Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 10, 2024 at 10:11am

Using the Spectral Mapping Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SMART) model, they proposed specific wavelengths to look for among the emission lines for of HDO and H2O. HDO has strong lines in the infrared and near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in 2019 scientists first detected water vapor in the atmosphere of a potentially habitable planet.

Two missions in development, NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) that would follow the James Webb Space Telescope, and the European-led Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE), could possibly measure D/H.

It's up to the engineers and scientists designing [HWO] and [LIFE] to see if measuring D/H on exoplanets might be an achievable goal.
Looking for D/H from LIFE appears to be feasible for exoplanets with plenty of atmospheric water vapor in a region of the spectrum around 8 microns wavelength, say the researchers.

David C. Catling et al, Potential technosignature from anomalously low deuterium/hydrogen (D/H) in planetary water depleted by nuclear fusion technology, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2411.18595

Part 3

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 10, 2024 at 10:09am

On Earth, where humanity is currently at 0.73 on the Kardashev scale, natural deuterium in the ocean accounts for about one atom in every 6,240 atoms of hydrogen, or 35 grams of deuterium for every ton of seawater. (That's a collective 4.85 × 1013 tons of deuterium.) The D/H ratio is nearly the same in our atmosphere. Deuterium can fuse with itself and, in a chain of nuclear reactions, ultimately produces 335 gigajoules of energy per gram of deuterium.

Using Earth as a model for an exoplanet with advanced life, researchers calculated fusion power of roughly 10 times that projected for humans next century, about 100 TW in 2100 for a population of 10.4 billion (five times more than today). That 1,000 terawatts (TW)—which could be a low amount for an advanced species (or their robotic descendants!)—would deplete an Earth-like ocean's D/H value to a value found in the local interstellar medium, about 16 parts per million, in about 170 million years.

If the D/H ratio in the water of an exoplanet was found to be substantially below [interstellar medium] values...it would be strange and anomalous," the researchers write in their paper.
If, by chance, their exoplanet had an ocean only a few percent of Earth's—a so-called "land planet"—D/H would reach anomalously low values in roughly 1 to 10 million years. That's on the order of the average lifetime of a mammalian species since the Chicxulub impact ended the dinosaurs, about 3 million years.
Other planets have higher D/H values, like Venus and Mars, but processes like Venus's runaway greenhouse effect and physical escape processes on Mars have left both uninhabitable. Thus a higher D/H than Earth's "probably indicates a planet that is problematic for habitability on geologic timescales."

Calculations like these led the group to propose looking for unusually low D/H in planetary water vapor as a potential technosignature, which they call "potentially remotely detectable."
Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 10, 2024 at 9:59am

A technosignature that could detect an extraterrestrial civilization's reliance on nuclear fusion

Extraterrestrial civilizations need a great deal of energy as they advance up the Kardashev scale. Fossil fuels are finite, wind and solar energy are carbon free but not as efficient as fossil fuels, and traditional nuclear fission power depends on a supply of fissionable material and has a waste problem. Thus, any advanced alien species may well turn to nuclear fusion for their ever-increasing energy needs (unless they've discovered even better energy processes we don't yet know about).

Deuterium (D) fusion is one of the simplest forms of nuclear fusion, where D fuses with tritium or another D. As life needs water as far as we know, oceans on an advanced world could supply plenty of it in ocean water.
On Earth, water contains a natural miniscule amount of heavy water, with deuterium replacing one or both hydrogen atoms to exist as HOD or DOH and rarely as D2O. Extracting deuterium from an ocean would decrease its ratio of deuterium-to-hydrogen, D/H, including in atmospheric water vapor, while the helium produced in the nuclear reactions would escape to space. Could low values of D/H in an exoplanet's atmosphere be a technosignature of long-lived, uber-advanced extraterrestrial life?

Measuring the D/H ratio in water vapor on exoplanets is certainly not a piece of cake, though. It is not impossible either. 

One big advantage of looking for low D/H values in an exoplanet's atmosphere is that it would persist even if advanced life died out on their planet or migrated away, increasing the chances of detecting this technosignature.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 10, 2024 at 9:11am

I received this from RG centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, (Biotechnology and disease Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dept. of Biotechnology, Government of India) requesting me to share it with the general public :

Dr. Jackson James who headed the team from BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) which came up with the finding that gene mutation can cause autism.

Gene mutation likely cause for developing autism in early childhood: RGCB study

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 09: Autism, a developmental disorder that causes functional abnormalities in brain development, is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors with its symptoms manifesting in childhood as early as the age of two years. Complexities of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) include single gene mutations in early development genes.

A recent RGCB study linked a novel mutation in Tlx3 gene with abnormal development of the cerebellum (a major region of the hind brain that controls balance, motor movement, and other complex functions) and autism.

The study, conducted by Dr. Jackson James and his team from BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) here, has been published in the prestigious journal iScience.

Deleting Tlx3 gene from the cerebellum of a transgenic mouse (a mouse with its DNA altered through genetic engineering techniques) embryo potentially affects coordination of cerebellum function. When these mice embryos were allowed to grow until adulthood, they developed hallmarks of autistic behavior, including abnormalities in social skills, repetitive behaviour, and motor/movement function.

The RGCB team, in collaboration with CSIR-IGIB (Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Institute Of Genomics And Integrative Biology (CSIR–IGIB), New Delhi, also assessed the potential for this mutation to occur in the human population and identified TLX3 mutation variants that are linked to nine ASD cases and other co-morbid neurodevelopmental conditions.

Dr. James, however, stated that a genome-wide global cohort analysis is necessary to assess the frequency of this TLX3 mutation and the extent to which the variation is linked to specific populations, such as Indians and others. Together, these results indicate how erroneous regulation of this early embryonic gene manifests into ASDs during early childhood.

RGCB Director Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana said, “Autism is a serious childhood problem across the world. In India also, it has emerged as a significant challenge for researchers and medical fraternity as autism has wide social and medical ramifications. The RGCB study will offer new insights into this behavioural disorder.”

ASDs lead to behavioural deficits, including lack of social cognition and restricted/repetitive behaviours, desires, communication, or actions in individuals.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 9, 2024 at 10:27am

Scientists produce world's first carbon-14 diamond battery with potential lifespan of thousands of years

Scientists and engineers have successfully created the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery.

This new type of battery has the potential to power devices for thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy source. The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known for its use in radiocarbon dating, to produce a diamond battery.

Several game-changing applications are possible. Bio-compatible diamond batteries can be used in medical devices such as ocular implants, hearing aids, and pacemakers, minimizing the need for replacements and distress to patients.

Diamond batteries could also be used in extreme environments—both in space and on earth—where it is not practical to replace conventional batteries. The batteries could power active radio frequency (RF) tags where there is a need to identify and track devices either on Earth or in space, such as spacecraft or payloads, for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and extending operational lifespan.

The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure.

Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power. 

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2024/december/diamond-battery-media-...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 9, 2024 at 9:22am

To identify chronic wound-associated microbiota, the researchers swabbed diabetic foot ulcers from 100 participants and sequenced DNA from these samples. Among the bacteria abundantly present in the samples, they identified an environmental, non-pathogenic bacterium called Alcaligenes faecalis. Digging into published datasets, the team found that this bacterium was prevalent in different types of chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers. This prompted them to investigate the role of A. faecalis in chronic wounds.

For their experiments, the team used a diabetic mouse model that exhibits impaired wound healing. They made wounds measuring about eight millimeters in diameter on the back skin of these mice and treated them with A. faecalis culture. They photographed these wounds at different times and observed that wounds colonized with A. faecalis were significantly smaller than wounds treated with a control solution. To better understand how A. faecalis influences wound healing, the researchers used in vitro assays to investigate whether the bacterium promoted cell migration, a crucial process that occurs in the outer skin layer during the early stages of wound healing. They isolated keratinocytes, cells from the outermost layer of the skin, from diabetic mice and cultured them in lab dishes. Once the cells had formed a layer in the dish, the researchers introduced a thin scratch along the middle, disrupting the continuous layer of cells. They treated the system with either A. faecalis or a control solution and took photographs over time to track how quickly cells from the undisturbed side moved toward the scratch to fill the empty space. Compared to control-treated cells, A. faecalis treatment increased the rate at which keratinocytes migrate. They observed similar results when they repeated this experiment with skin cells obtained from people with diabetes, indicating that the bacterium likely influences wound healing in humans via a similar mechanism.

The results show that we need to think about how to retain friendly bacteria while using less aggressive antimicrobial approaches to eliminate pathogens from the chronic wound environment, say the researchers.

Just taking antibiotics blindly could eliminate these useful bacteria that help in the wound healing process. 

Kalan LR, et al. Strain- and species-level variation in the microbiome of diabetic w.... Cell Host Microbe. 2019;25(5):641-655.e5. 

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 9, 2024 at 9:14am

A Beneficial Bacterium Helps Wounds Heal

A bacterium found in the wound microbiome can accelerate healing, highlighting the potential for microbiota-based wound therapies.

Skin wounds that fail to heal in a normal timeframe are considered to be chronic, and an estimated two percent of the global population will experience a chronic wound in their lifetime. In addition to severe pain, individuals with chronic wounds can face mental health problems due to the persistent nature of the condition and the risk of recurrence. This significantly affects their quality of life, highlighting the need for effective treatments.

Given this unmet clinical need, researchers have been exploring a new frontier—the wound microbiome. Previously published studies have largely focused on faulty processes in skin cells that contribute to impaired healing. But recently, researchers have appreciated that there is a wound microbiome—an entire ecosystem that colonizes wounds and can influence wound healing.
Highlighting this, researchers have shown that a bacterium found in chronic wounds can aid wound healing in mice. The results, published in Science Advances, uncover a mechanism of bacterial-driven wound repair and provide a foundation to develop microbiome-based therapies.
This study is unique in terms of bringing light on the good part of the chronic wound microbiome.‌

White EK, et al. Alcaligenes faecalis corrects aberrant matrix metalloproteinase expression to promote r.... Sci Adv. 2024;10(26):eadj2020. 

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 7, 2024 at 12:15pm

For the study, researchers surveyed 107 women ages 18 to 49 who were taking anti-seizure medications about their reproductive plans.

Six said they were pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and another 69 said they were using some sort of birth control that could interfere with their anti-seizure meds, researchers said.
Survey participants may not have known that their answers were wrong and so did not feel they needed more information," Betstadt noted.

Only about a third of the women were receiving medical care that aligned with their reproductive plans, researchers found.

Anti-seizure medications that increase the risk of birth defects include valproic acid, topiramate, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin.

Further, anti-seizure drugs that can make hormonal contraceptives like pills, patches and rings less effective include carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and higher doses of topiramate and oxcarbazepine.

Despite that, no anti-seizure drug is as dangerous for an expecting mother or her fetus as uncontrolled seizures, the researchers noted.

Women who want to become pregnant should talk with their doctor about drugs that are less risky but still can control their seizures, researchers said.

The survey quizzed women on their knowledge regarding birth control and anti-seizure meds, and found that:

Two-thirds (67%) of all the women answered at least one question incorrectly regarding the ways birth control can interfere with anti-seizure medications and vice-versa
56% of those who want to become pregnant answered at least one question incorrectly about the birth defect risk posed by anti-seizure drugs
36% of those actively using birth control showed some ignorance of the way it can interact with anti-seizure meds
73% felt they didn't need any more education about these risks
Only 29% of those who displayed any ignorance of the interaction said they wanted more education.
Neurology and reproductive health care providers should collaborate to provide the safest and most effective care for their patients of reproductive age who are taking anti-seizure medications

Source: https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/family-planning/birth-control

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 7, 2024 at 12:10pm

Many women with epilepsy unaware of seizure meds' risks to pregnancy

Many women with epilepsy who are of childbearing age might not realize their anti-seizure drugs can raise the risk of birth defects or dampen the effectiveness of their birth control, a new study warns.

Likewise, some birth control methods can cause anti-seizure meds to be less effective, researchers reported this week in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Los Angeles.

Many neurologists do not learn about birth control in their training, even though they know that anti-seizure medications may have some risks in pregnancy. 

This study raises awareness for patients and encourages health care providers from neurology and reproductive health care to work together to ensure the best care for these patients.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 7, 2024 at 11:55am

They found the ideal molecular zip code in a protein called brevican, which helps to form the jelly-like structure of the brain, and only appears there. For the street address, they used two proteins that are found in most brain cancers.

The scientists programmed the immune cells to attack only if they first detected brevican and then detected one or the other of the brain cancer proteins.

When the scientists put the immune cells into the bloodstream, they easily navigated to the mouse's brain and eliminated a growing tumor. Any immune cells that remain in the bloodstream stay dormant, sparing any tissues outside the brain that happen to have the same protein "address" from being attacked.

One hundred days later, the scientists introduced new tumor cells into the brain, and enough immune cells were left to find and kill them, a good indication that they may be able to prevent any remaining cancer cells from growing back.

"The brain-primed CAR-T cells were very, very effective at clearing glioblastoma in our mouse models, the most effective intervention we've seen yet in the lab", say the scientists.
In another experiment, the researchers used the brain GPS system to engineer cells that deliver anti-inflammatory molecules to the brain in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. The engineered cells once again reached their target and made their delivery, and the inflammation faded.

The scientists hope this approach will soon be ready for patients with other debilitating nervous system diseases.

Milos S. Simic et al, Programming tissue-sensing T cells that deliver therapies to the brain, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adl4237

Part 2

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