Home ยป Hallucinations
Tag:

Hallucinations

Health

Narcolepsy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

Narcolepsy Linkโ€‹ Confirmed in Rare Cases Following โขSwine Flu Vaccination

Berlin – A specific โ€protein within the swineโ€ flu virus, and perhaps amplified by the now-discontinued pandemrix vaccine, has been definitively linked to a rare increase in cases ofโ€ narcolepsy,โ€Œ aโข chronic neurological disorder affecting the brain’sโ€‹ ability to regulateโ€ sleep-wake cycles. research indicates the immune response โ€triggered by โขboth vaccination andโค infection can, in certainโข individuals, โ€‹mistakenly target nerve cells responsible for producing hypocretin, a key messengerโ€Œ substance in the brain.

The connection emerged after observing a slight increase โ€‹in narcolepsy diagnoses following the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Scientists discoveredโข that the surface โ€protein of โ€the swine flu โ€virus could provoke an immune โฃresponse โ€directed against hypocretin-producing โ€‹nerve cells or โขtheir receptors. This affect,however,only โขmanifestsโค when combined with โฃspecific genetic predispositions.The Pandemrix โคvaccine,used extensively during the pandemic,contained this surface protein and a vaccine amplifier that may โ€have contributed to the increased risk.

Pandemrix is no longer in use within the European Union, nor is the specific vaccine amplifier it contained. Importantly, health officials emphasize that individuals vaccinated with Pandemrix are not at continued risk, as cases developed within โฃdaysโ€Œ to weeks of vaccinationโค – indicating โ€‹aโ€Œ direct,โค rather than long-term, effect. Theโค rarity โฃofโค the side effect โ€Œinitially hindered โฃits detection in clinical trials due to insufficient participant numbers.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Entertainment

Disappointment when Paris did not match expectations

by Julia Evans โ€“ Entertainment Editor
written by Julia Evans โ€“ Entertainment Editor


Paris –

The city of Paris is a favorite city of tourist destinations that are very much aimed at world tourists. Beauty to his romanticism is so often heard in the ear, but when all that is just a mere expression, it is disappointed.

A sense of disappointment in the city of Paris that was not as expected was called Paris Syndrome. That is what is felt by a cultural and language expert, Salvador Ordorica, when he first set foot to the tourist icon there Champs-Elyesees and Arc de Triomphe.

“The place is the same as Disneyland and does not offer the charm that I expect from Paris,” Ordorica was quoted as saying from Travel + LeisureTuesday (8/7/2025).


SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

Yet according to him long before the ‘Emily in Paris’ series made Paris more popular, the city had long been considered a dream destination. Millions of tourists come every year to see firsthand the splendor of the Versailles Palace or witness Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile at the Louvre Museum, but in reality not everyone returns from Paris with a flowering heart.

Not a few people who felt disappointed when they finally arrived in Paris and found a reality that was not as beautiful as their shadow. The term Paris Syndrome itself was first introduced by Hiroaki Ota, a Japanese psychiatrist who worked in France in the 1980s.

He noted that many tourists, especially from Japan experienced symptoms such as anxiety, dizziness, and even hallucinations because they felt that the paris they met was very far from expectations.

Now, Paris Syndrome is not only experienced by Japanese tourists, on the Reddit platform or other travel forums, many similar stories are found from people who feel cheated by their own expectations. Paris is often described as a city full of beauty, romance, and visual wonders, both in films, social media, and luxury brand advertisements.

“Paris is heralded in films, social media, and luxury brands, and people build a mental image of an ideal city full of beauty and romance,” explained Ordorica.

But once it arrived and saw the real side of the city that was jammed, rain, residents who sometimes look unfriendly disappointment can appear.

“When people come in the hope of perfection, but instead faced with the reality of daily life in Paris, the existing contrast can be very surprising,” he continued.

Before traveling to Paris, it is better for tourists to prepare more realistic expectations. The city does have a charming side such as a calm Ile Saint-Louis, a magnificent notre-dame cathedral, or a rocky road filled with street musicians in Montmartre.

But don’t forget that Paris is also inhabited by more than two million people and like other big cities, of course there is a busy, noisy side, and not always fun.

“Paris is chaotic and poetic, angry and generous. This city is normal, like other cities. The city is jammed, noisy, political problems, rainy days, and many unpleasant people,” said Ordorica.

“Yes, this city is amazing in many ways, full of beauty, delicious culinary, and extraordinary architecture, but don’t forget that there is a real and imperfect side there. This will help you enjoy your time more,” he said.

(upd/wsw)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Health

AI Designs New Proteins Despite ‘Hallucinations’ | Science News

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

AI ‘Hallucinations’ Lead to Breakthrough in Protein Design: New ‘AlphaDesign’ System Creates Functional Proteins

Table of Contents

In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg have unveiled a novel technology that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to design functional proteins. The “AlphaDesign” system, spearheaded by Kashif Sadiq, leverages the “hallucinations” of self-learning algorithms to construct entirely new proteins with specific functions. The initial experiments yielded a functioning inhibitor for a bacterial defense system, showcasing the system’s potential .

Did You Know? The human body contains tens of thousands of different proteins, each with a unique function, from catalyzing biochemical reactions to transporting molecules.

How AlphaDesign Works: A Two-Stage Process

The AlphaDesign process unfolds in two distinct stages. First, researchers generate random sequences of protein modules. These sequences are then analyzed using Google’s established “AlphaFold” tool to predict their structure and assess their suitability for a given task.A specialized machine learning algorithm introduces random changes into the protein sequence, creating improved versions through a process akin to “hallucinations.” These altered proteins are then simulated and re-evaluated using AlphaFold.

The second stage employs a diffusion model to generate similar proteins with new modules from the candidate proteins. AlphaFold then filters these proteins, selecting those most likely to exhibit the desired structure and function. This combination of hallucination-based exploration and diffusion-model refinement is what sets AlphaDesign apart.

AlphaDesign Outperforms Existing Methods

While other AI-based protein design techniques exist, the team around Sadiq asserts that AlphaDesign performs comparably or even better than current methods. The system’s unique approach allows it to create more complex proteins, including those with multiple binding sites or those that must change shape to bind to their targets. This opens up new possibilities for designing proteins with highly specific and complex functions.

Pro Tip: The ability to design proteins with specific functions could revolutionize fields like medicine, biotechnology, and materials science.

Targeting Bacterial Defense Systems

To demonstrate the capabilities of AlphaDesign, the researchers created an inhibitor against the protein RCAT, a toxin produced during bacteriophage infections. RCAT inhibits the growth of other bacteria, hindering the spread of the virus. The AI-generated structures included several effective inhibitors, some of which even worked against related proteins. This success highlights the potential of AlphaDesign to develop new antibacterial agents and combat antibiotic resistance.

Limitations and Future Directions

Despite its promise, AlphaDesign currently faces limitations when working with large proteins. Future research will focus on addressing this issue to expand the system’s applicability. Overcoming this hurdle will unlock even greater potential for designing complex and functional proteins for a wide range of applications.

The Broader Context of AI in Protein Design

AlphaDesign is part of a growing trend of using AI in protein design. Other AI-driven approaches, such as those employing deep learning and generative models, are also showing promise in creating novel proteins with desired properties. As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely to play an increasingly vital role in protein engineering and biotechnology.

AlphaDesign vs. customary Protein Design
Feature AlphaDesign Traditional Methods
Speed Faster, AI-driven Slower, experimental
Complexity Handles complex designs Limited by human intuition
Cost Potentially lower Often expensive
Novelty Creates entirely new proteins Modifies existing proteins

The Future of Protein Design

The development of AlphaDesign represents a notable step forward in protein design. By harnessing the power of AI, researchers can now create functional proteins with unprecedented speed and precision. This technology has the potential to revolutionize medicine, biotechnology, and materials science, leading to new treatments for diseases, novel materials with enhanced properties, and more efficient industrial processes.

What are the potential ethical implications of designing new proteins with AI? How can we ensure that this technology is used responsibly and for the benefit of society?

Evergreen Insights: The Evolution of Protein design

Protein design has historically relied on laborious and time-consuming experimental techniques. Scientists would modify existing proteins through genetic engineering or chemical synthesis, then test their properties in the lab. this process was often slow,expensive,and limited by human intuition. The advent of computational methods, such as molecular dynamics simulations and bioinformatics tools, has accelerated protein design, but these methods still require significant human expertise and computational resources.

The emergence of AI-driven protein design represents a paradigm shift. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data on protein structure and function, identify patterns, and generate novel protein sequences with desired properties.this approach has the potential to dramatically accelerate the protein design process, reduce costs, and create proteins with unprecedented functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Protein Design

What is protein engineering?
Protein engineering is the process of designing and modifying proteins to have desired properties or functions.
How does AlphaFold contribute to protein design?
AlphaFold is an AI system developed by google that can accurately predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins from their amino acid sequence. This facts is crucial for designing proteins with specific functions.
What are the challenges of AI-driven protein design?
Some of the challenges include ensuring that the designed proteins are stable, functional, and non-toxic. It is indeed also critically important to develop methods for efficiently synthesizing and testing the designed proteins.
What impact could AI protein design have on drug discovery?
AI protein design could accelerate the discovery of new drugs by enabling the creation of proteins that can target specific disease-related molecules or pathways.
How does AI hallucination differ from other AI methods?
AI hallucination, in this context, refers to the AI’s ability to generate novel and unexpected solutions by exploring a wide range of possibilities, even those that may seem unlikely or nonsensical at first.

What other applications do you foresee for AI-designed proteins in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
@2025 - All Right Reserved.

Hosted by Byohosting – Most Recommended Web Hosting – for complains, abuse, advertising contact: contact@world-today-news.com