Knowledge Update

Beijing, Nov 8 (IANS) Doctors in China's Chongqing municipality have successfully replaced a section of a female cancer patient's forehead with a 3D-printed part.

The patient who is in her early 20s has had recurrent tumours for over 16 years, and has kept her hair long at the front to cover the growths, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I have had bangs for over a decade, finally I can grow my hair out and not be paranoid about my tumours," she explained.

When her tumours first began to show, around 16 years ago, the patient had them removed but they returned and grew back larger than before. Despite multiple operations over the years, the tumours kept returning.

The tumours were eventually identified as benign, but due to their location they put pressure against her right eye socket, meaning if they were not removed they would likely impair her vision and limit her motor skills. Doctors agreed that a complete excision was the only suitable procedure.

Moreover, due to the location of her tumours the operation would disfigure her face and the damage would be almost impossible to repair by traditional plastic surgery.

After discussion, a 3D-printed bone replica procedure was agreed as the best operation.

She underwent a high-precision CT scan so that doctors could create a 3D reconstruction of her skull and print a 1:1 replica of the bone part, with a precision of 20 microns.

The replica piece was then implanted and fixed in place with titanium screws. The operation, which was conducted earlier this month, was a success and she was discharged from hospital a week after going under the knife. 

New York, Nov 8 (IANS) Researchers have developed a new system for self-driving scooter that can help mobility-impaired users to get down the hall and through the lobby of an apartment building, or pick up an autonomous car on the public roads.

The autonomous mobility scooter and related software were designed by researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).

"It's extraordinary to me, because it's a project that the team conducted in about two months," said Daniela Rus, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT.

The researchers' system includes several layers of software -- low-level control algorithms that enable a vehicle to respond immediately to changes in its environment, such as a pedestrian darting across its path; route-planning algorithms; localisation algorithms that the vehicle uses to determine its location on a map; map-building algorithms that it uses to construct the map in the first place; a scheduling algorithm that allocates fleet resources; and an online booking system that allows users to schedule rides.

The researchers had previously used the same sensor configuration and software in trials of autonomous cars and golf carts, so the new trial completes the demonstration of a comprehensive autonomous mobility system. 

Using the same control algorithms for all types of vehicles -- scooters, golf carts, and city cars -- has several advantages. One is that it becomes much more practical to perform reliable analyses of the system's overall performance.

"If you have a uniform system where all the algorithms are the same, the complexity is much lower than if you have a heterogeneous system where each vehicle does something different," Rus said.

"That's useful for verifying that this multilayer complexity is correct," Rus added.

Software uniformity also means that the scheduling algorithm has more flexibility in its allocation of system resources. 

If an autonomous golf cart is not available to take a user across a public park, a scooter could fill in; if a city car is not available for a short trip on back roads, a golf cart might be.

The researchers described the design of the scooter system and the results of a trial in a paper they presented recently at the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

New York, Nov 8 (IANS) Researchers, including one of Indian origin, have identified a human antibody that in pregnant mice prevents the foetus from becoming infected with Zika virus and damaging the placenta.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that has emerged as a global public health threat. 

The antibody, called ZIKV-117, also protected adult mice from Zika disease, the researchers said.

"The anti-Zika antibodies are able to keep the foetus safe from harm by blocking the virus from crossing the placenta," said Indira Mysorekar, Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

"This is the first antiviral that has been seen to work in pregnancy to protect developing foetuses from Zika virus," added Michael Diamond, Professor at Washington University.

In the study, the antibody ZIKV-117 neutralised all strains of Zika virus tested, including African, Asian and American lineages.

Pregnant mice that received the antibody and were then infected with Zika virus showed lower levels of Zika virus in their blood and brain tissues than mice not treated with ZIKV-117.

Further, the treated mice showed protective levels of ZIKV-117 in foetal tissues and markedly reduced levels of virus in the placenta and the foetal brain. 

The placentas from the treated females appeared normal and healthy, unlike those from the untreated females, which showed destruction of the placental structure. 

"We did not see any damage to the foetal blood vessels, thinning of the placenta or any growth restriction in the foetuses of the antibody-treated mice," Mysorekar said. 

In addition, male mice that received a single dose of ZIKV-117 even five days after Zika infection were more likely to survive than those given a control antibody, suggesting that ZIKV-117 could treat active Zika infection.

These findings suggested that ZIKV-117 may reduce mother-to-foetus virus transmission and also neutralise Zika virus that reaches the foetus, the researchers said, adding that the study may also aid development of vaccines and therapies for Zika virus infection.

The study appears in the journal 'Nature'.

​London, Nov 8 (IANS) Individuals with Vitamin D deficiency can be at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, a study has warned.

Vitamin D, which is produced by the body through exposure to sunshine, helps the body control calcium and phosphate levels. It can also be obtained from food sources such as fatty fish and egg yolks. 

According to previous studies, Vitamin D deficiency causes health problems including cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, autoimmune conditions, and cancer.

In the study, the researchers looked at the cells that line the bladder, known as transitional epithelial cells, and found that these cells are able to activate and respond to Vitamin D, which in turn can stimulate an immune response. 

This is important because the immune system may have a role in cancer prevention by identifying abnormal cells before they develop into cancer, said lead author Rosemary Bland, from the University of Warwick in Britain.

"More clinical studies are required to test this association, but our work suggests that low levels of Vitamin D in the blood may prevent the cells within the bladder from stimulating an adequate response to abnormal cells," Bland added. 

In addition, Bland noted that as Vitamin D is cheap and safe, its potential use in cancer prevention is exciting and could potentially impact the lives of many people.

For the study, researchers reviewed seven studies. Five out of these seven linked low Vitamin D levels to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

The findings were presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Brighton.

​New York, Nov 8 (IANS) Researchers have identified a new way to block the action of genetic mutations found in nearly 30 per cent of all cancers.

Mutations in genes for the RAS family of proteins are present in nearly 90 per cent of pancreatic cancers and are also highly prevalent in colon cancer, lung cancer and melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

"We did not look for a drug or specifically for an inhibitor," said John O'Bryan, Associate Professor at University of Illinois College of Medicine in the US.

"We used monobody technology, a type of protein-engineering technology, to identify regions of RAS that are critical for its function," O'Bryan said.

Unlike conventional antibodies, monobodies are not dependent on their environment and can be readily used as genetically encoded inhibitors, O'Bryan said.

"The beauty of the technology is that when a monobody binds a protein, it usually works as an inhibitor of that protein," he said.

The prevalence of RAS mutations in human cancers and the dependence of tumors on RAS for survival has made a RAS a prime target for cancer research and drug discovery. 

Scientists and drug developers have long studied RAS oncogenes hoping to find a new treatment for cancer, but they have not yet been able to identify drugs that safely inhibit the oncogene's activity.

The researchers discovered that a synthetic binding protein they call "NS1 monobody," which they created in the lab, can block the activity of the RAS proteins.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, provide important insight into long-standing questions about how RAS proteins function in cells. 

"Development of effective RAS inhibitors represents a 'holy grail' in cancer biology," O'Bryan said. 

"We now have a powerful tool we can use to further probe RAS function. While future studies and trials are needed before these findings can be leveraged outside the lab, this study provides new insight into how we can potentially inhibit RAS to slow tumour growth," he added.

Beijing, Nov 7 (IANS) China will have 58 million kilowatts (kw) of installed nuclear power by 2020 as it expands its clean energy network and pursues green growth, the country's energy regulator announced on Monday.

​New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) When Google launched artificial intelligence (AI)-powered premium devices Pixel and Pixel XL earlier this month, the message was clear: The device with the personal Google Assistant built right in sounded the threat bugle for Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The comparison is natural, especially in the absence of another flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which leaves Google and Apple fighting for the premium segment. Google has been synonymous with innovation. This time, with a brand new Android OS Nougat and Google Assistant, Pixel devices are set to counter Apple's iOS 10 and intelligent assistant Siri. Let us see what the 5.5-inch Pixel XL (32GB, black colour) has for Indian consumers who are searching for a premium smartphone. The aluminum and glass-built device looks elegant and fits comfortably in the palm. Unlike Nexus 6P, which had a thin glass strip at the top, Pixel XL's back panel has almost one-third glass covering. Putting an end to Android users' long wait, the Google Assistant in Pixel XL definitely has an edge over Apple's Siri. See for yourself. When asked, :Are you a man or a woman?", Google Assistant responded with answers like "I'm all inclusive :D" and "Does it really matter?" while Siri staidly replied: "I was not assigned a gender." To "Who will win the US presidential election?" Google Assistant displayed poll results by the New York Times, The Telegraph and Independent while Siri returned Wikipedia and Quora with an iOS 10-powered iPhone. While searching restaurants near our office, Google Assistant displayed food joints as close as 300 metres while Siri said that the nearest restaurant is 600 metres away. To further test its intelligence, Google Assistant was asked, "Who is Siri?" It explained, "Siri is Apple's intelligent assistant. She is very witty." Siri, however, was more informative than Google Assistant when asked "Who is the Prime Minister of India?". While Siri threw up results like when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister and how long has he been serving, Google Assistant came back only with his name. Google Assistant can tell jokes, remember your passwords and even set the alarm for you in a clear voice. The "Pixel Imprint" fingerprint scanner is located at the back and is extremely responsive. It not only unlocked the device in a split second but also accepted (authorised) half a fingerprint for unlocking. While lock and volume up/down buttons are on the right of the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protected AMOLED display, a nano-SIM slot sits at the left bumper of the device. Google has retained Type-C charging port that charged the 3,450 mAh battery in a flat 48 minutes. The device with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 821 Quad core processor and 4GB DDR4 RAM will get first updates and free unlimited cloud space is not to be missed. Google has put in a lot of accessories inside the box, including a two-way Type-C port cable ensuring OTG device (also included) support. With this cable, one can charge Pixel XL with another phone having a Type-C port. The smartphone runs like a charm on Android Nougat 7.1 -- the only device till date to have it. The apps explorer icon is replaced by a pull-up App Drawer which is more convenient. A swipe right on the screen brings the notable search results in line with browsing history. When we swiped right, information about the FC Barcelona vs Manchester City football match; updates about the Indian Soccer League tournament; and scores for the India vs New Zealand One-Day cricket match popped up. Pixel's 12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0 has been rated the highest ever 89 DxOMark Mobile score. It is very fast, responsive and has a video stabilising mode. As expected, the photos in broad daylight were stunning. Even in "very low light conditions", the camera did not disappoint. Under natural light at 7 pm, the photos clicked without flash had clarity and little grains while the photo taken with flash were sharper. As compared to shooting video in normal mode, we noticed a remarkable difference when we shot the same video with "Video Stabilisation" on. There were low or no jerks and no picture distortion. The 8MP camera works fine and while using it with Google's video calling app Duo, the receiver gets a sharper image (as compared to the Nexus 6P). One can even try new gestures, relish the audio output and save unlimited data online in original quality for free. What doesn't work? Pixel devices are not waterproof. At a time when Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (and the now discontinued Galaxy Note 7) and Apple are offering IP68 rating (waterproof ratings), Pixel smartphones fall behind in this category. The camera does not have an optical image stabilisation feature and the Type-C to Type-C charging is slow. Conclusion: If you think about shelling out Rs 72,000 for the 32GB variant of iPhone 7 Plus, consider Google Pixel XL for Rs 67,000 as your date with Google Assistant will floor you without any doubt.

​New York, Nov 7 (IANS) Consuming sodium in the form of a dairy product, such as cheese, may protect against some of sodium's effects on the cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure, researchers say.

According to researchers, the protection comes from antioxidant properties of dairy proteins in cheese.

The results suggest that when sodium is consumed in cheese it does not have the negative vascular effects that researchers observed with sodium from non-dairy sources.

"We found that when participants ate a lot of sodium in cheese, they had better blood vessel function -- more blood flow -- compared to when they ate an equal amount of sodium from non-dairy sources -- in this case, pretzels and soy cheese," said Anna Stanhewicz, post-doctoral fellow at the Pennsylvania State University.

"The novel finding may have implications for dietary recommendations. Newer dietary recommendations suggest limiting sodium, but our data suggest that eating sodium in the form of a dairy product, such as cheese, may be protective," added Lacy Alexander, Associate Professor at the Pennsylvania State University.

For the study, the researchers fed participants dairy cheese, pretzels or soy cheese on five separate occasions, three days apart.

They then compared the effects of each food on the cardiovascular system using a laser-Doppler, which shines a weak laser light onto the skin.

Further, the study revealed soy served as an additional control to match the fat, salt and protein content from a dietary source that is not dairy-based.

Participants who had more nitric oxide-moderated dilation after eating dairy cheese, compared to after eating pretzels or soy cheese, the researchers observed, in the paper reported in the British Journal of Nutrition.

New York, Nov 7 (IANS) Struggling to shed those extra kilos? Worry not, as a new study suggests eating dinner early by mid-afternoon and following it by an 18-hour daily fast or until breakfast the next morning may help with losing weight.

The new research revealed that eating a very early dinner, or even skipping dinner, may reduce swings in hunger, alter fat and carbohydrate burning patterns, which may help in losing weight.

"The study found that eating between 8.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. followed by an 18-hour daily fast kept appetite levels more even throughout the day, in comparison to eating between 8.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m.," said lead author Courtney Peterson from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, US.

"Eating only during a much smaller window of time than people are typically used to may help with weight loss," Peterson added.

The body has a internal clock, and many aspects of metabolism are at their optimal functioning in the morning.

Therefore, eating in alignment with the body's circadian clock by eating earlier in the day can positively influence health, the researchers explained.

The study showed that although the early time-restricted feeding (eTRF) strategy did not affect the amount of calories burnt by participants, it reduced daily hunger swings and increased fat burning during several hours at night.

It also improved metabolic flexibility, which is the body's ability to switch between burning carbs and fats. Whether eTRF helps with weight loss or improves other aspects of health is still unknown.

"These preliminary findings suggest for the first time in humans what we've seen in animal models -- that the timing of eating during the day does have an impact on our metabolism," said Dale Schoeller, Professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, US.

The findings were presented at The Obesity Society Annual Meeting at the ObesityWeek 2016 in Louisiana.

​Sydney, Nov 7 (IANS) The year 2015, which is on record the hottest year globally, could become the new normal by 2040 if carbon emissions continue to rise at their current rate, researchers have warned.

However, with immediate and strong action on carbon emissions, it is still possible to prevent record-breaking seasons from becoming the new average -- at least at regional levels, the study said.

Only days ago, the historic Paris Agreement came into force, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible to prevent dangerous tipping points in the climate system.

As of now, the Paris Climate Change Agreement has been joined by only 97 countries, including India, accounting for just over two-thirds of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

According to lead author Sophie Lewis from the Australian National University (ANU), no matter what action we take, human activities have already locked in a "new normal" for global average temperatures that would occur not later than 2040.

"If we continue with business-as-usual emissions, extreme seasons will inevitably become the norm within decades and Australia will be the canary in the coal mine that will experience this change first," Lewis added.

For the study, using the National Computational Infrastructure supercomputer at ANU to run climate models, the researchers explored when new normal states would appear under the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change's four emissions pathways.

The ANU study coincides with the UN climate change conference in Marrakech, the first meeting of the Paris Agreement's governing body.

The Marrakech conference gives developed countries the opportunity to present their roadmap to mobilise the pledged $100 billion in annual support to developing countries by 2020.

The team of researchers also examined seasonal temperatures from December to February across Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

The results revealed that while global average temperatures would inevitably enter a new normal under all emissions scenarios, this was not the case at seasonal and regional levels.

"It gives us hope to know that if we act quickly to reduce greenhouse gases, seasonal extremes might never enter a new normal state in the 21st Century at regional levels for the Southern Hemisphere summer and Northern Hemisphere winter," Lewis said, in the paper published in the Bulletin of American Meteorological Society.