Who has a better intelligence operation, Israel or the US?
Why does the US have to tell Israel not to worry about Iran; for now?
I don't like this.
``To block Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the United States and the European Union recently imposed harsh economic sanctions aimed at choking off Iran’s energy supplies and prohibiting foreign banks from doing business with financial institutions inside the country. ''
From NYT.
Doesn't Iran have access to other sources of money? Here is Mexico Chapo Guzmán is reported by Forbes Magazine to own one billion dollars. Not a single penny goes to the Mexican government as taxes.
How much can Iran get from foreign banks?
Fidel got me going.
I do not like conspiracy thinking, because I am not part of the conspiracy; that is basically the same reason I do not want to argue about God, the guy refuses to talk to me.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Fidel Castro and Bilderberg
Fidel Castro just turned 84 this month. In the Cuban Granma Newspaper he goes on today on a presentation of his present favorite book:Daniel Estulin's``The Secrets of the Bilderberg Club.''
What is going on?
I invite you to reason. Do not follow conspiracy theories, even if somebody like Fidel tries to convince you. Use your own head.
Recently he published his ideas about Mexico. He supports AMLO, and I do too, but after today reading his piece in Granma, I'm starting to doubt the soundness of his opinions. BTW the US is reported today to have told the Israelis not to worry. Iran is not ready. Read it in the NYT. Fidel has been saying that Israel and the US are ready to use nuclear weapons.
Reality is starting to look like a dream. Is this a new stage of humanity? Virtual Life.
What is going on?
I invite you to reason. Do not follow conspiracy theories, even if somebody like Fidel tries to convince you. Use your own head.
Recently he published his ideas about Mexico. He supports AMLO, and I do too, but after today reading his piece in Granma, I'm starting to doubt the soundness of his opinions. BTW the US is reported today to have told the Israelis not to worry. Iran is not ready. Read it in the NYT. Fidel has been saying that Israel and the US are ready to use nuclear weapons.
Reality is starting to look like a dream. Is this a new stage of humanity? Virtual Life.
Chlorophyll f
``Blankenship sees applications for biotechnology as well. "If this chlorophyll could be put into a plant and function properly, then it would be able to utilize some additional light energy that no plant now can use," he wrote via e-mail. "This has the potential to increase the efficiency of photosynthesis, as before energy storage can take place, the light has to be absorbed. Any wavelengths of light that are not absorbed are lost forever. A typical plant absorbs most of the sunlight in the visible region (400–700 nm) but very little beyond 700 nm [which marks the border between red and infrared light]. The visible region accounts for about half of the solar output energy. By pushing the absorption into longer wavelengths, an additional 10 percent or so of the solar output is potentially useable."''
From Sciam.
No Doubt
``Most experts are still cautioning against tying any specific event directly to emissions of greenhouse gases. But scientists at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva say there's no doubt that higher Atlantic Ocean temperatures contributed to the disaster begun late last month.''
``"The connecting factor is that clearly the warming is a driver for all these events."''
Taken from Sciam.
Also the same temperature change produced smoke clouds in Moscow.
Here in Chilpancingo, it stopped raining a bit. A few cars on the beaches of Acapulco, but, who cares, right? The road from Tlapa to Cuajinicualapa is not in good shape, but who cares, right?
Actually Guerrerenses are good at adaptation. A friend told me of a man that tied his car, and when the water receded, the car was still there!
That is the spirit!
``"The connecting factor is that clearly the warming is a driver for all these events."''
Taken from Sciam.
Also the same temperature change produced smoke clouds in Moscow.
Here in Chilpancingo, it stopped raining a bit. A few cars on the beaches of Acapulco, but, who cares, right? The road from Tlapa to Cuajinicualapa is not in good shape, but who cares, right?
Actually Guerrerenses are good at adaptation. A friend told me of a man that tied his car, and when the water receded, the car was still there!
That is the spirit!
Revolution of the Stomach
From the NYT today.
``For months and even years, the people of the Indus Valley will not have sufficient income for food or clothing. They will rebuild, if they can afford it, by inches. The corrupt and impoverished Pakistani government cannot possibly make these people’s lives whole again. It’s not hard to imagine the potential for radicalization in a country already rapidly turning to extremist political views, to envision the anarchy that may be unleashed if wealthier nations do not find a way to provide sufficient relief. This is not a problem that will go away, and it is the entire world’s problem. It is said, the most violent revolutions are the revolutions of the stomach.''
I do not like this a bit.
War on Drugs in Mexico on Democracy Now!
DN! today addresses the War on Drugs in Mexico. Tourism is affected, now the Mexicana airlines company is in big trouble and has suspended flights.
This is heavy!
This is heavy!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Serendipity
``A clue for the source of energy for EZ buildup came after having inadvertently left the experimental chamber on the microscope stage overnight. The EZ size had diminished overnight; but after turning on the microscope lamp to full intensity, the EZ size began to increase, restoring itself within minutes to its former size, ∼300 μm. With preliminary evidence that light could expand the EZ, we investigated systematically whether the energetic source for EZ buildup might indeed be radiant energy.''
Taken from J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 13953–13958
Prof. Pollack discovered by accident that light provided the energy to separate charges in water at a hydrophilic surface.
Amazing! The maximum is around 3 $\mu$m.
Biology in Russia and in the West
Lysenko comes to mind. He knew how to talk to Stalin, and disrupted the regular development of Biology there.
On the other hand, the mathematics and physics schools were not hindered that much. For mathematics it seems that Kolmogorov was able to keep a working community inside the ideological strictures of the communists.
Be it as it may, Theoretical Biology, by that I mean mathematical and physical biology, did better than in some parts of the West. I am thinking of Alexei Finkelstein and Protein Physics, which led to Protein Design.
Gilbert N. Ling seems to have had a better reception over there. Maybe his ideas were too matehmatical for the average American Biologist.
Just wandering.
On the other hand, the mathematics and physics schools were not hindered that much. For mathematics it seems that Kolmogorov was able to keep a working community inside the ideological strictures of the communists.
Be it as it may, Theoretical Biology, by that I mean mathematical and physical biology, did better than in some parts of the West. I am thinking of Alexei Finkelstein and Protein Physics, which led to Protein Design.
Gilbert N. Ling seems to have had a better reception over there. Maybe his ideas were too matehmatical for the average American Biologist.
Just wandering.
Cytosol
This object is described in Wikipedia.
What is interesting about the water inside the living cell, is that it may be in a state of water that is not known by most people. You can learn about it in the lecture given by Prof. Pollack, here.
What is interesting about the water inside the living cell, is that it may be in a state of water that is not known by most people. You can learn about it in the lecture given by Prof. Pollack, here.
Foreword to Irwin Stone Book
``by Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, M.D., Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate
My own interest in ascorbic acid centered around its role in vegetable respiration and defense mechanisms. All the same, I always had the feeling that not enough use was made of it for supporting human health. The reasons were rather complex. The medical profession itself took a very narrow and wrong view. Lack of ascorbic acid caused scurvy, so if there was no scurvy there was no lack of ascorbic acid. Nothing could be clearer than this. The only trouble was that scurvy is not a first symptom of lack but a final collapse, a premortal syndrome, and there is a very wide gap between scurvy and full health. But nobody knows what full health is! This could be found out by wide statistical studies, but there is no organization which could and would arrange such studies. Our society spends billions or trillions on killing and destruction but lacks the relatively modest means demanded to keep its own health and prime interest cared for. Full health, in my opinion, is the condition in which we feel best and show the greatest resistance to disease. This leads us into statistics which demand organization.But there was also another, more individual difficulty. If you do not have sufficient vitamins and get a cold, and as a sequence pneumonia, your diagnosis will not be "lack of ascorbic acid" but "pneumonia." So you are waylaid immediately.
I think that mankind owes serious thanks to Irwin Stone for having kept the problem alive and having called Linus Pauling's attention to it.
On my last visit to Sweden, I was told that the final evidence has been found that ascorbic acid is quite harmless. An insane person had the fixed idea that he needed ascorbic acid so he swallowed incredible amounts of it for a considerable period without ill effects. So, apart from very specific conditions, ascorbic acid cannot hurt you. It does not hurt your pocket either, since it is very cheap. It is used for spraying trees.
I also fully agree with Dr. Pauling's contention that individual needs for vitamin C vary within wide limits. Some may need high doses, others may be able to get along with less, but the trouble is that you do not know to which group you belong. The symptoms of lack may be very different. I remember my correspondence with a teacher in my earlier days who told me that he had an antisocial boy whom he was unable to deal with. He gave him ascorbic acid and the boy became one of his most easygoing, obedient pupils. Nor does wealth and rich food necessarily protect against lack of vitamins. I remember my contact with one of the wealthiest royal families of Europe where the young prince had constant temperature and had poor health. On administering vitamin C, the condition readily cleared up.
It gives me great satisfaction to see this book appear and I hope very much that its message will be understood.
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi''
Taken from John T. A. Ely at the University of Washington. Googling Ely, I get the impression that he is also an alternative kind of scientist.
Oh well, if it works, it works, right?
Oh well, if it works, it works, right?
Ascorbic Acid
``Free oxygen, 02, is a strong electron acceptor and so its appearance in the $\beta$ period opened the way to a higher degree of electronic desaturation, and to the corresponding higher degree of differentiation and development. If nature develops a new method, as a rule, she does not throw the old one out, but simply adds the new one to it, improving it. So, in the $\beta$ period, methylglyoxal was not replaced by 02, but the 02 was added to it, boosting up its acceptor strength.
However, oxygen does not interact with protein, nor does it interact with methylglyoxal. So in order for it to be used as an acceptor for protein, a link had to be developed by which the oxygen could be linked to methylglyoxal, transferring to it part of its acceptor power. This link had to have very specific qualities: it had to be able to make a bond simultaneously both with oxygen and methylglyoxal and had to have an electronic mobility by which it could transfer the acceptor strength of 02 to the ketoaldehyde. This new substance, which nature developed when light and oxygen appeared, is ascorbic acid, discovered by me in the early thirties. Later it was found to have an antiscorbutic activity, and to be identical with the then unknown antiscorbutic component of fresh vegetables called ‘Vitamin C’.
In a remarkably short time the chemical nature of ascorbic acid was cleared up and the substance became available at low cost in crystalline condition in an unlimited quantity. But while we have learned everything worth knowing about its chemistry, its biological function remained unknown, preventing medicine from making full use of its remarkable reactivity. We can control only what we understand. Even a simple question, such as the magnitude of the recommended daily dose, has remained unsettled, oscillating between megadoses and a few milligrams.
The development of ascorbic acid is one of the landmarks of evolution, as was the appearance of light and oxygen. That ascorbic acid readily interacts with oxygen can be shown by placing a sample of its Na salt into the e.s.r. spectrometer in the absence of oxygen. On admission of air the typical free radical signal appears, consisting of a doublet with a splitting of 1.75 gauss. Each part of the doublet has a further triplet splitting of 0.175 gauss.
That ascorbic acid can readily interact with methylglyoxal has been shown by Fodor, who will describe his observations later in this symposium (Fodor ei at., pp. 165-169).
The great mobility of the unpaired electron inside the ascorbate radical can be demonstrated by e.s.r. which shows that this electron can interact with many of the protons of ascorbate.
Also, the spectrometer gives valuable information about the interaction of oxygen, ascorbate and methylglyoxal, which information has hitherto been utilized only to a small extent. If methylamine and methylglyoxal solutions are mixed a very strong signal appears with a rich hyperfine structure. In the presence of ascorbate the signal is much stronger, showing that the ascorbate catalyses charge transfer, without changing the character. If casein is treated with methylglyoxal in the presence of ascorbate, a new signal appears (P.C.R. Gascoyne, personal communication), indicating that the ascorbate is built into the charge transfer complex-an observation which may have far reaching biological consequences and introduces new viewpoints into the medical use of the acid.
Most fascinating and complex spectroscopic reactions have been found by my colleague Jane McLaughlin (unpublished results). If both cuvettes of the spectrophotometer contained a mixture of a 0.0256M solution of methylglyoxal and methylamine (0.077M), and 0.0077M-ascorbic acid was added, a very strong absorption appeared around 400 nm, which disappeared slowly (Fig. 8). A second peak appeared around 500 nm. In the absence of oxygen the addition of ascorbic acid made no difference, showing that it catalysed the charge transfer between 02 and methylglyoxal. If no ascorbate was present, admission of oxygen to the mixture of methylglyoxal and methylamine inhibited the appearance of the absorption spectrum.
Oxygen, essentially, brings the life-giving light into the living system. Ascorbic acid catalyses this reaction. It is involved in bringing matter to life. This opens up new aspects of the medical application of ascorbic acid.
The actual role played by oxygen in these reactions is yet unknown and demands more study on the basic level. It is possible that the 02 molecule simply takes an electron over and dissociates off, but it seems more likely to me that it takes over only parts of an electron and remains attached to the charge transfer complex. If, in this ease, the oxygen pressure is decreased, the oxygen may dissociate off, upsetting the electron balance in the whole charge transfer mechanism. This may explain why consciousness instantaneously fades out if the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off. This suggests also that in the comatose state after a heart attack the infusion of ascorbic acid and artificial respiration might be indicated.
''
Taken from Szent-Györgyi.
Amazing man. I knew about Linus Pauling, but not about this scientist; I guess they were friends. Yes they were ``The Healing Factor.''
Cancer
Both Szent-Györgyi and Ling have addressed Cancer. I remember a lecture at UCSB, when a speaker told us that Cancer has been with us since the beginning of life. Recently I read that other animals like lizards, can regenerate lost body parts, and that humans lost that ability likely because we live longer and have to fight the danger of Cancer.
My mother died of Cancer, one brother thinks that it came about because she had diabetes for a long time, and the only part of her body that could take injections repeatedly was her tummy. Cells there had to regenerate themselves over and over again, until one day they went berserk.
My guess is then that all cells live in constant danger of growing too much.
In a sense we could say that we became Earth's Cancer. A disproportionate fraction of organic material is becoming part of us, at the expense of healthy life growth.
Maybe that is why Szent-Györgyi and Ling have not succeeded in vanquishing Cancer. That scourge will go away only when humanity reaches wisdom.
Just saying.
Albert Szent-Györgyi
``What is tife? This is the main probtem of biology. Many have asked this question, but nobody has answered it. Science is based on the experience that nature answers intelligent questions intelligently, so if she is silent there may be something wrong about the question. The question is wrong because life, as such, does not exist. What we can see is material systems which have this wonderful quality of being alive. What is this quality? This is the problem. It must be a very fundamental quality because it allows us to divide the whole surrounding world into two parts: ‘animate’ and ‘inanimate’, alive and not-alive. The division is sharp and unequivocal, which suggests that the living state is a special physicochemical state, a state which can be described in terms of exact sciences and has to fit into the great order of the universe, having been created by the same forces as the universe itself. We must search for an understanding and an answer to our question with a wide natural philosophical outlook and fit life into the great scheme of creation.''
``This leads us to the first rule of electrobiology: the living state is the electronically desaturated state of molecules, and the degree of development and differentiation is a function of the degree of electronic desaturation. Electronic desaturation is a central problem of biology, and so the next sections will be devoted to the chemical mechanism of this process''
``Nature is simple but subtle (P. Ehrenfest, personal communication).''
``This leads us to the first rule of electrobiology: the living state is the electronically desaturated state of molecules, and the degree of development and differentiation is a function of the degree of electronic desaturation. Electronic desaturation is a central problem of biology, and so the next sections will be devoted to the chemical mechanism of this process''
``Nature is simple but subtle (P. Ehrenfest, personal communication).''
From Profiles in Science.
Szent-Györgyi envisioned something like Gilbert N. Ling; now I understand why he gave his support to this Chinese-American genius. Paul Ehrenfest is another of my heroes. I am liking this guy.
From another paper by Szent-Györgyi:
``To conclude, we can state that according to our investigations the Schiff bases formed between methylglyoxal molecules and the primary amino groups of the lysine side chains of proteins can act as internal electron acceptors with respect to the mobile electrons of the polypeptide chain by bending back to the peptide groups. In this way, by taking out electrons from the valence band of a polypeptide chain (unpublished data), they can convert proteins from insulators to p-type semiconductors.''
This scientist was trying to prove that electron transport was part of life. I guess he did not succeed, but I do know that Prof. Douglas Scalapino at UCSB, together with Prof. Robert Schrieffer were studying organic conductors in the late 70s. In the arXiv you can find a retrospective of some of Doug's work with superconductivity, where some organic materials are mentioned also.
From another paper by Szent-Györgyi:
``To conclude, we can state that according to our investigations the Schiff bases formed between methylglyoxal molecules and the primary amino groups of the lysine side chains of proteins can act as internal electron acceptors with respect to the mobile electrons of the polypeptide chain by bending back to the peptide groups. In this way, by taking out electrons from the valence band of a polypeptide chain (unpublished data), they can convert proteins from insulators to p-type semiconductors.''
This scientist was trying to prove that electron transport was part of life. I guess he did not succeed, but I do know that Prof. Douglas Scalapino at UCSB, together with Prof. Robert Schrieffer were studying organic conductors in the late 70s. In the arXiv you can find a retrospective of some of Doug's work with superconductivity, where some organic materials are mentioned also.
Latest Article by Prof. Medveed
``Native aggregation as a cause of origin of temporary cellular structures needed for all forms of cellular activity, signaling and transformations''
``The methodological basis for the proposed hypothesis results from studies by the scientific schools of Dmitrii Nasonov [1] and Gilbert Ling [2-6], which have gained new appreciation over the last 20-30 years owing to advances in protein physics [7] in the study of properties of globular proteins, their unfolding and folding, as well as the discovery of novel states of the protein molecule: the natively unfolded and the molten globule. The key statement for the rationale of the present paper is that the specificity of interactions of polypeptide chains with each other (at the intra- and inter-molecular levels) can be provided only by their secondary structures, primarily α-helices and β-sheets.''
Taken from Theoretical Biology and Medical Modeling.
Prof. Medveed is one of a group of ``musketeers?'' behind Gilbert N. Ling's idea of Aggregation-Induction Hypothesis. He works in Russia.
One important current advance is something called Protein Physics. This was made possible by the advances in computer manufacture and programming; precisely the type of development that has Ray Kurzweil so enthralled in the possibilities of progress.
Maybe Kurzweil won't get his artificial brain; but I hope Ling gets recognition before he dies. His idea rings true to me.
The idea is of a physical process in polarized water that organizes long and complicated chemicals. If you put special substances in water like ATP, acting like ferroelectric polarizing rods, through the polarized water, they organize cell physiology. Neat.
BTW, Albert Szent-Györgyi, one of the pioneers in understanding ATP function, was a Ling supporter also. Birds of a feather, come together.
BTW, Albert Szent-Györgyi, one of the pioneers in understanding ATP function, was a Ling supporter also. Birds of a feather, come together.
PZ Myers
``Got that? You can't understand RHEB until you understand how it interacts with three other proteins, and how it fits into a complex regulatory pathway. Is that trivially deducible from the structure of the protein? No. It had to be worked out operationally, by doing experiments to modulate one protein and measure what happened to others. If you read deeper into the description, you discover that the overall effect of RHEB is to modulate cell proliferation in a tightly controlled quantitative way. You aren't going to be able to simulate a whole brain until you know precisely and in complete detail exactly how this one protein works.''
Taken from gizmodo.
I disagree, with Prof. Myers.
He can give the state of the art ideas on the problem to make a brain artificially. He is an expert in biology, I am not. Ray Kurzweil, to whom he directs his attack, is not a biologist either. He even criticizes Terry Sejnowski, for going along with some back of the envelope estimates of Kurzweil.
In my humble opinion Prof. Myers is missing the point of prognostication. I do not think, anybody: Myers, Sejnowski, or Kurzweil, can give us a blueprint on the evolution of science and technology. That is is not knowable. What I believe, Sejnowski, Kurzweil, and now I, with this note, are trying to do is guess the best estimate as to when we will have this or that, based on some informed, and in my case not so informed, opinions.
I haven't done Kurzweil's work; all I can do is to see his track record. What products he envisioned, and then produced. By this measure, he's done well for himself, he has much more money than I have, and maybe even more than Prof. Myers. I listen. Will I buy stock in Kurzweil's companies?
No.
I just read the Wikipedia piece on PZ; I like him.
He does make a prediction:
``I'll make a prediction, too. We will not be able to plug a single unknown protein sequence into a computer and have it derive a complete description of all of its functions by 2020. Conceivably, we could replace this step with a complete, experimentally derived quantitative summary of all of the functions and interactions of every protein involved in brain development and function, but I guarantee you that won't happen either. And that's just the first step in building a simulation of the human brain derived from genomic data. It gets harder from there.
I'll make one more prediction. The media will not end their infatuation with this pseudo-scientific dingbat, Kurzweil, no matter how uninformed and ridiculous his claims get.''
We'll wait to 2020; that is if we pass 2012.
He does make a prediction:
``I'll make a prediction, too. We will not be able to plug a single unknown protein sequence into a computer and have it derive a complete description of all of its functions by 2020. Conceivably, we could replace this step with a complete, experimentally derived quantitative summary of all of the functions and interactions of every protein involved in brain development and function, but I guarantee you that won't happen either. And that's just the first step in building a simulation of the human brain derived from genomic data. It gets harder from there.
I'll make one more prediction. The media will not end their infatuation with this pseudo-scientific dingbat, Kurzweil, no matter how uninformed and ridiculous his claims get.''
We'll wait to 2020; that is if we pass 2012.
Adolescence
``THE DISCOVERY OF adolescence is generally dated to 1904, with the publication of the massive study “Adolescence,” by G. Stanley Hall, a prominent psychologist and first president of the American Psychological Association. Hall attributed the new stage to social changes at the turn of the 20th century. Child-labor laws kept children under 16 out of the work force, and universal education laws kept them in secondary school, thus prolonging the period of dependence — a dependence that allowed them to address psychological tasks they might have ignored when they took on adult roles straight out of childhood. Hall, the first president of Clark University — the same place, interestingly enough, where Arnett now teaches — described adolescence as a time of “storm and stress,” filled with emotional upheaval, sorrow and rebelliousness. He cited the “curve of despondency” that “starts at 11, rises steadily and rapidly till 15 . . . then falls steadily till 23,” and described other characteristics of adolescence, including an increase in sensation seeking, greater susceptibility to media influences (which in 1904 mostly meant “flash literature” and “penny dreadfuls”) and overreliance on peer relationships. Hall’s book was flawed, but it marked the beginning of the scientific study of adolescence and helped lead to its eventual acceptance as a distinct stage with its own challenges, behaviors and biological profile. ''
I have to take care of my kids until 30, that imposes changes in my life as well.
Pakistan
``The devastation in Pakistan is likely to worsen as the monsoon rains continue. But even an end to the rains won’t end the emergency. Plans need to be made right now to ensure that next year’s crops are planted. Looming ahead is the enormous challenge of rebuilding Pakistan’s shattered bridges, roads, structures and agricultural and economic base. For now, the humanitarian needs are paramount.
In some areas, radical Islamic charities have provided shelter and hot meals well before the beleaguered authorities could bring in supplies. This is a battle for hearts and minds. It is one that Pakistan’s government, and the United States, must not lose. ''
NYT.
In Haiti Cubans were there first.
All people of good will, should try to help. In the not to distant future, I am sorry to say, I expect more, not less tragedies like this.
I have Pakistani friends and I am sad.
In some areas, radical Islamic charities have provided shelter and hot meals well before the beleaguered authorities could bring in supplies. This is a battle for hearts and minds. It is one that Pakistan’s government, and the United States, must not lose. ''
NYT.
In Haiti Cubans were there first.
All people of good will, should try to help. In the not to distant future, I am sorry to say, I expect more, not less tragedies like this.
I have Pakistani friends and I am sad.
In Amojileca with Kopani and Friends
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Ouabain
``In addition to the classical mechanism of action of ouabain, a small number of reports spanning the last 30–40 years[update] have observed that low (i.e., subnanomolar) concentrations of ouabain may sometimes stimulate the Na-K-ATPase. e.g., [2] This stimulatory effect does not appear to be mimicked by digoxin. [3] The mechanism of the stimulatory effect and its relevance to cell function is not understood.''
``Ouabain isolated from plants is widely used by scientists in in vitro studies to specifically block the sodium pump (Na-K-ATPase). In many non rodent species, low concentrations of this substance (i.e., in the subnanomolar range) may stimulate the Na-K-ATPase. The mechanism of the stimulatory effect is not understood and remains controversial. Further, the issue in rodents is more complicated because there are different isoforms of the Na-K-ATPase - some of which are very sensitive to ouabain while others are not.''
Taken from Wikipedia.
According to Ling this substance is useful to disprove the Na pump, and support his Association-Induction Hypothesis.
40 years and not understood.
I guess these problems are like math ones, which can last one hundred years (Poincaré Conjecture; now Perelman-Hamilton Theorem).
I guess that is why Dr. Ling has not given up yet, and now he has an ally; Prof. Pollack.
``Ouabain isolated from plants is widely used by scientists in in vitro studies to specifically block the sodium pump (Na-K-ATPase). In many non rodent species, low concentrations of this substance (i.e., in the subnanomolar range) may stimulate the Na-K-ATPase. The mechanism of the stimulatory effect is not understood and remains controversial. Further, the issue in rodents is more complicated because there are different isoforms of the Na-K-ATPase - some of which are very sensitive to ouabain while others are not.''
Taken from Wikipedia.
According to Ling this substance is useful to disprove the Na pump, and support his Association-Induction Hypothesis.
40 years and not understood.
I guess these problems are like math ones, which can last one hundred years (Poincaré Conjecture; now Perelman-Hamilton Theorem).
I guess that is why Dr. Ling has not given up yet, and now he has an ally; Prof. Pollack.
What is Coming?
Somehow this Marxist rhetoric does not ring the same as when I was 18.
Tom Friedman today say's the following:
``Second, America’s solvency inflection point is coinciding with a technological one. Thanks to Internet diffusion, the rise of cloud computing, social networking and the shift from laptops and desktops to hand-held iPads and iPhones, technology is destroying older, less skilled jobs that paid a decent wage at a faster pace than ever while spinning off more new skilled jobs that pay a decent wage but require more education than ever.''
``The president needs to take America’s labor, business and Congressional leadership up to Camp David and not come back without a grand bargain for taxes, trade promotion, energy, stimulus and budget cutting that offers the market some certainty that we are moving together — not just on a bailout but on an economic rebirth for the 21st century. “Fat chance,” you say. Well then I say get ready for a long phase of stubborn unemployment and anemic growth.''
Tom Friedman.
He is right. Who needs more machine operators with a high school education?
Tighten you seat belts; we are for a wild ride!
Tom Friedman today say's the following:
``Second, America’s solvency inflection point is coinciding with a technological one. Thanks to Internet diffusion, the rise of cloud computing, social networking and the shift from laptops and desktops to hand-held iPads and iPhones, technology is destroying older, less skilled jobs that paid a decent wage at a faster pace than ever while spinning off more new skilled jobs that pay a decent wage but require more education than ever.''
``The president needs to take America’s labor, business and Congressional leadership up to Camp David and not come back without a grand bargain for taxes, trade promotion, energy, stimulus and budget cutting that offers the market some certainty that we are moving together — not just on a bailout but on an economic rebirth for the 21st century. “Fat chance,” you say. Well then I say get ready for a long phase of stubborn unemployment and anemic growth.''
Tom Friedman.
He is right. Who needs more machine operators with a high school education?
Tighten you seat belts; we are for a wild ride!
I Walk the Line
Go walk the Line, Mott's Workers!
``“We’re glad to see Comptroller DiNapoli on the strike line with us, and he is right to be concerned about the health of the company. Judging from the few trucks that come in and out of the plant, and the amount of co-packing the company has resorted to--they just can’t get this factory working up to speed! They need us back to run the factory, and share holders like the State of New York are right to stand up for good jobs, and for their investments," said Bruce Beal, a RWDSU Local 220 striker, in a union-distributed statement.''
Taken from NYDailyNews.
Class Struggle
``The new management eliminated their bonuses, the summer picnic and the year-end holiday party for employees’ children, several workers complained.''
``“Corporate America is making tons of money — this company is a good example of that,” said Mike LeBerth, president of the union local representing the strikers. “So why do they want to drive down our wages and hurt our community? This whole economy is driven by consumer spending, so how are we supposed to keep the economy going when they take away money from the people who are doing the spending?”''
``Tim Budd, a 24-year employee who belongs to the union’s bargaining team, said he was shocked by one thing the plant manager said during negotiations.
“He said we’re a commodity like soybeans and oil, and the price of commodities go up and down,” Mr. Budd recalled. “He said there are thousands of people in this area out of jobs, and they could hire any one of them for $14 an hour. It made me sick to have someone sit across the table and say I’m not worth the money I make.”
Mr. Barnes, the company spokesman, said the union took the plant manager’s words out of context.
“We’d prefer that our employees return to work, and the door is open for them to come back,” he said. “But we’re prepared to continue operating without them.”''
Taken from NYT.
Hey, that guy in the picture is not blonde?
Fight, fight for your rights!
What is a Film?
``In the end, however, the value of Ms. Hersonski’s work lies less in what is shown than in her persistent reminders of what is not. By drawing our attention repeatedly to the filmmaking process itself — staging Mr. Wist’s testimony as a re-enactment; using a whirring projector to divide reels; freezing again and again on Nazi cameramen inadvertently trapped in their own fabrications — Ms. Hersonski blatantly emphasizes the hand behind the celluloid curtain. As we leave the theater, her thesis question echoes: when there is no one left to bear witness, how far can we trust the evidence of our eyes alone?''
From NYT.
``when there is no one left to bear witness, how far can we trust the evidence of our eyes alone?''
I think I saw a man in a bus killing another man, almost thirty years ago now. I am not sure if I saw it or not. Maybe I dreamed it.
Anvil - I Dreamed It Was The End Of The World lyrics
``Are these thoughts within my head
I don't know what the truth is
Am I alive or am I dead?
In sorrow
No Tomorrow
Dead silence
People on the sidewalk
Become shadows on the wall
The world has turned to cinders
The answer to Satan's call
Oh I thank God it's only a dream
Fantasy
It's only a dream
Awake with a scream
Chorus:
I dreamed it was the end of the world
The children of God had burned
I dreamed it was the end of the world
In the bowels of hell they churned
Onward Christian soldiers
Ashes in the dust
Dignity and honour
Gave way to greed and lust
Oh I thank God it's only a dream
Fantasy
It's only a dream
Awake with a scream
No one heeds the warning
No one sees the light
Forever till the morning
Escape from the endless night
In sorrow
No tomorrow
Dead silence
Wasted violence''
Song taken from lyrics007.com.
From NYT.
``when there is no one left to bear witness, how far can we trust the evidence of our eyes alone?''
I think I saw a man in a bus killing another man, almost thirty years ago now. I am not sure if I saw it or not. Maybe I dreamed it.
Anvil - I Dreamed It Was The End Of The World lyrics
``Are these thoughts within my head
I don't know what the truth is
Am I alive or am I dead?
In sorrow
No Tomorrow
Dead silence
People on the sidewalk
Become shadows on the wall
The world has turned to cinders
The answer to Satan's call
Oh I thank God it's only a dream
Fantasy
It's only a dream
Awake with a scream
Chorus:
I dreamed it was the end of the world
The children of God had burned
I dreamed it was the end of the world
In the bowels of hell they churned
Onward Christian soldiers
Ashes in the dust
Dignity and honour
Gave way to greed and lust
Oh I thank God it's only a dream
Fantasy
It's only a dream
Awake with a scream
No one heeds the warning
No one sees the light
Forever till the morning
Escape from the endless night
In sorrow
No tomorrow
Dead silence
Wasted violence''
Song taken from lyrics007.com.
Canto Criollo
I posted Kopani's song by that name. A friend asked me if it was a style, or just that song. He got me thinking. In the song she talks about brown, and white skin, Spaniards and Mexicans. She is a beautiful mixture herself. Her skin is in between, nor white nor black. In Atoyac de Älvarez, where she is from, there are Mestizos.
Criollo, in Mexico, during the Independence war of 1810, were the American born Spaniards. So I guess in modern day Guerrero, Canto Criollo means, Canto Mestizo really. According to Wikipedia, though; a little Indian blood did not put one out of the Criollo Caste; go figure.
Those are my two cents worth of music knowledge.
Criollo, in Mexico, during the Independence war of 1810, were the American born Spaniards. So I guess in modern day Guerrero, Canto Criollo means, Canto Mestizo really. According to Wikipedia, though; a little Indian blood did not put one out of the Criollo Caste; go figure.
Those are my two cents worth of music knowledge.
American Mathematicians Win 7 Medals in China
``US Team Brings Home 7 Medals from 2010 China Girls Mathematical Olympiad''
Read more here.
The members of the 2010 U.S. team are:
Cynthia Day (Lynbrook High School)
Adisa Kruayatidee (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Shiyu (Jing-Jing) Li (Cupertino High School)
Jae Eui Shin (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Elizabeth Synge (Boston University Academy)
Andi Wang (Choate Rosemary Hall)
Lynelle Ye (Palo Alto High School)
Joy Zheng (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Read more here.
The members of the 2010 U.S. team are:
Cynthia Day (Lynbrook High School)
Adisa Kruayatidee (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Shiyu (Jing-Jing) Li (Cupertino High School)
Jae Eui Shin (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Elizabeth Synge (Boston University Academy)
Andi Wang (Choate Rosemary Hall)
Lynelle Ye (Palo Alto High School)
Joy Zheng (Phillips Exeter Academy)
Tired Donors?
One million in Haiti, twenty million in Pakistan.
When is Sean Penn going there? Can he? What about me?
This is awful!
When is Sean Penn going there? Can he? What about me?
This is awful!
Behavior of Dark Matter
``"When a star has exhausted its hydrogen, it moves away from the main sequence - it leaves its attractor. Since we have no indications that dark matter emits radiation or collide with each other, we believe that these halos will remain on their attractor forever", concludes Steen Hansen. ''
Taken from DailyGalaxy
Remain in the attractor forever, mh.
Alexis Bonari
I welcome Alexis, she wrote a nice piece on where to go for money if you do want to be a scientist.
Here at Relevant Science, she has a nice blog-spot, for her insights, and whatever else she chooses to present us.
Here at Relevant Science, she has a nice blog-spot, for her insights, and whatever else she chooses to present us.
Google Chrome 6.0.472.36 beta
Automatic upgrade; neat. I have Ubuntu 9.04, I do not have to pay anything, and I get this nice updates of useful tools.
JDK:
This package was debianized by Matthias Klose on
Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:55:39 +0200.
It was downloaded from
http://icedtea.classpath.org
http://download.java.net/openjdk/jdk6/
http://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/sources/java-access-bridge/
6b18-1.8.1-0ubuntu1-9.04.1
All for free!
Visit the official Google Chrome beta page:
Nicola Cabibbo (1935-2010)
He saw that weak interactions had a mathematical symmetry in ``charge space,'' that eventually led to the Mathematical Theory of Charges.
R.I.P.
Wikipedia Cabibbo.
PhysicsWorld.com
R.I.P.
Wikipedia Cabibbo.
PhysicsWorld.com
The Top Five Resources For Science Scholarships and Internships
A student pursuing an undergraduate degree in the sciences has many options for financial assistance in the form of scholarships and internships. Although most scholarships are very major-specific, there are a few common places to start your search for funding. Here are the top five sources of scholarship assistance for science majors:
1. Professional Societies
Almost every scientific field has an associated professional society. Good examples of such societies are the American Chemical Society, IEEE, and the American Mathematical Society. Most professional societies offer reduced-cost membership to students. For a very low cost, these groups help members connect with job opportunities and offer extensive scholarship assistance. In many cases, membership isn’t necessary to apply for undergraduate scholarships.
2. Government Organizations
(http://www.science.gov/internships/undergrad.html)
NASA and USA.gov for Science offer a variety of internship and scholarship opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students completing internships through government programs are often given a security clearance that can help them in their post-graduation job search.
3. Organizations Catering To Special Needs/Minority Status
A member of an underrepresented group can generally find an endowment that meets their needs. Examples of groups that are underrespresented in the sciences include women, the physically handicapped, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Some scholarship-granting organizations include: The Society of Women Engineers, and The Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists.
4. Corporations
Leading producers of new technology often provide scholarships for the next generation of scientists hoping to work in the public sector. A simple search for the top five companies in your industry of choice would be a great place to start.
5. University Scholarships
University alumni are notorious for financing subject-specific scholarships. Join clubs on campus that are associated with your major. Chances are they’ll be able to direct you to on-campus funding.
Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships.org. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
1. Professional Societies
Almost every scientific field has an associated professional society. Good examples of such societies are the American Chemical Society, IEEE, and the American Mathematical Society. Most professional societies offer reduced-cost membership to students. For a very low cost, these groups help members connect with job opportunities and offer extensive scholarship assistance. In many cases, membership isn’t necessary to apply for undergraduate scholarships.
2. Government Organizations
(http://www.science.gov/internships/undergrad.html)
NASA and USA.gov for Science offer a variety of internship and scholarship opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students completing internships through government programs are often given a security clearance that can help them in their post-graduation job search.
3. Organizations Catering To Special Needs/Minority Status
A member of an underrepresented group can generally find an endowment that meets their needs. Examples of groups that are underrespresented in the sciences include women, the physically handicapped, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Some scholarship-granting organizations include: The Society of Women Engineers, and The Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists.
4. Corporations
Leading producers of new technology often provide scholarships for the next generation of scientists hoping to work in the public sector. A simple search for the top five companies in your industry of choice would be a great place to start.
5. University Scholarships
University alumni are notorious for financing subject-specific scholarships. Join clubs on campus that are associated with your major. Chances are they’ll be able to direct you to on-campus funding.
Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships.org. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Association Induction Hypothesis
AI for short, is Ling's theory of Cell Physiology.
So far I have understood this much.
Inside the cell, water plays an organizing role, by virtue of its electric dipole moment. The so-called, living state, is a liquid crystal state. Pierre-Gilles de Gennes won a Physics Nobel for the study of liquid crystals.
This organized water keeps Na+ out, and K+ in. No pump needed, thank you.
So far I have understood this much.
Inside the cell, water plays an organizing role, by virtue of its electric dipole moment. The so-called, living state, is a liquid crystal state. Pierre-Gilles de Gennes won a Physics Nobel for the study of liquid crystals.
This organized water keeps Na+ out, and K+ in. No pump needed, thank you.
Carly Fiorina
I wrote about her, here.
Now you can read more:
``“I know a little bit about Carly Fiorina, having watched her almost destroy the company my grandfather founded. So, allow me to disillusion you of a few of your stated reasons for supporting her.”
“—Thankfully, HP survived Fiorina and is again a flourishing company. This is largely due to the leadership of Mark Hurd, the man who replaced her. Prior to HP, she escaped from Lucent (where she ran their largest division) in the nick of time, leaving months before problems became evident—“
“—Eventually leading to Lucent and nine executives being charged with securities law violations.”''
Taken from politicususa.
Wow!
Now you can read more:
``“I know a little bit about Carly Fiorina, having watched her almost destroy the company my grandfather founded. So, allow me to disillusion you of a few of your stated reasons for supporting her.”
“—Thankfully, HP survived Fiorina and is again a flourishing company. This is largely due to the leadership of Mark Hurd, the man who replaced her. Prior to HP, she escaped from Lucent (where she ran their largest division) in the nick of time, leaving months before problems became evident—“
“—Eventually leading to Lucent and nine executives being charged with securities law violations.”''
Taken from politicususa.
Wow!
Stopped Here but Not in Pakistan
``More rains battered the country Monday, adding to the worst flooding in memory and confronting Pakistan with a complex array of challenges, government and relief officials warned. Though they ranged over the immediate, medium and long term, nearly all needed to be addressed urgently for Pakistan to avoid lasting calamity. ''
From NYT.
The Rain Stopped in Chilpancingo, but not in Pakistan. Millions of people suffering there.
From NYT.
The Rain Stopped in Chilpancingo, but not in Pakistan. Millions of people suffering there.
facebook & Twitter Down
Yes they are DOWN!
This webpage is not available.
The webpage at http://twitter.com/ might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.
Here are some suggestions:
Reload this web page later.
More information on this error
Now Twitter is back
But:
Something is technically wrong. Please try again in a moment.
This webpage is not available.
The webpage at http://twitter.com/ might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address.
Here are some suggestions:
Reload this web page later.
More information on this error
Now Twitter is back
But:
Something is technically wrong. Please try again in a moment.
Mary Cuddehe and Sam Anson
It seems these two persons met to investigate Chevron's businesses in Ecuador.
Officially they didn't meet.
Mh?
Mary Cuddehe's piece on Mexico.
Sam Anson Vanity Fair bio.
Piece on DN! about the Chevron business in Ecuador.
Officially they didn't meet.
Mh?
Mary Cuddehe's piece on Mexico.
Sam Anson Vanity Fair bio.
Piece on DN! about the Chevron business in Ecuador.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Howard Fineman
``Will all of this work for the Republicans? In spite of the sound and fury—or, perhaps, because of it—maybe not. With the economy sliding into a potential double-dip recession, the GOP would be better off focusing on the administration’s economic track record, or lack thereof. Republicans also risk backing themselves into a demographic corner. They can’t afford to be the party of white people who fear everyone else (nor can the Democrats be the party who calls everyone who disagrees with it racist). “We’ve all got to take our time and think clearly before we speak on these matters,” says Watts. Now that would make sense.''
Taken from Newsweek.
Demographic corner, you bet!
Meet Mr. Jenkins
``None of Jenkins' vast holdings brought him more notoriety among movie-mad Mexicans than his string of cinemas. Starting with one movie house in Puebla in 1939, Jenkins ran his competitors out of business. But some 20 years ago the government clamped a mass-pleasing ceiling of 4 pesos on admission prices in the Federal District. As inflation and devaluation later whittled the peso's value from 20¢ to 8¢, knowing businessmen think that he sold out the cinema equipment two years ago to his former partners. He kept most of the theater buildings, and now the government will have to pay him rent, since its $26 million was only enough to buy the seats, the projection equipment and the long-term leases.''
Mafias or Businessmen?
Here in Mexico president Calderón has instructed the Foreign Relations Ministry to answer to the opinions of private citizen Fidel Castro in Cuba which I posted in this blog.
In Russia Newsweek informs us today that the crooks from the police department are taking over businesses.
My conclusion is; yes mafias are taking over businesses all over the world. Nevertheless this opinion is not very relevant, since I believe for instance that William O. Jenkins was a reputed prohibition era tycoon that took over the State of Puebla in Mexico, with mafia like practices. If you enjoy foreign films, watch: ``Arráncame la Vida,'' based on the novel by the same name of Ángeles Mastretta, of Puebla.
There Is Nothing New Under The Sun
Mr. Jenkins presence in Wikipedia is scant. I wonder if the mysterious buccaneer still holds some sway; like El Cid Campeador who won battles after death.
`` Dicen que, en un principio, se ocultó su muerte y sujetaron el cuerpo sobre su fiel caballo, Babieca, lo cual bastó en el campo de batalla para hacer huir al enemigo (por eso se dice que el Campeador seguía ganando batallas después de muerto).''
Taken from Rincón del Vago.
Translation:
They say, that in the beginning, they hid his death and they put and tied his body on his faithful horse, Babieca, which was enough in the battle field to make his enemies flee (that is why they say that Campeador kept winning battles after death).
Here in Chilpancingo, with no industry to speak of, they just opened a new store, Papelería ``El Partenón,'' they even have a facebook page! It took less than a month of night and day busy work to be ready for tomorrow, when classes start.
Mh; I wonder where the money is coming from?
Today in the NYT one reads Prof. Taylor:
``The financial arrangements for these projects remain obscure, but it is clear that they will not be completed without increasing the universities’ already significant and perhaps unsustainable levels of debt. Last year Columbia reported $1.4 billion in outstanding debt against a $5.89 billion endowment. N.Y.U. had a staggering $2.22 billion debt with a relatively modest $2.2 billion endowment — one that had shrunk by more than 11 percent over the previous fiscal year. For universities, as for banks, the question is not only the value of current and projected assets but also the availability of liquidity so they can pay off interim debt obligations during a time of financial instability.''
Maybe I do not have a sense of business. Today we can read also in the NYT, that Gral. Petraeus may have a plan to get money; mh, I mean Win in Afghanistan.
In Russia Newsweek informs us today that the crooks from the police department are taking over businesses.
My conclusion is; yes mafias are taking over businesses all over the world. Nevertheless this opinion is not very relevant, since I believe for instance that William O. Jenkins was a reputed prohibition era tycoon that took over the State of Puebla in Mexico, with mafia like practices. If you enjoy foreign films, watch: ``Arráncame la Vida,'' based on the novel by the same name of Ángeles Mastretta, of Puebla.
There Is Nothing New Under The Sun
Mr. Jenkins presence in Wikipedia is scant. I wonder if the mysterious buccaneer still holds some sway; like El Cid Campeador who won battles after death.
`` Dicen que, en un principio, se ocultó su muerte y sujetaron el cuerpo sobre su fiel caballo, Babieca, lo cual bastó en el campo de batalla para hacer huir al enemigo (por eso se dice que el Campeador seguía ganando batallas después de muerto).''
Taken from Rincón del Vago.
Translation:
They say, that in the beginning, they hid his death and they put and tied his body on his faithful horse, Babieca, which was enough in the battle field to make his enemies flee (that is why they say that Campeador kept winning battles after death).
Here in Chilpancingo, with no industry to speak of, they just opened a new store, Papelería ``El Partenón,'' they even have a facebook page! It took less than a month of night and day busy work to be ready for tomorrow, when classes start.
Mh; I wonder where the money is coming from?
Today in the NYT one reads Prof. Taylor:
``The financial arrangements for these projects remain obscure, but it is clear that they will not be completed without increasing the universities’ already significant and perhaps unsustainable levels of debt. Last year Columbia reported $1.4 billion in outstanding debt against a $5.89 billion endowment. N.Y.U. had a staggering $2.22 billion debt with a relatively modest $2.2 billion endowment — one that had shrunk by more than 11 percent over the previous fiscal year. For universities, as for banks, the question is not only the value of current and projected assets but also the availability of liquidity so they can pay off interim debt obligations during a time of financial instability.''
Maybe I do not have a sense of business. Today we can read also in the NYT, that Gral. Petraeus may have a plan to get money; mh, I mean Win in Afghanistan.
Cell Physiology (Ling)
``As of now, there is no longer any evidence known to me that can be considered to unequivocally favor the membrane-pump theory.''
``.., the disproof of the membrane-pump theory can only be regarded as complete.''
``In the chapters following, a new theory of the living cell called the association-induction hypothesis is presented ...''
Taken from ``A Revolution ...''
``.., the disproof of the membrane-pump theory can only be regarded as complete.''
``In the chapters following, a new theory of the living cell called the association-induction hypothesis is presented ...''
Taken from ``A Revolution ...''
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Scientists
Among intellectuals, natural scientists - biologists, chemists, and physicists - have a duty to tell people the truth. Not because other intellectuals do not want to tell the truth, but because the scientific method is effective at getting at it, once the right questions are asked to Nature.
Nevertheless these sciences seem arid to non-scientists, and sometimes it is not clear what the point is to study them. For some minds, it may seem more relevant to know what Tila Tequila is doing.
I am afraid my concern with environmental degradation, may seem irrelevant to some young people. If I keep harping on them that it is serious, two things may happen, they may get scared, or cynical.
Maybe a good goal, is to be so annoying, that when they start to see bad, really bad things happening, they may come back and look at the data that supports the claims.
Scientists act like crying babies, because few people see what we see; and it causes us perception dissonance.
Given that most scientists spent more time thinking than other professionals, I invite readers to take scientific reports seriously.
Nevertheless these sciences seem arid to non-scientists, and sometimes it is not clear what the point is to study them. For some minds, it may seem more relevant to know what Tila Tequila is doing.
I am afraid my concern with environmental degradation, may seem irrelevant to some young people. If I keep harping on them that it is serious, two things may happen, they may get scared, or cynical.
Maybe a good goal, is to be so annoying, that when they start to see bad, really bad things happening, they may come back and look at the data that supports the claims.
Scientists act like crying babies, because few people see what we see; and it causes us perception dissonance.
Given that most scientists spent more time thinking than other professionals, I invite readers to take scientific reports seriously.
The Living State
From Ling's book:
``The most abundant component of all living cells is water. By bulk the next largest component is protein. By number, the next largest component is K+. The largest component of the external environment of most living cells is water; the next largest is Na+. Thus in the broad sense, cell physiology is a story of assemblies of water-protein-K+ in an environment of water and Na+.''
I can see the beginning of ``A Revolution in the Physiology of the Living Cell.''
``The most abundant component of all living cells is water. By bulk the next largest component is protein. By number, the next largest component is K+. The largest component of the external environment of most living cells is water; the next largest is Na+. Thus in the broad sense, cell physiology is a story of assemblies of water-protein-K+ in an environment of water and Na+.''
I can see the beginning of ``A Revolution in the Physiology of the Living Cell.''
Sodium Pump Needs More Energy?
From the book by Gilbert N. Ling one reads:
``the minimum energy needed by the Na pump at the plasma membrane alone was from 1542% to 3050% of the maximum available energy''
Something is rotten in in the state of Denmark
``-cell membranes with finite dimensions cannot accommodate an endless number of pumps''
This is starting to sound like the countless epicycles before Copernicus.
``there is no alternative but to conclude that the membrane-pump theory has been disproven on energy grounds alone''
At least Dr. Ling sounds convinced.
``the minimum energy needed by the Na pump at the plasma membrane alone was from 1542% to 3050% of the maximum available energy''
Something is rotten in in the state of Denmark
Horatio:
He waxes desperate with imagination.
He waxes desperate with imagination.
Marcellus:
Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Horatio:
Have after. To what issue will this come?
Have after. To what issue will this come?
Marcellus:
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Horatio:
Heaven will direct it.
Heaven will direct it.
Marcellus:
Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt.]
Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt.]
From Hamlet.
Dr. Ling published this experiments in 1962.
Something is very strange here.
Ling goes on to point out:``-cell membranes with finite dimensions cannot accommodate an endless number of pumps''
This is starting to sound like the countless epicycles before Copernicus.
``there is no alternative but to conclude that the membrane-pump theory has been disproven on energy grounds alone''
At least Dr. Ling sounds convinced.
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien: Lyrics
Photo taken from WikipediaNon ! Rien de rien...(No, nothing at all,)
Non ! Je ne regrette rien (No, I don't regret anything!)
Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait (Neither the good that's been done to me,)
Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal ! (Nor the bad; It's all the same to me!)
Non ! Rien de rien...(No, nothing at all)
Non ! Je ne regrette rien (No, I don't regret anything!)
C'est payé, balayé, oublié (It's been payed for, swept (away), Forgotten.)
Je me fous du passé ! (I don't care about the past!)
Avec mes souvenirs (With my memories)
J'ai allumé le feu (I have lit the fire!)
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs (My disappointments, my pleasures,)
Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux ! (I no longer need them)
Balayées les amours (Swept away are the loves)
Et tous leurs trémolos (with their trembling,)
Balayées pour toujours (swept away forever!)
Je repars à zéro... (I start again at zero.)
Non ! Rien de rien... (No, nothing at all,)
Non ! Je ne regrette rien (No, I don't regret anything!)
Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait (Neither the good that's been done to me,)
Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal! (Nor the bad; It's all the same to me!)
Non ! Rien de rien...(No, nothing at all,)
Non ! Je ne regrette rien...(No, I don't regret anything!)
Car ma vie, car mes joies (Because my life, because my joy)
Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi! (today begins with you!)
Wikipedia article on Non, je ...
Taken from AskLyrics.
Translation
From: http://lyricstranslate.com
Non, je ne regrette rien
Taken from YouTube
In this blog, the note Non, je ne regrette rien (Inception) is three views away from becoming the most popular post since May, 2010.
Benoit Mandelbrot and Karl Menger
Mandelbrot popularized and fought for the fractal concept. Nevertheless I feel that the real work was made by people like Karl Menger, and John von Neumann.
Just saying.
Just saying.
Judith Peabody Remembered by Frank Rich
Ms. Peabody was a woman that fought for the rights of people less privileged than her. Today Frank Rich reminds us of this great woman in the NYT.
Rich writes:
``Make no mistake about it: The Proposition 8 trial, Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision and the subsequent reaction to it (as much a non-reaction as anything else) constitute a high point in America’s history-long struggle to live up to its democratic ideals.''
``Most of those who do argue for denying marriage equality to gay couples are now careful to say that they really, really like gay people. This, like the states’-rights argument, is a replay of the battle over black civil rights. Eric Foner, the pre-eminent historian of Reconstruction, recalled last week via e-mail how Strom Thurmond would argue in the early 1960s “that segregation benefited blacks and whites and had nothing to do with racism” — as if inequality were O.K. as long as segregationists pushing separate-but-equal “compromises” claimed their motives were pure.''
``None of this means that full equality for gay Americans is a done deal. Even if it were, that would be scant consolation to the latest minority groups to enter the pantheon of American scapegoats, Hispanic immigrants and Muslims. We are still a young, imperfect, unfinished country. As a young black man working as a nurse in a 1980s AIDS clinic memorably says in Tony Kushner’s epic drama “Angels in America”: “The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word ‘free’ to a note so high nobody can reach it.”
But sometimes we do hit that note, however tentatively. How one wishes that the many gay Americans who were left to die in the shadows during that horrific time — and, in most cases, without a Judith Peabody, let alone a legal spouse, by their side — could hear Judge Walker’s clarion call.''
``Most of those who do argue for denying marriage equality to gay couples are now careful to say that they really, really like gay people. This, like the states’-rights argument, is a replay of the battle over black civil rights. Eric Foner, the pre-eminent historian of Reconstruction, recalled last week via e-mail how Strom Thurmond would argue in the early 1960s “that segregation benefited blacks and whites and had nothing to do with racism” — as if inequality were O.K. as long as segregationists pushing separate-but-equal “compromises” claimed their motives were pure.''
``None of this means that full equality for gay Americans is a done deal. Even if it were, that would be scant consolation to the latest minority groups to enter the pantheon of American scapegoats, Hispanic immigrants and Muslims. We are still a young, imperfect, unfinished country. As a young black man working as a nurse in a 1980s AIDS clinic memorably says in Tony Kushner’s epic drama “Angels in America”: “The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word ‘free’ to a note so high nobody can reach it.”
But sometimes we do hit that note, however tentatively. How one wishes that the many gay Americans who were left to die in the shadows during that horrific time — and, in most cases, without a Judith Peabody, let alone a legal spouse, by their side — could hear Judge Walker’s clarion call.''
John von Neumann and Karl Menger
``The Results.-6. Our primary objective is the definition of a numerical dimensionality for all a$\in$L (cf. secs. 1 and 2). Following a procedure used by F. J. Murray and the author we define first the notion of equidimensionality for two a, b $\in$ L.20 This is analogous to G. Cantor's classical procedure of defining equality of power (i.e., equivalence) for sets before defining the powers (i.e., alephs) themselves. But while G. Cantor was led by this procedure to a new kind of quantities, the alephs, our axioms will lead us back to the well-known system of real numbers.21''
Taken from PNAS.
After reading Menger's book: Calculus...; I suspected that I was meeting a genius. Now I know.
Taken from PNAS.
After reading Menger's book: Calculus...; I suspected that I was meeting a genius. Now I know.
Shadow War: NYT
``Weighing Success
Despite the airstrike campaign, the leadership of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula survives, and there is little sign the group is much weaker.
Attacks by Qaeda militants in Yemen have picked up again, with several deadly assaults on Yemeni army convoys in recent weeks. Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch has managed to put out its first English-language online magazine, Inspire, complete with bomb-making instructions. Intelligence officials believe that Samir Khan, a 24-year-old American who arrived from North Carolina last year, played a major role in producing the slick publication.
As a test case, the strikes have raised the classic trade-off of the post-Sept. 11 era: Do the selective hits make the United States safer by eliminating terrorists? Or do they help the terrorist network frame its violence as a heroic religious struggle against American aggression, recruiting new operatives for the enemy?
Al Qaeda has worked tirelessly to exploit the strikes, and in Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric now hiding in Yemen, the group has perhaps the most sophisticated ideological opponent the United States has faced since 2001.
“If George W. Bush is remembered by getting America stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq, it’s looking like Obama wants to be remembered as the president who got America stuck in Yemen,” the cleric said in a March Internet address that was almost gleeful about the American campaign.
Most Yemenis have little sympathy for Al Qaeda and have observed the American strikes with “passive indignation,” Mr. Eryani said. But, he added, “I think the strikes over all have been counterproductive.”
Edmund J. Hull, the United States ambassador to Yemen from 2001 to 2004, cautioned that American policy must not be limited to using force against Al Qaeda.
“I think it’s both understandable and defensible for the Obama administration to pursue aggressive counterterrorism operations,” Mr. Hull said. But he added: “I’m concerned that counterterrorism is defined as an intelligence and military program. To be successful in the long run, we have to take a far broader approach that emphasizes political, social and economic forces.”
Obama administration officials say that is exactly what they are doing — sharply increasing the foreign aid budget for Yemen and offering both money and advice to address the country’s crippling problems. They emphasized that the core of the American effort was not the strikes but training for elite Yemeni units, providing equipment and sharing intelligence to support Yemeni sweeps against Al Qaeda.
Still, the historical track record of limited military efforts like the Yemen strikes is not encouraging. Micah Zenko, a scholar at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, examines in a forthcoming book what he has labeled “discrete military operations” from the Balkans to Pakistan since the end of the cold war in 1991. He found that these operations seldom achieve either their military or political objectives.
But he said that over the years, military force had proved to be a seductive tool that tended to dominate “all the discussions and planning” and push more subtle solutions to the side.
When terrorists threaten Americans, Mr. Zenko said, “there is tremendous pressure from the National Security Council and the Congressional committees to, quote, ‘do something.’ ”
That is apparent to visitors at the American Embassy in Sana, who have noticed that it is increasingly crowded with military personnel and intelligence operatives. For now, the shadow warriors are taking the lead. ''
Taken from NYT.
After listening to Noam Chomsky (below); this is refreshing.
Despite the airstrike campaign, the leadership of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula survives, and there is little sign the group is much weaker.
Attacks by Qaeda militants in Yemen have picked up again, with several deadly assaults on Yemeni army convoys in recent weeks. Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch has managed to put out its first English-language online magazine, Inspire, complete with bomb-making instructions. Intelligence officials believe that Samir Khan, a 24-year-old American who arrived from North Carolina last year, played a major role in producing the slick publication.
As a test case, the strikes have raised the classic trade-off of the post-Sept. 11 era: Do the selective hits make the United States safer by eliminating terrorists? Or do they help the terrorist network frame its violence as a heroic religious struggle against American aggression, recruiting new operatives for the enemy?
Al Qaeda has worked tirelessly to exploit the strikes, and in Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric now hiding in Yemen, the group has perhaps the most sophisticated ideological opponent the United States has faced since 2001.
“If George W. Bush is remembered by getting America stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq, it’s looking like Obama wants to be remembered as the president who got America stuck in Yemen,” the cleric said in a March Internet address that was almost gleeful about the American campaign.
Most Yemenis have little sympathy for Al Qaeda and have observed the American strikes with “passive indignation,” Mr. Eryani said. But, he added, “I think the strikes over all have been counterproductive.”
Edmund J. Hull, the United States ambassador to Yemen from 2001 to 2004, cautioned that American policy must not be limited to using force against Al Qaeda.
“I think it’s both understandable and defensible for the Obama administration to pursue aggressive counterterrorism operations,” Mr. Hull said. But he added: “I’m concerned that counterterrorism is defined as an intelligence and military program. To be successful in the long run, we have to take a far broader approach that emphasizes political, social and economic forces.”
Obama administration officials say that is exactly what they are doing — sharply increasing the foreign aid budget for Yemen and offering both money and advice to address the country’s crippling problems. They emphasized that the core of the American effort was not the strikes but training for elite Yemeni units, providing equipment and sharing intelligence to support Yemeni sweeps against Al Qaeda.
Still, the historical track record of limited military efforts like the Yemen strikes is not encouraging. Micah Zenko, a scholar at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, examines in a forthcoming book what he has labeled “discrete military operations” from the Balkans to Pakistan since the end of the cold war in 1991. He found that these operations seldom achieve either their military or political objectives.
But he said that over the years, military force had proved to be a seductive tool that tended to dominate “all the discussions and planning” and push more subtle solutions to the side.
When terrorists threaten Americans, Mr. Zenko said, “there is tremendous pressure from the National Security Council and the Congressional committees to, quote, ‘do something.’ ”
That is apparent to visitors at the American Embassy in Sana, who have noticed that it is increasingly crowded with military personnel and intelligence operatives. For now, the shadow warriors are taking the lead. ''
Taken from NYT.
After listening to Noam Chomsky (below); this is refreshing.
Class Struggle
``Cuba: Articles by Castro Laud Ex-Candidate From Mexico
By DAVID AGREN
Published: August 13, 2010
Comments by Fidel Castro in support of the runner-up in Mexico’s 2006 presidential election, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, threaten to revive diplomatic tensions between Cuba and Mexico, which was once one of its staunchest allies in Latin America. In articles on Thursday and Friday in the Communist Party newspaper Granma, Mr. Castro quoted from Mr. López Obrador’s new book, which accuses the Mexican elite of improperly increasing its fortunes from 2000 to 20006, during President Vicente Fox’s tenure. Mr. Castro supports the claim by Mr. López Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor, that the 2006 presidential election was rigged. Mr. Castro said he had never spoken with or befriended Mr. López Obrador, who is expected to run for president again in 2012.''
From NYT.
I posted below an Ignacio Copani video. He is referring to the rich ladies protest in Argentina a few years back. They wanted more money for the owners of the soy bean fields. The ``peasants''; their wealthy husbands, did not like the Krishner Government decision to get more money from them, given the poor economic health of Argentina, at that point.
There are rich, and poor classes. Which side are you in?
Feedjit and Default Browser
I mainly use Chrome and FireFox. When I go to Relevant Science, where I have the Feedjit widget, it does not see me if I am using FireFox. Chrome is my default browser.
I guess I have more visitors than those recorded by Feedjit :-)
I guess I have more visitors than those recorded by Feedjit :-)
Geometry Without Points?
John von Neumann wrote in the PNAS:
``We consider a class L of at least two different elements ("undefined entities"), which will be denoted by a, b, .. ., y, z and in it a relation a < b, with the following properties:''
The elements (points) are not defined, but the axioms are.
Neat.
``We consider a class L of at least two different elements ("undefined entities"), which will be denoted by a, b, .. ., y, z and in it a relation a < b, with the following properties:''
The elements (points) are not defined, but the axioms are.
Neat.
University College London Research
``Senior author Professor Michael Hausser commented: "This research indicates that single neurons are reliable decoders of temporal sequences of inputs, and that they can play a significant role in sorting and interpreting the enormous barrage of inputs received by the brain.
"This new property of neurons and dendrites adds an important new element to the "toolkit" for computation in the brain. This feature is likely to be widespread across many brain areas and indeed many different animal species, including humans."''
Taken from Physorg.
Alan Turing was a great English mathematician, it would've been good that he knew about this work in his country. Unfortunately he was put in jail for being gay, before different sexual orientations were accepted by society at large.
He invented the Turing machine. It seems that even a dendrite can be a Turing machine.
"This new property of neurons and dendrites adds an important new element to the "toolkit" for computation in the brain. This feature is likely to be widespread across many brain areas and indeed many different animal species, including humans."''
Taken from Physorg.
Alan Turing was a great English mathematician, it would've been good that he knew about this work in his country. Unfortunately he was put in jail for being gay, before different sexual orientations were accepted by society at large.
He invented the Turing machine. It seems that even a dendrite can be a Turing machine.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Is Ignorance Bliss?
I am not a medical doctor, not even a biologist. I did read a little about biology in the late sixties and early seventies; so when I started to read Gilbert N. Ling claims that his revolutionary theory of cell physiology was not a Na Pump, theory; it didn't even register in my mind: I didn't realize that I was entering into, really revolutionary territory. So I kept going, Now I am remembering a few of the things I studied then, and I think I would've not even considered Dr. Ling's work, if I had remembered earlier.
Anyway, now I have to find out, how much of an oddball Dr. Ling is. It helped also to find out that he had consulted with his friend C.N. Yang. I am an admirer of Yang and Lee, and their revolutionary proposal in the late fifties that weak interactions do not respect mirror symmetry.
Castro's Opinions
``When Zedillo – a truly mediocre man who replaced Salinas as president – banned him from residing in Mexico, possibly jealous of his political influence, Salinas was in the midst of a difficult personal situation at that time and asked if he could reside in Cuba. Without any hesitation, we authorized him to do so and his first daughter from his second marriage was born here.''
Taken from Granma.
Now Zedillo works for Yale University, where he got his Ph.D. in Economics, and advises American businesses.
Fidel goes on:
``We perfectly understood López Obrador’s mistrust. He had been betrayed by people he believed were honest and those who were ready to stab him in the back made the most of these circumstances.''
After four years Fidel Castro believes that López Obrador is the right person to change Mexico, and he understands why AMLO did not trust him before. He writes: We perfectly understood López Obrador’s mistrust.
I do not know if this show of support will help or hinder AMLO. I guess it depends on what people inclined to vote for AMLO, think of Fidel.
I like that Fidel Castro believes AMLO means what he says. A small mafia took over Mexico, and now all Mexicans have to take it back.
La Jornada reports today:
Cuba, también víctima de complot contra AMLO en 2006: Fidel Castro
Cuba was also a victim of plot against AMLO in 2006: Fidel Castro
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, ex president of Mexico, did not ask permission of Cuban authorities to protect an Argentinean Mexican, Carlos Ahumada, inside Cuba. Ahumada betrayed AMLO
Fidel turns 84 today.
Happy birthday Fidel!
My mother, Emma Uriza Castro (no relation) was born on March 17, 1926. She died on April 11, 2010, she was 84. I'm glad Fidel is still alive.
Mexican Government Reaction:
Cárdenas, otra víctima de fraude: Fidel; habla sin sustento, dice SRE
Cárdenas, another victim of fraud: Fidel; talks without proof, Foreign Relations Ministry asserts
Fidel must be having a good time. He was President of Cuba at the time. No proof? Give me a break.
Also the NYT joined.
Taken from Granma.
Now Zedillo works for Yale University, where he got his Ph.D. in Economics, and advises American businesses.
Fidel goes on:
``We perfectly understood López Obrador’s mistrust. He had been betrayed by people he believed were honest and those who were ready to stab him in the back made the most of these circumstances.''
``I have not changed. I will be faithful to the principles and ethics that I have practiced since I became a revolutionary.
Today, I am honored to share the same points of view as Manuel López Obrador and I do not harbor the slightest doubt that, far sooner than he imagines, everything will change in Mexico.
"…The trees must form ranks to keep the giant with seven-league boots from passing! It is the time of mobilization, of marching together, and we must go forward in close ranks, like silver in the veins of the Andes," declared José Martí almost 120 years ago, on January 1, 1891.''
Fidel Castro Ruz
August 12, 2010
9.30 p.m.''
After four years Fidel Castro believes that López Obrador is the right person to change Mexico, and he understands why AMLO did not trust him before. He writes: We perfectly understood López Obrador’s mistrust.
I do not know if this show of support will help or hinder AMLO. I guess it depends on what people inclined to vote for AMLO, think of Fidel.
I like that Fidel Castro believes AMLO means what he says. A small mafia took over Mexico, and now all Mexicans have to take it back.
La Jornada reports today:
Cuba, también víctima de complot contra AMLO en 2006: Fidel Castro
Cuba was also a victim of plot against AMLO in 2006: Fidel Castro
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, ex president of Mexico, did not ask permission of Cuban authorities to protect an Argentinean Mexican, Carlos Ahumada, inside Cuba. Ahumada betrayed AMLO
Fidel turns 84 today.
Happy birthday Fidel!
My mother, Emma Uriza Castro (no relation) was born on March 17, 1926. She died on April 11, 2010, she was 84. I'm glad Fidel is still alive.
Mexican Government Reaction:
Cárdenas, otra víctima de fraude: Fidel; habla sin sustento, dice SRE
Cárdenas, another victim of fraud: Fidel; talks without proof, Foreign Relations Ministry asserts
Fidel must be having a good time. He was President of Cuba at the time. No proof? Give me a break.
Also the NYT joined.
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