Month: February 2022

In Research Institute Medical primatology in Sochi, an operation was performed to install a Russian ELVIS neuroimplant in a monkey. Animal Testing — the latest stage of preclinical testing of the technology, which in the future will restore sight to blind and deafblind people. The Foundation for the support of the deafblind “Connection” is working together on this. and the non-profit Sensor-Tech Laboratory.

The two-hour operation was performed by experienced neurosurgeon Artur Biktimirov. He was assisted by a professional medical team — neurophysiologist, anesthetists, veterinarians. A six-year-old male baboon was chosen for testing. He is clairvoyant. The aim of scientists in this case — check the functioning of the implant (matrix with electrodes), evaluate the biocompatibility of brain tissues and system components, and determine the nuances. Soon they will perform such operations on several dozen monkeys to find out how well the animals see using electronic vision.

What is the system?

His name ELVIS — short for English  electronic vision (“electronic vision”).”The main thing is that everyone sees the world around him not with his eyes, but with his brain . Object vision is formed in its occipital lobe, called the visual cortex. If we process a certain visual image using a neural network and stimulate the visual cortex with small currents, a person will see flashes of light — phosphenes. So you can replace the retina and the optic nerve with a video camera, “connect” to the brain and directly, without the help of the eyes, send a signal to the area responsible for vision.< /p>

This process is carried out by three blocks of the system: an implant with a microchip (installed in the brain and stimulating the cortex with weak currents), a hoop with two cameras (the user wears it on the head and the cameras read the real-time image, acting as eyes) and the processing unit (attached to the belt and connecting to the hoop). The microcomputer analyzes the image of the cameras, highlights the outlines of important objects and transmits the processed frames directly to the brain on the implant.

Who will the neurochip help?

The synchronous operation of the three components of the system allows you to begin to see the world around — distinguish the silhouettes of objects and people, understand where and what is. The technology will be effective for blind and deafblind people who have retinal damage, optic nerve pathology or other severe visual impairments. This group includes patients with complex diseases such as terminal glaucoma, terminal retinitis pigmentosa, genetic retinal dystrophies, total retinal detachment, tumors of the optic nerve and visual pathways. The neuroimplant will allow people to see who, for whatever reason, is physically deprived of eyes. 

There are now about 300,000 blind people in Russia. The neuroimplant, as the developers promise, will help at least 20% of them regain sight of objects and the ability to navigate independently in space, accurately identifying objects that fall into the field camera view. The technology is suitable for those who have completely lost their sight, but have a preserved brain and visual experience.

When will people start installing it?

The operated monkey is doing well. Over the next two years, the project team will install a neuroimplant in dozens of primates and conduct a series of behavioral experiments. All testing is performed in accordance with international ethical standards.

“We are just steps away from the start of research involving blind volunteers, — says the director of the Sensor-Tech Laboratory Denis Kouleshov. — Our task was not only to test the equipment and the electrodes, it was also important to work out the surgical nuances. In the next steps we will check how electronic vision works in animals, if they can see blindfolded, only with the help of ELVIS. We expect animal testing to continue until the end of 2023.

In 2024, researchers want to move on to implanting the first blind volunteers. They already receive many applications for participation (you can leave them on the site) and in a few years they will start the selection of candidates. Until 2026, it is planned to produce the first experimental batches of the neurochip for human testing. These blind and deafblind volunteers (no more than 10 people) will become the first Russian users of a full-fledged bionic cortical implant.

From 2027, as expected by authors of the project, the operation of installing the ELVIS neurochip will become widely available in Russia and will enter medical practice.

Источник aif.ru

Moscow's Lublin court disregarded the civil suit of Ekaterina Manishkina, a witness in the criminal case of a car accident on Smolenskaya Square, caused by blogger Edward Beale. This was reported by TASS with reference to the court.

Previously, Manishkina refused the car offered to her by the defendants to replace the car was broken in an accident, but it announced damage of 1.7 million rubles. .

The court's decision has come into effect. “Plaintiff, who did not request that the case be heard in his absence, did not appear on a second subpoena, and defendant does not demand that the case be heard in his absence. case is heard on the merits. The decision to leave the application without review has come into effect, – explained the interlocutor of the agency.

Manichkina filed a civil complaint with the Lublin court this summer. A week ago, she testified in the Presnensky Court in Moscow, which began a new trial on the merits of the blogger's case.

At the meeting, one of the defendant's attorneys said the defense was prepared to provide “another car of a similar class and configuration, and for the time being , it will be purchased, take a similar vehicle”. In response, Manichkina said that the blogger “did not make up for anything and did not try to”, and as a result of the accident she suffered a concussion, many bruises and was scared to drive for six months.

A mass road accident on Smolenskaya Square in central Moscow, caused by Bill, occurred in April. State Duma employee Maria Artyomova was also a victim in the case. She was compensated for the damage. In July, the court sentenced the blogger to two years of restriction of liberty and stripped him of his driving license for three years. In December, the conviction was overturned and the case was sent back for a new trial. The next meeting is scheduled for February 11.

On January 26, blogger Georgy Erokhin was arrested after posting a video violating traffic rules. In 2021, he was brought to administrative responsibility 21 times.

Earlier, AiF.ru reported for which traffic offenses you can now get a sentence. In Russia, since January 10, 2022, penalties for drivers who regularly violate traffic laws have been increased.

Источник aif.ru

As part of the exercises from January to February, the Russian Navy and the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of Russia will train to protect the national interests of the state in the oceans and repel threats from sea and ocean directions. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation with reference to the head of the department, Sergei Shoigu.

He noted that the exercises would take place in all areas of fleet responsibility. More than 140 warships and support ships will participate. In addition, more than 60 aircraft will be involved in the maneuvers, Shoigu added.

The head of the department said that the troops of the Eastern Military District were transferred at a distance of up to ten thousand kilometers to test the reaction forces of the Union State. Shoigu clarified that aviation units and military air defense units have also been relocated. During the exercise, the army will protect state and military installations and the state border in the airspace as part of the unified regional air defense system of the Russian Federation. Russia and Belarus.

According to Shoigu, the Russian armed forces received more than 600 units of the latest models of equipment during the implementation of the strategy to ensure uniformity measures in the Russian Federation until 2025.

Shoigu pointed out that the regulatory legal framework in the field of ensuring uniformity of measures in the RF Armed Forces, as well that within the framework of cooperation with the CIS, are being improved.

Previously it was reported that about 20 warships and fleet support ships of the Pacific had entered scheduled exercises with firings at the Sea of ​​Japan and Sea of ​​Japan combat training grounds. 9;Okhotsk.

Источник aif.ru

In Ukraine continues to prepare the population for war with Russia. Despite soothing statements from a number of local politicians, including President Zelensky, residents are preparing to wait out the basement shelling.< /p>

store, no candles ”< /h2>

The administration of school No. 94 of the city of Zaporizhzhia ordered parents' committees to purchase candles that will be needed when students are in a bomb shelter during the period of the fire. #39;Russian attack.

This was reported by the information portal of the city of Zaporozhye “ZaBor”, which was contacted by anxious parents of schoolchildren who provided scans of the corresponding correspondence. a message appeared with the following content: “From” our class you need to buy 70 candles. 2 candles per child plus 4 spare candles. The administration gave an order… The hype with the candles, more than one shop went through yesterday, there are no candles. Prices are also for them…from 5 UAH and above, and you need 70 pieces.

Many parents were outraged not only by the additional costs imposed by the school, but also by the question of safety: “The first question is about” fire safety. Kids (lots of kids!) and open fire. Where and from what manuals did management get the information about the need for candles in the air-raid shelter?”

“ This is to prepare a bomb shelter. In case there is an invasion. Don't panic, higher grades are also buying. Only there is a longer list, — followed by the response.

As an alternative, the parents offered to buy flashlights for the children, but were told that this violated the general guidelines of the educational institution. 

Police building in Sumy barricaded with sandbags

Preparation for invasion not on Zaporozhye region, but and Suumi. There, local residents posted an extremely curious photo on social media, which shows the building of the Regional Patrol Police Department, the windows of which are tightly blocked with sandbags.

Facebook user Denis Saenko, who posted the photo asked, “I want to ask why our police patrol barricaded themselves? Do they know something or is it just in case?

The Ukrainian portal “Observer”, citing its sources, writes that such a step was taken as part of the exercises. However, attention is drawn to the fact that the local police, using their means, did not inform the local population about the exercise. Suddenly, this caused additional nervousness in the city, located not and so far from the Russian-Ukrainian border.

An elite school sends students back, and Klitschko advises everyone to hide from bombings on the subway

What is happening concerns not only the regions, but also the Ukrainian capital. Edition “Country. ua” reported that one of the most elite educational institutions in the capital — Kyiv International School (KIS) has announced the transition to distance education due to the mass departure of parents of students and teachers due to the threat from Russia.

The text of the notice, which was available to journalists, states that due to political uncertainty, the management of the educational institution is forced to close the school campus and transfer learning online:; we will be together virtually. We will be together on campus again as soon as possible… Some students and teachers will stay in Kyiv or Ukraine, others may go to Europe, North America or Asia. But we will continue to provide learning opportunities and experiences for our KIS community, even though we will be located in different locations.  townspeople with similar conversations. The Mayor Vitali Klitschko calls for participation in territorial defense exercises and also educates residents on where to run in the event of a Russian bombardment.

On the air of the show "Matin" Klitschko said: “The main bomb shelter in Kyiv is the Kyiv Metro, which, God forbid, in the case of 'Hour' will be ready to receive people who can hide during an emergency. #39;a possible attack. In case of emergency we have sirens to alert of a threat. In this case, all means of communication will be necessary — television, radio, which will provide information on ” actions”.

'The civilian population will suffer the most': has the Pentagon decided to eclipse the glory of Stephen King?

In recent days, President Zelensky, Defense Minister Reznikov, Foreign Minister Kuleba >, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Danilovmade a whole series of statements, the meaning of which boils down to the fact that the Russian invasion is not inevitable at the moment, and that there is no reason to panic. However, they cannot stop the flywheel of hysteria. Moreover, the same representatives of the Kiev regime at the same time continue to happily report on the receipts of more and more new batches of weapons from abroad.

Des Western partners, whose statements sound worse than horror movie scripts. If from  ""the looting of Kiev", which CNN attributed to Joe Biden in a conversation with Vladimir Zelensky, the White House recanted, then here the Speech by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley posted on the official Pentagon website.

And in it, an American general paints apocalyptic images of an attack on Ukraine with the use of aircraft and ballistic missiles: “If all this falls on the Ukraine, the situation will be serious, very serious. It will be monstrous, it will be terrible… The scale of the disaster will be indescribable… The civilian population will suffer the most. The dense urban developments will be the first affected.  

Since the Ukrainian media are ready to publish such statements of Western personalities, then     The hair of Ukrainians stands on end. It seems that in Nezalezhnaya v  ;in the near future, we should expect an increase in hospitalizations of people with acute psychosis on the soil of the “Russian invasion”.

Источник aif.ru

Three Russians convicted in Sri Lanka of picking beetles flew to Moscow on February 1, reports TASS.

The Russian Embassy said the January 31, the Russians had paid the fine and received permission from the court to leave Sri Lanka.

Recall that the researcher of the zoo Rostov-on-Don  Alexander Ignatenko and two of his companions, Nikolai Kilafyan and Artem Ryabov were detained  suspected of causing environmental damage due to the destruction of beetles and small animals. 

In January, a court in Sri Lanka imposed a total fine on them 3.3 million rubles for collecting rare insects. It was clarified that all three had pleaded guilty due to poor health.

Later it became known that the Russian business community had offered to pay the Russians' fines.

Источник aif.ru