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December 30, 2016

Researchers Create Heat-Activated Penis Implant

Researchers have developed a new way to combat impotence by using a heat-activated penis implant.

Approximately 3 million people in the United States experience impotence. The disease primarily affects men 40 years and older. But in 1998, Viagra became a popular drug that could treat erectile dysfunction. However, for about a third of all men experiencing ED, Viagra does not work.

Stock Photo: KUSADASI, TURKEY – JANUARY 20: Viagra was originally developed by Pfizer as an erectile dysfunction drug. (Sean Nel / Shutterstock.com)

Northwestern University researchers have developed a device that could help treat erectile dysfunction.

Published in “Oncology” Brian Le and his team of researchers have innovated a new way to help men gain an erection by using a heat-activated penis implant.

The Northwestern University research term explained that the device allows for patients to obtain an erection without the use of an inflatable pump or drugs like Viagra.

Patients interested in obtaining the device would simply need an operation to implant the device. The implant will then expand and become erect when heated. The penis implant expands once it becomes warmer than the normal body temperature.

Le and his team are currently working on a remote-control device to enlarge the penis implant. In addition, Le explained that he plans on continuing his research and in 5 to 10 years the device would become available to urologists and their patients.

Prosthesis Penile Surgery

Penile Prosthesis surgeries are not a novel surgical advancement. Developed in the 1970s penile prosthesis surgeries provided a safe solution for men who have exhausted all other treatment options. However, early penile prosthesis surgeries suffered from mechanical malfunctions and high infection rates. But, modern medicine has made improvements in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

A 2016 survey of Australians with penile prostheses found that most men were satisfied with their sex life. In fact, Brindha Pillay and his team of researchers found 80% of men did not report having any symptoms of depression. In addition, only 22% of men reported feeling mild anxiety.

President Obama Sanctions Russia Following the Election Hacks

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 29, 2016

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President Obama Sanctions Russia Following the Election Hacks

Just as President Obama promised, the U.S. sanctioned Russia following the election hacks.

President Obama fired back against Russia over election hacking. On Thursday afternoon, Obama announced that the U.S. will respond against Russia following “repeated private and public warnings” issued to the Russian government.

Russia Election Hacking — Stock Photo: PARIS, FRANCE – NOV 9, 2016: Barack Obama and Joe Biden on tv news on Channel with the result elections in the United States where Donald J Trump has become the 45th president of USA (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

Via an executive order, President Obama outlined a plan for additional authority against cyber activity threatening the democratic process. With this new authority, President Obama sanctioned nine groups including two Russian intelligence services, individual officers and companies that “provided material support” to Russian intelligence officials.

President Obama also explained the shutdown of two Russian compounds in Maryland and in New York, which were being used by Russian officials for intelligence-related purposes.

Russian Malicious Cyber Activity Report

In addition, the FBI and DHS issued a report to the public reviewing the Russia election hacking. The joint analysis report explains that there were to cyber attacks called Advanced Persistent Threat 28 (APT28) and Advanced Persistent Threat 29 (APT29).

Stock Photo: KYIV – JUL 27: President of Russia Vladimir Putin attend a ceremony marking the 1,025th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus in Kiev, Ukraine. July 27, 2013. (Slavko Sereda / Shutterstock.com)

APT29 cyber threat first took place in the summer of 2015 and hacked a U.S. political party. Then, APT28 occurred in the spring of 2016. It is important to note that the report does not reveal which political party was compromised. Also, the report goes on to explain that political parties were not the only organizations targeted but, universities and corporations were also involved. Via APT29 hackers were able to gain email access to several government officials to “compromise” a U.S. political party.

The report goes on to reveal how hackers gained access. Hackers used spear phishing email attacks. Spear phishing cyber attacks is a hacking scheme that works by targeting someone by pretending to be a business or individual they would know.

The report also included directions and instructions on how to prevent future malicious cyber attacks.

Towards the end of the statement, President Obama also made sure to explain that the U.S. is also responding in ways that will not be revealed to the public.

Hackers are getting more advanced. Last week, it was revealed that Russian hackers were able to steal millions per day from video advertisers through program called “Methbot”. But, government agencies are not the only groups getting targeted, Yahoo!, Britney Spears, Netflix and adult websites have all become victims of hackers just in the last few weeks.

Amazon May Soon Release Floating Warehouses

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 29, 2016

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Amazon May Soon Release Floating Warehouses

Following news of an incredible holiday season, Amazon was awarded a patent that will allow for floating warehouses.

Amazon has won a patent that is will presumably decrease shipping times. Labeled as a “airborne fulfillment center (AFC),” the e-commerce giant will use airships to house products.

Basically, the AFC will flow in altitudes of 45,000 feet or higher. Amazon shoppers will then be able to receive the products through the airborne fulfillment center. This is a major advantage for Amazon. The company is constantly working on decreasing shipping times in order to remain competitive. With AFC, Amazon could supply the high flying warehouse to hold items and a drone will ship the products to customers.

Amazon Shipping — Stock Photo: PARIS, FRANCE – JAN 27, 2016: Customer hand taking the parcel as the UPS United Parcel Service from Amazon Prime (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

In the company’s patent description Amazon explains that the AFC can remain airborne for long periods of time. Moreover, the AFC is not limited to similar warehouses that are located in a facility. Furthermore, an AFC can travel to different areas depending upon demand making it an easier to transport products.

Amazon Drones

Amazon Prime Air — Amazon announces Prime Air – a drone delivery service. (Image Courtesy of Amazon.com)

This is not the first time Amazon has showed their interest in aviation. Amazon announced a plan to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less. The company plans on accomplishing this by using drone technology.

Then, earlier this month Amazon’s CEO announced the news via Twitter praising the shipping breakthrough for the company. Amazon was able to deliver a product to a consumer via a drone and the entire delivery process only took 13 minutes.

However, Amazon still faces strict Federal Aviation Administration rules that call for all drones to be operated by a human pilot. Consequently, this rules out algorithms or GPS technology.

Following Amazon’s patent, it is possible to believe that warehouses will be floating across the country delivering products in minutes rather than days.

Scientists Can Detect 17 Diseases Using Only a Patient’s Breath

Business

Brent Edward

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December 29, 2016

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Scientists Can Detect 17 Diseases Using Only a Patient’s Breath

Scientists have detected 17 diseases by examining someone’s breath and using artificial intelligent sensors.

Morad K. Nakhleh and his team of 56 researchers from five different countries, led by the Israel Institute of Technology, published their findings in the journal of “ACS Nano”.

Researchers explained that diseases have unique chemical properties and by analyzing someone’s breath they were able to identify “chemical signatures”. In turn, they discovered diseases that the person was experiencing. Scientists examined over 1,400 patients and detected 17 unique diseases including several different types of cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Scientists accomplished this study by using a type of chemical identification machine often used in chemical experiments called mass spectrometry and artificial intelligent sensors. From there they identified the unique chemical components and their composition and linked it to information associated with particular diseases.

Ultimately, researchers were able to detect the diseases with 86% accuracy in blind experiments. But, researchers argue this type of technology and medical intervention could lead to a more personalized diagnosis and classification of diseases without expensive or noninvasive procedures.

Artificial Intelligent Breath Sensors

Moreover, these new discoveries are predicated on new technology called “artificially intelligent nanoarray” developed by Hossam Haick, professor at the Israel Institute of Technology. It’s a fast and inexpensive piece of AI technology that analyzes the chemical compounds and matches them to select diseases.

This is not the first time researchers have used this type of technology to detect cancer or other diseases. In 2014, Haitham Amal and his team of researchers published a study in the International Journal of Cancer revealing their ability to detect ovarian cancer from an exhaled breath. By examining 182 females, the study was able to detect cancer with 89% accuracy.

Then in 2015, researchers published a study in the journal of “Oncotarget” scientistes revealed their ability to determine genetic differences in breast cancers among women using the same type of technology.

This news comes as Silicon Valley’s tech titans invest heavily into AI. In fact, Amazon’s popular Internet of Things product, Amazon Echo and Amazon Dot were among the most popular items sold and shipped by the e-commerce giant. The AI product was so popular that the company was unable to keep up with the number of orders.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Linked to Longterm Digestive Issues

Business

Brent Edward

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December 29, 2016

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Gastric Bypass Surgery Linked to Longterm Digestive Issues

A popular weight loss surgery, gastric bypass, is now linked to long term digestive issues.

Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Boerlage published the results of his study in the British Journal of Surgery. Boerlage discovered that Laparoscopic gastric bypasss surgery often causes gastrointestinal issues for patients. Boerlage examined 249 obese patients who under went the surgery and found that 70.7% of the patients in the study complained of indigestion, being unable to eat food with high fat or sugar content, and nor being able to eat red meat.

Boerlage explained that the results of the study illustrate the importance of communication between the physician and the patient. Moreover, patients considering undergoing the weight loss surgery need to understand the long-term implications of the procedure.

“With this study, physicians can better counsel their patients, both before and after surgery. It also helps patients considering a gastric bypass to make a more well-thought decision,” Boerlage explained in a statement.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications — Stock Photo:
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – January 11, 2016: Medical robot da vinci. Robotic surgery. (Master Video / Shutterstock.com)

Gastric Bypass surgery works by making the size of the human stomach smaller. Surgeons accomplish this through a myriad of different procedures. But, overall surgery has been able to treat morbid obesity, diabetes, and other diseases associated with weight gain.

In a 2016 study published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery researchers Benedict MacKay and his team found gastric bypass surgery to be a safe procedure. Researchers examined patients that underwentRoux-en-Y laparoscopic gastric bypass (LYRYGB) and found the weight loss surgery to be a safe procedure with a low complication rate. In addition, to a low mortality rate.

A 2014 study published in the journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism researchers found the death rate for gastric bypass surgery to be similar to knee surgery. In fact, scientists reported the mortality rate for LYRYGB to be 0.3% or 3 deaths for every 1,000 surgeries.

However, the weight loss surgery does not come without risks. A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Obesity by researchers from Louisiana State University found that mice that underwent gastric bypass surgery activated parts of the brain typically associated with anorexia.

Eye Contact Disrupts the Brain While Talking, Study Finds

Business

Megan Diane

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December 28, 2016

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Eye Contact Disrupts the Brain While Talking, Study Finds

Making eye contact and talking may be connected and affect the brain. Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan may have discovered why people avoid looking someone in the eyes while they are talking.

Researchers Shogo Kajimura and Michio Nomura published their study “When we cannot speak: Eye contact disrupts resources available to cognitive control processes during verb generation” in the journal of Cognition. In the study, researchers explain that scientists once believe eye contact and verbal communication were independent functions. Kajimura and Nomura hypothesized that non-verbal communication such as eye contact use the same resources in the brain as verbal communication.

After several experiments researchers found that there may be a interference in those functions when someone is required to make eye contact and talk. In addition, that type of non-verbal communication may affect the verbal communication process.

Researchers asked people to look at two different videos of people’s faces. Kajimura and Nomura discovered that individuals that watched a video with people making eye contact with the subject experienced a delay in verbal communication. In comparison to those who watched a video featuring people averting their eyes.

Ultimately, researchers argue that the brain is unable to focus on both communicating and eye contact. In turn, the human brain must readjust and focus on finding the correct word in a conversation.

In addition, researchers explain that in order to better understand communication, we must treat non-verbal and verbal messages the same because they may interfere or influence one another.

The interconnectivity of the human brain

The brain is extremely complex and this research is among the latest of published scientific studies that show an interconnectivity of the human body and the brain. Yesterday, neuroscientists discovered emotional experiences can have a prolonged impact on memory. In addition, scientists discovered “pregnancy brain” may actually exist and prepare women for motherhood.

Apple Releases Data on its AI Research

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 28, 2016

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a buzz word in tech circles these days. Examples include Google’s Deep Mind project and IBM’s Watson. Both AI programs have gain notoriety for winning high-profile competitions against human players and the programs are becoming increasingly integrated in our everyday life.

One potential laggard in this space has been Apple. While the company had promised to release information on its AI research little is known about Apple’s efforts to date. That changed when Ashish Shrivastava and the rest of the AI team at Apple submitted a paper with the company’s findings to the Cornell University Library.

Apple Artificial Intelligence AI — Stock Photo: HONG KONG – MAY 5, 2015: interior of Apple store. Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California (Sorbis / Shutterstock.com)

The paper outlines research into ‘Learning from Simulated and Unsupervised Images through Adversarial Training.’ This includes teaching computers how to recognize images. Findings point to a ‘Simulated+Unsupervised (S+U)’ approach which uses images with embedded data to help computers ‘see’ object.

This represents a sea change in how researchers teach computers to see as previous approaches relied on showing computers real world objects and then trying to match that object with a library or stored images.

Granted, the paper is a bit wonkish but industry analysts noted that it might represent a breakthrough in an area which has lagged.

Steve Jobs Apple — Stock Photo: STOCKHOLM – APRIL 6: Mac with reflection of Steve Jobs in a iPhone 5 on table in room in black and white. April 6, 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden. Steve Jobs 1955-2011 (Stefan Holm / Shutterstock.com)

Another reason why the paper is notable is that the company rarely releases its findings to the tech community. The ban was in keeping with the company’s proclivity for secrecy which dates to the early-80’s when Apple and Microsoft were battling to develop the winning operating system for the personal computer market. Apple ultimately, lost out to Microsoft when the Steve Jobs shared key details of the OS with Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Apple Siri AI — Stock Photo: CUPERTINO, CA – DEC 9: Siri, the iPhone intelligent software assistant (Annette Shaff / Shutterstock.com)

In terms of real world applications, the breakthrough could be used to give Apple’s personal assistant – Siri – additional functionality. It is also believed that the research could lead to a slew of patent applications in the space as some observers believe the company has moved well beyond the results published in the paper. This could lead to interesting developments in the company’s like of mobile phones and tablets.

Christmas 2016 Was a Blockbuster for Amazon

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 28, 2016

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Christmas 2016 Was a Blockbuster for Amazon

This holiday season was a record-breaker for Amazon and the news helped to lift shares of the e-commerce giant by 1.5 percent in Tuesday’s post-holiday trade. According to a statement to shareholders by Jeff Wilke, Chief Executive of the company’s consumer division, the Amazon Echo and Amazon Dot were hot sellers this year.

In fact, the devices sold so well that the company reported problems in maintaining inventory. The challenge was not production delays, rather the company had failed to predict a near nine-fold increase in sales.

Stock Photo: ORLANDO, FL – April 30, 2015: Amazon Echo, the voice recognition streaming device from Amazon, announced last year is currently shipping. (George W. Bailey / Shutterstock.com)

These voice-controlled devices help users to conduct several tasks from answering questions, controlling lights, and,when linked with other Internet of Things (IoT) devices, monitoring home security systems. While the Echo was released in 2015, sales have really taken off this year.

According to the technology research firm, Gartner, there are roughly seven billion IoT devices in the world today and that number is expected to grow to more than 20 billion by 2020. Virtual assistants or smart hubs, such as the Echo are a key step to linking the home-management devices with a centralized controller, which is then connected to a smartphone for remote use.

It is no secret that mobile is big and Amazon noted that nearly 72 percent of its customers used their mobile devices to shop online this holiday season. This represents a dramatic increase from previous years and potentially points to a change in shopping behavior amongst Amazon customers.

Amazon Mobile — Stock Photo: NEW YORK CITY – FEB 3, 2014: Electronic tablet opened to Amazon homepage. Amazon.com went online in 1995 and is now the largest online retailer in the world. (littleny / Shutterstock.com)

A key driver in the move to mobile has turned out to be the company’s Prime program. Ken Perkins, President of Retail Metrics, noted that ‘prime customers are spending twice as much as other customers using Amazon.’ Not only does this show the success for the program it points to the fact the Prime customer see value for money when it comes to the annual subscription fee.

This is an important development for Amazon. While the company has continued to grow, it has struggled to increase its razor-thin profit margins when faced with stiff competition from brick-and-mortar retailers who have finally woken up to online shopping.

As such, the subscription model helps the company bolster customer loyalty while offering several value-added options, which have little or no cost. The biggest of these, at least in terms of holiday shopping, is free shipping. The company noted that December 19^th was the busiest day this holiday season, with Prime customer’s leading the charge.

Amazon Prime — Stock Photo: Adelaide, Australia – August 18, 2013: Browsing the ebay webpage on an ipad. eBay is one of the largest online auction and shopping websites in the world. (ymgerman / Shutterstock.com)

In addition, the use of the Echo and the smaller Dot, which relies on Alexa – another Prime service. This Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled assistant helps to plug users into the myriad of Amazon’s services such as, one-click ordering.

In doing so, Amazon is positioning itself to have an added leg up on traditional retailers while securing the home virtual assistant market against Google Home and the inevitable entrants from Apple and Microsoft.

Will Battery Issues Continue to Plague Apple In 2017?

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 28, 2016

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Will Battery Issues Continue to Plague Apple In 2017?

It turns out Samsung is not the only company facing problems with their latest generation of smartphones. Reports of problems with the batteries in the iPhone 6 first surfaced in China in October and since then a number of users around the world have complained about the issue.

Apple Battery — Stock Photo:
PARIS, FRANCE – SEP 10, 2015: Apple Computers website on MacBook Pro Retina in a creative room environment showcasing Philip Schiller from Apple talking about battery life of iPad Pro (Hadrian / Shutterstock.com)

Granted, everyone has a problem with the iPhone’s battery life. But in this case, the complaints include erratic battery level readings, batteries overheating, and even fires. Whilst the latter has not been independently confirmed, videos of iPhones catching fire have appeared online. Users have also complained about power-saving measures, which often kill apps when they are most needed.

It should be noted that Apple is currently running a battery replacement program for some owners of iPhone 6 and 6s models. This program is tied to batches of phones, which were believed to have its batteries improperly handled during the manufacturing process.

However, this program does not apply to most users and the complaints about the iPhone battery continue unabated. This means that most iPhone users will have to cope with unexpected shutdowns and other issues with the phone’s low-power mode.

Apple iPhone Battery — Stock Photo: Melbourne, Australia – Sep 24, 2015: Enabling low power mode on an iPhone running iOS 9. This is a new feature of iOS which helps to extend the battery life. (ymgerman / Shutterstock.com)

Given that Apple’s phones have not faced the same level of scrutiny as Samsung’s aborted Galaxy S7 it is likely that Apple will be slow to improve their battery anytime soon. While this might make fiscal sense, the reality is that the smartphone market is shifting. Google’s Pixel phone is beating pre-release sales estimates and several players have found a niche in the high-end smartphone segment.

Consequently, the Apple/Samsung duopoly of previous years may be coming to an end and this is something that Apple might want to consider as they plan the release of their iPhone 7S in late-2017 and the iPhone 8 in 2018.

Stock Photo: MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 18: Oculus headset on display at Fuorisalone, series of important and interesting events all around the town during Milan Design Week on APRIL 18, 2015 in Milan. (Tinxi / Shutterstock.com)

Added battery stability will prove to be an important asset especially as Virtual Reality (VR) will become an increasingly important use for smartphone. VR-enabled apps allow users to plug their smartphones into a headset to enjoy the experience. While such applications remain limited, they are likely to increase over time – a development which could bring battery life into focus.

False Reports of Bombing in Bangkok Triggers Facebook’s Safety Check

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 28, 2016

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False Reports of Bombing in Bangkok Triggers Facebook’s Safety Check

As if the struggle with fake news has not been hard enough for the social media network this year, false reports of a bombing in Central Bangkok triggered Facebook’s Safety Check feature on Tuesday. According to the Thai-based Khao Sod (Live News) the supposed incident happened around 9:00 PM local time in Bangkok – 9:00 AM in New York.

Reports of the bombing first surfaced on Facebook and were quickly spread by followers. At first glance, some of the reports appeared to be authentic, with one headline mimicking the BBC. Given that December is the peak of the tourist season in the Southeast Asian country, news of the bombing led to fear of the worst.

Political unrest in Bangkok

Another fact that led people to believe that the report was credible was that Thailand has become known for its prolonged political conflict. In fact political unrest ended with a military coup in 2014. The conflict, which is ostensibly between supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and his opponents, has seen both parties stage massive rallies in Central Bangkok since 2005.

Bangkok Protests — Stock Photo: BANGKOK-NOV 24:Unidentified Thai protesters rally at Ratchadamnoen road to anti amnesty bill on Nov 24, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. It claims that Up to million Thai people gather on such day. (Blanscape / Shutterstock.com)

While most of these protests were peaceful, there were also incidents of violence including bombings and an armed intervention by the military in 2010. In addition, Thailand is home to a simmering insurgency in the country’s southernmost province and insurgents were linked to coordinated bombings in August.

A 2015 bombing of a shrine in the city’s center shook Bangkok to its core. The blast was carried out by ethnic Uighurs protesting China’s handling of the minority in their home country. Thailand is a favored tourist destination for mainland Chinese tour groups.

Bangkok Tourism — Stock Photo:Bangkok, Thailand – April 13: Tourists shooting water guns and having fun at Songkran festival, the traditional Thai New Year, on Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand. (NattapolStudiO / Shutterstock.com)

This backstory led to a perfect storm for Facebook, which has announced an initiative to combat the prevalence of false or misleading news stories being circulated on the social media site.

What went wrong?

In November, the company noted that the Safety Check system is monitored by an algorithm. The algorithm considers trending posts by users in a certain geographic area. According to an interview given by Facebook engineer, Peter Cottle, to CNET at the time of the announcement, the probability of a ‘false positive’ was very low as the company also used a third-party service to check the results of the algorithm.

Facebook Safety — Stock Photo: Bucharest, Romania – March 16,2015: Photo of Facebook’s new updated Community Standards (RoSonic / Shutterstock.com)

However, Tuesday’s false positive warning proved that the safeguards did not work in this case. What is not clear is the reason why. In fact, the system has triggered false positives in the past. In March, the company issued a Safety Check notification to users in the U.K. and the U.S. After a reported following a bombing in Pakistan.

By Tuesday afternoon the company had issued a statement to The Verge. In the statement Facebook explained what happened.

“Safety Check was activated today in Thailand following an explosion. As with all Safety Check activations, Facebook relies on a trusted third party to first confirm the incident and then on the community to use the tool and share with friends and family.”

Prosthesis Penile Surgery

Russian Malicious Cyber Activity Report

Amazon Drones

Artificial Intelligent Breath Sensors

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

The interconnectivity of the human brain

Political unrest in Bangkok

What went wrong?

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