Flat vector illustration of a tremor. Trembling in the hands-symptoms of various mental disorders, panic, fear, Parkinson’s disease. Isolated design on a white background.

Dr. Joon Faii Ong is a recognized expert on Essential Tremors. He explained that many forms of Tremors could affect people with Parkinson’s Disease or Essential Tremors, which is Dr. Ong’s area of expertise. Essential Tremors can also affect people with Parkinson’s Disease or those who have had a stroke or some type of brain injury, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder, and it affects approximately 10 percent of persons over age 65. This type of tremor has no other symptoms than trembling or shaking. Therefore, it is sometimes simply referred to as a “benign tremor.” There are many forms of Essential Tremors, but they all share these three key features:

• Involuntary shaking of the hands when they are at rest.
• Tremors increase with action, such as moving the arms or holding a cup.
• Tremor intensity decreases when the hand grips an object tightly.

Essential Tremors can be an indicator of several other conditions that can affect the brain or other parts of the body, including:

Parkinson’s Disease

Tremors that indicate Parkinson’s Disease often begin on one side of the body and affect the hand, arm, or leg. They can also cause a shuffling gate when walking.

Stroke

Following a stroke, some people experience tremors as part of their recovery process. These tremors usually do not manifest until several weeks after the initial incident and are known as “post-stroke” tremors.

Post-Traumatic Brain Injury

Post-traumatic or acquired brain injuries can also cause a form of tremor known as a “mild TBI,” which stands for mild traumatic brain injury. This type of injury can result from a one-time event, such as a fall, accident, sports injury, or car accident.

Brain Tumors

Tremors can also indicate the presence of brain tumors. If you have a tremor and experience other symptoms, such as mood swings, coordination problems, or vision changes, seek immediate medical attention to rule out these potential causes.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative central nervous system disorder. The effects and symptoms of MS can vary widely from person to person and range from numbness, lack of coordination, and blurred vision to tremors and unconscious or uncontrolled movement, such as spasticity or dystonia.

Friedreich’s Ataxia

Friedreich’s ataxia is an inherited disorder of the nervous system. Symptoms can include impaired balance, lack of coordination, and tremors or “shaky” hands.

Dystonia

People with dystonia experience uncontrollable movements of the limbs, torso, face, and vocal cords. These involuntary muscle contractions may cause significant pain and lead to abnormal postures ranging from slight tilts of the head or neck turns to full body contortions. Dystonia is usually more noticeable during times of stress and can result from several potential causes, including:

• Injury or trauma that affects the central nervous system.
• Genetic abnormalities present from birth cause progressive degeneration of certain areas of the brain.
• A side-effect from medications, such as antipsychotic drugs, antibiotics, and chemotherapy agents.

To read more on topics like this, check out the blog category.

Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) announced it had received accreditation by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), the only specialized, independent U.S. national assessment organization that sets standards for English programs in higher education institutions.

The Council recognizes the CEAA for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

NPU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) will now be included in CHEA’s Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs database.

This is significant because the IEP has become an integral part of NPU’s success, as more than 1,000 students enroll annually to study English for academic purposes.

The IEP collaborates with the university’s academic programs to provide students with additional learning opportunities through orientation sessions, presentations, and guest speakers. Students also participate in workshops and activities during their free time for further cultural integration and communication.

Helping Non-English Speaking Students Succeed

According to The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) 2015 Open Doors Report, the number of international students in the United States has tripled over a decade—increasing 5 percent from 723,277 international students studying at all levels in the U.S. during the 2014-2015 academic year to a record high of more than one million students.

This increase reflects the growing demand for English language training for international students across the nation. NPU’s IEP is a key part of the university’s mission to provide English language training and American educational opportunities to students worldwide.

IEP students come from more than 90 countries, with an increasing number coming from China, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Providing students with an authentic learning environment that addresses the varying academic needs of non-native English speakers is vital to their success.

To help maintain this standard, NPU provides educational resources and support that help students reach their potential. The IEP offers four levels of instruction: pre-beginner, beginner, intermediate and advanced. Students can enroll in courses up to five times per week on campus or online. They are also provided access to textbooks, laptops, language assessment tests, and student portals.

In addition to the IEP’s academic program, students have access to other services on campus, including housing, dining facilities, and recreational activities. The university also supports faculty members who are dedicated to teaching English as a second language.

Meeting the Needs of Silicon Valley Employers

In recent years, the demand for English language training has increased from students entering colleges and universities and from corporations seeking to develop a bilingual workforce.

Silicon Valley is one of the major hubs in the U.S., where companies have been on a hiring spree over the past few years – creating a huge demand for international talent. In addition, large corporations, including Apple, IBM, and Google, have hired foreign workers because of the language barrier.

Many universities have created English learning programs to train for a higher degree simultaneously in response to this demand. The IEP has partnered with several major colleges and universities in Silicon Valley to prepare students for these opportunities. These partnerships have added to the university’s success in meeting the educational needs of international students.

The biological sciences are an ever-evolving field, with discoveries made daily. Biology major Steven Rinder has identified some exciting discoveries and research in biology you should be aware of:

1. Discovering new species

A new species of sea slug has been discovered. The first terrestrial animal found to absorb and metabolize nitrogen from the air. This adaptation will allow it to live in an environment with very little soil, as it can use the resources available in its surroundings to survive.

2. Spider Senses

In a recent experiment, spiders were shown to learn by watching and observing the behavior of other spiders. The results were published in Scientific Reports, and it is exciting because it shows that spiders may have social learning skills, which have never been recorded before.

3. Electricity from Sound

Scientists at MIT have created a system that can turn sound waves into electricity. This technology can create energy from any sound, such as music, conversations, and even human movement. In addition, it can power multiple devices at once.

4. The World’s First Gene-Edited Babies

A Chinese scientist named He Jiankui claims that he was recently able to create gene-editing in twin girls born in November 2018. The research was done on embryos with the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, but the embryos were not allowed to grow past the 8-cell stage to achieve this goal.

5. Spider Silk for Human Use

Humans use silkworms in the production of silk. However, spiders make their silk. Researchers at MIT have recently learned how to re-create spider silk in labs, and it is stronger than steel yet softer than human hair. It can also potentially be used in medical settings to assist wound healing due to its hardiness against blood clotting.

6. Scientist Finds Parasitic Worm DNA Remains after Insect Consumption

A scientist has discovered that parasitic worms can stay alive in the digestive system of insect eaters. The study was published in Nature Communications, showing that these worms can manipulate the behavior of their hosts so they can use them for reproduction.

7. Helping Blind People See Color

A lab at MIT is developing a new device called an ‘eyeshade’ which has electrodes capable of stimulating cells inside human eyes to allow people with color blindness to see colors normally. This device will also be used for other purposes, such as assisting with cell loss in retinal degeneration disorders like age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

8. New Insights into How Cells Divide and Die in Brain Tumors

Researchers have recently discovered that when brain tumors start, they do not arise from stem cells but rather specialized non-stem cells in the brain. These findings were published in Nature Cell Biology, and it may mean that current cancer treatments could be more effective on some tumors if this new knowledge is implemented.

9. Colon Cancer Can Be Detected with Blood Testing

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered a new biomarker that can predict colon cancer before symptoms appear. Testing of the blood could predict whether or not patients would develop colon cancer for eight years; eventually, it could not predict anything after three years because the test was too accurate. This discovery allows doctors to detect problems early and save lives during routine checkups.

Roughly 275 workers died every day in the year 2019. That means even more experienced moderate to severe injuries while on the job. Many people work high-risk jobs that require vital safety training.

However, even the simplest job can lead to injuries. So, even if you manage an office space, you must implement workplace safety. If you do not keep your employees safe, it could lead to injuries.

Not to mention they might file a lawsuit against you or the company. To prevent these things from happening, check out our top tips for improving safety standards at your job.

Train Employees

The first thing you want to do is train your employees on workplace safety. Training might be more critical depending on the company. For instance, if you work in a factory, your workers must take safety courses.

However, even if you have a low-stakes job, you want everyone to remain knowledgeable about staying safe. So, gather your team and enroll in safety training courses at least once per year.

Wear Proper Gear

Many accidents happen because the employees are not wearing the proper uniforms. If you work in a dangerous environment, you want everyone to be easily seen.

That means wearing colorful vests and goggles. That way, they stand out from the equipment.

Reward Employees

Positive rewards encourage good behavior within the workplace. So, set up a small rewards program within your company. If your employees follow all the safety training protocols, they receive a reward.

These incentives do not have to be anything drastic. You could offer gift cards or even a day off of work. Even small things like verbal praise will be enough to incentivize a worker to keep up the good work.

Clean Up

Don’t leave anything lying around. That will eventually lead to someone tripping and falling. If there is anything left on the floor, be sure to pick it up.

If you work at a construction site, make sure your employees know to pick up everything around the area. That way, no one falls or cuts themselves on sharp objects.

Use Signs

Signs are the easiest way to communicate with people. They tell us to watch out for wet floors or hazardous materials. Put up a sign for anything that may pose a threat to your staff.

Not to mention that signs can help if you end up in a lawsuit. If someone hurts themselves with no sign present, you might be liable for their injuries.

For More Workplace Safety Tips

There are several things you can do to ensure workplace safety. Remember, rewarding your workers will cultivate positive workplace culture. You should also train your employees, clean the premises, and use clear signage.

So long as you follow these protocols, you can minimize injuries and increase employee happiness. We hope this article helps you learn more about the importance of company safety.

If you enjoyed reading about these tips and tricks, we invite you to continue reading our blog. We have many more posts about how to keep your employees safe and sound.