Women Now Comprise Half of the College-educated Workforce
But they’re earning less
A new Pew Research study shows that women are on track to make up a majority of the college-educated labor force this year, marking a historic turning point in gender parity.
An NPR story states that 29.5 million women in the labor force had at minimum a bachelor’s degree, compared to 29.3 million men, according to an analysis by Pew Research of data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women, ages 25 and older, now account for more than half of the college-educated workforce (50.2%)—an 11% increase since 2000. The 1981-82 academic school year was the first time that women received more bachelor’s degrees than men.
While college-educated women have gained prominence in the workforce, the study has found that their earnings have not kept pace. “On average, a man with a bachelor’s degree out-earns an equally credentialed woman by about $26,000 per year.” Read the whole story here.
Puppy Dog Eyes Are a Real Thing
A new study found evidence that dogs developed in physical ways to present “puppy dog eyes” as a way to help connect with humans. Researchers in Britain and the United States did the study. Results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The researches found that dogs have evolved to have a muscle that lets them raise their inner eyebrows; closely related wolves don’t have that. Read the story here.
Eye Microbiomes
With a recent study showing bacteria live on the surface of the eye and stimulate protective immunity, scientists are beginning to discover the microbial factors that can be exploited to create innovative therapies for a range of eye disorders like Dry Eye Disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome and corneal scarring. One day it may be possible to engineer bacteria to treat eye diseases in humans. Read the whole story here.
Alcon’s iLUX® MGD Treatment System Wins Top Design Honor
Alcon was selected as a Gold winner for its innovative and personalized iLUX® MGD Treatment System at the 2019 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA). The award was given in the Nonsurgical Hospital Supplies and Equipment category during an event held on June 11 in New York City. Products were judged based on design and engineering innovation, function and user-related innovation, patient benefits, business benefits and overall benefit to the healthcare system. The iLUX® MGD Treatment System treats the signs and symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a leading cause of dry eye.1 Handheld and portable, the unique design of the iLUX® Device with Smart Tip Patient Interface enables ECPs to directly target a patient’s blocked Meibomian glands through the application of light-based heat followed by compression under direct visualization. The device expands the company’s current dry eye treatment offerings and allows practitioners to tailor treatment to the needs of each dry eye patient in a matter of minutes.2
The MDEAs are the medical technology industry’s premier design competition, recognizing cutting-edge products that are saving lives, improving patient healthcare and transforming med tech. The 2019 MDEA juror panel is comprised of a balance of practicing doctors, nurses and technicians alongside industrial designers, engineers, manufacturers and human factor experts.
References
1. All About Vision. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): The Cause of Your Dry Eyes? https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/meibomian-gland.htm. Accessed June 2019.
2. Alcon data on file, 2018.
Important Product Information
Indication: The iLUX® device is indicated for the application of localized heat and pressure therapy in adult patients with chronic disease of the eyelids, including Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), also known as evaporative eye. Please refer to the User Manual for a complete list of contraindications, instructions for use, warnings and precautions for the iLUX® device.
