end Abstract deadline for smokeless tobacco summit at end of February By www.ada.org Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 09:31:00 -0600 The deadline for abstracts for the upcoming National Summit on Smokeless Tobacco Prevention is Feb. 29. Full Article
end New compendium summarizes best practices in oral health service delivery By www.ada.org Published On :: Fri, 06 Mar 2020 07:44:00 -0600 Titled “Compendium of Innovations in Oral Health Service Delivery,” the 64-page digital booklet features organizations from across the country that have found success through varied measures in expanding oral care to underserved populations. Full Article
end ADA recommending dentists postpone elective procedures By www.ada.org Published On :: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:20:00 -0500 The ADA is recommending that dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures in response to the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, across the country. Full Article
end DEA Call Center suspends phone operations By www.ada.org Published On :: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 12:54:00 -0500 Springfield, Virginia — The Drug Enforcement Administration announced that effective March 23, the DEA Call Center has temporarily suspended phone operations due to COVID-19 pandemic. Full Article
end ADA Member Advantage-endorsed companies respond to COVID-19 pandemic By www.ada.org Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:11:00 -0500 During these uncertain times, there is a lot of anxiety and understandably some of that comes in the form of financial worries. ADA Member Advantage-endorsed companies that provide financial services have offered information for their customers and ADA members. Full Article
end ADA Member Advantage-endorsed company, Lenovo, offers remote work and school solutions By www.ada.org Published On :: Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:48:00 -0500 Given recent school cancellations and state orders to shelter in place, some households may be experiencing the strain of sharing family computers. ADA Member Advantage states that members are eligible for savings of up to 46% on select items from their endorsed technology provider, Lenovo, during a special sale on computers. Full Article
end ADA Member Advantage ends Chase endorsement for credit card processing By www.ada.org Published On :: Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:02:00 -0500 ADA Member Advantage announced April 1 it ended its endorsement relationship with Chase for credit card processing. Full Article
end ADA urges dentists to heed April 30 interim postponement recommendation By www.ada.org Published On :: Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:48:00 -0500 In a statement issued April 1, the ADA issued an interim recommendation that “dentists keep their offices closed to all but urgent and emergency procedures until April 30 at the earliest.” Full Article
end ADA asks Congress to increase funding, extend dates for Small Business Administration loans By www.ada.org Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:08:00 -0500 The ADA is urging Congress to continue supporting small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing funding and streamlining the application process for Small Business Administration loans. Full Article
end Northern California dentist heads to Uganda, ends up becoming a humanitarian By www.ada.org Published On :: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:32:00 -0500 Traveling with purpose is what has led Nevada City, California-based general dentist Dr. Jean Creasey to a rural district in the southwestern region of Uganda over the past 15 years as a member of the Kellermann Foundation, treating and helping educate the villagers on the importance of good oral health as a way to a better future. Full Article
end Labor ends temporary nonenforcement of paid leave protections By www.ada.org Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:38:00 -0500 The U.S. Department of Labor announced April 20 that it is ending the temporary period of non-enforcement of paid leave protections under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Full Article
end American College of Emergency Physicians endorses ADA's antibiotics guideline By www.ada.org Published On :: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:18:00 -0500 The American College of Emergency Physicians has endorsed the American Dental Association's clinical practice guideline on the use of antibiotics for the management of pulpal- and periapical-related pain and swelling. Full Article
end Agencies submit final rule extending ERISA deadlines during pandemic By www.ada.org Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 13:05:00 -0500 The U.S. Department of Labor said April 28 that it is extending the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 filing deadlines for certain notice and disclosure requirements in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Article
end ADA Member Advantage endorses Best Card for credit card processing By www.ada.org Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 08:57:00 -0500 ADA Member Advantage announced May 1 that it has selected Best Card as its exclusively endorsed credit card processing solution for Association members. Full Article
end Trends in Uninsured Rates Before and After Medicaid Expansion in Counties Within and Outside of the Diabetes Belt By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-27T16:03:28-08:00 OBJECTIVETo examine trends in uninsured rates between 2012 and 2016 among low-income adults aged <65 years and to determine whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded Medicaid, impacted insurance coverage in the Diabetes Belt, a region across 15 southern and eastern states in which residents have high rates of diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSData for 3,129 U.S. counties, obtained from the Small Area Health Insurance Estimates and Area Health Resources Files, were used to analyze trends in uninsured rates among populations with a household income ≤138% of the federal poverty level. Multivariable analysis adjusted for the percentage of county populations aged 50–64 years, the percentage of women, Distressed Communities Index value, and rurality.RESULTSIn 2012, 39% of the population in the Diabetes Belt and 34% in non-Belt counties were uninsured (P < 0.001). In 2016 in states where Medicaid was expanded, uninsured rates declined rapidly to 13% in Diabetes Belt counties and to 15% in non-Belt counties. Adjusting for county demographic and economic factors, Medicaid expansion helped reduce uninsured rates by 12.3% in Diabetes Belt counties and by 4.9% in non-Belt counties. In 2016, uninsured rates were 15% higher for both Diabetes Belt and non-Belt counties in the nonexpansion states than in the expansion states.CONCLUSIONSACA-driven Medicaid expansion was more significantly associated with reduced uninsured rates in Diabetes Belt than in non-Belt counties. Initial disparities in uninsured rates between Diabetes Belt and non-Belt counties have not existed since 2014 among expansion states. Future studies should examine whether and how Medicaid expansion may have contributed to an increase in the use of health services in order to prevent and treat diabetes in the Diabetes Belt. Full Article
end Effects of Low-Energy Diet or Exercise on Cardiovascular Function in Working-Age Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label, Blinded End Point Trial By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-27T15:11:48-07:00 OBJECTIVETo confirm the presence of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction in working-age adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and determine whether this is improved by a low-energy meal replacement diet (MRP) or exercise training.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis article reports on a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point trial with nested case-control study. Asymptomatic younger adults with T2D were randomized 1:1:1 to a 12-week intervention of 1) routine care, 2) supervised aerobic exercise training, or 3) a low-energy (~810 kcal/day) MRP. Participants underwent echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in left ventricular (LV) peak early diastolic strain rate (PEDSR) as measured by CMR. Healthy volunteers were enrolled for baseline case-control comparison.RESULTSEighty-seven participants with T2D (age 51 ± 7 years, HbA1c 7.3 ± 1.1%) and 36 matched control participants were included. At baseline, those with T2D had evidence of diastolic dysfunction (PEDSR 1.01 ± 0.19 vs. 1.10 ± 0.16 s–1, P = 0.02) compared with control participants. Seventy-six participants with T2D completed the trial (30 routine care, 22 exercise, and 24 MRP). The MRP arm lost 13 kg in weight and had improved blood pressure, glycemia, LV mass/volume, and aortic stiffness. The exercise arm had negligible weight loss but increased exercise capacity. PEDSR increased in the exercise arm versus routine care (β = 0.132, P = 0.002) but did not improve with the MRP (β = 0.016, P = 0.731).CONCLUSIONSIn asymptomatic working-age adults with T2D, exercise training improved diastolic function. Despite beneficial effects of weight loss on glycemic control, concentric LV remodeling, and aortic stiffness, a low-energy MRP did not improve diastolic function. Full Article
end Erratum. Predicting 10-Year Risk of End-Organ Complications of Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Metabolic Surgery: A Machine Learning Approach. Diabetes Care 2020;43:852-859 By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-15T14:26:52-07:00 Full Article
end Clinical and Public Health Implications of 2019 Endocrine Society Guidelines for Diagnosis of Diabetes in Older Adults By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-23T12:17:35-07:00 OBJECTIVEScreening for diabetes is typically done using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The 2019 Endocrine Society guidelines recommend further testing using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in older adults with prediabetic HbA1c or FPG. We evaluated the impact of this recommendation on diabetes prevalence, eligibility for glucose-lowering treatment, and estimated cost of implementation in a nationally representative sample.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe included 2,236 adults aged ≥65 years without known diabetes from the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diabetes was defined using: 1) the Endocrine Society approach (HbA1c ≥6.5%, FPG ≥126 mg/dL, or 2-h plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL among those with HbA1c 5.7–6.4% or FPG 100–125 mg/dL); and 2) a standard approach (HbA1c ≥6.5% or FPG ≥126 mg/dL). Treatment eligibility was defined using HbA1c cut points (≥7 to ≥9%). OGTT screening costs were estimated using Medicare fee schedules.RESULTSDiabetes prevalence was 15.7% (~5.0 million) using the Endocrine Society’s approach and 7.3% (~2.3 million) using the standard approach. Treatment eligibility ranged from 5.4 to 0.06% and 11.8–1.3% for diabetes cases identified through the Endocrine Society or standard approach, respectively. By definition, diabetes identified exclusively through the Endocrine Society approach had HbA11c <6.5% and would not be recommended for glucose-lowering treatment. Screening all older adults with prediabetic HbA1c/FPG (~18.3 million) with OGTT could cost between $737 million and $1.7 billion.CONCLUSIONSAdopting the 2019 Endocrine Society guidelines would substantially increase the number of older adults classified as having diabetes, require significant financial resources, but likely offer limited benefits. Full Article
end microRNA-21/PDCD4 Proapoptotic Signaling From Circulating CD34+ Cells to Vascular Endothelial Cells: A Potential Contributor to Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-05-01T07:23:01-07:00 OBJECTIVEIn patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and critical limb ischemia (CLI), migration of circulating CD34+ cells predicted cardiovascular mortality at 18 months after revascularization. This study aimed to provide long-term validation and mechanistic understanding of the biomarker.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThe association between CD34+ cell migration and cardiovascular mortality was reassessed at 6 years after revascularization. In a new series of T2D-CLI and control subjects, immuno-sorted bone marrow CD34+ cells were profiled for miRNA expression and assessed for apoptosis and angiogenesis activity. The differentially regulated miRNA-21 and its proapoptotic target, PDCD4, were titrated to verify their contribution in transferring damaging signals from CD34+ cells to endothelial cells.RESULTSMultivariable regression analysis confirmed that CD34+ cell migration forecasts long-term cardiovascular mortality. CD34+ cells from T2D-CLI patients were more apoptotic and less proangiogenic than control subjects and featured miRNA-21 downregulation, modulation of several long noncoding RNAs acting as miRNA-21 sponges, and upregulation of the miRNA-21 proapoptotic target PDCD4. Silencing miR-21 in control subject CD34+ cells phenocopied the T2D-CLI cell behavior. In coculture, T2D-CLI CD34+ cells imprinted naïve endothelial cells, increasing apoptosis, reducing network formation, and modulating the TUG1 sponge/miRNA-21/PDCD4 axis. Silencing PDCD4 or scavenging reactive oxygen species protected endothelial cells from the negative influence of T2D-CLI CD34+ cells.CONCLUSIONSMigration of CD34+ cells predicts long-term cardiovascular mortality in T2D-CLI patients. An altered paracrine signaling conveys antiangiogenic and proapoptotic features from CD34+ cells to the endothelium. This damaging interaction may increase the risk for life-threatening complications. Full Article
end Will Immigration Reform Ever Succeed Again? The Legacy of IRCA & Its Enduring Lessons By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:34:22 -0400 This provocative discussion showcases Charles Kamasaki's book, Immigration Reform: The Corpse That Will Not Die, and explores the lessons that can be learned from the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, its intended and unintended consequences, and how the law’s legacy has shaped contemporary politics surrounding immigration. Full Article
end California to send mail-in ballots to all voters By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 18:06:19 -0400 California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed an executive order requiring mail-in ballots be sent to all eligible voters for the November election. Full Article
end Watch: Pete Davidson says Bill Hader recommended him for 'SNL' By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 09:59:32 -0400 Pete Davidson discussed on "The Tonight Show" how Bill Hader helped him land a spot on "Saturday Night Live." Full Article
end What to stream this weekend: 'SNL' season finale, 'Dead to Me' S2 By www.upi.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:02:40 -0400 The "Saturday Night Live" Season 45 finale, the Season 2 premiere of Netflix's "Dead to Me" and a second installment of "Disney Family Singalong" are just some of the entertainment options available this weekend. Full Article
end How to Stop Waiting for ‘When Coronavirus Ends’ By psychcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 10:30:56 +0000 How many times have you thought, “When coronavirus ends, I will ______” — as if you’re putting off everything (or at least the things you most love) until then? They... Full Article Creativity Mindfulness Motivation and Inspiration Self-Help coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic Present Moment
end [ Religion & Spirituality ] Open Question : Christians, why do some people keep lying by saying trans been using other Gender's room for long time but that lie? By answers.yahoo.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:15:22 +0000 i even got this from pro trans page that say they have laws banning men from women's room & trans aka GD was put into mad house, & even then there been alot of time where rapists &perverted freaks been using other Gender's bath room too doesn't make it right, they go to prison if they find out Full Article
end [ Singles & Dating ] Open Question : I miss my ex girlfriend's daughter what can I do ? By answers.yahoo.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:18:00 +0000 Hello I am a man 36 years old and, My ex girlfriend and I and I were together from January to August 2012, my ex girlfriend's daughter was very affectionate with me, I miss her what I can do I was very fond of her, what can I do ? Full Article
end [ Singles & Dating ] Open Question : WHAT TO DO, TO MAKE FRIENDS? I NEED ADVICE? By answers.yahoo.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:18:07 +0000 Full Article
end [ Politics ] Open Question : Libtards, don't get your panties in a bunch when those two Georgia 2nd amendment warriors are found innocent of killing that black guy? By answers.yahoo.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:20:10 +0000 He shouldn't have fought back when the guy pointed the shot gun at him Full Article
end [ Politics ] Open Question : Trump supporters: Do you watch Disney and Pixar movies even though they carry hidden liberal agendas? By answers.yahoo.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:23:37 +0000 Do you let your kids watch Disney and Pixar movies? They're all created by liberals. Full Article
end Dependent on Remittances, Tajikistan’s Long-Term Prospects for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Remain Dim By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 12:12:08 -0500 More than 1 million Tajiks migrate to Russia every year—a sizeable outflow for a country of about 9 million people. These high levels of emigration have had major effects for Tajikistan, especially in the generation of remittances that help lift everyday Tajiks out of poverty but have also made the country increasingly dependent on Russia. This article explores challenges faced by Tajik migrants in Russia and the effects of emigration on Tajikistan’s economy and society. Full Article
end Turning the Tide: Addressing the Long-Term Challenges of EU Mobility for Sending Countries By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:52:46 -0500 Amid ongoing debates about the costs and benefits of free movement, this MPI Europe webchat examines big-picture trends of East-West migration; considers possible policy responses at regional, national, and EU levels to alleviate some of the challenges; and reflects on realistic actions that could be taken under the incoming European Commission. Full Article
end In Crises, People Tend to Live, or Die, Together By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT How the disaster starts does not matter: It could be a plane crashing into the World Trade Center, it could be the sea receding rapidly ahead of an advancing tsunami, it could be smoke billowing through a nightclub. Full Article Nation In Crises People Tend to Live or Die Together
end Apologies Accepted? It Depends on the Offense By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT When freedom fighters in India inspired by Mahatma Gandhi turned violent in a clash with police in 1922, the nonviolent leader took personal responsibility, called off nationwide protests and starved himself for five days in a penitential fast. Gandhi was nearly alone in thinking an apology of such... Full Article Nation Apologies Accepted? It Depends on the Offense
end Don't Send a Lion to Catch a Mouse By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST Two centuries ago, Napoleon Bonaparte sent his armies into Spain to overthrow a monarch who had once been a French ally. Napoleon, who believed he was touched by the hand of destiny, predicted his troops would be welcomed as liberators by ordinary Spaniards. He was wrong. The resulting Peninsular War from 1808 to 1814 seriously undermined French prestige, handed Napoleon a stinging defeat and produced a raft of unanticipated consequences that included the outbreak of deadly civil wars.... Full Article Opinions Don't Send a Lion to Catch a Mouse
end Spending More for a Little Solace By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT As big Labor Day sales roll around, computer stores will tell you about laptops that now come with biometric fingerprint readers. Car companies will talk about "variable air suspension" features that allow you to change the ride of a car, depending on terrain. And video game manufacturers will ha... Full Article Opinions Spending More for a Little Solace
end Obama's Iowa Victory Fits Democratic Trend By www.washingtonpost.com Published On :: Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST According to conventional wisdom, front-runners win presidential nominations. Democrats and Republicans who start the race for a presidential nomination with the largest amount of money and the best poll numbers are supposed to be the ones most likely to walk away with victory months later. Full Article Opinions Obama's Iowa Victory Fits Democratic Trend
end Get Top Statistics on Immigrants in the U.S and Changing Immigration Trends; MPI Updates its Interactive Data Tools, Maps & One-Stop Resource for Key Stats By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:36:44 -0500 WASHINGTON — The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) today published the annual update to its data-rich article, Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States, offering readers a wealth of information that can help inform understanding about an issue that is the subject of much conversation. Full Article
end Beef Rendang By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Thu, 28 Jul 2016 13:54:00 +1000 A hot curry, great for a winter's night. Full Article ABC Local shepparton goulburnmurray Lifestyle and Leisure:All:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Shepparton 3630 Australia:VIC:Wodonga 3690
end Impact of Glucose Level on Micro- and Macrovascular Disease in the General Population: A Mendelian Randomization Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether high glucose levels in the normoglycemic range and higher have a causal genetic effect on risk of retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and myocardial infarction (MI; positive control) in the general population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study applied observational and one-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to individual-level data from 117,193 Danish individuals, and validation by two-sample MR analyses on summary-level data from 133,010 individuals from the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-Related Traits Consortium (MAGIC), 117,165 from the CKDGen Consortium, and 452,264 from the UK Biobank. RESULTS Observationally, glucose levels in the normoglycemic range and higher were associated with high risks of retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, PAD, and MI (all P for trend <0.001). In genetic causal analyses, the risk ratio for a 1 mmol/L higher glucose level was 2.01 (95% CI 1.18–3.41) for retinopathy, 2.15 (1.38–3.35) for neuropathy, 1.58 (1.04–2.40) for diabetic nephropathy, 0.97 (0.84–1.12) for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, 1.19 (0.90–1.58) for PAD, and 1.49 (1.02–2.17) for MI. Summary-level data from the MAGIC, the CKDGen Consortium, and the UK Biobank gave a genetic risk ratio of 4.55 (95% CI 2.26–9.15) for retinopathy, 1.48 (0.83–2.66) for peripheral neuropathy, 0.98 (0.94–1.01) for eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and 1.23 (0.57–2.67) for PAD per 1 mmol/L higher glucose level. CONCLUSIONS Glucose levels in the normoglycemic range and higher were prospectively associated with a high risk of retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, PAD, and MI. These associations were confirmed in genetic causal analyses for retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and MI, but they could not be confirmed for PAD and seemed to be refuted for eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Full Article
end Predicting 10-Year Risk of End-Organ Complications of Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Metabolic Surgery: A Machine Learning Approach By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To construct and internally validate prediction models to estimate the risk of long-term end-organ complications and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity that can be used to inform treatment decisions for patients and practitioners who are considering metabolic surgery. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 2,287 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent metabolic surgery between 1998 and 2017 in the Cleveland Clinic Health System were propensity-matched 1:5 to 11,435 nonsurgical patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and type 2 diabetes who received usual care with follow-up through December 2018. Multivariable time-to-event regression and random forest machine learning models were built and internally validated using fivefold cross-validation to predict the 10-year risk for four outcomes of interest. The prediction models were programmed to construct user-friendly web-based and smartphone applications of Individualized Diabetes Complications (IDC) Risk Scores for clinical use. RESULTS The prediction tools demonstrated the following discrimination ability based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (1 = perfect discrimination and 0.5 = chance) at 10 years in the surgical and nonsurgical groups, respectively: all-cause mortality (0.79 and 0.81), coronary artery events (0.66 and 0.67), heart failure (0.73 and 0.75), and nephropathy (0.73 and 0.76). When a patient’s data are entered into the IDC application, it estimates the individualized 10-year morbidity and mortality risks with and without undergoing metabolic surgery. CONCLUSIONS The IDC Risk Scores can provide personalized evidence-based risk information for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity about future cardiovascular outcomes and mortality with and without metabolic surgery based on their current status of obesity, diabetes, and related cardiometabolic conditions. Full Article
end Send Daily Email Digests to Friends, Colleagues or Even to Yourself By blog.inoreader.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 08:15:13 +0000 When we announced our v13 update, we mentioned a new feature called Email Digests that we’ll explain further in this… Full Article Uncategorized
end Get Your Friends Into RSS With Inoreader’s New Invite Feature By blog.inoreader.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 07:55:39 +0000 Have you ever tried to convince somebody to start using an RSS reader, only to hear back from them something… Full Article Uncategorized
end Turning the Tide: Addressing the Long-Term Challenges of EU Mobility for Sending Countries By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Thu, 05 Dec 2019 15:26:24 -0500 Amid ongoing debates about the costs and benefits of free movement, this MPI webinar examines evidence from the EU-funded REMINDER project on different types of East-West mobility. Speakers examine big-picture trends of East-West migration; consider possible policy responses at regional, national, and EU levels to alleviate some of the challenges; and reflect on realistic actions that could be taken under a new European Commission. Full Article
end The End of Science? By decisions-and-info-gaps.blogspot.com Published On :: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:21:00 +0000 Science is the search for and study of patterns and laws in the natural and physical worlds. Could that search become exhausted, like an over-worked coal vein, leaving nothing more to be found? Could science end? After briefly touching on several fairly obvious possible end-games for science, we explore how the vast Unknown could undermine - rather than underlie - the scientific enterprize. The possibility that science could end is linked to the reason that science is possible at all. The path we must climb in this essay is steep, but the (in)sight is worth it.Science is the process of discovering unknowns, one of which is the extent of Nature's secrets. It is possible that the inventory of Nature's unknowns is finite or conceivably even nearly empty. However, a look at open problems in science, from astronomy to zoology, suggests that Nature's storehouse of surprises is still chock full. So, from this perspective, the answer to the question 'Could science end?' is conceivably 'Yes', but most probably 'No'.Another possible 'Yes' answer is that science will end by reaching the limit of human cognitive capability. Nature's storehouse of surprises may never empty out, but the rate of our discoveries may gradually fall, reaching zero when scientists have figured out everything that humans are able to understand. Possible, but judging from the last 400 years, it seems that we've only begun to tap our mind's expansive capability.Or perhaps science - a product of human civilization - will end due to historical or social forces. The simplest such scenario is that we blow ourselves to smithereens. Smithereens can't do science. Another more complicated scenario is Oswald Spengler's theory of cyclical history, whereby an advanced society - such as Western civilization - decays and disappears, science disappearing with it. So again a tentative 'Yes'. But this might only be an interruption of science if later civilizations resume the search.We now explore the main mechanism by which science could become impossible. This will lead to deeper understanding of the delicate relation between knowledge and the Unknown and to why science is possible at all.One axiom of science is that there exist stable and discoverable laws of nature. As the philosopher A.N. Whitehead wrote in 1925: "Apart from recurrence, knowledge would be impossible; for nothing could be referred to our past experience. Also, apart from some regularity of recurrence, measurement would be impossible." (Science and the Modern World, p.36). The stability of phenomena is what allows a scientist to repeat, study and build upon the work of other scientists. Without regular recurrence there would be no such thing as a discoverable law of nature.However, as David Hume explained long ago in An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, one can never empirically prove that regular recurrence will hold in the future. By the time one tests the regularity of the future, that future has become the past. The future can never be tested, just as one can never step on the rolled up part of an endless rug unfurling always in front of you.Suppose the axiom of Natural Law turns out to be wrong, or suppose Nature comes unstuck and its laws start "sliding around", changing. Science would end. If regularity, patterns, and laws no longer exist, then scientific pursuit of them becomes fruitless.Or maybe not. Couldn't scientists search for the laws by which Nature "slides around"? Quantum mechanics seems to do just that. For instance, when a polarized photon impinges on a polarizing crystal, the photon will either be entirely absorbed or entirely transmitted, as Dirac explained. The photon's fate is not determined by any law of Nature (if you believe quantum mechanics). Nature is indeterminate in this situation. Nonetheless, quantum theory very accurately predicts the probability that the photon will be transmitted, and the probability that it will be absorbed. In other words, quantum mechanics establishes a deterministic law describing Nature's indeterminism.Suppose Nature's indeterminism itself becomes lawless. Is that conceivable? Could Nature become so disorderly, so confused and uncertain, so "out of joint: O, cursed spite", that no law can "set it right"? The answer is conceivably 'Yes', and if this happens then scientists are all out of a job. To understand how this is conceivable, one must appreciate the Unknown at its most rambunctious.Let's take stock. We can identify attributes of Nature that are necessary for science to be possible. The axiom of Natural Law is one necessary attribute. The successful history of science suggests that the axiom of Natural Law has held firmly in the past. But that does not determine what Nature will be in the future.In order to understand how Natural Law could come unstuck, we need to understand how Natural Law works (today). When a projectile, say a baseball, is thrown from here to there, its progress at each point along its trajectory is described, scientifically, in terms of its current position, direction of motion, and attributes such as its shape, mass and surrounding medium. The Laws of Nature enable the calculation of the ball's progress by solving a mathematical equation whose starting point is the current state of the ball.We can roughly describe most Laws of Nature as formulations of problems - e.g. mathematical equations - whose input is the current and past states of the system in question, and whose solution predicts an outcome: the next state of the system. What is law-like about this is that these problems - whose solution describes a progression, like the flight of a baseball - are constant over time. The scientist calculates the baseball's trajectory by solving the same problem over and over again (or all at once with a differential equation). Sometimes the problem is hard to solve, so scientists are good mathematicians, or they have big computers, (or both). But solvable they are.Let's remember that Nature is not a scientist, and Nature does not solve a problem when things happen (like baseballs speeding to home plate). Nature just does it. The scientist's Law is a description of Nature, not Nature itself.There are other Laws of Nature for which we must modify the previous description. In these cases, the Law of Nature is, as before, the formulation of a problem. Now, however, the solution of the problem not only predicts the next state of the system, but it also re-formulates the problem that must be solved at the next step. There is sort of a feedback: the next state of the system alters the rule by which subsequent progress is made. For instance, when an object falls towards earth from outer space, the law of nature that determines the motion of the object depends on the gravitational attraction. The gravitational attraction, in turn, increases as the object gets closer. Thus the problem to be solved changes as the object moves. Problems like these tend to be more difficult to solve, but that's the scientist's problem (or pleasure).Now we can appreciate how Nature might become lawlessly unstuck. Let's consider the second type of Natural Law, where the problem - the Law itself - gets modified by the evolving event. Let's furthermore suppose that the problem is not simply difficult to solve, but that no solution can be obtained in a finite amount of time (mathematicians have lots of examples of problems like this). As before, Nature itself does not solve a problem; Nature just does it. But the scientist is now in the position that no prediction can be made, no trajectory can be calculated, no model or description of the phenomenon can be obtained. No explicit problem statement embodying a Natural Law exists. This is because the problem to be solved evolves continuously from previous solutions, and none of the sequence of problems can be solved. The scientist's profession will become frustrating, futile and fruitless.Nature becomes lawlessly unstuck, and science ends, if all Laws of Nature become of the modified second type. The world itself will continue because Nature solves no problems, it just does its thing. But the way it does this is now so raw and unruly that no study of nature can get to first base.Sound like science fiction (or nightmare)? Maybe. But as far as we know, the only thing between us and this new state of affairs is the axiom of Natural Law. Scientists assume that Laws exist and are stable because past experience, together with our psychological makeup (which itself is evolutionary past experience), very strongly suggests that regular recurrence can be relied upon. But if you think that the scientists can empirically prove that the future will continue to be lawful, like the past, recall that all experience is past experience. Recall the unfurling-rug metaphor (by the time we test the future it becomes the past), and make an appointment to see Mr Hume.Is science likely to become fruitless or boring? No. Science thrives on an Unknown that is full of surprises. Science - the search for Natural Laws - thrives even though the existence of Natural Law can never be proven. Science thrives precisely because we can never know for sure that science will not someday end. Full Article
end Lockdown Reading Recommendations for People Who Like to Read About Sex By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0000 I know that many of you are bored and horny right now during this lockdown and quarantine period, so allow me to recommend some of my favorite sex books! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably already seen a few of my recommendations, but here’s a more extensive reading list. Full Article Featured Books and Films
end I’m a Cisgender Woman and My Husband Watches Trans Porn: Does That Mean He’s Not Into Me? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0000 A reader submitted the following question: “I recently discovered that my husband is attracted to transsexuals (MTF - non op). This is the only type of porn that he looks at. He also role plays online with men for sexual play and chat. I discovered this after I started snooping because I had some red flags. He is very embarrassed and uncomfortable discussing it. He has apologized for the online chatting (as we had agreed this was out of bounds for our relationship). He says he likes them because they are feminine but his primary attraction is to women (with female parts). However, I just am not sure I believe him. I am terrified that when we are intimate (which I have to pretty much beg for), he can only do it when its dark and I am fearful he is fantasizing that I have a penis. This bothers me deeply on a number of different levels. Are there men who are only interested in transsexuals? Is it possible he is no longer turned on by my female genitalia?” There’s a lot to unpack in this question, but let’s start here: over the years, I’ve received several emails from women describing similar stories and concerns, so you’re not alone in feeling the way that you do. Full Article Sex Question Friday Sexual Problems and Solutions
end The gender-fluid history of the Philippines | France Villarta By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:01:16 +0000 In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a talk that's part cultural love letter, part history lesson, he details the legacy of gender fluidity and inclusivity in his native Philippines -- and emphasizes the universal beauty of all people, regardless of society's labels. Full Article Higher Education
end An ethical plan for ending the pandemic and restarting the economy | Danielle Allen By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 15:04:19 +0000 As COVID-19 continues to spread, the world is facing two existential threats at once: a public health emergency and an economic crisis. Political theorist Danielle Allen describes how we can ethically and democratically address both problems by scaling up "smart testing," which would track positive cases with peer-to-peer software on people's cell phones -- so we can end the pandemic and get back to work. (This virtual conversation is part of the TED Connects series, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and business curator Corey Hajim. Recorded April 6, 2020) Full Article Higher Education
end The injustice of "policing for profit" -- and how to end it | Dick M. Carpenter II By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:12:24 +0000 Many countries have an active, centuries-old law that allows government agencies to take your things -- your house, your car, your business -- without ever convicting you of a crime. Law researcher Dick M. Carpenter II exposes how this practice of civil forfeiture threatens your rights and creates a huge monetary incentive for law enforcement to pocket your possessions -- and he lays out a path to end "policing for profit" once and for all. Full Article Higher Education
end Logan Paul Makes Amends for Suicide Video By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 29 Jan 2018 04:55:33 +0000 YouTube celebrity Logan Paul makes amends for an offensive video and shares information on how to prevent suicide. Full Article All Documentary General celebrity media suicide youtube