From the buzzing in Turing’s head to machine intelligence contests

This paper presents an analysis of three major contests for machine intelligence. We conclude that a new era for Turing’s test requires a fillip in the guise of a committed sponsor, not unlike DARPA, funders of the successful 2007 Urban Challenge

Bold leadership is needed for transforming health care.

Health care in the United States is going through significant changes and is at the forefront of the political landscape. While the health care debate rages on, leaders need to forge ahead and continue to work towards population-based health care and investing in their communities in a fiscally conscious way. Many innovations are happening but more needs to be done, especially in upstream services improving the health of the community. Research shows that investing in social care services and community-based investments results in lower health care expenditures and better health outcomes. Efforts should be placed on exploring a blended medical/social model of care while considering blended funding sources wherein the community needs to be active participants in this explorative process

What are the most effective ways you can help patients stop smoking?

Brief counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, antidepressants, and varenicline all work well. Physician intervention should begin with routine assessment of smoking status for all patients. Brief (3 minutes or less) smoking cessation counseling improves quit rates (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, Cochrane systematic review). Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), antidepressants (bupropion and nortriptyline), and the nicotine receptor partial agonist varenicline are effective and should be offered to help smokers quit (SOR: A, Cochrane systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials [RCTs])