Daily Archives: January 26, 2022

Evolution: Revealing the influence of viruses – Medical News Today

Posted: January 26, 2022 at 9:54 am

In classifying all living organisms, scientists use taxonomy a naming system to group similar organisms. The largest groupings are called kingdoms. For example, humans, all animals, plants, fungi, and multicellular organisms are members of a kingdom called eukaryotes.

Eukaryotic cells all have one important commonality: they house their DNA in a nucleus. The nucleus of the cell is centrally located and membrane-bound.

Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea, single-celled organisms whose DNA is loosely packed and surrounded by a cell membrane.

Viruses are even simpler. They comprise only DNA or RNA and solely have one protective protein coat, called a capsid, surrounding them.

What do these distinct organisms have to do with each other and evolution? Quite a bit, according to Oxford University evolutionary biologist and the new studys first author, Dr. Nicholas A. T. Irwin.

Viruses and eukaryotes depend on one another. The former use their host-derived genes for replication and cellular control, often encoding cellular-derived informational and operational genes, allowing viruses to adapt and survive.

Eukaryotes can incorporate viral DNA into their genomes. This new DNA, previously thought to be inactive, has now been found to provide new functionality to their eukaryote hosts.

Colleagues at the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, collaborated with Dr. Irwin to reveal groundbreaking findings in gene movement between viruses and eukaryotes called horizontal gene transfer.

In the journal Nature Microbiology, Dr. Irwin and his colleagues explained how they used complex computational analyses to search for evidence of identical genes present in viruses and eukaryotes. After studying 201 eukaryotes and 108,842 viruses, the team identified distinct trends in viral-eukaryote gene transfer.

Using well-established computer analyses of the evolutionary development and diversification of species, called phylogenetics, the researchers could delineate how virus and eukaryote bidirectional gene transfers have driven species diversification.

Dr. Irwin explained to Medical News Today that the researchers used computational analyses to search for evidence of transferred genes in the genomes of around 200 eukaryotes and thousands of viruses, which covered the diversity of eukaryotic and viral species whose genomes had been sampled.

We were not only interested in identifying viral genes within eukaryotic genomes, but also detecting the presence of eukaryotic genes in viral genomes.

Medical News Today asked Dr. Irwin how they were able to arrive at such sweeping conclusions about genetic relatedness between eukaryotes and viruses. Dr. Irwin recounted:

One of the important factors that allowed us to conduct this analysis was the enormous amount of genomic data that has now become available from eukaryotes, viruses, and prokaryotes (including bacteria and archaea). These new resources have resulted from major DNA sequencing efforts trying to understand the diversity of genomes across the tree of life.

In addition to this, recent technological advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing and metagenomics, which is the sequencing and assembly of genomes from mixed communities of organisms, such as seawater samples, has accelerated the rate at which these data have become available.

Having a large diversity of high-quality genomic datasets was crucial, as it allowed us to infer which species were participating in these gene transfers, Dr. Irwin added.

The scientists found that both viruses and eukaryotes hijack each others DNA.

But, they found that eukaryotic genes transferred to viruses approximately twice as frequently as viral genes transferred to eukaryotes.

Dr. Irwin explained there might be a few reasons why viruses were the big winners in the gene competition. He noted that genes may frequently transfer from the virus to the eukaryote, but they might not stick around because of natural selection.

But, viruses may retain those genes they acquire from their hosts because they are beneficial to the virus. And, for a gene to persist, the organism must survive and propagate, a trait at which viruses are very skilled.

The researchers then applied all their knowledge of the genetics of these many eukaryotes and viruses and compared them to well-established evolutionary trees. In this way, they could approximate the timing of gene transfer events relative to when species diverged or speciated, which refers to becoming a new type of species. For Medical News Today, Dr. Irwin illustrated:

If we observed a viral gene in a human genome, we would predict that the gene was acquired after humans speciated from other primates. In contrast, if a viral gene was present in all animals, say from sponges to chimps, we would infer that gene to have been derived in the last common ancestor of animals.

Of course, there are different ways to interpret these patterns, but we base our interpretations on the assumption that gaining a gene through gene transfer is more difficult and unlikely than losing a transferred gene.

[D]r. Irwin described three separate incidents in evolution where viral genes are present and exemplify viral-influenced evolution:

Medical News Today asked Dr. Irwin what intrigued him most about his results. He mused,

The most interesting result of the study was being able to identify and visualize the patterns of gene transfer across the eukaryotic tree of life.

One of my main interests is understanding how cellular diversity and complexity have evolved, and I believe that this work has provided strong evidence that host-virus interactions have played an important part in generating the diversity of life that we see today.

I also think this study has interesting implications for how we view viruses. Similar to how the discovery and characterization of the microbiome changed our view of bacteria, I think that revealing the influence that viruses have had on the evolution of life could encourage more nuanced thoughts about the importance of viruses in nature.

Dr. Irwin

Regarding where this research might lead future scientific endeavors, principal author, Professor Patrick Keeling, added: A lot of progress in understanding [h]orizontal gene transfer (HGT) in eukaryotes has focused on the pattern of gene transfers on the tree of eukaryotes now we also have some insights into the process that led to that pattern and the likelihood that viruses are a major route for transfers.

It would be useful to take a few of the lineages where we see a lot of viral HGT and dig deeper, looking at more closely related hosts and viruses to see the process unfolding at different time scales.

And finally, Dr. Keeling noted, identifying which genes are selected for in viruses can tell you a lot about what process makes the virus more successful, and by extension how it uses its host cell.

This study, explaining HGT between eukaryotes and viruses, is the first of its kind to reveal how viruses may have allowed multiple eukaryotic species to diverge and evolve.

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4 Pitt faculty members named 2021 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows – UPJ Athletics

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Four faculty members from the University of Pittsburgh have been named to the most recent class of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows, one of the most distinct honors within the scientific community and a historic one as well, dating to 1874.

They are among 564 fellows announced Jan. 26, a group that results from a nominating and vetting process that includes a cadre of scientists, engineers and innovators recognized for achievements across disciplines ranging across research, teaching, administration, industry, government and communications.

The four fellows from Pitt are:

Kay Brummond, associate dean of faculty and a professor of chemistry in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, is a synthetic chemist known for her research and her role in promoting women into careers in the sciences. Her lab has made significant contributions in organic chemistry, particularly in modulating chemical reactivity. She is a champion for gender balance and diversity equity in the chemistry field evidenced by her establishing theUniversity of PittsburghSummer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program, which offers research opportunities to students from underrepresented groups majoring in chemistry, and serving as the executive director of the 45th National Organic Chemistry Symposium which had the most diverse speaker slate in the history of this meeting. In 2021, she earned the ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences.

When Sarah Gaffenfirst opened her laboratory in 1999, the number of peer-reviewed research papers about IL-17 a family of pro-inflammatory substances secreted by our immune cells could be counted on one hand. Nowacademic publications involving IL-17 number in the tens of thousands, and Gaffen and her colleagues in the past year added threekey articles to the list,cracking the code for how IL-17 activates a cascade of cellular signalsleading toinflammation in kidney disease and finding a pathway in the mouse model of multiple sclerosis.Their findings could ultimately lead to targeted medications for the growing number of people with autoimmune diseases. Gaffen is the Gerald P. Rodnan Endowed Professor in theDivision of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunologyat theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Steven R. Little, internationally recognized for his research in pharmaceutics and biomimetic drug delivery systems, is a Distinguished Professor and the only University professor to receive the Chancellors Distinguished Teaching, Research and Public Service awards. Little, who also serves as the William Kepler Whiteford Endowed Professor and Department Chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering in Pitts Swanson School of Engineering as well as a faculty member in the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and bioengineering, immunology, ophthalmology and pharmaceutical sciences departments, has developed numerous new drug formulations including controlled drug release that mimics the bodys own mechanisms of healing and resolving inflammation. Unlike traditional medications that require large doses administered via ingestion, inoculation or intravenously, biomimetic treatments recruit a patients own cells to treat disease at the source. In particular, Littles research shows potential new applications for glaucoma, gum disease and even transplant organ rejection. In December, Little also was named to the 2021 fellow class of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors.

Jerry Vockley came to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2004 to lead the Division of Medical Genetics, now the Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine. He also is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Cleveland Family Endowed Professor in Pediatric Research in the med school and a professor of human genetics at the Graduate School of Public Health.Vockley directs an active research program on inherited disorders of energy and protein metabolism, focused on both understanding the genetic causes of these disorders and developing new treatments for them. His research has earned National Institutes of Health support continuously since the early 1990s. The diseases Vockley treats are all related to defective enzymes, special proteins in the body that carry out chemical reactions.

Chuck Finder

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Dysregulated gene expression associated with inflammatory and translation pathways in activated monocytes from children with autism spectrum disorder…

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Is free speech outdated? Part 6 of answers to bad …

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In May 2021, I published a list of Answers to 12 Bad Anti-Free Speech Arguments with our friends over at Areo. The great Nadine Strossen former president of the ACLU from 1991 to 2008, and one of the foremost experts on freedom of speech alive today saw the series and offered to provide her own answers to some important misconceptions about freedom of speech. My answers, when applicable, appear below hers.

Earlier in the series:

Assertion: The arguments for freedom of speech are outdated.

Nadine Strossen: The arguments both for and against freedom of speech continue to involve the same eternal, fundamental issues of principle that have been debated throughout history: why free speech is important, and how to draw the appropriate line between protected and punishable speech. For one compelling account, see Jacob Mchangamas forthcoming book releasing later this month: Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media. Ironically, one of the consistently recurring issues concerns the regularly repeated claim that changed societal circumstances in particular, new communications technologies have made established free speech principles obsolete.

To be sure, changing factual developments are pertinent in evaluating how free speech principles should be enforced in particular circumstances. Whether certain speech directly threatens imminent, serious harm that cant be averted without restricting the speech hence justifying the restriction under modern free speech principles depends on the factual details surrounding the speech. For example, new technology may facilitate deepfakes that could be restricted as defamation or fraud, whereas such restrictions might not be warranted for less sophisticated false communications, because deepfakes are more likely to mislead reasonable viewers.

The recent surge in social justice activism has depended on robust free speech.

In contrast with the changing factual circumstances to which free speech principles and rationales are applied, what is the basis for claiming that these underlying principles or rationales themselves should be changed? Experience around the world and throughout history demonstrates that when a government has been granted more discretion to restrict speech than under the current speech-protective principles, it predictably wields that discretion disproportionately to the disadvantage of minority views and voices. Far from being outdated, the current principles are more important now than ever, so that traditionally marginalized people and perspectives are vigorously protected. The recent surge in social justice activism along with all other movements for greater equality and inclusivity throughout history has depended on robust free speech, and would be impeded by rollbacks of such freedom based on the claim that they are somehow outdated.

Just as modern speech-protective principles stand the test of time, the same is true of the classic rationales for free speech, which recognize its crucial and enduring role in promoting the search for truth, democratic self-government, and individual autonomy. Surely these goals themselves are not outdated, nor is the reason for preferring free speech to censorship (beyond the limited circumstances permitted by contemporary speech-protective principles) as a vehicle for pursuing them: free speech will not necessarily secure such goals, but censorship will necessarily undermine them.

Those who criticize freedom of speech correctly note that it does not guarantee that truth will ultimately prevail in the proverbial marketplace of ideas. What such critics generally fail to note, however, is what censorship does guarantee about the search for truth: under a censorial regime, any truth that challenges government policies or officials is especially unlikely to prevail. Historically, governments have wielded censorship power precisely as one would expect: to suppress speakers who dissent from current orthodoxy and advocate reform from abolitionists through Black Lives Matter activists. This pattern, which constitutes an important reason to support freedom of speech, is no more outdated than any other pro-speech rationales. For example, all over the country, BLM protesters, as well as journalists who cover them and legal observers who seek to protect their rights, have been subject to unwarranted suppression. No wonder so many leading crusaders for racial justice and other human rights causes have celebrated free speech and decried censorship.

Under a censorial regime, any truth that challenges government policies or officials is especially unlikely to prevail.

Finally, it is difficult to imagine why freedom of speech might even arguably be outdated as a means to promote individual autonomy. Echoing esteemed philosophers, the Supreme Court repeatedly has recognized that free speech has intrinsic value as an essential prerequisite for individual self-actualization, in addition to its key instrumental roles in promoting truth and self-government. As the Supreme Court stated in a 2000 decision, The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.

In sum, for all its shortcomings and risks, freedom of speech is far more effective than censorship in advancing truth, democracy, and individual autonomy not to mention all other human rights. It is the anti-free-speech arguments that are outdated. Those arguments are not only outdated today; they have been wrong every one of the many times they have been made throughout history, including in response to every new communications technology, dating back to the printing press.

Greg Lukianoff: John Stuart Mills central arguments in On Liberty remain undefeated, including one of his strongest arguments in favor of freedom of speech Mills trident of which I have never heard a persuasive refutation.

Mills trident holds that, for any given belief, there are three options:

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The precision medicine software market size was valued at USD 1,344.28 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 2,657.21 million by 2027 – Yahoo…

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In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included in this Global Precision Medicine Software Market Report. The precision medicine software market size was valued at USD 1,344.

New York, Jan. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Precision Medicine Software Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06223320/?utm_source=GNW 28 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 2,657.21 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.03% during the forecast period

Favorable government initiatives and the adoption of big data analytics and related software continue to drive precision medicine software industry growth. Precision medicine software is one of the fast-growing healthcare systems IT industry segments, driven predominantly by genomics, drug discovery & development, clinical research, and big data analytics. Start-ups are leveraging many software and machine learning algorithms to help solve major and complex problems such as reducing R&D activities timeline and billion dollars of expenditure during drug development processes.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the precision medicine software market

Technological Advancements for Improvement of Precision Medicine Delivery Increased Adoption of Cloud-Based Platform The emergence of Local & Regional Start-Ups Prevalence of Cancer, Genetic and Rare Diseases Increased Partnership Among Software and Pharmaceutical Companies

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Blockchain technology, which works on shared ledgers and distributed networks, can ensure the data is secured and used ethically while prohibiting mishandling. Thus, blockchain technology has a huge scope in the precision medicine market. Start-ups and scaleups are developing research platforms and techniques to better understand the underlying causes of cancer. For instance, US-America start-up OncXerna creates an RNA expression biomarker panel that permits clinical researchers to develop algorithms for effective treatment using RNA signature derived from biomarker panels. AI leverages sophisticated computation and deep learning to overcome the obstacles involved in sizeable disparate data sets and generate insights to enable the system to learn and reason. Over the last few years, AI approaches have been used in neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorder, epileptic encephalopathy, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and rare genetic disorders.

PRECISION MEDICINE SOFTWARE MARKET SEGMENTS

The precision medicine software market is segmented based on-

Deployment Application End-user Geography

PRECISION MEDICINE SOFTWARE MARKET SEGMENTATION The on-cloud segment will witness an absolute growth of more than 100% in the forecast period. Cloud technology supports the industry with an agile and mountable provider engagement model. This provides better outcomes by pushing crucial information to clinicians while pulling vital, real-world insight back from key experts in the field. Precision oncology has the highest share in Precision medicine practices by application. Oncology is the leading and fastest-growing therapeutic area in the life sciences industry. New treatments are being established at a remarkable pace, with more than 1100 oncology therapeutics in clinical development in the US alone.

Market segmentation by Deployment

On-Premises Cloud

Market segmentation by Application

Precision Oncology Pharmacogenomics Rare Diseases Others

Market segmentation by End User

Healthcare Providers Research Labs Pharma & Biotech Companies

GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLOOK

North America: North America made remarkable progress post the Human Genome Project in genome sequencing and precision medicine. The region is actively engaged in developing and commercializing cell and gene therapies with ICT and genome sequencing. This will drive demand in the precision medicine software industry. Europe: The European Commission has been a driver for developing PM approaches to be readily implemented in healthcare practice. Its efforts started in 2010 with a series of workshops exploring different research areas that can contribute to developing precision medicine. APAC: The region will likely witness a dramatic rise and innovation in precision medicine. China has already begun to make significant progress in genomics research, announcing its precision medicine initiative in 2016 with an investment of around USD 9 billion by 2030.

Market segmentation by Geography

North Americao USo Canada Europeo Germanyo Franceo UKo Italyo Spain APACo Chinao Japano Indiao Australiao South Korea Latin Americao Brazilo Mexico Middle East & Africao Turkeyo Saudi Arabia

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

The key players in the precision medicine software market are Syapse, AccessDx Laboratory, Fabric Genomics, Foundation Medicine, Intel, and International Business Machines (IBM). Companies are resolving to inorganic growth approaches. AccessDx Holdings acquired 2bPrecise to create the industrys most advanced precision medicine enablement solution.

Key Vendors

AccessDx Laboratory Fabric Genomics Foundation Medicine Intel IBM Syapse

Other Prominent Vendors

GenomOncology Koninklijke Philips LifeOmic NantHealth PhenoTips PierianDx Qiagen Roper Technologies SOPHiA GENETICS Translational Software

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

1. What is the global precision medicine software market size and growth rate?2. What are the key factors supporting the growth of the global precision medicine software market?3. Who are the key players operating in the global precision medicine software market?4. What are the key trends in the precision medicine software market?5. Which segment will offer the opportunity for growth between 2021 and 2026?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06223320/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Fewer students see freedom of speech as secure – Inside Higher Ed

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While most college students believe that freedom of speech is a cornerstone of American democracy, a new report released Tuesday shows that a shrinking share sees freedom of speech as secure. A growing majority also believe their college or university stifles free expression.

According to the report from the Knight Foundation, which surveyed 1,000 students between 18 and 24 enrolled in any kind of higher education institution last year, 84percent said free speech rights are critical to American democracy. Yet only 47percent said that their freedom of speech rights are secure, a share that has declined steadily since 2016, when 73percent said they were secure.

Additionally, 65percent of students believe their institutions climate stifles free expression, preventing people from saying what they believe because others might find it offensive. Thats up from 54percent in 2016.

Adam Goldstein, senior research counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, said that over the past five years, students have begun advocating to restrain speech on campus, a departure from the historical trend of administrators trying to stifle student speech.

Students are increasingly afraid of each other, Goldstein said. Theyre afraid that theyll be targeted for the things they say, and that makes them more reluctant to say things in the first place.

The surveys partisan divide was especially pronounced. Among students who identified as Republican, who made up 21percent of total respondents, only 27percent view their freedom of speech as secure; by contrast, 61percent of Democrats and 46percent of independents considered their freedom of speech secure.

Evette Alexander, director of learning and impact at the Knight Foundation, said the free speech environment on campus has changed since the foundation started conducting surveys on the subject. Everything from the Trump administration to the pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement has heightened the politicization of speech on campus, she said.

I think we do see more Republican students seeing free speech under threat right now, Alexander said. We also have concerning findings related to race and speech. Black students, for example, do not feel as protected by the First Amendment. So there are reasons, for equity and equality in society, that people dont think this speech is secure.

Only 51percent of Black students, who made up 11percent of respondents, said the First Amendment protected them, compared to 90percent of white students (who made up 56percent of respondents) and 82percent of Hispanic students (22percent of respondents).

Alexander said the Knight Foundation has known for a while that Black students are more interested in limiting certain types of speech on campus to create a more optimal learning environment. Shes concerned that so many Black students feel unprotected by the First Amendment when institutions are trying to promote both free speech and inclusivity.

It is a big problem for all Americans, but definitely for people in the education field, Alexander said. Because if students dont feel protected by the First Amendment and dont feel that their speech is as equally protected as others, then theres consequences.

Goldstein said FIREs research has shown that a lot of students, especially those from marginalized communities, feel their speech is restrained when they see another student being allowed to express themselves.

Youll see students say things like, When I saw that they allowed this person with opposing viewpoints to speak, I knew that they would never let me speak, Goldstein said. I think thats especially true if you feel youre in a marginalized community and you see theres people who are speaking in ways that make you feel unsafeyoure much less likely to want to volunteer to be the target of that hostile speech.

He added that some students think if their institution tolerates ideas and speech they hate, then it doesnt support their free speech.

However, a majority of students59percentbelieve it is more important for colleges to expose students to all types of speech, even if they may find it offensive or biased. Twenty-twopercent said institutions should protect students by prohibiting offensive speech, and 17percent said they had no opinion.

Half of students said they personally feel comfortable expressing disagreement with their class instructor or other students in the classroom.

About one in five students reported feeling unsafe on campus, and 34percent reported feeling uncomfortable due to a comment someone made in reference to their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Democrats and students of color were more likely to report feeling unsafe on campus, the report found.

Sixtypercent of students said they favored institutions providing safe spacesareas on campus designed to be free from threatening actions, ideas or conversations. Only 33percent of students supported mandated speech codes, compared to 2017, when 49percent of them did.

Goldstein said hes seen a decline in institutions establishing speech codes on campus but no decline in the creation of safe spaces. However, he noted that safe spaces are returning to their original intended use, meaning theres a small number of places on campus where students are free to speak without fear of consequence or discipline.

I think safe spaces became troubling when people would declare an entire campus a safe space, Goldstein said. Especially because the core concept of a safe space was youre free to be who you are without fear of judgment; then the way they were being implemented was incredibly judgmental and made students incredibly afraid.

The report states that students generally support colleges restricting use of racial slurs but are less supportive of restrictions on political speech. Sixty-sevenpercent of students favor colleges restricting people from using racial slurs to refer to people of color, which dropped from 88percent in 2019.

In terms of free expression, 45percent said students should be restricted from displaying a pornographic poster in a dorm room, 34percent said they shouldnt be allowed to wear clothing displaying the Confederate flag and 21percent said students should be prevented from starting a campus group to defend Americans gun ownership rights.

Sixty-sixpercent of students said they consider diversity and inclusion in conflict with free speech rightsa decline from 76percent in 2019.

And 25percent of students support disinviting speakers on campus because some students might perceive their message as offensive or biased, compared to 42percent in 2019. Goldstein said some students might feel more compelled to confront controversial speakers and potentially challenge the speaker about differing opinions.

Id like to believe that students are kind of getting sick of this game of Were going to try to stop someone from speaking, Goldstein said. I think that after students have seen people get silenced on all sides of the debate, eventually, students are kind of just exhausted with it, and you just want to hear people.

The Knight Foundation also surveyed 4,000 American adults to compare college students views on free speech to those of the general public. Alexander said the foundation didnt see a lot of difference.

We are seeing that college student speech landscape as a microcosm of whats happening in the United States at large, Alexander said. So that was very interesting to us that we didnt see a ton of differences between students and the rest of the public.

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KU, KU Medical Center faculty named recipients of Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards | The University of Kansas – KU Today

Posted: at 9:53 am

LAWRENCE Four University of Kansas faculty members on the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses are this years recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education systems most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence.

The annual awards are given in four categories of scholarly and creative achievement. This years honorees:

The four will be recognized at a ceremony this spring along with recipients of other major KU research awards.

This is the 40th annual presentation of the Higuchi awards, established in 1981 by Takeru Higuchi, a distinguished professor at KU from 1967 to 1983, and his wife, Aya. The awards recognize exceptional long-term research accomplishments by faculty at Kansas Board of Regents universities. Each honoree receives $10,000 for their ongoing research.

The awards are named for former leaders of KU Endowment who helped recruit Higuchi to KU.

More about this years winners:

Olin Petefish Award in Basic Sciences

John Kelly is a professor of ecology & evolutionary biology who has made contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, genetics and botany. He is considered an international leader in evolutionary genetics research, exploring how organisms adapt to their environment. The impact of his research extends to agricultural selective breeding, understanding organismal adaption to climate change and human genetics. He also has been on the forefront of developing computational genome sequencing methods to address biological questions.

Kelly and his collaborators have received more than $6 million in external funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and other institutions. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and served as secretary for the Society for the Study of Evolution. He earned his doctorate in ecology and evolution from the University of Chicago.

Balfour Jeffrey Award in Humanities & Social Sciences

Beth Bailey, Foundation Distinguished Professor and member of the Department of History, is an internationally renowned historian of the United States military, war and society, and the history of gender and sexuality. She is the founding director of KU's Center for Military, War, and Society Studies, which brings together scholars, military leaders, government officials and students to discuss issues relevant to the military, war and more.

In the past year, she has received an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and was named one of 24 National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars for her research on race and the U.S. Army. She was elected to the Society of American Historians in 2017, and the secretary of the Army appointed her to the Department of the Armys Historical Advisory Committee.

Baileys vast publication record includes journal articles, book chapters and books on a variety of subjects, including the history of gender and sexuality, U.S. military history and social history. She holds a doctorate and masters degree in American history from the University of Chicago.

Irvin Youngberg Award in Applied Sciences

Steven Soper is a Foundation Distinguished Professor of chemistry, mechanical engineering and bioengineering as well as an adjust professor of cancer biology and member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. A world leader in bioanalytical chemistry, he researches biological macromolecules including DNA, RNA and proteins to develop new tools for medical diagnostics and discovery.

Soper directs the NIH-funded and multi-institutional Center of BioModular Multi-Scale Systems for Precision Medicine based at KU. The center coalesces scientists, clinicians and biomedical engineers to design, manufacture and deliver biomedical tools for detecting and managing disease. For example, the center developed an at-home rapid COVID-19 test that is now going to market.

Soper has founded two companies, BioFluidica and Sunflower Genomics, to translate his research into commercial products. He received a doctorate in bioanalytical chemistry from KU.

Dolph Simons Award in Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Russell Swerdlow is a professor in the Department of Neurology at KU Medical Center, with secondary appointments in molecular & integrative physiology and biochemistry & molecular biology. Swerdlow directs KUs Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and his contributions have helped make KU a world leader in Alzheimers care and research.

His work has defined a role for mitochondrial dysfunction in late-onset neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimers. He proposed a hypothesis for the cause of the disease, the sporadic Alzheimers disease mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, which has steadily gained traction for over a decade. His research also has identified potential therapeutics for the disease.

Swerdlow received his doctor of medicine from New York University.

The award funds are managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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Beijing’s free-speech threat at Winter Olympics is the millionth reason to boycott – New York Post

Posted: at 9:53 am

Beijing last week provided another reason to skip the 2022 Winter Olympics Games: a warning to competing athletes to not speak about about Chinas aggression, oppression or genocidal abuses.

Any expression that is in line with the Olympic spirit Im sure will be protected, Yang Shu, the Beijing Organizing Committees deputy director general of international relations, generously allows. But: Any behavior or speech that is against the Olympic spirit, especially against the Chinese laws and regulations, are also subject to certain punishment.

Nice to know the Chinese Communist Partys view of Olympic spirit, already apparent in its treatment of its own athletes.

Just two months ago, the CCP disappeared Chinas own three-time tennis Olympian Peng Shuai after she publicly accused former top party leader Zhang Gaoili of sexual assault. Her allegations immediately were scrubbed from the Internet; Peng went missing for 18 days.

But the no-nos could literally be anything the CCP deems offensive or illegal under its ambiguous national security law.

Team USA and other squads encourage athletes to protect themselves against Chinese surveillance, urging them to bring burner phones so their personal data is not at risk. Like computers, the data and applications on cell phones are subject to malicious intrusion, infection and data compromise, runs the US warning.

Yang added that the politicization of sports is one of the things opposed by the Olympic Charter and that dedicated departments would be established if any protests violated Chinese laws or the Olympic regulations.

What kinds of dedicated departments? Well find out when China makes something up on the spot.

And dont expect the International Olympic Committee to stand by the athletes or free speech; its been too busy defending its choice of Beijing to host the games, despite its repeated atrocities.

These Olympics threaten to add a whole new competition with the CCP racking up gold medals for fresh oppression.

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Floridians Invited to Free Virtual Alzheimer’s Educational Conference on February 16 Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – Florida…

Posted: at 9:53 am

January 25, 2022 The Alzheimers Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimers educational conference for Florida residents on Wednesday, February 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. EST to kick off its 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts. To register, go to http://www.alzfdn.org/tour.

Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimers disease, said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFAs President & CEO. Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimers is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.

Sessions and speakers during the AFA virtual conference will include:

There will also be a musical performance by Adele Jacobson, Certified Music Practitioner and President of Music in Medicine, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Citrus County.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.alzfdn.org/tour.Those who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimers disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFAs National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at http://www.alzfdn.orgby clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page.The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.

About Alzheimers Foundation of America (AFA)

The Alzheimers Foundation of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimers disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and AFA Partners in Care dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit http://www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. AFA has earned Charity Navigators top 4-star rating for seven consecutive years.

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Submit Your Articles to the Journal of Free Speech Law – Reason

Posted: at 9:53 am

If you have something you've been working on for the February submission cycle, submit it to us first. We require exclusive submission, but we will respond within 14 days (a promise we have so far kept for every submission that we receive)and if you want to publish quickly, we could publish it within weeks, which is to say nine months to a year (or more) before most journals would publish it.

So far, we've published articles by (among others) Jack Balkin (Yale), Mark Lemley (Stanford), Christopher Yoo (Penn), and more. Our board of reviewers includes, among many others, Profs. Amy Adler, Vince Blasi, Erwin Chemerinsky, Jamal Greene, Michael McConnell, Robert Post, Fred Schauer, Geoffrey Stone, and Rebecca Tushnet, as well as Judges Stephanos Bibas, Jose Cabranes, Douglas Ginsburg, Raymond Randolph, Neomi Rao, Robert Sack, David Stras, Jeffrey Sutton, and Diane Wood.

We just published today David McGowan's article on rethinking New York Times v. Sullivan. Yesterday we accepted an article by Jacob Mchangama (author of the forthcoming book Free Speech: A Global History from Socrates to Social Media) and Natalie Alkiviadou comparing South African "hate speech" law with European law. Tomorrow, we could be accepting your article! For more on the journal, see here; to submit, go to our ScholasticaHQ page.

UPDATE: Just noticed a Tweet (entirely unsolicited by us) from one of our authors:

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