The light from our eyes

In which Max is horrified that 50% of American college students think their eyes illuminate the world. Orin thinks they may be on to something. Meanwhile, Freya is entranced by an expensive array of colored circles

Origins of Self

“I will show you fear in a handful of dust” (T. S. Eliot: The Wasteland) How can dust and water become a conscious living person capable of fear? The way these elements are transformed into life is sketched out, but it's our conscious minds, our intensity of being in a flood of emotions; this is the big problem that science has so far failed to explain. Freya, a biologist, is dissatisfied with the way evolution has no explanation for her own self. Instead, science treats people as robots with any self-awareness considered an illusion. In this way, it destroys our humanity. Max explains that given the chemical basis of life, this is the only possible conclusion. On the brink of accepting this unpalatable fact, she meets with Orin. Together they explore the unthinkable, that the basis of consciousness and self is present in the underlying operations of the universe. These skilfully constructed dialogues explain how the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and panpsychism (primordial universal consciousness) can explain the evolution of not only bodies but also of life, self and consciousness

Factors that Contribute to Susceptibility of the Placebo/Nocebo Effect in Experimentally Induced Ischemic Arm Pain

Placebo’s (positive expectancies producing positive outcomes) and nocebo’s (negative expectancies producing negative outcomes) are real and measurable effects. Real as these effects may be, predicting individuals that may be susceptible to placebo/nocebo effects has been inconsistent. The present study examined whether measures designed to assess somatization (MSPQ), catastrophizing (PCS) and childhood trauma (CTQ) would predict placebo and nocebo membership. In addition, measures designed to assess anxiety (ASI) anxiety about pain (PASS) and depression (BDI) were evaluated to determine whether anxiety or depression mediates responsiveness. The Hargreaves Thermal Withdrawal test and the submaximal effort tourniquet technique were employed as pain vehicles for the measurement of group differences. No significant effects of planned analyses were observed. However, unplanned analyses of childhood trauma subscales indicated that physical and emotional abuse predicted placebo response. Additionally, emotional neglect trended toward predicting nocebo responsiveness. These results indicate that further studies, correcting for weaknesses, is warranted

Factors that Contribute to Susceptibility of the Placebo/Nocebo Effect in Experimentally Induced Ischemic Arm Pain

Placebo’s (positive expectancies producing positive outcomes) and nocebo’s (negative expectancies producing negative outcomes) are real and measurable effects. Real as these effects may be, predicting individuals that may be susceptible to placebo/nocebo effects has been inconsistent. The present study examined whether measures designed to assess somatization (MSPQ), catastrophizing (PCS) and childhood trauma (CTQ) would predict placebo and nocebo membership. In addition, measures designed to assess anxiety (ASI) anxiety about pain (PASS) and depression (BDI) were evaluated to determine whether anxiety or depression mediates responsiveness. The Hargreaves Thermal Withdrawal test and the submaximal effort tourniquet technique were employed as pain vehicles for the measurement of group differences. No significant effects of planned analyses were observed. However, unplanned analyses of childhood trauma subscales indicated that physical and emotional abuse predicted placebo response. Additionally, emotional neglect trended toward predicting nocebo responsiveness. These results indicate that further studies, correcting for weaknesses, is warranted

The Influence of Dopamine on the Magnitude and Duration of the Placebo Effect

A placebo effect is a real and beneficial psychobiological phenomenon following the administration of a substance or procedure that has no inherent power to produce an effect. Nocebo effects, on the other hand are genuine and detrimental psychobiological phenomenon following the administration of and inert substance or procedure. These effects have been extensively studied but are not well understood. Central to the development of a placebo effect is the anticipation of benefit or the anticipation of harm. Indeed, expectancy and conditioning are thought to be the two primary mechanisms involved in the acquisition of the placebo effect. The neurotransmitter Dopamine (DA) is integral to expectancy and reward and as such has recently been considered a key player in the mechanisms of the placebo effect. Based on this line of inquiry this study sought to investigate the role DA might have in the development of the placebo effect as observed in pain using an animal (mouse) model. It was proposed that DA is involved in the acquisition and maintenance of the placebo effect. Specifically it was proposed that the DA agonist cocaine would enhance the magnitude and duration of the placebo analgesia and that the DA antagonists SCH23390 and eticlopride would together or separately block the acquisition of the placebo analgesia. These proposals were assessed by utilizing supra-spinal (hotplate) and spinal (tail flick latency) protocols. Results indicated that cocaine enhanced placebo analgesia in spinal but not supra-spinal measures and that the DA antagonists SCH23390 and eticlopride each contributed to the acquisition, rather than the blockade, of placebo analgesia in both spinal and supra-spinal models. In fact, the most profound effect was observed when both antagonists were administered together rather than separately on supra-spinal measures but not spinal measures resulting in an enduring nocebo effect contradicting all predictions. The novel results presented in this study raises more questions than they answer, warranting more detailed exploration of the mechanisms of DA and its relationship with placebo effects

Morality Games

A dialogue arguing that morality has an objective basis in the mathematical object describing the "tit for tat" game theory. To play the game, a contractual obligation is freely made to cooperate and to fairly distribute the gains. Failure to meet these obligations results in social punishment

Graphical capture from: Digital technologies for improving productivity in food manufacturing

The Centre for SMART at Loughborough University collaborated with the Internet of Food Things Network Plus to host an event that targeted players in the food manufacturing industry, as well as policy makers, and aimed to provide attendees with the opportunity to learn from companies and technology providers on best practices to successfully implement current digital technologies in food manufacturing and to discuss policy and regulatory challenges to the uptake of such technologies within the UK Food Sector. A full report will be available later, but this drawing was produced by Becky James from Natalka Design who was commissioned to capture the complexity of the presentations and discussions that took place at the event. We therefore acknowledge the contribution that all attendees at the event made to this illustration

Adverse Effects of Antimicrobials via Predictable or Idiosyncratic Inhibition of Host Mitochondrial Components

This minireview explores mitochondria as a site for antibiotic-host interactions that lead to pathophysiologic responses manifested as nonantibacterial side effects. Mitochondrion-based side effects are possibly related to the notion that these organelles are archaic bacterial ancestors or commandeered remnants that have co-evolved in eukaryotic cells; thus, this minireview focuses on mitochondrial damage that may be analogous to the antibacterial effects of the drugs. Special attention is devoted to aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, and fluoroquinolones and their respective single side effects related to mitochondrial disturbances. Linezolid/oxazolidinone multisystemic toxicity is also discussed. Aminoglycosides and oxazolidinones are inhibitors of bacterial ribosomes, and some of their side effects appear to be based on direct inhibition of mitochondrial ribosomes. Chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones target bacterial ribosomes and gyrases/topoisomerases, respectively, both of which are present in mitochondria. However, the side effects of chloramphenicol and the fluoroquinolones appear to be based on idiosyncratic damage to host mitochondria. Nonetheless, it appears that mitochondrion-associated side effects are a potential aspect of antibiotics whose targets are shared by prokaryotes and mitochondria—an important consideration for future drug design