R.E. Kearney's Blog, page 32

Regenerate, Rejuvenate and Reverse – Stem Cell Therapy and Heart Disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Many people that are living with damaged hearts find themselves easily fatigued and unable to perform simple everyday actions. This has warranted ongoing research into finding a cure for the condition. Recently, a study published in Nature has shown that stem cell technology may be used to reverse heart damage. Most patients that currently suffer from heart disease treat the condition with medication, but the stem cell therapy will enable a regrowth of healthy cells.

[image error]The study was conducted by a team of researchers from Shinshu University. The method they proposed would involve transplanting stem cells into the heart, encouraging it to repair itself. Stem cell transplants have already been used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s successfully. The process recommended by Shinshu has already been tried on primates, with good results. Some of the hearts with the transplanted cells began to beat irregularly, but there were no adverse effects of this and scientists are confident that the procedure will work well for humans.

One of the possible problems with transplanting stem cells is the risk of them being rejected by the body, as the immune system tries to protect it. This can be prevented by ensuring that the protein from the donor cells matches the recipient’s. Our immune system uses these proteins to identify harmful foreign bodies. In addition, taking mild immunosuppressants will ensure the stem cells survival for at least 12 weeks. This gives the body an adequate amount of time to accept the stem cells, and the damaged cells in the heart to begin repairing themselves.

[image error]After many years of research, Mayo Clinic has also developed a procedure that has allowed the successful transplant of stem cells into patients with heart disease. Their process involves harvesting these cells directly from the patient’s bone marrow, and then changing them into cardiac cells in a laboratory. These are then injected into the patient’s heart, where they will stimulate the growth of healthy tissue.

To refine this process, the heart was first examined at a subcellular level. During this assessment, the team discovered that there were hundreds of proteins present in cardiac tissue. They then used computer technology to separate the proteins, and found that eight of these were necessary for healthy cells in the heart. This led Mayo Clinic’s team to correctly create stem cells which would not be rejected by the immune system, creating the possibility of a more energetic way of life for those living with heart disease.

Climate Change To Wipe Out Half Of Ethiopia’s Coffee-Growing Area

June 30th, 2017 by James Ayre

The birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia, is likely to lose up to half of its total coffee-growing area by the end of the century as a result of anthropogenic climate change and its effects, according to a new study.

As it is, still nowhere near the end of the century, rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns in Ethiopia are already damaging coffee production in some parts of the country where “special” varieties are grown.

This may not sound as though it’s all that important but it’s probably worth realizing here that there are currently around 100 million people worldwide who are involved in coffee bean farming — so the industry is intimately involved in the economies of many regions around the world. If the coffee industry does end up collapsing in Ethiopia, as the study predicts, then there will no doubt be serious economic problems that follow.

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The press release provides a bit more clarity: “Without major action both in the coffee industry and in slashing greenhouse gas emissions, coffee is predicted to become more expensive and worse-tasting. The research combined climate-change computer modelling with detailed measurements of current ground conditions, gathered in fieldwork that covered a total distance of 30,000 km within Ethiopia. It found that 40-60% of today’s coffee growing areas in Ethiopia would be unsuitable by the end of the century under a range of likely warming scenarios.”

There is a means of dealing with the effect of climate change on coffee production in the short term, though an expensive one: moving production uphill. Even this approach will have run its course by 2040, since it won’t be possible to move production any further uphill at that point.

Researcher Aaron Davis from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew noted: “It literally reaches the ceiling, because you don’t have any higher place to go.”

Commenting on the loss of production at the heritage site Harar, Davis stated: “In one area, there are hundreds if not thousands of hectares of dead trees. It is a world renowned name and has been grown in that area for many centuries. But under all (climate change) scenarios, it’s going to get worse.”

“Some of the origins, what you would call terroir in the wine industry, will disappear, unless serious intervention is undertaken,” he continued. “It would be like losing the Burgundy wine region. Those areas are found nowhere else but Ethiopia, and because of the genetic diversity, the diversity of flavor profiles is globally unique.”

Something that’s perhaps just as important as the loss of cultivated area will be the loss wild arabica and robusta coffee genetics — which could well result in the loss of genetics that would help to improve crop resistance against drought and disease. To improve resistance against the impending effects of climate change, in other words.

As explained by Prof Sebsebe Demissew from the University of Addis Ababa: “Coffee originates from the highland forests of Ethiopia, and it is our gift to the world. As Ethiopia is the main natural storehouse of arabica genetic diversity, what happens in Ethiopia could have long-term impacts for coffee farming globally.”

The new study is detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature Plants.

Infinite Intelligence – Is the Universe Conscious?

Spiritual leaders have been claiming that the universe is a conscious being for many years. Physicist Gregory Matloff has recently published a paper which suggests that this theory is possible, and science may be able to prove it. Matloff is a veteran at the New York City College of Technology and, even though his paper is unable to confirm universal consciousness (panpsychism) he is encouraging more research into the theory. In his publication, Matloff suggests that humans may not only model the universe in substance, but in spirit as well. This would indicate that the universe is self-aware, and has a possible consciousness field that would extend through all of space.

The theory of ‘panpsychism,’ has already been suggested and explored by other scientists. Sir Roger Penrose, a British physicist, theorized that quantum physics holds the key to consciousness. His views, which were expressed more than 30 years ago, suggests that consciousness itself exists in the microscopic spaces between brain neurons. Bernard Haisch expanded on this theory by speculating that the quantum fields that permeate empty space, also known as quantum vacuums, can produce and transmit consciousness. This would then create a self-awareness in any physical structure which has an energy system running through it, including the universe.

[image error]Matloff attempted to test and expand these theories, by locating astronomical objects that unexpectedly adjust their behavior in response to stimuli. This led to his study of Paranego’s Discontinuity, which is a theory that demonstrates where cooler stars orbit our galaxy at a faster pace than hotter ones. Science has attributed this phenomena to the stars’ interactions with gas clouds. Matloff noted that these changes only occurred in stars that were cool enough to have molecules in their atmosphere and, therefore, a more complex chemical composition. He also noted that some stars emit jets that only point in a single direction, which caused them to move in a different way.

Matloff’s theory suggests that the way in which these stars move is being consciously changed. He claims that if the process was caused by outward elements, it would begin to vary depending on the star’s location in the galaxy. An internal response, such as consciousness, would result in the stars’ behavior being the same despite their locations. The physicist also noted that more detailed data will be available, to further test his theory, after scheduled information is received from Gaia Star Mapping Space Telescope in 2018.

Other researchers have been testing the possibility of the universe’s consciousness, by observing humans as they are made up of the same components. Scientists currently define consciousness as ‘the ability of a system to be influenced by its previous state and to influence its next state.’ This means that it is associated with the complexity of a system, and its ability to choose. Research has shown where this could also be true of simple systems, which are neither organic nor biological. Scientists are hopeful that the true complexity of the Universe will be revealed in the near future, and they can then confirm whether our conscious abilities are really just a small part of a greater mass consciousness.

The Sun – The Solar System’s Direct Source of Heat and Light

The planets in our Solar System all revolve around the Sun, and the Earth’s position in relation to it is one of the main reasons why it is habitable. Our sun is one of an infinite number of stars in the Universe, which are all large balls of fusion reactions that generate energy taking the forms of light and heat. This originally begins with the formation of the star, created through a process known as The Nebula Theory. This theory states that nuclear reactors inside stars begin when large clouds of gas and particles (nebulas), collapse under the pressure from their gravity. The collapse causes atoms to fuse together due to this excessive pressure and heat. The result is a ball of light, known as a ‘star’.

[image error]The size of the star determines the amount of energy that it can produce. Larger ones have more heat and pressure, and can fuse heavier elements in a process known as nuclear fusion. Our sun, and other stars that are similar in size, produces energy in the core when Hydrogen atoms are converted into Helium. During this fusion, matter is released from the nuclei and converted to photons. It is estimated that 620 million metric tons are fused in our sun’s core in a single second. This is enough energy to power a large city for approximately 100 years!

Each of the sun’s layers helps to distribute the energy created, so that it will extend beyond its surface and into The Solar System. Approximately 99% of its energy production takes place in the core. The other layers, The Radioactive Zone, The Convective Zone and The Photosphere, are heated by this energy as it expands outward. The layers get progressively cooler and facilitate the transfer of heat and energy, which escape into space as sunlight or particle energy.

[image error]This energy is essential to the survival of life on our planet. Once it arrives at our atmosphere, much of the UV radiation produced during nuclear fusion is filtered by The Ozone Layer, making it less harmful to our organisms. The benefits of the sun’s rays to our planet, are extensive and include warming our seas, generating weather patterns and providing energy for plants that in turn create food and oxygen for other lifeforms. Scientists have observed where the sun’s nuclear fusion patterns are relatively stable, even though there have been slight irregularities throughout many years. They are unsure of what has caused these short-lived changes, or the effects that the more drastic ones may have on our planet since the sun affects the way in which the entire Solar System functions.

Fighting HIV – Using the Cells it Affects

Methods to treat HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) have improved greatly since the virus first began to affect humans, in the late 1980s. A few of those infected never developed full-blown AIDS, but for the majority, the inevitable result would have been wasting away due to an inability to fight diseases. Treatment for HIV has improved continuously, and the disease is no longer considered to be fatal once the affected person receives treatment. These treatments have at least two disadvantages, however: they would need to be continued for the duration of the individual’s lifetime and there are also uncomfortable side effects. Researchers are confident that there will eventually be a cure for HIV, and they continue to do tests that may take us closer to finding one.

[image error]Scientists from The University of Massachusetts Medical School have published an article in Nature, which states the possibility of decreasing the spread of HIV using cells which occur naturally in our bodies. Ironically, these are the same cells which the virus attacks. HIV breaks down the immune system by infecting and destroying CD4 positive ‘helper’ T-cells.

These white blood cells are vital to fighting off infection, which is why HIV is so efficient at wrecking havoc in the immune system. After affecting some of the cells, the virus uses these to travel through the body and infect other CD4s. T-cells transport these by settling in between lymph nodes, and others areas, that the free virus would be unable to reach.

[image error]The researchers found that there are proteins in the T-cells in our immune system which naturally fight HIV. SERINC5 and SERINC3, two host cell proteins, are able to stifle HIV-1 by greater than 100-fold. The HIV-1 genome has nine genes which can be replicated in the host cell, which then produce virions (the infectious part of the virus). They begin a cycle of infection by looking for new cells to infect. One of these, NEF (which is a key part in the development of AIDS) helps the process by blocking the SERINC proteins, so that they are unable to reach the cell’s surface. This means that they will no longer become a part of the newly formed virions. Developing a drug to restrict NEFs would allow the system to fight HIV, as the virions would then include SERINC3 and SERINC5 making them unable to infect new cells. This process could then be applied to other infectious viruses with NEF proteins.

Improved Photosynthesis – Steps Towards Decreasing World Hunger

As the world’s population continues to increase, the United Nations has estimated that the amount of crops that are currently produced will be insufficient to meet the associated rising food demand. The organization has also speculated that by 2050, many of the world’s poorest nations will be unable to feed the majority of their citizens. A collaboration between scientists at The University of Illinois and The University of California, Berkeley, has shown that it may be possible to create plants that will produce a greater output, and help feed these populations. The researchers genetically modified organisms to improve the rate at which they photosynthesize, reducing their recovery time and increasing their yield.

Photosynthesis is the method by which plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce sugars and oxygen. Like animals, they are susceptible to sun damage but are able to shield themselves using a process known as nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). After ideal conditions for photosynthesis resume, these plants can take up to 1/2 an hour to relax the NPQ process. During this period, light energy is lost as heat. Depending on the temperature and the type of plant, this may result in a decrease in productivity by up to 30%. The researchers aimed to devise a method which would cause the plants to reduce the amount of time taken to relax NPQ and, therefore, increase their efficiency.

[image error]The team were able to identify three proteins that are responsible for stopping NPQ. They speculated that plants with increased numbers of these proteins would be able to relax the process faster. The theory was tested using tobacco, because of the ease with which these plants are transformed and their ability to produce the layers of leaves necessary. Those that had additional proteins added weighed between 14% and 20% more than other tobacco plants. Many crops such as rice, soybeans and wheat, also produce layers. This suggests that the same method can be applied to these foods, increasing their yield. Even though the crops would be more difficult to modify, researchers are confident that this next step in the experiment can be achieved fairly quickly.

Once it has accomplished, both lab tests and field experiments will need to be performed to determine how the modified plants will respond to stresses, such as droughts and floods. After this the technology will be ready for use on a large scale basis and may be given to farmers, and other agricultural producers. Researchers not associated with the experiment also believe that this modification may be the beginning of the second ‘green revolution,’ and would significantly reduce world hunger.

Doomsday Seed Vault – Climate Changes Cause Disruption

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, also called The Doomsday Seed Vault, is a seed bank which is located in Norway. It is in within the Arctic Circle in close proximity to The North Pole, and contains duplicates of a wide variety of plant seeds that are held in other gene banks worldwide. The main purpose of its creation was to preserve these seeds, so that they will be available in the event of a global crisis. The seed bank is 120m inside a sandstone mountain on Spitsbergen Island, and the seeds within it are packed in special three-ply foil packets. These are then heat sealed to ensure that no moisture can get in. The vault contains approximately 1.5 million species of agricultural crops, which it is expected to keep unharmed for hundreds (or thousands) of years.

[image error]The site for the seed bank was chosen for a number of reasons, including the fact there the area has a minimal amount of tectonic activity. It is also surrounded by permafrost, which will aid in the preservation of the seeds. Another major factor was its height, 130m above sea level, which would allow the vault to remain dry in the event of the surrounding ice caps melting. This was not expected to take place for at least several decades, however. Unfortunately, with global warming accelerating at an alarming rate, the vault’s capabilities have already been put to the test.

The melting of the area’s permafrost, has recently caused a flood which resulted in water entering the Doomsday Seed Vault. Fortunately, the seeds remained out of the reach of the water, proving that the permafrost melting would not pose a problem in the future. One of the structure’s chief creators, Cary Fowler, has also put concerns to rest about the vault being able to withstand other threats of flooding. If the surrounding water levels rise drastically, or a pumping system failure occurs, and water enters the vault, it will encounter temperatures of -18 degrees Celsius. This would cause the water to refreeze, and create additional protection for the seeds.

[image error]The area surrounding the vault is currently one of the most susceptible to the dangers of global warming, as the temperatures in the Arctic rise quicker than the rest of the world. These dangers are increasing at an alarming rate, with 2016 being the hottest year to date and 2017 expected to surpass it. Even though the vault’s structure has proven to be safe for the seeds’ preservation, Norway is making improvements to the surrounding area to ensure that any water surrounding it will drain away properly. They have emphasized that these seeds are being preserved to benefit the entire world, and need to be protected at all costs. The country has also emphasized the need for worldwide changes to minimize the drastic acceleration of global warming.

The Cassini Probe – Exploring the Possibility of Life on Saturn

In 2004, the Cassini spacecraft began the first in-depth study of the planet Saturn. The vessel is equipped with 12 instruments, which have been designed to collect data about several areas of the planet: including its moons, rings, environment and magnetosphere. The knowledge that the spacecraft has uncovered is so extensive that the mission has been extended twice. The final mission, a seven year period called Cassini Solstice Mission, will [image error]end with ‘The Grand Finale.’ This event is scheduled to incorporate 22 deep dives between the planet’s clouds and innermost ring, ending with a massive plunge directly into its atmosphere.

Cassini has unveiled a significant amount of information about the planet’s system, it many moons and the rings which surround it. Its largest moon, Titan, has shown many features which scientists believe are similar to those that would have appeared on our planet, before life on Earth evolved. These include: lakes, rivers, dunes and possibly volcanoes. Another moon, Enceladus, has also yielded unexpected observations. This moon has a spray of icy particles that form a towering plume from its surface, which is three times its diameter. These geyser-like jets spew water vapor and ice particles into Saturn’s most expansive ring, the E ring, at an average of 800 miles per hour from an underground ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust. Measurements taken by the vessel, show the water body to be approximately 6 miles deep under an icy shell between 19 and 25 miles thick.

Coming as close as 15 miles to the moon, Cassini has unearthed that the fresh coating on it, and the icy particles fed into the E ring, originate from vents which are connected to a global subsurface saltwater ocean. The E ring is made mostly of ice droplets, but contains peculiar nanoparticles which Cassini detected. These can only be generated where liquid water and rock interact at temperatures greater than 90 degrees Celsius. This had led scientists to speculate that there may be hydrothermal vents beneath Enceladus’ icy shell, similar to those that can be found on Earth’s ocean floor. The information that Cassini has sent back to Earth, also revealed molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide to be present. These factors are essential for methanogenesis, a process which sustains tiny life forms in dark underwater environments, to take place.

The plume venting from Enceladus’ south pole, the hydrocarbons within the plume, and a salty ocean with hydrothermal vents all point to a habitable surface and the possibility of locating life beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The three necessities for sustaining life: water, organic molecules, and an energy source have been found on Enceladus. This discovery is believed to be one of the most scientifically interesting finds about our Solar System to date and, as more information is collected from Cassini, there may be additional evidence that will help to prove the theory.

Chargeable Roads – Expanding the Use of Electronic Vehicles

Many countries are opting to use sustainable methods of public transport, such as electric vehicles, to create a safer, healthier environment for their citizens. There are disadvantages of their use, however, such as the large batteries that are needed for their operation and the need to plug them in at charging stations. To avoid these inconveniences, the Israeli government is collaborating with ElectRoad to install roads which will charge electric buses on their journey, starting with one of Tel Aviv’s current bus routes.

[image error]https://www.electroad.me/

ElectRoad is proposing to create a wireless system which will be economic enough to be adapted for cities worldwide. The company has no doubts that their ‘inductive charging’ technology is completely cost effective and allows buses to carry light, inexpensive batteries instead of the heavy ones currently equipping them. The buses will also be charged while on the go, eliminating the need for stationary periods to recharge. Once installed the infrastructure will be able to charge any vehicle which has a compatible battery.

The company demonstrated the technology at their headquarters in Caesarea, winning a $12,000 grant from Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety to help fund the installation of the new road. The route will be approximately 1/2 a mile in length and is expected to open in 2018. If it proves to be a worthwhile investment, the Israeli government plans to expand on the use of this technology. Other countries, including South Korea, have already installed several wireless bus routes. ElectRoad believes that their option is more affordable on a large scale, however, because of the cheaper transformers which are required and the shorter, more efficient installation process.

Induction charging is a process which has been used to create power sources since the 1890s and involves the creation of energy from the interaction of two electromagnetic fields. This will be the first time the technology will be applied to an item as large as a bus. Plates of copper will be embedded into the roads, which will be supplied with power from inverters placed along the sides. Copper plates will also be installed on the underside of the buses, allowing the two fields to interact as the buses drive over. The technology can be installed into existing roads with minor disruptions, and the buses will be able to travel off the charging road for about three miles. Each vehicle will be required to have a small battery onboard to facilitate acceleration, as well as travel outside the charging zone.

There are several disadvantages which have been raised about the installation of these roads, however, which ElectRoad are confident they will be able to overcome. This includes the fact that the buses might stray from the main strip or become misaligned. The batteries for electric vehicles are also becoming cheaper, lighter and more efficient. The company acknowledges that the prices of batteries have fallen significantly but also claim that their technology is to be used for citywide infrastructure on larger scales, and they remain optimistic about its expansion.

FCX-001 – Bell Helicopter’s Futuristic Flying Machine

Bell’s Helicopter unveiled their latest flying vehicle in March 2017 at the Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas. Known as the FCX-001, it includes the latest advancements in flight technology. The advanced airframe design is constructed from sustainable materials, which will provide increased structural performance and can be adapted to suit different clients. They will also provide enhanced visibility, as well as a larger area for those that occupy the helicopter. The vehicle’s frame is its frontline for energy management where external energy, or unused system energy, is harvested, stored and distributed.

The FCX-001 is set to run on hybrid power, which will combine thermal engine cores with electric distribution and motors to drive the anti-torque system. This will allow for better control, simpler operations and less maintenance. In addition, the system’s flight control is operated via three separate and independent computers. During a journey, the system evaluates and calculates the optimal method to process the digital orders that the pilot has provided. This ensures that the aircraft will not be compromised during flight, and is supported by extra redundancy. The anti-torque system within the aircraft, is also designed to improve safety conditions, and monitor noise levels and performance parameters. It is embedded in the tail boom, and uses thrust vectoring control capability.

[image error]Image: Bell Helicopter

The company has been researching ways of applying morphing technology to different areas of flight, for an extended period. In the FCX-001, the morphing rotor blades have been designed so that the aircraft will be able to optimise its performance under different flight conditions. Individual morphing technologies were applied such as blades, inlets and aerodynamic surfaces, through advanced actuation, materials or a combination of both. The helicopter also has futuristic landing gear on board, which has been designed using non-traditional geometric structures. This will combine with its advanced building material to facilitate an increased function. The use of actuation was also applied to improve the vehicle’s manoeuvring capabilities, as well as absorb the landing energy for improved safety and comfort in ground operations.

Another area that the company focused on when designing the FCX-001 was the gradual transition to autonomous vehicles that is currently taking place. The cockpit is equipped with a single pilot seat, and the Multi Functional Display removed to enhance the pilot’s visibility during flights. The aircraft will be controlled using augmented reality and an artificial intelligence computer system. The pilot will be able to control the vehicle’s safety and the direction of the mission, while the computer operates as a co-pilot. This is a necessary step in moving over to include a fully autonomous pilot system in these aircrafts. As well as the pilot’s area, the cabin is enhanced with a flooring system which allows for seating changes to accommodate various passengers or cargo. It also contains fully customisable LED lighting and pop-down air ventilation systems, which will help to increase passengers’ comfort.