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Category Archives: Transhuman News

A University of Waterloo team is working to develop futuristic levitating pods that can move people or cargo at breathtaking speeds – Waterloo Region…

Posted: March 18, 2022 at 8:32 pm

WATERLOO Its a concept seemingly ripped from a science-fiction script levitating pods that could transport cargo or people at breathtaking speeds topping 1,000 km/h through near-vacuum tubes.

The hyperloop concept, popularized by Tesla and SpaceXs Elon Musk, builds on ideas first conceived around compressed air and propulsion more than 200 years ago.

Today, there are several companies around the world working on ever-changing hyperloop technology, while students at post-secondary institutions, including the University of Waterloo, are developing prototypes to prove its feasibility.

I do think its quite likely, said Krista Porter, business lead for UWs 124-member hyperloop design team, Waterloop. As a human population all over the world, people are continuously striving to evolve I think its due time that something new comes up.

Founded in 2015, Waterloop is currently working on its fifth pod prototype, called Goose V, as team members get ready for a return to competition this year after being sidelined by the pandemic.

Propelled and levitated using a linear induction motor, the technology would see the pod reach high speeds through a near-vacuum tube thanks to greatly-reduced friction and air resistance.

Its basically a train, but youre removing all the inefficiencies, said team member Emrys Halbertsma.

At about 1.8 metres (six feet) long, Goose V carries a motor and battery pack, a motor controller, and guidance and braking systems; the hyperloop concept envisions full-size cargo or passenger pods, carrying up to 28 people each, and Waterloop hopes to design and build a working full-size pod in the coming years.

The team is also building its first test track at the Region of Waterloo International Airport; made of I-beams and about 100 metres long, the track is expected to be in use when UW hosts the Canadian Hyperloop Conference at the end of May.

This is just the first iteration of our test track, Porter said. We recently drafted up plans for a vacuum tube track, but we are still very much in the research phase of that, and also, were going to have to work hard to find funding to build that.

Porter said 10 teams from India, the United States and Canada have signed up so far for the upcoming conference. Waterloop will also be taking part in a competition as part of European Hyperloop Week in the Netherlands in July, and theyre hosting a green tech webinar on March 25 showcasing groups and teams at UW with a focus on sustainability.

Much of the teams progress is made possible through the generosity of sponsors that have provided everything from welding services to software and tools.

This is technology that requires money to make, and we are just a student team that does not generate any money ourselves, Porter said. If we didnt have sponsors, our team would not be where it is today.

Hyperloop technology can seem far-fetched and faces considerable challenges, cost and safety among them. Virgin Hyperloop, one of the key corporate players, announced last month that its going to focus on cargo rather than passengers.

Id say cargo is very feasible, said Halbertsma, adding theres clearly demand for the ability to move freight very quickly.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but its definitely technology thats worth exploring.

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A University of Waterloo team is working to develop futuristic levitating pods that can move people or cargo at breathtaking speeds - Waterloo Region...

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Circulating tumour DNA monitoring and early treatment for relapse: views from patients with early-stage melanoma | British Journal of Cancer -…

Posted: at 8:26 pm

Sample demographics

Twenty-five participants from across the UK were interviewed who were diagnosed with early-stage melanoma (Stages IAIIC) between 2011 and 2021 (see Table1 for a description of the cohort).

Views from participants regarding ctDNA monitoring for signs of early relapse and early treatment were grouped into two themes: (1) ctDNA monitoring would add service value and (2) test results provide opportunity and knowledge, with each theme including subthemes. All participant names have been replaced with pseudonyms.

The majority of participants did not know what ctDNA monitoring was or were unable to provide a definition. Upon providing participants with a simple definition of the new technology and blood test procedure, all of the participants described regular ctDNA monitoring as a good idea, as the new technology would be more scientific, would reduce the fear of the unknown and identify relapse early.

The majority of participants described skin check procedures as inconsistent in quality. They explained that at each appointment checks would be performed by a different healthcare professional, with some more thorough than others. They felt that skin checks are subject to human error and feared that changes could be missed. Consequently, participants believed that more could be done to provide them with a consistent marker of relapse:

Ive gone from having really detailed full body checks, lymph node checks, et cetera, every single one of the moles and I have a lot of them on my body being checked, to, okay, well check your lymph nodes, well look at the original site, are there any that youre worried about, type thing? (Fiona, 42, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2015)

When presented with the idea of a blood test to detect for early signs of relapse, all participants reacted positively, identifying ctDNA monitoring as the next step in melanoma care:

I think the treatment, as they stand at the moment, is all pretty visual. You know, on the whole, especially for stage 1 and 2, I think its virtually all visual, and things can get missed. Whereas, if youve got definite results, or likely results, from something like a blood test, I believe that to be more the way forward. (Harry, 49, stage 2b, diagnosed in 2017).

Compared to skin checks, they described a blood test as a more scientific measure, providing conclusive evidence of cancer recurrence. They explained that if ctDNA monitoring had been offered as part of their follow-up care, they would have been more reassured, describing the test as an extra safety measure or as one participant described another line of defence (Graeme, 34, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2021):

Id be over the moon if someone said to me, were going to put you on regular checks for x number of years as well as these visual skin checks. It feels more scientific. (Gill, 51, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

As well as mitigating the effects of human error at skin checks, participants explained that blood test monitoring for early signs of relapse would be essential for providing internal evidence of change. Nevertheless, although deemed more conclusive than skin checks, all participants believed that ctDNA monitoring should not replace visual checks but be used alongside them for a belt and braces approach to care:

I just think its like a double check really isnt it, its like a belt and braces, youve got a visual and then youve got the internal and youve got something scientific that can be kind of highlighting you as early as possible. Especially if its being done every three months, thats so quick in terms of, if you start to see something then, you could do something quite preventable. (Yvonne, 47, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2019)

Participants described melanoma as a sneaky disease with no reliable means of knowing whether relapse would occur. This fear of the unknown was identified as anxiety-provoking and hard to live with post-diagnosis. However, the participants explained that a regular blood test would provide them with the confidence and peace of mind that they were being monitored for melanoma relapse more closely:

well certainly me with melanoma, you know, thats absolutely my biggest fear, is that its going to come back and Im not going to know about it, Im not going to know about it until, you know, Im so much further down the line so to speak. So, you know, if anything could detect something early and there could be early intervention then, you know, I would want to have it. (Lisa, 32, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

They suggested that opting for this blood test would enable patients to feel more proactive about their care, reducing anxiety and enabling them to be forewarned about a potential relapse. Similarly, all participants felt that with regular blood tests, the anxieties regarding small changes to the skin and moles that occur between appointments could be better managed due to perceived additional surveillance:

say youre 1A and then finding a lymph node enlarged. That might happen in a second because you might find it and your mind does this massive jump, whereas if you were being monitored youd have a bit of logic. Youd be able to think well, I was monitored however long ago, this could be something else. I think it would just add a kind of reassurance that more than you poking and prodding your own body around. (Louise, 47, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

The majority of participants viewed having regular blood tests for ctDNA monitoring could be useful as an early detection measure for relapse. Although the thought of relapse was difficult to consider, participants felt that a ctDNA test would provide them with the best opportunity to catch recurrence early before presentation with symptoms or radiological detection:

if it can detect something that mightthat wouldnt necessarily get picked up because obviously melanoma travels in the blood and unless youve got something, I dont know, maybe a mole or a lump, or something like that, you would never know until that. But obviously if this could pick that up beforehand then I think it would be a good thing. (Rebecca, 49, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2015)

In addition due to the radiation risks associated with computerising tomography (CT) scans, regular blood tests were deemed more favourable for some participants:

I think a blood test would be better than a scan, in levels of progression you would get your skin check, your blood check and then a scan would be the next step after that Id say. So it saves you having to have unnecessary exposure to radiation and things like that, which obviously is another cause of cancers. (Cathy, 34, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

However, not all participants agreed that early treatment following the detection of ctDNA was appropriate, as a minority questioned whether treatment should be provided only after evidence of a tumour has been found via a CT scan, as they believed treatment prior to the identification of mass could be unnecessary:

Its hard, isnt it, because I think if youve actually got cancer and its there and you know its there, you want to do everything you can to get rid of it, dont you? [] But if its not actually come yet, do you really want treatment that could make you ill? (Jean, 63, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2017)

For the reassurance it would provide a number of participants explained that they would be happy to receive a ctDNA test for the rest of their lives, especially if the frequency of the blood test was manageable:

So if it was every few months, every three months or longer then Id probably be happy for it to go on for longer or indefinitely if need be. (Eric, 39, Stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

However, they understood that this might not be possible due to NHS funding, as well as the scientific rationale that the risk of recurrence decreases over time. For ctDNA monitoring to add the most value to patients, the majority explained that monitoring should be more frequent closer to diagnosis and reduced as the risk decreases, identifying a need for a risk-stratified approach:

I suppose it would depend how far after your diagnosis you were and what your dermatologist said were your chances of it recurring. So possibly the same as skin checks where its more frequent in the beginning and maybe spaces out as you get further away from it. (Louise, 47, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

They described that three monthly for three years and 6 monthly for 2 years would be ideal as it would fit in with the existing care structure for stage two patients in the UK. Despite this ideal timeline, all participants stressed the importance of identifying ctDNA in the blood at the earliest opportunity. They, therefore, explained that if ctDNA can be identified earlier or later than three months then the frequency of blood tests should reflect this:

So it would depend on, I guess, the evidence for how likely you would expect to see changes. So if its once a year, six months, three months, I would say yes to whatever people gave me because it sounds like a preventable strategy kind of thing. (Yvonne, 47, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2019)

All participants described waiting and receiving test results as anxiety-provoking regardless of the outcome. They felt that being informed as to when to expect their ctDNA test results would improve anxiety. Notification of a negative test result would provide them with the reassurance to move on with life between tests. A positive test result, although worrying was viewed as an opportunity to access treatment early and receive better health outcomes.

All participants described waiting for test results as an anxious time and a result for a ctDNA blood test would be no exception. Participants identified that until results were received, there is constant speculation about the outcome, with some not being able to relax during the waiting period:

once you have a test for something youve always got it in the back of your mind until the results come in, so I wouldnt be totally on edge all the time, but it would be in [the] back of my head all the time. (Vanessa, 57, stage 2b, diagnosed in 2018)

With result anxiety in mind the majority of participants cited under two weeks as an appropriate time to receive notification of results. Others explained that waiting for their blood test result would depend on laboratory turnaround times in processing blood samples. However, no matter how long results would take, all participants explained that they would require notification of when to expect their results enabling them to manage their anxiety:

if they dont know what timeframe its going to be expected in, some peoples anxiety levels may be really, really high, straight from the off [] Whereas, if they know its not going to be expected for two weeks, a month, then they can at least get on with their lives, and not have it right at the forefront of their thoughts all the time. (Sam, 53, stage 1b, diagnosed in 2015).

Yet some identified that after attending for multiple blood tests receiving results would become routine and less worrying over time:

I dont think I would be particularly thinking about results coming through. I can imagine Id forget about it really over time and a letter or whatever it is would arrive every two months and I wouldnt be anticipating receiving it or anything like that. (Eric, 39, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018).

When they considered how it would feel to receive ctDNA results, all participants said that they would be happy and trust their result if it were negative. All participants explained that they would want to be notified of a negative test result, as lack of notification would be unacceptable. They argued that they would not accept no news is good news but would instead worry and speculate about their result, with some being prepared to call services directly for confirmation:

I think, if I wasnt notified, Id be wondering if the letter is stuck in the post or if theres some problem at the hospital notifying, or there was an admin error. To have a negative result is much better than to be told if youre positive because it stops you worrying - I just want to check that that was okay and its just that you havent sent it out or I think I, personally, would still ring up about a few weeks later to say just want to check what results are on the file or Id bother my GP for it. (Gill, 51, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019.)

Participants explained that a simple letter or text message notifying them of a negative result would provide them with peace of mind before their next appointment. Knowledge of a negative test result for ctDNA was viewed as something that could enable patients to move on with their lives between tests, providing them with time to enjoy life and worry less. Specifically, one participant explained that consistent notifications of negative test results would improve their state of mind regarding a potential relapse:

I think as well, the more times that happened [receiving a negative test result], so the further into those five years I got, I would become more and more reassured. You know, at three years, at four years, Id start to be probably quite optimistic. Because, again, I know that most melanoma reoccurs within the first two years. And I know that if you get to five years, you know, its quite a Its a very positive milestone (Graeme, 34, stage 2a, 2021)

However for a minority, the thought of there is always next time would be difficult to ignore, meaning any reassurance gained from a negative test result would be temporary. For example, one participant explained that the level of reassurance a negative test result would provide would depend on when the test was taken during their follow-up, with a negative ctDNA result at the beginning of monitoring being less significant than one received towards the end of follow-up:

I think it depends how long after youve been diagnosed that the test takes place, you know, where you are on your long term journey I suppose. If its, you know, a few months after I think youd be waiting for the next test for something, you know, youd be expecting something else to be happening next time in terms of spread. (Steph, 52, stage 2a, diagnosed in 2018)

Participants explained that a positive ctDNA blood test result would provide them with a chance to be treated early. Although a positive test result is not good news, they would be grateful that relapse was identified before cancer had time to progress and present visually:

Well, obviously thats [a positive result] going to cause a bit more anxiety, isnt it? But also at the same time there could be a bit of a relief there, you know, that its actually been caught rather than it not being picked up. So it can work either way, really. For me, if it was positive, Id rather know. That theres something going on, and maybe we can do something about it. (Jean, 63, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2017)

The majority of participants explained that they would soon deal with the initial shock of a positive test result and instead would concentrate their minds on what needed to be done to reduce the chances of cancer progressing:

Well, the first word that came to my mind was devastated, gutted. But, Id be like, right, okay, its been caught, before it can hopefully get anywhere, like if youre in regular testing? Id think, right, its been caught early, what are we going to do about it? (Cathy, 34, stage 1a, diagnosed in 2019)

As the majority would want to immediately know their management plan, they suggested that information material, such as leaflets and result letters state clearly what a positive test result would mean. Should a positive test result be delivered by letter, participants stressed the importance of having the opportunity to speak with a healthcare professional or have an appointment automatically arranged. Others believed that a positive test result and notification of needing treatment should be delivered in person to enable the patient to ask questions and be provided with the space and time they need to process the information with a healthcare professional present.

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Circulating tumour DNA monitoring and early treatment for relapse: views from patients with early-stage melanoma | British Journal of Cancer -...

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DNA identified in search for Brianna Maitland, 17-year-old Vermont girl who went missing in 2004 – CBS News

Posted: at 8:26 pm

Vermont State Police investigators used advanced DNA sequencing techniques to identify a sample found as part of their investigation into the 2004 disappearance of a 17-year-old girl in the town of Montgomery, police said Friday.

But investigators say identifying the source of the DNA found near the abandoned car of Brianna Maitland does not mean they have identified a suspect in her disappearance.

"We are continuing our active efforts to investigate every lead associated with this case, and we constantly look for new technological advances to aid in our investigation," lead investigator Detective Sgt. Angela Baker said in a statement. "The use of genetic genealogy to identify the DNA found 18 years ago is just one example of how detectives continue to track down every potential lead in this case."

Brianna was last seen on the evening of March 19, 2004, when she left work at the Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery. She was headed to a friend's house where she was living, but she never arrived.

The next day, her 1985 Oldsmobile was located backed into an abandoned building about a mile from the restaurant. The now-identified DNA sample was later found near the car.

Police have said there is no evidence Brianna left the area willingly and they believe she was a victim of foul play.

The DNA collected from near Brianna's car was added to the FBI's DNA database and compared to samples from 11 people of interest in the case, but no match was found.

In the fall of 2020, the state police sent samples to Othram, a Texas-based forensic sequencing laboratorythat has set up afundraising pagefor the investigation.

After months of investigation, police were able to "locate, interview, and obtain DNA samples from possible donors."

Those DNA samples were sent to the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, which confirmed that DNA from one of the individuals matched the DNA found on the ground near Brianna's vehicle.

Anyone with tips or other information that might in any way be relevant to the investigation should contact Detective Baker atangela.baker@vermont.gov, or submit ananonymous tip online.

We Think ResMed (NYSE:RMD) Might Have The DNA Of A Multi-Bagger – Simply Wall St

Posted: at 8:26 pm

If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, the ROCE of ResMed (NYSE:RMD) looks great, so lets see what the trend can tell us.

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for ResMed, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.24 = US$976m (US$4.7b - US$621m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021).

Thus, ResMed has an ROCE of 24%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Medical Equipment industry average of 8.2%.

View our latest analysis for ResMed

Above you can see how the current ROCE for ResMed compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

ResMed is displaying some positive trends. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 24%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 56%. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that's common among multi-baggers.

To sum it up, ResMed has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. Since the stock has returned a staggering 285% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence.

On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for ResMed that we think you should be aware of.

High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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We Think ResMed (NYSE:RMD) Might Have The DNA Of A Multi-Bagger - Simply Wall St

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Over 70 Leaders in aging and longevity to present their latest research at the 9th ARDD – EurekAlert

Posted: at 8:17 pm

image:The ARDD Meeting 2022 will be hosted on August 29 - September 2, 2022 view more

Credit: Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Limited

March 16, 2022, the Scheibye-Knudsen Lab, University of Copenhagen and Deep Longevity are excited to reveal the speakers for the 9th Aging Research & Drug Discovery Meeting, the largest scientific academic, and industry conference that will transpire on August 29 - September 2, 2022 on-site at the Ceremonial Hall, University of Copenhagen, and online.

According to the United Nations, the proportion of people aged over 65 now outnumber children younger than 5. The enormous growth in the elderly population is posing a significant healthcare challenge to societies worldwide. New sweeping interventions for reducing age-associated morbidities and frailty will undoubtedly be a key to reduce the health- and socioeconomic challenges that come with an aging society. Again this year we have an incredibly exciting program with global thought-leaders sharing their latest insights into aging and how we target the aging process ensuring everyone lives a healthier and longer life.

Despite pandemics and the shocking conflict on the European continent, the ARDD 2022 conference will be held in person at the University of Copenhagen. We are extremely excited about the program and the possibility of meeting friends and colleagues outside of zoom. This year we are maintaining our focus on young scientists who will be the future of our field and we have a large number of speaker slots for these rising stars." said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Many credible biopharmaceutical companies are now prioritized aging research for early-stage discovery or therapeutic pipeline development. It is only logical to prioritize therapeutic targets that are important in both aging and age-associated diseases. The patient benefits either way. The best place to learn about these targets is ARDD, which we organize for nine years in a row. This conference is now the largest in the field and is not to be missed, said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine and Deep Longevity.

Aging research is growing faster than ever on both academia and industry fronts. The ARDD meeting unites experts from different fields and backgrounds, sharing with us their latest groundbreaking research and developments. Our last ARDD meeting took place as a hybrid meeting and was a great success and we will repeat this model for ARDD 2022. said Daniela Bakula, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen

For further information, images or interviews, please contact:

ardd@insilico.com

About Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

In the Scheibye-Knudsen lab we use in silico, in vitro and in vivo models to understand the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage with the aim of developing interventions. We have discovered that DNA damage leads to changes in certain metabolites and that replenishment of these molecules may alter the rate of aging in model organisms. These findings suggest that normal aging and age-associated diseases may be malleable to similar interventions. The hope is to develop interventions that will allow everyone to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

About Deep Longevity

Deep Longevity has been acquired by Edurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK), a publicly-traded company. Deep Longevity is developing explainable artificial intelligence systems to track the rate of aging at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, physiological, and psychological levels. It is also developing systems for the emerging field of longevity medicine enabling physicians to make better decisions on the interventions that may slow down, or reverse the aging processes. Deep Longevity developed Longevity as a Service (LaaS) solution to integrate multiple deep biomarkers of aging dubbed "deep aging clocks" to provide a universal multifactorial measure of human biological age. Originally incubated by Insilico Medicine, Deep Longevity started its independent journey in 2020 after securing a round of funding from the most credible venture capitalists specializing in biotechnology, longevity, and artificial intelligence. ETP Ventures, Human Longevity and Performance Impact Venture Fund, BOLD Capital Partners, Longevity Vision Fund, LongeVC, co-founder of Oculus, Michael Antonov, and other expert AI and biotechnology investors supported the company. Deep Longevity established a research partnership with one of the most prominent longevity organizations, Human Longevity, Inc. to provide a range of aging clocks to the network of advanced physicians and researchers. https://longevity.ai/

About Endurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK)

Endurance RP is a diversified investment group based in Hong Kong currently holding various corporate and strategic investments focusing on the healthcare, wellness and life sciences sectors. The Group has a strong track record of investments and has returned approximately US$298 million to shareholders in the 21 years of financial reporting since its initial public offering. https://www.endurancerp.com/

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Over 70 Leaders in aging and longevity to present their latest research at the 9th ARDD - EurekAlert

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‘Daily life tasks’ shown to slash your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 50% – Express

Posted: at 8:17 pm

Participants wore a research-grade accelerometer for up to seven days to get accurate measures of how much time they spent moving and, importantly, the types of common daily life behaviours that result in movement and are not often included in prior studies of light and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.

Those prior studies typically focused on intensity and duration of activities like running and brisk walking while the current study measured smaller movements at varying intensity during activities like cooking.

During this study, 616 women were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, 268 with coronary heart disease, 253 had a stroke, and 331 died of cardiovascular disease.

"Much of the movement engaged in by older adults is associated with daily life tasks, but it may not be considered physical activity. Understanding the benefits of daily life movement and adding this to physical activity guidelines may encourage more movement," said senior author Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., M.P.H., Distinguished Professor and chief of the Division of Epidemiology at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health.

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'Daily life tasks' shown to slash your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 50% - Express

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Opinion | This Is Why Autocracies Fail – The New York Times

Posted: at 8:17 pm

Joe Biden correctly argues that the struggle between democracy and autocracy is the defining conflict of our time. So which system performs better under stress?

For the past several years, the autocracies seemed to have the upper hand. In autocracy, power is centralized. Leaders can respond to challenges quickly, shift resources decisively. China showed that autocracies can produce mass prosperity. Autocracy has made global gains and democracy continues to decline.

In democracies, on the other hand, power is decentralized, often polarized and paralytic. The American political system has become distrusted and dysfunctional. A homegrown would-be autocrat won the White House. Academics have written popular books with titles like How Democracies Die.

Yet the past few weeks have been revelatory. Its become clear that when it comes to the most important functions of government, autocracy has severe weaknesses. This is not an occasion for democratic triumphalism; its an occasion for a realistic assessment of authoritarian ineptitude and perhaps instability. What are those weaknesses?

The wisdom of many is better than the wisdom of megalomaniacs. In any system, one essential trait is: How does information flow? In democracies, policymaking is usually done more or less in public, and there are thousands of experts offering facts and opinions. Many economists last year said inflation would not be a problem, but Larry Summers and others said it would, and they turned out to have been right. We still make mistakes, but the system learns.

Often in autocracies, decisions are made within a small, closed circle. Information flows are distorted by power. No one tells the top man what he doesnt want to hear. The Russian intelligence failure about Ukraine has been astounding. Vladimir Putin understood nothing about what the Ukrainian people wanted, how they would fight or how his own army had been ruined by corruption and kleptocrats.

People want their biggest life. Human beings these days want to have full, rich lives and make the most of their potential. The liberal ideal is that people should be left as free as possible to construct their own ideal. Autocracies restrict freedom for the sake of order. So many of the best and brightest are now fleeing Russia. The American ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, points out that Hong Kong is suffering a devastating brain drain. Bloomberg reports, The effects of the brain drain in sectors such as education, health care and even finance will likely be felt by residents for years to come. American institutions now have nearly as many top-tier A.I. researchers from China as from the United States. Given the chance, talented people will go where fulfillment lies.

Organization man turns into gangster man. People rise through autocracies by ruthlessly serving the organization, the bureaucracy. That ruthlessness makes them aware others may be more ruthless and manipulative, so they become paranoid and despotic. They often personalize power, so they are the state, and the state is them. Any dissent is taken as a personal affront. They may practice what scholars call negative selection. They dont hire the smartest and best people. Such people might be threatening. They hire the dimmest and the most mediocre. You get a government of third-raters. (Witness the leaders of the Russian military.)

Ethnonationalism self-inebriates. Everybody worships something. In a liberal democracy, worship of the nation (which is particular) is balanced by the love of liberal ideals (which are universal). With the demise of communism, authoritarianism lost a major source of universal values. National glory is pursued with intoxicating fundamentalism.

I believe in passionarity, in the theory of passionarity, Putin declared last year. He continued: We have an infinite genetic code. Passionarity is a theory created by the Russian ethnologist Lev Gumilyov that holds that each nation has its own level of mental and ideological energy, its own expansionary spirit. Putin seems to believe Russia is exceptional on front after front and on the march. This kind of crackpot nationalism deludes people into pursuing ambitions far beyond their capacity.

Government against the people is a recipe for decline. Democratic leaders, at least in theory, serve their constituents. Autocratic leaders, in practice, serve their own regime and longevity, even if it means neglecting their people. Thomas J. Bollyky, Tara Templin and Simon Wigley illustrate how life expectancy improvements have slowed in countries that have recently transitioned to autocracies. A study of more than 400 dictators across 76 countries by Richard Jong-A-Pin and Jochen O. Mierau found that a one-year increase in a dictators age decreases his nations economic growth by 0.12 percentage points.

When the Soviet Union fell, we learned that the C.I.A. had overstated the Soviet economy and Soviet military might. Its just very hard to successfully run a big society through centralized power.

To me, the lesson is that even when were confronting so-far successful autocracies like China, we should learn to be patient and trust our liberal democratic system. When we are confronting imperial aggressors like Putin, we should trust the ways we are responding now. If we steadily, patiently and remorselessly ramp up the economic, technological and political pressure, the weaknesses inherent in the regime will grow and grow.

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Opinion | This Is Why Autocracies Fail - The New York Times

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What Adaptations of Little Red Riding Hood Tell Us About the Lasting Power of Fairytales – Book Riot

Posted: at 8:17 pm

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We forget a lot of things as human beings. And with the passage of time, memory tends to fade and fade until it disappears all together. Its sad, but with the full spectrum of human history and emotion, its not surprising that some stories and ideas just disappear. But of course, there are some that remain. Perhaps not in their original form, but the essence of the story remains. And if were lucky, its original intent also remains. Some of the most lasting stories are not historical accounts of kings or queens or even empire-shaking wars, but rather fairytales.

Is it just Disney we have to thank for this? Or is there something more to fairytales that fuels their longevity?

Merriam Webster defines a fairytale as a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins). Sounds a little ridiculous, yes? But I hypothesize that unlike other types of stories, fairytales told to our children have a specific purpose that wont shed away with time. Many fairytales are meant to teach lessons, to instill a communitys values, and/or to impart cultural knowledge. My grandmother used to tell me all sorts of stories based on Hindu epics, which I used to listen to with rapt attention. Her retellings helped me form my identity as an Indian American and maintain a close relationship with the culture of the motherland. These stories also helped me connect with fellow Indians and Indian Americans because one had to be part of the community to understand just how real they were (and still are) to us. These epics gave all us a shared language that remained intact on a new continent.

I also remember my friends mom telling me the story of Rumpelstiltskin, which is still one of my favorite fairytales. Although I have no cultural tie to the story, knowing it gave me some important context because the story is referenced so much in the western canon. It helped me form my identity as a kid growing up in the west and understand certain cultural references with ease.

Because fairytales are commonly told to children, its not unusual for parents and guardians to adapt the stories a little. This penchant for adaptation and retelling has historically found its way to publishing. More recently, young adult (YA) novels of various fairytale retellings are published by the dozen each year.

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Take Little Red Riding Hood, a rather creepy and gruesome tale of a little girl just trying to be a good granddaughter. The story of Little Red Riding Hood dates back to pre17th century European folktales, and theres evidence to suggest that similar stories have been told in 10th century France and even North Africa. This means that the story popularized by the Brothers Grimm is more than likely much older and with some, possibly, complex and interconnected roots.

In the story, she ventures into the dark woods to bring food for her elderly grandmother. A place that was known to house dangerous creatures. But still, she went. Why on Earth is that a story parents and writers still tell to children and young adults alike? Does it come down to teaching children to never speak to strangers? Is it a warning to not go out after dark, even if a loved one needs us to? Or is it a warning that the world is a dark, dangerous place, so be prepared to live in it?

Ive noticed several YA and adult crossover books in particular that have retold the story of Little Red Riding Hood to some degree, such as Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge, For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten, and Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce. Although each story is unique, I noticed something similar in all of them: Each one rests on the premise that a young girl needs to venture into a dangerous, dark, and unknown place to face a monster or some sort of evil/danger. There is a practical lesson here. We like to think that the modern world is safe for young girls, but reality would suggest otherwise. Crime statistics against women and children are still holding strong around the world. It is sad that an age-old fairytale is still holding true. That a young girl who needs to take care of an elderly family member faces danger in doing so. Although Little Red Riding Hood is still a horrific fairytale with immense entertainment value, its core lesson easily translates to these modern retellings, which provide a more modern context to the message and add to the cultural narrative.

To that end, Im convinced that each fairytale has a core lesson that remains intact, despite being told and retold over the centuries. I have to wonder if its these lessons, both explicit and implicit, that lend themselves to the longevity of fairytales. Retellings not only take advantage of the creative capital given to us by previous writers, but also serve as a way to continue a cultural narrative and instill certain lessons for the next generation.

When I was a girl, I honestly thought that Little Red Riding Hood was a horror story meant to scare me from the dark. But with the benefit of hindsight and having read several retellings/adaptations, I am now convinced that its a story that tells young girls that yes, the world is dark and dangerous. I mean, why on Earth did her grandmother live in those woods? But at the end of the day, its the world we live in, and we have to face it because unfortunately, we have people relying on us. Thats not to say that we shouldnt work to make the world safer, because we should. But fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood at least give us a dose of reality.

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The four ‘SZNZ’ of Weezer – NPR

Posted: at 8:17 pm

Some 300 years after Antonio Vivaldi captured the feeling of springtime with his Four Seasons, another composer is drawing from the same inspiration Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.

His band, never one to take much time off, is putting out a quartet of albums this year in much the same spirit as Vivaldi. Cuomo has titled the series SZNZ and is beginning, of course, with Spring. It's out this Sunday which happens to be the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere.

Morning Edition's A Martinez spoke to Cuomo about the cathartic new release, written during lockdown, and maintaining relationships three decades into a band's life.

This interview has been edited and condensed. To hear the broadcast version of this story, you can use the audio player at the top of this page.

A Martinez, Morning Edition: So, Rivers Vivaldi might have gotten the jump on you here, having written The Four Seasons some 300 years ago. Was that work an inspiration at all for you on this?

Rivers Cuomo: Yeah, absolutely. In each of the four EPs [of SZNZ] at least one of the songs interpolate one of his riffs. So it was fun to take a bit of one of his ideas and set my own lyrics to it and try to make it sound like a modern rock song. But I think most people are going to hear like, for example: The first song on Spring is called "Opening Night." People are going to hear that and be like, "Wait a minute, what is that?" And then they're going to be like, "Oh my God, I know that from some commercial or some... I don't know, something. It's some classical thing." Yeah, it's from Vivaldi.

Tell us what your approaches to this project are what's your mission statement?

Well, we actually had a mission statement, so I'm glad you asked. It was to pick up where we left off with our last album, OK Human. It was Weezer with an orchestra; setting aside all commercial concerns and just really delving into my love for classical music and opera music and writing on the piano instead of an electric guitar, and just trying to go all-out with the crazy composition and the melodies. And so that's what we did... and I think we pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I think there is a lot to be said for a group that can stay together as long as you have. I think of Pearl Jam that group has stayed pretty much the same for a long, long time. What do you think accounts for that longevity, that ability to stay together and not get on each other's nerves to the point where you just want to never be near each other again?

I feel like we all benefited a lot from getting married not to each other and going through couples therapy and learning how to communicate and compromise. We didn't have any of those skills when we started and there were definitely some rough patches, but everyone's so chill now. It's great.

I think it's really reassuring to know that things can last even through some rough spots.

I'd be glad if people get that sort of reassurance from our story because we all come from broken homes. And I know for me it was super important.

Back to SZNZ. When you're thinking about spring songs, what kind of ideas and concepts come to mind?

Well, it's definitely thinking a lot about, you know, the typical things you think about coming back to life, rebirth, coming out of a long, cold hibernation. In terms of spirituality like, living more in the moment and not being too hung up on self-denial, enjoying life. Those sorts of themes.

And that is exactly what I heard in the song "All This Love." It seems to almost be a nod to the pandemic and that we're all kind of coming out of it. It feels like we're entering a better stage, or maybe a more-free stage. Tell us about that song.

That song is all about just this incredible feeling of pent-up energy and wanting to express yourself and go out and be social and share your love. The chorus is really explosive and says, "I got all this love, I've been saving it, saving up, let me let it out." And it's just a really, really explosive feeling. In contrast, the first verse is [paraphrasing] "I've been stuck inside and I got this mask on my mouth, I forgot how to sing, I forgot how to love and live."

And on another level, thinking of how I've, at times, had this tendency to be too intellectual and not instinctual enough about art. There's a very obscure nod to the scientific way of creativity, a reference to Benjamin Franklin [in] the opening line, with "the key and a kite, waiting for lightning to strike camping out in the field by my house." So that's me thinking too hard about how to go about my creativity instead of just letting it flow.

Were you always more intellectual instead of instinctual when it comes to your art?

I've had that instinct since before Weezer even existed. I mean, I remember being a teenager and being so curious about music theory and at the same time, thinking, "Wait a minute, that's not cool. You're not supposed to study music theory if you're a rock musician." So there was always a struggle for me.

But I'd say in recent years, I've really found a great balance and am feeling more instinctual than ever at the same time, I have tons of spreadsheets and computer programs that I've written to help me along. I'm firing on all cylinders, for sure.

Now, have you started thinking about SZNZ: Summer yet?

Yeah, I'd say like everything is 90% written as of last year this is what I did during the lockdown. So I have these folders, four folders of really well-written-out songs. I'm working with another producer now on the summer songs and we hope to have fall done before we leave for Europe at the end of May, and then finish winter in August.

Is that a normal pace for you? I don't know I'm not a musician, it just sounds like a lot.

I mean, a lot of the songs are short... It's a lot. It's definitely a lot. And you know, we've announced it. We've committed to doing it... and yet we haven't actually done it yet. So it's uh, it'll be a challenge. But everyone knows what we're in for and we're all into it and we want to do it. And hopefully we don't drive our managers too crazy, because it's going to be a ton of work.

Do you work better that way? You know, announcing something, committing to do it even though you haven't done it yet?

Oh no, I don't. I don't think it really affects me either way. Like, I am very, very excited to work every day just for the sake of creating something, and I don't necessarily need the motivation of having a deadline.

Speaking from a journalist's point of view: if there is no deadline on me, I don't know if I'll ever turn anything in, ever. [Laughs] So I wonder if you work that way too as an artist?

No, I don't. I just love building stuff, and every morning I wake up and come down to my studio and build stuff, and then we have to figure out what to do with it.

What kind of reaction have you gotten from fans of yours? Sometimes, I think fans get a little too in love with what they liked about you when you started, and maybe don't like it when an artist tries to do new things.

We definitely went through that phase, like in the beginning of the 2000s. It was real tough. But it seems like we're surrounded by fans who are super excited about new music and they themselves are actually frustrated when they encounter other people who have closed minds [towards] the new stuff. So it feels like we've got a great, great little neighborhood around us.

And that being said, one of our concerns was like, "We don't want to burn the audience out," because we've been putting out a lot of music. We did two records last year and this will be another 28 songs this year.

I might be wrong on this, but it feels in what I've heard that you're using a lot more acoustic instruments for the spring collection. Was that by design?

Oh, absolutely. Spring is chock full of acoustic and ancient-sounding instruments. Recorder, acoustic Guitar, mandolin, 12-string. So yeah, it's a very natural, woody type of sound.

The whole time I was writing and recording. I was imagining myself in the movie production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, when they wake up in the forest. It's just such a beautiful, magical scene ... all these woodland creatures and fairies. But that's just spring.

Summer is going to move into a completely different emotional and sonic terrain where it's going to be much more aggressive and angry and you won't hear those woody sounds anymore. And then fall is going to be a much more like, technological element and dance rock. And then with winter, we return to a more acoustic, mournful tone.

I just realized, Rivers, that this is a strictly northern hemisphere kind of record are our fans in Australia, New Zealand going to be upset?

I'll tell you, we did make one concession already we changed "fall" to "autumn." Apparently no one uses the word fall except for Americans.

Weezer's new EP, SZNZ: Spring, is out Mar. 20.

The rest is here:
The four 'SZNZ' of Weezer - NPR

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Precision Medicine Software Market Future Challenges, Growth Statistics and Forecast to 2028 The Bollywood Ticket – The Bollywood Ticket

Posted: at 8:17 pm

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Precision Medicine Software Market Future Challenges, Growth Statistics and Forecast to 2028 The Bollywood Ticket - The Bollywood Ticket

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Category Archives: Transhuman News

A University of Waterloo team is working to develop futuristic levitating pods that can move people or cargo at breathtaking speeds – Waterloo Region…

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DNA identified in search for Brianna Maitland, 17-year-old Vermont girl who went missing in 2004 – CBS News

We Think ResMed (NYSE:RMD) Might Have The DNA Of A Multi-Bagger – Simply Wall St

Over 70 Leaders in aging and longevity to present their latest research at the 9th ARDD – EurekAlert

‘Daily life tasks’ shown to slash your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 50% – Express

Opinion | This Is Why Autocracies Fail – The New York Times

What Adaptations of Little Red Riding Hood Tell Us About the Lasting Power of Fairytales – Book Riot

The four ‘SZNZ’ of Weezer – NPR

Precision Medicine Software Market Future Challenges, Growth Statistics and Forecast to 2028 The Bollywood Ticket – The Bollywood Ticket

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