Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI), a world-class research institute dedicated to the study of information biology, is using DataDirect Networks (DDN) SFA® high-performance storage engine-based GRIDScaler GPFS parallel file system to perform rapid, accurate Ebola outbreak modeling for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
A team of 30 researchers and scientists on VBI’s Ebola rapid response team initially provided DTRA and West Africa’s Ministries of Health (MOH) with short-term forecasts on vaccine production and disease spread.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429756-ddn-gridscaler-vbi-ebola/
Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest victim services agency, has opened a new Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in the Bronx, with significant support from the de Blasio Administration. This center will be staffed by experts from Safe Horizon, the Administration for Children’s Services, the New York Police Department, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Law Department and Montefiore Medical Center. Together, this team of experts will investigate and respond to the most serious cases of sexual and severe physical child abuse in the Bronx.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7448051-safe-horizon-child-advocacy-center/
The Los Angeles Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) are warning motorists of a growing problem with unauthorized tow truck operators in the LA area.
These “bandit” tow truck operators monitor police radios and respond to accidents seeking to hook up vehicles and tow them to body shops or storage facilities where they are held hostage until the motorists and their insurance companies pay inflated towing, storage and possibly repair charges to get the vehicle back.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70506514-nicb-lapd-bandit-tow-truck-scams/
More than 46 million turkeys will be cooked this Thanksgiving holiday, according to the National Turkey Federation, but many families aren’t taking the specific actions needed to reduce their risk of foodborne illness. In an effort to help protect Americans from foodborne illness during the Thanksgiving season and throughout the year, the Ad Council is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to launch new public service advertisements (PSAs) on behalf of their national Food Safe Families campaign.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7383451-usda-ad-council-launch-psas-help-families-protect-from-foodborne-illness-this-thanksgiving/
Today the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) released a new report, “DC Takes On HIV: Public Awareness, Resident Engagement and a Call to Action,” which details the results of an extensive survey of residents’ awareness, knowledge, and behavior associated with the city’s five-year social marketing campaign for HIV prevention.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7379651-dc-department-of-health-study-shows-dc-takes-on-hiv-campaign-effective/
Non-profit Enroll America, the nation’s largest health care enrollment coalition, is working with the Ad Council to encourage women to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act during the next open enrollment period, which runs from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.
To raise awareness, Enroll America is working with the Ad Council to continue its successful “Take Care, People” integrated public service advertising (PSA) campaign encouraging the uninsured, particularly women, to enroll. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make 80% of the health care decisions for their families. Women are also 47% more likely than their male counterparts to share information about health care with their friends, family and community. Lack of awareness is a critical issue among women, however, with 79% of those in the Enroll America study saying they do not know enough about the new law.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7368551-enroll-america-ad-council-second-affordable-care-act-open-enrollment-period-begins/
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, has collaborated with the Department of Homeland Security to launch a new PSA campaign in October to educate the American public in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month. An extension of the national cybersecurity education and awareness effort, STOP. THINK. CONNECT., the new PSAs provide helpful advice about being more vigilant and practicing safe online habits.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7312051-stop-think-connect-online-safety-psa-s/
In an effort to increase awareness of the Making Home Affordable® (MHA) Program’s free resources and assistance for struggling homeowners, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Ad Council today launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) as a part of their Foreclosure Prevention Assistance campaign.
MHA launched in 2009 and is a critical part of the Administration's strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stabilize the country’s housing market, and improve the nation's economy. The program offers a range of solutions, including lower monthly mortgage payments for struggling homeowners, as well as options for unemployed or underemployed homeowners and those who owe more than their homes are worth. To date, MHA has helped more than 1.5 million families nationwide.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7324251-ad-council-treasury-hud-new-public-service-ads-making-home-affordable/
As Child Passenger Safety Week wraps up, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a new Car Seat Finder Tool, adding the ability to look up car seat recalls on its mobile app, and reminding parents and caregivers to register their child's car seat through its new campaign – “Don't Delay. Register Your Car Seat Today.” Every 34 seconds, a child under the age of 13 is involved in a crash and more than a third of children killed in crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. NHTSA's new Car Seat Finder Tool is aimed at helping parents select the right car seat or booster seat for their child, while the campaign reminds everyone of the importance of registering car seats to receive important safety recall notifications.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7310151-ad-council-nhtsa-child-passenger-safety-2014/
Fifty percent of Americans have not discussed or developed an emergency plan for family members about where to go and what to do in the event of a local disaster, according to a 2014 national survey conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA and the Ad Council launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) today as an extension of their national Ready campaign to encourage parents to develop an emergency preparedness plan. The new PSAs are unveiled in time for the 11th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), which begins on September 1.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7302551-fema-and-ad-council-release-psas-for-ready-campaign-national-preparedness-month/
Abbott and the United States Department of Defense today announced a collaboration with the intent to develop portable blood tests to help evaluate potential concussions, also called mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). As part of a multi–phased approach, the tests would be developed for Abbott’s i–STAT® System, a handheld, diagnostic analyzer that is currently used for other point-of-care testing, including among military service members. Concussions are a significant health concern for military service members.1 With the development of new tests, physicians could use the information to positively impact the care of people with a suspected concussion.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7293951-abbott-u-s-department-of-defense-develop-portable-blood-tests-concussions/
A devastating invasive pest with no known natural predators threatens recreational areas, forests, and suburban and urban shade trees. Once a tree is infested, it must be removed, which is why the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated August as Tree Check Month to encourage the public to look for signs of a devastating invasive pest, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). The USDA is asking for help spreading the word about how the public can help save trees with a PSA TV spot, radio scripts, and print advertisements.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7277051-usda-august-tree-check-month-asian-longhorned-beetle-invasive-pest-psa/