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Anatomy

Canon Medical at ECR: Bringing the Power of AI to Routine Imaging – MedicalExpo e-Magazine

Advanced intelligent Clear IQ Engine (AiCE) brings the power of AI to routine imaging. (Credit: Canon Medical)

Canon Medical will be showcasing some of its latest innovations at this years ECR Online Edition from July 15-19, such as the deep learning reconstruction technology Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE) or the Aquilion ONE/PRISM Editionspectral CT system.

The company, which is part of the Canon Inc group, offers a full range of medical imaging solutions. These include CT, MRI, ultrasound, diagnostic, eye care and interventional X-ray equipment, as well as a full suite of healthcare IT solutions that enable visualization and analysis of 2D, 3D, and 4D images of anatomy and physiological functions.

European Director Marketing Jack Hoogendoorn said:

What is most important for us is to focus on getting the best images possible and we address that at ECR. All our technologies are about getting the best images possible because that is what the specialists in the hospital wantthey need to be able to judge and diagnose based on what they see.

With more than 100 years experience in the medical industry, Canon Medical was known as Toshiba Medical Systems until 2016, when it was bought by Canon Inc. This, said Jack Hoogendoorn, is now resulting in some exciting developments:

We are seeing the technologies used in photo cameras and other imaging modalities from Canon Inc being combined with the medical technology we have. Based upon technology from Canon Inc, for example, is our Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE).

With Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (on the right) on the Vantage Orian 1.5T, it is possible to see through the noise to clearly visualize the anatomical structure of the hippocampus at high resolution while maintaining tissue contrast. (Credit: Canon Medical)

This deep learning reconstruction (DLR) technology, is now being integrated across a broad portfolio of scanners with a wide range of clinical applications. It features a deep learning neural network that can reduce noise and boost signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to deliver sharp, clear and distinct images, further opening doors for advancements in CT and MR systems.Jack Hoogendoorn said:

It has exceptionally low noise properties and enhances anatomical resolution and reconstructs the image in real time until it gets the best image possible.

AiCE technology is incorporated in almost every CT system. Thus also within the Aquilion ONE/PRISM Edition, which will be introduced at ECR. This is a spectral CT system, which integrates AI technology to maximize conventional and spectral CT capabilities and automated workflows, while providing intelligent clinical insights to assist physicians in making more informed decisions across the patients care cycle:

It offers opportunity for innovation within medical imaging, said Hoogendoorn, having the power to illuminate clinical insights and initiate business opportunities designed to improve patient outcomes.Its innovative approach to CT reconstruction uses deep learning to distinguish true signal from noise to deliver sharp, clear and distinct images at fast speeds. Trained using vast amounts of high-quality image data, AiCE provides enhanced anatomical resolution across the whole body including brain, lung, cardiac and musculoskeletal scans.

The DLR technology provides pure energy datasets combined with full field of view acquisitions, patient-specific mA modulation (to reduce radiation doses) and whole-body coverage. The Aquilion ONE/PRISM Edition also has an all new CT fluoroscopy (CTF) interface enabling one-person operation thanks to ergonomically-designed controls and a versatile touchscreen tablet.

Finally, Canon Medical will also be showcasing its Compressed SPEEDER MR technology. MRI scan times are often a challenge in clinical practices, where shorter scan times are typically associated with lower resolution or decreased SNR. Hoogendoorn said:

Available on the Vantage Galan 3T and Vantage Vantage Orian 1.5T, the SPEEDER technology dramatically reduces MRI scan times. The technology provides exceptional image quality and has great potential to help clinicians improve productivity. Reduced scan times enhance patient comfort, which in turn produces higher quality images by mitigating patient movement caused by patient discomfort during long scans.

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Canon Medical at ECR: Bringing the Power of AI to Routine Imaging - MedicalExpo e-Magazine

Anatomy

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device Market Insights 2020 Industry Overview, Competitive Players & Forecast 2027 | Cook Medical Inc.,Endologix…

The latest study on the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market published by the Reports and Data offers a deep understanding of the various market dynamics such as the challenges, drivers, trends, and opportunities. The report further elaborates on the micro and macro-economic factors that are expected to shape the growth of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market during the forecast period (2020-2027). The presented study elucidates the key indicators of market growth that includes a thorough analysis of the value chain, CAGR growth, and Porters Five Forces Analysis. This data will enable readers to understand the quantitative growth parameters of the global Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market.

This is the latest report covering the current COVID-19 scenario. The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected every aspect of the worldwide industry. It has brought along various changes in market conditions. The rapidly changing market scenario and initial and future assessment of the impact are covered in the research report. The report discusses all the major aspects of the market with expert opinions on the current status along with historical data.

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Companies considered and profiled in the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device Market report

Cook Medical Inc.,Endologix Inc.,W.L.Gore & Associates, AbbVie Inc.,Medtronic Plc.,Cardinal Health Inc.,Merck & Co. Inc.,Lombard Medical,Inc., Terumo Corporation. and C. R. Bard Inc.

This Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2020 to 2027.

Treatment(Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

Product Type(Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

End User(Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

Anatomy(Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

Regional Outlook (Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device Market Segmentation Assessment:

The growth prospects of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market in various regions are thoroughly analyzed in the report along with vital information such as the regulatory framework, political, and economic outlook of each region.

Critical Insights derived in the report:

Competitive landscape and key product segments

The Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market report focuses on major growth trajectories such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities that will have a significant impact on the incontinence devices market growth in the forecast duration.

Key questions addressed in the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device market:

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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Device Market Insights 2020 Industry Overview, Competitive Players & Forecast 2027 | Cook Medical Inc.,Endologix...

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Camilla Luddington Says She Would Love to Play This Character From Another Shondaland Drama – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Greys Anatomy fans have been following the ups and downs of Dr. Jo Karev, played by Camilla Luddington. With her husband and longtime love Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) leaving her last season for former flame Izzie Stevens, Jos storyline for Season 17 may involve a new romance.

Luddington has become a fan favorite on the show since starting in 2012 and truly created a niche for herself on Greys. Yet the actress shared that theres another character from show creator Shonda Rhimes suite of dramas that she would love to portray.

Born outside of London, the Greys star revealed that a film classic inspired her love of acting.

I grew up in the UK and started training with the Italia Conti School of Dramatic Arts when I was just 11 years old, Luddington told the New York Film Academy in 2014. The movie The Wizard of Oz was what initially drew me to acting. At five years old I was able to understand that Judy Garland was an actress playing a character and that I wanted to do the very same thing.

Though Luddington has grown to love the United States, there are some things she longs for from across the pond.

RELATED: Greys Anatomys Camilla Luddington Pays Tribute To Her Late Mother on Instagram

I miss British humor. Its just different than American humor, the actress revealed. I get my fill by watching TV shows like The Office, Derek and The Inbetweeners.

Luddington is clearly thriving in her role on Greys and shares her gratitude on working with such a professional ensemble.

Every member of the cast has such a good work ethic. Its been great to watch their process for breaking down material and bringing life to it week after week, she explained. They are also so encouraging to new cast members which I think can be rare. They invite you to play in scenes and push you beyond your comfort zone.

Luddington revealed that her first scene with show star Ellen Pompeo, who portrays Dr. Meredith Grey, did not go according to plan since it was loaded with medical jargon.

I had a whole monologue of just medical dialogue that I had to say to Meredith without her saying anything to me and I was just legitimately terrible, Luddington recalled in a 2016 interview with BUILD. I was so nervous cuz I was such a fan of the show too I could not remember the lines.

Working with media mogul Rhimes has been a boost to the actresss career, where she looks to the producing powerhouse as a mentor.

Shonda has a way of keeping her audience on edge time and time again, Luddington raved. She doesnt give in to what the audience want And always ALWAYS it serves for a more captivating story line. Thats what I like about her. Shes just paving the way for females in the industry.

While shes happy in her role on Greys, the British star did admit theres another character she would jump at the chance to play.

RELATED: Why Greys Anatomys Camilla Luddington Says Her First Scene With Ellen Pompeo Was Legitimately Terrible

Scandals Olivia Pope. How could you not? she told Good Housekeeping in 2015. On top of being this fabulous, powerful woman, the outfits are just opening my trailer door every day and seeing those fabulous coats and hats would make each morning a little bit better.

Thankfully for Greys fans, Luddington never left her post at Grey Sloan Memorial!

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'Grey's Anatomy' Star Camilla Luddington Says She Would Love to Play This Character From Another Shondaland Drama - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Cell Biology

New nanomedicines for mRNA therapeutics in breast cancer and heart failure – Mirage News

TAU researcher Prof. Dan Peer, from the school of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, is one of 11 partners in the international project EXPERT that has been awarded a total of 14.9 million EUR from the EU Horizon 2020. The project is working to find efficient ways to deliver protein coding mRNA by using various nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer and myocardial infarction, which are two of the most pressing health challenges in European society today.

Prof. Dan Peer, Director, Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Tel Aviv University Cancer Biology Research Center.

It is about developing mRNA therapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Much of it involves testing different methods to improve the delivery of mRNA to cells in vivo. These methods are fundamentally based either on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), biological nanoparticles called exosomes, or cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). In addition to this, we intend to analyze what these nanoparticles bind to in biological fluids in order to better understand what drives uptake in specific cells types.

Our lab was the first to show systemic, cell specific delivery of mRNA molecules that express therapeutic proteins in designated cells. We will further develop our ASSET platform for cell specific targeting of lipid nanoparticles to achieve improved delivery of therapeutic mRNAs and optimize formulations that enable systemic administration in different preclinical models. Part of the work will also consist of understanding how nanoparticle surfaces bind to host factors in blood and how this can affect the uptake of nanoparticles.

We will now see how these delivery methods work side by side in cell culture and animal models. The hope is then to be able to deliver an mRNA cocktail with one of the aforementioned vectors for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. In parallel, these vectors will also be evaluated for delivery of VEGF mRNA in the treatment of myocardial infarction.

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New nanomedicines for mRNA therapeutics in breast cancer and heart failure - Mirage News

Human Behavior

The essence of comedy giant Carl Reiner – CBS News

"First thing in the morning before I have coffee, I read the obits," Carl Reiner told "Sunday Morning" correspondent Tracy Smith in 2015. "If I'm not in it, I'll have breakfast."

Even when discussing something grim (as when he feigned dying in the middle of an interview, described as being the way he'd like to go), Reiner, who died last week at 98, couldn't help but sound sunny.

"He was rare in that I can't remember him being in a bad mood, or him telling me about a bad mood," said legendary TV writer and producer Norman Lear, now 97. He was close friends with Reiner for more than 50 years.

Correspondent Mo Rocca asked, "This may be a little hokey, but what do you think kept him going so long?"

"The same thing that keeps me going so long: We both like getting up in the morning!" Lear laughed. "And he missed it today. He missed it today."

Carl Reiner didn't miss a lot. One of television comedy's founding fathers, Reiner first came into our homes as a featured player on Your Show of Shows," in which he was second banana to Sid Caesar.

Rocca asked, "What made him so good in that role?"

"Carl had no need to be the principal in anything," Lear replied. "A lot of comics do. And so, he could be very funny as a sidekick and a straight man."

Reiner is probably best known for creating "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which began airing on CBS in 1961. It starred Dick Van Dyke as the head writer of a fictional TV program. Reiner played the blowhard host, Alan Brady.

Van Dyke praised Reiner as "a mensch. The greatest human being I've ever met in my life. Unique, irreplaceable man. For some reason, Carl had a deep understanding about human behavior, and what motivated people to do what they do.

"I found myself going to his office for answers about life, about raising my kids, about family. And I learned so much from him. He kind of created me, along with creating Rob Petrie."

Van Dyke graced us with some of the little-known lyrics to the show's theme:

So, you think that you've got trouble,well, trouble's a bubble.So tell old Mr. Trouble to get lost. A smile is just a frown that's turned upside-down.So, smile and that frown will defrost.And don't forget to keep your fingers crossed.

"Carl understood there's no such thing as an adult an adult is this costume and mannerism that the kid puts on in order to make it through life," Van Dyke said.

There was no venue where Reiner didn't kill on stage, on TV, as a film director and sometime actor. And remember comedy albums? He and Mel Brooks had one of the biggest with "The 2,000-Year-Old Man," with Reiner once again playing the straight man.

"That's 100% Carl Reiner," said Lear. "And that's why he worked so well with Mel. Because Mel will tell you himself, he needed to be upfront. And Carl was a champion from the sides."

Carl and Mel were a match made in comedy heaven. But Reiner's lifelong costar was his beloved wife Estelle. The pair reminisced, about their first meeting back in 2007, with Tracy Smith.

"I had a lot of hair in those days, black hair, wavy!" Carl said.

"No, no, he was really good-looking," Estelle said. "I said, tall, dark and handsome."

Ten years later, after Estelle had passed away, Reiner reflected: "Having a good marriage, and good children. A good life is what you send out to the world. I have three children, non-toxic children, all have done great things, and are continuing to do great things. And I had a marriage of 65 years. That's the only thing that really defines me."

There's a stereotype about comics being dark. Carl Reiner was all light. A few days ago, Norman Lear's son-in-law, CBS News' own Dr. Jon LaPook, sent us a video clip of Carl Reiner greeting Lear at a party in 2000:

Lear told Rocca, "It's strange to say it in the season of coronavirus, but he was a great hugger. It's a gem, that little bit of photography of him hugging me. That, in a sense, is the essence of Carl also."

"And it sounds like he loved being with his friends," Rocca said.

"There was never a better friend," said Lear. "The L.A. Times obit talked about pure joy. And that's what he brought to everything. Pure joy."

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Story produced by John D'Amelio and Jay Kernis. Editor: Steven Tyler.

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The essence of comedy giant Carl Reiner - CBS News

Human Behavior

How Ritual Impacts the Brain To Help Ease Anxiety – PsychCentral.com

In a new study, researchers from the University of Connecticut looked at how rituals such as weddings, birthday parties, annual parades and the like may play a role in reducing our anxiety levels. The mechanism behind this may be that rituals provide the brain with a sense of structure, regularity and predictability.

The findings, published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, have important implications as many gatherings have been called off due to COVID-19.

In the current context of the pandemic, if you were a completely rational being perhaps an extraterrestrial whos never met any actual humans you would expect that given the current situation people wouldnt bother doing things that do not seem crucial to their survival, said UConn Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dimitris Xygalatas.

Maybe they wouldnt care so much about art, sports, or ritual, and they would focus on other things. If you were to think that, it would show you didnt know much about human nature, because humans care deeply about those things.

Further, Xygalatas said, rituals play an important role in peoples lives, helping them cope with anxiety and functioning as mechanisms of resilience.

Xygalatas conducted the study with collaborators from Masaryk University, Czech Republic, including former UConn student Martin Lang, Ph.D.

This research started years ago, Xygalatas said. He said to study something as complex as human behavior, its important to approach the question from several angles to collect converging evidence.

First, in a laboratory experiment, the team found that inducing anxiety made peoples behavior more ritualized, that is, more repetitive and structured. So the next step was to take this study out to real-life situations, where they looked at whether performing cultural rituals in their natural context indeed helps practitioners cope with anxiety.

This approach also goes to show the limitations of any study. One study can only tell us a tiny bit about anything, but by using a variety of methods like my team and I are doing, and by going between the highly controlled space of the lab and the culturally relevant place that is real life we are able to get a more holistic perspective.

The study took place in Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, where the researchers induced anxiety by asking participants to prepare a plan for dealing with a natural disaster that would be evaluated by government experts.

This was stressful, as floods and cyclones are very pertinent threats in that context. Following this stress-inducing task, one half of the group performed a familiar religious ritual at the local temple while the other half were asked to sit and relax in a non-religious space.

The team found that the speech was successful in inducing stress for both groups but those who performed the religious ritual experienced less psychological and physiological stress, which was assessed by using wearable technology to measure heart rate variability.

Stress itself is important, said Xygalatas.

Stress acts as a motivation that helps us focus on our goals and rise to meet our challenges, whether those involve studying for an exam, flying a fighter jet, or scoring that game-winning goal, he said.

The problem is that beyond a certain threshold, stress ceases to be useful. In fact, it can even be dangerous. Over time, its effects can add up and take a toll on your health, impairing cognitive function, weakening the immune system, and leading to hypertension or cardiovascular disease. This type of stress can be devastating to our normal functioning, health, and well-being.

This is where Xygalatas and his team believe ritual plays an important role in managing stress.

The mechanism that we think is operating here is that ritual helps reduce anxiety by providing the brain with a sense of structure, regularity and predictability.

Xygalatas said research now suggests that the brain is not a passive computer but an active predictive machine, registering information and making predictions to help us survive.

We come to expect certain things our brain fills in the missing information for the blind spot in our vision, and prompts us to anticipate the next word in a sentence all of these things are due to this effect because our brain makes active predictions about the state of the world.

Well-practiced rituals, like the one in the study, are repetitive and predictable, and the researchers believe they give our brains the sense of control and structure that we crave, and those feelings help alleviate stress. This stress-reducing effect of rituals could be a way to cope with chronic anxiety.

In todays stressful context, we see ritual taking different forms, from people gathering to applaud health care workers, to virtual choirs singing across the internet. Xygalatas also noted a recent study that tracked the increase in people typing prayer in Google searches. In this unpredictable time, people are continuing to find relief in ritual.

Source: University of Connecticut

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How Ritual Impacts the Brain To Help Ease Anxiety - PsychCentral.com

Human Behavior

Marker raised to memorialize lynching victim in Athens – Chillicothe Gazette

ATHENS- On Mulberry Street, amarker has been raised to honor Christopher Davis, a Black farmhand who was lynched by a mob of white men in November1881.

In October 1881, a local white woman was reported to have been assaulted, and her relatives accused Davis of being her assailant.

Due to threats of lynching, the Athens County sheriffmoved Davis from the jail in Athens to the jail in Chillicothe. In a letter to his wife, Davis said he was innocent and that "for months, I've feared trouble coming over me," according to the plaque raised in his honor.

Davis rode the evening train back to Athens on Nov. 20, to await trial.

Marker commemorating Christopher Davis near the site of the old south bridge in Athens.(Photo: Christopher Davis Remembrance Project)

But Davis would never see his day in court. On the morning of Nov. 21,a mob headed out from nearby Albany, OH, before descending on the Athens Jail.

The mob, at least 30 strong, overpowered the sheriff and proceeded to drag him by a rope around his neck to the South Bridge over the Hocking River in Athens and hanged him over his pleas of innocence.

Some in the mob were leaders in the community.No one was ever brought to justice for murdering Davis, who was 24 years old and a father of two.

Davis was interred inWest State Street cemetery, but his body was reportedly exhumed without his familys permission and taken to Starling Medical College in Columbus, the marker states.

The historical marker was created bythe Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), which coordinated the Christopher Davis Community Remembrance Project along with multiple local partners.

These partners includeShowing Up for Racial Justice of SE Ohio,the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society,the Southeast Ohio History Center,Ohio University Department of History.the Multicultural Genealogical Center of Chesterhill,and other community members.

This marker helps create an honest accounting of the past, addressing the true history of human behavior, and helps society avoid repeating such acts of violence against our fellow citizens," said Tom O'Grady, Development Director with the Southeast Ohio History Center. "Our history defines us, as individuals, as communities and as a nation. This coalition has helped us better know our past and that can help chart a better future.

The back of the marker, which discusses the history of lynching in america as a form of racial terror.(Photo: Christopher Davis Remembrance Project)

This marker is necessary because truth is necessary," saidRev. Jack Sullivan Jr., Executive Director of the Ohio Council of Churches."It is required because justice is required. It must denote honor because a man of honor was murdered here. It must reflect historical honesty to help us dislodge generations of racist lies and distortions that haunt us even now.

In September 2019, the coalition also sponsored an event to memorialize Davis by collecting soil at the base of the old bridge where he was lynched. Over300 people in attendance listened to speeches drawing connections from this violent past to ongoing injustices, according to a news release from the Christopher Davis Remembrance Project.

Community members also participated in collecting soil that was sent to EJI for display in the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. A duplicate jar of soil was presented to the Southeast Ohio History Center for inclusion in their collection and can be seen as part of an exhibit examining this history at the Museum located at 24 West State Street in Athens.

Read or Share this story: https://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/2020/07/05/christopher-davis-memorial-marker-raised-in-athens/5348701002/

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Marker raised to memorialize lynching victim in Athens - Chillicothe Gazette

Human Behavior

LETTERS: Thoughts on shared sacrifice, contrasts in faith, community spirit and racial inequity – Waco Tribune-Herald

Caring about others

When our society began to shut down, individuals had no option but to stay at home. And we waited. We waited for COVID-19 cases to drop so that we could go back to work and resume our normal activities. Once businesses started to reopen, we thought it was OK to leave our homes and go back to normal. But it wasnt.

Its unrealistic for any economy to remain closed for long. But what has been sorely missing from this shutting down and reopening is clearly communicating why its critical to do certain things now that we are travelling outside our homes again.

Many officials are sending the message that the main concern is hospital capacities and available ICU beds. But for most people, its difficult to imagine ending up in a hospital from contracting COVID-19. When people are told to wear masks, they think its OK not to wear one because they are responsible for their own health and willing to risk the chances of infection and possible hospitalization.

Wearing a mask in public spaces (with the exception of an N95 mask) doesnt signal you are concerned for your health. It shows you care about the people around you. Wearing a mask protects others our family, our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, our pastors, our doctors, our teachers, our students, our business owners and employees, our society.

Individual behaviors affect public health but placing blame on specific groups or shaming people for not wearing masks is not the answer either. We should better communicate why our actions matter and find ways to make it easier for people to care for one another.

EDITORS NOTE: Ms. Lee is an instructor in anthropology at Texas Tech University at Waco and teaches courses that examine culture and human behavior influencing health.

Contrasts in faith

The side-by-side placement of columns by Dr. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas and author and religion columnist Bill Tinsley in the June 27 Trib was either a great editorial decision or an example of how it is often better to be lucky than to be good.

The views expressed by Dr. Jeffress epitomize the hypocrisy that is driving so many, especially the young, away from organized religion. God save the Church from leaders like Dr. Jeffress.

Thank God for religious leaders such as Bill Tinsley who regularly remind us that God loves all of us and that our focus should be on our relationships with God and those around us. That message, and the actions it encourages all of us to take in how we live our lives, is not grounded in partisan politics.

I am going to credit you with a great editorial decision on the placement of the two columns. The messages emphasized in each column were in stark contrast to each other. Side-by-side placement of the two columns further emphasized that contrast.

Three cheers!

Three cheers for the girls and their families and neighbors who supported the Lemonade for Love stand. Reading about their project and seeing the picture of the air hug they gave and received from Peaches Henry warmed my heart. What a great project! Their spirit of love and giving to their community is touching the most positive story Ive read in the Waco Trib for some time.

Discrimination against whites?

Could you, the editor, explain why in the last week you have been using Black, instead of black, to describe the skin color of people in the news? I first noticed that Bubba Wallace was the only Black NASCAR driver. Today, the AP reported speaking to more than two dozen police officers from around the country, Black, white, Hispanic and Asian. Why Black and not black? It looks to me like, if not racism on your part, at least discrimination against whites.

EDITORS NOTE: Sharp eyes. The Associated Press changed its writing style guide to capitalize the b in the term Black when referring to people in a racial, ethnic or cultural context. The change conveys an essential and shared sense of history, identity and community among people who identify as Black, including those in the African diaspora and within Africa, said John Daniszewski, APs vice president of standards. The lowercase black is a color, not a person. The AP expects to make a decision soon on whether to capitalize the term white. Given the paucity of staffing at many newspapers, this has resulted in a mix of styles. The Trib opinion page, for instance, will either capitalize both black and white or neither.

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LETTERS: Thoughts on shared sacrifice, contrasts in faith, community spirit and racial inequity - Waco Tribune-Herald

Human Behavior

Season guide to the National Seashore – Wicked Local Cape Cod

WELLFLEET -- This is clearly a summer like no other. This is the first time in history that Cape Cod National Seashore will operate during a global pandemic, Seashore Superintendent Brian Carlstrom said in a statement issued as the season officially began in early July.

Even in these unusual times, we will provide public access and do our best to educate the public about how to safely recreate during the pandemic, while reminding them of regular safety precautions they need to take when visiting the wild and wonderful beaches on the Outer Cape, he added.

The unique coastline of Outer Cape Cod is dynamic and changes from year to year. The tides, wind, and waves all influence regional sediment transport that causes coastline erosion and accretion. In addition, seals and sharks have become more prominent on the Outer Cape, presenting additional challenges to public safety at the beach.

The public needs to understand that with coastline topography changes and sharks and seals in the ocean, any level of activity in the ocean, whether wading, swimming or surfing will pose a different degree of risk. Everyone going into the ocean should exercise caution and be willing to assume the level of risk associated with their behavior prior to entering the water. Modifying human behavior is the most effective form of ocean safety, the statement said.

Two shark attacks on humans cast a pall over the 2018 season, when Arthur Medici died from injuries he sustained in mid-September off Newcomb Hollow, in Wellfleet, and William Lytton survived a serious attack at Truros Longnook, in August.

Neither of the beaches are Seashore-managed, but are in the same general area of the Capes backshore, where the Seashore operates three beaches in addition to Herring Cove, in Provincetown.

Great white sharks, and other sharks, are known to frequent the waters of all the Atlantic beaches and the Herring Cove area, too.

Currently, there is no single alternative or suite of alternatives that can 100 percent guarantee the safety of individuals who choose to enter the water, says the Seashore, which issued these safety guidelines:

Be Shark Smart

Look for products developed by the Regional Shark Working Group to increase public awareness and safety, including beach signage, brochures, purple shark flags, the Sharktivity app, and a shark smart video.

Stay away from seals and schools of fish, as they attract sharks.

Use the Sharktivity app to track and report shark sightings

Know the location of the emergency call box and Stop the Bleed kits at your beach.

Ocean Safety Basics

Never turn your back to the ocean.

Never swim alone. Swim, kayak, paddle, and surf in groups.

Avoid murky and low visibility water.

Stay close to the shore where rescuers could reach you if needed.

Be alert for rip currents, shore break, and strong undertows.

If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly. Don't fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards the shore. If you cannot swim out of the current, float or calmly tread water. If you cannot reach the shore, draw attention to yourself - wave your arms and yell for help. If you see someone in trouble - get help from a lifeguard. If there is no lifeguard on duty, call 911.

Beach Safety Basics

Wear sun protection.

Glass containers are not allowed on Seashore beaches.

Rafts, rubber tubes, masks, and snorkels are not allowed on lifeguarded beaches.

Sand collapses easily. Undercut cliffs can collapse at any time without warning. Deep holes can lead to burial and suffocation. Do not climb slopes and dunes or dig holes deeper than knee level of the smallest person in your group.

Other changes

As earlier reported, the Seashore this season does not have lifeguards assigned to either Herring Cove, in Provincetown, or Head of the Meadow, in Truro.

Due to the seashores health precautions during Covid-19, there is not enough housing to allow for proper social distancing protocols for seasonal staff. Therefore, fewer lifeguards will staff the beaches this summer, a statement in late June said.

All other Seashore beaches have lifeguards through Labor Day: Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach in Eastham, Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, and Race Point Beach in Provincetown.

The daily entry fee for vehicles at all Seashore beaches was increased to $25. (The Seashore is not charging entry fees at Head of the Meadow.)

Visitor centers and public showers are closed.

Bathroom facilities are available at all beaches. They will be sanitized on a regular basis.

Rangers will provide information and orientation services outdoors on the visitor center grounds. There will be no programs, and historic buildings, such as the Old Lifesaving Station at Race Point, will remain closed.

Covid-19 safety

The Seashore says visitors should adjust their expectations and should practice social distancing, personal hygiene, and other behaviors to avoid infection in public areas.

* Keep at least 6 feet between you and others.

* Place beach blankets at least 12 feet apart so there is walking room between you and others.

* Wear a face covering where social distancing cannot be maintained.

* Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

* Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

* Stay home if you feel sick.

* Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth.

For more information on the Cape Cod National Seashore, go to nps.gov/caco

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Season guide to the National Seashore - Wicked Local Cape Cod

Human Behavior

Is There a Right or Wrong Way to Identify With a Disability? – Yahoo Lifestyle

Drawing of a group of people with various disabilities talking. Amputees, wheelchair user and a person on crutches.

Disabled people oops, I mean, people with disabilities wait a minute, is it supposed to be people with different abilities? Special needs? I saw a post on social media about the word handicapped. I saw a video where someone used humor and self-identified as crippled. Is that OK? People in wheelchairs I mean, wheelchair users wheelchair-bound isnt correct, right? Can someone look this up?

In the field of psychotherapy, we talk about identity as something that refers to how we see ourselves. The term identity is used when describing our individual sense of self, our self-expression, and the degree to which feel a sense of belonging to groups. Developing ones identity begins in adolescence and continues through adulthood as new experiences and relationships shape human behavior. Forming a solid identity is desirable for most people because it generates a strong sense of comfort and security. On the other hand, people with little identity insight tend to struggle with insecurity and confusion about who they are.

For this reason, it can be helpful to think about what makes up your identity. This involves determining what descriptive language you find yourself most comfortable using.

But nowadays, debates over what is politically correct are widespread, and can lead to interpersonal conflicts as people may fear using the wrong language when conversing with someone from a minority group. For example, the idea behind person-first language, such as the phrase person with a disability, is that it intentionally puts the person before the label to guard against stereotypes that negatively define people by their disability-labels. On the other hand, the idea behind identity-first language, such as the phrase disabled person, is that it intentionally recognizes the disability-label as a part of a persons identity, something to be embraced rather than hidden out of fear of negative connotation.

These concepts are not isolated to the disabled minority group. We see the same language debates when defining other minorities as well. People of color vs. Black or Brown people. Which is correct in our efforts to acknowledge race? Acknowledgment is critical for meaningful dialogue and relationships because most people would agree that being color-blind or saying I dont see color is highly offensive to this community. The lack of identity acknowledgment translates as the act of ignoring ones racial difference, ignoring the oppression they face, and ignoring their entire culture.

Similarly, most people would agree that ignoring a persons disability would also be hurtful to this community. Acknowledgment is important, but it seems there is a constant debate in the disability community over language, arguably more so than any other minority group. This is because disability-related terminology is vast and perhaps the most widespread due to the wide spectrum of disabilities and the amount of diversity that exists from one disability to another, whether it be a mobility impairment, sensory condition, learning challenge, mental health disorder, medical disease, or any other number of ability differences.

So how do we approach disability identity and have meaningful conversations with people in the disability community without fearing political incorrectness?

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Related: Download The Mighty app to connect in real time with people who can relate to what you're going through.

1. Respect How Different People Identify

People with disabilities are going to identify differently and have different philosophies about what disability means. Disability is far too prevalent for a universal descriptive label to be accepted by all people. If you have a disability, you may identify in a way that would be unacceptable to another person even with the same type of disability. Regardless, having respect for how people identify is essential for meaningful dialogue among the community. The same is true for minorities of other types. We must acknowledge that people throughout the world may have stark differences in identity-language preferences. Holding respect for others and for their identity preferences is a prerequisite for positive engagement with people who are unlike ourselves.

Related: Disability and Mental Health Take Center-Stage at 'America's Got Talent' Auditions

2. Ask Questions If You Dont Know

If you are unsure how a person identifies as it relates to their disability, avoiding the subject and hoping someone else informs you probably wont turn out well. Plus, getting the information from anyone other than the person with a disability directly will come across as cowardly. In general, most people will appreciate you asking questions about how they identify. Asking questions shows that you are interested in learning more about them and it demonstrates a level of respect. Remember their response may not align with your assumptions, so it may be an opportunity to expand your mindset and develop a closer relationship with that person.

3. Most Importantly, Understand There Is No Right or Wrong

If you have a disability and identify in perhaps the most mainstream way as a person with a disability, that is perfectly fine, but it does not discount the ways other people with disabilities identify. Whether you are a disabled person or a kickass wheelchair queen, you are the expert on your own life. You are the only person who can decide how you relate to your disability and how you relate to every other aspect of your identity. Maybe disability is a huge part of your life and you define yourself as a strong disability leader. Or maybe your disability is rarely mentioned because its an insignificant part of your identity. Thats OK, too. Whether you have a disability or not, remember there is no right or wrong way to identify. It has no impact on your worth or value as a person.

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Is There a Right or Wrong Way to Identify With a Disability? - Yahoo Lifestyle