#51 - 9 October, 2024

Read the article in full ??https://p4life.substack.com/p/happiness-stripped-down-and-re-assembled

The Internet is the world's largest OTC dispenser.

Good recommendations are drowned out in the cacophony of the Internet. I have done some picking from my weekly browsing. Respectful of intellectual property rights, I dispense these in the spirit of "???????? ??????."

The section has been enlarged in scope from a passive list to a more active commentary. The new title is more in keeping with the ethos of {P}rescription than the earlier one: "Second helpings."

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Blindness as an asset. The out-of-the-box solution to detecting breast cancer early.

???????????????? || “The blindness is not a curse anymore, it’s a USP.” ... “Studies have shown that the sensitivity for detecting BI-RADS IV and V tumours was around 20% higher when MTEs (medical tactile examiners) were included in the examination.” || Read more ?? I see my disability as a positive’: the blind women who detect breast cancer

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• NOW: Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in India, with more than 60% of cases diagnosed at a late stage. MTEs (Medical Tactile Examiners), trained blind women, are successfully carrying out breast cancer screenings across several hospitals and communities in India. MTEs use their heightened tactile sensitivity to identify breast abnormalities during longer, more detailed examinations, often finding tumours earlier than traditional methods.
• BUT: Despite promising results, breast examinations remain taboo in India due to cultural stigma, and many women are still hesitant to undergo screenings. Funding to expand the MTE program is a hurdle.
• NEW: Research has shown that MTEs can detect smaller tumours than doctors, with sensitivity rates up to 20% higher.
• SO: Expanding the MTE program, especially into rural areas, could provide essential healthcare access and meaningful employment for blind women.

???? {?}?????????????????????? || This is a wonderful example of turning disability to a benefit. We cannot afford to ape developed countries for deploying early detection tools in cancer diagnosis. We have to innovate and come up with home grown solutions. There is a downside to such methods in terms of accuracy but this is something we have to accept.

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Working harder doesn’t mean working smarter

???????????????? || “The winners are the ones who figure out how to work in brief, daily sessions, pause frequently, assume ‘a playful and tentative stance’ while working.” || Read more ?? 30 years go, a revered psychologist discovered the secret to exceptional productivity. It’s the exact opposite of what you probably expect.

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• NOW: Many still believe that endless busyness and long hours are essential for productivity.
• BUT: Boice’s research from the 1990s reveals that shorter, scheduled sessions of creative work yield better productivity outcomes than long, stressed hours. The belief that success comes from pushing ourselves to the limit, or the need for external validation, keeps people stuck in unproductive, stressed cycles.
• NEW: Neuroscientific studies show that the brain can only handle three to four hours of high-quality cognitive work each da y. Psychological findings also indicate that self-worth comes from self-acceptance rather than external validation.
• SO: Applying shorter work bursts and a relaxed mindset can boost productivity without causing burnout.

???? {?}?????????????????????? || Try saying this to bosses. By and large, most institutions still evaluate an employee's worth by surface appearances rather than measuring productivity.

Add ons for the week.

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• ‘Nature is free, and the best kind of medicine’: is this the perfect walk for improving mental health?
• Eat your vegetables like an adult
• Mobility masterplan! 10 essential exercises for a strong, active, happy life – whatever your age
• Popular gut probiotic completely craps out in randomized controlled trial

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• How to structure your day for brain efficiency, according to a neuroscientist
• Here’s why most brainstorming sessions are a waste of time

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