(NewsUSA) - According to the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, more than half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. However, a new poll from the Association revealed only about one-third (30%) of adults have talked with their health care professional about the effect some over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can have on blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, ask your health care professional – such as a doctor, nurse or pharmacist – about monitoring your blood pressure at home with a validated device, and discuss the impact of any over-the-counter medications. Some medicines, such as over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants, oral birth control, amphetamines and others may raise blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association’s most recent Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure.

The poll, conducted online for the American Heart Association by market research firm Big Village, surveyed approximately 3,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older.

The most frequent users of over-the-counter pain relievers were adults aged 45-54 years; nearly half took medication for pain once a week or more.

Overall, 61% of those polled had not discussed the effects of some over-the-counter pain relievers on blood pressure with a health care professional.

High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is when your blood pressure, or the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high. When left untreated, the damage that high blood pressure does to your circulatory system can be a significant contributor to heart attack, stroke and other health threats.

“It’s paramount that people who have high blood pressure, or are at risk for it, understand the effects associated with some over-the-counter pain relievers,” said Mitchell S. V. Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, chief clinical science officer of the American Heart Association and a tenured professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City. “A conversation with a healthcare professional about pain relief options is essential to preventing and managing high blood pressure,” he emphasized.

If you have high blood pressure, checking blood pressure at home regularly with a validated device is a proven way to manage it. High blood pressure is defined as a consistent measurement of 130 over 80 mm Hg or higher, according to the American Heart Association. Work with your health care professional to develop a plan to control it.

“Some over-the-counter pain relievers are safer than others,” added Elkind. “A conversation with a health care professional regularly about medications you or a loved one takes is an important step in finding safe options and controlling blood pressure.”

For more information on managing high blood pressure, visit heart.org/bptools.

(NewsUSA) - How a Pennsylvania Trade School Achieved a 100% graduation and pass rate on the NOCTI state exam

As the U.S. workforce struggles to fill a massive labor gap in the skilled trades industry, the fact that many skilled tradespeople are approaching retirement age only amplifies the problem.  As older workers retire, there need to be more younger workers to replace them; workers that feel confident and ready for entry-level roles in the trades.

The Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC), located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is filling this void of candidates in the HVAC field by teaching students with a best-in-class training approach.

DJ Mumau, HVAC instructor at ICTC, noticed the skill gaps issue when he previously worked in the industry and realized that at the age of 30, he was the youngest person amongst his coworkers.

When he joined ICTC, he faced several challenges. Student knowledge was hard to assess, personalized feedback was hard to deliver, lesson planning was time-consuming and student follow-through was unmanageable. As program enrollments grew, Mumau experienced challenges with the reach, scalability and effectiveness of course instruction. 

Recognizing the need for additional resources, Mumau researched supplemental training tools to prepare his students for HVAC roles upon graduation and landed on Interplay Learning, an online provider of training for skilled trades that includes virtual reality and 3D simulations.

“I realized it had everything I needed; I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “I started with a handful of seats for a few students to trial, and today, each one of my students has an Interplay account that they start using from day one through to graduation,” he said.

Mumau teaches his students in the classroom or does a lab demonstration, then assigns them an Interplay course where they can interact with the same concepts through images, videos and diagrams outside of the classroom. Students then apply what they have learned in hands-on shop sessions.
Integrating Interplay’s simulation courses into the curriculum gives students a clear and objective roadmap to practice their skills and competencies, preparing them to pass state exams and credentialing requirements, achieve multiple industry certifications, and land entry-level jobs.

On-going practice and repetition of fundamentals in a 3D environment accelerate the student’s ability to work with specialty tools and live HVAC/R equipment in the lab. 

Key successes of the program include improved student learning retention with online, supplemental HVAC courses that reinforce lectures and lab assignments, elevated lab performance, successful outcomes in state exams and increased post-grad job placements.

By supplementing classroom training, Mumau has lightened his administrative load.  He automates assignments and tracks grading and student evaluations in one place. He was also able to decrease damage to lab equipment and reduce materials costs through the use of immersive equipment simulators.

How does this investment into supplemental tools translate into measurable results?  100% of students graduated with at least one industry-recognized certification, 100% of graduates passed the state NOCTI exam with Advanced or Proficient overall scores and 81% of graduates continue in the HVAC field or post-secondary education!

“We’re not a huge town, but there’s a decent amount of companies around, and we try our best to do our part to prepare and place kids into the workforce,” says Mumau.

As other trade skills programs look to be a credible provider of qualified candidates to fill the workforce void, equipping instructors with training tools that engage students and complement classroom training is a powerful path to producing the best program outcomes.  Interplay’s easily accessible platform allows students to view, train, and practice their skills on any device, or in virtual reality. “The result is a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years,” according to the company. 

You can learn more about Interplay Learning here.
Austin-based Interplay Learning is the industry leader in immersive training solutions for the skilled trades.  Featuring expert-led videos, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks, and personalized learning paths, Interplay’s training platform is more scalable and engaging than traditional training. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI and VR, Interplay is reshaping the future of online skilled trades training, delivering highly effective learning experiences that result in better careers and better lives. 

(Kim Norris, LCFA Co-Founder) - Imagine taking a pill to battle lung cancer—no need for chemotherapy or radiation treatments. As recently as mid-November, the FDA approved a pill to specifically treat ROS1-positive lung cancer, which is one of more than a dozen types of lung cancer with an identified biomarker.

Asking your doctor for biomarker testing can lead to a definitive diagnosis, allowing for more treatment options that involve “just taking a pill.” 

Dr. Tejas Patil, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, says biomarker testing opens the door to understanding your cancer and providing therapies that don’t require chemotherapy. 

ROS1 cancer is one of more than a dozen types of lung cancer with an identified biomarker. This is why every lung cancer patient must ask their doctor, “What is my lung cancer’s biomarker?”

“What you're telling a patient when you say you need to get biomarker testing is you need to have the genetic makeup of your tumor. You need to understand that so that we can know how to give you the most appropriate targeted treatments. And specifically for ROS1, this is important because they're pill-based treatments. These are not chemotherapy,” said Dr. Tejas Patil, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Biomarker testing is the gateway to understanding this cancer. Several effective treatment options may become available after a definitive diagnosis through biomarker testing. In cases where the cancer has not yet spread and is in an early stage, surgery may be a viable option to remove the tumor altogether. For advanced stages, treatments in the form of oral medications have proven highly effective. 

Clinical trials are also valuable for ROS1 lung cancer patients, as they provide access to investigational drugs. Depending on the trial phase, patients may receive the experimental drug or the best standard of care that represents the current optimal treatment available. The financial burden of care within clinical trials is typically covered by the trial sponsor, offering a chance to access potentially groundbreaking treatments. 

For more information on ROS1 lung cancer, biomarker testing, and new therapies, please visit lcfamerica.org.

(NewsUSA) - Bradford’s Walk by Denis O’Neill

In this comforting narrative, Bradford, an irrepressible brown dog, delights all who join him on his daily walk through the beckoning Connecticut countryside... in a tale told in singsong rhyme.

"At the start of our walk, he's a pointer, I guess-aiming himself toward the sea. The sea is the Sound, by Long Island bound, and our walk is the ground in its lee."

Bradford bounds awake each morning and begs his owners' grown-up son to take him for a walk. From romping in the bushes to his rampant indifference to cars encountered, Bradford delights in every experience on his leisurely walk.

Bradford's Walk is a perfect poetic outing for children of all ages. Author Denis O'Neill and illustrator Cyrus Quadland combine their unique talents of storytelling and art to create this gorgeous poetry picture book. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Q5hlb2.

For the Love of Maggie O’Die by Cle Curbo

A mystery wrapped around a love story. Woman of a certain age and head of All Bio, Maggie O’Die, sees a strange likeness to her long-missing husband in young private investigator Ryger Deacon. When a secret group places a bounty on their heads, Ryger flees and discovers unexpected answers to his past as he searches for the missing Maggie O’Die and the granddaughter heir to her vast fortune.

“Curbo hooks his readers by dishing out the clues with enough breadcrumbs to keep his audience reading until the crack of dawn,” says author M.L. Hamilton. Adds author Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte, “The unusual premise along with the brilliant use of crisp dialogue provides a taut and building tension in an edgy yet beautiful display of fiction at its best.” Purchase at https://bit.ly/45J8Wyt.

Zeke the Polka-Dotted Zebra by Angela Doyle

In this heartfelt children’s book that lights a flame of compassion and awareness, Zeke, a baby zebra who loves to play in the waterhole and nibble the sweet grass in the African savanna, suddenly notices that instead of black and white stripes, he has black and white polka dots!  The African animals have never seen such a thing. How can Zeke fit in?

When poachers capture his parents, Zeke is forced to put his fears aside. But does he have the courage to be a leader? And will anyone believe a polka-dotted zebra? This book invites young readers and those young at heart to embark on a journey of imagination and discovery. As Tim Smith of Wildside Tours and Safaris states, “It ingeniously imparts essential lessons about love, coexistence, harmony, and the profound wisdom that nature willingly shares with those seeking it.” Purchase at https://bit.ly/3N2jrGP.

I’ll Remember You by Deborah Packer

Based on true events, set on the turbulent home-front America of 1943 in the shadow of the antisemitism and racism of the time, an idealistic, proud, small-town Jewish girl travels to Miami Beach for a vacation and falls for a complex, enigmatic Jewish soldier from Brooklyn with horrific memories as a child in another war.

A conflicted, bittersweet war-time love story -- two strangers struggling with personal challenges, misunderstanding and childhood trauma in the uncertainty of war and the desperation of a country fighting for freedom and democracy abroad but experiencing deep-seated hate and intolerance at home.

The story follows the couple through the turmoil of their hurried vows up to the moment the soldier leaves on a troop ship for England, convinced he won’t be coming home.  An epilogue is set in 1994. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3SK6qWc.

(NewsUSA) - Becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional means more than just a successful career — it means joining a supportive community. CFP Board and CFP^® professionals foster this community at various stages of the CFP^® certification journey. For both current CFP^® professionals and those aspiring to be CFP^® professionals, community involvement includes the following:

Working with a mentor. Preparing for the CFP^® exam can seem overwhelming, but CFP^® professional mentors can help candidates with time management, study strategies, motivation and managing their work/life balance. CFP Board offers specific mentoring programs that line up with the exams offered in March, July and November. The program is free; all you must do is create a profile and you will be matched with a mentor.

Connecting with peers. CFP Board’s Candidate Forum offers a unique opportunity for those on the path to becoming a CFP^® professional. You can be part of an online community to engage with other candidates at all stages on the path to certification. Use the forum to ask questions, share your own tips and find support. The convenient community site includes blogs with expert perspectives about issues that affect candidates for CFP^® certification as well as educational resources and information about upcoming events such as exam dates and webinars.

Learning together. The recent CFP Board Diversity Summit featured experts on topics of diversity, equity and inclusion in financial planning, with discussions of recent research and personal stories. The Summit was designed to be a place for connection and community-building among CFP^® professionals of all backgrounds.

CFP Board also hosts Certificant Connection events — both in person and online — throughout the year to share relevant news and networking opportunities. These events provide updates on how CFP Board is strengthening the value of CFP^® certification.

Volunteering. Some CFP^® professionals serve as CFP Board Ambassadors. These CFP^® professionals, chosen for their leadership skills, passion for the importance of financial planning and commitment to CFP Board’s mission, speak to media outlets and write articles to promote CFP^® certification to the public.

Becoming a CFP^® professional is not only about helping others but also about joining a fast-growing profession that pays well and is dedicated to creating inclusive environments that support individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Your financial planning career and one-of-a-kind community awaits. Get started today.

(NewsUSA) - The United States currently leads the world in its adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and the potential for increased productivity and economic success is high. However, more work is needed to stay a step ahead of global rivals, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a bipartisan nonprofit organization.

Unlike industrial technologies such as the steam engine, GenAI can perform a range of functions with few barriers to widespread adoption and diffusion, and deliver more than four trillion dollars into the global economy, according to a new report from SCSP.

Some examples of potential economic functions of GenAI at the government level include a chatbot assistant to enhance end-to-end IRS electronic tax filing; improved data analysis, risk modeling, and policy simulation by the Federal Reserve; and streamlining permitting and licensing by agencies such as the Departments of Commerce and Energy.

In the report, the authors explain how the U.S. could boost the economic benefits of GenAI by boosting competitiveness across three building blocks of AI leadership: Compute, Data, and People.

Computing Control. Computing chip technology is the engine that drives GenAI, and access to computing power and resources is essential to sustain GenAI leadership. Although the largest chip design companies are located in the U.S., the majority are manufactured in Taiwan, which creates vulnerability in supplies for the U.S. and its competitors. Cloud computing allows for increased computing power, and the U.S. is a global leader in this area, which also can help prevent bad actors from deploying dangerous AI models. SCSP advises the U.S. government to follow China’s example and ensure that academic researchers can access large amounts of computing resources via the cloud in order to maintain our competitive edge.

Data Driving. Detailed data are the raw material for training AI models. Data should be treated as strategic assets that must be harnessed, but used in a way that protects Americans’ rights and complies with relevant legal regimes. SCSP calls for a national strategy for strengthening the digital infrastructure, including advanced networks for nationwide data storage, processing, and transport. Legislation is needed for data privacy and also for digital trade.

People Power. People are America’s most important asset to stay competitive in GenAI and maximize the economic potential. The administrative burdens of the current immigration system may discourage highly skilled AI experts from bringing their talents the U.S., and reform is needed to smooth the path for these individuals. In addition, improvements in high-quality STEM education and pathways for reskilling and training in the U.S. are vital to optimize the productivity benefits of GenAI. Skilled AI researchers and end-users will advance innovation, create workforce opportunities, and sustain national competitiveness.  

For more information, visit scsp.ai.