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the dial in the brain that controls the immune system

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Coloured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a sagittal section through a patient's head showing a healthy human brain and brain stem.

A population of neurons in the brain stem, the stalk-like structure that connects the bulk of the brain to the spinal cord, acts as the master dial for the immune system.Credit: Voisin/Phanie/Science Photo Library

Scientists have long known that the brain plays a part in the immune system — but how it does so has been a mystery. Now, scientists have identified cells in the brainstem that sense immune cues from the periphery of the body and act as master regulators of the body’s inflammatory response.

The results, published on 1 May in Nature1, suggest that the brain maintains a delicate balance between the molecular signals that promote inflammation and those that dampen it — a finding that could lead to treatments for autoimmune diseases and other conditions caused by an excessive immune response.

The discovery is akin to a black-swan event — unexpected but making perfect sense once revealed, says Ruslan Medzhitov, an immunologist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Scientists have known that the brainstem has many functions, such as controlling basic processes such as breathing. However, he adds, the study “shows that there is whole layer of biology that we haven’t even anticipated”.

The brain is watching

After sensing an intruder, the immune system unleashes a flood of immune cells and compounds that promote inflammation. This inflammatory response must be controlled with exquisite precision: if it’s too weak, the body is at greater risk of becoming infected; if it’s too strong, it can damage the body’s own tissues and organs.

Previous work has shown that the vagus nerve, a large network of nerve fibres that links the body with the brain, influences immune responses. However, the specific brain neurons that are activated by immune stimuli remained elusive, says Hao Jin, a neuroimmunologist at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, who led the work.

To investigate how the brain controls the body’s immune response, Jin and his colleagues monitored the activity of brain cells after injecting the abdomen of mice with bacterial compounds that trigger inflammation.

The researchers identified neurons in the brainstem that switched on in response to the immune triggers. Activating these neurons with a drug reduced the levels of inflammatory molecules in the mice’s blood. Silencing the neurons led to an uncontrolled immune response, with the number of inflammatory molecules increasing by 300% compared with the levels observed in mice with functional brainstem neurons. These nerve cells act as “a rheostat in the brain that ensures that an inflammatory response is maintained within the appropriate levels”, says study co-author Charles Zuker, a neuroscientist at Columbia University in New York City.

Further experiments revealed two discrete groups of neurons in the vagus nerve: one that responds to pro-inflammatory immune molecules and another that responds to anti-inflammatory molecules. These neurons relay their signals to the brain, allowing it to monitor the immune response as it unfolds. In mice with conditions characterized by an excessive immune response, artificially activating the vagal neurons that carry anti-inflammatory signals diminished inflammation.

Dampening autoimmune symptoms

Finding ways to control this newly discovered body–brain network would offer an approach to fixing broken immune responses in various conditions such as autoimmune diseases and even long COVID, a debilitating syndrome that can persist for years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, Jin says.

There’s evidence that therapies targeting the vagus nerve can treat diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting that targeting the specific vagal neurons that carry immune signals might work in people, Zuker says. But, he cautions, “it’s a lot of work to go from here to there”.

Besides the neuronal network identified in the study, there might be other routes through which the body transmits immune signals to the brain, says Stephen Liberles, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. What’s more, the mechanisms by which the brain sends signals back to the immune system to regulate inflammation remain unclear. “We’re just scratching the surface,” he says. “We need to understand the rule book of how the brain and the immune system interact.”

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WhatsApp gets new video playback controls

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In November 2023, WhatsApp started testing the ability in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android for people to forward or rewind a video by double-tapping on the right or the left side of the display/video. While the feature still hasn’t made it to the stable version of WhatsApp for Android, it is here on the stable version of WhatsApp for iOS.

On Monday, WhatsApp released version 24.6.77 of WhatsApp for iOS on the App Store. In the changelog for the latest version of the app, the company says “You can quick forward/rewind by double tapping the edge of a video.” Once you double-tap on the right of the screen during video playback, the app forwards the video by ten seconds. Similarly, when you double-tap on the left of the display, it rewinds the video by ten seconds. The latest feature gives people better control over video playback.

At the moment, there’s no information about when the company will make the new video playback controls available in the stable version of WhatsApp for Android. However, considering that it is live in WhatsApp for iOS, we expect the feature to come to Android in the next few weeks. On a related note, WhatsApp is working on making it easier for people to access Meta AI in the messaging platform, allowing people to read transcripts for voice messages, and offering an option to send HD photos by default.

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Roger Guillemin (1924–2024), neuroscientist who showed how the brain controls hormones

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Black and white portrait of Roger Guillemin pictured in 1977

Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty

Roger Guillemin identified the molecules in the brain that control the production of hormones in endocrine glands such as the pituitary and thyroid. His work led to a torrent of advances in neuroendocrinology, with far-reaching effects on studies of metabolism, reproduction and growth. For his discoveries on peptide-hormone production in the brain, Guillemin shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Andrew Schally and Rosalyn Yalow. He has died at the age of 100.

In the autumn of 1969, after analysing millions of sheep brains for more than a decade, Guillemin and his colleagues determined the structure of thyrotropin-releasing factor (TRF). This small peptide is produced in the hypothalamus, a small region at the base of the brain, and is transported to the anterior lobe of the nearby pituitary gland, where it triggers the release of the hormone thyrotropin. Thyrotropin, in turn, stimulates the thyroid gland to produce the hormone thyroxine, which regulates metabolic activity in nearly every tissue of the body. More than two dozen drugs use such hypothalamic hormones to treat endocrine disorders and cancers, and the worldwide market for these drugs is worth several billion dollars.

Guillemin was born in Dijon, France, and came of age at the end of the Second World War. He graduated from medical school in the University of Lyon, France, in 1949 and worked as a country doctor in the small commune of Saint-Seine-l’Abbaye in Burgundy. He found the work satisfying but intellectually limiting, noting that “in those days I could take care of all my patients with three prescriptions, including aspirin”. Fascinated by how the brain and pituitary gland control the body’s response to stress, he attended lectures in Paris by the Hungarian–Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye, after which Selye accepted Guillemin’s request to spend a year doing research in his laboratory at the University of Montreal, Canada.

This turned into a four-year project, for which Guillemin was awarded a PhD in 1953. His studies with Selye were impactful, but it was meeting the UK physiologist Geoffrey Harris in Canada that would shape Guillemin’s subsequent science. Harris argued that the hypothalamus controls the anterior pituitary not through nerve signals, but rather through blood-borne factors that reach the pituitary through the capillaries of an interconnecting stalk. Recruited to the faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Guillemin decided to tackle Harris’s hypothesis head on. His initial aim was to purify and determine the structure of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the hypothalamic hormone that stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone, the driver of the stress response described by Seyle. Progress towards this goal was slow, so Guillemin turned his attention to other putative releasing factors, including TRF.

The scale of his efforts at purification in the late 1950s and 1960s was enormous. These releasing factors were peptides — short chains of amino acids — present in only tiny amounts in the hypothalamus. Together with the fact that the hypothalamus is itself a small part of the brain, this meant that purification began with extracts prepared from millions of sheep hypothalami obtained from slaughterhouses. Peptides were separated on 3-metre-tall chromatography columns that extended through the lab’s ceiling. One set of columns was packed with the then-new resin Sephadex, released by the Stockholm-based biotechnology company Pharmacia in 1959. Guillemin sent a postdoc in his lab, Andrew Schally, that year to Sweden to procure much of the world’s supply of Sephadex.

Schally, who had worked on releasing factors for his PhD, joined the expanding team in Houston in 1957. He chafed under Guillemin’s leadership, however, viewing his years in Houston as a struggle in which he and Guillemin had a “very bitter, unpleasant relationship”. Guillemin suggested that Schally should move on, and himself accepted a simultaneous appointment at the Collège de France in Paris in 1960. Schally established his own competing research operation at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Guillemin and Schally would remain competitors for more than two decades, a state of affairs not changed by their shared Nobel Prize.

The Houston and New Orleans teams succeeded in purifying TRF and determining its amino-acid sequence at around the same time. Immediately thereafter, Guillemin moved his lab to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. There, his team identified a raft of hypothalamic releasing factors, now referred to as hormones. These included gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which drives the release of hormones that stimulate the reproductive organs; somatostatin, which inhibits the release of growth hormones; and growth-hormone-releasing hormone. In 1981, a Salk Institute team headed by US endocrinologist Wylie Vale, who was a student of Guillemin, finally purified and sequenced the elusive CRF, Selye’s obsession and Guillemin’s initial target from the 1950s. Drugs built on these discoveries have proved to be among the farthest-reaching medical translations of research from the institute.

Guillemin was the recipient of multiple honours and awards as well as the Nobel Prize. He was a connoisseur of the wines of Burgundy, and during his tenure as president of the Salk Institute in 2007–09, white wine was served at lunchtime faculty meetings. Roger lived an art- and music-filled life, and was close to the artists Françoise Gilot and Niki de Saint Phalle. He cherished his ties to family, students, postdocs, colleagues and friends. He leaves a vibrant scientific legacy.

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OpenAI announces ChatGPT Memory and new controls

OpenAI announces ChatGPT Memory and new controls

OpenAI has introduced new features this week, the first takes the form of ChatGPT memory that allows the large language model (LLM) to remember past conversations. This is a big deal for anyone who uses ChatGPT, as it means the AI can now provide more personalized and relevant responses by recalling information you’ve shared before. Imagine having a digital assistant that gets to know you better with each interaction, making your conversations smoother and more efficient.

But what’s really exciting about this update is the control it gives you over the AI’s memory. OpenAI knows that privacy is a top concern, so they’ve made sure you can decide exactly what ChatGPT remembers. You can erase specific details or wipe the AI’s memory clean whenever you want. This puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to enjoy a tailored experience without worrying about your data being misused.

ChatGPT Memory

For those who are among the first to try out this feature, you’ll notice how ChatGPT becomes more helpful over time. It’s designed to be easy to use, so you don’t have to be a tech expert to benefit from an AI that learns from your conversations. And if you’re someone who prefers to keep things private, there’s an option for temporary chats that won’t be remembered at all.

OpenAI hasn’t forgotten about customization either. With the Custom Instructions feature, you can set specific guidelines for ChatGPT to follow. This means the AI’s responses can be fine-tuned to meet your exact needs, whether you’re asking for advice, information, or help with a task.

Security is another area where OpenAI has focused its efforts. They’ve programmed ChatGPT to be cautious with sensitive information, so it won’t keep any personal details unless you say it’s okay. This is part of their commitment to keeping your data safe and your interactions secure.

The benefits of this update aren’t just for individual users. Teams and enterprises stand to gain a lot from an AI that can remember previous tasks and pick up where it left off. This could revolutionize the way work is done by providing a consistent AI assistant that’s always ready to continue with ongoing projects. Plus, companies can set their own rules for how data is managed, ensuring that they stay in control of their information.

Looking ahead, OpenAI plans to bring this memory feature to other GPT models as well. This means that developers will be able to build their own applications with AIs that remember user interactions, opening up new possibilities for personalized tech experiences.

With this update, OpenAI is making sure that ChatGPT isn’t just a tool for conversation but a partner that understands you better over time. It’s a significant step in the world of conversational AI, offering a blend of personalization, control, and security that’s hard to beat. Whether you’re using ChatGPT for personal reasons or as part of a larger organization, this new memory feature is set to make your interactions more effective and enjoyable. For more information jump over to the official OpenAI blog for further details.

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4K Optical projector with touchscreen controls $179

4K Optical projector with touchscreen controls

If you are searching for a small compact 4K projector that can be used both outdoors and indoors to transforming your living room wall into a vibrant cinema screen or an interactive presentation space. The WEJOY V1 Pro projector makes this possible, offering a blend of high-definition visuals and user-friendly technology that caters to both your professional and entertainment needs. This sealed optical projector is not just another device; it’s a portal to a world of crisp, clear 4K resolution that brings your content to life in ways you’ve never seen before.

At the heart of the WEJOY V1 Pro‘s appeal is its immersive 4K projection capability. The images it produces are so sharp and clear that you’ll feel as though you’re part of the scene. Whether you’re watching a blockbuster movie or delivering a business presentation, the projector’s interactive touch screen projection system turns any surface into a dynamic workspace or entertainment center. You won’t have to worry about uneven lighting either, as the projector boasts an 85% uniformity rating, ensuring that every corner of your display is consistently bright.

Early bird pledges are now available for the unique projector from roughly $179 or £141 (depending on current exchange rates). One of the most impressive aspects of the WEJOY V1 Pro is its quiet operation. At less than 30 decibels, it’s as quiet as a whisper, allowing you to immerse yourself in your viewing experience without any distracting noise.

This silence is thanks in part to the projector’s efficient heat dissipation system, which not only keeps things quiet but also extends the life of the bulb. But the WEJOY V1 Pro isn’t just about quiet enjoyment; it’s also smart. Features like autofocus, obstacle avoidance, and automatic alignment mean that your projections are always sharp and correctly positioned, regardless of where you are.

4K Projector for indoor and outdoor entertainment

WEJOY V1 Pro 4K projector features

The WEJOY V1 Pro is designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re in a cramped office or a spacious backyard, the projector’s Auto Keystone Correction and 4-point keystone correction allow you to adjust the image to fit your space perfectly. And when it’s time to move, the projector’s compact design, complete with a built-in battery and TYPE-C port, makes it a breeze to carry from one venue to the next.

Connectivity is key in our tech-driven world, and the WEJOY V1 Pro doesn’t disappoint. It’s equipped to handle a variety of inputs, ensuring that you can link up almost any device with minimal fuss. HDMI ports accommodate laptops, USB ports are ready for media playback, and wireless options are available for screen mirroring with Windows laptops through Wi-Fi and Eshare software. The projector is also compatible with streaming devices, gaming consoles, and external speakers, making it a versatile hub for all your multimedia needs.

Assuming that the WEJOY V1 Pro funding campaign successfully raises its required pledge goal and production progresses smoothly, worldwide shipping is expected to take place sometime around April 2024. To learn more about the WEJOY V1 Pro 4K projector project inspect the promotional video below.

The WEJOY V1 Pro projector is a sophisticated piece of technology that offers a seamless blend of high-definition imagery and interactive features. Its quiet operation, intelligent adjustments, portability, and extensive connectivity make it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a premium projection experience. Whether you’re a business professional looking to impress clients with a dynamic presentation or a movie enthusiast wanting to bring the theater experience home, the WEJOY V1 Pro is equipped to exceed your expectations.

For a complete list of all available special pledges, stretch goals, extra media and technical data sheet for the 4K projector, jump over to the official WEJOY V1 Pro crowd funding campaign page by visiting the link below.

Source : Kickstarter

Disclaimer: Participating in crowdfunding campaigns on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo involves inherent risks. While many projects successfully meet their goals, others may fail to deliver due to numerous challenges. Always conduct thorough research and exercise caution when pledging your hard-earned money as you might lose it all if the project fails.

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VelocityOne Flightdeck HOTAS flight simulation controls

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck for Simulators

Turtle Beach has announced the availability to preorder its new VelocityOne Flightdeck offering owners a chance to experience a premium simulation HOTAS system. The VelocityOne Flightdeck is a comprehensive flight control system, compatible with all current major flight simulation titles available on Windows PCs. It stands out with its extensive controls, including 15 axes and 139 programmable functions. This level of control offers users an immersive and realistic flight simulation experience, allowing for precise maneuvering and combat readiness.

This new VelocityOne flight simulation control system is designed for Windows 10 & 11 PCs, offering a premium combat HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle And Stick) experience. The VelocityOne Flightdeck is engineered for use in flight and space combat games, available for pre-order at £379.99 MSRP, and set to launch on February 13, 2024.

One of the key features of the VelocityOne Flightdeck is the Flight Touch Display. This is the world’s first display of its kind, combining real-time sim status indication with fully customizable input buttons. This allows users to monitor their flight status in real-time and customize their controls for an optimized flight experience.

HOTAS flight simulation controls

Here are some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of  simulation controllers and games :

In addition to the Flight Touch Display, the VelocityOne Flightdeck also features an OLED Heads-Up Display (HUD). This full-color HUD provides access to diagnostics and performance adjustments, enabling users to optimize their flight performance on the fly.

The VelocityOne Flightdeck comes with a Flight Hangar app for Windows PCs, offering further customization options. This includes control of RGB lighting zones, giving users the ability to personalize the look of their control system to their liking.

The control system of the VelocityOne Flightdeck is made up of two individual USB-connected devices, the stick and throttle. Both are built using non-contact hall-effect sensors for high-precision accuracy and durability. The stick module has 49 programmable functions, dual stage triggers, head mounted HAT switches, and multi-function fire buttons. The stick also includes a soft touch hand rest and adjustable height for comfort, and can be removed from the base for easy storage.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck

The throttle module of the VelocityOne Flightdeck is inspired by 6th Gen Fighter aircraft. It allows for independent adjustment of two engines or the ability to lock each lever together for main thruster control. This provides users with a realistic and immersive flight experience.

The VelocityOne Flightdeck also includes Turtle Beach’s exclusive Pro-Aim Focus Mode. This feature allows for accurate enemy targeting and precise control of landings, adding to the combat readiness of the control system. In terms of audio, the system supports Turtle Beach audio functions for any connected 3.5 mm headset. This ensures high-quality audio performance during flight simulations.

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightdeck offers an immersive and comprehensive flight simulation control system. With its extensive controls, customizable features, and high-precision accuracy, it promises to deliver a premium flight simulation experience. For more information and to preorder your VelocityOne Flightdeck  controller which is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 PCs providing a premium simulation HOTAS system, jump over to the official Turtle Beach website.

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How to set up Android 14 parental controls

Android 14 parental controls

This guide will show you how to set up parental controls on your Android phone or device with Android 14. In the modern world where digital technology permeates nearly every aspect of our daily lives, smartphones are no longer a luxury but a necessity. This holds true for adults and children alike. These handheld devices serve as powerful tools for education, offering a wealth of information at our fingertips, as well as platforms for entertainment, from games to streaming services. However, the digital landscape is not without its pitfalls, especially for younger users who may not yet have the maturity to navigate it safely.

Risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and excessive screen time are real concerns that parents must address. If your child is using a smartphone equipped with the latest Android 14 operating system, implementing parental controls becomes an indispensable measure for safeguarding their online experience. To assist you in this important task, the article that follows offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you set up these controls effectively.

Initial Setup: Remove Existing Google Accounts

Before diving into the parental controls, it’s essential to remove any existing Google accounts from your child’s Android device. This step is crucial because it allows you to set up a child-specific Google account, which will be used to monitor their activities. To do this:

  1. Open the Settings menu on the device.
  2. Navigate to Accounts.
  3. Select the Google account and remove it.

Navigate to Google Category for Parental Controls

Once the existing accounts are removed, you’re ready to set up the parental controls:

  1. Go back to the Settings menu.
  2. Scroll down to find the Google category.
  3. Tap on it and select the Parental Controls option to initiate the setup process.

Setting Up the Child Account

The next step is to sign in with your child’s Google account or create a new one if they don’t already have one. This account will be used to monitor their activities and ensure they are engaging with age-appropriate content.

  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in or create a new account.
  2. Make sure to enter accurate details, including your child’s age.

Input Parental Account Credentials

After setting up the child’s account, you’ll need to input the credentials for your own Google account. This parental account will be used to supervise the child’s activities.

  1. Enter your Google account email and password when prompted.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Supervision and Agreement

The next step involves linking the child’s account to the parental account for supervision:

  1. Input your child’s Google account password again.
  2. Agree to the terms and conditions to allow supervision.
  3. Wait for the accounts to get linked, which usually happens within a few minutes.

App Management

At this stage, you have the option to manage the apps that are pre-installed on the device. You can either disable some of them or leave them as is, depending on your preferences. This can also be done later through the Google Family Link app.

Final Step: Google Family Link App

To complete the setup and gain access to a wide array of controls, download the Google Family Link app from the Google Play Store onto your device.

  1. Open the Google Play Store and search for Google Family Link.
  2. Download and install the app.
  3. Log in using the parental Google account credentials.
  4. From here, you can access various controls, including location tracking and activity monitoring.

By following these steps, you’ll have a robust parental control system in place on your child’s Android 14 device. This will allow you to monitor their online activities effectively, ensuring they have a safe and educational experience on the internet.

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