Ikumi Nomita

Creamy, crispy, and totally crave-worthy! These Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls take everything you love about the classic appetizer and wrap it up in a golden, crunchy shell. With a rich crab and cream cheese filling and a hint of veggie crunch, they’re perfect for dipping and devouring!

Ingredients:
● 8 oz cream cheese, softened
● 1 cup imitation crab meat or real crab, finely chopped
● 1/4 cup shredded carrot

Mita Yuki

A remarkable scientific breakthrough has enabled a man who lost his ability to speak to communicate in real time using a brain-computer interface (BCI) that converts his brain activity directly into synthetic speech.

This system, developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis, uses electrodes implanted in the man's brain to detect neural signals associated with intended speech.

These brain signals are instantly interpreted and transformed into vocalized speech using artificial intelligence.

The BCI achieves near-instantaneous synthesis—within just 25 milliseconds—making the communication feel natural and conversational.

The resulting synthetic voice is capable of reflecting variations in pitch, emphasis, and intonation, which are critical elements for emotional expression and natural conversation.

According to Sergey Stavisky, a neuroscientist involved in the project, this is the first instance of a system that can produce real-time, expressive voice directly from neural activity.

This technology not only allows the patient to converse but even enables singing, demonstrating its fluidity and expressiveness.

The implications are vast: this could restore meaningful communication to people with conditions like ALS, brainstem stroke, or spinal cord injury, where speech capability is lost.

This research builds upon earlier BCI efforts but sets a new bar in terms of immediacy and speech quality.

It marks a significant step toward giving a natural voice back to individuals with severe physical limitations

Overview of Five major techniques used in brain imaging, each with its unique purpose, strengths, and limitations:

1. X-Ray

Use: Primarily for imaging bones; not ideal for soft tissue like the brain.

Fact: X-rays pass through soft tissue but are absorbed by denser structures like bone, making them suitable for detecting skull fractures.

Limitation: Cannot show brain structures or abnormalities in detail.

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2. CT (Computed Tomography) Scan

Use: Cross-sectional images of the brain using X-ray technology.

Fact: Good for detecting bleeding, tumors, and skull fractures.

Limitation: Less detail on soft tissues compared to MRI.

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3. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Use: Provides detailed images of brain soft tissues using magnetic fields and radio waves.

Fact: Excellent for detecting tumors, brain injuries, developmental anomalies, and multiple sclerosis.

Limitation: More expensive and time-consuming than CT.

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4. MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography)

Use: Visualizes blood vessels in the brain.

Fact: Often used to detect aneurysms, blockages, or vascular malformations.

Limitation: Requires specialized equipment and often a contrast agent.

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5. PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography)

Use: Assesses brain metabolism and activity.

Fact: Commonly used in Alzheimer's research, cancer detection, and epilepsy diagnosis.

Limitation: Involves radioactive tracers and is less spatially detailed than MRI.