Secularization, Biomedical Technology, and Life Extension

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian S. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Religion And Medicine ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Biomedical Sciences ◽  
Biomedical Technology ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Critical Problems ◽  
Critical Challenge

This chapter is concerned with the contemporary impact of the biomedical sciences on life expectancy and how the so-called life-extension project. A promise of more or less indefinite human survival or the end of aging represents a critical challenge, not just to religious assumptions about life, aging and death but to traditional moral assumptions about the just distribution of resources in society. Medical consumption is simply a subset of general consumption, and the idea of living forever is central to modern secular lifestyles. The tensions between religion and medicine, and therefore the nature of “medical secularization,” can be understood by recognizing that many critical problems for the Christian churches in modernity are raised by questions about the changing status of the human body. As modern societies are driven by technological and scientific advances, the choices that confront humans fall broadly into two camps, namely posthumanism and transhumanism.

scholarly journals The Sugars with the Potential to Prolong Human Life

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoya Shintani ◽  
Laura Lema-Perez ◽  
Hideya Shintani
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Metabolic Process ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Sugar Intake ◽  
Excessive Intake

Sugar is the main source of energy for all cells in the human body. On the other hand, cells can also obtain energy from fats and proteins depending on conditions, although this metabolic process is more difficult and less common in cells. Sugar intake has increased in recent decades and is included in most of our dietary products. However, many studies indicate that sugar intake increases the prevalence of suffering from various harmful health conditions such as obesity. As a consequence, obesity is related to several chronic diseases such as hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus in humans. This is due to an excessive intake of sugars and sedentary lifestyles, causing a deterioration in the organs of our body, and consequently, reducing life expectancy. In this chapter, sugars that both shorten and lengthen life expectancy are presented. The latter are recent options that have emerged in order to continue sweetening our food in a healthier way, and would be new geroprotectors.

scholarly journals Anti-Smog Building and Civil Engineering Structures

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1446
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Stanaszek-Tomal
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Heating Season ◽  
Engineering Structures ◽  
Car Exhaust ◽  
Exhaust Fumes ◽  
Burning Coal

Currently, people worldwide, in the period from September to April, observe with their own eyes and feel the pollution of the air, called smog, in their own breath. The biggest cause of smog and the source of air pollution is burning rubbish in stoves. Other causes include exhaust fumes from large factories, burning coal in furnaces, and car exhaust fumes. Smog is an unnatural phenomenon, directly related to human activity. The weather is becoming worse. On no-wind, foggy days, the smog phenomenon is the most troublesome for city dwellers. Smog persists in European countries from November to April, during the heating season. The harmful effect of smog affects almost the entire human body. Every year, air pollution causes the death of approximately 26,000–48,000 people. At the same time, poor air quality reduces life expectancy by up to a year. The purpose of this article is to present buildings and finishing elements that can help in the fight against air pollution.

scholarly journals Can Formal Security Verification Really Be Optional? Scrutinizing the Security of IMD Authentication Protocols

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 8383
Author(s):  
Daniel Gerbi Duguma ◽  
Ilsun You ◽  
Yonas Engida Gebremariam ◽  
Jiyoon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Wireless Channel ◽  
Internet Security ◽  
Authentication Protocols ◽  
Implantable Medical Devices ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Physiological Information ◽  
Critical Problems ◽  
Key Update ◽  
Security Verification

The need for continuous monitoring of physiological information of critical organs of the human body, combined with the ever-growing field of electronics and sensor technologies and the vast opportunities brought by 5G connectivity, have made implantable medical devices (IMDs) the most necessitated devices in the health arena. IMDs are very sensitive since they are implanted in the human body, and the patients depend on them for the proper functioning of their vital organs. Simultaneously, they are intrinsically vulnerable to several attacks mainly due to their resource limitations and the wireless channel utilized for data transmission. Hence, failing to secure them would put the patient’s life in jeopardy and damage the reputations of the manufacturers. To date, various researchers have proposed different countermeasures to keep the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IMD systems with privacy and safety specifications. Despite the appreciated efforts made by the research community, there are issues with these proposed solutions. Principally, there are at least three critical problems. (1) Inadequate essential capabilities (such as emergency authentication, key update mechanism, anonymity, and adaptability); (2) heavy computational and communication overheads; and (3) lack of rigorous formal security verification. Motivated by this, we have thoroughly analyzed the current IMD authentication protocols by utilizing two formal approaches: the Burrows–Abadi–Needham logic (BAN logic) and the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA). In addition, we compared these schemes against their security strengths, computational overheads, latency, and other vital features, such as emergency authentications, key update mechanisms, and adaptabilities.

Extending Life Expectancy of La Esmeralda Reservoir: A Bet to Support Colombia’s Future Energy Demand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. del Río ◽  
Hugo Moffett ◽  
César Nieto-Londoño ◽  
Rafael E. Vásquez ◽  
Ana Escudero-Atehortúa
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Sediment Management ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hydropower Plant ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Hydropower Generation ◽  
Growing Economy

Abstract This work addresses the strategy of AES Corporation (AES Chivor) in order to extend the life of La Esmeralda reservoir to support Colombia’s future energy demand. Chivor Hydropower Plant entered into service in 1978 and has a capacity of 1000 MW, 8 % of Colombia’s demand. It is first described how the Colombian electricity energy mix is composed. Then, La Esmeralda reservoir, which is used by Chivor for power generation, is described; sediment management plans and maintenance costs for equipment and infrastructure are addressed. Then, sediment dynamics studies that have been done in order to determine life expectancy of La Esmeralda reservoir are listed. Such studies have been used to execute the Chivor’s Life Extension Project, which considers the modification of intakes as the best option to extend the life of the reservoir for at least 50 years, among several alternatives that were evaluated by a panel of international experts. This represents a challenge from the engineering point of view, and the project will be shown as a successful example for a country with such dependence on hydropower generation. Modernizing existing infrastructure without affecting the operation, as in this case, is crucial to show how a sustainable sediment management plan and technological development are necessary to extend life of hydropower generation projects, and to help meeting energy demand in a sustainable way for countries such as Colombia with a growing economy.

scholarly journals METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE HUMAN BODY-MASS CENTER

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
A. Atanasov
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Mass Center ◽  
Biomedical Sciences

It is described method for determining the center of the equal torques and the center of mass of the human body. The proposed method can be applied in the field of biomechanics of the human body, physiotherapy, dietetics, anatomy and in various fields of biomedical sciences.

Physiological Measures of Wellness and Message Processing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kory Floyd ◽  
Corey A. Pavlich ◽  
Dana R. Dinsmore
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Social Influence ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Message Processing ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Increase Life Expectancy ◽  
Defense Systems ◽  
Health And Well Being

Research has shown that the expression of affection and other forms of prosocial communication between two or more people promotes wellness and has the potential to increase life expectancy. The human body contains multiple physiological subsystems that all contribute to the overall health and well-being of an individual; the simple act of engaging in prosocial communication has been shown to positively influence one’s health and well-being. The specific benefits of engaging in prosocial communication are not limited to one specific physiological subsystem; it is the pervasiveness of this benefit that is so important. The benefits of prosocial communication range from building the body’s defense systems to increasing the effectiveness of recovery; in essence, prosocial communication increases the body’s overall integrity and rejuvenating power. These benefits have been observed for a variety of prosocial behaviors, including the expression of affection, touch, social support and cohesion, and social influence. The health benefits of prosocial communication point to the importance of considering prosocial communication when designing health and risk messages.

scholarly journals The Mental Landscape of Imagining Life Beyond the Current Life Span: Implications for Construal and Self-Continuity

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany M Tausen ◽  
Attila Csordas ◽  
C Neil Macrae
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Temporal Distance ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Distant Future ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Future Self ◽  
Extended Life

Abstract Background and Objectives With rapid advancements in medicine, technology, and nutrition, the future holds the possibility of longer and healthier lives. Despite garnering attention from myriad disciplines, psychological perspectives on life extension are scarce. In three studies, we addressed this gap by exploring key mental characteristics and psychological variables associated with simulating an expanded life span and thus an extremely distant future self. Research Design and Methods Three studies investigated the construal (i.e., valence, vividness, and visual perspective) of extremely distant future simulations and the extent to which participants felt connected to their future selves (i.e., self-continuity). Studies 1 and 2 investigated the characteristics of imagery associated with different ages ranging from near the current species maximum (e.g., 120, 150) to more highly hypothetical ages (e.g., 201, 501). Study 3 probed the mental construal of extreme aging among different populations (i.e., life-extension supporters, students, and Mechanical Turk workers). Studies also assessed participants’ general feelings about the ethicality and likelihood of techniques that halt or reverse biological aging to help individuals live beyond the current life expectancy. Results Participants in all studies reported being able to vividly imagine expanded aging scenarios (increased chronological, without biological, and aging), but these simulations were characterized by a decreased sense of connection to one’s future self (i.e., self-continuity) compared to a control condition. Temporal distance did not, however, impact ratings of self-continuity when comparing experimental conditions (i.e., imagining one’s self 120 vs 150 or 201 vs 501). Curiously, a sense of self-continuity (when simulating oneself well beyond the current life expectancy) remained intact for individuals who belonged to a community of life-extension supporters. The perceived likelihood and ethicality of extended life-span scenarios also varied significantly across different populations. Discussion and Implications The current work is the first to quantify the disconnect between one’s current and extremely distant (i.e., beyond the current life expectancy) future self. Given the behavioral implications of feeling disconnected from one’s future self (e.g., failing to save for retirement or care for one’s own physical health), these findings inform a critical barrier of extended life spans and provide insight into potential remedies (e.g., enhancing the perceived likelihood of living longer). Theoretical implications of hypotheticality and temporal distance, two key dimensions of Construal Level Theory, and their impact on the construal and self-continuity associated with future simulations are also discussed.

scholarly journals Human Body-Related Disease Diagnosis Systems Using CMOS Image Sensors: A Systematic Review

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2098
Author(s):  
Suparshya Babu Sukhavasi ◽  
Susrutha Babu Sukhavasi ◽  
Khaled Elleithy ◽  
Shakour Abuzneid ◽  
Abdelrahman Elleithy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Image Sensor ◽  
Image Sensors ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
Cmos Image Sensors ◽  
Control And Prevention

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average human life expectancy is 78.8 years. Specifically, 3.2 million deaths are reported yearly due to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and COVID-19. Diagnosing the disease is mandatory in the current way of living to avoid unfortunate deaths and maintain average life expectancy. CMOS image sensor (CIS) became a prominent technology in assisting the monitoring and clinical diagnosis devices to treat diseases in the medical domain. To address the significance of CMOS image ‘sensors’ usage in disease diagnosis systems, this paper focuses on the CIS incorporated disease diagnosis systems related to vital organs of the human body like the heart, lungs, brain, eyes, intestines, bones, skin, blood, and bacteria cells causing diseases. This literature survey’s main objective is to evaluate the ‘systems’ capabilities and highlight the most potent ones with advantages, disadvantages, and accuracy, that are used in disease diagnosis. This systematic review used PRISMA workflow for study selection methodology, and the parameter-based evaluation is performed on disease diagnosis systems related to the human body’s organs. The corresponding CIS models used in systems are mapped organ-wise, and the data collected over the last decade are tabulated.

scholarly journals On the measurement of healthy lifespan inequality

2022 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñaki Permanyer ◽  
Jeroen Spijker ◽  
Amand Blanes
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Health Expectancy ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
Contemporary Spain ◽  
Length Of Life

Abstract Background Current measures to monitor population health include indicators of (i) average length-of-life (life expectancy), (ii) average length-of-life spent in good health (health expectancy), and (iii) variability in length-of-life (lifespan inequality). What is lacking is an indicator measuring the extent to which healthy lifespans are unequally distributed across individuals (the so-called ‘healthy lifespan inequality’ indicators). Methods We combine information on age-specific survival with the prevalence of functional limitation or disability in Spain (2014–2017) by sex and level of education to estimate age-at-disability onset distributions. Age-, sex- and education-specific prevalence rates of adult individuals’ daily activities limitations were based on the GALI index derived from Spanish National Health Surveys held in 2014 and 2017. We measured inequality using the Gini index. Results In contemporary Spain, education differences in health expectancy are substantial and greatly exceed differences in life expectancy. The female advantage in life expectancy disappears when considering health expectancy indicators, both overall and across education groups. The highly educated exhibit lower levels of lifespan inequality, and lifespan inequality is systematically higher among men. Our new healthy lifespan inequality indicators suggest that the variability in the ages at which physical daily activity limitations start are substantially larger than the variability in the ages at which individuals die. Healthy lifespan inequality tends to decrease with increasing educational attainment, both for women and for men. The variability in ages at which physical limitations start is slightly higher for women than for men. Conclusions The suggested indicators uncover new layers of health inequality that are not traceable with currently existing approaches. Low-educated individuals tend to not only die earlier and spend a shorter portion of their lives in good health than their highly educated counterparts, but also face greater variation in the eventual time of death and in the age at which they cease enjoying good health—a multiple burden of inequality that should be taken into consideration when evaluating the performance of public health systems and in the elaboration of realistic working-life extension plans and the design of equitable pension reforms.

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