bil Integrated management of the Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopia under climate variability and climate change hydropower and irrigation modeling [in Amharic] By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Sat, 07 Feb 2015 2:14:37 EST Ethiopia possesses abundant water resources and hydropower potential, yet less than 5 percent of irrigable land in the Blue Nile basin has been developed for food production, and more than 80 percent of Ethiopians lack access to electricity. Consequently, the Ethiopian government is pursuing plans to develop hydropower and irrigation along the Blue Nile River in an effort to tap into this underused potential. Full Article
bil How can African agriculture adapt to climate change: Measuring Ethiopian farmers’ vulnerability to climate change across regional states [in Amharic] By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Sat, 07 Feb 2015 2:14:37 EST Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, which is dominated by smallscale, mixed crop, and livestock farming, is the mainstay of the country’s economy. It constitutes more than half the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), generates more than 85 percent of the foreign exchange earnings, and employs about 80 percent of the population. Ethiopia’s dependence on agriculture makes the country particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change on crop and livestock production. Full Article
bil Leading Analyst Firm Ranks Tenable #1 for Sixth Consecutive Year in Market Share for Device Vulnerability Management By www.tenable.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400 Tenable®, the exposure management company, today announced that it has been ranked first for 2023 worldwide market share for device vulnerability management in the IDC Worldwide Device Vulnerability Management Market Shares (doc #US51417424, July 2024) report. This is the sixth consecutive year Tenable has been ranked first for market share.According to the IDC market share report, Tenable is ranked first in global 2023 market share and revenue. Tenable credits its success to its strategic approach to risk management, which includes a suite of industry-leading exposure management solutions that expose and close security gaps, safeguarding business value, reputation and trust. The Tenable One Exposure Management Platform, the world’s only AI-powered exposure management platform, radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the modern attack surface – IT, cloud, OT and IoT, web apps and identity systems.According to the IDC market share report, “The top 3 device vulnerability management vendors remained the same in 2023 as previous years, with Tenable once again being the top vendor.”The report highlighted Tenable’s use of generative AI, noting, “ExposureAI, available as part of the Tenable One platform, provides GenAI-based capabilities that include natural language search queries, attack path and asset exposure summaries, mitigation guidance suggestions, and a bot assistant to ask specific questions about attack path results.”Tenable’s latest innovations in the vulnerability management market – Vulnerability Intelligence and Exposure Response – were also highlighted in the report, stating, “Vulnerability Intelligence provides dynamic vulnerability information collected from multiple data sources and vetted by Tenable researchers, while Exposure Response enables security teams to create campaigns based on risk posture trends so remediation progress can be monitored internally.”The report also spotlighted the Tenable Assure Partner Program and MDR partnerships, noting, “Tenable has made more of a strategic effort to recruit managed security service providers (SPs) and improve the onboarding experience for them, as well as their customers. Managed detection and response (MDR) providers have been adding proactive exposure management because it helps shrink the customer attack surface, helping them provide better outcomes. Sophos and Coalfire are recently announced partners adding managed exposure management services to their MDR and pen testing services, respectively.”“At Tenable, we build products for a cloud-first, platform centric world, meeting customers' evolving risk management needs,” said Shai Morag, chief product officer, Tenable. “We leverage cutting edge technology, innovating across our portfolio to help customers know, expose and close priority security gaps that put businesses at risk.” "The device vulnerability management market is characterized by a focus on broader exposure management, with a number of acquisitions to round out exposure management portfolios," said Michelle Abraham, senior research director, Security and Trust at IDC. "Vendors are advised to enhance their offerings with additional security signals and automated remediation workflows to stay competitive in this evolving landscape."To read an excerpt of the IDC market share report, visit https://www.tenable.com/analyst-research/idc-worldwide-device-vulnerability-management-market-share-report-2023 About TenableTenable® is the exposure management company, exposing and closing the cybersecurity gaps that erode business value, reputation and trust. The company’s AI-powered exposure management platform radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the attack surface, equipping modern organizations to protect against attacks from IT infrastructure to cloud environments to critical infrastructure and everywhere in between. By protecting enterprises from security exposure, Tenable reduces business risk for more than 44,000 customers around the globe. Learn more at tenable.com. ###Media Contact:Tenabletenablepr@tenable.com Full Article
bil ContiLeaks Vulnerabilities By www.tenable.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0400 A security researcher posted private chat messages between members of the Conti ransomware group, providing valuable insight into which vulnerabilities are leveraged by the group and affiliates in their cyber attacks. The Conti ransomware group has earned a reported $180 million in profits by leasing their Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model to cripple cyber-infrastructure in vulnerable organizations. Tenable has published a variety of content to assist customers with identifying the vulnerabilities leveraged by the Conti ransomware group and its affiliates. Conti and their affiliates have had a particularly devastating impact on healthcare services, including at least 16 U.S. health and emergency networks. Conti attacked Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), demanding a $20 million dollar ransom, which the HSE refused to pay, opting instead to shut down IT services for mitigation efforts. Tenable’s 2021 Threat Landscape Retrospective report revealed that 24.7% of healthcare data breaches were the result of ransomware attacks, and ransomware itself was responsible for 38% of all breaches last year. The leaked data revealed that Conti and its affiliates have been exploiting a number of vulnerabilities. There are also reports that Conti and its affiliates have targeted vulnerabilities in the Fortinet FortiOS found in Fortinet’s SSL VPN devices to gain initial access to target environments. Organizations are often breached from legacy vulnerabilities present in the IT infrastructure of small companies they have recently acquired. The analysis of the ContiLeaks data identifies the vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited, enabling security managers to prioritize mitigation. The Security Response Team (SRT) of Tenable Research has analyzed the ContiLeaks data to ensure customers are fully informed of their vulnerability to Conti RaaS attacks. The SRT also provides breakdowns for the latest vulnerabilities in the Tenable Blog. Tenable Research has released over 165,000 plugins and leads the industry on CVE coverage. Tenable's SRT team continuously works to help organizations prioritize and create remediation plans for the new threats, which often leave very little time for reflection. This report contains the following chapters: Executive Summary Chapter - Contains information from the ContiLeaks Dashboard that uses the CVE and Plugin Family filters to display counts of the vulnerabilities and assets that have been affected by ContiLeaks. Linux Chapter - Contains charts and tables that group together ContiLeaks related CVEs for all Linux Operating Systems and includes an IP Detail for the hosts identified. Windows Chapter - Contains charts and tables that group together ContiLeaks related CVEs for all Windows Operating Systems and includes an IP Detail for the hosts identified. Other Chapter - Contains charts and tables that group together ContiLeaks related CVEs for all "Other" Operating Systems and includes an IP Detail for the hosts identified. Full Article
bil Une analyse comparative des méthodes de mise á jour et de rééquilibrage des matrices de comptabilité sociale By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Thu, 29 Sep 2022 5:05:01 EDT Les modèles d’équilibre général calculable (MEGC), largement admis dans la littérature et utilisés comme outils d’analyse d’impacts potentiels de politiques économiques, sont alimentés par des données provenant de la Matrice de Comptabilité Sociale (MCS). Celle-ci appartient à la grande famille des comptes nationaux, représentant l’ensemble des interrelations entre les activités, les institutions d’une économie. Full Article
bil 2025 Possibilities Summit Alumni Panel - November 13th (November 13, 2024 5:00pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:32:10 -0500 Event Begins: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 5:00pm Location: Organized By: University Career Center This informative presentation will help you learn about therecruitment process for the Goldman Sachs 2025 Possibilities Summit program. Hear from our Campus Recruiting team as well as Possibilities Summit alumni at the firm about their unique career pathways to their current roles and lessons learned along the way. While our session is open to all students, we encourage current Freshmen & Sophomores to come learn about our 2026 and 2027 Summer Analyst opportunities. We ask that you register through our GS Events portal in order to track your attendance. The registration can be accessed by copying and pasting the following: https://recruiting360.avature.net/candidates?projectId=21470&source=Campus Full Article Careers / Jobs
bil Grant Office Hours for Student Sustainability Coalition: Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund & Social and Environmental Grants (November 13, 2024 2:00pm) By events.umich.edu Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:40:16 -0400 Event Begins: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 2:00pm Location: Off Campus Location Organized By: Student Sustainability Coalition The Student Sustainability Coalition manages $200,000 worth of grant money that we allocate to student groups who are working on projects related to environmental and social sustainability on Campus! Our grant programs include the Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund and the Social and Environmental Sustainability Grant. Join us in these information sessions to learn more about which grant program is right for your project and get the support you and your team needs through the application process! Info sessions take place virtually every Tuesday from 10-11a and every Wednesday from 2-3p. Come chat with us! Full Article Other
bil EAT Action Dialogues on “Mobilizing Finance for the Food System Transformation” By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 21:09:05 +0000 EAT Action Dialogues on “Mobilizing Finance for the Food System Transformation” This dialogue series is by invitation only. In preparation for the 2025 launch of the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0, EAT is hosting a series of ‘EAT Action Dialogues’ to engage with stakeholders and co-create solutions for transforming food systems in line with the new targets and recommendations of the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0. The first two Dialogues will […] The post EAT Action Dialogues on “Mobilizing Finance for the Food System Transformation” appeared first on IFPRI. Full Article
bil Re-imagining Africa’s food security within the context of climate change and ecological sustainability By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:29:36 +0000 Re-imagining Africa’s food security within the context of climate change and ecological sustainability This press-release was initially published by WWF on December 12, 2023. WWF, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, IFPRI, CGIAR, and AfDB have released a new report to help African countries to achieve food security and implement climate and nature commitments. The report is based on a joint study, executed with the technical support […] The post Re-imagining Africa’s food security within the context of climate change and ecological sustainability appeared first on IFPRI. Full Article
bil Global crisis: 1.7 billion people in urban and peri-urban areas face food insecurity By www.ifpri.org Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:49:00 +0000 Global crisis: 1.7 billion people in urban and peri-urban areas face food insecurity New UN report highlights urgent need to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems for global food security and nutrition. The post Global crisis: 1.7 billion people in urban and peri-urban areas face food insecurity appeared first on IFPRI. Full Article
bil Reporting and reproducibility: Proteomics of fish models in environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology - ScienceDirect.com By news.google.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT Reporting and reproducibility: Proteomics of fish models in environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology ScienceDirect.com Full Article
bil Native-state proteomics of Parvalbumin interneurons identifies unique molecular signatures and vulnerabilities to early Alzheimer’s pathology - Nature.com By news.google.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT Native-state proteomics of Parvalbumin interneurons identifies unique molecular signatures and vulnerabilities to early Alzheimer’s pathology Nature.com Full Article
bil The Future of Proteomics is Up in the Air: Can Ion Mobility Replace Liquid Chromatography for High Throughput Proteomics? - ACS Publications By news.google.com Published On :: Tue, 07 May 2024 07:00:00 GMT The Future of Proteomics is Up in the Air: Can Ion Mobility Replace Liquid Chromatography for High Throughput Proteomics? ACS Publications Full Article
bil Seer Showcases Deep Proteomics Capabilities, Announces Co-Marketing Deal with Thermo Fisher Scientific - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News By news.google.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 16:09:58 GMT Seer Showcases Deep Proteomics Capabilities, Announces Co-Marketing Deal with Thermo Fisher Scientific Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News Full Article
bil Mobile Home Parked By www.npr.org Published On :: Fri, 06 Aug 2021 22:46:22 +0000 We find out what happens when big investors spend billions of dollars buying mobile home parks and make them less affordable for the people who live there. Then we learn how the government helps them do it, with super low-cost loans that were meant to support affordable housing. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy Full Article
bil The billion dollar war behind U.S. rum By www.npr.org Published On :: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 23:14:19 +0000 When you buy a bottle of rum in the United States, by law nearly all the federal taxes on that rum must be sent to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's an unusual system that Congress designed decades ago to help fund these two U.S. territories. In 2021 alone, these rum tax payments added up to more than $700 million.Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands split the money according to how much rum each territory produces. And the territories produce a lot of it — especially Puerto Rico, which single handedly supplies the majority of the rum that Americans drink.But in 2008, the U.S. Virgin Islands pulled off a coup. It convinced one of the largest rum brands in the world, Captain Morgan, to abandon Puerto Rico and to shift its operations to the tiny island of St. Croix.This was the beginning of the Rum Wars.On today's show, the story of how a scheme designed to help Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands turned them into bitter rivals. And how it ended up putting hundreds of millions of dollars a year — U.S. taxpayer dollars — into the pockets of big liquor companies instead.This episode was hosted by Jeff Guo and Sarah Gonzalez. It was produced by James Sneed with help from Sam Yellowhorse Kesler. It was edited by Molly Messick, engineered by Cena Loffredo, and fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy Full Article
bil The Future of Sustainability: Repair, repurpose, reimagine By www.npr.org Published On :: Fri, 17 May 2024 07:00:59 +0000 "Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. Guests include right-to-repair advocate Gay Gordon-Byrne, materials scientist Andrew Dent, technologist Jamie Beard and animal scientist Ermias Kebreab. Original broadcast date: May 20, 2022TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy Full Article
bil UCLA evaluates L.A.’s plan to invest billions of dollars in wastewater recycling infrastructure By newsroom.ucla.edu Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT Pure Water LA/Operation Next would increase the resiliency of drinking water supplies to future costs, earthquakes and climate-induced drought. Full Article
bil Senate sends amended assisted-dying bill to house By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 16:21:54 +0000 The following is a list of University of Toronto experts who can comment on a variety of issues related to the senate sending amended assisted-dying bill to house. Nelson Wiseman, Professor of Political Science and Director of Canadian Studies Program Expertise: Senate no longer a “sober-second thought” Tel: (416) 978‑3336 (checks messages regularly) Email: nelson@chass.utoronto.ca […] Full Article Breaking News Experts
bil Billions-year-old sparkling water may hold clues for life on Earth and Mars - NOTE: Video and images at uoft.me/sparkling By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 15 May 2013 19:04:18 +0000 NOTE: Video and images at uoft.me/sparklingTORONTO – A team of scientists from the University of Toronto and Manchester University in the United Kingdom have gone three kilometres beneath the surface of the Canadian Shield to find some of the oldest fluids in our planet’s history. The waters are rich in clues about lives lived without […] Full Article Environment & Natural Resources Media Releases
bil “We have a responsibility to take decisive action on climate change”: University of Toronto president - Meric Gertler announces climate change challenge, new investing strategy By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:09:42 +0000 Meric Gertler announces climate change challenge, new investing strategy Toronto, ON — University of Toronto President Meric Gertler today unveiled a 14-point plan of specific, targeted actions that aim to make a difference on climate change now. Gertler outlined U of T’s plan to battle climate change in a bold report, Beyond Divestment: Taking Decisive […] Full Article Environment & Natural Resources International Affairs Media Releases University of Toronto
bil NSERC prizes awarded to five University of Toronto scholars - Backing research into billion-year-old water, evolution of plants, faster disease diagnosis, microbial energy By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:59:14 +0000 Backing research into billion-year-old water, evolution of plants, faster disease diagnosis, microbial energy Toronto, ON — Five University of Toronto scholars have been awarded prizes in 2016 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – the largest tally of winners at any university in Canada. “Our exceptional performance in the NSERC awards […] Full Article Awards Engineering Environment & Natural Resources Health & Medicine Media Releases University of Toronto
bil Yeast Against the Machine: Bakers’ Yeast Could Improve Diagnosis - How our billion-year-old cousin, baker’s yeast, can reveal — more reliably than leading algorithms — whether a genetic mutation is actually harmful. By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 Apr 2016 15:30:26 +0000 How our billion-year-old cousin, baker’s yeast, can reveal — more reliably than leading algorithms — whether a genetic mutation is actually harmful.Toronto, ON – It’s easier than ever to sequence our DNA, but doctors still can’t exactly tell from our genomes which diseases might befall us. Professor Fritz Roth is setting out to change this by […] Full Article Health & Medicine Media Releases University of Toronto
bil Understanding and Improving Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector - World Health Organization Launches Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector at University of To By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 27 Apr 2016 13:29:28 +0000 World Health Organization Launches Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector at University of TorontoToronto, ON – The University of Toronto and the World Health Organization are proud to launch the WHO Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency for the Pharmaceutical Sector with a policy workshop and celebration at the Leslie […] Full Article Health & Medicine Media Releases University of Toronto
bil Dean Mayo Moran to review Ontario’s accessibility laws - Legal expert’s review will help make Ontario accessible by 2025 By media.utoronto.ca Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:42:08 +0000 Legal expert’s review will help make Ontario accessible by 2025TORONTO, ON — Ontario has appointed Mayo Moran, Dean and James Marshall Tory Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, to lead a review of the province’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Since the AODA became law in 2005, Ontario […] Full Article Law Media Releases
bil Remote Workforce Analytics: Top 5 Reasons Why More Visibility Helps Your Remote Teams By www.recruiter.com Published On :: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:06:46 EST Having visibility into a team's processes and projects is important to every manager. However, when you're managing a remote team, visibility becomes even more critical. How can you guide your staff on priorities and deadlines when you aren't sure what's actually going on behind the scenes? With remote workforces, simply getting work done isn't enough. Inefficient processes become more problematic as employees are no longer in the same room and communication becomes more difficult or delayed. Managers also need to see ... Full Article
bil Study: China Tariffs Will Cost the U.S. Economy up to $2.4 Billion Annually By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0400 American shoppers will have to pay between $1.6 billion and $3.2 billion more for connected devices such as gateways, modems, routers, smart speakers, smartwatches and other Bluetooth enabled products. Full Article
bil Faro Announces Two New Global Sustainability Goals to Advance ESG Efforts By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0500 Company to reduce carbon footprint 25% by 2025, launch STEM scholarship program. Full Article
bil The Quality Show Preview: When Quality & Sustainability Meet By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 Tariq Masud sat down with Quality to explain why this topic is so important. He will be presenting at The Quality Show on Tuesday, October 24. Full Article
bil Demonstrating 95/95 Confidence and Reliability By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400 In the medical device industry, reliability is critical. Manufacturers conduct extensive testing to ensure devices meet required standards, such as 95/95 or 95/99 confidence and reliability, assessed using Minitab Statistical Software. Full Article
bil Greater Interoperability through Unified Machine Vision Standards By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400 Industry solutions and products rely on common standards and interfaces, enabling seamless collaboration and increasing efficiency. Full Article
bil White Paper: An Alternative to LVDTs = Lab Quality Linear Measurement Capabilities + Superior Industrial Gauging Performance By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500 SMAC electric gage actuators provide gaging solutions with consistent, fast and precise control of the process. Full Article
bil Automation Trends At IMTS 2018: Cobots, Cameras, Careers, Mobile Robots, IIoT, AI And More By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Mon, 25 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400 Connectivity is the key for companies that want to improve quality. Full Article
bil Novotechnik Mobile Angle Sensors By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Novotechnik, U.S., introduces the new RSK-3200 Series of angle sensors are designed for harsh automotive and off-highway applications. Full Article
bil Change and Adaptability By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400 Change is inevitable, and our greatest tool to deal with it is adaptability. Full Article
bil Building Quality into Digital-Twin-based Systems Utilizing the DTC Composability Framework By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 The Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) Composability Framework provides a transformative approach to digital twin system development, focusing on interoperability, security, trustworthiness, scalability, and design reuse to align with businesses’ objectives and evolving needs. Full Article
bil SME Education Foundation Awards Record Number of Sustainability Awards to SME PRIME Schools By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0400 43 schools receive sustainability awards, 16 schools for first time. Full Article
bil Hybrid Metrology Systems Combine Conventional Capabilities with New Technology for Higher Productivity By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400 Metrology is the science of inspection. It includes various measurement tools such as calipers, gauges, micrometers, and vision systems, which are often used for quality control in nondestructive testing (NDT). Full Article
bil Advancing Capabilities of Backlit Video Metrology By www.qualitymag.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 Backlit video metrology systems offer high-speed and precise inspection capabilities by analyzing digital part shadow images to determine feature position and size. Advancements in computing power and algorithms enhance precision, speed, and feature detection, while integration with part positioning systems allows for composite part images, rotating part profile examination, and rapid part sorting. Full Article
bil Lay Science Writing Competition 2024: Evaluating umbilical cord blood transfusion efficacy and safety in neonates By www.blood.ca Published On :: Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:39:06 +0000 Lay Science Writing Competition 2024: Evaluating umbilical cord blood transfusion efficacy and safety in neonates Transplantation Organs and Tissues Plasma Stem Cells Transfusion Blood Thursday, October 17, 2024 Mahsa Yazdanbakhsh Our partnership with the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) at the University of British Columbia is helping to train the next generation of researchers in transfusion science. This blog post highlights just some of the achievements in education, training or knowledge mobilization accomplished by CBR trainees. Canadian Blood Services 2024 Lay Science Writing Competition offered in partnership with the Centre for Blood Research (CBR) provides research trainees an opportunity to exercise and enhance their science communication skills by sharing their research with lay audiences. The competition was open to research trainees in the broad Canadian Blood Services research network – including trainees that are directly funded by Canadian Blood Services, in laboratories that receive funding from Canadian Blood Services, and at the Centre for Blood Research in Vancouver. In this blog, graduate student Mahsa Yazdanbakhsh, author of the third prize-winning entry, provides some behind-the-scenes insights into the preparation of her submission. The full entry text is also shared below. Mahsa Yazdanbakhsh is a PhD candidate training in the laboratory of Canadian Blood Services senior scientist, Dr. Jason Acker at the University of Alberta. Why did you choose to participate in the competition this year? I chose to participate in the competition because it gave me a chance to highlight important research in neonatal blood transfusion, specifically focusing on umbilical cord blood (UCB) transfusions for extremely premature newborns. I saw this as an opportunity to show how UCB could improve survival and outcomes for these vulnerable babies. Since I’m involved in this research, I felt it was important to share my insights and the potential benefits this work could bring to neonatal medicine. The theme this year was “Connecting science with society”; what did this theme mean to you? The theme was particularly meaningful to me because it emphasizes the importance of making scientific discoveries accessible and relevant to the broader public. For me, it’s about bridging the gap between complex research and real-world applications that can improve lives. In our work on umbilical cord blood transfusions for premature infants, the potential benefits go beyond the laboratory—they directly impact vulnerable newborns. This theme reminded me that research is not just about advancing knowledge within the scientific community, but also about ensuring that society understands and benefits from these advancements. By participating in this competition, I aimed to contribute to this connection, demonstrating how science can address critical healthcare challenges and ultimately improve outcomes for neonates. Did the writing process help you learn or discover something new about your research? Yes, the writing process helped me gain a new perspective on our research. It required me to step back and think about how to explain complex scientific concepts in a way that is clear and relatable to a wider audience. This helped me see my work from a different angle, focusing not just on the technical aspects, but also on the broader impact it could have on neonatal care. Writing about my research also reinforced the importance of effective science communication, reminding me that research isn't just about what happens in the lab, but how it can be applied to make a real difference in society. What tips would you share with others who are writing about research for lay audiences? When writing about research for lay audiences, I recommend simplifying complex ideas without losing the essence of the work. Break down the concepts into clear and simple language, but ensure key details remain intact. I suggest focusing on why the research matters by connecting it to real-world applications or benefits, helping readers understand its relevance. Avoid jargon whenever possible, and if you need to use technical terms, explain them in an accessible way. I also recommend using relatable examples to make complex concepts easier to grasp. Present the research in an engaging way, perhaps by telling a story or highlighting its human impact. Read the prize-winning entry in its entirety below... Evaluating umbilical cord blood transfusion efficacy and safety in neonates Imagine a small infant who was born prematurely and is having a hard time surviving in the outside world. These extraordinarily early newborns, referred to as ELGANs (Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns), are born before 28 weeks of pregnancy and must fight a losing battle against anemia, a disorder in which there are insufficient healthy red blood cells in their blood to carry oxygen throughout their bodies. A common strategy used by physicians to win this conflict is blood transfusions. These transfusions now depend on adult donors' blood. This method, while life-saving, has limitations. Adult blood cells might not always meet these delicate babies' unique needs, which could occasionally result in complications and less positive results. But what if there was a more efficient method? Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been proposed as a treatment for anemia in infants in the past. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF), a particular type of hemoglobin that is beneficial at carrying oxygen and protecting cells from harm, is rich in UCB. The fragility of fetal red blood cells and low volumes presented practical challenges that led to a decline in the use of UCB, despite its promising results. However, scientists are now looking again at this overlooked hero. They think that the secret to safer and more efficient treatments for premature babies may lie with UCB. According to recent research, UCB may be able to supply the necessary transfusions, and ongoing clinical trials are examining its advantages over adult blood. How to store UCB is a big obstacle when using it. UCB has a shorter life span than adult blood, which can be kept in storage for longer periods of time. Scientists are actively working on new methods to freeze and store UCB so it can be readily available when needed. This process is known as cryopreservation. Our research team has developed a meticulous method to freeze and thaw UCB. This technique, involving the addition and removal of a substance called glycerol, aids in protecting the blood cells during the freezing process. Having demonstrated the effectiveness of this method with adult blood, we are now adapting it for UCB. Our research is guided by three primary objectives: optimizing the freezing process, minimizing immune reactions, and assessing survival rates. By refining our freezing and thawing methods, our aim is to ensure that UCB cells remain healthy and functional. Furthermore, we seek to compare how the immune system responds to UCB and adult blood to ascertain the safety and efficacy of UCB transfusions. Lastly, we will evaluate the survival of UCB cells after cryopreservation and thawing, comparing them to adult blood cells. Success in these endeavors could offer a more potent treatment for anemia in premature babies, leading to improved health outcomes and fewer complications, thereby revolutionizing neonatal care and providing these vulnerable recipients with a stronger start in life. In conclusion, our research in Dr. Jason Acker's lab on UCB aims to address the critical needs of premature infants by optimizing cryopreservation techniques, understanding immune responses, and comparing the efficacy of UCB to adult blood. The potential benefits of utilizing UCB are immense, and if successful, this work could transform the landscape of neonatal transfusions, offering these vulnerable babies a better chance at a healthy start in life. About the author: Mahsa's research is supported by the Canadian Blood Services Graduate Fellowship Program award. In her work, Mahsa focuses on optimizing blood manufacturing methods and investigating how to improve the efficacy of blood transfusion. Canadian Blood Services – Driving world-class innovation Through discovery, development and applied research, Canadian Blood Services drives world-class innovation in blood transfusion, cellular therapy and transplantation—bringing clarity and insight to an increasingly complex healthcare future. Our dedicated research team and extended network of partners engage in exploratory and applied research to create new knowledge, inform and enhance best practices, contribute to the development of new services and technologies, and build capacity through training and collaboration. Find out more about our research impact. The opinions reflected in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Canadian Blood Services nor do they reflect the views of Health Canada or any other funding agency. Related blog posts One month left to enter the 2024 Lay Science Writing Competition! Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Abby Wolfe The 2024 Canadian Blood Services’ Lay Science Writing Competition is open for submissions from research trainees in Canadian Blood Services’ research network until Friday, June 14, 2024. The theme this year is: “Connecting science with society”. Additional competition details available in this post! Transplantation Organs and Tissues Plasma Stem Cells Transfusion Blood Read full story, One month left to enter the 2024 Lay Science Writing Competition! CSTM 2024: Reflections from Canadian Blood Services trainees, part 1 Tuesday, July 09, 2024 Trainees Canadian Blood Services research trainees reflect on the 2024 Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine (CSTM) conference and their experience as planning committee members for Canadian Blood Services’ Research Day. Transplantation Organs and Tissues Plasma Stem Cells Transfusion Blood Read full story, CSTM 2024: Reflections from Canadian Blood Services trainees, part 1 Announcing the winners of the Research 180 Video Competition Thursday, January 26, 2023 Abby Wolfe Announcing the winning entries from the Canadian Blood Services Research 180 Video Competition showcasing “Impact in motion”! Transplantation Organs and Tissues Plasma Stem Cells Transfusion Blood Read full story, Announcing the winners of the Research 180 Video Competition Full Article
bil State Department Approves $4.9 Billion Sale of E-7 Aircraft To South Korea By www.defensedaily.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 21:24:05 +0000 The State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of $4.92 billion in Boeing [BA] E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft to South Korea. The Defense Security Cooperation […] Full Article International highlights international South Korea
bil Ellis & Watts’ New Website Highlights Global Manufacturing Capabilities By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Fri, 07 Apr 2017 07:30:00 -0400 Ellis & Watts Global Industries just launched a new website designed to highlight its global capabilities in five key practice areas and six sectors. Full Article
bil HVAC Firms Focus on Sustainability By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0400 Sustainable commercial construction is the wave of the future, and, for many, the future is now. Public awareness of the benefits of sustainable — some call them green — buildings is increasing. Full Article
bil Misconceptions about Sustainability-Based HVAC Work May Be Hindering Your Ability to Grow By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400 While implementing new technology may seem like a daunting task, seasoned technicians could find it’s not all that different than the work they are already doing. Full Article
bil Bill Howe Family of Companies Earns Super Service Award in Six Categories By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Jan 2016 07:15:00 -0500 The Bill Howe Family of Companies announced it has earned the 2015 Angie’s List Super Service Award in six categories. The service company provides heating, air conditioning, restoration and flood remediation, and plumbing services in the San Diego area. Full Article
bil Study Anticipates $185.4 Billion Market By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0500 This market is anticipated to grow with 5.9 percent compound annual growth rate during the forecast time period. Surge in the use of energy-efficient devices is expected to drive the growth of the global HVAC system market. Full Article
bil Survey Shows U.S. Executives Prioritize Sustainability, Decarbonization By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:20:00 -0400 The survey, which included responses from over 200 CEOs, CFOs, and CSOs across various industries in July 2024, also highlighted the impact of government incentives on sustainability plans. Full Article
bil Using Hydronic Systems to Advance Sustainability Goals By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400 Hydronic zone systems have proven themselves to be a sustainable heating and cooling option with a longer lifespan, and potential for cost savings. Full Article
bil A2L Flammability Levels By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Sat, 05 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400 In the sixth installment of this series, we ask if A2L refrigerants are as flammable as propane or hydrocarbons. Full Article
bil Repealing Energy Efficiency Program Means Lost Jobs, Higher Electric Bills for Indiana By www.achrnews.com Published On :: Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:00:00 -0400 The EERS required Indiana’s electric utilities to cut energy delivery by an average of 2 percent annually, as well as providing home energy assessments, low-income weatherization, and efficiency rebates for businesses, homeowners, and schools. In 2014, Indiana legislature passed SEA 340 to cancel the EERS. Then Gov. Mike Pence did not veto or sign the bill, so it became law, and Indiana became the first state to repeal its energy efficiency standard. Full Article