HARMAN Professional Solutions delighted scores of music fans in India with yet another successful edition of HARMAN Live Arena at The Palm Expo- country’s foremost exhibition of Professional Audio Products. A roster of incredible musicians rocked the...

SXSW, one of the most popular conferences for film, culture, music and technology, has opened its PanelPicker voting platform again this year to choose sessions for its 2020 conference—and we need your votes by August 23!

Women's Equality Day began in 1920, as a celebration in the United States of the momentous adoption of the 19th amendment, which allowed women to vote. Although women have made tremendous progress in their fight for equality, there is still a lot of work...

From heart-thumping basslines to face-melting guitar solos, the new JBL Link Portable and Link Music have arrived. With 360 JBL Signature Sound, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Chromecast and Google Assistant built-in, they’ve got brains to match their beauty.

360° JBL sound. Vibrant lightshow. JBL’s Pulse 4 is here; party time or chill, you create the mood. From living room to beach party (and everything in between), the new JBL Pulse 4 provides incredible sound, with visuals to match.

Live free from wires with the brand new JBL LIVE 300TWS. Truly wireless, seamlessly connected and beautifully designed, the JBL LIVE 300TWS lets you unleash your sound, anytime, everywhere. Equipped with powerful drivers, they deliver enhanced bass to make your playlist pop.

Slimmer, punchier bass and more immersive sound; JBL has taken home entertainment to the next level. With three brand new products launching today at IFA including a compact, all-in-one solution, a deep bass beauty and a surround-sound room-filler, there is something for everyone in JBL’s new soundbar range.

We’re thrilled to announce that HARMAN’s QLED Auto solution has been recognized in the User Experience category in Fast Company’s 2019 Innovation by Design Awards.

Palo Alto, CA – Aha™ by HARMAN today announced that the new 2014 Mazda3 to be launched in Japan, the United States, and a number of additional North American and Asian Countries this fall will offer access to the Aha free service with the ability to select presets from more than 40,000* audio and information stations from Japan and other countries.

AUTO CHINA 2014, BEIJING -- Harman International Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HAR), the global premium audio and infotainment group, said today that it will open a new global research and development center in Suzhou, China in mid 2015, initially adding about 100 new employees at the site. Construction of the new 10,000 sq. m. (100,000 sq. ft.) facility will begin in June. The announcement was made during the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

AUTO CHINA 2014, BEIJING -- Harman International Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HAR), the premium global audio and infotainment group, announced today it has entered into an agreement with China’s Tsinghua University to establish a new joint research laboratory focused on creating disruptive innovations for future vehicles.

With its highly strategic and importance place in the world, China is a critical market for international expansion for a wide range of global businesses including those in the automotive space. HARMAN is dedicated to expanding its footprint in the ...

It’s the best of both worlds – matching the thrill of the open road on two wheels with the ultimate in convenience, connectivity and entertainment at your fingertips. HARMAN is pleased to work with Yamaha to help perfect this blend with the introduction...

In a highly competitive market for premium consumer electronics, quality, reputation and customer satisfaction are crucial to public safety and building trust and loyalty. Due to the...

Music has the ability to uplift, refresh, and redefine our lives. As Elton John once said, “Music has healing power,” so it’s no surprise that concert ticket sales in North America amounted to $8 billion in 2017. Not only does attending a musical ...

From Northridge, California to Garching, Germany and everywhere in between, HARMAN has been recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of women in recognition of International Women’s Day. Inspired by the campaign’s theme of #BalanceforBetter, the...

Health workers face a growing tide of hostility in Brazil for potentially spreading COVID-19.

A mother who was given a 50 percent survival chance and her newborn baby were discharged from hospital on Monday (May 4) after both fighting COVID-19.

A European coalition is forming around an approach to using smartphone technology to trace coronavirus infections which, it's hoped, will enable borders to reopen. Joe Davies reports.

A series of studies of the genomes of thousands of samples of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 show that it is mutating and evolving as it adapts to its human hosts. Soraya Ali reports.

The White House shelved a step-by-step guide prepared by U.S. health officials to help states safely reopen mass transit and businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic, an administration official said on Thursday. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

Tara Reade, the woman who alleges Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993, said in a video interview on Thursday that he should withdraw from the White House race. Gloria Tso reports.

The sting of the Asian giant hornet can kill and that's not just an expression of speech. Since their discovery in 2019 in the US, traps have been set to see if Asian giant "murder hornets" have settled in the state. Libby Hogan has more.

Priest Don Giuseppe Castelvecchio hasn't been able to conduct services in his San Fiorano church for two months. In the town where restrictions are easing, his sermons delivered from a loud speaker in a car are a welcome relief. Joe Davies reports.

Rival lawmakers scuffled in Hong Kong's legislature on Friday in a row over electing the chairman of a key committee, a fresh sign of rising political tension as the coronavirus pandemic tapers off in the Chinese-ruled city. Francesca Lynagh reports.

Australia will ease social distancing restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus in a three-step process, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, with the aim of removing all curbs by July. Lauren Anthony reports.

Syria's government allowed mosques to open on Friday for worshipers willing to perform prayers. The mosque had remained closed as part of the measures taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Britons stood in silence and Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation on Friday's 75th anniversary of "Victory in Europe" Day, though the coronavirus dampened commemorations for the end of World War Two on the continent. Lauren Anthony reports.

Across Africa, centuries-old cultural traditions are being foregone in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen governments impose restrictions on gatherings and other practices around death and burial. Francesca Lynagh reports.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth honored those who died in World War Two on Friday, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, and used the occasion to say she was proud of how people had responded to the coronavirus pandemic.

A campaign in Mexico City to get residents to wear face masks is now reinforced with a new secret weapon: clowns. They're telling metro riders, 'Wear a face mask -- don't be a clown!' as they spray riders' hands with disinfectant. Gavino Garay has more.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, the wife of one of President Donald Trump's senior advisors, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the second White House staffer to be diagnosed with the illness. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

Stone by stone, digital artists and game developers from Mosul are rebuilding Nineveh's heritage sites in the digital world. Francis Maguire reports.

The grunts, groans and the sound of pulsing music and crashing weights has returned to some of Beijing's gyms after being closed for nearly three months due to the coronavirus outbreak. Ciara Lee reports.

Russia marked 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Saturday, but the coronavirus outbreak forced it to scale back celebrations. Olivia Chan reports.

Police in India's western Aurangabad district have returned the bodies of 16 migrants killed by a train on Friday, to their home towns. Ciara Lee reports

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current requirements for initial licensure and entry into the dental hygiene profession across state dental and dental hygiene licensing boards in the United States.Methods: A non-experimental study design was used to study dental and dental hygiene board licensing requirements in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each regulatory board website was searched for requirements for entry-level dental hygiene licensure. Requirements were recorded on an Excel spreadsheet. State dental practice acts were reviewed to gather further information and 20 regulatory bodies were contacted to verify accuracy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data.Results: Information from a total of 52 dental boards (n=52) was examined for this study. Nearly all boards (n=51, 98.1%), with the exception of Alabama, required completion of entry-level education from a CODA accredited dental hygiene program and successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Most states (n=51, 98.1%), except Delaware, also required a live-patient, a clinical board examination. Application fees ranged from $47.70 to $600. States varied considerably in terms of requirements for background checks, age, military status, and infection control training.Conclusion: Although the majority of regulatory bodies require completion of entry-level dental hygiene education from a CODA accredited program and successful completion of national board and a live-patient, clinical examination, there is considerable variation in other additional requirements for initial dental hygiene licensure.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine strength of muscles involved with instrumentation (scaling) by dental hygienists and the additive effects of cellular (mobile) phone usage, as indicated by measurements of muscular force generation.Methods: A convenience sample of licensed dental hygienists currently in clinical practice (n=16) and an equal number of individuals not currently using devices/tools repetitively for work (n=16), agreed to participate in this pilot study. All participants completed a modified cell phone usage questionnaire to determine their use pattern and frequency. Upon completion of the questionnaire, participants' force production in six muscle groups was measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 16 licensed dental hygienists (n=16) and 16 participants with no history of using tools/devices repetitively for work (n=16), comprised the experimental and control groups, repectively. The control group generated greater muscle force than the experimental group for the abductor pollicis longus (p=0.045). Significant differences were identified when comparing the low mobile phone users in the experimental group to the control group for the flexor pollicis brevis (p=0.031), abductor pollicis longus (p=0.031), and flexor digitorum (p=0.006), with the control group demonstrating higher muscle force. Years in clinical practice and mobile phone use was shown to have a significant effect on muscular force generation for the flexor pollicis brevis (F=3.645, df=3, p=0.020) and flexor digitorum (F=3.560, df=3, p=0.022); subjects who practiced dental hygiene the longest produced the least amount of muscle force.Conclusion: Results from this pilot study indicate there are no significant additive effects of cell phone use and dental hygiene practice on finger muscles used for instrumentation. However, results indicate that dental hygiene practice demonstrated significant effects on muscular strength as compared to individuals who do not use tools/devices repetitively for work. The small sample size may have impacted results and the study should be repeated with a larger sample.

Purpose: Untreated and poorly controlled diabetes causes increased levels of blood glucose associated with poor periodontal disease outcomes. Dental hygienists can play a significant role in screening patients for diabetes mellitus, leading to referral and early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers faced by clinical dental hygienists regarding diabetes risk assessment and screenings.Methods: A mixed method design was used with a convenience sample of dental hygienists in clinical practice (n=316). A 32 item, electronic survey was validated at item-level, and participants were recruited through multiple dental hygiene Facebook groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The survey also included two open-ended attitude questions that were interpreted using thematic analysis to pinpoint common patterns within the data.Results: Dental hygienists had high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, although many were unaware of their states' specific statutes and regulations for screening practices. Nearly all (95.9%), were likely to educate and refer patients (82%), although fewer than half (40.9%), were likely to perform chairside screening for diabetes. Emergent themes for barriers to screening were time, money, patient acceptance/willingness, lack of education, not having the proper tools, and states' rules and regulations.Conclusion: Despite high knowledge scores regarding diabetes and oral health, there is a gap in regards to dental hygienists' willingness to perform diabetes screenings in a clinical setting. Dental hygienists should be capable of integrating chairside diabetes screening practices into the process of care with proper training.

Purpose: Measurement of dental plaque is frequently used as an indicator of overall oral health. The purpose of this study was to compare a manual (visual) plaque scoring system (University of Mississippi Oral Hygiene Index, UM-OHI) with an innovative automated digital scoring system.Methods: Mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit (ICU) patients (n=79) were the study population. Informed consent was given by the subject's legally authorized representative. Digital images of dental plaque were taken using an intraoral camera; and the quantity of dental plaque was scored using the UM-OHI and with a digitized automated scoring system. Distributions of dental plaque scores from both methods were plotted. Pearson correlation coefficients and intra-class coefficients were calculated between the two methods.Results: Participant mean age was 57.3 years; respiratory failure was the most prevalent admission diagnosis (55.7%). The mean percentage of dental plaque calculated by the manual method was found to be remarkably higher (67.3% ± 18.7%) than the percentage of dental plaque calculated by the automated scoring method (23.7% ± 15.2%) (p<0.0001). Despite remarkably different distributions of plaque scores, both the automated and manual scoring systems demostrated relatively high correlation (r=0.62) and good reliability (ICC=0.63).Conclusion: The automated digital scoring system resulted in a significantly lower overall percentage of total dental plaque as compared to the UM-OHI manual scoring system. While the automated digital scoring system may be more precise than a manual (visual) scoring system, its use should be weighed against the added effort, cost, and expertise required for the method. Further study is needed to determine whether an automated digital scoring system can be commercialized and is warranted for use outside of research settings.

Purpose: Oral and craniofacial conditions or diseases can impact an individual's health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children, and evaluate the reported level of agreement between caregivers and their children.Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit children ages 8-15, and their caregivers from a dental clinic in a pediatric hospital for this descriptive, cross-sectional study. A modified version of a validated measure, Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form (COHIP-SF), was used for a 22-item questionnaire encompassing three subscales: oral health, functional well-being, and social emotional well-being. Two additional items were included to assess child/caregiver's level of agreement. A dental chart review was also conducted to assess the child's overbite, overjet, and decayed surfaces. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and examined for assumptions of normality and linearity.Results: Sixty child/caregiver pairs (n=120) participated in this study. Overbite, overjet and decayed surfaces were not found to be related to any OHRQoL variable, including child/caregiver ratings and overall agreement (p>.05). Average OHRQoL scores for caregivers found to be more positive those of their children (p=.02). Agreement between caregivers and the child's gender was shown to be significant (p=.01). Female child scores differed significantly from males with respect to their caregiver responses (p=.02). Caregivers rated a higher OHRQoL for female children, thus overestimating their female child's reported OHRQoL.Conclusions: The moderate level of agreement found between children and caregivers reinforces the importance of including the child, as well as the caregiver, when assessing OHRQoL.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze associations between the oral health literacy of refugees and two oral health outcomes: dental care utilization and oral health self-efficacy.Methods: A convenience sample of refugees in the greater Los Angeles area attending English as a second language (ESL) classes sponsored by two refugee assistance organizations was used for this cross-sectional, correlational study. Participants responded to a questionnaire using items from the Health Literacy in Dentistry (HeLD) scale, in addition to items concerning dental care utilization and oral health self-efficacy. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests were used to analyze results.Results: Sixty-two refugees volunteered to participate (n=62). A majority of the respondents were female from Iraq or Syria, and selected the item “with little difficulty” for all oral health literacy tasks. In regards to dental care utilization, more than half of the respondents were considered high utilizers (63%, n=34) meaning they had visited a dental office within the last year; while a little more than one-third (37%, n=20), were low utilizers, indicating they had either never been to a dental office or it had been more than one year since they had dental treatment. Statistical analysis showed associations between oral health literacy and dental care utilization. However, few associations between oral health literacy and oral health self-efficacy were identified (p=0.0045).Conclusions: Results support the provision of easily obtainable and understandable oral health information to increase oral health literacy and dental care utilization among refugee populations. Future research is needed to examine the oral health literacy among refugees resettling in the United States.

To the Editor—Bourbon virus (Thogotovirus, Orthomyxoviridae) was discovered in 2014 when a patient with history of multiple tick bites in Kansas died from an unknown infection [1]. Human infections from Bourbon virus have now been recognized in several states (i.e., Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri). The virus was detected in collections of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) in Missouri [2]. A serosurvey of domestic and wild mammals in Missouri noted the presence of Bourbon virus-neutralizing antibodies in serum samples collected from a variety of species, but most frequently in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and raccoon (Procyon lotor) [3]. We report here that neutralizing antibodies against Bourbon virus were detected in white-tailed deer in North Carolina, suggesting that the virus is present in the state. We screened 32 white-tailed deer for the presence of Bourbon virus-specific neutralizing antibodies. Of 20 plasma samples that reacted with the virus, 18 were confirmed with neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 10 to ≥ 320 for a seroprevalence rate of 56% (95% confidence interval 39%–72%). The seropositive samples were from deer killed during the 2014 hunting season from Stanly and New Hanover counties.

The incidence of Bourbon virus infection in humans in North Carolina is unknown. However, given the abundance of the lone star tick in the state, and the notable proportion of deer with evidence of infection, human infections have likely gone unnoticed or possibly misdiagnosed. Human infection with Bourbon virus results in a nonspecific viral syndrome that includes fever, nausea, diarrhea, myalgia (muscle pain), arthralgia...

To the Editor—The North Carolina Medical Board and North Carolina Medical Society have concerns regarding the Correspondence To the Editor in the March/April 2019 issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal titled, "Aid in Dying in North Carolina" [1]. Although we recognize the beliefs shared by the individual authors were not intended to be conclusive guidance regarding the status of aid in dying (AID) in North Carolina, we feel compelled to respond with a few clarifying notes.

The authors of the correspondence opine: "In light of the legal analysis of North Carolina law, we feel confident that AID can be provided to patients who request it" and that "physicians can provide AID ... without risk of a viable criminal or disciplinary action" [1].

In all matters of medical practice, including end-of-life matters, physicians and physician assistants must meet the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice and the ethics of the medical profession. If the Medical Board receives a complaint related to AID, it will evaluate the complaint and determine, utilizing expert consultants, whether the physician engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined by the North Carolina Medical Practice Act.

Further, disagreement exists within the medical community regarding the role of clinicians in medical AID. In one national survey, there was no consensus about the acceptability of AID among physicians and other health care professionals caring for older adults [2]. Respondents also expressed concerns about AID applied to vulnerable populations, including those with low health literacy, low English proficiency, disability, dependency,...

To the Editor—A 30-day injectable form of buprenorphine branded as SublocadeTM (Buprenorphine XR SQ) was approved by the FDA in 2017. This medication is administered by a health care professional subcutaneously in the abdomen to treat opioid use disorder. This long-acting delivery system holds great promise for many patients who have barriers to taking daily transmucosal buprenorphine-containing medications such as those with poor adherence to a daily medication. It is beneficial for those who have difficulty safely storing their medications, including patients who have children in the home, unstable housing, or live with others who have a use disorder. This product is also an option for patients who prefer mono-product buprenorphine. As Buprenorphine XR SQ is administered directly by a health care professional, it does not contain the abuse-deterrent naloxone that some patients feel causes side effects.

There are two ways to acquire Buprenorphine XR SQ: 1) order product from the distributor (buy and bill); or 2) dispensed from a specialty pharmacy for a specific patient (specialty pharmacy) [1]. For the buy and bill option, the health care setting must be certified through the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program and adhere to dispensing regulations [2]. We found this challenging to implement in the outpatient setting, thus we pursued the specialty pharmacy option. It ultimately took us nearly one year to complete the process.

The following are the barriers we faced with our first attempt. As a controlled substance, the medication must be stored in a refrigerated lockbox. Before...

The conversation about how we create and maintain health has evolved. We have now clearly expanded our thinking beyond an exclusive focus on traditional medical care, and philanthropy can play an important role

To better the health of all North Carolinians, policymakers must come together to improve access to care, expand broadband, and close the coverage gap.

With rising costs and below-average outcomes, North Carolina's health care value proposition is upside down. It's time for employers to lead transformative change.