Category Archives: Transhuman News

General Press Releases Friday January 3, 2014 13:53

Bangkok--3 Jan--Koi Art Gallery

Koi Art Gallery is proud to present Post Human art exhibition to be held from December 13, 2013 - January 26, 2014. This exhibition showcases the latest artworks by Chatchawan Nilsakul.

Post Human is a solo exhibition of latest artworks by Chatchawan Nilsakul, a talented artist and reputed Fine Art professor at the prestigious Chiang Mai University. In this exhibition, he takes on a unique approach of comparing contemporary human figure and form to architectural composition.

The artist views the evolution of the physical human body as a reflection of its historical aspects, which further expresses the terrain of its contemporary times. He explores the further development of society, era and atmosphere of its time through the form of the human body.

The acrylic on canvas works have a unique composition to them from different angles, different components of the painting can be viewed simultaneously by the viewer. In effect, a change in perspective takes place in the eye of the beholder exposing the results of the artists layered technique. His use of metallic colors and layers on his figurative models carves out a phenomenal, harmonious landscape.

Professor Chatchawan further showcases the contemporary human form through layers of acrylic and metallic colors that overlap, much like the complex society we live in today. He explains when you see a human body on a big scale, some part of the body looks like that of a stone, or becomes a part of a sculptural building. The body as an object speaks to viewers as an abstract element both visually and conceptually. It serves as a space that defines our human environment and existence.

Interested public are invited to Post Human Exhibition from May 9-31, 2013 (11.00 a.m. 7.00 p.m.) at Koi Art Gallery, 43/12 Sukhumvit 31 Road (Soi Sawaddee), Wattana, Bangkok, Tel. 02 662 3218.

Our unwanted items are often a highly-sorted after treasure for others. Led by Naiyana Veerapanpong, Director of Human Resources of Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, the management team and staff of the hotel hosted a special lunch to bring a smile...

The rest is here:
Post Human: Exhibition by Chatchawan Nilsakul

(This is my blog post about the embryonic stem cell study. For my news article about the study, go here.)

Genetically modified human embryonic stem cells can solve one of the toughest problems facing embryonic stem cell therapy, immune rejection of transplanted cells, may have been solved, according to a UC San Diego-led research team.

The cells can be made invisible to the immune system by genetically modifying them to make two immune-suppressing chemicals, according to a study performed in mice given a human immune system. Immune functioning in the rest of the animal remains active. The immune protection also applies to differentiated cells derived from the stem cells.

If the approach works in people, patients receiving transplanted tissue or organs made from embryonic stem cells wouldn't have to take harsh immune-suppressing drugs, said Yang Xu, a UCSD professor of biology. The method also may prevent immune rejection of tissues grown from other types of stem cells.

These arehumanized laboratory mice that contain a functional human immune system. Such mice have been used for years; a UCSD research team developed a model with a stronger immune response to test their immune-suppressing tissues. / Zhili Rong, UCSD

Researchers placed genes in the stem cells to produce the two chemicals, CTLA4-lg and PD-L1, naturally made in the body. The humanized immune systems of the mice accepted transplants of cells engineered to make the chemicals. The researchers transplanted cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts derived from the engineered stem cells. Transplants derived from regular embryonic stem cells were rejected.

The study was published online Thursday in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Its findings will have to be confirmed for safety and effectiveness in more animal studies before human trials can be considered, which will take years. The mouse model itself was "optimized" for the study to more faithfully reflect the human immune system than other immune models, the study said.

Xu said a further study is being considered in monkeys, a large animal model considered to better reflect human biology than mice.

Embryonic stem cells are being tested along with many other kinds of stem cells to replace diseased or destroyed body parts, such as spinal cord segments and insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. All of these cells have advantages and drawbacks. Immune rejection, along with a tendency to form tumors, are two big drawbacks to embryonic stem cells.

San Diego-based ViaCyte is preparing to test a therapy with beta cells within a year. The company encapsulates them in a permeable barrier that allows insulin to diffuse out but prevents the immune system from entering. However, that approach won't worth with transplants that must integrate into the body, such as spinal cord tissue. So a way of turning off the immune system just in those cells is an attractive idea.

Continue reading here:
Stem cell transplant problem solved, UCSD-led study says

Kolkata | Updated 1/3/2014 4:00:37 PM IST

Beleaguered West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly today resigned from the post of honorary professor of the National University of Juridical Sciences, a student of which had made allegations of sexual harassment against him.

"Some members of the faculty were expressing their reservation about my continuation. So I have sent my resignation today," Ganguly told PTI here.

On the resignation from the post of chairman of the WBHRC, He said earlier today that he would prefer to remain "quiet". "I have read about it (cabinet clearance of presidential reference) in newspapers. What can I say about it? The development of events is not in my hand. I haven't decided anything and would prefer to stay quiet," Justice Ganguly told PTI.

The process for removal of Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chairman moved a step forward yesterday with the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for a probe into the allegation of sexual misconduct against a law intern who was the student of the NUJS.

The proposal will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee who will then send the matter to the Chief Justice of India seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

A three-judge Supreme Court committee formed by the Chief Justice of India had earlier indicted Justice Ganguly of committing an "act of unwelcome behaviour" and "conduct of sexual nature" towards the woman law intern.

Justice Ganguly today attended the office of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as usual, though for a brief period. Asked on the presidential reference, Justice Ganguly said that the development of events is not in his hand.

PTI

Link:
Justice Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor

Kolkata, Jan. 3:

Beleaguered West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman, Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly, on Friday resigned from the post of honorary professor of the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), a student of which had made allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Some members of the faculty were expressing their reservation about my continuation. So I have sent my resignation today, Ganguly said. On the resignation from the post of chairman of the WBHRC, he said earlier today that he would prefer to remain quiet.

I have read about it (cabinet clearance of presidential reference) in newspapers. What can I say about it? The development of events is not in my hand. I havent decided anything and would prefer to stay quiet, Justice Ganguly said.

The process for removal of Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chairman moved a step forward on Thursday with the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for a probe into the allegation of sexual misconduct against a law intern who was the student of the NUJS.

The proposal will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee who will then send the matter to the Chief Justice of India seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

A three-judge Supreme Court committee formed by the Chief Justice of India had earlier indicted Justice Ganguly of committing an act of unwelcome behaviour and conduct of sexual nature towards the woman law intern.

Justice Ganguly on Friday attended the office of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as usual, though for a brief period.

Asked on the presidential reference, Justice Ganguly said that the development of events is not in his hand.

(This article was published on January 3, 2014)

Original post:
Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor

SA recent Slate blog post contains the following correction:

Correction, Jan. 2, 2014: The caption for this story originally stated that Arwen and Aragorn are half-elf and half-human. Aragorn is three-fourths human and one-fourth elf. Arwen is 3/16 human, 25/32 elf, and 1/32 Maia. Thanks to reader Auros Harman for the genealogical analysis.

Hm. It's true that "half-elf and half-human" is not the best way to describe Arwen and Aragorn, given that the descriptor implies (to our ears at least) that each has one elf parent and one human parent. ("Half-Elven" or peredhel would probably be the term used by the [excessively knowledgeable and pedantic] denizens of Middle-earth and Arda more broadly, but: See below.)

But the formulation proposed by reader Auros Harman is worse. Most importantly, Aragorn is not "one-quarter elf." It's entirely unclear where this description comes from; Aragorn's closest full-Elvish forebear, Idril Celebrindal, is some sixty-odd generations away.

But even if it were correct it's problematic. Peredhilin particular Arwen's father Elrond and his brother Elros, eventually the first king of Nmenor and a distant ancestor of Aragornare required by the Valar to choose sides, so to speak: either join the Valar in the Undying Lands as Elves, or receive the Gift of Men as, yes, Men. There is little room for those of mixed descent in Middle-earth, where relationships between the various races are incredibly rare and regarded with apprehension.

Given this it would in some sense be most accurate to understand both Aragorn and Arwen as half-Elven who chose the fate of Men, though even then few citizens of Gondor would think of Aragorn as anything but a Man. (Indeed Aragorn, descended from Elros, who chose mortality, is not even given the choice of identifying as an Elf, in the sense that his bloodline does not give him access to Aman.) What none would do is think of Arwen as "3/16 human." Attempting to force this kind of "scientific" racialism, obsessed with fractional bloodline, on to Middle-earth and Arda is a sort of cultural imperialism: It's just not how Elves or Men (or Valar) understand race.

[thank you to @osutein, @dubdobdee and @NedRaggett for Middle-earth genealogy expertise. For more safe-for-work reading on Elf Sex, click here. This post has been updated to clarify certain concepts about descent per the work of @BlakeAued]

More:
Slate's Embarrassing Middle-Earth Error

Four skulls that formed part of an altar made of human bones from the Late Post-Classical period (1350-1521) have been found during the construction of a new Mexico City metro line.

The skulls are from two men, one woman and a dog, Mexico's National Anthropology and History Institute, or INAH, said in a communique.

One of the men is estimated to have been between 25 and 35 years of age at the time of his death. The other man is believed to have been aged under 35. The woman was estimated to be between 18 and 22 years old, and her skull had been intentionally deformed, INAH said.

The finds were made between October 2008 and August 2012 along a 24.5km stretch of Metro Line 12's route, where other archaeological objects were also found, INAH said.

Much evidence of pre-Columbian settlement in the region has been detected during various construction work. Other archaeological items uncovered include houses, stone- and slab-lined canals, sculptures, ceramics and about 100 graves, most of them of infants.

The skulls each show perforations of the temples, an indication they had been placed on a rod to be displayed on a "tzompantli" (skull rack), where the skulls of sacrificial victims were commonly mounted. However, they were not part of a rack when unearthed, INAH said.

As for the dog skull, INAH said that it might be that dogs were connected with funerary rites, perhaps to accompany the souls of the dead to the underworld.

This is the first time that such a dog skull has been found with perforations showing that it was, at one time, displayed on a skull rack, INAH said.

Read more here:
Human sacrifice skulls found in Mexico