At 7:41 he summarizes why there are 3 detection systems:
Cameras are really good at distinguishing what's out there.
Radar is good at seeing how far away things are.
Lidar is good at telling where things are in 3D at high resolution.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Solving the planet's plastic problem.
Polyethylene depolymerization under microwave heat allows "up cycling" of colored polyethylene back to clear plastic.
Enzymatic breakdown of plastic - from what was originally a bacterial mutation to a more powerful enzyme by mistake/serendipity in the lab
This video describes plant-based replacements for plastic.
Why Amazon Is Gobbling Up Failed Malls
I walked around a large successful mall near home yesterday, and was shocked how many stores had closed. Clearly, online shopping is stealing business from brick-and-mortar retailers.
It seems like such a natural evolution to transition malls into Amazon warehouses, and this video explains why. An Amazon warehouse is best positioned where there's a lot of space, near a lot of major roads and near large populations, which is exactly where shopping make are.
Bombardier Beetles Squirt Boiling Anal Chemicals to Make Frogs Vomit
Ewww. The frog regurgitates it 88 minutes later, and it survives.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Ideologically diverse 'Seattle is Dying' panel agrees city's actions not working
"Mackay said that for the cost of putting a person in jail for three months or in Harborview for three days, a homeless person can be housed in supportive housing for a year.
"Matthai noticed a sharp uptick in crime in her neighborhood after the city put in the Licton Springs low-barrier encampment in 2017... Seattle Police Department to research the data and found that crime in a two-block radius increased over 100 percent in just a little over a year.
"two-thirds of the homeless people who are contacted by the city’s Navigation Team refuse services...They refuse services, she said, because they know they are ineligible for many places of treatment for reasons such as having a criminal history, using drugs, wanting to keep a pet with them, or wanting to stay with a partner...“The vast majority of unsheltered, chronically homeless people do want help … they’ve sort of learned that [shelter] is not going to pan out, that it hasn’t been feasible,” she said. “So we need to make more options that would be more accessible to people so that they can learn to identify an actual meaningful offer of service.”
The panel was convened to address issues raised by this journalist's special report:
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Nerding out over recovering sound from an object's movement.
I remember hearing of a spy technique to recover speech in a room from outside the building by recording vibrations in the window.
This video goes to great lengths to show how difficult it is to recover sound from the movement of an object displaced by the sound waves.
At 1:59 he describes the perfect type of object to recover sound from - something very dampened, and very light, like a potato chip bag. So it moves in response to sound, but stops moving right away afterward.
At the very end is a better optimized recording of speech that is nontheless very muffled.
It works a little better with laser light - there's an audio "spy" recording at the end of this video.
Music and the brain
How music affects your brain. Near the end, he shows how improvising and creating something new requires shutting down the control-repression frontal cortex, and "letting go." The scientist explains this is a crucial element of problem-solving that makes us human. So, enjoy being totally human when you create music.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Former CIA Chief of Disguise Critiques 30 Spy Scenes From Movies
A few interesting insights into real spy disguises.
A sound illusion that makes Dunkirk so intense
An interesting musical oddity, an auditory (vs. optical) illusion. Explained really well.
A Shepard tone, and a Shepard-Risset glissando give the illusion of unending rising tones, which adds tension to film scores.
A Shepard tone, and a Shepard-Risset glissando give the illusion of unending rising tones, which adds tension to film scores.
Energy Storage Breakthroughs
Innovative ways to store energy, making intermittent power sources like wind and solar more viable.
Monday, May 20, 2019
Research on high dose acetaminophen 30 mg/kg
High-dose oral acetaminophen 30 mg/kg in pediatric anesthesia
high dose (40 mg/kg) oral acetaminophen for BMT
"All 60 min plasma concentrations were ≥ 70 μmol·l–1 (ED50 for adenotonsillectomy) and less than 800 μmol·l–1 (associated with toxicity)"
acetaminophen 60 mg/kg and 90 mg/kg paracetamol in fit young adult patients undergoing third molar extractions
"90 mg/kg dose, though safe, does not offer any advantages over 60 mg/kg dose"
High dose acetaminophen 40 mg/kg was better than 100 mg/kg
"acetaminophen (100 mg/kg) was no more effective than 40 mg/kg and was associated with increased nausea and vomiting. "
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Here are the above papers in more detail:
The analgesic efficacy of preoperative high dose (40 mg·kg–1) oral acetaminophen after bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion in children
PHILLIP BOLTON MBChB, HILARY S BRIDGE MBChB, CAROLYNE J MONTGOMERY MD and PAMELA M MERRICK BSN
Pediatric Anesthesia Pediatric Anesthesia Volume 12, Issue 1, pages 29–35, January 2002
Background: The purpose of this study was to measure the plasma levels and analgesic effectiveness of a dose of 40 mg·kg–1 of preoperative oral acetaminophen.
Methods: Thirty children aged 55 (17–72) months undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion (BMT) received acetaminophen 40 mg·kg–1 p.o. preoperatively. Plasma levels were measured, at 29 (10–51) min and at 60 min in the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU). Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS), for all subjects and the Poker Chip Tool (PCT) a self-report scale for subjects aged > 4 years, were used. After discharge, 24-h analgesic efficacy was evaluated using an observer Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and further acetaminophen use was recorded.
Results: Plasma concentrations were 259 (60–391) μmol·l–1 and 250 (135–450) μmol·l–1, respectively. All 60 min plasma concentrations were ≥ 70 μmol·l–1 (ED50 for adenotonsillectomy) and less than 800 μmol·l–1 (associated with toxicity). Twenty-six subjects (87%) had adequate analgesia (CHEOPS ≤ 8). The PCT was only understood in the PACU by 13 of the 21 children > 4 years (62%). The median worst 24-h observer VAS was 0.5 (0–5.5) (27 subjects). No further analgesic was required after discharge in 16/28 (57%). A higher plasma level was associated with fewer doses of acetaminophen after discharge (r=–0.36, P=0.05).
Conclusions: No relationship was evident between age, the 60 min plasma acetaminophen level and the CHEOPS carried out at the same time. Acetaminophen 40 mg·kg–1 p.o. results in 60 min plasma levels of 250 (135–450) μmol·l–1. The in-hospital analgesic efficacy was 87% (CHEOPS < 9, no further analgesics) and the 24-h efficacy was 57% (need for further acetaminophen).
Affiliation
Comparative safety and efficacy of two high dose regimens of oral paracetamol in healthy adults undergoing third molar surgery under local anaesthesia.
Zacharias M1, De Silva RK, Hickling J, Medlicott NJ, Reith DM.
Journal Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Aug;35(4):544-9.
This study compared the efficacy and safety of single oral doses of 60 mg/kg and 90 mg/kg paracetamol in fit young adult patients undergoing third molar extractions. The study was a randomised, blinded, crossover design on 20 young, fit adults. Paracetamol was administered 30 minutes prior to the surgical extraction of the teeth, which was done under intravenous sedation and local anaesthesia. There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in the pain scores between 60 mg/kg or 90 mg/kg doses until the intake of rescue analgesics. There was a reduction in factor VII activity with 90 mg/kg dose compared to 60 mg/kg dose. It may be concluded that the 90 mg/kg dose, though safe, does not offer any advantages over 60 mg/kg dose of paracetamol in young fit adults undergoing third molar surgery. PMID 18020073
Acetaminophen Analgesia In Children: Placebo Effect And Pain Resolution After Tonsillectomy.
Betty J. Anderson, Gerald A. Woollard and Nick H G Holford European journal of clinical pharmacology , 2001
Pharmacodynamic models of acetaminophen analgesia in children have not explored the efficacy of single oral doses greater than 40 mg/kg. Children aged 9.0 +/- 3.0 years (+/- SD) and weight 37.9+/- 16.6 kg undergoing outpatient tonsillectomy were randomised to receive acetaminophen elixir 40 mg/kg (n = 12). high dose acetaminophen elixir 100 mg/kg (n =20) or placebo (n=30) 0.5 -1 h preoperatively. No other analgesics were given. Individual acetaminophen serum concentrations and pain scores [visual analogue scale (VAS) 0-10] were measured over a 4-8 h postoperative period. These data were pooled with data from a previous study investigating acetaminophen pharmacodynamics (n = 120) and analysed using a non-linear mixed effect model. Placebo effects and drug effects were modelled using effect-site concentration models. A one-compartment model with first-order input, lag time and first-order elimination was used to describe the population pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were similar to those previously described. Pharmacodynamic population parameter estimates [population variability coefficient of variation (CV)] for a maximum analgesic effect (Emax) model, in which the greatest possible pain relief (VAS 0-10) equates to an Emax of 10, were Emax 5.17 (64%) and 50% effective concentration 9.98 mg/l (107%). The equilibration half-life (t(eq)) of the analgesic effect compartment was 53 min (217%). A placebo drug model for the effects of placebo response had a t(eq) of 1.96 h (40%), an elimination half-life of 2.06 h (50%) and a potency of 1.54 pain relief units (24%). High dose acetaminophen (100 mg/kg) was no more effective than 40 mg/kg and was associated with increased nausea and vomiting. A target effect compartment concentration of 10 mg/l is expected to produce a pain reduction of 2.6 units. The placebo model accounted for a maximum pain reduction of 5.6 units at 3 h. The combination of placebo effect and preoperative acetaminophen 40 mg/kg results in pain scores below 4 units for 5 h postoperatively.
Anesthesiology. 2001 Mar;94(3):385-9.
Initial and subsequent dosing of rectal acetaminophen in children: a 24-hour pharmacokinetic study of new dose recommendations.
Birmingham PK1, Tobin MJ, Fisher DM, Henthorn TK, Hall SC, Coté CJ.
BACKGROUND:
Recent studies have determined that an initial rectal acetaminophen dose of approximately 40 mg/kg is needed in children to achieve target antipyretic serum concentrations. The timing and amount of subsequent doses after a 40-mg/kg dose has not been clarified for this route of administration. Based on the authors' previous pharmacokinetic data, they examined whether a 40-mg/kg loading dose followed by 20-mg/kg doses at 6-h intervals maintain serum concentrations within the target range of 10-20 microg/ml, without evidence of accumulation.
METHODS:
Children (n = 16) received rectal acetaminophen (40 mg/kg) and up to three additional doses of 20 mg/kg at 6-h intervals. Venous blood samples were taken every 30 min for 4 h, then every 60 min for 4 h, and every 4 h for 16 h. The authors assessed whether their published pharmacokinetic parameters predicted the acetaminophen concentrations in the present study. They also assessed their dosing regimen by determining the fraction of time each individual maintained the target concentration.
RESULTS:
All patients received the initial loading dose; 10 of 16 patients received three subsequent doses. Serum concentrations with the initial dose were in the target range 38 +/- 25% of the time. With subsequent dosing, the target range was maintained 60 +/- 29% of the time. The highest serum concentration with initial or subsequent dosing was 38.6 microg/ml. Pharmacokinetic parameters from the earlier study predicted the serum concentrations observed for both initial and subsequent doses.
CONCLUSIONS:
A rectal acetaminophen loading dose of 40 mg/kg followed by 20-mg/kg doses every 6 h results in serum concentrations centered at the target range of 10-20 microg/ml. There was large interindividual variability in pharmacokinetic characteristics. There was no evidence of accumulation during the 24-h sampling period. PMID 11374595
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Friday, May 17, 2019
Three things you didn’t know about gluing skin
1) You can actually use it to repair tongue lacerations (off-label use)
2) Regular crazy glue can interact with cotton in an experience reaction and cause burns.
3) It is antimicrobial, predominantly against gram positive.
3) It is antimicrobial, predominantly against gram positive.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Tesla Unveils Its Full Self-Driving Computer
At 2:44 he talks about "the long tail," chasing down the very rare events that occur and are difficult for the onboarding computer to process and discern what to do. The graphic is very telling - it's not often you see each airborne car, but when you do you need to text in a fraction of a second.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Drill through anything (conductive) with Electrical Discharge Machining
A detailed description of an unusual drilling technique that uses electrical discharge to vaporize metal.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Danny MacAskill - Cascadia
A beautiful, tumbling, flowing ride down a hillside of rooftops.
How they made it:
Getting up the nerve:
Fabio Wibmer
https://youtu.be/ZDbNe3mS0awAlso, the "making of" video is funny with English subtitles on, because half of their "surfer dude" speak is in English. And it took a couple of days to take each shot! https://youtu.be/a_TGosXdLTk
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Krazy glue for burns and scrapes in remote medicine
"this specially formulated skin glue has a long alkyl chains [vs Krazy glue]...
"Over the counter cyanoacrylate glues tend to be more brittle and apt to crack compared with medically produced ones, which are made intentionally more flexible to accommodate the dynamic movements of the skin...
"Generally, we think of tissue adhesives as not being the best choice for "wet areas," like intraoral lacerations. If you read the package insert for Dermabond by the manufacturers, it is specifically stated that it is not approved for use on mucosal surfaces. So, repairing a tongue would be considered an off-label use...
Cyanoacrylate glues for wilderness and remote travel medical care.
"...possibility of a severe exothermic reaction with risk of fire and burns if the glue comes in contact with cotton or wool...
"Within the laboratory setting, the lower homologs have been shown to cause localized inflammation, release toxic metabolites more quickly, and possess inferior physical properties for tissue adhesion...
"The avid outdoorsman, whose pack is as light as his wallet, might prefer a tube of Super Glue for commonly encountered field equipment repairs and infrequent therapeutic use."
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
People Manipulating Facebook - Smarter Every Day
At 2:37 he makes an intriguing point and emphasizes that we shouldn't be too quick to blame Facebook for responsibility in feeding into a genocide - "Imagine being the software engineer tasked with writing software to get through a language you don't speak into a character set you've never used, and try to detect deception in the heart of a social system you don't completely understand."
Manipulating YouTube - Smarter Every Day
16:11 Engineers are using every countermeasure they can imagine to analyze and root out inauthentic manipulation, but until our hearts change and we decide not to want to hate others unlike us ("tribalism," the desire to fight with your neighbor 15:44) the bad guys are going to win.
Here's the ludicrous bottom line of what's really happening here - 15:48 -"These people literally make us hate each other, and then we turn around and give them our money."
The Job of a Movie Script Supervisor? | Vanity Fair
Imagine having this level of detail as your job.
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