Latest news with #UniversityofHeidelberg
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Beyond The Bottle: Networking And Alcohol
With Alcohol Awareness Month coming to a close it's even more important to discuss how alcohol plays a role in networking. In corporate America there is immense pressure to drink with colleagues and professional contacts as a means of bonding. You may want to consider networking without alcohol for several reasons, one of them being that people who work together often binge drink together. And recent research from Neurology, the journal for the American Academy of Neurology, revealed that binge drinking can affect your brain. The study, which was published earlier this month, concluded that drinking eight or more drinks a week can increase the risk of having brain lesions. I reached out to Dr. Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, a postdoctoral researcher, member of the medical faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and the author of the study. He told me that even moderate drinking can negatively impact the brain. 'Research, including our own, shows that even moderate alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects not just on the blood vessels in the brain, but also on overall health,' he said. 'We found that even moderate drinking, up to seven drinks per week, is associated with damage in the brain's blood vessels that transport blood to the brain,' the Germany based researcher told me in an email. I also spoke with Dr. John D. Clapp, an internationally recognized researcher, University of Southern California professor, and expert on alcohol problem prevention. He had a few things to say about Dr. Justo's study. 'Beyond the brain damage discussed in the study, long-term, heavy alcohol use can lead to clinical depression and alcohol dependence,' Dr. Clapp told me. 'Limiting one's binge drinking or cutting down to light drinking levels can improve one's mental and physical health,' he said. But health risks aren't the only reason many Americans are choosing mocktails over cocktails. Some people who don't have issues with alcohol have stopped drinking or at least avoid drinking in professional settings. Dodging hangovers, avoiding the risk of embarrassing yourself— these are just a few reasons for professionals to consider networking without alcohol. You might feel as if being liked at work depends on your willingness to go out and drink with your colleagues. However, the more studies that are published the more one thing is clear– drinking alcohol provides short-term euphoria and long-term consequences. In January former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory about alcohol and increased risk of cancer. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States but does not come with a warning about its potentially harmful effects. Drinking heavily has become so normalized– on college campuses, during conferences, in the workplace– that we often ignore how harmful it can be. Dr. Shané P. Teran, an executive wellness coach and organizational development strategist with ten years of experience, couldn't agree more. 'Drinking alcohol has become a dangerous social norm, despite its once less harmful cultural and historical roots. While initially preserved for health benefits of a glass of wine with dinner amongst family, religious ceremonies, and celebratory festivities, drinking has become a method of coping for those dealing with stress and anxiety-related conditions,' she told me. 'It would be helpful for non-alcohol based events and activities to increase and be reinforced across the workforce. We don't always know the struggles of our talent, but overt and covert pressure to drink with colleagues after work should be phased out as a norm,' she said. Alcohol can unify people just as easily as it can divide us. Drinking heavily with coworkers has become the norm, but it can lead to conflict and inappropriate behavior. I have heard horror stories about people getting heavily intoxicated and harassing colleagues. I have been told about being afraid to drink with coworkers out of fear of being harmed. I have watched people drink with their colleagues, only to embarrass themselves and drown in feelings of shame and remorse the next day. Even if you don't plan on putting down the bottle for good, you can always avoid drinking while networking. Many people don't have a problem with alcohol and still don't drink in professional settings. That's likely because, according to Dr. Teran, 'stopping or reducing alcohol consumption will greatly improve one's performance and overall success.' Not drinking in professional settings also lowers the risk of ruining relationships or behaving inappropriately. Your job matters more than fitting in with your colleagues and potential partners. One of the best ways to ensure a smooth outing with people from work is to avoid binge drinking. Yes, it's absolutely okay to enjoy some cocktails with coworkers but make sure that you are drinking mindfully. It is always awkward when someone gets too drunk at a professional holiday party or networking event. Not because it looks bad— because there's a higher risk of conflict taking place when people lose their inhibitions. Cutting out alcohol while networking ensures that you are more likely to be on your A-game. Plus, choosing not to drink can save you serious amounts of money. People often go out for drinks at bars or high-end restaurants after work. Working in the corporate sector can come with pressure to wine and dine potential partners. Just because you are buying drinks for those you're networking with doesn't mean you have to drink. Save yourself the hangover and hefty bill. Rather than focusing on getting buzzed, listen to and learn more about your colleagues. Ask questions about them that you don't necessarily have time to ask at work but without crossing any boundaries or getting too personal. You might find that you enjoy being around colleagues and professional contacts more without consuming alcohol. Genuine professional relationships aren't dependent on reliving your college days together by binge drinking at an upscale restaurant with a bar. One of the best parts of choosing not to drink when networking is that you will remember what you did and said. You might acquire a list of phone numbers and emails without struggling to recall people's names or what they talked about. If you are new to a job, limiting or removing alcohol from interactions with coworkers can be even more impactful because first impressions matter. You don't want to give your colleagues the impression that you are out of control or unprofessional when you drink. Consider spending less on booze when networking and more on small bites and NA beverages. You might just find that you enjoy socializing even more without alcohol.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Famed German robber's skeleton identified after 220-year-long mix-up
A mixture of history, archeology, and several other scientific disciplines, has led scientists to positively identify the remains of Schinderhannes, a legendary German criminal, after a 220-year-old skeletal mix-up. However, the bones of his partner in crime, Schwarzer Jonas remain on the lam. The findings are detailed in a study published March 22 in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics. Schinderhannes is a nickname for Johannes Bückler, a criminal who was born sometime in 1779 in Germany, to a family of executioners and slaughterers. He was linked to at least 211 crimes, mostly theft, extortion, and robbery, but potentially murder as well. In 1799, Schinderhannes met Christian Reinhard–AKA Schwarzer Jonas or Black Jonas. Schwarzer Jonas was another famous professional criminal who was born around 1774. Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas eventually joined forces to commit crimes together, including burglaries, extortions, and robberies along with some other accomplices in loose alliances. In 1802, the pair was arrested in Mainz–now in Germany, then part of France–alongside several other criminals. During the initial investigation, Schinderhannes named more than 100 individuals allegedly connected to his criminal activities. After a nearly month-long trial, Schinderhannes, Schwarzer Jonas, and 18 others were convicted. They were executed by guillotine on November 21, 1803, in front of 30,000 curious onlookers and their remains were collected. In 1805, Jacob Fidelis Ackermann, the first chairholder of anatomy at the University of Heidelberg, bought the two skeletons that he believed belonged to Schinderhannes and Schwarzer Jonas. However, the collection numbers were subsequently mixed-up at the beginning of the 19th century and the skeletons were misattributed. In this new study, an international team of researchers combined several analytical methods to show that the supposed skeleton of Schwarzer Jonas clearly belonged to Schinderhannes and that the alleged skeleton of Schinderhannes is not that of Schwarzer Jonas. First, they used a few historical documents pertaining to injuries as reference. During a heated argument, Jonas is believed to have broken Schinderhannes' arm. Additionally, Schinderhannes injured one of his legs when jumping from the second floor of a tower in Simmern, Germany after he was arrested. Some historical sources even report the leg fracture. They then turned to the more hard science and used isotope analysis to analyze the different types of atoms of the same chemical element. The analysis allowed them to get an idea where both individuals spent their childhood and later years and the Hunsrück area in Germany is a possibility. The chemical analyses of the bones and radiological imaging techniques also induced the presumed age, sex, and possible illnesses of the individuals. 'All these results, coupled with a careful analysis of historical documents, pointed to a possible mix-up of the two skeletons,' Sara Doll, a study co-author, an anatomy dissection specialist at Heidelberg University, and curator of the anatomical collection, said in a translated statement. An analysis of the mitochondrial DNA confirmed this suspicion of a two centuries long mix-up. This important genetic information is only passed on to descendants via the mother's line and helps determine parentage. Comparison with a fifth generation living descendant of Schinderhannes also indicated that the skeleton attributed to Schwarzer Jonas was likely Schinderhannes. [ Related: Medieval toilet helps uncover lost home of the England's last Anglo-Saxon King. ] Additionally, the team used genetic data to reconstruct Schinderhannes' hair, skin, and eye color. There are only a few, sometimes contradictory, contemporary descriptions of his appearance and the surviving paintings or engravings made after his death are based on artistic license. 'The data suggests that Schinderhannes had brown eyes, dark hair and rather pale skin,' Walther Parson, a study co-author and geneticist from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria explained. The skeleton of Schwarzer Jonas has yet to be identified, and the mystery of who is behind it 'remains exciting,' according to Doll. It could be sitting in a museum somewhere or be completely lost to time. 'It is possible that it was stolen or borrowed in the belief that it was the skeleton of Schinderhannes' and was never returned? Ironically, this mix-up could ultimately have led to our still being in possession of the real skeleton of Schinderhannes' today,' said Doll. The real skeleton of Schinderhannes has been removed from the Anatomical Collection. for conservation reasons. Visitors can see an artist's replica of the skeleton and a model of Schinderhannes himself.
Gulf Today
18-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Cool roofs to combat extreme heat
A global scientific trial is on that includes the city of Ahmedabad in India to study how indoor heat impacts people's health and economic outcomes in developing countries – and how 'cool roofs' might help, according to a Reuters report. Hundreds of roofs in the informal settlements of India's western Gujarat state have been painted in a reflective, white coating over the last two months to try to keep their occupants cooler as the hottest time of year approaches. The effort involves 400 households in Ahmedabad. Researchers at the University of Heidelberg in Germany are also looking at other projects in Burkina Faso, Mexico and South Pacific. Early results have also shown that reflective, white roofs have led to lower heart rates. According to the study website, the REFLECT study aims to identify whether cool roof technology can be an effective, low-cost, mass-adoptable, passive cooling intervention for high indoor air temperatures in communities affected by extreme heat. The study investigates the impact of cool roof materials on health, environmental and economic outcomes in Hermosillo, Mexico; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Ahmedabad, India; and Niue, Oceania. According to an India Today report, to tackle the challenge of increased heat, in an innovative approach, the roofs of 400 houses in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have been painted white, to analyse the impact of indoor heat on the health of individuals and to show how 'cool roofs' can help to tackle this. The white paint contains titanium dioxide, which helps in reflecting the sunlight. This trail will go on for a year, and scientists will collect health and indoor environmental data from residents living under the cool roofs – and from those who do not have it. The study is showing promising results as residents experience lower heat The India Today report quotes a lead researcher of the study who says that early results from the Burkina Faso trial show that cool roofs reduced indoor temperature by between 1.2 degrees C in tin- and mud-roofed homes and 1.7 degrees C in tin-roofed homes over two years, which subsequently lowered residents' heart rates. Understanding the impact of cool roof technology in globally diverse communities will support decision makers in investing in effective climate change adaptation measures. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)website, a cool roof absorbs and transfers less heat from the sun to the building compared with a more conventional roof. A high solar reflectance, or albedo, is the most important characteristic to understand in terms of how well a cool roof reflects heat from the sun away from a building. A high thermal emittance - how well a cool roof sheds the heat it does absorb - also plays a role, particularly in climates that are warm and sunny. Together, these properties reduce temperatures on the roof, inside the building, and in the surrounding ambient air. Buildings with cool roofs use less air conditioning, save energy, and have more comfortable indoor temperatures. For example, in non-air-conditioned residential buildings, cool roofs can lower maximum indoor temperatures by 1.2–3.3°C (2.2 to 5.9°F). Cool roofs also impact surrounding areas by lowering temperatures outside of buildings and thus mitigating the heat island effect. The EPA website states that cool roofs provide several benefits beyond urban heat island mitigation. One, reduced energy use. A cool roof lowers the amount of heat transferred to the building, which allows it to stay cooler and use less energy for air conditioning. In air-conditioned residential buildings, solar reflectance from a cool roof can reduce peak cooling demand by 11–27%. Two, reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. By lowering energy use, cool roofs decrease the associated air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. When applied at a scale large enough to affect ambient temperatures, cool roofs could reduce the formation of ground-level ozone (which is heat-dependent) and reduce cooling energy use across a city. Three, improved human health and comfort. Cool roofs can help reduce the adverse health impacts of heat islands, such as heat exhaustion, respiratory difficulties, dizziness and cramps, and heat-induced death. One UK study showed that cool roofs, when implemented across a city, could offset 18% of heat-related mortality associated with the heat island effect.
Gulf Today
11-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Indian slums get 'cool roofs' to combat extreme heat
The effort, which involves 400 households in Ahmedabad, is part of a global scientific trial to study how indoor heat impacts people's health and economic outcomes in developing countries - and how "cool roofs" might help. "Traditionally, home is where people have come to find shelter and respite against external elements," said Aditi Bunker, an epidemiologist at the University of Heidelberg in Germany who is leading the project, supported by the UK-based Wellcome Trust. "Now, we're in this position where people are living in precarious housing conditions, where the thing that was supposed to be protecting them is actually increasing their exposure to heat." As climate change has made India's summers more extreme, Ahmedabad has suffered temperatures in excess of 46 C (115 F) in recent years. In the Vanzara Vas slum in the Narol area of the city, which has more than 2,000 dwellings, most of them airless, one-room homes, residents that are part of the project, such as Nehal Vijaybhai Bhil, say they have already noticed a difference. "My refrigerator doesn't heat up any more and the house feels cooler. I sleep so much better and my electricity bill is down," said Bhil, whose roof was painted in January. Across the world, heatwaves that, prior to the industrial revolution, had a one-in-10 chance of occurring in any given year are nearly three times as likely, according to a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters. By painting roofs with a white coating that contains highly reflective pigments such as titanium dioxide, Bunker and her team are sending more of the sun's radiation back to the atmosphere and preventing it from being absorbed. "In a lot of these low socioeconomic homes, there's nothing to stop the heat transfer coming down - there's no insulation barrier from the roof," Bunker said. Before joining Bunker's experiment, Arti Chunara said she would cover her roof with plastic sheets and spread grass over them. Some days, she and her family sat outside for most of the day, going into the house only for two to three hours when the heat was bearable. The trial in Ahmedabad will run for one year, and scientists will collect health and indoor environment data from residents living under a cool roof - and from those who do not. Other study sites are in Burkina Faso, Mexico and the island of Niue in the South Pacific, spanning a variety of building materials and climates. Early results from the Burkina Faso trial, Bunker said, show that cool roofs reduced indoor temperature by between 1.2 C in tin- and mud-roofed homes, and 1.7 C in tin-roofed homes over two years, which subsequently lowered residents' heart rates.
Khaleej Times
10-03-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Indian slums get 'cool roofs' to combat extreme heat
Hundreds of roofs in the informal settlements of India's western Gujarat state have been painted in a reflective, white coating over the last two months to try to keep their occupants cooler as the hottest time of year approaches. The effort, which involves 400 households in Ahmedabad, is part of a global scientific trial to study how indoor heat impacts people's health and economic outcomes in developing countries — and how "cool roofs" might help. "Traditionally, home is where people have come to find shelter and respite against external elements," said Aditi Bunker, an epidemiologist at the University of Heidelberg in Germany who is leading the project, supported by the UK-based Wellcome Trust. "Now, we're in this position where people are living in precarious housing conditions, where the thing that was supposed to be protecting them is actually increasing their exposure to heat." As climate change has made India's summers more extreme, Ahmedabad has suffered temperatures in excess of 46 degrees Celsius in recent years. In the Vanzara Vas slum in the Narol area of the city, which has more than 2,000 dwellings, most of them airless, one-room homes, residents that are part of the project, such as Nehal Vijaybhai Bhil, say they have already noticed a difference. "My refrigerator doesn't heat up any more and the house feels cooler. I sleep so much better and my electricity bill is down," said Bhil, whose roof was painted in January. Across the world, heatwaves that, prior to the industrial revolution, had a one-in-10 chance of occurring in any given year are nearly three times as likely, according to a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters. By painting roofs with a white coating that contains highly reflective pigments such as titanium dioxide, Bunker and her team are sending more of the sun's radiation back to the atmosphere and preventing it from being absorbed. "In a lot of these low socioeconomic homes, there's nothing to stop the heat transfer coming down — there's no insulation barrier from the roof," Bunker said. Before joining Bunker's experiment, Arti Chunara said she would cover her roof with plastic sheets and spread grass over them. Some days, she and her family sat outside for most of the day, going into the house only for two to three hours when the heat was bearable. The trial in Ahmedabad will run for one year, and scientists will collect health and indoor environment data from residents living under a cool roof — and from those who do not. Other study sites are in Burkina Faso, Mexico and the island of Niue in the South Pacific, spanning a variety of building materials and climates. Early results from the Burkina Faso trial, Bunker said, show that cool roofs reduced indoor temperature by between 1.2 degrees Celsius in tin- and mud-roofed homes, and 1.7 degrees Celsius in tin-roofed homes over two years, which subsequently lowered residents' heart rates.
