dissabte, 7 de maig del 2011
dijous, 5 de maig del 2011
HOW WONDERFUL ARE SCIENCES.. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOW US THINGS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER DISCOVER!
A Spanish and American team of investigators has developed an optical sensor which is based on crystal clear structure of golden nanoparticles and it’s able to detect some infectious proteins in our body before taking the first symptoms.
This innovation would mean a great advance in the early detection of diseases such as the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), or even in future Alzheimer and Parkinson.
Actually, the key element of this new method is the supercrystal it generates. Supercrystal is able to work as a microscopic antenna which identifies pathogenic molecules.
Scientists explain through their research that the sensor they have made can detect nearly ten prions (infectious proteins with altered secondary structure) per litter of blood. So, we could say that this new discovered crystal would be able to find a needle in a haystack.
Rafael Álvarez, the main scientist of this study explains that after immersing the supercrystal they’ve made with the optical sensor in a plasma sample or centrifuged blood “the sensor, which generates extremely high electric field on crystal’s surface, produces to us in an amplified way the signal which bounces off the prions”.
Thereby, the quantity of infectious proteins which exist in blood can be observed easily.
Nevertheless, the most interesting part of this development is its application. After years of investigation and waiting it has been discovered that illnesses such as Parkinson or Alzheimer have a prion origin. So, as Álvarez points out, early diagnosis systems could be designed to these diseases long before the first symptoms were found/could be found.
Furthermore, investigators affirm that some illnesses with a prion origin, such as the BSE, can be efficiently detected nowadays.
All this work has been developed by Spanish investigators from CSIS in collaboration with American scientists. Lastly, their studies, investigations and discoveries have been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) magazine.
This innovation would mean a great advance in the early detection of diseases such as the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), or even in future Alzheimer and Parkinson.
Actually, the key element of this new method is the supercrystal it generates. Supercrystal is able to work as a microscopic antenna which identifies pathogenic molecules.
Scientists explain through their research that the sensor they have made can detect nearly ten prions (infectious proteins with altered secondary structure) per litter of blood. So, we could say that this new discovered crystal would be able to find a needle in a haystack.
Rafael Álvarez, the main scientist of this study explains that after immersing the supercrystal they’ve made with the optical sensor in a plasma sample or centrifuged blood “the sensor, which generates extremely high electric field on crystal’s surface, produces to us in an amplified way the signal which bounces off the prions”.
Thereby, the quantity of infectious proteins which exist in blood can be observed easily.
Nevertheless, the most interesting part of this development is its application. After years of investigation and waiting it has been discovered that illnesses such as Parkinson or Alzheimer have a prion origin. So, as Álvarez points out, early diagnosis systems could be designed to these diseases long before the first symptoms were found/could be found.
Furthermore, investigators affirm that some illnesses with a prion origin, such as the BSE, can be efficiently detected nowadays.
All this work has been developed by Spanish investigators from CSIS in collaboration with American scientists. Lastly, their studies, investigations and discoveries have been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) magazine.
dimecres, 4 de maig del 2011
OSAMA BIN LADEN KILLED WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF BEING JUDGED. WORLD, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?
USA President Barack Obama announced Osama Bin Laden’s death last Sunday 1st May, the International Worker’s Day. Just few hours later, this piece of news outshined any other happening and everyone in the world was informed about this fact. Since this news came to light both praises and hard criticism have surrounded Bin Laden’s death. I’d like to share my opinion about this topic, but first I’m summarizing the most outstanding facts everyone should be aware of this happening.
Firstly, everyone must know who’s the man I’m talking about. Bin Laden was the Al-Qaeda leader and founder as well. Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization aimed at committing violent attacks to those who they consider that can be a threat to Islam religion or Islam society, in short, the people they consider possible enemies. Nevertheless, the problem of these attacks is that they don’t only kill possible enemies but also lots of innocent people.
Firstly, everyone must know who’s the man I’m talking about. Bin Laden was the Al-Qaeda leader and founder as well. Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization aimed at committing violent attacks to those who they consider that can be a threat to Islam religion or Islam society, in short, the people they consider possible enemies. Nevertheless, the problem of these attacks is that they don’t only kill possible enemies but also lots of innocent people.
Besides, he was accused of being the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attacks in the USA and Europe. So, he is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11th September 2001 and a number of others. That’s the reason why Bin Laden was top of the US “most wanted” list until last week because he evaded the forces of the US and its allies for almost a decade.
Now, you’ll probably wonder…and how could the US forces took him after so long? Well, they had already started their search in 2001 but they couldn’t find any clue of his hiding place, so his whereabouts are completely unknown until 2007: the identity of one of Osama’s couriers was discovered four years ago. His area of operation was found two years ago and finally last August US Forces founded his residence in Abbottabad. As a result of this discovery, US forces began their mission, which took many months.
Therefore, Osama Bin Laden was killed by the US forces in Pakistan when they finally found him. He was shot dead in a ground operation after resisting. There were also other victims in this attack: three other men (one of Bin Laden’s sons and two couriers) were killed in the raid and also some women who were used as a shield. After this fire fight US forces took possession of Bin Laden’s body. The Al-Qaeda leader was buried at the sea after a Muslim funeral on board an aircraft carrier. He was buried at the sea to prevent that his burial place could become a shrine. Although many people think that the death body doesn’t belong to Bin Laden, US forces did him some DNA tests to confirm his identity. Bin Laden was 54 years old.
On the other hand, when Obama was informed about this happening he did an emotional speech the night of 1st May. President Obama said that Osama’s death was “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al-Qaeda”. Following, crowds gathered outside the White House (Washington) and Times Square (New York) as well chanting “USA, USA!”. It’s also important to remember that all world leaders welcomed the news of Bin Laden’s death.
Nevertheless, US aren’t in a safe place at all. The media has already informed that Al-Qaeda members may want revenge. So, they have to protect more than ever their inhabitants because no one can predict when this revenge attack will took place so far.
Well, in my opinion Osama Bin Laden deserved a long and painful death. Anyway, I think that US forces and Barack Obama this time didn’t take the appropriate decision. Everyone knows that Bin Laden was a criminal, but as any other criminal he is entitled to be tried and sentenced by the Supreme Court. I think that this act has just caused anger between members of Al-Qaeda, so President and Us Forces have threatened once again the lives of many innocent people. I’m not trying to say that it was completely unfair; I’m just saying that it sounds like they have done it this way just for their own benefit. And now I wonder…What about us? Have they thought about the possibility of another terrorist attack? Maybe sometimes governments should stop thinking about money, promotion and votes and ensure our welfare and above all protect us.
diumenge, 24 d’abril del 2011
LIFE IS WONDERFUL,,
"It's time to come together. What's important is not what's gone, but what remains"
There’s a lot of meaning in that sentence.
Nowadays, our world is evolving very quickly and it seems that we aren’t able to stop it. We human have created television when the only way of being aware of the world’s news was the radio; we have created computers and mobile phones to be able of communicate with everyone we want, no matter how far is that person from us; we have created a lot of ways of producing electricity because in the beginning the only light human could enjoy was the sun light; we also have discovered petrol, which is all the automobile’s fuel, we have discovered golden, diamonds… and we have created coins and bills, which are known as money, as a way to exchange products.
We can assure that the world has been unbelievably changed thanks to human’s innovations. But my great question is…are all this innovations something positive? Have we changed the world for good or for ill?
If we stop thinking for a while we would realize that there are in the world many proofs which show the damaging caused by human on Earth. We have built countless industries around the world during all these years and these industries give off great quantities of toxic residues up to our atmosphere. As a result of this, in Australia there’s already a hole in the ozone layer. Furthermore, our automobiles’ combustible generates also toxic fumes which become a great contribution to our world’s pollution. Pollution especially affects the big cities, and nowadays if you go to any capital or big city in the world you will realize that there is not much fresh air in there. You also will see that people who lives there walks in a stressful way, eats fast and doesn’t pay much attention to the things which really matter in life such as relationships or our health.
I know that it may sound alarming, but those are the harsh facts. Moreover, we cannot forget the injustices and inequalities which exist around the world. Rich countries have granted privileges themselves and have taken over the entire world’s source of income. So, even if they’re going through bad times they know for sure they will be helped by any other privileged country. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of poor countries are obligated to resign themselves to living a situation completely opposite. They have to work plenty of hours for the minimum wage which is used to be the half or one third of the rich countries’ minimum wage. In addition, the great majority of them work in deplorable conditions and live in unsteady constructions.
Well, those are only some of the world’s differences between classes and/or countries. That’s the reason why I think that from now on we should leave our differences aside and we should fight together for what joins us and makes us equal: OUR WORLD. There cannot be the slightest doubt that everyone of us knows that we cannot get it if we just keep looking for our own good.
Therefore, there’s only a possible solution. We have damaged enough the environment with our selfish behaviour and now it’s time to take care of it. There are still a lot of things to do and we still have the chance of return the world anything it deserves to preserve its original beauty. If we act properly we will save a lot of species in extinction, we will preserve more quantities of water, we will reduce pollution so we will contribute in the conservation of the Poles or finally enjoy of fresh air…
Unfortunately, this act involves a great work for our part. Furthermore, it also involves a lot of money (for example: if we want to make the world a better place we have to use renewable energy and it needs a lot of economic help) and especially each one’s completely unselfish will. This is it. So, as the saying goes: IF THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY.
There’s a lot of meaning in that sentence.
Nowadays, our world is evolving very quickly and it seems that we aren’t able to stop it. We human have created television when the only way of being aware of the world’s news was the radio; we have created computers and mobile phones to be able of communicate with everyone we want, no matter how far is that person from us; we have created a lot of ways of producing electricity because in the beginning the only light human could enjoy was the sun light; we also have discovered petrol, which is all the automobile’s fuel, we have discovered golden, diamonds… and we have created coins and bills, which are known as money, as a way to exchange products.
We can assure that the world has been unbelievably changed thanks to human’s innovations. But my great question is…are all this innovations something positive? Have we changed the world for good or for ill?
If we stop thinking for a while we would realize that there are in the world many proofs which show the damaging caused by human on Earth. We have built countless industries around the world during all these years and these industries give off great quantities of toxic residues up to our atmosphere. As a result of this, in Australia there’s already a hole in the ozone layer. Furthermore, our automobiles’ combustible generates also toxic fumes which become a great contribution to our world’s pollution. Pollution especially affects the big cities, and nowadays if you go to any capital or big city in the world you will realize that there is not much fresh air in there. You also will see that people who lives there walks in a stressful way, eats fast and doesn’t pay much attention to the things which really matter in life such as relationships or our health.
I know that it may sound alarming, but those are the harsh facts. Moreover, we cannot forget the injustices and inequalities which exist around the world. Rich countries have granted privileges themselves and have taken over the entire world’s source of income. So, even if they’re going through bad times they know for sure they will be helped by any other privileged country. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of poor countries are obligated to resign themselves to living a situation completely opposite. They have to work plenty of hours for the minimum wage which is used to be the half or one third of the rich countries’ minimum wage. In addition, the great majority of them work in deplorable conditions and live in unsteady constructions.
Well, those are only some of the world’s differences between classes and/or countries. That’s the reason why I think that from now on we should leave our differences aside and we should fight together for what joins us and makes us equal: OUR WORLD. There cannot be the slightest doubt that everyone of us knows that we cannot get it if we just keep looking for our own good.
Therefore, there’s only a possible solution. We have damaged enough the environment with our selfish behaviour and now it’s time to take care of it. There are still a lot of things to do and we still have the chance of return the world anything it deserves to preserve its original beauty. If we act properly we will save a lot of species in extinction, we will preserve more quantities of water, we will reduce pollution so we will contribute in the conservation of the Poles or finally enjoy of fresh air…
Unfortunately, this act involves a great work for our part. Furthermore, it also involves a lot of money (for example: if we want to make the world a better place we have to use renewable energy and it needs a lot of economic help) and especially each one’s completely unselfish will. This is it. So, as the saying goes: IF THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY.
dissabte, 23 d’abril del 2011
MY FORMAL LETTER,,
9 Major Square
SANT PERE PESCADOR 17470
GIRONA (SPAIN)
Nuclear Organization
SANT PERE PESCADOR 17470
GIRONA (SPAIN)
Nuclear Organization
14th April 2011
Mr. John Rich World Nuclear Organization director general
123 OXFORD STREET
NEW YORK (U.S.)
WIX 3CXA
Dear Mr John Rich,
I am writing this letter in order to let you know my opinion about nuclear energy and the nuclear industries.
First of all, I would like to say that although nuclear industries are producing nearly half of the world’s energy such as illumination or electricity, they are really dangerous both for our health and especially for our life.
I would like to emphasize the fact that we live in a world surrounded by new technologies and almost everyone of us depends on computers, mobile phones, television…So, I can admit that all those types of energy have become essential to us.
Nevertheless, as I said before, the energy produced on nuclear stations can become really damaging to our health. A recent example of it was the leakage of one of the Japan’s nuclear stations. That is the reason why I am wondering if it is useful producing so much energy from those places.
On the other hand, I would like to remind you that we are all in danger nowadays because everyone of us lives surrounded by nuclear stations. So, a little failure in the procedures of any nuclear station would immediately become a great disaster. It could cause death and many incurable diseases as well.
Finally, I would like to propose you many other ways of producing energy, especially renewable energy. I know for sure that building those nuclear stations can be expensive but it would provide us doses of energy which would not be damaging for the environment and it could be used over and over again.
So, I will be really grateful to you if you reconsider my proposal. Perhaps with each other’s help we would make the world a better place to live. Furthermore, the use of renewable energies would ensure us a safer and healthier life because it would reduce all the pollution caused by nuclear stations and also their dangers.
Lastly, I just like to remind that I would really appreciate your opinion about my letter.
Yours sincerely,
ARIADNA VILÀ
diumenge, 10 d’abril del 2011
DOCTORS ASSURE THAT SOME FEELINGS CAN BE AS PAINFUL AS PHYSICAL PAIN IS
Investigators of the University of Michigan (US) have revealed to a magazine called “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” (PNAS) that physical pain and intense feelings caused by social rejection can hurt us in the same way. Their investigation proves that the brain regions which respond to painful sensorial experiences are also activated during the intense experiences of social rejection.
To reach this conclusion, Dr. Cross and his colleagues interviewed forty people who had suffered from a break-up in the last six months. All of them confessed that when they were thinking about the breaking-up experience they felt absolutely rejected.
Every participant completed two tasks in the study. One of the tasks was related to their feelings of rejection; the other one was related to the feelings which generate a painful, but tolerable, stimulus (such as when we have our hand in a cup of hot coffee).
Participants carried out all the tasks while they were being subjected to Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). Doctors realized that the strong feelings of rejection were able to activate the brain regions which are involved in physical pain feeling. Surprisingly, both painful experiences and social rejection feeling come into operation neurons in the secondary somatosensory cortex and the dorsal posterior insula.
In any case, the final results agree with the popular wisdom, because, as everyone knows, almost all cultures use similar terms to describe experiences of physical pain and experiences of social rejection as well, such as “pain” or “hurt”.
dijous, 7 d’abril del 2011
HE THOUGHT HE WAS SUFFERING FROM MIGRAINE, BUT ACTUALLY HE HAD A KINFE STUCK IN HIS BRAIN FOR FOUR YEARS
This is Li Fu’s story. He went to the doctor after complaining of a heavy headache. He used to suffer from headaches frequently, so he thought that it would be a simply chronic migraine. In any case, he was completely wrong. Li Fu didn’t know that he was going to be surprised at all!
Doctors scanned Fu's head while they were treating his case. Unexpectedly, when doctors could finally see the scan results they found out that Li Fu’s pain wasn’t only a chronic illness, but also a 10 centimetres blade trapped in his brain for almost four years. To understand better this unbelievable fact, you should know that it has a simply explanation.
From the robbery’s day headaches and discomfort never deserted Li Fu, so he decided to find a solution to his nightmare once and for all. This was the reason why he visited his doctor some months ago. Fortunately, that day he could finally know the truth about all this trouble. Doctors, after an X-rays inspection discovered the unbelievable reason of Li Fu’s chronic migraines.
Nevertheless, much time had gone by after the robbery, so Li and his family didn’t believe the X-rays result at first. Therefore, he asked for a second professional opinion before giving doctors permission to operate him. The second doctor confirmed other doctor’s suspicions. Following, Li Fu had an operation and doctors finally extracted the knife. The intervention result was really satisfactory. Li stayed in hospital some days and he was completely cured and safe.
Doctors scanned Fu's head while they were treating his case. Unexpectedly, when doctors could finally see the scan results they found out that Li Fu’s pain wasn’t only a chronic illness, but also a 10 centimetres blade trapped in his brain for almost four years. To understand better this unbelievable fact, you should know that it has a simply explanation.
From the robbery’s day headaches and discomfort never deserted Li Fu, so he decided to find a solution to his nightmare once and for all. This was the reason why he visited his doctor some months ago. Fortunately, that day he could finally know the truth about all this trouble. Doctors, after an X-rays inspection discovered the unbelievable reason of Li Fu’s chronic migraines.
Nevertheless, much time had gone by after the robbery, so Li and his family didn’t believe the X-rays result at first. Therefore, he asked for a second professional opinion before giving doctors permission to operate him. The second doctor confirmed other doctor’s suspicions. Following, Li Fu had an operation and doctors finally extracted the knife. The intervention result was really satisfactory. Li stayed in hospital some days and he was completely cured and safe.
Surgeons were really stunned with this case because it was completely different than they are used to operate. To him, it’s a miracle Li Fu is alive after suffering from a stub in a so delicate body part. Furthermore, they still cannot believe that no one realized about the knife after being stuck in his head so much time.
The most surprising thing about Li’s case is that the knife was almost intact when doctors extracted it.
The most surprising thing about Li’s case is that the knife was almost intact when doctors extracted it.
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