innovation - Latest Comments

Re: The Terrible Tattoos

Gruesome Jelly — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:09:59 -0000

Actually i did know all this before i got a tattoo, i did my research but went through with it anyway. Sounds like you hate tattoos and are doing the typical "the younger generation sucks" thing

Re: Sociopathy 101: Going Beyond the Stereotypes

Kimberly J. Sawtelle — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 06:47:16 -0000

Just started thinking about the prevalence of sociopathy in American society in light of politics in 2019 leading into the 2020 election. My guess was that up to 44% of American society exhibit sociopathic traits given current political polls. Nonetheless, according to a 2016 article in National Geographic about 20 percent of Neanderthal DNA survives in modern humans. When looking at nature v. nurture, one wonders if sociopathy may have genetic roots deep in the past? If it does, my money is on the Neanderthal branch possessing greater instinctive empathy.

Re: Freezing Your Eggs: How, Why, and When?

Ingrid Meier — Mon, 06 May 2019 09:05:08 -0000

I have never forgotten the despair of the prospect of not being able to have children, and the hope that the new reproductive medicine treatment could help me and thousands of others. And from personal experience can tell that there is no hope that will come back easily to you. You must work through the stages of grief. Accept that you will never see this person again, and move on with your life. I felt this way for too long. Then with hubby, we decided on surrogacy. It wasn’t an easy decision. But finally, we chose the Biotexcom clinic. We went to Ukraine and finally found our happiness. It was an incredible feeling - when you finally get what you think you’d never have. It is truly a miracle. So hats off to those early parents who went through the experimental treatment. Let’s hope that IVF can be made more affordable.

Re: What Are You Really Paying for When You Buy a Laptop?

Duc Nguyen — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 03:18:22 -0000

MainBoard , CPU , GraphicCard

Re: More for Less

ildottore — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 11:12:14 -0000

Great advice for students and working people alike. Polyphasic sleep not only lets you have more time in a day, but also improves your creativity and memory. I've written about how it helped me here: https://optimizemy.life/tim...
There's also a daily sleeping log where you can read about my early adaptation period, so you know what to expect

Re: Quantum Computing to Create Better Drugs

Hardip Gill — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 11:05:21 -0000

I was just thinking about charge environments today and the capacity to use current bond information to synthesize "molecules/drugs" that could interact with them. I heard quantum computing and just made the assumption it could answer anything without lag. It seems these questions are harder to setup then find answers for hopefullly. amazing article and thankyou for confusing the shit out me.

Re: Machine Learning

Munesh Chauhan — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 03:54:08 -0000

A very nice and informative writeup.

I am from a parallel computing background and would like to know which are some commonly used prediction algorithms (those use machine learning) for disease outbreak?

Re: Freezing Your Eggs: How, Why, and When?

Melanie — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:34:51 -0000

I was pregnant with our third child. And my husband and I talked about the fact I didn't feel like it would be the last time I was pregnant. I have an easy time with pregnancy. My eldest sister has done egg donation in one Ukrainian clinic. So, I'm a little familiar with different fertility options. And my husband was super supportive of such an idea. I mean helping a family that can't have children. I answered lots of questions about the process, the effect on my family, the possibility of being stuck with another kid, etc. I'm lucky everyone around me was very supportive of the idea. They were very open about it. So, I signed in surrogate program. I went through an agency. And I have met the couple I'll be carrying for. They even flew out to spend a few days with my family. But I did not know them before entering the process. I selected them from three other couples. Just to be clear, this baby is not genetically mine. The egg is from a donor and the sperm is from the intended father.

Re: Saturn’s Polygon

mark slater — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 05:29:21 -0000

I would like suggest that the hexagon shapes we see atop Saturn is more simple than we realise, magnetism has a centripetal vortex which pulls matter closer together, the tightest formation under pressure results in packing atoms into hexagonal close packing or geometric placements, around a single point, this create hexagons in the geology or atmosphere of the planets with a strong enough magnetic core. All planets have hexagons in their north poles geology as can be seen with the naked eye on all of nasas photos (just look for them). Find a facebook page called electric field lines to see what I mean. Ken wheelers book, 'uncovering the secrets of magnetism' explains all we need to figure out what's going on in all of nature, cosmology

Re: Saturn’s Polygon

mark slater — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 11:39:11 -0000

I would like suggest that the hexagon shapes we see on Saturn is more simple than we realise, magnetism has a centripetal vortex which pulls matter closer together, the tightest formation under pressure results in packing atoms into hexagonal close packing or geometric placements, around a single point, this create hexagons in the geology or atmosphere of the planets with a strong enough magnetic core. All planets have hexagons in their north poles geology as can be seen with the naked eye on all of nasas photos (just look for them). Find a facebook page called electric field lines to see what I mean. Ken wheelers book, 'uncovering the secrets of magnetism' explains all we need to figure out what's going on in all of nature. The centripetal and fugal forces interact along the hexagonal line to strongest pushing more on the hexagons inner area.

Re: Mysteries at the Center of the Galaxy

Gesamtzusammenhang — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:32:20 -0000

Given that this article discusses radiation and the black hole in the Milky Way's center, I'm very surprised that there's no mention of Hawking Radiation.
For those that read the article and have questions on "dark matter," take comfort in the fact that it is a controversial hypothesis designed to conveniently fill the gap in our understanding of black holes and quantum gravitational effects at a black hole's event horizon.

A few notes on Hawking Radiation:

-Stephen Hawking demonstrated in 1974 what others had suspected and later confirmed: that black holes emit the electromagnetic radiation of a hot body.

-Black holes were thought to not emit anything, hence their name, but Hawking acknowledged that this is a clear violation of Thermodynamic entropy. Matter/energy entering a black hole generate heat. Heat is a property that requires energy emission. As black holes exponentially rise in temperature, its gravity emits particles at the event horizon.

-Though controversial at the time, this theory is now accepted because it does not violate the laws of Thermodynamics; even if quantum gravity is not wholly understood. The frequency of a photon that enters a black hole's event horizon will approach infinity. The particle falls into the black hole, but the wavelength (towards infinity) is shorter than the Planck scale - where the classical laws of gravity do not apply. It is thought that quantum tunneling, superposition, and entanglement facilitate the process by which black holes emit radiation.

-Indeed; as radiation leaves the event horizon of a black hole, the black hole's mass decreases. It absorbs everything at a cost: an exponential temperature rise that involves radiation emission. Over time, the black hole radiates so much that it undergoes an "evaporation" of gamma rays. Its ultimate demise is marked by a massive burst of gamma rays.

Dark matter might exist (for other reasons), but the calculations are most certainly incorrect. Even Hawking is aware that we don't know the distribution or frequency of black holes in the galaxy. We also don't know how many primordial black holes have burst into gamma rays - leaving a gamma ray cloud roiled into the galaxy's gravitational spin. But one thing that is very probable, is that a great chunk of that "excess" radiation is due to the growth and death of black holes. The activities of Sagittarius A*'s supermassive black hole aren't an exception. In fact, the gamma rays may be the best example yet of Hawking Radiation.

Re: A Scientific Understanding of Creativity

Taylor Green — Wed, 25 May 2016 04:30:19 -0000

Indeed, the story about Harry Potter is captivating but not everyone loves it. Here is some statistics:
movie: -->> 15% - bad influence
45% - ok but nothing more than that
39% - good influence & a lot to learn from
book: -->> 32% - hate it
57% - love it
(source:today.yougov.com)
So, logically thinking what might be a creative work to one, may be a trash to another and that's all is based on likes & dislikes of that person. It is going to be hard to make 100% love your work. Actually, it is impossible. And this conclusion is also based on my personal experience with working on my website biographytemplate.org. Surely, this sucks but there is not much one can do about it.

Re: Invention of the Microphone

Taylor Green — Fri, 20 May 2016 05:44:07 -0000

Alex did great job on this essay

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

CindyG — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:52:56 -0000

Wow David. Where have you been for the last 20 years? Don't read scientific journals much do you? I'd link you to the peer reviewed studies but you apparently are too lazy to look up the research for yourself so why should I supply them for you? Shame on you. Thousands of children are affected by this disorder and they don't need ignorance like this being promoted. For what its worth to someone who has a closed mind, my son never displayed OCD, tics or any other off behaviors prior to his sudden, overnight onset. Perhaps your child or children should be stricken and then you might finally get it.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Bob Horvath — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 21:38:44 -0000

Kurlan's work on this subject, started in 2001 and completed more than a decade ago, has certainly not achieved his stated goal (as listed at http://grantome.com/grant/N...
"Disproving the PANDAS hypothesis would prevent the use of expensive and potentially dangerous therapies (e.g., plasma exchange, immune globulin, antibiotics) that have been proposed for PANDAS patients."
More patients than ever before are getting and benefiting from these very treatments, and yes, insurance and public health care systems are now covering them in several regions.

There are well-known problems with Kurlan's study, specifically, the non-PANDAS control group contained PANDAS (or PANS) patients - no wonder that the study then showed little difference between the groups.

In the meantime, there has been much new fresh research on this subject.

Also in the meantime, Kurlan has lost allies, most notably in Dr. James Leckman, a giant in the field, who used to publish with Kurlan, but as a self-described "PANDAS convert", is now publishing regularly with Dr. Swedo. I am wondering also whether Dr. E. Kaplan, another old naysayer has also followed Dr. Leckman's lead and jumped this sinking ship of denial - does anyone know? I ask because Dr. Kaplan is specifically acknowledged as contributing to Dr. Dritan Agalliu's work on the TH17 pathway.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Anita Serpa-Smith — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:59:43 -0000

Mykidisnotcrazy.com

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Krista Payne — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 21:40:23 -0000

What a shortsighted article covering a very complicated condition that not only exists but seriously effects children and families. Spreading the notion that PANDAS is some made up disorder treated haphazardly by a fringe group of doctors is irresponsible and quite frankly a dangerous message for those seeking help for their children. This disease is real and the treatment for PANDAS is rigorous, time consuming, and life changing. No parent that has a child that has presented with the symptoms related to PANDAS takes lightly the use of SSRI's and prophylactic antibiotics however when your child is in crisis and the only options given are a psychiatric hospitalization Prozac and azithromycin seem reasonable in comparison.

The improvements seen after antibiotics are dramatic and if every single time you take your child to the doctor in the midst of a crisis and they test positive for strep it is hard to deny a connection or at best a correlation. The treatment plan put in place for my child is pages long and is supported by scads of blood work results, tests, and daily documentation that is painstakingly kept in an effort to document reactions to medications, supplements, and even foods. If you think for a second that parents of a child with PANDAS haven't done their research and exhausted every possible resource available to them prior to getting treatments such as IVIG or plasmapheresis you are dead wrong. The only part of your article that you even come close to getting right is the claim that parent are desperate. We are a desperate lot for sure. Desperate for more medical professionals to hear us, to take us seriously, to acknowledge they may not have all the answers, and to not dismiss us when we insist that something is not right with our child. Do your homework and at least a minimal amount of research before publishing an article on complicated diagnosis such as PANDAS and maybe just maybe contact a physician that treats the disease or a family that lives it everyday before you dismiss it's existence based on a quote from one ill-informed neurologist.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Anita Serpa-Smith — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 21:30:41 -0000

David WEINER,
I'm sharing a desperate letter, a letter I wrote two years ago to the mayor of Danbury, CT. I thought my child story would make a difference and help others.. Little did I know back then that PANDAS/PANS is a world wide issue!! I really hope you do your research!! And do justice for all the children who are suffering from this disorder..

Dear Mayor Boughton,

I am writing to you with a desperate plea. I, and the children and families of Danbury, need your help to get the word out about a terrible illness that can be contracted from an untreated Strep infection. As a community member and mother of two daughters, I can tell you from experience, my lack of knowledge about this illness prevented me from getting my daughter the treatment she needed for a month! And even then, it was because I had done extensive research on my own! I am talking about PANDAS and I have referenced my recent facebook campaign to raise awareness about this illness below; with the most recent posts back to the beginning. Briefly, PANDAS is an illness brought on when the strep germ populates the brain. Its most common manifestation is a severe onset of OCD !

From personal experience, on December 9, 2013 my 7 year old daughter was playing, hugging, laughing, and enjoying her life. On December 10, 2013, she was obsessively cleaning her hands (to the point of bleeding), refusing to be touched by anyone, calling her family terrible names, and being strictly ritualistic with every routine that makes up a 7 year old's day. My husband and I began to research what could possible cause this sudden and dramatic change and found an article about the link between Streptococcus and OCD symptoms. We demanded that our daughter be tested for strep, even though she was not exhibiting any signs of infection. It turned out she was positive for group A strep and our journey towards recovery began. However, this was not without the help of friends and a determine mother!! Sabrina (our daughter) is under treatment (antibiotics), she is not yet herself, however, she has made marked improvements. One doctor wanted her on Prozac! This would only be a ban-aid to her disorder and not a solution to find the cause of the disorder!! We are thankful to have found medical personnel who both treat PANDAS symptoms and/or who are willing to begin with that diagnosis and work with Sabrina with regard to the OCD symptoms.

As Mayor, I am asking you for two things:
1. To Get the Word Out via all of the channels that are available to you.
2. Recognize and Back Current Legislation initiatives that would force insurance companies to recognize and pay for the treatment of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus "PANDAS".
These two steps on your part would serve all of the children and families of Danbury and all of the children and families of Connecticut.

I a

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Molly Ochoa — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 21:30:05 -0000

David Weiner, your information is outdated and lazy. Please understand the weight of your words in the health community and update your knowledge base before writing on this issue again. To write about this and not have familiarized yourself with the most current research regarding the neurological impact of an immune based illness is irresponsible at best. I am hopeful you will learn great things if you are courageous enough to admit your mistake.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Beth Maloney — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:30:23 -0000

Wow David Weiner...what a terrible article and horrific disservice to the hundreds (not two dozen) physicians treating PANDAS worldwide, the thousands of recovering children, and the many parents who've so valiantly battled for and recovered their children from this terrible disorder. Of course Dr. Roger Kurlan claims PANDAS doesn't exist. He's been a naysayer for years and devoted a significant chunk of his career trying to obliterate the fine work of researchers across the country including most recently from Columbia University. Kurlan is the same doctor who published a paper discrediting PANDAS, but failed to disclose his conflicts to the publication. Imagine the impact on his research funding as widespread acceptance has grown to acknowledge that a whole lot of kids need antibiotics, not psych drugs. I'm curious, though. Would you kindly share the "evidence" mounting that PANDAS is "not a real disorder?" I'd love to see it because I am stunned that it slipped by me. In the meantime, please read "Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Caught OCD" and then "Childhood Interrupted: The Complete Guide to PANDAS and PANS." After that, please visit my website BethAlisonMaloney.com and read all of the articles posted and follow links to audio such as The Diane Rehm show. Then I'd love it if you'd give me a call. 207 967 2526 Better yet I'm in Princeton from time to time and would be delighted to meet you for lunch. Beth Alison Maloney, Esq.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Jordan — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 06:53:12 -0000

Mr. Weiner I suggest that you do actual research before writing an article that makes claims that a disease does not exist. You just quote Kulan, a nay sayer but don't go looking for actual studies that support PANDAS. Remember when all doctors thought that stomach ulcers were caused by stress and gave everyone milk? Well this is a little more serious because if PANDAS is not treated it can lead to a life of misery and psychiatric meds that may at best put a bandaid on the situation. Well here a little actual research. I won't do your whole job for you, but I will give you a start.

Animal models:https://www.pandasppn.org/a...

Cross reactive antibodies in SC and PANDAS: https://www.pandasppn.org/l...

My child had NO history of tics, ocd, uncontrolled movements, etc and one day after a STREP INFECTION woke up a different child. Severe simple and complex motor tics, Severe OCD to the point that rituals made up his whole day, He started taking high dose augmentin about a week and a half after onset and 3 days later he improved to the point that he could attend school. He would let us touch him again. You can call it what you want. I call it PANDAS. His has taken the long saw-toothed pattern of recovery and it has been a long road. Thank God you were not my child's pediatrician or his immunologist or his psychiatrist or his psychologist or his neurologist- all confirmed PANDAS and they are unconnected a throughout my state. I hope you or your child never have to live through this hell.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Reader1900 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:25:04 -0000

It's hard to read an article I wish never existed.

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Gravity — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 19:46:22 -0000

Thanks, Texlag70

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Texlag70 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 10:01:49 -0000

Group A Streptococcus intranasal infection promotes CNS infiltration by streptococcal-specific Th17 cells
Thamotharampillai Dileepan ... Dritan Agalliu, P. Patrick Cleary
Published January 4, 2016 Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2016;126(1):303-317. doi:10.1172/JCI80792.
http://www.jci.org/articles...

Re: Private: Discovering and Treating PANDAS

Texlag70 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 09:58:48 -0000

My child had OCD/anxiety, tics, sensory issues (proprioceptive and vestibular issues along with tactile and auditory defensiveness), restricted eating habits, daytime potty accidents, emotional lability, hyperactivity and oppositional behaviors. He lost the OCD and tics within the 1st 10 days of starting an antibiotic and lost the rest of the above listed symptoms within the next 4 months on prophylactic antibiotics. He went from being in a self-contained "behavior" classroom back into a mainstream setting with minimal support. He was also enrolled in ABA therapy at the time of initiating antibiotic treatment. They had been taking daily data regarding my child for 1.5 years previously and asked what had changed because they could see it reflected in the behavior/data too - he graduated from that ABA program shortly thereafter. Please do not belittle the doctors actually trying to help families with this very real condition triggered by various viral or bacterial triggers - it's not limited to strep.