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Cell Biology

‘Relatively simple’ therapy could help cure blindness – Newstalk

A new therapy being developed to help restore vision to people who are blind could be used within years.

The treatment involves a "relatively simple" injection into the eye and is a "relatively straightforward surgery".

That's according to John Flannery, a Professor of Neurobiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Berkeley and a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board for Fighting Blindness Ireland.

He told Futureproof with Johnathan McCrea how blindness develops in some people and how his research will attempt to remove the disease from patients.

His startup company has recently been bought by Novartis and they will partner to develop the treatment.

Professor Flannery said "the hope is for some patients, they'll get a significant increase in their vision".

He added that "manufacturing enough of the treatment is not doing to be that difficult".

In explaining how blindness develops in some people, Professor Flannery said "almost all the inherited blindnesses occur over time".

He said: "The gene defect you have when you're born, and depending on what you inherit, it can manifest as a small child or sometimes not until you're a teenager and some conditions, likemacular degeneration, not until you're 50 or 60."

Professor Flannery said technology is been tested to get the eye to see something when there's no biological retina, but that its success is a long time away.

He said: "There have been some attempts to connect a video camera to the patient's brain in patients that are completely blind.

"That's been incredibly challenging because we know quite a bit about how the retina works but we don't know much about it encodes the signal.

"That will be quite a bit off until we have an electronic prosthetic.

"Nobody, in my knowledge, has been able to interpret the signals coming out of the eye and understanding what the picture is."

Professor Flannery said his research on how to develop therapies for blind patients starts out on testing with animals such as mice.

He said that the current treatments available to patients are for those who have recessive conditions, meaning they got the gene from both of their parents, which continues much of his work.

Professor Flannery explained how the therapy aimed to cure blindness would work.

He said: "The progress in the field has been to use the shell of the virus, the outside coat of the virus.

"We use a very different virus for the eye that's never been shown to cause disease, we put in a copy of the gene that the patient has a defect in.

"We use the virus shell to carry the DNA and protect it and that virus will carry the DNA into the retinal shells and that's a one time only repair."

He said that the virus contains a "zip-code" which controls which cells have the therapeutic gene.

Professor Flannery added: "It's a question of scale, a normal human has 150 million photoreceptors, which are the ones that are affected in these conditions.

"You can inject with a very small volume many hundreds of million virus particles."

Professor Flannery said that an experiment showed that blind mice were able to move around and explore as much as other mice.

He said: "In a couple of the therapies that are currently in the clinic, the patients have to be treated as quickly as possible because their photoreceptor cells are dying and if you get to the stage where theirphotoreceptors have died, the gene in the cell is gone.

"The therapy that we're trying to develop, which is called optogenetics, is for patients at the very late stages of blindness.

"What we're doing is capitalising on the knowledge that the photoreceptors talk to other cells in the retina that aren't light-sensitive

"Our gene therapy is designed to add light sensitively to the third cell in this chain between the damaged photo and the brain.

"Since it's in the middle, if you can make that cell light-sensitive, that's a new opportunity for restoring vision in the blind.

Professor Flannery said this treatment is "particularly appealing because you could treat someone at any age or any stage".

He said: "Because unlike the other therapies where you have to identify the exact genetic defect in the patient and put that exact gene back, this is putting a light-sensitive function in a different cell.

"It doesn't require you to know what the defect is in the patients."

partnering with Novartis to bring the therapy to the clinic

Professor Flannery said they would begin to start testing the therapy in small groups of patients shortly after successful trials in dogs.

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'Relatively simple' therapy could help cure blindness - Newstalk

Human Behavior

What can we learn from failed attempts to change people’s behavior? – Trading U

By Layal Liverpool

Failed behavioral interventions often share common characteristics

cienpies

A study of interventions to modify human behavior suggests that those who fail share common characteristics.

Identifying these traits could help predict possible avenues in which future interventions could fail and provide an opportunity to prevent it from happening, says Magda Osman of Queen Mary University of London.

Osman and her colleagues analyzed 65 articles published between 2008 and 2019 that identified failed behavioral interventions, including nudges subtle suggestions for influencing people's behavior.

They found that behavioral interventions based on social comparisons and social norms, such as encouraging people to adopt a behavior by pointing out that it is general or normal behavior in society, made up the majority 40 percent of the failed interventions examined.

Other strategies that emerged among the failed interventions were those that sent messages through letters or texts (24 percent) or by labeling products (12 percent), and those that relied on default settings, such as opt-in or opt -Out strategies (15 percent).

The researchers also categorized different ways in which interventions failed, such as by having no effect at all or by backfiring and causing an undesirable side effect. Considering both the type of behavioral intervention and the possible ways in which interventions might fail beforehand could help in designing more successful interventions, says Osman.

Osman and her team develop models that, based on their analysis of failed interventions, can predict how a particular behavioral intervention could play out. "You can simulate different outcomes before doing a behavioral intervention that might fail," which could save time and money, she says.

Journal reference: Trends in Cognitive Sciences, DOI: 10.1016 / j.tics.2020.09.009

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What can we learn from failed attempts to change people's behavior? - Trading U

Human Behavior

To Build It Back Better, Rethink Human Nature – NationSwell

For #BuildItBackBetter, NationSwell asked some of our nations most celebrated purpose-driven leaders how theyd build a society that is more equitable and resilient than the one we had before COVID-19. We have compiled and lightly edited their answers.

This article is part of the #BuildItBackBetter track The Relational Era: Building a Culture of Connection, Bridging and Belonging presented in partnership withEinhorn Collaborative.

Because people suck.

Thats the campaign slogan of Oliver, a Massachusetts goldendoodle who is running a long-shot bid for the White House against two more well-known human opponents: President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Anyone who has been following American politics for the past four years really, anyone who has even glanced at cable news or their social media feed might be inclined to agree with Olivers campaign. Racism, xenophobia, greed, and polarization all seem to be the norm, peppered with casual violence and hateful speech. Its enough to make you downgrade your views of humanity and cast your lot with (if not your ballot for) a goldendoodle.

But that would be a serious mistake, especially for workplace and educational leaders. Because while its easy to feel discouraged these days, things will get even worse if we succumb to the notion that people suck and that our species and our country is beyond redemption.

Thats because our assumptions and expectations about human nature actually seem to dictate human behavior. For instance, a study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison published recently found that having a more optimistic view of human nature actually influences more positive behavior in real life. But the opposite seems to be true as well: When children believe that aggressive, antisocial behavior is the norm, theyre more likely to behave badly as they get older.

This means we need to guard against the assumption that people are born bad. It also means we can encourage better behavior by designing our institutions, from our schools to our workplaces, to spread more positive messages about humanity.

To build a culture that values honesty and cooperation over, say, back-biting and divisiveness research offers a few important lessons and strategies.

1. Language matters. The words we use to describe our world actually influence how we behave in the world. When we convey that we expect people to cooperate and look out for each other, we increase the odds that theyll actually do so.

In one study, for instance, Stanford University researchers had people play a game where they could either work together to achieve a common goal or compete with their partner. When people were told they were playing the Community Game, they were more than twice as likely to cooperate with their partner than when they were playing the Wall Street Gameeven though it was actually the same game.

2. Images matter. In case you had any doubt about the power of images, consider this study: Toddlers were shown a series of pictures, then encountered an adult who needed help with a task. When they saw images that had dolls facing each other in the background of each image, the kids were three times more likely to help the adult than after seeing single dolls, or dolls facing away from each other, in the image backgrounds.

In other words, humans are so primed for connection that even just the mere hint of affiliation between people is enough to dramatically change our behavior for the better. The dynamics in an office or a classroom can be transformed, then, when we recognize this human drive for kindness and connectionand surround ourselves with images that evoke it.

3. Actions matter. We typically associate copycat behavior with crimes. But evidence suggests people, especially kids, emulate the good as well as the bad. A study in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, for example, found that kids as young as two years old are much more like to help people in need when they see other people do so first.

So dont assume humans are inexorably immoral, and nothing you do matters. Theres no telling how your own good behavior might inspire others to follow suit. In fact, a study published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that when one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously later, toward different people. In fact, the researchers found that kindness could spread by three degrees across a social network. As a result, they write, each person in a network can influence dozens or even hundreds of people, some of whom he or she does not know and has not met.

None of this is to suggest that the violence and conflict we see around us is an illusion; but it does mean that its not inevitable. By changing the story we tell about human nature, and designing our institutions around the deep human potential for goodness, we can build a world that makes us proud.

Jason Marsh is the Executive Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and the founding editor-in-chief of the centers online magazine, Greater Good.

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To Build It Back Better, Rethink Human Nature - NationSwell

Human Behavior

Here’s how to prevent the spread of misinformation – Virginia Mercury

A version of this articleoriginally originally appeared in theBehavioral Scientist,a magazine that examines the world through the science of human behavior.

By Elizabeth Weingarten and Rosii Floreak

If you were trying to picture a misinformation spreader, your first step probably wouldnt be to look in the mirror. But inour workexamining the psychology of misinformation, we discovered something surprising: Not only are we all susceptible to becoming misinformation spreaders, but the methods many of us are using tostopthe spread of falsehoods could be inadvertently propagating them.

Addressing this behavioral blindspot is urgent. With days left until Election Day and millions of Americans already heading to the polls, election officials, journalists, social media companies and concerned citizens are working overtime to tighten the misinformation spigot. But without a deeper understanding of how people start to believe and share misinformation, many well-intentioned people could unwittingly accelerate the flow of falsehoods.

Its vexingly easy to be a spreader of misinformation, but becoming someone who instead inhibits its spread is intuitive, too, once you have a better understanding of the role that psychology plays. Below, we share three research-backed tips to be a smarter sharer of election information on social media the equivalent of wearing a mask or physically distancing online.

Lets take media outlets as an example. Journalists are dedicated to finding and sharing facts. And yet, even well-intentioned reporters can inadvertently spread misinformation, even as they seek to raise awareness around its dubiousness. For instance, the Associated Press produces Not Real News, a weekly roundup which consists of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.

Another common strategy to squelch misinformation, used by all kinds of communicators, is myth-busting, where myths are often bolded and highlighted, and the facts are detailed less colorfully (and prominently) below. Even more pernicious are the statements that attempt to negate a myth, such as you shouldnt vote twice.

When misinformation circulates, its tempting to repeat the same falsehood, interact directly with the post, or to harvest it for an eye-catching tweet. In both cases, these good intentions can backfire. These strategies risk bumping the misinformation up in social media algorithms and exposing more people to the lie, or exposing them more than once. And that repeated exposure can be dangerous: Behavioral science research suggests that people aremore likely to believe, and alsoshare, false claims after hearing them once or even remember them as true.A sense of familiarity can be mistaken for veracity.

Instead of staying anchored to myths (which we know spreadfasterthan facts) or attempting to negate them, rewrite posts and communications to focus on the facts, avoiding any repetition of falsehoods. In other words,rebuild a narrative around the truth. You shouldnt vote twice becomes You should vote one time.

Another example is thisguide to voting at home developed by the National Vote at Home Institute with our support. The guide acknowledges misinformation without repeating it, explaining that There are many myths about the vote-by-mail process, and information voters hear from politicians may not always be true. The truth is that voting by mail is safe, secure and reliable.

Another well-intentioned strategy that can backfire: general warnings about misinformation.Research suggeststhat when voters lack a clear understanding of where misinformation can come from or what it might look like, they begin to distrust all sources of information. Instead, communicators can get more specific, including in their messages about the specific falsehood theyre warning against.

For instance, a warning about misinformation around when and where to vote on Election Day could be replaced with posts that clearly share you guessed it the facts onwhere and when to voteon Election Day. They can also go beyond the misinformation warning by sharing where voters can find facts, or by sharing tools to help voters recognize not only that misinformation exists, but also how it works.

This tweetfrom the city of San Rafael, California, which pairs a warning about misinformation with a link to where voters can go to find the truth, is a great example. So isthis game, created by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the U.K. government, which shows people how misinformation metastasizes, and how all of us are vulnerable to spreading it.

Part of learning how to fight misinformation more effectively could also mean putting certain social media best practices on a brief hiatus. Chances are, if youre a social media user, youve been taught to vary the framing and language of your posts even if youre saying something similar. Creativity is king, and drives more engagement. But in the fight against misinformation, redundancy reigns.

The key is repeating the facts with the same language over and over, across different platforms. One easy way to do this: Retweet official information from election administrators who dont have large social media followings. That way, you can help reduce the chances that voters will get conflicting messages from different sources.

Most of us, of course, arenot misinformation spreaders. But some of us may be more like a little kid who sneezes in the face of an adult: They arenttryingto spread their germs. They just havent learned that most crucial form of etiquette: Cover your nose.

Its not too late for all of us to learn how to be more responsible stewards of information online. The health of our democracy depends on it.

Elizabeth Weingarten is managing editor of the Behavioral Scientist and a senior associate at ideas42, one of the Behavioral Scientists founding partners. Rosii Floreak is a senior associate at ideas42, applying insights about how people make decisions to make government, cities, and social services work better for people.

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Here's how to prevent the spread of misinformation - Virginia Mercury

Human Behavior

World Savings Day: Save a bit, big things will follow – Anadolu Agency

ANKARA

Celebrated for nearly a century to help raise public awareness on the importance of saving money both for modern economies across the globe and individuals alike, World Savings Day on Saturday promises that even the smallest frugality can yield substantial benefits in the future.

Also known as World Thrift Day, the Oct. 31 event seeks to promote the virtue of wise spending, as well as saving money in banks, rather than keeping it under the mattress and out of the economy, according to the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute.

Saving is vital to make welfare sustainable, and this habit should be cemented from an early age to help men and women prevent economic hardship and build bright futures for themselves and their families.

"When you save a bit, big things follow," will be the theme of this year's event slated for Oct. 31, suggesting that a penny saved can become multiple pennies earned in the long run if invested in the right place.

Especially amid the economic consequences of the ongoing pandemic, people all over the world have once again witnessed how vital it is to save as hundreds of thousands lose their jobs due to the virus-driven crisis.

This period can also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for financial consolidation as so many money-spending venues and activities have shut down, which would increase staying power in future turbulence.

It is often stated that human behavior -- including spending -- is motivated by surroundings, and physical shopping, for instance, is one of these behaviors.

The pandemic has obviously altered this environment, since people now spend a greater portion of their time at home rather than in stores or shopping malls, leading to less consumption.

Many are hoping that this new way of living will help people develop better habits, such as saving and spending wisely.

History of World Savings Day

World Savings Day was celebrated on Oct. 31, 1924, during the first International Savings Bank Congress (World Society of Savings Banks) in Milan, Italy.

Italian Professor Filippo Ravizza declared this day "International Savings Day" on the last day of the congress.

There had been other examples in history of days dedicated to saving money for a higher standard of living and a more durable economy.

Spain, had named the first national thrift day on record in 1921. Meanwhile in Germany, confidence in saving had to be revived after many lost their nearly all they owned in the monetary reform of 1923.

Following the Second World War, World Thrift Day continued and reached its peak of popularity between 1955 and 1970.

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World Savings Day: Save a bit, big things will follow - Anadolu Agency

Human Behavior

Social Studies: Shades of white, applying while female, and the partisan Internet – The Boston Globe

Whiteness

Political scientists surveyed people in urban areas in the Midwest and measured their skin color (on the top of the hand and underside of the wrist) with a light sensor. Those who self-identified as white but had darker skin reported more white pride, more support for Donald Trump, and more support for the importance of speaking English, when the sample was controlled for gender, age, education, income, conservatism, party identification, neighborhood demographics, and tanning (determined by comparing the top of the hand to the underside of the wrist). Researchers theorize that darker-skinned white people may be more motivated to protect the boundaries of whiteness because they feel they have more to lose if racial boundaries blur.

Yadon, N. & Ostfeld, M., Shades of Privilege: The Relationship Between Skin Color and Political Attitudes Among White Americans, Political Behavior (forthcoming).

Where you stand

In a series of experiments, people who were simply assigned to one side or the other of a hypothetical legal case without actually arguing it adopted correspondingly more or less negative views of the person on trial, even when informed of actual guilt. The same effect was seen in similar experiments with practicing lawyers.

Melnikoff, D. & Strohminger, N., The Automatic Influence of Advocacy on Lawyers and Novices, Nature Human Behaviour (forthcoming).

Applying like a lady

In a survey of job applicants and in a job-application experiment, women applying for male-typical jobs tended to use less language associated with women like supportive and understanding in cover letters, anticipating more gender discrimination in hiring. However, an analysis of evaluations by those with hiring authority or experience showed that more feminine language was associated with better evaluations, regardless of job type.

He, J. & Kang, S., Covering in Cover Letters: Gender and Self-Presentation in Job Applications, Academy of Management Journal (forthcoming).

Its the nationalized news, stupid

A few decades ago, people read and watched local news at higher rates. Politicians had to campaign on local issues and address local needs, sometimes crossing party lines to do so. But then came the information superhighway and a greater focus on national news and politics. A political scientist found that between 2002 and 2008, as broadband Internet access grew in the United States, so did partisan behavior among voters. There was less split-ticket voting, a smaller incumbency advantage, greater partisan down-ballot effects during presidential election years, and less electoral downside for members of Congress who typically followed the party line in their votes.

Trussler, M., Get Information or Get in Formation: The Effects of High-Information Environments on Legislative Elections, British Journal of Political Science (forthcoming).

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Social Studies: Shades of white, applying while female, and the partisan Internet - The Boston Globe

Human Behavior

What Is the Study of Human Behavior? | National University

Consider these scenarios: an office with under-motivated employees is struggling to maintain team momentum, an ex-offender is trying to get a new start, a young manager is experiencing difficulties with leadership, a community is in need of a program to encourage healthy behavior in teens, a nonprofit organization is trying to craft a philanthropic appeal. These are all situations in which a specialist in human behavior can make a real impact.

Ask twenty people their definition of the study of human behavior and youre likely to get as many different answers. Some consider it a soft skill on par with observation and intuition. Others would define it as an academic pursuit akin to anthropology and sociology. Still others would equate it with psychology and human motivations. The fascinating part of human behavior studies is that it incorporates all of these aspects and more.

Anyone engaged in the study and practice of human behavioral sciences can expect to be involved in a field touching many areas of the applied and social sciences. Professionals and students can expect to work one-on-one with individuals and in complex group situations. They have the option to work in settings ranging from offices to nonprofits to educational institutions. The professions associated with human behavior studies are growing and opportunities abound.

What is the study of human behavior? This diverse field involves the research and practical application of how individuals interact and work with one another, and how groups operate. Strongly rooted in psychology and sociology, studies of human behavior give us an academic understanding of motivations, productivity, and how teams work. In turn, these insights can help make workplaces or any group setting more productive.

Professor Charles Tatum of the Department of Psychology at National University has spent his career in the fields of cognitive psychology and industrial and organizational psychology. He sees human behavior as deeply rooted in biology, experience, and culture. Understanding these motivations and influences, he feels, is key to developing systems that can positively impact productivity and success in workplace and group settings.

Were deeply influenced by both biology and environment, he explains. Its the interaction of the two. Two people with similar characteristics will end up very differently depending on where they grow up. Look at temperament; thats a biological factor. Someone with a low frustration point may find themselves doing poorly in school and end up turning to crime. That same temperament, in another environment, might have a totally different outcome. If channeled into sports, for instance, it can even be beneficial.

The influence of environment becomes even more profound when looking at differences across cultures and societies. The norms associated with child rearing, ethics, and religion all add layers of complexity to the study of human behavior. In many societies, the advent of the internet, digital technologies, and mobile devices are changing the landscape of human behaviors.

Dr. Tatum feels that smartphones and the constant need to post or respond to messages have led to more people being distracted. People think they can effectively multitask. Just look at people checking phones in their cars. But research shows that people lose effectiveness when constantly multitasking. The internet has helped us gain access to any information needed but, ironically, made us less productive.

Human behavior-related fields have branched into several distinct areas based on populations served and outcomes. Often, those pursuing study in this field will be trained as a psychologist. However, while the field of psychology is typically associated with clinical counseling, studies of human behavior expand beyond individual treatment into areas of applied research, ethics, sexuality, and adult development. Students pursuing a masters-level program related to human behavior studies will be immersed in a broad range of topics, taking classes in personal and professional ethics, personal growth and communication, organizational behaviors, behavioral change theory, leadership, behavioral research, and many others. The goal of covering such a range of subjects related to human behavior is a well-rounded education covering aspects of individual and group dynamics. Training and education vary by specialty.

Human behavior studies are applicable to many career opportunities including academia, community service, human resources and employee assistance programs, government, philanthropic work and probation, and parole officers to name just a few.

Salaries will vary widely depending on location and in the career field you choose to apply your skills. As one example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the job outlook for human resources managers to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026. According to the BLS, the median wage for HR managers stood at $110,120 in 2017. In California, which has one of the highest levels of employment in this occupation, the median wage was $139,860.

The BLS projects the job outlook for probation officers to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026. These professionals had a median wage of $51,410 nationally in 2017, while the median wage in the state of California, another top employer in this profession, stood at $84,870.

National University offers both an on-campus and online degree program related to the study of human behavior.

The Master of Arts in Human Behavior is designed for students to acquire greater knowledge of the behavioral sciences and theories of human behavior. The degree coursework explores a wide array of behavioral topics covering personal, social, and organizational issues. The program is intended for students who have specific ambitions in the fields of supervision, management, and administration, but will also benefit students undergoing life transitions, seeking personal or career growth or requiring preparation for doctoral-level training. You can learn more about National Universitys Master of Arts in Human Behavior on our program page.

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What Is the Study of Human Behavior? | National University

Human Behavior

Insurance Office of America Partners with Gallaher Edge to Transform Company Culture Through the Science of Human Behavior – StreetInsider.com

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Human Behavior

Birx warns of "broad surge" across the country, as Trump claims U.S. is "rounding the turn" – CBS News

Dr. Deborah Birx warned the nation's governors on Friday of a "broad surge" of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country as the weather cools, contradicting President Trump's claim that the U.S. is "rounding the turn."

Birx, the White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, said on a call that nearly one-third of the nation is in a COVID-19 hot spot, and things aren't getting any better as people turn to indoor activities.

"This is a broad surge across every state where it is cooling," Birx said in audio of the call obtained by CBS News. "... We're learning from the far north about how dramatic that spread can be, and we do not see yet improvements in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin."

The pandemic will only plateau if "every single person in your states" takes wearing masks, social distancing and hygiene seriously, Birx said, according to audio of the call. She told governors that people must decrease indoor gatherings with family and friends. The goal is to "form a bridge of human behavior change over the next few weeks," she said.

On the call, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the U.S. should know in December whether we have a safe and effective vaccine, likely from either Moderna or Pfizer. Doses of the vaccine are already prepared "so we can hit the ground running" if the determination is made to grant one of the vaccines an emergency use authorization. That will allow for distribution at the end of December and early January to those who get priority.

"We should know sometime in December whether or not we have a safe and effective vaccine, or more than one vaccine," Fauci said.

More than 9 million people have now contracted COVID-19 in the U.S., and over 229,000 have died.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has been flouting his own task force's guidelines, holding rallies with thousands of people and scoffing at Minnesota's 250-person limit for a rally on Friday. Mr. Trump's language on COVID-19 has become, if anything, less cautious after he won his battle against the virus with the aid of the country's best medical treatment. On Friday, he called Fox News host Laura Ingraham "politically correct" for wearing a mask.

Even as the pandemic rages across the country, the White House's Coronavirus Task Force has become less visible and less active. "Nothing of substance" is happening with the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, but the president doesn't want to deal with the bad press of disbanding the group, so it continues, even if only symbolically, according to a source familiar with the situation. The task force now only meets once a week.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows acknowledged Sunday what everyone on the task force already knew the Trump administration is "not going to control the pandemic," he told CNN's "State of the Union."

The source familiar with the situation said there is significant concern that Dr. Scott Atlas is telling Mr. Trump what he wants to hear that Americans can reopen the country and simply protect people in nursing homes, when in fact 30% to 40% of the overall population is vulnerable to severe consequences of infection because of age and underlying conditions.

This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar ran the Coronavirus Task Force meeting because Vice President Mike Pence, whose inner circle has been infected with COVID-19, was on the campaign trail. Pence declined to quarantine even though the people around him who were infected constituted "close contacts" under the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Most members of the task force are participating in meetings virtually these days.

Pence hasn't been on a task force call with governors in over a month, and the calls with governors are no longer happening every week, as they were earlier in the pandemic.

The source familiar said Atlas joins meetings occasionally, but he has not been talking much during the meetings. Birx has been on the road, but she calls into most meetings. She's been traveling the country to work with localities and spread the message of masks, social distancing and personal hygiene.

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Birx warns of "broad surge" across the country, as Trump claims U.S. is "rounding the turn" - CBS News

Human Behavior

MasterClass Announces Class on the Power of Persuasion – WFMZ Allentown

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best across a wide range of subjects, announced that human behavior expert and #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink will teach a class on sales and persuasion. In his class, Pink will dispel the outdated notion of the pushy salesperson and instead show how selling and persuading are essential skills for everyone in today's worldwhether they're an employee asking their boss for a raise or a parent persuading their child to clean their room. Pink's class is available now exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 90+ instructors with an annual membership.

"Daniel has an incredible knack for taking complex concepts and making them practical and engaging," said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. "In his MasterClass, he uses years of scientific study and research to change the way we think about sales and persuasion and teach members how these skills can be used to achieve better outcomes in any situation."

Pink is the author of four New York Times bestsellers including Drive, When, A Whole New Mind and To Sell Is Human. His provocative books share wisdom on human behavior, business and creativity and have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. In addition to his successful career as an author, Pink was host and co-executive producer of the National Geographic TV series Crowd Control, which used behavioral science principles and design to explore and explain human nature. Prior to starting his solo career, Pink held multiple positions in politics, including serving as the chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore.

"We're all in the business of selling and persuading, and you want to learn how to do it well," Pink said. "In my MasterClass, I will show you how to communicate effectively and cultivate a meaningful connection because when it's done right, successful selling and persuasion makes the other person's life better and makes the world better."

In his MasterClass, Pink will reframe how members think about sales and persuasion, showing the applicability of these essential skills in everyday life, from persuading your child to influencing a group of people. His belief is that the world has changed dramatically in recent years, but our understanding of sales and persuasion has not changed with it. Using tactics grounded in years of research and scientific study, Pink will teach members a human approach to sales, showing the importance of operating with morality and authentic connection to achieve better outcomes. Demonstrating his techniques for the first time ever, he will show members how to persuade by finding common ground and using cognitive biases to their advantage. Building off that foundation, he will outline new sales skills such as attuning yourself to others to create a connection, framing your message to get people to act and becoming self-motivated. Members will also learn a variety of ways to pitch ideas, products and themselves and bounce back from rejection. Members will leave the class inspired not only to use these techniques in their professional lives, but to see the power of these tactics in their everyday personal interactions.

Embed & view the trailer here:https://youtu.be/My7hjBp4wH0

Download stills here:https://brandfolder.com/s/99bvwtgzmkhrv3jvxqhwkxjtCredit: Courtesy of MasterClass

ABOUT MASTERCLASS:Launched in 2015, MasterClass is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best. With an annual membership, subscribers get unlimited access to 90+ instructors and classes across a wide range of subjects, including Arts & Entertainment, Business, Design & Style, Sports & Gaming, Writing and more. Step into Anna Wintour's office, Ron Finley's garden and Neil Gaiman's writing retreat. Get inspired by RuPaul, perfect your pitch with Shonda Rhimes and discover your inner negotiator with Chris Voss. Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. You can learn on your own termsin bite-size pieces or in a single binge. Cinematic visuals and close-up, hands-on demonstrations make you feel like you're one-on-one with the instructors, while the downloadable workbooks help reinforce your learning. Stream thousands of lessons anywhere, anytime, on mobile, tablet, desktop, Apple TV, AndroidTV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku players and devices.

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Media Contacts:Alyssa Bergerson, MasterClasspress@masterclass.com

Emily Maroon, R&C/PMKemily.maroon@rogersandcowanpmk.com

Daniel Coffey, R&C/PMKdaniel.coffey@rogersandcowanpmk.com

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MasterClass Announces Class on the Power of Persuasion - WFMZ Allentown