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Validity of claims made in weight management research: a narrative review of dietetic articles
Lucy Aphramor1Email author
© Aphramor; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
Accepted: 20 July 2010
The best available evidence demonstrates that conventional weight management has a high long-term failure rate. The ethical implications of continued reliance on an energy deficit approach to weight management are under-explored.
A narrative literature review of journal articles in The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics from 2004 to 2008.
Although the energy deficit approach to weight management has a high long-term failure rate it continues to dominate research in the field. In the current research agenda, controversies and complexities in the evidence base are inadequately discussed, and claims about the likely success of weight management misrepresent available evidence.
Dietetic literature on weight management fails to meet the standards of evidence based medicine. Research in the field is characterised by speculative claims that fail to accurately represent the available data. There is a corresponding lack of debate on the ethical implications of continuing to promote ineffective treatment regimes and little research into alternative non-weight centred approaches. An alternative health at every size approach is recommended.
Energy Deficit
Weight Cycling
The assessment and management of body weight is a major preoccupation of contemporary UK health policy. Clinical interventions focus on achieving energy balance deficit and are premised on claims that excess weight/fatness (body mass index (BMI) > 25) is a significant direct cause of morbidity and mortality and, correspondingly, that weight loss in fat ('overweight' or 'obese') people will reduce risk and/or improve health outcomes. Yet at the same time, reputable organisations continue to urge caution with regard to the evidence base presumed to underpin these tenets. Thus, epidemiological data from the Center for Disease Control highlights that "even severe obesity failed to show up as a statistically significant mortality risk" and confirmed previous findings that 'overweight' people live slightly longer than people of 'healthy' weight [1]. In addition, there is a growing inter-disciplinary literature [2] that contests the effectiveness of a weight-centred approach to health and draws attention to the ethical implications of unintentional outcomes. The vigorous scientific debate on approaches to healthy weight is inadequately represented in research. It could be said that weight loss enjoys special immunity from accepted standards in clinical practice and publishing ethics. This paper analyses a selection of dietetic research articles to assess practice in the area.
The purpose of this review is to evaluate the validity of claims made by weight loss researchers. A purposive sample was chosen: all articles published in The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics between January 2004 and December 2008 in which the main focus was weight loss are included in the analysis. The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is the official journal of British Dietetic Association and as such is internationally regarded in the field of nutrition and dietetics. All articles are peer reviewed by two or more reviewers at least one of whom is a dietitian with a track record in publishing. Articles appearing in the journal can therefore be said to be representative of the best contemporary scientific research into weight management. The journal was hand searched and a total of 15 articles obtained. For ease of reference, these are indicated by the prefix 'J' where they are referred to throughout this article, eg. J[1]. The sample included an anniversary issue of the journal in which past influential papers were republished.
A narrative review was undertaken in which references to benefits or effectiveness of weight loss behaviour, or other justifications for intervention, in the selected articles were scrutinised for fitness for purpose. Effectiveness and other justification for intervention was chosen because a credible rationale for treatment is a prerequisite of ethical practice. Secondly, articles were reviewed for the rigour of reporting of adverse events and discussion of risk benefit. This is because it is an ethical requirement for recommendations for treatment to take account of any adverse effect and risk benefit. Thirdly, the appropriateness of any links made between recommendations and evidence were assessed. This was to ascertain to what extent recommendations accurately reflected research findings and to identify any role played by the dominant obesity discourse in influencing researchers' conclusions.
Justification for treatment: implicit beliefs about weight loss and health
In the UK, a plethora of national anti-obesity documents recommend individual and population-level strategies to help people maintain a weight deemed healthy, usually categorised as having a body mass index (BMI) of 20-25. Weight management advice is typically justified by claims that weight loss will yield a range of benefits from improved metabolic fitness through to relief from musculoskeletal conditions and less discrimination. The belief in the value of weight loss is so firmly held that the rationale for intervention may not always be explicitly articulated. There is also concern that if no action is taken the population will become inexorably fatter.
This section investigates some of the common implicit justifications relied on when promoting weight loss. In several instances, a secular rise in population BMI is the sole justification for intervention J[3], J[4]. In other cases, the supporting rationale is high numbers of referrals for dietary weight loss and acknowledgment of treatment ineffectiveness J[5], J[6]. In the absence of further explanation or information on BMI and health, and likely outcomes of weight loss, these justifications rely on readers unequivocally accepting the dominant position on body weight, health and dieting, namely, that high BMI is a reliable indicator of poor health and weight loss a reliable remedy. This contrasts with the usual requirements of the scientific convention that assumes clear justifications for treatment are required.
Justification for treatment: overall benefit
Obesity discourse, as reflected in the papers reviewed previously, provides examples of implicit justifications for treatment which are presented without an explicit, scientific rationale. In addition, it is not unusual to find claims of non-specific 'health benefits' which are not substantiated. In particular, the advice that clinically significant health improvement can result from a 5-10% loss of body weight is well rehearsed by researchers in the field and maintains a pervasive presence in anti-obesity campaigns and policy [7, 8] and it is therefore not surprising to see it reiterated by studies included in this review.
The 5-10% weight loss target appears in a paper included in the review J[9] that reports a preliminary evaluation of men-only dieting groups. Authors claim that 'there are clear benefits to treating obesity' continuing that even modest weight reduction has beneficial effect. This latter claim is corroborated by citing Goldstein, 1992 [10], which as discussed in the following section, does not provide substantive justification for instituting weight loss interventions. The '5-10% weight loss' theme (in J9) is referenced to a document by the United Kingdom (UK) National Obesity Forum that claims health benefits but does not in turn supply any original source. Here, as illustrated elsewhere in the review, it appears that beliefs about weight and health acquire a truth status so that they circulate as intuitively appealing 'facts', immune from scrutiny and become used, and accepted by editors, without supporting references.
Justification for treatment: regulation of blood lipids and blood pressure
More specific health benefits of losing 5-10% of body weight are given in anti-obesity documents and are repeated in some of the papers reviewed. Thus, a team of researchers from a UK anti-obesity research programme known as the Counterweight project J[11] recommend 5-10% weight loss for improvements in blood lipids, blood pressure, diabetes prevention and overall reduction in mortality.
In this section I will appraise three articles used by the Counterweight team to support claims that modest weight reduction improves blood lipid profiles and helps manage blood pressure. The authors of paper one [12] state that their meta-analysis indicates that weight reduction through dieting can normalise blood lipids. However, this conclusion contradicts their own observation that "it was impossible to identify the independent influence of dietary fat on changes in lipids and lipoproteins" (p 325). Moreover, further qualification is warranted due to the scope of the 70 studies included in their meta-analysis of which 67% had 20 participants or less, 35% lasted for 10 weeks or less and 82% had no control group.
A second paper [10] discussing the beneficial effects of weight loss on, among other indictors, blood pressure and blood lipids, is also inaccurately appropriated by the Counterweight project team. Studies on the effect of weight loss on blood pressure and blood lipids include those involving medication, exercise, salt restriction and other dietary modification. This means that the results do not in fact demonstrate the independent effects of weight loss on measured outcomes. As participant numbers in individual studies were typically small and studies were of short duration, a more circumspect interpretation of the results would seem justified.
The scientific merit of a third paper relied upon [13] can be discounted as authors neglected to include any methodology.
Justification for treatment: Prevention of diabetes
Another common justification for weight management is its role in the prevention of diabetes [7], a claim I explore in this section.
Where the Counterweight project team J[11] makes claims for the role of weight loss per se in preventing diabetes, the cited articles are found wanting. The authors of one paper[14] note that their study does not demonstrate the effect of weight loss, as represented by the Counterweight project team, but demonstrates the effect of lifestyle intervention which included a significant increase in participants' exercise levels, a variable strongly associated with improvements in insulin resistance. Likewise, the second paper used by the Counterweight team [15] reports that ' The reduction in the incidence of diabetes was directly associated with changes in lifestyle' again including significantly increased exercise levels. A more detailed reading of the results indicates that, on the one hand, weight loss in the absence of change in exercise levels (change in other variables cannot be determined from the data presented so results cannot be confidently attributed to weight loss alone) did occur, with impact on incidence of diabetes. ('The odds ratio for diabetes in subjects in the intervention group who had lost more than 5 percent of their initial weight by the one-year follow-up visit was 0.3 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.1 to 0.7)'), However, changes in exercise levels led to more favourable outcomes:
Among the subjects in the intervention group who did not reach the goal of losing 5 percent of their initial weight, the odds ratio for diabetes in those who had achieved the goal with respect to exercise (more than four hours per week) during the first year was 0.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.1 to 0.6).
This finding is not further discussed by the Counterweight project team and so the benefits of health behaviour change are submerged in favour of weight-centred outcomes, a theme which I will develop later. In addition, there is no comment on the high quality evidence that weight loss at one year is almost invariably followed by weight regain [16].
Effectiveness: success and failure in weight loss and health improvement
As I have discussed earlier, the dominant view in current obesity discourse asserts that weight loss per se is synonymous with improved health. This position is necessarily underpinned by the belief that weight loss is possible. The linked ideas, that weight loss is a reliable, effective method for improving health are the topic explored in this section.
Some studies included in the review used weight loss as an end in itself J[9] with no attempt to measure other specific clinical outcomes, change in diet and exercise behaviours, or to collect qualitative data on participants' views and experiences (or adverse effect). In this way, the discourse valorises the pursuit of thinness as a health goal in itself, paying little attention to the processes by which this may be achieved. This is problematic for three reasons.
First, the focus on weight loss as a primary goal overlooks the clinically significant benefits that can be expected through change to diet and exercise patterns independent of weight loss [17, 18], for example, how a focus on weight obscures health benefits of improved fitness on diabetes prevention. Second, it detracts attention from the reality that weight loss may be achieved at the expense of health: Green and Buckroyd J[19] explain the role of disordered eating behaviours among 'successful' dieters. Third, the focus on attaining one specific body size over another raises ethical issues [20]. Researchers included in this analysis work within a particular framing of fatness as always pathological ie. 'obesity' and some articulation of the value judgements inherent in this position would help the reader assess scientific merit.
Some studies in the review that rely on weight change as the primary variable do not include details of any co-morbidity or explicitly refer to weight loss attempts by people who have no co-morbidities J[9],J[21]. In such cases the authors appear incognisant of the literature relating intentional weight loss in healthy people with increased mortality [22] as there is no discussion of the ethical tensions raised by the complexity of positions on weight management.
What about claims for effectiveness? The sample of papers included in this review had all the hallmarks of contemporary mainstream approaches to obesity in their approach to effectiveness. Hand in hand with a belief in the indisputable benefits of weight loss is the associated belief that clinically meaningful weight loss is a realistic goal for most people. This ignores the evidence of the overwhelming failure of weight reduction interventions: two high quality reviews find evidence that weight loss behaviour does not lead to long-term weight reduction and moreover that it can be counterproductive and harmful [16, 23].
Despite this, the goal of sustained weight-loss was ubiquitously promoted as reasonable and desirable in all papers included in the review even though most papers also confirmed the high failure rate of weight loss in the long-term, a finding summed up as " there is increased awareness that short-term interventions are rarely successful' (p 504) J[24] and "long-term success in weight loss treatments for obesity is elusive" (p31) J[19]. Nevertheless, the collective supposition was that failure was due to lack of research/poor evidence base and there was no suggestion that it signalled the need to ultimately dispense with the belief in the success of weight loss.
A qualitative study of patients' views of dietary treatment for weight loss is a case in point. The study reports participants' views that, as compared to other people, they followed a healthy diet and were therefore at a loss to explain their current heavy weight and felt 'a lack of trust in their ability to succeed' (p491). One interpretation of this is suggested which speculates on a tension between patients assuming 'personal responsibility' for their health and the tendency for the patient to avoid responsibility through blaming their 'unfair' situation' (p 493) J[3]. Inherent in this analysis is the assumption that high BMI necessarily arises from 'excess' energy intake and can be 'corrected' by weight loss through energy deficit. This assumption ignores evidence that adult body weight is not primarily determined by current diet and exercise behaviours and is in fact highly resistant to alteration [25]. The framing also conflates weight outcomes with health and dietary quality. The erroneous belief that anyone can lose weight and keep it off if they try hard enough is later reiterated by the authors in a statement that dietitians 'still have far to go in enabling patients to achieve permanent weight loss' (p 493). The logic of this argument is faulty: the point is that permanent weight loss has been shown time and again to be an unattainable objective for the vast majority of dieters. It would seem, rather, that researchers still have far to go in recognising the significance of the evidence and responding accordingly.
Similarly, reporting on dietitians' views on weight management, Barr et al. J[24] wrote that the majority of respondents believed that 'loss of even a small amount of weight can be beneficial' ( p 509). In light of the rigorous debate about the evidence supporting this statement and the associated implicit belief that sustained weight loss is possible, and the statistically significant fact of weight regain, further discussion is merited.
Effectiveness: use of energy deficit
It becomes apparent that mainstream obesity discourse is underpinned by the rationale that modifying energy balance will lead to weight loss, a view that is mirrored in papers in the review J[5], J[11] and discussed in this section.
Researchers variously calculated energy deficit from formulae derived from basal metabolic rate or from a diet history assessment. In one paper, where inconsistencies arose in actual vs expected weight loss, this was assumed to indicate 'non-compliance' as it was held that a 'linear relationship [exists] between weight loss and energy restriction' ( p 156) J[5]. As authors in the wider scientific community have noted 'Despite its scientific pedigree, the 'body as machine' model remains largely a theoretical proposition only. In fact, it is hard to find human beings in their 'natural settings' whose bodies conform to it.' (p.41) [26]. By continuing to advocate an energy deficit intervention without comment that it has never been proven to be effective long-term, and by automatically ascribing unexpected results to patient behaviour rather than exploring the model for potential flaws [25], there is a danger that the approach may be interpreted as being rather more successful than the evidence shows. This could compromise patient welfare and divert research capacity from more productive avenues.
A second paper by the Counterweight team also incorporated a tailored energy deficit diet J[11]. Authors state that, as compared to generalised low calorie diets, an energy deficit approach is a more effective method of assisting compliance and weight loss. The first paper cited to substantiate this claim is the paper mentioned above J[5]. This study followed patients for 3 months and involved small numbers. Regardless of any findings in relation to energy deficit diets/compliance/effectiveness therefore, it could be considered inappropriate to cite this paper as good evidential support for the intervention without qualifying its limitations. After all, as I have shown, many studies demonstrate that there is nothing unusual in participants losing weight over three months, the real test lies in maintaining weight loss - diet trials to date have consistently proven what is clinically ineffective. In fact, Frost et al. J[5] found there was no significant difference in actual mean weight loss with the energy deficit method except when a subgroup (n = 11) calculation was made.
The second paper cited by the Counterweight project team concludes that ' the [energy deficit] approach was no more effective in terms of weight loss than the 6279 kJ (1500 kcal) [generalised low calorie] approach (p1469) [27] and while compliance was indeed deemed better, weight regain was still significant. An odd, not say misleading, choice, to argue for the proven benefits of an energy deficit programme.
The Counterweight project team justify their treatment decision by underscoring the fact that the 600 kcal deficit diet is endorsed in a report from an expert obesity organisation, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines (SIGN) [28]. Coming full circle, SIGN [29] cites Frost et al. J[5] to support their claims for the effectiveness of energy deficit. SIGN is a highly regarded document but the decision to extrapolate transferable claims for effectiveness from the short-term results of a subgroup of eleven people in a quasi-experimental trial and subsequently to use this as the basis for national recommendations is of dubious scientific merit. SIGN [28] further states that the energy deficit method 'produces an average weight loss of > 5 kg in patients with a BMI of 30-43' (p24). Given the substantial amount of evidence available at the time that showed the overall ineffectiveness of non-surgical weight loss, this seems an extraordinary claim to make and it is notable that no reference is supplied. In the same vein, the suggestion that the status of evidence underpinning the energy deficit approach ''will probably be upgraded once the results of multiple international trials are published' (p 24) also appears rather fanciful. In short, the review illustrated a number of instances in the primary and secondary literature where citations justifying treatment and verifying effectiveness are unfit for purpose.
Effectiveness: scientific credibility of claims for dieting success
Another common discursive device emerged in which authors made inflated proof claims that dieting in general was an effective strategy. A selection of examples follows. Herriot et al. J[21] state that a study [30] 'demonstrated the benefit of the inclusion of commercial weight programmes within the matrix of effective weight control behaviour' (p 79). While there is arguably room for ambivalent interpretation of the precise intended meaning of this phrase, it clearly points to a favourable outcome. The claim refers to the finding that a combination of decreased food quantity, cutting down on fats/sugars, use of a commercial weight loss programme and exercise led to a weight loss over two years of 0.03 kg compared to a group with no intervention (who gained weight) [30]. It is inconsistent with the data to subsequently propose that on this basis it 'seems likely that reputable commercial programmes could play an important role in any future national obesity strategy', notwithstanding the tentative qualifier 'could'.
Likewise, to say that 'all diets in 'Diet Trials' were ultimately successful in achieving weight loss in those who complied' ( p 78) J[21] is semantically true but does not accurately communicate the facts that 64% of people had withdrawn by week 8; that some people gained weight; that weight rebound was common. Further, it elides the authors' own informative discussion of the clinical (in)significance of weight loss in the short term. It would have been useful if the implications of a finding of short term weight loss were developed in relation to study outcomes, rather than, as was in fact the case, the earlier discussion being effectively overlooked in favour of a recommendation for more studies.
This overly optimistic tone, where a more qualified report of findings would increase scientific credibility, occurs in other papers. For example, one paper J[29] conveys an impression of reliable, positive outcomes in terms of long-term weight loss in concluding that 'adding orlistat, sibutramine, exercise or behaviour modification to dietary advice can improve long-term weight loss' (p 293). But a more judicious reading of the results does not support this conclusion. First, in relation to sustained weight loss and medication the authors note that only one randomised controlled trial reported weight change post-medication and this found that weight regain was almost double that of the control (placebo) group. Second, in relation to behaviour therapy, the authors report that adding behaviour therapy to dieting led to weight loss at 12 months but weight increase at 60 months, indicating the need for clarification of the use of the phrase 'long-term'. Third, implicit in the claims for effective weight loss is the assumption of attendant health gains. However, authors note that 'few risk factors were examined in the non-drug trials, and trials which examined risk factors were usually small and therefore had insufficient power to detect clinically important differences' (p 312). Such differences could of course be positive or negative: orlistat, for example, was linked with an unfavourable change in blood HDL.
Some authors make explicit claims for the impact of dieting on clinical outcomes, other than weight change, which are similarly amplified. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials to determine the long-term benefits of weight reducing diets in adults by Avenell et al. J[31] that was included in the sample, is frequently cited in anti-obesity research. The title conveys the tacit assumption that diets do have long-term benefits. Authors note that adverse effects are frequently not reported but do not further discuss any practice implications or ethical dimensions of this omission which thus detracts from the applicability of their findings. The authors conclude that what they categorise as low fat diets are effective in achieving significant weight loss at 12, 24 and 36 months. It is further concluded that these diets have benefits in managing blood pressure, fasting glucose and lipids at 12 months and noted that there is limited data on risk factors after 12 months with 'a trend for blood pressure to be decreased by these diets at 36 months' (p 330). This statement appears to contradict an earlier statement in the results section that the limited data [from low fat diets] after 12 months no longer showed statistically significant risk factor changes [diastolic and systolic blood pressure, lipids and fasting glucose].
In the authors' discussion, the most recent paper cited in support of the claim that low fat diets can 'help prevent the development of diabetes, improve blood pressure control and reduce the use of anti-hypertensive medication for up to 3 years' is by Swinburn et al. [32] and this was therefore selected for appraisal. Swinburn et al. [32] report initial weight loss of a low magnitude (3.3 kg at 12 months) and note that 'like most interventions for weight loss, weight was regained in the long term' (p 622). Readers may consider this a salient fact, especially as data on long-term follow up is so sparse, but it is not reported in the paper under review. Swinburn et al. [32] note that compliant dieters showed reduced fasting glucose levels at 5 years. They explain that the low fat diet had significant effects on glucose tolerance at one year and that 'a smaller proportion of participants had type 2 diabetes or IGT [impaired glucose tolerance] in the [low fat] group (47 compared with 67%) [but] No intervention effect was present at 2, 3, or 5 years' (p 621). In this case, the paper shows a sub-group effect on fasting glucose levels but does not show diabetes prevention for up to 3 years, a claim it is used to corroborate.
Avenell et al. J[31] report the 20% difference in development of diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance found in Swinburn et al. [32] but do not provide details of when this finding was measured (ie. at 12 months) or subsequent lack of intervention effect which makes it impossible for readers to assess the relevance of the data. Swinburn et al. [32] discuss changes in exercise habits among study participants which is a variable relevant to fasting glucose levels and as such deserves mention, even if only to explain why it may not, in fact, have a bearing, in drawing conclusions of diet outcomes.
In a second paper included in the sample reviewed Dyson J[33] states that 'the health benefits of weight loss for overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes are now well established', relying on a paper by Aucott et al. [34]. However, the paper by Aucott et al. does not substantiate the certainty of this claim - the authors caution that their conclusions are based on studies of moderate quality and find only two studies relevant to change in mortality following weight loss in overweight/obese people with diabetes. The results from one of the studies is non-significant. The other study was an observational study employing retrospective calculation of self-reported weight change which has inherent methodological limitations. The studies reporting changes in diabetic status after weight loss refer only to very fat, not 'overweight', people who underwent weight loss surgery. In one study the follow-up period of the post-operative changes in glucose handling was not specified and no data was provided from those patients who were available for follow-up. There is a similar lack of useful data in the second paper. In short, the paper by Aucott et al. [34] reports that one large observational study found reduced mortality with intentional weight loss in overweight/obese people with type 2 diabetes and poorly specified post-operative improvements in glucose handling in ' morbidly obese' people with diabetes. It is doubtful whether this qualifies as firmly establishing the health gains of weight loss in diabetes.
Overall, throughout the reviewed papers, authors typically comment on the lack of information on changes in risk factors and quality of life from the currently available evidence of weight loss trials. In addition, one team discusses the underreporting of obesity and low treatment rates in primary care. These authors speculate that 'lack of evidence of the effectiveness of weight management interventions in primary care' may be a contributing factor J[35]. There is, however, ample evidence that points to treatment ineffectiveness [16]. It is a logically flawed argument to presuppose that it is only a matter of time until effectiveness is demonstrated.
In the third section of this paper I will consider reporting on adverse effects in more depth. Generally, authors included in the review represent the effects of weight fluctuation on health more neutrally than in the wider literature. Thus, it is suggested J[24] that although there is evidence that weight fluctuation may increase risk factors for heart disease, 'it is premature to make strong conclusions about effects on physical health'. A reference is given which investigates links between weight cycling, blood lipids and blood pressure. This position contrasts sharply with the British Nutrition Foundation's statement [36]:
"a positive association has consistently been observed between body weight fluctuation and all-cause mortality and usually... with coronary mortality in particular. This finding is very robust, further confirmation is found in the British Regional Heart Study (Wannamethee & Shaper, 1990), in the Seven Nations Study (Peters et al., 1995) and in the Iowa Women's Health Study (French et al., 1997) (p 137)."
Some discussion of the controversy would have enhanced the credibility of the authors' argument. Further, the impact of weight fluctuation on physical health is considered in relation to cardiovascular parameters only. Omitting discussion of the detrimental effects of weight fluctuation on bone health [37] weakens the scientific legitimacy of the argument. A more detailed and balanced discussion of the general literature on weight fluctuation and health may be necessary to improve the validity of their argument.
Authors of a second paper in the sample report findings that study participants intended to diet in future on an ad hoc basis J[21] which raises the issue of weight fluctuation. There is no discussion of how the ethical issues this presented to the researchers were dealt with and authors do not flag up the consequences of weight cycling to participant health.
Similarly, in a third paper J[19], the controversy over weight fluctuation is elided in a statement that 'the health impact of weight loss has been found to be more strongly associated with net amount of weight loss as opposed to the pattern of weight change over time' (p 33 ). The article displays a positive attitude towards weight loss and it may be reasoned that the reader is expected to share the assumption that the 'health impact' referred to is a beneficial impact rather than a detrimental one. There is no discussion of the adverse effects of dieting on physical health which limits confidence in the authors' familiarity with the literature in their area and consequently in the clinical validity of their recommendations. It would be helpful if the authors highlighted that this was an area of considerable debate in the same way that they draw attention to conflicting views and findings concerning weight management and eating cognitions and behaviours. The same authors state both that 'long-term success in weight management treatments for obesity is elusive' (p 31) and also imply that dieting typically leads to overall weight loss by describing a pattern of weight loss followed by regain of some, but not all, of the initial weight loss. This contradiction warrants further expansion as it is in stark contrast to high quality findings on the long-term outcomes of dieting [16] which have greater validity than the study [38] later relied on to support claims for weight loss maintenance. Clearer demarcation between opinion and evidence to increase transparency in the development of recommendations may improve the transferability of results to practice and improve patient welfare.
There are other instances, aside from consideration of adverse effect, where authors omit relevant debate. Jehn et al. J[4], for example, refer to the findings of the United States National Weight Control Registry on variables associated with long-term weight loss. It would have been useful if they had alerted the reader to some of the challenges raised to these claims [39].
Health at Every Size
I have argued that weight management cannot be considered to be an evidence based intervention. Moreover, a focus on individual behaviour change in the pursuit of health detracts attention from the wider social and material determinants of morbidity and mortality. Further, the weight-centred paradigm stymies research and practice developments into a more effective, alternative approach to improving nutritional wellbeing. This non weight-centred approach is known as 'health at every size', or HAES. (HAES is also known as a no-diet or size acceptance approach).
HAES advocates adopt a weight-neutral approach to lifestyle change where the primary goal is moved from achieving weight change to modifying health behaviours. Outcome measures relate to metabolic fitness - such as blood pressure and cholesterol - eating disorder symptomology, exercise levels, and psychological parameters. HAES research demonstrates that clinically and statistically significant improvements in a range of health measures can be achieved independently of weight reduction [17, 18]. That is, improving someone's health behaviours has health benefits even when weight stays the same and moving the focus off weight reduction helps people sustain improved health behaviours. For example, in a small randomised controlled trial [18] (n = 78) comparing HAES with conventional weight management, HAES is associated with sustained improvements in health outcomes at 2 years follow-up, with weight stability, and with no adverse effect, whereas early improvements were not maintained in the diet arm of the trial, and there was a decrease in self-esteem. This paper is a classic in HAES scholarship and the research results are typical of findings in other HAES research [17].
There are four key tenets of HAES that mark it as different from conventional healthy weight interventions. First, it is weight neutral; second, it teaches people to rely on internal signals and to eat intuitively, rather than relying on external regulation to eat; third, it encourages positive body esteem in people of all shapes and sizes (size acceptance). Importantly, HAES challenges implicit and overt size discrimination in and beyond the clinic.
Implications for research and practice
It has been suggested that 'a temptation in clinical research is to sacrifice the interests, [and] the health' of research participants (p 69) [40]. This review indicates that anti-obesity researchers publishing in contemporary UK dietetics adopt a particular stance towards body weight management practices that may inadvertently compromise the health of participants. Weight management research appears to occupy a hallowed place where deviations from regular scientific conduct are readily tolerated, for example, continued support of research programmes that do not adequately report adverse effect, or rely on acceptance of common assumptions that are inadequately supported by data, which in turn may point to a lack of stringency in research ethics decisions regarding weight management. It also demonstrates the influence of ideology in selecting and reporting data, whether intentional or not, which has material implications for research participant/patient welfare and research directions in that it eclipses other positions and ensuing discussions are poorer for this bias.
The papers analysed in this review unfailingly frame fatness as a pathological condition that is primarily under personal control through volitional modification of eating and exercise habits. A broader reading of the literature shows that there is in fact a vigorous scientific controversy about many of the treatment premises that are taken for granted within this dominant anti-obesity agenda. This wider debate interrogates the theory and science behind assumptions about the links between body mass index/body weight (specifically fatness) per se and health outcomes [1, 17, 26, 41–44].It also questions the appropriateness of using anthropometric measurement in diagnosing disease/risk and the value of BMI as a meaningful variable for assessing research outcomes. These critical perspectives on claims made about an obesity crisis further explore the broader ethical consequences of the thinness imperative. As seen in this review, dietetic papers on weight management conventionally conclude with recommendations for more robust and informative trials. I would instead suggest that there is more progress to be made from reframing the scope of enquiry. Within this reframing further research is needed to determine: the appropriateness of criteria relied on to determine the scientific justification for weight reduction research; the completeness of Patient Participant Information Sheets submitted to research ethics committees; the impact of size bias on clinical decision making (see also [42]); the safety and effectiveness of treatments that seek to improve cardiovascular risk factors independent of weight change; reasons for intransigence in practitioner and researcher commitment to prescribing weight reduction; the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve health professional's practice with regard to evidence based intervention in nutritional lifestyle intervention; dietetic resistance to adopting the evidence-based health at every size paradigm [2]. This review also has ethical implications regarding researcher and peer reviewer responsibility and accountability in the use of citations to support claims.
The author acknowledges the role of friends and colleagues involved in HAES and Fat Studies in supporting the development of her research ideas. Thanks also to the reviewers whose input considerably strengthened the paper.
LA promotes a health at every size approach to nutritional intervention. She has no competing financial interests.
LA researched and wrote the paper.
Applied Research Centre in Health & Lifestyle Interventions, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University, Priory St, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
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Swinburn AB, Metcalf PA, Ley SJ, Long-Term (5-Year): Effects of a Reduced-Fat Diet Intervention in Individuals With Glucose Intolerance. Diabetes Care. 200, 24: 619-624. 10.2337/diacare.24.4.619.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
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Aucott L, Poobalan A, Smith WC, Avenell A, Jung R, Broom J, Grant AM: Weight loss in obese diabetic and non-diabetic individuals and long-term diabetes outcomes--a systematic review. Diabetes Obes Metabolism. 2004, 6: 85-94. 10.1111/j.1462-8902.2004.00315.x.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
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That will be me next week, as my husband and I hit the road for a long-awaited beach getaway. Along with the beach towels, shade structure and sunscreen, books are at the top of my packing list. Thinking some of you may be on the cusp of a similar summer excursion, FAC Net members, staff and partners kindly provided reviews for some of their recent favorite reads regarding behavior change, collaboration and wildfire.
"By one of the founders of the field of behavioral economics, this book goes a long way toward answering the question "Why won't those people do the thing that's obviously in their best interest?" (Also, it addresses the less frequently asked question, "Why do I keep doing stupid things?") Bottom line is, we have two systems for thinking: a fast one that works on rules of thumb (quick decisions), and a slow one that gathers and compares information ("rational" decisions). Guess which one takes less effort?
Florida: A Fire Survey, by Stephen Pyne, is the first in Pyne's "To the Last Smoke" series and focuses on Florida.
Read the rest of Alan Long's review of Florida: A Fire Survey. His review was originally published in the Southern Fire Exchange's June 2017 newsletter.
Leland Buck's review of Land on Fire was originally published on TreeSource.org.
Read the rest of Michelle Medley Daniel's review of Connecting to Change the World.
On the Road or Pressed for Time?
If your summer adventures will involve a road trip, or even if you're just looking to spice up your morning commute, don't forget to check your library's audio book collection and make the most of your time behind the wheel!
My previous experience in emergency management led me several years back to a great book about risk, surviving disasters and resilience: "The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why" by Amanda Ripley. While our focus is on preventing wildfires/disasters, this is an interesting read about survival.


Two Quotes by: Adam Walker Cleaveland of Presbyterian Church (USA) Self-styled progressive Presbymergent.
As I was thinking about rethinking church this week…and as I read this story in which it seems that Jesus was wrong…I found myself thinking that if Jesus can be wrong, then certainly I can be wrong. I can be wrong about what I think youth ministry should look like. I can be wrong about the institutional church. I can be wrong about the ways I think God works and doesn't work in this world.
Source here on the Internet. Dated: 7th September 2009.
Source here on the Internet. Dated: 7th Septembar 2009.


I graduated from Southampton University in Biology with 1st Class Honours and completed my Ph.D. on rainforest ecology and primatology at Cambridge University. I then studied wildlife management and biodiversity conservation before becoming involved in sustainable development consultancy. I have since led major formative ('where do we go from here'), summative ('what have we learned') and synthesis ('what did it all mean') evaluations, for the EC, UK, Norway, Finland and Switzerland, focusing on actions concerned with climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem management, and related issues of sustainability and institutional and community development.
I have led strategic programme reviews and project identification and formulation missions for the EC, Finland and Norway, and advised private corporations on carbon conservation and biodiversity investment opportunities, and on environmental change and investment risks. I have significant public policy and programming experience in environmental early warning and risk reduction, and in aspects of climate change adaptation and mitigation that include sustainable rural development and community resilience, restoration and management of ecosystems to preserve environmental goods and services, and carbon conservation strategies.
My work has been carried out in countries across South-east, South-west, South and East Asia, Central and South America, and East and West Africa. I have given keynote speeches on environmental sustainability at international public and private sector conferences, and as a prolific writer and experienced editor I have written studies for UNEP on disaster risk reduction and environmental policies, laws and treaties, while also publishing my own books through the Cambridge and California university presses, and the World Bank and other institutions, on subjects ranging from water, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, to good governance, aid performance and climate change.


Strategically placing tropical plants will instantly transform your room giving a tropical vibe. You can choose real or fake plants depending on the upkeep and the amount of sunlight your room receives.
Here is a list of tropical plants that you can place indoors.
Add lightweight , flowy light coloured sheer curtains to your windows and doors to give the rooms an airy, bright tropical vibe.
Wallpaper or paint your walls with classic tropical motifs like tropical plant leaves and flowers, tropical fruits (pineapples, bananas) or with colourful tropical birds like parrots and hornbills. Keep in mind the scale of the room and the tropical motif you choose. Remember not to overdo it. If the motifs are big and overpowering, then keep furniture and other décor items less imposing.
If painting your walls or wallpapering them is too much a task then add paintings and picture frames that depict things in the tropics. Pictures of a lush green forest, bright sunlit beaches, a platter of tropical fruits, coconuts can be added to your wall display.
An easier way to seasonally update your room is to change up the pillows, linens or rugs within your space. For a tropical vibe opt for dark greens, bright yellows, beachy blues in solid colours or with tropical motifs.
Sneak in wooden and earthy textures and materials like wood, bamboo, jute, linen in furniture and upholstery look enhance the tropical vibe. A statement centre table or a focal light as a centrepiece in your room. Fans with larger wood or wood-like blades look most authentic in a tropical decor.
Add small or big accessories to your décor which undoubtedly enhance the tropical vibe. From pineapple shaped plates to coconut shell salad bowls.


text:
iOS 9 adoption accelerates, hits 70% of devices
Christian Zibreg on December 1, 2015
Apple's dashboard for app developers was updated today with fresh new statistics pertaining to the rate of iOS 9 adoption. As derived from logs of iOS devices that have accessed the App Store on November 30, 2015, the various iOS 9 versions are now found on seven out of each ten devices in the wild. By comparison, just two weeks ago iOS 9 adoption stood at the 67 percent mark.
The impressive three-point gain in just two weeks stems from upgrades because iOS 7 has dropped from 24 percent of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices in the wild to 22 percent, while earlier editions of iOS went from nine percent to eight percent of active iOS hardware.
Just a month ago, iOS 9 adoption crossed the 66 percent mark, representing two-thirds of iOS devices in active use.
What about Android?
Meanwhile, according to Google's own data, Android Marshmallow is barely a blip on the radar accounting for a meager 0.3 percent of Android smartphones and tablets. For the sake of clarity, Android 6.0 Marshmallow has been commercially available for less than two months.
In fact, the various Android Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat editions put together account for 63.7 percent of all Android devices, as measured by the Play Store.
Google's own data is derived from Play Store access logs collected during a 7-day period ending on November 2, 2015. Devices running versions of Android older than 2.2 are excluded from logs.
Source: Apple
Adoption Rate
iOS 9 adoption slowing, stays at 77% of devices
iOS 9 adoption keeps chugging along, now standing at 77 percent
76 percent of devices are now using iOS 9

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Beautiful leather jacket from CULTURE. The jacket is super comfortable, has a nice pattern in the leather and the inside is lined with satin. A nice rustic detail is the jackets large zippers, which adds a bit Rock'n roll to an otherwise feminine jacket. There are pockets in the front and a little smart detail is the sleeves zipper function – which gives you the opportunity to style the jacket in several different ways. At the end of the day a perfect timeless trendy leather jacket.


text:
Q: Liquibase precondition MARK_RAN, rollback executes I'm using version 3.6.1
I have an insert script with a precondition. If the precondition fails the result is a MARK_RAN in databaseChangelog table, but when I try to rollback, the rollback statement is executed, resulting in an error.
I found some old threads with the same issue but I'm not sure how to handle this case.
https://forum.liquibase.org/t/preconditions-and-custom-rollback/477
https://forum.liquibase.org/t/rollback-runs-if-precondition-fails/1896/2
I don't have write rights in all enviroments so the precondition would not fail anymore.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
About Romanian Baccalaureate
6/27/2009 10:45:00 AM de la www.absoluteastronomy.com
The Bacalaureat (or BAC for short) is an exam held in Romania when one graduates high school
Unlike the French Baccalaureat, the Romanian one has a single degree. It follows a pattern of six subjects, letter-coded (A, B, C, D, E, and F). All the subjects (except subject A) depend on the profile studied : math&sciences , philollogy , umanist , vocational and others), and the candidate's choice.
A: Romanian Language (oral and written examination)
B: foreign language (any studied language; oral examination)
C: maternal language (if different from Romanian, and if studied; oral and written examination)
D: compulsory subject (of the profile)
E: subject to be chosen (of the profile)
F: subject to be chosen (of the opposed (complementary) profile)
Tests A, B, and C consist of an oral examination. The candidates must prove that they have the ability of expressing themselves in that language, can understand a written text, can read a text in the foreign language.
Tests A, B, D, E, and F consist of a 3 hour written exam.
Test F may consist, instead of a written exam, of a practical examination.
B Subject
C Subject
D Subject
E Subject
F Subject
Mathematics - Computer Science Romanian Language Foreign language Maternal Language Mathematics Computer Science, Physics, Biology, or Chemistry A foreign language (different from the one at subject B), History, Geography, Logic, Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Management (written), Sport (practical)
Natural sciences Romanian Language Foreign language Maternal Language Mathematics Physics, Biology, or Chemistry A foreign language (different from the one at subject B), History, Geography, Logic, Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Management (written), Sport (practical)
Letters Romanian Language Foreign language Maternal Language Geography (12th grade) or History A foreign language (different from the subject B), Latin language, Universal literature Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Logic, Management (written), Sport (practical)
Social sciences Romanian Language Foreign language Maternal Language Geography (12th grade) or History History, Geography, Logic, Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy A foreign language (different from the one at subject B), Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology (written), Sport (practical)


The Joan Ganz Cooney Center and Apple present a white paper on literacy and learning in a new media age. Authored by Jeanne Wellings and Michael H. Levine, this paper describes how investment in technology tools, network access, professional development, and new personalized curricula can help schools address each of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (AARA) four reform goals and simultaneously modernize to meet the needs of 21st century learners. Innovative examples and related resources are offered on how technology can be used to promote literacy and to engage struggling learners.


Offer inbound travel services including visa support, hotel reservation, transportation, guides, interpreters, and bodyguards.
Beachfront hotel with waterpark in Tamuning, Guam.
A resort hotel with beachfront on Tumon Bay. Official site for Outrigger Guam Beach Resort a deluxe beachfront resort hotel with Voyagers Club executive level and Mandara Spa.
Packaged tours of ocean sports for the whole family, including banana boat rides, kayaks, pedal boats, parasailing, jet ski, seawalker, wake boarding, and a new ride called the super screamer.
Small group luxury adventure tours to the Australian outback, including Central Australia, The Kimberley and Australia's Top End.
Safari camping tours with an emphasis on birdwatching, plants, photography and art.


text:
The Robotech Movie Has Found Its Director
Mike Reyes
Published: Jul. 18. 2017 7:06 PM
Andy Muschetti is doing quite well for himself in Hollywood, considering the feature film adaptation of his short, Mama, earned him much notoriety. Enough so that he was given the keys to the sacred kingdom that is known as Stephen King's IT, which is also poised to bring on the goodwill. So what do you do when you make successful films about the supernatural? You obviously move onto robots, and that's what Muschetti has planned to do with his latest gig: directing the film adaptation of Robotech.
Muschetti's name has been attached to the project for some time, but after the project shifted from Warner Bros to Sony, it seems like the greenlight was all the easier. This only makes sense, as Robotech sounds a bit like Pacific Rim; the anime deal with humanity creating gigantic robotic units in order to fight against interstellar invaders. Seeing as the technology that allowed them to craft such vehicles was adapted from that of a crashed ship from said invaders, it's a good chance that humanity's odds are much improved in their fight among the stars. Considering Andy Muschetti got his start with the help of producer, and all around good guy, Guillermo del Toro, it only seems fitting that he get a project of his own that involves robots and canceling an apocalypse.
Don't get too excited about Robotech though, as The Hollywood Reporter has also noted that the project currently has no writer attached. Seeing as Muschetti has, at the very least, a couple of loose commitments, his involvement may still be possible. In addition to directing the pilot to Hulu's Locke and Key series, Andy Muschetti is more than likely under contract with Warner Bros for the sequel to his upcoming IT adaptation. If the film lives up to all of the hype that's been going around as of late, there's a chance that the studio will fight harder than ever to make his involvement a priority. So having no script written just yet is probably in the favor of the folks who really want a Muschetti-enhanced adaptation of Robotech.
It's early days for Robotech, and the fickle force that is fate could cause Hollywood fortunes to shift. If Andy Muschetti's other commitments call him into work when Sony finally gets into gear with this project, there's a chance that the film may eventually have to go on without Muschetti's golden touch. Which is interesting, considering it's that sort of fate that brought the project back to the director's doorstep after James Wan had to pass the project up in the name of Aquaman. For now though, we're excited to see the director possibly make his way into the sci-fi genre, all thanks to some tough machinery and the human ingenuity that drives it.
In the meantime, you'll be able to see Andy Muschetti wield his dark magic as IT debuts its first installment of madness on September 8.
Mike Reyes View Profile
CinemaBlend's James Bond (expert). Also versed in Large Scale Aggressors, time travel, and Guillermo del Toro. He fights for The User.
news 1y IT Chapter Two Director Open To Director's Cut That Combines Both Movies Nick Evans
news 2y Could Anime Adaptations Succeed Where Video Game Movies Have Failed? Nick Evans
news 3y Andy Muschietti Looks Like He's Ready To Move Forward With IT: Chapter 2 Dirk Libbey
Mar 26, 2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Rating TBD
6 Things On HBO Max That You Might Not Have Discovered Yet television
news Aquaman Likely Will Push The Robotech Movie To The Backburner
news Furious 7 Director Will Bring Robotech To The Big Screen
news Robotech Building A Sci-Fi Franchise At Sony, Get The Details
news A Robotech Movie is Happening, Get the Details


This track is sure to heighten your senses with its threatening beat as these rising producer sound the alarm on their newest release. We can already hear this one being played out by a Malaa, Drezo, or Dr. Fresch so keep an ear out for this deadly weapon coming to a dance floor near you.
"Warning" packs the anticipation as Platter Pushers and Townsend collide with their uniquely bred dark house music, served up right here on a silver platter. The four-on-the-floor rhythm will hook you from the start, the warning signs will stop you dead in your tracks — and then, the flavors of these producers will demand that you dance until further notice.
Listen up and link up below!


text:
What would break if we lose address collision resistance?
vbuterin November 26, 2021, 11:44pm #1
One of the more complicated pre-requisites of state expiry is the need to add more address space to hold new "address periods" every year. The main available solution to this is address space extension, which increases address length to 32 bytes. However, this requires complicated logic for backwards compatibility, and even then existing contracts would have to update.
One alternative is address space compression. We decide on some yet-unused 4-byte prefix, and first agree that it is no longer a valid address prefix. Then, we use those addresses for address periods in the state expiry proposal; the 20 byte address could be formatted as follows:
[4 byte prefix] [2 byte address period] [14 byte hash]
This greatly reduces the backwards compatibility work required. The only backwards compatibility issue would be dealing the possibility that some existing application has a future CREATE or CREATE2 child address that collides with the 4 byte prefix (really, 5 bytes of collision would be needed to be a problem as address periods would not reach 2 bytes for ~256 years).
However, reducing the hash length to 14 bytes comes with a major sacrifice: we no longer have collision resistance. The cost of finding two distinct privkeys or initcode (or one with a privkey and one with initcode) that have the same address decreases to 2^{56}, which is very feasible for a well-resourced actor. Brute force attacks, finding a new privkey or initcode for an existing address, would still take 2^{112} time and be computationally infeasible for an extremely long time.
It's also worth noting that even without address space extension, collisions today take 2^{80} time to compute, and that length of time is already within range of nation-state-level actors willing to spend huge amounts of resources. For reference, the Bitcoin network performs 2^{80} SHA256 hashes once every two hours.
This raises the question: what would actually break if we no longer have collision resistance?
Contracts already on-chain: SAFE
If a contract is already on-chain, it is safe (assuming the contract cannot self-destruct or SELFDESTRUCT is banned entirely). In fact, many other blockchains simply give contracts sequentially assigned addresses (usually <= 5 bytes). The only reason Ethereum cannot do this for all accounts is that we need to somehow handle users being able to receive funds when they interact with Ethereum for the first time, and do not yet have an on-chain account.
Externally owned accounts (EOAs): SAFE
A user would be able to generate two privkeys that map to the same address. However, there's nothing that a user could actually do with this ability. Anyone wanting to send funds to that user already trusts that user.
Not-yet-created single-user smart contract wallets: SAFE
Most modern smart contract wallets (including the ERC 4337 account abstraction proposal) support deterministic addresses. That is, a user with a private key could compute the address of their smart contract wallet locally, and give this address to others to send funds to them. ERC 4337 even allows ETH sent to the address to be used to pay for the fees of the contract deployment and the first UserOperation from the address.
A user could generate two different private keys with the same ERC 4337 address, or even two private keys where one has X as its ERC 4337 address and the other has X as its EOA address. However, once again there's nothing that a user could do with this ability.
Not-yet-created multi-user wallets: NOT SAFE
Suppose that Alice, Bob and Charlie are making a 2-of-3 ERC 4337 multisig wallet, and plan to receive funds before they publish it on chain. Suppose Charlie is evil and wishes to steal those funds. Charlie can do the following:
Wait for Alice and Bob to provide their addresses A and B
Grind a collision, finding C1 and C2 that satisfy get_address(A, B, C1) = get_address(C2, C2+1, C2+2)
Provide C1 as their address
Once the address get_address(A, B, C1) receives funds, they can deploy the initcode with {C2, C2+1, C2+2} and claim the funds for themselves.
The easiest solution is to deploy the address before it receives funds. A more involved solution is to use a value (eg. a future blockhash, a VDF output) that is not known at the time A, B and C are provided but becomes known soon after as a salt that goes into address generation. An even more involved solution is to MPC the address generation process.
Complex state channels: NOT SAFE
Suppose Alice and Bob with addresses A and B are playing chess inside a channel. A typical construction is that they both sent funds into an on-chain channel contract, and they pre-signed a 2-of-2 message that authorizes the channel contract to send those funds into a (not-yet-created) chess contract that instantiates A and B as the two players, requires them to play a chess game with transactions, and sends the funds to the winner.
The problem, of course, is that Bob could grind a collision get_chess_contract_address(A, B1) = get_chess_contract_address(B2, B2+1), and extract the funds.
A natural solution is to revert to something like the way state channels worked before CREATE2 was an option: the 2-of-2 transfer would specify a hash, and there would be a single central resolver that would only transfer funds to a contract that had code that hashed to that particular hash. Alternatively, a state channel system could require that all contracts must be pre-published ahead of time; the chess contract would have to be written to support multiple instances of the game.
General principles of a post-collision-resistance world
In a world where addresses are no longer collision-resistant, the easiest rule for developers and users to remember would be: if you send coins or assets or assign permissions to a not-yet-on-chain address, you are trusting whoever sent you that address. If your intention was to send funds to that person, you are fine. If they are giving you an address to what they claim is a not-yet-published address with a given piece of code that they don't have a backdoor to, remember that the same address could also be publishable with a different piece of code that they do have a backdoor to.
In such a world, applications would generally just be designed in a way where all addresses except for first-time user wallets are already on chain.
MicahZoltu November 27, 2021, 5:48am #2
vbuterin:
The only backwards compatibility issue would be dealing the possibility that some existing application has a future CREATE or CREATE2 child address that collides with the 4 byte prefix (really, 5 bytes of collision would be needed to be a problem as address periods would not reach 2 bytes for ~256 years).
This feels pretty significant. Do we have any ideas on a workaround or mitigation for this problem? Also, there is the theoretic issue where someone has some assets committed to a not-yet-used address. e.g., create a new private key, derive the address, send tokens (or some other non-obvious asset) to that address but don't otherwise use the private key at all.
if you send coins or assets or assign permissions to a not-yet-on-chain address, you are trusting whoever sent you that address
This feels like a very unfortunate loss. It means counterfactual contracts can't be generally trusted, including well known counterfactuals that have constructor parameters (just because the counterfactual is from OZ doesn't mean it is safe if it has constructor parameters).
potuz November 27, 2021, 8:01am #3
I'd also add that implementing something like this is a major break of trust to someone that has already deployed code in the network or has funds in an EOA and suddenly it's key went from taking 2^160 to 2^112 to crack. Regardless if the latter is unfeasible or not, it is far from the level of security that the user expected at the time of deployment/account creation
alonmuroch November 28, 2021, 11:38am #4
@vbuterin the state expiry link is broken, was it suppose to be this one?
A state expiry and statelessness roadmap - HackMD
# A state expiry and statelessness roadmap The Ethereum state size is growing quickly. It is curren
illuzen December 1, 2021, 6:14am #5
It's important to point out that finding address collisions is not the same as finding a public key collision.
I'm curious why addresses were shortened from 32 bytes to 20 in the first place. Numerai deposit addresses, for example, have many many zeroes in front of them, so their vanity addresses are only a few hexits /orders of magnitude away from finding a collision for the 0x0 address!
Glancing thru geth I don't see where it happens, but I would guess that the public key for an EOA is stored the first time a transaction is made with it, and it prevents a different key from making signatures on behalf of that address. If that is the case, it curiously shows that instead of using a new address every time to avoid pubkey->privkey crackers, instead you should use your address multiple times to thwart privkey->address crackers!
bc-explorer December 5, 2021, 4:44am #7
@illuzen
public key is not stored at all. public key can be derived from signature in ECDSA. The derived public key is converted into ethereum address (using same scheme as done from private key) (Scheme is take last 20 bytes from hash).
So if there is a different private key but can generate valid signatures on behalf of that address, It is not safe. This safety lies on collision resistance of hash function. (As public key is not ever stored, I think any weaknesses in ECDSA algorithm itself won't be that significant however)
What if a different user (attacker) generates different privkey that maps to a random existing address (either EOA or contract).?


text:
El Gran Premio de Finlandia de Motociclismo de 1965 fue la undécima prueba de la temporada de 1965 del Campeonato Mundial de Motociclismo. El Gran Premio se disputó el 22 de agosto de 1965 en el Circuito de Imatra.

Resultados 500cc
MV Agusta realmente no quería viajar a Finlandia, pero cuando Jim Redman se rompió la clavícula en Ulster, decidieron enviar a Giacomo Agostini para que luchase por la posibilidad de ganar el título de 350cc. Por supuesto, también compitió en la cilindrada de 500cc, que también ganó. Paddy Driver volvió a hacer una buena actuación al acabar segundo. Driver ahora se situaba en el tercer lugar del campeonato mundial y, por lo tanto, se convertía en el mejor piloto privado clasificado.

Resultados 350cc
Giacomo Agostini aprovechó al máximo las vueltas de entrenamiento adicionales que había realizado al registrarse también en la clase de 500cc y ganó la carrera con dos minutos y medio por delante de Bruce Beale, que se pilotó una Honda RC 172 de 1964. František Boček terminó tercero a una vuelta. Agostini ahora tenía opciones de ganar el título mundial siempre que la convalecencia de la clavícula rota de Jim Redman durara lo suficiente.

Resultados 250cc
Phil Read no compitió en Finlandia, pero su compañero de equipo Mike Duff se llevó los honores y ganó esa carrera. Heinz Rosner fue segundo con MZ y Ralph Bryans, que fue el reemplazo del lesionado Jim Redman con la Honda 3RC 164, tercero.

Resultados 125cc
La victoria de 125cc estuvo entre Hugh Anderson y su compañero de equipo Frank Perris. Perris todavía tenía opciones de ganar el título mundial pero Anderson logró vencerlo con una diferencia de cuatro décimas de segundo. Jochen Leitert fue tercero con el MZ RE 125 casi tres minutos por detrás, pero por delante de Ralph Bryans.

Referencias

Grandes Premios de motociclismo 1965
Gran Premio de Finlandia de Motociclismo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: (R) Burrow into function to change it with Trace() I've built a large function which calls numerous gbm functions in a big loop. All I'm trying to do is increase the thickness of the tickmarks in rug() which is called by gbm.plot.
I was hoping to use (e.g.)
body(gbm.plot)[[24]][[4]][[3]][[3]][[3]][[3]][[2]]$ylab <- "change value"

From this page's examples, which I've used successfully elsewhere, but the section in question in gbm.plot is in an IF statement, so as.list doesn't nicely recurse the lines (because arguably it's all one huge long line). You can get to them by just manually [[trying]][[successive]][[combinations]] until you get to the right place, but since I'm trying to insert a piece of code , lwd=6 into a bracketed statement, rather than assigning a value to a named subobject, I'm not sure how to get trace to do this.
?trace says:
When the at argument is supplied, it can be a vector of integers referring to the substeps of the body of the function (this only works if the body of the function is enclosed in { ...}. In this case tracer is not called on entry, but instead just before evaluating each of the steps listed in at. (Hint: you don't want to try to count the steps in the printed version of a function; instead, look at as.list(body(f)) to get the numbers associated with the steps in function f.)

The at argument can also be a list of integer vectors. In this case, each vector refers to a step nested within another step of the function. For example, at = list(c(3,4)) will call the tracer just before the fourth step of the third step of the function

So I tried pasting the whole line with the lwd bit added in, hoping that it would overwrite it with the small addition:
trace (gbm.plot, quote(rug(quantile(data[, gbm.call$gbm.x[variable.no]], probs = seq(0, 1, 0.1), na.rm = TRUE),lwd=6)), at=c(22,4,7,3,3,3,2))

...as well as putting objects in & out of {brackets}, all to no avail. Does anyone know either the correct way of using trace for this, or can suggest a better way? Thanks
p.s. it needs to be done automatically with coding so users can load the function which will load the vanilla gbm functions from CRAN and then make tweaks as required.
EDIT: found a workaround. But generalisable question: how can one insert elements into an IF statemented part of a function? e.g. From
rug(quantile(data[, gbm.call$gbm.x[variable.no]], probs=seq(0, 1, 0.1), na.rm=TRUE))

to
rug(quantile(data[, gbm.call$gbm.x[variable.no]], probs=seq(0, 1, 0.1), na.rm=TRUE),lwd=6)


text:
Scientists laid the blame for the warming in the Arctic, Russian transport
Moscow. 15 Feb. INTERFAX.RU — a Group of Russian and European scientists conducted a study which showed that the main reason for the melting of the snow and ice cover in the Arctic is transport pollution, press service of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU).
The study was conducted by a group of scientists of TPU and the Pacific Oceanological Institute in collaboration with Stockholm University and other European partners.
Previously it was thought that the main cause of global warming are the burning of associated gas (gas flaring), thermal power plants and forest fires. However, scientists, after two years of observation, found that the major source of black carbon (thanks to him, the white snow and ice reflect solar radiation) is a traffic pollution is occurring mainly due to the transport of polluted air transport from the European part of Russia.
"Research was conducted on the basis of the Polar geocomposites Observatory, located on the shore of the Arctic ocean, near the village of Tiksi. This location was chosen as a background, based on the maximum remoteness from modern industrial centers. The obtained results came as a surprise to our research team," — are reported words of the head of the International laboratory for the study of carbon cycle TPU, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Igor Semiletov.
Scientists suggest that gas flares in the atmosphere goes up to 6% of the black carbon from forest fires up to 12% from thermal power plants — 9%. The main contribution of the transport (38%) and local sources (35%), which include the organization and agriculture, burning of wood and coal.
"To Refine these estimates, the planned new series of joint with the Stockholm University research focus on the role of gas torches, a significant number of which are located in the lower reaches of the great Siberian river Ob. The results of our study may change the basic understanding of the role of black carbon in the functioning of the fragile climate system of the Arctic that gives a chance for the development of meaningful measures to mitigate the effect of expected consequences", — quotes the press service of the Department of Geology and mineral exploration TPU Natalia Shakhov.
A new study, expected to begin in 2018.
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text:
About BCDS
Current Leadership
Amalgam Separator Resources
Dental Insurance Benefits
Contract Analysis
NYS Paid Sick Leave
Substance Abuse & Mental Health
ePrescribing
Endorsed Companies
Legal Protection Plan
EDPAC
Substance Abuse and Well Being
Student Early Career Resources
What Dentists Do
Concerned About Your Care
About BCDS/
The Bronx County Dental Society: A Very Short History
The Dental Society of the State of New York was given the authority to organize in 1868. At that time, the Bronx, as we know it today, was partially in Westchester County. Southern Boulevard was the northern border of the Bronx.
The contemporary Bronx had its first dental society in 1914 as a branch of the First District Dental Society. As time went by, many dentists all over the city felt that their economic, political and social needs were not being fulfilled by the district societies. Thus they organized their own dental societies in the different boroughs. The group in the Bronx was known as the Northern Dental Society. These various societies joined together to form the Allied Dental Council,-all outside of "organized dentistry".
The Northern Dental Society held various fund raising events, such as dances, picnics and golf outings, and donated the funds to various worthy groups.
The interests of the Bronx County Dental Society on the other hand, were integrated with those of First District. There was little, if any, political or social activism. There were relatively few "Bronx" officers of the FDDS. Dr. Percy Phillips was a notable exception.
World War II brought about the end of the Allied Dental Council and its affiliates. Dentists were not offered a commission in the Armed Forces unless they were members of the American Dental Association and its components. This forced members of the Allied Dental Council to also become members of "organized dentistry", which in turn led to the amalgamation of the Allied groups with their local district societies and their branches (1943-1944). The Bronx County Dental Society and the Northern Dental Society became the Bronx County-Northern Dental Society. After a few years, the "Northern" part was dropped. Since the members of the Northern Dental Society were more active in their society then were the Bronx dentists in theirs, the members of the Northern took over the Bronx County Dental Society almost by default. They tried to keep the members of the original Bronx group active in the new society but many of the original group felt that the Northern contingent was too liberal and too active for them. They stayed on as members of the FDDS but rarely attended meetings. Leaders of the FDDS also felt that the Bronx County group was too active and too liberal. Since the Bronx branch could do little of significance without the cooperation and/or permission of the FDDS, its Executive Board often felt powerless and frustrated.
With the passage of time, and a lot of effort by many individuals, this changed. The Bronx branch became an integral part of the FDDS with similar goals and desires. This was codified by the FDDS Good Government Committee. Dr. Herman Rubin was the second First District president from the Bronx on a rotational basis, and as the long-time co-chairman of the Good Government Committee, he had a most important role in monitoring the interests of the Bronx.
As early as 1942, the local Democratic political party attempted to have the Bronx declared a separate judicial district. This would have been good for Bronx dentists since they would be a component society instead of merely a branch. Finally, in 1982, the Bronx did become a separate judicial district. In 1984, the number of FDDS governors to the Dental Society of the State of New York was reduced by one. Since this loss had a great negative impact in the FDDS, it investigated several ways to regain some of its lost power and influence. If the Bronx became a component society, it would have its own two representatives on the Board of Governors. Since the Bronx and Manhattan worked well together, it was felt that the establishment of the Bronx Component Society would be beneficial for both parties, and a meeting was called to start the ball rolling.
January 1, 1985 saw the official birth of the Bronx County Dental Society, a component of the Dental Society of the State of New York.
Milton Wechsler, D.D.S.
New York State Dental Association
News/Publication
Copyright © 2022 Bronx County Dental Society. Reproduction or republication strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
"Local":"BronxCountyNY"


Pheasant Run kicks off the season with a Spring Scramble. in St. Charles, Illinois. The cost includes green fees, golf cart, prize fund and ball park concessions. Registration begins at 8 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Call ext. 2 for reservations.


text:
Home Breaking News Jeb Bush shows fire, passion and heart in Waterloo, Iowa
Breaking NewsFeaturedPolitics
Jeb Bush shows fire, passion and heart in Waterloo, Iowa
by Eric Golub Jan 31, 2016
written by Eric Golub Jan 31, 2016
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, January 29, 2016 — For a short Frenchman named Napoleon, Waterloo was his humiliating defeat. For a proud American and son and brother of former presidents, Waterloo, Iowa was a happier scene. Tall in the saddle but with plenty of humility, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush made his case to be president.
Coming off of his best debate performance, Bush showed plenty of energy. He does not yell and scream, but he has the fire in the belly. Like his brother George W. Bush, Jeb is punctual. Lateness is rudeness, and Jeb did not keep people waiting one minute past the 4:00 p.m. start time to his event.
Governor Bush was preceded by a young wounded veteran and an older former prisoner of war. They told their compelling stories as well as the story of the man they called the best Governor Florida ever had.
If Hillary implodes, will Democrats choose Sanders?
The older POW told a joke about why he stopped calling his wife. "I would have called sooner but I've been all tied up."
Illinois Congressman Adam Kinziger said, "I actually am old enough to vote and run for Congress." He is an Iraq veteran as well, and took pride in saluting the two Medal of Honor recipients who had just spoken. Kinziger endorsed Jeb before he even announced his presidential run.
Beloved Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley spoke next. He has spent his entire 82 years in the same township in Iowa where he was born. He believes that "It ought to be quite an honor to have Bush as a last name."
As for the nation's capitol, "Washington is an island surrounded by reality."
Grassley comes home every weekend to be around his fellow Iowans and get out of Washington.
Then came Jeb. He has 12 Medal of Honor recipients supporting his campaign. He seeks their advice.
"I know what I don't know."
"We're the greatest country. Our government isn't. Our people are."
He praised Grassley for being in the senate 22 1/2 years and never missing a vote. "This guy is an inspiration for what public service should be about."
Jeb then offered a stinging indictment of Obama's foreign policy and domestic policy.
"There is no such thing as leading from behind. That's Orwellian."
On the Russian reset, Obama did nothing. Russia is a global power, not a regional power as Obama described.
From the red line in Syria to the pivot to Asia. Obama shows a "lack of commitment to American leadership."
"Only the United States can lead."
"Support the troops rather than impose legal restraints on them."
"I won't be an agitator in Chief, I won't be a divider in Chief. I'll be a Commander in Chief."
"Only the wealthy are doing better in the age of Obama."
Jeb then discussed his own record as Florida Governor. He turned Tallahassee upside down.
"They called me Veto Corleone." He vetoed 2500 separate line items as Florida Governor.
He enacted civil service reform. "You can fire a government worker in Tallahassee for incompetence."
He seeks to "reform from stem to stern the Department of Veteran's Affairs."
The Obama administration "reduced the waitlist without veteran's receiving care." Only three people were fired.
Jeb wants to create "centers of excellence to deal with PTSD."
Governor Bush showed his sense of humor. The easiest way to win an election is to "run against a really bad candidate."
"In 1994, I ran against a person (former Florida Governor Lawton Chiles) who never lost. I lost."
Bush spoke about visiting hospitals where the developmentally disabled are housed. In 18 months time, 31,000 families were taken off of the waiting list. This fed into his narrative of actions as opposed to words.
"We don't need a leader who disparages people."
"All of us have a contribution to make in this society."
"I hope you want a leader who has a backbone."
"I will accept personal responsibility" for the challenges that come with the office of the presidency.
"We need a president who will solve problems rather than make things worse."
"I have a servant's heart."
A medical student asked to commit to continuing George W. Bush's legacy of PEPFAR, which is saving thousands of lives of Africans who have AIDS. Jeb said he absolutely would.
"We can't just be concerned with military affairs."
An atheist asked about the separation of church and state. "I'm a person of faith and I respect that you're not." He will not accept discrimination in housing and employment, but "religious conscience is a first freedom."
"I worry about the loss of religious freedom more than the other side, but we should respect both."
As for Social Security, he pointed out that his campaign website has a "fun loaf of bread." He offers a detailed policy prescription online, which was good because he ran out of pamphlets. We must raise the retirement age. "We have to raise the minimum benefit to 120% of the poverty level. It's now 80% of the poverty level."
The Jeb Bush problem: Money doesn't talk
"63% of Americans cannot make a $500 car repair."
Jeb Bush is passionate about education. We need a quality early childhood program. He created universal pre-kindergarten for 4 year olds in Florida. Hillary Clinton talks about it. He did it. It needs to be outcome based. Give block grants to the states instead of "mandating from up above, a regulatory morass."
"Florida has 1,000 people moving to it a day. It ain't all about beaches." We have "low taxes, a great business climate."
He lamented the "fracturing of our culture. Politics is a mirror of our culture."
"Everybody has their own set of facts."
One downside of getting our news online is that "We can customize our information" so that it fits what we believe, rather than see other points of view. "That's what creates the divide."
Asked about Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Jeb said, "I would love to run against a Socialist in a general election. I think we can win that one."
He loves his brother. His father in his eyes is the greatest man alive. To plenty of laughs, Jeb insisted that "My mother thinks I'm the best son of all."
Keeping with his desired image as an outsider, Jeb said, "I have to take Uber in Washington. I don't know where anything is in that place."
He the used a term that people with MBAs in business or finance would know. Jeb believes in BHAGs, which are "Big Hairy Audacious Goals." One of his BHAGs while Florida Governor was to have "200,000 mentors in schools."
"It was supposed to be done in five years." Retired General Colin Powell helped out. In three years there were 206,000 mentors. This was "community engagement from the bottom up."
The solution to the student loan program is to "stop it" and "Move to an income repayment program." Students can be given a $50,000 line of credit when they graduate high school. He also favors Education Savings Accounts for low income kids.
In Florida, "The lottery pays for the Bright Future Scholarship Program." It is merit based on grades and SAT scores.
As for the student loan mess, "Maybe the burden should be on the federal government for creating such a crappy program. Maybe the universities should have skin in the game."
When somebody said something nice about Jeb, he went all the way up to the person to hug him. "I give out hugs. I'm from Miami. That's what we do."
On immigration, Jeb offered plenty of specifics.
"We need to control the border. We must "use every tool that we have." Use GPS and drone technology. Build a fence. Deal with people overstaying their Visas. Obama wants to keep this as a wedge issue to win elections.
Jeb says no to sanctuary cities, yes to a guest worker program, and yes to E-Verify. We must tighten the definition of family. "Narrow that like Canada has done." He does not favor amnesty, but "We need a path to legal status, earned legal status." That is not citizenship.
"You do not win by insulting people."
"I'm the most conservative governor probably in Florida's history." He got a larger share of the Latino vote than the white vote. "I got 60% of the Latino vote."
"I am the guy that laid out the most detailed plans" to deal with entitlement reform. There should be block grants, "without all the federal mandates."
There will not be a military draft, but there must be an end to the sequester.
He is open to considering allowing medicinal marijuana for PTSD.
With that issue and many other issues, Jeb comes back to the same question.
"Can it be done at the state level? Conservatives ask that."
Jeb's conservative critics loathe the compassionate conservatism that he and his brother espouse. They want a more hard-edged conservatism. Jeb supporters make a valid point that a way to win crossover voters is to talk about things nobody else will discuss. Job did not spend one minute talking about Iran, ISIS or radical Islam. His views are well known. On the flip side, most Democrats would be shocked to hear a Republican presidential candidate speak to a Republican audience about how to help children with disabilities.
Jeb is known for having plenty of brains. He is a true policy wonk. His "right to rise" campaign is taken straight from Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the ultimate wonk. In Waterloo, Jeb showed that he also has plenty of heart, fire and passion. With the Iowa Caucus rapidly approaching, the people came to hear Jeb Bush liked what they heard. He took pictures with people before and after the event, making time for everyone. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his prescriptions, he certainly has the honor, integrity, intelligence and empathy to be the next leader of the free world.
election 2016Jeb Bush
Eric Golub
Brooklyn born, Long Island raised and now living in Los Angeles, Eric Golub is a politically conservative columnist, blogger, author, public speaker, satirist and comedian. Read more from Eric at his TYGRRRR EXPRESS blog. Eric is the author of the book trilogy "Ideological Bigotry, "Ideological Violence," and "Ideological Idiocy."
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