Daily Archives: July 27, 2021

CORVALLIS, Ore. A new grant will allow Oregon State University researchers to study the nutritional value of more than 100 bee-pollinated crops, native plants and commonly used ornamental plants, a project that could help scientists better understand the global decline of bee populations.

Certain plants attract bees more than others, but whether those flowers contain the optimal nutrition needed for the insects has yet to be determined. The grant will allow researchers in the Honey Bee Lab led by Ramesh Sagili, OSU associate professor of apiculture and OSU Extension specialist, and Priyadarshini Chakrabarti, former OSU research assistant and new assistant professor at Mississippi State University, to begin to fill that knowledge gap.

With the $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the team hopes to improve bee nutrition by building a database of macro and micronutrients found in the flowering plants used in the study. Poor nutrition due to agricultural mono-cropping and loss of habitat is an important factor in bee declines and the researchers anticipate alleviating this problem by providing better forage choices for bees backed by science-based results.

In addition to beekeepers, land managers, conservation groups will benefit from the data base. The public also will be able to use the information to choose the most nutritious plants for both native and managed bees.

With global decline in both native and honey bee populations and given the importance of honey bees for commercial pollination of hundreds of crops, choosing the best supplemental forage can help mitigate poor nutrition in bees. Well-nourished bees can also better withstand things that plague them like Varroa mites, pesticides, parasites and loss of habitat.

If you look at it from the human side, the healthier you are, the better you can fight off diseases, parasites and other health issues, Sagili said. With a better immune system, youre stronger and more resilient. Its the same with bees. Nutrition is their first line of defense against stressors.

Optimal nutrition has been shown to enhance resistance to stressors and increase survival and longevity, according to Chakrabarti. Even though there has been much research done to determine the causes of honey bee decline, few studies have addressed the underlying problems of bee nutrition.

For the past few years there has been a significant movement to improve nutrition and increase habitat for bees and to provide better forage, Chakrabarti said. For farmers, its important to understand the nutrition contained in pollens from significant crops like almonds in California, a $7 billion industry that relies on honey bees for pollination.

There are efforts geared toward famers so that they can plant supplemental forage adjacent to their orchards or fields to provide the additional nutritional resources that bees need, Sagili said. Seventy-five percent of honey bee hives managed by beekeepers in the United States go to Californias Central Valley in February to pollinate the almonds and they need forage before the almonds come into bloom. Thats a big, big problem. There might be some wild mustard or dandelion, but its really meager and there is no other source of pollen for bees.

Beekeepers feed the honey bees with sugar syrup and protein supplements when natural forage is unavailable, which is not the optimal diet but can sustain bees for the short term.

The impacts of certain fungicides called sterol biosynthesis inhibitors or SBI will also be investigated to determine their effect on the availability of pollen sterol and bee health, Sagili said. Pollen sterols are a type of lipids that are required for development and growth of bees. Findings from examining the impacts of SBI fungicides on sterol availability in pollen will not only show how these widely used fungicides may affect bees, but also demonstrate for the first time if this group of fungicides could compromise the quality of pollen.

Sagili and Chakrabarti are looking for community scientists to help with the study. Those interested in participating can contact Sagili at 541-737-5460; or [emailprotected], and Priya Chakrabarti at [emailprotected]).

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OSU study will provide insight into optimal nutrition for bees - Oregon State University

With the beauty industry expanding at a rapid pace, we are often introduced to new supplements and ingredients. The most recent rising star is silica. Its said to have a radiant effect on your complexion. Its also claimed that it can leave you with a healthy glow from the inside out.

This is a beauty-boosting supplement that you have probably never heard of until now, but watch this space, in the months to come, silica is set to be the next big thing in skincare.

In science-speak, when the elements silicon and oxygen are combined, the result is silica, which is also known as silicon dioxide. This under-the-radar mineral naturally occurs in the human body but can be derived from several places, such as quartz dust and dark leafy vegetables.

It also plays an important role in collagen synthesis. Since silica is required for building collagen, without it, we would literally fall apart.

Silica is a superstar in the beauty world. It supports your bodys ability to produce collagen and maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails. Were talking thicker hair with less breakage, firmer and smoother skin, and long, strong nails. The fact is that this wonder mineral is an overachiever. It also gives you a glow because it increases the transport of nutrients and oxygen to your skin. The result is hydrated skin.

If silica is a naturally occurring mineral in our body, why should we supplement it? The sad truth is that silica production slows from around the age of 25, just like collagen. I suggest that you look to start taking silica in your late 20s/early 30s, or when you see fine lines appearing.

Prevention is always better than cure. There are many ways that you could increase your silica intake, such as through your diet. These foods include green beans, bananas, leafy greens, brown rice, and lentils.

That said, the only way to get enough to see a marked difference is by taking a supplement. As a supplement, silica can be taken in gel, capsule, or liquid form. My recommended brand for adding silica to your daily routine is Alexia Rich. Be sure to only use Orgono Silica. Its a quartz derivative thats clinically proven to be 400% easier for your body to absorb than other types.

Remember, like any other supplement, it will take some time to see results. Over time, you should notice a difference. Your complexion might become brighter. Your skin will be firmer, glowing, and have improved elasticity with increased hydration. It also helps reduce pores, blemishes, and wrinkles. It can also rebuild joint cartilage, speed up recovery from exercise, improve digestion and detox your system.

Visit SkinMiles and sign up for a free Face2Face Assessment. You will receive personal recommendations from Dr. Nikolic for your skin type or skin concerns.

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Silica: The Secret Skin Supplement We Should Be Taking - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

In the same family as functional medicine, functional nutrition is a personalized, systems-oriented approach that goes beyond managing the immediacy of symptoms and diseaseand rather looks at the whole person.

"With an emphasis on personalized food and lifestyle approaches to wellness and disease management, functional nutrition focuses on the patient (not just on their disease or condition) while taking a holistic approach to optimizing an individual's health based on their unique needs," says registered dietitianJess Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN.

Through the lens of this integrative, science-informed approach to well-being, functional nutrition reaffirms the dynamic interconnectedness of the body, by acknowledging how each organ and system operate together to achieve optimal function. It recognizes that food is not only a source of fuel but an exceptional device to address the underlying basis of disease while paving the way toward ultimate, everyday wellness.

As for the strategic nutrition itself, this method specifically emphasizes high-quality foods, phytonutrient diversity, plus their role in supporting physiological function and overall health.

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This Nutrition Method May Be The Key To Better Overall Health & Longevity - mindbodygreen.com

The International Economic Associations triennial World Congress has long been one of the most important global gatherings of economists, owing to its success in bringing together researchers and policymakers from the poorest to the wealthiest corners of the world. The 19th edition of the event earlier this month, albeit held via Zoom instead of in person, was no exception.

One recurring theme of this years Congress was that the global economy and capitalism are at a crossroads. While the COVID-19 crisis was the immediate impetus for this view, other major shiftsfrom climate change and the rise of digital technology to the changing nature of labor marketshave been increasingly salient. The pandemic has merely accelerated these shifts or thrown them into sharper relief.

COVID-19 has forced us into one kind of learning by doing, an idea that the Nobel laureate economistKenneth J. Arrow, who emphasized that much learning is the product of experience, developed in the abstract a long time ago. We have learned to give lectures and hold conferences by Zoom, and to make complex decisions in meetings conducted via Webex. People have suddenly realized that they had been spending more time than necessary in the office, and that they can do much of their work from home. And we have learned to shop at home, too, via digital platforms.

Economists and society as a whole must confront profound intellectual and moral challenges in order to come to grips with the changing world.

As a result, demand for office and retail space will fall, even after the pandemic. And because more people will have the freedom to work remotely, property prices will gradually rise where they were previously low and fall where they were high, leading to greater leveling.

On the other hand, salary disparities will increase, because the labor market will tend to be more of a common pool with heightened competition for talent. Most important, globalization, after some initial stumbles, will accelerate, with rapid growth in cross-country outsourcing. This is likely to have a significant effect on labor markets, national politics, and the nature of conflict.

Understanding this new world will require major breakthroughs in economic thinking. Economics normally proceeds by contesting the explicit assumptions and axioms on which theory is built. But all scientific disciplines also have hidden assumptions that are so deeply embedded that we do not state them explicitly and often forget they exist. In their celebratedresearchin the 1950s that provided a formal structure for understanding Adam Smiths idea of the invisible hand, for example, Arrow and fellow Nobel laureate Grard Debreu showed the many assumptions that were needed for Smiths conjecture to be valid.

There were other assumptions that were taken for grantedsimply part of the woodwork of economicsincluding the symmetry of knowledge among buyers and sellers. One of the biggest breakthroughs of modern economics was the insight that knowledge is often asymmetric, and that this asymmetry can shatter the invisible hand. This breakthrough earned Joseph E. Stiglitz, George Akerlof, and Michael Spence the 2001 Nobel prize in economics, and led to new forms of regulation that made the modern economy possible. We owe many of our regulations concerning quality control and product standards to this breakthrough, which showed definitively that the markets invisible hand cannot ensure standards when information is asymmetric.

It remains to be seen what form the economics professions new intellectual discoveries will take and what regulations we will need to apply them. What is clear is that the strain humanity has imposed on the environment means growth as we currently know it cannot be sustained. But that does not mean we have to learn to live with lower growth. In fact, I believe future growth will be faster than we have seen thus far.

The lower-growth camps mistake stems from a common misunderstanding of GDP or national income. A higher GDP is often taken to indicate more wasteful consumption and consumerism of the kind we are indulging in now. But that need notand now must notbe the case.

The consumption of more art, music, and learning, as well as better health and greater longevity, are all components of GDP, and are, or can be, environmentally friendly. Reforming our regulatory system can foster rapid GDP growthbut with the content of GDP changing dramatically, and with a disproportionate amount of human labor directed to creative activities. The nature of reform for the new world is a big topic, but policymakers will need to focus on curricula that nurture creativity, because routine work will increasingly be automated; shift consumption away from environmentally wasteful goods; and redistribute wealth radically to lessen inequalities.

My recent research on group morality, however, highlights a caveat that we must address. When discussing matters like climate change and current global inequities, we urge people to be other-regarding. In other words, they should not be concerned solely about their own well-being but also consider the welfare of the current poor and future generations who will be affected by our decisions.

But as moral philosophers have long known, group morality is a problematic concept. I have recently tried to address the Samaritans Curse, whereby a future generation can end up being hurt when all individuals today take its well-being into consideration. This problem, like the prisoners dilemma but in the moral domain, can potentially defeat our best intentions.

So, the road ahead will not be easy. Economists and society as a whole must confront profound intellectual and moral challenges in order to come to grips with the changing world. But humans have done it before. One can only hope that our intelligence and resolve enable us to do it again.

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The changing map of economics - Brookings Institution

ClickHEREto visit the Ellis County Employment Opportunities page.

The Human Resources Coordinator is responsible for the major areas of employee recruitment, selection, and retention through employee relations, compensation, professional development, and benefits. This position will manage processes for new employee orientation as well as employee transfers and terminations. The Human Resources Coordinator has considerable latitude for independent judgment and initiative within established policies and procedures when determining work priorities. This employee handles confidential information when working with personnel records and will ensure the privacy of all protected information in compliance with federal and state laws. A resume will be required to be submitted with application. Starting Pay is $27.71 per hour with a pay raise at 6 months and one year, 10 paid holidays and 21 days paid vacation per year, KPERS retirement, longevity bonus after two years, and health insurance paid at 86%.

This employee is responsible for the bookkeeping and clerical duties, as well as coordinating environmental activities with the Environmental Associate. The Environmental Technician routinely acts in implementing and monitoring Ellis County environmental programs. This employee may assist with field testing and review, perform site inspections under supervision, and develop database programs in relation to environmental activities. High school diploma or GED and two years of clerical and bookkeeping experience are preferred. Starting Pay is $16.05 per hour with a pay raise at 6 months and one year, 10 paid holidays and 21 days paid vacation per year, KPERS retirement, longevity bonus after two years, and health insurance paid at 86%.

Under the supervision of the Shop Foreman, the Mechanic performs semi-skilled and skilled mechanical work on equipment and vehicles assigned to the Ellis County Public Works Department. The employee in this position is responsible for performing the required maintenance and repair of vehicles and equipment for the Public Works Department. High School diploma or GED and two years of mechanic experience is required. A class B commercial driver's license with tanker endorsement is required. Successful applicant will be required to participate in the FHWA (CDL) drug-testing program. Starting Pay is $17.34 per hour with a pay raise at 6 months and one year, 10 paid holidays and 21 days paid vacation per year, KPERS retirement, longevity bonus after two years, and health insurance paid at 86%.

Ellis County Public Works is accepting applications for the full time position of Truck Driver in the Road and Bridge division. This employee hauls material to the job site for the repair and construction of roads within Ellis County. The truck driver also performs routine manual work in the operation of light and heavy equipment for loading and transporting materials. High school diploma or GED and one year truck driving experience are required. A class B commercial drivers license with tanker endorsement is required. Successful applicant will be required to participate in the FHWA (CDL) drug-testing program. Starting Pay is $14.25 per hour with a pay raise at 6 months and one year, 10 paid holidays and 21 days paid vacation per year, KPERS retirement, longevity bonus after two years, and health insurance paid at 86%.

A paid-per-call firefighters respond to fires, rescues, medical assists, hazardous conditions, and other related emergencies. It requires a significant amount of teamwork when working on emergency scenes to conducting regular fire company activities. Our firefighters work under the direct supervision of company officers to include a company chief.

Each firefighter understands they represent a larger ECFD organization and shall act, train, perform duties in such a way that they demonstrate pride and ownership in their department. An ECFD firefighter should have excellent interpersonal communication skills as they are expected to have direct contact with different public safety officials, the community, as well as fire and rescue victims. ECFD firefighters must be able to make quick decisions, take calculated risks, and take immediate actions on emergency scenes while maintaining safety in these actions.

Firefighters are required to complete basic NIMS courses, maintain CPR/First aid certification, hazardous materials awareness, attend 75% of scheduled monthly trainings, and report to their assigned companies when available for emergency responses. ECFD firefighters must read, understand, and abide by the ECFD standard operating procedures. Before firefighters are able to respond and/or drive apparatus to emergencies, firefighters are to complete an in-house training program. ECFD firefighters must be 18 years of age with a valid drivers license.

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SPONSORED: Join the team! Ellis County is hiring - hays Post