Welcome to Gene Therapy Patient Engagement Gene Therapy Patient Engagement is dedicated to providing detailed case studies and actionable insights on how to incorporate patient input more effectively into gene therapy development. Whilst everyone knows the patient is important, it’s evident that there are several unique nuances within gene therapy where a lot can be learned from those who have been through the experience, including: Discovering the Tools Being Used to Create and Distribute Educational Materials on Gene Therapy Understand the strategies behind developing virtual resources and reaching patients in the context of the current pandemic, with insights from Amicus Therapeutics & uniQure Integrating Patient Input More Effectively in Clinical Trial Design Hear how Lysogene and AGTC are incorporating patient input into clinical trial design, through designing of bespoke clinical endpoints that are meaningful to patients and regulators, and developing patient advisory boards and councils to support this process Navigating the Challenges Around the Realities of Committing to a Gene Therapy TrialExplore the ways that remote-based clinical assessments can be used to support long-term patient commitment required for gene therapy trials, and explore how to manage and align expectations aross stakeholders, with insights shared from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, GenSight Biologics& bluebird bio Forging Mutually Beneficial, Long-Lasting Partnerships with Patient Advocacy Organizations Discover the ways in which patient advocacy groups and industry have collaborated on gene therapy development, with insights from CureDuchenne & Pfizer Investigating Early Stage Patient Engagement and its Importance for Gene TherapyHear how FARAare preparing their patient communities early in light of potential gene therapies entering the pipeline, and understand how Takedaare engaging patients in R&D to truly understand their disease and set up strong foundations for later stage development


Abstract
The production of melanin significantly enhances the virulence of many important human pathogenic fungi. Despite fungal melanin's importance in human disease, as well as melanin's contribution to the ability of fungi to survive in diverse hostile environments, the structure of melanin remains unsolved. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts have progressively revealed several notable structural characteristics of this enigmatic pigment, which will be the focus of this review. These compositional and organizational insights could further our ability to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat fungal disease and enhance our understanding of how melanin is inserted into the cell wall.
Keywords Cryptococcus Fungal virulence Fungi Melanin Structure ASJC Scopus subject areas Microbiology Microbiology (medical)


How to Fund Cancer Treatment
Every day, thousands of people just like you, are asking themselves:
“
How am I going to pay for cancer treatments?”
If you've been diagnosed and decided to pursue traditional/alternative treatment, most health insurance companies cover a limited portion of the cost for treatments, forcing individuals to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket costs.
There is an option available to help individuals so these financial responsibilities are not overwhelming.
Consider a Viatical Settlement
This somewhat unknown financial service is designed specifically for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic disease or health condition.
A
Viatical Settlement involves the sale of your Life Insurance policy to a third-party institution for immediate cash. While the amount offered for a policy will vary depending on the insured’s health condition and the provisions set forth in the Life Insurance policy; individuals may receive up to 70% of the face value of their policy.
All types of Life Insurance policies are considered: Whole Life, Term Life, Group Term, FEGLI, Universal and Variable Life.
How To Fund Cancer Treatment With a Viatical Settlement
While most people apply the proceeds from a Viatical Settlement to fund their cancer treatment, the proceeds may be used for a multitude of personal reasons. Perhaps you wish to spend quality time with family, to supplement income, or to plan future financial matters.
In some instances, the proceeds from the sale of a Life Insurance policy are tax-free*.
The Right Approach for You
Is a Viatical Settlement the right approach for you?
A Viatical Settlement option should be explored, especially if it is needed to fund the high cost of cancer treatment.
*HIPAA Act, 1996


Here we advance the protection of split manufacturing (SM)-based layouts through the judicious and well-controlled handling of interconnects. Initially, we explore the cost-security trade-offs of SM, which are limiting its adoption. Aiming to resolve this issue, we propose effective and efficient strategies to lift nets to the BEOL. Towards this end, we design custom 'elevating cells' which we also provide to the community. Further, we define and promote a new metric, Percentage of Netlist Recovery (PNR), which can quantify the resilience against gate-level theft of intellectual property (IP) in a manner more meaningful than established metrics. Our extensive experiments show that we outperform the recent protection schemes regarding security. For example, we reduce the correct connection rate to 0% for commonly considered benchmarks, which is a first in the literature. Besides, we induce reasonably low and controllable overheads on power, performance, and area (PPA). At the same time, we also help to lower the commercial cost incurred by SM.


Authors:
Deborah Wessels, Daniel F. Lusche, Edward Voss, Spencer Kuhl, Emma C. Buchele, Michael R. Klemme, Kanoe B. Russell, Joseph Ambrose, Benjamin A. Soll, Aaron Bossler, Mohammed Milhem, Charles Goldman, David R. Soll
Summary:
Using unique computer-assisted 3D reconstruction software, it was previously demonstrated that tumorigenic cell lines derived from breast tumors, when seeded in a 3D Matrigel model, grew as clonal aggregates which, after approximately 100 hours, underwent coalescence mediated by specialized cells, eventually forming a highly structured large spheroid. Non-tumorigenic cells did not undergo coalescence. Because histological sections of melanomas forming in patients suggest that melanoma cells migrate and coalesce to form tumors, we tested whether they also underwent coalescence in a 3D Matrigel model. Melanoma cells exiting fragments of three independent melanomas or from secondary cultures derived from them, and cells from the melanoma line HTB-66, all underwent coalescence mediated by specialized cells in the 3D model. Normal melanocytes did not. However, coalescence of melanoma cells differed from that of breast-derived tumorigenic cell lines in that they 1) coalesced immediately, 2) underwent coalescence as individual cells as well as aggregates, 3) underwent coalescence far faster and 4) ultimately formed long, flat, fenestrated aggregates that were extremely dynamic. A screen of 51 purified monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting cell surface-associated molecules revealed that two mAbs, anti-beta 1 integrin/(CD29) and anti-CD44, blocked melanoma cell coalescence. They also blocked coalescence of tumorigenic cells derived from a breast tumor. These results add weight to the commonality of coalescence as a characteristic of tumorigenic cells, as well as the usefulness of the 3D Matrigel model and software for both investigating the mechanisms regulating tumorigenesis and screening for potential anti-tumorigenesis mAbs.
Source:
PLOS ONE; 2017, 12 (3): e0173400


ArticlesbyS. J. Wilson
Total Records (2 ) forS. J. Wilson
A. Foo J. Y.and S. J. Wilson Studies have demonstrated that a notable increase in arterial stiffening can signify the presence of cardiovascular abnormalities, such as hypertension. Presently, the mercury sphygmomanometer continues to be the clinical gold standard to identify such abnormalities, but due to its measuring nature it cannot be used for continuous observation. Pulse transit time (PTT), which has an inverse relationship with blood pressure (BP), is proposed here as a simple and non-invasive technique to monitor hypertension in children. In order to minimize inter-subject PTT differences, all obtained PTT data were normalized to the study population. The results indicated that normalized mean PTT value is able to differentiate hypertensive from normal children in a significant ( p < 0.01) manner in both upper and lower limbs. Preliminary findings herein suggest that PTT can be useful tool to monitor for hypertension in children especially during prolonged clinical observations.
J. Y. A. Foo and S. J. Wilson A simple and non-invasive technique, termed pulse transit time (PTT), has shown its potential in long-term investigations such as respiratory sleep studies and cardiovascular studies. Based on these findings, the PTT technique shows relevance for continuous haemodynamic monitoring in critical care. The objective of this review is to understand the potential, applications and limitations of PTT in this clinical setting. Present non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring methods such as automated oscillometric blood pressure (BP) and auscultatory techniques have their known limitations. They tend to underestimate systolic BP while overestimating diastolic BP. Due to the periodic increase in cuff pressure cycles during data acquisition, these techniques may cause much discomfort in elderly geriatric patients, or lessen the cooperation of younger paediatric patients. Thus, there can be adverse effects on therapeutic decisions and possibly clinical outcomes. Documented evidences have indicated that changes observed in PTT are inversely correlated to the corresponding BP changes. In critical care, a simple and accommodating technique like PTT may be useful in providing better comfort for patients during extended monitoring. Being a semi-quantitative measure, blanket recommendations for its utility can then become possible. The basic instrumentations needed are often part of standard critical care monitoring system. Furthermore, PTT also has the potential to monitor the often tachypnoeic respiratory dependent BP changes seen in small infants during critical care.


Stanley Cohen coined the term moral panics and deviancy amplification False reporting is best understood as exaggerated reports out of all proportions Such incidents are common with what are termed ‘red-top’ newspapers who have high or mass circulation figures or ‘clicks’ on their websites. Tabloid newspapers are The Sun, The Mirror etc. While high traffic news websites are the Daily Mail These newspapers often over dramatise events creating moral panics over certain issues Mc Robbie and Thornton argue media-generated moral panics are less common due to new media (social networks) posts often challenging moral panics with alternative views (pluralism) However many Facebook feeds are criticised for publishing ‘false-news’ or what is now more commonly known as ‘fake-news’.


Teams from Oliver, Morton, Stark-Billings, Golden Valley, Mountrail and Pembina counties took top honors in the second state 4-H livestock quiz bowl held at North Dakota State University.
The contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in the North Dakota 4-H livestock project to demonstrate their knowledge of animal science-related subject matter in a friendly, yet competitive, setting.
Youth were tested on all food animal livestock species: beef, dairy, swine, goat (dairy and meat), sheep, poultry and rabbit. The 4-H’ers also fielded questions about Youth for the Quality and Care of Animals, a national multispecies quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21, with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being and character development.
Fifty-five youth representing six North Dakota counties completed in the quiz bowl.
Senior Division
The top teams were:
First - Oliver County 4-H, with team members Jacob Klaudt, Rebecca Schmidt, Morgan Miller and Reanna Schmidt Second - Morton County 4-H, with team members Cooper Strommen, Cassidy Strommen, Sheridan Ellingson and Medora Ellingson Third - Golden Valley 4-H, with team members Chance Manhart, Abby Hecker, Kade Manhart and Kinze Steiner
Individual winners:
First - Klaudt Second - Taylor Downing, Stark-Billings County 4-H Third - Morgan Vachal, Mountrail County 4-H Fourth - Kade Manhart Fifth - Hecker
Intermediate Division
The top teams were:
First - Stark-Billings County 4-H, with team members Ian Dohrmann, Coy Melchior, Abby Talkington, Trevor Lefor and Emma Bock Second - Golden Valley County 4-H team No. 1, with team members Dillon Manhart, Abe Oech, Levi Hecker and Harley Feiring Third - Pembina County 4-H, with team members Gracee Thorlakson, Ava Kemnitz, Remington Larson, Wyatt Larson and Colbie Furstenau
Individual winners:
First - Gust Twedt, Golden Valley 4-H Second - Erika Littlefield, Mountrail County 4-H Third - Thorlakson Fourth - Kemnitz Fifth - Manhart
Junior Division
The top teams were:
First - Stark-Billings County 4-H, with team members Hadley Talkington, Layne Melchior, Sawyer Wolf and Kylee Sickler Second - Golden Valley County 4-H, with team members Josh Davidson, Bronson Manhart, Taylor Feiring and Gus Ueckert
Individual winners:
First - Talkington Second - Davidson Third - Melchior Three way tie for fourth - Manhart, Sickler and Wolf
Teams competed by giving oral answerers to questions posed by a moderator. Each match had a one-on-one phase, a team phase and a toss-up phase with bonuses attached to questions.
NDSU Agriculture Communication - March 16, 2020
Source: Leigh Ann Skurupey, 701-231-6658, leighann.skurupey@ndsu.edu Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu


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March 18, 2020
As an Indigenous social enterprise and digital agency, we need to manage — what may often seem like — contradictory and opposing concepts, worldviews, and ideas that are challenging to navigate in our day-to-day work. Some of these include:
We are often faced with choices that might appear to be an "either-or" dilemma. However, considering a "both-and" perspective may amplify the best of both worlds to determine the most creative and collaborative solution. At Animikii, we are consistently presented with the question of how we
manage polarity.
We were introduced to the concept of Polarity Management by Teara Fraser when we were describing our social enterprise as the
wings of a bird. Teara put together a leadership challenge based on Animikii in partnership with Royal Roads University, where eight teams in the Masters of Arts in Leadership Program worked together to develop presentations that provided strategic recommendations for Animikii to support our growth. A similar theme amongst the responses was managing polarity. We connected with this perspective and wanted to share our thoughts on what it is and how it relates to what we do at Animikii.
There are existing frameworks, ideas, worldviews, and metaphors that can be helpful when thinking about managing polarity, including:
We describe polarity at Animikii as the two wings of a bird, interdependent and interconnected, with both needed for flight to be possible. By acknowledging this interdependence, we can manage the polarity of our social enterprise and strive for the best aspects of both perspectives (while avoiding the limitations of each).
One of Animikii’s toughest challenges is balancing our organizational sustainability as a business while also maintaining and scaling our social impact. Both efforts can appear distinct; however, understanding and managing their interconnected relationship is essential to maintaining our success. We wouldn’t operate our business without our social impact focus. Yet, we cannot sustain meaningful impact without the support that comes from our revenue generation, business operations, and economic viability.
The very term “social enterprise” contains its own polarity between the words “social” and “enterprise”. Its use is gaining popularity in the business community, though definitions and descriptions may vary. Yet, there are innovators around the world who find a way to manage this polarity. Indeed, while managing our own polarity, we’ve felt the strain of balancing our impact and our business goals. For example, some years we gave back so much that it affected our profitability. Other years, we funnelled excess revenues into scaling our impact. Over the last couple of years, our team has given back over a thousand hours into meaningful, community-focused initiatives.
Since then, we’ve realized that maintaining a balance between profitability and giving back within our social enterprise is necessary for us to stay healthy and continue to grow. The Royal Roads leadership challenge nudged us to formalize our structure, operations, and mental model of how we see ourselves. One of the proposals expanded upon our “wings of a bird” analogy to the full body that represents our structure. This resonated with us (for obvious reasons) and resulted in us using the following image to explore and describe our governance.
This image is a Thunderbird and it illustrates how we see our organizational structure. The image comes from our 2017 Social Impact Report, illustrated by Animikii lead designer, Mark Rutledge. It has become the visual representation to help describe our structure internally with staff as well as externally with partners, customers, and the public.
To guide the bird, it needs a mind to make the complex cognitive, analytical, and experiential decisions required to calculate flight. This is the role of the Board of Directors who are accountable for these functions.
To take off, and maintain flight, the bird needs two equally powerful wings. One wing shows the profitable operations that ensure our organizational sustainability as a business. The other wing represents our social impact efforts and what we aim to achieve as a social enterprise. Balance is required between both wings to maintain flight. While one wing could be more powerful, other parts of the bird would need to be able to make corresponding adjustments. Too much imbalance and the bird may not be able to fly.
To keep the bird healthy, energized, and alive, it needs a strong heart. This is where our people and impact circle contributes, guided by our Values.
The tail feathers are like the rudder of a boat or aircraft. They steer, maneuver, and provide stability for take-off and landing. This is in line with our approach to servant leadership and leading from behind.
Holistically, we create spaces for the mind, heart, wings, and tail of the business through this analogy of a bird in flight. Each of these individual components maintains key roles in our organizational resilience. Collectively, this allows us as Animikii, the Thunderbird, to create energy and thunder through the flight of our social enterprise.
There are several tools that we deploy at Animikii to ensure our integrity as we scale. The bird analogy is one of those tools. It encapsulates other aspects of who we are, like our Impact Circle governance, and our connection to our Values.
We’ve grown quickly as a team. From two to five, then 10 people and it won’t be long until we’re up to 20. How do we effectively scale-up our organization with integrity when we’re over 100 people? What about 1,000? If we pursue profit at the expense of our social impact, it could put the foundation of our model and identity at risk. Having the appropriate internal concepts, tools, and methodologies will help us scale with integrity.
The bird analogy is appropriate in the context of Animikii because our name means Thunderbird in Ojibwe. This analogy works for us in managing polarity; however, this may be a good fit for other social enterprises as well.
Let us know what you think! In the meantime, we’ll leave you with this stunning visual of birds flying together in a murmuration. These birds follow the same rules that we do:
don’t crowd, fly to the center, and don’t crash. March 18, 2020
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New York’s out, the USDA is in… What’s Next for Hemp Growers? On November 1st, over 700 New York hemp growers will have their licenses expire and replace by a new federal regulatory structure administered by the USDA. Background
On August 14th, Commissioner Richard A. Ball sent out two letters on behalf of the Department of Agriculture & Markets (DAM) to the USDA. These letters detailed the relationship between NYS and the USDA as the Interim Final Rule (IFR), the USDA’s legislation to oversee hemp cultivation federally, comes into effect on October 31st of this year. These letters state that New York State has decided
not to submit a state plan to the USDA. This decision will ultimately transfer authority over licensing and compliance from the NYS DAM to the USDA. Four years ago, the NYS DAM embarked on its industrial hemp pilot research program in accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill. According to the regulations of the Farm Bill, the USDA released its Interim Final Rule regarding the federal cultivation of industrial hemp late last year, set to replace the Farm Bill this year. Under the IFR, states can submit individual hemp cultivation plans which would operate independently from the USDA. This would allow states to maintain control over their hemp industry, including setting appropriate testing requirements, licensing, and enforcement of regulations. Many states have chosen to submit their own plans as the IFR has been sharply criticized for its out-of-touch and overburdensome regulations. Regulations regarding the timing of sampling and testing, disposal of non-compliant plants, and reporting requirements were specifically listed as problematic in New York’s letters to the USDA. Other lawmakers, such as NY Senator Chuck Schumer and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden have also released statements criticizing the IFR and its potential negative effects on the nation’s growing hemp industry. What This Means
In light of these circumstances, New York State has chosen
not to submit a state plan to the USDA for the 2021 growing season. Instead, the state has formally requested that the USDA extend the 2014 Farm Bill until the 2021 growing season, giving states more time to prepare and submit comprehensive plans in line with USDA regulations. Lawmakers also hope that this extension will allow the USDA to review and revise some of its more burdensome regulations, which they have failed yet to do.
Unless the 2014 Farm Bill is extended or the USDA otherwise agrees to change its requirements for the 2021 grow season, it appears that growers interested in cultivating an industrial hemp crop in 2021 will need to apply to USDA for a producer license. NYS DAM has stated that they will do whatever they can to assist growers in this process should this be the case.
Given the USDA’s track record and responsiveness to criticisms of its final rule, it is not certain how they will respond to New York’s requests. Licensed hemp growers in New York State should prepare themselves for this transfer of authority and educate themselves on the tenets of the IFR should this be the case, as it differs greatly from established New York regulations.
Issues with the Interim Final Rule
The IFR sets unrealistic standards for hemp cultivation. For example, while NYS tests for delta-9 THC alone, the USDA calls for the total THC content of the hemp plant, which also includes THCA. Further, it would require tests to come from the top flowers of the plant, which are naturally higher in THC. Based on anecdotal knowledge and experience, most New York hemp producers would have failed in 2019 under the proposed USDA testing regulations.
The IFR also sets strict regulations regarding disposal of non-compliant products. The USDA requires that, if one plant is found to not be in compliance with regulation, the entire crop must be destroyed. Given the nature of its testing requirements, this can be extremely harmful to growers who are otherwise cultivating compliant crops.
Under the IFR, inspections are conducted on an annual basis and with random samples. These inspections must be carried out within 15 days of the anticipated harvest date by a licensed official. This short timeline is unrealistic for many hemp growers and overestimates the capacity of state authorities to conduct accurate and thorough tests within such a short time period.
Another area of criticism concerns background checks; the IFR licensing process would require criminal background checks to ensure employees and “key figures” in business entities are free of drug convictions for a period of ten years. The USDA hemp producer application (which will replace NYS’s industrial hemp grower application), can be found here.
What’s Next for NY Hemp Growers
The letters sent by the Department represent the first clear steps New York has taken to adjust to this interim final rule. The USDA’s response remains to seen. Although the IFR is certainly less than ideal, NYS growers should prepare for a transfer of authority to the USDA this October. This would require applying for the USDA hemp producer application, which will replace NYS’s industrial hemp grower application. This application can be found here.
If, however, the USDA does in fact extend the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp growers in NYS can expect business-as-usual for the 2021 growing season. During this time, the state would likely continue to work with the USDA to revise some of the IFR’s regulations.
The exact nature of this process can not yet be determined. Certain issues, such as what might happen to indoor growing operations during this limbo period, remain unclear. If the USDA does not extend the 2014 Farm Bill, hemp growers should expect further guidelines from the USDA as October 31 approaches. NYS DAM is also likely to release guidelines and assistance for New York growers.
As NYS continues to feel the economic, social, and political ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic, legislative developments for cannabis within the state have been mostly placed on the sideline. Unless the USDA extends the 2014 Farm Bill allowing NYS more time to draft a comprehensive state plan, growers should not expect much to change regarding the regulations found in the interim final rule.
Joe Vitale, Lead Policy Analyst
Joe Vitale earned his bachelor’s degree in History and German Studies from Binghamton University, where his academic work has led to various awards, research positions, and publications in scholarly journals. Combining his vast research experience with a fine eye for details, Joe delivers in-depth regulatory analysis and compliance research at CCG.


ESG resilience during the Covid crisis: Is green the new gold?
The resilience of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) funds is not completely new. During the Covid-19 crisis – which clearly has strong social and environmental implications – investors perceived their strong performance as a defensive characteristic and cumulative flows continued to increase while massive sales occurred in traditional funds.
The analysis is this commentary shows that investors’ preference for ESG compared to conventional funds has not lessened – quite the opposite, in fact. At the EU level, the focus on ESG is likely to remain strong for asset managers and institutional investors. On a policy level, this has been supported so far by the Action Plan on Sustainable Finance and will continue with the upcoming Renewed Strategy.
Jean-Jacques Barbéris is Head of Institutional and Corporate Clients Coverage at AMUNDI. Marie Brière is Head of Investor Research Center at AMUNDI, Affiliate Professor at Paris Dauphine University and Member of the ECMI Academic Committee.


Gay and Afraid: What South Korea Taught Us About the Dangers of Contact Tracing
South Korea’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic attracted worldwide praise, establishing the country as a blueprint for successfully containing the virus through contact tracing and mass testing. Although South Korea has managed to keep its daily case increase low and 10,194 out of a total 11,165 cases have so far recovered, an ongoing threat of clusters originating from so-called “super-spreaders” remains. This threat has pushed South Korea into more innovative and invasive digital contact tracing methods, such as gaining access to GPS records and card transactions to alert the public to possible exposure. Many human rights groups have underlined possible issues related to further rollouts of invasive digital tracing methods, particularly how negligence toward privacy in the instrumentalization of personal data could pose a danger to minority groups, more specifically to the LGBTQ+ community.
Contact Tracing; a Palpable Danger for LGBTQ+ Individuals
On May 2nd, a 29–year–old man who tested positive for the virus reportedly visited multiple clubs in Itaewon, South Korea, an area known in Seoul for its LGBTQ+ nightlife. This instantly raised fears that thousands may have been at risk of contracting the virus. As information regarding the cluster was released to the public, many media outlets described the venues as “gay clubs” and attempted to specify the age, occupation, and even identities of these 5,500+ at-risk individuals. As the LGBTQ+ community became an easy scapegoat for this cluster of cases, some of these individuals could not be immediately contacted, refusing to disclose themselves out of fear of persecution.
A similarly angled narrative was pushed early on in February, instead surrounding a “super-spreader” from what was described in the media as a “cult,” with the ensuing backlash serving as an early warning on the dangers of pointing fingers at specific groups. The LGBTQ+ community’s implication to the most recent cluster resulted in calls to close down these clubs, along with reports of multiple individuals, with no direct correlation to the May 2nd outbreak, having their personal data leaked through gay dating apps like Grindr.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun asked the public to avoid “criticizing a certain community as it will not help efforts to contain the coronavirus spread”; not going as far as explicitly acknowledging the particular risk to the LGTBQ+ community. That being said, scapegoating is not a new occurrence for the LGBTQ+ community — members have long fallen prey to ill-informed medical discrimination and prejudice — often as a result of the stigma surrounding the AIDS epidemic.
In a socially conservative country such as South Korea, where there is an absence of comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals, a virus that does not discriminate can easily become a catalyst to deepen existing societal prejudices.
Contact tracing in the era of COVID-19 and the legacy of the AIDS epidemic
The LGBTQ+ community has faced a history of institutionalized medical stigma as a result of the AIDS epidemic, with its ongoing legacy of societal and health consequences felt worldwide. According to Chenard, LGBTQ+ individuals suffer from a “dual stigma.” They are more likely to be HIV positive and disproportionately suffer from homelessness, depression, and suicide because of discrimination, among other factors. Although the current pandemic concerns an entirely different virus, data collected from state-sponsored contact tracing tactics used to contain COVID-19 can become politicized much like the AIDS epidemic.
By attributing the outbreak to “gay clubs,” South Korean media outlets have played into a narrative that scapegoats a community already facing institutionalized medical and professional discrimination. The LGBTQ+ community is an easy target for those that already believe such a “lifestyle” is immoral, fitting into a storied narrative allowing individuals to deflect blame onto an already marginalized group. Not only is this narrative dangerous because it encourages discrimination towards LGBTQ+ individuals, it also undermines health initiatives by inhibiting the testing of individuals that have come in contact with confirmed cases because of their fear of persecution.
Due to the politicization of personal data, advice from health experts must now compete with misinformation. In light of this, as other countries look toward implementing contact tracing apps as a “be all end all” solution to social distancing, they must consider — regardless of other benefits or their intentions — how the dissemination of personal data inevitably puts LGBTQ+ individuals at risk. Governments must not be complicit in allowing media outlets to push narratives based on data that individuals have provided, especially when dealing with a community that has long suffered as a scapegoat because of such institutional negligence.
What efforts can be made to protect minority groups?
How should LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide feel comfortable giving states access to their personal data and permission to disseminate it freely? Although South Korea and other countries, like the UK, are opting for a centralized system of digital contact tracing — where anonymous data collected from bluetooth devices is stored on a central computer server — countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Austria have pursued a more decentralized approach. In developing a decentralized system of contact tracing, Apple and Google argue that transferring data directly between bluetooth devices would limit the power of hackers or governments to harness private data from a central server, possibly at the expense of having a more accurate account of COVID-19’s spread.
This brings us to a central dilemma. Does valuing individual privacy and security necessarily come at the expense of public health? If minority groups that have experienced institutionalized discrimination do not trust that these apps will protect their privacy, then unless it is made compulsory — like in South Korea — many will refuse to use them. Having established the consequences of mandatory contact tracing on the LGBTQ+ community in South Korea, is this a model that other countries should wish to replicate?
With estimates in the UK saying that these apps would need at least 60 per cent national usership to be effective, the cost of alienating minority groups is greater than just their fear of persecution. Fear also affects a state’s ability to track and contain future clusters in the hopes of ending social distancing. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock argued that “we cannot afford to not use [contact tracing apps],” and that “all data will be handled according to the highest ethical standard.” Others argue that invasive technology is not necessary for effective contact tracing, with countries such as Iceland emphasizing a more secure manual process.
In the interest of both minority groups’ security and each state’s COVID-19 containment initiatives, efforts are needed to strike a balance between individual privacy and maintaining the effectiveness of digital contact tracing apps.
Edited by Gracie Webb


Bank Complexity, Governance, and Risk
Bank holding companies (BHCs) can be complex organizations, conducting multiple lines of business through many distinct legal entities and across a range of geographies. While such complexity raises the costs of bank resolution when organizations fail, the effect of complexity on BHCs' broader risk profile is less well understood. Business, organizational, and geographic complexity can engender explicit trade-offs between the agency problems that increase risk and the diversification, liquidity management, and synergy improvements that reduce risk. The outcomes of such trade-offs may depend on bank governance arrangements. We test these conjectures using data on large U.S. BHCs for the 1996-2018 period. Organizational complexity and geographic scope tend to provide diversification gains and reduce idiosyncratic and liquidity risks while also increasing BHCs' exposure to systematic and systemic risks. Regulatory changes focused on organizational complexity have significantly reduced this type of complexity, leading to a decrease in systemic risk and an increase in liquidity risk among BHCs. While bank governance structures have, in some cases, significantly affected the buildup of BHC complexity, better governance arrangements have not moderated the effects of complexity on risk outcomes.
We thank Inaki Aldasoro, Robert DeYoung, Krzysztof Gajewski, Lukasz Kamil Kurowski, Katheryn Russ, and seminar participants at the European Central Bank, George Mason University, the IBEFA Annual Meeting in San Diego, MoFiR, and workshop participants at the 4th Annual Chapman Conference on Money and Finance and the IBRN meeting hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Mary Chen, Sarah Ngo Hamerling, and Kevin Lai provided excellent research assistance. Scott Okrent provided invaluable help in computing the systemic risk measures using the code facilitated by the VLab at New York University. The views in this paper are solely the responsibility of the authors and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, any other person associated with the Federal Reserve System, or the National Bureau of Economic Research.


The philosophy behind Naturopathic medicine is to treat the person, not the disease. Naturopathic Doctors focus on identifying the root causes of symptoms and addressing health concerns using natural therapies. We can help treat both chronic and acute conditions by creating a personalized plan for each patient’s unique needs. Our ultimate goal is to identify and address the root cause of your health concerns, to help you achieve your personal health goals.
In order to be certified as a Naturopathic Doctor, you must first retain a 4-year undergraduate degree before applying to a 4-year accredited Naturopathic medical school. The first 2 years are similar to conventional medical school and are more focused on clinical sciences, such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pathology. Classroom studies include a variety Naturopathic topics, such as:
Traditional Asian Medicine Nutrition Botanical Medicine Homeopathy Orthopaedic Assessments Counselling Orthomolecular Medicine
Naturopathic doctors are strictly regulated by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC). To be licensed as a Naturopathic Physician, applicants must pass two sets of licensing boards, regulated by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examinations (NABNE). Additionally, they must graduate from 1 of the 7 accredited schools in North America.


A top official of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) disclosed that the institution would be collaborating with the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to trial a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) later this year.
Benoît Cœuré, head of the BIS Innovation Center, made this known at the Bund Summit held in Shanghai yesterday as published by local media outlet The Paper.
According to Cœuré, the proof-of-concept CBDC scheduled to launch by the end of this year will help identify the elements needed for a retail CBDC.
These elements include connections to existing payment systems, digital identity tracks, compliance monitoring, among others.
Cœuré revealed at the event that in the future, the BIS would work with other central banks, including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Bank of Thailand, to experiment with cross-border use of digital currencies.
Last year, Swiss intensified efforts to issue a CBDC, which saw its apex bank partner with its Swiss stock exchange operator SIX Group.
At the time, the project was launched to explore how CBDC could be used to settle tokenized assets between market participants.
Central banks consider CBDC
As the use of banknotes in payment declined globally due to recent events, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, countries are considering ways to enhance their payment systems from the obsolete traditional means to digital methods.
This need has prompted nations to embark on a series of research projects to study the possibility of issuing CBDC and its impact on their economies to remain relevant when the need arises.
Earlier this month, the BIS, in collaboration with seven central banks, including the SNB, published a report outlining how banks should design CBDCs in order to align with existing policies.
As per the report, CBDCs should coexist with existing payment methods, support broader policy goals, and promote end-users’ innovation and efficiency.
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Original Article
Author: Lele Jima


Private debt
Private debt is the debt accumulated
by individuals or private businesses. Private debt can take numerous forms; a personal loan, credit card, corporate bond or business loan for instance.
Private debt comes with numerous pitfalls and risks for the applicant. When a loan is provided by family or friends, missed repayments can cause tension and even result in the end ofrelationship. Debt incurred with a credit provider may result in high levels of interest, charges for missed payments or demands for security.
Credit providers may ask for
security over an asset or in the form of a guarantee in return for a secured loan. If security is given, the borrower can risk their home if they can't make repayment of their debts.
The risk of private debt doesn’t only lie with the debtor. The creditor risks non-repayment of funds or the need to issue lengthy and costly legal proceedings when they agree to make a loan. If a company goes into liquidation or a person enters bankruptcy, a creditor will lose all of the majority of their investment.
Public debt
Public debt, or national debt, is the sum of the financial obligations incurred
by all government bodies of a county. This debt can be accumulated by the government directly or a government agency at any level.
Public debt can arise from a number of sources, for example government bonds create a debt owed by the government to a member of the public. Alternatively,
Sovereign Debt is accumulated when the government of a county borrows money from the government of another.
The public technically owns the debt. However, the debt will be viewed by the rest of the world as linked to the country as whole. The choice to create public debt is ultimately not that of its owner, and is entered into by a few but paid for by many.


The main objective of this guide is to inform readers clearly and graphically about the situation of a loved one affected by brain injury. The guide also provides specific guidelines on how to act so that families and/or carers can collaborate daily in their loved one’s neurorehabilitation treatment.
This guide does not seek to replace the work of our specialists. Instead, it acts as a reference for both professionals and families, helping them to discover how to begin living with a person with brain injury.


Secured programming is critical when developing server side systems today. Hacking and exploiting data is the “New Age Terror” and can lead to horrible results starting with stealing private data up to taking a whole system down (Banking services? Military? Health care?).
Security must be provided in all layers of hardware and software since a tiny crack is enough to sink the whole ship…. Therefore, secured code means securing everything we develop, administer and configure.
This seminar explores the need, types of attacks and assumptions we must follow to keep our code secured.
Software Developers, Managers, Architects and Project Managers that want to secure their systems and have a better understanding of the threats of today.


A comparative in vitro antioxidant potential profile of extracts from different parts of Fagonia cretica Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2014, 7S1: S473-80
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of organic extracts from fruit, roots and aerial parts of Fagonia cretica.
METHODS: Shed dried and powdered plant parts were initially extracted in methanol and subsequently partitioned in n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and 1-butanol successively. Antioxidant and radical scavenging potential of the methanol extracts and the fractions of each part were evaluated using total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation radicals scavenging, reducing power (potassium ferricyanide-trichloroacetic acid system), ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity (linoleic acid system) and total antioxidant activity (phosphomolybdate) assays.
RESULTS: TPC and TFC values for methanol extracts and various fractions ranged from 0.23-4.30 mg/L gallic acid equivalents and from 30-545 mg/L rutin equivalents, respectively. Overall, methanol extracts and all the fractions of root and aerial parts showed higher TPC and TFC values. Methanol extracts and aqueous fractions of root and aerial parts and the n-butanol fraction of root showed lower EC50 values for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging than the other plant extracts. The 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging, total antioxidant potential and ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential values confirmed the presence of potent antioxidant principles in the methanol extract of roots. In general, all the extracts/fractions and especially those of root showed high antioxidant and radical scavenging activities.
CONCLUSIONS: The crude methanol extract of root can be explored further for in vivo studies. This study revealed the potent antioxidant potential of Fagonia cretica and its prospective efficacy against various reactive oxygen species-mediated diseases.


The aim of soil tillage is to maintain a favourable and stable soil structure, and to offer suitable conditions for crop installation and growth (ASIAT, 1989). This objective is reached by a reduction of soil disturbance and by no-till techniques, which limit the loss of soil fertility particularly in field cropping systems.
Here we are interested in the influence of conservation tillage on plant nutrition, weed control and crop performance. These different factors and the evolution of soil properties are studied, among others, in a long term experiment comparing conventional tillage with three treatments without ploughing.


Abstract : Lactate is a key metabolite that is produced by every cell and oxidized by most of them, provided that they do contain mitochondria. Its metabolism is connected to energetic homeostasis and the cellular redox state. It is well recognized as an indicator of severe outcome in severely ill patients, however, it is not a detrimental factor per se. Conversely, some recent data tend even to indicate a beneficial effect in several metabolic disorders. Although the liver has long been recognized as a key organ in lactate homeostasis, the kidney also plays a major role as a gluconeogenic organ significantly involved in the glucose-lactate cycle. In acute renal failure, sodium lactate is widely used as a buffer in replacement fluids because the anion (lactate - ) is metabolized and the cation (Na + ) remains, leading to decreased water dissociation and proton concentration. The metabolic disorders related to acute renal failure or associated with it, such as liver failure, may affect lactate metabolism, and therefore they are often regarded as limiting factors for the use of lactate-containing fluids in such patients. By investigating endogenous lactate production in severe septic patients with acute renal failure, we found that an acute exogenous load of lactate did not affect the basal endogenous lactate production and metabolism. This indicates that exogenous lactate is well metabolized even in patients suffering from acute renal failure and severe sepsis with a compromised hemodynamic status.


Maine head-on collisions are typically some of the most devastating types of accidents because they tend to lead to serious injuries or death. Unlike other collisions, head-on collisions involve two cars that are traveling toward each other before the accident. In these accidents, the drivers and front passengers are often flung toward, and maybe through, the front windshield. According to the Insurance Information Institute, head-on collisions account for approximately 2 percent of motor vehicle accidents, but they lead to 10 percent of yearly accident-related deaths.
For example, recently, a Maine news report described a harrowing head-on collision involving a car and a pickup truck. An initial investigation revealed that a sedan heading east crossed into a center lane. The pickup truck driver was traveling westbound when the sedan slammed into his vehicle. The sedan driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his car. His female passenger was wearing a seat belt but died at the scene of the accident. The pickup truck passengers were wearing seat belts, but were transferred to a hospital for their injuries.
Like the collision above, most head-on accidents occur when a motorist crosses to the wrong side of the road. Although these situations may occur because of poor road conditions, defective vehicles, and bad judgment, the majority occur because of driver impairment. The at-fault driver may be fatigued or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control cites drowsy driving as a leading cause of head-on collisions.
In situations where the parties survive the accident, they are usually still left with serious injuries. The most common head-on collision injuries include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, burns, and even paralysis. After a head-on collision, establishing liability may be challenging because the impact often causes a chain reaction, and the parties end up in vastly different locations. An attorney can assist accident victims and their loved ones in establishing the responsible parties. Attorneys can work with an accident reconstructionist to determine the events that led up to the accident. Further, attorneys can consult with physicians and review medical records to determine the extent of injuries and potential future medical expenses. Finally, and most importantly, attorneys can present a claimant’s case in a compelling and effective manner to the judge or jury.
Have You Been Injured in a Maine Car Accident?
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a Maine car accident, contact the dedicated attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. The attorneys at our law firm have extensive experience successfully advocating for Maine injury victims in all types of personal injury claims. We have helped countless clients obtain compensation from at-fault motorists, negligent government entities and companies, and insurance companies. Compensation in Maine accident cases often includes payments for medical expenses such as ambulance fees, hospital stays, and rehabilitation facility costs. Additionally, compensation may include payments for lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Contact our office at 800-804-2004 to discuss your accident case with a knowledgeable attorney. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we can help you obtain compensation for your injuries.


Answer
This condition is characterized by brief episodes of vertigo, disequilibrium, and nausea. It is usually found in children aged 2-6 years. The patient may have nystagmus within, but not between, the attacks. The child does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or loss of consciousness. Symptoms usually last only a few minutes. These children often develop a more common form of migraine as they mature.
Brain MRI can be performed to exclude posterior fossa abnormalities, especially if abnormalities in the neurologic examination are found between episodes.


Thanks to both
advances in technology and miniaturization of hair removal devices, hair removal at home is finally becoming accessible to individuals with depilator devices based on intense pulsed light or IPL technology. Advances in Technology
Several permanent hair removal devices exist. They provide
long lasting depilation with professional results and are safe, painless and less expensive than beauty centers or medical offices.
However, since these devices are using the
technology of intense pulsed light or strobe light, derived from that used in medical offices and beauty salons, make sure you have read the corresponding IPL depilation page as well as the tips below.
Is Permanent Hair Removal at Home the Right Treatment for me?
Also used in beauty centers, these new IPL hair removal devices are
particularly effective on dark hair and white skin. However, they are not so effective on white hair, red, light blond and dark skin but they remain acceptable. All areas of the body can be flashed such as legs, breast, chest, back, arms, underarms, hands, stomach, bikini, except the face. Are There Warnings for IPL Hair Removal Devices?
To ensure safe operation, these devices should
not be used on pregnant women, on varicose veins, scars, moles or tattoos. You should avoid sun exposure a few weeks before and after depilation sessions so your skin remains without unwanted long-lasting marks.
It is also important to know that
between each hair removal session, the traditional hair removal techniques are prohibited; only the razor may be used. How Much do Home Permanent Hair Removal Devices Cost?
Various devices exist in a variety of prices ranging
from $250 to $850 depending on the model and options such as built-in skin tone sensor, flash rate, time for recharging…etc.
For example, one of the most used devices
for both men and women is the FDA cleared and clinically proven Remington IPL6000 Hair Removal System.


Editor’s Note: This blog post was contributed by Everyday Health.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune, chronic condition, characterized by skin changes and other systemic manifestations. Aside from the treatment, and avoidance of trigger factors, such as stress, your doctor might recommend a change in your diet.
A healthy diet is something anyone should consider, not only those who suffer from psoriasis. However, if you have been diagnosed with this condition, diet changes might help you keep the associated symptoms under control. Keep on reading and discover a few diet tips that might be helpful.


Article Title Abstract
James Madison noted that "[t]here are two methods of curing the mischiefs of [a] faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects." Campaign finance regulation, often spoken of as curing the mischiefs of special interest groups, has experienced a popular resurgence spawned by inquiries into extranational contributions in the 1996 presidential election and the 104th Congress' filibuster of the McCain-Feingold reform package. Since the Supreme Court's decision in the 1976 case Buckley v. Valeo, striking several parts of the Federal Election Campaign Act for infringing upon First Amendment-protected political expression, the efficacy of campaign finance reform laws has been significantly abrogated by the Buckley-articulated necessity that to survive, such laws must be narrowly tailored to serve compelling government interests. While the Buckley Court relied solely on the interest of corruption, it concurrently indicated the possibility that other "ancillary" interests could also bolster reform. Subsequent Court decisions have characterized corruption as the sole interest emerging from Buckley, and have maintained a nearly impregnable strict scrutiny in this context of political expression.
During the past decade, several states have enacted more radical reforms, involving variable contribution limits or "cap gaps," partial public financing and aggregated group contribution limits-all of which have struggled to survive First Amendment challenges in federal and state courts. Most recently, in November of 1996, the state of Maine passed by referendum its Clean Election Act, structuring a full public financing system for state gubernatorial and representative races. Several groups are now challenging these laws on First Amendment grounds.
This Note reexamines the question of compelling government interests for campaign finance reform in light of "radical" reforms in Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin and unprecedented full public financing in Maine. It concludes that a broader interpretation of corruption, preservation of representative government, and equalizing access to the process could each or together qualify as compelling government interests to withstand First Amendment review. In particular, both a broad conception of corruption and the interest in preserving representative government could justify Maine's Clean Election Act. While the First Amendment requires a high level of review, other constitutional interests in tension with the freedom of expression could require a broader conception of the interests of the state.
Recommended Citation
Molly Peterson,
Reexamining Compelling Interests and Radical State Campaign Finance Reforms: So Goes the Nation,25 Hastings Const. L.Q. 421 (1998). Available at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_constitutional_law_quaterly/vol25/iss3/3


Overlooked Election Disinformation on Google is a Danger to our Democracy
We are less than a week away from Election Day with millions of voters having already cast their ballots, but election disinformation seeking to suppress voter turnout continues to spread across all major social media platforms. Congress has held multiple hearings including one this week with the “Big Tech” CEOs examining the role of social media platforms in disseminating disinformation. While much of Congress’ attention has focused on the problems Facebook and Twitter continue to have, election disinformation on Google has flown under the radar. Because Google is one of the few companies Americans find trustworthy to provide them with accurate information, users seeking voting information could be led to disinformation that discourages them from voting undermines the integrity of the election.
Google owns a vast array of products and features that bad actors can exploit to steer users towards disinformation. Google’s search engine alone provides multiple vectors for disinformation. For example, the company’s search engine includes an autocomplete feature, which matches the characters that a user has typed into the search bar with previous searches that start with those characters. Google also utilizes a ‘related searches’ feature, which shows keywords or phrases at the bottom of every results page that other users who searched for the same term also requested. Google News is another potential source of misinformation during the election season. Outside of Google’s search tools, the company manages a vast digital advertising business where bad actors can place misleading ads about elections and voting while users view search results or watch YouTube videos.
To be clear, Google has acknowledged it has a disinformation problem and has implemented policies to limit the spread of election-related disinformation and misinformation. However, Common Cause uncovered numerous instances of election disinformation across Google’s products. For example, Google autocompleted searches for both “don’t v” and “why you shouldn’t v” with search terms dissuading people from voting. We found that some Google searches for “vote,” “how to vote,” and “voting” all directed users to related searches about online voting, such as “vote online,” “how to vote online,” and “online voting website.” After we notified Google, the company took down much of this content, finding it was in violation of existing civic integrity policies. Nevertheless, these examples highlight Google’s inconsistent enforcement of its policies. Like Facebook and Twitter, Google has significant resources and should not have to rely on civil society groups to monitor whether its policies are being enforced.
In addition to inconsistent enforcement — for example, we found an example where an issue-based ad by the GOP was properly disclosed but a nearly identical one was not (Google confirmed that they removed the non-disclosed ad after we alerted them to it) — Google’s efforts to stop the spread of election disinformation fall short due to significant gaps in its policies. For example, while Google has policies against ad misrepresentation, the platform allows advertisers to run ads promoting websites owned by anyone. This means advertisers can use Google search to place election ads that support or oppose candidates on websites intended to serve as a nonpartisan source for voting information. Further, Google has disclosure policies on political ads but defines those ads very narrowly. This means bad actors can target Google users with issue ads that contain misleading information about voting by mail without having to disclose who paid for them. Unless Google expands its definitions of harmful content when it comes to online voter suppression and advertisement disclosure policies, this content will continue to persist.
Because of Google’s significant reach and the high trust users have when searching for information, election disinformation on the platform poses significant risks to our democracy. While election disinformation remains a problem across all social media platforms, Google can no longer hide from the spotlight. The platform must do more to consistently enforce and expand its civic integrity policies to combat online voter suppression, and policymakers must do their part in holding Google accountable.


lewis park
Situated at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in the City of Knox, Lewis Park is a significant piece of water infrastructure that doubles as a public open space for the community. Blind Creek, which runs through Lewis Park, was piped and channelised in the 1960s, reducing the biodiversity of the creek corridor and creating a disconnect between the water systems and surrounding residents.
This project aims to strengthen the user experience of and the community’s connection to the waterway system which runs through the municipality. This aim will be met by daylighting a total of 1650m of the concrete piped creekline, a long with several other initiatives. The broader site context consists of smaller reserves, parks, schools, residential land, light industry and a major commercial hub. This interface (as outlined in the Knox Central Structure Plan 2016) has provisions for future residential and commercial developments directly adjacent to the site. McGregor Coxall’s Lewis Park Masterplan published in February 2019 responds to this future condition and illustrates the future proposition for the Park. Driven by a collaborative dialogue between Knox City Council, Melbourne Water, the design team, the local community and close consideration of The Masterplan (McGregor Coxall, 2019), this project will enhance the existing amenity of the site by creating increased interaction with the waterway, enhanced connectivity and flexible open spaces.
Location
Lewis Park
Year
2020
Client
Knox City Council / Melbourne Water
Design Team
Jon Shinkfield, Brett Schreurs, Watkin McLennan, Allison Handan Chen


Babies as young as four months old process faces and scenes in a similar way to how adults do, shows a study published in Nature Communications.
The visual cortex in adults is divided into areas that process everything we see, such as faces, objects, and scenes. However, it is unclear whether these distinct areas arise as a result of exposure to the environment, or whether they are present from a young age. Ben Deen and colleagues provide evidence that indicates the visual cortex of the brain is already adult-like, in terms of structural organization, within a few months after birth.
The authors gather functional magnetic resonance imaging data from nine infants (aged four to six months) that were shown various images while lying in the scanner. Their results show that infants’ visual cortex responded similarly to adults’ presented with similar stimuli, indicating that infants as young as four months have areas in the visual cortex that process specific visual categories, such as faces and scenes. In a follow-up experiment, the authors demonstrate that these results are not due to any features of the stimuli (e.g. colour, brightness).
Though the functional responses observed in infants’ brains were not as nuanced as those seen in adults, these results suggest that the large-scale organization of category preferences in visual cortex is already similar to that of adults after only four months of exposure to visual stimuli.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms13995
Research highlights
Nov 26
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Zoology: Mineral armour discovered in insects Nature Communications
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Neuroscience: Social isolation evokes craving responses in the human brain Nature Neuroscience
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Ecology: Migration associated with faster pace of life Nature Communications
Nov 17
Gene therapy: Concerns for the long-term safety of AAV gene therapy Nature Biotechnology


We are passionate about creating elegant and comfortable interior design, but we are equally committed to ensuring the process is rewarding and enjoyable for our clients.
We achieve this through a carefully-designed, step-by-step process that optimises the design and detailing stages, including any logistical or financial parts of the project. Through every stage of the process, we work with our clients and keep them fully informed of the plans and progress.
Our interior design services are driven by our commitment to delivering exquisite, perfectly imperfect interiors for both residential and commercial projects, on-time and on-budget.
Our starting point for every design project is to fully understand our client’s practical requirements and personal aspirations. The initial no-obligation meeting is designed to enable clients to easily and enjoyably share their ideas and personal style, the practical requirements of the project, and how they would like their new interior to enhance their lifestyle or working environment.
This meeting is best undertaken in the home or location of the refurbishment, so we can fully understand the space as it is and how it could be transformed. Alternatively, we are very happyto welcome clients at our studio in Chelsea.
During this phase, we will also start to take into account logistical factors, such as budgets, timescales and planning requirements, along with any other practical considerations.
Following the initial interior design consultation, we will present a proposal that outlines the brief as we understand it, as well as a clear initial project plan including estimated timelines, budgets, planning or logistical requirements, and our associated design fees.
We will also present a detailed description of the process, tailored to each client’s requirements. This provides an ideal opportunity for a client to raise any questions or concerns they may have about the process, as we are passionately committed to ensuring that clients are fully informed and comfortable with every stage of the project.
Once the proposal and detailed brief has been approved, we will present initial design concepts, which typically consist of creative and technical elements. Floorplans will be presented, showing ideas on space planning, structural changes, furniture layouts, bespoke joinery, lighting and audio/visual placement.
A range of mood boards will bring the concepts to life through a combination of construction materials, colours, fabrics and ideas for the furniture, fixtures and accessories. As we specialise in working with residential and commercial buildings with an innate sense of character, we pay particular attention to how your interior will feel homely and inviting, when lots of new elements are introduced. During this phase, we present concept sketches and elevations. It is very much a collaborative process, so we welcome an open, relaxed discussion.
During this phase, the approved design concepts are fully developed so that all of the necessary design detailing has been specified and ready to hand over to your contractors. We can recommend trusted partners or can work closely with your preferred suppliers on your behalf for the duration of the project.
During this stage, we will draw up detailed architectural plans and designs for fitted joinery and custom-made furniture, and present you with all final finishes and specifications. This encompasses all of the furniture, fixtures and fittings, along with the work undertaken by contractors (such as builders, decorators, plumbers and curtain makers).
Finally, should you required it, we can help oversee the team who will deliver the project to completion, should this be required. For larger projects we will work closely with an appointed project manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day logistics, quality control and long-term planning. From managing the tendering and procurement process to ensure maximum value and quality; to guaranteeing that the on- and off-site craftsmanship and trades are delivered to the required quality, budget and schedule; we can help ensure your new interior is delivered as smoothly as possible, with minimum hassle for you.
A key part of creating the perfectly imperfect design aesthetic is ensuring that the interior styling is also considered. We would be delighted to help you dress your new scheme with all of the essential finishing touches.
This project diary – detailing my first big project in the UK – offers an insight into the interior design process, with all its flaws and imperfections. Having a design philosophy that celebrates imperfections, I think it’s especially fitting to share a ‘real-time’ record of what goes into creating a beautiful interior.
By getting into the day-to-day discoveries and decisions, shining a light on oversights and literal cracks and wonky floors – as well as on triumphs and delights – I hope to not only make the interior design process more transparent, but to reveal how imperfect aspects and unexpected challenges contribute to a stunning home full of character.
So here it is – a no-holds-barred view on the design process – I hope you enjoy the ride!
Please enter your details below if you’d like to receive relevant information from time to time.


Abstract
Conversion of lignocellulosic substrates is limited by several factors, in terms of both the enzymes and the substrates. Better understanding of the hydrolysis mechanisms and the factors determining their performance is crucial for commercial lignocelluloses-based processes. Enzymes produced on various carbon sources (Solka Floc 200, lactose and steam-pre-treated corn stover) by
Trichoderma reeseiRut C30 were characterised by their enzyme profile and hydrolytic performance. The results showed that there was a clear correlation between the secreted amount of xylanase and mannanase enzymes and that their production was induced by the presence of xylan in the carbon source. Co-secretion of α-arabinosidase and α-galactosidase was also observed. Secretion of β-glucosidase was found to be clearly dependent on the composition of the carbon source, and in the case of lactose, 2-fold higher specific activity was observed compared to Solka Floc and steam-pre-treated corn stover. Hydrolysis experiments showed a clear connection between glucan and xylan conversion and highlighted the importance of β-glucosidase and xylanase activities. When hydrolysis was performed using additional purified β-glucosidase and xylanase, the addition of β-glucosidase was found to significantly improve both the xylan and glucan conversion. Keywords Trichoderma reesei Rut C30 Cellulase fermentation Enzymatic hydrolysis Accessory enzymes Hemicellulases beta-Glucosidase


Genetic analysis of agronomic and quality traits in popcorn hybrids. Date2012 Author
Jele, Collinet Phumelele.
MetadataShow full item record Abstract
Popcorn is increasingly becoming popular as a snack and is consumed widely all over the world. It is a high value crop, with possible multiplier effects like income generation for the under-resourced communities in the second economy. Despite its popularity, developing countries are battling to meet the demand and rely on importing popcorn grain due to challenges which include poor agronomic traits and slow breeding progress. Most of the imported varieties are not adapted to stress-prone local environments, which are prevalent in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the study was to evaluate newly developed hybrids and inbred lines for agronomic and popping quality traits with the possibility for commercialization in future. The study aimed at determining variability for popping ability in inbred lines and hybrids, grain yield and its secondary traits, the nature of gene action, relationships among agronomic and popping quality traits, effect of genotype x environment interaction on agronomic traits and popping method x genotype interaction effects. To determine popping ability, 128 inbred lines were evaluated at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in June 2011 using two popping methods, the microwave method and the hot-air method. The popping quality attributes measured were flake volume, popping fold, number of unpopped kernels, kernel size and quality score. Variability among inbred lines was significant (P<0.05) for all traits. Flake volume ranged from 63 cm3 to 850 cm3, popping fold ranged from 2.5 to 34 times the original volume. Kernel size had a significant positive correlation (r= 0.49) with the number of unpopped kernels. There was a significant strong and negative correlation between flake volume and the number of unpopped kernels (r= -0.62), indicating that either of the two traits would be effective for measuring popping ability. Experimental hybrids were then developed from 87 out of the possible 128 inbred lines. Only the inbred lines with sufficient seed were crossed to develop hybrids. Random crosses were generated at Makhathini Research Station during the winter season of 2011. Crosses were made at random among parents that managed to synchronize their flowering dates, resulting in 119 hybrids with sufficient seed for planting in trials. To determine agronomic superiority, the 119 experimental hybrids and the standard check P618 were evaluated at the Cedara Research Station and Ukulinga Research Farm in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal during the summer of 2011/2012. The experiments were laid out as 10 x 12 alpha lattice design, with two replications at each site. Standard cultural practices for maize were followed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and line x tester analysis in Genstat and SAS statistical programmes. Results indicated that hybrids were significantly different for all agronomic traits. Means for grain yield ranged from 1.0 t/ha to 5.2 t/ ha. General combining ability effects were significant for all agronomic traits, suggesting that additive gene effects were governing these traits. Specific combining ability effects were significant for ear length, number of ears per plant and yield indicating, that non-additive gene effects were influential for these traits. Generally, agronomic traits were highly heritable. Grain yield showed significant and positive correlation with ear length, plant height, ear position, shelling percentage and number of ears per plant, indicating that these were the major yield-determining secondary traits which should be enhanced in popcorn. Although site main effects were highly significant for secondary traits, the hybrid x site interaction was not significant. The results therefore indicate that the hybrids were ranked similarly at both sites. The 119 experimental hybrids and the standard check P618 were evaluated for popping quality, using the microwave and the hot-air popping method. There was a significant variability observed among hybrids for popping quality traits. Flake volume across sites and across popping methods ranged from 734 cm3 to 1288 cm3. Popping fold ranged from 14.69 to 25.75 times the original volume. Additive gene action was more prominent than non-additive action for all popping quality traits. The SCA effects were significant for flake volume, popping fold and number of kernels per 10 g. All popping quality traits had high heritability, indicating that selection would be effective to improve popping. Flake volume was negatively correlated to quality score, indicating that popping expansion is reflected on the quality score and a significant negative correlation between flake volume and number of unpopped kernels. There was significant and strong positive correlation between kernel size and number of unpopped kernels. Hybrid x site interaction was only significant for quality score and kernel size. Hybrid x method interaction was not significant, indicating that popping ability was not dependent on the method. Inbred lines showed significant variation for popping quality and therefore have utility for hybrid development. Significant genotypic variation was also observed among hybrids for agronomic and popping quality traits. Additive gene action was predominantly responsible for both agronomic and popping quality traits. Both agronomic and popping quality traits were highly heritable and positive relationships were identified among traits. Overall, the study indicates opportunities for further breeding progress through selection.


When you have a toothache or dental infection that is causing you pain, how can you find relief? In some cases, your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic. It may seem odd to take the same medicine for a toothache that you might take for a respiratory or ear infection. However, all infections‚ even those in the mouth, have something in common: They are caused by bacteria. That said, not all toothaches require antibiotics, so your dentist will decide when they are or aren’t needed.
Bacteria and Tooth Decay
To understand why your dentist might prescribe antibiotics for a toothache, you must first understand how bacteria contribute to tooth decay and toothaches. Without regular, twice-daily brushing with proper technique, the bacteria in your mouth can grow and turn the foods you eat into plaque and tartar that then gets deposited on your teeth. This promotes cavity formation and tooth decay.
Common Toothache Causes and Treatments
When bacteria start to break down your tooth structure it can form a cavity that can either be fixed by your dentist with a simple filling or a crown. But if the cavity is not stopped early enough the decay can continue to grow and eventually reach the center of the tooth where the nerves are. Once the nerves become affected by the decay this can cause immense amounts of pain, and lead to an infection.
When a tooth infection reaches the nerve of the tooth, it may require a root canal and a protective cover to seal bacteria out of the tooth. Additionally, if a tooth is so broken down by a cavity that it can’t be repaired, the dentist may need to extract the tooth.
When Does a Toothache Require Antibiotics?
When the dental infection is severe or impacts the gum around an erupting tooth, your dentist may recommend antibiotics. For instance, pericoronitis is an infection in the gum tissue that can develop around impacted wisdom teeth. Patients with this condition may be given antibiotics as part of their treatment.
Additionally, if your dentist notices signs of a dental abscess‚ a tooth infection that can develop from an untreated cavity, they may recommend antibiotics.
Taking Antibiotics for Oral Infections
For dental infections, dentists will often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin. Clindamycin is also a commonly prescribed alternative for those allergic to penicillin. Your dentist will be sure to identify the right dose and duration of medication for your particular situation. Because over-prescription of antibiotics can sometimes lead to more resistant strains of bacteria, your dentist will also take antibiotic resistance into consideration when they prescribe your dose.
It’s important to take the full course of pills exactly as your dentist prescribes for the best outcome. Just remember, even if the pain resolves, you’ll likely still need further treatment to fully restore your tooth.
Toothache Prevention
There are many ways to help prevent toothaches. Following these steps can help you reduce your risk of cavities or a toothache:
Limit your frequency and intake of sugary foods and drinks. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily to decrease the sugar and bacteria accumulation on your teeth. Floss between your teeth, once a day, to prevent cavities from forming where your teeth touch. Maintain regular checkup appointments so that your dentist can continue monitoring your risk of cavity formation.
You can take steps to help prevent cavities and tooth infections. However, if you already have one, know that your dentist has your best interests in mind if they prescribe you antibiotics for a toothache.


We hope that after it's over, governments will invest more heavily in medical technology, namely in preventive vaccinology such as VPRE, that would spare the shortcomings we are living now. This is the future we envision VPRE to flourish in: where preventive vaccines informed by extensive sequencing measures allow for protection against viruses that haven't even arisen yet.
As we upgrade our tool, we plan to generalize it to all viruses, allowing us to implement the same predictions on any virus that either uses humans and hosts or currently resides in animals but could potentially harm humans. Envision a world in which we diligently monitor virus populations in wildlife, livestock, and people. We could predict when, where, and which viruses will cause an outbreak,
and have a vaccine ready before it happens.
What if this world was within our reach? As we grow aware of the myriad ways in which our actions impact Earth and everyone on this planet, it is time for humanity to unite with a collective goal: to use our innovation to influence the world positively with our actions. A new world is emerging.
We have worked with various organizations, experts, and locals in order to best formulate the scope of our project, as well as the risks and concerns.
Though we would like it to be so, we recognize that our vision could be compromised in people and countries of different socioeconomic status, specifically in producing and distributing vaccines, and monitoring markets and livestock diligently. Developing countries often don't have the allocated funds necessary to support facilities such as a vaccinology centre, nor the educational resources for accessing an online learning tool like VPRE.
However, we have considered possible shortcomings that would arise in these communities. The cost of genome sequencing has been at a steep downfall since its creation, making sequencing of infected livestock and people more accessible to poorer communities. Additionally, the geographical spread of places where genomes have been sequenced has been continuously growing with projects such as the 1000 Genomes Project, which collected human genomes from 26 countries to analyze genomic variability. These initiatives indicate that the trend will continue in upcoming years and hence would support our futuristic vision in the implementation of VPRE.


Call for Submissions: Feminist Africa 2021
Monday, April 20, 2020 12:00 AM Gender and Sexuality in African Futurism Volume 3, Issue 1
Guest Editor: Jacqueline-Bethel Mougoué
How does the African Futurist genre (re)imagine gender norms, sexual identities, and issues of feminism on the continent? This special issue will explore questions of gender and sexuality in “African Futurism,” a term that has gained currency since Nigerian-American novelist Nnedi Okorafor used it in a November 2018 Twitter post. Our contributors draw from African sources to explore how African Futurism has become a cultural genre exploring varied ideas about gender and sexuality in African cultures, as these are expressed and performed in ways that traverse and transcend time and space.
Contributors to FA Vol 3 Issue 1 ask what “African Futurism” comprises, and explore its relationship to the older term “Afrofuturism”, a cultural movement that emphasized philosophical, technological and aesthetic features of Black cultural expression and performance in the African diaspora. Well-known explorers of Afrofuturism include scholars (Mark Dery, Ytasha Womack, and Reynaldo Anderson), novelists and short story writers (Octavia Butler, Samuel R. Delaney and Nalo Hopkinson) and singers (Sun Ra and Janelle Monáe). While Western Afrofuturists acknowledge how cultural exchange across the Atlantic influenced Afrofuturism, continental Africans have suggested that Afrofuturism does not adequately address the continent and its peoples, fails to reflect contemporary and indigenous cultures, experiences, and histories, thereby failing to distinguish continental Africa’s contribution to the futurist imaginary. For example, South African writer Mohale Mashigo argued in
However, both African Futurism and Afrofuturism depict profoundly patriarchal African cultures. As African women have become the main protagonists of African Futuristic works, we ask whether the emergence of contemporary African Futurism has greater transformative potential for African women than Afrofuturism as continental authors claim?
No events


Autism affects nearly one in every 59 children. It is a life long developmental brain disorder with a variable outcome ranging from severe, sometimes violent, disruptive and destructive behaviors, serious communication deficits and odd, repetitive, restrictive behaviors. There is no cure. It is predominantly a genetic disorder but there remain many unknowns. We do not yet understand why autism occurs in certain families or why these individuals have such complicated behavioral or mental health conditions.


It aims to bring the world online.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, has launched a new project which aims at making internet access available to the next 5 billion people.
Called Internet.org, the partnership will work to develop joint projects, share knowledge, and mobilise industry and governments to bring the world online.
Founding members from Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung are also all involved.
2.7bn people currently have access to the internet, according to Facebook. The goal od Internet.org is to connect the remaining two-thirds of the world’s population to bring everyone the same opportunities that the connected third has today,
"There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy," said Zuckerberg, who has also published a white paper entitled ‘Is Connectivity a Human Right?’.
"Internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it."
Internet.org will focus on three key challenges in developing countries: making access affordable, using data more efficiently and helping businesses drive access.
The founding companies have a long history of working closely with mobile operators and expect them to play leading roles within the initiative, which over time will also include NGOs, academics and experts.
Internet.org is inspired by the Open Compute Project, an open source initiative launched by Facebook in 2011 to help build cheaper, more efficient computing infrastructure.


A question of trust – Mitigating customer risk in digital financial services
This paper synthesizes four studies examining customer experience in Bangladesh, Colombia, Philippines, and Uganda. It highlights that system downtime, agent illiquidity, agents charging unauthorized fees, the fear of sending money to the wrong number and unresponsive customer care centers all eat into the credibility of digital finance offerings.


Coping measures for “measurement” in the time of COVID-19
COVID-19 has seen governments across the globe walk a tightrope as they scramble to contain the spread of the disease while keeping the economy stable. In this unprecedented situation, ground-level data for evidence-based decision-making assumes critical significance. This blog looks at five key lessons from MSC’s research on COVID-19.


This is a challenging era for commissioners of health and social care services; with many being tasked with delivering additional and better services, often with reduced funding.
NRS Healthcare supports commissioners in overcoming these challenges whilst achieving their strategic objectives. These could include increasing safe hospital discharge rates or helping health and social care professionals to increase their efficiency and effectiveness.We do this by using our expertise and in-depth understanding of the health and social care environment to identify the right solutions, tailored exactly to individual needs.
We take a holistic approach and ensure our work integrates with other support provided to those in need, including unpaid carers and family members.
If you are an employee of NRS Healthcare and you wish to contact the People Department about an employment matter, please email HR@nrs-uk.co.uk this will ensure your enquiry is dealt with promptly and confidentially.


Tenants should take professional advice before renting out their homes to short-term paying guests via Airbnb, Booking.com or other internet booking sites. In a case on point, a couple who failed to take that sensible step placed themselves in jeopardy by breaching the terms of their lease.
The couple held their flat under a 125-year lease. In common with a great many such properties, the lease contained a covenant that forbade the flat's use for any purpose other than as a private dwelling house for occupation by one family at any one time. After they advertised the property for short-term lets on internet booking sites, their landlord launched proceedings.
In rejecting the landlord's complaint, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) noted that there had been no complaints of nuisance or antisocial behaviour by the couple's guests. After relocating for work reasons, the couple had rented out the property as a temporary expedient prior to its planned sale. The FTT also noted that their lease permitted them to grant assured shorthold subtenancies of the flat, for up to six months, without obtaining the landlord's consent.
In upholding the landlord's appeal against that ruling, however, the Upper Tribunal (UT) noted that the use of a residential property for short-term occupation by a succession of paying guests has always been treated as a breach of a covenant requiring its use only as a private residence or dwelling house. The couple's entitlement to enter into subtenancies of short duration did not imply that the property could be used by a succession of unconnected strangers who generally only stayed for a weekend.
On a true interpretation of the covenant, short-term letting of the flat to persons who did not use it as their only or principal home would amount to a breach of the lease. Given the requirement that the flat be occupied by one family, the couple were also arguably prohibited from taking in a lodger. The landlord was granted a formal declaration that the couple had breached the covenant.


In recent months, organizations around the globe have been forced to quickly adapt to significant change on-the-fly. Nearly every industry has been impacted, but manufacturing, service, and retail have seen some of the most severe disruptions.
Join us on
September 3, 2020, 10 a.m. CET for a webcast with ABI Research to explore how businesses can solve their most pressing challenges by equipping their frontline employees with augmented reality. Discover why businesses are increasingly leveraging AR use cases such as real-time remote assistance, virtual training, and rapid knowledge capture to:


Notice 2018-38 (the Notice), released by the IRS on April 16, provides guidance on the application of Section 15(a) in determining federal income tax (including the alternative minimum tax or AMT) of a corporation for a tax year that begins before January 1, 2018, and ends after December 31, 2017. The Notice provides fiscal-year taxpayers with computational examples for the computation of both federal income tax and AMT.
Corporations with tax years beginning before January 1, 2018, and ending after December 31, 2017 should consider how Section 15(a) will affect the computation of federal income tax and the AMT. The Notice provides numerical examples to illustrate how these computations are performed.


The World Customs Organization’s Technical Committee on Customs Valuation (the Committee) issued Case Study 14.2 to address whether certain transfer pricing documentation was sufficient to support the arm’s length nature of a related party pricing transaction. While the Committee found that the companies included in the transfer pricing report were suitably comparable, their gross margins were significantly lower than that achieved by the importer. Also, the Committee noted that the the importer did not make a transfer pricing adjustment to address the inconsistency. Accordingly, the Committee determined that the relationship between the parties had influenced the price. As a result, the Committee concluded that declared value had not been settled in a manner consistent with the pricing practices of the industry, and that alternative valuation methods must be used.
Case Study 14.2 is a reminder to importers that without coordination, transfer pricing documentation and the attendant decisions regarding transfer prices may also be used by customs authorities to undercut the arm’s length nature of related party pricing.
The importer’s decision to forgo a transfer pricing adjustment to bring its results in line with the interquartile range identified in the transfer pricing documentation led the Committee to conclude that the prices were not settled in a manner consistent with normal pricing practices of the industry. Thus, the related party pricing was not arm’s length, and requires an alternative method of customs valuation. This result potentially leaves the local importer in a worst case scenario. From the income tax perspective, the high gross margin will be subject to taxation. From the customs perspective the imported merchandise likely would be subject to the increased administrative burden of applying an alternative valuation method plus a likely adverse duty impact based on such alternative customs values. Close cross-functional coordination of tax and customs considerations can help importers mitigate their risk of being challenged by customs and tax authorities.


Ibotta, a Denver, Colo.-based mobile shopping app, released findings of a consumer shopping study that found a significant increase in grocery shopping among fathers.
The study, which analyzed the shopping behavior of more than 90,000 dads since 2013, revealed that Millennial dads are spending the overall most time in the grocery aisles, increasing the number of grocery purchases by 62% since 2013, while the younger fathers in this age group (ages 18-24) are purchasing 25% more groceries than dads in older generations.
The study also shows that men are making more trips to the grocery store each month – up nearly 5% since 2013 – and that their overall shopping in general was up more than 10% in the last three years. And, while the number of grocery trips has slightly increased since 2013 among moms, the share of groceries purchased by Millennium moms decreased by 2.4% during the same timespan.
"The data suggests that Millennial dads are playing an increasingly bigger role at home, taking on more domestic responsibilities such as household shopping," says Bijal Shah, vice president of analytics and data products. "This marks a generational shift from older fathers who embraced traditional gender roles, and is bolstered by mobile-enabled commerce and younger dads' savviness with smartphones and shopping apps."