Monday, March 10, 2014

Governor McAuliffe and Virginia Council on Women Announce the 3rd Annual STEM Essay Contest

English: Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe spea...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe to Serve as Co-Chairs


RICHMOND – Today Governor McAuliffe and the Virginia Council on Women, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Virginia, announced the 3rd annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Essay Contest for high school junior and senior girls.

The Council will award one $5,000 scholarship to a female junior or senior who will be pursuing a STEM career at an institution of higher education. Other scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the Council.

The STEM Essay Contest was launched in 2012 with 170 young ladies from across the Commonwealth submitting essays focusing on the student’s vision for a future STEM.  The Council raised $10,000 and made three scholarship awards.

In 2013, the Council received 330 essays submissions and raised $22,000 to distribute in scholarship awards.  Sponsors included Capital One, Holland and Knight, Hunton & Williams, KPMG, McGuire Woods, MeadWestvaco, Skanska, Bon Secours health System, Range Resources-Pine Mountain, Inc., Council Member Mais Abousy, and LeClair Ryan.  In addition to the top three scholarship recipients, the Council awarded five $2,000 honorable mention scholarships.  Scholarships were presented to the recipients at the Science Museum’s Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast.

 Speaking about the contest, Governor Terry McAuliffe said, “Encouraging all of our students to learn and succeed in high demand STEM fields is critical to Virginia’s ability to compete in the 21st Century economy. I am pleased that the Virginia Council on Women and the Science Museum of Virginia are offering this contest yet again, and expanding their efforts to encourage Virginia’s young women to lead the future in these key areas. Innovative ideas like the STEM Essay Contest help open our students to new learning experiences and strengthen Virginia’s ability to prepare our children for future success.”

Ms. Tracy Key, Chair of the Council, commented, “The Council believes opportunities offered to women early in life will help lead to their future successes, and supporting young ladies who want to pursue a career in STEM is critical to our future workforce.”

To be eligible, one must be a female who resides in Virginia, be enrolled as a junior or senior in high school and hold at least a 2.5 GPA.  Applications and guidelines are available online at:http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/information/council-on-women/. Entries must be submitted byMarch 30, 2014.  The winning essays will be selected by a panel of judges who hold a degree in or work in STEM fields.

Winners will be notified by April 25, 2014.  The scholarship award(s) will be presented at the 2014 Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast on May 7, 2014 at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad Street in Richmond.

The purpose of the Virginia Council on Women is to help women reach their potential and maximize their contributions to society and the Commonwealth as wage earners and citizens.  The Council has initiated several projects to meet this goal.  One is the annual STEM essay contest for young women in high school.  For more information on the Council or on available sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/information/council-on-women/.

The mission of the Science Museum of Virginia is to inspire Virginians to enrich their lives through science.  The annual Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast helps support its role in STEM education.  Literacy in STEM disciplines is vital to prepare youth for an ever changing, increasingly complex world. For more information on the Science Museum of Virginia, please visit: www.smv.org.
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Governor McAuliffe Announces First AFID Award to Promote Economic Development, Increase Agricultural Exports

Varieties of soybeans are used for many purposes.
Varieties of soybeans are used for many purposes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ Investment Enables Montague Farms to Access High-Value Sprouting Soybean Markets in Asia ~

Partnership with Isle of Wight County will provide Virginia Growers New Production, Market Diversification Opportunities

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe today awarded his administration’s first economic development grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) for a business expansion project that Montague Farms, Inc. has undertaken at the company’s Windsor facility in Isle of Wight County.  Montague, a family-owned producer and exporter of specialty soybeans based in Center Cross, will invest more than $600,000 to purchase a new state-of-the-art packaging line, soybean testing lab, and warehouse facility. The AFID grant of $14,100 was matched by Isle of Wight. 

            In addition to the creation of three new jobs at the facility, the company will now be able to sell into the highly regulated, but lucrative sprouting soybean market of South Korea and beyond.  To serve this new market, the company will purchase more than 4,000 metric tons of Natto soybeans from Virginia producers over the next three years.

            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “I am delighted to award the first AFID economic development grant of my administration to Isle of Wight and Montague Farms, furthering two goals of my economic development and jobs creation strategy for the Commonwealth.  By collaborating with our private sector partners and local governments, we can make the make smart, targeted investments needed to position our economy for new opportunities, especially in agriculture, Virginia’s largest industry.  Secondly, with a focus on increasing the amount of products shipped from Virginia into the global marketplace, we can make Virginia the East Coast capital for agricultural and forestry product exports and return more jobs, revenue and prosperity to our rural communities.”

            Montague Farms has been involved in exporting food-grade non-genetically modified organism (GMO) soybeans for over twenty-five years, successfully focusing their exports on the Japanese Natto market, widely recognized for its demanding quality standards.  Investments announced today enable them to enter a new market, increasing and diversifying their opportunities for selling these value-added soybeans abroad.  Further, farmers in the region will now have the opportunity of supplying Montague with product and receiving a premium for their efforts, helping them diversify their farming operations while sending more money to the bottom line.  Montague owns and operates two grain storage and conditioning facilities in Virginia, the Windsor operation and another in Center Cross.

            “More than ninety percent of the world’s customers lie outside the borders of the United States, so if we are to see continued growth in Virginia’s agricultural sector it is imperative that we continue seeking new export opportunities in the global marketplace,” said Todd Haymore, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “I thank Montague Farms for their leadership in this area, for supporting so many other Virginia growers by purchasing their crops, and for moving us as toward Governor McAuliffe’s goal of making Virginia the leading state for agricultural and forestry product exports on the East Coast.”

            “We are very thankful to Governor McAuliffe and Secretary Haymore for making Isle of Wight County not just the first AFID Grant recipient of this administration, but the first locality in Virginia to have received two AFID Grants,” said Byron B. Bailey, Chairman of the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors.  “First, this past June, with the reopening of the former International Paper sawmill by Franklin Lumber, and now with this facility, we are continuing our partnership with the Commonwealth in supporting projects in our county that bring jobs to our citizens and create new markets and opportunities for our forest and farmland owners.”

            “Exports are what drives our business, so we are glad to have this assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia that enables us to continue to develop these markets” said Tom Taliaferro of Montague Farms. “Whether through trade missions promoting Virginia agricultural products, or through their support of the infrastructure needed to access these markets, as we are receiving today, we are appreciative of the Commonwealth’s focus on agriculture exports.”

            According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually.  Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.

About the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund

            The AFID Fund was created  during the 2012 session of the General Assembly and is being embraced by the McAuliffe Administration as an important tool in growing the Commonwealth’s agriculture and forestry sector and helping to make Virginia the leading export of ag and forest products on the East Coast. More information about the AFID grant, which has the flexibility to assist projects large and small, can be found at (http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/afid.shtml).
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Governor McAuliffe Announces 323 New Jobs for Orange County

Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democr...
Terry McAuliffe, (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~Green Applications LLC to invest $9.75 million to establish first Virginia operation ~ 

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Green Applications LLC, a Division of Green Distribution, one of the largest printers and distributors of textile merchandise and heat applied graphics on the East Coast, will invest $9.75 million to establish its first Virginia operation in the Town of Gordonsville in Orange County. The company will design, screen print, produce and distribute graphic art on heat transfers and apparel, creating 323 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Florida and New Jersey for the project.

            Speaking in Gordonsville at today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “It is a pleasure to welcome Green Applications to Virginia as the company further expands its footprint on the East Coast. The investment in Gordonsville is a testament to the superior workforce in Orange County and the return of a formerly-vacant building, which used to employ more than 100 people, to productive use is a symbol of economic revitalization in the region. My top priority as governor is to grow and diversify the economy and attract innovative companies to the Commonwealth, and the creation of over 300 new jobs with this investment marks significant progress toward ensuring our economy remains competitive in the 21st Century.”

            “We are thrilled to add Green Applications to the roster of companies that operate in Virginia,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This significant investment and 323 new jobs are valuable to Gordonsville, Orange County and the Commonwealth.”

            Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Green has grown to employ over 450 employees delivering creative and manufacturing artistry to the screen printing industry. With a full service art department, screen room, printing presses, warehouse facility, and one of the most experienced management teams in the industry, the company provides strategic print solutions to its varied customer base. For more information, visit www.green-applications.com.

            “Virginia is great state with a strong workforce to lead our East Coast expansion,” said Robert Butters, Green Applications Owner and Chief Executive Officer. “As the textile print and embellishment industry moves back to domestic production, being located in the center of the East Coast allows us to deliver quick-turn and strategic solutions to our customers. We worked closely with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to realize this opportunity and I am excited by the tremendous growth potential in the region.”

            The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Orange County, the Town of Gordonsville and the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $540,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Orange County and Gordonsville with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity will provide funding and services to support the company’s retraining activities.

            S. Teel Goodwin, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, stated, “I am thrilled to welcome Green Applications to the Orange County business community. We see the addition of the Company in Orange as a great opportunity for many of our citizens and look forward to a productive future for all involved.” 
            Robert K. Coiner, Mayor of Gordonsville, said, “I am excited to welcome Green Applications and owner Robert Butters to our community. The decision to move to Gordonsville reinforces the pro-business climate and high quality of life our community has to offer. We look forward to helping our new corporate citizen grow in Gordonsville.”
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Friday, March 7, 2014

Pathogens in Your Mouth Can Lead to Cancer in Other Parts of Your Body

HPV
HPV (Photo credit: AJC1)
By Dr. Mercola
Good oral hygiene is even more important than previously thought. Pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins can harm more than just your mouth when they circulate through your bloodstream—they can potentially cause secondary infections and chronic inflammation throughout your body.
The fact that oral pathogens can make their way to distant parts of your anatomy and cause serious problems has been known for many years.
Even dentists would agree that bacteria can pass from your gums into your bloodstream and on to your heart, which is why some still prescribe oral antibiotics to a few select patients with a particularly high risk for endocarditis, particularly if they have gingivitis.1
But it appears that the rare case of endocarditis is only the tip of the iceberg. Several studies now show that these oral pathogens—viruses as well as bacteria—may be linked to certain cancers, making it even more important to do take every step possible to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy.

Poor Oral Health Is a Risk Factor for Oropharyngeal Cancers

The human papillomavirus (HPV),2 some strains of which are associated with cervical cancer if left untreated for long periods of time, has similarly been linked to vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the throat, tonsils, and base of tongue).
Hence the ridiculous recommendation to vaccinate boys with the notorious HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which is riddled with dangerous side effects and other problems. A new study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Researchreports:3
"Poor oral health, which includes dental problems and gum disease, is an independent risk factor for oral HPV infection, and by extension, could also contribute to oral cancers."
In this study, participants with poor oral health had a 56 percent higher rate of HPV infection than those with healthy mouths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that about 60 percent of oropharyngeal cancers are related to HPV,4 but according to the latest study, it could be as high as 80 percent.
The researchers speculate that good oral hygiene could help prevent HPV infection, thereby lowing your risk for oropharyngeal and other cancers. Human papillomavirus is actually a group of more than 100 viruses. Of those 100, about 40 are sexually transmitted, and 15 of those are the types most often associated with cervical cancers and genital warts.5
It is important to note that more than 90 percent of women infected with HPV clear the infection naturally within two years, at which point their cervical cells return to normal. It is only when the HPV virus lingers for many years (that is, becomeschronic) that abnormal cervical cells could turn into cancer.
This is why regularly scheduled PAP smears prevent cervical cancer deaths far more effectively than the HPV vaccine ever will, because they allow a sufficient amount of time to find and treat any cervical abnormalities.

Viruses Cause 15 to 20 Percent of All Cancers

It is interesting to note that HPV isn't the only virus linked to cancer—in fact, it is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of all cancers are caused by viruses!6 Many viruses trigger cancer by suppressing your immune system and/or altering your genes. The following viruses are known to play a major role in certain types of cancer:7
  • EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) increases your risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, certain lymphomas and stomach cancer
  • Hepatitis B and C are linked to liver cancer
  • HIV is associated with invasive cervical cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, anal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, skin cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma; Herpes virus 8 is also thought to be involved with almost all cases of Kaposi's sarcoma

Three New Studies Prove Oral Bacteria Can Cause Colorectal Cancer

There is one bacterium that has been causing a great deal of trouble with people's health: Fusobacterium nucleatum, a spindle-shaped anaerobic bacterium commonly found in dental plaque. F. nucleatum is abundant in your mouth and able to coaggregate with other species.8 Three recent studies have linked F. nucleatum with serious health problems:
  1. Case Western Reserve University researchers found that some malignant colorectal tumors are caused by F. nucleatum9
  2. Harvard researchers also established a link between F. nucleatum and the initiation of colorectal tumors10
  3. A study in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that oral F. nucleatum can lead to intrauterine infection and even stillbirth11
The first two studies establish an actual causal link between this bacteria and colorectal cancer. The bacteria trigger inflammation and also activate the cancer growth genes and the signals required for angiogenesis to occur (a tumor's blood supply). Normally, F. nucleatum is not prevalent in your gut, but if your microbial balance is off—which can happen in your mouth, as well as in your gut—then it's able to invade and colonize. F. nucleatum has been found in gut mucosal biopsies that show inflammation and in biopsies of colorectal tumors.12
The third study discusses an unusual case of a mother losing her baby to stillbirth due to an intrauterine infection, directly resulting from gingivitis. The bacteria moved from her mouth to her uterus because her immune system was weakened by a respiratory infection. Other studies have shown these bacteria to cause stillbirths in mice, but this was the first documented human case.13
All of these studies unequivocally show that bacterial imbalances and dysbiosis can contribute to inflammation in your body and activate cancer genes. Therefore, the bacteria in your mouth deserve as much care and attention as the ones in your gut. Not surprisingly, they're interrelated, and as you improve your gut flora, the flora in your mouth improves accordingly. I experienced this myself. When I started consuming fermented vegetables, it only took a few months before I was able to reduce the frequency of my visits to my dental hygienist for a persistent plaque problem.

Another Danger: A Mouthful of Mercury

Besides oral hygiene, which I'll be discussing shortly, there are two other dental-related concerns you may need to address: mercury amalgams and fluoride. The average American has eight mercury amalgams (fillings), falsely described as "silver" fillings. This misleading label has been purposely used to keep you in the dark about the exact composition of the fillings, which are actually about 50 percent mercury. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can poison your brain, central nervous system and kidneys. Children and fetuses, whose brains are still developing, are most at risk—but anyone can be adversely impacted.
Mercury is such a potent toxin that just one drop in a lake would poison the lake to the extent that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would ban fishing in it. Yet, they claim that carrying around a mouthful of mercury fillings has no harmful effects. If you have mercury amalgams, it would be advisable to consult a holistic, mercury-free dentist.

Steer Clear of Fluoride in Any Form

If you are using fluoridated toothpaste, you may want to consider tossing it out and replacing it it with a safe one. In the mornings, you could use toothpaste containing calcium and phosphate salts, or even hydroxyapatite, which can help remineralize your teeth. Baking soda will help promote beneficial bacteria in your mouth by neutralizing the acid that pathogenic bacteria thrive in. I use an oral irrigator with baking soda twice a day and follow with coconut oil pulling for 20 minutes.
Fluoride is of little or no benefit to your teeth and poses serious health risks, including immune dysfunction, endocrine disruption, increased risk of fractures, arthritis, infertility, and many more.
Toothpaste isn't the only source of fluoride—it is present in growing numbers of non-organic foods from pesticide residue (including iceberg lettuce). And fluoride continues to be added to many municipal water supplies in the United States. Water fluoridation has come under increasing scrutiny as health concerns, lack of efficacy in preventing tooth decay and ethical issues of administering chemicals via the water supply have surfaced. For more information on fluoride, please watch the presentation by Michael Connett, an attorney with the Fluoride Action Network in this previous article.

Four Strategies for Improving Your Oral Health

The latest research uncovering the connection between the microorganisms in your mouth and cancer make it extraordinarily clear that oral hygiene is a necessary prerequisite if you want to be healthy. Major problems can result from the overgrowth of opportunistic oral pathogens, including oropharyngeal cancers, colorectal cancer, and if you're an expectant mother, even the tragedy of stillbirth. In addition to avoiding fluoride and mercury fillings, my top four recommendations for optimizing your oral health are as follows:
  1. Consume a traditional diet: fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-pastured meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy; nuts and seeds; minimal consumption of sugar and processed food
  2. Add in some naturally fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, pickles, kimchee, yogurt, kefir
  3. Proper brushing and flossing
  4. Oil pulling
A traditional diet will help balance both your oral and gastrointestinal flora, but it may not be enough to guarantee perfect oral health. I've struggled with plaque for years, and it wasn't until I added fermented foods and oil pulling that I began to make progress with the problem. The addition of fermented foods decreased my plaque by 50 percent and made it much softer, and the oil pulling has improved it further.

Oil Pulling Is Like Giving Your Teeth an 'Oil Change'

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice dating back thousands of years. When it harnesses the antimicrobial power of coconut oil, you have one very powerful tool! The high lauric content of coconut oil makes it a strong inhibitor of a wide range of pathogenic organisms, from viruses to bacteria to protozoa. Researchers in Ireland found that coconut oil treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion, strongly inhibits Streptococcus bacteria, which are common oral residents that can lead to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease.
Oil pulling can lessen your toxic load by pulling out pathogens and preventing their spread to other areas of your body. When done correctly, oil pulling has a significant cleansing, detoxifying and healing effect. Oil pullers have reported rapid relief from systemic health problems such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Sesame oil is traditionally recommended, but it has a relatively high concentration of omega-6 oils. Therefore, I believe coconut oil is far superior, and to me it tastes better. But from a mechanical and biophysical perspective, both oils likely work.
Oil pulling is simple. Basically, it involves rinsing your mouth with about a tablespoon of coconut oil, much like you would using a mouthwash. The oil is "worked" around your mouth by pushing, pulling, and drawing it through your teeth for a period of about 15 minutes. If you are obsessive like me, you can go for 30-45 minutes. This process allows the oil to neutralize and "pull out" bacteria, viruses, fungi and other debris. After working the oil around for 15 minutes, spit it out and rinse your mouth with water. Do NOT swallow the oil as it's loaded with bacteria and toxins. Naturopathic physician and coconut oil expert Bruce Fife compares the benefits of oil pulling to changing the oil in your car:14
"It acts much like the oil you put in your car engine. The oil picks up dirt and grime. When you drain the oil, it pulls out the dirt and grime with it, leaving the engine relatively clean. Consequently, the engine runs smoother and lasts longer. Likewise, when we expel harmful substances from our bodies our health is improved and we run smoother and last longer."

Your Diet Is Key to Reducing Chronic Inflammation

The running thread linking a wide variety of common health problems, including cancer, is chronic inflammation in your body – regardless of whether it originates in your mouth or not. Clearly, addressing your oral health is an important step, but it really allstarts with your diet.  
Your diet can make or break your teeth, as it were, and has a profound effect on your overall level of inflammation. Therefore, to optimize your health and prevent many of the diseases listed above, you'll want to evaluate your lifestyle to ensure you're doing everything you can to prevent chronic inflammation from occurring. To reduce or prevent inflammation in your body, you'll want to avoid the following dietary culprits:
  • Sugar/fructose and grains
  • Oxidized cholesterol (cholesterol that has gone rancid, such as that from overcooked, scrambled eggs)
  • Foods cooked at high temperatures
  • Trans fats
Beyond that, brushing with baking soda and using oil pulling can help address the bacterial balance in your mouth. The most important factor, however, is to regularly reseed your gut with beneficial bacteria, i.e. probiotics. Fermented vegetables and other traditionally fermented foods are an ideal source, but if you don't eat fermented foods, then a high-quality probiotic is certainly recommended.
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