Latest news with #D.
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Social Studies: Two things that are bad for business; rethinking a computer science major
Advertisement Major malfunction Students have always been more interested in going into fields that are hot (i.e., they're featured in the news and/or high-paying). In the 1960s, it was aerospace engineering; in more recent decades, it has often been computer science. But a new study suggests students should be more cautious about following the herd. The study finds that the existence of superstar industries — defined as those that have a small subset of prominent companies with exceptional stock price performance — does indeed spur students to major in related subjects. However, this surge is associated with a decrease in pay for entry-level employees in the superstar industry, because net hiring is not necessarily greater in those industries than in others. Moreover, students who are seduced into a major associated with a superstar industry are more likely than people with other majors to end up in a job unrelated to their major and to earn less, with lower job satisfaction, even many years later. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Choi, D. et al., 'Superstar Firms and College Major Choice,' Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics (forthcoming). Advertisement Safe business districts Gerrymandering might be good for business. A study found that a company's stock market value tends to suffer if congressional redistricting puts its headquarters into a House district that is closely balanced between Democrats and Republicans instead of assigning it to one that is safe for one party or the other. The hypothesis is that being in a safe district allows a corporation to build a long-term relationship with its representative in Congress, whereas a representative in a competitive district faces a greater threat of losing reelection and has to be more responsive to voter concerns. Artés, J. et al., 'The Value of Political Geography: Evidence From the Redistricting of Firms,' Journal of Law and Economics (May 2025). The psychology of psychology In theory, evidence should resolve scientific uncertainty. But this is often not the case, especially in the social sciences. In fact, these fields can be riven by sharp differences in worldview akin to those in politics and culture. A study of thousands of researchers in psychology explores this phenomenon by examining how the researchers' own psychology shapes their views of their field. For example, psychologists with a high personal tolerance of ambiguity are less likely to believe that human behaviors can be explained by rational self-interest, evolution, or neurobiology and more likely to believe in social, contextual, and holistic explanations. The authors of the study conclude that many debates in this field can thus be explained largely by the personality traits of the psychologists involved. 'In the worst-case scenario,' they write, 'cognitive differences could be exploited to prop up or even canonize an evidentially weak position that is intuitively attractive to researchers in positions of power.' Advertisement Sulik, J. et al., 'Differences in Psychologists' Cognitive Traits Are Associated with Scientific Divides,' Nature Human Behaviour (forthcoming).
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Maj.Gen. (Rtd.) P.D. Sheena from Thrissur wins Florence Nightingale Award 2025
Maj. Gen.(Rtd.) Sheena P. D., a native of Vadama in Mala, Thrissur district, has won the prestigious Florence Nightingale Award 2025. President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the award upon her during a ceremonial event held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. After an illustrious career spanning nearly 40 years, she retired as Additional Director General of Military Nursing Service recently. Sheena began her illustrious career in 1985 when she joined the Military Nursing Service. In 1994, she specialised in Oncology Nursing from the renowned Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. She earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospital and Healthcare Management from Symbiosis Institute, Pune, in 2012. Her exceptional service and leadership led to various administrative appointments within the Armed Forces. She was selected for administrative duties and served as the Principal of the School of Nursing at the Military Hospital in Secunderabad under the Southern Command, and later as the Principal of the College of Nursing at the Command Hospital in Kolkata under the Eastern Command. At the Integrated Headquarters of the Army in Delhi (DGMS), she held key staff roles including Colonel Training (MNS) and Brigadier Admin (MNS). Her distinguished career spans across multiple military hospitals throughout India, where she has made significant contributions. During her tenure as a Brigadier, she was posted as the Principal Matron at the Northern Command Hospital in Udhampur, Kashmir, further proving her ability to serve in challenging environments. The National Florence Nightingale Award, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, honours the dedication, compassion, and resilience that define the nursing profession. Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal. This year, 15 nurses from various regions and healthcare settings were honoured for their exemplary service.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Scientists Find Shadowy Beast With Large Black Eyes—It's a New Species
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scientists have discovered a new snake species following an encounter with a large black-eyed creature found moving around a mining site on a small island in Papua New Guinea. The atra tree snake, whose scientific name is Dendrelaphis atra, was found by Fred Kraus, a researcher from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, during his visit to Misima Island in the northwest of the Louisiade Archipelago within the Milne Bay province of Papua New Guinea. Kraus was there as part of a larger project to explore the region's reptile population. During his visit, the researcher came across several "moderately large" snakes, spanning around four feet and one inch in length, with white chins, black eyes and a "matte black" coloring, according to a study in Zootaxa, where the research findings were published this month. A stock image of a common bronzeback tree snake (Dendrelaphis tristis) in India. A stock image of a common bronzeback tree snake (Dendrelaphis tristis) in India. iStock / Getty Images Plus Unlike other related species, atra tree snakes—which are named after the Latin word for black "atra"—darken in color with age, Kraus noted. A smaller, younger snake was found to have a "gray brown" color while older, larger snakes were described to be "uniformly black," the study said. Dendrelaphis atra is among four new snake species that were identified in the region and each one is native to a different island in the Milne Bay province, Kraus said. He said in the study: "Herein I examine the taxonomic status of Dendrelaphis specimens from outlying large islands in Milne Bay Province, off the southeastern tip of New Guinea, and I find that each of the three large islands of the Louisiade Archipelago, as well as Woodlark Island, contain their own endemic species." The three other new snake species were found on Rossel Island, Sudest Island and Woodlark Island. Three of the new snake species (D. anthracina, D. melanarkys and D. roseni) belong to the D. papuensis group, while the fourth one (D. atra) belongs to the D. punctulatus group, the study noted. Papua New Guinea is home to "extraordinary biodiversity, accounting for over 5 percent of the world's total," notes the United Nations Development Programme. The "Milne Bay province has the richest habitat for endemic reptiles and amphibians on the planet," Kraus said. Papua New Guinea is said to have more than 80 known snake species, and its rich wildlife has yet to be fully uncovered. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about snakes? Let us know via science@ Reference Kraus, F. (2025) New species of snakes of the genus Dendrelaphis (Squamata: Colubridae) from the Milne Bay Islands, Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa, 5618(4), 451–480.
National Geographic
21-02-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
This is what a surgical clinic looked like in ancient Rome
Doctor in the house What caught the attention of archaeologists most was the first of these houses, which had been rebuilt several times over the years. The last reconstruction took place during the second half of the second century A,D., when the main rooms were remodeled to include rich mosaics and paintings and new rooms were added. Archaeologists were able to identify the areas of a typical Roman mansion: the vestibule; the triclinium (where banquets, receptions, and social gatherings were held); several cubicula (rooms usually identified as bedrooms that also served as reading or meeting rooms); and a latrine. They also found remains of a richly decorated upper floor comprising several rooms, including a kitchen. Heat therapy Archaeologists believe that this life-size, foot-shaped terra-cotta vessel found in the Surgeon's House was either used as a flask for storing ointments or medicines or for performing therapeutic heat treatments. It is one of only two such objects found in the Roman world. Ministero Della Cultura. Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Ravenna But what made this particular Roman house so special were the belongings of the person who lived there in the early third century. A spectacular array of some 150 surgical instruments, made of bronze and iron and manufactured between the first and third centuries A.D., were found among the remains. This was clearly the home of a Roman surgeon. The tools, which would once have been stored in cases and boxes, form the most complete set of surgical instruments ever found from the ancient Roman world. The archaeologists also found mortars that must have been used in the preparation and storing of drugs. The evidence suggests that the house functioned as a private clinic, or taberna medica, of the early third century, containing both study space and a medical consulting room. They dubbed it the Domus del Chirurgo—the Surgeon's House. (How ancient remedies are changing modern medicine.) Tools of the trade These hooks and scalpels were among some 150 instruments found at the Surgeon's House. Ministero Della Cultura. Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Ravenna One-third of the instruments found in the Surgeon's House were intended for bone surgery. Others were used for operating on hernias, eyes, and tonsils. They range from hooks and scalpels to instruments for specialized interventions, such as cranial trepanations where part of the skull was removed. The latter instrument is of special interest to historians of medicine, as its design conforms with the written description of an object left by the medical writer Galen, who died in the early third century. None of the Rimini instruments were for gynecological use, strengthening the theory that the surgeon learned his trade on the battlefield. A good man At the heart of this taberna medica was a room paved with a mosaic depicting the mythical Greek hero Orpheus. In this room archaeologists discovered most of the surgical instruments. They also found medical paraphernalia in the cubiculum next to the Orpheus room and in the entranceway. And it was there, on a wall, that archaeologists found an intriguing graffito. The inscription in Latin read: Eutyches homo bonus hic habitat. Hic sunt miseri. This translates as: 'Eutyches, a good man, lives here. Here are the miserable ones.' It seems reasonable to hypothesize that the text was scratched onto the wall by a sick person being treated by a doctor called Eutyches. Researchers believe that the doctor trained in Greece and Asia Minor where, in addition to gaining medical knowledge, he acquired cultural artifacts that he took with him to his residence in Ariminum. This would explain the presence of objects outside the city's typical trading circles. These include a panel of fish in glass paste thought to be from what is now Turkey, a bronze votive hand associated with the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus, and a statue of Hermarchus, a Greek Epicurean philosopher. Objects from places outside Rimini's trading circles suggest the surgeon had traveled widely, like this glass-paste panel with three fish. It likely came from what is now Turkey. Ministero Della Cultura. Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Ravenna The sophisticated surgical instruments found in the house suggest that Eutyches, if that was indeed his name, had specialized in treating trauma wounds and performing surgery. It is therefore likely that he acquired at least part of his training as a military doctor in the camps, and on the battlefields, of the Roman Empire.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I Plan to Withdraw $110k From My 401(k) This Year. Will This Cause My Medicare Premiums to Go Up?
SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Your 401(k) withdrawals can affect how much you spend on Medicare. While few households pay premiums for Medicare Part A, most households do pay premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D. These premiums are based in significant part on your taxable household income. If your income goes up, such as by making a withdrawal from a taxable retirement account, your premiums can increase too. The good news is that your premiums are recalculated each year, so if your income goes back down your premiums will too. For example, say that you plan on withdrawing an additional $110,000 from your 401(k) this year. This would almost certainly cause your Medicare premiums to temporarily increase, but not necessarily right away. Here are some things to know. Consider speaking with a fiduciary financial advisor for specific guidance. You can use to match and speak with vetted advisors for free. Medicare is a government health care program for Americans age 65 and older. There are four parts to this program, Parts A through D. Each part has a different cost structure: Medicare Part A: No costs for most households. A flat monthly premium, typically either $285 or $518, for households that do not have enough working credits to qualify for free Medicare. Medicare Part B: Monthly premiums that range between $185 and $628.90 based on household income. Medicare Part C: Monthly premiums based on the individual plan that you choose. Medicare Part D: Monthly premiums based on the individual plan that you choose, with an additional surcharge that ranges from $0 to $85.80 based on your household income. As with all government programs, these numbers are periodically updated to reflect inflation. These numbers are accurate as of 2025. Medicare Part A typically has no costs. Medicare Part C is a public-private partnership in which households buy private insurance with Medicare funding. The premiums under this program are based on the individual plan that you select. Medicare Part B and Part D each have monthly premiums that can increase based on your annual income. For Part B and Part D, premiums are calculated based on a concept called IRMAA, or "Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount." This is the index for how Medicare adjusts your monthly premiums based on your annual taxable income. In 2025, the IRMAA for Part B is as follows: Below $106,000 Single/$212,000 Joint: Monthly Premium $185.00 Between $106,001 and $133,000 Single/$212,001 and $266,000 Joint: Monthly Premium $259.00 Between $133,001 and $167,000 Single/$266,001 and $334,000 Joint: Monthly Premium: $370.00 Between $167,001 and $200,000 Single/$334,001 and $400,000 Joint: Monthly Premium: $480.90 Between $200,001 and $500,000 Single/$400,001 and $750,000 Joint: Monthly Premium: $591.90 Above $500,001 Single/$750,000 Joint: Monthly Premium: $628.90 For Medicare Part D, you pay a monthly premium based on the plan you select. You might then pay an additional surcharge based on your income. In 2025, the IRMAA for Part D is as follows: Below $106,000 Single/$212,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $0 Between $106,001 and $133,000 Single/$212,001 and $266,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $13.70 Between $133,001 and $167,000 Single/$266,001 and $334,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $35.30 Between $167,001 and $200,000 Single/$334,001 and $400,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $57.00 Between $200,001 and $500,000 Single/$400,001 and $750,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $78.60 Above $500,001 Single/$750,000 Joint: Monthly Addition $85.80 The IRMAA is calculated annually based on a two-year lookback, meaning that each year your Medicare premiums are based on your income from two years ago. So, for example, in 2025 your premiums would be based on your taxable income from 2023. In 2026, your premiums would be based on your taxable income from 2024. This formula uses what's called a "MAGI," or "Modified Adjusted Gross Income." An MAGI is your AGI, or "Adjusted Gross Income," modified by specific requirements of a given program. In the case of Medicare, an MAGI means your basic taxable with tax-exempt interest, some non-taxable Social Security benefits, and some deductions included. For most households, Medicare's MAGI will be similar, if not identical, to their standard taxable income. This will include all taxable sources of income, so Medicare premiums are affected by factors such as your Social Security benefits, all pre-tax portfolio withdrawals and all taxable portfolio withdrawals. Medicare premiums are not affected by Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) withdrawals. Consider speaking with a financial advisor for help integrating the elements of your retirement plan. In a word, yes. Unless you are at the top of the IRMAA brackets, an additional $110,000 in taxable income will almost always increase your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. Exactly how much will depend on your underlying income and your marital status. For example, say that you are an individual with a combined $75,000 income from Social Security benefits and portfolio withdrawals. An additional $110,000 would push your total income to $185,000. This would increase your Medicare Part B premiums from $185 to $480.90 per month. It would increase your Part D surcharge from $0 to $57. Or, say that you're a married couple with a combined $200,000 income from benefits and portfolio withdrawals. An additional $110,000 would push your total income to $310,000. This would increase your Medicare Part B premiums from $185 to $370. It would increase your Part D surcharge from $0 to $35.30. The good news here is that, depending on your financial plans, this fluctuation may only be temporary. First, these premium increases will not take effect for two years. If you withdraw this money in 2025, for example, you have until 2027 to save up for those price hikes. Second, if this is a temporary withdrawal then it will be a temporary increase. If you return to your normal rate of withdrawals in 2026, then your premiums will go back down in 2028. However, if you continue to withdraw an additional $110,000 per year from your 401(k), your prices will remain higher. The right financial advisor can help you build and navigate your personal retirement strategy. Your Medicare premiums are based on your annual income. This is calculated with a two-year lookback, and if you aren't careful this price hike can surprise you. Do not forget the things Medicare doesn't cover. There are many healthcare issues, particularly long-term care, that Medicare simply leaves un-covered. As you prepare for retirement, make sure that you look into the kind of gap and long-term care insurance that will pay for this kind of care. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Keep an emergency fund on hand in case you run into unexpected expenses. An emergency fund should be liquid — in an account that isn't at risk of significant fluctuation like the stock market. The tradeoff is that the value of liquid cash can be eroded by inflation. But a high-interest account allows you to earn compound interest. Compare savings accounts from these banks. Are you a financial advisor looking to grow your business? SmartAsset AMP helps advisors connect with leads and offers marketing automation solutions so you can spend more time making conversions. Learn more about SmartAsset AMP. Photo credit: © The post I Plan to Withdraw $110k From My 401(k) This Year. Will This Cause My Medicare Premiums to Go Up? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
