Tag Archives: pose

Blood tests indicates RNA may pose a risk of pre-lammosis

Posted on by
Reply

Pre-Lamp Disease is a potentially serious complication of pregnancy

Half Point Image/Getty Image

Pre-lamp syndrome can lead to many pregnancy complications, including death, but can be difficult to detect in the early stages of pregnancy. New blood tests can help doctors identify people at risk of developing a condition before symptoms begin.

“We can narrow it down to four really high-risk pregnancies. That’s a big step.” Maneesh Jain at Mirvie, a California-based health startup.

Pre-salping syndrome is a type of hypertensive disorder (HDP) during pregnancy, which occurs when scientists are not sure exactly – occurs during placenta development. This can lead to high blood pressure and lead to cardiovascular disease, organ damage, seizures and even death. It can also cause harm to the developing fetus.

However, catching pre-lammosis and other HDP is difficult. This is because symptoms usually do not appear for at least 20 weeks after pregnancy. Sometimes, no signs are detected until work. It is difficult to monitor placenta development. This is because taking tissue samples from organs is very invasive.

New blood tests are relatively non-invasive and use RNA markers to predict whether someone may develop HDP. Specifically, this test focuses on specific genes PAPPA2 and CD163its overexpression was previously linked to HDP. The researchers wanted to see if they could detect this overexpression of blood samples.

Their validation studies of over 9,000 pregnant people suggest that they can: Jain says that tests can be determined with accuracy of over 99% and above with accuracy of over 99%, whether people without existing risk factors overexpress the gene and therefore are at higher risk of pre-ec syndrome or another HDP. Almost a quarter of participants without existing HDP risk factors overexpressed the gene.

People with a certain demographic (for example, those with a family history of preexisting hypertension or pre-sexual pre-lampsia) are known to be at a moderate risk of developing the condition, he says. Morten Rasmussen At Mirvie. But for many, it comes from the blue at first glance.

Once someone knows that they are at high risk of pre-lamps, they can take action to prevent this. Common interventions include taking medications like aspirin, switching to a Mediterranean diet, and monitoring your daily blood pressure.

However, the new test only looked at people between 17.5 and 22 weeks after pregnancy. “Ideally, you should start aspirin 16 weeks in advance.” Kathryn Gray At Washington University in Seattle. “So by the time most people get the results of this test, they’ve already missed that window.”

Mirvie plans to sell blood tests on the market soon. Once it’s on the market, the team hopes other scientists will use it to develop drugs that specifically target the expression of genes such as PAPPA2. Such molecular pinpoints “give a much better opportunity for treatment to be effective,” says Rasmussen.

Gray also hopes researchers will use Mirvie’s RNA bank data to further identify the genes behind the risk of prelammosis in certain people. She says narrowing down your search profile could reduce the cost of testing and make it affordable for more people.

The article was revised on April 8, 2025

This article has been revised to reflect the risks posed by pre-lammosis during pregnancy

The article was revised on April 10, 2025

We have revealed that the test has identified people at risk of developing pre-lammosis.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Do the upcoming Kuiper Satellites pose competition to Musk’s Starlink on Amazon?

Posted on by
Reply

The United Launch Alliance plans to send 27 Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit as Amazon begins full-scale deployment of its satellite internet network

Amazon

Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite internet division, plans to launch 27 satellites into orbit today. We dig into the situation.

What is Kuiper?

In short, Kuiper is a network of thousands of satellites with beams of internet traffic around the world. This allows people in remote areas to access the internet without the need for local infrastructure.

This idea is exactly the same as Starlink, a SpaceX-owned company that already offers such services under Elon Musk’s leadership. Project Kuiper is a subsidiary of Amazon, founded in 2019 and owned by another billionaire, Jeff Bezos.

Amazon didn’t respond The new scientistsInterview requests, but the company has said that before The satellite travels at speeds of over 27,000 km/h Circle the earth about every 90 minutes. Customers need to connect to the internet I’m buying a small device Attach it to the roof of the building.

When will it start? How can I see it?

Kuiper calls this first mission KA-01 for Kuiper Atlas 1. Scheduled for 7pm EDT on April 9th.

The satellite is carried into orbit by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Amazon says it will be the heaviest payload ever released in this craft.

United Launch Alliance plans to live stream flights on that websitestarts 20 minutes before startup.

Is this the first release of Kuiper?

Kuiper put two prototype satellites into orbit in October 2023, which is the first release of the final version, and the company has said it is a “significant upgrade.”

It has better solar panels, propulsion systems and communications equipment, but astronomers appreciate it being a dielectric mirror film coating designed to scatter reflected sunlight. Other companies have launched reflective satellites that have serious impact on imaging. Astronomers say it is “truly an existential issue of astronomy.”

Who’s ahead, Starlink or Kuiper?

starlink. In a pretty good way.

Kuiper has been granted permission from the US Federal Communications Commission to operate 3,236 satellites, and will only start renting internet connections to users after the 578 satellites are launched, the company says.

So, if the launch today is successful, the company still has 551 satellites to send into space before generating revenue.

The company says it has secured more than 80 launches at various companies to deploy additional satellites. Ironically, some launches are handled by SpaceX.

Meanwhile, SpaceX began launching satellites in 2019. It says there are over 6,750 satellites in the orbit.serving millions of customers. The company is also developing a military satellite network called StarShield. It reportedly has a contract with the US government..

Can Kuiper catch up?

Certainly there are many reasons to compensate. Starlink’s lead is big and has the obvious advantage of being owned by a rocket launcher.

Although it is not owned by Amazon, Bezos now has Space Company Blue Origin at your disposal. It helps to fill the gap.

In other areas, Amazon may have advantages. Already there are hundreds of millions of users who shop and stream regularly on the site and may try to add satellite internet through various transactions and seductions.

Plus, there is a market as hundreds of millions of people around the world lack reliable internet connections. Only time can tell if it’s big enough to maintain two major competing satellite operators, let alone small players like partially UK-owned OneWeb.

Some companies are also working on unfiltered solar aircraft that can loiter in high atmospheres for months at a time, potentially reducing satellites at cost.

However, one thing is clear. It certainly is a boon for consumers to bring their competitors to the market.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists say that large-scale language models do not pose an existential threat to humanity

Posted on by
Reply

ChatGPT and other large-scale language models (LLMs) consist of billions of parameters, are pre-trained on large web-scale corpora, and are claimed to be able to acquire certain features without any special training. These features, known as emergent capabilities, have fueled debates about the promise and peril of language models. Their new paperUniversity of Bath researcher Harish Tayyar Madhavshi and his colleagues present a new theory to explain emergent abilities, taking into account potential confounding factors, and rigorously validate this theory through over 1,000 experiments. Their findings suggest that so-called emergent abilities are not in fact emergent, but rather result from a combination of contextual learning, model memory, and linguistic knowledge.

Lou othersThis suggests that large language models like ChatGPT cannot learn independently or acquire new skills.

“The common perception that this type of AI is a threat to humanity is both preventing the widespread adoption and development of this technology and distracting from the real problems that need our attention,” said Dr Tayyar Madhavshi.

Dr. Tayyar Madabhushi and his colleagues carried out experiments to test LLM's ability to complete tasks that the model had not encountered before – so-called emergent capabilities.

As an example, LLMs can answer questions about social situations without being explicitly trained or programmed to do so.

While previous research has suggested that this is a product of the model's 'knowing' the social situation, the researchers show that this is actually a result of the model using a well-known ability of LLMs to complete a task based on a few examples that it is presented with – so-called 'in-context learning' (ICL).

Across thousands of experiments, the researchers demonstrated that a combination of LLMs' ability to follow instructions, memory, and language abilities explains both the capabilities and limitations they exhibit.

“There is a concern that as models get larger and larger, they will be able to solve new problems that we currently cannot predict, and as a result these large models may gain dangerous capabilities such as reasoning and planning,” Dr Tayyar Madabhshi said.

“This has generated a lot of debate – for example we were asked to comment at last year's AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park – but our research shows that fears that the models will go off and do something totally unexpected, innovative and potentially dangerous are unfounded.”

“Concerns about the existential threat posed by the LLM are not limited to non-specialists but have been expressed by some of the leading AI researchers around the world.”

However, Dr Tayyar Madabushi and his co-authors argue that this concern is unfounded as tests show that LLMs lack complex reasoning skills.

“While it is important to address existing potential misuse of AI, such as the creation of fake news and increased risk of fraud, it would be premature to enact regulations based on perceived existential threats,” Dr Tayyar Madabhsi said.

“The point is, it is likely a mistake for end users to rely on LLMs to interpret and perform complex tasks that require complex reasoning without explicit instructions.”

“Instead, users are likely to benefit from being explicitly told what they want the model to do, and from providing examples, where possible, for all but the simplest tasks.”

“Our findings do not mean that AI is not a threat at all,” said Professor Irina Gurevich of Darmstadt University of Technology.

“Rather, the emergence of threat-specific complex thinking skills is not supported by the evidence, and we show that the learning process in LLMs can ultimately be quite well controlled.”

“Future research should therefore focus on other risks posed by the model, such as the possibility that it could be used to generate fake news.”

_____

Shen Lu others. 2024. Is emergent capability in large-scale language models just in-context learning? arXiv: 2309.01809

Source: www.sci.news

EPA Institutes Ban on Pesticides that Pose Risks to Unborn Babies

Posted on by
Reply

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that an emergency order has been issued. This action is the first of its kind in almost four decades and aims to halt the use of pesticides that may harm unborn babies.

The herbicide in question, dimethyltetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal), is commonly used to control weeds in various crops like broccoli, onions, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and strawberries.

Exposure to this chemical during pregnancy can lead to changes in thyroid hormone levels in the fetus, which could result in long-term negative impacts such as low birth weight, impaired brain development, lower IQ, and diminished motor skills later in life, according to the EPA.

This risk prompted the EPA to take decisive action and suspend the use of the pesticide. Michal Friedhoff, deputy director of the Office for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, stated, “DCPA is extremely dangerous and needs to be removed from the market immediately.” The agency emphasized this in a statement.

The emergency order is now in effect.

Friedhoff further emphasized the EPA’s role in safeguarding the public from hazardous chemicals, saying, “In this case, a pregnant woman who unknowingly encounters DCPA could give birth to a child with irreversible health issues.”

The DCPA has been banned in the European Union since 2009.

Miri Treviño Sauceda, executive director of the National Farmers Union, praised the EPA’s decision as “historic.”

The suspension follows years of dialogue between the EPA and AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the sole manufacturer of DCPA.

The company has not responded to requests for comment.

In 2013, the EPA requested data from AMVAC on the herbicide’s health effects, specifically requesting comprehensive studies on DCPA’s impact on thyroid development. Despite receiving multiple studies from AMVAC between 2013 and 2021, the EPA found the data inadequate and did not accept certain requests, including the thyroid study, until it was finally submitted in August 2022.

The EPA’s recent assessment of DCPA was part of a routine process to reassess registered pesticides. Inspections occur every 15 years to ensure there are no adverse health effects or environmental hazards.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The dangers of nicotine pouches for children: why they can pose a significant threat

Posted on by
Reply

It has been recognized for many years that smoking is extremely detrimental to health, and stopping smoking or avoiding it altogether is one of the most effective ways to safeguard one’s well-being.

Governments globally are implementing extensive measures to eliminate smoking as a norm and socially acceptable practice, shedding light on the reality of smoking as a dangerous addiction.

Increased tobacco taxes, graphic warnings on packaging, workplace smoking bans, and the discontinuation of glamorous tobacco advertising campaigns have all contributed to the decline in smoking rates.

The UK Office for National Statistics reports: In the UK, 12.9% of adults are current smokers.This marks a significant drop from the 30 percent in the early 1990s. Tobacco control is undoubtedly a triumph of public health.

Nevertheless, nicotine addiction remains a thriving industry. Instead of fading away, the tobacco industry has introduced a new array of products aimed primarily at young individuals: flavored disposable e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn products, and the latest novelty item, nicotine pouches.

Read more:

Nicotine pouches are typically packaged in small round containers that are convenient to carry around. The pouches resemble small tea bags and contain vegetable fiber, sugar, flavorings, and, of course, nicotine.

Nicotine can be synthetically produced or directly extracted from the tobacco plant. These pouches come in various flavors, from fruity and berry to sweet and cocktail, and they offer different levels of nicotine strength, with some pouches having higher nicotine content than regular cigarettes.

The small pouch is placed between the lips and gums to absorb the nicotine in the mouth. After absorption, the pouch is discarded and replaced with a new one. These pouches are discreet, have a pleasant smell, and unlike oral tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, they don’t require spitting like in movies depicting the old West.

While relatively new in the market, these pouches are similar to Scandinavian “snus” – yet snus contains tobacco while pouches do not. This difference is vital as pouches often evade regulations, bypassing laws and rules that govern tobacco products and cigarettes.

This lack of regulation means that, unlike cigarettes, pouches can legally be sold to individuals under 18 in the UK. Other countries, like the US, are already taking steps to ban or restrict the sale of pouches to adults only.

What do we know about the health risks of pouches?

Although nicotine pouches are gaining popularity worldwide, there is limited data on their health risks due to their recent introduction. However, the World Health Organization advocates a precautionary approach by prioritizing nicotine whenever the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches are permitted. The health of young people.

Using pouches exposes individuals to toxic nicotine, can lead to addiction, and may encourage the use of other products like e-cigarettes or cigarettes.

In addition to addiction, nicotine has effects on adolescent brain development, impacting learning outcomes. High nicotine doses can induce symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and abdominal cramps, particularly in those new to nicotine exposure.

It may be tempting to compare the health effects of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to determine which is “safer.” However, 85% of the UK population never smokes, and young individuals who have never smoked and never will not derive any health benefits from starting to use pouches.

At present, there is no evidence to suggest that pouches aid in smoking or vaping cessation. Instead of helping users quit smoking, individuals may resort to using pouches in situations where smoking or vaping is not feasible, such as during flights, at school, or work, resulting in increased nicotine consumption.

The global tobacco industry, dominated by a few multinational corporations, including British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International, produces and markets nicotine pouches. Using tactics reminiscent of old cigarette advertisements, pouches are promoted through motorsports, celebrity endorsements, and various lifestyle marketing approaches.

The tobacco industry is skilled at dangerous marketing. With addictive nicotine products widely available to young individuals and minimal regulation in the advertising and sale of pouches, there is a real risk of a surge in pouch use and nicotine addiction among young people.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

California’s atmospheric rivers pose higher landslide risk

Posted on by
Reply

Recent rains have accelerated land movement in the landslide-prone coastal city of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, altering previously uncharted landslide areas, as stated in a city news release.

The sedimentary rock layers in the area tilt toward the sea, causing clay layers to expand and become slippery when saturated with water due to minimal friction, explained Onderdonk.

Concerning areas are expanding due to heavy rains, with a decades-old plan to dewater slopes in the Avalon Cove landslide area significantly slowing down movement, but recent acceleration led to the closure of Wayfarer’s Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. in Avalon Cove.

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes, faced with risks to homes and roads, is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to proceed with state and federal emergency declarations for expedited emergency fixes through the permitting process, as mentioned here.

Many coastal cities in California are vulnerable to landslides.

A tarp covers the bluff behind the house overlooking Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, California. Several seaside areas are dealing with concerns of landslides and coastal erosion following recent storms that hit the state.
NBC News

Drone footage of beach houses built on a landslide rubble in Dana Point made headlines recently. Scientists are studying how climate change affects landslides, expected to be detailed in a 2022 study in “Geophysical Research Letters.”

Research indicates that atmospheric river storms in the San Francisco Bay Area coincide with landslides about 76% of the time and are becoming more frequent and intense on the West Coast due to a warming atmosphere’s increased water vapor absorption and transport capacity.

A warming sea due to human-induced global warming is leading to rising sea levels, endangering California’s coastlines, with projections suggesting significant beach loss by 2100.

Edward and Debbie Winston-Levin, residents of Dana Point, express concerns about coastal erosion impacting their property and affecting nearby amenities.

After recent storms in California, Edwards, who lives in Dana Point, looks out at his waterfront home amid concerns about landslides and coastal erosion.
NBC News

Various coastal cities are making adaptations due to the changing landscape, with plans in motion to address potential risks and impacts.

Experts caution that protecting California’s iconic beaches while safeguarding cliffside homes poses a challenging dilemma for communities.

Source: www.nbcnews.com