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Neuroscience

Research Roundup: Higher Coronavirus Infections Than Estimated and More – BioSpace

Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Heres a look at some of the more interesting ones.

COVID-19 Infections in U.S. Likely to Be Much Higher Than Previously Suspected

Perhaps not surprisingly, given recent coverage, a study out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center projected that as of March 1, 2020, thousands more people in the U.S. were likely infected by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 than was initially reported. Some of this initial underestimate is associated with the overall lack of laboratory testing for the virus. As of March 11, 1,323 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University. The Cedars-Sinai investigators chose very conservative methods to estimate the number of cases, which, they wrote in their study published in medRxiv, This makes our current estimation likely to be an underestimation of the true number of infected individuals in the U.S.

The team modeled COVID-19 coronavirus cases imported directly to the U.S. from the Wuhan, China area before January 23, which is when the Chinese government locked down the city. They did not include potential cases from other parts of China or other countries, such as South Korea, Italy or Iran, which have also seen major spikes in cases. They then calculated the scale of COVID-19 in the U.S. based on air traffic data between Wuhan and the U.S., totals of publicly released confirmed cases by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CC), and transmission dynamics estimated from earlier research. It also took into consideration the identification and quarantine of individual domestic cases in the U.S. As of March 1, they projected the number of people infected in the U.S. to be between 1,043 and 9.484. The lower number assumes current preventive procedures like quarantines and airport screening decreases transmissibility by as much as 25%. The second figure assumes no intervention procedures had been performed to decrease transmissibility.

Although it would be easy to take this study as a very pessimistic conclusion, the authors say it suggests that aggressive containment and preventive measures can have a big effect in controlling the outbreak.

Our model suggests that even moderately effective population interventions to reduce transmission can have a profound impact on the scale of the epidemic, said Dermot P. McGovern, professor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study. This finding supports the role of public health interventions in controlling this disease.

Experimental Fibrosis Drug Could Make Immunotherapy Better

Researchers at the University of Southampton, funded by Cancer Research UK, demonstrated that an experimental drug being developed by Frances Genkyotex called setanaxib may help immunotherapy drugs infiltrate tumors better. The drug is being investigated in clinical trials in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). But researchers theorized that the drug might be able to clear cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) that often surround tumors, making cancer cells more accessible by immune cells. Their research into mouse tumors appears to support their theory.

Scorpion-Derived Proteins Delivery Arthritis Drugs

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center identified a small protein in scorpion venom that quickly accumulates in joint cartilage. They linked these proteins with steroids to reverse inflammation in laboratory animals with arthritis. Because the drugs concentrated in the joints, they avoided the systemic toxicity associated with the steroids and infection risks caused by nontargeted steroid treatments.

2-Hour Salmonella Testing

Cornell University investigators developed a method for whole-genome sequencing that can identify salmonella serotypes in about two hours and the entire identification process in eight hours. Determining salmonellas serotype helps find the source of bacterial contamination. There are 38 salmonella strains, accounting for 34 serotypes, that were assessed in the study.

Low Blood Pressure in the Elderly Associated with Higher Mortality

A major study of 415,980 medical records of older adults in England found that people 75 years of age or older with low blood pressure, meaning below 130/80, had increased mortality rates compared to those with normal blood pressure. This was particularly significant in so-called frail patients, who had 62% increased risk of death during the 10-year follow-up. High blood pressure increased the risk of cardiovascular incidents like heart attacks but was not linked to higher mortality in frail adults over 75.

The Real Reason Men Die Earlier Than Women

One rationale for men dying younger than women has typically been the argument that men take more risks, have more dangerous jobs, drink and smoke more, and delay seeing the doctor. New research suggests the real reason is less behavioral and more biologicaland related to the Y chromosome. Women have no Y chromosome, instead having two X chromosomes; men have an X and a Y chromosome. They found that across species that have XY (male) and XX (female), the females live longer, with the males dying 17.6% earlier on average. At least part of the reason appears to be the unguarded X hypothesis, which suggests that the XY is less able to protect an individual from harmful genes on the X chromosome than in XX females, where the second X can shield the female from some genetic defects.

Protein IDed to Help Wound Healing After Spinal Cord Injury

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine identified plexin-B2, an axon guidance protein in the central nervous system (CNS) as being critical in wound healing and neural repair after spinal cord injury. They believe the research could lead to the development of treatments for spinal cord injury patients. The research was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The role of microglia and macrophages in the spatial organization of glial cells around the injury site via an axon guidance receptor is quite unexpected, said Hongyan Jenny Zou, professor of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

CNS tissue repair requires a coordinated response from diverse cell types in overlapping phases. Before this, astrocytes were presumed to be the main driver for the organization of various responses. But this study found that Plexin-B2 was the main driver of injury-activated microglia/macrophages.

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Research Roundup: Higher Coronavirus Infections Than Estimated and More - BioSpace

Neuroscience

Meet the reformer: Sam Wang, a professor of fair redistricting math – The Fulcrum

Sam Wang is a professor of neuroscience at Princeton, where he's been on the faculty 14 years and focuses on how the brain processes sensory, cognitive and emotional information. But he's also part of the university's Program in Law and Public Affairs. He created the Princeton Election Consortium in 2008 to come up with statistical models for predicting presidential and Senate results based on polling. And after the last nationwide redistricting, in 2012, he created the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. Today he and his seven-member team run a website that permits voters to use mathematical models to decide if where they live is in an unfairly skewed legislative or congressional district. His answers have been edited for clarity and length.

What's the tweet-length description of your organization?

Combining data, tech and law to help citizens make district lines fairer and eliminate bugs from democracy.

Describe your very first civic engagement.

In 1978, when I was in sixth grade in California, I became very interested in two ballot propositions that would affect school funding. I loved school so these were important to me. The one that would have increased school funding, Proposition 8, failed. The other was Proposition 13, the first of many tax-cutting initiatives passed across the nation. After that, school funding was cut dramatically. So my side lost. But in politics you should never give up.

What was your biggest professional triumph?

In neuroscience it's a tie. First, figuring out how a brain structure, the cerebellum, which is mainly known for processing sensory information to help us move smoothly, could also guide higher function and when it goes off track lead to autism. Also, seeing the success of dozens of great students and scholars who have gone on to do all kinds of amazing things.

In redistricting it's another tie. First, seeing my team shape redistricting fairness in New Jersey by stopping a ballot initiative that would have biased districting, possibly helping with the wording of a fairer initiative and then getting an actual law passed to mandate transparency in precinct voting data so citizens can see what's being done to their district lines. Second, seeing Chief Justice John Roberts quote my words that there are good mathematical tests for identifying partisan gerrymandering

And your most disappointing setback?

Chief Justice Roberts again. He is not a math guy and he was not taking our side. Despite having no quarrel with our math, he wrote the majority opinion last year that wussed out and turfed the question of partisan gerrymandering back to the individual states to deal with. It was in my view an abdication of the Supreme Court's duty to stop a clear constitutional offense in the face of airtight mathematical and geometric approaches. The good news is that all our technical approaches can be used in the states and we are doing that in North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan and half a dozen others. So we get to stay in business for a while.

How does your identity influence the way you go about your work?

As a former physics guy from a relatively privileged demographic, I started thinking about districting fairness in simple terms for which we could establish a national standard: fairness between the parties and numerical tests for racial bias. After encountering the needs of real communities, I've now learned that the richness of communities across the nation deserve consideration. We're working on ways to present that effectively across many states. This probably fits well with my work as a biologist, part of which involves attending to a lot of details.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Create a new flavor for Ben & Jerry's.

Honey-dipped locust. (An homage to the cricket I ate live on CNN in 2016 to settle a bet. My statistical analysis of the polls had prompted me to wager I would "eat a bug" if Donald Trump won more than 240 electoral votes.)

What is your favorite TV show or movie about politics?

"Mean Girls."

What's the last thing you do on your phone at night?

I don't understand what the word "last" is doing in that sentence. That implies stopping, right?

What is your deepest, darkest secret?

I once made a pilgrimage to Carhenge.

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Meet the reformer: Sam Wang, a professor of fair redistricting math - The Fulcrum

Neuroscience

Magnetic Stimulation Is Helping Treat Addiction – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) Could magnets be used to treat addiction?

Magnetic stimulation has been around for decades to modulate brain function, said neurosurgeon Dr. Ali Rezau at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

And now, doctors at WVU have shown, in at least one case, that magnetic stimulation might help people with addiction get sober.

Were hoping this magnetic stimulation improves your reward control behavior and reduces your craving, said Dr. Rezai.

At its core, addiction is a brain disease.

It becomes a brain physiology problem over time. It doesnt start out like that, but becomes over time, with environmental influences, some genetic elements, and peer and family interactions, Dr. Rezai explains.

The malfunctioning brain circuit includes a deeper reward center that drives cravings, called the nucleus accumbens, as well as a superficial area called the prefrontal cortex.

The top part, the cortex, says no,' Rezai said.

The magnetic stimulation treatment takes just 15 minutes, and is fairly simple, from the patients perspective.

It involves sitting in a chair and getting magnetic waves delivered, Rezai explains.

The technician presents these images to the patient and when drug cravings increase, thats when the magnet is triggered to decrease the cravings.

Well ask them how much do you crave heroin right now? Theyll give us a score on a 0-100 scale. James Mahoney, PhD, a neuropsychologist at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, said. This is the magnet, so this sends the pulses over top of the skull here. We will push this button, and then at that point, it will deliver the stimulation. They might feel a tingling. They could also hear a slight clicking sound as well.

The prefrontal cortex is superficial enough that the magnetic waves can easily reach it. And stimulating this area activates its inhibitory action. In other words, making it easier to say no to a craving.

With more sophisticated equipment, you could integrate CT scans and MRIs into the treatment to improve precision. But in most cases, doctors find the target area simply with skull landmarks.

Because theyve noted only one case, the goal now is to reproduce the findings in a study with a series of patients. Participants will get the treatment three times a week for three weeks.

In addition to checking how much the cravings decrease, researchers will also measure heart rate and skin responses.

This is a simple technology thats being used already for depression and OCD, and our hope is that this technology can help those with addiction, Rezai said.

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Magnetic Stimulation Is Helping Treat Addiction - CBS Pittsburgh

Neuroscience

Alzheimer’s Brains Short Circuited by Defective Protein Connections – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

In many respects, the brain is a black box. The organ where our knowledge is derived is, ironically, also the one where much of the knowledge for its inner workings are lacking. However, researchers have devoted their lives to understanding the enigmatic organ and work tirelessly to prevent diseases that deprive it of its primary functions. For instance, new research from a team of investigators led by scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) has uncovered new findings that show how stress-induced changes in protein connections in the brain contribute to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimers disease (AD).

Amazingly, the researchers were able to reverse this malfunctioning protein network and its associated cognitive decline in mice, using an experimental drug. Findings from the new studypublished recently in Nature Communications through an article entitled The epichaperome is a mediator of toxic hippocampal stress and leads to protein connectivity-based dysfunctionsuggest a new way to look at how Alzheimers develops in the brain by focusing on protein networks.

The research team used laboratory, mouse, and brain-tissue studies to examine the epichaperomea dysregulated network of proteins that affects how cells communicate and accelerate the course of disease.

To find out why epichaperomes were prevalent in Alzheimers, we used a new omics method, we call chaperomics, that allows us to assess functional outcomes of connectivity changes between normal individuals and those with Alzheimers, explained senior study investigator Gabriela Chiosis, PhD, a professor in the department of molecular pharmacology and chemistryat MSK. This new technology has a profound capacity for high throughput. Although chaperomics generates massive datasets, Chiosis states data analysis is meant to be readily accessible, indicating The bioinformatics platforms are straightforward and easy to comprehend, rather than adding additional complexity to these large protein connectivity-based results.

Various stressorssuch as genetic risk factors, vascular injury, and diabetescan damage brain circuitry in AD. According to this new study, these stressors seem to interact with proteins and contribute to toxic changes that begin in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory. The researchers explored how these protein networks stop working properly and can be restored.

We used cellular and animal models as well as human biospecimens to show that AD-related stressors mediate global disturbances in dynamic intra- and inter-neuronal networks through pathologic rewiring of the chaperome system into epichaperomes, the authors wrote. These structures provide the backbone upon which proteome-wide connectivity, and in turn, protein networks become disturbed and ultimately dysfunctional.

Much like faulty wires in a circuit board that lead to network failure, epichaperomes seem to remodel cellular processes that, in turn, rewire protein connections supporting normal brain function. The resulting imbalance in brain circuitrywhich the authors call protein connectivity-based dysfunctionunderlies synaptic failure and other neurodegenerative processes. The researchers studied a cellular model of Alzheimers and a mouse model of the protein tau, as well as human brain tissue, which showed significantly more epichaperomes in individuals who had Alzheimers than in cognitively healthy people.

Based on their discoveries, Chiosis and her colleagues developed a new term to describe this phenomenonprotein connectivitybased dysfunction or PCBD. Many people who study Alzheimers are thinking about circuits in the brain. But theres no clear understanding of how stressors due to aging and the environment change the way proteins interact, noted collaborating scientist and study co-author Stephen Ginsberg, PhD, an associate professor at the Center for Dementia Research at the Nathan Kline Institute and departments of psychiatry, neuroscience & physiology and the NYU neuroscience institute at the NYU School of Medicine. Our research demonstrates that epichaperome formation rewires brain circuitry in Alzheimers by enabling proteins to misconnect, leading to downstream PCBD and cognitive decline.

In the current study, the research team treated young and old mice bred to have Alzheimers with an epichaperome inhibitor they developed, called PU-AD, three times per week for three to four months. The treated mice performed better on memory and learning tests than untreated mice had less tau (a protein seen in AD) and survived longer. Whats more, their brains looked like those of normal mice. PU-AD inhibited the faulty protein networks created by epichaperomes by correcting how the proteins connected and promoting nerve-cell survival.

We show at cellular and target organ levels that network connectivity and functional imbalances revert to normal levels upon epichaperome inhibition, the authors concluded. We provide proof-of-principle to propose AD is a PCBDopathy, a disease of proteome-wide connectivity defects mediated by maladaptive epichaperomes.

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Physiology

Nitric Oxide Industry Outlook to 2028 – Pathways, Physiology, Disease, Pharmacology, Therapeutic Applications, Drugs, Therapy Markets, Companies -…

DUBLIN, March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nitric Oxide - Therapeutics, Markets and Companies" report from Jain PharmaBiotech has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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Share of drugs where NO is involved in the mechanism of action is analyzed in the worldwide pharmaceutical market for 2018 and is projected to 2023 and 2028 as new drugs with NO-based mechanisms are introduced into the market. Various strategies for developing such drugs are discussed.

Several companies have a product or products involving NO and free radicals. The report includes profiles of 35 companies involved in this area of which 9 have a significant interest in NO-based therapeutics. Other players are pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as suppliers of products for NO research. Unfulfilled needs in the development of NO-based therapeutics are identified. Important 18 collaborations in this area are tabulated.

There are numerous publications relevant to NO. Selected 500 references are included in the bibliography. The text is supplemented with 26 tables and 30 figures. It is concluded that the future prospects for NO-based therapies are bright and fit in with biotechnology-based approaches to modern drug discovery and development. It is anticipated that some of these products will help in meeting the unfulfilled needs in human therapeutics.

The report contains information on the following:

The report describes the latest concepts of the role of nitric oxide (NO) in health and disease as a basis for therapeutics and development of new drugs. Major segments of the market for nitric oxide-based drugs are described as well as the companies involved in developing them.

Nitric oxide (NO) can generate free radicals as well as scavenge them. It also functions as a signaling molecule and has an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. A major focus is delivery of NO by various technologies. Another approach is modulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which converts L-arginine to NO. NOS can be stimulated as well as inhibited by pharmacological and gene therapy approaches.

Important therapeutic areas for NO-based therapies are inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction, inflammation, pain and neuroprotection. The first therapeutic use of NO was by inhaltion for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). NO-donors, NO-mimics and NOS modulators are described and compared along with developmental status. NO-related mechanisms of action in existing drugs are identified.

Various pharmacological approaches are described along with their therapeutic relevance. Various approaches are compared using SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. NO-based therapies are compared with conventional approaches and opportunities for combination with modern biotechnology approaches are described.

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Physiology

Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology – UNESCO.org

Thematic activities

The elaboration of a Global Thematic Study on Heritage of Science and Technology, including studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration, requires conducting a series of Thematic Studies by segment of scientific and technological heritage.

Two first Thematic Studies jointly prepared by ICOMOS and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Commission C4 constitute the background for a comparative analysis that could be carried out to assess the Outstanding Universal Value of a specific site of the same type proposed for World Heritage listing.

The first Thematic Study (2010):

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The second Thematic Study (2017):

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Download and Read the Thematic Studies

The idea of launching studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration in line with the Global Strategy for the balanced, representative and credible World Heritage List, emerged in 2007. In 2009, a proposal regarding the definition of categories of Space Technological sites was included in the Kazan Resolution adopted by the participants of the International Conference organized during the UN International Year of Astronomy (Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 2009).

The first international experts meeting on Space Technological Heritage jointly organized by the World Heritage Centre and COSPAR was held during the 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Moscow, Russian Federation, 2014). The main goal of the meeting was to establish cooperation between the World Heritage Centre, specialized agencies and relevant interdisciplinary scientific initiatives, towards elaboration of studies and research on technological heritage connected with space exploration.

AnInternationalExpertsMeeting"HeritagePotentialofSitesoftheHistoryofAerospace" was organized by the German Commission for UNESCO, German Aerospace Center, ICOMOS Germany, TICCIH Germany and the Foundation of the German Technical Museum Berlin (Berlin, Germany, 2017). Experts from France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and United Kingdom discussed different sites related to the history of aerospace in their countries, in a long-term perspective of their suitability for potential future transnational serial nominations as World Heritage sites. [source https://whc.unesco.org/en/events/1370/ ; https://whc.unesco.org/document/159969 ]

In 2018-2019, first research on heritage issues of sites related to space exploration, including the Baikonur Cosmodrom case study / participatory actionresearch project in the field of the space technological heritage was conducted in collaboration with the HT2S Laboratory of TechnoScience in Society (CNAM-Paris, France).

The organization of an International Workshop on Space Technological Heritage could offer an opportunity to evaluate and recognize the importance of this specific type of heritage, in terms of the enrichment of the history of humanity, the promotion of cultural diversity and the development of international exchanges. It could contribute to the exchange of information and the establishment of new partnerships, with the goal of promoting and protecting technological heritage connected with space exploration and developing all necessary mechanisms to safeguard our common heritage. A pilot-project Heritage of Science and Technology: World Heritage Potential of Space Technology is available for financial support by the States Parties, partners and donors on the Marketplace for World Heritage.

In 2019, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission visited the Scientific Town-Institution of Physiologist I. P. Pavlov, one of the components of the World Heritage property Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.

The site is located within the boundaries of the component 540-032 (Koltushskaya Elevation) and the protection zone of component 540-021 (Scientific Town Institution of Physiologist I.P. Pavlov) in the territory of Koltushi Municipality, Vsevolozhskiy District of the Leningrad Region. The Scientific Town was built in the early 1930s under the leadership of the first Russian Nobel laureate I.P. Pavlov. A very active group of scientists is trying hard to revive the Pavlov Institute of Physiology and to establish an International Research Centre that would become a main hub for interchanging ideas and experiences among specialists in the field of Integrative Physiology.

The mission invited the Director of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and the site manager of this component, to include in the programme of one of the next International Conferences organized with the participation of the Institute, a round-table and/or discussion session on the protection and management of scientific heritage.

The mission recommended establishment of a thematic network of site managers of the properties with associated scientific values in order to develop and integrate in the Management Plans of the properties specific provisions and regulations regarding protection of scientific heritage. [source mission report]

In line with the Decision adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018), the World Heritage Centre invited, by circular letter, all States Parties to update the contact information of their Focal Points / Institutions who will be in charge of the implementation of the renamed Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology at the national level.

A first round table, which took place during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019), discussed the Implementation of the Thematic Initiative on Heritage of Astronomy, Science and Technology (HAST) and exchanged information and good practices on the nomination of scientific sites.

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Physiology

UC announces first class of fellows to attend Nobel laureate meetings – University of California

The University of Californias Office of the President and the Office of the Chief Investment Officer today (March 12) announced the inaugural class of the UC Presidents Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows, an extraordinary group of 20 young scientists, scholars and economists selected from nine UC campuses.

The fellows will travel this summer to attend one of two weeks of invitation-only lectures and small seminars with some 40 Nobel laureates gathered in Lindau, Germany, a town on Lake Constance in the state of Bavaria. They will join about 600 university students and postdoctoral fellows from around the world.

This first class of UC fellows to the Lindau meetings embodies the academic rigor and endless intellectual curiosity that is a hallmark of our university, said President Janet Napolitano. I anticipate that this rare opportunity to directly engage not only with Nobel laureates, but with global peers, will spark ideas and forge lasting connections. The fellows benefit, and so does UC.

During the week of June 28, 2020, the meetings will concentrate on the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry and physiology, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research. A second week of the program, August 25-29, 2020, will center on economic sciences.

Said UC Chief Investment Officer Jagdeep Singh Bachher, who conceived of the fellowships after having attended the Lindau meetings himself, There is no better investment than in the promise of young minds intent on making our world better. Our office hopes to sponsor this fellowship for many years to come and to continue to be inspired by the accomplishments and caliber of UC students and postdoc researchers who may one day win a Nobel Prize themselves.

The fellows were chosen in a multi-step process that required an essay, letters of recommendation, an evaluation of their research accomplishments, and approval by the Lindau meetings organization in Germany. A work group of UC administrators and faculty winnowed down the list of candidates, which was then approved by Napolitano and Bachher.

Work group member Randy Schekman, the UC Berkeley professor awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 2013, called the Lindau meetings a wonderful opportunity for students and postdoctoral fellows to mingle with Nobel laureates in a relaxing environment where one-on-one dialogue is greatly encouraged and facilitated.

I am so pleased that the presidents office has allocated funds to make this a possibility for many diverse young scholars throughout the UC system, he said.

Attending the interdisciplinary meeting in June will be:

David Boyer (UCLA)

Kevin J. Bruemmer (Berkeley)

Priya Crosby, Ph.D. (Santa Cruz)

Tomas Gonzalez Fernandez, Ph.D. (Davis)

Samantha Marie Grist, Ph.D. (Berkeley)

Yuki Kobayashi, Ph.D. (Berkeley)

Dequina A. Nicholas, Ph.D. (San Diego)

Michelle M. Nuo (Irvine)

Jonas Oppenheimer (Santa Cruz)

Akshay Paropkari (Merced)

Andrew J.E. Rowberg (Santa Barbara)

Nicole S. Michenfelder-Schauser (Santa Barbara)

Bryan Scott (Riverside)

Lauren M. Sheehan, Ph.D. (Irvine)

Leslie Allyn Simms (Davis)

Sarah M. Tashjian, Ph.D. (UCLA)

Xinting Yu, Ph.D. (Santa Cruz)

Attending the economic sciences week are:

Neil Bennett (Irvine)

Will Gorman (Berkeley)

Diana Van Patten Rivera (UCLA)

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UC announces first class of fellows to attend Nobel laureate meetings - University of California

Physiology

Reasons to Sleep: Physiology and Psychology – EconoTimes

That sleep is an important aspect of existence is one thing on which we all agree. Pretty much everyone wants to get a decent sleep every day. There are even some who opt for drastic measures such as taking sleeping pills in order to get a quality sleep.

However, it appears that while we consider sleep important, we dont always make it a priority. We tend to give it up in favor of work, school, or even socialization opportunities. How many times have we seen young people sneaking out of their homes late at night to party at a local bar? How many workers have remained awake to see the first rays of the sun the next day as they strive to finish a presentation?

But when we speak of us as organisms, we will realize that sleep is something that we shouldnt take for granted or just put on the side. It offers clear benefits to our well-being, and this article will aim to make clear what those benefits are.

Psychological Health

We get sleepy because our body needs sleeping time. Its as simple as that. Although science is not yet clear as to what sleep actually adds to the organism, its numerous examinations have already uncovered what lack of sleep does to the body. There are now studies that link sleep deprivation with being overweight, suggesting that lack of sleep has negative consequences on the bodys ability to metabolize.

There are also authors who put forth the argument that being sleep deprived plays a role in the development and worsening of many forms of carcinoma. With all this, it really makes sense to order someone to sleep if they really want to be physically healthy.

Mental Stability

Aside from its effects on the physical body, sleep or lack thereof also has a strong influence on the mind. In particular, there are studies that demonstrate that children who have been deprived of a good nights sleep suffer a decline in their academic performance. This suggests that sleep has a strong association with cognitive function.

In addition to that, lack of sleep has also been linked to a myriad of mental disorders including but certainly not limited to depression and bipolar disorder. In fact, insomnia or the inability to get some good rest is among the key symptoms of depression.

What can be done?

Fortunately, there are things that can be done to ensure a good nights sleep for you and the people who live with you. For sure, one of them is making sure that you are in a comfortable sleeping lounge or room. Soft cushions and pillows, warm blankets, and even the type of lights installed in the room all play a role in your sleep experience. Leave bright LED lights out of the room and just put them in spaces that demand your full attention and wakefulness such as your car. After all, driving is a sensitive task, and you need all the help that you can get to keep your attention on the road in check. Good examples of LED lights for cars are offered by stores such as XK Glow.

Another thing that you can do is be active during the day so that your energy gets spent and its easier for you to relax and unwind during the night.

Diet also plays a role in achieving a good nights sleep. Nuts can be consumed because they contain high levels of melatonin, which plays a key role in sleeping.

A good nights sleep is not a luxury. Its actually something that the body needs for it to be in good condition for all of lifes activities. Hence, it should be something that we should aspire for, no matter how mundane it sounds.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.

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Reasons to Sleep: Physiology and Psychology - EconoTimes

Physiology

How the Coronavirus Is Changing Everything – The New York Times

To the Editor:

Re Trump Declares National Emergency (nytimes.com, March 13):

The Chinese government detected Covid-19 in December 2019. On the afternoon of March 13, 2020, President Trump announced a state of emergency. After months of near complete inaction, finger pointing and lies, testing is just starting to ramp up. The states have taken more action than the federal government. Whose job is it to identify threats to the American people? Whose job is it to take action in the face of those threats?

If anyone thinks its partisan to denounce the government for its disgraceful handling of this crisis, I would beg to differ. Its partisan not to. It has failed us.

John FletcherRingwood, N.J.

To the Editor:

As a big-time sports fan, I am saddened that many major sporting events and seasons have been canceled or put on hold because of the coronavirus. But there is one sport that I would actually like to see suspended for the duration of this crisis the sport of American politics.

I am sick and tired of our leaders treating the people of this country as an audience for their own political battles. One side says its doing a wonderful job and looks to score points on its decisions. The other side calls its opponents incompetent and says they have no idea what they are doing. To quote the famous line from Gone With the Wind, Frankly, my dear, I dont give a damn. Leave the politics at the doorstep.

Weve got a problem facing us right now. If there were ever a time that we needed them to stop fighting and forcefully focus on the problem, this is it.

Fredric KatzChappaqua, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re Trump and Pence Wont Be Tested After Meeting With Infected Brazilian Official (nytimes.com, March 12):

Despite having contact with at least two people (and possibly more) who have the coronavirus, the White House issued a statement that President Trump does not need to be tested though he later said it was likely he would be. He continues to regularly meet with cabinet officials and military personnel, who then meet with others.

Apart from setting a poor example for our nation by not following recommended isolation guidelines, is he not aware he could be inadvertently infecting the whole upper-level chain of command of our government, including the military? This is neither leadership nor genius.

Harlan KossonPittsford, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re Everyones a Socialist in a Pandemic, by Farhad Manjoo (column, March 12):

Ronald Reagan famously said, Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. Here we are, 40 years later, finally confronting the reality that a robust, government-backed social safety net is not the same thing as government bloat. Sensible social policies are necessary to protect the lives, livelihoods and safety of all Americans.

This need not be labeled socialism. In fact, it can be argued that the main purpose of safety net protections (like paid sick time or universal health care) is to safeguard capitalism, not to destroy it.

Deborah MullinPound Ridge, N.Y.The writer is an adjunct professor of social welfare policy at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, CUNY.

To the Editor:

Now that sporting events have been canceled or postponed, theres an opportunity to set up field hospitals in Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden and other such venues. Predictions from the C.D.C. and others indicate that the Covid-19 virus will infect a significant percentage of the population. It has been proven in South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong that early isolation of infected individuals can reduce spread of the virus and decrease mortality.

Our hospitals may be overwhelmed if the numbers are as large as some experts predict. Keeping the infected less sick patients out of the hospitals and isolated for a period of time in temporary field hospitals saves space for critically ill patients in the regular hospitals and decreases risk of exposure to staff and patients.

Andrew R. MarksNew YorkThe writer, a doctor, is chairman of the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.

To the Editor:

To all New Yorkers and visitors who care about the survival and longevity of our wonderful cultural organizations: May I suggest that you use your ticket credit from canceled performances to either order tickets for a future performance or to make a donation to nonprofit organizations? Lets show that we can pull together unselfishly to keep this most important part of urban life alive.

Susan SchuurNew York

To the Editor:

Why is no one writing about how to keep this virus travesty from happening again? What is it going to take to permanently close Chinas live animal markets? Now is the time for intense and sustained international pressure while the Chinese government is embarrassed and defensive about causing this pandemic. Yes, the Chinese have put market restrictions in place, but those restrictions will likely disappear once the crisis passes. The animal markets are the origin story here. Lets keep a light beaming on them.

Jayne YoungSarasota, Fla.

To the Editor:

Now is the perfect time to encourage restaurant managers to deal with an oft-overlooked practice waiters delivering beverages to a table with the waiters hands touching the part of the glass that I am going to touch with my mouth. How to assist with curbing the spread of the coronavirus? Train your waiters.

Mary ArchboldRio Rancho, N.M.

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How the Coronavirus Is Changing Everything - The New York Times

Immunology

Looking to the future with Dr. Francis Collins – UAB News

In a talk at UAB on March 6, the NIH director shared his thoughts on exceptional opportunities for science and young scientists and highlighted several exciting UAB projects.

NIH Director Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., visited UAB on March 6. In addition to his public talk, Collins had breakfast with UAB medical students and met with groups of young researchers and other investigators across campus.Speaking to a packed University of Alabama at Birmingham audience March 6, Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health, shared his picks of 10 areas of particular excitement and promise in biomedical research.

In nearly every area, UAB scientists are helping to lead the way as Collins himself noted in several cases. At the conclusion of his talk, Collins addedhis advice for young scientists. Here is Collins top 10 list, annotated with some of the UAB work ongoing in each area and ways that faculty, staff and students can get involved.

I am so jazzed with what has become possible with the ability to study single cells and see what they are doing, Collins said. They have been out of our reach now we have reached in. Whether you are studying rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or the brain, you have the chance to ask each cell what it is doing.

Single-cell sequencing and UAB:Collins noted that Robert Carter, M.D., the acting director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, was a longtime faculty member at UAB (serving as director of the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology). For the past several years, UAB researchers have been studying gene expression in subpopulations of immune cells inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Join in:Researchers can take advantage of the single-cell sequencing core facility in UABsComprehensive Flow Cytometry Core, directed by John Mountz, M.D., Ph.D., Goodwin-Blackburn Research Chair in Immunology and professor in the Department of Medicine Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology.

Learn more:Mountz and other heavy users of single-cell sequencing explain how the techniqueslet them travel back in time and morein this UAB Reporter story.

The NIHsBRAIN Initiativeis making this the era where we are going to figure out how the brain works all 86 billion neurons between your ears, Collins said. The linchpin of this advance will be the development of tools to identify new brain cell types and circuits that will improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of autism, schizophrenia, Parkinsons and other neurological conditions, he said.

Brain tech and UAB:Collins highlighted thework of BRAIN Initiative granteeHarrison Walker, M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Neurology, whose lab has been developing a more sophisticated way to understand the benefits of deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinsons and maybe other conditions, Collins said.

Join in:UABs planned new doctoral program in neuroengineering would be the first of its kind in the country.

Learn more:Find out why neuroengineering is asmart career choicein this UAB Reporter story.

Researchers can now take a blood cell or skin cell and, by adding four magic genes, Collins explained, induce the cells to become stem cells. These induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can then in turn be differentiated into any number of different cell types, including nerve cells, heart muscle cells or pancreatic beta cells. The NIH has invested in technology to put iPS-derived cells on specialized tissue chips. Youve got you on a chip, Collins explained. Some of us dream of a day where this might be the best way to figure out whether a drug intervention is going to work for you or youre going to be one of those people that has a bad consequence.

iPS cells at UAB:Collins displayed images of thecutting-edge cardiac tissue chipdeveloped by a UAB team led by Palaniappan Sethu, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Division of Cardiovascular Disease. The work allows the development of cardiomyocytes that can be used to study heart failure and other conditions, Collins said.

Join in:UABs biomedical engineering department, one of the leading recipients of NIH funding nationally, is a joint department of the School of Engineering and School of Medicine. Learn more about UABsundergraduate and graduate programs in biomedical engineering, and potential careers, here.

Learn more:See howthis novel bioprinterdeveloped by UAB biomedical researchers is speeding up tissue engineering in this story from UAB News.

We have kind of ignored the fact that we have all these microbes living on us and in us until fairly recently, Collins said. But now it is clear that we are not an organism we are a superorganism formed with the trillions of microbes present in and on our bodies, he said. This microbiome plays a significant role not just in skin and intestinal diseases but much more broadly.

Microbiome at UAB:Collins explained that work led by Casey Morrow, Ph.D., and Casey Weaver, M.D., co-directors of theMicrobiome/Gnotobiotics Shared Facility, has revealed intriguing information abouthow antibiotics affect the gut microbiome. Their approach has potential implications for understanding, preserving and improving health, Collins said.

Join in:Several ongoing clinical trials at UAB are studying the microbiome, including a studymodifying diet to improve gut microbiotaand an investigation of the microbiomes ofpostmenopausal women looking for outcomes and response to estrogen therapy.

Learn more:This UAB News storyexplains the UAB researchthat Collins highlighted.

Another deadly influenza outbreak is likely in the future, Collins said. What we need is not an influenza vaccine that you have to redesign every year, but something that would actually block influenza viruses, he said. Is that even possible? It just might be.

Influenza research at UAB:Were probably at least a decade away from a universal influenza vaccine. But work ongoing at UAB in the NIH-fundedAntiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center(AD3C), led by Distinguished Professor Richard Whitley, M.D., is focused on such an influenza breakthrough.

Join in:For now, the most important thing you can do to stop the flu is to get a flu vaccination. Employees can schedule afree flu vaccination here.

Learn more:Why get the flu shot? What is it like? How can you disinfect your home after the flu? Get all the information atthis comprehensive sitefrom UAB News.

The NIH has a role to play in tackling the crisis of opioid addiction and deaths, Collins said. The NIHs Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative is an all-hands-on-deck effort, he said, involving almost every NIH institute and center, with the goal of uncovering new targets for preventing addiction and improving pain treatment by developing non-addictive pain medicines.

Addiction prevention at UAB:A big part of this initiative involves education to help professionals and the public understand what to do, Collins said. The NIH Centers of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPE), including one at UAB, are hubs for the development, evaluation and distribution of pain-management curriculum resources to enhance pain education for health care professionals.

Join in:Find out how to tell if you or a loved one has a substance or alcohol use problem, connect with classes and resources or schedule an individualized assessment and treatment through theUAB Medicine Addiction Recovery Program.

Learn more:Discover some of the many ways that UAB faculty and staff aremaking an impact on the opioid crisisin this story from UAB News.

We are all pretty darn jazzed about whats happened in the past few years in terms of developing a new modality for treating cancer we had surgery, we had radiation, we had chemotherapy, but now weve got immunotherapy, Collins said.

Educating immune system cells to go after cancer in therapies such as CAR-T cell therapy is the hottest science in cancer, he said. I would argue this is a really exciting moment where the oncologists and the immunologists together are doing amazing things.

Immunotherapy at UAB:I had to say something about immunology since Im at UAB given that Max Cooper, whojust got the Lasker Awardfor [his] B and T cell discoveries, was here, Collins said. This is a place I would hope where lots of interesting ideas are going to continue to emerge.

Join in:The ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB is participating in a number of clinical trials of immunotherapies.Search the latest trials at the Cancer Centerhere.

Learn more:Luciano Costa, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of clinical trials at the ONeal Cancer Center, discusses the promise ofCAR-T cell therapy in this UAB MedCast podcast.

Assistant Professor Ben Larimer, Ph.D., is pursuing a new kind of PET imaging test that could give clinicians afast, accurate picture of whether immunotherapy is workingfor a patient in this UAB Reporter article.

The All of Us Research Program from NIH aims to enroll a million Americans to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach to medicine and really understand individual differences, Collins said. The program, which launched in 2018 and is already one-third of the way to its enrollment goal, has a prevention rather than a disease treatment approach; it is collecting information on environmental exposures, health practices, diet, exercise and more, in addition to genetics, from those participants.

All of Us at UAB:UAB has been doing a fantastic job of enrolling participants, Collins noted. In fact, the Southern Network of the All of Us Research Program, led by UAB, has consistently been at the top in terms of nationwide enrollment, as School of Medicine Dean Selwyn Vickers, M.D., noted in introducing Collins.

Join in:Sign up forAll of Usat UAB today.

Learn more:UABs success in enrolling participants has led to anew pilot study aimed at increasing participant retention rates.

Rare Disease Day, on Feb. 29, brought together hundreds of rare disease research advocates at the NIH, Collins said. NIH needs to play a special role because many diseases are so rare that pharmaceutical companies will not focus on them, he said. We need to find answers that are scalable, so you dont have to come up with a strategy for all 6,500 rare diseases.

Rare diseases at UAB: The Undiagnosed Diseases Network, which includes aUAB siteled by Chief Genomics Officer Bruce Korf, M.D., Ph.D., is a national network that brings together experts in a wide range of conditions to help patients, Collins said.

Participants in theAlabama Genomic Health Initiative, also led by Korf, donate a small blood sample that is tested for the presence of specific genetic variants. Individuals with indications of genetic disease receive whole-genome sequencing. Collins noted that lessons from the AGHI helped guide development of the All of Us Research Program.

Collins also credited UABs Tim Townes, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, for developing the most significantly accurate model of sickle cell disease in a mouse which has been a great service to the [research] community. UAB is now participating in anexciting clinical trial of a gene-editing technique to treat sickle cellalong with other new targeted therapies for the devastating blood disease.

Join in:In addition to UABs Undiagnosed Diseases Program (which requires a physician referral) and the AGHI, patients and providers can contact theUAB Precision Medicine Institute, led by Director Matt Might, Ph.D. The institute develops precisely targeted treatments based on a patients unique genetic makeup.

Learn more:Discover how UAB experts solved medical puzzles for patients by uncovering anever-before-described mutationandcracking a vomiting mysteryin these UAB News stories.

We know that science, like everything else, is more productive when teams are diverse than if they are all looking the same, Collins said. My number one priority as NIH director is to be sure we are doing everything we can to nurture and encourage the best and brightest to join this effort.

Research diversity at UAB:TheNeuroscience Roadmap Scholars Programat UAB, supported by an NIH R25 grant, is designed to enhance engagement and retention of under-represented graduate trainees in the neuroscience workforce. This is one of several UAB initiatives to increased under-represented groups and celebrate diversity. These include several programs from theMinority Health and Health Disparities Research Centerthat support minority students from the undergraduate level to postdocs; thePartnership Research Summer Training Program, which provides undergraduates and especially minority students with the opportunity to work in UAB cancer research labs; theDeans Excellence Award in Diversityin the School of Medicine; and the newly announcedUnderrepresented in Medicine Senior Scholarship Programfor fourth-year medical students.

Join in:The Roadmap program engages career coaches and peer-to-peer mentors to support scholars. To volunteer your expertise, contact Madison Bamman atmdbamman@uab.eduorvisit the program site.

Learn more:Farah Lubin, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology and co-director of the Roadmap Scholars Program,shares the words and deeds that can save science careersin this Reporter story. In another story, Upender Manne, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology and a senior scientist in the ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains how students in the Partnership Research Summer Training Program gethooked on cancer research.

In answer to a students question, Collins also shared his advice to young scientists. One suggestion: Every investigator needs to be pretty comfortable with some of the computational approaches to science, Collins said. Big data is here artificial intelligence, machine-learning. We can all get into that space. But its going to take some training, and it will be really helpful to have those skills.

Join in:UAB launched aMaster of Science in Data Scienceprogram in fall 2018.

Learn more:Discover how UAB researchers areusing machine-learning in their labsand toimprove cancer treatment. Those looking for a free introduction cantake advantage of the Data Science Clubfrom UAB IT Research Computing.

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Looking to the future with Dr. Francis Collins - UAB News