# acad: oops! 78.1% of biomed. sci. studies use only parametric tests ...

<< Transparent reporting is essential for the critical evaluation of studies. However, the reporting of statistical methods for studies in the biomedical sciences is often limited. >>

<< Nonparametric tests, such as the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon sign rank test and Kruskal Wallis test, may sometimes be preferable as sample sizes in basic biomedical science research are often too small to determine the data distribution. However, these tests are not commonly used. A systematic review of physiology studies showed that 3.8% used only non-parametric tests to compare continuous data, 13.6% used a combination of parametric and non-parametric tests, and 78.1% of studies used only parametric tests >>

Tracey L. Weissgerber, Oscar Garcia-Valencia, et al. Meta-Research: Why we need to report more than 'Data were Analyzed by t-tests or ANOVA'. eLife 2018; 7:e36163. Dec 21, 2018 doi: 10.7554/eLife.36163

https://elifesciences.org/articles/36163   

# ai: DeepMind - AlphaStar wins almost every match against Pro StarCraft II players

<< Humans tend to think we’re adept at the games we create, but computers have proven time and time again that we’re just not fast enough to stay on top. >>

<<  AlphaStar is a convolutional neural network (..) Through intensive training with competing models, DeepMind was able to teach AlphaStar how to play the game as well as the best human players. (..)  AlphaStar has substantially lower APM (actions per minute) compared with the human players, but it’s making smarter choices. >>

Ryan Whitwam. DeepMind AI Challenges Pro StarCraft II Players, Wins Almost Every Match. Jan 24, 2019.

https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/284441-deepmind-ai-challenges-pro-starcraft-ii-players-wins-almost-every-match

The AlphaStar team. AlphaStar: Mastering the Real-Time Strategy Game StarCraft II. Jan 24,  2019.

https://deepmind.com/blog/alphastar-mastering-real-time-strategy-game-starcraft-ii/

Also

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=%23+ai

# evol: a ghost archaic ancestor was identified with deep learning

<< All modern humans are genetically related to each other at a time depth of up to 300 thousand years ago and share a common African root. >>

<< Sequencing of ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan fossils supported introgression events into AMH (Anatomically Modern Humans) out of Africa; however, recent studies also support the presence of gene flow from AMH into Neanderthals, thus suggesting a complex hominin evolution. >>

AA << results support a third introgression in all Asian and Oceanian populations from an archaic population. This population is either related to the Neanderthal-Denisova clade or diverged early from the Denisova lineage. >>

Mayukh Mondal, Jaume Bertranpetit,  Oscar Lao. Approximate Bayesian computation with deep learning supports a third archaic introgression in Asia and Oceania.  Nature Comm. 10 (246) Jan 16, 2019 doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08089-7.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-08089-7

# brain: a way to prevent over-firing NMDA receptors ... "it really comes down to chemistry"

<< The ideal drug is one that only affects the exact cells and neurons it is designed to treat, without unwanted side effects. This concept is especially important when treating the delicate and complex human brain. Now, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor  Laboratory have revealed a mechanism that could lead to this kind of long-sought specificity for treatments of strokes and seizures. >>

<< it really comes down to chemistry >> Hiro Furukawa.

Brian Stallard. Targeting 'hidden pocket' for treatment of stroke and seizure. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.  Jan 19, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-hidden-pocket-treatment-seizure.html

Michael C. Regan, Zongjian Zhu, et al. Structural elements of a pH-sensitive inhibitor binding site in NMDA receptors. Nature Comm. 10 (321). Jan 18, 2019 doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08291-1

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08291-1

# behav: outrage does not make revolution

<< If you're angry about the political feud that drove the federal government to partially shut down, or about a golden parachute for a CEO who ran a business into the ground, you aren't alone-but you probably won't do much about it, according to new research by Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. >>

Relying on karma: Research explains why outrage doesn't usually result in revolution. Carnegie Mellon University.  Jan 15, 2019

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-karma-outrage-doesnt-result-revolution.html

<< Across four experiments, (AA) show that people respond quite differently to correct these two types of injustices. When bad things happen to good people, individuals are eager to compensate a good person’s losses, but only do so to a small degree. In contrast, when a good thing happens to a bad person, because the only perceived appropriate act of punishment is to fully strip the bad actor of all his or her illegitimate gains, few people choose to punish in this costly way. However, when they do, they do so to very large degrees. Moreover, we demonstrate that differential psychological mechanisms drive this asymmetry. >>

Jeff Galak, Rosalind M. Chow. Compensate a little, but punish a lot: Asymmetric routes to restoring justice.   PLoS ONE 14(1): e0210676. Jan 10, 2019. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210676

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0210676

# gst: it does not seem either completely chaotic, nor completely organized

<< Contrary to prevailing theories, the first results of POLAR reveal that the high energy photons coming from gamma ray bursts are neither completely chaotic, nor completely organized, but a mixture of the two.  Within short time intervals, the photons are found to oscillate in the same direction, but the oscillation direction changes with time. >>

The orderly chaos of black holes. University of Geneva. Jan 14, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-orderly-chaos-black-holes.html

Shuang-Nan Zhang, Merlin Kole, et al. Detailed polarization measurements of the prompt emission of five gamma-ray bursts. Nature Astronomy (2019) Jan 14 doi: 10.1038/s41550-018-0664-0

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-018-0664-0

# evol: nonlinear effects in shaping human evolution, the role of viruses

<< Human evolution used to be depicted as a straight line, gradually progressing from an ape-like ancestor to modern Homo sapiens. But thanks to next-generation sequencing, findings in recent years have shown that it wasn’t quite so orderly. Now, a new study is reporting new details about the role of viruses in shaping evolution, in particular, viral interactions between modern humans and Neanderthals. >>

<< Many Neanderthal sequences have been lost in modern humans, but some stayed and appear to have quickly increased to high frequencies at the time of contact, suggestive of their selective benefits at that time, >> Dmitri Petrov

New study reports the role of viruses in shaping evolution. Oct 5, 2018.

https://thesurg.com/virus-shaping-evolution

AA << hypothesized that interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans led to (1) the exposure of each species to novel viruses and (2) the exchange of adaptive alleles that provided resistance against these viruses. >>

David Enard, Dmitri A. Petrov. Evidence that RNA Viruses Drove Adaptive Introgression between Neanderthals and Modern Humans. Cell. 175 (2) P360-371.E13 Oct 4, 2018.

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)31095-X 

# acad: producing better research from diversity.

<< Improving the participation of under-represented groups is not just fairer - it could produce better research. >>

<< some studies suggest that a team with a good mix of perspectives is associated with increased productivity. >>

Editorial. Science benefits from diversity. Nature 558, 5 (2018). Jun 6. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-05326-3

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05326-3 

Kendall Powell. These labs are remarkably diverse -  here’s why they’re winning at science. Nature 558, 19-22 (2018) Jun 6. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-05316-5.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05316-5

# gst: how two chaotic systems can synchronize

<< For the first time the researchers were able to measure the fine grain process that leads from disorder to synchrony, discovering a new kind of synchronization between chaotic systems. They call this new phenomenon Topological Synchronization. >>

<< Chaotic systems, although unpredictable, still have a subtle global organization called strange attractor (..) Every chaotic system attracts its own unique strange attractor. By Topological Synchronization we mean that two strange attractors have the same organization and structures. At the beginning of the synchronization process, small areas on one strange attractor have the same structure of the other attractor, meaning that they are already synced to the other attractor. At the end of the process, all the areas of one strange attractor will have the structure of the other and complete Topological Synchronization has been reached. >> Nir Lahav.

Scientists reveal for first time the exact process by which chaotic systems synchronize. Bar-Ilan University. Jan 7, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-scientists-reveal-exact-chaotic-synchronize.html

Nir Lahav, Irene Sendina-Nadal, et al.
Synchronization of chaotic systems: A microscopic description. Phys. Rev. E 98, 052204. Nov 6, 2018. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.98.052204

https://journals.aps.org/pre/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevE.98.052204

# potus: breaking with singularity within the 2020 race, "don'tvoteJohn", absolutely&anzicheforse ...

John McAfee' << campaign platform contains one item: how do we free ourselves from a government that no longer serves us, but instead has become our master - controlling our every action, down to the detail of what we may or may not put into our bodies and minds. >>  Jan 10, 2019 20:00 CET

"don'tvotemcafee"

https://mcafee2020hq.com

Also

<< Hey John, I'm going to an interview at Mcafee tomorrow for an internship. Any tips? >> 15:22 Jan 8, 2019  https://twitter.com/OsrsMarius/status/1082643757273677824

<< Yes. Keep your mouth shut. They will hire you. And don't mention the allegations that the Founder ate those 9 small Children in Cincinnati back in 1994. I was framed. I don't even like small children. Taste too much like pork.>> 15:26 Jan 8, 2019 https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1082644647225094145

Also

"mcafee"

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=mcafee

"potus"

https://flashontrack.blogspot.com/search?q=potus

# drugs: spray with autocatalyic effects: an inhalable form of Messenger RNA

<< Messenger RNA encodes genetic instructions that stimulate cells to produce specific proteins. >>

<< In an advance that could lead to new treatments for lung disease, MIT researchers have now designed an inhalable form of mRNA. This aerosol could be administered directly to the lungs to help treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis >>

Engineers create an inhalable form of messenger RNA. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Jan 4, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-inhalable-messenger-rna.html

Asha Kumari Patel, James C. Kaczmarek, et al. Inhaled Nanoformulated mRNA Polyplexes for Protein Production in Lung Epithelium. Advanced Materials Jan 4, 2019 doi: 10.1002/adma.201805116

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201805116

# acad: oops! Hindu tales break into a scientific Congress

<< G. Nageswara Rao, a vice-chancellor at Andhra University in southern India, used stories from Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as proof the people of ancient India had aircraft, test-tube babies and that stem-cell research "was done in this country thousands of years ago". >>

<< The annual Indian Science Congress, which this year ran over five days at a university in northern Punjab state, ended on Monday. >>

Indian scientists protest congress speakers discrediting works of Newton, Einstein. Mumbai (Reuters). Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Alison Williams.  Jan 7, 2019.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-india-science/indian-scientists-protest-congress-speakers-discrediting-works-of-newton-einstein-idUKKCN1P11XT

<< "Hindu Lord Vishnu used guided missiles known as 'Vishnu Chakra' and chased moving targets," added the professor of inorganic chemistry. >>

Indian scientists slam ancient Hindu 'stem cell' claim. Jan 6, 2019.

https://m.phys.org/news/2019-01-indian-scientists-slam-ancient-hindu.html

FonT

gli argomenti del prof di chimica inorganica mi hanno fatto venire in mente certe teorie circa gli "Antichi Astronauti"

https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teoria_degli_antichi_astronauti

# phys: the strange world of quantum mechanics

<< In the normal world, an object such as a baseball can only be in one place at one time. But in the quantum world, a particle such as an electron can occupy an infinite number of places at the same time, existing in what physicists call a superposition of multiple states. >>

<< in the quantum world, two individual particles, such as photons can be entangled, such that the mere act of sensing one photon with a detector instantaneously forces the other photon, no matter how far away, to assume a particular state. >>

<< evidence is mounting from the world of plant physiology that some biological processes that rely on quantum superposition occur at normal temperatures, raising the possibility that unimaginably strange world of quantum mechanics may indeed intrude into the every day workings of other biological systems, such as our nervous systems. >>

<< Evolution, in its relentless quest to engineer the most energy-efficient life forms, appears to have ignored physicists’ belief that useful quantum effects can’t happen in the warm, wet environments of biology. >>

Eric Haseltine. Why You Should Care About Quantum Neuroscience.
Hints of an incredibly exciting future. Dec 31, 2018

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/long-fuse-big-bang/201812/why-you-should-care-about-quantum-neuroscience

FonT

davanti a una immagine di "enzima allosterico" qualsiasi bravo scientist sa immediatamente con cosa avra' a che fare: avra' a che fare con il caos, vale a dire con oggetti che possono generare dinamiche senz'altro confinate purtuttavia bizzarre, jazz, funky, fuzzy; invece davanti a concetti quali i due citati sopra (superposition, entanglement), e gli ipotetici effetti immaginabili all'interno di strutture biologiche, neurobiologiche, informatiche, ho idea che chiunque potrebbe sentirsi vagamente disorientato (qui si sottolinea "vagamente") ...

# gst: apropos of singularities of space-time intent on sucking up all the matter around them, a reiteration by Fiona

<< For our Sun, that means it would need to be crushed down to the size of a small town in order to become a black hole. And Earth would have to be squashed to roughly the size of a peanut. >>

<< Check out the video   https://youtu.be/QgNDao7m41M   to see just how big and massive black holes can really get. Even if you think you know, you don't. Trust us. >>

<<  A version of this article was originally published in November 2016. >>

Fiona MacDonald. This Video on The Scale of Black Holes Will Crush Your Poor, Human Brain Forever. Dec 24, 2018.

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-video-on-the-scale-of-black-holes-will-crush-your-poor-human-brain-forever