Author: Rubayat M.

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New Blood Tests Detects Many Types of Cancer

Posted on by Rubayat M.

Earlier detection is key to reducing cancer deaths. Scientists are reporting progress on a blood test to detect many types of cancer at an early stage, including some of the most deadly ones that lack screening tools now. Johns Hopkins University is conducting the research.

Johns Hopkins University Research

The blood tests called CancerSEEK conducted on 1,005 patients. It detects mutations in 16 genes tied to cancer and measures eight proteins that often are elevated when cancer is present. It covers breast, colon and lung and five kinds that don’t have screening tests for people at average risk: ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic and esophageal.

One of the study co-author Nickolas Papadopoulos express his excitment – ‘We’re very, very excited and see this as a first step’.

CellMax Life Research

Also this week, Taiwan-based CellMax Life gave results on its liquid biopsy test, which looks for whole tumour cells shed into blood. The company said its test had an overall accuracy of 84 to 88 per cent for detecting cancer or precancerous growths and a false alarm rate around 3 per cent. The test is sold now in Taiwan for $500, but should cost around $150 in the U.S.

Great Start

Chief medical officer of the oncology society Dr. Richard Schilsky said results are encouraging, but the test needs more study, especially to see if it gives too many false alarms. It’s a start and we still have a long way to go – but it is a great start.

Writer – Rubayat M.

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2017 Year End Review

Posted on by Rubayat M.

Another year just gone from our life. Very soon we are going to welcome 2018. So what we human has achieved or done and experienced in 2017? This is a brief summary –

Information Technology

2017 was the year of cyber attack. Few major attack shock the world. Here are few of them-

May 2017 a massive cyber-attack other wise known as the Ransomware has been infected computer systems in 99 countries. Countries are UK, US, China, Russia, Spain, Italy and Taiwan. So far more then 74,000 computer system has been identified as infected.

June 2017 another attack took place in. The attack was originated in Ukraine.A tax accounting software company named M.E.Doc become the initial victim. Then ransomware spread to at least 64 countries. Though Ukraine seems to have been particularly badly hit this time round.

Nasa and Aerospace

AI and New Planets
A new planet Kepler-90i was found using artificial intelligence. Google,s  AI used  NASA,s data to identify planets.

Cassini Spacecraft ends Its Mission
On Sept. 15, 2017 NASA’s Cassini spacecraft made a fateful plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn,
ending its 13-year tour of the ringed planet.

 

Automobile and Other Industries

XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator
Supersonic jumbo jet  is designed to travel at up to 2,333kph. From London to New York under three and a half hours with up to 45 passengers .

Tesla’s Semi Truck
At mid November Electric carmaker Tesla unveiled a sleek electric semi truck with semi- autonomous capabilities.500 miles of range and more aerodynamic than a supercar. The semi is a fully electric Class 8 truck, a category of freight vehicles that weigh more than 33,000 pounds, including tractor-trailer rigs that form the backbone of commercial road freight.

 

Health and Science

Human Head Transplants
Sergio Canavero , an Italian neurosurgeon, intends to attempt the first human head transplant by
2017, though no successful animal transplants with long-term survival have yet been made. Canavero
says all the technology he needs is available, and estimates the procedure will take about 36 hours
and require the services of 150 medical professionals. He expects a 90% chance of success, as in a
90% chance the patient is up and walking around a few months after the surgery.

Synthetic Hormones for your Heart
It’s a synthetic version of the hormone relaxin, which is produced by pregnant women to help with
the increased stress carrying a fetus places on the heart.

Heart in a Box: Warm Blood Perfusion System
Surgeons in the United States have preserved organs in a cold solution and transported in coolers to
the the receiving patient in need.  But this process can cause damage to the heart and in some cases
render it unusable. Warm perfusioncan keep hearts beating and lungs “breathing” while allowing
doctors to assess and treat organs to make them last longer.

Major Outbreaks in different Countries
United Arab Emirates – Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
France – Outbreak of Salmonella Agona infections linked to internationally distributed infant formula.
Nigeria – Yellow fever
Yemen – Diphtheria
Nigeria – Monkeypox

Nobel Prize in Medicine
Three Americans Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash (Brandeis University in Massachusetts) and Michael W. Young (Rockefeller University in New York) won a Nobel Prize in the field of medicine. They discovered key genetic reason for the body’s 24-hour biological clock, also known as “circadian rhythm”.


Noteable Deaths

Astronaut Eugene Cernan, commander of Apollo 17 and the last man to walk on the moon, died Jan. 16, 2017.
Thomas Starzl who is also known as “the father of modern transplantation” died on March 4, 2017.He was 90 years old.

Writer – Rubayat M.

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US Military Created Mind Control Chip

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Mind Control Chip

US military has been working on artificial intelligence for some times now.  Recently they have developed a chip that will be implanted to human brain and will be will use to change a person’s mood ! It is in testing stage now. If successful, then this chip can be use to treat number of mental health conditions. Which is awesome!

One good thing – researchers won’t be able to read people’s minds with this chip (yet).

The Developers

The chip is the work of DARPA or Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency a section of US’s Department of Defense. Whose main work is to develops new technology for the military. Two other American university University of California (UC) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) also has been working with DARPA in this project. Together they have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that will detect the pattern of mood.

How it works

This technology has been tested on people who has epilepsy. These people already have electrodes implanted in their brains that track their seizures. This chip has been incorporated with that implant. The chip’s AI algorithm will then monitor the brain activity for one to three weeks. That gives data to create an algorithm to understand the moods pattern.

Once the AI algorithm understand the pattern – it can then detect the normal and abnormal pattern. So when abnormal pattern is detected – the CHIP can give a shock to the patient’s brain and bring it back to a normal pattern automatically.

The study data gives enough information to the researcher – that they can even shock the regions of the brain that deals with decision making and emotions. Result – test subjects take the right decision for a particular tusk.

Who are the test subjects

This technology has been tested on people who have epilepsy, as epilepsy cause very bad seizure.

Problems

Through these AI chip and electrodes, the researchers can track what is happening in the brain. They can also  use the chips to stimulate a brain. And that create the first problem. This AI chip gives the researcher the ability to stimulate the brain’s “specific” region to do a “specific” tusk. This can be defines as the first steps towards mind
control.

And the following bad thing can be done using these technology-

  • Using this AI chip – military can create mindless soldier who will do anything without thinking.
  • Bad politicians can “program” the chip to control the mass population. So people will always have a warm
    feeling when the politician appears on television or in public. Result bad politician will be able to do anything they want.

Conclusion

This technology has open a window on the brain that will help the researcher to understand what is happening inthe brain when someone relapses. It will help “fix” many many brain functionality related disorder.  The possibility is endless – if this technology is used properly.

Rubayat M.

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Drug with a sensor that alerts doctors when the medication has been taken

Posted on by Rubayat M.
AbilifyMyCite

November 13, 2017 FDA ( Food and Drug Administration) has approved a new pill  called Abilify MyCite. This is pill
is use for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for use as an add-on treatment for depression in adults. Abilify MyCite has a sensor that digitally tracks if patients have ingested their medication or not.  This is a new way of monitoring patients  but is also has privacy concerns.

How it works

Pill’s digital sensor that is activated by stomach fluids send a  message to a wearable patch. The patch transmits the information to a mobile application.Patients then can track the ingestion of the medication on their smart phone. With patients permission their caregivers or physician can access the
information through a web-based portal.

Importance

The technology will  help prevent dangerous emergencies that can occur when patients skip their medication. According to Mitchell Mathis, M.D (director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) “Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be useful for some patients”. About 1 percent of Americans have schizophrenia and disabling brain disorder.  This  technology might benefit some patients and prescribers.

This is a new way of monitoring patients  but is also has privacy concerns. What  if there are breaches of medical data and patient’s personal health record was published in public portal.  There are so many other “unknown privacy concern” at this point. Medical professional need to be careful before they prescribed this pill.

Writer – Rubayat M.

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60 Years Ago From Today Sputnik 1 Was Launched and Opened the Space Era

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Sputnik 1 earth’s first artificial satellite

On Oct. 4, 1957, earth’s first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 successfully launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) and entered Earth’s orbit. IT was launched by former Soviet Union (USSR) but it was also a big achievement for the whole human race as it  began the space age. The word ‘Sputnik’ originally meant ‘fellow traveler’.

Launch of Sputnik 1 became a major triumph for the Soviet Union and also stunned the rest of the world. Details of the development and the launch of Sputnik 1 was hidden from the general public. Decades later the information was made public.

Even though the satellite itself wasn’t equipped with sensors but provided scientists with valuable information. Sputnik 1 remained in orbit until January. 4, 1958, when it re-entered and burned up in Earth’s atmosphere.

Writer – Rubayat M.

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Nobel Prize in Medicine Goes to 3 Americans for Body Clock Studies

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Three Americans doctors wins Nobel prize in medicine

Monday October 2, 2017 three Americans Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash (Brandeis University in Massachusetts) and Michael W. Young (Rockefeller University in New York) won a Nobel Prize in the field of medicine. They discovered key genetic reason for the body’s 24-hour biological clock, also known as “circadian rhythm”. Which we
commonly called “jet lag”.

What is circadian rhythm

Circadian rhythm is a 24 hour(roughly) cycle in the physiological processes of living beings (human, animal, plants even cyanobacteria). It  determining the sleeping and feeding patterns. There are other biological activities like – brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration also happen during the process.

Human Brain & Hypothalamus

Human Brain & Hypothalamus

How it controlled ?

There is a “master control” (inside the brain) that coordinates the whole thing. A group of nerve cells known as “suprachiasmatic nucleus” or “SCN” inside the hypothalamus control the activities. Suprachiasmatic nucleus contain only 20,000 nerve cells! Circadian rhythm controls when you need to go to bathroom at a particular time of
day or feel sleepy on a certain time.

 

Their contribution

These doctors ware able to look inside and discover the detail of the whole inner working process. Because of this doctors now are able to understand better about a patient’s condition. For example doctors have discovered a genetic mutation in some people who have a chronic sleeping problem.

 

 Writer – Rubayat M.

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Hacking-Ransomware Attack of 27 June 2017

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Ransom-Message-27-June-2017

A new global cyber attack took place in 27 June, 2017. The attack was originated in Ukraine.A tax accounting software company named M.E.Doc become the initial victim. Then ransomware spread to at least 64 countries. Though Ukraine seems to have been particularly badly hit this time round.

Ransom Message

The computers affected by the attack showed a message of red text on a black screen: “Oops, your important files have been encrypted. If you see this text then your files are no longer accessible because they have been encrypted. Perhaps you are busy looking to recover your files but don’t waste your time.”

List of Affected Business

Aircraft manufacturer Antonov, and two postal services
Rosneft (Russia’s biggest oil producer)
Danish shipping company Maersk
Pennsylvania hospital operator (Heritage Valley Health System)
Mondelez (Spanish food giant)
TNT (Netherlands-based shipping company)
St Gobain (French construction materials company)
Merck (Pharmaceutical Company)

Companies are paying. A bitcoin wallet associated with the outbreak has received several payments since the outbreak began.

Author – Rubayat M.

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Computer Hacking Scam Spearphishing

Posted on by Rubayat M.
Computer Scam

Recently we have witnessed some extremely high profile and dangerous cyber attack. High profile – because these attack happen simultaneously in few countries. I am talking about the cyber attack that took place in UK and other European countries in May 20, 2017.

An attack like this shows us, what happen to people and their life, when some of the lifesaving system become un-accessible. It teach us, we need to be vigilant when we are online.

So how these attack took place ? Answer is – in many ways. But I am going to talk about a specific kind of attack that can happen against anyone. It’s called “Spearphishing”

 

What is Spearphishing ?

Bad Guy in Dark

Spear Phishing is a scam. An attacker will send an email to you, disguise as a friend or a business and collect your information. Attacker then use those information and steal money from you.

 

 

 

Search in faceboook

How Phishers Select You ?

One of the common place is Facebook. Most people  like to share every detail of their life. Phisars collect these information from their  Facebook account. So they know your name, your contact email, phone, address and a good understanding about your personality.

 

How Spear phishing Attack Happen ?

I am going to use an example to describe this. Let say you bought an expensive lens for your Nikon digital camera. And posted this in Facebook. Phisars learn about this. Then they start their attack.

Step 1: After your buy the lens, few days later your received an email. Now this email came from your Credit card company and they are saying their have some error happen and your card has been charged few times and they need to rectify the issue.

Step 2: They are also saying they have included a link with the email. And you need to click the link and answer few security question. Then the credit card can start fixing the multiple charge issue.

Step 3:  You – who is now worried about your money, will click the link to fix the problem.

Step 4: The moment click the link, it will take you to a friendly looking website where the phisars already included some malicious code. The code will give the attacker direct control of your computer and your would not even know about it.

Step 5: As the phisars have control over your system, they can now collect any information they want and use them to steal money from you.

Now this is just an example. But actual like this happen on a regular basis. A big example of phishing attack was the September 2015’s Democratic National Committee’s cyber attack Attack.

 

 

Knowledge & Awareness

Protection Against Spearphishing

There is no actual protection against Spear phishing. Staying alert is the only defense.

 

Writer – Rubayat M.

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Massive Ransomware Attack Hits Computers in 99 Countries

Posted on by Rubayat M.
NHH-Ransomeware-Lock-Screen

A massive cyber-attack other wise known as the Ransomware has been infected computer systems in 99 countries. Countries are UK, US, China, Russia, Spain, Italy and Taiwan. So far more then 74,000 computer system has been identified as infected.

This is Huge

UK : The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has been hit. Some hospitals and doctor’s have been unable to access patient data. Some surgeries has been cancelled.

Russia : Reports confirmed Russia had seen more infections than any other country. In
Germany: Some local railway ticket system is down.

Spain : Communication(Telefonica), utility (Iberdrola, Gas Natural).

Portugal : Communication(Portugal Telecom).

Other Companies : FedEx.

Attack Tools and Who is Behind the Attack

At this point it is not sure who is behind this attack.) Attack tools known as WannaCry believed to have been developed by the NSA (National Security Agency of US) has struck organizations around the world.

Our Ransomware Posts

http://www.linkmeshin.com/blog/home/ransomware-what-is-it-why-it-matters-what-is-the-next-level-how-to-get-protection/

http://www.linkmeshin.com/blog/home/mobile-malware-gooligan-infected-millions-of-devices-and-google-accounts/

http://www.linkmeshin.com/blog/home/beware-of-godless-mobile-malware/

http://www.linkmeshin.com/blog/home/carleton-university-of-canada-is-the-latest-victim-of-hacking-attack/

Writer – Rubayat M.

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Secret US Air Force Plane Conduct Classified Mission in Outer Space for Two Years

Posted on by Rubayat M.
X-37B US Air Force Space Plane

The U.S. military’s secret space plane X-37B landed on Sunday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The plane went to outer space on May 2015 and conduct classified mission that lasted nearly two years. It was the fourth and lengthiest mission so far for the secretive program, managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

Air force did not disclose any detail about the mission.

X-37B built by Boeing is one of two in the Air Force fleet. The space craft looks like a miniature space shuttle, Later this year. The Air Force intends to launch the fifth X-37B mission.

Writer – Rubayat M.