Livingston Reporting - page 65

Richard Ernst, Inventor of MRI, Dies

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Richard R. Ernst, a Swiss physical chemist, and Nobel Laureate, died on June 4. He was 87. Ernst won the Nobel Prize for inventing specific methods to analyze the chemical properties of atoms, which created the foundation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI. He helped improve MRI sensitivity, which was first tested in the 1940s to create images of body organs. 

Born in the same city where he died, Winterthur, Ernst graduated from the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. He spent his entire career there, receiving numerous honors, including the Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1991), the Wolf Prize for Chemistry (1991), the Horwitz Prize (1991), and the Marcel Benoist Prize (1986).

In 1963, Ernst began working for Varian Associates as a scientist. During that time, he invented Fourier transform NMR, noise decoupling, and other approaches. In 1968, he returned to ETH Zurich as a lecturer, gradually working his way up to Assistant Professor in 1970, Associate Professor in 1972, and full Professor of Chemistry in 1976 and the years thereafter.

A research group dedicated to magnetic resonance spectroscopy was led by Ernst, director of the Physical Chemistry Laboratory at ETH Zurich. Two-dimensional NMR and several pulse techniques were developed by Ernst, along with magnetic resonance tomography and the NMR structure determination of biopolymers in solution. He also studied intra-molecular dynamics and retired in 1998.

Ernst was a member of the following:

  • Estonian Academy of Sciences
  • US National Academy of Sciences
  • Royal Academy of Sciences, London
  • German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
  • Russian Academy of Sciences,
  • Korean Academy of Science and Technology
  • Bangladesh Academy of Sciences
  • Foreign Member of the Royal Society
  • World Knowledge Dialogue Scientific Board

Ernst’s awards included:

  • John Gamble Kirkwood Medal (1989)
  • Marcel Benoist Prize (1986)
  • Wolf Prize for Chemistry (1991)
  • Louisa Gross Horowitz Price of Columbia University (1991)
  • Tadeus Reichstein Medal (2000)
  • Order of the Star of Romania (2004)

Ernst had several honorary doctorates including those from:

  • Technical University of Munich
  • EPF Lausanne
  • University of Zurich
  • University Antwerpen
  • Babes-Bolyai University
  • University Montpelier

A 2009 film called Science Plus Dharma Equals Social Responsibility was produced by Carlo Burton and takes place in Ernst’s hometown.

Survivors include his wife, Magdalena Kielholz, and their children Anna Magdalena, Katharina Elisabeth, and Hans-Martin Walter.

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

Food Supply Storage Hacks

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Prepping food supplies is an art. Food storage can be an issue in small spaces, but it doesn’t need to be. Food storage is one of the first things people think about when they begin prepping. Having enough emergency food on hand is imperative. Most households do not have enough food to last a week, which is generally okay as long as the homeowner can make a trip to the grocery store. If stores aren’t an option, are you prepared with enough food?

To store food efficiently, maximize your available space to the fullest.

Vegetable drawers/cabinets: Some vegetables store best in cool, dark places. Potatoes, squash, beets, and onions last longer when stored properly. Use empty cabinets or extra space in drawers to store these root vegetables.

Hanging baskets: These are so simple to install – all you need is a screw-in hook, and voila! You have a hanging basket. Baskets are handy for all kinds of food such as bread, bananas, garlic, fruit, and more.

Freezer shelves: Freezers are sometimes over-stuffed and packed to the brim. Try using magazine holders or wire racks (widely available at big-box stores) to stack and store.

Door organizers: Many people look over these handy organizers when it comes to the kitchen. Use them for cans, pasta boxes, etc., and you’ll be amazed how much you can store.

Furniture: Couches, ottomans, under beds, and other hollow furniture are a great place to keep heavier, non-perishable items such as larger freeze-dried packages or cans.

Physical space shouldn’t be a limitation for preppers. Narrow storage areas can be cleverly converted for food supplies.

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

Wolf Survival Gear

The Importance of Oil Filters

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The cheapest insurance for your car doesn’t involve monthly payments. Can you guess what it is? Frequent oil changes and new filters.

Oil filters are a crucial element that plays a vital role in your car’s functionality. They sift physical contaminants (dirt, dust, sludge, etc.) that might otherwise find their way into your engine. Filters strain and store grime and are of no use once full. Bigger objects can ultimately clog intake valves if left unattended. The longer you go between oil changes, the more contaminants are trapped inside the oil filter. The more debris trapped in the filter, the less efficient the filter becomes.

Replacing the oil filter with every oil change is good practice. If you want to extend the life of your engine, don’t skip replacing the filter as they trap harmful contaminants that can damage the working parts of your car’s engine. Follow your vehicle owners’ manual for recommended oil change intervals, which are usually based on months and miles. Engine oil works most efficiently when it’s clean and pure, and free from debris.

If your engine is running on fresh, new oil, why not allow it to flow through a pristine filter, as well? New oil reaches peak efficiency when it lubricates engine parts, reduces wear and tear, and keeps operating temperatures healthy. In time, changing your oil filter simultaneously with the oil itself will help save your engine from grime, sludge, or large metallic objects.

Aggressive drivers or those who travel through extreme conditions will see the oil filter wear-and-tear accelerate. Filters that are overtaxed will lose effectiveness more quickly, especially in dusty environments. Dirt roads, salt, and other debris will clog the oil filter more frequently.

Overall, contaminants pose a threat to your engine’s health. To prevent more significant issues down the road, ensure you change your oil filter with each oil change.

To schedule an oil change, contact the knowledgeable car experts at Team CAMC today!

Team CAMC is your Complete Auto Maintenance Center. For over 30 years, we have followed a single guiding principle: we never push or sell services a vehicle doesn’t need.  Our team of trained technicians welcomes you like family and discusses all types of oil and fluid changes offered. Critical points are reviewed through a 13-point inspection to ensure your vehicle is ready for the next adventure on the road ahead. Contact us today to schedule the professional service you deserve from a team you trust.

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

Team CAMC

Myopia (Short-Sightedness) Linked to Poor Sleep

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Research from Flinders University in Australia suggests people with myopia (short-sightedness) experience poorer sleep quality than those with normal vision. The study found that people with myopia have more delayed circadian rhythms and reduced melatonin production (a hormone responsible for regulating sleep) compared to people with normal vision. Myopia results in the inability to see objects at a distance. People affected can only clearly see things up close.

Dr. Ranjay Chakraborty, optometrist from the Flinders University Caring Futures Institute, said the study adds to the growing evidence of the potential association between disruption of the circadian rhythm and myopia development. “Disruptions in circadian rhythms and sleep due to the advent of artificial light and the use of light-emitting electronic devices for reading and entertainment has become a recognized health concern in several fields, but its impact on eye health has not been studied extensively. These findings provide important evidence that optimal sleep and circadian rhythms are not only essential for general health, but also for good vision,” Chakraborty said.

Levels of melatonin were measured in participants through saliva and urine samples. In the study, the circadian timing and production of melatonin were measured in both people with myopia and those with normal sight. Melatonin is secreted in our brains soon after dark, peaking around 2 to 4 a.m.

Myopia is the most common vision disorder and, in severe cases, can lead to several blinding diseases in adulthood, such as retinal tear and detachment, glaucoma, or cataracts. Road signs and other long-distance objects are generally difficult for people with myopia to read.

“Because myopia typically develops during childhood, as a next step, we would like to examine circadian rhythm training, total production of melatonin sleep and light exposure at night in young children – the actual target population for myopia prevention,” said Dr. Chakraborty.

“Such a study will provide novel insights into the biological and environmental factors underlying myopia, which will aid in early diagnosis and treatment of myopia in children,” Dr. Chakraborty said.

Myopia doesn’t have to hold you back – talk to the eyecare experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

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Michigan Lasik

Michiganders Advised to Avoid Foam on Lakes and Rivers

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a press release warning residents to stay clear of foam on Michigan lakes, rivers, and streams. The foam is typically associated with bacteria or chemicals, specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which resembles shaving cream and is bright white. The foam can blow onto beaches and pile up on shorelines. In contrast, naturally-occurring foam is typically seen in bays, eddies, or river barriers. It’s also off-white or brown and smells somewhat earthy or fishy.

Rinse or wash off foam as soon as contact is made, especially if PFAS contamination is suspected.

PFAS is an emerging toxic chemical and can be found in:

  • Food: packaged, processed, or grown in PFAS-contaminated areas
  • Household products: stain and water repellent fabrics, nonstick products (Teflon), waxes, paints, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams (a significant source of groundwater contamination at airports and military bases)
  • Workplaces: production facilities or industrial buildings using chrome plating, electronics manufacturing, or oil recovery
  • Drinking water: near manufacturing plants, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, firefighter training facilities
  • Living organisms: fish, animals, humans, etc., where PFAS can build and persist over time.

PFAS can cause a multitude of health issues and are dubbed as “Forever Chemicals” because they never break down once they are released into the environment. PFAS are found in 99.9% of all Americans’ blood. They build up in our blood and organs, increasing the risk of cancer, harms fetuses, changes liver enzymes, increases cholesterol levels, while decreasing vaccine response in children, and more.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS said, “Although current science shows that the risk of PFAS getting into your system from contact with skin is low, you can minimize exposure to PFAS by rinsing or showering after you are done with your recreational activities. In general, washing hands and rinsing off after swimming will help to protect people from chemicals and bacteria that may be in waterbodies.”

MDHHS recommends people of all ages steer clear of foamy water, including young children. PFAS foam typically has a much higher concentration of chemicals than what is generally seen in everyday environments. Dogs and other pets should also not come in contact with – or swallow – the foam.

To remove PFAS from your drinking water, 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

Managing Health through Technology

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The healthcare industry was forced to quickly lean more into technological thanks to the pandemic. Patient images have not changed, but modifications have made it possible to use consumer technology in new, unexpected ways. What are some of the novel workflow efficiencies and patient experiences that have cropped up since 2020? Here are some examples: 

Smartphones and Tablets

Providers can access images and reports virtually anywhere, thanks to smartphones or tablets. When it comes to commonplace technology, phones are ubiquitous. By using secure apps to access reports and images from anywhere, data breaches are not an issue since no information is stored on the device. Previously, physicians needed to sign in each time they wanted to check an imaging report. Now, these newer advancements allow the provider to sign in automatically. Text messages and alerts can be set up to notify the physician when reports are complete. With minimal effort, physicians can now transfer information to each other accordingly, seeing data in real-time.

QR Codes

First developed in 1994, these codes have made a comeback during the pandemic. Whether it’s for a restaurant menu, contactless payment, or essential information sharing, these scannable codes are seemingly everywhere. Now, physicians can use these codes to send reports to patients and providers instead of burning images to a Compact Disc (CD) or printout. QR codes allow for a more effective, efficient workflow. Patients can get images with ease, on their device of choice, without remembering usernames or passwords.

Web-based Viewer

Cloud technology allows web-based viewers to take a patient-focused methodology. It not only makes the Electronic Health Record (EHR) more effective, but it also consolidates information from different parts and gives a more holistic view of the patient’s record. Patients can also enjoy a web-based universal viewer to track their entire health story on a mobile device.

Old technology can be used in new ways. Today, imaging groups are using consumer-based technology to facilitate physician-patient relationships. COVID-19 accelerated the process; the innovations of the future might be the technology of today.

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RadParts

Why You Should Enforce Pool Safety This Swim Season

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According to the National Safety Council (NSC), roughly ten people die from drowning every day in the United States (not including boating accidents.) Water safety should be top of mind if you own – or are around – a pool this summer to avoid drowning disasters.

The Pool Safely campaign encourages people to follow six steps to remain safe in or near water. The steps include:

  1. Never leave a child unattended in or near water
  2. Teach children how to swim
  3. Teach children to stay away from drains
  4. Ensure all pools have compliant drain covers
  5. Install proper barriers, alarms, and covers
  6. Know how to perform CPR

Over 75,000 adults and kids have signed the Pool Safely Pledge. Take the Pledge and get a free Pool Safely Toolkit. The USA Swimming Foundation reported almost 90 children younger than the age of 15 drowned in a pool or spa from January through May 2018.

  • Every year roughly 19 children drown during the 4th of July holiday
  • 74 percent of drowning incidents occurred in residential locations
  • 351 children younger than 15 died in pools and spas during 2015
  • Emergency departments treat around 6,400 pool and spa injuries in children younger than 15 every year

To avoid accidental drowning, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Don’t go near water unless you know how to swim
  • Never swim alone
  • Learn CPR
  • Stay calm if caught in a current or swim parallel to shore
  • Swim with lifeguard supervision
  • Don’t roughhouse in pools
  • No diving in unfamiliar areas
  • Avoid alcohol as it is involved in about half of all male teen drownings
  • Wear life jackets to ensure water safety

Call the pool renovation experts at Pound Pool Plastering today to make sure your pool is ready to go this swim season.

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

Sanitizing with UV Light

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LED lighting is all the rage these days. Add some Ultraviolet (UV) to make UV-LED and voila – an antimicrobial disinfectant perfect for the pandemic. With germs a serious global concern, UV-LED is an easy option for sanitizing.

When LEDs are tuned to wavelengths between 405 to 425 nanometers (nm), bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi are deactivated and inhibited. The antimicrobial space is full of manufacturers offering UV-LED as a disinfectant for viruses and bacteria.

Jennifer Brons, research program coordinator for Mount Sinai Health System’s Light and Health Research Center in New York, said, “COVID-19 has raised our consciousness regarding germ spread. Disinfection light is getting a renewed look and a renewed R&D.”

The Mount Sinai Health System’s Light and Health Research Center was launched in February and is part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Their mission is to research the influence of light on mental and physical health. UV disinfection technology is an aspect of study within the center.

Brons and her colleagues selected the least expensive and most widely available UV disinfectant products for their research. The UV-C wavelength was found in tests to be the most effective at bacterial and viral disinfection (roughly 1,000 times more.) Therefore, UV-A is a safer approach as UV-C can be damaging at high levels of exposure.

UV-LED is a newer technology; therefore, other UV-C lighting is being tested by the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University for its ability to immobilize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On contaminated surfaces, the manufacturer’s lab testing has shown a destroying rate of 99% against Sars-CoV-2.

UV-LED for water treatment is in high demand. UV-C is used to kill viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens in water within seconds. Oliver Lawal, president and CEO of AquiSense Technologies, said, “We offered a UV-LED water disinfection product five years before anyone else.” The company is also developing applications for air and surface decontamination.

Using light as a disinfectant is helpful to decontaminate germs and viruses within our environment. With more research, light sanitation is positioned for exponential growth.

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J & P Electrical Company

The Internet Just Got a Speed Boost

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The Internet Just Got a Speed Boost

Quic is a general-purpose protocol that transmits data between computers, improves speed and security on the Internet, and can replace Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a standard that has been in place since 1974 when the Internet began. The group that sets criteria for the global network, dubbed the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), recently published Quic as a standard. For years, web browsers and online services have been testing Quic, but the IETF’s new regulation is a sign the industry is mature enough to fully embrace the technology.

Data transmission is a fundamental aspect of the Internet; countless devices, programs, and services are built to use earlier infrastructure, which has lasted for decades. Since Google first announced Quic in 2013, it has been an experimental addition to the Chrome browser and has been in public development.

The Internet needs updates to keep worldwide communication and commerce buzzing, which is why engineers spend time developing transitions such as Quic. This colossal upgrade cuts the wait for web search results by as much as eight percent on computers and four percent on phones. Video buffering dropped to eighteen percent for computer users and fifteen percent on mobile.

Jana Iyengar, an engineer who helped lead Quic standardization at Fastly, said, “The internet transport ecosystem has just been ossified for decades now. Quic is poised to lead the charge on the next generation of internet innovations.”

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one of the main protocols of the Internet that oversees how data is sent from one device to another. TCP and Quic work together with Internet Protocol (IP) to function properly. TCP regulates how data is distributed into segments individually addressed, sent across the Internet, then reassembled at the other end. TCP has many jobs, but managing established connections and recovering lost data packets is of utmost importance.

Quic was created to do similar tasks in a more efficient manner. It can quickly set up encrypted connections and handle network changes with ease.

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

Creative Programs and Systems

Radiation Could Be Less Damaging and More Effective with Trial Drug

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An experimental drug has shown the ability to shield healthy tissue from radiation and enhance its ability to eradicate tumors. The study is published in Science Translational Medicine by UT Southwestern scientists. The pharmaceutical, named avasopasem manganese (AVA), has already been shown to prevent acute mucositis (a condition seen in head and neck cancer patients) in clinical trials. For the drug to become a routine part of clinical care, its ability to protect healthy – not only cancerous – cells from radiation needs to be tested.

Study leader Michael Story, Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology at UTSW and member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Experimental Therapeutics Research Program, worked with colleagues to treat cancerous cells with AVA prior to exposing them to radiation. After drug treatment, the cancerous cells were not protected from radiation and appeared to respond more to the adiation than those who did not receive AVA. This was especially true when high radiation doses were administered.

In mice, cancerous cells were allowed to grow into tumors. Before radiation treatment, AVA was administered, and the tumors shrank after being treated. Some of the tumors disappeared completely. Several different tumor types (lung, pancreatic, neck, head) also experienced positive results in animal trials.

Story noted that AVA is currently being tested in phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. “With this drug, the radiation doses we deliver could be profoundly more effective, while at the same time contribute to protecting adjacent normal tissues,” Story said.

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