Monthly Archives: January 2020

Immunology

Find out How the Growth of Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market Research Report 2020-2027 – Briotainment

Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market 2026 evaluation of an enterprise is an important component for diverse stakeholders like traders, CEOs, buyers, providers, and others by Research N Reports. The Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology industry research record is an aid, which gives modern in addition to upcoming technical and economic details of the industry. Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology market research file is an expert and in-depth take a look at the modern nation of this market.

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Top Companies Profiled in this Report includes Pfizer Inc, Astrazeneca, F. Hoffmann-La Roche LTd, Bayer AG, Amgen Inc, Novartis AG, Bristol Mayers Squibb, Johnson and Johnson, Merck KgaA, Eli Lilly, celgene Corp, Gilead , bluebird bio Inc, Celldex therapeutics, SillaJen Inc, IGNITE Immunotherapy, Westeren oncolytics ltd, PsiOxus Therapeutics, MultiVir, Vyriad, Oncolys BioPharma Inc, Cold genesys Inc, Sorrento Therapeutics Inc, Targovax, Lokon therapeutics, New-link genetics Corporation, Ziopharma oncology, Tessa therapeutics Pte Ltd, Atara biotherapeutics, Cellectis, Oryx, VCN Biosciences, Orca Therapeutics B.V, Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, Ascend laboratories LLC,Transgene SA, among others.

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Table of Contents

Global Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market Research Report

Chapter 1 Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market Forecast

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Find out How the Growth of Cancer Immunology and Oncolytic Virology Market Research Report 2020-2027 - Briotainment

Genetics

Doing well in school is nothing to be proud of – Daily Nation

By BITANGE NDEMOMore by this Author

We recently celebrated those who passed their 2019 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

For several days, newspaper headlines displayed names and pictures of those who scored As. Their performance promises them a place in top Universities in and outside the country.

At college graduations, the very few first-class students are celebrated while a majority limp on in frustration.

I recently read the article by Olivia Goldhill, Doing well in school is nothing to be proud of. The article, published in Quartz, argues that new research presents views contrary to our tradition. I thought it important to review this article.

The study had identified 1,271 genetic variants that are associated with how many years people spend in school. Their result follows on from several other academics papers and years of research identifying the genetic variants associated with educational achievements.

The authors reported that:

These studies do not support the idea that intelligence is all down to genetics: Even with full knowledge of all these variants, an analysis of any one individuals genes could not be used to make a meaningful prediction about whether theyre going to get a PhD or drop out of school. But they do show that genetics have an impact; while genetics do not definitively determine how someone will fare in school, they create certain predispositions. In total, all the genetic variants account for 11 percent of variation in educational attainment across the population.

High achievers feel validated when results correspond to their achievements. The study notes that most cultures in the modern times treat educational success as a sign of moral worth. Parents, communities and teachers celebrate kids who do well in school. They shouldnt.

Latest research findings from the work of Robert Plomin, professor of behavioural genetics at Kings College London also established that genetic data from 20,000 DNA variants across several genes collectively account for between two and nine percent of the differences in childrens educational achievement.

In his paper, Predicting Educational Achievement from DNA, Plomin argues that his findings could herald future widespread use of genetic risk score to predict genetic risk and resilience in the social and behavioural sciences.

These research findings from genes should never be ignored since they have been used before to promote the idea that there is such a thing as genetically-determined intelligence often used as a basis for superiority.

Indeed, as a student in the US, I registered for an advanced math course. In my first class, the professor advised me to change my registration to a similar course offered under Martin Luther (ML) program at the University.

Students widely felt that ML was basically a euphemism for inferior students from different minority groups. I refused to change my registration. After the first continuous test, in which I did well, the professor developed a weird invigilation tactic whenever we had an exam.

He would simply stand behind my back, perhaps trying to ensure that I was indeed the one taking the exam. Although it was a form of intimidation, I ignored it.

Only later did I realise that some of my classmates and the professor considered themselves a superior race.

Goldhills article suggests that, how you perform in the classroom is the result of many things ranging from environmental to biological factors, including but not limited to genetics. The familys socioeconomic status, the level of emphasis that the family places on education and accessibility to good teachers determine the performance of learners. There is also the element of luck where the students skill set conveniently matches exam requirements. Doing well, in school is, largely, a sign of good luck.

Parents in some cases are the greatest problem as it relates to educational performance. In some cases where perhaps one of the children performs poorly, their comments may reinforce failure, especially when they openly address them as weak in academics. The child could be suffering from dyslexia or autism but such comments destroy their confidence.

Instead, the parents should be looking at such children as a category that thinks differently while investigating.

The advent of artificial intelligence has brought adaptive learning, an educational system that adjusts the presentation of learning material in response to student performance.

On the other hand, students who consistently perform well are not without a problem. A single failure could lead to depression. Perhaps the increasing incidences in mental health may be attributable to young people who hitherto have performed well but have recently encountered failure to a point where they feel they are no longer worth anything.

Some research shows that high achievers in some cases feel entitled and less willing to ask for help even when they need it, while others think they are imposters referred to as imposter syndrome.

In the KCSE results where, only 125,746 out of 660,240, or 20 percent of candidates, qualified to go to university, there are thousands who missed university entry requirements but are perhaps as good as those who qualified.

They may never know that it wasnt entirely their fault. Our system of education is unforgiving and often ignores these many reasons for failing to perform well in the exam.

While genetics could be used to explain good performance in education, there is evidence that good performance is, to a large extent, a function of good luck.

Yes, there is a need to acknowledge those who perform well but it must be in moderation. It is equally important to encourage those who have not excelled.

In as much as there are consequences for those who fail, there are also similar consequences for those who pass.

The writer is a professor of entrepreneurship at University of Nairobis School of Business.

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Doing well in school is nothing to be proud of - Daily Nation

Genetics

A guide to picking the right life science program for you – Varsity

Students in fields from fundamental genetics to bioinformatics and computational biology discussed their fields of study with attendees. COURTESY OF GLOBAL SOCIETY FOR GENETICS AND GENOME BIOLOGY

As second semester rolls in and spring approaches, many first-year life sciences students are starting to consider which program of study they will pursue next year. This is often a time of stress and confusion for students who may not know exactly what they want to study, or even how to start their search.

Fortunately, some University of Toronto student groups are offering their time and wisdom to help first years navigate the multiple programs offered in the life sciences.

The Global Society for Genetics and Genome Biology (GSGGB) hosted a How to choose a life science [program of study] event at New College on January 13. Members of the GSGGB offered their guidance and support to keen first-year students representing the programs of molecular genetics and microbiology, fundamental genetics, bioinformatics and computational biology, ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB), and more.

Students had the opportunity to discuss programs, enrollment requirements, and even research opportunities with the upper-year students, who were eager to share their experiences in their respective programs.

Whats the difference between type 1, 2, and 3 programs?

The Faculty of Arts & Science offers 21 specialist programs, 20 majors, and six minors in the life sciences. Most specialist programs, alongside some majors, such as molecular genetics and microbiology, are known for their competitiveness. These are type 3 programs, which have limited spots available, require minimum grades in certain prerequisite first-year courses, and supplemental information such as a personal statement or audition.

Type 2 programs also require minimum grades in prerequisite courses, but typically have more available spots and lower grade requirements. The neuroscience major is an example one popular type 2 program.

However, many students dont realize that a lot of life science majors and minors are type 1 programs, which do not require any specific courses or grades for enrollment. Common type 1 majors include as global health, EEB, and fundamental genetics, in addition to some lesser-known majors such as animal physiology, or environment and health. As long as a student is on course to obtaining four full-course equivalents by the end of this school year, they will be admitted to any type 1 program.

Where can students learn more about programs of study?

To learn more about programs of study, first-year students are encouraged to visit the program toolkit section of Sidney Smith Commons website. There, they will find a comprehensive list of all programs offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science, how to apply to each, and important dates. This year, enrollment begins on March 1.

Students should also consider meeting with their colleges academic advisors, who can provide guidance regarding program enrollment and degree planning.

Student groups like the GSGGB are also a useful resource for first-year students, who may at times be daunted by the prospect of approaching professors or older students for advice.

Events like How to choose a life science [program of study] provide students with the opportunity to chat in a casual, stress-free environment, while receiving advice from people who were once in their same position.

GSGGB Affairs Leader Aisha Faruqui wrote to The Varsity that there are plenty of life sci clubs like GSGGB that would love to help out puzzled first-year students, and that students should feel free to reach out.

Weve all had moments in undergrad where we have felt lost or uncertain about our future, she noted, so students should never feel alone in their experiences.

U of T offers its students plenty of resources when it comes to academic planning and discovery. Students will have many opportunities to explore interesting fields in the life sciences and to shape their career paths.

Faruqui reflected, Dont stress out about choosing your program, and dont worry about not getting into your desired program after first year!

You can make it work out in the end.

Tags: Careers, education, life sciences, program of study, Science

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A guide to picking the right life science program for you - Varsity

Neuroscience

It’s OK to talk to yourself – The Happiness Connection – Castanet.net

Reen Rose -Jan 26, 2020 / 11:00 am | Story:275523

Photo: Stefania Stani/flickr

Do you talk to yourself? I do.

Let me clarify. I dont have conversations where I ask questions and then answer them. I verbally process my thoughts.

It isnt a behaviour I developed consciously. It wasnt until my siblings teased me about it that I became aware of its existence. It tends to happen when I am frustrated, annoyed, or trying to work through a problem.

I have been teased for decades that this is the first sign of madness, and for many years, I tried to hide this habit from others.

When I was at university in Victoria, I found a mirror that said, You can talk to me now. No ones looking.

I bought it and proudly hung it in my room for all to see. It provided me with a huge sense of relief.

Whether the creator intended to mock rather than console didnt matter. To me, the mirror unveiled the possibility that other people talked to themselves, too. I wasnt alone.

Ive become more comfortable over the years about owning who I am. I dont try to hide my personal conversations the way I once did. It helps that anyone who passes me in the car probably assumes I am talking on the phone, not to myself.

Despite this increase in self-acceptance, I felt comforted when I stumbled on an article called, The Neuroscience of Everybodys Favourite Topic. (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-neuroscience-of-everybody-favorite-topic-themselves/)

What is your favourite topic to talk about? You!

According to the research outlined in this article, when you are having a conversation, about 60 percent of what you say will be about you.

That statistic rises to 80 percent if you are communicating on social medial.

The researchers from the Harvard University Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab wanted to see what parts of the brain became active when subjects talked about themselves rather than about other people.

They discovered that talking about yourself activates the same areas of the brain as sex, cocaine, and good food.

You talk about yourself because it feels good.

They took these findings one step further. Does someone need to be listening to you when you talk about yourself, for it to be a pleasurable experience?

As a self-proclaimed self-talker, this caught my attention. Do I get subconscious pleasure from my verbal processing even though no one is listening to me? Im certain my topic is almost always me.

The same process as before was repeated with one difference. This time some of the responses would be shared and some would be kept private.

Each participant brought a friend or relative with them. These companions were put in an adjoining room.

Before subjects were asked questions about themselves or others, they were told whether their response would be live broadcast to the person they brought with them, or kept private, even from the research team.

The results showed that both talking about yourself and sharing your response brings pleasure. It also uncovered that these are additive. The greatest enjoyment comes from talking to other people about yourself; the least from talking privately about others.

Although it isnt as high, talking privately about yourself still comes with a strong hit of pleasure. That means that private self-reflection like writing in a journal or talking to yourself are feel-good activities.

Remember that next time you need a mood boost. Get out a photo album and write, think, or talk about your memories.

Im not sure what happened to my mirror from university, but this year I bought some wall art that gave me a similar level of comfort.

Of course, I talk to myself. Sometimes I need expert advice.

Reen Rose -Jan 19, 2020 / 11:00 am | Story:274977

Photo: Can Pac Swire/Flickr

If you read my column regularly, you may have been wondering what happened to me last weekend. For only the second time in three years, I didnt manage to submit an article.

As I was walking my dog last Friday, I slipped on some ice and broke my ankle. After an ambulance ride and multiple hours in emergency, I was sent home with a set of crutches and the expectation of surgery.

I had a lot of time to think while I was there. The battery on my phone died while I was in the ambulance, so I didnt even have that to help distract me.

My thoughts kept returning to the crutches. They made me think about Toastmasters where unnecessary words and sounds are called crutches. They hold space while your brain decides what it wants to say next.

That may sound like a good thing, but it isnt. These words can be very distracting. A good speaker shouldnt be afraid to be silent while they are gathering their thoughts. There is no need to insert ah or like. Just pause.

There is an ah-counter who keeps track of how many crutch words you use during each meeting. In our club, you pay a penalty for these infractions.

As a result, Ive tended to view the word crutch negatively. Before I had even tried to use them, I was suspicious of the silver sticks they were sending me home with.

Why are some crutches considered good and others arent?

This is where my mind went while I sat in emergency, waiting for my turn to be sedated.

Crutches are supports. Whats wrong with being supported?

The answer may seem obvious to you, or you may not care one way or the other. Welcome to my brain. It self-entertains by pondering things like this.

Are crutches of any sort good if they are only temporary?

I dont believe anyone would want to stay dependent on physical crutches if they had a choice. They are cumbersome and slow most people down.

Mental crutches are less visible and possibly more comfortable. If youve come to rely on having a couple of drinks before going to a social event to settle your anxiety, what incentive do you have to stop?

You may not even see your behaviour as a crutch.

Awareness is the first step towards transformation. You cant change something until you recognize that it exists.

New Toastmasters often dont believe the ah-counter when they report the number of times they said ah or whatever word they rely on to buy their brain some time. Once it is drawn to their attention, it is like a curtain has been lifted. They notice each crutch word as they utter it.

It isnt until you achieve awareness that you can make changes.

The same goes with crutch behaviors. They may have crept in so quietly and so long ago, that you arent consciously aware of them.

Whether you should try to eliminate the crutches in your life or not, is not my call.

I want to encourage you to become aware of them, so you can make that decision for yourself. Are they helping, or hindering you? Be honest.

Self-awareness is an important part of conscious living. Support is necessary sometimes. Dont be afraid to ask for it. But be aware of your crutches so you know when the time is right to let them go.

Reen Rose -Jan 5, 2020 / 11:13 am | Story:273884

Photo: Pixabay

Would life be easier in January if we didnt celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?

There is so much happening during the holiday period that it is easy to let regular life slide. January can seem overwhelming with catching up on the old and getting started on the new.

Being busy has been a topic of discussion in the work and personal development worlds for some time. Unplugging from technology and taking time for yourself are commonly advised.

I cooked, cleaned, and changed the sheets on the bed numerous times as different people arrived to stay with me over the holiday period. I played more board games than Ive done in the past several decades and basked in the love and enjoyment of family and friends.

But the experts are right. Being ultra-busy comes at a cost.

I spent much of December hiding things in desk drawers and promising myself I would deal with them in the new year. Well, the new year is here.

They are out of sight and I have lots to do without adding them to my plate.

Its time to choose. Do I pretend my slate is clean and jump into the new year, or do I open the drawers?

Most years, I let these things stay hidden for months. Im too full of enthusiasm for new projects and building a spectacular new year to give them more than a passing thought.

This approach has never ended well. At the most inopportune time, the ghost of the year past rises.

Income tax deadlines wait for no woman. Suddenly, it doesnt matter what Im in the middle of, I have to give up days of my life to sort out the mess of paperwork and receipts that I chose to ignore in January.

But not this year.

Ive decided Im going to get on top of everything from 2019 before I embrace the excitement of my new years resolutions.

Its almost like I need to put my enthusiasm for what lies ahead in a drawer instead of the paperwork that is currently there.

This goes against all my January instincts. I want to look ahead and start new projects, not look back, or in my case look into my stuffed desk drawers.

To appease my desire to embrace the new, I am giving myself a hard deadline.

Even if it means staying up all night, I will not go to bed at the end of the weekend until my accounts are up to date, the Christmas decorations are packed away into my crawl space, and I have completed the paperwork that is clogging up my desk.

I may even take time in the coming week to create some better systems and task dates to stay on top of things this year. If the experience ahead of me is bad enough, I may feel sufficiently motivated to make that happen.

It doesnt matter whether you are more disciplined than me and go into every new year with the old stuff done. This is a great time to not only set intentions for the future, but to take time to put a bow on the past.

Ive been thinking how nice it would be if Christmas was at another time of the year, but perhaps the answer is to move the new year back a week or two.

In Reens world, the beginning of January is going to be a transition period. Im going to take time to tidy up the old before jumping into the new.

At least thats my intention. Ill let you know how I make out.

Rae Stewart -Dec 29, 2019 / 11:00 am | Story:273501

Photo: Contributed

Even if you arent a fan of new years resolutions, there is a good chance that you are thinking about what you want 2020 to be like.

January seems to come with an innate desire for a fresh start.

Whether you call them goals or resolutions, setting an intention for the year ahead is helpful for all sorts of reasons, including mindfulness.

You may be a fan of the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely) goal principle. If you want to lose weight, state how much, by when, and choose an amount that you believe is doable.

There are many situations when this is the perfect strategy to use, especially in business. But let me give you an alternative approach as you enter the new year.

Rather than choosing very specific goals for 2020, try selecting a theme word.

Instead of saying you want to lose 20 pounds, decide to be guided by the word health.

I like this alternative method for setting an intention for the year because you arent attaching success to a specific outcome.

What if your regular fitness regime and healthy eating dont result in a downward trend on your scales? Does that mean your resolution failed even though your clothes fit better?

How about if your decision to learn French gets thrown aside because you elect to get your masters degree, or become a certified yoga instructor?

Your specific outcome didnt happen, but you still took on a major new learning experience.

What if you had chosen the word learning instead of setting a specific goal?

I find this system more successful because it allows you to course correct throughout the year without stubbornly holding onto something that isnt working, or getting discouraged and stopping completely.

Of course, just like SMART goals, choosing a word only works if you commit yourself to doing what it takes to turn your intention into reality.

For those of you who are interested, let me talk you through the steps.

Brainstorm some of the things you want to do, have, or accomplish in 2020.

Dont stop to judge or evaluate them. Consider all aspects of your life, not just one. Your work, home, and personal lives intertwine and overlap to an extent that you will never be able to separate them completely.

Dont rush this step. Take a few days to complete it if you need to.

Judge and evaluate the items on your list.

Choose two or three that are most important to you for the year ahead. You may find some of the things you wrote down can be combined.

Look for a central theme among your choices. Ideally, you will find one word that applies to all of them in some way.

For example, lose weight, get a new job, and take more time for yourself may fit under the umbrella theme of self-care, opportunities, or upgrade.

You want something that resonates with what you hope 2020 will hold for you.

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It's OK to talk to yourself - The Happiness Connection - Castanet.net

Biochemistry

Astronaut Says Alien Lifeforms That Are Impossible to Spot May Be Living Among Us – SciTechDaily

Alien lifeforms probably wont look anything like this.

Life is pretty easy to recognize. It moves, it grows, it eats, it excretes, it reproduces. Simple. In biology, researchers often use the acronym MRSGREN to describe it. It stands for movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition.

But Helen Sharman, Britains first astronaut and a chemist at Imperial College London, recently said that alien lifeforms that are impossible to spot may be living among us. How could that be possible?

While life may be easy to recognize, its actually notoriously difficult to define and has had scientists and philosophers in debate for centuries if not millennia. For example, a 3D printer can reproduce itself, but we wouldnt call it alive. On the other hand, a mule is famously sterile, but we would never say it doesnt live.

As nobody can agree, there are more than 100 definitions of what life is. An alternative (but imperfect) approach is describing life as a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution, which works for many cases we want to describe.

The lack of definition is a huge problem when it comes to searching for life in space. Not being able to define life other than well know it when we see it means we are truly limiting ourselves to geocentric, possibly even anthropocentric, ideas of what life looks like. When we think about aliens, we often picture a humanoid creature. But the intelligent life we are searching for doesnt have to be humanoid.

Sharman says she believes aliens exist and theres no two ways about it. Furthermore, she wonders: Will they be like you and me, made up of carbon and nitrogen? Maybe not. Its possible theyre here right now and we simply cant see them.

Such life would exist in a shadow biosphere. By that, I dont mean a ghost realm, but undiscovered creatures probably with a different biochemistry. This means we cant study or even notice them because they are outside of our comprehension. Assuming it exists, such a shadow biosphere would probably be microscopic.

Aliens probably wont look like anything from your dreams or nightmares.

So why havent we found it? We have limited ways of studying the microscopic world as only a small percentage of microbes can be cultured in a lab. This may mean that there could indeed be many lifeforms we havent yet spotted. We do now have the ability to sequence the DNA of unculturable strains of microbes, but this can only detect life as we know it that contain DNA.

If we find such a biosphere, however, it is unclear whether we should call it alien. That depends on whether we mean of extraterrestrial origin or simply unfamiliar.

A popular suggestion for an alternative biochemistry is one based on silicon rather than carbon. It makes sense, even from a geocentric point of view. Around 90% of the Earth is made up of silicon, iron, magnesium, and oxygen, which means theres lots to go around for building potential life.

Artists impression of a silicon-based life form.

Silicon is similar to carbon, it has four electrons available for creating bonds with other atoms. But silicon is heavier, with 14 protons (protons make up the atomic nucleus with neutrons) compared to the six in the carbon nucleus. While carbon can create strong double and triple bonds to form long chains useful for many functions, such as building cell walls, it is much harder for silicon. It struggles to create strong bonds, so long-chain molecules are much less stable.

Whats more, common silicon compounds, such as silicon dioxide (or silica), are generally solid at terrestrial temperatures and insoluble in water. Compare this to highly soluble carbon dioxide, for example, and we see that carbon is more flexible and provides many more molecular possibilities.

Life on Earth is fundamentally different from the bulk composition of the Earth. Another argument against a silicon-based shadow biosphere is that too much silicon is locked up in rocks. In fact, the chemical composition of life on Earth has an approximate correlation with the chemical composition of the sun, with 98% of atoms in biology consisting of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. So if there were viable silicon lifeforms here, they may have evolved elsewhere.

That said, there are arguments in favor of silicon-based life on Earth. Nature is adaptable. A few years ago, scientists at Caltech managed to breed a bacterial protein that created bonds with silicon essentially bringing silicon to life. So even though silicon is inflexible compared with carbon, it could perhaps find ways to assemble into living organisms, potentially including carbon.

And when it comes to other places in space, such as Saturns moon Titan or planets orbiting other stars, we certainly cant rule out the possibility of silicon-based life.

To find it, we have to somehow think outside of the terrestrial biology box and figure out ways of recognizing lifeforms that are fundamentally different from the carbon-based form. There are plenty of experiments testing out these alternative biochemistries, such as the one from Caltech.

Regardless of the belief held by many that life exists elsewhere in the universe, we have no evidence for that. So it is important to consider all life as precious, no matter its size, quantity or location. The Earth supports the only known life in the universe. So no matter what form life elsewhere in the solar system or universe may take, we have to make sure we protect it from harmful contamination whether it is terrestrial life or alien lifeforms.

So could aliens be among us? I dont believe that we have been visited by a life form with the technology to travel across the vast distances of space. But we do have evidence for life-forming, carbon-based molecules having arrived on Earth on meteorites, so the evidence certainly doesnt rule out the same possibility for more unfamiliar life forms.

Written by Samantha Rolfe, Lecturer in Astrobiology and Principal Technical Officer at Bayfordbury Observatory, University of Hertfordshire.

Originally published on The Conversation.

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Astronaut Says Alien Lifeforms That Are Impossible to Spot May Be Living Among Us - SciTechDaily

Biochemistry

Chromatography Instruments Market Demand, Recent Trends and Developments Analysi – News by aeresearch

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Physiology

The psychology and physiology of propaganda: A study of the radicalization of women – University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily

With the help of a $716,065 grant from the National Institute of Justice in 2016, professors from the University in collaboration with those at other colleges and the Federal Bureau of Investigation combined theory with science in their study of the radicalization of women by ISIL.

During a two-part project, Janet Warren, professor in the department of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences, aided by Gregory Saathoff, professor in the departments of public health science and emergency medicine and the FBIs conflict resolution specialist, developed a framework to describe this phenomenon based on accounts of western women who devoted their lives to committing acts of terrorism.

To test their model, Warren and Saathoff turned to founding director of the School of Data Science Donald Brown for help with gathering and analyzing relevant data. Mojtaba Heidarysafa, a doctoral candidate in the department of systems and information engineering, also joined the research project during the data collection phase, in which the team enrolled women ages 18 to 35 from the University and wider Charlottesville communities who volunteered for the study and were compensated for their involvement. Participants attended one of two sessions in which researchers recorded their emotional and physiological responses to propaganda.

As a result, a general pattern emerged regarding womens reactions to certain types of violent visual stimuli, confirming the possibility that a model could be created to show how women become radicalized. The researchers hope these findings could assist in preventing women from being recruited into terrorism.

Each woman completed a consent form reviewed by the University Institutional Review Board. Researchers provided women with the ability to discontinue their involvement in the study at any point and reimbursed them regardless of whether or not they completed the study. Furthermore, each participant had access to a tamer set of images, of which two women took advantage, as well as guidance after the study if she felt deeply affected.

Warren noted that similar studies often focus on men. But her consultant work with the FBIs counterterrorism efforts inspired her to consider the ramifications for women, Warren immediately considered the ramifications for women.

I thought it would be really interesting, as we were all together in these meetings talking about risk assessment and terrorism, for the first time to start a study on women, Warren said. Most research done on very violent crime is done on men I have often followed these huge areas of research and asked, How does this apply to women?

Saathoff collaborated with Warren to understand the overall trajectory of womens conversion to terrorism. He stressed the need to characterize the process not only as a means of pursuing criminals but also as a means to provide insights and strategies that could protect women from plots to recruit them.

In society we often learn through media anecdotes, and that is one way to become aware of these issues, but to truly understand the situation, its important to understand how this occurs in a large number of cases, Saathoff said.

First, Warren, Saathoff and their partners constructed a risk assessment model to outline the radicalization process. To successfully summarize and explain that transformation, the team hoped to find 300 women with sufficiently detailed court and investigation records but doubted the feasibility of that goal. When they uncovered almost five times as many women, researchers chose to analyze the 300 with the most robust court and investigative reports.

Over the next couple of years, Warren, Saathoff and their research team produced a risk assessment model that identifies not only aspects of a persons life that could increase the likelihood of her radicalization, but also preventative measures to proactively impede radicalization efforts. The hope was to generate a cohesive framework for analysis of potentially dangerous individuals for use in government agencies.

We were trying to do something that integrated what people in different countries were talking about, what we thought was interesting, what was in our academic research and make something that was more translational and international in terms of its broadness, Warren said.

The model incorporates the theory that risk and protective factors can be viewed as two ends of a spectrum. The factors in and of themselves are not diametrically opposed aspects of a persons life. Rather, their intensity and outlets determine someones likelihood to adhere to extremist beliefs.

Warrens three-stage framework pinpointed these elements. Beginning with the propensity for radicalization, individuals can transition to mobilization and eventually action and capacity for terrorist exploits. Key factors that dictate progression from state to state include morality, self-regulation, setting, physical activity and perception of alternatives.

Many women we have found who embrace this new identity are doing that because of unhappiness with their current situation, Saathoff said. Travel to another country is sometimes an escape, and its facilitated by those who would specifically tailor the message to the individual person Its remarkable how compelling and powerful that seduction can be.

Second, the team looked to Donald Brown, founding director of the School of Data Science, for help with gathering concrete evidence to support their theory, specifically as it relates to propaganda. Warren cited propaganda as a powerful recruitment tool that can persuade people to completely change their outlook. Though many studies dissecting the conscious reactions to materials disseminated by extremist organizations exist, Warren emphasized the lack of research on physiological indicators of emotional responses.

We actually know what people are thinking consciously, but weve got to try and grab some data about how theyre reacting unconsciously and see whats more powerful, or were never going to get a handle on [propaganda], Warren said.

According to Mojtaba Heidarysafa, doctoral candidate in the department of systems and information engineering who joined the research team for data collection, the initial phase of the data collection portion of the project consisted of 45 women probing the internet for content they believed could contribute to radicalization campaigns.

With the permission of the University Information Security Department and the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, researchers enabled women to investigate the dark web, a conglomeration of networks with restricted access that facilitate anonymous, illicit interactions. The U.S. National Security Agency reports that terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda utilize the dark web to maintain communication across their global network, as well as recruit new individuals to their cause.

We were also able to [connect] women and allow them to go into the dark web if that was something they were interested in doing, Warren said. The University was fantastic in giving us the freedom we needed to pursue this.

An additional 45 women who identified themselves as Muslim, non-Muslim conservative and non-Muslim liberal attended four sessions in which they viewed a series of images depicting extremist activities. During these sessions, researchers monitored eye gaze, pupil dilation, heart rate and galvanic skin response which tracks sweat gland activity to determine the arousal level and emotional state of participants.

While the first session contained neutral pictures of everyday objects to create a baseline for participant responses, subsequent sessions depicted white nationalist campaign posters and violent acts by jihadist, alt-right and alt-left groups.

We showed them all of these pictures, Heidarysafa said. When looking at hangings or beheadings, all of them had a non-neutral arousal response What we found was that no matter the background, there was a reaction.

In fact, Warren, Heidarysafa and Brown contributed to a pending publication that suggests pupil dilation and the aspects of images that attracted womens gaze were largely consistent across participants, regardless of their religious or political affiliations. In other words, the pictures play a larger role in individuals emotional response than certain major components of their identity. The authors of the study claim the commonalities point to patterns applicable to multiple cases of radicalization.

As this preliminary research project draws to a close, with a portion of the final papers and the results published in 2018 and 2019 and more to come in 2020, Warren said she and her colleagues already applied for an additional grant to expand their efforts and replicate the study with men. In doing so, Warren aims to take full advantage of the resources at the University to create materials useful for the FBIs observations of and interventions for at-risk individuals.

Usually academic researchers dont work with the FBI, and the FBI doesnt necessarily want to work with academic researchers, Warren said. The most important thing is the relationships exist so that we could do this research.

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The psychology and physiology of propaganda: A study of the radicalization of women - University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily

Physiology

UB researcher receives grant for project to test art and exercise program for seniors – UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff – University…

Nikhil Satchidanand, research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, has been awarded a grant from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York to continue his work with vulnerable older adults.

Satchidanand, an exercise physiologist with expertise in motor development and aging, will use the $71,690 grant for a project called The Movers and Makers Club: A Community-based Recreation Program to Improve Cognition and Motor Function in Older Adults.

The project will develop and test the impact of a community-based art-making and thinking-while-moving (dual-task) exercise intervention on cognition and motor function in adults age 65 and older.

As a faculty member with UBs Center for Successful Aging, Satchidanand has partnered with the Ken-Ton Family YMCA, which runs several fitness programs and special events for older adults, and Fine Art Miracles, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of community members through fine arts education and hands-on art making.

The project is divided into three phases. Phase 1, which began in October and runs through February, is focused on developing the intervention program with input from key stakeholders. Phase 2, running from February through December 2020, involves testing the intervention methods in a community-based, randomized controlled trial among adults 65 years or older. Phase 3, running from January through March 2021, allows time to refine the intervention methods, disseminate key findings and prepare for larger-scale implementation in other community-based sites in the region.

The development of this project involves creation of an art-making curriculum that utilizes a wide variety of media, techniques and content, Satchidanand says. Direct, ongoing feedback from community stakeholders through a series of focus groups will help us create a curriculum that is appealing and appropriate for participants. Trained instructors will work with our community members to create a highly immersive and engaging experience that promotes success, self-efficacy and a sense of accomplishment.

At the same time, a group of older adults will work with the team to develop the dual-task training program using the SMARTfit Cognitive-Motor Training System, an innovative, multisensory, exergaming platform that engages the brain and body using game technology. Participants interact with touch-sensitive targets to play cognitively stimulating games while moving, managing footwork, maintaining balance and building body awareness.

These two complementary therapies have been brought together in this project with a focus on engaging the brain and body, promoting social support and creating an enjoyable experience for participants, Satchidanand says.

Project participants will engage in weekly art-making and dual-task exercise training, instructed by trained professionals from Fine Art Miracles and the YMCA.We hypothesize that weekly art-making and dual-task exercise training will improve executive functions, visual-spatial abilities and motor function, he says.

Equally as important, we believe that participation in Movers and Makers will be associated with improved self-efficacy, social support and quality of life. The results of our study will help us refine and adapt the intervention to be delivered in other community organizations.

Satchidanand received a previous Health Foundation grant for his Falls Prevention Needs Assessment in Primary Care project. His experiences working on that project partly inspired the new project, he explains.

The Movers and Makers project was made possible by a team that continues to demonstrate their passion and commitment to promoting successful aging, Satchidanand says.I am very excited to deepen my work with the foundation and to continue my collaboration with this exceptional team.

Our intervention has the potential to improve functional outcomes and help maintain independence in aging, while promoting social support and enjoyment.I am eager to realize the potential of the Movers and Makers program, and ensure our older adult community members live healthier, happier lives, he says.

Satchidanand earned an MS in motor development and a PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical research in health disparities and was a UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) KL2 Mentored Career Development Award Scholar from 2016-18.

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UB researcher receives grant for project to test art and exercise program for seniors - UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University...

Physiology

Cold With, Falling Iguanas: Why Iguanas Fall From Trees in Florida When it is Below 40 Degrees – The National Interest Online

As temperatures were dipping this week, the National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for much of Florida and Georgia, adding a warning in South Florida for falling iguanas. University of Florida wildlife ecologist Frank Mazzotti explains the physiology of cold iguanas and why many people in Florida arent shedding tears for the iguana-cicles lying around the region.

What happens to iguanas when temps drop?

When temperatures fall into the 40s and 30s, green iguanas become cold-stunned. They enter whats called a state of torpor. Their breathing slows down and so does their metabolism.

Used to more balmy conditions, this is how tropical reptiles protect themselves from cold temperatures. Torpor is an involuntary response, and the animals trade torpors benefit of conserving heat in cold conditions for an increased risk of being snagged by a predator.

Torpor causes green iguanas to lose muscle control, and since they live in trees, they fall out of trees. A several pound iguana falling on your head would definitely get your attention.

What should you do if you see a dazed iguana?

If you witness falling iguanas, your best course of action is to do nothing. If the animal warms up quickly, it will recover on its own. If cold temperatures are prolonged, the iguana may die.

But please do not try to rescue any iguanas. Native to Mexico, Central and South America and some Caribbean islands, green iguanas are an invasive species in the southern United States and you cannot legally set them free here. The iguanas you spot in South Florida are descendants of animals brought here to be sold as pets.

If you want to get involved when you see a fallen iguana, a better course of action is to eat it. In their native range they are prized as delicious food items and are called chicken of the trees or bamboo chicken.

Why are some officials in Florida happy to see fewer iguanas?

Officials believe green iguanas are rapidly increasing in numbers and expanding in range, though there are no concrete counts for how many live in Florida today.

For a long time, green iguanas flew below the radar of management agencies. Unlike Burmese pythons, for example, which eat mammals and birds, green iguanas did not pose an obvious threat to ecological resources. Any damage they did was confined to backyards where they readily consume landscape plants, burrow into seawalls and sidewalks and poop prodigiously.

But with more green iguanas on the loose, they are now commonly found on water management structures such as levees and pump stations where they actively burrow, especially nesting females. These infrastructure facilities control water levels in South Florida and keep neighborhoods dry while providing a water supply for both agriculture and residences.

Iguana-caused damage is not minor. For example, the City of West Palm Beach recently paid US$1.8 million to repair a weir that was partially damaged by burrowing iguanas and to armor the low dam against further damage.

Removing invasive iguanas is now necessary to protect Floridas ability to manage its water. So a cold snap that eliminates some of the iguana population might actually be good news in some quarters.

This article by Frank Mazzotti first appeared in 2019 in The Conversation via Creative Commons License.

Image: Wikimedia.

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Cold With, Falling Iguanas: Why Iguanas Fall From Trees in Florida When it is Below 40 Degrees - The National Interest Online

Physiology

The World’s First | GoMore Unveils a Revolutionary AI Coach for Weight Control with XTERRA, Dyaco – PR Newswire UK

The backbone of XTERRA's smarts to provide tailored exercise routines to consumers is GoMore's AI Coach System. By combining physiological data and diet training-based methodology to build personalized stamina models tailored to each individual, GoMore's AI Coach gives its users guidance according to the weight loss goals they set for themselves. Acting as a private coach that's always there, the AI Coach will provide a personalized schedule when it calculates various training variables such as exercise intensity, duration, frequency and rest time, which in turn optimizes exercisers' performance and calorie burn rate to enhance weight loss efficiency.

With XTERRA's fitness equipment integrated with GoMore's AI Coach, users can now monitor in real-time their physiological data, including how much stamina they have remaining, and aerobic/anaerobic training effects to make sure they are on the right track. The AI Coach system can also automatically change the incline and speed of XTERRA's treadmillsbased on the training sessions it suggests. Furthermore, users can set up and check all workout calendars remotely to get a more holistic view of their training progress anytime with just their mobile devices.

"GoMore AI coach thinks like a real coach. Instead of traditional physiological estimation, we developed our unique stamina model to classify users' capabilities and helped optimize every single training session by controlling long-term fatigue," said Hsin-Fu Kuo, CEO of GoMore.

As the core technology of the stamina model, the patented Stamina Algorithm came from an experimental project that GoMore and a world-class research team at the East Tennessee State University has collaborated with. After three years on the project, GoMore got its validation from presenting two peer-reviewed posters at the American College of Sports Medicine conference. Based on sports science and exercise physiology, the stamina model measures physiological response during training and then generates a personalized stamina model that lets GoMore AI Coach calculate users' stamina reserves in real time.

Come and experience this pioneering technology at XTERRA, Dyaco's booth at booth 218 in hall A6, ISPO Munich Exhibition. GoMore's AI solution will be exhibited to showcase this comprehensive solution in this new era of training.

GoMore Video: https://youtu.be/TiNRCn5zVL0

Contact:

Jun TsengJun.tseng@bomdic.com+886-926-119-255

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081137/GoMore_AI_Coach_system.jpg

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