaccines are still the best tool society has against the potentially deadly virus and are worth getting, to be sure.

Aeternas parent, BA.4, and close relative BA.5 were discovered in South Africa, and first detected in the U.S. in late March. At the time, both were the most immune-evasive variants yet. While BA.5 would eventually dominate globally, BA.4 failed to dominate, in the U.S. or elsewhere.

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Meet 'Aeterna' BA.4.6, the COVID variant making steady progress toward potential domination this fall - Fortune

HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc.

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTGM) (HTG), a life science company advancing precision medicine through its innovative transcriptome-wide profiling technology, completed its planned milestones for the third quarter of 2022, further advancing its transcriptome-informed approach to drug design and discovery utilizing the companys proprietary HTG EdgeSeq technology.

Significant milestone progress made during the period included the advancement of machine-learning components of the transcriptome-informed drug discovery and design platform and the continued generation of internal, proprietary data supporting the training set. Capital investments made during the period established internal cell culture capabilities allowing for flexibility and expansion of HTGs cell-based test system models. For the companys first therapeutic target, a series of chemical libraries were designed, with the most advanced library for this target having entered preclinical characterization, along with a series of data generated including measures of early efficacy in two different disease states.

We have made significant strides during the third quarter, further advancing our transcriptome-informed drug discovery platform and solidifying our first planned targets utilizing HTGs novel approach, said Dr. Stephen Barat, Senior Vice President of Therapeutics at HTG. We have made steady progress on this very important initiative throughout 2022 and expect to continue to advance and refine our most promising potential molecular candidates for measures of efficacy, safety and pharmaceutical considerations. We are optimistic that this continued advancement will result in the selection by the end of the year of at least one candidate molecule to enter preclinical development through potential licensing or partnering opportunities.

A cornerstone of the Therapeutics business, the HTG Transcriptome Panel (HTP) was launched with commercial availability in August 2021. The HTP was designed to enable the assessment of approximately 20,000 mRNA targets using HTGs EdgeSeq technology, a targeted RNA sequencing technology that couples a nuclease protection assay with next-generation sequencing for rapid and accurate RNA quantification. HTG EdgeSeqs many advantages that make it attractive technology for applying transcriptomic profiling to drug discovery include a 96-well plate format, low sample input requirement, no RNA extraction, and rapid assay and analysis time. Further information regarding HTGs transcriptome-informed drug design and discovery platform is included in the White Papers published by HTG earlier in the year, which can be found here.

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About HTG:

HTG is accelerating precision medicine from diagnosis to treatment by harnessing the power of transcriptome-wide profiling to drive translational research, novel therapeutics and clinical diagnostics across a variety of disease areas.

Building on more than a decade of pioneering innovation and partnerships with biopharma leaders and major academic institutes, HTGs proprietary RNA platform technologies are designed to make the development of life science tools and diagnostics more effective and efficient and to unlock a differentiated and disruptive approach to transformative drug discovery. For more information visit http://www.htgmolecular.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding HTGs expectations that its continued advance of its molecule candidates will result in the selection by the end of the year of at least one molecular candidate to enter preclinical development through potential licensing or partnering opportunities; the design, capabilities and benefits of the HTP and its potential impact on the drug discovery process, future business development, licensing and partnering opportunities, and other potential benefits of HTGs RNA platform and technologies. Words such as can, designed to, goal, intends to, believe, optimistic, will, potential and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements necessarily contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based upon managements current expectations, are subject to known and unknown risks, and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks associated with drug discovery and development; the risk that HTP and our RNA platform and medicinal chemistry technologies may not provide the benefits that we expect; risks associated with our ability to develop and commercialize our products and our Therapeutics business, including by entering into licensing or partnering agreements for any candidates we develop; the risk that our products and services may not be adopted by biopharmaceutical companies or other customers as anticipated, or at all; our ability to manufacture our products to meet demand; competition in our industry; additional capital and credit availability; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on us and our customers; and product liability claims. These and other factors are described in greater detail in our filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the Risk Factors heading of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter endedJune 30, 2022, as filed with theSEConAugust 12, 2022. Allforward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Contact:

Ashley RobinsonLifeSci AdvisorsPhone: (617) 430-7577Email:arr@lifesciadvisors.com

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HTG Provides Update on Third Quarter Progress Toward Its Transcriptome-Informed Approach to Drug Discovery - Yahoo Finance

The throw that awakened the Chicago Bears offense Sunday came on the final drive before halftime, a deep shot up the left side by quarterback Justin Fields to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Fields, seeing a one-on-one matchup against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan, hit the top of his drop, took his time and launched.

Mooney, with minimal separation, adjusted to the throw and made a leaping, one-handed catch.

That definitely gave us a lot of momentum, Fields said.

The sequence was enlivening in so many ways, an explosive passing play that put the Bears back into what had been a lopsided game to that point.

That completion set up a touchdown that cut the Vikings lead to 21-10 before halftime. Another touchdown on the first drive of the second half further fueled the Bears rally. With 19 unanswered points, they surged ahead of the Vikings in the fourth quarter.

And while they eventually lost 29-22, the growth that came out of the performance, particularly for Fields and the offense, was encouraging.

The timing is getting better, coach Matt Eberflus said. The rhythm is getting better.

That deep ball to Mooney was impressive not only in the yards gained. It was also an attack-mode shot that came immediately after the Bears benefited from a shanked punt by Ryan Wright that gave them their best starting field position of the afternoon.

Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney makes a one-handed catch away from Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan during the second quarter on Oct. 9, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Furthermore, it came on a similar concept to one Fields and Mooney failed to connect on in the first half, with a potential 26-yard touchdown resulting instead in an incompletion and an eventual field goal. On the first try, Fields attempted to make a back-shoulder throw, but the timing and precision were off.

The run-it-back effort at the end of the half was on point.

They were more in sync, Eberflus said.

In a game with a smattering of calming flashes from Fields and the offense, that was the Bears biggest gain, a glimpse at how they can provide juice when its needed most.

On top of that, when Fields returned in the second half to complete 12 of 13 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, he served as both an energy source and a calming influence, contributions that werent lost on offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

[[Don't miss] Column: How can the Bears defense close out opponents? Playing better in the 1st half is a great place to start.]

Still, as a process-obsessed group marches forward, trying to carry momentum into Thursdays quick-turnaround game against the Washington Commanders, a grounded approach is required. Thats why, when Getsy fielded a question Tuesday that asserted Fields had shown tons of progress in recent weeks, he quickly activated a yellow light.

Tons of progress? I dont like using those adjectives that are extreme, Getsy said. Im just not that type of person. But, no, there has been progress. And were sticking to the plan.

Step by step, the Bears remain persistent with their offensive evolution while resisting any urges to skip too far ahead or land on any exaggerated conclusions.

Your goal is to just have progress all year, Fields said Tuesday. Progress takes patience.

Bears running back David Montgomery (32) runs during the final drive of the fourth quarter on Oct. 9, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Its fair to acknowledge the moments of progress Fields showed Sunday and to assert without blinking that the Bears offense, from the final drive of the first half onward, appeared competent and, at times, exciting.

Fields was the engine.

He was playing smooth, confident, Mooney said. He was playing calm.

Fields said Tuesday he is working on that latter quality and just this month began adopting some basic breathing exercises he learned from a yoga instructor who visits Halas Hall regularly.

Slow inhale for four seconds. Calm exhale.

Doing that automatically keeps me more calm in the pocket, Fields said.

[[Don't miss] 3 things we heard from the Bears, including Justin Fields breathing exercises and Roquan Smiths take on roughing-the-passer penalties]

Still, the NFL demands high-level consistency. And tons of it. So it will take a couple of months worth of forward steps such as Sundays to validate that Fields and the Bears are even in the earliest stages of a legitimate rise.

Another solid performance Thursday night would be welcome.

Perspective remains a must in the evaluation of any young quarterback. Thus, just as stretches of struggle shouldnt immediately be interpreted as panic-inducing trouble spots, flashes of promise should not trigger instant intoxication either.

In Chicago, though, hyperbole became a free runner into the football conversation this week with the most enthusiastic Fields believers eager to declare that he has turned a corner or taken his game to a new level. Predictably, others have shown an urge to label Fields performance against the Vikings as outstanding, potentially marking an arrival on the path toward stardom.

As a reminder, the Bears totaled 176 yards and 12 points in the second half of a loss. Thats the bungee cord that will keep the internal view in Lake Forest attached to reason.

Getsy was asked Tuesday how Fields production in Minneapolis most of it after halftime altered his stance on whether Fields has what it takes to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl.

I truly dont think about that, Getsy said. I really dont. My focus is on helping him and these other guys get better each week.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields fumbles as he is sacked by Za'Darius Smith (55) of the Vikings during the second half Oct. 9, 2022, in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)

Two plays before Ihmir Smith-Marsette became Chicagos spirit-killing scapegoat by making an imprudent decision to stay in bounds and losing a fumble that sealed the Bears loss, Fields exhibited his own shaky ball security.

Done in by a protection breakdown, Fields was engulfed in the pocket and had the football swatted from his right hand by D.J. Wonnum. Had it not been for the hustle of left guard Lucas Patrick, who kept the Bears alive by recovering the fumble, the defeat might have become official there.

Fields final mistake might have easily reduced Bears fans buzz and changed the tone of Chicagos quarterback conversation heading into this shortened week.

Thats at the crux of all of this, that an antsy fan base and far more important, a success-starved franchise must retain clear eyes to accurately interpret what theyre seeing in their quarterbacks development. Everything must be assessed, the good and bad mixed together.

Fields second-half rhythm Sunday provided fuel for an offensive performance that was encouraging and competent but far from landmark.

[[Don't miss] Bears Thursday night game against the Commanders is on Prime Video. Heres how to watch.]

For the offense as a whole, there was a long list of woeful moments, starting with but not limited to the delay-of-game penalty taken before the Bears first play when fullback Khari Blasingame forgot he was supposed to be on the field.

That should never happen, Fields said. We go over the first 10 plays at the walk-through.

Added Eberflus: Thats not good ball. Weve got to be on point there.

The Bears have been masters in not good ball through too much of the first five games. Against the Vikings, their offensive sloppiness included the following:

Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) walks off the field after a 29-22 loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Still, for the first time this season, the Bears offense seemed to exhibit a promising level of comfort in Minnesota.

You can feel Justin comfortable with where he is right now in the offense, Eberflus said. Hes taking command.

Fields operated within the pocket with much more calm and purpose. In Getsys words, he hunted completions and made a handful of unbelievable escapes (on scrambles) that were ridiculous.

A debatable block-in-the-back penalty against Smith-Marsette negated what could have been a game-changing 52-yard touchdown run by Fields in the fourth quarter.

Fields also slowed himself within the game, making a handful of routine yet critical completions, perhaps none more impressive than a dart to Cole Kmet to convert on third-and-10 in the third quarter.

On that play, Fields combined NFL-caliber pocket awareness and trust with an on-target fastball to an open receiver. The result was a 23-yard gain and offered additional evidence to support Fields postgame assertion that he is steadying himself within the frenetic world of NFL quarterbacking.

Thats the experience part of it, Getsy said. Thats hard for everybody to have patience with. (But) its cool that hes seeing that and saying that.

[[Don't miss] Justin Fields Week 5 performance is no breakthrough but its clear evidence of improvement. Brad Biggs 10 thoughts on the Bears loss.]

Getsy also took note of the way Fields responded to his final-drive fumble, immediately resetting and beating significant pressure on the next snap to find Montgomery for a check-down completion. That pass, caught 4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, turned into a 21-yard gain in crunch time.

To me, thats a really cool moment for a quarterback who can compose himself after that (fumble), then make a really nice play, Getsy said.

In his appropriately demanding way, Getsy continues to push Fields to reach an elevated standard, stressing Tuesday that Fields improving pocket presence still needs work.

Its not where we want it to be and its not good enough yet, he said. But I think were showing signs of growth.

Detached from any exaggerated outside praise or over-the-top criticism, Getsy wants Fields to continue on his path. One step at a time.

Hes starting to play within his style and his ways, Getsy said. And hes finding his own way within our system and helping his teammates. Theres a lot that goes into playing the position. Each week hes been able to take on more and feel more and understand more.

Who knows what the longest-term results and ramifications will be? At this point, thats not Fields focus.

The rest is here:

'Tons of progress?' Despite signs of growth from the Chicago Bears offense, Justin Fields and his coaches know many steps lie ahead. - Chicago Tribune

BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RLX Technology (NYSE: RLX), known for its RELX-branded e-cigarette products, released its annual corporate social responsibility report Envisaging a Better Future recently, highlighting its effort in market responsibility, research and development investment, environment protection, employees career and corporate governance.

According to the report, RLX has further enhanced on its investment in product quality and vaping science. Since its inception, RLX has invested RMB 800 million in R&D. RLX has established its laboratory matrix consists of eight labs for different purposes, and developed a "1+4" science research chain covering product quality, physiochemical research, toxicology research, long-term impact assessment and clinical research.

In March 2021, RLX launched the first e-cigarette clinical research project in China. In February 2022, RLX started the first clinical study on the safety of e-cigarettes in China. Both of the two projects were successfully registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Various researches led by RLX and renowned research institutions were published in prominent academic journals such as Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety and Chinese Journal of Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.

By June 2022, RLX has applied for over 610 patents globally, covering vaping device design, e-liquid formula, electric control, smart device and released content.

Environment protection is another highlight in RLX's CSR report. In September 2021, RLX started the Pods Reborn recycling program with China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. By June 2022, the program had been carried out in 188 cities in China and over 16,000 stores were equipped with a used pods recycling bin.

As part of endeavor of the Amur Tiger and Leopard Conservation Project RLX started with China Green Foundation in 2020, RLX has planted a total of 20 ha of eco-fields in Zhen'anling Village, Hunchun city, Jilin Province to ensure the amur tiger and leopard have sufficient food supply. RLX has also organized a patrol team to regular remove animal clips and traps in the woods, while tracking data of the wild animals. By the end of 2021, the total patrol distance of the RLX Tech Patrol Team had reached 12,600 kilometers.

In April 2022, RLX has also launched its net-zero carbon emission plan Aim for Zero to achieve carbon neutrality in its direct operations by 2033 and along the value chain by 2050.

According to Aim for Zero, RLX will take eight major initiatives including plastic reduction, waste reduction, promoting the Pods Reborn program, establishing a green supply chain partner mechanism, reducing product carbon footprint and introducing zero-carbon products, creating a zero-carbon plant and a green store and reducing carbon footprint in office and during business travel.

Regarding to RLX's market responsibility, the report said that by the end of 2021, RLX had opened more than 24,000 stores in more than 300 cities, creating about 370,000 jobs across the industry chain.

"In more than 4 years of entrepreneurship, one of the things we are particularly proud of, and we have no regrets about, is our dedication to fulfilling our social responsibility. RLX Tech sees social responsibility as one of its core competitive advantages. It is also our duty as corporate citizens." said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RLX Tech.

The report in full is available here on https://oss-static.relxtech.com/relxapi/app/filedata/2022-10-13/%E9%9B%BE%E8%8A%AF%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E7%A4%BE%E4%BC%9A%E8%B4%A3%E4%BB%BB%E6%8A%A5%E5%91%8A2021-2022-EN.pdf

SOURCE RLX TECHNOLOGY

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RLX Releases Annual CSR Report, Highlighting Progress on Pods Reborn and Carbon Neutrality Plan - PR Newswire

WWE legend Jeff Hardy seems to be on the right path.

After being charged with DUI for the third time in a decade back in June, the former WWE Champion was suspended by AEW.

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But thankfully, according to brother Matt, Jeff is currently in a better place.

Speaking on the Busted Open podcast, Matt said: "He seems to be doing really well.

"The conversations Ive had with him have been really, really good, and the most important barometer, I think, of all these things, is that his wife Beth is super happy with his progress and where hes at in life."

Naturally, many have wondered what the future looks like for Jeff with his wrestling career seemingly up in the air, but as far as Matt is concerned, that's neither here nor there.

Matt explained: "I just want him to get better, and even if Jeff never wrestles another day in his life.

"I want him to be healthy, and it's important for him to be healthy and happy, because he has two beautiful daughters, he has a very loving wife who has stuck by his side through thick and through thin, and the most important thing I want for my brother is for him to be healthy."

Matt, who himself has struggled in the past with addiction, and Jeff were slated to compete for the AEW World Tag Team Title on June 15 at the Triple Threat Ladder Match, but were dropped following Jeff's suspension.

Following his suspension, AEW president Tony Khan stated, per CBS: "AEW does not condone Jeff's alleged behavior.

"We've made it clear to Jeff that we'll assist him in getting treatment for substance abuse issues, which he has indicated that he's open to receiving.

"In the interim, he is suspended without pay, and he can only return to AEW upon successfully completing treatment and maintaining his sobriety."

Jeff and Matt both have enjoyed remarkable individual careers, each winning the WWE European Championship and WWE World Hardcore Championship among many other titles.

As a tag team they dominated for the best part of two decades, winning the WWE World Tag Team Championship six times, per Sportskeeda.

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Jeff Hardys wife super happy at WWE legends progress as troubled wrestler is touted for potential AEW c... - The US Sun

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SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA) (NASDAQ: SIGA), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the health security market, today provided an update on the status of multiple clinical trials now underway to assess the safety and efficacy of TPOXX to treat monkeypox.

In recent weeks, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials were initiated in three countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to further assess the safety and efficacy of TPOXX in participants with monkeypox. These randomized clinical trials are now enrolling patients to collect data on the potential benefits of using TPOXX as an antiviral treatment for active monkeypox disease.

About the clinical trials:

We are grateful for the outstanding efforts of our collaborators and partners across the globe to quickly launch placebo-controlled studies to evaluate TPOXX, said Phillip Gomez, CEO of SIGA. As the global monkeypox outbreak continues to evolve, these studies can provide new levels of data and further confirm findings related to safety and efficacy that can support regulatory review and potential approval of TPOXX for the treatment of monkeypox in the United States and other countries.

On July 13, 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox to mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak or bioterror attack. In December 2021, oral TPOXX was approved for the same indication by Health Canada. Tecovirimat (TPOXX) was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in January 2022 and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in June 2022 with a broader label that covers the treatment of smallpox, monkeypox, cowpox, and complications from vaccination for smallpox.

In addition to providing support for clinical trials, SIGA continues to respond to TPOXX procurement order requests from countries around the world. In a separate press release in September, SIGA disclosed that the Company had received, as of mid September, approximately $76 million of international orders for oral TPOXX from twelve international customers.

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SIGA (SIGA) Issues Update on Progress in Trials to Assess Use of TPOXX - StreetInsider.com

The throw that awakened the Chicago Bears offense Sunday came on the final drive before halftime, a deep shot up the left side by quarterback Justin Fields to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Fields, seeing a one-on-one matchup against Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chandon Sullivan, hit the top of his drop, took his time and launched.

Mooney, with minimal separation, adjusted to the throw and made a leaping, one-handed catch.

That definitely gave us a lot of momentum, Fields said.

The sequence was enlivening in so many ways, an explosive passing play that put the Bears back into what had been a lopsided game to that point.

That completion set up a touchdown that cut the Vikings lead to 21-10 before halftime. Another touchdown on the first drive of the second half further fueled the Bears rally. With 19 unanswered points, they surged ahead of the Vikings in the fourth quarter.

And while they eventually lost 29-22, the growth that came out of the performance, particularly for Fields and the offense, was encouraging.

The timing is getting better, coach Matt Eberflus said. The rhythm is getting better.

That deep ball to Mooney was impressive not only in the yards gained. It was also an attack-mode shot that came immediately after the Bears benefited from a shanked punt by Ryan Wright that gave them their best starting field position of the afternoon.

Furthermore, it came on a similar concept to one Fields and Mooney failed to connect on in the first half, with a potential 26-yard touchdown resulting instead in an incompletion and an eventual field goal. On the first try, Fields attempted to make a back-shoulder throw, but the timing and precision were off.

The run-it-back effort at the end of the half was on point.

They were more in sync, Eberflus said.

In a game with a smattering of calming flashes from Fields and the offense, that was the Bears biggest gain, a glimpse at how they can provide juice when its needed most.

On top of that, when Fields returned in the second half to complete 12 of 13 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, he served as both an energy source and a calming influence, contributions that werent lost on offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

Still, as a process-obsessed group marches forward, trying to carry momentum into Thursdays quick-turnaround game against the Washington Commanders, a grounded approach is required. Thats why, when Getsy fielded a question Tuesday that asserted Fields had shown tons of progress in recent weeks, he quickly activated a yellow light.

Tons of progress? I dont like using those adjectives that are extreme, Getsy said. Im just not that type of person. But, no, there has been progress. And were sticking to the plan.

Step by step, the Bears remain persistent with their offensive evolution while resisting any urges to skip too far ahead or land on any exaggerated conclusions.

Your goal is to just have progress all year, Fields said Tuesday. Progress takes patience.

Its fair to acknowledge the moments of progress Fields showed Sunday and to assert without blinking that the Bears offense, from the final drive of the first half onward, appeared competent and, at times, exciting.

Fields was the engine.

He was playing smooth, confident, Mooney said. He was playing calm.

Fields said Tuesday he is working on that latter quality and just this month began adopting some basic breathing exercises he learned from a yoga instructor who visits Halas Hall regularly.

Slow inhale for four seconds. Calm exhale.

Doing that automatically keeps me more calm in the pocket, Fields said.

Still, the NFL demands high-level consistency. And tons of it. So it will take a couple of months worth of forward steps such as Sundays to validate that Fields and the Bears are even in the earliest stages of a legitimate rise.

Another solid performance Thursday night would be welcome.

Perspective remains a must in the evaluation of any young quarterback. Thus, just as stretches of struggle shouldnt immediately be interpreted as panic-inducing trouble spots, flashes of promise should not trigger instant intoxication either.

In Chicago, though, hyperbole became a free runner into the football conversation this week with the most enthusiastic Fields believers eager to declare that he has turned a corner or taken his game to a new level. Predictably, others have shown an urge to label Fields performance against the Vikings as outstanding, potentially marking an arrival on the path toward stardom.

As a reminder, the Bears totaled 176 yards and 12 points in the second half of a loss. Thats the bungee cord that will keep the internal view in Lake Forest attached to reason.

Getsy was asked Tuesday how Fields production in Minneapolis most of it after halftime altered his stance on whether Fields has what it takes to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl.

I truly dont think about that, Getsy said. I really dont. My focus is on helping him and these other guys get better each week.

Two plays before Ihmir Smith-Marsette became Chicagos spirit-killing scapegoat by making an imprudent decision to stay in bounds and losing a fumble that sealed the Bears loss, Fields exhibited his own shaky ball security.

Done in by a protection breakdown, Fields was engulfed in the pocket and had the football swatted from his right hand by D.J. Wonnum. Had it not been for the hustle of left guard Lucas Patrick, who kept the Bears alive by recovering the fumble, the defeat might have become official there.

Fields final mistake might have easily reduced Bears fans buzz and changed the tone of Chicagos quarterback conversation heading into this shortened week.

Thats at the crux of all of this, that an antsy fan base and far more important, a success-starved franchise must retain clear eyes to accurately interpret what theyre seeing in their quarterbacks development. Everything must be assessed, the good and bad mixed together.

Fields second-half rhythm Sunday provided fuel for an offensive performance that was encouraging and competent but far from landmark.

For the offense as a whole, there was a long list of woeful moments, starting with but not limited to the delay-of-game penalty taken before the Bears first play when fullback Khari Blasingame forgot he was supposed to be on the field.

That should never happen, Fields said. We go over the first 10 plays at the walk-through.

Added Eberflus: Thats not good ball. Weve got to be on point there.

The Bears have been masters in not good ball through too much of the first five games. Against the Vikings, their offensive sloppiness included the following:

Still, for the first time this season, the Bears offense seemed to exhibit a promising level of comfort in Minnesota.

You can feel Justin comfortable with where he is right now in the offense, Eberflus said. Hes taking command.

Fields operated within the pocket with much more calm and purpose. In Getsys words, he hunted completions and made a handful of unbelievable escapes (on scrambles) that were ridiculous.

A debatable block-in-the-back penalty against Smith-Marsette negated what could have been a game-changing 52-yard touchdown run by Fields in the fourth quarter.

Fields also slowed himself within the game, making a handful of routine yet critical completions, perhaps none more impressive than a dart to Cole Kmet to convert on third-and-10 in the third quarter.

On that play, Fields combined NFL-caliber pocket awareness and trust with an on-target fastball to an open receiver. The result was a 23-yard gain and offered additional evidence to support Fields postgame assertion that he is steadying himself within the frenetic world of NFL quarterbacking.

Thats the experience part of it, Getsy said. Thats hard for everybody to have patience with. (But) its cool that hes seeing that and saying that.

Getsy also took note of the way Fields responded to his final-drive fumble, immediately resetting and beating significant pressure on the next snap to find Montgomery for a check-down completion. That pass, caught 4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, turned into a 21-yard gain in crunch time.

To me, thats a really cool moment for a quarterback who can compose himself after that (fumble), then make a really nice play, Getsy said.

In his appropriately demanding way, Getsy continues to push Fields to reach an elevated standard, stressing Tuesday that Fields improving pocket presence still needs work.

Its not where we want it to be and its not good enough yet, he said. But I think were showing signs of growth.

Detached from any exaggerated outside praise or over-the-top criticism, Getsy wants Fields to continue on his path. One step at a time.

Hes starting to play within his style and his ways, Getsy said. And hes finding his own way within our system and helping his teammates. Theres a lot that goes into playing the position. Each week hes been able to take on more and feel more and understand more.

Who knows what the longest-term results and ramifications will be? At this point, thats not Fields focus.

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Tons of progress? Despite signs of growth from the Chicago Bears offense, Justin Fields and his coaches know many steps lie ahead. - The Denver Post

After being delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, world leaders finally reunited in Scotland last year for the COP26 summit. Many looked on with ambitious expectations five years after the historic COP21, which resulted in the Paris Agreement. As COP27 is set to commence in Sharm El-Sheikh next month, we reflect on the achievements made since the COP26 summit and how commitments have fallen short of what they were meant to achieve. We also explore the expectations of COP27 in a world that is becoming increasingly aware of the devastating consequences of global warming and a changing climate.

Since the first COP meeting in Berlin in 1995, annual conferences have been held in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to discuss and negotiate climate change policies, strategies, and visions for the future. These gatherings are frequently referred to as COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings and they have been quite influential in the implementation of international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

COP26 took place amidst growing global concern about the effects of climate change, with increasing occurrences of extreme heat, ocean warming and acidification, storms, sea level rise, melting glaciers, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. This coupled with the lingering ramifications of the global COVID-19 pandemic that pushed the conference back a year raised the stakes and expectations for impactful actions and commitments at the conference.

Over 120 world leaders and 40,000 registered participants gathered in Glasgow to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, informed by rapidly growing scientific data warning of climate catastrophe. The sentiment that we must do more has been a common theme among climate discussions over the past few years, and this was also echoed throughout the conference.

The main goals and takeaways of the COP26 summit included:

You might also like: Did the COP26 Summit Succeed Or Fail?

After thirteen days of negotiations between almost 200 countries, two main headlines repeatedly emerged: the Glasgow Climate Pact was signed and the Paris Agreements Rulebook was delivered.

The first one has been described as a series of decisions and resolutions that build on the Paris accord, but does not hold any particular countries accountable. The latter provides guidelines on how to deliver the Paris Agreement best. At the COP26 summit, attention was placed on the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of the Agreements signatories, which embody a countrys efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Commitments in other areas including methane, car emissions, private finances, and forests were also made. In regards to the latter, over 100 countries signed an ambitious agreement to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.

Image 1: Map of annual change in forest area (2015). This pattern of deforestation has been cited by many scientists, urging global conferences (like COP26) to discuss the catastrophic effect on the climate. (Source: Our World in Data)

You might also like: Why the COP26 Methane Agreement is a Big Deal

Finally, 22 countries signed the Clydebank Declaration, a plan to decarbonise shared shipping routes. The deal was part of a major discussion about accelerating the transition to 100% electric vehicles by 2040.

Alok Sharma, the COP26 President, addressed the attendees at the end of the conference, re-stressing the importance of keeping the 1.5C commitment alive and asked world leaders to keep [their] promises and translate commitments into rapid action.

Though many declarations were signed and meaningful discussions were encountered, the world still has a long way to go.

The first of COP26s failures has to do with CO2 emissions. Although the Glasgow Climate Pacts call for a phase-down in coal power was seen as historic by some, many coal-reliant nations have no intention to give up fossil fuels anytime soon. The International Energy Agency reported that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 6% in 2021, catalysed by unforeseeable situations like the recovery of the world economy from the COVID-19 crisis, the European energy crisis, and ongoing ramifications of climate change forcing some countries such as India to go back to coal.

Second, although the prospects of climate finance were discussed, some have argued that significant progress has not been made. In fact, the funds discussed at the COP26 summit do not reflect the true carbon debt owed by rich countries for accelerating the destruction of the environment worldwide. As Friends of the Earth put it: Only a fraction of that finance is now on the table. The article offers an interesting perspective that the human race is in fact funding its own extinction as $1.8tn is spent per year on subsidies for environmentally damaging activities.

The final point that most critics seem to agree on is that climate targets for 2030 remain weak. The Paris Agreement famously indicates that we must limit global warming to well below 2C above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit this to 1.5C. However, even scientists and researchers behind the Climate Action Tracker seem to be among those who argue that targets for 2030 remain totally inadequate to tackle climate change in accordance with existing ambitions, and we are in fact on track for a 2.4C temperature increase by the end of the century. As the latest IPCC report rightly stated, limiting global warming is now or never if the world wants to avoid catastrophic consequences.

Image 2: The Climate Action Tracker predicts global warming of well above the 2 C limit with current strategies and actions. (Source: Climate Action Tracker)

Nearly 30 years and 26 COPs later, it is still unclear whether we can limit the catastrophic impacts of climate change despite the establishment of many significant global agreements.

Following last years COP meeting, professor Alexandre Antonelli, the Director of Science of the Royal Botanic Gardens, suggested that the devil is in the detail when discussing strategies for reducing deforestation. He went on to explain that simply planting trees is not good enough, and it must follow the best scientific practice for example, planting the right tree in the right place, and starting with the biologically valuable ecosystems. Though commitments by global leaders are a good place to start, past promises have failed to generate effective enough action, and there is undoubtedly still a lot of work to be done.

Accountability also remains a challenge among the global efforts to curtail the impacts of climate change, as issues of environmental justice and responsibility for the warming climate provide an ongoing backdrop among the discussions. As parallel conversations about the importance of transparency when delivering climate pledges are being publicised, notions of accountability continue to contribute to evaluations of the COPs.

It is also important to note that, despite research showing that 80% of those displaced by climate change are women, they seemed to be missing from the top climate table. SHE Changes Climate, a campaign founded in 2020 to call for equal gender representation in climate negotiations, claimed that 10 of the 12 UK leadership team positions were occupied by men. In fact, SHE Changes Climate stated that only 34% of COP26 committees, and 39% of those leading delegations, were women. In addition, at the G7 Summit in 2021, there was just one woman among all decision-makers.

These issues, combined with the frustration of the public at the seemingly unambitious approach in the past to tackle climate change, sparked protests in Glasgow at the site of the COP meetings. The downfalls may even have some people questioning the future of the COP process and its real impact.

Image 3: Demonstrators gathered outside COP26 in Glasgow. Photo by William GibsononUnsplash

However, views on climate action and protests were not seemingly all negative and the leaders seem to acknowledge this. In his closing remarks, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres recognised the power of activists in sending messages to leaders and encouraging them to never give up, never retreat, [and] keep pushing forward.

Featured image by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street (Flickr)

You might also like: Young Climate Leaders from the Global South Excluded from UN Conferences

This information can be alarming to those who are worried about the state of the environment and climate change this article has some tips about how to reflect on anxieties surrounding these issues. As we recognise World Mental Health Day this week, its important to make your mental health a priority.

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COP26 Summit One Year Later: How Much Progress Have We Made? - EARTH.ORG

At last weeks regular meeting, the Sundance City Council heard that progress has been made on the municipal court issue. The city has not had a municipal court judge for the last couple of years after opting, as a cost-saving measure, to instead request permission for municipal cases to be heard in circuit court.

However, due to switch-ups in the court and the pandemic, progress stalled.

Since the issue was raised last month, Sheriff Jeff Hodge and City Attorney Mark Hughes reported that things are moving along.

There have been some ideas flowing, said Hodge.

Judge Matthew F.G. Castano has rejoined the conversation, said Hughes. Mayor Paul Brooks explained that the Wyoming Supreme Courts original response to Castanos request was not, as expected, queries about the practical side of things, but was, Why would you want to do that?, which threw him.

Judge Lynda R. Bush and County Attorney Joe Baron are also both now on board.

Were still moving forward and I hope we get something done, said Hughes.

At Tuesdays meeting, the council also heard that the city will be sending representatives to testify in front of the State Lands and Investments Board regarding the projects submitted for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding at the end of October, said Public Works Director Mac Erickson.

He told the council that he hopes to have confirmation by November as to whether the proposals were successful. He and Brooks agreed that the project of greatest importance is the 3rd Street bridge and fix to a major leak in the water line.

The mayor spoke to the importance of seeking funding for such items, noting that its a $1.2 million project that the city could never find the money for alone.

Where would we come up with $1.2 million? he said. We would never be able to do it.

Brooks acknowledged that there are people who disagree with the concept of grants, but said, without them, Wed be closing 3rd Street permanently.

Theresa Curren was appointed as the new Clerk Treasurer for the city. Her first official request was to create a line item for pee wee football within the summer rec budget and another for the renovations to the fire hall.

The former, according to Erickson, will allow for the available money to be spent on new equipment to keep the activity going.

Brooks commented that he approves of this move, as line items allow for public tracking of the citys fiscal actions and ensures that money is tagged for the purpose it was intended for and not used for something else.

I think running it through our budget is important, he said.

Curren also confirmed that the city has received its deer permit from Wyoming Game & Fish, and that the permit actually allows for 50 animals to be taken, rather than the anticipated 40.

A motion was made to take the extra ten and pay contractor Nick Kaminski accordingly. The city continues to build its list of people interested in donations of meet from the cull, and currently has around 16 new names, with the food bank willing to take the remainder.

Jeremy Holt reported on behalf of the citys economic development committee, stating that one of the biggest issues it is working to solve is the lack of daycare facilities in Sundance. Its one of the big things businesses have asked for, he said, and definitely a problem locally he pointed out that Kid Prints currently has a big backlog.

Erickson reported on the pickleball groups efforts to fund a new and improved court for their sport, which has been growing in popularity here in Sundance. The groups grant application was turned down, he said.

According to Erickson, a grant through the Land Water Conservation Fund is available, but is a 50% match and is reimbursable, which means the city would have to come up with the full amount and be paid back through the fund later. Though unsure exactly what the cost would be to build the new court as requested, he said, it would be a cost that, I know is going to scare us.

It would be nice to bring it back to life, though, he said, so he is going to take a look at what the city can do to rehab the asphalt, fences and other items without the high price tag.

According to Erickson and Karla Greaser of Trihydro, City Engineers, the Sundance Kid Tank project is now all but wrapped up. Greaser presented a change order from contractors Hot Iron Inc. that reconciles real costs with projected costs and resulted in a deduction of $10,948.28.

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Council hears of progress on court issue - Sundancetimes