Tag Archives: environment

Honestly Nigel, theres never a minute! This was a heartfelt comment from a senior learning leader a month or so ago when I happened to bump into her at an event. She was describing not just the challenges, but also the incredible excitement she was feeling, because her role in the organisation had shifted from the periphery to centre stage.

Perhaps for the first time, lots of people were listening to her and seeking her advice, and, above all, senior executives were investing willingly in the development of their staff.

This is genuinely exciting if you are a learning leader. Who would not want to have the whole organisation finally understand the direct business benefit of investing in staff? To play a part in keeping the whole organisation more agile, engaged and able to cope with the challenges of the present, as well as building resilience for the future was, indeed, a privilege.

There is something very powerful about being engaged, and working at the centre of what is driving an organisation. And because most people want to succeed and fulfil the promise and the trust that has been invested in them, they do not rest. Each day becomes a hive of activity and decision making.

I now want to pour a little cold water on that scenario. I worry about this frantic drive to do stuff! What we have known for at least 30 years is that taking stock is vitally important if we want to remain effective and relevant.

This idea is reinforced on a regular basis by new neuroscience research. Reflection is good for the brain and good for the individual. The truth is that the very elements of my colleagues success in that exciting present presages the potential failure of her strategy in the near future.

The plaudits she is getting now can easily turn into brickbats, when what she expects to happen, does not occur. Or where expensive investments that she engineered did not deliver the benefits promised or the hoped for increases in productivity. Before you get caught up in a whirlwind of activity please pay attention to these three simple points.

If you are not actually taking the time to look at what you are doing in a critical way, you run the danger of making assumptions that do not work, or work for a little bit and then fail.

In the 1990s Donald Schon published a very important book called The Reflective Practitioner. In this book he argued that the age of the expert, who knew everything about a topic, had come to an end. The environment was too complex for expertise gathered in the past to be wholly relevant in the present. Does that sound familiar?

Schon was arguing for a different kind of practitioner to reflect the modern age. This person spent more time enquiring, asking questions, and exploring and validating his or her domain than telling people what to do or providing ready-made solutions.

A critical part of this was the ability to reflect, not only looking backwards on the action that had taken place, but also to reflect in action.

This was about having the wherewithal to change an approach because the circumstances or the context had changed. He likened this process to the difference between standing on a hill and surveying everything from far off, where it all looks neat and logical, and moving down from the hill into the swampy lands below where its hard to make your way, and hard to see exactly the direction to take.

The point is that it is in the swampy lands below where your organisation lives. We do not work day to day in an abstract theoretical way. We have to make pragmatic decisions.

Some people have disagreed with Schons stark distinction between reflecting on action and reflecting in action. But the point is, if you are not actually taking the time to look at what you are doing in a critical way, you run the danger of making assumptions that do not work, or work for a little bit and then fail.

Neuroscience has taught us what most of us pragmatically know to be true: that the brain only learns when we stop for a second to process information.

After the Vietnam war, the US military changed the whole philosophy of leadership in the field, for very good reasons. And, out of that, emerged something called the after action review, which would even take place in the middle of a combat zone.

The review looked at every activity and engaged a simple process to review what worked, what did not work, and what could have been done better. This was all logged, and action was taken in light of the review. These reports were widely circulated, to not just the group involved, but to anybody who could benefit.

How many people in learning sit down quietly and conduct regular after action reviews? This can be about a relationship with a supplier, a relationship with an executive, or the implementation of some kind of programme. If the results are shared, the whole team learns and gets better and better. They all adapt and adjust as the environment changes.

Neuroscience has taught us what most of us pragmatically know to be true: that the brain only learns when we stop for a second to process information, and pause from cramming more and more information into our heads.

An example of this process is a doctoral program I have been involved with at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Over the years since inception we have systematically cut back the amount of content, in favour of reflection and discussion. Integrating the learning with various techniques for reflection and discussion has now become a core part of the programme. Even walk/talks are now embedded in the learning model.

This will NOT happen by itself. Immediate pressures will overwhelm the best of intentions. You have to take active steps to create some space in your life and your work to turn this into a habit.

Here are some ways to start this process:

Build slowly. Start with 15 mins per day. If you can do that consistently for two weeks, you will start to build a habit. Once the habit is established you will be able to find extra time to complete this task. If you have not established the habit, you will only sporadically achieve the space to reflect, and then it will become more and more sporadic and eventually you will return back to where you started. Pick a time when you can shut off. Develop a nagging voice in your head, and then listen to it.

Have a structure. Maybe just three questions to answer about what more information you need; what went well, and what went badly; what have you learned this week? And then decide with whom you will share these insights.

Write down your conclusions even if you do not act on them immediately. Keep them separate in a notebook or a file so you can go back later to review and prioritise. And guard the insights as bright ideas that will emerge. They will be gold dust at the right moment.

Share your actions and build support for reflection across your whole team. Once you have worked out how to do it, make it a team habit, and a team process. The learning is multiplied many times over as is your impact and effectiveness. It will also strengthen the team and share their learning.

Do not give up. Work on it, find space and embed the process. It is at the heart of agility and resilience.

Cell Biology

Mina Bissell Awarded International Prize for Her Contributions to Cancer Research – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

April 1, 2020 medical

Mina J. Bissell. (Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)

Mina Bissell, distinguished senior scientist at the Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), is one of five recipients of the 2020 Canada Gairdner International Award an annual honor given to scientists who have contributed to transformative human health research.

Bissell was recognized for helping to shift the paradigm in the understanding of cancer by showing that both malignant and normal cells are engaged in a continuous, two-way interaction with their microenvironment within the body. Her pioneering work on this phenomenon, called dynamic reciprocity, revealed that tumor cells grown in culture or otherwise isolated in a lab do not behave the same way they would in a patient.

First proposed almost 40 years ago, Bissells model has since been thoroughly established in cell and cancer biology. According to the Gairdner Foundation, the implications of dynamic reciprocity have permeated every area of cell and cancer biology. Her findings have had profound implications for cancer therapy by demonstrating that tumor cells can be influenced by their environment and are not just the product of their genetic mutations. For example, cells from the mammary glands grown in 2D tissue cultures rapidly lose their identity, but once placed in proper 3D microenvironments, they regain mammary form and function. This work presages the current excitement about generation of 3D tissue organoids and demonstrates Dr. Bissells creative and innovative approach to science.

The Gairdner Foundation was established by businessman and philanthropist James A. Gairdner in 1957, with the goal of recognizing and supporting scientists whose seminal discoveries and major scientific contributions constitute an original and significant achievement in biomedical science. Since then, 387 scientists from 35 countries have received the award. Of these, 92 have gone on to win Nobel Prizes. Past Gairdner International Award recipients include Jennifer Doudna (of UC Berkeley) and Emmanuelle Charpentier, whose collaboration led to the discovery of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system; James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA; Elizabeth Blackburn, who described the function of telomeres and co-discovered telomerase; Anthony Fauci, the current head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Stanley Prusiner, a neurologist who discovered the cause of prion diseases.

In addition to the recent recognition, Bissell has also received theAmerican Philosophical Societys Jonathan E. Rhoads Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Medicine, the 2019 Weizmann Women & Science Award, the American Cancer Societys Medal of Honor, the U.S. Department of Defenses First Innovator Award in Breast Cancer, the American Society of Cell Biologys Wilson Medal, and was the inaugural recipient of the Berkeley Lab Lifetime Achievement Prize, among many others. She has been elected to the American Philosophical Society, National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Bissell received a Ph.D. in bacterial genetics from Harvard University in 1969, after which she received fellowships to conduct postdoctoral work at the Department of Virology and Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley. In 1972, she was recruited as a staff biochemist at Berkeley Lab and given the opportunity to lead her own team focused on cancer biology. During her time at Berkeley Lab, she served as the founding Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology Division and the Associate Laboratory Director of Life Sciences (which then included the Human Genome Program). When she stepped down from this role in 2001, she was given the rank of distinguished senior scientist, the highest academic rank at the Lab. Bissell also currently serves as faculty at four graduate groups at UC Berkeley.

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Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest scientific challenges are best addressed by teams,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratoryand its scientists have been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes. Today, Berkeley Lab researchers develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions, create useful new materials, advance the frontiers of computing, and probe the mysteries of life, matter, and the universe. Scientists from around the world rely on the Labs facilities for their own discovery science. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory, managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science.

DOEs Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visitenergy.gov/science.

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Mina Bissell Awarded International Prize for Her Contributions to Cancer Research - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Cell Biology

2020 Canada Gairdner Awards Recognize World-renowned Scientists for Transformative Contributions to Research That Impact Human Health – Benzinga

March 31, 2020 medical

TORONTO, March 31, 2020 /CNW/ - The Gairdner Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 Canada Gairdner Award laureates, recognizing some of the world's most significant biomedical research and discoveries. During these challenging times, we believe it is important to celebrate scientists and innovators from around the world and commend them for their tireless efforts to conduct research that impacts human health.

2020 Canada Gairdner International AwardThe five 2020 Canada Gairdner International Award laureates are recognized for seminal discoveries or contributions to biomedical science:

Dr. Masatoshi TakeichiSenior Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan; Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Dr. Rolf KemlerEmeritus Member and Director, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany

Awarded "For their discovery, characterization and biology of cadherins and associated proteins in animal cell adhesion and signalling."

Dr. Takeichi

The Work: The animal body is made up of numerous cells. Dr. Takeichi was investigatinghow animal cells stick together to form tissues and organs, and identified a key protein which he named 'cadherin'.Cadherin is present on the surface of a cell and binds to the same cadherin protein on the surface of another cell through like-like interaction, thereby binding the cells together. Without cadherin, cell to cell adhesion becomes weakened and leads to the disorganization of tissues. Dr. Takeichi found that there are multiple kinds of cadherin within the body, each of which are made by different cell types, such as epithelial and neuronal cells. Cells with the same cadherins tend to cluster together, explaining the mechanism of how different cells are sorted out and organized to form functional organs.

Further studies by Dr. Takeichi's group showed that cadherin function is supported by a number of cytoplasmic proteins, includingcatenins, and their cooperation is essential for shaping of tissues. His studies also revealed that the cadherin-dependent adhesion mechanism is involved in synaptic connections between neurons, which are important for brain wiring.

Dr. Kemler

The Work: Dr. Kemler, using an immunological approach, developed antibodies directed against surface antigens of early mouse embryos. These antibodies were shown to prevent compaction of the mouse embryo and interfered with subsequent development. Both Dr. Kemler and Dr. Takeichi went on to clone and sequence the gene encoding E-cadherin and demonstrate that it was governing homophilic cell adhesion.

Dr. Kemler also discovered the other proteins that interact with the cadherins, especially the catenins, to generate the machinery involved in animal cell-to-cell adhesion. This provided the first evidence of their importance in normal development and diseases such as cancer. It has been discovered that cadherins and catenins are correlated to the formation and growth of some cancers and how tumors continue to grow. Beta catenin is linked to cell adhesion through interaction with cadherins but is also a key component of the Wnt signalling pathway that is involved in normal development and cancer. There are approximately 100 types of cadherins, known as the cadherin superfamily.

Dr. Takeichi

The Impact: The discovery of cadherins, which are found in all multicellular animalspecies, has allowed us to interpret how multicellular systems are generated and regulated. Loss of cadherin function has been implicated as the cause of certain cancers, as well as in invasiveness of many cancers. Mutations in special types of cadherin result in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy and hearing loss. The knowledge of cadherin function is expected to contribute to the development of effective treatments against such diseases.

Dr. Kemler

The Impact: Human tumors are often of epithelial origin. Given the role of E-cadherin for the integrity of an epithelial cell layer, the protein can be considered as a suppressor of tumor growth. The research on the cadherin superfamily has had great impact on fields as diverse as developmental biology, cell biology, oncology, immunology and neuroscience. Mutations in cadherins/catenins are frequently found in tumors. Various screens are being used to identify small molecules that might restore cell adhesion as a potential cancer therapy.

Dr. Roel NusseProfessor & Chair, Department of Developmental Biology; Member, Institute for StemCell Biology andRegenerativeMedicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine.Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research. Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Awarded"For pioneering work on the Wnt signaling pathway and its importance in development, cancer and stem cells"

The Work: Dr. Nusse's research has elucidated the mechanism and role of Wnt signaling, one of the most important signaling systems in development. There is now abundant evidence that Wnt signaling is active in cancer and in control of proliferation versus differentiation of adult stem cells, making the Wnt pathway one of the paradigms for the fundamental connections between normal development and cancer.

Among Dr. Nusse's contributions is the original discovery of the first Wnt gene (together with Harold Varmus) as an oncogene in mouse breast cancer. Afterwards Dr. Nusse identified the Drosophila Wnt homolog as a key developmental gene, Wingless. This led to the general realization of the remarkable links between normal development and cancer, now one of the main themes in cancer research. Using Drosophila genetics, he established the function of beta-catenin as a mediator of Wnt signaling and the Frizzleds as Wnt receptors (with Jeremy Nathans), thereby establishing core elements of what is now called the Wnt pathway. A major later accomplishment of his group was the first successful purification of active Wnt proteins, showing that they are lipid-modified and act as stem cell growth factors.

The Impact: Wnt signaling is implicated in the growth of human embryos and the maintenance of tissues. Consequently, elucidating the Wnt pathway is leading to deeper insights into degenerative diseases and the development of new therapeutics. The widespread role of Wnt signaling in cancer is significant for the treatment of the disease as well. Isolating active Wnt proteins has led to the use of Wnts by researchers world-wide as stem cell growth factors and the expansion of stem cells into organ-like structures (organoids).

Dr. Mina J. Bissell Distinguished Senior Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Faculty; Graduate Groups in Comparative Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Molecular Toxicology and Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

Awarded "For characterizing "Dynamic Reciprocity" and the significant role that extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling and microenvironment play in gene regulation in normal and malignant cells, revolutionizing the fields of oncology and tissue homeostasis."

The Work: Dr. Mina Bissell's career has been driven by challenging established paradigms in cellular and developmental biology. Through her research, Dr. Bissell showed that tissue architecture plays a dominant role in determining cell and tissue phenotype and proposed the model of 'dynamic reciprocity' (DR) between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and chromatin within the cell nucleus. Dynamic reciprocity refers to the ongoing, bidirectional interaction between cells and their microenvironment. She demonstrated that the ECM could regulate gene expression just as gene expression could regulate ECM, and that these two phenomena could occur concurrently in normal or diseased tissue.

She also developed 3D culture systems to study the interaction of the microenvironment and tissue organization and growth, using the mammary gland as a model.

The Impact:Dr. Bissell's model of dynamic reciprocity has been proven and thoroughly established since its proposal three decades ago and the implications have permeated every area of cell and cancer biology, with significant implications for current and future therapies. Dr. Bissell's work has generated a fundamental and translationally crucial paradigm shift in our understanding of both normal and malignant tissues.

Her findings have had profound implications for cancer therapy by demonstrating that tumor cells can be influenced by their environment and are not just the product of their genetic mutations. For example, cells from the mammary glands grown in two-dimensional tissue cultures rapidly lose their identity, but once placed in proper three-dimensional microenvironments, they regain mammary form and function. This work presages the current excitement about generation of 3D tissue organoids and demonstrates Dr. Bissell's creative and innovative approach to science.

Dr. Elaine FuchsHoward Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor and Head of the Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Cell Biology; The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

Awarded"For her studies elucidating the role of tissue stem cells in homeostasis, wound repair, inflammation and cancer."

The Work: Dr. Fuchs has used skin to study how the tissues of our body are able to replace dying cells and repair wounds. The skin must replenish itself constantly to protect against dehydration and harmful microbes. In her research, Fuchs showed that this is accomplished by a resident population of adult stem cells that continually generates a shell of indestructible cells that cover our body surface.

In her early research, Fuchs identified the proteins---keratinsthat produce the iron framework of the skin's building blocks, and showed that mutations in keratins are responsible for a group of blistering diseases in humans. In her later work, Fuchs identified the signals that prompt skin stem cells to make tissue and when to stop. In studying these processes, Fuchs learned that cancers hijack the fundamental mechanisms that tissue stem cells use to repair wounds. Her team pursued this parallel and isolated and characterized the malignant stem cells that are responsible for propagating a type of cancer called "squamous cell carcinoma." In her most recent work, she showed that these cells can be resistant to chemotherapies and immunotherapies and lead to tumor relapse.

The Impact: All tissues of our body must be able to replace dying cells and repair local wounds. Skin is particularly adept at performing these tasks. The identification and characterization of the resident skin stem cells that make and replenish the epidermis, sweat glands and hair provide important insights into this fountain of youth process and hold promise for regenerative medicine and aging. In normal tissues, the self-renewing ability of stem cells to proliferate is held in check by local inhibitory signals coming from the stem cells' neighbours. In injury, stimulatory signals mobilize the stem cells to proliferate and repair the wound. In aging, these normal balancing cues are tipped in favour of quiescence. In inflammatory disorders, stem cells become hyperactivated. In cancers, the wound mechanisms to mobilize stem cells are hijacked, leading to uncontrolled tissue growth. Understanding the basic mechanisms controlling stem cells in their native tissue is providing new strategies for searching out refractory tumor cells in cancer and for restoring normalcy in inflammatory conditions.

2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health AwardThe 2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award laureate is recognized for outstanding achievements in global health research:

Professor Salim S. Abdool KarimDirector of CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa), the CAPRISA Professor in Global Health at Columbia University, New York and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Professor Quarraisha Abdool KarimAssociate Scientific Director of CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York and Professor in Public Health at the Nelson Mandela Medical School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (African Health) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Awarded"For their discovery that antiretrovirals prevent sexual transmission of HIV, which laid the foundations for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the HIV prevention strategy that is contributing to the reduction of HIV infection in Africa and around the world."

The Work: UNAIDS estimates that 37 million people were living with HIV and 1.8 million people acquired HIV in 2017. In Africa, which has over two thirds of all people with HIV, adolescent girls and young women have the highest rates of new HIV infections. ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, and use Condoms) prevention messages have had little impact - due to gender power imbalances, young women are often unable to successfully negotiate condom use, insist on mutual monogamy, or convince their male partners to have an HIV test.

In responding to this crisis, Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim started investigating new HIV prevention technologies for women about 30 years ago. After two unsuccessful decades, their perseverance paid off when they provided proof-of-concept that antiretrovirals prevent sexually acquired HIV infection in women. Their ground-breaking CAPRISA 004 trial showed that tenofovir gel prevents both HIV infection and genital herpes. The finding was ranked inthe "Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2010" by the journal, Science. The finding was heralded by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in AIDS and provided the first evidence for what is today known as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The Abdool Karims have also elucidated the evolving nature of the HIV epidemic in Africa, characterising the key social, behavioural and biological risk factors responsible for the disproportionately high HIV burden in young women. Their identification of the "Cycle of HIV Transmission", where teenage girls acquire HIV from men about 10 years older on average, has shaped UNAIDS policies on HIV prevention in Africa.

The impact: CAPRISA 004 and several clinical trials of oral tenofovir led tothe WHO recommending a daily tenofovir-containing pill for PrEP as a standard HIV prevention tool for all those at high risk a few years later. Several African countries are among the 68 countries across all continents that are currently making PrEP available for HIV prevention. The research undertaken in Africa by this South African couple has played a key role in shaping the local and global response to the HIV epidemic.

2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman AwardThe 2020 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award laureate is a Canadian scientist recognized for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science throughout their career:

Dr. Guy Rouleau Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro); Professor & Chair of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University; Director of the Department of Neuroscience, McGill University Health Center

Awarded "For identifying and elucidating the genetic architecture of neurological and psychiatric diseases, including ALS, autism and schizophrenia, and his leadership in the field of Open Science."

The Work: Dr. Rouleau has identified over 20 genetic risk factors predisposing to a range of brain disorders, both neurological and psychiatric, involving either neurodevelopmental processes or degenerative events. He has defined a novel disease mechanism for diseases related to repeat expansions that are at play in some of the most severe neurodegenerative conditions. He has significantly contributed to the understanding of the role of de novo variants in autism and schizophrenia. In addition, he has made important advances for various neuropathies, in particular for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) where he was involved in the identification of the most prevalent genetic risk factors -which in turn are now the core of innumerable ALS studies worldwide.

Dr. Rouleau has also played a pioneering role in the practice of Open Science (OS), transforming the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (The Neuro) into the first OS institution in the world. The Neuro now uses OS principles to transform research and careand accelerate the development of new treatments for patients through Open Access, Open Data, Open Biobanking, Open Early Drug Discovery and non-restrictive intellectual property.

The Impact: The identification of genetic risk factors has a number of significant consequences. First, allowing for more accurate genetic counselling, which reduces the burden of disease to affected individuals, parents and society. A revealing case is Andermann syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative condition that was once relatively common in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec. Now this disease has almost disappeared from that population. Second, identifying the causative gene allows the development of treatments. For instance, his earlier work on a form of ALS linked to the superoxide dismutase-1 gene (SOD1) opened up studies which are now the focal point of phase 2 clinical studies showing great promise.

Byactingasalivinglabforthelast coupleofyears,TheNeuroisspearheading the practice of OpenScience (OS).TheNeurois alsoengagingstakeholdersacross Canadawiththegoal of formalizinganational OSallianceforthe neurosciences.Dr.Rouleau'sworkinOScontributesfundamentallytothetransformationoftheveryecosystemofsciencebystimulatingnewthinkingandfosteringcommunitiesofsharing.InspiredbyTheNeuro'svision,theglobalsciencecommunityisreflecting oncurrentresearchconventionsandcollaborativeprojects,andthemomentumforOSisgainingafootholdinorganizationsandinstitutionsinallcornersoftheearth.

About the Gairdner Foundation:

The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 by Toronto stockbroker, James Gairdner to award annual prizes to scientists whose discoveries have had major impact on scientific progress and on human health. Since 1959 when the first awards were granted, 387scientists have received a Canada Gairdner Award and 92 to date have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.The Canada Gairdner Awards promote a stronger culture of research and innovation across the country through our Outreach Programs including lectures and research symposia. The programs bring current and past laureates to a minimum of 15 universities across Canada to speak with faculty, trainees and high school students to inspire the next generation of researchers. Annual research symposia and public lectures are organized across Canada to provide Canadians access to leading science through Gairdner's convening power.

http://www.gairdner.org

SOURCE Gairdner Foundation

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2020 Canada Gairdner Awards Recognize World-renowned Scientists for Transformative Contributions to Research That Impact Human Health - Benzinga

Immunology

Immunology Conferences 2020 | Immunology Conferences …

March 31, 2020 medical

Scientific Sessions

The state in which the immune system of the body becomes prone to Infectious diseases and cancer or becomes incapable of fighting the foreign bodies is termed as immunodeficiency. The two kinds of immunodeficiencies are primary immunodeficiency and secondary immunodeficiency. Secondary immunodeficiency is found to be the most common type of immunodeficiency. Immunodeficiency can be tackled either by proper treatment of the infection or by enhancing the immune system. The causes of immunodeficiency differ with the type of deficiency. Some of the prime reasons are improper sanitation, genetic and malnutrition. Certain immunodeficiencies are lifelong conditions, whereas some induce early mortality.

Related conferences

Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020

Related societies

American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

2. Transplant immunology

Transplantation immunology deals with the replacement of cells, tissues or organs from one part of the body to another or from one individual to another in order to restore damaged or diseased tissues or organs. The transplant can be seen by the immune system as a threat and may get destroyed or attacked by the immune system. If this happens the organ dies in less than half an hour time period as it cannot withstand the immune system outbreak. The donor is carefully analysed and matched in order to avoid any risk of transplant rejection. Immunosuppressants are taken to prevent transplant rejection or to treat the transplant rejection. The drawback of immunosuppressive drugs is that, they may leave the patients with various side effects.

Related conferences

Allergy Vaccines in Immunology Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020); Clinical and Experimental Immunology Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Characterization of Healthcare Data Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Diabetes Research and Management Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020)

Related societies

British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Russian Society for Immunology, European Federation of Immunological Societies, Australasian Society for Immunology, Indian Immunology Society, Korean Society for Immunology

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a diagnostic method that involves either enhancement of the immune system or the hindering of the immune system. Immunotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatment for cancer. Immunotherapies are of two types, activation immunotherapies and suppression immune therapies. Immunotherapies have been proved to treat various kinds of tumours. Immunotherapies used in cancer are mostly biological therapies, that is, they use substances made from living organisms. Checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell transfer, monoclonal antibodies etc are the types of immunotherapy that are used in cancer.

Related conferences

Advances in Cellular Immunology and Allergy Research Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Immunotherapy and Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Latest Developments in Cellular and Molecular Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Medical Immunology Analysis Techniques Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Advancements in Cellular Immunology and Immunotherapy Techniques Conference, Vancouver (Aug 06-07, 2020)

Related societies

Japanese Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, Society for Immunology and Immunopathology, Turku Immunology Centre, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cuban Society for Immunology, Norwegian Society for Immunology

4. Immunology of pregnancy

The immune system of the mother (maternal immune system) plays an important role in the completion of a healthy pregnancy. In complex terms, pregnancy is a multifaceted immunological condition. So, it is important to assess the many immunological processes during this period. A successful pregnancy needs a healthy, active and responsive immune system. The fetal and maternal survival can be directly affected by the immune responses that are associated with them. Pregnancy is also considered as a phase characterized by high risk of bacterial and viral infection. The proper development and functioning of both the placenta and fetus are governed by various cells and molecules of the immune system.

5. Microbiome and epigenetics

In the recent years the fields of human epigenetics and human microbiome research have received significant attention. The ultimate environmental trigger for development is the host-associated microbiome. It has also been proved that the gut microbiome and cancer is linked. Certain microbial species are existing more commonly in cancer tissue than in flanking normal tissue throughout the development of disease, from early cancer growth to metastasisepigenetic processes, because of its spatial site and capability to convert environmental and diet-derived compounds before they reach human cells. The relationship between the gut microbiome and disease associate both the microbiome composition in general and specific microbial species in disease.

6. Microbiology

Microbiology is a branch of science that deals with microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. It also includes essential research on the biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host response to these agents. Microbiology is used to understand about all characteristics of the organisms in order to define how they live in their environment and how they influence their surroundings and thus other organisms around them. Microbiology has proved to be one of the most important specialties in biology, making it possible to identify how some of these organisms cause diseases, find cures for such diseases and even utilize some microbes for industrial uses etc.

7. Neuroimmunology

Neuroimmunology is an integration of neuroscience and immunology. In neuroimmunology the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system is observed at different phases. The contributions of neuroimmunology helps in the discovery of new pharmacological treatments. During infections, activated macrophages and monocytes release pro inflammatory cytokines. These pro inflammatory cytokines affect the behaviour, sleep and mood. The overall body health can be dictated by various interactions between the nervous system and the immune system.

Related conferences

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8. Immunotoxicology

Immunotoxicology can be referred to as the study of the inimical effects on the immune system by direct or indirect agents. These agents can chemical, biological and physical in nature. The immune responses to such agents can lead to adverse effects. It can be of two types. It either involves the toxic effects on the immune system or the mediation of a toxic effect by the immune system. Immune toxicity can be induced by agents like dexamethasone, cyclosporin A, azathioprine, heavy metals and air pollution. It may also result in hypersensitivity and immunosuppression.

Related conferences

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9. Immunodiagnostics

Immunodiagnostics are a group of clinical diagnostics which uses diagnostic techniques that make use of the immune system of the body. It plays a major role in understanding about various diseases in humans. These tests come in different types as they can be performed on serum. The techniques are easy to perform and decipher the diseased state of a person. New immunoassay formats and diagnostics are being introduced daily. Microfluidics is another prominent advancement in immunodiagnostics and have led to the discovery of microfluidic chips and rapid immunoassays.

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10. Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression is the process by which the activity of the immune system is hindered. During organ/tissue transplant, there is a chance of organ/tissue rejection by the immune system of the body. In such cases the patient is asked to take immunosuppressive drugs. Certain parts of the immune system are found to exhibit immunosuppressive effects on other regions of the immune system. Another ill effect of immunosuppressive drugs is that sometimes they leave the patient with various side effects or make them prone to different diseases. The patients undergoing immunosuppression or who takes immunosuppressive drugs are known as immunocompromised.

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11. Cancer immunology

The role played by the immune system during various phases of cancer is referred to as cancer immunology. One of the most common application is the immunotherapy. It also includes cancer immunoediting which is the study of the interaction between the immune system and the cancer cells. The antigens in the tumours are recognised by the immune system and this in turn activates an immune response. The antigens can either be tumour specific antigens or tumour associated antigens. Usually the tumour associated antigens are found in healthy cells but they are also present in the tumour cells as well.

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12. Veterinary immunology

Veterinary immunology is the branch of immunology that deals with the study of all immunological aspects in animals. It is connected to both zoology and veterinary science. Some of the major researches in this field includes development of vaccines, understanding the mechanism of the animal immune system, failure of vaccines and the harmful effects caused by them. Veterinary immunology is gaining its grounds as the number of pets and farm animals are increasing at a very fast rate. It provides numerous benefits to the agricultural field by introducing new immunological techniques as farm animals are prone to various infectious diseases primarily due to the poor sanitation of their surroundings. Specially trained Vets and forest officials are appointed for the treatment of immunological diseases relating to wild animals.

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13. Antigens and antibodies

Antigens are foreign bodies that can create an immune response and are bound by the antibodies. Each antigen is designed in a unique way to match an antigen. Once the body is exposed to an antigen, the B cells in the immune system produces the Y shaped antibodies. The antigen binds to its antibody just the way a key fit in to the lock and the antigen gets removed from the body. The antigens present in vaccinations activate or stimulate the B lymphocytes. After the stimulation, plasma cells are formed which releases the antibody for the disease. There five kinds of antibodies and three kinds of antigens.

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14. Immunopathology

Immunopathology deals with the responses formed by the immune system towards a disease. The pathology of an organism or organ is studied, taking the immunological factors into consideration. It is the destructive effects caused to an organism by its own immune response. The predominant cause for which is the by restless responses of the immune system.

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15. Infections and vaccines

The invasion of a disease-causing agent into a host body and their multiplication and survival in the hosts tissues bring about infections. The diseases caused by these infections are called infectious diseases and they are found to transmit from one individual to the other. Infections are caused by infectious agents that include bacteria, parasites, arthropods, virus, fungi and parasites. Vaccines are used to provide active acquired immunity to a disease and the administration of vaccines is called vaccination. Vaccination is believed to be the most important aspect in prevention of diseases and is one of the safest ways to fifth and prevent various infectious diseases. Childhood vaccinations are generally safe and side effects if present will always be mild. Smallpox was eradicated with the help of vaccines.

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16. Autoimmune diseases and HIV

Autoimmune disease is a condition when the body sees its own tissue as a threat and attacks it. Abnormal immune responses bring about autoimmune diseases. Women are commonly affected by autoimmune diseases than men. The pathological effects of autoimmune diseases include damage of tissues, altered organ growth and changed organ function. HIV is a group of conditions that is caused as a result of the infection by human immunodeficiency virus. HIV/AIDS has affected society, both as a disease and as a source of separation. The vital cells such as T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells are infected by HIV.

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The rest is here:
Immunology Conferences 2020 | Immunology Conferences ...

Neuroscience

How to deal with coronavirus stress and isolation long-term – Fast Company

March 28, 2020 medical

Crammed into the back of a mini-submarine with three other large SEALs, weapons, radios, and packs, you have little space to move, much less find comfort. Its cold, wet, dark, and cramped. Youre never certain how long the trip will take. After an hour or so, seasickness sets in, and the only place to release is in the very mask you breathe from.

After two hours, cramping sets in, but with no room to stretch, you can only absorb the pain and wait for it to pass. After three hours, you start to think you might be going crazy as a glow stick dances around the darkness. After four or five hours, the submarine finally settles on the bottom of the seafloor, a few hundred yards off the coast, and its time to get out. The ride to the office is complete, and the real work begins.

In many ways, nothing has changed. The stress of raising nine-month-old twins, starting a company, and now dealing with the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, is every bit as uncomfortable as what I felt in the back of the SDV (submerged delivery vehicle). Stress on a worldwide scale without a particular end date in sight is unprecedented for those of us alive today. What happens next week, or the week after, or even two months from now is anyones guess. Navigating this challenge is going to require a special mindset.

Navy SEALs have this mindset, but they arent born with it. In fact, a largely unknown paradox of SEAL training is that often the biggest, fastest, and strongest candidates are the first to quit. Similarly, it is not physical prowess or natural ability that will get you through this challenge. Rather, its a set of principles, leveraged by SEALs and available to all, that will help you not only survive but thrive in the weeks and months, perhaps even years, ahead.

My circumstances have changed, but the principles I use to navigate them have not. None of us want to be in the situation we are in now, but we can all apply these principles to thrive.

They work.

These principles are not just military wisdom; theyre backed by contemporary neuroscience.

Being overwhelmed is the consequence of trying to juggle too many mental operations at once, which makes it impossible to design or execute a good action plan. By reducing the set of operations, you relieve the load placed upon your frontal cortex (the region of your brain responsible for planning and action) and reduce the corresponding sense of panic. It isnt about how much you do, but that you do something specific you are certain you can complete. The challenge that once seemed impossible becomes doable by engaging it piece by piece. The smaller the piece, the easier it is to accomplish and the faster your brain gets out of a state of overwhelm, restoring access to the brain circuits responsible for selecting and executing action plans generally.

This is what SEAL candidates do during Hell Week, when they are required to stay awake, cold and wet, for days on end. In its entirety, Hell Week is too much to process. However, those who shorten the week into manageable chunks of time find success. Sometimes this means just focusing on making it through the day, getting to the next meal, or even just lasting for five more minutes.

Focus on one thing you know you can accomplish in 10, or even 5, minutes rather than dwell on what you need to accomplish over the entire day. Even the potentially paralyzing situation of kids at home while you need to work, a spouse or parent who is experiencing anxiety, a loss of income, or any of the other difficulties that people are experiencing now, can be broken down. Whatever the case, attending to and crossing off one small challenge sets you up to define and take on the next.

Powerlessness stems from a lack of perceived control. The molecule dopamine, famous for its role in our sense of pleasure, also enhances our energy levels and sense of possibility. Dopamine is released not just as a reward for a job well done, but also by positive anticipation of rewards and completion of goals. When you freeze, which is your default when you feel a loss of control in a given moment, it impedes dopamine release, which leads to an even greater sense of powerlessness. When you feel powerless, you must, instead, move forward. By taking action, you train your brain to repeatedly release dopamine, enhancing your energy levels and creating an outsized effect on your thinking, mood, and ultimate sense of what you can control.

When SEALs find themselves sensing a loss of control, they default to action, directing their attention toward something within their reach. It can be something little, such as triple-checking equipment before jumping from an aircraft at night or, as Admiral William McRaven (a former head of the Special Operations Command) recently recommended, when youre stuck in the mud, start singing.

Reading the headlines is reason enough to feel powerless, let alone losing a job, being confined to a small apartment, having to work in what may be an unsafe environment, and the list right now goes on and on. To re-engage your internal reward system and regain your sense of possibility, take actions as simple as reading a book to your kids, making a cup of coffee, texting a friend, doing a load of laundry. Then look for the next action step. By doing so, you shift your mindset from one of powerlessness to one of resolve.

Feeling alone stems from the brain spending too much energy taking stock of our inner landscape. Supporting others rebalances the weight of attention we pay to our inner self to the outer world. It also activates hardwired, ancient brain circuits that release feel-good brain chemicals such as oxytocin and serotonin and prevents the release of chemicals that impair immunity and promote fear.

The more stressful the environment, the more SEALs focus on the needs of their team and teammates. Whether theyre cramming into a mini-submarine, carrying a telephone-pole-sized log, or dealing with the death of a teammate, they focus on meeting the needs of others to make the group more effective and reduce the perceived sense of stress any single teammate feels.

Between those who live alone and those who feel alone while social distancing is in effect, we face a time of extreme isolation. From a neurological perspective reaching out to someone in need, whether by phone, text, old-fashioned written mail, or even baking cookies and leaving them at a neighbors door, has the same effect as pulling up a flagging teammate. Helping others doesnt just forge psychological bonds; it forges chemical ones as well. Those chemicals positively change our brains assessment of self and our place in the world.

The reality is that this situation is going to get harder before it gets easier. The principles you lean on now and in the period of time to come can make a tremendous difference in how you experience and emerge from all this. Know that you already have everything you need to be successful. In fact, youre designed to handle moments such as this, no supplements or expensive gadgets required.

Our advice: Move the finish line, take action, and serve others. This is how you will come through this time a better, more resilient you and bring about a better, more resilient world in the process.

Andrew Huberman is a professor of neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Pat Dossett is a former Navy SEAL and cofounder and CEO of Madefor.

Physiology

What Coronavirus Isolation Could Do to Your Mind (and Body) – WIRED

March 26, 2020 medical

By now, you may have noticed a divide among your friends. As social distancing and self-imposed quarantine wear on and more workplaces urge employees to avoid the office, the Covid-19 outbreak has left many people more alone than theyve been in a long time, or ever. Some are responding by hunkering down into cozy domesticity: baking bread, reading books, taking long baths. Others have begun to fray: FaceTiming with friends is a necessity, not a luxury; the closure of a favorite coffee shop is cause for tears; the walls seem to be closing in. Be kind to your local extroverts. Theyre having a hard time.

Still, no matter how hygge youre feeling at this moment, experts suggest that the negative feelings and experiences associated with prolonged isolation will come for us all. Humans are social creaturesyes, all of us. While the coronavirus pandemic is an extreme, largely unprecedented moment, the kind of seclusion thats been eating at people over the last few weeks is not as uncommon an experience as you might imagine. The impacts of social isolation on our bodies and minds have been felt and studied in a variety of different groups, from astronauts to incarcerated people to immunocompromised children to Antarctic researchers to the elderly. The patterns that have emerged from their experiences with radical aloneness illuminate ways to understand and improve your own.

First off, its important to remember that isolation doesnt just numb your brain with boredom. People start getting lethargic when they dont have positive inputs into their small worlds, says John Vincent, a clinical psychologist at the University of Houston. We can expect depression to kick in, and depression and anxiety are kissing cousins. These symptoms are likely to be particularly intense during coronavirus-related isolation, according to Lawrence Palinkas, who researches psychosocial adaptation to extreme environments at the University of Southern California. Oftentimes, if you have a very well defined period of time in which youre isolated people do pretty well up until the halfway point, Palinkas says. Then they experience a let down. But when youre in a situation like we are now, when youre not certain how long youll be asked to maintain social distance, that produces anxiety as well.

When people, like those kept in solitary confinement or scientists working in a remote region, know their sentence is nearly up, their mood lifts again in anticipation. Those practicing social distancing due to Covid-19 may not get that any time soon. Open, transparent, consistent communication is the most important thing governments and organizations can do: Make sure people understand why they are being quarantined first and foremost, how long it is expected to last, says Samantha Brooks, who has studied the psychological impact of quarantine at Kings College London. A huge factor in the negative psychological impact seems to be confusion about what's going on, not having clear guidelines, or getting different messages from different organizations. So far, many governments, including the United States, havent been heeding this advice.

Read all of our coronavirus coverage here.

Perhaps even more concerning is that the psychological strain of loneliness manifests physiologically, too. Harry Taylor, who studies social isolation in older adults, particularly in the black community, says that its one of the worst things that humans can do to their overall well-being, adding that the mortality effect of social isolation is like smoking 15 cigarettes per day. In older people, social isolation seems to exacerbate any preexisting medical conditions, from cardiovascular diseases to Alzheimers, but its ill effects arent limited to those over 60.

Alexander Chouker, a physician researcher who studies stress immunology at the University of Munich, has seen radical changes in the bodies of people participating in simulations of manned spaceflight missions like Mars-500. They were young and trained people not in a condition of real threat, he says. The pure fact of being confined affects the body. If you change your environment in a quite extreme way, it is changing you. Participants, some of whom were only isolated for three months, experienced changes to their sleep, changes to their immune, endocrine, and neurocognitive systems, and alterations to their metabolisms. Being confined and isolated affects the human physiology as a whole, Chouker says.

Does this mean your body will go wonky like an astronaut trapped on fake Mars for over a year? Not necessarily. You probably arent truly socially isolated, at least not to that extreme degree. And even those who study the negative consequences of social isolation still think practicing social distancing is a good idea. Covid-19 is flipping everything on its head, Taylor says. This is the first time since we have been alive that actively practicing social isolation is a method to improve health.

Plus: How can I avoid catching it? Is Covid-19 more deadly than the flu? Our in-house Know-It-Alls answer your questions.

The people who are most at risk from the isolation associated with Covid-19 are the people who are at heightened risk of social isolation in the first place. Among older adults, lower income people and men experience isolation at a different level, says Thomas Cudjoe, a geriatrician researching the intersection of social connections and aging at Johns Hopkins University. (In both cases, Cudjoe says that a lack of time or inclination to develop social ties outside of work creates the disparity between those groups and their female or higher income counterparts.) Taylor points out that anyone who is marginalized is more likely to have a more limited social network, whether they are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a survivor of domestic abuse, or just live in a more isolated rural area.

These people may not have friends or family to call, or may be unable to do so. Some people have posited technology as a means of connecting people, but lower income groups might not even have FaceTime or Skype or minutes on their phone, Cudjoe says. People take that for granted, using their devices can be a strain on peoples incomes. Particularly if Covid-19 has left them out of a job. Minority bodies are going to be hit particularly hard because they often work in service industries, which increases risk for social isolation and loneliness and coronavirus, says Taylor. It could create an economic and social recession.

More:
What Coronavirus Isolation Could Do to Your Mind (and Body) - WIRED

Human Behavior

5 tips from astronauts for thriving in isolation – We Are The Mighty

March 24, 2020 medical

NASA Astronaut and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Anne McClain took to Twitter to share the official training astronauts use for living in confined spaces for long periods of time. Afterall, the International Space Station has been operating for nearly 20 years, giving NASA astronauts and psychologists time to examine human behavior and needs when living and working remotely.

They narrowed the behavior skills down to five general skills called "Expeditionary Behavior," or "EB" because the military just loves a good acronym.

Built from 1998 to 2001, the International Space Station usually holds crews of between three and six people who will spend about six months there at a time, though mission lengths can vary. During that time, the astronauts perform experiments and spacewalks, maintain the space station, conduct media and education events and test out technology.

Also during this time, they are allocated at least two hours a day for exercise and personal care.

According to NASA, the living and working space in the station is larger than a six-bedroom house (and has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window). Still, six months in a space bucket with two to five other people can give some perspective to anyone feeling confined.

This is the "GoodEB" that helps astronauts:

"Share info/feelings freely. Talk about intentions before taking action. Use good terminology. Discuss when your or others' actions were not as expected. Debrief after success or conflict. Listen, then restate message to ensure it's understood. Admit when you're wrong," McClain tweeted.

It's common for humans to have strong emotional responses and act on them before they fully understand them. Honest communication is critical in a confined space or during heightened stress.

"Accept responsibility. Adjust style to environment. Assign tasks, set goals. Lead by example. Give direction, info, feedback, coaching + encouragement. Ensure teammates have resources. Talk when something isn't right. Ask questions. Offer solutions, not just problems," urged McClain.

For anyone confined with family or roommates, it can be an adjustment to share personal space and limited supplies for a prolonged period of time. Shifting to a team dynamic can bring a new perspective to everyone's roles within the home. If you weren't already doing this, now is the time to share the household chores, the cooking, the supply runs, and, for many families, the education responsibilities.

"Realistically assess own strengths and weaknesses, and their influence on the group. Learn from mistakes. Take action to mitigate stress or negativity (don't pass on to the group). Be social. Seek feedback. Balance work, rest, and personal time. Be organized," suggested McClain.

There's a quote I've always liked that says, "Please accept responsibility for the energy you are bringing into this space," and it feels especially relevant now. We must each stay in touch with ourselves so we can identify rising stress and mitigate it with self-care.

Self-care can be anything from calling a friend to a work-out session from YouTube to releasing expectations of perfection and taking the time to enjoy some relaxation with a book or movie.

"Demonstrate patience and respect. Encourage others. Monitor team for signs of stress or fatigue. Encourage participation in team activities. Develop positive relationships. Volunteer for the unpleasant tasks. Offer and accept help. Share the credit; take the blame," said McClain.

"Cooperate rather than compete. Actively cultivate group culture (use each individual's culture to build the whole). Respect roles, responsibilities, and workload. Take accountability, give praise freely. Work to ensure positive team attitude. Keep calm in conflict," suggests McClain.

Parents are learning how to homeschool. Partners are sharing household responsibilities like cooking and cleaning. More people are sick and being cared for by their roommates.

All the while, we are each learning how to restrict our movements while maintaining our health and vitality. The key points throughout NASA's Expeditionary Behaviors are to take care of each other and ourselves by working together.

And just remember, Scott Kelly set the record for most consecutive days in space by an American by living for 340 days during a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station, proving that humans are pretty remarkable when it comes to adapting to our environment!

If you need any advice on thriving from home, here are a few We Are The Mighty articles that can help:

More here:
5 tips from astronauts for thriving in isolation - We Are The Mighty

Human Behavior

Will Warmer Weather Affect the Spread of COVID-19? | Science – Smithsonian

March 20, 2020 medical

COVID-19 is not the flu. But amidst the ongoing pandemic, many people hold out hope that the two diseases have something crucial in common: a seasonality that will loosen the global grip of SARS-CoV-2 as the weather warms.

Many infectious diseases wax and wane with the changing months. Some, like flu, spike when the weather turns cold, while others, like cholera, thrive during warm, rainy summers. Whether such a pattern applies to SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. With spring just barely sprung, scientists havent had the time to suss out SARS-CoV-2s annual scheduleif it sticks to one at all.

Besides, relying on seasonality to curb a pandemic can be a dangerous line of thought, says C. Brandon Ogbunu, a computational epidemiologist at Brown University.

Seasonality has the potential to decrease the rate of infection, he says. But this factor alone wont get the world anywhere close to resolving the outbreak. If I was a betting person all [my money] would be on the impact of human behavior and infrastructure to slow transmission, he adds. Thats where we need to put our emphasis.

The first time a severe infectious disease tears through a new population, its sure to wreak havoc. Without previous exposure, no members of the community are immune, leaving the virus with numerous potential hosts to sustain it for months to come, regardless of the weather forecast.

Columbia University epidemiologist Micaela Martinez compares early outbreaks to a fire igniting in a forest full of kindling. The occasional rainstorm might do a bit to slow the conflagration. But with so many vulnerable trees, a touch of precipitation would be nowhere near enough to snuff out the flames. For the first wave, the seasonality is not as relevant, she says. We cant expect [the virus] to just go away.

Once the current pandemic subsides, however, future infections would propagate amongst a population with a smaller proportion of immune individuals. These likely tamer outbreaks could reveal a seasonal cycle, which Martinez believes is a quality ubiquitous among infectious diseases. In 2018, she set out to catalog these trends and was surprised to find that all of the nearly 70 infections she studied showed some sort of seasonal rise and fall.

Generally speaking, Martinez says, each season comes with a distinct infectious twist: Winter winds bring bouts of pneumonia, flu and other respiratory diseases before the blooms of spring usher in bursts of chickenpox and herpes. The arrival of summer sees spikes in Lyme disease, polio and syphilis before autumn resets the cycle with blips of yellow fever. Other diseases are generalists, favoring any extended period of dryness or rain, especially in and around the tropics where seasonal boundaries blur.

Disentangling the drivers of these patterns is a complex pursuit. Some factors are obvious: Infections caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses that must be ferried from host to host by an insect vector like a mosquito will inevitably ebb and flow with the natural breeding seasons of their buggy chauffeurs. In other cases, the environment can have a direct effect on the pathogen, Ogbunu says. Some virusesincluding influenza and SARS-CoV-2are packaged in a fragile, fatty outer layer called an envelope thats both necessary for infection and sensitive to harsh conditions, including heat and the ultraviolet rays found in sunlight. High humidity can weigh down the infectious, airborne droplets needed to ferry the virus from person to person, preventing the microbes from traveling as far.

To further complicate matters, our bodies feel the effects of weather and climate. Studies in mice have shown that low humidity can compromise the germ-trapping mucus in their airways and impair the production of critical immune molecules, leaving the rodents more vulnerable to flu viruses, explains Laura Yockey, a virologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

And biology doesnt manifest in a vacuum. Disease-transmitting behavior also shifts with the seasons, triggering outbreaks that can even override a pathogens typical itinerary. Children returning to school at the beginning of fall, for example, can prompt an uptick in certain infections like chickenpox. Similarly, people gathering indoors during rainy summer months can spread flu during its off season.

These patterns are so pronounced that they almost form a calendar of pathogens that humans can track and follow, says Elena Naumova, an epidemiologist at Tufts University. I honestly believe by nature, life on our planet is seasonal, she says. Therefore, infections are seasonal, too.

As a respiratory virus with a delicate envelope, SARS-CoV-2 has several traits that might someday reveal a seasonal pattern. Years from now, if or when the pathogen returns to the human population, COVID-19 cases may peak when the weather is consistently cold and dry, before dipping down in summer months. For now, though, Naumova says that passively waiting for the virus to disappear is nonsense.

Seasonalitys influenceor lack thereofon this coronavirus shouldnt inspire feelings of helplessness. Quite the opposite, Naumova says. We cannot control the weather, she says, but we can control how we prepare for that specific weather. The same goes for infectious disease. As such, humans should take charge of the disease driver they know best: their behaviors. As the pandemic continues to evolve, Ogbunu stresses the importance of continuing to drive down risks for transmission. Practicing good hygiene, avoiding crowds and being mindful of our surroundings remain crucialto protect not only ourselves, but also those around us whose wellbeing depends on the actions of their fellow community members.

One of the main drivers of epidemics are contact rates, Martinez says. It can make a huge impact on disease transmission. Just like it can drive epidemics, it can stop them.

Human Behavior

Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | TheHill – The Hill

March 20, 2020 medical

Environmental experts say the planet is getting a breather from the constant output of pollution by humans as the coronavirus puts many activities by individuals and businesses on hold.

Smog levels in China were reduced after factories shuttered during the outbreak there, and satellite images show a significant drop in air pollution in Italy while the country remains in a nationwide lockdown.

Similar declines are soon expected in the U.S., where half of all car trips are to and from work or school.

But while the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt daily routines for months, experts say the drop in heat-trapping emissions, while beneficial, will likely amount to just a blip in trend lines that show the world is moving toward unsustainable levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions.

The damage from CO2 just accumulates, so every ton we don't release is not inflicted on the environment, but if everything goes back to business as usual when this ends, it wont have much of an impact, said David Archer, a professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago.

Experts say emissions are likely to drop this year, continuing a trend already driven by the closure of coal-fired power plants as utilities transition to cleaner forms of energy.

And as schools close and more Americans work from home, the decline in travel is likely to aid the emissions dip.

Vehicle emissions are expected to drop in the U.S. In New York City, traffic congestion was measured at 17 percent this week, compared to 52 percent during the same period in 2019, according to transit data company TomTom.

Air traffic, however, is a more complicated piece of the emissions puzzle.

Airlines have asked the federal government for $50 billion in economic relief amid massive declines in passenger travel as countries close borders, conferences are canceled and family vacations are postponed.

What counts is not the reduction in the number of people flying but the number of airplanes flying. There are a lot of airplanes running half empty, said Michael Gerrard, a professor at the Columbia Law School and director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.

Many airlines are flying with planes that are anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent full, whereas this time last year flights were about 80 percent full, according to information collected by Airline Data Inc.

While planes still account for just a small percentage of global emissions, the airline industry is one of the fastest growing sectors with greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions increased 32 percent between 2013 and 2018.

With more online meetings being held amid the outbreak, some clean energy advocates hope it could lead to a behavioral shift.

Weve seen a rise of fly-in, fly-out business travel, where 30 people come in and out, everyone shakes hands and then leaves almost immediately, said Dan Rutherford, aviation director at the International Council on Clean Transportation.

That's bad for the environment and now people are understanding it's bad for public health, so Im curious if that takes more of a long-term hit.

But data shows that airline traffic, while often taking a hit for about a year after events like 9/11 or the first Gulf War, eventually picks up again.

Similarly, many of the day-to-day human activities that have been put on hold by coronavirus are likely to resume once calls to social distance or shelter in place come to an end.

Are we talking about a short-term decline in emissions? Absolutely. It's not clear to me yet the epidemic will transform our economy to be more energy efficient or change human behavior, said Rob Jackson, an environmental scientist at Stanford University as well as chair of the Global Carbon Project.

Gerrard added that emissions have often gone down during recessions, only to recover alongside the economy.

I think we're talking about blips Im not sure whether theyre small blips or large blips but theres no reason to believe this is affecting overall trends unless it leads to a long-term crash of the global economy, which no one wants, he said of emissions.

There are also fears that an economic downturn might slow progress on some environmental fronts.

Companies ranging from Microsoft to Nestle have previously pledged to reduce their carbon footprint efforts Jackson worries may stall when faced with financial challenges caused by coronavirus.

It may hurt companies ability to keep their commitments; it may give them an excuse not to keep their commitments; it may make the government less likely to push more improvements too, he said.

Those scenarios suggest any long-term improvements to stem climate change are unlikely to come out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Its like were spending money on a credit card that we can't pay back every year, said Archer. If you stop spending for a year but then continue later, it slows down accumulation of the debt, but it doesn't make that much difference in the long run if your spending just bounces back.

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Coronavirus offers reprieve from air pollution | TheHill - The Hill

Physiology

With Temperatures Rising, Can Animals Survive the Heat Stress? – Yale Environment 360

March 20, 2020 medical

In the early 20th century, pioneering naturalist Joseph Grinnell and his team studied the flora and fauna of California, conducting meticulous surveys across large swaths of the state, including the Mojave Desert. They collected 100,000 specimens and took 74,000 pages of field notes, creating an invaluable baseline against which to measure long-term change.

Several years ago, a research team from the Grinnell Resurvey Project at the University of California, Berkeley set out to find how desert birds had fared over the last century. The changes were profound. In a study published last fall, the team found that on average temperatures in the desert had increased 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, making one of the worlds hottest places even hotter.

They also found that nearly a third of the 135 bird species present a century ago are far less common today and not nearly as widespread. The heat stress associated with climate change is the culprit, the study concluded, because desert birds need more water to keep cool, but it is not available.

We often think that climate change may cause a mass mortality event in the future, but this study tells us that the change in climate that has already occurred is too hot and in certain areas, animals cant tolerate the warming and drying that has already occurred, said Eric Riddell, a physiological ecologist and the lead author.

The impacts of a hotter world are no longer off in the future they have already arrived. As the planet grows warmer, the effects of heat stress on organisms trying to survive outside the temperature envelope they evolved in is becoming increasingly evident. From insects to coral reefs to biodiversity across entire ecosystems, researchers are chronicling the serious impacts of heat stress as temperatures break records. And several leading scientists believe we are underestimating the impacts, even as the heat ramps up.

The period from 2015 to 2019 was the warmest five-year period on record, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Association, and the just-finished decade was the hottest since record-keeping began. Last summer across Europe numerous high temperature records were broken, and the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves are all expected to increase, according to a recent paper. Marine heat waves are occurring four or five times more frequently than in the 1980s, according to another recent study.

Australia has been ground zero for recent extreme heat waves. Heat waves have occurred for centuries across the dry continent, but of the 39 known ones, 35 have taken place since 1994. This past summer was the second-hottest on record and the country is projected to warm faster than the global average, rising 4 degrees Celsius (7 degrees F) by 2100. Australia set a new record high in 2019 of 107.4 degrees F, which was an average of highs across the country. The individual record-high temperature was 121 degrees F in 2019 in Port Augusta.

One of the best-studied heat events in Australia took place in 2011 and shows how devastating the effects of extreme heat can be, on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The exceptional temperatures, a 2018 paper concluded, caused rapid, diverse, and broad scale changes and triggered abrupt, synchronous ecological disruptions, including mortality, demographic shifts, and altered species distributions. The paper said that tree die-off and coral bleaching occurred simultaneously in response to the heat wave and were accompanied by terrestrial plant mortality, seagrass and kelp loss, population crash of an endangered terrestrial bird species [Carnabys black cockatoo], plummeting breeding success in marine penguins, and outbreaks of terrestrial wood-boring insects.

A spectacled flying fox that died in the November 2018 heat wave in Australia. Marc McCormack/EPA

This cascade of events led the team of researchers to conclude that the extent of ecological vulnerability to projected increases in heat waves is underestimated.

Other recent events show the disparate impacts of extreme heat. In November 2018, the temperature in northern Australia soared to 107 degrees and stayed there for days. Endangered spectacled flying foxes 2-pound animals with 5-foot wing spans were overwhelmed. They tried to cool off by fanning themselves with their wings and panting, but that fell far short. In the end, some 23,000 of the endangered animals fell out of trees and died. The heat also killed fish, wild horses, and camels.

In 2014, an Australian heat wave killed more than 45,000 bats of various species. In some places fire trucks were deployed to spray and cool off dying bats.

Last month, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that this year would bring the third major coral bleaching event to the Great Barrier Reef in five years because of heat waves. Coral bleaching occurs when high sea temperatures cause the living corals to expel the symbiotic algae on which the corals depend.

Research on impacts to the natural world from increasing temperatures is still in its early stages. But David Breshears a University of Arizona professor of ecology and an expert in forests and climate change, is deeply worried. First you get drought, on top of that the average temperature is going up, and on top of that a heatwave occurs, said Breshears, who co-authored the 2018 heat wave paper. Do extremes matter? You better believe they do, and its scary and getting scarier.

Extreme temperatures as opposed to warmer average temperatures are the catalyst for a growing number of local extinctions, experts say. A recent study looked at 538 plant and animal species at 581 sites around the world that had been previously surveyed. The goal was to understand what aspect of climate change was the most serious threat to biodiversity. Researchers found that 44 percent of the species at the sites had gone locally extinct, and that the culprit was an increase in the temperature of the hottest days of the year.

John J. Wiens, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Arizona and a co-author of that study, said this research creates a model that allows scientists to estimate at what temperatures species around the world will not be able to take the heat anymore. We can estimate the global extinction for each species, he said. He estimated that if there is moderate global warming, 16 percent of all species would be lost; if theres more severe warming, 30 percent could be lost. The big picture is that one in three species could go extinct over the next 50 years, Wiens said.

Part of what dictates whether species will survive is their physiology and habits. Birds pant to cool off, exhaling air and water. The hotter they get, the more water they need to expel. The mourning dove, for example, requires 10 to 30 percent more water to keep cool than it did a century ago, according to the Grinnell Resurvey Project.

A dead tree in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest during the September 2010 drought. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Insect or animal-eating birds, which get their water from their prey, are even worse off. The Mojave Desert study found that if water needs increase by 30 percent, larger birds need to catch 60 to 70 bugs more per day to satisfy their water needs, which has an energetic cost. Thats why avian carnivores in the desert including the kestrel, prairie falcon and turkey vulture have declined along with insectivores such as gnatcatchers and mountain chickadees. All told, the increasing need for water has led to a 43 percent decline in species richness, the Grinnell Resurvey Project concluded.

Birds suffer more than other animals. They have high exposure to climate change, said Riddell. They are diurnal and exposed to the hottest part of the day. Small mammals live underground and are generally nocturnal. Insects are small and can take advantage of smaller habitat niches.

If current trends continue, well see more declines in the desert birds, Riddell said. Even desert specialists are struggling to live in this environment that they are supposedly well adapted for.

Some insects in some places have taken a heat hit as well. A recent study found that the number of areas that native bumblebees occupy has plummeted 46 percent in North America and 17 percent in Europe compared to surveys taken from 1901 to 1974. Those bee-less areas were also places with a high degree of climate variation, especially higher temperatures. Climate change is related to the growing extinction risk that animals are facing around the world, lead author Peter Soroye said, because of hotter and more frequent extremes in temperatures.

At the same time, an increase in temperatures is also expected to boost some insect populations including those that eat crops. A 2018 study predicted that could have a serious detrimental impact on world food supplies. Warmer temperatures increase insect metabolic rates exponentially, said Chris Deutsch, a professor of oceanography at the University of Washington, who led the team. Second, with the exception of the tropics, warmer temperatures will increase the reproductive rates of insects. You have more insects and theyre eating more.

Warmer temperatures are already causing major damage to the worlds forests. As temperatures warm, trees become less resilient and die-offs become more frequent as much as five times more so. If the climate warms a little more, things dont get a little different, they get very different, said Henry Adams, a plant biologist at Oklahoma State University and co-author of a recent paper on the topic. You get an acceleration in the rate of mortality. As you crank up the heat, the time it takes to kill trees is less and less.

Warmer temperatures, in other words, make droughts more deadly.

And there is concern that warmer temperatures will also keep burned forests from re-growing and that those ecosystems will instead transform into grasslands or shrub ecosystems.

Part of the reason is that, in the American West, fires are becoming bigger and hotter and more frequent, which kills the mother trees needed to drop seeds and regenerate the forest. Extreme heat then reduces seedling survival. The hotter, drier climate is making it more difficult for trees to regenerate on sites to which a lot of these conifers were suited, said Craig Allen, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in New Mexico. Parts of the landscape are becoming less available to regrowth.

Native bumblebee species, such as the Bombus impatiens, have declined 46 percent in North America. Courtesy of Antoine Morin

This trend is especially important because forests are a significant carbon sink. For 30 years, nearly 100 institutions studied 565 tropical forests in Africa and the Amazon to understand their role in taking up and sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, which helps mitigate climate warming.

What they found, in a paper published this month in the journal Nature, is that the uptake of CO2 in these forests peaked in the 1990s. By 2010, their ability to take up carbon had dropped by a third.

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The cause was the growing number of dead trees in these forests, which were killed by higher temperatures, according to Wannes Hubau, who worked on the project as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Leeds and who now works with the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Belgium.

Our modeling of these factors shows a long-term future decline in the African [carbon] sink, said Hubau, and that the Amazonian sink will continue to rapidly weaken, which we predict to become a carbon source in the mid-2030s.

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With Temperatures Rising, Can Animals Survive the Heat Stress? - Yale Environment 360