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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Dr. Rosalyn Abbott, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, provides an insightful overview of her research into cell and tissue engineering and the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic breakthroughs.
As a Ph.D. in bioengineering, Dr. Abbott has a keen interest in cell and tissue engineering, biomaterials, adipose microenvironments, disease modeling, and tissue regeneration. In her Carnegie Mellon lab, human adipose microenvironments are developed and tested for responsiveness to stimuli hypothesized to alter disease mechanisms, for example, the transition of obese tissues to insulin resistant type II diabetic tissues; metabolic behavior; and therapeutic potential. Dr. Abbott and her skilled team of researchers focus on integrating biomaterials with tissue engineering techniques and perfusion bioreactors. Interestingly, silk is used as an organic biomaterial to aid long-term culture of adipose microenvironments in vitro. The team's long-term goal is to use these selected adipose tissue systems to inform preventative as well as therapeutic measures for patients who are affected by the metabolic syndrome. Dr. Abbott's lab is particularly interested in the utilization of tissue engineering to study metabolic dysregulation during the complicated transition of obesity into insulin resistant type II diabetes.
In addition to running her lab and being an assistant professor in biomedical engineering with an additional appointment in materials science and engineering, Dr. Abbott has been an active member of many important research and academic environments. She received her BS and MS degrees in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. And her PhD in bioengineering was achieved at the University of Vermont. Additionally, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the biomedical engineering department at Tufts University, where she gained recognition for her work in the development of adipose tissue engineered models.
Dr. Abbott discusses her lab's history, and work—engineering fat. She talks about the major challenge of designing drug therapeutics, which is the fact that our basic understanding of human disease mechanisms is based on animal models or simplified cell culture models. She informs us that fat, or adipose tissue, has long been thought of as a passive organ with the sole purposes of storing energy or insulating the body, but recent research has discovered that fat plays a more dynamic role in the body in regard to disease. Specifically, fat communicates with other tissues, and obesity is a chronic state of inflammation that causes stress on the rest of the body.
The bioengineering PhD talks about chemicals that affect the body, such as those we ingest from packaging, etc. She discusses the impact of bisphenol S, commonly known as BPS, that we take into the body when using containers for drinks and food made from some plastics. She recounts some experimental evidence that was revealed by testing exposure to certain chemicals, and how it related to accumulation of additional adipose tissue.
Dr. Abbott discusses the process of lipolysis, and specific proteins. Lipolysis is the breakdown of lipids and it involves the hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. The process occurs in adipose tissue and lipolysis is the means to mobilize stored energy during periods of fasting or exercise. She states that adipocytes (cells that are specialized for the storage of fat that are found in connective tissue) can last for up to ten years in the body, so the rate of turnover is dramatically slow indeed. She explains how adipocytes communicate with each other, and gives an overview of some of the other cells in the system. She discusses adipose-derived stem cells that are often located near the stromal vascular fraction, a heterogeneous collection of cells that are contained within adipose tissue.
The PhD talks about the work her lab engages in to understand the transition of obesity into insulin resistant type II diabetes. They seek to understand how this expansion in adipose tissue relates to larger systemic changes within the body, and how it all affects other diseases. Their question is what is being communicated that is causing all these detrimental problems within the body, and Dr. Abbott hopes to find more answers that will lead to solutions and treatments by understanding fully the pathways to certain diseases. Additionally, she is hopeful that their research will also lead to better drugs for treatment. As their mission states, there is a crucial need for monitoring physiologically relevant, sustainable, human tissues in vitro in order to better understand the development and causes of metabolic diseases.
Dr. Timothy Chase, NY cosmetic dentist, delivers a detailed overview of modern dentistry, oral health, and good home practices we can all benefit from.
Dr. Chase has over 25 years of experience in cosmetic and restorative dental treatments. He specializes in natural tooth preservation and oral health. He is celebrated for his unique ability to provide dental work that looks natural and organic, not overdone or clearly 'worked on.' Dr. Chase's dental office, SmilesNY, has been featured in numerous magazines and on popular TV programs. At SmilesNY, Dr. Chase works with his patients to restore both the aesthetic appearance and functionality of their bright smiles. He provides a myriad of treatments, services, and procedures such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, smile makeovers, dental bonding and contouring, and the popular, Cosmalite. He is skilled in all types of restorative treatments including inlays and onlays, implants, bridges, dental fillings, metal-free porcelain crowns, and even full mouth restorations.
Dr. Chase earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and he completed his general practice residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Hospital. His innovative work has made him one of the top cosmetic dentists in New York.
Dr. Chase discusses his practice and unique approach. He details the many ways that oral health is overall health, in that what happens in the mouth can impact the entire body. He stresses the importance of taking care of teeth and gums and making regular appointments for care. Specifically, he discusses the various diseases that can arise and the treatments and procedures that can be implemented to combat them. He states that bleeding gums, when we brush or floss, can be an indicator that something is going on, for it is not natural for bleeding to occur. Additionally, he says that sensitivity issues to cold, etc. are a possible indicator, and should be considered for further review. Odors and bad breath are also indicators that perhaps one should schedule an appointment right away, or simply increase the regularity of their appointment scheduling.
The cosmetic dentist provides an overview of the technical aspects of reviewing teeth, specifically x-rays and a newer process called transillumination. A dental transillumination test can reveal problems in teeth that could be difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye or even with x-rays. Decay will appear in the image as cloudy shadows. Healthy tooth structure will appear lighter, because light shines through it more easily. A dental transillumination might also expose fine cracks within the teeth. He explains how some of the newer viewing options provide greater detail and more accurate information, whereas traditional x-rays may sometimes make it difficult to clearly tell whether something is a cavity or just a shadow.
Dr. Chase discusses new scientific discoveries that show that bacteria in the mouth varies greatly between people, and how some bacteria is extremely more destructive than other bacteria. He details how some newer mouthwashes can directly impact the flora in the mouth and make it less destructive. He stresses the importance of using mouthwash that contains no alcohol because alcohol dries out the mouth, and can reduce saliva, which is a natural protector of the teeth.
The dental expert answers questions about his particular approach to dentistry. He talks about increasing frequency of visits, and how the increase can help curb potential problems. Additionally, he discusses products such as electric toothbrushes and more advanced mouthwashes. He underscores the importance of brushing for at least two minutes, which may seem like a long time but it is necessary for thorough cleaning. The benefits of electric toothbrushes are many, but some of the top points he discusses are: thoroughness of cleaning and proper time allotment. Dr. Chase points out that electric toothbrushes tend to give their users a better cleaning overall, and some of the models have timers that allow the user to know when it is time to move on to another section of the teeth. Further, he talks about teeth whitening and the products that have been proven to be safe, as well as those products that are questionable in regard to safety.
Dr. Chase served as a clinical instructor at New York University Dental School where he was responsible for the training of undergraduate dental students, as well as doctors from many countries around the world, on the current techniques in restorative dentistry. Dr. Chase is a faculty mentor at Spear Advanced Dental Education Center in Scottsdale, AZ. He is a proud member of The American Dental Society, The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, The Academy of General Dentistry, and The Spear Faculty Club.
PJ Di Giammarino, CEO of JWG, details the complex and sometimes convoluted topic of regulation, in an ever-increasing digital financial world.
Di Giammarino has over 20 years of experience in new technology designed to solve complex financial services problems and issues. For over a decade Di Giammarino has been the CEO of JWG Group, a prestigious think-tank that is internationally recognized by regulators, financial institutions, and technology firms. Di Giammarino has a vast network of the industry's leading technology specialists, policy makers, and global market leaders, all of whom he brings together to find solutions to global challenges through intensive collaborative working groups and collectives. Di Giammarino is recognized widely for his work with the MiFID Implementation Group and a wide range of RegTech forums. Prior to founding JWG Di Giammarino worked with Barclays Capital, Booz Allen, and McKinsey. He is a vocal and active member of many advisory groups and organizations including the International Organization for Standardization through the ISO UK committee for financial services, IST/12, and Di Giammarino serves as the Secretary for the FinTech Technical Advisory Group as well.
Di Giammarino talks about his firm and their immersion into RegTech, helping financial services define, understand, comply, and advance. He discusses the importance of bringing banking out of the analog era and into the new digital era and applying regulations and controls to help ensure the safety of transactions and accounts. RegTech, as he explains, pertains to the application of AI and new technologies to the financial sector and businesses in general. Di Giammarino states that banking has become very technical, and regulators have been forced to adjust and become technically savvy themselves, to meet the demands and keep pace with a rapidly changing digital financial sector.
Since 2006, JWG has held 400 working groups to focus on a variety of regulatory topics. He discusses the many action points that have come out of the G20 and others, and how the new changes are creating a glut of work for regulators and financial sector strategists. Di Giammarino talks about JWG's mission of using technology to apply to the new and voluminous regulatory data, to bring efficiency and streamline the process of adapting to changes. JWG's team scours the massive bundle of regulatory information and brings it into a manageable initiative that businesses can follow and implement.
The financial regulations expert delves into the many specific areas of regulation, and the tools companies can utilize to keep up. Transparency, as Di Giammarino states, is the answer to the crisis, as everything has to be on a report. With tighter regulation many more reports are generated on various subjects and areas, from trading activity, to how you know your customer, to money laundering checks, to how to manage capital and potential exposures. By defining more accurate language and standards, compliance is easier to implement and maintain. JWG's team of independent analysts assists senior executives within public and private sectors to determine how regulations can be implemented in the correct way. Essentially, their skilled analysts and technology leaders help financial services take control of global regulatory change by implementing a technology-enabled standardized approach.
Di Giammarino talks about how regulators across the globe are now communicating and sharing ideas, for the greater good of security for everyone. He states that the role of new technology is not really firm-by-firm, but is actually theme-by-theme. Continuing, he lays out the idea that whereas some regulators have an appetite to automate their rulebook, others are more focused on using blockchain to manage the problem of money laundering, thus the areas of interest and focus are varied.
Lastly, Di Giammarino discusses fear and greed, as the motivators of regulation. Regarding fear, the sheer volume of regulations has grown to the point that many businesses are afraid that they may be missing things that are critical. In terms of greed, the costs are often excessive, with a large amount of manual effort needed. Di Giammarino details the many ways that his team can facilitate the processes for security, data loss control, and management, etc. through the use of AI and technology.
Di Giammarino has been a consistent author and international public speaker for more than two decades on the role of new technologies for the financial services infrastructure.
Dr. Natasha Lilly, DVM, CVA, animal diet expert and founder of the Royal Animal Health University (royalanimalhealthuniversity.com), delivers an interesting overview of pet nutrition and the importance of a well balanced diet for our furry friends.
Dr. Lilly has a profound passion for animal well being and care. She attended California Polytechnic State University on the pre-veterinary track studying animal science, and completed her DVM work at UC Davis with a concentration in equine medicine. Dr. Lilly has extensive experience in equine sports medicine and animal acupuncture. Frustrated by traditional methods of treatment, Dr. Lilly sought new ways to provide care. She began working for an established acupuncturist and complementary medicine DVM in Chicago—Dr. Barbara Royal. Dr. Royal's approach to animal health combined conventional and holistic medicine practices. Holistic veterinary medicine is a branch of veterinary medicine that implements alternative medicine in the treatment of animals that strongly stresses the importance of empathy and very minimal invasiveness. Dr. Lilly worked at Central Coast Pet Hospital and Emergency, where she practiced acupuncture services. She has knowledge and training in Chinese herbal medicine through the Chi Institute.
Dr. Lilly discusses their diet software for dogs and cats. Based on the groundbreaking work and diet analysis of Steve Brown, Dr. Barbara Royal and Dr. Natasha Lilly have incorporated his unique Animal Diet Formulator into their care plan. (Steve Brown is a revered nutritional researcher and formulator of the first commercially available fresh-raw pet food in the United States.)
The animal diet expert talks about the kinds of foods people feed their pets, and surprisingly, home-prepared food is often the worst because it is extremely out of balance for the pet's nutritional needs. Though with recalls and commercial pet food problems, she came to the conclusion that home-prepared food could be balanced and healthy… if pet parents could learn how to balance it for maximum nutritional benefit. She discusses the importance of considering the biology and physical traits of the species in regard to their optimum nutritional intake.
Dr. Lilly details how their formulator works, and how it can be set up to comply with American or European guidelines. She discusses how her team at the Royal Animal Health University works with clients to educate them on the software, so they get a comprehensive understanding of what it offers and how to utilize it.
The animal care educator discusses their website and the benefits that it offers to pet owners. She talks about some of the problems with animal diets, and mistakes some pet owners make when attempting to feed their pets. She elaborates on animal diets, and how it is important to incorporate things that many of us don't eat, such as spleens, livers, kidneys, etc., because our pets are biologically designed to eat whole animals. And animals enjoy this type of organ meat and it is natural for them. Additionally, she discusses how smell is a factor in pet food, and the ways that smell can be enhanced to entice your pet to eat their food. She talks about the ways pet owners can add butter, or lightly sear the food, to enhance the meal and get pets excited to eat.
Dr. Lilly discusses weight issues with pets and the importance of getting weight under control to avoid heath issues. Additionally she discusses some of the absolutely unacceptable foods for dogs and cats; she stresses that pets should never be fed chocolate, onions, or grapes. When formulating fresh foods, Dr. Lilly states that carbohydrates can be lowered, which makes a big difference in pet diets. She also states that all carbs are not created equal, and some sources for carbs are far better than others.
Dr. Lilly describes their upcoming commercial software that provides a wide variety (over 1500 ingredients) for commercial companies who want to utilize the formulation software when preparing pet food brands for market. She discusses individual recipes as well, and consulting services for pet owners whose pets have specific conditions. Dr. Lilly is passionate about pet health and the Royal Animal Health University is steadfastly dedicated to a holistic, common sense approach to contemporary animal care.
Robert S. Rosenberg, D.O., FCCP, sleep medicine and sleep apnea specialist, discusses sleep apnea, CPAP compliance, and CPAP care.
Robert S. Rosenberg, D.O., FCCP, has more than three decades of experience in sleep medicine. Dr. Rosenberg is board certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine, and internal medicine. He has served as the medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona, as well as the sleep medicine consultant for Mountain Heart Health Services in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Rosenberg is a sought-after speaker on the subject of sleep and other medical topics and is a regular guest at medical conventions. He is a published author and columnist whose work has appeared in many top periodicals such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Women's Health, Prevention, Woman's World, Parenting, and Ladies' Home Journal, as well as many others. His books Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day, and The Doctor's Guide to Sleep Solutions for Stress & Anxiety are in wide release and are considered by many to be must-reads for doctors and patients alike.
The sleep expert discusses sleep apnea and the solutions to the problem. As he states, obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, is when your airway basically collapses during sleep. So for those who are predisposed to sleep apnea either due to obesity, large tongues, heredity, etc., the problem could exist. Dr. Rosenberg mentions that of the nearly twenty million with sleep apnea, only about twenty percent of those have been diagnosed. And with sleep apnea, the oxygen drops, carbon dioxide levels rise, and the sympathetic nervous system (known as fight or flight) is triggered which constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. This unfortunate chain of events puts extra strain on the heart, brain, and other areas of the body. He delves into a detailed analysis of the areas of the body that could be affected by obstructive sleep apnea and the ways it can be prevented or treated.
Dr. Rosenberg's opinions and findings on the subject of sleep have made him a frequent guest on television and radio shows. Additionally, he publishes a monthly newsletter for healthcare professionals that condenses the most current research in sleep medicine, as well as an informative monthly newsletter on a myriad of sleep topics for the general public. Dr. Rosenberg is an affiliated professor of sleep medicine at Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine and he is on the board of directors for the American Sleep Association. In this discussion, Dr. Rosenberg details the health problems that sleep apnea can contribute to, and how sleep apnea is highly underdiagnosed.
The sleep doctor talks about the new CPAP offerings on the market and their benefits. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP is a positive airway pressure ventilator that applies mild air pressure on a continuous basis to keep airways open in people who have difficulty breathing spontaneously on their own. As he states, the new offerings are smaller and quieter, and many people find that they are much more comfortable than the large cumbersome devices of the recent past. He discusses how the pressure is variable and changes based on a person's specific requirements. He also talks about the various ways someone can delay the functioning of the device if they want to fall asleep without it intruding on them, and then it will begin after they have had time to begin resting. Additionally, he talks about the heated tubing that new systems offer to help prevent dryness, providing quality moisture into the air.
Dr. Rosenberg discusses maintenance of the machines and systems and hoses. He talks about the benefits of the SoClean sanitizing product. SoClean is an efficient and effective way to clean CPAP machine equipment. The SoClean system kills 99.9% of CPAP germs and bacteria in the mask, hose, and reservoir and does not require disassembly or chemicals.
The sleep health expert details oral appliances, which are devices designed to adjust the jaw, bringing the lower jaw forward which in turn brings the tongue forward, and in many cases, this is enough to prevent some people's problem of sleep apnea. Oral appliances are designed specifically for individuals. Dentists will make molds of their patients' upper and lower teeth in order to tailor the oral appliance for individuals. The oral appliances are adjustable, worn at night, and for many people, this specially crafted device is a great option to prevent sleep apnea and avoid CPAP.
Additionally, Dr. Rosenberg discusses some of the patients he sees, and their stories of past frustration with their care and devices. Dr. Rosenberg's goal is to find ways for these patients to be healthy and enjoy their sleep, with whatever device or system or method is necessary, and he works with people individually to ensure they get the best quality care.
Dr. Thomas O'Bryan, DC, CCN, DACBN, and author of You Can Fix Your Brain: Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You've Ever Had, provides a scintillating overview of the mind to body connection and how we must sometimes question conventional medical wisdom in order to find real solutions.
Dr. O'Bryan has spent his life focused on promoting good health for everyone. He is an internationally recognized, celebrated keynote speaker who covers important topics such as food sensitivity, environmental toxins, the development of autoimmune diseases, and wellness. Dr. O'Bryan works with patients to understand their history and make changes that will improve health. His intriguing docuseries, Betrayal: The Autoimmune Disease Solution They're Not Telling You is an investigatory series that delves into why our immune systems attack our own tissue (autoimmunity). The successful, critically acclaimed series has garnered much attention and has been viewed by many people from all walks of life as individuals struggle to find answers in a complex medical world.
Dr. O'Bryan talks about his early medical education back in the 70s, and the influences on his life that pushed him toward his career goals. He discusses his first introduction to neurological switching and the ways that electromagnetic pollution can affect the brain and nervous system. He recounts his experiences with acupuncture, which he refers to as early AI, and what acupuncture points can reveal regarding overall health. He tells stories of specific patients who experienced remarkable discoveries that greatly impacted his medical path.
Dr. O'Bryan discusses the four categories of health that he describes as a pyramid of health. He describes the pyramid's base, which is comprised of the basic structure such as chiropractic, pillows, massage, how we sit, how our shoes wear down, etc. He discusses the other sides, such as biochemistry, which is essentially what we eat, what we breathe, the drugs we take, etc.; the emotional/spiritual; and the electromagnetic. Dr. O'Bryan states that every medical problem needs to be looked at through all these lenses, to fully understand it, and to solve it. Interestingly, he says that difficult-to-solve medical problems are often connected to the emotional or spiritual realm. He cites specific examples of patients who have done their best to take actions to get healthy, but sometimes the emergency brake, as he describes it, is on, meaning underlying electromagnetic pollution or emotional issues could be blocking the path to good health.
The mind to body connection expert discusses paradigm shifts. He states that while the United States is annually, without fail, ranked either number one or two in the world for leading health technology, that the US is also ranked in the bottom five out of 58 industrialized countries in healthcare effectiveness. Thus, as he states, our healthcare system doesn't work. He stresses the importance of challenging the prevailing dogma, to question the things we were taught to believe about healthcare. With a prepared mind, and tenacity, Dr. O'Bryan states that we can all challenge conventional wisdom and find new avenues to improve our health. Dr. O'Bryan's book, You Can Fix Your Brain: Just 1 Hour a Week to the Best Memory, Productivity, and Sleep You've Ever Had speaks to this very issue. To those who are concerned about any type of brain ailment or issue, ranging from chronic conditions to the more common, brain fog, or perhaps brain fatigue, the book outlines a path to combating specific issues through prevention as well as treatment. Regardless of the brain issues, one is dealing with, for most issues, Dr. O'Bryan's book provides a plan that can make a difference in brain clarity, vitality, and energy. The methods provide a process to improve memory, decrease fogginess and exhaustion, etc. It's an overall guide to improving a cognitive function that helps the reader to consider what they eat, what's in the environment, and how to take better care of themselves, and it only requires about one hour a week to begin seeing improvements that could be drastic after six months of regular work.
Dr. O'Bryan recounts his connection with celebrity actor and comedian, Fran Drescher, author of Cancer Schmancer. He discusses her work and commitment to the cause of helping people find a path to better health and how it overlaps with his own personal work in the field. He states that they both agree that in regard to health problems, you must always consider the big picture in order to find your way to a solution. Dr. O'Bryan states that once you identify which side of the 'pyramid' you need to explore in order to address your health issue, then you determine which biomarkers you need to check, to find out where your imbalances may be. And he stresses the importance of taking whatever drugs you need for your current issue, but that it is critically important to also dig deeper into how you got there, to find the underlying issue or issues. We must discover what happened, what created the dysfunction originally, to get to the source of the problem.
Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex (cemtrex.com), discusses the way we work, how we work, and the innovative technology-oriented products that his company develops that will revolutionize our work environments.
Govil is an experienced business professional and has led the Cemtrex team as its CEO and president since 2011. He was recently honored by Business Insider, ranked seventeenth in their prestigious list: "Top 100 of Silicon Alley." Additionally, Govil was named to Stony Brook University's, "Top 40 Under 40." Govil has a long history with Cemtrex, having previously served as their vice president of operations, where he was responsible for sales and marketing, production, as well as engineering. Govil has extensive experience as an applications engineer adept with individualized customer support on-site, and the design of ready to go engineered systems for a wide variety of projects. He holds a B.E. in Materials Engineering from Stony Brook University, NY.
Govil discusses the history of Cemtrex as a technology company active in the industry for more than two decades, and he outlines the kinds of clients to which they typically provide technology support. He talks about some of their innovative IoT products such as the Cemtrex SmartDesk, which is an advanced workstation that combines all the needs of the modern office into an intuitive sit/stand desk. Govil states that most people have seen incredible innovation come to their computers and personal devices, etc., but that nothing has changed for decades in regard to the office desk and our general workspace. Their groundbreaking product offers 72" of touchscreen, a stark gesture system that allows for touch and touchless gestures to assist workflow, a wireless phone charger, seamless document scanner, built-in keyboard and trackpad, a high-performance PC, integrated phones, and more. Govil explains how touchscreens accelerate workflow and increase interaction efficiency. And as we've seen in big budget Hollywood science fiction movies, it is now possible to utilize gesture controls by simply waving your hand in the air—Cemtrex has brought the future to our fingertips. He outlines the intricate details of how the technology works with their top of the line Windows environment and explains how SmartDesk users can configure their workflow with the Cloud, which increases efficiency and decreases clutter.
Cemtrex is a diversified technology company that seeks to continually drive innovation in a vast range of sectors, from smart technology to virtual and augmented realities, and beyond. Govil's team's mission is to introduce technology that will bring real value to people's lives. Cemtrex, as Govil explains, continually looks for the greatest, brightest new technologies to integrate into their products.
Govil talks about the rollout of their products and the many backorders they are filling as the release begins. Their immersive experience maximizes productivity and Govil is excited about the benefits their integrated technology will bring to individuals, making the work day more efficient, and easier.
Govil talks about some of the early feedback he has received and potential changes that could come in future versions of their products. As the interest in their product has been intense, Govil expects to see more and more companies coming forward to revolutionize the way their workforce works. With a stated goal of helping people work smarter, and helping manufacturers streamline operations, Govil and his team at Cemtrex hope to bring new levels of intelligence and security to the modern business world, through their value-added, innovative technology-oriented products.
Matt Lipscomb, Ph.D., founder, and CEO of DMC Limited (dmcbio.com) delivers a thorough overview of the current state of industrial biotechnology.
Dr. Lipscomb is a veteran of the industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology field. He has experience working in a range of development stages from early R&D to commercial deployment, in many areas. Some notable past experience includes his tenure with OPX Biotechnologies, where he was a founding employee and served in various roles providing technical leadership and facilitating capital raises in excess of $60M. Dr. Lipscomb was highly respected for his leadership in the execution of a successful DOE (Department of Energy) ARPA-E Electrofuels program for the production of biodiesel from H2 and CO2. Dr. Lipscomb has ample technical expertise in multiple areas of research and production including process development and process modeling, microbial fermentation, technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of bio-based processes, and analytical chemistry.
Dr. Lipscomb provides some background on the genesis of DMC as a spinoff from Duke University, where the core technology was first developed by fellow DMC founder, Mike Lynch, MD, PhD. Dr. Lipscomb discusses the recent history of industrial biotechnology, including the technical challenges and barriers. He outlines how DMC's technology was designed to help bring down costs, to circumvent barriers to development. By bringing down costs during every phase of a project, from inception to delivery of commercially relevant metrics, DMC facilitates the development of multiple specialty chemical products. Essentially, as Dr. Lipscomb states, deployment of their Dynamic Metabolic Control technology significantly reduces the cost and development timeline.
The biotechnology expert details specifics of the industry. As he explains, there are petroleum derivative products, which include the bulk of common products we use, and then there is another class of products made from methods such as fermentation or extraction from plant materials. He discusses the structural complexities, and cites specific examples of how some products are developed. Dr. Lipscomb delves into the chemical and economic modeling that DMC can provide, assisting product developers to bring their products to market more efficiently, and at reduced cost to the manufacturer.
Dr. Lipscomb details some of the bacterial processes, including a discussion of the various feedstocks used, etc. for development. He outlines the fermentation process and how the end result/product is derived. And he explains why certain processes are more challenging, discussing yield, volume, microbes, applications, cost, etc., with the ultimate issue being price point in the market. For as Dr. Lipscomb explains, the product must be delivered at a price point that is sustainable in the marketplace.
The DMC cofounder talks about some of the exciting new products that are coming to market. As he explains, one of the advantages of the DMC technology is that they can be very precise in what they create. And in regard to their value proposition, DMC seeks to develop products in a directed fashion, making things that other companies have difficulty developing, and in an economically efficient manner. DMC's extremely low cost development will make metabolic engineering efforts accessible to everyone, and will create many new commercially viable bioprocesses and deliver sustainable routes to brand new products, as well as existing ones.
Andrej Nikonov, CEO at Cognostics AG (cognostics.de), discusses the science of thinking and the many ways AI can expand human knowledge and capability.
Andrej Nikonov, as CEO, is driven to discover new ways to apply physics and mathematics to real-world problems. Nikonov has a particular interest in stochastic processes and differential equations, evolving networks, and network theory-based models of physical systems. Regarding stochastic processes, in probability theory and other related fields, a stochastic process is a mathematical object typically defined as a collection of random variables.
Nikonov earned a bachelor's (equivalent) in physics from Universität Hamburg and a master's degree in applied mathematics and theoretical physics from University of Cambridge. Nikonov continued his advanced studies of physics and mathematics at Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München.
Nikonov discusses the ways his company combines technologies, cognitive sciences, and artificial intelligence. Essentially, Cognostics is the science of thinking. Nikonov states that we live in an age of exploding complexity with change happening at an ever-increasing pace. Nikonov stresses that their goal is not to replace human thinking but to evolve it further. Nikonov's company, Cognostics' primary goal is to expand the limits of human thought. Cognostics seeks to create products and develop technologies that will enhance human cognitive ability and the human experience.
Nikonov talks about the areas in which they are highly involved, such as healthcare, education/universities, finance, government democracy, etc. He discusses their thorough e-learning environments that assist many businesses and entities to create AI-supported learning. He cites examples of how the system works within the healthcare space, giving an overview of patient diagnostics, communication, and how learning is applied in regard to patient treatment success and options. And he explains how doctors interact with their systems and tools.
Cognostics offers multiple products. Their Atlas product offers a unique approach that integrates advancements in learning methodology with the most current machine learning capabilities to create an abundant, interactive and intelligently structured specific knowledge space. Its machine intelligence proactively and freely seeks out developing areas of knowledge from the public as well as private sources. And Atlas exhaustively researches valued publications and databases or the open web to regularly update its knowledge graph.
Their Logos product delivers businesses, governments, and NGOs an opportunity to make more thoroughly sound decisions. The Cognostics structure pulls from decades of viable neuroscientific research regarding how the brain copes with complexity, to get to the root of problem-solving and to develop a visual reasoning architecture that can enhance basic thinking skills, assisting users to make better, meaningful decisions. Through the use of machine intelligence, the Logos suite of cognitive tools can significantly enhance the depth with which even the most diverse and complex issues can be examined cognitively.
Nikonov provides some insight into the new areas that Cognostics has branched into and hopes to further develop, from private projects to projects developed in tandem with the German government. From allocation of resources to long-term planning, the Cognostics' system can provide many ways to assist companies and organizations with their growth and structure via the use of tools and technologies. Additionally, Nikonov expounds upon the other areas that he is enthusiastic about, specifically regarding machine learning that will transform human decision-making, deep learning, and knowledge management.
It's easy to tell when we haven't gotten enough quality sleep—we're groggy in the morning and sluggish throughout the day—but it's not nearly as easy to identify why. Is it stress? Lack of exercise? Could it be related to diet? While any one of these factors might be to blame, Ronald M. Bazar suggests a different player in the game—one that may not have occurred to you: your cell phone.
Over the past few decades, electronic devices have become ubiquitous, leading to an unprecedented amount of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Meanwhile, more and more research is showing evidence of how this is negatively impacting our sleep and health. If you find that hard to believe, consider the fact that most insurance companies refuse to insure manufacturers of cellular devices against liability since there is no way to ensure that the radiation they emit won't cause health problems down the road. So what's the solution?
Having worked in the sleep industry for decades and having dealt with his own sleep issues, Ronald M. Bazar has become a sleep expert by researching almost every topic on the issue of sleep, reading articles and books, and trying all the tips and tricks. He's decided to aggregate all the data and information he's acquired over the years and put it into a single book called Sleep Secrets: How to Fall Asleep Fast, Beat Fatigue and Insomnia and Get a Great Night's Sleep. Now those who just can't get a good night's sleep finally have a chance at finding a solution that works. Tune in for more.
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