Latest news with #Annals
Mint
2 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Who is Eshan Chattopadhyay? All about Indian-origin professor awarded prestigious Godel Prize
Eshan Chattopadhyay, an Indian-origin computer scientist and associate professor at Cornell University, has received the 2025 Gödel Prize—one of the highest recognitions in the field of theoretical computer science. He shares the award with David Zuckerman of the University of Texas at Austin for their influential research on randomness extraction—an area crucial to encryption, cybersecurity, and algorithm design. The award was given for his breakthrough research paper titled 'Explicit Two-Source Extractors and Resilient Functions', which addresses a key challenge in computer science: how to generate high-quality randomness from unreliable sources, critical for secure computing and cryptographic systems. Published initially at the ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC) in 2016, where it also won the Best Paper award, and later in the Annals of Mathematics in 2019, the paper introduced new techniques that have since shaped major advances in pseudo-randomness and complexity theory. Chattopadhyay completed his BTech in computer science from IIT Kanpur in 2011, followed by a PhD at the University of Texas in 2016. He later held postdoctoral positions at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at UC Berkeley, two of the most prominent institutions in the field. Named after legendary logician Kurt Gödel, the Gödel Prize is jointly awarded by the ACM SIGACT and the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science. It honours papers that have made lasting contributions to the field of theoretical computer science. The research deals with randomness extraction- a fundamental concept in computer science and cryptography. It focuses on creating reliable randomness from two flawed or weak random sources, a challenge that has implications for everything from encryption systems to algorithm design. In simple terms, imagine flipping two unfair coins and still being able to extract fair, unpredictable results. That's the essence of what Chattopadhyay and Zuckerman achieved, turning weak inputs into strong, usable randomness. He told Cornell University that the recognition is an incredible honour. He shared that it feels 'surreal and gratifying' that the paper was placed in that category.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Annals of Family Medicine: Irish National Study Reveals Five Medication 'Prescribing Cascades' Putting Older Adults at Potential Risk
PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New research published in Annals of Family Medicine identifies five clinically relevant prescribing cascades in a national sample of more than half a million older adults in Ireland. The findings show how unrecognized drug side effects can trigger extra prescriptions and potentially avoidable harm in primary care. Prescribing cascades occur when one medication is used to treat or prevent a side effect of another drug. An unintentional cascade can arise when a patient's symptoms are mistaken for a new illness. In that case, the patient not only experiences the original side effect but also faces added risks from the second medication. The study, funded by the Health Research Board of Ireland, was led by researchers at University College Cork in Ireland. They analyzed national prescription data for 533,464 community-dwelling Irish adults aged 65 years and older, covering prescriptions dispensed between 2017 and 2020. A prescription sequence symmetry analysis was performed with a 365-day window to examine nine expert-defined 'ThinkCascades.' It is important to note that this study examined dispensed prescriptions data only for potential prescribing cascades. There may be alternative explanations as to why patients are prescribed these medications, such as new health conditions. Key Findings - The Five Prescribing Cascades Calcium channel blocker leading to diuretic prescribing This cascade was the most prominent. About 2.6% of those who started a calcium channel blocker, often used to treat high blood pressure, went on to receive a diuretic within one year. The authors estimated one extra diuretic prescription for every 78 patients started on a calcium channel blocker. Alpha-1-receptor blocker leading to vestibular sedative prescribing Alpha-1 receptor blockers are used to ease symptoms of an enlarged prostate. About 3% of alpha-1 blocker users went on to receive a vestibular sedative (used to relieve vertigo and dizziness) within one year. The authors estimated one additional vestibular sedative prescription for every 85 patients who start an alpha-1-receptor blocker. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) leading to sleep agent prescribing SSRIs and SNRIs are commonly prescribed for depression. Approximately 2.5% of those on a SSRI or SNRI went on to receive a sleep agent prescription within one year. The authors estimated one additional sleep agent prescription for every 115 patients who start a SSRI or SNRI. Benzodiazepine leading to antipsychotic prescribing Benzodiazepines are often used to treat anxiety disorders. This cascade appeared in 3.2% of benzodiazepine initiators. The authors estimated one additional antipsychotic prescription for every 242 patients who start a benzodiazepine. Antipsychotic leading to antiparkinsonian agent prescribing Antipsychotics can cause movement-related side effects. About 0.4% of antipsychotic users went on to receive an antiparkinsonian agent prescription within one year. The authors estimated one extra antiparkinsonian agent prescription for every 1,644 antipsychotic users. Three other drug pairs showed significant negative associations, suggesting physicians may already be intentionally avoiding these cascades. These three cascades include a diuretic to overactive bladder medication; benzodiazepine to antidementia agent; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to antihypertensive medication. "An increasing number of medications in older people is strongly associated with an increased risk of medication-related harm and serious adverse drug reactions," the authors write. "For clinicians, considering adverse drug reactions as part of the differential in patients presenting with new symptoms in primary care is an important step in identifying and mitigating the risk of medication-related harm. Furthermore, identifying prescribing cascades and deprescribing when appropriate offers potential to reduce pill counts and associated treatment burden for patients." Article Cited: Prescribing Cascades Among Older Community- Dwelling Adults: Application of Prescription Sequence Symmetry Analysis to a National Database in Ireland Ann Sinéad Doherty, PhD; Lars Christian Lund, PhD; Frank Moriarty, PhD; Fiona Boland, PhD; Barbara Clyne, PhD; Tom Fahey, MD; Seán P. Kennelly, PhD; Denis O' Mahony, DSc; Emma Wallace, PhD Related Articles: Proactive Deprescribing Among Older Adults With Polypharmacy: Barriers and Enablers Kenya Ie, MD, MPH, PhD; Reiko Machino, PharmD; Steven M. Albert, PhD, MA, MS; Shiori Tomita, MD, PhD; Hiroki Ohashi, MD; Iori Motohashi, MD, MPH; Takuya Otsuki, MD, PhD; Yoshiyuki Ohira, MD, PhD; Chiaki Okuse, MD, PhD Personal Continuity and Appropriate Prescribing in Primary Care Marije T. te Winkel, MD; Birgit A. Damoiseaux-Volman, PharmD; Ameen Abu-Hanna, PhD; Birgit I. Lissenberg-Witte, PhD; Rob J. van Marum, MD, PhD; Henk J. Schers, MD, PhD; Pauline Slottje, PhD; Annemarie A. Uijen, MD, PhD; Jettie Bont, MD, PhD; and Otto R. Maarsingh, MD, PhD Strategies Associated With Reducing Benzodiazepine Prescribing to Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Study Donovan T. Maust, MD, MS; Linda Takamine, PhD; Ilse R. Wiechers, MD, MPP, MPH; Frederic C. Blow, PhD; Amy S. B. Bohnert, PhD, MHS; Julie Strominger, MS; Lillian Min, MD; and Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN. Annals of Family Medicine is an open access, peer-reviewed, indexed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care disciplines. Launched in May 2003, Annals of Family Medicine is sponsored by six family medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, and the North American Primary Care Research Group. Annals of Family Medicine is published online six times each year, charges no fee for publication, and contains original research from the clinical, biomedical, social, and health services areas, as well as contributions on methodology and theory, selected reviews, essays, and editorials. Complete editorial content and interactive discussion groups for each published article can be accessed for free on the journal's website, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Annals of Family Medicine Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Appendix cancer has quadrupled in older millennials in the US
Researchers are reporting a startling spike in appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) — otherwise known as appendix cancer — in people born after 1945. Cases have more than tripled in Americans born between 1980 and 1985 and quadrupled in those born between 1985 and 1990, according to a new study out of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'I think it's alarming,' study author Andreana N. Holowatyj, an assistant professor of hematology and oncology, told The Post. Advertisement 3 A new study has identified an alarming spike in appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) — otherwise known as appendix cancer — in people born after 1945. top images – Appendix cancer is very rare, estimated to affect only about one or two people per 1 million per year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Indeed, Holowatyj's team identified only 4,858 people aged 20 and over who were diagnosed with AA between 1975 and 2019. Advertisement The findings, published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are nonetheless part of a troublesome trend. AA is yet another type of cancer that seems to be on the rise in younger adults — joining the ranks of colorectal, breast, uterine, kidney and pancreatic cancers. 'I think the fact that we're seeing birth cohort or generational effects across a plethora of cancer types is indeed alarming because it really stresses the need to understand what is underpinning this pattern in order for us to be able to actively reverse it,' Holowatyj said. 3 Experts point to lifestyle changes, such as more sedentary behavior, as a possible cause of the rise in cancer cases in younger people. StockPhotoPro – Advertisement As with other cancers, health experts aren't exactly sure what could be causing the jump in AA cases. 'I think it's going to be a constellation of factors that may be driving appendiceal cancer development,' Holowatyj said. 'One of the things we often think about is, what has changed across birth cohorts over time?' she said. Advertisement Holowatyj pointed to 'possibly the use of antibiotics, both in childhood and in the food chain, the industrialization of the food industry over time, the lifestyle patterns and the tripling of obesity since the 1970s, increasingly sedentary behavior, possibly environmental exposures that have changed across different parts of the country and over time.' Whatever the cause, she hopes this study encourages the public to be 'aware of this cancer, to know about the signs and symptoms of appendix cancers and know that we're seeing more cases diagnosed across generations.' 3 Most AA cases are diagnosed incidentally after someone has their appendix removed. Avocado_studio – Many of these symptoms can mimic appendicitis: Abdominal pain, often on the lower right side Bloating, diarrhea or constipation Feeling full after small meals Unexplained weight loss Nausea and vomiting Abdominal mass or swelling Holowatyj hopes that people with symptoms 'see a healthcare professional in a timely manner because it's truly critical to detect appendix cancer early.' There are no standardized screening tests for appendix cancers — most cases are diagnosed incidentally after someone has their appendix removed. 'I think it's important to understand that appendix cancer is actually diagnosed in younger ages more commonly than we see in other cancers,' she said, noting that one in three patients diagnosed with appendix cancer is under the age of 50, compared to one in eight for colon cancer.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Swiss Village Buried by Massive Glacial Collapse
A chunk of the Birch glacier collapsed Wednesday, May 28, 2025, burying large portions of the small Swiss village, Blatten, under a mass of snow, ice, and debris, according to news May 19, residents of Blatten, which normally has a population of about 300, were evacuated after geologists determined that they were threatened by the risk of rock and ice fall. Still, Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for local authorities in the canton of Valais, said one person is missing, Reuters collapse destroyed several homes in the village and, according to generated an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale. Footage shared of the avalanche shows a deluge of snow, ice, and rock roaring down a Swiss mountainside. Thick brown plumes of debris erupted around the slide. Tap or click the embedded video below to watch the collapse to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates. Karin Keller-Suter, the president of Switzerland, acknowledged the glacial collapse in a post on X.'It's terrible to lose your home,' she wrote. 'In these difficult times, my thoughts are with the residents of Blatten." The natural disaster at Blatten follows another incident when, in 2023, residents of the Swiss village of Brienz were forced to leave their homes as the mountains above them deteriorated, the BBC reported that, according to experts, the link between the collapse of the Birch glacier and climate isn't yet a changing climate has accelerated global glacial recession and, according to a fact sheet published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences, global warming can destabilize rock faces previously supported by glaciers or permafrost, heightening the risk of rockfalls and an interview, Daniel Farinotti, a glaciologist at ETH Zurich, said a portion of Switzerland's glaciers could be preserved if 'we manage to cut global greenhouse gas emissions quickly.' However, Farinotti added that if greenhouse gas emissions aren't reduced, all of the Swiss glaciers could vanish by prospect doesn't just threaten an increased prevalence of natural hazards—it also puts Swiss summer skiing destinations at risk. Across the country, seven of the nine ski resorts that offered glacier skiing have ceased summer operations, according to a paper published in the Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights. Today, only Zermatt and Saas-Fee's summer glacier skiing offerings Village Buried by Massive Glacial Collapse first appeared on Powder on May 28, 2025
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A gross airplane bathroom is the wrong place to do this, experts say — and you should follow their advice
Experts poo-poo the airplane loo. Flying might feel high-tech — but beneath the surface, it can get pretty gross. In fact, some experts warn that the water on board airplanes is so questionable, they wouldn't even wash their hands with it. While tray tables and overhead bins are known germ zones, it's the airplane bathroom that deserves the most caution. 'The toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles are not,' Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger, told Travel and Leisure. Even more concerning: studies show onboard water tanks may harbor harmful bacteria. A 2017 study in the Annals of Microbiology found over 50 strains of bacteria in ice used on planes. 'My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all,' Charles Platkin, the author of the study and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, told Travel and Leisure. He also echoed his team's findings, saying that he avoids washing his hands with water as well. He uses hand wipes instead. A former flight attendant also revealed to The Sun that the bathrooms onboard don't have great ventilation. 'The airplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window, and the air ventilation is poor,' the unnamed attendant said. 'This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have 'done their business' before you (especially if it's a long-haul flight), but you could also be breathing in potential feces particles, circulating [in] the air after a toilet flush.' They recommend wearing a mask when entering the bathroom — or avoiding it altogether, if possible. If you need to brush your teeth during the flight, it's best to use bottled water, as the expert warns that the water is unfiltered and not in the best condition. Experts suggest packing hand sanitizer, using disinfectant wipes and being mindful of bathroom surfaces. 'I try to avoid the restroom if possible,' Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, told Travel and Leisure, 'but when I must go, I'm careful about what I touch. 'I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure,' Knighton said.
