AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:15 p.m. ESTPresident-elect Donald Trump’s economic legacy may well depend on whether he prefers the comparative form of an adjective. Specifically, does he believe it is hard to make a living in the U.S. — or harder than it used to be? It is not an insignificant distinction. The central conceit of economic populism, dominating both the left and the right, is that things used to be better. This is a misdiagnosis. Making your way in an uncertain world and a constantly changing economy has always been hard — and always will be. But things are not harder than they used to be; in many ways, they’re getting easier. That may be a small and not especially helpful consolation to the millions of Americans struggling in today’s economy. But in terms of both political rhetoric and economic policy, the difference matters. It is true that inflation is still higher than it was before the pandemic, and this has made Americans’ lives harder and more uncertain (and is a big reason Trump won). But inflation is not driving his economic agenda, which aims to make America great again. The word again suggests there was a time, even before his first administration, when things were better. When exactly that was is unclear, but Trump has spoken about reviving manufacturing through tariffs, so let’s say it’s the postwar era of the 1960s. Which, to be fair, is not completely different from President Joe Biden’s agenda, which aimed to restore America’s greatness by empowering unions and subsidizing more manufacturing through industrial policy. But going back to America’s manufacturing economy would not actually be so great. It is tempting to romanticize the 1960s, when 30% of the labor force had manufacturing jobs that offered stable wages, long-term employment, a defined-benefit pension and enough income from a single earner to support a family. But that era was not as good as it seemed. Living standards were much lower; people lived in smaller houses and didn’t travel as much, and they were less likely to send their children to college. In 1965, 69.5% of prime working-age Americans were in the labor force. Today that figure is 83.3% — largely because so many women now work outside the home. Six decades ago, the U.S. had a much less inclusive economy, which did not offer wealth or stability for a majority of the population. This may be one reason there was so much social unrest during this supposed economic golden age. Today’s economy offers more opportunities to more people. Living standards, and life expectancy, are higher. More people go to college, own their home, have health insurance, can get credit, invest in the markets and receive retirement benefits. Wages have become more steady, and people stay in jobs longer. In short, the economy is more stable than it was 60 years ago. Any attempt to restore the economy of the past — whether by expanding tariffs, trying to revitalize unions that don’t fit the modern economy or imposing industrial policy — will not increase prosperity. It will create distortions that slow growth, increase the debt and help a few at the expense of many. What worked in Trump’s first term were practical policies that embraced the future, such as using the tax code to encourage more research and innovation and rescinding regulations that make the labor market less dynamic. Which way he’ll go in his second term remains uncertain.

Brazil's top court takes on regulation of social media

Brazil's top court takes on regulation of social mediaMichigan St. 78, California 72

Report: Saints DT Nathan Shepherd's Fine for Twisting Justin Herbert's Leg Rescinded

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global stock music market size is estimated to grow by USD 650.4 million from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.09% during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below- Segmentation Overview Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: Royalty-free (RF) music refers to the permission to use copyrighted materials without paying recurring royalties or license fees. RF music allows for one-time payment, regardless of usage frequency, number of copies sold, or timeframe. Traditionally, RF music was popular for TV productions due to its ease of use and elimination of complex licensing processes. With the rise of digital distribution, RF music adoption, benefiting both composers and buyers. Numerous websites offer a vast selection of RF music across various genres, making it a convenient choice for producers. RF music's affordability fuels the growth of the global stock music market, as it offers legal access to a wide range of musical content without the need for copyright infringement. Analyst Review The Stock Music Market is a dynamic and evolving industry that caters to the diverse audio needs of various sectors, from Millennials to corporations. Technology and social media have revolutionized the way we consume and create music, making music libraries an essential resource for content creators in the entertainment business. From TV and films to advertisements, video games, and corporate production, the demand for authentic and high-quality music is at an all-time high. The gig economy has given rise to a new generation of multimedia artists, providing them with an opportunity to monetize their creations through stock music platforms. Genres and styles vary widely, catering to the unique needs of different industries and audiences. The user base of streaming services and digital advertising continues to grow, making online marketing and podcasting increasingly important channels for reaching consumers. The Stock Music Market is a thriving business that is here to stay. Market Overview The Stock Music Market is a dynamic and evolving industry that caters to the growing demand for authentic and high-quality music in various sectors. With millennials leading the charge, technology and social media have revolutionized the way music is consumed and shared. Music libraries have become essential resources for content creators in TV, films, advertisements, video games, corporate production, and the entertainment business. Stock music producers offer licenses, attribution, and exploitable rights to market participants, enabling a diverse range of businesses to access original music for their brand assets. Affluent consumers, cultural change agents, touring musicians, and local musicians all contribute to this vibrant ecosystem. Brands like Coca-Cola and Budweiser have embraced music as a powerful branding tool, creating iconic brand anthems and sponsoring music festivals. The digital element has transformed the industry, with streaming services, podcasting, and online marketing leading the charge. Editing tools and platforms have made it easier for professionals to integrate music into their multimedia content, from magazines and newspapers to instore activations and digital efforts. The market continues to grow, fueled by media spending and the unified approach to platform integration. To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stock-music-market-to-grow-by-usd-650-4-million-from-2023-2028--report-on-ai-redefining-market-landscape---technavio-302328795.html SOURCE TechnavioCALIFORNIA (6-1) Onyiah 5-13 3-4 13, Suarez 4-12 3-4 14, Krimili 4-14 5-6 15, Twidale 8-13 1-2 20, Williams 0-1 3-4 3, Ackerman 0-2 1-2 1, Abigor 2-3 0-2 4, Donez 1-1 0-0 2, Maul 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 24-59 16-24 72 MICHIGAN ST. (7-0) Tate 2-4 0-0 5, VanSlooten 3-12 7-14 13, Ayrault 7-20 6-8 22, Hallock 5-15 3-4 15, Shumate 1-4 0-0 3, Sotelo 1-1 1-2 3, Blair 0-0 0-0 0, Hampton 4-4 0-0 10, Kimball 0-1 0-0 0, Simmons 2-9 3-5 7, Totals 25-70 20-33 78 California 18 22 20 12 — 72 Michigan St. 26 5 17 30 — 78 3-Point Goals_California 8-22 (Suarez 3-7, Krimili 2-7, Twidale 3-8), Michigan St. 8-20 (Tate 1-2, Ayrault 2-6, Hallock 2-4, Shumate 1-4, Hampton 2-2, Kimball 0-1, Simmons 0-1). Assists_California 14 (Krimili 5), Michigan St. 13 (Simmons 3). Fouled Out_California Onyiah, Suarez, Michigan St. Tate. Rebounds_California 46 (Suarez 11), Michigan St. 42 (Ayrault 9). Total Fouls_California 24, Michigan St. 18. Technical Fouls_California Krimili 1, Michigan St. Tate 1, Team 1. A_325.

The location was once touted as a home for City of Liverpool FC A sports pavilion once linked with housing a football team in the search for permanent roots has been off-loaded by Liverpool Council . As part of its updated community asset transfer policy, for the past two years the local authority has sought to give a number of sites and buildings a new lease of life through fresh ownership. Among them is the sports pavilion at Adlam Park in Fazakerley . The single storey building was among the first tranche of four locations earmarked by city officials to be taken off the council’s books and given out to community use. It has now been confirmed the location, once mooted as a permanent home for City of Liverpool FC, will be taken on by a sports charity based at the park in the north of the city. A register of decisions made by officers confirmed how earlier this month terms had been agreed by the council and Sports Live. Documents said the building, part of phase one of the asset transfer programme, was advertised on the open market for a period of eight weeks in January 2023. It is a purpose-built single storey building on hardstanding floor incorporating changing rooms, showers, toilets, games room and an office. The surrounding area consists of two sports courts. Sports Alive Northwest was the only organisation to submit an application for the property and have occupied the premises without any agreement since 2015. The report said: “They occupy the property for the purpose of various community, sport and youth activities and are an established charity with a strong record of delivering services to the locality.” Sports Live aims to provide a variety of services focused on the promotion of the communities social, physical and mental wellbeing. These include outreach sessions to ensure people who can’t access the centre experience their sessions, detached sessions focusing on people who find themselves involved in antisocial behaviour, exploitation or dangerous behaviours. The organisation also provides the Sports Alive Food Van which promotes healthy eating but offers additional outreach services to provide extra intervention. According to the heads of terms agreement, the existing pavilion could be knocked down to be replaced by a two-storey multi-purpose sports facility and community hub. Sports Alive has been granted a 30-year lease as part of the new agreement. Adlam Park is the first of the original four to secure a new future, having been initially listed alongside land at Mulgrave Street, Princes Park; Monument Place/London Road public toilets and land at Jubilee Drive, Kensington and Fairfield.

Lawsuit alleges Linda McMahon enabled sexual abuse of children

‘They’ve done everything right’: Matt Rhule takes stock of Nebraska football’s week in NYCAs the year draws to a close, Waikato Herald is taking stock of 2024. What moved readers most? As part of a 12-day series, Waikato Herald reporter Danielle Zollickhofer looks at the top stories each month. Welcome to day 9: September. September 2024 was another busy month. Kīngi Tūheitia’s tangi was being held at Tūrangawaewae Marae and his daughter Ngā Wai hono i te pō was named as his successor . Members of the New Zealand Defence Force helped to form the honour guard that guided the late Kīngi Tūheitia on his final journey at the banks of the Waikato River, while behind the scenes hundreds of marae staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to make sure food was never in short supply. Meanwhile, the Philip Polkinghorne trial came to an end as the retired eye surgeon was acquitted of the death of his wife Pauline Hanna.If you need to load up your Steam Deck with some additional games before the holidays, Humble and the publishers at Raw Fury have your back. For just $15, you can pick up an eclectic collection of 11 titles to keep you satisfied long after you’ve concluded your turkey day celebrations — all of which are verified to run well on Steam Deck. This bundle features a wide array of games, and it’s tough to express the vibe in just one sentence (that’s part of why Raw Fury rules). There’s the frantic base-builder Dome Keeper , the retro-inspired CRPG Skald: Against the Black Priory , the dark adventure title Norco , and more. The other games you’ll find in this bundle include Friends vs. Friends , Sable , Snufkin: Melody of Moomin Valley , Mr. Sun’s Hatbox , Kingdom Eighties , Kingdom: Two Crowns , Star Renegades , and Pizza Possum . Only some of these games have ranked on Polygon’s end-of-year GOTY lists ( Norco , Sable, Mr. Sun’s Hatbox ), but they’re all worth playing. In addition to all of these titles, you’ll also get a coupon to save 15% on the Call of Olympus DLC for Kingdom: Two Crowns , and a 25% discount on the working Joe in space simulator, Star Trucker . Raw Fury Humble Bundle Purchases of this Humble bundle benefit the non-profit Save the Children, an organization dedicated to promoting the health and education of children worldwide. However, you can always customize how much of your purchase goes to the developers, Humble, or charity by using the “adjust donation” menu before checking out. Shopkeeper Polygon’s handpicked deals on games, movies, books, and more. Deal Alert Gaming PC ShoppingIrish Examiner journalist Sean Murray was among the winners at the An Post Irish Book Awards, which were announced this evening at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Murray and his co-authors Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan took home the Listeners’ Choice Award for The Last Disco: The Story of the Stardust Tragedy. The Novel of the Year Award was won by Donal Ryan, while Sally Rooney won the Author of the Year Award. Author Paul Howard, best known for his Ross O’Carroll Kelly series, was given a Special Recognition Award to acknowledge his contribution to the Irish publishing industry over the past 25 years. His Ross books have sold over 1.5 million copies in Ireland and are critically acclaimed. Howard is also a playwright and the author of several non-fiction works, as well as a range of children's books. A four-time Irish Book Award winner, he has also ghost written a number of autobiographies and co-wrote Roddy Collin’s memoir The Rodfather. Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, Clair Wills, Seán Ronayne, Molly Nic Céile, Paddy Donnelly and Kathleen Macadam are among the other winning authors at the awards. Children’s writer Martin Waddell was presented with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award. Waddell is the first children’s writer to receive the award, and is one of the most popular and beloved authors in children’s fiction. He is best known for Owl Babies, illustrated by Patrick Benson, (1992) and the Little Bear books, illustrated by Barbara Firth. As the 2024 Lifetime Achievement honouree, Waddell joins a host of other distinguished recipients including Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Eavan Boland, Colm Tóibín and others. All previous winners of The Lifetime Achievement Award can be found at https://www.irishbookawards.ie/history/hall-of-fame/ First awarded in 2006, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent. Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: “The An Post Irish Book Awards has firmly become a cornerstone of the Irish literary landscape, and we’re incredibly proud of the collaboration and passion that has driven its success - from readers and writers to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and our dedicated sponsors. “This past year has seen an exciting array of Irish books published, showcasing not only the voices of renowned authors, but also introducing fresh, exceptional talent who are enriching Ireland's literary tradition. “It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards.” Full list of winners for the ‘An Post Irish Book Awards 2024’ Best Irish-Published Book of the Year: The Irish Words You Should Know – Hector Ó hEochagáin (Gill Books) Biography of the Year: Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging – Seán Ronayne (Hachette Books Ireland) History Book of the Year: Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives - Hélène O’Keeffe, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, John Borgonovo and Mike Murphy (Cork University Press) Non-Fiction Book of the Year: Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother’s Secrets – Clair Wills (Allen Lane, Penguin Random House) Novel of the Year: Heart, Be at Peace – Donal Ryan (Doubleday, Penguin Random House) Food & Drink Book of the Year: Irish Food History: A Companion - Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire & Dorothy Cashman (Royal Irish Academy) Lifestyle Book of the Year: Gaeilge i Mo Chroí - Irish In My Heart: Your Guide to Loving and Living the Irish Language – Molly Nic Céile (Hachette Books Ireland) Author of the Year: Sally Rooney Sports Book of the Year: Obsessed: The Autobiography – Johnny Sexton with Peter O’Reilly (Sandycove, Penguin) Gradam Love Leabhar Gaeilge Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana: Geansaithe Móra – Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh (LeabhairCOMHAR) Children’s Book of the Year – Junior: The Golden Hare – Paddy Donnelly (The O’Brien Press) Children’s Book of the Year – Senior: Fia and the Last Snow Deer – Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children’s) Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year, in honour of John Treacy: Something’s About to Blow Up – Sam Blake (Gill Books) Crime Fiction Book of the Year: A Stranger in the Family – Jane Casey (Hemlock Press) Newcomer of the Year: The Coast Road – Alan Murrin (Bloomsbury Circus) Popular Fiction Book of the Year: Frankie – Graham Norton (Coronet) Special Recognition Award: Paul Howard Listeners’ Choice Award: The Last Disco: The Story of the Stardust Tragedy – Sean Murray, Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan (Eriu) New Irish Writing Best Short Story: Valentine’s Day – Kathleen Macadam New Irish Writing Best Poetry: ‘Onionskin’ – Eilín de Paor Bookshop of the Year: Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry Check out our Books Hub where you will find the latest news, reviews, features, opinions and analysis on all things books from the Irish Examiner's team of specialist writers, columnists and contributors.

B.C. Premier Eby says Canada will negotiate from 'position of strength' on US tariff British Columbia Premier David Eby said Canada had to approach Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25 per cent U.S. Dirk Meissner and Nono Shen, The Canadian Press Nov 26, 2024 12:58 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Premier-designate David Eby holds a media availability following election results at the legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito Listen to this article 00:01:16 British Columbia Premier David Eby said Canada had to approach Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25 per cent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods from a position of strength, as business, trade and community organizations called for quick action on the trade threat. Eby said premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would meet this week to discuss "our strategic approach" to the U.S. president-elect's plan to impose the tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports immediately after his inauguration on Jan. 20, unless action was taken to stem the cross-border flow of migrants and illegal drugs. The B.C. premier made the comments Tuesday in a speech to the annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour in Vancouver. "Obviously, this will be devastating to workers on both sides of the border," he said. "Both in the U.S. and in Canada the impact on families will be profoundly significant." Canada and the U.S. have long been top trading partners, on imports as well as exports, and the strength of this relationship put Canada in a solid position when it came to Trump's tariff threat, Eby said. "We have more in common with Americans than what separates us," he said. "We buy more American stuff than France, than China and Japan and the United Kingdom combined. So, we are negotiating, I believe, from a position of strength." Eby acknowledged improvements could be made on Canada's border, especially when it came to policing contraband and illegal drugs. "We've called repeatedly, for example, for port police to ensure what comes into B.C. is not contraband, is not illicit drugs or precursor chemicals," he said. "These are things that we can do to make life better here in B.C., as well as respond to concerns that have been raised south of the border." Trump issued a statement on social media on Monday saying Canada and Mexico had the power to solve their border issues, which he called a "long simmering problem." Business organizations in B.C. called on the provincial and federal government to immediately address Trump's tariff plan that they said would will hurt businesses. The proposal would have “significant consequences” for B.C. businesses of all sizes and would harm communities and workers across the province, said Fiona Famulak, B.C. Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer. “Ottawa must take this news seriously and work proactively with representatives of the incoming US administration immediately to address the issue before the tariffs are implemented," she said in a statement. "We cannot afford to wait until January to take action." The Metro Vancouver city of Surrey, which has two U.S. border crossings, said in a statement the proposed tariff would have severe implications for the city's business community. Most of B.C.'s manufacturing industry is located in Surrey and the city is also home to many thriving import-export reliant businesses, which would face increased costs and potential job losses if the U.S. tariff was imposed, said Jasroop Gosal, Surrey Board of Trade spokesman. The B.C. Lumber Trade Council said the proposed tariff would hurt U.S. consumers and homebuyers by driving up the cost of building materials from Canada, while the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade said the U.S. was B.C.’s most important trading partner, accounting for 54 per cent of the province’s commodity exports in 2023. "It is imperative that we engage constructively with our U.S. counterparts to advance our collective interests," said Bridgitte Anderson, board of trade president and CEO. "This should act as a wake-up call to all levels of government that a new Team Canada approach is required." She said some of B.C.’s top exports to the U.S. are natural gas, softwood lumber, agricultural products and minerals and metals. Opposition B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad called for the immediate recall of the B.C. legislature to provide funding to secure borders to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants. B.C. government data says the province's exports to the U.S. in the first half of 2024 were worth $16.9 billion, down 1.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. The U.S. is by far B.C.'s largest export destination, with mainland China in second place receiving goods worth $4.9 billion in the year to July, up 13.2 per cent. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Dirk Meissner and Nono Shen, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business Trudeau, premiers to meet Wednesday after Trump trade threat Nov 26, 2024 1:30 PM S&P/TSX composite index ticks lower, U.S. stock markets rise Nov 26, 2024 1:26 PM B.C. health executive fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine loses EI appeal Nov 26, 2024 1:17 PM Featured Flyer

By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration. As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information. Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed. Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement. “Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.” Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss. “We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.” “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement. The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed. That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data. Trump’s team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition. The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information. For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts.

Gemini Daily Horoscope Today, December 13, 2024 astro tips for future growth