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  • Kristen Faulkner undergoes successful shoulder surgery

    Kristen Faulkner undergoes successful shoulder surgery

    From Harvard to venture capital to double Olympic Gold, Kristen Faulkner’s path has been anything but conventional. But one thing is a constant – her rigorous pursuit of excellence.

    Before she became a cyclist, the double Olympic gold medalist and back-to-back US road race champion worked in finance in Manhattan. Kristen earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science at Harvard, where she competed on the university rowing team. She finished second in the world junior rowing championships, before moving to New York City to pursue her career with a venture capital firm.

    She missed team sports, so she went to a women’s introductory cycling clinic in Central Park. She enjoyed that enough to do a race and once she experienced how much strategy and tactical thinking cycling required, she knew it was the sport for her.

    The 32-year-old has always dreamed big. Ever since she was a little girl, Kristen wanted to compete in the Olympic Games.

    Her childhood in Homer, Alaska helped her develop a sense of resiliency. Kristen’s parents run a restaurant and hotel in her hometown and she has been always inspired by their work ethic. That work ethic, combined with her Olympic dream, inspired her to take up a new discipline for her, the team pursuit in track cycling in 2024, alongside road racing.

    She sees bike racing as a game of chess, where strategy, patience, and anticipating a competitor’s move make the sport demanding and thrilling. On the streets of Paris, she rode a smart, tactical race, biding her time on the circuit up and around Montmartre, before making a big effort to close to the leaders with just over three kilometers to go. Knowing that her rivals at the front of the race might hesitate in the hope that the other would chase, Kristen attacked and rode solo to the finish under the Eiffel Tower to win her first Olympic gold medal.

    With hard work and intelligence, she had made her childhood dream come true. She celebrated with her family and then turned her attention back to the track and her pursuit of excellence. A few days later, Kristen won her second Olympic gold medal with her teammates in the team pursuit.

    Her 2024 season also included wins at Omloop van het Hageland, two stages at Trofeo Ponente in Rosa where she also claimed the points and mountains jerseys, a stage at the Vuelta España Femenina, and the US road race national championship. This year, she successfully defended her US road race title and now has her set her focus on the Tour de France Femmes.

    At her European base in Girona, Spain, Kristen likes to grocery shop at the local farmers markets, letting fresh produce inspire her in the kitchen. She loves creating healthy, vegetable-based dishes. A lifelong learner, she always has a couple of books on the go.

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  • Holiday inventory levels are tea leaves to read state of consumer spending

    Holiday inventory levels are tea leaves to read state of consumer spending

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  • Psychology experts call for AI age controls and chatbot tailoring – Nextgov

    1. Psychology experts call for AI age controls and chatbot tailoring  Nextgov
    2. ChatGPT-induced ‘AI psychosis’ is a growing problem. Here’s why.  USA Today
    3. AI Psychosis And The Essential Four-Square Matrix Of Human-AI Interaction  Forbes
    4. AI chatbots changing online threat landscape as Ottawa reviews legislation  saskNOW
    5. Should you have an AI companion?  Brookings

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  • Paramount mandates 5-day-a-week return to office ahead of major cost cuts

    Paramount mandates 5-day-a-week return to office ahead of major cost cuts

    Paramount Pictures studio lot at 5555 Melrose Ave. on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in Hollywood, CA.

    Brian Van Der Brug | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

    David Ellison continues to put his stamp on Paramount after its acquisition by Skydance.

    The CEO and chairman told employees Thursday that they will be expected to work in the office five days a week starting January 5, 2026, according to a memo obtained by CNBC. Employees who do not wish to make the transition can seek a buyout starting Thursday and until Sept. 15.

    “To achieve what we’ve set out to do – and to truly unlock Paramount’s full potential – we must make meaningful changes that position us for long-term success,” Ellison wrote to staffers. “These changes are about building a stronger, more connected, and agile organization that can deliver on our goals and compete at the highest level. We have a lot to accomplish and we’re moving fast. We need to all be rowing in the same direction. And especially when you’re dealing with a creative business like ours, that begins with being together in person.”

    The move could help Paramount thin the herd ahead of looming staffing cuts.

    Variety reported last month that the company is expected to lay off between 2,000 and 3,000 employees as part of its post-merger cost cutting measures. These cuts are slated for early November, Variety reported.

    Paramount is looking to take $2 billion in costs out of the conglomerate amid advertising losses and industry-wide struggles with traditional cable networks.

    Phase one of Ellison’s back-to-work plan will see employees in Los Angeles and New York returning to a full five-day work week in the new year.

    Phase two will focus on offices outside L.A. and New York, including international locations. A similar buyout program will be offered in 2026 for those who operate in these locations.

    “We recognize this represents a significant change for many, and we’re committed to supporting you throughout this transition,” Ellison wrote. “We will work closely with managers to ensure you have the time and flexibility to make the necessary adjustments.”

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  • Mechanochemical recycling converts polystyrene to a commodity chemical

    Mechanochemical recycling converts polystyrene to a commodity chemical

    A solvent-free ball-milling process can break down waste polystyrene into benzene and aliphatic hydrocarbons in as little as 15 min (Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2025, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202512687). By also including benzoic anhydride in the reaction vessel, Junpeng Wang and his team at the University of Akron converted the freshly generated benzene directly to benzophenone, creating a one-pot method to valorize consumer waste into a useful chemical feedstock.

    Polystyrene is one of the most recognizable and widely used plastics, with applications as diverse as packaging, construction, and medical equipment. However, the high cost of current recycling processes, combined with the low value of recovered material, means polystyrene is also one of the world’s least recycled plastics. In Spain, for example, 80% ends up in landfills and the remainder is incinerated.

    Meanwhile, mechanochemistry, which drives chemical reactions by stimulating reactants via mechanical forces, is an inherently cost- and energy-efficient method. This simple process has already attracted interest as a strategy to handle plastic waste, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polyethylene. But rather than destroying or depolymerizing the plastic, Wang’s team focused on degrading polystyrene into simple benzene units, which they upcycled into valuable commodity chemicals.

    The researchers began by grinding plastic pellets with an aluminum trichloride catalyst in a six-ball mill, driving a reaction known as a Friedel-Crafts dealkylation to form benzene and long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons. Within 15 min, the reaction had degraded more than 90% of the starting polystyrene, a substantial time and energy savings compared with previous recycling methods.

    With a route to benzene in hand, the team next explored coupling this degradation process with a second mechanochemical reaction, settling on a Friedel-Crafts acylation to generate benzophenone. The shared aluminum trichloride catalyst makes this sequence ideally suited to a one-pot procedure, and after an initial degradation period, benzoic anhydride was added directly to the ball mill and milled for a further 3 h. Initial iterations of the combined process produced a disappointing 11% yield, significantly less than the steps in isolation, but troubleshooting experiments quickly identified the cause of these low yields.

    The heat generated by the milling process was sufficient to evaporate a substantial quantity of the benzene recovered from the polystyrene, leaving little available to react in the second step. Sealing the grinding apparatus with parafilm and incorporating a supramolecular trap to retain this volatile substrate immediately boosted the yield to 39%. Subsequent tests with real postconsumer waste—including Styrofoam boxes, spoons, and cups—produced even higher yields of benzophenone, demonstrating that the process is also compatible with typical plastic additives and contaminants.

    Duncan Browne, a mechanochemist at University College London, found this an intriguing approach to polystyrene waste but suspects the volatility of benzene may make this process challenging to scale. “The key is that you want to know how much heat is generated from this process, and that’s something you would need to get a handle on before you go to too large a scale,” he says. “You’d need a chemical engineer to help you calculate those numbers and understand if you can do this safely [and] competitively with the current best practice.”

    Despite this practical reservation, Browne believes this is nonetheless a significant finding. “Valorization is inherently sustainable, and mechanochemistry is also sustainable. So you’re almost amplifying sustainability by bringing these ideas together,” he says. “It’s a really nice demonstration of the potential of mechanochemistry as a solution to this type of high-impact problem.”

    Chemical & Engineering News

    ISSN 0009-2347

    Copyright ©
    2025 American Chemical Society

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  • Intense light therapy boosts heart protection after surgery

    Intense light therapy boosts heart protection after surgery

    Intense light therapy after surgery can increase a critical protein that protects heart tissue while lowering levels of troponin, a protein indicating heart damage that’s linked to higher mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, according to a study by researchers at CU Anschutz.

    The study was published this week in the Annals of Translational Medicine.

    The results add to a growing body of evidence showing that intense light has a healing effect on the heart and blood vessels, a finding that could help reduce the number of cardiac events that happen after surgery. Myocardial Injuries in Noncardiac Surgeries (MINS) occur in about 20% of patients and significantly increase one year mortality rates.

    The risk of myocardial injury goes up after certain surgeries and is significantly higher in patients older than 45. In tests on humans and animal models we found that intense light can significantly reduce troponin release. High levels of troponin following non-cardiac surgery can lead to death. Blocking it could be a very novel therapy for MINS – a disease without therapy.”


    Tobias de la Garza Eckle, MD, PhD, FASA, study’s senior author, professor of anesthesiology, CU Anschutz School of Medicine

    Eckle’s previous studies using rodent models have shown that bright light can strengthen the endothelium or lining of the blood vessels. The protection comes from a protein called PER2 which works with fellow protein HIF1A to boost levels of yet another protein ANGPTL4, a key player in vascular health.

    In this study, the researchers gave some patients having routine spine surgery intense light therapy for 30 minutes at sunrise for five days. The light increased ANGPTL4 levels and lowered troponin levels. Those who didn’t receive the therapy saw troponin levels increase.

    Eckle said bright light therapy increases the circadian rhythm amplitude and protects the heart before and after myocardial injury. The protection relies on the presence of the PER2 protein, but Eckle’s team found that ANGPTL4 protein therapy can protect the heart even when PER2 is missing.

    “This ANGPTL4 protein therapy could be a promising strategy to reduce myocardial injury to patients one day,” Eckle said. “We have started using intense light therapy in patients and have seen similar pathways are activated in humans as they are in animal models. A clinical trial will be necessary to understand the real impact of intense light therapy on Myocardial Injury in Noncardiac Surgery.”

    This study was funded by an R56 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

    Source:

    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Journal reference:

    Bertazzo, J., et al. (2025). Intense light as potential future therapy for myocardial injury in patients after non cardiac surgery: lessons from mice and men. Annals of Translational Medicine. doi.org/10.21037/atm-25-27

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  • Trump’s Fed pick Stephen Miran says he will keep White House job

    Trump’s Fed pick Stephen Miran says he will keep White House job

    Bloomberg/Getty Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and US Federal Reserve governor nominee for US President Donald Trump, during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.Bloomberg/Getty

    President Donald Trump’s pick to fill a Federal Reserve vacancy said he did not plan to resign from his White House role, if confirmed, alarming Democrats who said his elevation would bring the president closer to controlling the central bank.

    Stephen Miran, currently chief of Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers, told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing on Thursday that he intended to take a leave of absence from the White House, given the short term nature of the Fed post.

    He assured them that he would act independently if confirmed.

    But he demurred when Democrats demanded he prove his independence by going on the record saying Trump had lost the 2020 election.

    He also ducked questions asking him whether the president was right when he claimed that officials had faked jobs data for political reasons and on his past recommendations for Fed overhaul, including warnings against naming political figures to the board.

    Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, said Miran would be seen as a “puppet” who would not be trusted as an independent voice.

    “You have made clear that you will do or say whatever Donald Trump wants,” she told him. “That may work in a political position but it will take an axe to Federal Reserve independence.”

    Miran called the independence of the central bank “paramount” and said he had not been asked by anyone at the White House to commit “formally or informally” to lowering interest rates.

    “The independence of the Federal Reserve is critical to delivering superior long-run outcomes for the economy,” he said.

    Miran, who trained as an economist at Harvard, was named by Trump to finish out the term of former governor Adriana Kugler.

    Kugler resigned last month, a few months before her time on the board was due to end in January.

    The opportunity came as Trump has put unprecedented pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates, toying with the idea of firing chair Jerome Powell and taking steps to fire another board member, Lisa Cook, over allegations of mortgage fraud.

    She has denied those claims and challenged the president’s termination in court.

    Economists say Trump’s campaign risks undermining the credibility of the bank, which is charged with keeping prices and employment stable and has been designed to set policy independently from the White House.

    Lawmakers from both parties told Miran that it was critical that the bank’s governors determine interest rates without regard to politics.

    But while Republicans widely indicated they would support his confirmation, Democrats said Miran’s decision to maintain his White House post was a sign he would be responsive to Trump’s demands.

    Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island called the arrangement “ridiculous”, while Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey asked: “Why do you even want this job for four months if you’re just hedging your bets and continuing your role at the White House?”

    Miran said would resign his White House post, if he was nominated to serve a longer term.

    Miran’s nomination is expected to advance to a full vote in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority.

    Senator John Kennedy, a Republican, urged Miran to ignore political considerations if confirmed.

    “You’ve got to call them like you see them and ignore – nothing wrong with people giving their advice – but ignore all the rhetoric,” he said.

    Warren said Republicans were ignoring the “elephant in the room” in their willingness to green-light Miran’s elevation.

    “If we allow the Fed to become a political football, every American consumer, every American worker and every American business will pay a long term price,” she said.

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  • China’s New Standard on Sensitive Personal Information Goes Into Effect November 1 – Publications

    China’s New Standard on Sensitive Personal Information Goes Into Effect November 1 – Publications


    LawFlash




    September 04, 2025

    In a move to further bolster data privacy, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China jointly issued a national standard, GB/T 45574-2025, Data Security Technology – Security Requirements for Processing of Sensitive Personal Information (the Standard), effective as of November 1, 2025. Serving as a detailed and practical extension of the Personal Information Protection Law with respect to the processing of sensitive personal information, the Standard translates high-level statutory principles into operational requirements, offering clear expectations across industries.

    As a nonmandatory (recommended) standard, the Standard refines the definition and scope of sensitive personal information, clarifies protection requirements, and offers detailed operational guidance for organizations handling sensitive personal information within China.

    Notably, the Standard introduces significant changes to what constitutes “sensitive personal information” compared with the previous 2020 national standard (GB/T 35273-2020). Specifically, it removes certain categories—such as identity card numbers, marital status, deposit information, real estate information, transaction records, and consumption records—from the sensitive personal information list, retaining only resident ID photos and personal income details among previously listed items.

    Simultaneously, it introduces a more nuanced approach by distinguishing between rough location information and precise/continuous tracking data. Furthermore, not all health-related data is deemed sensitive; basic metrics such as weight, height, blood type, and blood pressure are excluded unless tied to medical conditions.

    That said, as the Standard is a recommended guideline, its enforcement may vary and individual branches of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) may retain discretion in interpreting its provisions or maintaining their own internal standards for sensitive personal information.

    Furthermore, despite these removals, the Standard maintains a risk-based approach: information can still be classified as sensitive if its leakage or misuse could harm an individual’s dignity, safety, or financial security, or if the aggregation of seemingly nonsensitive data poses such risks. This framework emphasizes contextual risk assessment over rigid categorization.

    The Standard also outlines strict prerequisites for data collection, enhanced notification duties, granular consent mechanisms, and comprehensive security measures, providing a practical extension of China’s PIPL. While nonbinding, the Standard is expected to influence regulatory interpretations and serve as a key benchmark for companies aiming to demonstrate compliance with China’s evolving data protection regime.

    IDENTIFICATION OF SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION

    The Standard reiterates and elaborates on the definition of “sensitive personal information,” which includes information that, if leaked or misused, could infringe on a natural person’s dignity or endanger their personal or property safety. Categories include:

    • Biometric information
    • Religious beliefs
    • Specific identities
    • Medical and health information
    • Financial account information
    • Location and tracking information
    • Personal information of children under 14
    • Other sensitive personal information with high risk upon misuse

    However, compared with the previous national standard, the Personal Information Security Specification (GB/T 35273-2020) issued in 2020 (the 2020 Specification), the new Standard (GB/T 45574-2025) introduces the following changes with respect to the scope of sensitive personal information:

    • Identity card number is removed. The 2020 Specification explicitly classified identity card numbers as sensitive personal information, whereas the new Standard removes this category and only includes resident ID photos.
    • Marital status is removed. Marital status was clearly listed as sensitive personal information in the 2020 Specification, but has since been removed per the new Standard.
    • Deposit information, real estate information, transaction records, and consumption records are removed. While the 2020 Specification categorized these types of information as sensitive personal information, the new Standard no longer includes them, and retains only personal income details as sensitive.
    • Rough location information is distinguished from precise and continuous tracking information. The 2020 Specification treated general location tracking information as sensitive personal information. In contrast, the new Standard limits the scope to continuous and precise positioning trajectory information, vehicle driving trajectory information, and continuous activity trajectory information of individuals. Additionally, the Standard explicitly excludes location and tracking data generated by certain professions—such as food delivery and courier services—when such data is used solely for fulfilling service obligations.
    • Not all health-related information is considered sensitive. The Standard specifies that basic physical information—such as weight, height, blood type, blood pressure, and lung capacity—is not considered sensitive personal information if it is not related to a person’s illness or medical treatment.

    Ultimately, the Standard is a nonbinding (recommended) national guideline and its actual enforcement effect remains to be seen. While the Standard removes sensitive classification for identity card numbers, marital status, deposit information, real estate information, transaction records, and consumption records, it is not clear how local branches of the CAC will interpret and treat such information in practice. Interpretation and enforcement may vary depending on the discretion of individual branches. Companies should be cautious and seek consultation in practice.

    CRITERIA TO IDENTIFY SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION

    Despite the above information being generally removed from the Standard, it would still qualify as sensitive personal information if it satisfies the following identification criteria under the multilayered framework outlined by the Standard:

    • Information shall be classified as sensitive if it meets any of the following conditions:
      1. If leaked or misused, it is likely to infringe upon the dignity of the individual. For example, doxxing, unauthorized access to online accounts, telecom fraud, reputational harm, or discriminatory treatment based on attributes such as identity, religion, sexual orientation, or health status.
      2. If leaked or misused, it is likely to endanger the personal safety of the individual. For example, the disclosure of location and tracking data may pose physical safety risks.
      3. If leaked or misused, it is likely to compromise the financial security of the individual. For example, exposure of financial account information may result in monetary loss.
    • It should be considered not only standalone data items but also the aggregation of multiple general personal data points. If the combined dataset, when leaked or misused, could result in risks described in (a), it should be treated as sensitive personal information.
    • Any personal information defined as sensitive under applicable laws or regulations must be recognized as such.

    This recognition framework emphasizes a risk-based approach, requiring the personal information handlers to proactively assess the potential impact of data processing on individuals’ rights and interests. It also reflects a growing trend in Chinese regulatory practice to focus not only on the nature of data, but also on the context of its use and potential harm.

    PRECONDITIONS FOR COLLECTION OF SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION

    According to the Standard, before collecting sensitive personal information, personal information handlers must comply with a set of legal and ethical prerequisites aimed at ensuring transparency, legitimacy, and necessity. The main requirements are outlined as follows:

    • No collection of sensitive personal information if general personal information suffices. If the processing purpose can be achieved using nonsensitive data, sensitive personal information must not be collected.
    • Collection must be limited to active use periods. Sensitive personal information should only be collected during the period when the data subject is actively using the specific business function that requires it.
    • Collection must be function- or scenario-specific. Sensitive personal information must be collected on a per-function or per-business-scenario basis, avoiding unnecessary bundling of data.
    • App-based collection must comply with national requirements. Where sensitive personal information is collected via mobile applications, the practice must comply with GB/T 41391, another of China’s (recommended) standards for app-based personal information collection.
    • No concealment of data collection functionalities. Products or services that involve sensitive personal information collection must clearly disclose, typically through privacy policies or similar notices, the types, scope, purpose, necessity, and potential impact on individuals’ rights.
    • No unauthorized technical scraping. The use of automated tools (e.g., scripts or bots) to extract sensitive personal information from websites, applications, or transmitted content is not permitted.

    STRINGENT NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

    Before collecting sensitive personal information, personal information handlers shall provide clear and proactive notification to individuals. Under the Standard, obligations include but are not limited to:

    • Personal information handlers must use distinguishable methods such as pop-up windows, SMS, input forms, animations, redirected prompt pages, or voice prompts to notify individuals before collecting sensitive personal information. These mechanisms must ensure the individual’s attention and informed understanding.
    • Where sensitive personal information is continuously collected (e.g., during app usage involving real-time recording, tracking, or monitoring), personal information handlers should implement persistent or periodic notification mechanisms. For example, in navigation services that continuously collect a data subject’s geolocation information, the individual should be reminded that their location is being collected through means such as floating windows, pop-up messages, voice prompts, device vibrations, or status bar icons.

    This notification framework emphasizes transparency and user awareness, aiming to mitigate risks associated with covert or insufficient disclosure and uphold individuals’ right to be informed.

    REFINED REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSENT

    The Standard provides further granularity regarding the conditions and implementation of separate consent, written consent, and the withdrawal of consent by individuals. These refinements serve to operationalize the consent-related requirements under the PIPL and ensure that consent is not only lawfully obtained but also specific, informed, and revocable.

    Separate Consent

    The Standard provides that separate consent means that, when processing sensitive personal information, personal information handlers shall not obtain consent in combination with that for general personal information. Key provisions include:

    • Where a single type of sensitive personal information is used for multiple processing purposes or business functions, the handler shall not obtain bundled consent.
    • Where multiple sensitive personal information processing activities are involved, personal information handlers shall provide the personal information subject with a separate consent mechanism for each processing purpose or business function.
    • When processing publicly available sensitive personal information, if the handler’s assessment concludes that such processing may have a significant impact on individual rights and interests, the handler shall obtain the separate consent of the individual.

    With regard to the means to obtain separate consent, the Standard provides that separate consent may be obtained through the personal information subject’s active submission or by informing the individual through dedicated interfaces, such as separate pages, telephone, or SMS, followed by affirmative actions such as clicking, option selection, or form completion.

    Written Consent

    The Standard dictates that, unless laws or regulations expressly provide otherwise, the processing of sensitive personal information shall require the written consent of the personal information subject:

    • Written consent may be obtained by the personal information handler through a tangible expression of the content, such as paper documents or digital communications, and the personal information subject shall provide consent through active signature, seal, or electronic signature, among other means.
    • Scenarios requiring written consent include but are not limited to the collection of human genetic resources, inquiries into personal information made to credit reporting agencies, the provision of credit information by financial institutions to other entities, and the disclosure of real estate transaction-related information in the course of using real estate brokerage services.

    The Withdrawal of Consent

    Where sensitive personal information is processed based on individual consent, the personal information handler shall provide the personal information subject with a convenient means to withdraw consent, and is also encouraged to inform the personal information subject of the potential impact that withdrawal of consent may have on them.

    SPECIFIC SECURITY MEASURES

    In addition to the provisions outlined above, the Standard includes a wide range of detailed requirements for personal information handlers in the protection of sensitive personal information.

    These requirements, while operational in nature, reflect the growing expectation for granular compliance throughout the sensitive personal information processing. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • The personal information handler shall identify sensitive personal information prior to processing, classify it accordingly, and establish a sensitive personal information catalog, which shall be updated in a timely manner.
    • After de-identification, sensitive personal information shall be protected as general personal information, except for information that has been anonymized. When sensitive personal information is displayed in products or internal systems, the personal information handler shall apply de-identification by default.
    • The personal information handler shall conduct a personal information protection impact assessment before launching any new application that involves the processing of sensitive personal information, and the assessment report shall be retained for three years.
    • The personal information handler shall record the processing and operations of sensitive personal information, and log records shall be retained for three years.
    • The personal information handler is advised to evaluate the effectiveness of the deletion or anonymization of sensitive personal information. Sensitive personal information that has been deleted or anonymized shall not be capable of being restored.
    • The personal information handler shall conduct security audits of sensitive personal information processing logs and user access permissions at least once per month and shall promptly address any improper authorizations or operations.
    • The personal information handler shall establish a mechanism for the deletion of sensitive personal information and shall provide the personal information subject with convenient means to delete their sensitive personal information. Where the retention of such information is required by laws or administrative regulations, the personal information handler shall promptly delete or anonymize it upon expiration. It is worth noting that the Standard defines “expiration” to include the following circumstances:
      • The processing purpose has been achieved, cannot be achieved, or is no longer necessary to achieve the processing purpose
      • The personal information handler has ceased to provide the relevant product or service, or the retention period has expired
      • The individual has withdrawn their consent
      • The personal information handler has violated laws or administrative regulations or has processed personal information in breach of agreed terms
      • The statutory retention period prescribed by laws or administrative regulations has expired, among other circumstances
    • For personal information handlers that process sensitive personal information of more than 100,000 individuals, the Standard stipulates that the following requirements must be met:
      • A personal information protection officer and management body shall be designated to supervise personal information processing activities and the implementation of corresponding protection measures
      • The personal information protection officer shall possess professional knowledge of personal information protection and relevant management experience and shall be a member of the handler’s management team
      • Security background checks shall be conducted on the personal information protection officer and personnel in key positions
      • In circumstances such as mergers, divisions, dissolution, or bankruptcy that may affect the security of sensitive personal information, a disposal plan for sensitive personal information shall be developed, and appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure its security

    Finally, the Standard sets out specific security requirements that must be separately complied with for biometric information, religious belief information, medical and health information, financial account information, location and tracking information, and personal information of individuals under the age of 14.

    CONCLUSION

    While GB/T 45574-2025 is a recommended national Standard and not legally binding, it serves as a detailed and practical extension of the PIPL with respect to the processing of sensitive personal information. The Standard translates high-level statutory principles into operational requirements, offering clear expectations across industries.

    The CAC and other regulatory authorities may from time to time conduct random inspections of companies’ personal information protection practices. Based on our experience, the principles and safeguards outlined in this Standard could offer valuable guidance for demonstrating good-faith compliance with the PIPL and related regulations.

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  • Severe burden and treatment gaps reported for hyperemesis gravidarum

    Severe burden and treatment gaps reported for hyperemesis gravidarum

    Severe burden and treatment gaps reported for hyperemesis gravidarum | Image Credit: © Maridav – © Maridav – stock.adobe.com.

    Researchers from Flinders University have found a severe emotional and physical burden among pregnant women with extreme morning sickness, publishing their findings in PLOS One.1

    The data also indicated significant rates of considering pregnancy termination, alongside 9 in 10 pregnant women with extreme morning sickness considering not having more children. This highlights the debilitating nature of the condition and the inconsistent efficacy of common treatment methods.

    “Women are often prescribed multiple medications in an attempt to manage their symptoms, but the reality is that many of these treatments come with their own burdens,” said Luke Grzeskowiak, PhD, associate professor at Flinders University.

    Survey characteristics

    The cross-sectional online survey study was conducted to evaluate treatment usage and experiences among women with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) or hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).2 Participants included women residing in Australia with prior or current NVP or HG experience.

    There were 4 parts to the study survey, which was completed online between July and September 2020. These parts included respondent characteristics, awareness, and perceived safety of treatments, characteristics of HG, and quality of life impact, and personal experiences.

    Quality of life impacts were reported on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a greater impact. Additional questions gauged considerations for pregnancy termination, depression and anxiety experiences, and requests for induction or elective cesarean section.

    Treatment experiences included treatment methods used, week of pregnancy beginning or stopping treatment, treatment duration, side effects, reasons for termination, and perceived efficacy of treatment on a 5-point Likert scale. Two consumer representatives and 2 clinical experts assessed the survey’s face validity.

    Onset and severity of symptoms

    There were 289 participants aged a mean of 33 years included in the final analysis. Of these, 38% were currently pregnant, 94% Caucasian, 95% married, and 87% with complete secondary education. One or more prior births were reported in 88% and not smoking in the current or prior pregnancy in 96%.

    NVP onset occurred at a median 6 weeks’ gestation, with all cases beginning during the first trimester. Weight loss during pregnancy was reported by 75% of participants, ranging from 1 to 40 kg, and with a median of 7 kg. Moderate NVP was reported in 41% of participants and severe NVP in 59%.

    A formal HG diagnosis was given to 76% of respondents, while 72% were admitted to the hospital for IV fluids during pregnancy. Difficulty eating or drinking as normal was reported by 98% and feelings of anxiety or depression because of HG symptoms by 62%. Thirty-seven percent requested labor induction because of their symptoms.

    Considering pregnancy termination was reported by 54% of respondents, and not having more children by 90%. Over half of respondents experienced significant impacts of HG on aspects of life, including social life, work, sleep, ability to undertake daily chores, ability to eat or drink, and taking care of pre-existing children.

    Complexity of medication use

    The use of at least 1 antiemetic during pregnancy was reported by all participants. A mean of 4.2 antiemetics were used, with a range of 1 to 9. Ondansetron was the most common antiemetic used by 91% of participants, followed by pyridoxine in 70%, doxylamine in 70%, metoclopramide in 69%, and ginger in 53%.

    Only 7% of respondents used a single antiemetic in pregnancy. Ginger, metoclopramide, ondansetron, and pyridoxine were initiated earlier than other treatments, at a median 6 weeks’ gestation for each antiemetic. The latest median time of initiation at 12 weeks’ gestation was reported for corticosteroids.

    The shortest durations of use were reported for ginger, metoclopramide, and prochlorperazine, at 2 to 4 weeks, while doxylamine and ondansetron had the longest median durations of 16 and 20 weeks, respectively.

    Side effects were reported in 78% of women taking doxylamine, 73% ondansetron, and 72% promethazine. Thirty-one percent taking metoclopramide ceased treatment because of side effects, vs 24% for ginger and 23% for prochlorperazine. Common side effects included constipation, sedation, and mood disorders.

    Implications

    Over half of respondents taking corticosteroids, ondansetron, and doxylamine reported the medication to be effective. However, under 10% reported efficacy for pyridoxine or ginger. This highlighted a complex landscape of medication use for severe NVP and HG.

    “We need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward personalized care that recognizes the full impact of HG,” said Caitlin Kay-Smith, study co-author and founder of Hyperemesis Australia.

    References

    1. Emotional and medical toll of extreme pregnancy nausea, with many women considering ending pregnancies. Flinders University. September 3, 2025. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096797.
    2. Wills L, Hsiao H, Thomas A, Kay-Smith C, Henry A, Grzeskowiak LE. Assessing the burden of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum and the associated use and experiences of medication treatments: An Australian consumer survey. PLOS One. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0329687

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  • Neutrophil peptide found to trigger dangerous heart arrhythmias

    Neutrophil peptide found to trigger dangerous heart arrhythmias

    Following injury from a heart attack, immune cells called neutrophils release a peptide that punctures stressed heart cells and destabilizes their electrical activity. This triggers life-threatening arrhythmias. These findings offer a novel explanation – and potential therapeutic target – for these deadly cardiac events. Ischemic heart disease – cardiac damage caused by narrowed coronary arteries – is among the leading causes of death worldwide. It can lead to heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. When a coronary artery becomes blocked, cardiomyocytes experience oxygen deprivation, which disrupts their ability to manage ions like sodium and calcium, leading to dangerous electrical instability and life-threatening arrhythmias, for which there are few treatment options beyond defibrillation. Most arrhythmias occur within the first 2 days after a heart attack, which coincides with the characteristic cellular inflammatory response to the cardiac injury. Neutrophils, which are recruited in high numbers during this response, are known to interfere with normal cellular electrical conduction and are implicated in unintended tissue damage. While this highlights neutrophils as a potential target for future therapies, their full role in promoting arrhythmias isn’t fully understood.

    Using mouse models of ischemic injury alongside human tissue and cell studies, Nina Kumowski and colleagues identified the peptide resistin-like molecule γ (Retnlg or RELMγ) as a key neutrophil-derived factor that promotes arrhythmias after a heart attack. According to Kumowski et al., RELMy – an antimicrobial pore-forming peptide – destabilizes heart rhythm by binding to and attacking stressed cardiomyocytes. Once bound, the peptide punctures the cardiomyocyte membranes, creating pores that alter cellular ion flux, triggering delayed depolarization, cell death, and the formation of tissue abnormalities that promote arrhythmia. In mouse models, removing RELMγ from neutrophils reduced ventricular arrhythmia 12-fold, supporting findings that the peptide drives electrical instability in the injured heart. Notably, the human homolog of this peptide, resistin (RETN), was detected in infarcted human myocardial tissue samples, and higher circulating RETN levels correlated with worse patient outcomes, highlighting its potential clinical relevance. In a related Perspective, Edward Thorp discusses the study in greater detail.

    Source:

    American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

    Journal reference:

    Kumowski, N., et al. (2025) Resistin-like molecule γ attacks cardiomyocyte membranes and promotes ventricular tachycardia. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp7361

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