Study improves understanding of net worth poverty and child development

When people talk about poverty in the United States, most talk about income. But income is just half of the story, says Christina Gibson-Davis, a professor of public policy and sociology at Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy and an affiliate of Center for Child and Family Policy. The other half of the financial equation is family wealth: the value of a family's assets, like savings and property, minus their debt. Gibson-Davis is part of a research team that set out to find how children are affected by net worth poverty, defined as having wealth less than one-fourth of the federal poverty line, a standard set by income. In 2022, for example, the federal poverty line for a family of four living in the contiguous 48 states is $27,750. The team looked at wealth and income information, as well as cognitive and behavioral data, of children ages 3 to 17 years. The data was collected from 2002 to 2019 by the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Their analysis indicated that net worth poverty is linked to lower cognitive scores and increases in problem and behavior scores in children. The new research appears Sept. 6 in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, an open access journal. We now know that wealth deprivation likely has effects on children. Typically, people talk about the harms of income poverty, yet net worth poverty can also contribute to adverse outcomes. We have been focusing on one type of poverty and ignoring another." Christina Gibson-Davis, professor of public policy and sociology, Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy Related Stories Study addresses food texture challenges in the life of children with Down syndrome Caffeine metabolite could become a valuable treatment for myopia in children Using AI to foster productivity in pharmaceutical research and development "Very few families are just income poor," Gibson-Davis says. "Most poor parents experience net worth poverty. We should think about policies that focus on building wealth." Interventions such as the earned income tax credit focus on increasing cash flow to households. But that only has limited effectiveness if a family doesn't have an economic buffer. Building financial security through wealth can help families overcome tough financial periods. Their findings suggest policies that speak to both income and wealth might have bigger impacts for children, such as distributing "baby bonds" to apply to a child's future education. Providing reparations are another way. Previously, the same research team looked at who experiences net worth poverty and found that Black families with children are more likely than white families with children to have net worth poverty. Parents who are net-worth poor may be limited in the investments they can make in their children, Gibson-Davis adds, which includes everything from housing, schooling, social peers and greenspace. "Wealth is really fundamental to a child's well-being," Gibson-Davis says. "It affects children's visions of their future and what they think is possible." Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development under Award Number R21HD107249. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Source: Duke University Journal reference:

life styale Vivo Surgical honored with the esteemed WIPO-IPOS IP for Innovation Award

Vivo Surgical, a pioneering medical device company based in Singapore, has become the first start-up to win the prestigious WIPO-IPOS IP for Innovation Award for 2022. Now in its 10th year, this award celebrates Singaporean companies that have achieved outstanding growth through the successful application of intangible assets and intellectual property. Over 40 organizations have received this highly regarded accolade since its inception, with this year’s criteria centered around adaptable and resilient companies emerging through recent global challenges. Vivo Surgical’s products and pipeline comprise innovative medical devices that enhance how surgeries are performed worldwide. Related Stories Vivo Surgical’s KLARO™ provides unparalleled illumination of surgical cavities The company is currently developing the world’s first disposable robot for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgeries (NOTES), and a portable endoscopic diagnostic device – ENLYT™ – with technologies that will eventually be incorporated into the robot’s final design. These solutions will complement the company’s existing CE-certified KLARO™ in vivo lighting device, which is designed to address inadequate illumination in operating theatres, providing a clearer view of surgical cavities. The company is now working with several renowned hospitals across the US, Europe and Asia, and its devices are distributed in multiple international territories. In just four-and-a-half years, we have built a company that focuses on addressing clinical needs with cutting-edge technologies. Being recognized with this award is a huge moment, not only for the team at Vivo Surgical, but also for all the patients our products help around the world. We hope that this achievement demonstrates how a young company like ours can punch above its weight on the world stage, and inspire other start-ups to do the same.”

LIFE STYale Vivo Surgical honored with the esteemed WIPO-IPOS IP for Innovation Award

Vivo Surgical, a pioneering medical device company based in Singapore, has become the first start-up to win the prestigious WIPO-IPOS IP for Innovation Award for 2022. Now in its 10th year, this award celebrates Singaporean companies that have achieved outstanding growth through the successful application of intangible assets and intellectual property. Over 40 organizations have received this highly regarded accolade since its inception, with this year’s criteria centered around adaptable and resilient companies emerging through recent global challenges. Vivo Surgical’s products and pipeline comprise innovative medical devices that enhance how surgeries are performed worldwide. Related Stories Vivo Surgical’s KLARO™ provides unparalleled illumination of surgical cavities The company is currently developing the world’s first disposable robot for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgeries (NOTES), and a portable endoscopic diagnostic device – ENLYT™ – with technologies that will eventually be incorporated into the robot’s final design. These solutions will complement the company’s existing CE-certified KLARO™ in vivo lighting device, which is designed to address inadequate illumination in operating theatres, providing a clearer view of surgical cavities. The company is now working with several renowned hospitals across the US, Europe and Asia, and its devices are distributed in multiple international territories. In just four-and-a-half years, we have built a company that focuses on addressing clinical needs with cutting-edge technologies. Being recognized with this award is a huge moment, not only for the team at Vivo Surgical, but also for all the patients our products help around the world. We hope that this achievement demonstrates how a young company like ours can punch above its weight on the world stage, and inspire other start-ups to do the same.”

How have worldwide physical activity trends changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread mortality and morbidity over the globe. Public health interventions that limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission could result in unintended consequences that affect long-term health outcomes. Hence, it is essential to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic on physical activity, which is an important marker of health, to guide policy making. About the study In the present study, researchers examined the trends in physical activity worldwide regarding step count estimates since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team employed deidentified individual-level data from 1 January 2019 to 17 February 2022 from a health-wellness smartphone app called Azumio Argus. The number of daily steps was estimated using smartphone accelerometers and Android or Apple algorithms for counting steps. User location was determined via the smartphone IP address. The team estimated the mean steps before the pandemic determined in every region using data between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. Furthermore, the number of COVID-19 cases in every region was obtained. Finally, the team estimated the differences between mean step counts for the periods assessed. Results Related Stories SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 replicates more efficiently than BA.2 or BA.5 sub-variants The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on antibody and B-cell responses to a third dose of mRNA vaccination Can SARS-CoV-2 transmission occur from an infected dead body? The study results showed that 1,40,424,429 daily step counts were obtained from 12,55,811 unique users from over 200 countries and regions. Almost 92% and 8% of the measurements obtained were from iOS and Android smartphones. The team noted that physical activity was estimated at 5323 steps before the pandemic. However, 90 days before the end of the study period between November 2021 and February 2022, the mean step count declined significantly for all the continents compared to the period between November 2019 and February 2020. Moreover, the 90-day period between November 2020 and February 2021 also had a significantly lower mean step count for all the continents than before the pandemic. Notably, the period between May and November 2021 displayed the highest recovery in step count since the onset of the pandemic, with almost 4997 steps recorded per day, while the step count was still 10% less than before the pandemic. In comparison to 2019, the highest step count recovery recorded between May and November 2021 was in North America, followed by Europe, South America, and Asia. Particularly, in the USA, the team noted that the step count recovered to 97% between May and November 2019. Furthermore, the low point of the step counts in all the continents was less severe during the surge in COVID-19 cases in January 2022 than in January 2021. Compared to the mid-pandemic period in 2020-21, the mean step counts noted in the 90 days before the study period were considerably higher in Europe and North America and lower in Asia. Moreover, there were no notable differences between Africa, South America, and Oceania. Conclusion The study findings showed that mean step counts across the globe have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels since the beginning of COVID-19 infections. Step counts in North America and Europe have shown the most recovery, but they remained lower than those before the pandemic. The researchers believe that the speed of recovery of the mean step count could reflect the availability and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines across different regions.

White House Asks Congress for More Money for COVID, Monkeypox

The Biden administration is asking Congress for $47 billion to fund response efforts for "four critical needs" — COVID-19, monkeypox, natural disaster recovery and Ukraine support, according to ABC News. The White House request is tied to the next government funding bill, which would keep federal operations running after Sept. 30

Natural Justice: A Legal Thriller (Tex Hunter Legal Thriller Series Book 6) Kindle Edition

https://amzn.to/3RnOQnn Small towns keep the darkest secrets… In Southern Illinois, defense attorney Tex Hunter agrees to defend a young man against a murder charge. With an entire city against him, Hunter realizes there’s more to the case than he’s been told. To discover the truth, Hunter must fight against corrupt police, power-hungry politicians, dishonest judges, and small-town secrets. Digging deep into the mysteries of the area, Hunter uncovers information that will shock everyone. But if Hunter can't expose the truth in court, an innocent man might be punished... while the real killer watches his every move. Natural Justice is the sixth book in this high-stakes legal thriller series. It can be read as a standalone novel or part of the heart-pounding Tex Hunter Legal Thriller series. Read less

The Disaster-Ready Home: A Step-by-Step Emergency Preparedness Manual for Sheltering in Place Paperback – January 4, 2022

https://amzn.to/3BgYBOz 95% Polyester, 5% Elastane Imported Tie closure Machine Wash Staples by The Drop Models are 5'10" wearing a size S and XXL. Danielle is 5'8"/173 cm and wearing a size S. This dress measures 37"/94 cm long Show more https://amzn.to/3TNeZ0e Great on Kindle Great Experience. Great Value. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories. A complete, step-by-step manual for safely sheltering-in-place at home so you are prepared for any disaster or disease. If a disaster forces you to shelter in place, do you think you have everything you need to safely and comfortably stay put in your home? If the answer is no, The Disaster-Ready Home will help you create a safe, well-stocked place to weather out any emergency. Survival expert and bestselling author Creek Stewart gives you a step-by-step emergency preparedness plan to meet your food, water, heat, and sanitation needs during any disaster. Including detailed lists, photographs, and complete instructions to make the plan easy to follow, this book is the only resource you need for a disaster. You’ll learn how to: -Create an emergency pantry stocked with enough food for the timeframe of your choice—from two weeks to three months to a full year -Select and store food that fits your taste, diet, and budget -Easily rotate and use your emergency food supply, so nothing goes to waste -Set up long-term water storage and renewable water sources -Cook food and boil water when your kitchen appliances aren’t working -Safely heat and light your home when the power is out -Effectively manage sanitation issues if running water is unavailable -And much more! With daily headlines dominated by disease and disasters, the need to be prepared has never been more evident. This practical, field-tested guide will help you protect and provide for your family when any situation arises.