Daily Archives: October 17, 2022

Competing in the new ‘Space Race’ – Royal Aeronautical Society

Posted: October 17, 2022 at 10:30 am

As the UK gets set to return to launching its own satellites after half a century, where might Britain's space sector be in 2035 and beyond? RICHARD GARDNER reports from Space-Comm Expo22.

Space Comm Expo22 which took place at Farnborough, Hants on 6-7 September presented a timely window on just how much progress is being undertaken to raise the bar on UK involvement in space, generating new policies, innovations, and capabilities needed to deliver on the vast potential that awaits those prepared to invest appropriately.

Once again a new global space-race is underway, with the global space economy expected to grow from 270bn in 2019 to 490bn by 2030, according to the governments National Space Strategy. Furthermore, the UK space sector is determined to grab a much larger proportion of it.

This is as exciting as ever, despite a grim current economic backdrop, as new breakthroughs emerge that are showing how advances in human and robotic space exploration will lead to new sources of raw materials and manufacturing in space. Alongside developments ranging from large, automated orbital platforms to micro-satellites capable of operating individually or within a global mesh, the UK is also well on its way to establishing multiple launch facilities within its own national boundaries for the first time. This opens up capability for speeding the pace of satellite launches and lowering launch costs as well as offering new sector competition.

Any future Moon Base will need more than just solar power to maintain the output needed to provide continuous power generation. Rolls-Royce is designing Micro Reactors for this very purpose. (Rolls-Royce)

The potential for new, lower cost UK military satellite projects is likely to become even more important as it confers greater operational flexibility in national defence planning. Providing UK vertical launch bases, space-ports for air-launches, with infrastructure and control elements, and a new generation of launch vehicles, complete the missing links in the total UK space offering. Alongside sits global leadership in small and micro satellites for LEO use, complex commercial, and military GEO satellites and exploratory space vehicles, including participation in deep space probes and expeditionary planetary programmes.

In a session dedicated to discussing UK National Space Growth, David Morris MP, Deputy Government Whip, told the audience that he was very proud to have been given the portfolio as Space Champion and had previously been Chairman of the Space Group of MPs. He had recently visited Machrihanish in Western Scotland where he saw progress on Skyrora engine testing in preparation for a UK launch, with five sites now agreed for development. He said, The UK is now playing catch-up, 50 years on, to re-enter a global market for orbital delivery where we aim to capture a 10% share, starting later this year. This will bring new high skill employment opportunities across the sector and we look forward to numbers rising from 47K to 100K as new jobs emerge and innovative applications, such as manufacturing in space, receive incentivised commercial as well as official support.

Morris added that via the Return to the Moon programme the UK had an important communications role in tracking space vehicle movements and also expertise in producing service and habitation modules that would be needed for a Moon station. He said that the wider public still take for granted the benefits brought about in everyday life by space access, and they dont realise that there is a return of 12 for every 1 invested. He said, The UKs space effort is a lot more than simply the sum of its parts, and we should speak out to be heard in Government.

Space Comm Expo22 took place at Farnborough on 6-7 September. (Richard Gardner/RAeS)

Space Comm Expo is now the UKs biggest space-focussed event, and provided a very encouraging glimpse of progress through top-level conference sessions featuring 80 keynote speakers and supported by over 150 exhibitors, representing a 65% increase over the previous event. The speaker programmes extended over the shows two days, and the subjects included: Duel-use satellites- civil and military; Nano-micro-satellites, Integrating and sharing the digital fabric of space; Prospects for the colonisation of Mars; Connectivity with the Moon; Sustainability for Small Satellites; Space and weather prediction; Future space travel; Space security; Space partnerships; Space cyber security; Space domain protection; Space and Net Zero and the Economic development of space. The sessions were introduced by familiar television space and science presenters Dallas Campbell and Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock. Amongst the guest speakers were: Dr Paul Bate, CEO, UK Space; John Hanley, Chair, UK Space; Ian Annett, Deputy CEO Project Delivery, UK Space; Kevin Craven, CEO ADS; Andrew Staniland, CEO, Thales Alenia; Rebecca Evernden, Director for Space, BEISD; Elizabeth Seward, Head of Space Strategy, BAE Systems; Pam Underwood, Director, Spaceports, FAA; and Malissa Thorpe, CEO Spaceport Cornwall.

The strong international representation at the show was reflected in the numbers of overseas businesses exhibiting and participating in conference sessions, some 35%, including 20% from the US. Many now have UK bases as well as partnering agreements, with expanding centres of excellence, working closely with the UK Space Agency, UK regulatory authorities and various UK government-supported specialist advanced technology organisations and academia.

A computer generated image of the Skynet 5D satellite in orbit. The Skynet project sustains approximately 800 British jobs. (MoD)

While other specialised military space-focused conferences have been held recently in the UK, defence was also featured in the sessions. Airbus and Northrop Grumman have combined to bring the best of UK and US space communications capabilities together in the latest progression of the UKs Skynet programme, originally started 50 years ago. It is at the forefront of providing secure global military communications for UK Forces and its allies. Airbus is the prime integrator and the UK MoD has supported an expansion of the Skynet architecture which includes upgraded ground stations as well as the supply of new satellites.

Protecting Global Security was the subject of a session which included Air Commodore Mark Flewen, Head of Operations, Plans and Training in UK Space Command. He underlined the criticality of collaboration to secure data and intelligence that was essential to decision-making in the face of an evolving global threat. Flewen told the audience, Anti-satellite activities, including interference, were increasing with methods including interception, jamming and laser dazzling, and a UK Space Ops Centre was expanding with a commercial integration cell, to enable us to monitor nefarious activity out there. This will also have the capability for the development, procurement and operation of new space assets.

Cardiff-based Space Forge is pioneering returnable satellites that are designed for manufacturing next generation super materials in space. (Space Forge)

Many speakers made reference to the need to encourage young specialists to provide an expanding future workforce of scientists, engineers and innovators. It should be a question of training up the best of the best talented candidates working closely with academia, but recognising that suitable talent from abroad should not be excluded, and also due inclusion of those enterprising innovators in small start-ups who can offer unconventional solutions that might produce genuine breakthroughs.

One such example is Space Forge, which didnt exist before the Covid crisis, but in less than three years the young team has gone from working in a garage to growing a company that created a small payload, offering experiments relating to space manufacturing, that will be carried into orbit aboard the first new UK launch vehicle. The company believes that the development of returnable and repairable satellites and orbital fabrication will help reduce operating and sustainment costs as well as reducing waste and adding to the total of space debris that is an increasing menace.

Astroscales QR-style magnetic docking plate is designed to be compatible with a variety of capture mechanisms, either magnetic or robotic. (Richard Gardner/RAeS)

One barrier to space manufacturing is limited capacity where it can be done, and reusable space platform architecture is needed. The International Space Station (ISS) was intended to run on until 2030 but with the earlier than planned withdrawal of Russian participation, US-European co-operation on a future orbital base will develop in a different direction.

Apart from its limited internal size, the problem with using the ISS for experimental manufacturing, as discussed in one conference session, is that it created a task backlog ensuring a long waiting time to carry out proposed new experiments.

How to use space infrastructure to get the best value from new investments touched on such issues as how to refuel space platforms to extend orbital life of satellites and how to use robotics to maintain or up-grade them in-orbit, or assist in safe removal. Some of these associated innovations are destined to be expensive and demanding to bring to market, while others are delightfully simple. Just such an example was to be found on the Astroscale stand in the form of a QR-style magnetic docking plate. The plate is designed to be flexible and adaptable and is compatible with a variety of capture mechanisms, either magnetic or robotic. Fixing this onto satellites before launch will allow easy follow-up access in space. Its designed for an in-space life of over 15 years and aimed at future-proofing docking systems on small satellites.

Much was discussed about using the micro-gravity of space to create new materials and components that will support platforms and other activities in space, but space manufacturing for use on Earth also opens up new areas of possible future growth. Making next-generation semi-conductors could extend benefits throughout the terrestrial supply chain, but how and where manufacture might be located, and the products transported back to Earth, opens up new transfer issues. The end-to-end solution, including sustainment of orbital space or Moon-based enabling infrastructure assets, will prove to be highly expensive to establish. Trying to find ways of making these future visions come true is no longer a science-fiction fantasy and the Space Comm exhibition and conference highlighted how the UK Space sector community is rising to many of these new challenges.

Activity covers development of advanced in-space robotics and micro-engineering, the creation of a global connectivity and observation mesh, and all aspects of returning to the Moon to establish bases for long-term, sustainable human habitation and exploration, potential mining of rare minerals, and fabrication of space platforms and assembly of deep space vehicles, and then beyond to the next already identified goal a Mars base. At the core of enabling these bold visions to become a reality will be the mix and availability of human ingenuity and what quantum physics will be able to deliver beyond artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Rolls-Royce has designed Micro Reactors for use on the Moon and other demanding operating environments where continuous, consistent, highly-efficient and emission-free power is demanded. (Rolls-Royce)

The Rolls-Royce exhibition stand featured an eye-catching model of a Micro Reactor, set against an impression of a future Moon Base. The company enjoys a 60 year pedigree in nuclear power provision, including building powerplants for the UKs nuclear submarine fleet. It has now designed Micro Reactors for use where continuous, consistent, highly-efficient and emissions-free power is demanded, in a compact package, operating in demanding operating environments. Space is just one example and comes with its own challenges, but Mark Cheesman, Rolls-Royces Head of Business Development and Future Programmes, explained to AEROSPACE that a future Moon Base will need more than just solar power to maintain the output needed to provide continuous power generation through cycles which include 14 days of dark and surface temperatures which vary from +250 to -100C. NASA is committed to a Fission Surface Power programme that would lead to a full development programme in 2030 and this would act as a steppingstone to a very suitable base solution he explained. The Micro Reactor is a very safe design solution with tiny uranium oxide pellets sealed within silicon carbide layers. This is a dry environment and wont release any fission products. The design is scalable and there are no moving parts and operations would be passive and remotely monitored in use.

In a mining situation either in space or on earth its adoption would slash costs and provide continuous power independently of the day/night conditions for comprehensive power services on the Moon Base. It would also provide a well-suited power solution for a follow up base on Mars. There is always a regulatory challenge dealing with radical new technologies but if any company can deliver on the promise it has been shown that Rolls-Royces optimism is to be believed.

This year's Royal Aeronautical Society President's Conference, hosted by2022 President Peter Round FRAeS, will take place at 4 Hamilton Place and online between 18-19 October and is titled New Space. It will bring together experts and practitioners in order to inform potential users of the current and future capabilities of commercial new space and its benefits to society. Recent rapid increase of availability of launch, and reducing costs of launch, now mean that access to space is a commercial reality. Thousands of companies are now looking at how space can be used that wouldnt have in previous years because it was deemed as unaffordable to do so.

The conference will:

- Look at current and evolving trends in the global space sector from the perspective of the primes, the people and the skills required, finance, new business and infrastructure and the importance of launch as a national capability.- Analyse the need for regulation (congestion in space, space control etc.) and the funding of new space (how do financial markets invest and what does the future look like).- Allow you to hear from new space operators, bringing together an impressive panel of speakers from across the world.- Discuss how the UK can become a space power by 2030 and its path to get there.

For more details, visit:https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/raes-presidents-conference-new-space/

Richard Gardner FRAeS 14 October 2022

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Competing in the new 'Space Race' - Royal Aeronautical Society

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Spinal muscular atrophy – Wikipedia

Posted: at 10:29 am

Rare congenital neuromuscular disorder

Medical condition

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting.[3][4][5] It is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and if left untreated it is the most common genetic cause of infant death.[6] It may also appear later in life and then have a milder course of the disease. The common feature is progressive weakness of voluntary muscles, with arm, leg and respiratory muscles being affected first.[7][8] Associated problems may include poor head control, difficulties swallowing, scoliosis, and joint contractures.[2][8]

The age of onset and the severity of symptoms form the basis of the traditional classification of spinal muscular atrophy into a number of types.[4]

Spinal muscular atrophy is due to an abnormality (mutation) in the SMN1 gene[1][2] which encodes SMN, a protein necessary for survival of motor neurons.[8] Loss of these neurons in the spinal cord prevents signalling between the brain and skeletal muscles.[8] Another gene, SMN2, is considered a disease modifying gene, since usually the more the SMN2 copies, the milder is the disease course. The diagnosis of SMA is based on symptoms and confirmed by genetic testing.[9][1]

Usually, the mutation in the SMN1 gene is inherited from both parents in an autosomal recessive manner, although in around 2% of cases it occurs during early development (de novo).[1][10] The incidence of spinal muscular atrophy worldwide varies from about 1 in 4,000 births to around 1 in 16,000 births,[11] with 1 in 7,000 and 1 in 10,000 commonly quoted for Europe and the US respectively.[2]

Outcomes in the natural course of the disease vary from death within a few weeks after birth in the most acute cases to normal life expectancy in the protracted SMA forms.[8] The introduction of causative treatments in 2016 has significantly improved the outcomes. Medications that target the genetic cause of the disease include nusinersen, risdiplam, and the gene therapy medication onasemnogene abeparvovec. Supportive care includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory support, nutritional support, orthopaedic interventions, and mobility support.[1]

5q SMA is a single disease that manifests over a wide range of severity, affecting infants through adults. Before its genetics was understood, its varying manifestations were thought to be different diseases WerdnigHoffmann disease when young children were affected and KugelbergWelander disease for late-onset cases.[12]

In 1990, it was realised that these separate diseases formed a spectrum of the same disorder. Spinal muscular atrophy was then classified into 35 clinical types based either on the age of symptom onset or on the maximum motor function achieved.[10][12] Currently, the consensus is that the phenotype of spinal muscular atrophy spans a continuum of symptoms without clear delineation of subtypes.[10] However, the traditional classification, outlined in the table below, is still used today both in clinical research and sometimes, controversially, as a criterion of access to therapies.

For convenience, care-focused publications classify patients into "non-sitters", "sitters" and "walkers" based on their actual functional status.

Motor development and disease progression in people with SMA is usually assessed using validated functional scales CHOP-INTEND (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders) or HINE (Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination) in infants; and either the MFM (Motor Function Measure) or one of several variants of the HFMS (Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale)[13][14][15][16] in older patients.

The eponymous label WerdnigHoffmann disease (sometimes misspelled with a single n) refers to the earliest clinical descriptions of childhood SMA by Johann Hoffmann and Guido Werdnig.[12] The eponymous term KugelbergWelander disease named after Erik Klas Hendrik Kugelberg (19131983) and Lisa Welander (19092001), who first documented the late-onset form and distinguished it from muscular dystrophy.[12] Very rarely used Dubowitz disease (not to be confused with Dubowitz syndrome) is named after Victor Dubowitz, an English neurologist who authored several studies on the intermediate SMA phenotype.[citation needed]

The symptoms vary depending on the SMA type, the stage of the disease as well as individual factors. Signs and symptoms below are most common in the severe SMA type 0/I:[17][medical citation needed]

Spinal muscular atrophy is caused by a genetic mutation in the SMN1 gene.[18]

Human chromosome 5 contains two nearly identical genes at location 5q13: a telomeric copy SMN1 and a centromeric copy SMN2. In healthy individuals, the SMN1 gene codes the survival of motor neuron protein (SMN) which, as its name says, plays a crucial role in survival of motor neurons. The SMN2 gene, on the other hand due to a variation in a single nucleotide (840.CT) undergoes alternative splicing at the junction of intron 6 to exon 8, with only 1020% of SMN2 transcripts coding a fully functional survival of motor neuron protein (SMN-fl) and 8090% of transcripts resulting in a truncated protein compound (SMN7) which is rapidly degraded in the cell.[19]

In individuals affected by SMA, the SMN1 gene is mutated in such a way that it is unable to correctly code the SMN protein due to either a deletion[20] occurring at exon 7[21] or to other point mutations (frequently resulting in the functional conversion of the SMN1 sequence into SMN2). Almost all people, however, have at least one functional copy of the SMN2 gene (with most having 24 of them) which still codes 1020% of the usual level of the SMN protein, allowing some neurons to survive. In the long run, however, the reduced availability of the SMN protein results in gradual death of motor neuron cells in the anterior horn of spinal cord and the brain. Skeletal muscles, which all depend on these motor neurons for neural input, now have decreased innervation (also called denervation), and therefore have decreased input from the central nervous system (CNS). Decreased impulse transmission through the motor neurons leads to decreased contractile activity of the denervated muscle. Consequently, denervated muscles undergo progressive atrophy (waste away).[citation needed]

Muscles of lower extremities are usually affected first, followed by muscles of upper extremities, spine and neck and, in more severe cases, pulmonary and mastication muscles. Proximal muscles are always affected earlier and to a greater degree than distal muscles.[22]

The severity of SMA symptoms is broadly related to how well the remaining SMN2 genes can make up for the loss of function of SMN1. This partly depends on the number of copies of the SMN2 gene present on the chromosome. Whilst healthy individuals usually carry two SMN2 gene copies, people with SMA can have anything between 1 and 5 (or more) of them; the greater the number of SMN2 copies, the milder the disease severity. Thus, most SMA type I babies have one or two SMN2 copies; people with SMA II and III usually have at least three SMN2 copies; and people with SMA IV normally have at least four of them. However, the correlation between symptom severity and SMN2 copy number is not absolute and there seem to exist other factors affecting the disease phenotype.[23]

Spinal muscular atrophy is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means that the defective gene is located on an autosome. Two copies of the defective gene one from each parent are required to inherit the disorder: the parents may be carriers and not personally affected. SMA seems to appear de novo (i.e., without any hereditary causes) in around 24% of cases.[citation needed]

Spinal muscular atrophy affects individuals of all ethnic groups, unlike other well known autosomal recessive disorders, such as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis, which have significant differences in occurrence rate among ethnic groups. The overall prevalence of SMA, of all types and across all ethnic groups, is in the range of 1 per 10,000 individuals; the gene frequency is around 1:100, therefore, approximately one in 50 persons are carriers.[24][25] There are no known health consequences of being a carrier. A person may learn carrier status only if one's child is affected by SMA or by having the SMN1 gene sequenced.[citation needed]

Affected siblings usually have a very similar form of SMA. However, occurrences of different SMA types among siblings do exist while rare, these cases might be due to additional de novo deletions of the SMN gene, not involving the NAIP gene, or the differences in SMN2 copy numbers.[citation needed]

SMA is diagnosed using genetic testing that detects homozygous deletion of the SMN1 gene in over 95% of cases,[17] and a compound SMN1 mutation in the remaining patients. Genetic testing is usually carried out using a blood sample, and MLPA is one of more frequently used genetic testing techniques, as it also allows establishing the number of SMN2 gene copies, which has clinical importance.[17]

Symptomatically, SMA can be diagnosed with a degree of certainty only in children with the acute form who manifest a progressive illness with paradoxical breathing, bilateral low muscle tone and absent tendon reflexes.[citation needed]

Early diagnosis of SMA, at the asymptomatic stage of the disease, allows for

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be used to screen for SMA-affected embryos during in-vitro fertilisation.[citation needed]

Prenatal testing for SMA is possible through chorionic villus sampling, cell-free fetal DNA analysis and other methods.[citation needed]

Routine newborn screening for SMA is becoming increasingly commonplace in developed countries, given the availability of causative treatments that are most effective at the asymptomatic stage of the disease.[26][27][28] In 2018, newborn screening for SMA was added to the US list of recommended newborn screening tests[29][30][31] and as of April 2020 it has been adopted in 39 US states.[32][33] As of May 2021, SMA newborn screening has been implemented in Taiwan[34] and is in the course of implementation in Australia,[35] Belgium,[36] Canada, France, Germany,[37] Netherlands,[38] Poland, Serbia and Slovenia. Additionally, pilot projects are being conducted in Australia, China,[39] Italy, and Japan.[40]

Those at risk of being carriers of SMN1 deletion, and thus at risk of having offspring affected by SMA, can undergo carrier analysis using a blood or saliva sample. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends all people thinking of becoming pregnant be tested to see if they are a carrier.[41] The carrier frequency of SMA is comparable to other disorders like thalassemia and in a north Indian cohort has been found to be 1 in 38.[42] However, genetic testing will not be able to identify all individuals at risk since about 2% of cases are caused by de novo mutations and 5% of the normal population have two copies of SMN1 on the same chromosome, which makes it possible to be a carrier by having one chromosome with two copies and a second chromosome with zero copies. This situation will lead to a false negative result, as the carrier status will not be correctly detected by a traditional genetic test.[43][44]

The management of SMA varies based upon the severity and type. In the most severe forms (types 0/1), individuals have the greatest muscle weakness requiring prompt intervention. Whereas the least severe form (type 4/adult onset), individuals may not seek the certain aspects of care until later (decades) in life. While types of SMA and individuals among each type may differ, therefore specific aspects of an individual's care can differ.[medical citation needed]

Nusinersen (marketed as Spinraza) is used to treat spinal muscular atrophy.[45] It is an antisense nucleotide that modifies the alternative splicing of the SMN2 gene.[45] It is given directly to the central nervous system using an intrathecal injection.[45][46] Nusinersen prolongs survival and improves motor function in infants with SMA.[47][48] It was approved for use in the US in 2016, and for use in the EU in 2017.[49][50][51]

Onasemnogene abeparvovec (marketed as Zolgensma) is a gene therapy treatment which uses self-complementary adeno-associated virus type 9 (scAAV-9) as a vector to deliver the SMN1 transgene.[52][53] The therapy was first approved in the US in May 2019 as an intravenous formulation for children below 24 months of age.[54][55] Approval in the European Union, Japan and other countries followed, albeit often with different approval scopes.[56][57]

Risdiplam (marketed as Evrysdi) is a medication taken by mouth in liquid form.[58][59] It is a pyridazine derivative that works by increasing the amount of functional survivor motor neuron protein produced by the SMN2 gene through modifying its splicing pattern.[60][61] Risdiplam was first approved for medical use in the United States in August 2020[58] and has since been approved in over 30 countries.

The respiratory system is the most common system to be affected and the complications are the leading cause of death in SMA types 0/1 and 2. SMA type 3 can have similar respiratory problems, but it is more rare.[22] The complications that arise due to weakened intercostal muscles because of the lack of stimulation from the nerve. The diaphragm is less affected than the intercostal muscles.[22] Once weakened, the muscles never fully recover the same functional capacity to help in breathing and coughing as well as other functions. Therefore, breathing is more difficult and pose a risk of not getting enough oxygen/shallow breathing and insufficient clearance of airway secretions. These issues more commonly occurs while asleep, when muscles are more relaxed. Swallowing muscles in the pharynx can be affected, leading to aspiration coupled with a poor coughing mechanism increases the likelihood of infection/pneumonia.[62] Mobilizing and clearing secretions involve manual or mechanical chest physiotherapy with postural drainage, and manual or mechanical cough assistance device. To assist in breathing, Non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP) is frequently used and tracheostomy may be sometimes performed in more severe cases;[63] both methods of ventilation prolong survival to a comparable degree, although tracheostomy prevents speech development.[64]

The more severe the type of SMA, the more likely to have nutrition related health issues. Health issues can include difficulty in feeding, jaw opening, chewing and swallowing. Individuals with such difficulties can be at increase risk of over or undernutrition, failure to thrive and aspiration. Other nutritional issues, especially in individuals that are non-ambulatory (more severe types of SMA), include food not passing through the stomach quickly enough, gastric reflux, constipation, vomiting and bloating.[65][medical citation needed] Therein, it could be necessary in SMA type I and people with more severe type II to have a feeding tube or gastrostomy.[65][66][67] Additionally, metabolic abnormalities resulting from SMA impair -oxidation of fatty acids in muscles and can lead to organic acidemia and consequent muscle damage, especially when fasting.[68][69] It is suggested that people with SMA, especially those with more severe forms of the disease, reduce intake of fat and avoid prolonged fasting (i.e., eat more frequently than healthy people)[70] as well as choosing softer foods to avoid aspiration.[62] During an acute illness, especially in children, nutritional problems may first present or can exacerbate an existing problem (example: aspiration) as well as cause other health issues such as electrolyte and blood sugar disturbances.[71][medical citation needed]

Skeletal problems associated with weak muscles in SMA include tight joints with limited range of movement, hip dislocations, spinal deformity, osteopenia, an increase risk of fractures and pain.[22] Weak muscles that normally stabilize joints such as the vertebral column lead to development of kyphosis and/or scoliosis and joint contracture.[22] Spine fusion is sometimes performed in people with SMA I/II once they reach the age of 810 to relieve the pressure of a deformed spine on the lungs. Furthermore, immobile individuals, posture and position on mobility devices as well as range of motion exercises, and bone strengthening can be important to prevent complications.[71] People with SMA might also benefit greatly from various forms of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.[citation needed]

Orthotic devices can be used to support the body and to aid walking. For example, orthotics such as AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) are used to stabilise the foot and to aid gait, TLSOs (thoracic lumbar sacral orthoses) are used to stabilise the torso. Assistive technologies may help in managing movement and daily activity and greatly increase the quality of life.[citation needed]

Although the heart is not a matter of routine concern, a link between SMA and certain heart conditions has been suggested.[72][73][74][75]

Children with SMA do not differ from the general population in their behaviour; their cognitive development can be slightly faster, and certain aspects of their intelligence are above the average.[76][77][78] Despite their disability, SMA-affected people report high degree of satisfaction from life.[79]

Palliative care in SMA has been standardised in the Consensus Statement for Standard of Care in Spinal Muscular Atrophy[22] which has been recommended for standard adoption worldwide.

In the absence of pharmacological treatment, people with SMA tend to deteriorate over time. Recently, survival has increased in severe SMA patients with aggressive and proactive supportive respiratory and nutritional support.[80]

If left untreated, the majority of children diagnosed with SMA type 0 and 1 do not reach the age of 4, recurrent respiratory problems being the primary cause of death.[81] With proper care, milder SMA type I cases (which account for approx. 10% of all SMA1 cases) live into adulthood.[82] Long-term survival in SMA type I is not sufficiently evidenced; however, as of 2007 advances in respiratory support seem to have brought down mortality.[83]

In untreated SMA type II, the course of the disease is slower to progress and life expectancy is less than the healthy population. Death before the age of 20 is frequent, although many people with SMA live to become parents and grandparents. SMA type III has normal or near-normal life expectancy if standards of care are followed. Type IV, adult-onset SMA usually means only mobility impairment and does not affect life expectancy.[citation needed]

Since the underlying genetic cause of SMA was identified in 1995,[20] several therapeutic approaches have been proposed and investigated that primarily focus on increasing the availability of SMN protein in motor neurons.[84] The main research directions have been as follows:

Gene therapy in SMA aims at restoring the SMN1 gene function through inserting specially crafted nucleotide sequence (a SMN1 transgene) into the cell nucleus using a viral vector. This approach has been exploited by the first approved gene therapy for SMA, scAAV-9 based treatment onasemnogene abeparvovec.[85]

This approach aims at modifying the alternative splicing of the SMN2 gene to force it to code for higher percentage of full-length SMN protein. Sometimes it is also called gene conversion, because it attempts to convert the SMN2 gene functionally into SMN1 gene. It is the therapeutic mechanism of the approved medications nusinersen and risdiplam.

Branaplam is another SMN2 splicing modulator that has reached the clinical stage of development.[86]

Historically, this research direction investigated also other molecules. RG3039, also known as Quinazoline495, was a proprietary quinazoline derivative developed by Repligen and licensed to Pfizer in March 2014 which was discontinued shortly after, having only completed phase I trials. PTK-SMA1 was a proprietary small-molecule splicing modulator of the tetracyclines group developed by Paratek Pharmaceuticals and about to enter clinical development in 2013 which however never happened due to Paratek downsizing at that time. RG7800, developed by Hoffmann-La Roche, was a molecule akin to risdiplam that has undergone phase I testing but was discontinued due to animal toxicity.[87] Early leads also included sodium orthovanadate[88] and aclarubicin.[89]

Morpholino-type antisense oligonucleotides, with the same cellular target as nusinersen, remain a subject of research in treating SMA and other single-gene diseases, including at the University College London[90] and at the University of Oxford.[91]

This approach aims at increasing expression (activity) of the SMN2 gene, thus increasing the amount of full-length SMN protein available.

A few compounds initially showed promise but failed to demonstrate efficacy in clinical trials. Butyrates (sodium butyrate and sodium phenylbutyrate) held some promise in in vitro studies[96][97][98] but a clinical trial in symptomatic people did not confirm their efficacy.[99] Another clinical trial in pre-symptomatic types 12 infants was completed in 2015 but no results have been published.[100]

Compounds which increased SMN2 activity in vitro but did not make it to the clinical stage include growth hormone, various histone deacetylase inhibitors,[111] benzamide M344,[112] hydroxamic acids (CBHA, SBHA, entinostat, panobinostat,[113] trichostatin A,[114][115] vorinostat[116]), prolactin[117] as well as natural polyphenol compounds like resveratrol and curcumin.[118][119] Celecoxib, a p38 pathway activator, is sometimes used off-label by people with SMA based on a single animal study[120] but such use is not backed by clinical-stage research.

SMN stabilisation aims at stabilising the SMN7 protein, the short-lived defective protein coded by the SMN2 gene, so that it is able to sustain neuronal cells.[121]

No compounds have been taken forward to the clinical stage. Aminoglycosides showed capability to increase SMN protein availability in two studies.[122][123] Indoprofen offered some promise in vitro.[124]

Neuroprotective drugs aim at enabling the survival of motor neurons even with low levels of SMN protein.

Of clinically studied compounds which did not show efficacy, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) held some promise in an open-label uncontrolled clinical trial[126][127][128] but did not prove effective in a subsequent double-blind placebo-controlled trial.[129] Riluzole, a drug that offers limited clinical benefit in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was proposed to be similarly tested in SMA;[130][131] however, a 20082010 trial in SMA types 2 and 3[132] was stopped early due to the lack of satisfactory results.[133] Other compounds that displayed some neuroprotective effect in in vitro research but never moved on to in vivo studies include -lactam antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone)[134][135] and follistatin.[136]

This approach aims to counter the effect of SMA by targeting the muscle tissue instead of neurons.

Whilst stem cells never form a part of any recognised therapy for SMA, a number of private companies, usually located in countries with lax regulatory oversight, take advantage of media hype and market stem cell injections as a "cure" for a vast range of disorders, including SMA. The medical consensus is that such procedures offer no clinical benefit whilst carrying significant risk, therefore people with SMA are advised against them.[140][141] In 20132014, a small number of SMA1 children in Italy received court-mandated stem cell injections following the Stamina scam, but the treatment was reported having no effect[142][143]

People with SMA in the European Union can participate in clinical research by entering their details into registries managed by TREAT-NMD.[144]

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Grand Mufti – Wikipedia

Posted: at 10:29 am

StateIncumbentStatusTermAlbaniaBujar Spahiu (1976 )[6]Appointed as Chairman of the Muslim Community of Albania (KMSH) by the Muslim Community of AlbaniaMarch 2019AustraliaIbrahim Abu Mohamed ( )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Australia by the Australian National Imams CouncilSeptember 2016Bosnia and HerzegovinaHusein Kavazovi (3 July 1964 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Islamic Community of Bosnia and HerzegovinaSeptember 2012BruneiAbdul Aziz Juned (22 December 1941 )Appointed as State Mufti of Brunei by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah1 September 1994BulgariaMustafa Hadzhi (31 March 1962 )Appointed as Chief Mufti of Bulgaria by the Supreme Muslim Council1997 2005 (first term)2005 CanadaSyed Soharwardy (1955 )Chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (Grand Mufti of Canada)2000 CaucasusAllahshukur Pashazadeh (26 August 1949 )Appointed as chairman of the Supreme Religious Board of Caucasian People by the Religious Council of the Caucasus1992 ChinaXilalunding Chen GuangyuanChairman of the Islamic Association of ChinaEgyptShawki Allam (12 August 1961 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Egypt by the Council of Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar and approved by the President of Egypt, Mohamed MorsiFebruary 2013GhanaOsman Nuhu Sharubutu (23 April 1923 )National Chief Imam of Ghana (De facto)GuineaEl Hadj Mamadou Saliou Camara ( )Grand Imam of Guinea (De facto)IndiaSheikh Abubakr Ahmad (22 March 1931 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of India by the Islamic Community of India2019 IraqMahdi Al-Sumaidaie (20. century )Grand Mufti of the Iraqi Sunnis (de facto)JordanAbdul Karim Khasawneh (1944 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Jordan by the Cabinet of Jordan and Abdul Hafez Rabtah as Chief Islamic Justice of the Kingdom of Jordan11 November 2019KazakhstanNauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly ( )Appointed as Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan by the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan as per nomination of former Supreme Mufti, Serikbai Kazhy Oraz7 February 2020KosovoNaim Ternava (7 January 1961 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Kosovo by the Islamic Community of KosovaKyrgyzstanMaksatbek Toktomushev ( )Appointed as Mufti of Kyrgyzstan2014LebanonSheikh Abdul Latif Derian (3 April 1953 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Lebanon by the Higher Islamic Council10 August 2014LibyaSadiq Al-Ghariani (8 December 1942 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Libya by the National Transitional CouncilMay 2011LithuaniaRamadan Yaqoob ( )Grand Mufti of Lithuania (De facto)MacedoniaSulejman Rexhepi (1947 )Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Religious Community of MacedoniaMalaysiaLuqman Abdullah (12 September 1969 )[7]Mufti of the Federal Territories (Website: muftiwp.gov.my)16 May 2020Mohd Tahrir SamsudinMufti of Johor (Website: mufti.johor.gov.my)13 November 2008Syeikh Fadzil Awang[8][9]Mufti of Kedah (Website: mufti.kedah.gov.my)20 July 2017Mohamad Shukri Mohamad[10]Mufti of Kelantan (Website: muftikelantan.gov.my)Abdul Halim Tawil[11]Acting Mufti of Malacca (Website: muftimelaka.gov.my)Mohd Yusof Ahmad[12][13]Mufti of Negeri Sembilan (Website: muftins.gov.my)1 April 2009Abdul Rahman Osman[14][15][16]Mufti of Pahang (Website: mufti.pahang.gov.my)Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor[17]Mufti of Penang (Website: mufti.penang.gov.my)7 June 2014Harussani Zakaria (8 April 1939 30 May 2021)[18]Mufti of Perak (Website: mufti.perak.gov.my)December 1985Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (1 January 1971 )[19]Mufti of Perlis (Website: mufti.perlis.gov.my)2 February 2015Bungsu Aziz Jaafar[20]Mufti of Sabah (Website: mufti.sabah.gov.my)10 August 2012Kipli Yassin[21]Mufti of Sarawak (Website: muftinegeri.sarawak.gov.my)Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid (1 January 1928 )[22][23]Mufti of Selangor (Website: muftiselangor.gov.my)16 March 1998Zulkifly Muda[24]Mufti of Terengganu (Website: mufti.terengganu.gov.my)1 April 2013MaliChrif Ousmane Madani HadaraChairman of the High Islamic Council of MaliApril 2019MauritaniaAhmed Ould Murabit[25]Grand Mufti of MauritaniaMontenegroRifat Fejzi ( )Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community of MontenegroNew ZealandSheikh Mohammad Amir Faizur Rahman ( )[26]Appointed as Grand Mufti of New ZealandNigeriaIbrahim Ibn Saleh al-Hussaini (1938 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Nigeria by the Supreme Council for Fatwa and Islamic Affairs in NigeriaOmanAhmed bin Hamad al-Khalili (27 July 1942 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman by the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said1975PakistanMuhammad Rafi UsmaniGrand Mufti of PakistanPalestineMuhammad Ahmad Hussein (20. century )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem by the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud AbbasJuly 2006PolandTomasz Mikiewicz (9 July 1977 )Appointed as Mufti of the Republic of Poland by the Muslim Religious Union in the Republic of Poland2004RomaniaMurat Iusuf (18 August 1977 ) (Murd Ysuf)Grand Mufti of Romania2005RussiaRawil Gaynetdin (25 August 1959 )Grand Mufti of Russia1 July 1996Salah Mezhiev (10 January 1977 )Appointed as Mufti of Chechnya by Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov12 June 2014Ahmad Afandi Abdulaev (15 September 1959 )Appointed as Mufti of Dagestan1998Kamil Samigullin (22 March 1985 )Appointed as Mufti of Tatarstan17 April 2013Aynur Birgalin ( )Appointed as Mufti of BashkortostanKhazrataly Dzasezhev ( )Appointed as Mufti of Kabardino-BalkariaIsa Khamkhoev ( )Appointed as Mufti of IngushetiaAskarbi Kardanov ( )Appointed as Mufti of Adygea and Krasnodar KraiSaudi ArabiaAbdulaziz Al Sheikh (10 February 1943 )Appointed as Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia by the King of Saudi Arabia, Fahd of Saudi ArabiaJune 1999SerbiaSead Nasufovi (22 June 1979 )[27][28]Appointed as Mufti of Serbia by the Islamic Community of SerbiaJuly 2016Singapore

M A Aziz ( )[29][30][31]

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Libertarian Countries 2022 – worldpopulationreview.com

Posted: at 10:27 am

Libertarianism is a philosophy centered on liberty. People that believe in these philosophies are known as libertarians, and libertarians believe in political freedom and freedom of choice. Libertarians believe that a person should be able to use their judgment when it comes to choices in their own life. In other words, a person would be able to make their own choices without government interference.

Throughout the world, some nations show signs of libertarianism. For example, in many nations around the world, marijuana has been legalized or at least decriminalized. However, there are no true libertarian countries. The nations that have legalized marijuana, for example, may have very high taxes or laws that restrict other activities, such as prostitution.

Since there are no true libertarian countries, but several countries have libertarian ideals. The United States has the Libertarian Party (LP), which has the slogan "Minimum government, maximum freedom." Because U.S. states have control over many of their own laws and regulations, some states are considered more libertarian than others. The most libertarian U.S. states are Florida, New Hampshire, and Indiana. One such nation is England. After leaving the European Union, the nation no longer has a higher government than its own federal government. England no longer has to pay taxes and tariffs imposed by the EU, but other regulations, such as drugs, are illegal. Several nations do not impose income taxes on its citizens. This includes Andorra, which has no income tax for individuals or companies, and Monaco, known as a "tax haven" for its lack of income tax.

If you live in a country like the United States, prostitution is illegal. However, it is legal in some nations. In Germany, for example, brothels are regulated by the government, must obtain licenses, and pay taxes. The Netherlands also has legal prostitution and has become known for its red-light district. In some nations, drugs are also legal or decriminalized. In Portugal, possessing any drug for personal use has been criminalized. Portugal also has government-funded therapy programs to help drug addicts. In North Korea, marijuana and opium are not considered drugs. However, the use of other drugs could result in severe penalties, including death.

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Major raids into Al-Aqsa and the Occupation prevents worshipers from entering – Middle East Monitor

Posted: at 10:26 am

Large numbers of Israeli settlers raided the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning, coinciding with the Israeli Occupation forces preventing the entry of worshipers and Al-Murabitoun.

One of the guards at Al-Aqsa Mosque confirmed that "the Occupation forces stationed at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque prevented those under the age of 40 from entering to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque. They have crackdown even further."

The guard, who preferred to be anonymous, told Arabi 21, that "there aren't many worshipers or Murabitoun inside Al-Aqsa," adding that "the Mosque is empty; only about 60 worshipers remained after dawn prayer."

He stated that a number of Israeli officers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque at dawn today, and filmed inside it, in preparation for the storming of Israeli extremists, while large forces of the army were deployed outside Al-Aqsa Mosque and at its doors.

Shortly after seven o'clock, the Occupation forces opened the Mughrabi Gate, and Israeli settlers began storming Al-Aqsa Mosque in large numbers.

Some of the settlers storming Al-Aqsa were continuously performing Talmudic rituals and prayers inside and at the gates of Al-Aqsa, in addition to carrying out provocative tours.

The Islamic Endowments Department in the occupied city of Jerusalem were quoted by Arabi21 issuing warnings of the dangers arising from the escalation of violations by the Israeli occupation authorities against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially during the period of Jewish holidays, particularly on the Sukkot.

These massive stormings into Al-Aqsa Mosque come on the second day of Sukkot, in response to the calls issued by the Israeli settlement temple associations. This holiday will continue until 17th October.

The extremist Jewish groups worked to mobilise the largest number of settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque in the form of large groups, and the extremist Temple groups demanded that the storming crowds read the Torah loudly inside Al-Aqsa. Some texts were circulated to them.

On this holiday, extremist Temple groups try to bring plant offerings into the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the incursions, in addition to continuing to perform Talmudic prayers and rituals in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa.

All of this coincides with the escalation of confrontations and tension inside the occupied city of Jerusalem, due to the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian citizens. They have also closed some areas as they search for the person who carried out the Shuafat operation on Saturday evening, which led to the killing of a female soldier and the injury of two other soldiers, one of whom was seriously wounded.

READ: Jerusalem activists mobilise against settlers storming Al-Aqsa Mosque

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John Henry Kelley II: Everything you need to know about Michelle Pfeiffer’s son – Yen.com.gh

Posted: at 10:25 am

If you have watched Scarface or the original Batman Return, you might have come across actress Michelle Pfeiffer. She played Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983) and Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992). The actress was and still is a superstar for those that watched her in her prime. Michelle is currently in her sixties, but her fame hasn't dwindled. As a result, fans are interested in her personal life, with many inquiring about her children. How many kids does she have? And who is John Henry Kelley II to her?

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John Henry Kelley II is a celebrity child. But despite his celebrity status, John lives a private life, and little is known about him. As a result, much speculation has risen about him, with many inquiring about his whereabouts.

Who is John Henry Kelley II? He is the son of David E. Kelley, an American television writer, producer, and former attorney, and Michelle Marie Pfeiffer, an American actress. But, aside from his celebrity parents, what else do you know about him? Here are five interesting facts about him.

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How old is John Henry Kelley II? He is 28 years old in 2022, having been born on 5 August 1994 in the United States. John's zodiac sign is Leo. He is an American citizen and is of white ethnicity.

John Henry Kelley II has an older sister known as Claudia Rose Pfeiffer. She was born on 9 February 1993, making her 29 years old in 2022. Is Claudia Pfeiffer adopted? Yes, she is. Michelle Pfeiffer adopted Claudia back in 1993 before getting married to David Kelley.

What is Michelle Pfeiffer's daughter's ethnicity? According to People, Claudia Rose Pfeiffer is of mixed ethnicity.

John Henry Kelley II's parents are famous people in the Hollywood scene. His father, David Edward Kelley, is an American television writer, producer, and former attorney. David is one of the few screenwriters whose work has been broadcast on all four major commercial television networks in the United States.

John's mother, Michelle Marie Pfeiffer, is an American actress. She is regarded as one of the 1980s and 1990s most successful actresses. According to IMDb, Michelle has won a Golden Globe and a British Academy Film award and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy.

How did John Henry Kelley's parents meet? According to Pop Sugar, in January 1993, actress Michelle Pfeiffer met on a blind date with Kelley. The following week, Kelley took her to see Bram Stoker's Dracula at the movies, and they began dating officially, eventually marrying on 13 November 1993.

John Henry Kelley II was named after his famous grandfather, John Henry "Jack" Kelley. Jack Kelley was an ice hockey coach from the United States who was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993.

According to the Boston University Alumni Magazine, Kelley was the first general manager and head coach of the World Hockey Association's New England Whalers (WHA). In 1972-73, he won the Howard Baldwin Trophy as WHA coach of the year and led the Whalers to the Avco World Trophy.

John Henry Kelley II's parents are among the wealthiest in Hollywood. According to Celebrity Net Worth, John Henry's parents have a combined net worth of $250 million. Her mother's fortune results from a long and successful career in the acting industry.

David's fortune stems from his long and successful careers in film and law, according to The Richest. David is currently a script consultant on the Atlas Shrugged film adaptation.

On the other hand, John Henry Kelley's net worth is unknown. No one knows what he is into because he has kept almost everything about him under wraps.

John Henry Kelley II is the son of renowned American actress Michelle Marie Pfeiffer and former attorney David E. Kelley. He has an older sister, Claudia, who John's mother adopted before her marriage to David E. Kelley. Unfortunately, John leads a private life, and little is known about him.

Yen.com.gh shared an article about Robert Plant's daughter, Carmen Jane Planet. Unfortunately, Carmen did not follow in her father's footsteps, despite making early appearances in some Led Zeppelin feature songs and performances. Instead, she followed a different path. Carmen is a ballet dancer and dance instructor.

Carmen Jane Planet's most recent production, The Serpent Slayer, premiered at the Exeter Corn Exchange. Discover everything you need to know about Robert Plant's daughter.

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Exclusive: Scores of Google rivals want EU tech law used in antitrust case – Reuters

Posted: at 10:24 am

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - More than 40 European rivals to Google's shopping service urged EU antitrust regulators on Monday to use newly adopted tech rules to ensure the Alphabet unit complies with a 2017 EU order to allow more competition on its search page.

The European Commission fined Google 2.4 billion euros ($2.33 billion) five years ago and told the firm to stop favouring its shopping service.

The company subsequently said it would treat its own shopping service the same as competitors when they bid in an auction for adverts in the shopping box that appears at the top of a search page.

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But in a letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, the 43 companies - which include British firm Kelkoo, France's LeGuide Group, Sweden's PriceRunner and Germany's idealo - said the proposal was legally insufficient and had not led to them benefitting from the advert auctions.

"The Commission needs to re-open space on general search results pages for the most relevant providers, by removing Google's Shopping Units that allow no competition but lead to higher prices and less choice for consumers and an unfair transfer of profit margins from merchants and competing CSSs to Google," the companies said in the letter seen by Reuters.

CSSs refer to Comparison Shopping Services.

They said Google's mechanism breaches the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Vestager's new rules aimed at reining in the power of tech giants, which will apply in May next year.

"Google's prominent embedding of Shopping Units is a prima facie infringement of the DMA's ban on self-preferencing," they said.

"Considering the unambiguous new legal framework, it is now time to walk the talk. The most paramount case at the heart of the calls for the DMA needs to be brought to an effective end," the companies, from 20 European countries, said.

($1 = 1.0289 euros)

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Google is now distributing Truth Social, Trump’s Twitter alternative – NPR

Posted: at 10:24 am

Google announced late Wednesday that it would permit the Trump-backed social media site Truth Social to be downloaded through its app store, making the service available to millions of new users. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption

Google announced late Wednesday that it would permit the Trump-backed social media site Truth Social to be downloaded through its app store, making the service available to millions of new users.

Truth Social, the Twitter alternative backed by former President Donald Trump, is now available for download in the Google Play Store following months of being blocked over violent content.

Google's reversal indicates that it's now satisfied that Truth Social can follow its guidelines. In a statement, Google said Trump's app will remain accessible as long as it abides by rules "to effectively moderate user-generated content and remove objectionable posts such as those that incite violence."

On Truth Social, users compose "truths" much like tweets on Twitter. The platform is dominated by right-wing and conservative voices, with views that can quickly veer into conspiratorial territory.

For months, the app has been available to download on iPhones and other Apple devices, but its appearance on Androids is a significant victory. Google's operating system supports some 70% of smartphones worldwide. In the U.S., where iPhones dominate, about 44% of devices are Androids, according to market research firm StatCounter.

While there are some ways to circumvent app stores, Google and Apple hold gatekeeper power over what apps people can download onto their smartphones.

"With its inclusion in the Google Play Store, Truth Social can now be accessed across all devices in the United States," said Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, in statement. "Today marks a significant milestone in our mission to restore free speech online."

In August, Google said it would not distribute Truth Social on its app store until the platform took down posts that incite violence. The tech giant said the app lacked a system for policing the sort of content that violates Google's terms of service.

Google does not allow apps that contain posts that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals and groups, according to its content guidelines. In addition, Google bans apps that allow posts containing misleading health claims about things like vaccines and conversion therapy.

It is unclear what exactly has changed about Truth Social since August.

Trump and his allies have promoted Truth Social with mixed success since the former president was banned from major social media sites following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Upon its launch, Truth Social was one of the most downloaded free apps in Apple's App Store, but interest has since declined.

Meanwhile, a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a SPAC, called Digital World Acquisition Corp., that is attempting to merge with Trump's social media company continues to be plagued with investigations from regulators that may completely undo the deal.

The merger now faces a Dec. 8 deadline to complete its stock market listing. If it is not met, Digital World is set to liquidate.

The SPAC has been trying to gain the support of stockholders to extend the timeline to finalize the merger, but it so far has not done so.

While Digital World landed some $1 billion in commitments, some investors have in recent weeks been spooked by the company's misfortunes. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last month, the company said investors have pulled nearly $139 million out.

Trump, who is under increasing legal pressure by state and federal prosecutors and lawmakers in Washington, has publicly suggested that he might run for president again in 2024.

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MLB Announces Expanded Partnership With Google Cloud To Continue Improving MLB.TV – DodgerBlue.com

Posted: at 10:24 am

Major League Baseball and Google Cloud announced an expanded, multi-year, strategic partnership that will allow for the continued innovation of the sports media products and properties, such as MLB.TV and other media platforms.

Google Cloud has been an outstanding partner to baseball, helping us innovate platforms that provide our fans with exceptional real-time experiences, from Statcast to Film Room, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

With their leading expertise in everything from data analytics to machine learning, this partnership provides us with an unmatched extension of technological resources. Now we can continue collaborating with Google Cloud as a means of further delivering unparalleled digital experiences for our fans.

MLB will utilize a full suite of Google Cloud products including Anthos, BigQuery, Cloud Armor, Looker and Google Cloud Media APIs to produce live and on-demand video workflows.

MLB will also pilot Google Clouds Media CDN, a modern platform for delivering immersive experiences that leverages the same infrastructure as YouTube. This will help MLB.TV deliver live action, commentary and archival content with performance at the forefront.

The partnership between MLB and Google Cloud is expected to yield improvements in enhanced video experiences, media supply chain agility and personalized fan experiences.

Major League Baseball has been a clear leader in digital media for decades, bringing unforgettable moments to homes, offices and fans across the world for the last 20 years, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said in a statement.

We look forward to starting the next chapter of our partnership with the league to further advance its media offerings for years to come by using our data-driven capabilities, AI and ML, and secure global infrastructure.

MLB and Google Cloud first collaborated in 2020, which enabled the league to upgrade its business processes and support next-level fan experiences with Google Clouds extensive data and analytics solutions.

Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? Its the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!

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Santander partners with Google Cloud to help companies simplify their transition from legacy tech to the cloud – rea corporativa Banco Santander

Posted: at 10:24 am

Google Cloud today launched Dual Run, a new product built on top of unique technology developed by Banco Santander.

Madrid, 11 October 2022.Banco Santander is working with Google Cloud to help other companies across multiple industries simplify their transition from legacy mainframe systems to the cloud. Google Cloud today launched Dual Run, a first-of-its-kind mainframe migration service built on top of unique technology developed by Banco Santander.

The Dual Run technology, which will be made available to customers exclusively by Google Cloud, has proven application in the highly-regulated financial services industry, and Santander has begun utilizing Dual Run to bring data and workloads onto Google Cloud's trusted infrastructure. Santander will also take advantage of Googles deep knowledge and tech abilities in the use of cloud and software to accelerate its digital transformation.

In the next few months, Google Cloud will host a series of customer events to showcase their Dual Run service with the help of software developers and engineers from Santander who have been involved in the banks unique technology.

Dirk Marzluf, group chief operating and technology officer at Banco Santander, said: Migrating from legacy infrastructure to modern technology is a key challenge for banks and many other industries. Dual Run for Google Cloud, which leverages the innovation weve developed in-house at Santander, will be critical for the digital transformation of many companies and is a testament to the outstanding technology built by our teams.

Sachin Gupta, vice president and general manager of Infrastructure at Google Cloud, said: Modernizing legacy IT infrastructure represents a significant stepping stone into the cloud era for many enterprises. Migrating mainframe systems to the cloud provides organizations with opportunities to better utilize their data, implement stronger cybersecurity protections, and build a foundation for their transformation. Santanders innovation has helped us quickly respond to the needs of customers running legacy systems so they can begin their cloud journey with confidence and ease.

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