Latest news with #Alao
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Lorne Gunter: UCP receipt policy a blow to government transparency
Article content On August 18, 2021, Aderoju Alao paid $154.54 — including a tourism levy, the GST and a destination marketing fee — for one night's stay at the Four Points Hotel in Grande Prairie. At the time, Alao was a ministerial assistant to then-advanced education minister Demetrios Nicolaides and she was accompanying the minister on a tour of the region's post-secondary schools. Article content Article content Article content On April 12 last year, Sarah Amiry, a ministerial chief of staff, paid WestJet $1,183.26 for return airfare so she could accompany her minister to a conference of provincial ministers in Gatineau, Quebec later that month. Article content On May 24, Sam Blackett, who is currently Premier Danielle Smith's press secretary but was then Demetrios's media flack, spent $146.74 on a one-day rental of a Hyundai Elantra to ferry the minister around Red Deer. Article content Article content In 2023, then-deputy minister of finance Katherine White paid $926.23 for accommodation at a summit of finance ministers, but — oops — no receipt. Article content Article content The list goes on and on (and on) like this for nearly 108,000 entries. Article content But no more. Earlier this month, the province removed the requirement that receipts be posted for expenses, even the big ones. Article content I'm not sure exactly how many people took the time to wade through over 10,000 pages of itemized expense reports. I'm sure the vast majority of entries were never seen by human eyes (outside of government accounting departments). Article content I know the odd reporter who would consult the list after a big trip by the premier or a minister to see whether there was anything juicy to report. Article content And the Canadian Taxpayers Federation frequently checked the reports to make sure tax money wasn't being wasted.
Gulf Insider
17-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Caffeine May Slow Cellular Aging
That jolt you feel from your morning coffee isn't just hitting your brain—it's reaching deep into your cells and flipping biological switches that could help you age more slowly. Recent research suggests caffeine acts like a personal trainer for our cells, stressing them just enough to activate the same longevity pathways triggered by hitting the gym or cutting calories.'In a sense, a bit of stress is beneficial,' John-Patrick Alao, a postdoctoral research scientist and the lead author of the study, told The Epoch Times. The study, published in Microbial Cell, discovered that caffeine induces a stress-like response in cells, activating a longevity pathway called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK functions like a cellular fuel gauge. When energy runs low or during times of stress, AMPK activates, forcing cells to conserve resources, repair damage, and clean up faulty components by recycling parts of themselves. In biology, too much stress harms cells, but small amounts can actually help them adapt and repair, preventing damage from piling up. Over time, this helps tissues stay healthier, which supports a longer lifespan. 'Our research, at least in terms of caffeine, suggests that AMPK gets turned on because caffeine is exerting some sort of stress on the cells,' Alao said. Alao noted that the little stress exerted by caffeine on yeast cells switches on protective genes and keeps cells in repair mode, preventing damage from building up and extending their lifespan. He likened it to having a mechanic with you at all times to catch problems early. 'Caffeine's natural activation of this pathway suggests it could be a valuable nutritional tool… Something as common as your morning coffee could eventually play a role in how we design diets or treatments to improve long-term health and potentially support cancer therapies,' said Dr. Thomas M. Holland, a physician scientist and assistant professor at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, who isn't part of the study. The researchers used fission yeast cells for their experiments. While the findings cannot be directly applied to humans, yeast have similar cellular pathways that work similarly to human cells. Holland noted that while the study used yeast and didn't provide specific intake recommendations for humans, other research supports moderate caffeine consumption. While caffeine's mild stress on cells helps trigger processes tied to a longer lifespan—like making them divide earlier and at smaller sizes—this same response can also make cells more vulnerable to DNA damage because it gives them less time to catch and fix problems before multiplying, allowing damage to slip through more easily. This poses particular risks for people with genetic conditions such as ataxia telangiectasia (ATM), who have difficulty repairing DNA damage. 'If you have ATM mutations, caffeine is probably not good for you,' Alao said. 'But if you are healthy and you don't have these mutations, then it is because you are turning on the stress… and your DNA repair machinery is then being turned on.' However, Alao noted that significant questions remain about how caffeine's effects translate from yeast cells to humans. In people, AMPK is more complex, with different forms found in different tissues like the heart and skeletal muscle. Also said that the AMPK system, while protective in healthy cells, may also help cancer cells survive under metabolic stress. Multiple large-scale studies have linked coffee consumption to longer, healthier lives. A recent study of nearly 50,000 women over 30 years found that those who drank about 315 milligrams of caffeine daily—roughly one and a half large cups of coffee—were more likely to age healthily, free from major chronic diseases. Another study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that people who drink one to three cups of coffee daily have a 15 percent lower risk of death compared to noncoffee drinkers. The study also showed that coffee's health benefits diminish when it is paired with sugar and saturated fats, such as those in many dairy-based creamers. 'Typically around 200 to 400 milligrams per day, or roughly two to four cups of coffee, [have been shown in studies to be] both safe and potentially beneficial for most adults,' Holland said. Holland emphasized that caffeine is most beneficial when included as part of a balanced lifestyle—particularly one that combines a mostly plant-based diet and regular physical activity. He noted that natural sources of caffeine, such as coffee and tea, also provide polyphenols and antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, and lower oxidative stress—factors linked to reduced cancer risk. Like Holland, Melissa Mitri, a registered dietitian and nutrition writer, recommends people stay away from supplements and energy drinks. 'Some energy drinks and supplements contain a more concentrated form of caffeine, such as caffeine anhydrous, which can provide a significantly larger and more potent dose of caffeine than what is found in a cup of coffee.' Mitri also noted that while more research is needed, a moderate amount of caffeine may help protect healthy cells during cancer treatment by reducing the potential damage caused by therapies like chemotherapy. 'Caffeine turns on AMPK, and AMPK is a really important target because it gets turned on by calorie restriction and exercise, and we know that calorie restriction and exercise are proven to extend lifespan,' Alao said. Caffeine isn't the only compound linked to a longer lifespan through these cellular pathways. Other substances and diets are already known to target the same longevity-enhancing systems. Rapamycin, for example, directly inhibits Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1), a protein complex that helps control how cells grow and respond to nutrients, slowing down the cell's growth machinery. Metformin, a widely used diabetes drug that improves insulin sensitivity, doesn't act directly on TORC1 but instead lowers the cell's energy state, which in turn activates AMPK. Chronic overnutrition—particularly diets high in sugar, refined starches, and ultra-processed foods—deactivates AMPK, activating a pathway called TORC1, which promotes growth and accelerates aging. 'If you eat a lot of sugar, a high-fat Western diet, the TOR [Target of Rapamycin] is always on. And this leads to aging,' Alao said. In contrast, dietary restrictions like low-protein diets and intermittent fasting activate AMPK, promoting the cellular cleanup processes that appear crucial for longevity. 'Basically the body starts to eat itself, which seems to be important for cleaning all the damaged proteins and so on.' Also read: Study Reveals How Many Cups Of Coffee Needed To Shield Against Liver Disease
Morocco World
14-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
GITEX Africa 2025: Nigeria's NCAIR Is Putting Nigeria On the Map
Marrakech – If you strolled past Morocco World News' booth on day one of GITEX Africa 2025 and spotted a bold green sign screaming 'Nigeria', and thought, 'Wait, did I just cross the continent without knowing it?' — don't worry, you're not alone. Here's the deal. Nigeria had a whole booth to itself — loud, proud, and ready to shine at Africa's biggest tech event. And guess what? NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency) was there — and they talked to MWN about their very own NCAIR. Welcome to the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), where the government isn't just flirting with the future. It's building it. It's not just about shiny robots or buzzwords like 'blockchain' and 'IoT.' It's about national interest. And yes — finally — strategic thinking. At first glance, NCAIR's ultra-modern digital fabrication lab (FabLab) could pass for a tech startup's dream office. But don't let the aesthetics fool you. This is a state-led project with real teeth. Its research areas read like a wish list for any forward-thinking economy; Natural Language Processing, Robotics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Health AI, Finance AI, Education AI, and even agricultural applications that could revolutionize how we grow and feed a nation. But here's what makes it even more compelling: NCAIR is co-located with the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) — a deliberate move, showing that innovation isn't a solo act. It's an ecosystem. And in Abuja, that ecosystem is starting to breathe. So what happens when a Nigerian startup walks through NCAIR's doors? According to Wole Alao from NITDA's Corporate Communications and Media Relations department, 'The NCAIR is a special purpose vehicle and subsidiary of NITDA saddled with the responsibility of promoting indigenous innovative solutions, particularly in the startup ecosystem.' 'NITDA developed the Nigeria Startup Act to help regulate startups in the country and make them thrive in a globally competitive tech world. When a startup joins NCAIR, they enjoy privileges such as mentorship of their ideas, funding and showcasing them on the global stage.' And if you're wondering whether this is all talk, Alao added that 'With the support of NCAIR, they have the opportunity to present their solutions to foreign investors and possibly commercialize them.' Now, let's talk people. At the helm of this ship is Olubunmi Ajala, a data scientist and economist with a sharp focus on the big picture. He's not here for tech-for-tech's-sake. His expertise lies in connecting digital dots — crafting policies, building infrastructure, and asking how AI can be deployed intelligently to boost national productivity. It's strategy with soul, and numbers that mean something. And speaking of numbers — how about ₦100 million? That's the size of The AI Fund, NCAIR's new initiative in collaboration with Google. Yes, that Google. The fund aims to support 10 homegrown startups using AI in real-world applications, with each one receiving up to ₦10 million in funding, mentorship from Google engineers, access to cutting-edge tools, and the kind of visibility that startups dream of. Introducing the first cohort BetaLife, which uses AI to match blood types and predict demand across Africa's blood supply chains. Bunce, an AI-powered customer engagement platform that personalizes communication for businesses. FarmSpeak Technology, helping livestock farmers detect disease and manage climate challenges using AI. It's a powerful message: Nigeria is no longer waiting for the global AI wave to arrive. It's building its own. If the formula sounds familiar, that's because Morocco's UM6P Startgate has been playing in the same innovation sandbox. Under the Division of Entrepreneurship and Venturing (DEV), led by Yassine Laghzioui, UM6P has already built a structure where research meets entrepreneurship, and funding meets functionality. Programs there don't just hand out money — they build capacity. They mentor, incubate, accelerate. Sound familiar? Both Nigeria and Morocco are crafting blueprints that don't just look good on paper — they're actionable. They're creating environments where AI isn't some abstract force—it's something that can teach, heal, build, grow, and protect. And in an era where digital economies are the new oil, NCAIR isn't just a research center — it's a bet. A smart one. And it's happening on international stages, too. 'With NITDA leading the charge in advancing Nigeria's digital transformation agenda, its presence at GITEX Africa 2025 is both strategic and impactful,' he shared. 'Accompanied by 12 trailblazing Nigerian startups, NITDA is set to showcase the very best of Nigeria's tech innovation from AI and fintech to agritech and smart solutions.' Maybe the question isn't 'Can AI fix everything?' but 'What can a nation fix when it decides to get serious about AI?' Nigeria just started answering. Tags: GITEX AFRICAnigeriaNigerian NCAIR
