Search Index

Delving into the 'Nudge' effect by Thaler and Sunstein Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Libertarian Paternalism and the ‘Nudge’ Approach Last updated: 05/11/25, 20:21 Published: 06/11/25, 08:00 Delving into the 'Nudge' effect by Thaler and Sunstein This is article no. 4 in a series on behavioural economics. Next article: Effect of time (coming soon). Previous article- Loss aversion . So far in our series of behavioural economics, we have discussed why and how people may make less favourable decisions than traditional economics assumes. We have spoken about how people can still be honest even when they are faced with a decision where they can be materially better off; and when someone loses their wallet, they feel more distaste than finding some money on the street; and how an endowment adds a bizarre sense of additional worth, that would cause you to think twice about trading it for something equally valuable. In today’s article, we are going to address why this is important to policy makers, and subsequently you and I, by exploring how governments and institutions can influence our decisions in ways that may seem paternalistic yet still respect individual freedom. This idea lies at the heart of libertarian paternalism . The idea behind the “Nudge” Nudge is a book written by Nobel Prize–winning economist Richard Thaler and legal scholar Cass Sunstein. Building on their 2003 paper, the book develops the idea that people’s choices can be shaped not only by the options available, but also by the context in which those options are presented — even by factors that seem trivial or irrelevant. This is where the concept of a “nudge” comes in: small design changes that steer people toward better decisions without restricting their freedom to choose. A simple change: the pension example A classic example comes from workplace pensions. Before 2008, when someone joined a new company, they were asked whether they wanted to join the company pension scheme. Most people didn’t — they took their full pay instead and failed to save for retirement. This created a growing problem for the government: an ageing population without enough savings to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. The solution was remarkably simple. Instead of asking employees to opt in to a pension, companies began enrolling them automatically, giving them the option to opt out instead. The choice remained exactly the same, pension or no pension, but the framing made all the difference. Opting out felt like losing something, and because people are naturally loss-averse, far fewer did so. In 2012, just under 50% of employees in the private sector had a pension. By 2018, after the introduction of auto-enrolment, that number had risen to around 80%. All from a change in default wording on a form. Libertarian Paternalism – a justification Paternalism is generally considered the situation where the government interferes in our choices, for better or for worse, much like a parent telling their children what they can and cannot do. In many cases, society accepts paternalism as necessary: we ban harmful drugs, make theft illegal, and impose safety regulations. But should governments really be meddling with our personal financial decisions? Should they be influencing our choices about pensions, spending, or saving? Whether they should or shouldn’t is ultimately a political question, not an economic one. However, what we can do is consider Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein’s explanation of why policies such as pension defaults represent something fundamentally different. When the government restricts drugs or criminalises theft, it removes our freedom to choose — these are examples of hard paternalism, enforced by law. But with pensions, the government doesn’t force participation. The choice remains entirely yours: you can stay enrolled or opt out. This preservation of choice embodies the libertarian element — the freedom to decide for oneself. At the same time, by changing how the choice is presented, such as making enrolment the default option, policymakers can dramatically alter behaviour in a direction they consider beneficial. That is where the paternalistic element comes in. According to Thaler and Sunstein, this combination of freedom and gentle guidance is what defines libertarian paternalism . In Thaler and Sunstein’s eyes, nudging individuals towards better decisions through the use of policy is better and less controversial than implementing outright bans and mandates. It respects our autonomy while encouraging outcomes that they believe will improve collective welfare. If the government genuinely believes certain decisions are in the public’s best interest, then libertarian paternalism provides a way to influence behaviour without infringing on people’s right to choose. A question of freedom I do, however, pose some questions to you. If the government can influence your decision making through manipulating people’s psychology, can it truly be called libertarian ? And more fundamentally - does the government really know best? In recent years, the 'Nudge' approach has faced criticism, particularly regarding the assumptions it makes about what constitutes a “better” decision and who gets to define it. Despite this, the research continues to shape public policy across the world — from pensions and health to energy use and education. What’s crucial is that we remain aware of the ways our choices can be influenced. Recognising these nudges allows us to make decisions that best reflect our own values, circumstances, and goals. And on a deeper level, if every choice we make can be subtly shaped by those in power, how do we ensure that nudges serve the public interest — and not the interest of those who nudge? Written by George Chant Project Gallery

Synaptic plasticity is the process of connections within the brain changing to adapt to new information over time. It is of increasing significance in neuroscience, especially in the field of memory. Early research into synaptic plasticity was conducted by many of those Go Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Our understanding of how the brain forms connections between things we’ve learnt, and how London taxi drivers fit in Last updated: 13/11/25 Published: 05/01/23 Synaptic plasticity is the process of connections within the brain changing to adapt to new information over time. It is of increasing significance in neuroscience, especially in the field of memory. Early research into synaptic plasticity was conducted by many of those now considered the pioneers of neuroscience. For instance, Terje Lomo (1966) experimented on rabbit hippocampus with repeated, high-frequency stimulation, identifying long term potentiation, the persistent strengthening of synapses leading to enduring increases in signal transmission between neurons. Prior to work by Lomo, Ramon y Cajal (1911) proposed the idea that the strength of synaptic connections had to change to alter existing memories. One key question which is pertinent for both humans and other animals alike is how to keep track of our surroundings - how do our memories encode and store information on the places we visit so we can remember the directions for next time? Seminal work by Maguire et al., (2001) assessed whether physical changes “could be detected in the healthy brain” of London taxi drivers, given the repertoire of spatial experience required to navigate London without aid. Sixteen taxi drivers were studied with fifty controls. Using (structural) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it was found that taxi drivers’ posterior hippocampi were larger than that of control subjects, and the more experience the drivers had, the greater the size of their right posterior hippocampi. Such changes in tissue volume take place gradually over time, because of task-related training. Recent work by Spiers et al., (2022) looked at the difference in spatial navigational ability between city-dwellers and those living in rural areas. A subset of ~400,000 participants from 38 countries played a video game to test their skill in spatial navigation, with city-dwellers performing worse than those who grew up outside cities. More specifically, individuals were better at navigating in environments that were topologically like where they grew up. Hence, one interpretation of these results is that the place where a person grows up impacts their ability to accurately navigate new, unfamiliar environments since this is based on the synaptic connections made between existing information in the brain. In conclusion, synaptic plasticity is the change in connections in the brain over time; interest and research in this field, especially spatial navigation, are increasing significantly. Written by Manisha Halkhoree Full article published in Brain Insights- BNA Bulletin (Issue no. 96, Autumn 2022) Related articles: The wonders of the human brain / The brain-climate connection / Why brain injuries affect adults and children differently REFERENCES Nicoll, R. A Brief History of Long-Term Potentiation. Neuron. 2017 Jan 18; 93(2): 281-290. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627316309576 Maguire E, Gadian D, Johnsrude I, et. al. Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. Proc Natl Sci U S A. 2000 Apr 11; 97(8): 4398–4403. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC18253/ Coutrot A, Manley E, Goodroe S., et. al. Entropy of city street networks linked to future spatial navigation ability. Nature. 2022 March 30; Nature 604: 104-110. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04486-7

A scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Maveerar Naal: health, trauma, and resilience amid decades of war Last updated: 11/01/26, 18:48 Published: 27/11/25, 08:00 A scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war Every year on 27 November — and throughout the month of remembrance — Eelam Tamils worldwide observe Maveerar Naal, honouring those who lost their lives during Sri Lanka’s war (1983–2009). While traditionally centred on fallen fighters, this period also serves as a vital opportunity to reflect on the epidemiology of trauma, the collapse of public health systems, and the long-term physical and psychological consequences carried by Eelam Tamil communities after more than two decades of conflict. This article reframes Maveerar Naal not only as a commemoration, but also as a scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war — and the resilience of those who survived it. A health system under siege From the mid-1980s onward, northern and eastern Sri Lanka experienced a chronic, escalating humanitarian emergency. Repeated mass displacement, food scarcity, blocked medical supply routes, and intermittent bombardment steadily eroded the region’s healthcare infrastructure. Clinics became inaccessible due to shelling or military restrictions, and maternal and child health services deteriorated sharply. Early epidemiological observations from the 1990s documented widespread anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms among civilians, demonstrating that mental-health consequences were emerging long before the war’s final years. By the late 2000s, the public health crisis intensified dramatically. As the conflict entered its final phase — from late 2008 to May 2009 — more than 2.5 million people were trapped in active conflict zones, while approximately 800,000 civilians were internally displaced. Entire districts lost functional hospitals; others were forced to convert schools, churches, and tarpaulin shelters into emergency medical centres. Human resource shortages reflected the near-total systemic collapse: in some northern districts, only 34 of 108 midwife posts and 6 of 27 doctor posts remained filled. Pregnant women delivered in makeshift bunkers, neonatal mortality spiked, and infectious diseases spread rapidly through overcrowded displacement camps. For many, survival came at the cost of long-term disability, untreated injuries, and profound psychological trauma. Physical health consequences across populations The physical scars of the war persist across generations. Civilians experienced blast injuries, shrapnel wounds, burns, and amputations, often without access to timely surgical care. Emergency operations were performed in unsterile environments; in some cases, anaesthesia was unavailable, forcing staff to improvise with inadequate substitutes. Conditions in displacement camps — overcrowding, poor sanitation, contaminated water — led to outbreaks of diarrhoea, hepatitis A and E, and vector-borne diseases. For combatants, chronic health burdens are well-documented. Peer-reviewed studies, including research published in journals such as the International Journal of Social Psychiatry and the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine , report the following long-term conditions among injured veterans: Back pain: 69.4% Knee osteoarthritis: 18.8% Hypertension: 22.4% Diabetes: 34.2% Phantom-limb pain among amputees: over 77% PTSD among amputees: ~41.7% These outcomes reflect years of untreated injuries, limited rehabilitation access, chronic stress, and long-term nutritional deficiencies. Psychological trauma and intergenerational consequences The psychological impact of the war has been profound. Medical workers described witnessing mass casualties with inadequate supplies — a situation that produced significant moral injury, compassion fatigue, and long-lasting mental-health consequences. Among severely injured fighters, mental-health assessments published in trauma and rehabilitation journals report: PTSD: 41.7% Adjustment disorder: 16.4% Depressive disorder: 15.6% Somatoform/dissociative disorders: significant prevalence Civilians exposed to high-intensity conflict show similarly alarming patterns. Studies from humanitarian organisations and academic institutions report that approximately: 64% of civilians exhibited long-term trauma-related effects 27% experienced PTSD 26% had anxiety disorders 25% had depression 18% experienced functional disability due to psychological distress Notably, emerging research has identified intergenerational transmission of trauma, with children of survivors — even those born after 2009 — displaying elevated rates of anxiety, behavioural challenges, and trauma-related symptoms. This represents a critical area for continued scientific study and intervention. Health workers on the frontline: the hidden scientific story The war’s final months produced some of the most extreme medical working conditions documented in modern conflict settings. For ethical, political, and safety reasons, this article does not name frontline medical staff; however, their experiences are well-recorded in reports by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and eyewitness testimonies. One regional physician coordinated makeshift hospitals inside schools and religious buildings. With no supplies, he sterilised instruments over open flames, used sarongs as dressings, and suspended IV fluids from tree branches. He performed dozens of emergency surgeries daily, sometimes operating while artillery fire struck nearby. A field-hospital superintendent described conducting amputations without anaesthesia, supported only by volunteer nurses. When their facility was shelled — an incident documented by multiple international observers — dozens died instantly. Survivors were treated in trenches illuminated by mobile phone torches. Another medical coordinator reported overseeing triage for thousands of displaced civilians, many severely dehydrated or malnourished. He described having to prioritise patients based solely on survivability, an ethically devastating but necessary decision in conditions of extreme scarcity. PHR and HRW documented at least 30 direct attacks on hospitals between December 2008 and May 2009. These incidents — some among the most thoroughly investigated attacks on medical facilities globally — illustrate the catastrophic collapse of health infrastructure and the extraordinary resilience of those who continued to provide care. Reflection, healing, and the path ahead Maveerar Naal is, at its core, a day of remembrance. Yet for many Eelam Tamils, it is also a day of scientific reflection — a moment to acknowledge the measurable, long-term consequences of conflict on physical health, mental well-being, and community resilience. Healing requires investment in: Long-term mental-health services rooted in trauma-informed care Rehabilitation programmes for amputees and individuals with chronic injuries Public health research into intergenerational trauma Accessible healthcare for survivors living in diaspora communities Preservation of evidence and health data for historical and scientific record By understanding the epidemiology of suffering, communities can better design strategies for recovery. By recognising the extraordinary resilience of civilians, fighters, and health workers, they honour all forms of courage. And by grounding remembrance in scientific truth, Maveerar Naal becomes not only a memorial, but a commitment to protecting health, dignity, and humanity for future generations. In remembering the past, we build the foundation for a more compassionate, prepared, and resilient future. Written by Jeevana Thavarajah Related articles: Impact of war on health (series) / South Asian Mental Health REFERENCES Amnesty International (2009) Sri Lanka: Twenty Years of Make-Believe. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa37/005/2009/en/ BBC News (2009) Sri Lanka shells no-fire zone. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8046136.stm Catani, C. et al. (2008) ‘War trauma, child abuse and PTSD in Sri Lankan children’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18673497/ Channel 4 News (2011) Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields. Available at: https://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lankas-killing-fields Fernando, G. and Ferrari, M. (2013) ‘Short- and long-term psychological effects of war in Sri Lankan populations’, Asian Journal of Psychiatry . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23885541/ Human Rights Watch (2009) Sri Lanka: Repeated Shelling of Hospitals. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/05/08/sri-lanka-repeated-shelling-hospitals International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (2014) War injury rehabilitation and prosthetics – Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/sri-lanka-prosthetics-rehabilitation International Crisis Group (2010) War Crimes in Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/war-crimes-sri-lanka Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (2015) OISL Report: Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/oisl-sri-lanka Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) (2009) PHR calls for inquiry into detention of doctors and war crimes in Sri Lanka. Available at: https://phr.org/news/phr-calls-for-inquiry-into-detention-of-doctors-and-war-crimes-in-sri-lanka/ Project Gallery

How your gut is your second brain (an opinion piece) Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Microbes in charge Last updated: 16/06/25, 16:09 Published: 26/06/25, 07:00 How your gut is your second brain (an opinion piece) Imagine this: you have just won ten million dollars in the lottery, or you have just eaten the most delicious, warm, chocolate brownie. In these situations, our brains produce chemicals called neurotransmitters, which give us these great feelings of pleasure and happiness. Now, imagine this: you're about to sit an exam. In this situation, our brains, instead, produce different chemicals, making us feel stressed and anxious. Our emotions control the highs and lows of life. I have always heard that the brain inside all of us controls everything that we feel, think and do. However, I've always found it strange that every feeling, thought, and behaviour is controlled by a three-pound, soggy lump of cells inside our heads, until I learned about gut microbiota. We each have a second brain, which controls as much of our physical and mental functions as the brain in our heads, and plays a role in preventing diseases. This second brain is our gut microbiota. However, we have completely underestimated their role as the second brain. I learned this first through the intriguing story of the rat. If the rat becomes colonised with the microbe Toxoplasma gondii, a fascinating thing happens: they lose their fear of cats. The cat's smell was chosen as a measure. The infected rat preferred the areas that had the smell of cats. So, the microbes take control of the brain and change the way you think. In another study, a research group at University College Cork in Ireland fed Lactobacillus rhamnosus , a good bacteria—or 'probiotic' you can usually find in yoghurt—to one of two groups of mice. The probiotic mice were much more likely to succeed in the face of adversity tests than those not treated with the probiotic. They repeated a similar study in humans, with the probiotic-fed humans displaying improved resilience to negative emotions compared to those without the probiotic. As I mentioned earlier, neurotransmitters are these chemicals that can change how we think, behave, and feel. As it turns out, neurotransmitters are also produced in our gut, 50% of the dopamine and 90% of serotonin (nature's antidepressant): two neurotransmitters that drastically affect your mood, happiness and pleasure. According to some studies, dopamine also plays a role in memory and learning, so gut microbiota controls how you think and behave and is also involved in cognitive functions like memory and learning. Let’s now turn to mental health! One study by Venket Rao studied 39 individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (a syndrome characterised by severe anxiety, depression, and long-term exhaustion), split the individuals into two groups. The first group received a bacterial strain for two months while the other group received only a placebo. The group that received the bacterial strain showed a significant decrease in anxiety with respect to the other group. Noticeably, there is a vital link between the gut microbiota and the immune system. 70-80% of immune cells are present in the gut. Additionally, studies have shown that Germ-free mice have fewer immune system structures in their intestines than wild-type mice. These immune structures in the gut are referred to as the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) and Peyer's patches. Another study explored the gut microbiota of 42 patients affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis and 10 healthy controls. They observed that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a higher population of Lactobacillaceae family and the Lactobacillus genus, and fewer Faecalibacterium , a butyrate producer. Butyrate is the fuel source for our intestinal cells to produce mucin, which then repairs the intestinal lining and mucosal membrane and reduces inflammation. Our gut and brain are physically and biochemically connected in several ways. First, our intestines are physically linked to our brain through the vagus nerve, which sends signals in both directions. Interestingly, even if this is cut off (severed), our intestines can continue to function fully without a connection to the brain, suggesting they have a mind of their own. Secondly, our brains are made up of a hundred billion neurons, which continuously send messages to tell our bodies how to work and behave. Well, interestingly, our guts have a hundred million neurons. Our gut microbiota, the unsung hero behind our feelings, thoughts, immune system and behaviour - proving that sometimes, it's not just all in our heads, but in our "guts" too! Written by Prabha Rana Related articles: The gut microbiome / The dopamine connection REFERENCES Webster J. P. (2007). The effect of Toxoplasma gondii on animal behavior: playing cat and mouse. Schizophrenia bulletin , 33 (3), 752–756. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbl073 Bravo, J. A., Forsythe, P., Chew, M. V., Escaravage, E., Savignac, H. M., Dinan, T. G., Bienenstock, J., & Cryan, J. F. (2011). Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 108 (38), 16050–16055. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1102999108 Strandwitz P. (2018). Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota. Brain research , 1693 (Pt B), 128–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.015 Rao, A. V., Bested, A. C., Beaulne, T. M., Katzman, M. A., Iorio, C., Berardi, J. M., & Logan, A. C. (2009). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of a probiotic in emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Gut pathogens , 1 (1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-4749-1-6 Wiertsema, S. P., van Bergenhenegouwen, J., Garssen, J., & Knippels, L. M. J. (2021). The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies. Nutrients , 13 (3), 886. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030886 Round, J. L., & Mazmanian, S. K. (2009). The gut microbiota shapes intestinal immune responses during health and disease. Nature reviews. Immunology , 9 (5), 313–323. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2515 Picchianti Diamanti, A., Panebianco, C., Salerno, G., Di Rosa, R., Salemi, S., Sorgi, M. L., Meneguzzi, G., Mariani, M. B., Rai, A., Iacono, D., Sesti, G., Pazienza, V., & Laganà, B. (2020). Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Disease Activity and Gut Microbiota Composition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Microorganisms , 8 (12), 1989. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8121989 Han, Y., Wang, B., Gao, H., He, C., Hua, R., Liang, C., … Xu, J. (2022). Vagus Nerve and Underlying Impact on the Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis in Behavior and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research , 15 , 6213–6230. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S384949 Project Gallery

AI has long been a controversial topic, with some people fearing its potential consequences. This has been exacerbated by popular culture, with movies such as "The Terminator" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" depicting AI systems becoming self-aware and turning against humans. Go back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The evolution of AI: understanding the role of NLP technologies Last updated: 08/03/25 Published: 08/05/23 Artificial intelligence (AI) has long been a controversial topic, with some people fearing its potential consequences. This has been exacerbated by popular culture, with movies such as The Terminator and 2001: A Space Odyssey depicting AI systems becoming self-aware and turning against humans. Similarly, The Matrix portrayed a dystopian future where AI systems had enslaved humanity. Fast forward to 2023- AI has become a normal part of our everyday life, whether we realise it or not. From virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to personalised movie and product recommendations, AI-powered technologies have revolutionised the way we interact with technology. AI also plays a critical role in industries such as healthcare, finance, and transportation, with algorithms helping to analyse data, identify patterns, and make predictions that lead to better decision-making. As with any industry, the AI industry is very much prone to evolution. In fact, this is especially relevant for the AI industry, given that it engages user habits to learn and redefine its understanding. This has led to the introduction of unforeseen technologies. One of the most studied and developed AI modelling techniques, Natural Language Processing (NLP), has been particularly placed under focus recently with the emergence of technologies such as Open AI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard) AI and Microsoft’s Bing AI- known as Copilot. ChatGPT in particular, was one of the first technologies of this kind to garner significant fame. Within its first year of release, the GPT-3 model had more than 10,000 registered developers and over 300 applications built on its application programming interface (API). In addition, Microsoft acquired OpenAI's exclusive license to the GPT-3 technology in 2020, further solidifying its position as a leading language model in the industry. ChatGPT works as an advanced artificial intelligence technology designed to understand and process human language. Built on the GPT-3.5 architecture, it uses NLP to comprehend and generate responses that simulate human conversation. ChatGPT is classified as a large language model, which means it has been trained on vast amounts of data and can generate high-quality text that is both coherent and relevant to the input provided. While concerns have been raised about the potential impact of NLP technologies, there are several reasons why we should not fear their emergence. Firstly, NLP has already enabled a wide range of useful applications that have the potential to improve efficiency, convenience, and accessibility. Furthermore, the development and deployment of NLP technologies is subject to ethical considerations and regulations that aim to ensure their responsible use. NLP technologies are not designed to replace humans, but rather to complement and enhance human capabilities. While some jobs may be impacted by automation, new jobs are likely to emerge that require human skills that are not easily replicated by machines. Ultimately, the impact of NLP technologies depends on how they are developed and used. There are always likely to be risks, but by taking a proactive approach to their development and deployment, we can ensure that they are used to benefit society and advance human progress. Written by Jaspreet Mann Related articles: AI: the good, the bad, and the future / Latent space transformations / Markov chains REFERENCES Hirschberg, Julia, and Christopher D. Manning. “Advances in Natural Language Processing.” Science, vol. 349, no. 6245, July 2015, pp. 261–66. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa8685. What Is Natural Language Processing? | IBM. https://www.ibm.com/topics/natural-language-processing. Accessed 1 May 2023. Biswas, Som S. “Role of Chat GPT in Public Health.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 51, no. 5, May 2023, pp. 868–69. Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03172-7. Davenport, T.H. (2018). The AI Advantage: How to Put the Artificial Intelligence Revolution to Work. MIT Press. Bird, S., Klein, E., & Loper, E. (2009). Natural Language Processing with Python. O'Reilly Media.

The effect on sleep on nutrition (nutrition timing) Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The interaction between circadian rhythms and nutrition Last updated: 27/04/25, 11:20 Published: 01/05/25, 07:00 The effect on sleep on nutrition (nutrition timing) The circadian system regulates numerous biological processes with roughly a 24-hour cycle, helping the organism adapt to the day-night rhythm. Among others, circadian rhythms regulate metabolism, energy expenditure, and sleep, for which meal timing is an excellent inducer. Evidence has shown that meal timing has a profound impact on health, gene expression, and lifespan. Proper timed feeding in accordance with the natural circadian rhythms of the body might improve metabolic health and reduce chronic disease risk. Circadian rhythms Circadian rhythms are controlled by the central clock of the brain, which coordinates biological functions with the light-dark cycle. Along with meal timing, circadian rhythms influence key elements of metabolism such as insulin sensitivity, fat storage, and glucose metabolism. When meal timing is not synchronised with the body's natural rhythm, it can cause circadian misalignment, disrupting metabolic processes and contributing to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Literature has indicated that one should eat best during the daytime, particularly synchronised with the active phase of the body. Eating late at night or in the evening when the circadian rhythm of the body is directed towards sleep could impair metabolic function and lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and numerous other diseases. Also, having larger meals in the morning and smaller meals later in the evening has been linked to improved metabolic health, sleep quality, and even lifespan. A time-restricted eating window, in which individuals eat all meals within a approximately 10–12 hour window, holds promise for improving human health outcomes like glucose metabolism, inflammation, harmful gene expression, and weight loss ( Figure 1 ). It is necessary to consider the impact of meal timing on gene expression. Our genes react to a number of stimuli, including environmental cues like food and light exposure. Gene expression of the body's metabolic, immune, and DNA repair processes are regulated by the body's circadian clock. Disturbances in meal timing influence the expression of these genes, which may result in greater susceptibility to diseases and reduced lifespan. Certain nutrients, such as melatonin in cherries and grapes, and magnesium in leafy greens and nuts, can improve sleep quality and circadian entrainment. Omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish and flax seeds also have been shown to regulate circadian genes and improve metabolic functions. Other species Meal timing is quite varied among species, and animals have adapted such that food-seeking behavior is entrained into circadian rhythm and environmental time cues. There are nocturnal animals which eat at night, when they are active ( Figure 2 ). These nocturnal animals have evolved to align their meal time with their period of activity to maximise metabolic efficiency and lifespan. Meal timing is optimised in these animals for night activity and digestion. Humans, and most other animals, are diurnal and consume food during the day. In these animals, consuming most of their calories during the day is conducive to metabolic processes like glucose homeostasis and fat storage. These species tend to have better metabolic health when they are on a feeding regimen that is synchronized with the natural light-dark cycle. Conclusion Meal timing is important in human health, genetics, and life expectancy. Synchronising meal times with the body's circadian rhythms optimises metabolic function, reduces chronic disease incidence, and potentially increases longevity by reducing inflammatory genes and upregulating protective ones. This altered gene expression affects the way food is metabolised and metabolic signals are acted upon by the body. Humans naturally gravitate towards eating during daytime hours, while other creatures have feeding habits that are adaptively suited to their own distinct environmental needs. It is important to consider this science and incorporate it into our schedules to receive the best outcome from an activity that we do not normally think about. Written by B. Esfandyare Related article: The chronotypes REFERENCES Meléndez-Fernández, O.H., Liu, J.A. and Nelson, R.J. (2023). Circadian Rhythms Disrupted by Light at Night and Mistimed Food Intake Alter Hormonal Rhythms and Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , [online] 24(4), p.3392. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043392 . Paoli, A., Tinsley, G., Bianco, A. and Moro, T. (2019). The Influence of Meal Frequency and Timing on Health in Humans: The Role of Fasting. Nutrients , [online] 11(4), p.719. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30925707 . Potter, G.D.M., Cade, J.E., Grant, P.J. and Hardie, L.J. (2016). Nutrition and the circadian system. British Journal of Nutrition , [online] 116(3), pp.434–442. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114516002117 . St-Onge MP, Ard J, Baskin ML, et al. Meal timing and frequency: implications for obesity prevention. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(1):7-16. Patterson RE, Sears DD. Metabolic effects of intermittent fasting. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017;37:371-393. Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ. Melatonin treatment for age-related insomnia. Endocrine. 2012;42(3):1-12. Prabhat, A., Batra, T. and Kumar, V. (2020). Effects of timed food availability on reproduction and metabolism in zebra finches: Molecular insights into homeostatic adaptation to food-restriction in diurnal vertebrates.Hormones and Behavior, 125, p.104820. Project Gallery

Unveiling the paradigm shift in cognitive impairment through machine learning Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Brain metastasis hacks brain activity and jams neuronal communication Last updated: 29/05/25, 10:46 Published: 29/05/25, 07:00 Unveiling the paradigm shift in cognitive impairment through machine learning Understanding the impact of brain metastasis on neuronal communication Introduction Researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have made a ground-breaking discovery related to brain metastasis and its impact on brain activity and neuronal communication. This finding could potentially explain why half of all patients with brain metastasis experience cognitive impairment. Understanding the influence on neural circuits The research , published in Cancer Cell, aimed to comprehend how brain metastasis affects the functionality of neuronal circuits beyond the physical mass of the tumour. The researchers conducted multidimensional modelling of brain functional analyses in the context of brain metastasis and tested various preclinical models from different primary sources and oncogenic profiles. The study was able to separate the effect on local field potential oscillatory activity from cortical and hippocampal areas. This helped researchers learn more about the different ways that brain metastasis can affect people. The authors highlighted the importance of this comprehensive approach in unravelling the complex dynamics of brain metastasis. Detecting metastases through electrical activity Through the measurement of electrical activity in the brains of mice with and without metastases, the researchers discovered distinct electrophysiological differences between the two groups. The researchers used artificial intelligence to confirm that metastases were indeed to blame for these differences. Using an automatic algorithm trained with numerous electrophysiological recordings, the researchers developed a model that could accurately identify the presence of metastases. Furthermore, the algorithm demonstrated the ability to distinguish metastases originating from different primary tumours, such as skin, lung, and breast cancer. These findings provide clear evidence of the specific impact that metastasis has on the brain's electrical activity. Paradigm shift in understanding brain metastases The study represents a significant paradigm shift in the understanding of brain metastases. Traditionally, neurological dysfunction in patients with brain metastasis was attributed solely to the physical mass effect of the tumour. However, this research indicates that changes in brain activity resulting from tumour-induced biochemical and molecular alterations also contribute to these symptoms. The implications of this paradigm shift are far-reaching and have potential implications for the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of brain metastasis. By recognising that neurological symptoms are not solely due to the physical presence of the tumour, medical professionals can explore novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Potential therapeutic targets Looking ahead, the researchers are eager to explore potential therapeutic targets that can protect the brain from cancer-induced disruptions in neuronal circuits. They aim to identify molecules involved in metastasis-induced changes in neuronal communication, intending to evaluate them as possible therapeutic targets. The researchers want to create strategies that might stop or lessen the neurological dysfunction that patients frequently experience by understanding the biochemical and molecular changes brought on by brain metastasis. This could lead to advancements in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of brain metastasis, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Conclusion The groundbreaking studies carried out by the Spanish National Research Council and the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre have shed light on how brain metastasis affects brain activity and neuronal communication. By dissociating the effects of tumour mass from changes in brain activity, the study has revealed the complex dynamics of brain metastasis and its contribution to cognitive impairment in patients. The discovery of distinct electrophysiological differences and the development of an algorithm to detect metastases offer promising opportunities for early diagnosis and personalised treatment. This paradigm shift in understanding brain metastases opens the door for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, as well as the exploration of potential therapeutic targets to protect the brain from cancer-induced disruptions. With further research, it is hopeful that advancements in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of brain metastasis will improve patient outcomes and lead to a better understanding of neurological dysfunction in these patients. Written by Sara Maria Majernikova Related articles: Cancer on the move / Cancer magnets / Latent space transformations / Uploading brain to a computer REFERENCE Sanchez-Aguilera A, Masmudi-Martín M, Navas-Olive A, Baena P, Hernández-Oliver C, Priego N, Cordón-Barris L, Alvaro-Espinosa L, García S, Martínez S et al : Machine learning identifies experimental brain metastasis subtypes based on their influence on neural circuits . Cancer Cell 2023, 41 (9):1637-1649.e1611. Project Gallery

Peruse through the current treatment discoveries for one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Learn about the factors that cause tumour growth, metastatic processes and blastomas. Cancer Articles Peruse through the current treatment discoveries for one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Learn about the factors that cause tumour growth, metastatic processes and blastomas. You may also like: Biology, Medicine Arginine and tumour growth Another breakthrough in cancer research Unveiling the cancer magnet Stem cells in vertebral bones can act like cancer magnets for spinal tumour metastasis Brain metastasis in cognitive impairment Researchers used machine learning to investigate this Novel neuroblastoma driver Uncovering the role of IGF2BP1 in neuroblastoma and its potential as a therapeutic target Previous

In particular the novel zeolitic 2-methylimidazole framework (ZIF-8) MOF has received attention for drug delivery. ZIF-8 is composed of Zn2+ ions and 2-methylimidazole ligands, making a highly crystalline structure. ZIF-8 MOFs are able to deliver  cancer drugs like doxorubicin to tumorous environments as it possesses a pH-sensitive degradation property. ZIF-8’s framework will only degrade in pH 5.0-5.5 which is a cancerous pH environment, and will not degrade in normal human body pH 7.4 Go back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link How metal organic frameworks are used to deliver cancer drugs in the body Last updated: 14/11/24 Published: 20/04/23 Metal ions and organic ligands are able to connect to form metallic organic frameworks on a nanoscale (Nano-MOFs) for cancer drug delivery. Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are promising nanocarriers for the encapsulation of cancer drugs for drug delivery in the body. Cancer affects people globally with chemotherapy remaining the most frequent treatment approach. However, chemotherapy is non-specific, being cytotoxic to patients’ normal DNA cells causing severe side effects. Nanoscale Metal Organic Frameworks (Nano-MOFs) are highly effective for encapsulating cancer drugs for controlled drug delivery, acting as capsules that deliver cancer drugs to only tumorous environments. MOFs are composed of metal ions linked by organic ligands creating a permanent porous network. MOFs are able to form one-, two-, or three-dimensional structures building a coordination network with cross-links. When synthesized MOFs are crystalline compound and can sometimes be observed as a cubic structure when observed on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image. In particular the novel zeolitic 2-methylimidazole framework (ZIF-8) MOF has received attention for drug delivery. ZIF-8 is composed of Zn2+ ions and 2-methylimidazole ligands, making a highly crystalline structure. ZIF-8 MOFs are able to deliver cancer drugs like doxorubicin to tumorous environments as it possesses a pH-sensitive degradation property. ZIF-8’s framework will only degrade in pH 5.0-5.5 which is a cancerous pH environment, and will not degrade in normal human body pH 7.4 conditions. This increases therapeutic efficacy for the patients having less systemic side effects, an aspect that nanomedicine has been extensively researching. As chemotherapy will damage health DNA cells as well as cancer cells, MOFs will only target cancer cells. Additionally the ZIF-8 MOF has a high porosity property due to the MOFs structures that is able to uptake doxorubicin successfully. Zn2+ is used in the medical field having a low toxicity and good biocompatibility. Overall MOFs and metal-organic molecules are important for the advancement of nanotechnology and nanomedicine. MOFs are highly beneficial for cancer research being a less toxic treatment method for patients. ZIF-8 MOFs are a way forward for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that research treatments that are more tolerable for patients. Such research shows the diversity of chemistry as the uses of metals and organic molecules are able to expand to medicine. Written by Alice Davey Related article: Anti-cancer metal compounds

When deciding on the treatment of diseases, experts must gain as much relevant information as they can about that disease, before acting on an informed decision. When cancer is suspected, it might be that the decision for future treatment and prognosis be heavily weighted on the results of biopsies Go back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Cancer biomarker and evolution Last updated: 27/02/25 Published: 30/01/23 Development of Novel Biomarkers by Studying Cancer Evolution What does cancer evolution mean to cancer diagnosis and prognosis? How does studying it provide a better outlook on cancer precision medicine? =================== When deciding on the treatment of diseases, experts must gain as much relevant information as they can about that disease, before acting on an informed decision. When cancer is suspected, it might be that the decision for future treatment and prognosis be heavily weighted on the results of biopsies. After all, this is the standard for diagnosing many cancers. It takes one needle to take “information” that is used to predict patients’ outcomes and their respective treatment options, in other words, a test that might just predict their future. Cancer is an evolving disease. There have been many studies over the decades that demonstrate solid cancers’ singular-cell origins. Other studies show how cancer may evolve from a single cell to a mass of cells through Darwinian or branched evolution. This also implies that many things that apply to other evolutionary phenomena also apply to evolving cancer lines: mutation, genetic drift, selection and their selection pressures. In the end, what originated from one cell turns out to be a tumour with a unique genetic landscape, made up of numerous cancer subpopulations, each with its own unique genotypic and phenotypic profile and each of these subpopulations of cancerous cells evolving on its own. This phenomenon is more commonly referred to as intratumor heterogeneity (ITH). What all of this means to biopsies, is that when a single-site needle biopsy is done, it might not give an accurate representation of the whole tumour. The tumour itself, depending on its stage of development may be quite uniform with minimal ITH, however, it may also, in the eyes of a geneticist, look like a mosaic with multiple different “populations” of cancerous cells. Say, for example, the biopsy is aimed to target certain biomarkers (e.g. single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) or other “landmarks” such as satellites, the biopsy will only view whatever the needle so happened to have sampled. In other words, sampling could have made it look like a mosaic is red, even though the majority of the mosaic at the time is blue, but it seemed red for we only found red during the biopsy. Additionally, this mosaic is changing, new colours may emerge just like new lines arise within the same tumour. ITH introduces what is known as sampling bias, where samples taken from biopsies only provide an overview or snapshot of the tumour at its state and only pick up on one piece of the actively evolving puzzle, potentially missing many details, in this case, biomarkers from other tumour subpopulations. To solve the issues of ITH, scientists participating in the TRACERx research consortium are employing unique methods to sample tumours in an approach to cancer evolution. The research involved using multiregional sampling and RNA sequencing to sample tumours from patients with non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) at different timestamps, i.e. during the various stages of cancer development, metastasis and relapse. By using this approach, the team managed to document better how cancer evolves and how the genomic landscape and tumour architecture changes over time. Furthermore, they succeeded in honing genes that are uniformly conserved and expressed throughout the tumour, even after the effects of ITH. The research looked over 20,000 expressed genes and found 1,080 genes that despite cancer evolution and ITH, are relatively conserved and clonally expressed, relatively unaffected by sampling bias. Furthermore, using machine learning, 23 genes (from the 1,080) were found to be predictive of patient outcomes. Meaning, this novel set of genes or “biomarkers” may be used as a basis for prognosis and to predict mortality in NSCLC. This novel biomarker is named ORACLE or Outcome Risk Associated Clonal Lung Expression signature and scientists are hopeful that it may be used to determine the relative aggressiveness of lung cancers, whilst maintaining a robust function unaffected by ITH. By targeting ORACLE, it mattered less where the biopsy needle is placed on the tumour, as these genes are found clonally. In terms of its effectiveness, a trial shows that having high scores of ORACLE signatures is associated with an increased risk of death within five years of diagnosis. In addition, other trials show that by targeting ORACLE, scientists were able to identify patients with a substantial risk of poor clinical outcomes. Overall, research on the application of ORACLE has shown satisfactory results in predicting patient outcomes and is found to be relatively resistant to the confounding effects of ITH. In summary, we have seen what cancer evolution may cause, and how it shadows the effectiveness of conventional biopsies and biomarkers due to sampling bias in ITH. We also find the research by the TRACERx Consortium and how they aim to study the effects of cancer evolution and ITH, finding a set of genes that are found and expressed throughout the tumour, yet still provide a favourable measure to patient outcomes. Whilst these topics are still under active research, it is clear, how studying cancer evolution and changing the approach to biopsies and biomarker designs can improve the overall quality of diagnosis and cancer prognosis. After all, finding what is wrong is as important as fixing the problem. We hope that similar biomarkers may be developed in the future, applicable to many other types of cancers. Written by Stephanus Steven Related articles: Thyroid cancer / Arginine and tumour growth / NGAL- a marker for kidney damage REFERENCES Biswas, D. et al. (2019) “A clonal expression biomarker associates with lung cancer mortality,” Nature Medicine, 25(10), pp. 1540–1548. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-019-0595-z. Header image: Lung cancer cells. Anne Weston, Francis Crick Institute. Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)