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As adults live longer, demand for dental implants continues to grow. However, researchers at Kyoto University and the University of Fuki in Japan may be closer to finding a way to help adults continue to function with natural dentition.

According to the University of Fuki, scientists investigated the effects of monoclonal antibodies for USAG-1. Investigators focused on the USAG-1 gene that interacts with the two mechanisms responsible for tooth development — bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling. They found administering USAG-1-neutralizing antibodies affects BMP signaling only. The authors reports a single administration was enough to generate a whole tooth in mice and, in subsequent experiments, ferrets as well.

From Decisions in Dentistry. June 2021;7, 11.

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Circa 2014

Four women have had new vaginas grown in the laboratory and implanted by doctors in the US.

A tissue sample and a biodegradable scaffold were used to grow vaginas in the right size and shape for each woman as well as being a tissue match.

They all reported normal levels of “desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction” and painless intercourse.

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🤔Will someone PLEASE get this man a seat on the next REAL SpaceX trip to space as a passenger already!? 🙄🙏

You’ll have to wait ever-so-slightly longer to see Star Trek actor William Shatner head to space. Blue Origin has delayed Shatner’s launch aboard NS-18 by a day to October 13th at 9:30AM Eastern following predictions of strong winds in West Texas. The rough weather was the “only gating factor,” Blue Origin said in a statement, noting that the passengers began their training today (October 10th).

Shatner’s flight is a publicity grab on multiple levels. It’s no secret that Jeff Bezos’ outfit is eager to have Captain Kirk reach space, but Shatner will also be the oldest person to make such a journey at 90 years old. The previous record-setter, aviation legend Wally Funk, traveled aboard a Blue Origin flight at 82 years old. Other passengers include Blue Origin mission VP Audrey Powers and two corporate executives, Planet Labs’ Chris Boshuizen and Medidata’s Glen de Vries.

The timing isn’t great beyond the weather. The liftoff will come just weeks after an essay described a “toxic environment” at Blue Origin, including an alleged reluctance to deal with sexual harassment as well as poor attitudes toward safety, the environment and basic internal criticism. Shatner’s flight might create positive buzz, but it might also paper over issues within Blue Origin’s ranks.

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Would we act as naturally inside a spacecraft immobile in space as in the series?

Whenever I watch “The Expanse,” I pay attention to the physics. As the production is meticulous — if you notice the scenes where whiskey is served on the Moon this last season, you will see that the liquid falls according to lunar gravity’s acceleration — I always have some good surprises. Unfortunately, the series is taped on Earth, so some things would be too expensive to reproduce convincingly.

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As the medical community’s understanding of the application of augmented intelligence (AI) in health care grows, there remains the question of how AI—often called artificial intelligence—should be incorporated into physician training. The term augmented intelligence is preferred because it recognizes the enhancement, rather than replacement, of human capabilities.

Understanding how AI can affect patients may help learners appreciate its relevance, he noted, adding that the National Board of Medical Examiners exam now tests physicians-in-training on health systems science, and there are questions about health care AI specifically.

But AI doesn’t just relate to systems issues. It also has a home within evidence-based medicine (EBM).

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“Understandably, there have also been many who have been concerned about fitting new content into already overcrowded curricula,” Dr. James said. This can include figuring out who on the faculty will take on teaching new content.

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Imperial researchers have found that variability between brain cells might speed up learning and improve the performance of the brain and future artificial intelligence (AI).

The new study found that by tweaking the electrical properties of individual cells in simulations of brain networks, the networks learned faster than simulations with identical cells.

They also found that the networks needed fewer of the tweaked cells to get the same results and that the method is less energy-intensive than models with identical cells.

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The research is published in Nature Communications.

Why is a neuron like a snowflake?

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