Memory retrieval possible after amnesia; scientists use light to restore memory

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How memory works

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Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found that shedding a little light on amnesia can bring about the recall of lost memories. Using optogenetics, a technology that controls brain activity with light, researchers were able to reactivate memories in mice.

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The study follows a longtime debate in the neuroscience community that questions whether retrograde amnesia points to lost memories becoming inaccessible due to damage of specific brain cells or if something blocks access to the lost memories. The results of the study disproved what the majority of neuroscientists had previously thought. While most had favored the storage theory, “Amnesia is a problem of retrieval impairment,” related Susumu Tonegawa, MIT Professor.

MIT Researchers gave some of the mice in their study a chemical called anisomycin that induced retrograde amnesia, a memory disorder that follows traumatic brain injury, stress or diseases such as Alzheimer’s. A control group of mice were given saline. Business Standard reports May 29 that each of the mice had been trained to associate a small shock in their feet with a specific chamber, that even when they were not shocked, induced a reaction of freezing when they had entered into the same environment. Mice that had been given the chemical didn’t freeze when they had entered into the chamber.

The next part of the study placed the mice in a neutral environment that used a sort of mapping system via blue light pulses that activated brain cells as they had been in the first part of the study. Mice who had forgotten began freezing again. As the Washington Post points out, the results show that “‘lost’ memories lurk in the brain waiting to be found again,” -- at least in mice.

The study was published in the journal Science May 29. While hopes have been raised over the possibilities of memory retrieval for those who have suffered severe memory loss, the current implementation of the treatment is considered unethical due to its invasive nature, writes Wall Street OTC. The results of the memory retrieval study are, however, significant next steps in developing memory recall treatments for humans.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Faketalk allows the depressed and lonely to create someone to talk to with AI

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'Avengers: Age of Ultron' features a rogue computer AI attempting to wipe out humanity. That science fiction could become reality within, if not our own, our children's lifetime.

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In the first episode of the second series of “Black Mirror,” a British science fiction series created by Charlie Brooker, a woman finds out about an app that allows her to text back and forth with her deceased husband as a way to cope with the loss. Well, it was some semblance of the deceased, at least. Since he was an avid user of social media while he was alive, there was a database of possible responses that an AI gleaned from the internet and put together to form the second half of the conversation. It was effective and (initially) helpful.

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It turns out that reality isn’t far off from having that very same kind oftechnology. Siri and Cortana aside, Motherboard reports May 25 that there is an app that can be customized to any celebrity or loved one a user might choose. The app is wildly popular in South Korea with over four million downloads so far and it seems to be helping depressed teens from slipping further into their funks.

Faketalk or Gajja-Talk is an Android-only app that allows users to create someone to talk to. “Do you want to chat with celebrity but they don't know you or they don't have the time to chat because they are so busy?” reads the description to the Faketalk download page. “Do you want to make a boyfriend or girlfriend? Whoever or whatever they are, you can make them into a chat-robot. . . Facetalk helps you.”

The application’s bot responds dynamically via an artificial intelligence program as well as a database of premade responses. When a user texts to their customized bot, they receive instant messages in return. Motherboard reports how teens are creating bots to simulate a personal connection with their favorite celebrities and even lost loved ones.

The app was developed in 2011 and has gone through three versions. It has been growing in popularity in such a way that the Korean language based app is beginning to learn English and other languages. Seventy to eighty percent of the app's users are teenagers. According to Motherboard, the app could be a lifeline for youth, about half of whom are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts where social and scholastic pressures are high and personal relationships are often suffering. The app is even “trained” to be on the lookout for suicidal behaviors from its users. If a user texts passages that relate to suicide, the bot can pull from a range of emotions that can help talk the user out of hurting him or herself.

In the past, according to the Faketalk creators, attempts to make conversational robots were a bit limited. “Users only could speak to fixed characters made by developers,” wrote FakeTalk developer Ki-ho Baek. As a result, developers wanted to find out what would happen if users created their own friends to talk to. In some cases, the results are very lifelike.

Faketalk is an app that learns not just other languages, but the nuances and peculiarities of someone else’s texts. One user reportedly created a bot clone of her deceased boyfriend as a way to keep the romance going past its sudden cutoff. “At first, the app was a little clueless, but now, it texts like him with the same syntax and idiosyncrasies,” wrote the young woman who created the bot. “Now I text what I didn’t tell him then, and what I wanted to tell him when he was alive.”

Faketalk has been receiving some flack from the media even while it is being touted as a possible solution to aid those who are experiencing depression. Ki-ho Baek writes about his worries that some might see the app as an emotional crutch for the lonely and depressed and he hopes that people will seek out human friendships, even in a world where 60 percent of middle school youth experience troubles with interpersonal relationships. It may be the case that the app helps teens through tough times and then leads them into realizing those things that are lacking in the app and can only be obtained with real interactions. Like the “Black Mirror” episode shows, speaking to a bot still doesn’t include history, memory and the connections that can be made from those things. Faketalk and other apps like it, at the time, can only come close to the real thing.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

'Beautiful Mind' John Nash and wife die in car crash after receiving big honor

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Famed mathematician John Nash, whose accomplished life inspired the movie "A Beautiful Mind," was killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. The 86-year-old died along with his wife, 82-year-old Alicia Nash.

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“Beautiful Mind” mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. and his wife Alicia were killed when their taxi crashed on the New Jersey Turnpike yesterday. Nash was 86 and his wife was 82. The couple had been married for almost 60 years.

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According to reports, the Nashes were traveling south in the left lane when their driver lost control of the vehicle. He was trying to pass a second driver in the center lane. After attempting to pass the second driver, the taxi crashed into a guardrail and ejected the Nashes from the car. “It doesn’t appear that they were wearing seatbelts,” State Police Sgt. Gregory Williams told NJ.com May 24.

The second vehicle also crashed into the guardrail and the driver’s passenger is being treated for neck pain. The taxi driver was reported as having non-life threatening injuries and was flown off to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

According to the BBC, Nash, a mathematician who is renowned for his work in game theory, won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994. Earlier this week, he had received the Abel Prize, which is another prestigious award in mathematics. The Nashes were on their way home on Saturday from Norway, where Nash received the Abel Prize for his work on nonlinear partial differential equations, reported Business Insider.

Nash’s revolutionary work in game theory, as well as his struggle with paranoid schizophrenia was dramatized in the 2001 Academy Award winning best picture “A Beautiful Mind”, which starred Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly. “For the better part of 20 years, his once supremely rational mind was beset by delusions and hallucinations,” writes the Washington Post

Nash’s Nobel Prize came more than forty years after his initial 27-page thesis on game theory, which has since become one of the most celebrated works in the field. He wasn’t able to see how his work was influencing the world, however, during the time of his struggles. "By the time Dr. Nash emerged from his disturbed state, his ideas had influenced economics, foreign affairs, politics, biology — virtually every sphere of life fueled by competition," writes the Washington Post. Most scholars in his field thought that Nash had passed away because he had been absent from professional life during his disturbed state. The Nobel Prize kind of “resurrected him,” said former chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee Assar Lindbeck.

According to Princeton, the Abel Prize awarded to Nash by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters last Wednesday was a pivotal moment that, in the eyes of many, finally recognized John Nash’s true genius. The prize is one of the most prestigious prizes in mathematics. John Nash was the second consecutive winner from Princeton to have received the honor.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Nomophobia: Cell phone anxiety may require a psychological treatment plan

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Researchers call it "nomophobia." It's the fear of being without your phone. Some have proposed putting it in the DSM, the standard manual used by scores of psychologists to diagnose mental disorders.

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Nomophobia is probably a disorder you haven’t heard about yet, despite how rampant it has become in today’s world. The more smartphones there are, the more Nomophobia there is, because so many have become absolutely dependant on their smartphones and can’t live without them. It’s becoming so much of an issue that some are consulting their shrinks.

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Nomophobia is a recently recognized issue, defined by a disproportionate separation anxiety relating to mobile phones and connectivity to them. Though the phobia is not yet listed in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), it is treatable and most likely making it’s way to the books.

According to The Gazette May 19, the term Nomophobia was coined in a 2008 study in the United Kingdom which surveyed 2,100 people, more than fifty percent of whom were shown to have separation anxiety when it came to their cell phones. Since that time, however, there really haven’t been many studies researching the issue. With this in mind, University of Missouri researchers wanted to find out how smartphone usage influences people in their everyday lives. Their research found that separation anxiety from smartphones can cause significant psychological and physiological effects ranging from daily performance to cognition. Physical issues related to mobile phone addiction could include eyestrain, difficulty focusing, dry eyes, double vision, neck strain and can even have an impact on melatonin levels. It contributes to distracted driving (and car wrecks) and also can get in the way of relationships.

Symptoms of Nomophobia come out of that cell phone addiction and include such actions as frequent phone checking and using the phone non-stop during social functions and places or situations that would be otherwise inappropriate (like the toilet or the shower). It’s something that seems pretty commonplace these days. The Washington Post points out that what we are talking about here could simply be a struggle of finding out how the technology works in our lives, rather than a full on psychological disorder. With 90 percent of American adults owning cell phones and 64 percent owning smart phones, it’s a worthy question to consider, even if some may view the possibility of Nomophobia’s entry into the DSM as laughable.

A Harris Poll which surveyed participants on the one thing they couldn’t live without found that access to the internet and mobile phones ranked higher than television and sex (and 20 percent of Americans between the ages of 18-34 in another survey admitted that they use their phones during sex). Smartphone users who took the poll admitted their adoration and dependence on their devices to the point that interpersonal communications had been disrupted. They also admitted that technology, though improving quality of life, came with some other serious costs.

There is now this 20 item test available to find out how much of a nomophobe one might be. Smartphone owners who experience anxiety when they’ve forgotten their phones at home or when the battery dies, may want to take a look.

Treatment measures can be taken for Nomophobia. According to Morningside Recovery, “individual and group therapy works well for clients who suffer. . . .” Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also suggested. Aside from something akin to a twelve-step program, it may be a good solution to just take a break from cell phone usage. 75 percent of Americans are admittedly addicted to their cell phones and can’t last an hour without checking them or having them within arms’ reach. With statistics like this, it’s not difficult to see that the issue could be described as an epidemic.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

'Ethical hackers' awarded bounty to find security bugs at United Airlines

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United Airlines will reward professional hackers who can crack the airline's mobile apps and websites with up to 1 million air miles. Brett Larson has the details.

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Calling all “ethical hackers. . . .” United Airlines has introduced a program that can earn the right person up to 1 million air miles. All that person has to do is to hack into United Airlines.

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The aim is to expose security bugs so that they can be remedied. Estimates relate that by 2019, the security breaches through this year will look like a cakewalk in comparison and will cost businesses worldwide $2.1 trillion.

Not all hacks are up for grabs, though. United doesn’t want hackers messing with onboard systems such as WiFi and avionics. There would be no rewards there, but more likely, legal action. One security researcher found this out the hard way when he was banned from the airline last month for tweeting about the security vulnerabilities he found in onboard systems.

Naked Security reports May 18 that bug bounties have been offered by tech companies such as Facebook, Googleand Microsoft. The Bank of England has also employed similar tactics, hiring on ethical or “white hat hackers” to test big banks’ lines of defense. According to United’s page for the “bug bounty program,” this particular program is the “first of its kind in the airline industry.”

CNBC reports, that the types of vulnerabilities up for grabs include finding bugs on customer facing websites, finding bugs on the United’s phone app, and uncovering vulnerabilities that could lead to the compromise of customers’ identity data. The amount of miles awarded depend on the severity of the vulnerability discovered. Up to 50,000 miles will be awarded to ethical hackers who can uncover what the airline considers low level bugs such as cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgeries and third-party issues that affect the airline.” Up to 250,000 miles will be rewarded in the mid-level range for vulnerabilities such as authentication bypasses, brute-force and timing attacks.

Up to 1 million miles will be awarded to “researchers” who report on high security bugs in remote code execution. Essentially, anyone who can prove that a cyberattack done from a remote location is possible can earn the whopping number of miles -- that is, if the bug has not been reported already by someone else.

“If you think you have discovered an eligible bug, we would love to work with you to resolve the issue,” states United on the page for their bug bounty program. Researchers must work within the guidelines of the program, however. Making attempts on systems including actual brute force attacks, breaches on inflight systems such as WiFi and onboard entertainment, scanning United’s servers and cyber actions that could be seen as terrorist attacks will lead to permanent disqualification from the program and possible scrutiny under the law.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Blue Bell being sold on the black market; some seek to make a small fortune

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People who grew up accustomed to eating Blue Bell can explain that this particular brand of ice cream is kind of a big deal.Unfortunately, after a deadly outbreak of listeria was discovered in a Blue Bell factory, the company recalled all of its...

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In Spring 2015, the Center for Disease Control reported that eight people were hospitalized and three more died from eating listeria-tainted Blue Bell ice cream products. The news gave reason for an immediate recall. In April, Blue Bell recalled all of its products from stores. It was the first time anything like that had happened in over 100 years of operations.

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It’s been months since Blue Bell ice cream products have been on shelves and as a result, those products are now being sold on the black market. Multiple listings can be found on Craigslist for anyone who is willing to pay the exorbitant prices. ABC News reports May 14 that one Craigslister posted an ad to sell a half-gallon container of Blue Bell ice cream for $499 and another listed for a sole pint of “Krazy Kookie Dough” at $10,000.

"What we have here is one pint of unopened Bluebell [sic] goodness. Purchased just mere weeks ago, this is like an oasis in the desert for you ice cream lovers," wrote the “Krazy Kookie Dough” lister. "Buyer assumes all responsibility for transport, and or any Listeria contracted from product as well."

The listing has since been taken down but that hasn’t stopped others from listing their packages of Blue Bell ice cream on the site, whether they are brand new and untouched or have had some dips (or bowls worth of ice cream) taken out of them. As this article is being written, an ad for a half-gallon of Blue Bell “Cookies and Cream” for $100(which at this point, is a steal) comes up in a Craigslist search. Another lister is vying for a best offer deal for a partially eaten pint. Both listers write that they have obviously survived eating icecream from those lots. Still, purchaser assumes all risks.

It probably won’t be long before these listings are also purged, since Blue Bell has a policy against recalled items being resold. It’s not abiding by “common sense,” says food safety attorney Bill Marler. Still, Craigslisters posting ads for recalled items won’t seem to face any trouble other than their ads being deleted from the site and maybe a few gibes. In the meantime, Blue Bell is formulating new and improved ways of operations at the factory in order to reset so nothing like this recall happens again.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

End food waste: Imperfect fruit is still delicious and healthy fruit

Just imagine, receiving 10-15 pounds of yummy fruits and veggies at your doorstep. They'll make you giggle and be delicious and cost 30-50 percent less than the local supermarket!

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We’ve grown accustomed to acquiring pretty-looking produce. No lumps, brown spots, sprouts, weather bruises or other malformations are evident in grocery store aisles, let alone on our dinner plates. That’s because ugly fruit and vegetables are generally pulled before consumers get to see them. That means that a good deal of that produce gets wasted -- almost 50 percent. 20 percent of the produce from farms don’t even make it off the farms. That equates to 60 billion pounds of food waste and it’s all because that particular produce is cosmetically challenged.

There are, however, companies working to change that. A new Oakland-based startup called Imperfect, which is headed by three “veteran food-waste entrepreneurs,” has set out to bring quirky, cosmetically challenged produce straight to your doorstep, reports Grist, May 8.

“Our bold vision is for consumers across America to have the option of having a box of Imperfect produce delivered to them weekly, for 30 to 50 percent cheaper than grocery stores,” said Imperfect co-founder Ben Simon.

According to Imperfect’s IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign, which has met its goal, the arrangement they propose is a win-win for farmers and customers alike. Farmers will get to make some extra money from the produce that previously went to waste and customers receive quality produce for a fraction of the cost. It’s good ecology, too. Energy and water usage used in the creation of said produce won't just go down the drain, which is significant since it takes 25-50 gallons of water per pound of produce.

Currently, Imperfect works with farmers in California to source the wonky-looking produce they seek to save from landfills. It’s a simple process that allows them to deliver 10-15 pounds of assorted fruits and veggies to subscribers. “Carrots, broccoli, potatoes, plums, onions, oranges – you name it, we've got it!” they write.

For now, the service will be launched in Oakland and Berkeley by this summer. At some point, Imperfect will launch nationwide.

Want to keep up with Imperfect? Find them at their Facebook page, on Twitter or at their website. Here’s to “redefining beauty in produce!”

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

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"Fruits and vegetables come in every shape and size, just like people and the weird looking fruits and vegetables taste just as good as the perfect looking ones."

Imperfect Produce

ACLU, others create 'crucial' apps to hold police accountable against misconduct

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ACLU's mobile justice smartphone app is deemed crucial for citizens, protesters.

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The National Journal published an infographic on May 4 listing which cities are sued the most in the wake of police brutality. Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Jose, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Fort Worth and Austin had records of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of civil rights lawsuits being filed against the police in those cities between January 2011 and September 2014.

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While the survey does not supply a complete analysis of the issue (not all major cities were surveyed and the survey number was too small), the alarming results point to a need for further investigation, public education, awareness and empowerment. “Police misconduct [and brutality] is no small problem,” the National Journal relates.

There are now tools that can help the public become watchdogs and to protect themselves in situations where they might not otherwise have had any power to do so. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California has created a mobile justice smartphone app which not only allows you to record what is happening (because sometimes just recording the incident is not enough as those phones are often confiscated, “lost” and destroyed), but also creates a way for citizens to be able to ensure that incriminating footage of police brutality is logged and sent to those who can help. Videos recorded on smartphones with the free app can be automatically sent to the ACLU along with reports that are reviewed and acted upon further if necessary.

The ACLU app was released last Thursday to help people monitor police actions and to preserve evidence of police misconduct with the ACLU. It’s a way to hold police officers accountable. Mashable wrote that “the app could be seen as essential equipment for some engaging in peaceful protests.” Other reports related that the app is “crucial.”

Unfortunately the app is not yet live in every city. It is, however, slowly but surely making its way to cities like Denver, Colorado (whose excessive force payouts equal two times more than those in Baltimore). Wired reports that there are, however, other apps that are popping up to assist those who are at risk for becoming victims of police misconduct. Hands Up 4 Justice, I’m Getting Arrested, Swat, Five-O and Stop and Frisk Watch are some of those apps which do everything from contacting relatives and loved ones about the situation at hand to placing evidence onto cloud-based storage for further action when necessary.

Sometimes, video footage is the only evidence anyone has to prove injustices. Apps like those mentioned above are one step in the right direction of citizens arming and protecting themselves from police misconduct and brutality.Another step includes self-educating and educating others about civil rights. As the ACLU states, ”taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right.” That includes taking pictures and filming things such as the outside of federal buildings and police on duty.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com

Death toll in Nepal rises with risks of human trafficking: How to help

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As people mobilize to donate for Nepal earthquake relief, there are several ways to lend a hand. Red Cross spokesperson Niki Clark joins Tanya Rivero.

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The Nepal home ministry has reported that the death toll from the April 25 earthquake has risen to 7,365 on May 4. 14,355 people are reportedly injured from the earthquake and its aftershock and 10,744 government buildings have been destroyed. Hundreds are still searching for missing loved ones and there are now heightened fears that women and children are in danger of becoming prey to traffickers who may take advantage of the tragedy, reports India Today.

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The immigration department and Airport Police are on high alert, profiling passengers to be sure that they are “genuine,” and not human traffickers. Nepal has been a hub for human trafficking for a long time, but the 7.8 earthquake creates a gateway for traffickers to take advantage of the situation. According to Gulf News India, past studies have shown that natural disasters in which residents lose greatly are more susceptible to falling prey to trafficking gangs, especially women and children. Families are targeted who have lost everything in the wake of the natural disaster and are now struggling to survive.

All the officials can do is make sure that passengers’ documents are official and respond right away when there are complaints. They have an intricate web of participants from officials to taxi drivers who are assisting police officials and are on watch.

How to help:

There are many organizations on the scene in relief and support efforts for residents of Nepal. Nepal has a long journey to recovery ahead and areas hit by such disasters need attention and assistance, not just today or this week but for months to come and possibly longer. As the people of Nepal organize and begin rebuilding after the catastrophe, they will need, along with medical assistance, funds and supplies as they work to rebuild. Below follows some of those organizations and a little about them.

Upaya Zen Center (New Mexico)

Upaya is a Buddhist center that works in Nepal regularly over the past 20 years, bringing medical care and assistance to remote areas of the country by way of their Nomads Clinic program. They build strong ties with the remote and rural areas that they visit. Upaya works in alliance with other organizations that they have thoroughly researched, as well. For more information about Upaya, visit their website. To donate, visit Upaya’s Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund website. Upaya will make reports back to those who have donated so that they can be in the know about the work that is being done.

AmeriCares, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Direct Relief, Global Giving, International Relief Teams, Operation USA, Save the Children, Seva Foundation, World Help and others

Public Radio International published a list last month, of trustworthy organizations that are supplying relief work to devastated areas of Nepal. “After disasters, the best way to help is generally to donate money to effective and efficient charities that have an established presence on the ground,” they wrote. If a charity should ever be in question, PRI lists Charity Navigator as a good resource for evaluating nonprofits and their work. Along with the organizations featured above, PRI suggests UNICEF, Oxfam, Handicap International and American Jewish World Service, as organizations worth mentioning. For more information about each charity, visit PRI’s article which lists them all and describes them.

*originally published on the now defunct Examiner.com