Month: August 2023

Categories
Science

Nostalgia or Nonsense? • Watts Up With That?

The Green Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think — Or Not • Watts Up With That?

About the BBC article “Pioneering wind-powered cargo ship sets sail” by Tom Singleton.

The annals of history are dotted with examples of humanity looking to the past for inspiration. Yet, one has to chuckle when seeing modern behemoths of the sea considering the bygone era of sails as their next technological leap. The BBC’s recent article on this topic introduces a cargo ship attempting to cruise through modern logistics, not simply with roaring engines but with… sails?

Historic Enthusiasm or Mere Marketing Ploy?

Shipping firm Cargill seems to be floating the idea that British-designed WindWings might help reduce the industry’s carbon emissions, given shipping’s estimated 2.1% contribution to global CO2. But seriously, is this a genuine stride forward or just a quirky nod to yesteryears and or green fanatasies?

Claims in the Wind

For its flagship journey from China to Brazil, the Pyxis Ocean is set to test these majestic WindWings. Touting a height of 123ft and borrowing materials from wind turbines, there’s a claim in the air: a potential 30% reduction in a ship’s lifetime emissions. Sounds like someone may want to do a lifecycle analysis.

Savings or Just Hot Air?

BAR Technologies from the UK is behind this wind-inspired innovation, boldly claiming fuel savings of one-and-a-half tonnes per day. Magnify that with four wings and it seems we’re in for a six-tonne daily fuel reduction. But, with manufacturing outsourced to China, perhaps there’s probably more to these calculations than meets the eye.

A Windy Resolution?

While some experts see potential in harnessing the winds, the intent to cut down the 837 million tonnes of annual CO2 from shipping with kites, rotors, and sails might end up being a bit disappointing.

Reality Check with Numbers

Stephen Gordon, from Clarksons Research, offers a reality bite, highlighting the minuscule uptake of this wind-driven technology. Amidst the vast ocean of over 110,000 vessels, a mere 100 utilize such wind assistance. It’s akin to finding a needle in a… well, ocean.

A Step Forward or Two Steps Back?

The endearing image of ships going back to their wind-blown origins might evoke romantic tales of adventures on the high seas. But as a solution for modern-day shipping? The sails of the Pyxis Ocean might stand tall with hope, but the practicality of such a venture remains questionable at best. For now, the industry’s “back to the future” aspirations might need to stay anchored in fiction.

H/T Willie Soon

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Technology

The right way to apply for a job you’re not totally certified for

How to apply for a job you’re not fully qualified for

Job searching can be invigorating, like when you get to imagine yourself sitting behind a new desk or out meeting new clients. But it can also be disappointing if you find exciting roles that you’re not fully qualified for.

Don’t get discouraged when you don’t meet 100% of the criteria in a job listing. Whether you want to move up a level in your career or you’re looking to transition into a completely new job field, you won’t get an offer if you don’t apply. Instead of passing up interesting opportunities, you might just need to think outside the box, do some smart preparation, and get a better understanding of where your skills and the employer’s needs intersect.

Do your research

There’s no rule against applying for a job you’re not qualified for. But if you have absolutely no skills or experience that can be applied to the role, you’re obviously going to be in for a tougher time.

So the first place to begin is by looking at what you know, and doing some comparing and contrasting.

Examine the job spec: what specifics can you glean about what the company’s looking for? Next, look at where your skills meet what’s being sought.

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From here, see where there seems to be wiggle room: do they ask for seven years experience, but you have four? Are they looking for managerial experience, but you have none — even though you’ve been taking on a lot more responsibility in the office? You might be closer to the “must-haves” than you realise.

Look at your skills and experience

Going through the job ad to parse what’s likely immovable, what applies to you, and what you can work with is a great first step.

From there, you can examine your CV and how you describe your work experience. Can you outline your experience and skills in a way that makes the employer see how you would suit the role?

You can’t put things on your CV that aren’t true. But you can explain how your existing skills and knowledge can be applied to other areas, outline your qualifications and match what you can do to what the employer needs.

It’s all about focusing on what you can do, and where your experience and knowledge lie — not what elements of the job spec you don’t measure up to. Pretend you’re a friend giving yourself advice, and take a look at your CV through their eyes. What would their advice be?

Create a stellar cover letter

Your cover letter is the first chance to outline why you’d be a good fit. In it, you can explain the ways you would add to the role, how your previous experience helps, and what you’d look forward to doing if you got the job.

When the employer goes on to read your CV, your letter will have given them the knowledge that you know what you’re applying for. They’ll recognise that even if you aren’t 100% qualified, you understand how you could grow into the job.

With the current skills shortages, particularly in STEM, employers are also likely to be more open-minded about employing people who are willing and eager to grow their skills.

Hidden barriers

Keep in mind that there might be barriers to applying for the job that you don’t recognise. A study by LinkedIn found that women are 16% less likely than men to apply for a job after viewing it.

Tara Mohr surveyed 1,000 men and women in the US about this issue and what their attitudes can tell us are revealing.

“They didn’t see the hiring process as one where advocacy, relationships, or a creative approach to framing one’s expertise could overcome not having the skills and experiences outlined in the job qualifications.”

It’s this that can be key: recognising that employers don’t just want a “perfect” fit. They also want someone who’ll blossom in the role.

If you do apply for a job and don’t meet the full qualifications, you won’t be alone. In research from 2019, HR managers said 42% of the resumes they receive are from candidates who don’t meet job requirements — and 62% of employees have been offered a job when they didn’t match the exact qualifications.

So what are you waiting for?

Looking for a new role? Here are three companies hiring on the House of Talent Job Board.

Senior Product Manager – Partner Tech, Zalando, Berlin

Retail company Zalando is looking for a Senior Product Manager to work in its Partner Tech department. This is one of its core departments, and the role would involve being part of a team working on partner-facing and internal-facing products. The company says that all employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Find out more here.

Senior Fullstack Developer, Shift Technology, Paris

Shift Technology harnesses the power of AI to enable the world’s leading insurance organisations to make better decisions. For this Senior Fullstack Developer role, which could be based in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, or England, your technical knowledge and autonomy will let you build complete designs for our applications and features. The product you will collaborate on is a platform that helps policyholders to open claims and insurers to take decisions on them. Get the full information here.

Java/Full Stack Developer, Accenture, Basel

Accenture is looking for a Java/Full Stack Developer who can act “like a Swiss Army knife for digital challenges.” You’ll design and implement backends built for speed, reliability, and scalability, and should have a university degree in IT or a technically related subject. See the full job spec here.

For thousands more roles like these, check out the House of Talent Job Board

Categories
Sport

2023 faculty soccer picks, predictions by convention

2023 college football picks, predictions by conference

  • Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterAug 21, 2023, 07:00 AM ET

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    • Senior college football writer
    • Author of seven books on college football
    • Graduate of the University of Georgia

Just when it looked like college football was settling down for the final season of a four-team playoff, conference realignment shook up the sport once again.

UCLA and USC are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, along with Oregon and Washington. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are jumping to the Big 12, leaving the Pac-12 on life support.

What else has changed? Matt Rhule is coaching Nebraska, Deion Sanders is at Colorado, Hugh Freeze is back at Auburn and Luke Fickell will be on Wisconsin’s sideline.

What hasn’t changed? Two-time defending national champion Georgia is still the team to beat in the FBS. The Bulldogs, 29-1 the past two seasons, will attempt to join Minnesota (1934 to 1936) as the sport’s only teams to win three national titles in a row.

Before the 2023 season kicks off with seven games Saturday, here are predictions heading into the year.

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ACC

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Is Clemson good enough to return to the College Football Playoff?

Dusty Dvoracek and Takeo Spikes break down Clemson’s roster for the upcoming season.

Champion: Florida State
Offensive player of the year: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Defensive player of the year: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
Freshman of the year: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Impact transfer: Brennan Armstrong, QB, NC State
Comeback player of the year: Mike Hollins, RB, Virginia
Coach of the year: Mike Norvell, Florida State
Coach on the hot seat: Dino Babers, Syracuse
Coordinator who will be a head coach: Garrett Riley, offensive coordinator, Clemson
Nonconference game of the year: Florida State vs. LSU, Sept. 3 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Conference game of the year: Florida State at Clemson, Sept. 23

Three predictions for the ACC

Predicted finish: ACC

OVERALL CONF.
Clemson 11-1 8-0
Florida State 10-2 7-1
North Carolina 9-3 5-3
Pittsburgh 8-4 5-3
Louisville 8-4 5-3
Miami 8-4 5-3
NC State 7-5 4-4
Wake Forest 7-5 4-4
Syracuse 7-5 3-5
Duke 6-6 3-5
Boston College 5-7 2-6
Virginia Tech 5-7 2-6
Georgia Tech 4-8 2-6
Virginia 3-9 1-7

Clemson beats Florida State (but not twice): With quarterback Jordan Travis returning, along with another boatload of key transfers, Florida State believes it finally has enough firepower to topple Clemson. But the Seminoles have to play at Death Valley on Sept. 23. The Tigers should be better on offense with Riley calling plays and quarterback Cade Klubnik getting a full offseason of work in the offense. The Tigers are again going to be tough to block, especially if Woods is as good as advertised. Clemson will win the regular-season meeting, but Florida State will win the rematch — and end an eight-game losing streak to the Tigers — in the ACC championship game. The SEC still won’t call with an invitation to join.

Maye wins the Heisman: In his first season as a starter, Maye threw for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, USC’s Caleb Williams, and Maye were the only FBS quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards with at least 35 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions last season. Chip Lindsey takes over the offensive playcalling after coordinator Phil Longo left for Wisconsin. Maye’s top receivers from last season, Josh Downs and Antoine Green, left for the NFL. Adding former Georgia Tech receiver Nate McCollum will help tremendously, and the Tar Heels are still hoping to get Kent State transfer Devontez Walker eligible. The Tar Heels have to do a better job protecting Maye after he was sacked 40 times last season.

Hollins has a 100-yard game: There won’t be a better moment in the sport this season than when Virginia running back Mike Hollins runs for more than 100 yards and scores a couple of touchdowns against James Madison on Sept. 9. Hollins survived a shooting last November that killed teammates Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry. Hollins was shot in the abdomen and was hospitalized for a week. Remarkably, he returned to practice in the spring. His comeback will be one of the most inspirational stories of the season.

Big Ten

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Sam Acho: Michigan has surpassed Ohio State in Big Ten

Sam Acho explains why Michigan has surpassed Ohio State as the best team in the Big Ten.

Champion: Michigan
Offensive player of the year: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Defensive player of the year: Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Freshman of the year: Bai Jobe, DE, Michigan State
Impact transfer: Tanner Mordecai, QB, Wisconsin (from SMU)
Comeback player of the year: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Coach of the year: Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Coach on the hot seat: Tom Allen, Indiana
Coordinator who will be a head coach: Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator, Michigan
Nonconference game of the year: Ohio State at Notre Dame, Sept. 23
Conference game of the year: Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 25

Three predictions for the Big Ten

Predicted finish: Big Ten

EAST OVERALL CONF.
Michigan 11-1 8-1
Ohio State 11-1 8-1
Penn State 10-2 7-2
Maryland 7-5 4-5
Michigan State 5-7 3-6
Rutgers 4-8 2-7
Indiana 3-9 1-8
WEST OVERALL CONF.
Wisconsin 9-3 6-3
Iowa 9-3 6-3
Minnesota 8-4 6-3
Illinois 7-5 5-4
Nebraska 7-5 4-5
Purdue 4-8 3-6
Northwestern 2-10 0-9

Michigan beats Ohio State again: The Wolverines believe this season might be their best chance at winning their first national championship since 1997. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is entering his second season as the undisputed starter. Tailback Blake Corum is back after running for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. So is Donovan Edwards, who ran for 991 yards with seven scores in 2022. Stanford transfers Myles Hinton and Drake Nugent and Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson will provide experience and depth up front. The Wolverines will fall at Penn State on Nov. 11, but they’ll rebound to beat Ohio State, again, at the Big House on Nov. 25.

Two Big Ten teams make the CFP: Ohio State fans will be steaming mad about a third straight loss to Michigan in The Game, which will be the Wolverines’ longest winning streak since taking three in a row from 1995 to 1997. The Buckeyes will get over it when they’re one of two Big Ten teams to make the four-team playoff. The Buckeyes have to replace quarterback C.J. Stroud; coach Ryan Day still hasn’t picked between sophomore Devin Brown or junior Kyle McCord. Regardless of who starts under center, the offense is going to be loaded with Harrison and receiver Emeka Egbuka and tailbacks Miyan Williams and Henderson coming back. The offensive line will have to grow up fast, and the defense will have to play better than a year ago. With road wins at Notre Dame and Wisconsin and a home win over Penn State, the Buckeyes will have enough meat on their résumé to make the CFP even after losing to Michigan.

Wisconsin wins the West: It’s probably a toss-up between Wisconsin and Iowa, but I’ll go with the team that won’t have to try to win every game by holding opponents to 10 points or fewer. The Badgers are going to look completely different on offense under first-year coach Luke Fickell. Mordecai threw for 3,524 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions at SMU last season. New offensive coordinator Phil Longo is implementing his version of the Air Raid offense. Top receivers Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell are back, as is tailback Braelon Allen, who ran for 1,242 yards last season. If the Badgers can survive an early trip to Washington State, they should be 5-0 heading into an Oct. 14 home game against Iowa.

Big 12

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Sarkisian: Longhorns will ’embrace the hate’ this season

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to the Longhorns’ final year in the Big 12 and how that will impact the upcoming season.

Champion: Texas
Offensive player of the year: Jalon Daniels, QB Kansas
Defensive player of the year: Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
Freshman of the year: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
Impact transfer: Dasan McCullough, LB, Oklahoma
Comeback player of the year: WR AD Mitchell, Texas (from Georgia)
Coach of the year: Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
Coach on the hot seat: Neal Brown, West Virginia
Coordinator who will be a head coach: Jeff Grimes, offensive coordinator, Baylor
Nonconference game of the year: Texas at Alabama, Sept. 9 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App)
Conference game of the year: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, Nov. 4

Three predictions for the Big 12

Predicted finish: Big 12

OVERALL CONF.
Texas 10-2 8-1
Texas Tech 9-3 7-2
Kansas State 9-3 6-3
Oklahoma 9-3 6-3
TCU 8-4 5-4
UCF 7-5 5-4
Oklahoma State 7-5 4-5
Baylor 7-5 4-5
Kansas 6-6 4-5
BYU 6-6 4-5
Iowa State 5-7 3-6
Houston 5-7 3-6
Cincinnati 4-8 2-7
West Virginia 4-8 2-7

Texas is back: No, really. The Longhorns have all the pieces in place to win 10 games or more. As long as they keep it between the lines off the field, they should have a chance to win their first Big 12 title since 2009 in their final season in the league. If you believe coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Quinn Ewers put in the work this summer to improve and has matured. Mitchell, who had two of the biggest catches in Georgia history, is a special athlete and should take pressure off Xavier Worthy. All five starters are back on what should be a good offensive line. If a couple of transfer portal additions — safety Jalen Catalon from Arkansas and cornerback Gavin Holmes from Wake Forest — step up in the secondary and Hill is as good as advertised, the defense should be good enough.

The Pokes win the last Bedlam game: With Oklahoma joining Texas in the SEC in 2024, the long-running Bedlam Series between OU and rival Oklahoma State will go by the wayside like too many other great rivalry games that have been the victims of conference realignment. The Sooners and Cowboys have played 117 times since 1904. OU has a whopping 91-19-7 advantage in the series. The Pokes will get the last laugh in Stillwater with a 31-28 victory on Nov. 4.

Oklahoma bounces back: There’s no way a Brent Venables-coached defense can be that bad again. In the former Clemson defensive coordinator’s first season as OU’s coach, the Sooners ranked 122nd out of 131 FBS teams in total defense, allowing 461 yards and 30 points. They were ninth in the Big 12 in run defense (187.5 yards) and dead last against the pass (273.5 yards). With the addition of McCullough and five other defensive linemen out of the transfer portal, Venables should have enough bodies up front to play defense the way he’s used to. With quarterback Dillon Gabriel coming back, OU won’t have to worry about scoring.

Pac-12

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Ranking the top QBs in the Pac-12

Dusty Dvoracek and Takeo Spikes break down the pecking order of Pac-12 quarterbacks, including Oregon’s Bo Nix.

Champion: USC
Offensive player of the year: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Defensive player of the year: Laiatu Latu, LB, UCLA
Freshman of the year: Dante Moore, QB, UCLA
Impact transfer: Dorian Singer, WR, USC (from Arizona)
Comeback player of the year: Brant Kuithe, TE, Utah
Coach of the year: Kalen DeBoer, Washington
Coach on the hot seat: Justin Wilcox, California
Coordinator who will be a head coach: Ryan Grubb, offensive coordinator, Washington
Nonconference game of the year: USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 14
Conference game of the year: Washington at USC, Nov. 4

Three predictions for the Pac-12

Predicted finish: Pac-12

OVERALL CONF.
USC 11-1 8-1
Washington 10-2 7-2
Utah 10-2 7-2
Oregon 9-3 6-3
Oregon State 8-4 5-4
UCLA 8-4 5-4
Washington State 6-6 4-5
Arizona 6-6 4-5
California 5-7 3-6
Arizona State 5-7 3-6
Colorado 3-9 2-7
Stanford 2-10 0-9

A Pac-12 team makes the CFP: In what will be the final season of the Pac-12 as we know it, one of its teams will finally make the CFP. A Pac-12 team hasn’t made the four-team playoff since Washington fell to Alabama in a semifinal in 2016. Even worse, three of the past four Pac-12 champions in full seasons (not counting the COVID-delayed 2020 slate) had three losses or more. With former Oklahoma State linebacker Mason Cobb and other key transfers shoring up the defense, USC will finally figure out how to slow down opponents and win the Pac-12. As far as a Lincoln Riley-coached team winning a CFP semifinal, well, let’s talk about that later.

Two Pac-12 quarterbacks in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation: Williams, who returns to USC for his final season in college football, will attempt to become only the second player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin is the only two-time winner, in 1974 and 1975. Williams could be even better this year with former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury tutoring him. As good as Williams was last season, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. led the Pac-12 in passing yards (4,641) and had 31 touchdowns and eight picks. Both will be Heisman Trophy finalists.

Coach Prime’s first season at Colorado isn’t pretty: There has been plenty of hype and controversy surrounding Deion Sanders’ move from FCS program Jackson State to Colorado in the offseason. The Buffaloes are going to be one of the most compelling teams in the country, but they’re not going to be very good. Colorado went 1-11 last season, 1-8 in the Pac-12. Sanders and his staff tried to trade out beans and franks ingredients for beef Wellington overnight, but it won’t make much of a difference. It wouldn’t be surprising to see TCU hang half-a-hundred on the Buffaloes in the Sept. 2 opener.

SEC

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Can Carson Beck lead Georgia to an undefeated season?

Paul Finebaum discusses Carson Beck’s emergence as the frontrunner at QB for Georgia and what it means for its chances to win out.

Champion: Georgia
Offensive player of the year: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Defensive player of the year: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
Freshman of the year: Caleb Downs, S, Alabama
Impact transfer: Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky (from NC State)
Comeback player of the year: Maason Smith, DL, LSU
Coach of the year: Brian Kelly, LSU
Coach on the hot seat: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
Coordinator who will be a head coach: Glenn Schumann, defensive coordinator, Georgia
Nonconference game of the year: LSU vs. Florida State in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 3 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Conference game of the year: LSU at Alabama, Nov. 4

Three predictions for the SEC

Predicted finish: SEC

EAST OVERALL CONF.
Georgia 12-0 8-0
Tennessee 9-3 5-3
Kentucky 9-3 5-3
South Carolina 7-5 4-4
Florida 5-7 3-5
Missouri 5-7 2-6
Vanderbilt 4-8 1-7
WEST OVERALL CONF.
LSU 11-1 7-1
Alabama 10-2 6-2
Texas A&M 9-3 5-3
Ole Miss 8-4 4-4
Mississippi State 7-5 3-5
Arkansas 6-6 2-6
Auburn 5-7 1-7

Texas A&M’s Bobby Petrino wins the Broyles Award: Jimbo Fisher’s decision to turn his offense over to Petrino, a former Arkansas and Louisville coach, reeked of desperation after last season’s 5-7 debacle. What if it actually works? The Aggies ranked 13th in the SEC in scoring (22.8), 11th in rushing (141.8 yards) and 10th in passing (219.4 yards) last season. Not good. With quarterback Conner Weigman taking the next step with one of the league’s better receiver corps, the Aggies should be much better on offense.

LSU beats Alabama in Tuscaloosa: It’s basically a toss-up on which team will win the SEC West, but I’m going with the Tigers because of quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Tigers’ stout front seven on defense. Daniels has to be better throwing the ball down the field for LSU’s offense to prosper. There are also some holes in the secondary at DB U. Alabama is going to be steaming mad after falling to the Tigers 32-31 in overtime in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last season. I just don’t trust Alabama’s quarterbacks and receiver corps, which was pretty underwhelming last season. The Tide’s offensive line also has to play much better after surrendering 167 tackles for loss and 63 sacks the past two seasons combined.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is a Heisman Trophy finalist: Beck attempted only 35 passes as a backup last season, and he has the unenviable task of replacing Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to consecutive national championships. While Beck lacks Bennett’s mobility, he does have a stronger arm. He’s also going to benefit from something Bennett didn’t have: a deep and talented receiver corps. Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer Rara Thomas and Missouri Tigers transfer Dominic Lovett give Beck two more options to go with Ladd McConkey, Bowers and others.

Categories
Entertainment

Gwen Stefani Shares Uncommon Photographs of Her and Gavin Rossdale’s Son Zuma

Gwen Stefani Shares Rare Photos of Her and Gavin Rossdale's Son Zuma

Gwen Stefani is feeling hella good on her son Zuma‘s 15th birthday.

The “Hollaback Girl” singer marked the occasion on Aug. 21 by sharing a video montage set to Zach Bryan‘s “Something in the Orange” that featured never-before-seen photos, including a sweet snap of the teen proudly showing off a drawing to her husband Blake Shelton.

“Happy 15th birthday Zuma !!!” Gwen wrote on Instagram. “We love u more than anything.”

The 52-year-old shares Zuma and his brothers—Kingston, 17, and Apollo, 9—with Gavin Rossdale, who she was married to from 2002 to 2016.

Earlier this year, Gavin shared rare insight into their family dynamic and noted that he wouldn’t necessarily describe their situation as co-parenting.

“I think you can go one of two ways,” the 57-year-old shared on the June 15 episode of the Not So Hollywood podcast. “You can either do everything together and really co-parent and see how that goes, or you can just parent. And I think we just parent.”

Categories
Health

FDA approves Pfizer maternal vaccine for infants

FDA approves Pfizer maternal vaccine for infants

CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a vaccine from Pfizer that protects infants from respiratory syncytial virus, the leading cause of hospitalization among babies in the U.S.

Pfizer’s RSV shot is already approved and available in the U.S. for older adults.

It’s now the second treatment approved by the FDA to prevent RSV in infants and the first vaccine. It uses maternal immunization, which refers to vaccinating pregnant mothers so they can pass protective antibodies to their fetuses.

Pending a recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pfizer hopes the vaccine will be available to the public by the end of October or the beginning of November, which marks the beginning of RSV season, according to Alejandra Gurtman, the company’s senior vice president of clinical research and development for vaccines. 

“When you think globally, this vaccine could potentially have a huge public health impact,” Gurtman told CNBC. “After 50 years of trying to find a way where we can protect babies during the first three or especially six months of life, this vaccine is something I’m very proud of.” 

Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s vaccine head, added in a release that the approval provides another option for health care providers and pregnant individuals to “protect infants from this potentially life-threatening disease.”

The FDA in mid-July approved an RSV monoclonal antibody from Sanofi and AstraZeneca that is directly administered to infants. The CDC recommended that drug to all infants under eight months of age and some older babies.  

The agency’s panel of advisors is expected to meet and consider a recommendation for Pfizer’s vaccine in October, but it’s unclear how it will compare to the guidelines set for the first treatment since it isn’t given to infants.

Pfizer’s jab is specifically administered to expectant mothers in the late second or third trimester of their pregnancy. The single-dose vaccine triggers antibodies that are passed to the fetus, which provides it with protection against RSV from birth through the first six months of life.

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But younger children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to more severe RSV infections. 

Each year, the virus kills a few hundred children younger than 5, and 6,000 to 10,000 seniors, according to the CDC. 

The shot would help the U.S. combat the upcoming RSV season as it comes off an unusually severe year. 

Cases of the virus in children and older adults overwhelmed hospitals across the country, largely because the public stopped practicing Covid pandemic health measures that had helped contain the spread of RSV. 

Safety and efficacy data

The FDA’s approval of Pfizer’s vaccine was based on data from a phase three trial, which found that the shot was nearly 82% effective at preventing severe disease from RSV in newborns during the first 90 days of life. 

The vaccine was also about 70% effective during the first six months of the baby’s life.

In May, the FDA’s panel of advisors unanimously said the data showed Pfizer’s vaccine was effective. 

Respiratory syncytial virus – viral vaccine under research

Hailshadow | Istock | Getty Images

But some advisors expressed concerns about safety. 

A slightly higher number of premature births occurred among mothers who took the shot compared to those who received a placebo: 5.7% versus 4.7%, respectively. 

The FDA, following the approval Monday, said the available data “are insufficient to establish or exclude a causal relationship between preterm birth” and Pfizer’s vaccine.

Pfizer’s Gurtman also said the difference in premature birth rates was “not statistically significant.”

She noted that most premature births occurred 30 days after vaccination, which means “a very close causal relationship between the vaccine and preterm birth couldn’t be identified.” 

“We couldn’t find any reason why this really happened,” Gurtman said. 

She added that some upper middle-income countries, including the U.S. and Japan, didn’t see a higher rate of premature births in mothers who took the vaccine. 

Still, Gurtman said Pfizer is going to examine the risks in a post-marketing study on the vaccine. “Post-marketing” refers to research conducted on a product after it receives FDA approval.

The company’s post-marketing will also involve evaluating any pregnancy-related complications following vaccination, she added. That includes eclampsia, which refers to seizures that develop during pregnancy or shortly after birth. 

Pfizer will launch a pregnancy registry that will allow women and obstetricians to call and report any adverse events after receiving the vaccine, according to Gurtman.

Categories
Science

Is This How You Get Magnetars?

An artist's impression of the star HD 4 5166, which is on its way to becoming a magnetar. Courtesy ESO.

Imagine a living star with a magnetic field at least 100,000 times stronger than Earth’s field. That’s the strange stellar object HD 45166. Its field is an incredible 43,000 Gauss. That makes it a new type of object: a massive magnetic helium star. In a million years, it’s going to get even stranger when it collapses and becomes a type of neutron star called a “magnetar”.

According to astronomer Tomer Shenar (University of Amsterdam), HD 45166 provides clues to the creation of magnetars. He’s the head of a team looking at this strange object. Their observations show that this object is no ordinary massive star. Instead, they think it is what’s left after the merger of two lower-mass helium stars.

“Some of their mass was lost during the merging process,” he said in an email. “The result is this heavily magnetized helium star which mimics the core of a star that was originally 8 times more massive than our Sun—massive enough to explode as a supernova and collapse into a neutron star.”

This artist’s impression shows a highly unusual star destined to become one of the most magnetic objects in the Universe: a variant of a neutron star known as a magnetar. It will explode as a supernova, the core will contract, and concentrate the star’s already daunting magnetic field lines to create the magnetar. Courtesy NOIRLAB.

The newly formed helium object is a highly evolved Wolf-Rayet star. Before it becomes a magnetar, it has to go through some more changes. Stellar evolution models suggest that it will eventually explode as a type Ib or IIb supernova. As it collapses under its own gravity, the already-strong magnetic field will grow. Eventually, the object will become a very compact core with a magnetic field of around 100 trillion Gauss. That would make it one of the most powerful types of magnet in the Universe: a magnetar.

Studying the Progenitor for Clues

HD 45166 is actually a stellar pair, of which the Wolf-Rayet star is one member. Astronomers have observed it for more than a century, but its strange characteristics defied explanation. Shenar and research colleague Julia Bodensteiner (of Katholieke Universiteit in the Netherlands) decided to look more deeply into its oddities. “This star became a bit of an obsession of mine,” said Shenar, who has studied other helium-rich stars. He began to wonder if a strong magnetic field could explain what he and others knew about this object.

Magnetic fields play an important role in events and objects throughout the universe. They certainly influence behavior throughout a star’s life. So, it’s not surprising to consider magnetic fields when confronted with a stellar mystery. “I remember having a Eureka moment while reading the literature: ‘What if the star is magnetic?’” said Shenar.

To research that idea, and to see if this object is a proto-magnetar, Shenar and his colleagues requested and got time on several telescopes. The main observations occurred in February 2022. The team used an instrument on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope that can detect and measure magnetic fields. They also relied on archival data taken with the Fiber-fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph (FEROS) at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. That’s how the team found out the star had a magnetic field strength of 43 kiloGauss. “The entire surface of the helium star has a magnetic field almost 100,000 times stronger than Earth’s,” said team member Pablo Marchant, an astronomer at KU Leuven’s Institute of Astronomy in Belgium.

This observation marks the discovery of the very first massive magnetic helium star. “It is exciting to uncover a new type of astronomical object,” says Shenar, ”especially when it’s been hiding in plain sight all along.”

How Do Magnetars Form?

The discovery of HD 45166’s strange origins gives another tantalizing clue to the origins of magnetars. These objects are really strange denizens of the cosmic zoo. Magnetars are neutron stars, the hot leftovers from the deaths of supermassive stars. Essentially, neutron stars are the cores of the once-living supermassive stars. They’re no longer stars with nuclear fusion going on in their cores. Instead, these beasts are spinning spheres of condensed neutrons packed together incredibly tightly. All that mass has very strong gravity. And, something inside is generating a magnetic field that is trillions of times stronger than Earth’s.

An artist’s view of a highly magnetized neutron star, a magnetar. It’s thought that these objects have solid surfaces and suffer eruptions when their magnetic fields are disturbed. Credit: Carl Knox/ OzGrav

Magnetars go one step further and generate magnetic fields a thousand times stronger (at least) than their progenitor neutron stars. The process probably comes from a magnetohydrodynamic process in conducting “fluids” inside the star. This is roughly similar to what happens in the turbulent center of our planet. Like their neutron star predecessors, magnetars likely have solid, crusty surfaces.

Astronomers continue to probe these objects for clues to the origins of their hefty magnetic fields. As far back as 2009, they entertained the idea that stellar mergers could create conditions for such strong fields. According to Shenar, the origin of the magnetic field in HD 45166 probably goes back to the process that created the proto-magnetar. It gave rise to the hefty magnetic field, which he says “got frozen” into the layers of the star. That field will be the hallmark of the future magnetar.

At least 29 known magnetars exist in the Milky Way Galaxy, visible to us through their X-ray and gamma-ray emissions. Eventually, the magnetic fields relax and fade and the emissions stop. That leaves behind a dead core. It’s likely that our galaxy likely has tens of millions of inactive magnetars.

For More Information

New Type of Star Gives Clues to Mysterious Origin of Magnetars
How Mergers Magnetise Massive Stars
A Massive Helium Star with a Sufficiently Strong Magnetic Field to Form a Magnetar

The post Is This How You Get Magnetars? appeared first on Universe Today.

Categories
Sport

Gauff earns 1st Masters 1000 title, wins Western & Southern Open

Gauff earns 1st Masters 1000 title, wins Western & Southern Open

Aug 20, 2023, 04:11 PM ET

MASON, Ohio — Seventh-seeded Coco Gauff became the first teenager in more than 50 years to win the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova on Sunday.

Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, earned her first Masters 1000 title when Muchova sailed a forehand return wide on Gauff’s fourth match point. The 19-year-old American tossed her racket in the air and jumped up and down in glee after surviving a 1-hour, 56-minute match played in temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

“This is unbelievable,” Gauff said during the postmatch trophy presentation. “I’m just happy to be here for this moment.

“I want to congratulate Karolina for an incredible run in this tournament,” she added. “Hopefully, we’ll play more often, and on a bigger stage than this.”

Gauff was the tournament’s fourth teenage finalist and the first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. She is the first teenage champion since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.

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After a spotty first set that featured a combined five service breaks, including Gauff’s double fault on one game point, Gauff gained command over her Czech Republic opponent with a break in the eighth game.

She fought off two break points in the fourth game of the second set and took control with a break in the next game when Muchova sent a backhand wide. While winning the next game, Gauff caught a break with a winner off the net that left her with her left palm on her racket and looking up at the sky as if she were praying in gratitude.

She missed on three match points in the eighth game before closing it out.

“When I woke up this morning, the first thing I said was ‘Ouch,'” 26-year-old Muchova said. “I knew it was going to be a tough task to win, especially against someone like Coco.”

The 2023 French Open runner-up will celebrate her birthday on Monday by moving to No. 10 on the WTA rankings. Gauff will rise one spot to No. 6.

Categories
Technology

This watermarking device detects piracy from a single photograph

This watermarking tool detects piracy from a single photo

A new watermarking tool detects pirated content from a single smartphone photo or screenshot.

The system was developed by castLabs, a video software provider based in Berlin. The company says the tech can protect videos, images, documents, and designs from piracy and intellectual property theft. It can also spot media that’s been manipulated for disinformation.

To safeguard the content, an algorithm first embeds a hidden watermark within a digital asset. Detailed user data, including IDs, IP addresses, and session information, can be stored in the watermark. 

When a user takes a picture of the content, a cloud-based extractor scans the image to identify the watermarked data. CastLabs told TNW that the results arrive in seconds — even if there’s image distortion or obstruction. The system can also withstand multiple distortions and attacks, including camcording, screenshots, and screencasting.

Once the watermark is retrieved, content owners can identify unauthorized users and sources of leaks in the supply chain. They can then pursue immediate remedial actions — such as stream takedowns — or use the data as evidence in legal actions. 

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“We’re empowering them to safeguard their intellectual property, protect their monetisation models, and enforce their rights in the digital landscape,” said Michael Stattman, co-founder of castLab.

That landscape is constantly evolving. The combination of a cost of living crisis, a proliferation of streaming services, and crackdowns on password sharing have sparked a surge in online piracy.

Consumers are also increasingly supportive of the practice.  A recent survey found that 23% of US internet households view piracy as acceptable — up from 14% in 2019.

Content owners, however, are getting hit hard in the pocket. According to the Global Innovation Policy Center, overall content piracy costs as much as $71bn (€65.3bn) annually in lost revenues.

Those losses have created a big opening for castLabs, which says its tech is unique in the market. While competing solutions typically require tens of seconds of footage to extract concealed data, the castLabs system only needs a single video frame.

The company’s ambitions extend beyond the entertainment industry. CastLabs also envisions media outlets using the watermarks to detect deepfakes and fake news, while governments can apply them to secret information.

Categories
Entertainment

Apple Watts Speaks On Her Restoration & Mobility

Apple Watts Speaks On Her Recovery & Mobility

Eleven months after accusing her sister of stealing donation money meant to support her recovery after a devastating car crash, Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star Apple Watts is sharing an update on her progress.

In addition to discussing how she’s gradually gaining more and more mobility, Watts is thanking The Shade Room‘s very own Roommates for coming thru with the support when she needed it the most.

RELATED: (Exclusive) VH1’s Apple Watts Accuses Her Sister Of Stealing Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Her GoFundMe After Devastating Car Crash | TSR Investigates

The Reality Star Thanks The Roomies For Helping Fund Her Recovery

Apple Watts shared the development during a recent chat with Justin Carter for TSR Investigates Updatez, and she happily shared that — nearly a year and a half after the accident — she’s up and movin’ with the assistance of a specialized walker.

“I’m able to stand on my own now. I’m able to walk — I can do everything by myself.”

As her physical therapy runs her a bill of $195 a week, Apple Watts says she’s leaned on donations from people like the Roomies to help cover the cost.

“The Shade Room helped me a lot. It gave more people knowledge of what’s been going on with me.”

Watts went as far as to say, “I am where I’m at because the people been donating.” Additionally, she acknowledged how, while her sister was defrauding her, “strangers” and “people with regular jobs” were the ones to offer their support.

“I depended on my sister — I depended on her. I depended on my family to help me. But strangers helped me. People with regular jobs helped me.”

She powerfully wrapped up by declaring, “I’m at where I’m at because of them.”

So far, Watts’ official GoFundMe — which readers can access here — has raised nearly $30K.

Apple Watts Plans To Get Plastic Surgery & Will Soon Return To TV

While Apple Watts’ recovery journey isn’t complete yet, she says she should hopefully walk independently by late 2023.

“Probably by the end of the year, I’ll be without a walker. But I won’t be all the way corrected, but I’ll be somewhat.”

She also noted that she plans to get operations on her arm and hand, along with some plastic surgery to “lift [her] eye up.”

As for what the future holds for her career, Apple Watts says she’ll soon be jumping back into reality television thanks to two upcoming projects: Hustle and Gamble and The Heart of Apple.

Check out the full update down below.

RELATED: Kash Doll Speaks Out About Scammers Posing As Her Team To Steal THOUSANDS Of Dollars | TSR Investigates
Categories
Health

Weight-loss medicine value extra in U.S. than different nations, KFF says

Weight-loss drugs cost more in U.S. than other countries, KFF says

A box of the diabetes drug Ozempic rests on a pharmacy counter in Los Angeles, April 17, 2023.

Mario Tama | Getty Images

Blockbuster weight-loss drugs are priced significantly higher in the U.S. than in other large, high-income countries, according to a new analysis released Thursday. 

The report from KFF, a health policy organization, comes as many U.S. health insurers balk at the extreme cost of weight-loss drugs and drop the medications from their plans.

At roughly $1,000 per month on average for medications that are typically taken over a long period of time, the drugs are straining insurers’ budgets. But many of the 100 million American adults who are obese can’t afford to pay out of pocket for the treatments, called GLP-1 agonists.

KFF compared list prices — the price a drugmaker sets before insurance or any discounts — available through website searches. 

Some countries negotiate directly with drugmakers such as Novo Nordisk to set lower list prices for medications, according to Krutika Amin, associate director of the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Meanwhile, other countries such as the U.S. do not, contributing to vastly different list prices.

A 30-day supply of Novo Nordisk‘s diabetes drug Ozempic, which is used off-label for weight loss, for example, has a list price of $936 in the U.S. That’s five times as expensive as the $168 list price in Japan. 

The list prices are even lower in other countries. Ozempic is priced at $103 in Germany, $96 in Sweden and $83 in France. 

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic and is approved for weight loss, has a list price of more than $1,300 in the U.S. Meanwhile, Wegovy’s list price is just $328 in Germany. 

Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro, which is also used off-label for weight loss, has a list price of $1,023 in the U.S. but is just $319 in Japan and $444 in the Netherlands. 

Representatives for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment Thursday.

These list prices and the patchy insurance coverage of weight-loss drugs in the U.S. undoubtedly affect accessibility. But a KFF survey released earlier this month suggests that they also affect patients’ overall interest in the medications.

The survey found that nearly half of U.S. adults are generally interested in taking a prescription weight-loss drug, but that interest drops to 16% if the medication isn’t covered by insurance. 

About 80% of adults in the survey said insurance companies should cover the cost of weight-loss drugs for adults who are overweight or obese, while half said insurers should cover the cost for anyone who wants to use them to lose weight. 

New trial data released by Novo Nordisk last week could potentially put more pressure on U.S. insurers to cover weight-loss drugs. 

The Danish company’s trial found that Wegovy slashed the risk of serious heart problems and heart-related death by 20% in overweight or obese patients with established cardiovascular disease. 

The results suggest that Wegovy and likely other obesity drugs have significant health benefits beyond shedding unwanted pounds. But organizations representing insurers have told CNBC that more data is needed before they could qualify for broader coverage.