Jeff Sebo on digital minds, and how to avoid sleepwalking into a major moral catastrophe
"The general case for extending moral consideration to AI systems is that they might be conscious or sentient or agential or otherwise significant. And if they might have those features, then we should extend them at least some moral consideration in the spirit of caution and humility."
Source: 80000hours.org
Search algorithm reveals nearly 200 new kinds of CRISPR systems Allessandra DiCorato | Broad Institute.
A new search algorithm has identified 188 kinds of new CRISPR systems in bacterial genomes. The systems have a range of functions and could enable gene editing, diagnostics, and more.
Source: mit.edu
Egypt becomes the first country to achieve WHO validation on the path to elimination of hepatitis C
Source: who.int
“Meet the patient” session: a strategy to teach medical students about autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury
Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system is an important long-term consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, there is a scarcity of teaching resources about this topic for preclinical medical students. Given the association of SCI sequelae with emergency complications and mortality, it is imperative...
Source: biomedcentral.com
Identifying the optimal time period for detection of atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke and TIA, an updated systematic
There is an almost 4-fold increase in nAF detection with continuous cardiac monitoring, compared to usual care. The results also demonstrate two statistically significant time periods in nAF detection; at 0-14 days and 6-12 months following monitoring commencement. These data support the utilisation...
Source: nih.gov
WHO statement on reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China
WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. At a press conference on 13 November 2023, Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission reported an increase in incidence of respiratory...
Source: who.int
Tantalising sign of possible life on faraway world
Nasa's James Webb Telescope may have discovered a molecule thought only to be produced by life.
Source: bbc.com
AI cuts treatment time for cancer radiotherapy
The technology will be offered at cost price to all NHS trusts in England, following successful pilot studies.
Source: bbc.com
AI information retrieval: A search engine researcher explains the promise and peril of letting ChatGPT and its cousins search
A new generation of artificial intelligence-based information access systems, which includes Microsoft’s Bing/ChatGPT, Google/Bard and Meta/LLaMA, is upending the traditional search engine mode of search input and output. These systems are able to take full sentences and even paragraphs as input and...
Source: ampproject.org
Learning Outcomes of High-fidelity versus Table-Top Simulation in Undergraduate Emergency Medicine Education: Prospective,
The student's performance on quantitative medical-knowledge assessment was equivalent between the high-fidelity control and low-fidelity experimental simulation groups. Analysis of knowledge acquisition between the two groups also demonstrated statistical equivalence.
Source: nih.gov
Coaching for Clinician Educators
Branzetti, Jeremy. Love, Linda M.. Schulte, Elaine E. Journal of Graduate Medical Education. Clinician educators (CEs) face manifold challenges, such as teaching under increasing clinical productivity pressures, satisfying evolving accreditation requirements, and combatting trainee and faculty burnout....
Source: allenpress.com
Digital map created of UK's underground pipes and cables
It is hoped a digital map of power cables, gas pipes and sewers will help avoid accidents.
Source: bbc.com
One-Year Adverse Outcomes Among US Adults With Post–COVID-19 Condition vs Those Without COVID-19 in a Large Commercial
This case-control study aims to quantify 1-year outcomes among individuals meeting a post–COVID-19 condition definition compared with a control group of individuals without COVID-19.
Source: jamanetwork.com
Recent waning snowpack in the Alps is unprecedented in the last six centuries - Nature Climate Change Carrer, Marco. Dibona,
Snow cover in high-latitude and high-altitude regions has strong effects on the Earth’s climate, environmental processes and socio-economic activities. Over the last 50 years, the Alps experienced a 5.6% reduction per decade in snow cover duration, which already affects a region where economy and...
Source: nature.com
Pharma recommends five priorities for future pandemic preparedness and response - IFPMA
As the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response is discussed, IFPMA shares practical solutions and recommends focussing on five priorities.
Source: ifpma.org
Overton window - Wikipedia
Source: wikipedia.org
Was Brexit About Tax Avoidance?
Several years ago I published an article “Is Brexit Really About Tax Avoidance?”, and it’s probably about time to revisit the topic, in the past tense, especially since the Anti Tax Avoidance Directive has now been implemented, and we have the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement to consider....
Source: politax.com
In the ’80s, We Decided Bike Helmets Make Riders Safe. Cyclists Have Paid for It Ever Since.
Good review of the complex science around cycle helmets and safety. The article also touches on the unintended effects of helmet mandate laws (which have been repealed in many US cities). Shout out to Ian Walker of Swansea University and his heroic measuring of passing distance of vehicles with various...
Source: slate.com
Shared decision making learning package | Shared decision making | Guidance | NICE
"To support implementation of the NICE guideline on shared decision making, Keele University and NICE have worked in partnership to develop an online learning package. This is suitable for all healthcare professionals and aims to equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to have good-quality...
Source: nice.org.uk
Exclusive: The $2 Per Hour Workers Who Made ChatGPT Safer
A TIME investigation reveals the difficult conditions faced by the workers who made ChatGPT possible
Source: time.com
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