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For the first time, scientists have begun to figure out why the disfiguring skin lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis don’t hurt.

Researchers analyzed leishmaniasis lesions on mouse skin to detect metabolic signaling pathways that differed from uninfected mice. Results suggested the parasites that cause the disease change pain perception—presumably as a way to delay treatment and promote their own survival.

“No one knows why these lesions are painless—but it has been thought that the parasite somehow manipulates the host physiological system,” said Abhay Satoskar, senior author of the study and professor of pathology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

The Spookiest Ideas in the Universe with Isaac Arthur.

Isaac Arthur links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFipeZtQM5CKUjx6grh54g.
https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur.

Continue reading “The Most Unsettling Science and Science Fiction Ideas with Isaac Arthur” »

Introduction to spatial genomics The power of single-cell resolution Mapping the blueprint of health Case study: Bio-Techne Challenges and future prospects References Further reading

Spatial genomics is a cutting-edge field that combines genomics and spatial analysis to investigate the role of genomic features in disease at single-cell resolution.

Spatial genomics is a field of study that focuses on analyzing the spatial organization of genomic features within intact tissues. It involves the simultaneous analysis of various molecular components, including genomic DNA and RNA, through transcriptomic analysis and epigenetic modifications within their spatial context. These techniques aim to reveal the spatial relationships between the different genomic elements and provide insights into the organization and function of single cells within tissues, enabling the molecular connection of a particular genotype to its phenotype.

Summary: In a rare sight that captivated local communities, SpaceX Superloads have been reported passing through Kansas. These massive transports are carrying essential components for SpaceX’s ambitious aerospace projects. The transit of such large cargos demonstrates the intricate logistics involved in the space industry and showcases the growing presence of aerospace innovation in the heartland of the United States.

Understanding SpaceX Superloads A “Superload” refers to a cargo that exceeds the standard size and weight limits for road transportation. In the context of SpaceX, these could be parts for their launch vehicles, such as Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rockets, or perhaps sections of the stainless steel Starship being developed for missions to Mars.

The Passage Through Kansas Reports have surfaced that residents along certain highways in Kansas have witnessed the procession of these massive SpaceX components. The journey necessitates meticulous planning and coordination with local authorities to manage road closures, traffic control, and sometimes even the removal of street signs or lights to facilitate passage.

Lean Co-pilot for LLM-human collaboration to write formal mathematical proofs that are 100% accurate.

Top right: LeanDojo extracts proofs in Lean into datasets for training machine learning models. It also enables the trained model to prove theorems by interacting with Lean’s proof environment.

Top left: The proof tree of a Lean theorem ∀n∈N, gcd n n = n, where gcd is the greatest common divisor. When proving the theorem, we start from the original theorem as the initial state (the root) and repeatedly apply tactics (the edges) to decompose states into simpler sub-states, until all states are solved (the leaf nodes). Tactics may rely on premises such as mod_self and gcd_zero_left defined in a large math library. E.g., mod_self is an existing theorem ∀n∈N, n % n = 0 used in the proof to simplify the goal.

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UCL and MSD have identified a potential treatment target for a genetic type of epilepsy.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are rare types of epilepsy that start in early childhood. One of the most common types of genetic epilepsy, CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), causes seizures and impaired development. Children are currently treated with generic antiepileptic drugs, as there aren’t yet any disease-targeting medications for this disorder.

CDD involves losing the function of a gene producing the CDKL5 enzyme, which phosphorylates proteins, meaning it adds an extra phosphate molecule to alter their function. Until now, researchers have not been sure how genetic mutations in CDKL5 cause CDD.

The eccentric pro-tech movement known as “Effective Accelerationism” wants to unshackle powerful A.I., and party along the way.

Spotify made a name for itself in the audio-streaming business through its hyper-personalized user experience, thanks to artificial intelligence and a team of 9,800 staffers at the end of 2022.

But after three rounds of layoffs in one year: 590 positions in January, 200 in June, and another 1,500 this week, Spotify’s investments into AI to boost margins for its podcasting and audiobook divisions look like a complete overhaul in strategy that Wall Street seems confident can work.

“Spotify is leveraging AI across its platform, launching AI DJ, simulating a traditional radio experience, in 50 additional markets and rolling out AI Voice Translation for podcasts,” said Justin Patterson, equity research analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets, in a research note. “Coupled with audiobooks rolling out to Premium Subscribers, we believe Spotify has several opportunities to drive engagement and eventually stronger monetization.”

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At the end of last year, we published a list of 10 predictions for the world of artificial intelligence in 2023.

Let’s revisit our 2023 predictions for AI to see how things actually played out.