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Next-Gen Brain Implants Offer New Hope for Depression: AI and real-time neural feedback could transform treatments

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  • As someone who is literally living where others go on holidays while depressed let me tell you my depression is very much a response to the world being a rotting shithole. I am not sad because my life sucks but because so many others are suffering and I feel powerless to change it. The narrative of 'chemical imbalance' is a very reductive and misleading one.

    The feeling of powerlessness and disconnect also points to the cure I find for myself. Instead of implanting experimental BS inventions into my brain I try to be a force of connection, community and hope for others. There is very few things I can do as a single tiny person, but in these very small things lies the power of change for the better.

    To be clear, I’m not claiming all depression can’t be influenced from external factors. And any BCI claiming to solve all depression should be treated like the plague. But there are types of depression that are solely a chemical imbalance that cannot be corrected through external means. And yeah, the “all depression is just a chemical imbalance” narrative is horribly flawed. But to claim none of them are a chemical imbalance is just as bad.

    Our current treatment for such types of depression are essentially still in the stone ages. Throw something at it, see what happens, adjust as needed. If a BCI can work around such a situation and offer a direct and targeted approach to the issue, and it goes through extensive testing, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be a good potential solution.

  • To be clear, I’m not claiming all depression can’t be influenced from external factors. And any BCI claiming to solve all depression should be treated like the plague. But there are types of depression that are solely a chemical imbalance that cannot be corrected through external means. And yeah, the “all depression is just a chemical imbalance” narrative is horribly flawed. But to claim none of them are a chemical imbalance is just as bad.

    Our current treatment for such types of depression are essentially still in the stone ages. Throw something at it, see what happens, adjust as needed. If a BCI can work around such a situation and offer a direct and targeted approach to the issue, and it goes through extensive testing, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be a good potential solution.

    Our current treatment for such types of depression are essentially still in the stone ages. Throw something at it, see what happens, adjust as needed.

    I know, and I guess watching a loved one being slowly destroyed by the trial and error that is 'modern' medication made me want to never consider it no matter how bad i felt - so this AI thing seems to be an even more dangerous trial and error method, because it seems even more invasive and less tested than the medication that's available now. On the other hand I've found self medication with plant medicine (yes, it's weed, weed, and more weed, but also quite a few other herbs I collect myself) quite efficient and safe. I've managed to keep myself going for a few bad years and have now reached the point where I went off it cold turkey - something my loved one never managed to do once he was hooked onto the meds. All done on my own terms, no doctor pretending they know better than me, giving myself the time I needed. So that's for a true stone age method, and given the fact our bodies are still working the same way as they did in the stone age I feel it might be safer than any novelty they have come up with in the last decades. Probably that's a controversial take on this, and I don't expect this to work for everybody (you need to have lots of time to be able to afford to rest and relax and have access to unlimited amounts of plant medicine).

  • This is how we get the movie “Upgrade”

    This was on my mind, but then I just watched it yesterday.

  • Thinking about AI trying to fix my brain cured my depression, thanks.

    I'm not sad anymore but due to a branding deal I always crave a fresh bag of Lays chips. That crispy fresh flavor with just the right amount of seasoning hits the spot every time. Lays, betcha can't eat just one. Anyways, at least I cry less now. You wanna get some Lays?

  • In a sense, AI is already fucking with everyone's brain when it comes to mass-produced ads and propaganda.

    In a sense, I'm already planning on killing myself

  • This post did not contain any content.

    "I see the problem."

    Flicks switch

    "They had you set to sad instead of happy. Classic mistake."

  • I've been depressed for three decades and nothing I've tried so far has worked, but I'll be stone cold dead before they put fucking chips in my brain. /oldmanyellsatcloud.jpg

    Mega dose of mushrooms. Have you really tried everything? Micro dosing as well?

  • Mega dose of mushrooms. Have you really tried everything? Micro dosing as well?

    I did, but long ago. Problem is when you're taking ssri's/snri's, especially in large doses, mushrooms lose their effect. Taking psylocibin on these meds doesn't do anything, you don't even get visuals anymore, only a mild euphoria at best.

  • Nope I'd definitely kill myself before letting an ai fuck with my brain

    The non-technical public is scared of the word "AI". When it has a whole spectrum of meanings and implications.

    AI has been in use in medicine, engineering, municipal infrastructure....etc long before LLMs/GenAI.

    Even new products today (Like those assistive exoskeleton legs) use (non LLM) AI to interpret and extrapolate bodily functions l. And wouldn't work without it.

  • I did, but long ago. Problem is when you're taking ssri's/snri's, especially in large doses, mushrooms lose their effect. Taking psylocibin on these meds doesn't do anything, you don't even get visuals anymore, only a mild euphoria at best.

    The point is not visuals, though I know what you mean. The point is to gain the introspection and Brain chemistry changes. Micro dosing less than . 5 grams daily for short periods NOT LONGTERM, are very effective control vs SSRIs. Large mega doses are where the real changes happen. I highly recommend significant research and carrful planning if you choose this route. Safety. Trip sitters. Be safe. There has been major changes in PTSD war veterans and all sorts if mental health issues.

  • Biotech uses fermentation to produce milk proteins without cows

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    Copy of the article because I don’t respect Microsoft: With finite natural resources and a growing demand for food, the world must find ways to overcome this challenge. One proposal comes from a Brazilian startup that will produce milk proteins without the need for cows. Founded in 2023, Future Cow wants to transform the dairy market by using precision fermentation, a process that combines high technology, sustainability, and production efficiency. "Our mission is to make milk without a cow," summarizes Leonardo Vieira, the company's co-founder and CEO. "Precision fermentation is a technology similar to that used in the production of beer or wine." The entrepreneur explains that the technology involves identifying the genetic sequence in the animal's DNA that provides instructions for producing the milk protein. The sequence is then copied and encoded in a host, which can be a fungus, yeast, or bacterium. The host then multiplies in a fermentation tank with a calorie source for nutrition. The result is a liquid that—after being filtered and dried—is transformed into the initially programmed milk proteins. "These proteins serve as ingredients for the food and dairy industry, which can recombine the product to create various derivatives," he explains. The foodtech will use yeast as hosts to initially produce casein and whey protein, two of the main proteins found in milk. Casein is widely used in cheese and yogurt production, while whey is rich in protein and highly valued in the food supplement market. There are also other proteins in milk, each with specific applications. "One of them is lactoferrin, which is extremely difficult to produce using traditional methods," says Vieira. "It takes 10,000 liters of milk to obtain just one kilo of this ingredient." #From the laboratory to the market Future Cow began operating in the Supera Technology Park in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state. There, it produced the first grams of milk protein using precision fermentation. It was then selected to take part in the DeepTech Acceleration Program (PACE) of the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas. It is now testing the scaling of the process, which is a critical stage for biotech companies. "Ninety-five percent of biotechs fail when they leave a bench environment and go to a pilot plant or other relevant environment," recalls Vieira. "We're very optimistic that with the support of the CNPEM and the available infrastructure, we'll achieve the scale-up we need for the next stage." The startup does not intend to replace animal milk entirely; rather, it wants to create complementary solutions for the industry. "When precision fermentation began, it was all very black or white: the product was either animal or it wasn't animal. Now, we see more hybrid models," Vieira observes. According to Vieira, executives from large dairies claim to already purchase all the available milk on the market. "They can't increase production by 20% or 30% with just the traditional raw material," he says. "If they can mix our ingredient with the animal product to create a hybrid product and increase the scale, it'll be a significant gain," he says. Another relevant aspect is the decarbonization agenda of large companies. "Even if precision fermentation doesn't fully replace animal milk, a 10% or 20% reduction in the carbon footprint of large corporations in the food sector would already represent a considerable environmental impact," Vieira continues. #Brazilian potential The sector for alternative proteins produced by precision fermentation is still in its early stages, but startups specializing in the segment are already emerging around the world. "Each one follows a different technological route. There's variation in the type of host [fungus, yeast, or bacteria] and in the target proteins," says Vieira. The entrepreneur points out that Brazil is in a privileged strategic position to lead the global market. "Brazil is the only country in the world that has an abundance of water, sugar, and renewable energy, which are the three essential inputs for fermentation. It's a unique opportunity for the country," he points out. "With these characteristics, Brazil can take the lead in a strategic industry for the future of global food." Future Cow's technical and economic analyses show that producing milk proteins on a 300,000-liter scale will be less expensive than traditional production methods. He points out that when precision fermentation reaches an industrial scale with lower costs, it will disrupt the market: "If Brazil only focuses on traditional agriculture at that point, we'll be left behind." The researcher cites New Zealand as an example. The country has characteristics similar to Brazil's, and a significant portion of its gross domestic product (GDP) comes from milk exports. "They've already realized that the sector is going to change and are moving to avoid being left behind," he comments. "I've been trying to alert the Brazilian government authorities to this potential." #Future prospects Future Cow already has a functional strain and is now looking to increase production yields. "The more the strain produces, the more the unit price falls. So we're optimizing the fermentation processes," Vieira asserts. The expectation is that the product will be ready and available for sale by the end of 2026. Since the product is an ingredient, the company will not sell directly to the end consumer, but rather will act as a supplier to the food industry. This approach could facilitate the startup's entry into the market. Vieira explains, "As an ingredient, our product can be incorporated into existing products without facing a high entry barrier." The startup will initially market the proteins it has already developed before expanding to other varieties. "Only after the first commercialization will we develop other proteins," says the entrepreneur. The company is preparing to take part in VivaTech, an innovation fair that will be held in Paris, France, in June. "The technology already exists in other countries and at VivaTech we'll be able to show that Brazil has it too," says Vieira. "We can win over investors who realize that we can manufacture in Brazil and export to other locations. This kind of exposure abroad is uncommon for Brazilian companies." At the meeting, Future Cow aims to connect with the innovation ecosystem, raise awareness of the development of the technology in Brazil, and attract potential corporate partners. "We want to demonstrate that we're developing alternative proteins and, with this, attract multinationals from the dairy sector to be our clients." #Scientific entrepreneurship One aspect that Vieira highlights is the combination of skills at Future Cow. While he brings experience in business and entrepreneurship, his partner, Rosana Goldbeck, has a Ph.D. in food engineering from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and has already studied meat cultivation in Brazil. He says, "This mix is an important differentiator, as it brings together someone who understands business and someone who understands the technology." According to Vieira, this is one of the main barriers preventing more innovations from Brazilian universities from becoming commercial products: "Brazil produces a lot of science, has many scientific articles, but most of them don't become businesses," he laments. "There need to be more connections between the academic environment and entrepreneurship in Brazil." Provided by FAPESP
  • Microsoft is moving antivirus providers out of the Windows kernel

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    I could see some exception for windows 11 IoT being made, but I honestly don’t know.
  • Fully remote control your Nissan Leaf (or other modern cars)

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    Never buy a tesla, Elon and any employee can just watch you, hell if they really wanted they could drive you into on coming traffic for the fun of it. Majority of those accidents were not.
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    Imbezzled. Money was used to pay for somebody's vacation.
  • Army gives shady offer to tech bros so they can play soldier

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    It is common in the military to give commissioned rank to certain positions for the higher pay grade. The fast tracking takes away from the belief everyone serving with you went through (roughly) the same basic training as you.
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    They stopped sending to me when I replied that every text message after would cost them $500 each. That's an actual thing. They got scared.
  • Building a slow web

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    Realistically, you don't need security, NAT alone is enough since the packets have nowhere to go without port forwarding. But IF you really want to build front end security here is my plan. ISP bridge -> WAN port of openwrt capable router with DSA supported switch (that is almost all of them) Set all ports of the switch to VLAN mirroring mode bridge WAN and LAN sides Fail2Ban IP block list in the bridge LAN PORT 1 toward -> OpenWRT running inside Proxmox LXC (NAT lives here) -> top of rack switch LAN PORT 2 toward -> Snort IDS LAN PORT 3 toward -> combined honeypot and traffic analyzer Port 2&3 detect malicious internet hosts and add them to the block list (and then multiple other openwrt LXCs running many many VPN ports as alternative gateways, I switch LAN host's internet address by changing their default gateway) I run no internal VLAN, all one LAN because convenience is more important than security in my case.
  • Where do I install this nvme drive on my laptop?

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    ??? The thing is on the right side of the pic. Your image is up side down. Edit: oh.duh, the two horizontal slots. I'm a dummy. Sorry.