Genetics

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Announces Initiation of “CALYPSO” to Study the Role of Genetic Variation in COVID-19 Infections in Collaboration With University…

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) today announced the initiation of the CALYPSO program to study the role that human genetic variations play in SARS-CoV-2 ("COVID-19") infection and disease progression. As a part of the CALYPSO program, Vanda will collaborate with University of Washington School of Medicine and its Virology Lab on a pharmacogenetics study in patients with COVID-19. The study will focus on the sequencing of the genome of individual patients, as well as the COVID-19 virus, and the identification of genetic factors that correlate with disease progression and outcomes.

In support of this study, Vanda and UW Medicine plan to collect Whole-Genome Sequencing ("WGS") data from over 1,000 patients with COVID-19 infection, and perform Viral Genome Sequencing, which should enable Vanda and the UW Medicine Virology Lab to explore host susceptibility, associations of WGS with clinical outcomes and severity of disease, as well as host-virus interactions. The study is scheduled to begin enrollment in the coming weeks and will be open to patients in hospitals and clinics around the United States.

"We look forward to the advancement of our program and the opportunity to work with and leverage the expertise of UW Medicine to expand our understanding of the COVID-19 infection mechanism," said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanda.

"The study has the potential to provide new insights into virushost interactions that could lead to more effective public health strategies and the design and development of vaccines and therapeutics," said Sandra P. Smieszek, Ph.D., Head of Genetics at Vanda. "With the vast amount of data we expect to collect, the team will aim to discern the factors associated with severity and other critical, clinical characteristics of the infected individuals."

"By leveraging our sequencing expertise and capabilities in collaboration with Vanda, we will be able to provide the necessary insight for potentially life-saving solutions for patients," said Alex Greninger M.D., Ph.D., M.S., M.Phil., Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine, Assistant Director, Virology Division at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "We believe this collaboration will help answer critical questions and hopefully outcomes in the fight against COVID-19."

"We are grateful to collaborate with Vanda as we try to find better ways to care for people currently suffering from COVID-19, and as we develop plans for the next phase of the national response," said Keith R. Jerome, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Virology Division at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "The approach of combining host and viral genomics to identify the most promising treatments may serve as a model for future efforts around the world. This unique agreement positions UW Medicine and Vanda for potentially changing the course of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"This is the type of collaboration we need to bring solutions to patients suffering in this time of crisis," said Dr. Greninger. "We look forward to getting this important work underway."

About Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Vanda is a leading global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies to address high unmet medical needs and improve the lives of patients. For more on Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., please visit http://www.vandapharma.com and follow us on Vanda's Twitter and LinkedIn.

About UW Virology

The UW Virology is one of nine divisions comprising the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The UW Medicine Virology Clinical Laboratories perform diagnostic testing for a full range of human pathogens including respiratory viruses, herpes group viruses, HIV, hepatitis, and enteric viruses, and was one of the earliest providers of COVID-19 testing. The Division provides the highest quality patient care and serves as a model of excellence for clinical laboratories across the nation. Its UW Virology Lab is also recognized as a worldwide leader in virology research. UW Medicine Virology's research programs integrate the latest in computational, laboratory, and clinical research methods to advance the understanding of infectious diseases. Many past and current faculty members in the Virology Division have received prestigious awards recognizing their scientific achievements.

Vanda Contact:

AJ Jones IIChief Corporate Affairs and Communications OfficerVanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.202-734-3400

pr@vandapharma.com

UW Medicine Contact:

Susan GreggDirector, Media Relations 206-616-6730

sghanson@uw.edu

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Various statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" under the securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the design, enrollment and anticipated findings of the CALYPSO program, the promotion of more effective public health strategies and the design and development of vaccines and therapeutics. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Vanda's forward-looking statements include, among others: Vanda's ability to enroll patients for, and successfully conduct, the study described in this press release; the ability of Vanda, either alone or with its partners, to process the data collected and subsequently develop effective vaccines or therapeutics; the ability to obtain FDA approval of any such vaccines or therapeutics; and other factors that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Vanda's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which is on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Additional factors may be set forth in those sections of Vanda's annual report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020, to be filed with the SEC in the second quarter of 2020. In addition to the risks described above and in Vanda's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Vanda's results. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Vanda will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Vanda. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved. All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Vanda or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Vanda cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Vanda makes or that are made on its behalf. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Vanda undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Genetics

UAE scientists uncover genetic make-up of Covid-19 – The National

Scientists in Dubai have uncovered the genetic blueprint of Covid-19, as part of a global effort to understand the virus and develop lifesaving treatments.

Researchers at the Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) completed the first full genome sequencing of the virus to have taken place in the country, after analysing samples taken from a patient in Dubai.

Scientists in other parts of the world have carried out similar work and it is hoped, that by comparing genome sequences from different places, experts will develop an understanding of how the virus mutates and spreads from person to person.

The genetic work will also be invaluable in developing treatments and a vaccine, experts believe.

Scientific research is a critical resource to inform strategies and actions against this virus

Amer Sharif, Mohammed bin Rashid University

Different strains of the virus might behave differently, and this information can also help us put together a picture of how it spreads in the community and throughout the world, Ahmad Abou Tayoun, associate professor of genetics at MBRU, told The National.

We can identify the most prevalent strains and those which require the most surveillance.

Dr Tayoun, who is also director of the Genomics Centre at Al Jalila Childrens hospital in Dubai, said the work could prove especially important in the UAE, given its position as a global travel hub.

In the UAE, we are a meeting point between east and west, so there are multiple different entry points," he said.

"Different viruses have already been sequenced in China, the US and Europe, so it will be interesting to see where we fit in this globally. Do we have just one strain, or all of them?

This work can also help us later on in developing vaccines and making them as effective as possible.

A Civil Defence officer disinfects the streets of Mussaffah using a swivel-mounted high-pressure jet. All photos by Victor Besa / The National

The operation serves two purposes: ensuring traces of the virus, whether on vehicles and dropped masks or gloves, are sterilised, and physically keeping people at home

A police officer asks a resident, who is just out of shot, to go home

Every night for weeks vehicles have sprayed the country with chemicals that kill germs

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence personnel gather for a photo at the start of the night

Crews work all night to cover ground in some of the city's most densely populated areas

Captain Mohammed Al Ahbabi of Abu Dhabi Police speaks to a camera crew from Al Roeya, The National's Arabic-language sister newspaper

Captain Mohammed Al Ahbabi directs a colleague during a sweep of the streets

Civil Defence form the backbone of the street operations

A police officer in a white suit hands out a face mask and gloves to a resident who had none, just before the 8pm curfew begins

The country's leaders have praised public servants for their work around the clock to tackle the virus

The research is important as the genetic blueprint of a virus subtly changes as it mutates.

UK and German researchers have already completed early work on the evolutionary paths of the virus, and have found three distinct "variants" of Covid-19.

The specific strain found in the Dubai patient was most similar to one commonly associated with Illinois, USA, the researchers found.

However, sequencing is to be carried out on virus samples from 240 other patients in the UAE, who became infected at different times in the pandemic, to build a fuller understanding of the situation.

Scientific research is a critical resource to inform strategies and actions against this virus, Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor of MBRU and head of Dubais Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, said.

We are fortunate to have academic institutions that can join other sectors in Dubai in the fight against Covid-19.

Genome sequencing has increasingly become an important tool for studying disease outbreaks.

The genome of the virus causing Covid-19 consists of 30,000 genetic letters.

Understanding which strain of the virus patients have can help scientists understand how it spreads as, for example, a group of patients found with identical strains are likely to be part of the same cluster.

The work is particularly important as the Covid-19 virus is believed to have originated in animals, and has only recently begun infecting humans.

Scientists believe the virus may still be adapting as part of its shift to infecting people and interacting with human immune systems.

Viruses will accumulate mutations which allow them, for example, to evade immune responses.

"If there is variability in key parts of the virus, it would be incredibly important for vaccine design," Paul Klenerman, a professor at the University of Oxford, recently told the BBC.

In separate studies, the genetics of different people are also being examined to see if this could explain why some coronavirus patients develop no or minor symptoms after becoming infected, while others become critically unwell or die.

In the UAE, the genome research will also look at whether different strains of the disease are more deadly.

This development highlights the critical role of science and the scientific community in enhancing our capacity to fight emerging diseases, said Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, MBRUs provost and a scientific adviser to Dubai authorities.

We will also collect information on the severity of disease in our patients which can help us understand if different strains of the virus are associated with different levels of disease severity.

Updated: April 16, 2020 02:12 AM

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UAE scientists uncover genetic make-up of Covid-19 - The National

Genetics

Model warns of genetic modification gone awry in trees – Futurity: Research News

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You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license.

A new model aims to predict genetic changes that have unintended consequences in trees that researchers genetically modify.

It could pave the way for more efficient research in the fields of both genetic modification and forestry.

Researchers want to genetically modify trees for a variety of applications, from biofuels to paper production. They also want to steer clear of modifications to one gene that result in unexpected changes to other genes.

The research at issue focuses on lignin, a complex material found in trees that helps to give trees their structure. It is, in effect, what makes wood feel like wood.

Whether you want to use wood as a biofuel source or to create pulp and paper products, there is a desire to modify the chemical structure of lignin by manipulating lignin-specific genes, resulting in lignin that is easier to break down, says corresponding author Cranos Williams, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Carolina State University. However, you dont want to make changes to a trees genome that compromise its ability to grow or thrive.

The researchers focused on a tree called Populus trichocarpa, which is a widely used model organismmeaning that scientists who study genetics and tree biology spend a lot of time studying P. trichocarpa.

Previous research generated models that predict how independent changes to the expression of lignin genes impacted lignin characteristics, says Megan Matthews, first author of the paper, a former PhD student at NC State, and a current postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois.

These models, however, do not account for cross-regulatory influences between the genes. So, when we modify a targeted gene, the existing models do not accurately predict the changes we see in how non-targeted genes are being expressed. Not capturing these changes in expression of non-targeted genes hinders our ability to develop accurate gene-modification strategies, increasing the possibility of unintended outcomes in lignin and wood traits.

To address this challenge, we developed a model that was able to predict the direct and indirect changes across all of the lignin genes, capturing the effects of multiple types of regulation. This allows us to predict how the expression of the non-targeted genes is impacted, as well as the expression of the targeted genes, Matthews says.

Another of the key merits of this work, versus other models of gene regulation, is that previous models only looked at how the RNA is impacted when genes are modified, Matthews says. Those models assume the proteins will be impacted in the same way, but thats not always the case. Our model is able to capture some of the changes to proteins that arent seen in the RNA, or vice versa.

This model could be incorporated into larger, multi-scale models, providing a computational tool for exploring new approaches to genetically modifying tree species to improve lignin traits for use in a variety of industry sectors.

In other words, by changing one gene, researchers can accidentally mess things up with other genes, creating trees that arent what they want. The new model can help researchers figure out how to avoid that.

The paper appears in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. Support for the work came from the National Science Foundation and a National Physical Science Consortium Graduate Fellowship.

Source: NC State

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Model warns of genetic modification gone awry in trees - Futurity: Research News

Genetics

Coronavirus: Genetic research and Covid-19 – Stuff.co.nz

Supplied

So what can Covid-19 remind us about grapevine genetics? The most obvious thing is risk.

OPINION: People tend to think of evolution as something that only happened in the past.

Say the word evolution, and it sparks images of our knuckle-dragging ancestors learning to walk upright and, eventually, to slouch over a computer.

With a wave of stories in recent days about Covid-19 virus mutations and a race for a vaccine -think again about evolution.

It's the continuous churn of diversity and competition that is central to life on our planet, and what we are seeing right now with Covid-19 is evolution in action.

This is no cause for alarm or panic, nor is it news for the global science community. Rather, it's a reminder that life's blueprints are constantly changing, whether humans can see it or not.

So with reports coming from all corners of the world about the growing number of virus strains as it incorrectly replicates its own RNA it begs a question. If a virus can do this, what else can? The answer is every living thing from grapevines to humans.

Supplied

With our wine industry based on millions of copies of just a few individual clones, any biosecurity risk could be potentially catastrophic.

It's the reason the DNA in your left hand is slightly different to your right hand. Whenever new cells are formed, DNA must be replicated and, sometimes, there are errors.

This is why, for example, red grapes occasionally appear on a Sauvignon Blanc vine the DNA sequence has naturally changed as cells divide and the vine grows.

Genetic changes in grapevines -in their natural environment -is what I investigate at Bragato Research Institute as part of our Grapevine Improvement Programme.

It's also the basis behind our new website called Odd Vine (oddvine.co.nz), where anyone can submit a photo of odd vines in their vineyards. In New Zealand, every grapevine clone we have is because someone noticed something odd growing in a vineyard and collected it.

So what can Covid-19 remind us about grapevine genetics? First, is about risk.

Covid researchers are now looking at the DNA of infected people to investigate why the virus attacks some individuals severely while other people are asymptomatic.

More than other nations, the New Zealand wine industry is based on millions of copies of just a few individual clones. Think about the risk this could pose in the wake of a challenge, such as climate change or a biosecurity risk, for example.

Supplied

The DNA of all living things constantly changes, and understanding this in relationship to other things will be key.

Secondly, the Covid-19 pandemic should remind us that genetics needs ongoing attention -and funding -even when we are not in a time of crisis.

There are two factors that influence how a vine grows and produces fruit: its genetics and its environment. As an industry, we spend a lot of time and money on the latter -irrigating, pruning, spraying and fertilising.

We'll even hire helicopters just to change the micro-environment for a few hours.In stark contrast, we have propagated the same clones for decades, almost all of which were selected for their performance in overseas climates. This practice puts the brakes on the natural genetic cycles of selection adaptation in our vines.

The Bragato Research Institute is driving the work to identify and provide vines with improved traits and resilience, enabling the protection and growth of the New Zealand wine industry for future generations.

While no-one expects grapevines or the Covid-19 virus to evolve beyond recognition in our lifetimes, I can guarantee one thing. The DNA of all living things will continue to change, whether or not humans can see it, benefit from it or are inconvenienced by it.

* Dr Lizamore is the Principal Scientist for Grapevine Improvement for the Blenheim-based Bragato Research Institute (bri.co.nz). He holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Genomics from Lincoln University, spending the past decade studying plant genetics, DNA sequencing and what -in the natural environment - causes grapevines to evolve.

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Coronavirus: Genetic research and Covid-19 - Stuff.co.nz

Genetics

Premier Tech Growers and Consumers and Purplefarm Genetics Announce an Exclusive Strategic R&D Partnership – StreetInsider.com

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Genetics

Article on COVID-19 in Iceland in New England Journal of Medicine – Iceland Monitor

An article on the spread of the novel coronavirus in Iceland was published by the The New England Journal of Medicine yesterday. The authors are scientist at deCode Genetics and their colleagues at the Directorate of Health and at Landsptali National University Hospital, mbl.is reports.

At the website of deCode, the aim of the study is explained:

The aim of the study was to provide as comprehensive a view as possible of how the virus spreads in a population, in this case one of 360,000 and implementing early and aggressive testing, tracking and isolation measures to contain the epidemic.

The results show that roughly 0.8 percent of the population at large is infected with several strains or clades of the virus supporting the concern that silent carriers spread the disease.

This suggests that while the efforts of the public health system have been effective so far in mitigating the spread to date, more data, including massive population screening, will be key to informing efforts to contain the virus in Iceland in the long run.

In attempting to carefully map the molecular epidemiology of COVID-19 in Iceland we hope to provide the entire world with data to use in the collective global effort to curb the spread of the disease, Kri Stefnsson, CEO of deCode Genetics is quoted as saying.

Kri states that widespread screening (ten percent of the nation has already been tested for the virus) and measures taken by the Directorate of Health to slow the spread of the virus give a good example of how this dangerous pandemic can be fought.

General screening in Iceland by deCode began March 13, where anyone who wanted could sign up for screening. By March 31, 10,797 individuals had been tested, 87 of whom tested positive for the virus. Subsequently, 2,283 peoople, randomly chosen, were tested, with a similar result.

After that, a sequence analysis of 643 positive tests was done, showing that the first cases originated in Italy and Austria, but later on, transmissions were traced to other countries.

Currently, 291 mutations of the virus have been found in the country that have not been identified elsewhere, according to decode.com.

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Article on COVID-19 in Iceland in New England Journal of Medicine - Iceland Monitor

Human Behavior

What Is Human Behavior? Theories, Definition, And Types …

By Gabrielle Benitez

Updated September 27, 2019

Reviewer Lauren Guilbeault

Humanbehaviorisaninherentlycomplexsubjectmatterwhichpertainstothemannerandreasonsbehindpeople'sactions.Ofcourse,therearecountlesstheoriesassociatedwithhumanbehaviorandvarioustypesofconduct.Understandinghumanbehaviorisveryimportantinsociety;theknowledgeshedslightonpatterns,thereasonspeoplemakecertaindecisions,andmuchmore.Ofcourse,themoreoneunderstandsabouthumanbehavior,thebettertheycanpositionthemselvesandcomprehendhowotherssee,interpret,andadapttotheirvariousenvironments.

Source:pixabay

Oftheoriesabouthumanbehavior,oneofthemostprevalentonesofallisthatofconditioning.Conditioningoccurswhensomeoneisgroomedintobehavinginacertainmanner.Therearetwomaintypesofconditioning,anddifferentpeoplemaybemoreimpactedbyoneformovertheother.Ofcourse,conditioninghumanbeingstobehaveinacertainwaycanhavepromptethicalormoraldebates,especiallywhensomeoneisconditionedtoactinamannerwhichfailstosuittheirbestinterests.Then,othersmaintainthathumanbeingsareallinherentlyprogrammedtobehaveinonewayoranother.

ClassicalConditioning

Classicalconditioningoccurswhensomeonecomestoassociatespecificstimuliwithvariousoutcomes.Inturn,thismannerofconditioningoftenencouragespeopletobehaveinwayswhichwillbringthemjoyandpleasure.Forinstance,ifsomeonefindsthattheytendtodowellwhentheyfollowtheirinstinctsasopposedtofollowingtherules,theyarelikeliertobeanonconformistandtakerisks.Classicalconditioningdoesnotalwayshavetooccurfromtheactionsormanipulationsofaspecificindividual.Sometimes,thistypeofconditioninghappensfromsocietyorfromtheenvironmentinwhichsomeoneisroutinelyexposedto.

OperantConditioning

Quitesimply,operantconditioningcontrolshumanbehaviorviapositiveandnegativereinforcement.Apersonwhofindsthemselvesconstantlyintroublewiththelawwhentheybreakcertainrulestypicallylearnstoassociaterule-breakingwithlegalissues.Likewise,anindividualwhoregularlystudiesforexamsandacesthemcomestoassociatestudyingwithpositivegrades.Whenitcomestohumanbehavior,peopletendtosteerclearofwhatcausesthempainandgravitatetowardspleasureandpersonalsatisfaction.Thesearesomeofhowconditioning,bothclassicalandoperant,istheorizedtoimpacthumanbehavior.

Cognition

Intherealmofhumanbehavior,cognitionisaveryprevalenttheorywhichmaintainsthathumanbehaviorisdeterminedbyanindividual'sthoughts,innerjudgment,personalmotivations,etc.Thisparticulartheoryplacesgreatemphasisonpeople'sinternalstatesandmaintainsthatwhatapersonisfeeling,thinking,orbattlingwilleventuallyimpactthebehaviorwhichtheworldsees.Ofcourse,cognitivetheorieswhichpertaintohumanbehaviorareheavilysupportedbymentalhealthstudies,psychologicalstudies,andmore.Muchofwhatexistswithinthetangible,externalworldtodayoriginallyexistedwithinanindividual'smind.

Manytheoriesofhumanbehaviorarewidelyusedandacceptedintoday'sworld.Understandingthesetheoriesmakesadifference,butsodoesunderstandingthetypesofhumanbehaviorandthefactorswhichdrivethem.Asauniquespecies,humanbeingswillcollectivelyandindividuallyfallintodifferentorevenmultiplecategories.Certainpeoplemaybeinclinedinonedirection,whereasothersaredrivenbysomethingelseentirely.Nevertheless,thefollowinginformationisrequiredtounderstandwhathumanbehavioristrue.

Personality-Based

Source:pixabay

Howpeoplebehaveislargelyimpactedbytheirpersonality.Someindividualsmaybepatientandeasygoing,whileothersareimpatientandhot-headed.Inmostcases,youcannottellsomeone'spersonalityrightoffthebat.Usually,ittakestimetogettoknowthem,interactwiththem,andtrulygetafeelforwhatyou'redealingwith.Somepersonalitiesarefriendlierthanothers,andthereareaseriesoffactorswhichcanshapeoraltersomeone'spersonality.Culture,environment,thepeercaninfluenceanindividual'spersonality,andsomuchmore.

Interest-Based

Aperson'slevelofinterestsignificantlyplaysaroleintheirhumanbehavior.Interestcandeterminewhetherornotsomeonebehavesinawaywhichisnotconsistentwithwhotheyare.Furthermore,interestoftendetermineswhetherornotsomeonetakesrisksorpursuesagoal.Moreoftenthannot,whensomeoneisinterestedinapersonorsubject,theyaremorelikelytodevoteattentionthaniftheywerenotinterested.Gaugingaperson'sinterestinsomethingcanbeaverygreatwayofpredictingortheorizingforthcominghumanbehavior.

Attitude-Based

Likepersonalityandinterest,individualattitudealsodeeplyaffectshumanbehavior.Attitudescanberightorwrong,byone'sdevelopmentorbyoutsideinfluence.Nevertheless,thereisnodenyingthataperson'sattitudedeterminesthechoicestheymake,thewaytheyinteractwithothers,andtheirgeneralhumanbehaviorinanutshell.Apositiveattitudecanmakesomeonemoreopenandreceptivetoacertainpersonorsituation.Likewise,anegativeattitudetendstocauseindividualstoavoidorshutoutwhattheyviewdisfavorably.

Emotion-Based

Emotionsaredeeplyrelevantwhenitpertainstohumanbehavior.Somanyactionsanddecisionsinlifeareemotionallycharged,evenwhenpeopledon'trealizethisonthesurface.Apositiveemotionalstatecancausesomeonetobeopen-minded,morelikelytotakerisks,andotherwiseengageincertainbehaviors.Likewise,anegativeemotionalstatecanleadtodestruction,isolation,oraperson'sdecisiontowithdraw.Virtuallyallmannersofhumanbehaviorcanbetracedbacktoemotionsofsomesort,evenifadditionalfactorsareinvolved.

Amorethoroughcomprehensionofhumanbehaviorhaspositivelycontributedtosocietyonsomanylevels.Thisisanundeniablefact,andyet,inspiteofthedefinition,theories,andtypesofhumanbehavior,self-controlisstillverymuchrelevant.Howyoubehavealwaysmakesadifferencebecausewhenit'sallsaidanddone,youareaccountableforyouractions.Behavingwellandcontrollingyourselfisveryeasywheneverythingisgoingwell,andyourbackisn'tagainstthewall.However,behaviorinthefaceofstress,worries,andchallengesisoftenwhatturnsouttobethemostdefining.

Source:pixabay

Self-controlmattersbecauseitdetermineswhetherornotyoustaygroundedeveninthefaceofadversityortoughtimes.Someonewholacksself-controlwillhaveasignificantlyhardertimestayingoutoftroublethansomeonewhoknowshowtomanagethemselves.Exercisingself-controldoesn'tmeanthatyouwillneverfeelangry.Itdoesn'tmeanthatyourpersonality,interestlevels,andattitudeswon'tcomeintoplay;however,whenyouhaveself-control,youcanmanagethesefactorsinsteadofallowingthemtomanageyou.

Consequences,whetherpositiveornegative,areinevitablefactorswhenitcomestohumanbehavior.Thechoicesyoumakeandhowyouchoosetobehavedeterminewhetherornotyouexperiencedesirableorundesirableoutcomes.Self-controliswhatallowsyoutomanageyourbehaviorandavoidnegativeconsequenceswhichyoudon'twanttobeexposedto.Therearecountlesssituationswherepeoplehavelookedbackandeitherwishedthey'dexercisedbetterself-controlorfeltthankfulthattheydidexerciseself-control.

Ifyoufindyourselfstrugglingwithmanagingyourbehavior,thenthiscouldverywellbeasignofadeeperissuewhichneedstobeaddressed.Evenwhensomeoneisfeelingfrustratedorundertheweather,therestilltendstobeadegreeofself-control,whichallowsthemtomanagethechoicestheymakeandhowtheyinteractwithothers.

Issueswithpersonalhumanbehaviorcouldbeindicativeofunresolvedissuesorpasttrauma.Sometimes,peoplefindthemselvesonnegativedownwardsspiralswhentheyhaven'tdealtwithveryimportantissueswhichhavethepowertoimpacttheirlife.Unresolvedtraumacanimpactsomeone'spersonality,levelsofinterest,attitude,emotionalstate,andsomuchmore.It'snothingtomessaroundwith,andtheworstpartisthatmanyindividualsarenotconsciouslyawarewhentheseadverseimpactsarehappening.Alltheycanseeisthesymptomsoftheproblem,hencetheinabilitytomanagetheirbehavior.

Ifthisissomethingwhichresonateswithyou,thensigningupforonlinetherapywithBetterHelpcantrulychangeyourlifeforthebetter.Onlinetherapycomeswithmultiplebenefits;firstandforemost,you'llhaveaccesstoatherapistregardlessofwhoyouareorwhereyoulive.Secondly,you'llhavethesupportsystemandprofessionalguidance,whichcanprovideinsightintoyoursituation.Finally,byworkingwithatherapist,youopenyourselfuptonotonlylearningmoreaboutyourselfasanindividualbutalsounderstandingimportantdetailswhichimpactthequalityofyourlife.

Source:pixabay

Regardlessofwhoyouareorwhatyoumaybegoingthrough,youdeserveaccesstothebestcarepossible,andyoudeservetheopportunitytomaketherestofyourlifethebestofyourlife.

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What Is Human Behavior? Theories, Definition, And Types ...

Human Behavior

In Predicting COVID-19’s Behavior, We Forgot To Consider Our Own – American Council on Science and Health

The other day, Tyler Cowen, an economist, was discussing the differences in economic and epidemiologic models. One factor that economists frequently consider is termed elasticity. A simple example, the fundamental economic belief that supply and demand (as measured by price) are inversely related - as supply increases, the price diminishes, and as the supply decreases, the price increases. We need to look no further than price-gouging for N95 masks or toilet paper during the days of COVID-19 as an example. But economists take this fundamental relationship one step further recognizing that for some, the price of toilet paper is more elastic, they are willing to spend more than others, or they may be less elastic, unwilling to pay a cent more. (Perhaps they have a bidet.)

Epidemiologic models do not take elasticity, and we can call it by its more common name, human behavior, into account. The math of epidemics, for the most part, involves variables that act upon one another, but not with one another. That may well explain some of the discrepancies in the pandemic models. For example, based on the biologic behavior of infections, higher population density increases the opportunity and, therefore, the propensity for the disease to spread for any given R0.

Consider the outbreak of COVID-19 in Westchester County, just north of NYC. It was one of the first hotspots identified. Track and trace concluded that one or two individuals meeting in population-dense gatherings were responsible for the subsequent outbreak. You can blame that on culture or lack of knowledge, but it was our behavior that impacted the rate of infectivity.

In the real world, population density is impacted by the elasticity of human behavior in this instance, the rapid adoption of social distancing. If you look at the behavioral response of countries acknowledged for quickly flattening the curve with social distancing and track and trace, Hong Kong, and Singapore are the usual suspects, their response was different than ours. In part, because they had already been primed by a close call experience with SARS. It is not that the virus had different infectivity or biologic behavior in those countries; it is because of their human response, unaccounted for in the epidemiologic models, altered the outcome significantly.

A return to social mingling

Given this understanding, it is a logical conclusion that human behavior will be the unmeasured variable in the models constructed for a return to normal. The most straightforward example offered by the media, are the cultural memes among Western countries, emphasizing the individual over the collective concerning societal good and privacy concerns. Singapore is believed, in some monotonic way, to be all in on digital track and trace. But the data shows that Singapores human response is varied, withonly 20%of a reasonably regimented population downloading the necessary app.

More to the point. Ask yourself these questions.

No matter what model policymakers use in finding a way to end social distancing, our behavior will be difficult to predict and will make the assumptions and predictions of those models inaccurate and unreliable. Models contain simplifying assumptions that rarely hold in the real world; our human response is probably the least predictable and makes all models useful, but all models wrong.

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In Predicting COVID-19's Behavior, We Forgot To Consider Our Own - American Council on Science and Health

Human Behavior

How will reduced activity affect air quality and the environment? – The Hub at Johns Hopkins

BySaralyn Cruickshank

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has sent millions of people around the world indoors as they seek to limit their exposure to the highly contagious virus. Those behavioral changes and containment efforts, mandatory in some places, have had a dramatic and sudden effect on the planet, as well.

Seismologists studying planetary movement have reported less ambient seismic noisethe daily rumbles and vibrations of mass human transitand Belgian scientists have observed the Earth's crust moving less. Widely shared satellite imagery shows fewer cars on the road in China as a result of lockdown orders, prompting speculation about a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide show dramatic decreases of the dangerous gas over China and Italy.

Environmentally speaking, the Earth has become a very different place since COVID-19 began to spread. But are these changes to human behavior likely to have a lasting, meaningful impact? Will they slow the effects of climate change? For help understanding these and other questions, the Hub reached out to Peter DeCarlo, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins.

In the U.S., we classically focus on PM 2.5 and Ozone. PM 2.5 is particulate matter that's smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter. For reference, your hair is about 80-100 microns in diameter, so we're talking about things that are pretty small. Those are the two kinds of pollutants that we focus on and are the ones that are most detrimental to health. Of those two, particulate matter is the one that is responsible for more deaths annually, but both are bad for health and both are things we try to avoid breathing.

These pollutants occur in all parts of the world. We hear about it in the news as occurring in Asia. India and China certainly have air quality problems. But we've also recognized that places like Africa have a lot of problems, although there hasn't been the same amount of monitoring that we have in other areas. There are people who are working actively to try and get more information on that, but the preliminary data that's out there suggests that this is a significant problem in Africa.

Coverage of how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting operations at JHU and how Hopkins experts and scientists are responding to the outbreak

We've been working on air quality issues in the U.S. for a very long time. The Clean Air Act started in 1970 and put us on the modern path. So we've essentially had 50 years of effort in trying to improve air quality in the U.S. and we've done a fairly good jobit has improved consistently over time. Particulate matter levels are down. Ozone levels are down. But there still can be problems, especially in urban areas where we have the highest concentrations of these pollutants because we have the most activity, the most people, the most cars, and the most industry in these urban areas.

I don't think we can attribute that to social distancing exclusively. Meteorological aspects are important to consider here too. Bottom line, we know there are fewer emissions, so the air that we're breathing outside is going to be cleaner than it would otherwise be. In China and Italy, the two places that were hit the hardest by the virus early on, they also shut down industrial areas. And so we've been seeing decreases in NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) there from the satellite measurements. When you shut down the industrial centers that generate a lot of that type of pollutant, you'll see drops in those concentrations pretty quickly.

In the U.S., where social distancing and stay-at-home measures are becoming more common, we've certainly seen fewer cars on the road, meaning fewer emissions from cars and lower concentrations of traffic-related pollutants than we'd otherwise see. Looking at PM 2.5 data from the February through April period from 2014 to 2020, we're seeing really low concentrations of pollutants, but they're not concentrations we haven't seen previously. Pollutant concentrations are strongly governed by meteorologyhow winds move things around, how sunny it is, and if it's raining or not raining.

But one other thing to consider: I don't know if you've been outside or if you've walked around at all. I have two little kids, and I cannot keep them inside all day. We do a couple laps around our neighborhood on scootersappropriately socially distancing for everyonebut I have been smelling an awful lot of wood smoke when I go outside. And that is not good for air quality. I can understand people are home, they're cooped up and they probably want to light a fire, but that's something that's going to be detrimental to our overall air quality.

So, certainly with fewer cars on the road, we're seeing improvement from decreased emissions, but if more people are lighting fires in their home to pass the time, then that's going to offset some of those gains.

Well, we've been talking about air quality, and climate change is a slightly different issue. Carbon dioxide is not classically considered an air pollutant, but it's one of the main drivers for climate change. With fewer cars on the road, there will be fewer emissions of CO2 from traffic, similar to their being fewer emissions of particulate matter. Compared to our normal lives, we'll have lower CO2 emissions while we're all working from home and basically not driving very often. And that's good for the short term. But how that translates into future gains is kind of an open question. A one- or two-month drop in emissions, for something that has a 100-year lifetime in the atmosphere, is probably not going to change things all that much.

Instead, it gives us a window into what we could potentially do to mitigate climate change going forward. You know, with everyone working from home right now, are companies going to be more open to work-from-home policies moving forward? Maybe this situation inspires us to develop better policies for working from home in the future, which would mean less commuting, less traffic. Or maybe people want to bike more after this experience. You don't know what kind of behaviors are going to come from this experience.

Of course, I have a hard time saying air pollution reductions are a silver lining of the pandemic. I'd like to have us learn from our collective experience ways to improve air quality without the context of a global pandemic and all the issues associated with that.

First and foremost, everyone should listen to the advice of health professionals. But I can also share a few tips about what I'm trying to do to limit my own exposure, informed by what I know about particles and the way they move in the air. I think the most important thing is to limit your exposure to potential carriers by minimizing the time spent in shared indoor environments. If you think about an indoor space, you're in air that's trappedit's not blowing with the wind. So if you're sharing an indoor space such as the grocery store with someone who is a carrier and may be asymptomatic, they're adding virus to the air in that environment continuously.

Even if you are 6 feet away from a person outdoors and you walk past them, they're not continually adding to the air that you're breathing. And even in a city, there's plenty of space and there's a lot more dilution going on outdoors than there is indoors. These stay-at-home orders are important, but for me with two little children at home, we need to get outside every day so they can burn off some energy.

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How will reduced activity affect air quality and the environment? - The Hub at Johns Hopkins

Human Behavior

Vice President of the ENMU Student Association of Social Workers Discusses Volunteering and Career Goals – ENMU News

In February, Cece Torres, Hope Evans, Connor Sparks, Jordyn Peralta and Alyssa Martinez attended a Presidents Ambassadors Conference in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Jordyn Peralta, a senior at Eastern New Mexico University, chose to become a social work major because she has "always had a passion for helping people. Social work touches many people's lives, and I am humbled by the idea of being a part of the process that helps people become the best versions of themselves."

Upon graduating this December, Jordyn plans to pursue a master's degree in social work to open up doors in her future career. Her goal is to work the foster care system of child protective services and open peoples' eyes to the positive impact social workers have in their communities.

"It is no secret that social workers are not always seen as the good guys," she shares. "In my career, I ultimately want to change this reputation for the better. Getting even a few people to trust in social workers again would bring hope to the profession.

Jordyn is working toward her dreams at ENMU. She serves as the vice president of the Student Association of Social Workers (SASW), which focuses on fundraising, advocacy, volunteering and educational opportunities on campus and in the community. This includes visits to the Baptist Children's Home, the Christian Children's Home and the Retirement Ranch, as well as collaborating with other student organizations, like Voice of Educators, the Wildlife and Fisheries Club and the Spirit Squad. "SASW is a very focused group of social workers who are hoping to bring positive change to the world," she says.

The Greyhound has been a President's Ambassador for two years. "I absolutely love the opportunity to meet with prospective students, talk to them about ENMU and be a part of their college experience," she explains.

Jordyn has had many mentors at Eastern: "One person that has believed in me and encouraged me from early on is Diana Cordova, director of Multicultural Affairs. She has always jumped at the opportunity to support me, and I am so grateful for her. Tyleen Caffrey, a social work professor, has been my mentor throughout the program. I have taken all of her classes and continue to grow from her guidance and love for the profession. Jacquelyn Campbell, the coordinator of Recruiting Events in the Office of Enrollment Services, has helped me grow as a leader, and I am grateful to have learned from her professionalism and grace."

The five-time dean's list honoree's favorite spot on the ENMU campus is the Golden Student Success Center because it gives her the opportunity to "study with friends, take advantage of the resources offered and meet and collaborate with new people, all while enjoying a warm cup of coffee."

The class that has stood out to her the most was Human Behavior in the Social Environment. "This course is the foundation course for social work; it covers theory and human behavior in settings of bio-psycho-social, cultural, spiritual and political influence," she describes.

Her advice to Future Greyhounds interested in pursuing a career in social work is to "become an active member in your community. Find the gaps in service and be the person who advocates for the change. Social work is all about being of service to others, advocating for others and, most importantly, connecting people with the services they need."

Discussing her own Eastern Experience, Jordyn shares that she loves being a Greyhound because the campus is "full of opportunity. Everywhere you look, Eastern offers an abundance of opportunities to get involved, receive help and succeed. The friendliness of the campus, combined with the small class sizes, ensures that you will see and interact with familiar faces, along with meeting new people and creating friendships."

She chose to attend ENMU because of the campus community and the University's focus on student success. "The atmosphere is so positive, and there is always something to get involved with," she shares.

Jordyn was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and moved to Los Lunas, New Mexico, when she was 10. She graduated from Valencia High School in 2017. Her younger sister, Ashlyn, is a freshman at ENMU and is a member of the Spirit Squad.

Jordyn's hobbies include going to concerts, spending time with friends and taking care of her dogs, Tuxedo and Bowtie.

2019/2020 Student Association of Social Workers Officers: Stuart Dietz, Jordyn Peralta, Rachael Elbus and Jasiah Ruiz.

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Vice President of the ENMU Student Association of Social Workers Discusses Volunteering and Career Goals - ENMU News