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Human Behavior

An Open Letter to Congress: Our Environment and the Coronavirus – The Good Men Project

Honorable Members of The 116th United States Congress:

We are living in a time of unprecedented turmoil resulting from a viral contagion taking the lives of people around the globe including Americans, whom you represent and work for. For context, I am a Christian, I believe in God. I also believe in science. I believe that the role science plays is to investigate what can be understood and explained in the material realm, and that which is unexplainable and unprovable from Mans fragile standpoint is Gods infinite wisdom.

I have voted as a Democrat and have crossed party lines to vote Republican when so required. I was a Management Consultant in NYC and after 9/11 I worked with the creation of the Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Program in collaboration with Manufacturers, local law enforcement, the FBI and other agencies. I acted as an Advisor in Technology development and Commercialization for NYSERDA, ARPAe, DOE, the Military and several NYC based Centers for Advanced Technologies. I also Lobbied on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Manufacturing and Technology Sectors for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership under the Department of Commerce. I am of African-American heritage and I value the concept of what America could be for everyone if we truly desire to do so without favoritism and a hidden agenda.

We are stewards of the planet; we dont own it, we inhabit it. Those of us among the living are here but for a moment and, upon our demise, we too return to the earth, from which we were made. Essentially, we are intelligent compost. Our job is to preserve the planet for subsequent generations and ensure that the other living species that are part of the ecosystem, the animals, the insects, everything that isnt human is positioned to do what it was intelligently designed to do within the confines of its God-given role.

Corporate greed and our desire to make our lives easier have harmed the planet to an extent that has never been seen since mankind arrived. We are in a climate crisis. The U.N. Report that spoke of this stated: Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earths natural life-support systems, the worlds leading scientists have warned, as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken. The water is polluted, sealife is beaching itself, algae is on the rise and polar bears are emaciated as the polar ice caps are melting (some the size of small states). Bees are dying, which in itself is directly attacking our food supplies and all plant life. One million species are at risk of extinction. The Summary for Policymakers of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service study was compiled over three years by more than 450 scientists and diplomats.

The death of our planet and its ecosystems are affecting our human existence. Our lifestyles have directly contributed to what we face now. Coronavirus is the direct benefactor of what we have done to the planet. Essentially, our destruction of the planet is leading rapidly to our own demise. Human behavior created the Coronavirus, not some secretive lab or a foreign government, and definitely not bats. Every human that contributed to pollution created this. Again, its the science.

Science is facts that cant be denied. You can label the facts as untrue or fake news. Denial, however, is of no consequence in the face of reality. If we continue on this course, our planet, our children, our future will be obliterated by our own hands. Denial, in any formno matter what the motivationwill kill our planet and us in the meantime. Denial doesnt magically make it go away.

Our very own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Zoonotic spillover is the problem and humans cause that through how we treat the planet.

Andrew Cunningham, Professor of Wildlife Epidemiology at the Zoological Society of London told CNN:

The underlying causes of zoonotic spillover from bats or from other wild species have almost always always been shown to be human behavior . . . Human activities are causing this. . . When a bat is stressed by being hunted, or having its habitat damaged by deforestation its immune system is challenged and finds it harder to cope with pathogens it otherwise took in its stride. . . We believe that the impact of stress on bats would be very much as it would be on people.

Our own NIH has reported, Zoonotic spillover, which is the transmission of a pathogen from a vertebrate animal to a human and presents a global public health burden but is a poorly understood phenomenon. Zoonotic spillover requires several factors to align, including the ecological, epidemiological and behavioral determinants of pathogen exposure, and the within-human factors that affect susceptibility to infection ideally, we are researching this within our own Federal Scientific Agencies, yet we ignore the science, we minimize it and we deny it, like we do the climate change. Deny it all we want, its going to do what it does.

Our own National Treasure Dr. Anthony Fauci said, The virus isnt a mathematical formula. He also states You dont make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.

This is not hard to understand. Again, deny it if you will; it will still occur without your consent or participation. The virus is in control. No one is immune, everyone is at risk and it doesnt care how much money you have, but due to the policies of our country, the poor and the forgotten among us will die. This is not what a Country does when they start sessions in Congress with prayer.

The earth is protecting itself because we are the parasite. The earth is healing because we as a species are not polluting it. You dont have to believe me, the evidence is everywhere:

I implore our Governors to NOT follow the example and the mixed messages put forth by the administration because our lives are at stake. People will die if we go back too early, and yes, many many wealthy people will lose lots of money during this time, but when do we place people over profit? I know we are a country founded on Capitalism and Wealth first along with profiteering off of the backs of others, but when do we stop, reassess and think about saving the lives of all, not just those 50 and under? This virus is killing Black, White, Latino, Chinese, you name it.it targets us all. You included.

You have the authority to set just policies, laws, and practices that are humane, and that go beyond capitalism. We need to shut the country down now. Our banking system is sound, our financial systems are on par with no one else, but our doctors, nurses, and police officers are ill and dying. They have older relatives and children. What will it take for you to act to ensure the safety of us all?

In order to get through this, we need real leadership. Not leadership that blames or disparages people who are clearly afraid. We need you to soothe us, give us the facts and to cooperate with our scientists, our healthcare workers, and our local elected officials. This is the behavior of caring humans. We soothe each other, yet we give each other the truth.

My letter may mean nothing to you. You may see my sources as fake news, but the people infected arent faking. The people dying arent faking. What we are left with is our media that digs and digs and digs because we cant seem to get the truth, and so yes, they will get some things wrong. But our media, our CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, The NY Times, and occasionally FOX News are designed to hold you, our elected officials accountable. Please do not deflect, call questions fake news or outright lie (as so many have done on both sides of the aisle).

I for one am grateful to our free press because they are relentless in finding out what is the truth whether or not that truth is volunteered by our government. I implore you to answer the questions when asked. When you ignore them or placate us at a time when we need your unbiased honesty, we see, we hear. The media can be annoying and yes they will ask you set up questions from time to time, but if youre not lying.that should not be an issue.

The most powerful military nation on the earth is in the process of setting protocols within health care to decide who lives or dies. Its against everything our healthcare professionals believe, its against their oath and they like many warriors who are suffering from PTSD.

We can reverse this. Listen to our scientists, absorb their knowledge and make sound decisions and yes, some of these decisions will involve our economic future. First, however, lets keep everyone alive. Everyone who loses someone will recall the face of a loved one lost or traumatized by this earth-changing event. They will remember when they vote. Americans are not stupid, we are not blind. We have long memories. Do whats right, not whats expedient or easy. Take care of us, this is what you were hired to do.

This quote by Tamer K. Abouelnaga sums up what I and so many Americans want from you:

Corona has proved that everything around us is so temporary. Things our lives revolved aroundwork, gym, malls, movies, society have all gone for a toss as we are learning to live without them. It has taught us that in the end, its your own home and family that keeps you safe.

Franklin Madison

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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An Open Letter to Congress: Our Environment and the Coronavirus - The Good Men Project

Human Behavior

His Nickname is Dr. Disaster and at Some Point You May Need Him – Yahoo Finance

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2020 / "Crises are in the eye of the beholder" says Dr. Joshua Klapow, a clinical psychologist . And that's in part how he got the nickname Dr. Disaster.

Crises come in all shapes sizes and degree of impact. For some it's the down turn of their company in a struggling economy, for others it's a relationship on the rocks. Sometimes crises affect many hundreds or thousands, natural disasters, mass shootings, terrorist attacks. Sometimes they can even be global like a pandemic. In any of these scenarios the psychological and emotional toll on individuals can be devastating. Communities, cities, states, nations can suffer from global distress, a sense of helplessness, and difficulty making decisions and choices that can help them carry on. In any crisis what people do or don't do and how they do or don't do it determines in some cases whether they survive or not, and in all cases whether they thrive or not.

So where can we turn? Where should we turn? Dr. Josh believes that at the heart of every crisis is human distress that needs guidance to see it through. And for years, Dr. Josh has served that role to individuals, companies, cities, states and even nations. And that's how he came by the nickname Dr. Disaster. From his presence across media outlets when "disaster strikes".

As he says "Unfortunately I have taken on this nickname. When bad things happen you will often see me on television, hear from me on radio or read my words in print. The good news is that when bad things happen to you, your company, your city or state, you can count on me to be there with the tools, and the experience to help people tap into their psychological resiliency and work through a crisis. So I guess Dr. Disaster isn't that bad after all".

Dr. Josh has been working for decades with people in a variety of crisis situations: A CEO in the middle of a contested divorce trying to compartmentalize the stress divorce while maintaining the functioning of a multimillion-dollar business. An elite athlete who has just seen their season end due to a catastrophic injury and now must face the transition to a next life chapter. A start up company that fell on a tough economy and now is faced with massive downsizing while looking after their employees well being. A multibillion-dollar company that is struggling with the retention of high performing individuals who are leaving in droves because of a punitive management culture. Or maybe it's a tornado, or hurricane or earthquake that has decimated a city or state. Or a global pandemic that has struck fear in the hearts of frankly the world. Dr. Josh is usually there. It may be for a one on one series of consultations out of the media's eye. It may be as an advisor helping leadership making tough decisions about layoffs. You may see him on television; hear him on the radio, read his quotes in print as he tries to get the messages out to the masses.

Story continues

Dr. Josh is there to help people navigate . He explains:

"In times of crises, big or small, at the individual level or global, as a general rule we, humans experience levels of distress that impact every aspect of our functioning. Crises change the way we think, the way we process information, the way we `function. Having the right tools to reduce our anxiety, focus our concentration, regulate our autonomic nervous system is critical. Even then, when people are undergoing prolonged stressful situations, they need someone who can point out the cognitive errors, the irrational beliefs, and the self-defeating actions that come with being under immense pressure. I see it at the individual level but I also see it at the group and population level. A distressed management team makes human resource decisions that often are focused on relieving their own distress but not focused on maximizing the productivity or longevity of their employees. A distressed community engages in a series of actions typically aimed at reducing individual anxiety but not looking at the interconnectedness of their interactions. Crisis does bring out the best in some people but it also brings our weakest psychological characteristics to the forefront. My job is to help guide people through the crisis of their lives. "

While having significant life and/or business experience is a great backdrop to helping people, it doesn't formally prepare a person to manage the intense emotions, the erratic decisions, the fear, anxiety and at times irrational behavior that happens when people are experiencing a life crisis. Understanding how stress, anxiety, perceived danger, escape preferences, cognitive biases and psychophysiological deregulation impact every aspect of an individuals life is critical to help them navigate crisis situations.. There are many untrained or poorly trained individuals in the marketplace providing high-priced services to people and organizations in very high profile, high scrutiny, and high-pressured positions. Watching this happen in everyone from start-up CEOs to executives in publicly traded organizations to professional athletes and entertainers to entire communities is what motivated Dr. Josh Klapow to step in.

Joshua Klapow, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist. He has a specialization in behavioral medicine and disaster mental health. He trained at UCLA and UC San Diego and spent nearly 20 years researching the role of human behavior in health, well being and the impact of disaster and crisis on human functioning as an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has taught hundreds of graduate students and professionals the principles of psychological first aid, disaster communication and psychosocial crisis managing. He has served as a behavioral science consultant for individuals and organizations across the country as well as the World Health Organization. He has spent his entire career trying to help people thrive in situations where there are significant challenges to their physical and mental health and overall well being.

"My clinical training was specifically focused on helping people change their lives during times of challenge, strife and crisis. It was also designed to help people understand how situations and environmental settings either helped people to thrive or served as a barrier. My training was designed to help people navigate the life changes in front of them and to help people design businesses and systems of care that were much more person centered." Dr. Josh says.

Dr. Josh's traditional research and clinical work have been supplemented by a collaboration with media outlets to provide the public with the psychological first aid tools during times of crisis. From 9/11 to the variety of mass shootings, to SARS, to tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, the financial crisis of 2008, plane crashes, Ebola, and COVID-19. His passion to get the message out to help people navigate fear anxiety, distress, and frustration have resulted in products such as "The Preparedness Minute", A CDC funded series of videos that have been disseminated to public health organizations and first responders across the country help people prepare and cope with national disasters. He has been called on by media outlets across the country after natural disasters, mass shootings, and disease outbreaks to help address the social and psychological impact these events have on people. From multiple appearances on The Weather Channel, to the BBC, NBC Weekend News and local affiliates across the country. To digital outlets ranging from the HuffPost, Buzzfeed, Elite Daily, Men's Health, Today.com, US News and World Report and more. Dr. Josh has been a media partner and a psychological first aid expert for nearly two decades.

He has also worked extremely closely with the business community to address the human resource impact of difficult and life changing scenarios. He has consulted on continuity planning, employee engagement, crisis communication, executive impairment, leadership transition, and psychological first aid for organizations ranging from startups to multibillion-dollar public companies. His unique expertise as a public health academician and a clinical psychologist allows him to shift from focus on the individual to groups and populations as is needed. Sophisticated technology and a deep understanding of psychology and behavioral science.

This blend of expertise in behavioral science, disaster preparedness, crisis communication and business along with his presence in the national media has positioned Dr. Josh as a sought after resource for companies and individuals across the US helping them leverage psychology and behavioral science in crisis situations. He is called on to help people survive and thrive when high levels of pressure and stress are present. He has become a public and private "go to" for those who need his input in any crisis situation or capacity.

"I know that crises will vary greatly in terms of how many people are impacted. I also know that in crisis situations there is a need for guidance that is not always delivered in a traditional "mental health" format. People need messages that are being delivered via the media, companies need guidance to make the best decisions possible for their employees, individuals need to know there is someone on the other end of a call, video conference, or text that can offer psychological tools and resources immediately to help make critical decisions. I am not a physician or an economist. My role is to know as much as is possible about how to navigate the psychological, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges that arise before, during and after a crisis situation. My role is to be there to make sure that you as an individual, a company or a community or nation have the right strategies to work with the impact of humans in a state of distress.

I serve as a trusted "psychological correspondent" for media outlets nationally and internationally and I work with businesses and individuals to help them bring behavioral science and psychology to the forefront of their organizations and their personal lives in the context of crises and disasters. I am here to consult and coach, to develop and support. I am here when you need an individual who can help you or your company thrive in times of crisis, change, decision making or growth. I deeply understand human behavior and I have lived the real-life experiences. Look, in my opinion it comes down to this, if you need to understand how thoughts, emotions and behaviors impact your life during some of the most critical situations and times. If you need to understand that in the context of your company, or the life of others around you, it is important that you get it right, you have to go with someone who has training and experience. Be careful, because intuition, and experience with life strife is not what you want if you need someone to help you get it right. A high level of specific training and experience is critical, because your life is critical. I've worked my whole career to prepare me to help. And I'm here to help." Dr. Josh says.

For Dr. Josh, mindset is critical because you must be willing to look at a crisis situation that may have everyone around you deregulated, distressed and convinced there are no options or their options are the only options. Being able to sit in periods of crisis and guide people through he array of emotions and actions without getting pulled down in is a skill that has to be honed and refined if you are to be at the forefront of crisis management. You have to trust your training and trust that in the middle of chaos you can hold steady as a voice of reason.

"My advice for those who are trying to help in crisis and disaster situations is to make sure you check yourself first. Do you have the tools to be strong, to know when you are exceeding your bandwidth, to join with individuals, organizational, communities while keeping yourself psychological strong. If you haven't had this kind of training you run the risk of becoming a psychological liability versus as n asset. Dr. Josh advises.

Dr. Josh is admant about pushing the message that psychological well being is a science, with specific tools an methods that ere desperately needed for individuals and groups during times of strife. He will also tell you that the larger the crisis, the more people it impacts and the longer the duration the more we need to rely not just on being tough, but rely on the assets that come with specific and targeted experience and credentials in psychology, behavioral science and human performance

"If you are someone who is experiencing a personal life crisis, an organization that is trying to navigate a crisis or a community that is trying to contain a crisis. I have the training and understanding to help you. If you are in a high-pressure situation and need to make sure that you are getting the most out of your own psychological, emotional, behavioral and physiological resources, I can guide you through. ." Dr. Josh states.

To learn more about Dr. Josh's work or how you can reach out, go here.

CONTACT:

Paula Henderson202-539-7664phendersonnews@gmail.com

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His Nickname is Dr. Disaster and at Some Point You May Need Him - Yahoo Finance

Neuroscience

How Neuroscientists Are Helping Brands Create More Effective Ads – Built In

If you see a close-up shot of hands in an advertisement and think, Hey, this company really gets me, youre not alone. And its not that youreobsessed with hands.

According to consumer neuroscience research conducted by Mindshare, a global media agency, close-ups of hands resonate with people on a subconscious level butthere is a limit to how close the camera can get.

We found that using close-up shots of hands is an incredibly powerful way to connect with viewers, but this effect backfires when hand images are too closely cropped to the point where they no longer connect to a body, said James Kelly, a data scientist and co-lead of the Mindshare NeuroLab. We call this the amputated limb effect.

The NeuroLab is Mindshares in-house consumer neuroscience research facility, located in the companys New York office. Consumer neuroscience, also known as neuromarketing, seeks to augment traditional market research studies with physiological and neural data. The goal is to see if a persons responses in a survey or focus group match up with the signals sent by their subconscious and body.

Consumer neuroscience is a relatively new field dating back to the mid-1990s, when Gerald Zaltman, a Harvard marketing professor, used images to access the subconscious thoughts consumers had about brands. In the early 2000s, neuroscientists in Texas recreated the Pepsi Challenge using a functional MRI, or fMRI, which scans how the brain responds to physical sensations, while California researchers used an fMRI scan to observe how the brain reacts when shown different movies.

A long list of companies offer neuromarketing services to brands, ranging from established market research giants like Nielsen, which formed its consumer neuroscience division in 2011, to startups like New York-based Spark Neuro, which launched in 2017 and has raised $13.5 million in funding.

Companies like Hulu, Paramount and Universal work with Spark Neuro to learn where people zone out during movie trailers and what types of ads generate the most emotional engagement. The startup tracks brain and sweat-gland activity, along with facial expressions and eye movement, and says its algorithms can crunch more than6,000 data points per second.

While Mindshare is a relative newcomer to consumer neuroscience the NeuroLab opened in the summer of 2019 the company said itsseeing early returns from its work. Kelly and Arafel Buzan, a neuroscientist and the labs other co-lead, spoke with Built In about the equipment the lab uses, the insights theyve uncovered and how the demand for consumer neuroscience is growing.

What technology does the NeuroLab use, and how exactly does brain and physiological data determine how a person feels about an ad?

Buzan: We aim to circumvent self-report bias and provide more accurate and lucid insights into how consumers engage with and think about brands. Electroencephalogram, or EEG caps, record second-by-second changes in electrical activity in various regions of the cortex.High-definition EEG data allows us to observe changes in emotional valence which indicates how much someone likes or dislikes something memory encoding, attention and cognitive load, while consumers engage with different media channels.

Biometrics, including galvanic skin response and heart-rate variability, are used to measure emotional intensity and arousal response elicited by specific features of a stimulus, such as an ad, a UX experience or packaging.

Kelly: Were very excited about a few upcoming projects that will allow us to tap into additional neuro tools specifically, eye tracking. The NeuroLab is in the process of partnering with Mindshares advanced analytics teams to link neuro data to other data streams, which could create more predictive models for sales projections.

How does the data gathered by your team make an impact on the ad campaigns Mindshares clients run?

Buzan: For one client, we measured eight audio ads, all in context and across multiple groups, to identify which words, voices, musical elements and emotions were driving attention and key brand emotions. Then, we created a neuro audio blueprint, which they are using to inform future creative. Weve worked with a number of our clients to build neuro-audio blueprints to craft attention-grabbing audio creative and track the impact of audio on brand perceptions.

In one study, we found that Gen Z responds neurologically the same to 15- and 30-second social media ads, whereas older generations respond better to longer ad spots.

In addition to learning that people like ads featuring close-ups of hands, what other insights have NeuroLab researchers uncovered?

Kelly: In one study, we found that Gen Z responds neurologically the same to 15- and 30-second social media ads, whereas older generations respond better to longer ad spots. In a recent study, we quantified the brand value of reaching the LGBTQ+ community in authentic media environments, and why LGBTQ+ publications and content are crucial spaces for brands to support.In another study, we found that a client needed to change their contextual targeting strategy by seeking a different type of consumer emotion in media buys.

James, as a data scientist, does working with neurological data present a unique challenge for you and your team?

Kelly: Computational neuroscience is a rapidly emerging field that requires a bottom-up comprehension of both neuroscience and data science to surmount. To address this, the NeuroLab has a suite of proprietary tools for collecting, analyzing and visualizing neurological data, and were developing more. From an agency perspective, were excited by the opportunity to integrate our data even further with existing information. We believe that over the next five years, diversity will outstand quantity in the data hierarchy. Were working on leveraging neurocognitive metrics to build upon data sourced from more traditional streams.

How do you think consumer neuroscience will evolve in the next five years?

Buzan: We expect brands toengage more heavily with scalable neuroscience solutions, such as implicit association testing, to more accurately understand the ability of their media and advertising to influence brand perceptions. By leaning into consumer neuroscience and understanding the consumer at the level of the subconscious, brands can create more impactful, relevant and authentic advertising with less overall spend waste.

From Neuromarketing to Conversational Audio Ads

Read more about the latest marketing technology and industry innovations.

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How Neuroscientists Are Helping Brands Create More Effective Ads - Built In

Physiology

Outlook on the Cell Line Development Market to 2027 – Global Analysis and Forecasts – ResearchAndMarkets.com – Business Wire

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Cell Line Development Market to 2027 - Global Analysis and Forecasts By Type; By Product; Application; and Geography" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cell line development market is anticipated to reach US$ 11,161.35 Mn in 2027 from US$ 3,694.87 Mn in 2018. The cell line development market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 13.2% from 2019-2027.

Driving factors are increasing the adoption of regenerative medicines, rising prevalence of cancer across the globe, and increasing investments in R&D by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. However, risks associated with cell line contamination is expected to hamper the market during the forecast period.

The cell line is established cell culture, which gets increased numerous times when supplied with the growth medium and space for growth. Different cell lines can be made from different cells. The cell line plays a vital role in the study of cytology. The cell line enables stepwise alterations in the structure, physiology, and genetic makeup of cells under a customized environment.

The global cell line development market is bifurcated into type, product, and application. Based on type, the cell line development market is segmented into a primary cell line, hybridomas, continuous cell lines, and recombinant cell line. Based on product, the cell line development market is segmented into equipment, media and reagent. On the basis of application, the cell line development market is bifurcated into drug discovery, bioproduction, and tissue engineering. In 2018, the bioproduction segment held the largest share of the market. However, the drug discovery segment is expected to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

Reasons to Buy

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Cell Line Development Market - Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology

4. Cell Line Development - Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.3 Expert Opinion

5. Global Cell Line Development Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Key Market Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Adoption of Regenerative Medicines

5.1.2 Rising Prevalence of Cancer

5.1.3 Growing Investment in R&D by Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies

5.2 Key Restraints

5.2.1 Risk Associated with Cell Line Contamination

5.3 Key Opportunity

5.3.1 Middle Income Countries Creating Development Opportunities

5.4 Future Trend

5.4.1 Consistent Research in Drug Discovery Activities

5.5 Impact Analysis

6. Cell Line Development Market - Global Analysis

6.1 Global Cell Line Development Market Revenue Forecast and Analysis

6.2 Global Cell Line Development Market, By Geography - Forecast and Analysis

6.3 Market Positioning of Key Players

6.3.1 Merck KGaA

6.3.2 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

7. Cell Line Development Market - Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 - Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Global Cell Line Development Market, by Type, 2018 & 2027 (% Share)

7.3 Primary Cell Line

7.4 Hybridomas

7.5 Continuous Cell Lines

7.6 Recombinant Cell Line

8. Cell Line Development Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2027 - Product

8.1 Overview

8.2 Global Cell Line Development Market, by Product, 2018 & 2027 (% Share)

8.3 Equipment

8.4 Media and Reagent

9. Cell Line Development Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2027 - Application

9.1 Overview

9.2 Global Cell Line Development Market Share by Application 2018 & 2027 (%)

9.3 Drug Discovery

9.4 Bioproduction

9.5 Tissue Engineering

10. Cell Line Development Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 - Geographical Analysis

10.1 North America Cell Line Development Market, Revenue and Forecast to 2027

10.2 Europe Cell Line Development Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027

10.3 APAC Cell Line Development Market, Revenue and Forecast to 2027

10.4 MEA Cell Line Development Market, Revenue and Forecast to 2027

10.5 South and Central America Cell Line Development Market, Revenue and Forecast to 2027

11. Cell Line Development Market - Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Growth Strategies Done by the Companies in The Market, (%)

11.3 Organic Developments Done by The Companies in the Market

11.4 Inorganic Developments Done by The Companies in the Market

12. Cell Line Development Market- Key Company Profiles

12.1 Merck KGaA

12.2 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

12.3 Sartorius AG

12.4 SELEXIS

12.5 BioFactura, Inc.

12.6 WuXi AppTec

12.7 LakePharma, Inc.

12.8 General Electric

12.9 Lonza

12.10 Corning Incorporated

13. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j909g0

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Outlook on the Cell Line Development Market to 2027 - Global Analysis and Forecasts - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Cell Biology

Scores of data released on coronavirus – Washington Times

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted colleges, think tanks, medical journals and governments to release scores of stats and studies some good, while others fail peer review.

The research touches on comparative death counts, the sneezing range of nose droplets, cigarettes and how long the deadly virus can last on a piece of plastic such as a bottle or shopping bag.

The problem with the media is the mindless reporting of cases, as more testing means more cases, most of which are asymptomatic, Steve Milloy, who researches for the Junk Science website, told The Washington Times. A lot of hysteria, not much good data.

Indeed, as more people are being tested in America, the case load is expanding and the mortality rate is dropping, to .012% from more than 3%.

Some recent scientific findings:

As the U.S. death toll approaches 1,000, The New York Times and other liberal media paint the U.S. mortality rate as near the top globally.

Not really, according to a chart created by Our World in Data at Oxford University. Founder Mark Roser crunched the mortality rate numbers on a per-capita basis, per million people, a statistic not produced by most raw data web sites. The U.S. has about 2 deaths per million, while Italy has more than 80, Spain has nearly 40 and France has 10.

Italys imposed isolation on March 9 appears to have reduced the countrys case growth rate, according to an article Tuesday in The Lancet medical journal. Before, experts estimated there would be 30,000 infections by March 15. Actual number for that date: 24,747.

We urge all countries to acknowledge the Italian lesson and to immediately adopt very restrictive measures to limit viral diffusion, ensure appropriate health-system response, and reduce mortality, which appears to be higher than previously estimated, with a crude case-fatality rate of almost 4%, the article said.

Press reports consistently say the elderly are at the highest risk from COVID-19. A study on Italys outbreak, with an epicenter the in Lombardy region, confirms this to the extreme.

According to the Italian National Institute of Healths website Epicentro, the countrys 5,019 non-health care worker death toll is almost all seniors: Age 60-69, 11%; age 70-79, 35%; age 80-89, 40%; and 90 and older, 9%. No deaths were reported for 29 years old and younger.

The New England Journal of Medicine put out a scary report. The coronavirus can live for hours on certain surfaces, with up to a 72-hour span on everyday plastic.

But Carolyn Machamer, a professor of cell biology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says the study exaggerates.

Whats getting a lot of press and is presented out of context is that the virus can last on plastic for 72 hours, which sounds really scary, Ms. Machamer told the school. But whats more important is the amount of the virus that remains. Its less than 0.1% of the starting virus material. Infection is theoretically possible but unlikely at the levels remaining after a few days. People need to know this.

The same New England Journal study said COVID-19 droplets can remain in the air for several hours.

Dr. Machamer rebuts this. The New England Journal researchers used an aerosol spray, which produces a finer mist than the liquid from a cough or sneeze that falls to the ground.

While the New England Journal of Medicine study found that the COVID virus can be detected in the air for 3 hours, in nature, respiratory droplets sink to the ground faster than the aerosols produced in this study, she said. The experimental aerosols used in labs are smaller than what comes out of a cough or sneeze, so they remain in the air at face-level longer than heavier particles would in nature.

A Viewpoint article in The Journal of Clinical Investigation promotes antibodies as an immediate preventive measure or therapy for the sick. But as therapy, the serum must be injected soon after the infection is diagnosed.

This Viewpoint argues that human convalescent serum is an option for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease that could be rapidly available when there are sufficient numbers of people who have recovered and can donate immunoglobulin-containing serum, wrote Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski, both of the Johns Hopkins Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a Trump administration point-man on COVID-19, has said that antibodies stand today as the most promising viral treatment.

Drs. Casadevaill and Pirofski explain: Passive antibody therapy involves the administration of antibodies against a given agent to a susceptible individual for the purpose of preventing or treating an infectious disease due to that agent. In contrast, active vaccination requires the induction of an immune response that takes time to develop and varies depending on the vaccine recipient. Thus, passive antibody administration is the only means of providing immediate immunity to susceptible persons.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization agree that the first two signs of infections are a fever and dry cough.

Now the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology has added a new symptom: lost sense of taste.

In a Sky News report, the association of ear, nose and throat physicians said: We have also identified a new symptom (loss of sense of smell and taste) that may mean that people without other symptoms but with just the loss of this sense may have to self-isolate again to reduce the spread of the virus.

Professor Nirmal Kumarm said: In young patients, they do not have any significant symptoms such as the cough and fever but they may have just the loss of sense of smell and taste, which suggests that these viruses are lodging in the nose.

An article posted Wednesday in the publication New Science points to a new study by Jeffrey Shaman at Columbia University. He purports to document the spread of COVID-19 in China in January, the month the virus went, as they say, viral.

Mr. Shaman looked at the spread between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23 and concluded that the infected who had no or mild symptoms, or 86%, created the lions share of infected.

New Science wrote: Such undocumented cases are still contagious and the study found them to be the source of most of the viruss spread in China before the restrictions came in. Even though these people were only 55 percent as contagious as people with symptoms, the study found that they were the source of 79 per cent of further infections, due to there being more of them, and the higher likelihood that they were out and about.

A new study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology reported March 20 on a new COVID-19 symptom that might be the most important: diarrhea.

Researchers looked at early cases in Wuhan, China, and found that 99 of 204 infected residents first had symptoms of gastrointestinal distress before fever and coughing. And they had a higher incidence of mortality.

Contrarian news for cigarette smokers: A research article in the European Journal of Internal Medicine said there was no link between Chinese smokers and the severity of their COVID-19.

China is a smokers holiday with more than 50% of men puffing away, while fewer than 2% of women light up. Because the virus death rate is higher for men, a suspect factor is cigarettes.

Researchers looked at patients with severe disease and found no difference in non- and active smokers.

In conclusion, they wrote. The results of this preliminary meta-analysis based on Chinese patients suggest that active smoking does not apparently seem to be significantly associated with enhanced risk of progressing towards severe disease in COVID-19.

Junk Sciences Mr. Milloy said of all the scholarship: If you are looking for useful facts, you arent likely to find any anytime soon. Sick and vulnerable people should stay home. The Democrat-owned and operated public health community should be reamed on this. Those are my facts.

See original here:
Scores of data released on coronavirus - Washington Times

Physiology

How to live well with stress even in the coronavirus era – University of California

Understanding the science of stress has never seemed more important for our health. It doesn't just make your palms sweaty, after all: it causes health problems and can even age you! Learn how to cope with tips from UCSF psychologist Elissa Epel.

Bills, family, health worries, jobs Americans are some of the most stressed out people in the world.

And that was before coronavirus.

A 2019 Gallup poll of more than 150,000 people around the world found that 55 percent of American adults said they spent much of their past day stressed, 20 points higher than the global average. If continued for months and years, thats a level of stress experts like UC San Francisco psychologist Elissa Epel call chronic stress, which is linked to elevated risks for health problems from heart disease to depression. And if thats not enough, chronic stress can actually, physically age you, according to studies by Epels lab.

But take a deep breath. Its not all bad news.

We tend to think that stress is a bad thing, but actually it really matters what type of stress we're under, and how we respond to it, she says.

Some stress, according to Epel, is actually good for you.

Epel and her lab study stressors and our reactions to them and how we react to stressors is more important than you might guess. Stressors can be acute or chronic.

Chronic stressors are things that are ongoing like financial strain, caretaking duties for a sick family member or a demanding job the things that never seem to go away and deplete us.

An acute stressor might be a presentation you have to make in class, or trying something new youve been afraid to do. Theyre a little bit like growing pains your heart might pound, your palms might get sweaty, but it will soon be over and once it is, you might even feel great. And not just because you took on a challenge and succeeded your cells are reacting to this short-term stress in a very healthy way.

When worms or mice are exposed to short bursts of stress, they actually become healthier and can live longer, Epel says. Thats because of a phenomenon known as hormesis when our bodies mount a stress response, they also mount a counterregulatory stress response to help us recover.

Call it a challenge response to stress. The small dose of stress prompts an adaptation to stress, which leaves our cells younger. A process like Pac-Men in our cells starts cleaning up junk what scientists call autophagy. The physical stress of exercise, heat and intermittent fasting may cause autophagy to increase. The science of autophagy is still emerging, but so far it seems like it can help protect us from diseases from Parkinsons to Huntingtons, or even dementia.

Discoveries in the field won Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi the 2016 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

But if your psychological reaction to chronic or even acute stress is a threat response meaning you perceive a minor threat as a true threat to your ego or survival you might not get the same beneficial recovery process. You may have a very slow physiological recovery from the stressor, and less clean up activity in the cell. You may even be unconsciously carrying this level of high alert around with you. Its like a novice playing Pac-Man on the highest difficulty level. The ghosts win, and yet you have to keep playing. Thats your cells wearing out.

To get a clearer picture of how stress acts at a cellular level, Epel and her collaborators teamed up with UC San Franciscos Elizabeth Blackburn, a Nobel Prize winner in her own right. Blackburn is a pioneer in studying cell aging. She studies telomeres, the caps on the end of our chromosomes, and telomerase, the enzyme that protects them from things like oxidative stress.

Our telomeres grow shorter as we age. Studies have shown that when people have genes for lower telomerase, they have more rapidly shortening telomeres and tend to get earlier onset of diseases of aging, like Alzheimers and dementia.

So Epel wanted to ask a very simple question do people under chronic stress have shorter telomeres?

They measured the telomeres of people who report high levels of chronic stress caregivers of children with serious ongoing medical conditions and found a direct correlation between the number of years spent caring for their child and decreased telomere length. Having shorter telomeres means the cells will reach replicative senescence sooner, in that they will lose the ability to keep dividing into new cells, and will instead stick around wreaking havoc creating inflammation in the blood. Chronic stress causes at least this one type of biological aging.

But when they took a closer look at the data, they found that shorter telomeres werent caused by the situation of caregiving but how stressed the caregiver felt.

It wasn't being a caregiver per se that predicted ones telomere length, but whether someone felt overly stressed by life. So the caregivers who have felt particularly high levels of stress from their life had significantly shorter telomeres, Epel says.

Fortunately, scientists like Epel have learned many things about stress resilience by studying people in caregiving roles.

For women who reported higher levels of stress related to their role as parents, those who saw their role as giving their life meaning and purpose had the best biological health. The term researchers use for it is eudaimonic well-being, a term defined by UCSF assistant professor and psychologist Alexandra Crosswell as a sense of inner wellness that comes from self-realization and feeling that one's life has meaning and purpose.

Greater sexual intimacy with their partner was associated with better metabolic health and longer telomeres, too.

So how do we increase our resilience to stress, and improve our emotional health?

Creating buffers between us and our stress is one of the most important things we can do. One way is through daily habits that reduce physiological stress. An antioxidant diet (whole foods, fruits and veggies) is powerful. Deep, restful sleep is, too. Both have been linked to longer telomeres. And meditation or other mind body practices are important creating restorative time for your body and mind to recover.

When we become aware of how we are thinking during stress, and see these as just thoughts rather than reflecting some ultimate reality, we can actually take away the power these thoughts have over our body, Epel says.

Conditioning our bodies to realize that a lot of the things we get stressed about arent life-threatening can be really helpful.

Triggering our challenge response with some types of brief acute stress can also help keep us healthy. Exercise is one of the most important things we can do in terms of chronic stress, Epel says. The Wim Hof breathing method, which involves meditation with a specific breathing sequence, is currently being studied by Epel and her colleague Wendy Mendes to see if it might induce cellular health and rejuvenation, too.

Other acute stressors commonly found in traditional cultures are also getting a closer look, including fasting and hot/cold exposure. UCSF assistant professor Ashley Mason, for example, is studying the use of sauna for relieving depression. Again, acute stress isnt always good, because too much of it can lead to chronic stress. But paired with a positive mental challenge response, it may bolster our energy and health.

And what about the new stressor that has just landed in America the coronavirus?

It is natural and effective to have anxiety in the context of a pandemic, Epel says. But we can use stress science to help us distinguish a useful stress response from an exaggerated one. Our anxiety about coronavirus drives us to perform safety behaviors like physical distancing. It's a miserable situation for many, but it does show how the natural stress response of fear motivates us to stay safe from natural threats. On the other hand, when we catastrophize about the level of risk, perceiving it as the apocalypse, we dont think clearly and may engage in excessive panic buying, along with making others feel panicky, too.

Alexandra Crosswell has some tips on how to make the best of coronavirus anxiety.

Research suggests that stressors can be good because they help us refine our values, focus on what's important in our lives, make needed changes (e.g. start exercising, cooking healthy meals, get more sleep), and help us connect meaningfully with our loved ones, she says.

She suggests using this current moment to take stock of your life and make changes that promote a feeling of well-being even if you're worried about the virus or the rapidly evolving situation. To the extent coronavirus is experienced as an acute stressor, and we dont let it turn into panic, there are opportunities to be healthier.

Even having to work harder to make time for friends or to fill our time could actually be ... good for us.

Yes, its possible! Trying new things is good for us! Crosswell says. One of the keys to maintaining cognitive health as we age is novelty. One of my neighbors said her mother, who is in a nursing home and thus is isolated from visitors, is thriving because they got a new care staff and now she is in charge of showing the new staff how things work (e.g. this is how you wrap my leg, this is how we determine who sits where at dinner), and she loves the ability to finally feel like she's contributing and in control. Being open to the changes that this situation will force on us may be one of the best ways to cope with this uncertainty.

So while you might not like having to stay inside, think of it as a chance to pick up the guitar, take an online class in something new, or try a novel way of helping and connecting with others. There are studies that show that acute stressors (especially when perceived as challenges) directly lead to more creativity, too.

Of course, coronavirus is not just an acute stressor, and for some in the U.S. who are at very high risk it may already be overwhelming, or exacerbating existing chronic stressors. While meditation cant fix the coronavirus or job loss, it can help mitigate the impact of the negative emotions that come with those pressures.

In a piece for the San Francisco Chronicle, Epel addressed some of the other ways we can cope with how coronavirus might affect us.

Humans are built for enduring long periods of adversity, Epel says. We get over stressful periods. As long as we dont have a prolonged and exaggerated emotional response, we recover really well. Getting too absorbed in images of disasters on the media for too much of the day predicts longer term mental and physical health problems. Try to take only small doses of media, and many restorative breaks during the day.

One of the most powerful ingredients for stress reduction is warm, caring emotional support. Helping behaviors are known to be happiness behaviors, as well.

She suggests we first acknowledge the situation, and that we cannot control it but that we can control our behaviors to lessen the chance of contagion and flatten the curve, as they say. This has already been helpful in places like China, she points out, and it can work for us, too. Label your thoughts and emotions, so you can switch from an emotional mode to a kind and reflective observer mode: So this is what it feels like to live in a pandemic. It will help the emotion pass more quickly.

Epel also suggests we embrace the opportunity to be extra kind to ourselves and to others, acknowledging that anxiety is inevitable and commonly shared.

One of the most powerful ingredients for stress reduction is warm, caring emotional support, she writes. Opportunities to help abound. Helping behaviors are known to be happiness behaviors as well.

We can check on elderly neighbors, friends and relatives who cannot leave home easily (especially if they are sick), with caring calls or texts, and offers to bring food and medications. Communities are rapidly building their own support networks, using networks such as Nextdoor or Facebook. This is a time we discover who we are as a nation, an opportunity to strengthen our worn-down social cohesion and live our core values.

Whether it be the minor stressors of the everyday concerns, or the real threat of coronavirus, its important to nourish your well-being as a buffer and build your resilience. Learning to cope with stress has never been more important for your health.

Get more coping tips from Elissa Epel and UCSF's stress researchers here.

The research highlighted in this article was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Aging, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health).

Read more from the original source:
How to live well with stress even in the coronavirus era - University of California

Cell Biology

Bruker Announces Launch of CE-IVD Marked genesig Assay Kit for the Detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus – Yahoo Finance

Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) today announced a distribution agreement with Primer Design Ltd (UK), a subsidiary of Novacyt SA, for Bruker-Hain Diagnostics to distribute the CE-IVD-labeled genesig real-time PCR coronavirus (COVID-2019) assay, effective immediately. Bruker-Hain Diagnostics has a portfolio of DNA/RNA extraction and preparation systems and kits.

The genesig real-time PCR Coronavirus (COVID-2019) CE-IVD assay is validated for use on Bruker-Hain Diagnostics GenoXtract (GXT) automated nucleic acid extraction devices with associated extraction kits. Shipments to Spain, France, Germany and the UK have already started.

The genesig assay has been validated for respiratory samples (nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, sputum) on commonly available laboratory thermocyclers. The kit includes all necessary reagents to produce up to 96 results in under two hours. The genesig assay is designed for very high specificity for the 2019-nCoV virus strain that is implicated in COVID-19. The genesig test is CE-IVD marked and intended for in vitro diagnostic use in Europe.

Graham Mullis, CEO of Novacyt SA, stated: "With Bruker we have found a strong distribution partner with a Microbiology & Diagnostics business that has significant reach into a large number of European infectious disease laboratories. This will help to bring our genesig test into laboratories quickly, where its diagnostic results can help to prevent the further spreading of COVID-19."

Dr. Wolfgang Pusch, Executive Vice President Microbiology & Diagnostics at Bruker Daltonics, commented: "Bruker is joining the fight against COVID-19. In combination with our validated GenoXtract (GXT) products for nucleic acid extraction, we now offer a solution for preparation and detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We have also seen accelerated orders of our MALDI Biotyper systems from Chinese CDC laboratories, e.g. to rule in or out bacterial infections in severe respiratory disease."

About Bruker-Hain Diagnostics

Bruker-Hain Diagnostics is focused on Molecular Diagnostics (MDx) products within Brukers Microbiology & Diagnostics business. Hain Lifescience GmbH is the legal manufacturer of the Fluorocycler XT, MTBDR 2.0 assay and of GXT nucleic acid preparation kits. For more information, please visit, http://www.hain-lifescience.de.

About Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR)

Bruker is enabling scientists to make breakthrough discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Brukers high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity and customer success in life science molecular research, in applied and pharma applications, in microscopy and nanoanalysis, and in industrial applications, as well as in cell biology, preclinical imaging, clinical phenomics and proteomics research and clinical microbiology. For more information, please visit: http://www.bruker.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200324005721/en/

Contacts

Investor Contact: Miroslava MinkovaDirector of Investor Relations and Corporate DevelopmentT: +1 (978) 6633660, ext. 1479E: miroslava.minkova@bruker.com

Contact for Media and Customers: Philip PerryBruker DaltonicsT: +49-172-313-7216E: Philip.Perry@bruker.com

See the article here:
Bruker Announces Launch of CE-IVD Marked genesig Assay Kit for the Detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus - Yahoo Finance

Embryology

Merck Foundation launches first Health Media Training in partnership with the first lady of Namibia to break infertility stigma in the country #45586…

Talking about the Health Media Training program Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother said "The Health Media Training program is a part of 'Merck More than a Mother' community awareness Program and is organized for the first time in Namibia for local media representatives and media students to emphasize their critical role to create a culture shift and to be the voice of the voiceless in order to break the stigma around infertile women."

The first lady of Namibia, HE Monica Geingos said "I am very excited to be appointed as ambassador of 'Merck more than a Mother' and to officially launch Merck Foundation programs in our country. Moreover, I am very happy to host this important training program. Media plays an important role is sensitizing our society. It can help in creating awareness about female and male infertility and in breaking the stigma around infertility."

"It is important to initiate this important training program as I strongly believe that media has the capacity and ability to break the silence in our communities in a regular and effective basis." Dr Rasha Kelej added.

The training was addressed by Fertility specialists who are Merck Foundation Alumni and stalwarts of Media.

It provided a great opportunity for the journalists to listen to childless women experience with infertility stigma and to meet the experts and also to network with each other and work as a unit to eradicate the stigma around infertility and its resulted domestic violence in Namibia and rest of Africa.

Merck Foundation together with Namibia's first lady acknowledged the graduates of Merck Foundation programs in different fields of Oncology, Fertility and Embryology, Diabetes and Hypertension. and welcomed to be Merck Foundation Alumni for Namibia.

Merck Foundation in partnership with Ministry of Health of Namibia has provided training for doctors from Namibia to be the first oncologist and fertility specialists in public sector in the country. Moreover, they provided one year online diploma in cardiovascular preventive medicines and master's program in diabetes management for two doctors. Merck Foundation has committed to continue providing these specialty training to more doctors from different provinces in Namibia.

Merck Foundation recently announced the winners of 'Merck More Than a Mother' Media Recognition Awards 2019. They also announced for Namibian Media, the Call for Application of "Merck More Than a Mother" Media Recognition Awards 2020 for English speaking countries. The aim of these awards is to emphasize the role of media in enhancing the public engagement and understanding of infertility stigma and the need to change its social perception in African communities.

The applications are invited by media professionals to showcase along the year their work to raise awareness about infertility prevention and breaking infertility stigma.

Who can apply?

Journalists from print, online, radio and multimedia platforms from Namibia and rest of English-speaking countries from Africa.

Last date of submission

Entries can be submitted till 15th June 2020.

How to apply? Entries can be submitted via email to

[emailprotected]

Sending multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.

"Merck More Than a Mother" is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe and effective fertility care. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education and Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.

With "Merck More Than a Mother", we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility on all levels By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It's all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.

Merck Foundation is making history in many African countries where they never had fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics before 'Merck More Than a Mother' intervention, to train the first fertility specialists such as; in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, Guinea, Ethiopia and Uganda.

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as;

*'Merck More than a Mother' Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training

*'Merck More than a Mother' Fashion Awards

*'Merck More than a Mother' Film Awards

*Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it

*Children storybook, localized for each country

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

Original post:
Merck Foundation launches first Health Media Training in partnership with the first lady of Namibia to break infertility stigma in the country #45586...

Genetics

Podcast: Can you inherit more than half your genes from one parent? Debunking genomic myths and misconceptions – Genetic Literacy Project

The Distaff Gospels, a collection of medieval Old Wives Tales, warns that if a pregnant woman eats hare shes likely to have a baby with a cleft palate, while eating fish heads leads to a trout pout. While these ideas certainly arent supported by modern science, there is still plenty of confusion surrounding genetics todayfor example, the idea that an inherited disease is the result of something bad happening in the family, that mutations are always bad, or that looking more like one parent than the other means youve inherited more of their genes.

Geneticist Kat Arney explores some of the myths and misconceptions about genetics, genomics and inheritance, in partnership with the Genomics Education Programme.

Genetic testsand increasingly, more detailed genomic analysisare providing an unprecedented amount of information about the underlying genetic variations and alterations that affect health. The pace at which genomic data and technologies are coming into the clinic is impressive. At the same time, it can leave patients, the public and healthcare providers feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure out what it all means.

Laura Boyes, Consultant Genetic Counselor for the West Midlands, explains where we get our ideas about inheritance from, and how they shape our family relationships. She also talks about the need to normalize the idea of genetic variation: nobody has a perfect genome, and we are all carrying our own unique alterations.

Anna Middleton, Head of Society and Ethics Research at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge, discusses whether media portrayals of genetics are helpful or harmful, and whether scientists should get worked up about bad science in the movies.

Finally, Arney speaks with Michelle Bishop, the Education Lead for the Genomics Education Programme, about the importance of providing accurate and understandable information about genomics, and the need for educators and healthcare professionals to keep up to date with advances in this fast-moving field.

The Genomics Education Programme is running a week of action from the 16th to the 20th March 2020, designed to raise awareness about the impact of genomics in healthcare and what we can all do to tackle some of the myths and misconceptions that are out there. Following @genomicsedu and #GenomicsConversation on Twitter or visit genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk for more information.

Full transcript, links and references available online atGeneticsUnzipped.com

Genetics Unzippedis the podcast from the UKGenetics Society,presented by award-winning science communicator and biologistKat Arneyand produced byFirst Create the Media.Follow Kat on Twitter@Kat_Arney,Genetics Unzipped@geneticsunzip,and the Genetics Society at@GenSocUK

Listen to Genetics Unzipped onApple Podcasts(iTunes)Google Play,Spotify,orwherever you get your podcasts

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Podcast: Can you inherit more than half your genes from one parent? Debunking genomic myths and misconceptions - Genetic Literacy Project

Biochemistry

Millersville University students react to suspension of day-to-day courses because of coronavirus – LancasterOnline

Millersville University announced Wednesday morning that it would be suspending all in-person classes after spring break.

University president Daniel Wubah announced the action in an email to students and their families and added that the university does not have any confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Read more about Millersville suspending day-to-day courses here.

Students on campus Wednesday told LNP | LancasterOnline that they felt suspending in-person classes was perhaps an overreaction.

We think its a bit ridiculous, Matthew Lantz, a sophomore, said.

I think its overblown, senior Shayne Gasser said.

Sophomore Ariana Ford said she understands being cautious, but she thinks the universitys decision was reactionary.

I feel like we shouldnt stop our lives, Ford said, adding, We shouldnt let the media scare us.

Some are concerned about the money they paid for room and board.

Just tell me if Im being reimbursed, freshman Harmony Lighty said.

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Lighty, a biochemistry major, said shes also worried about how her classes will translate online.

Theres no online version of a lab, she said.

Millersville spokeswoman Janet Kacskos said university leadership is in current discussions regarding reimbursements. Faculty, she added, will receive training to move their courses online.

For Jean Zang, an Asian-American from York, the universitys announcement was just another reminder that the coronavirus and the racism and xenophobia that come with it isnt going away.

Though she hasnt experienced outright racism related to the virus at the university, Zang, a sophomore, said its constantly brought up in class, and shes dealt with it outside of Millersville.

As an Asian person, it makes me sick of hearing it, she said.

See more here:
Millersville University students react to suspension of day-to-day courses because of coronavirus - LancasterOnline