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Apr 18, 2023

Extrachromosomal DNA detection in Barrett’s esophagus linked to cancer development

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

A multi-institution study that included researchers from Stanford University, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Cambridge, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and others has looked into the development of extrachromosomal DNA in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma or Barrett’s esophagus.

In the paper, “Extrachromosomal DNA in the cancerous transformation of Barrett’s oesophagus,” published in Nature, researchers identify previously unknown aspects of extrachromosomal DNA presence and their potential role in Barrett’s esophagus. David H. Wang has published a News & Views piece in the same journal discussing the study.

Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-cancerous tissue abnormality that affects about 1.6% of the U.S. population. The condition is mostly harmless, defined by cells in the esophagus lining that become more intestinal-like and is frequently associated with heartburn and acid regurgitation.

Apr 18, 2023

Stop Treating AI Models Like People

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

No, they haven’t decided to teach themselves anything, they don’t love you back, and they still aren’t even a little bit sentient.

Apr 18, 2023

Solar-plus-storage is key to future-proofing the energy supply

Posted by in categories: futurism, security

The ‘power couple’ of solar-plus-storage, facilitated by AIoT, will be vital to safeguarding countries’ energy security and reducing geopolitical risks.

Apr 18, 2023

Lactobacillus probiotics improve vaginal health in asymptomatic women

Posted by in category: health

This study investigated the effect of administering Lactobacillus probiotics (LBPs) on vaginal dysbiosis in asymptomatic women. The results showed that oral intake of LBPs improved vaginal health in women with high Nugent scores.

Apr 18, 2023

A new breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease research: Visualizing reactive astrocyte-neuron interaction

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Recently, a team of South Korean scientists led by Director C. Justin Lee of the Center for Cognition and Sociality within the Institute for Basic Science made a discovery that could revolutionize both the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. The group demonstrated a mechanism where the astrocytes in the brain uptake elevated levels of acetates, which turns them into hazardous reactive astrocytes. They then went on to further develop a new imaging technique that takes advantage of this mechanism to directly observe the astrocyte-neuron interactions.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the major causes of dementia, is known to be associated with neuroinflammation in the brain. While traditional neuroscience has long believed that amyloid beta plaques are the cause, treatments that target these plaques have had little success in treating or slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

On the other hand, Director C. Justin Lee has been a proponent of a novel theory that reactive astrocytes are the real culprit behind Alzheimer’s disease. Reactive astrogliosis, a hallmark of neuroinflammation in AD, often precedes neuronal degeneration or death.

Apr 18, 2023

Schizophrenia: Network disruptions in the brain may be a factor

Posted by in category: neuroscience

In the brains of people without schizophrenia, concepts are organized into specific semantic domains and are globally connected, enabling coherent thought and speech.

In contrast, the researchers reported that the semantic networks of people with schizophrenia were disorganized and randomized. These impairments in semantics and associations contribute to delusion and incoherent speech.

Apr 18, 2023

America’s Space Systems Should Be Officially Prioritized As ‘Critical’ U.S. Infrastructure

Posted by in category: security

U.S. needs NASA to play new role in overseeing protection of America’s national security, civil, and commercial space systems, says paper.

Apr 18, 2023

Scientists Discovered a New Circuit Element: a ‘Meminductor’

Posted by in category: futurism

Even after 200 years, circuits are still blowing our minds.

Apr 17, 2023

Research provides new insight into quantum effects in lithium sulfur batteries

Posted by in categories: computing, mobile phones, quantum physics, sustainability

Lithium-ion batteries power our lives.

Because they are lightweight, have and are rechargeable, the batteries power many products, from laptops and cell phones to electric cars and toothbrushes.

However, current have reached the limit of how much energy they can store. That has researchers looking for more powerful and cheaper alternatives.

Apr 17, 2023

Team designs four-legged robotic system that can walk a balance beam

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute (RI) have designed a system that makes an off-the-shelf quadruped robot nimble enough to walk a narrow balance beam—a feat that is likely the first of its kind.

“This experiment was huge,” said Zachary Manchester, an assistant professor in the RI and head of the Robotic Exploration Lab. “I don’t think anyone has ever successfully done balance beam walking with a before.”

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