Common Bone Density May Predict Dementia Risk | Cool Business Ideas

July 18, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Researchers can now assess a person’s risk of developing late-life dementia using data from a common type of bone density scan. The long-term study revealed calcification within the abdominal aorta can double one’s risk of developing dementia over the age of 80.

The new study analyzed data from a long-term research project called The Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging Women. The project initially was focused on understanding how calcium supplements can prevent osteoporotic fractures, but it included well over 10 years of valuable follow-up health data.

A team of researchers from Australia’s Edith Cowan University re-examined data from that study, hypothesizing that certain biomarkers gathered from bone density scans could be used to predict the onset of dementia up to 15 years later. The focus was on a biomarker called abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), a build-up of calcium in the body’s largest artery. AAC is currently used to predict a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Tinder’s parent company expands background checks to more dating apps | Mashable

July 15, 2022July 13, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Tinder’s parent company has expanded its background check feature to two more of its dating apps. Now, daters on Match Group’s namesake app and Stir, created for single parents, can run background checks on potential matches. The feature was unrolled earlier this year on Tinder, allowing users to screen dates through an integrated service. The checks are conducted by non-profit platform Garbo, which aims to prevent harm in the digital age by offering public information on a person’s violent or harmful behavior.

Netflix with ads is coming, but it’s ‘early days’ | CNN

July 15, 2022July 13, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You’ll soon be able to sign up for a cheaper version of Netflix with ads — though that option is still in its “early days.”

Netflix will partner with Microsoft on this new ad-supported subscription plan, the two companies announced Wednesday.

The partnership follows the surprising announcement in April that Netflix (NFLX) would be open to adding a lower-priced ad-supported tier to its service — something its CEO Reed Hastings resisted for years. But the company is going through one of the roughest periods in its 25-year history, after losing subscribers in the first quarter for the first time in more than a decade.

Man’s ‘overzealous’ vitamin D use led to overdose, hospitalization | Live Science

July 14, 2022July 13, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

After months of nausea and vomiting, a middle-aged man in the United Kingdom finally learned the toxic cause of his health problems: too much vitamin D. His doctors found that an overzealous supplement regimen was to blame.

The patient lost 28 pounds (12.7 kilograms) in three months and complained to his general practitioner of persistent abdominal pain, dry mouth, diarrhea and vomiting, according to a case study published July 6 in the British Medical Journal. At the hospital, doctors learned that the man’s symptoms had started about one month after he began an intense vitamin regimen suggested by a private nutritionist.

Solutions to the Biggest Challenges Female Entrepreneurs Face | businessnewsdaily.com

July 14, 2022July 13, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. From cash flow problems to marketing woes, business owners have to overcome a lot of obstacles to become successful. This is especially true for female entrepreneurs.

Women have made great strides in the business world, but they still face problems their male counterparts don’t. Business News Daily talked to female entrepreneurs about challenges they encounter and how they overcome them.

Millions Available in Small Business Grants, Revolving Loans, and Tax Credits | Small Business Trends

July 12, 2022July 11, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Today’s small businesses can search for financial relief in many forms. Grants are often preferred, since they don’t require repayment or lengthy waiting periods. However, rotating loan programs and tax credits can also provide many benefits. Here’s a selection of various financial relief programs currently available for businesses around the U.S.

Sac4SmallBiz Small Business & Nonprofit Grant Program

Sacramento County, California is dedicating $7.5 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to a small business grant program. Sac4SmallBiz’s Small Business & Nonprofit Grant Program will provide $10,000 grants to eligible small businesses and nonprofits throughout the county that were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Funds must be used for eligible expenses, but the money does not need to be repaid. Applications are open now and are due by August 31.

7 Ways Businesses Need to Evolve in the Next Decade | Business

July 11, 2022July 10, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We’re at an interesting point in the business world where companies need to evolve in certain ways if they’re going to last.

COVID-19 has created a tremendous shift in the business world. Pre-pandemic, companies were making all of the decisions. Post-pandemic, the power now belongs to the people. Employees are no longer grasping at neverending ladders but instead demanding flexibility, a positive work culture, and a company mission that mirrors their values.

As businesses scramble to retain the best employees, they must focus more on employee happiness and sustainability and less on financial upsides. Add in changing technology and consumer needs, and companies are going to have to evolve in a number of ways over the next decade if they want to survive.

I tried to ditch Windows for MacOS, but I keep coming back | Digital Trends

July 11, 2022July 10, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s fair to say that I’m an Apple guy. I love my M1 Mac Mini and you’ll have to pry my iPhone out of my cold, dead hands. Yet despite that, I’m no turtleneck-wearing fanboy, and I still stick with Windows as my main PC. Sorry Tim Cook, I just can’t bring myself to go all-in on Apple just yet.

That might sound odd considering I write almost exclusively about Apple products, but there are plenty of reasons for my reluctance. At the end of the day, Apple just hasn’t convinced me that it’s worth it to make the switch.

Making Sense of Crypto | The Startup Magazine

July 8, 2022July 6, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

One of the hottest topics in the investment world today is cryptocurrency. It’s also one of the most misunderstood and with the current negative headlines about plunging value, easy to dismiss. However, like most headlines on the evening news, there is more to understand about this digital currency than a quick two-minute newscast can cover.

What is crypto?

To understand what cryptocurrency is, you need to start with the Blockchain. In its simplest form, the Blockchain is just computer programs that perform specific functions. They are decentralized, meaning they are not owned by a specific entity. Blockchain is essentially a records-keeper, much like your favorite accounting software. Where it differs, however, is that any additions or changes to its files are recorded permanently on its digital “log” and visible for all to see. This makes Blockchain both a privacy-favoring transaction recording platform and one that is designed for trust, as any actions are visible and permanently recorded on the Blockchain.