Category Archives: Human Longevity

The MO of fast fashion brands is to mass-produce trendy designs at a low cost. While some brands are working on a greener selection, we know that greenwashing, waste, and human rights violations abound in the fashion industry.

Emma Mathews, founder of the sustainable British sock brand Socko and author of How to Quit Fast Fashion: 100 Expert Tips for a Sustainable Wardrobe advised us on how to take meaningful steps towards quitting fast fashion.

Clothing is more than the sum of its materials. Behind every garment are people, water, agriculture, energy, and transportation emissions, and much more.

The fashion industry produces more carbon emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined, and is the second-largest consumer of the worlds water supply despite this, 85% of all textiles end up in the dump each year. How to Quit Fast Fashion

In Mathews view, the hazards of fast fashion are greatest for textile and garment workers and the environment. Clothes dont magically appear. Think about the number of hands that handle that garment before it gets to you, about how much you pay versus what the person is paid after retail and shipping costs for something designed to be throwaway.

Garment makers work in appalling conditions because retailers, to satisfy demand, prioritize low-cost clothing over peoples lives. One of the starkest examples is the 2013 Rana Plaza fire in Bangladesh, the fourth largest industrial disaster in history, during which 1,100 people died and another 2,500 were injured.

Reevaluating your relationship with fast fashion means reconciling with the environmental and human costs, but Mathews is adamant that preaching isnt the goal. On the contrary, its about providing tools so consumers can make the decision for themselves.

Even if we stopped production tomorrow, we have enough to clothe the next two generations, says Mathews.

So, its not that we need more clothes its that were bored with what we have.

Lessening your clothings impact on our ecosystem doesnt have to mean sacrificing style.

Its in your hands as a consumer to take care of your clothing. Instead of buying new, learn fundamental preservation principles from way back when.

Paying a fair price for clothing does mean it will be more expensive, Mathews says. Thats why consumers have to make a mindset shift between wanting a quick pick-me-up and thinking for all seasons.

What makes it onto the clothing racks represents a give and take between brands and consumers. Since our closets dont exist in a vacuum, both have a vested interest in designing for a circular economy and wearing for the long-term.

Mathews believes retailers should educate consumers about the longevity of their items, and that we need legislation to regulate the fashion industry and protect garment workers. Changing consumer preferences are already making a positive impact, but theres no quick fix.

Thats why brands, as well as consumers, must continue probing the way clothing production and consumption are interlinked. If you want to have a sustainable business and lifestyle, How can you justify against what the planet needs?

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How To Quit Fast Fashion for Good | Earth 911 - Earth911.com

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine will expand a statewide program to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and prescription drugs. With funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the UC San Diego Training, Research and Education for Driving Safety Program (TREDS) provides education and resources to teach the public about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in an effort to keep our roadways safe.

In addition to alcohol, driving under the influence of cannabis and certain prescription or over-the-counter medications has rapidly become a serious traffic safety issue in the United States, especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Linda Hill, MD, MPH, program director of TREDS and professor of family medicine at University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity.Photo Credit: UC San Diego Health Sciences

An NHTSA study conducted at five hospital trauma centers between March and July of 2020 found that nearly two-thirds of seriously or fatally injured road users tested positive for at least one active drug, including alcohol, cannabis or opioids. The number of drivers that tested positive for opioids or cannabis dramatically increased after mid-March compared to the previous six months.

Stress, anxiety and depression are serious mental health concerns during the pandemic, and some are turning to alcohol, drugs and opioids to manage their emotions and then getting behind the wheel, said Linda Hill, MD, MPH, program director of TREDS and professor of family medicine at University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity. Collisions due to driving under the influence are 100 percent preventable. Our behavior profoundly influences our crash risk. We can reduce this risk by providing intervention strategies.

TREDS develops traffic safety education programs and conducts train-the-trainer workshops to prepare law enforcement and health professionals to teach classes to the public. The focus of this years program includes the following:Delivering virtual workshops on a monthly basis with the goal of training professionals in every county in California. This is a major expansion from previous years, said Hill. The workshops will feature curricula that address the topics of distracted driving, pedestrian safety, older road user safety and driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and medications.Linking organizations, groups and educational institutions with professionals in their communities who have received training to deliver these prevention programs.

Experts like Hill remind the public that the potency of todays cannabis has increased dramatically in recent years and affects each person differently. The peak effect for smoking THC is approximately 10 minutes after inhaling and can last four to eight hours. For edibles, the peak effect may occur up to two hours after ingesting and may last 10 hours or longer.

Impairing effects are based on the strength of THC, personal tolerance and mode of use, said Hill. It is critical that we continue to collaborate with those on the frontlines of road safety and the health professionals who see the tragic results of impaired driving in our emergency room settings, so we can have a unified message to our community to drive safely and sober, alcohol and drug free.

For more information, to request a training or locate a class instructor, contact TREDS at 858-534-8386 or treds@ucsd.edu.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Program Expansion to Address Increase of Impaired Driving During Global COVID-19 Pandemic - UC San Diego Health

Since 1961, more than 500 humans have flown into space. However, only 20 astronauts have stayed more than 90 days on long-duration space missions. If humans will one day travel to and from Mars, the round-trip will take 3 years. It is essential then, before those crew members ever launch, that we understand the effects long duration spaceflight has on the human body.

This unique environment consists of extreme conditions such as weightlessness, high radiation, variations in extreme temperature and pressure, among other health stressors. Long duration space flight significantly affects astronaut body mass index and what genes are expressed. Changes in metabolism, vascular health, the gastrointestinal microbiome, and cognitive performance were also observed during spaceflight. These adverse effects resolve upon return to earth as astronauts maintain vigorous exercise and nutrition programs for rehabilitation.

To study in depth the changes taking place in the human body over such a long mission in space, researchers need to look at everything from genetics to body mass. Among the Astronaut corps, NASA had a unique opportunity a set of genetically identical twin astronauts, Scott and Mark Kelly. For 340 days, Scott would be on the International Space Station (ISS), while Mark remained on Earth, both undergoing the same medical analyses, pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight to catalog the changes between the two.

The results were obtained from samples including saliva, stool, skin, urine and blood. Different molecular level techniques, cognitive tests, and biometric tests were used to understand the genetic, physiological and psychological changes in the astronauts.

The astronauts experienced changes in the expression of over 800 genes during spaceflight. Most of the genes returned to normal after flight, but some did not leading to changes in astronauts genetics and physiology. Space radiation may have damaged their DNA.

The midflight flu vaccination administered by the astronauts worked exactly as it does on Earth. This suggests the primary immune system functions were maintained during the flight, and vaccines were still an effective tool for protection.

Genes related to inflammation were more active, which may result from the human body reacting to long duration space flight. Researchers suggest telomeres (a region of DNA at the end of a chromosome) act as an aging clock in every cell, as we grow older our telomeres grow shorter. Telomere elongation was observed in space, but we cannot conclude that space is a miraculous location that adds to human longevity. Elongation may be due to the exercise and calorie-regulation astronauts maintain inflight.

A rapid shortening of telomeres in less than 45 hours was observed upon astronaut return to Earth, likely due to the extreme stresses associated with landing. Mainly the longer telomeres are associated with healthy lifestyle factors such as good nutrition and regular physical activity. However, it is unknown if telomere lengthening and shortening relate to aging in this case, because of the lack of research conducted on telomeres in microgravity.

Spaceflight might have effects on learning and cognition. The in-space astronaut could complete learning and work tasks with greater speed and accuracy, concluding that spaceflight may affect cognition positively.

Bone density is of great concern for space biology researchers. It is well known that spaceflight causes rapid loss of bone density, decreased muscle mass, and weight loss. These are common physiological changes observed in astronauts due to changes in gene and hormone regulation in space. Furthermore, due to microgravity, blood and fluids move from lower to upper body called headward fluid shift causing an appearance of a puffy face and skinny legs. This fluid shift may lead to increased pressure in the veins and capillaries of the eyes causing vision problems in astronauts.

Research also suggests astronauts are at high risk for dehydration, evidenced by changes in the gene AQP2, which regulates water reabsorption in the body and is a useful indicator of hydration status. On the ISS, the isolated and confined environment of the astronauts puts them in a degree of psychological stress. Meanwhile, eating only freeze-dried or heat-stabilized prepackaged food in space is different from what astronauts are used to eating on Earth. These psychological and nutritional stressors in astronauts negatively affect the function of beneficial gut microbes. This change in the gut microbiome results in alterations of immunity, physiology, and even psychological well-being.

The NASA twin study generated unique biomedical data on the effect of a year-long spaceflight on the human body. Most of the biological changes returned to baseline after the 340-day space mission, suggesting that human health can be mostly sustained over this spaceflight duration. As the researchers suggest, the space environment leads to potential health risks. Exercise, a good diet, and personalized medicine will make multi-year space exploration safe for astronauts. These advancements also have the potential to improve Earth medicine as well.

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How does the human body react to being in space? - Sciworthy

As we look forward to 2021, many of us have started to think about New Year's resolutions. For those of us looking to lose weight over the next twelve months, a brand new diet can not only help us hit our weight loss goals, but also introduces us to new foods, raises our energy levels, and helps us live longer, more fulfilled lives. And yet, if you decide to embark on a brand new diet, figuring out which plan to follow can feel mind-boggling. Trying to sort between the best diets to live longer and the not-so-great fad diets only makes losing weight that much harder.

So if you feel overwhelmed by the world of dieting and have no idea of where to start, have no fear! To help streamline your weight loss process and guarantee a long and healthy life, we talked to a wide range of registered dietitians, nutritionists, and medical doctors to assemble the top six diets that help you live longer. By eating healthy and exercising regularly, you can stay one step ahead of weight gain and keep moving for decades to come.

Read on to learn which six diets can help you live longer, and for even more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.

"The Mediterranean diet has consistently been ranked by US News & World Report as the world's best overall diet," says Lexi Endicott, RD, LD, and culinary nutrition specialist for To Taste. "Rather than a diet in the traditional sense in which you go on it to eventually go off it, the Mediterranean Diet is a simple and sustainable eating pattern that can be followed for life. This eating pattern emphasizes consuming a variety of plant foodsa plant-forward diet, so to speak."

If you feel ready to take the plunge, the nutritional benefits of this eating plan can keep you healthy for years.

"These healthful foods [and] ingredients are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (i.e. antioxidants) that decrease risk of developing many chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's," says Endicott. "The more disease-free years someone can add to their life, the better!"

If you want to really super boost your chances for longevity, check out our list of 20 Foods You Should Be Eating Every Day for a Longer Life.

Eating less can definitely help you lose weight, but it might also keep you around much longer.

"The diet that has the most empirical evidence in regards to increasing life expectancy is intermittent fasting or even fasting in general," says Dr. Alexander Lightstone Borsand, MD. "Animal studies have shown that the less often animals eat, the longer they live in comparison to animals fed more regularly. The most notable study in humans followed 2,000 patients after cardiac catheterization and showed an increased lifespan in patients who regularly fasted."

"Another animal study showed that mice that were fed once a day had an 11% increase in lifespan as compared to the mice fed multiple times a day," says Dr. Borsand. "This is a significant increase in lifespan and warrants further human studies."

Here are7 Science-Backed Benefits of Intermittent Fasting.

If you haven't heard of the DASH diet, get ready for an eating plan that can change your life. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet encourages the consumption of foods that lower blood pressure has taken off in recent years, and can do some wonders.

"The science is very clear that a plant-based or plant-forward diet is quite remarkable for its positive impact on longevity and healthspan," says Dr. Nicole Harkin, MD, FACC, founder and cardiologist of Whole Heart Cardiology. "This diet is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts, and seeds while minimizing or eliminating animal products and processed packaged foods."

"Numerous epidemiologic studieshave demonstrated that an increased intake of plant-based foods results in reduced risk of cardiovascular and other causes of death," says Dr. Harkin. "We also see a decreased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and inflammation. While not all individuals may not be ready to go completely plant-based, working on incorporating as many plant-based foods and #meatlessmondays is a great first step!"

Here is Everything You Need to Know About the DASH Diet.

What do Greece, Japan, Italy, California, and Costa Rica have in common? These areas constitute Blue Zonesareas of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians. In order to live like someone who could reach 100, you need to eat like someone who can reach 100, and this diet helps you do just that!

"The Blue Zones have several lifestyle factors in common which appear to contribute to the longevity and increased likelihood of living to 100 years of age," says Dr. Christine Bishara, MD, founder of From Within Medical. "Their diets are composed of fresh whole foods which are primarily plant-based and also include nuts, legumes, and olive oil. They incorporate minimal red meat with the majority of the animal protein components coming from pescetarian options."

They do not eat heavy meals late in the day or close to bedtime," says Dr. Bishara. "They practice socially based eating and have strong ties to their community. This has been studied numerous times as a major factor in longevity including another study called 'The Roseto Effect'[ and] they live in areas with ease of daily walking as a form of exercise. This seems to also be another well-studied contributor to longevity."

People in the blue zone typically eat this One Food You Should Be Eating Every Day For a Longer Life.

"Though it sounds like the latest trend, the carnivore diet is a diet that was followed for ages," Dr. Rashmi Byakod said. "The human race evolved from eating raw and cooked meat. In the olden days, there was no agriculture, and plant food was the least consumed. Meat foods are highly nutritious and carry numerous health benefits."

If you ever considered yourself a "meatatarian" you might actually be onto something.

"The aging process indicates impairment of mitochondrial function, reduced antioxidant effect, and increased oxidative stress," says Dr. Byakod. "Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) present in meats have antioxidant effects helping in longevity and wellbeingOther than these, meats are a good source of vitamin D, omega 3 amino acids, and various other nutrients. Adapting to a carnivore diet can help you meet all the nutritional requirements of your body."

If you love the idea of the Mediterranean diet, but don't want to cut our dairy, this diet will make you swoon.

"Dairy, especially full-fat dairy, contains healthy fats, calcium, and other nutrients that are recommended for a healthy diet," says Lisa Richards, CNC. "It is easy to integrate more servings of dairy into the traditional Mediterranean diet through cheeses, yogurt, and dairy-based sauces."

"Adding dairy to the Mediterranean Diet could make it more sustainable long-term, especially for women who need the added calcium and vitamin D," says Richards. "The fat content may deter some people as it adds additional fat to an already moderate fat diet, however, easy exchanges can be made to ensure a balance of fish and plant fat with added dairy."

"As with any diet, moderation is important," says Richards. "The foods recommended on the Mediterranean Diet are not shown to be unhealthy for your heart. However, the dieter should make sure they are still staying within their calorie limits, especially with fat content, to avoid any negative side effects."

For more on the Candida Diet: This Is Everything You Should Eat and Why, According to Experts.

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The 6 Best Diets That Will Make You Live Longer, Say Dietitians - Eat This, Not That

Several microplastic particles were found in the placentas of pregnant women for the first time, according to a new study.

Researchers behind the study published in the journal Environment International analyzed six human placentas from healthy pregnant women in Italy to search for the presence of microplastics.

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To ensure the placentas researchers were analyzing were not contaminated with plastics after leaving the body, a plastic-free environment was maintained over the course of the experiment. Obstetricians and midwives used cotton gloves to assist the women while in labor and only cotton towels were used to cover patientss beds. The umbilical cord was clamped and cut with metal clippers and pathologists wore only cotton gloves.

Scientists found 12 microplastic fragments ranging from 5 to 10 micrometers in size in four of the placentas collected after the women gave birth. Researchers said all the particles that were analyzed were pigmented and may have originally come from packaging.

Three were identified as stained polypropylene a thermoplastic polymer, while for the other nine it was possible to identify only the pigments, which were all used for man-made coatings, paints, adhesives, plasters, finger paints, polymers and cosmetics and personal care products, researchers wrote in the study.

While the healtheffects of microplastics in the body is still largely unknown, the study notes the particles could carry chemicals that cause long-term effects on human health and more research on the issue is needed.

Due to the crucial role of placenta in supporting the foetus development and in acting as an interface between the latter and the external environment, the presence of exogenous and potentially harmful (plastic) particles is a matter of great concern, researchers wrote.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters long that originate from a variety of sources, including debris from large plastic items that have been broken down over time into smaller pieces. Other types of microplastics are manufactured for commercial use in cosmetics and other products.

Microplastic pollution has been found in the deepest parts of the ocean and are a threat to marine animals and birds that mistake microplastics for food and ingest them. Recently, microplastic fragments were found near the summit of Everest.

The study notes that over the last century, the global production of plastics has hit 320 million tons annually, with more than 40 percent used as single-use packaging.

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For the first time, scientists find microplastics in placentas of babies | TheHill - The Hill

Researchersarepoised to makeunprecedentedbreakthroughsinhuman health thanks toadvancesin biomedical and computational sciencesthathave drivencritical tools and technologiessuch as genetic engineering,synthetic biology, andartificial intelligence.

Thats the messageDr. VictorDzau, president oftheU.S.National Academy ofMedicine, delivered to Medicine by Designs fifthannual symposium on Dec. 7 and 8.

Thevirtual event, whichattracted more than 500 registrants from across North America, focused on the theme of better science throughconvergence theintegration of approaches from engineering, science, medicine and other fields to expand knowledge and spark innovation.

I think for younger people, there is really not a more exciting time, in my opinion, to do research than now, because we can really see that some of the initial concepts that people have about health and medicinecan be realizedand truly transform the way we do health andmedicine.

In his talk, Dzau focused on the National Academy of MedicinesHealthy Longevity Global Challenge,an international competition that aims to catalyze transformative ideas and breakthroughs that will extend human healthand lifespan.

That program is one of the inspirations for Medicine by DesignsGrand Questions Program, which seeks to fund bold research that promises dramatically better health outcomes by changing the future of regenerative medicine.

Through our Grand Questions Program, we are thinking about what comes next and how to overcome fundamental problems in regenerative medicine,saidMichael Sefton, executive director of Medicine by Design andUniversity Professorin the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and theInstitute of Biomedical Engineeringat the University of Toronto.

We have a broad definition of regenerativemedicine, andpreventing degeneration can be as important as the next cell therapy.

Sefton pointed out that the symposium theme of better science through convergencefocusedon a key aspect of Medicine by Design:That we combine campus and hospital investigators, transformative science and translational elements, junior and senior investigators, and local and international collaborators, to address fundamental problems in regenerative medicine.

Thesymposium also featured a talk byRobert Langer, David H. KochInstitute Professorin the department of chemical engineeringat the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The most highly cited engineer in history, he spoke about lessons helearnedfromhisscientific and business successes and how he decidedto be his own champion after facing criticism for his novel ideas early in his career.

If you try to do things whether its convergence, or things that a lot of people disagree with you have tohang in there, Langer said.Having good intellectual property has been key toraising the funds to do these things, and medicine is an incredibly expensive thing.

And finally, you really need teams that are super driven, and I think these startup companies have been a wonderful way to do this.

The symposium was organized around four sessions: translation, inflammation, biomaterials andimmunoengineering.Invited speakers from across North AmericaincludedKim Warren(AVROBIO),Kenneth Walsh(University of Virginia),Sarah Heilshorn(Stanford University)andMegan Levings(University of British Columbia).

All speakers fromU of T and its partnerhospitals were lead investigators on Medicine by Designs multi-disciplinary, multi-institution team projects. They included:John Dick,Clinton RobbinsandShaf Keshavjee(University Health Network (UHN));Molly Shoichet(department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and Institute of Biomedical Engineering);Juan CarlosZiga-Pflcker(Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre);andAndras Nagy(Sinai Health System).

Ted Sargent, vice-president of research and innovation, and strategic initiatives,and a University Professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering,opened the symposium by congratulatingMedicine by Design on its successful mid-term review, which was conducted in early 2020 by a panel of international experts and theCanada First Research Excellence Fund(CFREF), which funds Medicine by Design.

Medicine by Design has amplified existing areas ofexcellenceatU of Tandour partner hospitals (Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network),and pushed the boundaries of regenerative medicine to tackle cell-based therapies, strategies for endogenous repair and the use of a stem cell lens to target the triggers of disease,Sargent said. In fact, Medicine by Design is such a compelling collaborative, cross-disciplinary initiative that itis a template fora new class of initiatives at the University ofToronto theInstitutional Strategic Initiativesportfolio whosepurpose is to mobilize ambitious,groundbreaking, collaborative, multi-institutional research networks that tackleimportantresearch problems, buildmajorexternal partnershipsboth with industry and emerging companies as well as with global academic peers;and foster societal impact.

They support the pursuit of grand challenges and bold ideas across disciplinary boundaries,further elevate U of Ts profile in high priority research areas of strategic importance,and enable us to realize transformational impacts on issues of major societal import.

The symposium also offered an opportunity for almost 45trainees to present their research during a poster session.KerstinKaufmann, a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory ofJohn Dick(Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,UHN), won first place.JonathanLabriola, apost-doctoral fellowinSachdev Sidhuslab(Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, U of T), placed second, whileSabihaHacibekiroglu, a post-doctoral fellow in the lab ofAndras Nagy(Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, UHN)placed third.The awards were sponsored by STEMCELL Technologies.

YasamanAghazadeh,a post-doctoral fellow in the labsofCristina Nostro(McEwen Stem Cell Institute, UHN)andSara Nunes Vasconcelos(Toronto General Hospital Research Institute,UHN),won theCCRMTranslation Awardfor the poster with the greatest translational potential.AndAi Tian, a post-doctoral fellow fromJulien Muffatslab (The Hospital for Sick Children), won thePeoples Choice Award, a new award this year that wasdetermined byvotingby symposium attendeesand sponsored byBlueRockTherapeutics.

Funded by a $114-million grant from CFREF, Medicine by Design brings together more than 145principal investigators at the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals to work at the convergence of engineering,medicineand science. It builds on decades of made-in-Canada excellence in regenerative medicine dating back to the discovery of stem cells in the early 1960s by Toronto researchers James Till andErnest McCulloch.

Regenerative medicine uses stem cells to replace diseased tissues and organs, creating therapies in which cells are the biological product. Regenerative medicine can also mean triggering stem cells that are already present in the human body to repair damaged tissues or to modulate immune responses. Increasingly, regenerative medicine researchers are using a stem cell lens to identify critical interactions or defects that prepare the ground for disease, paving the way for new approaches to preventing disease before it starts.

(Photo of Robert Langer by Jason Alden)

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Medicine by Design symposium highlights importance of convergence in regenerative medicine and human health - News@UofT

Pet adoption rates have skyrocketed during the pandemic. And the owners of an all-natural dog nutrition brand that started out with a homemade recipe for a senior dog are winning big.Brutus Broth has inked deals with major retailers like Target, Petco, Chewy.com, and thousands of boutique pet stores nationally.

Small Business Trends contacted Kim Hehir and Sue Delegan, founders of the successful small business. We wanted to find out how they turned love and grandmas bone broth, into an expanding enterprise.

The story starts in a place everyone can relate to. With the love of a dog.

It all began on Thanksgiving Day 2016 when a family member asked what we attributed Brutus longevity to, Hehir says.

As a pup the company namesake had a very active life. Then, like most older dogs, Brutus developed health issues. The partners explained how they tackled the issue.

We found that adding bone broth to his diet provided him with a tastier, more easily digestible meal, Delegan says. It also gave him added nutritional benefits.

The result was a successful startup. According to the cofounders, their product adds tasty nutrition to your pets diet in an easy convenient way. The compassionate approach the two started the business with led them to make their product different in big ways.

Hehir explains.

From a product perspective, we brought something to market that the pet industry hasnt seen before, she says. Brutus Broth is of a higher quality than most human broths on the market. And its the only one fortified with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Theres more to the lengths they went to in developing it. The result is a product thats different from the competition.

We worked with a team that develops nutrient broths for over forty hunger relief organizations feeding third world countries, Hehir says. First and foremost, we produced a high quality, human grade product that is fortified with supplements. Our entire positioning is centered around accessibility.

The Brutus Broth Company knew how to market, too.

We went after the grocery market first, Hehir says. There were no other pet food toppers of our quality offered in grocery stores.

Brutus Broth has the right recipe to make it. They enjoyed initial success selling the product on grocery store shelves until COVID-19. Then the company made a move thats getting more and more familiar in these uncertain times.

When the pandemic hit, we had to quickly pivot to add new distribution channels, Delegan says. Consumers shopping habits had changed and we wanted to stay competitive and top-of-mind. So we shifted to a more digital focus and made a greater push online.

They also had some good fortune working for them. The ingredients for Brutus Broth are American-made so they didnt get hit hard by any supply chain issues. Being classified an essential service by Amazon also helped their fortunes. But there was one more surprise Delegan didnt see coming.

What we didnt foresee was that the pandemic would cause such a rise in pet adoptions. That was a nice surprise, she says.

The company also owes their success to a socially responsible attitude. Hehir explains,We pride ourselves on giving back and have incorporated a robust philanthropic platform Weve developed the Brutus Broth Kids Committee to educate kids about entrepreneurship. And we are members of the Pet Sustainability Coalition.

The pair had some good suggestions for small businesses struggling through the pandemic.

They took the time to put together customer data and metrics. These showed retailers how Brutus Broth fit in with their product mix.

Make your business case as to why a retailer should carry your product. People arent going to buy it because YOU think you have a cool idea. You need to demonstrate how your product solves problems.even the ones they dont realize they have yet.

Hehir supplies some final advice:We stayed focused and persistent when building the relationships.

Image: brutusbroth.com

Originally posted here:
How One Pet Business Boomed During the Pandemic - Small Business Trends

The original Avengers kill thousands of characters in the MCU, but only one hero can claim the title of deadliest Avenger (and its not even close).

Marvel villains are notorious for racking up the on-screen body count, but even heroes like the Avengers have killed characters in the MCU. One-on-one showdowns between hero and villain are fertile ground for death and destruction, and when the Avengers assemble to collectively combat large-scale threats to the universe, the number of causalities in the good-guy corner really begins to add up. All matter of alien and human life from the mindless Outriders to cunning Hydra agents have met their maker at the hands of Nick Furys MCUheroes, but only one can claim the title of deadliest Avenger.

While new heroes and heroines join the ranks of the Avengers every year, the original six members of Nick Furys elite teamHulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor remain the heart and soul upon which the franchise is built. And as the longest-tenured members of the MCU, with many boasting multiple solo moviesin addition to the four Avengerstitles, thePhase One heroes have shared in the unfortunate circumstance of engaging in the highest number of battles, thus vanquishing the highest number of foes. Any acts of violence the Avengers may have committed in the comics hold no bearing in determining their kill totals, and only direct kills are considered, regardless of any deaths, whether through negligence or collateral damage, that could be pinned on an Avenger as a result of a large-scale catastrophe like Sokovia. Similarly, the Avengers: Age of Ultronrobots do not count as kills.

Related: Every Character Hulk Has Fought In The MCU (& Who Won)

Greater superpowers and a longer life equate to a higher killing capacity. Enter Thor, arguably the most powerful of the original Avengers, and certainly the eldest. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thor states, Im fifteen hundred years old. Ive killed twice as many enemies as that, which would place the God of Thunder's kill count at a minimum of 3000. Thor battles entire armies of giants, elves, and more throughout the Avengers series, even in solo movies typically reserved for more intimate stories favoring character development over action. Thors 3000+ kills are more than any other Avenger in the MCU. However, remove Thors longevityfrom the equation, and the Asgardian draws much closer to the pack, possibly even losing his deadliest Avenger title to a hero from Earth.

For a mere human with no special powers, other than a genius intellect and billions of dollars, Tony Stark is a highly prolific killer. With a history in weapons technology and Iron Man'shighly advanced iron suitpacking a whole lot of firepower, Stark tallies enough kills to place him second on the list of deadliest Avenger. Hehits the ground running in his debut movie, Iron Man, killing dozens immediately after forging his first suit. Starks snap in Avengers: Endgamenot only vanquishes Thanos (and sadly, himself) but presumably hundreds of Thanos soldiers both on the ground and in the air.

Thor and Iron Man are in a league of their own, with the remaining four Avengers far behind. Cap's service in the deadliest conflict in human history during Captain America: The First Avengercertainly means he has a higher kill count than might be initially expected, but this no doubt pales to the Hulk - especially counting the green giant's time in Sakaar. Hawkeye and Black Widow round out the list at number five and six, respectively, as while Black Widows troubled history and Hawkeyes Ronin escapades could account for many deaths, their assassin roles were better suited to taking out individual targets, which means the volume of them is arguably far less.

Despite their reputation as the squeaky clean good guys, Marvels Avengers have killed thousands of characters in the MCU ranging from alien species to Hydra agents. Thor accounts for the lions share of kills, making him the deadliest Avenger, with Iron Man second and the others a good distance behind. However, those killed by the Avengers are a mere fraction of the lives lost at the hands of villains seeking to abolish freedom and subjugate the universe (or in Thanos mind, save it). In the words of Captain America, The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And its a price Im willing to pay.

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Nathan Miranda is a writer and artist with a B.A. degree in Media Arts & Culture from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to writing for Screen Rant, Nathan worked for Regal Cinemas where he helped build and managed their blog, Regal Reel, to which he also regularly contributed. Nathan teamed with his brother Joseph to publish two children's books in their World Adventure Series, an educational fiction series featuring characters of different nationalities from around the world. The first two books are available at Amazon in print and ebook.As an artist, Nathan specializes in colored pencils. His artwork focuses primarily on film and sports. You can view his portfolio on bonusroomart.comFollow Nathan on Instagram @bonusroomart or on Twitter @NathanMiranda52

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Which Avenger Has Killed The Most Characters In The MCU - Screen Rant

Nearly 2,000 years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He was born in a supernatural way conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin. He came from the throne of his father to the womb of a woman. He was born in the very poorest of circumstances, but the air above was filled with the hallelujahs of a heavenly host. His lodging was a stable, but a star drew distinguished visitors from afar.

His birth was contrary to the laws of life. His death was contrary to the laws of death. No miracle is so inexplicable as his life and his teaching. He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became the son of man that we might become sons and daughters of God.

He lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. He slept in anothers manger. He cruised the lake in another mans boat. He rode on a borrowed beast. He was buried in a rich mans tomb.

He never traveled extensively. Only once did he cross the borders of the land; and that was during his childhood exile. He never put his foot inside a big city, nor traveled even 200 miles from his birthplace. He grew up in another village where he worked as a carpenter until he was 30. Then for 3 years he served as an itinerant preacher.

He never held a public office. He never had a family or owned a home. In infancy, he startled a king. In boyhood, he puzzled the doctors. Even at 12 years of age, he proved he was far in advance of the theologians. This man never had a formal education. He never went to college or seminary, yet the profoundest wisdom of men has never equaled His Sermon on the Mount and his last discourses in the Gospel of John, Chapters 13 through 17.

Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest works of art received their inspiration from him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but scores of the worlds greatest poets were inspired by him. He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries in the world could not even begin to hold all of the books that have been written about him. He never wrote a song, yet he furnished the theme of more songs than all the songwriters combined. He never founded a college.

In manhood, he ruled the elements. He walked on the waters and they supported him. He calmed the raging sea. Even demons obeyed him! He fed the hungry multitude with just a little boys lunch.

He healed the multitudes without medicine, and made no charge for his services. He never practiced psychiatry, yet he has healed more broken hearts than all doctors. He broke up funerals and gave back the life of those who were dead.

While he was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against him. He came to his own people and they rejected him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. Even though he was innocent, he was sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. His captors took turns lashing his back with a whip. They knelt before him in mock homage and then arose to spit in his face.

While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on Earth: the simple robe he had worn. His crucifixion was the crime of all crimes, but on Gods side, only his infinite suffering could have made possible our redemption. When he died, few men mourned; but a black crepe was hung over the sun. Men trembled, though not for their sins; and the Earth beneath shook under the load. His dying words were: Father, forgive them. They dont know what they are doing.

By his suffering and death on the cross, he paid completely for the sins of all who believe in him. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

He was bruised and brought healing. He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and brought freedom. He was dead and brought life. He has risen and brings power. He reigns and brings peace.

But three days later this man arose from the dead living proof that he was, as he had claimed, the savior whom God had sent, the incarnate Son of God.

After showing himself alive to his disciples, he ascended into heaven. He is now seated at the right hand of God and intercedes in our behalf. He will soon come again in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory for his own born-again, blood-bought followers to be forever with him. Then he will judge the world in righteousness, when every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord to the glory of the almighty God.

He preached his Gospel for only 3 years, and yet this mans life has changed the course of human history. This man is the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot point around which the events of the ages revolve, the only one capable of providing salvation of the human race.

Nineteen hundred years have come and gone, yet he still lives. His birth divides the history of mankind into two eras B.C. and A.D. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of him. Christmas and Easter celebrate his birth and resurrection.

He is light, love, longevity, and he is Lord. He is gentleness, goodness, grace, and he is God. He is holy, righteous, mighty, powerful and pure. His ways are right. His word is true. His will is unchanging.

He is the ever perfect one the chief among 10,000, the only one who can satisfy the soul and give everlasting life to those who choose to believe in him. Jesus is altogether lovely. He is my savior and my God. He is my Lord and he rules my life. He is my joy, and he is my comfort.

I serve him because his bond is love, his burden is light and his goal for me is abundant life. I follow him because he is the wisdom of the wise, power for those who are weak, the ancient of days, the leaders of leaders, and he is coming again.

His goal is a personal relationship with me. He will never leave me, never forsake me, never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me, and never cancel my appointment in his appointment book.

When I fall, he lifts me up. When I fail, he forgives. When I am weak, he is strong. When I am lost, he is the way. When I am afraid, he is my courage. When I stumble, he steadies me. When I am hurt, he heals me. When I am broken, he mends me. When I am hungry, he feeds me. When I face trials, he is my defense attorney. When I face persecution, he is my shield. When my heart is troubled, he comforts me. When I face loss, he fills the emptiness in my life. When I face death, he will carry me home.

He is God, and he is faithful. I am his, and he is mine.

Jesus was born, so that I could be born again. He became poor, that I might possess great wealth.

He became homeless, that I might have a mansion.

He was forsaken, that I would always have friends.

He was bound, that I might have perfect liberty.

He was sad, that I might have real joy. He descended, that I should be lifted up.

He became a servant, that I might be a son forever.

He was made sin, that I should share his righteousness. He died, that I should never taste eternal death.

If you are wondering why I can feel so secure, understand this: God said it, I believe it, and that settles it. God is in control. And that means that it is well with my soul all because of this one solitary life.

Don Kastens is pastor of Louisville Christian Church. His writing is based on the poem One Solitary Life by David Schrock.

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Son of peasant woman comes to save the world - Maryville Daily Times

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [December 3, 2020] The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Research Program (ORP) today announced five projects selected to receive funding for clinical and preclinical evaluation of abemaciclib. Abemaciclib is a cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4 & 6 inhibitor used in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer. The proposals were reviewed and awarded by a scientific steering committee made up of experts from NCCN Member Institutions, and the NCCN ORP is handling project oversight. Research funding is being provided by a grant from Eli Lilly and Company.

The selected projects are:

Congratulations to all of these accomplished grantees, said Wui-Jin Koh, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NCCN. We are eager to learn more about which patients develop resistance to CDK 4 & 6 inhibitors, the potential underlying mechanisms, and ways in which such resistance can be overcome, in order to improve the application of this potentially life-prolonging therapy. This research is one of the many ways we work to improve longevity and quality-of-life for people with metastatic breast cancer.

I have had a frontline view of how metastatic breast cancer can be unpredictable and complex, said Maura Dickler, MD, Vice President, Late Phase Development, Lilly Oncology. Every day the lives ofan estimated 115 women and menin the United States are lost as a result of this disease. Lilly is honored to support this research because it is critical in furthering our efforts to improve treatment options for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

The NCCN ORP fosters innovation and knowledge discovery that improves the lives of people with cancer and supports preclinical, translational, clinical research and quality improvement projects in oncology at NCCN Member Institutions. In an effort to improve collaboration in cancer research, the NCCN ORP also maintains a shared resources website and an informed consent database. For more information, visit NCCN.org/orp.

* The preclinical studies by Drs. Olmez and Zeng have already begun. The remainder are expected to commence in mid-2021.

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About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information and follow NCCN on Facebook @NCCNorg, Instagram @NCCNorg, and Twitter @NCCN.

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Grantees Awarded as Part of the Breast Cancer Research Project Between NCCN and Lilly Oncology - Newswise