Achieve Peace, Happiness, Tranquility, and Relaxation Through A New Meditation App
New meditation app Relaxx App guides its users to understand the body, mind, and flame through meditation and intermittent silence.
Relaxx is the advanced meditation app for achieving peace, happiness, tranquility, and relaxation through the practice of intermittent silence and meditation. The app guides its users on a journey away from everyday tasks and concerns to reduce stress and burnout.
The app was created by Dr. Krishna Bhatta, a surgeon, author, and inventor, who is currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Maine. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Bhatta’s passion lies in integrating eastern wisdom into the western world by sharing his spiritual discoveries.
This portable spiritual Guru provides an individualized experience where users can start with a daily intermittent silence routine and move on to a variety of meditation techniques, both guided and unguided. Just a few minutes of practicing mindfulness, intermittent silence, and meditation will leave users feeling energized and refreshed.
Intermittent silence is a term that Dr. Bhatta has been using for a few years to represent taking a break from life. In the same way that people rest their physical body and lower their heart rate to a resting place, it is also important to rest the brain, even if it is only ten minutes. Dr. Bhatta explains that by closing the eyes, the visual pathway is able to rest. By listening in silence and hearing sounds without judgment, auditory pathways are able to rest. Allowing thoughts to pass without paying attention will give rest to the brain, and when that resting place is achieved, a door will open to individual consciousness.
Relaxx encourages people to practice at the same time and same place as often as possible. This practice will lead to progression, to the point that users will be able to notice a difference in their meditation quality. By continuing daily, the ultimate goal will be to carry that peace into times of chaos. With guidance from Relaxx, users will come to an understanding of body, mind, and flame. Their chakras will come alive as they begin their inner adventure. Collectively, this brings a noticeable change to real life situations. The changes should reflect at work and at home, with an all around better performance and improved relationships.
Dr. Bhatta, says, “You go to sleep and come out refreshed; you go through meditation and come out energized and spread peace.” He adds, “With Relaxx, we want you to experience intermittent silence. Open the door to all deeper meditations and enhance your awareness for everything around you.”
Krishna Bhatta is an author, surgeon, and inventor, currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Dr. Bhatta began his life in a small Indian village, attended Patna Medical College in India, and continued his education in the U.K. He completed his research and medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston before settling down in Maine. Dr. Bhatta takes joy in sharing what he has learned and earnestly hopes to further the spiritual discoveries of generations to come. He dreams of a world where eastern wisdom and western discoveries embrace each other to make the world a better place.
Pfizer and BioNTech Achieve Health Canada Authorization for Their Vaccine to Combat COVID-19
Health Canada authorizes supply of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine under Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19
The companies will supply a minimum of 20 million doses to Canada through 2021
KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Dec. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - Pfizer Canada and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has granted Authorization under Interim Order for the emergency use of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). The distribution of the vaccine in Canada will be prioritized according to the populations identified in guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI). BioNTech will hold the regulatory approval in Canada, while Pfizer Canada will have the commercialization rights.
"Today's decision from Health Canada is a historic moment in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is a major step towards returning to normalcy in Canada. I'd like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Pfizer and BioNTech colleagues around the world who have contributed to the development of this vaccine," says Cole Pinnow, President, Pfizer Canada. "We commend Health Canada for its careful and thorough assessment of our COVID-19 vaccine and timely action to help protect Canadians."
"It is encouraging to see that our mRNA vaccine is now authorized in Canada. Following the U.K. and Bahrain, it is the third country to approve use of our vaccine within a week," said Sean Marett, BioNTech's Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer. "Together with our partner Pfizer, we are ready to ship the vaccines to Canada as soon as we receive the green light from the regulatory authority to start with the distribution."
Health Canada's decision is based on data that was filed through the rolling submission regulatory pathway and includes data from the Phase 2/3 clinical trial, which began recruiting in late-July 2020, and enrolled approximately 44,000 people across approximately 150 sites in multiple countries.
Pfizer Canada and BioNTech will supply the Government of Canada a minimum of 20 million doses (and up to 76 million doses) of the vaccine through 2021.
Manufacturing and Delivery Capabilities Pfizer and BioNTech continue to work in collaboration with governments and health authorities around the world to help ensure it can reach those most in need as quickly as possible, subject to country authorization or approval. The companies are taking a phased approach to quickly scale, manufacture and distribute large quantities of the vaccine at high quality, complementing the mRNA manufacturing expertise that BioNTech has gained over almost a decade. Pfizer has a 171-year track record of researching, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative medicines and vaccines to patients in need. BioNTech will hold the regulatory approvals in the U.K. and Canada, and, if granted, in the U.S., the EU and other countries. Pfizer will have the marketing and distribution rights worldwide with the exception of China, Germany and Turkey.
About Pfizer Canada Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Pfizer Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of December 9, 2020. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's efforts to combat COVID-19, the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine, the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program, and modRNA candidate BNT162b2 (including qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, anticipated timing of clinical trial readouts and regulatory submissions and the rolling submission to Heath Canada), that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with preliminary data, including the possibility of unfavorable new preclinical or clinical trial data and further analyses of existing preclinical or clinical trial data that may be inconsistent with the data used for selection of the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate and dose level for the Phase 2/3 study; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when data from the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from these and future preclinical and clinical studies; whether and when any biologics license and/or emergency use authorization applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for BNT162b2 or any other potential vaccine candidates; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the vaccine candidate's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the vaccine candidate's efficacy and, if approved, whether it will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of a vaccine, including development of products or therapies by other companies; manufacturing capabilities or capacity, including whether the estimated numbers of doses can be manufactured within the projected time periods indicated; whether and when additional supply agreements will be reached; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine technical committees and other public health authorities and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.
About BioNTech Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.
BioNTech Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of BioNTech within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but may not be limited to, statements concerning: BioNTech's efforts to combat COVID-19; the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine; our expectations regarding the potential characteristics of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial and/or in commercial use based on data observations to date; the expected timepoint for additional readouts on efficacy data of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial; the nature of the clinical data, which is subject to ongoing peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the timing for submission of data for, or receipt of, any marketing approval or Emergency Use Authorization; the timing for submission of manufacturing data to the FDA; our contemplated shipping and storage plan, including our estimated product shelf life at various temperatures; and the ability of BioNTech to supply the quantities of BNT162 to support clinical development and, if approved, market demand, including our production estimates for 2020 and 2021. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on BioNTech current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to meet the pre-defined endpoints in clinical trials; competition to create a vaccine for COVID-19; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including our stated rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in the remainder of the trial or in larger, more diverse populations upon commercialization; the ability to effectively scale our productions capabilities; and other potential difficulties. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see BioNTech's Quarterly Report for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to its Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 10, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and BioNTech undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
Ontario's household decision makers are now empowered with community level COVID-19 data monitoring
Mid-pandemic, expert-led COVID-19 monitoring website shifts focus from health system to household planning. Major website refresh offers community level data at a glance or in your inbox.
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - With the goal of filtering information for individual Ontarians about how COVID-19 is affecting their community, the talented team of physicians, epidemiologists, data scientists, engineers and designers who developed www.howsmyflattening.ca have released an updated version of the website at this critical juncture of the pandemic.
"As the COVID-19 crisis crests again, Ontarians need a clear view of the state of the pandemic in their communities. In this website redesign, we have filtered the most important information that citizens need to understand community risk and make decisions about their households and businesses."
- Dr. Ben Fine, a physician-scientist with Trillium Health Partners, and one of the HowsMyFlattening project leads, spoke about the evolution of the website.
To make local COVID-19 monitoring easy, the website remembers Public Health Units (PHUs) of importance to each user - and can deliver the same data by email at 11am each morning.
The updated website has been divided into two modes: Personal Mode, a mobile-forward experience designed with household decision makers in mind, and Geek Mode, which operates like the original site with a vast amount of data analysis and visual dashboards for data junkies who crave it.
Featuring data organized by PHU, and broken down by Case Incidences per 100k people, the tables also include Rt value, percent positivity, the percentage of tests completed in less than 24 hours, and the total number of ICU beds that are occupied. An up or down arrow beside each figure shows if things are trending up or down over the previous seven days.
The website has some serious data intelligence behind it. Initially developed as an interactive visual dashboard to support decision-making in government and hospitals, the team realized that providing this resource to "the people of Ontario" was the next logical step.
"As a household decision maker, I now get a tailored view of regions of Ontario that matter to me and my family. As a scientist, I get to drill down deep into the data and trends in "Geek Mode". It's a win-win for me."
- Morgan Lim, an assistant scientist with Trillium Health Partners who joined the project to help make HowsMyFlattening accessible for scientists and nonscientists alike.
#HowsMyFlattening is an open and transparent collaboration initiative that monitors Ontario's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-led by Professor Laura Rosella of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) with Trillium Health Partners' Dr. Ben Fine and IHPME Adjunct Professor and alumni Ali Vahit Esenoy. It is supported by several DLSPH and IHPME students and alumni as well as a team of volunteer physicians, data scientists, engineers and designers. The project is funded by the University of Toronto COVID-19 Action Initiative and donations from the public and organizations such as HIMSS Ontario.
SOURCE How's My Flattening
Overcome Overeating—During the Holidays and Throughout the Year
San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2020 — Candied sweet potatoes. Egg nog. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Traditional holiday meals are resplendent with taste-of-home fare that’s easy to overeat. Based on original research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., Whole Person Integrative Eating offers in-depth insights into the reasons we overeat and gain weight, and a science-backed, step-by-step dietary lifestyle that can halt—even reverse—overeating and weight gain during the holidays—and throughout the year.
“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health, and healing,” says Kesten.
In their award-winning book, Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, authors Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program.
By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off.
WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, M.P.H.,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
Overcome Overeating—During the Holidays and Throughout the Year
San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2020 — Candied sweet potatoes. Egg nog. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Traditional holiday meals are resplendent with taste-of-home fare that’s easy to overeat. Based on original research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., Whole Person Integrative Eating offers in-depth insights into the reasons we overeat and gain weight, and a science-backed, step-by-step dietary lifestyle that can halt—even reverse—overeating and weight gain during the holidays—and throughout the year.
“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health, and healing,” says Kesten.
In their award-winning book, Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, authors Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program.
By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off.
WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, M.P.H.,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
BEGIN YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AT HOME WITH LES MILLS ON DEMAND
Although the recent vaccine news is a positive signal of better days ahead, COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates continue to rise across much of the country. With only 6 weeks until New Year’s Day, many people are wondering how they will implement their fitness resolutions during a pandemic.
These science-backed, results-based workouts are the same “Masterclasses” used to train the world’s leading instructors in the Les Mills programs favored by 21,000 gyms worldwide, now available for you at home. Over 6 million people work out with Les Mills’ in-gym and at-home programs every week.
In addition to the 1,000+ workouts available on the platform, subscribers can also participate in various BOOSTER Challenges, which are six-week programs scientifically vetted by Dr. Jinger Gottschall which will push users to achieve awesome results. BOOSTER Challenges are a great way to jump start fitness with a challenge pack that includes tips and tricks, baseline fitness testing, goal setting advice and guidance, a 6-week workout plan (equipment and no equipment options) and workout modifications for all fitness levels.
For each BOOSTER Challenge, members can choose from three options (Fast Burner, Game Changer and Stronger) and with each challenge they get:
• A challenge pack with tips and tricks
• Baseline fitness testing
• Goal setting advice and guidance
• A six-week workout plan (equipment and equipment free options)
• Workout modifications for all fitness levels.
· LES MILLS Fuel Reset to discover nutritious and joyful eating
A global leader in group fitness, Les Mills is the gold standard in fitness classes, honed from over 50 years of experience and is the creator of 20 science-backed group fitness programs, including BODYPUMP® (weights), BODYCOMBAT® (martial arts), RPM® (indoor cycling), LES MILLS GRIT® (30-minute high-intensity interval training) and the revolutionary immersive cycle experience, THE TRIP™.
LES MILLS workouts are typically delivered by 140,000 certified instructors in 21,000 clubs across 100 countries, however these same programs are now available via the LES MILLS™ On Demand streaming platform.
LES MILLS™ On Demandwill be offering a 30-day free trial of their revolutionary programs beginning November 23. Programs designed for all fitness levels include:
BODYPUMP uses light to moderate weights with lots of repetition. BODYPUMP gives you a total body workout. It will burn up to 400 calories**. Instructors will coach you through the scientifically-backed moves and techniques pumping out encouragement, motivation and great music – helping you achieve much more than on your own! You’ll leave the class feeling challenged and motivated, ready to come back for more. BODYPUMP is available as either a 55, 45 or 30-minute workout.
BODYCOMBAT is a high-energy martial arts-inspired workout that is totally non-contact. Punch and kick your way to fitness and burn up to 570 calories** in a class. No experience needed. Learn moves from Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Capoeira and Kung Fu. Release stress, have a blast and feel like a champ. Bring your best fighter attitude and leave inhibitions at the door.
BODYFLOW® is the yoga-based class that will improve your mind, your body and your life. During BODYFLOW an inspired soundtrack plays as you bend and stretch through a series of simple yoga moves and embrace elements of Tai Chi and Pilates. Breathing control is a part of all the exercises, and instructors will always provide options for those just getting started. You’ll strengthen your entire body and leave the class feeling calm and centered.
Exercising muscles around the core, CXWORX™ provides the vital ingredient for a stronger body. A stronger core makes you better at all things you do, from everyday life to your favorite sports - it’s the glue that holds everything together. All the moves in CXWORX have options, so it’s challenging but achievable for your own level of fitness. During the 30-minute workout trained instructors guide you through correct technique as you work with resistance tubes and weight plates, as well as body weight exercises like crunches, and hovers. You will also get into some hip, butt and lower back exercises.
BODYATTACK™ is a high-energy fitness class with moves that cater for total beginners to total addicts. We combine athletic movements like running, lunging and jumping with strength exercises such as push-ups and squats. A LES MILLS™ instructor will pump out energizing tunes and lead you through the workout – challenging your limits in a good way, burning up to 555 calories** and leaving you with a sense of achievement.
Acuva™ SOLARIS handheld disinfecting wand passes Validation Testing against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
BURNABY, BC, Dec. 7, 2020 /CNW/ - Acuva Technologies Inc. ("Acuva"), today announced successful validation of the Acuva™ SOLARIS handheld disinfecting wand against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The test report confirms that a >99.97% level of disinfection was achieved in 10 seconds. Validation was conducted at a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) lab certified by the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to receive, handle and use biological Select Agents. This lab conducts test and evaluation programs in the areas of infectious disease, drug development and toxicology for a wide range of clients, including multiple departments within the US Government.
The SOLARIS wand, the first of a number of new innovations being developed by Acuva in response to the global pandemic, is a portable and rechargeable UV-LED disinfection device that fits in your pocket. It delivers powerful chemical-free disinfection performance which achieves an efficacy rate of >99.9% against viruses and bacteria, including all Corona viruses. Using the Solaris device, users can safely disinfect high-touch non-porous surfaces.
"My personal ordeal with COVID-19 earlier this year gave me time to think about others facing this ruthless virus," said Manoj Singh, CEO of Acuva. "We decided to join the fight against COVID-19 by doing what we do best. We applied the same key principles used in our signature approach to UV-LED disinfection system design towards the creation of new products to help mitigate the spread of the virus."
Featuring high-intensity germicidal UV energy, the device is thoughtfully designed for efficacy, portability, safety and ease of use. Its battery charges with a common USB-C cable so users can easily connect it to any USB port to recharge.
The SOLARIS includes a number of features to ensure safe operation, including visible blue light mapping to indicate the area being disinfected. It opens to a wide 270-degree angle to allow for faster and easier disinfection of contoured and difficult to reach surfaces, in comparison to typical sanitizing practices and cleaning solutions. A built-in sensor prevents any accidental user hand exposure to UV. It also includes a built-in timer and a power button that requires double-click activation as a child-lock function.
Acuva is a Burnaby-based clean technology company focused on delivering advanced water, air and surface disinfection systems using leading-edge, proprietary UltraViolet Light Emitting Diode (UV-LED) technology developed in conjunction with the University of British Columbia.
Canadians living with multiple sclerosis find support during COVID-19 pandemic through dedicated social media network
The MS One to One® Canada Patient App connects patients to peer support and reliable information during the pandemic
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 8, 2020 /CNW/ - As Canadians prepare for the winter months ahead and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to limit day-to-day activities, those with chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis (MS) are finding relief and connection through a dedicated social media community and adopting new digital health technology.
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, with an estimated 77,000 Canadians diagnosed with the disease. A recent global survey conducted on behalf of Sanofi Genzyme, the COVID-19 MS Impact Survey, revealed that three in four respondents living with MS felt the pandemic has made them more concerned about their health and well-being, and one in three cited having reduced or no access to the support services they need.
Developed and launched by Sanofi Genzyme Canada and Curatio, the MS One to One® Canada Patient App provides a private online community for Canadians living with MS to connect and support each other. The app became an important tool for patients once restrictions due to the pandemic became widespread, and saw a 35 per cent increase in users since March.
"Right now, in the current climate of a pandemic, going out and socializing with people is difficult or non-existent. Even though the measures put in place are to help us all stay safe and healthy, it can be very difficult to navigate when you have mobility issues," states Beverly Sudbury who is a member within the MS One to One® Canada Patient App. "Because of this, I have been engaging in more virtual social interactions. The MS One to One® app has become a great way for me to connect with people who understand my disease, my limitations, my concerns, are there to help offer support when I need it and are happy to help celebrate my successes. This has been a key factor in maintaining a healthy mindset during these very difficult times."
The MS One to One® Canada Patient App (available on iOS and Android) offers enhanced support for patients with multiple sclerosis beyond the doctor's office. The app connects patients with peer-to-peer social support, daily wellness trackers, medication reminders, daily mental health check-ins and access to reliable, expert-driven health information.
"At Sanofi Genzyme, we are committed to supporting patients and their full spectrum of needs, and we recognize the significant role that digital health systems can play to support vulnerable populations," says Marissa Poole, Country Chair, Sanofi Canada and General Manager, Sanofi Genzyme Canada. "Human connection is critical to an overall sense of well-being, and the MS One to One® app seamlessly allows for a humanized element to ease isolation and facilitate personal connectivity during challenging times."
For more information about Curatio, visit curatio.me.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.
Sanofi entities in Canada employ approximately 2,000 people. In 2018, we invested more than $127 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.
The Perfect Holiday Escape: Cage Diving with Sea Monsters
West Palm Beach, FL, Dec. 8, 2020—Looking for a safe, unique and affordable vacation the entire family will enjoy? How about a virtual trip to a remote island where you can visit the most advanced state-of-the-art aquarium complexes ever conceived, holding the most terrifying prehistoric sharks and sea monsters that ever lived!
Welcome to www.SeaMonsterCove.com, arguably one of the most original and ambitious entertainment venues ever imagined. The creative force that recruited an international team of 3D animators, 2D artists, engineers, actors, producers and an ancient shark museum curator is Steve Alten, author of the NY Times bestselling MEGseries, the source material for the 2018 summer blockbuster, The MEG, starring Jason Statham.
“The story that runs through every offering at Sea Monster Cove, from the virtual aquarium experiences to the TV series and video game came to me back in December of 2019,” Alten recalls. “I remember waking up at 4 a.m. and lying in bed enjoying a rare moment of peace and calm — no rigidity or tremors. (Alten was diagnosed 15 years ago with young onset Parkinson’s disease). It was as if my mind had found its way into the eye of the neurological storm. What happened next was totally unexpected — a wave of creativity came to me out of nowhere as beats in an entirely new giant shark story. It was so good and so detailed I knew I had to get it down on paper before I fell back asleep. So I dragged myself upstairs to my office and began searching for the key to the entire story — a remote island that somehow I knew was out there … and there it was — Maug.”
Enter SeaMonsterCove.com and you are guided through a quick history of Maug, a remote (and very real) island located in the Northern Marianas. Five million years ago Maug's volcano erupted so violently that it blew the island apart, leaving behind three islets that had been the rim of the volcano and a lagoon where the magma chamber had flooded. Why place a virtual island resort here? That's where Alten's storytelling takes over. Eight years ago, a French marine biologist, Dr. Maxime Rostand, discovered superheated mineral water rising up through Maug’s lagoon (all true). Returning from an exploratory dive, the scientist and his two colleagues realize they are not alone — a pirated fishing trawler has entered the lagoon and is listing badly beneath the weight of their catch — an enormous pregnant Basking shark. When the panicked creature drowns in the shallows, Rostand and his team perform an emergency C-section on the mother, releasing 15 pups — all female. Only two survive: Snowflake (an albino) and Layla (dark). Max and his team will discover the deceased mother to be a prehistoric Mako known as a Black Demon shark and the source of the lagoon’s hot mineral water to be a primordial aquifer located 2 miles beneath the sea floor — its inhabitants dating back 380 million years.
Flash ahead eight years and you are now ready to meet the critters. “There are two major complexes on Maug Island,” Alten explains. Sea Monster Cove holds six marine habitats that date back to different eras in our history, while the O-Quarium is home to our star attraction, Snowflake.” The albino pup saved by Dr. Rostand is now a 63-foot, 25-ton monster that is best viewed via one of the suites at the Black Demon Inn, a 5-star hotel with suites that back up to the main tank. Snowflake is waiting for you there, circling outside your bedroom window.
At SeaMonsterCove.com, the special effects are motion picture-worthy, and the wildlife doesn’t just swim around in benign circles; in fact, they seem quite aware that you are watching them, and some of them clearly do not like it, especially when you enter their domain to do a little “cage diving.” In each of these heart-pounding, 360-degree experiences, the user controls the viewing angle, attempting to track the attacks as they happen (there are day and night versions available). The action is nonstop and the creatures so real that it is easy to lose yourself in a two-hour reprieve from reality.
Dr. Rostand’s adventures are told in Alten’s episodic TV series, Where Sea Monsters Roam. Most unique: what happens in the series also happens during your aquarium visits. Also in development and expected to launch soon is the Sea Monsters Roam video game where members will be able to experience what it’s like to venture into the prehistoric aquifer to hunt and capture these monsters themselves. There’s also an education center, and a private library offering enhanced versions of Alten’s novels as well as teacher curriculum materials for distance learning. Perhaps the most surprising element is the cost to enter: less than $10 a month for the entire household.
And Alten isn’t quite done with movies yet. The MEG sequel, MEG-2: The TRENCH, is in pre-production, as is The LOCH (a thriller about the Loch Ness Monster) along with one other underwater feature, which cannot be announced just yet (but the enhanced version of the novel is available in the website’s private library). Steve Alten is also the founder and director of the nonprofit Adopt-an-Author teen reading program, considered by many educators to be the most effective tool to get reluctant readers to read.
Mo-Mo Knows Snow: Getting Outside in Winter is Good for Us
Mutt Mulligan, a rescue dog and the spokesdog of the TurfMutt Foundation, says a key to health and well-being is getting outside this winter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alexandria, Va. – Winter can be tough on people in the best of times, but it is particularly challenging during a global pandemic. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, the outdoors – including our yards, parks, and sports fields – were critical for buoying our mental well-being, physical health and enabling us to safely connect with others.
For a decade the TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program has advocated the importance of managed landscapes and other green space as critical to human health and happiness. Mutt Mulligan (a.k.a. Mo-Mo), as the spokesdog for the TurfMutt Foundation, knows that nature escapes are just as important in the wintertime as they are when the weather is warmer.
“No one enjoys being outside as much as the family dog, though we all gained a new appreciation for our yards and community parks over the last year as we used the outdoors to get away from our screens and connect with one another and nature,” says Kris Kiser, President of the TurfMutt Foundation and The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “Getting outside in the winter takes a little more preparation and planning, but there is no reason to abandon it. In fact, there are many reasons why it is a good idea to continue going outside throughout the winter.”
As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices. Here are seven reasons why Mo-Mo encourages you to bundle up in moisture-wicking layers and don your coat, hat, gloves and snow boots to get outside for your health and well-being.
Outdoor time elevates moods. Exposure to natural light – even in the shorter days of winter – raises levels of serotonin, the body’s “happy chemical.” Sunlight is also a good way to get a natural dose of vitamin D, which is good for your bones and immune system.
Memories Improve. Researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study that revealed walking in a natural setting versus an urban one improved recall ability by nearly 20 percent.
Reconnecting and recharging outdoor is safe. Unplugging from your computer, smartphone and television is important even when it’s cold out and can be accomplished by simply going outside. Epidemiologists agree outside is still the safest place to gather (socially distanced, of course). Add a patio heater or fire pit to your backyard to make it even cozier.
Activity boosts immunity. According to MedlinePlus, exercise helps decrease your risk for heart disease, maintains bone health and can help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways.
More calories are burned in the cold. Being outside in the wintertime requires your body to work harder to keep you warm. Consequently, you burn more calories. Engage in a friendly snowball fight with your kids or take a walk with Fido to the park to rev up your metabolism and have a little fun along the way.
It doesn’t take long to reap nature’s benefits. Here’s a bit of good news for cold days. A study from the University of Michigan concluded that spending just 20 minutes in a natural setting reduces the level of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Taking care of your yard in the wintertime is a good way to log some time outside and it helps prepare it for spring. Just remember if you’re using a snowthrower, chainsaw or other outdoor power equipment to do some of the heavy lifting this year, read the owner’s manual first and abide by all safety precautions.
About TurfMutt TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt is an official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt’s personal, home habitat is featured in the 2017-2019 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.
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