Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit Malaysia and Indonesia from Jan 9 to 12, to deepen cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations toward realizing a rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific, the top government spokesman said Friday. During his trip, he is expected to hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference. Malaysia serves as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nasions next year. "It's essential that Japan strengthens ties with countries in Southeast Asia" located near key sea lanes and seen as a growth engine, Hayashi said. "We hope that the meetings will help build personal ties between the leaders and serve as an opportunity to boost bilateral economic and security ties and confirm coordination over various global challenges," he added. Since taking office in October, Ishiba has traveled overseas to attend a series of multilateral gatherings, but this will be the first time to do so solely for the purpose of bilateral talks.
By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Driven largely by the accumulation of massive wealth by the richest people in the United States, the Swiss wealth manager UBS said Thursday the assets of billionaires around the world more than doubled over the past decade. Between 2015-24, the total wealth of billionaires increased by 121%, from $6.3 trillion to $14 trillion. Meanwhile, the MSCI AC World Index of global equities, which measures the performance of more than 3,000 stocks from both developed and emerging markets, rose by 73%. The planet’s total gross domestic product is about $105.4 trillion, with a population of just over 8 billion, underscoring the extreme concentration of wealth among the very richest people. The number of billionaires rose from 1,757 to 2,682 over the past decade, while the wealthiest people in the world boasted significant gains over just the past year. Billionaires’ wealth jumped by about 17% in 2024, with the accumulation of wealth among the richest people in the U.S. offsetting a decline in China. U.S. billionaires amassed wealth gains that were 27.6% higher than the previous year, accumulating a total of $5.8 trillion — more than 40% of international billionaire wealth. The tax cuts pushed through by President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party in 2017 are still in effect in the U.S. Tax policy analysts have found that the law was skewed to the rich, with households in the top 1% of incomes expecting to receive an average tax cut of more than $60,000 in 2025 compared to an average tax cut of less than $500 for people in the bottom 60%. As Common Dreams reported this week, the top 12 U.S. billionaires now control $2 trillion. The wealth of the four richest people in the U.S. — Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — has hit $1 trillion. “These four men were worth $74 billion 12 short years ago,” said Americans for Tax Fairness. “Tax billionaires.” At the G20 Summit last month, world leaders agreed to “engage cooperatively to ensure that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are effectively taxed.”Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea aren't favourites for London derby against Tottenham as the manager continues to play down the Blues' chances this season
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save One day, when actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life. Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O'Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke). O'Donnell's candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She's one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others. People are also reading... OSU football: A prediction gone badly wrong OSU men's basketball: Beavers hope blowout wins pave the way for bigger things Philomath driver suspected of DUII in Corvallis pileup Rebuilding the Pac-12 Conference Corvallis man fatally hit by vehicle in Washington Corvallis police seek grinches who stole Christmas OSU police chief put on leave Corvallis woman accused of hammer attack, break-in in Philomath As I See It: Six reasons why Trump won again Corvallis Samaritan hospital has new CEO OSU police chief put on leave Corvallis sued following DUII arrest of diabetic teen Corvallis middle housing project struggles to achieve liftoff thanks to a sewer pipe Why did Trump win? Election debrief hosted by Corvallis group Albany's Talking Water Gardens goes silent — with no restart date "Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures," said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. "They absolutely do influence people." Some of the earliest celebrity health disclosures happened in the 1970s and 1980s with U.S. presidents and first ladies. When first lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after Gerald Ford became president in 1974, she spoke openly about her diagnosis, inviting photographers into the White House and helping make talk of cancer less taboo. In 1987, first lady Nancy Reagan used her breast cancer diagnosis as a chance to advocate for women to get mammograms. Her disclosure came two years after President Ronald Reagan's colon cancer diagnosis, about which the couple was equally as vocal. "Individuals throughout the country have been calling cancer physicians and information services in record numbers," the Los Angeles Times reported after Nancy Reagan's widely publicized surgery. The public showed a similar interest years earlier following Betty Ford's mastectomy. Another major milestone in celebrity health disclosures came in 1991, when 32-year-old NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Life is going to go on for me, and I'm going to be a happy man," Johnson assured fans during a news conference. He immediately retired, only to return to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. His disclosure, along with his work as an advocate for safe sex, helped shatter stigmas around HIV and AIDS. Calls to testing centers increased significantly in the days and weeks after Johnson's announcement. "That celebrity disclosure really helped people see there was a wider susceptibly to HIV," Gall Myrick said. "People were more likely to say, 'I need to think about my own risks.' It was very powerful." When it comes to heart and stroke health, President Dwight Eisenhower helped make heart attacks less frightening and mysterious. During a news conference in 1955, millions of Americans learned from the president's doctors about his heart condition, his treatment, and concrete steps they could take to reduce their own heart attack risk. Other notable figures have shared their health experiences over the years. Soap opera legend Susan Lucci , who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2018, has advocated for women's heart health. Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar talks about his irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, and advocates for regular health screenings. Lawyer, author and television personality Star Jones continues to speak about heart disease risk after having lifesaving heart surgery in 2010. Longtime TV and radio personality Dick Clark brought stroke and aphasia into the national spotlight when he returned to hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in Times Square just a year after his 2004 stroke and continued until his death in 2012. And actor and comedian Jamie Foxx recently revealed he had a stroke last year. "Celebrity disclosures represent teachable moments," said Dr. Seth M. Noar, director of the Communicating for Health Impact Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Searches for different health conditions often spike in the wake of these types of announcements. They cause people to think about these health issues, learn more about them, and in some cases change their behaviors." Celebrities have also highlighted the importance of CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to restore a person's heartbeat if they experience cardiac arrest. Interest in CPR and AEDs spiked in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during an NFL game broadcast on national TV. Views of the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR pages jumped more than 600% in the days following Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Three months later, around 3 million people had watched the AHA's CPR video. Family members of celebrities who have died from a heart issue have also spread awareness. After actor John Ritter died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003, his wife, actor Amy Yasbeck, started the Ritter Foundation to raise awareness about the condition and help others avoid a misdiagnosis. A literature review published in Systematic Reviews in 2017 found that people are conditioned to react positively to celebrity advice. Research also has found that people often follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive – or how they want to perceive – themselves. The most effective celebrity disclosures are frequently the ones that tell a compelling story and include clear steps people can take to apply lessons the celebrity learned to their own health situation, Gall Myrick said. "People are more likely to take action when they feel confident and capable." Research has shown that celebrity disclosures often impact calls to hotlines and page views on health-related websites, and they can spark behavioral and even policy changes. Anecdotally, Gall Myrick said, people ask their doctor more questions about health conditions and request medical screenings. Celebrities can have a big impact because people tend to have parasocial relationships with them, Gall Myrick said. These are one-sided relationships in which a person feels an emotional connection with another person, often a celebrity. People may feel as if they know the basketball player they've watched on the court for years, or the Hollywood actor they've followed, she said. They want to comfort them after a health disclosure. Social media has only increased this feeling of familiarity, as celebrities regularly share mundane – but fascinating – details of their daily lives, like what they eat for breakfast, their favorite socks, or the meditation they do before bed. "We spend a lifetime being exposed to celebrities through the media, and over time, you get to know these public figures," Gall Myrick said. "Some feel like friendships." A study published in the journal Science Communication in 2020 compared reactions to actor Tom Hanks, who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and an average person with COVID-19. Researchers found that participants identified more with Hanks when it came to estimating their own susceptibility to COVID-19. The participants also felt more emotional about the virus that causes COVID-19 when thinking about it in relation to Hanks versus an average person. When a celebrity reveals a health condition, it's a surprise that may feel personal, especially if they are well-liked and the health issue is dramatic and sudden. "We feel like we know them, and the emotional response is what can then push people out of their routine," Gall Myrick said. Noar said a celebrity health story is often a more interesting and powerful way to learn about a health condition than just the facts, which can feel overwhelming. People are drawn to the slew of media coverage that typically follows a celebrity disclosure, he said. "Some of these high-visibility public figures' stories are now woven into some of these illnesses," Noar said. For example, Angelina Jolie is often linked to the BRCA1 gene mutation after the actor shared she had a preventive double mastectomy because of her elevated breast cancer risk and had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of her increased risk for ovarian cancer. "It's a narrative, a story that humanizes the condition in a way that very informational communication really doesn't," Noar said. "People remember it, and it can potentially be a touch point." After a disclosure, patients may bring up a celebrity's story during a doctor's appointment and connect it to their own care. Today's multiplatform digital culture only amplifies celebrity messages. "You're seeing everyday people react to these events, and that can have a ripple effect too," Gall Myrick said. "We know from research that seeing messages more than once can be impactful. Often it's not just one billboard or one commercial that impacts behavior; it's the drip drip drip over time." Still, there's a cautionary tale to be told around the impact of celebrity health news, especially if the celebrity has died. An unclear cause of death may lead to speculation. Gall Myrick said that guesswork could potentially end up hurting rather than helping if patients were to act on misinformation or a lack of information. "Maybe the death was atypical or it needs more context," she said. "That's where advocacy groups and public health organizations come in. They need to be prepared for announcements or disclosures about celebrity deaths, and to fill in some of those gaps." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
This whole presidential pardon thing has gotten completely out of control. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, at the end of Part (1) simply states, “and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” There is no reference as to blanket pardons, no mention of preemptive pardons, and no guidance as to when or how this power should be exercised. And there is absolutely no indication that it should ever be used for personal or political reasons. Sadly, it is increasingly being used for these reasons. I can understand, accept and agree with Abraham Lincoln’s blanket pardon of Confederate soldiers following the Civil War and Jimmy Carter’s blanket pardon of draft dodgers following the Vietnam War. Both served to aid in the healing process of a divided nation. On the other hand, I don’t think Gerald Ford should have pardoned Richard Nixon. Nor should Bill Clinton have pardoned his brother. Donald Trump should not have pardoned Charles Kushner or Roger Stone, et al. And Joe Biden should not have pardoned Hunter. Personal and political pardons need to stop. They only serve to reinforce the feeling that there are two standards of justice, one for the rich and powerful and one for the rest of us. Congress needs to act. Now. If Biden becomes a “pardon factory” and enacts a preemptive pardon for all those involved in the Jan. 6 Commission and those pursuing legal remedies, it will only embolden Trump to do something similar, as well as justify his likely pardon of the Jan. 6 rioters. Besides, those on the commission and those testifying before it, and those pursuing legal remedies did nothing illegal that would require a pardon. They were simply exercising their constitutional duties to uphold the laws of the United States. Were our Founding Fathers to witness what is currently happening with their “Grand Experiment,” they may not be ashamed, but they would most certainly have cause to be embarrassed. We can do better, much better. I’d like to be able to say we deserve better. But we do not. At least not until we do a much better job of electing leaders with integrity, morals, ethics and honesty to represent us. Jack Crawford Saugus
ATLANTA — A first-of-its-kind audit showed a nearly identical match to the election night count by using technology to read the text on all 5.3 million Georgia ballots. The audit — required by state law to check the accuracy of voting machines — revealed just 87 discrepancies from all races. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health
Luke Littler whitewashes Rob Cross with ridiculous average in Players Championship Finals days after topping £1millionNew bioprinting technique creates functional tissue 10x faster December 3, 2024 Penn State Researchers have developed a novel bioprinting technique that uses spheroids, which are clusters of cells, to create complex tissue. This new technique improves the precision and scalability of tissue fabrication, producing tissue 10-times faster than existing methods. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Three-dimensional (3D) printing isn't just a way to produce material products quickly. It also offers researchers a way to develop replicas of human tissue that could be used to improve human health, such as building organs for transplantation, studying disease progression and screening new drugs. While researchers have made progress over the years, the field has been hampered by limited existing technologies unable to print tissues with high cell density at scale. A team of researchers from Penn State have developed a novel bioprinting technique that uses spheroids, which are clusters of cells, to create complex tissue. This new technique improves the precision and scalability of tissue fabrication, producing tissue 10-times faster than existing methods. It further opens the door to developing functional tissues and organs and progress in the field of regenerative medicine, the researchers said. They published their findings in Nature Communications. "This technique is a significant advancement in rapid bioprinting of spheroids," said Ibrahim T. Ozbolat, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in 3D Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine and professor of engineering science and mechanics, of biomedical engineering and of neurosurgery at Penn State. "It enables the bioprinting of tissues in a high-throughput manner at a speed much faster than existing techniques with high cell viability." Bioprinting allows researchers to build 3D structures from living cells and other biomaterials. Living cells are encapsulated in a substrate like a hydrogel to make a bioink, which is then printed in layers using a specialized printer. These cells grow and proliferate, eventually maturing into 3D tissue over the course of several weeks. Ozbolat explained that it's like constructing a brick wall where the cells are the bricks and the bioink is the cement or mortar. However, it's difficult to achieve the same cell density as what's found in the human body with this standard approach, Ozbolat said. That cell density is essential for developing tissue that's both functional and can be used in a clinical setting. Spheroids, on the other hand, offer a promising alternative for tissue bioprinting because they have a cell density similar to human tissue. While 3D printing spheroids offers a viable solution to producing the necessary density, researchers have been limited by the lack of scalable techniques. Existing bioprinting methods often damage the delicate cellular structures during the printing process, killing some of the cells. Other technologies are cumbersome and don't offer precise control of the movement and placement of the spheroids needed to create replicas of human tissue. Or the processes are slow. In previously published research, Ozbolat and his colleagues developed an aspiration-assisted bioprinting system. Using a pipette tip, the researchers could pick up tiny balls of cells and place them precisely where they self-assemble and create a solid tissue. However, since the technique involves moving spheroids one at a time, it could take days to build a one cubic centimeter structure. To address these issues, the team developed a new technique called High-throughput Integrated Tissue Fabrication System for Bioprinting (HITS-Bio). HITS-Bio uses a digitally controlled nozzle array, an arrangement of multiple nozzles that moves in three dimensions and allows researchers to manipulate several spheroids at the same time. The team organized the nozzles in a four-by-four array, which can pick up 16 spheroids simultaneously and place them on a bioink substrate quickly and precisely. The nozzle array can also pick up spheroids in customized patterns, which can then be repeated to create the architecture found in complex tissue. "We can then build scalable structures very fast," Ozbolat said. "It's 10-times faster than existing techniques and maintains more than 90% high cell viability." To test the platform, the team set out to fabricate cartilage tissue. They created a one-cubic centimeter structure, containing approximately 600 spheroids made of cells capable of forming cartilage. The process took less than 40 minutes, a highly efficient rate that surpasses the capacity of existing bioprinting technologies. The team then showed that the bioprinting technique can be used for on-demand tissue repair in a surgical setting in a rat model. They printed spheroids directly into a wound site in the skull during surgery, which was the first time spheroids have been printed intraoperatively. The researchers programmed the spheroids to transform into bone using microRNA technology. MicroRNA helps control gene expression in cells, including how cells differentiate into specific types. "Since we delivered the cells in high dosages with this technique, it actually sped up the bone repair," Ozbolat said. After three weeks, the wound was 91% healed after three weeks and 96% healed after just six weeks. The HITS-Bio technique offers an opportunity to create complex and functional tissue in a scalable manner, Ozbolat said. Expanding the number of nozzles could lead to production of larger and more intricate tissues, such as organs and organ tissue like the liver. Ozbolat said that the team is also working on techniques to incorporate blood vessels into the fabricated tissue, a necessary step for producing more types of tissues that can be used clinically or for transplantation. This wasn't an issue with the two applications demonstrated in this study because cartilage has no blood vessels and, in a surgical setting, the surrounding blood vessels could help with blood flow to the bioprinted bone tissue. Other Penn State authors include: Myoung Hwan Kim, doctoral student in biomedical engineering; Yogendra Pratap Singh and Miji Yeo, postdoctoral scholars in engineering science and mechanics; Daniel Hayes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Nanotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicine; and Elias Rizk, professor of neurosurgery at the Penn State College of Medicine. Co-author Nazmiye Celik was a doctoral scholar in engineering science and mechanics at the time of the study and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Ozbolat, Kim, Singh, Yeo and Hayes are affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. Ozbolat and Hayes are also affiliated with the Penn State Materials Research Institute. Ozbolat is also affiliated with the Penn State Cancer Institute. Funding from the National institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research supported this work. Story Source: Materials provided by Penn State . Original written by Christine Yu. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :AppLovin: Early Ecommerce Feedback Is Positive, But Expectations Are Enormous
Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their healthScottsdale, Arizona, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hosted at the prestigious Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, this year's MedSpa Pro Meeting brought together pacesetting voices in medical aesthetics under the guidance of industry pioneers and co-chairs Barry DiBernardo, MD, Jason Pozner, MD, and Joseph Russo, MD. Over three intensive days, participants immersed themselves in a wealth of cutting-edge, comprehensive content that spanned advanced injection techniques, emerging technologies, and business management strategies. Program highlights included an exclusive Head-to-Head Anatomy Masterclass led by preeminent anatomist Sebastian Cotofana, MD, PhD, and an innovative Weight Loss Track spearheaded by Johnny Franco, MD. Complementing these sessions, expertise-driven curricula featured a dedicated Aesthetician Track and Master Injector Live Injection Program. Beyond the core curriculum, expert-led panel discussions explored today's most pressing aesthetic medicine topics while market-leading brands showcased game-changing products and services in the exhibition space. Together, these experiences equipped participants with fresh perspectives, practical insights, valuable partnerships, and lasting connections, empowering them to elevate their clinical and personal success. MedSpa Pro's rebranding represents expanding pathways for advancing this booming specialty. "As we embrace the next chapter in aesthetic medicine, we are excited to unveil our new identity as MedSpa Pro," stated Doreen Brown, CEO of Informa Connect Medical Division. "This evolution reflects our commitment to keeping pace with our ever-evolving industry and serving our expanding community through gold-standard training and unmatched networking opportunities." MedSpa Pro's refined brand identity will roll out in the coming months as the company prepares for a breakthrough 2025. Among exciting new initiatives, next year introduces specialized training opportunities led by the distinguished Dr. Russo and fellow acclaimed experts, strengthening the organization's position as the foremost resource in medical aesthetics. Aesthetic medicine providers, medical spa professionals, and industry stakeholders can mark their calendars for the 3rd Annual MedSpa Pro Meeting, set to take place at the iconic Boca Raton resort in November 2025. Further details about upcoming programs will be announced soon; in the meantime, please visit MedSpa Pro's LinkedIn profile for updates. ### MedSpa Pro serves as the leading educational platform for medical aesthetics professionals, delivering targeted education, tailored training, and strategic networking opportunities across the industry. Through its premier conference and progressive initiatives, the organization connects enterprising practitioners with renowned experts to advance excellence in aesthetic medicine. MedSpa Pro is part of the Informa Connect Medical Division, a global force in medical education across the entire healthcare ecosystem. Aly Vazquez MedSpa Pro aly.vazquez@informa.com
YOU BET fans have made complaints as the iconic show fronted by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern returned. The iconic ITV gameshow saw competitors take on strange challenges as a panel of celebrity guests gambled on their success. Rob Beckett, Alison Hammond, Harry Redknapp and Rosie Ramsey made up the star gamblers as contestants vied for a £10,000 prize. Challenges included one couple identifying different types of cactus just by licking them. Another challenge was identifying different board games by the sounds they make when they are emptied from their boxes. However, some viewers were annoyed that ITV did not bring back all the original features of the 80's TV format. READ MORE ON YOU BET A number of viewers took to X - formerly known as Twitte r - as they noticed that no on-screen countdown was included in the tied challenges. One viewer asked: "Where's the onscreen clock for the challenges?" A second exclaimed: "I miss the clock on screen with these challenges. This is not like the original, can we bring it back?" While a third posted: "Watching YouBet! Where is the on-screen clock during the challenges? As a reboot goes this is NOT it." Most read in News TV But that was not the only factor that ITV1 viewers complained about. Previously the likes of Bruce Forsyth , Matthew Kelly and Darren Day previously fronted the show on their own. However, the new Saturday night show featured both Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern appear together on-screen. Many fans of the original format also noticed that the commercial network used different music in the challenges as the theme tune was also changed. Taking to the social media platform, another viewer stated: "The tunes changed, it should have 1 presenter.. bizarre." A fifth raged: "If it isn’t bad enough then two are presenting, the challenges NEED the old/tense music. One of my fave shows ruined #YouBet" By Joshua Rom When Holly Willoughby finally announced her departure from This Morning in October 2023 it felt almost like a crescendo. After her feud with Phillip Schofield , dealing with the revelation about his workplace relationship, months of speculation, a lacklustre return to the daytime show and a horrendous kidnap plot it seemed like her own departure was almost a relief. She made her return to TV on Dancing On Ice , a show that first shot her to superstardom that she knew inside and out. This was combined with a long-standing colleague from her days in children's TV to serve as her co-host in the form of Stephen Mulhern . It was a safe and steady bet for the star that placed emphasis on the continuity of her career despite unprecedented challenges. She was previously announced as one of the hosts for a new jungle challenge show for Netflix called Bear Hunt. The streamer reportedly spent £1million on a 'ring of steel' security detail made up of ex-special forces and former military guns to protect her against drug gangs and kidnappers. We are still yet to see this show but with contestants such as Mel B , Shirley Ballas and Steph McGovern it is sure to be a must-watch. But You Bet! feels like a proper homecoming for the star as she returns to ITV with her first new format since she left This Morning. Her partnership with Stephen Mulhern will continue and the new show could cement them as the new golden hosting couple of the most popular commercial broadcaster. Huge names like Olly Murs and Harry Redknapp will only bolster their star power and viewers will surely love the on-screen reunion with her former colleague and BFF Alison Hammond . Plus, you cannot go wrong with a beloved TV game show format from the 90s. The BBC can attest to this with the success of Gladiators . On paper, this news has all the qualities for a major success and maybe it will be the show to usher in a new era for Holly Willoughby. "Love you Holly, You are probably the best woman TV presenter we have in this country and are a true legend. It's wonderful to see you on your comeback trail after you death plot But I for one really don't think you should be hosting #YouBet. This is a one person job," suggested a sixth fan. Meanwhile, someone else remarked: Just wish the OG theme tune was kept." READ MORE SUN STORIES As another user added: "Why did you change the theme tune? It’s a classic #YouBet" Visit our Holly Willoughby page for the latest updates You Bet! is available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX .
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