This for many years ongoing religious persecution in China is terrible! The Communist Party of China has a very long rap sheet of crimes against humanity!
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Erdogan: Emulating Putin in Turkey?
Recommendable! The recent reelection of sultan Erdogan is shocking!
Ultrasound to the brain induces noninvasive and safe hibernation in mice – and maybe humans
Amazing stuff! It also allows for precise control of the depth and duration of ultrasound-induced hypothermia.
"... The team created an ultrasound emitter small enough to be mounted on the heads of mice as they went about their day. This could fire off 10-second pulses of ultrasound directed at the preoptic area of the hypothalamus, which instantly triggered symptoms of torpor in the animals. That includes a drop in body temperature by 3 to 3.5 °C (5.4 to 6.3 °F), as well as reduced heart rate and oxygen consumption. The animals woke up naturally after a few hours. ..."
"... In the rat, which does not naturally go into torpor or hibernation, the team delivered ultrasound to the hypothalamus preoptic area and found a decrease in skin temperature, particularly in the brown adipose tissue region, as well as about a 1 degree C drop in core body temperature, resembling natural torpor. ..."
From the abstract:
"Torpor is an energy-conserving state in which animals dramatically decrease their metabolic rate and body temperature to survive harsh environmental conditions. Here, we report the noninvasive, precise and safe induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by remote transcranial ultrasound stimulation at the hypothalamus preoptic area (POA). We achieve a long-lasting (>24 h) torpor-like state in mice via closed-loop feedback control of ultrasound stimulation with automated detection of body temperature. Ultrasound-induced hypothermia and hypometabolism (UIH) is triggered by activation of POA neurons, involves the dorsomedial hypothalamus as a downstream brain region and subsequent inhibition of thermogenic brown adipose tissue. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of POA neurons reveals TRPM2 as an ultrasound-sensitive ion channel, the knockdown of which suppresses UIH. We also demonstrate that UIH is feasible in a non-torpid animal, the rat. Our findings establish UIH as a promising technology for the noninvasive and safe induction of a torpor-like state."
Induction of a torpor-like state with ultrasound (primary news source) Chen’s team used ultrasound to safely, noninvasively induce a torpor-like state in mice, rats
Induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by ultrasound (open access)
Fig. 2: Ultrasound stimulation of POA induces hypothermia and hypometabolism.
WHO urges governments to stop subsidizing life-threatening tobacco crops. Really!
What arrogance! What paternalism! How much longer do we have to suffer this frequently terrible Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus!
"On World No Tobacco Day, WHO urges governments to stop subsidizing tobacco farming and support more sustainable crops that could feed millions.
“Tobacco is responsible for 8 million deaths a year, yet governments across the world spend millions supporting tobacco farms,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By choosing to grow food instead of tobacco, we prioritize health, preserve ecosystems, and strengthen food security for all.” ...
Tobacco farming causes diseases to the farmers themselves and more than 1 million child laborers are estimated to be working on tobacco farms [would these children not also work on food farms?], missing their opportunity for an education. ...
Tobacco growing is a global problem. The focus has so far been in Asia and South America, but the latest data show tobacco companies are expanding to Africa. Since 2005, there has been a nearly 20% increase in tobacco farming land across Africa. ..."
Tobacco farming causes diseases to the farmers themselves and more than 1 million child laborers are estimated to be working on tobacco farms [would these children not also work on food farms?], missing their opportunity for an education. ...
Tobacco growing is a global problem. The focus has so far been in Asia and South America, but the latest data show tobacco companies are expanding to Africa. Since 2005, there has been a nearly 20% increase in tobacco farming land across Africa. ..."
What’s Wrong and What’s Right With Debt Ceiling Deal
Recommendable! It seems to confirm that the Speaker of the House did not do a great job!
Yes, in a Western democracy political compromises about the government budget and debt are difficult to reach especially when their is no clear majority for any political party. However, unsustainable government spending profligacy can not continue like in the U.S.! Kicking the can down the road is not an option!
Niederländische Staranwältin in U-Haft: Hat sie der Mafia geholfen?
Wieweit geht die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Verteidiger und Angeklagtem? Ein immer wieder heißes Thema!
Beruht die kriminelle Zusammenarbeit auf freiwilliges, eventuell belohntes Wirken des Anwalts oder auf Zwang/Erpressung?
Man erinnere sich z.B. an die Baader-Meinhof Terroristen Prozesse in Deutschland der 1970er.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol Dips a Toe in the Taiwan Strait
Headline of the day! When will the Korean peninsula finally be reunited again?
"Despite their shared status as US-aligned democracies facing nominally communist invasion threats, South Korea has for decades kept Taiwan at arm’s length. But as second-year South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol moves his country even closer to the United States and adopts a wider Indo-Pacific approach than his predecessors, he has made forward-leaning remarks regarding Taiwan that have drawn the ire of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Yoon’s comments track with a South Korean public that has grown increasingly sympathetic toward the island and more sharply critical of Beijing. Beyond the rhetoric, however, do not expect Seoul to get directly involved in any potential Taiwan contingency. Nevertheless, the shift in attitude is a plus for Taiwan and indicative of South Korea’s evolving position in the region. ..."
Deutschlands Abstieg vom Musterknaben zum Sorgenkind der EU
Schlagzeile des Tages! Der Abstieg wurde von SED Kanzlerin Merkel voran gebracht und eingeleitet! Ihre einstmalige Gehilfin Von der Leyen leitet die EU!
Wann werden sich die deutschen Wähler wieder besinnen!
NVIDIA Announces new large-memory DGX GH200 AI Supercomputer
Awesome! Does anyone remember IBM anymore?
"NVIDIA ... announced a new class of large-memory AI supercomputer — an NVIDIA DGX™ supercomputer powered by NVIDIA® GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and the NVIDIA NVLink® Switch System — created to enable the development of giant, next-generation models for generative AI language applications, recommender systems and data analytics workloads. ..."
Multiple teens arrested in connection with savage assault on three US Marines in California. Really!
This event seems a bit mysterious! Caveat: I am not familiar with the details!
However, it does not look to good for the U.S. Marine Corps. Maybe these Marines were cooks or administrative staff.
These three U.S. Marines were not capable or willing of a serious defense against their juvenile attackers. No injured attackers were apparently reported. Don't Marines learn hand to hand combat etc.? I bet that had these three soldiers taken a martial arts defensive position and just knocked out a few of their attackers, the rest of this mob would have run away like cowards realizing they were dealing with professional combatants! Marines should know how to deal with punks!
Israel recognizes Energean's Katlan offshore gas discovery
Israel sure is one of the smallest producers of fossil fuels in the Middle East! 😊
"Minister of National Infrastructures Energy and Water Resources Israel Katz has awarded to Energean plc ... the approval ... of the license in Block 12 Katlan (Olympus) reservoir as a natural gas discovery. Katlan contains an estimated 68 BCM [Billion/Bank Cubic Meters?].
By law, this declaration now allows British-Greek energy company Energean to file a development plan, which when approved will enable it to begin developing the reservoir, which in several years will provide additional natural gas for the domestic market and perhaps even for export.
This is the first gas discovery recognized by the Israeli government since 2015. The Katlan/Olympus field is located between Energean's Karish and Tanin fields. ..."
Hält die Ampel-Regierung? Was für und was gegen einen Koalitionsbruch spricht
Interessante Gedankenspiele und Spekulationen, aber Lindner is kein Otto Graf Lambsdorff! Lindner ist mehr ein Lavierer!
These 2 master planned community construction projects balance responsible development and water in the Phoenix metro area
Let me guess it means the developer eliminated the swimming pool! (Just kidding! Pardon my facetiousness!)
ECO Mesa is an exceptionally sustainable, high-end development with 102 market rate units and 4,000 square feet of commercial space at street level.
Former U.S. Senator Biden aide Tara Reade Defects to Russia, who accused him in 2020 of sexual assault
That sounds very dramatic! However, it has been quite peculiar that this woman was not believed when she accused the then U.S. Senator Biden of sexual assault in 2020. We were not told by e.g. Me Too and mass media that we have to believe these accusations?
"... In March of 2020, Tara Reade claimed that then-senator Joe Biden sexually assaulted her while she served as an aide in his Senate offices during the Clinton administration. Shortly thereafter, she detailed her account in multiple interviews and filed a criminal complaint against the former vice president with the Washington, D.C., police department. ..."
Virginia eliminates degree requirements for most state jobs
Good news! Hopefully, other states have done so already or will follow!
Governor Youngkin could be a dark horse in the upcoming presidential election! Keep an eye on him! 😊
"Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced a change in state hiring practices that would eliminate requirements or preferences that applicants for most state positions have a college degree.
A press release from Youngkin indicated that the change will take effect on July 1 and affect roughly 90% of state positions. The Old Dominion's myriad agencies post as many as 20,000 job listings per year."
Tina Turner - Private Dancer (1986)
Enjoy! The lyrics of some of her songs are thought provoking and rather unusual!
Trump's silence on the debt deal is deafening!
It is extraordinarily strange that Donald Trump has not responded to the debt deal in public!
He usually comments on all sorts of other current hot topics! E.g. the birthright citizenship of children born to illegal immigrants.
It is a missed opportunity! DeSantis is far ahead of Trump in this regard! Which is even more bizarre!
United Conservative Party wins Alberta provincial election
Good news! The son of Pierre Trudeau needs a little countervailing power and push back on the Climate Change religion!
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Apple vs. Samsung’s Strategies to Move Manufacturing Away From China
Very recommendable! This is adding to China's economic woes!
‘Deletions’ from the human genome may be what made us human
Seems counter intuitive at first! We are distinctly human for what minute genetic sequences we lost in evolution!😊 Genetics is almost like a lottery you gain some, you loose some as time goes by. In the not so distant future, we will be able to take evolution into our own hands!
As I have written here before, I propose the sneezing gene to be deleted immediately. Sneezing is so annoying and occasionally contagious!
"What the human genome is lacking compared with the genomes of other primates might have been as crucial to the development of humankind as what has been added during our evolutionary history ...
In their study, the Yale team found that some genetic sequences found in the genomes of most other mammal species, from mice to whales, vanished in humans. But rather than disrupt human biology, they say, some of these deletions created new genetic encodings that eliminated elements that would normally turn genes off. ..."
In their study, the Yale team found that some genetic sequences found in the genomes of most other mammal species, from mice to whales, vanished in humans. But rather than disrupt human biology, they say, some of these deletions created new genetic encodings that eliminated elements that would normally turn genes off. ..."
From the abstract:
"INTRODUCTION
Deciphering the molecular and genetic changes that differentiate humans from our closest primate relatives is critical for understanding our origins. Although earlier studies have prioritized how newly gained genetic sequences or variations have contributed to evolutionary innovation, the role of sequence loss has been less appreciated. Alterations in evolutionary conserved regions that are enriched for biological function could be particularly more likely to have phenotypic effects. We thus sought to identify and characterize sequences that have been conserved across evolution, but are then surprisingly lost in all humans. These human-specific deletions in conserved regions (hCONDELs) may play an important role in uniquely human traits.
RATIONALE
Sequencing advancements have identified millions of genetic changes between chimpanzee and human genomes; however, the functional impacts of the ~1 to 5% difference between our species is largely unknown. hCONDELs are one class of these predominantly noncoding sequence changes. Although large hCONDELs (>1 kb) have been previously identified, the vast majority of all hCONDELs (95.7%) are small (<20 base pairs) and have not yet been functionally assessed. We adapted massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) to characterize the effects of thousands of these small hCONDELs and uncovered hundreds with functional effects. By understanding the effects of these hCONDELs, we can gain insight into the mechanistic patterns driving evolution in the human genome.
RESULTS
We identified 10,032 hCONDELs by examining conserved regions across diverse vertebrate genomes and overlapping with confidently annotated, human-specific fixed deletions. We found that these hCONDELs are enriched to delete conserved sequences originating from stem amniotes. Overlap with transcriptional, epigenomic, and phenotypic datasets all implicate neuronal and cognitive functional impacts. We characterized these hCONDELs using MPRA in six different human cell types, including induced pluripotent stem cell–derived neural progenitor cells. We found that 800 hCONDELs displayed species-specific regulatory effect effects. Although many hCONDELs perturb transcription factor–binding sites in active enhancers, we estimate that 30% create or improve binding sites, including activators and repressors.
Some hCONDELs exhibit molecular functions that affect core neurodevelopmental genes. One hCONDEL removes a single base in an active enhancer in the neurogenesis gene HDAC5, and another deletes six bases in an alternative promoter of PPP2CA, a gene that regulates neuronal signaling. We deeply characterized an hCONDEL in a putative regulatory element of LOXL2, a gene that controls neuronal differentiation. Using genome engineering to reintroduce the conserved chimpanzee sequence into human cells, we confirmed that the human deletion alters transcriptional output of LOXL2. Single-cell RNA sequencing of these cells uncovered a cascade of myelination and synaptic function–related transcriptional changes induced by the hCONDEL.
CONCLUSION
Our identification of hundreds of hCONDELs with functional impacts reveals new molecular changes that may have shaped our unique biological lineage. These hCONDELs display predicted functions in a variety of biological systems but are especially enriched for function in neuronal tissue. Many hCONDELs induced gains of regulatory activity, a surprising discovery given that deletions of conserved bases are commonly thought to abrogate function. Our work provides a paradigm for the characterization of nucleotide changes shaping species-specific biology across humans or other animals."
The functional and evolutionary impacts of human-specific deletions in conserved elements (no public access)
Human-specific deletions that remove nucleotides from regions highly conserved in other animals (hCONDELs).
New method improves accuracy of DNA sequencing 1000-fold to detect rare genetic mutations at moderate cost
Good news! This seems to be a major progress!
"... The method, called Concatenating Original Duplex for Error Correction (CODEC), makes next-generation sequencing about 1000 times more accurate and opens up the possibility of a range of applications including detecting tiny numbers of cancer mutations in blood samples, monitoring cancer during and after treatment, and identifying mutations underlying rare diseases, all at relatively low cost. ...
To overcome these limitations, CODEC uses a specially designed adapter sequence to link one strand of the double helix with the reverse complement of the second strand. The two new strands are then sequenced together using next-generation sequencing. This allows scientists to distinguish between sequencing-induced errors and mutations and generate highly accurate sequence data at low cost. ..."
To overcome these limitations, CODEC uses a specially designed adapter sequence to link one strand of the double helix with the reverse complement of the second strand. The two new strands are then sequenced together using next-generation sequencing. This allows scientists to distinguish between sequencing-induced errors and mutations and generate highly accurate sequence data at low cost. ..."
From the abstract:
"Detecting mutations from single DNA molecules is crucial in many fields but challenging. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) affords tremendous throughput but cannot directly sequence double-stranded DNA molecules (‘single duplexes’) to discern the true mutations on both strands. Here we present Concatenating Original Duplex for Error Correction (CODEC), which confers single duplex resolution to NGS. CODEC affords 1,000-fold higher accuracy than NGS, using up to 100-fold fewer reads than duplex sequencing. CODEC revealed mutation frequencies of 2.72 × 10−8 in sperm of a 39-year-old individual, and somatic mutations acquired with age in blood cells. CODEC detected genome-wide, clonal hematopoiesis mutations from single DNA molecules, single mutated duplexes from tumor genomes and liquid biopsies, microsatellite instability with 10-fold greater sensitivity and mutational signatures, and specific tumor mutations with up to 100-fold fewer reads. CODEC enables more precise genetic testing and reveals biologically significant mutations, which are commonly obscured by NGS errors."
Fig. 1: Overview of CODEC.
New research shows astrocytes are key to swaying the pendulum in Alzheimer's disease progression
Good news!
"... By testing the blood of more than 1,000 cognitively unimpaired elderly people with and without amyloid pathology, the Pitt-led research team found that only those who had a combination of amyloid burden and blood markers of abnormal astrocyte activation, or reactivity, would progress to symptomatic Alzheimer's in the future, a critical discovery for drug development aimed at halting progression. ...
Inclusion of astrocyte reactivity markers, such as GFAP, in the panel of diagnostic tests will allow for improved selection of patients who are likely to progress to later stages of Alzheimer's and, therefore, help fine-tune selection of candidates for therapeutic interventions who are more likely to benefit. ..."
Inclusion of astrocyte reactivity markers, such as GFAP, in the panel of diagnostic tests will allow for improved selection of patients who are likely to progress to later stages of Alzheimer's and, therefore, help fine-tune selection of candidates for therapeutic interventions who are more likely to benefit. ..."
From the abstract (this one is not easy to interpret):
"An unresolved question for the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology is why a significant percentage of amyloid-β (Aβ)-positive cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals do not develop detectable downstream tau pathology and, consequently, clinical deterioration. In vitro evidence suggests that reactive astrocytes unleash Aβ effects in pathological tau phosphorylation. Here, in a biomarker study across three cohorts (n = 1,016), we tested whether astrocyte reactivity modulates the association of Aβ with tau phosphorylation in CU individuals. We found that Aβ was associated with increased plasma phosphorylated tau only in individuals positive for astrocyte reactivity (Ast+). Cross-sectional and longitudinal tau–positron emission tomography analyses revealed an AD-like pattern of tau tangle accumulation as a function of Aβ only in CU Ast+ individuals. Our findings suggest astrocyte reactivity as an important upstream event linking Aβ with initial tau pathology, which may have implications for the biological definition of preclinical AD and for selecting CU individuals for clinical trials."
Fig. 1: Astrocyte reactivity influences Aβ-dependent tau phosphorylation.
Der Deutsche, der aus Cola-Dosen die Bomben für ukrainische Drohnen baut
Schlagzeile des Tages! Viele Kriege bringen neue Waffen zum Einsatz! Tödlich, tödlicher, am tödlichsten!
"Es ist eines von Tausenden Videos vom Krieg in der Ukraine. Man sieht zwei russische Soldaten in einem Schützengraben, sie haben noch ein paar Sekunden zu leben. Die Drohne steht einhundert, vielleicht zweihundert Meter über ihnen, sie bemerken sie nicht. Dann löst sich ein Gegenstand, die Kamera beobachtet, wie er ins Ziel fällt. Als die Granate aufschlägt, steigt eine Staubwolke aus dem Graben auf. Nachdem sie verzogen ist, sind zwei Leiber auf dem Boden zu erkennen. Sie zucken im Todeskampf, ihre Helme helle Punkte auf dunkler Erde. ..."
What was the traditional response to biological males wanting to compete with women in sports?
These were called cowards and sissies or worse! How times have changed! But a reminder does not hurt since humans are so easily forgetful!
Now, you may want to call them cheap opportunists!
Driving Change: Lygo is Shifting Gears with a Women-Only Taxi Service in Mosul, Iraq
Good news! Transgender men may not apply as drivers! 😊
"... in the past few months, female-driven taxis have become a familiar sight, ferrying women to university in the morning, or collecting them from work in the afternoons, addressing a glaring gap in transport options for half the city’s population.
“It’s a revolutionary idea,” says Hesham, who recently launched Lygo, a new taxi service staffed by female drivers, which he hopes will transform travel and improve freedom of movement for women in Mosul. ..."
Privater Leihgeber hat die Rückgabe der Ludwig Erhard Büste from Bundeswirtschaftsminister verlangt!
Das ist nur ein sehr kleines, aber symbolisches und sehr bezeichnendes Vorkommnis in der Bananenrepublik D.!
Der Bundesvetternwirtschafts- und Klimawahnminister hat es nicht besser verdient!
Die einst freie Marktwirtschaft in D. wird schon seit vielen Jahren von praktisch allen Parteien mit Füssen getreten!
Marschflugkörper „Taurus“: Bunkerbrecher mit gewaltiger Sprengkraft | Ukraine-Krieg
Empfehlenswert! Vielleicht schaffen es die Ukrainer sogar so eine Taurus auf den Führerbunker von dem Kriegsverbrecher Putin dem Schrecklichen abzufeuern! Das könnte den Krieg erheblich verkürzen!
Monday, May 29, 2023
Österreich: Wir sind der Europameister der freien Tage
Klingt ja fast paradiesisch! 😊 Am anderen Ende liegt die Schweiz!
Schade, der weltweite Vergleich fehlt! Ich spekuliere mal das Österreich auch ganz weit oben im weltweiten Vergleich herauskommt.
Die Deutschen an drittletzter Position scheinen immer noch fleißig zu sein! Wer hätte das gedacht! 😊
London Metropolitan Police officers to ‘stop attending mental health incidents’ at the end of August
Bravo! This probably has happened way too often in Western countries (not only in London) over decades that police officers have to handle situations involving mentally ill patients.
It has been going on for a long time this serious abdication of responsibility by society at large to defer these situations to the police department!
"... The force’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has written to health and social care services to say police will no longer attend after August 31 unless there is a threat to life, according to The Guardian.
The move is designed to free up officers to spend more time on their core roles, rather than dealing with patients in need of medical help from experts.
A statement from the Met Police to The Guardian said: “Where there is an immediate threat to life, officers will continue to respond. ..."
Credits: The Spectator Evening Blend
Decades-Old Mystery of Red Blood Cell Production Finally Solved
Amazing stuff! This could be a breakthrough!
Remember famous professional road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong winning the Tour de France seven times? Perhaps, we can all get doped soon? 😊
"To get life-giving oxygen into every cell, the human body produces two to three million oxygen-carrying red blood cells, or erythrocytes, each second – about one-quarter of all the new cells that are produced in the body at any one time. This process is controlled by the hormone erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO, which works by binding to cells in the bone marrow that are poised to become erythrocytes, promoting their proliferation. Erythropoietin was discovered decades ago, but the identity of the cells that make this hormone remained unknown – until now.
In a new paper, ... scientists ... have identified a rare subset of kidney cells that are the main producers of EPO in the human body. The researchers named them Norn cells, after the mythological Norse creatures believed to spin the threads of fate. The discovery has transformative potential for patients with anemia....
EPO is probably most famous – or infamous – for its illegal use as a doping agent in sports, most notably by the cyclist Lance Armstrong, who took a synthetic version of the hormone to cheat his way to seven consecutive Tour de France wins. ..."
In a new paper, ... scientists ... have identified a rare subset of kidney cells that are the main producers of EPO in the human body. The researchers named them Norn cells, after the mythological Norse creatures believed to spin the threads of fate. The discovery has transformative potential for patients with anemia....
EPO is probably most famous – or infamous – for its illegal use as a doping agent in sports, most notably by the cyclist Lance Armstrong, who took a synthetic version of the hormone to cheat his way to seven consecutive Tour de France wins. ..."
From the abstract:
"Erythropoietin (Epo) is the master regulator of erythropoiesis and oxygen homeostasis. Despite its physiological importance, the molecular and genomic contexts of the cells responsible for renal Epo production remain unclear, limiting more-effective therapies for anemia. Here, we performed single-cell RNA and transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) sequencing of an Epo reporter mouse to molecularly identify Epo-producing cells under hypoxic conditions. Our data indicate that a distinct population of kidney stroma, which we term Norn cells, is the major source of endocrine Epo production in mice. We use these datasets to identify the markers, signaling pathways and transcriptional circuits characteristic of Norn cells. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and RNA in situ hybridization in human kidney tissues, we further provide evidence that this cell population is conserved in humans. These preliminary findings open new avenues to functionally dissect EPO gene regulation in health and disease and may serve as groundwork to improve erythropoiesis-stimulating therapies."
Kidney tissue of a person who died of smoke inhalation (carbon monoxide poisoning), viewed under a microscope. Markers reveal the kidney cell nuclei (blue), EPO (green) and fibroblasts (purple). On the right: The combination of different markers points to EPO-producing Norn cells (white arrows) that were discovered in the study
Where do non-binary, transgender, or gender dysphoric young children come from?
One of the signs of our times! The sex of our children has come into a special focus!
One possible short answer, but not the only one: From overzealous parents, who experiment on or even in some cases abuse their children. Oh look, our child is non-binary! So exciting!
The cult of LGBTQ at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century! It is like living in the medieval ages again!
Researchers discover Chinmo, 'the youth gene' critical to metamorphosis in insects
Amazing stuff! Are we finally coming closer to the proverbial fountain of youth! Apparently, these genes also play a critical role in cancer.
"A new study ... has revealed that the Chinmo gene is responsible for establishing the juvenile stage in insects. It also confirms that the Br-C and E93 genes play a regulatory role in insect maturity. These genes, which are also present in humans, act as a promoter and as a suppressor, respectively, of cancerous processes. ...
The results of the research, which was carried out with the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the cockroach Blatella germanica, reveal that these genes have been conserved throughout the evolution of insects. Therefore, it is believed that they could play a key role in the evolution of metamorphosis. ...
Previous studies had discovered that the Br-C gene determines pupal formation in insects. In 2019, the same ... team that has led this study described the essential function of E93 to complete metamorphosis in insects and initiate the maturation of the tissues that go on to form the adult. However, the gene responsible for determining the juvenile stage was unknown until now. This study has now identified the Chimno gene as the main precursor of this stage in insects. ...
By deleting the Chinmo gene in Drosophila specimens, the scientists observed that these insects progressed to the pupal stage without completing the juvenile stage, moving to the adult stage early. ...
Chinmo and Br-C belong to the large family of BTB-ZF transcription factors—proteins involved in cancer and that are also found in humans. Although previous studies had shown that Chinmo is a precursor of cancer, the role of Br-C and E93 in this disease was unknown until now. ...
The study shows that while Chinmo is an oncogenic precursor because it promotes tissue growth and prevents differentiation, C-Br and E93 serve as tumor suppressors by activating tissue maturation. ...
The results of the study indicate that the regulatory action of Chinmo and E93 in more basal insects such as the cockroach are sufficient to determine the transition from the juvenile to the adult form. However, the introduction of the Br-C gene allowed the development of the pupae and the appearance of complete metamorphosis through a new pupal stage in insects such as flies. ..."
The results of the research, which was carried out with the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the cockroach Blatella germanica, reveal that these genes have been conserved throughout the evolution of insects. Therefore, it is believed that they could play a key role in the evolution of metamorphosis. ...
Previous studies had discovered that the Br-C gene determines pupal formation in insects. In 2019, the same ... team that has led this study described the essential function of E93 to complete metamorphosis in insects and initiate the maturation of the tissues that go on to form the adult. However, the gene responsible for determining the juvenile stage was unknown until now. This study has now identified the Chimno gene as the main precursor of this stage in insects. ...
By deleting the Chinmo gene in Drosophila specimens, the scientists observed that these insects progressed to the pupal stage without completing the juvenile stage, moving to the adult stage early. ...
Chinmo and Br-C belong to the large family of BTB-ZF transcription factors—proteins involved in cancer and that are also found in humans. Although previous studies had shown that Chinmo is a precursor of cancer, the role of Br-C and E93 in this disease was unknown until now. ...
The study shows that while Chinmo is an oncogenic precursor because it promotes tissue growth and prevents differentiation, C-Br and E93 serve as tumor suppressors by activating tissue maturation. ...
The results of the study indicate that the regulatory action of Chinmo and E93 in more basal insects such as the cockroach are sufficient to determine the transition from the juvenile to the adult form. However, the introduction of the Br-C gene allowed the development of the pupae and the appearance of complete metamorphosis through a new pupal stage in insects such as flies. ..."
From the abstract:
"During development, the growing organism transits through a series of temporally regulated morphological stages to generate the adult form. ... The identity of the larval, pupal and adult stages depends on the sequential expression of the transcription factors chinmo, Br-C and E93. However, how these transcription factors determine temporal identity in developing tissues is poorly understood. Here we report on the role of the larval specifier chinmo in larval and adult progenitor cells during fly development. Interestingly, chinmo promotes growth in larval and imaginal tissues in a Br-C-independent and -dependent manner, respectively. In addition, we found that the absence of chinmo during metamorphosis is critical for proper adult differentiation. Importantly, we also provide evidence that, in contrast to the well-known role of chinmo as a pro-oncogene, Br-C and E93 act as tumour suppressors. Finally, we reveal that the function of chinmo as a juvenile specifier is conserved in hemimetabolous insects as its homolog has a similar role in Blatella germanica. Taken together, our results suggest that the sequential expression of the transcription factors Chinmo, Br-C and E93 during larva, pupa an adult respectively, coordinate the formation of the different organs that constitute the adut organism."
Chinmo, “the youth gene” (primary news source) Researchers discover Chimno, the gene responsible for the juvenile stage in insects. This gene is present in mammals and could play a key role in cancerous processes.
Antagonistic role of the BTB-zinc finger transcription factors chinmo and broad-complex in the juvenile/pupal transition and in growth control (manuscript version, PDF is downloadable)
Florida Governor DeSantis blasts McCarthy debt deal as inadequate with too much more spending and debt
I am not familiar with the published details of this compromise, but it appears that the Speaker of the House did not do a great job here!
Let's see how hard this presidential contender will push! Hopefully, he will not back down!
Hopefully, the GOP and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress will do their part if this deal is not good and vote no! The excessive and lavish federal spending has to come to an end!
"... “And to say you can do 4 trillion of increases in the next year and a half, I mean, that’s a massive amount of spending,” he added. ...
“I think that we’ve gotten ourselves on a trajectory here, really, since March of 2020 with some of the Covid spending and totally reset the budget, and they’re sticking with that, and I think that’s just going to be totally inadequate to get us in a better spot,” ..."
DeSantis said the problem with the deal is a it did little to reverse the massive amounts of spending that got added to the federal budget during the pandemic, making only minor reductions to trillions of annual new spending since 2020.
English for trippers: When is smart not smart?
If you feel pain and you ignore it you may not be smart, but you are smarting!
P.S. Just in case someone misses the point: smart has two very different meanings if you look it up in the dictionary.
Spain's conservative party defeats ruling socialist party in regional elections
Besides Turkey, there were also important elections going on in Spain. Elections have consequences.
"Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election ..., in an apparent attempt to wrong-foot his conservative opponents and give his flagging Socialist party the best chance of retaining power before its support weakens further. ... His move to bring the election forward to July from late 2023 took most of his government and even some members of his inner circle by surprise ..."
"Spain's ruling Socialists suffered heavy losses to opposition conservatives in Sunday's local election, with around 95% of the votes counted, showing their electoral vulnerability ahead of an end-of-year general election.
Only three of the 12 regions holding elections will retain Socialist dominance by very narrow margins, with the rest likely go to the conservative People's Party, albeit with coalitions or informal support agreements with the far-right Vox party. ...
In big cities such as Valencia and Seville, where mayors were also elected, the count turned in favour of the PP, which also won an absolute majority in the city of Madrid. ...
The counting showed a return to a two-party system dominated by the PSOE and PP after a decade of greater involvement by smaller parties such as the left-wing Podemos and centrist Ciudadanos ..."
The counting showed a return to a two-party system dominated by the PSOE and PP after a decade of greater involvement by smaller parties such as the left-wing Podemos and centrist Ciudadanos ..."
How Religion Shaped Rubens Into One Of History's Best Painters
Very recommendable! Rubens was also a successful diplomat!
Dutch police arrest more than 1,500 climate activists (Extinction Rebellion) in The Hague
So many mostly young delusional fanatics! At least the Dutch authorities take action when necessary!
Sunday, May 28, 2023
A metabolic process in cancer cells could unlock a possible treatment for glioblastoma in about 60% of patients
Good news! Cancer is history (soon)!
"A study l... has found that targeting a metabolic process in people with a specific genetic mutation could help treat glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
The genetic alteration — a deletion in a gene called CDKN2A — is present in about 60% of people who have glioblastoma. The mutation causes changes in the way lipids are distributed in cancer cells, which in turn makes the cancer cells vulnerable to being destroyed. ...
They found that the gene rewires lipid metabolism to work in a different way than cells without that genetic alteration. And when the CDKN2A gene is missing, the way cancer cells process fats makes them more vulnerable to cell death, or ferroptosis.
The team then used a drug that targets this process and found glioblastoma cells with the genetic alteration in CDKN2A were highly susceptible to cell death, while the glioblastoma cells that did not have the genetic alteration were insensitive to the drug. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
...
Unbiased multi-omic analysis identifies CDKN2A as a regulator of lipid metabolism
• CDKN2A deletion reduces oxidizable PUFA sequestration into lipid droplets
• GBMs with CDKN2A deletion are susceptible to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
Summary
Malignant tumors exhibit heterogeneous metabolic reprogramming, hindering the identification of translatable vulnerabilities for metabolism-targeted therapy. How molecular alterations in tumors promote metabolic diversity and distinct targetable dependencies remains poorly defined. Here we create a resource consisting of lipidomic, transcriptomic, and genomic data from 156 molecularly diverse glioblastoma (GBM) tumors and derivative models. Through integrated analysis of the GBM lipidome with molecular datasets, we identify CDKN2A deletion remodels the GBM lipidome, notably redistributing oxidizable polyunsaturated fatty acids into distinct lipid compartments. Consequently, CDKN2A-deleted GBMs display higher lipid peroxidation, selectively priming tumors for ferroptosis. Together, this study presents a molecular and lipidomic resource of clinical and preclinical GBM specimens, which we leverage to detect a therapeutically exploitable link between a recurring molecular lesion and altered lipid metabolism in GBM."
Graphical abstract
Podcaster sprechen über ihre überwundene Kokain-Abhängigkeit „An Kokain zu kommen ist wie Pizza zu bestellen“. Wirklich!
Was für ein dämlicher Vergleich! Man muss z.B. i.d.R. keine Familienmitglieder bestehlen, um Pizza zu bestellen. Pizza ist auch erheblich billiger und kann an jeder Ecke in einer öffentlich zugänglichen Pizzeria bestellt werden.
A new solar-powered artificial leave that converts carbon dioxide and water into liquid fuels
Global Warming is a hoax and Climate Change a religion!
E.g. humans have already developed plenty of technologies to remove the life essential trace gas CO2 from the atmosphere at any scale. Here is another, very recent example!
"The researchers ... harnessed the power of photosynthesis to convert CO2, water and sunlight into multicarbon fuels – ethanol and propanol – in a single step. These fuels have a high energy density and can be easily stored or transported.
Unlike fossil fuels, these solar fuels produce net-zero carbon emissions and are completely renewable, and unlike most bioethanol, they do not divert any agricultural land away from food production. ...
Now, the artificial leaf can directly produce clean ethanol and propanol without the need for the intermediary step of producing syngas. ..."
Now, the artificial leaf can directly produce clean ethanol and propanol without the need for the intermediary step of producing syngas. ..."
Let's remember: "The United States is the world’s largest bioethanol producer: according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, almost 45% of all corn grown in the US is used for ethanol production [what an irresponsible waste since about 2005!!! Brazil is the second largest producer].
“Biofuels like ethanol are a controversial technology, not least because they take up agricultural land that could be used to grow food instead,” ..."
From the abstract:
"The synthesis of high-energy-density liquid fuels from CO2 and H2O powered by sunlight has the potential to create a circular economy. Despite the progress in producing simple gaseous products, the construction of unassisted photoelectrochemical devices for liquid multi-carbon production remains a major challenge. Here we assembled artificial leaf devices by integrating an oxide-derived Cu94Pd6 electrocatalyst with perovskite–BiVO4 tandem light absorbers that couple CO2 reduction with water oxidation. The wired Cu94Pd6|perovskite–BiVO4 tandem device provides a Faradaic efficiency of ~7.5% for multi-carbon alcohols (~1:1 ethanol and n-propanol), whereas the wireless standalone device produces ~1 µmol cm−2 alcohols after 20 h unassisted operation under air mass 1.5 G irradiation with a rate of ~40 µmol h−1 gCu94Pd6−1. This study demonstrates the direct production of multi-carbon liquid fuels from CO2 over an artificial leaf and, therefore, brings us a step closer to using sunlight to generate value-added complex products."
Coming to a shoe store near you (in the next five years) – footwear made of lab-grown leather
Not bad, but can humans not develop materials better than leather for e.g. shoes?
How is Estonia dealing with heightened Russian threat to its security?
Sure, the the three small Baltic states of which two are bordering on Russia are nervous as long a Putin the Terrible is in charge!
The Insane Biology of: The Mantis Shrimp
Amazing stuff! Did not have the time watch the whole video!
South Africa energy crisis could lose ANC government’s majority
Maybe 29 years of ANC rule since the end of apartheid are enough!
Tina Turner talks about Nichiren Buddhism and chants a prayer
Tina Turner was a Baptist-Buddhist! Enjoy! R.I.P.
Exklusiv Interview: Tina Turner über ihr Leben in der Schweiz (in English with German subtitles, dated 2015)
Enjoy! Tina Turner as a private person living in Switzerland! E.g. she mentions that she was able to walk around in the town of Küsnacht without personal security. She is very down to earth! R.I.P.
Saturday, May 27, 2023
How Did the Ancient Indian City of Muziris Disappear? with Palki Sharma
Very recommendable! It was apparently a southern Indian city. It became a very prosperous city trading black pepper with the Romans! Only about 1% of the ancient city has been excavated so far.
Mexican Cartels Have Exported Their Cocaine War to Ecuador
Recommendable! The female reporter is quite courageous! Caution: Lot's of violence!
More evidence linking maternal vitamin D deficiency to the origins of schizophrenia
Good news!
"Previous studies have found that low levels of maternal vitamin D are one such risk factor, affecting how dopamine-producing (dopaminergic) neurons differentiate into their mature, specialized form. ...
The researchers discovered that vitamin D not only affected cell differentiation, but it also affected the neuron’s structure. ..."
The researchers discovered that vitamin D not only affected cell differentiation, but it also affected the neuron’s structure. ..."
"... They cultured the neurons both in the presence and absence of the active vitamin D hormone. In three different model systems they showed dopamine neurite outgrowth was markedly increased. They then showed alterations in the distribution of presynaptic proteins responsible for dopamine release within these neurites.
“What we found was the altered differentiation process in the presence of vitamin D not only makes the cells grow differently, but recruits machinery to release dopamine differently,” ..."
From the abstract:
"Vitamin D has been identified as a key factor in dopaminergic neurogenesis and differentiation. Consequently, developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency has been linked to disorders of abnormal dopamine signalling with a neurodevelopmental basis such as schizophrenia. Here we provide further evidence of vitamin D's role as a mediator of dopaminergic development by showing that it increases neurite outgrowth, neurite branching, presynaptic protein re-distribution, dopamine production and functional release in various in vitro models of developing dopaminergic cells including SH-SY5Y cells, primary mesencephalic cultures and mesencephalic/striatal explant co-cultures. This study continues to establish vitamin D as an important differentiation agent for developing dopamine neurons, and now for the first time shows chronic exposure to the active vitamin D hormone increases the capacity of developing neurons to release dopamine. This study also has implications for understanding mechanisms behind the link between DVD deficiency and schizophrenia."
Researchers pinpoint brain cells and circuitry that drive appetite in obesity
Good news!
"A team ... has discovered a group of brain cells that boosts appetite when there is a prolonged surplus of energy in the body, such as excess fat accumulation in obesity.
The researchers discovered that these cells not only produced the appetite-stimulating molecule NPY, but they in fact made the brain more sensitive to the molecule, boosting appetite even more. ...
In mouse models of obesity, the researchers investigated cells in the brain called neurons that produced NPY and discovered that surprisingly, 15% of them were different – they did not shut down NPY production during obesity.
“We found that under obese conditions, appetite was mostly driven by NPY produced by this subset of neurons. These cells did not only produce NPY, but also sensitised other parts of the brain to produce additional receptors or ‘docking stations’ for the molecule – supercharging appetite even further,” ...
“What we have uncovered is a vicious cycle that disrupts the body’s ability to balance its energy input with energy storage and enhances obesity development.” ...
The researchers say their discovery opens the possibility of blocking the additional, more sensitised receptors for NPY as a new approach to developing anti-obesity medication. ..."
The researchers say their discovery opens the possibility of blocking the additional, more sensitised receptors for NPY as a new approach to developing anti-obesity medication. ..."
From the abstract:
"Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) is known as one of the most critical regulators of feeding. However, how NPY promotes feeding under obese conditions is unclear. Here, we show that positive energy balance, induced by high-fat diet (HFD) or in genetically obese leptin-receptor-deficient mice, leads to elevated Npy2r expression especially on proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, which also alters leptin responsiveness. Circuit mapping identified a subset of ARC agouti-related peptide (Agrp)-negative NPY neurons that control these Npy2r expressing POMC neurons. Chemogenetic activation of this newly discovered circuitry strongly drives feeding, while optogenetic inhibition reduces feeding. Consistent with that, lack of Npy2r on POMC neurons leads to reduced food intake and fat mass. This suggests that under energy surplus conditions, when ARC NPY levels generally drop, high-affinity NPY2R on POMC neurons is still able to drive food intake and enhance obesity development via NPY released predominantly from Agrp-negative NPY neurons."
Agrp-negative arcuate NPY neurons drive feeding under positive energy balance via altering leptin responsiveness in POMC neurons (partial public access)
Graphical abstract
Using AI, scientists find a drug that could combat drug-resistant infections with high selectivity
Good news! Disease causing bacteria have no chance once AI is brought to bear! Almost like child's play!
"... The researchers identified the new drug from a library of nearly 7,000 potential drug compounds using a machine-learning model that they trained to evaluate whether a chemical compound will inhibit the growth of A. baumannii. ...
This analysis, which took less than two hours, yielded a few hundred top hits. Of these, the researchers chose 240 to test experimentally in the lab, focusing on compounds with structures that were different from those of existing antibiotics or molecules from the training data.
Those tests yielded nine antibiotics, including one that was very potent. This compound, which was originally explored as a potential diabetes drug, turned out to be extremely effective at killing A. baumannii but had no effect on other species of bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. ...
In studies in mice, the researchers showed that the drug, which they named abaucin, could treat wound infections caused by A. baumannii. They also showed, in lab tests, that it works against a variety of drug-resistant A. baumannii strains isolated from human patients. ...
In studies in mice, the researchers showed that the drug, which they named abaucin, could treat wound infections caused by A. baumannii. They also showed, in lab tests, that it works against a variety of drug-resistant A. baumannii strains isolated from human patients. ...
Further experiments revealed that the drug kills cells by interfering with a process known as lipoprotein trafficking, which cells use to transport proteins from the interior of the cell to the cell envelope. Specifically, the drug appears to inhibit LolE, a protein involved in this process.
All Gram-negative bacteria express this enzyme, so the researchers were surprised to find that abaucin is so selective in targeting A. baumannii. They hypothesize that slight differences in how A. baumannii performs this task might account for the drug’s selectivity. ..."
From the abstract:
"Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial Gram-negative pathogen that often displays multidrug resistance. Discovering new antibiotics against A. baumannii has proven challenging through conventional screening approaches. Fortunately, machine learning methods allow for the rapid exploration of chemical space, increasing the probability of discovering new antibacterial molecules. Here we screened ~7,500 molecules for those that inhibited the growth of A. baumannii in vitro. We trained a neural network with this growth inhibition dataset and performed in silico predictions for structurally new molecules with activity against A. baumannii. Through this approach, we discovered abaucin, an antibacterial compound with narrow-spectrum activity against A. baumannii. Further investigations revealed that abaucin perturbs lipoprotein trafficking through a mechanism involving LolE. Moreover, abaucin could control an A. baumannii infection in a mouse wound model. This work highlights the utility of machine learning in antibiotic discovery and describes a promising lead with targeted activity against a challenging Gram-negative pathogen."
How chronic stress can inflame the gut
Good news!
"... Stressful events, such as losing one’s job or breaking up with a partner, often precede IBD [inflammatory bowl disease] flare-ups. [Reasearchers] have now traced that linkage. After a surge of stress, the brain sends signals to the adrenal glands, which release chemicals called glucocorticoids to the rest of the body. ...
Working in mice, they found that glucocorticoids act instead on neurons in the gut and on cells called glia that connect gut neurons to one another. ...
Working in mice, they found that glucocorticoids act instead on neurons in the gut and on cells called glia that connect gut neurons to one another. ...
After being switched on by glucocorticoids, some glial cells release molecules that trigger immune cells. In turn, those immune cells release molecules that would normally be used to fight off pathogens, but in this case end up causing painful bowel inflammation.
At the same time, glucocorticoids block immature gut neurons from developing fully, the researchers found. As a consequence, these neurons produce only low levels of signalling molecules that cause gut muscles to contract. This means food moves slowly through the digestive system, which adds to the discomfort of IBD. ...
Although quick bursts of glucocorticoids seem to be anti-inflammatory, when stress becomes chronic, “the system completely shifts” and glucocorticoids take on a pro-inflammatory role ..."
Although quick bursts of glucocorticoids seem to be anti-inflammatory, when stress becomes chronic, “the system completely shifts” and glucocorticoids take on a pro-inflammatory role ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Psychological stress leads to monocyte-mediated exacerbation of gut inflammation
• Chronic glucocorticoid signaling drives the effect of stress on IBD
• Stress induces inflammatory enteric glia that promote monocyte recruitment via CSF1
• Stress provokes transcriptional immaturity in enteric neurons and dysmotility
Summary
Mental health profoundly impacts inflammatory responses in the body. This is particularly apparent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in which psychological stress is associated with exacerbated disease flares. Here, we discover a critical role for the enteric nervous system (ENS) in mediating the aggravating effect of chronic stress on intestinal inflammation. We find that chronically elevated levels of glucocorticoids drive the generation of an inflammatory subset of enteric glia that promotes monocyte- and TNF-mediated inflammation via CSF1. Additionally, glucocorticoids cause transcriptional immaturity in enteric neurons, acetylcholine deficiency, and dysmotility via TGF-β2. We verify the connection between the psychological state, intestinal inflammation, and dysmotility in three cohorts of IBD patients. Together, these findings offer a mechanistic explanation for the impact of the brain on peripheral inflammation, define the ENS as a relay between psychological stress and gut inflammation, and suggest that stress management could serve as a valuable component of IBD care."
Graphical abstract
Optical microscopy with Ångström resolution
Good news! This could be a breakthrough! One Angstrom = 0.1 nm.
From the abstract:
"Fluorescence microscopy, with its molecular specificity, is one of the major characterization methods used in the life sciences to understand complex biological systems. Super-resolution approaches can achieve resolution in cells in the range of 15 to 20 nm, but interactions between individual biomolecules occur at length scales below 10 nm and characterization of intramolecular structure requires Ångström resolution. State-of-the-art super-resolution implementations have demonstrated spatial resolutions down to 5 nm and localization precisions of 1 nm under certain in vitro conditions. However, such resolutions do not directly translate to experiments in cells, and Ångström resolution has not been demonstrated to date. Here we introdue a DNA-barcoding method, resolution enhancement by sequential imaging (RESI), that improves the resolution of fluorescence microscopy down to the Ångström scale using off-the-shelf fluorescence microscopy hardware and reagents. By sequentially imaging sparse target subsets at moderate spatial resolutions of >15 nm, we demonstrate that single-protein resolution can be achieved for biomolecules in whole intact cells. Furthermore, we experimentally resolve the DNA backbone distance of single bases in DNA origami with Ångström resolution. We use our method in a proof-of-principle demonstration to map the molecular arrangement of the immunotherapy target CD20 in situ in untreated and drug-treated cells, which opens possibilities for assessing the molecular mechanisms of targeted immunotherapy. These observations demonstrate that, by enabling intramolecular imaging under ambient conditions in whole intact cells, RESI closes the gap between super-resolution microscopy and structural biology studies and thus delivers information key to understanding complex biological systems."
Fig. 1: RESI concept.
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