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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Carnegie Mellon biomedical engineering professors Steven Chase and Byron Yu provide a stimulating overview of computer-brain interfaces that could eventually lead to stunning advances for those who have lost control of movement, due to injury or disease.
The professors' work is heavily focused on highly advanced computer brain interfaces that might allow a human to control robotic limbs, etc. simply by thinking. By studying the activity of neurons within the primary motor cortex, Chase and Yu seek to expand on recent successes to enable people who have ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injuries to take back control of some movement. As the professors explain, through this process, damaged tissue can be bypassed. They provide some details on the current clinic trial procedure that requires a surgical implantation of electrodes that essentially allows the patient to control functions via a plug. With as little as one hundred neurons, control can be achieved to some degree, but control of more neurons and further research will be necessary to perfect the computer brain interface to a level of sublime sophistication.
The Carnegie Mellon professors detail some of the areas of interest and desired applications of computer-brain interfaces. As they explain, for example, stroke victims may lose motor control of one side of their body. And researchers are looking at the possibility of sending control signals to the side of the body where control has been lost from the same side of the brain that is still successfully controlling the intact side of the body.
The work is complex and although thought can enable some control, this is not a complete solution, for as they explain, many of the computations utilized for basic tasks involving movement actually circumvent the thought process entirely. Thus, the conscious monitoring of motor control is somewhat limited. As the professors explain, reanimating limbs would be the ideal scenario, but stimulation of muscles often directly impacts fast twitch fibers more than slow twitch fibers, which, unfortunately, leads to rapid muscle fatigue. Therefore, much more research is needed to perfect these complex solutions to extremely complex problems.
In their opinion, the next decade will deliver clinical translations, as devices will be used for therapy for select types of patients, for control of spelling devices, for control of cursors to allow for computer usage, and also for wheelchair control. However, it may be a long time before advanced robotic control is delivered such that the computer brain interface can offer absolute control of robotic limbs, possibly with sensory input that is sent back to the brain. And ultimately the Carnegie Mellon professors hope that brain-computer interfaces will allow researchers to learn and understand the intricate workings of the human brain.
Jonah Sachs, author of Unsafe Thinking, provides a detailed discussion on how we typically face changes in our world. As Sachs describes, the world is changing rapidly and while most of us realize that we need to grow and adapt, and ultimately evolve with these changes, doing so can be quite difficult. Humans love predictability and pattern so the question remains, how do we make room in our lives for change and for rising challenges? How do we embrace these changes and break through to new innovative ideas and concepts?
Sachs discusses the 'backlash effect,' which occurs when someone shares evidence with another that directly contradicts that person's beliefs. The person, upon seeing the evidence, will actually dig in their heels and believe even more strongly than before, in spite of the contradictory evidence. Sachs states that although millions upon millions of dollars have been spent to find ways to persuade people, new science suggests that the best and most effective technique for success is for individuals or groups to discuss the values and beliefs that they do share, and how those can bring them together. Sachs mentions some of the great blunders in which companies failed to see what was about to happen in their own industry as change became imminent. He mentions the transportation industry's inability to see peer-to-peer ridesharing on the horizon, and Blockbuster's inability to foresee internet and streaming revenue. Sachs discusses the potential key to success in business—significantly more investment in future innovation, and less investment in past successful business models and practices. As he explains, many times business leaders feel anxiety over change and innovation and instead of allowing it to challenge them they fall back upon past successes. But the key might simply be to allow these anxieties to fuel our creativity and boldly embrace change.
The change author explains that starting slow may be the way to move forward, and how experimentation could unlock real successes. Low arousal moments could be important time slots to enhance our creativity and let new ideas flourish, but often in our culture we fill these moments with social media or other things that obstruct us from advancing new ideas. For it is sometimes actual down time, such as a shower or a long run that allows innovative ideas to burst forward.
Sachs discusses how companies should be willing to create work environments that encourage pushing new ideas forward, allowing for unsafe thinking that creates challenges in a work environment that is no longer mired in old business mindsets. Risk taking and allowing employees to disagree and break rules can lead to major success. Sachs relates how being an explorer is actually much better than being an expert. Sachs states that growth and learning truly expand when we do things that we're terrible at, as the challenges guide us to new ways of thinking.
The author explains how spending time with those who disagree with us, as opposed to those who share our beliefs, can open up new avenues of thinking and help us grow much more than we probably would expect. Unsafe thinking isn't so much about literally going off the rails, but it is in fact about pushing ourselves deeper into challenging areas and mindsets that are more difficult, perhaps far outside of our comfort zone.
Samira Kiani, M.D. (PI), leads an eye-opening discussion on the groundbreaking medical advances that could be on the horizon with gene editing. Dr. Kiani is the principal investigator at Kiani lab located on the campus of Arizona State University. She holds a doctorate degree (M.D.) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Dr. Kiani gained extensive experience in CRISPR/Cas9 technology while working toward her post-doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Integrative Synthetic Biology. Kiani studied the development of synthetic gene circuits used to reprogram various functions and general behavior of mammalian cells based on the advanced CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
As Dr. Kiani explains, gene editing, specifically changing the sequence of DNA is not a new concept; however, the tools used to study gene-editing processes were expensive and perhaps cost prohibitive for some labs. But the CRISPR/Cas9 technology ushered in a new era, as gene editing could now be done rapidly, and at a much lower cost. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. With gene editing, Kiani states that the technology could allow researchers to repair or disable genes. By using CRISPR, Kiani and other researchers are able to work with double-strand DNA breaks.
Dr. Kiani provides an overview of the Cas9 protein, which is a DNA cleaving enzyme that can be manipulated and targeted to any specific DNA sequence via a small guide RNA (gRNA), and it can be adapted for gene editing and gene regulation alike. With the advancing technology, researchers are able to more closely approximate nature, in terms of how genes perform and enact double-strand breaks in literally any specific location. The potential for CRISPR technology is immense, as the technology would make it possible to potentially provide the correct template to a cell and repair mutations that are causing a particular genetic disease.
The gene editing expert explains that researchers are interested in different forms of CRISPR as each bacteria has its own unique set of CRISPR; thus there is great enthusiasm to learn more about CRISPR that targets RNA, that is simpler, or smaller even. The possibilities are limitless as scientists expand their research, looking for new genes that could fight cancer, disabling genes to understand their specific function, and in vivo experimentation in animals to study how to defeat diseases.
Dr. Kiani discusses in detail what is known in the research world as 'guide RNA,' which essentially functions as a select protein's legs, to take them to the precise location where researchers desire to begin their work. As she explains, the CRISPR technology holds immense promise for human applications but the coming years will see more refinement to address current safety concerns for its uses within humans. As clinical trials are scheduled for everything from blindness to liver disease, gene editing technology experts are extremely hopeful that the answer to complex disease problems could be an edit away.
Ted Tieken, the founder of Keto and Co, delivers an overview of the ketogenic diet, its incredible benefits, and his personal story that pushed him toward a career in food and nutrition. After studying economic development at Harvard, Tieken ventured into management consulting, but had to abruptly exit his career due to a chronic pain condition. On the advice of a friend, Tieken tried the keto diet to help manage his chronic pain, and to his great surprise, his pain decreased dramatically, his energy increased, and his thinking even became clearer across the board. The results were obvious and Tieken was a believer. Thus, Tieken's fibromyalgia was the impetus for his enthusiasm about the ketogenic diet, and with results so dramatic, Tieken was moved to make this his work, to bring the many benefits of a keto diet to the public. Through intensive study and research, Tieken came to the conclusion that keto could be part of the answer to the question, how do we get back to a completely healthy food supply. His goal was clear—to make the ketogenic diet low sacrifice, delightful, and well known. From shakes to sweeteners, breads to dry rice products, and even brownies, Keto and Co seeks to provide foods that people love but can also keep them in a ketogenic diet so each and every person can enjoy the many benefits that keto can deliver. And as Tieken states, he wants his company to simply be a provider of tools, not to tell someone how to live their life, and in line with that Keto and Co chooses to provide products that work with the diet as opposed to selling the diet and associated counseling.
Tieken discusses whole food keto versus net carb keto diets and how each can offer benefits. With whole food keto, dieters are allowed a specific amount of carbohydrates daily, which they can take from whatever source they choose. Tieken subscribes to the net carb camp. He states that whenever an individual eats below a certain amount of carbs for four days straight, their bodies will begin to manufacture ketone bodies, which are water-soluble molecules such as acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate.
Ketone bodies exist in small amounts in the blood of generally healthy people during a fasting period or during extended exercise and are vital in terms of sparing glucose utilization, as well as reducing proteolysis. The brain cannot use fatty acids for production of energy when levels of blood glucose are compromised, thus ketone bodies can intervene and deliver a different and extremely viable source of energy to the brain during extended fasting.
As the ketogenic diet becomes more prevalent in the medical community for treating diabetes and obesity, Tieken seeks to take his company further, by providing useful nutrition and diet information, and an extensive line of products for optimum human health.
"Technology is progressing very fast, and I think ethics in AI is our biggest challenge for the next couple of decades," says Dorian Kieken. As the founder and CEO of Age of Minds, Kieken is focused on the future of artificial intelligence and the ways in which the human species will interact with it.
He began asking himself what he should be working on in order to make sure that the lifespan and happiness of his daughter--and the human species as a whole--is maximized. He's narrowed it down to five: AI ethics, energy conservation, drinkable water, waste management, and climate change.
Tune in for an interesting discussion on these topics and many more, and visit ageofminds.com to learn more about Kieken's work.
RumbleOn is an online retailer that allows both consumers and dealers to Buy-Sell-Trade-Finance pre-owned motorcycles in an efficient, fast, transparent, and engaging experience. The purchase of any recreational vehicle can be complex and draining. We have worked hard to minimize the number of required actions by the customer, all while providing complete visibility and transparency. We complete each transaction with service that focuses on putting the customer first. This includes coordinating shipping and logistics, delivery, financing, and title work.
Buying a Motorcycle with RumbleOn is fast and easy. Simply search through our large selection of online inventory and place your $250 refundable deposit down to secure the bike to your account. Select if you will be paying with cash or fill out our lightning fast financing application. A RumbleOn Representative will take care of all of the paperwork and deliver your dream ride to your door!
ProtectWise™ provides cloud-powered Network Detection and Response (NDR). Delivering security entirely from the cloud, The ProtectWise Grid™ captures full-fidelity network traffic from the enterprise, cloud and hybrid environments, to create a lasting network memory. The security platform provides real-time and retrospective alerting and analysis in a rich, innovative visualizer.
By harnessing the cloud, The ProtectWise Grid delivers unique advantages over current network security products, including the industry's only automated retrospection and the ease and cost-savings of an on-demand deployment model. ProtectWise is creating and leading the Immersive Security℠ movement, which will be the future of proactive, analytical threat response.
Mycroft is an Open Source AI Voice Assistant. It is a transparent, customizable, and privacy-minded alternative to the current voice products on the market. A platform that lets you voice enable anything. Because Mycroft is open source, the software can be customized for brands and users alike--and integrated on any platform. It runs on Linux, can be built on a Raspberry Pi, and used with our Mark I hardware device. Their mission is to democratize AI and voice, giving anyone access to the technology that will soon be an integral part of their lives. Their open source community is central to our efforts, helping us create an AI that runs anywhere and interacts just like a human.
Solidus builds software for mobile payments and social savings, based on the Ricardo Transaction Suite. Our flagship product is Chamapesa, the app for social savings groups. Chama is the Kenyan name for a Savings Club. Savings Clubs have existed around the world for centuries. There are over 1,200,000 Kenyan Chamas. They give people a means to save and access low-cost loans which are used to start or grow businesses, to improve community infrastructure (by saving to build or equip a health centre, for instance) or to support Members in temporary financial difficulty. Chamas' collective savings account for 46% of Kenya's GDP. For those unable to access bank accounts (due to costs or geography), Chamas are invaluable.
Dr. Paramjit "Romi" Chopra, founder of The Midwest Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapies (MIMIT), has a mission to help people, to aid them in moving forward in their lives. Dr. Chopra believes people are the foundational bedrock of a community and that all humans want to live full, rewarding lives, to the best of their God-given potential. Dr. Chopra describes disease as 'dis' 'ease' and his goal with MIMIT is to help people live healthier lives and be the solution to their health problems. Minimally invasive, or as Dr. Chopra refers to it—enlightened healthcare—brings traditional health solutions together with more personal, complex and sometimes esoteric issues, such as feelings and thoughts. For as Dr. Chopra explains, we are not robots; we have emotions and feel things and these are important in the overall scope of our care.
MIMIT is a collective of physicians who specialize in minimally invasive medicine. Their physicians utilize the most advanced medical technology to implement wellness strategies across the minimally invasive spectrum. In regard to procedures and surgeries, minimally invasive surgery is essentially a surgery that minimizes surgical incisions with the primary goal of reducing trauma to the body. By using thin needles and an endoscope for viewing, surgeons are able to perform the needed task that required a surgical procedure, but in a manner that is less traumatizing physical, and emotionally.
Dr. Chopra's team uses AI and mobile data to build an extensive wealth of information, which enables them to better serve their patients as they are more informed about each patient's particular set of circumstances, history, and biography. By minimizing waste and utilizing technology to minimize inventory on the shelf, MIMIT is able to lower costs and keep procedures at a more affordable level for patients. Dr. Chopra explains that his team seeks to constantly innovate, improve patient experiences, and provide the best care that patients desire.
By using technology and linking his entire team together in the digital environment, Dr. Chopra states that MIMIT is able to deliver better and faster care, make patients' lives easier, and still remain profitable. He speaks about the simple things that make his approach better, such as sometimes taking the care directly to the patient if the patient is in fact unable to come in to MIMIT's clinic. By studying the models of successful tech companies like Google and Amazon, Dr. Chopra is considering the possibilities of taking MIMIT's technological innovation to a larger scalable model, which could offer better care to millions of patients.
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