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Most neurons in the human brain are generated from neural stem cells during embryonic development. After birth, a small reservoir of stem cells remains in the brain that keeps on producing new neurons throughout life. However, the question arises as to whether these new neurons really support brain function? And if so, can we improve brain capacity by increasing the number of neurons? The research group of Prof. Federico Calegari at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) of TU Dresden has answered these questions, now published in the EMBO Journal.

In their latest study, the scientists analysed healthy adult mice in which the small reservoir of stem cells was manipulated in order to increase in number. As a result, the number of neurons, generated from these stem cells, also increased. In mice, these neurons mainly populate the brain area responsible for interpreting odours. In fact, olfaction is one to the most powerful senses in mice, fundamental for finding food and escape from predators. As powerful as the sense of smell naturally is in mice, in the following behavioural experiments the scientists found that mice with more neurons were able to distinguish extremely similar odours that normal mice failed to. Hence, this study is fundamental in proving that stem cells can be used to improve brain function.

“Evolution gave mice an extremely sensitive olfactory system. It is amazing that by adding few neurons we could improve something that seemed already close to perfection,” states Prof. Federico Calegari. “This study sets the basis for our research, which now is focused on finding out whether we could apply our strategy as a therapeutic approach in neurodegenerative models.”

The most powerful Exascale Supercomputer is going to release in 2021 and will feature a total of 64 Exaflops. More than 6 times as much, as the Leonardo Supercomputer that’s also set to release this year.
This is accomplished with the help of a new type of processor technology from Tachyum that’s called “Prodigy” and is described as the first Universal Processor.

This new processor is set to enable General Artificial Intelligence at the speed of the human brain in real-time. It’s many times faster than the fastest intel xeon, nvidia graphics card or apple silicon. This new super-computer will enable previously-thought impossible simulations of the brain, medicine and more.

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This can help engineer microbiome-based therapies in the future.

Researchers at Standford University have built from scratch the most complex and well-defined synthetic microbiome that will help us better understand the connections between the microbiome and human health, a university press release said.

The microbiome is a community of microorganisms that are found to cohabit in a given environment. The human gut has its own set of microorganisms that are markedly different from those on the skin.


The microbial community of over 100 bacterial species could help scientists learn more about the connections between the microbiome and human health.

Standford.

The microbiome is a community of microorganisms that are found to cohabit in a given environment. The human gut has its own set of microorganisms that are markedly different from those on the skin. Over the years, the study of the human gut microbiome has attracted interest after researchers have found it to play a role in neural development as well as response to immunotherapies when treating cancer.

Air pollution may explain why non-smokers have been vulnerable to lung cancer, according to scientists’ findings presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Paris last weekend.

London-based Francis Crick Institute facilitated a study that found car fumes contain fine particulates, also known as PM2.5, with the capacity to awaken dormant lung cell mutations. These particulates can tip the cells into a cancerous state.

Francis Crick Institute Professor Charles Swanton, who presented the findings at the conference and led the study, said that although lung cancer is less likely to occur from air pollution rather than from smoking, patients have no control over the air they breathe.

Sept. 12 (UPI) — More than six in 10 patients with an advanced stage of a common type of skin cancer saw their tumors nearly or completely disappear when treated with immunotherapy before surgery — results likely to change how physicians target these cancers.

That’s according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, which reported the findings Monday at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022 in Paris.

Each year, about 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and resultant tumors may affect the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.

Lassa fever is like ebola and there is an outbreak in Nigeria. It is transmissible through inhalation.


The death of a patient in the UK suffering from Lassa fever has heightened concern around the illness after a third case was reported.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was contacting individuals who had been in close contact with the infected patients after the death was confirmed last week.

Commenting on the recent cases detected in the UK, which were linked to travel to west Africa, Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at UKHSA, said: Cases of Lassa fever are rare in the UK and it does not spread easily between people.