Latest news with #JonathanCarter
San Francisco Chronicle
03-08-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
In the age of Ozempic, is there still a role for weight-loss surgery?
As weight-loss medications like Ozempic exploded across the U.S. over the past four years, bariatric surgeons faced a bit of an existential crisis: Were their jobs about to become obsolete? For the first time, health care providers have a combination of highly effective therapies to offer patients with obesity, a condition that has long been one of the most difficult to treat. The outlook is especially exciting for patients who are severely overweight — including those who are considered too heavy for surgery. Indeed, there may exist a future where drugs and other interventions prevent people from ever becoming obese and needing weight-loss surgery. But that future is far off, say surgeons and other weight-loss experts. In fact, even as millions of Americans are now taking drugs that dramatically improve weight loss, surgeons say their tool may be more powerful than ever. 'A massive amount of people have tried these medications, so the question becomes: 'How well do they work and is there a role for bariatric surgery in the era of these drugs?'' said Dr. Jonathan Carter, a UCSF surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive procedures. Bariatric surgery has for decades been the most effective and durable weight-loss tool available. The specific procedures vary, but the most common operation now is the gastric sleeve surgery, in which a large portion of the stomach is removed. Roughly a quarter of a million Americans undergo a bariatric procedure each year. The surgeries are highly effective for weight loss — patients can lose about a third of their body weight within two years, and they generally keep off most of those pounds long-term. The side effects with the sleeve procedure are minimal and may include gas, bloating and nutritional deficiencies that can be alleviated with diet. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 10 Americans have now taken the newest weight-loss medications. On these drugs, patients can lose about 15% of their weight, but they must remain on the drugs for life — those who stop gain all of the weight back. Side effects are similar to the surgery. The drugs and the surgery work somewhat similarly by essentially quashing people's hunger and cravings. And though the surgery is more expensive at the outset — about $12,000 to $15,000 — it's cheaper in the long-term compared to drugs that cost about $1,000 a month. Both treatments are often, but not always, covered by insurance. With the surgery, 'You take someone who is 100 pounds overweight and their knees hurt and they have sleep apnea,' said Carter, 'and you do a one-hour intervention and a year later they've lost 100 pounds and their knees don't hurt and the sleep apnea is gone. It's like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon.' But bariatric surgery has never been a popular weight-loss option for those who need it most. Of all Americans who are eligible for surgery, only about 1% undergo the procedure. Surgeons and weight-loss experts say that's largely been due to misconceptions about the procedure and stigma around obesity. 'If you've been treating patients with obesity for decades, you always felt like, 'Yes, I have a great treatment, I can do these surgeries and do them safely, I believe in them whole-heartedly,'' said Dr. Dan Azagury, a Stanford University bariatric surgeon. 'But you were still limited in your capacity to treat patients.' Azagury took over Stanford's Lifestyle and Weight Management Center in February 2020, about a year before Ozempic, the first blockbuster weight-loss drug, blew up. Over the next 18 months, the number of patients on weight-loss medications jumped from 50 to 2,000. He said friends would often ask him if he would be out of a job soon. The drugs, though, have in some ways validated the surgical interventions, Azagury said. Weight loss has notoriously been a fraught topic in doctors offices, with patients feeling judged and doctors feeling frustrated by their lack of treatment options. 'A lot of times doctors would just say that you should eat less,' Azagury said. 'And I think patients intrinsically didn't see obesity as a medical condition,' he said. The success of recent weight-loss drugs, though, has made that conversation more palatable both to patients and providers, Azagury said. And he believes that is making some patients more amenable to a surgical option. There are, broadly, now three buckets for treating weight loss: diet and exercise, medication and surgery. The first option is likely best for people who don't have a lot of weight to lose and who are not facing any immediate complications related to their weight. They can manage their own treatment, or get a referral to a community or private weight-loss program. From there, patients with more serious obesity can decide if medication or surgery — or both — is the best option for them. Some people may be resistant to the idea of any surgical procedure and opt for medication. Others may decide that they would rather not deal with weekly injections for the rest of their life and prefer a one-time operation. Many patients, though, will end up with multiple interventions over their lifetime. They may start with medication and eventually decide they want a more permanent solution. Or they may get bariatric surgery and a few years later decide to start a medication if their weight is creeping back up. Mandy Hinz, 47, fought with her weight all her life, and it's only in the past two years that she finally felt like she had options. She had inquired about bariatric surgery about 20 years ago but was told she would need to lose 100 pounds before doctors would consider it safe. After that, she was up and down, peaking at about 415 pounds on her 5-foot, 3-inch frame. She started Ozempic in early 2023, and though the drug made her feel 'super sick,' she stuck with it and lost about 30 pounds. Around that time, Hinz, a Sacramento resident, was referred to the bariatric program at UCSF, and in October 2023, she finally got a gastric sleeve. She got down to about 200 pounds from the surgery, then started a different weight-loss drug and lost another 20 pounds. Though she's still obese for her height, Hinz said she's not interested in losing much more weight. 'I'm 180 and completely happy,' Hinz said. 'My journey has been absolutely amazing.' She noted that even with all of the tools at her disposal, losing the weight was never easy. And she has friends for whom even the newest therapies aren't solving all of their weight issues. But for Hinz, the weight-loss drugs finally unlocked a path that had never felt accessible to her. 'Being big my whole life, I missed out on a lot of stuff,' she said. Walking up and down stairs had become difficult, or spending a day on her feet at an amusement park. 'Now I can run up and down the stairs, I can walk around the amusement park the whole day. I went on my first hike a year and a half ago. It's like, let's go, let's do this.' Azagury said he's most thrilled for the patients — and their doctors — who have the most weight to lose, and especially those for whom a combination of medical and surgical therapies could be life-saving. 'The worst thing for a bariatric surgeon is when you get a patient in your clinic and it's too late — their condition is so bad that surgery is unsafe,' Azagury said. 'The conversation is, 'You have a condition I can treat, but I can't treat you.' It's the worst conversation. And I never have to have it anymore. Now I can tell them: 'I can't do surgery, but I have a good alternative for you.''
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
US Energy Department unveils supercomputer that merges with AI
Scientific computing and artificial intelligence were once separate worlds, using different kinds of calculations on distinctly different hardware. But the two fields are steadily merging, as shown by a massive new machine coming to Berkeley, California. On Thursday, the Department of Energy's laboratory near the University of California, Berkeley, said it had selected Dell Technologies to deliver its next flagship supercomputer in 2026. The system will use Nvidia chips tailored for AI calculations and the simulations common to energy research and other scientific fields. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory expects the new machine — to be named for Jennifer Doudna, a Berkeley biochemist who shared the 2020 Nobel Prize for chemistry — to offer more than a tenfold speed boost over the lab's most powerful current system. If fully outfitted, the machine could be the Energy Department's biggest resource for tasks like training AI models, said Jonathan Carter, associate laboratory director for computing sciences at the Berkeley center. The supercomputer stands out for its technology choices, which indicate the growing desire for government labs to adopt more technologies from commercial AI systems. Nvidia chips, though widely used by big cloud companies as well as in supercomputers, were passed over by the Energy Department for three previous record-setting machines that were assembled by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Dell has hardly been a player in the highest end of the supercomputer market, but it has had success in large commercial AI installations. 'HPE has been sweeping the DOE space,' said Addison Snell, the CEO of Intersect360 Research, which tracks the supercomputer market. 'This is a big win for Dell.' Chris Wright, secretary of energy, who has compared AI's development to the Manhattan Project, called the Doudna machine a key tool for winning the global AI race in remarks prepared for a Thursday event in Berkeley to announce the system.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
US Energy Department unveils supercomputer that merges with AI
SAN FRANCISCO: Scientific computing and artificial intelligence were once separate worlds, using different kinds of calculations on distinctly different hardware. But the two fields are steadily merging, as shown by a massive new machine coming to Berkeley, California. On Thursday, the Department of Energy's laboratory near the University of California, Berkeley, said it had selected Dell Technologies to deliver its next flagship supercomputer in 2026. The system will use Nvidia chips tailored for AI calculations and the simulations common to energy research and other scientific fields. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory expects the new machine – to be named for Jennifer Doudna, a Berkeley biochemist who shared the 2020 Nobel Prize for chemistry – to offer more than a tenfold speed boost over the lab's most powerful current system. If fully outfitted, the machine could be the Energy Department's biggest resource for tasks like training AI models, said Jonathan Carter, associate laboratory director for computing sciences at the Berkeley center. The supercomputer stands out for its technology choices, which indicate the growing desire for government labs to adopt more technologies from commercial AI systems. Nvidia chips, though widely used by big cloud companies as well as in supercomputers, were passed over by the Energy Department for three previous record-setting machines that were assembled by Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Dell has hardly been a player in the highest end of the supercomputer market, but it has had success in large commercial AI installations. 'HPE has been sweeping the DOE space,' said Addison Snell, the CEO of Intersect360 Research, which tracks the supercomputer market. 'This is a big win for Dell.' Supercomputers – which are computing systems that take up entire rooms first used for jobs like designing weapons and cracking codes – have long been symbols for national prowess in technology. The Energy Department, which typically purchases the government's biggest computers, devoted US$1.8bil (RM 7.63bil) over eight years to reach what the industry calls 'exascale' performance, topped by a US$600mil (RM 2.54bil) supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory called El Capitan. The Trump administration has not set a comparable funding target, nor has a price for the Berkeley system been released. But Chris Wright, secretary of energy, who has compared AI's development to the Manhattan Project, called the Doudna machine a key tool for winning the global AI race in remarks prepared for a Thursday event in Berkeley to announce the system. Supercomputers have historically relied on precise calculations, handling data in what are known as 64-bit chunks. Commercial AI systems often use simpler 16-bit or 8-bit instructions, sacrificing accuracy for higher speed. Being able to use a mix of calculations in supercomputers powered by graphics processing units, the chips Nvidia sells for AI, opens up many new kinds of computing jobs, said Dion Harris, Nvidia's head of data center product marketing. The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center at Berkeley already used Nvidia's GPUs in a system called Perlmutter. Doudna will use a future version called Rubin but, in a key technical departure, will also use a general-purpose Nvidia processor based on technology from the British company Arm rather than Intel and Advanced Micro Devices chips. Carter said Doudna's design was partly driven by the need to serve various tasks used by the center's 11,000 users. Besides historical jobs like modeling how fusion reactors work, researchers are increasingly using AI to improve simulations of phenomena such as how water removes heat from geothermal fields, he said. Other attractions of using Nvidia included its array of AI software, tailored for tasks like modeling future quantum computers, Carter said. Executives at Dell, which outbid other vendors for the Berkeley system, said the contest offered a chance to design systems that could be adapted to serve many customers – breaking from a tradition of customising creations for individual labs. 'This market had shifted into some form of autopilot,' said Paul Perez, a senior vice president and senior technology fellow at Dell. 'What we did was disengage the autopilot.' – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Business Wire
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AvionTEq Celebrates MRO Americas 2025 Success, Prepares for ACPC and NBAA-BACE
VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AvionTEq, a leading provider of avionics test equipment and flight data solutions, successfully wrapped up its participation at , held in Atlanta, Georgia. AvionTEq's booth drew strong interest as it showed advanced tools and services supporting modern aviation needs. We're excited to announce Jonathan Carter of Delta Air Lines, Inc. as the official winner of the ULBTEq UTS100 Ultrasonic ULB Tester! Share UTS100 Raffle Winner Announced A key highlight was the UTS100 Raffle. Jonathan Carter of Delta Air Lines, Inc. was announced as the winner of the ULBTEq UTS100 Ultrasonic ULB Tester, a top-tier solution trusted for locating underwater locator beacons with accuracy and ease. Advancements in HHMPI AvionTEq announces FDS HHMPI™ enhancement, now supporting Honeywell HCR-25 & L3Harris SRVIVR25™, improving data retrieval and efficiency. Through its partnership with Flight Data Systems (FDS), AvionTEq provides the Handheld Multipurpose Interface (HHMPI) tool, which now supports data retrieval from Honeywell's HR-25 and L3Harris's SRVIVR25 recorders. These recorders offer extended recording durations, real-time data streaming, and cloud-upload capabilities, meeting stringent regulatory requirements. Superior Readout Services As part of its end-to-end offering, AvionTEq provides comprehensive readout services for CVR, FDR, and DLR. These services ensure quick turnaround, regulatory compliance, and actionable insights, trusted by operators worldwide. Client Support Amid Tariff Adjustments With new U.S. tariff guidelines in place, AvionTEq is doing its best to support customers through transparent communication, strategic shipping options, and cost-effective solutions to help ease the transition. Upcoming Industry Events Building on its MRO momentum, AvionTEq will participate in the 68th Annual Air Carriers Purchasing Conference (ACPC) from August 16–19, 2025, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA. The company is also set to exhibit at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas this October. Visit us from October 14-16, 2025, to explore the latest in avionics test equipment and take advantage of show-exclusive deals. About AvionTEq Whatever your aviation test equipment needs, AvionTEq has the total solution to help you reduce your overheads without sacrificing quality. For more information, visit or contact us at sales@ or call us at +1.310.649.0400. The AvionTEq team looks forward to connecting with you!
Business Upturn
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Toll Brothers Announces New Luxury Home Community Coming Soon to Parkland, Florida
PARKLAND, Fla., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, today announced its newest Southeast Florida community, Saltgrass at Heron Bay , is coming soon to the Heron Bay master plan in Parkland, Florida. This premier community of new construction homes, located at 11773 NW 70th Place in Parkland, is scheduled to open for sale in summer 2025. Saltgrass at Heron Bay features luxurious homes, expansive home sites, and endless activities that come together to create an unparalleled lifestyle. This exclusive Toll Brothers neighborhood will include just 52 single-family homes ranging from 2,632 to over 4,000 square feet, offering 3- or 4-car garages and oversized home sites perfect for outdoor living. Home pricing is anticipated to start from $1.6 million. 'Our new Saltgrass at Heron Bay community will offer residents the rare opportunity to build a new construction home within the well-established Heron Bay master-planned community and highly desirable Parkland area,' said Jonathan Carter, Division President of Toll Brothers in Southeast Florida. 'With large, open floor plans, unrivaled personalization options through the Toll Brothers Design Studio experience, and extensive updated amenities, this community will set a new standard for luxury living in Parkland.' Ideally situated within one of southeast Florida's most sought-after master-planned communities, Saltgrass at Heron Bay boasts extensive amenities including two newly renovated clubhouses, onsite dining, state-of-the-art fitness centers, a resort-style swimming pool, and sport courts. Residents will enjoy convenient public beach access, dining, shopping, parks, and major commuter routes. Children will attend school in the highly rated Broward County Public Schools district. Toll Brothers customers will experience one-stop shopping at the Toll Brothers Design Studio . The state-of-the-art Design Studio allows customers to choose from a wide array of selections to personalize their dream home with the assistance of Toll Brothers professional Design Consultants. For more information and to join Toll Brothers interest list for Saltgrass at Heron Bay, home shoppers can call (855) 776-8655 or visit . About Toll Brothers Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 58 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'TOL.' The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. Toll Brothers has been one of Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Companies™ for 10+ years in a row, and in 2024 the Company's Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron's magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit . From Fortune, ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG) Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
