Latest news with #UniversityOfNorthCarolina
Forbes
2 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
What's Harder? Planning Interest Rates, Or Harvard's Class Of 2029?
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard ... More University campus on June 29, 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious admission policies used by Harvard and the University of North Carolina violate the Constitution, bringing an end to affirmative action in higher education. (Photo by) Regarding the makeup of Harvard's student body, President Trump thinks 15 percent is a more advisable number than 25 when it comes to international students. Quite reasonably Trump's critics, and surely many who are fans of Trump, are astounded by his conceit. How could the President effectively plan Harvard's student body? Also, since foreign students pay full tuition, it's entirely possible that their payments make it possible for needier Americans to secure spots at Harvard. Or maybe not. What's important with Harvard, and with all schools, is that Presidents, Senators, experts and agitators more broadly should stay out of their admission decisions. And for those who say that Harvard is 'unique' since so many federal dollars flow its way, please stop right there. The thinking is nonsensical. Precisely because the federal government is so large, and for being large operating well beyond its constitutionally limited scope, theoretically nearly every U.S. individual, business and non-profit university is getting something from the government. Let's not expand on the wrong of a federal government lacking boundaries through the excusal of even worse trespasses. Hands off individuals, businesses, and universities. Plus, the arrogance of it all! Harvard is easily one of the most difficult 'fat envelopes' in the world to attain, yet Trump thinks he can plan the class's demographic makeup? That's like the government planning U.S. imports or exports…Oh wait, they sometimes do that. Or try to. Ok, it's like the government attempting to plan the cost of credit to our alleged non-inflationary betterment…Oh wait, they presume to do that too. Interviewed recently by New York Times reporter Colby Smith about the direction of interest rates, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president Beth Hammack seemingly wrung her hands as she told Smith, 'I legitimately do not know which way this is going to break.' Hammack added that she would 'rather wait and move quickly to play catch up if I really don't know what the right move is. And right now, I really don't know what the right move is based on all of the information and policies that we're responding to.' Some reading the above will conclude that Hammack was being modest, sober in making a difficult assessment about what's ahead, stuff like that. They would conclude incorrectly. The only correct answer from central bankers wouldn't be a professed willingness to delay blind stabs at market intervention, but to instead instruct Smith on the absurdity of the question. Lest everyone forget, people borrow money for what it can be exchanged for. In other words, the cost of credit is the cost of accessing exchange media that can be exchanged not for one market good, but for every market good in the world. Which is a reminder that other than perhaps the dollar that exists as the world's currency, the price of credit is easily the most important price in the world. And exactly because we're all so different now and in the future, there's an interest rate for every single person, business and university in the world, all arrived at through the relentless collision of infinite global inputs every millisecond of every day. Remember this as Hammack and central bankers like her oh so modestly tell Smith 'I legitimately do not know which way [what the Fed will do with 'interest rates'] this is going to break." Wrong answer, and wrong question. Hammack should have replied to Smith that a central banker planning something as complicated as the cost of credit would be as foolhardy as a president planning Harvard's class of 2029, multiplied by many millions.
Medscape
28-05-2025
- Business
- Medscape
Is POC A1c Testing Optimized for Diabetes Screening?
Is point-of-care (POC) glycated hemoglobin (A1c) testing the best choice for diabetes screening? The option is an attractive one; POC A1c testing provides the convenience of rapid results in a single visit, as well as the potential to reach historically hard-to-reach patient populations, such as those in resource-poor settings. It might also help address the pervasiveness of undiagnosed diabetes, considering almost 1 in 4 US adults are undiagnosed, placing them at risk for serious, long-term, multi-organ complications. Despite its convenience, accuracy issues have prevented POC A1c testing from replacing whole blood venous laboratory assays for diabetes screening. The American Diabetes Association has also recommended that POC A1c testing be limited to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved devices. Of note, only one device (of seven that have received regulatory clearance) has received FDA clearance for diagnosis. Diabetes monitoring is a different story. Sue Kirkman, MD 'There are definitely advantages to using POC A1c testing in office settings; we use them to monitor patients' diabetes control,' said Sue Kirkman, MD, adjunct (emeritus) professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 'It's great to have a fingerstick test and have results available quickly and right when you are face-to-face with the patient. They're not as accurate as laboratory assays, but lots of studies have shown no difference in outcomes for monitoring,' she said. Questionable Accuracy Accuracy has been a long tail that has followed POC A1c testing as a screening strategy. Although there are several systems that meet National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program standards, manufacturers have only been required to use one lot, with testing being conducted under ideal (vs real world) conditions. POC A1c testing accreditation has also been waived since the FDA considered these tests easy to conduct. This means that there is no external oversight or quality control, and proficiency training of staff is waived, leaving room for error. Heather Ferris, MD, PhD 'We've had some pretty significant issues recently with inaccuracies in POC A1c testing to the point where we've had to completely replace our system,' said Heather Ferris, MD, PhD, endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Virginia Health in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ferris explained that she and her team ended up having to compare POC and serum results to try to figure out why they were seeing A1cs that were much higher than they were in reality. 'I think in the best-case scenario, POC testing is probably going to be less accurate than a blood test; as physicians, we sometimes don't think as much about test accuracy as we should,' she said. There are also practical, patient-level considerations. Kevin Shah, MD 'The first question is, who do you screen?' said Kevin Shah, MD, chief medical officer of Duke Primary Care South Durham, Durham, North Carolina. 'I wouldn't order this for every single patient who walked through the door, so being mindful of patients at the highest risk is important.' Additionally, POC A1C testing results have been known to be subject to interference by hemoglobin variants, which are present in roughly 5%-7% of the global population. 'Providers should always be aware of the possibility of Hb [hemoglobin] variants, which are especially common in certain patient populations (eg, Black patients),' said Kirkman. 'Most lab assays in the US do not have interference from common variants, but it isn't true of any of the POC tests.' Data Is Lacking A 2017 meta-analysis (61 studies; 13 devices) showed that compared with laboratory testing, the majority (9/13) of the devices tested exhibited negative bias; this was significant for three of the devices. Nine of the 13 devices had poor imprecision (note that imprecision goals for A1c should be a coefficient of variation [CV] < 2% for A1c reported in percentage units [or < 3% in SI units, mmol/mol], with CV > 2% at low A1c levels). Differences were also noted within the devices themselves, ranging from as much as 1.5% A1c below to 1.5% A1c above the comparator lab method. Findings from a more recent cluster randomized controlled study comparing POC A1c and venous A1c testing for opportunistic diabetes screening in 852 Chinese at-risk patients underscored its favorability amongst patients (uptake was almost twofold higher than venous blood draws; 76.0% vs 37.5%; odds ratio [OR], 7.06; 95% CI, 2.47-20.18; P < .001). POC testing was also shown to carry an overall 99% higher odds for detecting diabetes vs venous testing (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.01-3.95; P = .048). However, Kirkman (who was not involved in the study) pointed to several factors inconsistent with real-life scenarios, eg, monthly, rigorous staff proficiency testing and internal/external quality control. 'It wasn't just a comparison of POC vs venous testing; venous blood was drawn at a separate visit on a different day (which led to 17% loss to follow-up),' she said. 'I wonder if a study comparing venous blood draw at the same visit would have shown this much of an advantage.' Flipping the Script: Consider POC A1c for Monitoring Using POC A1c testing for monitoring purposes has transformed workflow, said Shah. 'What we've been able to do is create a really efficient process where, when diabetes patients come in, we have the laboratory data available to the physician at the time they see the patient,' he said. Despite this advantage, ie, the ability to have a productive, meaningful conversation with a patient about how well their condition is controlled or to make medication adjustments, Ferris pointed out that the process itself is complex. 'It's an investment for a small community practice, buying the machine, the cartridges to run the test, and billing for it properly,' said Ferris. 'It also makes sense to have one or two appointed staff to run the tests and get training to ensure you're getting consistency.' The bottom line? For now, clinicians considering using POC A1c testing for diabetes screening should be aware of its limitations (eg, inherent bias, potential interference with hemoglobin variants, lower accuracy vs laboratory testing) and weigh them against its multiple advantages (eg, rapid turnaround, opportunities for more patient engagement, and faster treatment decisions). As the technology improves, the landscape might look very different. For now, however, monitoring appears to be the most accurate pathway. Kirkman, Ferris, and Shah reported no relevant financial relationships.
News24
25-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
Intolerance poisons US social relations
Women's footballing legend Mia Hamm spoke inspiringly about teamwork. Under Donald Trump, social freedoms are being eroded. Intolerance reminiscent of apartheid-era South Africa sometimes bubbles to the surface in the US. It was a supremely proud moment for my family when our youngest daughter, Malaika, graduated with a degree in economics at the University of North Carolina in the US two weeks ago. Having travelled from Johannesburg to the US, my wife and I were justifiably impressed when we saw, a day or two before the actual graduation, workers putting the final touches to the decorations at the stadium where the final ceremony was to take place. The mood in Chapel Hill, the seat of this institution, which happens to be the oldest public university in the US, was jovial. The graduation ceremonies happened, one after the other, on different parts of the campus. Then came the big day, the most colourful ceremony of all – Commencement. We don't have something like this in South Africa. It is at Commencement that newly minted graduates from different schools or disciplines gather to listen to congratulatory speeches from university leadership and an invited keynote speaker. WATCH: 'That man said, kill the white farmers, and then he danced': Trump calls for Malema's arrest In this case, the keynote speaker was Mia Hamm, widely considered the greatest women's soccer player of all time. A graduate of North Carolina herself, Hamm spoke touchingly to the 6 800 graduates about how working as a team – wherever she played – had always been her motto. It was a tear-jerking presentation that I believe touched the hearts of many. But trouble was just around the corner. After her rousing speech, there was sudden movement in the middle of the pitch where the graduates were sitting on chairs. We suddenly saw what the commotion was about: a group of students had unfurled a huge pro-Palestine flag. In moments that were reminiscent of SA, they started chanting. Just as swiftly, a contingent of police pounced on them. The students were physically wrestled and arrested. A section of the stadium exploded into loud boos. Yet another section started chanting: 'USA! USA! USA!' The appearance of the police and the brief but loud exchange between the two sides did leave a sour taste in the mouth. It was the proverbial fly in the ointment. To one who was sometimes at the receiving end of attacks by the police in apartheid SA, the manner in which the police handled the matter was a sad walk down memory lane. Institutions of higher learning are supposed to be arenas where freedom of expression and association are held dear. It is my considered opinion that intolerance and anti-intellectualism have been allowed to fester in Donald Trump's US. In fact, Trump is the epitome of intolerance. Eager to please him, his acolytes are always ready to visit violence against those considered to be at odds with his agenda. I am writing this piece this week inspired by the ridiculous meeting that Trump had with President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which the former sought to bully the South African into submission. The tactics used this week are classic Trump – all bluster and intimidation. Having travelled the length and breadth of that country over the years and having lived there for a year during Barack Obama's era, I have attended social gatherings where robust debates and exchanges between the Republicans, the Democrats and even communists happened. But with Trump's ascendancy, we saw that spirit of openness being gradually eroded. It was, after all, under Trump that we saw the storming of the Capitol in Washington DC in January 2021, a sad harbinger for his ruthless clampdown on those who see things differently from the way he does.
Entrepreneur
16-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
5 Things You Need to Stop Doing as a Solopreneur
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Artificial intelligence and other technological advances, along with the rise in the "gig economy," have sent the number of solopreneurs in the United States soaring. SellersCommerce reports that in 2025, there are now 41.8 million solopreneurs, which means a whopping 85.8% of small businesses in the U.S. are solopreneurships. But just because there are 41.8 million solopreneurs, that doesn't mean there are 41.8 million successful solopreneurs. Statistics indicate that many of these small business owners are struggling to gain a foothold in their market. In fact, a recent University of North Carolina study found that 21% of new small businesses fail in the first year and 50% fail within five years. In my work as a provider of advanced technology platforms to solopreneurs, I have discovered that there are five key mistakes the solopreneurs often make that prevent them from achieving profitability over the long term. Stop doing these things, and your chances of experiencing greater success skyrocket! Related: Solopreneur Success: 5 Tips for Growing a One-Person Business 1. Stop working without a plan WinSavvy estimates that nearly one out of every three entrepreneurs start their business without a formal business plan. That means there is no set business structure to limit chaos, no roadmap to follow in difficult times and no set goals to maintain the solopreneur's focus. Without a plan, these solopreneurs often find themselves working on the wrong things and pursuing the wrong business opportunities, which reduces their profits and puts the future of their business in jeopardy. So, take time to make a plan and then commit to following it. You'll end up saving time and lots of stress, and you'll dramatically increase your chances for success. 2. Stop taking marketing for granted When the budget is tight, it is easy to cut back on marketing, especially those campaigns that don't produce direct profits. But this is almost always a mistake. There is an old adage, "You can have the best product in the world, but you aren't going to make any sales if no one knows about it." Well, guess what? This has become a popular saying for a reason — because it's true. Solopreneurs should be using a variety of marketing techniques — from email marketing to content and referral marketing and more — to build their brand, attract new customers and generate more sales. 3. Stop ignoring the financial side of the business It's not enough to simply send invoices to clients. Solopreneurs interested in long-term success must also track cash flow and routinely analyze financial data to assess business performance, identify trends and set more accurate goals for the future. The good news is that staying on top of financial data is much simpler today, thanks to a variety of easy-to-use tools, such as Stripe, Wave or Solowise. Many of these programs utilize AI and machine learning to instantly provide in-depth financial information in an easily understandable format. Related: 3 Challenges Every Solopreneur Faces and How to Overcome Them 4. Stop putting yourself second to your business Starting a business is a massive undertaking, and it is understandable that many solopreneurs want to devote all their energy and attention to their business to give it the best chance for success. But the truth is, devoting all your time to your business and ignoring yourself and your relationships ultimately ends up putting your business at risk. It's important for solopreneurs to have time away from their business to recharge their batteries. When you do that, you'll be able to go back to your business and get more work done in less time. What you don't want to do is perpetuate a cycle where you exhaust yourself with work, as you'll get less done while making more mistakes. Take time to be with loved ones and to exercise and look after your health. Doing this responsibly will pay huge dividends as you move forward. 5. Stop trying to do it all! There are a number of reasons why solopreneurs don't succeed, but by far, one of the most common is failing to effectively manage all the different aspects of their business. The truth is, solopreneurs have to be experts at a number of different things — from lead generation to sales to order fulfillment to customer service and more. While many have knowledge in some of these areas, very few have knowledge in all of these areas. That lack of knowledge and experience leads to an imbalance that typically proves to be too difficult for many solopreneurs to overcome. In the past, solopreneurs were limited in what they could do to shore up their weak areas. Their main options were to do hours and hours of research online and hope that the resources they came across were accurate, or spend money to purchase books, courses and other training material from self-proclaimed solopreneur experts. Now there is another option — technology. Today's AI and machine learning (ML) platforms put information and resources at solopreneurs' fingertips that they never had access to before — and they have been quick to take advantage of them. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that 90% of small businesses in the United States use at least one AI program today. Here are some tools entrepreneurs can use: Calendly and Acuity for scheduling, Trello and Notion for project management, and Zapier for automation and productivity. When it comes to subscription-based services, it's important to choose a tool that has all the features you need — without paying for unnecessary extras. So when choosing them, try to focus on the ones that are made for small businesses or solopreneurs. Related: Solopreneurs Are Quietly Building 6 to 7 Figure Empires — Here's How The most successful solopreneurs have figured it out. They understand that they don't have to do everything themselves. By utilizing technology and by prioritizing their own well-being, solopreneurs can avoid the traps that have caused so many to fail in the past. The key is to start small. Tackle one problem area at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Then build upon your success. In no time, you could have a smooth-operating business that allows you to enjoy all the best benefits of the solopreneur lifestyle — like time freedom and wealth creation!
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Belichick supports Jordon Hudson at Miss Maine amid UNC ban drama: ‘Coach is here'
PORTLAND, Maine — She was the main event. Bill Belichick was on the sidelines supporting girlfriend Jordon Hudson, 24, this weekend as she competes in the Miss Maine pageant, where she shocked contestants by showing up all smiles — and toting what appeared to be a $3,500 Dior bag. 'Coach is here,' a source close to the 73-year-old Belichick confirmed to The Post of the former Patriots coach, who arrived at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland Saturday afternoon, just a day after his gal pal was reportedly banned from appearing at his new gig at the University of North Carolina. Belichick was spotted in the front row with Hudson's security guard as the competition got underway Saturday night. Hudson was introduced after Isabelle St. Cyr of Monson, the first transgender woman to compete in the Miss Maine pageant. She strutted her stuff in a metallic green bandeau bikini to Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club,' with St. Syr following in a baby-blue two-piece. Hudson then donned a shimmery gold dress and matching heels for the evening gown portion, sauntering to 'Don't Leave' by Cheat Codes. She winked directly at Belichick at the end of the segment, when all the contestants came back out on stage as the night's festivities came to an end. Hudson blew kisses to the crowd and started clapping and dancing. Belichick left as the pageant host announced that the beauty queens would sequester and have a pizza and pajama party. Earlier in the day, the former Bridgewater State University cheerleader appeared in a UNC baby blue off-the-shoulder cocktail dress, stilettos and a sash bearing the name of her Hancock hometown — punctuated with her pearly whites. Hudson smiled and waved to onlookers as she exited the interview portion of the competition, a day after sports podcaster Pablo Torre revealed Hudson is no longer allowed on the North Carolina football field or inside its football facility, according to two UNC sources. However, the Tar Heels tackled Torre's claim. 'While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities,' the statement read. 'Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick's personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.' The drama comes after the pageant queen has been criticized for ruining Belichick's longtime winning reputation. 'She's very headstrong. She's a tough cookie but a lot of people are angry because of the whole Bill situation,' a source close to the pageant told The Post. 'Nobody has spoken with her [until today]. She probably was told to lay low and not say anything. I feel bad for her,' the source close to the pageant said. 'There is deep worry for how detrimental Jordon can be for not just North Carolina but Bill's legacy, reputation — everything he has built and worked for over decades,' one family source told Torre, who previously broke the news that Hudson used her pull to work her way into Belichick's Super Bowl commercial with Dunkin' Donuts in February. The drama surrounding Belichick and Hudson came to a head last month during his turbulent 'CBS Sunday Morning' interview. Hudson was mocked after interfering in the former Patriots coach's interview when she shut down the conversation when correspondent Tony Dokoupil asked how the couple met. 'They're [the public] seeing her as 'she's all about being famous, dollar signs' — isn't everybody at the end of the day? Don't you want to be successful? I like her. People suck. She's a little aggressive to some people.' 'I can't believe they're banning her [from UNC]. They're mad because of the whole interview with CBS. He had such a huge legacy they're concerned about his reputation, the school's reputation.' The pageant source said an insider at the pageant likely reached out to console Hudson. 'She [the pageant runner] probably told her — lay low, come in and do your thing,' the source said. Hudson had pondered dropping out of competition after backlash over CBS and UNC, a source confirmed to The Post. 'All the girls were so worried about her, they're all friends and she's been so quiet all week. It's not like her to not post on social media or be out of touch with everyone for that long.' Hudson placed as first runner-up at the Miss Maine competition in 2024. She'll be representing her hometown of Hancock, she announced on Instagram last month. Hudson is the most famous of the 17 contestants, despite St. Cyr of Monson's history-making competition. 'It's between her [Hudson] and Isabelle,' the source said. The Miss Maine finals will take place Sunday afternoon.
