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Saudi Arabia Continues to Turn Screws on U.S. Shale

Saudi Arabia has succeeded in maintaining its market share throughout the oil bust by continuing to ratchet up production.




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Khalid al-Asaad Slaughtered by ISIS

Khalid al-Asaad, an 83-year-old caretaker of antiquities in Syria, was beheaded by ISIS, but did not receive the same attention as a slain lion.




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Sierra Leone: Challenge to Constitutional Review

One of the issues being debated in Sierra Leone, as the country undergoes a constitutional review, is whether to keep in place presidential term limits.




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Africa: 'AI is No Panacea, But If It Can Help With Africa's Challenges, We Should Be Open-Minded'

[allAfrica] Cape Town -- allAfrica's Juanita Williams and Joy Basu, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, overseeing Economics and Regional Affairs across Sub-Saharan Africa, discussed the work of the Digital Transformation With Africa (DTA) project, which is coming up for its two-year anniversary in December 2024, how DTA chooses its partners, and how AI is not a panacea for the challenges the continent faces. Basu is in Cape Town for the Africa Tech Festival, and Williams spoke with her





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IDF Chief of Staff Halevi sends a message to Hamas during assessment in Jabalya


Halevi gave this message after the IDF killed 1,000 Hamas terrorists in the northern Gazan city and additionally captured another 1,000 terrorists.




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Amid Great Challenges, Hope Reigns As More Children Reached with Education Support

Amid unprecedented global challenges and a growing list of countries in crisis, there is an existential threat to decades of development gains—with the global community marked by intensified armed conflict, forced displacements, and the debilitating effects of climate crises. One in five children worldwide lives in or flees from conflict. The number of crisis-affected children […]




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Timothée Chalamet's 'Wonka' sequel is in works

Wonka is based on Roald Dahl’s book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'Timothée Chalamet starrer, Wonka, which turned out to be a commercial success in 2023, will now be getting a sequel.Director Paul King confirmed the new entry of the family-musical in an interview, where he also...




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Timothée Chalamet spoke on early career struggles: lost two movie roles

Timothée Chalamet was told to gain weight to get more roles.Timothée Chalamet doesn’t struggle to land big roles for movies anymore.However, there was a time when the Wonka star was rejected from two movie roles at the initial stages of his career.On Monday, November 11th,...




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Intervention on behalf of the Multilateral Development Banks at COP29 - Masatsugu Asakawa

Intervention by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, on behalf of the multilateral development banks at COP29, World Leaders Summit, 12 November 2024




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Governance, Competitiveness, and Growth: The Challenges for Bangladesh

Different governance dimensions in Bangladesh are significantly and positively related to its economic development, however, the quality of governance has remained low.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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Infrastructure Challenges in South Asia: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships

South Asian private sector participation in infrastructure development is examined, and recommendations are made for future development.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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Economic Challenges of Post-Tsunami Reconstruction in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's post-tsunami reconstruction experience provides lessons for future major disasters, particularly for realistic needs assessment.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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halasz gl1100 carburetor repair guide

halasz gl1100 carburetor repair guide




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If we could talk to whales, what might they say?

This week, we journey to the early 2030s, when machine learning first allowed us to communicate with sperm whales. Rowan Hooper tells us what they have to say




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Tense docu-thriller exposes the cruelties of commercial whale trade

Orca – Black & White Gold digs deep into the dirty waters surrounding the killer whale trade and captures a daring rescue mission




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How clues in honey can help fight our biggest biodiversity challenges

There are secrets aplenty in a pot of honey – from information about bees' "micro-bee-ota" to DNA from the environment – that can help us fight food fraud and even monitor shifts in climate




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A cave in France is revealing how the Neanderthals died out

Discoveries from the genomes of the last Neanderthals are rewriting the story of how our own species came to replace them




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Quantum theory is challenging long-standing ideas about entropy

A mathematical study finds that three definitions of what it means for entropy to increase, which have previously been considered equivalent, can produce different results in the quantum realm




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Tonga volcano eruption disrupted satellites halfway around the world

A link between volcanic activity and rising bubbles of low pressure in the ionosphere has now been proven, which may be why the colossal Tonga volcano eruption in 2022 disrupted satellite communications




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Tense docu-thriller exposes the cruelties of commercial whale trade

Orca – Black & White Gold digs deep into the dirty waters surrounding the killer whale trade and captures a daring rescue mission




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Genomes of modern Indian people include wide range of Neanderthal DNA

A genetic study of nearly 2700 individuals has revealed the ancestry of Indian people, and gets scientists closer to reconstructing the genomes of ancient Neanderthals




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Astonishing images show how female Neanderthal may have looked

The skull of Shanidar Z was found in the Shanidar cave in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and has been painstakingly put back together




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Oldest known human viruses found hidden within Neanderthal bones

Genetic analysis of 50,000-year-old Neanderthal skeletons has uncovered the remnants of three viruses related to modern human pathogens, and the researchers think they could be recreated




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Neanderthal child may have had Down’s syndrome

A fossil bone displaying features consistent with Down’s syndrome belonged to a Neanderthal child who survived beyond 6 years old, adding to evidence that these extinct humans cared for members of their community




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Neanderthal cooking skills put to the test with birds and stone tools

In an effort to understand ancient Neanderthal food preparation techniques, researchers butchered five wild birds using flint stone tools and roasted them




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Genome of Neanderthal fossil reveals lost tribe cut off for millennia

Analysis of DNA from a Neanderthal fossil found in a French cave indicates that it belonged to a group that was isolated for more than 50,000 years




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Gravity may explain why Neanderthals failed to adopt advanced weaponry

Spear-throwing tools called atlatls allow humans to launch projectiles over great distances, but Neanderthals apparently never used them – and an experiment involving a 9-metre-tall platform may explain why




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A cave in France is revealing how the Neanderthals died out

Discoveries from the genomes of the last Neanderthals are rewriting the story of how our own species came to replace them




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Two-Drug Inhaler Could Reduce Asthma Attacks

Title: Two-Drug Inhaler Could Reduce Asthma Attacks
Category: Health News
Created: 5/19/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/20/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Tools Test Debunks 'Dumb Neanderthals' Theory

Title: Tools Test Debunks 'Dumb Neanderthals' Theory
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/27/2008 12:00:00 AM




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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Blows Up Social Media

Title: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Blows Up Social Media
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2014 11:01:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2014 12:00:00 AM




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Patients Hope Ice Bucket Challenge Keeps Flowing

Title: Patients Hope Ice Bucket Challenge Keeps Flowing
Category: Health News
Created: 8/26/2014 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2014 12:00:00 AM




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'Half a Glass' Rule May Curb Overdrinking

Title: 'Half a Glass' Rule May Curb Overdrinking
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2014 4:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2014 12:00:00 AM




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How Reliable Are Medical Studies? Half of Findings Couldn't Be Replicated

Title: How Reliable Are Medical Studies? Half of Findings Couldn't Be Replicated
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2015 12:00:00 AM




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More Than Half of Americans Will Need Nursing Home Care: Study

Title: More Than Half of Americans Will Need Nursing Home Care: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2017 12:00:00 AM




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Scientists Challenge Key Survival Stat Cited by U.S. Officials in Plasma Approval

Title: Scientists Challenge Key Survival Stat Cited by U.S. Officials in Plasma Approval
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM




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A Mentally Challenging Job Could Help Ward Off Dementia

Title: A Mentally Challenging Job Could Help Ward Off Dementia
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM




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COVID Symptoms Haunt Nearly Half of Patients a Year Later

Title: COVID Symptoms Haunt Nearly Half of Patients a Year Later
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM




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Half of American Workers Support COVID Vaccination, Mask Mandates in Workplace

Title: Half of American Workers Support COVID Vaccination, Mask Mandates in Workplace
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM




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Use of Pot, Hallucinogens Soaring Among Young Americans

Title: Use of Pot, Hallucinogens Soaring Among Young Americans
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/23/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Magic Mushroom Hallucinogen May Treat Problem Drinking

Title: Magic Mushroom Hallucinogen May Treat Problem Drinking
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Patient-managed interventions for adults with bronchiectasis: evidence, challenges and prospects

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung condition which is characterised by recurrent chest infections, chronic sputum production and cough, and limited exercise tolerance. While bronchiectasis may be caused by various aetiologies, these features are shared by most patients with bronchiectasis regardless of the cause. This review consolidates the existing evidence on patient-managed interventions for adults with bronchiectasis, while also outlining areas for future research. Airway clearance techniques and hyperosmolar agents are key components of the bronchiectasis management and consistently recommended for clinical implementation. Questions around their prescription, such as optimal sequence of delivery, are still to be answered. Pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise are also recommended for patients with bronchiectasis. Relatively strong evidence underpins this recommendation during a clinically stable stage of the disease, although the role of pulmonary rehabilitation following an exacerbation is still unclear. Additionally, self-management programmes feature prominently in bronchiectasis treatment, yet the lack of consensus regarding their definition and outcomes presents hurdles to establishing a cohesive evidence base. Moreover, cough, a cardinal symptom of bronchiectasis, warrants closer examination. Although managing cough in bronchiectasis may initially appear risky, further research is necessary to ascertain whether strategies employed in other respiratory conditions can be safely and effectively adapted to bronchiectasis, particularly through identifying patient responder populations and criteria where cough may not enhance airway clearance efficacy and its control is needed. Overall, there is a growing recognition of the importance of patient-managed interventions in the bronchiectasis management. Efforts to improve research methodologies and increase research funding are needed to further advance our understanding of these interventions, and their role in optimising patient care and outcomes.




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The Challenge of Implementing Race-Neutral PFT Reference Equations




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Downstream Effects of Market Changes on Inhalers: Impacts on Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease

COPD and asthma are two of the most common chronic lung diseases, affecting over 545 million people globally and 34 million in the United States. Annual health care costs related to chronic lung disease are estimated at €380 billion in the European Union, and $24–$50 billion in the United States averaging to $4,000 in out-of-pocket costs per person in the U.S. A full-text literature search was conducted for English publications between January 1, 2005–March 18, 2024. It returned over 5,000 publications that were further narrowed using key search words, resulting in 172 peer-reviewed articles. Using their experience and subject expertise, the authors further narrowed the peer-reviewed articles to 55 that were in their opinion relevant. Also, 38 recently published industry reports and news articles specific to downstream effects of inhaler market changes and the future impact were included. The literature suggests that individuals with chronic lung disease face increased challenges with access to inhaled medication due to rising medication costs, discontinuation of branded medications, introduction of generic medications not covered by insurance, exclusionary preferred drug list tactics that force health care providers into non-medical switching of medication or devices, and ongoing medication shortages. Providers experience ongoing hurdles in prescribing appropriate inhaled medications for individuals with chronic lung disease, including increased time and costs spent on administrative tasks due to inhaler denials, a loss of patient trust, and limits on their ability to prescribe appropriate inhaled medication for individuals with chronic lung disease.




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Reassessing Halm's clinical stability criteria in community-acquired pneumonia management

Background

Halm's clinical stability criteria have long guided antibiotic treatment and hospital discharge decisions for patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Originally introduced in 1998, these criteria were established based on a relatively small and select patient population. Consequently, our study aims to reassess their applicability in the management of CAP in a contemporary real-world setting.

Methods

This cohort study included 2918 immunocompetent patients hospitalised with CAP from three hospitals in Denmark between 2017 and 2020. The primary outcome was time to achieve clinical stability as defined by Halm's criteria. Additionally, we examined recurrence of clinical instability and severe complications. Cumulative incidence function or Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyse these outcomes, considering competing risks.

Results

The study population primarily comprised elderly individuals (median age 75 years) with significant comorbidities. The median time to clinical stability according to Halm's criteria was 4 days, with one-fifth experiencing recurrence of instability after early clinical response (stability within 3 days). Severe complications within 30 days mainly comprised mortality, with rates of 5.1% (64/1257) overall in those with early clinical response, 1.7% (18/1045) in the subgroup without do-not-resuscitate orders and 17.3% (276/1595) among the rest.

Conclusion

Halm's clinical stability criteria effectively classify CAP patients with different disease courses, yet achieving stability required more time in this ageing population with substantial comorbidities and more severe disease. Early clinical response indicates reduced risk of complications, especially in those without do-not-resuscitate orders.




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Delays in Cardiovascular Emergency Responses in Africa: Health System Failures or Cultural Challenges?




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U.S. Imaging Costs: Michal Horny Talks with Ken Herrmann and Johannes Czernin About the Changing Contribution of Medical Imaging to Health Care Costs




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Can’t prescribe, can’t dispense: the challenge of medicine shortages




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Challenging the status quo: deprescribing antihypertensive medication in older adults in primary care