tag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:/all?page=24Journal of Brief Ideas: Ideas from the last week2017-05-08T17:24:38Ztag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3822017-05-08T17:24:38Z2017-06-04T16:21:15ZBeyond Gaia: A Deep-Space Astrometric Mission To Obtain ~1% Parallax Distances at 10 kiloparsecshttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.573378The [Gaia space telescope](https://arxiv.org/abs/1609.04153) is currently measuring parallax distances for Galactic stars with ~1% precision out to ~1kpc. This will be a revolutionary data set, but order-of-magnitude improvements are possible with a next-generation mission that is already achievable with existing technology.
Every parallax distance measurement to-date has used a 2AU baseline, i.e. the Earth-Sun orbital diameter. By launching an astrometric satellite with similar resolution and sensitivity into a deep-space orbit, however, the parallax accuracy could improved in proportion to the orbital major axis. A telescope on an elliptical orbit with a semi-major axis of 20AU would have a parallax accuracy ~10x better than Gaia, allowing 1% distance measurements out to 10kpc, encompassing the Galactic Center and a significant sample of globular clusters. It could also directly measure distances to bright Cepheid variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud, bypassing the first rung in the cosmological distance ladder and its associated systematics.
Launching a Gaia-like telescope into a ~20AU orbit would be a significant endeavor, but is achievable with current technology using multiple gravity assists, and is even more compelling with anticipated cost reductions from [reusable heavy-lift launchers](http://www.spacex.com/falcon-heavy). The primary challenge would be the low data-transfer rates from the outer Solar System, although [>10^3 bandwidth increases are planned for the Deep Space Network by ~2030](http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4263976/).Lee, Khee-Gantag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3812017-05-05T12:01:21Z2017-05-06T06:01:02ZAutism microglia researchhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.572267I am forming a group to submit a proposal to an NIH GRANT regarding Autism. The GRANT is R0. The deadline is 09/2019. The Main idea is state of microglia on autism. The theories behind area 2: white matter changes based on previous studies and microbiome dysbioses observed in autism. There is a link between microbiome changes, histamine and microglia that i would like to study. The group so far is composed by a pediatrics neurologist, epidemiologist and myself a pediatrician. We are currently working on the proposal draft. We are looking for someone with expertise on neuroscience specially on autism and nuclear medicine in autism for brain imaging studies. The GRANT link is the following: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-16-388.htmlHerrera Morban, Demian Arturotag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3752017-03-28T07:40:57Z2017-03-30T06:00:24ZEpidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries among patients in a tertiary care public hospital.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.439139
Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of morbidity, influence health and quality of life and impose an enormous burden on our healthcare system.
Injury is now a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Injuries on roads, at home and in work place have progressively increased reflecting a lack of safety-related policies and programs or difficulties in implementation of the same. We are passing through significant urbanization, industrialization and a change in the socio-economic values. Due to these changes, the number of automobiles on our roads is rapidly increasing. Besides causing pollution, this has lead to road traffic accidents becoming the first public hazard in the world.
Trauma is an increasingly significant problem in India, and socio-economic and cultural changes are resulting in alterations in the epidemiology of trauma here also.
Besides other reasons, delayed presentation and neglect is a very important factor, and this is responsible for poor outcome of musculoskeletal trauma, and neoplasia in particular, which as such carry a poor prognosis in many cases.
This study aims to assess the epidemiology of musculoskeletal problems and injuries among patients in a tertiary care public hospital in India. Patralekh, Dr Mohit Kumartag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3742017-03-27T19:50:17Z2017-04-15T15:47:28ZNovel method to isolate and identify specific RNA/DNA binding proteinshttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.438357Owing to their role in establishing cell asymmetry and their role in pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, it is very important to focus on eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins(RBPs) binding to a specific transcript(s). Although the biotin-conjugated method is currently in use to isolate RBPs, it has certain limitations such as background interference. Here, I am proposing a new idea which is simple, yet effective.
**_To isolate RBPs binding to specific RNA transcript, we can introduce a prokaryotic RBP binding site in the transcript of our interest while simultaneously co-expressing the corresponding prokaryotic RBP. Followed by RNA-Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we can identify RBPs binding to a specific transcript_**. This method, which is first of its kind, could have many advantages like identifying RBPs of prokaryotic-site linked endogenous transcripts(using genetically modified animals) while still retaining the native secondary structure of RNA.
Similarly, to isolate DNA binding proteins that bind to a specific DNA sequence(Promoter), we can introduce a prokaryotic DNA sequence in the DNA segment of our interest and co-express the corresponding prokaryotic DNA binding protein. This can later be followed by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry.
Gurram, Venutag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3732017-03-26T23:00:03Z2017-03-27T06:00:22ZHuman oral microbiome crisis at the end of 18th c.?https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.438198Scholars have recently shown a clear increase in the frequency of caries and tooth loss for humans after the end of the 18th c. [1] For the authors, changes in nutrition (more sugar) and dental health (possibly higher frequency of tooth extraction) could be the underlying factors which led to this minor to moderate shift of dental disease frequencies in Europe. In fact, other major factors may have play a key-role at this period [2], causing a modification of oral microbiome, especially at the level of the dental plaque: introduction of first vaccinations (smallpox), apparition and/or increase of the consummation of new aliments (potatoes, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, maize, etc.) or drugs (tobacco), beginning of the industrial revolution (with subsequent changes in the time and mode of work, and the adaptation of human biology to it). Further metagenomic analysis of dental calculus will be necessary to investigate any significant modification of the oral microbiome that could confirm or not this hypothesis, comparable to the procedures used for the evolutionary stages of pre-humans, but on a wider scale.
References
1. Müller A, Hussein K. Meta-analysis of teeth from European populations before and after the 18th century reveals a shift towards increased prevalence of caries and tooth loss. Arch Oral Biol. 2017;73:7-15.
2. Andrews K. History of medicine: Health, medicine and disease in the eighteenth century. Br J 18th Cent Stud. 2011; 34: 503-15.Charlier, Philippetag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3702017-03-09T17:29:39Z2017-03-28T07:43:39ZNovel bioremediation methodology for utilisation of biomedical waste ashhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.376323Biomedical waste (BMW) ash, generated from incineration of BMW, consists of several heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which can cause severe damage to the environment by seeping into the ground and by polluting the surface and groundwater.
Previously reported bioremediation technique combined with synthetic biology can lead to a novel methodology to reduce the toxicity of the BMW ash before disposing into the environment. Several bacterial species such as Bacillus sp. KGMDI have been shown to tolerate upto [75mg/l of heavy metal](https://www.hindawi.com/archive/2014/956316/) such as manganese, molybdenum, iron, chromium, copper. Reduction of toxicity, by treatment with bacteria, has also been reported earlier, indicating uptake of toxic [heavy metals](http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/17153/1/IJEB%2041(9)%20935-944.pdf). Here, we propose to engineer the bacterium’s metabolic pathway to utilise such heavy metals in a constructive manner. The chemistry space based on the diversity of PAHs seems fascinating and allow scope for the synthesis of compounds of social interest. These bacterial species can further be configured for differential higher uptake of heavy metals, such as iron, from the BMW ash by modifying their biochemical pathways and can be utilised to synthesize nanoparticles. Hence, it is possible to synthesize iron nanoparticles which have clinical and laboratory applications, thus incurring immense societal benefits.Pradhan, Arpit KumarBose, Rudraruptag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3692017-02-28T15:51:56Z2017-05-13T04:31:15ZShould scholars publish in the journal they are working for?https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.344615Should scholars publish in the journal they are working for (as editor-in-chief, for example?). In other words, is it legitimate to publish in his own journal, that is to say submit and co-sign in a journal of which one is editor-in-chief (except in the format of an editorial or a tribune)? Can one ensure compliance with the ICJME requirements, in particular regarding the objectivity of the reviewers and in the final decision-making [1]? A recent Twitter survey of 52 individuals showed that 42% did not oppose this publication standard (no limitation!), while 58% considered that this practice should be prohibited due to obvious conflicts of interest.
References
[1] ICJME. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals; 2015 [http://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf].
Charlier, Philippetag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3682017-02-24T13:52:36Z2017-03-14T11:34:51ZVenture reproducibilityhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.322653Venture capitalists work under the concept of investing small amounts in lots of startup companies, some of which will fail, some of which will make a little money, and a few of which will make a lot of money.
This is similar to [the "Miracle Machine" argument Eric Lander makes for funding basic science research](https://danielskatzblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/eric-landers-argument-for-public-funding-of-basic-research/).
In [venture film production](http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/09/11/439632877/episode-650-the-scariest-thing-in-hollywood) ([transcript](http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=439632877)), the producer spends small amounts of money making large numbers of movies, some of which will lose money, some of which will make a little money, and a few of which will make a lot of money. There are a set of rules, which basically boil down to: 1) keep costs down by not doing expensive things; 2) if you need to do expensive things, pay for them through profit share rather than up front costs; and 3) don't spend more than you plan.
Is there a venture reproducibility equivalent for reproducibility? Can we use the idea that reproducibility will often either fail or succeed to a small extent, and a few times will succeed to a large extent? How do we make reproducibility as low cost (low effort) as possible for the researcher? And, how do we build "profit share" for the researcher so that if their research is reproduced (or perhaps even reused), they gain?Katz, Daniel S.tag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3672017-02-22T02:48:45Z2017-02-27T06:00:45ZThe Applications of Smart Materials in Hydraulic Machineries: Combination of Piezoelectricity and Bubbleshttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.322652Due to the secondary Bjerknes force, the bubbles migrate towards the wall, generate the toroidal shape, and then form high-speed jet, which causes high impulsive pressure [[1]](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/div-classtitleexperimental-and-numerical-investigation-of-the-dynamics-of-an-underwater-explosion-bubble-near-a-resilientrigid-structurediv/AA698142CB83B24F8535361E7D58A131). Jacques, a French physicist, discovered the piezoelectricity in 1880 [[2]] (http://www.science20.com/profile/news_staff). The combination of piezoelectricity and bubbles can be considered as a smart material to solve harmful cavitation phenomenon in hydraulic machineries.
The impulsive pressure of bubble collapse applied on the piezoelectric materials can induce the internal generation of electrical charge, which causes electric potential difference. Based on this direct piezoelectric effect, the cavitation bubbles will be real-timely detected in intensity and magnitude. The system of collapsing bubble – piezoelectricity is treated as a trigger switch of pressure or feed-back system.
On the other hand, the shape of piezoelectric material can be changed by inputting alternating current, due to its inverse piezoelectric effect. As known, bubble migration is closely influenced by deformable and elastic boundaries [[3]](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/div-classtitledynamics-of-laser-induced-cavitation-bubbles-near-an-elastic-boundarydiv/51F6F1756B9FBE286212289079C7AE39). So it’s possible to actively control the direction of bubble migration and then eliminate cavitation by changing alternative current.
The application of piezoelectricity and bubbles will also be a perfect combination in the ultrasonic cleaning [[4]] (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417716301699), underwater explosion [[5]](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/div-classtitleexperimental-study-on-bubble-dynamics-subject-to-buoyancydiv/3CA7300075C42FC0161E5D9754C1DD35), and medical therapeutics [[6]] (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417716302917), etc.Ma, XiaojianHuang, BiaoWang, Guoyutag:beta.briefideas.org,2005:Idea/3642017-02-15T09:32:14Z2020-04-14T21:00:52ZArduino-ponicshttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.321597The world is heading towards a global food crisis in that there will be more people on earth ( +-9 billion) in 2050 than there have ever been. Furthermore, the food needed to feed this growing population will require that we produce more food in the next 40 years than has been produced on earth in all human history. The Food and Health Organization has on numerous occasion highlighted the importance of small scale farmers as a necessity in reaching the projected increase in food production required. This is promising for the rural communities particularly those in Africa however, the expectations set on them requires that they are able to jump over the developmental learning curve typically required of modern technology and will be expected to do this with very little access to the modern world. It is proposed that an interconnected network of small farmers which make use of open source tools such as Arduino and the Raspberry Pi would be able to transmit high quality data to centralized agricultural hubs where expert panels are able to monitor and advise. The progression into the digital age where the Internet of Things can assist a rural farmer will aid in the continued production of in a sustainable way. Brand, Morgan