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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Picture it: Ian McKellan in a wizard hat surrounded by a green screen. Is that what artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry looks like? It certainly is a step toward incorporating the powerful modeling tools computers can use to generate scenery like the Mines of Moria. But how much further might AI move beyond today's standard movie-making video vfx? Alexis Kirke and Richard take listeners on a tour of the possibilities. Listen and learn
Alexis Kirke is a senior research fellow at the School of Humanities and Performing Arts and with the Faculty of Arts at the University of Plymouth, England. He's a screenwriter and quantum/AI programmer and shares intriguing AI ideas with listeners. Examples of AI most familiar to listeners include the blending of artificial and natural scenes in Marvel franchise movies or recreations of film stars no longer with us like Princes Leia in a recent Star Wars film. Alexis Kirke sees the blending of artificial and human intelligence as much more than automation in the film industry. Rather, he sees creative potential in how humans and machines collaborate, making each other more powerful and inspiring.
In addition to contemplating possibilities, he helps listeners understand the practical uses. For example, adapting a TV program for someone with hearing difficulties in a meaningful way is more possible than ever. Creators have broken down all the sound elements in a piece and rated each one with narrative importance—someone could have an intelligent volume control and turn down the sounds in inverse relative importance, emphasizing only the most essential noises for the story. The job of the production team is only to break these elements down. The individualization is up to the device of the viewer. But of course, it goes far beyond this and he and Richard talk about the extent to which a story might be alterable as well as scenery and actors. Listen in for an entertaining discussion about the movies.
For more about his work, see his website at alexiskirke.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Political and international relations expert David Olney tackles where we've been and where we're heading in this fascinating conversation on the past and present of civil-military relations theory, counter-terrorism strategies, and economic revolution. Listen and learn
David Olney is an associate lecturer with the Politics and International Relations (POLIR) department at the University of Adelaide in Australia. His background offers a unique combination of academic knowledge with the perspective of the "person on the ground' in military engagement. He shares some of the tools in his academic arsenal as he covers foundational defense and security studies theory and more. He offers concrete examples, such as the difference in warfare practices in World War 2 between western cultures and Japanese battle techniques, and describes the catch-up counter-terrorism strategies the west had to make when faced with Iraq and Afghanistan counter-insurgents.
He also takes us to the rippling tension of the present and shares how the future may evolve. Government efforts toward COVID mandates "suits the paranoia" of a lot of terrorist organizations, he says. Such insurgent organizations easily believe that COVID measures could be the perfect cover for hidden means of control. He adds that in actuality, most states don't have enough adequate resources or time to battle the virus and have to make difficult decisions. He also tackles the polarization issues, and sees a light at the end of the tunnel. When conditions get bad, he says, collective action is one of the first movements to take hold, and in today's climate, environmental justice groups may join with economic efforts to bring about a substantial way forward. He discusses much more in this rich conversation, so listen in for a helpful perspective on our times.
For more, he points listeners to his own podcast called Blind Insights with David Olney. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
There are 42 biological factors that affect our blood sugar levels, but clinicians and researchers like Dana Roseman are here to help. From choosing an insulin pump versus injections to better nutrition intervention for obesity, she coaches clients with a wide range of needs. Listen in as she helps listeners learn more about reaching healthy goals. She explains
Dana B. Roseman is Director of Technology and Applied Research with Integrative Diabetes Services. She is a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist and a Registered Dietitian. While she does both research and clinical work, the pandemic has pushed most of her current work into the clinical sphere. She starts by giving listeners the basics on the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and explains why that means she has a variety of patient profiles. For example, while she might focus on diabetes and obesity relationships with type 2 patients, because type 1 is an autoimmune disease, there's less emphasis on diet and prevention of type 1 diabetes; therefore, her time with these patients revolves more around the technology of care.
She shares solid information with listeners at all health levels, however. For example, listeners may be surprised to learn that a ketogenic diet could actually lead to insulin resistance. Why? Well, a high amount of fat, which means a high amount of triglycerides, increases insulin resistance. This is why blood sugar levels often remain elevated after high fat meals. So if someone already has a tendency toward developing insulin resistance, over the long term, a higher fat ketogenic approach could be an issue. She provides plenty of healthy advice, such as the role of the microbiome and ways to eat for a healthy gut. Finally, she has some exciting information about up-and-coming technology and beta cell research that speaks of an encouraging future for type 1 diabetics and their caregivers.
For more about her work and for contact information, see integrateddiabetes.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
How is wind energy technically, economically, and environmentally superior to other forms of energy? It isn't. In fact, countless studies have shown it to be a liability in all three regards. Press play to discover:
Physicist, environmental advocate, and creator of wiseenergy.com and a newsletter that covers many environmental topics, John Droz, shares surprising—if not shocking—information about alternative forms of energy, particularly wind power.
He begins by describing the path that led him to retire from General Electric at age 34, and where he's taken his career since then. From state regulation of commercial water extraction, to a deep dive into research on what goes into wind energy production, to the primary pillars upholding the sentiment of climate change as an extremely urgent matter, Doz shares his insight on it all.
The commonly-held belief is that the advantages of wind energy are many, and unquestionable. But Droz pushes for a closer, more critical look at the issue. He also shares his thoughts on climate change—what it means, to what degree it may be occurring, and what ideas may be more politically driven than anything.
Learn more at http://wiseenergy.org/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
It's hard to imagine a world without honey, much less all the fruits they pollinate. That's one reason Zachary Huang's research into honey bee stressors is so important. Listen in as he teaches listeners about
Zachary Huang is an associate professor in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University. He's also an avid photographer of all-things-honey bee, including the plants they pollinate. Honey bees face many stressors and are on the decline. Researchers across the country are trying to figure out why. Dr. Huang tells listeners about the Varroa destructor mite, which hitchhiked from Brazil or Asia on bees into North America. These purplish-red mites are about the size of a pinhead and feed on the fat body of the bee. They are an obligate parasite, meaning they are dependent on the bee for their life cycle. However, their bite transmits several viruses, which weaken and affect the bee anatomy and eventually lead to the death of the bee and increased hive vulnerability.
These types of mites are actually responsible for the death of 35% of honey bees a year. Honey bee social behavior increases mite transmission likelihood. They can be transmitted from drifting, if a bee goes to the wrong nest and brings a mite back, or if a new colony takes over another colony's site. Researchers have tried several methods to combat these mites, from chemical methods to Dr. Huang's own method of "zapping" the drones and mites, killing them with heat so that infected drones and mites die and the colony is free to recover. Other research explores utilizing honey bee behavioral adaptations like grooming behaviors and hygiene, working on breeding bees with increased habits that will decrease the mite population in their hives.
For more about his work and to see some of his photography, see bees.msu.edu. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
By the time a person presents with clinical diabetes, about 80 percent of their beta cells—the cells that produce insulin—have been destroyed. Could a better understanding of these cells lead to earlier intervention and more effective treatment for diabetes? Tune in to learn:
Physician-scientist, Emily Sims, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Indiana University who focuses on the study of endocrinology and clinical and translational research on type 1 diabetes mellitus. Specifically, her lab is researching how pancreatic beta cells contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes, and whether there is a way to cure rather than just treat the disease.
Sims provides insight on the disparities between what she sees in the clinic versus the research lab. She shares what's been discovered through research using the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD) depository, for instance, how type 1 diabetes pathology differs in young children versus adults. She also discusses what beta cell dedifferentiation means, and how it could be considered a new form of beta cell failure in type 1 diabetes.
Visit https://www.trialnet.org/ to learn more about current developments and discoveries in the world of diabetes research. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Ready for Web 3.0? Skynet may be the solution. Sia, one of the main decentralized internet companies that provides an open market for data storage, released a new technology called Skynet. Engineering Manager Matt Sevey tells listeners how Skynet rises above other cloud storage providers. Listen and learn
Matt Sevey is an Engineering Manager and Core Developer with Skynet, which is part of the Sia network. Sia is a well-established group that utilizes decentralized internet blockchain technology to create an open marketplace for data storage. In March 2020, they launched Skynet, a technology that allows nodes, called portals, to run from a personal laptop, as well as web portals that are publicly discoverable. This means it offers a "global data layer," where any content uploaded is available to any other Skynet portal. From an application standpoint, this is huge. Matt says that it "breaks down the silos of data that we have on today's centralized internet," opening up numerous ways for building applications. From a user's standpoint, it allows for a single account for all one's interactions on the web and a revolutionary way to share data. Finally, from a content creator's standpoint, it allows for "recursive content monetization," which means advertisers no longer need interrupt the flow of content.
An example of this usability? In a recent "hackathon," their term for coding competitions for students, one of the finalists was someone new to web development and had never heard of Skynet. Nonetheless, they were able to create an award-level application. In addition, this combined with the transferability of information is a game changer. If someone were to create a twitter-like application and it became problematic, a whole new application could be created and all participants and their past posts would transfer seamlessly. He and Richard discuss the nuances of information sharing, censorship, and dangerous content control in the Skynet system. And don't worry: he says that Sia still offers encrypted, private data storage for those who want that service. For more information to get started, see siasky.net. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Curious about one of the newest discoveries in the nature of viruses? This discussion explores an exciting find in virus behavior and their ability to communicate: quorum sensing by bacteriophages. Listen and learn
Charles Bernard is a PhD student at Sorbonne Université in Paris, working on microbiome communication. He says that quorum sensing means the "minimal number of bacteria or viruses to be present for a collective behavior to be efficient and therefore triggered." But what is viral communication? An important discovery was made in Israel in 2017 when a lab found that a temperate bacteriophage communicates by taking over the cellular machinery of their host bacteria. It signals to other viral particles in a way that determines the host-to-bacteriophage density. In other words, the virus must decide whether to replicate quickly via a lytic cycle or slow down and keep its host alive through a lysogenic cycle, which protects the host. That decision is determined by the ratio of bacteria to bacteriophage: the more bacteria, the better the lytic tradeoff works. The less bacteria, the more host the virus needs to preserve to be able to survive.
The genome of the bacteriophage contains genes that produce a signal and a receptor. They use this back-and-forth from within the bacteria to discover the ratio. In other words, they're assessing their odds to determine which replication cycle they should enter. Charles has continued looking at other bacteriophage communications and has been the first to find a bacteriophage with two different communication signals. These findings can translate to therapies by using bacteriophages to control bacteria. For example, if phages can signal in such a way to prevent bacteria from producing spores, scientists could control certain bacterial infection rates. As Charles says, "who gets to decide when it is time to sporulate? We used to think it was the bacteria, but, in fact, maybe it is the phages manipulating its host's biology . . . like a puppet master. "
For more, see his lab's website: Team AIRE. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
HIV's effect on the gut immune cells appears significant. This implies that gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) stands as a possible viral replication reservoir. Virologist Guido Van Marle is researching how and why this happens and how gut infection affects systemic infection.
Listen in as he and Richard explore every step of HIV infection. They discuss
Guido Van Marle is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. He focuses on viruses, specifically molecular virology techniques of West Nile Virus and the HIV-1 life cycle. He offers listeners numerous molecular mechanism examples of HIV.
He takes special care to designate the different stages of viral infection, explaining how in the early stage, called the acute or primary infection phase, the virus replicates and destroys some of the immune system cells. When it moves into the dormant stage, this activity dies down and the immune system is able to rebound. Significantly, the gut immune cells don't rebound the way other systems do.
In fact, his research has found that there is high load of infection going on in these gastrointestinal tract cells in that early acute phase post-HIV transmission, which means the area experiences a lot of cell death and inflammation: this allows pathogens to enter the tract and exit into the blood stream.
He explains the molecular mechanisms of biology that lead to leaky gut in this process. Furthermore, when doctors deliver antiviral therapy, and the patient's immune cells increase in number, they don't increase as much in the gut. He has focused on this area of infection for his research with the hopes of understanding disease progression as a whole.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Tuberculosis is the world's longest-running pandemic and kills about two million world citizens a year. While often it is the immune response to bacterial infection that's so dangerous, tuberculosis adds a complexity that is especially challenging. Anna Coussens zeros in on several of these complexities in her research.
Listen in and learn
Anna Coussens is a Laboratory Head in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immune Defense with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Her work in infectious diseases microbiology focuses specifically on tuberculosis as an immunologist. Because TB is a dominant problem in lower socioeconomic countries, it is often forgotten about in other areas. This has pushed treatment down on the list of common infectious diseases, but Dr. Coussens is working to change this.
She helps listeners understand why Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still the cause of so much illness, explaining the interplay of immunity and infection. It can trick T-cells into not recognizing its presence in infected cells through an extra-cellular vesicle sleight of hand. Furthermore, it has a very slow growth pattern, which makes it both hard to treat and hard to study in lab conditions. Many infected persons can exhibit a strong response and inflammation for years before doctors can detect bacteria in their sputum.
Dr. Coussens is trying to understand why different cells can react in such varied ways to the bacteria. Her research aims to find a way to treat the individual and the immune dysfunction of that individual through "host-directed therapy." She hopes to help resolve inflammation that might lead to better outcomes for treatment. People who have had TB are actually at a high risk for getting it again, which perpetuates the disease in high-burden areas.
Listen as one researcher describes her hard work to bring better treatment to these communities.
For more about her work, follow her on Twitter as @AnnaCoussens and see her web page at WEHI. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
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