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atfauomo · 8 years ago

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aTFAUomo : Foundations

The Planet

Cybertron is a metallic planet devoid of any “organic”, or non-mechanical, life. While the planet does not rotate around a star, it does rotate around the galaxy it inhibits (undecided), thus occasionally gets light wind and debris. The atmosphere of Cybertron is made up of gases that come from the “pores” all throughout it and from Cybertronians themselves. The gases are not exactly like Earth’s, but are known to protect the planet from the winds. They are also known to create auroras of colors invisible to the human eye. There is no sunlight reflecting off the atmosphere, so Cybertron’s sky mostly appears as the space around it. The planet is not suitable for life for most other species. The most important aspect of Cybertron is buried underneath multiple thick metal layers, a mass called the Allspark.

At the center of Cybertron is the Allspark, a massive center of heat. The Allspark is where all the Cybertronian sparks are made. Sparks are the “essence” of all Cybertronians, the embodiment of life, as well as the powerhouse. As far as appearance goes, they appear as balls of light plasma. They tend to be orange red to yellow. In rare occasion, they can be light to dark blue.

All sparks are formed as tiny buds on the Allspark’s surface. Some buds continue to grow to large proportions, while some stay small. These buds eventually come off, and due to mass of the core, try to “find” their way out. These sparks go through a vast tunnel until they reach a smaller, yet very massive, spark known as a Hot Spark.

Hot Sparks are the sparks of Cybertronian cities. These sparks started off as every other spark, but grew large and, on the journey to the surface, settled underneath the surface of Cybertron, unable to advance further due to size. A Hot Spark instead helps power the city they are underneath and help transfer sparks to the surface. The traveling sparks get an extra layer of heat from this action, as the Hot Spark in turn gets rid of excess heat. The tiny sparks travel through a Hot Spark seamlessly, until they reach the area near the planet’s surface.

From there, the sparks are funneled upwards towards the surface of Cybertron through the hot tunnels, and gather at the surface in flat platforms called Hot Spots. These Hot Spots are not all out in the open of Cybertron’s surface, but embedded in the layers that make up Cybertronian cities. At normal times, they appear as giant barren circles in the ground, but when activated with sparks, they glow with all kinds of colors. Some cities have one Hot Spot, some have various. In either case, sparks rise to these openings in unpredictable fashion, sometimes sparks occur sparsely, sometimes sparks occur in what is called a Sparkrush.

After sparks reach their Hot Spot, they are sent to Vector Sigma, a massive supercomputer at the northernmost region of Cybertron. All sparks are sent in mass waves to be scanned by the computer, which assesses the sparks and determines what alt mode that they will take. The sparks are then put into protoform shapes, made of mixes of various metals as well as Hot Spot liquid. The sparks are absorbed and get surrounded by the shapes.They resemble a stunning array of geometric shapes, and have the texture of clay.These are what are called Sparklings. The Sparklings are put into their assigned frames, called vessels…

It is said that Cybertronians do not gain sentience until they reach their vessels and experience life for a while. Thus, some say that cities have no sentience. However, this is debatable, as some could say that the city is a vessel, and such vessel interacts and learns all the time...Regardless, cities do in fact feel alive. Cybertronians can feel the spark underneath the city pulsating and feel the ground humming at all times. It's a very comforting feeling for them, the equivalent of a security blanket.

Cities

Cities are built close and interconnected...or, at least,they are supposed to be. The planet appears to be missing some cities, as there are large gaps in between them which reveal some of Cybertron’s deeper layers. Some city structures have been built in the gaps.

On Cybertron, materialism isn’t a big concept--as in, no one really has a need or want for lots of land or property. Cybertronian own items, but don’t necessarily feel a need to have houses. (As with most updated species, all Cybertronians have what is called a Black Hole Account, which is basically a rented little device that can open a “hole in space” that can hold nearly an infinite amount of items. This will be explained in later posts). A lot of functions that a house would serve are done on Cybertron through communal services. For example, there are designated buildings for recharging, as there are buildings for different occupations, maintenance, and so on.

Each Cybertronian is connected to the city through what basically is like wifi connection. When a Cybertronian travels through a city, they must connect to the city’s connection server. This connection is done through their vessel. Cybertronians interact with the city’s software for a variety of reasons, like to get informed of news, directly communicate with local authorities such as Guardian Bots, get a basic check up inspection, and to track destination. The city has to make a literal light path for bots walk/run/drive/fly over. This not only looks aesthetic but also is functional, as it prevents crashes. The planet would be completely dark, had it not been for the long streams of light that cities and bots emit…

Every city connects to Cybertron’s surface in puzzle-like fashion with blocky outgrowths called Connectors. The Connectors are on the bottom of cities, and these pieces attach to various hollow tunnels on Cybertron’s surface. These Connectors are like plugs, allowing the cities to attach to Cybertron and receive energy. When Connectors connect to their tunnels, Hot Spots activate, and Receptors come out.

Receptors are long, thin, microscopic appendages that are vital to cities. These appendages sprout out from city Connectors in masses. Receptors distribute messages and power in all scales of Cybertronian activity, be it for Sparkrushes or for a simple city path. They are spread throughout the city’s building material and Cybertron’s metallic layer. They are the power lines of Cybertron.

Any occupation related to Cybertronian architecture is a complicated field to be in. Not just because of math and material knowledge, but also because an architect has to “work with the city”. Cybertronians cities are built in the fashion of its people...as in, structures are built like as it if could transform. This requires a lot of patience and critical thinking, as the Receptors of a city are complex. They often can reach sizes that overlap Cybertron’s surface area multiple times, connecting and disconnecting each other, working in complicated ways. If these Receptors come into contact with material that cause unfavorable reactions, or are moved in an incorrect way, Cybertron could be at jeopardy. As well, size has to be taken into account. City structures themselves have to be extremely large to accommodate Cybertronian types below Guardian class. Space in between buildings also has to be vast, to allow Guardian Bots to pass by with ease.

Concept

There is speculation as to the nature of Cybertron. Most accept the idea that they did not rise from the abiogenesis nature that organics have. The Hte Pok-Pok, for example, have a similar system of “life essence”, that a source of life comes from the center of the planet, and buds off and inhibits a vessel on the surface. However, Cybertronians have the ability to change their shape according to environment, and are able to be hacked into and replace parts with.

There are various theories, one being “Quint Theory”. These beings are known as “Quintessons”. This theory states that Cybertronians are just machine technology made by another species, with Cybertron being a giant factory called Prioma Cybere.

How this factory runs depends on what the core is theorized to be. It could run on a complex function of technochemical reactions in its core (if the core is said to be an artificial creation, with its acting as a giant memory center), or could run on its core star energy (if the core of the planet is a literal star, the metal built to contain and harvest energy). The empty spots throughout Cybertron are due to the deployment of the cities. These cities were extremely powerful beings with unimaginable strength and size. They were used to colonize and destroy other worlds.

The Cybertronians were not originally given personalities or a “soul”, but these came about from a corruption in the programming. The Cybertronians were made to be machines that did work, but eventually figured out how much stronger they were than their creators, eventually revolting and destroying these beings. After that, they created their own societies...The Allspark is the beginning and the end of Cybertronians. Extinguished Cybertronian sparks fade, but everything a Cybertronian has ever done is recorded in the Allspark, like a giant massive computer..

Another concept is “Primus Theory”. This theory states that Cybertron is, indeed, one of the many living celestial bodies. Living planets are not special, as they do exist, and have been known to be particularly hard to communicate with. Prioma Cybere, in this case, is not a living planet, but a living star. Prioma Cybere is sentient, but not the kind that could manufacture organic life, or one with a “personality”. It overtime was surrounded in materials from dead stars and space debris, and, slowly but surely, formed a rudimentary rock surface. Instead of being one huge but emotionless being, this star decided to live life through much smaller vessels to experience existence. Prioma made massive Cybertronians, that serve to protect ver and produce and care for the much smaller beings ve would make, those beings becoming the cities. In theory, the Allspark is every Cybertronian, and every Cybertronian is just one tiny aspect of Primus, a sentient embodiment of Prioma. There is no place where any memories are recorded, but the Allspark is symbolic for Cybertronian unity.

There is quite a bit of debate between the two theories, but its not a top priority to the general population of Cybertron. They mostly just accept the fact that they exist, and go on from there. There are Cybertronians who do like to make stories and discuss this.

There are some characters, however, who really know the truth...

The basics of Cybertronian nature! But, who are the Cybertronians, and how are they like?? And that’s for next time on aTFAUomo!

AAaaAAaaand finally! That took a while to finish...and I did not pen it! I figured that perhaps pen ink would be better spent on much more detailed drawings, as opposed to a general layout.

Now to explain the drawings...

To the top left is a basic concept idea of what Cybertron looks like from a distance, a planet with a straight up axis and various gaps and lights. To the top right is what the Allspark actually looks like if observed. Thus, the larger model below those two is a simple demonstration of spark creation, as well as minimal detail of city Connectors. To the bottom left is a sketch of a Hot Spark. To the bottom right is a sketch showing Receptors, which in reality should look like a wired mess. None of the drawings are too scale, especially with the Allspark’s size compared to the surface of Cybertron.

Hopefully I will be able to post more regularly, but no promises. I spent a lot of time on trying to shorten the text part of the post and not a lot on details? I hope it makes sense at least?

Hmm, one day I will actually talk about the Autobot and Decepticon governments, and characters. However, I feel like explaining the background of this AU makes more sense...I have to set up everything first. ;)

#atfauomo #maccadam #worldbuilding #sci fi #aliens #cybertron #transformers au #tf au #marsketch #atfauomo cybertron #pencilsketch

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battybat-boss · 7 years ago

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Study: Splenda Not Completely Eliminated from Body – Leads to Weight Gain

by Paul Fassa Health Impact News

Splenda advocates and defenders were given an inconvenient truth from a new study that put the brakes on Splenda's parade of health claims for marketing purposes.

Splenda is the brand name for sucralose. One of the health claims for this chemically-altered sucrose is that its molecules are inert, they don't produce internal biochemical changes.

And even though it sweetens much more efficiently than chemically-unaltered table sugar, it is completely eliminated from the body naturally after ingestion and not stored as fat or even used as energy. Therefore it is calorie free.

This most current sucralose animal study turns the claim that it is not stored in the body completely upside down:

“The average Splenda users should be informed that sucralose is accumulating in their bodies and that it forms metabolites whose effects are unknown. The long-range effects of sucralose are not understood. Furthermore, we already know that it has adverse biological effects,” stated study author Susan Schiffman, Ph.D. (Source)

The fact that metabolites are formed and detected proves that sucralose is not an inert substance. What those metabolites are, where they are stored, and what dangers they might create, has been addressed by this new study and other studies prior to 2018.

Detail Summaries From the 2018 Study on Sucralose

The title of this study is Intestinal Metabolism and Bioaccumulation of Sucralose In Adipose Tissue In The Rat, and it was peer-reviewed and published online by the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health in August of 2018.

The chemical formation of sucralose comes in packages labeled Splenda or labeled as a sweetener in several processed sweets, pastries, sodas, and chewing gums. It is produced by a process where chlorine ions replace three hydrogen/oxygen groups called hydroxyls in sucrose (common table sugar) molecules.

The result is a sweetener that by volume or weight is 350 to 600 times sweeter than sucrose sugar. This feature is used to market sucralose as no calorie sweetener without the neurotoxic dynamics of aspartame. It allows Splenda to market sucralose as natural since it contains chemically-modified sucrose molecules.

But the researchers for this study were not convinced that this chemically-altered sucrose was completely benign based on earlier independent studies that they referenced.

The researchers knew that industry studies used to get the FDA's approval were short-sighted, as research author Schiffman mentioned when asked how come what was observed in the current study wasn't evidence for FDA approval, which allowed sucralose for sweetening all foods and beverages since 1998:

There is no incentive for the manufacturer's research team to do the proper research that revealed these findings. (Source)

What were these findings? Using state of the art analysis tools, they examined the feces and urine collected every 24 hours from 10 rats fed sucralose over a period of forty days. The dosages were in the same range as studies used to obtain FDA and other international regulatory agencies.

After the 40-day dosing period, a 13-day period of non-dosing continued for the rest of the 63-day study to determine if sucralose was completely cleared from the rats.

If not, that would leave the metabolites from sucralose to continue doing whatever damage, undetermined in this study, and continue causing problems.

The researchers discovered that sucralose created two previously undetected metabolites were present in urine and feces throughout the sucralose dosing period but were still detected at low levels in the urine 11 days after discontinuation of sucralose administration and 6 days after sucralose was no longer detected in the urine or feces.

Interestingly, the fact that all the rats in the study gained weight counters claims of non-calorie weight loss that's promoted with sucralose. Two weeks after discontinuing sucralose, significant amounts of sucralose remained in adipose (fatty) tissue. Leaving the researchers to conclude:

These new findings of metabolism of sucralose in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its accumulation in adipose tissue were not part of the original regulatory decision process for this agent and indicate that it now may be time to revisit the safety and regulatory status of this organochlorine artificial sweetener. (Complete study text source)

Other Studies on Sucralose

Although this is the latest animal study on sucralose, there have been others. Some involved human subjects.

The same Susan Schiffman, Ph.D., who was involved with this study was also involved with an earlier meta-analysis review of several studies in 2013 titled Sucralose, A Synthetic Organochlorine Sweetener: Overview Of Biological, published by the same journal as the 2018 study.

Many of the 476 independent studies reviewed that were not impressed with the marketing information used for sucralose and Splenda were conducted prior to its FDA approval. Apparently, they were not taken into consideration by the FDA for its 1998 final approval allowing sucralose as a sweetener for processed foods and beverages.

The review mentioned that several studies showed weight gain from using sucralose despite its zero calorie claims. The abstract concluded:

Cooking with sucralose at high temperatures was reported to generate chloropropanols, a potentially toxic class of compounds. Both human and rodent studies demonstrated that sucralose may alter glucose, insulin, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels. Taken together, these findings indicate that sucralose is not a biologically inert compound. (Review available here.)

Note: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) is produced by cells in the intestine after eating. It travels via the bloodstream to the pancreas, which produces the hormone glucagon to increase the amount of insulin that's made. Several medications available to treat diabetes increase the effects of GLP-1. (Source)

For example, the 2013 massive critical review included:

Recent animal data suggest that habitual oral ingestion of high-potency sweeteners that do not provide calories may blunt GLP-1 release and produce hyperglycemia in response to subsequent oral glucose tolerance tests (Swithers et al., 2012).

This would indicate sucralose is not so good for diabetics as a sugar substitute. It's wise to examine labels of any processed food, beverage, candy or gum to ensure sucralose or any artificial sweetener is not on the ingredient list.

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A Closer Look at Chloropropanols

Dr. James Bowden, MD, became obsessed for over two decades with researching low and no-calorie sweeteners after aspartame toxicity induced his case of Lou Gehrig's Disease. He cautions against using sucralose or Splenda despite its marketing claims based on chloropropanol dangers.

Splenda/sucralose is simply chlorinated sugar; a chlorocarbon. Common chlorocarbons include carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethelene, and methylene chloride, all deadly. Chlorine is nature's Doberman attack dog, a highly excitable, ferocious atomic element employed as a biocide in bleach, disinfectants, insecticide, WWI poison gas, and hydrochloric acid.

Regarding Splenda and sucralose advocates who commonly defend this sweetener by comparing it with salt consumption, which is sodium chloride, Dr. Bowden unflinchingly responds:

It is logical to ask why table salt, which also contains chlorine, is safe while Splenda/sucralose is toxic? Because salt isn't a chlorocarbon. When molecular chemistry binds sodium to chlorine to make salt carbon isn't included. Sucralose and salt are as different as oil and water.

Unlike sodium chloride, chlorocarbons are never nutritionally compatible with our metabolic processes and are wholly incompatible with normal human metabolic functioning.

This arrangement adversely affects human metabolism because our mitochondrial and cellular enzyme systems are designed to completely utilize organic molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other compatible nutritional elements.

…chlorocarbons such as sucralose deliver chlorine directly into our cells through normal metabolization. This makes them effective insecticides and preservatives. Preservatives must kill anything alive to prevent bacterial decomposition.

The liver is a detoxification organ which deals with ingested poisons. Chlorocarbons damage the hepatocytes, the liver's metabolic cells, and destroy them. (Source)

Ironically, organic cane sugar is healthier than all sugar substitutes. Raw or brown organic cane sugar, especially from dehydrated cane juice in moderation is healthier.

But the healthiest natural sweeteners are raw, unfiltered, honey, and even better, pure maple syrup, which is actually very nutritious and neuroprotective.

See:

Real Maple Syrup: Minerals from Deep Inside the Earth

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viralhottopics · 8 years ago

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Robots and drones take over classrooms – BBC News

Image copyright Thinkstock

Image caption Robots are finding their way into the classroom

Classrooms are noticeably more hi-tech these days – interactive boards, laptops and online learning plans proliferate, but has the curriculum actually changed or are children simply learning the same thing on different devices?

Some argue that the education this generation of children is receiving is little different from that their parents or even their grandparents had.

But, in a world where artificial intelligence and robots threaten jobs, the skills that this generation of children need to learn are likely to be radically different to the three Rs that have for so long been the mainstay of education.

The BBC went along to the Bett conference in London in search of different ways of teaching and learning.

School robots

Image caption Pupils taught Pepper to dab

A stone’s throw from the Excel, where Bett is held, stands a new school that is, according to its head Geoffrey Fowler, currently little more than a Portakabin.

Despite this, the East London Design and Engineering technical college – which caters for 14- to 19-year-olds – was massively oversubscribed when it opened its doors for the first time in September.

The 180 pupils lucky enough to have got a place have had a very different experience of the curriculum in the 12 weeks since they joined.

One group have designed from scratch a virtual reality environment that takes viewers on a journey around an Ethiopian village as part of a project to highlight the work of the charity Water Aid.

Another has spent the term teaching Pepper – the school has two of SoftBank’s human-looking robots – how to make a variety of moves, including the dab currently beloved of children around the country.

Image caption Geoffrey Fowler (far right) showed off Pepper, with some of his pupils, teachers and industry partners at the Bett conference

A third group are heading off this weekend on an unusual skiing trip. Travelling with them will be 11 Nao robots, which the pupils plan to teach how to ski.

The school – which sets no homework, relying instead on pupils wanting to get on with their projects in their own time – is, according to Mr Fowler, “inspiring children to be part of a new type of learning”.

While other schools may see the projects listed above as fun “add-ons” to the core curriculum, Mr Fowler thinks it has to be embedded within it.

Sixth-formers work on what is called an extended project qualification, which is the equivalent of half an A-level.

The school works with a range of industry sponsors, including the University of East London, Thames Water and Fujistu, all of which offer input into the types of skills they would like to see children learn to equip them for the workplace as well as offering apprenticeships.

There are 48 university technical colleges (UTC) in England currently – and the scheme has proved controversial.

One set up in East London in 2012 closed after just two years, having failed to attract enough pupils, while another in Bedfordshire was branded inadequate by Ofsted.

Some head teachers seem to be resisting the idea of the vocational style of education, barring UTCs from recruiting pupils from their schools.

But statistics suggest that pupils attending UTCs have just as good results if not better than those in more conventional schools.

It is something James Culley, head of computer science at the school, sees for himself every day.

“I have never seen students learn so quickly,” he told the BBC.

Drone lessons

Image copyright Towne Meadow School

Image caption One group of children in an Indiana school are loving learning with drones

Lots of primary schools are now convinced of the importance of learning to code.

As well as lessons devoted to it, after-school code clubs proliferate as do DIY computers such as the BBC’s Micro Bit and the Raspberry Pi.

Tynker, a company that has already brought its coding-through-games philosophy to 60,000 schools in the US, recently launched a new project – teaching coding through drone lessons.

Hundreds of schools in the US have taken up the idea and it is now preparing to launch in the UK.

Schools typically buy between six and 12 drones via Tynker’s partnership with drone maker Parrot and can then download Tynker’s free set of drone lessons.

Image copyright Towne Meadow

Image caption The children at Towne Meadow turn up early for drone club, said their teacher

Children learn to make drones do back-flips, as well as more complex idea such as drones working together as a team.

It would take, you may think, a rather brave teacher to commit to flying drones in the classroom, but Josie McKay, a Fourth Grade teacher at Towne Meadow Elementary School in Indiana has no such qualms.

“Over the last month, I have seen their confidence build as they went from coding their drone to hover off of the floor to flying their drone around the room without crashing into any obstacles,” she says.

“Each week these students develop new and more challenging goals for themselves, work together, and code their drone accordingly.

“The excitement on their faces when they achieve their goal, especially when it is completed in a short amount of time, is infectious.”

The drones come with a range of safety features, including a “classroom mode” that means they take off extra slowly.

Children cannot take command of each other’s drones, and there is an automatic stop button if inquisitive fingers come in proximity with the drone’s blades.

Tynker founder and chief executive Krishna Vedati told the BBC: “Our goal is not to create programmers but to offer coding as a life skill.”

Alternative reality

Image copyright Thinkstock

Image caption Virtual reality and augmented reality could prove a huge boon to education

Picture a classroom where, instead of handouts or text books, all pupils learn from their own headset – entering a virtual reality world to learn about the French revolution, or interacting with a hologram of the solar system to learn about space.

According to Lenovo’s global education specialist, Sam Morris, there are huge benefits from learning this way.

“We see AR and VR as the next frontier,” he says.

“Early usage has suggested the devices engage pupils intently in tasks, improve group interactions and the ability to adapt to multiple disciplines.”

Microsoft was at Bett showing off HoloLens – its recently released “mixed reality” headset.

It has worked in conjunction Case Western Reserve University to develop a hologram of the human body that can be dissected and bones, organs and veins viewed in detail.

It is also working with education provider Pearson to develop other educational resources for the device.

The developer edition of HoloLens currently sells for 2,719 which makes even buying one headset out of the reach for most cash-strapped schools.

“The declining cost of VR and AR devices will be critical to driving mass adoption in education,” says Mr Morris.