Healthy Living: Alzheimers & brain awareness month – ABC27

June is alzheimers and brain awareness month. An opportunity to talk about the disease and dementia.

According to the Fisher Center for Alzheimers, dementia is a group of symptoms that make it hard to remember, think clearly, make decisions or even control your emotions.

While alzheimers is a neurological brain disorder causing problems with memory, the Alzheimers Association says its never too early or too late to incorporate healthy habits for your brain.

Since everyone with a brain is at risk for these issues, the group has 10 ways to love your brain.

One of which is to incorporate a go purple diet.

Purple is the color of the alzheimers association and the purple foods they list include blueberries, blackberries and plums which have antioxidants and omega 3s which may improve brain health and function.

Another way follow your heart. Know and understand your risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke from conditions like diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Knowing these things can help you take care of your brain by taking care of your heart.

For a list of the other eight ways to love your brain, click here.For more facts and figures from the alzheimers association, click here.

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Healthy Living: Alzheimers & brain awareness month - ABC27

HEALTHY LIVING: Health department working to vaccinate county’s teens – The Tribune | The Tribune – Ironton Tribune

For a little over a month, the Lawrence County Health Department has been working to administer the COVID-19 to teenagers in the county.

We started as soon as they opened up, Angela Doyle, director of nursing for the department, said.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said, during the first week of May, that eligibility to receive the vaccine was open to those ages 12 and older.

The governors decision follows that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, who have approved vaccination for teens as well.

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began in December 2020, beginning with health workers and those 80 and older, then eligibility was gradually lowered in following months as more vaccines became available.

Doyle spoke at a vaccination clinic that was set up at Ironton Middle School on June 11. A similar event had taken place for Symmes Valley Schools the preceding day.

Doyle said the department has been visiting all school districts in the county and that they were now on their second round of visits.

The health department also hosted a special clinic for high school students in early May at the South Point Board of Education offices, the site of their weekly vaccine clinics. That event was timed so that students could receive both doses of a vaccine before prom and graduation events.

Doyle said attendance for the events has varied and that there is a possibility that the state may open up the vaccine to those under 12.

There are studies and they are hoping to push that through sooner, rather than later, she said, adding that the department is keeping watch on all updates.

Three vaccines, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson, are available for the general population, but Doyle said only the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses, is allowed for those under 18.

Doyle said the department will continue to offer vaccines to youth in the county, with follow-up events, as well as their weekly clinic on Wednesdays at the South Point location.

More information can be found on the health departments Facebook page or by calling 740-532-3962.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also urged that children 12 and older get the Pfizer vaccine and agreed that it is fine to give more than one vaccine at the same time, especially for kids who are behind on their regular vaccinations.

Children are far less likely than adults to get seriously ill from COVID-19, but they do sometimes die, and thousands have been hospitalized. By last month, those ages 12 to 17 were making up slightly more of the nations new coronavirus infections than adults over 65, a group thats now largely vaccinated.

Side effects are the same as adults experience, mostly sore arms and flu-like fever, chills or aches that signal the immune system is revving up. The Associated Press contributed to this story

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HEALTHY LIVING: Health department working to vaccinate county's teens - The Tribune | The Tribune - Ironton Tribune

Healthy living: It takes a village, and a whole lot of coordination, to save a life – Norwich Bulletin

Donna Handley, President, Backus Hospital| For The Bulletin

On March 7, a butcher, husband and father suffered a severe laceration to a major artery while cutting meat at Salem Prime Cuts.

As The Day published recently, this was no routine injury. He severed his common femoral vein and was bleeding to death. They call this kind of injury a widow-maker. Thankfully, our team made sure it didnt live up to its name. In the span of 24 hours, at least four people were credited with saving the life of 28-year-old Adam Ritchotte of Baltic.

Dr. Kyle McClaine, EMS Medical Director for Backus Hospital, explained to the media that Adams amazing story allows us to raise community awareness of Stop the Bleed, our EMS training, our hospital system, and the power of our healthcare system.

I couldnt agree more. An injury such as Adams can lead to death in three minutes. But in 2017, Hartford HealthCare launched a statewide program to educate EMS personnel on wound packing and pressure dressing techniques. Those methods and the talents of our trained colleagues were key to Adams survival.

So were the skilled hands of Backus Trauma Surgeon David Coletti, MD, who was credited as the third person to save Adams life (the first was Adams friend and co-worker who applied direct pressure to the wound, the second an EMS worker). Dr. Coletti was able to stop the bleeding and stabilize Adam so that he could be transported by LIFE STAR to Hartford Hospital, where Backus and Hartford Hospital vascular surgeon Edward Griffin, MD, performed an extremely risky surgery that can only be done at a tertiary care center. That saved Adams life for the fourth time in 24 hours.

Adam is now home and continuing to improve.

This very complicated case showcases how we provide care for a patient from start to finish. The technique Dr. Gifford used to repair Adams vein meant the patient wouldnt need a prosthetic. While he did the vein repair, Hartford Hospital trauma surgeons worked to successfully save Adams leg and they were able to avoid needing skin grafts for his leg, as well. After Adam went home, he was cared for by HHC at Home nurses. Thats coordinated care.

I am so proud to share and tell this story. Because this is tale story of teamwork about how a community hospital, its skilled physicians, EMS partners, LIFE STAR and our tertiary care facility worked together against all odds. I marvel at the communication and coordination it took to save Adams life, and I want to thank everyone involved, including our Emergency Medical Services partners if it werent for our first responders, Adam might never have made it to the hospital.

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Healthy living: It takes a village, and a whole lot of coordination, to save a life - Norwich Bulletin

Compass partners with CAN Community Health providing immediate on-site care and services – WPTV.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. It's one of the largest expansions Compass Community Center has witnessed in over 30 years. On Friday, the center partnered with CAN Community Health to provide on-site doctors and other immediate services to people who test positive for HIV.

Thirty years ago, Compass gave Velvet Lenore Smith, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2016 the resources to be empowered, advocating and living her best life.

It doesnt matter who you are. We all are living the same way we all are trying to do the same thing. we all want to be loved and respected, Smith said. Im living my life because of Compass.

The mission has stayed the same but services and programming have expanded. On June 25, the center partnered with CAN Community Health, full-service nonprofit clinics that offer medical, dental, psychological, and lifestyle counseling to HIV patients, regardless of their financial situation, insurance status, or ability to pay.

The same day if theyre tested and they test positive theyre going to see a doctor, theyre going to receive treatment and theyre going to walk out of our clinic with medication, said Patrice Gray, CAN Community Health practice administrator.

Gray gave WPTV a tour. She calls offering on-the-spot care proactive.

Once they walk through the door theyre going to walk out completely taken care of. Theres no reason that we need to send them anywhere else to any other agency. This is their one-stop-shop for their healthy living, Gray said.

It also encourages testing and promotes healthy outcomes.

Through PrEP services, through prevention and education were trying to bring those numbers down, said Gabrielle Brito, RN, CAN Community Health, registered nurse team lead. CAN provides a whole range of opportunities for people to seek services without feeling judged.

Compass said this partnership was three years in the making and while the look of the center has changed, the centers goal hasnt.

Its really taking Compass back to its roots because you cant talk about the LGBTQ community without recognizing the history, the trauma, and the past with HIV and AIDS," said Julie Seavers, Compass CEO and executive director.

Testing just like a persons results is confidential. To learn more about CAN Community Health, click here.

To learn more about services and programming at Compass Community Center, click here.

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Compass partners with CAN Community Health providing immediate on-site care and services - WPTV.com

Tips for living a healthy life with Alzheimer’s – PhillyVoice.com

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia, know that youre not alone. The road ahead will consist of good days and bad days, but an emphasis on living a healthier lifestyle can help prepare you to live well and focus your energies on what is most important to you.

Living a healthy life with Alzheimer's disease involves examining the influences that impact your experience living with dementia. The health benefits associated with maintaining your physical, emotional, social and spiritual health may help improve your daily life.

Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet can help you live well with your diagnosis for as long as possible. Research suggests that mild-to-moderate physical activity may help delay or slow a decline in thinking skills, reduce stress, possibly help improve symptoms of depression, and may even reduce risk of falls. Some evidence also suggests that exercise may directly benefit brain cells by increasing blood and oxygen flow. Even stronger evidence suggests exercise may protect brain health through its proven benefits to the cardiovascular system. Just besure to check with your physician before starting a new exercise routine.

A balanced diet has not been proven as an effective treatment to address symptoms of Alzheimer's, but the best current evidence suggests that heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, also may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats.

Coming to terms with a serious diagnosis like Alzheimer's disease involves embracing changes in your emotional state, so allow yourself to experience a range of emotions. One of the most important things you can do is talk about your feelings with someone you trust such as your spouse, partner, a close friend, pastor or counselor. Sometimes a different perspective can be helpful as you learn to adjust to living with the disease and cope with difficult feelings.

While there is no conclusive evidence that brain exercises can slow or reverse cognitive decline, learning new information, taking a class, or challenging yourself to try a new hobby or activity may help increase your brain activity. Some types of mental exercises may have the added benefit of connecting you with others socially, which also may improve your mental health.

Strong relationships and an active social network can have an impact on your health. Building a support network with others who are living in the early stage can help normalize what you're experiencing, reduce the impact of stigma and improve your quality of life.

At first, you may be hesitant to engage in social activities for fear of making a mistake or having difficulty with communication. Consider pursuing activities that you enjoy or that satisfy you so much, that you can move past your hesitation. You can also find early-stage social engagement programs near you.

Enhancing your spiritual life can help you cope with challenging feelings, find meaning in your diagnosis and live your life more deeply. Some people find their spiritual core through church or connections with their spiritual community, or through being in nature. Others find the essence of self through solitary activities that calm the mind, like meditation, yoga or prayer. Still others find it through the love of family and friends, by engaging or just being with those who provide understanding and acceptance.

By educating yourself about the disease, developing effective coping strategies and planning for the future, you can create a solid foundation from which to cope with the new challenges and changes that lie ahead. And importantly, these healthy behaviors are also critical for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's or other dementia. As a caregiver, it is important to practice your own self-care and to ensure you also have a support network for your own well-being.

Resources, support and information are always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at alz.org/delval, or through the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Alzheimer's Association is committed to accelerating the global progress of new treatments, preventions and, ultimately, a cure.

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Tips for living a healthy life with Alzheimer's - PhillyVoice.com

Living the Blue Zone – a living testament to a healthy lifestyle – Pamplin Media Group

91-year-old Nedra Dean is a living example of the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle

Longevity and lifestyle are often considered to be closely connected, and 91-year-old Nedra Dean, of Prineville, is a testament to that hypothesis.

Nedra came to Prineville in 1996. She and her husband were living in New Mexico, as he was retired from the Shell Corporation. With declining health, the Deans made the decision to move to Prineville, where their son, Jim Dean, was living.

"At the time, he was working for the fire department," said Nedra. "Finally, he said to me, 'Mom, you guys better move here because you are going to need me,' which was very true."

They moved to a newer neighborhood in Prineville, and only four years later, her husband passed away.

"I am so thankful that my son was here," she added.

Nedra's daughter lives in Eugene, and both of her kids were there for her at that crucial time. She came to love the community and her neighborhood. Her friends are in her churchthe Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"I like Prineville. It's like New Mexico in an awful lot of ways. People are people wherever you go," she emphasized.

She went on to say that if she needs anything, she can count on any of the members of her church to come and helpall she needs to do is make a phone call. Some of her close friends, Yolanda and Ron Jahn, are especially important to her.

"I think it's just the feeling of knowingthe knowledgethat if I had to have really drastic help, I know who to call," Nedra said.

"Being friends with Nedra for over 20 years is like sitting at Mother's feet, listening spellbound to amazing stories of her childhood and her life as a young adult, as a mother, as a grandmother, and as a Christian," commented Yolanda Jahn of their friendship.

"Nedra was only 8 years old when she felt God tugging at her heartstrings with the need to know Him, have a relationship with Him, and learn spiritual truth from His written word, the Bible. As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, Nedra has blessed the lives of her family and friends both in the church and in the community with her steadfast love and care, her wise and spiritual counsel, and her faithfulness to God," Yolanda went on to say.

"Through the years, Nedra has served her Lord in many capacities in the church and in the community. My husband, Ron, and I will forever be grateful for her unwavering support, love and care, and her enduring friendship," she concluded.

Nedra was an only child, and when she was orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her grandparents.

"I know what it's like to be alone, and I am probably trained to that type of livingI would probably go crazy if I had eight or nine brothers or sisters right now. I am so adapted to living alone," she said of her living arrangements.

Nedra has a very healthy lifestyle, and she has been a vegetarian since her daughter was in high school. She began cooking the vegetarian diet at that time. She also gets many products for her diet from the Jahns, and she feels that diet is extremely important to a healthy lifestyle.

"That is my life is my church, my Lord and my family," she said of her priorities, and the fact that she has very little living family apart from her children and grandchildren.

When asked about advice she would pass on to younger people today, she emphasized the importance of having a healthy social life.

"Be careful of your social life," she added. "You really need to teach your kids to form their life when they are little."

In November 2005, National Geographic Magazine published a cover story, "The Secrets of a Long Life. Five Blue Zones." The people inhabiting Blue Zones shared common lifestyle characteristics that contributed to their longevity. The evidence collected demonstrated why these populations lived a healthier and longer life than other populations. It included the populations who lived in the Blue Zones, including Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California.

Jim Dean, Nedra's son, indicated that his mother had benefitted greatly from her lifestyle as a Seventh-day Adventist. He noted that she had been a vegetarian her entire life.

"I am not a vegetarian, but there must be something to it, because she is 90 years old and doing pretty good."

He emphasized that many folks who lived in the Blue Zone were vegetarians. Although they did not live in that specific area growing up, his sister attended a university in Loma Linda.

"I have very wonderful two kids," concluded Nedra.

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Nedra Dean pauses for a photo at her residence of 24 years in Prineville.

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Living the Blue Zone - a living testament to a healthy lifestyle - Pamplin Media Group

Yoga and Healthy Living – The Shillong Times

By Radhika IyerTalati

Indic traditions emphasise that good mental and physical health is directly connected to three prime activities what we eat, how we breathe and the way we think. These help us to understand the deep connection between our bodies, minds, emotions and thoughts.

One needs to respect the balance between the physical or the food that we eat, mental or the thoughts that we manifest by what we think, emotional or the reactions or responses to situations that we give and the spiritual aspects that we experience in understanding the connection between us and the cosmos. Only when all this is in balance will we have the fortune to experience a healthy, peaceful and successful life. Let us briefly divide these three important aspects that help detox our bodies and help us live a wholesome life.

Based on the principles of the Indic sciences, our life is primarily composed of elements that are sattva or pure, ahimsa or nonviolence and upyogita or symbiotic living. It is in this context that a yogic diet is recommended to live a wholesome life. An ancient practice that has been tried and tested for over thousands of years, a yogic diet promotes mindful eating, consumption in moderation, eating according to the season and indulging in organic and natural food for consumption. A wholesome diet promotes the concept of mit-aahar or moderate eating encourages one to eat food that is in accordance with ones doshas. Our civilization understood the interspersed connection between the ecology and us and this probably is the one reason that we must find the lost connection on why we need to discipline our food eating habits in accordance to nature. Indulging in wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds etc that are both fresh and seasonal are the correct tools to live a healthy lifestyle.

Physical exercise like Yoga is known to help tune into the bodys mechanism. We now need to connect individual intelligence with that of the universal consciousness. Our seers devised yoga as a way to overcome all suffering, internal or external, to enable us to live a healthy and peaceful life. Yoga helps centre the mind in chaotic times, strengthening immunity and building a strong but calm mind that can help us to withstand everything that comes our way. Practicing Yoga Asanas for just 30 minutes every day combined with simple breathing techniques and meditation, will help stretch the body and mind making us stronger and more flexible, less lethargic and more active. Not to mention we will be able to lead a disease and infection free life once we start our yogic journey.

Our traditions emphasise that good mental and physical health is directly connected to the way we breathe. Correct breathing is known to help sharpen the brain and body, increase immunity, reduce stress and increase efficiency. Morden research confirms that most of us use only 20 percent of our breathing capacity during our entire lifetime, essentially hyperventilating on two overworked and exhausted lungs throughout our lives. And without realising this, we live a stressful and disease filled life. Specific breathing routines have thus been established by our ancients that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Simple breathing techniques to manage breath must be practiced every day to consciously navigate the body towards great health.

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Yoga and Healthy Living - The Shillong Times

National HIV Testing Day To Raise Awareness Of Choice Health Network’s Year-Round Services – The Chattanoogan

Choice Health Network will provide free HIV testing at the following events in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, held annually on June 27.

- Friday, June 25; 7-10 p.m. Pride Mix and Mingle. Family friendly, free to attend . Moxy Chattanooga Downtown, 1220 King St.

- Saturday, June 26; 2:30-9 p.m. Pride Day. All ages, free to attend. WanderLinger Brewing Company, 1208 King St.

Officials said, "We arealso will raising awareness of Choice Health Networks everyday services for East Tennessees most vulnerable individuals and families affected by HIV, mental illness, substance use, homelessness, discrimination and disabilities.

"People with HIV can live long, healthy lives when receiving quality medical care. When HIV-positive patients stay on HIV-protective medication, the virus is no longer detected in their blood, and the virus is not transmittable to others. Within four to six weeks of starting and maintaining medication, 94 percent of Choice Health Network clients attain viral suppression."

National HIV Testing Day not only heightens awareness of the need for testing and services across our region, but also allows us to underscore the importance of what we do year-round in Tennessee, said Steve Jenkins, CEO of Positively Living & Choice Health Network. We provide affordable medical care for insured or uninsured patients, along with social services for people who need inclusive healthcare and who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Choice Health Network offers free HIV testing by appointment year-round. In addition to testing and operating a full-service medical clinic, Choice Health Networks services include mental health care counseling and therapy; food and transportation aid; housing support; telehealth; a syringe service exchange; naloxone distribution; resources and referrals to recovery; and HIV prevention through Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

Choice Health Network is located at 5721 Marlin Road in Chattanooga. For more information about Positively Living & Choice Health Network, visit https://choicehealthnetwork.org.

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National HIV Testing Day To Raise Awareness Of Choice Health Network's Year-Round Services - The Chattanoogan

Governor Cuomo Announces Opening of $21 Million Affordable Housing Development in Rochester – Homes and Community Renewal

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the completion of Union Square Apartments, a $21 million supportive housing development serving the LGBTQ+ community and others experiencing homelessness in the city of Rochester. Completed in time for Pride Month, the development provides 72 affordable homes for low-income families and individuals, including 21 units with onsite supportive services for individuals living with HIV or who are 55 or older and require assistance with daily living.

"The best way to address homelessness and housing insecurity in our state is by working directly with our most at-risk New Yorkers,"Governor Cuomo said."As we celebrate Pride Month, the opening of Union Square Apartments will provide LGBTQ+ New Yorkers - who are often disproportionately impacted by homelessness - with access to affordable housing and the supportive services they need to lead healthy, independent lives. This supportive housing development represents yet another accomplishment in our overall efforts to achieve housing equality in New York State once and for all."

"Every New Yorker deserves a roof over their head, including those who are homeless and living with HIV,"Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said."This LGBTQ+ welcoming community in Rochester will include 72 affordable homes and supportive services. Today's announcement represents New York State's commitment to a brighter, more inclusive future as we rebuild from the pandemic."

Located at 275 East Ave., the four-story Union Square was constructed as part of the Inner Loop East Transformation Project, Rochester's multi-year, $20 million project to remove the expressway separating the eastern neighborhoods from Center City with the goal of knitting back together the pedestrian, commercial and residential fabric of the two areas. Union Square Apartments is the third development on the Loop.

Opened during Pride Month in New York State, Union Square is a LGBTQ+ welcoming community that will help reduce housing inequality in Rochester. The LGBTQ+ community is among the groups disproportionately impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity.

Developed by Home Leasing, the development offers 72 units of affordable housing for households earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Each apartment features a dishwasher, central air-conditioning, storage space and balconies, in addition to access to a community room, fitness center, laundry facilities, indoor bike storage, outdoor recreational space and onsite parking.

Trillium Health is providing onsite supportive services to 21 units at Union Square. To be eligible for these apartments, individuals must be experiencing homeless and either living with HIV or 55 or older and requiring assistance with at least one instrumental activity of daily living, such as independent living skills or managing finances and benefits.

In partnership with other community-based programs, housing coordinators will assess each participant's needs and develop an individualized service plan to maintain housing stability and overall well-being. Participants will also have access to group and individualized education sessions, peer support, training in independent living skills and other wrap around services to support their needs.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal's financing for Union Square includes $4.3 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, federal low-income housing tax credits that generated $7.2 million in equity and an additional $8.4 million in subsidy. Services and rental subsidies are funded through the Governor's Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the state Office of Mental Health.

Union Square is part of Governor Cuomo's unprecedented $20 billion, five-year affordable housing plan. The Governor's plan will provide all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing by building and preserving more than 100,000 units of affordable housing and 6,000 units of supportive housing.

The project also builds on the Governor's overall strategy to revitalize communities and grow the economy across the state including "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested $688 million in the Finger Lakes region to create or preserve nearly 8,000 affordable homes.

Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said,"As we commemorate Pride Month, New York is continuing our leadership in the fight for justice, inclusion and compassion for the LGBTQ+ community. Our investment in Rochester's Union Square Apartments is addressing the needs of a community that is disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity and often unable to obtain decent and compassionate healthcare. Through our partnership with Home Leasing and Trillium Health, we are delivering 72 beautiful homes with services that empower individuals to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives."

CEO of Home Leasing Bret Garwood said, "At Home Leasing, we are committed to creating open, accepting and inclusive communities where our residents can live and thrive without discrimination. Union Square provides 72 affordable apartments in a LGBTQ+ welcoming community. Union Square continues the great work to remake the Inner Loop into a vibrant and integrated downtown neighborhood."

Senator Jeremy Cooney said,"The new Union Square Apartments will provide much needed affordable housing and safe living spaces for communities that have been historically discriminated against in the housing market. Rochester is stronger when everyone has a place to call home. The partnership among all of these groups from every sector to further invest in our City's vulnerable populations will be a critical part of our recovery from the pandemic."

Assemblyman Harry B. Bronson said,"People living with HIV/AIDS need housing as a foundation to staying healthy. They are often marginalized, pushed out of jobs, rejected in countless other ways, and are most in need of stability to ensure they are able to live their best healthy lives. Union Square is designed, through housing assistance and supportive services to have a major impact on the lives low-income Rochester residents, especially those living with HIV/AIDS. The opening of Union Square is recognition that one of the best tools for ending the epidemic is providing stable, affordable housing, which leads to better health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS and fewer transmissions."

Mayor Lovely A. Warren said,"As the mayor of a city with a 100score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, I am proud that Rochester continues to reflect the ideals of equity and social justice espoused by Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony. By providing the foundation of an affordable home and supportive services to those living with HIV and the elderly with impediments to independent living, Union Square Apartments will stand as a testament to those ideals. I want to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Empire State Development, Trillium Health and Home Leasing for this powerful investment in the city of Rochester and for helping us advance our efforts to create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities for our citizens."

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, "The opening of the Union Square Apartments is exciting for the city of Rochester on a few fronts. First, it shows continued efforts to revitalize the area around Union Street in accordance with the Inner Loop East Transformation Project. Through projects such as this, what was essentially a blank slate is burgeoning into a diverse community. Secondly, the aim of the Union Square Apartments is admirable. This development was crafted with an emphasis on affordability keenly kept in mind. The complex will be available to many of the people who have been hurt the most by the ongoing housing crisis, those of low socioeconomic status. Lastly, the amenities available to residents once moved in are tremendous. Aside from the fitness center, laundry facilities, and so on, the individualized care for each resident provided by Trillium Health will be instrumental in ensuring those living in the complex are afforded the assistance they need to live happy and healthy lives."

Andrea DeMeo, President and CEO of Trillium Health said,"As a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and Ryan White Clinic, Trillium Health is dedicated to promoting health equity and providing healthcare to the most vulnerable members of our community. We know that housing is an important social determinant of health - you cannot heal, safely store your medicine, adhere to medication regimes, or ensure regular visits to your primary care physician if you don't have housing security. We'regrateful for the opportunity to expand our services in the city and to promote health equity in Rochester."

Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward

Today's announcement complements"Finger Lakes Forward,"the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $8 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan - investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs.

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Governor Cuomo Announces Opening of $21 Million Affordable Housing Development in Rochester - Homes and Community Renewal

Colors Tamil promotes the importance of fitness and healthy lifestyle on Yoga Day – Best Media Info

Popular stars of Colors Tamil came together virtually to celebrate International Yoga Day 2021 on Monday, advocating the importance of yoga in ones emotional, mental and physical well-being in these pandemic-hit times.Colors Tamil hosted the virtual yoga session in partnership with the Rotary Club of Madras Central, for the second consecutive year, bringing in renowned health experts, sports therapy consultants, reputed yoga instructors, fitness experts and physiotherapists from across the country. Focusing on the importance of healthy lungs, the program witnessed yoga sessions on Pranayama and Suryanamaskar, along with basic yoga that anybody could include in their daily life.

Spread over an hour, through a Facebook Live for its viewers, the e-yoga meet was led by well-known experts of Ayurveda and fitness trainers, including Dr Dharmesh Kubendran (Sports Therapy Consultant of Trimmers and Toners), Dr Simranjeet Kaur (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Women Health and Pilates Instructor and a consultant to several celebrities), Dr Krishna Shah (Senior Physiotherapist from Spine Action), Nathiya (Ayurveda expert & yoga therapist) and Mrs Supriya Sundaraman (President of Rotary Club of Madras). The session had experts talk about coping with stress during the pandemic,working on the bodys flexibility, and overall well-being. They also gave tips for improving ones breathing and including yoga and other beneficial workouts as a daily healthy routine. Clearing the myths on yoga, they also discussed about the importance of right postures and living a stress-free healthy life brimming with more positivity, rejuvenation and higher energy levels etc.

Commenting on this enterprising initiative,Anup Chandrasekharan, Business Head, Colors Tamil, said, Overcoming stress and living a healthy life hasalways been a core requirement. But it needs to be inculcated even more seriously during these unpredictable and challenging times. We have partnered with the Rotary Club of Madras Central for the second time on International Yoga Day and are extremely pleased and enlightened after the virtual session. Its a privilege to be a part of such a healthy initiative and strongly believe that we all need to include and explore a lot of other exciting things, apart from the usual work schedules and other commitments.

Sharing their joy at being a part of this great initiative, the Colors Tamil stars who took part in the session, said in a joint statement,It was a very delightful experience to be refreshed and guided by such fine minds and health experts, who have been doing a yeomans service through their insightful sessions where fitness, health and Yoga have always been an inspiring force for many to transform their lives with good health, calmness and a healthy lifestyle.

The serene yoga session early in the morning had renowned actor/comedian Badava Gopi along with Reshma Muralidharan, Sanjay Raja and Suju from Colors Tamils Abhi Tailors, Sameer,Dharshini, Hanna, VJ Ayub andShyam from Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, Amaljith, Pavitra, Vaigha and Harishankar from Amman and many others in attendance, who made the session even more popular with their active participation.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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Colors Tamil promotes the importance of fitness and healthy lifestyle on Yoga Day - Best Media Info

Arnot Health offers HIV testing clinics June 28-July 2 in Elmira and Ithaca – WETM – MyTwinTiers.com

ELMIRA, NY (WETM) National HIV Testing Day is June 27 and Arnot Healths HIV Clinic will be observing this day by offering free rapid HIV tests from June 28th to July 2nd in locations in Elmira and Ithaca.

It can be a very difficult thing when receiving a test and receiving the results, whether they be positive or negative, Logan Yovanovitch, prep navigator with HIV clinic at Arnot Health, said. The science for treatment options for people living with HIV has grown and expandedTheres no decrease in life expectancy. People who are living with HIV can live long and healthy lives.

The rapid HIV test provides results in 20 minutes and is offered daily at Arnot Health.

Testing is easy. Its efficient, effective, and its accessible. Its always here. Its something that we offer year round, Yovanovitch continued.

The staff of Arnots HIV Clinic will also be available to answer questions in Arnots Green Space, adjacent to the Falck Cancer Center on the AOMC Campus, on Friday, June 25th.

Anna Lechowska, Director of the HIV Clinic, said, Its important for there to be no stigma attached to HIV testing. It is something that should be done once a year, as a standard part of a healthcare plan. The Ivy Clinic at Arnot is dedicated to quality, comprehensive HIV care, testing, and education.

While walk-ins will be accepted for the testing, appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment, please call 607-795-8161 or text 607-742-0044.

Hours of testing are:

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Arnot Health offers HIV testing clinics June 28-July 2 in Elmira and Ithaca - WETM - MyTwinTiers.com

What is better for your mental health – living alone or with others? – Metro.co.uk

Is a houseshare the right choice? (Picture: Getty)

Trying to rent in London is hard enough, but having mental health issues makes things trickier.

There is a lot to consider. Is it better to live alone and not see people for several days on end when you are having a downward spiral, or to have a flatmate who can give you a gentle nudge to go out for a walk or who you can at least sit and watch TV with?

Do you crave contact or are you happy being by yourself? Is it good for those of us with mental health issues to spend so much time by ourselves?

One study found that those who live alone have an 80% higher chance of having depression than those who live with other people.

But it could be either that those who are depressed are more likely to want to live alone or that living alone isnt good for our mental wellbeing.

Psychotherapist Somia Zaman tells Metro.co.uk that it is indeed possible for issues to develop from solo renting.

She says: Many people respond to making decisions based on feeling and not need. For many the comfort of isolation and the known environment, despite perpetuating their loneliness, becomes a feeling of safety which is why building a routine is important and is practiced in some therapies as a possible way to move forward.

There is no one right way of living, whether its alone or with a group of friends, family or strangers that will cause mental health issues or exasperate them but humans are physiologically designed to live amongst one another so complete isolation isnt recommended.

Those who chose to live alone arent necessarily more emotionally stable, these people most likely have strong family and friendship support networks.

There is also a difference between living alone and being lonely but there is also a difference between being alone through choice or necessity. The latter weighs more heavily on many.

Katy James, Chartered Psychologist at Vita Health Group, says: The experience someone has living with others can depend on whether the person chose to live with those people, whether they are friends or strangers and also what mental health issues they struggle with.

For example, someone with social anxiety may prefer to live alone and feel better during the pandemic because they are relying on avoidance circles but as things start to become normal again, they will find it harder to break this cycle.

Its better to try not to avoid things youre scared of, managing them instead (potentially through therapy) is a better way to move forward.

Living with others while struggling with depression can help and be used as a motivator. However, it can feel like an added pressure to be social when you arent at a capacity to be. Living with others can come with expectation, our expectations of others and theirs of us which need to be managed.

But for those specifically living with depression, Katy says that generally they can benefits from living with others.

Tahmina, who in the past has struggled with anxiety, said: Ive lived alone and with people but prefer to live with people. When Ive been too anxious, I feel like Ive been pulled back by having to contribute to those around me whether its a casual conversation or house chores.

Sahina, who struggles with depression, anxiety and PTSD, added: Living with a housemate wasnt something I thought would help my mental health as in my head I sought solitude, and space to work through my issues.

In the last year, having a friend and housemate by my side when rock bottom hit, has actually helped in bringing me back up. In making me feel like Im not alone, in coping with the things I struggle with, and just lending support and strength and distractions when I needed it most, often when I didnt realise I needed it at all.

Others feel having their own space is much more beneficial, like Sarah, who says: I was extremely depressed and suicidal as a student, both during undergrad and postgrad.

Living alone helps me now as I can withdraw and give myself the care I need, but at the lowest point of my depression I was terrified of disappearing into myself, and clutched desperately at any company that would anchor me to life.

Rachel, 32, who suffers from depression, anxiety and complex PTSD adds: While living with flatmates I felt constantly on edge with people I didnt know and trust. I felt unsafe where I lived because there were strangers around this wasnt a reflection of the people I lived with but my mental health.

I felt like I needed to hide from them if I was having a bad time and struggled with things. I didnt want to disclose all my mental health stuff to justify not helping with chores.

When making decisions on living with others, Dr Rachel Sumner, from the University of Gloucestershire, says we should consider how we feel about ourselves and whether we can confront and address situations

Coping with these conflicts has been more difficult during the pandemic. People who would diffuse or disable the situation with an angry walk around the block to cool off or trip to the post office, lost this during lockdown.

Chloe, who struggled with severe depression and generalised anxiety says: I was living in quite cramped shared houses, and I found that when I was really low or my anxiety was really high I would shut myself in my bedroom and avoid being in communal spaces.

This had a significant impact on how I ate, and resulted in a lot of quick dinners, ready meals or takeout, which I dont imagine did my mental or physical health a great deal of help.

This was a big motivator for me in moving out on my own, which I did four years ago. I found the experience quite transformative, while living alone wasnt the only thing that helped me recover, it did help me to set healthy boundaries about being in my bedroom which in turn helped to improve my sleep and it helped me to take command over my nutrition by spending more time in the kitchen.

Its a really deeply personal thing. But for me moving out on my own was a really key part of recovery.

Ultimately, the decision is based on what works for each individual.While some crave company, others need space and we need to balance what helps each of us most.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Writing about trauma can help improve your mental health

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What is better for your mental health - living alone or with others? - Metro.co.uk

Tips to support your kids going through the HSC – NSW Department of Education

1. Help with time management

You can use your own adult experience to help your child manage their time effectively.

The HSC may seem overwhelming to them so you can help break it down into manageable study chunks. Sit down with them and work out a realistic study schedule. A good study schedule should cater to the way your child likes to work. For instance, do they get more value studying in intense short spurts rather than a one hour block?

There should be clear goals for each block of study. Having a rewards system may help too. Its also important to schedule relaxation and fun activities. Let your child lead it, its their timetable after all, and it has to work for them.

Studies show that students who use effective time management perform better academically and are less stressed.

Its important that your child doesn't feel pressured. Where possible, try and use positive language and gestures.

Use positive expressions or phrases that convey encouragement and being non-judgmental. For example, how can I help with your study today? This will help steer your child to the right paths through uplifting and constructive expressions and giving them control of their own situation.

Avoid using negative expressions or phrases that convey disappointment or judgment. For instance: youll never pass the HSC if you dont do more study or do you really think its a good idea to go on social media right now?

Your child will be very sensitive to any criticism or implied criticism. They will be especially sensitive given the enormity of the exams they are facing. So ask questions that arent loaded with any judgement, let them know they always have your support.

A healthy lifestyle is important for many reasons. Eating and sleeping well and staying fit is beneficial for your body.

Research shows theres a clear link between sleep and brain activity. We also know that getting a good nights sleep is important for teenagers mental health and it directly influences how well students perform in their exams.

But its not just sleep that counts. Exercise pumps oxygen into the brain and stimulates it. Studies by the UCLA have found that exercise actually increases brain growth and development. Meanwhile, what you eat also has a big effect on the way your brain functions. And this is especially true for teenagers whose bodies are still growing.

Proteins, like meat, fish, eggs and nuts, help the brains performance and produce amino acids. Amino acids create the happy chemicals in the brain which help to counter stress and anxiety. Then there are omega 3 foods, like oily fish, eggs, flax seeds and beef which help with learning and memory. Then theres other fats like avocado, olives, canola oil and nuts which strengthen your memory and help your brain work harder. In fact, these monounsaturated fats have been found to fight off Alzherimers and help the brain stay sharp for longer.

Antioxidant foods like blueberries, raspberries, kale and cherries fight the unstable molecules in your brain that cause stress and memory loss.

You can play a really important role in your childs HSC year by pointing them to the right foods, encouraging them to stay active and sleep well, and keeping them away from junk foods high in sugar or polyunsaturated fats.

There are more distractions for kids these days than ever before. Phone time, gaming time, social media and screen time generally, are a constant presence in many childrens lives.

Phones especially can be an addictive habit. A recent study of smartphones users found that the average person checks their phones over eighty times a day. And the effects of too much screen time have negative consequences.

A recent study found that children who spent more than two hours a day on screens scored lower in language and thinking tests and even experienced thinning of the brain in some extreme cases.

Phones, computers and gaming devices are bad distractions that will make your child lose focus. You dont have to eradicate them completely, but take them out of the study schedule and use them as rewards instead.

Get more information and advice at eSafety for parents and carers.

A study by the University of NSW found that 40% of HSC students were suffering from symptoms of depression or high stress or anxiety.

Theres no question that most HSC students feel very pressured. As a parent you can create a calm environment at home that will help reduce their anxiety. You can help turn their bedroom into a neat, tidy space that they feel comfortable and relaxed working in.

Meditation is another good way of overcoming stress. Perhaps you may want to investigate some meditation techniques or some meditation apps such as Headspace or Insight Timer.

Other techniques include breathing exercises which calm and dissipate stress or muscle relaxation.

Some students may like to try yoga which has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety. But, by ensuring that your child is living in a home where they feel safe, calm and protected, you will be giving them a peaceful space in which to study.

Of course, parents and carers need to look after their own wellbeing too so they can provide support from a strong base. You are, in a sense, also on this HSC journey. For more information visit the parent and carer hub for information and resources to help you help your child.

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Tips to support your kids going through the HSC - NSW Department of Education

How low T increase risk of severe COVID-19 in men – The Southern Maryland Chronicle

Research recently conducted connects diminished blood concentrations of testosterone in men with more severe presentations of COVID-19.

This data completely debunks popularly brandished myths and presumptions suggesting that higher testosterone levels explained why men stood at greater risk of developing severer cases of the illness than their female counterparts.

That said, as the pandemic has progressed, data put forth by healthcare providers has concluded that men seem to develop worse cases than women.

One initial theory supporting the hypothesis that hormonal differences seen in the genders might make men more vulnerable to the pathogens most serious impacts. Researchers continued to suggest that testosterone correlates with aggressive behavior, as mens bodies contain much more testosterone than women. Early speculation centered around such factoids being the reason men seemed to fare worse.

However, newer findings might suggest that, in actuality, the opposite is true. That said, this research didnt provide any data unequivocally linking low T levels to serious cases of the COVID-19. Researchers emphasize that such outcomes could be related to other underlying factors.

That said, these same medical professionals strongly caution the efficacy and safety of clinical trials of drugs used to lower testosterone or heighten estrogen levels as therapeutic protocols for men diagnosed with COVID-19.

In a fresh study Association of Circulating Sex Hormones With Inflammation and Disease Severity in Patients With COVID-19, doctor Abhinav Diwan, who also serves as a professor of medicine at Saint Louiss Washington University School of Medicine, said that the pandemic has created a prevailing belief amongst medical community members that testosterone fuels COVIDs fire.

The physician continued that the reality is quite the opposite. On average, men who possessed diminished systemic concentrations of testosterone upon entering the hospital actually had a higher risk of developing severe COVID-related manifestations or even death than men with higher internal levels of the hormone.

Moreover, researchers found that, if men with already low testosterone levels experienced further systemic declines, their risk for significant complications rose even greater.

Study overseers examined the blood samples of 90 men and 62 women who visited the Barnes-Jewish Hospital presenting with confirmed cases. Of the 143 patients ultimately admitted, researchers again sampled their blood after 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. In addition to testosterone, researchers measured systemic levels of several other notable hormones.

Examiners found that, in women, no appreciable links between hormonal levels and disease severity could be found. Amongst men, no other substances but testosterone revealed any notable findings.

Blood concentrations of testosterone are considered low if the numbers fall below 250 nanograms per deciliter. At admission, men with serious COVID-19 presentations averaged readings of 53 nanograms per deciliter. However, men with milder cases averaged 153 nanograms per deciliter.

Moreover, the results produced by the sickest subjects continued to decline as time progressed. By their third day in the hospital, readings dropped to an average of 19 nanograms per deciliter.

Researchers emphasize that other factors are known to induce more severe illness. Such as high blood pressure, diabetes, older age, and obesity are also connected to low testosterone.

Also, they discovered that men with low T who were not terribly ill at first were more likely to require placement in intensive care or intubation in the immediate days that followed.

Such data, inspired endocrinologist and study author, Dr. Sandeep Dhindsa to confidently opine that lower T levels seemed to be a significant predicting factor in which patients would grow significantly ill.

Additionally, this team of researchers is examining if these findings might suggest links between reproductive hormones and post-Covid cardiovascular concerns. Diwan, who is a cardiologist by trade, opined that when symptoms lingered on for months after initial infection, such issues could arise.

The doctor also stated that men stricken with severe cases or lingering manifestations might benefit from testosterone therapy. For some time, this therapeutic protocol has been employed as a treatment for men coping with low T levels and experiencing the physical and emotional symptoms of said occurrence.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Washington Universitys biorepository and the academic institutions Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences.

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How low T increase risk of severe COVID-19 in men - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

Longevity and Anti-Senescence Therapy Market 2021 Size, Status and Global Outlook Acorda Therapeutics, Calico Life Sciences, Human Longevity Inc.,…

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First AMR Preparedness Index finds UK, US top charts amid first world failures to address antimicrobial resistance threat – Homeland Preparedness News

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A new report from the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a first of its kind known as the AMR Preparedness Index, provides an evaluation and roadmap for the 11 largest global economies and their efforts to tackle rising cases of antimicrobial resistance.

While recognition of the threat has risen, according to the organizations, there has been a broad failure to match public promises and actual actions to avert a crisis. The U.K. and the United States have fared best along with Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. Case studies were presented from Australia, Kenya, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden as well.

Increasing resistance to life-saving antimicrobials, together with our broken innovation pipeline, threatens to erode the very foundation of modern medicine and, with it, erase one of the principal achievements of the 20th century the miracle of human longevity, Michael Hodin, CEO of the GCOA, said. As the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) Decade of Healthy Ageing brings greater attention and energy to our remarkable demographic achievement and the COVID-19 experience make clear the compounded risk to older adults from infectious disease, we must fully acknowledge the threat that AMR poses to the very prospect of healthy and active aging. Without true action to effectively address AMR, tens of millions of lives both young and old will be cut short, and so many others will be diminished as a result of care foregone over concerns about now untreatable infection.

It is estimated that 700,000 people die each year from drug-resistant infections, and those figures are expected to grow as the problem worsens. Resistance is increasing to existing drugs, increasing the risk of even routine medical care.

If unaddressed, the continued rise of AMR is expected to lead to as many as 10 million deaths per year, disability and lower quality of life for millions more, and $100 trillion in lost GDP by 2050, the organizations said in a statement.

Countries were ranked based on seven categories. The results led the GCOA and IDSA to recommend several means of bolstering government action, as well, including:

The COVID-19 pandemic has made painfully clear to all the far-reaching impact of untreatable infectious diseases across societies and economies, Dr. Barbara Alexander, IDSA president, said. As we enter the next stage of the pandemic and with global momentum for AMR action building among G7 countries in the UK with the launch of the subscription pilot, and most recently, with the reintroduction of the PASTEUR Act in the US Congress the 2021 AMR Preparedness Index comes at a pivotal moment. We are pleased to partner with the Global Coalition on Aging to create this vital tool that will help governments around the world reinforce their words with actions.

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First AMR Preparedness Index finds UK, US top charts amid first world failures to address antimicrobial resistance threat - Homeland Preparedness News

What if marmosets lived on the Moon? – The Economist

Jul 3rd 2021

CAIRD COLLECTIVE, LUNA

Editors note: This year What If?, our annual collection of scenarios, considers the future of health. Each of these stories is ction, but grounded in historical fact, current speculation and real science. They do not present a unied narrative but are set in dierent possible futures

THEY CAN, at times, look somewhat sinister, their faces oddly small for their heads, their white ear tufts jutting out almost aggressively. Their ability to throw themselves at people across seemingly unfeasible distances can be unsettling, and their buzzing and shrieking takes a lot of getting used to, as does their smell. But the members of the Caird collective will not hear a word spoken against the marmosets with whom they share their spaces at the Moons South Pole. As they sit in their insulated caves hoovering moondust out of the animals tails, few of the Cairders can imagine their life on the rim of Shackleton crater without themand none wants to. The marmosets of the Moon are the first and best example of what has turned out to be a fundamental fact of space flight: that the further humans get from Earth, the more they benefit from the companionship of other Earthly animals.

The marmosets were originally brought to the Moon as unwilling participants in a vital research project. Marmosets are lighteven under Earth gravityand reasonably easy to care for, but they have placentas much more like those of humans than any other animal their size, and reasonably short gestation periods. That made them ideal for looking at a fundamental question: can humans have healthy pregnancies in the low gravity of the Moon, where things weigh only one-sixth what they do on Earth?

In the 2020s and 2030s, the years of what the novelist Wil McCarthy called the Rich Mans Sky, questions of obstetrics and gynaecology received remarkably little attention. For many, the idea of staying in space long enough for such things to matter made little sensespace stations in Earth orbit and bases on the Moon were places for fixed-length work contracts and research sojourns, or for tourism. Babies were no more of an issue than they were in isolated 20th-century Antarctic research outposts.

There were, as it happens, a few babies born in Antarctica even back then, when its ice cover was all but intact. The Argentine and Chilean governments both saw the creation of natives on the continent as a way to establish sovereignty and arranged births to that end. But there was no reason to think that Antarctica was inimical to pregnancy and infancy. The long-term health effects of low gravity and microgravitywhich for those in orbit include brittle bones, muscle wasting and eye diseasewere something else. Adults could counter some of these effects with treadmills and tension cords. But as the title of an early paper on the subject succinctly put it, The fetus cannot exercise like an astronaut.

Even those, like Elon Musk, who talked of permanent settlements on Mars spent little time working on the question. It was left to a small team of scientists in the Japanese modules of the Artemis base founded in 2029 by America and its allies to explore the question experimentally with the help of marmosets, gene-splicing technology, intra-uterine monitoring devices and a giant centrifuge.

They had some success. Like human fetuses, marmoset fetuses spend most of their gestation with a density equal to that of the amniotic fluid around them, a neutral buoyancy that leaves them indifferent to local gravity; only relatively late on do differences due to gravity start to crop up. After a few years of trial and error, and some dainty gene-editing to rebalance the rate at which bones grow when not stressed through use, the researchers developed a regime involving hormone treatments for the mothers and regular late-pregnancy sessions in their custom-made room-sized centrifuge, known as the marmo-go-round. This reliably produced pups with strong-enough bones and muscles and little by way of deformity, though their tails were impressively long even by marmoset standards.

Unfortunately, in 2038 that research was interrupted by the geopolitical meltdown of the wolf-and-wimp war and then by the 26 months of the Great Grounding. With all powered flight within or through the Earths atmosphere prohibited, the various Moon bases seemed doomed even after they agreed to pool their resources to create what became known as the Polynational James Caird Collective. With all the groups biotech know-how turned to increasing food production and nutrient recycling, the marmosets were at first ignored and then freed to roam within the bases. Their effect on morale was instantaneous and profound.

The importance of companion animals to the mental health of people engaged in a homeless lifestyle was well documented in pre-war societies. It has been suggested that the effect of the marmosets on the Caird collective was similar; cut off from Earth, the humans were more homeless than any group of people had ever been before. Caring for, playing with and grooming marmosets also became a basis for bonding between humans, many of whom had not known each other before the Grounding, and some of whose countries had been adversaries in the war. By the time the mysterious entity responsible for the Great Grounding finally abandoned its control of the Earths air-traffic-control and missile-defence systems, allowing traffic with the Moon to resume, the marmosets had become an indispensable part of the settlers new identity and society. Few believe that a lack of companion animals was, in itself, the reason that the Mars base failed during the Grounding. But it surely did not help.

The bond between the Moons larger and smaller primates persisted even as the rigours of separation came to an end. Almost all Cairders still dislike spending any significant time deprived of marmoset company. They cuddle them and relish their low-gravity acrobatics. In a joking way that seems, at some level, not to be a joke, they treat the abnormally long tails of the Moon-born marmosets as a sign of providence, holding the tail-fur to be particularly good at picking up moondust. The dust, which can cause lung disease, infiltrates their habitats despite all the airlock precautions; its suppression is a constant battle. Whether hoovering it out of tails which accumulate it in the manner of a feather duster is in fact more effective than the settlements electrostatic air-filtration systems is open to question. But it is clearly more therapeutic. And the marmosets enjoy the attention.

The oldest Earth-born marmoset, New Mrs Chippy (who is, despite his name, male) enjoys an honorary seat on the collectives council. He has now reached the age of 31 with no obvious signs of ageing other than a pelt almost as white as his ear tufts. This is seen as a good omen for human longevity among those Cairders who refuse to countenance a return to Earth. In Japan, by contrast, laboratory marmosets rarely make it past their 21st birthday.

The most salient biological, as opposed to sociological, novelty among Moon-born marmosets is a very high prevalence of adolescent-onset blindness. The constellation of eyesight problems known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) has been studied since early this century. In adult humans SANS normally develops only during long stays in the microgravity conditions of space stations; it is rare and mild among humans on the Moon. But in marmosets born in low gravity it develops swiftly and severely at the onset of puberty and leads to almost complete loss of vision.

There is as yet no agreed explanation for this pathology. Some researchers believe it is not in fact gravity-related but the result of an off-target effect of the gene editing which realigned the calcium pathways used in bone growth, but it is hard to square this with the similarity to SANS as experienced by genotypical adult humans. Others think its onset could be avoided if newborn pups were required to spend more, or all, of their time in the simulated Earth-normal gravity of the centrifuge. But it has proved hard to test this hypothesis. Infants that have spent any time at all in lunar gravity are greatly distressed by the rigours of the centrifuge and will not suckle when put into it. And Cairders are unanimous in their opposition to anything that causes marmosets distress.

The blind marmosets are not badly off. Their sibling groups and human companions provide what little practical support they need. And they are happier than sighted marmosets to travel in the pouches which many Cairders have incorporated into the suits they use for working on the lunar surface. Sighted marmosets are clearly disturbed by the harsh monochrome landscape, even when emotionally supported with the amplified sound of their companions heartbeat.

Sudden-onset SANS leaves the question of whether human children can be born and raised on the Moon unanswered. It is sometimes suggested that a blind woman happy with the idea of a child who might also be blind could choose to join the collective and explore the issue. But bringing a child to term would require a centrifuge capable of holding a grown human, rather than a 250-gram marmoset. There is no appetite among Cairders for devoting resources to such a project, and their juche ethic of self-sufficiency will not let them accept funding for such experiments from Earth. Thus how well humans may eventually be able to breed on alien worlds remains unknown, even today.

That they will take animal companions with them, though, now seems certain. And some of those companions will surely have shocking-white ear tufts, odd little faces and very long tails.

Full contents of this What If?Freedom to tinker, October 2029: What if biohackers injected themselves with mRNA?The other epidemic, June 2025: What if America tackled its opioid crisis?A tale of two cities, June 2041: What if a deadly heat wave hit India?You are what you eat, January 2035: What if everyones nutrition was personalised?iHealthy, September 2028: What if smartphones become personal health assistants?Mrs Chippys benediction, February 2055: What if marmosets lived on the Moon?*Novel treatments, August 2050: What if dementia was preventable and treatable?Rage against the machine, December 2036: What if an AI wins the Nobel prize for medicine?Germ of an idea: What if germ theory had caught on sooner?

This article appeared in the What If? section of the print edition under the headline "Mrs Chippys benediction"

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What if marmosets lived on the Moon? - The Economist

Quote Of The Week: Zach Bush MD On World Microbiome Day – Longevity LIVE – Longevity LIVE

Zach Bush MD, is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Celebrating World Microbiome Day on 27th June 2021, he explained why theres no better time to pay tribute to the microbiome.

As human beings, our neurologic capacity begins with our connection to the microbiome Zach Bush MD

In his latest weekly newsletter, Bush said, It is, in its entirety, vital to life and the reason why we are here today. Without the microbiome, life on Earth would not exist.

At its most basic definition, micro means small, and biome means living creatures essentially all of the living microbes on and inside the human body. Today, we know human cells are not at the foundation of the human microbiome, but rather its the fungi and bacteria that are. It is estimated that we have 50 to 70 trillion human cells, which pale in comparison to the 1.4 quadrillion bacteria and 10 quadrillion fungi inside our bodies.

He explained further that as we learn more about the microbiome and our human biology, its clear that this diverse non-human micro ecosystem is what makes life possible. Its what fuels our development, immunity, and nutrition, enabling our production of energy, micronutrients, and regenerative pathways. Within every organ system throughout our whole body, its this unique niche of bacteria, fungi, and yeast that nurture our human cells.

Get out! Kick off the shoes, walk in a garden, on a forest path, a beach, a meadow, or a mountain top. Zach Bush, MD

World Microbiome Day was celebrated on the 27th June. You can read more about it here: #microbiome4life

Zach Bush MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr Zach founded *Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmers Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and mega-industries to work together for a healthy future for people and planet.

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Quote Of The Week: Zach Bush MD On World Microbiome Day - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Where Is the Endgame in Chess Experts’ Visual Memory Abilities? – University of Texas at Dallas

Chess experts are known for their remarkable ability to recall configurations of chess pieces on a board. For decades, neurological experts have investigated how this memory functions and whether it can be applied to information beyond the gameboard.

To further probe this topic, researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) turned to the UTDallas chess team. Since the chess programs inception in 1996, 24 Grandmasters and International Masters have played for the UTDallas team, which has competed in the Presidents Cup known as the Final Four of College Chess in 17 of the last 21 seasons.

Dr. Chandramallika Basak

The researchers tested 14 chess team members, along with 15 chess novices, on rapid-fire processing of visuospatial information in working memory.

Their findings, published June 14 in Memory and Cognition, help pinpoint the strengths and limitations of the subjects recall framework and how that framework can be applied to human cognition in general.

Prior studies have shown that chess experts advantage in visual memory is limited to chess pieces on chess boards, said corresponding author Dr. Chandramallika Basak, associate professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. We wanted to see whether the expertise generalizes beyond chess pieces to unfamiliar, new stimuli, and where does this expertise break down for immediate memory.

Chess masters visual short-term memory for arrangements that can occur in chess has been of particular interest to cognitive scientists, said Basak, director of the Lifespan Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory.

Its almost like chess experts have snapshots of these positions they demonstrate remarkable visuospatial working memory, given that the information is presented for less than half a second, she said. But is it driven by the visual aspects or spatial aspects of what they saw? Or a combination of both?

Evan T. Smith, a UTDallas cognition and neuroscience doctoral student, is the papers lead author. He described the difference between working and long-term memory as analogous to the gap between whats on top of your desk and whats filed away in a cabinet.

Evan T. Smith

The existing theory is that chess players have so thoroughly memorized and categorized board configurations that their long-term memory for this information functions like working memory, he said.

The researchers collaborated with Jim Stallings, director of the UTDallas chess program, to bring test subjects on board from the team.

Dr. Basaks study varies from other chess studies done with youngsters, Stallings said. This study goes directly to chess expertise and working memory. I look forward to sharing the results with the chess community.

The control group included UTDallas students of similar age and education level to the chess players who had never formally learned how to play chess.

In each test, participants saw a two-dimensional chessboard with a number of pieces displayed for three-tenths of a second. After a one-second pause, they saw a second chessboard and had to decide if there had been a change.

The tests were conducted with standard chess pieces and with novel, unfamiliar symbols. Basak said that this switch helped to determine if the chess players memory abilities were domain specific to chess or domain general to a wider range of objects.

One series of tests asks about changes in location; the second asks if the objects the pieces themselves have changed, Basak said. A third test incorporates changes in location or changes in object, or both, or no change at all. Finally, the grid of the board is removed.

The researchers found that while both chess experts and novices performed better with chess stimuli than with the unfamiliar symbols, the experts, for the most part, outperformed the control group for both chess stimuli and for the new objects particularly when detecting positional changes.

Section A of this figure from the Memory and Cognition article shows how each trial works: An initial configuration appears for three-tenths of a second, followed by a one-second pause. The three different trial types then could change an objects identity, location, or both. Section B shows the chess stimuli and novel stimuli used. Section C shows a trial with the grid removed.

When changing the identity of the objects, however, but not location, the chess players advantage was limited to the chess pieces. They performed no better than the control group at remembering when the identity of the novel symbols changed.

You would expect that this advantage that chess players have is related to a familiarity with the chess pieces or the chess players expectation of what they are about to see, Basak said. But results from our study say otherwise. It seems like the chess players can rapidly process a chessboard-like layout in a very holistic manner, like the brain does with faces. The next step in our research may be to do a functional MRI study to see if the face-processing regions of the brain are also used for chess.

The experiments also were split into tests using fewer than four pieces which is within the normal limits of an average persons focus of attention and five to eight pieces. With the larger number of pieces, long-term memory should come into play. The chess experts performed better than the controls in the tests with more pieces.

We observed an eight-item working-memory capacity for chess experts, Basak said. We assume that ties back to the idea that chess players are viewing the board and the set of positions as a single object, as they would recognize a face.

The grid-versus-no-grid portion of the study something that Basak said has not been examined before produced some of the more striking results.

The grid is the linchpin that supports the scaffolding of this memory structure, Smith said.

Basak added: Any expertise-related advantage disappeared in the absence of the chessboard display. It appears to be essential, acting as a road map, a familiar framework to aid the memory.

Collectively, the results indicate that visuospatial memory advantages associated with chess expertise extend beyond chess stimuli in certain circumstances, particularly to position changes with between five to eight items. But the grid appears to be necessary for experts to leverage these advantages.

We cannot generalize our findings beyond what we tested, so we cannot claim, based on our data, that chess experts will be better at studying for school, Basak said. But their advantage does go beyond chess pieces, provided the grid remains. We believe this indicates that experts are automatically encoding spatial-relational information.

Other contributors to the research were Dr. Daniel Krawczyk, UT Dallas professor of psychology, holder of the Debbie and Jim Francis Chair in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, deputy director of the Center for BrainHealth and associate professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Dr. James Bartlett, a distinguished scholar in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology and a longtime UTDallas faculty member who played a key role in the beginning of the project. Bartlett died in 2019.

Jim Bartlett played a big role in designing the experiments and in bringing Jim Stallings and the chess team on board, Basak said. He was a mentor, friend and valued collaborator, and we dedicate this publication in honor of his memory.

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Where Is the Endgame in Chess Experts' Visual Memory Abilities? - University of Texas at Dallas

Nagy: The president and the tsar – LubbockOnline.com

TIBOR NAGY| Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Churchill had some brilliant quotes, but his most famous one about Russia a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. -- is wrong. Russias self-identified role in the world hasnt been a mystery since Napoleons wars, maybe even earlier: to protect its heartland by extending its control and influence as far as possible in every direction, and to perpetuate the privileges of its ruling class thru all possible means.

Through expansion under a succession of Tsars and Commissars the Russian landmass now covers 11 time zones and exerts influence much farther. While Russias vastness and bitter winters consistently defeated a series of enemies who had no problems overrunning the rest of Europe, its leaders have been less consistent in their capabilities. But its current tsar, President Vladimir Putin, is also one of its ablest understanding fully how to maximize Russias weakened global position. With the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia lost about 25% of its territory, and as recently as 2009 was characterized as Burkina Faso with nuclear arms (meaning its economy relied on the export of natural resources).

But while Putin may be holding a pair of tens, hes playing them like a full house. Added to his mastery of history and geopolitics is his expertise in human behavior gleaned from decades of KGB tradecraft which makes him doubly dangerous as an adversary. He has a near perfect record of opportunistic timing on when/how to strike with calculated impunity: seizing Crimea, saving Assad in Syria, sending combat volunteers into eastern Ukraine, manipulating Western Europe to embrace his Nordstream II natural gas pipeline, winking at cybercriminals who inflict major damage on U.S. infrastructure and morale, and poisoning political opponents when he cant simply arrest and torture them.

But for once, going into a summit with a Russian leader, the U.S. side was represented by a president who himself has long political experience and doesnt suffer from naivete or geopolitical ignorance. The U.S. track record in these meetings has been poor: e.g. Roosevelt giving away Eastern Europe to Stalin and Kennedy coming off so weak to Khrushchev that the Soviets were emboldened to move nuclear missiles to Cuba. (Reagan being an exception who more than held his own against Gorbachev.) There will be thousands of words written analyzing the Biden/Putin Summit, but they matter little. What counts is what measure Putin took away from their meeting because that will determine how Putin will play his pair of tens during Bidens presidency.

Putin will stay as he has - searching for and exploiting whatever weaknesses he detects in the US leadership or the western alliance. He will use every geopolitical weapon he believes he can get away with, pursue the Big Lie as effectively as any Soviet leader ever did, neutralize his opponents with whatever means work, and continue to allow his cronies to amass immense wealth at the expense of his people. Russia is neither a mystery, riddle nor enigma. Russia will simply continue its centuries-long policy of opportunistically and brutally assuring its place in the world and the longevity of its ruling class.

Ambassador Tibor Nagy was most recently Assistant Secretary of State for Africa after serving as Texas Techs Vice Provost for International Affairs and a 30-year career as a US Diplomat.

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Nagy: The president and the tsar - LubbockOnline.com