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Ongoing Questions about PLOS ONE’s Peer Review

Scientific spammer PLOS ONE is an ongoing source of amusement. Its peer review is regularly called into question, with the journal accepting unscientific papers. PLOS ONE increasingly resembles a lonely and un-selective digital repository more than a scholarly publication. Here’s a report of another PLOS ONE blooper.

Dr. Norman Sleep is a geophysicist at Stanford University. Recently, he received a spam email from PLOS ONE inviting him to conduct an ad hoc peer review of an article submitted to the journal (apparently PLOS ONE’s 5,000-member editorial board is only for show).

Here’s part of the spam email Dr. Sleep received from PLOS ONE:

From: PLOS ONE
Reply-To: PLOS ONE Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 9:03 PM
To: Norman Sleep
Subject: Reminder: Pending invitation to review PLOS ONE manuscript about to expire – PONE-D-16-24600 – [EMID:960690e1f258b755]

*Do not reply directly to this email. Please use the links below to accept or decline this assignment to avoid receiving automated reminders.

—————————-

Dear Dr Sleep,

We are writing to follow up on your invitation from Dr. Harry Zhang to review the below manuscript, which has been submitted for publication in PLOS ONE. The Academic Editor values your expertise and would greatly appreciate your time in reviewing the submission. This invitation will time out in 24 hours, at which point you will be unable to accept the invitation and review the manuscript. Please click the “accept” link below if you would like to evaluate this submission.

PONE-D-16-24600
Physical activity, energy expenditure, nutritional habits, quality of sleep and stress levels in shift-working health care personnel

The author list and abstract are appended below in addition to more detailed information about PLOS ONE and its editorial criteria. If you accept this assignment, you are confirming that you have no competing interests that may affect your ability to provide an objective evaluation. Our Competing Interests policy can be found at http://www.plosone.org/static/competing.action. If you have any potential competing interests, you should decline this assignment.

—————————-

So, as you see, the journal solicited Dr. Sleep — a geophysicist — to peer review a manuscript about sleep, which is far outside his area of expertise but matches his surname.

This is evidence that PLOS ONE is using a flawed, automated system for selecting peer reviewers.

Publishing in PLOS ONE is easy; the journal is not very selective. Its editorial board of over five thousand members apparently doesn’t perform too many peer reviews, and the journal mainly exists to generate income to subsidize the publishing of PLOS’s specialized journals.

Appendix: A spam email from PLOS ONE I received recently.

By: Jeffrey Beall
Follow on Twitter
Source: Scholarly Open Access

Sam Nazarian

Sam Nazarian Photo

Table of Contents:
• Quick Facts • Overview • Early Life and Family • SBE Entertainment Group • Early Career • Hospitality Industry • Establishing Hotel Brands • SBE Nightclub Ownership • SBE Restaurants • Awards and Achievements • Philanthropy • Fox News Interview • Married Emina Cunmulaj • Recent News • Expansion in Hospitality

Quick Facts

Born: 1975, Tehran, Iran
Nationality: American
Spouse: Emina Cunmulaj (Married in 2015)
Parents: Younes Nazarian (Father), Soraya Nazarian (Mother)
Brother/Sister: David Nazarian (Brother), Shulamit Nazarian (Sister) and Sharon Nazarian (Sister)
Education: Beverly Hills High School, University of Southern California, and New York University
Net Worth: $150 million (2016)
Company: SBE Entertainment Group

Overview

SBE Entertainment over the last three decades has grown at an exponential rate and is now considered the premier lifestyle hospitality company. Considered the leading visionary in the world of hotels, cuisine and entertainment, SBE has become the top hospitality company in the word. This meteoric rise is not by accident. SBE, owned by Sam Nazarian, has spend the last three decades curating the most authentic, unique and lavish experiences for those seeking something different. Innovation and imagination has helped build this company into the hospitality behemoth that it has become today. He understands that hard work and
dedication are one way to succeed but those are not the only aspects to success. Nazarian knows the best way to set yourself apart from the herd is by also combining the flair for the theatrical with a distinctive and unique taste. He has parlayed his keen eye for the unique into creating gorgeously decorated and distinctly situated hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues. Nazarian, already a success in both the telecommunications and real estate industries, has continued that success by dominating the hospitality industry.Sam Nazarian is the true visionary at the helm of this exclusive company and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Early Life and Family

Nazarian was born in Tehran, Iran in 1975 and his family immigrated to the United States after the Iranian Revolution. The shrewd business sense appears to run in the family. His father, Younes Nazarian, was an early investor in Qualcomm and made a significant fortune on that insightful investment. Sam Nazarian was raised in Beverly Hills where he was surrounded by the very best in food, hotels and entertainment. Inspired by the opulent surroundings of Beverly Hills, Nazarian knew how he wanted to redefine the hospitality industry.

SBE Entertainment Group

Sam Nazarian, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group, is best known for his entrepreneurial instinct and shrewd business acumen. These traits are the reason why SBE has revolutionized the hospitality industry.

Early Career

Nazarian didn’t start out in the hospitality industry. His first foray into an entrepreneurial career was actually in the tech industry. His first business was a telecommunications company called Platinum Wireless that he started in 1998. Platinum Wireless specialized in the distribution in Nextel software in the greater Southern California area. The company took no time at all to become the number one Nextel distributor in Southern California. He then sold the company for a sizable profit after a period of rapid growth and expansion. Riding high on the success of that business venture, he then diversified his family’s assets into real estate holdings. After experiencing success in the real estate market, Sam Nazarian decided that he wanted to test his shrewd business sense in the entertainment and hospitality industry.

After his success in the telecommunication industry, he then decided to diversify his family’s assets by venturing into the real estate market. He created 3Wall Development in 1999 and just like Platinum Wireless, Nazarian took no time to grow this company into one of the largest owners of multi-family housing in Southern California. But the focus of 3Wall Development wasn’t just multi-family housing. He decided that in order to diversify the company’s real estate holdings, he would have to purchase and develop real estate across a variety of industries. 3Wall then turned its focus over to a variety industries instead of a niche market and it turned out to be a huge success.

Hospitality

During this time of his life, Nazarian saw a need for a different kind of approach to the world of hospitality. After his success in the real estate market, he decided to convert that success into a hospitality company. In 2002, he created and founded SBE Entertainment. SBE launched its first nightclub in 2003 and then he continued to grow the company’s assets to include hotels, restaurants, nightlife and real estate. Nazarian decided that the hospitality industry needed an overhaul. He wanted to created a certain type of entertainment, hotel and restaurant venues that would stand apart from all the other options out there. He didn’t want to just create a brand; he wanted to change the industry. He wanted the SBE brand to redefine luxury in the hospitality industry. Sam Nazarian created SBE Entertainment Group with the goal of dominating the luxury hospitality and entertainment market.

The company, headquartered on the glamorous Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, has come to symbolize the very best in hospitality. 5900 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, United States.

Establishing Hotel Brands

SBE Entertainment helped to establish many up and coming hotel brands that include some popular brands like Delano, Mondrian, Redbury, Hyde Hotel & Residences, Clift, Hudson, Sanderson and St Martins Lane. Located in major hotspots around the world like New York, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and London, SBE’s hotels are the epitome of unique elegance. The popular hotel website www.HotelChatter.com, named Mr. Nazarian “Hotelier of the Year” two years in a row. SBE in November of 2016 decided to expand their boutique hotel offerings by acquiring the Morgans Hotel Group. This acquisition added 13 new hotels to SBE’s already impressive lineup including New York’s Hudson, the Mondrian and Delano brands, as well as Morgans
Originals.

SBE Nightclub Ownership

SBE also owns several super popular Los Angeles nightclubs and lounges that are constantly frequented by the rich, powerful and the famous. SBE’s marketing and branding is focused on creating a club atmosphere that entices and excites individuals. SBE’s impressive club and lounge lineup includes Create, Greystone Manor, Emerson, Hyde, XIV, Colony, Eden, MyHouse, MyStudio and The Abbey. Always the savvy businessman, Nazarian only keeps SBE’s clubs open for only about a span of eight months. He then closes them and performs extensive renovations on the club. He then will open the club back up and sometimes he reopens them under a new name. Sam Nazarian understands that the type of people who frequent the club scene get bored easily. They want something new and exciting and Nazarian knows how to keep it fresh and new so the LA night scene will consistently revolve around his clubs. This business plan has made SBE’s clubs and lounges the most popular nightlife spots in the world. The launch of SBE’s first nightclub was in 2003, the company exploded onto the scene and became the name in hospitality and entertainment. They were first known for their nightclubs thanks to being featured on the popular shows like MTV’s The Hill and HBO’s Entourage. Characters in both of the shows were often filmed out at SBE’s nightclubs and these scenes helped to create a frenzy around all of SBE’s venues. He is considered to be one of the largest nightclub owners on the west coast. Nazarian has invested well over $800 million on just the north end of the Las Vegas strip where the old Sahara Hotel stood and it now features his hotel – The SLS Las Vegas.

SBE Restaurants

When SBE decided to make the foray into the restaurant industry, Nazarian knew that securing the right partnerships would be key in creating the most sought after, award-winning restaurants in the industry. Nazarian brought the famed French designer, Philippe Strack, on board to help create distinctive design concepts for SBE’s restaurants. SBE also tapped into the creative culinary minds of famed chefs Jose Andres, Katsuya Uechi, Danny Elmaleh, and Michael Schwartz. These award-winning chefs focus on creating cuisine that is internationally recognized and produced from thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

Awards and Achievements

Sam Nazarian has built a lifestyle hospitality company that has taken entertainment to a whole new level and it has not gone unnoticed. He has won many awards for his achievements during his impressive career. In 2006, Nazarian was named one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful People in Southern California” by West Magazine and he is considered one of the most influential people in Los Angeles. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Institute of Architecture. In 2014, Fortune Magazine added Sam Nazarian to their popular 40 under 40 list. He is also showing no signs of slowing down. Sam Nazarian is a philanthropist and savvy businessman
who will no doubt continue to grown SBE into a luxury hospitality company that will continue to take over the hospitality industry.

Philanthropy

Sam Nazarian and the entire Nazarian family are heavily involved in giving back. They are active backers of Jewish causes, which informs the work the family does both in L.A. and beyond. Sam Nazarian is included in these efforts. The Nazarian’s also support policy outfits in Los Angeles. They’ve supported organizations like the Pacific Council on International Policy and the RAND Corporation. The family has helped fund the RAND Israel Project to explore energy alternatives. The family has also supported RAND Policy and Public Safety Project.
Arts are another important cause. Grantees include Santa Monica Museum of Art, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, and Inner-City Arts. The family foundation also created the Soraya Sarah Nazarian Program in Fine Arts, at American Jewish University in Bel Air. The Nazarian’s also support Jewish causes in Los Angeles. They’ve given millions to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. They’ve also helped the Iranian American Jewish Federation, and Sinai Temple, among others. Sam also gives as a philanthropist outside of the Nazarian Foundation; he started the SBE Foundation, through which he supports numerous causes, including education and improving children`s health.

Also, he donated $200,000 to the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association, and Beverly High School changed the name of its basketball court to Sam Nazarian. In July 2009, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Nazarian to the Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles World Airports.
As far as he has gone in his business, he and his family have made it a priority to give back to schools, communities, art, and avenues that better society. As an immigrant family, they bring a unique perspective to philanthropy, and have made their mark in LA, and have given back in significant ways.

Fox News Interview

He was featured on the Fox Business Happy Hour – June 2008

Married Emina Cunmulaj

Nazarian married model Emina Cunmulaj in June 2015 in Mexico. She has been featured on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar (U.K.) and Vogue (Mexico). The wedding took place at the St. Regis Punta Mita with white rose peddles as they walked down the isle. At the rehearsal dinner, the couple was serenaded to the flamenco band and the Gipsy Kings. Their cake was seven-tier and reached approximately 5 ft. tall (provided by L.A.’s Royal Cakes). At the outdoor reception they featured a fireworks display. Guests at the even were given goodie bags and included selfie sticks, sunglasses, and flip-flops.

Sam Nazarian Wedding Photo
Sam Nazarian and Emina Cunmulaj coming down the isle on their wedding day in Mexico.

Recent News 2017

Nazarian family donates $17 million to CSUN’s Valley Performing Arts Center (LA Times)

(Fleischman partnered with Sam Nazarian’s SBE group in 2011)
The guy who brought you Umami Burger wants to reinvent PB&J (LA Times)

Sam Nazarian and the Revitalization of the Niche Hotel Industry

Big chains hotels dominated the world in the 1980’s and the 1990’s. Families would clamor to stay at these huge hotels with little to no personality for family vacations. The hotels all had the same look for marketing and branding purposes but no real design or unique features to set it apart. The blandness was prevalent in the industry but the price was right so people would forgo the blandness for price. Amenities always included coffee in the lobby and a pool on the premise. The color schemes were also beige and the floor plans were the same. You could be in one big chain hotel in Texas and then go to another one in New York, and not know the difference except for the address.

With the introduction of social media to a mobile platform came the need to share as many photos as possible. Little did these hotels know that social media would create the need post pictures of all a person’s surroundings. People wanted to share their experiences with everyone, and social media provided the perfect platform to share even the most minute details of ones life. There are companies like sbe Entertainment who have figured this out and have create properties that offer Instagram-worthy shots around every corner.

Sharing pictures of a trip has become more than just sharing photos of the tourist attractions in the area. People will share photos of the place they are staying at along with photos of the grounds, their view and other interesting pieces of décor. People wanted to stay at places that offer something interesting or delightful around every corner. The social media platforms are the way to share our lives with the world but it has become all encompassing. It has become important to share every last detail of a journey or experience.

When people now book a hotel, price isn’t the only factor taken into account. The many unique aspects of a hotel’s property come into mind for most people when choosing a place to stay. People want ambiance and they want unique properties. They don’t want to know that they are staying at a chain even if they are actually staying at a chain.

Some hotel chains never felt the need to update nor change their image to keep up with the ever-demanding need to post photos. They didn’t find it necessary because they didn’t see the importance of incorporating social media into their branding or aesthetic. They continued on with the same bland look that they had in the 1990’s. The big chain hotels became less in demand. Some of these larger hotels have started to catch up but other hotel brands like sbe have taken aesthetic to the next level.

The company sbe Entertainment is known worldwide for their award winning hotels, nightclubs and amazing restaurants. The company, founded by Sam Nazarian was created with the vision to create the ultimate hospitality experience. Sam Narazian has revolutionized the hospitality industry and he has been considered the ultimate trendsetter. Sam Nazarian defined the “scene” in the Los Angeles area. He built a luxury brand that incorporated a unique and contemporary design aesthetic that was revolutionary at the time. Most companies were working on a uniform branding, while sbe was working on seeking out unique locations and then building a venue or hotel that fit a certain aesthetic that appealed to the jetsetter, social media influencer lifestyle.

Currently, sbe has a portfolio of 22 hotels around the world. These international lifestyle hotels in global markets like Los Angeles, New York, Los Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Istanbul and London are considered premier luxury retreats that have interesting design features and amazing ambience that lend to create the prefect shot for any Instagram account. The hotel was designed by visionaries in the industry and Nazarian focused on finding the most creative individuals to help fulfill his vision.

One visionary that sbe Entertainment got on board was actor and musician, Lenny Kravitz. Kravitz is not only a talented actor and musician but he also has a design team at Kravitz Design Inc. that has been making quite the statement at sbe’s properties in South Beach. The firm has taken on the design of sbe’s SLS Hotel South Beach Tower and the Villa Penthouse. Kravitz Design Inc. was founded in 2003 in New York. The firm offers design solutions for commercial and residential spaces. They also have design solutions for product development and they also offer branding solutions. Kravitz Design Inc. is known for their eclectic and surrealist feel with stone, tile and artistic accents that encompass multiple cultures and eras.

Kravitz Design Inc. was the perfect fit for what Nazarian and sbe Entertainment wanted to achieve when it came to the design of their South Beach properties but Lenny Kravitz was not the only creative mind that was tapped by Nazarian’s team for inspiration. Internationally acclaimed photographer, film director and creative director Matthew Rolston was an integral part in helping sbe to revitalize the South Beach and Hollywood areas. Considered a “creative chameleon” in the industry, his approach to lighting, concept ad design has been hailed as revolutionary and cutting edge. Rolston has written and directed music videos for big names like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce. He is also known for his creative campaigns for well-known brands like Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Gap and many others. He helped to envision the Redbury Collection with Sam Nazarian.

The Redbury Collection consists of two hotels. One hotel is located in South Beach and the other Hotel is located in New York. The suites in the Redbury Collection are specifically designed to be a cozy home away from home. Both hotels are located centrally to everything that either New York or South Beach have to offer to their clientele. The Redbury South Beach is mere steps away from Collins Avenue and the rooms are designed with a lovely Art Deco style. The Redbury New York in located centrally in Manhattan’s NoMad district. The hotel has 256 renovated and redesigned rooms that were influenced and designed by Rolston.

Another design and creative powerhouse that Nazarian specifically sought out was world-renowned French designer, Philippe Starck. Starck has a long history in interior, product, industrial and architecture design. He was first noticed for his nightclub designs that were original and forward thinking. French President Francois Mitterrand asked Starck to refurbish the president’s private apartments at the Élysée in 1983. He has spent the last 30 years designing hotels all over the world and Narazian knew that Starck’s streamline design and keen creativity would help him to create the unique concepts for each of the SLS hotels.

Sam Nazarian and sbe wanted different designers from different backgrounds so that each property would have an individual feel that would set it apart from the bland chain hotels. His plan paid off because the sbe brand become one of the most sought after hotel chains in the world. It because the ultimate bragging right to stay at one of their exclusive properties.

This success has led sbe to have the opportunity to expand their hospitality holdings. In 2016, the company announced that they had officially closed on the purchase of the Morgans Hotel Group. The company tried to purchase the Morgans Hotel Group the year before but ran into some issues but was able to make an offer again a year later. The transaction doubled the amount of hotels in sbe’s portfolio. Nazarian said of the transaction, “The acquisition of Morgans not only further expands our offering- but brings the invaluable partnerships of Ron Burkle and Cain Hoy Enterprises. sbe will now have a presence from San Francisco to Doha; Los Angeles to London- and brings its impressive history, talented team and culture of service and innovation to the sbe family. We couldn’t be more pleased about the transaction.”

This merger with the Morgans Hotel Group has led to other future acquisitions. Sam Nazarian and sbe announced in March of 2017, they were in the process of negotiating a merger the popular restaurant and club operator, the Hakkasan Group. The goal is create the ultimate, large-scale hospitality company. The combined company would have an equity value of about $1 billion according to the Wall Street Journal. There has been no current news of a merger but Sam Nazarian stated that, “sbe remains in negotiations to complete a financial transaction in which sbe’s and Hakkasan’s formidable hospitality assets are combined into one company. We are looking forward to completing the transaction to accelerate our already robust expansion.”

Most hotel chains focus on churning as people as possible in and out of their locations. The focus is on uniformity, which they believe help to make the brand recognizable no matter where the hotel is located. Most people consider these hotels to be bland and run of the mill. This marketing plan worked in the 1980’s and 1990’s when people wanted to stay in a hotel that had a well-known brand name. Times have changed. Gone are the days where big box chain hotels dominated the travel scene.

Sam Nazarian and sbe knew that times were changing and when they started to add hotels to their hospitality portfolio, they knew that their hotels would need to provide a unique experience that would delight all the senses. They are raising the bar in the hospitality industry but creating a portfolio of hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs that are the most sought after destinations for travelers. Their award winning designers, creative directors, and chefs have helped turn sbe into a luxury retreat for those who wish to be delighted at every turn.

As sbe continues to forge onward, the company has begun to expand their offerings to more locations worldwide. They opened their first hotel in the Middle East with plans to open more in the region. The company has officially opened their Mondrian Doha Hotel in Qatar and Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel in New York over the weekend. Sam Nazarian said that, “Mondrian is a brand with international allure and we’re thrilled to announce the openings in Doha and New York – two of the most dynamic and vibrant cities in the world. Mondrian is an extremely valuable brand to sbe and we look forward to bringing it to more cities around the world in the coming months and years as we expand our international footprint.”

What started as a venture into the nightclub arena grew into one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. Sam Nazarian and sbe entertainment will continue to expand and do what they do best which is to provide exotic experiences. Traveler’s expectations have been raised thanks to the sharing aspect of social media. They want to show off their experiences and sbe was able to tap into that mindset to create hotels that perfectly blend together technology, culture and design for the ultimate vacation experience.

Expansion in Hospitality: sbe Entertainment, Argyle Hotels, and Nobul Hotels

Several Hospitality Brands have global and domestic expansions ahead of them. Plans are in place to take these hospitality venues to the next level of service and accessibility. Sbe Entertainment founded by Sam Nazarian is expanding further internationally, Argyle Hotels are to be launching in Nepal and CEO Kevin Zhang is optimistic about the expansion, and Nobu Hotels is slated to make a new mark in Atlanta at the Philips Plaza.

Sbe Entertainment Group International Expansion

Sbe, CEO Sam Nazarian, has confirmed another 10 deals to bring its hotels, residences, and restaurants to new territories in Latin America and the Middle East. The company is on track to double its global hotel collection by 2021. Additionally, an estimated 24 restaurants and lounges are going to be part of the new and existing hotel pipeline, further emphasizing the company’s stance on offering a 360-degree experience for guests. The future for Sbe entertainment is both exciting and expanding.

SBE has already opened a 270-room Mondrian in Doha, Qatar, its first Middle East property. By 2020, it plans to open an SLS Doha with 200 rooms, 100 residences, 50 services apartments, and three restaurants. In the Middle East, the company also has plans to open two new properties in Dubai. This includes a Mondrian in 2019 and Delano in 2018. SBE will also manage the Sanderson Ortak??y, which will launch in Istanbul. Sbe will be making their mark on the middle east hospitality and entertainment map.

Sam Nazarian, Founder and CEO of sbe, said:
“sbe is further expanding our global footprint across our entire portfolio – from luxury hotels and residences to fast casual dining. With these 10 new deals, we are enhancing our already extensive pipeline and enjoying a period of unprecedented growth. Our pipeline demonstrates the versatility and strength of our brands on a global scale, and we look forward to continuing to develop our brands both domestically and internationally.”

SBE is also expanding to the south of the United States. In Latin America, SBE will manage SLS Mexico City Pedregal, a 150-room hotel in Mexico City. The new build will open in 2021. Furthermore, the company has received approval for a 300-room hotel in Uruguay, the SLS Punta del Este Residences. SLS Pilar Residences, with 173 residences, will open in 2020 in Buenos Aires. The Mondrian brand will make its debut in Mexico in Playa del Carmen with a 100-room condominium hotel expected to open in 2021.On the restaurant side, the company is going to expand its popular Umami Burger brand into Mexico. Sbe entertainment will be making a new mark and exerting a new presence in Latin America with the expansion of these entertainment venues across different countries.
What does this mean for sbe entertainment and lifestyle companies across the word? “It’s shown that a smaller lifestyle company can become a global ambassador for some of these amazing U.S.-based brands,” Nazarian says. Exciting times are ahead for Nazarian and SBE entertainment. If he can expand to this level, his will be one of the firsts to successfully do so as a smaller lifestyle company.

Argyle Hotel Group to Expand to Asia-Pacific Region

The Australian Argyle Hotel Group (AHG) is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. The group will be opening its first hotel in Nepal. The Kathmandu Argyle Hotel is scheduled to open in early 2019 and will be the Argyle Hotel Group’s 116th hotel under management.

AHG’s push in business hotels in Asia, has had a positive impact on the existing communities. It has allowed the group to help growing communities by developing international hotels and venues to aid local business in underserved and overlooked areas. Thirty hotels have been added to the Argyle Hotel Group roster in the last year as part of its first steps in expanding through new territories, like Fiji and Nepal. Kevin Zhang, CEO of Argyle Hotel group explained, “International brands have largely overlooked the incredible potential of these growing regions, focusing on low-risk targets in large cities, but they do not factor in the enormous amount of business travel that happens in smaller cities.”

AHG exports hotel and resort management and asset management services throughout China. The group manages seven brands including: Argyle Grand Hotel, Argyle Resort, Argyle Hotel, Ausotel & Ausotel Smart, Argyle Suites, Argyle Boutique Hotel and Metro Hotels. “There’s a new hotel in the Argyle Hotel Group family every two weeks, and we’re anticipating accelerated growth next year as we continue to expand into more territories,” Kevin Zhang, said.

The hotel group’s addition to Nepal’s hotel supply follows a white paper issued by the Hotel Association Nepal in July 2017. It called on the Nepalese government to curb the booming hotel development in the country before the new hotels eat into the market. After releasing details on its expansion into Nepal, Australia-based Argyle Hotel Group added the Manila Prince Argyle Hotel in Metro Manila, Philippines to its construction pipeline. The approximately 226,043-square-foot hotel has 250 guestrooms, and is set for completion in late 2019. The Manila Prince Argyle Hotel is the 119th hotel under Argyle Hotel Group’s management, and will be located near Manila Ninoy Aquino airport. AHG added more than 30 hotels in new territories to its portfolio in 2017, including locations in Nepal, Fiji and the Philippines, remaining on track to expand its presence throughout the Asia Pacific region.

“As we continue to grow and to strengthen our brand, we’ll also be increasing our presence in larger trade hubs and metro areas. We already serve some of the largest cities in Asia, with several hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and now Manila,” Zhang said in a statement.

Argyle Hotel Group is an Australian hotel management company which provides a series of hotel and resort management services and also owns a series of hotels in China. The group has a total of 106 hotels under its management. Headquartered in Beijing, China, the group operates eight hotel brands in the Asia-Pacific region.

International Nobu Hotel Luxury Brand to Expand to Atlanta

Phipps Plaza at the Buckhead Mall in Atlanta is about to get a lot bigger. A scheduled addition of a luxury Nobu Hotel and restaurant, office tower and fitness center in Atlanta will raise the level of entertainment value at this venue. The hotel will have 150 rooms, a rooftop pool, corporate conference space and spa facilities. Nobu Atlanta restaurant, known for its new style Japanese cuisine, will open in a 10,000-square foot space. The new development will also feature a 90,000 square-foot Life Time fitness center, a 12-story office tower and more restaurants to be announced in the future. The project, which Simon President of Malls and Chief Administrative Officer John Rulli said is “probably north” of $200 million, is likely the most dramatic single addition to Phipps Plaza since the 1990s brought a complete overhaul and third anchor store to the posh shopping center.

Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer of Nobu Hotels said, “We are very proud of our partnership with Simon, one of the world’s largest and leading owners and managers of high-quality retail destinations. They have a vision to create a dynamic lifestyle experience within Atlanta at Phipps Plaza and we are pleased to be a cornerstone for this. Our hospitality brand thrives on being a catalyst for global mixed-use destinations whether this be from hotel, restaurant, retail or residences.”

Construction is to begin in 2018 with a phased opening beginning in spring 2020. These new elements will be completely integrated into the existing footprint of Phipps Plaza, which will continue to be anchored by the extremely productive Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Named one of luxury’s 25 Most Innovative Brands by Robb Report, Nobu Hotels is ranked among an elite selection of global luxury brands. The natural growth of Nobu hotels built on service, image, and reputation, offers the complete spectrum of hotel and restaurant management for unique projects around the world. Founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, with operations spanning five continents, the Nobu brand thrives in the world’s capitals as the ultimate destination lifestyle experience. The first Nobu Hotel opened in 2013 as a boutique hotel within Caesars Palace Las Vegas and was subsequently named one of the Hottest New Hotels by CNN Travel, Top North America Hotel Opening by Luxury Travel Advisor and subsequently Luxury Travel Advisor’s Award of Excellence.

UW Business Plan Competition Winner to Run Pilot in Kenya

UW Campus Seattle

UW Business Plan Competition Winner to Run Pilot in Kenya JikoPower Converts Heat Power to Electric Power.

JikoPower Inc. announced today plans to test their invention in Kenya with the grand prize money they won placing first at the 2016 University of Washington Business Plan Competition after facing off 93 competitors on May 27th.

The Herbert B. Jones Foundation awarded them $25,000 for the winning idea that provides sustainable energy to people without electricity. The student-led startup’s initial product, the JikoPower Spark, converts wasted energy from cookstoves and fires into electricity to charge cell phones, LED lights, and other small devices. The team is passionate about improving people’s quality of life and reducing impact on the environment. “With access to electricity, people no longer depend on dangerous kerosene for light and they don’t have to travel great distances or pay exorbitant fees to charge a cellphone,” Ryan Ahearn CTO and Founder of JikoPower excitedly explains. “In places like Kenya, 80 percent of people have cellphones, but only 20 percent can charge them.” “Electricity is a game changer. With the Spark parents are able to send their children to school and work more efficiently,” remarks CEO Michael Jooste. “Winning the grand prize helps us empower people.” The JikoPower Spark, is a small thermoelectric generator (TEG) with a water reservoir about the size of a coke can, and a metal arm inserted directly onto a cookstove or fire. “While people cook, the heat creates electricity that we capture” explains Ahearn. With a 2-5 watt output, the Spark provides enough power to charge a cellphone or LED light. The Spark is the first of many TEG inventions JikoPower is currently developing.

JikoPower started a year ago with three engineers winning the grand prize at the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge. Since then, the team has grown into a company that recently sent several units to Gabon and Nigeria. JikoPower is also planning a Kickstarter campaign to meet U.S. demand and fund a full scale pilot with their partners in Kenya later this year. You can learn more and follow the team’s progress at jikopowerinc.com

Science Publishing Group: A Complete Scam by Jeffrey Beall

A threat to science.

I think Science Publishing Group (SciencePG) is a totally bogus publisher. Here I would like to repeat my warning to all researchers that they not send any papers to this dangerous, pretend publisher.

I have written about this publisher here twice before, once in December, 2012, right after it launched, and once in June, 2014, when it became evident that the publisher would accept and publish absolutely anything, no matter how outlandish or unscientific it was.

I use screenshots from articles published in Science Publishing Group journals to illustrate the concept of “obvious pseudo-science.” Here’s one of the examples I use:

They will publish anything.

It’s an article entitled “Mathematical proof of the Law of Karma.”

The publisher claims it’s based in New York, but this claim is as false as the science it publishes. I’ve been told they’re really based in Pakistan, but calling their telephone number right now (+1 (347) 688-8931), after many rings, a young woman answers, speaking with what sounds like a Chinese accent.

“Where are you located?” I ask.

“Do you have inquiry about your paper?” she responds.

“What city are you in?”

“We in New York City.”

One of the reasons I am writing a third blog post about Science Publishing Group is that I regularly receive inquiries from people who have published in one of their many journals, researchers who soon realize they’ve made a mistake.

They write asking how to get out of the mess they are in.

Science Publishing Group preys on young researchers. It harvests data from local and regional conferences and, using smarmy language, invites each presenter to convert his or her presentation into an article for one of SciencePG’s journals.

I learned recently of an undergraduate research symposium in Ohio, in which this publisher sent spam emails praising the students’ presentations and inviting an article. In one case, the students thought the invitation was authentic and became excited, but a knowledgeable advisor was able to stop them before any harm was done.

Science Publishing Group now publishes 250 journals, and the titles of many of them begin with “American Journal.”

If you get a spam email from this company, I recommend you delete it immediately. Further, do not submit any papers to any of their journals. Science Publishing Group is a threat to researchers, a threat to science communication, and a threat to science.

By: Jeffrey Beall
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Source: Scholarly Open Access

SolarCity by Elon Musk

SolarCity

Elon Musk is no stranger to taking entrepreneurial risks. Most businessmen or companies will focus on products or services that will make them the most money, but Musk focuses on products and services that are environmentally friendly and will reduce waste and dependence on fossil fuels. He is an incredible inventor owning several companies. First it was Tesla, the electric car company and now Musk has been focused on expanding SolarCity and their clean energy solutions. Musk’s goal with Tesla was to reduce mankind’s dependence on fossil fuels and his goal with SolarCity is similar but this time the focus is on solar energy for both residential and commercial use. Musk is dedicated to a post-carbon, solar-powered future where we are dependent on a clean, environmentally friendly source of energy for our homes, businesses and cars.

SolarCity was founded in 2006 by two brothers Peter and Lyndon Rive in San Mateo, California and was based on some guidance from Musk himself. The brothers are Musk’s cousins and they share the same passion as Musk has for creating clean energy solutions. SolarCity is currently the largest solar energy services provider in the United States. Since 2009 they have grown from 440 megawatts (MW) of solar panels installed in 2009 to 6,200 MW installed in 2014, which was the largest growth for any solar company in the United States. The company has about 15,000 employees currently working at the company and installs more solar energy systems than any other company in the United States with just under 110,000 new installations in 2015.

After witnessing the success of the company, Musk decided to become more involved in SolarCity. In June of 2016, Tesla submitted an offer to acquire SolarCity for about $2.5 to $3 billion. In November of 2016, it was confirmed that Tesla acquired SolarCity for exactly $2.6 billion. When Musk announced the potential acquisition in August of 2016, he gave the reason that he wanted to create the ultimate sustainable energy company. Tesla and SolarCity customers have the same needs and desires so it made sense to Musk to merge them into one company. Merging the two companies would allow cross-creative collaboration to create environmentally friendly solutions for both the car, home and businesses. Musk believed that combining the two companies would allow for greater expansion of offerings for both companies. Musk has an ultimate plan that will include integrated energy generation and storage, vehicle sharing, and expanding into the electric truck and bus markets. Musk wants to open a large battery factory, launch a new car, and expand into the self-driving car market.

SolarCity currently offers many innovative solutions and products for both residential and commercial use. Their most popular program is the Commercial Solar Financing program for cities, businesses and schools. This program allows cities, schools and businesses to go solar without having to pay high upfront costs to install the necessary equipment to harness solar energy. In May 2008, SolarCity kicked off their commercial solar program by installing the largest solar installation on the North Campus of Ebay. At the time this was the largest installation of its kind until July 2008 when SolarCity installed an even larger solar installation for British Motor Car Distributors. This installation consisted of 1,606 solar photovoltaic panels. In 2009, SolarCity then introduced their financing options to make clean energy affordable for a wide variety of businesses. Their Power Purchase Agreement, otherwise known as the PPA, gives businesses the opportunity to invest in solar energy and the necessary equipment without having to pay a lot of money upfront.

SolarCity also has many affordable options for the home as well. In the past, solar energy for the home was unaffordable and frankly quite ugly. Solar panels in the past were clunky and when attached to the home would stick out like a sore thumb. When it came to solar energy for the home, Musk was a firm believer in creating solar panels that would be streamline and would compliment the lines of a home rather than disrupt the overall aesthetic appeal of a home. SolarCity’s solar panel systems are sleek and very low profile and appear to lay almost flush to the actual roof. It was the first time that a company had offered affordable yet sophisticated solar panels for the home.

The Powerwall by Tesla is the latest SolarCity product that was unveiled in April of 2015 and toted as a more reliable alternative to other backup power supply solutions. The Powerwall is simple and yet complex at the same time. The design is sleek and compact and can be discreetly installed in the home. The Powerwall is a rechargeable litium-ion battery stationary energy storage solution that stores energy channeled from the SolarCity solar panels. It offers backup power and can be used off the grid. During the day, the home is powered by the energy that is collected and harnessed by the SolarCity Solar Panels. Any excess energy that is gathered by the panels during the day is stored in the Powerwall. In the event of an outage, the Powerwall kicks in and powers the homes through the outage. You can also use the excess energy to power your home and to save some money by removing your home from the electrical grid. Tesla and Panasonic will be opening up the Gigafactory in Nevada in 2017 in order to produce the Powerwall in bulk. The website Understanding Solar provides a very deep review of the Powerwall 2 by Tesla.

SolarCity is also actively working with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on the Sunshot Initiative. This government-funded initiative is a program that supports a national effort to create affordable solar energy solutions for the average American. It is a collaboration of private companies, universities, state and local government, non-profits, as well as national laboratories to help create new approaches to solar energy and to support the adoption of this form of clean energy in homes and businesses in America. SolarCity was instrumental in the program in conjunction with the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Hawaiian Electric Company to help 2,500 residents in Hawaii to connect to solar power systems.

Eon Musk is the entrepreneur that the world so desperately needs right now. His critics say that his focus on renewable, clean energy and the environment aren’t a good business investment. The deal between Tesla and SolarCity was highly criticized based on the fact that industry pundits claimed that the money needed to run both would make it difficult for either company to see significant profit. Musk was unconcerned by the chatter. His main focus has always been to create environmentally friendly solutions to energy consumption. SolarCity is posed to be the leading provider of solar energy in the United States and has over 80 locations in the United States and is still growing and expanding to accommodate the demand for solar energy solutions.

The TR Master Journal List is not a Journal Whitelist

Overstated.

The Thomson Reuters Master Journal List is not a journal whitelist and should not be used as one. Numerous low-quality and predatory journals are announcing their inclusion in this list as a mark or guarantee of quality, fooling many.

The purpose of the list is to serve as a comprehensive list of journals included in at least one of 24 different journal indexes produced by Thomson Reuters. If a journal is included in one or more of these indexes, it appears in the master list.

This is a problem because the barrier for entry into some of the Thomson Reuters indexes is very low. Take the index called Zoological Record, for example. It includes over 4700 journals, including many predatory journals that are unworthy of being included in any quality scholarly index.

Don’t be fooled by this list.

The journal shown in the top image above, Investigaciones Europeas de Dirección y Economía de la Empresa (IEDEE) is an example. It provides misleading information about the TR Master List.

On its home page, the journal declares,

“IEDEE newly added [sic] to THOMSON REUTERS MASTER JOURNAL LIST

The Master Journal List includes all journal titles covered in Web of Science (WoS). This means that articles published in the journal will be searchable, discoverable and citable in Web of Science.”

This is somewhat misleading. It’s included in one of Thomson Reuters easiest databases to get into, its Emerging Sources Citation Index.

Here’s a screenshot of the journal’s entry on the TR Master List:

The whole truth.

As you see, according to the entry, it’s only included in Emerging Sources Citation index, a list I’ve documented as containing junk journals.

I encourage all ministries of education, all universities and colleges, all academic departments, and all funding agencies to stop using the Thomson Reuters Master List as a measure of quality.

The list is filled with dozens or hundreds of low-quality and predatory journals. Using this list as a quality indicator actually promotes the lower quality, open-access journals included in it, for it serves as advertising for them, drawing in authors seeking easy and fast acceptance of their article submissions.

By: Jeffrey Beall
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Source: Scholarly Open Access

Bair Hugger Warming System

Bair Hugger Warming System

There has been some false information and harmful rumors being spread around regarding the Bair Hugger Warming System and Dr. Michelle Stevens the Chief Medical Officer for 3M Infection Prevention Division, wants to set the record straight in the video “Straight Talk about 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Warming Therapy”. The facts are online also. Dr. Stevens has been a practicing physician for almost two decades and has been an expert advisor to hospitals and other medical professionals on the issue of preventing infection. In the video she examines the Bair Hugger System and the multitudes of benefits that is provided to patients before, during and after surgery and dismisses any negative information surrounding the system.

Anyone who has preformed surgery in an operating room knows that keeping the temperature cool in the room and anesthesia can cause the body to cool very quickly. The operating room staff understands that during surgery because a patient’s body can lose body heat very quickly there are many types of potential complications that can occur during or maybe after surgery. Certain complications like infection, heart problems, or blood transfusions that would otherwise not be needed, could happen once the body’s core temperature drops. These types of complications can lead to longer stays in the hospital and higher death rates.

Dr. Stevens says that the solution to these potential complications is Bair Hugger Warming Therapy. The system is beneficial for patients to help keep their body temperature normal during surgery. She says that, “Study, after study, after study has shown that actively warming patients can prevent heat loss and reduce the risk of complications.” Bottom line, 3M’s Bair Hugger blankets and gowns keep people warm during surgery thus preventing potential complications.

How the gown and blankets work is very simple. The gown or blanket is placed on top of the patient and warm air is circulated through it and that warmth helps keep the patient’s body temperature at a normal level. Over the course of 30 years Bair Hugger blanket has been used over 200 million times. Due to the success of the system, 3M acquired the system in 2010 and continues to back the effectiveness of this system today. 3M also continues to invest and research in the field of patient warming because they are driven by the wants and needs of their patients. Both doctors and hospitals around the world have given positive feedback to 3M about the effectiveness of the Bair Hugger.

In spite of the positive feedback and the studies that have consistently proven that Bair Hugger has helped the health of patients worldwide, a competitor has been trying to scare people about the Bair Hugger. This particular individual claims that using the Bair Hugger Blankets can lead to infections and has focused on using scare tactics to frighten people undergoing hip or knee replacements. Due to these assertions, 3M has taken the time to look into these claims by consulting with top specialists in the field who Dr. Stevens has a very high regard for concerning this issue. After extensive research and consulting with these top experts, 3M is positive there is no base to these claims. Unfortunately, a few plaintiff lawyers have gotten wind of these false claims and have convinced some patients to sue 3M for infections that they may have contracted during or after surgery. To date, there has been no connection made between the Bair Hugger and infections during or after surgery. 3M is confident that the Bair Hugger system has not cause harm to anyone. Dr. Stevens wants to assure current and future patients that the system is safe.

Dr. Michelle Stevens concludes the video by saying, “There is overwhelming evidence that the use of Bair Hugger Warming Therapy is associated with improved surgical outcomes” This is why leading health care organizations worldwide continue to use Bair Hugger and recommend that it be used in surgery. She encourages anyone with any questions to contact their healthcare provider or to contact 3M directly.

Overview of Bair Hugger:
Bair Hugger is a warming system used by hospitals to moderate body temperature before, after, and during surgery. Introduced for use in 1988, and developed by Dr. S. Augustine, the Bair Hugger has been used by most major hospitals across the United States. The Bair Hugger system has been used over 200 million times since its invention and continues to grow and be used by medical providers across the globe. The system is used in over 80% of U.S. hospitals today.
Bair Hugger’s are made out of soft and comfortable material to lay across the patient and evenly distribute heat across the patient’s body. Bair Huggers are used to keep patients safe and assist in the different stages of surgery. Bair Huggers blankets warming units’ filter air, then force warm air through the Bair Hugger blankets. These blankets are disposable. The warm air is dispersed evenly throughout the blanket to keep the patient warm. Medical providers know the importance of patient warming technology, and have counted on the Bair Hugger to assist patients in medical related procedures for over 20 years.

Health Care providers speak highly of the Bair Huggers purpose in the medical field:

“We use Bair Hugger therapy for every case, every day. This included 600 pediatric urology cases in 2011. This product has allowed us to keep our pediatric patients normothermia (normal body temperature) even though we keep our rooms cool.” – Gregg P., New Brunswick, NJ

“We love Bair Hugger products in our OR. Knowing the patient is normothermic (normal body temperature) and comfortable frees the nurse to implement other safety measures and utilize their time wisely.” – Kristina J., Findlay, OH

“We do 30-50 cases a day, and we use Bair Hugger therapy for our patients. The patients like them, and as the manager of the pre-op and PACU (recovery room), I feel Bair Hugger [therapy] is a reliable product.” – Shane S., Clackamas, OR

As seen above, the Bair Hugger is appreciated by multiple parties who work to keep patient comfort and safety a priority. From nurses, to pediatrics, to cardiac care, a wide range of health providers rely on these blankets to ensure good patient outcomes. The Bair Hugger, primarily and traditionally used in a hospital setting, has also been used in emergency situations to save lives. It has been used in the Trauma Ward for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, warming runners at the Boston Marathon who needed medical treatment, treating a hypothermic man after a car accident, and many more instances. This warming system has saved countless lives.

The Bair Hugger is a trusted and widely used practice. Since 1988 it has been improving the quality of care that patients receive and hospitals are able to provide. Moderating body temperature is of upmost importance before, after, and during surgery. This method will continue to be used by health care providers around the globe to ensure positive patient outcomes. Safe and tested technology like the Bair Hugger will continue to better the future of health care. The Bair Hugger has made its mark in the health care sector as a safe and trusted way to help patients.

Below you’ll find a short video about Bair Hugger hosted by Michelle Stevens, the chief medical officer of 3M’s Infection Prevention Division:

Overview of Bair Hugger
The 3M Bair Hugger Warming System is a convective temperature management system used within hospital to maintain a patient’s core body temperature pre, during, and post a surgical procedure. The Bair Hugger system consists of a reusable warming unit and a single-use disposable warming blankets, gowns, and other technologies. This medical device launched in 1987 and is currently manufactured by the 3M Company. The Bair Hugger warming system is used by more than 80 percent of U.S. hospitals and is considered the gold standard of warming systems used in hospitals today.

Forced Air Warming Basics
The Bair Hugger warming system draws in the filtered air of the operating room, passes it through an internal filter and warms that air to the selected temperature. The warmed air flows to a single-use Bair Hugger warming blanket through an enclosed hose and is then gently dispersed across the surface of the skin. All surgeries include an element of risk, especially surgical site infections. Anesthesia can change the body temperature, and doctors take this into account when thinking about patient care. If body temperature is not closely monitored, a surgery can quickly take a turn for the worst. As a solution to this common issue, hospitals and surgical centers often use warming technology to warm the patient, to maintain normal body temperature throughout surgery. This method of body regulation is popular among hospitals and doctors because of its low cost, effectiveness, and safety. This method of surgical warming is heavily studied and monitored and has said that is can improve overall patient outcome and patient comfort.

Hypothermia Risk and Prevention
Surgery is a complicated process, and unintended hypothermia adds one more factor to the equation. Unintended hyperthermia is a common but preventable aspect to surgery and occurs in 50% of all surgical patients. Even mild hypothermia can cause a post surgical crisis. Patient temperature management often is a secondary thought instead of a required standard. It is also a significant financial benefit of reducing hypothermia rates in surgical patients. Studies have demonstrated that maintaining normothermia can result in savings of $2,500 to $7,000 per patient by eliminating the costs of hypothermia-related complications, including surgical site infections.

Patient Satisfaction
Patient satisfaction has come to the forefront of healthcare in the recent years. Patients now have more say over who treats them, how they want to be treated, and where they want to be treated. This has put a new pressure on hospitals to accommodate these patient requests and expectations. A happy customer is likely to return to the service where they had a positive experience. One way that patients can be satisfied with their hospital stay is by being comfortable. With Bair Hugger warming technology, caregivers can replace standard hospital gowns with a forced-air warming gown can boost patient satisfaction and comfort. It has also been found that forced-air warming can reduce patient anxiety. For a patient, surgery can bring a lot of anxiety, no matter how prepared you are or how much homework and investigation you did on your particular surgery, you are still placing your trust in the caregivers and experts around you. Reducing patient anxiety is correlated with fewer interventions, a quality experience, and in some cases requiring less anesthesia. With Bair hugger blankets to regulate body temperature, patients can expect a reduction in the rate of infection, and shorter hospital stays. According to 3M Bair Hugger Technology, “Whenever our customers and their patients see the Bair Hugger brand’s modernized, symbolic icon, we want them to understand that one of the most passionate, patient-focused organizations in the world stands with them to support successful surgical outcomes.”

Gowns and Blankets
The Bair Hugger warming gown system has added a new level of comfort to patient care. While the gown creates a sense of comfort and warmth, it is also performing the important job of safeguarding against the complications and risk that come with unintended hypothermia. Hospital gowns can feel clinical and cold, so a warming gown is just a small but impactful tool used to increase both patient recovery and comfort. While hospitals exist to heal people, it can become a positive experience if a certain level of ease and comfort is achieved.

When you’re recovering after surgery, it’s nice to be warm, but it’s more important that your doctors and caregivers can regulate your body temperature It’s vital to watch when patients are undergoing complex surgical procedures. That’s why 3M Bair Hugger warming blanket system has connected ideas and inspiration, people and products, to make sure these needs are met. The Bair Hugger system has demonstrated, flexible temperature management solutions designed to help you achieve your patient normothermia goals without compromising surgical access. From pediatric to geriatric, simple to challenging. We’ve got you covered. Bair Hugger blanket warming system offers 25 blanket models.

Why is Normothermia so Significant?
The maintenance of a normal core body temperature, called normothermia, is a critical component of patient safety. Core temperatures outside the normal range pose a risk in all patients undergoing surgery and have been associated with an increased risk of surgical complications, including surgical site infections. The difference between a positive patient outcome and a complicated recovery can be a matter of degrees. Unintended perioperative hypothermia is a frequent, yet preventable, complication of surgery. It can increase the rate of wound infection, extend recovery time, and extend the length of stay. The 3M Bair Hugger normothermia system provides a comprehensive solution that works seamlessly throughout the perioperative process to effectively and efficiently measure and manage patient temperature. Medical devices are no longer products you sell to doctors or nurses based on popularity or likeability. They are tools that must contribute to better outcomes while providing an economic benefit worthy of investment. Bair Hugger blankets provide the kind of outcomes providers are hoping for at a price that is reasonable. The patient warming industry is just small piece to the healthcare environment.

Bair Hugger Safety
The 3M Bair Hugger Patient Warming System is safe to use in orthopedic and other procedures. The FDA cleared this technology to treat and prevent hypothermia more than 25 years ago. 3M has built its reputation as a credible, science-based company by making products customers can rely upon. 3M Health Care earns the trust of healthcare providers every day by making products for patients that are safe, effective and improve the quality of care. 3M would not continue to sell a product if there was a reason to believe it harmed patients or providers.

Bair hugger warming units are a reasonable size, not difficult to operate and are not heavy. These qualities give them an easy and no obtrusive status in the surgery room. Bair Hugger have different ways to mount in patient rooms and allow each facility to use them in a way that makes sense. Patients come in all shapes and sizes, and Bair hugger gowns and warming technology are made to accommodate the wide range of patients that hospitals and care facilities see. Bair Hugger has even added features like adhesive strips, head drapes, drain holes, and tie strings to gowns for patient comfort and recovery ease. Many of these additions were included in products because Bair Hugger values its customer’s opinions and feedback, always looking for ways to improve the patient experience and satisfaction. The Bair Hugger temperature monitoring system is the most recent technology platform to join the portfolio, and it’s an important one. This product offers an accurate, not invasive way to measure and account for body temperature before surgery, in the operation room, and the PACU, getting rid of the need for multiple temperature reading products. It streamlines the process and doesn’t give too much variation in data that practitioners were seeing when using multiple machines.

Operation Room Air Flow Study
Any good and trustworthy product can prove its effectiveness and safety, and Bair Hugger did that by testing the operation room flow air study, proving the warming equipment was not negatively impacts or affecting the outcomes of surgery. A scientific research project was conducted to test this question. In the end, the facts and outcomes concluded the that Bair Hugger Warming System did not disrupt the normal airflow patterns of an operating room and did not move air from the floor to the surgical site in hip replacement producers.

The study had three parts that were explored. The first part was investigation advanced mathematical calculation based upon the fundamental laws of physics to track the pats of airflow in the operating room. The findings showed that the air from the Bair Hugger System avoided the sensitive surgical site. The air from the warming system was traveling away from the surgical table and moved towards the room exhaust vents along with the air beneath the operating table and did not move towards the surgical site.

The second part of the study involved experiments performed in an operating room with flow visualization studies that deliberately injected visible fog into multiple locations in the room. First behind the anesthesia screen where the Bair Hugger air would exit near the patient’s head. Second, underneath the surgical table. And third, next to the surgical table, near the surgical team, and near the surgical site. This investigation found that downward clean moving air from ceiling supply ducts in an operating room inhibited air from other sources from intruding into the surgical region. The downward flow of clean air worked regardless of whether the Bair Hugger Warming System was used or not.

The last section of the investigation included a review of the scientific literature. The best scientific work did not show any causal link between the use of a Bair Hugger Warming System and surgical site infections. More than 170 clinical studies have utilized the Bair Hugger system, and studies have demonstrated forced-air warming’s usefulness.

In Conclusion
The 3M Bair Hugger warming blanket system is the most used and studied method of surgical warming in the country, with its clinical benefits, efficacy, and safety well documented in more than 170 studies and more than 60 randomized controlled clinical trials.

Did you know the Bair Hugger warming blanket system is the preferred patient warming device of U.S. healthcare facilities (and 8 of the top 10 orthopedic hospitals1) and is supported by numerous healthcare organizations because of its proven safety and effectiveness? The Bair Hugger warming blanket system has become an indispensable component in the care of surgical patients, providing safe and effective warming therapy to patients across the globe. Next time you are getting surgery and see Bair Hugger warming technology in the room, you can be assured that your team and hospital is giving you the golden standard on patient warming technology. With all different variables and unknowns of surgery, regulating your body temperature shouldn’t be one of them. Caregivers rely on the warming technology of Bair Hugger for patient positive patient outcomes and comfort.

FAQ’s about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Girl Stressed On Therapy Photo

With continuing uncertainty over the safety of long term use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), many women are seriously considering either coming off it or avoiding taking it altogether. However, finding a safe and effective replacement can be very confusing. So what can you do to escape the Menopausal Maze?

Q. I’m on HRT. What do I do to come off?

A. If you wish to come off HRT it is advisable to discuss this with your GP first and to plan the best way to stop. Recent indications suggest coming off gradually over three to four months is best. If you stop instantly you run the risk of developing severe symptoms. Wait until you completely stop the HRT before taking any of the hormonal remedies.

Q. I had menopausal symptoms before I went on to HRT. What do I do if they returning when I come off?

A. There are many natural remedies for menopausal symptoms. Match your symptoms with the remedies outlined below:
Hot flushes/night sweats
Sage tincture*
Hot flushes/night sweats, mood swing,
depression, aches and pains, vaginal dryness tincture of Black Cohosh*
Lethargy, stress, loss of libido, vaginal dryness
Siberian Ginseng* & Avena sativa
Stress, anxiety, mood swings
Avena sativa, Passiflora, Female Essence
Prevention of osteoporosis
Urticalcin

* These remedies are not recommended if you have had or are having treatment for any hormonally induced cancer. Also check with your doctor or healthcare professional for any contraindications.

Q. I don’t have any menopausal symptoms despite my periods gradually disappearing. What should I take?

A. Lucky you! This is the way it is supposed to be! Maintain your diet and lifestyle and add in a vitamin E supplement and Urticalcin to help prevent osteoporosis. If you do start to experience any symptoms, consider the remedies listed above.

Q. I am 65 (live in Seattle) and I am still experiencing flushes and irritation. What can I take?

A. If you are over 65 or your menopause started more than 10 years ago it is more than likely that your own hormone levels have tailed off and that, if you are experiencing what looks like menopausal symptoms it may, in fact, indicate adrenal stress. A hormonal remedy such as Menosan or Black Cohosh is unlikely to work. Try Urtica (nettle), a vitamin B complex and a magnesium supplement. If you feel stressed or anxious take Avena sativa or Passiflora Complex too.

Here is some general advice on a pain free menopause –
There are many simple things you can do for yourself regardless of the symptoms you may be experiencing.

DO
Eat a well balanced, wholesome diet and don’t miss meals low blood sugar levels can trigger hot flushes!
Ensure that you have regular bowel movements (at least one a day) constipation can be a major factor in causing hot flushes!
Drink plenty of plain water at least a liter and a half.
Take regular exercise a brisk half hour walk a day can work wonders!
Deal with stress. Stress causes the release of chemicals that promote hot flushes!
Take a mineral supplement. Your local health food shop will be able to advise you on a good quality one.

DONT
Drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks. These are a real no-no for the menopause. Take herb teas instead nettle is wonderful for hot flushes; drink a couple of cups a day.
Smoke. No need to say more!
Drink alcohol. If you must have the occasional drink, go for organic wine.

*Always consult your physician before implementing any advice you read online. We’re a newspaper not a doctor.

Beat Your Cold and Flu Symptoms Twice As Fast

Beating A Cold or Flu Twice As Fast

I hate being sick with anything. Living in Seattle in the tech field I work a lot so I really need to be healthy in my job. This is a highly technical report but you might find it useful when it comes to using Echinacea and beating the cold or flu twice as fast.

Years ago, a study commissioned by Bioforce AG showed that Echinaforce was well tolerated and was significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of influenza infection (Brinkeborn R. M. et al., Phytomedicine 1999). Those using Echinacea experienced a resolution of their cold and flu symptoms twice as fast as those in the placebo group.

Between 2003 and 2006 further clinical studies were published in medical journals of high repute. In some the effect of different Echinacea products is a contentious issue, but the safety is universally described as good.

The quality of Echinacea products being tested is definitely of paramount importance, as is made abundantly clear by an American investigation into Echinacea preparations, which found that 10% of those taken from health stores contained no measurable Echinacea. Of those that actually contained Echinacea, 48% didn’t contain the amount they said they did on the label (Gilroy CM et al. Echinacea and truth in labeling. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163:699-704).

In both the Barrett (2002) and Taylor (2003) trials, which failed to demonstrate efficiency, the authors refer to the possibility that uncertainty as to the quality of the material used could have caused the negative outcome.

In 2004, Goel et al published a trial that demonstrated the efficiency of Echinacea in the treatment of colds and flu, when it is used as soon as a cold starts. At 7 days, 95% of the subjects using Echinacea were free of symptoms compared with only 63% in the placebo group. In their paper, Goel and colleagues note: the wide disparity in different preparations, lack of standardization of products on the basis of active components and undefined dosing procedures are some of the factors that seem to have led to inconsistent and non-reproducible results.

(Goel et al. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2004, 29 (1): 75 83.)

In 2005, Goel published another trial showing that volunteers taking Echinacea purpurea at the onset of a cold had a greater decrease in their daily symptom score than a placebo group. He found a significant and sustained increase in the number of circulating total white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils and NK cells, as well as an improved mopping up of free radicals, and deduced that this may have led to a faster resolution of the cold

symptoms. (Goel et al. Phytother Res. 2005 Aug; 19 (8): 689-94.)

Much negative or inconclusive work has been done on Echinacea angustifolia, and nothing can be deduced about the effect of Echinacea purpurea from this. The positive results achieved by Brinkeborn and Goel both involved ethanolic extracts (tinctures) of Echinacea purpurea produced from freshly harvested plant material.

In 2004 we were also delighted by the work published by Gertsch, in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Dept. staff at Bioforce AG, which discovered a definitive mechanism of action for Echinaforce. This work pinpointed the action of alkylamides in modulating production of TNF-a (Gertsch J et al. FEBS Letters 2004; 577: 563 569), and confirmed our opinion that Echinaforce is an immunomodulator rather than an immunostimulant.

In 2006 more good news has arrived in the shape of the Cochrane Report, which reviewed 16 controlled clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of several different Echinacea preparations for preventing and treating common colds. They concluded that some preparations based on Echinacea purpurea (including the aerial parts) might be effective for shortening the duration or decreasing the severity of cold symptoms in adults if taken after the onset of those symptoms. (The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000530.pub2.)

Then a paper co-authored by two Bioforce AG staff and Professor Johnston from the National Heart and Lung Institute at the Imperial College London examined the data from three Echinacea prevention trials and concluded that there is evidence that use of Echinacea was effective in the prevention of the symptoms of the common cold.

Those using Echinacea were less likely to develop colds when compared to placebo, reducing the incidence by about half. (Schoop R et al. Clinical Therapeutics. 2006: 1: 10.)

As you can see, there is plenty of research showing the efficacy of high quality Echinacea purpurea products, containing the aerial parts, and made from freshly harvested herb.

Other Echinacea products may not be as effective, which brings us back to the need for consumers to be aware that-

All Echinaceas are not the same!

And they need to be very discriminating about which Echinacea they use.

*Always consult with a physician before taking our advice. We are a Seattle newspaper and are not doctors.

Taking a Zinc Supplement

Zinc Supplements For Healthy Living

Recently, when advising a young male patient in Seattle, I recommended he take a zinc supplement. I don’t like taking pills can’t I get it in food? What foods is it in: I’ll eat more of those, he said.

This is a sensible reaction and I welcome it in many cases. Nutrient questions are pretty popular in my physician office in Seattle Washington. In this example – there are situations, however, where it doesn’t necessarily turn out to be the best option for rectifying imbalances in the body.

1. If the patient has poor digestive function and is therefore not absorbing nutrients efficiently from food, even if their diet is good.

2. If the nutritional deficiency is large and it would take a long time on a rather artificially constructed diet to make up the deficit.

3. If the nutrient in question is difficult to find in sufficient quantities in food sources. This is often the case where people are not eating organic food but food grown on nutrient-deprived soil, such as where intensive farming methods are practiced.

There are also certain situations in which people need to increase the supply of nutrients going into their bodies in order to meet increased demand.

1. When undertaking demanding sporting activities or doing a physically demanding job

2. When under pressure at work or at home, with harassing deadlines and insufficient sleep

3. When recovering from illness or coping with a long drawn out problem such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

In these situations, a supplement that provides extra quantities of vital nutrients such as the B vitamins or iron can be extremely helpful.

What is the best option for supplementing the diet?

Our bodies were designed to get their nutrients from food. Taking isolated nutrients that were synthesized in a laboratory isn’t very natural. The most logical option is to take extra nutrients in the form of foods, handily concentrated into a manageable form so that you don’t have to eat several extra meals a day. The reality is that we have so many poor food choices available to us. It’s not just a Seattle thing it is all over this country.

The body will recognize foods as its nutrient source and will be able to unwrap the package to utilize the contents efficiently its the natural way. Everything the nutrient needs to get into the system and work effectively there is present in the whole food form. Many extremely nutritious foodstuffs that you would find difficult to access on a regular basis are provided in botanical supplements sourced from foods, with nothing added or taken away.

So if you need a little extra to keep you going or bring you back to your best, look for botanical supplements, to make it easy for your body to take extra nutrients on board.

There you have it Seattle viewers – Zinc is important but make sure it is taken from a quality source. Some good sources include: Spinach, Shrimp, Pumpkin seeds, Garlic, and Watermelon Seeds to name a few.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc

*Before taking our advice in this article always consult with a local Seattle physician who is educated to give quality advice. We are a newspaper – not doctors.

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