The Week in Tech 01/26/2024
Post- Researchers have developed a flexible wearable device, infused with spindle-shaped particles, that adheres to the skin, conforms to underlying tumors, and measures their size. The plastic device, tested on mice, adjusts as tumors grow, altering electrical properties detected over seven days.
Genetic studies propose evolved genes in postmenopausal women contribute to healthy brains, vital for ensuring grandchildren's survival - and aiding them in living longer.
Gene therapy has restored some hearing in children with congenital deafness resulting from mutations in the OTOF gene. OTOF encodes the otoferlin protein crucial for transmitting sound signals by bending hair cells in the ear. About 200,000 individuals worldwide inherit two faulty copies of OTOF, rendering them deaf despite potentially functional hair cells. In the therapy, these children received cochlear injections of two harmless viruses, each carrying a segment of the OTOF gene. Once inside the hair cells, the viruses delivered their cargo, enabling the synthesis of the complete otoferlin protein.
In rare instances, there seems to be a potential for the transmission of Alzheimer's disease between individuals. Researchers disclosed that five individuals who, as children, received tainted injections of a growth hormone later experienced unusually early onset of Alzheimer's, according to findings published on January 29 in Nature Medicine.
Researchers have developed a novel battery material by harnessing the synergies of artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing. Focusing on a sought-after solid electrolyte for batteries, they employed AI to sift through materials based on stability, narrowing down the options to less than 600,000 candidates. Subsequent AI analysis identified materials with suitable electrical and chemical properties. Employing additional physics-based methods, the researchers refined the list, excluding rare, toxic, or expensive candidates. The final selection comprised 23 materials, from which a promising one was chosen and successfully synthesized into a prototype battery.
A study conducted by researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London indicates that interventions aimed at enhancing mood, such as psychological therapy, antidepressants, and exercise, are linked to notable reductions in inflammatory biomarkers among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research suggests that mood-improving interventions can result in an 18% decrease in inflammation for individuals with IBD compared to those without mood interventions.
Inspired by human gait, Japanese researchers created a two-legged biohybrid robot by combining muscle tissues and synthetic materials, enabling the robot to walk, pivot, and exhibit efficient, silent movements with a gentle touch.
MXene nanoparticle scaffolds have demonstrated the ability to stimulate muscle growth, presenting a promising approach for treating muscle loss and damage.
Scientists have developed an ultrasound-based method to predict the risk of premature delivery in pregnant individuals, detecting microstructural changes in the cervix as early as 23 weeks into pregnancy, as detailed in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine.
Utilizing an AI model called COMPOSER, developed by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, a 17% reduction in mortality was achieved by quickly identifying patients at risk for sepsis infection in the emergency departments of UC San Diego Health. The AI algorithm continuously monitors over 150 patient variables linked to sepsis upon a patient's check-in, notifying nursing staff if high-risk indicators are present. COMPOSER, activated in December 2022, is now in use in various in-patient units at UC San Diego Health.
Scientists devised a method to induce target-specific immune responses for vaccine development by fusing antigen proteins into a tetraspanin-derived anchor membrane-bound protein. This approach prompts the production of antibodies against relevant antigens, with the added benefit of maintaining the same conformation and modifications as the virus proteins, as they are produced by cells similar to those infected by the virus in the human body.
Researchers at the Chemical Institute for Energy and the Environment (IQUEMA) at the University of Cordoba have created a unique battery utilizing hemoglobin to aid electrochemical reactions, sustaining functionality for about 20 to 30 days. Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, known for transporting oxygen in the body, particularly exhibits a high affinity for oxygen. Employing zinc-air batteries, recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to current dominant lithium-ion batteries, hemoglobin serves as a catalyst, facilitating the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR). This process leads to the reduction of oxygen, transforming it into water in the battery's cathode (positive pole), thereby releasing electrons that move to the anode (negative pole), inducing zinc oxidation.
Each additional year of education is estimated to result in a 2 percent reduction in mortality. A recent study suggests that the advantages of an 18-year education are akin to maintaining a diet rich in vegetables. The findings indicate that higher education levels provide individuals with increased resources, contributing to the establishment of a healthier lifestyle.
Individuals with Alzheimer's dementia exhibited slower cognitive decline when concurrently treated with a lipid-lowering statin compared to those without treatment. It is important to note, however, that this study is observational, relying on data comparison from a registry, and cannot conclusively establish a causal relationship between statin treatment and cognitive outcomes.
In an interim analysis of an advanced clinical trial, a treatment involving monoclonal antibodies demonstrated significant improvement in the tolerance of various common foods among children and adolescents with food allergies. The antibody, omalizumab, is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for three indications unrelated to food allergies. Data from the initial stage, involving 165 participants, determined that those who received omalizumab injections could tolerate higher doses of allergenic foods, such as peanut, egg, milk, and cashew, without experiencing allergic reactions compared to participants receiving placebos.
Superconductivity, a quantum mechanical state with zero electrical resistance, enables efficient electronic transport and finds applications in powerful electromagnets used in technologies like magnetic resonance imaging and particle accelerators. Current electronics rely on semiconducting transistors, leading to energy wastage as heat due to finite electrical resistance. Researchers, led by Shua Sanchez from the University of Washington, explored a unique superconducting crystal composed of europium atoms embedded in layers of iron, cobalt, and arsenic. By applying a magnetic field, they achieved tunability, creating a zero-resistance state. This breakthrough could address the impracticality of superconductors in hand-held devices due to their low-temperature requirements.
Brain and AI News:
Individuals with abnormally thin retinas face an elevated risk of developing bronchitis and other ailments in the future, indicating that retinal scans might eventually be integrated into regular health screenings.
When college students were tasked with handwriting words, heightened connectivity was observed across various brain regions, particularly in brain waves linked to memory formation, in contrast to typing the same words, suggesting a fundamental distinction in brain organization between the two activities.
Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized connection between the cerebellum and the basal ganglia, two brain regions crucial for coordinating movement and learning. The cerebellum was found to modulate dopamine levels in the basal ganglia, influencing movement initiation, movement vigor, and reward processing. This finding challenges existing views on how the brain processes voluntary movements and conditioned learning, providing potential insights into addiction and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
MIT neuroscientists found that socioeconomic conditions can shape the brain's sensitivity to rewarding experiences. Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibited less sensitivity to reward compared to their more affluent counterparts during a guessing game, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study suggests that lower socioeconomic circumstances may lead the brain to adapt by reducing its response to rewards.
Scientists have created a robotic sensor equipped with artificial intelligence methods, enabling it to read braille at speeds approximately twice as fast as the average human reader.
A collaborative team from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), The University of Texas at Austin, MIT, and Axoft, Inc., has designed a soft implantable device featuring numerous sensors. This device can reliably record single-neuron activity in the brain over extended periods, lasting for months.
A significant clinical trial has demonstrated that employing MRI and tracking to direct the administration of magnetic stimulation in the brains of individuals with severe depression can lead to symptom relief lasting at least six months, potentially enhancing their overall well-being. The findings, published in Nature Medicine, indicate that, on average, participants experienced significant enhancements in the severity of depression, anxiety, and cognitive function, along with improved overall function and quality of life over a 26-week period using MRI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This marks a notable extension compared to previously reported improvements lasting only 1-3 months.