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Nov 18, 2019

Life-long epigenetic programming of cortical architecture

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, evolution, food, genetics, life extension, neuroscience

The evolution of human diets led to preferences toward polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content with ‘Western’ diets enriched in ω-6 PUFAs. Mounting evidence points to ω-6 PUFA excess limiting metabolic and cognitive processes that define longevity in humans. When chosen during pregnancy, ω-6 PUFA-enriched ‘Western’ diets can reprogram maternal bodily metabolism with maternal nutrient supply precipitating the body-wide imprinting of molecular and cellular adaptations at the level of long-range intercellular signaling networks in the unborn fetus. Even though unfavorable neurological outcomes are amongst the most common complications of intrauterine ω-6 PUFA excess, cellular underpinnings of life-long modifications to brain architecture remain unknown. Here, we show that nutritional ω-6 PUFA-derived endocannabinoids desensitize CB1 cannabinoid receptors, thus inducing epigenetic repression of transcriptional regulatory networks controlling neuronal differentiation. We found that cortical neurons lose their positional identity and axonal selectivity when mouse fetuses are exposed to excess ω-6 PUFAs in utero. Conversion of ω-6 PUFAs into endocannabinoids disrupted the temporal precision of signaling at neuronal CB1 cannabinoid receptors, chiefly deregulating Stat3-dependent transcriptional cascades otherwise required to execute neuronal differentiation programs. Global proteomics identified the immunoglobulin family of cell adhesion molecules (IgCAMs) as direct substrates, with DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility profiling uncovering epigenetic reprogramming at 1400 sites in neurons after prolonged cannabinoid exposure. We found anxiety and depression-like behavioral traits to manifest in adult offspring, which is consistent with genetic models of reduced IgCAM expression, to suggest causality for cortical wiring defects. Overall, our data uncover a regulatory mechanism whose disruption by maternal food choices could limit an offspring’s brain function for life.


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  • Published: 18 November 2019
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Nov 18, 2019

Study Finds Limited Benefits of Stent Use for Millions With Heart Disease

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health

PHILADELPHIA—Stents and coronary artery bypass surgery are no more effective than intensive drug treatment and better health habits in preventing millions of Americans from heart attacks and death, a large study found, shedding new light on a major controversy in cardiology.

Researchers and doctors have fiercely debated for years how best to treat people who have narrowed coronary arteries but aren’t suffering acute symptoms.

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  • Nov 18, 2019

    To Live Longer, Start Running Now, Even Just A Little Bit

    Posted by in category: health

    It may be possible to out-run death, at least for a little while, according to a recent study.

    An international team of researchers analyzed data from 14 previous studies involving a total of 232,149 people who had their health tracked by scientists for at least five years and as long as 35 years. They found that, of the 25,951 individuals who died during this period, those who ran were correlated with a 27 percent lower risk of death than those who didn’t run at all.

    The association was found among both men and women and even when a person went for just one slow jog a week or even less.

    Nov 18, 2019

    U.S. Space Command eager to hand over space traffic duties to Commerce Department

    Posted by in categories: military, satellites

    WASHINGTON — Military space operators at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, are working with the Department of Commerce to help ease the transfer of space traffic management responsibilities, Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting said Nov. 15.

    “We’re eager for that to happen,” Whiting said at a Mitchell Institute event on Capitol Hill.

    Whiting is the commander of the 14th Air Force and the Combined Force Space Component Command under U.S. Space Command. He oversees the two major organizations — the Combined Space Operations Center and the 18th Space Control Squadron — that help to maintain a catalog of space objects and notify satellite operators around the world when other satellites or debris threaten to collide with spacecraft.

    Nov 18, 2019

    Grub granola? How we’ll all be eating insect-based foods in a decade

    Posted by in categories: food, sustainability

    Insect farming is a small – but growing – industry globally, with bugs touted as a sustainable and cheap food that is high in protein, vitamins, fibre and minerals. Their cultivation, meanwhile, has much less environmental impact than meat.


    With predictions that the insect market could grow significantly, it is not just scientists cooking up ways to put bugs on the menu but also some of the world’s largest food and agricultural companies.

    Nov 17, 2019

    New Material Breaks World Record Turning Heat into Electricity

    Posted by in category: materials

    An der TU Wien wurde ein neuartiges Material entwickelt, das aus Temperaturunterschieden sehr effizient elektrischen Strom erzeugt.

    Nov 17, 2019

    I Lived To Tell About It | War & Pierce | Playing For Change | Live Outside

    Posted by in categories: education, energy, media & arts

    We are proud to share with you a new video featuring our friends War & Pierce performing their original song, “I Lived To Tell About It,” live outside in Los Angeles. Turn it up and remember we are stronger than any obstacle or challenge we may face. Together, we will persevere in love and peace.

    Hear more and connect with War & Pierce:
    www.warandpierce.com
    https://www.facebook.com/warandpierce

    https://www.instagram.com/warandpierce/

    Continue reading “I Lived To Tell About It | War & Pierce | Playing For Change | Live Outside” »

    Nov 17, 2019

    DNA Just One of More Than 1 Million Possible ‘Genetic Molecules,’ Scientists Find

    Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, genetics

    Scientists used a computer program to uncover more than 1 million molecules that could potentially store genetic information, just like DNA.

    Nov 17, 2019

    Deep Learning and Self-Driving Cars from MIT: Lectures 01–05

    Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, transportation

    It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or new to machine learning or advanced researcher in the field of deep learning methods and their application, everybody can benefit from Lex Fridman’s course on Deep Learning for Self-Driving Cars.

    Nov 17, 2019

    New Body Structure Might Explain How Cancer Spreads

    Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

    It seems incredible that scientists have discovered a new human organ. I mean, they cut people open right and left (living and dead). How could they miss anything?

    Well, they did. A new organ has been identified. Actually, two. Plus a new “structure” that is not quite an organ.

    First, the “structure”: In 2017, an elaborate system of drainage vessels was seen in the brain for the first time. Until then their existence was suspected, but not certain.