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A new study found that some people are genetically predisposed to obesity and that in order to get the same results, they have to exercise more than others who do not have these genes.

The amount of physical activity required for individuals with a genetic predisposition to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) to stay fat was determined by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers using data from the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program. Their results were released on Wednesday in JAMA Network Open.

According to the CDC, BMI is calculated as  “a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters,” A person’s BMI “falls within the obesity range if it is 30.0 or higher.”

It might be difficult to define someone as “obese” because BMI is a historically erroneous measure of health, particularly for persons of color. But for the time being, health experts utilize it as their main standard.

The authors of the study emphasize that determining an individual’s risk of obesity requires taking into account their personal history.

They stated that what’s hidden in their DNA is the main problem.

Senior author Douglas Ruderfer, PhD, associate professor of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine, and director of the Center for Digital Genomic Medicine at VUMC, stated in a statement that “physical activity guidelines do not account for individual differences.”

A person’s genetic background influences how much physical activity is required to prevent obesity. The number of steps required each day increases with hereditary risk.

Using Fitbit devices to track their daily step count, 3,124 middle-aged volunteers without obesity were examined in this study. Their average daily step total was 8,326.

Next, they compared the participant’s obesity-related Polygenic Risk Score, which, according to the CDC, “provide a measure of your disease risk due to your genes”

According to the National Institutes of Health, “Although often attributed to unhealthy lifestyle choices or environmental factors, obesity is known to be heritable and highly polygenic – the majority of inherited susceptibility is related to the cumulative impact of many common DNA variants,”

According to the study, people who were genetically predisposed to obesity and had a Polygenic Risk Score in the 75th percentile required to take 2,280 more steps a day—or 11,020 steps overall—than people who had a score in the 50th percentile.

Furthermore, individuals in the 75th percentile with a BMI of 22, 24, 26, and 28 would require walking 3,460, 4,430, 5,380, and 6,350 steps daily more than those in the 25th percentile — despite the fact that the CDC classifies people with a BMI of 22 and 24 as being in the “healthy” range.

Lead author Evan Brittain, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at VUMC and the lead investigator in Digital Health for the All of Us Research Program Data and Research Center, said in a statement, “What is new and important from this study is that we were able to put a number on the amount of activity needed to reduce the risk.”

According to Brittain, “We would like to test whether knowledge of one’s genetic risk for obesity actually has an impact on their behavior,” 

“I think these findings could be empowering for patients because the current physical activity guidelines take a one-size-fits-all approach, and what we learned is that depending on your genetic risk, the guidelines may underestimate the amount of activity needed to reduce your risk of obesity.”

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Business

An internship program that could lead to employment has been implemented by almost 70% of large Japanese corporations, according to a poll.

Employers in Japan are now able to provide internships that lead to employment, beginning with their spring 2025 hiring campaign for young graduates from universities.

Given that they give organizations the opportunity to interact with students early in the hiring process, these internships seem to have taken center stage in the struggle for young talent among the escalating rivalry for human resources.

Out of the 100 companies that Jiji Press contacted to take part in the poll, 68 stated that they have implemented internships tied to employment.

Of these, 57 organizations launched at least five-day programs that provide a broad spectrum of university students with a professional experience that enables them to apply both general skills and specialized knowledge. For graduate students, four corporations established lengthier, highly specialized curricula. Toyota was one of the seven firms that developed both of these types of internships.

There were 26 companies that did not provide internships related to employment, and six companies did not provide a response.

Few to several thousand students were admitted into these kinds of internship programs. About 2,000 students were accepted by Nippon Life Insurance, about 1,000 by Sekisui House, and 930 by Hitachi.

Wide-ranging work experience was also provided, such as managing construction sites on-site at Taisei, conducting real data analysis and customer visits at Orix, pitching ideas to potential clients at Nomura Holdings, and presenting business plans as a store manager at McDonald’s (Japan).

Respondents 48 companies indicated they would give internships related to employment to students graduating in the spring of 2026; eight companies said they would not establish such internships; 38 said they were unsure; and six companies did not respond to the question.

By mid-March, Jiji Press had received answers to the questionnaires it had issued to the 100 companies in mid-February.

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Travel

Google is releasing a series of travel improvements that place it firmly in the vacation planning process and provide it with a great deal more knowledge into travel industry purchasing intent as the summer holidays get near.

First, the business stated on Wednesday that Google is updating its Search Generative Experience (SGE) to enable users to create vacation plans and itinerary suggestions using artificial intelligence.

The new feature, which is only accessible in English in the United States to users enrolled in Search Labs, the company’s program that allows users to test out early-stage Google Search experiences and provide feedback, pulls ideas from a variety of websites as well as information that users have submitted to Google about locations worldwide, including reviews, images, and other details.

Users requesting something like “plan me a three day trip to Philadelphia that’s all about history” will receive an example itinerary with restaurants and sites along with a breakdown of available flights and hotel rooms by time of day.

Currently, there are no ways to purchase activities or services on the moment; the itineraries are just that—itineraries. You can export your itinerary to Docs, Maps, or Gmail after you’re satisfied with it.

Google has not stated when or whether it plans to make this available to additional people. However, it highlights the ways in which the business is testing the places and ways in which it may use its AI engine. In the upcoming years, generative AI may play a bigger part in travel services, and although some are looking forward to it, others may be wary. However, this is already being actively pursued by businesses like Mindtrip and Layla, which give consumers access to AI assistants that are meant to assist with trip planning.

However, with this latest version, Google is not only taking on businesses like these but also understanding what kind of hunger its customers might have for such services and collecting data about trip purchasing intent (valuable for its wider ad business).

Additionally, Google said that it is simplifying the process of finding suggestion lists on Google Maps in a few U.S. and Canadian cities. Now, when you search for a city in Maps, lists of suggested destinations from publications like The Infatuation and other users will appear. A selection of the best, most popular, and undiscovered eateries in more than 40 US cities will also be shown.

In order to help you better organize your trip schedule or share your favorite locations with friends and family, the firm is also offering new tools to enable you to modify lists that you make. You have the option of arranging the locations in a list according to your chosen order or chronologically, much like an itinerary. You can also connect to stuff on your social media accounts.

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Business

Within the next three years, Japanese automaker Nissan Motor intends to increase its presence in India by launching at least three new vehicles. The automaker disclosed its future plans for India, which include growing both sales and market share. Currently, Nissan’s only model available in the nation is the sub-compact SUV called Magnite. Additionally, the SUV is exported to over 100 nations worldwide. Nissan’s global strategy calls for making India its export hub.

Nissan Motor is anticipated to introduce new SUVs and an electric vehicle in India as part of its forthcoming model lineup. The automaker disclosed that it intends to introduce 30 new automobiles globally in the same time frame, 16 of which will be electric cars. Nissan released a statement on its India strategy during the unveiling of “The Arc,” its new business plan for international markets. It said, “launch three all-new models and become a hub for exports, at a level of 1,00,000 units.” Nissan intends to maintain its strategic partnership with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors in Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and India.

Nissan Motor debuted three new cars in India in 2022. One of them, the brand-new SUV X-Trail, has been often seen testing on Indian highways. Up until ten years ago, the SUV was a part of Nissan’s Indian fleet before it was removed. Nissan also displayed the Qashqai and Juke SUVs in addition to the X-Trail. According to the automaker, all three models are being evaluated for the Indian market. But since the display, no new developments have been made, and the automaker has not disclosed a release date for any of these cars.

Nissan is anticipated to bring back at least two of its previously withdrawn models to India. Nissan might also revive the Kicks SUV, which debuted a few days ago in a new guise, in addition to the X-Trail. In 2019, the model was introduced in India. Given that Nissan’s partner Renault intends to relaunch the Duster SUV in India as well, the Kicks SUV’s return is anticipated. The Duster and Kicks SUVs are very similar since they are built on similar platforms. When the Kicks go on sale, they will compete with other small SUVs like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Grand Vitara.

For both local sales and exports, Nissan currently only has the Magnite SUV available in India. Following its 2020 premiere, the SUV reached a significant sales milestone in February of this year by selling one lakh units in the Indian market. The automaker is currently preparing to release a refreshed Magnite soon. Nissan’s operations in the nation have been sustained by the Magnite SUV, which faces competition from rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and Tata Nexon, among others.

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Business

  • By April 2024, Suzuki plans to introduce the new Swift in the UK.
  • It has the same width and wheelbase as the current India-spec vehicle, but it is 15 mm longer.
  • To be offered in the UK in both 2WD and AWD configurations; the India-spec vehicle will only be offered in 2WD.
  • has features like ADAS, a reversing camera, auto air conditioning, and a 9-inch touchscreen.
  • By April 2024, an Indian debut is also anticipated; ex-showroom pricing may begin at Rs 6 lakh.

It’s anticipated that the fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift would soon hit the Indian market. It has already been introduced in its native nation, Japan, and will soon be available for purchase in the UK in April. Suzuki has now disclosed every aspect of the UK-spec Swift, including its dimensions, engine specifications, available versions, and some of its most important features.

The current India-spec variant on sale is 15 mm shorter than the UK-spec model. Nevertheless, its wheelbase and width are the same as those of the Swift built for India. The model sold in our nation is up to 35 mm longer than the UK-spec model.

Available Powertrain

The new 1.2-liter 3-cylinder Z series petrol engine, which is seen on the Japan-spec hatchback, is available for the Suzuki Swift in the UK. It produces a bit more torque but the same amount of power as the Japan-spec variant. Customers in these two markets can choose between a manual and automatic 12V mild hybrid system for the new hatchback. Suzuki will continue to provide the UK-spec Swift with an all-wheel drive (AWD) option, just as the Japan-spec vehicle.

They anticipate that the new Swift will stay with the 2WD layout and have the same selection of gearbox options when it arrives in India.

Highlights of the Features

The new UK-spec Swift shares many features with the Japanese hatchback, including a revised cabin. A 9-inch touchscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels, auto air conditioning, LED headlights, electrically movable ORVMs, and linked automotive technology will all be included. Its safety net consists of several advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control.

Price And Anticipated India Release

Prices for the 2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift are anticipated to begin at Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom) when it is introduced in India in April. It will resume its fight with the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and serve as a substitute for the Renault Triber, a sub-4 million crossover MPV.

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Business

The much-anticipated Altroz Racer, which was displayed at the Auto Expo 2023, is about to be released by Tata. The market debut of this version, which promises to provide performance enthusiasts with an intriguing option, is set for next month.

Launch Specifics:

The second week of April is when Altroz Racer is expected to launch in India. Its expected price range of Rs 11 lakh to Rs 14 lakh places it squarely against the Hyundai i20 N Line, the sole performance-focused hatchback in this class. It is anticipated that Altroz Racer will take the place of the venerable Volkswagen Polo. Tata Motors wants to appeal to consumers searching for a sporty, affordable car that is also enjoyable to drive by offering this hatchback.

Design of the Tata Altroz Racer:

The Altroz Racer has noticeable improvements for a sportier look while keeping the recognizable design of the basic model. Its bold and aggressive appearance is enhanced by additions like an expanded spoiler, blacked-out alloy wheels, and a black bonnet with white racing stripes. The purpose of these modifications is to make the car appear more athletic.

Specifics:

Under the hood, the Altroz Racer’s powerful 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine—a feature carried over from the larger Nexon—is what makes it stand out. Offering 118 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque, this engine delivers a thrilling ride.

The manual transmission will be especially appreciated by enthusiasts, demonstrating Tata’s commitment to providing an exciting driving experience. In addition to the new engine choice, the Altroz Racer is anticipated to come with a suspension system tailored for performance and redesigned steering dynamics for improved handling. Expect an enhanced braking system as well.

Tata Altroz Racer: Features & Interior:

Tata has employed an all-black design with red accents to create a sporty atmosphere within the interior. The dynamic appeal is enhanced by design elements like the orange highlights surrounding the AC vents and the white and orange stripes on the seats.

A 10-inch floating infotainment system, heated front seats, six airbags, wireless charging, and an upgraded instrument cluster are just a few of the features that the Altroz Racer is expected to include. It will also keep the sunroof, 90-degree door opening, and Harman sound system that come with the basic Altroz.

Security

Passenger safety is the top priority for the Tata Altroz, and the Racer model will be no exception. The Global NCAP rating for the regular Altroz was five stars. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) for improved control during emergency braking, dual front airbags, and reverse parking sensors to help with navigating in tight parking situations are standard safety equipment.

Car aficionados are anxiously anticipating the arrival of Tata’s Altroz Racer and are building up to its launch. With its aggressive styling, strong engine, and upgraded equipment, the Altroz Racer seeks to upend the hatchback market. It will be interesting to see if Tata Motors releases comparable models of their other vehicles, such the Harrier to take on Creta N Line and the Nexon to take on Venue N Line.

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Business

The massive Chinese automaker XPeng has revealed that it has received design certification for its next flying vehicle. Aero HT, the company’s eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) division, is getting closer to starting flying cars for hire in China. With the codename X3-F, the forthcoming air module vehicle is now one step closer to being certified for flight and being delivered to customers.

At the company’s annual 1024 event last year, XPeng unveiled two new flying car concepts: the X3 and a modular EV that had the capacity to carry a separate eVTOL in its rear. The X3 was capable of autonomous driving, parking, and takeoff, having gained extensive knowledge from the company’s previous X2 “flying car.” Currently under development, the modular electric vehicle is expected to enter manufacturing in 2025, ahead of customer deliveries in China.

The new modular eVTOL from AeroHT will be able to navigate both the skies and the roads at the same time. The business claims that this is now “one step closer” to being accomplished with its modular flying automobile. The Civil Aviation Administration of Central and Southern China (CAAC) has accepted the Type Certificate application for the X3-F EV/eVTOL combination.

The eVTOL air module element of the future product, which consists of a 6×6 All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) ground modular for the EV, is expressly covered by the certification. XPeng AeroHT reports that the company is eager to pursue airworthiness certification now that it has obtained the design certification from CAAC.

Following approval, AeroHT will be allowed to start producing the modular eVTOL on a larger scale, with customer deliveries anticipated to start in late 2025.

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Lifestyle

Working with a psychiatrist from Brown University, a group of community health professionals at the Boston University School of Public Health has discovered evidence that suggests employees with more flexible and secure work schedules generally have better mental health.

The team polled almost 18,000 working Americans for their study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, in order to find out more about their occupations and mental health.

As businesses and white-collar workers have negotiated return-to-work policies following the epidemic during the past few years, mental health specialists have taken advantage of the chance to gain further insight into job satisfaction.

The purpose of this new study was to investigate the effects of job stability and flexibility on employees’ overall well-being, with a focus on their mental health.

In order to get more information, scientists asked employed Americans a series of questions about their degree of flexibility and job security in addition to routine mental health questionnaires that numbered in the thousands.

The researchers’ definition of flexibility for their study was the capacity to modify one’s own work schedule to accommodate demands from personal life, such planning a vacation or taking time off while ill. Employer-made schedule modifications were also included. Conversely, job security quantified an employee’s level of assurance that their position would be stable in the near future.

The researchers discovered that there was a 26% reduction in the likelihood of psychological stress among those who reported having more flexible jobs. In addition, they had a 13% lower chance of experiencing anxiety on a daily basis, an 11% lower chance of experiencing anxiety on a weekly basis, and a 9% lower chance of experiencing anxiety on multiple occasions annually.

The study team also discovered that those with strong job stability had a 25% lower risk of psychological stress and a 25% lower risk of anxiety, either on a weekly or long-term basis.

Additionally, the researchers discovered that increased job stability and flexibility decreased absenteeism and made it more comfortable for employees to take sick days.

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Uncategorized

Vivo has previously released the X Fold, X Fold Plus, and X Fold2, making the X Fold3 Pro the company’s first foldable under the “Pro” name. In addition, the business unveiled the X Fold3 today in China. To put it briefly, the X Fold3 Pro is heavier and thicker than the X Fold3, which is currently the biggest foldable available.

In particular, the X Fold3 Pro weighs 236 g and has dimensions of 159.96 x 72.55~142.4 x 5.2~11.2 mm. The X Fold3 Pro weighs an extra 17 grams partly because of its dual 2,850 mAh batteries, which have a combined capacity of 5,700 mAh. It should be noted that the X Fold3 Pro offers 50 W wireless charging, 100 W wired charging (a 20 W reduction from the X Fold2). In comparison, the X Fold3 has no wireless charging capabilities and can only charge with a cable of 80 W.

Additionally, the 64 MP “Zeiss super telephoto” camera with 3x optical zoom and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor replace the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 50 MP portrait camera seen in the X Fold3 Pro. As a point of comparison, the latter enables up to 100x digital zoom on the X Fold3 Pro.

The X Fold3 Pro looks to include the same dual 32 MP front-facing cameras, 50 MP ultra-wide-angle, and 50 MP primary cameras as the standard X Fold3, albeit the primary camera’s aperture is wider at f/1.68 than it is at f/1.75.

Furthermore, the X Fold3 Pro has the same 2,480 x 2,200 and 2,748 x 1,172 pixel AMOLED screens that are 8.03 inches and 6.53 inches across, respectively, as the X Fold3. Similar to the X Fold3, the X Fold3 Pro is available in Light Feather White and Thin Wing Black color variants.

It is hardly surprise that the X Fold3 Pro costs more than its sister because of upgrades to its CPU, battery, and camera. Although Vivo has not yet disclosed the price for the international market, the gadget with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB or 1 TB of storage costs CNY 9,999 (about $1,385) or CNY 10,999 (about $1,524) in China. Put otherwise, the price of the X Fold3 Pro is far lower than what pre-release leaks had indicated.

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Business

The much-anticipated Altroz Racer, which was displayed at the Auto Expo 2023, is about to be released by Tata. The market debut of this version, which promises to provide performance enthusiasts with an intriguing option, is set for next month. Let’s discuss this next hot hatch’s specifics.

Launch Specifics:

The second week of April is when Altroz Racer is expected to launch in India. Its expected price range of Rs 11 lakh to Rs 14 lakh places it squarely against the Hyundai i20 N Line, the sole performance-focused hatchback in this class. It is anticipated that Altroz Racer will take the place of the venerable Volkswagen Polo. Tata Motors wants to appeal to consumers searching for a sporty, affordable car that is also enjoyable to drive by offering this hatchback.

Design of the Tata Altroz Racer:

The Altroz Racer has noticeable improvements for a sportier look while keeping the recognizable design of the basic model. Its bold and aggressive appearance is enhanced by additions like an expanded spoiler, blacked-out alloy wheels, and a black bonnet with white racing stripes. The purpose of these modifications is to make the car appear more athletic.

Specifics:

Under the hood, the Altroz Racer’s powerful 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine—a feature carried over from the larger Nexon—is what makes it stand out. Offering 118 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque, this engine delivers a thrilling ride.

The manual transmission will be especially appreciated by enthusiasts, demonstrating Tata’s commitment to providing an exciting driving experience. In addition to the new engine choice, the Altroz Racer is anticipated to come with a suspension system tailored for performance and redesigned steering dynamics for improved handling. Expect an enhanced braking system as well.

Tata Altroz Racer: Features & Interior:

Tata has employed an all-black design with red accents to create a sporty atmosphere within the interior. The dynamic appeal is enhanced by design elements like the orange highlights surrounding the AC vents and the white and orange stripes on the seats.

A 10-inch floating infotainment system, heated front seats, six airbags, wireless charging, and an upgraded instrument cluster are just a few of the features that the Altroz Racer is expected to include. It will also keep the sunroof, 90-degree door opening, and Harman sound system that come with the basic Altroz.

safety

Passenger safety is the top priority for the Tata Altroz, and the Racer model will be no exception. The Global NCAP rating for the regular Altroz was five stars. Dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) for improved control during emergency braking, and reverse parking sensors to help with navigating in tight parking situations are standard safety equipment.

Car aficionados are anxiously anticipating the arrival of Tata’s Altroz Racer and are building up to its launch. With its aggressive styling, strong engine, and upgraded equipment, the Altroz Racer seeks to upend the hatchback market. It will be interesting to see if Tata Motors releases comparable models of their other vehicles, such the Harrier to take on Creta N Line and the Nexon to take on Venue N Line.

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