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Beijing, A chemotherapy medication originally developed to treat <keyword id="63672" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lymphoma">lymphoma</keyword> has outperformed the popular remdesivir drug against SARS-CoV-2 in lab settings, and could potentially be repurposed to treat <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">Covid-19</keyword>, say researchers. A novel computational drug screening strategy combined with <keyword id="10531201" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lab-experiments">lab experiments</keyword> suggest that pralatrexate drug is a promising candidate for Covid-19 patients. The novel screening approach identified four promising <keyword id="14721" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Drugs">drugs</keyword>, which were then tested against SARS-CoV-2 in lab experiments. Two of the drugs, pralatrexate and azithromycin, successfully inhibited replication of the virus. Further lab experiments showed that pralatrexate more strongly inhibited viral replication than did remdesivir, a drug that is currently used to treat some Covid-19 patients, said Haiping Zhang of the <keyword id="10531200" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="shenzhen-institutes">Shenzhen Institutes</keyword> of Advanced Technology in <keyword id="95282" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shenzhen">Shenzhen</keyword>, China. Zhanh and team screened 1,906 existing drugs for their potential ability to inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 by targeting a viral protein called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). The findings, published in open-access journal <keyword id="1318021" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PLoS-Computational-Biology">PLOS Computational Biology</keyword>, suggest that pralatrexate could potentially be repurposed to treat Covid-19. "However, this chemotherapy drug can prompt significant side effects and is used for people with terminal lymphoma, so immediate use for Covid-19 patients is not guaranteed. Still, the findings support the use of the new screening strategy to identify drugs that could be repurposed," the researchers noted. With the Covid-19 pandemic causing illness and death worldwide, better treatments are urgently needed. One shortcut could be to repurpose existing drugs that were originally developed to treat other conditions. "We have demonstrated the value of our novel hybrid approach that combines deep-learning technologies with more traditional simulations of molecular dynamics," Zhang said. He and his colleagues are now developing additional computational methods for generating novel molecular structures that could be developed into new drugs to treat Covid-19. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/kia-motors-11-electric-vehicles-in-2021-but-india-may-have-to-wait-longer-to-buy/articleshow/80056447.cms">INTERVIEW: Kia Motors’ 2021 plan includes 11 electric vehicle launches ⁠— but India may have to wait longer</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/india-edtech-in-charts-how-the-shi[%E2%80%A6]es-of-byjus-unacademy-and-others/articleshow/80040270.cms">India’s edtech in charts – How the shift to online learning meant money, valuation and users for the likes of BYJU’S, Unacademy, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-announces-free-domestic-voice-calls-from-january-1/articleshow/80044256.cms">Jio announces free domestic voice calls from January 1</a>

Lymphoma drug outperforms Remdesivir against COVID-19 virus

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Scientists are studying a new threat emerging from melting permafrost: ancient viruses.</li><li>A new study says these pathogens could pose significant risks to modern-day humans.</li></ul>As permafrost thaws across the world due to a warming climate, scientists are researching a potential new threat: The emergence of ancient viruses trapped in the frost for tens of thousands of years. The authors of <a href="https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011268">the study</a> — published in PLOS Computational Biology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal — used computer simulations to model how ancient viruses could survive, evolve, and persist in our modern-day communities. This research marks the first "extensive exploration of the ecological risk" these viruses pose, according to the authors.Melting permafrost is already revealing organisms that have been trapped beneath the ice for millennia. In a study published last month, scientists said they discovered a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/forty-six-thousand-year-old-worm-found-siberian-permafrost-brought-back-to-life-2023-7">46,000-year-old microscopic worm</a> trapped in Siberian permafrost that was still capable of producing offspring. And earlier this year, a French scientist identified a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-revived-zombie-animals-bugs-viruses-ancient-ice-before-2023-7">48,000-year-old virus</a> in Siberian permafrost that could still infect single-celled organisms. In many of the simulations conducted in the study of the ancient viruses, researchers found that they could thrive in modern communities without making a catastrophic impact, but still caused "non-negligible ecological change."The simulations found that just 1% of cases resulted in major ecological damage. But within this small percentage, the simulations found that the pathogens would either increase species diversity by 12% or decrease species diversity by 32%, according to the authors.That 1% is important, the authors warn, and these low-probability yet catastrophic re-emergence scenarios require further attention. "Risk does not emerge solely from the chance of the event occurring, but from the combination of probability and the magnitude of the event's potential effects," the authors wrote. "From that perspective, our results are worrisome, as they point to an actual risk deriving from the rare events where time-traveling invasions produce severe ecological impacts."Plus, the pathogens that were most successful in the past are the most likely to successfully re-establish themselves today, according to the researchers. This means the viruses most likely to re-emerge successfully could also be the most likely to pose an ecological risk. Experts have been sounding the alarm on melting permafrost for years, identifying it as just one of countless reasons to slow carbon emissions. Not only is the thawing permafrost a sign that <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-permafrost#:~:text=A%20thawing%20permafrost%20layer%20can,be%20damaged%20as%20permafrost%20thaws.">global climate change</a> is worsening, vast swaths of melting ice also pose a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/01/11/permafrost-melting-arctic/">significant threat to human infrastructure</a>.

Ancient viruses could re-emerge as permafrost melts, posing 'unpredictable threats' to our communities, new study says

<a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng" target="_blank">Policy Horizons Canada</a> worked with futurist and data visualizer <a href="http://www.michellzappa.com/" target="_blank">Michell Zappa</a> of <a href="http://envisioningtech.com/" target="_blank">Envisioning</a> to produce a report called <a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/metascan-3-emerging-technologies-0" target="_blank">MetaScan 3: Emerging Technologies</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/emerging-technologies-that-will-change-the-world-2014-4">accompanying infographics</a>. We are reproducing the summary for <a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/neurotechnology-and-cognitive-technologies" target="_blank">emerging </a><a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/neurotechnology-and-cognitive-technologies" target="_blank">neuro and cognitive technologies</a>.<a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/neurotechnology-and-cognitive-technologies" target="_blank"></a>
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image">David Feinberg/PLoS ONEThe Human Connectome Project has led to new, faster, better ways to map the brain.</div></div></div>Below are technologies related to neuro and cognitive under three key areas of accelerating change: Neural Network Computing, Extended Cognition and Neural Interfaces. Neural network computing will lead to improvements in computer vision and analysis, such as detecting emotions and moods, which may have safety and security applications. Extended cognition involves more direct connection to people's brains, allowing mood, thought patterns and information to be altered in the brain. Neural interfaces get information out of people's brains more efficiently, ultimately allowing a machine-enabled form of telepathy.
We have included predictions based on consultation with experts of when each technology will be scientifically viable (the kind of stuff that Google, governments, and universities develop), mainstream (when VCs and startups widely invest in it), and financially viable (when the technology is generally available on Kickstarter).
<h2>Neural Network Computing</h2>
Proactive software agents: Software applications with the capacity of discerning and predicting likely future needs for whomever is being served. Intelligently scheduling meetings, sorting email and selectively notifying the user are potential usages.
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2016; financially viable in 2017.
Neural network image recognition: Using hundreds of thousands of processor cores programmed to algorithmically determine the content of a given image. Different from reverse image search, neural network image recognition has the capacity to successfully understand the photo of, for example, a cat, based on thousands of cat pictures.
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2021; financially viable in 2022.
Emotion tracking: Using sensors, computer vision and algorithms to correctly identify the likely emotions displayed by individuals in a crowd. Useful in airports and other high-risk facilities.
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2018; financially viable in 2019.
Predictive group sentiment analysis: Predicting the likely behavior of large groups of people based on sociometric input variables like social tension, weather variation, pedestrian flows and degree of agitation is becoming increasingly possible.
Scientifically viable in 2022; mainstream in 2023; financially viable in 2027.
Predictive crime prevention: The use of sociometric sensors coupled with neural networked computers to statistically determine the probability of crime (or other anti-social behavior) taking place before it happens.
Scientifically viable in 2021; mainstream in 2026; financially viable in 2027.
<h2>Extended Cognition</h2>
Neural biofeedback: Biofeedback using real-time EEG or fMRI to illustrate brain activity, often with a goal of controlling the central nervous actions.
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2015; financially viable in 2017.
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers: A relatively new concept in the field of ultrasonic transducers where the energy transduction is due to change in capacitance. Can be used to remotely improve alertness, awareness in soldiers, etc.
Scientifically viable in 2016; mainstream in 2019; financially viable in 2020.
Next-generation neuropharmacology: Both behavioral and molecular neuropharmacology are benefitting from rapidly accelerating change. With an increase in technology and improved understanding of the nervous system, the development of drugs will continue to rise with an increase in drug sensitivity and specificity. (Such as neuropharmacological enhancements that work better than caffeine).
Scientifically viable in 2018; mainstream in 2021; financially viable in 2023.
Neuroprosthetics: Neural devices capable of substituting motor, sensory or cognitive modalities that might have been damaged as a result of an injury or a disease. Applications include neural enhancements, advanced cognitive features and extended physiological senses.
Scientifically viable in 2021; mainstream in 2026; financially viable in 2027.
<h2>Neural Interfaces</h2>
EEG brain-to-computer interfaces: Electroencephalography remains the most feasible practice of executing and implementing brain to brain interfaces. It represents the best temporal-resolution tool for getting a picture of the brain in action, is portable, non-invasive and extremely affordable compared to other methods.
Scientifically viable and mainstream today; financially viable in 2021.
High-resolution fMRI: The next generation of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging involves increasing the spatial and temporal resolution of the imagery. We are likely to see a 14-tesla machines becoming common (as opposed to today's 3-tesla).
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2023; financially viable in 2024.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation: TMS is a noninvasive method to cause depolarization or hyperpolarization in the neurons of the brain using electromagnetic induction to induce weak electric currents using a rapidly changing magnetic field. This can cause activity in specific or general parts of the brain with minimal discomfort, allowing the functioning and interconnections of the brain to be studied.
Scientifically viable today; mainstream in 2019; financially viable in 2022 .
Optogenetic implants in humans: The combination of genetic and optical methods to control specific events in targeted cells of living tissue, even within freely moving mammals and other animals, with the temporal precision (millisecond timescale) needed to keep pace with functioning intact biological systems.
Scientifically viable in 2021; mainstream and financially viable in 2026.
Next-generation brain-to-computer interfaces: Hypothetical interfaces to be used for assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions and communicate thoughts and intentions to the Internet.
Scientifically viable in 2020; mainstream in 2022; financially viable in 2027.
Brain-to-brain interfaces: The hypothetical implementation of brain interfaces that translate thoughts, sensations or impulses into digital signal, converting the data back into the recipient's brain to enable a certain response from both ends. Loosely interpreted as telepathy, brain interfaces would be able to transmit information from one person so another without any mediation other than the internet, allowing the brain on the receiving end to perform behavioural tasks without training.
Scientifically viable in 2025; mainstream in 2026; financially viable in 2027.

15 Emerging Neurotechnologies That Will Change The World

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><a href="http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/magazine/ngm-west-virginia-coal?source=relatedvideo">Nat Geo</a>This guy doesn't think his stripes are all that good at camouflaging him. </div></div></div>Zebra stripes are striking and beautiful, but what purpose do they serve?
A new study suggests the stripes help the animals fight off biting flies, which can transmit disease. 
This contradicts a popular theory in recent years that the stripes serve as camouflage against large predators. As recently as last year, lab studies supported this theory. 
Looking at the bold black-and-white patterns, most people would think a zebra's stripes would be a problem for the equids (horse-like animals) - literally making them a bull's-eye for predators on the dusty open African plains.
How could the stripes possibly be used as camouflage?
<h3>Bold Stripes as 'Razzle Dazzle'</h3>
A recent theory posited that the dazzling stripes serve as a motion camouflage. Papers published in the journal <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0020233#pone-0020233-g003" target="_blank">PLoS ONE in 2011</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0061173">2013</a> suggested that the stripes help conceal moving objects, such as the zebra, and confuse predators about how fast the animal is moving, making it harder to discern the animal's outline, especially in a herd.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_West_Mahomet_(ID-3681)_cropped.jpg">Public Domain</a>USS Mahomet (ID-3681) in port, circa November 1918. The ship has a "dazzle" camouflage scheme that distorts the appearance of her bow.</div></div>
This dazzle camouflage was used on warships in World War I. The bold pattern on the boat shown in the picture on the right disguised the bow.
These razzle-dazzle-camouflage studies suggest that the strategy works, but they were carried out in a lab using computers and moving squares and human eyes, not animals. We can't tell whether animal eyes react to the stripes the same way.
Even if the stripes do camouflage the animals, we can't say that they developed for this purpose. Indeed, another question is why other animals don't have black and white stripes? Perhaps they serve a different purpose altogether. 
<h3>Fighting Flies With Stripes</h3>
Another set of new studies provides evidence for a completely different reason behind the striped coats: fending off flies. 
The idea was first put forth by researchers in the <a href="http://jeb.biologists.org/content/215/5/736.abstract">Journal Of Experimental Biology last year</a>.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left"><div class="image"><a href="http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/magazine/ngm-west-virginia-coal?source=relatedvideo">Nat Geo</a>This guy doesn't look too camouflaged to me. </div></div>The researchers found that a zebra statue with a striped coat attracted fewer horseflies than a zebra statue with a brown, white, grey, or black coat. The narrower the stripes, the fewer flies. 
The flies are attracted to light reflecting off water, which is twisted in a certain way known as "linear polarized." The researchers proposed that the black and white stripes of the zebra created an opposite polarizing effect in the flies' eyes by confusing them. 
There are seven species of equids that the researchers analyzed. Three have prominent black and white stripes, like the zebra, one has stripes only on its lower legs, and the other three have gray or brown coats with no stripes. Within these species, some subspecies have more or less striping. 
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_left"><div class="image"><a href="http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/magazine/ngm-west-virginia-coal?source=relatedvideo">Nat Geo</a></div></div>The new study, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4535">published in the journal Nature Communications</a> on Apr. 1, analyzed the striping and geographic ranges of these species and subspecies, comparing them to the geographic ranges of biting flies known as tabanids, which can carry disease. They found that black and white stripes were more prevalent in zebras and related species that live in areas that were home to biting flies for more than seven months a year. 
You can see in the graphic below how the striped pattern of the animals' coats (shown by the white to black dots on the inside circle) coincide with the biting-fly activity in their range (the outer circle of dots going from blue to red/orange).<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image">Nat. Comm, 2014 // Jennifer Welsh</div></div>They also compared the geographic ranges of these animals to ranges of predators who might be influenced by a "razzle dazzle"-camouflage technique. They didn't find any evidence that the coat serves as camouflage.

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Lymphoma drug outperforms Remdesivir against COVID-19 virus

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Ancient viruses could re-emerge as permafrost melts, posing 'unpredictable threats' to our communities, new study says

Katie Hawkinson

15 Emerging Neurotechnologies That Will Change The World

Michell Zappa, Policy Horizon…

Zebra Stripes May Serve A Totally Different Purpose Than Once Thought

Jennifer Welsh

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