Thursday, February 19

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Indo-German study links gut bacteria imbalance to memory, cognitive decline
13Dec By No Comments
Health

Indo-German study links gut bacteria imbalance to memory, cognitive decline

A collaborative Indo-German research team has identified a clear biological mechanism linking disturbances in gut bacteria to impaired memory, learning, and cognitive function, CUSAT said on Thursday. The study, published in the latest issue of `BMC Biology`, demonstrates how disruption of the gut microbiome, commonly triggered by prolonged antibiotic use or dietary imbalance, initiates systemic inflammation that ultimately affects the neural circuits responsible for memory formation, CUSAT said in a statement. `BMC Biology` is an open-access scientific journal publishing original, peer-reviewed research across all fields of biology. The research was conducted under a program supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Th...
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Ex-Tory MP’s departure caught Poilievre flat-footed on eve of holiday break
12Dec By Aditi PawarNo Comments
Politics

Ex-Tory MP’s departure caught Poilievre flat-footed on eve of holiday break

An Ontario MP’s floor crossing appears to have caught Pierre Poilievre’s team flat-footed and gives the Conservative leader no time to rally his troops until late January. Markham-Unionville MP Michael Ma shocked Ottawa Thursday evening by announcing he would join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s caucus, bringing the Liberals to just one seat shy of a majority mandate.The news came as a surprise to Poilievre and his team, who just the night before had welcomed Ma to the Conservative party’s holiday get-together. With MPs now scattered across the country until late January, Poilievre is in the uncomfortable position of wondering if any more of his team will use the holiday break to test the waters for a potential jump.“The timing (of Ma’s decision) was catastrophically bad for Conservatives, be...
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Study finds gene variants that negatively link addiction, education
12Dec By No Comments
Health

Study finds gene variants that negatively link addiction, education

A study has found gene variants that impact both addiction and education attainment in opposite directions -- a higher genetic risk for addiction was related with an increased chance of a lower education level. The analysis published in the journal `Addiction` also showed that the genetic link between addiction and education level could increase chances of substance use disorder by up to 66 per cent. "We have long known that substance use problems and school difficulties often appear together and make each other worse. Our research shows that part of this connection is explained by shared genetic factors," lead author Judit Cabana-Domínguez, from the Vall d`Hebron Research Institute in Spain, said. Over 1,400 participants with substance use disorder involving use of cocaine, opiates, ca...
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MPs joining Liberals don’t like Tory ‘games’ under Poilievre: MacKinnon – National
12Dec By Aditi PawarNo Comments
Politics

MPs joining Liberals don’t like Tory ‘games’ under Poilievre: MacKinnon – National

The addition of ex-Conservative MP Michael Ma to the Liberal caucus is further proof that some members of the Opposition are “extremely frustrated” with the “silly games” being played by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, government House leader Steve MacKinnon said Friday. MacKinnon, speaking at a funding announcement in Gatineau, Que., added that the group tiring of Poilievre’s “obstructionist” approach is “sizable” but wouldn’t speculate on whether any more of them will cross the floor.“These are incredibly hard choices for those people to make,” he told reporters.“It’s an incredibly personal and, in many cases, disruptive decision that a person has to make after, in some cases, spending decades or years of active involvement in the Conservative party. But they don’t like the turn. T...
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WhatsApp Is Now Rolling Out Missed Call Messages
12Dec By No Comments
Life Style

WhatsApp Is Now Rolling Out Missed Call Messages

They say no one actually uses their phones for phone calls anymore. That's not really true, though maybe the "Phone" app does get underused. Instead, many of us have turned to chat apps for our calls. FaceTime, WhatsApp, Messenger—these apps are now our go-to choices for getting in immediate touch with friends and family. (Not that I'm complaining: The call quality is usually better, anyway.) But one thing the Phone app—and traditional phone calls—have on these chat apps is voicemail. For decades, when you called someone and they didn't answer, you could "leave a message after the tone." That way, when the person saw they had a missed call, they didn't need to guess what you wanted to say. If it was important, they'd hear about it, and call you back. If it wasn't, they could choose to call...
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Grammy-nominated opera singer stabbed to death in his home, son arrested – National
12Dec By Aditi PawarNo Comments
Entertainment, Movies

Grammy-nominated opera singer stabbed to death in his home, son arrested – National

Grammy-nominated opera and gospel singer Jubilant Sykes has died after being stabbed at his home in California. His son, 31-year-old Micah Sykes, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Santa Monica police said in a statement on Tuesday.Officers responded to a 911 call on Monday at approximately 9:20 p.m. for an assault in progress. Officers were directed to the scene by the reporting party.Inside the residence, officers found Sykes, who had sustained critical injuries consistent with a stabbing. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.Police located the suspect, the victim’s son, inside the residence and took him into custody without incident, the statement added.Investigators are currently processing physical evidence collected at the scene, including a weapon recovered from the in...
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Four More Shots Please trailer: Final reunion of the beloved girl gang
12Dec By No Comments
Entertainment, Movies

Four More Shots Please trailer: Final reunion of the beloved girl gang

Prime Video unveiled the trailer of the fourth and final season of its International Emmy-nominated original series, Four More Shots Please!. Signing off the year in style, the final chapter arrives just in time for the holiday season, giving fans one last, full-hearted reunion with the beloved girl gang that defined modern female friendship on screen. The new season sees the four divas return for one last round – to finish what they started. Stronger. Wiser. Unapologetically themselves.  Produced by Pritish Nandy Communications and created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, the final season of this International Emmy-nominated original series is directed by Arunima Sharma and Neha Parti Matiyani. Prime members in India and more than 240 countries and territories worldwid...
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Cold weather linked to rise in stroke causes, doctors advise caution
12Dec By No Comments
Health

Cold weather linked to rise in stroke causes, doctors advise caution

Just as respiratory infections and heart ailments tend to increase during winter, experts are also witnessing a noticeable surge in brain stroke cases. The drop in temperature can trigger several physiological changes that elevate stroke risk, including higher blood pressure, thickened blood, dehydration, and reduced physical activity. Doctors are urging people, especially those with hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease, to be extra cautious during the cold season. A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. The most common type, ischemic stroke, happens due to a blood clot blocking a vessel, while hemorrhagic stroke results from a ruptured blood vessel, causi...
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Google Will Now Let You Virtually Try on Clothes With Just a Selfie
12Dec By No Comments
Life Style

Google Will Now Let You Virtually Try on Clothes With Just a Selfie

The pace of AI technology is so rapid, it's tough to keep up with everything. At Google I/O back in May, Google rolled out an AI-powered shopping feature that let you virtually try on clothes you find online. All you needed to do was upload a full-length photo of yourself, and Google's AI would be to dress you up in whatever article of clothing you liked. I still can't decide whether the feature sounds useful, creepy, or a little bit of both. Google's virtual try on feature only needs a selfie to workWhat I can say, however, is that the feature is getting a little creepier. On Thursday, Google announced an update to its virtual try on feature, that takes advantage of the company's new AI image model, Nano Banana. Now, you don't need a full-length photo of yourself: just a selfie. With sol...
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