Category: Education

MIL-OSI Global: How to write a perfect wedding speech – according to ancient orators

Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Roberts, Professor of English and University Orator, Birmingham City University

IVASHstudio/Shutterstock

Looking for an example of how not to give a wedding speech? Try this. I was recently told an anecdote about guests at a wedding who became suspicious about the detached, cliched style of the groom’s speech, and the monotonous way it was read. Gathered at the reception afterwards, they asked ChatGPT to write a groom’s wedding speech. Bingo! The result was as good as identical.

Admittedly, whether you’re bride or groom, best man or chief bridesmaid, giving a wedding speech can be a scary prospect. But if you want to keep it personal and memorable, AI is not the answer.

So what is? You could do a lot worse than following the five canons of classical rhetoric, as recommended by the great practitioners of the ancient world, Cicero and Quintilian: invention, arrangement, style, memory and delivery.

1. Invention

The first canon of classical rhetoric is invention. That’s the process of discovering and developing the ideas you’ll use in your speech.

You can’t speak about everything, and no one likes a speech that drones on. Around ten minutes is all you need. That leaves you time for maybe six or seven events in the life of the person you’re talking about.

If you visualise those six or seven events, that will help you remember them. Is there a theme or characteristic that binds them together? Identify one or two, and use them to create a thread.

Good speakers often begin with a bit of a warm-up – maybe some light-hearted comments about the venue, or something in the news, or just a good joke. Plan to single out people in the audience for a mention or a laugh. Say something nice about the new family, or friendship groups you’ve discovered through the relationship.

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2. Arrangement

History is your best friend when it comes to arranging the order of your speech. The events you’ve chosen under “invention” happened in order of time. So lean on history and organise them chronologically.

Also, remember that many of the best wedding speeches often follow an arc from light to serious. You can make fun of your subject for a while, but nothing quite beats ending with love.

3. Style

This will vary depending on your role. Best men and chief bridesmaids traditionally skirt the boundaries of politeness, or sometimes go crashing through them (the worst best-man jokes are not repeatable here, nor anywhere else, and there’s no shortage of books dedicated to them).

Mostly you’ll be talking to a mixed audience. You can be a bit risqué without offending anyone (sexist jokes are not recommended). And because you’re likely to be talking to people you know, try to be informal – the “familiar style”, as it used to be called. That also means being personal. The speech has to sound like you.

Keep your speech as personal as possible.
Dupe/Chloe Christianson, CC BY-SA

4. Memory

The prospect of remembering a speech may feel daunting or impossible. But speaking without notes makes a huge difference to how you engage your audience.

Look into their eyes and they will be drawn in. The ancient Roman educator Quintilian was one among many orators to recommend visual analogues as a memory aid – often, the ground plan of a house, where a porch leads to a hall, which leads to a dining room, and so on. You populate each room with clues. They might be verbal or visual.

Anything that helps you lift your eyes from a script will increase your chances of getting the audience on your side.

5. Delivery

Calm your nerves by visualising the scene ahead of time. Most people visit their wedding venue before the big day, so take the opportunity to get used to the space, and then run it through in your head afterwards.

Try rehearsing the speech while you’re going for a walk. When it comes to the big day and the room is full, remember that you can’t speak directly to everyone. Instead, pick out maybe three or four people to focus on, in different parts of the room.

Taking a walk around the venue ahead of time can help you to memorise your speech.
Dupe/Marissa Gradei, CC BY-SA

There are novel approaches and there are disasters. The double-act approach can work brilliantly, where bride and groom take turns to deliver a single speech, but it may need scripting. If the venue has the facilities, a slide show can work well. Picking out the various groups of families and friends and getting them to wave usually works as a good warmup.

When you get a laugh, ride it – start speaking again just as the laughter is dying down. Don’t wait for silence. If you get into a panic and can’t think of anything, just say you’re so happy that you’re speechless, and raise your glass for a toast.

David Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How to write a perfect wedding speech – according to ancient orators – https://theconversation.com/how-to-write-a-perfect-wedding-speech-according-to-ancient-orators-251284

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Symptoms of androgen excess in women are too often being overlooked – or dismissed as ‘just cosmetic’

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael O’Reilly, Clinical Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hair loss can be a symptom of androgen excess Hazal Ak/Shutterstock

Acne that won’t go away. Hair thinning at the crown. Unwanted facial hair, unpredictable periods, mood swings and weight gain. For millions of women, these aren’t just annoying symptoms – they’re signs of a deeper, often ignored condition: androgen excess. Despite affecting at least one in ten women worldwide, this hormonal imbalance remains underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and too often dismissed.

Androgens are commonly known as “male hormones”, but all women have them too. The problem arises when levels become too high. This excess can wreak havoc across multiple systems in the body, disrupting menstrual cycles, fertility, metabolism and even mental health. Yet because some of the more visible symptoms, like acne or hirsutism, are often brushed off as cosmetic, many women don’t get the support or treatment they need.

The most well known cause of androgen excess is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It affects up to 13% of women globally and costs the US alone an estimated US$15 billion (£11 bllion) each year.

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But, even though PCOS dominates the conversation, it’s not the only condition behind androgen excess. Other, sometimes more serious, disorders can also cause elevated hormone levels like hormone-secreting tumours, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (a group of genetic disorders that affect your adrenal glands), Cushing’s syndrome (a rare hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to very high levels of the hormone cortisol) and severe insulin resistance. Yet too often, the assumption is that any woman with high androgens has PCOS, which can delay diagnosis of these rarer but potentially serious conditions.

The effects of androgen excess go far beyond skin deep. It’s associated with significant metabolic issues – insulin resistance affects the majority of women with PCOS, putting them at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Many also live with higher body weight and are more likely to develop high blood pressure, liver disease and cardiovascular problems.

For some, difficulty conceiving is what finally leads them to seek medical help. But even among women not trying to become pregnant, hormonal imbalance can take a toll: anxiety and depression are two to three times more common in women with PCOS than in the general population.

And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill. On average, women with PCOS wait over two years and consult several different healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis. Nearly half say their symptoms were initially ignored.

Part of the problem may be the name itself. “Polycystic ovary syndrome” is a misnomer – many women with PCOS don’t actually have cysts on their ovaries, and having ovarian cysts doesn’t necessarily mean you have PCOS. It’s a complex metabolic and hormonal disorder, not just a reproductive one. That’s why some experts and patient advocates around the world are calling for a name change to better reflect the condition’s true nature. A more accurate label could raise awareness and improve the way it’s diagnosed and treated.

Encouragingly, there’s been a major step forward in how androgen excess is addressed. In June 2024, the Society for Endocrinology in the UK published new clinical guidelines to help doctors better identify and manage the condition. These guidelines include clear diagnostic pathways, recommendations for when to carry out blood tests or scans, and guidance on when to refer patients for specialist care. Crucially, they acknowledge that androgen excess can affect women at all ages – not just during the reproductive years.

A real difference

Publishing guidelines is only the first step. To make a real difference in women’s lives, several things need to happen. First, there must be greater investment in research. We still don’t fully understand why some women develop excess androgens while others don’t, or why symptoms vary so much between individuals. Research in women’s health has long been underfunded and androgen-related conditions are no exception.

Doctors also need better training. General practitioners, gynaecologists, dermatologists and even mental health professionals all have a role to play in recognising the signs of androgen excess. If they don’t feel confident identifying the symptoms or knowing when to investigate further, women will continue to fall through the cracks.

Just as importantly, women need access to clear, trustworthy information. Too many are left to Google their symptoms or rely on online forums. Knowing what to look out for – and what to ask a doctor – can empower women to advocate for themselves and get the care they deserve.

Finally, we need to move toward more joined up, holistic care. Hormonal health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It affects – and is affected by – mental wellbeing, lifestyle, metabolism and reproductive health. Effective treatment means looking at the whole picture, not just prescribing a pill or focusing on fertility alone.

Androgen excess may be invisible to those who don’t experience it, but its impact is profound. For too long, it has flown under the radar. With better understanding, better care, and a stronger voice for women’s health, we can ensure that hormonal symptoms are taken seriously – and treated with the urgency and compassion they deserve.

Michael O’Reilly receives research funding from the Health Research Board (Ireland) and Wellcome

Leanne Cussen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Symptoms of androgen excess in women are too often being overlooked – or dismissed as ‘just cosmetic’ – https://theconversation.com/symptoms-of-androgen-excess-in-women-are-too-often-being-overlooked-or-dismissed-as-just-cosmetic-255743

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Is the pope a mathematician? Yes, actually – and his training may help him grapple with the infinite

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Balthasar Grabmayr, Junior Professor of Philosophy, University of Tübingen

Humans are finite creatures. Our brains have a finite number of neurons and we interact with a finite number of people during our finite lifetime. Yet humans have the remarkable ability to conceive of the infinite.

This ability underlies Euclid’s proof that there are infinite prime numbers as well as the belief of billions that their gods are infinite beings, free of mortal constraints.

These ideas will be well known to Pope Leo XIV since before his life in the church, he trained as a mathematician. Leo’s trajectory is probably no coincidence since there is a connection between mathematics and theology.

Infinity is undoubtedly of central importance to both. Virtually all mathematical objects, such as numbers or geometric shapes, form infinite collections. And theologians frequently describe God as a unique, absolutely infinite being.

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Despite using the same word, though, there has traditionally been a vast gap between how mathematicians and theologians conceptualise infinity. From antiquity until the 19th century, mathematicians have believed that there are infinitely many numbers, but – in contrast to theologians – firmly rejected the idea of the absolute infinite.

The idea roughly is this: surely, there are infinitely many numbers, since we can always keep counting. But each number itself is finite – there are no infinite numbers. What is rejected is the legitimacy of the collection of all numbers as a closed object in its own right. For the existence of such a collection leads to logical paradoxes.

A paradox of the infinite

The most simple example is a version of Galileo’s paradox and leads to seemingly contradictory statements about the natural numbers 1,2,3….

First, observe that some numbers are even, while others are not. Hence, the numbers – even and odd – must be more numerous than just the even numbers 2,4,6…. And yet, for every number there is exactly one even number. To see this, simply multiply any given number by 2.

But then there cannot be more numbers than there are even numbers. We thus arrive at the contradictory conclusion that numbers are more numerous than the even numbers, while at the same time there are not more numbers than there are even numbers.

Because of such paradoxes, mathematicians rejected actual infinities for millennia. As a result, mathematics was concerned with a much tamer concept of infinity than the absolute one used by theologians. This situation dramatically changed with mathematician Georg Cantor’s introduction of transfinite set theory in the second half of the 19th century.

Georg Cantor, mathematical rebel.
Wikipedia

Cantor’s radical idea was to introduce, in a mathematically rigorous way, absolute infinities to the realm of mathematics. This innovation revolutionised the field by delivering a powerful and unifying theory of the infinite. Today, set theory provides the foundations of mathematics, upon which all other subdisciplines are built.

According to Cantor’s theory, two sets – A and B – have the same size if their elements stand in a one-to-one correspondence. This means that each element of A can be related to a unique element of B, and vice versa.

Think of sets of husbands and wives respectively, in a heterosexual, monogamous society. These sets can be seen to have the same size, even though we might not be able to count each husband and wife.

The reason is that the relation of marriage is one-to-one. For each husband there is a unique wife, and conversely, for each wife there is a unique husband.

Using the same idea, we have seen above that in Cantor’s theory, the set of numbers – even and odd – has the same size as the set of even numbers. And so does the set of integers, which includes negative numbers, and the set of rational numbers, which can be written as fractions.

The most striking feature of Cantor’s theory is that not all infinite sets have the same size. In particular, Cantor showed that the set of real numbers, which can be written as infinite decimals, must be strictly larger than the set of integers.

The set of real numbers, in turn, is smaller than even larger infinities, and so on. To measure the size of infinite sets, Cantor introduced so-called transfinite numbers.

The ever-increasing series of transfinite numbers is denoted by Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, whose mystic nature has been explored by philosophers, theologians and poets alike.

Set theory and Pope Leo XIII

For Cantor, a devout Lutheran Christian, the motivation and justification of his theory of absolute infinities was directly inspired by religion. In fact, he was convinced that the transfinite numbers were communicated to him by God. Moreover, Cantor was deeply concerned about the consequences of his theory for Catholic theology.

Pope Leo XIII.
Wikipedia/Braun et Compagnie

Pope Leo XIII, Cantor’s contemporary, encouraged theologians to engage with modern science, to show that the conclusions of science were compatible with religious doctrine. In his extensive correspondence with Catholic theologians, Cantor went to great lengths to argue that his theory does not challenge the status of God as the unique actual infinite being.

On the contrary, he understood his transfinite numbers as increasing the extent of God’s nature, as a “pathway to the throne of God”. Cantor even addressed a letter and several notes on this topic to Leo XIII himself.

For Cantor, absolute infinities lie at the intersection of mathematics and theology. It is striking to consider that one of the most fundamental revolutions in the history of mathematics, the introduction of absolute infinities, was so deeply entangled with religious concerns.

Pope Leo XIV has been explicit that Leo XIII was his inspiration for his choice of pontifical name. Perhaps among an infinite number of potential reasons for the choice, this mathematical link was one.

Balthasar Grabmayr does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Is the pope a mathematician? Yes, actually – and his training may help him grapple with the infinite – https://theconversation.com/is-the-pope-a-mathematician-yes-actually-and-his-training-may-help-him-grapple-with-the-infinite-256721

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Announces Staff Traveling Office Hours in 12 Iowa Counties

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) staff will hold traveling office hours in 12 counties from May 22 to May 23. Iowans seeking assistance with a federal agency or wishing to share their views may stop by during the scheduled hours listed below.
NOTE: Senator Grassley will not be in attendance. He will be represented by his regional directors: Noah Schrad of Des Moines and Jacob Bossman of Sioux City.
“For 45 years, I’ve made it a point to hold meetings in every county, every year. I can’t meet face-to-face with all three million Iowans, so in addition to mail and telephone communication, my staff holds traveling office hours to ensure my constituents’ concerns are heard and their problems are addressed,” said Grassley. “I encourage Iowans needing assistance to stop by during these upcoming traveling office hours to meet with my staff, or contact one of my offices.”
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, May 22
Woodbury County
9 – 10 a.m.
Little Courthouse
105 N 2nd Street
Anthon
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Ida County
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Lohff-Schumann Community Center
301 Lohff-Schumann Drive
Holstein
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Adair County
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Greenfield Public Library – Study Room
202 S 1st Street
Greenfield
Regional Director Noah Schrad
Cherokee County12 – 1 p.m.
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
201 W Main Street
Cherokee
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Guthrie County
2 – 3 p.m.
Panora Public Library – Meeting Room
102 N 1st Street
Panora
Regional Director Noah Schrad
O’Brien County
2:30 –3:30 p.m.
Paullina Community Building – Laue Room
127 S Main Street
Paullina
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Friday, May 23
Osceola County
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.Ashton State Bank – Basement Community Room317 3rd Street
Ashton
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Story County
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Nevada Public Library – Study Room 2
631 K Avenue
Nevada
Regional Director Noah Schrad
Lyon County
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Inwood Community Center
103 S Main Street
Inwood
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Sioux County
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Hawarden Public Library
803 10th Street
Hawarden
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
Marshall County
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Marshalltown Public Library – Community Meeting Room
105 W Boone Street
Marshalltown
Regional Director Noah Schrad
Plymouth County
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Akron City Hall
220 Reed Street
Akron
Regional Director Jacob Bossman
-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: South Bend Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SOUTH BEND – Michael Bellina, 22 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to transportation of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

Bellina was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, between August 2023 and March 2024, Bellina transported more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material that he received through the internet. He uploaded the images and distributed them on multiple internet platforms.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Mishawaka Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, the Indiana University Police Department, the Raleigh (North Carolina) Police Department, the Boone (North Carolina) Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T Jones.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Announces Winners of CA-37’s 2025 Congressional Art Competition
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

LOS ANGELES, CA – On Friday, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) hosted a reception at Inner-City Arts in honor of participants in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 37th District. The Congressional Art Competition is an annual, nationwide art competition for high school students, where one student’s artwork is chosen from each congressional district to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

The 2025 first place winner, whose artwork will represent California’s 37th District at the Capitol, is Kenzie Brownson from the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies for her piece, “To the Aunties.”

“As the daughter of artists, it brings me great joy to see the creativity of our students on full display through the annual Congressional Art Competition,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Los Angeles is a city of dreamers and creatives, and the over 150 submissions we received prove that the future is bright for this next generation of Angeleno artists. At a time when the arts are under attack, the Congressional Art Competition serves as a reminder of the importance of advocating for full federal funding for arts programs and encouraging creativity in schools. Congratulations to Kenzie and all our outstanding winners!”

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove’s office received art submissions from over 150 students from schools across the district. The winners of the competition are listed below:
- Second Place: Gianelly Palma from ICEF View Park High School
- Third Place: Joy Han from the Girls Academic Leadership Academy for her piece, “Cherishing Childhood”
- Fourth Place: Luciano Giammalvo from St. John Bosco for his piece, “6th Street Bridge”
- Fifth Place: Daniela Leyva Rosas from Amino Ralph Bunche High School for her piece “Baptism”
- Honorable Mentions: Keira Tsai, Sofia Gerstein, Amore Fofanah, Patricia Hurtado, and Elizabeth Carcamo
The judges for California’s 37th District’s 2025 Congressional Art Competition were:

Also in attendance for the reception were Inner-City Arts’ Executive Director Shelby Williams-González and Alex Ritchie, a musician, Grammy Next alum, and music consultant for film and television.

The first place Congressional Art Competition winner will be awarded two round-trip flights to D.C. and an invitation to the opening reception at the U.S. Capitol. Thanks to the community’s generosity, over $2,000 in art and school supplies prizes will be dispersed among the top five winners and honorable mentions from California’s 37th District.

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MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Infant with rare, incurable disease is first to successfully receive personalized gene therapy treatment

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

News Release
Thursday, May 15, 2025

NIH-supported gene-editing platform lays groundwork to rapidly develop treatments for other rare genetic diseases.
A research team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed and safely delivered a personalized gene editing therapy to treat an infant with a life-threatening, incurable genetic disease. The infant, who was diagnosed with the rare condition carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency shortly after birth, has responded positively to the treatment. The process, from diagnosis to treatment, took only six months and marks the first time the technology has been successfully deployed to treat a human patient. The technology used in this study was developed using a platform that could be tweaked to treat a wide range of genetic disorders and opens the possibility of creating personalized treatments in other parts of the body.
A team of researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) developed the customized therapy using the gene-editing platform CRISPR. They corrected a specific gene mutation in the baby’s liver cells that led to the disorder. CRISPR is an advanced gene editing technology that enables precise changes to DNA inside living cells. This is the first known case of a personalized CRISPR-based medicine administered to a single patient and was carefully designed to target non-reproductive cells so changes would only affect the patient.
“As a platform, gene editing — built on reusable components and rapid customization — promises a new era of precision medicine for hundreds of rare diseases, bringing life-changing therapies to patients when timing matters most: Early, fast, and tailored to the individual,” said Joni L. Rutter, Ph.D., director of NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
CPS1 deficiency is characterized by an inability to fully break down byproducts from protein metabolism in the liver, causing ammonia to build up to toxic levels in the body. It can cause severe damage to the brain and liver. Treatment includes a low protein diet until the child is old enough for a liver transplant. However, in this waiting period there is a risk of rapid organ failure due to stressors such as infection, trauma, or dehydration. High levels of ammonia can cause coma, brain swelling, and may be fatal or cause permanent brain damage.
The child initially received a very low dose of the therapy at six months of age, then a higher dose later. The research team saw signs that the therapy was effective almost from the start. The six-month old began taking in more protein in the diet, and the care team could reduce the medicine needed to keep ammonia levels low in the body. Another telling sign of the child’s improvement to date came after the child caught a cold, and later, had to deal with a gastrointestinal illness. Normally, such infections for a child in this condition could be extremely dangerous, especially with the possibility of ammonia reaching dangerous levels in the brain.
“We knew the method used to deliver the gene-editing machinery to the baby’s liver cells allowed us to give the treatment repeatedly. That meant we could start with a low dose that we were sure was safe,” said CHOP pediatrician Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, M.D., Ph.D.
“We were very concerned when the baby got sick, but the baby just shrugged the illness off,” said Penn geneticist and first author Kiran Musunuru, M.D., Ph.D. For now, much work remains, but the researchers are cautiously optimistic about the baby’s progress.
The scientists announced their work at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Meeting on May 15th and described the study in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Funding for this project was provided by the NIH Common Fund Somatic Cell Genome Editing program grants, U01TR005355, U19NS132301, U19NS132303, DP2CA281401, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grants R35HL145203 and P01HL142494. In-kind contributions for the study were made by Acuitas Therapeutics, Integrated DNA Technologies, Aldevron, and Danaher Corporation. Additional funding was provided by the CHOP Research Institute’s Gene Therapy for Inherited Metabolic Disorders Frontier Program.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

Reference
Musunuru et al, “Patient-Specific In Vivo Gene Editing to Treat a Rare Genetic Disease.” N Engl J Med. Online May 15, 2025. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa25re

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

Last July, a powerful student-led uprising in Bangladesh toppled the authoritarian, corrupt government led for 15 years by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh now shows modest signs of democratic recovery. Months into its tenure, a transitional government has reopened political and civic space, especially at universities, and begun reforming key state bodies.

Yet, violence and political retribution persist. This week, the interim government banned Hasina’s former party, the Awami League, under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act while a tribunal investigates its role in the deaths of hundreds of protesters last year.

Elections have also been delayed and may not happen until 2026.

Amid this fragile transition, interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel-prize winning economist, has emerged as a rare figure of trust and calm. His popularity is so high, in fact, many are calling for him to remain at the helm for another five years.

Given the uncertainty, Bangladesh faces some uncomfortable questions: can it afford electoral democracy right now? Or must stability come first, with democracy postponed until institutions can catch up?

And what happens if emergency governance becomes the new normal?

Fraught road to democratic renewal

According to a global democracy report, Bangladesh is still classified as an “electoral autocracy” — one of the few in the category that actually got worse in 2024.

The opposition, chiefly the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), has mounted a fierce challenge to the interim government’s legitimacy, arguing it lacks a democratic mandate to implement meaningful reforms.

While the BNP and its former ally, the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, may appeal to segments of Bangladesh’s Muslim majority, their support is undermined by reputational baggage and limited resonance with younger voters.

At the same time, radical, right-wing, Islamist forces are exploiting the vacuum to reassert themselves, exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the Hindu minority.

Economically, the country is also still reeling from the damage done under Hasina’s regime.

Corruption hollowed out the banking system, leaving key institutions almost bankrupt. Although Yunus has taken steps to stabilise the economy by bringing in competent officials, uncertainty continues to dampen investor confidence.

Inflation remains high. And unless job creation accelerates, especially for the youth, the seeds of further unrest are already planted.

In addition, law and order has deteriorated sharply. The country’s police force has been tainted by its association with the Alami League, and the former police chief is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

Street crime is rising and minorities are experiencing growing harassment. Women feel deeply unsafe — both online and on the streets. Some parties are also seen as a threat to countering violence against women.

Despite strong laws on paper, weak law enforcement and victim-blaming are allowing violence to flourish. It’s very difficult to hold perpetrators of crimes to account.

Bangladesh is also increasingly isolated on the global stage.

India, long allied to Hasina’s government, has turned its back on the interim government. The United States is disengaging, as well. USAID had committed nearly US$1 billion (A$1.6 billion) from 2021–26 to help improve the lives of Bangladeshis, but this funding has now been suspended.

Some gains on civil liberties

This year, Bangladesh improved slightly in Freedom House’s index on political freedoms and civil liberties, from a score of 40 points out of 100 last year to 45. This is a step in the right direction.

Among the improvements in the past year, the government has:
- removed restrictions on some political parties
- released political detainees
- and committed to major judicial reforms to increase accountability.
The appointment of new election commissioners and the creation of advisory commissions for judicial and anti-corruption reform also signal an institutional reset in motion.

But gains remain fragile. While politically motivated cases against opposition figures have been dropped, new ones have emerged against former ruling elites. The military’s policing role has expanded and harassment of Awami League supporters by protesters persists.

In addition, media freedom remains heavily constrained, with a human rights group reporting the interim government had targeted hundreds of journalists in the past eight months.

In this fractured environment, urgent reforms are needed. But these need to be sustainable, as well. Whether the interim government has the time, authority or support to deliver them remains in doubt. The government also needs to deliver on its promise to hold free and fair elections.

A new party on the rise

The country’s politically engaged youth have not been dissuaded by these issues. Rather, they are trying to reshape the political landscape.

The new National Citizen Party (NCP) was formed in early 2025 by leaders of last year’s student uprising. It has positioned itself as the party to bring a “second republic” to Bangladesh. Drawing from historical models from France and the US, the party envisions a new elected, constituent assembly and constitution.

With organisational support and tacit backing from the interim government, the NCP has rapidly grown into a viable political force.

Still, the party faces a steep, uphill climb. Its broad, ideological umbrella risks diluting its message, blurring its distinctions with the BNP.

For the NCP to turn protests into policy, it must sharpen its identity, consolidate its base, and avoid being co-opted or outflanked.

Whether this moment of political flux leads to real transformation or yet another cycle of disillusionment will depend on how boldly — and how sustainably— the interim government and new actors like the NCP act. And they must not draw out the process of transition for too long.

Intifar Chowdhury does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. After an autocratic leader was toppled in Bangladesh, democratic renewal remains a work in progress – https://theconversation.com/after-an-autocratic-leader-was-toppled-in-bangladesh-democratic-renewal-remains-a-work-in-progress-253846
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of Governor of the Falkland Islands: Colin Martin-Reynolds

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Change of Governor of the Falkland Islands: Colin Martin-Reynolds

Mr Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG has been appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands and His Majesty’s Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in succession to Ms Alison Blake CMG. Mr Martin-Reynolds will take up his appointment during July 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Colin Martin-Reynolds

Date	Role
2023 to 2025	FCDO, Director, Organisational Improvement
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Director, Covid-19 Inquiry Unit
2019 to 2022	Bogota, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2018	Pre-posting training (including Spanish language training)
2013 to 2018	FCO, Chief Information Officer
2011 to 2013	Brasilia, Deputy Head of Mission
2008 to 2010	FCO, Programme Director, Corporate Services Programme
2004 to 2008	Washington, First Secretary then Counsellor Change Management and Consul-General
2002 to 2004	FCO, Deputy Head, Human Resources Directorate
2001 to 2002	FCO, Team Leader, Southern Africa Section, Africa Directorate
1998 to 2001	FCO, Private Secretary to Minister of State
1997 to 1998	FCO, Political Section, United Nations Department
1995 to 1997	Worldwide, short-term assignments
1994 to 1994	Kyiv, Political Section
1992 to 1994	Nicosia, Political Section
1990 to 1992	FCO, Desk Officer, Migration Department

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 15 May 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand, Schumer, Wyden, Sanders, Merkley, Klobuchar Slam Trump Administration’s Attacks On Senior Nutrition Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
In 2022, Nearly 7 Million Older Americans—Including 13.7 Percent Of Older Americans in New York—Experienced Food Insecurity
Now, Republicans Are Trying To Cut Critical Programs That Help Seniors Put Food On The Table, Including Medicaid, Social Services Block Grant, and SNAP
Lawmakers: “The cuts will exacerbate hunger, poor health, and social isolation”
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN),and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote a letter to their Republican colleagues asking them to reconsider their proposed cuts and attacks on programs and agencies that support senior nutrition programs. The senators wrote in their capacities as ranking members of the Senate Committees on Aging; Finance; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Budget; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and as Senate Democratic Leader, respectively. If implemented, the Republican’s proposed cuts to the programs will take hot meals, nutritious food, and social interaction away from millions of older adults nationwide, jeopardizing their health and quality of life.
“We are writing today to express our serious concerns regarding efforts by the Trump administration and the potential of cuts proposed in your budget resolution to debilitate our nation’s beloved nutrition programs for seniors, taking hot meals, sustenance, and social interaction away from our seniors to fund tax cuts for billionaires,” wrote the lawmakers. “These attacks are multifaceted and will deeply hurt all aspects of senior nutrition services, from funding to program delivery. The cuts will exacerbate hunger, poor health, and social isolation, and our nation’s seniors will be gravely harmed by these decisions.”
Specifically, the Senators asked Republicans to reconsider the following actions:
Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is the largest food assistance program in the country;
The dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which administers the Older Americans Act’s nutrition programs;
The elimination of the Social Services Block Grant, which provides critical funding for senior nutrition programs;
Cuts to Medicaid, which funds meal-delivery programs through Section 1115 waivers for home-bound older adults and people with disabilities; and
Attacks on the Social Security Administration, which ensures accurate and timely payment of Social Security benefits so that older adults and people with disabilities can put food on the table.
The full text of the Senators’ letter is available here or below:
Dear Republican Colleagues:
We are writing today to express our serious concerns regarding efforts by the Trump Administration and the potential of cuts proposed in your budget resolution to debilitate our nation’s beloved nutrition programs for seniors, taking hot meals, sustenance, and social interaction away from our seniors to fund tax cuts for billionaires. These attacks are multifaceted and will deeply hurt all aspects of senior nutrition services, from funding to program delivery. The cuts will exacerbate hunger, poor health, and social isolation, and our nation’s seniors will be gravely harmed by these decisions.
In 2022, nearly 7 million older Americans experienced food insecurity, with numbers projected to reach up to 9 million by 2050. Hunger is particularly salient for older adults living in rural areas and in the South. Food insecure seniors are 74 percent more likely to be diabetic, nearly 3 times more likely to suffer from depression, 71 percent more likely to have congestive heart failure, and 64 percent more likely to have a heart attack. Without access to nutritious food, seniors are more likely to live in poor health—this is not the life we want or envision for our older Americans.
Senior nutrition programs, such as Meals on Wheels, include meal delivery services and congregate nutrition programs (e.g., those provided at senior centers). For home-bound seniors, meal delivery services are a lifeline; for some, the meals delivered will be the only meal they have to eat all day. Beyond nutrition, meal delivery services provide life-sustaining social interaction and safety checks for older adults; many seniors report going for weeks without seeing another person if not for their home-delivered meals volunteers. Similarly, congregate meals provide the nutrition and social connection needed for seniors to live and thrive in their communities. Senior nutrition programs save taxpayer dollars by reducing more costly health care expenditures such as avoidable trips to the emergency room, and hospital admissions and readmissions. Furthermore, senior nutrition programs can delay or eliminate the need for placement in a long-term care facility. These programs use taxpayer dollars efficiently; the cost of just one day in a hospital or ten days in a nursing home is nearly equivalent to a full year of Meals on Wheels. Cutting senior nutrition programs will increase unnecessary health care expenditures among older adults.
In addition, funding from the Social Services Block Grant, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) enable seniors to put food on the table and access nutrition support. Enacting policies and funding cuts that force seniors to go hungry is cruel. We ask that you to stand with older Americans and reconsider any efforts to scale back support and back off attacks on the SSA and Administration of Community Living (ACL) programs.
We are specifically concerned about the impact of the following actions and proposed cuts:
The dismantling of the Administration for Community Living threatens the delivery of senior nutrition programs. The Older Americans Act (OAA) is a fundamental source of support for senior nutrition. In 2019, over 223 million meals were provided to older adults through OAA’s Nutrition Programs. ACL is responsible for the delivery of most OAA programs. The Department of Health and Human Services recently proposed a “reorganization” of ACL. However, there has been no clarity or transparency in the proposed reorganization. Transferring ACL programs to the Administration for Children and Families, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—also reeling from devastating staffing reductions— disrupts implementation of the home-delivered and congregate meals programs. Disruption in program administration and delivery means that the 2.4 million seniors who rely on these meal programs for critical nutrition are at risk of going hungry and of further health complications. We ask that you work with us to ensure the integrity and wholeness of any and all OAA programs that are being transferred out of ACL.
Eliminating the Social Services Block Grant and cutting Medicaid take food away from seniors. In addition to OAA funding, the Social Services Block Grant also provides critical support for senior nutrition programs. For example, cuts to the Social Services Block Grant will force the Meals on Wheels program in Abilene, Texas to cut more than half of its services, taking away hot meals and sustenance away from hundreds of Texans who are older adults or people with disabilities. Medicaid can also fill the gap of unmet food needs and reduce the likelihood of nutrition-related health conditions through meal-delivery programs provided through Section 1115 waivers for home-bound older adults and people with disabilities. We ask that you reconsider any potential attacks to the Social Services Block Grant, Medicaid funding and changes to waiver programs that address health- related social issues, and other vital sources of social services funding that help seniors live full and healthy lives.
Attacks on Social Security threaten seniors’ food security. The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE’s attack on the SSA has debilitated its ability to provide quality customer service and threatens timely and accurate benefit payments for seniors and people with disabilities. Forty percent of older Americans rely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income—money to make sure they have food on the table. Without their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, over half of disabled adult beneficiaries would live below the federal poverty line. Through office closures and slashing of staff, SSA will not be able to provide critical customer services to Social Security beneficiaries. If DOGE continues to toy around with the integrity of the SSA’s payment system, a total collapse may result—seniors will not receive their Social Security checks, and they will go hungry. We ask that you rein in DOGE’s attacks on the SSA and work with us to strengthen the Social Security programs so all Americans can access their earned benefits.
Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The SNAP Program is the centerpiece of our public anti-hunger infrastructure and is, by far, the biggest food assistance program promoting the food security of Americans. Food insecure seniors consume less energy and have lower intake of key nutrients, and SNAP participation is linked to fewer nursing home and hospital admissions for seniors. SNAP cuts of $230 billion or more, as contemplated by the budget resolution, would fall heavily on senior citizens, who would almost certainly be subject to benefit or eligibility cuts, forcing elderly individuals to make painful choices between purchasing food, medicine, or other daily necessities. We urge you to reconsider any potential cuts to SNAP.
Republican colleagues, we ask for your commitment to preserving and supporting these programs to ensure that our nation’s seniors have the nutrition and sustenance they need to live healthy, nourished lives in the community.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dental Dean, Faculty, Recognized by State Dental Association

Source: US State of Connecticut

This week, the dean of the School of Dental Medicine, along with faculty, received awards from the Connecticut State Dental Society (CSDA) during their annual meeting.

According to the CSDA, this year’s honorees have “demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and innovation in their respective areas.”

Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean, received the CSDA Presidential Award, the highest recognition from the state dental association. The award is given to a CSDA member, dentist, group or any other contributor that has enhanced the image and professionalism of dentistry.

Dr. Afroditi Pita, assistant professor of general dentistry, received the Rising Star Award. This award recognizes advocacy, philanthropy, or community service, and excellence entrepreneurial skills, or ethical behavior. The Rising Star has also made significant contributions in the field of science and has held leadership positions in the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) chapter of their school, local dental society, or the CSDA.

Along with Pita, recent graduate in the Class of 2025, Dr. Sarah Nevolis, also received the Rising Star Award.

Dr. Elie Ferneini, associate clinical professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, received the Horace Hayden Award. This award recognizes contributions to the interest of dentistry and dental health.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory Reminder: RIDOT to Temporarily Close Devil’s Foot Road Bridge in North Kingstown for Bridge Rehabilitation

Source: US State of Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department Transportation (RIDOT) is reminding motorists that tomorrow, Friday, May 16 at 9 p.m., it is scheduled to temporarily close the Devil’s Foot Road Bridge, located between School Street and the Davisville Road/Old Baptist Road intersection in North Kingstown.

The bridge will remain closed until approximately late fall 2025, when RIDOT anticipates completing the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure. It carries about 5,200 vehicles a day on Devil’s Foot Road, over Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

During the closure, motorists can use the following detours:

From Post Road to Frenchtown Road: Use Devil’s Foot Road eastbound to Post Road northbound. Use the turnaround for Route 1 South to Frenchtown Road westbound.

Frenchtown Road to Post Road: Follow Frenchtown Road eastbound to Route 1 South to its intersection with Devil’s Foot Road.

Local Traffic on Devil’s Foot Road (east of the closed bridge) to Frenchtown Road: Use the on-ramp at West Davisville Road to Route 403 West toward Route 4. Use the ramp to Route 4 South, then take Exit 7A for Frenchtown Road.

Local Traffic on Devil’s Foot Road (west of the closed bridge) to Post Road: Follow Davisville Road westbound to Frenchtown Road, turn right, then right again onto Post Road southbound. A detour map is available at www.ridot.net/DetourMaps.

The bridge currently has a 5-ton weight limit and is classified as structurally deficient. It was built in 2007 as part of the Route 403 highway project, but RIDOT determined that the concrete box beams used in its construction had a fabrication defect and its superstructure needed to be replaced. The work on the Devil’s Foot Road Bridge is part of a larger, $76.8 million multi-bridge project that also will replace the bridges carrying Route 2 and Frenchtown Road over Route 4. The entire project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2027.

All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

Work on the Devil’s Foot Road Bridge is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates Veterinary College building in Nagaland

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Administrative-cum-Academic Block of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), located at Jalukie in Nagaland.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function, the Union Minister lauded the progress made in the agriculture and livestock sectors in Nagaland. He acknowledged the region’s unique agri-products and potential, and announced a financial assistance of ₹338.83 crore for the overall growth and development of the agriculture sector in the state.

Chouhan urged the Nagaland government to formulate a comprehensive action plan for agriculture and rural development. He assured the state of the Centre’s full cooperation and support in this endeavour.

To strengthen grassroots agricultural development, the Minister suggested the formation of a core scientific team in each district. This team would include scientists, officials from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), university professionals, and farmers. He said the team should engage directly with farmers in villages at least twice a month to understand their challenges, which would facilitate evidence-based policy making and appropriate technological interventions.

Highlighting the scope for natural farming in Nagaland, the Union Minister said the Central Government is committed to supporting such sustainable practices. He also appreciated the initiatives of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry and invited its students to Delhi to share their innovative ideas with him.

Chouhan assured full cooperation and financial assistance for entrepreneurship and start-up development among students, and expressed his desire to visit Nagaland again for further interaction with farmers and students.

Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan, who presided over the function, commended the role played by Central Agricultural University, Imphal and its constituent college in advancing animal healthcare and agricultural development in the region. He stressed the importance of scientific methods and collaboration among stakeholders to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, T. R. Zeliang, also spoke at the event, underlining the need for technical interventions and research-driven farming to achieve agricultural and economic progress in the state.

The event witnessed participation from 639 farmers and 84 officials from both the State and Central Governments.

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Making learning more accessible with Microsoft Education
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Making learning more accessible with Microsoft Education

For GAAD 2025, explore how Microsoft accessibility tools enhance education, creating inclusive and engaging classrooms where every student can thrive.

Accessibility tools for learning play a significant role in student success, helping all students fully engage with what’s happening in class and beyond. By providing access to content that might otherwise be difficult to access, these tools help to create a more inclusive classroom where everyone can feel understood, valued, and supported for their unique strengths. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025, celebrated on May 15, reminds us that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Every student—whether they have a permanent disability, a temporary challenge like a broken hand, a situational disability such as difficulty reading in bright sunlight, or simply needs extra support with reading or writing—can benefit from greater accessibility to digital tools to support their learning experience. At Microsoft, we believe accessibility isn’t just a feature—it’s a foundation for empowering all students and educators to reach their full potential. Built-in accessibility features across Microsoft software and hardware can amplify everyone’s success, regardless of learning differences or physical abilities. Explore Microsoft accessibility tools and see how you can make learning more inclusive, engaging, and equitable for your school community.

Accessibility tools

Foster a learning space where everyone has the tools to thrive.

Building an inclusive learning environment

Every student’s learning needs are unique. Some may have a disability, while others might be learning English, recovering from an injury, or trying to focus in a noisy home environment. Microsoft accessibility tools are designed to empower every student to engage independently and confidently in their learning. These tools come with built-in accessibility features, eliminating the need for extra downloads or stigmatizing third-party applications. Students get the help they need, right when they need it.

Get started with Microsoft accessibility tools today and learn how to create a more inclusive classroom experience with professional learning from Microsoft Learn.

Start the accessibility training module

Immersive Reader

Available in Microsoft products like Reading Coach and Microsoft Edge, Immersive Reader can help students improve reading comprehension, while also supporting learning differences. Students can use line focus to concentrate on one part of the text at a time. They can break words into syllables, adjust font size, and increase line, word, and letter spacing to reduce visual crowding to improve readability. For educators in Kent School District in Washington, US, using Immersive Reader helps make sure that all students are empowered to share their voices and participate.

I think when we’ve got kids that need different support mechanisms to learn, the Microsoft assisted learning tools become really, really vital. Last year, I had a student that had dysgraphia and dyslexia and so being able to listen to the audio was necessary and the Immersive Reader was essential for the success of this student.

Amber Raftery, sixth-grade teacher, Kent School District, US

As teacher-librarian and technology integration specialist Amber Gonzalez shares, the power of Microsoft 365 is that accessibility and assistive learning features like Immersive Reader are just one click away—helping to make it easy for every student to get the support they need, when they need it.

Reading Coach

Reading Coach is a free, standalone Learning Accelerator that uses AI-powered stories and personalized practice to help students improve their reading fluency. Used by half a million learners in over 190 countries worldwide, Reading Coach can help make reading more engaging and accessible with built-in tools like Immersive Reader, providing an opportunity for students to boost their potential and confidence. Educators can also suggest reading practices and track student progress with new educator features in Reading Coach.

After three weeks of Reading Coach, we saw students gain one reading level—sometimes even one and a half. Some jumped two levels in just six weeks. And nearly half the class reached their expected reading level.

Kris Vande Moortel, former teacher and Microsoft education advisor, Belgium

Get started with Reading Coach

Reading Coach with AI-powered stories helps students take charge of their learning and push themselves further by providing individualized support. Some teachers are seeing remarkable progress in a fraction of the time—giving them more opportunities for one-on-one attention where it’s needed.

Microsoft Translator

Translator offers real-time translation of text and speech in over 60 languages, helping to make communication easier for students, parents, and caregivers who speak different languages. For educators in Texas City Independent School District, the embedded support of Translator in Word and mobile devices helps ensure that multilingual students have assistance when they encounter an unfamiliar word.

We found that Microsoft Translator is key to enabling English as a second language (ESL) students to keep up and to learn along with the rest of the class. When they are hung up on a word or a phrase or want to learn how to say something in English, they can transition back to their native language and use Translator to quickly contextualize in English.

Hope Smalley-Jackson, business teacher, Texas City Independent School District, US

Students can use Translator at school, home, or whenever they need language support. It can help bridge communication gaps, supporting accessible classroom learning with cross-language understanding and even multilingual casual conversations to help students and families.

Additional tools

If typing is tough—whether due to learning challenges, a temporary issue like a broken arm, or even fatigue—students can use dictation to turn speech into text effortlessly. Tools like live captions also help by converting speech to text or translating languages in PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams meetings, providing support for people with hearing disabilities, auditory processing disorders, or language needs. Plus, live captions fully supports multiple languages, making content accessible for multilingual speakers, too.

Support accessibility with AI

Additionally, AI-powered tools can help you address specific student needs. For instance, a 2024 study commissioned by Microsoft from professional services firm EY highlights how AI can help address the specific challenges faced by employees who are neurodivergent or living with a disability. The study found that Microsoft 365 Copilot helped:
- Remove barriers that arise like drafting communication and organizing thoughts.
- Reclaim time and energy by simplifying tasks like summarizing and proofreading.
- Boost confidence and sense of inclusion by enhancing performance and work quality.
While the study focused on workplace settings, the insights can be applied to educational environments. Just as AI tools can support diverse employee needs, they can also be instrumental in addressing diverse learning needs. Copilot helps educators personalize instruction, making it easier to tailor lessons to individual student requirements. Educators in Northern Ireland saw this firsthand when the Education Authority of Northern Ireland (EANI) adopted Copilot.

EANI initially rolled out AI-powered learning tools on a small scale, selecting key innovative educators to pilot the free version of Copilot Chat in their classrooms. They also introduced training sessions focused on effective prompt writing, showcasing Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities. Educators quickly discovered the practical benefits of upgrading to Microsoft 365 Copilot for tasks like creating PowerPoint presentations, generating questions in Microsoft Forms, and developing differentiated classroom resources. The substantial time savings and enhanced ability to meet diverse student needs drove widespread staff adoption and growing enthusiasm.

Try Copilot Chat

Make your classroom more inclusive by using AI to differentiate materials for students. Try using the dedicated IEP assistant tool in Khanmigo for Teachers or use Copilot Chat and your own prompts and files to help you draft parts of an individualized education program (IEP).

For Copilot Chat, be sure to sign in with your school’s Microsoft account to ensure your data is protected, then copy and paste this prompt:

You are a special education teacher drafting an IEP for a [grade level] student who [describe student’s needs]. Write a goal for [area/topic] that is specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time bound.

Whether you’re exploring AI, excited to try Reading Coach, or looking to make your classroom more inclusive with tools like Immersive Reader and Translator, GAAD 2025 is the perfect time to dive in. Get started and explore Microsoft accessibility tools to help every student thrive.

Explore accessibility tools
MIL OSI Economics –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study on new CRISPR gene therapy for children with a rare metabolic disease

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

May 15, 2025

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine looks at a new CRISPR gene therapy for children with a rare genetic disease.

Dr Alena Pance, Senior Lecturer in Genetics, University of Hertfordshire, said:

“The authors searched thoroughly for off-target effects because this would seriously jeopardise the use of the approach in therapy. However, as far as the document I could see goes, there is no attempt to assess the cell type targeting efficacy, meaning whether the genetic tools (CRISPR and guide RNA) are reaching hepatocytes and what percentage or proportion of these cells are being corrected. This is very important because this will determine the level of physiological improvement of the disease hence also the value of the intervention.

“CRISPR-based therapy has been used to correct genetic diseases before as the authors mention in their introduction. The best example is the recently approved therapy for sickle cell disease. The approach used in that case, as well as the one in development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is different though in the sense that sickle cell anaemia is overcome by using CRISPR tools to de-silence a foetal globin gene that leads to functional haemoglobin. This is done outside the body using Haematopoietic stem cells which give rise to all cell types in the blood, these cells are obtained from the patient, modified and then put back to re-populate the bone marrow, so in this way full correction can be achieved. The DMD approach consists in using CRISPR to cause skipping of the portion of the dystrophin gene that has the most frequent mutations in it. These mutations lead to deficiency in dystrophin expression by generating a stop signal so the protein isn’t made, so by making the machinery ‘hope over’ this region, a smaller but functional dystrophin is made thereby restoring muscle mass and function. In this case, the therapy is administered intravenously and though not all the muscle cells are corrected, and the proportion varies, it is sufficient for a significant restoration to make a physiological difference. Many different cell types will be targeted but as only muscle cells produce dystrophin, it doesn’t really matter.

“In the case of CPS1, the therapy consists in substituting a nucleotide for the correct one, so this is a highly precise corrective change. As opposed to the two examples described which can be applied to a variety of mutations causing the same disease, the approach in the paper is applicable to the one specific nucleotide change or in other words this specific form of the disease. The paper explains that the patient has in fact two different mutations affecting each of the genes from their father and their mother, only one, the paternal mutation, is targeted. The approach is applicable to any disease caused by a single nucleotide change, however more often than not, diseases are caused by a variety of variants so perhaps more general strategies could be more effective than very precise ones. It will depend on how accurate the general vs specific options can be in terms of targeting the right cell types and DNA sequences.”

Comments provided by our friends at the Spanish SMC:

Dr Miguel Ángel Moreno-Mateos, Tenured scientist CSIC & PI, Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, CSIC-Pablo de Olavide University, said:

“Since the emergence of CRISPR-Cas technology, progress has been made to develop a variety of tools that have the potential to contribute to the cure of many genetic diseases. This work demonstrates how, by detecting a specific congenital disease in the first days after birth, a robust protocol can be implemented with the ultimate goal of curing, at least partially, a patient with a particular genetic alteration that causes a rare disease. This protocol contains several steps, including i) characterization of the mutation or mutations that cause the disease, ii) design and comparison of the efficiency of various CRISPR-Cas approaches, which in this case are based on base editing and include various Cas proteins with different DNA recognition capabilities, iii) genetic and physiological safety testing of CRISPR-Cas reagents and lipid nanoparticle-based complexes both in vivo and in vitro, and iv) finally, targeted treatment in the patient’s liver in two doses seven months after birth, following approval by the relevant agencies.

“Although this has been a very specific approach, partly motivated by the devastating nature of the disease, it represents a milestone that demonstrates that these therapies are now a reality. In any case, as the article reports, the patient will be monitored for a long time to ensure his well-being and determine whether additional doses are needed to further improve the symptoms of the disease.

“On the other hand, given the risk involved and as the article itself acknowledges, the percentage of gene editing in the patient himself and any possible unwanted edits have not been evaluated, although they were determined in in vivo and in vitro studies. However, based on the physiological results, everything indicates that, at least so far, the therapy has been successful and has significantly improved the patient’s quality of life.

“In summary, this work is proof of principle for a rapid and effective protocol for CRISPR-Cas therapies for the cure of human diseases in general and so-called rare diseases in particular, opening the door to other similar treatments in the near future.”

Prof Marc Güell, coordinator of the Translational Synthetic Biology research group and full professor at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), said:

Is the study of good quality?

“It seems to me to be a study of the highest quality and totally extraordinary. In fact, I was deeply moved to read it. It reflects the great potential of gene editing for therapeutic purposes. The researchers and clinical team have done a very thoughtful design with all the precautionary steps that the situation allows: characterisation of mutations, design of editors to correct, measurement of efficiency and off-target [unwanted effects], as well as testing the reagents in cell and animal models. Extraordinary work in record time.”

How does this work fit with the existing evidence?

“Great proof of concept that it is not impossible to treat very rare diseases at the individual level.”

Are there any major limitations to be taken into account?

“We will have to characterise the precision gene editing process in the future (patient safety permitting). For now, it has been possible to measure the positive clinical effects, but for patient safety reasons it has not been possible to obtain liver tissue to characterise the efficiency of gene editing.

“It’s a great demonstration, but it’s also worth noting that this correction has been done in the liver; other tissues are much more difficult to gene edit, for now.”

What are the implications for the real world?

“Individualised, tailor-made therapies for a single patient are no longer a dream. Obviously, the process followed is of very high complexity and will require a lot of work to see how to scale it up and expand it to other cases. In any case, this work sheds a lot of light on the future.”

Prof Gemma Marfany, Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona (UB) and CIBERER member, said:

“This is the first case of a fully customised therapy, for a single baby (what is called ‘n of 1 therapy’), treated in vivo with a base-editing therapy for a very severe ultrarare disease. The disease causes the accumulation of ammonium, which is highly toxic to neurons and can lead to death in the first months of life. With the help of several leading biotech companies, a novel and very precise strategy has been designed to uniquely modify the mutated nucleotide in the gene to reverse the effect, and instead of a truncated protein, produce the complete protein. In addition, instead of using therapeutic viruses, lipid particles have been used to deliver the gene-editing system to the liver, in three doses within weeks of each other, avoiding an unwanted immune response and achieving remission of the most dangerous symptoms, reducing palliative medication and allowing incorporation of a normal diet.

“It is truly a unique case, a successful proof of concept, designed and applied in record time, in which researchers and clinicians have not skipped a single preclinical step, as they have generated human cellular models and also a humanised mouse model with the patient’s mutation to test the safety of the dose and the efficiency of the therapeutic strategy. In addition, they have had all the approvals from the relevant bioethics committees. It seems to me to be a scientific ‘miracle’ that has made it possible to cure a very rare severe disease, and provides knowledge to treat many other diseases.”

‘Patient-Specific In Vivo Gene Editing to Treat a Rare Genetic Disease’ by K. Musunuru et al. was published in The New England Journal of Medicineat 18:00 UK time on Thursday 15 May 2025.

DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2504747

Declared interests

Dr Miguel Ángel Moreno-Mateos: “I have collaborated with one of the authors of the paper, Benjamin P. Kleinstiver, with whom I published a research paper three years ago.”

Prof Gemma Marfany: no conflicts of interest

Dr Alena Pance: No conflicts.

For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Joins Other Labor and Workplace Health and Safety Groups Sue to Restore Programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Source: US GOIAM Union

(Washington, D.C.)—Unions across nursing, education, mining and manufacturing industries, along with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), today sued the Trump administration to reverse the illegal dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reckless cuts to NIOSH—made under the direction of Elon Musk’s DOGE—have shut down vital programs and will result in the firing of more than 85% of the staff by July. The chaos of dismantling, temporarily recalling, and piecemeal reinstatements of staff has wreaked havoc on workers’ lives, discontinuing services and programs altogether and creating total disruption in the benefits and protections that workers and the public depend on.

Public Citizen Litigation Group and the AFL-CIO’s Office of the General Counsel filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of unions, workplace safety experts and a PPE manufacturer. The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Dentec Safety Specialists Inc., the IAM Union (IAM), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United (NNU), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), United Auto Workers (UAW), Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW).

As the complaint explains, the cutbacks directly threaten the lives of workers whose safety and health depend on NIOSH, detailing cuts to its vital, congressionally mandated work that all depend on the expertise throughout the whole of the agency, including:
- Certifying respirators and testing other PPE and technologies used by workers across industries, including in health care, mining, manufacturing, firefighting and construction, and preventing counterfeits from entering the market.
- Conducting critical mine safety research and providing medical screenings for coal miners.
- Investigating workplaces to identify and mitigate exposure to toxins and potential health hazards.
- Funding the formal training for future industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, physicians, and other occupational safety and health professionals through universities and field-based internships.
- Providing scientific and technical support to enable medical compensation for nuclear weapons workers and Sept. 11 first responders.
On Tuesday, following a sustained outcry from unions, public health experts, and lawmakers, HHS rescinded the layoff notifications for approximately 300 workers, a fraction of the total NIOSH staff of approximately 1,000 workers. The move came after a judge granted a temporary restraining order late Friday, ordering the Trump administration to stop any moves intended to implement Trump’s February executive order directing agencies to begin major reorganizations. Today’s complaint calls for all NIOSH workers to be reinstated across the agency so that NIOSH can resume its work.

“By gutting NIOSH, Elon Musk and his DOGE won’t just be cutting corners—they are cutting lives short and placing working people in danger. Working people have fought too hard for these critical protections to now watch an unelected billionaire dismantle them and take us back to a time when chronic disease and death on the job was commonplace,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with unions and partners today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, reckless and potentially deadly assault on worker health and safety.”

Each year, more than 5,000 workers die from injuries on the job, 135,000 workers die from occupational disease, and millions more are injured. Without NIOSH, these numbers will increase. The lawsuit follows a May 1 letter from the AFL-CIO and 27 unions urging Congress to intervene to reinstate NIOSH staff and restore its programs.

“The illegal firing of NIOSH workers and the gutting of critical safety programs by Elon Musk and the Trump administration will have devastating consequences for American workplaces,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “This reckless action threatens our preparedness for workplace violence, emergency planning, chemical and biological threats, and vital worker training. This lawsuit will help us to restore NIOSH’s mission and protect the safety and health of workers throughout our nation.”

The complaint can be found online here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RAMPS Newsletter – Spring 2025

Source: US Geological Survey

Opening Letter

Hello RAMPS community,

In this newsletter, we are excited to highlight the release of the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The National Seed Strategy provides a roadmap for increasing the supply of genetically appropriate native seed for restoration in the US, and this new report highlights the critical role that USGS plays in providing research, scientific expertise, and tools to support native seed development and use. Our spring newsletter also includes updates on conference presentations and recently released publications. As always, please reach out to discuss any questions or potential collaboration opportunities for research and restoration in the Southwest.

RAMPS on the Road

Conferences provide an important opportunity for RAMPS to share relevant research updates with land managers and scientists while connecting with existing and new collaborations. So far in 2025, the RAMPS Team gave invited presentations on RestoreNet at the following symposia:

The Society for Range Management and National Native Seed Conferences were attended by a broad coalition of land managers, restoration practitioners, researchers and private landowners and ranchers. At the Native Seed Conference, RAMPS coordinator Laura Shriver also presented a talk, “Bridging theory and practice to improve native seed selection for restoration” with initial results from a literature review drawing comparisons between seed selection insights from the scientific literature and federal agency guidance for seed selection in practice. Laura also presented a poster summarizing information from the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023.

Project Highlights

National Seed Strategy Progress Report

RAMPS Coordinator, Laura Shriver, joined Plant Conservation Alliance leaders to write the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The report showcases the contributions of federal agencies and over 300 partners across the country to advance the National Seed Strategy, a pragmatic approach to meet the growing demand for native plant seed for restoration. In addition to summarizing data and project highlights, the report includes agency summaries outlining accomplishments, including from the USGS. The USGS provides essential research and scientific expertise to support the development and use of native seed for restoration, and the RAMPS program has led reporting efforts for all three National Seed Strategy Progress Reports.

REPORT CITATION: Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA). 2025. National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 64 pp.

Figure: Accomplishments in Native Seed Development. Submissions reflect advancements made at every stage of the Native Seed Development Process, including: Collection, where native seeds are harvested from wild populations, cleaned, tested, and banked for both long-term conservation and immediate seed increase; Evaluation and development, which involves research on species traits such as germination, pollination, and seed transfer zones; Field establishment, where agricultural protocols are developed for growing seed; Production, in which seeds are increased through agricultural practices; Procurement, where seeds are tested and purchased; Storage, where increased seeds are preserved for future restoration and rehabilitation; and Restoration, where native seeds are used to restore native plant communities. Figure from the National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (PCA 2025).

Picture: Covers of the Plant Conservation Alliance National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (left) and the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (right).

Research Updates – New Publications

Natural resource management under drought and wildfire

In this study, RAMPS Ecologist, Seth Munson, and others developed a conceptual framework that links the scale and severity of drought and wildfire associated ecosystem impacts with management interventions. A Northern Arizona University researcher conducted surveys and interviews of natural resource managers on the Colorado Plateau to gain insight into their perceptions of the scale of drought and wildfire impacts, ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire, relationships between the scale and severity of impacts and associated natural resource responses, and perceived barriers to implementing management actions. Results of the collaboration indicated that resource managers experienced drought more frequently than wildfire, and perceived intensifying impacts to ecosystems resulting from both stressors. Results also indicated that resource managers recognized strategies to address the widespread impacts of drought and wildfire on ecosystems, but many adaptation-specific actions remained unclear or presented barriers for implementation. To overcome these barriers, the authors suggest improving effective science communication, refining information tailored to meet adaptation goals at management-relevant scales, and providing opportunities for adaptive management that can proactively address intensification of drought and wildfire.

CITATION: Munson, S.M., Vaughn, A.L., Petersen, B., Bradford, J.B. and Duniway, M.C., 2024. Natural resource management confronts the growing scale and severity of ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire. Ecology and Society, 29(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15517-290417

How does trait variability affect plant performance?

In this study, researchers from the USGS, BLM, and Northern Arizona University collaborated to explore the effects of variation of plant characteristics, or traits, of different populations of the same plant species on plant performance. They examined whether variation of traits influenced plant performance both at field sites, where seeds were originally collected, and in a New Mexico common garden. They found that variation of traits within the same species at field sites did not predict variability in the common garden and that greater trait variability did not consistently yield better plant performance, suggesting that trait variability among wild populations of the same species may have limited utility for predicting plant performance responses in restoration settings.

CITATION: Samuel, E.M., Mitchell, R.M., Winkler, D.E., Davidson, Z.M., Lencioni, S. and Massatti, R., 2024. Intraspecific trait variability in wild plant populations predicts neither variability nor performance in a common garden. Restoration Ecology, p.e14322. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14322

Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance projected in the sagebrush region

This study, led by USGS scientists and partners from other federal agencies, used an ecohydrological model to quantify the impacts of projected future climate on ecological resilience and invasion resistance in the sagebrush region of the US. Results suggest widespread decreases of resilience and resistance, especially in sagebrush ecosystems, highlighting a growing challenge for regional natural resource managers. The authors suggest that spatially explicit datasets can provide information to improve long-term risk assessments, prioritizations, and climate adaptation efforts.

CITATION: Schlaepfer, D.R., Chambers, J.C., Urza, A.K., Hanberry, B.B., Brown, J.L., Board, D.I., Campbell, S.B., Clause, K.J., Crist, M.R. and Bradford, J.B., 2025. Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance under climate change in the sagebrush region, United States. Ecological Applications, 35(1), p.e3065. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3065

RAMPS is a program of the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center located in Flagstaff, AZ

RAMPS engages stakeholders within the U.S. Department of the Interior, other federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, and on private lands to provide guidance and support for effective restoration strategies across the southwestern U.S. The RAMPS network consists of over 500 individuals representing 50+ agencies, organizations, and universities working together to increase land productivity and reduce threats posed by environmental hazards.

To sign up for the RAMPS lisrserv, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Boyle, Whitehouse Reintroduce Legislation to Extend Social Security and Medicare Solvency Indefinitely
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act would make wealthiest Americans pay fairer share to protect solvency of bedrock health care and retirement programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and member of the Ways and Means Committee reintroduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act alongside U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). This bicameral legislation would protect the future solvency of Medicare and Social Security by reversing inequities in the tax system so the nation’s highest earners contribute their fair share.  The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act will extend the solvency of both programs indefinitely according to analyses from the nonpartisan actuaries of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration.

“From my first day in Congress, I’ve pledged to protect the long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare—two bedrock promises our country made to seniors, workers, and people with disabilities,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “Now, with Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE-fueled billionaires openly attacking these programs, that fight is more urgent than ever. This bill would protect Social Security and Medicare for generations by making the wealthiest Americans pay what they owe. While Republicans are pushing a $7 trillion tax giveaway to the ultra-rich, we’re working to protect the benefits that millions of Americans have earned—and we won’t let them be stolen to fund another billionaire windfall

“Working-class seniors pay into Social Security and Medicare their whole careers so they can enjoy a dignified retirement, but they end up paying a much larger share of their income in taxes than billionaires because the tax code is rigged in favor of the rich,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “As the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans gear up to deliver budget-busting giveaways for their billionaire donors, I will continue pushing to make our tax code fair and protect these twin pillars of retirement security as far as the eye can see.”

Medicare and Social Security are twin pillars of economic fairness and retirement security, providing lifelines to elderly Americans and their children, and disabled workers. In 2022, Social Security alone lifted 28.9 million Americans out of poverty, and nearly half of seniors live in households that receive at least 50 percent of their family income from Social Security benefits that they have earned after a lifetime of work. Medicare protects its over 65 million beneficiaries from potentially catastrophic health care costs.

Despite the bedrock importance of these programs, both are at risk of being unable to fully pay out benefits within the next 15 years. Without new revenue, the Hospital Insurance trust fund and the Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund are expected to become insolvent in 2036 and 2033, respectively.

The bicameral legislation would:
- Preserve Medicare and Social Security while safeguarding benefits.
- Require taxpayers with over $400,000 in income to contribute a fairer share to Social Security.
  
  Lift the Social Security tax cap to ensure that no matter the source of their income, high-income taxpayers would pay the same tax rate on their income exceeding that threshold.
- Require taxpayers with incomes above $400,000 to contribute more to Medicare.
  
  Increase the rate for income above $400,000 by 1.2 percent, and ensure that wealthy owners of pass-through businesses like hedge funds and private equity firms with more than $400,000 in annual income cannot avoid Medicare taxes.
Joining Boyle and Whitehouse on the bill as original cosponsors are Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

The bill has been endorsed by Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Tax Fairness, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Communications Workers of America, Doctors for America, Families USA, Groundwork Collaborative, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Main Street Alliance, Mary’s Center, MomsRising, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council on Aging, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, People’s Action, Public Citizen, Revolving Door Project, Social Security Works, and Teamsters.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Boyle, Local Leaders Sound Alarm on Trump’s Elimination of AmeriCorps Funding and Its Impact on Philadelphia Youth

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Yesterday, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) joined local education leaders to denounce the Trump Administration’s elimination of AmeriCorps funding—cuts that threaten critical education and youth development programs across Philadelphia.

At the press conference, Congressman Boyle was joined by Hillary Kane, Director of the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND); David Weinstein, Executive Director of Joyful Readers; Darryl Bundridge, Executive Director of City Year Philadelphia; and Anna Shurak, Executive Director of Teach For America Philadelphia. Together, they highlighted the devastating consequences these cuts would have on students, schools, and communities throughout the city.

“You can understand why AmeriCorps has long had bipartisan support in Congress, and I stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to demand that this funding be restored across our commonwealth,” said Congressman Boyle. “AmeriCorps members are meeting this moment. They’re working in our schools and food banks. Helping veterans access vital services, supporting seniors and so much more in every ZIP code. They’re actively working to make Philadelphia a better place.”

“Our program this year served 170 students, mostly in high schools in West Philadelphia. And we had to tell our members that Friday was their last day,” said Hillary Kane, Director of the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND). “AmeriCorps has been a vital resource for us to help make these connections and to provide better services to folks.”

“Can you imagine being an AmeriCorps member, serving for a modest stipend, supporting kids, and being told over the weekend you can’t go back, your term of service has ended,” said David Weinstein, Executive Director of Joyful Readers. “Can you imagine being a student who’s learning how to read, who’s struggling a little bit, but has someone there supporting them, and now you’re starting to get it, but on Monday your tutor just doesn’t show up and you don’t really know why.”

In Pennsylvania, AmeriCorps invested nearly $39 million in federal funding last year, leveraging an additional $16 million from private and local partners—generating over $17 in economic value for every dollar spent. In Philadelphia alone, more than 1,300 AmeriCorps members served in schools, afterschool programs, and nonprofits during the 2023–2024 fiscal year. That includes 125 Teach For America teachers reaching over 7,700 students in North and West Philadelphia, and City Year Philadelphia, which provided success coaching and academic support to more than 7,000 students across 12 local schools.

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The leading engineering school of SPbPU summed up the results of two and a half years of work

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

The Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (PISH SPbPU) presented the results of its work for 2024 and long-term development plans at the Council for the consideration of issues and coordination of the activities of the PISH chaired by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov.

The flagship project of the Ministry of Education and Science “Advanced Engineering Schools” has been implemented since 2022. Currently, 50 such schools have been created within its framework, and by 2030, on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, their number should be increased to 100. Starting this year, the first 30 schools from 15 regions, including PISh SPbPU, according to the terms of the project, are moving to a new stage of financing – after three years of budget financing, they will switch to off-budget and will work at the expense of funds attracted from industrial partners.

The first 30 advanced engineering schools are moving to a new qualitative level of development. The results presented by the university teams show that together we have managed to create an effective model for integrating education, science and production. The next stage for the first wave of schools will be scaling up their activities. Everything necessary for this is available: modern equipment, competencies, established contacts with industrial partners. It is important that regional authorities pay great attention to the development of advanced engineering schools in their cities, understanding their value for strengthening relations between higher education and the real sector of the economy, emphasized the head of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov.

Today, 12 master’s programs are implemented at PIS SPbPU. From 2022 to 2024, the enrollment of students in the master’s programs of PIS SPbPU increased by 2.5 times, and the enrollment in the Applied Mechanics program became the largest in Russia – 68 people. In 2024, the first graduation of master’s students took place, and all graduates were employed at industrial partner enterprises, in partner universities, structural divisions of SPbPU and PIS SPbPU, as well as in companies in the high-tech sector of the economy.

Also, PISh SPbPU has developed and is implementing 53 programs of additional professional education (APE) for managers and engineering personnel of such companies as T Plus, Inter RAO, Power Machines, Severstal, companies of the United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, Ilyushin Aviation Complex, Yakovlev, JSC AeroKomposit), UEC, UEC-Aviadvigatel, UEC-Klimov, etc.

The program of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” allowed us to open many new modern laboratories and scientific and educational spaces at our university, develop and launch new master’s and additional professional education programs in relevant engineering areas. I would like to note that the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU also expanded its effective and systematic interaction with industrial partners – high-tech companies and corporations. In addition, it was at the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” that the qualified partnership model was successfully tested, which formed the basis of the SPbPU Development Program until 2030 and in the long term until 2036. Formed teams with competencies and experience in solving breakthrough scientific and technological problems, the created scientific and scientific-technological reserve and the established effective qualified partnership with industry will help us make a breakthrough in the scientific and technological sphere, aimed at ensuring the technological leadership of our country, – commented the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

Over the past 2.5 years, the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School has made a significant contribution to the development of the university’s infrastructure. From 2022 to 2025, 11 research and educational spaces were opened in the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School, and six more are planned to be opened by 2030.

The Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is one of the most successful engineering schools, which is confirmed by the growth in the number of master’s programs and continuing education programs, the number of R & D projects implemented in the interests of high-tech companies and the successful employment of graduates. All this together has a positive effect on the overall qualification growth of the professional workshop of design engineers and developers. In fact, the SPbPU PISh makes a significant contribution to building up the intellectual potential of the Northern capital. It is important to note that the scientific and technological groundwork of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” formed the basis of the Strategy and Development Program of the Polytechnic University until 2030, in particular one of the key scientific and technological areas “Systemic Digital Engineering”, – noted the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin.

The delegation of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” included: the head of the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership Oleg Rozhdestvensky, the vice-governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, the director of the department of scientific and technical activities of JSC TVEL Alexey Shishkin, the first vice-rector of SPbPU Vitaly Sergeev, the director of the center for additional professional education of the SPbPU PISh Sergey Salkutsan.

As for developments, from 2022 to 2025, PISh SPbPU implemented more than 70 projects and attracted more than 1.8 billion rubles under commercial contracts for R&D and the provision of scientific and technological services commissioned by the high-tech industry.

Several large-scale projects were completed by specialists of the SPbPU PISh at the orders of various companies that are part of the Rosatom State Corporation. In the field of digital modeling, the school’s specialists were the first to create the architecture and digital models for a digital twin of a vitrification furnace for high-level radioactive waste. In 2024, at the order of the Composite Division of the Rosatom State Corporation, engineers developed a pilot industrial technology for the production of filaments from continuous carbon fiber based on thermoplastics and delivered ultra-high-performance installations to the Rosatom State Corporation – 12 km of filament/hour.

By order of JSC TVEL (Fuel Division of the State Corporation Rosatom), specialists from the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of the SPbPU PISh developed digital twins of fuel assemblies of water-cooled nuclear reactors of the TVS-K PWR and TVS VVER types. Over three years of work, engineers from the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University developed virtual test benches and ranges (VIS and VIP) for tetrahedral (TVS-K PWR) and hexagonal (TVS VVER) fuel assemblies: VIS “Gidrodinamika”, VIS “Prochnost”, VIP “Bezopasnost – TUK” and VIP “Bezopasnost – OR SUZ”.

Using digital systems engineering technologies, the school’s specialists performed comprehensive strength calculations of the ice-resistant fixed platform LSP “A” structures for the Kamennomysskoye-Sea gas field, guaranteeing the reliability of the structure for a period of 100 years of operation.

Also among the significant achievements is the development of improved sports sleds with improved aerodynamic characteristics for the Russian athlete, three-time world champion and two-time winner of the World Cup in luge Roman Repilov; the development and production of an optimal composite fairing for a modernized two-seater motor paraglider for the famous traveler Fyodor Konyukhov.

In 2024, the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU achieved significant success in the field of unmanned aircraft systems, winning the competition of the ANO “FC BAS” as part of the implementation of the state Strategy for the Development of Unmanned Aviation of the Russian Federation and signed a contract for “Development of a system for constructing virtual test stands and virtual test sites, conducting digital tests of unmanned aerial vehicle elements based on a single digital platform for the development and use of UAS digital twins.”

We would also like to note the development of the Digital Platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench® as a whole as one of the key tools for the implementation of knowledge-intensive multidisciplinary projects. In full accordance with the strategic state objectives of ensuring technological leadership of domestic high-tech products, the development of the Digital Platform CML-Bench® is aimed at active integration with the engineering software of Russian vendors, and in 2024 the platform was certified according to the sixth level of trust of the FSTEC and compliance with the requirements for state information systems of the third class, which provide the ability to process information constituting a commercial secret and information “For official use only”.

The implementation of the socio-economic development initiative “Advanced Engineering Schools” in the period from 2022 to 2024 was carried out within the framework of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools” of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. Since 2025, the continuity of the activities of the project “Advanced Engineering Schools” was ensured by including them in the federal project “Universities for the Generation of Leaders” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

In accordance with the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 26, 2022 No. 1315-r, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU Alexey Borovkov joined the Council for Grants for Providing State Support for the Creation and Development of Advanced Engineering Schools. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Alexey Ivanovich did not take part in the presentation and evaluation of the development results of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of SPbPU, of which he is the head.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Orange You Glad that Researchers Made a “Sweet” Discovery for the Citrus Industry?

Source: US Agriculture Research Service

Orange You Glad that Researchers Made a “Sweet” Discovery for the Citrus Industry?

By: Jessica Ryan
Email: arspress@usda.gov

May 15, 2025

ARS scientists made a “sweet” discovery that may be important to solve a major problem within the citrus industry.

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, poses a serious threat to the Florida citrus industry. HLB is associated with tree infection by its presumed causal agent Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and is spreading to many citrus-growing areas worldwide. In Florida, HLB has caused about 90% of citrus production losses since it was first detected in 2005.

An orange from a Donaldson tree. (Photo by Giancarlo Buzzi, ARS)

ARS scientists at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL, assessed citrus trees with oranges that could be potentially used for commercial production of orange juice. During their assessment, the scientists found a sweet orange tree named “Donaldson” at the A.H. Whitmore Citrus Research Foundation Farm in Groveland, FL. This tree is a selection from the USDA-ARS variety collection that represents over 100 years of USDA-ARS research on citrus in Florida.

“The Donaldson sweet orange tree stood out as being exceptionally healthy compared to the industry-standard trees that were planted close by and were in decline or had died,” said Matt Mattia, a research geneticist. “The Donaldson tree also tested positive for the presence of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, one of the presumed causal agents of HLB. This indicates that the tree may have tolerance to the disease.”

The Donaldson orange tree. (Photo by Giancarlo Buzzi, ARS)

Historical records show that the Donaldson tree was first planted on the farm over 30 years ago. Another tree type named “Hamlin,” which has been ravaged by HLB, was also planted around the same time. Hamlin and Donaldson are early season trees that mature from December to January. While Hamlin has been used in commercial orange juice production for years, Donaldson has remained only on the farm.

Researchers assessed if Donaldson oranges could substitute Hamlin oranges for juice production. In the study, researchers conducted taste tests to study the differences between orange juice blends using Hamlin and Donaldson oranges.

“The taste testers noted that there was a difference between the two juices,” said Mattia. “However, those differences may be explained by the lower acidity in fruits from young Hamlin trees.”

According to Mattia, Donaldson oranges could replace Hamlin oranges for commercial production, maturing in the early season and presenting good orange flavor. However, future research should explore whether Donaldson fruit could replace Hamlin fruit in juice by comparing fruits from trees of the same age.

More research is underway to determine if the Donaldson trees have long-term tolerance to HLB and if citrus growers can successfully plant these trees to meet the demands of commercial production. ARS researchers plan to work with research collaborators and industry partners to assess Donaldson’s tolerance to HLB in field trials and study the possible underlying genetic mechanisms responsible for tolerance.

The study was published in HortScience. The research done by ARS was in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Horticultural Sciences Department.

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

# # #

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s audiovisual industry should better reflect the country’s diversity

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By John Schoales, Visiting Researcher and Adjunct Professor, School of Creative Industries, Toronto Metropolitan University

An important reason for underrepresentation in cultural industries is the citizenship-based approach to defining what classifies as Canadian content.
(Shutterstock)

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has recently undertaken a consultation on defining Canadian programming in the film and television industry.

A longstanding focus has been to base the definition of Canadian programming on having Canadian citizens or permanent residents occupying key creative or ownership positions in film and television. Similar definitions are used in Canada for other cultural industries such as music, publishing and the arts.

However, the growth of online content has challenged longstanding approaches that were developed when national borders played a larger role in media markets. Today, a new generation of artists and online creators are less likely to see their markets or identities confined by national boundaries.

This has also highlighted barriers faced by others, long ignored, who don’t necessarily define their cultural identity by their nationality. This can include people from other countries who want to pursue arts and culture careers in Canada, Indigenous communities or anyone who defines their identity by anything other than their citizenship.

Systemic bias

An important reason for underrepresentation in cultural industries is the citizenship-based approach to Canadian content used by the CRTC in audiovisual policy and the federal and provincial governments in a variety of culture programs.

This approach creates preferential access to opportunities for people who are much more likely to be white.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has stated that progress towards eliminating systemic racism and discrimination in a meaningful way will remain elusive as long as any doubt remains about the existence of systemic racism in Canada.

The growth of online content has challenged longstanding approaches that were developed when national borders played a larger role in media markets.
(Shutterstock)

Canadian audiovisual policy illustrates that systemic racism does exist and remains embedded in Canadian culture policy.

The 2021 census indicated that around one-quarter of Canada’s population is racialized. That includes 69.3 per cent of immigrants and 83.1 per cent of non-permanent residents.

The census also shows that racialized people are underrepresented in all cultural industries, such as film and television, music, publishing and performing arts. Those who are able to work in cultural occupations often earn far less than their non-racialized counterparts.

As the Ontario Human Rights Commission has stated:

“Organizations must ensure that they are not unconsciously engaging in systemic discrimination. This takes vigilance and a willingness to monitor and review numerical data, policies, practices and decision-making processes and organizational culture. It is not acceptable from a human rights perspective for an organization to choose to remain unaware of systemic discrimination or to fail to act when a problem comes to its attention.”

Challenges in the immigration system

The relationship between immigration, underrepresentation and industry growth, success and cultural impact is particularly important for effective Canadian policy because almost all of Canada’s net population growth is due to immigration.

Today, Canada is increasingly using a two-step immigration system in which immigrants are selected from non-permanent residents already living in Canada. It is particularly difficult for a culture industry worker to settle in Canada because they don’t qualify for public funding programs in these industries prior to becoming a permanent resident.

In addition, relevant work they are able to find may not count toward their future immigration applications because it may be self-employment, contract or part-time work, which is the norm in these industries.

There is little effort to either attract foreign workers in these industries or help them integrate into a workforce in which self-employment and contract work is very common, and success is largely determined by access to established networks.

Definitions of Canadian content highlight barriers faced by others, long ignored, who don’t necessarily define their cultural identity by their citizenship.
(Shutterstock)

Improving creativity and productivity

Canada’s parochial approach that equates culture with nationality echoes a troubled history of cultural assimilation and discrimination.

The country does not appear to have learned important lessons about the impact of cultural nationalist assimilation from the Truth and Reconciliation process, restrictive immigration policies or the advancement of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It says to some: your cultural identity is Canadian. It says to others: you’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident so anything you create has no cultural value.

Inclusive creative industries allow for the cultural contributions of more people and foster collaboration and new ideas, which are important drivers of a productive industry.

Productivity is significantly lower in Canada than in the United States. High human capital industries like the creative industries are primary drivers of productivity and are supported by the migration of skilled people.

A definition of Canadian content based on citizenship or permanent residency status is often promoted as a way to defend against the influx of American cultural products from Hollywood. However, Hollywood products currently have no citizenship focus. Like all highly successful culture centres, Hollywood has always founded its success on attracting talented people from around the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose film tariffs on foreign-produced films similarly does not reflect an understanding that this is a global industry. It is a short step from there to wanting only Americans in key creative and ownership roles. That would restrict Hollywood’s access to global talent and resources, undermine its primary advantage, and undermine the industry’s competitiveness.

Read more:
Tax Canadian movies? Why culture has always been at the centre of trade wars

As a leading global destination for immigrants and with aspirations to be inclusive, Canada has the unique potential to become a leading global culture centre with thriving and diverse creative industries.

To achieve this potential, the CRTC and Canadian governments must reorient their policies to develop cultural industries that cultivate great art by talented people, regardless of their identity or where they are from.

John Schoales does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Canada’s audiovisual industry should better reflect the country’s diversity – https://theconversation.com/canadas-audiovisual-industry-should-better-reflect-the-countrys-diversity-252883

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Further investment into special school places in Plymouth

Source: City of Plymouth

More than £900,000 is being invested to create more capacity at special schools in Plymouth.

This is part of Plymouth City Council’s £13 million SEND sufficiency plan, which aims to improve support for children and young people with special needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by increasing the availability of special school places.

The Council will spend £728,392 to carry out reconfiguration works at Woodlands Special School, transforming an unused space to facilitate a 10-place assessment nursery provision and creating extra school places.

The nursery provision will provide year-long placements for pre-school aged children who are waiting to be assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It will be staffed by a teacher and Education, Health and Care assistants, who will monitor children to see whether they need a specialist or mainstream school place. Children will then be supported to transition directly from the nursery into their new school placement.

A further £192,000 will also be used to increase capacity at Longcause Special School, by converting four offices into additional classroom spaces to better meet the needs of pupils at the school.

Woodlands Special School supports pupils aged between two and 19-years-old who have complex physical and sensory difficulties, with many also having medical needs.

Longcause Special School provides places to children aged four to 16-years-old who are on the autism spectrum and have other learning difficulties.

Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “One of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to improving our SEND services is the lack of special school places available for children who really need extra support to learn and thrive.

“We are committed to maximising the limited resources available to us to create more specialist provision. I’m delighted that we’re able to work with Longcause and Woodlands to reconfigure their respective school buildings to turn underutilised space into useful learning environments for children and young people with SEND.

“Thank you to our special school headteachers for working so constructively with us to help find creative solutions to what are very complex problems.”

All of the new places for the next school year have already been allocated to children who have been waiting for a specialist place.

The majority of the building work is due to take place during the summer holidays to avoid disrupting pupils and staff.

While most children’s needs can be met in a mainstream setting, for some a specialist setting is more appropriate. To be eligible for a special school place, children must have an EHCP or be undergoing a statutory assessment of their special educational needs and have needs that cannot be met in a mainstream school.

The Council and local schools have recently launched a new website outlining the Plymouth Graduated Approach to Inclusion. This helps schools and parents and carers by setting out the support available for children and young people with SEND to ensure that their needs are meet. Find out more at https://plymouthgati.co.uk.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Supervised Exercise Improves Broken Hip Outcomes in Older Women
Source: US State of Connecticut

Results from a recent multi-center, randomized, controlled trial demonstrate that testosterone gel does not improve long-distance mobility compared to exercise alone in older women recovering from a hip fracture.

The STEP-HI (Starting a Testosterone and Exercise Program after Hip Injury) study results were published in JAMA Network Open on May 15. This is to date the largest study of testosterone administration to women following a fracture of the hip.

UConn Center on Aging was a clinical trial site for the national STEP-HI study since its launch in 2018.

Threat of Broken Hips in Older Women
“Historically, despite dramatic advances in surgical techniques, nearly three out of four older women fail to regain their previous level of function following hip fracture even when followed by the usual level of rehabilitation,” shares study co-author Dr. George Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging.

In fact, hip fractures are the most serious type of osteoporotic fracture, as they are accompanied by considerable pain, loss of muscular and bone strength, reduced mobility and independence with daily activities, and increased risk for future fractures and death. After a hip fracture, patients undergo surgery to repair the broken bone, followed by a period of rehabilitation.

Patient does leg presses at UConn Center on Aging. (Lauren Woods/UConn Photo)

Results of the STEP-HI Clinical Trial
The large STEP-HI study focused on interventions intended to improve outcomes after standard therapy was completed. The study, “Effects of Exercise Training and Testosterone Therapy in Older Women after Hip Fracture: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” provides valuable information that does not support adding low-dose testosterone to exercise in women recovering from a hip fracture to improve long-distance mobility. Testosterone is a hormone present in all women that declines with age. It has effects on muscle that were hypothesized to augment the benefits of exercise during the recovery period.

The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that enrolled women aged ≥ 65 years who had a recent surgical repair of a hip fracture, met objective criteria for mobility impairment, and were community-dwelling. Participants (n=129) were recruited from 8 clinical sites in the United States between February 2018 and February 2023.

Key findings of the study include:
- 24 weeks of supervised exercise combined with testosterone therapy did not significantly improve Six Minute Walk Distance (a measure of long-distance mobility) compared to supervised exercise alone. This suggests that adding testosterone to exercise may not provide further benefits beyond exercise itself in terms of long-distance mobility in older women post hip fracture.
- Adding testosterone therapy to exercise had positive effects on short-distance mobility and balance, while also reducing the requirement of assistive walking devices at the end of the study. These secondary findings will require further research to confirm.
Jenna M. Bartley, Ph.D. served as the UConn Center on Aging’s clinical trial site principal investigator alongside Kuchel and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.

“While we did not see improvements with testosterone in endurance activities, these findings are important for our understanding of how older women can best recover from hip fracture. While we thought that adding an anabolic agent like testosterone would aid in mobility improvements, we did not see a benefit in that aspect. We did see a benefit of testosterone in other functional domains, but more research is needed to confirm those findings,” Bartley reports.

Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging, agrees.

“Our findings did not demonstrate any additional benefits in long-distance mobility of testosterone replacement beyond the positive effects of exercise. However, our findings confirm that more intense and sustained exercise protocols are well-tolerated by older women and can result in substantial functional improvements.”

Kuchel stresses a secondary post hoc finding of the study that needs further investigation.

“Among women who required a walker or cane at baseline, those who were randomized to receive exercise and testosterone replacement were more likely to be able to walk without a cane or walker 6 months later as compared to women receiving only exercise or usual care. These findings will require future study and further confirmation,” says Kuchel of UConn.

Striking Impact of Strength Training for Older Women at UConn Center on Aging
“What was most striking from our STEP-HI study was how well the older women performed the progressive resistance training and how much they improved over the course of the study,” says Principal Investigator Bartley at UConn.

She says while some women were hesitant at first, by the end of the study some were leg pressing over 100lbs!

“It was really impressive to see the progress over time from these women. It really is never too late to start an exercise training program!” Bartley advises.

Also, Bartley shared how progressive resistance training for 6 months led to huge improvements in functional outcomes.

‘‘The power of weight training is really impressive, even in these older women. This research really highlighted how older women can benefit from weight training despite being recently injured or more frail,” concludes Bartley.

The study team of co-authors concluded overall that: “Although testosterone did not provide the functional benefits to older women recovering from a hip fracture that we were expecting, our study offers valuable information on the importance of exercise and other treatments during recovery,” wrote the study co-authors led by Dr. Ellen F. Binder of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Other study co-authors include: Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH, Peter Doré, MS, Steven R. Fisher, PT, PhD, Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD, Camelia Guild, MPH, Douglas P. Kiel, MD, MPH, Robin L. Marcus, PT, PhD, Christine M. McDonough, PT, PhD, Kelly M. Monroe, MSW, Denise Orwig, PhD, Rocco Paluch, MA, Dominic Reeds, MD, Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, Kenneth B. Schechtman, PhD, and Jay Magaziner, PhD.

The JAMA Network Open study co-authors are faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the UConn Center on Aging, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life and the Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Utah, University of Pittsburgh. University at Buffalo, University of Colorado, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio GRECC, Sealy Center on Aging, and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

This work is in part supported by the following grants: The National Institute on Aging provided funding and supervision for STEP-HI under award numbers: R21 AG023716, R34 AG040257, R01 AG051647, P30 AG067988 (UConn Older Americans Independence Pepper Center), P30 AG024832, P30 AG028747. Support for STEP-HI at the Baltimore site was also provided by the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECC).

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: OPIM Professor Fasheng Xu, a ‘Forward-Thinking’ Scholar, Wins Early Career Award

Source: US State of Connecticut

Fasheng Xu, a professor of Operations and Information Management (OPIM), has been awarded the 2025 Chelliah Sriskandarajah Early Career Research Accomplishments Award, a global honor bestowed on just one scholar annually.

The award, presented at the Production & Operations Management Society’s (POMS) annual conference in Atlanta last weekend, recognizes exceptional research contributions by a scholar who completed his or her doctorate in the last six years.

“Since joining UConn two years ago, Fasheng has made outstanding contributions to our research and teaching,’’ said professor Cuihong Li, head of the OPIM department. “He has enhanced our expertise in supply chain finance, risk management, and the integration of emerging technologies, particularly blockchain and Generative AI, into supply-chain management.”

“He exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking scholar, constantly exploring the evolving landscape of business and technology, analyzing their impact on supply chains and their intersections with other business functions, and bringing the latest insights into the classroom,’’ she said.

The Sriskandarajah award was created to recognize and reward exceptional faculty who have made significant accomplishments to the field and broadened, extended or altered the way production and operations management is conceptualized, practiced, and viewed.

Most recently, Xu’s research has focused on Generative AI, addressing questions about AI governance, market dynamics, and organizational transformation, including how companies can optimally integrate human and GenAI capabilities to enhance decision-making and drive innovation.

Xu said GenAI intrigues him. “I think GenAI will be more disruptive than other recent emerging technologies I’ve studied, and it’s a fascinating area that opens up new frontiers for both research and teaching,’’ he said.

Regardless of topic, Xu focuses his research to join theoretical rigor with actionable insights for the business community. One example is a series of articles he co-authored recently exploring the impact of blockchain technology adoption in various supply chain settings, identifying both the benefits and challenges. He typically has about 10 research projects underway at all times.

Xu also recently applied his knowledge to create a new UConn MBA course on supply chain finance, equipping students with analytical tools and practical knowledge to address real-world challenges. Creating a course from scratch was demanding, but something he enjoyed. Recently, he also led two faculty development workshops on the use of Generative AI for enhancing productivity in teaching and research.

His work has appeared in leading journals, including three papers each in Management Science and Manufacturing & Service Operations Management. Xu has also reviewed more than 130 manuscripts for leading journals.

Xu, who is based at the Stamford campus, said he was drawn to UConn because of the faculty’s research productivity, and that he has been able to collaborate with many of his colleagues here on new projects. He joined the faculty after working as an assistant professor of supply chain management at Syracuse University, where he was an award-winning faculty member. Xu earned his Ph.D. in Operations Management at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Xu credited Li’s encouragement and unwavering support as a factor in his receipt of the award.

“I likely wouldn’t have applied if it weren’t for Professor Li, who strongly believed in the quality and impact of my work,” he said. “I’m truly grateful for her mentorship and advocacy. Having my research recognized in this way has been a meaningful and motivating boost.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “Real School of Life”: HSE Students Take Part in BRICS Youth Summit

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Photo: Higher School of Economics

In April, the next BRICS Youth Innovation Summit was held in Cape Town, South Africa. Our country was again represented by students from the Higher School of Economics. The event was organized by the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA).

The BRICS Youth Summit 2025 was held under the theme “Innovating the Future: Technologies for Sustainable Development and Social Well-being”. It provided a new generation of innovators with the opportunity to address global challenges through collaborative technological solutions that promote sustainable development and social equality in the BRICS countries and the entire Global South. The summit was attended by over 50 delegates from 12 countries, as well as 50 observers from various institutions and organizations in South Africa.

As in the previous year, the selection of HSE delegates was carried out by the Centre for International Student Mobility and Educational Projects of the Internationalisation Directorate. The organisers not only provided HSE students with a unique opportunity to participate in the summit free of charge, but also covered all expenses for their stay in Cape Town during the event.

The delegation included the following students:

Diana Fakhritdinova, OP “Economics and statistics“;

Mary Oganesyan, OP “Economics and statistics“;

Anna Danilova, OP “Pharmaceutical law and healthcare“.

The participants shared their impressions of the summit, communication with representatives of different countries and African nature.

Diana Fakhritdinova and Meri Oganesyan presented their joint project Just.Display in the category “Digital Transformation for Economic Growth” and won a prize.

“Mary and I were lucky enough to attend the BRICS Youth Summit, which this year took place in the bright and memorable Cape Town. Sending our application rather at random, we did not expect to receive a positive response from the selection committee. But as soon as it arrived, we immediately started preparing the presentation of our project,” said Diana Fakhritdinova. “We have been developing the Just.Display project since school. It is an effective solution for managing advertising and information screens. It is a modern platform that provides instant content updates on any digital media — from single screens to large-scale networks. The system combines a simple interface, mobility in management and technology at the level of high corporate standards. Today, our solution is used in such organizations as the Skolkovo Technopark, the Donstroy development company, and others. We continue to improve the product and develop our name in the market, offering clients a reliable, scalable and intuitive solution for operational management.

We are proud that we were able to present our project at such a representative event. A lot of effort and energy was invested in the preparation, and it was completely justified. Finding ourselves surrounded by proactive participants and organizers, we immediately felt how serious the level of the summit was. Everyone shared ideas and stories of their projects – useful, thoughtful and truly significant. It was cool to see how startups created by the same students are already bringing tangible benefits and striving for more.

On the day of the presentations, the atmosphere became calmer: everyone had already met, the excitement had subsided a little. We presented our project, showing what our team is capable of, confidently answered the jury’s questions and eagerly awaited the results. Third place was a real surprise for us, especially considering that we were the youngest participants of the summit.

Mary and I would like to sincerely thank HSE and Center for International Student Mobility and Educational Projects Directorates of Internationalization for the support, knowledge and opportunities that give us self-confidence and help us develop not only in our studies but also in real projects. Special thanks to the director of the center Valeria Vadimovna Sokolova for her support and assistance at all stages of preparation and participation in the summit.

Such events are a real school of life. We returned home with an incredible amount of insights, connections, skills and knowledge. We were lucky to meet a huge number of proactive people, and we have already started developing collaborations with some of them.”

Anna Danilova presented her project in the category “Artificial Intelligence and Big Data for Social Good”. “My project was dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Its main goal is to ensure the availability of the system for any segment of the population and the population of any territorial remoteness in order to improve the level of health and well-being,” says the student. – According to our idea, the algorithm works together with a medical specialist and currently acts only as an auxiliary element, not the main one. We are setting up the algorithm in order to increase the accuracy of diagnostics and the objectivity of the assessment, and would like to further track whether artificial intelligence can replace medical specialists in general and in which specific areas this is possible.

I really liked the projects of Chinese colleagues who propose using artificial intelligence to automate the harvesting of fruits and vegetables. I also heard from my roommate from South Africa about interesting projects in the field of technological support for food security. It was interesting to listen to the ideas of guys from different countries, taking into account the peculiarities of their mentality and the culture of the country in which they live and implement their ideas.

My project was positively received by the participants, some even wrote and learned details and opportunities for cooperation after the summit. For me, this trip was a real discovery, as it is a completely different country and culture. I made many new acquaintances from the BRICS countries, with some of them we exchanged numbers to continue communication in the future.

What I also liked about the summit was that there were guys who were just starting to implement their project, and there were those who had already implemented it and were implementing new ideas. It turned out to be a kind of mutual work: newcomers share fresh ideas with those who are more experienced, and the more experienced share useful comments and recommendations on project implementation.

The section winners got the opportunity to go to St. Petersburg for the International Economic Forum in June. I hope that I will be able to meet the guys who took first place at the summit again, but this time in Russia.

In addition to the event itself, our trip to the Cape of Good Hope with the girls created a huge layer of impressions for us. On the way there, we stopped by boat to look at Cape fur seals, saw penguins, ostriches and other representatives of the fauna. We also managed to visit several local restaurants and try local fish. But most of all, we were amazed by the cape itself, from where a magnificent view opened up that cannot be compared with anything else.”

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: During National Police Week, Reps. Pettersen, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan ‘They’re Fast, We’re Furious’ Bill to Curb Illegal Street Racing

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced the They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act of 2025 to address reckless speeding and illegal street racing impacting communities across the country. This bipartisan bill would establish a Street Racing Prevention and Intervention Task Force under the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate local, state, and federal strategic responses to street racing and unlawful organized street shows. The task force would address the impacts of street racing and develop best practices to combat the problem, creating safer communities and potentially saving lives.

“I’ve heard from constituents across Broomfield and Jefferson Counties who are concerned by the illegal street racing on the rise in our communities, including the death of a college student in Westminster caused by a street racing incident” said Pettersen. “As a mom, I’m committed to making sure our communities are a safe place for our kids and neighbors. That’s why I’m working with Congressman Valadao during National Police Week to ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to crack down on reckless driving and save lives.”

“In the Central Valley, street racing is an epidemic that puts our communities in danger,” said Valadao. “Kern County’s fatal hit-and-run accident rate is over 151% higher than the national average, and deadly crashes are a direct result of reckless driving at high speeds. Illegal street racing in our neighborhoods puts the lives of other drivers, first responders, and innocent bystanders at risk, and I’m proud to join Congresswoman Pettersen to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat this dangerous trend.”

Rep. Pettersen first introduced this bill following concerns from communities across her district, including those voiced at a town hall she hosted in Westminster. In 2021, a street racing incident in Westminster caused the death of a 21-year-old student at the University of Colorado Boulder. This incident rocked the community and is unfortunately a common occurrence in the United States, as speeding and street racing continue to rise in prevalence since the global pandemic.

Between 2021 and 2023, Colorado lost 751 lives due to speeding, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. In 2023 alone, speeding was the leading cause of traffic fatalities in the state—contributing to 258 deaths, surpassing fatalities caused by impaired driving and unrestrained passengers.

Click HERE for the full text of the bill.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rescheduled: Community Conversations with Congressman Frank Mrvan
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank J. Mrvan announced the rescheduled Community Conversations that will be held throughout Indiana’s First Congressional District on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Congressman Mrvan stated, “I invite residents to attend one of my rescheduled Community Conversations that I will be holding on May 29, 2025. I believe these opportunities allow me to hear directly from constituents and better represent our collective interests in our nation’s capital. Additionally, I will provide a brief update on the 119th Session of Congress and my work on the House Appropriations Committee.”

Thursday – May 29, 2025
- 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Michigan City – City Hall Council Chambers, 100 East Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City, IN 46360
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383
- 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Indiana University Northwest, Bergland Auditorium in the Savannah Center, 65 West 33rd Avenue, Gary, IN 46408
Please note that all times listed are Central Time.

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MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government Continues to Deliver for Saskatchewan Residents as Spring Sitting Concludes
Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on May 15, 2025

With the Spring sitting of the Legislature concluding today, Premier Scott Moe highlighted the Government of Saskatchewan’s balanced 2025-26 Budget and how it is delivering for you.

“Our government continues to prioritize safety in our communities and ensuring services are available to all residents when and where they need them,” Moe said. “Saskatchewan is a growing and vibrant province that continues to benefit from a strong economy even in uncertain times. Record investments were made this year to keep Saskatchewan an affordable place to live, work and raise a family.”

In this year’s budget, record investments continue to be made in health care, education and community safety, in addition to delivering more affordability measures than ever before.

New affordability measures include:
- The Fertility Treatment Tax Credit, helping individuals or couples cover costs associated with fertility treatments.
- Doubling the Active Families Benefit tax credit and raising the qualifying income threshold to $120,000 will make accessing children’s sports, arts, cultural and recreational activities more affordable.
- Seniors receive an increase in the senior supplement amount by $500 annually for the next four years, starting in 2025 – over and above the impact of indexation.
- An increase to the Personal Care Home Benefit will help more than 2,000 low-income seniors with the cost of living in a licensed personal care home.
- The Graduate Retention Program has also increased, with a maximum benefit of $24,000 for students who live and work in Saskatchewan after graduating from a post-secondary institution.
- The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship provides up to $3,000 for Grade 12 students who will be attending post-secondary institutions in the province.
- All education property tax mill rates have been reduced to absorb the increase in property assessment values and ensure this assessment year is revenue neutral for the province. This change will save property owners in the province more than $100 million annually.
- Reinstating the Home Renovation Tax Credit saves residents up to $420 and seniors $525 annually in provincial income tax.
- The First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit maximum benefit increased to $1,575, making homeownership more attainable for first-time homebuyers, and the PST Rebate on New Home Construction was made permanent.
- The Disability Tax Credit and the Disability Tax Credit supplement for children under 18 both increase by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation.
- The Caregiver Tax Credit also increases by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation, which provides financial support for families who care for adult children or parents with physical or mental impairments.
- The Small Business Tax Rate permanently remains at one per cent, which benefits more than 35,000 small businesses and saves them over $50 million annually in corporate income taxes.
- The Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Tax Credit provides a non-refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations that invest in the equity of eligible Saskatchewan small and medium enterprise, while the Saskatchewan Class 1 Truck Driver Training Rebate Program supports individuals seeking their commercial driving license.
Additionally, legislation introduced and passed this year aims to promote community safety. Amendments to The Construction Codes Act allow the development of a pilot framework intended to help eligible municipalities dispose of these structures as well as provide a training opportunity for local volunteer fire departments. Amendments to The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act include fentanyl, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles as categories of street weapons recognizing the significant risks these items present to public safety. New regulations under The Trespass to Property Amendment Regulations, 2025, will allow police to immediately enforce the Act against individuals partaking in activities such as public intoxication and drug use as it will be automatically considered trespassing in public spaces or businesses.

This April, the Government of Saskatchewan was pleased to reach a new agreement between the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) and the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee. This new agreement recognizes the important role of teachers and provides certainty for teachers, students and their families.

Health care continues to be a priority for the government with continued investment into new and enhanced services and the Health Human Resources Action Plan to ensure services are staffed. The new Regina Breast Health Centre started welcoming patients this spring offering a co-location of essential services to streamline care, reduce wait times and improve patient experiences in what can often be a challenging time. Success continues to be made with recruitment guided by the Health Human Resources Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain more staff in the province. To continue that work, Saskatchewan’s Rural and Remote Recruitment

Incentive (RRRI) program has been expanded to an additional 16 communities for a total of 70. This incentive of up to $50,000 for a three-year return-in-service is offered to new, permanent full-time employees in nine high-priority health occupations in rural and remote communities experiencing or at risk of service disruptions due to staffing challenges. A recruitment campaign also launched recently encouraging physicians from the United States to consider practicing in Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Kennedy to Senator Marshall During HELP Committee Hearing: We’re Going to Make HHS Accountable to the American People

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) questioned the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., today during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP).
During the hearing, Senator Marshall asked Secretary Kennedy about the chronic disease epidemic in America, efforts to make HHS more efficient, and vaccines.
Senator Marshall has been a long-time ally of Secretary Kennedy and was heavily involved in his confirmation process. As an OB-GYN of over 25 years, Senator Marshall is also the Chairman of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus.

[embedded content]

Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full line of questioning.
Highlights from the hearing include:
On Making America Healthy Again:
Senator Marshall: “This was going to be a question. I’m just going to make a statement. All the research that we do on MAHA, on soil health, on nutrition, in my heart, that’s research on cancer. It’s research on Alzheimer’s, at the end of the day… We should be spending as much money at the front side of this as we are trying to cure the end of it. We’re seeing epidemics of colorectal cancer, young age Alzheimer’s, all these things. And I think the research at the front end is every bit as important at the hind end.”
Secretary Kennedy: “…NIH made all these extraordinary breakthroughs, and particularly in treating cancer and, you know, reducing mortalities for colorectal cancer. But my question is, isn’t it as important to find out why kids are getting colorectal cancer?
“When you and I were kids, there were zero kids with colorectal cancer. It’s an epidemic now, so it’s not really a badge for us when we say, ‘Oh, we can make it less lethal.’ Why don’t we go figure out what’s causing it and eliminate that exposure with all of these with Alzheimer’s, with heart disease? There’s something making Americans very, very sick, and our response should not be just ‘okay, we’ll develop a pharmaceutical fix for it, or medical fix.’ Let’s figure out what it is and get rid of it so we can have healthy kids again.”
On efforts to make HHS more efficient:
Senator Marshall: “Isn’t it true that under Joe Biden’s White House, they added 20,000 employees to HHS? When you were nominated, there were 28 divisions with HHS, 100 communication offices, 40 IT departments, and nine HR units as well? Can you answer that question?”
Secretary Kennedy: “Yes, that’s right. There are dozens of IT departments. There’s eight senior finance officials. There are nine separate offices on women’s health, eight separate offices for minority health, 27 separate offices for HIV, 59 behavioral health programs, [and] 40 opioid programs.”
“What we’re trying to do is consolidate, streamline, eliminate the redundancies, eliminate all those administrative costs for each one of those little departments, consolidate them and make them make sense, and make them accountable to the American people.
“… As you point out, there’s 40 procurement departments with four separate computer systems that don’t talk to each other… [HHS] grew like 38% of the last four years. I would say that’s great if Americans got healthier, but they didn’t. They got worse.
“So what we’re trying to do is go back to the pre-COVID levels and to start making the department function as it would… in a rational universe, and to bring in, you know, modern AI and telemedicine, and all the opportunities we have now, these new efficiencies and for medical delivery to the American people and for patient care.
“And we’re not able to take advantage of any of them because there’s so much chaos and disorganization in this department, and everybody who’s gone up against it in the past has thrown their hands up and given up. What we’re saying is, let’s organize it in a way that I can quickly adopt and deploy all these opportunities we have to really deliver high-quality health care to the American people.”
On vaccines:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s stay on the measles vaccine, just for a second… I’m an obstetrician. If a 25-year-old pregnant woman asked me if she should take the measles vaccine, the MMR… I would give her the answer, ‘No, you shouldn’t.’ But if she was 25 and trying to get pregnant, I would give her different advice.
“I’ve always valued the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship. I went to medical school for four years. I did four years of residency. I delivered thousands of babies. It’s my job to give that recommendation. What’s the role of the Secretary of HHS as far as recommendations of vaccines?”
Secretary Kennedy: “Well, the vaccine recommendations, Senator, are normally made through ACIP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is an outside consulting committee at CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. There’s another committee called VRBPC [the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee], which is within the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], that actually recommends whether the vaccines get licensed or not, and so that’s where the recommendations come from.
“… Traditionally, they have not done evidence-based medicine. They only adopted evidence-based medicine about 12 years ago, and what we’ve said during our administration is we want to have safety studies prior to the licensure and recommendation of vaccines.
“Vaccines are the only medical product that is exempt from pre-licensing safety testing. So the only vaccine that has been tested in a full-blown placebo trial against an inert placebo was the COVID vaccine. Of the other 76 shots that children in this country received between birth and 18 years old, none of them have been safety tested in pre-licensing studies against the placebo, which means we don’t understand the risk profile for those products, and that’s something that I intend to remedy.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025

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