Author: Emily Gautreaux

Tulane Expanding its Translational Science Institute

Tulane University’s Translational Science Institute is set to expand significantly thanks to a major investment from the school, according to a recent press release.

The University’s Translational Science Institute (TUTSI) was initially established in 2016 as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) that was focused on the training and development of scientists devoted to clinical research that was specifically aimed at helping patients who suffer from high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other related conditions. When created, the COBRE was funded by the National Institutes of Health, but thanks to the latest efforts by Tulane University, TUTSI will expand its impact tenfold.

Tulane University is committed to investing $5.7 million to expand its Translational Science Institute into a “university-wide center” that will be focused on finding more effective ways of diagnosing, treating, and preventing a multitude of diseases. In addition to this central aim, they also plan to focus on translating any scientific discoveries made into actual medical practices that will improve both public health and the overall care of patients.

Tulane University President Michael Fitts said of the initiative, “the goal is to expand research across the university and increase the impact of scientific discoveries on the well-being of individual patients and society as a whole. This investment will help Tulane grow in its role as a national powerhouse of clinical and translational research. Better equipping and serving the needs of the university’s research community will translate into better medicines, diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients. This past year has underscored the need for such investment like never before.”

The funding will allow the institute to offer new training programs for clinical research coordinators, new graduate degree programs aimed to develop the next generation of clinical investigators, and a shared research “biobank” freezer farm so that various researchers from across multiple studies and institutions can use various samples stored and preserved by TUTSI. In addition to the new offerings, the investment will also improve infrastructure to support large-scale patient recruitment for clinical trials, data analysis, and the design of research studies.

Speaking on the need for infrastructure improvements, Tulane senior vice president for academic affairs Robin Forman stated, “We have to grow our research infrastructure to keep up with the extraordinary growth in the research activity and ambition of our faculty. This added support for translational and clinical research will help energize all of our health-related research by making more seamless the transition from basic research to translational research to clinical research to improved clinical care.”

Dr. Jiang He, Joseph S. Copes MD Chair and Professor of Epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will lead the Translational Science Institute as its director, and Dr. Lee Hamm, Senior Vice President and Dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine will be serving as Dr. He’s co-director.

After the investment goes into effect, TUTSI will include researchers from multiple schools at Tulane, including the School of Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, School of Science and Engineering, and School of Social Work.

These researchers from the school will primarily focus on three areas of research: clinical research, translational research, and implementation research. Clinical research can include the administration and analysis of clinical trials for new drugs, surgical advances, or medical devices. Translational research is often referred to as the rewriting or translating of basic scientific findings “from bench to bedside” or into layman’s terms, so that patient health can be improved and understood by those outside the field. Implementation research focuses on integrating evidence-based practices, interventions, and other policies into existing, routine health care and disease-prevention measures.

TUTSI director Dr. Jiang He shared his vision of the initiative’s impact by saying, “the new and enhanced TUTSI core services that we will offer should go a long way in fostering this spirit of collaboration here at Tulane.”

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Glazed Bacon Wrapped Date Appetizer Recipe

If you find yourself in need of the perfect appetizer to prepare and bring to a potluck, tapas night, or buffet table, then rest assured that you’ll be impressing whoever grabs a toothpick from your serving dish thanks to this delicious recipe for cider-glazed, bacon-wrapped dates from Smittenkitchen.

The masterstroke of concocting the pitch-perfect appetizer is an art form in and of itself because you want to entice those surveying your initial offering of food for the evening if you’re also preparing the entree that is. Because if that’s the case, then you want to immediately grab their attention and get their mind wandering, thinking about the flavors just around the corner when the oven chimes. Alternatively, if this appetizer is your only dish at a community dinner, then it needs to be substantial enough to not only speak for itself but also be addictingly tasty in such a way that you return from a walk around the room to an empty serving dish.

So, no matter the aim, this dish is perfect, as it blends crispy bacon with a cider glaze that accentuates the hardened, but the not-too-crunchy texture of the meat with the bitter flavor of apple cider vinegar, caramelized sugars, and (of course) the naturally chewy and salty dates. Be prepared to commit this recipe to memory, as the empty serving platter you’re left with will almost assuredly be accompanied by your guests asking “so how do you make the glaze?”

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces of bacon (thinner strips preferred)
  • 6 ounces of dates (pitted)
  • 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar
  • 1 ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
  • A few pinches of sea salt
  • A few pinches of red pepper flakes

Directions:

  1. Begin by heating your oven to 425°F and divide each strip of bacon into two segments.
  2. Then, wrap one half-strip of bacon around each of your dates and secure them tightly with a toothpick. Line a baking sheet with tin foil (alternatively use a roasting dish), and arrange your bacon-wrapped dates atop it while the oven preheats.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine together with your maple syrup (or alternative sweetener), apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes with a whisk or spoon.
  4. Next is the glazing of your dates. For this, you can lightly brush each bacon-wrapped date with your glaze, spoon the glaze over each date in the foil-lined tray, or truly cover each date by rolling each piece of bacon-wrapped fruit in the cider glaze until it is completely coated. No matter your method of coating, sprinkle each with flaky sea salt.
  5. After your oven is hot and ready, roast the dates for a minimum of 15 minutes and an excess of 35 minutes. Keep a watchful eye, as the goal is for the outlying bacon to have sizzling, crisp brown coloration. The timing isn’t precise as it depends on your brand of pork product and the general thickness of your strips, which is why thin is ideal.
  6. While it’s roasting and you’re hearing popping and sizzling sounds, be sure to check the dates, as this will be somewhere around the early 15-minute mark, and then return every 5 minutes afterward until the color and crispness of the bacon are perfected.
  7. If you have any extra glaze leftover, you can infuse the caramelized sugar flavor by brushing that excess atop the dates during the second half of their roasting time.
  8. Once they’re brought to your crisp, brown coloration, remove them from the oven, letting them cool slightly. Sprinkle a couple of pinches of additional sea salt and red pepper flakes atop them, and serve them up warm!

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Highest Rated Campgrounds

As summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to pack up your vehicle for a lifetime of memories that can only be found in a proper camping trip, and with this article by TravelPulse, rating the best campgrounds around, it’s never been easier to lace up your most durable footwear and “rough it” out of doors.

In 2021, the outdoor adventuring review website, Campendium, released its list of the 527 National Park Campgrounds, free camping sites, and RV parks that received an average of 4-5 star reviews as a part of its Campers Choice Awards series.

And seeing that summer 2021 has many looking to the great outdoors for that summer vacation, these particular camping experiences are those to make the trip for, as they aim to offer an unforgettable experience, landscape, and scenery.

Best National Park Campground:

Gros Ventre Campground; Jackson, Wyoming

The majesty that is Grand Teton National Park cannot be overstated; the entire park hosts over two hundred miles of trails, extraordinary wildlife, and flawless lakes, so while you’re exploring all that this magical landscape has to offer, there’s no better home base than the Gros Ventre Campground, located in the southeastern section of the park. These grounds are near the Gros Ventre River and provide a perfect vantage point for observing the Grand Teton Range, Blacktail Butte, and the bison and moose often traveling nearby.

Best National Forest Campground:

Nomad View Dispersed Camping; Wall, South Dakota

Located in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, this dispersed campsite was also featured as one of the Best Free Campsites by Campendium. Nomad View is a small point that beholds a grand scene of the rocky earth landscape known as “The Wall,” which is contrasted with the green grassland above it. Campers love this spot for the striking, singular view it offers its visitors, and honestly, it can only be truly “seen” in person.

Best BLM Camping:

Sacred White Shell Mountain; Mosca, Colorado

BLM, or Bureau of Land Management Camping, is a type of outdoor accommodations that is organized by the United States Bureau of Land Management with sites that range from an RV at a modern-amenities-laden campground to a simple sleeping bag under the night’s sky. Colorado’s Sacred White Shell Mountain has a wide area in which campers can park for the night and see a starscape like never before, and being that it’s all projected above the practically fluorescent Sacred White Shell Mountain, this is one site (or sight) you won’t want to skip.

Best RV Park:

Mountain View Campground; Hiawassee, Georgia

For the fourth year in a row, this southern campground has won the title of the highest-rated campground in the nation, and with its breathtaking backdrop that is the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, it’s no secret why. Mountain View Campground obviously has an excellent vantage point in which to see the mountains, which are among some of the oldest ranges in the United States, but with full RV hookup, wifi, covered pavilions, warm showers, and a community fire pit, there’s clearly something going very right in Northern Georgia.

 City Park Campground:

Junction City Park; Junction, TX

Located in both Junction and Kerrville, Texas, the Kerrville-Schreiner Park is an impressive accomplishment in terms of scenery that looks almost “too grand for Texas,” a phrase that can be agreed upon by anyone who has had to make the drive through the state’s western expanse. Though, it’s specifically Junction, Texas’s City Park that has residents and tourists alike returning time and time again to the small town. Stop in sometime and take a leisurely stroll down the Llano River and maybe you’ll get lucky and find some fallen pecans from the nearby trees.

For more travel-related news and information, click here.

 

Walker, LA Recently Held its Inaugural Spring Festival

After a particularly harrowing year in terms of live performances, concerts, and large gatherings, the City of Walker, Louisiana is gaining a new celebration with its inaugural Spring Festival that aims to become an annual tradition, according to BRProud.

What’s being called Walker’s first annual Spring Fest consisted of a three-day, family-friendly event on Sidney Hutchinson Park’s 100 acres. It was held on Friday, April 23rd from 5-10 pm, Saturday, April 24th from 12-10 pm, and Sunday, April 25th from 12-7 pm.

The Livingston Parish festival aimed to have families and the general surrounding community come together to experience a truly impressive offering of events, attractions, and culture, all of which were seen as all-too-needed these days, according to the city of Walker’s community outreach coordinator, Sandi McGrew, who said, “it’s the first festival that we’re having. The mayor (Jimmy Watson) really has a vision to bring more people into the park and do more things for the community, especially after everybody’s been at home for the last year.”

McGrew also expressed her hope for this family-orientated event to be seen by the public as a community event to gather around, especially after the trying year endured by the coronavirus pandemic that pushed communities apart from one another. Spring Fest implemented the state of Louisiana’s latest safety guidelines in an effort to not let this first annual festival be its last.

In fact, a recent Advocate Article commented on the inaugural Spring Fest by stating, “ It will be a busy weekend and a sign that residents are ready to get out of their houses. But festival organizers are encouraging safety with masks and social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”

Outside of providing Livingston parish with a three-day event that they can look forward to, Spring Fest featured live musical performances by Clifton Brown and the Rusty Bucket Band (Friday), the Eddie Smith Band with Floyd Crown and Kenny Cornett (Saturday), and student performances from Overtones Music (Sunday).

In addition to the impressive musical acts, the festival also included nearly a dozen fair rides such as a Ferris Wheel, as well as, local vendors selling their specialties and the notorious staples of “Fair Food” on site. Additionally, both a local farmer’s market and a car show were featured on the festival grounds on Saturday, April 24th, arguably the park’s biggest day.

Outside of its attention-grabbing music lineup and features, the city of Walker had a wholesome, ulterior motive when selecting Sidney Hutchinson Park as the festival’s location. Both McGrew and Mayor Watson wanted the public to see for themselves all of the natural hallmarks available to them, such as the walking trail and various fishing ponds. With this being the inaugural event, it’s a chance to show local residents what can come in the future alongside hefty community support and goodwill. Festival participants got an inside look at Sidney Hutchinson Park’s soon-to-be-completed outdoor exercise equipment and all-inclusive playground. Spring Fest’s admission and musical performances will be free to all who enter, but rides, fair games, concessions, and Saturday’s farmers market were note.

In an effort to keep Louisiana residents informed about live events, safety, and all things music, “97.3 The Dawg” has released a rundown on the 2021 Louisiana Festivals that are still ready to open. Among those listed, such as the NOLA Crawfish Festival, Sunset Herb and Garden Festival, Mid City Bayou Boogaloo, and Kite Fest Louisiane, special attention was paid to announce Spring Festival as Walker’s first, and hopefully, there will be many more to come in the years ahead.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

 

Louisiana Tutoring Initiative Given Spotlight by US Department of Education

A specific Louisiana tutoring initiative program that was created by Louisiana’s Department of Education in Fall 2020 has not only captured national attention but it’s being used as the country’s standard in the U.S. Department of Education’s latest school reopening guidelines, as told by a press release from Louisiana’s own Department of Education.

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Louisiana Department of Education to close school on March 13, 2020, a lot was left hanging in the balance. As a result, state educational leaders collaborated for months on an initial, comprehensive set of guidelines for reopening schools, which has only become more thorough upon its revisions.

Similarly, the United States Department of Education (ED) releases two volumes of its own “COVID-19 Handbook.” The first volume, which was released to the public this past February, aimed to give faculty and staff members some realistic, practical examples for restarting in-person learning. In addition to this, Volume 1 referenced a large number of strategies for educators to navigate the instructional gap of 4-6 months that was caused by the closing of schools.

In April 2021, ED released the second volume of its handbook; it bore the title: “COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs.” As its main focus can be ascertained by its naming convention, this volume focused on an in-depth analysis of the recovery of lost instructional time caused by the school closures and/or transition to and from virtual learning.

This latest volume will be the framework for the 2021-2022 school year, as it stands right now because it provides a variety of additional strategies for the safe reopening of in-person learning at all American schools as well as the promotion of educational equity or the supplying of individual resources to various students in an effort to have them all succeed and meet a goal. ED plans to address and achieve national educational equity by appropriately addressing the opportunity gaps that lie in the pandemic’s wake, and one of the best ways to address these is through the tactical use of high-quality tutoring to make up for the lost instructional time.

It is in this effort, the provision of high-quality tutoring, that Louisiana’s Department of Education is being used as a national example of a program that’s designed to support teachers and students concurrently. The initiative, called Accelerate, supplies entire school districts with structures, curriculum, presentations, webinars, and educational resources to not only accelerate students’ learning but also keep all instruction aligned to what’s taught in the current school day.

In response to this national attention, State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley said, “it’s reaffirming to see the work we’re doing in Louisiana called out as a strategy schools around the country can use to help children get back on track. Not only is Louisiana a national leader for safely providing in-person instruction, but our students are benefitting from academic strategies proven to move students forward.”

The specific wording of Louisiana’s Accelerate initiative reads as follows in the US Department of Education’s Second Volume: “One example of statewide use of tutoring is being provided by the Louisiana Department of Education, which is encouraging tutoring for all students, recommending that it occur in high-dosages (at least 30 minutes 3 times per week), and providing comprehensive materials aligned to state academic standards through the Accelerate program. In 2007, four studies reviewed by the Department’s What Works Clearinghouse found that peer tutoring had positive effects on English language development for English learners. By contrast, less formal, inconsistent tutoring, that is held in larger groups unconnected with classroom content is unlikely to help students.”

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Five Ways to Prepare Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Whether you’re looking to eat healthier in general or are just looking for a new set of kitchen skills for the preparation, cooking, and serving of skinless chicken breasts, then this curated list from Food52 will supply you with enough recipe ideas to make the most out of your chicken dinner.

Often a value-purchase at your local supermarket, the six-pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts calls to us all sometimes, and while it’s not a bad idea to incorporate the chicken breast (devoid of bones and skin) into your weekly routine, an improperly-seasoned entree can have an adverse effect on any dinner guest or chef. With that being said, it’s best to go into the kitchen prepared, lest you be tempted by the fat-filled chicken skins that we all know would taste oh-so-good in the air fryer. So without further ado, here are our favorites from the larger list:

Grilled Herbed Chicken Breasts with Radicchio

Inspired by a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, this dish has a sweet-tart dressing that pairs perfectly with the chicken breast that’s seasoned enough to give you a little kick in the mouth with every bite. The full meal is incredibly satisfying, and what’s more is that the dressing, which incorporates pickled red onions, can last in the refrigerator for a week, giving you more salads or meals to experiment with.

Elegant Easy Chicken

Though this dish is named “easy chicken,” the seasoning on these sliced cutlets is anything but provincial or simple. What makes this 30-minutes or less chicken recipe special enough to be paired with almost any dish is the preparation that includes champagne as well as fresh cream, minced tarragon, and rosemary, all of which will leave your mouth watering the second your eye or nose catches it coming out of the oven.

Vietnamese Mango and Chicken Salad

Adopted from a Vietnamese banana flower salad recipe, this dish utilizes the green mango, which holds a flavor that is tart but not particularly bitter in its bite. What has resulted is a lovely, lively dish that can stand on its own as a light meal or pair perfectly with any Asian cuisine dish such as a burry or vermicelli noodle bowl. The brightly-colored salad has the often-skipped “umami” flavor that can only be achieved if the recipe is followed closely with the sometimes-hard-to-find ingredients like “rau ram” or Thai basil. Luckily, many Asian Markets house these pieces of the puzzle, so visit your local spot today, and get started!

Chicken Marsala

This classic dish can be made at home but still be of restaurant quality. The delicious, velveteen sauce of the Chicken Marsala is made possible by its incorporation of sweet Marsala wine and heavy cream for a texture that not only tastes good but it’s perfectly absorbed by the bed of freshly-coiled linguine that it rests upon. Serve this dish alongside Parmesan risotto or simply keep the entree traditional, either way, it’s sure to impress.

Cheater’s Chicken Schnitzel

Named after its substitutive “frying” technique that uses panko breadcrumbs and a mustard-mayonnaise marinade in place of the typical flour, egg, and milk affair, this entree is perfect for those who require a unique texture with their food. What results from the immediate integration of marinade and panko is a highly crispy outer layer that is satisfying to the touch, taste, and mouthfeel. Moreover, top these strips with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, or place the schnitzel itself atop your favorite salad creation for an anything-but-boring lunch.

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