Daily Archives: May 20, 2023

Bleach is a fantasy shonen anime that focuses on spirits and the afterlife, and the very image of a black-robed Soul Reaper with a sword is what inspired author Tite Kubo to write the entire series. These Soul Reapers are supernatural beings who are far beyond human comprehension, but they can make themselves more presentable to mortals with specialized technology.

For all their historical Japanese trappings, the Soul Reapers have some remarkably advanced technology, usually to make their jobs easier, such as communicating with soul pagers. Meanwhile, gigai technology is what allows Soul Reapers to speak to humans as equals, and gigai technology made Bleach's narrative far more streamlined and enjoyable, especially in the reverse-isekai sequences.

RELATED: Bleach: Why Aren't Ichigo's Sisters as Strong as He Is?

Bleach's extensive lore does not describe who exactly invented the first gigai or when, but fans do know the basics: that gigai bodies are physical humanoid shells that allow Soul Reapers to present themselves to humans. Soul Reapers may be solid, but ordinary humans can't see or hear them, so if a Soul Reaper wants to speak with humans, they need to put themselves into a gigai body first. On typical missions to hunt dangerous Hollows and escort Pluses to the Soul Society, Soul Reapers don't need human aid, but for convenience's sake, gigai technology is always on hand. If a spiritually gifted human is found, for example, a Soul Reaper can meet them in a gigai body and get directions to find a rampaging Hollow.

Most often, Soul Reapers will visit the world of the living already inside a gigai body, as it's a hassle to drag around a dummy body all day long, as shown in the first sequence of the "Arrancar" arc. When Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya and his allies arrived in Karakura Town, they were already in their gigai bodies, dressed as high school students. While Kisuke Urahara the scientist invented a portable gigai that can be blown up like a balloon, Soul Reapers usually use gikongan -- soul candy to keep their gigai bodies mobile if they must fight an enemy.

If a fight starts, a Soul Reaper cannot use their zanpakuto or kido spells in their gigai body, but they also don't want that gigai to get caught in the crossfire. A Soul Reaper will thus consume a gikongan pill, or "soul candy," to force their spirit out of the gigai in an instant. The gikongan animates the body and has a mind of its own but usually follows the Soul Reaper's orders. In a typical scenario, the Soul Reaper will tell the gikongan to run away and keep the gigai body safe, though some gikongan may be uncooperative and expose the gigai body to danger.

RELATED: Bleach: Was the Final Getsuga Tensho a Quincy Technique?

Bleach's overall lore suggests that Soul Reapers rarely need gigai bodies for their duties, but Bleach's main story involves Soul Reapers and mortal humans working together as friends, so gigai bodies are used often. For the narrative's sake, several Soul Reapers are seen using gigai bodies, as it would be tricky to portray characters whom most people cannot see or hear. Rukia Kuchiki, for example, is a major reverse-isekai character in two of Bleach's arcs, and the narrative would feel warped if Rukia was a spirit no one could interact with. Rukia would only be Ichigo's friend since he can see spirits, so that would feel rather limiting.

Instead, Rukia spent the first major arc stuck in her gigai body, allowing for some charming slice-of-life antics. She also made some important friends in this gigai body, including Ichigo's pal Chad, the Quincy archer Uryu Ishida and Ichigo's good friend Orihime Inoue. Eventually, most of those characters could see spirits anyway, but that gigai body still made things more convenient in Bleach's first arc. Later, Toshiro's team did the same thing, amusing Bleach fans with their reverse-isekai hijinks until it was time to fight, when they used soul candy to make their gigai bodies flee the battlefield.

All this helps prove that even if Soul Reapers normally have no business with mortal humans and rarely need gigai bodies, Bleach's story is a heartwarming shonen tale about very different people coming together to understand one another and fight together, which definitely calls for a few artificial bodies along the way.

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Bleach: The Soul Reapers' Gigai Technology, Explained - CBR - Comic Book Resources

In today's age, data is synonymous with potential. It is a critical factor for technological innovation across industries, including healthcare, especially with the increasing implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). The demand for high-quality, accurately annotated data is surging.Cogito Tech, a global leader in data annotation services, has positioned itself as a critical player in this transformation, bolstering the AI-powered evolution of global healthcare solutions. Headquartered in the US, Cogito has exceptional data annotation experience across different domains. In addition, Cogito houses state-of-the-art center of excellence for AI in Noida, India, staffed by a workforce that is qualified, experienced and extremely well-trained.

Data Annotation: The Pillar of AI and ML DevelopmentData annotation is a complex and meticulous process involving the labelling or tagging of data. It is the fundamental prerequisite for building robust AI and ML models. However, the role of data annotation extends beyond mere labelling; it involves transforming raw data into meaningful and actionable insights for AI systems.Cogito Tech's experienced annotators ensure the highest level of precision in their work, offering a comprehensive array of data annotation services across multiple formats. This includes image, text, video, and sensor data, providing a diverse and high-quality dataset for training sophisticated AI models.

Leveraging Cogito Tech's Data Annotation for Enhanced Patient OutcomesIn healthcare, accurately annotated data is crucial in driving positive patient outcomes. Cogito Tech's annotation services enable healthcare professionals to leverage AI tools effectively. These tools, trained on accurately annotated data, can predict patient outcomes, suggest personalized treatment plans, and facilitate the early detection of diseases.

Generative AI within Medical ScienceGenerative AI has emerged as a transformative tool in medical science, with applications spanning from drug discovery to the creation of synthetic biomedical data. However, these models, capable of learning patterns in data and generating new data with similar designs, require high-quality annotated data for training.Cogito Tech's data annotation services play an indispensable role in this context. By providing the necessary training data for these generative models, Cogito Tech enables the development of advanced AI applications to generate novel insights and solutions in medical science.

Fueling the Medical Engine Behind AIHigh-quality annotated data forms the "medical engine" behind AI. In this engine, data annotation is the fuel that powers AI applications' efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare.Cogito Tech's annotation services contribute significantly to these engines. They enable healthcare institutions to develop robust AI tools that improve patient care, streamline healthcare processes, and significantly reduce operational costs.

The Global Impact of Cogito Tech's Data Annotation Services: A Closer LookData annotation can revolutionize healthcare technology, with Cogito Tech leading the charge.

Precision Medicine: Precision Medicine is the future of healthcare. Cogito Tech's accurately annotated data fuels the development of AI models that enable this personalized approach. These models trained on diverse and comprehensive datasets improve treatment efficacy and minimize side effects, revolutionizing patient care.AI in Radiology: In Radiology, precision is crucial, and the margin for error is negligible. Cogito Tech's image annotation services are instrumental in training AI models to detect and diagnose diseases accurately. The result is enhanced precision, reduced human error, and faster diagnoses.Enhanced Patient Care: Cogito Tech helps develop advanced AI models that can predict patient outcomes, suggest personalized treatment plans, and facilitate the early detection of diseases. This ultimately leads to improved patient care and health outcomes.Improved Efficiency: Annotated data can streamline various healthcare processes, such as medical imaging analysis, EHR management, and patient triage. By automating these tasks, healthcare professionals can focus more on patient care, enhancing efficiency and productivity.Cost Reduction: By automating routine tasks and improving patient outcome prediction, data annotation can help healthcare institutions significantly reduce operational costs.Telehealth: With the rise of telehealth, Cogito Tech's services are instrumental in developing AI-powered tools that enhance virtual patient care. These tools, trained on annotated data, can predict patient needs, offer personalized care suggestions, and monitor patient health remotely.

Cogito's enviable client list includes Companies in the Fortune 100 index and 35 % of the leading 100 IT and Healthcare companies globally. Cogito has worked extensively for these companies and provides them with a robust backbone to form their AI solutions.Cogito Tech is a strategic partner for global healthcare technology companies aiming to lead in the era of AI-driven healthcare. By offering precise, scalable, and diverse data annotation services, Cogito Tech is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare technology, demonstrating how data, when used intelligently, can transform lives.

AUTHOR: Ratan Mani Lal is a veteran journalist, having led many media houses in an editorial role. He has been keenly monitoring the growth of AI and its potential as an all-pervasive technology.

First Published: May 20 2023 | 11:57 AM IST

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Cogito Tech - Catalyzing Transformation in Global Healthcare ... - Business Standard

ElizabethHolt,MD, FACE: Dr Miller, how important is technology to your patients who use blood glucose monitoring? What are some barriers to the use of technology, and how do you and your patients overcome them?

Eden Miller, DO: Thank you, Dr. Holt, for having me and discussing whats so imperative when we talk about some of the opportunities for increased advancement in the field of diabetes. One thing technology does is level the playing field in terms of acquiring the data, analysis, and distribution. When we look at the barriers of technology, theyre vast but overcomable. A lot of it is just getting familiar. On the patient side, the first barrier is actual awareness. The awareness that theres an integrated app with a glucose monitor. Were already having patients monitor blood glucose. Were already having them obtain those data. But its what they do with the data that helps empower them and equip health care prescribers to make changes with that data.

We always have a different level of understanding regarding technology. How do you download it? Where do you go? Do you know how to get into your app area? Do you know how to utilize the app? There are also some barriers or lack of knowledge on the prescriber side. I work with the American Diabetes Association [ADA] on overcoming therapeutic inertia. Im on its committee. Ive done a lot of these presentations on how to create a workflow in your clinic. How do you utilize technology so its a benefit, not a burden. You want something to be easier. You want something to empower the patient. Thats where our greatest advancements in diabetes are going to beacquisition, distribution, and making meaning of the data of glucose levels.

ElizabethHolt,MD, FACE: In your experience, has the use of blood glucose monitoring and digital systems led to improvements in your patients readings and range?

Eden Miller, DO: Absolutely. Its more than just improvements. I had a patient say to me, You cant manage what you dont monitor. He said that was his foundational piece in engineering. I said, Youre right. Not having that data makes it very hard. At the same time, you and I remember from clinical practice when patients would bring in their glucose logbook. It was on a napkin, it had blood on it, or it was on receipts. We saw all sorts of variations. This consolidates the data and allows its transport to be done. The patient is already testing their glucose. When I get these data, it allows them to have that ownership.

I orient the patient to their data and equip them to engage with it. Make a note. Are there any things you did with your lifestyle? Were you taking your medication? Were you forgetting it? As a prescriber, you also have to prepare those patients. Theres improvement in knowing your data, but imagine the possibilities once you take it to the next level. Beyond glucose control, what about diabetes burden or distress? If we look at all the things were supposed to docheck your feet, drink your water, check your blood sugar, exerciseit takes hours. Anything that can lessen the burden of the things that are necessary to improve control, it is also a win for both the patient and the health care provider.

ElizabethHolt,MD, FACE: Whats the importance of personalized guidance and support for patients with diabetes?

Eden Miller, DO: One thing thats foundational when we work with the ADA to overcome inertia is understanding that as clinicians, we have our own inertia and need to be aware of it. But even more specific is knowing what those individual barriers are. One of the fatal flaws is that we assume we know what the troubles are for the patient. You have this assumption. Were trying to create this plan thats based on our opinion, not their opinion. One of the things that I do when a patient comes into the officeevery time, even if Ive known them for 20 yearsI say, Tell me one of the greatest challenges youre facing regarding your diabetes. How can I help you overcome that or address it? Its 1 way we start personalization.

The other thing is that blood glucose monitoring is a personal journey. I often say its your little road map of all the places you visited: where youre going, what happened, and the story surrounding it. I equip the patient to tell me that story. Im learning their journey. Then I take those data, which are very individualized, and I make that intervention. Its hard to make generalizations about diabetes control. We know the targets. We know those things. But its really that individual and all their different features: lifestyle, engagement, food choices. All those things are affected. By personalizing it, we get much better control because were dealing with the individual in front of us. We can bring in things that we know to be true of the disease as a whole. When you personalize it, the patient feels attended to, and their values, beliefs, and needs are addressed. Thats where we need to head so we can help equip them. Remember, this is a lifetime disease. Its not a moment. Its a marathon, not a sprint. Anytime we can customize it for them, theyre going to be able to go on the journey a lot easier.

ElizabethHolt,MD, FACE: Thats a great point. Of course, the digital tools can also be personalized because theyre taking the patients data and presenting their own data to them. The tools can even digest the data and give them in summary so they can better understand whats been going on.

Transcript edited for clarity

Original post:

Barriers to Use of Technology in Diabetes Management - Patient Care Online

Wed, 05/17/2023 - 01:32pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie

The Gulf Blue Navigator program supports later-stage companies innovating in uncrewed systems, smart ports and shipping, ocean-friendly plastics, marine aquaculture, sea and space systems, and coastal ocean data and analytics.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), the USM Research Foundation and SeaAhead sponsored the inaugural Demo Day of the Gulf Blue Navigator program on Wednesday, May 3rd. Demo Day included presentations by the six participating blue technology start-up companies. This event celebrated the success of the pilot program and first-ever blue technology accelerator program focused on the Gulf of Mexico.

This program provides startups with workshops, mentoring, site visits, and testing in South Mississippi and coastal waters to develop scaleup strategies and learn about the market potential of the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Blue Navigator is an example of Mississippis growing knowledge-based economy and efforts to increase high paying jobs on the MS Gulf Coast.

Cohort 1 participants

The Gulf Blue Navigator program brings SeaAheads domain expertise, network, and company-building skillset to the Gulf Coast, mixing with the University of Southern Mississippis core facilities, faculty and staff expertise, and ecosystem of local partners. The Gulf Coast is the next blue tech economic cluster in the US. Through the Gulf Blue Navigator program, we are supporting entrepreneurs as they take their innovations out-to-sea' and enable them to leverage the regions unique infrastructure and ocean-related stakeholders. The program is the embodiment of a new narrative for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the growth of the coastal New Economy, said Mark Huang, Managing Director of SeaAhead.

We have enjoyed our longstanding partnership with SeaAhead Inc. on promoting the blue economy and showcasing why Mississippi is the Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. With the financial support from the Builders Initiative Foundation, we were excited to provide this opportunity for the inaugural cohort of the Navigator program to demonstrate and promote their companies, Kelly Lucas VP of Research, USM.

We are so happy to be able to support the Gulf Blue Navigator Program at the University of Southern Mississippi, said Peter Bryant, Program Director for Builders Initiative. The combination of strong business development assistance with on-the-water testing makes it a unique platform for companies looking to further develop their blue economy businesses.

Dennis Yancey, CEO of Marauder Robotics based in Atlanta, when asked about the value the program brings to his growth: Gulfport makes a lot of sense: its right on the water so you have access and there's a streamlined permitting process to get in the water to test functionality. Then you have talent from the shipyards, the Navy, and Universities along the coast. It just makes sense to have a presence in Gulfport and along the Gulf Coast to augment what we do on the West Coast as well as in Atlanta.

Dr. Jason McKenna, Director of RDT&E and Training commented, The Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise has had the privilege to work with these 6 blue tech startups for the past 6 months. Its been a fantastic opportunity to showcase how our engineers and scientists can support their on-water testing and provide data-driven insights to help make their technology better under extremely compressed timelines. We look forward to many more years of supporting these innovators, learning from them, and helping bring high-paying jobs to Mississippi.

The Gulf Blue Navigator program kicked off in November of 2022 where their innovations focus on ocean monitoring and economic sustainability, with solutions that support working waterfront communities in the face of a changing economy and global competition.

About the Partners

USMRF

The USM Research Foundation is a Mississippi non-profit corporation formed in 1998 and is administered and operated exclusively for the benefit of The University of Southern Mississippi. The foundation supports and enhances the research mission of the University by promoting the increase of useful knowledge and encourages the development of intellectual property owned by the University. The foundation also provides support to the University by managing research contracts, coworking space and entrepreneurial programs.

The University of Southern Mississippis support for the Gulf Blue Navigator program is anchored by the Marine Research Center with its ability to support autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) development ranging from prototyping to over the horizon at sea testing, the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center which conducts research in algae, fin and shell-based aquaculture as well as RAS based regenerative farming and the Mississippi Polymer Institute.

SeaAhead

Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, SeaAhead Inc. specializes in high potential ocean-focused technology startups, building global networks, and venture financing. Now also co-located in the Gulf & Ship Island building in Gulfport, SeaAheads platform, in tandem with USMs infrastructure and mission of fostering a culture of innovation, will connect promising global blue technology startups to the Mississippi Gulf Coast blue economy.

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Blue technology startups presented at the inaugural Gulf Blue ... - The University of Southern Mississippi

[1/3] A vial labelled "CureVac COVID-19 Vaccine" is seen in this illustration taken January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

May 19 (Reuters) - CureVac NV said on Friday it had filed an expanded patent infringement claim against Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech over the use of mRNA technology and that a U.S. court had granted its request to transfer the trial.

The company said it filed a counterclaim alleging that Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech infringed on nine of its patents, broader than its original claim of three patents.

In July 2022, CureVac had filed a patent lawsuit against BioNTech over the use of mRNA technology in the companies' COVID-19 vaccine.

The transfer of the trial to the Eastern District of Virginia from the Federal District Court of Massachusetts is expected to accelerate progress of the case and allow for a likely 2024 trial date, CureVac said on Friday.

Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pfizer and BioNTech in response had filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, seeking a judgment that they did not infringe U.S. patents held by CureVac.

The companies have previously told the court that their COVID vaccine Comirnaty does not work in the same way as CureVac's patented technology.

Pfizer and BioNTech are also facing patent infringement lawsuits from other companies.

Reporting by Raghav Mahobe in Bengaluru

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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CureVac files expanded patent lawsuit against Pfizer/BioNTech over ... - Reuters

Harrison Ford has defended the use of de-ageing technology in the latest Indiana Jones film.

The actor, 80, has returned for his final outing as the adventurous archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

While the film predominantly shows Indiana at the same age as Ford, the film opens with a 25-minute flashback sequence featuring a younger Indy, played by Ford, with the help of digital de-ageing technology.

The practice attracted criticism from a number of reviewers, who questioned the believability of the technology and why a younger actor couldnt be used in Fords place. You can read The Independents review of Dial of Destiny here.

However, speaking at a press conference on Friday (19 May), Ford defended the decision.

I know that that is my face, he said, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. Its not a kind of Photoshop magic thats what I looked like 35 years ago. Because Lucasfilm has every frame of film that weve made together over all of these years.

This process, this scientific mining of this library, this was put to good [use]... Its just a trick unless its supported by a story, and it sticks out like a sore thumb if its not honest, its not real... I mean, emotionally real. And so I think it was used very skillfully.

Ford attended the Cannes Film Festival this week (AP)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was well received at Cannes, with Ford growing visibly emotional at the premiere.

Tearing up as he was shown a highlights reel from his career, the Star Wars actor said: They say when youre about to die, you see your life flash before your eyes. I just saw my life before my eyes.

Im very moved by this But I got a movie you ought to see. Its right behind me. So let me get out of the way and thank you again for this.

Elsewhere, Ford had a predictably deadpan response after being told by a reporter that he was still very hot.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be released in UK cinemas on 28 June.

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Harrison Ford defends use of de-ageing technology in new Indiana Jones film: I know that that is my face - Yahoo News

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that Nigeria needs technology to be able to compete with the likes of China.

Sanwo-Olu said this during the commissioning of the Senator Abiru Innovation Hub, SAIL, in Ikorodu, Lagos yesterday.

The hub meant to train young people in latest technological innovations, is the brainchild of Senator Tokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, in partnership with Co-Creation Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu said technology was what would give the nation the advancement and opportunity to create solutions, not only here in the country but also globally.

We are proud that what we cannot do, those coming behind us will do. Im glad that Microsoft wants to make Nigeria its African hub. As a governor, we will continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Eighty per cent of new investments came to Lagos last year, he said.

According to him, Lagos would remain home to major international players, saying that the innovation hub would give hope and future to the students of innovation hub to express themselves and opportunity to ensure their own future.

Once you finish your training here,we hand you over to Microsoft and Meta, he added.

Speaking on what gave birth to the idea of the innovation laboratory, Senator Abiru went down memory lane to when he was in the banking sector, where he rose to become the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank.

He said when he started his career in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB); the bank started the idea of real-time online banking.

However, he later discovered that when they did technological upgrade as managing director of Skye Bank, most of their staff members could not cope with the new technology.

He added that while people might have certificate, skill is very important.

He continued: We have global economic meltdown but there are jobs out there only that many do not have the skills to do these jobs. That is where Sail Innovation Laboratory comes in.

And I can tell you that those that would pass through this hub and are passing through it, it would be free. That is our own contribution to the society and they will be here for six months.

The new language of the world is tech. All around us, we see how tech is shaping social interactions, disrupting how we live, work and interact with others. Quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet Of Things (IOTs) are now the buzzwords in a world that is changing faster than we can adapt to it.

Since inception, the innovation lab has recorded some significant milestones. Till date, over 490 participants have benefitted from the several programmes, in-person, while over 2,000 have participated in the online programmes.

In this age where digital skills are high in demand, the lab would help to bridge the resource gap. In the coming months and years, we will be offering a range of training programmes in areas such as digital product design, data science, metaverse and the like.

In his own remarks, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Co-Creation Nigeria, said, It is our young people that drive innovation and growth.We have to engage and empower them to be able to do this driving. There are numerous people doing amazing things.

It is what these people are doing that will drive innovation in our community. That is why Sail Innovation Laboratory is special. Young people on Ikorodu will start to build solutions on Ikorodu.

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Sanwo-Olu: Nigeria needs technology to compete with likes of China - Guardian Nigeria

At least 2 billion people worldwide routinely drink water contaminated with disease-causing microbes.

Disinfectant powder is stirred in bacteria-contaminated water (upper left). The mixture is exposed to sunlight, which rapidly kills all the bacteria (upper right). A magnet collects the metallic powder after disinfection (lower right). The powder is then reloaded into another beaker of contaminated water, and the disinfection process is repeated (lower left). (Image credit: Tong Wu/Stanford University)

Now, scientists at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have invented a low-cost, recyclable powder that kills thousands of waterborne bacteria per second when exposed to ordinary sunlight. The discovery of this ultrafast disinfectant could be a significant advance for nearly 30 percent of the worlds population with no access to safe drinking water, according to the Stanford and SLAC team. Their results are published in a May 18 study in Nature Water.

Waterborne diseases are responsible for 2 million deaths annually, the majority in children under the age of 5, said study co-lead author Tong Wu, a former postdoctoral scholar of materials science and engineering (MSE) in the Stanford School of Engineering. We believe that our novel technology will facilitate revolutionary changes in water disinfection and inspire more innovations in this exciting interdisciplinary field.

Conventional water-treatment technologies include chemicals, which can produce toxic byproducts, and ultraviolet light, which takes a relatively long time to disinfect and requires a source of electricity.

The new disinfectant developed at Stanford is a harmless metallic powder that works by absorbing both UV and high-energy visible light from the sun. The powder consists of nano-size flakes of aluminum oxide, molybdenum sulfide, copper, and iron oxide.

We only used a tiny amount of these materials, said senior author Yi Cui, the Fortinet Founders Professor of MSE and of Energy Science & Engineering in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. The materials are low cost and fairly abundant. The key innovation is that, when immersed in water, they all function together.

After absorbing photons from the sun, the molybdenum sulfide/copper catalyst performs like a semiconductor/metal junction, enabling the photons to dislodge electrons. The freed electrons then react with the surrounding water, generating hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals one of the most biologically destructive forms of oxygen. The newly formed chemicals quickly kill the bacteria by seriously damaging their cell membranes.

Microscopic images of E. coli before (left) and after disinfection. The bacteria died quickly after sunlight produced chemicals that caused serious damage to the bacterial cell membranes, as shown in the red circles. (Image credit: Tong Wu/Stanford University)

For the study, the Stanford and SLAC team used a 200 milliliter [6.8 ounce] beaker of room-temperature water contaminated with about 1 million E. coli bacteria per mL [.03 oz.].

We stirred the powder into the contaminated water, said co-lead author Bofei Liu, a former MSE postdoc. Then we carried out the disinfection test on the Stanford campus in real sunlight, and within 60 seconds no live bacteria were detected.

The powdery nanoflakes can move around quickly, make physical contact with a lot of bacteria and kill them fast, he added.

The chemical byproducts generated by sunlight also dissipate quickly.

The lifetime of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxy radicals is very short, Cui said. If they dont immediately find bacteria to oxidize, the chemicals break down into water and oxygen and are discarded within seconds. So you can drink the water right away.

The nontoxic powder is also recyclable. Iron oxide enables the nanoflakes to be removed from water with an ordinary magnet. In the study, the researchers used magnetism to collect the same powder 30 times to treat 30 different samples of contaminated water.

For hikers and backpackers, I could envision carrying a tiny amount of powder and a small magnet, Cui said. During the day you put the powder in water, shake it up a little bit under sunlight and within a minute you have drinkable water. You use the magnet to take out the particles for later use.

The powder might also be useful in wastewater treatment plants that currently use UV lamps to disinfect treated water, he added.

During the day the plant can use visible sunlight, which would work much faster than UV and would probably save energy, Cui said. The nanoflakes are fairly easy to make and can be rapidly scaled up by the ton.

The study focused on E. coli, which can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and can even be life-threatening. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum contaminant-level goal for E. coli in drinking water at zero. The Stanford and SLAC team plans to test the new powder on other waterborne pathogens, including viruses, protozoa and parasites that also cause serious diseases and death.

Yi Cui is director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and the Sustainability Accelerator in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He is also a professor of photon science at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Bofei Liu is now a research scientist at EEnotech Inc., a water purification spinoff co-founded by Cui. Tong Wu is on the faculty of Tonji University in Shanghai.

Other Stanford co-authors are Harold Y. Hwang, professor of applied physics in the School of Humanities and Sciences and professor of photon science at SLAC, and director of the Stanford Institute for Materials & Energy Sciences; former engineering postdocs Chong Liu, Jiayu Wan, Feifei Shi, Ankun Yang, Kai Liu and Zhiyi Lu; and former engineering PhD students Jie Zhao and Allen Pei.

Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.

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New technology uses ordinary sunlight to disinfect drinking water ... - Stanford University News

More Than a Glitch

Meredith Broussard MIT Press (2023)

An artificial-intelligence (AI) glitch is a problem neither expected nor consequential. Bias, by contrast, is baked in and disastrous, argues data scientist Meredith Broussard, one of very few Black women in this field, who focuses on AI and journalism. Tech is racist and sexist and ableist because the world is so, she says. Vivid examples in her disturbing book include that of a man arrested by US police using facial-recognition technology purely because both he and the suspect in a blurry surveillance photo were Black.

Assyria

Eckart Frahm Basic (2023)

The worlds first empire flourished in Assyria in the eighth and seventh centuries bc, and has long been seen as the epitome of barbarism. But, as Assyriologist Eckart Frahm reveals in his deeply informed, challenging history, Assyria produced many features of the modern world. Its innovations included long-distance trade, sophisticated communications networks, mass deportations and widespread political surveillance. Unlike most later empires, he writes, it was at least honest in its open celebration of plunder, torture, and murder.

Hands of Time

Rebecca Struthers Hodder & Stoughton (2023)

Time is the most commonly used noun in English, according to Rebecca Struthers, the first professional watchmaker in the United Kingdom to earn a PhD in horology. Each chapter of her exquisitely crafted history explores a pivotal moment in watchmaking from the past 500 years. Mechanical timekeepers, she argues, have influenced human culture as much as the printing press. Imagine trying to catch a train by depending on the Suns position, or to perform an organ transplant without measuring the patients heart rate precisely.

The Deep Ocean

Michael Vecchione et al. Princeton Univ. Press (2023)

For most people, the deep ocean is out of sight and out of mind, write three zoologists and an oceanographer. The zone starts where penetration of sunlight can no longer support photosynthesis, about 200 metres down. This guidebook dissipates ignorance with superb colour photographs of astonishing organisms, accompanied by detailed captions and brief essays. For example, the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) is neither vampire nor squid, but was so named because its black cloak reminded scientists of Dracula.

Tenacious Beasts

Christopher J. Preston MIT Press (2023)

Humans and domestic animals make up 96% of the mass of the worlds mammals. The outlook for wildlife remains dire, writes philosopher Christopher Preston. But he describes signs of hope in his well-travelled, thoughtful study of recoveries. Populations of humpback whales in the western Indian Ocean have surged since the mid-twentieth century; those of Californian black bears have quadrupled in a few decades. He visits farmland, prairie, river, forest and ocean, exploring why only certain species are recovering.

The author declares no competing interests.

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Prejudice in technology, and the necessity of time: Books in brief - Nature.com

Each week we're learning more and more of the scary capability of artificial intelligence (AI).

From writing academic essays and making investments to deep faking celebs in puffer coats to musicians singing songs in different languages - there isn't a lot AI can't do.

And now, thanks to cutting edge generative AI Midjourney, we have been previewed to what UK cities might look like in the future.

Midjourney has used AI to predict what the UK is going to look like in 2050 and the results are a little bit mind-blowing.

AI predicts that there will be a stunning 'walking only' bridge, which will be added to London in 27 years time.

The bridge will probably make it easier for commuters making their way through the hectic city.

Landmarks such as the Shard and Tower bridge look to be untouched, which is always a positive.

Next up is a photo of an updated Cardiff Bay, which AI thinks will be transformed into a high-end marina for yachts.

This could attract more tourists to the area.

Midjourney has also shared an AI image of the Glasgow Cathedral, which has controversially been given an updated look.

The roof of the famous building has been massively changed, with the addition of a huge dome being added to a majority of the roof.

We'll have to wait and see what Scots think of that one.

Well, amid the never-ending capabilities of AI, it seems that the biggest tech chiefs in the game want to pause its development before it 'gets out of hand'.

Billionaire, Elon Musk, has joined the likes of Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak and Skype co-founder, Jaan Tallinn, who have all signed an open letter demanding that all labs training AI systems stop for at least six months.

"Recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no-one not even their creators can understand, predict or reliably control," the letter reads.

"Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable."

They have called for researchers to focus on making sure the technology is accurate, safe and transparent.

The letter added: Humanity can enjoy a flourishing future with AI. Having succeeded in creating powerful AI systems, we can now enjoy an AI summer in which we reap the rewards, engineer these systems for the clear benefit of all and give society a chance to adapt.

Society has hit pause on other technologies with potentially catastrophic effects on society.

We can do so here. Lets enjoy a long AI summer, not rush unprepared into a fall.

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Incredible AI technology shows what UK cities will look like in 2050 - LADbible