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Biomarker Tests for Molecularly Targeted Therapies Need Better Evidence, Oversight

Potentially useful biomarker tests for molecularly targeted therapies are not being adopted appropriately into clinical practice because of a lack of common evidentiary standards necessary for regulatory, reimbursement, and treatment decisions, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




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Computer Science Pioneer to Receive the 2018 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering announced today that the 2018 Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering will be awarded to Bjarne Stroustrup.




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New Cryptography Must Be Developed and Deployed Now, Even Though A Quantum Computer That Could Compromise Today’s Cryptography Is Likely At Least A Decade Away, Says New Report

Given the current state of quantum computing and the significant challenges that still need to be overcome, it is highly unlikely that a quantum computer that can compromise public-key cryptography – a basis for the security of most of today’s computers and networks – will be built within the next decade, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




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National Academies Provide Rapid Response to White House on Coronavirus Data Needs

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) this week requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine rapidly examine the information and data needed to help determine the origins of the novel coronavirus that is causing a global outbreak of respiratory illness.




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National Academies Completes Review of National Toxicology Program’s Draft Monograph on Fluoride and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Effects

Today the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released its review of the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) draft monograph Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects.




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Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Key Coronavirus Questions

Formed earlier this month, the National Academies’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats was assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Crisis Standards of Care for Coronavirus Pandemic

The recently formed National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been providing rapid expert consultations on several topics, such as social distancing and severe illness in young adults.




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Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases Provides Rapid Response to Government on Whether COVID-19 Could Also Be Spread by Conversation

The recently formed National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, assembled at the request of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been providing rapid expert consultations on several topics, such as social distancing and severe illness in young adults.




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Potential Effects of Seasonal and Temperature Changes on Spread of COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine responds to questions from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding survival of the COVID-19 virus in relation to temperature and humidity and potential for seasonal reduction and resurgence of cases.




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Spread of COVID 19 Virus from Infected Patients Antibody Response, and Interpretation of Laboratory Testing Examined in New Rapid Responses to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




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Effectiveness of Homemade Fabric Masks to Protect Others from Spread of COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government from Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine responds to questions from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding the effectiveness of homemade fabric masks to protect others from the viral spread of COVID-19 from potentially contagious asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals.




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With Summer Heat Waves, Hurricanes, and Flooding on the Horizon, Disaster Responders Grapple with Planning for Extreme Weather in the Time of COVID-19

This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal 2020 hurricane season, with the possibility of three to six major hurricanes this summer looming over millions of Americans.




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Staffing Considerations for Crisis Standards of Care Outlined in New Rapid Response to Government from National Academies Standing Committee

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine outlines considerations for clinical staffing needs during the implementation of Crisis Standards of Care (CSC), including adjusting staff responsibilities, providing “hazard pay” to staff, ensuring adequate time off, offering child care and other benefits, and leveraging health care coalitions to ensure appropriate transfer of patients between hospitals.




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Advantages and Trade-offs of COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests, National Testing Strategies Examined in New Rapid Response to Government

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines four topics related to the use and interpretation of COVID-19 diagnostic tests.




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Methods to Track Health Care Worker Deaths, Burnout from COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government

A new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines methods to better track and evaluate deaths and mental health consequences among health care workers (HCWs) due to COVID-19.




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Strategies to Allocate Scarce COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Treatments to Eligible Patients Examined in New Rapid Response to Government

Despite a scarce supply, a substantial amount of COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment courses remain unused, says a new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




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National Academies Complete Review of National Toxicology Program’s Second Draft Monograph on Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Effects

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released today a review of the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) second draft of the monograph Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects.




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New Rapid Expert Consultation Offers Strategies for Navigating Disaster Response, Evacuation, and Sheltering Complicated by COVID-19

A new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies strategies for emergency planners and decision-makers to consider as they update their disaster plans for evacuation, sheltering, and mass care amid COVID-19.




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New Report Reviews Veterans Affairs Monograph on Potential Therapeutic Effects of Programs with Service and Emotional Support Dogs on Veterans with PTSD

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a final report today reviewing the second draft of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) monograph, A Randomized Trial of Differential Effectiveness of Service Dog Pairing Versus Emotional Support Dog Pairing to Improve Quality of Life for Veterans With PTSD, which assesses the potential therapeutic effects of programs with trained service dogs and emotional support dogs on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).




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New Research Models Offer Promise for Understanding the Human Brain and Finding Pathways to Therapies, But Also Raise Profound Ethical Questions

New models for studying the human brain — human neural organoids, transplants, and chimeras — show promise for advancing understanding of the brain and laying the groundwork for new therapeutic approaches to brain diseases that have so far proved hard to treat, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




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New Rapid Expert Consultation Shares Insights from Social Science on Communicating COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Equity

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and accelerate across the U.S., a new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers advice for decision-makers communicating to the public about vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and equity — drawing on findings from social and behavioral science.




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New Report Reviews VA Monograph on Economic Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Service and Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans with PTSD

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a final report today reviewing the second draft of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) monograph, The Economic Impact and Cost Effectiveness of Service Dogs for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which assesses the economic impact and cost-effectiveness of programs involving trained service dogs or emotional support dogs and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).




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3-D graphene has promise for bio applications

Flakes of graphene welded together into solid materials may be suitable for bone implants, according to a study led by Rice University scientists.

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  • Physics & Chemistry

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iPhoneography with Yoni Mayeri, Feb. 7, 2025

Discover how to turn your ordinary snapshots into extraordinary photographs using the power of the device that is always with you. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to expertly capture images and edit and create photographs and artful images with your iPhone. In this course, you will learn how to take professional-quality photographs and perform basic and advanced photo editing with your iOS device. We will use the built-in photo app to edit and enhance iPhone photos, and we will discuss tips for optimizing the features and working around the limitations of the native (built-in) camera. We will see demonstrations of several third party editing and creative applications and a variety of helpful accessories for enhancing and embellishing iPhoneography images. Time permitting we will touch on best practices for saving, organizing, sharing, and printing your images. By the end of this workshop, you will have a greater grasp on the ins and outs of iPhoneography.An iPhone 10s or newer is suggested; all iPhones welcome. Update your software to the most recent (iOS 17 or newer, for phones older than 10s, iOS 16). A handout with more information will be emailed to participants ahead of class. A shooting session in the Garden and time for lunch will be in the middle of the day. Please pack a lunch, bring a hat, your iPhone fully charged, a charger and a backup battery if you have one.




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Google training Bard on scraped web data: Here's what the company has to say

“Our privacy policy has long been transparent that Google uses publicly available information from the open web to train language models for services like Google Translate,” The Verge quoted Google spokesperson Christa Muldoon as saying. This publically available data includes data available on the internet, device type and settings, operating system, mobile network information including carrier name and phone number, and application version number.




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154: Workplace Therapy With Grey




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Case Study: 'Wonky' bread well-wrapped in new compostable bags

The UK’s first “wonky” bread box required an an eco-friendly bag, and Earth & Wheat found the ideal solution in the form of a home-compostable bag supplied by KM Packaging.




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BW Flexible Systems launches Hayssen R300 flow wrapper

The machine, debuting at PACK EXPO East, is suited for a range of baked goods.




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Signode unveils BXT4 plastic strapping tool

The handheld device can be used to secure cartons and other items in various packaging environments.




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Sprouted Artisan Seven-Grain Premium Wraps

To meet growing demand for sprouted grain foods, Angelic Bakehouse has added Sprouted Artisan Seven-Grain Premium Wraps to its flatbread line.




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Casey’s unveils Pickle Wrap Pizza

The pizza puts a twist on a ham-and-pickle roll-up, a classic Midwest appetizer commonly found at potlucks and tailgate parties.




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Little Debbie unwraps two new holiday treats

The McKee Foods brand’s 2024 Christmas lineup includes a pair of new items and several returning products.




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Biospringer North America Corporation announces $29 million expansion to its Yeast Extract production site in Cedar Rapids Iowa

Biospringer North America Corporation has announced an expansion on its yeast extract site in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to support the growing market trend for natural origin ingredients derived from fermentation.  




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Dunkin' releases Cookie Butter Donut, Pancake Wake-Up Wrap for holidays

Dunkin’ debuts three items for the holidays and, by popular demand, brings back its Cranberry Orange Muffin.




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Harpak-Ulma debuts FR 400 Twin Flow Wrapper

The space-saving design of the  high-output horizontal wrapper makes it ideal for facilities with limited floor space or those seeking to expand packaging throughput in existing production environments. 




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Fortress to showcase updated Raptor at Pack Expo

Producers can maximize floor space and cost savings by combining the capabilities of Fortress metal detectors and checkweighers into a robust integrated system.




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EndFlex introduces wraparound case packer

Wraparound case packers are used for their ability to provide a high level of protection and stability for packaged products, says the brand.




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DINO BARS all-natural fruit bars for kids, wrapped in edible paper

DINO BARS are wrapped in edible paper, and all bars are non-GMO, USDA certified organic and free from nuts, gluten, soy, and dairy.




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Ohh! Foods launches individually wrapped snack bites

Each box contains eight individually wrapped bites, and they are available in Apple Cinnamon and Double Chocolate flavors.




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Thomas Crapper: Myth and Reality

The debate over who Thomas Crapper was - or even if there was a Thomas Crapper at all - continues.




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Tool Tips: PVC trap trick

Tool Tips—June 2019




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Tool Tips: Unplug a bath tub drain trap

First, remove the overflow trim. Then, insert a water hose down overflow. 

 




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IAPMO code change monographs now available

The Technical Committee Meeting Monographs contain every code change proposal submitted for the 2027 editions of the UPC and UMC as part of the ANSI-accredited consensus code development process employed by IAPMO.




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Kenny Chapman: Top distraction traps holding you back

From being able to get things done to staying on track, distractions can sabotage productivity in ways that we don’t even realize.




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Al Levi: Money from the scrap heap

A client called me awhile back because he wanted to know what my family did with the scrap metal from jobsites, and he wanted to know what the other companies I work with do on this matter too.




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Marketing Magic: How contractors can get the most out of their fleet graphics and branding

According to a white paper authored by venture capital firm ARD Ventures, each fleet vehicle, on average, receives between 30,000 -70,000 impressions daily. 




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Dan Holohan: The geography of auto-feeders on steam

I have heating (plumbing, fire suppression, etc.) shops in New York and New Jersey. This is very much steam country, and we repair and replace steam boilers and systems all week long and have been for decades. All that is fine, but what I find incredibly odd is the polarized perception of the automatic water feeder.




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Scrap metal management: More than quality assurance

Metal stamping manufacturing processes can quickly and cleanly create solid metal parts for a wide range of needs and industries. Small metal parts make up some of the most important pieces when creating larger scale items.




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Unguarded trenches collapsed, trapped, injured workers

A Boston waterproofing contractor exposed employees to life-threatening cave-ins and excavation hazards at worksites.




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Changeovers, shrinking workforce influence case packers and wrappers

Beverage operations are juggling SKU proliferation, varying pack sizes and a changing workforce. Packing machinery is helping these manufacturers minimize disruptions to those operations.