All posts tagged: structural

The Feminine as Structural Problem

The Feminine as Structural Problem

Published by Jenni Sidey

Twelve years ago, I committed to a life in philosophy—knowing it meant poverty and prolonged adolescence. Years of it. Maybe forever, given the job market’s generosity toward philosophers! And my commitment hasn’t wavered. How could it? Philosophy does something almost nothing else can: whether I’m reading, writing, teaching, or lost in dialogue, it lifts me beyond the bounds of identity—beyond being a grad student with no real job, Iranian, cisgender, immigrant, daughter, sister—beyond every label pinned to me. But not in an erasing way; I am still each of them, yet for a moment, I become something more.   What strikes me about my ongoing commitment to philosophy is that the deeper I go, the more feminist I become! Yet my experience of academic philosophy has largely disclosed the opposite: a discipline that solemnly declares its devotion to openness proves curiously unsettled by me as a woman—and, more precisely, by my perceived femininity. This discomfort is not a private or isolated experience unique to me; rather, the incompatibility of femininity with intellect appears to be deeply embedded in …

Study links psilocybin receptor activation to sustained structural brain changes

Study links psilocybin receptor activation to sustained structural brain changes

Published by José Betancourt

A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology sheds light on how psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms, may produce anti-depressant effects. Researchers suggest that its benefits could be linked to specific patterns of serotonin receptor activity and increased flexibility in brain cells. In recent years, clinical trials have shown that psilocybin can produce rapid and lasting improvements in symptoms of major depressive disorder, sometimes after only one or two treatment sessions. Despite promising results, scientists still have limited understanding of the biological mechanisms that allow psilocybin to produce such long-lasting effects. One theory lies in the way psilocybin interacts with the brain’s serotonin system. The compound activates a serotonin receptor known as the 5-HT2A receptor, which is widely believed to play a central role in the psychedelic experience. However, researchers have not fully understood how activation of this receptor leads to changes in mood and behavior that may persist long after the drug’s immediate effects have worn off. To investigate this question, a team led by Connor J. Maltby (Ulysses Neuroscience, …

Anthropic and OpenAI just exposed SAST’s structural blind spot with free tools

Anthropic and OpenAI just exposed SAST’s structural blind spot with free tools

Published by skeptic

OpenAI launched Codex Security on March 6, entering the application security market that Anthropic had disrupted 14 days earlier with Claude Code Security. Both scanners use LLM reasoning instead of pattern matching. Both proved that traditional static application security testing (SAST) tools are structurally blind to entire vulnerability classes. The enterprise security stack is caught in the middle. Anthropic and OpenAI independently released reasoning-based vulnerability scanners, and both found bug classes that pattern-matching SAST was never designed to detect. The competitive pressure between two labs with a combined private-market valuation exceeding $1.1 trillion means detection quality will improve faster than any single vendor can deliver alone. Neither Claude Code Security nor Codex Security replaces your existing stack. Both tools change procurement math permanently. Right now, both are free to enterprise customers. The head-to-head comparison and seven actions below are what you need before the board of directors asks which scanner you are piloting and why. How Anthropic and OpenAI reached the same conclusion from different architectures Anthropic published its zero-day research on February 5 alongside …

Push to Feed Hawaiʻi Kids More Local Food Is ‘Structural Disaster’

Push to Feed Hawaiʻi Kids More Local Food Is ‘Structural Disaster’

Published by Sam Flores

Handwritten index cards to track food costs, missing information on what food items are produced locally, and mainland lettuce washed on Maui to possibly pass as local produce are just a few of the reasons the education department is failing to meet local food purchasing goals, according to a state audit released on Thursday. The state Department of Education has been haphazard in its approach to increasing the amount of local food it purchases, the audit says, and the agency’s self-reported progress is iffy at best. An example of how off base the DOE has been: department officials had believed milk purchases alone would allow the department to meet its initial benchmark of spending 10% of its budget on locally sourced food by 2025. It wasn’t until after the 2023-24 school year that the department realized its strategy wasn’t feasible, since local milk made up only 0.5% of schools’ meal budgets. Building multimillion-dollar regional kitchens, which the department has pinned its hopes on, may not be the silver bullet it needs to reach its local …

For its 400th anniversary, St. Peter’s Basilica embraces AI and structural surveillance

For its 400th anniversary, St. Peter’s Basilica embraces AI and structural surveillance

Published by Sam Flores

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In the 15th century, the basilica that Emperor Constantine had built around the tomb of St. Peter was cracked and falling apart, having stood for 1,100 years. Through taxes, papal revenues and the controversial sale of indulgences, Pope Julius II launched its rebuilding in 1506, starting a project lasting 120 years and employing the most renowned artists of the time. The basilica as we recognize it today was consecrated in November 1626, and for its 400th anniversary, the Vatican has partnered with the Italian energy giant Eni to create a digital twin of St. Peter’s to offer the famous structure a new form of enduring power. “Pope Julius had to opt for the demolition and reconstruction of the church,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of the basilica. “Today, Pope Leo can renew without demolishing, thinking serenely about this basilica, which pilgrims and visitors will be able to experience for the next four millennia.” Gambetti made his remarks during a press conference showcasing the initiatives the basilica is launching to celebrate …

Genetic risk for depression maps to specific structural brain changes

Genetic risk for depression maps to specific structural brain changes

Published by José Betancourt

A new comprehensive analysis has revealed that major depressive disorder alters both the physical architecture and the electrical activity of the brain in the same specific regions. By mapping these overlapping changes, researchers identified a distinct set of genes that likely drives these abnormalities during early brain development. The detailed results of this investigation were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Major depressive disorder is a pervasive mental health condition that affects millions of people globally. It is characterized by persistent low mood and a loss of interest in daily activities. Patients often experience difficulties with cognitive function and emotional regulation. While the symptoms are psychological, the condition is rooted in biological changes within the brain. Researchers have sought to understand the physical mechanisms behind the disorder for decades. The goal is to move beyond symptom management toward treatments that address the root biological causes. Most previous research has looked at brain changes in isolation. Some studies use structural magnetic resonance imaging to measure the volume of gray matter. This tissue contains the cell …

Common air pollutants associated with structural changes in the teenage brain

Common air pollutants associated with structural changes in the teenage brain

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in Environmental Research suggests that breathing polluted air may alter the physical development of the brain during adolescence. The findings indicate that exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide is associated with an accelerated thinning of the cortex, particularly in regions responsible for emotional regulation and complex thinking. This research suggests that the environment in which a young person lives plays a role in their neurological maturation. Air pollution is a global health issue that affects people in both industrial and developing nations. Most of the global population breathes air that exceeds safety guidelines established by the World Health Organization. This pollution is a complex mixture of gases and particles derived from vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and wildfires. “This study grew out of a broader effort to understand how common environmental exposures shape health, particularly for some of our most vulnerable populations. With increasing wildfires, industrialization, and urbanization, many children are now exposed to air pollution more frequently and for longer periods of time. We wanted to better understand how …