Mes: agosto 2020

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — iClicker, a Macmillan Learning Company, announced today a new partnership with Perusall, the interactive, digital content company to address two of the most pressing concerns for higher education in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: student engagement and affordability.

According to an Inside Higher Education study, higher education faculty are most concerned with ensuring student engagement in virtual learning environments, and the potential for online classes to have an inequitable impact on underrepresented students. The study revealed 87% of respondents are concerned over the impact of virtual classes on students from low-income backgrounds and 77% view the ability to maintain student engagement when teaching online as ‘somewhat challenging’ to ‘very challenging’.

Instructors can use iClicker to take attendance, facilitate active learning and complete in-class quizzes using mobile devices or iClicker remotes. iClicker was developed by teaching professors and is currently used at more than 1,200 institutions by more than 5,000 instructors and more than 10 million students.

«Student engagement is in both iClicker and Perusall’s DNA, as both were created by educators who are recognized as leaders in researching and using active learning and peer instruction methodologies. This new partnership will help make iClicker’s polling, quizzing and assignments even more accessible with Perusall’s content engagement platform and will ultimately support deeper learning, wherever it happens,» said Steven Ray, Vice President of Macmillan Learning Institutional Solutions.

The iClicker and Perusall partnership will make it even easier to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and deep content engagement in virtual environments, at an affordable price. There is early proof that the partnership can help foster deep connections with content and peers in an online learning environment. Last spring, amid the outbreak of COVID-19 that demanded a quick pivot to teaching virtually, University of Louisville Psychology Professor Edna Ross, PhD, used Perusall and iClicker to deliver the same active, peer-to-peer learning methodologies she has become known for delivering in her face-to-face classes.

«Before iClicker, it was very difficult to get input from all of my students and before Perusall it was a struggle to get students to read the material,» explains Ross. «Once class moved online due to COVID-19, students in my class quickly found a rhythm of beginning discussions with Perusall asynchronously and then responding with iClicker questions during synchronous sessions to dive deeper into opinions in class. Using both together really impacted learning and engagement for the entire class.»

The partnership will enable Perusall customers to purchase access to iClicker’s student mobile app at a discounted price, delivering course content and engagement capabilities to support deep learning in both synchronous and asynchronous learning methodologies common in online courses.

«We are excited to partner with iClicker to combine our affordable, digital learning solutions to help students engage more fully with the course content and one another. With so many courses needing to move online this fall, this is important now more than ever,» said Brian Lukoff, Perusall co-founder and CEO.

Click here for more information on how iClicker and Perusall are being used at University of Louisville.

About Macmillan Learning
Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes.. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or or join our Macmillan Community.

About Perusall
Perusall is a free social learning platform that delivers reading and video assignments to students before they come to class. The platform incorporates content delivery with collaborative annotation tools to ensure students read more, come to class prepared, and are more engaged in the learning experience, enabling instructors to teach more effectively. Automated reports document where students struggle the most to understand course content, allowing instructors to specifically address these issues in class. More than 500,000 students at over 2,000 educational institutions in 75+ countries use Perusall. To learn more visit http://www.perusall.com.

 

SOURCE iClicker

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have joined together to create a new program, Respite Relief for Military and Veteran Caregivers, which will offer family caregivers of veterans access to no-cost, short-term relief with the help of CareLinx in-home care professionals. The CareLinx donation of $1 million will provide more than 40,000 hours of non-medical home care for more than 1,600 caregivers and their wounded, ill, or injured. The program is being developed as the urgent need for respite care among military caregivers has become critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation is made possible through the generous contribution by Generali, CareLinx’s parent company, who created a fund to support various relief efforts in countries significantly impacted by COVID-19. AARP has also joined as a key collaborator for this effort to help spread the word to military and veteran caregivers. 

«Since the Foundation first began its work, we have seen the desperate need for short-term relief among veteran caregivers. The lack of affordable, convenient professional respite care takes a significant toll on the emotional and physical well-being of these hidden heroes and the limitations created by the COVID-19 pandemic have further reduced their respite options,» said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. «We are grateful CareLinx has stepped up in such a generous way to make this program possible. We look forward to working with the VA to use CareLinx’s and potentially other contributors’ donations to provide urgent relief to those who need it most, and working with AARP to reach millions of veterans and military families nationwide.»

The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained veteran caregivers who have lost the in-person support of family and friends because of social distancing regulations. Even as states begin re-opening, some of the nation’s most critically wounded or ill veterans and their caregivers will have a long journey back to the pre-pandemic world as their vulnerable immune systems require families to take every precaution against exposure.

«Caregivers charged with caring for our nation’s Veterans face new challenges during the pandemic. They are becoming increasingly isolated and are hindered from getting reliable outside help,» said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie. «This compassionate and thoughtful program will give them some much-needed relief during this stressful time.»

Today marks the program launch date for eligible caregivers in select regions in California, Florida, and Texas to apply for services. This program will be able to offer selected veteran caregivers approximately 24-hours of respite care by providing a qualified in-home care professional for their veteran. These care professionals will be able to perform tasks such as companionship, grocery shopping, cooking, mobility assistance, transportation, bathing, and other activities of daily living.

«CareLinx is honored to support our military families and veteran caregivers during this unprecedented time,» said Sherwin Sheik, CEO of CareLinx. «This program is a win-win for our nation’s caregivers; it will give family caregivers a much needed break, enable vulnerable veterans to minimize their risk of exposure to COVID-19, and provide new rewarding work opportunities for professional caregivers.» 

Depending on availability of hours, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation seeks to further expand the program to other regions of the country later on in 2020. The Foundation has established a Respite Relief Fund where organizations can contribute funding to support expansion to other regions of the country. Individuals seeking to learn more about the Respite Relief Fund should contact RespiteRelief@elizabethdolefoundation.org.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. You must be a family caregiver to a wounded, ill, or injured veteran or service member (and submit proof of service).
2. Requested relief support includes one of the following: companionship, light housekeeping, grocery shopping and meal preparation, transportation, mobility support/transferring, exercise, toileting, bathing, dressing and grooming. If you and your care recipient need more assistance such as assistance with administering medications, in home physical therapy, or any other type of specialized medical care, you will not be eligible for this service at this time.
3. The military/veteran family must seek respite care relief in Florida, California, and Texas (and only in those zip codes with available services).

For more information, please visit hiddenheroes.org/respite.

About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers’ service and promote their well-being. Learn more about the Elizabeth Dole Foundation at hiddenheroes.org.

About CareLinx
CareLinx is the leading nationwide online home-care platform. Professional caregivers leverage proprietary digital care plans to better assist the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and people with chronic health conditions with activities of daily living. The CareLinx platform helps families and caregivers easily manage all the administrative tasks of their caregiving needs, including scheduling, time tracking, care coordination, and payroll processing. To date, CareLinx has a nationwide network of over 400,000 tech-enabled caregivers who provide personal in-home care for families and support safe transitions of care. The CareLinx platform revolutionizes transparency and facilitates active coordination in the post-acute care environment, leading to increased quality of care, better health outcomes, and significantly reduced total cost of care. Visit us at https://www.carelinx.com.

About Generali
Generali is one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, it is present in 50 countries in the world. With nearly 72,000 employees serving 61 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. Generali’s ambition is to be the life-time partner to its customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions thanks to an unmatched distribution network. Learn more about the Generali group at https://www.generali.com/.

About the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was established to provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned – and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship. The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 174 VA Medical Centers and 1,062 outpatient sites to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

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SOURCE Elizabeth Dole Foundation

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Today, Sightline Security, in collaboration with Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), announced the launch of a members-only community forum for nonprofit organizations. The community forum is designed to address the unique needs of nonprofits, provide critical and relevant cyber and information security news, updates, and discussions explicitly to help them solve their distinct cyber and information security challenges. The community forum is a cornerstone of Sightline Security’s approach in working alongside nonprofits to embrace cyber and information security best practices with confidence.

«During normal times, nonprofits face many protection challenges, ranging from a lack of cybersecurity talent to budgets that are stretched very thin, as cybersecurity typically sits low on the funding priority list. Add in our current crisis to the mix, and nonprofits are even more susceptible to security breaches – all while they need to remain focused on responding to the welfare of its constituents and keeping the business going.» (Nonprofit Executive Director, 2020)

«We are thrilled to collaborate with the Global Cyber Alliance to bring this important and needed community space to our members,» said Dr. Kelley Misata, Founder and CEO of Sightline Security. «Thanks to their support and resources, we can welcome more members into Sightline and help them supplement their defenses at a time when they are increasingly vulnerable to attack.»

Sightline’s unique and proven approach ensures nonprofits can easily identify and prioritize the current state of cybersecurity inside the walls of their organizations. The new community forum provides Sightline’s members with critical and timely information, early-stage assessment guidance, introductory learning to security best practices such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and safe and secure discussion space to bring their unique issues to the table. In addition to accessing the community forum and other Sightline Security resources, nonprofit members can also share critical insights into their cybersecurity efforts and provide a vital feedback loop for security experts and vendors – removing a crucial blind spot into the specific risks facing this expansive community.

«Sightline Security’s work to support the nonprofit community comes at a critical time. Nonprofits are under attack because of the communities they serve and their access to data about them. Cyber attacks on nonprofits undercut their ability to address social issues and needs, and can affect life and death,» said Philip Reitinger, GCA President and CEO. «GCA is proud to support this effort and help bridge the cybersecurity gap for these critical organizations.»

Support Sightline Security and be at the forefront of helping nonprofits improve cybersecurity and reduce risk. As a security start-up organization, Sightline Security is continuing its «Founders Club» fundraising campaign for the remainder of 2020 — to learn more contact the company at hello(at)sightlinesecurity.org.

About Sightline Security
Based in Boston, MA, Sightline Security Corporation takes a holistic and community-centric approach necessary to address the lack of information and cybersecurity capabilities and awareness in the nonprofit sector. Addressing a critical need for these organizations, Sightline is the first solution provider to tailor its approach to providing nonprofits with access to the security tools and expertise that were previously only attainable by commercial businesses or government agencies. Through its innovative combination of assessment, consulting, and training capabilities, Sightline has created a basis for nonprofit organizations to confidently implement information security best practices while removing a crucial blind spot that currently exists in information technology and security industry. https://sightlinesecurity.org/

About Global Cyber Alliance
The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to eradicating cyber risk and improving our connected world. We achieve our mission by uniting global communities, implementing concrete solutions, and measuring the effect. Learn more at http://www.globalcyberalliance.org.

 

SOURCE Sightline Security

ERIE, Colo., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Elementum 3D, a developer and supplier of groundbreaking metal additive manufacturing (AM) materials, has published a white paper, Powder Recycling in Laser Powder Bed Fusion: Improving Processing, Maintaining Quality. It outlines how the company’s blended materials provide powder recycling benefits while maintaining particle size distribution without component desegregation. The findings come from three different studies, each using a different material.

Elementum 3D aims to provide quality products with our customers’ interests and needs in mind. The introduction of our patented Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) technology allows for a wide variety of materials systems not printable by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) to be created. Along with bringing new materials to the market, RAM technology has equivalent and improved mechanical properties compared to traditional wrought alloys.

RAM technology utilizes micron-scale additives blended into powder feedstock that react in situ during printing to form sub-micron inoculants. These inoculants lead to grain refinement and contribute to the eliminating defects like hot tearing in aluminum, a hurdle for many alloys in AM. Elementum 3D’s uniquely designed alloy feedstock for laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) generates light-weight, high-strength AM parts. Consumers are interested in powder recycling and using our products for multiple builds. In response, we performed three studies on three different RAM materials.

Benefits & Challenges of Powder Recycling
Powder recycling is economically and environmentally beneficial, increasing the number of builds performed with the same feed stock. It also reduces material wasted per build. Powder processing also allows blending multiple components for production of materials like metal matrix composites (MMCs).

However, there are concerns about physical and chemical changes that may occur under processing conditions in L-PBF, along with components segregating during handling. The layer-by-layer L-PBF building process involves thermal cycling that can lead to loss in chemical composition [1]. Changes in particle morphology can lead to variances in mechanical behavior [2], while changes in particle size distribution can affect flowability and inhomogeneous powder distribution over the build platform [3].

Improper powder handling can expose powders to moisture, oxidizing particle surfaces and inducing impurities, altering the mechanical performance of a part [4]. Another concern is segregation during handling due to differences in powder component size and relative density [5-6].

Despite these concerns, many alloys retain chemistry, particle size, morphology, and mechanical properties after multiple builds with the same powder [2-3]. Powder processing provides improved homogeneity in multi-component materials (e.g. MMCs) compared to liquid processing, where dendritic solidification and agglomeration of added particles encourages segregation [7].

Our Materials: The RAM Advantage
Considering all these factors, we wanted to ensure our material provides the benefits of powder recycling while maintaining the quality we promise to customers. Using three different studies of our A6061-RAM2, A2024-RAM2, and IN625-RAM2 materials, respectively, we were able to confirm our materials stand up to the challenge. This powder processing technique also allows for larger, safer particle sizes for storing and handling that form the beneficial sub-micron reinforcements during the printing process.

Powder Segregation Study A6061-RAM2
We emulated a «worst-case scenario» to push the limits of our material: segregated particle constituents. Smaller, higher-density particles tend to settle to the bottom with time or movement [5-6]. For example, in a jar filled with material of varying sizes like sand, pebbles, and rocks, finer materials (sand) tends to settle to the bottom, while larger material (pebbles and rocks) stay in relatively the same place.

While our multicomponent powder mixtures aims to minimize this by using similar size matrix and additive particle sizes and relative densities, we wanted to ensure segregation does not occur through multiple handling cycles and builds. We took used powder from a build and sieved it 20 times consecutively with no re-blending. Powder was consistently fed into the sieve from the bottom of a collection bin to maximize component segregation (Figure 1).

We did two additional prints: one using the top of the final powder blend; and another using the bottom half of the powder in the bin. That was followed by tensile testing each part. The results (Figure 2) show consistent performance by our powder, even with handling that encourages component segregation.

Figure 1. Twenty sieving cycles maximized potential segregation of A6061-RAM2 powder (left), as well as the sources of powder feedstock for three different builds (right).

Consistent Particle Chemistry & Size Distribution in A2024-RAM2
With a development partner, we ensured maintenance of particle size and chemistry after multiple builds in an SLM 280 printer with a powder supply unit (PSV). After multiple builds using our A2024-RAM2 powder over five months and 70 sieving cycles without refreshing with new powder, our material had a similar particle size range as new powder and preserved chemistry that was in-spec (Figure 3). This confirmed our material achieves consistent strength and remains well-mixed, with the same particle characteristics as new powder.

Figure 2. Strength and elongation values of as-built tensile bars of A6061-RAM2 after initial build with new powder (labeled new powder) and two builds done with reused powder following 20 sieving cycles: one with powder taken from the top half and one with powder taken from the bottom half of the sieved powder. Results fall within Elementum 3D specifications for A6061-RAM2 and are within statistical variation for expected results. Each data point represents an average value for multiple specimens and error bars represent one standard deviation for that sample set.

Figure 3. Measured chemistry of A2024-RAM2 new powder versus the same powder after multiple uses over five months and 70 sieving cycles with no new powder refreshment.

Retaining Mechanical Performance in IN625-RAM2
Students at Colorado School of Mines (CSM) performed a study on our Inconel 625 nickel alloy with two percent ceramic reinforcements (IN625-RAM2). Evaluation was based on tensile properties of bars and impact energy of Charpy specimens printed with recycled powder.

Following the first build with new powder (labeled 0 in figures below), used powder was topped off with new powder to maintain 25 kg for each build. The mixture was tumbled for 10 minutes to ensure proper blending. This was done for each build for nine builds (eight reuses). Each was performed on an EOS M290 L-PBF printer at Elementum 3D.

The resulting tensile properties of bars taken from the first, second, and eighth reuse (second,third, and final builds) in Figures 4 and 5 show consistent strength values above 1,225 MPa for ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 850 MPa for yield strength (YS). Both are higher than those reported for wrought plate of the same material according to the manufacturer’s data sheet (827-1103 MPa for UTS and 414-758 MPa for YS) [8]. Charpy specimens were also found to have similar impact energy (Figure 6) up to the final (eighth) reuse. These results indicate resilience of our material over multiple builds, as well as our material and methods out-performing other manufacturing techniques.

Figure 4. Engineering stress vs. engineering strain curves for as-built IN 625 with 2 percent ceramic reinforcements (IN625-RAM2).

Figure 5. Ultimate tensile strength, 0.2 percent offset yield stress, and elongation values for as-built specimens after the initial build (0 reuses), 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th reuse (or 9th total build). These samples show consistent values in both strength values across multiple builds. Each data point represents an average value for multiple specimens and the error bars shown represent one standard deviation for that sample set

Figure 6. Impact energy values of as-printed Charpy specimens of IN625-RAM2 for initial build with new powder (denoted as 0); and builds using recycled powder through eight reuse cycles. Each data point represents an average value for multiple specimens. Error bars represent one standard deviation for each sample set.

Investing in a Sustainable Future
Each study explored and confirmed the quality and performance of our powder feedstock over multiple builds. The resulting consistency of mechanical properties and powder characteristics helped us assure customers of the resilience and reliability of our unique materials.

The reusability of our powder stems from the reactive powder design using micron-scale reactive powders to achieve sub-micron products that act as grain refiners. The similar size and relative density of these additions and our matrix alloy powder prevent segregation even after multiple cycles of powder handling and sieving.

The reactive process of our RAM material, with dissolution of our reactive additives in the melt and reprecipitation of the products as sub-micron inoculants, occurs during printing and encourages homogeneous distribution of constituents in the final product. These results help showcase the economic value and sustainability of our product, as well as our commitment to providing quality solutions. For additional information, contact: Anthony@elementum3d.com or Jacob@elementum3d.com.

References
[1] F. H. Froes, Additive manufacturing for aerospace applications-part I, Advanced Materials and Processes (July/August) (2017) 36-40.
[2] H. Asgari, C. Baxter, K. Hosseinkhani, M. Mohammadi, On microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured AlSi10Mg_200C using recycled powder, Materials Science and Engineering A 707 (2017) 148-158.
[3] L. C. Ardila, F. Garciandia, J. B. Gonzalez-Diaz, P. Alvarez, A. Echeverria, M.M. Petite, R. Deffley, J. Ochoa, Effect of IN718 recycled powder reuse on properties of parts manufactured by means of Selective Laser Melting, Physics Procedia 56 (2014) 99-107.
[4] A. Das, J. A. Muniz-Lerma, E. R. L. Espiritu, A. Nommeots-Nomm, K. Waters, M. Brochu, Contribution of cellulosic fibre filter on atmosphere moisture content in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, Scientific Reports 9 (2019).
[5] Z. Wang, M. Song, C. Sun, Y. He, Effects of particle size and distribution on the mechanical properties of SiC reinforced Al-Cu alloy composites, Materials Science and Engineering A 528 (2011) 1131-1137.
[6] M. J. Tan, X. Zhang, Powder metal matrix composites: selection and processing, Materials Science and Engineering A244 (1998) 80-85.
[7] S.F. Moustafa, Z. Abdel-Hamid, A.M. Abd-Elhay, Copper matrix SiC and Al2O3 particulate composites by powder metallurgy technique, Materials Letters 53 (2002) 244-249.
[8] Special Metals Corp., INCONEL alloy 625, Tech. rep. (2013). doi: SMC-066.

About Elementum 3D
Elementum 3D was founded by Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein in 2014. Elementum 3D’s mission is to significantly expand the selection of metals additive manufacturing materials by introducing advanced metal alloys, superalloys, and composites, optimized printing processes, performance data, and expert guidance that saves time and money and reduces AM frustration. Find more on Elementum 3D at elementum3d.com, and on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

 

SOURCE Elementum 3D

BALTIMORE, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) in hospitalized patients can lead to loss of consciousness, seizures, prolonged length of hospital stay, or even death. A researcher at the VA Maryland Health Care System, conducted the first investigational study of insulin-treated patients with Type 2 diabetes to see if the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices can prevent hypoglycemia in inpatients on medical units. Dr Ilias (Elias) Spanakis, a physician and researcher at the VA Maryland Heath Care System and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the study’s principle investigator, used continuous glucose monitoring devices in the first randomized two-year clinical trial that included 72 patients and found that this intervention reduced the number of hypoglycemic events inpatients suffered. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices in the hospital setting and this trial offers the first evidence of their efficacy. Study findings will be published in the forthcoming issue of peer-reviewed journal Diabetes Care in an article titled, «Reducing inpatient hypoglycemia in the general wards using real-time DEXCOM CGM – the Glucose Telemetry system: A randomized clinical trial.» The article is available at this link: https://care.diabetesjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.2337/dc20-0840

«Typically, glucose monitoring relies on point-of-care finger sticks which must happen frequently to prevent adverse events in patients with diabetes,» said Dr. Thomas J. Hornyak, associate chief of staff for Research and Development at the VA Maryland Heath Care System. «Dr. Spanakis’ study demonstrates that glucose levels can be monitored more frequently and efficiently. Also, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, use of the continuous glucose monitoring systems proved to be prescient, showing a decrease in hypoglycemia while also safeguarding health care providers caring for virus-positive patients with diabetes.»

In addition to Spanakis, an eight-member interdisciplinary team, which included Dr. Lakshmi G. Singh, Dr. Medha Satyarengga, Dr. Isabel Marcano, Dr. William H. Scott, Lillian F. Pinault, Zhaoyong Feng, Dr. John D. Sorkin, and Dr. Guillermo E. Umpierrez, sought to explore ways to reduce hypoglycemia and increase patient safety. The purpose of the trial was to explore if continuous glucose monitoring devices combined with a simplified hypoglycemia prevention protocol could reduce hypoglycemic events in patients predisposed to such. For the study, the patients were divided into two groups, 36 monitored remotely with continuous glucose monitoring devices and 36 monitored via traditional point-of-care finger stick testing; patients in the continuous glucose monitoring group experienced fewer episodes of hypoglycemia, a condition leading to seizures, comas, arrhythmias, increased lengths of hospital stays, and death.

«Studies have indicated that insulin use in hospitalized patients with diabetes predisposes them to hypoglycemia, a condition that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Preventing hypoglycemia requires intensive glucose monitoring. Frequent point-of-care finger sticks with a goal to monitor closely glucose levels is not easy as this approach may be painful and surveillance of these patients in a busy hospital environment may increase nursing workload,» Spanakis said.

The continuous glucose monitoring devices check glucose levels every five minutes and transmit the results to a centralized monitoring device (i.e. tablet) at the nurses’ station, where alerts would sound when a patient’s glucose levels started to decrease and approach dangerous levels. Nurses responding to alerts, could then take corrective actions, preventing a hypoglycemic event. Although not tested in COVID-19 subjects, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, an unexpected benefit of using these devices included the monitoring of glucose levels of COVID-19 positive patients remotely while safeguarding health care providers by eliminating entry to patients’ rooms for obtaining point-of-care finger stick glucose testing.

Diabetes Care is the official journal of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) ranking fourth in its impact in the areas of endocrinology and metabolism for the health care practitioner intended to increase knowledge, stimulate research, and promote better management of people with diabetes. Diabetes Care publishes original research on human studies in the following categories: Clinical Care/Education/Nutrition, Psychosocial Research,

Epidemiology/Health Services Research, Emerging Treatments and Technologies, Pathophysiology/Complications, and Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk. The journal also publishes ADA statements, consensus reports, clinically relevant review articles, letters to the editor, and health/medical news or points of view. Topics covered are of interest to clinically oriented physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, psychologists, diabetes educators, and other health professionals.

MEDIA NOTE: To interview Dr. Ilias (Elias) Spanakis contact Rosalia Scalia at Rosalia.scalia@va.gov, or by calling 410-736-8444.

The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at three medical centers and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans’ health care, research and education. It costs nothing for veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a veteran can do. To enroll for VA health care, interested veterans can call 877-222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or they can visit http://www.va.gov and clinic on «Apply now for VA health care.»

 

SOURCE VA Maryland Health Care System

BALTIMORE, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 250,000 Americans have investigated moving to New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Herald. In June, for instance, searches were up 160% compared to June 2019.

International Living reports that its «How to Move Out of the U.S.» page has seen a surge of 504.97% in traffic since the end of May 2020.

Firms that help clients get second passports say they’re seeing a significant uptick in interest in their services.

Clearly, Americans are looking at ways to escape.

Some are frustrated with the current political climate in the U.S.. Others want to go where the public-health situation seems more sound. Still others are worried about the dwindling attractiveness of the U.S. passport and curious about how they can gain more travel flexibility through dual citizenship.

With job losses into the millions, some folks are looking for places where they can lower their cost of living. For others, new «remote working» flexibility has them thinking that if they can work from home, home might as well be at a beach. In the right spots overseas, that beach can prove remarkably affordable.

«English-speaking New Zealand, which has been in the news lately for its positive handling of the pandemic, seems an obvious place to start,» says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, International Living. «However—it’s relatively expensive, far away, and has very strict and hard-to-satisfy immigration rules.

«Other options can make more sense—places that are closer, lower cost, and have easier-to-meet visa requirements—but which are also friendly, safe, welcoming locales where it’s pretty easy to settle in as an expat.

«In a place like Costa Rica, for instance, lots of people speak English as it’s taught in the schools from a young age, well-established expat communities make settling in easy, your dollars really stretch (a budget from as low as $1,500 can bankroll a comfortable life for a couple), and three good visa options make it relatively easy to gain residence there.»

International Living’s editors have highlighted countries that make good sense to consider from the perspective of value and ease of settling in: Costa Rica, Belize, Ireland, Uruguay, and Portugal.

Costa Rica

A perennial front-runner in International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index, Costa Rica’s political stability and low-key profile are proving to be increasingly strong draws for expats.

Of course, there’s no lack of drama in Costa Rica’s landscape—you’ve got jaw-dropping expanses of coast, jungles rich with everything from spider monkeys and sloths to scarlet macaws and quetzals, gorgeous lakes and volcanic valleys.

Although just the size of West Virginia, the country has two major international airports, typically with daily flights on every North American airline from major gateway cities. With that ease of travel, it is convenient to get back home for special occasions or easily receive visitors.

Ticos (the moniker Costa Ricans give themselves) have established one of the world’s most stable democracies. The country dissolved its standing army in 1949 and the reallocated funds are spent on education, healthcare, and pensions instead of the military.

«I had the travel bug from an early age, from studying overseas to extended vacations with my family, and I really wanted to embrace a new culture,» says Kathleen Evans, IL Costa Rica Correspondent who moved to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. «My husband, Steve, and I, read International Living magazine diligently, and whenever we traveled, we checked out the various countries it mentioned.

«We made a list of criteria about what’s important to us and what we want our new home country to be like—I wanted to hear and see the ocean every day, I never wanted to wear a coat again and we also wanted a country with a stable democracy and an educated population close to home in the U.S. Over time, checking various countries, we kept coming back to Costa Rica and we realized that it checked every possible box for us.»

English is taught in schools in Costa Rica from a young age, so while it’s helpful to know Spanish, lots of expats get by on just the basics, as most locals speak some English—and in tourist towns, there’s a lot spoken. With plenty of well-established expat communities, Costa Rica is a relatively easy place for Americans to settle in.

Tourists can stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa, and longer stays are easy enough to arrange. If you plan to live in Costa Rica long term it is best to seek residence—The Pensionado Program and The Rentista Program are more popular visa options.

A couple a can live well in Costa Rica’s cooler-weather Central Valley in a town like Atenas, for instance, from $1,518 a month.

Belize

Recent figures release but the International Living data-analytics team reveal the company seeing a monstrous 798.01% increase in traffic to its «Move to Belize» page since May 2020.

There are good reasons for the growth of the retirement haven’s popularity, one being is its language. As a British Commonwealth country, English is the primary language, making it easy for expats to transition. In fact, Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its main language, and that goes for its islands, too.

And it may come as a surprise, but moving to Belize is easy—U.S. currency is accepted, credit cards are widely used, and well-known U.S. brands are available too; they’re expensive, but substitutes are easy to find.

Belize is a barefoot nirvana. It’s hard to put its charm into words, but the best description might include the phrase «rustic paradise.»

From its secluded beaches to its steamy rain forests, Belize is a country of diverse natural beauty. Its slow pace of life makes it a popular tourist destination, and the cost of living remains low. For the more adventurous traveler, activities can include a trek into the jungle in search of Maya ruins, spotting parrots, toucans, and maybe even a jaguar along the way.

Laura Diffendal, IL Belize Correspondent, moved to Belize in 2014 from Cleveland, Ohio. «The Belizean culture, I found, is somewhat like the Midwest culture that I came from,» she says.

«There’s a lot of value placed on hard work, modesty, grit, resilience, and leaving things better than you found it. I spend most of my time right now on the island of Ambergris Caye, which is known as the very fun, energetic Jimmy Buffett Island. And I also spend time in Placencia which is sort of a quieter, bohemian place, much calmer and much less crowded, a lot more like tranquil, open beaches.»

Belize requires visitors to have sufficient funds to support themselves, a return ticket, and a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival. As a citizen of the U.S. or Canada you can stay in Belize for up to one month without a visa. If you want to stay longer you’ll need to go to the Immigration office for an updated visitor’s permit or tourist stamp. If you can show proof of long-term renting or other documents showing why you are staying in the country, you can be granted a 60 day or a 90 day permit.

Many expats apply for permanent residence in Belize. The primary reason is that as a resident you can work in Belize without needing a work permit. Having your residence also makes it easy to travel in and out of the country.

You must live in Belize for 50 consecutive weeks before you can apply for permanent residence. To do this, enter the country on a tourist visa and then renew your visa every 30 days until you reach 50 weeks. At that point, you can submit your application for permanent residence. It can take a few years to receive approval and your residence card.

A couple living and renting on Ambergris Caye can live well on a monthly budget from $2,875.

Ireland

The island of Ireland sits in the north Atlantic Ocean. Even if you have no familial ties to Ireland, you’ve likely heard plenty about what this small island nation has to offer: the stunning beauty of its dramatic coastlines, crumbling castles…a rich culture of music, dance, and literature…and warm, witty, friendly people.

The whole nation—but particularly the countryside—takes a small-town approach to life. Everyone in Ireland speaks English (even in the few Irish-speaking areas). The Irish are friendly, hospitable people. It may be a cliché, but it’s true—the literal translation of «hello» in Irish is «a hundred thousand welcomes to you.»

Living here, you don’t have to make a hard choice between seascapes and mountains, between tranquil lake lands or verdant river valleys. Ireland has them all.

Ireland is small. In most towns and villages, you’re never too far from the ocean, from golden beaches swept clean by rolling Atlantic waves, the views of mysterious smaller islands shimmering offshore, and quaint harbor towns with their hand-painted shop fronts and color-washed cottages.

And Ireland is a key player for folks who want to explore Europe, thanks to the island being outside the Schengen Zone. That means that a trip to the Emerald Isle (or another country outside the Schengen Zone, such as Cyprus or Croatia) for under 90 days, stops the clock on their EU tourist visa—allowing travelers to pick up where they left off when they return to the Zone.

On a monthly budget of $2,762 to $2,806 a couple can enjoy a coastal retirement in a community like Waterford.

Uruguay

Uruguay is a small country on the east coast of South America. It is also among the top countries in the region when it comes to infrastructure. Here, you’ll find the best overall road system, the most reliable electrical grid, and one of the fastest overall internet speeds in Latin America. You’ll also find quality medical care, safe drinking water, and good public transportation.

The country’s interior is part of the South American Pampas used for cattle grazing and farming. On Uruguay’s coast, you find beautiful sand beaches popular with vacationers. Most expats are attracted to Uruguay for its tranquilo (calm) lifestyle—a healthy, stress-free approach to living.

Even though Uruguay is a small country, it offers a variety of lifestyle options. Choose among places like Punta del Este, the continent’s most sophisticated beach resort; La Paloma, a small beach town on the Atlantic coast; a small farm or rural town in Uruguay’s countryside or Montevideo, the capital city with an active cultural scene.

Montevideo, a coastal city on the Rio de la Plata, is a place where the traditional and the modern weave together to form a sophisticated European-style regime. It is one of the most diverse and sophisticated cities in South America. From its Old World theaters and opera houses, to its jazz festivals and exquisite restaurants, Montevideo looks and feels like modern Europe.

The city has many large parks, plazas, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches, and wide avenues. The «rambla»—the promenade that runs the full length of Montevideo’s seven-mile coastline—provides a long-paved strip ideal for walking, running, and bicycling.

«The people in Montevideo take their leisure fishing from the rambla, chatting with friends in plazas and cafés, and browsing in outdoor markets,» says David Hammond, IL Uruguay Correspondent. «The Uruguayan people are generally calm, laidback and tend to show patience, which adds to the relaxed feeling of the country.»

You can stay in the country for 90 days at a time as often as you like. And for a small fee, a tourist visa can often be renewed, for stays of 180 days at a time. However, if you are thinking longer-term, becoming a permanent resident enables you to live in Uruguay full time, make Uruguay your home country, get a job, or start a business in Uruguay. One of the benefits of Uruguay residency is the ability to import your home furnishings and household goods duty free during the residency approval process.

Two people can live in Montevideo on $3,200 a month, renting a one-bedroom, furnished apartment in Pocitos, the most popular expat neighborhood in the city.

Portugal

«Safety, quality affordable healthcare, a relaxing lifestyle, a rich history and culture, savory cuisine, geographic diversity—you’ll discover all these elements in Portugal—on about a third of your current budget,» says expat Tricia Pimental. «I know. It’s where I’ve spent the past seven years and I love it.

«Portugal offers so much to retirees. Expats typically find their expenses in Portugal run about one-third of what they were in the States. Even with a fluctuating exchange rate, we still live a comfortable, although not extravagant, lifestyle for about $2,500 a month,» Tricia says. «If you choose to live in Porto in the north, Lisbon, or in the expat havens of Cascais or the Algarve, you probably want to bump that up to $3,000.

«Rental and housing markets offer fairly diverse options. Naturally it is more expensive in prime areas like Lisbon and its environs and in the southern region of the Algarve. But by simply searching within 20 minutes of a specific town, you can find a gem that fits your budget,» says Tricia. «If you’re looking for land and a ‘get away from it all’ lifestyle, there are plenty of opportunities to invest and enjoy the breathtaking countryside Portugal is famous for.»

As a retirement destination, Portugal is simply fantastic—but it is also a top destination for digital nomads.

«Since the late 2000’s, Portugal has been implementing a plan to develop a preeminent, state-of-the-art infrastructure,» says Tricia. «That’s evidenced by one of the highest per capita fiber optic networks in Europe, and also what is arguably the most modern highway system, per mile driven, in all of Europe. The speed of this development has attracted international high-tech firms, even luring the Web Summit a few years ago from its home in Ireland to a ten-year contract in Lisbon.»

A visa is not required for tourist visits to Portugal for a period of up to 90 days for U.S. and Canadian citizens. However, note that your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry into Portugal. If you wish to stay in Portugal for longer than the tourist limit of 90 days out of every 180 days, then you should look into getting a residence visa. There are several types of visas available, including visas for students, the self-employed, and investors. Portugal also offers a so-called Golden Visa for high net-worth individuals.

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About International Living

Since 1979, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has contributors traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.

 

SOURCE InternationalLiving.com

ELKHART, Ind., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Mennonite Church USA — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), a historic peace church that actively practices biblically-based peace, justice and nonresistance, has issued a call to white people to engage in anti-racism work in the United States and across the world. In an open letter to the denomination, Michael Danner, MC USA’s associate executive director of Church Vitality, invites his fellow white Christians to «engage in proactive, deliberate efforts to oppose and dismantle racism in all of its forms.»

Danner’s letter examines Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation across racial division as central to the work of being God’s people – and separate from political agendas and «popular notions of social justice.» Acknowledging that anti-racism work must occur on an individual and systemic basis, Danner urges white people to specifically take responsibility for examining their own biases, learning to recognize systemic racism and working as people of faith to ensure racial justice.

«Our denomination’s position against racism isn’t new,» said Glen Guyton, MC USA’s first African American executive director and one of its anti-racism trainers. «As a denomination, country and global community, we must move beyond making statements to long-term actions that yield positive results.»

Danner’s letter is a follow up to the denomination’s webinar series, Race, Church & Change. Led by a diverse team of church leaders and centering the voices of people of color, the series addressed questions, including «What role does racial healing and reconciliation play in being anti-racist?» «How do we begin a conversation about white supremacy?» and «What would it look like for congregations to practice racial reparations?»

MC USA also launched an anti-racism resource section within its new website today. The resource portal is designed to meet people where they are in their anti-racism journey.

Danner’s letter joins the voices of other Mennonites who are contributing to an ongoing blog series on the denomination’s website on what it means to do the work of anti-racism, recognize injustice and protest against it.

The denomination also recently launched a Justice Fund to «provide a way for individuals and congregations to support MC USA churches that are actively involved in dismantling racism, addressing police brutality, reimagining policing in our society or combating poverty.»

Mennonite Church USA is the largest Mennonite denomination in the United States with 16 conferences, approximately 530 congregations and 62,000 members.

Editorial Contact: Wil LaVeist, Chief Communication Officer, Mennonite Church USA, WilL@MennoniteMission.net, (574) 523-3077

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mennonite-church-usa-calls-white-people-to-engage-in-anti-racism-work-301106719.html

SOURCE Mennonite Church USA