We talk with Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack about the efforts to fight human trafficking. https://x.com/PAcatholic/status/1732753579746685324?s=20   https://x.com/PAcatholic/status/1732765713054470239?s=20   https://x.com/PAcatholic/status/1732766219596435926?s=20   https://x.com/PAcatholic/status/1732775470393889221?s=20 Facebook ? Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/hieNMkimGABgrjaS/?mibextid=d6eG65   ? Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/5pnu4uYDr4DXCvJc/?mibextid=d6eG65   ? Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/qH2GGUt8zv8SKdX3/?mibextid=d6eG65        

Two years ago we spent time talking about the issues facing mothers and children during our nine-month series on Maternal & Early Childhood Issues. Part of that focus was on the work done by doulas, particularly by Amy Wilt and her group at Dauphin County Doulas. Since then, doulas have received a lot of attention across Pennsylvania, with lawmakers in Harrisburg taking the lead on working to increase the access to doulas and their coverage by insurance. Doula services are now covered under Medical Assistance after changes by the Shapiro Administration. In order to be recognized by Medicaid, doulas must be certified through the Pennsylvania Certification Board. Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Department of Health Acting Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen recently stressed the importance of doulas as part of care teams for historically underserved populations. With this in mind, we talked once again with Amy Wilt to see what she though of the increased awareness. “I’m so happy about that. That’s great movement,” she said. “Even two years ago when we first spoke, we weren’t recognized as a profession. Nobody talked about us. Nobody knew what we did….There’s a lot more who are learning about us, which is fabulous. “I’ve seen this huge shift, with late-in-pregnancy moms–‘oh I just learned what a doula is and I really need you on board.’ We’re filled up until August and September is my first opening.” But there is still progress to be made. Wilt says she is grateful for the increase in insurance coverage. But she would like to see the coverage give doulas more up-front coverage to ensure client commitment. “I’m not allowed to charge you a deposit to hold your spot. I’m not allowed to charge you anything,” Wilt said, referring to the restrictions involved with the current form of insurance coverage. “That then causes a problem because I don’t know that you are going to call me for your birth. They need to take a look at that. ” Wilt says she has found that moms without a financial commitment, like a deposit, are less likely to call for the birth. “If they don’t call for the birth, then we lose a significant amount of money. We’re just getting paid for a pre-natal visit.” And they have difficulty knowing whether or not to reserve time for moms in the months ahead. Wilt says it will end up hurting the doula industry if things don’t change.  

In January Brian Lynch founded the South Central PA Chapter of the Young Catholic Professionals. We talked with Brian about the group. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/kwRbNff8kzdAxMAv/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/8NpLfyUb7crA35JB/?mibextid=WC7FNe https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7twzgWxPv2LaUsab/?mibextid=WC7FNe  

Time for an update on doulas, a topic we addressed last year in our 9-month long series on Maternal & Early Childhood Issues. Today we talk again with our doula expert Amy Wilt and check on legislation that has been proposed in Harrisburg to have insurance cover doula services. pic.twitter.com/Cbmwbnb9FG — PAcatholic (@PAcatholic) August 8, 2023

Professor Zhu Feida The global personal data economy is growing faster than anyone could have imagined. The current business model for data is broken – for individual users and businesses alike. On one hand, users don not have enough control over their own data, such as what data is collected and how the data is used. That challenges their privacy. Users are also not fairly rewarded for their data. On the other hand, while most businesses see the value of customer data, the data they have is fragmented and incomplete. That results in blurry customer profiles, inaccurate insights and poor recommendations. Furthermore, it is difficult for businesses to connect with their customers in a personalised way and track the effectiveness of the connection. In this podcast, Associate Professor Zhu Feida from SMU School of Information Systems shares his research on a next-generation, blockchain-based platform named Symphony. The platform seeks to empower a personal data economy by democratising and personalising data intelligence, with privacy by design.

Dr Tania Nagpaul Youth at-risk typically refers to those who may be seriously anti-social, homeless, who may have dropped out of school, taken to substance abuse or engaged in illegal activities. The factors that place these young people at risk in the first place, such as poverty, family dysfunction and disturbed neighbourhoods, are often not factored into the equation. Dr Tania Nagpaul and Ms Chen Jinwen from the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU have published a study which used the Self-determination Theory offered by Deci and Ryan in a past research as a lens to better understand the needs of youth-at-risk and their fulfilment from the vantage points of both social service professionals and youth themselves. In this podcast, Dr Tania Nagpaul discusses the key findings of this research and how it generates a nuanced understanding of the needs of youth in Singapore. Additional Info Self-determination theory as a framework for understanding needs of youth at-risk: Perspectives of social service professionals and the youth themselves - by Tania Nagpaul, Jinwen Chen

Assistant Prof Yeo Su Lin – Death is a part of life. However, people often feel awkward and ill at ease when faced with the opportunity for communication at the end of life. While talking about death and dying may not be comfortable for some, research has shown that having these conversations within families and communities, and with our healthcare provider can help prepare us emotionally for our deaths and that of others, and better ensure that we will receive the care and treatment that we prefer at the end of life. Yeo Su Lin is an Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Her research focuses on corporate reputation, crisis management and health communication. In this podcast, she discusses a recent nationwide study which was conducted to better understand end-of-life communication and sentiments towards palliative care in Singapore.

11/14/2024 - 10:00 AM - Venue: Assistance League building

11/13/2024 - 6:00 PM - Venue: Chaos Games and More

TikTok catapulted in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and has now come to dominate the social media landscape. With over 1 billion monthly active users, science communicators have the potential to capitalize on TikTok’s success and share their science with a broad, engaged audience.

The post Harnessing the power of TikTok for science communication appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

#AntarcticLog is a series of comics by Karen Romano Young, intended to educate and inspire through sciart. You can find the originals here. Since the National Science Foundation sent me to Antarctica, I’ve written and drawn #AntarcticLog comics about once a week.  The very first shows why I started it — and why I keep going.  People often assume that because there are pictures — comics — that #AntarcticLog is …

The post #AntarcticLog: Two Hundred Fifty  appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

“Many STEM professionals hold the misconception that engaging in science communication can hinder the progress of budding and established research careers. However, it is not necessary to choose between engaging in outreach and conducting research.

The post Science Communication: How it benefits a STEM research career appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

Thanks to @Rock_Avalanches and @Planet, the location of the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Lhuentse, Bhutan has now been identified.

A video posted to social media shows three people having a very lucky escape from a debris flow in Arunachal Pradesh, northern India.

We are pleased to announce the approval of three updated position statements that will help shape the future of climate action, science communication and data sharing. AGU position statements—created, revised and approved by members with feedback and support from experts in related fields—are what enable AGU to take adaptive stances on significant policy issues ranging from climate change to national security. These statements, which are updated in a recurring four-year …

The post AGU Updates Critical Position Statements on Climate, Communications and Data appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

The scale and scope of Hurricane Milton’s destructive path is overwhelming. Communities along Florida’s west and east coasts, as well as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, are just beginning to assess the damage. This event comes on top of the widespread damage of Hurricane Helene and its mounting death toll across North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. In just the past few months we have also witnessed the effects of Typhoon …

The post Weathering Storms Around the World appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

Record heat, devastating storms, punishing drought. Our world continues to see the unrelenting impacts of climate change. It clearly requires urgent action but as the research community increasingly investigates climate intervention methods to address this challenge, we see an alarming lack of ethical guidance.   This is why, powered in partnership and driven by broad collaboration, AGU facilitated the Ethical Framework Principles for Climate Intervention Research. Through a two-year process that included an open …

The post Ethical Framework Aims to Counter Risks of Geoengineering Research appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

Planetary scientists are using a volcanic flow field in New Mexico to puzzle out how long past volcanic eruptions on Mars might have lasted, a finding that could help researchers determine if Mars was ever hospitable to life. People don't usually think of New Mexico as a volcanically active place, but it has some of the youngest (geologically speaking) large lava flows in the continental United States.

The post New Mexico badlands help researchers understand past Martian lava flows (video) appeared first on GeoSpace.

The secrets of Saturn's veiled interior are leaking out by way of the planet's spectacular rings, according to a line of research that has taken four decades to come to fruition. In the last few years, what was first considered a sort of wacky hypothesis – that scientists can use Saturn’s rings to learn about  its structure -- has turned into a singular window into Saturn's surprisingly fluid and leviathan depths.

The post Sounding Saturn’s depths with its seismic icy rings appeared first on GeoSpace.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today announced the launch of the 2015 Defeat Hunger℠ campaign which is scheduled to run from the spring of 2015 through the last day of PROCESS EXPO, September 18th at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

La Asociación de Proveedores de Industria Alimenticia (FPSA) anunció hoy los detalles del programa educacional en español – Universidad Cárnica - de la PROCESS EXPO 2015 que tendrá lugar el 15 y 18 de Septiembre 2015 en el McCormick Place de Chicago.

From increased regulation, to a growing emphasis on food safety, to changing workforce and customer demographics, food processors and their vendors and partners are facing a period of unprecedented change.

The Foundation of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FFPSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of ten $5,000 Career Development Scholarships for the 2015-2016 academic year.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today announced the details of two sessions scheduled to make their debut at PROCESS EXPO 2015.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) today that advanced sign-ups for the educational sessions of PROCESS EXPO UNIVERSITY have already passed the final number of educational registrations at the last edition of PROCESS EXPO in 2013.

An initiative from three of America's biggest beverage companies, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr. Pepper, aims to improve the recycling and processing of plastic bottles.

The two companies will continue to use DS Smith Circular Design Metrics when co-creating new packaging innovations.

Blister Packaging for Certain Immediate Release Opioid Analgesics for Treatment of Acute Pain – Docket No. FDA-2019-N-1845 as it relates to opioid packaging, and recently passed Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients (SUPPORT) Act, passed in late 2018.

PA and PulPac created the Blister Pack Collective to limit the use of non-recyclable plastics in over-the-counter and prescription drug packaging through cross-industry collaboration.

The configurator is hosted exclusively on the company’s website where customers can instantly and effortlessly create 3D aerosol packaging.

Dove Kids Care packaging features positive affirmations and provides access to interactive body confidence resources by scanning a QR code on the back of each bottle.

The 105mm wipes canister is made with Altium’s Dura-Lite technology that uses 23% less plastic, and the disinfecting formula is made from citric acid-based botanicals.

Spring in Michigan can be freezing one day and sweltering the next. If you're lucky enough to be in Michigan throughout March and April, there is a good chance you will need both gloves and sunscreen. Having the fairest skin of all, I have officially begun sorting through the sunscreen bin.

Ries products are reusable, recyclable and made of earth-kind (and non-toxic) materials.

A glue-free label solution, Molded Fiber Labeling involves 100% mono-material packaging that can be fully recycled or composted.

The new TamperFlag rigid containers, made by Novolex brand Waddington North America (WNA), feature a tamper-evident “flag” that pops up and stays raised once opened. The feature alerts consumers that the container has been unsealed.

Lightweight, compact, and heat-resistant retort pouches are ideal for preserving food products like baby food, ready-to-eat meals, and pet food through retort sterilization, ensuring longer shelf lives. However, there are limited recyclable options for retort pouches in the market.

The patented solution brings life-changing potential for over 60 million Americans with physical limitations, while also reducing plastic usage.

This annual awards program recognizes leaders across the healthcare industry who are embracing and driving sustainability throughout the packaging lifecycle.

The bio-based medical-grade PVC compounds utilize resins and plasticizers manufactured with renewable energy and bio-attributed classification. 

The 500 ml D-PAK™ carton is made with paperboard from responsibly managed forests and is fully recyclable, as well as carbon neutral.

Expanded recycled polymer offering at former oil refinery will target the high-performance packaging market, particularly packaging for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

These new grades offer a significant moment for cosmetic industry packaging as well as the plastics industry.

The new PCR PP behaves identically to virgin material, so there's no need for manufacturers to adjust tooling or processing equipment.

Available in sizes from one to 30 liters, Politainer comprises a polyethylene container held within a sturdy cardboard outer.

This reusable and fully recyclable plastic packaging is available in three colors and is suitable for all caps.

The refill system consists of a removable 75 ml refill pack made of recyclable PP that needs to be replaced approximately every three months.

The Better With Less – Design Challenge had an international jury including packaging design experts from various fields related to packaging, design, brand strategy and innovation. After the judging concluded and the finalists chosen, a roundtable panel discussed what they saw as well as the challenges facing the packaging community.