Researchers Discover a Previously Unknown Bacterial Component in Kidney Stone Formation

The UCLA-led finding could lead to new ways to prevent and treat kidney stones and the infections that they often cause

BYLINE: Enrique Rivero

Newswise — In an unexpected finding, a UCLA-led team has discovered that bacteria are present inside the most common type of kidney stone, revealing a previously unrecognized component involved in their formation.

The findings, to be published in the peer-reviewed journal PNAS, point to a possible therapeutic target that could be used for prevention and treatment for the millions of people who are affected by the frequently painful condition.

“This breakthrough challenges the long‑held assumption that these stones develop solely through chemical and physical processes, and instead shows that bacteria can reside inside stones and may actively contribute to their formation,” said Dr. Kymora Scotland, an assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study’s co-senior author. “By uncovering this novel mechanism, the study opens the door to new therapeutic strategies that target the microbial environment of kidney stones.”

Continue reading “Researchers Discover a Previously Unknown Bacterial Component in Kidney Stone Formation”

Craftsman Row Saloon Brings a Taste of New Orleans to Philadelphia

* Enjoy vibes, drinks and food inspired by Mardi Gras through Fat Tuesday and beyond with more decor this year, new po boys, and extended run *

Philadelphia, PA – Let the good times roll. Craftsman Row Saloon, at 112 S. 8th Street, announces the launch of its 6th annual Mardi Gras Pop-Up Bar Experience starting Thursday, January 29th through Fat Tuesday. First to bring this vibe to Philadelphia, Craftsman Row is the spot for the ultimate flavors, sights and sounds of The Big Easy. The award-winning Christmas pop-up decorations from December have been entirely replaced by thousands of glittery beads, feathers, masquerade masks and other decor to transport you to Mardi Gras. Umbrella’s hang from the ceiling and jazz instruments poetically add melody to the space. The floor to ceiling transformation continues both inside the dining room and outside in the Craftsman Row Saloon illuminated with the colors of Mardi Gras on the entire building. The over the top decorations guests love, with a little extra magic for the festive flair of the holiday.  The delicious over-the-top King of Bourbon Street Milkshake is back, with Po Boys, Crawfish Mac N Cheese, Big Easy Burger, new King Cake Burger, Jambalaya and more.  The bar will be pouring the tasty and festive Bourbon Street inspired specialty cocktails they are known for. Cocktails will boast all the NOLA feels and come with masks, beads and other souvenirs and keepsakes. 

Continue reading “Craftsman Row Saloon Brings a Taste of New Orleans to Philadelphia”

Baker’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Rowan Men’s Basketball over Rutgers-Camden, 68-66

Khalil Baker put back an offensive rebound as time expired to lift Rowan over Rutgers-Camden, 68-66, to complete the Profs’ come-from-behind win in a key NJAC men’s basketball contest. With the victory, Rowan (5-13; 6-6 NJAC) inches ahead of Rutgers-Camden (10-8; 5-7) in the conference standings. 

With the score tied and 19 seconds remaining, Rutgers-Camden missed the front end of a one-and-one and Michael Pirone corralled the rebound for the Profs. Brycen Williams took a long three-point attempt at :02 and Baker grabbed the rebound underneath and put it back as the buzzer sounded for the win. 

Williams scored a game-high 21 points and Baker finished the game with 18 points and eight rebounds as the only Profs in double figures. 

The Profs had trailed by 19 points in the first half and by 40-30 at the start of the second half. They came out strong in the second and made 10 of their first 18 shots to pull within 55-54 with 8:10 remaining. With the score tied, 57-57, at 7:04 Rowan hit five straight free throws to take its first lead since the opening minutes, 64-61.

Rutgers-Camden answered with five consecutive points to regain the lead, 66-64, with 2:57 remaining. Khamai Orange connected on a pair of free throws at 2:39 to the tie the game for the final time, 66-66, and set the stage for Baker’s heroics. 

Rowan fell behind by 19 points in the first half, 30-11, at 8:27 as Rutgers-Camden shot 63 percent from the field in the half. But the Profs started their rally by outscoring the Scarlet Raptors, 19-8, over the final eight minutes of the half, hitting 6-of-11 field goals, and cutting the deficit to 38-30 by halftime. 

The Profs are home again on Saturday when they host William Paterson in the first game of the doubleheader, at 1 p.m. 

 How to Choose the Right Amazon SEO Agency (Without Wasting Your Budget)

Choosing an Amazon SEO agency can feel a bit like shopping on Amazon itself: everyone claims to be “best-selling,” reviews are noisy, and it’s hard to know what actually moves the needle. Yet picking the right agency can be the difference between a product that quietly dies on page 7 and one that consistently prints revenue.

This guide breaks down exactly how to choose an Amazon SEO agency, what to look for, what to avoid, and how to tell real expertise from buzzwords.


Why Amazon SEO Is Different (and Why That Matters)

Before choosing an agency, it’s crucial to understand that Amazon SEO is not Google SEO.

Amazon is a marketplace, not an information engine. Its algorithm (A9/A10) cares about one thing above all else: sales velocity and buyer intent. That means:

  • Conversions matter more than clicks
  • Keywords matter, but profitability matters more
  • Reviews, pricing, stock levels, and ads all affect rankings

Any agency treating Amazon SEO like traditional website SEO is already waving a red flag.


Continue reading ” How to Choose the Right Amazon SEO Agency (Without Wasting Your Budget)”

KEYBOARDING CLERK 1 / FULL-TIME POSITIONS

KEYBOARDING CLERK 1 / FULL-TIME
TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW – Various Offices
 
WINSLOW TOWNSHIP seeks a full-time Keyboarding Clerk in one of our various offices.  Must possess good typing and computer skills, good customer service, and work well with the public.  Must be a resident of Winslow Township.  Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check.  Salary: $20.41 per hour, Monday through Friday, start time 8:30 a.m.  
35 hours per week, benefits are available with the position.  There will be a 90-day working test period. 
 
Winslow Township is an equal opportunity employer.  Send application to Personnel Office, Township of Winslow, 125 South Route 73, Braddock, NJ 08037-9422, or fax #609-567-9057, or email djacobehart@winslowtownship.com.  Applications can be downloaded at www.winslowtownship.com under forms and documents/employment application or by visiting https://www.winslowtownship.com/filestorage/3308/4583/Employment_App_Final_FEB_2020.pdf 
 
The deadline for submitting applications is February 6, 2026.
 

Selmer Scores Career-High 20 to Lead Rowan Women’s Basketball Past Rutgers-Camden, 80-73, in 2OT

Haley Selmer had a career-high 20 points, including six straight in the second overtime, to lead Rowan to an 80-73 win over Rutgers-Camden (10-9; 7-5). The victory was the fourth straight for Rowan (12-7; 8-4) and its second consecutive win in overtime. 

With the game tied, 67-67, at the start of the second overtime, Selmer connected on three consecutive field goals to give Rowan a 73-67 lead. The Profs limited Rutgers-Camden to just six points the rest of the way while they hit 5-of-6 from the line in the final 15 seconds to seal the victory. 

Jes Mastriano tied her career-high with 16 points, Ava Kraybill contributed 14 points and Megan Donelson notched 12 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. 

In the final minute of regulation, Abigail Jazmin’s jumper gave Rowan a 59-57 lead with :55 to play. Rutgers-Camden’s Courtney Edmundo tied the game on a layup with less than one second remaining. The Profs had one-tenth of a second and got the ball into Selmer, whose long jumper was off the mark as regulation ended.

Rutgers-Camden held a 67-62 lead with :55 left in the first overtime, but Mastriano made two free throws and Jess McLaughlin connected on a three-pointer with 19.6 seconds left in overtime to extend the game. 

The game was tight throughout, with six points being the largest lead by either team. 

Rutgers-Camden owned a 13-12 lead after one quarter of play and then led by 29-23 with three minutes left in the second quarter. The Profs outscored the Scarlet Raptors, 11-4, to end the quarter and pull ahead, 34-33, at halftime. 

Rowan led 47-45 at the end of the third quarter and held a 53-48 advantage during the fourth quarter. 

The Profs are at home again on Saturday to take on league leader William Paterson in the second game of the doubleheader, which will start at approximately 3 p.m. 

Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast – POSTPONED

The Gloucester City Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast, scheduled for Saturday, January 31 at Elizabeth Ballroom, has been postponed due to the weather.

NJDOC to Launch Groundbreaking Reentry Initiative for Incarcerated Veterans at Ceremonial Signing

On Wednesday, January 28, the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) held a ceremonial signing to launch a vital new initiative designed to enhance and streamline reentry services for incarcerated veterans.

“This initiative honors our commitment to those who have served by ensuring they receive the community services necessary to reenter civilian life,” said Acting Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, Esq. “By partnering with NJRC and EHCA, we are providing veterans with a specialized pathway to success—combining legal advocacy, healthcare, and career support to break the cycle of recidivism and strengthen public safety.”

Continue reading “NJDOC to Launch Groundbreaking Reentry Initiative for Incarcerated Veterans at Ceremonial Signing”

Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association Announces 2026 String Band Spectacular

Official Judged Competition Event to Be Held at Lincoln Financial Field

Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association (PMSBA) announces the 2026 String Band Spectacular, the official judged competition event for the String Band Division. The event will take place at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 2:00pm, with a rain date of Sunday, February 1, 2026.

The 2026 String Band Spectacular was created to ensure that Philadelphia’s String Bands receive the full competitive spotlight they deserve. Unpredictable and extreme weather conditions on New Year’s Day caused damage to production props and made it unsafe to proceed with the String Band competition as originally scheduled. While the String Bands proudly marched and performed during the parade, the judged competition portion was postponed in the interest of safety.

“This event allows us to properly showcase the extraordinary work, musicianship, and creativity of the String Bands in a safe and professional environment,” said Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association President Sam Regalbuto. “The String Band Spectacular ensures that this historic competition is presented at the level of excellence our performers, supporters, and the City of Philadelphia expect. We are incredibly grateful for the partnership and support of the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as our fellow major Philadelphia sports organizations: the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Union, whose involvement underscores the citywide pride and collaboration behind this event.”

Continue reading “Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association Announces 2026 String Band Spectacular”

When Weather and Walkways are Treacherous, Slow and Steady is the Way to Go

 by Hospital for Special Surgery 

Aleksey Dvorzhinskiy, MD, Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery

Newswise — The snow storm and freezing temperatures have turned many streets into obstacle courses. Snow and ice on the ground present hazardous conditions that could lead to a fall if people are not careful.

“An invisible patch of ice is an accident waiting to happen,” according to Aleksey Dvorzhinskiy, MD, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City at HSS Long Island in Uniondale. “People often forget how dangerous a fall can be, especially when they’re in a hurry to get somewhere.”  

Dr. Dvorzhinskiy says everyone should exercise caution after a snow storm. Even after much of the snow and ice is removed, there are always some slippery surfaces to watch out for. 

Continue reading “When Weather and Walkways are Treacherous, Slow and Steady is the Way to Go”