Category Archives: Life Extension

Meg Brew| UF/IFAS Lake County Livestock Agent

Alligator interrupts golf game with prize catch

An alligator carrying a fish interrupted a golf game in Bradenton, Florida.

STAFF VIDEO, USA TODAY

Growing up as a Floridian, I took for granted that alligators everywhere were just a normal part of life. I am reminded of just how unusual, how prehistoric, and how remarkable they are whenever I host out-of-state visitors.

The excitement mixed with a healthy dose of fear my houseguests show upon seeing a gator is a good reminder of just how cool these creatures are.

Watch out for gators: In viral video, Florida man catches alligator in trash can. Fish & Wildlife says call the experts

Crocs, too: Crikey! American crocodile lives at this Palm Beach County golf course and is there to stay

The American Alligator (Alligator mississipiensis) can be found throughout the state of Florida. These large reptiles may be spotted in and around any body of water, including lakes and ponds, rivers, springs, canals, swamps, ditches, and retention ponds.

Florida woman bumps hissing alligator with paddle in too close for comfort encounter

Crikey! Vicki Baker had a close encounter with an alligator while paddleboarding the Silver River in Ocala. She used her paddle to push the gator away

The Gainesville Sun

While gators tend to prefer freshwater, they may also be encountered in brackish water and even saltwater. In Florida, if its bigger than a puddle, its safer to assume there could be a gator in it.

Gators mate in the spring, typically from mid-April through May. Female gators build their nests along the waters edge and will remain close by during the entire 65-day incubation period.

During this time, she will be extremely protective of her nest and should never be approached or harassed. Interestingly, the sex of gator hatchlings is determined by temperature ranges during incubation.

Cooler temps (below 86 Fahrenheit) produce female gators, warmer temps (above 91.4 Fahrenheit) yield male gators, and moderate temperatures mean a 50-50chance of producing males or females.

Gators are opportunistic hunters who choose their prey based on size and availability. Most active at dusk and dawn, the hunting gator will lie in wait for appropriately-sized prey to happen by and then strike with incredible speed.

Their powerful jaws are capable of easily crushing bones and shells, and gators will typically swallow their smaller prey whole. Common prey for gators includes fish, amphibians, birds, turtles, small mammals, deer, wild hogs, and sometimes other gators.

Gators are large, predatory animals, but that doesnt mean we cant coexist peacefully. We do need to observe some simple rules and practice situational awareness when we are in known gator habitats in order to stay safe.

It is illegal to feed wild gators, for good reason. When gators are fed, they associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. This may lead to gators becoming aggressive and extremely dangerous.

Avoid swimming or wading in areas where large gators are likely to be present, especially around dusk and dawn, and never allow children or pets to play around the water's edge where they may be mistaken for prey.

More From the Extension: Be mindful of your neighbors the bears

Gobble, gobble: Living alongside Florida's wild turkeys

Likewise, dogs should not be allowed to swim in dark water where gators might be lurking as they are prey-sized for many gators. Use care when working along the edge of water bodies, especially during nesting season when females are more prone to aggression.

Giant alligator casually strolls through Publix parking lot in Florida

A giant alligator was caught casually strolling through a Publix parking lot in Florida.

USA TODAY, Storyful

If a gator does charge at you, run away in a straight line, the zig-zag method is a myth! If you happen upon a gator while swimming, boating, or hiking, give them wide berth. Remember, gators are wild animals!

In general, if you are alert and aware of your surroundings, avoid unsafe situations, and dont feed or harass gators, youll never have a negative interaction with a Florida gator (unless, of course, you are an FSU fan).

If you have a gator on your property who is displaying aggressive behavior, you should contact the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by calling 1-866-FWC-GATOR. If the animal is deemed a threat to the public a licensed trapper will be sent to remove it.

For more information on alligator safety please visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW230from which this article was adapted.

UF/IFAS Lake County Extension is open regular business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit us online anytime at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lake and follow UF/IFAS Lake County Extension on Facebook. Our Gardens are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as the third Saturday of every month.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, Dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

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From the Extension: Practice greater safety when around alligators - Daily Commercial

New Delhi: Ahead of initial public offering (IPO), Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has last month appointed six independent directors on its board to meet regulatory norms of corporate governance.

LIC appointed former financial services secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal, ex-Sebi member G Mahalingam, former SBI Life managing director Sanjeev Nautiyal, sources said.

Besides, chartered accountant MP Vijay Kumar, Raj Kamal, and V S Parthasarathy are roped in as independent directors on LIC's board.

With the appointment, the total number of independent directors goes up to 9 and all vacancies are filled.

Fulfilling corporate governance norms is an important element for filing Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

The central government is expected to file draft papers for the mega initial public offering of LIC with market regulator Sebi by this week, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey had said.

The embedded value of LIC has been arrived at and it is over 5 lakh crore. The size of the issue would be mentioned in the DRHP.

The issue, after approval of Sebi, is likely to hit the market in March, Pandey said.

Up to 10 per cent of the LIC IPO issue size would be reserved for policyholders.

LIC's listing is crucial for the government to meet the lowered revenue estimates of 78,000 crore for the current financial year.

Till now, the Centre has raised around 12,000 crore from privatisation of Air India and stake sale in other PSUs.

To facilitate smooth listing of the insurance behemoth, the government last week extended the tenure of LIC chairman M R Kumar for one year.

Besides, the government has also extended the tenure of one of the managing directors, Raj Kumar, for 12 months.

This is the second extension for the LIC chairman. Last year in June, he was given a nine-month extension in a view of LIC's proposed initial public offering towards the end of the current financial year.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Ahead of IPO, LIC ropes in 6 independent directors on its board - Mint

All good things must come to an end.

NASA has just published new details on the final years of operation for the International Space Station (ISS) in itsISS Transition Report, marking the end of an era of unprecedented international collaboration.

In its report, the U.S. space agency explains that the "latest budget estimate for ISS life extension through 2030assumes deorbit in January 2031."

NASA describes the eventual demise of the space station as the end of a "beacon of international collaboration".Since its launch in 1998, the ISS has laid the foundation for scientific collaborations between global teams fromRussia, the US, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency (ESA), making it arguably the most ambitious scientific undertaking in history. The orbital laboratory has led to countless breakthroughs including recentexperiments with theBose-Einstein Quantum state, or the"fifth state of matter."

When NASA does eventually deorbit the station, it will do so through acontrolled re-entry over the Pacific Ocean, which will see part of the station disintegrate on re-entry and part of it fall into the ocean. "Eventually, after performing maneuvers to line up the final target ground track and debris footprint over the South Pacific Oceanic Uninhabited Area (SPOUA), the area around Point Nemo, ISS operators will perform the ISS re-entry burn, providing the final push to lower ISS as much as possible and ensure safe atmospheric entry," NASA said in its report.

Before the ISS ends its life by crashing into the Pacific, NASA explains ina blog post, it will transitionto commercial operations over the next decade. The space agency says it aims to develop supply and demand of "the low-Earth orbit commercial economy."

NASA's new report comes shortly after the Biden administration committed to extending the ISS's operations through 2030. Prior to that point, operations were expected to last until 2024, Russia had given signs it would not renew contracts, and NASA had already begun the transition away from the ISS towards other upcoming commercial space stations. The agency recently announced three large partnerships with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, andLockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin is building its space station in collaboration with Nanoracks, and it aims to launch what it calls the "first-ever free-flying commercial space station" in 2027. Blue Origin, meanwhile, is building a "space business park" called Orbital Reef that will enable cutting-edge research, filming in space and will also feature a space hotel.

"We look forward to sharing our lessons learned and operations experience with the private sector to help them develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective destinations in space," Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at NASA headquarters, said in the agency's blog post. The ISS might be nearing the end of an illustrious lifespan that marked an unprecedented era of collaboration, but its spirit will live on in the form of a number of new commercial space stations soon set to take to the skies.

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Surprise! NASA wants to commercialize the ISS before its 'deorbit' in 2031 - Interesting Engineering

TROY, Mich., Feb. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Meritor, Inc. (NYSE: MTOR) today announced that its long-term agreement with Wabash has been extended through December 31, 2026. The extension is Meritor's first-ever five-year agreement with Wabash.

Under the newly signed agreement, Meritor loose axles will continue to be standard equipment. Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) will remain a preferred option in all Wabash configurations. In addition, Meritor's lightweight MTA-Tec6 and MPA suspensions, EX+ LS air disc brakes, and automatic slack adjusters will be available as data book options.

MTIS helps keep tires properly inflated to reduce wear and increase fuel economy. Meritor trailing-arm suspensions are designed to offer ride, handling, tire life and durabilityfor a full range of demanding applications, and EX+ air disc brakes deliver superior stopping distance and durability.

"We value our 30-year relationship with Wabash and appreciate their confidence in Meritor. We look forward to continuing to deliver innovative trailer products to Wabash," said Saad Malik, general manager, Front Drivetrain and Trailer for Meritor.

Meritor has engineered and manufactured groundbreaking trailer suspensions, axles and brakes for over 60 years, building more than 10 million trailer axles that incorporate features to improve quality, extend life and reduce maintenance.

About WabashAs the innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, Wabash (NYSE:WNC) is Changing How the World Reaches You. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the company's mission is to enable customers to succeed with breakthrough ideas and solutions that help them move everything from first to final mile. Wabash designs and manufactures a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade processing equipment. Learn more atwww.onewabash.com.

About MeritorMeritor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. With more than a 110-year legacy of providing innovative products that offer superior performance, efficiency and reliability, the company serves commercial truck, trailer, off-highway, defense, specialty and aftermarket customers around the world. Meritor is based in Troy, Mich., United States, and is made up of more than 9,600 diverse employees who apply their knowledge and skills in manufacturing facilities, engineering centers, joint ventures, distribution centers and global offices in 19 countries. Meritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTOR. For important information, visit the company's website at http://www.meritor.com.

SOURCE Meritor, Inc.

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Meritor Announces Extension to Long-Term Standard Position Agreement with Wabash - PRNewswire

- VRDN-002 incorporates clinically validated half-life extension technology to support development as a low volume subcutaneous injection -- Company expects to report top line VRDN-002 Phase 1 clinical data in mid-2022 -

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viridian Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VRDN), a biotechnology company advancing new treatments for patients suffering from serious diseases underserved by current therapies, today announced the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its investigational new drug (IND) application of VRDN-002. The Companys next generation IGF-1R antibody, VRDN-002, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that incorporates half-life extension technology and is designed to support administration as a convenient, low-volume, subcutaneous (SC) injection for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED).

The IND application clearance allows the Company to proceed with its planned first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of VRDN-002, which is a single ascending dose study to explore safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenously administered VRDN-002 in healthy volunteers. Data from this Phase 1 trial are expected to be announced in mid-2022 and will inform the feasibility of a low-volume and/or low-frequency SC dosing paradigm for TED patients.

We are excited to advance our VRDN-002 clinical development plan. We believe the incorporation of half-life extension technology into VRDN-002 may enable a differentiated, low volume subcutaneous injection, offering TED patients improved convenience and broader settings of care, stated Jonathan Violin, Ph.D., Viridian Therapeutics President and CEO. This IND acceptance is the first of multiple regulatory, clinical, and operational milestones expected in 2022, including top-line data from our VRDN-001 Phase 1/2 proof of concept trial in the second quarter of 2022, and top-line data from our VRDN-002 Phase 1 trial in mid-2022.

About Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.

Viridian Therapeutics is a biotechnology company advancing new treatments for patients suffering from serious diseases but underserved by todays therapies. Viridians most advanced program, VRDN-001, is a differentiated monoclonal antibody targeting insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a clinically and commercially validated target for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). Viridians second product candidate, VRDN-002, is a distinct anti-IGF-1R antibody that incorporates half-life extension technology and is designed to support administration as a convenient, low-volume, subcutaneous injection.TED is a debilitating autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis within the orbit of the eye which can cause double vision, pain, and potential blindness. Patients with severe disease often require multiple remedial surgeries to the orbit, eye muscles and eyelids. Viridian is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," or "would" or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, plans and intentions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys expectations and guidance regarding its clinical trial plans for VRDN-001 and VRDN-002, the timing and nature of the initial results from such trials, and the therapeutic potential of VRDN-001 and VRDN-002, as compared to other therapies. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: uncertainty and potential delays related to clinical drug development; the duration and impact of regulatory delays in our clinical programs; manufacturing risks; competition from other therapies or products; the timing of and clinical trial activities and reporting results from same; the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic on the companys research, development and business activities and operating results, including those risks set forth under the caption Risk Factors in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 5, 2021 and other subsequent disclosure documents filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Neither we, nor our affiliates, advisors, or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Investor and Media Contact:John JordanViridian TherapeuticsVice President, Investor Relations& Corporate Communications617-272-4691IR@viridiantherapeutics.com

The rest is here:

Viridian Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application to Initiate Clinical Development of VRDN-002, a Next Generation...

R. Kelly has tested positive for COVID-19 while in a Brooklyn federal jail.

The singer stood trial last September for racketeering, bribery and violating the Mann Act, which criminalises the transportation of any woman or girl across state lines for immoral purposes, such as illegal sexual activity. Kelly was found guilty of all the charges against him and has been in jail ever since, ahead of sentencing on May 4, 2022.

Kelly could face life behind bars for his crimes, and will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He initially had until today (February 3) to appeal the convictions, but because of his positive coronavirus test, U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly ruled on Tuesday (February 1) that he can have an additional two weeks. According to Rolling Stone, he now has until February 17.

Writing in a letter to the court, Kellys new lawyer Jennifer Bonjean said: It is vitally important that Mr. Kelly meaningfully participates in his post-trial defence. The [jail] has not indicated when visits will resume which is less than ideal, but undersigned counsel is confident that she can accomplish necessary discussions with Mr. Kelly via upcoming scheduled Zoom visits.

She later took to Twitter to say that Kelly was doing well.

Following the conviction, acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis said: Todays guilty verdict forever brands R. Kelly as a predator, who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable, and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification.

Kelly also put out a statement that said: Todays verdict was disappointing and I will continue to prove my innocence and fight for my freedom.

Following his guilty verdicts, R. Kellys album sales increased by more than 500 per cent.

The I Believe I Can Fly singer is still facing charges of child pornography and obstruction in Illinois, after that date was also delayed due to COVID-19. He is also concurrently facing other sex-related charges in Illinois and Minnesota. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Excerpt from:

R. Kelly tests positive for COVID-19 in jail, wins appeal extension - NME

With the restructuring and expansion of the refectory/restaurant of the Crous university campus in Cergy-Pontoise, in France, the GRAAL architecture studio has given new life to a pre-existing building built in 1993 inside the large Franois Mitterrand Park.The building occupies an area of the park located at the intersection of the two main routes that connect the Paris-Seine University sector and the Val d'Oise prefecture. While the pre-existing structure already enjoyed a privileged position within the park's quality landscape context and public interest, nevertheless, as the architects highlighted, the building suffered from lack of visibility and interior spaces not used to their fullest potential due to the limited relationship with the outside. The restructuring project created by the GRAAL studio thus focused on allowing the refectory to regain an important role for university life and for the campus' services. The new building becomes a strong component of the park, fitting harmoniously into its context and enhancing the landscape qualities of the site.First and foremost, the architects chose to highlight the intrinsic qualities of the original building. Of the refectory's pre-existing 2000-square-metre building, the architects recovered all the elements considered to be of quality from an architectural point of view. Not only the prefabricated concrete structure, but also the flexible construction system, offering a wealth of features such as paths, stairways and openings. In addition, the restaurant's offer was completed with a new expansion called the "kiosk".

The new refectory is spread over two floors, directly accessible from the park on the same level thanks to the topography of the land. Part of the lower level is thus underground and reserved for the kitchen work spaces. The dining room, instead, is located on the opposite side. Thanks to the modifications made by the GRAAL strong> studio, this space can now benefit from a stronger relationship with the outside and more light penetrating from the large glazed faade. In addition to enlarging the existing openings, the architects also removed a retaining wall and remodelled the sloping outdoor garden. Moreover, they deliberately preserved the material quality of this volume to use it as a mineral "base" on which the new lighter body of the factory has been grafted. The glazed faade and the garden enhance the restructured refectory, now more apparent in the park's context and inviting passers-by to enter. The interior has been organised in three phases: a relaxation area, the dining space and the kitchen space. Despite the low ceilings, a predominant palette of light colours, a careful choice of materials and the architectural solutions adopted offer a large and comfortable space. The upper floor houses the new extension, the so-called "kiosk". On the restaurant volume, the architects have designed a transparent pavilion with a large terrace that opens up towards the park and the surrounding nature. The kiosk is architecturally cohesive with the restaurant, with its glazed faade governed by green support elements that respect the alignments with the underlying structure. The pavilion thus functionally completes the refectory's services, offering new possibilities for interaction with the surrounding green context and allowing the structure to become more visible on the urban scale, becoming a new landmark for the park.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of GRAAL Architecture, photo by Clment Guillaume

Project Name: Restructuration dun restaurant universitaire / University Refectory Cergy-Pontoise FranceClient: CROUS de VersaillesLocation: Cergy-Pontoise FranceSurface area: 2,310 mSchedule: 2019-2021

Project: GRAAL ArchitectureTeam: I+A Laboratoire des structures (structure); Choulet (fluids); Eco+construire (economist); Arwytec (kitchen); 2IDF (civil engineering); SLAM (acoustics)Photo: Clment Guillaume

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GRAAL studio completes extension and restructuring of the University refectory in CergyPontoise - Floornature.com

Image: 4H4 Photography/Shutterstock

A total of 49 projects have been awarded 19.8 million (16.5m) in Irish government funding.

One of these projects aims to develop a tool for end-of-life wind turbines, examining lifetime extension, repurposing and sustainable decommissioning.

It is estimated by 2030 Ireland will have around 1,000 wind turbinesthat will reach their end-of-life.

Grants will also support a project that will provide e-bikes to explore the impact of e-mobility on peoples behaviour.

Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, said: With such diverse areas as green hydrogen, robotics for wind farm maintenance, biofuels and technologies for increasing energy efficiency in buildings, this investment sees Irelands researchers take exciting steps forward in our national efforts to meet our binding climate targets.

If you enjoyed this story you can sign up to our weekly email forEnergy Live News and if youre interested in hearing more about the journey to net zero by 2050, you can also sign up to thefuture Net Zeronewsletter.

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Ireland boosts energy research projects with 19.8m - Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy

The schools campus includes buildings on Oakland Street, above, and Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

The Red Bank Charter School has won state authorization to operate for another five years, Head of School Kristen Martello announced Wednesday.

The widely expected extension was granted by the New Jersey Department of Education over the objection of borough school districts board, which was joined by the town council in its request that the school be closed.

Head of Charter School Kristin Martello with students at the boroughs Veterans Day commemoration last November(Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

In a prepared statement, Martello said the renewal of the 23-year-old schools charter followed a comprehensive review that included student performance on statewide assessments, a structured interview with school officials, public comments, student composition of RBCS, and the fiscal impact on the sending district.

After such a rigorous review process, yesterdays decision by the New Jersey Department of Education to renew Red Bank Charter School for another five-year term demonstrates that we continue to provide an excellent public educational option to families in our community, the statement said.

The statement also said the charter school wants to find a path forward where all families educational choices are respected. We are committed to working with our partners at Red Bank Borough Public Schools to end the divisiveness and lift up all children in our beloved community.

Heres the full statement: red bank charter school statement 020222

Last August, the borough BOE called for a unified borough educational system and the elimination of the 200-student charter school, which Superintendent Jared Rumage said had fostered segregation throughout its existence and created $2 million a year in duplicative costs.

Rumage did not immediately respond to a redbankgreen request for comment Wednesday.

UPDATE: Rumage responded with a statement Thursday. The text is at the end of this post.

His challenge echoed rhetoric from a bitter battle leading up to the schools charter renewal in 2017.

In November, the borough council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the district school boards opposition to the charter renewal and call for a unification of the two systems.

Afterward, Martello called Rumages comments a segregation slur against the charter school, which, despite an immense waste of public monies in legal fees, has never been proven.

In 2016, the state DOE denied, without explanation, a request by the charter school to double its enrollment over three years.

Heres Rumages comment:

We are extremely disappointed with the decision to renew the local charter school. In our opinion, we provided a comprehensive package with detailed evidence supporting a single public school system in Red Bank. As we noted in our submission to the NJDOE, this is not a charter school issue, it is an issue of equity. The current structure is clearly a barrier to educational equity in this community and contradicts the longstanding values of the NJDOE and those recently described on the Departments Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) homepage.

We are the only community in New Jersey of similar size that supports two K-8 public school districts. While the local charter school claims to be much-needed, it is not filled to capacity, educates several children who reside in districts outside of Red Bank, and has a dwindling waitlist. Moreover, as did our evidence, a comprehensive review of both schools would clearly show that the local charter school does not distinguish itself in any way from the Red Bank Borough Public Schools. Most importantly, after 24 years of existence, if this experiment with a two-school model is much-needed, why has it not been replicated in similarly-sized communities by the NJDOE? And why have other local municipalities not explored this much-needed option? Not Fair Haven, not Little Silver, not Shrewsbury, not Tinton Falls, not Rumson, not Oceanport and the list goes on throughout the State.

Currently, the regionalization of school districts is a prominent topic. The fiscal outcome of operating two school systems is wasteful and unfair to taxpayers. If we were building a new Red Bank, a system of two public schools would not be a part of the conversation. Furthermore, in Path to Progress (August 9, 2018), the Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup noted that school districts with less than 1,000 students cost taxpayers 10 to 15 percent more per pupil than larger districts and are unable to provide as diverse a curriculum.

Again this decision is not only disappointing but disheartening. We are grateful for the many residents, community partners, and municipal leaders who support our vision for Red Bank. Our intent was and continues to be unifying a community and building a robust, diverse, and fiscally responsible school district for all of Red Bank to enjoy. Looking ahead, we will redouble our efforts to inspire our students to Dream BIG and maintain our Best In America mindset, so that we can be certain we are best for the students, families, and community of Red Bank.

If you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen, please become a financial supporter for as little as $1 per month. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.

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RED BANK: Charter school wins five-year lease on life - redbankgreen

The JAK inhibitor momelotinib provided a significant benefit in symptomatic patients with myelofibrosis and anemia, according to preliminary data from the phase 3 MOMENTUM study.

Of note, patients in this study were previously treated with a JAK inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Preliminary results from this study demonstrate that momelotinib may be the first and only JAK inhibitor to demonstrate efficacy in improving symptoms, splenic size and anemia. Dr. Srdan Verstovsek, a researcher on the MOMENTUM study and professor of medicine in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, explained that this development is important because these are the three issues patients with myelofibrosis often experience.

I'm really happy that we are in a situation where we are talking about potential for a new drug approval which covers the problems that we have not covered so far, he said in an interview with CURE.

Improving the Past

For the past 10 years, standard therapy has been Jakafi (ruxolitinib), with the option of Inrebic (fedratinib) added to standard care in the last two years. Both drugs have been shown to improve symptoms but worsen anemia, so they are limited in what they can do for a long period of time.

There are (several) different areas of interest; just looking at quality of life is No. 1, Verstovsek explained. What drives the therapy in myelofibrosis is improvement in quality of life. We want people to feel better, and we want them to feel better for a very long period of time. Along (with) that, we want them to improve the bone marrow function, lessen anemia, we want them to have a higher red blood cell count, eliminate the need for transfusions (and) that has been achieved here as well (with momelotinib) and then we want to decrease that spleen as well.

Verstovsek added, You have here a new medication that is able to tackle all three critical parameters that bother patients with myelofibrosis, the three parameters that we treat in a great majority of the patients. (Momelotinib is) certainly unique in its ability. (Jakafi) and (Inrebic) can control the spleen and symptoms but worsen the blood cell count, (but) not with momelotinib. (We) can improve quality of life, improve the anemia and improve the spleen all three at the same time.

In the MOMENTUM study, researchers assessed data from 130 patients with myelofibrosis who were unsuccessful with Jakafi and were treated with momelotinib, along with 65 patients treated with danazol after standard of care.

Extremely Significant Results

Results demonstrated a total symptom score of at least 50% or greater (with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity) in 25% of patients in the momelotinib group and 9% in the danazol group. The splenic response rate, which is the percentage of patients who obtained a reduction in spleen volume of at least 35%, was 23% and 3%, respectively. Verstovsek said that these results are significant, especially for this patient population.

The results are extremely significant, particularly, for example, in the setting where the study was done, the study was done after standard practice (Jakafi) failed, so resistant/refractory patients to (Jakafi), where patients are much more anemic than at the beginning of the therapy with (Jakafi), he explained. They may have lower platelets, they still have issues with the spleen, and they still certainly have a bad quality of life. What do you do? The life is bad, life is short also.

Verstovsek added, In that setting, you could use, for example, in some selected patients this other approved JAK inhibitor, (Inrebic), but it worsens the blood cell count, so it's not really applicable. And you say, what do I do? We can use prednisone, we can use danazol or an anabolic steroid to perhaps patch the problem a little bit, but it does not work. And momelotinib, particularly in this setting, is a discovery medication that has a potential to revise the outlook for the patients that have failed (Jakafi) by tackling all the critical three problems.

Additionally, momelotinib was able to control and improve anemia in patients, which Verstovsek highlighted as a differentiating factor from other drugs in the space.

Momelotinib has no medications to compare to. Because there are no other medications that tackle all the three problems at the same time. Certainly, we can say how about comparing the spleen control or the quality of life control with (Jakafi) or (Inrebic). But to say there is also a possibility of controlling the anemia (with momelotinib), then that's the differentiating factor. That's something that no other drug does. And that's why we are so excited about the prospect of having medication for our patients that will tackle those. So comparisons might be partial, but when you look at the total quality of what momelotinib does, it certainly stands on its own, he said.

Verstovsek added that because momelotinib improves anemia, it also makes some patients transfusion independent, leading to a longer life, which is my, as an academic physician, ultimate goal, he said.

Side Effects

Severe or worse side effects occurred in 54% of patients in the momelotinib group and 65% in the danazol group, which, Verstovsek explained, is a testament to the safety of momelotinib. Specific side effects are not known yet; however, in the past with momelotinib, there has been occasional dizziness, indigestion or a skin rash. Verstovsek noted that this was not a leading issue that his team was concerned about.

Overall, he said momelotinib is safe and simple, especially as patients only have to take one pill a day, which doesnt require much adjustment.

Nobody worries about too much side effects. And that can eventually, through control of these parameters, particularly anemia, then lead to durability and life extension at the end. We need to study that life extension much more in detail, but certainly I'm a believer in being able to make people live longer with good control of signs and symptoms, he said.

Next Steps

There are plans to submit an application this year to the FDA for potential approval of momelotinib in this setting. Verstovsek said that this is exciting and that may change the outlook for patients in this setting.

Certainly if the drug is approved, as I would expect it to be in the very near future, momelotinib will be, by far, the No. 1 choice for therapy in the setting where it was tested, he said.

There is also potential for momelotinib to be combined with other drugs, similarly to Jakafi, in the future to enhance its effectiveness. Verstovsek explained that since both drugs dont have any leading toxicities, they may be good combination partners.

I think it would be embraced by the very large group of patients right away where there was no option after (Jakafi) and in patients in frontline setting where you haven't even given any therapy, and they're already requiring transfusions or are significantly anemic and suffer from the spleen symptoms, Verstovsek concluded. It is qualitatively (a) different medication than anything so far. I think it will be a major, major drug for our patients with myelofibrosis.

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Momelotinib 'Stands On Its Own' Compared With Other JAK Inhibitors for Myelofibrosis - Curetoday.com