A recent study published in Scientific Reports suggests that two-screw osteosynthesis may be biomechanically superior to single-screw osteosynthesis for type II odontoid fractures. The research, conducted at the University of Göttingen, utilized 18 human functional spinal units to analyze the impact of different fixation methods on the stability of the spine. Computed tomography scans were utilized to assess bone mineral density, and artificial fractures were created to simulate real-world conditions. The study found that the use of two screws provided greater resistance to rotational forces compared to a single screw, potentially offering improved outcomes for patients with this type of fracture. Further research and clinical trials may be necessary to validate these findings and explore their implications for patient care.
Americans Boost Retail Spending Amid Economic Concerns, Encouraging Signs Emerge, US
WASHINGTON — Americans spent the most money at stores last month in a year and a half, easing concerns that the economy would slow under pressure from higher prices and markups. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that U.S. retail sales rose 1% from June through July, after falling slightly the previous month. Auto dealerships, electronics and appliance stores, and grocery stores all reported strong gains. Adjusted for inflation, sales rose about 0.8%. And excluding gas station sales, which don’t reflect U.S. shopping sprees, retail sales also rose 1%.
Consumers have been hit hard by the pandemic since high prices and increased interest rates. At the same time, however, average wages have also risen, giving many households the means to continue spending. Inflation-adjusted wages rose slightly compared to a year ago. High-income households also saw their wealth increase with stock prices and house prices rising over the past three years, encouraging more spending.
Financial markets had already plunged earlier this month on concerns about the economy after the government announced it would cut hiring much weaker than expected in July, and the unemployment rate rose for the fourth straight month. However, economic reports since then have shown that layoffs are still low and that service sector activity and employment remain solid. Despite this positive trajectory, some economists remain concerned about the potentially increased reliance on credit card spending.
Cooling inflation could provide households with a welcome respite. Consumer prices rose just 2.9% in July from a year earlier, the lowest annual inflation rate since March 2021. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, fell for the fourth consecutive month. While there may be challenges and uncertainties ahead, Americans’ willingness to spend and the overall economic resilience remain noteworthy factors in navigating the current landscape successfully.
Renewed: Mother and Son Comedy Series Returns for Season 2 on ABC TV, Australia
Australian public broadcaster ABC has renewed its original comedy series Mother and Son for a six-part second season. Produced by local outfit Wooden Horse, it will premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview later this year. The series is a re-boot of an original ABC comedy made in the 1990s created by Geoffrey Atherden who serves as EP on the new version. Season two will see the return of the principal mother Maggie played by Denise Scott and co-star Matt Okine as Arthur, the son. Okine is also the writer of the show. The creative writing team behind season one also return along with Okine, including Sarah L Walker, Tristram Baumber and Tim Spencer.
Indians Urged to Invest in Domestic Startups for Sustainable Growth, Says India’s G20 Sherpa
More Indians should invest in domestic startups to sustain the growth of the Indian startup sector, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has said, noting that most countries across the world have high regard for India’s economic growth and the Indian companies should get bigger.
In an exclusive conversation, Kant highlighted the need for Indian individuals and entities to support the domestic startup ecosystem. He emphasized the significant role of indigenous investments in fostering a thriving environment for startups. Kant outlined the remarkable progress of India in the startup sphere, positioning the country as a global contender.
With a substantial increase in the number of startups and the emergence of unicorns, India has solidified its place as a key player in the international startup landscape. Kant mentioned the abolition of the angel tax as a pivotal step in further nurturing the startup ecosystem, fostering innovation, and encouraging growth.
The Production-Linked Incentive Scheme was also underscored by Kant as a strategic initiative aimed at cultivating global champions within India. By incentivizing production and promoting the growth of larger companies, the scheme aims to enhance synergies with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Committing to accelerating India’s economic trajectory, Kant lauded the nation’s impressive growth rates and set ambitious goals for the future. Vision 2047 serves as a guiding beacon for India’s transformation into a developed country, calling upon every Indian to contribute meaningfully to this collective vision.
As India positions itself as a powerhouse of innovation and economic prowess, Kant’s call for increased Indian investment in startups echoes the imperative of supporting homegrown entrepreneurial ventures. The future of India’s startup ecosystem hinges on robust domestic backing, enabling startups to flourish and drive the nation towards sustained economic growth.
UK Economy Grows 0.6% in Q2, Industrial Slump Alters Growth Pace
The UK economy expanded again in the second quarter but the pace of growth moderated slightly due to the contractions in industrial and construction output, data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Thursday.
Real gross domestic product grew 0.6 percent in the three months to June, following the 0.7 percent expansion seen in the first quarter. Growth came in line with expectations.
The quarterly growth was driven by the widespread improvement in the services sector. In the second quarter, services output moved up 0.8 percent while, industrial and construction output dropped 0.1 percent each.
On a yearly basis, the economy expanded 0.9 percent in the second quarter as expected.
In June, the economy stagnated after expanding 0.4 percent in May. A 0.1 percent fall in the dominant services output was offset by the 0.8 percent increase in industrial output and 0.5 percent increase in construction output.
The annual economic growth halved to 0.7 percent in June from 1.4 percent in May.
Despite the slowdown in growth in the second quarter, the Bank of England will keep its interest rate unchanged at 5.00 percent at the next policy meeting in September, Capital Economics’ economist Ashley Webb said.
However, PMI data suggested that economic growth slowed at the beginning of the third quarter, lending a bit more support to the view that interest rates will be cut twice more this year, to 4.50 percent.
The visible trade deficit widened to GBP 18.89 billion in June from GBP 18.59 billion in the previous month, the ONS said in a separate report.
Driven by an increase in the services surplus to GBP 13.57 billion, the total trade gap decreased to GBP 5.32 billion from GBP 5.77 billion in May.
Walking With Dinosaurs Returns After 25 Years: New Series to Explore Extinct Giants, UK
Groundbreaking BBC series watched by millions in 90s returning after 25 years
It turns out this prehistoric show hasn’t gone the way of the Dodo as after 25 years, Walking With Dinosaurs is returning.
The iconic BBC show will arrive on screens next year as a brand new six-part series that takes viewers back in time to explore the extinct giants.
Originally airing in 1999, the reimagined programme will ‘tell the dramatic story of an individual dinosaur’ in each episode, according to the BBC.
With so many dinos out there to choose from, Walking With Dinosaurs will focus on those whose ‘remains are currently being unearthed by the world’s leading dinosaur hunters.’
Just like the 90s version, animation and visual effects will be used to bring to life the creatures and create a drama around their lives based on scientific evidence.
This will include the Spinosaurus, which was the largest carnivorous dinosaur to ever walk the earth, reanimated and roaming the rivers of ancient Morocco.
Also included will be a youthful Triceratops battling a ravenous T. rex in North America and a lonely giant Lusotitan risking it all for love in Portugal.
Walking With Dinosaurs was so popular it spawned a franchise, which included Walking with Beasts, Walking with Cavemen, Sea Monsters, and Walking with Monsters.
‘A whole new generation of viewers is about to fall in love with Walking With Dinosaurs,’ said Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning for Specialist Factual.
‘The original series was one of the most exciting factual shows of all time, and this reinvention builds on that amazing legacy. Each episode is underpinned by the very latest science but is also filled with drama – making this a series for both dino lovers and people who just want to be told a great story.’
Palaeontology is booming at the moment with around 50 new species identified every year, as extraordinary new details about dinosaur biology and behaviour are revealed.
Fans were absolutely thrilled to see the programme get picked up once more, as Rachel Charlton-Dailey said on X: ’10-year-old me is screaming (35-year-old me is also screaming).’
‘I am so excited for this,’ added user Keyfeathers. ‘Walking with dinosaurs was one of those shows I would watch on repeat forever. It really got me hooked on dinosaurs for good.’
Kirsty Wallace said: ‘Oh I loved this – can’t wait to meet the new dinos and all the new evidence of how Dinos looked. This is what the BBC is so good at.’
An emotional Philip shared: ‘I’m actually close to tears walking with dinosaurs means so much to me. I’m thrilled a new generation will be able to sit in wonder in front of their screens and be educated and awed like I was.’
Sylvia Bugg, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager for General Audience Programming, added: ‘Our human fascination with dinosaurs has remained steadfast, and we are excited to bring PBS audiences this reimagined perspective on these dynamic creatures, combining engaging narratives, backed by the latest science.
‘As production on this series is in early stages, we look forward to sharing more over the coming year through first-look previews and educational resources, giving audiences a deeper understanding of the dinosaurs’ existence.’
‘There is no bigger science series than Walking with Dinosaurs, and we are incredibly excited to be bringing this much-loved brand to a whole new generation of audiences around the world,’ shared Andrew Cohen, Head of BBC Studios Science Unit.
‘It’s the ultimate dinosaur show, where you’ll be hiding behind the sofa one moment and having your mind blown the next. The prehistoric world meets premium documentary production, like never before.’
The original series of Walking With Dinosaurs is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Tim Walz’s Energy Agenda: Transforming America into California, Warns Analyst, US
Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., as vice president would aim to turn the country into California through a disastrous energy agenda, energy policy analyst Isaac Orr warned.
The big thing for everyone in the country to know about Tim Walz’s energy policy is that he has never seen a California or net-zero energy policy that he hasn’t tried to implement in the state of Minnesota. And one of his classic moves is to propose something that’s more of a moderate, liberal but not far left, progressive policy. But then, at his first opportunity, he lurches to the left and enacts that policy, Orr told Fox News Digital.
Orr currently works as the founder and vice president of research in Always On Energy Research (AOER), a new energy think tank to analyze and promote the most efficient and affordable energy systems for the country.
The group’s extensive research on Walz since he became Kamala Harris’ running mate found his past energy policies such as a carbon-free mandate by 2040 or a 70% gas tax increase are far from the moderate Midwestern image he portrays himself to be.
Gov. Walz has been portrayed as this kind of friend to Middle America, the Midwest, upper Midwest governor. And the problem is the policies that he has implemented have made their lives much harder. When you increase the gas tax, that hits rural people the most because they drive the furthest to get to the grocery store, get to work, pick their kids up from school, Orr said.
Orr noted ironically how some of Walz’s other policies, such as blocking the replacement of an oil pipeline, actually eliminate the types of jobs that the American Dream was built on for middle America.
I think that the Harris campaign is going to try and hide that unfortunate reality as much as possible, but the policies that Gov. Walz has implemented are the exact opposite of the image that they’re trying to portray of him as a friend of Midwestern America, he said.
Though other issues like Walz’s military record have taken more of the spotlight, Orr hopes both Walz and Harris’ energy record will get more focus as the election draws closer.
I think energy policy should be a major focus of this election, because energy is the invisible ingredient in everything. You can’t make anything without energy. The dictionary definition of energy is the ability to do work. And if you make energy more expensive or less reliable, you make everything else more expensive and everything else less reliable, Orr said.
He added, The problem here is if the Harris-Walz administration is able to enact more EPA regulations, their goal is to make the entire country look like California or make the entire country look like New York. And that is going to be a killer for our economy. And it should absolutely be front and center in this election.
Britain’s Economy Grows 0.6% in Q2 2024, Meeting Expectations, UK
Britain’s economy grew 0.6% in the second quarter of 2024, in line with economists’ expectations and building on a rapid 0.7% recovery in the first quarter of the year after a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, official figures showed.
In June alone, Britain’s level of gross domestic product was unchanged, also in line with economists’ forecasts in a Reuters poll, and compared with a year earlier it was 0.7% higher, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday.
At the start of the month, the Bank of England raised its annual growth forecast for 2024 to 1.25% from 0.5% due to a stronger-than-expected start to the year and an expectation of 0.7% quarter-on-quarter growth in the three months to June.
But it was less upbeat about the outlook for the remainder of 2024, seeing growth slow to 0.4% in the third quarter and 0.2% in the final three months of the year – which it views as closer to the economy’s underlying growth rate.
Britain’s economy has grown slowly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Only Germany, which was also hit hard by surging energy costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has done noticeably worse among the world’s largest advanced economies.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wanted the economy to achieve annual growth of 2.5% when campaigning in the run-up to July 4’s election – a rate that Britain has not regularly reached since before the 2008 financial crisis.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves set a more formal target that Britain should enjoy the fastest per capita growth in gross domestic product among the Group of Seven advanced economies for two consecutive years.
Thursday’s figures showed output per head in the second quarter of 2024 was 0.1% lower than a year earlier.
Growth in output per hour worked has slowed in most advanced economies since the late 2000s — limiting increases in living standards — and Britain’s long-standing domestic headwinds from low business investment were exacerbated by the public’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
Andhra Pradesh Aims to Become IT Startup Hub: CM Naidu’s Vision for Innovation, India
VIJAYAWADA: Directing the officials to formulate plans to transform Andhra Pradesh into a Startup hub, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the State must be on top in Information Technology (IT) and Electronics.
Chairing a review on IT, Electronics, Communications, and Real Time Governance System at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Minister, while observing that several IT Companies evincing interest to expand their services in second class category cities, wanted the officials to work in that direction to attract more IT firms to the State.
Naidu suggested the officials take the support of IIM Visakhapatnam, IIT Tirupati and other premier institutions to identify the startups adopting best policies and to initiate measures to bring them to the State. He asked the officials to work in the direction of extending better services to the people and identify a suitable location to set up a drone testing park in the State. He mentioned that the SRM and Reliance are contemplating to set up an Artificial Intelligence University and Artificial Data Centre.
UK and US Organizations Investing Over $25 Million in AI, Facing Challenges
Searce released its 2024 State of AI report, revealing that businesses in the UK and US are making substantial investments in AI this year. Nearly one in 10 decision-makers in both countries plan to spend over $25 million on AI initiatives. The research, based on surveys of 300 C-Suite and senior technology executives, highlights the growing emphasis on AI adoption in organizations with at least $500 million in revenue.
The report outlines key trends, successes, and challenges faced by businesses in AI decision-making, strategy, and execution. While significant investments are being made, concerns persist regarding obstacles to AI adoption. US decision-makers rank data privacy and security as their top challenge, while lack of qualified talent tops the list for UK decision-makers.
Julian Mulhare, Managing Director, EMEA at Searce, emphasized the importance of realizing tangible returns from AI investments. He noted the transformative potential of strategic AI adoption in driving operational efficiency and growth. The research findings reflect the pressing need for businesses to address challenges such as talent shortages and technological demands.
For further insights from the 2024 State of AI report, visit the Searce website. The research sheds light on the evolving landscape of AI adoption and the strategies needed for businesses to leverage AI effectively. As organizations navigate the complexities of AI implementation, prioritizing talent development and technological innovation remains critical for sustained success in today’s competitive marketplace.
