Hygiene -Dídac Aguilar

10th TEXT COMMENTARY: Scientists Use Nanotechnology To Give Mice Temporary "Night Vision" - Esther Salvador

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Scientists Use Nanotechnology To Give Mice Temporary "Night Vision"

SUMMARY
Researchers have given mice night vision by inserting nanoparticles into their eyes. It may be possible to use on humans someday.
Most mammals can only see from 400 to 700 nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum, called visible light. The eyes can't absorb longer nor shorter wavelength, so the information doesn't arrive to the brain and it can't be processed. By injecting this nanoparticles mice are allowed to see infrared light, which allows seeing the heat of living things for example.
The injection contains nanoantennae (nanoscopic electromagnetic collectors designed to absorb specific wavelength) to provide mice to see beyond their visible spectrum of light. It doesn't interfere in seeing during the day and the effects of this injections last two weeks and then wears off without leaving permanent side effects.
The lectin conjugated nanoparticles, contained in the injection, guides the nanoantenne sticking to the outside of retinal photoreceptors in the eyes. It provides the eye to absorb infrared light so the brain can process it.
This kind of technology allows scientists to study the responses of the brain depending on visual signals, and it's something that may help color blindness.
We know this experiment actually works because of the responses of the mice during nighttime. They could find something in the same way they could during the day.
It is thought this is a great advance in the field of biotechnology providing critical applications. We may be capable of seeing all the information we can't see in the universe.

LINK OR REFERENCE

https://www.iflscience.com/technology/scientists-use-nanotechnology-to-give-mice-temporary-night-vision/

PUBLICATION DATE

1st of March, 2019

SCIENTIFIC SCOPE

BIOTECHNOLOGY

TEXT COMMENTARY

I think that with this technology we can see things we couldn't with our naked eyes and expand our knowledge in this field. It's a development in the vision field that may help people who have color blindness.
The side effects of this technology may not be permanent but they should be investigated more deeply before testing on human beings.
When science developes there are both negative and positive things. There may be people who agree and there may be people who don't agree with the methods or purposes, but it's still science development. In this case it's the same.
Although I don't really like the idea of changing the nature of our bodies I do think this may be helpful for those who have some kind of sight disease and to expand the knowledge of the things we can not see.

GLOSSARY

None needed

Notícia 10: Els gats saben el seu nom, encara que fagin que no

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Cats Know Their Own Names, Even If They Pretend Not To

- Summary:

    Not so many studies appear about how do cats interacts and communicate with us or even if they can understand us. But in Japan, where cats are generally preferred than dogs are as there are Cat Cafes, Atsuko Kaito from the Sophia University of Tokyo has studied the capacity of cats to distinguish their name from other words. The investigator came to the conclusion that cats can know their own names and even pretend that they do not.

    Other studies or observations on cats came to the conclusion that cats have the ability to comprehend some of our words as they move their ears and heads to ear it better. Kaito's study also came to the conclusions that cats could understand their names as they moved their ears more strongly that to other words.

    Cat owners can also recognize that cat can sense human's emotions and act according to them. Cats are also proven to recognize the voices of their closest humans and distinguish them from the voices of strangers.

    In conclusion, investigators and cat owners can agree that cats are way more complex than we could ever think, though they act as a independent being that doesn't need anyone.

- Link or reference:

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/cats-know-their-own-names-even-if-they-pretend-not-to/

- Publication date: April 4^th 2019

- Scientific field: Animals

- Glossary:

    - Cat Cafes: places, usually in Japan, where you can order a coffee, and then drink it while accompanied with a cat. In the Cafe, there are a lot of cats, and all of them are very friendly.

- Text commentary:

    There have a lot of studies about how dogs can interact and communicate with us, and even understand some clear instructions or specific voice tones. But, not so many studies appear about how do cats interacts and communicate with us or even if they can understand us. According to this new study, cats are more smart than we all think as they can recognize their names when said and act like they don't know anything about it.

    I chose to comment this new because it makes me feel interested and intrigued about how intelligent are the animals, specially the ones we got in our houses as pets. I have been owning a cat as a pet for 10 years and I have to admit that I got attached to him. Even though he isn't disposed to be petted sometimes, he tries to cuddle all the time.

Working - Esther Salvador

Lidia Richard-HEALTHY HABITS

Social Health - Victor Garcia

9th text commentary: Magic gloves let you communicate in sign language

Magic gloves let you communicate in sign language
Summary: This magic creation started with a technology enthusiastic called Roy Allela. With 25 years, he's been able to translate the movements of the tongue from a deaf person into audio. This invention it's pretty useful because you can make a deaf person able to talk in a certain way that they couldn't be able ot without it. It's also really useful in places where sign language isn't much of a thig still and they need it for communication. For example in Kenia, that's where Roy comes from.
Nowadays it's starting to spread really fast this product, and it only just begun. We hope to see more inventions from this genius.

Link or reference: https://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/extra/20190306/guants-intelligents-tradueixen-llengua-signes-al-parla-7340245

Date: 06/03/2019

Scientific scope: Technologic

9th TEXT COMMENTARY: The woman unable to feel pain

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The woman unable to feel pain

Summary

The news tells of a 66-year-old woman who said she did not feel pain. The doctors who treated her were surprised by the cause of their strange condition, which had its origin in an excess of a substance known as anandamide. This substance is also present in cannabis and has been linked to states of euphoria and apparent happiness, which induces not to perceive pain. The researchers explain that the cause of their special ailment, if we can call it that, is of genetic origin. The purpose of medical research is to use this genetic modification to apply it to people who are currently suffering from pain. It should be noted that the woman affected by this condition has expressed her enthusiasm for the possibility that the study of her ailment may serve to help other people who suffer from pain.

Link o Reference

https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/27/ciencia/1553714250_522703.html

Publication date

28/03/19

Scientific scope 

Health

Glosari

The subject of this news did not contain a very specific vocabulary that I did not understand.

Text commentary 

The news refers to the case of a particular woman who suffers from a strange condition for which she feels no pain. Apparently, it is an advantage, since he does not feel any illness caused by wounds or diseases. However, the affected person comments in the article that what she suffers may be good in most cases, but that is not always the case, since she has a risk. In many cases the lack of sensitivity in the skin has prevented him from realizing wounds and burns, produced for example when cooking or doing other daily activities. We must not forget that pain is a warning of danger.

It is certain that there are other people who suffer from this kind of genetic mutation. That is why, probably researchers will have to find other people with this condition willing to participate and collaborate in the experiments that are going to be carried out on this problem.

Finally, this news seems to me of special interest for several reasons. First, because of its importance in the medical field, since it is a genetic research that can mean a scientific breakthrough. Second, in relation to the above, the medical research of this special ailment can help people in the important field of the cure or treatment of chronic pain. Especially, regarding elderly people who usually suffer from pain-causing diseases. Also for patients of all conditions, especially those affected by cancer who could pass their disease in a more bearable way.

In my opinion, I believe that the project will require many years of research and study but that it will finally come to an end and we will find out how to apply this genetic modification to the people who really need it.

Notícia 09: Una dona s'injecta suc de fruita i casi mor

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Woman Injects Herself With Fruit Juice And Nearly Dies

- Summary:

    A new case of a self-taken “healthy” treatment happened days ago. A 51-year-old woman injected fruit juice into her bloodstream. It was indeed made of 20 different types of fruits. She developed increased temperature and itchy skin. Later, the doctors found that she had her liver, kidney, heart and lungs damaged because of the juice. The woman is now doing ok, though she needed to be admitted to the intensive care for 5 days.

There are rumors about the fruit juice being better than the sold fruit. These rumors are absolutely false as the vitamins and fibers dwell in the skin and seed of the fruits. Although a portion of juice is easier to ingest, it has a lot more sugars than a piece of fruit and it also has less vitamins. An orange juice has almost the same amount of sugars of a Coca-Cola.

    The organ that suffered the most with the injection of the fruit juice was the liver, as it became overwhelmed with the sugar.

    In conclusion, scientists and doctors are against the injection of fruit juice into the bloodstream, as it will be doing much more harm than good.

- Link or reference:

https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/women-injects-herself-with-fruit-juice-and-nearly-dies/

- Publication date: March 19^th 2019

- Scientific field: Health

- Glossary:

None needed

- Text commentary:

    I chose to comment this new because it makes me feel interested and worried about how crazy is the people's mind right now, as they try to get healthy with some original ways that won't really do any good to that person's body.

    There is a study that found that the participants that ate solid fruit had reduced the risk of developing diabetes 2, while the ones who drank fruit juice increased their risk of developing it. There are a lot of professionals that are actively against the injection of fruit juice into the bloodstream.

    Doing this, the 51-years-old woman shows that every person can do something to harm their body, even if they are not trying to. She tried to get more healthy, and instead of that she ended in a hospital for 5 days with her inner organs damaged.