Yearly Archives: 2025

A Study on the Unique Variety of Camellia sinensis Found in the Tea Plant of Hainan Island

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Tea (Camellia sinensis) originated in China more than 3,000 years ago and evolved from a medicinal herb to a widely consumed beverage. Although there is considerable research focusing on tea plants in southwestern China, research on tea plants has received little attention. Hainan Island. Remarkable similarities between Hainanese tea and tea leaves Camellia sinensis variable Asamika Along with the island’s unique geographic and climatic conditions, research on Hainanese tea presents significant challenges. A new study fills this gap by collecting 500 tea tree samples from Hainan and using whole-genome resequencing to examine differences between Hainanese teas and cultivars. Camellia sinensis.

Guo others. A clear taxonomic position of Hainan tea was confirmed. Camellia sinensis providing valuable insights into resource conservation and molecular breeding. Image credit: Lin2015.

Tea is the oldest recorded tree crop in China, with a history of cultivation spanning more than 3,000 years.

Originally used as a medicinal herb with roots dating back approximately 5,000 years, it later evolved into a widely consumed beverage.

Tea plants grown worldwide are divided into two main groups. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamika.

Hainan Island, located in the northern part of the South China Sea, has a rich history of tea cultivation and has vast plantation areas.

There were reports that Hainan Island had abundant tea plant resources at the end of the Qing Dynasty.

For example, American missionary and botanist Benjamin Couch Henry discovered significant numbers of wild tea plants during his extensive explorations of the Li region of Hainan province, indicating that the island had an ancient tea plant resource. I have confirmed that it is plentiful.

Since the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is widely recognized as a potential geographic origin of tea, most studies on tea population genomics have focused on southwestern China, especially Camellia sinensis variable Asamika Despite the large number of varieties, research on Hainan tea plants remains relatively sparse.

“Our study clarifies the taxonomic position of Hainan tea and highlights the importance of conservation and molecular breeding efforts,” said researcher Dazhong Guo of Yunnan Agricultural University and colleagues.

In this study, the authors analyzed 500 tea plant samples (including those from ancient tea plants) collected from four major tea-producing regions in Hainan province: Ledong, Qiongzhong, Baisha, and Wuzhishan. The genome sequence was analyzed.

They acquired a total of 6.9 terabytes of raw sequencing data, which they filtered and aligned with a reference genome (Yunkang 10), achieving a final average alignment rate of 98.98%.

After variant calling, 32,334,340 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, the majority of which were located in intergenic regions and a small number in exonic regions.

Phylogenetic analysis using SNP data revealed that Hainan tea samples formed a distinct cluster separate from the overall tea leaves. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamika There is a significant geographic concentration within the Rim Mountain region, but no clear pattern elsewhere.

Population structure analysis further confirmed that Hainan tea exhibits a unique genetic composition compared to global varieties.

Principal component analysis (PCA) supported these findings and showed that Hainan tea is genetically different from other teas. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamikabut shares some genetic similarities with their global counterparts. Camellia sinensis variable Asamika.

Moreover, gene flow analysis suggested limited historical movement between Hainan tea and other tea varieties, reinforcing its unique genetic lineage.

Kinship analysis showed that the close genetic relationships observed in certain Hainanese tea samples were influenced by human activities in managed tea plantations.

Genetic diversity analysis revealed that the Hainan Island and Lim Mountains populations had higher levels of diversity compared to other populations. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamikathere is minimal genetic differentiation between Hainan tea and Limshan tea.

These results highlight the unique evolutionary trajectory of Hainan tea, provide valuable insights into its genetic background, and provide implications for conservation and breeding strategies.

The genetic uniqueness and high diversity of Hainan tea highlight its potential as a valuable resource for future breeding programs.

“Our research provides a deeper understanding of biological evolution. Camellia sinensis The stage is now set for further studying the genetic basis of Hainan's amazing plants,” the researchers said.

Their paper Published in a magazine agricultural biodiversity.

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Guo Dazhong others. 2024. Genome resequencing reveals genes with unique origins Camellia sinensis Variety – Hainanese tea. agricultural biodiversity 1 (1): 3-12;doi: 10.48130/abd-0024-0003

Source: www.sci.news

AI chatbots are incapable of diagnosing patients solely through conversation

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Don’t call your favorite AI “Doctor” yet

Just_Super/Getty Images

Advanced artificial intelligence models have scored highly in professional medical examinations, but they are still challenging one of the most important doctor tasks: talking to patients, gathering relevant medical information, and providing accurate diagnoses. I am still neglecting one thing.

“Large-scale language models perform well on multiple-choice tests, but their accuracy drops significantly on dynamic conversations,” he says. Pranav Rajpurkar at Harvard University. “Models especially struggle with open-ended diagnostic inference.”

This became clear when researchers developed a method to assess the reasoning ability of clinical AI models based on simulated doctor-patient conversations. “Patients” is based on 2000 medical cases drawn primarily from the United States Medical Board Specialty Examinations.

“Simulating patient interactions allows assessment of history-taking skills, which is an important element of clinical practice that cannot be assessed through case descriptions,” he says. shreya jolialso at Harvard University. The new assessment benchmark, called CRAFT-MD, “reflects real-world scenarios where patients may not know what details are important to share and may only disclose important information if prompted by specific questions. “I do,” she says.

The CRAFT-MD benchmark itself relies on AI. OpenAI's GPT-4 model acted as a “patient AI” that conversed with the “clinical AI” being tested. GPT-4 also helped score the results by comparing the clinical AI's diagnosis with the correct answer for each case. Human medical experts reconfirmed these assessments. We also reviewed the conversations to confirm the accuracy of the patient AI and whether the clinical AI was able to gather relevant medical information.

Multiple experiments have shown that the performance of four major large-scale language models (OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, Meta's Llama-2-7b model, and Mistral AI's Mistral-v2-7b model) is performance on benchmarks was shown to be significantly lower than at the time. Makes a diagnosis based on a written summary of the case. OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral AI did not respond to requests for comment.

For example, GPT-4's diagnostic accuracy was an impressive 82 percent when a structured case summary was presented and the diagnosis could be selected from a list of multiple-choice answers, but not when a multiple-choice option was provided. However, when it had to make a diagnosis from a simulated patient conversation, its accuracy dropped to just 26%.

And GPT-4 performs best among the AI ​​models tested in this study, with GPT-3.5 often coming in second place, and Mistral AI models sometimes coming in second or third place. Meta's Llama models generally had the lowest scores.

AI models also failed to collect complete medical histories a significant proportion of the time, with the leading model, GPT-4, only able to do so in 71% of simulated patient conversations. Even if an AI model collects a patient's relevant medical history, it doesn't necessarily yield the correct diagnosis.

It says such simulated patient conversations are a “much more useful” way to assess an AI's clinical reasoning ability than medical tests. Eric Topol At the Scripps Research Institute Translational Institute in California.

Even if an AI model ultimately passes this benchmark and consistently makes accurate diagnoses based on conversations with simulated patients, it won't necessarily be better than a human doctor. says Rajpurkar. He points out that real-world medical procedures are “more troublesome” than simulations. That includes managing multiple patients, coordinating with medical teams, performing physical exams, and understanding the “complex social and systemic factors” in the local health care setting.

“While the strong performance in the benchmarks suggests that AI may be a powerful tool to support clinical practice, it does not necessarily replace the holistic judgment of experienced physicians.” says Rajpurkar.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Elon Musk Urges Labor MP to Address Tommy Robinson’s Anger

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Elon Musk has caused controversy by advocating for the release of Tommy Robinson and criticizing Keir Starmer for not prosecuting a child rapist in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Billionaire and ally of Donald Trump, Elon Musk’s message “Free Tommy Robinson!” was prominently displayed on his X feed, showing support for the far-right activist who had been jailed for contempt of court.

In addition to expressing support for Robinson, Musk also made several posts about the Rochdale and Oldham rape gangs, criticizing the Prime Minister and Security Secretary Jess Phillips for their handling of the scandal.

In a post, Musk mentioned, “In the UK, serious crimes like rape require approval from the Crown Prosecution Service for the police to prosecute a suspect. Who was leading the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.”

He also stated that Mr. Phillips claimed it was Oldham City Council, not the central government, calling for an investigation into child exploitation, remarking, “He deserves to be in prison.”

Elsewhere, he suggested: “The real reason she’s refusing to investigate the rape gang is because it would clearly implicate Keir Starmer [Crown Prosecution Service] during that time.”

Musk reposted numerous comments advocating for Robinson’s release, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and who had been jailed the previous October for spreading false information about Syrian refugees.

The recent involvement of the Tesla founder and X owner in British politics has angered many Labour MPs, prompting calls for the government to cease using X for postings.

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The founder of Tesla and X has been openly critical of Mr. Starmer for the Prime Minister’s response to last summer’s British riots. He is reportedly considering donating up to $100m (£80m) to Reform Britain, and two weeks ago, he met with party leader Nigel Farage and treasurer Nick Candy, with whom he was photographed.

Musk’s recent online posts show strong support for the British far-right and follow his pledge to support Germany’s anti-immigration party, Alternative for Germany.

As one member of parliament commented: “[Musk] This time I went too far. Twitter [now X] is becoming a cesspit remarkably quickly, even for uninterested independents.”

Several ministers believe this should be the trigger for the government to distance itself from Musk’s platform, although some warn that doing so could create a diplomatic issue given Musk’s role in the upcoming Trump administration.

Downing Street declined to provide a comment.

A spokesperson for Reform UK did not indicate whether the billionaire’s support for Mr. Robinson, who is at odds within the party, would impact their willingness to accept funding from him.

A spokesperson for Oldham City Council stated: ‘Survivors are at the heart of our efforts to end child sexual exploitation, and their wishes remain our priority, regardless of the outcome of any future investigations. We have made a promise, and we intend to keep it.

“We all acknowledge the grave mistakes of the past where children were overlooked and neglected. By ensuring that survivors’ voices are heard, we can prevent the same failures from happening again.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exciting Upcoming Games of 2025: Mark Your Calendars for Date Everything!

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LLots of great stuff, date them all! It started as a joke. Envisioning a game in which a lonely remote worker starts chatting to furniture, Final Fantasy voice actors Ray Chase and Robbie Daymond immediately fell in love with the concept. What would happen if it really happened? It was A game where you can date literally anything?

A bizarre game of banging home appliances that boasts over 70,000 lines of dialogue and 100 dateable inanimate objects has become a reality. Working with Team 17 and fellow voice actress and producer Amanda Hufford, they brought their ridiculous concept to life, resulting in a game they describe as wholesome, frivolous, and fun.

You may be wondering how this works. Now, when players don Dateviators (VR glasses that turn inanimate household objects into talkable, dateable beings), inanimate furniture and appliances suddenly become very chatty, and within seconds I'm talking about a dishwasher and Start flirting.

“We knew we wanted to make sure it felt wholesome, that it was sexy, but in no way vulgar,” says Robbie Daymond. “Our mantra is that we want to create something that people won't feel embarrassed about if they come in. We're playing around with that.”

From tables and microwaves to fireplaces and televisions, there are “characters” you can write dates on, and each potential lover is brought to life by a different voice actor. Every appliance is decidedly and endearingly weird, from a surprisingly liberating microwave that makes you think you're fighting an interdimensional war to a gushing frat-boy fireplace dubbed “The Art of the Pick-Up Line.” is.




No need to be shy…date everything! Photo: Sassy Chap Games

They're also taking a different approach to paying actors fairly. “One of the superpowers we have is that we know a lot of people in the industry,” Daymond says. “We have a good relationship with [actors union] SAG and we were able to work out a deal that would give back the balance to the actors who worked on it. Thanks to a combination of clever scripting by TV writer Logan Burdick and great voice acting throughout, even my short demo gives me the following endearing freedom to see what happens next. I felt I had to meet a new appliance.

Although it sounds like a product of the pandemic, the premise of Date Everything was actually born in 2018 when Draymond wondered if anyone could empathize with the boredom and social deprivation of remote work. . “I’m really excited that something so surreal exists,” Burdick reflects. “I think it’s unbelievable that everyone got a chance.”

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“I was a little skeptical when I started working with the team,” exclaims Jack, the game's quiet programmer. “But I was really impressed when I actually played it and saw how much care and attention was put into each character. A lot of games do primarily the same thing in slightly different ways. It's not a typical game, and that's very important today.”

Date Everything will be released on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox on February 14th

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why science recommends abstinence for a healthier life over moderate drinking

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In a dry January of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alcohol statement pouring warm, stale lager, based on the idea that no matter how much alcohol you drink, it’s good for your health. There is no such thing as a safe drinkit was written.

Publication year lancet public healthThe statement states: “Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and addictive substance; [was] It was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer several decades ago.” It’s a sobering thought, and a surprise to those of us who celebrate our health with the occasional drink.

We all know that excessive drinking is associated with a variety of health problems, including damage to the liver, heart, mental health, and even increased risk of cancer. But most drinkers have also likely heard that small amounts of alcohol can have certain protective effects, such as reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and lowering insulin resistance.

Of course, “moderate drinking” is a subjective measure. In the UK, this means between 7 and 14 units of alcohol per week (14 units is the equivalent of six pints of beer or one and a half bottles of wine). Belgian guidelines state that drinking 21 drinks a week for men and 14 drinks a week for women is “low risk”. So why did the WHO decide that consuming alcohol in any amount is bad?

Dry January was launched as a public health campaign in 2013 by Alcohol Change UK, a UK-based charity. – Photo credit: Getty

Well, the WHO statement was not issued in a vacuum. It explains that it partially arose from the debate over whether there is a “threshold” at which alcohol becomes carcinogenic. Dr. Jurgen Rehma PhD from the University of Toronto, researching the harms of alcohol and other drugs to public health.

“While being even, [the alcohol] “While the industry does not deny that alcohol is a carcinogen, there has been debate about potential thresholds,” he says.

“This led to a reassessment of the evidence and reiterated the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s statement that there is no lower limit.”

In other words, drinking just one drink a week increases your risk of cancer. This is consistent with what other researchers have found in recent years. “There’s a lot of research on breast cancer that shows that even drinking less than one drink a day can pose a risk,” Rehm says.

And it’s not just cancer. In 2021, scientists at the University of Oxford discovered that: No amount of alcohol is safe for brain functiontracks the loss of gray and white matter in the brain as alcohol intake increases.

In 2022, researchers also rejected the idea that light drinking is good for the heart. Using data from over 300,000 people in the UK Biobank, they found that: Even just a few drinks can increase your risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease..

They also found that while light drinkers appear to have a lower risk of heart disease than abstainers, it’s not vice that helps. Instead, the study found that light drinkers were more likely to engage in other healthy behaviors, such as exercising and quitting smoking. It was those, not the occasional shiraz, that were the beneficiary.

There is another interesting point that emerges from these and other studies. In most cases, the health risks from alcohol increase the more you drink.

“Many of the risk curves for alcohol are exponential,” Rehm says. “This means that the health benefits of reducing your daily drinks from four to two are much greater than reducing your daily drinks from two to zero.”

Nothing in life is without risk. So if you enjoy drinking occasionally, you may be able to tolerate the risk. “Personally, I don’t care about the risk of three glasses.” [a week]”Unless you’re genetically predisposed to cancer,” Rehm says.

For anyone cutting back after a very enjoyable Christmas, it’s natural to wonder whether Dry January should be a more permanent change. The evidence continues to mount and it is clear that less is more.

read more:

About our experts

Dr. Jurgen Rehm She studies addiction at the University of Toronto, focusing on how social factors and policies influence drug use. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Jelinek Memorial Award and the European Addiction Research Award.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

NHS’s Health Innovation Center Honors its Legacy and Embraces Future Innovations

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In a life-size model of a house, a 50,000-pound mannequin capable of breathing, blinking, and coughing awaits a replica ambulance.

The remarkably lifelike technology developed by the model-makers who created the ‘bodies’ for the BBC’s Silent Witness integrates real-world training with simulated environments, including virtual reality, to enhance medical training and address the shortage of student lab time.

Kevin Reilly, technical services manager at the National Healthcare Innovation Center (NHIC), explains the capabilities of human patient simulation: “If you inject them, they’ll react. If they collapse your lungs and intubate you, your lips will become cyanotic. Even in worsening scenarios, we can resuscitate them exactly as we would a real patient.”

Yorkshire and the Humber region has the highest level of overweight individuals, the second highest infant mortality rate, and the third lowest life expectancy in the UK. NHIC, located at the University of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, aims to alleviate NHS staffing shortages, address inequality, and promote regeneration.

NHIC, spanning seven buildings upon completion, plans to serve a population of 7 million people from South Yorkshire to Greater Manchester, offering state-of-the-art facilities and innovative healthcare solutions.

The NHIC celebrates the history of the NHS while looking towards the future, honoring individuals like Daphne Steele, the first black hostel director in Britain, through the newly opened simulation facility.

The center’s innovative approach to medical training includes a ‘community house’ within the Daphne Steele building, allowing trainees to practice in realistic scenarios with a range of mannequins.

NHIC also addresses the need for healthcare workers, including nurses, paramedics, and podiatrists, in the face of NHS staffing challenges.

Local connections and a focus on skill development relevant to the region distinguish Huddersfield as a prime location for medical training, with the NHIC viewed as a groundbreaking project in the North of England.

Robert Steele, son of NHS worker Daphne Steele, praises NHIC’s tribute to his mother’s legacy, recalling her impactful career in healthcare that garnered global recognition.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Transform Your Life with This Simple Exercise

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The active fitness enthusiasts among us enjoy reaping the rewards of our workouts, whether it’s hitting the track for a run or refueling at the gym. But for the rest of us, finding time for a full workout can be a challenge, especially for those with busy schedules or young children. New research suggests that breaking up your physical activities throughout the day can be just as beneficial as longer workouts.

Studies have shown that incorporating small bursts of activity into your daily routine can help improve your overall health and longevity. Recent research indicates that even short periods of activity can have a positive impact on your health, particularly for those who are considered inactive and at risk of heart-related issues.

Thanks to advancements in movement tracking technology, scientists can now accurately monitor people’s activity levels, providing valuable insights into the benefits of even small amounts of physical activity. This precise measurement has revealed the significant impact that short, intense activities can have on overall health.

Research is highlighting the importance of “vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity” (VILPA), which includes short bursts of high-intensity activities like running up stairs as part of your daily routine. Studies have demonstrated that incorporating these types of activities into your day can lead to improved health outcomes.

While the World Health Organization recommends a certain amount of weekly physical activity, many people struggle to meet these guidelines. The idea of incorporating shorter bursts of activity throughout the day is gaining traction as a more achievable way to stay active and healthy.

Both VILPA and exercise snacks, which involve intentional bursts of activity, offer a more flexible approach to physical fitness. These concepts aim to make staying active more accessible, especially for individuals who may find traditional exercise routines challenging.

While short bursts of activity should not be seen as a replacement for longer workouts, they can be a valuable addition to your overall fitness routine. Experts emphasize that any physical activity, no matter how short, is beneficial for your health and well-being.

About our experts

Emmanuel Stamatakis: Professor of physical activity and population health, with extensive experience in sports medicine and research.

Lenert Veerman: Public health expert specializing in health economics and epidemiological modeling.

Tessa Strain: Postdoctoral fellow specializing in physical activity research and public health policy.

Jonathan Little: Professor known for developing the concept of “exercise snacks.”

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

DECam captures close-up of the Antria galaxy cluster

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The Antria Galaxy Cluster is a group of at least 230 galaxies brought together by gravity. This galaxy cluster is rare. Unlike most other galaxy clusters, there appears to be no dominant galaxy within it.

The Antria star cluster is dominated by two giant elliptical galaxies: NGC 3268 (center) and NGC 3258 (bottom right). Image credits: Dark Energy Survey / DOE / FNAL / DECam / CTIO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / R. Colombari & M. Zamani, NSF's NOIRLab.

Galaxy clusters, like stars and galaxies, are fundamental building blocks of the universe.

These structures typically contain thousands of galaxies of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

They have a mass about a million times the mass of the Sun and are formed over billions of years as groups of small galaxies slowly come together.

At one point, galaxy clusters were believed to be the largest structures in the universe, until they were supplanted by the discovery of superclusters in the 1980s. Its length spans hundreds of millions of light years.

However, there is one thing the cluster holds on to. Because superclusters are not held together by gravity, galaxy clusters still hold the title of the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe.

“Galaxy clusters are some of the largest known structures in the known universe,” NOIRLab astronomers said in a statement.

“Current models suggest that these giant structures form as clumps of dark matter, and that the galaxies that form within them are pulled together by gravity to form groups of dozens of galaxies, which then merge to form groups of several dozen galaxies. This suggests that they form clusters of hundreds or even thousands of galaxies.

“One such group is antoria clusterlocated approximately 130 million light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Antolia. ”

The Antlia cluster, also known as Abell S636, 3rd closest Add it to the local group after the Virgo and Fornax clusters.

The new images of the Antolia star cluster were captured by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on NSF's Victor M. Blanco 4-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, a program of NSF's NOIRLab.

It captures only a portion of the 230 galaxies so far discovered to make up this cluster, as well as thousands of background galaxies.

“Antria Cluster” host Two giant elliptical galaxies: NGC3268 and NGC 3258,” the astronomers said.

“These central galaxies are surrounded by numerous faint dwarf galaxies.”

“Based on X-ray observations that revealed the existence of a 'rope' of globular clusters along the optical peak region between these two galaxies, we believe that these two galaxies are in the process of merging. Masu.”

“This may be evidence that the Antlia cluster is actually two smaller clusters joined together.”

“The cluster is rich in lenticular galaxies (a type of disk galaxy with little interstellar medium and therefore little continuous star formation), as well as some irregular galaxies,” the researchers added. .

“Many rarer, lower-luminosity dwarf galaxies have been discovered within this cluster, including ultracompact dwarfs, compact elliptical galaxies, and blue compact dwarfs.”

“The Antria cluster may also contain subtypes of dwarf spheroidal and superdiffuse galaxies, but further investigation is needed to confirm these.”

“Many of these galaxy types have been identified within the past few decades, as advances in observational instruments and data analysis techniques have allowed us to better capture the low luminosity and relatively small size of these galaxies. It just happened.”

“Assessing galaxy types allows us to plot details of their evolution, and some galaxies are rich in dark matter, providing further opportunities to understand this mysterious material, which makes up 25% of the universe. We will provide it.”

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists create advanced nanosensor for measuring forces

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The newly developed all-optical nanosensor is a luminescent nanocrystal that changes intensity and color when pushed or pulled. Probed only with light, allowing fully remote reading. No wires or connections required. They have force sensitivity that is 100 times better than existing nanoparticles that utilize rare earth ions for their optical response, with a force operating range of more than four orders of magnitude and a much wider range than other nanoparticles (10–100 times). Conventional optical nanosensor.

Illustration of atomic arrangement within a single lanthanide-doped nanocrystal. Each lanthanide ion can emit light. Image credit: Andrew Mueller / Columbia Engineering.

“Our discovery revolutionizes the sensitivity and dynamic range achievable with optical force sensors, and has implications for applications from robotics to cellular biophysics, medicine to space travel,” said Dr. Jim Shack, a researcher at Columbia University. We expect that this technology will immediately disrupt technology in this field.”

The new nanosensor enables high-resolution, multiscale capabilities for the first time in the same nanosensor.

This means that this nanosensor alone, rather than a series of different classes of sensors, can be used for the continuous study of forces from the subcellular level to the whole system level in engineered and biological systems such as embryonic development. It is important because it means , moving cells, batteries, or integrated NEMS, highly sensitive nanoelectromechanical systems in which the physical movement of nanometer-scale structures is controlled by electronic circuits and vice versa.

“Aside from their unparalleled multiscale sensing capabilities, what makes these force sensors unique is that they operate with benign, biocompatible, and deeply penetrating infrared light,” said Natalie, a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. said Dr. Fardian Melamed.

“This will allow us to peer deeply into various technical and physiological systems and monitor health conditions from a distance.”

“These sensors will enable early detection of system malfunctions and failures, and will have a major impact on sectors ranging from human health to energy and sustainability.”

Researchers were able to construct these nanosensors by exploiting the photon avalanche effect within nanocrystals.

In photon avalanche nanoparticles, the absorption of a single photon within the material causes a chain reaction that ultimately leads to the emission of many photons. Therefore, one photon is absorbed and many photons are emitted.

The optically active components within the nanocrystals studied are atomic ions from the lanthanide series of elements of the periodic table, also known as rare earth elements, doped into the nanocrystals. In this study, the scientists used thulium.

They found that the photon avalanche process is very sensitive to several things, such as the spacing between lanthanide ions.

With this in mind, they tapped a piece of a photon avalanche nanoparticle (ANP) with an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and found that the avalanche's behavior was influenced by these gentler forces than previously expected. I found that I was greatly affected.

“We discovered this almost by accident,” Shook said.

“We suspected that these nanoparticles were force-sensitive, so we measured the release while hitting the nanoparticles.”

“And they turned out to be much more sensitive than expected!”

“In fact, we couldn't believe it at first either. We thought the chip might be having a different effect.”

The authors knew how sensitive ANPs were, so they designed new nanoparticles that responded to force in different ways.

In one new design, nanoparticles change the color of their emitted light depending on the applied force.

In another design, they created nanoparticles that do not exhibit photon avalanches under ambient conditions, but start avalanching when a force is applied. These turned out to be very sensitive to forces.

They are now applying these force sensors to critical systems with the goal of making a big impact.

“The importance of developing new force sensors was recently highlighted by 2021 Nobel Prize Laureate Erdem Patapoutian. “It highlighted the difficulty of investigating biological processes,” said Dr. Shook.

“We are thrilled to be part of these discoveries that will transform the sensing paradigm and allow us to sensitively and dynamically map significant changes in forces and pressures in real-world environments that are unreachable with today's technology.” I think so.

team's work Published in today's diary nature.

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Natalie Fardian Melamed others. 2025. Infrared nanosensor from piconewton to micronewton forces. naturein press. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08221-2

This article is a version of a press release provided by Columbia University.

Source: www.sci.news

The Growth of Muslim-Friendly Websites and Apps: A Look at Halal Technology in 2024

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aMany Kirawi create breakup playlists every time they get dumped, and there are three in total. A playlist featuring songs like Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and OneRepublic’s “Apologize” would be the perfect soundtrack for a romantic split, but it wasn’t. The playlist was put together after Qirawi was told by three different banks and payment processors that they would no longer work with LaunchGood, a crowdfunding platform for the Muslim community that she co-founded.

Stripe said so. limit the work After working with LaunchGood for five years, we entered the crowdfunding space. Stripe also told the company that it no longer wanted to do any international humanitarian work, which is a prerequisite for crowdfunding platforms that cater to Muslim communities. Another bank told the company there were so many Muslim and Arabic names that it was difficult to know whether those names belonged to sanctioned individuals.

“People don’t realize that Muhammad is the most approved name,” said Kilawi, LaunchGood’s chief operating officer. With each layoff, it felt like LaunchGood was on the brink of collapse. “If we can’t accept payments, we can’t survive as a business,” she says.

Few existing options offered the stability and reliability that Killawi and his co-founders were looking for. So they did what a growing number of the founders of Islam have been doing ever since. It was about creating your own solution.

LaunchGood co-founders Amany Killawi, Chris Blauvelt, and Omar Hamid. Photo: LaunchGood

Now, more than a decade after its founding, LaunchGood is a well-known company that has helped its primarily Muslim user base raise nearly $700 million. Although the platform also hosts private fundraisers, LaunchGood is best known for: focus on philanthropy Users can also now set up automatic donations for every day of the holy month of Ramadan. It is the main gateway for many people during Ramadan, and many Muslims donate to charity every day during Ramadan.

The rise of this site and the challenges it faces are not unusual. According to studies and surveys, the “halal” consumer market, which includes halal food, financial services, and other goods and services aimed at Muslims, has grown to an estimated $2 trillion worldwide. Advisory company Dinar Standard. still 2022 survey Muslims are more likely than other religious groups to have their accounts closed, investigated, or challenged at banks and other U.S. financial institutions, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Social Policy Understanding (ISPU). More likely, businesses are effectively denied access to Muslim customers.

That’s why Kirawi decided to step away from his day-to-day responsibilities as LaunchGood’s chief operating officer and form a sister company, a payments processing company called PayGood, in 2024. She hopes to give what the LaunchGood team had to hack together to Muslim businesses and charities. As such, it is a non-discriminatory and reliable payment system.

“when [my co-founders and I] “We started 11 years ago and we just wanted to build a community,” Kirawi said. “We never thought we would have to become compliance experts. At some point, it felt very present. Can you survive in this world without financial access? ”

LaunchGood was one of the early entrants into the largely untapped Muslim-friendly technology space, while its sister company is a growing technology company aimed at catering to Muslims in the US, Canada, and the UK. Part of the enterprise and software companies. But what it means to be a Muslim-friendly company has begun to change since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Targeting Muslim consumers has always meant some alignment with the ethics and values ​​of the Muslim community, such as offering halal dating apps, interest-free loans, and modest clothing. Now, this new player in Muslim-friendly technology is openly responding to growing demand among its target customers to make it easier to stop contributing to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. Or working on it implicitly.

“What happened in Gaza last year struck a completely different nerve,” Qirawi said. “Palestine is a perennial issue for Muslims, but the level and scale of destruction over the past year has been unprecedented. It has accelerated this entire Islamic ecosystem and economy.” There's a new awareness among people: “Let's vote.'' ”

Even PayGood, which is still in beta, is starting to emerge as an alternative to major payment processors like Stripe and PayPal as Muslims decide whether these existing platforms align with their values. .

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Jeff Koons explains his decision to reject AI in the art world: “I refuse to take the easy way out”

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HJeff Koons, the world’s most expensive artist, has faced criticism in the past for creating his famous balloon dogs and stainless steel rabbits without physically using his own hands. I have drawn a line. Work – I am contemplating using AI to enhance my work.

The art world is currently abuzz with discussions about the possibilities and risks of artificial intelligence. Deep learning models are now capable of replicating styles and generating unique compositions upon request.

Speaking to the Guardian at the launch of Reflections, a joint exhibition featuring his work alongside Pablo Picasso’s at Granada’s Alhambra Palace, Koons welcomed this divine development. His reliance on a team of craftsmen and cutting-edge technology to create his artwork led Collector magazine to question last year, “Is Jeff Koons a true artist?”




A work juxtaposed with Jeff Koons’ Ball of Gazes (David’s intervention with a Sabine woman) in Granada and Picasso’s Helmeted Head.

Koons has embraced technological advancements in his work. A highly mirror-polished stainless steel Rabbit he created five years ago, designed to mimic the look and materials of a balloon through intensive machining, fetched a record $91 million (£72.5 million). His previous bestseller, a 10-foot-tall steel balloon dog, sold for $58 million in 2013. Additionally, in February, 125 of his miniature lunar sculptures were sent to the moon via a SpaceX rocket, becoming the first authorized art pieces on the moon.

His Gazing ball series has been recreated, with a large blue glass bauble added to the shelf and selecting 35 out of 350 balls before finalizing the artwork. Koons is also exploring innovative avenues. He shared, “I have a few projects in mind. We have had insightful discussions with individuals at the forefront of AI development.”

Source: www.theguardian.com