New Year, New Outlook: Life Coach Shares Powerful Messages of Unity and Positivity
Stafford, TX, February 25, 2021 – Without question, 2020 was a difficult year on many levels. Life Coach Michael Taylor has a powerful call to action, intended to help readers focus on the factors that unite us as humans and view 2021 through a perspective of positivity.
“It is my belief that there has never been a better time to be alive on the planet than right now,” he says. “Obviously, I recognize all the challenges, but at the same time, I honestly believe that every human being has the capacity to be, to do and to have anything that they set their minds to.”
In his latest book, The Good News Is, The Future Is Brighter Than You Think!,the self-described “irrepressible optimist” uses science, spirituality and psychology to inform his insights into a range of topics, including:
•Being Human: Understanding what it means to be human, the role of trauma in our lives, how to move on from past trauma and taking 100 percent responsibility for our lives; •Divine Intelligence and Evolution: The Divine Intelligence as the creator of the universe, the driving force behind human evolution and how to use its power; •Spirituality: Recognition and acknowledgment of a connection to a power higher than oneself, the spiritual connection to the Divine Intelligence as a result of evolution; •Race: Realization that there is only one race and that is the human race — only through evolution will we heal our race relations and accept that we’re all the same; •Love: Accepting love as the highest power that can heal this universe and how to create meaningful connections and develop healthy intimate relationships; •Plus health, wealth, education, technology and everything in between!
“If you’ve been looking for a resource that inspires you and motivates you and lights you up, this is the book for you!” Taylor adds.
Author Michael Taylor is uniquely positioned to spread hope and optimism. A high school dropout, he overcamea divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, depression and being homeless for two years on his way to becoming a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker, radio and TV host, and author of nine best-selling books. He has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential by transforming their lives from the inside out.
Taylor is President and CEO of Creation Publishing Group, a company that specializes in creating programs and products that empower men and women to live extraordinary lives,and Too Cool Club, a company that develops transformational education programs for youth. He has been featured in the Amazon.com bestselling book Motivational Speakers America and in USA Today magazine about the changing roles of manhood and masculinity in society. He has won numerous awards for his dynamic speaking style, and he is an Amazon.com bestselling author.
He is the host and producer of two TV Channels on the Roku Network, Joy Passion & Profit and Shatter The Stereotypes, and hosts two podcasts of the same names available on most podcast platforms like Spotify and iTunes.
Most importantly, he has been blissfully married for 18 years to the woman of his dreams and he is a proud father of three grown children.
Chip simplifies COVID-19 testing, delivers results on a phone Programmed magnetic nanobeads enable diagnostic device designed at Rice University
HOUSTON – (Feb. 25, 2021) – COVID-19 can be diagnosed in 55 minutes or less with the help of programmed magnetic nanobeads and a diagnostic tool that plugs into an off-the-shelf cell phone, according to Rice University engineers.
The Rice lab of mechanical engineer Peter Lillehoj has developed a stamp-sized microfluidic chip that measures the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein in blood serum from a standard finger prick. The nanobeads bind to SARS-CoV-2 N protein, a biomarker for COVID-19, in the chip and transport it to an electrochemical sensor that detects minute amounts of the biomarker.
The researchers argued their process simplifies sample handling compared to swab-based PCR tests that are widely used to diagnose COVID-19 and need to be analyzed in a laboratory.
“What’s great about this device is that doesn’t require a laboratory,” Lillehoj said. “You can perform the entire test and generate the results at the collection site, health clinic or even a pharmacy. The entire system is easily transportable and easy to use.”
The research appears in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Sensors.
Lillehoj and Rice graduate student and lead author Jiran Li took advantage of existing biosensing tools and combined them with their own experience in developing simple diagnostics, like a microneedle patch introduced last year to diagnose malaria.
The new tool relies on a slightly more complex detection scheme but delivers accurate, quantitative results in a short amount of time. To test the device, the lab relied on donated serum samples from people who were healthy and others who were COVID-19-positive.
Lillehoj said a longer incubation yields more accurate results when using whole serum. The lab found that 55 minutes was an optimum amount of time for the microchip to sense SARS-CoV-2 N protein at concentrations as low as 50 picograms (billionths of a gram) per milliliter in whole serum. The microchip could detect N protein in even lower concentrations, at 10 picograms per milliliter, in only 25 minutes by diluting the serum fivefold.
Paired with a Google Pixel 2 phone and a plug-in potentiostat, it was able to deliver a positive diagnosis with a concentration as low as 230 picograms for whole serum.
“There are standard procedures to modify the beads with an antibody that targets a particular biomarker,” Lillehoj said. “When you combine them with a sample containing the biomarker, in this case SARS-CoV-2 N protein, they bond together.”
A capillary tube is used to deliver the sample to the chip, which is then placed on a magnet that pulls the beads toward an electrochemical sensor coated with capture antibodies. The beads bind to the capture antibodies and generate a current proportional to the concentration of biomarker in the sample.
The potentiostat reads that current and sends a signal to its phone app. If there are no COVID-19 biomarkers, the beads do not bind to the sensor and get washed away inside the chip.
Lillehoj said it would not be difficult for industry to manufacture the microfluidic chips or to adapt them to new COVID-19 strains if and when that becomes necessary.
The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Rice University COVID-19 Research Fund supported the research.
A system developed by Rice University engineers employs a stamp-sized microfluidic chip that measures the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in blood serum to diagnose COVID-19 in less than an hour. The system uses an off-the-shelf cellphone and potentiostat to deliver the results. (Credit: Lillehoj Research Group/Rice University)
Programmed magnetic nanobeads paired with an off-the-shelf cellphone and plug-in diagnostic tool can diagnose COVID-19 in 55 minutes or less, according to Rice University engineers. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
Rice University mechanical engineer Peter Lillehoj, left, and graduate student Jiran Li developed a system that uses programmable magnetic nanobeads, an off-the-shelf cellphone and a plug-in diagnostic tool to diagnose COVID-19 in 55 minutes or less. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Weak U.S. Dollar Benefits Some Agriculture Commodities, But Not All
Shifts in currency values boost export opportunities for many ag commodities, create headwinds for others
DENVER (February 25, 2021)—The value of the U.S. dollar weakened substantially since March 2020 and is expected to experience modest deflation in 2021. A weaker dollar generally makes U.S. agricultural products more competitive on the global export market. However, not all commodities are affected equally given the diversity in global export competition and foreign exchange rates.
Fundamental factors like tariffs and weather conditions in key agricultural producing regions often dominate market dynamics despite currency headwinds or tailwinds and should not be discounted, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
“U.S. agricultural exports are largely expected to continue a faster pace in 2021 with help from weakness in the U.S. dollar,” said Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “But our research indicates that some agricultural commodities like grains, oilseeds, and cotton will face a currency headwind.”
CoBank’s estimates on commodity-specific trade weighted balances reveals a nuanced view of currency implications for U.S. agricultural exports in 2021. Animal ProteinAfter a challenging currency environment in 2020, U.S. animal protein exports are expected to benefit from a modest tailwind fueled by a weaker U.S. dollar in 2021. The outlook for a stronger Australian dollar and euro should make U.S. beef and pork exports the largest beneficiaries in the coming year.
Beyond currency, other drivers signaling a good year for U.S. protein exports in 2021 include less disruption to U.S. meat processing capacity, the rebound in global foodservice demand, and the upward trend in China’s meat and poultry imports. Grain & OilseedsThe U.S. trade weighted grain and oilseed index stands out relative to other agriculture commodities. The index strengthened by 14% in 2020 and is expected to gain another 4%-5% in 2021. The further strengthening of the grain and oilseed index is driven by the U.S. dollar’s strength relative to the currencies of major exporters like Brazil, Argentina and Ukraine.
“A casual observer could argue that corn and soybean exports will face headwinds in 2021 since the index strength implies that U.S. exports become less price competitive,” said Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg, lead grain and farm supply economist with CoBank. “But this was not the case in 2020 nor is it expected to be in 2021 due to Chinese demand.”
China has been aggressively buying U.S. grain for feed as it rebuilds its hog herd, leveraging its strong currency relative to the U.S. dollar despite the dollar’s strength in relation to other currencies. DairyThe EU and New Zealand are dominant players in the global dairy trade, so their currencies factor heavily in the trade-weighted currency index for dairy. Both the euro and New Zealand dollar are projected to be stronger against the U.S. dollar in 2021, providing a tailwind for U.S. dairy exports. This creates enhanced opportunities for cheese exports into key markets like South Korea, Japan and Australia, non-fat dry milk exports to Southeast Asia and butter exports into South Korea. The strengthening euro will raise the cost to bring butter and cheese into the U.S., potentially supporting domestic demand for U.S. dairy products. Tree NutsThe U.S. is the dominant tree nut exporter in the world, leaving importers around the globe with limited options for alternative sources. The U.S. accounts for 87% of global almond exports, 65% of pistachio exports and 51% of walnut exports. Currency tailwinds may offer even greater export opportunities for U.S. tree nuts in 2021.
Australia, the second biggest almond exporter in the world with 9% of global exports, is forecast to experience its currency strengthening against the U.S. dollar, creating opportunities for the U.S., particularly into the Southeast Asian market. U.S. walnuts are also expected to benefit from advantages over major competitors. Currency weakness in Iran, however, will create headwinds for U.S. pistachio exports. CottonU.S. cotton is heavily dependent on exports with more than 80% of U.S. cotton moving into the export market. The U.S. also commands the top place in global exports with more than one-third of global market share. However, number-two Brazil, which claims 20% of global exports, is forecast to see continued weakness in the real in 2021, which will be a headwind for the U.S. cotton exports into markets like China, Vietnam and Pakistan.
The commodity indices created by CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange are intended to capture how changes in foreign exchange rates between the U.S. and their primary competitors in agriculture trade impact the price competitiveness of U.S. agricultural exports.
CoBank is a $159 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 75,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
Resilience Without Regrets: Acclaimed Physician on Finding Miracles and Facing Adversity
Denver, CO, February 25, 2021 — Many people reach the end of their lives wishing they could change the past. Turning back the clock is impossible, but Dr. Harley Rotbart’s new book, No Regrets Living, offers sage guidance to help us better appreciate what we have in our lives, and take greater pride in what we’ve done with our lives — without spending precious time and energy wishing things had turned out differently.
In No Regrets Living, Dr. Rotbart describes the seven keys to a life of wonder and contentment: Belief, Discovery, Healing, Appreciation, Acceptance, Seeking and Growth, and how to cultivate each in your life. Woven into the timeless message of the book are especially timely observations on the COVID-19 pandemic from Dr. Rotbart’s expert perspective as an infectious diseases physician, including coping mechanisms and paths for going forward as individuals and as a society.
Dr. Rotbart is a man of science who also believes in, and “collects,” miracles. No Regrets Living is the much-awaited follow-up to his previous book, Miracles We Have Seen – America’s Leading Physicians Share Stories They Can’t Forget. In this new work, Dr. Rotbart reconciles science and faith from his unique perspective as physician, scientist, heart surgery patient and child of a Holocaust survivor.
“I have a simple definition of a miracle,” Dr. Rotbart says. “Miracles are objects and events in nature and in our lives that cannot be fully explained or re-created. Yes, like the unimaginable true stories written by physicians in the Miracles We Have Seen book, but I believe the inside of the living human beings I have seen in the operating room and the tiniest of human cells I have seen under a microscope in my laboratory are equally miraculous and unexplainable. And you needn’t go to medical school or use a microscope to appreciate the ubiquity of miracles. They are all around us — we only need to open our eyes and hearts to recognize them.”
A nationally renowned infectious disease specialist, Dr. Rotbart is also a pediatrician, parenting expert, speaker and educator. He is Professor and Vice Chair Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and author of more than 175 medical and scientific publications, and five previous books for general audiences: Miracles We Have Seen; 940 Saturdays; No Regrets Parenting; Germ Proof Your Kids; and The On Deck Circle of Life.
To learn more, please visit www.harleyrotbart.com, or connect with the author on Facebook (HarleyRotbartMd) or Twitter (@HarleyRotbart).
No Regrets Living: 7 Keys to a Life of Wonder and Contentment
EDUCATION LEVEL, INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AMONG FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BELIEVING MISINFORMATION
Research looked at perceptions of three health care topics
WASHINGTON – While many people believe misinformation on Facebook and Twitter from time to time, people with lower education or health literacy levels, a tendency to use alternative medicine or a distrust of the health care system are more likely to believe inaccurate medical postings than others, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
“Inaccurate information is a barrier to good health care because it can discourage people from taking preventive measures to head off illness and make them hesitant to seek care when they get sick,” said lead author Laura D. Scherer, PhD, with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Identifying who is most susceptible to misinformation might lend considerable insight into how such information spreads and provide us with new avenues for intervention.”
In the study, published in the journal Health Psychology, researchers surveyed 1,020 people in the U.S. between the ages of 40 and 80 about the accuracy of 24 recent Facebook and Twitter postings on HPV vaccines, statin medications and cancer treatment. Researchers shared with participants an equal number of true and false postings for all three medical issues. False claims included asserting that red yeast rice is more effective at lowering cholesterol than statins, that marijuana, ginger and dandelion roots can cure cancer and that HPV vaccines are dangerous.
Participants were asked to evaluate whether the postings were completely false, mostly false, mostly true or completely true. Researchers asked follow-up questions, including participants’ education level, interest in alternative treatments, understanding of health care issues, income and age.
Participants with lower education and health literacy levels were more likely to believe the misinformation, the researchers found. Those with a distrust for the health care system or who had positive attitudes toward alternative medicine also tended to believe the misinformation on the three health topics more often than others in the study. Also, participants who fell for misinformation on one health issue tended to be more susceptible to misinformation on the other two health topics.
The findings could help public health officials develop more targeted messaging and outreach for a range of health care issues, according to the researchers.
“People who were susceptible to misinformation tended to be susceptible to all three types we showed them, about a vaccine, statin medications and cancer treatment,” Scherer said. “One possible implication is that these individuals are susceptible to many different types of health misinformation, making these findings potentially relevant to other health care issues beyond the ones we studied here. This information could have implications for other public information efforts, such as those currently underway to address COVID-19.”
Still, more research needs to be done to fully understand how to interrupt misinformation cycles, Scherer said.
“We hope that researchers can build on these findings and develop novel and evidence-based interventions to reduce the influence and spread of health misinformation online. Such steps could save countless lives,” she said.
Article: “Who is Susceptible to Online Health Misinformation? A Test of Four Psychosocial Hypotheses,” by Laura D. Scherer, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine; Allison Kempe, MD, Larry A. Allen, MD, Christopher E. Knoepke, PhD, Channing E. Tate, MPH, and Daniel D. Matlock, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine; Gordon Pennycook, PhD, University of Regina and Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Jon McPhetres, PhD, University of Regina. Health Psychology, published online Feb. 25, 2021.
Family Now, Work Later: An Unconventional Approach to Happiness and Success We are taught to believe that working hard during our “prime earning years” means we get to relax and enjoy the good life later on. That’s exactly backwards, says Steve Cook. Here’s how to shift this mindset so you can spend today enjoying your family and your life.
Knoxville, TN (February 2021)—You’re young (or heck, even youngish) only once. And the same is true for your kids who are growing up before your eyes. Yet many of us spend our best years putting work ahead of spending quality time with our kids and nurturing the relationships that matter most.
This tradeoff is part and parcel of The American Dream: the one that tells us to grind, hustle, stay busy, and pursue more and more, says Steve Cook. The problem is, workingnow so we can play later doesn’t always pay off like we hope—and it costs us more than we think.
“Many of us have bought into the narrative that we have to work really hard so that one day in the far-off future we can enjoy the good life,” says Cook, author of Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99). “Problem is, it’s a lie. ‘One day’ may never come. And if it does, you’ll find what you gave up was far more valuable than what you gained.”
Cook is adamant that the far better approach is working less and living more. The way to accomplish this is by living beneath your means. It frees you to spend some of the best years of your life living, not working yourself to death. You can put your nose to the grindstone later on.
It sounds good. But is it really doable? Absolutely, says Cook. But it requires that you stop listening to what the world tells you and pay attention to what your spirit is crying out for.
“That mindset shift is the most important step in the journey,” he says. “Once you do that, the rest tends to fall into place.” Here’s how to get started:
Really hear this wake-up call: Your kids won’t be young forever. Before you know it, they will be adults and won’t need your presence and guidance in the same way. And you can’t be the influence they need from the office, or while traveling for work. It takes spending time with them as their parent, teacher, coach, and friend to make a lasting positive impact.
Accept that “more is better” is a lie. The world wants to entice you with a “bigger is better” and “more is better” mentality. But achieving the outward trappings of success generally requires a lot of your time, energy, and focus. When you’re pursuing them, something has to give, and it’s almost always your most important relationships.
“You may tell yourself that you are pursuing making money for your family,” notes Cook. “But ask yourself: Does my family really need and want the big house, the new car, the fancy vacations? No, what they need and want more of is you. If you ask a five-year-old what they want more of, they will always choose time with you over your working more to provide something bigger.”
Start figuring how you might work less. This may or may not mean changing jobs. If your job right now consumes the lion’s share of your time and energy, you will either need to start looking elsewhere or talk to your boss about recalibrating your work. Or it might mean starting your own venture—one where you have more control over when and how much you work.
“This isn’t about shutting off your ambition,” says Cook. “Rather, it’s about asking yourself,What am I ambitious for? Would I rather have more memories or more stuff? Make sure you are not allowing yourself to be steered by what society thinks is right.”
Make a ten-year plan that puts your kids and family at the center. If you have young children, plan to spend the next ten years, give or take, prioritizing your family over work. This means combining your vision with your values to brainstorm a better life for yourself. This doesn’t mean that you don’t work for ten years; it simply means that during this time you won’t take on big endeavors or projects that will compromise the most important things in your life, like your family.
“Give your all to the parts of your job or your business that come most easily to you,” says Cook. “By focusing on those aspects of your work that you do well, and saving more ambitious pursuits for later on when you have fewer commitments at home, you can help protect your time so you can be there for your family.”
Live simply and keep your needs low during this time. This might mean downsizing to a less expensive home, driving an older (paid off) car, dining out less, or forgoing vacations. Find ways to live within your means and avoid going into debt, as this also enables you to work less right now. Brainstorm what you don’t need in your life to be happy—keeping in mind that you need a lot less than you ever dreamed. (NOTE: See “Nine Fine Benefits of Living a Simpler Life” tipsheet below.)
“Living simply gives you many more options,” says Cook. “The more complicated your lifestyle, the less likely you are to have the option of being there for your family.”
Be vigilant for “business-building creep.” If part of your ten-year plan involves building up your own business, be sure to do it right, advises Cook. Consider how you can keep things small and manageable for now. You might have the best of intentions, but a growing business may demand that you make sacrifices…and if you’re not careful, you’ll find that these sacrifices may be costly for your kids.
“I know that the more I do with business, the more I think about it,” reflects Cook. “The more I think about it, the more I won’t be present. And I don’t even want to chance this. If I say that my family is most important to me, my actions need to reflect this.”
Remember, says Cook, you’re not giving up your ambition. You’re simply delaying it until later for something of greater value today.
“The ‘family now, work later’ sequence is better for many people than traditional retirement,” he adds. “Most people really thrive on work, at least meaningful work. It provides structure and a sense of purpose. And when the kids are grown and out of the house, you’re going to need something to do. Maybe that is the time to start building something big.”
One cornerstone of Lifeonaire founder and author Steve Cook’s path to prosperity is cutting life down to the basics. By cutting out the things we don’t need—the giant mortgage, the shiny new cars, the pricey data plans, the lavish vacations—we free up money to fund income-producing assets. Yet there are many other benefits to dramatically simplifying your life.
For example:
1.You’ll quickly amass an emergency fund. If the water heater breaks, you’ll be able to replace it without going into debt. 2. You’ll set the right example for your kids. You can tell kids all day not to be materialistic, to avoid debt, to conserve and recycle, to save for the future—but if you don’t practice it, all your preaching is meaningless. We believe what we live every day. 3.You’ll be more likely to be able to afford college… If your kids choose to attend a four-year-college (not a necessity, by the way), you can help them do so without racking up major debt. 4.…And maybe retire someday yourself. If you choose to, that is. Hopefully part of your simpler life involves work that’s not so soul-crushing. You might choose to keep working for a long time and that’s great. True prosperity is about freedom to do what you want. 5. You’ll get to know your community. When we’re not spending thousands on big vacation getaways (in the post-COVID future of course!) we’re more likely to explore local parks, libraries, and other close-to-home attractions. This, in turn, can make us more engaged and involved citizens. 6. You’ll spend more time with family. Without expensive distractions to, well, distract you, you might find yourself going on hikes or bike rides, playing board games at home, or volunteering at the local food pantry or animal shelter together. 7. You’ll find a new sense of peace. Ask anyone who has started controlling their money rather than letting it control them: Instead of feeling deprived, you feel good. You won’t have the low-grade hum of anxiety that comes with overspending and racking up debt. 8. You’ll get more mindful and grateful. Consumerism creates a desire for more, more, more. In the quest for what we can buy and where we can go tomorrow, we miss out on the present. When we refocus, we may start noticing sunsets, birds at the feeder, or the simple pleasures of baking cookies or throwing a football with our kids. 9. You’ll get more generous and giving. The less you spend on yourself, the more you’ll free up to spend on others. And as the way you see the world changes, you’ll want to give. It feels good to be able to help—and even better to see your kids discover the joys of caring and sharing.
“Making the decision to live simply and sanely changes everything,” says Cook. “It’s not just a change in spending habits. It’s a shift in values and priorities. It changes who you are as a parent, a partner, a neighbor, and a human being.”
# # #
About the Author: Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals and made millions of dollars, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book: Lifeonaire; An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
Novo Nordisk and the University of Toronto announce joint 200 DKK million investment to address diabetes and chronic disease prevention
Transformative partnership reunites University of Toronto and Novo Nordisk to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and jumpstart a new era in precision public health
TORONTO and BAGSVÆRD, Denmark, Feb. 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Novo Nordisk A/S and the University of Toronto (U of T) today announced a DKK 200 million (CAD 40 million) investment to establish the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations. The network will focus on new ways to support healthier urban populations and will draw on U of T's leading expertise in public health research and education programmes to impact the global fight against diabetes and other serious chronic diseases. Based at U of T Mississauga, the new network will be a partnership between the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and University of Toronto Mississauga.
"As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin at U of T, we are thrilled to once again partner with Novo Nordisk, a company that understands the vital importance of helping those living with diabetes and other chronic diseases," said U of T President Meric Gertler. "Their historic investment will build capacity for research and education at the University. It will bring together existing expertise from across U of T, our health sector partners in the Mississauga community and the broader region. It will make a real difference to people coping with chronic diseases not just here in Canada, but around the world."
In 1921, a U of T research team of Frederick Banting, Charles Best, J.J.R. MacLeod and James Bertram Collip discovered insulin. Novo Nordisk predecessors, Nordisk Insulin Laboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium, were among the first to produce insulin at a large scale, bringing this life-saving treatment from University of Toronto labs to people with diabetes around the world. Now, 100 years later, U of T and Novo Nordisk will once again work together to improve the lives of people living with diabetes – with an ambition to prevent type 2 disease.
"Fulfilling our company's purpose to defeat diabetes, obesity and other serious chronic diseases requires much more than innovative medicine," said Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, CEO and President of Novo Nordisk. "One hundred years after the discovery of insulin, we're proud to once again partner with the University of Toronto with the ambition of helping society to address the root causes of type 2 diabetes and obesity. As we recognise insulin's success in saving millions of lives around the world, we are excited to expand our commitment towards the prevention of these serious chronic diseases."
Novo Nordisk's is donating DKK 100 million (CAD 20 million) to the network which is being matched by U of T with further DKK 100 million in financial and in-kind contributions. In addition, Novo Nordisk has made an additional DKK 10 million (CAD 2 million) donation to U of T's Banting and Best Diabetes Centre in support of discovery research and to honour Banting and Best's enduring legacy.
About University of Toronto Founded in 1827, the university has evolved into Canada's leading institution of learning, discovery and knowledge creation. We are proud to be one of the world's top research-intensive universities, driven to invent and innovate. Our students have the opportunity to learn from and work with preeminent thought leaders through our multidisciplinary network of teaching and research faculty, alumni and partners. The ideas, innovations and actions of more than 560,000 graduates continue to have a positive impact on the world.
About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 45,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.
SOURCE Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW PIVOT TRAIL 429All-Mountain Versatility With An XC-Race Pedigree.
Tempe, AZ – The new Pivot Trail 429 defies categorization, and smashes KOMs. Mixing the progressive geometry and handling of longer travel all-mountain sleds with the responsiveness and speed of dedicated race rigs ushers in a new breed of hyper-capable trail bike. The new Pivot Trail 429 is a potent, lightweight trail weapon with the handling and suspension chops to go hard in big terrain, and also the flat-out speed and acceleration to deliver podium level performances at marathon and 24-hour races. It offers unprecedented versatility; equally at home sending rough technical lines as it is with a race number zip-tied to the handlebars. “We’ve pushed the limits of the New Trail 429 to make a bike even more capable for both aggressive trail riders and those who are looking for the utmost efficiency and pedaling performance out of their trail bike” says Pivot’s founder and CEO, Chris Cocalis. “We designed the Trail 429 to thrive in rough, technical terrain, so we really worked on getting the suspension and handling dialed for the limits being pushed by modern riders. This is the most capable 120mm-travel suspension on the market. At the same time, with the flip-chip adjustability and aggressive weight reduction in the frame, the new Trail 429 also makes for an amazing endurance racer.” Constructed of leading-edge carbon fiber materials using Pivot’s proprietary hollow core molding technology, the Trail 429’s frame achieves exceptional strength and stiffness at a weight competitive with dedicated XC race bikes. Size specific ride tuning ensures consistent, surefooted handling and performance across the size range. A more progressive linkage and trunnion mounted metric shock elevate the acclaimed dw-link suspension to superlative performance levels, and the newly incorporated flip-chip allows riders to hone ride characteristics toward either rowdy or racy. 120mm of rear travel has never felt this plush and composed. Nor has it ever felt this fast, and this responsive. Build kits for the Trail 429 emphasize this versatility: Pro and Team builds feature Fox DPS or Live Valve shocks and 130mm Fox 34 forks, and the optional Enduro build is ready for the big hits with a Fox DPX2 rear shock and 140mm Fox 36 Grip 2 Factory fork. Pricing, Specifications, and Availability: The new Trail 429 will be available in Pacific Blue and Metallic Silver and can be purchased in six different complete bike configurations with additional Enduro suspension, carbon wheel, and Live Valve options priced between $5,599 USD and $12,499 USD. Available now, in sizes XS through XL, at key Pivot dealers worldwide. For more information visit: https://store.pivotcycles.com/en/bike-trail-429-v3-1
Resilience: A Workbook Outlines 7 Key Traits of Resilient People
Grand Rapids, MI, February 23, 2021 — Some individuals seem positively unsinkable, no matter how tumultuous the circumstances, while others have difficulty weathering any storm at all. What is it that makes some people bounce back more readily in the face of life’s challenges?
Psychologist Kathryn Den Houter addresses this question and offers valuable, actionable tools in her illuminating book, Resilience: A Workbook: Powering Through Adversity to Find Happiness.
“We have a culture that demands adaptability, personal insights, and a willingness to change,” Dr. Den Houter writes. “Resilience is essential for optimum survival.”
After 25 years in private practice, Dr. Den Houter identified seven qualities of resilience that her successful clients had in common. In Part One of Resilience: A Workbook, shedevotes a chapter to each of thesetraits, using client case studies to illustrate the ways in which these traits impact lives. She also draws comparisons to famous personalities who share these same resilient qualities. Each chapter concludes with study questions ideal for both personal introspection as well as group settings.
Part Two converts the awareness and understanding of these resilient qualities into action, with valuable tools to help readers harness the healing power of relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive visualization, improved self-esteem and more.
Resilience: A Workbook is intended for individuals as well as group leaders, teachers, psychologists, pastors and social workers. Special consideration is given to the role of faith in the lives of resilient individuals.
Not only did Dr. Den Houter use her expertise as a therapist to inform her message, but she also drew upon her rich background as an educator for two decades and as a mother of four. The result is a practical, easy to understand guide that puts the power of resilience in the palm of your hand.
Author Kathryn Den Houter has been writing novels actively since her retirement in 2013, but before that, she wrote an untold number of novels in her head. Her last novel, Abigail’s Exchange, was a winner in the Eric Hoffer writer’s contest and a semi-finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Award. She has often said and steadfastly holds to the maxim that “good stories heal.”
Before her writing career, she had two careers that spanned 45 years. She taught in preschool, elementary school, middle school and high school before completing a doctorate in psychology, after which she developed a private practice in Grand Rapids. Her most beloved career was raising four children with her late husband, Len.
She and her husband of 10 years, Jim, live near Grand Rapids and enjoy spending winter months in Florida.
Resilience: A Workbook: Powering Through Adversity to Find Happiness
Publisher: Jambo Press
ISBN-10: 154037257X
ISBN-13: 978-1540372574
Available from Amazon.com and wherever books are sold
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Keeping Love Alive in the Time of Pandemic – Dr. Liza Leal
For many of us, 2020 was the year from hell and 2021 is the year that hell froze over.
The terrible impacts of this record-setting winter are coinciding with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic to produce more pain in more people across the nation than anything is recent memory. Who among us doesn’t need a reliable way to improve the love and warmth in our lives and get some badly needed help to relieve the stress and pain and isolation we are all feeling from covid.
Research proves that writing to someone we love and telling them that we love them and appreciate them releases dopamine in the brain and makes you feel happier. Receiving a letter from someone you love that expresses gratitude not only increases the desire for closeness and intimacy, but can also trigger renewed interest and commitment to the relationship.
It is telling sign that therapists are busier than ever and getting an appointment to speak to one is harder than ever, even with digital technology and telehealth. The pandemic is making it harder for many couples to find private moments while working from home in tight quarters, especially if they have children.
And it’s proven that one of the best and simplest ways to help create a deeper connection in a romantic relationship is to write and deliver a love letter to the person you desire.
Even though you may be alone when you write a love letter, you will feel like you are in the company of the one you are writing to. The same warm feeling occurs in the person who receives this letter.
It’s not hard at all to take a pen to paper, or to sit down at a keyboard and get the ideas down and ready top be delivered.
You can write a short Love Letter in seven short easy steps.
Get out a blank sheet of paper or open a computer screen and write down one or more sentences for each of the following seven elements.
Describe to them they ways you love them that makes you feel cherished.
Tell them the specific things you like hearing them say and do, especially when they talk about you to other people.
Tell them how they made you feel when they provided you with emotional support during a tough time, a recent crisis or a difficult experience you went through recently.
Tell them that how you respect and admire how they are different (and better) than you in one or more ways. Recognize and praise them for these differences.
Tell them where and how you appreciate the way they communicate well with you. Recognize them for the things they have said and tell them how they made you feel.
Tell them how much you love to spend time with them doing the things you enjoy to do together. Tell them how you cherish those certain moments that you share together pursuing a common interest.
Tell them how you are attracted to them physically, and how much you are interested in and wanting to be physically intimate with them.
If you can be specific and sincere when you write these ideas down, you are well on your way to sharing a lifetime of love with your partner.
Now sign the letter and send it.
Follow Up and Take Action
You will dramatically improve the love you receive in return by taking additional action to reinforce the feelings you just identified.
Raise the heat by taking action. Think about the seven things your partner likes the most that you do and take actions to deliver more of it in spades.
And if instead of doing this just once a year at Valentine’s Day, decide to make this a regular feature of your life. Pay more attention to the key areas that influence the state of your relationship and jumpstart your romance to achieve greater intimacy.
Practice makes perfect.
Ask your partner what you can do to make their day better or easier. Say these three powerful words to your partner more often: “I love you”. Show affection to your partner on a regular basis.
Two people may love each other, yet not like or accept everything about each other as they are. Think about going to town and focusing on the positive things you do like about your partner. Stop yourself when you start to criticize or complain. Force yourself to say something positive instead. Compliment them. Commend their strength, their action, their self-control, whatever it is that they do.
Tell them, “I am here for you. I will stand by you” Encourage them to develop their full potential.
Feed them what they love. Create new habits and expand the activities they enjoy the most. Form new habits to help you both get by in hard times. If restrictions keep you from going out, have a weekly date at home. Turn on the music and be silly, or dance with your partner in the kitchen, or make brunch on the weekend if your partner usually cooks. Enjoy a change of scenery by taking a walk in a new location or a park, taking a drive together, and going for a hike. To a new location or destination.
Indulge them in what they love.
Learn about your partner’s favorite hobbies and support them in their enjoyment of the topic. Figure out a way to spend time with them both of you doing what the other loves. .
Listen More to Achieve Greater Understanding
Ask how they feel about something and then keep your mouth shut. Listen and learn. Let them rant and rave all they want. No talking at all. Don’t say anything except “uh huh”. Just shut up and listen and learn what your partner believes, desires, feels, and hopes. The more you listen, the more you will know and the better you will really understand, and the more you will truly be able to experience true love.
These seven elements are the foundations of emotional intimacy. They are crucial for all couples, especially those affected by chronic pain and other ongoing health issues.
Together, they form a solid roadmap for greater love – a solid path on which you and your partner can walk together hand in hand through the current pandemic and beyond.
Cupid’s Challenge, Embracing, Restoring Love, Affection, Intimacy and Respect Through the Challenges of Chronic Pain,
Liza Leal, M.D.
List $16.95
113 pages paperback
First Printing, 2021 ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-62-3 print edition ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-63-0 ebook edition Published by Waterside Productions
Dr. Liza Leal is board certified in Family Medicine from the American Board of Family Medicine, and lives and practices in Sugarland, Texas. She is the Chief Medical Officer of Meridian Medical Dental Healthcare and Meridian Health Institute. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School and completed her internship and residency at the Christus St Joseph Hospital in Houston. She is an active blogger and podcaster on integrated and functional approaches to health. She is also the author of the book Living Well with Chronic Pain (2015) and coauthor of the book Stem Cells Made Simple (2018) with Dr. Duncan Foulds.
Dr. Leal, knows first hand the devastation of living in chronic pain, she was diagnosed at the age of 23, her third year in medical school and was in a wheel chair the next few years. During her final year in residency, she learned to thrive again, giving up her yellow canary scooter for a pair of high heels, going from 204 lbs to 130 lbs, like many suffering from chronic illness and stress she had to change her habits to learn to live and thrive which is why she chose a path of integrated and functional medicine to help her patients get their life back too.
Instagram @everydayhealthhacker
YouTube Dr. Liza Leal
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