It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Monday, April 29, 2024
T. rex not as smart as previously claimed, scientists find
THE HOMER SIMPSON OF DINOSAURS
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
IMAGE:
IMAGE OF A T. REX SKELETAL CAST AT SENCKENBERG MUSEUM FRANKFURT, GERMANY. T. REX LIVED AT THE END OF THE CRETACEOUS (ABOUT 66 MILLION YEARS AGO) AND WAS EXCLUSIVE TO WESTERN NORTH AMERICA.
Dinosaurs were as smart as reptiles but not as intelligent as monkeys, as former research suggests.
An international team of palaeontologists, behavioural scientists and neurologists have re-examined brain size and structure in dinosaurs and concluded they behaved more like crocodiles and lizards.
In a study published last year, it was claimed that dinosaurs like T. rex had an exceptionally high number of neurons and were substantially more intelligent than assumed. It was claimed that these high neuron counts could directly inform on intelligence, metabolism and life history, and that T. rex was rather monkey-like in some of its habits. Cultural transmission of knowledge as well as tool use were cited as examples of cognitive traits that it might have possessed.
However the new study, published today in The Anatomical Record, involving the University of Bristol’sHady George, Dr Darren Naish (University of Southampton) and led by Dr Kai Caspar (Heinrich Heine University) with Dr Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez (University of Alberta) and Dr Grant Hurlburt (Royal Ontario Museum) takes a closer look at techniques used to predict both brain size and neuron numbers in dinosaur brains. The team found that previous assumptions about brain size in dinosaurs, and the number of neurons their brains contained, were unreliable.
The research follows decades of analysis in which palaeontologists and biologists have examined dinosaur brain size and anatomy, and used these data to infer behaviour and lifestyle. Information on dinosaur brains comes from mineral infillings of the brain cavity, termed endocasts, as well as the shapes of the cavities themselves.
The team found that their brain size had been overestimated - especially that of the forebrain - and thus neuron counts as well. In addition, they show that neuron count estimates are not a reliable guide to intelligence.
To reliably reconstruct the biology of long-extinct species, the team argues, researchers should look at multiple lines of evidence, including skeletal anatomy, bone histology, the behaviour of living relatives, and trace fossils. “Determining the intelligence of dinosaurs and other extinct animals is best done using many lines of evidence ranging from gross anatomy to fossil footprints instead of relying on neuron number estimates alone,” explained Hady from Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences.
Dr Kai Caspar explained: “We argue that it’s not good practice to predict intelligence in extinct species when neuron counts reconstructed from endocasts are all we have to go on.”
“Neuron counts are not good predictors of cognitive performance, and using them to predict intelligence in long-extinct species can lead to highly misleading interpretations,” added Dr Ornella Bertrand (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont).
“The possibility that T. rex might have been as intelligent as a baboon is fascinating and terrifying, with the potential to reinvent our view of the past”, concluded Dr Darren Naish. “But our study shows how all the data we have is against this idea. They were more like smart giant crocodiles, and that’s just as fascinating.”
Relationship between brain and body mass in land-living vertebrates. Dinosaurs like T. rex have brain to body size ratios similar to those of living reptiles.
CREDIT
Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez
Paper:
‘How smart was T. rex? Testing claims of exceptional cognition in dinosaurs and the application of neuron count estimates in palaeontological research’ by Kai R Caspar, Hady George et al in The Anatomical Record.
JOURNAL
The Anatomical Record
METHOD OF RESEARCH
Data/statistical analysis
SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
Animals
ARTICLE TITLE
How smart was T. rex? Testing claims of exceptional cognition in dinosaurs and the application of neuron count estimates in palaeontological research’
Snake bites in Paraguay: An occupational health problem
Men of productive age working in the agricultural and livestock sectors are most affected, according to a study that analysed data between 2015 and 2021
Young men working in agricultural or livestock settings are the most affected by snakebites, according to research in Paraguay based on data from the last six years. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, highlights the importance of collecting more and better data to estimate the true burden of this neglected disease.
Every year, between 80,000 and 140,000 people die from the bite of a venomous snake. In 2017, the WHO added poisoning by snakebite to the list of neglected tropical diseases, to give greater visibility to a public health problem for which there is not only a problem of access to anti-venom treatments, but also a lack of reliable data at global and national levels.
In the Americas, the vast majority of snakebite cases occur in eastern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil. In Paraguay, nearly 300,000 people live in areas where at least one species of venomous snake is present and more than three hours away from a medical centre.
"The problem is that there is a great lack of updated information on the burden of snakebites in the country," says Sofia Ardiles, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.
The research team analysed bite cases reported in Paraguay between 2015 and 2021, as well as socio-demographic, clinical and treatment information for each case. A total of 1651 bites were reported between 2015 and 2021 (an average of 235 cases per year). These figures are similar to those reported between 2004 and 2015, indicating that the incidence has remained stable. The regions with the highest number of cases are those that form part of the Gran Chaco, a geographical region that includes territories in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, where ISGlobal is working with local partners to improve care for neglected diseases.
Men of productive age: most affected
Men of productive age (around 25 years old) account for almost 70% of cases, many of whom work in the agricultural or livestock sector. "This reinforces the notion that snakebite is an occupational disease," says Irene Losada, ISGlobal researcher and co-author of the study. Many of the bites occurred during the day, on farms or in homes, and during the rainy season. "Having a better idea of the context in which most bites occur can help us implement protective measures in the workplace," she adds.
In more than half of the cases, the snake responsible was not identified or documented, which can complicate choosing the most appropriate anti-venom. Fifteen percent of patients were treated more than six hours after the bite.
"We found that there is a lack of information on mortality, sequelae, adverse effects of treatment and patient management," says Ardiles. This underlines the importance of improving data collection to estimate the true human and social burden of this neglected disease.
The study was a joint effort with Paraguay’s Zoonosis and Rabies Control Centre, headed by Edgar Sanabria.
NEW YORK, April 29, 2024 – The Human Immunome Project (HIP), a global nonprofit scientific initiative, released its Scientific Plan today, on World Immunology Day, the organization announced. The plan provides a detailed roadmap of how the Human Immunome Project and its network of global study sites will generate the world’s largest and most diverse immunological dataset and use these data to power publicly available AI models of the immune system.
“The immune system is the epicenter of human health, and our newly released Scientific Plan outlines an actionable, global strategy for how we can unlock the secrets of the immune system and harness its power to improve health for all,” said Dr. Hans Keirstead, CEO of the Human Immunome Project.
The human immune system is one of the most complex systems in the world—and one of its most important. It determines whether we survive infancy, which diseases we get, how we age, and how long we’ll live. Understanding our immune system is the key to fighting disease and improving health for all. Yet its complexity has limited our ability to tap into its potential—until now.
Recent advances in immune monitoring and AI provide the tools to generate and rapidly process the trillions of datapoints required to model the immune system for the first time, to understand how it varies across individuals, and to develop targeted approaches to elongating healthspans and combatting disease.
Despite these tremendous advances, our understanding of the immune system remains limited: less than one percent of the immunological data necessary to understand immune function and diversity on a global scale are available. As such, HIP’s first mission is generating diverse immunological datasets at scale.
To generate these data, HIP is establishing a network of global study sites that reflect the diversity of humanity (across age, ethnicity, geography, sex, and socioeconomic status) and immune responses. Data will be generated through a phased approach and enabled by HIP-engineered Immune Monitoring Kits—a collection of assays and operating procedures that facilitate rapid, robust, and standardized data collection worldwide.
This collaborative, global effort will produce longitudinal, baseline datasets that enable scientists to assess developmental and age-dependent changes and computationally stitch together the health trajectory of different population groups worldwide. For more details on the global study protocol, review the summary.
With the Scientific Plan now fully articulated, the Human Immunome Project is working to establish its initial Pilot Sites—up to 10 state-of-the-art sites that will collect data, help refine the site model, and prepare HIP for scale. These sites will be spread globally with a focus on the Global South and sub-Saharan Africa, specifically.
As data collection progresses, HIP will begin to develop AI models—first predictive, then mechanistic—that will deepen our understanding of immune responses and individual and population-based health trajectories. These models will provide a holistic view of the immune system and empower scientists with a new, transformative tool to advance drug development, strengthen personalized medicine, and increase healthspans. These data and models will additionally produce new insights relevant to nearly all health conditions, including key global health challenges related to maternal health, aging and cognitive decline, and disease evolution.
An initial draft of HIP’s Scientific Plan was shared with a group of global experts at the “Human Immunome Project Into Action Conference,” hosted at CosmoCaixa Museum of Science by the CaixaResearch Institute and HIP in November 2023. The conference provided participants an opportunity to input into the Scientific Plan and concluded with an endorsement of the mission and vision of the Human Immunome Project.
Since November, HIP’s science team, led by Dr. John Tsang, Dr. Shai Shen-Orr, and Dr. Orit Lavi, have refined the plan using feedback gathered at the conference. The result is a detailed strategy to decode and model the immune system with the ultimate goal of improving health for all.
“The Human Immunome Project is at the cutting-edge of scientific discovery and is uniquely positioned to provide the scientific and medical communities with the knowledge and tools to innovate new diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and immunotherapies that can address disease, elongate healthspans, and enable more personalized and more effective healthcare for all. I could not be prouder to lead this global effort,” said Dr. Keirstead.
***
ABOUT THE HUMAN IMMUNOME PROJECT
The Human Immunome Project (HIP) generates diverse immunological datasets at scale and builds publicly available AI models of the immune system to accelerate medical research and drug discovery, improve health, and decrease healthcare costs worldwide. HIP operates globally and is a registered nonprofit organization.
New research funding awarded to assess the role of race in predicting heart disease
The American Heart Association funds four new projects to study how race in clinical algorithms affects equitable decision-making
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Highlights:
The American Heart Association awarded four new scientific research grants to evaluate the role of race in measuring heart disease risk.
The funded studies are focused on multi-ethnic groups and studying how race, considered a social rather than biological construct, affects health risk prediction when it is incorporated as a variable in algorithms.
This research is funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation to study the complex issue of how race and ethnicity, when factored into cardiovascular clinical care algorithms and risk prediction tools, affect equitable decision-making resulting from those algorithms.
DALLAS, April 29, 2024 — People with heart disease may receive different care because of how race is interpreted in health risk calculators and other tools that help clinicians make treatment decisions. The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, awarded four new grants this month to support scientific research that will evaluate the use of race in predicting heart disease risk and in turn help develop tools that are free of bias.
The newly funded principal investigators join six previous awardees who are part of a two-year scientific research strategy funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation to study the complex issue of how race and ethnicity factor into clinical care algorithms and risk prediction tools. The grants are $50,000 each.
Clinical algorithms are formulas used to analyze health data and help determine a person’s risk for disease or guide their treatment decisions. Age, weight, information from blood or imaging tests, personal health history and health habits — like physical activity and smoking — are among the many types of data used by clinical algorithms. Some algorithms include race or ethnicity in their analysis to account for disproportionate disease rates among individuals of certain races or ethnicities. However, there has been growing scientific interest in reconsidering how race is used in risk calculators because race-corrected algorithms can negatively impact patient care and outcomes.
“These innovative research projects are focused on testing many different risk models that include a variety of health variables in an effort to remove racial bias from clinical algorithms. Our hope is that this research helps change the discourse about how race is considered in risk calculation,” said Jennifer Hall, Ph.D., FAHA, chief of data science for the American Heart Association.
The teams of scientists who received funding for the Debiasing Clinical Care Algorithms Data Grants are from Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, University of Miami in Florida, University of Washington in Seattle and Boston University in Massachusetts.
The four research projects launched April 1, 2024, and will end March 31, 2025:
Fair opportunistic risk estimation model for ASCVD using routine non-contrast chest computed tomography exams – led by Amara Tariq, Ph.D., at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. This study aims to develop a machine learning model to estimate risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including stroke and heart attack, using non-contrast computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest. A deep learning-based pipeline will be developed to derive imaging biomarkers like coronary artery calcium, thoracic aortic calcium, intrathoracic fat and body composition metrics, from chest CT scans. These biomarkers are known to predict the risk of future ASCVD. This study is particularly focused on ensuring that the developed tool is fair and unbiased for all racial subgroups by incorporating adversarial debiasing techniques during model development. The developed model will be evaluated on diverse patient populations from large academic healthcare institutions.
Performance of race-based versus non race-based CVD risk calculators in a multi-racial/ethnic sample – led by Robert A. Mesa, M.P.H., a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida. This study will assess the American Heart Association’s Predicting Risk of CVD EVENTs (PREVENT) calculator in a multi-ethnic/multi-racial population. Researchers will use data from the Northern Manhattan Study, which is made up of more than 3,000 community-based participants. The group is 37% male and 63% female with 20% identified as non-Hispanic white, 25% non-Hispanic Black and 53% Hispanic background. The team will estimate ASCVD risk among these participants using both the race-specific pooled cohort equation (PCE) and the race-free PREVENT equation. They will then determine which equation better predicts 10-year risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
Re-evaluating the role of race/ethnicity in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA) and coronary heart disease risk – led by Quinn White, B.A., a Ph.D. student in biostatistics at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. This study will examine a race-free version of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Risk Score. Researchers will update the model to remove race and ethnicity.
Assessing the role and importance of race and ethnicity in the clinical algorithm for predicting ASCVD – led by Yixin Zhang, M.S., a biostatistics Ph.D. candidate at Boston University in Massachusetts. This study has two objectives. One objective is to assess whether self-reported race and ethnicity affect atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk prediction. The researchers will compare the Pooled Cohorts Equation, which considers race, with the new AHA Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT) calculator that does not consider race. The second objective evaluates the extent to which a combined effect of social and environmental determinants explains the association between race/ethnicity and risk. They will assess whether social determinants of health and social deprivation index can replace race/ethnicity as representations of health disparities.
The American Heart Association has funded more than $5 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research since 1949. New knowledge resulting from this funding benefits millions of lives in every corner of the U.S. and around the world.
The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Development and characterization of honey-containing nanoemulsion for topical delivery
XIA & HE PUBLISHING INC.
Background and objectives
Honey is a viscous, hygroscopic liquid in nature. It has the ability to treat wounds, wrinkles, aging, and inflammation. This study’s objective was to create and characterize a nanoemulsion containing honey and evaluate its stability.
Methods
A pseudo-ternary phase diagram was retraced with several concentrations of the Smix, water, and liquid paraffin oil to formulate nanoemulsions containing honey. From the results of pre-formulation stability studies, formulation HNE-19, with a hydrophilic lipophilic balance value of 10, and a surfactant and oil ratio of 1:1, was selected as the most stable formulation. HNE-19 and base (B-19) were further subjected to thermodynamic studies of heating and cooling cycles and centrifugation. HNE-19 and its respective base B-19 were characterized for physical changes, droplet size analysis, pH measurements, turbidity, viscosity, and rheological parameters for a period of 90 days.
Results
Results showed that the nanoemulsion containing honey was clear and milky white. There was no evidence of phase separation in HNE-19 and B-19 after the thermodynamic study. The droplet size of fresh HNE-19 was 91.07 nm with a zeta potential of −38.5 mV. After three months, the droplet size and zeta potential were 197.06 nm and −32.5 mV respectively. The observed pH was between 5.8 and 6.7, which corresponds with the pH of the skin. HNE-19 showed non-Newtonian flow and pseudo-plastic behaviour.
Conclusions
A honey-loaded nanoemulsion (HNE-19) was successfully developed and characterized for stability. The nanoemulsion was thermodynamically stable. With the good rheology and stability of honey, the size of the nanodroplets was below 200 nm. Throughout the 90-day testing period, the nanoemulsion maintained normal pH values that corresponded to skin pH. The emulsion also showed non-Newtonian flow and pseudo-plastic behaviour, which are required for ideal topical formulation. In conclusion, stability studies and characterization showed that nanoemulsions containing honey are exceptional topical delivery formulations.
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (JERP) publishes original innovative exploratory research articles, state-of-the-art reviews, editorials, short communications that focus on novel findings and the most recent advances in basic and clinical pharmacology, covering topics from drug research, drug development, clinical trials and application.
Development and Characterization of Honey-containing Nanoemulsion for Topical Delivery
Quantum fiber optics in the brain enhance processing, may protect against degenerative diseases
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
IMAGE:
LARGE QUANTUM OPTICAL NETWORKS OF TRYPTOPHAN IN PROTEIN ARCHITECTURES – THE KINDS FOUND IN MAMMALIAN BRAINS, BUT ALSO IN ALL EUKARYOTES AND EVEN IN SOME BACTERIA – INFLUENCE THEIR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO AN ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT STIMULUS. THESE LATTICES OF TRYPTOPHAN, AN AMINO ACID THAT STRONGLY ABSORBS AND EMITS IN THE ULTRAVIOLET, ARE SCAFFOLDED WITHIN MUCH LARGER PROTEIN ASSEMBLIES THAT SELF-ORGANIZE IN NEURONS, CENTRIOLES, CILIA, AND FLAGELLA. THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH A COOPERATIVE AND ULTRAFAST OPTICAL RESPONSE IN CYTOSKELETAL FILAMENTS, NEURON FIBERS, AND OTHER CELLULAR ORGANELLES REVEALS THEIR ABILITY TO PROCESS ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY AND INFORMATION IN UNANTICIPATED WAYS. LIFE HAS THUS FOUND A WAY TO EXPLOIT MOLECULAR SYMMETRIES TO ENHANCE COLLECTIVE QUANTUM OPTICAL BEHAVIORS, WHICH ARE ROBUST TO WARM AND WET ENVIRONMENTS. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT THE Quantum Biology Laboratory.
CREDIT: QUANTUM BIOLOGY LABORATORY: NATHAN BABCOCK AND PHILIP KURIAN
WASHINGTON, DC – (April 26, 2024) The effects of quantum mechanics—the laws of physics that apply at exceedingly small scales—are extremely sensitive to disturbances. This is why quantum computers must be held at temperatures colder than outer space, and only very, very small objects, such as atoms and molecules, generally display quantum properties. By quantum standards, biological systems are quite hostile environments: they’re warm and chaotic, and even their fundamental components—such as cells—are considered very large.
But a group of theoretical and experimental researchers has discovered a distinctly quantum effect in biology that survives these difficult conditions and may also present a way for the brain to protect itself from degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The result, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry and selected as an Editors’ Choice by Science magazine, is not only an important discovery for neuroscience, but also suggests new applications of techniques for quantum computing researchers, and represents a new way of thinking about the relationship between life and quantum mechanics.
“I believe that our work is a quantum leap for quantum biology, taking us beyond photosynthesis and into other realms of exploration: investigating implications for quantum information processing, and discovering new therapeutic approaches for complex diseases,” said Philip Kurian, Ph.D., principal investigator and founding director of the Quantum Biology Laboratory at Howard University in Washington, DC. The study was supported by The Guy Foundation.
SINGLE-PHOTON SUPERRADIANCE
The star of the study is tryptophan: a molecule that is most associated with turkey dinners but is also found in many biological contexts. As an amino acid, it’s a fundamental building block for proteins and larger structures made from those proteins, such as cilia, flagella, and centrioles.
A lone molecule of tryptophan displays a fairly standard quantum property: it can absorb a particle of light (called a photon) at a certain frequency and emit another photon at a different frequency. This process is called fluorescence and is very often used in studies to investigate protein responses.
But the study found that a strange thing happens when many, many tryptophan molecules are arranged in a symmetrical network, like they are in larger structures like centrioles—they fluoresce stronger and faster than they would if they were fluorescing independently. The collective behavior is called “superradiance,” and it only happens with single photons because of quantum mechanics.
This result demonstrates a fundamental quantum effect in a place where quantum effects are not typically expected to be able to survive: a larger object in a warm, “noisy” environment.
“This publication is the fruit of a decade of work thinking of these networks as key drivers for important quantum effects at the cellular level,” said Kurian.
“It’s a beautiful result,” said Professor Majed Chergui of The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland, who led the experimental team. “It took very precise and careful application of standard protein spectroscopy methods, but guided by the theoretical predictions of our collaborators, we were able to confirm a stunning signature of superradiance in a micron-scale biological system.”
NEURONS
These large tryptophan networks exist in neurons, the cells that make up the mammalian nervous system. The presence of quantum superradiance in the fiber-like bundles of neurons has two big potential implications: protection against degenerative diseases, and the transmission of quantum signals in the brain.
Degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s have been associated with high degrees of oxidative stress—when the body carries a large number of free radicals, which can emit damaging, high-energy UV light particles.
Tryptophan can absorb this ultraviolet light and re-emit it at a lower, safer energy. And, as this study found, very large tryptophan networks can do this even more efficiently and robustly because of their powerful quantum effects.
“This photoprotection may prove crucial in ameliorating or halting the progression of degenerative illness,” said Kurian. “We hope this will inspire a range of new experiments to understand how quantum-enhanced photoprotection plays a role in complex pathologies that thrive on highly oxidative conditions.”
The second implication for superradiance in the brain has to do with how neurons transmit signals. The standard model for neuronal signaling involves ions moving across membranes from one end of the neuron to the other, in a chemical process that takes a few milliseconds for each signal. But neuroscience researchers have only recently become aware that this can’t be the whole story.
Superradiance in the brain happens in under a picosecond—a billionth of a millisecond. These tryptophan networks could be functioning as quantum fiber optics that allow the brain to process information hundreds of millions of times faster than chemical processes alone would allow.
“The Kurian group and coworkers have enriched our understanding of information flows in biology at the quantum level,” said Michael Levin, director of the Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, who was not associated with the work. “Such quantum optical networks are widespread, not only in neural systems but broadly throughout the web of life. The remarkable properties of this signaling and information-processing modality could be hugely relevant for evolutionary, physical, and computational biology.”
QUANTUM INFORMATION
The theoretical side of this work has drawn the attention of researchers in quantum technology, because the survival of fragile quantum effects in a “messy” environment is of great interest to those who want to make quantum information technology more resilient. Kurian says he’s had conversations with several quantum technology researchers who were surprised to find such a connection in the biological sciences.
“These new results will be of interest to the large community of researchers in open quantum systems and quantum computation, because the theoretical methods used in this study are widely employed in those fields to understand complex quantum networks in noisy environments,” said Professor Nicolò Defenu of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich in Switzerland, a quantum researcher who was not associated with the work. “It’s really intriguing to see a vital connection between quantum computing and living systems.”
The work also drew the attention of quantum physicist Marlan Scully, a laser pioneer in the field of quantum optics and one of the leading experts on superradiance. “Single-photon superradiance promises to yield new tools for storing quantum information, and this work showcases its effects in a totally new and different context,” Scully said. “We will certainly be examining closely the implications for quantum effects in living systems for years to come.”
Ultraviolet superradiance from mega-networks of tryptophan in biological architectures
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
19-Apr-2024
“Phytopathology Research Forum” highlights advances in plant pathology research in China
The spring edition of the biannual event successfully foreran the “Asian Conference on Plant Pathology 2024” scheduled for August 2024
PHYTOPATHOLOGY RESEARCH
IMAGE:
THE ONE-DAY PHYTOPATHOLOGY RESEARCH EVENT SAW PARTICIPATION FROM HUNDREDS OF EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, WHERE THEY EXCHANGED KNOWLEDGE ON THE LATEST RESEARCH UPDATES IN PLANT DISEASES AND DISEASE CONTROL.
Plant diseases have historically threatened sustainable and secure food, feed, and fiber supplies, whether due to pathogens, unfavorable environmental conditions, or both. Therefore, the scientific discipline of phytopathology or plant pathology, focused on plant disease research became an important field of study. China was no exception—phytopathology has been an intensely explored field since the 1900s. Frequent knowledge exchange events are essential for disseminating research findings and facilitating their real-world applications. Phytopathology Research Forum is one such event that successfully concluded its spring edition on 26 March 2024.
Hosted at the Institute of Plant Protection at China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, the forum attracted around 200 participants on-site and garnered over 17,000 views online. The Chinese Society of Plant Pathology facilitated the one-day event attended by phytopathology enthusiasts and experts from academic institutions all over China, including Shandong Agricultural University, the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Sun Yat-sen University.
The event was chaired by Professor You-Liang Peng, the Editor-in-Chief of Phytopathology Research. Dr. Qian Qian, a leading researcher and deputy director of the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, China, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech on ‘Promoting biological breeding and taking proactive measures for germplasm safety.’ The speech emphasized on the molecular breeding technology and its progress in China, driven by cutting-edge gene editing technology. Dr. Qian also discussed future development trends and potential challenges in the field. Furthermore, Dr. Qian highlighted the importance of adopting and developing provenance security—measures for ensuring the integrity, safety, and reliability of the origin or source of agricultural products—on a global scale. Professor Jun Liu from China Agricultural University and one of the Executive Editors-in-Chief of Phytopathology Research delivered the concluding speech at the event.
“Phytopathology Research initiated the very first international Phytopathology Research Forum in December 2023. Our aim was to facilitate discussions about cutting-edge developments in plant pathology research, phytopathology research innovations, and domestic and foreign academic exchanges,” states Prof. Liu. Notably, this open access journal, published by BioMed Central (part of Springer Nature), covers the newest findings in the fields of plant disease and disease control, bringing phytopathology research in China to the forefront globally since its launch in 2019.
The Chinese Society of Plant Pathology, the forum organizer, intends to follow up with the "Asian Conference on Plant Pathology 2024" (ACPP 2024), scheduled from 3–7 August 2024 at Holiday Inn Changchun Jingyue Hotel, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. Jilin Agricultural University, Jilin University, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Provincial Agro-Tech Extension Center, and Jilin Society for Plant Pathology will jointly host this seventh edition of ACPP. The theme of ACPP 2024 is “Crop Health in Modern Agriculture,” covering broad phytopathology research areas from disease diagnosis and management to emerging plant diseases.
When asked about the significance of ACPP 2024, Prof. Peng enthusiastically says, "ACPP 2024 is a prestigious international event that brings together renowned scientists, researchers, and industry professionals in the field of plant pathology. It aims to assess the current state and advancements in plant pathology, as well as foster communication and collaboration among all participants ."
Indeed, research events such as the Phytopathology Research Forum and the upcoming Asian Conference on Plant Pathology 2024 serve as pivotal platforms for addressing the enduring challenge of plant diseases threatening global food security. Initiatives like these underscore China’s commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability and crop health on a global scale.
Details of hurricane Ian’s aftermath captured with new remote sensing method
Study first to use LiDAR, aerial imagery to remotely assess structural damage and beach structural changes
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
VIDEO:
AERIAL VIEWS OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S ESTERO ISLAND IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE IAN IN 2022.
CREDIT: RYAN SLOAN AND JAMES GAMMACK-CLARK, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida’s Lee County on Sept. 28, 2022, battering the region with wind speeds of 155 miles per hour and storm surge up to 13 feet – the highest storm surge documented in Southwest Florida in the past 150 years.
In the aftermath of a disaster, rapidly assessing damage is critical for rescue, recovery and emergency planning. Damage assessments are typically conducted through field reconnaissance deployments, which can be labor-intensive, costly and risky. Moreover, field-based emergency response assessments can be hindered by delays and other setbacks due to the severity of the damage and the inability to access the hardest hit areas.
Using remote sensing technology, Florida Atlantic University researchers have developed a novel technique that provides rapid, high-resolution assessments of detailed damage after a hurricane. Using aerial imagery data and LiDAR, they identified the hardest-hit areas of Southwest Florida’s Estero Island and estimated the extent of structural damage. Researchers also compared pre- and post-storm structural or morphological changes to the beach. The study is the first to apply an advanced multi-faceted approach that links damage assessment to post-storm change in the structure of barrier islands.
Results of the study, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, identified a total of 2,427 structures on Estero Island that were impacted by Hurricane Ian, with 170 structures suffering extensive damage. A single store was the only structure in the study area classified as “not affected.”
Using data from the Lee County tax appraiser, researchers estimated the total assessed value of the heavily damaged structures at more than $200 million.
Overall, 734 buildings had 30 to 50 percent structural damage, the majority of which were single-family and multi-unit residences. Researchers identified 158 buildings that were severely damaged with partial or complete roof failure.
The highest percentage of damaged structures occurred on the central and northern portions of the island, where most of the structures were single-family and multi-family residences. Most of the structures that experienced 0 to 30 percent damage were classified as low-rise condominiums (three stories or less), commercial shopping centers and stores. Among the “severely damaged” and “destroyed” structures were seven mobile home subdivisions.
“Employing this advanced technology of aerial imagery and airborne LiDAR enabled us to collect extensive data from Hurricane Ian’s aftermath and analyze large-scale datasets rather quickly,” said Tiffany Roberts Briggs, Ph.D., senior author, chair and an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
The 2,427 structures were built between 1963 to 2019. The buildings in the areas where less damage was observed were built between 1963 and 1981. Similarly, in the areas of heavy damage, the majority of the buildings were built between 1963 and 1981. The spatial distribution of ground elevation and year built indicated no apparent trends associated with these two variables.
“We found no correlation between the ground elevation or year built for the extent of damages in this analysis, which emphasizes the role of the extreme inundation and importance of other factors contributing to vulnerability,” said Roberts Briggs. “Results from our study can help improve disaster planning by developing new policies and guidelines for coastal development in some of the most vulnerable and storm-exposed areas.”
Areas associated with little to no damage were spatially clustered in the southern and central portion of the island, with most structures concentrated on the landward side of the barrier island.
“The southern portion of Estero Island contains multiple saltwater marshes,” said Leanne Hauptman, first author and a Ph.D. student in FAU’s Department of Geosciences. “Because of these saltwater marshes, storm-wave energy may been substantially dissipated by friction by the time the waves reached the barrier interior, potentially lessening the impact on the structures in that area.”
Findings also showed substantial post-storm debris and sand deposition across the entire island, and a notable deposition of sediment across the roadways and on the backside of the barrier, which is not readily returned seaward to the beach under post-storm conditions. Ponding water also was found hundreds of meters inland near buildings and other structures, providing evidence of the extent of inundation resulting from the storm.
“Although our study focused on Estero Island, this new remote sensing approach is generalizable,” said Diana Mitsova, Ph.D., corresponding author, chair and professor, FAU Department of Urban and Regional Planning within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and an affiliate professor, FAU Department of Geosciences. “As this technology continues to advance and becomes more readily available, it will offer a broad range of high-resolution coverage that can help prioritize emergency response efforts immediately following catastrophic natural disasters and other events.”
For the study, analysis of beach morphology was conducted by creating profile graphs to visualize elevation changes over a continuous distance. To measure structural damage, researchers use LiDAR tools to extract building footprints and building heights pre- and post-storm. Building footprints were overlaid on the post-imagery to estimate the total number of damaged buildings as well as the level of damage to each structure.
- FAU -
About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
An ariel view of the structural damage on Southwest Florida’s Estero Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Structural damage on Southwest Florida’s Estero Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Structural damage on Southwest Florida’s Estero Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
