Recommendable!
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
US And Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal That Solidifies Kyiv’s Defense Against Russia
Good news! Seems to be good deal for both sides! It stops Putin the Terrible from further invading the Ukraine!
The Vietnam War and Taiwan’s Hidden Role in this war: 50 Years On
Very recommendable! Who knew that Taiwan was militarily involved in the Vietnam War.
India’s Digital Future Just Changed after SC Ruling declaring digital access to be a fundamental right with Palki Sharma
Recommendable! However, I am not sure this new fundamental human right makes much sense. It requires e.g. big government!
Caution: This video contains disturbing imagery of two women whose faces were attacked with acid.
Molecular ‘staples’ keep collagen from falling apart
Amazing stuff!
"We are, quite literally, held together by collagen. Structured like a twisted rope, the protein accounts for 15% to 20% of the protein in our bodies; it plays an essential role in mechanically supporting our cells and tissues. But for the past two decades, researchers have been puzzling over a biological riddle: Collagen is inherently unstable. At our own body temperature, it falls apart like a frayed rope. Now, results recently detailed at a major physics conference have revealed one of the key ways that collagen holds its form: clusters of molecular “staples.” ...
To understand exactly how these triple helices fall apart and come back together, researchers ... painstakingly imaged hundreds of them as they unraveled at different temperatures. Doing so let the researchers determine that clusters of disulfide bonds (which the researchers call “cysteine knots”) act as structural staples, stabilizing collagen’s twisted form. ...
the researchers also found that DNA sequences that encode for cysteine knots can be found in everything from jellyfish to mammals. Evidently, cysteine knots abound on the tree of multicellular life—supporting collagen as it supports us all"
"Synopsis
Collagen emerged at the dawn of multicellular life as an essential building block of tissues. Our understanding has evolved from viewing collagen as merely a physical framework to recognizing it as a dynamic scaffold that regulates cellular responses through mechanotransduction.
Intriguingly, collagen assembles into higher-order structures that provide mechanical support to tissues, despite being thermally unstable at body temperature.
However, studies on collagen’s sequence, structure, and mechanics have primarily relied on short model peptides, which often fail to accurately represent native collagen sequences. Hence, there is a growing need for the development of new methods that enable the study of native collagen in its full-length context, offering insights into how it upholds its dynamic function despite its thermal instability. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, I investigated collagen’s response to temperature and observed a time-dependent loss of folded protein at body temperature, including an overall shortening of the contour length, reflecting structural destabilization. I further characterized the bending stiffness profile of collagen IV as a function of temperature and identified a putative initiation site for thermally induced unfolding.
My findings also revealed that interchain disulfide bonds enhance the thermal stability of collagen IV and serve as the primary nucleation site for in vitro refolding.
Additionally, multiple sequence alignments across diverse species uncovered an evolutionarily conserved cystine knot present across metazoan phyla, underscoring its significance in early collagen IV structures. These results provide new insights into collagen’s thermal response and the first steps to establishing relations between its sequence-encoded information and mechanical properties in these large proteins."
From the abstract:
"Collagen has been evolutionarily selected as the preferred building block of extracellular structures. Despite the inherent and surprising thermal instability of individual proteins at body temperature, collagen manages to assemble into higher-order structures that provide mechanical support to tissues.
Sequence features that enhance collagen stability have been deduced largely from studies of collagen-mimetic peptides, as the large sizes of collagens have precluded high-resolution studies of their structure. Thus, there is a need for new methods to analyze the structure and mechanics of native collagen proteins.
In this study, we used AFM imaging to investigate the response of collagen types I, III, and particularly IV to changes in temperature.
We observed a time-dependent loss of folded structures upon exposure to body temperature, with structural destabilization along the collagenous domain reflected by a shorter overall contour length.
We characterized the sequence-dependent bending stiffness profile of collagen IV as a function of temperature and identified a putative initiation site for thermally induced unfolding.
Interchain disulfide bonds in collagen IV were shown to enhance thermal stability and serve as the primary nucleation sites for in vitro refolding.
In contrast to the canonical C-to-N terminal folding direction, we found an interchain cystine knot to enable folding in the opposite direction.
Multiple sequence alignments revealed that this cystine knot is evolutionarily conserved across metazoan phyla, highlighting its significance in the stabilization of early collagen IV structures.
Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the unfolding and refolding pathway of collagen IV, providing valuable insight into how its heterogeneous sequence influences stability and mechanics."
Molecular ‘staples’ resolve puzzle of how collagen stays together "Research reveals how the key structural protein, inherently unstable at body temperature, forms resilient twists"
Decoding Collagen’s Unfolding and Refolding Pathways with AFM Imaging (original news release)
BPS2025 - Decoding collagen's thermally induced unfolding and refolding pathways using AFM imaging (no public access)
Decoding Collagen’s Thermally Induced Unfolding and Refolding Pathways (preprint, open access)
Scientists find evidence that challenges theories of the origin of water on Earth
Amazing stuff!
"A team of researchers ... have uncovered crucial evidence for the origin of water on Earth. Using a rare type of meteorite, known as an enstatite chondrite, which has a composition analogous to that of the early Earth (4.55 billion years ago), they have found a source of hydrogen which would have been critical for the formation of water molecules.
Crucially, they demonstrated that the hydrogen present in this material was intrinsic, and not from contamination. This suggests that the material which our planet was built from was far richer in hydrogen than previously thought.
The findings, which support the theory that the formation of habitable conditions on Earth did not rely on asteroids hitting Earth ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Enstatite chondrites (ECs) may contain enough hydrogen to explain Earth's water budget.
• Hydrogen in these meteorites is linked to the presence of iron sulphide grains.
• Water on Earth may be an inevitable consequence of its formation from ECs.
Abstract
Despite being pivotal to the habitability of our planet, the process by which Earth gained its present-day hydrogen budget is unclear. Due to their isotopic similarity to terrestrial rocks across a range of elements, the meteorite group that is thought to best represent Earth's building blocks is the enstatite chondrites (ECs). Because of ECs' nominally anhydrous mineralogy, these building blocks have long been presumed to have supplied negligible hydrogen to the proto-Earth.
However, recent bulk compositional measurements suggest that ECs may unexpectedly contain enough hydrogen to readily explain Earth's present-day water abundance. Together, these contradictory findings mean the contribution of ECs to Earth's hydrogen budget is currently unclear. As such, it is uncertain whether appreciable hydrogen is a systematic outcome of Earth's formation.
Here, we explore the amount of hydrogen in ECs as well as the phase that may carry this element using sulfur X-ray absorption near edge structure (S-XANES) spectroscopy.
We find that hydrogen bonded to sulfur is prevalent throughout the meteorite, with fine matrix containing on average almost 10 times more Hsingle bondS than chondrule mesostasis.
Moreover, the concentration of the Hsingle bondS bond is linked to the abundance of micrometre-scale pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS, 0 < x < 0.125). This sulfide can sacrificially catalyse a reaction with H2 from the disk at high temperatures to create H2S, which could be dissolved in adjoining molten silicate-rich material. Upon rapid cooling, this assemblage would form pyrrhotite encased in submicron silicate-rich glass that carries trapped H2S. These findings indicate that hydrogen is present in ECs in higher concentrations than previously considered and could suggest that this element may have a systematic, rather than stochastic, origin on our planet."
Scientists find evidence that overturns theories of the origin of water on Earth (original news release) "University of Oxford researchers have helped overturn the popular theory that water on Earth originated from asteroids bombarding its surface. Instead, the material which built our planet was far richer in hydrogen than previously thought. The findings have been published today in the journal Icarus."
The source of hydrogen in earth's building blocks (open access)
Fig. 4. Schematic outlining the process through which H could be sequestered into ECs.
A Denisovan jawbone discovered in Taiwan
Amazing stuff!
"... An analysis of the robust mandible’s ancient proteins published in Science reveals it belonged to a Denisovan, a close cousin of Neanderthals that lived roughly between 400,000 years to 30,000 years ago. To date, all other Denisovan fossils confirmed using molecular methods—that is, through ancient DNA or ancient protein analysis—came from frigid, high-altitude locations in Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau. The Taiwan mandible confirms Denisovans also lived in hot, humid places, as well.
That tracks with genetic data indicating Denisovans interbred with modern humans, especially those in Island Southeast Asia, given the fact that certain populations there today derive between 1% and 5% of their genomes from those ancient encounters. And now that researchers can confidently match morphology with Denisovan-specific protein sequences ...
From the editor's summary and abstract:
"Editor’s summary
Denisovans are a Pleistocene hominin lineage first identified genomically and known from only a few fossils. Although genomic studies suggest that they were widespread throughout Asia, fossils of this group have thus far only been identified from regions with cold climates, Siberia and Tibet. Tsutaya et al. used ancient proteomic analysis on a previously unidentified hominin mandible from Taiwan and identified it as having belonged to a male Denisovan. This identification confirms previous genomic predictions of the group’s widespread occurrence, including in warmer climates. The robust nature of this mandible is similar to that seen in a Denisovan one from Tibet, suggesting that this is a consistent trait for the lineage. ...
Abstract
Denisovans are an extinct hominin group defined by ancient genomes of Middle to Late Pleistocene fossils from southern Siberia. Although genomic evidence suggests their widespread distribution throughout eastern Asia and possibly Oceania, so far only a few fossils from the Altai and Tibet are confidently identified molecularly as Denisovan.
We identified a hominin mandible (Penghu 1) from Taiwan (10,000 to 70,000 years ago or 130,000 to 190,000 years ago) as belonging to a male Denisovan by applying ancient protein analysis. We retrieved 4241 amino acid residues and identified two Denisovan-specific variants.
The increased fossil sample of Denisovans demonstrates their wider distribution, including warm and humid regions, as well as their shared distinct robust dentognathic traits that markedly contrast with their sister group, Neanderthals."
A male Denisovan jawbone from Taiwan expands the known geographic range of this extinct human group (original news release) "Denisovans A team of international researchers based in Denmark, Japan and Taiwan has made a significant breakthrough in the field of paleoanthropology with the attribution of a Pleistocene mandible from Taiwan to a male Denisovan. The study reveals new insights into the distribution and anatomy of Denisovans, an extinct hominin group"
A male Denisovan mandible from Pleistocene Taiwan (no public access)
A fishing vessel dredged up this fossil jawbone, now confirmed as Denisovan, from the Taiwan Strait.
Psychiatric surgery stages a comeback
Good news! Have we finally overcome the Lobotomy disaster? Until we have better treatments perhaps psychiatric surgery should be considered in limited, severe cases.
"Lobotomies are no longer a go-to treatment for mental disorders, but growing evidence suggests that a refined version of the technique is effective in some people with severe psychiatric conditions.
Modern neuropsychiatric surgeons use lasers, radiation or focused ultrasound beams to precisely remove small amounts of neural tissue, severing certain connections between brain regions involved in emotion and behaviour. Yet many psychiatrists are still wary of the technique, given that its effects are so permanent."
"... The numbers of patients who receive such treatments is still tiny.
Lipsman’s clinic in Toronto, for example, performs about two psychiatric neurosurgeries a month, though he said it has the capacity to do more.
And the Brown-affiliated program has only seen about 110 patients since 1993, when psychiatric neurosurgery procedures were first offered there. Meanwhile, just a handful of centers in the U.S. offer neurosurgery for psychiatric conditions ..."
Cutting Edge: The Cautious Optimism for Psychiatric Brain Surgery "For some patients, removing brain tissue can help treat OCD and other disorders. But ethical concerns remain."
Shocking Data Suggests Abortion Pill cause 11% of women to experience serious adverse complications within 45 days of abortion
Bad news! I have little doubt that an abortion pill is no walk in a park! An abortion pill is a serious medical intervention and should be only used as a last resort and when medically necessary.
Almost 150,000 mifepristone abortions are prescribed per year! This is deeply shocking if confirmed!
"A study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center released on Monday found that [11] percent of women who had mifepristone abortions — the first drug used in a two-drug medication abortion regimen — experienced severe complications including sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following the abortion. This percentage is significantly higher than the less than 0.5 percent in clinical trials reported on the FDA-approved drug label. ..."
"Summary
- This largest-known study of the abortion pill is based on analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023.
- [11] percent of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion.
- The real-world rate of serious adverse events following mifepristone abortions is at least 22 times as high as the summary figure of “less than 0.5 percent” in clinical trials reported on the drug label.
- The FDA should immediately reinstate its earlier, stronger patient safety protocols to ensure physician responsibility for women who take mifepristone under their care, as well as mandate full reporting of its side effects.
- The FDA should further investigate the harm mifepristone causes to women and, based on objective safety criteria, reconsider its approval altogether.
"
Trump fires Doug Emhoff and other Biden appointees from Holocaust museum board - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
It is astonishing that Doug Emhoff, the husband of Mistress Kamala, even accepted this appointment that obviously looks like nepotism or a conflict of interest.
"Douglas Emhoff, the Jewish former second gentleman, was fired from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Tuesday along with a number of other board members appointed by former President [46].
Emhoff, Kamala Harris’ husband, was the first Jewish spouse of a vice president, one of the most prominent Jewish figures in the [46th President's] administration and a leading national voice in fighting antisemitism. ..."
image of the day
This is how the elite Johns Hopkins University shows student life at their Spring Fair festival. Is this what they mean by diversity? In which Muslim country is the campus located? Caution: satire.
And here is the Spring cleaning team presented by JHU
The Russian Slavs are slaves
Their slave master is the megalomaniac and war criminal Putin the Terrible! Only Barbarians tolerate a man like this!
When will the Russian people finally do the world a huge favor and get rid of Putin the Terrible!
Why are so many Russian people so lethargic and apathetic?
Modernization and advanced civilization still awaits the Russian people!
Middle school teacher faces rape, sodomy charges over accusations of years-long sexual abuse of 12-year-old boy
Another Me Too event! Gender equality and the battle of the sexes!
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Milton Friedman on Illegal Immigration
Very recommendable! Yes, illegal immigration is difficult to reconcile with a welfare state.
Is Turkey Supplying Weapons to Pakistan? with Palki Sharma
Bad news! Osman sultan Erdogan is meddling again. Turkey is still a NATO member!
New tool lets scientists observe genome dynamics inside any live cell in real time
Amazing stuff!
"... a new tool that can light up any region of the genome in any living cell and enable scientists to watch how different regions interact with one another. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Oligo-LiveFISH tracks non-repetitive loci in broad cell types and primary cells
• High spatial (20 nm) and temporal (50 ms) resolution chromatin imaging in live cells
• Dynamic tracking and modeling reveal 1D cis- and 3D trans-communication of genomic DNA
• Active transcription induces enhancer and promoter confinement and slower dynamics
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) genome dynamics are crucial for cellular functions and disease. However, real-time, live-cell DNA visualization remains challenging, as existing methods are often confined to repetitive regions, suffer from low resolution, or require complex genome engineering.
Here, we present Oligo-LiveFISH, a high-resolution, reagent-based platform for dynamically tracking non-repetitive genomic loci in diverse cell types, including primary cells. Oligo-LiveFISH utilizes fluorescent guide RNA (gRNA) oligo pools generated by computational design, in vitro transcription, and chemical labeling, delivered as ribonucleoproteins.
Utilizing machine learning, we characterized the impact of gRNA design and chromatin features on imaging efficiency.
Multi-color Oligo-LiveFISH achieved 20-nm spatial resolution and 50-ms temporal resolution in 3D, capturing real-time enhancer and promoter dynamics. Our measurements and dynamic modeling revealed two distinct modes of chromatin communication, and active transcription slows enhancer-promoter dynamics at endogenous genes like FOS.
Oligo-LiveFISH offers a versatile platform for studying 3D genome dynamics and their links to cellular processes and disease."
High-resolution dynamic imaging of chromatin DNA communication using Oligo-LiveFISH (no public access)
Graphical abstract
Government hackers are leading the use of attributed zero-day exploits in 2024, Google says
Bad news!
"Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) tracked 75 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild in 2024, a decrease from the number we identified in 2023 (98 vulnerabilities), but still an increase from 2022 (63 vulnerabilities).
We divided the reviewed vulnerabilities into two main categories: end-user platforms and products (e.g., mobile devices, operating systems, and browsers) and enterprise-focused technologies, such as security software and appliances. ...
Key Takeaways
- Zero-day exploitation continues to grow gradually. The 75 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in 2024 follow a pattern that has emerged over the past four years. ...
- Enterprise-focused technology targeting continues to expand. GTIG continued to observe an increase in adversary exploitation of enterprise-specific technologies throughout 2024. In 2023, 37% of zero-day vulnerabilities targeted enterprise products. This jumped to 44% in 2024, primarily fueled by the increased exploitation of security and networking software and appliances.
- Attackers are increasing their focus on security and networking products. Zero-day vulnerabilities in security software and appliances were a high-value target in 2024. We identified 20 security and networking vulnerabilities, which was over 60% of all zero-day exploitation of enterprise technologies. ...
- Actors conducting cyber espionage still lead attributed zero-day exploitation. Between government-backed groups and customers of commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs), actors conducting cyber espionage operations accounted for over 50% of the vulnerabilities we could attribute in 2024. People's Republic of China (PRC)-backed groups exploited five zero-days, and customers of CSVs exploited eight, continuing their collective leading role in zero-day exploitation. For the first year ever, we also attributed the exploitation of the same volume of 2024 zero-days (five) to North Korean actors mixing espionage and financially motivated operations as we did to PRC-backed groups.
Figure 4: 2024 attributed zero-day exploitation
«Wir sollten uns auf einen Ansturm von Forschern aus den USA vorbereiten», sagt der Hochschulmanager. Wirklich!
Was für ein Schwachsinn! Wahrscheinlich leidet dieser Professor auch an Trump Derangement Syndrome!
Die einzigen Forscher, die vielleicht die USA verlassen sind Linke oder LGBTQ nahe Forscher oder Sklavenrepartionsforcher, oder Critical Race Theory Forscher usw. Von denen gibt es eh zu viele in den USA!
Ein 70jähriger Idiot Prof. Dr. Walter Rosenthal (Präsident der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK))
Blackout in Spanien, Portugal, und Frankreich: Wie die zunehmende Instabilität der europäischen Stromversorgung durch wetterabhängigen Energien wie Photovoltaik und Windkraft
Scheint mir noch die beste Erklärung! Natürlich wird diese Erklärung weitgehend unterdrückt!
Solange wir keine zuverlässige und schnell abrufbare Massenspeicher für Elektrizität haben, sind Wind- und Solarenergie nicht tragbar für die allgemeine Stromversorgung.
Dieser Blackout sollte eine Warnung sein wie Three Mile Island, Chernobyl für die Atomkraft.
"Am gestrigen Tag brach in Spanien, Teilen Portugals und Frankreichs großflächig das Stromnetz zusammen. Millionen Menschen saßen im Dunkeln, Kommunikationsnetze, Tankstellen, Flughäfen und Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge waren stundenlang lahmgelegt. Zwar wurde der Strom inzwischen inzwischen wiederhergestellt – doch die wahre Ursache des Blackouts zeigt ein viel grundlegenderes Problem: die zunehmende Instabilität der europäischen Stromversorgung durch den massiven, unkontrollierten Ausbau von wetterabhängigen Energien wie Photovoltaik und Windkraft. ..."
Canada chooses liberal Mark Carney as prime minister over Pierre Poilievre
Maybe President Trump interfered too much in Canada with his tariffs and talk of Canada becoming a part of the US.
At least he some background in economics! We will find out how much of a leftist he is!
Image of the day
Did Nike do this intentionally for (negative) publicity? Any publicity is better than no publicity!
Monday, April 28, 2025
Innovation und Wissen hinter Kloster-Mauern
Empfehlenswert! Dass das ZDF sich nicht verkneifen konnte auch die Energiewende und Nachhaltigkeit in dieses Video hineinzubringen, ist bedauerlich. Leider wurden auch nur zwei Personen (zwei Frauen) für dieses Video interviewed. Das Video deckt auch nur drei Europäische Länder, nämlich Deutschland, Frankreich, und Italien ab.
Female Black Hawk pilot didn't follow orders before horrific crash: Report
Was this a DEI hire? Or one of those "Firsts"? The female pilot was 28 years old.
"... Many suspected human error — and when the Army initially refused to name the female Black Hawk pilot, some critics hypothesized that DEI hiring practices might be indirectly at fault. ...
Lobach, the highest-ranking soldier on the helicopter but far from the most experienced pilot aboard, was behind the controls as the helicopter neared the airport. ..."
Houses of Terrorists Demolished in Jammu and Kashmir with Palki Sharma
Food for thought! A controversial approach!
Researchers ID 17 risk factors shared by age-related brain disease
Good news!
Good news!
"The researchers systematically searched the scientific literature for previously published meta-analyses of risk factors associated with stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. Then, they combined these data to identify modifiable risk factors (i.e., those that can be altered through behavioral change) shared amongst at least two out of the three diseases. They also estimated the relative impact of each risk factor on measures of quality of life and early death.
Altogether, the researchers identified risk factors shared by at least two of the diseases, including blood pressure, kidney disease, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, alcohol use, diet, hearing loss, pain, physical activity, purpose in life, sleep, smoking, social engagement, and stress.
Of these, high blood pressure and severe kidney disease had the biggest impact on the incidence and burden of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. ...
“Dementia, stroke, and late-life depression are connected and intertwined, so if you develop one of them, there’s a substantial chance you may develop another one in the future,” ..."
From the abstract:
"Abstract
Background
At least 60% of stroke, 40% of dementia and 35% of late-life depression (LLD) are attributable to modifiable risk factors, with great overlap due to shared pathophysiology. This study aims to systematically identify overlapping risk factors for these diseases and calculate their relative impact on a composite outcome.
Methods
A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo, between January 2000 and September 2023. We included meta-analyses reporting effect sizes of modifiable risk factors on the incidence of stroke, dementia and/or LLD. The most relevant meta-analyses were selected, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) weighted beta (β)-coefficients were calculated for a composite outcome. The β-coefficients were normalised to assess relative impact.
Results
Our search yielded 182 meta-analyses meeting the inclusion criteria, of which 59 were selected to calculate DALY-weighted risk factors for a composite outcome.
Identified risk factors included
alcohol (normalised β-coefficient highest category: −34),
blood pressure (130),
body mass index (70),
fasting plasma glucose (94),
total cholesterol (22),
leisure time cognitive activity (−91),
depressive symptoms (57),
diet (51),
hearing loss (60),
kidney function (101),
pain (42),
physical activity (−56),
purpose in life (−50),
sleep (76),
smoking (91),
social engagement (53) and
stress (55).
Conclusions
This study identified overlapping modifiable risk factors and calculated the relative impact of these factors on the risk of a composite outcome of stroke, dementia and LLD. These findings could guide preventative strategies and serve as an empirical foundation for future development of tools that can empower people to reduce their risk of these diseases."
“Periodic table of machine learning” could fuel AI discovery
Amazing stuff!
Caveat: I have not read this paper yet.
"... researchers have created a periodic table that shows how more than 20 classical machine-learning algorithms are connected. The new framework sheds light on how scientists could fuse strategies from different methods to improve existing AI models or come up with new ones. ...
The periodic table stems from one key idea: All these algorithms learn a specific kind of relationship between data points. While each algorithm may accomplish that in a slightly different way, the core mathematics behind each approach is the same. ...
Just like the periodic table of chemical elements, which initially contained blank squares that were later filled in by scientists, the periodic table of machine learning also has empty spaces. These spaces predict where algorithms should exist, but which haven’t been discovered yet. ...
The framework they created, information contrastive learning (I-Con), shows how a variety of algorithms can be viewed through the lens of this unifying equation. It includes everything from classification algorithms that can detect spam to the deep learning algorithms that power LLMs. ..."
From the abstract:
"As the field of representation learning grows, there has been a proliferation of different loss functions to solve different classes of problems.
We introduce a single information-theoretic equation that generalizes a large collection of modern loss functions in machine learning.
In particular, we introduce a framework that shows that several broad classes of machine learning methods are precisely minimizing an integrated KL divergence between two conditional distributions: the supervisory and learned representations.
This viewpoint exposes a hidden information geometry underlying clustering, spectral methods, dimensionality reduction, contrastive learning, and supervised learning.
This framework enables the development of new loss functions by combining successful techniques from across the literature.
We not only present a wide array of proofs, connecting over 23 different approaches, but we also leverage these theoretical results to create state-of-the-art unsupervised image classifiers that achieve a +8% improvement over the prior state-of-the-art on unsupervised classification on ImageNet-1K.
We also demonstrate that I-Con can be used to derive principled debiasing methods which improve contrastive representation learners."
I-Con: A Unifying Framework for Representation Learning (preprint, open access, accepted for ICLR 2025)
MIT researchers created a periodic table of machine learning that shows how more than 20 classical algorithms are connected. The new framework sheds light on how scientists could fuse strategies from different methods to improve existing AI models or come up with new ones.
MIT engineers print synthetic “metamaterials” that are both strong and stretchy
Amazing stuff!
"Metamaterials are synthetic materials with microscopic structures that give the overall material exceptional properties. A huge focus has been in designing metamaterials that are stronger and stiffer than their conventional counterparts. But there’s a trade-off: The stiffer a material, the less flexible it is.
MIT engineers have now found a way to fabricate a metamaterial that is both strong and stretchy. The base material is typically highly rigid and brittle, but it is printed in precise, intricate patterns that form a structure that is both strong and flexible.
The key to the new material’s dual properties is a combination of stiff microscopic struts and a softer woven architecture. This microscopic “double network,” which is printed using a plexiglass-like polymer, produced a material that could stretch over four times its size without fully breaking. In comparison, the polymer in other forms has little to no stretch and shatters easily once cracked. ..."
From the abstract:
"Mechanical metamaterials can achieve high stiffness and strength at low densities, but often at the expense of low ductility and stretchability—a persistent trade-off in materials.
In contrast, double-network hydrogels feature interpenetrating compliant and stiff polymer networks, and exhibit unprecedented combinations of high stiffness and stretchability, resulting in exceptional toughness.
Here we present double-network-inspired metamaterials by integrating monolithic truss (stiff) and woven (compliant) components into a metamaterial architecture, which achieves a tenfold increase in stiffness and stretchability compared to its pure counterparts.
Nonlinear computational mechanics models elucidate that enhanced energy dissipation in these double-network-inspired metamaterials stems from increased frictional dissipation due to entanglements between networks.
Through introduction of [engineered] internal defects, which typically degrade mechanical properties, we demonstrate a threefold increase in energy dissipation for these metamaterials via failure delocalization.
This work opens avenues for developing metamaterials in a high-compliance regime inspired by polymer network topologies."
Double-network-inspired mechanical metamaterials (no public access)
Double-network-inspired mechanical metamaterials (preprint, open access)
Metamaterials are synthetic materials with microscopic structures that give the overall material exceptional properties.
MIT engineers have now found a way to fabricate a metamaterial that is both strong and stretchy. The base material is typically highly rigid and brittle, but it is printed in precise, intricate patterns that form a structure that is both strong and flexible.
Figure 1:Double-network-inspired (DNI) metamaterials
Putin announces unilateral three-day ceasefire in war against Ukraine, starting May 8. Really!
The last one announced for The Easter Holidays did not work out! Can you trust a megalomaniac and war criminal like Putin the Terrible?
The Ukraine should not let up to continue to inflict heavy losses every day on the Russian invaders!
When will the Russian people get rid of Putin the Terrible!
Image of the day
Two German fools in Rome! The German President Walter Steinmeier and the Minister President of Bavaria Markus Söder taking selfies at the funeral of the Pope.
The Best Way To Fix Nationwide Injunctions
Recommendable! Stop the venue shopping!
There are 94 federal district courts with about 677 federal district court judges across the US.
"Key Takeaways
- The power to issue a nationwide injunction makes a single district judge as powerful or more powerful than a majority of Supreme Court justices.
- Only two things can stop them: legislation (like the bill introduced recently by Senator Chuck Grassley), or a decree from the Supreme Court.
- It would be better for it to hold nationwide injunctions unconstitutional on the basis that Article III’s “judicial Power” does not include this novel remedy.
"
US Senator Booker (D) and US House Democratic Leader Jeffries (D) hold anti-Trump sit-in on U.S. Capitol steps
When will the Dimocratic Party get rid of these two fools! These two men (age 56 and age 54) are an embarrassment! This is infantile and childish!
Who are the voters voting for these two fools?
IBM Unveils $150 Billion Investment in America to Accelerate Technology Opportunity
Good news! Old Big Blue!
"Today IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced plans to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years to fuel the economy and to accelerate its role as the global leader in computing. This includes an investment of more than $30 billion in research and development to advance and continue IBM's American manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers. ..."
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Verhöhnt, enteignet, kontrolliert: Die Merz-Regierung verachtet die Bürger mit Roland Tichy
Empfehlenswert! Vermögensregister? Vermögensermittlungsverfahren? Jährliche TÜV Prüfung? Wie bitte!
Quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles using 3D photonic-crystal cavities
Amazing stuff!
"A team ... researchers has developed a new way to control light interactions using a specially engineered structure called a 3D photonic-crystal cavity. Their work ... lays the foundation for technologies that could enable transformative advancements in quantum computing, quantum communication and other quantum-based technologies.
an optical cavity ... a tailored structure that traps light between reflective surfaces, allowing it to bounce around in specific patterns.
These patterns with discrete frequencies are called cavity modes, and they can be used to enhance light-matter interactions, making them potentially useful in quantum information processing, developing high-precision lasers and sensors and building better photonic circuits and fiber-optic networks. ...
built a complex 3D optical cavity and used it to study how multiple cavity modes interact with a thin layer of free-moving electrons exposed to a static magnetic field. The key question guiding their investigation was what happens when multiple cavity modes interact with the electrons simultaneously. ...
leads to strong coupling between light and matter, creating quantum superposition states so-called polaritons.” ...
If the interaction binding photons and electrons into polaritons is extremely intense to the point where the exchange of energy between light and matter happens so fast it resists dissipation a new regime comes into effect known as ultrastrong coupling. ... describes an unusual mode of interaction between light and matter where the two become deeply hybridized ..."
From the abstract:
"Recent theoretical studies have highlighted how spatially varying cavity electromagnetic fields enable novel cavity quantum electrodynamics phenomena, such as the Dicke superradiant phase transition.
Three-dimensional photonic-crystal cavities, which exhibit discrete in-plane translational symmetry, overcome this limitation, but fabrication challenges have hindered the achievement of strong coupling.
Here, we demonstrate multimode ultrastrong coupling between cavity modes of a three-dimensional photonic-crystal cavity at terahertz frequencies and the cyclotron resonance of a Landau-quantized two-dimensional electron gas in gallium arsenide. The multimode coupling depends on the spatial profiles of the cavity modes, resulting in distinct coupling scenarios based on probe polarization.
Our results align with an extended multimode Hopfield model that accounts for spatial field variations.
Guided by the model, we discuss possible strong ground-state correlations between cavity modes and introduce relevant figures of merit for multimode ultrastrong coupling. Our findings highlight the crucial role of spatial inhomogeneity in multimode ultrastrong coupling."
Rice scientists uncover quantum surprise: Matter mediates ultrastrong coupling between light particles (original news release)
Fig. 1: The 3D-PCC [photonic-crystal cavities].
Scientists observe exotic superradiant quantum phase once thought impossible
Amazing stuff!
"A team ... researchers reported the first direct observation of a surprising quantum phenomenon predicted over half a century ago, opening pathways for revolutionary applications in quantum computing, communication, and sensing.
Known as a superradiant phase transition (SRPT), the phenomenon occurs when two groups of quantum particles begin to fluctuate in a coordinated, collective way without any external trigger, forming a new state of matter.
The discovery was made in a crystal composed of erbium, iron, and oxygen that was cooled to minus 457 Fahrenheit and exposed to a powerful magnetic field of up to 7 tesla (over 100,000 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field) ..."
From the abstract:
"Two-level atoms ultrastrongly coupled with single-mode cavity photons are predicted to exhibit a quantum phase transition, entering a phase in which both the atomic polarization and the photonic field are finite even without external driving.
However, this phenomenon, the superradiant phase transition (SRPT), is forbidden by a no-go theorem due to the existence of the diamagnetic term.
Here, we present spectroscopic evidence for a magnonic SRPT in ErFeO3, where the role of the photonic mode (two-level atoms) in the photonic SRPT is played by an Fe3+ magnon mode (Er3+ spins).
The absence of the diamagnetic term in the Fe3+-Er3+ exchange coupling ensures that the no-go theorem does not apply.
Ultrabroadband terahertz and gigahertz magnetospectroscopy experiments revealed the signatures of the SRPT in thermal equilibrium, a kink and a softening, respectively, of two spin-magnon hybridized modes at the critical point.
Systems near this phase are expected to harbor large-scale squeezing, which will potentially provide a route to next-generation quantum technologies."
Scientists observe exotic quantum phase once thought impossible (original news release) "Discovery in a magnetic crystal could enable breakthroughs in quantum tech"
Fig. 1. Comparison between a light-matter system and a magnon-spin system for the Dicke SRPT.
Fig. 2. Spectroscopic evidence for the magnonic SRPT in ErFeO3.
Multi-sensor stethoscope-like flexible, handheld device offers improved heart valve disease detection and more even for untrained users
Good news! The good old stethoscope is getting an upgrade! 😊
"Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a potentially fatal condition, yet it's difficult to diagnose with a regular stethoscope. A possibly life-saving new multi-sensor stethoscope is claimed to be much better at the job, with the added benefit that it can be used by just about anyone. ...
the flexible handheld device is about the size and shape of a drink coaster, and it incorporates not one but six vibration-detecting piezoelectric sensors. ...
Those sensors are separated from one another by a vibration-absorbing silicone gel, allowing each one to operate completely independent of the others. Signal-quality-assessing algorithms automatically select the sensors that are receiving the best readings, ignoring those that lack sufficient diagnostic quality.
This multi-sensor design reportedly makes the device much better at detecting the telltale heart sounds associated with VHD, enough so that it can be used overtop of clothing by people with little training – possibly even by the patients themselves. ..."
"The researchers ... developed a device that makes it easy for people with or without medical training to record heart sounds accurately. Unlike a stethoscope, the device works well even if it’s not placed precisely on the chest: its larger, flexible sensing area helps capture clearer heart sounds than traditional stethoscopes.
The device can also be used over clothing, making it more comfortable for patients – especially women – during routine check-ups or community heart health screening programmes. ..."
From the abstract:
"Heart valve disease has a large and growing burden, with a prognosis worse than many cancers. Screening with a traditional stethoscope is underutilised, often inaccurate even in skilled hands, and requires time-consuming, intimate examinations.
Here, we present a handheld device to enable untrained users to record high-quality heart sounds without requiring patients to undress.
The device incorporates multiple high-sensitivity sensors embedded in a flexible substrate, placed at key chest locations by the user.
To address challenges from localised heart sound vibrations and noise interference, we developed time-frequency signal quality algorithms that automatically select the best sensor in the device and reject recordings with insufficient diagnostic quality.
A validation study demonstrates the device's effectiveness across a diverse range of body types, with multiple sensors significantly increasing the likelihood of a successful recording. The device has the potential to enable accurate, accessible, low-cost heart disease screening."
Handheld device could transform heart disease screening (original news release) "Researchers have developed a handheld device that could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease."
A flexible multi-sensor device enabling handheld sensing of heart sounds by untrained users (no public access)
A flexible multi-sensor device enabling handheld sensing of heart sounds by untrained users (preprint, open access)
Fig. 1 Design and example usage of sensor prototype. a, Exploded schematic of full sensor prototype.
Laser cooling for high density processors may significantly reduce power consumption and improve performance in data centers
Good news!
"... We've previously seen laser cooling methods being used to chill antimatter, aid in biological research, and to study quantum phenomena. Together with researchers at the University of New Mexico, this team is working on a completely new technology called laser-based photonic cooling. ...
Data center chips are typically cooled using cold water that flows through microscopic channels in copper plates mounted on top of the processors. The scientists are taking a totally different approach. They intend to create a photonic cold plate with tiny features, about a thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair, to channel cooling lasers to target hotspots. ..."
"... Because laser light will heat up impurities, erasing any cooling effect, the cold plate needs to have extremely pure, thin layers of crystalline gallium arsenide, also known as epitaxial layers, to work. ..."
"... development of a photonic cold plate designed to replace or complement traditional air- and water-based cooling systems. By harnessing laser light to target and cool localized hot spots on chips – such as GPUs – the technology aims to reduce power consumption, improve efficiency, and enable energy recovery paradigms not possible with conventional methods. ...
“A successful project will not only address the immediate need for energy savings but also pave the way for processors to operate at performance levels that were previously thought impossible,” ...
Under the CRADA [Cooperative Research and Development Agreement], Maxwell Labs will provide the technical designs, Sandia Labs will fabricate highly pure gallium arsenide-based devices using its expertise in molecular beam epitaxy, and UNM will evaluate the thermal performance of the resulting systems. ..."
A surprise contender for cooling computers: lasers (original news release) "One company says lasers may save energy and water. Sandia Labs is helping test the idea"
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