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Why Using the Term Overweight Might Be Counterproductive

February 9, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Dictionary search for overweight vs overfat

A group of doctors are now urging public health officials around the world to replace the word “overweight” with “overfat.” These doctors claim that the focus on using body mass index (BMI), which measures the ratio between a person’s weight and height, is misleading at best. If these doctors have their way, we could all be using tape measurers far more often than standing on bathroom scales in the future.

Where the Overfat Term Comes From

The main scientists behind advocating the “overfat” term come from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. In their recent case, which was published in Frontiers in Public Health, the authors claim that “over/underfat” are better terms than “over/underweight” because they “describe the phenomena associated with inappropriate body compositions more accurately.” Overfat, in their definition of the term, simply refers to people who have an excess body fat that could impair good health.

And make no mistake about it, these authors don’t take this word change lightly. Indeed, one author, the retired primary-care physician Phil Maffetone, believes using the term “overfat” can help people avoid serious chronic illnesses and take better care of their health.

The reason “overfat” works, at least as far as these doctors are concerned, is because it focuses on looking directly at a person’s adipose tissue and lean muscle. BMIs, unfortunately, are often inaccurate and lead the general population astray. The way the medical establishment currently defines “obesity” is having a BMI reading greater than 29. But this reading becomes problematic when, for instance, a body builder is often considered obese due to his/her increased muscle mass.

Imprecision of BMI Could Be Dangerous

Of course, people in the medical field have been well aware of the imperfections of the BMI system. Despite this knowledge, the BMI is still the standard for measuring “good health” in both the clinic and at home.

It doesn’t help that we’re surrounded by a fitness-crazed media that promotes low BMI results as the golden standard. People fail to recognize that just losing weight is not the key to great health. When looking at a human body, it’s important to take into account not just how much weight is lost, but also the overall composition of muscle, water, and fat.

There are plenty of people in the USA today who have low BMIs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t “overfat,” Maffetone argues. As Maffeton put it, the BMI “is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual.” Some researchers believe as many as 76 percent of people in the world could be classified as overfat right now.

American researchers looking at this data were shocked to see the 76 percent figure. One nutrition expert at Columbia University, Marie-Pierre St-Onge, told reporters she believes the American medical establishment really needs to look into this “overfat” issue as the years wear on. However, she also said we need to take cautious first steps in dismantling the “overweight” label. After all, we don’t have an established means of measuring or accessing a person’s “overfatness” just yet.

Change May Come in Replacing Overweight, But It Will Take Time

If “overfat” is really going to be the new “overweight,” there needs to be a huge shift in how public health officials and media outlets inform citizens about healthy body composition. For now, Maffetone says people can adequately get a good sense of their body fat by measuring their abdomen each month with a tape measurer.

The most dangerous form of obesity is called “central obesity,” which refers to an excess of adipose tissue in the abdomen area. And, while we’re all waiting for “overfat” to become the new normal, Maffetone encourages us all to start bringing up the term in daily conversation. Hopefully this will help us all have more intelligent and honest discussions about what truly constitutes “good health.”

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/writing-reading-knowledge-dictionary-6997/

Filed Under: Health & Lifestyle

Bacteria Treated Mosquitos Released to Counteract Spread of Zika Virus

February 9, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Woodland mosquito on leaf

Doctors around the world believe mosquitos injected with a specific bacterium can slow down the transmission of the Zika virus. These modified mosquitos have been released into a few island communities around the world, and most tests have proven successful thus far.

Researchers now want to release bacteria treated mosquitos into larger areas where the Zika virus is prevalent. Although there’s still some controversy over the efficacy of this method, many countries have already authorized the release of these treated mosquitos.

The Science And Success Behind Wolbachia Treated Mosquitos

Scientists are specifically using the Aedes genus of mosquitos in this project. This genus was chosen because it can be found on all continents, excluding Antarctica. Once captured, scientists inject the bacterium Wolbachia into the mosquitos. Research into Wolbachia has shown that once this bacterium is introduced into the Aedes population, it stops viruses like the Zika virus from developing.

Also, Wolbachia helps scientists better control the breeding habits of mosquitos. Male mosquitos with Wolbachia are only able to successfully breed with female mosquitos that also have Wolbachia. Releasing Wolbachia mosquitos into the environment over a long period of time should reduce the number of mosquitos born with viruses like Zika or dengue.

The injected mosquitos were first released as a pilot test in the costal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. After only a few weeks, the test proved so successful that Eliminate Dengue, a major group behind the Vietnam project, is planning on releasing more mosquitos into Brazil and Columbia. As was reported in the newspaper Xinhua,

The release of mosquitos with Wolbachia…has proven effective.

Xinhua‘s article also said that dengue fever outbreaks went down in Nha Trang after the mosquitos were released.

Another dengue researcher, Professor Zhiyong Xi of Michigan State University, has released Wolbachia mosquitos into the tiny island of Shazai in the southern Chinese megalopolis Guangzhou. On this island, Dr. Xi was able to bring down the mosquito population by an astonishing 96 percent within a month’s time.

While the result is stunning, many scientists wonder whether or not Dr. Xi can replicate his success in a densely populated mainland area. Dr. Xi has said he wants to start introducing Wolbachia mosquitos into more populated regions very soon. His next target will most likely be in Mexico.

Where Wolbachia Mosquitos Will Most Likely Be Released Next

One area of the world that can expect to see Wolbachia mosquitos very soon is New Caledonia. It was announced in December of 2016 that the modified mosquitos will soon be released on this tiny island. Also within the Oceania region, researchers might release mosquitos into Australia and Indonesia. However, there’s no word yet on when these mosquitos will be released.

As for the USA, two states in particular will be receiving these Wolbachia mosquitos soon. Dr. Xi was given permission by the U.S. federal government to release these mosquitos in both Florida and California.

Although all the tests look great, some critics have argued that there could be a few flaws using Wolbachia treated mosquitos in certain parts of the world. A report published by PLOS Pathogens said that the Wolbachia mosquitos don’t work as well at combating the Zika virus in areas where temperatures are extremely high.

The Current Prevalence Of The Zika Virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a “Public Health Alert” for places where the Zika virus is active. A few locations on this list include American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Miami-Dade County.

There are currently less than 1,000 cases of Zika in the USA. Only time will tell how effective these Wolbachia mosquitos are in more densely populated urban areas after they are released in 2017.

 

Photo by Katja Schulz , available under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Google Buys Limes Audio to Improve the Quality of Their Hangouts Service

February 8, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Google Hangouts on smartphone screen

Many users of the communication platform Google Hangouts have experienced difficulties with the platform’s audio in recent years. In order to address this issue, Google has just announced a new acquisition that is sure to enhance the audio quality of Google Hangouts in the years to come.

The company Google acquired, Limes Audio, has been an industry leader in the field of speech enhancement and audio technologies for at least a decade now. Google expects to use the technologies and expertise of Limes Audio to enhance the quality of Google Hangouts and other communication apps.

How News Broke Of Google’s Latest Acquisition

News of Google’s acquisition of Limes Audio broke on Google’s official blog on January 5th. Serge Lachapelle, Google Cloud’s Director of Product Management, wrote the first blog post officially welcoming Limes Audio to the Google team. Lachapelle said the main reason they acquired Limes Audio was to help Google improve the audio quality on their various communications platforms. Lachapelle wrote,

As more and more businesses adopt our video conferencing solutions…it’s critical that we provide a great audio experience.

Mr. Lachapelle went on to say that Limes Audio “has been building solutions that remove…distortion and echoes that can affect online video and telephony meetings.” He believes Limes Audio will greatly enhance the Google Hangouts and the Meetings powered by Chromebox experiences.

Most techies are probably already aware that Google has acquired Swedish startups in the past for this same purpose. In 2007, Google bought the Swedish communication company Marratech for $15 million. Google acquired Marratech to enhance both Google Hangouts and Google Talk. Lachapelle tweeted that the acquisition of Limes Audio makes this fourth time Google has bought a Swedish startup.

Tech experts note how aggressive Google has been recently in the video chat market. In addition to Google Hangouts and Chromebox, Google just announced its video-calling app named Duo. This app has been designed to offer users a one-on-one calling experience and lets people preview who’s calling them with a Knock Knock feature.

Some analysts speculate that Google is trying to compete with the likes of Microsoft and Apple, both of which have tremendously popular video chat platforms. Google did not officially mention how much it paid for this acquisition.

Some Background Info About Limes

Limes Audio was founded in 2007 by two Swedish academic researchers named Fredric Lindström and Christian Schüdt. The main focus of Limes Audio has always been to make the clearest audio technology on the market. Work on this audio technology began as Schüdt and Lindström worked on their PhD projects in Applied Signal Processing at the Blekinge Institute of Technology.

The team at Limes Audio is perhaps best known for their TrueVoice software suite, which many people in the tech industry believe to be the best acoustic echo cancellation software on the market. As the company became more successful, it added about 20 co-workers experienced in signal processing and embedded software. Limes Audio’s main headquarters is in the eastern Swedish city Umeå, but they also have offices in Stockholm and Palo Alto.

Both Schüdt and Lindström appear to be pleased about joining the Google team. They announced in a letter on LA’s official website that they were “very excited” to join the Google team and they remained committed to producing the finest audio technology on the market.

The Future Looks Bright For Limes Audio

Although there have been no specific details released about this team, both Google and Limes Audio seem thrilled to be working on the same team. Limes Audio will most likely get to work on developing innovative ways to make the audio quality better for Google Hangouts. Tech experts expect Limes Audio will use technologies such as echo cancellation, automated mixing, and noise reduction, all of which they’ve already used extensively in their TrueVoice software.

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/black-android-smartphone-177707/

Filed Under: Business & Financial News

Is the Mexican President Equipped to Retaliate?

February 6, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Mexican President Enrique Penna Nieto

Some of President Donald Trump’s plans for America could fuel a trade war with Mexico, which would be damaging to both countries. Mexico would be hurt more by a trade war, but America wouldn’t be unscathed. Tensions have developed between Mexico and America because President Trump wants to build a wall on the border and apply tariffs to Mexican imports. Mexico has retaliated by pointing out they can increase tariffs on American imports too.

Mexico is Prepared to Retaliate If the U.S. President Continues with Wall Plan and Throwing Out NAFTA

In response to President Trump’s plans to build a wall between America and Mexico, the Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said:

“I regret and disapprove of the decision by the United States to continue with the construction of the wall, which has for years, far from uniting us, divided us.”

Mexico is open to renegotiating NAFTA but has warned that if the proposed changes didn’t further their interests, they would walk away from the deal. They have also stated that they would mirror any taxes or tariffs that the U.S. imposes on Mexican imports to America. Another way that Mexico can retaliate, as former officials pointed out, is by introducing a tax to corporate profits on American companies operating in their country.

Mexico’s options in retaliating aren’t limited to financial issues. They could make the illegal immigration problem that President Trump is unhappy about worse by no longer catching people who are attempting to sneak into America. According to the South China Morning Post, Mexico deported almost 150,000 migrants who were illegally heading toward America. Most of the migrants originated from Central America. Officials estimate that illegal migration to the United States could double without Mexico’s cooperation.

Our southern neighbor could also start refusing to cooperate on the drug war. They have worked with America at the border to inspect food and gather intelligence on drug cartels. President Nieto’s administration has arrested high-ranking cartel leaders, such as the head of the Sinaloa cartel Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Mexican law enforcement also helps decrease the import of heroin into the United States by arresting local producers.

Possible Repercussions of Withdrawing from NAFTA and Building the Wall

During his campaign trail, Donald Trump expressed dislike of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), a trade deal between Canada, America, and Mexico. It was signed by former U.S. president Bill Clinton in 1993 and went into effect in 1994. NAFTA eliminated almost all tariffs on goods traded between the three countries. President Trump criticizes the trade agreement for making it easy for American companies to move jobs to Mexico where labor is cheaper, then selling these goods in America.

The South China Morning Post reported that 80% of Mexico’s exports are sold in the United States. Imposing a tariff on these exports would hurt Mexico’s economy and likely push it into a recession. Ironically, the recession could drive more people to illegally enter the United States in search of jobs, something President Trump doesn’t want. Even if he has the wall built before imposing tariffs, Mexicans could fly to Canada and sneak into America through the northern border.

Trump’s actions have caused some Mexicans to feel like he doesn’t want friendly relations with them. Political analyst and College of Mexico college professor, Sergio Aguayo, stated:

“It’s evident that Mr. Trump wants vassals, not neighbors. What’s surprising is that he doesn’t understand that Mexico has a good number of measures at its disposal. We depend on each other in many ways. More than Trump imagines.”

A Trade War Between the U.S. and Mexico is on the Brink of Breaking Out

President Trump’s actions have created tensions between the U.S. and Mexico. If he continues with his plans of imposing a tariff on goods made in Mexico and building the wall, Mexico will retaliate. This could cause a trade war between the two countries. And neither side would turn out the winner.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: World

Sicilian Stonehenge Discovered by a Group of Friends

January 30, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

stonehenge night photo

Italy is home to hundreds of centuries old structures that tell the story of the world’s earliest civilizations. Until recently, many of those civilizations were thought to be hundreds rather than thousands of years old.

A group of friends stumbled upon a structure that could have a major impact on the archaeological world. This important and amazing discovery is now being called Italy’s own version of the Stonehenge found in the U.K.

The Story Behind the Italian Stonehenge Discovery

A hunt for World War I bunkers turned into a massive and amazing discovery that has since made news worldwide. The group of friends included Italian professor Guiseppe La Spina who initially failed to appreciate the importance of the find.

Still, soon after he shared pictures and details of the structure with fellow academic professor Alberto Scuderi, he understood that the group’s discovery could have a major impact on the archaeology, as the world knows it. The global media quickly picked up on the story, and it now has piqued the attention of lay people and academics alike.

This Italian Bronze Age structure looks similar to the Stonehenge in the U.K. (pictured above), as well as with other ancient sundial structures found in countries like Ireland, France, and Sweden. When some of these stonehenges were excavated, they were found to be the burial site of prehistoric bones and items like bowls, artwork, and more.

Many archaeologists speculate that the location of these structures somehow correlate with each other and that their location could have been influenced by astrology.

Nonetheless, this Italian Stonehenge will soon be descended upon by archaeologists and scientists from around the world. They will excavate the site to find out if ancient people may be buried there.

They likewise will be on the hunt for ancient items that could tell the story behind the structure and the people who may have built or used the Italian Stonehenge. Once they know more, they will of course share these details with the rest of the world.

Why the Stonehenge in the U.K. Was Built, and the Mystery of Similar Structures in Europe

While archaeologists can appreciate and marvel at the appearance and layout of Stonehenge and structures like it, they still do not know for sure why these ancient sundials exist. They did come up with several theories that could explain why these structures are significant and why the world today should do more than appreciate them as historic novelties.

They could tell the story for why humankind today exists in the manner in which it does. Still, none of these theories are verified and unanimously accepted today, so the search for answers continues.

One of these theories centers on hunting and gathering food. Excavations have found bones of animals and traces of vegetation like pine cones. These discoveries could indicate that hunters used the structures to celebrate hunts or to process animals.

Scientists also speculate that early people may have used the sites for healing or for communicating with the heavens. They have found talismans and other items that are widely thought to be used for medicinal and healing purposes.

Finally, scientists still think that the stones could be monuments for the deceased. The structures may exist as a type of cemetery and could even be the burial sites of ancient individuals who were of significance to the tribes or clans living nearby.

The Italian Stonehenge could tell an exciting story of ancient people that modern scientists have never before imagined. The site will soon be excavated and its contents compared to the discoveries made at similar Stonehenges in countries like Sweden, France, and the U.K.. This important accidental find comes after professors had spent the day hunting for World War I bunkers.

Image source: here.

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Trump Wants Taxpayers to Pay for Mexican Border Wall, After All

January 26, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Mexico US border

New reports suggest President Donald Trump could make U.S. taxpayers foot the bill for his proposed wall between the United States of America and Mexico. One of Trump’s key promises since he began his campaign was that he would make Mexico pay for his proposed border wall. Although Trump has vociferously denied reneging on his promise to make Mexico pay for the wall, House Republicans are apparently working on a plan to fund U.S. taxpayer money into the wall project. House Republicans are specifically using a 2006 law signed by President George W. Bush. This legislation was intended to build a southern border and can still technically be enforced. The current POTUS can pick up right where former President Bush left off. However, this project would be funded with money from Congress.

Doubt On Capitol Hill; Certainty in Trump’s Mind

Many Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have expressed serious doubts about Trump’s plan to get Mexico to pay for the wall. For example, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah told reporters:

“There’s a lot [Trump] could do if he wanted to [force Mexico’s hand]. In all honesty, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Some Republican leaders even said they thought that getting the Mexican government to pay for the wall was just a “gimmick.” Besides trying to use the 2006 law, Republican lawmakers will probably try to use the Remittance Status Verification Act of 2015 to extract funding for the wall from illegal immigrants. This 2015 Act was passed forcing cash remittance providers to provide the government with details on every senders’ legal residence. People unable to show proof of residency in the USA could still wire funds, but they would be taxed 7 percent. This tax money could then be used towards border security.

For the President’s part, Trump seems undeterred to at least try to get Mexico to officially pay for the wall. The President’s transition team told GOP Representatives to put funding for the wall into the spending package for April. Even if Americans have to pay for the initial start of the wall, Trump still says he wants to get reimbursed from Mexico. Trump told reporters he will try to use negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement to persuade Mexican authorities to pay the USA for the wall.

Mexico Still Firmly Against Paying For The Border Wall

While Trump and Republican lawmakers may not seem to be on the same page, Mexico is taking a hard stance against paying the USA for a border wall. Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray recently made a television address saying there is no way Mexico can be coerced into paying for this wall. Videgaray said:

“There are no circumstances…not even the best possible trade deal…which would justify taking a step that would violate the dignity of Mexicans to such an extent.”

Although Videgaray is very public against any Mexican support for the wall, he has been one of the key links between the Trump team and Mexican authorities. Mexico’s Foreign Minister has met with Trump’s senior White House adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner on various occasions, and Videgaray told the Mexican press that he has a “very favorable impression” of Kushner. Whether or not these meetings will change Videgary’s opinion on paying for the U.S.-Mexican wall has yet to be seen.

How Much Will This Great Wall Of Trump Cost Us?

President Donald Trump says the total cost for the wall will be around $11 billion, but most engineers believe the final cost will be much higher. As every day passes, it appears more likely that U.S. taxpayers will pay for this 1,900-mile long wall. Some new proposals flying around include making U.S. prisoners construct the border wall. This might reduce the cost for skilled laborers, but the legality of this plan is criticized by humanitarian organizations. Despite all of this criticism and doubt, the President continues to regularly assure Americans via Twitter that he will get Mexico to pay for the wall, one way or another.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: National News

Chipotle Has a New Health Feature to Help Cater to Special Diets

January 23, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Chipotle mall restaurant with visible menu

Chipotle has made a name for itself as a fast food restaurant that offers non-GMO and organic fare at prices everyday consumers can afford. Despite its commitment to using only the freshest ingredients in its dishes, it has not been able to escape the same troubles that other fast food restaurants like Taco Bell have experienced in the last few years. It plans to regain favor with its customers by offering to cater its menu to people with gluten allergies, diabetes, and other dietary challenges.

The Plan to Up Its Specialty Fare for Restricted Diets

Chipotle acknowledges the challenges that people on restricted diets can face when they want to go out to dinner. They may consume food that runs afoul of their diets or even compromise their health. To help people enjoy their outings to Chipotle, the eatery now makes available a self-help menu that clearly outlines foods that comply with certain diets like paleo, gluten-free, sugar-free, and others. People can use the menu to create a customized meal that they can enjoy safely without putting their health and dietary needs at risk.

It plans on accomplishing this goal without actually changing its menu or adding new fare to their current selection of dishes. Instead, the company categorizes each of its current selections into diet-specific choices. For example, its burrito bowl may be listed as a paleo or sugar-free safe choice but not one that is suitable for a gluten free diet. Customers can use the indicators to the side of each menu item to create a meal that fully complies with the way that they want or need to eat.

All total, the new Chipotle menu will accommodate 11 specific kinds of diets that people frequently utilize today to either safeguard or improve their health. Along with gluten or sugar-free, customers may be able to find vegan and vegetarian choices as well as menu items that are lactose and dairy free.

The Plan to Regain Customers

Chipotle’s newfound commitment to pleasing the widest variety of clientele is part of its plan to regain customers after the E. coli outbreak in 2015 and 2016. This outbreak saw hundreds of Chipotle diners become moderately to severely ill with food poisoning. Chipotle arguably has done everything in its power to avoid another widespread outbreak that it witnessed recently. It even ordered company-wide food prep retraining for all managers, supervisors, and staff. It also shut down stores for entire days to allow the staff to clean the eateries from top to bottom.

Its efforts to improve the way that it prepares and serves food has helped Chipotle prove to customers that it is truly sorry for the food poisoning outbreak and that it wants to earn back people’s business. It also has made strides by hosting free food promotions that allow customers to get a free burrito or other fares with qualifying menu purchases.

As such, customers continue to come back to Chipotle, albeit at a speed that is slower than the company ideally envisioned. Still, investment insiders expect the company’s stocks to continue to rebound, predicting a bright if not stable future for Chipotle as a whole.

Is Chipotle’s Rebound Decision Helping?

Chipotle has carved its own niche in the fast food market as a restaurant that caters to the organic, non-GMO preference crowd. It now offers a customized menu that lets followers of 11 different diets tailor meals that fit within their own dietary boundaries. This move is one of several that Chipotle has utilized to encourage customers to return after the devastating and costly nationwide Chipotle E. coli outbreak. While there are still people who argue the health benefits of a fast-food diet, Chipotle is showing that it cares about its customers by implementing the new menu features.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Health & Lifestyle

IVF Clinic Mixed Sperm Samples, Patients are Outraged

January 13, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

two pipettes on a table

The technician didn’t change the rubber part of the pipette between appointments, possibly mixing sperm samples.

Parents are very angry after they have learned about a mistake made by an infertility clinic at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands. The practice has admitted that a problem may mean that a child that they bore was not fathered by the intended man. The University Medical Center recognizes that a technician at their facility was not following standard procedures and probably mixed some sperm samples. The clinic is offering free DNA testing to all of their patients.

What Happened with the Sperm Samples?

The infertility center connected to Utrecht University is a research center, so they use a variety of methods to treat infertility in couples. The accident happened during a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection. During this procedure, a technician uses a pipette to place a single sperm in a woman’s egg.

A nursing supervisor noticed that the technician did not use a clean rubber stopper at the top of the pipette. Therefore, sperm material from someone else may have remained at the top of the pipette until it could potentially drop into the woman’s egg. The technician also did not use a filter in the pipette that would have stopped the sperm from dropping.

Paul Geurts, a spokesman for the hospital, says that the chance of a woman being injected with the wrong sperm is extremely small, but that it is definitely present. The hospital believes that the mistakes affecting 26 women occurred between April 2015 and November 2016. Of those women, 13 people had their sperm frozen, four are currently pregnant, and nine have already given birth.

The hospital will not say if the technician was dismissed or punished. They say that is a personnel manner which they do not discuss with the public.

How do the Parents Feel about Infertility Clinics Mistake?

The hospital contacted all the people involved offering free DNA testing. The hospital says that they are very sorry for the mistake. They also say that the number of procedures done at this Dutch infertility clinic has been drastically reduced.

Patients have mixed feelings about the problem. One patient who spoke with CNN said:

“I was worried at first, yes, because you don’t want to be [told] your baby is not your husband’s. But also happy that UMC is so open about this and not trying to keep this a secret. I can’t imagine how this is like for people that are involved.”

The hospital has not said if the DNA tests have revealed if they have identified any patients that got the wrong sperm.

Doctor Jasper Smeenk speaking on behalf of the Dutch Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that there are about 7,600 similar procedures done at 12 fertility clinics in the Netherlands each year.

He agrees with the observation of Paul Geurts that this is an extremely rare case quickly adding that the industry hopes to keep it that way. He says that intracytoplasmic sperm injection is safe as long as the proper procedures are put in place and strictly followed.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Freya, a healthcare organization working with infertile couples, says that some couples may make the decision that they do not want to know.

Conclusion

A human mistake made at an infertility clinic at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands, may have allowed women to be injected with the sperm from the wrong partner.

The clinic has apologized for the mistake that occurred starting in April 2015 and continued for 19 months. All people involved have been given the option of receiving complementary DNA testing. While some patients may be angry, industry officials stress that the procedure is safe as long as strict protocols are followed.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Health & Lifestyle

UPS Is Getting Ready for National Returns Day

January 4, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

UPS brown van

UPS will be busy on National Returns Day.

Since its founding in 1997, United Parcel Services (UPS) has grown to be one of the major shipping services in the world. The company declared January 5, 2017, National Returns Day as they expect people to return more than 1.3 million packages with the company on that day. The first full week of January will be extremely busy for the company as it expects customers to return more than 5.8 million packages during that week.

What is the Changing Landscape of Returns?

Retailers will suffer about $260 billion in lost sales. The news is not all bad, however, as over 45 percent will make an additional purchase from the company’s website when they send back a return. This compares to about 70 percent of buyers making an additional purchase when returning to a brick-and-mortar store.

While many customers used to complain when they had to return an item, retailers are making it much easier for people to send back items now. About 60 percent of companies provide free shipping on returns. Almost 51 percent offer a hassle-free return policy. Forty-four percent offer an easy-to-print return label while 40 percent include a return label right in the box.

Cathy Sparks, vice president of global direct-to-consumer retail concepts for sports company Nike, says that:

“people exchange unwanted clothing items for ones that better suit their routine or style. The same can be true for footwear.”

She recommends sticking with socks, hats, and other accessories if you do not want your gift returned. She also adds that many gift recipients would rather have a gift card so that they can pick out an outfit for themselves.

Another highly returned item is gaming equipment. American video game company, GameStop’s senior director of merchandising Eric Bright, says that one of the problems that he sees often is that buyers are not interested in the hobby themselves. Therefore, he recommends that buyers visit stores in person allowing them to get help from a knowledgeable store employee even if they end up making the purchase online.

Jeanne Tamayo, a global lifestyle buyer for grocery chain Whole Foods, says that while quirky gifts are fun to open, many people end up returning them. They send them back rather than letting them become clutter on their counters.

What are Some Tips for Making Returns?

Whenever possible, get a receipt for the item before making a return. This allows the retailer to know that you actually bought the item from them. Some companies will also accept credit card receipts as proof that you purchased the item.

Understand the store’s timeframe. Some products only give you a certain amount of time to return an item. Therefore, make sure that you return the item within that time.

Learn about how the company handles returning the purchaser’s money. Some companies will only put the money back on the buyer’s credit card if they paid using that method. This may leave the recipient with nothing.

Retailers may also control where you can return the gift. Some require that you send it back to a specific address when the item was purchased online. Others will take any purchase back at one of their retail locations.

Conclusion

While many people will try to return their items on National Returns Day, unless recipients are faced with a return deadline, this can be a very bad idea. Shippers are more likely to lose packages when they are overworked. Retailers are also more likely to process return information incorrectly when they are faced with hundreds of returns at one time. If you cannot return an unwanted present, remember that there are many places that you can sell it online.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: National News

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Cook Promises to Protect Employees Affected by Trump’s Immigration Order

February 4, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

Trump Wants Taxpayers to Pay for Mexican Border Wall, After All

Trump Wants Taxpayers to Pay for Mexican Border Wall, After All

January 26, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Here Is What an Expert in Con Artists Thinks of Donald Trump

Here Is What an Expert in Con Artists Thinks of Donald Trump

January 25, 2017 By Kieron Robertson

The Immigration Policy Should Be a Priority when Trump Takes Office

The Immigration Policy Should Be a Priority when Trump Takes Office

January 13, 2017 By Daniel Austin

Push-Ups Helped a Teen Avoid Jail Time for Marijuana Consumption

Push-Ups Helped a Teen Avoid Jail Time for Marijuana Consumption

January 13, 2017 By Kevin Kopas

Bronx Man Steals Dead Policeman Identity to Buy Washing Machine

Bronx Man Steals Dead Policeman Identity to Buy Washing Machine

January 13, 2017 By Robert Bell

UPS Is Getting Ready for National Returns Day

UPS Is Getting Ready for National Returns Day

January 4, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Which Companies Will the President-Elect Hunt Down Next?

Which Companies Will the President-Elect Hunt Down Next?

January 4, 2017 By Kevin Kopas

Homeless Memorial Day Remembers the People Who Died on the Streets in 2016

Homeless Memorial Day Remembers the People Who Died on the Streets in 2016

January 4, 2017 By Kelly Holzschlag

Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel Also Used Personal Email Account for Business Purposes

Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel Also Used Personal Email Account for Business Purposes

January 4, 2017 By Robert Bell

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