Latest news with #MacNeil
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surprise Hair Loss Breakthrough: DNA Sugar Gel Triggers Robust Regrowth
In 2024, scientists stumbled upon a potential new treatment for hereditary-patterned baldness, the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women worldwide. It all started with research on a sugar that naturally occurs in the body and helps form DNA: the 'deoxyribose' part of deoxyribonucleic acid. While studying how these sugars heal the wounds of mice when applied topically, scientists at the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan noticed that the fur around the lesions was growing back faster than in untreated mice. Intrigued, the team decided to investigate further. Watch the video below for a summary of their research: In a study published in June 2024, they took male mice with testosterone-driven hair loss and removed the fur from their backs. Each day, researchers smeared a small dose of deoxyribose sugar gel on the exposed skin, and within weeks, the fur in this region showed 'robust' regrowth, sprouting long, thick individual hairs. The deoxyribose gel was so effective, the team found it worked just as well as minoxidil, a topical treatment for hair loss commonly known by the brand name Rogaine. "Our research suggests that the answer to treating hair loss might be as simple as using a naturally occurring deoxyribose sugar to boost the blood supply to the hair follicles to encourage hair growth," said tissue engineer Sheila MacNeil from the University of Sheffield. Related: Hereditary-patterned baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is a natural condition caused by genetics, hormone levels, and aging, and it presents differently in males and females. The disorder impacts up to 40 percent of the population, and yet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved two drugs to treat the condition thus far. While over-the-counter minoxidil can work to slow hair loss and promote some regrowth, it doesn't work for all those experiencing hair loss. If minoxidil isn't effective, then male patients can turn to finasteride (brand name Propecia) – a prescribed oral drug that inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. It's not yet approved for female patients. Finasteride can slow hair loss in about 80 to 90 percent of male patients, but it needs to be taken continuously once it is started. The drug can be associated with unwanted, sometimes severe side effects, such as erectile dysfunction, testicular or breast pain, reduced libido, and depression. "The treatment of androgenetic alopecia remains challenging," MacNeil and her colleagues, led by biomaterial researcher Muhammad Anjum from COMSATS, write in their published paper. Together, the team designed a biodegradable, non-toxic gel made from deoxyribose, and applied the treatment to mouse models of male-pattern baldness. Minoxidil was also tested on balding mouse models, and some of the animals received a dose of both sugar gel and minoxidil for good measure. Compared to mice that received a gel without any medicine, those that received a gel with deoxyribose sugar began to sprout new hair follicles. Both minoxidil and the sugar gel promoted 80 to 90 percent hair regrowth in mice with male pattern baldness. Combining the treatments, however, did not make much more of a difference. Photographs were taken at various stages throughout the 20-day trial, and the effect is clear. Researchers aren't sure why the deoxyribose gel stimulates longer and thicker hair growth in mice, but around the treated site, the team did notice an increase in blood vessels and skin cells. "The better the blood supply to the hair bulb, the larger its diameter and the more hair growth," the researchers write. If the deoxyribose gel also proves effective in humans, it could be used to treat alopecia or even stimulate hair, lash, and eyebrow regrowth following chemotherapy. "This is a badly under-researched area, and hence new approaches are needed," write the authors. The current experiments were only conducted among male mice, but further research might find the use of these natural sugars could also work for female mice experiencing testosterone-driven alopecia, too. "The research we have done is very much early stage," said MacNeil, "but the results are promising and warrant further investigation." The study was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. An earlier version of this article was first published in July 2024. Your Poop Schedule Says a Lot About Your Overall Health, Suggests Study Cough Medicine May Protect Against Some of Parkinson's Worst Symptoms Scientists Finally Uncovered Where Gluten Reactions Start
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CPABC: Major projects in Northwest B.C. will help diversify trade as tensions with the United States simmer
SMITHERS, British Columbia, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to , an annual report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) on investment trends across the province, there were 233 housing units that began construction in Northwest B.C.'s two largest municipalities in 2024, up 46.5 per cent compared to one year earlier. 'Housing starts increased in both Prince Rupert and Terrace,' said Jeanne MacNeil, CPA, CA, partner at Edmison Mehr Chartered Professional Accountants. 'We've also experienced a shift towards higher-density housing, as municipalities look to deal with housing shortages more quickly.' For the second straight year, multi-unit construction, such as apartments and row housing, accounted for more than three-quarters of total starts in the region. Of the 152 starts that occurred in Prince Rupert, 143 were attached units, while there was a more even split of 43 attached and 38 detached starts in Terrace. As of Q4 2024, there were 73 major projects valued at $130.9 billion in Northwest B.C.'s major project inventory, up 3.8 per cent compared to Q4 2023. Of the total, $43.7 billion had been allocated to 13 projects currently under construction. Meanwhile, more than half of the inventory value was earmarked for projects in the proposal stage. The largest project underway, the LNG Canada Facility ($36.0 billion) in Kitimat, is expected to be completed and start shipping LNG to Asian markets by mid-2025. Once operational, the project is expected to add billions of dollars to the province's GDP annually. 'Considering our precarious trading relationship with the United States, the completion of LNG Canada later this year could not have come at a better time,' concluded MacNeil. 'The facility will provide a tremendous and ongoing boost to B.C.'s economy that also helps the province diversify trade.' To learn more, see For more information:Jack Blackwell, Economist604.259.1143 About CPA British ColumbiaThe Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 40,000 CPA members and 6,000 CPA students. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy. CPAs are recognized internationally for bringing superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, and leadership to organizations. CONTACT: news@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The US is full of millionaires who didn't make it big working on Wall Street — some didn't even finish college
Some of the country's top earners are building quiet empires — not on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley, but in ordinary places. 'We call it the stealthy wealthy,' Owen Zidar, a Princeton economist who has studied the group with University of Chicago economist Eric Zwick, told The Wall Street Journal. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Forget IPO parties — these fortunes were built on floor mats and carpet strippers, not stock tickers. And it's not just the founders who benefit. These unassuming companies are increasingly shaping America's wealth landscape. Business ownership made up 34.9% of income for the top 1% in 2022 — up from 30.3% in 2014, according to Zidar and Zwick. You don't need an MBA to make millions — just a knack for spotting a gap and filling it. Take Derek Olson, who found success by making machines that tear up flooring, such as the carpet in old elementary schools. With schools across the U.S. averaging seven miles of carpet each, Olson's company stays busy, especially in the summer. 'So elementary schools basically need their floors redone almost every summer. It's this niche industry that no one knows about and everybody needs,' he told The Wall Street Journal. Olson now earns enough to land in the top 1% of U.S. income earners — that's at least $550,000 a year, not including capital gains. Olson's 'boring' business has brought his family anything but a boring life. The family has two Range Rovers and month-long summer getaways in Europe — all funded by a midsize regional company most people would overlook. The Olson family isn't the only case where 'boring' turned into big bucks. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it David MacNeil built his fortune selling car floor mats. Before founding WeatherTech, he worked a string of blue-collar jobs, dropped out of college and even sold luxury cars. But it wasn't until a 1989 trip to Scotland that inspiration struck: after renting a car with superior rubber mats that kept mud and water contained, MacNeil realized the U.S. market was missing out. Back home in Chicago, he cold-called the English manufacturer, struck a deal and took out a second mortgage to import a 20-foot shipping container of mats. He started selling them from his garage. Today, WeatherTech employs 1,800 people in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and manufactures nearly all of its products in the U.S. MacNeil expects the company to pull in about $800 million in revenue this year. Like Olson, MacNeil saw value where others saw something forgettable, and turned it into a manufacturing empire. If you want to follow in the footsteps of some of these millionaires, start by looking around and asking yourself: What's a small but persistent headache in your day-to-day life? What annoys your family, your friends or your coworkers? Maybe it's the way your dog's leash tangles, or how long it takes to clean grout. According to Smart Startups authors Catalina Daniels and James Sherman, those everyday gripes are ripe with potential. 'You search for things that are interesting, trends, things you're passionate about, whatever — but no lightbulb moment,' Daniels told CNBC Make It. In other words, great ideas rarely arrive with fireworks. And don't overlook your own passions. If you're a diehard sports fan, for example, zoom in on a specific sport you love. Is there a product, service or experience missing from the market? The sweet spot is where your interests and a real need intersect — that's where niche ideas tend to thrive. And while oversaturated markets like fashion, tech or content creation might feel like the obvious place to start, they're also the most competitive. Instead, consider carving out your own lane in an overlooked niche. The goal isn't to go viral — it's to be valuable. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Next-door neighbor said to have paid $55.5M for in-the-works house near Palm Beach
As expected, WeatherTech founder and CEO David F. MacNeil is on the buyer's side of a just-closed deal, valued at $55.5 million, involving an under-renovation mansion near Palm Beach. The in-the-works mansion at 1140 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan is next door to an ocean-to-lake property MacNeil already owned through a limited liability company. The price was reported May 23 in the multiple listing service. MacNeil is expected to raze the mansion that just changed hands and combine it with his adjacent property, seller Joe Farrell, a luxury homebuilder, previously told the Palm Beach Daily News. MacNeil could not be immediately reached for comment. But he has made plans to build a new custom home that will straddle both properties, the Palm Beach Daily News has confirmed. In all, the purchases of the two estates totaled $94 million. The latest purchase has expanded MacNeil's estate by 1.6 acres to 3.56 acres. It also added an extra 150 feet of frontage on the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, booting the total to about 343 feet of waterfront on the east and west sides of his estate. Farrell had marketed his property with an asking price of $95 million, which would have included the finished mansion he was renovating for resale. But MacNeil, whose other property is immediately to the north, is said to have stepped in to buy Farrell's project while the renovation was still underway. Farrell, a Manalapan resident who heads Farrell Building Co. and Farrell Cos., spoke to the Daily News in March when the property went under contract. 'The person who bought it from me didn't want the house. He's knocking it down,' Farrell said in March In 2024, MacNeil paid a recorded $38.5 million for his estate next door , which he owns through a limited liability company. He then razed the 1950s-era house there, leaving a vacant lot measuring 1.96 acres. Both properties lie about a mile north of the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, the luxury hotel that sold last year to billionaire and Manalapan homeowner Larry Ellison for about $277.4 million. The sale closed May 23, according to the MLS. MacNeil could not be immediately reached for comment. No deed for the sale had been recorded as of mid-afternoon May 23, so it's unclear if the price reported in the MLS will match the one expected to be documented at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. Farrell had been renovating the estate at 1140 S. Ocean Blvd. as a speculative project with plans to resell it. He bought the property for a recorded $32.5 million in early 2024. The costal road separates the two lake parcels of the two estates from their larger oceanfront parcels. Farrell's work crews had made progress on his extensive renovation of the 1990s-era house and the separate guesthouse by the time the buyer put it under contract on March 11. But with the sale, Farrell is stepping away from the property, he told the Palm Beach Daily News. Farrell never before had a buyer purchase one of his in-the-works projects with plans to raze it, he said in March. But opportunity knocked and he answered: 'A deal came along and I opted to leave the casino early.' MacNeil's company has owned the northern property, at 1120 S. Ocean Blvd., since April 2024. MacNeil founded and owns WeatherTech, which is based in Greater Chicago and manufactures car accessories such as floor mats and cellphone holders as well as other products, the company's website shows. He established the company in 1989. Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt handled both sides of the sale, although she would not identify her clients by name. She declined to comment about the transaction. Farrell's renovation plans called for the main house to have 19,000 square feet with a 4,000-square-foot guesthouse. In all there would have been 13 bedrooms. The project changed the architectural style from Mediterranean to contemporary. Farrell is well known for building luxury homes in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island. He also has carried out real estate projects in South Florida. When Farrell bought the estate in January 2024, a down-to-the-studs renovation and addition project had been underway for several years. But Farrell said he upgraded those plans. Farrell had only the shell of the house finished when the property went under contract, he said. His plans for the estate called for two swimming pools with whirlpool spas, a pool cabana with a summer kitchen, a pickleball court and garage parking for eight cars. Improvements on the west side of the property were designed to include a new lakefront dock and seawall. The mansion's layout would have included a great room, a media room and a den-and-office. When MacNeil's company bought the northern property at No. 1120 last year, he was represented by agent Tim Elmes of Compass Florida. In that sale, the listing agents were Gary Pohrer and Nick Malinosky of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Although sales in Manalapan have slowed over the past two years, asking prices for premium properties remain far higher than before the coronavirus pandemic-sparked the real estate boom that arrived in the area in early 2021, real estate observers say. The boom — and the escalating prices — came, in part, because some homebuyers bought in Manalapan after they couldn't find waterfront estates in Palm Beach, where housing inventory shrank dramatically during the first years of the pandemic. The housing boom also was fueled by the work-at-home trend and Florida's favorable tax climate. dhofheinz@ This is a developing story. Check back for any updates. Portions of this story appeared previously in the Palm Beach Daily News. Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly 'Beyond the Hedges' column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@ call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Subscribe today to support our journalism. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Neighbor said to have paid $55.5M for tear-down estate near Palm Beach
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Digging into an environmental scandal on the Isle of Man
I first spoke to freshwater scientist Calum MacNeil in February 2022. He explained to me that The Isle of Man – a self-governing island in the Irish Sea between the UK and and Ireland – was being cast as world's only 'all-nation' Unesco biosphere reserve. He explained how, in 2014, before its Unesco designation, contaminated silt was deliberately dumped in the Irish Sea. While designated as a biosphere, contaminated silt dredged from a marine harbour has been contained in a sealed pit but leachate from that has discharged into Peel Bay, where people regularly swim from the sandy beaches. As an environmental journalist, the story stood out to me and the more we spoke, the more the plot thickened. Read more: I spent hours of my spare time digesting the evidence he sent me – all of it in the public domain. Government reports, online pollution policies, local news coverage, the biosphere nomination documents. MacNeil, who worked for the Isle of Man government between 2004 and 2017, knew what he was talking about. But the more I looked into this, the more I felt up against smoke and mirrors. Beautiful beaches, clean seas and a thriving ecotourism destination (according to the government's tourism marketing). Contrast that with contaminated waste ending up in the ocean. Three years on, and The Conversation's Insights team and I have been working closely with Professor of Water Science at Liverpool John Moores University, Patrick Byrne. He has analysed and interpreted the consequences of this pollution. While pollution is rife around the world to a certain extent, this instance is particularly shocking, he explains. Now, The Conversation is proud to present our exclusive Insights investigation, Leaked, in two key parts. An introductory news article written Byrne explains the backstory and highlights the prominence of Isle of Man's Unesco biosphere status. Further analysis unfolds in an in-depth Q&A between Byrne and MacNeil. Byrne explains the gravity of legacy contamination from synthetic toxic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and why transparency is so key. Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation's environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who've subscribed so far. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
