Lifeboat Foundation

Scientists have discovered that bacteria can form memory-like mechanisms, informing strategies that lead to dangerous infections in humans. These strategies include antibiotic resistance and the formation…

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open investigates the level of usage of hemp-derived cannabinoids, including cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), Delta 8-THC, and cannabidiol (CBD). The reason hemp-derived cannabinoids were chosen for the study was due to passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the definition of marijuana previously outlined in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, THC is still classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it’s still illegal under federal law, and despite the “de-scheduling” of hemp, there is presently no data regarding the estimated usage of hemp-derived cannabinoids.

“While the de-scheduling of hemp products initially opened up the market for CBD products, it also applies to the 100-plus cannabinoids also found in the plant,” said Dr. Kevin Boehnke, who is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, and a co-author on the study. “That means, as with CBD, all of them can follow that same path and be sold in gas stations, as ingredients in cosmetics, as well as in dispensaries—there will likely be substantial proliferation of some of these compounds.”

For the study, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey study of individuals aged 18 and up inquiring about past-year use of hemp-derived cannabinoids. Of the 6,666 participants who received the survey, only 1,169 completed it. Of those 1,169 participants, the researchers found that 71.7 percent had heard of CBD compared to 41.2 percent, 18.4 percent, and 16.8 percent for Delta 8-THC, CBG, and CBN, respectively. Additionally, 21.2 percent of the participants reported using CBD within the past year compared to 11.9 percent, 5.2 percent, and 4.4 percent for Delta 8-THC, CBG, and CBN, respectively, with 25.5 percent of participants reporting using some type of emerging cannabinoid within the last year, as well.

New research from Oregon Health & Science University could one day lead to therapies that prevent or treat diseases and infections tied to a protein that’s found in all human cells.

A study published today in the journal Molecular Cell describes how the protein ubiquitin is modified during bacterial infection.

The study details the steps taken to create a form of the protein known as lysine 6 polyubiquitin, where a long chain of ubiquitin molecules are linked through the amino acid lysine. This form of ubiquitin helps cells communicate by sending a molecular message—communication that remains poorly understood.

Google has released a new Pro model of its latest AI, Gemini, and company sources say it has outperformed GPT-3.5 (the free version of ChatGPT) in widespread testing. According to performance reports, Gemini Ultra exceeds current state-of-the-art results on 30 of the 32 widely-used academic benchmarks used in large language model (LLM) research and development. Google has been accused of lagging behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, widely regarded as the most popular and powerful in the AI space. Google says Gemini was trained to be multimodal, meaning it can process different types of media such as text, pictures, video, and audio.

Insider also reports that, with a score of 90.0%, Gemini Ultra is the first model to outperform human experts on MMLU (massive multitask language understanding), which uses a combination of 57 subjects such as math, physics, history, law, medicine and ethics for testing both world knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

The Google-based AI comes in three sizes, or stages, for the Gemini platform: Ultra, which is the flagship model, Pro and Nano (designed for mobile devices). According to reports from TechCrunch, the company says it’s making Gemini Pro available to enterprise customers through its Vertex AI program, and for developers in AI Studio, on December 13. Reports indicate that the Pro version can also be accessed via Bard, the company’s chatbot interface.

The model can help evolve “better methods for growing cells for blood transfusions, novel cell therapies, and hematopoietic stem cell transplants.”

Remarkably, heX-Embryoid models developed structures akin to blood islands, the initial sites supporting the generation of blood cells in developing embryos. The study identified progenitors for red blood cells, platelets, and various white blood cell types—a pivotal advancement in the field, according to the team.

Researchers claim the model successfully replicated a process closely resembling the initial stages of blood production in humans. “This is exciting because there are extensive possibilities to apply this model to better understand how blood is formed and develop better methods for growing cells for blood transfusions, novel cell therapies, and hematopoietic stem cell transplants,” said Mo Ebrahimkhani, senior author and an associate professor at the Pittsburgh Liver Institute and the Department of Bioengineering at Pitt, in a statement.

Continue reading “Scientists craft embryo model mimicking early human blood development” »

Tiny made from human windpipe cells encouraged damaged neural tissue to repair itself in a lab experiment — potentially foreshadowing a future in which creations like this patrol our bodies, healing damage, delivering drugs, and more.

The background: In a study published in 2020, researchers at Tufts University and the University of Vermont (UVM) harvested and incubated skin cells from frog embryos until they were tiny balls.

Continue reading “Tiny biobots surprise their creators by healing wound” »

Cloning, a topic that has captured the imagination of many, continues to be a subject of scientific interest, ethical debates, and speculative musings. While its various forms and implications have been widely discussed, this article aims to provide an overview of cloning, present examples of successful cloning in different organisms, explore the mechanisms involved, and address the reports and speculations surrounding possible human cloning.

Understanding Cloning: Cloning is the process of creating an organism that is genetically identical to another individual. It can occur naturally, such as with identical twins, or it can be achieved artificially through scientific techniques. Artificial cloning techniques include somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), where the nucleus of a donor cell is transferred into an enucleated egg cell, and reproductive cloning, which aims to create a living copy of an existing organism.

A recent study conducted by Oregon State University has unveiled new insights into how certain polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically omega 3, combat a severe liver condition. This discovery paves the way for novel drug research for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease currently without any FDA-approved treatments.

Scientists led by Oregon State’s Natalia Shulzhenko, Andrey Morgun and Donald Jump used a technique known as multi-omic network analysis to identify the mechanism through which dietary omega 3 supplements alleviated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, usually abbreviated to NASH.

The mechanism involves betacellulin, a protein growth factor that plays multiple positive roles in the body but also contributes to liver fibrosis, or scarring, and the progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Osaka-based Marukan Co., Ltd., the maker of a new range of nutritional cat food with AIM protein to prevent kidney disease, wants to help extend the lives of cats to 30 years.

Learn more about a protein-enriched cat food aiming to help cats live longer.