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Dec 13, 2016

Potential diabetes therapy: Engineered cells that control blood sugar

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical

Excellent. Now, the question is “has Microsoft seen this?” as they are working on solving Diabetes too as part of their Synbio program that has already shown us their DNA Data Storage.


People with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin multiple times per day. This is because their immune system has destroyed cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin to maintain a healthy blood glucose level.

A team of bioengineers now report a possible alternative to such injections. The researchers engineered human kidney cells to act like pancreatic β cells, namely to sense blood glucose levels and produce insulin accordingly (Science 2016, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf4006). When implanted in mice with type 1 diabetes, the cells prevent high blood glucose levels, also known as hyperglycemia.

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Dec 13, 2016

A New Form of Synaptic Plasticity in Pain Pathways

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Nice.


Chronic pain is thought to involve the long-lasting strengthening of synapses, akin to what happens during the formation of new memories. This phenomenon, known as long-term potentiation (LTP), is triggered when neurons on both sides of a synapse are active at the same time. But now, Jürgen Sandkühler, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, and colleagues provide evidence that LTP in nociceptive circuits arises in a different way.

By simultaneously activating two types of glial cells―astrocytes and microglia―the researchers were able to produce LTP at synapses that connect peripheral C-fibers and lamina I neurons in the dorsal horn spinal cord. They also showed that with high-frequency stimulation of C-fibers, glial cells strengthen active and inactive synapses through their release of the NMDA receptor co-agonist D-serine and the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Moreover, these molecules traveled to distant synapses, perhaps explaining why pain hypersensitivity can develop in areas surrounding or far away from an injury.

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Dec 13, 2016

‘Turbocharged Artificial Intelligence’ Could Personalize Combination Therapy in Pediatric Leukemia

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, robotics/AI

AI joins the fight against Leukemia.

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Dec 13, 2016

If You Want To Protect Your Business, You Need To Start Thinking About Quantum Encryption Now

Posted by in categories: business, encryption, internet, quantum physics

Nice write up about why businesses need to worry about QC sooner v. later. Glad to see more spreading the word.


It’s coming sooner than you think.

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Dec 13, 2016

Defense applications ripe for quantum computing

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

Lockheed Martin has been experimenting with quantum systems to speed verification and validation of mission-critical software.

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Dec 13, 2016

Scientists are Creating a New Diamond Predicted to be Harder Than a Jeweler’s Diamond

Posted by in categories: materials, nanotechnology

For all my Lab friends who utilize Spectrometers, drill bit fans as well as many of us QC fans. A new stronger syn. diamond being developed.


But you won’t find this diamond on any engagement rings — it will help cut through ultra-solid materials on mining sites.

Step aside, girls. Diamonds may now be a miner’s best friend, thanks to scientists from Australian National University (ANU).

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Dec 13, 2016

Progress toward personalized treatments

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health, neuroscience

More proof that Precision Medicine can predict and solve complex health issues.


Brain scans could help predict response to psychotherapy for anxiety and depression.

brain-scan-treatment-research

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Dec 13, 2016

Squeezing life from DNA’s double helix

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

DNA replication begins when the double helix, caught in a vice of proteins, melts, scientists have discovered.

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Dec 13, 2016

Nano-Nouvelle Trial Delivers Nanotech Breakthrough

Posted by in categories: mobile phones, nanotechnology, transportation

A successful production trial by Australian battery technology innovator Nano-Nouvelle has proved its pioneering nanotechnology ­­­supports industrial-scale manufacture, with output rates 100 times faster.

The Sunshine Coast-based company is developing world-leading nanotechnology that can boost the energy storage capacity of lithium ion batteries by as much as 50 per cent. Lithium ion batteries are used in devices ranging from mobile phones and notebooks to and electric vehicles and home energy storage systems.

As well as proving its technology, Nano-Nouvelle has worked with companies worldwide to ensure its battery-boosting breakthrough is usable with today’s production lines.

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Dec 13, 2016

Cobra venom can help surgeons spot cancer tumours

Posted by in categories: innovation, quantum physics

What do lethal cobra venom, quantum dots and cancer diagnosis have in common? Nothing — till a team of Russian and Indian scientists put their heads to it and developed an innovative technique to take sharp images of cancer growths.

File photo used for representationFile photo used for representation.

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