Month: March 2021

2021-03-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – As the job market increasingly calls for STEM professionals (science, technology, engineering and math), more online programs are emerging that can help students study for such careers.

While some educational institutions are struggling to figure out how to effectively teach science-based classes and labs in times of social distancing, a select few have created programs that allow for even lab work to be completed primarily at home.

That’s a win-win for employers and employees alike. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that careers related to STEM will display the highest rate of growth — 10.9% between 2016 and 2026 — to produce a million new jobs. Not only are those jobs available in a variety of fields, ranging from engineering and social sciences to medical fields and technology, but 75% of the top-20 highest-paying careers in the U.S. are in STEM fields.

In 2020, of course, COVID-19 spurred an even greater need for skilled employees with expertise in health and technology.

Consider these suggestions when exploring how such a job trajectory may fit with your goals, regardless of your age, career background or level of social isolation.

Research online learning opportunities. In recognition of the need to train and educate more STEM workers, institutions such as Arizona State University offer courses of study that can be completed online. You can secure additional certifications, a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in a STEM field while seldom (if ever) having to leave your home for your coursework. How is that possible? ASU Online allows students to complete most lab work remotely by delivering high-grade tools and equipment directly to their homes and offering innovative virtual reality lab simulations.

ASU now offers more than 85 STEM programs online tailored toward real-life, in-demand careers; including 21 new programs released in fall 2020, such as Astronomical and Planetary Sciences — the only online program of its kind worldwide.

Bring all your skills to the table. You may have studied for or worked in non-STEM-related jobs in the past. That knowledge, group of skills, and range of experiences are a benefit, as you can apply many of them to a new role in a STEM field. It’s true that past projects or accomplishments that have a quantitative or scientific focus could be particularly helpful as you move forward, but most STEM roles also need people with different assets such as emotional intelligence, acumen in diversity/inclusion, interpersonal communication skills and critical thinking skills. Don’t rule out a career change just because you started in a different field or direction; instead, stack your credentials and start thinking of yourself as a “master learner” capable of pivoting within your career path as needed.

Create an action plan. Evaluate your background and skills, and determine what you need to add to your resume to achieve your target STEM job. You may be surprised to discover you have fewer gaps than you think, and a STEM position may be well within your reach with additional training, certification or a degree. If you need help forming a plan or exploring different options, ASU offers its online students a full range of support services.

Learn more about the 85 STEM degrees available online through ASU at asuonline.asu.edu.

2021-03-04T08:01:00

(BPT) – For someone with cancer, the right treatment option can mean the difference between life and death. While cancer research has made immense strides in the past decade and even the past few years, there is still much work to be done, especially for patients with rare cancers like Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM).

What is WM?

WM is a rare cancer that begins in the white blood cells and is one of the many subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). With about three people diagnosed per million people per year in the U.S., it is uncommon, but approximately 1,500 Americans are diagnosed with WM annually. On average, people living with WM are 70 years old.

WM cells have changes in their DNA—or genetic mutations—that cause uncontrolled growth, but scientists and researchers are making advancements in understanding how these mutations can cause normal cells to develop into WM cells. Understanding genetic mutations is important because as researchers learn more about them, treatment options become more personalized.

With more personalized treatment, doctors can tailor a person’s treatment regimen to that individual’s specific genes and disease. Instead of giving the same treatment to everyone, doctors can pick the right medicine and the right dose at the right time.

Scientists now know that some patients’ WM cells have mutations in the CXCR4 gene. Treatments that are currently available for WM patients, such as ibrutinib, may not be as helpful for people with the CXCR4 variant, according to a recent study. This is one of the many reasons more treatment options are needed. Researchers are looking into treatments that target the WM cells with this genetic mutation, and some of these potential treatment options are available now through clinical trials.

What Is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials help researchers understand more about a disease and find new treatments. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment is safe and effective in people before it is approved by the FDA.

A clinical trial is now enrolling people living with WM who have a CXCR4 genetic mutation, as well as other characteristics. This WM clinical trial will help researchers answer questions about the safety of an investigational drug mavorixafor, an oral medication in capsules taken by mouth once a day. In the trial, mavorixafor will be taken along with ibrutinib, an FDA-approved treatment for WM.

If you are living with WM, talk to your doctor, and see if participating in a clinical trial is an option for you. There is no cost to join the study. Expenses for medical care and travel are reimbursed by X4 Pharmaceuticals, the study sponsor. To learn more, visit the study website at WMTrial.com.

2021-03-04T17:58:53

(BPT) – The pandemic changed travel habits considerably and forced everyone to reconsider how they get around safely.

For example, the latest Hankook Tire Gauge Index found that three-quarters of Americans don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation because of the coronavirus pandemic, leading more people to get behind the wheel.

This increase in drivers is having an impact on car-buying decisions: Data showed that 44% of Americans have already considered a new vehicle purchase. Many are likely to be first-time car buyers, too, as over half of Gen Z and millennials are thinking about a new vehicle purchase.

In addition to the usual considerations when buying a vehicle — cost, performance, safety and reliability — the events of 2020 have raised new questions. After a year of significant change, here are four things to consider when buying a new vehicle.

1) Your vehicle is just as much about comfort as it is mobility

People are spending more time in the car, even when they’re not going places — waiting in parking lots for grocery orders, lining up at drive-thrus or even taking a conference call when home gets a little too noisy. So a vehicle’s interior should be a nice place to spend your time.

The good news is that there are plenty of standard features and affordable options to make that possible. The Gauge Index found that Americans consider everything from Bluetooth connectivity (62%) and in-dash navigation (57%), to remote and keyless start tech (56%) as important factors when choosing their vehicles.

Self-healing tire technology was also rated as an important feature by 56% of Americans — a useful feature at any time, and crucial when one may not want to come into close contact with others for an emergency tire change.

2) Is it finally time to plug in?

With increased range, lower prices and expansions in charging infrastructure, electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly becoming a choice for drivers, with 62% of Americans likely to consider an EV.

Deciding if it’s time to go electric means considering a few important factors. The first is range: What do you anticipate to be your regular mileage between charges? The average range of today’s electric vehicles should be more than enough for daily commuting, errands and even the occasional afternoon road trip.

Then, make sure you have access to charging infrastructure at home and at your frequent destinations. And calculate the true financial benefit, taking into account rebates, credits and a newfound freedom from the petrol pump.

3) Take time to kick the tires.

When buying a new vehicle, check the tires it comes with to ensure they’re best suited for the weather conditions where you live. This is especially important when driving regularly in inclement weather where an all-weather tire like the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 can save you money down the road. Less than half (47%) of Americans can accurately identify the difference between all-weather and all-season tires, so here’s the cheat sheet: All-weather tires manage rain and snow while also delivering year-round performance; all-season tires prioritize comfort and fuel economy over ice and snow traction.

If you’re switching to electric, your tire choice could impact your ride comfort, mileage and road noise. These are already important for a regular vehicle but for an EV, where range is key and there’s just the quiet hum of the electric motor, you’ll want to pay extra attention to these features on your tires.

4) Looking ahead, post-pandemic.

With restrictions easing in 2021, it’s important to ask if your vehicle needs now will be the same in six to 12 months’ time.

That’s because a vehicle purchase isn’t just for a few months; it’s a lengthy investment that brings insurance, registration and maintenance responsibilities. If a new vehicle purchase only serves your needs now, it may be worth managing with what you have for a few more months.

The past year has been one of change and upheaval. So if that means it’s time for a new set of wheels, these questions will help you not only choose the vehicle you need, but the driving experience you want, for the years ahead.

2021-03-04T08:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Office Depot

Did you know that, according to recent findings published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the length of the average workday has actually increased by 48.5 minutes?

If your workday is lasting longer, maybe it’s time to look at how your space — and everything in it — is organized. Do you waste time hunting for things? Are you moving stuff around to cope with clutter?

With companies extending their work-from-home policies into the foreseeable future or moving to hybrid models, now’s a great opportunity to examine how your home office is currently organized and reflect on whether your current system or structure is working for you, your lifestyle and your work ethic. After all, an organized area can have a positive effect on your productivity and efficiency, and may even enhance your mood and disposition, to help you accomplish more throughout the workday.

To help optimize your workspace, ask yourself these questions:

1. When do you need it?

Supplies and other daily work essentials you need most frequently should be highly visible and easily accessible. Review what’s near your workstation. Do you use everything in arm’s reach every day? If so, keep it there and organize by category. If not, place it elsewhere.

• For items you use throughout the day, keep them well organized so you know just where to find them. Use drawer sorters to help organize drawers better. For desks/tables without drawers, a cart with wheels is a great workaround.
• Use transparent bins or containers, and affix clear labels in bright colors so you know where everything is.
• A bookshelf nearby can hold labeled trays for items you like to have handy.
• For documents you need to store but infrequently access, a filing cabinet, labeled banker’s boxes or bins can be kept in a closet or even another room.

Office Depot has organization supplies and office storage solutions to help remote workers organize and optimize workspaces, including file cabinets, book cases, boxes, folders and more.

2. Where do you need it?

Consider how conveniently everything is placed. Are you keeping items near their closest point of use? For example, it makes sense to store computer paper and replacement ink cartridges close to your printer. If you don’t have shelf space for nearby placement, a rolling cart of bins or trays works well.

3. Do you need it at all?

Once you start sorting, you may notice papers that are gathering dust. Unless they’re required records that need to be stored, or if they only need to be stored for a limited time, consider a paper shredder to safely dispose of documents. If you’re a business owner, consider a shredding service to make the job easier.

4. How is your time organized?

Time management is essential for staying on task and working smarter, not harder. While many rely on digital calendars, there are advantages to keeping a large paper calendar or a planner. A large visual reminder of due dates and project deadlines can help keep you on task, and being able to jot notes during meetings or calls can help you capture pertinent details on the spot.

Putting it all together

As everyone continues to work in new ways and in new places, consider maintaining an organized environment, cutting down clutter and streamlining supplies as a top priority — you may even find that your office area turns into a more enjoyable, relaxing and productive space. Office Depot offers a wide assortment of storage and organization solutions with fast, easy fulfillment options including free 1-hour store pickup and contactless curbside pickup at most Office Depot and OfficeMax stores, same-day delivery and next-business day delivery on qualifying orders.

To learn more about how Office Depot can help businesses empower their remote workforce with the tools and technology to help stay productive, visit officedepot.com or business.officedepot.com.

2021-03-04T09:05:01

(BPT) – As a homeowner, now is the perfect time to start thinking about lawn care again. Spring is your first — and best — opportunity to get your outdoor living space in top shape for the warmer months ahead. And depending on where you live in the U.S., that window begins whenever the soil starts warming.

To help you get ready for a healthy, lush green lawn this spring, TruGreen, America’s #1 lawn care company, shares five things you should do.

1) Start with a spring cleanup: Spring cleaning isn’t just for the inside of your home. Your lawn has collected fallen leaves, sticks and other debris over the winter months. Leaving behind this plant matter can smother the growth of your lawn and leave behind unsightly dead patches on the turf. A cleanup will give your lawn room to breathe, so it can take in water and sunshine, as well as any fertilizer or weed control treatments.

2) Clean up the mower: Spring is also time to dust off the lawn mower, fill it with fresh fuel and get your first mow. The first mowing of the season removes dead blades of grass and encourages the lawn to start waking from its winter slumber.

3) Get a step ahead of weed growth: The return of crabgrass is not something to look forward to, however, the good news is, you can get these and other unsightly weeds under control by applying a treatment before they start popping up around your lawn. But keep in mind, it’s important to get the timing just right.

“Timing is critical when it comes to applying preventative weed treatments,” says Brian Feldman, TruGreen’s Director of Technical Operations – North. “Treatment should be applied under very specific soil and temperature conditions. Otherwise, it won’t work and you’ll end up wasting both product and effort.”

To take the guesswork out of weed control, consulting with a lawn care professional — such as TruGreen — can bring you peace of mind and deliver desired results.

4) Nourish your lawn: Spring presents yet another important window of opportunity to achieve a thick, healthy lawn. After being dormant all winter, it will need a dose of food to help it spring back to life and start growing.

Because by summer, your turf will be facing many stresses — heat, drought, insects and disease. A light application of fertilizer can help your lawn take full advantage of spring growth and have it at its best. Don’t forget your trees and shrubs, too! The amount of fertilizer needed varies with the age and where your trees and shrubs are located, so contact a professional for expert treatment.

5) Set a simple watering schedule: Regular rainfall is optimal for healthy grass. But when the sun is beating down and it’s been more than a week since the last rainfall, you’ll need to supplement the lack of rain with a sprinkler. Luckily, you can keep it simple as most lawns will thrive and grow with one inch of water per week. To keep track, set a few empty tuna cans around the lawn. When they get full — indicating an inch of water — you can move the sprinkler to a different section. Trees and shrubs also need some watering TLC; keep them hydrated also, particularly when temperatures start to spike.

It’s important to remember that every state and region has unique grass and plant types that present their own needs and challenges. Yet, a thick, green lawn you will feel proud of is closer than you think. Call your local lawn professional and they’ll create a plan that’s tailor-made for your outdoor living space to get it into great shape this spring.

TruGreen prides itself on designing a lawn-care experience founded on customer needs and rooted in science. To find a professional in your region, visit TruGreen.com.

2021-03-04T10:01:00

(BPT) – You’re likely thinking of improvements from a new perspective after spending more time at home or renovation ideas after recently purchasing a home. Because spaces are being utilized in different ways and utilities are getting used more frequently, you want smart upgrades that make life easier and more convenient. That’s why tankless water heaters are gaining popularity: These modern systems make your home more comfortable, save space, lower costs and provide eco-friendly benefits.

Traditional versus tankless

A cold shower. Washing your hands in a chilly stream from the faucet. Having to wait to do dishes because there’s no more hot water. The problem with traditional water heaters is they have a holding tank that heats a specific amount of water. When that water is not being used, it sits there being heated, which wastes energy. On the flip side, when in use, when the hot water is gone, it’s gone. It doesn’t matter if you’re mid-shower, mid-bath or mid-laundry load.

A tankless water heater solves these problems, making it both a logical and luxurious home improvement. Tankless water heaters are popular in homes throughout Europe, plus they are commonly used in spas or other facilities in the U.S. due to the benefits of on-demand and endless hot water. They are slowly gaining popularity in U.S. homes as Americans are becoming more energy-conscious and discovering the many efficient advantages over conventional types of water heating.

Top reasons to go tankless

The pandemic has people researching new solutions to their household issues, which is why many are learning about the numerous benefits of tankless water heaters and making the switch. Here are some of the top reasons why this option is trending for 2021:

Efficient and environmentally friendly: Tankless heaters flash-heat water when you need it, and turn off as soon as you turn off the faucet or shower. That means water is heated instantly and heated only when you need it. Tankless heaters are designed to save energy, which saves you money and protects the environment. For example, Thermalux tankless water heaters, on average, help reduce up to 118,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year.

Constant hot water without the waste: With a tankless water heater, you get to enjoy an endless stream of hot water because it’s heated through a compact yet powerful system that mounts on a wall. Once the demand for hot water no longer exists, the tankless water heater automatically shuts down and stops using energy. Choose the right size tankless and you’ll always have hot water when your family needs it.

Small size equals significant space savings: Usually about the size of a carry-on luggage bag, tankless water heaters can help you reclaim space compared with large tank-type heaters. These compact systems can be conveniently located in a utility room, garage, attic, basement or closet.

Cleaner water: Traditional tank water heaters can build rust and sediment inside the tank after years of use. This material can end up in the water that you use in your home. Since tankless options do not store water and heat it only on demand, you get fresh, clean water every time without worries of sediment.

Growing accessibility: Getting a tankless water heater is now as easy as going online to Amazon or Home Depot, where Thermalux tankless water heaters are readily available for immediate purchase. Learn more at thermalux.com. Then find an installer and upgrade your system before your old one goes out.

Lower costs: The upfront cost of getting a tankless can be defrayed thanks to possible local, state and federal tax credits. Check out energystar.gov for more information. Once installed, a tankless will help lower your energy bills, helping you to further save money. Finally, tankless water heaters have double the lifespan of their tank-style counterparts, which significantly impacts savings over time.

With new demands on a home’s comfort and its systems, a tankless water heater is a smart investment that will pay off for years to come.