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Pineal gland senescence: an emerging ageing-related pathology?

An ageing-related pathology has recently been described as one that develops and/or progresses with increasing chronological age, that is associated with, or contributes to, functional decline and that is evidenced by studies in humans. The pineal gland is a photo-neuroendocrine organ whose primary function is to produce and secrete melatonin in response to light-dark cycle environmental cues. The gland may undergo ageing-related structural and morphological changes, including calcification, gliosis, cyst formation, and reduced density of β-adrenergic receptors, which are hypothesised to reduce melatonin secretion.

Pressing pause: A small genetic stop may have helped complex life evolve

Humans have it. So does Drosophila. But not yeast. That “it” is a small pause at the start of gene activity—a brief molecular halt that may have helped life evolve from simple cells to complex animals.

A new study by Charles Danko, associate professor in life science and technology at Cornell’s Baker Institute for Animal Health and in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and colleagues explores how this key step in gene regulation—promoter-proximal pausing—evolved across species.

Promoter-proximal pausing occurs just after a cell’s molecular “copy machine”– RNA polymerase II—is activated. The polymerase temporarily stops, usually after about 20 to 60 nucleotides or “letters” of the gene, waiting for further signals.

Invisible heat insulators

Researchers in Science have developed a clear, high-insulating material they say could be used to produce ultra-efficient windows and thus reduce the energy use of buildings dramatically worldwide.

Learn more in a new Science Perspective.

A nanotube network with precisely engineered pores could replace insulating components in windows.

Longnan Li and Wei Li Authors Info & Affiliations

Science

Vol 390, Issue 6778

Continue reading “Invisible heat insulators” | >

How the nervous system activates repair after spinal cord injury

Through in vivo enhancer screening, the researchers also demonstrate that injury-responsive enhancers can selectively target reactive astrocytes across the CNS using therapeutically relevant gene delivery vectors.

“We have shown how cells read these instructions through a code that tells them how to react to injury. This code combines signals from general stress factors with the cell’s own identity,” explains the researcher.

After a spinal cord injury, cells in the brain and spinal cord change to cope with stress and repair tissue. A new study published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that this response is controlled by specific DNA sequences. This knowledge could help develop more targeted treatments.

When the central nervous system is damaged – for example, in a spinal cord injury – many cells become reactive. This means they change their function and activate genes that protect and repair tissue. However, how this process is regulated has long been unclear.

Researchers have now mapped thousands of so-called enhancers; small DNA sequences that act like ‘switches’ for genes, turning them on or boosting their activity.

Functions in Hyperspace

Functions describe the world. Join me on a tour of hyperspace, and see the many strange creatures that live there. They are just functions with lots of inputs and outputs. They are parametric surfaces that take inputs u and v, and output spatial x, y, z coordinates, and r, g, b, a color outputs. This produces a colored 3D surface. Then you can add additional inputs and visualize a single slice of each input parameter, and slide through different parameter values to see different slices of the function over time. This causes the colored surface to evolve over time.
I take my time to build up the mathematical intuitions behind visualizing functions, starting with 1-in-1-out functions, and pushing it up to 7-in-7-out functions, and beyond.

Enter Hyperspace: https://evolvecode.io/hyperspace/inde… Code: https://github.com/MaxRobinsonTheGrea… Discord: / discord ~SUPPORT ME~ Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?via=EmergentGarden Patreon: / emergentgarden Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/emergentgarden Twitter: / max_romana Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emergentgard… ~SOURCES~ Functions Describe the World: • On Mathematical Maturity Thomas Garrity Hyperspace animation: • Blender Hyperspace Jump Shell Surfaces: https://www.geogebra.org/m/twfwsxb9 Music: / @acolyte-compositions Most come from this new album: • Stellar Nurseries (Full Album) AI Disclaimer: I used AI code tools for the website and animations. No AI video, images, script, voice, or music were used. ~TIMESTAMPS~ (0:00) Functions in Hyperspace (2:47) Visualizing Functions (5:37) Parametric Surfaces (10:01) Slices of Slices (14:55) More Parameters (18:28) Exploring the Zoo.
Source Code: https://github.com/MaxRobinsonTheGrea…
Discord: / discord.

~SUPPORT ME~
Scrimba: https://scrimba.com/?via=EmergentGarden.
Patreon: / emergentgarden.
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/emergentgarden.
Twitter: / max_romana.
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emergentgard…

~SOURCES~
Functions Describe the World: • On Mathematical Maturity Thomas Garrity.
Hyperspace animation: • Blender Hyperspace Jump.
Shell Surfaces: https://www.geogebra.org/m/twfwsxb9

Music: / @acolyte-compositions.
Most come from this new album: • Stellar Nurseries (Full Album)

AI Disclaimer:

Continue reading “Functions in Hyperspace” | >

Consciousness breaks from the physical world by keeping the past alive

Conscious experiences of change, from seeing a bird take flight to listening to a melody, cannot be broken down into ever smaller units of experience. They must inhabit what William James called the “specious present,” a sliding window of time where the immediate past and present overlap. Philosopher Lyu Zhou argues that this exposes a deep rift between mind and matter. When the physical world undergoes change, it does so through succession – one physical state replaces another, and the past is gone – whereas consciousness requires the active retention of the past inside the present, revealing its fundamentally non-physical nature.

1. Consciousness, change and time

You are now conscious as you read this article. Is your consciousness physical? Many today think it is. They claim that it either is a physical system made of matter – most likely the neural network of your brain – or is realized by matter through a physical process, most likely by your brain through a neural biochemical process. However, I hope to convince you that this view is wrong. I hope to show you that your immediate present consciousness has certain features that physical systems and processes cannot have.

A jolt to the system: Biophysicists uncover new electrical transmission in cells

Many biological processes are regulated by electricity—from nerve impulses to heartbeats to the movement of molecules in and out of cells.

A study by Scripps Research scientists reveals a previously unknown potential regulator of this bioelectricity: droplet-like structures called condensates. Condensates are better known for their role in compartmentalizing the cell, but this study shows they can also act as tiny biological batteries that charge the cell membrane from within.

The team showed that when electrically charged condensates collide with cell membranes, they change the cell membrane’s voltage—which influences the amount of electrical charge flowing across the membrane—at the point of contact.

We 3D Printed a Brain

Join us on this fascinating journey as we delve into the world of 3D printing and bring a brain to life. From designing the complex neural networks to layer by layer printing, we’ll take you through the entire process of creating a realistic brain replica using cutting-edge 3D printing technology. Witness the intricate details and textures that make this brain model a true marvel of modern innovation. Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a 3D printing aficionado, or simply curious about the possibilities of additive manufacturing, this video is sure to leave you amazed and inspired. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to explore the incredible world of 3D printing.

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