Saturday, May 25, 2024

A.I.  

Google’s AI Search Feature Faces Criticisms After Giving Dangerous Advice; Users Are Told To Glue Pizza and Eat Rocks


Conelisa N. Hubilla 
Google’s AI Search Feature Faces Criticisms After Giving Dangerous Advice; Users Are Told To Glue Pizza and Eat Rocks
(Photo : Pexels/ Eren Li)

Social media users have received strange and dangerous search responses, which appear to have been provided by Google's new AI Overview feature.

Issues With Google's New AI Tool

On May 14, Google launched a new feature for its long-standing search business. It has updated its search engine with an AI tool, known as AI Overviews, which was designed to help users grasp a topic quickly by combining information from different sources.

However, the new feature is currently facing criticisms after providing erratic, inaccurate responses. According to different social media and news reports, the said AI has reportedly told users to add glue to their pizzas, eat rocks, and clean their washing machines with chlorine. In another instance, the AI suggests jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge when a user searched: "I'm feeling depressed."

The experimental tool summarizes search results using the Gemini AI model. It has been rolled out to some users in the U.S. before the planned worldwide release for later this year.

AI Overview has already caused widespread dismay across social media. Users claim that, on some occasions, the AI tool generated summaries using articles from comedic Reddit posts and satirical website The Onion as its sources.

According to a screenshot posted on X, one user made a query about pizza, which received the response: "You can also add about ⅛ cup of non-toxic glue to the sauce to give it more tackiness." After tracing the answer back, it appears to be based on a decade-old joke which was posted as a comment on Reddit.

Other inaccurate responses include claims that former US President John Adams graduated from the University of Wisconsin 21 times, that Barack Obama is a muslim, that users should eat a rock a day to aid their digestion, and that a dog played in the NHL, NBA, and NFL.

In response to the erroneous results, Google representatives claimed that the examples were not common queries and are not representative of most people's experiences. The company also stated that they performed extensive testing before launching the new AI tool. They also claim to take action against violations of their policies as they continue to refine their overall systems.

READ ALSO: Google DeepMind Uses AI in Predicting DNA Mutations, Speeds Up Search for the Cause of Genetic Diseases


How Does Google Overviews Work?

Google AI Overviews refer to a combination of search results, which are summarized by AI. The combined information is taken from web pages in search results as well as Google's own knowledge base.

Formerly known as Google Search Generative Experience (SGE), AI Overviews is powered by the Gemini language model. It aims to give a quick understanding of a search topic by presenting information so the user does not need to scan through articles to find the answers they are looking for.

Responses from AI Overview are placed at the top of the search results page before human-written results. The information provided by the new tool is scoured from the web pages below them, and are cited as sources in the overview. Under the AI-generated summary, the page displays the links to all the resources used, which can be clicked to check where the information is pulled from.


As new tools flourish, AI 'fingerprints' on scientific papers could damage trust in vital research

Copyright Canva

By Oceane Duboust

Experts are warning that the "fingerprints" of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can be found in scientific papers, including peer-reviewed ones.

Are some researchers using too much artificial intelligence (AI) in their scientific papers? Experts say that "fingerprints" of generative AI (GenAI) can be found in an increasing number of studies.

A recent preprint paper, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet, estimated that at least 60,000 papers were probably "polished" using AI in some way by analysing the writing style.

"It's not to say that we knew how much LLM [large language model] work was involved in them, but certainly, these are immensely high shifts overnight," Andrew Gray, a librarian at University College London, told Euronews Next, adding that these types of "fingerprints" can be expected even if the tools were used for mere copyediting.

While certain shifts can be linked to changes in how people write, the evolution of some words is "staggering".

"Based on what we're seeing, those numbers look like they're going steadily up," Gray said.

It has already started causing waves. A peer-reviewed study with AI-generated pictures that the authors openly credited to the Midjourney tool was published in the journal Frontiers in Cell Development and Biology and went viral on social media in February.

The journal has since retracted the study and apologised "to the scientific community".

"There's very few that explicitly mention the use of ChatGPT and similar tools," Gray said about the papers he analysed.

New tools pose trust issues

While GenAI may help speed up the editing process, such as when an author is not a native speaker of the language they are writing in, a lack of transparency regarding the use of these tools is concerning, according to experts.

"There is concern that experiments, for example, are not being carried out properly, that there is cheating at all levels," Guillaume Cabanac, a professor of computer science at the University of Toulouse, told Euronews Next.

Nicknamed a "deception sleuth" by Nature, Cabanac tracks fake science and dubious papers.

"Society gives credit to science but this credit can be withdrawn at any time," he added, explaining that misusing AI tools could damage the public’s trust in scientific research.

With colleagues, Cabanac developed a tool called the Problematic Paper Screener to detect "tortured phrases" – those that are found when a paraphrasing tool is used, for example, to avoid plagiarism detection.

But since the GenAI tools went public, Cabanac started noticing a trend of new fingerprints appearing in papers such as the term "regenerate," a button appearing at the end of AI chatbots’ answers, or sentences beginning with "As an AI language model".

They are telltale signs of text that was taken from an AI tool.

“I only detect a tiny fraction of what I assume to be produced today, but it's enough to establish a proof of concept,” Cabanac said.

One of the issues is that AI-generated content will likely be increasingly difficult to spot as the technology progresses.

“It's very easy for these tools to subtly change things, or to change things in a way that maybe you didn't quite anticipate with a secondary meaning. So, if you're not checking it carefully after it's gone through the tool, there's a real risk of errors creeping in,” Gray said.

Harder to spot in the future

The peer-reviewed process is meant to prevent any blatant mistakes from appearing in the journals, but it’s not often the case as Cabanac points out on social media.

Some publishers have released guidelines regarding the use of AI in submitted publications.

Making assessments badly, too quickly, or helped by ChatGPT without rereading, that's not good for science.
 Guillaume Cabanac 
Professor of computer science, University of Toulouse

The journal Nature said in 2023 that an AI tool could not be a credited author on a research paper, and that any researchers using AI tools must document their use.

Gray fears that these papers will be harder to spot in the future.

"As the tools get better, we would expect fewer really obvious [cases]," he said, adding that publishers should give "serious thought" to the guidelines and expected disclosure.

Both Gray and Cabanac urged authors to be cautious, with Cabanac calling to flag suspicious papers and regularly check for retracted ones.

"We can't allow ourselves to quote, for example, a study or a scientific article that has been retracted," Cabanac said.

"You always have to double-check what you're basing your work on".

He also questioned the soundness of the peer-reviewing process which proved deficient in some cases.

"Making assessments badly, too quickly or helped by ChatGPT without rereading, that's not good for science," he said.


Generative AI and Democracy: 
Impacts and Interventions

Published: 25 May 2024

Director of CASM


This week’s election announcement has set all political parties firmly into campaign mode and over the next 40 days the public will be weighing up who will get their vote on 4th July.

This democratic moment, however, will take place against the backdrop of a new and largely untested threat; generative-AI. In the lead up to the election, the strength of our electoral integrity is likely to be tested by the spread of AI-generated content and deepfakes – an issue that over 60% of the public are concerned about, according to recent Demos and Full Fact polling.

Our new paper takes a look at the near and long-term solutions at our disposal for bolstering the resilience of our democratic institutions amidst the modern technological age. We explore the top four pressing mechanisms by which generative-AI challenges the stability of democracy, and how to mitigate them.

Last month, Demos, alongside key partners, issued an Open Letter calling on all UK political parties to form a cross-party agreement on their responsible use of generative AI ahead of the election. The open letter is backed by trusted organisations such as Full Fact and the Electoral Reform Society, leading universities, and key figures including Martin Lewis, Founder and Chair of Money Saving Expert and the Money and Mental Policy Institute (MMHPI), and Wikipedia Founder, Jimmy Wales.

Read the full Open Letter here.

Posted by at No comments:
Q&A: New Legislation in Vermont Will Make Fossil Fuel Companies Liable for Climate Impacts in the State. Here’s What That Could Look Like

The legal and moral case for holding companies accountable.

Interview by Paloma Beltran, Living on Earth
May 25, 2024
Homes throughout Barre, Vermont were inundated with flash flooding on July 11, 2023 after heavy rains across the state. Credit: John Tully/The Washington Post via Getty Images

From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by host Paloma Beltran with Pat Parenteau, an emeritus professor of law at Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Vermont’s House and Senate have approved a bill that would make fossil fuel companies financially liable for their carbon pollution and its role in the climate crisis. Lawmakers pointed to consequences of these carbon emissions, like the flood in July 2023 that put parts of the state capital underwater for weeks and caused over a billion dollars in damage.

The bipartisan bill is known as the Climate Superfund Act because it demands that fossil fuel companies cover at least part of the growing costs of climate change. Similar bills are being considered in New York, Massachusetts and Maryland, but Vermont is the first state to pass this kind of legislation. The bill passed with a supermajority, enough to override a potential veto. It is now headed to Governor Phil Scott’s desk.

Living on Earth spoke with Pat Parenteau, former EPA regional counsel and emeritus professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School, to unpack the details. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

PALOMA BELTRAN: What is the Climate Superfund law in Vermont? What does it say?

PAT PARENTEAU: It’s basically asking fossil fuel companies to contribute to the costs for adaptation to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, including protection of homes and businesses threatened by flooding, building resilience in floodplains by moving structures out of harm’s way, investing in wetland protection and natural systems that absorb carbon emissions and provide for more resilience to extreme weather events. It’s a new approach, and Vermont is the first state in the country to try it.

BELTRAN: How is this law different from the climate deception lawsuits like the one we’ve seen filed in the state of Hawaii?
Emeritus Professor Pat Parenteau. Credit: Vermont Law and Graduate School

PARENTEAU: This law doesn’t depend on proof of deception, or false advertising, or the campaign to sow doubt about climate change that the companies are accused of in over 30 lawsuits across the country. The companies are liable by virtue of what they do. It’s not that they’ve committed anything wrong, necessarily—”polluter pays” is the concept here.

The fact that your product creates carbon pollution, which is driving climate change, that’s enough to make you liable, in the same way, or at least a similar way, to how the Superfund law at the federal level makes you responsible for contamination of soil and groundwater as a result of your activities at a site. You may have generated chemical waste that wound up at the site, you may own the site, you may operate a landfill or other facility that’s become contaminated.

The Superfund law says, by virtue of the fact that you own or operate or generate waste, you’re liable. In the same way, this law is saying the fact that you extract and burn fossil fuels is enough to make you liable for the damage that results from that.

BELTRAN: How might the state of Vermont go about calculating which companies owe what? What are the possible methods they could use here?

PARENTEAU: That is the big question. The formula that the law is using—and the state treasurer will have to flesh this out—is to say, what is the individual company’s share in the global emissions? The law also directs the state to use the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas inventory as a starting point.

The greenhouse gas inventory has something called emission factors. For example, for the big oil companies, they can disaggregate among the different companies, what their emissions factor is for the amount of oil and gas they’re producing. So it’s going to be a proportionate share, based on what the individual company’s emissions are. That’s going to be the basic formula.

BELTRAN: It’s a big job, to calculate all of that.

PARENTEAU: Yes. And then from there, you have to say, well, what percentage of harm is the emissions doing on top of the natural cycle of flooding, for example, just sticking with the flooding example.

There are other impacts of climate change in Vermont. There’s impacts on the ski industry, there’s impacts on the sugar-making industry—our famous syrup.

But just in terms of flooding, what you have to calculate is, by how much has climate change increased the damage from flooding that normally would occur in Vermont? The flooding of Montpelier was definitely much greater than any prior flood we’d ever had. But you have to calculate how much worse was it as a result of the emissions from these companies? That’s another tricky calculation.

BELTRAN: How are these oil companies expected to respond?

PARENTEAU: We know that the oil companies are not going to start sending checks to Vermont. The oil companies have been fighting tooth and nail against all of the other lawsuits that have been brought against them. And we can expect the same thing here.

The companies have a choice to make. They can either file what’s called a preemptive strike and challenge the law on constitutional grounds. For example, they may argue that this is a violation of due process to make them liable, when they haven’t, quote, done anything wrong. They’re producing a valuable product that people are still buying to put into their automobiles, to heat their homes and so forth. They’re going to say, “You’re making us liable for engaging in economic activity that’s lawful? How can you do that? That’s not constitutional.”

Similar arguments were made against Superfund, the federal law. And it took several years for those arguments to finally be resolved in the court. Ultimately, it went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the Superfund case, there is precedent for establishing liability for the damage that legal activity is causing.

But whether that precedent under Superfund extends to the climate liability context, that’s going to be a major issue; that’s a novel issue.

One option for the companies might be to challenge the law on its face. The other option would be to wait until Vermont actually sends them a bill, a demand for payment, and then not pay, in which case Vermont would have to initiate a lawsuit to collect the money that they’ve demanded.

Either way, this issue is sure to end up in court. And it will take the usual long time for it to finally get settled.

BELTRAN: What are some of the concerns raised by opponents of the law other than these oil companies?

PARENTEAU: The opposition to passage of the law came from those who are concerned that Vermont is too small a state to take on these major multinational corporations, that, as we’ve discussed, isn’t going to just happen without litigation.

The litigation that’s underway in other states has shown just how expensive it is to sue these companies. These companies really fight hard, which means the cost of litigation can be measured easily in the millions. Some of the people who questioned this law were saying Vermont is too small to take this on; let some of the bigger states do it—let New York do it. And we can follow in their wake, but don’t take the first hit from these companies.

The costs of litigating against the oil companies, not only are they not small, but there’s not enough money in Vermont to do everything that needs to be done. The big question is, what’s the best use of the money we have? Is it to fight the oil companies to try to get them to pay? There’s a good case to be made that that’s appropriate. But the contrary case is that’s going to take a really long time, with uncertain results. And so maybe the better approach is to spend the money you do have with direct assistance to the communities most affected by climate change, and let some of these other states go first.

This story is funded by readers like you.

Our nonprofit newsroom provides award-winning climate coverage free of charge and advertising. We rely on donations from readers like you to keep going. Please donate now to support our work.Donate Now

BELTRAN: What are the broader consequences of this law in Vermont? How will this impact the rest of the country, and potentially the rest of the globe?

PARENTEAU: I do think we’re going to see other states adopting similar legislation. And I do think the underlying theory of these laws, that the oil companies should pay their fair share to address the damage that’s being done, even if their product was a valuable product for many years, the truth is, we now know, it’s causing damage.

Under the “polluter pay” rule, which is one of the pillars of environmental law and policy, what Vermont is doing and what I think many other states are going to be doing is looking to the oil companies, which are some of the wealthiest companies on earth, to pay their fair share for the damage that’s being done.

In that sense, I think this movement that Vermont has begun has merit. And I think it will put greater pressure on the oil companies to either agree under some circumstances to contribute to the costs of dealing with climate or be forced to do so by a court at some point. There’s a legal and a moral case to be made for holding companies responsible. And we’ll now see how fast that can happen.

Related
The Vermont Legislature Considers ‘Superfund’ Legislation to Compensate for Climate Change


Heavy Rain and Rising Sea Levels Are Sending Sewage Into Some Charleston Streets and Ponds


A Pennsylvania County Is Suing the Fossil Fuel Industry for Damages Linked to Climate Change
Posted by at No comments:

OVER 750,000 ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE DEATHS PREVENTABLE YEARLY VIA VACCINES, WATER, SANITATION AND INFECTION CONTROL




hand hygiene

May 23, 2024

Speaking at the World Health Assembly, authors of a new Lancet Series call for urgent global action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Authors say if the world does not prioritize action on AMR now, we will see a steady increase in the global death toll—currently 4.95 million per year from infections linked to AMR—with young infants, elderly people, and people with chronic illnesses or requiring surgical procedures at the highest risk.

Improving and expanding existing methods to prevent infections, such as hand hygiene, regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment in health care facilities, availability of safe drinking water, effective sanitation and use of pediatric vaccines, could prevent over 750,000 deaths associated with AMR every year in
low- or middle-income countries (LMICs), estimates a new modeling analysis as part of a new four paper Series published in The Lancet.

Each year, an estimated 7.7 million deaths globally are caused by bacterial infections—1 in 8 of all global deaths, making bacterial infections the second largest cause of death globally. Out of these bacterial infection deaths, almost 5 million are associated with bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. Authors of the new Lancet Series on antimicrobial resistance call for support for sustainable access to antibiotics to be central to ambitious and actionable targets on tackling AMR introduced at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.

AMR PUTS THE MOST VULNERABLE AT FURTHER RISK

Series co-author, Professor Iruka Okeke of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, says, “Access to effective antibiotics is essential to patients worldwide. A failure to provide these antibiotics puts us at risk for not meeting the UN sustainable development goals on child survival and healthy aging. Effective antibiotics prolong lives, reduce disabilities, limit health care costs and enable other life-saving medical actions such as surgery. However, antimicrobial resistance is on the rise—accelerated by inappropriate use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic—threatening the backbone of modern medicine and already leading to deaths and disease which would have once been prevented.”

A recent study in The Lancet estimated that 7.7 million deaths were caused by non-tuberculosis bacterial infections in 2019, of which almost 5 million were associated with bacterial AMR and 1.3 million directly caused by bacterial pathogens resistant to the antibiotics available to treat them.

The new Series highlights how babies, children, the elderly and people with chronic illness are most vulnerable to AMR as they have a higher risk of contracting bacterial infections in general.

AMR is a huge threat to newborn survival around the world. A third of deaths in newborn babies globally are caused by infections and half of those to sepsis (a potentially lethal system-wide response to infection). Increasingly, the bacteria or fungi which cause these infections are no longer responding to most readily available antibiotics, for example, in a study including 11 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America between 2018-2020, 18% of babies with sepsis did not survive despite being given antibiotics.

Elderly and chronically ill people also face significant risk from AMR, especially when seeking treatment for medical conditions in hospitals and long-term care facilities. AMR undermines the safety of common medical procedures such as organ transplants, joint replacements, cancer chemotherapy, and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses.

“As an infectious disease clinical pharmacist, I was already acutely aware of the huge problem the world is facing with AMR. However, the issue of AMR suddenly became personal when my mother developed an infection from a drug-resistant bacteria in her kidneys and urinary tract after receiving surgery in hospital. In Lebanon, as in many countries, our health system is ill prepared to protect patients against AMR—there are gaps in effective infection control and sanitation practices, significant medication shortages, and antimicrobials, if available, are often prescribed for inappropriate uses.

“My mother is only one example of the millions of patients globally who develop an antimicrobial resistant infection while in hospital each year,” says one of the authors on a linked Comment to the Series, Nour Shamas, clinical pharmacist and member of The WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors.

She continues, “Although people who are very young, elderly, living in dire conditions, or are regular hospital patients are at a higher risk of contracting a resistant infection, AMR can impact anyone. It is up to all of us—policymakers, health care professionals, patients and wider society—to call for urgent global prioritization for reducing the spread of infectious diseases and development of resistance, increasing research in understudied issues such as women’s health, and ensuring access to antimicrobials and that they are used judiciously.”

EXISTING INFECTION PREVENTION METHODS CAN PREVENT AMR-ASSOCIATED DEATHS

According to co-author Professor Joseph Lewnard of the University of California in Berkeley, “Focusing on interventions with demonstrated effectiveness in preventing infections must be at the heart of global action to tackle AMR. Preventing infections reduces the use of antibiotics and reduces selection pressure for AMR so that the drugs will work when they are most needed.”

Novel modeling analysis undertaken for the Series estimates existing infection prevention methods could prevent 750,000 deaths associated with AMR infections a year. The analysis estimates:

  • Improving infection prevention and control in health care facilities, including better hand hygiene and more regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment, could save up to 337,000 lives a year.
  • Universal access to safe drinking water and effective sanitation in community settings could prevent approximately 247,800 deaths annually.
  • Expanding the roll out of some pediatric vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccines which help protect against pneumonia and meningitis, and introducing new ones, such as RSV vaccines for pregnant mothers, could save 181,500 lives a year.

Co-author Yewande Alimi of Africa CDC, says, “Our findings highlight how public health actions to prevent infections in the first place should be prioritized as a strategy to tackle AMR as these methods have the potential to drastically reduce the number of deaths from AMR-associated infections. If we can focus on improving infection control methods, water and sanitation and vaccination in LMICs then it should be possible to reduce the number of deaths linked with AMR by 10% by 2030.”

The Series also looks at the evidence for preventing resistance emerging in bacteria, alongside preventing infections in the first place.

Antibiotic stewardship (reducing the use of antibiotics when the benefit to patients is limited) is thought to reduce the selection pressure on bacteria to develop resistance. However, there is a lack of research in this area.

Co-author Dr. Esmita Charani of the University of Cape Town says, “The current limited evidence on the impact of antibiotic stewardship on AMR from low- and middle-income countries does not mean it is not a key intervention that needs focus, but rather makes it difficult to anticipate the effects of antibiotic stewardship in those countries. We urgently need studies to investigate the impact to help inform future policies and interventions fit for different contexts.”

A RETHINKING OF ANTIBIOTIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT IS NEEDED

Co-author Dr. Ursula Theuretzbacher of the Center for Anti-Infective Agents in Vienna, Austria, says, “We need to see a complete rethink in how we approach discovery and development of new antibiotics with a focus on innovation, affordability, and sustainable availability.”

The increasing number of bacterial infections that are no longer responding to any available antibiotics indicate an urgent need to invest in—and ensure global access to—new antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostic tests.

The traditional model of drug development, which depends on the likelihood of high profits to motivate investment, is not working for antibiotics. Most new antibiotics are not registered in LMICs, but even if registered, they would likely be unaffordable.

The authors say new, publicly funded models of antibiotic development based on public-private partnerships could increase the amount of novel alternatives, as well as lower patients’ out-of-pocket cost, making them more accessible.

They also call for greater funding for AMR prevention programs in general, as funding for AMR significantly lags behind that for diseases with smaller burdens such as HIV, malaria, and TB.

Co-author Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, President of the One Health Trust and Senior Research Scholar at Princeton University, says, “Reducing the impact of AMR through pharmaceuticals is not simply a matter of developing new antibiotics. Unless access and affordability are guaranteed, the vast number of deaths from resistant bacterial infections will continue unabated. Reducing the cost of drug development would help keep antibiotics affordable, as shown by the public-private partnerships for medications to treat malaria and neglected tropical diseases. It’s time for similar tactics in antibiotic development.”

AMR TARGETS FOR 2030 MUST ADDRESS THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE ANTIBIOTICS

AMR will be addressed for the second time during a High-Level Meeting as part of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.

The Series proposes ambitious yet achievable global targets for 2030, which the authors argue should be adopted at the meeting within a framework of universal access to antibiotics, the “10-20-30 by 2030” goals:

  • A 10% reduction in mortality from AMR by scaling up public health interventions to prevent infections in the first place, reducing both antibiotic use and resistance and enabling great access.
  • A 20% reduction in inappropriate human antibiotic use by reducing use of antibiotics for mild respiratory infections that generally do not require antibiotics.
  • A 30% reduction in inappropriate animal antibiotic use to be achieved by incremental actions in many sectors. Policy examples could include:
    • no use of medically important antimicrobials for growth promotion in animals
    • no use of highest-priority, critically important antimicrobials for preventative treatment in animals
    • all antibiotics to be given under the guidance of a veterinary professional.

The Series also calls for the establishment of an independent scientific body—an Independent Panel on Antimicrobial Access and Resistance—to expand the evidence base for policy implementation and to inform new targets.

“The window of opportunity to ensure our ability to treat bacterial infections is shrinking. For too long, the problem of AMR has been seen as either not urgent or too difficult to solve. Neither is true. We need immediate action and the tools to do so are widely available. We hope that this September, the United Nations High-Level Meeting will ensure that there is also the global will to act,” says Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan.

A Lancet Editorial publishing alongside the Series says, “AMR is complex. Many pathogens need to be targeted. It thrives in poverty. It connects human, animal and environmental health. The political declaration that emanates from the second high-level meeting on AMR will be judged on how its recommendations are implemented, not the words on the page. This Lancet Series gives clear, evidence-based guidance on how to reach achievable targets that will save lives, mitigate AMR, and enhance food security. Key will be resolving the differing needs and priorities of high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries.”

More information:
The Lancet Series on antimicrobial resistance, The Lancet (2024). www.thelancet.com/series/antibiotic-resistance

Citation:
Over 750,000 antimicrobial resistance deaths preventable yearly via vaccines, water, sanitation and infection control (2024, May 23)

antimicrobial-resistance-deaths-yearly-vaccines.html

.
. The content is provided for information purposes only.


Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Here's How Dangerous This Global Public Health Threat Is


Kendra Stacy 
medications
(Photo : Pixabay / kravaivan11)

Antimicrobial resistance refers to a lack of sensitivity to antimicrobial medications, which are meant to treat microbe-caused diseases.

The World Health Organization considered antimicrobial resistance one of the top 10 public health threats in the world, showing the gravity of the matter.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Simply stated, resisting an antimicrobial stops the supposed medication from working. Antimicrobial resistance may happen when microbes alter as time passes and do not respond to medicines.

This may result in prolonged recovery, more serious infections, higher medical expenses, adoption of riskier procedures or pricier drugs, and even possible death. As a result, the medicines end up ineffective, and the infections may persist.

Some examples of antimicrobials include the antibiotic Penicillin, antiviral Valacyclovir, antifungal Fluconazole, and anti-parasite Praziquantel.

As implied in their name, antimicrobials are designed to treat illnesses caused by microbes, which are small organisms that can go into the body. These microbes include fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Illnesses caused by microbes may include pneumonia, strep throat, colds, food poisoning, influenza, yeast infections, athlete's foot, gonorrhea, tapeworms, and urinary tract infections

If one has any of such illnesses caused by an organism that is resistant, supposed treatments for it may not work.

The microbes inside a person could have ended up evolving in a manner that enables them to grow and live within the body in spite of the medications meant to eradicate them.

With this, it is clear that antimicrobial resistance may threaten the effective treatment and prevention of infections caused by fungi, parasites, viruses, and bacteria, posing great health risks

Antimicrobial resistance has been found to be fuelled by healthcare providers, broad-spectrum medications, close hospital contact, and antibiotic use in agriculture.

If antimicrobial resistance persists at its current rate, healthcare providers may eventually be unable to cure infections.

ALSO READ: Several Antibiotics Seen To Lose Effectiveness in Treating Serious Bacterial Infections Among Children Due to Antimicrobial Resistance, New Study Reveal

How AMR Happens

When a microbe enters the human body, it has five goals. These include reaching the target site, attaching to the target site, multiplying, taking nutrients from the host, and avoiding or surviving any attacks on the immune system.

Though antimicrobial medications are designed to kill most microbes, the ones that are resistant could end up surviving.

Germs have various defense strategies for resisting antimicrobials. They may limit medication uptake, change the target of the medication, stop the medication from working, or activate the medication's efflux.

Anyone who has an infection that is antimicrobial-resistant may have to try out different medications, take a higher antimicrobial dosage, take the medication for longer periods, take a mix of various medications, and experiment with treatments that are non-medication.

AMR Prevalence

Based on recent estimates, there were 1.27 million deaths in 2019 that were directly linked to drug-resistant infections all over the world. There could be as many as 10 million annual deaths by the year 2050.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also says that there are at least two million people in the US who get infected with resistant microbes.

Antimicrobial resistance may affect anyone at any age. However, those with a weaker immune system or who get frequent infections that require antimicrobial treatment have a higher risk. The more that a person gets sick, the higher the chances of having an infection that involves a resistant germ.

Preventing AMR

While AMR cannot be fully eliminated, there are some ways to limit exposure.

These steps may include adhering to prescription medication directions, not sharing or taking someone else's prescription medications, never saving old prescriptions for later, getting recommended vaccinations, and following general health practices.


Antimicrobial resistance a global threat — and Canada is ill-prepared: Senator Seidman


April 18, 2024

Experts have sounded the alarm for decades. Antimicrobial resistance is likely to be Canada’s next major health crisis and it is time for the federal government to take sufficient action to address it.

Antimicrobial resistance requires urgent global action because of the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants. Resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites do not respond to drugs designed to treat them, increasing the risk of serious disease spread. Drugs like penicillin and its derivatives have been the cornerstone of modern medicine for almost a century. Can you imagine a world in which these drugs have lost their effectiveness to treat infections like pneumonia and strep, or to prevent serious infections in surgery and organ transplants?

As a member of the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for more than 12 years, I recall our 2014 study on prescription pharmaceuticals warning about the overuse of antibiotics and their unintended consequences to the entire eco-environment. Listening to expert testimony, it was clear to me then, as it is clear to me now, that antimicrobial resistance will become a worldwide threat. Canada must employ a whole-of-government approach to work towards a solution.

An expert panel of the Council of Canadian Academies estimated that in 2018, antimicrobial resistance cost the Canadian health-care system more than $1.4 billion and was directly responsible for the deaths of 5,400 Canadians. They predict that by 2050, if resistance to all first-line antimicrobials reaches 40% — a scenario they deem highly plausible — 13,700 Canadians will die each year from resistant bacterial infections.

In October 2023, Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled an independent auditor’s report on antimicrobial resistance in the House of Commons. In a press release, she was direct: “To successfully fight antimicrobial resistance, Canada needs a full picture of antimicrobial use and resistance across the country, and a solid plan so that the right antimicrobials are available and used in the right way to protect the health of Canadians. While the Public Health Agency of Canada released a Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in June 2023, I am concerned that it lacks critical elements, such as concrete deliverables, timelines, ways to measure progress, and clear roles and responsibilities for each level of government. Without these elements, it is unlikely that this plan will result in any progress.”

Notably, the audit found that Canada had not taken sufficient action to improve market access to antimicrobial drugs available in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Canada lacks market access to 19 of the 29 reserve antibiotics classified as “antibiotics of last resort” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of 13 “novel” antibiotics made commercially available since 2010, the U.S. has access to all 13; Canada has access to only two. A combination of regulatory and economic incentives is needed to improve the situation, but Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have yet to act.

The report also states that serious gaps persist in data collection outside of hospitals and in vulnerable populations. PHAC did not have specific data for its report to the UN, nor for the 2020 WHO report on global antimicrobial resistance.

The auditor general made recommendations not only to Health Canada and PHAC, but also to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. With special regard to antimicrobial use in agriculture, there are recommendations to ensure that antimicrobials in animal feed are sold by prescription only, and that veterinary antimicrobial use is reviewed. Perhaps Canada should go further, take a lesson from the European Union, and ban antibiotic use for growth stimulation in farm animals.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that Canada must learn from past failures to strengthen its public health responses, especially the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government. After the SARS outbreak in Canada in 2003, the federal government maintained a national emergency strategic stockpile of personal protective equipment. But in 2019, Canada disposed of its expired supplies, including N95 respirators, because it was counting on the provinces to have their own stockpiles. Meanwhile, Ontario also disposed of its N95s, counting on the federal stockpile in case of emergency. And so, despite the lessons of SARS, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Canadian governments were caught flat-footed, and we were left vulnerable.

Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the top 10 global public health threats. We can predict with certainty; the future is here. Canadians deserve better than federal departments and all levels of government dishing blame at each other while nothing gets done. It’s time to learn from past failures and put antimicrobial resistance at the forefront of Canada’s agenda.



Judith G. Seidman
C - Quebec (De la Durantaye)
Tags
Senator Judith G. Seidman Parl 44-1

Senator Judith G. Seidman represents the Quebec division of De la Durantaye in the Senate. She is an epidemiologist and aging-related health researcher.

This article appeared in the March 20, 2024 edition of The Hill Times.


Posted by at No comments:

CDC Prepping for 'Possibility of Increased Risk to Human Health' From Bird Flu

— Approximately 350 recently exposed farm workers are being monitored

by Katherine Kahn , Staff Writer, MedPage Today

The CDC is preparing for the possibility of H5N1 posing an increased risk to human health, even though that current risk remains low, the agency said on Friday.

"It is possible that influenza A(H5N1) viruses could change in ways that allow them to easily infect people and to efficiently spread between people, potentially causing a pandemic," the agency stated in an email to media.

As of May 22, about 350 farm workers are being monitored for illness after exposure to infected cows or infected raw cow's milk, according to researchers led by Shikha Garg, MD, of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, writing in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reportopens in a new tab or window.

"The number of persons monitored continues to increase," they added.

In April, the CDC announced that a dairy farm workeropens in a new tab or window in Texas developed conjunctivitis associated with H5N1 infection, the first human case linked to an ongoing multistate outbreak in dairy cows. Then earlier this week, a second caseopens in a new tab or window in Michigan was reported of a person who also developed conjunctivitis from infection with H5N1. This most recent case was identified through daily monitoring of farm workers, the report said.

Of note, a study published on Fridayopens in a new tab or window in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that when researchers fed mice raw milk from dairy cows infected with H5N1, the mice rapidly developed signs of illness. At 4 days after exposure, high levels of virus were found in the animals' nasal passages, trachea, and lungs and moderate-to-low virus levels were identified in other organs, a finding that is consistent with H5N1 infections found in other mammalsopens in a new tab or window.

The FDA has confirmed that pasteurization inactivates H5N1 virusesopens in a new tab or window and that the commercial milk supply is safe, however "all persons should avoid consuming raw milk or products produced from raw milk," noted Garg and colleagues.

Clinicians should consider the possibility of H5N1 when evaluating patients who present with conjunctivitis or respiratory illness following a relevant exposure, the CDC authors emphasized. People who have job-related or recreational exposure to infected birds, poultry, dairy cattle, or other infected animals or contaminated materials are at highest risk for infection and should take precautions, including using personal protective equipment, self-monitoring for symptoms of illness, and seeking prompt medical care if they develop symptoms.

While reiterating that the current risk to the U.S. public from H5N1 viruses is low, if a novel influenza A virus acquired the ability to infect and be transmitted easily in humans in a sustained manner, "an influenza pandemic could occur," the CDC authors wrote.

"Comprehensive worldwide surveillance and investigation of every novel influenza A virus case in humans is essential to prepare for any developments that increase the risk to human health," Garg and coauthors emphasized.

The CDC is currently monitoring trends in influenza activity by looking for unusual changes in the percentage of positive influenza tests and through the CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System. As of May 18, no indicators of H5N1 or other unusual human influenza activity has been detected.

The CDC is also increasing influenza surveillance activitiesopens in a new tab or window over the coming months by working with commercial laboratories to increase submission of influenza-positive test specimens to public health laboratories for virus subtyping. Also, the CDC is collaborating with manufacturers of commercial diagnostic tests to potentially develop an H5N1 test that could be made widely available if needed.

  • author['full_name']

    Katherine Kahn is a staff writer at MedPage Today, covering the infectious diseases beat. She has been a medical writer for over 15 years.

Posted by at No comments:

 

Tonga Volcano Eruption Caused by Underground Gas Buildup Instead of Magma, Seawater Reaction [Study] 

A GIGANTIC FART!



By Louise Franco 

The Tonga volcano eruption in 2022 was a powerful blast from an underwater mountain. The natural disaster sent volcanic ash and water vapor into the atmosphere and generated tsunami waves which swept through the Tongan islands in the Pacific Ocean. The catastrophic event killed multiple people, destroyed of hundreds of structures, and displaced over a thousand others in the region.

Following the major Tonga eruption in January 2022, multiple studies have described the causes, nature, and implications of the event to communities and the environment. The volcanic explosion has been described by scientists as a rare "Plinian eruption." From triggering atmospheric shockwaves to global mega-tsunamis, the eruption was perceived by many to be caused by the reaction between magma and seawater.

However, a new study in April 2024 suggests an alternative explanation behind the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano. Instead of being caused by molten rock material and seawater interaction, the event was triggered by an underground gas buildup. It involves the reactions of gas and solid particles to choke magmatic gas discharge, increasing internal gas pressure, researchers say.

2022 Tonga Volcano Eruption

Tonga Volcano Eruption Caused by Underground Gas Buildup Instead of Magma, Seawater Reaction [Study]

(Photo : Photo by Marc Szeglat on Unsplash)

The Tonga volcano eruption on January 15, 2022, created the "largest underwater explosion" in modern history, based on records by modern scientific instruments. The eruption involved a gigantic amount of water and volcanic gases, which are higher than any other eruption during the satellite era, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Prior to the major eruption on January 15, the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai experienced smaller eruptions between December 19, 2021, and January 13, 2022. The government of Tonga confirmed the deaths of at least four people from the disaster. Meanwhile, more than a dozen was injured and others have been reported missing following the eruption and tsunamis.

Also Read: Force from Tonga's Eruption Could Have Created Mutliple Tsunamis the Size of the Statue of Liberty

Underground Gas Buildup

Just like other underwater volcanic eruptions, some scientists from previous research thought that the cause of the 2022 Tonga eruption was magma and seawater reaction, as mentioned earlier. However, a new study published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research on April 21 theorizes that an underground gas buildup was the culprit behind the eruption.

The international research team involved in the study, including Australia and the United States, explains that a hydraulic failure at the underwater volcano triggered a powerful gas explosion, atmospheric air blast and tsunami. The findings are based on new evidence-based model of the Hunga Tonga eruption, which was potentially triggered by a built-up gas below a seal inside the volcano.

In a report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in August 2022, the Tonga eruption surprised scientists since the volcanic explosion triggered two types of tsunamis: classic tsunamis and meteotsunamis. The former is caused by the displacement of large water volumes, while the latter occurs due to fast-flowing pressure disturbing the atmosphere, the USGS adds.

Related Article: Tonga Volcano Eruption Affected GPS Accuracy Over Australia, Scientists Reveal

Posted by at No comments:

FRACKING 

Lithium Reservoir Hiding in Wastewater Discovered Under Pennsylvania, Could Meet 40% of US Demand [Study]

By Louise Franco 

Lithium is a rare element and a soft, light metal that can be found in almost all of Earth's igneous rocks, waters of mineral springs, and in subsurface fluids called brines. In modern times, lithium has several industrial applications and it has been widely used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and different electronic devices, including digital cameras, laptops, and mobile phones.

Lithium reservoirs are mostly found and extracted across South America, particularly in the countries of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Other major geological sources and producers of the rare metal are the United States, Australia, and China.

Since the small yet tangible element is a limited resource, there is an ongoing search for potential lithium reserves worldwide, waiting to be discovered.

Lithium Reservoir Under Pennsylvania



(Photo : Photo by Tommy Kwak on Unsplash)

Recently, a study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh in the US revealed the discovery of an untapped, large lithium reservoir. This previously unknown reserve is hiding in wastewater under Pennsylvania, as part of the state's gas fracking industry. Based on the new research paper, the site contains vast volumes of the element greater than previously thought.

Findings about the lithium reservoir under Pennsylvania was published in the journal Scientific Reports on April 16. The researchers revealed that a lithium mass, never accurately measured before, is coming from produced water sourced from Marcellus Shale, also called the Marcellus Formation dating back from the Middle Devonian age.

Also Read: Roundworms with Short Memories 'Stop Forgetting' When Frozen or Given Lithium [Study]

Lithium Mine Production

In a 2020 report by the London-based NS Energy company, the top six countries with the world's largest lithium reserves are the following, which are part of the lithium mine production industry:

  •  Bolivia with 21 million tons of lithium
  •  Argentina with 17 million tons
  •  Chile with 9 million tons
  •  US with 6.8 million tons
  •  Australia with 6.3 million tons

Although Bolivia has the highest amount of lithium reserve, Australia in 2019 became the world's biggest lithium producer, with a mine output of 42,000 tons in the said year, according to the report.

Moreover, there are other countries in the world with lithium production or lithium reserves. Below are some of these places:

  •  Portugal
  •  Germany
  •  Austria
  •  Czech Republic
  •  Finland
  •  Serbia
  •  Spain
  •  Kazakhstan

Lithium Mining and Extraction Impacts

Due to the constant and widespread demand for the said chemical element, lithium mining from rocks and extraction from briny water have increased over the past century. However, scientists found that mining the in-demand lithium metal is detrimental to the environment since it can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as well as cause biodiversity loss and water pollution.

While there is a myriad of benefits provided by lithium to modern technology, the process of mining and extracting the element also has an unprecedented environmental impact. This threat has been explored in recent years in the context of clean energy technologies.

The subject matter of lithium mining and extraction was highlighted in a separate study published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment in February 2023.

Posted by at No comments:
Limits on climbing Mount Fuji are being set to fight crowds, littering

May 25, 2024 
By Associated Press
Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,776 meters, is seen from an airplane window, Dec. 8, 2010. Those who want to climb one of the most popular trails of the iconic mountain will now have to make a reservation and pay a fee.

TOKYO —

Those who want to climb one of the most popular trails on Japan's iconic Mount Fuji will have to book a slot and pay a fee as crowds, littering and climbers who try to rush too fast to the summit cause safety and conservation concerns at the picturesque stratovolcano.

The new rules for the climbing season, July 1 to September 10, apply for those hiking the Yoshida Trail on the Yamanashi side of the 3,776-meter (12,300-foot) mountain that was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013.

Only 4,000 climbers will be allowed to enter the trail per day for a hiking fee of 2,000 yen each (about $18). Of those slots, 3,000 will be available for online booking and the remaining 1,000 can be booked in person on the day of the climb, Yamanashi prefecture said in a statement via the Foreign Press Center of Japan on Monday. Hikers also have an option of donating an additional 1,000 yen (about $9) for conservation.

Climbers can book their slots via the Mount Fuji Climbing website, which is jointly run by the Environment Ministry and the mountain's two home prefectures, Yamanashi and Shizuoka.

Mount Fuji is divided into 10 stations, and there are four "5th stations" halfway up the mountain from where the Yoshida, Fujinomiya, Subashiri and Gotemba trails start to the top.

Under the new system, climbers must choose between a day hike or an overnight stay at the several available huts along the trail. The day of their climb, they are given a QR code to be scanned at the 5th station. Those who have not booked an overnight hut will be sent back down and not allowed to climb between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m., mainly to stop "bullet climbing," or rushing to the summit without adequate rest, which authorities are worried puts lives at risk.

A symbol of Japan, the mountain called "Fujisan" used to be a place of pilgrimage. Today, it especially attracts hikers who climb to the summit to see the sunrise. But the tons of trash left behind, including plastic bottles, food and even clothes, have become a major concern.

In a statement, Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki thanked people for their understanding and cooperation in helping conserve Mount Fuji.

Shizuoka prefecture, southwest of Mount Fuji, where climbers can also access the mountain, has sought a voluntary 1,000-yen ($6.40) fee per climber since 2014 and is considering additional ways to balance tourism and environmental protection.

The number of Mount Fuji climbers during the season in 2023 totaled 221,322, according to the Environment Ministry. That is close to the pre-pandemic level and officials expect more visitors this year.

Just a few weeks ago, the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi prefecture began setting up a huge black screen on a sidewalk to block a view of Mount Fuji because tourists were crowding into the area to take photos with the mountain as a backdrop to a convenience store, a social media phenomenon known as "Mount Fuji Lawson" that has disrupted business, traffic and local life.

Overtourism has also become a growing issue at other popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Kamakura as foreign visitors have flocked to Japan in droves since the coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted, in part due to the weaker yen.

Last year, Japan had more than 25 million visitors, and the figures in 2024 are expected to surpass nearly 32 million, a record from 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

FUJI IS BECOMING LIKE EVEREST



Posted by at No comments:



Colombia’s ex-President Uribe charged with witness tampering

Uribe, who was president from 2002 to 2010, faces up to 12 years in prison for witness tampering and bribing witnesses.

Uribe, who was president from 2002 to 2010, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused Colombia's chief prosecutor's office of 'political vengeance'
 [File: Lina Gasca/AP Photo]

Published On 25 May 2024

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been charged with witness tampering and bribery, becoming the first head of the state to face a criminal trial in the Latin American nation.

The charges arise from an investigation into Uribe’s alleged ties to right-wing paramilitary groups. The 71-year-old leader is accused of “offering cash or other benefits” to witnesses to discredit a political opponent who was digging into his family ties to the armed groups.

KEEP READING

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe blasts impending criminal charges

If convicted, Uribe faces up to 12 years in prison.

Uribe, who was president from 2002 to 2010, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s office of “political vengeance”.

There are wiretapped phone conversations in which the former president can be heard discussing with one of his lawyers efforts to flip two former paramilitary fighters who were set to testify against him. Uribe said his conversations were intercepted illegally.

“I never sought to look for witnesses. I wanted to defend my reputation,” Uribe said during the virtual hearing.

Judge Sandra Heredia rejected his request to have the case scrapped.

The case dates to 2012

Uribe said on Friday he felt hurt for being the first former president to have to defend himself in court.

The matter dates to 2012, when Uribe, then a senator, filed a complaint against left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, whom he accused of hatching a plot to falsely link him to paramilitary groups.

But the Supreme Court decided against investigating Cepeda, instead turning its sights on Uribe.

The investigation against Uribe began in 2018 and has had numerous twists and turns, with several attorneys general seeking to close the case.

It has gained new impetus under Attorney General Luz Camargo, who took over in March and was chosen by Colombia’s first-ever left-wing president, Gustavo Petro – historically a foe of Uribe.

Uribe, who remains a prominent voice on Colombia’s right, was known for being tough on the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) fighters and strongly opposed the historic 2016 peace accord that saw the Marxist rebels disarm.
Posted by at No comments:
WHY THE NORTH IS PARANOID
South Korea completes development of long-range surface-to-air missile system

L-SAM is expected to begin production next year and be deployed for operations by 2028

THE NORTH KNOWS 'THEY' ARE OUT TO GET THEM

07:41 - 25/05/2024 Saturday
AA


South Korea on Saturday said it has completed the development of the homegrown Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) system, marking a "major" step in efforts to bolster the military's air defense capabilities.

L-SAM is expected to begin production next year and be deployed for operations by 2028, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported citing the state arms procurement agency Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

L-SAM, which is designed to shoot down incoming targets at altitudes of 50-60 kilometers (31-37 miles), was recently assessed as combat-suitable as it met the military's technical requirements.

The system is expected to play a key role in the country's multilayered missile shield, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense.

South Korean military currently operates the homegrown medium-range surface-to-air missile system and the US Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system to intercept incoming missiles at lower altitudes than the L-SAM.

For targets at higher altitudes, the country has so far relied on the US Forces Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system that can defend against upper-tier threats at altitudes of 40-150 km.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)