February 09, 2021 08:00 ET | Source: Parascript

Longmont, CO, Feb. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parascript, which provides document analysis software processing for over 100 billion documents each year, announced today the Smart-Force (SFORCE) and Parascript partnership to provide a digital workforce that augments operations by combining cognitive Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology with customers current investments for high scalability, improved accuracy and an enhanced customer experience in Mexico and across Latin America.

Partnering with Smart-Force means we get to help solve some of the greatest digital transformation challenges in Intelligent Document Processing instead of just the low-hanging fruit. Smart-Force is forward-thinking and committed to futureproofing their customers processes, even with hard-to-automate, unstructured documents where the application of techniques such as NLP is often required, said Greg Council, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Parascript. Smart-Force leverages bots to genuinely collaborate with staff so that the staff no longer have to spend all their time on finding information, and performing data entry and verification, even for the most complex multi-page documents that you see in lending and insurance.

Smart-Force specializes in digital transformation by identifying processes in need of automation and implementing RPA to improve those processes so that they run faster without errors. SFORCE routinely enables increased productivity, improves customer satisfaction, and improves staff morale through leveraging the technology of Automation Anywhere, Inc., a leader in RPA, and now Parascript Intelligent Document Processing.

As intelligent automation technology becomes more ubiquitous, it has created opportunities for organizations to ignite their staff towards new ways of working freeing up time from the manual tasks to focus on creative, strategic projects, what humans are meant to do, said Griffin Pickard, Director of Technology Alliance Program at Automation Anywhere. By creating an alliance with Parascript and Smart-Force, we have enabled customers to advance their automation strategy by leveraging ML and accelerate end-to-end business processes.

Our focus at SFORCE is on RPA with Machine Learning to transform how customers are doing things. We dont replace; we compliment the technology investments of our customers to improve how they are working, said Alejandro Castrejn, Founder of SFORCE. We make processes faster, more efficient and augment their staff capabilities. In terms of RPA processes that focus on complex document-based information, we havent seen anything approach what Parascript can do.

We found that Parascript does a lot more than other IDP providers. Our customers need a point-to-point RPA solution. Where Parascript software becomes essential is in extracting and verifying data from complex documents such as legal contracts. Manual data entry and review produces a lot of errors and takes time, said Barbara Mair, Partner at SFORCE. Using Parascript software, we can significantly accelerate contract execution, customer onboarding and many other processes without introducing errors.

The ability to process simple to very complex documents such as unstructured contracts and policies within RPA leveraging FormXtra.AI represents real opportunities for digital transformation across the enterprise. FormXtra.AI and its Smart Learning allow for easy configuration, and by training the systems on client-specific data, the automation is rapidly deployed with the ability to adapt to new information introduced in dynamic production environments.

About SFORCE, S.A. de C.V.

SFORCE offers services that allow customers to adopt digital transformation at whatever pace the organization needs. SFORCE is dedicated to helping customers get the most out of their existing investments in technology. SFORCE provides point-to-point solutions that combine existing technologies with next generation technology, which allows customers to transform operations, dramatically increase efficiency as well as automate manual tasks that are rote and error-prone, so that staff can focus on high-value activities that significantly increase revenue. From exploring process automation to planning a disruptive change that ensures high levels of automation, our team of specialists helps design and implement the automation of processes for digital transformation. Visit SFORCE.

About Parascript

Parascript software, driven by data science and powered by machine learning, configures and optimizes itself to automate simple and complex document-oriented tasks such as document classification, document separation and data entry for payments, lending and AP/AR processes. Every year, over 100 billion documents involved in banking, insurance, and government are processed by Parascript software. Parascript offers its technology both as software products and as software-enabled services to our partners. Visit Parascript.

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Parascript and SFORCE Partner to Leverage Machine Learning Eliminating Barriers to Automation - GlobeNewswire

As companies in the UAE scale up their adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) implementation, a new report suggests that UAE organisations are now on par with their global counterparts in boasting mature capabilities in these fields.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of organisations in the wider EMEA regionincluding the UAEare still at the early stages of exploring the technologys potential (52%) or still require significant organisational work to implement an AI/ML solution (36%).

These are the key findings of new research from Rackspace Technology Inc, an end-to-end, multi-cloud technology solutions company, which revealed that the majority of organisations lack the internal resources to support critical AI and ML initiatives.The survey, Are Organisations Succeeding at AI and Machine Learning?,indicates that while many organisations are eager to incorporate AI and ML tactics into operations, they typically lack the expertise and existing infrastructure needed to implement mature and successful AI/ML programmes.

This study shines a light on the struggle to balance the potential benefits of AI and ML against the ongoing challenges of getting AI/ML initiatives off the ground. While some early adopters are already seeing the benefits of these technologies, others are still trying to navigate common pain points such as lack of internal knowledge, outdated technology stacks, poor data quality or the inability to measure ROI.

Other key findings of the report include the following:

Countries across EMEA, including the UAE, are lagging behind in AI and ML implementation, which can be hindering their competitive edge and innovation, said Simon Bennett, Chief Technology Officer, EMEA, Rackspace Technology. Globally were seeing IT decision-makers turn to these technologies to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. Working with a trusted third-party provider, organisations can enhance their AI/ML projects moving beyond the R&D stage and into initiatives with long-term impacts.

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Rackspace Technology Study uncovers AI and Machine Learning knowledge gap in the UAE - Intelligent CIO ME

Over the years, digital transformation has modified the way people and organizations function. While the researches are carried out to find ways of integrating technology into the traditional sectors of a country, some noteworthy technologies have surfaced.

Amongst them are blockchain and machine learning.

What are blockchain and machine learning?

Blockchains an immutable ledger that aids in maintaining the records of transactions and tracking assets in an organization.

As for the assets, they can be tangible or intangible. Additionally, the transaction may refer to cash inflows and outflows.

Blockchain is playing a significant role in many organizations due to several reasons.

With this latest technology, anything can be traded and track, which minimizes the risk and cut the costs. As a result, a business can employ fewer accountants and efficiently manage their accounts with minimal to zero errors.

Secondly, blockchain management helps track orders, production processes, and payments that are to be made to the business itself or others.

Lastly, blockchain stores information with great secrecy, which gives more confidence and a sense of security to the business. Therefore, a business can significantly benefit from the increased efficiency, which may lead to economies of scale. As a result, decreased average costs will provide the business with more opportunities.

On the other hand, machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence that allows the system to learn from the data and not through explicit learning. Nonetheless, it is not a simple procedure.

Furthermore, a machine-learning model is an outcome generated through the training of your machine-learning algorithm. Therefore, you will receive an output after providing an input after the machine is trained.

There are various approaches to machine-learning which are based on the volume and kind of data.

These approaches include supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, and deep learning.

If you are a Researcher or student want to write and dissertation or thesis on Blockchain, Artificial intelligence, you can visit Researchprospect.com and find Blockchain andArtificial Intelligence Topics for Dissertation.

Impact of blockchain on education system

Since the functioning, if organizations have modified due to newfound technology, this will directly impact the education system in many ways.

Maintaining student records

Academic records are one of the most demanding documents to maintain. Labor-intensive tasks such as these consume more time leading to inefficiencies and a greater risk of mistakes. However, blockchain technology ensures accuracy and efficiency.

Moreover, certification of students who are enrolled in a course is another tedious task. It becomes even more challenging at the university level to compare the coursework of students and know their credibility. Manually, the information shall be stamped a designed for authentication.

However, with blockchain, a person can gain access to the verified record of a students academic course and achievements.

Issuance of certificates

Imagine how tiring it would be to print gazillions and gazillions of certificates, sign them off and award them. Though this has been happening for years, it is undoubtedly a challenging task.

Therefore, blockchain has brought much ease. A students certificates, diplomas, and degrees can be stored and issued with just a few clicks.

In this way, the employers will only need a link to access the diploma, unlike viewing a paper copy of certificates.

This is not only eco-friendly, but it will prevent students from submitting fake diplomas and certificates.

Aside from diplomas and degrees, a resume has other elements that an employer might look at. This includes foreign languages, special abilities, technical knowledge, and extracurricular. However, a person will need verification to prove they learned this skill over time.

This authentication comes from the badges and certificates. Therefore, if you store these on the blockchain, it will verify the existence of your skills conveniently.

Impact of machine learning on education system

Learning analytics

Machine-learning can aid the teachers in gaining access to data that is complex yet important. Computers can help the teachers to perform tasks. As a result, the teachers can derive conclusions that positively affect the learning process.

Predictive analytics

Furthermore, machine learning can help analyze and derive conclusions about situations that can happen in the future. If a teacher wants to use the data of school students, they do so within minutes. Also, blockchain can help the admin know if a student fails to achieve a certain level. Aside from this, predictive analytics can predict the students future grade to provide a direction to the teachers.

Adaptive learning

Adaptive learning is a tech-based education system that elaborates a students performance and modifies learning methods.

Therefore, machine learning can aid struggling students or students with different abilities.

Personalized learning

On the other hand, personalized learning is an education system that guides every student according to their capability.

Henceforth, the students can pick out their interests through machine-learning, and teachers can fit the curriculum according to it.

Improved efficiency

Machine learning can make the education system more efficient by providing detailed analysis, completing work related to classroom management. The teacher can efficiently manage databases to maintain records and plan out the schedule for the coming weeks.

If they want, they can refer to it whenever. Therefore, machine learning will not only save up the teachers energy but their time as well.

Assessments

Did you imagine artificial intelligence could test students? Machine learning can be used to grade students assignments and assessments alongside exams.

Though assessing students through machine-learning might require some human effort, it will surely provide extraordinarily valid and reliable results.

Teachers can feel confident if the grades accuracy while students can be sure that grades have been awarded on equal merit and fairly.

Conclusively, technological advancement has dramatically revolutionized the educational sector of countries. In the coming years, block chain and machine learning will continue to impact the education system positively. However, it comes with inevitable repercussions as well. Rapid capital-intensity means that manual workers will no longer be needed to perform various functions. Henceforth, it will cause massive unemployment sooner or later. As a result, the government might face difficulties in retaining the right economic conditions. Lastly, automation such as blockchain and machine-learning are costly procedures that may not be affordable for every institute.

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How Blockchain and Machine Learning Impact on education system - ABCmoney.co.uk

The Red Devils left-back has enjoyed a welcome return to form this season, with his persistence and patience being rewarded at Old Trafford

Luke Shaw claims to have never given any thought to leaving Manchester United, even when he was coming in for public criticism from former Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho.

The 25-year-old endured a testing time to his start at Old Trafford, with a serious broken leg followed by struggles for form under a demanding Portuguese coach.

He could have been forgiven for walking away at that stage and starting afresh elsewhere, but a left-back who has rediscovered a spark this season says that was never an option he considered.

It was a very hard time a couple of years back when I wasnt playing, when I wasnt even involved, Shaw told BBC Sport heading into an FA Cup fifth-round clash with West Ham on Tuesday.

I always believed in myself. There were times where maybe people were thinking maybe he could leave, but I always believed that one day I would be able to fight my way back into the team and show people what my qualities are.

I feel like I am starting to do that now but there is still more to come. Im still quite young and have time to improve.

He added on being singled out by Mourinho: It was difficult because I wasnt able to get my word across.

A lot of people were behind me here, so I knew I had that backing, but I just needed to keep my head down and keep quiet.

People were saying negative things about me but I just look back at it as a learning curve and something that has improved me as a person off the pitch, not just on it.

You always have some doubts. I have been very unfortunate to pick up the injuries I have had but Ive always believed I can be an important player here.

You want to be here and showing people what you can do. Hopefully I can keep doing that and proving people wrong.

Back in September 2016, Mourinho said after a shock 3-1 defeat to Watford, which came on the back of a derby reversal against Manchester City: "[Aleksandar] Kolarov has the ball in a difficult situation in the corner and my player instead of going up and pressing decides to give him space.

Today for the second goal, [Nordin]Amrabat on the right side, our left-back is 25 metres distance from him, instead of five metres. But even at 25 metres, then you have to jump and go press. But no, we wait.

This is a tactical but also a mental attitude. In a couple of weeks, everything like this becomes perfect. That's my job.

In April 2017, Mourinho claimed to have had to talk Shaw through an outing against Everton, saying: "He had a good performance, but it was his body with my brain.

"He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him.

"The communication was possible because we were very close. I was thinking for him, when to close inside, when to open, when to press the opponent, I was making every decision for him."

Shaw has shrugged off the issues of his recent past to become a key man for United in the present.

He has credited the arrival of Alex Telles in the summer of 2020 with bringing even more out of him, with added competition for places forcing him to raise his game.

An England recall ahead of the European Championships is now being mooted, with the last of eight caps for the Three Lions having been collected by the former Southampton defender in 2018.

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Shaw never considered Man Utd exit after being publicly criticised by Mourinho - Goal.com

Workaholics are driven to work excessively.

As a culture, weve come to value growth and productivity, making paid work not only a necessity, but a central concern in peoples lives. Yet this attitude towards work is harming us more than its helping, with research showing that workaholism (also known as work addiction) is a growing problem in the industrialised world. And according to the findings of a recent study, work addiction is linked with poorer mental health.

Work addiction is a clinical condition characterised by an obsessive and compulsive interest in work. People usually work more than theyre required to, either by the workplace or because of financial need. Other characteristics include being concerned about their performance at work, rigid thinking and perfectionism, which is often projected onto others.

People with work addiction are driven to work excessively, despite the detrimental impacts this has on their personal health and wellbeing, and relationships. People at risk of developing work addiction often have low self esteem, experience doubt about their performance at work, or have obsessive compulsive personality traits.

Numerous studies have shown the negative impact of work addiction on mental health. But a recent study on workers in France investigated why work addiction happens to better understand the impact it has on mental and physical health.

The researchers looked at a total of 187 workers from a range of different occupations and demographics, who were asked to answer four different questionnaires. They found that high work demands and people who worked in high pressure roles for example managers with greater responsibilities were the most significant factors contributing to the risk of work addiction.

Where this was accompanied by working longer hours than required and having an obsessive approach to work, there was an even greater risk of developing work addiction. Women were also shown to be more predisposed to developing work addiction than men. Although its not entirely clear why women were more likely to develop work addiction, other research has had similar findings.

Workers with depression were twice as likely to develop work addiction compared to those without a mental health issue. Poor quality of sleep, high levels of stress and low levels of overall wellbeing were also identified as high risk factors.

Although this studys sample size was small, previous research has also shown that work addiction is associated with depression, stress, sleep disorders and lower mental health. Burnout and exhaustion were also reported.

Work addiction is more common in industrialised countries where work performance is a measure of success. This suggests that neoliberal ideas about work are influential in increasing the risk of work addiction. These ideas place pressure on intensifying workloads and performance at work in order to promote economic growth. They also focus on increasing a persons responsibilities at work.

Given the harms of work addiction, radical changes in both workplaces and society will be necessary. As I have argued before, this would require society to stop viewing work as a pivotal tool of performance and growth, and instead place greater value and importance on the health and wellbeing of the worker, both individually and collectively.

Support and change can actually happen in the workplace itself, which is why its important for employers to recognise and address work demands in a positive way. For example, one study has found that increasing job security and opportunities for development lowered the risk of work addiction.

Other studies have suggested that work-life balance interventions could reduce the risk or work addiction. For example, if workplaces actively reduce working hours in order to give employees a chance to spend more time with their family, it can actually result in better work performance. And, fewer working hours may also reduce family conflict for workers, as employees are able to engage in family time more meaningfully.

Promoting work-life balance has also been shown to increase both physical and psychological health, and personal resilience for workers. Balancing time and energy used on work and personal life helps people feel better subsequently both improving mental and physical health.

All this suggests that workplaces should develop work-life balance initiatives, provide opportunities for career development and increase job security to prevent work addiction from happening. These changes may also lower stress and absenteeism while improving performance.

But not all workplaces have these kind of strategies in place and they can be hard to implement because of our cultures focus on performance and economic growth. If youre concerned you have or are developing work addiction, address the problem now if possible.

Seek support at work by talking to managers and peers if you can, ask for performance feedback, or even see if there is a way you can work to reduce some of your working hours. Speaking to mental health and wellbeing services can also help. If you dont have support in your workplace, try talking with friends and family, and ask for their help in refocusing your time such as having them remind you to take breaks from work.

Of course, better work-life balance will help, but this can be a very hard thing to do as it requires adjusting daily patterns and changing how you think and feel. But if youre able to balance work with other activities such as seeing family and friends, exercising, or enjoying hobbies your mental health and wellbeing will improve.

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Work addiction can be harmful to mental health - The Conversation UK

Where do you live? In the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City with my incredible wife Courtland.

What did you have for breakfast? A warm cup of cafe con leche (Almond milk + Instant Coffee) and avocado toast!

Describe your perfect day Wake up with the sun on my face, read in bed, meditate, have breakfast with my wife, practice guitar, go for a run, bike along a new pathway and so much more!

Best book ever read? The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. It taught me so many things including, Your thoughts become things!

Best childhood memory? My parents getting me my first (many since then) electric guitar from Evangelismos Music Stores!

What is always in your fridge? Almond milk!

What music are you listening to in the car at the moment? I have lived in NYC for over seven years so I havent owned a car since then!

Whats your spirit animal? Tiger. Known for its fiery passion, daring, and fearlessness, the tiger is universally respected and revered for its courage.

What are you most proud of? Not giving up on my dream of making it in the USA despite everything around me (at a certain part of my life) telling me I should stop dreaming and just settle for whats within my reach.

What movie scene has really stayed with you? The scene where The Mask (Jim Carrey) starts dancing and singing with the whole crowd of cops that are there to arrest him. As the Mask, he was able to take ANY situation, and make it work out for him!

If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be? The greatest artist, singer, musician, dancer and philanthropist of them all Michael Jackson! (Didnt have to think twice about it)

If you could time travel when/where would you go? 80s baby!!

What is your greatest fear? Knowing that I could have done something but didnt!

What would you say to your 18-year-old self? You can be, do and have anything you want in this life. You just need patience, persistence and perseverance!

Name the one thing that would stop you dating someone A deep negative mental attitude. What you focus on grows.

If the world is ending in 24 hours what would you do? Call everyone that has had a positive impact on my life and tell them thank you and I love you. THEN have a crazy good party with all the close people in my life!

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A minute with Mike Papapavlou Guitar World Magazine's Guitar Teacher of The Year - Cyprus Mail

Because of the past months of social distancing, many of us are feeling stressed, isolated and tired. Three practices and habits that can help us navigate stressful and uncertain times are mindful meditation, equanimity and physical exercise.

Human beings are creatures of habit and as most animals, we like routines and predictability. In order to learn, we have to repeat skills over and over. I have heard that it takes repetitions of around 20 times before something becomes a habit. If this is true, incorporating physical and mental self-care into our lives starts right now, where we are.

There is no better time than now to nurture well-being habits.

Mindful meditation is a practice of being aware of the present moment by focusing on an anchor such as the breath, body sensation or a mantra. The practices that have contributed to an improved mental attitude and positive daily path for me are Metta (loving kindness) and Karuna (compassion). These are two of the Brahma Viharas that especially benefit us during times of stress. Oftentimes we combine these together by using four mantras or phrases, whose sentiments are shared with others, all beings and ourselves. The phrases are: "May (I) you be happy; May (I) you be well, healthy, strong; May (I) you be safe, protected and free from harm; and May (I) you be free from suffering."

Learning equanimity is a bit more challenging and as such is the most useful of habits to practice and learn. Equanimity can be nurtured through the practice of mindful meditation. After developing basic concentration skills using meditation and letting go of our thoughts, a person gradually is able to stay present in the moment and not overreact to daily stimuli. Surely, it takes practice and patience to be equanimous and it is a trait that can be nurtured at any age.

Daily physical activity is helpful for overall well-being and emotional health. We live in a special geographic area where there is plenty of space in which to engage in physical exercise, whether it be hiking, walking, jogging, biking, climbing and swimming. From a personal perspective, during these months of pandemic isolation, exercise has been my sanity break. Other than getting in really good physical shape, these sanity breaks provide important times of self-reflection and I simply feel better after exercising outdoors.

The personal benefits of physical and mental practices are numerous.

Mindful meditation, physical exercise and equanimity are well-rounded practices that can alter the course of a person's life towards a more balanced existence, both mentally and physically. Whether one practices these for three months or three years, the benefits are long lasting.

Mental and emotional well-being: Mindful meditation is a daily discipline that brings emotional balance to my life. With over 20 years of meditation experience, the practice really took hold in 2016 when the school from which I recently retired experienced three student suicides in the span of about a year; two were just before the start of school. Meditation came back to mind as a way to deal with grief and it seemed my students might need this calming practice as well. For a number of years after this experience, mindful meditation became a cornerstone of my teaching practice. Students of many ages and backgrounds have shared mindful meditation together and have expressed the benefits they felt from a moment of calm body and peaceful mind.

The benefits of mindful meditation extend past an individual moment of relaxation.

Once a person starts meditating, they generally realize the benefits extend far beyond a relaxing activity. It becomes a state of being and a lifestyle choice. Whether it is to get through a difficult illness, grieving the loss of a loved one or simply to carve out a daily moment of non-doing, everyone can benefit from meditation. The benefits are plentiful and scientifically proven. A few of these include the ability to stay calm during emotional experiences, to be less reactive to behaviors, to listen more carefully to conversations and to have compassion and empathy for self and others.

Mindful meditation for youth is something I believe would have a positive impact on our world. By teaching families with young children the benefits of meditation and present moment awareness I believe the tools/skills learned and incorporated into their daily life would have a long-lasting impact.

The reasons I teach young people and their families meditation are:

To teach students about present-moment mindfulness-awareness;

to teach them that they aren't judged by their thoughts, sensations, and feelings;

to show by example that mindfulness is a way to feel good about yourself, just as we are;

to model being happy, grateful, loved, and peaceful;

to explain what it feels like to be confident yet relaxed.

The Dalai Lama once said, "If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation." This quote reminded me that teaching mindful meditation and compassionate awareness to youth are ways to encourage a kinder future.

How old is "old enough" to teach children mindfulness, meditation, contemplation of self in the moment? Surely, the very young can sit and color a mandala, walk a labyrinth and and do "finger breathing." Eventually, each child could learn to focus on breath, bodily sensations, internal feelings and as a result, benefit from a practice that would last a lifetime.

Creative director and teacher, Anne-Marie Emanuelli grew up in Taos and brings over two decades of meditation experience to welcome a mindful future. Mindful Frontiers is her educational center in Taos, offering mindful meditation guidance and instruction to families with children; also parents, adults and educators seeking self-care options during pandemic restrictions and new-world paradigm. Emanuelli's mindfulness credentials include Mindful Schools certificates and a 200-hour meditation leadership program at Sage Institute for Creativity and Consciousness. For more, visit mindfulfrontiers.net, email mindfulfrontiers@gmail.com or follow @mindfulfrontiers.

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Feeling stressed? | Health-and-fitness | taosnews.com - taosnews

A weak immune system not only leaves us vulnerable to disease, but undermines the bodys ability to prevent or fight disease. In these trying times of the coronavirus pandemic, experts have said, Even if a person tests positive for the virus, progression of the disease is determined by his/her natural immunological status. So, building up immunity is the way to fight such diseases.

Natures gifts

Nature actually provides us the means to build up immunity and maintain good health. She gives us seasonal fruits and vegetables that are beneficial for the body, especially in terms of strengthening the immune system. Among these are citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, yellow vegetables and so on, rich in Vitamins that help to build up the immunity, especially against colds, coughs and respiratory ailments. Have natural foods. Cooking, processing and refining destroy more than half the necessary nutrients and remove fibre, which is so necessary for the proper elimination of wastes.

Ayurvedic boosters

In Ayurveda, ginger is known as the universal remedy, because it has so many benefits. Similarly combinations of ingredients like Chyawanprash and Trifala are said to strengthen our immune system. Ginger tea can be taken for good digestion and to heal cough and cold. Amla is the best source of Vitamin C and is not destroyed by heat. Add the juice of one amla to a glass of warm water and have it first thing in the morning. Nuts and dry fruits also strengthen immunity. So do peas. They provide the proteins, vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids to maintain strength. Ayurveda also aims at total well-being that lasts a lifetime and ensures a good quality of life.

Personal hygiene

Pay attention to cleansing and daily hygiene. Improper daily hygiene can undermine the health in a number of ways. The skin is influenced by many external factors, like dirt, chemical pollutants, bacteria and virus. By daily washing, bathing and cleaning, we can remove impurities and keep ourselves free from infections. A daily bath, or shower, is a must, especially on returning home. All parts of the body should be washed well, specially the hands and feet. Apart from soap, you would need a clean rough-textured washcloth or loofah, a long-handled brush for the back, a pumice stone, a nail brush. During the ancient times, infusions were used to wash the body. These can be made by soaking neem leaves in hot water and letting it stand overnight. Use the water to bathe the next morning. It prevents infections and soothes rashy conditions.

Here's how you can build up immunity and stay healthy

Calm the mind and reduce stress

Aromatherapy is very useful in calming the mind and reducing stress. The aromas, or fragrances, of different flowers are said to influence the nervous system and induce calm and relaxation. You can diffuse aromas in the house with scented candles. Lavender is said to induce relaxation, while jasmine heightens the senses and elevates the mood. Rose calms and refreshes the mind, while Cinnamon is said to relieve fatigue.

Daily exercise

Some form of daily exercise is also necessary for good health of body and mind. Exercise, together with a balanced diet, can work wonders. Not only does it build up stamina and strength, but improves blood circulation to the skin and scalp. Every tissue of the body needs oxygen, so begin your exercises by doing deep breathing in front of an open window. Yogic asanas are very helpful. Or you can do stationary jogging. But, check with your doctor first.

Be positive

A positive mental attitude is also important, because mind and body are closely related. These days of covid-19, we are all experiencing fear and anxiety. We have to train our minds towards positive thinking. A holistic way of life and attention to these common factors can help to revitalize the body, relax the mind and recharge the soul. It provides another lease of vitality to meet new challenges.

Read more| Aadhaar authentication mandatory for driving license: How to link driving license with Aadhaar card

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Here's how you can build up immunity and stay healthy - India Today

Derek Lowe's commentary on drug discovery and the pharma industry. An editorially independent blog from the publishers of Science Translational Medicine. All content is Dereks own, and he does not in any way speak for his employer.

Theres a new paper out that clears up some of our thinking about the current pandemic and what protection people might have had before the latest coronavirus showed up. As so many people know by now, there are a lot of coronaviruses running around out there, and they are responsible for a small-but-real fraction of common cold type illnesses every year. Heres the CDC page on that topic, and here (from Wikipedia) is the phylogenetic tree of coronaviruses in general.

A lot of people have had one or more of the coronaviruses that are listed on the CDC page (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1). But none of these are in the exact same family as the current beast the first two are alpha-coronaviruses and are fairly closely related to each other. The second two are in another genus, beta-coronaviruses, and are also pretty closely related to each other, but theyre off in a different lineage inside the beta-coronaviridae compared to the SARS-type coronaviruses like the current one. All of these things have spike proteins decorating them, but the spikes themselves vary in sequence, enough so that some of them have found completely different surface proteins to use for viral entry, as opposed to the SARS ones going for the ACE2 protein.

Still, immunology being what it is, the question has been open whether the B-cell and T-cell memory of past infections with these other coronviruses might give a person some protection against the current one. Ive wondered about that here on the blog myself. Its not at all a crazy idea, because what we have seen is that there are people out there who with cross-reactive antibodies that can bind to the pandemic coronavirus, some of these in blood samples from well before the current one started going through the human population. but (until now) weve lacked enough hard data to say.

Heres the MedrXiv version of the paper under discussion, and heres the version coming out now in Cell. The authors looked at 431 pre-pandemic blood samples, and compared them to 251 samples from people who have been infected in the current outbreak and recovered, as well as analyzing antibody profiles in people who are currently hospitalized. What theyve found is first, that most people have indeed been infected with one or more of the garden-variety coronaviruses. The pre-pandemic samples show plenty of antibody responses to these. Second, about 20% of these patients raised antibodies that do cross-reaction with the Spike or nucleocapsid proteins of the current pandemic coronavirus. And whats more, levels of such antibodies are elevated when a person in this group gets infected with SARS-Cov2: the immune system memory (as present in these patients B cells) responds by increasing production of the antibodies to the previous coronaviruses.

But heres the key part: cross-react does not mean neutralize and it does not mean provide protection from. These antibodies may or may not have been neutralizing against the other coronaviruses, but they dont seem to have any such effect on the current one. And in keeping with that, having such cross-reactive antibodies seems to provide no protection against catching SARS-Cov2 or against being hospitalized with it if you do. Theres no difference in the infection/hospitalization rates of the people who had cross-reactive coronavirus serum antibodies ready to go versus those who didnt. Theyre basically useless.

Now, you can still make an argument that the T cell component of immunity might provide some protection after a previous coronavirus infection. The current study didnt address this directly, but after these results, its at least less likely that thats happening. The authors make a note of this, and also note that pre-existing mucosal antibodies might exert a protective effect (which this study didnt examine, either). But prior circulating human coronavirus antibodies, even ones that can bind to the current one those it looks like we can rule out. Which is too bad.

Originally posted here:
Does Prior Exposure to Coronaviruses Protect You? | In the Pipeline - Science Magazine

Students said spending time in wide-open spaces outside has helped alleviate some of the mental stress that comes with being cooped up inside all day.

After his favorite Karaoke bar, Big Mikes, closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Fantuazzo brought his musical hobby to Gelman Library.

Fantuazzo, a third-year law student who lives off campus with his dog, Fry, said without in-person social events to attend, he used Facebook Live to stream his Karaoke performances to fight feelings of isolation. He said he held a Facebook Live charity karaoke event outside of Gelman for his birthday in December, which raised money for Doctors Without Borders, and held another performance the day before the inauguration.

In this time, you have got to celebrate the moments, Fantuazzo said. If 2020 was about We have to shut everything down, I think 2021 has got to be about We have to let the show go on, with protocols of course.

Students said theyve felt heightened levels of stress and anxiety dealing with online class and staying inside more than usual. Blaire is one of seven students who said in interviews that theyve leaned on hobbies like chess and yoga to keep their spirits up as the pandemic rages on.

Fantuazzo said he set up a karaoke livestream in Gelman the day before President Joe Bidens inauguration to cope with the anxiety and fear he felt about the potential for violence that day. He added that he frequents Black Lives Matter Plaza with his dog to alleviate his sense of loneliness.

We have all of this open outdoor space, and we should be doing more events, like outdoor singing, he said. Thats something you can really space out but people can enjoy. People can bring a chair to the lawn. I would really love it if people tried to commit to more of that.

Nyle Hutchinson, a sophomore majoring in psychology, said hes been playing chess and meditating to cope with the stress he feels without friends nearby for emotional support. He said he lived at home in New York for the fall semester and is now living in on-campus housing.

When you do positive things and have a positive attitude, it makes you want the best for yourself, so you work harder, and when you work harder, you feel better so it creates the potential for a very great cycle, Hutchinson said.

He said when he was at home in the New York City area, he took hikes with his friends in Central Park, where he worked as a surveyor. He said students who are currently struggling with mental health should take the pandemic one day at a time and reach out to trusted friends or a counselor for help.

Students can call Counseling and Psychological Services every day between noon and 4 p.m. if they need to meet with a therapist and can call at any time outside of business hours for urgent needs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 75 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 have experienced poor mental health tied to the pandemic.

Really all you can do is today, so make the most of today so that your tomorrow will be just a little bit better, and sooner or later you will be ready for the future you were so worried about, he said.

April Mihalovich, a senior majoring in criminal justice, said shes taking classes at her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Mihalovich said the virtual class setting this year has given her the opportunity to have a more flexible schedule, but shes had trouble adding structure to her day.

Its definitely difficult not being able to perform the acts of getting up, getting ready, making my own meals, walking to class and things like that because having that routine and freedom to come and go from my dorm or wherever Im living is definitely something that helped me take some space for myself, she said.

Victoria Akinwande, a freshman majoring in political science and economics, said attending virtual classes and completing assignments entirely online from her home in Indianapolis has made her feel fatigued.

Zoom has become this world where you cant put down the controller because its a live game and you cant pause it, she said. And you have these assignments due that are virtual that need to be completed, and you have all of these responsibilities in the real world too.

Akinwande said making time to break away from computer work, take mental check-ins and talk to her mom and grandmother has helped her maintain her mental health.

I say OK, Im stopping. This is my stopping point right now. Im going to watch Netflix, eat some food, drink some water, do whatever I need to do to get back to my base point and then I can start doing work again, she said.

JJ Yu, an undecided freshman who is currently completing virtual classes from Korea, said she is 14 hours ahead of her professors teaching in D.C., and the time difference prevents her from attending classes synchronously.

She said watching class recordings instead of attending sessions live has made it difficult for her to meet her classmates, but she uses her classes GroupMe chats to connect with peers and coordinate study sessions that can work with her schedule.

Because my classes are recordings, I dont see my classmates faces, she said. I dont study with them. Im just alone. Its my own thing. But if I make the study session and go, we talk to each other, we see each other, so its better.

Lia DeGroot contributed reporting.

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This article appeared in the February 8, 2021 issue of the Hatchet.

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Students rely on hobbies to maintain mental health during pandemic - GW Hatchet