6 ways to use AI to actually make you smarter

The article argues that AI should strengthen human intelligence rather than replace independent thinking. Used properly, tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can improve learning, creativity and critical reasoning.

Six practical recommendations

1. Test yourself: Use AI to generate quizzes, challenge your knowledge and identify gaps in understanding.

2. Find the right experts: Identify specialists, researchers and credible sources to deepen your knowledge.

3. Challenge your ideas: Ask AI to critique drafts, detect contradictions, identify repetition and suggest improvements.

4. Ask better questions: Use AI to identify important questions you may have overlooked.

5. Stay informed: Obtain tailored updates on developments in your field, while checking original publications.

6. Understand AI's weaknesses: Deliberately test AI for factual errors, hallucinations, bias and excessive agreement.

The article makes an important distinction between using AI to do your thinking and using AI to improve your thinking.

The central message: Don't simply ask AI for answers. Ask it to challenge your assumptions, expose weaknesses in your reasoning and help you become a better thinker.6 ways to use AI to actually make you smarter

KERBSIDE CONSULT

Independent writing on medicine, public health and health policy — with a Malaysian and regional perspective. Researched from primary sources and written by Dr Muruga Vadivale, who has been writing about medicine online since 1995. 

What role can the media play in managing the COVID-19 outbreak?

The WHO announced a ‘mystery pneumonia’ on 31 December 2019. Since then the virus has been identified (SARS-CoV-2), the disease named (COVID-19), and there has been global spread, with cases identified in 72 countries (as of 3 March 2020) and tens of thousands of people testing positive for the virus.

The media have been following every step of this journey – with multiple stories, incessant headlines and continuous updates across the past few weeks. Here, I take a look at some of the challenges that have faced journalists during the COVID-19 outbreak and how the media can play a role in containing COVID-19 and, potentially, saving lives...for more go to the link below..

What role can the media play in managing the COVID-19 outbreak?

33 Google Maps Tricks You Need to Try

Google Maps has changed the way we navigate the world. Its desktop and mobile apps have become not just a way to get from point A to B via car, public transportation, or on foot. The ubiquitous Google service is also a geospatial search engine for the world around us.

Google continues to revamp and improve its map product with features like augmented reality and contextual location suggestions, but there are a ton of customizable tools and hidden functions already baked into Google Maps that you may not know about. Check out our tips for how to maximize your Google Maps power.

Source:Levine GN. Balancing Ischemic and Bleeding Risks of Prolonged Dual Antiplatelet Therapy. JAMA.2017;318(2):194-195. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.6698 

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) combines aspirin with a P1Y₁₂ inhibitor (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) to decrease the risk of coronary thrombosis. [start-highlighting]Compared with antiplatelet therapy with aspirin alone, DAPT after a myocardial infarction (MI) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces the risk of spontaneous MI and coronary stent thrombosis[end-highlighting] (Audio).¹However, the addition, intensification, or prolongation of antiplatelet therapy necessitates a trade-off between decreasing ischemic risk and increasing bleeding risk.¹ In addition to this trade-off, consideration also must be given to the implications of ischemic or bleeding events, how patients are selected for treatment with DAPT and its duration, and what can be done to reduce bleeding risk.

The Aging Physician and the Medical Profession

Source:http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2644000 

Abstract

Importance  The issue of the aging physician and when to cease practice has been controversial for many years. There are reports of prominent physicians who practiced after becoming dangerous in old age, but the profession has not demonstrated the ability to prevent this. A mandatory retirement age could be discriminatory and take many competent physicians out of practice and risk a physician shortage. An increasing body of evidence regarding the relationship between physicians’ age and performance has led organizations, such as the American College of Surgeons, to revisit this challenge.

Observations  Since 1975, the number of practicing physicians older than 65 years in the United States has increased by more than 374%, and in 2015, 23% of practicing physicians were 65 years or older. Research shows that between ages 40 and 75 years, the mean cognitive ability declines by more than 20%, but there is significant variability from one person to another, indicating that while some older physicians are profoundly impaired, others retain their ability and skills. There are age-based requirements for periodic testing and/or retirement for many professions including pilots, judges, air traffic controllers, Federal Bureau of Investigation employees, and firefighters. While there are not similar requirements for physicians, a few hospitals have introduced mandatory age-based evaluations.

Conclusions  As physicians age, a required cognitive evaluation combined with a confidential, anonymous feedback evaluation by peers and coworkers regarding wellness and competence would be beneficial both to physicians and their patients. While it is unlikely that this will become a national standard soon, individual health care organizations could develop policies similar to those present at a few US institutions. In addition, large professional organizations should identify a range of acceptable policies to address the aging physician while leaving institutions flexibility to customize the approach. Absent robust professional initiatives in this area, regulators and legislators may impose more draconian measures.

Five Asean countries hail dengue vaccine advance | Bangkok Post: news

Five Asean countries hail dengue vaccine advance | Bangkok Post: news

Thailand and four other Asean countries have developed a new dengue vaccine that could mitigate the disease's severity by 88.5%, according to the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand (PIDST).

PIDST president Usa Thisyakorn made the announcement at the sixth national vaccine conference in Bangkok yesterday.

The vaccine was developed under joint research between five countries — Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, she said.

Ms Usa said the vaccine can prevent and mitigate the impact of dengue and is the world's first advance against the disease.

"The vaccine was found to prevent dengue infection by 56.5% and mitigate its severity by 88.5%," the PIDST president said.

She said the vaccine was developed during experiments on more than 10,000 children, aged between two and 14.

The vaccine can prevent four strains of dengue, she added.

The research was first conducted at Photaram Hospital and Banpong Hospital in Ratchaburi and Kamphaeng Phet provincial hospital in 2009, areas which are prone to the disease, she said.

Those involved in the development phase of the vaccine will be followed for the next three years in line with World Health Organisation rules, Ms Usa said.

Five Latin American countries are also expected to announce successful development of their own dengue vaccine over the next few months, she said. Their research was conducted among more than 20,000 young people.

Department of Disease Control director-general Sophon Mekthon said the Asean dengue vaccine could be deployed in Thailand in two years' time.

It is now in the process of being registered with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), he said.

Dr Sophon said four public health campaigns encouraging people to come forward to be vaccinated will be announced
shortly.

They are the vaccine to prevent the human papilloma virus which causes cervical cancer; the vaccine to prevent diarrhea in children; the vaccine to prevent diphtheria and tetanus in adults; and vaccinations of adults and medical personnel to prevent influenza and other diseases.