Tag Archives: pressure

The Top Exercise for Lowering Blood Pressure

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Hypertension poses a significant health risk, elevating the chances of heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues. As a general practitioner, I frequently receive inquiries about its management, and I always stress the importance of exercise. But what is the ideal amount?

A 2021 study that tracked over 5,000 adults for three decades highlights the optimal “dose” of exercise for controlling blood pressure. Is this crucial? Yes, both the type and intensity of exercise, along with the total volume, are vital.

The findings suggest that engaging in moderately intense activities for 30 minutes on most days can significantly aid in blood pressure management. This encompasses exercises that allow for conversation while increasing your breath rate, like brisk walking, cycling, and vigorous household chores.

Recently, a 2023 analysis of 270 prior studies involving over 15,000 participants aimed to identify which forms of exercise were most effective in reducing blood pressure.

While various types of exercise produced positive outcomes, isometric exercises were particularly effective. These involve holding a static position (like wall squats) instead of dynamic movements.

Other beneficial exercises include running, walking, cycling, weight training, and high-intensity interval training.

Moreover, substantial reductions in blood pressure were observed among those exercising 3-5 times per week for a minimum of 4 weeks.

It’s not just about the kind of exercise, but the overall quantity that counts – Photo Credit: Getty

This underscores the necessity of consistency. While medication remains crucial for numerous individuals, these insights illuminate the impact of lifestyle adjustments.

Incorporating exercise, along with a nutritious diet and effective stress management, can help control blood pressure, potentially decreasing reliance on medications like beta blockers.

The evidence is compelling: if you aim to manage your blood pressure, incorporating regular moderate-intensity exercise is an excellent starting point. However, it’s just one piece of the larger puzzle.

Reducing salt intake, following a balanced diet, and effectively managing stress are also essential factors. For some, blood pressure medication is still a vital component of treatment.

The positive takeaway? Physical activity can enhance these approaches.

This article addresses the query from Connor Barrett in Salford, “How much does exercise control my blood pressure?”

Please send your questions to Question @sciencefocus.com or Message Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Page (please include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Most Effective Workouts for Lowering Blood Pressure

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Should wall sits be part of your training routine?

Leopatrizi/Getty Images

Recently, my doctor advised me to monitor my blood pressure more vigilantly due to some medications I’m currently taking. While it’s still in the normal range, it’s been gradually increasing, leading me to ponder ways to manage it. Given that hypertension affects an estimated 12.8 billion adults and raises the risk of serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes if left unchecked, it’s a valid concern.

Exercise is widely endorsed as a key method for lowering blood pressure. Public health organizations often recommend moderate-intensity aerobic activities each week, like jogging and cycling, to help keep levels stable. However, recent studies indicate that this may not be the most effective approach.

A compelling study, a 2023 analysis, assessed 270 randomized controlled trials involving about 16,000 adults, focusing on various exercise regimens lasting at least two weeks. The analysis found that all types of exercise—from aerobic workouts to resistance training—significantly reduced blood pressure compared to inactive controls.

Interestingly, isometric exercises, like wall sits and hand grips where muscles are contracted in fixed positions, demonstrated a notable effect. On average, these exercises produced reductions in blood pressure comparable to those achieved with medication, showing drops of 8.24 and 4 mmHg respectively. Such reductions equate to a 22% decrease in the risk of major cardiovascular events over a few years. In contrast, aerobic exercise had nearly half that potency.

This difference likely stems from how isometric exercises impact blood flow. For instance, during wall squats or planks, one holds muscles in a contracted state for about 1-2 minutes, which temporarily restricts blood flow. Once the muscles relax, blood rushes back in, leading to lower blood pressure for several hours, a beneficial effect that can be sustained with repeated sessions.

What makes isometric training particularly enticing is its ease of integration into daily routines. A 2023 study revealed that just 12 minutes of these exercises, performed three times a week, were sufficient to substantially lower blood pressure over a 12-week period.

That said, I don’t intend to suggest neglecting other training forms. Aerobic and resistance exercises are still vital for cardiovascular health and muscle development. However, if your blood pressure is a concern, incorporating isometric exercises into your workout could be beneficial. I’m choosing to add wall squats to my leg day routine.

Grace Wade is a health reporter for New Scientist based in the U.S.

For more insights, please visit newscientist.com/maker

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Compounds in Chocolate and Tea Could Help Reduce Blood Pressure

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A naturally occurring compound known as flavan-3-ol, present in cocoa, tea, apples, and grapes, has been shown to enhance blood pressure and vascular health, according to a recent meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Surrey involving 145 prior studies.

Flavan-3-OL-rich foods and supplements, similar to medications, are regularly consumed, particularly by those with high blood pressure, to help lower blood pressure. Image credit: Lagou et al., doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf173.

“Flavan-3-ol found in cocoa, tea, and various fruits shows potential in enhancing blood pressure and vascular function, but is not yet utilized for cardiovascular prevention,” stated Professor Christian Heiss, the lead author of the study from the University of Surrey.

“Our meta-analysis evaluated how flavan-3-ol-rich interventions impact blood pressure and endothelial function.”

In the meta-analysis, the researchers examined data from 145 randomized controlled trials published between 1946 and 2024.

The findings indicated that regular intake of flavan-3-OLs could lead to reductions in blood pressure readings, particularly among individuals with elevated blood pressure or hypertension.

Some results showed that the average decrease in blood pressure was comparable to that produced by certain medications.

Additionally, flavan-3-ol was found to enhance endothelial function (the inner layer of blood vessels), which is crucial for overall cardiovascular health.

This improvement occurs independently of blood pressure changes, suggesting a broad positive impact on circulatory health.

“These results are promising for those seeking a simple way to manage blood pressure and support heart health through enjoyable dietary adjustments,” Professor Heiss added.

“Incorporating small amounts of commonly enjoyed foods such as tea, apples, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder into a balanced daily diet can provide beneficial flavan-3-ol levels.”

“While it should not replace prescribed medications or medical guidance, it can be a beneficial addition to a healthy lifestyle, particularly for individuals with high blood pressure, by incorporating flavan-3-ol-rich foods into their daily routine.”

“These encouraging findings warrant further research.”

A paper discussing the survey results has been published in the European Journal of Preventive Psychology.

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Vasiriki Ragou et al. Effect of flavan-3-OL on blood pressure and endothelial function in various populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. European Journal of Preventive Psychology Published online on March 24th, 2025. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf173

Source: www.sci.news

Reducing high blood pressure may decrease the likelihood of developing dementia

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Low blood pressure is associated with a lower risk of dementia

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According to a large study from Chinese people, lowering hypertension reduces the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Many studies link Hypertension is also known as hypertension, and is at a high risk of developing dementia.. Some studies have also shown that side effects of blood pressure treatment may be at a lower risk of dementia.

now, jiang he At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas and his colleagues are directly considering the effectiveness of drugs that lower blood pressure for dementia and cognitive impairment.

They studied 33,995 people in rural China. They were all over 40 years old and had high blood pressure. Participants were split into one of two random groups, each with an average age of approximately 63 years.

On average, the first group actively received three antitherapeutic drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics, or calcium channel blockers, actively ensuring lower blood pressure. They also coached home blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle changes that help to reduce blood pressure, such as weight loss and alcohol and salt intake.

Another set treated as a control group achieved local treatment levels with the same coaching and more general levels of treatment, including on average one drug.

At follow-up appointments 48 months later, participants were tested for blood pressure and measured for signs of cognitive impairment using a standard questionnaire.

Concerns about hypertension begin when a person’s systolic pressure exceeds 130 mm mercury (mmHg) or when diastolic pressure exceeds 80 mmHg. blood pressure It has exceeded 130/80.

On average, many people who received the medication lowered their blood pressure from 157.0/87.9 to 127.6/72.6 mmHg, while the control group was able to take it from 155.4/87.2 to just 147.7/81.0 mmHg.

The researchers also found that 15% fewer people who received multiple drug therapies during the study received dementia diagnosis compared to the control group, and 16% suffered from cognitive impairment.

“The results of this study demonstrated that lowering blood pressure is effective in reducing the risk of dementia in patients with uncontrolled hypertensive conditions,” he says. “This proven and effective intervention should be widely adopted and expanded to alleviate the global burden of dementia.”

“Over the years, many people know that blood pressure is likely a risk factor for dementia. Zachary Malcolm At Washington University in Seattle.

Raj Shah Rush University in Chicago says it’s helpful to add evidence that treating high blood pressure can help stop dementia, but that’s just one of the dementia puzzles, as we affect brain abilities as we age.

“You need to treat hypertension for multiple reasons,” says Shah. “Because of people’s longevity and happiness, they can age healthyly over time.”

Marcum also says people should think more broadly than just blood pressure to avoid dementia. He says there is Other known risk factors This is associated with an increased risk of dementia, including smoking, inactivity, obesity, social isolation, and hearing loss.

And many factors are more influential at different stages of life. To reduce the risk of dementia, “a holistic approach is needed throughout your life,” says Shah.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New modeling studies suggest that ratios of potassium to sodium intake can help regulate blood pressure

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Excessive dietary sodium increases blood pressure, while a high potassium diet has the opposite effect. The underlying mechanism is alleviated by sex and includes multiple organs and tissues. How do high potassium-induced alternatives in renal function differ between men and women with lower blood pressure? To answer these questions, a duo of researchers at the University of Waterloo conducted computer simulations to simulate the homeostasis of whole body fluids and electrolytes, simulating the effects of sodium and potassium intake on blood pressure.

Melissa Stadt & Anita Layton suggests that increasing the ratio of dietary potassium to sodium intake may be more effective in lowering blood pressure than simply reducing sodium intake. Image credit: Melissa Stadt & Anita Layton, doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00222.2024.

Hypertension affects more than 30% of adults around the world. It is the main cause of coronary heart disease and stroke, and can lead to other distress such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and dementia.

“We usually recommend eating less salt when we have high blood pressure,” said Professor Anita Leighton, author of the study.

“Our research suggests that adding potassium-rich foods to a diet such as bananas and broccoli can have a greater impact on blood pressure than cutting off sodium.”

Potassium and sodium are both electrolytes, which help the body send electrical signals to contract muscles, affect the amount of water in the body, and perform other essential functions.

“Early humans ate a lot of fruits and vegetables. As a result, our body’s regulatory system may have evolved to work best on a high potassium, low sodium diet.”

“Today, Western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium.”

“It may explain why hypertension is seen primarily in industrialized societies, not isolated societies.”

Previous studies found that increased potassium intake helps control blood pressure, but researchers have developed a mathematical model that successfully identifies how potassium-sodium ratios affect the body.

The model also identifies how sex differences affect the relationship between potassium and blood pressure.

Scientists have found that men develop hypertension more easily than premenopausal women, but men are more likely to respond positively to an increased potassium-to-sodium ratio.

“Mathematical models like those used in this study allow these types of experiments to identify how different factors affect the body quickly, cheaply, and ethically,” they said.

Team’s paper Released in March 2025 American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.

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Melissa Statt and Anita T. Leighton. Regulation of blood pressure by dietary potassium and sodium: Gender differences and modeling analysis. American Journal of Physiology-Renal PhysiologyPublished online on March 3, 2025. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00222.2024

Source: www.sci.news

New car prices feel the pressure as car rates increase.

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Customs duties on imported vehicles went into effect on Wednesday. The policy, said to promote investment and employment in the United States by President Trump, is expected to increase new car prices by thousands of dollars according to analysts.

The 25% duty applies to all vehicles assembled outside the United States. As of May 3rd, customs duties will also apply to imported auto parts, adding to the costs of automobiles and auto repairs.

There is a partial exemption for cars manufactured in Mexico or Canada under a free trade agreement. Automakers do not have to pay duties on parts like engines, transmissions, batteries, and other items that were made in the US and installed in cars at factories in Mexico or Canada.

This provision reduces the impact on vehicles such as Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicles assembled in Mexico but containing battery packs and other US-made components. General Motors only pays duties on some of the cars produced overseas.

Meanwhile, parts duties increase the costs of cars manufactured in states like Michigan, Tennessee, and Ohio where most vehicles contain components made overseas, often accounting for more than half the vehicle cost.

For example, around 90% of the value of some Mercedes-Benz cars made in Alabama comes from engines and transmissions imported from Europe, as per data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The impact of tariffs on individual vehicles varies widely. Cars like the Tesla Model Y made in Texas and California or Honda Passports made in Alabama have a higher percentage of US-made parts and pay lower duties.

The highest tariffs apply to cars manufactured overseas, such as the Toyota Prius from Japan and Porsche sports cars from Germany.

Even those not purchasing a new car will feel the impact of tariffs as prices go up for parts like tires, brake pads, and oil filters.

Michael Holmes, co-director of Virginia Tire and Auto, a chain of auto repair and maintenance shops, mentioned that he and his suppliers initially plan to absorb most of the cost increase.

Holmes stated, “It’s not sustainable. It’s wishful thinking to expect companies not to pass on these costs.”

Analysts predict that car tariffs could also drive up prices of used cars in the long run. Increased demand for these vehicles may make new cars unaffordable for many buyers. Furthermore, repair costs may rise, leading to potential increases in insurance premiums.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Psychology Accreditation Committee suspends diversity standards under pressure

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The American Psychological Association, which sets the standards for professional mental health training, voted to suspend the requirement that graduate programs demonstrate commitment to recruitment and employment diversity.

This decision was made by accrediting bodies across higher education. Presidential Order President Trump signed by attacking diversity, equity, and comprehensive policies. It pauses the willingness to broaden the profession of psychology, disproportionately white and women, at a time of growing distress among young Americans.

The APA is the leading accreditation body for professional training in psychology and the only body recognized by the US Department of Education. It offers accreditation to approximately 1,300 training programs, including doctoral internships and postdoc residences.

Trump has made accredited bodies a specific target for his crusades against the DEI program; 1 Campaign Video “We will fire the radical left accreditor who allowed our university to be controlled by Marxist maniacs and madmen” and “accept applications for new accreditors.”

Justice Department officials have put pressure on accreditation agencies in recent weeks and warn the American Bar Association With a letter That they may lose their status unless they abolish the diversity order. ABA Voting in late February In Hang Law school diversity and inclusion criteria.

Concessions by the APA, a fortress of support for diversity programming, are specific landmarks. The association has been a central focus of its work in recent years, with the aim of fighting racism in 2021. Solved In particular, I apologize for its role in perpetuating racism by promulgating eugenic theory.

Aaron Joyce, accredited senior director at the APA, said the decision to suspend diversity requirements was driven by a “large influx of concerns and inquiries” from programs that are concerned they could withstand the president’s orders.

He said he was worried that institutions were often instructed by their legal advice to stop diversity-related activities, which would put their acquiescence at risk.

“The committee does not want to list the program in the danger of not being present due to a dispute between institutional guidelines and standards of recognition,” Dr. Joyce said.

He did not explain the tally of the March 13th vote. “It was an easy decision and not taken lightly,” he said. “Understanding personal and cultural diversity is a central aspect of psychological practice.”

The committee chose to maintain another diversity-related standard. Programs should teach trainees to respect cultural and individual differences in order to effectively treat patients. In reviewing each standard, the committee measured weights “those that put the program in a compromised position” against “something essential to psychological practices that cannot be changed.”

Kevin Cochley, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, said this week he was “absolutely devastated” to learn about the APA’s decision on psychology listserves.

“Frankly, I think this decision is truly ruthless given that we know the importance of having a diverse mental health provider,” Dr. Cochley said. “We don’t know how the APA can make these kinds of decisions, but we still think we are maintaining the highest standards of training.”

He said he believed the APA had acted prematurely and could wait until he faced a direct challenge from the administration.

“I think there’s always a choice,” he said. “I think this is a classic example of APA engaged in predictive compliance. They started moving out for fear of what would happen to them.”

According to APA data, the psychology workforce is disproportionately white. In 2023, over 78% of active psychologists were white, 5.5% were black, 4.4% were Asian, and 7.8% were Latinos. (The general population is about 58%, with 13.7% black people, 6.4% Asians, and 19.5% Latinos.)

In contrast to demographic collapse for doctoral graduate students, the programme is nationally aligned. According to APA’s 2022 data, 54% of doctoral students were white, 10% black, 10% Asian, and 11% Latinos.

John Dovidio, Yale’s professor emeritus in psychology and author of Unequal Health: Anti-Black Racism and the Threat to American Health, said the APA focuses on diversity in recruitment.

“It’s really something the department takes very, very seriously,” he said. “I’ve personally seen the impact.”

The memorandum of understanding announcing the decision is described as “a temporary lawsuit while awaiting further court guidance” regarding Trump’s executive order, upheld by the federal court of appeals on March 13. The order says, “litigation is currently law.”

Cynthia Jackson Hammond, chairman of the Council on Higher Education, which coordinates more than 70 accredited groups, said receiving direct orders from the government was “unprecedented.”

“The government and higher education have always worked independently and have worked sincerely with each other,” she said. “All we’ve had throughout the decades is healthy separation up until now.”

The federal government began to play a role in post-World War II accreditation as veterans flooded universities under the GI bill. The accreditation bodies are regularly reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and advise the Secretary of Education whether they will continue to recognize them.

But government officials have never used the leverage to impose ideological orientation on higher education, Jackson Hammond said. She said recruitment diversity remains a serious challenge for higher education, so the standards are still very commonly used.

“Given what our institutions look like before, it could be a barometer that we see when we’re not paying attention,” she said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The power of subterranean pressure is reshaping the Earth’s inner core.

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Diagram showing the inner structure of the Earth

Rostislav Zatonskiy/Alamy

The inner core of Earth’s solids appears to have changed shape over the last 20 years or so, according to seismic wave measurements, but the behavior of these waves can also be explained by other shifts at the center of the planet.

Since the 1990s, models and earthquake measurements have shown that the inner core of Earth’s iron nickel moves at its own pace. Over decades, the inner core rotation is faster, slower than other planets, affecting the length of the day and more.

These rotational changes are primarily due to magnetic forces produced by convection in the Earth’s liquid outer core, they say. John Vidale At the University of Southern California. “That flow constantly torques the inner core.”

These magnetic forces, or related processes, can change the shape of the inner core and its rotation. In fact, previous measurements of seismic waves passing through the center of the planet seem to show just that. However, uncertainty regarding the rotation of the core made it impossible to distinguish between rotational changes and shape changes.

Now, Vidale and his colleagues are analyzing seismic waves generated by 128 earthquakes off the coast of South America between 1991 and 2023. All waves were measured by Alaskan instruments after passing through the planet.

From these, researchers have identified 168 sets of seismic waves that have passed through or near the same area of ​​the inner core, but have been away for years. It was only possible to identify these matches Recent work Vidale says it will better constrain the variation in rotation of the inner core.

Both waves of each pair that did not pass through the inner core shared a similar pattern, suggesting that in the region within the planet nothing had changed between the first and second earthquakes. Masu. However, the waves of the pair crossed with the inner core did not match.

Researchers say this suggests that the inner core not only slows down and speeds up rotation for decades but also changes shape. They say that these changes are magnetically pulled at the less viscous edge of the inner core of the solid or interaction between the inner core and the structure of the planetary core and the lower mantle. They say it is likely caused by interactions between the layers. The crust.

hrvojetkalčić At Australian National University, which was not involved in the study, this is a “step” to resolve changes in the internal core beyond rotation. However, he says that the shape change is not the only explanation for the seismic waves of incongruity.

As Vidale and his colleagues acknowledge, these differences can also be caused by unrelated changes in the outer core, convection within the inner core itself, or by eruption of melted material from the inner core. There is. “It’s really hard to tell,” Bidal says. He suggests that studying more repeated earthquakes in the future will help identify changes in more detail.

Tkalčić says seismological measurements in remote areas such as the seabed are also useful. “This is important for understanding the deepest inner evolution of Earth, from the time of the planetary layers to the present,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Resisting the Pressure: Saying No to the Internet’s £500 Jumper Temptation | Emma Beddington

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I I'm concerned that I wrote that this time last year, my urge to acquire material things had subsided somewhat. thing In the world. Unfortunately, the internet seemed to see it as a challenge I couldn't refuse, and in recent months I found myself wanting something again, lots of things.

Perhaps that's not surprising. Everything whispers or screams at us from every screen we stare at. “The constant barrage of ads on Instagram is exhausting,” my best friend said gloomily just last week, and she was right. My eyes are constantly bombarded with offers of miracle goop, health equipment, expensive knitwear and green-tinted “disruptors” perfect for mature skin. Almost everything. Just a minute or so of scrolling reveals “calfPRO” (completely unintelligible, amazing), kombucha, cleanser, eco-frying pan, a jumper “reminiscent of Phoebe Philo-era Celine,” and, inexplicably, Canadian waters. were provided in succession. Sea urchin.

There are bigger problems in this new lawless age of social media than the relentless onslaught of targeted advertising, but everything the internet wants, in addition to the urgent upskilling of critical reading that the world needs. We need to find a way to counter it. we buy it. Otherwise, to take a random example, you might end up awkwardly receiving the candy-colored bra you bought in a fugue state after seeing it on your phone 800 times a week. This bra, apparently made of satsuma net and wrap film, provides no support to the wearer at all, instead fighting tirelessly to reposition everything I do – Sorry, but their – Breast tissue is attached to the armpits. It's destined for landfill, where it will strangle seabirds and break down into microplastics that will poison generations of our descendants.

Deinfluence is now a genre of online content where creators fight back against consumer culture by explaining how they are content with a pair of trainers and basic shampoo. That's great, but it's inevitably common. I think we need to take matters into our own hands because the scale and targeting of the data-driven, algorithmic discontent industry is so granular. Because who better to eliminate its influence on you than yourself? Only you know your desires and weaknesses better than an all-powerful algorithm. Only you can fight effectively. I've been trying to de-influence myself for the past few weeks and it's been quite a struggle. I'm weak-willed and getting stupider by the minute by internet nonsense. And algorithms are tireless. But I have a secret weapon. It helps you call out your deepest and most ridiculous desires because you know them so well. Now, when I'm tempted, that's exactly what I do. Similarly:

perfect reusable coffee cup: Let's see what happened to the last perfect reusable cup you bought. I left it on the bench on my second outing. It's very ecological. I drink too much coffee anyway.

“parallel”Gymnastics bar “te”: Do you really believe that you can train your tired, unsteady body to do a handstand with this length of wood? Having two big babies has chopped your core and strengthened your shoulders. It will be about the size of a sparrow. This is why people over 35 can't use TikTok (unless you understand the very relevant concept of “delulu”).

500 pound jumper with a crow on it: You think you look like Alexa Chung or Björk or some other quirky-chic style icon. You'll look like Giles Brandreth. If you're lucky.

“The last charger you need to buy”: Can I rephrase that? “I need the last charger until I leave it on the train, like the last three,” would be more accurate.

Miracle cleanser: Unless by some miracle it actually crawls out of the tube and applies automatically, you won't use it – you're too lazy.

Innovative “plant-based” electric toothbrush: Remember that destructive plant-based deodorant you bought? It's still unpleasantly accusing you of your bathroom drawer? Try getting really destructive do not have I bought this with some skepticism.

It's cruel, but at least in my case, it's absolutely necessary and almost a full-time job. Think Canadian sea urchin is rich, creamy, and limited in availability? Hmm.

Emma Beddington is a columnist for the Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

IC 3225 in Virgo Cluster shows signs of being stripped of Ram pressure by Hubble

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Early galaxies are dominated by bright galaxy clusters, which are larger and more massive than the local Universe. Star formation activity can be strongly influenced and even halted by many processes that are directly related to the environment in which galaxies exist. Ram pressure stripping, the removal of interstellar gas from the disk of star-forming galaxies by hydrodynamic interaction with the hot intergalactic medium, is one such process that It is thought to have a strong influence on the galaxy population. Groups, especially clusters.

This Hubble image shows spiral galaxy IC 3225 with Ram pressure removed. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / M. Sun.

IC 3225 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 100 million light years away in the constellation Virgo.

Also known as LEDA 40111 or UGC 7441, discovered It was announced on November 4, 1899 by German astronomer Arnold Schwassmann.

“IC 3225 looks strikingly like it was fired from a cannon, hurtling through space like a comet with a tail of gas streaming from the disk behind it,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“IC 3225 is one of more than 1,300 members of the Virgo cluster, so the galaxy's location suggests several causes for this active scene.”

“While the density of galaxies within the Virgo cluster creates a rich field of hot gas between them, the so-called intracluster medium, the extreme mass of this cluster also allows for some extremely There are galaxies that orbit around the center in fast orbits.”

“Collision into thick intracluster material, especially near the center of a galaxy cluster, places enormous collision pressures on the moving galaxy, stripping the gas from the moving galaxy.”

“Although IC 3225 is currently not very close to the center of the cluster, astronomers suspect that it has undergone such ram pressure removal in the past,” the researchers noted.

“This galaxy looks as if it has been affected by this. One side of the galaxy is compressed and there is significantly more star formation at this leading edge, while the other end is misshapen. Masu.”

“Being in such a crowded region, a close call with another galaxy may have pulled IC 3225 and created this shape.”

“The sight of this distorted galaxy is a reminder of the incredible forces at work on an astronomical scale that move and reshape entire galaxies.”

This new image of IC 3225 consists of observations from. Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS) in the near-infrared and optical portions of the spectrum.

Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

Source: www.sci.news

EU increases pressure on Meta due to fears of Russian election meddling on Facebook

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The European Union delivered a direct message to the owners of Facebook in Silicon Valley on Tuesday due to concerns about President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to influence the European Parliament with pro-Russian lawmakers.

Meta has a deadline of five days to outline its plan to tackle fake news, fake websites, and Kremlin-funded advertisements, or face serious consequences.

The EU is worried about Facebook’s handling of fake news, especially 40 days after the European Parliament elections and during a year when many people around the world are voting.


Thierry Breton, the Internal Market Commissioner, emphasized that electoral integrity is a top priority and warned of swift action if Facebook does not address the issues within a week.

He stated, “We expect Meta to inform us within five working days of the measures they are taking to mitigate these risks, or we will take all necessary steps to safeguard our democracy.”


The commission has initiated formal proceedings against Meta ahead of the elections taking place across Europe from June 6 to 9.

There are concerns that Russia might exploit Facebook, with its over 250 million monthly active users, to influence the election outcome in its favor.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo suggested that Russia’s aim to support pro-Russian candidates in the European Parliament was evident through alleged payments to parliamentarians.

While specific examples were not provided, concerns include foreign-funded advertisements on Facebook.

An official stated, “They are mistaken if they think they are not profiting from this.”

Additionally, there is insufficient transparency in the tools for identifying illegal or questionable content.

The EU has highlighted delays in removing links to fake news platforms, known as “doppelganger sites”.

Last week, a Czech news agency’s website was hacked to display fake news, including a false claim about an assassination attempt on the Slovak president.

French Europe Minister Jean-Noël Barrault raised concerns about Russian propaganda targeting France to disrupt public debate and interfere in the European election campaign.

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One more issue with Facebook is Meta’s decision to restrict discussions on sensitive topics like the Middle East to prevent user-generated content.

This practice known as “shadowbanning” has raised transparency concerns, and the EU is urging Facebook to clarify its decision-making process.

The official added, “Users must be informed when this occurs and have the opportunity to challenge it, or it could lead to controversy.”

There are also worries that Facebook might discontinue CrowdTangle, a service that assists in monitoring disinformation for fact checkers, journalists, and researchers.

The case against Facebook on Tuesday marks the sixth by the European Commission since the Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect.

However, many question whether these actions are sufficient to combat misinformation. NATO officials have compared disinformation to a weapon as potent as physical warfare during a panel in Brussels.

Authorities argue that Facebook is not idle in addressing these issues, but the existing measures are inadequate, opaque, and not effective enough.

Under the new DSA laws implemented in August, the EU has the authority to levy fines up to 6% of social media companies’ revenue or bar them from operating in the union.

Facebook responded, stating, “We have robust processes for identifying and mitigating risks on our platform. We are collaborating with the European Commission and will share further details of our efforts with them. We look forward to the opportunity.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Salesforce evades activist pressure and attains stability in 2023

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The company started the year with a lot of turmoil.

That was the case this year It wasn’t a great start for Salesforce, with an unusual level of turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the company. However, as the end of the year approaches, Salesforce’s financial situation turns out to be surprisingly strong, with the stock up more than 96% since the beginning of the year. At the beginning of this year, such an outcome would have been unimaginable.

Bad news even before the new year started when co-CEO Brett Taylor, who many had speculated was being groomed to be Marc Benioff’s successor, suddenly announced he would be leaving the company at the end of November. started flowing. A week later, Slack CEO and co-founder Stewart Butterfield announced he was also stepping down. Losing two key executives within a week would be a huge blow to any company, but it’s likely just the beginning of an onslaught of bad news for the CRM giant.

As the year began, we found that activist investors were quite active within the company. These include Elliott Management, Starboard Value, ValueAct Capital, Inclusive Capital, and Third Point. When activists emerge, they usually have strong opinions about how to “fix” corporations, and this is no exception.

First, we learned that Salesforce was hiring three new board members, which felt like a way to placate activists. Especially because one of them was Mason Morfit, his CEO and chief investment officer at ValueAct, one of his fellow activists.

Activists typically pressure companies to cut costs, which, in corporate parlance, usually means cutting jobs. Sure enough, Salesforce soon announced that it would cut his 10% of its workforce, or 7,000 people, on January 4, 2023. The excuse was that there was over-hiring during the pandemic, which was a fix, but could also have been problematic. Activists are the backbone of cost-cutting.

Either way, reports say the company is having trouble handling layoffs, engineers are under pressure, Benioff preaches about returning to the office after accepting work from home, and what Salesforce says is I started doing it. digital headquarters in the middle of a pandemic. The company’s reputation as a progressive and employee-friendly organization grew. big hit.

Source: techcrunch.com

Making this simple dietary change may impact your blood pressure

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New research shows that cutting back on salt can significantly lower your blood pressure, whether you have hypertension or are on medication. The study, which included 213 participants from diverse backgrounds, found that a low-salt diet lowered systolic blood pressure by an average of 7 mmHg. These results apply to a wide range of individuals and suggest that salt restriction is as effective as common hypertension medications in controlling blood pressure.

Research has shown that a low-salt diet significantly lowers blood pressure and is beneficial for people with and without high blood pressure, and even for people taking blood pressure medications.

  • Reducing sodium intake significantly lowered blood pressure in most people, even those who were already taking blood pressure medications.
  • The findings suggest that reducing sodium intake may have health benefits for a wide range of people.

Half of Americans have high blood pressure. If the systolic reading (the upper number, the pressure at which blood is pumped out of the heart) is consistently above 130 mm Hg, or the diastolic reading (the lower number, the pressure when the heart is filling with blood) Blood pressure is considered high if the pressure between heartbeats) exceeds 80 mm Hg. mmHg or higher.

Role of sodium in hypertension

Sodium is essential for the human body, but too much sodium can cause high blood pressure. However, blood pressure sensitivity to sodium varies from person to person. This makes it difficult to determine what counts as a healthy amount of sodium in someone’s diet. Also, most studies on low-salt diets exclude people who take blood pressure-lowering medications. Therefore, it is unclear how much salt reduction affects people taking these drugs.

Research on dietary sodium and blood pressure

An NIH-funded research team led by Dr. Deepak Gupta of Vanderbilt University Medical Center studied the effects of dietary sodium on blood pressure in 213 people (65% female, 64% black) between the ages of 50 and 75. Both normotensive and hypertensive participants were enrolled from April 2021 to February 2023 in Chicago, Illinois, and Birmingham, Alabama. Some were taking medication to control high blood pressure.

Participants were randomly assigned to either a high-sodium diet or a low-sodium diet for one week. Those on a high-sodium diet added 2,200 mg of sodium per day to their regular diet. Those on a low-salt diet were provided with a week’s worth of low-sodium meals, snacks, and drinks. This diet provided an average of 500 mg of sodium per day.

The researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure a week later. The participant was then switched to another diet for one week and her blood pressure was measured again. Blood pressure was the average value she measured over a 24-hour period during normal daily activities. The results were: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association November 11, 2023.

Important discoveries and implications

Almost 75% of participants had lower systolic blood pressure on the low-sodium diet than on the high-sodium diet, with an average decrease of 7 mmHg. Compared to a regular diet, the low-sodium diet lowered systolic blood pressure in 72% of participants, with an average drop of 6 mmHg. The effect of dietary sodium did not depend on whether a person had high blood pressure in the first place. It was also unaffected by whether people were taking medication for high blood pressure.

This reduction in blood pressure can have significant health benefits. This finding supports reducing sodium in the diet to lower blood pressure. The effects of a low-salt diet were similar to those of common first-line drugs for hypertension. The results also suggest that reducing salt intake may help a wide range of people, including those already taking blood pressure-lowering drugs.

“Just as any physical activity is better than none for most people, reducing salt from your current normal diet is likely to be better than none,” says Gupta. To tell.

For more information about this study, see New study reveals universal blood pressure-lowering strategy.

Reference: “Effects of dietary sodium on blood pressure: a cross-over study”, Deepak K. Gupta, Cora E. Lewis, Krista A. Varady, Yan Ru Su, Meena S. Madhur, Daniel T. Lackland, Jared P. Reis , Thomas J. Wang, Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, Norina B. Allen, November 11, 2023, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.23651

Funding: NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and National Center for the Advancement of Translational Sciences (NCATS). American Heart Association.

Source: scitechdaily.com

The Impact of High Blood Pressure on Brain Immunity

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NINDS Research on High Blood Pressure and Cognitive Decline

NINDS Research on High Blood Pressure and Cognitive Decline

by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) December 14, 2023

NIH-funded researchers have found that high blood pressure leads to an increase in interleukin-17 in the brain, which activates immune cells and causes cognitive decline. The discovery, made using a mouse model, points to the possibility of new treatments by targeting T cells in the brain’s protective membranes. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

An NIH-funded study in mice suggests a potential new target for treating hypertension. Research supported by National Institutes of Health The findings suggest that a response of immune system cells within the protective membrane that surrounds the brain may contribute to the cognitive decline that can occur in people with chronic hypertension. This discovery is natural neuroscience, may shed light on new ways to counter the effects of high blood pressure on cognition. This study was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the NIH. “Understanding the role of immune signaling in cognitive decline is critical,” said Dr. Roderick Corriveau, NINDS program director. “These findings provide insight into how signaling from the immune system contributes to the symptoms of cognitive decline that ultimately lead to the diagnosis of dementia.”

Global impact of hypertension and its impact on cognition

High blood pressure affects more than 1 billion people worldwide and can cause cognitive decline not only when a stroke occurs, but even when a person with high blood pressure does not have a stroke. However, efforts to control cognitive decline in people who have not had a stroke with blood pressure-lowering treatments have shown mixed results. The results of this mouse study suggest that under conditions that mimic common hypertension, immune cells around and within the brain become abnormally activated, and that this activation leads to impaired brain function. Fluorescent staining reveals an extensive vascular network of the dura mater. These blood vessels contain her T cells, which are activated in mouse models of chronic hypertension, causing a condition that can lead to dementia-like symptoms. Credit: Iadecola Lab

Research Insights: Mouse models of hypertension

Researchers led by Costantino Iadecola, MD, director and director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Institute in New York City, used a mouse model of hypertension to investigate interleukin-17 (IL-17). It was discovered that the levels of A chemical normally released in the body, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain to activate the immune system. Previously, Dr. Iadekola’s team showed that a high-salt diet increases IL-17 in the intestine, followed by cognitive impairment. These new findings further deepen the story by showing that IL-17 is acting within the brain itself. It is also worth noting that these experiments used a different mouse model called the DOCA salt model, which more closely mimics common hypertension in humans. “This is the most realistic model of hypertension that we have at this time,” Dr. Iadecola said. “DOCA mice simulate low-renin hypertension, a type of hypertension that is common in people, especially black Americans.”

Role of IL-17 and brain macrophages

Further research has shown that when IL-17 enters the brain, it activates immune cells known as macrophages, which are responsible for activating inflammation and fighting infections. A series of experiments showed that both mice with brain macrophage deletion of IL-17 receptors and mice with brain macrophage depletion showed no effect of hypertension on cognitive function, and therefore these macrophages were not associated with the observed cognitive function. It was confirmed that this is important for the reduction of Functioning despite other hypertension symptoms. Researchers were still looking for a source of IL-17 that acts on brain macrophages. Based on previous studies, the researchers’ initial hypothesis was that the gut releases IL-17, which travels to the brain through the bloodstream. Once there, a reaction is triggered that damages the ability of the brain’s blood vessels to respond appropriately to increased brain activity. However, blocking the ability of cerebral blood vessels to respond to IL-17 only partially reversed the cognitive impairment, suggesting that another source of IL-17 is acting on the brain. Uncovering IL-17 pathways and protective barriers One clue suggests that one layer of the brain’s protective layer, known as the dura mater, contains immune T cells that secrete IL-17 and may influence mouse behavior. taken from other recent studies. Using special mice whose cells glow fluorescent green when they make IL-17, the researchers found that high blood pressure increases IL-17 in the dura mater, which is then released into the tissues. Normally, a barrier exists within the brain’s protective covering called the meninges to prevent unwanted spillage into the brain. However, in mice with experimentally induced hypertension, this barrier appears to be disrupted, allowing IL-17 to enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Two additional experiments helped confirm this hypothesis. First, drugs were used to block the migration of her T cells from the lymph nodes to the meninges. Second, antibodies were used to block the activity of her T cells within the meninges. In both cases, the hypertensive mice recovered cognitive function, suggesting that targeting hyperactive T cells may be a new therapeutic approach worth exploring. “Taken together, our data suggest that hypertension causes two distinct effects,” Dr. Iadecola said. “One is that IL-17 has an effect on blood vessels, but this seems to be relatively minor. The more prominent central effect is that IL-17 releases IL-17, which has a direct effect on immune cells in the brain. It is caused by cells in the meninges. These immune cells, activated by signaling from the meninges, affect the brain in a way that ultimately causes cognitive impairment.”

Future Research Directions

Dr. Iadekola and his team are now trying to connect the dots between activation of immune cells in the meninges and cognitive decline. Previous works by the group The researchers suggested a link between a high-salt diet, which suppresses the production of the chemical nitric oxide in brain blood vessels, and the resulting accumulation of tau, a toxic protein that forms clumps within affected neurons. Alzheimer’s disease disease. The findings also indicate suppression of nitric oxide production in cerebral blood vessels, and whether this also leads to increased tau production is currently being investigated.

Reference: “Meningeal interleukin-17-producing T cells mediate cognitive impairment in a mouse model of salt-sensitive hypertension” Monica M. Santisteban, Samantha Schaeffer, Antoine Anfray, Giuseppe Faraco, David Brea, Gang Wang, Melissa J. Sobanko , Rose Sciortino, Gianfranco Rachumi, Ali Wiseman, Rybaik Park, Joseph Anraser, Costantino Iadecola, December 4, 2023, natural neuroscience.DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01497-z of NINDS’ Mind Your Risks® Campaign This paper highlights the relationship between high blood pressure and brain health (including risk of stroke and dementia), particularly in Black men aged 28 to 45, and provides recommendations to prevent and reduce the impact of high blood pressure on brain health. We offer strategies. This research was funded by NINDS (NS089323, NS095441, NS123507), the Leon Levy Fellowship in Neuroscience, and the Feil Family Foundation.


Source: scitechdaily.com