#set application form 2019

[yesornopolls]

The article under the cut

Allies of Elon Musk stationed within the Education Department are considering replacing some contract workers who interact with millions of students and parents annually with an artificial intelligence chat bot, according to internal department documents and communications.

The proposal is part of President Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal work force, and would mark a major change in how the agency interacts with the public. The Education Department’s biggest job is managing billions of dollars in student aid, and it routinely fields complex questions from borrowers.

The department currently uses both call centers and a rudimentary A.I. bot to answer questions. The proposal would introduce generative A.I., a more sophisticated version of artificial intelligence that could replace many of those human agents.

The call centers employ 1,600 people who field over 15,000 questions per day from student borrowers.

The vision could be a model for other federal agencies, in which human beings are replaced by technology, and behemoth contracts with outside companies are shed or reduced in favor of more automated solutions. In some cases, that technology was developed by players from the private sector who are now working inside or with the Trump administration.

Mr. Musk has significant interest in A.I. He founded a generative A.I. company, and is also seeking to gain control of OpenAI, one of the biggest players in the industry. At other agencies, workers from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Mr. Musk, have told federal employees that A.I. would be a significant part of the administration’s cost-cutting plans.

A year after the Education Department oversaw a disastrous rollout of a new federal student aid application, longtime department officials say they are open to the idea of seeking greater efficiencies, as have leaders in other federal agencies. Many are partnering with the efficiency initiative.

But Department of Education staff have also found that a 38 percent reduction in funding for call center operations could contribute to a “severe degradation” in services for “students, borrowers and schools,” according to one internal document obtained by The Times.

The Musk associates working inside the Education Department include former executives from education technology and venture capital firms. Over the past several years, those industries have invested heavily in creating A.I. education tools and marketing them to schools, educators and students.

The Musk team at the department has focused, in part, on a help line that is currently operated on a contract basis by Accenture, a consulting firm, according to the documents reviewed by The Times. The call center assists students who have questions about applying for federal Pell grants and other forms of tuition aid, or about loan repayment.

The contract that includes this work has sent more than $700 million to Accenture since 2019, but is set to expire next week.

“The department is open to using tools and systems that would enhance the customer service, security and transparency of data for students and parents,” said Madi Biedermann, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for communications. “We are evaluating all contracts to assess effectiveness relative to costs.”

Accenture did not respond to interview requests. A September report from the Education Department describes 1,625 agents answering 462,000 calls in one month. The agents also handled 118,000 typed chats.

In addition to the call line, Accenture provides a broad range of other services to the student aid system. One of those is Aidan, a more rudimentary virtual assistant that answers basic questions about student aid. It was launched in 2019, during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Accenture reported in 2021 that Aidan fielded 2.2 million messages in one year. But its capabilities fall far short of what Mr. Musk’s associates envision building using generative A.I., according to the internal documents.

Both Mr. Trump and former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. directed federal agencies to look for opportunities to use A.I. to better serve the public.

The proposal to revamp the communication system follows a meltdown in the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, last year under Mr. Biden. As FAFSA problems caused mass confusion for students applying for financial aid, several major contractors, including Accenture, were criticized for breakdowns in the infrastructure available to students and parents seeking answers and help.

From January through May last year, roughly three-quarters of the 5.4 million calls to the department’s help lines went unanswered, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

More than 500 workers have since been added to the call centers, and wait times were significantly reduced, according to the September Department of Education report.

But transitioning into using generative A.I. for student aid help, as a replacement for some or all human call center workers, is likely to raise questions around privacy, accuracy and equal access to devices, according to technology experts.

Generative A.I. systems still sometimes share information that is false.

Given how quickly A.I. capabilities are advancing, those challenges are potentially surmountable, but should be approached methodically, without rushing, said John Bailey, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former director of educational technology at the Education Department under President George W. Bush.

Mr. Bailey has since become an expert on the uses of A.I. in education.

“Any big modernization effort needs to be rolled out slowly for testing, to see what works and doesn’t work,” he said, pointing to the botched introduction of the new FAFSA form as a cautionary tale.

“We still have kids not in college because of that,” he said.

In recent weeks, the Education Department has absorbed a number of DOGE workers, according to two people familiar with the process, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the department’s security procedures and feared for their jobs.

One of the people involved in the DOGE efforts at the Education Department is Brooks Morgan, who until recently was the chief executive of Podium Education, an Austin-based start-up, and has also worked for a venture capital firm focused on education technology, according to the two people.

Another new staffer working at the agency is Alexandra Beynon, the former head of engineering at Mindbloom, a company that sells ketamine, according to those sources and an internal document.

And a third is Adam Ramada, who formerly worked at a Miami venture capital firm, Spring Tide Capital, which invests in health technology, according to an affidavit in a lawsuit filed against the Department of Government Efficiency.

None of those staffers responded to interview requests.

[elwenyere]

I saw a post the other day calling criticism of generative AI a moral panic, and while I do think many proprietary AI technologies are being used in deeply unethical ways, I think there is a substantial body of reporting and research on the real-world impacts of the AI boom that would trouble the comparison to a moral panic: while there *are* older cultural fears tied to negative reactions to the perceived newness of AI, many of those warnings are Luddite with a capital L - that is, they're part of a tradition of materialist critique focused on the way the technology is being deployed in the political economy. So (1) starting with the acknowledgement that a variety of machine-learning technologies were being used by researchers before the current "AI" hype cycle, and that there's evidence for the benefit of targeted use of AI techs in settings where they can be used by trained readers - say, spotting patterns in radiology scans - and (2) setting aside the fact that current proprietary LLMs in particular are largely bullshit machines, in that they confidently generate errors, incorrect citations, and falsehoods in ways humans may be less likely to detect than conventional disinformation, and (3) setting aside as well the potential impact of frequent offloading on human cognition and of widespread AI slop on our understanding of human creativity...

What are some of the material effects of the "AI" boom?

Guzzling water and electricity

The data centers needed to support AI technologies require large quantities of water to cool the processors. A to-be-released paper from the University of California Riverside and the University of Texas Arlington finds, for example, that "ChatGPT needs to 'drink' [the equivalent of] a 500 ml bottle of water for a simple conversation of roughly 20-50 questions and answers." Many of these data centers pull water from already water-stressed areas, and the processing needs of big tech companies are expanding rapidly. Microsoft alone increased its water consumption from 4,196,461 cubic meters in 2020 to 7,843,744 cubic meters in 2023. AI applications are also 100 to 1,000 times more computationally intensive than regular search functions, and as a result the electricity needs of data centers are overwhelming local power grids, and many tech giants are abandoning or delaying their plans to become carbon neutral. Google’s greenhouse gas emissions alone have increased at least 48% since 2019. And a recent analysis from The Guardian suggests the actual AI-related increase in resource use by big tech companies may be up to 662%, or 7.62 times, higher than they've officially reported.

Exploiting labor to create its datasets

Like so many other forms of "automation," generative AI technologies actually require loads of human labor to do things like tag millions of images to train computer vision for ImageNet and to filter the texts used to train LLMs to make them less racist, sexist, and homophobic. This work is deeply casualized, underpaid, and often psychologically harmful. It profits from and re-entrenches a stratified global labor market: many of the data workers used to maintain training sets are from the Global South, and one of the platforms used to buy their work is literally called the Mechanical Turk, owned by Amazon.

From an open letter written by content moderators and AI workers in Kenya to Biden: "US Big Tech companies are systemically abusing and exploiting African workers. In Kenya, these US companies are undermining the local labor laws, the country’s justice system and violating international labor standards. Our working conditions amount to modern day slavery."

Deskilling labor and demoralizing workers

The companies, hospitals, production studios, and academic institutions that have signed contracts with providers of proprietary AI have used those technologies to erode labor protections and worsen working conditions for their employees. Even when AI is not used directly to replace human workers, it is deployed as a tool for disciplining labor by deskilling the work humans perform: in other words, employers use AI tech to reduce the value of human labor (labor like grading student papers, providing customer service, consulting with patients, etc.) in order to enable the automation of previously skilled tasks. Deskilling makes it easier for companies and institutions to casualize and gigify what were previously more secure positions. It reduces pay and bargaining power for workers, forcing them into new gigs as adjuncts for its own technologies.

I can't say anything better than Tressie McMillan Cottom, so let me quote her recent piece at length: "A.I. may be a mid technology with limited use cases to justify its financial and environmental costs. But it is a stellar tool for demoralizing workers who can, in the blink of a digital eye, be categorized as waste. Whatever A.I. has the potential to become, in this political environment it is most powerful when it is aimed at demoralizing workers. This sort of mid tech would, in a perfect world, go the way of classroom TVs and MOOCs. It would find its niche, mildly reshape the way white-collar workers work and Americans would mostly forget about its promise to transform our lives. But we now live in a world where political might makes right. DOGE’s monthslong infomercial for A.I. reveals the difference that power can make to a mid technology. It does not have to be transformative to change how we live and work. In the wrong hands, mid tech is an antilabor hammer."

Enclosing knowledge production and destroying open access

OpenAI started as a non-profit, but it has now become one of the most aggressive for-profit companies in Silicon Valley. Alongside the new proprietary AIs developed by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, X, etc., OpenAI is extracting personal data and scraping copyrighted works to amass the data it needs to train their bots - even offering one-time payouts to authors to buy the rights to frack their work for AI grist - and then (or so they tell investors) they plan to sell the products back at a profit. As many critics have pointed out, proprietary AI thus works on a model of political economy similar to the 15th-19th-century capitalist project of enclosing what was formerly "the commons," or public land, to turn it into private property for the bourgeois class, who then owned the means of agricultural and industrial production. "Open"AI is built on and requires access to collective knowledge and public archives to run, but its promise to investors (the one they use to attract capital) is that it will enclose the profits generated from that knowledge for private gain.

AI companies hungry for good data to train their Large Language Models (LLMs) have also unleashed a new wave of bots that are stretching the digital infrastructure of open-access sites like Wikipedia, Project Gutenberg, and Internet Archive past capacity. As Eric Hellman writes in a recent blog post, these bots "use as many connections as you have room for. If you add capacity, they just ramp up their requests." In the process of scraping the intellectual commons, they're also trampling and trashing its benefits for truly public use.

Enriching tech oligarchs and fueling military imperialism

The names of many of the people and groups who get richer by generating speculative buzz for generative AI - Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Larry Ellison - are familiar to the public because those people are currently using their wealth to purchase political influence and to win access to public resources. And it's looking increasingly likely that this political interference is motivated by the probability that the AI hype is a bubble - that the tech can never be made profitable or useful - and that tech oligarchs are hoping to keep it afloat as a speculation scheme through an infusion of public money - a.k.a. an AIG-style bailout.

In the meantime, these companies have found a growing interest from military buyers for their tech, as AI becomes a new front for "national security" imperialist growth wars. From an email written by Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad, who interrupted Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman at a live event to call him a war profiteer: "When I moved to AI Platform, I was excited to contribute to cutting-edge AI technology and its applications for the good of humanity: accessibility products, translation services, and tools to 'empower every human and organization to achieve more.' I was not informed that Microsoft would sell my work to the Israeli military and government, with the purpose of spying on and murdering journalists, doctors, aid workers, and entire civilian families. If I knew my work on transcription scenarios would help spy on and transcribe phone calls to better target Palestinians, I would not have joined this organization and contributed to genocide. I did not sign up to write code that violates human rights."

So there's a brief, non-exhaustive digest of some vectors for a critique of proprietary AI's role in the political economy. tl;dr: the first questions of material analysis are "who labors?" and "who profits/to whom does the value of that labor accrue?"

For further (and longer) reading, check out Justin Joque's Revolutionary Mathematics: Artificial Intelligence, Statistics and the Logic of Capitalism and Karen Hao's forthcoming Empire of AI.

[utdcrim43962025]

MR 12 - Many formerly incarcerated individuals face technological barriers upon release. How might correctional facilities better prepare them for digital reintegration, and why is this important for success in the modern world?

When someone gets out of prison after years inside, they’re returning to a world that’s changed—especially when it comes to technology. We do everything online now: job applications, banking, even setting up doctor’s appointments. But for someone who’s been cut off from all of that, it can be incredibly overwhelming. The digital world moves fast, and without guidance, it can feel impossible to catch up.

Correctional facilities could be doing a lot more to help people prepare for this shift. First off, they should be offering actual digital literacy training—basic computer use, internet navigation, how to avoid scams, how to fill out online forms, and how to use tools like Zoom, Gmail, or even job boards. These aren’t luxury skills anymore—they’re essential.

It would also help if facilities gave incarcerated individuals hands-on access to tech. It’s not enough to just watch a video about how to use a computer; people need to actually practice. Think of it like teaching someone to drive. You wouldn’t just hand them a manual and expect them to be road-ready. Same thing here.

Reentry programs should continue that support post-release—community centers or halfway houses could have “digital resource rooms” where people can get one-on-one help. And this isn’t just a feel-good idea. Being digitally literate can literally determine whether someone can get a job, access public benefits, or stay out of trouble.

If we want people to succeed after incarceration, we can’t ignore the world they’re reentering. Preparing them to navigate it—especially online—is one of the most practical and impactful things we can do.

References:

Latessa, E. J., & Lovins, B. (2019). Corrections in the 21st Century. McGraw-Hill Education.

Pew Charitable Trusts. (2021). How Technology Can Help Justice-Involved Individuals Reenter Society. https://www.pewtrusts.org U.S. Department of Justice. (2020). Roadmap to Reentry. https://www.justice.gov

[backlogbooks]

Backlogbooks Bingo Challenge - Horror Recommendations (part 2)

I'm back! There was a longer pause between part 1 and part 2 than I intended because job application and stress, but here we go with 2015 (actually 2016, horror didn't exist in 2015 according to my storygraph reads) to 2019

2016

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix -- The heart of this story is the friendship between Abby and Gretchen, who starts to lash out at her friends after a traumatic summer experience. As with most Grady Hendrix horror novels, this one combines comedy with some truly gruesome moments, and very 80s vibes.

Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You by Scotto Moore -- One of my beloved weird little horror books! It's 128 pages of a music blogger who's taken in by an absolutely magical song from a band that may be using some less-than-ordinary methods to capture listeners' attention (and.... souls??? maybe. who's to say it's been a few years since I read it). It's not the scariest nor the best book I've ever read, but it's a fun romp.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman -- Second weird little horror book! This one is more of a vibes horror than an outright horror--think unsettling moments rather than jump scares or outright threats. I loved the combination of the eerie tone with the realistically awkward teenage dating stuff, and the way the impossibility of the house at the bottom of the lake draws the reader in just as much as the characters.

2017

Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones -- A haunted house novella about a boy who sees his long-dead father in his house. Jones's writing style works so well in the shorter form, and the character work in this one Broke Me.

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins -- A YA slasher in which the manner of the kills take center stage (I don't remember the specifics but I remember the Theatricality). This isn't my favorite slasher, but it's great for a quick read.

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica -- A horror dystopia about a world in which human beings have been bred and raised specifically to be eaten by other humans, after some kind of animal plague. This novel follows a character who works at a processing plant, focusing on the way he interacts with the world and his own internal conflicts (or lack of them, depending on the moment). This book is brutal, and so well written; it was the overwhelming favorite for the first year of our horror book club.

The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson -- An iconic weird little horror book! Every time Molly Southbourne bleeds, another Molly is born, and she's been trained since she was young to kill them before they can kill her. This book Commits to its premise, and I love it for that.

2018

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay -- A couple are on vacation with their child when four strangers show up, take them hostage, and insist that they must choose to sacrifice someone to save the world from apocalypse. This is a home invasion horror story and a meditation on violence, religious fanaticism, and the concept of sacrifice / self-sacrifice.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand -- A YA horror novel set on an island where girls have been disappearing for decades, focusing on three girls who seem to have nothing in common. I don't remember much about this one, but I did enjoy it!

Alice Isn't Dead by Joseph Fink -- This isn't a story. It's a road trip. I would die for the book and podcast version of this story; it's such a perfect portrait of American highways through a horror lens, and the main character, Keisha, is a very compelling narrator. I do probably love the podcast more than the book, but if you're not a podcast person, this is an excellent choice for you.

The Hunger by Alma Katsu -- This is a historical horror about the infamous Donner Party that spans most of the fateful trip. The strength and weakness of this book is the fact that it follows so many of the characters, and they're all varying levels of unsympathetic. I loved that aspect, but I know many readers have been put off or dnf'd--but if you're in the mood for a slow burn, tense, atmospheric read where you can see the whole party fall apart from the inside out, definitely pick this one up.

2019

Bunny by Mona Awad -- A loner is invited to the rich, pretty, popular clique's get together, and everything starts to go wrong. A tale as old as time, and Bunny tells it very effectively (with a twist, or two, or many). Usually I have trouble with books where it's unclear what's real and what's the protagonist losing it, but I loved the sense of unreality in this novel. I was about two seconds from making a conspiracy board to figure out What Was Going On lmao. Also, some great freaky gore.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power -- Don't go in for answers, go in for body horror and character dynamics, and maybe questions, and body horror again. This story centers around girls at an isolated school which has been put under quarantine because of the Tox, which has infected everything on the island, including them.

Pearl by Josh Malerman -- First and foremost, I have to say that this should've never been retitled from On This The Day of the Pig. That's the title that tells you what to expect more than "Pearl"; and what you should expect is a psychic pig, which compels violence from those around it. The dread I remember feeling in this one is so strong, and I might have to reread it soon.

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez -- This is a multigenerational story of a cult, a curse, and the price of having powers without being powerful. Very lyrical writing style and non-linear story telling, which I think added to the feeling of everything in the family being intertwined (for good and bad, mostly bad). Another favorite from horror book club!

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Aaron Sibarium

Published: Jun 12, 2024

Congressional Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday that would eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion positions in the federal government and bar federal contractors from requiring DEI statements and training sessions.

The Dismantle DEI Act, introduced by Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R., Texas), would also bar federal grants from going to diversity initiatives, cutting off a key source of support for DEI programs in science and medicine. Other provisions would prevent accreditation agencies from requiring DEI in schools and bar national securities associations, like NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange, from instituting diversity requirements for corporate boards.

"The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division," Vance told the Washington Free Beacon. "It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society."

The bill is the most comprehensive legislative effort yet to excise DEI initiatives from the federal government and regulated entities. It offers a preview of how a Republican-controlled government, led by former president Donald Trump, could crack down on the controversial diversity programs that have exploded since 2020, fueled in part by President Joe Biden’s executive orders mandating a "whole-of-government" approach to  "racial equity."

From NASA and the National Science Foundation to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S Army, all federal agencies require some form of diversity training. Mandatory workshops have drilled tax collectors on "cultural inclusion," military commanders on male pregnancy, and nuclear engineers on the "roots of white male culture," which—according to a training for Sandia National Laboratories, the Energy Department offshoot that designs America’s nuclear arsenal—include a "can-do attitude" and "hard work."

The Sandia training, conducted in 2019 by a group called "White Men As Full Diversity Partners," instructed nuclear weapons engineers to write "a short message" to "white women" and "people of color" about what they’d learned, according to screenshots of the training obtained by the Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo.

The bill would ban these trainings and close the government DEI offices that conduct them. It would also prevent personnel laid off by those closures from being transferred or reassigned—a move meant to stop diversity initiatives from continuing under another name.

The prohibitions, which cover outside DEI consultants as well as government officials, would be enforced via a private right of action and could save the government billions of dollars. In 2023, the Biden administration spent over $16 million on diversity training for government employees alone. It requested an additional $83 million that year for DEI programs at the State Department and $9.2 million for the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility—one of the many bureaucracies the bill would eliminate.

A large chunk of savings would come from axing DEI grants made through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has a near monopoly on science funding in the United States. The agency hosts an entire webpage for "diversity related" grant opportunities—including several that prioritize applicants from "diverse backgrounds"—and has set aside billions of dollars for "minority institutions" and researchers with a "commitment to promoting diversity." All of those programs would be on the chopping block should Vance and Cloud’s bill pass.

Cosponsored by Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R., La.), and Eric Schmitt (R., Mo.) in the Senate, the Dismantle DEI Act has drawn support from prominent conservative advocacy groups, including Heritage Action and the Claremont Institute. At a time of ideological fracture on the right—debates about foreign aid and the proper role of government bitterly divided Trump’s primary challengers, for example, both in 2016 and 2024—Wednesday’s bill aims to provide a rallying cry most Republicans can get behind: DEI needs to die.

"It’s absurd to fund these divisive policies, especially using Americans' tax dollars," Cloud told the Free Beacon. "And it’s time for Congress to put an end to them once and for all."

The bill has the potential to free millions of Americans—both in government and the private sector—from the sort of divisive diversity trainings that have become an anti-woke bête noire. Its most consequential provisions might be those governing federal contractors, which employ up to a fifth of the American workforce and include companies like Pfizer, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, and Verizon.

Each firm runs a suite of DEI programs, from race-based fellowships and "resource groups" to mandatory workshops, that have drawn public outcry and in some cases sparked legal challenges. By targeting these contractors, the bill could purge DEI from large swaths of the U.S. economy without directly outlawing the practice in private institutions.

Targeting accreditors, meanwhile, could remove a key driver of DEI programs in professional schools. The American Bar Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredit all law and medical schools in the United States and derive much of their power from the U.S. Department of Education, have both made DEI material—including course content on "anti-racism"—a requirement for accreditation, over the objections of some of their members.

Those mandates have spurred a handful of law schools to require entire classes on critical race theory. The transformation has been even more acute at medical schools, which, per accreditation guidelines released in 2022, should teach students to identify "systems of power, privilege, and oppression."

Yale Medical School now requires residents to take a mandatory course on "advocacy" and "health justice," for example. And at the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, students must complete a "health equity" course that promotes police abolition, describes weight loss as a "hopeless endeavor," and states that "biomedical knowledge" is "just one way" of understanding "health and the world."

While the bill wouldn’t outlaw these lessons directly, it would prevent accreditors recognized by the Education Department from mandating them. Such agencies, whose seal of approval is a prerequisite for federal funds, would need to certify that their accreditation standards do not "require, encourage, or coerce any institution of higher education to engage in prohibited" DEI practices, according to the text of the bill. They would also need to certify that they do not "assess the commitment of an institution of higher education to any ideology, belief, or viewpoint" as part of the accreditation process.

Other, more technical provisions would eliminate diversity quotas at federal agencies and end a racially targeted grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Unlike past GOP efforts to limit DEI, which have focused on the content of diversity trainings and the use of explicit racial preferences, the bill introduced Wednesday would also ax requirements related to data collection. It repeals a law that forces the armed services to keep tabs on the racial breakdown of officers, for example, as well as a law that requires intelligence officials to collect data on the "diversity and inclusion efforts" of their agencies.

Though officials could still collect the data if they so choose, the bill would mark a small step toward colorblindness in a country where racial record-keeping—required by many federal agencies—has long been the norm.

"DEI destroys competence while making Americans into enemies," said Arthur Milikh, the director of the Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life, one of the conservative groups supporting the bill. "This ideology must be fought, and its offices removed."

==

I don't care who raised it. If the Dems raised it, I'd support it. DEI is absolute poison.

[eliteprepsat]

Think about how well you and your college counselor know each other. How often do you voluntarily talk to him or her? Counselors can be a tremendous resource of information and support beyond just enrolling you in classes, so if you don’t already, try regularly setting up times to meet with them.

To make the most of your time together, go in with strategic questions based on your curiosities and needs. Here are 6 questions to get you thinking:

1. HOW DO I FIND THE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE BEST FOR ME? 🔍

The college or university that is right for you might not be the same one you’ve heard about from your friends, parents, or favorite TV show. Each school has a unique set of characteristics, and finding the one that best fits your preferences will set you up for future success. Imagine a place you would thrive in. Consider factors such as size, location, academic programs, extracurriculars, and overall campus culture. Your counselor can provide guidance for how to assess which schools best meet your criteria and are most likely to admit you.

If you already have a list of colleges that interest you, you can ask your counselor if your list looks balanced or if you could benefit from modifying it. He or she can also inform you of any upcoming college fairs where you can consult with individual college representatives.

2. WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING THIS YEAR TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE?

Depending on what grade you are in, your counselor will have different recommendations for how you can best prepare for college. It’s helpful to devise a road map of sorts so you know you’re not missing any key steps. You can discuss topics such as choosing between the SAT or ACT, taking SAT Subject Tests, planning testing dates, stepping up your involvement in extracurricular activities, and making the most out of college visits.

3. AM I TAKING THE RIGHT COURSES? 📚

The requirements for which high school classes you must take vary by college and they may differ from your high school’s graduation criteria. For example, UC and CSU schools have what are called “a-g” class requirements, which stipulate the minimum type and number of courses you must take to be eligible to apply to these schools. Navigating these details with an expert can give you peace of mind as you piece together your schedule.

Not only can your counselor help you plan your class schedule so that you time everything appropriately, but he or she can help you choose the classes that will increase your competitiveness for college admissions. For example, if you’re thinking of applying with a major like engineering, you’ll want to take as many rigorous STEM classes as you can to demonstrate your interest and ability in that field.

4. HOW DOES MY SUMMER PLAN LOOK?

As part of getting to know you, colleges like to see how you spend your free time. Summers are a great opportunity to explore and develop interests and further your academic career. Your counselor can help you decide what to do this coming summer–whether it be an internship, enrichment course, paid or volunteer job, or academic summer program–and provide resources for finding such opportunities.

5. HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID? 💰

College, as you may have heard, can be surprisingly pricey. Harvey Mudd, for instance, estimates the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year at about $79,539 per year. Fortunately, you can find plenty of financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and work study programs. Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is the best way to ensure you qualify for as much of this aid as possible. The form can be a little confusing, so you might ask your counselor if your school offers any events that walk students and parents through filling it out.

Your counselor will also likely know about additional local or national scholarships that you may qualify for. Each independent scholarship has its own application requirements, so finding out early can help you budget your time and not allow any deadlines–aka free money–to pass you by.

6. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE DOING TO IMPROVE MY CHANCE?

Especially if your counselor knows you well, he or she may have some additional tips for helping you get into your target colleges or universities. Perhaps you will be applying to schools that offer interviews and could benefit from interview pointers, or maybe your priority should be fine-tuning your college essays, increasing your GPA, or taking the SAT again to reach a target score. A great thing about talking with your counselor, rather than exploring the sea of online information alone, is that you get access to an interactive expert who knows you as an individual, able to tailor specific answers to your specific situation.

Hopefully you’ll use these six questions to get thinking about what topics you want to bring up with your counselor. Think about what areas you’re most unsure of, keeping in mind that the quality of the information you get depends on the quality of the questions you ask.

[cherocarofficial]

Ferrari unveiled the '296 Challenge' at the Finali Mondiali race at Mugello Circuit. The car is scheduled to debut in the Ferrari Challenge in the 2024 season and is the ninth model in the history of the single-make championship hosted by Ferrari. The Ferrari Challenge is currently in its 32nd season.

As riders around the world became more skilled and competitive, the 296 Challenge attempted to make bigger changes than the original model. The 296 Challenge continues Ferrari's long tradition of developing cars for gentleman drivers, but draws on the expertise accumulated in the '296 GT3' more than any other model. The 296 Challenge is a vehicle for drivers who are passionate about future GT racing. During the development of the 296 Challenge we made significant changes, not just minor changes to the model of the production car, but to make it a vehicle optimized for track driving. An extreme form of the vehicle was developed that improves overall performance while maintaining consistency and repeatability for testing and competition.

The 296 Challenge is the first car in Ferrari's single-brand range to be equipped with a V6 engine. So far, all models participating in the Challenge have been equipped with V8 engines. The biggest change compared to the 296 GTB is the elimination of the hybrid powertrain like the 296 GT3. As a result, while reducing the weight of the vehicle, the power output was increased to 700 horsepower (cv), setting a new record in this segment with an output of 234 horsepower per liter. In terms of aerodynamics, solutions derived from the 296 GT3 were taken and pushed to the extreme to achieve unprecedented downforce figures. These include the "S-shaped duct" (which draws air into the central radiator and exhausts it through the vents on the bonnet), the "swan-neck rear wing layout (another element inspired by the development of the 296 GT3)", and the A device that maximizes the stability of downforce generated in different trim conditions.

The braking system has also been completely redesigned. It's the first to feature the new "CCM-R PLUS" disc, which features technology derived from extreme track applications. New Pirelli tires developed specifically for the 296 Challenge also contributed significantly to improved performance. After its debut at the "2019 Finali Mondiali", the 296 Challenge set a record at the Mugello circuit approximately 2 seconds faster than its predecessor "488 Challenge Evo" which debuted in the 2020 season. From the early stages of development, the 296 Challenge discussed removing all hybrid components from the V6 powertrain, as in the 296 GT3. The electric motor and high-voltage battery have been eliminated, and the output of the twin-turbo V6 engine has been increased to 700 cv. This approach helps limit vehicle weight and overall unit complexity, which are fundamental factors in track driving.

Ferrari unveils '296 Challenge' race car with F1 technology

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

What is the school giving you money for and how do we go about getting this money as well (if you don’t mind sharing?) I’m a poor college student as well, thank you

hi, thanks for the question, and i don’t mind sharing. in this current case, two public research universities have offered me financial packages to fund me for work toward a PhD: both institutions are offering me full funding of tuition and other school fees as well as employment as a researcher or a teaching assistant, but the total amounts are different. one of them (my current institution) also gave me a yearly scholarship four years ago to partially fund my work toward the bachelor’s degree i’m getting in a few months; this partial funding was based on my performance in high school. i was considered automatically when i applied back in 2019. i also received a smaller, one-time scholarship during my bachelor’s because i’m doing research as part of the honors program.

in terms of advice for getting money like this, i don’t know from where you’re speaking, so this is very USA-centric. also, it’s hard for me to sum it up, if anything because i never expected i’d get any of this. i will say that all the money i’ve gotten for my higher ed has come directly from the universities themselves without me specifically applying for it. honestly, i think if i tried harder to apply to scholarships offered (btw, check if your school has a page on its website about scholarships—some illustrious alumni of the school could have set up programs to issue scholarships to qualifying students) i might have gotten more.

in general, if i had to give advice as to how to get money for education in a situation where you know you don’t have the same head start as some of your peers? i think being able to express yourself well in writing is one of the most important things you can do. for example, was the science department in my high school as well funded as some of my peers’ were? no. but i was able to write about the little experience that i had, and turn it into something that made me stand out. something that i used a lot in applying for university was the way that having to teach myself the core tenets of my field through self-guided research and unsupervised experiments gave me a passion for the field i wanted to study, and resilience in the face of frustration. i genuinely think that being able to write well has been the single most important factor in all the financial aid i’ve received over the past 4 and next 5 years of higher education: i’m not a genius, i have never had perfect grades, and i am certainly not the smartest person in the room. but i know how to write well! i can communicate my ideas clearly! not even just academic writing, strictly, although that’s important and i think doing well in that has also gotten me far in terms of receiving funding. a lot of application-style writing (in the usa, especially) takes on a very narrative form. so being able to express yourself well in writing in different registers and for different audiences definitely makes someone stand out.

as saccharine as it sounds, over the past few years, i’ve just done what i love and am passionate about, and written about it a bit. and apparently, people have decided that that’s worth putting money toward. again, this was kind of hard to sum up, so i apologize if it’s not the most helpful; my asks and DMs are open if you have any other questions.

[sinnohlunarfestival]

GENERAL NEW YEARS RACE INFO

The Sinnoh New Years Race is a long standing tradition that spans the entirety of the regions and a whole week.

It takes place in three segments throughout the week, with checkpoints, allowing the racers time to take a break. Sponsors can help racers get chosen as a participant and during the race itself. Despite its bright cheery veneer, there are some less than savoury actions behind the scenes...

The point of the race is to get an assigned Pokemon partner to the top of Mt Coronet where a shrine maiden would be awaiting with last year's Pokemon mascot. This year, racers would be expected to get a Garchomp to Mt Coronet to meet last year's mascot, a Lopunny.

Due to commercializing of the event in 2019, there are now 12 sponsored teams standing behind the racers, pushing them to the top!

The winner of the race will get amazing accolades on top of the traditional reward, the Lucky Arrow, which is given as a blessing to the winner, said to give them incredible luck during that year.

The origin of the race has to do with the old folk tale about how the twelve Pokemon of the zodiac game to be. A long, long time ago, the Great Sinnoh wished to hold a party and summoned many Pokemon to come. All of them were excited and rushed to attend, making a race out of it. The Pokemon that arrived, in the order they came in, became the zodiac we know of today.

Racers will be chosen based on a form (to be added), on a first come basis. There are twelve teams, who all start off with no modifiers (baseline 0 bonuses, essentially). As the race goes on, things may change to affect the chances of the racers. An example is if the environment would make the racers be unable to see (a sandstorm), thus slowing down everyone's efforts.

There will be three segments, which will give three different rolls for each racer. All results are final. Depending on the results, this will also determine modifiers to the next set of rolls.

Ex: Racer A came in third, whereas Racer B came in first, so Racer B will have +3 for their roll as they are currently in the lead, whereas Racer A would get only +1 being they ended the last part of the race within the top 3.

If you are interested in becoming a racer, please keep an eye out on the blog, we will open applications forms soon!

[rsrtrainingacademy]

J1 Program USA Requirements: Everything You Need to Know

The J1 Program USA is your gateway to international exchange opportunities, offering individuals from around the world a chance to gain valuable professional, educational, and cultural experiences in the United States. Whether you're a student, intern, teacher, or researcher, this program opens doors to personal growth and global networking.

In this blog, we'll dive deep into the benefits, eligibility criteria, application process, and how RSR Training Academy can help you make the most of the USA J1 Visa Program.

What is the J1 Program USA?

The J1 Program USA is a non-immigrant visa designed for individuals who wish to participate in cultural exchange programs. Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, this program allows participants to develop skills, improve their English proficiency, and immerse themselves in American culture.

There are various categories under the J1 Visa Program, including:

Internships

Training Programs

Teaching Programs

Research Scholar Programs

Summer Work Travel

Benefits of Joining the J1 Program USA

Participating in the J1 Program USA offers a wealth of opportunities for professional development and cultural enrichment:

Global Exposure: Build a worldwide network and connect with professionals from different industries.

Skill Enhancement: Gain practical experience in your field while improving your technical and soft skills.

Cultural Exchange: Experience American culture firsthand and share your own traditions.

Career Boost: A J1 visa experience can significantly enhance your resume and open global career opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria for the J1 Program USA

To qualify for the USA J1 Visa Program, you must meet certain eligibility requirements:

Proficiency in English (spoken and written)

Acceptance into an approved J1 program

Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in the U.S.

Strong ties to your home country (to ensure your return after the program)

Each specific category under the J1 Visa Program may have additional eligibility requirements, which RSR Training Academy can help you understand in detail.

Application Process for the J1 Program USA

Getting started with the J1 Program USA involves a few essential steps:

Find a Sponsor: You’ll need a U.S.-based sponsor who can help you with your application.

Submit the DS-2019 Form: This Certificate of Eligibility allows you to apply for your J1 visa.

Pay SEVIS Fee: A mandatory fee required to process your application.

Schedule a Visa Interview: Book an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Attend the Interview: Provide supporting documents and answer questions regarding your program.

RSR Training Academy offers complete assistance throughout this process, ensuring you meet all requirements and deadlines.

Why Choose RSR Training Academy for the J1 Program USA?

At RSR Training Academy, we specialize in guiding aspiring professionals through every step of their J1 Visa USA journey. Here’s why you should choose us:

Expert Guidance: Our team of visa experts will help you navigate the complex application process.

Personalized Support: Get tailored advice based on your chosen program category.

Pre-departure Assistance: We provide cultural orientation and tips to prepare you for life in the U.S.

Tips for Success in the J1 Program USA

Maximize your experience with these handy tips:

Be Open-Minded: Embrace cultural differences and stay open to learning new things.

Network Actively: Connect with professionals and fellow participants to expand your network.

Document Your Experience: Keep a journal or blog about your journey—it will be helpful for future job applications.

Ready to Begin Your J1 Program USA Journey?

The J1 Program USA is more than just a visa—it’s a life-changing experience that will broaden your horizons, sharpen your skills, and set the stage for global career success.

Don’t wait to unlock these exciting opportunities!

👉 Apply Now through RSR Training Academy and take the first step toward your international adventure.

For more details, contact us today and let us help you navigate your USA J1 Visa journey with ease! 🚀

[taxassistantorg]

Indian Taxpayers: Are You Claiming All Your Home Loan & EV Loan Deductions? Find Out Here

Are You Missing Out on Major Tax Savings from Your Home and EV Loans

Thousands of Indian taxpayers could be significantly reducing their tax burden by fully utilizing deductions on their home and Electric Vehicle (EV) loan repayments, yet many are not claiming the full benefits. As the tax filing deadline approaches, understanding the various provisions of the Income Tax Act is crucial for maximizing your savings.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure you don’t overlook these valuable deductions:

Unlocking Home Loan Tax Benefits

1. Section 24(b) – Interest on Home Loan: This section allows deductions on the interest component of your home loan EMI. * Self-occupied property: You can claim up to ₹2 lakh per financial year. * Let-out or rented properties: There’s no upper limit on interest deduction, though only ₹2 lakh of loss can be set off against other income in a financial year. * Important: This section covers only the interest portion; the principal is handled separately.

2. Section 80C – Principal Repayment: The principal amount of your EMI, along with stamp duty and registration charges, is deductible up to ₹1.5 lakh per annum. * Conditions: The house must be constructed and ready for possession, and the loan must be for a residential property. * Exclusions: Loans for repairs, renovation, or reconstruction are not eligible. * Note: This benefit is not available under the new tax regime.

3. Extra Perks for Homebuyers: To promote affordable housing, the government introduced additional sections: * Section 80EE: Offers an additional deduction of ₹50,000 on interest for first-time homebuyers. This applies to loans sanctioned between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017, where the loan amount doesn’t exceed ₹35 lakh and property value is capped at ₹50 lakh. * Section 80EEA: Provides an additional deduction of ₹1.5 lakh on interest for affordable housing loans taken between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2022. The stamp duty value of the property must not exceed ₹45 lakh. This deduction is available even to Non-Resident Individuals (NRIs).

Driving Green with EV Loan Tax Benefits

Section 80EEB: If you’ve taken a loan for an Electric Vehicle, you can claim a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh on the interest paid. * Applicability: This applies to EV loans sanctioned between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023. * Scope: The benefit covers both electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers, making eco-friendly transportation more accessible.

Who Can Claim and What to Remember

Eligibility: Generally, any individual owning a residential property (self-occupied or rented) is eligible for home loan deductions under Section 24.

Dual Benefits: You can even claim both home loan benefits and House Rent Allowance (HRA) if specific conditions are met, such as residing in a rented house in a different city for work while owning a home elsewhere.

Documentation is Key: Your Income Tax Return forms specifically ask for loan and interest details under these sections. Ensure accurate entry and keep all supporting documents, including interest certificates from your lender, loan sanction letters, EMI statements, and property documents, handy for verification by the Income Tax Department.

Don’t let these valuable tax savings slip away! By accurately claiming your eligible deductions, you can significantly reduce your tax liability this filing season.

[nemoe222]

Pipe Factories in Egypt

Here’s an enhanced, well-structured overview of pipe factories in Egypt, with no company names or external links, and supported by diverse citations:

At the heart of Egypt’s infrastructure development lies a robust pipe‐manufacturing sector specializing in plastic and ductile-iron products. Leveraging modern extrusion technology, factories produce PVC/UPVC, HDPE, PPR, GRP, and iron pipes to serve water, sewage, irrigation, gas, and industrial networks. Domestic production capacity has risen steadily, reducing import dependence—imports fell to 59.4 million USD in 2022 (down 17.8% since 2019) —while exports, particularly of HDPE, grew to capture key markets across Africa and beyond . Factories adhere to international standards (ISO, ASTM, DIN), employ pressure and mechanical testing for quality assurance, and increasingly embrace recycling of production scrap and energy-efficient processes. Located mainly in major industrial zones such as Giza’s Engineering Square , this sector is poised for continued growth—Cognitive Market Research projects Egypt’s HDPE pipe market at USD 44.62 million in 2024 with a 5.9% CAGR to 2031 .

Materials & Product Range

Egyptian pipe factories manufacture several key types:

PVC/UPVC for drinking water and sewerage, valued for corrosion resistance and light weight .

HDPE for high-pressure water and gas lines, prized for flexibility, impact strength, and recyclability .

PPR for hot/cold potable water, offering thermal and pressure tolerance .

GRP (glass-reinforced polyester) for large-diameter, heavy-load applications like drainage and industrial effluent.

Ductile Iron increasingly produced for heavy-duty infrastructure, combining strength with durability.

Manufacturing Process

Raw Material Preparation Granules are dried, filtered, and blended with stabilizers and colorants to meet strict performance specs .

Extrusion The mix is melted in twin-screw extruders and forced through precision dies to form continuous pipe lengths .

Cooling & Calibration Pipes pass through water baths and vacuum calibration tanks, ensuring tight dimensional tolerances.

Cutting & Labeling Lengths are cut automatically; each piece is stamped with diameter, wall thickness, and production date for traceability .

Quality Assurance & Standards

Pressure Testing: Verifies pipes remain leak-free under operating pressures .

Mechanical Testing: Assesses tensile strength, burst pressure, and impact resistance.

Chemical & Thermal Tests: Ensure compatibility with potable water and industrial fluids.

Standards Compliance: Factories conform to ISO, ASTM, and DIN norms to ensure global interoperability.

Economic & Environmental Impact

Import Trends: In 2022, Egypt’s imports of plastic pipes and fittings declined to 59.4 million USD, down 17.8% from 2019, reflecting stronger local output .

Export Performance: Egypt exports HDPE pipes to over 20 countries, with leading markets in the USA, Argentina, and Uganda, collectively accounting for 70% of volumes .

Sustainability Practices: Scrap from cutting and calibration is recycled; energy-efficient heating systems reduce carbon footprint.

Employment & Growth: The sector supports thousands of direct jobs and drives ancillary services in logistics and maintenance.

Key Applications

Municipal Water & Sewage: Reliable networks built with PVC, UPVC, and HDPE.

Agricultural Irrigation: Flexible HDPE systems for drip and sprinkler setups.

Gas Distribution: High-pressure HDPE and ductile-iron pipes ensure safe delivery.

Industrial & Chemical Lines: GRP and PPR pipes handle aggressive fluids and high temperatures.

Telecommunications: Pipes serve as underground conduits for fiber-optic and electrical cables.

Future Outlook

With national infrastructure initiatives and rising regional demand, Egypt’s pipe manufacturing is set for expansion. Continued investment in:

Advanced Extrusion Lines

Automated Quality Inspection

Sustainable Operations

[aimarketresearch]

Point-Of-Care-Testing Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Demand and Opportunity Analysis

Executive Summary Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market :

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market report is offered to the business with a complete overview of the market, covering various aspects such as product definition, market segmentation based on various parameters, and the customary vendor landscape. All statistical and numerical information given in the report is symbolized with the help of graphs and charts which facilitates the understanding of facts and figures. All the data and information collected for research and analysis is denoted in the form of graphs, charts or tables for the sensible understanding of users. The Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market report defines CAGR value fluctuation during the forecast period of 2019 - 2025 for the market.

This Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market report is composed of myriad of factors that have an influence on the market and include industry insight and critical success factors (CSFs), market segmentation and value chain analysis, industry dynamics, market drivers, market restraints, key opportunities, technology and application outlook, country-level and regional analysis, competitive landscape, company market share analysis and key company profiles. This global Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market business report is very reliable as all the data and the information regarding the industry is collected via genuine sources such as websites, journals, annual reports of the companies, and magazines.

Discover the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic insights in our comprehensive Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market report. Download Full Report: https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/point-care-testing-poct-market

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Overview

**Segments**

- **By Product (Blood Glucose Testing Kits, Cardiometabolic Monitoring Kits, Infectious Disease Testing Kits, Cholesterol Testing Kits, Pregnancy and Fertility Testing Kits, Tumor/Cancer Markers, Urinalysis Testing Kits, Others)** - **By Platform (Lateral Flow Assays, Dipsticks, Microfluidics, Molecular Diagnostics, Immunoassays, Agglutination Assays)** - **By Mode of Purchase (Prescription-Based Testing, OTC Testing)** - **By End-User (Hospitals, Home Care Settings, Clinics, Diagnostic Laboratories, Assisted Living Healthcare Facilities, Others)**

**Market Players**

- **Abbott Laboratories** - **F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd** - **Siemens Healthineers AG** - **Danaher** - **BD** - **Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.** - **Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.** - **Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.** - **Sysmex Corporation** - **bioMérieux SA**

Key market players in the global Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) market include Abbott Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Siemens Healthineers AG, Danaher, BD, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Sysmex Corporation, and bioMérieux SA. These companies are actively involved in product development, strategic collaborations, acquisitions, and regional expansion to enhance their market presence and cater to the growing demand for POCT products worldwide.

The global Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) market is witnessing significant growth driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of various chronic and infectious diseases, the rising demand for rapid and accurate diagnostic tests, and the shift towards personalized healthcare. One of the key trends shaping the POCT market is the development of technologically advanced testing kits and platforms that offer quick results and require minimal expertise to operate. Companies like Abbott Laboratories, Roche, and Siemens Healthineers are at the forefront of innovation in this space, constantly introducing new products and improving existing ones to meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients.

Another important factor contributing to the growth of the POCT market is the expanding adoption of decentralized diagnostic testing, especially in settings such as home care, clinics, and assisted living healthcare facilities. Point-of-care testing offers several advantages over traditional laboratory testing, including faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and improved patient outcomes. As a result, healthcare providers are increasingly integrating POCT into their diagnostic protocols to streamline care delivery and enhance treatment decisions.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the demand for POCT solutions, particularly for rapid antigen and antibody testing to detect the virus quickly and efficiently. This unprecedented global health crisis has underscored the importance of accessible and timely diagnostic testing, driving investments in POCT infrastructure and technology development. As a result, market players are focusing on expanding their product portfolios to include COVID-19 testing kits and platforms, consolidating their position in the market and contributing to overall market growth.

In terms of competition, the global POCT market is highly competitive, with key players leveraging strategies such as partnerships, acquisitions, and product launches to gain a competitive edge. Companies are also investing in research and development activities to innovate and introduce new technologies that offer higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in diagnostic testing. Market consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is another prevalent trend, with larger companies acquiring smaller players to expand their geographic presence and market share.

Looking ahead, the global Point-Of-Care-Testing market is poised for robust growth, driven by ongoing technological advancements, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the growing emphasis on personalized medicine. As healthcare systems worldwide continue to prioritize rapid and accurate diagnostic testing, the demand for POCT solutions is expected to further surge, offering significant opportunities for market players to capitalize on this evolving landscape and shape the future of healthcare delivery.The Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) market is witnessing dynamic growth propelled by the increasing prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases worldwide. Key market players such as Abbott Laboratories, Roche, and Siemens Healthineers are driving innovation in POCT by developing advanced testing kits and platforms that offer rapid and accurate diagnostic results. This technological evolution is crucial in meeting the demand for efficient diagnostic solutions that require minimal expertise to operate, catering to the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients.

The adoption of decentralized diagnostic testing is expanding across various healthcare settings, including home care, clinics, and assisted living facilities, due to the advantages offered by POCT such as quicker turnaround times, cost-effectiveness, and improved patient outcomes. Healthcare providers are incorporating POCT into their diagnostic protocols to streamline care delivery and make informed treatment decisions, contributing to the market growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the demand for POCT solutions, particularly for rapid antigen and antibody testing to detect the virus swiftly. This global health crisis has highlighted the significance of accessible and timely diagnostic testing, leading to increased investments in POCT infrastructure and technology development. Market players are diversifying their product portfolios to include COVID-19 testing solutions, positioning themselves strongly in the market and driving overall growth.

Competition in the global POCT market is intense, with companies employing strategies like partnerships, acquisitions, and product launches to gain a competitive edge. Research and development activities are pivotal as companies strive to introduce innovative technologies that offer higher diagnostic accuracy. Market consolidation through mergers and acquisitions remains prevalent, with larger firms acquiring smaller players to enhance their market presence and expand their offerings.

Looking ahead, the POCT market is poised for substantial growth driven by ongoing technological advancements, the rising burden of chronic diseases, and the shift towards personalized medicine. As healthcare systems prioritize rapid and accurate diagnostic testing, the demand for POCT solutions is expected to surge further, presenting significant opportunities for market players to leverage this evolving landscape and shape the future of healthcare delivery.

The Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market is highly fragmented, featuring intense competition among both global and regional players striving for market share. To explore how global trends are shaping the future of the top 10 companies in the keyword market.

Learn More Now: https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/point-care-testing-poct-market/companies

DBMR Nucleus: Powering Insights, Strategy & Growth

DBMR Nucleus is a dynamic, AI-powered business intelligence platform designed to revolutionize the way organizations access and interpret market data. Developed by Data Bridge Market Research, Nucleus integrates cutting-edge analytics with intuitive dashboards to deliver real-time insights across industries. From tracking market trends and competitive landscapes to uncovering growth opportunities, the platform enables strategic decision-making backed by data-driven evidence. Whether you're a startup or an enterprise, DBMR Nucleus equips you with the tools to stay ahead of the curve and fuel long-term success.

Key Pointers Covered in the Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Industry Trends and Forecast

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Size

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market New Sales Volumes

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Replacement Sales Volumes

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market By Brands

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Procedure Volumes

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Product Price Analysis

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Regulatory Framework and Changes

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Shares in Different Regions

Recent Developments for Market Competitors

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Upcoming Applications

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Innovators Study

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About Data Bridge Market Research:

An absolute way to forecast what the future holds is to comprehend the trend today!

Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric market research and consulting firm with an unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune.

Contact Us: Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 614 591 3140 UK: +44 845 154 9652 APAC : +653 1251 975 Email:- corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com

Tag

Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Size, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Share, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Trend, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Analysis, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Report, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Growth,  Latest Developments in Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Industry Analysis, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Key Player, Point-Of-Care-Testing (POCT) Market Demand Analysis

[roadly-parkinglotmaintenance]

J1 Visa Requirements Explained

J1 Visa Requirements Explained Navigating the J1 Exchange Visitor Program Visa requires understanding specific requirements to ensure a smooth application process. As an exchange visitor, you'll need to meet eligibility criteria set by both the program sponsor and U.S. immigration authorities. First, you must be accepted into an approved exchange program with a designated sponsor organization. These programs typically focus on educational or cultural exchanges across various fields including medicine, research, teaching, or business training. Documentation requirements include a valid passport, DS-2019 form from your sponsor, evidence of financial support, proof of intent to return home, and demonstration of English proficiency. You'll also need to pay the SEVIS fee and visa application fee before your embassy interview. Health insurance coverage meeting specific Department of State requirements is mandatory throughout your stay. Most J1 visas include a home residency requirement, meaning you must return to your home country for at least two years after program completion before being eligible for certain U.S. visa categories. For comprehensive guidance through this complex process, consulting with a U.S. immigration attorney who specializes in exchange visitor visas can significantly improve your chances of approval. Read more: https://www.tewanilaw.com/

[govindhtech]

56-Qubit Quantum H2 Sets Quantinuum’s Volume Record

Quantum H2

Quantinuum Breaks Quantum Volume Record, Reveals 56-Qubit H2 Upgrade, Improves Chemistry Simulations, and Grows Globally

Quantinuum, a premier quantum computing startup, developed a new Quantum Volume standard, updated its flagship quantum computer, and improved natural language processing and quantum chemistry simulations. The company signed a substantial strategic deal to boost Gulf quantum technology adoption.

Quantinuum's H2 quantum computer achieved the highest Quantum Volume (QV) to date, 2²³ = 8,388,608. IBM invented the QV metric, which measures quantum system processing performance by integrating qubit count, gate integrity, connection, and error rates. Quantinuum's five-year goal to tenfold QV per year ends with this achievement. Quantinuum claims that the QV metric is still valid and ungameable during the NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) period, allowing systems to be directly compared as they develop fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Quantinuum upgraded its flagship System Model quantum H2 from 32 to 56 trapped-ion qubits with the H2-1. Not a new system, just an upgrade. Due to the greater qubit count, commercial, “fully encompassing” simulators of the H2-1 quantum processor will no longer be accessible because a mathematically realistic simulation would require the complete memory of the world's top supercomputers.

Quantinuum CEO Rajeeb Hazra stressed that qubit quality, not number, is crucial for fault tolerance and commercialisation. Microsoft Azure Quantum officials were excited to construct more logical qubits with lower error rates using the 56-qubit computer after successful virtualisation on the 32-qubit system. Microsoft and Quantinuum partnered in 2019.

Quantinuum, a quantum software startup, disclosed the first scalable, error-corrected, end-to-end computational chemical method. This milestone shows that Quantinuum's quantum computing stack on the H2 quantum computer employing the InQuanto chemistry platform may enable quantum error-corrected chemistry simulations. The work uses logical qubits and quantum phase estimation (QPE) for molecular energy calculations to obtain quantum advantage in chemistry and fault-tolerant quantum simulations.

This technique uses the H2's scalable QCCD architecture, known for its real-time QEC decoding, conditional logic, mid-circuit measurements, high-fidelity operations, and all-to-all communication. Customers can access workflow through InQuanto. Quantinuum recommends combining quantum computing operations with supercomputing and AI to gain quantum edge in chemistry.

Quantinuum has released λambeq Gen II, the latest version of their quantum natural language processing (QNLP) program. Users may now directly translate linguistic structures and meaning into quantum circuits for hardware with λambeq Gen II, expanding on the team's 2016 QNLP breakthrough. The new version has more linguistic compositional structure than DisCoCat and is built on DisCoCirc math. The key benefits of DisCoCirc in λambeq Gen II include:

Allowing sentence structures to be built into text structures for long texts.

Concise, language-neutral compositional structure representation.

Providing theoretical evidence for quantum gadget performance improvements.

Addressing quantum machine learning model trainability via compositional generalisation.

For explainable AI (XAI), compositional interpretability is needed. More than 50,000 downloads indicate a strong user base for the λambeq application.

Quantinuum formed a joint venture with Al Rabban Capital to accelerate quantum technology commercialisation in Qatar and the Gulf. This collaboration allows Qatar to invest up to $1 billion in Quantinuum's quantum technology over the next decade, co-create local applications, and expand its workforce.

This alliance aims to expand Quantinuum's commercial reach through long-term economic partnerships. American and Qatari authorities and business leaders discussed the alliance at a Doha roundtable. U.S.-Qatari ties and corporate interests including AI innovation and quantum computing's potential to power AI data centres were discussed.

Quantinuum's next-generation system, Helios, is expected to beat H2 in size and fidelity, supporting the company's goal of expanding and enhancing performance. The firm emphasises its leadership and commitment to client success.

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Think about how well you and your college counselor know each other. How often do you voluntarily talk to him or her? Counselors can be a tremendous resource of information and support beyond just enrolling you in classes, so if you don’t already, try regularly setting up times to meet with them.

To make the most of your time together, go in with strategic questions based on your curiosities and needs. Here are 6 questions to get you thinking:

1. HOW DO I FIND THE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE BEST FOR ME? 🔍

The college or university that is right for you might not be the same one you’ve heard about from your friends, parents, or favorite TV show. Each school has a unique set of characteristics, and finding the one that best fits your preferences will set you up for future success. Imagine a place you would thrive in. Consider factors such as size, location, academic programs, extracurriculars, and overall campus culture. Your counselor can provide guidance for how to assess which schools best meet your criteria and are most likely to admit you.

If you already have a list of colleges that interest you, you can ask your counselor if your list looks balanced or if you could benefit from modifying it. He or she can also inform you of any upcoming college fairs where you can consult with individual college representatives.

2. WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING THIS YEAR TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE?

Depending on what grade you are in, your counselor will have different recommendations for how you can best prepare for college. It’s helpful to devise a road map of sorts so you know you’re not missing any key steps. You can discuss topics such as choosing between the SAT or ACT, taking SAT Subject Tests, planning testing dates, stepping up your involvement in extracurricular activities, and making the most out of college visits.

3. AM I TAKING THE RIGHT COURSES? 📚

The requirements for which high school classes you must take vary by college and they may differ from your high school’s graduation criteria. For example, UC and CSU schools have what are called “a-g” class requirements, which stipulate the minimum type and number of courses you must take to be eligible to apply to these schools. Navigating these details with an expert can give you peace of mind as you piece together your schedule.

Not only can your counselor help you plan your class schedule so that you time everything appropriately, but he or she can help you choose the classes that will increase your competitiveness for college admissions. For example, if you’re thinking of applying with a major like engineering, you’ll want to take as many rigorous STEM classes as you can to demonstrate your interest and ability in that field.

4. HOW DOES MY SUMMER PLAN LOOK?

As part of getting to know you, colleges like to see how you spend your free time. Summers are a great opportunity to explore and develop interests and further your academic career. Your counselor can help you decide what to do this coming summer–whether it be an internship, enrichment course, paid or volunteer job, or academic summer program–and provide resources for finding such opportunities.

5. HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID? 💰

College, as you may have heard, can be surprisingly pricey. Harvey Mudd, for instance, estimates the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year at about $79,539 per year. Fortunately, you can find plenty of financial assistance in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and work study programs. Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is the best way to ensure you qualify for as much of this aid as possible. The form can be a little confusing, so you might ask your counselor if your school offers any events that walk students and parents through filling it out.

Your counselor will also likely know about additional local or national scholarships that you may qualify for. Each independent scholarship has its own application requirements, so finding out early can help you budget your time and not allow any deadlines–aka free money–to pass you by.

6. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE DOING TO IMPROVE MY CHANCE?

Especially if your counselor knows you well, he or she may have some additional tips for helping you get into your target colleges or universities. Perhaps you will be applying to schools that offer interviews and could benefit from interview pointers, or maybe your priority should be fine-tuning your college essays, increasing your GPA, or taking the SAT again to reach a target score. A great thing about talking with your counselor, rather than exploring the sea of online information alone, is that you get access to an interactive expert who knows you as an individual, able to tailor specific answers to your specific situation.

Hopefully you’ll use these six questions to get thinking about what topics you want to bring up with your counselor. Think about what areas you’re most unsure of, keeping in mind that the quality of the information you get depends on the quality of the questions you ask.