Month: December 2024

NASA is contemplating designs and simulations to organize astronauts for the lighting circumstances across the lunar south pole

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 28, 2024

Artist's impression of astronauts on the lunar surface, as part of the Artemis Program. Credit: NASA

In the coming years, NASA and other space agencies will send humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era – this time to stay! To maximize line of sight to Earth, solar visibility and access to water ice, NASA, ESA and China have selected the lunar south pole (LSP) as the location for their future lunar bases. This requires the creation of permanent infrastructure on the Moon and requires astronauts to have the proper equipment and training to cope with the conditions around the lunar south pole.

This also includes lighting conditions, which pose a major challenge for scientific operations and extra-vehicular activities (EVA). Around the LSP, day and night last two weeks each, and the sun never rises more than a few degrees above the horizon. This creates harsh lighting conditions that are very different from those experienced by the Apollo astronauts or other previous missions. To address this issue, the NASA Engineering and Safety Council (NESC) has recommended the development of a variety of physical and virtual techniques to simulate the visual experiences of Artemis astronauts.

In the past, the design of lighting and functional vision support systems was typically relegated to the lowest level of program planning. This worked well for the Apollo missions and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) EVAs, as the helmet design alone addressed any vision issues. Things will be different for the Artemis program because astronauts cannot avoid getting bright sunlight in their eyes during much of the time they spend on EVAs. Added to the challenge is that extensive shadows appear around the LSP due to its cratered and uneven nature, not to mention the extensive lunar nights.

Artist's impression of the HLS spacecraft on the lunar surface. NASA has signed a contract with SpaceX to provide the lunar landing system. Photo credit: SpaceX

Additionally, astronaut vehicles and habitats require artificial lighting during missions, meaning astronauts must switch from ambient lighting to bright sunlight and/or intense darkness and vice versa. Because the human eye has difficulty adapting to these transitions, it affects an astronaut's “functional vision,” which is necessary to drive vehicles, safely conduct EVAs, operate tools, and manage complex machinery. This is particularly true for rovers and the HLS spacecraft landing elevator, both of which are used for the Artemis III and IV missions.

As Meagan Chappell, knowledge management analyst at NASA's Langley Research Center, indicates, this requires the development of new functional vision support systems. That means helmets, windows and lighting systems that can work together to allow crews to “see in the dark while their eyes are adapted to the light, in bright light while they are still adapted to the dark, and their “To protect eyes from injury.” According to the NESC assessment, these challenges have not been addressed and need to be understood before solutions can be implemented.

In particular, they noted that functional vision and specific tasks for Artemis astronauts were not included in the system design requirements. For example, the new spacesuits developed for the Artemis program – the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) – offer more flexibility, allowing astronauts to walk more easily on the lunar surface. However, there are currently no features or systems that would allow astronauts to see well enough when transitioning from bright sunlight to dark shadow and back again without losing their footing.

The NESC assessment identified several additional gaps, leading them to recommend that methods that enable functional vision become a specific and new requirement for system designers. They also recommended integrating the design process for lighting, windows and visors. Finally, they recommended the development of various physical and virtual simulation techniques to meet specific requirements. These are virtual reality programs that simulate what it's like to walk around the LSP during the day and night, followed by “dress rehearsal” missions in analog environments (or a combination of both!).

Astronauts operate around the lunar south pole. Photo credit: NASA

As Chappell summarized, the simulations will likely focus on different aspects of the mission elements to measure the effectiveness of their designs:

“Some would look at the glare of sunlight at the LSP (which is not easily achieved through virtual approaches) to evaluate [the] Performance of helmet shields and artificial lighting in the context of the environment and adaptation times. Other simulations would add terrain features to identify threats in simple (e.g., walking, collecting samples) and complex (e.g., maintaining and operating equipment) tasks. Because different institutions have different strengths, they also have different weaknesses. These strengths and limitations must be characterized to enable verification of technical solutions and crew training.”

This latest set of recommendations reminds us that NASA is committed to achieving a regular human presence on the Moon by the end of this decade. As that day approaches, the need for more thorough preparation and planning becomes clearer. If astronauts are going to go to the moon regularly (once a year starting in 2028, according to NASA), they will need the best training and equipment we can find.

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NFL Week 17 picks, schedule, odds, accidents, fantasy suggestions

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 27, 2024

NFL Week 17 picks, schedule, odds, injuries, fantasy tips

NFL Nation, ESPNDec 27, 2024, 06:50 AM ET

Week 17 started off with two road teams, the Chiefs and Ravens, grabbing wins over the Steelers and Texans, respectively, on Christmas Day. The action continues with a weekend stacked with great matchups, and we have you covered with what you need to know.

Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game, and analytics writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each matchup. The ESPN Research team provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, while our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection and a look at the playoff picture. Fantasy analyst Eric Moody finds fantasy football X factors, and three analysts — Kalyn Kahler, Moody and Walder — give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.

Let’s get into the full Week 17 slate, including a Ja’Marr Chase vs. Pat Surtain II matchup and a big NFC North showdown between the Packers and Vikings. It all culminates with a “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Lions and the 49ers on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)

Thursday: SEA 6, CHI 3
Wednesday: KC 29, PIT 10; BAL 31, HOU 2

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: LAC -4.5 (42.5 O/U)

Chargers storyline to watch: The Patriots’ defense could make it difficult for the Chargers to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Quarterback Justin Herbert ranks 29th of 33 qualifying QBs in QBR (46.8) against man coverage this season. The Patriots’ defense uses man coverage at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL (51.8%). If Herbert does find success against New England and throws for 153 or more passing yards, he’ll pass Peyton Manning for the most passing yards in a quarterback’s first five seasons in NFL history (20,618). — Kris Rhim

Editor’s Picks

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Patriots storyline to watch: Coach Jerod Mayo says the Patriots have had conversations about the role of playoff spoiler against the Chargers. “It just goes back to whoever’s playing the best that day. What you did last week, or the week before, really doesn’t matter, and that’s the beauty about this game,” he said. One potential concern for New England is at center, where starter Ben Brown is in concussion protocol. That could open the door for Cole Strange to make his first start at the position after opening his career at left guard. — Mike Reiss

Stat to know: With a loss, the Patriots will clinch a sub-.300 win percentage in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. will record an interception. The three Patriots players with the highest target rates are slot receiver DeMario Douglas, tight end Hunter Henry and tight end Austin Hooper. Quarterback Drake Maye will need to send some balls in James’ direction. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Chargers can punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win over the Patriots. They can also make the postseason if the Colts and Dolphins both lose to the Giants and Browns, respectively. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Chargers | Patriots

Fantasy X factor: Henry. He has averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game since Drake Maye took over as the starting quarterback. In fact, Henry has seen at least eight targets in four of his past five games. Against his former team this week, expect him to be highly motivated and a key player in New England’s offense. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Patriots are 8-15 against the spread (ATS) after a loss since the start of last season. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Chargers 30, Patriots 17
Moody’s pick: Chargers 21, Patriots 14
Walder’s pick: Chargers 27, Patriots 16
FPI prediction: LAC, 60.7% (by an average of 3.9 points)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: CIN -3.5 (49.5 O/U)

Broncos storyline to watch: The Broncos certainly hope cornerback Riley Moss can be back in the lineup for this one — he was a full participant in practice this week. In the three games since Moss sprained an MCL on Nov. 24 against the Raiders, Denver surrendered 30 points or more in two games and gave up two of their three highest yardage totals of the season. Moss has been the best option for the Broncos in the high-traffic position that is opposite of Pat Surtain II. Against a Bengals team that has thrown the ball 226 more times than it has run it, the Broncos will need every option in pass defense to clinch a playoff spot. — Jeff Legwold

Bengals storyline to watch: Ja’Marr Chase versus Pat Surtain II. It doesn’t get better than this. Chase is vying to become the fifth player since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to win the receiving triple crown, when a player leads the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Surtain leads all cornerbacks in expected points added when targeted as the nearest defender (negative-25.8), per NFL Next Gen Stats. It will be a battle of the best against the best. — Ben Baby

Stat to know: The Bengals are 0-7 against teams with winning records this season, which is tied with the Jaguars and Patriots for the most losses without a win. Strangely, the Bengals have averaged 30.3 points per game in those losses. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Surtain will allow fewer than 50 receiving yards to Chase. It takes a star to stop Chase, but that’s exactly what Surtain is. He has allowed 0.5 yards per coverage snap this season, which is the best among outside corners, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a win, which would be their first since the 2015 season, when they won Super Bowl 50. On the other end, the Bengals can keep their slim postseason hopes alive (7% chance, per ESPN Analytics) with a victory. Cincinnati would be eliminated with a loss. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Broncos | Bengals

Fantasy X factor: Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. He’s the QB10 in ESPN leagues and draws a favorable matchup against a Bengals defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. With his top target, Courtland Sutton, Nix is in a prime spot to deliver in one of the highest fantasy totals of the week. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Bengals have covered three straight games, while four straight Broncos games have gone over the total. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Bengals 28, Broncos 26
Moody’s pick: Bengals 31, Broncos 23
Walder’s pick: Bengals 24, Broncos 20
FPI prediction: CIN, 57.2% (by an average of 2.8 points)

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6:11

Breaking down the Chiefs and Bengals AFC playoff pictures

Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky discuss the Chiefs’ quest for the 1-seed, as well as the Bengals’ chances at the playoffs.

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: LAR -6.5 (47.5 O/U)

Cardinals storyline to watch: Even though the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, quarterback Kyler Murray still has something to prove. He has struggled since Arizona’s bye in Week 11 with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4-to-6 in the past five games, in which the Cardinals have gone 1-4. Before the bye, however, Murray threw 12 touchdowns versus three interceptions. He still has two games left improve and, at the least, even out his ratio. — Josh Weinfuss

Rams storyline to watch: Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not have a passing touchdown in Week 2 against the Cardinals. That was one of five games this season in which he has not thrown a touchdown, the most in a single season in his career, according to ESPN Research. He has thrown just one touchdown pass in the past two weeks despite the Rams being on a four-game win streak. Since losing to Arizona, Los Angeles has not lost a divisional game. — Sarah Barshop

Stat to know: Tight end Trey McBride has 92 receptions and zero receiving touchdowns. If this continues, it will be the most receptions without a touchdown in a season (previous record was 86 by Diontae Johnson in 2022). — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua will record at least 139 receiving yards to cross the 1,000-yard barrier. His efficiency numbers are outrageous. He has been targeted on 39% of his targets and is averaging 3.6 yards per route, both highest among wide receivers with at least 200 routes run. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Rams are looking to become the first team to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons after finding themselves three games under .500. They need to win Saturday and clinch strength of victory over Seattle to secure a postseason berth. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Cardinals | Rams

Fantasy X factor: Rams running back Kyren Williams. Great things happen when the Rams give Williams the ball. He had 24 or more touches in three of his past four games and scored 18 or more fantasy points in each of those. Plus, the Cardinals’ defense gives up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Cardinals have covered four straight games as underdogs (6-2 ATS this season, 4-1 ATS as road underdogs). Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Cardinals 27, Rams 25
Moody’s pick: Rams 27, Cardinals 16
Walder’s pick: Rams 34, Cardinals 21
FPI prediction: LAR, 55.2% (by an average of 2.0 points)

1 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: PHI -7.5 (40.5 O/U)

Cowboys storyline to watch: Quarterback Cooper Rush will be making the 14th start of his career and his third against the Eagles. The first two did not go well. In his first start replacing Dak Prescott this season, Rush threw for 45 yards on 13-of-23 passing in a 34-6 loss to Philadelphia. In 2022, he was intercepted three times in a 26-17 loss at Lincoln Financial Field, which was his first defeat as a starting quarterback. In his past two starts, he has gotten the ball out quickly and not been intercepted. If the Cowboys want to finish hot despite being eliminated from playoff contention, Rush has to stay away from mistakes. — Todd Archer

Eagles storyline to watch: The Eagles are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback. Jalen Hurts has yet to practice this week and remains in concussion protocol. Kenny Pickett injured his ribs while filling in for Hurts against the Commanders, but he has been able to practice and said Thursday he is “ready to go” against Dallas. He said he will wear extra padding to protect his ribs. If Hurts can’t play, 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee would assume the role of No. 2 quarterback behind Pickett. — Tim McManus

Stat to know: Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is a half-sack away from being the fourth player to reach double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons since individual sacks were first tracked in 1982. The others are all Hall of Famers in Dwight Freeney, Derrick Thomas and Reggie White. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will lead the league in tackles in Week 17. Dean is coming off four consecutive games of double-digit tackles and ranks fourth among linebackers in run stop win rate. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Eagles can clinch the NFC East division with a win or a Commanders loss to the Falcons on Sunday. This would mark the 20th straight season the division has not had a repeat champion, which is the longest streak in NFL history. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Cowboys | Eagles

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1:10

Stephen A.: Jalen Hurts’ injury a bigger deal than Jayden Daniels’ big game

Stephen A. Smith explains why Jalen Hurts’ injury was a bigger headline than Jayden Daniels’ stellar game in the Commanders’ win over the Eagles.

Fantasy X factor: Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is 268 yards away from breaking the league’s single-season rushing record. With the Cowboys’ defense ranking 28th in run stop win rate (27.8%), he has a chance to make history. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their past five games. They are 5-12 ATS in their past 17 games as underdogs. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Eagles 33, Cowboys 24
Moody’s pick: Eagles 34, Cowboys 21
Walder’s pick: Eagles 27, Cowboys 20
FPI prediction: PHI, 76.8% (by an average of 10.9 points)

1 p.m. ET | CBS | ESPN BET: BUF -8.5 (46.5 O/U)

Jets storyline to watch: There’s nothing on the line for the Jets, except some individual milestones: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs one touchdown pass to become the fifth player in NFL history to reach 500. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson needs 13 receiving yards to hit 1,000 for the third straight season, something no Jets receiver has done since 1966-68 (George Sauer). Davante Adams needs 72 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the fourth straight season and the sixth time in the past seven seasons. — Rich Cimini

Bills storyline to watch: While Josh Allen had success against the Jets earlier this season, it is a team that has given him trouble in the past. He has thrown 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 12 games, but he has beaten them in eight of those meetings. A win over the Jets would boost Allen’s résumé for his first MVP award after Lamar Jackson’s strong outing against the Texans on Christmas. — Alaina Getzenberg

Weekly NFL game expert picks

• Game picks from our NFL experts »
• Betting notes » | More NFL coverage »

Stat to know: The Bills are 23-5 in division games since 2020, which is the second-best record in that span (Kansas City is 24-5). The Jets are 5-23 in division games since 2020, which is the worst record in that span. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will record at least three pressures. He ranks second in pass rush win rate among defensive tackles over the past three weeks, but Allen is awfully hard to sack. Hence, the pressures — even if they don’t result in sacks. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Bills are no longer in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC after the Chiefs’ win over the Steelers on Christmas. But Buffalo can lock up the No. 2 seed with a win over the Jets on Sunday. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Jets | Bills

Fantasy X factor: Adams. He has been on fire lately, recording 11 or more targets and 17 or more fantasy points in four straight games. Now, Rodgers and Adams can test their chemistry against the Bills’ defense, which is in the top 10 for most receiving yards and touchdowns to receivers since Week 12. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Bills are 7-0 outright at home. Six of those seven games have gone over the total. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Bills 33, Jets 20
Moody’s pick: Bills 34, Jets 23
Walder’s pick: Bills 30, Jets 12
FPI prediction: BUF, 71.6% (by an average of 8.5 points)

1 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: LV -1 (37.5 O/U)

Raiders storyline to watch: Derek Carr spent nine seasons as the Raiders’ starting quarterback but never had a rookie quite like tight end Brock Bowers, who needs just 10 receiving yards to eclipse Mike Ditka’s 1961 single-season receiving yardage record (1,076 yards) for a rookie tight end. Bowers already owns the single-season rookie tight end catch record with 101 receptions and, with four catches in New Orleans, would surpass Rams receiver Puka Nacua’s single-season rookie receptions mark. — Paul Gutierrez

Saints storyline to watch: Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi continues to say that running back Alvin Kamara (groin) and Carr are week-to-week with their respective injuries. Carr, who has a fractured nonthrowing hand, has not practiced in several weeks but would be facing his old team if he played Sunday. The Saints, who were shut out last week, are looking to avoid being held under 10 points in back-to-back games for just the second time since 2000. — Katherine Terrell

Stat to know: Spencer Rattler has three straight starts with fewer than 175 passing yards. Another such game would make him the first Saints quarterback to reach that mark in four straight games since Steve Walsh in 1990. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Saints running back Kendre Miller will rush for 90-plus yards. The Saints run outside zone 61% of the time, second most in the NFL. And while the Raiders rank 14th in EPA allowed per designed carry overall, they rank 23rd when facing outside zone. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Raiders have a 1.3% chance to receive the No. 1 pick in 2025 NFL draft, per ESPN Analytics, after holding 14% odds prior to their Week 16 win. A loss would improve their chances to 3%, while a win would give them less then a 0.1% chance. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Raiders | Saints

Fantasy X factor: Raiders running back Alexander Mattison. Mattison and Ameer Abdullah had a similar number of touches in Week 16 with Sincere McCormick (ankle) on IR. Now, they’re up against a Saints defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Both are on the flex radar in deeper formats. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Unders are 10-5 when Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell starts, including 4-0 in his past four games. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Saints 20, Raiders 14
Moody’s pick: Raiders 19, Saints 18
Walder’s pick: Saints 19, Raiders 16
FPI prediction: LV, 57.2% (by an average of 3.0 points)

play

1:01

Why Brock Bowers is already a fantasy star in his rookie season

Eric Moody details the historic numbers Raiders TE Brock Bowers is putting up in his rookie season.

1 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: IND -7.5 (40.5 O/U)

Colts storyline to watch: Quarterback Anthony Richardson is coming off a career-high 70 rushing yards in last week’s win over the Titans, a continuation of the team’s recent increased commitment in his running ability. Richardson’s rushing frequency has picked up since he returned to the starting lineup in Week 11, going from averaging 6.83 rushes per game before his benching to 9.0 since returning. Importantly, Richardson’s runs of late are not scrambles but typically designed runs; he has had four games with seven or more such runs in his past five starts. — Stephen Holder

Giants storyline to watch: The Giants will try to end a franchise-record 10-game skid with Drew Lock in again at quarterback. Coach Brian Daboll thinks the continuity with Lock could help as they are also trying to avoid becoming the first team in NFL history to finish a season 0-9 at home. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said he wants to reward the fans who’ve come out to support them this season with a victory. This is their last chance. — Jordan Raanan

Stat to know: The Colts set a franchise record with 335 rushing yards against the Titans last week, which is also the most by any team in a single game this season. The Giants have the second-worst rushing defense, allowing 142.6 yards per game on the ground. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger will catch a touchdown. The Colts allow targets to tight ends on 22% of dropbacks, the third-highest rate in the league. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Colts could be eliminated from playoff contention before they even play this Sunday if the Chargers and Broncos both win their Saturday contests. If that doesn’t happen, Indianapolis would still be eliminated with a loss. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Colts | Giants

Fantasy X factor: Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. He had 11 touches and 16.9 fantasy points in Week 16, continuing to show value despite the ups and downs of the Giants’ offense. His receiving ability keeps him relevant in fantasy. Also, the Colts defense has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Colts are 6-1 outright and ATS against teams with losing records this season. They have not closed as at least touchdown favorites since Week 1 of 2022. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Colts 21, Giants 17
Moody’s pick: Colts 28, Giants 19
Walder’s pick: Colts 23, Giants 17
FPI prediction: IND, 68.3% (by an average of 7.3 points)

1 p.m. ET | CBS | ESPN BET: TB -8 (48.5 O/U)

Panthers storyline to watch: The Bucs had a season-high 236 rushing yards against the Panthers in a Week 13 win, but they still needed a fumble by Chuba Hubbard in overtime to win it. Quarterback Bryce Young completed 26 of 46 pass attempts for 298 yards in that matchup. He enters this contest off a three-touchdown performance (two passing, one rushing) that made him one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in Week 16. — David Newton

Buccaneers storyline to watch: The Bucs no longer control their own destiny in the NFC South after losing to the Cowboys last week. Revisiting fundamentals has been a huge point of emphasis. The Bucs’ 12 lost turnovers since Week 12 is third most in the NFL, and a lost fumble by Rachaad White on the final drive against Dallas doomed them, whereas a forced fumble by Anthony Nelson that was recovered by Yaya Diaby in Week 13 set up an overtime win at Carolina. — Jenna Laine

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0:55

Field Yates: Chuba Hubbard has been an unbelievable story

Field Yates discusses the impressive play of the Panthers and Chuba Hubbard.

Stat to know: Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield leads the NFC with 34 passing touchdowns. He is looking to join Tom Brady (40 in 2020 and 43 in 2021) as the only quarterbacks in franchise history with 35-plus passing touchdowns in a single season. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Bucs wide receiver Jalen McMillan will record a season high in receiving yards (76 or more). He has 50-plus yards in each of his past three games. And at least part of the time against the Panthers he’ll face Michael Jackson, who is allowing 1.6 yards per route run — more than average for an outside corner, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Walder

What’s at stake: Tampa Bay will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and a Falcons win against the Commanders. If that doesn’t happen, there are multiple scenarios in which Tampa Bay can clinch a postseason spot in Week 18, dependent on results from Atlanta and Washington. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Panthers | Buccaneers

Fantasy X factor: Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen. He has been outstanding recently, posting seven or more targets and 15-plus fantasy points in three of his past four games. His chemistry with Young is undeniable, and this duo should exploit a Buccaneers secondary that has allowed big games to wide receivers. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Panthers are 6-0 ATS in their past six games as underdogs. They are 6-1 ATS in their past seven games overall. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Buccaneers 30, Panthers 24
Moody’s pick: Buccaneers 28, Panthers 23
Walder’s pick: Buccaneers 31, Panthers 27
FPI prediction: TB, 80.1% (by an average of 12.8 points)

1 p.m. ET | CBS | ESPN BET: TEN -1 (39.5 O/U)

Titans storyline to watch: The Titans scored touchdowns on all seven of their red zone visits over the past two weeks. Offensive coordinator Nick Holz said the improvement came mostly from a more effective run game inside the 20-yard line and fewer penalties. Tennessee’s streak of consecutive touchdowns inside the red zone started after going 0-for-2 against the Jaguars in Week 14. — Turron Davenport

Jaguars storyline to watch: Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has already set franchise rookie records in yards (1,088), catches (73) and receiving touchdowns (9). His next touchdown catch will make him one of only five players in franchise history with double-digit touchdown catches in a season. The only Jacksonville player with more than 10 touchdown catches in a season is Allen Robinson, who had 14 in 2015. — Michael DiRocco

NFL Playoff Machine

Simulate your own scenarios and check the latest playoff picture. Playoff Machine »
• Playoff picture » | Standings » | More »

Stat to know: The Jaguars have a takeaway in five straight games, which is tied for the longest such streak in franchise history. But their eight total takeaways this season is the fewest in the NFL. No other team is below 10. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons will record multiple tackles for loss. He has recorded 11 on the season and ranks ninth in run stop win rate among defensive linemen. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Jaguars and Titans both have slim chances at the No. 1 pick, with odds of 10.1% and 5.2%, respectively, per ESPN Analytics. But they are guaranteed a spot in the top 10, and Jacksonville has an 85% chance of picking in the top five. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Titans | Jaguars

Fantasy X factor: Titans running back Tyjae Spears. In Week 16, he finished with more touches and snaps than Tony Pollard, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Spears’ role in the Titans’ backfield is growing, and he has a favorable matchup against a Jaguars defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Jaguars are 6-3 ATS in their past nine games. Over the past seven seasons, they are 7-15 ATS as home favorites. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Jaguars 20, Titans 12
Moody’s pick: Jaguars 17, Titans 14
Walder’s pick: Titans 22, Jaguars 19
FPI prediction: TEN, 59.4% (by an average of 3.7 points)

4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | ESPN BET: MIA -6.5 (39.5 O/U)

Dolphins storyline to watch: The Dolphins’ run game was resurgent in Week 16, with them rushing for 166 yards — their first time cracking 100 yards since Week 9. Perhaps uncoincidentally, last week’s game marked the return of offensive guard Isaiah Wynn, who played 34 offensive snaps against the 49ers. Wynn is expected to continue to either mix in or dominate snaps at right guard against a Browns defense that has allowed at least 100 rushing yards in all but two games this season. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Browns storyline to watch: In quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s first two seasons with coach Mike McDaniel, he posted the second-highest raw QBR (88.4) when facing Cover 1. But that has changed in 2024; Tagovailoa has posted the third-lowest QBR (26.1) against the coverage. That could play into the hands of a Browns defense that uses the highest rate of Cover 1 in the NFL. — Daniel Oyefusi

Stat to know: Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had just three targets last week against the Bengals, which is tied for a season low. His 72 receptions and 1,072 receiving yards on the season are already career highs. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson will record at least one sack and become the solo sack leader among rookies (he is currently tied with Braden Fiske at 6.0). Robinson ranks eighth among all players in pass rush win rate (20.6%). — Walder

What’s at stake: The Dolphins now have a 7.6% chance to make the playoffs, per ESPN Analytics. They would be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss or wins by the Chargers and Broncos on Saturday. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Dolphins | Browns

Fantasy X factor: Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith. He has been on a roll, with at least 11 targets in three of his past six games and 20 or more fantasy points in four of those. While the Browns’ defense is average when it comes to defending tight ends, it’s hard to ignore his positive momentum. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Browns are 4-11 ATS this season, 1-6 ATS in their past seven games and 0-4 ATS in their past four games. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Dolphins 28, Browns 24
Moody’s pick: Dolphins 30, Browns 20
Walder’s pick: Dolphins 20, Browns 14
FPI prediction: MIA, 54.1% (by an average of 1.7 points)

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0:52

Why Cockcroft likes streaming Colts and Dolphins defenses in Week 17

Tristan Cockcroft explains why he likes the Colts and Dolphins defenses going up against the struggling offenses of the Giants and Browns.

4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: GB -1 (48.5 O/U)

Packers storyline to watch: Quarterback Jordan Love struggled against the blitz in the first seven games of the season, which included the Packers’ Week 4 loss to the Vikings, posting the third-worst QBR when blitzed during that span. In the six games since, he has a QBR of 97 against the blitz, which leads the NFL in that category. The Vikings have the highest blitz rate in the NFL at 38%. — Rob Demovsky

Vikings storyline to watch: Sam Darnold is looking to become the first quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first season with a new team. If that happens, and the Vikings sweep the Packers for only the fourth time in the past 25 seasons, they’ll keep themselves on track for a huge Week 18 game at Detroit that could determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC. After struggling through a spate of midseason turnovers, Darnold has thrown 15 touchdown passes with one interception over his past six games. — Kevin Seifert

Stat to know: The Packers are 1-3 in NFC North games this season. A loss would clinch their fourth season under .500 in divisional matchups since 2002 and their first since 2018. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard will record at least 1.5 sacks. Over the past three weeks, Greenard’s 29% pass rush win rate at edge leads the league. — Walder

What’s at stake: Both teams are in the playoffs, but the Vikings can improve their chances at the NFC North title Sunday. Their odds increase to 36% with a win and fall to 14% with a loss, per ESPN Analytics. Minnesota can win the North either by winning out or by the Lions losing out. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Packers | Vikings

Fantasy X factor: Vikings running back Aaron Jones. He has had a solid first season with Minnesota, averaging 18.3 touches and 14.5 fantasy points per game. Now, he has another chance against his former team at home after scoring 17.9 fantasy points at Green Bay in Week 4. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Packers have covered four straight games, while the Vikings have covered three straight. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Packers 30, Vikings 27
Moody’s pick: Vikings 23, Packers 20
Walder’s pick: Packers 20, Vikings 17
FPI prediction: GB, 54.8% (by an average of 2.3 points)

8:20 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock | ESPN BET: WSH -4.5 (48.5 O/U)

Falcons storyline to watch: Running back Bijan Robinson’s impressive season has gone somewhat under the radar, and Atlanta will need a big game from him against the Commanders. Robinson has the third-most yards in the league running outside the tackles (885 yards with nine touchdowns), while Washington has allowed the second-most yards per carry (5.7) on such runs. — Marc Raimondi

Commanders storyline to watch: If Washington wants to win and secure its spot in the playoffs, it will want to get its running backs going. The Commanders have averaged 2.64 yards per carry the past two weeks and will face an Atlanta defense that ranks ninth in yards per carry allowed (4.3). — John Keim

Stat to know: Michael Penix Jr. is seeking to become the first quarterback in Falcons history to win his first two career starts. He won against the Giants without a passing or rushing touchdown, and a quarterback hasn’t done that in his first two career starts since the Dolphins’ Damon Huard in 1999. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Falcons wide receiver Drake London will record his second game with 100-plus receiving yards of the season. London enters Week 17 with an 80 open score, which is tied for ninth among all eligible receivers. — Walder

What’s at stake: Both teams’ chances at the postseason could be affected by the Buccaneers this weekend. The Falcons can clinch the NFC South title and their first playoff berth since 2017 with a win and a Tampa Bay loss to Carolina. The Commanders can secure their first playoff appearance since 2020 with a win or a Bucs loss. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Falcons | Commanders

Fantasy X factor: Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The Falcons’ defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, and it has really struggled against perimeter receivers. McLaurin has been on fire lately, scoring 17 or more fantasy points in four straight games. Given the matchup, he has a real shot at being the top fantasy receiver this week. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Four straight Commanders home games have gone over the total. Six of the past seven Falcons games have gone under the total. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Commanders 30, Falcons 28
Moody’s pick: Commanders 27, Falcons 23
Walder’s pick: Commanders 27, Falcons 23
FPI prediction: WSH, 60.5% (by an average of 3.9 points)

play

2:08

Adam Schefter breaks down Kirk Cousins’ Falcons future

Adam Schefter lays out the decision ahead for the Falcons after benching Kirk Cousins.

8:15 p.m. ET, Monday | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ | ESPN BET: DET -3.5 (50.5 O/U)

Lions storyline to watch: In a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is looking for revenge after Detroit blew a 17-point halftime lead and missed its first Super Bowl appearance. He described it as being “like a horror movie” and one of the worst losses of his entire life. “I feel like each player that was here last year knows the feeling that we had last year and we want to go in there and hopefully come out with a W,” St. Brown said. — Eric Woodyard

49ers storyline to watch: Much has changed for the 49ers since these teams last met. The Lions have continued to ascend, while the Niners have taken a significant step back. Since 2000, this will be the ninth time the teams that met in a conference championship game will play again the following season. The home team won seven of the eight previous times. But with Detroit still fighting for the top seed and carrying a perfect road record, the 49ers will need a big turnaround to pull this off. One place they could start? Generating turnovers. They have just one takeaway in their past five games (tied for second fewest in that span). — Nick Wagoner

Stat to know: The Lions are 7-0 on the road, which is their longest road win streak in franchise history. They’ve lost 14 consecutive road games to the 49ers, though, including the playoffs. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings will record at least six receptions. Thirty percent of Lions’ opponent dropbacks result in a target to a slot receiver, which is the second-highest rate in the league, per NFL Next Gen Stats. No one has played more snaps from the slot for San Francisco this season than Jennings. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs with a win and a Vikings loss to the Packers on Sunday. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Lions | 49ers

Fantasy X factor: 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. He bounced back in Week 16 with 21.1 fantasy points, which helped erase the sting of his rough 3.9-point outing against the Rams in Week 15. He’s in a great spot this week, facing a Lions defense that has given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the past four weeks. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Lions are 9-2 outright and 8-3 ATS in prime-time games under coach Dan Campbell. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Lions 40, 49ers 24
Moody’s pick: Lions 31, 49ers 24
Walder’s pick: Lions 31, 49ers 20
FPI prediction: DET, 61.8% (by an average of 4.5 points)

Health

Danaher had a disappointing 2024. The trail to success subsequent 12 months lies on Wall Road

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 27, 2024

Danaher had a disappointing 2024. The path to success next year lies on Wall Street

A worker uses a Pall Corp. manufactured machine during a demonstration of the clearance phase of flu vaccine production during a tour of a Sanofi Pasteur vaccine production facility in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania.

Stephen Hilger | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Life sciences company Danaher certainly wasn't an easy stock to buy this year. A wave of startups going public on Wall Street would go a long way toward changing that.

Science

European power firm should take away 84 wind generators from Osage lands in Oklahoma – do you agree?

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 27, 2024

European energy company must remove 84 wind turbines from Osage lands in Oklahoma - do you agree?

Of legal insurrection

Energy expert Robert Bryce: “It's a colossal black eye for the wind industry, which has racked up tens of billions of dollars in tax credits through the use of its turbines, which destroy the landscape, kill birds and bats and destroy property values.” efforts to avert catastrophic climate change.”

Posted by Leslie Eastman

In early 2024, I reported that a federal judge had ordered an Italian energy company to close an 84-turbine wind farm in Osage County. This was a big win for the Indian tribe, but some legal details still needed to be worked out with the company Enel Energy.

The federal judge in Tulsa's original ruling did not specify a timeline for removal or the turbines. The judge also did not determine the amount of damages the tribe was entitled to.

Now the company has been given a deadline for both wind turbine removal and damage costs, both of which will likely result in the company missing its 2025 financial targets.

Dec. 1, 2025. That's the deadline Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves of the U.S. Court of International Trade gave Enel and its subsidiaries to remove 84 wind turbines west of Pawhuska and return the land to pre-wind farm conditions.

She also awarded approximately $4 million in damages for conversion, trespass and legal fees.

“We are grateful that the court stood up for Native American rights. “Our lands and resources have been stolen and exploited by others for more than 150 years,” the Osage Minerals Council said in a statement. “We will always fight to defend our mineral wealth, which our ancestors reserved for our benefit and the benefit of future generations.

“We are open for business and look forward to working with anyone who deals with us in good faith.”

Enel's first mistake was ignoring how unhappy the Osage were with the wind farm plans. Hot Air's Beege Welborn pointed out the Green Energy Barons' utter arrogance in her report on the original decision.

What upset the wind company was its arrogance. How many times have we seen this?

Although the Osage Nation did not own the entire property, since purchasing the land from the Cherokees in the late 19th century, it had ownership of all mineral rights under the wind farm and the area required for road maintenance, etc.

Back in 2011, right at the start of the project, the Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent wrote a letter to the company warning it not to violate the tribe's mineral rights at the beginning or during any part of the development.

Ignoring this warning, others that came later, and disregarding repeated subsequent orders to acquire a mining lease and stop mineral rights violations were to prove Enel's undoing. And it will cost them a lot of time.

Enel has trampled all Osage mineral rights in its plan to build its wind turbines.

In 2010, Enel leased 8,400 acres of land rights in Osage County to build a wind farm with 84 wind turbines. The installation required deep excavations, using explosives to create craters over 10 feet deep and 60 feet wide.

During construction, significant amounts of Osage minerals were removed, processed and repurposed without permits, leading to allegations of unauthorized mining.

And as predicted, it will cost Enel Energy. The estimated cost of removing the turbines is about $300 million, a major blow to the company. In addition to the dismantling of the turbines, other details show that the judge was not affected by the energy company's arguments.

The judge found the defendants liable for conversion, trespass and continued trespass on the Osage Mineral Estate.
The court awarded $242,652.28 for conversion and $66,780 for trespass.
The defendants must pay more than $36 million in legal fees to the plaintiffs, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Osage Minerals Council.

Energy expert Robert Bryce notes that this is a historic victory against the green energy barons.

Big Wind has been cracking down on rural communities for years. In some cases, Big Wind has sued state governments to force them to accept wind projects they don't want.

…Only a handful of turbines have been demolished across the United States due to local opposition. In 2022, two turbines in Falmouth, Massachusetts were dismantled following numerous complaints from local homeowners about the turbines' noise and a years-long legal battle.

But an order to remove 84 wind turbines — from a federal judge — is nothing short of astounding. It's a colossal black eye for the wind industry, which has raked in tens of billions of dollars in federal tax credits by claiming that its landscape-destroying turbines, killing birds and bats and destroying property values, are part and parcel of it Efforts to avert catastrophic climate change.

It is also a huge win for Native American tribes and their legal rights.

I suspect this will be the first of many such victories against green energy barons who ruled this nation using “climate crisis” pseudoscience and political connections. The climate in Washington, DC has gotten colder for this nonsense.

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Entertainment

Perfumes beneath $50 that scent actually good

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 27, 2024

Perfumes under $50 that smell really good

The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. E! charges a commission on purchases.

A great scent is the invisible finishing touch to your look. Unlike jewelry, it won't tarnish or weigh you down. And unlike flashy makeup, it invisibly enhances your beauty.

Perfume sets the overall mood of who you are today.

You deserve a perfume that makes you smell good, no matter your budget. Luckily, there are plenty of expensive-smelling perfumes that won't break your budget.

Don't be discouraged by expensive designer labels. Our shopping experts have found a range of perfumes on offer for budget-conscious shoppers, including designer scents from Coach, Versace, Donna Karan and more.

There is no difference in the quality of these scents compared to the more expensive versions, except that you get a much better deal with the options listed below. And won't it smell even sweeter knowing you've saved a lot?

Add a luxury scent (or two or three!) to your collection with our favorite scents under $50 listed below. Shop a variety of options to suit everyone, including an unexpectedly lush floral Oribe scent, a fresh, fruity Versace scent, and a flirty, warm, delicious body spray from a fan-favorite brand.

It's time to expand your fragrance wardrobe at a more affordable price. Shop our must-have perfumes under $50 below.

Technology

Hyundai provides free NACS adapters to its EV prospects

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 26, 2024

Hyundai offers free NACS adapters to its EV customers

Hyundai seems to be in the Christmas spirit.

The South Korean automaker announced that it will offer free North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters starting in the first quarter of 2025.

Offer valid for current and new Hyundai electric vehicle (EV) owners who purchased or leased their vehicle on or before January 31, 2025.

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Hyundai says its authorized adapter will allow Hyundai electric vehicles equipped with Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors access to more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in the United States

“To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, we first listened to our current owners,” said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president of product at Hyundai Motor North Americ., in a statement. “These adapters will make DC fast charging more convenient for current owners.”

The NACS adapters will be available for all Hyundai electric vehicles available in the US market. These include the 2024 model year and earlier Kona Electric, Ioniq Hatchback and Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, as well as the 2025 Ioniq 6, Ioniq 5 N and Kona Electric. The automaker's luxury brand Genesis will also take part in the program.

This is different from the Kia unit as NACS to CCS adapters are only offered for Kia's EV6 and EV9 models shipped after September 4, 2024. Earlier models and Niro electric vehicles do not receive the adapters.

The new Hyundai 2025 Ioniq 5 will be the first non-Tesla vehicle to feature a native NACS port. Other new models, such as the Ioniq 9, also receive the native connections.

Meanwhile, both the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 initially charge slower with NACS on the Tesla Supercharger network than with their CCS adapter. Hyundai told Green Car Reports that this isn't about the vehicles, but rather the Supercharger network, which is scheduled to be upgraded sometime in 2025.

Technology

Generative AI makes conventional strategies of measuring enterprise success out of date

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 26, 2024

Generative AI makes traditional methods of measuring business success obsolete

Companies are already being radically changed by artificial intelligence (AI). There are now tools that provide immediate, high-quality results in improving certain processes without incurring high costs or delays. In fact, generative AI could completely upend the traditional way we measure success in companies.

Generative AI refers to programs that produce high-quality text, images, ideas, and even complex software code in response to a user's prompts (questions or instructions). Applications powered by data-driven algorithms enable users to quickly create high-quality content, redefining traditional measures of success.

A small coffee shop can create aesthetically pleasing menus in just a few clicks using apps like Jasper.AI. Online retailers can use generative AI chatbots like botco.ai to provide 24/7 support, answer questions, and provide advice.

Businesses with an online presence can use generative AI to analyze social media posts to understand customer sentiment. AI helps businesses by automating tasks such as writing marketing copy, creating social media posts, and creating blog articles. Additionally, AI can handle routine customer inquiries, data entry, and scheduling, freeing up valuable time for strategic initiatives.

Platforms like GPT-4, GeminiAI, and Co-Pilot are either free or affordable, making it easier for even small businesses to benefit from high-end features that were previously only available to larger companies with larger budgets.

Generative AI tools can create content in near real-time and deliver results without companies having to compromise on quality. In fact, AI tools get better at their work the more data they have at their disposal.

Companies that operate a family of models known as “as-a-service” models can make particular use of generative AI. One of these, called Content-as-a-Service (CAAS), involves companies offering other organizations quick access to high-quality written content and images. These tasks, once the sole preserve of humans, can now be completed by AI. Companies that operate a software-as-a-service (SAAS) model can also use AI, as some programs now generate complex computer code.

Old measures of success

In the past, project management and business success were largely defined by a simple formula:

Cost x time = quality.

Often referred to as the “Iron Triangle” from an operational efficiency perspective, this equation implies that in order to achieve a certain level of quality, companies must balance costs with the time spent achieving that level of quality.

For example, requiring something to be delivered both quickly and in high quality will typically incur higher costs. Proper planning and scheduling helps ensure competitive pricing and reliable quality.

Providing results more quickly often results in the need to invest more resources such as labor or specialized equipment, increasing overall costs. Conversely, providing more cost-effective solutions often comes at the expense of quality.

Generative AI can analyze social media posts to understand customer sentiment.
Caspar Greenwald

A related trade-off is that between speed and accuracy. When something needs to be done quickly, accuracy is often compromised.

AI has turned this mindset on its head as businesses can now achieve both speed and accuracy through the use of AI. This can increase productivity and drive innovation without sacrificing quality.

Likewise, generative AI allows smaller companies with fewer resources to keep up and compete with larger companies that use AI-powered tools. They can do this by streamlining operations, creating cost-effective marketing content, and providing personalized customer experiences.

This allows existing companies to become more efficient, competitive and creative. It can also lower barriers to entry for potential small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

Chances of survival

Many generative AI tools are cloud-based, reducing the need for significant infrastructure costs. They are also user-friendly and do not require any special expertise. This means that companies no longer need specialized talent to increase the competitiveness of their organization.

The UK government's recent autumn budget included a series of tax increases that will hit businesses, particularly some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which lack the financial buffers to weather severe economic challenges.

Companies can either defer or cut their recruiting budgets. In such a challenging economic environment, SMEs are using generative AI to increase efficiency and productivity, as well as improve accessibility and reduce costs.

Generative AI has reconfigured the “Cost x Time = Quality” formula, allowing companies to get things done quickly and accurately without having to compromise. For SMEs, it has reduced barriers to competition and increased the chances of survival in economic upheavals.

As generative AI evolves, companies must be open to embracing change and rethinking how they perceive everything they once thought to be true. Otherwise they have the wrong horse for the wrong course.

Kamran Mahroof, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Analytics, University of Bradford and Sankar Sivarajah, Professor of Technology Management and Circular Economy, Kingston University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Sport

Valencia indicators Carlos Corberan from West Brom amid relegation fears

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 26, 2024

December 25, 2024, 6:44 a.m. ET

Valencia have appointed Carlos Corberan as head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract after the Spaniard left West Bromwich Albion, the struggling La Liga club said.

Corberan spent three years at Leeds United as under-23 coach and as a member of Marcelo Bielsa's backroom team before becoming Huddersfield Town manager in 2020.

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The 41-year-old, who has since coached Olympiacos and West Brom, also previously played for Valencia's youth team.

“Carlos Corberan will be the new coach of Valencia CF until 2027,” Valencia said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The club has informed West Bromwich Albion FC of the implementation of the exit option set out in its contract to leave the English club.”

Corberan released a statement thanking the English club and its fans.

“I cannot even begin to explain how I feel for West Bromwich Albion, its fans and everyone associated with the club,” it said.

“In my more than two years here, I have felt nothing but the love of this community and the decision to leave was the hardest of my life. This special club will always have a place in my heart and I hope I can return one day.” I would like to thank you all for your incredible support.

Carlos Corberan coached West Brom to a win against Bristol City on December 22nd. Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images

Corberan replaces Ruben Baraja, who was sacked on Monday, while Valencia are second-bottom in the standings with 12 points, just two wins in 17 league games and four points from safety.

The club's Singaporean owner, Peter Lim, continues to face significant protests from fans.

Lim acquired the then heavily indebted Valencia in 2014, but did not enjoy much popularity as the club was regularly forced to sell its top players to reduce the club's heavy debts, while making no significant signings to strengthen the squad.

Valencia, which still has a game in hand, plays second-place Real Madrid at home on January 3, a catch-up game after the original game was postponed due to flooding last month.

Science

Webb observes protoplanetary disks that contradict fashions of planet formation

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 26, 2024

Webb observes protoplanetary disks that contradict models of planet formation

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was specifically designed to answer some of the biggest unsolved questions in cosmology. These include all the important questions scientists have been pondering since the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) gained its deepest insights into the universe: the Hubble voltage, how the first stars and galaxies came together, how planetary systems formed, and when the first black appeared Holes appeared. In particular, Hubble discovered something very interesting in 2003 when he observed a star almost as old as the universe itself.

This ancient star was orbited by a massive planet, whose very existence contradicted accepted models of planet formation because stars in the early universe did not have time to produce enough heavy elements for planet formation. Thanks to recent observations from JWST, an international team of scientists announced that they may have solved this mystery. By observing stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC), where there are no large amounts of heavy elements, they found stars with planet-forming disks that are longer-lived than those seen around young stars in our Milky Way Galaxy.

The study was led by Guido De Marchi, an astronomer at the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands. He was joined by researchers from the INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab, the UK Astronomy Technology Center (UK ATC), the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh and the University Leiden Observatory, the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA's Ames Research Center and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The paper detailing their findings appeared Dec. 16 in the Astrophysical Journal.

James Webb Space Telescope image of NGC 346, a massive star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Olivia C. Jones (UK ATC)/Guido De Marchi (ESTEC)/Margaret Meixner (USRA)

According to accepted cosmological models, the first stars in the universe (Population III stars) formed 13.7 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. These stars were very hot, bright, massive, short-lived, and consisted of hydrogen and helium, with hardly any heavy elements. These elements were gradually forged inside Population III stars, distributing them throughout the universe as they exploded in a supernova, blowing off their outer layers to form star-forming nebulae.

These nebulae and their traces of heavier elements would form the next generation of stars (Population II). After these stars formed from gas and dust in the nebula, which underwent gravitational collapse, the remaining material fell around the new stars, forming protoplanetary disks. As a result, subsequent stellar populations contained higher concentrations of metals (also known as metallicity). The presence of these heavy elements, from carbon and oxygen to silicon and iron, led to the formation of the first planets.

Hubble's discovery of a massive planet (2.5 times Jupiter's mass) around a star that existed just a billion years after the Big Bang stunned scientists because early stars contained only tiny amounts of heavier elements. This suggested that planet formation began when the universe was very young and some planets had time to become particularly massive. Elena Sabbi, the chief scientist of the Gemini Observatory at the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab, explained in a NASA press release:

“Current models predict that with so few heavier elements, the disks around stars have short lifespans, so short that planets cannot grow large. But Hubble has seen these planets. So what if the models weren’t accurate and discs could last longer?”

To test this theory, the team used Webb to observe the massive star-forming star cluster NGC 346 in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy and one of the Milky Way's closest neighbors. This star cluster is also known to contain relatively small amounts of heavier elements and served as a close proxy for stellar environments in the early Universe. Previous observations of NGC 346 by Hubble showed that many young stars in the cluster (around 20 to 30 million years old) apparently still had protoplanetary disks around them. This was also surprising since such disks were thought to disintegrate after 2 to 3 million years.

Thanks to Webb's high-resolution and sophisticated spectrometers, scientists now have the first spectra of young Sun-like stars and their surroundings in a nearby galaxy. As study leader Guido De Marchi from the European Center for Space Research and Technology in Noordwijk put it:

“The Hubble results were controversial and contradicted not only empirical evidence in our galaxy but also current models. This was fascinating, but without the ability to obtain spectra of these stars, we couldn't really determine whether this was real accretion and the presence of disks or just artificial effects.”

“We see that these stars are actually surrounded by disks and are still devouring material even at a relatively old age of 20 or 30 million years. This also means that planets around these stars have more time to form and grow than in nearby star-forming regions in our own galaxy.”

The direct comparison shows a Hubble image of the massive star cluster NGC 346 (left) with a Webb image of the same star cluster (right). Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Olivia C. Jones (UK ATC)/Guido De Marchi (ESTEC)/Margaret Meixner (USRA)/Antonella Nota (ESA)

These findings naturally raise the question of how disks with few heavy elements (the actual building blocks of planets) can survive for so long. The researchers proposed two different mechanisms that could explain these observations alone or in combination. One possibility is that a star's radiation pressure is effective only when elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are present in sufficient quantities in the disk. However, the star cluster NGC 346 only contains about ten percent of the heavier elements of our sun, so it can take longer for a star in this cluster to dissolve its disk.

The second possibility is that where heavier elements are scarce, a Sun-like star would have to form from a larger cloud of gas. This would also create a larger and more massive protoplanetary disk, which would take longer to destroy the stellar radiation. Sabbi said:

“The more matter there is around the stars, the longer the accretion takes. It takes ten times longer for the slices to disappear. This impacts how you design a planet and what kind of system architecture you can have in these different environments. This is so exciting.”

“With Webb we have a really strong confirmation of what we saw with Hubble, and we need to rethink how we model planet formation and early evolution in the early universe,” Marchi added.

Like many of Webb's observations, these results are a fitting reminder of what the next-generation space telescope was designed to do. The JWST not only confirmed the Hubble tension, but also observed more galaxies (and larger ones!) in the early universe than the models predicted. It was also observed that the seeds of supermassive black holes (SMBH) were more massive than expected. In this regard, the JWST does its job by making astronomers rethink theories that have been accepted for decades. This will result in new theories and discoveries that could upend what we think we know about the cosmos.

Further reading: NASA, The Astrophysical Journal

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Health

FDA Zepbound scarcity ends, impacts sufferers, compounding pharmacies

Post author By Mans Life Daily
Post date December 26, 2024

Eli Lilly invests to increase supply of Mounjaro and Zepbound

An injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, is displayed in New York City on Dec. 11, 2023.

Brendan McDermid | Reuters

The roughly $1,000 monthly price tag of Eli Lilly‘s weight loss drug Zepbound put the blockbuster treatment out of reach for Willow Baillies, 29, whose insurance does not cover it.

Baillies, a human resources specialist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been attempting to lose weight and dealing with chronic autoimmune issues for years, so she turned to a cheaper alternative: a compounded, off-brand version of tirzepatide.

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Zepbound and in Eli Lilly’s diabetes counterpart Mounjaro, which are part of a class of highly popular medications called GLP-1s.

She said compounded tirzepatide has helped change her life dramatically since she began taking it in June, alleviating pain from her autoimmune issues and helping her lose about 52 pounds. She said it costs her around $350 per month.

But soon, compounded versions of tirzepatide could become inaccessible to Baillies and other patients who rely on them. Patients and health-care experts said that could force some consumers to stockpile doses, switch to other treatments, or stop receiving care altogether due to financial constraints. Others could turn to a potentially unsafe method of mixing vials themselves.

That’s because the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced that branded tirzepatide is no longer in short supply — a decision that will largely prevent compounding pharmacies from making and selling cheaper versions of the drug in the next two to three months.

During FDA-declared shortages, pharmacists can legally make compounded versions of brand-name medications. But drugmakers and some health experts have pushed back against the practice because the FDA does not approve compounded drugs, which are essentially custom-made copies prescribed by a doctor to meet a specific patient’s needs.

The FDA’s decision, based on the agency’s comprehensive analysis of data, could mean that more patients with insurance coverage will be able to access Zepbound after months of limited supply. It also suggests that Eli Lilly’s multibillion-dollar effort to ramp up manufacturing for tirzepatide is starting to pay off.

But it will also leave other patients in limbo, closing a niche, lucrative market for compounded tirzepatide that patients say helped fill a gap in care for those who can’t afford to pay out of pocket for Zepbound.

Many insurance plans still don’t cover drugs for weight loss, and some patients said prices under Eli Lilly’s savings program and for its half-priced vial versions are still too high.

“I’ve stockpiled 10 compounded vials at home, so I have at least a year’s worth,” said Baillies, one of six patients CNBC spoke with about compounded tirzepatide. “We’re willing to kind of do anything to have this. It’s not just about looks; it’s about the opportunity it gives us to live our lives to the fullest.”

Many patients and major trade groups question whether the shortage is truly resolved amid reports of people still struggling to find Eli Lilly’s drugs.

Some medical professionals raised concerns about whether Eli Lilly can meet demand once more patients come off compounded tirzepatide and others start Zepbound for its newly approved use: obstructive sleep apnea.

It’s unclear how many people are on compounded tirzepatide, but one trade group estimated in November that there are more than 200,000 prescriptions for compounded versions of its main rival — Novo Nordisk‘s weight-loss drug Wegovy — being filled each month.

“In this current moment, I have confidence that the shortage is over,” said Dr. Shauna Levy, an obesity medicine specialist and medical director of the Tulane Bariatric Center in New Orleans. “Do I think the shortage is over forever? Probably not.”

Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Compounders face deadlines, with some exceptions

The FDA initially declared the tirzepatide shortage over in October.

But a trade group called the Outsourcing Facilities Association sued days later, claiming the agency made its determination without proper notice and failed to account for continued supply disruptions. That lawsuit pushed the FDA to reconsider and allowed pharmacists to make compounded versions in the meantime.

In its decision announced Thursday, the FDA concluded based on data from Eli Lilly, patients, providers, compounders, and other sources that “Lilly’s supply is currently meeting or exceeding demand and that, based on our best judgment, it will meet or exceed projected demand.”

The FDA is giving so-called 503A compounding pharmacies until Feb. 18 before it takes enforcement action that would put a halt to their work. The 503A pharmacies make compounded drugs according to individual prescriptions for a specific patient and are largely regulated by states rather than the FDA.

Meanwhile, pharmacies manufacturing compounded drugs in bulk with or without prescriptions — known as 503B outsourcing facilities — get an additional month, with a deadline of March 19. They are regulated by FDA guidelines.

An Eli Lilly & Co. Zepbound injection pen arranged in the Brooklyn borough of New York on March 28, 2024.

Shelby Knowles | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Those “off-ramp periods are appreciated” because it gives patients time to switch to brand-name tirzepatide, said Tenille Davis, chief advocacy officer for trade group Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding.

But the group’s members are still reporting that “there’s a real lack of availability” of tirzepatide, she said. That trade group represents compounding pharmacies and hybrid pharmacies that also dispense regular drug prescriptions.

Still, 503A pharmacies may be allowed to continue making compounded tirzepatide in certain situations under the law, Davis said.

That includes when a prescriber determines that a compounded version with certain changes will produce a “significant difference” for a patient. For example, a patient may need a specialized dose or be allergic to the dye in a branded product.

Davis said that means compounded tirzepatide won’t be completely eliminated in the U.S., but the scale of it will “certainly decrease.”

The legal battle between the FDA and the Outsourcing Facilities Association isn’t over yet, however. On Thursday, the FDA and OFA jointly said they will provide an update in court by Jan. 2 to address the “next steps in this litigation.” They also said if the trade group files a preliminary injunction over the next two weeks, the FDA will not take action against its members for continuing to make compounded tirzepatide until the court resolves the case.

That pending litigation further “adds to the confusion of the status of compounded tirzepatide after February and March,” said Dae Lee, a partner at law firm Frier Levitt who represents pharmacies, none of which were involved in the dispute with the FDA.

Patients look to alternatives

Amanda Bonello has been taking compounded tirzepatide and has launched a petition demanding the FDA support access to compounded GLP-1s.

Courtesy: Amanda Bonello

Many patients who rely on compounded tirzepatide are scrambling to ensure they can continue care.

That includes Amanda Bonello, 36, an Iowa-based account manager who said she is prediabetic. Bonello said taking compounded tirzepatide over the last two months has helped her lose 26 pounds and normalized her blood sugar levels, allowing her to avoid a diabetes diagnosis.

She said she “absolutely cannot” afford branded tirzepatide since her insurance does not cover it, so she will consider switching to compounded semaglutide. That is the active ingredient in Wegovy and its diabetes counterpart Ozempic, Novo Nordisk’s two GLP-1s that are still on the FDA’s drug shortage list.

Many compounding pharmacies make unbranded versions of semaglutide, which has been on the U.S. market — and in short supply — for much longer than tirzepatide. But an end to the shortage may be imminent, with the FDA announcing in late October that all doses of semaglutide are available.

“If compounded semaglutide goes away as well, then I will be screwed,” Bonello said. She has launched an online petition demanding that the FDA support access to compounded GLP-1s. The petition has gained more than 15,000 signatures in the past month.

Erin Hunt (right,) a patient who has been taking compounded tirzepatide, and her husband Brice.

Courtesy: Erin Hunt

Another patient, Erin Hunt, 31, a communications analyst based in Maryland, said she may eventually switch to the branded version of tirzepatide.

Hunt started taking compounded tirzepatide in April after struggling to find supply of Zepbound, which she took for one month. It has helped her lose around 55 pounds, experience fewer symptoms from her chronic inflammatory conditions and pursue a healthier diet and exercise. She said she initially paid $300 per month for the compound drug and now pays $350 for a higher dose.

Hunt’s insurance does not cover Zepbound. But she qualifies for Eli Lilly’s savings card program, which allows commercially insured patients without coverage for Zepbound to buy a month’s supply for around $650. Under that program, patients whose commercial insurance plan covers Zepbound can pay as low as $25.

“I am extremely concerned for what it’s going to cost,” Hunt said. “This medication has literally changed my life, and it’s probably going to benefit me to be on a maintenance dose for life.”

For Jill Skala, 49, a teacher in western Pennsylvania, the FDA’s decision means that she will lose a more affordable option after her insurance drops Zepbound coverage on Jan. 1.

Her copay for Zepbound has been around $10 per month since she started the drug in March. Skala said she has lost 52 pounds and noticed “profound improvements” in her mental health, sleep and energy levels. She has stockpiled a three-month supply of Zepbound, she said, and will “do the best I can to maintain my weight loss” once that runs out.

“I don’t see myself continuing to get the branded version at this point unless there’s a pathway back through insurance or Eli Lilly drops the price,” Skala said. “I just paid off my student loans. I don’t want to start my medical debt problem here.”

Jill Skala has been taking branded Zepbound since March, but will soon lose insurance coverage for it.

Courtesy: Jill Skala

Other patients may turn to an underground community Reddit users call “the gray market”: People directly purchase powdered tirzepatide or semaglutide peptides for as little as $50 per month from certain vendors, including Chinese manufacturers, and mix that with sterile water at home, creating a solution they can inject under their skin.

Reddit users say the community establishes protocols for third-party lab testing of peptides to verify their purity and promotes safe mixing and dosing practices.

But Tulane’s Levy said the method “seems very dangerous,” noting that mixing homemade medications without proper training “could potentially have real consequences.”

She said it “highlights people’s desperation to treat the disease of obesity, which is being inadequately met by our current insurance status” for drugs such as Zepbound.

Continuing care

Some compounding pharmacies such as Strive Pharmacy are operating as usual pending more updates to the legal fight. Strive operates nine 503A pharmacies across the U.S., which offer compounded GLP-1s and other services.

But Strive will largely stop making compounded tirzepatide by the February deadline if nothing further happens, according to Matthew Montes de Oca, the company’s chief clinical officer. He acknowledged that Strive could create compounded versions of the drug for specific prescriptions, such as adding glycine to help prevent muscle deterioration in a patient.

Compounded tirzepatide with glycine is what Gina Wright’s doctor will prescribe for her so she can continue taking the unbranded version, which she gets from a different pharmacy. Wright, 58, a self-employed business consultant in Colorado who is prediabetic, said she is paying $225 for a five-milligram dose, which she began taking earlier this month.

She is on her state Medicaid plan, which does not cover Zepbound, so she does not qualify for Eli Lilly’s savings card program. But Wright said she also has sleep apnea, so she is trying to get insurance to cover Zepbound for that purpose.

Gina Wright began taking compounded tirzepatide earlier this month.

Courtesy: Gina Wright

De Oca said compounding individual prescriptions for specific patients will make it harder for Strive to ensure that all of its safety procedures are still in place. Strive typically tests its tirzepatide and semaglutide with a third-party analytical company and conducts a months-long “stability study” to guarantee the quality and safety of the product before creating batches of up to 250 vials, he noted.

Dr. Mace Scott, the owner and medical director of Chronos Body Health Wellness, said the fate of compounded tirzepatide at his Louisiana-based medical spa will depend on the pharmacies he sources it from and “how they decide to move forward.” His spa relies on both 503A and 503B pharmacies, he said, so some patients may be able to continue compounded tirzepatide with a specialized prescription.

Scott said he is trying to help some patients get insurance approval for branded tirzepatide. He is recommending that others switch to compounded semaglutide, which is what roughly 75% of Chronos patients are taking, he said. The spa has treated more than 10,000 patients with branded or compounded GLP-1 medications, according to its website.

“It’s kind of a tough road to traverse right now, so we’re trying to figure out what’s best on a patient-by-patient basis,” Scott told CNBC.

The American Diabetes Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes diabetes research and advocacy, told CNBC it recommends against the use of compounded GLP-1s due to “ongoing concerns” about their safety, quality and efficacy.

It is difficult to discern the quality of the product and its distributor, which poses a potential risk to patients, Joshua Neumiller, the association’s president-elect for health care and education, said in a statement.

Neumiller also pointed to an FDA alert in July about cases of patients measuring and administering incorrect doses of compounded GLP-1s, some of which resulted in adverse events that required hospitalization.

But Molly B., an interior designer based in New York who asked CNBC to omit her full last name, said compounded GLP-1s are her only option.

She said her insurance denied coverage for brand-name semaglutide twice before she started taking compounded tirzepatide in September. It has helped her lose 23 pounds, she said, and eliminated constant thoughts about food — a game changer for a patient suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder that makes it difficult to lose weight.

“I have never been able to lose this much weight on my own, and I’ve tried 100 times,” she said. “This has really changed my life, so I would hope that I can continue to get it the way I am now.”