The application of artificial intelligence is the research focus of start-up company Insilico Medicine. The medical technology company is developing artificial intelligence algorithms to study the ageing processes. The aim is to find new interventions in aging.InSilico Medicine develops knowledge management system of annotated drugs and small molecules. The company foremost develops drugs for oncology and aging, based on a patient's gene expression data. InSilico Medicine is based in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Last year the company launched Aging.AI 2.0, which is a blood biochemistry predictor of human age. This built on the success of its Aging.AI 1.0 platform. Version 1.0 succeeded in using just 41 blood biochemistry biomarkers to test thousands of people. Through this type of analysis Insilico Medicine becames the first company to apply deep generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generating anti-cancer new molecules.

Artificial molecules.

Physics.org

Elderly Cubans wait for help at La Milagrosa Grandparent House in Havana

Adalberto Roque, AFP

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Artificial intelligence targets human age-reversal - Digital Journal

USD junior Daniel Ghebreigziabher discusses his NSF REU summer research project during a poster presentation session on August 10.

The prospect of learning something new each day is true for everybody. For students in college, particularly those whove participated in this summers University of San Diegos Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program via a grant from the National Science Foundation, the knowledge gained has been delivered over 10 weeks, but it can have a lifetime of impact.

The USD grant supported 11 REU Fellows many of whom were new to having a research experience at the college level in collaborative, interdisciplinary research that paired them with USD faculty members in chemistry and biochemistry, physics and biophysics, engineering, environmental and ocean sciences, mathematics and computer science. Each research project, in some way, studies or deepens students knowledge on factors leading to or the impact of climate change through multiple approaches and disciplines.

Research Knowledge on Display

On Thursday afternoon in the Shiley Center for Science and Technology Atrium, this years cohort some currently attending USD, some who are military veteran students, one student from Texas and some whove completed community college and are transferring to UC Riverside, University of California, Berkeley and UC San Diego, respectively, this fall gave poster presentations to visually display and discuss the knowledge theyve gained this summer.

Poster presentations (with USD faculty denoted) were given by Denisa Ivan (Chemistry and Biochemistrys David De Haan); Andrew Boghossian (Physics and Biophysics Ryan McGorty); Daniel Ghebreigziabher (Chemistry and Biochemistrys Joseph Provost); Diana Tamayo (Environmental and Ocean Sciences Nathalie Reyns); Isabel Paredes (Mathematics Jane Friedman); Jayna Lizama (Environmental and Ocean Sciences Drew Talley); Joshua Wilson (Chemistry and Biochemistrys Tim Clark); Luis Garcia and Nathan Kramer (Mechanical Engineerings Daniel Codd); William Bentley (Physics and Biophysics Rae Anderson); and William Sherwin (Chemistry and Biochemistrys Joan Schelinger).

Learning, Growing

While the disciplines covered by the REU were specific, some students participated in research areas that, while not exactly in their regular area of study, did not deter from their desire to learn.

I learned MATLAB and LaTeX and this project allowed me to find other things to learn about, said Paredes, a first-generation student who came into the REU with experience and interest in engineering and chemistry, the latter stemming from her participation in a previous and different REU. At USD, Paredes worked with Friedman, who marveled at her students quick-pick-up of programming and her desire. Friedman said a published paper will emerge from their project regarding improved math modeling of Biomass Allometry using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Paredes, a Navy veteran, will be transferring to Berkeley this fall.

Ghebreigziabher, a USD biochemistry major and pre-med student, has been doing research during the academic year. This summers REU program gave him a chance to expand his knowledge working with proteins and with Joe Provost. During the year, Ghebreigziabher works on a DNA-oriented project in USD Biochemistry Assistant Professor Anthony Bells lab.

Theres no amount of work thats too much for me, said Ghebreigziabher. Its all about the tools you can have. This summer has been a chance for me to gain more experience, do more troubleshooting, analyzing the whole picture and to do more critical thinking.

Joshua Wilson, a Navy veteran who is heading into his senior year at USD, worked in the lab of USD alumnus and Chemistry Professor Tim Clark. Wilson was familiar with Clark as the latter serves as his academic advisor and was his organic chemistry class professor. The summer research project, one that examines phosphine directed C-H borylation, was preliminary stage of work that will continue this academic year and could be presented at a conference as well as USDs Creative Collaborations in spring 2018.

Denisa Ivan, who attends St. Edwards College in Austin, Texas, examined the effects of aerosol-phase browning in glyoxal reactions with ammonium salts/chloride. Asking two questions does the reaction between ammonium sulfate/chloride and glyoxal form brown carbon? and does formation of brown carbon favor one reaction over the other? Ivan reached a few conclusions, but the project is a work in progress. For her first foray on a college-level research project Ivan felt it was a great opportunity to look at a problem step by step to reach a solution. I learned to think faster on my feet. I feel a lot better now that I want to pursue this kind of research.

Nathan Kramer, a USD student and Marine Corps veteran, and Luis Garcia, a local community college student who is transferring to UC Berkeley, worked with Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering Mechanical Professor Daniel Codd. The projects goal was to develop a hybrid solar converter featuring transmissive photovoltaics. This project is a response to there being little work being done in the renewable energy sector to find sustainable solutions to industrial process heat applications.

Kramer and Garcia both expressed their appreciation for the resources they had to work with during the summer, the mentorship and guidance provided by Dr. Cod and the experience they gained these past 10 weeks.

Another REU Fellow, Jayna Lizama, is preparing to attend UC Riverside to study environmental studies. She gained firsthand knowledge of marine ecology through research she did as a member of Drew Talleys team. She and others utilized stable isotope analysis to understand the trophic position of Fundulus parvipinnis (California killifish) in San Diegos Mission Bay marsh.

I love learning new things. This project was definitely a good introduction for me going out and working in the field, Lizama said. I feel more confident about doing research and Im very comfortable working together in the lab.

Thats definitely the reward for learning. Every day.

Ryan T. Blystone

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REU Fellows Expand Knowledge Via Summer Research - University of San Diego Website (press release) (blog)

Its been nearly a decade since the doors to WPIs Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center (LSBC) opened. The first building to rise at Gateway Park, an 11-acre mixed-use campus taking shape just north of downtown Worcester and a short walk from the main WPI campus, the LSBC, formally dedicated on September 17, 2007, represented something of a gamble. In building the 125,000-square-foot research facility, the university was betting that by making a $65 million investment in the life sciences (the cost of the building and the site clean-up), it would realize dividends down the road.

That bet has paid off, and then some, says Eric Overstrm, former professor of biology and biotechnology, who joined WPI in 2004 as head of that department. This building has produced a return on investment well beyond anything we anticipated at the time, he says.

The LSBC was the answer to a question that had been nagging at WPI since it acquired the Gateway Park property in 1999, jointly with the Worcester Business Development Corporation: How could that former industrial brownfield benefit the university? The idea of constructing a building to provide much-needed space for a growing a research enterprise emerged early on, but what kind of research would be represented was unclear.

Overstrm recalls a meeting where several faculty members described the facilities they envisioned for the new center, including fire labs and a drop tower for impact research. He and his fellow life sciences department heads, the late Chris Sotak in Biomedical Engineering and Jim Dittami in Chemistry and Biochemistry, huddled and decided to propose a more focused approach: move all of WPIs graduate research programs in the life sciences and bioengineering to the new building.

The idea had a practical motivation. The wet labs in the 115-year-old Salisbury Laboratories building, where the biologist and biomedical engineers worked, were poorly suited to modern research, while lab space in the newer Goddard Hall, home to chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical engineering research, was running short as the WPI faculty grew.

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How One Building Created a Cascade of Change - WPI News

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has restated its resolve to collaborate with intellectual societies on the promotion of academic excellence.

Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Zana Akpagu stated this at the institutions Senate Chambers during the 2nd Zonal Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMEB) with the theme: The Role of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in a Recessed Economy.

Prof Akpagu said the collaboration is one of the cardinal objectives of the institution aimed at promoting academic and intellectual excellence.

The Vice-Chancellor said the institution was already promoting academic excellence by encouraging useful and beneficial exchange of ideas through conferences, seminars and workshops.

According to him, the theme of the conference was apt following the economic recession currently bedeviling the country.

He thanked NSBMB for giving Unical the hosting rights of its 2nd Zonal conference and promised to support them.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, expressed joy that NSBMB was at the verge of assuming the status of an institute, saying it will confer on them the legal status for regulating and controlling their profession.

He also commended the local organising committee for organising the event and urged them to attract the national conference of NSBMB to Unical.

This is even as he congratulated the University of Ilorin for topping the ranks of Nigerian Universities and thanked them for providing the leadership for NSBMB.

Also speaking, National President of NSBMB, Mrs Sylvia Malomo thanked the Vice-Chancellor for providing an enabling environment for the conference.

She also applauded the Vice-Chancellor for his developmental strides in the institution, stressing that the institution has witnessed tremendous transformation since he assumed office.

Malomo commended the South-South and South-east zones of NSBMB for its consistency in promoting the activities of the society.

She said Biochemists have been at the forefront of administration in the country, adding that, we have biochemists as Vice-Chancellors, we have them as governors, we have them as lawmakers, we have them in various high positions in government and private sector.

The NSBMB President also commended the South-South Zonal Coordinator, ProfFridayUboh for working assiduously to promote the activities of the society, describing him as a go-getter.

In his remarks, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NSBMB, ProfFridayUboh thanked the Vice Chancellor for his support towards the hosting of the conference.

He also commended members of the local organizing committee, staff and members of Biochemistry Department of the University of Calabar for their tireless efforts in making the zonal event a reality

The Zonal Coordinator reminded fellow Biochemists that NSBMB is the first and primary society of their own before any other academic society hence the need for them to fight and protect their profession from oppression by other professional bodies.

Prof Uboh disclosed that the struggle to take the society to the status of an institute at the national level has become a reality, adding that it is a thing of joy that this dream is being fulfilled in their time.

He, however, appealed to all Biochemists to be committed to regular payment of dues and participation in all zonal and national conferences.

The Zonal coordinator urged senior colleagues to rise up to their expected responsibility of mentoring the younger ones to become eminent Biochemists.

He solicited for financial support from public spirited individuals and eminent scientists to help in the sustenance of the zonal event on a yearly basis.

Delivering the keynote address, National Secretary of NSBMB, Prof Musa Yakubu described Biochemistry as a unique profession which cuts across all fields of human endeavor.

Prof Yakubu who spoke on the title- the role of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in a recessed economy said Biochemists can contribute immensely in pulling Nigeria out of its present economic woes by diversifying the economy through increase in production of agric produce.

Read more here:
UNICAL to partner intellectual societies on academic excellence - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (press release) (blog)

The newest building on the Valparaiso University campus was designed with safety and energy savings in mind.

The Center for the Sciences: Chemistry and Biochemistry offers 54,000 square feet and a massive air handling system meant to keep students and professors safe while they work in the lab, with enough energy efficiency bonus points to earn a rebate from NIPSCO of almost $150,000.

"It's almost completely lab space," said physics professor Andrew Richter, co-chair of the building committee, Tuesday.

The structure features large glass windows; science-themed photo montage artwork in the stairwells put together by students; and a glass sculpture hanging in the two-story foyer designed by Hot Shop, a glass blowing studio in Valparaiso.

The building also includes "lots of student space and tons of ways for students to gather together," Richter said.

But it's the building's energy efficiency that garnered a rebate of $148,765 from NIPSCO's Business Energy Efficiency Program.

"With a building that exchanges air so often, the basement looks like the engine room of an aircraft carrier. You could just bleed money in energy in a building like this," Richter said.

The university, he said, needed a facility that was up to air handling standards for safety because of all of the chemicals and other matter being used in the building's multiple labs, many of which were located in the Neils Science Center.

The Center for the Sciences has LED lighting; energy recovery in its air handling units; and variable volume air handlers that "respond to demand in the building," said Jason Kutch, the university's energy manager and facilities engineer.

Kutch was charged with seeing where the building stood in meeting baseline safety standards, and applying for NIPSCO's incentive program.

Most of the energy savings are derived from meeting the state's energy code, which dates back to 2007, said Byran Zichel, a field manager for Lockheed Martin Energy, which manages NIPSCO's program.

The program has different categories, including one for new construction, which is where the Center of the Sciences qualified.

In total, the university said the construction project saved 954,533 kilowatt hours and 80,861 therm. Just one of them is the equivalent energy output of burning roughly 100 cubic feet of natural gas.

"Really, the goal is anything and everything that saves energy, NIPSCO is willing to take a look at," Zichel said.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

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New science building comes with $150K energy savings - Chicago Tribune

Incidence of prostate cancer is rising worldwide. Multiple factors have been suggested for the aetiology of prostate cancer including ethnic, genetic and diet. Vitamin D (calcitriol) has been shown to have role in cell growth and differentiation and its deficiency is implicated as one of the aetiological factors in prostate cancer. Prostatic epithelial cells express Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) as well as 1- hydroxylase enzyme that are required for the synthesis of calcitriol and its action. Polymorphism in VDR gene has been associated with prostate cancer in some epidemiological studies; but, there is paucity of information in the Indian context.

The present study was aimed to explore the association of VDR gene polymorphism with the development of prostate cancer.

Three Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) sites viz., FokI, TaqI and ApaI were analysed in 120 cases of prostate cancer which were compared with their 120 healthy first degree relatives and 120 non-related controls in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Urology.

Analysis showed significantly decreased incidence of Tt and Aa genotype in prostate cancer patients as compared to healthy non-relative controls (p=0.016 and 0.043 respectively). As compared to first degree relatives, incidence of Tt genotype is significantly lower in cases (p=0.005). No significant association was found with FokI polymorphism.

This study suggests the protective role of heterozygous genotypes of TaqI and ApaI polymorphism against the development of prostate cancer.

Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR. 2017 Jun 01 [Epub]

Pankaj Ramrao Kambale, Deepa Haldar, B C Kabi, Kalpana Pankaj Kambale

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, S.M.B.T. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India., Senior Resident, Department of Biochemistry, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India., Professor Director, Department of Biochemistry, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India., Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontology, S.M.B.T. Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Nasik, Maharashtra, India.

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28764147

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Study of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism (FokI, TaqI and ApaI) Among Prostate Cancer Patients in North India. - UroToday

UTs Sindhu Jagadamma and Rachel Patton McCord are recipients ofthe 2017 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

Chancellor Beverly Davenport recently presented plaques to Jagadamma, assistant professor of biosystems engineering and soil science in the UT Institute of Agriculture, and McCord, assistant professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, in recognition of the honor.

Often funding agencies require extensive preliminary data, effectively asking that a project be halfway done before funding it, said McCord.This can make things difficult for junior faculty who are just getting projects off the ground, but early support like this Powe Award can give projects momentum to be more competitive for extensive funding later.

From left, Julie Carrier, head of UTIAs biosystems engineering and soil science; Taylor Eighmy, vice chancellor for research and engagement; Sindhu Jagadamma; UT Chancellor Beverly Davenport; Rachel Patton McCord; Dan Roberts, head of the Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology; and Theresa Lee, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

McCord will usethe award to measure the 3-D structure of chromosomes inside metastatic cancer cells as they squeeze through narrow spaces or are exposed to drug treatments that help prevent metastasis. She will collaborate with scientists at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and the Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and will apply for additional funding from the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health.

The expert peer review process of the Powe Award is extremely valuable, said McCord. The feedback I received on my project proposal will serve me well as we move forward with this project and future grants.

Jagadamma will use the award to support a graduate student who is assisting her on a collaborative project with Melanie Mayes at ORNL, aimed at understanding how soil moisture conditions constrain the microbial decomposition of organic carbon present in soil. The award will cover the cost of a weeklong training on techniques and tools to analyze microbial community data.

This award will help expand one of my current research focus areas and facilitate data collection that will help me to develop competitive grant proposals to the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, said Jagadamma. The Powe Award will also enhance visibility of my research program, which is critical to initiate new research partnerships within and outside the University of Tennessee.

The Powe Awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty atORAU member institutions. They are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and lead the way to additional funding opportunities. UTs Office of Research and Engagement matches the $5,000 award from ORAU.

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Chancellor Recognizes Powe Awardees Jagadamma, McCord - Tennessee Today

Mohini Singh is a PhD candidate in biochemistry at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University Credit: McMaster University

Research from McMaster University has identified new regulators of brain metastases in patients with lung cancer.

These regulators are the genes called SPOCK1 and TWIST2.

The discovery was made by researchers at the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute at McMaster University and was recently published online in the journalActa Neuropathologica.

"Brain metastases are a secondary brain tumour, which means they are caused by cancer cells that escape from primary tumours like lung, breast or melanoma, and travel to the brain," said Mohini Singh, the study's primary author and a PhD candidate in biochemistry at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster.

"We set out to find which genes can regulate the cells that initiate brain metastases, which we've termed brain metastasis initiating cells or BMICs. In other words, what are the genes that are sending the signal to these lung BMICs to leave the lung tumour, go into the blood stream, invade the blood-brain barrier and form a tumour in the brain."

The study used samples from lung cancer patients with brain metastases. The samples were incubated to enrich for BMICs, then injected into the lungs, hearts and brains of mice. The subsequent development of brain metastases was studied by researchers.

"If you look at a set of lung cancer patients, like we did in the paper, who develop brain metastases, they all have those two genes in their primary lung cancer," said Sheila Singh, the study's supervisor, associate professor at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, scientist with the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute at McMaster University and neurosurgeon at McMaster Children's Hospital.

"Patients who don't get brain metastases don't have these genes in their primary lung cancer."

Brain metastases are the most common brain tumour in adults and are a leading cause of death in cancer patients.

"If you can identify the genes that cause metastases, then you can determine a predictive model and you can work towards blocking those genes with possible treatments," said Mohini Singh.

Explore further: Preventing the development of brain tumours

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New genes discovered regulating brain metastases in lung cancer - Medical Xpress

"To be confirmed as the 20th US Surgeon General is truly an indescribable honor," Adams tweeted Thursday.Adams is an anesthesiologist who previously served as the Indiana state health commissioner -- "in essence the Surgeon General for Indiana," he said in a statement to the Senate committee. Prior to that, he served as a staff anesthesiologist and assistant professor of anesthesia at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed his medical degree. He earned undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and biopsychology and a master's degree in public health."The addictive properties of prescription opioids is a scourge in America and it must be stopped," wrote Adams in his nomination committee statement. He added that he shared US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's top priorities, including "the opioid epidemic, and untreated mental illness, which lie at the root of much of the current situation." "I bring to this discussion a unique perspective, and a proven track record of bringing together various groups to address the problem," Adams wrote in his statement. In May 2015, he revealed that his brother is an addict during testimony at a House Energy and Commerce Committee.

That same year, Adams dealt with the lasting effects of drug use as health commissioner. Two-hundred nineteen people were infected with HIV in Southeast Indiana as a result of injecting the prescription opioid Opana. A needle exchange program was put into place to slow the outbreak.

Adams also vowed to make "wellness and community and employer engagement a centerpiece of my agenda." He said the opioid epidemic, obesity, healthcare access and cost will not be successfully tackled if the nation continues to focus on handling these problems only "after they've taken hold."

"Many people call the US Surgeon General the nation's 'Top Doctor,' " Adams wrote in his statement. He said the moniker doesn't do justice to the many professions within the Health Corps, including nurses, pharmacists, therapists and scientists, and insinuates that one person can be "all things to health" -- but doesn't give "proper consideration to the vital role partnerships play."Adams tweeted: "The wonderful people of Indiana trusted and supported me, and ultimately this appointment is about what we've all accomplished together."

Adams noted at his hearing that he is a father to three children, ages 7, 11 and 13 years old.

"When making decisions, I literally have no choice but to think about both the immediate impact on our nation's children -- my own children included -- and the world I am leaving for future generations," he said at that time.

"I hope to make America healthier," wrote Adams in his statement. "Healthy people and communities are more productive, and profitable, and in turn attract more jobs and prosperity."

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Dr. Jerome Adams confirmed as surgeon general - CNN

Dr. James J. Lee, formerly of Freeport, died March 2017.

Born June 14, 1958, he was baptized and raised Catholic. He attended public school in Copaigue and graduated from Copaigue High School in 1976. He graduated valedictorian from Stony Brook University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. He received a full scholarship with stipend for graduate studies at Caltech. In the late 1980s, he received a Ph.D. in genetic studies from Columbia University. Post-doctorate, he interned at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

In 1980 he married Jo Anne, who was a childhood friend. She was killed in 1984 by a drunk driver in California. He later married his colleague, Dr. Nancy Lee, who has a Ph.D. in microbiology.

Since 1991, James and Nancy worked as the head of the research lab at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., where James held the position of professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the division of pulmonary medicine. He and Nancy researched the genetics of wild mice to isolate and study the gene that causes asthma.

James lifes work was improving our understanding of how eosinophilic leukocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of allergy, asthma and cancer, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. He was the past president of the International Eosinophil Society, where he served on the board of directors; was a member of the National Institute of Health Taskforce on the research needs of eosinophil-associated diseases; and served as co-editor-in-chief for the multi-author text Eosinophils in health and disease.

In addition to being well-known at Cold Spring Harbor Research Lab, Mr. Lee traveled the world and became a globally known scientist.

A memorial Mass, which was arranged by his family in Riverhead, will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, Father Larry Duncklee officiating.

This is a paid notice.

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James J. Lee - Suffolk Times