Entertailment Page

Entertainment



👁 :102
Xenophon
Catagory:Biography
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Diogenes Laertius relates the story that Socrates cornered Xenophon in a narrow street and asked him where food was sold. Then he asked him where people become fine and good. When Xenophon could not answer this, Socrates told him to follow him and learn. Xenophon was the first to take notes of Socrates and write about the conversations. A friend named Proxenus, who was a student of Gorgias, wrote Xenophon a letter from Sardis about Cyrus, the prince of Persia. Xenophon showed the letter to Socrates and asked his advice. Socrates suggested that he consult the oracle at Delphi, but he later criticized Xenophon for asking in what way he should serve Cyrus instead of whether he should go to Asia. After Cyrus was killed in the revolt against the great king, which was followed by the murder of the Greek mercenary generals, Xenophon was one of the new generals elected by the soldiers. His account of how they led these 10,000 men back to Greece in the Anabasis influenced Greek pride and eventually resulted in Alexander's conquests in Asia. Xenophon then served the Spartan king and general Agesilaus and even fought against Athenians in 394 BC. This brought about his banishment from Athens, and Xenophon bought an estate at Scillus near Elis. There he managed slaves and wrote books. According to tradition he made Thucydides famous by publishing his history and then continued it from 411 to 362 BC in his Hellenica, the best historical source for the period, though it lacks the brilliance of Thucydides. He pioneered the genre of biography with the encomium Agesilaus. Xenophon's long work on Cyrus II (r. 559-529 BC) of Persia is so romanticized that it is probably more historical novel than biography. Cyropaedia means the education of Cyrus; but only the first book of eight is on his education, and that is primarily hunting as a preparation for war-fighting. Xenophon presents Cyrus as an outstanding military leader and ruler. Xenophon's account is also greatly influenced by his admiration for Spartan ways, and the Persian history is mixed with Greek customs. The stages of a man's life follow the Spartan system with its emphasis on military service. Also influenced by Socrates' philosophy, Xenophon declared that the main subject the boys learn in school is justice. Boys are punished for not returning favors, and self-control is also strongly instilled. Young Cyrus visits his grandfather who is king of the Medes, and he gradually matures from a charming but impetuous boy to a discerning and generous young man. Cyrus loves to hunt and distribute the meat to his friends. While hunting near the border, he suggests a military raid against the encroaching Assyrians which is successful. Xenophon's utilitarian philosophy is summarized in a speech by the young Cyrus to his chosen Persian troops. I think that no virtue is practiced by people except with the aim that the good, by being such, may have something more than the bad; and I believe that those who abstain from present pleasures do this not that they may never enjoy themselves, but by this self-restraint they prepare themselves to have many times greater enjoyment in time to come. And those who are eager to become able speakers study oratory, not that they may never cease from speaking eloquently, but in the hope that by their eloquence they may persuade people and accomplish great good. And those also who practice military science undergo this work, not that they may never cease from fighting, but because they think that by gaining proficiency in the arts of war they will secure great wealth and happiness and honor both for themselves and for their country.3 Cyrus also has a religious attitude of friendship toward the gods, although he knows that one must learn and work at something in order to be able to pray for successful results. He believes that those who pray for what is not right would fail with the gods just as those who violate human laws are disappointed by people. He feels it his task to govern people so that they might have all the necessities of life in abundance and all become what they should be. Xenophon's Cyrus does not believe in Oriental self-indulgence but in Greek self-discipline as an example to all. Xenophon then has Cyrus learn from his teachers that the military art involves much more than mere tactics, but administration, physical training and health concerns, and motivational psychology. One must not merely seem wise but actually be wise in order to lead well. To win affection he must be a benefactor by being able to do good, sympathize with ills, help in distress, and prevent setbacks. However, all the virtues can be reversed in working against the enemy.His father Cambyses gives Cyrus many lessons, concluding that he should learn from history that many states have been persuaded to take up arms and attack others but have been destroyed; many have made others great and then suffered wrongs from them; many who could have treated others as friends and given and received favors have instead treated them like slaves and received their just return; many not satisfied to enjoy their proper share have lost what they had trying to gain more; and many who have gained coveted wealth have been ruined by it. In organizing his army Cyrus rewards merit and balances training with entertaining the men. In asking for aid from India against the Assyrians, he is willing to allow them to arbitrate the difference, showing he did not believe he was in the wrong. When the Armenians refused to pay their tribute or send troops, Cyrus was able to capture their king and then generously allowed him to contribute to their war effort instead of punishing him. Then with the Armenians on his side he attempts to make peace between them and the Chaldeans and by taking a hill fortress is able to enforce a peace between them. Most of the Cyropaedia is about this war against those Xenophon calls the Assyrians, although their empire had been taken over by the Babylonians a half century before. Cyrus demonstrates his military skills and generosity in forgiving captured enemies and turning them into allies. However, any of these who try to flee from his camp are killed. Cyrus gains the help of the alienated Gobryas and the castrated Gadatas, who now hate the Assyrian king. Cyrus marches his forces to Babylon but then passes by it to take other forts in the area. Cyrus and his uncle, the Mede king Cyaxares, meet with their allies and decide on war. Cyrus sends various spies, including envoys from India who learn that Croesus has been chosen field marshal of the enemy alliance. In the great battle Cyrus outmaneuvers Croesus and wins over the Egyptians to his alliance to capture Sardis and Croesus, but the city is spared the usual pillaging. Cyrus then directs the siege of Babylon, and by diverting the river his troops are able to enter the city. Cyrus moves into the palace and selects his bodyguards. Later he establishes his court in Persia, encouraging attendance there with his personal rewards. He invests in physicians, surgeons, and medical supplies. To answer the criticism of Croesus that he is not collecting enough wealth for himself he sends around a request for funds, which shows that he has many times more available to him than Croesus expected. Cyaxares gives Cyrus his daughter in marriage with all of Media as a dowry. Xenophon gave Cyrus credit for adding Egypt to the Persian empire, but it was his son who accomplished that after his death. Xenophon skipped quickly from the setting up of the satraps to describe a peaceful death for Cyrus many years later when in fact he was killed in a war. Someone, afraid that the book was too laudatory of Persia, added a postscript to show how Persian culture had deteriorated morally after the life of Cyrus. In Hiero, a dialog between Hiero, who ruled Syracuse as a despot from 478 to 467 BC, and the poet Simonides, Xenophon showed the negative aspects of tyranny for the tyrant. Since Hiero was not born a king but became one, Simonides asks him to compare private life with that of a despot. Hiero says that he has found fewer pleasures and more pain as a despot and explains that he cannot travel safely to see sights and hears only flattery; knowing his subjects have evil thoughts, they dare not speak. Furthermore the despot is spoiled with every pleasure and material luxury but has little to strive for.Despots do not experience the great blessing of peace but have the largest share of wars, and even his own citizens are his enemies. In spite of the despot's great wealth, his needs are so great that he rarely has enough to meet all his expenses for guards and an army. He feels cut off from friends and is surrounded by slaves. It is noted that slaves often kill their masters. Hiero complains that he cannot even get rid of his despotism. When Simonides points out that he can lavish gifts on people and be loved by the citizens, Hiero replies that he finds himself far more hated than loved as a result of his transactions. However, in the conclusion Simonides argues that he should do everything to make his state good in competition with other states. If he improves his state, he will be acclaimed as a hero and be loved by all. In The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians Xenophon praised the laws of Lycurgus and the disciplined life of Sparta. Xenophon also wrote On the Cavalry Commander, On the Art of Horsemanship, and On Hunting. Late in his life, probably in 355 BC, Xenophon wrote Ways and Means as a proposal to improve the economy of Athens. Xenophon began with his concern that leading Athenian politicians believe that owing to the poverty of the masses they are compelled to treat other cities unjustly. Xenophon believed that Athens was capable of producing enough revenue in a fair way by treating the resident aliens better, maintaining peace, increasing harbor and market taxes, and by the state purchasing more slaves to work the silver mines. He did not seem to be concerned about the injustice of slavery itself, although he thought they would serve in the infantry better if they were treated with consideration. To maintain peace Xenophon suggested a board of peace guardians, who would increase the popularity of the city and attract more visitors. Xenophon believed the happiest states have the longest period of unbroken peace and that Athens was well suited to peace. Of those who thought war could benefit Athens, he asked whether they had been successful leaders of the league funds by coercing the Greeks or by rendering services. He pointed out that Athens was stripped of her empire, because they had been too harsh in their authority; but then when they refrained from unjust actions, the islanders once again gave her presidency of the fleet. Generosity and not coercion was what gained them alliances with Thebes and the Lacedaemonians. In Athenian history much money came into the treasury during peace, and then all of it was spent in war. After the war was over, revenues were able to rise again. Athens can also deal with their enemies much better if they don't provoke them by wronging them. Xenophon concluded his essay by suggesting that his proposal be presented to the gods at the Delphic oracle so that it could be carried out with their help. Source:Abika.com


Type:Social
👁 :
'In some cases, it was the women who were fiercest in the fight': The female freedom fighters of the Haitian Revolution
Catagory: History
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Contemporary paintings celebrate the brave women who fought fiercely alongside the men in the Haitian revolution of the 18th Century. How did they contribute, and why have their stories been buried for so long? On the night of 23 August 1791 in Cap-Français, on the north coast of Saint Domingue (present-day Haiti), fires raged on the plantations. The enslaved set fire to the buildings and fields, and killed their masters. It was the start of the Haitian Revolution, the only known uprising of enslaved people in history that led to the founding of a state that was free from slavery. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic in France, news was fast spreading about the uprisings. The wealthy ruling elite and those with a monopoly in the transatlantic slave trade were growing anxious. They began to realise that their days of subjugating the enslaved population for profit were coming to an end. The coordinated attacks was the beginning of an armed resistance that sprung up across the country in the following years. The enslaved rebellions ultimately led to the previously unthinkable; the dismantling of the colonial system and the declaration of Haiti's independence in 1804. It was "the first successful large-scale revolt by enslaved people in history", and the country became the first free black republic in the world, and the first independent Caribbean state. History mostly remembers the exploits of male freedom fighters of the Haitian Revolution. Figures such as its leader, General Toussaint Louverture; Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who became the first ruler of an independent Haiti; Dutty Boukman who was leader of the Maroons and a vodou priest, or houngan; the first and only King of Haiti Henri Christophe, and others. Their stories have been chronicled and commemorated through time.Yet there were also women who had key roles in the fight for Haiti's independence. Much of their history is unknown in the mainstream, or underrepresented and overlooked due to the lack of documentation and records of their activities. However the stories we do know of women including Sanité Bélair, Cécile Fatiman, Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére, Catherine Flon, Suzanne Simone Baptiste Louverture and more, detail their determination, bravery and dedication to the cause against all odds. There's also a lack of visual evidence of these women. However, contemporary artists Richard Barbot and François Cauvin – both Haitian – have reimagined them, providing faces to the names. Cauvin's painting of Lamartiniére will be part of The Fitzwilliam Museum exhibition Resistance, Revolution and Reform: Cambridge and the Caribbean in the Age of Abolition in 2025. Dr Crystal Nicole Eddins, associate professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh and author of Rituals, Runaways, and the Haitian Revolution: Collective Action in the African Diaspora, tells the BBC that women employed various tactics of resistance, from overt action, to working quietly behind the scenes. Some, including Bélair and Lamartiniére, were fighting on the frontlines. "We know that women were taking up arms alongside men. Women from African societies held a wide range of social roles, some of which were militaristic, in addition to the fact that women were also labouring on plantations, doing the same work as men. So it follows that they were fighting the same fight." In some cases, historians have said that it was the women who were the most fierce in their fight – Dr Crystal Nicole Eddins There were healers and nurses like Catherine Flon – who is mostly known for being a seamstress, and is said to have sewn the newly independent Haiti's first flag – as well as educators, spies and saboteurs who used guerilla tactics to sabotage resources, including water supplies, of their enemies. Eddins explains that women also contributed to more gendered roles such as growing and providing food for the rebel armies and their communities.Sanité Bélair was a Haitian revolutionary leader who served in Toussaint Louverture's army. She rose through the ranks, first as a sergeant then a lieutenant, leading the charge in the Saint-Domingue expedition. Alongside her husband Charles Bélair, another lieutenant in the army, they were eventually captured and executed on orders from Napoleon. Bélair's legacy is commemorated with her portrait on the Haitian 10 gourdes banknote, created in 2004 as part of a series celebrating the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence.Less well known were the vodou priestesses (mambos) and spiritually powerful women like Cécile Fatiman, who provided "protection spells" to the rebels, and refused to give up information about their location. They also used their traditional knowledge of herbal medicine to poison slave owners. Born to an enslaved African woman and a Corsican prince, Fatiman was a prominent mambo and revolutionary who is also said to have created networks of communication transporting information across the plantations. She lived to a remarkable 112 years old. Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére was a Haitian soldier and nurse who is celebrated not only for her courage but also for her knowledge and strategy on the battlefield. Wearing male uniform and fighting alongside the men, she was highly respected. Lamartiniére was a key figure in the major Battle of Crête-á-Pierrot in 1802 against French forces. Women were not exempt from the punishments meted out for participating in the revolution, and they suffered the same brutal fates as men. Bélair was famously known to have refused the blindfold before being executed alongside her husband by the French. "She's described by earlier historians' accounts and in CLR James's book The Black Jacobins, as having been a really brave woman who promoted the fight for independence," says Eddins. With the few details we know of Bélair and other women, chroniclers have written about their bravery and determination for the liberation cause. "In some cases, historians have said that it was the women who were the most fierce in their fight." They subverted colonial oppressions, and, in the face of adversity, fought for agency within their communities and society at large. Resisting slavery The colonists created divisions between the enslaved – sowing discord with invented hierarchical systems involving religion and skin tone. By using the divide-and-conquer tactic, colonists hoped that they would be too busy fighting among themselves to break the chains of slavery. In addition, they threatened extreme violence as punishment for insurrection. However, it did not deter the enslaved people's desire for liberation. They organised revolts without the knowledge of their masters, who were oblivious due to their perceived sense of safety, and their mistaken belief that black people were inferior and incapable of fighting for themselves.During the period of slavery, vodou created the environment for people to meet, and share cultural ideals and political alliances This belief especially persisted in the way black women were viewed. Many took leadership positions in the organised rebellions, though we don't know much about their stories. Eddins says that newer literature is investigating why these women were silenced in records. Their enslaved status is part of it, according to Eddins, and also according to NYU professor of history Jennifer L Morgan who has also researched this. Eddins says: "[Professor Morgan] talks about how slave status was conferred through the womb of African women, that enslavers didn't want to see them as human, because if they saw a pregnant woman, that would remind them that African people had kin and had family." Also, enslavers were unlikely to view black women as being revolutionary or having rebellious inclinations. Another reason for their lack of visibility in the history books is the fact that there aren't enough first-person narratives of these women. Eddins says: "We have letters from Toussaint Louverture. We have writings by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but we don't have, at least to my knowledge, any known writings from a woman revolutionary. So in the absence of that, it takes creativity to try to figure out how to find these women, and make sense of their stories." With her next project, Eddins hopes to find other women like Fatiman and Bélair, and make Haitian revolutionary women's stories more visible.A vodou ceremony known as the Bois Caiman is said to have sparked the Haitian Revolution. Originally, this indigenous African diasporic religion – later developed in Haiti as a response to slavery – was a worship of the elements: earth, sun, water and air. Vodun worshipers believed that there is a connection between the land of the living and the spirit realm. Death is seen as a transition to the invisible world where their ancestors guide and watch over them on Earth. Over the years, due to misconceptions and characterisations by the West, it has become a stigmatised spiritual practice. During the period of slavery, however, vodou created the environment for people to meet, and share cultural ideals and political alliances. Despite being banned, this did not stop people from worshipping in secret. This act of rebellion provided the foundation for bigger and more open resistance. Fatiman and Dutty Boukman officiated the secret ceremony which was not only a religious ritual but also a meeting to mobilise the enslaved masses from plantations across the country. They strategised on destroying the "sugar plantation economy and outlined the terms of their liberation". The ceremony and other vodou rituals that involved both men and women were key in bringing racial solidarity between the diverse population in Haiti that included the enslaved, creoles, Africans, free people of colour and Maroons. "These sacred rituals were spaces for enslaved people to come together and practise their religious and sacred practices from whatever fragments of memory that they could put together or reformulate in this new space." Eddins also mentions that the shared experience of being commodified as slaves and racialised as black was also part of the radicalisation process.Independence came at a crippling cost, and the country is still suffering the effects of the revolution. However, it's important to acknowledge that the brave overthrowing of slavery and the creation of an independent Haiti was a joint victory between men and women. And while many sources exist focusing on the male figures of the Haitian Revolution, recent efforts have been made by historians, scholars, activists, writers and others to locate women's stories of the revolution, and bring them to light – not only for their contributions to the cause but also to understand their lived experiences.


Type:Technology
👁 :
Apple's AI features roll out on iPhones - but not for all
Catagory:Reading
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

After a long wait, Apple has finally released its artificial intelligence (AI) tools for iPhone - to a select few. Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools announced in June, became available to owners of some iPhones around the world on Monday. The new features include notification summaries, tools to assist users in writing messages, and a glowing new interface for virtual assistant Siri. But they will only be available to people with the latest devices - including all iPhone 16 models, and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Apple Intelligence is also available on Mac computers and iPad tablets that are powered by its latest chips. But some of the tools made available on Monday have arrived later than equivalent features on other popular devices. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the public release of its AI tools introduced “a new era" for its products. It comes after the company said on Friday it would reward ethical hackers who could demonstrate vulnerabilities in its AI software with a bounty of up to $1m (£770,000).The bundle of features released on Monday in its iOS 18.1 update are the first wave of AI tools previously shown off at Apple's summer developer conference. More features expected later this year include generating images and emoji from text prompts. Rival features Google and Samsung have already introduced AI features to their devices. These include allowing users to translate conversations in real-time, automatically organise notes, and search for something online by drawing a circle around it. While initially making its Galaxy AI features available on its latest handsets, Samsung widened it to include S22 devices released in 2022. The South Korean tech giant said in February it planned to introduce Galaxy AI for more than 100 million users within 2024. Apple's new Clean Up tool, allowing people to remove unwanted objects or people from an image, also follows Google's previous release of a similar tool called Magic Eraser. Mr Cook told the Wall Street Journal in October that the company was "perfectly fine with not being first”, adding it "takes a while to get it really great".


Type:Social
👁 :2
The smartwatches that can predict Parkinson's disease
Catagory:Reading
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Smartwatches gather vast amounts of data about our physiology. Now their technology is being harnessed like never before. As the chief anaesthesiologist at CHUV University Hospital, Patrick Schoettker is all too aware of the complications which can follow a lengthy operation under general anaesthetic. Rapid blood loss from the surgical site can send the patient into shock, triggering sudden and dangerous dips in blood flow through the body. But patients can also develop severe lung problems after many hours of deep sedation, a complication which accounts for a quarter of all deaths within the first six days of surgery. Such tragedies sometimes occur due to underlying frailties in the patient's physiology which had gone undetected. But what if hospitals had a quick, low-cost way of screening for them ahead of major procedures? Schoettker and his colleagues are conducting a trial which involves fitting patients with a smartwatch known as the Masimo W1 several weeks ahead of their pre-operation consultation. The data it has collected is then used to form an assessment of their state of health. The W1 provides continuous readings of heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen, pulse rate and even hydration levels, all to medical-grade accuracy. Schoettker describes the layers of information as being akin to a "digital twin", and believes it could help save lives. "We plan to use this pre-operatively acquired data to predict possible pre or postoperative complications and act on them in a preventative way," says Schoettker. This is just one example of how the booming smartwatch market – some analysts have predicted that more than 400 million devices will be sold worldwide by 2027 – is opening up a bold new era of preventative health. Masimo, Apple, Samsung, Withings, FitBit and Polar have all developed watches capable of recording an extraordinary amount of data, allowing measurements such as sleep quality, blood pressure, heart rhythm variation and blood oxygen saturation levels – a marker of how well the heart and lungs are functioning – to be tracked in real-time.Gosia Wamil, a consultant cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, says that this information is already helping to alert doctors to potential health problems, enabling them to act sooner. "More and more patients are willing to use their smartwatches to acquire some data, and then bring the printouts and results to us," says Wamil. "And then we can investigate further and confirm those abnormalities." So far, some of the biggest applications have been related to heart health. In April this year, one study found that smartwatch-acquired electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements – readings of the heart's electrical activity – could reliably identify extra heart beats in otherwise healthy 50 to 70 year olds. This can be a warning sign of a much more serious condition, atrial fibrillation, where the heart starts beating irregularly or accelerating out of control without warning.has found that AI algorithms can use Apple Watch ECG readings to identify people with a low ejection fraction – the amount of blood that your heart pumps each time it beats, which can be a key warning sign of heart failure – with 88% accuracy. Wamil says that this combination of machine learning platforms and smartwatch-derived data is likely to prove revolutionary for patients with all kinds of heart conditions. "In cardiology clinics, we see patients who complain of palpitations, and we used to have those tapes which we could stick on their chest and record their ECG over 24 hours," says Wamil. "Very frequently, patients may not have symptoms during those 24 hours. But with smartwatches, whenever the patient experiences symptoms, they can press a button on their watch, acquire an ECG and show that to us." Wamil says this is already leading to preventative treatment, enabling cardiologists to prescribe blood thinner tablets to patients with signs of an irregular heartbeat, to help prevent strokes. She is also interested in whether this data can be used to prevent some of the cardiovascular complications experienced by many type 2 diabetes patients."The reason why people with diabetes have shorter lives is because they are much more at risk of developing heart problems," says Wamil. "We hope that in the future, this data could be used to detect early signs to alert the patient and doctor about their future risk of heart attacks and strokes." Predicting neurological problems But many of the applications of smartwatches could extend far beyond the heart. In July 2023, researchers at Cardiff University published a study using data from more than 100,000 people, who were given a smartwatch to wear for a week. The results showed that it was possible to identify individuals with signs of Parkinson's disease up to seven years before their clinical diagnosis. This was done by detecting subtle abnormalities in their walking patterns, as measured by the watch's motion sensors. Cynthia Sandor, who led the study, believes it could be possible to pinpoint these signs even sooner through combining motion data with other smartwatch measurements such as sleep quality, which is known to be disturbed in people who develop the disease. "In Parkinson's, diagnosis is preceded by a long phase where signs such as subtle motor changes become apparent," says Sandor. "We found that the most predictive feature was a slowing of movement during light physical activity, too subtle to be noticed by individuals themselves." Sandor believes this information could soon be used to recruit individuals to clinical trials. One of the theories for why effective treatments for Parkinson's have proven so elusive is because patients are diagnosed at a stage where significant brain damage has already occurred, and it may be easier to slow or even reverse the disease at an earlier stage. "We hope that early screening tools based on smartwatch data can identify people early, potentially enabling neuroprotective treatment trials to be successful," she says. It is also hoped that smartwatches could one day soon help people living with chronic conditions such as epilepsy, through providing them with early warning signs that a seizure is about to occur. Falls and serious accidents resulting from seizures are known risk factors for those living with epilepsy. "The uncertainty of when seizures might occur is one of the most difficult aspects of living with epilepsy," says Aileen McGonigal of the Queensland Brain Institute. "Seizure forecasting is however still at an early stage." McGonigal is interested in whether a special prototype version of the Empatica smartwatch designed for research can aid with seizure prediction. In an ongoing research project, she is applying AI algorithms to a combination of data streams. These include heart rate variability, skin temperature, body movement patterns and changes in the electrical conductance of the skin due to sweating, which reflects alterations in the body's autonomic nervous system. Each of these parameters can be measured by the watch. "We aim to analyse patterns in the hours leading up to seizures," says McGonigal. "Ideally epilepsy researchers and clinicians would like for patients to be able to forecast when seizures are more likely to occur, which might allow tailoring of treatment, including variable doses of medication and adaption of daily activities to reduce risk of seizure-related falls and injury," she says. But while there is considerable excitement about what the combination of powerful AI algorithms and increasingly accurate wearable measurements might be able to achieve, some doctors are also cautious about the potential for false positives. There are concerns that the overuse of smartwatches could lead to an increase in patient anxiety, as well as testing the resources of already overstretched health systems."Technology is helping medicine in many different ways," says Jeremy Smelt, a consultant thoracic surgeon at St George's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. "One of them is the early detection of problems, but it can also save lives. As with all technologies, smartwatches have to be tried and tested. False positives will cause anxiety and may end up in people going to the GP when they don't need to. But they are also very interesting for those with health conditions and could save health services money through picking things up early," he says. But as smartwatches become even more sophisticated, and manufacturers figure out more and more ways to obtain quantifiable data about the human body, the list of potential preventative health applications is only going to increase. Masimo CEO Joe Kiani is already focusing on the next frontier for his company's smartwatches: being able to predict an asthma attack. "We have a measurement for respiratory effort," says Kiani. "We can tell when you're struggling to breathe because respiration rate increases, pulse rate increases… all trying to make up for the lack of oxygen that you're getting," he says. "What's crazy is that for the past 50 to 60 years, all we've had at home is a thermometer to help you decide what to do [when you're sick]. Now we're going to have this rich set of information which can help people to stay out of the emergency department and still get the right care." source BBC


Type:Social
👁 :
Xenophon's Socrates
Catagory:Biography
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Although Socrates himself left behind no writings for us, his disciples Aeschines, Antisthenes, Aristippus, Cebes, Crito, Euclides, Phaedo, Simmias, Xenophon, and Plato wrote Socratic dialogues portraying his teaching in literary form. Of these only the extensive works of Xenophon and Plato remain intact. The relationship between these writings and the real Socrates is controversial; but in this work that examines the ethics implied in literature as well as history and biography, we can simply look at how Socrates is portrayed in these various dialogs, and then readers can draw their own conclusions. Both Xenophon and Plato were born in Athens about 428 BC and thus had the opportunity to observe Socrates in his later years. It seems to me that they each brought out different aspects of a very complex man. When Socrates was tried and executed, Xenophon was on the Persian military expedition made famous in his Anabasis. When he did write about his teacher a few years later, his main motive appears to have been to defend Socrates from the charges that led to his execution. His short work called the Defense of Socrates gives Socrates' view of his trial as reported by Hermogenes. Socrates believed that his whole life had been a preparation for his defense, because he had consistently done no wrong, and his "little divinity" (daimonion) warned him twice not to consider preparing it. Socrates also felt that dying then would prevent him from suffering the decline of old age. In answering the charge of introducing new deities, he said his daimonion was like the divine signs other prophets and priestesses experience. This spirit also helped him to advise friends and was never found wrong. This statement caused an uproar at the trial, as many did not believe him, while others resented the implication that he was closer to the gods. Socrates told how Chaerephon asked the Delphic oracle about him, and Apollo declared that he was the most free, upright, and prudent of all. Socrates then asked the jury if they knew anyone who was less a slave of his desires or more free, since he did not accept payment from anyone. Socrates asked if any youth had developed bad habits because of him, and Meletus charged that he had persuaded the young to listen to him instead of their parents, which Socrates admitted in regard to questions of education that he had studied. Socrates was not upset by the result of the trial and compared himself to Palamedes, who had been unjustly accused by Odysseus. WhenApollodorus found it difficult to bear seeing Socrates being put to death so unjustly, Socrates asked if he would prefer to see him executed justly. Xenophon continued to defend Socrates in the first part of his Memoirs of Socrates. Apparently Polycrates had published a pamphlet condemning Socrates, and Xenophon wanted to answer these accusations too. Xenophon's Socrates said that the gods gave us intelligence to use when we could, but that what was concealed from humans could be discovered from the gods by divination. Xenophon found Socrates doing the opposite of corrupting youth by his example and his teaching, inspiring them to desire goodness. He disapproved of over-eating but approved of doing enough exercise to work off the food the mind accepts with pleasure. He did not seek money-lovers but charged no fee, and he rid his listeners of all desires except to be in his company. Xenophon answered the charge that Critias and Alcibiades, who had been in the circle of Socrates, did great harm to Athens by saying that they were the most ambitious of men and were determined to have as much control over the state as they could; but while they were with Socrates, they were self-disciplined. Critias had been banished to Thessaly, where he practiced law-breaking, and Alcibiades was courted by powerful women and men because of his good looks and prestige. Socrates should not be blamed for their actions any more than a father should for what his son does. Socrates had criticized Critias for seducing Euthydemus, which caused Critias to hate him and with Charicles later to outlaw teaching the art of debate. Socrates also criticized the Thirty for making the people worse the way a herder did by reducing his herd. Xenophon wrote they stopped associating with Socrates because he annoyed them by exposing their mistakes. Socrates believed that it was an error to imprison the ignorant when they could be taught, though the insane may need to be confined. Then Xenophon proceeded to show how Socrates by practical example and by his conversations benefited his associates. Socrates only prayed for what is good, assuming that the gods knew that better than he. He thought praying for gold or power or anything else specific was like throwing dice or a battle, because they are unpredictable. He believed his small offerings to the gods would be as well received, for surely the gods would not prefer the large offerings of the wicked. Socrates did not eat or drink beyond satisfaction and advised others to avoid anything that impelled them to eat or drink when they were not hungry or thirsty. Socrates explained to little Aristodemus how well the universe was designed by God and encouraged him to recognize that just as his mind controls his body according to its will, so too does the intelligence in the universe operate. The omniscience of God is infinitely beyond the limited sensory powers and mental faculties of humans. Thus he made his associates refrain from wrong actions, not only in public but also when they were alone, because they would all be known to the gods. Socrates encouraged self-discipline as making one more trustworthy than the moral weakling, for the slave of appetites cannot escape degradation of both body and mind. Socrates refuted the luxury and extravagance of the sophist Antiphon by arguing that those who need as little as possible are closer to the divine and thus what is best. To the criticism that Socrates' advice must have no value because he charged nothing for it, Socrates answered that as selling the favors of love for money is prostitution, so those who sell their wisdom are calledsophists. When asked by Antiphon why he did not participate in politics, Socrates asked if he could not be more effective by making as many people as possible more capable in politics. Socrates pointed out that having a reputation for something without having the actual ability can turn out to be disastrous, and thus he discouraged his associates from having pretensions. Socrates practiced and taught self-control of one's appetites and argued to the pleasure-loving Aristippus that the prudent are more fit to govern. Those who devote themselves to managing their estates efficiently, benefiting their friends, and serving their country will surely find more happiness than in momentary pleasures. Socrates recounts Prodicus' parable of Heracles and the two women who came to him as Vice and Virtue. Vice offers easy pleasures, but Virtue explains that worshipping the gods brings their grace, being kind to friends brings their love, helping the state brings its honors, benefiting Greece brings its recognition, working the land brings abundant crops, and training one's body makes it physically efficient. When his son Lamprocles got angry because of his mother's temper, Socrates taught him to be grateful for all the gifts a mother has given to her child. Also by being good to his neighbors and fellow travelers, they will be good to him. He encouraged Chaerecrates to take the lead in resolving his quarrels with his older brother Chaerephon; for if he has a noble and generous nature, he will respond. Socrates has observed that low types are usually won over by a gift, but the best way to influence good people is by courtesy. If his brother does not respond, Chaerecrates has shown that he is a good and affectionate brother. To Critobulus Socrates praised friendship, and he felt that a friend was more valuable than any other possession; yet friends are often neglected compared to one's material possessions. Those who cannot control their desires are not usually reliable friends, and those who spend all their time making money have no time for friendship. Trouble-makers should also be avoided. Also one who accepts kindness but never thinks of repaying it does not make a good friend either. Those who have treated their friends well in the past are likely to do so in the future. Then Socrates showed that if we want to have a good friend, the best thing to do is to be a good friend in words and action. Even states that value honorable dealing are often hostile to other states. Socrates noted that tendencies toward friendship must compete with hostile tendencies toward fighting, rivalry, ambition, and envy. Friendship can unite the fine and good though by moderating possessions, ambitions, and desires in sharing and by controlling passions. Having good friends can be beneficial in public life. The best way to be thought good at anything is to become good at it. After the Peloponnesian War when Athenians were suffering poverty and a civil war, the aristocratic family of Aristarchus was starving in Piraeus until Socrates advised him to invest in wool and get the women and men of his house working, which would make them friendlier and pleased with themselves. Another older man named Eutherus, who lost his property in the war and was working as a manual laborer, he advised to go into managing property as more suitable to his age and experience. Crito, who was continually settling out of court to prevent lawsuits, he advised to get a friend to defend his cases by prosecuting these exploiters. They found that cultivating the friendship of honest people by returning kindness, which made bad people their enemies worked better than making good people enemies by wronging them in collaboration with bad people.Xenophon gives several conversations in which Socrates gave military advice. Since Xenophon was a general and Socrates was not, it is likely these reflect more the ideas of Xenophon than of Socrates. Xenophon points out the similarities of estate management and business administration to military administration as well as many of the complexities of command. Socrates asked the ambitious Glaucon how he was going to benefit their country, but his questions revealed that the young man did not know about their country's revenues nor its expenditures nor its armed forces nor how much grain it needed. If he can't even persuade his uncle how to manage his household, how would he ever convince the whole city of Athens? However, Socrates encouraged Charmides to go into public affairs, because he thought he was too modest. Socrates avoided the verbal traps of Aristippus by saying what things were good for specifically; then he generalized that everything is good for the purpose for which it is well adapted. Socrates believed that courage varied considerably but that everyone could develop their fortitude by instruction and application. Those who put into practice what is fine and good and guard against what is shameful are wise. The opposite of wisdom is madness, which results from thinking one understands when one is ignorant. By explaining the methods she used and how he could make her better, Socrates got the courtesan Theodote eager to visit him. Socrates also recommended physical training to Epigenes for the health of the body. To young Euthydemus Socrates showed the value of self-knowledge and the misfortunes of self- deception. Those who know themselves know what they can do and are successful while they refrain from doing what they don't understand and so avoid mistakes. They also know how to assess others and can benefit from them, while those who don't know themselves don't know what they want from others. Those who know themselves and are successful are sought out by others, but those who fail through lack of knowledge suffer losses and damage their reputations. States that go to war against stronger states through not knowing their own abilities either lose territory or become enslaved. Finally Euthydemus realizes that he is ignorant and had better keep quiet. Many people in this plight left Socrates in dejection and did not come back, but Euthydemus decided that by associating with Socrates he could improve himself. Socrates began by teaching his associates responsibility, because to develop their abilities without that would make them more capable of doing wrong. To Hippias Socrates argued that doing what is lawful is right and that there are unwritten laws of the gods such as honoring parents and repaying benefits. In valuing freedom he taught that those who are governed by the body's pleasures cannot act best or be free. Self-indulgence prevents people doing what is best and wise. By giving in to every immediate pleasure one does not even experience the maximum pleasure that comes from holding out until one is hungry, thirsty, or tired and ready for sleep. Only the self-disciplined can make the wisest choices and be most happy. Socrates also made his associates better through philosophical discussions that helped them to understand things better, while those who do not understand make mistakes. The courageous, for example, understand perils and dangers and yet are brave. Socrates contrasted the sovereign authority that acted with the consent of the people from the despotism that acted without their consent. A good diplomat makes friends instead of enemies, and success in politics stops civil strife and creates a spirit of unity. Socrates concluded that the best life comes from taking the best care to make oneself as good as possible, and the happiest people are those who are most conscious they are getting better. Socrates believed that his associates loved him, because they believed that by associating with him they would improve themselves and that he offered them the greatest help in cultivating virtue. In Xenophon's Symposium the wealthy Callias invites Socrates and his friends to a dinner party celebrating young Autolycus' victory in the Pancration. When Callias offers the guests perfumes, Socrates suggests that it's better if they smell of goodness. When asked where they could find that perfume, Socrates quotes the poet Theognis that good company is edifying but bad company the opposite. After a display of dancing, Socrates says he prefers this form of exercise because it can develop the arms as well as the legs. Socrates also urges the host to be sparing with the wine so that their mood will remain more playful and gentle instead of being forced into intoxication. Socrates then suggests they spend their time improving and amusing themselves by saying what each thinks is his most valuable area of expertise. Like the sophists Callias claims that he makes people better, but instead of by taking their money, by giving them money. Niceratus thinks his knowledge of Homer is helpful. The ascetic Antisthenes, who has no money, says that it is his wealth, because the thrifty are more moral than the extravagant and because he has much free time to spend with Socrates; while Charmides, who was wealthy before the war made his assets unavailable, is proud of his poverty, because now no one bothers him and the state supports him. Socrates claims his skill as a pimp, and the jokester Philippus his humor. Lycon is most proud of his son Autolycus, and Autolycus in turn honors his father. Hermogenes delights in the goodness of his friends. Critobulus is proud of his good looks; although Socrates argues that his bulging eyes and snub nose are better for seeing and smelling and his thick lips better for kissing, Critobulus wins the beauty contest between them. The Syracusan is proud of his boy; but he is afraid other men will want to sleep with him although he sleeps with him every night. Socrates then uses a series of questions to show that his pimping makes his protégés as pleasing as possible to his clients. Having seen The Clouds, the Syracusan asks Socrates if he is called the "thinker." Socrates replies that it is better than being called thoughtless. He then asks Socrates if he knows about celestial things, and Socrates interprets this as knowing about the gods. The Syracusan wants to put on an erotic display, but Socrates takes up the subject of erotic love and shows that the celestial side of Aphrodite is better than the common. Its pleasure is greater because the mind is better than the body; mental affection lasts longer than physical and is less bound by satiety. Being loved for one's character is never negative, but shameless physical intercourse has led to many atrocious crimes. The favorite who relies on physical beauty is not likely to improve other qualities, but the one who knows that one must be truly good to retain friendship will care more for virtue not only in the beloved but in oneself as well. At the end of this discussion as Lycon is leaving with his son, he calls Socrates a truly good man; after the erotic display all the guests immediately go home to their wives or lovers. Xenophon's Oikonomikos is on estate management. Socrates tells Critobulus how people are slaves when they allow such harsh masters to control them as gluttony, sex, drink, and costly ambitions. Socrates believes that his assets are better than those of Critobulus, although his own property would sell for five minae and Critobulus' for more than a hundred times that, because Socrates is able to live within his income, but Critobulus is not. Critobulus asks for Socrates'advice in estate management. Socrates points out that everything needs to be arranged in its proper place, not at random. One's wife can be a good partner in the house, because although income usually results from the husband's activities, most of the expenditures come from the wife's housekeeping; so both need to be done well. Socrates praises agriculture and indicates how much everyone depends on it, not just to live but to live pleasantly. Socrates then tells Critobulus about a long conversation he had with Ischomachus, who was known for being fine and good by everyone. First Ischomachus tells Socrates how he trained his wife, who came to him at age fifteen, by first praying to the gods for what is best and then training her. The traditional relationship of the woman handling things inside the house while the man did the outdoor work is discussed. Ischomachus expresses the hope that his wife will turn out better than himself and make him her servant because she is so valuable and efficient. Xenophon then compares estate management to military administration. Greek dependence on slave labor is assumed and in no way challenged. The female servants are to be locked away from the male servants so that their procreation can be regulated by the master, and it is also implied that the wife must compete with these women who are also used as concubines by her husband. In addition to the wife being taught how to use rewards and punishments to train the workers, a housekeeper is instilled with justice so that she also can reward right and not wrong. Ischomachus encouraged his wife to exercise in her work to benefit her health and beauty, but he discouraged her from using artificial cosmetics such as lead powder, although it was not known to be poisonous then. Ischomachus also taught his foreman responsibility so that he could supervise everything as well as the master. Rewards include verbal praise, and it is noted that human beings can be made to obey by proving to them by argument that it is in their interest. In the last part of the dialog Ischomachus shows Socrates how much he really already knows about the details of plowing, sowing, planting, and harvesting by artful Socratic questioning, indicating that this theory and method of educating is probably more Socratic than Platonic in origin. Source:Abika.com


Type:Social
👁 :118
Socrates
Catagory:Biography
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Socrates was born 469 BC in Athens and was the son of a stone-mason and a midwife. It was said that he did stone-work on the draped figures of the Graces on the Acropolis that was commissioned by Pericles. One account says that Crito took him out of a workshop to educate him because of the beauty of his soul. Socrates admired the theory of Anaxagoras that the mind is infinite, self-ruled, and unmixed with anything but itself, controlling and causing all things. However, when he studied with Anaxagoras, he found that he introduced many physical causes into his explanations of nature. Such ideas challenged prevailing religious beliefs in Athens, and Anaxagoras was condemned to death; but his friend Pericles got him out of prison. Socrates then became a student of Archelaus, who was said to have begun the speculation on ethical questions of law, justice, and goodness; Socrates improved on this so much that he was considered by Greeks the inventor of ethics. Some said that Socrates helped Euripides write his plays. Socrates fought as a hoplite at Potidaea in 432 BC and handed over his prize for valor to Alcibiades. He later served again at Amphipolis and at Delium. He invested his money and lived very simply, though he had three children, having taken a second wife to help Athens increase its population. He never asked a fee from anyone, and when observing the products in the marketplace he would observe that he had no need for so many things. He said that most people live to eat but that he ate to live. Charmides offered to give him some slaves for income, but he declined the offer. He refused to accept gifts from tyrants in Macedon, Cranon, and Larissa, and did not visit their courts. He had a supernatural sign which would warn him what not to do. His questioning often perturbed people so much that they would attack him with their fists; but he would refuse to fight or bring legal charges, saying it takes two to make a quarrel or that he would not sue a donkey for kicking him either. His wife Xanthippe was known for being a shrew; but he argued that just as by mastering spirited horses a trainer could handle others easily, so he could learn how to adapt to anyone. Socrates was satirized by Aristophanes in the comedy The Clouds in 423 BC; but he did not object, because if his faults were shown it would do him good, and if not it would not affect him. However, two dozen years later at his trial he was still being accused of making the worse argument appear better and investigating things under the earth, partly because of that play. When eight Athenian generals were illegally tried by the assembly for not picking up the lost sailors at Arginusae, Socrates refused to preside over the illegality. When the vicious oligarchy of Thirty ordered him to arrest the wealthy Leon of Salamis, Socrates did not obey even though he might have died for it. This oppressive government also forbade teaching the art of words because of him. Finally in 399 BC the resentful Anytus, Lycon, and Meletus charged Socrates with corrupting the youth and with refusing to recognize the gods of the state while introducing new divinities. Lysias wrote a speech of defense for him, but Socrates rejected it as unsuited to him, just as fine clothes would be. The vote to condemn him was 281-220. Then as a penalty he offered to pay a small fine, though he believed that the state should provide free meals for him. This alienated even more jurors, and he was condemned to death by a majority of eighty more votes. Believing in the laws of the state, he refused to escape from prison. After his execution by hemlock poison, it was said that Athens felt such regret that they put Meletus to death and banished the other two accusers. Socrates was said to be the first philosopher (in Greece) to discourse on the conduct of life and was the first to be executed. Source:Abika.com


Type:Social
👁 :
Philebus Laws
Catagory:Biography
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

In the fifth century BC the Pythagorean school continued, and Parmenides in Elea contributed to metaphysics. Zeno also of Elea let his mind trap himself into thinking one could never get somewhere, because by going half-way there each time one would get closer but never arrive. Of course if one continually goes halfway, one will never get there; to get there one must go all the way. However, Antisthenes credited Zeno with courageously challenging a tyrant by informing on the tyrant's friends. When interrogated by the tyrant, the only one he would implicate was the cursed tyrant himself. Zeno accused the bystanders of cowardice for not enduring what he was suffering. Finally he bit off his tongue and spit it at the tyrant before he was beaten to death in a mortar. This affected the citizens so strongly that they later stoned the tyrant to death. Melissus of Samos as a general defeated Athenians led by Pericles in a naval battle in 441 BC; but his transcendental logic brilliantly pointed out that the infinite must be one, because if it were two, the two would limit each other and not be infinite. Empedocles of Acragas wrote two poems, On Nature and Purifications, about the middle of the fifth century BC. He saw the universe as shifting between Love and Strife and composed of the elements of fire, air, water, and earth. With Love comes concord and joy; Aristotle interpreted Love as the cause of good and Strife as the cause of bad. Aristotle also said that he had been a champion of freedom and was averse to all rules. Others said that Empedocles declined the kingship offered to him, because he preferred to live frugally. When a tyrant insisted that all the guests drink wine or have it poured over their heads, Empedocles the next day accused the host and master of revels which led to their condemnation and execution. This began his political career, and it was argued that he must have been both wealthy and democratic, because he broke up the assembly of a thousand three years after it was set up. Late in his life the descendants of his enemies opposed his return to Agrigentum; so he went to the Peloponnesus, where he died. As Pindar, in one of his many poems praising athletes, his second Olympian ode, saw a return to a heavenly kingdom so too did Empedocles describe the soul that realizes its divinity. Empedocles gained renown for reviving a woman who had been unconscious for thirty days. Empedocles asked humanity, "Won't you stop ill-sounding bloodshed? Don't you see that you are destroying each other in careless folly?"1 He saw foolish fathers sacrificing their sons and children their parents. He wished he had died before he began eating flesh. Poetically he described how by an oracle of Necessity, anciently decreed by the eternal gods, a demi-god with long life, who has defiled his hands with bloodshed and strife or a false oath, must wander for thousands of seasons far from the blessed, being born through time in many mortal forms in one deadly life after another, pushed on by all the elements. Such a fugitive from the gods who had trusted strife did Empedocles claim himself to be. After many different lives such souls eventually come to earth as prophets, poets, healers, and princes to share with other immortals. Empedocles wrote that after much wandering he now went among the people as an immortal god honored and revered for his wisdom and healing powers. Leucippus founded the atom theory of natural philosophy refined by Democritus, who also taught that the cheerful person eager for justice and right actions is strong and free of care, while those who do not care about justice and right find everything joyless and in memory are afraid and reproach themselves. Happiness, said Democritus, is not found in gold or cattle but in the soul. For Democritus the goal of action is tranquillity, which is not the same as pleasure but a state of well-being in which the soul is calm, strong and undisturbed by fear, superstition, and other feelings. Protagoras, the greatest of the sophists, studied with Democritus and lived 481-411 BC. He is famous for the statement, "The person is the measure of all things."2 He was the first to charge a fee for his lessons and the first to define the tenses and moods of verbs. He instituted debates and taught the art of arguing, including verbal quibbling. In one of his books he stated that he did not know whether the gods existed or not; for this he was expelled from Athens, and his books were burned in the marketplace. Source:www.Abika.com


Type:Social
👁 :
Deadly new drugs found in fake medicines in the UK
Catagory:News
Author:
Posted Date:10/29/2024
Posted By:utopia online

Super-strength drugs linked to hundreds of deaths have been found in samples of fake medicines bought across the UK.We found more than 100 examples of people trying to buy prescription medicines such as diazepam - commonly used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures - and instead receiving products containing nitazenes. The synthetic opioid drugs have been connected to 278 deaths across the country in a year, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Nitazenes can be stronger than both heroin and fentanyl, a prolific killer in the US. Martin Raithelhuber, an illicit synthetic drug expert from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.Warning: This article contains descriptions of drugs use A government spokesperson said it was “securing our borders from the threat” through “world-leading intelligence, dedicated cross-government taskforce and extensive international networks”. The contaminated substances were identified in anonymous samples submitted to WEDINOS, the only national drug-checking service in the UK. It said the fake medicines looked like "the same kind of packet you might get from your chemist on the high street" but were "most likely purchased from illicit online pharmacies". Anne Jacques had never heard of nitazenes when a police officer knocked at her door in the early hours of 17 July 2023 and said her son had been found dead at his student flat. Alex Harpum, 23, had been preparing for a career as an opera singer and had been accepted for a two-year masters course. “Watching him sing was one of the biggest joys in my life ever,” Ms Jacques said.It was initially suspected the cause of his death was sudden adult death syndrome, but eight months later Alex's family learned he had taken a substance contaminated with a nitazene. Phone records suggested he had tried to buy tablets usually sold as Xanax, which are only available with a private prescription in the UK. Ms Jacques believes Alex was doing so because he often struggled with sleeping while taking medication for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The traces of nitazenes were only detected after she queried with police why earlier tests had not looked for them. Ms Jacques said she remained in “disbelief" at the lack of testing, adding: “If I hadn’t pushed for better answers in the middle of massive grief, then to this day I would have no idea how he actually died. "Unless we’re testing for them, how is anyone going to be aware and informed [of the dangers]?" A Scotland Yard spokesperson said there had been “delays beyond the control of the Met” relating to the need for, and timing of, specialist testing in this case. The North London Coroner Service said it remained in contact with the family regarding their concerns.analysed sample results published by WEDINOS, a Public Health Wales service which shares information about the UK's illegal drugs market. It records what the person submitting each sample said they had intended to buy. In the year to September 2024, there were 130 instances of someone trying to buy medicines illegal to posses without a prescription and instead receiving substances contaminated with nitazenes. Many were purporting to be benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, and insomnia treatments including temazepam and zolpidem. Nitazenes were also found in substances masquerading as promethazine, an allergy medication. Professor Rick Lines, from WEDINOS, said: “Perhaps people have found that they weren't able to continue on a legitimate prescription and decided to go through what they think is an alternative legitimate route, but is in fact not.” The government plans to make all types of nitazenes Class A drugs. Fifteen synthetic opioids were reclassified in March. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those caught in their supply and production could face up to life in prison while those in possession could face up to seven years.Mr Raithelhuber said there was a "lesson to learn... from North America", where people became addicted to prescription painkillers before the use of fake medicines containing fentanyl became widespread. “So here in Europe, we are not yet in that situation, but this could be the early signs of traffickers trying to expand," he said. “I think it's a warning call, maybe for all other countries in Europe… that nitazenes are probably here to stay for the time being, and that their potential negative impact on the health of users is huge.” He said because both benzodiazepines and nitazenes were depressants, “their combined effect increases the risk of overdose significantly”. Synthetic opioid effects Signs that someone may have taken one of these drugs: Small, narrowed pupils Reduced or loss of consciousness Dizziness or drowsiness Difficulty breathing Nausea or vomiting Cold or clammy skin Blue or grey lips and fingernails Low blood pressure or decreased heart rate Anyone who has consumed synthetic opioids and experiences the symptoms described should seek urgent medical treatment.The groups of people most at risk were “those who have always been at the highest risk of all drug-related harm,” said Harry Sumnall, a professor in substance use at Liverpool John Moores University. He said this included people with drug use problems and those “using drugs to help manage their life circumstances”. The NCA believes nitazenes are being produced in Chinese labs and brought into the UK through the Royal Mail and other parcel operators. Dark web marketplaces seen by the BBC suggest some of the same online sellers in China are advertising nitazenes in bulk as well as adulterated benzodiazepines. The Border Force only examines post for drugs if there is a known risk or intelligence. It says dogs trained to detect nitazenes and other synthetic opioids are “due to enter service shortly”. Its teams seized new synthetic opioids nine times in the past financial year, according to a response under the Freedom of Information Act. Those seizures ranged in size from 1g to 1.32kg, which experts said could equate to tens of thousands of doses.The government said it would also test for the presence of the new drugs in wastewater from sewage treatment plants to anticipate the threat of a spike in overdoses. It has, however, admitted such testing is currently "experimental". The process took around two months at the only laboratory known to have successfully confirmed samples. Experts previously told the BBC the last government had been too slow to recognise the scale of the problem. NCA deputy director Charles Yates said it took the threat from nitazenes “seriously” and was taking a “zero-tolerance approach”. There are an average of 49 drug poisoning deaths weekly involving opiates - such as heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl and including synthetic opioids - across England and Wales, the latest official figures suggest. Source: Metropolitan Police


Type:Social
Page 75 of 113