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An elevated systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is independently associated with increased risks for all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in the Journal of Inflammation Research.

Obesity is on the rise across the United States. In 22 states, 35% of adults or more were obese last year, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. Just 10 years ago, there were no states that had obesity rates at or above 35%.

New research has revealed a potentially important role ginger supplements can play in controlling inflammation for people living with autoimmune diseases.

When it comes to female anatomy, there’s still a lot that many of us don’t know. A 2019 survey from YouGov found that half of those questioned didn’t know where the vagina was on a diagram of a woman’s genitalia.

Changes in how COVID-19 vaccines are paid for has already caused some confusion for the first recipients who rushed to take a shot.

The Biden administration announced a major initiative to protect Americans from medical debt on Thursday, outlining plans to develop federal rules barring unpaid medical bills from affecting patients’ credit scores.

The head coach of the Welsh men’s rugby squad, Warren Gatland, has built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the world. But his “intense training methods” have drawn comparisons to waterboarding, and his training programs have included “psychological challenges” such as players being put in hoods and subjected to the sounds of crying babies. Gatland said that the training described “wasn’t brutal”, and that the feedback from players was positive.

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

BARRICK Gold Chief Executive, Mark Bristow, says the clean energy transition is creating an unprecedented demand for metals and minerals.

According to Mr Bristow, the market’s demand for instant gratification while this was happening was driving Mergers and Acquisitions, which he believed was not always conducive to investment in sustainable projects but rather the delivery of short-term returns.

“These growth projects are vital, not only for the resources needed for cleaner energy but for the development of emerging economies,” he said on Tuesday at the Gold Forum Americas conference.

He also projected a 30 percent increase in production by 2030 on the back of the growth options embedded in the firm’s asset portfolio.

He also pointed out that Barrick owned and operates six of the world’s Tier 1 gold mines, and was poised to expand this “best-in-class” asset portfolio through continued reserve replacement and the potential for new world-class discoveries being pursued across many of the world’s most prolific gold belts.

“In 2019 our strategy for the new Barrick included a mandate to grow our copper business, which we recognised as strategically important at that relatively early stage,” Mr Bristow said.

Meanwhile, Mining.Com reported that earlier this year, RBC Dominion Securities analyst, Sam Crittenden, detailed a looming shortfall in copper supply driven by the energy transition, which will require an additional one percent of supply, the equivalent of one large copper mine, coming online every year.

Mr Bristow said once fully ramped up, Reko Diq and Lumwana were expected to become two of the world’s top 20 copper mines by annual production sustained over significant multi-decade mine lives.

“If the forecasts of a copper shortage are even partly correct, this will give us a significant additional upside,” Mr Bristow told reporters at the conference.

“We not only have a sustainable, fully budgeted 10-year base plan, we also have a growth plan that sees us increase production by 30 percent by the end of the decade, which I believe is unique in our industry,” he said.

In order to explore brain disorders and discover potential treatments, it is crucial to analyze and interpret the signals transmitted by the brain. Although neural probes attached to the brain can effectively detect subtle bio-signals, they lack the ability to amplify and process these signals, necessitating the use of a separate amplifier. The research team identified a solution in common household “inkjet printers” that have been widely available for a long time.

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

ZAMBIA’S published Natural Capital Accounts have significantly influenced policy in the national planning process, says Ministry of Finance and National Planning acting Director of Development Planning, Richard Lungu.

Mr Lungu pointed out that the policy implications resulting from the integration of Natural Capital Accounting into the country’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) 2022-2026.

He cited focusing on environmental sustainability and natural resources management as one of the results.

Mr Lungu said this during the Natural Capital Accounting Strategy and benchmarking consultative meeting in South Africa.

While there, he emphasised the need for Zambia to formulate a comprehensive national strategy on natural capital accounting.

“This strategy aims to facilitate better coordination and integration of efforts related to natural capital within the country,” Mr Lungu stated.

He also advocated for cooperation among both national and international institutions, as well as various stakeholders, to enhance investment and dedication towards producing credible and valuable natural capital accounts.

He believed that these capital accounts were essential for informed integrated planning, monitoring, and decision-making.

Mr Lungu highlighted the substantial progress made in mainstreaming natural resources into the nation’s development planning and economic accounts, supported by organisations like the World Bank and Worldwide Fund for Nature.

He commended efforts of the South African government in advancing Natural Capital Accounting and ecosystem services, emphasising the significance of recognising these achievements and leveraging them for Zambia’s benefit.

On the consultative meeting, he described them as a progressive step for Zambia, enabling knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and constructive engagement with stakeholders.

“These interactions are crucial for addressing various issues and advancing sustainable utilisation and management of Zambia’s natural capital, aligning with the 8NDP,” Mr Lungu said.

He underscored the importance of such meetings in establishing crucial linkages and partnerships essential for realising Zambia’s vision of prudent natural resource management.