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Yale Study Finds Lower Birth Weight in Flint Children Following Water Crisis

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The Yale School of Public Health found that babies born to mothers who were exposed to contaminated water from the Flint River had lower birth weights, according to research published in the Journal of Population Economics.

Flint officials switched the drinking water to the Flint River in April 2014 in an effort to save money. It was later determined that the river had unsafe levels of lead, bacteria, and other contaminants, which had leached into the water, and thereby, the affecting residents of Flint.

Yale professor Xi Chen said, “Our study shows that the impact {of the Flint water crisis} is evident as early as the beginning of life, and it could be long-lasting for decades to come. It has much larger effects towards minority groups.”

The relationship between the Flint water crisis and lower birthweights will help researchers understand the long-term economic and social effects of water pollution. Since birth weight is the most critical factor in predicting long-term development like school performance or job placement and salary.

Compared to the national average, babies born in Flint were born over one ounce lighter, with a 15.5 percent frequency. Researchers found that mothers from majority groups with higher educations and incomes tended to purchase bottled water after the crisis, avoiding their exposure to lead contamination.

Those mothers who were at more of a disadvantage or in minority groups with lower education levels were more susceptible to giving birth to children with lower birth weight.

Chen said, “They [disadvantaged mothers] had very little room for adaptation because buying the [bottled] water needed knowledge and also the money.”

The people who suffered from the Flint water crisis experienced both long- and short-term consequences. Health disparities in early life stages might lead to more significant gaps in health and well-being throughout their lifetimes. About 1500 babies were born in the Flint area in 2014.

To ensure your water is free from lead and other contaminants, contact the water purification experts at Reynolds Water today.

Reynolds Water Conditioning was established in 1931 and is Michigan’s oldest water conditioning treatment company. Still owned and operated by the Reynolds family, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at a cost-effective price. If your tap water lacks the quality you deserve, contact us today at www.reynoldswater.com or call 800-572-9575.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Reynolds Water

Henry Ford Health System Implants Novel Therapy for Brain Tumors

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Surgeons at Michigan’s Henry Ford Health System successfully treated a patient who suffers from a recurrent brain tumor by delivering a dose of radiation therapy directly on the tumor. This new approach could revolutionize treatment by delaying or preventing future tumor cells from regrowing. Called GammaTile Therapy, the surgically targeted radiation therapy was the first of its kind performed in Michigan; the patient was a 41-year-old male.

Adam Robin, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford, said, “The current standard of care for brain tumors is tumor resection, often followed by radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. Approximately half of patients treated for brain tumors experience tumor recurrence within a year. In his most recent surgery, the patient was treated with a form of surgically targeted radiation therapy, which targets residual tumor cells with radiation before they can significantly replicate. Our hope is this therapy will delay or prevent the tumor cells from replicating and forming a recurrent tumor.”

GammaTile Therapy is cleared by the FDA and designed to delay tumor regrowth while protecting healthy brain tissue in patients who suffer from recurring tumors.

Mira M. Shah, M.D., a radiation oncologist at Henry Ford, external beam radiation therapy is usually delivered no sooner than two- to three weeks after surgery to let the incision heal. With GammaTile, the radiation is focused on specific areas of the brain using a type of brachytherapy (internal radiation) which delivers a therapeutic dose to the tumor during surgery.

Leaving the healthy tissue unharmed, GammaTile maximizes the amount of radiation aimed at the tumor and is critical for those patients who have received external beam radiation therapy, which exposes healthy tissue to radiation.

A bioresorbable, conformable 3D-collaten tile uses uniformly spaced radiation sources to target the tumor cavity after the tumor is removed. In just 33 days, 90 percent of the radiation dose is delivered, and after 100 days, the GammaTiles are considered free from radiation. The placement of GammaTile takes approximately five minutes.

RadParts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts. We specialize in low-cost parts for repairing linear accelerator and radiation equipment. Our mission is to provide high-quality, user-friendly, low-cost parts and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. Contact RadParts at 877-704-3838 or visit us on the web: https://www.radparts.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

RadParts

Mineral Sanitizers for Pools

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Wondering about mineral sanitizers for pools and spas? Read on to learn why this trend might be right up your alley.

Mineral sanitizers come in several different sizes and configurations. These antibacterial blends kill living contaminants in water, such as algae and bacteria, using silver and copper ions. This concept is thousands of years old, used by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. Antimicrobial properties are seen from combining silver and copper ions, making a natural solution for pool sanitation.

While minerals can effectively sanitize pools and spas, they are not strong enough to be used solo. Chlorine and bromine are much faster-acting, but adding minerals helps increase the effectiveness and allows you to use less. By adding minerals to your sanitation routine, you can use 50 to 75 percent less chlorine and up to 50 percent less bromine.

Mineral systems can also help reduce the wear and tear of salt cells when used in conjunction with a salt chlorinator. With lower levels of chlorine and bromine, skin and eye irritation decreases, as do faded swimsuits. Softer water means a better pH balance over a more extended period.

Mineral sanitizers are super easy to use; some even come with pre-measured chlorine or bromine cartridges…no measuring necessary, saving you lots of time on pool maintenance.

When it comes to brands, there are many different options for mineral sanitizers on the market. Here are some examples of popular options:

Jacuzzi: Their mineral cartridge system is perfect for both inground and above-ground pools, treating up to 25,000 gallons of water. The minerals are easy to replace, providing softer, cleaner water with up to 50 percent less chlorine.

Zodiac/Nature2: This option is excellent for in-ground and above-ground pools with over 40,000 gallons of water. They also offer spa sticks which are perfect for spas.

FROG: Here, you’ll find options for in-ground and above-ground pools as well as spas and hot tubs. The possibilities are endless, as they offer in-line cartridges, floating sanitizers, skimmer applications, and more.

Pound Pool Plastering offers free estimates and complete pool renovations. Dale Pound, owner, personally oversees each pool project to ensure the highest quality is delivered. We offer Diamond Brite, Sunstone, Hydrazzo, Marcite, Pebble finishes, Bead Crete, tile choices, coping stones, etc. We are pool renovation experts – contact us today at 248-476-4544 or poundpool@sbcglobal.net.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Pound Pool Plastering

Utilities See Shift in Winter Electrical Demand

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According to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), wintertime energy demand is set to rise due to the growing shift toward electrically-powered heating devices.

Traditionally, summer months have shown a higher peak in demand because of air conditioners. But now, the report predicts that a growing number of utilities nationwide will see electricity rise during the winter months instead.

One factor driving the shift is solar energy, which is becoming more popular. The demand for power from utility companies is diminished when solar power is implemented, reducing summer utility bills. Another factor of the reduced shift is the decrease in natural gas use. A growing number of homes and businesses are opting for electric heat pumps, electric space heaters, and electric water heaters, which are all typically used more in the winter months. These electrical devices can oftentimes be used instead of gas-fired appliances.

ACEEE has referred to state policymakers and regulators to create utility goals, which will reduce winter peak demand prices. Utility companies and city administrators should apply existing programs to correlate technology with new measures to reduce winter peak demand. Weatherization and home retrofit funding should also be a top priority.

Utility companies can implement energy-efficiency measures to winterize homes and enhance heating and energy use. Smart controls are one way utility companies can help customers monitor their usage. Also, demand-response measures such as electrical grid water heaters, electric vehicle charging, and battery systems can also help.

Homes that are better equipped to handle winter weather had higher-performing heat pumps and water-heating systems than others. These efficient homes could reduce winter peak by up to 12 percent. To add to that number, deep retrofits, smarter commercial HVAC controls, and intelligent technology systems can reduce peak demand during polar vortexes by up to 34 percent.

By implementing more efficient space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting, and more, homes can reduce the electrical impact on the total grid.

J&P Electrical is a full-service electrical equipment company. At J&P, we supply contractors, end-users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We also purchase a wide range of electrical equipment such as bus plugs, ducts, panel switches, substations, and transformers. Call us at 877-844-5514 or visit us at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

J & P Electrical Company

Home Prices Rise Fastest in Four Decades

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Prices for homes have been rising for a while now, and a new report indicates that they have been growing fastest since the past four decades. CoreLogic released a new report that outlines how home prices have risen by 18 percent from October 2020 to October 2021. The Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index also shows that home prices rose 18.05 percent from the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021.

It’s been more than 40 years since growth of this magnitude has been seen. CoreLogic says the 18 percent growth was the highest number ever recorded in the 45-year history of the housing price index report. Despite the gains, CoreLogic noted that the monthly rate of increase had slowed significantly, signaling home prices could slow down in the upcoming months.

Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic said, “New household formation, investor purchases, and pandemic-related factors driving demand for the limited supply of available for-sale homes continues to propel the upward spiral of U.S. home prices. However, we expect home price growth to moderate over the near term as many buyers take a break for the holidays.”

From October 2021 to October 2022, home price gains are expected to drop to 2.5 percent, predicting the housing frenzy might substantially subside. This could be good news for buyers interested in purchasing a new home.

Are you interested in securing a mortgage for a new home or trying to get pre-approved? Contact the experts at EB Mortgage today to buy the home of your dreams.

EB Mortgage is a locally-owned mortgage company with experts in new home purchase, refinancing, and commercial loans. Our wholesale rates can’t be beaten. We offer more products, more options, and more solutions. Our “3C” Process is simple: complete our pre-approval request, consider options based on your requirements, and choose the offer that suits your needs best. Call us at 866-246-0516 or e-mail contact@ebwmtg.com today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

EB Mortgage

Computer Hand Gesture Recognition Improved

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Researchers have been endlessly searching for ways to use computers beyond the typical mouse, keyboard, remote control, or touch screen. Much of their effort is geared toward unlocking more natural forms of communication. For example, voice commands have been a prominent feature in many smartphones and virtual assistants.

Hand gestures are another form of human communication that can be utilized to maneuver computer interactions. Camera systems, image analysis, and machine learning have made strides in optical-based gesture recognition; however, they are hindered by computational complexity, low speed, poor accuracy, or a small number of recognizable gestures.

A team at Sun Yat-sen University in China is set on improving hand gesture recognition and has created a new algorithm that seems promising so far. According to their research, the team integrated innovative strategies to overcome known challenges in consumer devices. By identifying different hand types, palm width, length, and finger length, the hand gesture recognition process is more refined. 

The researchers said, “Traditional simple algorithms tend to suffer from low recognition rates because they cannot cope with different hand types. By first classifying the input gesture by hand type and then using simple libraries that match this type, we can improve the overall recognition rate with almost negligible resource consumption.”

There is also a pre-recognition step in the algorithm, which calculates a ratio of the hand area to determine the three most likely gestures out of the possible nine.

According to researchers, “The gesture pre-recognition step not only reduces the number of calculations and hardware resources required but also improves recognition speed without compromising accuracy.”

Tested in a real-life situation, the algorithm showed more than 93 percent accuracy. Hand gestures were rotated, translated, and scaled in the process. The team will focus on improving the algorithm in situations with poor lighting and increase the number of possible gestures overall.

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; offer top-notch digital marketing services including enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Creative Programs and Systems

Henry Ford Health System Implants Novel Therapy for Brain Tumors

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Surgeons at Michigan’s Henry Ford Health System successfully treated a patient who suffers from a recurrent brain tumor by delivering a dose of radiation therapy directly on the tumor. This new approach could revolutionize treatment by delaying or preventing future tumor cells from regrowing. Called GammaTile Therapy, the surgically targeted radiation therapy was the first of its kind performed in Michigan; the patient was a 41-year-old male.

Adam Robin, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford, said, “The current standard of care for brain tumors is tumor resection, often followed by radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. Approximately half of patients treated for brain tumors experience tumor recurrence within a year. In his most recent surgery, the patient was treated with a form of surgically targeted radiation therapy, which targets residual tumor cells with radiation before they can significantly replicate. Our hope is this therapy will delay or prevent the tumor cells from replicating and forming a recurrent tumor.”

GammaTile Therapy is cleared by the FDA and designed to delay tumor regrowth while protecting healthy brain tissue in patients who suffer from recurring tumors.

Mira M. Shah, M.D., a radiation oncologist at Henry Ford, external beam radiation therapy is usually delivered no sooner than two- to three weeks after surgery to let the incision heal. With GammaTile, the radiation is focused on specific areas of the brain using a type of brachytherapy (internal radiation) which delivers a therapeutic dose to the tumor during surgery.

Leaving the healthy tissue unharmed, GammaTile maximizes the amount of radiation aimed at the tumor and is critical for those patients who have received external beam radiation therapy, which exposes healthy tissue to radiation.

A bioresorbable, conformable 3D-collaten tile uses uniformly spaced radiation sources to target the tumor cavity after the tumor is removed. In just 33 days, 90 percent of the radiation dose is delivered, and after 100 days, the GammaTiles are considered free from radiation. The placement of GammaTile takes approximately five minutes.

Acceletronics is an industry leader in delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from CT Scanners and Linear Accelerators across all major brands and models. Call 610-524-3300 or visit our website: https://www.acceletronics.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Acceletronics

Winter Survival Skills All Children Should Have

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For kids, winter usually means sliding down hills in sleds, building snowmen, bright pink cheeks, and wiping cold snot from their noses – all the usual cold-weather fun! However, when disaster strikes, what skills should children possess to ensure their survival?

Children should know how to adequately layer up in cold weather, what to do if they are lost or in danger, and how to find food, shelter, water, and warmth. While these might sound like basic skills, many kids do not have this knowledge in their repertoire.

Basic winter survival kits can be helpful for children who get lost or isolated outdoors. Make sure kids know what to do with each item if they ever find themselves in an emergency. Here’s what to put inside the kits for youth:

Survival is, overall, based on making good choices. When trying to explain survival situations to children, it’s best to communicate it through a story or an example they can relate to.

Looking for survival gear for children? Check out our store for the supplies you need!

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for all your prepping and survival needs. We are a trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website or e-mail us today for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Wolf Survival Gear

Difference Between Rock Salt and Ice Melt

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Winter is here, and with that comes snow and ice removal. Both rock salt and ice melt are made and sold as bagged pellets which come with a few distinctions. Many of us have heard of using “salt” to de-ice or remove snow from sidewalks, driveways, and other areas, but do you know the difference between these bagged pellets? Read on to discover the variations.

Rock Salt
Also known as halite, these pellets have naturally-occurring chunks of pure sodium chloride, also known as salt. Rock salt prevents ice from forming in temperatures above 5°F.

Ice Melt
In addition to sodium chloride (salt), these pellets contain chemicals such as calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, which melt ice in temperatures as low as -10°F. The exact proportions vary by brand.

Which melts faster? Ice melt typically melts more quickly and is effective at lower temperatures.

Which is the least expensive? Rock salt is generally less costly than ice melt; however, the crystalline pellets can damage concrete, decks, and patios.

Does one corrode more? Both ice melt and rock salt cause corrosion to concrete and metal surfaces. Apply both sparingly or mix with sand for extra traction.

Are they safe for pets? Neither rock salt nor ice melt is safe for pets. Thoroughly wash pets’ paws after being outside. While some ice melt products claim they are “pet friendly,” this claim only applies to the individual pellets, not the residue left after the product is applied.

T&T Property Maintenance has been visualizing, creating, and maintaining commercial properties since 1997. We offer a vast number of services for our clients, including lawn and landscape maintenance, irrigation set up and repair, fertilization, weed and pest control, snow plowing and salting, and tree trimming and stump grinding. We are licensed with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, so you can rest assured we will do the job right – every time. We work with commercial businesses of any size and offer our services in seasonal or yearly packages, and a la carte. For over 20 years, we believe a satisfied customer is the only kind of customer. Check out our website, call, or e-mail us today to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

T&T Property Maintenance

New Coalition Encourages EV Infrastructure

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The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recently released a press statement announcing the formation of the  National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC). This new coalition merges the Electric Highway Coalition with the Midwest Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Collaboration and combines contributing electrical companies throughout the United States. The Tennessee Valley Authority, one electric cooperative, and 51 investor-owned electric companies make up the NEHC. 

The NEHC is an effort between electrical companies to provide Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations off of major United States freeways by the end of 2023.

According to the website, “The NEHC is the largest such alliance of electric companies that have organized around the common goal of deploying EV fast-charging infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs and to help ensure that the transition to EVs is seamless for drivers.”

Tom Kuhn, EEI president, said, “EEI and our member companies are leading the clean energy transformation, and electric transportation is key to reducing carbon emissions across our economy. With the formation of the National Electric Highway Coalition, we are committed to investing in and providing the charging infrastructure necessary to facilitate electric vehicle growth and to helping alleviate any remaining customer range anxiety.”

So far, over $3 billion has been invested in implementing EV charging infrastructure transportation, thanks to the EEI’s member companies. The NEHC approximates that over 100,000 EV fast-charging ports will be needed by 2030 to strengthen the 22 million EVs projected on roads comprehensively.

Kuhn said, “By merging and expanding the existing efforts underway to build fast-charging infrastructure along major travel corridors, we are building a foundational EV charging network that will help to encourage more customers to purchase an electric vehicle. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the electric companies that created so much momentum at the regional level, paving the way for us to expand this effort nationally.”

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. State Electric Co. is also an exclusive distributor for Enel X JuiceBox EV chargers for residential and commercial use. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to install charging stations for homes, offices, hotels, and more. With our extensive knowledge in renewable energy, our team provides customers – large or small – with efficient electrical solutions. Contact us today to learn how we can safely and affordably meet your energy needs.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

State Electric Co.