It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
An AI-powered satellite counting effort conducted over two years concludes that less than 600,000 wildebeest migrate across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem each year—half of previous estimates from manned aircraft surveys. Lions, hyenas, crocodiles, and tourism professionals all rely on the annual migration of wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) which transit through Kenya and Tanzania as the herds follow the seasonal growth of grass. Prior estimates of the migratory wildebeest population that make the trek each year were reached by extrapolating counts from aerial photos in the south of the ecosystem. Isla Duporge and colleagues use satellite images from 2022 and 2023, at 33–60 cm resolution, which were then fed to UNet, a pixel-based segmentation model, and YOLO, an object-based detection model. Each wildebeest is represented by just 6 to 12 pixels. According to the authors, the study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting population counts of terrestrial mammal populations using satellite imagery and machine learning.
Wildebeest comprise 3–4 pixels in length and 1–3 in width.
Wildebeest as imaged by satellite and counted by AI.
Photo of wildebeest on the move.
Credit
Tony Sinclair
Journal
PNAS Nexus
Article Title
AI-based satellite survey offers independent assessment of migratory wildebeest numbers in the Serengeti
Article Publication Date
9-Sep-2025
No sign of toxic effects of inhaled anesthesia in young children
Study provides further evidence to alleviate concern about anesthesia and brain development
CHICAGO – Preliminary findings from a new clinical trial show no adverse neurodevelopmental effects after brief inhaled anesthesia and surgery in infants and young children, reports the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
A "balanced" strategy using a lower dose of the inhaled anesthetic sevoflurane did not lead to meaningful short-term differences in IQ or child behavior problems, according to the study by Ji-Hyun Lee, M.D., Ph.D., of Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea, and colleagues. "These findings support existing evidence suggesting that brief anesthetic exposure is unlikely to result in clinically significant neurodevelopmental impairment," the researchers wrote.
Animal studies have raised concerns about possible neurotoxic effects of general anesthetic or sedative drugs in young children. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings in 2017 that long-lasting or repeated exposure to these drugs "may negatively affect brain development in children younger than 3 years."
Randomized clinical trials – in which participants are randomly assigned to different treatment groups – are the best way to assess these safety concerns. One previous randomized trial (the GAS study) found normal neurodevelopmental outcomes in children receiving sevoflurane. However, that study was published several years ago and evaluated an alternative approach (awake regional anesthesia) that is not widely available.
To address this research gap, Dr. Lee and colleagues designed a clinical trial including 400 children under two years of age undergoing one-time surgery with general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to anesthesia with inhaled sevoflurane alone or a balanced strategy using an intravenous sedative (dexmedetomidine) and a short-acting opioid (remifentanil). The balanced strategy was designed to reduce the amount of sevoflurane needed to maintain anesthesia during surgery. In both groups, anesthesia exposure was brief, with surgery lasting less than 90 minutes.
When the patients were approximately 30 months old, the researchers assessed neurodevelopmental outcomes using a nonverbal intelligence test and a parent-reported child behavior scale. If outcomes were better with the balanced strategy, it could mean that the lower dose of sevoflurane was less neurotoxic. The analysis included complete data on 343 children.
The results showed little or no difference in outcomes for children receiving sevoflurane alone compared to the balanced strategy. Overall IQ and behavioral scores were similar between the groups. Measures of language development were comparable as well.
Although the balanced approach "effectively reduced sevoflurane requirements during surgery, it did not provide measurable developmental advantages," Dr. Lee and coauthors wrote. They emphasize that their results are preliminary; final results will include long-term follow-up at five years old, including full-scale IQ assessment. In the meantime, the findings provide reassurance that one-time general anesthesia does not adversely affect neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants and young children who require surgery.
The new study is "a welcome and important addition" in an area where definitive evidence is difficult to obtain, according to an accompanying editorial by Andrew Davidson, MBBS, M.D., and Caleb Ing, M.D., MS. They discuss the challenges of studying this complex issue – including the fact that children who require surgery may have other health issues affecting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
As anesthesiologists and parents await the results of long-term follow-up and future clinical trials, the new findings “are incredibly helpful in consolidating knowledge” on the safety of inhaled anesthesia in young children, Drs. Davidson and Ing wrote. They conclude: "[T]he lack of an effect of differing sevoflurane dose on neurodevelopment may argue against sevoflurane being a cause of neurotoxicity."
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 59,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during, and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about how anesthesiologists help ensure patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment. Follow ASA on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
New York, NY | Sept. 9, 2025: Beginning January 2026, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) will offer a new master of public health (MPH) concentration in sexual and reproductive justice and health (SRJH). Building on the school’s longstanding commitment to equity, the concentration expands and deepens opportunities for students to engage with sexual and reproductive health through a justice-centered, interdisciplinary lens.
As part of the Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, the concentration prepares students to address the social, political, and economic forces that shape sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The program integrates research, policy, law, leadership, and applied practice through courses and experiential learning that explore inequities in maternal and child health, reproductive rights, and global health. Through 42 credits of instructive and field-based work, students will develop the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in public health research, practice, advocacy, and policy.
“CUNY SPH is a leader in advancing sexual and reproductive justice in public health education,” said Terry McGovern, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs. “The need for skilled, justice-driven public health leaders has never been greater. Our students will graduate prepared to confront today’s complex challenges, address inequities in sexual and reproductive health, and drive change in communities most impacted by injustice.”
The concentration was developed through a collaborative process led by the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub at CUNY SPH. Faculty, students, practitioners, activists, and community partners participated in a series of workshops to shape the curriculum and ensure it reflects both academic rigor and real-world relevance. Grounded in the reproductive justice framework established by a group of Black women leaders in 1994, the program will focus on intersectionality, community voices, and systems change.
“Our goal was to design a program that reflects the vision of activists who built the reproductive justice movement and that challenges students to think beyond existing structures,” said Lynn Roberts, associate dean of student affairs and alumni relations. “The result is a curriculum that pushes students to think critically about health inequities and equips them with the tools to lead change in policy, practice, and research. Our graduates will be ready to carry forward the fight for sexual and reproductive justice in every sector of public health.”
About CUNY SPH
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all.
High consumption of ultra-processed foods linked to systemic inflammation
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially altered products – like soda, snacks and processed meats – packed with additives and stripped of nutrients. Hundreds of new ingredients, previously unknown to the human body, now make up nearly 60% of the average adult’s diet and almost 70% of children’s diets in the United States.
These products reduce nutritional value, extend shelf life, and tend to increase how much people consume. In the U.S., UPFs account for about 60% of daily calorie intake. High consumption of these foods has been linked to greater risks of obesity, cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, and even premature death.
New research from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine shows that people who consume the most UPFs have significantly higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation and a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease.
Until now, there have been limited data from nationally representative U.S. populations on the link between UPF intake and hs-CRP levels.
Results of the study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, show that participants consumed a median of 35% of their daily calories from UPFs, ranging from just 0% to 19% in the lowest group to 60% to 79% in the highest. After accounting for factors like age, gender, smoking, physical activity and other health indicators, researchers found that individuals in the highest UPF intake group (60% to 79% of daily calories) had an 11% higher likelihood of elevated hs-CRP levels compared to those in the lowest intake group. Even moderate UPF consumers (40% to 59%) showed a 14% increase in likelihood. Those with 20% to 39% intake had a smaller, nonsignificant 7% increase.
The likelihood was especially high in certain groups. Adults aged 50 to 59 had a 26% higher risk of elevated inflammatory markers compared to those aged 18 to 29. Obesity contributed to an 80% higher risk compared to people with a healthy weight. Current smokers also had a higher risk (17%) than people who never smoked. Interestingly, individuals who reported no physical activity did not have a statistically significant increase in risk compared to those who met activity guidelines.
“These findings, based on a large and nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, clearly show that people who consume the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods have significantly higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a key marker of inflammation,” said Allison H. Ferris, M.D., FACP, senior author, professor and chair of the FAU Department of Medicine. “These results carry important implications not only for clinical practice and public health strategies but also for future research aimed at understanding and reducing the health risks associated with ultra-processed food consumption.”
Researchers analyzed data from 9,254 U.S. adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including diet, hs-CRP and other health factors. UPF intake was measured as a percentage of total calories and grouped into four levels. They used statistical methods, including logistic regression, to examine the link between UPF consumption and inflammation.
“C-reactive protein is produced by the liver, and the hs-CRP protein test is a simple, affordable and highly sensitive measure of inflammation as well as a reliable predictor of future cardiovascular disease,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., FACPM, FACC, co-author, the First Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, and senior academic advisor, Schmidt College of Medicine. “We believe that health care professionals may wish to consider actively engaging with their patients about the risks of UPFs and benefits of increasing whole food consumption.”
The authors also highlight a significant rise in colorectal cancer rates in the U.S., particularly among younger adults. They suggest that increased consumption of UPFs may be a contributing factor, along with its potential role in several other gastrointestinal diseases.
Drawing a parallel to the history of tobacco, the authors note that it took decades for mounting evidence and the efforts of progressive health officials to lead to policies discouraging cigarette use. They believe a similar trajectory is likely for UPFs, with growing awareness eventually driving meaningful public health action.
“The multinational companies that produce ultra-processed foods are very influential, much like tobacco companies were in the past, so policy changes to promote whole foods and reduce UPF consumption may take time,” said Hennekens. “However, government efforts to reduce harmful additives, improve food labeling, and promote healthier options in programs and schools are important steps in the right direction. At the same time, health care providers should be aware of the challenges many people face in accessing affordable, healthier choices, which calls for a broader and coordinated public health response.”
Study co-authors are Kevin Sajan, a medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; Nishi Anthireddy, a medical student at FAU; Alexandra Matarazzo, a medical student at FAU; and Caio Furtado, M.D., a resident physician in FAU’s internal medicine residency program.
- FAU -
About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:
Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 159 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 170 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,400 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 80 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. The college offers M.S. (thesis and non-thesis) and Ph.D. programs in biomedical science, along with a certificate in genomics and precision medicine. Taught by top researchers, the curriculum combines cutting-edge coursework with hands-on learning, preparing graduates for careers in medicine, research, industry, and academia. To further Florida Atlantic’s commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology, and five fellowships in cardiology, hospice and palliative care, geriatrics, vascular surgery, and pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. The college also manages the Florida Atlantic University Medical Group, offering comprehensive primary care, and the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health specializes in integrative pain management, precision therapies, and mental health.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University serves more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the Southeast Florida coast. It is one of only 21 institutions in the country designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” university and an “Opportunity College and University” for providing greater access to higher education as well as higher earnings for students after graduation. In 2025, Florida Atlantic was nationally recognized as a Top 25 Best-In-Class College and as “one of the country’s most effective engines of upward mobility” by Washington Monthly magazine. Increasingly a first-choice university for students in both Florida and across the nation, Florida Atlantic welcomed its most academically competitive incoming class in the university’s history in Fall 2025. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
In 2012 Max Bazerman, along with four coauthors, published an influential paper showing that “signing first”—that is, promising to tell the truth before filling out a form—produced greater honesty than signing afterward. In 2021, academic sleuths revealed that two of the experiments in the paper were fraudulent, triggering what would become one of the most significant academic frauds of the twenty-first century.
In Inside an Academic Scandal, Bazerman tells the sobering story of how fraud in a published paper about inducing honesty upended countless academic careers, wreaked havoc in organizations that had implemented the idea of “signing first,” and undermined faith in academic research and publication.
This vivid account offers an inside look at the replicability crisis in social science today. In intriguing detail, the book explores recent conflicts and transformations underway in the field, considers the role of relationships and trust in enabling fraud in academic research, and describes Bazerman’s own part in the scandal—what he did and didn’t do to stop the fraud in the signing-first paper, what consequences he faced, and what hard lessons he learned in the process.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Max H. Bazerman is the Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He is the author or co-author of fourteen books, including Complicit: How We Enable the Unethical and How to Stop. Max’s awards include an honorary doctorate from the University of London (London Business School), the Life Achievement Award from the Aspen Institute, and the Distinguished Scholar Award, the Distinguished Educator Award, and the Organizational Behavior Division’s Life Achievement Award from the Academy of Management. Max's consulting, teaching, and lecturing includes work in thirty-two countries.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“Bazerman's story is candid, personal, and captivating. It is rare to see such an unflinching and honest account of scientific misconduct from someone very close to the events. Bazerman also captures the turmoil and revolution that rocked psychology, including stories from the front lines.” —Simine Vazire, Professor of Ethics and Wellbeing, University of Melbourne
“In this gripping, and at times autobiographical, quest for truth, Bazerman, a leading social scientist, reminds us that research integrity cannot be taken for granted but must be built into our practices and procedures.” —Iris Bohnet, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School; co-author of Make Work Fair
“Riveting and powerful, Bazerman’s story reveals how easy it is to miss the signs of a colleague’s fraud. Packed with reflection and evidence-based suggestions for improving existing systems, Inside an Academic Scandal forces you to confront the uncomfortable reality that trust is not always warranted.” —Katy Milkman, James G. Dinan Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; author of How to Change
“It is rare to get a first-person account of the experience and aftermath of being associated with academic fraud. It is unheard of to get an account that is as transparent, reflective, and impactful as this book.” —Brian Nosek, Executive Director, Center for Open Science, and Professor, University of Virginia
“A candid and deeply personal look at back-to-back research scandals that rocked academia. Max Bazerman courageously steps forward to provide both the insider’s investigation and expert’s perspective that only he can provide. The resulting reflection is timely and gripping.” —Dolly Chugh, Professor, NYU Stern School of Business; author of The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future
“Bazerman gives a gripping account of how ignoring warning signs in a colleague's work led to his getting embroiled in a high-profile case of research misconduct. A must-read for all researchers interested in integrity issues.” —Dorothy Bishop, Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Oxford; co-author of Evaluating What Works
“When the inherent processes of scientific self-correction will not do the job, a courageous path to correction is called for: that of a scientist publicly calling out the corruption of peers, including beloved teachers and students. This rare correction is on full display here, and for Bazerman’s intrepid divulgence we must be collectively grateful.”
—Mahzarin Banaji, Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Harvard University; author of Blindspot
About the MIT Press
Established in 1962, the MIT Press is one of the largest and most distinguished university presses in the world and a leading publisher of books and journals at the intersection of science, technology, art, social science, and design.
