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Tech advances, new ideas vital to feeding the world’s fast-growing…

Dave G. Houser Food & Beverage

In 1798, English cleric and scholar Thomas Robert Malthus published a study concluding that the world’s population would grow faster than the supply of food. Over the centuries, the Malthusian theory failed to pan out. While pockets of famine have existed off and on in some regions of Africa and Asia, the world as a whole hasn’t outgrown its ability to feed itself. Fast-forward to 2018 and we are hearing murmurs from a number of economists and agronomists warning of a potential shortfall in the world food supply — the Malthusian-connected cause behind it being rampant population growth.

How to save money at your office with smart tech

Sam Radbil Facilities & Grounds

The green-at-home movement has been covered extensively, but what about at the office? While there are lots of articles about tech for your home, what concepts and ideas are being discussed about saving you and your company money at the office? First, let’s understand the Internet of Things (IoT). The idea is to control your office through the internet. Sure, you can tell everyone to turn off the lights when they leave a room, but how many employees simply forget to do so?

Could a fiber backbone for IoT lead to safer, smarter cities?

Diane Bloemker Science & Technology

Cities are growing. By 2050, more than 67 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, according to the United Nations. That’s an increase of more than 50 percent over today’s numbers. And while cities can expect a host of benefits from this population increase — more talented professionals, more businesses, more tax revenue — they’ll also see a major strain on their infrastructure and resources.

Newer, older insulin formulations are similar for lowering glucose

Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Basal insulin analogues do not produce substantially different glucose-lowering effects in adults with Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Furthermore, evidence gathered in the study suggests that certain insulin regimens may be associated with less weight gain or lower risk for nocturnal hypoglycemia. The study included 39 trials, with a total of 26,195 patients and studied 10 different basal insulin analogues.

Is the future of food in the chemical makeup of dishes?

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

Your future pantry may sport glucose, tartaric acid, piperine and other compounds instead of spice racks. French scientist Hervé This, known for his pioneering technique called note-by-note cuisine, believes the future of food lies in cooking with chemical compounds. More than style and convenience, the method has the potential to increase and improve global food security. Note-by-note cuisine is a style of cooking that employs chemical constituents of traditional ingredients like meat and vegetables instead of the foods themselves.

Can long-term tolerance of transplanted organs be improved?

Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied Healthcare

Heart transplants survive longer in mice with genetically enhanced DEPTOR, a regulatory protein in immune cells. The study was conducted at Boston Children's Hospital and published in the July 3 issue of the American Journal of Transplantation. In the experiment, mice that received heart transplantations but no immunosuppressive drugs survived an average of seven days. However, mice treated with genetically enhanced DEPTOR activity in their T cells survived an average of 35 days.

A recent data breach could put law enforcement officers at risk

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

What happens when crime fighters are exposed to a huge cybersecurity problem? It puts the safety of all at risk. This was on the mind of many when a trove of law enforcement data was leaked in late June. The breach happened at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center. The training center for active shooter response situations is at Texas State University and is funded in part by the federal government.

A balanced approach to technology in the classroom

Sheilamary Koch Education

The powerful influence of technology on our lives is not to be taken lightly — and it’s no surprise that educators have strong opinions on its place in our schools. Evidence that educational technologies displace curricular activities that better develop students’ ability to relate to each other, think critically and concentrate were key justifications for low-tech education expressed in the previous article. While some take an extreme stance against technology in schools, many seem to believe it has a place in the education of our children.

Heads-up: Repeated headers may lead to balance issues for young soccer…

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Sports & Fitness

Changes in balance and gait can be an indication of incipient neurologic disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. But there is evidence that there can be subtle changes in balance, and thus concern about neurologic injury, in young adults who engage in sports that involve blows to the head. A study authored by Dr. John Jeka of the University of Delaware found that soccer players who moved the ball more often by heading it were more likely to have problems with balance than those players who did not.

Recent IT employment reports deliver mixed messages

Shawn Smajstrla Science & Technology

What’s the status of information technology (IT) jobs in the U.S.? It’s improving. Or, it’s getting worse. It depends on who you ask and depends on exactly what you ask. A handful of recent reports paint varying pictures of IT employment across the country. A report from the TechServe Alliance reported the number of IT jobs crept up 0.04 percent in June, totaling more than 5.3 million. On the other hand, a CompTIA report cited a drop of 90,000 IT jobs in June. It’s one thing to look at what happened in June, but what, if anything, can we extrapolate about where employment in the sector is headed?

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