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New Study Unravels the Varied Emotional Purpose of Dreams in Different Locations

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Dreaming is a complex neurophysiological experience that is influenced by the sociocultural environment, and recent research has compared the dreams of forager communities in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with those in Europe and North America, and has Differences in tone and simulation of real-life situations became apparent. This study shows that dreams reflect social norms and values, suggesting a link between dream content and an individual’s sociocultural life.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Toronto revealed that dreams have a variety of emotional functions.

Why do we dream? This phenomenon is rooted in neurophysiological processes in the brain and manifests as multifaceted, often emotionally charged experiences that can mimic aspects of reality to varying degrees. However, the definitive reason for dreaming remains unclear. A new study jointly conducted by the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the University of Toronto and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) compares the dreams of her two hunting communities in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with those of individuals living in Africa. did. Europe and North America.

It showed that the first two groups not only produced more threatening dreams but also more cathartic and socially oriented dreams than the Western group.These results will be read scientific reportshows how strong the link between sociocultural environment and dream function is.

Dreams are hallucinatory experiences common to all humankind. This occurs most often during a paradoxical phase of sleep known as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. However, it can occur during any sleep stage.

What is the physiological, emotional and cultural function of dreams? Do they regulate our emotions? Does it prepare us to deal with certain situations? Recent theories suggest that during “functional” dreaming, individuals simulate more threatening or social situations, which may have an evolutionary advantage in promoting adaptive behavior in real-life situations. It suggests that it is possible.

Dream results vary depending on environment and population studied

To test these theories, researchers from UNIGE and the University of Toronto compared the dream content of the Bayaka people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hadza people of Tanzania, two communities that approximate a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. . Ancestry – Ancestry of a diverse group of individuals living in Europe and North America (Switzerland, Belgium, Canada), including healthy participants and patients with mental disorders.

Bayaka and Hadza dream stories were collected over two months in the field by anthropologists from the University of Toronto. Data on dreams in Western groups comes from previous studies published between 2014 and 2022.

“We found that Bayaka and Hadza dreams are very dynamic. They often begin in dangerous, life-threatening situations, whereas the Western groups we observed In contrast, in clinical populations, such as patients suffering from nightmares or social anxiety, dreams may be intense but do not involve cathartic emotional resolution. “The latter group seems to lack the adaptive function of dreaming,” says Lampros, a private professor and group leader in the Department of Psychiatry and Basic Neuroscience at UNIGE School of Medicine, and HUG’s attending physician.・Mr. Perogamvros explains. The Center for Sleep Medicine led the study.

A mirror that reflects social structure

The researchers found that among the responses Native Americans have when faced with threats in dreams, those related to social support are very frequent. For example, an indigenous person reports a dream in which he was run over by a buffalo in the middle of the bush and was rescued by a member of his community. Or someone may have a dream where they fall into a well and one of their friends saves them. These dreams contain their own emotional resolutions.‘

“Social bonds are necessarily very strong among the Bayaka and Hadza people. Daily life and the division of labor are typically more egalitarian when compared to the more individualistic societies of Europe and North America. This kind of dependence on social connections and community means that the best way for them to process the emotional content associated with threats in their dreams is to take advantage of the social relationships they have. “In fact, these relationships are emotional tools used to process life’s challenges,” says John, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at the University of Toronto in Mississauga and lead author of the study. David Samson explains. Therefore, the research team suggests that there is a close relationship between the function of dreams and the social norms and values ​​of each specific society studied.

“However, this study makes it difficult to infer a causal relationship between dreams and daytime activity. Nor should we conclude that dreams in Western populations have no emotional function.”・Mr. Perogamvros added. In fact, in 2019, the same research team found that “bad dreams” in Western people, dreams with negative content that are not nightmares, are often simulations of our fears, and that once we wake up, we are faced with our fears. published a study showing that they are preparing to do so. I’m awake. “There appears to be more than one type of ‘functional’ dream. This study shows that there is a strong link between our sociocultural lives and the function of dreams,” the researchers said. concludes.

Reference: “Evidence for the Emotionally Adaptive Function of Dreams: A Cross-Cultural Study” David R. Samson, Alice Clerge, Nour Abbas, Jeffrey Senese, Marika S. Sarma, Sheena Lou-Levi, Ibrahim A.・Mabulla, Audax ZP Mabulla, Valcy Miegacanda, Francesca Borghese, Pauline Henkarz, Sophie Schwartz, Virginie Starpenich, Lee T. Gettler, Adam Boyett, Alyssa N. Crittenden, Lampros Perroganvros, 2023 October 2nd, scientific report.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43319-z

Source: scitechdaily.com

Teens’ asthma risk may be heightened by E-cigarettes

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A Texas A&M University study shows that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma in young nonsmokers, identifies associated risk factors, and calls for public health measures to reduce e-cigarette use among young people. There is.

This study highlights the urgent need to develop approaches to address the rising prevalence of e-cigarette uptake and its negative health effects.

A recent study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that e-cigarettes may increase the risk of asthma in young people who do not smoke traditional tobacco products.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents has increased dramatically over the past few years. Although e-cigarettes contain fewer toxins than regular cigarettes, they still contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals that increase the risk of respiratory illness.

Research results on e-cigarettes and asthma

In this new study published in preventive medicine, researchers analyzed data from a national survey of young people to determine whether there was a link between e-cigarettes and asthma. Researchers also sought to identify factors that may be associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents.

The research team used data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a national health dataset set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track health behaviors and outcomes in children and youth. The study used data collected between 2015 and 2019, including information on e-cigarette use. The analysis included data from more than 3,000 youth ages 13 to 17 in Texas and more than 32,000 youth in the United States for comparison.

The survey asked respondents whether they had ever used e-cigarettes, how many days in the past 30 days they had used e-cigarettes, and whether a health care professional had ever told them they had asthma. The study includes information on respondents’ gender, age, race, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and presence or absence of symptoms of depression. The analysis also includes data on the use of other substances, including traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

Correlation and risk factors

This study confirmed the association between e-cigarette use and asthma in young people who have never smoked traditional tobacco products. This indicates that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma independently of the use of traditional tobacco products in young people.

Researchers also found evidence that some demographic factors, behaviors associated with drug use, and the presence of depressive symptoms were associated with e-cigarette use. Young people who used traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances were more likely to use e-cigarettes, as were depressed subjects.

Additionally, Hispanic youth in Texas were significantly less likely to have used e-cigarettes than non-Hispanic white youth. However, researchers found that there were no notable differences between races and ethnicities in the United States as a whole. Further research is needed to identify factors that may be associated with decreased e-cigarette use among Hispanic youth in Texas.

Recommendations and conclusions

“Increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of e-cigarette use, introducing stricter regulations, and promoting alternative coping mechanisms for mental health are potential interventions to reduce e-cigarette use.” “Yes,” said Dr. Taehyung Lo, lead author of the study.

Given the burden of asthma and the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents, researchers hope these findings will help inform public health efforts to reduce e-cigarette use. ing.

Reference: “The Association between E-Cigarette Use and Asthma in U.S. Youth: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2015-2019,” by Taehyun Roh, Kido Uyamasi, Anisha Aggarwal, Alexander Obeng, and Jenny Carrillo, September 2023. Four days, preventive medicine.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107695

Source: scitechdaily.com

Lucy spacecraft makes a new asteroid discovery, finding another one beyond asteroid Dinkinesh

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Asteroid Dinkinesh and its orbiting asteroids

NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins University APL/NOAO

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft passed the first asteroid and discovered a second asteroid at the same time. Lucy passed the small asteroid Dinkinesh on November 1, and images sent back to Earth show that Dinkinesh has an even smaller space rock orbiting it, the smallest main-belt asteroid ever observed up close. It became clear that there was.

This finding was not entirely surprising. As Lucy approached Dinkinesh over the past few weeks, the asteroid’s brightness appeared to oscillate over time, often indicating the presence of some type of satellite. But Dinkinesh’s diameter is only about 790 meters (790 meters), making it impossible to spot the satellite from Earth, and until November 1, even spacecraft were too far away to see it clearly.

During a flyby on November 1, Lucy flew just 430 kilometers (430 kilometers) from Dinkinesh at speeds of about 16,000 kilometers per hour, taking photos as it passed. These photos reveal a second, smaller asteroid in the Dinkinesh binary, this one only about 220 meters in diameter.

“We knew this would be the smallest main-belt asteroid ever seen up close.” Keith Knoll at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. statement. “The fact that it’s two makes it even more exciting. In some ways, these asteroids are similar to near-Earth asteroids. Binary Didymus and Dimorpho [NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission] However, there are some very interesting differences that we will explore further. ”

The main purpose of the flyby was to test Lucy’s scientific equipment, especially the system that keeps it on target as it passes by at high speed, and the fact that nothing is visible in these first images suggests that the tracking system is not properly aligned. It shows that it is functioning. The remaining data from the encounter will be transmitted to Earth over the next week or so for more thorough examination by the mission’s scientists and engineers.

Now that Lucy has passed Dinkinesh and its partner asteroid, its next target is asteroid 52246 Donald Johansson, where it plans to visit in 2025 before accelerating toward Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. The Trojan horse travels in front of and behind Jupiter as it orbits around the sun, and because it is likely a remnant left over from the formation of the solar system, it provides valuable insight into how the planet formed and evolved over time. May hold insights. Lucy she will reach the Trojans in 2027.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Starfish possess only a substantial, compressed head and lack a body.

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A juvenile Patilia miniata starfish with fluorescent staining highlighting the skeleton, muscles, and nervous system.

Laurent Formery

Scientists trying to figure out where the starfish’s head is located have come to the surprising conclusion that the starfish is practically the entire body of the animal. The discovery not only solves this long-standing mystery, but also helps us understand how evolution created the dramatic diversity of animal forms on Earth.

Starfish, also known as sea stars, belong to a group of animals called echinoderms, which includes sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Their strange body design has long puzzled biologists. Most animals, including humans, have distinct cranial and caudal ends, and a line of symmetry runs down the middle of the body, dividing it into two halves of its mirror image. Animals with this bilateral symmetry are called bilateral animals.

Echinoderms, on the other hand, have five lines of symmetry radiating from a central point and no physically obvious heads or tails. However, they are closely related to animals like us, having evolved from bilaterally symmetrical ancestors. Even larvae are bilaterally symmetrical and then radically reorganize their bodies as they metamorphose into adults.

These large differences make it difficult for scientists to find and compare equivalent body parts in bilateral animals to understand how echinoderms evolved. “Morphology tells us very little,” he says. Laurent Formery at Stanford University in California. “That’s too strange.”

Formalie and his colleagues decided to examine a set of genes known to direct head-to-tail control. All bilateralist organizations. In these animals, these genes are turned on and expressed in stripes in the outer layers of the developing embryo. The genes expressed in each stripe define which point it is on the cranio-caudal axis.

The aim was to see if gene expression patterns could reveal the hidden “molecular anatomy” of echinoderms. “This particular gene suite is ideal for investigating the diversity of the most extreme forms of animals,” says the team leader. chris lowe, also at Stanford University. “I think echinoderms are a very extreme experiment in how to use that bidirectional network to produce very, very different body plans.”

To the team’s surprise, the gene that determines the head edge of bilateral animals was expressed in a line running down the center of each star star’s lower arm. The next leading gene is expressed on both sides of this line, and so on.

Even more bizarrely, genes normally expressed in the trunk of bilateral animals were missing from the animals’ outer layers. This suggests that the starfish abandoned its trunk region and released its outer layer to evolve in a new direction, Formery said.

The findings show that “the bodies of echinoderms, at least with respect to their external surfaces, are essentially lip-walking heads.” Thurston Lacari from the University of Victoria, Canada, was not involved in the study. Animals like us may have swam away to escape predation. “Echinoderms didn’t need trunks because they were hunched over and armored,” Lacari says.

The idea that echinoderms are “head-like” animals is “interesting and powerful,” he says. Andreas Heyland at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. This raises some very important and fundamental questions about how ecological factors shape the evolution of anatomy, he says. “Finding the underlying conserved patterns provides important insights into how development evolves.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Utilizing Webb’s Advanced Optical Techniques to Unravel the Mysteries of the Ring Nebula

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New images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) reveal intriguing details of the Ring Nebula. These images show approximately 10 concentric arcs located just beyond the outer edge of the main ring, suggesting the presence of a low-mass companion star orbiting the central star at a distance similar to that between Earth and Pluto. Researchers from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, Griet van de Steene and Peter van Hof, are part of the international team of astronomers who released these breathtaking images. In their research paper, they analyze these features and discuss their implications for the star’s evolution.

The Ring Nebula, located about 2,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra, is a well-known and visually striking planetary nebula. It displays a donut-shaped structure consisting of glowing gas, which was shed by a dying star as it reached the end of its lifecycle. The web’s NIRCam (near-infrared camera) and MIRI instruments have captured stunning footage of the nebula, providing scientists with an opportunity to study and understand its complex structure.

The recent images obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam reveal intricate details of the filamentary structure of the inner ring of the Ring Nebula. This inner region contains about 20,000 dense spherules and is rich in hydrogen molecules. Additionally, the outer region of the nebula contains a thin ring with enhanced emission from carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These details were analyzed and described in a research paper by Griet van de Steene, Peter van Hof, and their team.

The Webb images also show peculiar spikes extending outward from the central star on the outside of the ring. These spikes, observed in the infrared but faint in the visible spectrum captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, may be caused by molecules forming in the shadow of the densest part of the ring, shielded from direct radiation from the hot central star.

Furthermore, the researchers discovered 10 concentric arcs in a faint halo outside the ring. These arcs indicate the possible presence of a companion star orbiting at a distance similar to that between our Sun and Pluto. The interaction between the central star and this companion star may have shaped the nebula into its distinctive elliptical form.

The detailed images captured by the Webb telescope provide valuable insights into the process of stellar evolution. By studying the Ring Nebula, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the life cycles of stars and the elements they release into space. Griet van de Steene and Peter van Hof, along with their team of experts in planetary nebulae and related objects, are actively researching and analyzing the Ring Nebula using imaging and spectroscopy techniques.

Source: scitechdaily.com

New insights uncovered by scientists on the transformative effects of endurance training on muscles

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Researchers at the University of Basel have conducted a study on muscle adaptations in mice and discovered that endurance training leads to significant muscle remodeling. This is evident in the differential gene expression in trained muscles compared to untrained muscles, with epigenetic changes playing a crucial role in these adaptations. Trained muscles become more efficient and resilient, allowing for improved performance over time. The findings shed new light on the mechanisms behind these muscle adaptations.

Endurance training comes with numerous benefits. Regular exercise not only enhances overall fitness and health but also brings about substantial changes in muscle structure. This results in decreased muscle fatigue, increased energy production, and optimized oxygen usage. The recent experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Basel, using mice as subjects, have further elucidated these muscle changes.

Professor Christoph Handsin, who has extensive experience in muscle biology research at the Biozentrum University of Basel, explains that it is well-known that muscles adapt to physical activity. The goal of their study was to gain a deeper understanding of the processes occurring in muscles during athletic training. The researchers found that training status is reflected in gene expression.

Comparing untrained and trained mice, Handsin’s team examined the changes in gene expression in response to exercise. Surprisingly, they discovered that a relatively small number of around 250 genes were altered in trained resting muscles compared to untrained muscles. However, after intense exercise, approximately 1,800 to 2,500 genes were regulated. The response of specific genes and the degree of regulation depended largely on the training condition.

Untrained muscles activated inflammatory genes in response to endurance training, which could lead to muscle soreness from small injuries. In contrast, trained muscles exhibited increased activity in genes that protect and support muscle function, allowing them to respond differently to exercise stress. Trained muscles were more efficient and resilient, enabling them to handle physical loads better.

The researchers found that epigenetic modifications, chemical tags in the genome, played a crucial role in shaping muscle fitness. Epigenetic patterns determine whether genes are turned on or off, and the patterns differed significantly between untrained and trained muscles. The modifications affected important genes that control the expression of numerous other genes, ultimately activating a distinct program in trained muscles compared to untrained muscles.

These epigenetic patterns determine how muscles respond to training. Chronic endurance training induces short and long-term changes in the epigenetic patterns of muscles. Trained muscles are primed for long-term training due to these patterns and exhibit faster reactions and improved efficiency. With each training session, muscular endurance improves.

The next step for researchers is to determine whether these findings in mice also apply to humans. Biomarkers that reflect training progress can be used to enhance training efficiency in competitive sports. Additionally, understanding how healthy muscles function is crucial for developing innovative treatments for muscle wasting associated with aging and disease.

In conclusion, the study conducted by researchers at the University of Basel has unveiled the mechanisms through which muscles adapt to regular endurance training in mice. The insights gained from these findings may have implications for human performance and health. Furthermore, understanding muscle function can aid in the development of treatments for muscle-related conditions.

Source: scitechdaily.com

The Power of Salt and “Baking” in Addressing Environmental Challenges

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Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have made a significant breakthrough in textile recycling by developing an environmentally friendly method to recycle polyester using Harthorn salt. Polyester, which is the second most used fiber in the world, poses a threat to the environment as very little of it is currently recycled. The fabric is a combination of plastic and cotton, making it challenging for the industry to separate and recycle. However, the chemists have discovered a simple solution using a single ingredient found in households.

Polyester is found in various everyday items, such as clothing, sofas, and curtains, with an astonishing 60 million tonnes of the fabric being produced annually. Unfortunately, the production and lack of recycling have a negative impact on the climate and environment, as only 15% of polyester is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills or incineration, contributing to carbon emissions.

Recycling polyester presents significant challenges, particularly in separating the plastic and cotton fibers without losing them. Traditional methods prioritize preserving the plastic components, resulting in the loss of cotton fibers. These methods are also expensive and complex, with the use of metal catalysts generating harmful waste.

In a revolutionary development, a team of young chemists has found a remarkably simple solution to this problem that could transform sustainability in the textile industry. The researchers have developed a traceless catalytic methodology that allows for the depolymerization of polyester into monomers in an easy and environmentally friendly approach, at a large scale.

The process requires no special equipment and only relies on heat, a non-toxic solvent, and common household materials. By cutting a polyester garment into small pieces and placing them in a container with a mild solvent and Harthorn salt (ammonium bicarbonate), the mixture is heated to 160 degrees Celsius and left for 24 hours. The result is a liquid where the plastic and cotton fibers separate into distinct layers. This simple and cost-effective process preserves the cotton fiber while breaking down the polyester.

The Harthorn salt is broken down into ammonia, CO2, and water during the process. The combination of ammonia and CO2 acts as a catalyst, selectively breaking down the polyester while keeping the cotton fibers intact. The use of ammonia in combination with CO2 is environmentally friendly and safe. Due to the mild nature of the chemical reaction, the cotton fibers remain in excellent condition.

The researchers were pleasantly surprised by the success of their simple recipe for recycling polyester. Although the method has only been tested in the laboratory, the researchers believe it is scalable and are currently exploring partnerships with companies to test the method on an industrial scale. They are determined to commercialize this technology, which has the potential to make a significant impact on textile recycling.

Source: scitechdaily.com

New Research from Yale University Uncovers Crucial Factor in 90% of Enigmatic Miscarriages

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A Yale University study reveals that placenta testing can identify the cause of 90% of previously unexplained miscarriages, providing a path to improved pregnancy care and emotional relief for affected families.

Researchers at Yale University have demonstrated that placenta testing can accurately pathologically determine more than 90% of previously unexplained miscarriages, a finding that researchers say could help inform future pregnancy care. say:

The results of this study were recently published in the journal Reproductive science.

Miscarriage statistics

Of the approximately 5 million pregnancies each year in the United States, 1 million end in miscarriage (miscarriage occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy) and more than 20,000 end in stillbirth after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Up to 50% of these losses are classified as “unspecified.”

Emotional strain and research purpose

Patients who suffer from these pregnancy outcomes are often told that their loss is unexplained and that they can just try again, contributing to patients’ feelings of responsibility for the loss, said lead author and obstetrics department specialist. said researcher Dr. Harvey Kliman. Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine.

“Pregnancy loss is a tragedy, and to be told there is no explanation causes great pain to the families of those who have lost,” said Kliman, who is also director of the Reproduction and Placenta Research Unit. “Our goal was to extend the current classification system to reduce the number of cases that remain unidentified.”

Methodology and findings

For this study, Professor Kliman collaborated with Beatrix Thompson, currently a medical student at Harvard University, and Parker Holzer, a former graduate student in the Yale School of Statistics and Data Science, to explore the pathology of loss. We developed an expanded classification system for pregnancy loss based on clinical tests. placenta.

The team started with a series of 1,527 single-child pregnancies that ended up being losses and were sent to Kliman’s Consulting Services at Yale University for evaluation. After excluding cases for which there was insufficient material for testing, 1,256 placentas from 922 patients were tested. Of these, 70% were miscarriages and 30% were stillbirths.

Domenic Rice is 33 weeks pregnant with her fifth child, holding a photo frame of herself with her stillborn son, TJ.Credit: Photo by Nancy Borowicz

By adding distinct categories of “placenta with abnormal growth” (atypical placenta) and “small placenta” (less than 10 placentas);th For example, the authors were able to establish a pathological diagnosis for 91.6% of pregnancies, including 88.5% of miscarriages and 98.7% of abortions, based on existing categories such as cord accident, avulsion, thrombosis, and infection. I did. stillbirth.

The most common pathological feature observed in unexplained miscarriages was placental dysmorphism (86.2%), a marker associated with genetic abnormalities. The most common pathological feature observed in unexplained stillbirths was a small placenta (33.9%).

Impact and future recommendations

“This study suggests that more than 7,000 small placentas may be detected per year associated with stillbirth.” in the womb “Before the loss, we had flagged these pregnancies as high risk,” Kliman said. “Similarly, identifying placental dysmorphisms could be one way to potentially identify genetic abnormalities in the approximately 1 million miscarriages that occur in our country each year.”

Additionally, “having a specific explanation for the loss of a pregnancy can help families understand that the loss is not their fault, begin the healing process, and, if possible, prevent similar losses in the future, especially It can prevent stillbirths from occurring.”

When asked what the most effective way to prevent stillbirth is, Kliman replied, “Measure the placenta!”

References: “Placental Pathology in Unexplained Pregnancy Loss” by Beatrix B. Thompson, Parker H. Holzer, and Harvey J. Kliman, September 19, 2023. reproductive science.
DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01344-3

Source: scitechdaily.com

Rare genetic mutations may enhance treatment efficacy for migraine headaches

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Migraines can cause debilitation

Nikki Lloyd/Getty Images

An analysis of the genomes of 1.3 million people has revealed dozens of variations associated with migraine, which could lead to more effective treatments for migraines.

Up to 20% of adults worldwide are thought to experience migraines. Migraines are recurring headaches that are often difficult to treat and can interfere with daily life. Some people have sensory symptoms, such as flashing lights or tingling in the body, before the headache begins, but others do not. It is not known why these two types of migraine, known as migraine with aura and migraine without aura, exist.

“While it is well known that migraines run in families, it has not been easy to identify a clear genetic basis for each subtype,” he says. Debbie Hay at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

now, Kari Stephenson Researchers from the Icelandic biopharmaceutical company deCODE Genetics have identified a genetic variation that appears to influence whether people develop migraines.

Researchers analyzed the DNA of 1.3 million people in Iceland, Denmark, the UK, the US and Norway, and found that around 80,000 of them had experienced migraines.

They discovered 44 genetic mutations associated with the condition, 12 of which had never been reported before. Among these, the research team PRRT2 Genes that help control signaling between neurons are correlated with a greater risk of migraine with aura and epilepsy.

the other A rare mutant that suppresses the function of a gene SCN11A and KCNK5which play a role in transporting sodium and potassium between cells, respectively, and appear to prevent both types of migraines.

The discovery could lead to new treatments that target the causes of migraines, such as drugs that can inhibit the production of a protein encoded by migraines. SCN11A and KCNK5 gene.

“Findings like this should bring great hope to people who suffer from migraine,” Stefansson said. “Current treatments cannot completely eliminate the tendency to develop migraines, so there is a lot of room for better treatments.”

“While great advances have been made in migraine treatment recently, there is still much work to be done in understanding the mechanisms of migraine and how to tailor treatment to each patient,” Hay says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unprecedented Level of Internal Structure Exposed by Groundbreaking Human Brain ‘Atlas’

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Global collaboration has led to the creation of the world’s most comprehensive primate brain atlas, consisting of 4.2 million cells. This atlas has provided insights into region-specific functions, associations with neurological diseases, and has guided future brain research and disease intervention. The project aims to explore the evolution of the human brain and discover new targets for disease treatment. The initiative, known as the “Brain Initiative Cell Census Network” project by the National Institutes of Health, has been working towards mapping the cell groups and understanding their functions for over 21 years. The recent breakthrough discovery has allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and the medical mysteries behind disorders such as autism and depression. The research team, led by scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and the Brotman Beatty Institute, created the largest atlas of the primate brain to date. The atlas consists of profiles of over 4 million cells, providing valuable information on the evolution of human cognition and behavior, as well as the occurrence of neurological diseases. The data collected has been made publicly available for the scientific community and the general public. The research team utilized state-of-the-art single-cell techniques and analyzed gene expression and DNA regulatory regions to identify molecularly distinct brain cell types and their functional characteristics. They also investigated the genetic architecture of neurological disease risk at the cellular level. The atlas serves as a crucial resource for further research on the human brain and potential interventions for neurological diseases.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Researchers discover the science behind our increased appetite for certain foods

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Researchers have made an interesting discovery about the impact of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) found in prepared foods on hunger and health. AGEs, which are produced during cooking processes like baking and frying, enhance the appeal of food but also have negative effects on our well-being. Studies using nematodes have shown that AGEs lead to increased consumption and reduced lifespan, emphasizing the importance of choosing healthier food options.

Scientists at Buck have identified a mechanism that may explain why consuming delicious yet unhealthy food increases our desire to eat more. Overeating and weight gain can result from various factors, including the ready availability of flavorful, high-calorie foods. The researchers at Buck have found that AGEs, a type of chemical found in processed and prepared foods, contribute to increased hunger and a decreased ability to make healthy food choices. This research sheds light on the reasons behind our testing abilities for these foods.

According to Pankaj Kapahi, the lead author of the research study, “This research involving tiny worms has significant implications for human dietary choices and our tendency to overeat certain foods.” He added, “Modern processed foods rich in AGEs are tempting to eat, but we know very little about their long-term effects on our health.” The study was recently published in the journal eLife.

An evolutionary perspective suggests that humans have evolved mechanisms that encourage us to consume as much food as possible when it is readily available. This is because excess calories are stored as fat, which can be utilized during periods of fasting. The preference for flavorful foods, particularly those high in sugar, has been favored by natural selection. However, the mechanisms that make it difficult to resist such foods have remained unclear. AGEs are metabolic byproducts that occur naturally during sugar metabolism in cells but are also formed during cooking processes and are found in many processed foods. AGEs provide the appealing brown color that occurs during cooking, making food more appetizing and harder to resist.

While the Maillard reaction, which occurs when sugars and proteins interact with heat, is well-known for making food taste good, it can have detrimental effects on the body. The resulting AGEs cause inflammation and oxidative damage, which contribute to various health issues such as blood vessel stiffness, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and neurological problems. Accumulation of these metabolic byproducts in different organs is likely one of the main factors in the aging process of organs and organisms overall. It is due to these harmful effects that researchers are studying the impact of AGEs on health.

Even tiny worms used in the Kapahi lab were not immune to the allure and harm of AGEs. Researchers observed that these chemicals not only caused diseases and reduced lifespan but also increased the worms’ appetite for the same substances. The researchers aimed to understand the underlying mechanism by which AGEs promote excessive eating. Through their study, they identified a signaling pathway mediated by specific AGE molecules that promotes feeding and neurodegeneration. They also found that worms lacking the ability to process even naturally occurring AGEs had significantly shorter lifespans. The study is now expanding to mice, where researchers will investigate the relationship between AGEs and fat metabolism.

Understanding this signaling pathway may provide insights into overeating caused by modern diets rich in AGEs. This research highlights the role of AGE accumulation in diseases such as obesity and neurodegeneration and its association with the global rise in age-related diseases.

The key takeaway from their work is a profound realization that our food intake is often controlled by the food itself. To address this, the researchers have personally changed their diets, practicing intermittent fasting to allow the body to utilize fat instead of sugar. They also recommend consuming whole grains to maintain stable glucose levels and utilizing moist heat instead of dry cooking methods, such as steaming or frying. Adding acids when cooking, like when grilling, slows down the formation of AGEs.

In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of AGEs found in processed and prepared foods on hunger, overeating, and overall health. It highlights the need for individuals to be conscious of their dietary choices and opt for healthier alternatives to reduce the negative effects of AGE accumulation in the body.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Acapulco, Mexico braces as Hurricane Otis rapidly intensifies into a perilous Category 5 storm

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ACAPULCO, Mexico — Hurricane Otis intensified from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane rapidly as it made its way towards Mexico’s South Pacific coast on Tuesday, ultimately making landfall near the resort town of Acapulco early Wednesday. The potential for devastating damage was predicted.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Otis had maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph by late Tuesday. It was located about 55 miles south-southeast of Acapulco and moving north-northwest at a speed of 9 mph.

A hurricane warning was in effect from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo, with a hurricane watch in effect from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado.

Otis is expected to maintain its Category 5 hurricane strength until it reaches land, but it is anticipated to rapidly weaken thereafter due to Mexico’s mountainous region. Otis is forecasted to dissipate over southern Mexico on Wednesday night.

As rain began to fall and winds increased, people in Acapulco hurried home and tourists were forced to leave the beaches.

The state government of Guerrero announced the preparation of 396 evacuation centers to accommodate families affected by wind damage and rising waters.

The Mexican Army and Navy have deployed over 8,000 troops equipped with specialized equipment to aid in the rescue operations. The port of Acapulco, where approximately 300 fishing boats are docked, has been closed by the authorities.

Otis is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rainfall to Guerrero, with certain areas possibly experiencing up to 15 inches. This raises concerns about landslides and flash floods in Guerrero’s steep mountains.

In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane tammy After passing through the Lesser Antilles over the weekend, it continued northeast over open ocean with winds of 115 mph. Tammy was located approximately 925 miles south-southeast of Bermuda. The storm is expected to weaken by Thursday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The process of using lasers to transform moon dust into roads

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ESA’s PAVER project aimed to create paved surfaces on the lunar surface using melted lunar regolith. They conducted ground-based tests using a carbon dioxide laser and are planning to use a Fresnel lens on the Moon to focus sunlight. The successful use of lasers to melt simulated lunar dust is a significant development in addressing the challenges posed by lunar dust in future missions.

The construction of roads on the lunar surface is essential for astronauts who will likely be driving rather than walking during their missions. Lunar dust is fine, abrasive, and sticky, leading to equipment damage and spacesuit corrosion. For example, the Apollo 17 lunar rover overheated when its rear fender was lost and replaced with a lunar map, covered in kicked-up dust. The Soviet Lunokod 2 rover experienced a similar fate, dying from overheating after its radiator became covered in dust.

To prevent the accumulation of lunar dust, it is necessary to pave active areas on the Moon, including roads and landing pads. The idea of melting sand to create roads was originally proposed in 1933. ESA’s PAVER project, led by Germany’s BAM Institute for Materials Testing in collaboration with Aalen University, LIQUIFER Systems Group, and the University of Claustal in Austria and Germany, investigated the feasibility of building lunar roads using a similar approach. The project received support from the Institute for Space Materials Physics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

The PAVER consortium utilized a 12-kilowatt carbon dioxide laser to melt simulated lunar dust and create a glassy solid surface that can serve as a paved surface on the Moon. They achieved spot sizes of 5 to 10 cm in their trials. By utilizing a 4.5 cm diameter laser beam, they developed a strategy to produce a triangular hollow-centered geometry of about 20 cm in diameter. This approach allowed them to create solid surfaces over large areas of lunar soil suitable for roads or landing pads.

The project’s materials engineer, Advenit Makaya, explained that the current laser used in their experiment functions as a light source instead of lunar sunlight. To achieve equivalent melting on the lunar surface, the laser light would be focused using a Fresnel lens with a diameter of several meters.

The PAVER consortium’s methodology involved trial and error to determine the optimal laser beam size and geometry. They found that larger spot sizes were easier to work with, as heating on a millimeter scale produced challenging agglomeration due to surface tension. With their approach, they were able to create a stable layer of molten regolith, which could be better controlled. The resulting material is glassy and brittle but can withstand primarily downward compressive forces, potentially being repaired if needed.

The research team discovered that reheating a cooled track could cause cracks, leading them to minimize crossover in the geometry. The depth of a single melt layer achieved was approximately 1.8 cm. Depending on the required loads, the constructed structures and roads could consist of multiple layers.

The PAVER consortium estimated that a 100 square meter landing pad with a 2 cm thick high-density material could be constructed in 115 days using their approach.

The PAVER project originated from a call for ideas conducted by ESA’s Basic Activities Discovery Division through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP). Out of 69 submissions, 23 ideas were implemented, including the PAVER project. The project has opened up promising avenues for future research in extraterrestrial manufacturing and construction.

Overall, the successful use of lasers to melt lunar dust represents a significant advancement towards the construction of roads and landing pads on the lunar surface, addressing the challenges posed by lunar dust in future lunar missions.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Newly Discovered Light Properties Unveiled by Centuries-Old Theorem

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Researchers have used a 350-year-old mechanical theorem that is usually applied to tangible objects to uncover new insights into the properties of light. By interpreting light intensity as equivalent to physical mass, they mapped light into a system to which established mechanical equations could be applied. This approach reveals a direct correlation between the degree of non-quantum entanglement of light waves and the degree of polarization. These discoveries have the potential to simplify the understanding of complex optical and quantum properties through more direct light intensity measurements.

Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have applied a 350-year-old theorem originally used to describe the behavior of pendulums and planets to uncover new properties of light waves.

Ever since Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens debated the nature of light in the 17th century, the scientific community has grappled with the question: Is light a wave, a particle, or both at the same time at the quantum level? . Now, researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology have used a 350-year-old mechanical theorem, typically used to describe the motion of large physical objects such as pendulums and planets, to A new relationship has been revealed. The most complex behavior of light waves.

Reveal relationships between light properties

The research, led by Xiaofeng Qian, an assistant professor of physics at Stevens College, and reported in the August 17 online issue of Physical Review Research, shows that the degree of non-quantum entanglement of light waves exists in a direct and complementary relationship. We proved for the first time that it does. It depends on the degree of polarization. As one increases, the other decreases, so the level of entanglement can be directly inferred from the level of polarization, and vice versa. This means that difficult-to-measure optical properties such as amplitude, phase, and correlation (and perhaps even properties of quantum wave systems) can be estimated from something much easier to measure: the intensity of light.

Physicists at Stevens Institute of Technology are using a 350-year-old theorem that explains how pendulums and planets work to uncover new properties of light waves. credit:
Stevens Institute of Technology

“We’ve known for more than a century that light sometimes behaves like waves and sometimes like particles, but reconciling these two paradigms is extremely difficult. We know that,” Chen said. There is a deep connection between the concepts of waves and particles not only at the quantum level but also at the level of classical light waves and point-mass systems. ”

Applying Huygens’ mechanical theorem to light

Qian’s team used a mechanical theorem originally developed by Huygens in his 1673 book on pendulums. This theorem explains how the energy required to rotate an object varies depending on the object’s mass and its axis of rotation. “This is a well-established mechanical theorem that explains how physical systems like clocks and prosthetic limbs work,” Qian explained. “But we were able to show that it can also provide new insights into how light works.”

This 350-year-old theorem describes the relationship between a mass and its rotational momentum. So how does this apply to light, which has no mass to measure? Qian’s team interprets the intensity of light as equivalent to the mass of a physical object, which can be interpreted using Huygens’ mechanical theorem. We mapped those measurements into a coordinate system. “Essentially, we found a way to transform optical systems so that they can be visualized as mechanical systems and described using established physical equations,” he explained. .

Once the researchers visualized light waves as part of a mechanical system, new relationships between wave properties quickly became apparent, such as the fact that entanglement and polarization are clearly related to each other.

“This hasn’t been shown before, but when you map the properties of light onto a mechanical system, it becomes very clear,” Qian says. “What was once abstract becomes concrete. Using mechanical equations, you can literally measure the distance between the ‘center of mass’ and other mechanical points to determine how different properties of light interact with each other. We can show how they are related.”

Elucidating these relationships has important practical implications, as it may allow us to estimate subtle and difficult-to-measure properties of optical systems, and even quantum systems, from simpler and more reliable measurements of light intensity. Qian explained that there is a gender. More speculatively, the researchers’ findings suggest that mechanical systems could be used to simulate and better understand the strange and complex behavior of quantum wave systems.

“It’s still in front of us, but this first study clearly shows that by applying mechanical concepts, we can understand optical systems in entirely new ways,” Qian said. Ta. “Ultimately, this research will help simplify the way we understand the world by allowing us to recognize the essential underlying connections between seemingly unrelated physical laws.”

References: “Bridging coherence optics and classical mechanics: Complementarity of general light polarization entanglement” by Xiao-Feng Qian and Misag Izadi, August 17, 2023. physical review study.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033110

Source: scitechdaily.com